What's new

Cricket

.
Pakistan has allowed ICL officials or coaches to participate in the domestic tournaments. Thats great for being fair! Thumbs up to the new PCB management.
 
.
I appriciate PCB and Lanka boards for this. Personally I dont like boss attitude of BCCI. Now a days they are too much! Hold on guys its all bcoz of govt support and mafia.
Let my party come in play they will kick their %^&%&.
 
.
i hope pcb will lift ban from all icl players and in next T 20 pakistan surley gonna beat indians hell out of them by razaq,imran nazir rana naveed, by getting them pakistan will be very hard to beat in T 20 next to imposible
 
.
Too early to call India No. 1 side: Ganguly
1 Jan 2009, PTI

NEW DELHI: Amid a raging debate whether India or South Africa are possible successors to Australia, Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said it would be "a bit too early" to rank Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men as world's number one team as it still needs to prove itself overseas.

The former captain said India had a very good team but the "real test" would come when they play well abroad where the conditions are different.

Asked specifically whether India could be the number one team after Australia's decline, Ganguly said, "To say that India would be number one, I think it's a bit too early. Look at the ICC points rankings, Australia, although they have not played good cricket for the last 3-4 months, they are still a few points away from the rest.

"India has a very good team but I believe this team's real test would be overseas, when India go to New Zealand and when they start traveling abroad. If you look at the last year, India has played a lot of cricket at home," Ganguly said.

Ganguly, who retired from international cricket after the series against Australia in November, said it would be difficult for India to replace great players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid when they decide to retire.

"It will take a lot of time to replace the Tendulkars, Dravids, Kumbles and Laxmans. It has taken a period of time for what they have achieved," said Ganguly who ended his career with a Test aggregate of 7212 in 113 matches for an average of 42.17.

Ganguly said that there was plenty of talent in India but the younger players who replace these stalwarts should be given a longer rope to establish themselves.

"One must also realise that when people like Gavaskar and Vengsarkar went, the Dravids, Tendulkars and Gangulys came. So there will be replacements. In India, there is so much talent. But it will happen only with time. The young players should be given time to establish themselves and become match-winners," he said.

Asked whether India had a better team and an all-round attack compared to South Africa, Ganguly said, "I would not say that at that stage, to be honest. If you look at South Africa's performance in the last nine series, they have not dropped a series. It's been all round the world. They have beaten Australia in Australia, they went to England and beat them convincingly."

On the government's decision to call off India's cricket tour of Pakistan, the former captain said it was the right decision under the circumstances.

"In the current situation, best thing is to withdraw from cricket. After what happened in Mumbai and from TV and other reports, there is lot to it than what I see. From that point of view, going to Pakistan at this stage will not be right and the government has done the right thing," he said.

Only a week back, Sachin Tendulkar had also backed the government's decision to scrap the tour saying the Mumbai tragedy was far bigger than any cricket tour or sports.

India were scheduled to play three Test, five One-dayers and a Twenty20 match during their month-long tour to Pakistan but a diplomatic stand-off following the terror attacks in Mumbai led to the cancellation of the series.

Ganguly was also impressed with the long strides the system in Indian cricket has taken towards progress and improvement.

But at the same time he attributed the change to the huge money, which cricket administrators had at their disposal to bring about changes.

"To be honest, system has improved quite a lot. That's bound to happen. Things are bound to happen. Things progress. Indian cricket has had the luck to have money to run cricket.

"You can see that some of the stadiums which have been built, some of the facilities which are being provided to the Test playing centres. We last played Test in Nagpur and that's fabulous venue for Test cricket," he said.

However, the former skipper said Indian cricket was able to produce the champions even when a supportive system was not in place for players.

"The facilities being provided to the modern day cricketers were not the same when we started our careers in 1996. Even our predecessors started without these facilities.

"No system can be perfect. But Indian cricket has done well irrespective of the system. Sunil Gavaskar came in when we had no system. Kapil (Dev) came in when we did not have facilities to produce fast bowlers.

"But the system has gone from stronger to stronger," he said.
 
.
PCB may end Asif suspension



Thursday, January 01, 2009
KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering clearing dope-tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif.

The PCB suspended Asif earlier this year after he failed a dope test while playing in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) in May.

But since it is uncertain whether Pakistani players will be associated with the IPL in the wake of India’s ties with Pakistan post-Mumbai attacks, the PCB is evaluating the pros and cons of letting Asif off the hook.

