Pakistan played Zimbabwe after discipline threat

By Waheed Khan

KARACHI (Reuters) - Pakistan cricket authorities threatened their World Cup team with severe penalties to force them to play their final tie against Zimbabwe following the death of Bob Woolmer, it was revealed on Thursday.

Sources in the Pakistan team told Reuters that captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had initially told the players the team would not play the Group D game against Zimbabwe which was held on Wednesday, March 21, three days after Woolmer's body was found.

Inzamam and the team, sources said, did not want to play in the wake of the death of coach Woolmer and the subsequent police investigations.

"It took a late-night telephone call to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and threats of severe penalties for Inzamam and the players to finally relent," one source said.

He did not say what those penalties would have been.

"The manager, Talat Ali put his foot down and backed by the board told Inzamam and senior players in a meeting that they would not decide which match to play and they must fulfil their commitment against Zimbabwe," the source said.

"Talat told them they would not be allowed to have their way as they had done during last year's Oval test against England," the source added.

FORFEITED RESULT