Miandad 'deliberately omitted' from dinner

Former Pakistan bowling ace Imran Khan has raised a storm by "deliberately omitting" Javed Miandad from a list of high-profile guests whom he invited for a lavish party at his home, amid speculation that plans for a second coup are underway to oust the Pakistan coach.

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"He invited manager Haroon Rasheed, Inzamam and other senior players along with the Indians but blatantly ignored Miandad, making it obvious how much he dislikes seeing him in a position of power," Pakistan daily The News said.

Recalling a similar dinner hosted by Imran in 1993 in Lahore, which triggered off a revolt against Miandad's captaincy, it said, "It was Imran's way of paying back Miandad who he has always held responsible for his forced ouster as captain and retirement after the 1992 World Cup."

Expectedly, Miandad was not at all happy at the snubbing and expressed fears that the former captain could be plotting another "revolt" against him, the daily said.

"What is sad is that Imran's private war against Miandad has not ended even after ten years and he continues to do everything to undermine a player on whom he relied heavily when he was captain."

The daily also targeted some other former cricketers for running down the team.

"From allegations of fixed matches to the series being played according to a script -- it is an

obvious attempt to publicly undermine the authority of the Pakistan team management.

"True Inzamam-ul Haq's captaincy has been listless and unimaginative at times. The bowlers have just not fired and the batsmen have struggled to post big scores. But it is also a fact that former players, captains and critics have not helped at all with their negative statements, which have played a major role in triggering off a process of a possible breakdown in communication and spirit in the team."