‘Conscious’ Pakistan players avoiding scandals

KARACHI : The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Education and Training Programme is paying dividends as the players are now well aware of their boundaries and have stopped inviting unnecessary scandals by ignoring strangers and prohibited ways of communication, according to programme incharge Wasim Bari.The programme was launched after guidelines from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal last year.There may not be clear benefits but there are effects of the programme making their impact,” Bari told The Express Tribune. “Players who knew little about the dangers of corruption are now well aware of the menace.”Bari added that he also held a session with the Pakistan squad before they left for Zimbabwe, reminding the players of their duties and the code of conduct. The players, according to the former wicket-keeper, were also staying away from communication through social networking sites.“The success of the programme can be gauged from the fact that we’ve hardly had any scandals since its inception.”Seeks more information from ACSUBari added that the PCB has sought more information and literature from the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit for the forthcoming domestic season.“It’s a programme which will continue to evolve with changes,” he said. “We remain in touch with the ACSU and follow its guidelines and have asked them to share information regarding the programme which we can use in the coming domestic season.

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PCB is wrong 90 per cent of the time: Miandad

LAHORE :  Lamenting the lack of required power to work right from his day one in office as director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), former captain Javed Miandad on Wednesday slammed the decisions taken by the game’s authorities, claiming 90 per cent of those were erroneous.“While closely watching the functioning of the PCB I am disappointed and feel that 90 per cent decisions [taken by the board] are wrong, and are spoiling the sport in the country. I am not part of the PCB planning only because I require power and freedom to work, since I have given 35 years to Pakistan cricket and earned a good name,” Miandad said while talking to Dawn on Wednesday.“People around the world regard my services as a cricketer but the PCB doesn’t want to give me authority to improve [Pakistan] cricket,” the 54-year-old Miandad remarked.“I have already brought this matter into the notice of PCB patron, President Asif Ali Zardari. Soon I will meet him again to apprise him of the poor condition of cricket in Pakistan. I will request him to either take necessary steps [to improve cricketing matters] or allow me to leave the DG post,” stated Miandad, who has been criticised for not leaving the position despite receiving the cold shoulder from the PCB right from day one.The primary cause of friction between PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and Miandad from day one has been that the former is not ready to give latter the appropriate power to work, while the latter is not keen to operate without the authority he demands.“The PCB did not even follow the instructions of President Zardari which he had given to the board last time on my suggestions,” lamented Miandad who featured in 124 Tests and 233 One-day Internationals for Pakistan.Though Miandad avoided pinpointing wrong decisions of the PCB, sources said, he was not happy after the board didn’t take his advice on the appointment of new coach for the Pakistan team following Waqar Younis’s announcement to quit as national head coach after the ongoing Zimbabwe tour.While former Test cricketers Zaheer Abbas and Ramiz Raja (both not employed by the PCB), are part of the coach-searching committee, Miandad has not been given any role in this regard.Miandad, who has had three stints as national coach in the past, also didn’t feel delighted after the PCB decided to give former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir the responsibility to control club cricket. Miandad, sources said, held the view that holding club cricket was the prime duty of regional and district bodies.

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Banned Asif learning Anderson's tricks against India

Karachi : Serving a five-year ban for involvement in spot-fixing, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif says he has been watching James Anderson's performance against India very closely and would try employing the England seamer's tactics if he manages to make a comeback."I have watched James Anderson's bowling very closely again and again and it has been very interesting watching him bowl. When I come back to cricket even after the time away I will be thinking about how Anderson bowled against India and will use that for my benefit. If you think you are the finished article and don't need to learn from others then you are wrong", Asif told 'pakpassion.net'."I love watching Test cricket. Test cricket for me is the pinnacle, the real deal. The England versus India Test series was fascinating, I really enjoyed it. I watched more of the England vs India match as I wanted to see Anderson bowling," he said. Asif also felt that Anderson is bowling with the similar skills and tactics that he had previously used."Only someone like myself who has bowled like Anderson, with a similar style of bowling can truly appreciate what he is doing with the cricket ball and how well he is bowling these days. Anderson has not been playing cricket against the Indians, he has been playing with their minds," he elaborated."He has truly out-thought and baffled the Indians with his artistry and skill. It reminded me so much of what (Mohammad) Amir and I did at times last year to the Australian and English batsmen. If Anderson carries on bowling the way he has been recently and continues to improve then he can become a cricket legend," he said.Asif has admitted that being caught up in the spot-fixing scandal and then being banned has been mentally very tough for him and the events had left him extremely disappointed."Mentally, it's been really tough. Cricket is my life and always will be, and for that to be taken away from me in the circumstances it was, has been terribly difficult to cope with," Asif said."When you have served your country as a professional sportsman, then you don't want that to ever be taken away from you. I've been practising regularly with some of my friends but it's heartbreaking to think that not so long ago I was playing cricket at the top tier of the game and now I'm occasionally playing nowhere near that standard," he added.Asked about his future, Asif, who has taken 106 wickets in 23 Tests, said it was difficult for him to predict where he would be in four year's time when the ban ends."It's four years into the future, it's difficult to predict what can happen in those four years I don't know what the situation will be like in four years. I guess only time will tell. Anyone who has been involved in the game finds it hard to totally move away from the sport," he added.The pace bowler maintained he was innocent and said the Pakistan Cricket Board had not done enough to help him."I am confident of being cleared of the criminal charges at next month's trial under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 at Southwark Crown Court, London," he said."I'm hopeful that I will be cleared of everything and I can resume playing cricket again as soon as possible. Whoever committed any alleged crime, the Pakistan Cricket Board should have dealt with that individual and taken the appropriate action against that individual.The PCB had taken offence to Asif's complaint against it, insisting it had done everything in its power to assist the players during the spot-fixing scandal.

