KARACHI, 22 April 2006 — Pakistan are set to hire former South Africa international Jonty Rhodes on a short-term basis to help improve their fielding, the Pakistan Cricket Board said yesterday.
“The chances are good that we will get Rhodes on a short-term contract. We should be able to have him in Pakistan in May,” a PCB official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The 37-year-old Rhodes played 52 Tests and 245 One-Day Internationals between 1992 and 2003 and is recognized as one of the most outstanding fielders in modern cricket.
The official said that the aim was to get Rhodes on a short-term assignment to train the Pakistan senior and ‘A’ team players.
“We want him working with our senior players before they tour England in June and then train our younger players at the National Cricket Academy,” he added.
Despite satisfactory results in recent months that include test series wins over England, India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan have come under criticism for their inconsistent fielding standards.
Malik to Undergo Surgery
to Correct Action
Meantime, all-rounder Shoaib Malik is to undergo a shoulder operation in South Africa next week to try to improve his suspect bowling action. The 24-year old has twice been reported due to problems caused by the after-effects of two road accidents which have limited the mobility of his arm extension.
Malik, who has played in 15 Tests and 117 One-Day Internationals, has twice been reported in the last two years.
“Malik’s problem is that due to those two accidents his arm tendons have become loose. So when he bowls one gets the impression there is a problem with his action,” PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan told Reuters yesterday.
“The operation is being carried out to loosen his tendons so that his arm extension improves and he faces no more problems with his action.”
Windies Players Stunned by Contracts Deadline
In Port-of-Spain, West Indies cricketers admitted they were stunned at being handed an ultimatum to either sign new contracts or face being axed from the squad.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said on Wednesday that retainer contracts should be signed by Friday.
The long-running saga between the WICB and West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has also held up an announcement over the appointment of a new captain following the resignation of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Dinanath Ramnarine, president of the WIPA said he was “very shocked and surprised” with an ultimatum from the WICB.
But the former West Indies spinner said he is still strongly in support of the finalization of the retainer contracts, but he must get a mandate from his members first.
The WICB said Wednesday that if the retainer contracts were not finalized by Friday, “thereafter the team shall be selected based on those players who make themselves available”.
Ramnarine said the announcement was a shock.
