Seven Pakistan cricketers have revolted against team coach Javed Miandad and an emergency meeting has been called later today to diffuse the crisis, news reports said on Wednesday.

'The Dawn' newpaper quoted highly placed sources to report that the seven players clashed with Miandad, himself a former Pakistan captain, on the distribution of prize money earned from the ICC Knockout Trophy where the team lost to ultimate winners New Zealand in the semi-finals. The crisis had initially erupted in Kenya, but deepened after the team's return on Saturday, the paper said.

Pakistan cricket board chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia confirmed that he had called the seven players in an effort to avert a crisis.

“I came to know of the situation only on Tuesday morning,” 'The Dawn' quoted him as saying.
“I don't want to lose Javed Miandad or the players on the eve on an important Test series. I want to settle this issue in a friendly atmosphere,” the daily quoted Zia as saying.
The English team has already arrived in Pakistan for a three-test and three-one-dayer series.

Bureau Report