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Pakistan bat first against Zimbabwe

BULAWAYO: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat in first one day international against Zimbabwe. The team management has included Shoaib Malik in today's playing eleven.Pakistan will look to maintain the winning momentum in the limited-over series starting here on Thursday following their seven-wicket triumph in the one-off Test between the two teams.The form of their top order batsmen - Mohammad Hafeez (119), Azhar Ali (75), Younis Khan (88) and Misbah-ul-Haq (66), who were amongst the runs in the Test - will be crucial for Pakistan And the way their off-spinner Saeed Ajmal foxed the Zimbabwe batsmen, he could well be the ace Pakistan hold over their opponents.The three-match ODI series will be Zimbabwe's biggest test in limited-overs cricket since the tri-series against India and Sri Lanka last year, and they will want to use it as an opportunity to show their proficiency against teams regarded as tougher opposition than the likes of Bangladesh, Kenya and Ireland. Some have suggested that the Queens Sports Club is jinxed for the local team. Brendan Taylor was having none of the conspiracy theories though, and said the hosts only have themselves to blame for the poor showing at the venue and he would like them to change that record. Pakistan's returns in ODI cricket have been solid since their showing at the World Cup, where they reached the semifinals. They beat West Indies in a five-match series, although they lost two dead-rubbers, and also beat Ireland in a two-match series. They would be unhappy with anything less than a win here. Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (C), Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal (WK), Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema.Zimbabwe: CJ Chibhabha, V Sibanda, H Masakadza, BRM Taylor (C), T Taibu†, MN Waller, GA Lamb, E Chigumbura, P Utseya, RW Price, CB Mpofu.

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Bopara aims to pile on the pain for India

LONDON: England batsman Ravi Bopara has set his sights on piling on the agony for India in a bid to cement his spot in Alastair Cook's one-day team.lthough Bopara has 61 one-day international caps, his inconsistent form means he has never been able to nail down a place in England's squad and the last three matches of the limited overs series against the beleaguered Indians offers a golden opportunity to do just that.Bopara has only scored five half-centuries for England, with an average of just over 28, yet an injury to Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen's rest period means the Essex star is still firmly in captain Cook's plans.Morgan took Bopara's place in the Test team against Sri Lanka earlier this year, but he is out of the rest of the one-day series and the 26-year-old knows he must take advantage, starting in the third match at The Oval on Friday.Bopara, who made 24 in a 60-run stand with Cook to help England win the second one-dayer on Tuesday, said: "I was a bit surprised Eoin was not fit, but nevertheless I was told early enough and was given time to prepare."I've not been told I will definitely play the rest of the series, but obviously I'd like to play and fight for that spot."It's a great chance to make it into the first XI and then perform and cement a place in the side."It's a great chance, with guys resting and a few injuries about. There is a great opportunity to cement my place."While Bopara hopes to take his chance, the real dangers to world champions India could be Cook and Craig Kieswetter.England appeared to face a tough target on Tuesday after Ajingli Rahane and Suresh Raina had powered India to 187 for eight in a match reduced by rain to 23 overs per side under the Rose Bowl lights.But openers Kieswetter and Cook raced to 67 in under seven overs to send Mahendra Singh Dhoni's tourists crashing to yet another defeat after a 4-0 rout in the Test series and a loss in the lone Twenty20 international.Bopara was impressed with England's poise under pressure as they chased down the target and he added "The way we went about our business was unbelievable, especially some of the batters.I thought the way our batters went about chasing it was spot on.
"When I went in we obviously needed a few runs, and it was important I got a partnership going with Cookie.The most important thing was to keep our concentration on a pretty good wicket. We looked to be fairly positive and keep the bowlers under pressure.India's prowess in one-day matches has been unquestioned in recent years, but the draining effects of a miserable tour to England have left them vulnerable even in the short form of the game.A host of injuries has decimated the squad, with Sachin Tendulkar the eighth Indian to be ruled out of the series after the batsman suffered a toe problem before the second game.Skipper Dhoni admits he has few options left to freshen up a team low on morale and energy."We only have specialist bowlers left, which would mean going a batter light, and that is not something we are comfortable with," Dhoni said.We need the extra batsman because most of our batsmen play aggressive cricket.We try to come up with plans that may work, but not much has worked so far for us.

