Disputes are sorted out b/w Shahid Afridi and PCB

Shahid Afridi has agreed to withdraw case from the court against PCB. He is also ready to appear in-front of Disciplinary committee. Afridi can play T-20 national cup…
Moreover, PCB agree to grant him NOC to play for Hampshire and in SLPL.

Is Cricket Australia going the PCB and WICB way?

The crossover between the sporting and legislative realms in the subcontinent is often frequent and mostly feared. In countries like Australia these sorts of things are rare or I should say it’s just hard to think about it.

But Australian cricket is creating noises these days. When Steve Waugh, a true legend of the game was axed from the ODI captaincy there had been sympathy all over but no outrageous comments or acts were made to storm the cricketing World. But the axing of Simon Katich is creating a lot of media hype.

First of all Michael Salter lashed out at the Australian selectors and then the angry and frustrated Simon Katich took the Australian selectors to the cleaners and now the issue has moved the federal defence minister, Stephen Smith, to make his own unbridled attack on the national selectors.

Am I watching a PCB or WICB?

Australian cricket has lost the aura of invincibility. Like many other factors a strong administration was critical behind Australia’s supremacy in the last decade. A team studded with stars is bound to have ego clashes and conflicts with the board but they were all managed smoothly and the administrators had a command over the players, not like a dictator but like the head of a family. Australia, in the last decade presented with news of their epical wins and staggering performances. Controversies were never an issue for them.

But the sadly, Australian news at present are scripting chaos. In 1995 when the West Indies lost their empire to Australia, the conflict of WICB with Ambrose and Lara hit the headlines. The WICB never checked such things or I should say never managed to solve such issues and which kept on creating distance between the players and the board and at present the West Indies cricket is nothing but a broken family. Board plays a big role and creating an empire along side the great players. When a cricket board lives on whims it automatically affects the performance of the team.

And in that case the PCB is sure to win a gold medal. Time and again, since 1992, one after another of PCB’s whimsical acts has tarnished Pakistan cricket. The players of Pakistan cricket never feel at home with the PCB and feel so ignored that at times they get fed up and leave cricket. Pakistan cricket suffers but the PCB has no headache. They are careful about their egos and not the betterment and the image of the nation and its cricket.

Like the WICB, the PCB too remained unaware of their acts. In 1993 suddenly Javed Miandad was removed and a young, naive Wasim Akram was made captain and suddenly a revolt removed Akram the next year and made Salim Malik the captain and who was then again removed due to match-fixing issues and then Ramiz, Wasim , Rashid Latif, Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail, Moin Khan kept on coming and going as captains, totally making Pakistan cricket a joke. Players were involved in fights and most importantly the PCB simply handled the match-fixing issue so naively that they left their assets at bay. Worse was the way media stripped Pakistan cricket. Nothing was being managed maturely. The distance between Pakistan players and its board still remains like former East and West Pakistan.

Both Pakistan and WI cricket’s downfall had started with issues like Simon Katich (Brian Lara and Ambrose saga with the WICB in 1995and Javed Miandad captaincy saga in 1993). And it was during that time when they were still a better side. Both the boards basked in glories thinking that they have players to run the side and such minor issues won’t hamper. But little things like these slowly damages a wonderful family as in course of time the boards just fails to control such things as from the start they were not habituated to such things.

Australia still has the spice and ingredients to reckon as a force in World cricket. Still they can climb to the number one spot. But issues such as these will hamper their advancement to the top. Australians are tough and professionals and we all know that they are the masters of handling such issues. But I feel that they haven’t yet managed things well and for which the chewing gum is kept on stretching and stretching. Mind you once all reckoned the WICB as a professional body? But in course of time they lost it due to sitting on the chair of pseudo ego.

The higher officials Cricket Australia should have let Katich know about his reason of axing. And he should have been made clear not to outburst in front of the media and sort out his problems with the board in a more private way. But sadly, it didn’t happen. Is Cricket Australia going the PCB and WICB way?

Is Cricket Australia sitting on the pseudo ego chair? Is it taking things for granted? Have they forgotten that Cricket Australia and its players are a family? Have they forgotten the aim of becoming the best in the world again? Have they turned into a PCB or WICB?

What’s wrong with Cricket Australia?

waseem akram bowling in local club match after 8 yea

Pakistan team moving in the right direction: Misbah

Misbah-ul-Haq believed that the team is moving in the right direction but said role of the team management is also important.“However players’ on field performance matters the most,” he told a private TV Channel in an interview on Monday.“The management has been very supportive during the twin tour of West Indies and Ireland. They draft a strategy but the onus to achieve favourable result rests with the players who have to deliver on field,” he said.  “Actually it’s a combined effort”,  he added.

“The attitude of the players is equally important along with the performance”, added Misbah who was also appointed captain of the ODI team last month in place of Shahid Afridi.
He declined to comment on the ongoing row between former sacked Captain Shahid Afridi and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
While expressing satisfaction over the Ireland trip, Misbah hoped that the performance of the young players would improve with the passage of time. 
“The result speaks itself and I am satisfied with the performance. The team combination worked out very well and the young players are getting better with experience”, he remarked.
“The consistency shown by the side is heartening. Overall the team is moving in the right direction”, 37-year old veteran skipper Misbah-ul-Haq concluded.

