Cricket: Pakistan weather a near-run thing

Pakistan coach Javed Miandad didn't want to imagine his fate had the Wellington weather sealed one of the biggest blunders in test history yesterday.

Miandad's last visit here, three years ago, ended with his sacking after drawing the test series 1-1.

If rain had denied them an elementary win yesterday, he may have been safer not to return home.

The Pakistan camp were spluttering into their morning cups of tea when they threw open the curtains only to see the rain tumbling down on day five of the second test.

It raised the chance of New Zealand's snatching a miracle draw after captain Inzamam-ul-Haq did not ask for the extra 30 minutes he was entitled to on Monday evening, when Pakistan were just 28 runs short of victory.

"Obviously it's not my decision, but we were a bit confused," Miandad said after the rain cleared.

"It was first time it was happening for Inzamam. If it rained more we definitely would have cried."

The unforgiving Pakistan board who demand success may well have asked some serious questions, too.

"They would have been thinking the same way as you all. But people do make mistakes and our intention wasn't anything else," Miandad said.

"It happened and you learn from your mistakes.

"In the end I'm very pleased and happy we got through on the last day."

The playing conditions state that either captain can claim the extra half-hour if the umpires decide a result is imminent.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was incredulous when umpire Dave Orchard told him with one over remaining on the fourth day that Inzamam had not asked for an extension.

"I thought that was crazy, unbelievable. It could have been a terrible mistake if it had rained today through lack of understanding of the rules," Fleming said last night.

"It was pretty hard to fathom, but it was certainly good for us because it gave us a lifeline."

Miandad, one of Pakistan's great batsmen, was not predicting world dominance, but ominously said his talented side were finally developing some consistency.

Yesterday's result meant they jumped to third on the world rankings ahead of England.

"The way things are going on we are improving. That's the lesson . . . if you keep working hard you can win any time," Miandad said.

"It's not a matter of No 1. If you keep performing well you get more confidence. Rankings are always up and down, but we have to make sure we have a settled side who go for a long period."

- NZPA