PCB to investigate Pak injury woes in South Africa

Lahore, Feb 7 (UNI) Surprised and concerned about Pakistan's fitness woes in the ongoing tour of South Africa, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf has ordered an inquiry into the matter to avoid a repeat of the situation during next month's World Cup in the West Indies.

''The PCB chief is surprised the way players got unfit and he wants to know the reasons why they (players) suffered major injury problems. We believe an inquiry into the matter will serve the purpose,'' Pakistan Cricket Board Director of Operations Saleem Altaf told reporters here.

''We will soon be launching an inquiry into this matter to know why and how these injuries and fitness problems took place,'' he added.

Pakistan have so far lost pacers Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmed and all-rounder Shoaib Malik to injuries and fitness problems and Rao Iftikhar Anjum will be sent to South Africa to cop with the bowling crisis after Inzamam-ul Haq's men lost the opening one-dayer against the hosts by a massive 164 runs at Centurion.

''Anjum will be flying out on Wednesday or Thursday to join the team for the last three one-dayers,'' Mr Altaf said.

The PCB official said Dr Ashraf does not want a repeat of the situation in the upcoming World Cup.

''We do not want a repeat of such incidents in the World Cup and we will be taking some measures in this direction,'' he said.

Mr Altaf also said players will have to undergo dope tests on February 16 after returning from South Africa which would would be followed by a six-day training camp from March 1 before the team departs for the West Indies.

UNI