The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Akram takes a dig at Woolmer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 27, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

Akram takes a dig at Woolmer

Faisalabad: After Imran Khan, another former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram took a dig at coach Bob Woolmer, saying he was not being positive by allowing dull wickets and making it a "very painful and boring" affair to watch the first two Tests against India.

"I apologise for deciding to become a commentator as it is very painful to watch such boring cricket coming from Pakistan. They are such a talented side, but why aren't they being positive. Please tell Bob Woolmer to be positive," Akram said, after the second Test at Faisalabad also ended in a tame draw.

Akram said the Pakistan Cricket Board should stop making excuses, as everyone knows that the coach and the captain have always had a say in preparing the wicket.

"I have captained the side for eight years and I know what it is. `I am not a groundsman' is not an acceptable excuse," he was quoted as saying in a press release issued by ESPN-Star Sports on Thursday.

Former India captain Ravi Shastri also joined the criticism, saying Pakistan had gone on defensive in the first two matches of the three-Test series.

"They (Pakistan) are scared of losing," he said and expressed reservations that even in Karachi, the Pakistan team would not prepare a sporting wicket— PTI

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