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Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed Wednesday said victory celebrations would continue though Shoaib Akhtar was reported for a suspect bowling action.

"Why should we stop celebrations just because of someone's suspicion. As far as we are concerned, we played excellent cricket and deserve to celebrate," Yawar said from Islamabad.

Cricket starved Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka in the Khaleej Times Trophy final by five wickets to win their first title since Asia Cup triumph in Dhaka last year.

Yawar said Pakistan team deserved appreciation after they had performed splendidly despite being short of practice.

"Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were better prepared teams and had been playing international cricket. We had taken the field for the first time in three months," he said. But Yawar said he was surprised that Shoaib had been reported for suspect bowling action by match referee Denis Lindsay.

"I was not taken into confidence by the match referee. He didn't even give a hint that he would report the matter to ICC. "All he said after the final that he would issue a press release in which he would request the ICC to look at the footages."

Yawar said his understanding was that at that stage, the match referee had doubts against Shoaib's bowling action otherwise he would have said clearly that he would report the matter to ICC.

Yawar said he was also unaware if Shoaib's action has been suspected in the final or throughout the tournament. "I am completely unaware if doubts have been raised in the final or in the entire tournament because the match referee didn't tell me anything."

Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle had informed the Pakistan team management last year before reporting Shahid Afridi's bowling action to the ICC. In this background, either the procedures were not followed or the game's governing body has needlessly taken a step forward.

Interestingly, South African umpire Rudi Koertzen and Englishman George Sharp have expressed concerns.

Yawar hoped that Shoaib's case would be rejected outright after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) submitted a detail medical report to the ICC. He said it was primarily on that report that no issue was raised when he played in England in May/June.

Yawar said as a manager, he wouldn't have asked for anything more from his boys who were outstanding. "They fought like a unit. Everyone was supporting and backing each other which is so very essential when you are playing at the highest level".

Yawar said the boys deserved all praise because they didn't play with their star players but still returned with flying colours.

"Inzamam was suspended for the first two games and then Saeed Anwar was out of commission from the last three matches. But the batting still came good because they sensed their responsibility and showed maturity."

Yawar showered praise on Naved Latif but clarified that he was a makeshift opener and would be considered as a middle-order batsman in future.

"Saeed is out for four to six weeks while Taufiq Umer is sidelined for 10 days with knee injury. Had either of the two been fit, probably Naved would not have opened the innings.

"Why should Naved be considered as an opener? Tell me if Saeed scores runs down the order, should he be demoted?" he questioned.

The team manager said Naved deserved full marks as he excelled when the team needed him to deliver. He said the boy adjusted brilliantly in his new role which speaks volumes of the talent and potential the boy has.

The manager reserved special compliments for Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. "The two were simply outstanding. They silenced their critics with their performances. In the current form, I don't think anyone can say they are close to the end of their careers."

Yawar said there was always room for improvement and there were always grey areas which needed to be plugged. "The team needs to continue improving because the other teams are improving. All-round work has to go on. "But I am glad to say that at least we have found a pool of players who can be moulded into world beaters."

© Dawn