Sources in the PCB said Wednesday that Asif is also pressurising the PCB through both legal and political channels, to clear him so that he could resume his international career.

Asif wants to be cleared as soon as possible so as to return to competitive cricket by appearing in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy - the country’s premier domestic event.

But the PCB top brass is split as some officials favour clearing Asif while others think such a step would tarnish the board’s reputation.

Asif has a tainted reputation as far as doping is concerned as he also tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone during the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy in India.

He made all the wrong headlines last summer when he was detained in Dubai for 19 days after being caught carrying a small amount of some banned substance.

However, Pakistan Cricket Board officials with a soft corner for him believe that the player has already paid price for the offence as he has been out of the Pakistan team for the last six months.

They also point out that Asif did not fail Test while on national duty and now that there is a major possibility that Pakistan may break ties with the IPL because of strained relations with India, there is no use punishing Asif.

Meanwhile, the PCB has decided to seek help from legal experts to resolve the issue.

Sources said the Pakistan board has contacted doping experts Waqar Ahmed and Danish Zaheer to find out a legal way to clear Asif.

It remains to be seen whether Asif will appear before the IPL doping tribunal in London on January 24.

Because of the tensions between India and Pakistan following last month’s has chosen London as the venue for the hearing.Mumbai terror attacks, the Indian Premier League doping tribunal
TheNews
 
.
Pietersen threatens to resign over Vaughan's non-inclusion: Report
1 Jan 2009, PTI

LONDON: England cricket could find itself in the doldrums with a report claiming that captain Kevin Pietersen is threatening to resign over the non-inclusion of former skipper Michael Vaughan in the squad for this month's tour of West Indies.

The media said Pietersen felt betrayed by coach Peter Moores following the treatment meted out to Vaughan, whom the skipper had wanted for the four-Test tour of the West Indies.

Pietersen, it was reported, and had sought an emergency meeting with ECB chairman Giles Clarke on the issue.

The selectors, along with Moores, retained Ian Bell and Owais Shah in the squad much to the fury of Pietersen, who sees this as the final straw in a relationship with the coach that has been fractious at best since he took over.

According to the Daily Mail, Pietersen will tell Clarke that either Moores goes or he quits.

"It will place bombastic chairman Clarke in a highly difficult position as he has to choose between his powerful captain and the coach regarded so highly at the ECB," the report said.

Pietersen had asked for Vaughan's inclusion and had left on his holiday to Africa believing he would have his way but Moores won over the selectors at the meeting.

Pietersen had assured Vaughan, his predecessor as captain, that he had his full support. He sees Vaughan's presence as crucial to England's attempt to win the Ashes next summer.

"England now risk totally alienating their best player, the man who showed statesmanlike leadership in a situation of genuine crisis, unless Clarke axes Moores," the report said.

"The situation is such that the pair will surely not be able to work together again and, while (Hugh) Morris's support for Moores should not be underestimated, the ECB would be foolhardy in the extreme if they went against their captain," it added.

Moores, boosted by the support of ECB managing director Morris, spoke against Vaughan at a highly charged selection committee meeting on Monday.

Since accepting the captaincy last August, Pietersen has not had the best of relationship with Moores. The captain was vocal against what he saw as Moores' obsession with physical training before the tour of India.

Vaughan also had no secret of his dislike for Moores during their brief spell together and the former captain has privately told friends that he intends to make it perfectly clear what he thinks of Moores when he writes his autobiography at the conclusion of his career.
__________________
 
.
i hope and pray that ties between pcb and bcci wil broke soon because pcb has suffered alot from theses ties by banning it own players
 
. .
Butt claims to have broken the Mendis code
2 Jan 2009, PTI

KARACHI: Pakistan opener Salman Butt claims to have found the key to success against Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis after watching him bowl during the Indian Premier League trials for Kolkata Knight Riders.

"He bowls like the typical finger tape tennis bowlers you find playing on the streets of Pakistan and his success comes from the fact that he has a very good faster ball without any visible change to his bowling action or grip on the ball," Butt said.

Butt said he would now be more comfortable while facing up to the unorthodox off-spin of Mendis during Pakistan's upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

"At the end of the season, Mendis had appeared in trials for the Kolkata Knight Riders and I got a chance to watch him bowl and also played him in the nets," Butt said.

"He uses his top finger to obtain speed off the surface and turn without changing his action," the opener added.

