Pakistan media blast home team

Pakistan cricketers came under fire from local media on Tuesday following England's dramatic third and final Test victory.

"England dazzle in fading light to make history," The News newspaper headlined with reference to England's victory in virtual darkness that gave them their first series win in Pakistan in 38 years.

The Dawn newspaper, which carried pictures of Nasser Hussain and Moin Khan displaying contrasting face expressions, said: "Pakistan plunged to depths of despair under darkness..."

It was Pakistan's first defeat in 44 years at Karachi's National Stadium. They had won half the Tests and drawn the others.

The local Urdu-language newspapers were full of hard-hitting stories, lambasting the Pakistan Cricket Board for preparing dull pitches and demanding the immediate sacking of some senior players ahead of the 2003 World Cup.

"If Pakistan has to lose with these sloppy seniors, why not lose with the youngsters? At least Pakistan will get some future players," The Express said.

The Dawn said England deserved to win because they were more focused and determined than the Pakistanis, who it said were only engaged in a war of words.

"There can't be any two opinions that England were a much better team than Pakistan, who did nothing but try to play the game of words.

"The tourists were composed, united, ambitious and determined to continue the good work they had started back home five months ago by defeating the West Indies 3-1 for the first time in 31 years."

Taking a shot at the home team, the newspaper said: "Pakistan batting proved disgusting, their bowling pathetic, fielding horrendous and Moin Khan's captaincy and wicketkeeping far from satisfactory.

".... Pakistan are left to carry out soul-searching and probably an overhauling because some of the players just don't deserve to be in the trade."

While the Dawn played down the fading light issue, The News was sympathetic saying Pakistan have every reason to feel unlucky.

"Pakistan might have every reason to think that (umpire Steve) Bucknor was unfair to them in allowing the batsmen to continue the chase in conditions under which normally even a first-class game cannot be held," the paper said.

The two leading newspapers of the country carried stories of Pakistan coach Javed Miandad engaging in a verbal confrontation with the umpires (Bucknor and Nazir Junior) and match referee (Ranjan Madugalle) after the conclusion of the match.

According to the papers, Miandad would lodge an official complaint against the attitude of the two umpires.

"The conditions were not equal to both the teams," Miandad told the Dawn, which recalled the incident dating 14 years back when Viv Richards led his team off the field complaining of poor light in a one-day match at Gujranwala with Miandad and Salim Yousuf batting.

The match was later awarded to West Indies.

Mail Cricket Editor