Afridi rejects PCB offer

Former skipper of national cricket team Shahid Khan Afridi do not want to solve the matters with Pakistan Cricket Board (PBC) outside the court and he want justice from court.

According to sources, Afridi is ready to put on stake his carrier instead of bowing before PCB because he is disappointed from the behavior of team management and PCB.

Friends advised former caption to reconcile with Ijaz Butt and should resume his cricket but he refused this suggestion by saying that till the last movement he will fight judicial war.

Sources informed that Chief Operating Officer of PCB Subhan Ahmed sent a message to Afridi that if he would appears before the disciplinary committee then PCB would grant him apology with fine. However, Shahid Afridi refused to appear before the disciplinary committee.—SANA

C Shahid Afridi: Insanity Ad Infinitum trailer

Upbeat Afridi hits the gym

These are hard times for Shahid Afridi. The former Pakistan captain is facing an uncertain future as a professional cricketer because of a bitter battle with the country’s cricket chiefs, which is now being fought in the court of law.

During a span of a few weeks, Afridi has lost his captaincy and even lost his right, at least for the time being, to make a living by playing professional cricket abroad. He has ‘retired’ from international cricket and is now fighting what could be a long drawn legal battle with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Things certainly look bleak for Afridi, who till last month was making plans to help Pakistan raise a strong team for next year’s World Twenty20 Championship in Sri Lanka.

But the seasoned allrounder remains upbeat in spite of all the trouble.

Afridi, who is waiting for the June 16 hearing of Sindh High Court, is keeping himself fit by carrying out training sessions on a daily basis. “There is no point in fretting over what has happened in the last couple of weeks,” he told ‘The News’. “The most important thing for me is to get a NOC to play in the Twenty20 tournament in England. I remain hopeful for it and am keeping myself in shape by carrying out strenuous training sessions daily,” he added.

Afridi had to return home from England after the PCB revoked all No Objection Certificates granted to the player after suspending his central contract for “violating” the Boar’s Code of Conduct.

Due to his decision to retire and the ongoing tussle with PCB, many of Afridi’s critics believe that the allrounder’s international career is almost over.

But the 31-year-old Afridi doesn’t think so. “I will play cricket till the time I’m fit. Right now, I’m in good shape and I’m working hard in the gym and in practice,” he said.

Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna Wins Gerry Weber Open title

Indo-Pak Express Rohan Bopanna and Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi won their second team title as they defeated Robin Haase of the Netherlands and Milos Raonic of Canada in three thrilling sets sets 7-6(8), 3-6, 11-9 in the final of Geery Weber Open in Haale on Sunday. Qureshi and Bopanna took an hour and nineteen minutes to undo their opponents.

Both teams held their serve in the first twelve games of the opening set, levelling the score at 6-6 and forcing a tie-break. Qureshi and Bopanna claimed a late mini-break in the tie-break to win it 10-8. The Indo-Pak duo fired three aces and won 92 percent of the first service points in the first set.

In the second set, Haase and Raonic broke the Indo-Pak team in the eight game and held their serve in the next game, winning the set 6-3.

The Dutch-Canadian pair clinched two mini-breaks early in the match tie-break, racing to a 5-1 lead. Qureshi and Bopanna won three consecutive points to reduce the deficit to 4-5, taking back one mini-break. Both pair held their serve in the next four points to take the score to 6-7. At 9-9, Raonic committed a double fault, awarding a match point to Qureshi and Bopanna. The Indo-Pak Express controlled their nerves and won the match tie-break 11-9.

This is Indo-Pak Express’ first title this year and their maiden title on grass. The pair won their only previous title at the SA Open in Johannesburg, beating beating Ukrainian/Isreali pair of Karol Beck and Harol Levy in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 10-5 in the final last year. 

Source : http://paksportsmag.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/aisam-ul-haq-qureshi-and-rohan-bopanna-grab-gerry-weber-open-title/

ACB fumes over Latif’s refusal to attend SL camp

Rashid Latif’s unavailability for Afghanistan’s training camp in Sri Lanka is the prime reason why the former Pakistan captain has fallen out with the country’s cricket board, ‘The News’ learnt here on Saturday.

According to sources, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and their national coach Rashid Latif are at loggerheads over Latif’s unavailability for a training camp in Sri Lanka in preparation for the Inter-continental Cup.

According to sources, Latif is unwilling to travel with the team to Sri Lanka, which is forcing the authorities to break ties with him.

“We have an important camp ahead of us as our main focus is to defend our Inter-continental title but our coach is yet to travel to Sri Lanka with the team,” a source in the ACB said.

