Late Pakistani players face ban

SYDNEY – Pakistan yesterday warned eight of their World Cup squad they face banishment from the tournament if they repeat a team curfew breach.

On a day when Australia admitted that hobbled captain Michael Clarke will miss tomorrow ’ s opener against England and organisers found it necessary to stage two opening ceremonies, it was 1992 champions Pakistan who were fighting off the first minicrisis of the six-week event.

“Eight Pakistan players, including former captain Shahid Afridi and opener Ahmed Shehzad, were fined $300 AUD (R2 723) after they came late to their Sydney hotel on Sunday,” according to sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The team management, headed by manager Naveed Cheema, a former military man, claimed the players arrived 45 minutes late after a night out.

The players are understood to have apologised and have promised not to repeat the offence. Team management have told the players that if such a breach iss repeated they will be sent home on the first available flight.

Pakistan play their first group game against arch-rivals and title-holders India in Adelaide on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Australia and England cranked up the mind games 48 hours before they clash in their World Cup opener which will be watched by 90 000 fans inside the Mel- bourne Cricket Ground.

One of those looking on from the sidelines will be Clarke, who has still to fully recover from his long-standing hamstring injury.

Not that England skipper Eoin Morgan had huge interest in the plight of his opposite number.

“Whatever team they put out doesn ’ t really bother us. It ’ s really important we focus on what we do,” Morgan said.

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