No rift between players and fielding coach: PCB

Christchurch, Feb 18 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Wednesday denied rumours of any internal rift between players and the team management over the attitude of some players.

"It is clarified that the news is absolutely false and that nothing of the sort has happened," a PCB statement said Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan fielding coach-cum-trainer Grant Luden reportedly tendered his resignation after being dejected over the attitude of three cricketers -- Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal.

"The entire team trained together Wednesday where some players were put through their paces by all coaches, with Mr Luden putting in an extra hour on both days with a select group of players," the release said.

Pakistan lost the Cup-opening match against India by 76 runs Sunday that triggered a sense of crisis in the team, which heightened after reports of Luden resigning surfaced.

But a PCB spokesman clarified that Luden did offer to quit a few days before the start of the World Cup, but that was for personal reasons.

But the team management managed to convince him to withdraw his resignation after assuring him that all his grievances will be addressed.

"A few days prior to the start of the 2015 World Cup, Mr Luden had expressed his desire that for personal reasons, he would want to be relieved of his duties some time in May '15. Subsequently, as his issues were resolved, he took his resignation back," the PCB spkesperson said Wednesday.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management as well as the boys hold the job he is doing in high esteem, and are keen that he continues to serve in his present role", added the PCB spokesman.

The Pakistan team is currently training in Christchurch ahead of their Pool B World Cup clash against the West Indies Feb 21.