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KARACHI, April 23: The manager of the Pakistan team for the Sharjah Cup, Professor Sirajul Islam Bukhari, has expressed his shock at Javed Miandad's sudden resignation.

``Frankly, I don't understand why he chose to resign with the World Cup just round the corner. I feel that his absence will greatly affect the morale of our team.''

Asked if he found any difficulty in Sharjah, Bukhari, who is also secretary of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), replied in the negative. ``As a manager I did not face any problem whatsoever during the entire tour with anyone, including the captain and the coach.''

Commenting on the players' claim that the prize money was not distributed, Bukhari said: ``This (the claims) is hard to understand. As far as the prize money was concerned, I distributed the winners purse of US$50,000 and $15,000 that was given for the car, among the players immediately after the final ended. I have no idea about any other cash awards that the players were expecting to get from other sources.''

Bukhari, however, remarked that some developments may have taken place in Sharjah as he had left for Karachi a day before the squad arrived back home. ``May be, some developments took place after I had left.''

Bukhari is scheduled to leave for Islamabad on Saturday morning for the Prime Minister's reception.