PCB tells Inzy to work on fitness sans trainer

Lahore, Feb 24 (UNI) A day after asking Inzamam-ul Haq to work on his fitness and reduce weight, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allowed the team trainer and physio to go on vacation leaving the captain red-faced who believes that the duo's presence is crucial in the build up to the Sri Lanka series.

''Inzamam is not happy because he has to follow certain exercises and training regimes which need to be monitored by specialists to regain full fitness and recover from his back problem before the tour of Sri Lanka next month,'' 'The News' quoted a team source as saying.

Team's trainer Murray Stevenson and physio Darryn Lifsun have gone on leave after the home series against India which concluded on Sunday and Inzamam was said to be surprised at the decision to allow them to go.

''He conveyed this to a senior official of the PCB during a recent meeting,'' the source said.

The duo was brought into the team by coach Bob Woolmer and the three are allowed 31 days of paid holidays but have been going on leave more often then that.

''This time Woolmer has gone to attend to the finalisation of his forthcoming book on coaching while the two others have left to attend to some personal work.'' All of them are due to return before the training camp ahead of the SriLanka beginning March 6.

''Inzamam is also surprised because there is little time before the Sri Lanka tour and after the one-day series defeat to India, he is keen to put the team back on the right track, sit down with them and analyse what went wrong in the series,'' the source added.

The source said PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan has been a bit too lenient with the coach, who has made a habit of going on leave in the middle or just after a series.

''No other coach takes vacations on such regular basis but Woolmer, who also brought in Stevenson and Lifsun, appears to have the special attention of the chairman who does not consult the Ad-hoc Committee while allowing the special vacations for the three foreigners,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Inzamam has also asked the board not to rush with the appointment of a fielding coach and wait until the completion of the Sri Lanka series.

''His viewpoint is that while it would be good for the team to have a specialist fielding coach helping out the team it should be done before the England tour and someone notable should be picked for this job,'' the daily quoted a PCB official as saying.

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