Want a controversy-free England series: Pak team manager

Lahore: Pakistani cricketers have been given specific instructions by the PCB to only focus on their game and avoid getting into controversy in the forthcoming series against England in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, said team manager Naved Cheema.

"At the start of the conditioning camp, the players have been given a clear message about what is expected of them and what they should expect in the England series," said Cheema. Cheema said the players had been advised to forget about the spot-fixing scandal and also about the controversies that had marred the series against England in the past. "My message to them was clear what happened in the past is history and we need to move on. In the coming series, the players have been reminded that the only way they can answer their critics is good performance," he said. The Pakistan manager said the players had been told to remember that they should be prepared for a psychological warfare from the English media and even players who will try to put them under pressure to get the edge on the field. "It has happened in the past but now circumstances are different. The players should just focus on their cricket and ignore all such issues," he said. Cheema said that the Pakistan team would play the series with a positive frame of mind and try to get results. "No doubt it is going to be a very hard and challenging series for us but if our players put their heads down and play with confidence and self belief they are capable of beating England although they are the number one Test team in the world.” "We are looking forward to a clean and hard fought series nothing more," he added. PTI