Failures facing new enquiry

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2094-612370,00.html

March 16, 2003

**Failures facing conduct inquiry

Pakistan’s World Cup flop has led to claims that players broke guidelines. **

By Simon Wilde

PAKISTAN has launched an inquiry into allegations of misconduct by its players during their ill-starred appearance at the World Cup. Breaches of a tour guideline relating to wives and girlfriends being barred are being investigated.
According to an International Cricket Council (ICC) visitors’ register filled in by the team during its 18-day stay in Johannesburg, and which has been seen by The Sunday Times, four players entertained female company in the days leading up to Pakistan’s opening game against Australia.

All four played in the defeat and three are among the best-known names in cricket. Sami-ul-Hasan, the team’s media liaison officer, said: “The (Pakistan) board’s policy was very clear. Wives and girlfriends were not allowed. But still a couple of them came, though they did not stay in the hotels. We are not happy. A clear instruction has been violated.

“We will not tolerate any nonsense, which is why Shahid Afridi has been banned for misconduct (for sledging two India players at the World Cup). We would need to see the ICC document.”

Hasan said the board was dealing with two players who had brought their wives to South Africa. “We have already taken issue with them,” he said. “We did not want to disturb the boys during the tournament but now we are conducting a probe.”

The register reveals that one cricketer, a bowler, entertained a female guest on each of the two days before the Australia match. On one occasion the register shows that she checked in at 10pm and checked out at 7.30am. Another female guest visited a player on six different days. Three of the four players entertained female company on the evening of the defeat by Australia.

Pakistan, one of the pre-tournament favourites, crashed out after losing to Australia, England and India. Afterwards, the team issued an apology. “We are ashamed, disappointed, sad and broken- hearted after letting the nation down,” it read.

The future of several senior players is already under review, according to Tauqir Zia, the board’s chairman, who added that Waqar Younis was not certain to retain the captaincy for a tournament in Sharjah next month.

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I'm just hoping that the female companions were hot. You can't trust these guys to even get laid properly.

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As long as female companionship doesn't interfere with their cricket schedules, I don't see an issue with this.

A relaxed mind and body is supposed to deliver better results. No wonder only FOUR of the 15 performed in the matches.

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If they'd done the business no one would have raised the issue, but they didn't so I think every misdemeanour is going to be seized upon. In any case, if there were rules which were broken I think the players involved should be punished regardless of how they perform. I think the era of superstars being above the law should be over.

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These Paki’s always have somefin going on, on the side, :rolleyes: they always get caught too :smiley:

some of these seniors sud take Zia advice and go respectively

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I have seen Mr and Mrs Tauqeer Zia together in Sharja and on numerous other venues. What's up with that?

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Well, Waqar younis had his wife there, and so did Saqlain mushtaq. So i think that explains it to an extent.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by funguy: *
I have seen Mr and Mrs Tauqeer Zia together in Sharja and on numerous other venues. What's up with that?
[/QUOTE]

fg,

Since Tauqir isn't going to be competing on behalf of Pakistan in the WC it's not really that relevant. What needs to be considered here is:

1) Is it normal practice to bar wives/girlfriends from the tour (I'm talking about all teams here)

2) If it is, should players be allowed to break the rules? In which case you have to ask why the rules are there in the first place?

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Mr. Xtreme, I understand TZ won't be playing (on the field, at least ;) ). But him walking around with his female companion in front of 15 other members who are not allowed this comfort is a bit insensitive. In the name of team spirit, TZ should abstain and lead from the front.

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Ok, then punish General TZ as well then :hehe:

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I'm sure Shoaib is one of them. :D Who else? I'm curious to know.

Deen aur duniya saath . No wonder the team failed with all our duas. I for one thought our prayers might play a major force in pak's victory but when the players are involved in such acts then why should they succeed. I hope PCb punish these players severly for breaking the rules.