Cricket: Javed's omission sparks revolt

The dropping of Javed Miandad, along with Ramiz Raja and Aaqib Javed, from Pakistan's party to tour Bangladesh and Pakistan has provoked fierce opposition from some of the country's senior players. The pace bowler Waqar Younis, who is the vice-captain, is leading the revolt and threatening not to play unless the trio are reinstated. Others involved in the protest include Salim Malik, Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmad. Officials have convened emergency talks in Lahore to settle the issue. Javed, the former captain who has played 124 Tests, has been dropped for the first time from an overseas tour since he made his debut in 1976. In Brisbane, Matthew Hayden became only the fourth batsman to score 1,000 runs in the Sheffield Shield in three successive seasons when he reached 81 not out for Queensland against Victoria. The other three who have achieved the feat are Sir Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell and the present Australian captain, Allan Border.