Easy win for Pakistan

By Ted Corbett

LEEDS, JUNE 18. Another pitch invasion by Pakistan fans forced the game against England to be abandoned as Pakistan was on the point of winning tonight. The England captain Alec Stewart wisely conceded victory to Pakistan - a first in any international game - but the future of the tournament is in danger if there are any further examples of the trouble that spoiled the day-night game at Edgbaston and the thrilling finish at Lord's.

The problem on Saturday night came because the main Headingley scoreboard gave the wrong score which triggered off a celebration rush on to the field when Azhar Mahmood hit the ball to the boundary. The scorers had made several attempts to correct the scoreboard, but found all the channels for their radios blocked by the huge security force. One steward, apparently struck across the face with a stump, had to be carried from the ground on a stretcher.

The result - a win for Pakistan by six wickets with 10.1 overs remaining - is only of academic interest because England is already out of the tournament and the remaining games ahead of next Saturday's final are of no consequence. The Pakistani section of the crowds have behaved atrociously throughout, on grounds where there is no protection for players and umpires, despite pleas from their own captain and a greatly increased number of stewards. It cannot be allowed to continue and there must be an emergency meeting of the England and Wales Cricket Board before the next game at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

At 34 for two, with Inzamam-ul-Haq still in the dressing room injured, Pakistan needed a long stand to inflict the tenth successive defeat on England and Abdur Razzaq and Yousuf Youhana concentrated on singles, while they eased the score to 44 off 15. They were not parted until Youhana was caught by Stewart off Cork at 128; Razzaq was Stewart's fourth victim at 147.

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