Media has exaggerated a minor skirmish, claims PCB
Tuesday, March 4 2003 15:07 Hrs (IST)

Bulawayo: Miffed over reports of a serious brawl among the players of its team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday claimed the incident has been "highly exaggerated" but admitted that there was a "minor verbal altercation".

The incident has also not affected the team's preparation for its crucial World Cup match against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, PCB said.

"In response to highly exaggerated reports being circulated by some agencies, the Pakistan team management states that at the morning practice at Bulwayo, a minor verbal altercation took place between two players during a football game," a statement by media manager Samiul Hasan said.

"Such incidents are not unusual during football practice and are quickly forgotten as the two players embraced soon afterwards. The incident has not affected the team's preparation for the match against Zimbabwe," it said.

Pakistan cricket team's football match before its formal training session on Monday witnessed an ugly brawl between Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq. When Saeed Anwar tried to intervene, he was pushed to the ground by Inzamam. The fracas led coach Richard Pybus to order his boys off the ground.

Inmamam left for the team hotel in a huff while the others came back for the session.

Pybus also sought to downplay the brawl saying, "there was no brawl or real physical contact. It was just the normal kind of incident you get at a game of soccer. It meant nothing at all".

But he could not explain Inzamam's absence from the training session.

PTI

Extras:
All's not well in Pak camp: Angry Inzy dumps practice