Malik off the hook, but Lawson may face the heat

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf found very few positives from the recent tour and said the team’s performance lacked spine and the focus of the players was not completely on cricket.

“The team was short on mental toughness and professionalism and the responsibility for this lies with the coach. I am not satisfied with Lawson’s performance. When he returns from his Christmas holidays we will talk to him,” Ashraf said while addressing a press meet in Lahore after meeting captain Malik and manager Talat Ali.

Though coach Lawson came in for criticism, Ashraf reposed confidence in Malik insisting the Board would be patient with him and give him time to mature and develop into an able leader. Malik has already been retained as captain until the end of 2008, but after losing successive series to South Africa and India, his tenure was under scrutiny. “Malik is a promising captain and we will lend him all support. We are confident he will learn and become better with time and we remain committed to our decision to retain him as captain till end of this year,” Ashraf said.

The PCB chairman also announced that in future players would not be allowed to write newspaper columns or do media assignments on tours.

Malik, vice-captain Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Shahid Afridi were leading contributors to Indian newspapers on the recent tour while fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was a hot favourite on all the Indian television channels.

Akhtar has stayed back in India to finalise a deal to act in a Bollywood film.

But Ashraf insisted no player was bigger than the team or game. “We have given Shoaib permission to remain in India for two extra days and I hope he comes back on time and concentrates on his cricket because first and foremost he is a professional cricketer,” he said.

He also announced that the Board would be setting up three coaching camps for opening batsmen, bowlers and wicketkeepers under the supervision of Ejaz Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed and Rashid Latif to scout new talent.

Ashraf also said he was not satisfied with the performance of Kamran Akmal behind the stumps although he batted well. “We have to look at alternates because his performances as a keeper have not been very encouraging,” Ashraf added.

He said the captain, manager and coach have been asked to submit separate reports on the Indian tour which would be discussed at the next meeting of the board’s governing body on January 15.

“The meeting will also decide on the new vice-captain for the next year and we have discussed the names of some candidates,” he said without elaborating on them.