Cricket: Aamir declares his displeasure

Pakistan 296 and 103 Zimbabwe 238 and 162-3 Zimbabwe win by seven wkts

AAMIR SOHAIL, Pakistan's dejected captain, yesterday turned on the selectors after his side's demoralising seven- wicket defeat by Zimbabwe in the first Test at Peshawar.

Pakistan lost their first home series against Australia for 39 years last month, and Aamir responded to the latest setback by admitting: "It's very demoralising that we have failed against Zimbabwe. The team is really very disappointed."

Questioned on his own future as captain, he said: "It's up to the board, and I am considering my options. We have lost one match, and I will think about it.

"The whole problem is of selection, and we have failed to form a combination. We had a green-top wicket and had two spinners in the squad. We had no options, no variety," he said.

Aamir denied some senior players are not co-operating with him, saying: "This is not correct, because if they do badly their head is also on the chopping block. I am helpless at the moment and play with whatever I am given. I will not back down from responsibility, but now they will have to listen to me," he said of the selection committee.

Zimbabwe recorded their first Test victory overseas and their third win in 32 Tests by making 162 for 3 in the second innings, triumphing with a day and two full sessions to spare.

Murray Goodwin scored a patient, unbeaten 73 to see Zimbabwe home after Pakistan had collapsed to 103 all out in their second innings.

The second Test in the three-match series begins in Lahore on 10 December.

Fourth day; Zimbabwe won toss

PAKISTAN - First Innings 296 (Ijaz Ahmad 87, Yousuf Youhana 75, H H Streak 4-93, M Mbangwa 3-40).

ZIMBABWE - First Innings 238 (N C Johson 107, Wasim Akram 5-52, Waqar Younis 4-78).

PAKISTAN - Second Innings 103 (H K Olonga 4-42, M Mbangwa 3-23).

ZIMBABWE - Second Innings

(Overnight: 70 for 1)

G W Flower c Moin Khan b Wasim 31

M W Goodwin not out 73

*A D R Campbell c Ijaz Ahmed b Wasim 12

A Flower not out 17

Extras (b4, lb8, w2, nb9) 23

Total (for 3, 48.2 overs) 162

Fall (cont): 2-94, 3-130.

Did not bat: C B Wishart, H H Streak, M Mbangwa, H K Olonga, A R Whittall, N C Johnson.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 17-6-47-3; Waqar Younis 11-1-51-0; Aaqib Javed 13.2- 4-36-0; Azhar Mahmood 3-1-3-0; Mushtaq Ahmed 4-2-13-0.

Umpires: Athar Zaidi and G Sharp.