Pakistan dropped test over $5000

BRAD Haddin's mentor Steve Rixon revealed how he offered to help coach besieged Pakistan gloveman Kamran Akmal - but he was rejected because the Pakistan Cricket Board refused to pay a $5000 fee.
As the deflated tourists sent an SOS for deputy wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, The Sunday Telegraph has learned former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson was so concerned about Akmal's technical flaws he contacted Rixon in 2008.
Rixon, a former Test gloveman, agreed in principle to help Akmal, only to be knocked back when the PCB insisted it would not meet his asking price.
Lawson said the decision had returned to haunt Pakistan, who crashed to a second Test defeat last Wednesday after Akmal endured a nightmare behind the stumps by dropping four second-innings catches. "I would have absolutely helped him," said Rixon, who played 13 Tests and is renowned as one of world cricket's finest wicketkeeping coaches.
"Henry (Lawson) actually rang me when he was the Pakistan coach, trying to get me to work with Akmal. But it didn't eventuate because the board was counting their pennies. At the time, I had ICL (Indian Cricket League) commitments in India, I wasn't far away and there was a window of opportunity for me to help Kamran, which I was more than happy to do.
"Look at the two keepers (Haddin and Akmal) and their performances in that (Sydney) Test and it was the difference. Brad was great and if Kamran takes one of those four dropped catches, it's all over, Pakistan win the Test.
"I wasn't asking for much, it was petty, but for whatever reason the PCB didn't want a bar of it. They deserve everything they get."
A veteran of 48 Tests, Akmal is in danger of being axed for this week's third Test in Hobart, with Sarfraz, his deputy on last month's tour of New Zealand, summoned from Pakistan.
It has also emerged former Pakistan gloveman Rashid Latif advised the PCB last year to stand down Akmal for six months to improve his weight and keeping skills. But Lawson saw danger signs well before then.
After Akmal struggled for confidence following a series against India in November 2007, Lawson phoned Rixon. He says he was left bitterly disappointed when his request for coaching assistance was scuppered by Pakistan cricket's governing body.
"I asked the PCB to get Steve on board but they wouldn't come up with the money," recalls Lawson, who was sacked as coach last year. BRAD Haddin's mentor Steve Rixon revealed how he offered to help coach besieged Pakistan gloveman Kamran Akmal - but he was rejected because the Pakistan Cricket Board refused to pay a $5000 fee.
As the deflated tourists sent an SOS for deputy wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, The Sunday Telegraph has learned former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson was so concerned about Akmal's technical flaws he contacted Rixon in 2008.
Rixon, a former Test gloveman, agreed in principle to help Akmal, only to be knocked back when the PCB insisted it would not meet his asking price.
Lawson said the decision had returned to haunt Pakistan, who crashed to a second Test defeat last Wednesday after Akmal endured a nightmare behind the stumps by dropping four second-innings catches. "I would have absolutely helped him," said Rixon, who played 13 Tests and is renowned as one of world cricket's finest wicketkeeping coaches.
"Henry (Lawson) actually rang me when he was the Pakistan coach, trying to get me to work with Akmal. But it didn't eventuate because the board was counting their pennies. At the time, I had ICL (Indian Cricket League) commitments in India, I wasn't far away and there was a window of opportunity for me to help Kamran, which I was more than happy to do.
"Look at the two keepers (Haddin and Akmal) and their performances in that (Sydney) Test and it was the difference. Brad was great and if Kamran takes one of those four dropped catches, it's all over, Pakistan win the Test.
"I wasn't asking for much, it was petty, but for whatever reason the PCB didn't want a bar of it. They deserve everything they get."
A veteran of 48 Tests, Akmal is in danger of being axed for this week's third Test in Hobart, with Sarfraz, his deputy on last month's tour of New Zealand, summoned from Pakistan.
It has also emerged former Pakistan gloveman Rashid Latif advised the PCB last year to stand down Akmal for six months to improve his weight and keeping skills. But Lawson saw danger signs well before then.
After Akmal struggled for confidence following a series against India in November 2007, Lawson phoned Rixon. He says he was left bitterly disappointed when his request for coaching assistance was scuppered by Pakistan cricket's governing body.
"I asked the PCB to get Steve on board but they wouldn't come up with the money," recalls Lawson, who was sacked as coach last year.
By Peter Badel
From: The Sunday Telegraph
January 09, 2010 11:23PM
Source :- The daily telegraph