Bowlers who use just two fingers to obtain turn and speed from tennis balls covered with tape in street cricket in Pakistan are described as tape tennis specialists.

Mendis has been a runaway success since the Asia Cup held in Pakistan last year during which he bamboozled the batsmen with his variations taking six for 13 in the final against India in Karachi.
 
.
ICC confident of sub-continent hosting World Cup
2 Jan 2009, PTI

SYDNEY: Even though Australia and New Zealand have been put on standby, International Cricket Council (ICC) President David Morgan on Friday expressed confidence that the 2011 World Cup would take place in the Indian sub-continent as per schedule.

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are joint hosts of the 2011 event but cricket was badly hit in the region, especially in Pakistan, due to the prevailing security situations.

Morgan said though Australia and New Zealand have been named alternative venues, he was confident that the sub-continent would successfully host the event.

"We are confident the sub-continent will be able to stage next World Cup," Morgan said.

"One would have to be absolutely firm 12 months before the start of the event," the ICC chief added.

Due to the reluctance of other teams to tour the country, Pakistan didn't play a single Test match in 2008 and even the Champions Trophy scheduled in the strife-torn country had to be postponed after a few countries refused to tour.

Terror raised its ugly head in India as well and after the attacks in Mumbai it took lot of persuasion from the BCCI before England was convinced to return for a two-match Test series.

The terror strikes, however, prompted cricket administrations to postpone the inaugural edition of the Champions League.

Morgan also expressed hopes that Australia would grant visa to Zimbabwe Cricket Union chairman Peter Chingoka to attend an ICC meeting later this month in Perth.

"We are hopeful that Peter Chingoka, the chairman of ZCU, will be given a visa to attend the meetings in Perth," Morgan said.

Perceived as an ally of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, Chingoka has been barred from visiting the country by the Australian federal government.

"Were making strenuous efforts to try to ensure a visa will be made available for this specific purpose," Morgan added.
 
.
Pak selector disagrees with decision to retain Malik as captain

Shahid HashmiFriday, January 02, 2009 4:29:40 PM

Karachi: Pakistan's newly appointed chief selector Abdul Qadir has a strong opinion, and often misfires something which is either totally against the policies of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) or unacceptable in the local culture.

Qadir has strongly opposed the idea of retaining Shoaib Malik as captain for both Tests and one-day cricket, saying he respects PCB chairman Ijaz Butt's view, but still feel that there should be separate captains for Tests and ODIs.
Butt had hinted Malik would continue as captain after his tenure expired on December 31.

"I have been saying there should be separate captains for Tests and ODIs," reiterated, Qadir which many believe will create disharmony in the team. Butt denied there was any suggestion of having separate captains with the governing Board which will give a final decision on Malik's captaincy.

Qadir said there will be dual benefits of having separate captains. "The Test and ODI captains will search for talents and will not feel the burden. "

Qadir also had different view from coach Intikhab Alam. While Qadir advocated for trail matches to prepare for Sri Lanka series, Alam suggested that the players feature in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
 
.
Day-night Tests concept gets ICC thumbs-up



Saturday, January 03, 2009
SYDNEY: The International Cricket Council’s chief says dwindling attendance at Test matches could speed up the possibility of day-night fixtures, if a suitable ball could be developed.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, speaking at a press conference on Friday to mark the council’s 100th anniversary, endorsed a call by Cricket Australia head James Sutherland for day-night Tests in an effort to improve attendance and television ratings.

“The lack of crowd attendance at many grounds around the globe is a cause for concern,” Lorgat said. “In that was the possibility of exploring day-night cricket because there is no doubt James Sutherland has put that on the table.

“We all know the technical difficulties on that. If that’s an answer to ensuring the status it has because it’s a better time proposition, then I would be in favor of it.”

The main technical difficulty is the ball. Wear on the ball is a key factor in tests, and day-night tests would need to find a method to replicate the wear when switching from a red ball during the day to a white ball at night, or develop a ball that was equally visible in day and night sessions.

ICC president David Morgan defended the ICC’s desire for Zimbabwe Cricket Union chairman Peter Chingoka to attend this month’s council meeting in Perth.

Chingoka, a supporter of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, has been banned from visiting Australia by the federal government as part of sanctions against the Mugabe government.

“We’re hopeful that Peter Chingoka, the chairman of ZCU, will be given a visa to attend the meetings in Perth,” Morgan said. “Simply for the Perth meetings.

