LAHORE: Pakistan hit top gear in preparing for next year's World Cup with former great Javed Miandad giving special coaching to faltering batsmen in a week-long training camp that began Wednesday. Pakistan tours New Zealand for three Twenty20 matches, two Tests and six One-Day Internationals before the Feb.y 19-April 2 World Cup to be jointly hosted by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Manager Intikhab Alam said the camp is the final phase of Pakistan's preparation and Miandad's involvement would be a boost. “It's a great chance for the youngsters to get useful training from Miandad in this final phase of our training for the World Cup. “And I am confident that first in New Zealand and then in the World Cup this team will achieve the best results,” Alam said. Pakistan's one-day captain Shahid Afridi last week expressed dissatisfaction in preparations for the World Cup with key players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir suspended on charges of spot-fixing. Pakistan is also uncertain of the selection of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and all-rounder Shoaib Malik who are reportedly under suspicion for match-fixing. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt announced Miandad will serve as batting consultant during the camp in the eastern city of Lahore. “Miandad has agreed to be batting consultant and help out the players in the camp but he will let us know in a few days' time if he is going to New Zealand with the team as well,” Butt said. Former paceman Waqar Younis remains head coach of the team. Miandad said he was happy to help batsmen ahead of the event. Pakistan crashed out of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and the 2007 tournament in the West Indies in the first round, mainly because of batting failures. “I am always ready to help the Pakistan team in any way because Pakistan cricket has given me a lot. I hope that they improve their batting and achieve better results in the World Cup,” said Miandad, whose batting helped Pakistan clinch its only World Cup title in Australia in 1992. Anti-corruption drive Pakistan Wednesday unveiled an anti-corruption awareness program for cricket, stepping up efforts to counter a menace that has hammered the national team. In October, the ICC advised Pakistan to take strict measures to curb corruption among its players and its cricket, otherwise threatening sanctions. PCB has already introduced a stricter code of conduct for all the national team players and implemented steps to educate the players on corruption and doping. The PCB said the latest awareness program, to be conducted from December 10 to 22 is another step to curb the menace. PCB security manager Waseem Ahmed will conduct the program at various venues.