“He (Rashid) has instead opted to travel to England where he has signed up with a club as a mentor and has told us that he will be unavailable for two months. This is a serious issue for us, as we are paying heavy salary of around $8000 and also facilitating him with dailies, airfares and other benefits which increase his package to $10,000.”

Latif earlier claimed that Afghanistan players had intentionally underperformed in a three-match one-day series against Pakistan A last month to get him sacked but the official said there is hardly any truth in his claims. But he said that the ACB will still investigate the matter.

The former Pakistan captain is mum over the tussle and has adopted a wait-and-watch policy as he awaits a word from ACB.

Meanwhile, a source said that the 20-day preparatory camp is scheduled to be held in Kandy, where former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Attapatu and leg-spinner Upul Chandana will work as consultants.

“We have lined up Attapatu and Chandana and the two former players will do a world of good to our players, as they will get to learn from the experienced duo,” he said.

It has also been learnt that a proposal for a series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka A has been sent by ACB and they are waiting for the reply from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

“We have proposed for two T20 matches and three one-day matches. We hope that SLC will not disappoint us, as we are looking to take on stronger sides before beginning our title defense.”

Afghanistan will begin their campaign in the Inter-continental Cup against Canada in early August.

Suresh Raina run out but no umpire

ECB launches investigation into Aamer's appearance for local cricket team

The England and Wales Cricket Board has launched an investigation into banned Pakistani bowler Mohammad Aamer's appearance for a village side, and sought a 'full written explanation from the club' in this regard. 

Aamer, who has been banned for five years by an Anti-Corruption Tribunal after proven guilty of spot-fixing during last year's tour of England, played club cricket in Surrey last Saturday, starting for Addington 1743 in a Surrey Cricket League Division One fixture against St Lukes at the LSE ground in New Malden.

Aamer, who faces criminal charges over the bowling of two no-balls in the fourth Test against England last August, claimed he had been told by Surrey Cricket League side Addington 1743 that the game against St Lukes was a 'friendly'.

However, the ICC, who is investigating the matter, has made it clear that the ban prevents Amir from playing cricket at any level, and if it takes a dim view of Aamer's appearance in New Malden on Saturday, his exile may be extended, The Daily Mail reports.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the ECB "announced that it has requested the Surrey Cricket Board to assist it in its investigation of the circumstances surrounding the Pakistan cricketer Mohammed Amir's appearance for Addington 1743 CC in a Surrey Cricket League Division One match last weekend."

"ECB has also written separately to Addington 1743 CC seeking a full written explanation from the club of the events leading up to Amir's appearance in the match," the statement added.

It said that the decision came after the ECB "confirmed Addington 1743 CC falls under its regulatory jurisdiction by virtue of the club being affiliated to the Surrey Cricket Board," adding that the ECB will also continue to assist the ICC with its own inquiry into the matter.

SHOAIB AKHTAR AND ABDUL RAZZAQ TO FEATURE IN BAD BOYS 3 – POSSIBLE CAMEO FROM SHAHID AFRIDI

Pakistan’s discarded all-rounder, Abdul Razzaq, while talking to newsmen in England, revealed that he along with retired Pakistan pacer, Shoaib Akhtar, will be featuring in Optimus Bay’s upcoming blockbuster, Bad Boys 3.

Revealing details about the project, Razzaq said, “I am very happy to have been offered by Mr. Bay to be a part of his upcoming project, after working out the final dates I will depart for Somalia where the bulk of the shooting will be done.”

Sources have revealed that due to financial problems, Bay decided to shoot the movie in an African state where it is believed, he along with his production team, will be provided top notch security and will be treated as state guests.

Meanwhile, this scribe has credible evidence which suggests that retired pace sensation, Shoaib Akhtar, will be accompanying Razzaq as his co-star.

However, Akhtar refused to give any comments regarding the news and insisted that he was not in talks with anyone regarding his acting career.

It is believed that Akhtar is in talks with Mahesh Jatt, as the former fastest bowler in the world believes that he is more suited for the Asian audience.

Shoaib Akhtar is believed to have always wanted to work in movies and is aiming to launch his acting career by working in India, the country he so cherished to bowl against during his prime days as a cricketer.

“I have to earn a living and what better way than to do it by taking up a job I have always wanted.” He said.

On the other hand, according to insiders, the former one-day skipper, Shahid Afridi, will be making a cameo in the action packed suspense thriller. Afridi, who was the first choice for the main role, rejected the offer because of the ongoing legal battle with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Ijaz Butt, the chairman of the PCB, who is investing heavily in this project, revoked Afridi’s NOC, preventing him from taking the lead role in the film.

Butt is also rumoured to have put some pressure on Bay on the behest of Mohammad Ilyas (not Kashmiri) to cast Imran Farhat as the lead. However, Bay is said to have resisted the pressure.

Although the plot of the film has been kept hidden in titanium plated stealth safe under Bay’s bed, insiders have managed to tweet some details which suggest that the film will revolve around the lives of two former cricketers turned detectives going undercover to bust an underground match-fixing gang, active in Somalia.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent TEAM AFRIDI POLICY ...