Logistics affecting team schedule: Pak

Dharamsala was causing "some concern" to the visitors as it could affect their training session ahead of the first Test in Mohali, Salim Altaf.

The touring Pakistan cricket team has voiced its "concern" over Dharamshala as a venue for their tour opener, with team manager citing logistics at this remote Himachal town as a factor affecting their cricket schedule.

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Salim Altaf, the team manager as also Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director of operations, said the "tedious" journey to and from Dharamsala was causing "some concern" to the visitors as it could affect their training session ahead of the first Test starting in Mohali on March 8.

"We have played in Johannesburg, so altitude is not an issue here. But as far as logisitics are concerned, there is some concern for us," Altaf said.

"We are playing here from March 3 to 5, and if we go back to Mohali on March 6, then it is unlikely that we will be able to practice, so we may get just one day of practice before the Mohali Test, which is a point of worry.

"We are requesting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to get us out of here on the 5th itself so that we can get some practice in Mohali on the 6th."

Altaf said the issue over Dalai Lama inaugurating the match had been "amicably solved" by the two cricket boards.

"The PCB president did speak to his Indian counterpart on the matter. Whatever the bone of contention was has been amicably resolved. I am not a politician to say anything further. But I can add that he is welcome to attend the match."

Altaf, a former Test player, said tight scheduling has made modern cricket not so enjoyable as it was in his days.

"These days, tours are so condensed, youngsters end up carrying the baggage. In my time, it used to be long drawn," he said.

Altaf opined that the Indo-Pak cricket rivalry had a thrill of its own and it did not need the help of media hype.

"Of course there is a lot of hype. But as a player, a Test match is a Test match. It doesn't matter if you are bowling to Viv Richards or to Sachin Tendulkar.

"From outside, it is basically a media hype, but among the players, amidst all the rivalry, there is a lot of camaraderie too."

He said all Pakistani players were fit and the team would be in full strength against the Board President's XI to be led by Mohammad Kaif.

On PCB's disciplinary action against Shoaib Akhtar, who was fined for off-field behaviour during the tour of Australia recently, Altaf said, "all players were awarded contracts before leaving for Australia. That contract has a lot of clauses, and if a player oversteps the line, the PCB initiates action.

"He was fined $500 after a disciplinary hearing, which is nothing these days. Being a star player, it can't be avoided that Akhtar generates so much attention from the media.

"Here, if Sachin sneezes, it makes headlines, and it's a similar case with Shoaib too."