Mushtaq apologises to the nation for World Cup debacle

Lahore, Apr 5 (UNI) Pakistan cricket team's assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmad has apologised to the entire nation for the team's shocking first round exit from the World Cup in the West Indies.

''There is no excuse for the poor performance which has really disappointed the nation and I can only apologise to the public for that,'' Mushtaq was quoted by the Dawn as saying.

The former leg-spinner, however, claimed that the team entered the mega event with complete preparation and planning but eventually failed to deliver when it mattered.

Criticising the security arrangements set up in the Caribbean during the World Cup, Mushtaq said, ''They were not up to the mark.

The security arrangements for the foreign teams in Pakistan are a lot better than what I saw in the West Indies.'' Appearing before the three-member performance evaluation committee yesterday, he also denied match-fixing allegations, that cropped up after coach Bob Woolmer's murder in the team hotel in Jamaica, saying that there was no truth in the charges whatsoever.

UNI