“Certainly Mr Chingoka was allowed into the UK on two occasions after initial application was put on hold. Were making strenuous efforts to try to ensure a visa will be made available for this specific purpose.”

Day-night Tests concept gets ICC thumbs-up
 
.
Miandad wants NSK to look like Lord’s or the MCG


Sunday, January 04, 2009
By Khalid Hussain

KARACHI: Javed Miandad said on Saturday that he is working overtime to transform Karachi’s National Stadium into a facility that could be compared with Lord’s, known as the Home of Cricket.

The Director General of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ordered renovation work at the National Stadium (NSK) and believes that it would be ready within the next 15 days, well ahead of the proposed home series against Sri Lanka likely to get underway next month.

“National Stadium is one of our major Test centres and I want it to look as good as Lord’s or the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG),” said the former Pakistan captain, who is these days wearing the hat of a cricket administrator.

Miandad said that he has also ordered for the detachment of shops and offices adjacent to the stadium, saying that they posed a security hazard.

“According to the security guidelines given to us by the International Cricket Council (ICC), we can’t have unconcerned units connected to our Test centres,î he said. “That is why we have asked shops and offices to relocate from the National Stadium as soon as possible,” he added.

Miandad, regarded among the greatest Pakistani cricketers, said that is very important for the National Stadium to become a secure facility otherwise it might not get Tests or One-day Internationals in the future.

“In the current circumstances, we have to completely abide by the security guidelines given to us by the concerned authorities,” he said.

“In addition to that, to have unrelated infrastructure removed (from the stadium) will help us beautify the National Stadium in a befitting manner,” he said.

Miandad said that he wants a ‘ring road’ to be developed around the stadium so that the spectators can reach their particular enclosures without any problems.

“The National Stadium will be developed into one of the best cricket centres in the world,” said Miandad, who has fond memories of the National Stadium — his home ground.

Miandad said that he is also consulting with the company that installed a digital screen at the stadium to relocate it as it is posing a security hazard.

“I don’t know who advised them to put that screen where it is now. It is right in front of an entire enclosure and we will have to relocate it to some better place.”

Miandad said that the gymnasium at the stadium will be upgraded to international standard, adding that the PCB is ready to take all possible steps to improve the facilities available at the new stadium.

The National Stadium became Karachi’s fifth and Pakistan’s 11th first-class ground in 1955. The inaugural first-class match was played here between Pakistan and India on April 21-24 that year and it became a fortress of Pakistan cricket. In 34 Tests between that first match and December 2000, Pakistan won 17 and were never beaten. Their first Test defeat here came against England in 2000-01. The first one-dayer at the stadium was against the West Indies on November 21, 1980.

It is expected to be the venue for the series opener against Sri Lanka sometime next month.

Meanwhile, Miandad is looking ahead to a rosy future for the ground.

“My dream is to transform the National Stadium into a cricket facility that is second to none,” Miandad concluded.
 
.
Asif seeks clarity over future


Sunday, January 04, 2009
LAHORE: Suspended Pakistani pace bowler Mohammad Asif, who was embroiled in a doping controversy, on Saturday wanted to know from the Indian Premier League and the Pakistan Cricket Board if he could play for them.

Asif, who was suspended by the PCB from playing all forms of cricket after testing positive for a banned substance during the IPL series in June, said the cricketing bodies should clear the air on his status.

“Everyone knows that I have not been allowed to play cricket for the past seven months but I haven’t been banned either. I am not sure what I should do. They should either ban me or clear my name so that I can return to play cricket,” Asif told a news channel.

Asif’s ‘B’ sample had also tested positive, but the quantity of the banned substance found in his urine sample differed in both tests prompting the pacer to challenge the procedure adopted for dope testing in the IPL.

“Everyone knows without cricket I am nothing. It is on hold for the past seven months and it is only a one way traffic. I am getting no response either from the Board or IPL,” the player said. His lawyer had on Friday said that the ban imposed by the PCB, stopping Asif from playing in domestic cricket, is unwarranted and uncalled for.

“Our stand is very clear that Asif did not take any banned substance and we feel the procedure adopted in the IPL was flawed. I have no doubt he should be allowed to play domestic and international cricket and the board is wrong to suspend him,” Shahid Karim said.

He added that Asif had prepared a strong case for the January 24th hearing and was hopeful of being proved innocent.
 
.

Pakistan Affairs Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom