Shoaib Akhtar’s Career best bowling 6-16 vs New Zealand
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Wahab Riaz cleared to make Kent debut at Taunton
Kent’s new overseas signing, Wahab Riaz, has arrived in the country and been cleared to make his debut for the county in tonight’s Friends Life t20 game against Somerset at Taunton.
The Pakistan international arrived yesterday afternoon after receiving his visa, before making his way to Taunton to meet up with the rest of the Kent squad. The left-arm fast bowler’s inclusion in the squad will be a major boost for the Spitfires after they lost both Matt Coles (metatarsal) and Martin van Jaarsveld (broken finger) to injury this week.
Skipper Rob Key will have a new-look attack to call on with Riaz and fellow overseas signing Charl Langeveldt likely to spearhead the Kent attack at Taunton and for Saturday night’s trip to Cardiff to face the Glamorgan Dragons.
Key will be looking at his experienced overseas to make inroads into a Somerset batting line-up that took the Spitfires’ attack apart at Tunbridge Wells last Friday night. They will have to counter the attacking instincts of Roelof van der Merwe who hit a career-best 89 at the Nevill Ground, while Marcus Trescothick remains the linchpin of the Somerset side.
Sam Northeast profits from van Jaarsveld’s absence and will bat at three for the Spitfires, while Adam Ball is likely to get the nod over Ashley Shaw and Adam Riley despite his one over going for 28 against Hampshire last Sunday.
Play starts tonight at 5.30pm.
Kent’s likely line-up: Joe Denly, Rob Key, Sam Northeast, Darren Stevens, Geraint Jones, Azhar Mahmood, James Tredwell, Wahab Riaz, Adam Ball, Charl Langeveldt, Simon Cook
Manager Cricket Team to reach Pakistan today
Manager of Pakistan Cricket Team Intikhab Alam is returning back to Pakistan from London today(Saturday). He would have a word with Pakistan Cricket Board’s Chairman Ijaz Butt about Ireland and W. Indies cricket Series, sources said.
As per details, Team Manager Intikhab Alam would have a meeting with PCB’s Chairman Ijaz Butt on his return from London who stayed their with his son after Ireland Series. Both would discuss Ireland and W. Indies cricket Series’ matters.
PCB sidelined Shahid Afridi from captaincy at the basis of manager’s report.
PCB’s Spokesman Nadeem Sarwar called his return a routine program and said PCB didn’t call him to Pakistan. Coach of national team Waqar Younis returned to Lahore with team but left for Sydney to attend his ailing wife after few hours’ stay.
PCB has shown confidence in Waqar Younis and Intikhab Alam performances and declared to keep them on the same positions in future.
Afridi’s woes likely to continue
As a court battle with the country’s cricket board currently underway, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is also expected to be ruled out of the upcoming eight-team National Twenty20 Championship.
Afridi, who announced his international retirement conditioned on the removal of the current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) set-up, is also doubtful of honouring his commitment with Hampshire after his NOC was revoked and his central contract suspended.
With less than two weeks remaining in the national tournament, the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) is now looking for the all-rounder’s replacement. Afridi, whose central contract’s suspension does not bar him from playing national tournaments, was set to lead Karachi Dolphins but a legal battle and an ongoing dispute with the PCB is likely to hold him back from playing the Twenty20 championship.
The KCCA had complained of PCB’s stance against Afridi, terming it ‘rigid and getting out of control’ and in a letter, a copy of which is with The Express Tribune, also wrote that an internal disciplinary hearing will not solve the issue.
“We have been closely monitoring the situation,” KCCA President Sirajul Bukhari told The Express Tribune. “We understand that he might not be part of the Karachi team now, but the KCCA will still ask the PCB about his participation in the tournament.”
With Afridi pulling out from the Twenty20 championship, Fawad Alam and Mohammad Sami are the top contenders to replace Afridi as captain.
Meanwhile, the PCB has promised a fair solution to the ongoing dispute.
“The PCB never wanted the matter to become personal,” said a PCB official. “Afridi blew things out of proportion. But we are following a process and as regards with the apprehension on the disciplinary committee, I don’t understand why he is not ready to face it. He went through a similar process last year after the Australia tour and didn’t object at that stage.”
Intikhab due to meet PCB
Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam, whose tour report is widely acknowledged to be the reason behind the removal of Afridi as captain, was scheduled to return late last night and due to meet the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt.
Alam, who submitted a preliminary report on the West Indies tour, is now expected to give a detailed account.
Alam was labelled as a ‘hypocite’ by Afridi in an emotional outburst in front of the media after the team manager criticised the all-rounder’s leadership skills in the report. Coach Waqar Younis pointed out drawbacks in Afridi’s captaincy and also blamed him for the defeats in the last two matches against West Indies with Alam backing those views.
PCB blames Afridi for blowing tiff out of proportion
Following Afridi's sudden retirement and his harsh words against the PCB in the wake of his removal as Pakistan's one-day international (ODI skipper) by the board, the PCB had suspended his central contract and revoked all No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued to him.
Afridi had filed a petition in the Sindh High Court against sanctions imposed on him by the PCB, and appealed for a stay order against the punishments against him.
"The PCB never wanted the matter to become personal... Afridi blew things out of proportion," The Express Tribune quoted a PCB official, as saying.
"But we are following a process and as regards with the apprehension on the disciplinary committee, I don't understand why he is not ready to face it. He went through a similar process last year after the Australia tour and didn't object at that stage," the official added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam, whose preliminary Caribbean tour report is widely acknowledged to be the reason behind the sacking of Afridi as ODI captain, is now expected to give a detailed account.
Alam was labelled as a 'hypocite' by Afridi in an emotional outburst in front of the media after the team manager criticised the all-rounder's leadership skills in the report.
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis had pointed out drawbacks in Afridi's captaincy and also blamed him for the defeats in the last two matches against the West Indies, with Alam backing those views.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Rashid urges PCB to include Afghanistan in domestics T20 event
Afghanistan cricket team coach Rashid Latif has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to include Afghanistan team in the forthcoming PCB domestic Twenty20 event. Talking to German radio Deutsche Welle here the other day, Rashid, who is also former Pakistan captain, thanked the PCB for inviting Afghanistan for three one-day matches which concluded against Pakistan A this weekend. “It was a good tour for both Pakistan and Afghanistan as we were the first foreign team touring Pakistan in two years. And at the same time Afghanistan cricketers learnt a lot from this trip because Pakistan A’s strength was equal to their national team. I am thankful to the PCB for arranging our first official tour and this trend should continue now. It will be better that the PCB allows at least one team from Afghanistan’s Kabul region in their Twenty20 Championship. It will bring more colour to Pakistan’ most popular cricket tournament,” Rashid added.
The PCB is going to hold the 8-team T20 competition later this month at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Although Afghanistan have got the one-day international status after finishing fifth in the World Cup qualifying round, still no Test playing team have played a single ODI against them.
But this does not bother Rashid at all. According to Rashid, who played 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals for Pakistan, Afghanistan Cricket Board should arrange series against associate countries like Ireland, Scotland, Holland and Kenya. “If we perform well against those nations then definitely big cricketing nations will be willing to play T20 internationals against us. We should be focusing on this rather playing one-day matches against full members of the ICC at the moment,” he said.
The ICC Intercontinental Tournament is Afghanistan’s next assignment. About defending the Intercontinental title, Rashid said that players’ development was his priority at the moment. “I am working more on players development this time,” he said.
'Delighted at joining Wasim's former county'
Itching for county experience, Junaid Khan hasalready started the countdown to his stint with Lancashire as he awaits his UK visa.
Lancashire recently signed 21-year old Junaid for their Friends Life Twenty20 campaign after the fast-bowler’s impressive performance in Pakistan’s recent sweep against Ireland in the two-match One-Day International (ODI) series. The county was previously led by Pakistan great Wasim Akram and Junaid is looking forward to playing for the same team.
In his heyday, Akram spent 11 seasons with the side and now young- blood Junaid is counting much on his county appearance in a bid to follow the footsteps of the legendary fast bowler.
“I’m extremely delighted at joining Lancashire,” Junaid told The Express Tribune. “It’s a great honour for me to play for the same side that the great Akram has also played with.
“I always wanted to emulate Akram and my contract is a huge boost to my career,” said Junaid.
“I’m only awaiting the UK visa and will not waste a single day to join the side.”
Valuable experience
Still in the initial stages of his international career, Junaid hopes that county exposure will help polish his skills.
“Nearly all great cricketers have played county cricket and I’m also hoping to get valuable experience.
“It’s the start of my career and I aim to work on my weaknesses during the county exposure,” said Junaid who has played seven ODIs for Pakistan.
Oozing with confidence
Meanwhile, the left-arm pacer said he was confident of doing well due to favourable conditions for seamers.
“The English conditions favour fast-bowlers and keeping that in mind, hopefully I’ll be able to give my best.
“My strength is seam bowling. There’s all for a bowler like me in English conditions. This is what happened against Ireland as well – where conditions suited me and I performed well.”
Junaid, however, remains concerned about his show at dead pitches like the one he faced in the West Indies where he struggled in both the ODI and Test series.
“I faced problems in the West Indies where there was a little or no support for seamers. I’m working hard and trying to be productive on such tracks,” he said while lauding former bowler and assistant coach Aaqib Javed for his assistance.
Court ask PCB to file reply to Afridi's petition on NOC
the disciplinary proceedings initiated against him by the board until June 16.
"We are now thinking about filing for damages for the loss of income of our client which is due to his being denied NOC to play for Hampshire," Ali Zafar, lawyer for Afridi, said.
Tafazzul Rizvi the PCB legal advisor told media that the court has made it clear they could not order the PCB to issue NOCs at this stage.
"We asked the court for time to file our detailed reply to the petition filed by Afridi and the court has said we should do it by June 16. We pointed out to the court that it had no jurisdiction to accept any petition in this case as Afridi had legally signed a central contract with the board under which disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him," Rizvi said. Afridi, who is facing disciplinary action from the Board for unilaterally announcing his retirement and than making disparaging remarks about the Board and its officials, has challenged the constitution of the disciplinary committee and its proceedings.
Rizvi said all action against the former captain was according to the law and a procedure that Afridi had accepted in 2010 and appeared before the disciplinary committee of the board last year after the Australian tour.
SHAHID AFRIDI RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM COUNTRY’S TOP POLITICIAN NAWAZ SHARIF
The former One Day skipper of Pakistan, Shahid Afridi, after mass support from the people of Pakistan, has also received commendation from the country’s top politician, Nawaz Sharif.
Sharif, who is a staunch follower of the game, praised Afridi’s contributions towards the national team and insisted that the whole nation was behind the player.
“Afridi made great contributions in the world cup, he hoisted Pakistan’s flag on Indian soil and the Pakistan Cricket Board should respect him.” He said while talking to journalists at the Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore.
The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) appreciated the way the 31-year-old all-rounder had led the national team against all odds in the ICC world cup 2011.
Sharif insisted that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should not forget that Afridi played a vital role with the ball, helping his team reach the semi-final of the mega event.
Afridi reached Pakistan on Sunday amidst huge support from the Pakistani public as well as some media persons and politicians.
Last week, the PCB revoked Afridi’s NOC to punish the player for his outburst against the board members and the chairman of the PCB, Ijaz Butt.
However, Afridi has reiterated that after his retirement from International cricket, it is unjustified on behalf of the PCB to revoke his NOC. The player needs to earn a living by playing domestic cricket at home and abroad.
The debacle took off when Afridi openly criticized the team management for meddling in team selection during the Caribbean tour, after which he was sacked by the PCB and replaced by Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.
Later, Afridi bid farewell to international cricket and accused the Pakistan Cricket Board for disrespecting him, despite his contributions to cricket in the country.
Appointing a legal counsil, Afridi also filed a legal notice in the Sindh High Court against the punishments imposed on him by the PCB.
The PCB’s disciplinary committee had summoned Afridi today, June 8, however, according to his legal counsel, the Board has not followed the law of the country in this case.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
PCB ready to face Shahid Afridi in court says Subhan Ahmed
PCB ready to face Shahid Afridi in court says Subhan Ahmed
In response to former skipper Shahid Afridi’s petition, filed in the Sindh High Court against Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Chief Operating Officer of the board said that the PCB respects the rule of law and would implement the court’s decision in letter and spirit.
The retired captain, on Tuesday filed a petition in the SHC to challenge the charges imposed on him by the PCB.
As a result, the court has forbidden the board to hold a four-member disciplinary committee meeting and has ordered the PCB officials to appear before the court on June 9, to provide explanations.
Subhan, the Chief Operating Officer of the board, asserted that Afridi should have attended the board’s disciplinary committee to resolve the issue with the PCB, rather than moving to SHC.
However, he added that the PCB is ready to face the all-rounder in court and will follow the court’s verdict.
“We have followed all procedures while initiating disciplinary action against Afridi as per laid down in our constitution. Our legal team and officials will appear in court as per directives of the court,” said Subhan.
In the wake of Afridi’s retirement last week and his media outburst against PCB’s officials, the board issued a show cause notice to Afridi and suspended his central contract. The non-objection certificates (NOCs) issued to him, were also cancelled.
The controversies between the board and Afridi started following the Caribbean tour, where Afridi passed offensive remarks regarding the team’s coach, Waqar Younis.
The board then removed the leg-spinner from captaincy and appointed Misbah-ul-Haq at his place, to lead team in the two-match ODI series against Ireland.
According to Afridi, the board did not issue any prior notice to him, nor was he informed personally.
Reacting over PCB’s actions, the right-handed batsman announced his retirement from International cricket, citing the board’s misconduct in his case.
He also stated that he would not resume his cricketing career, as long as board is working under the current Chairman, Ijaz Butt.
Ijaz Butt destroys the career of another star
Pakistan cricket continues to embroil itself in self inflicted problems, just when the fans begin to take a sigh of relief thinking that the discords within the team have been settled or repercussions of the latest scandal are over, the players and the management brew a new problem out of nowhere.
In the latest episode of Pakistan cricket’s never ending soap opera ” Shahid Afridi has announced retirement from international cricket after he was stripped off from captaincy of Pakistan’s Odi team.
The root cause of the current crisis was an altercation between Waqar Younis and Afridi during the Caribbean tour, it was reported that Waqar Younis and the team management were dominating the tour selection committee and marginalized the Captain for which which Afridi rightfully protested in front of the media upon his return from the tour. He was immediately issued a warning, later on Afridi withdrew himself from the Irish tour due to his father’s illness but when PCB stripped him of the Odi captaincy he announced his retirement.
To a sane mind it would seem highly strange that how a simple issue of difference of opinion between the management and the captain got so out of control that first the management had to strip a sitting captain of his job for issuing a harmless statement in the media and as a result the captain who also happens to be Pakistan’s ” MVP” in the limited overs format for quite some time had to announce his retirement from international cricket citing his inability to play under current management.
Recently the SriLankan team went through a lot of changes nobody announced their retirement, the English team removed Collingwood from Captaincy of their T20 team. The Australian made Ricky Ponting to step down from captaincy, The WICB removed Gayle not only from captaincy but also from the team. If the rest of the world can undergo these changes smoothly why is that Cricket Pakistan can’t deal with these issues like simple managerial routines?
In my opinion the arguments within Pakistan cricket are never based on principles they always stem from power struggle, the desire for power and control stems from corruption which is rampant in Pakistan cricket. Every body wants the Lions share, the management by controlling the team and using the players as puppets and the captains want the Lions share since they have to bite the bullet after every unsuccessful tournament.
Why Ijaz But wanted to reward Misbah by making him the captain of Pakistan’s Odi team? Was it because he single handedly lost the WC semi final? Or for losing a test and drawing a test series against a team which can’t beat even a decent club side in Pakistan? Why Waqar Younis wants to control the team selection his main job is coaching he is not the selector he doesn’t lead the team on the field he is not ultimately responsible for the team’s performance in front of the media?
The reason is simple, given his role in corruption in the past and his decision to step down of the coaching job under Nasim Ashraf when he was told that he won’t travel with the team and will only work in the academy, tells us a lot why he wants to take control of the team.
I have never been a huge fan of Afridi as I have always considered him one of the players who have always been involved in power struggle and even though I think that he was wronged in the current situation but I think like his predecessors he was destined to be treated the same way. The one thing which disgusts me the most about Afridi and his fans is that they always play the regional card when things don’t go their way, I would have been more sympathetic to him if he had exposed the management and the coach or the so called Lahore Lobby, but I guess his hands are also dirty so he can’t speak the truth and can only play dirty politics.
By making jingoistic statements in the press Afridi has lost a lot of vital support, most of the Ex players who were very vocal for him are now criticizing him, I don’t mind his criticism of Mohammad Ilyass but he also hit out at players forming a group against him within the team which in my opinion wasn’t the right thing to do, even if he makes a come back he won’t be able to mend his relations with the players.
Under the current Government we won’t see Ijaz Butt getting removed from the office and even if he gets removed he will leave behind an orgainzation which has become inherently corrupt. No captain will survive under the current administration unless he agrees to act like a puppet.
Pakistan cricket is on the verge of getting completely destroyed, the current team is extremely limited in talent we haven’t developed any new players and are destroying the career of the existing stars one by one, and this is all happening because of vested interests and wide spread corruption in PCB
IMRAN SLAMS SUICIDE ATTACK ON PAKISTAN CRICKET
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suspended Afridi's contract and revoked permission for him to playabroad to punish his recent decision to retire from international cricket and criticise the board.
Afridi went to court on Tuesday, demanding that the sanctions be overturned. The court adjourned a PCB disciplinary committee meeting set for Wednesday and summoned PCB officials to appear in court Thursday.
"This case is another suicide attack on Pakistan cricket," Khan told AFP. "I don't know why Pakistan cricket keeps inflicting suicide attacks on itself which are damaging for the game in a country already reeling under problems."
Imran Khan blamed the saga on a lack of unaccountability among the PCB.
"The reason why Pakistan cricket remains in turmoil is because there is no stability, no institutionalism in decision making and because the head of the board is appointed by the president of Pakistan and is not accountable," he said.
Khan said that only Pakistan opposes a proposed amendment to the constitution of the International Cricket Council (ICC) that would suspend members appointed by government.
"Because there is government involvement in our cricket, the PCB is opposing the proposed change in the ICC constitution. If the change comes about it will make the PCB a proper institution," said Khan.
He said frequent changes in the captaincy have destabilised the team.
"I still can't understand how can you change Younis Khan six months after he led Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title," said Khan. Younis was forced out after a players' revolt against him in November 2009.
"How can Afridi be replaced a month after leading Pakistan to the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup? A few days ago he was showered with praise and prizes and he had started to stabilise the team.
Stating his belief that "no one is a born captain", Khan said Pakistan's leading players suffer because the standard of domestic cricket is poor making it hard to gain experience leading a side outside internationals.
Afridi publicly criticised coach Waqar Younis for "undue meddling" in the team's selection during Pakistan'stour of the West Indies last month. The PCB subsequently replaced him as captain.
"A coach's role is subservient to captain. Cricket is the only game where the captain's role superior and no coach can take the lead. The PCB should have defined the roles of the captain and the coach," said Khan.
"Look at India where captain (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni is the man in charge. Ricky Ponting used to take the lead in the Australian team and the coach sits behind the scenes. It's quite clear."
Monday, 6 June 2011
PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD V SHAHID AFRIDI - WASIM AKRAM GETS INVOLVEDPAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD V SHAHID AFRIDI - WASIM AKRAM GETS INVOLVEd
Former skipper of Pakistan, Wasim Akram, has expressed his disappointment over the way the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) handled the situation between Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi.
The 45-year old, left-arm pacer insisted that the PCB should have given a solid reason to sack Afridi because he was a successful captain and deposing him without any reason was just not an appropriate course of action by the cricket board.
“Shahid was doing well as captain and had motivated the team well. So when a successful captain is removed, the Board should be sensible enough to give the reasons for the decision. They can't just take such a bigdecision and say they will give details later on", said Akram, who led Pakistan to the ICC World Cup 1999 final.
While showing full support for Afridi, Akram, admitted that that he did not favour the way the all-rounder lashed out against the PCB in the media after his sacking as the captain of the One Day International (ODI) team.
Akram suggested that instead of speaking out on the media, the 31-year old Afridi, should have held a meeting with the officials of the board to resolve all outstanding issues.
The Sultan of Swing insisted that the all-rounder still had years of cricket left in him and should be utilized by the PCB instead of being sidelined.
Akram revealed that the incident had marked another dent in the reputation of Pakistan cricket in the eyes of the world, and there is a growing concern in the world of cricket that there is something seriously wrong with the sport in Pakistan.
He predicted that the current situation was another case of a power struggle where the coach wants more powers than the skipper of the team. Speaking to newsmen, he said, “It is only in Pakistan that a coach wants more authority. In other countries it is the captain who calls the shots and the coach is there to support him. Many people didn't know Gary Kirsten was India's coach in the World Cup".
He insisted that matter should be resolved by the PCB as soon as possible to stabilize the already unstable national team.
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