Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 272 Thu. March 03, 2005  
   
Sports


Travel method irks Pakistan


The Pakistan cricket team are concerned that their travel arrangements could hinder their preparation for next week's first Test against India.

The players were forced to take turns to board a small plane out of New Delhi on Tuesday because the Himalayan town of Dharamsala, the venue for their opening three-day warmup match, only has a small airstrip.

Team manager Salim Altaf said the arrangements could affect their build-up for the first Test starting in Mohali on March 8.

Altaf said the Pakistan management would ask the Board of Control for Cricket in India to arrange to take the team to Mohali earlier than scheduled to allow some extra practice.

Having arrived in Dharamsala, the players were then frustrated by an afternoon drizzle which ruled out any nets ahead of the game against the Board President's XI starting on Thursday.