Fire up or get fired, PCB chief tells team

Pakistan cricket chief warned the team's big guns to start firing or face the chop following their 3-0 rout in the Test series against Australia.

Pakistan's cricket chief warned the national side's big guns to start firing during the rest of their Australian tour or face the chop following their 3-0 rout in the Test series.

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"No player is bigger than the team," wrote Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan in a letter to players, the contents of which were made available to AFP by sources close to the board.

"As the team moves to the triangular (one-day) series in Australia it is an appropriate moment to convey the Boards and the publics concern at the disappointing performance in the Test matches," he wrote.

"No sensible observer expected Pakistan to win against the world champions but the required fighting spirit was not visible as the advantages in every Test were frittered away by lack of concentration, the inability to deliver the killer punch and the absence of key players due to injury."

He added, "Let me make it clear that a thorough review of management, player commitment and discipline is being carried out and those found short on national pride and team commitment will not be saved by reputation or misplaced notions of indispensability."