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S.Lanka bat against Australia

PALLEKELE: Sri Lanka's captain Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and elected to bat in the second cricket Test against Australia at the Pallekele International Stadium on Thursday.Australia made one change from the side that won the first Test in Galle, bringing in debutant Shaun Marsh for former captain Ricky Ponting, who returned home for the birth of his second child.The left-hander received his baggy green Australian cap before the start of play from his father, Geoff Marsh, a former opening batsman who played 50 Tests and 117 one-dayers before retiring in 1992.Sri Lanka included leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna for his maiden Test match after both Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis were ruled out with injuries.Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Philip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Trent Copeland, Nathan Lyon. 12th man: Michael Beer.Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Suraj Randiv, Suranga Lakmal, Chanaka Welegedara, Seekkuge Prasanna. 12th man: Shaminda Eranga.Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Tony Hill (NZL)TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

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Greenshirts look to begin ODI series on winning note

BULAWAY :  Zimbabwe: Pakistan will look to maintain the winning momentum in the limited-over series starting here on Thursday following their seven-wicket triumph in the one-off Test between the two teams.The form of their top order batsmen - Mohammad Hafeez (119), Azhar Ali (75), Younis Khan (88) and Misbah-ul-Haq (66), who were amongst the runs in the Test - will be crucial for Pakistan.And the way their off-spinner Saeed Ajmal foxed the Zimbabwe batsmen, he could well be the ace Pakistan hold over their opponents.It will also be an opportunity for Pakistan to put some new faces through their paces. They already gave Sohail Khan (right-arm medium fast), Junaid Khan (left-arm medium fast) and Aizaz Cheema (right-arm-medium fast) opportunities to make their mark in the Test.The 32-year-old Cheema was the pick of them, as he claimed eight wickets - four wickets in each innings - during his outing.The three-match ODI series will be Zimbabwe's biggest test in limited-overs cricket since the tri-series against India and Sri Lanka last year, and they will want to use it as an opportunity to show their proficiency against teams regarded as tougher opposition than the likes of Bangladesh, Kenya and Ireland. Some have suggested that the Queens Sports Club is jinxed for the local team. Brendan Taylor was having none of the conspiracy theories though, and said the hosts only have themselves to blame for the poor showing at the venue and he would like them to change that record. Pakistan's returns in ODI cricket have been solid since their showing at the World Cup, where they reached the semifinals. They beat West Indies in a five-match series, although they lost two dead-rubbers, and also beat Ireland in a two-match series. They would be unhappy with anything less than a win here. The visitors are keen to experiment with different combinations and have made it clear they will allow everyone in the squad to get a game. It is a way of testing their fringe talent, an important goal for the team going forward. They will do so without the services of coach Waqar Younis, who is on his last assignment, and will want to end his tenure on a high note.Zimbabwe may introduce a fresh face for the one-day series in middle-order batsman Regis Chakabva. The No. 5 spot will still be contested between Forster Mutizwa and Craig Ervine, neither of whom made a convincing enough case for themselves in the Bangladesh series. Elton Chigumbura's knee injury keeps him out of the squad and Malcolm Waller will likely be given the allrounder's role. Prosper Utseya will be the second spinner to Ray Price, while one of the quicks, most likely Brian Vitori, who was unsuccessful on the Bulawayo pitch during the Test, will be rested. Pakistan have four options for the openers' positions, with Hafeez the only one guaranteed a place. There may also be a contest on for the No. 3 position with Asad Shafiq having shown an inability to convert starts and Pakistan handing Azhar Ali an ODI debut in the second game against Ireland. Given the conditions, Yasir Shah could come in as an additional spinner, to partner Saeed Ajmal. The offspin of Mohammad Hafeez will also come in handy. Junaid Khan will likely keep his place and Sohail Tanvir should get a chance as well, after being left out of the Test match. Pakistan (from): Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat/Rameez Raja Jr, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal, Junaid Khan, Yasir Shah, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir. Zimbabwe (from): Brendan Taylor, Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Forster Mutizwa/Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabva, Malcolm Waller, 8 Prosper Utseya, Ray Price, Kyle Jarvis, Chris Mpofu.

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New players to get a chance during ODI series: Misbah

BULAWAYO: Pakistani captain, Misbah-ul-Haq said that new players will get a chance during the ODI series against Zimbabwe, Geo News reported. Pakistan will play its first match of the ODI series on Thursday. Pakistan will play three ODIs against Zimbabwe, and according to the skipper the team will include new players. He said that winning was of the utmost important and the team will be selected with this in mind. Meanwhile the coach for Zimbabwe said that his team would provide stiff competition to Pakistan during the ODI series.

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White, Dockrell help Ireland take handy lead

Andrew White slammed an unbeaten 123 to help Ireland take a 54 run lead in the ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia on the second day of the four-day contest.At the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Ireland resumed at its overnight score of 75 for four. But White held the innings together very well.White first shared a 69 run sixth wicket stand with John Mooney (44: 58b, 6x4). Later, George Dockrell (53: 96b, 8x4) batted resolutely with White to help Ireland take a lead.Dockrell-White stand for the eighth wicket was worth 100 runs.White finally ended unbeaten on 123 off 213 balls with thirteen boundaries. Namibia's chief wicket-takers were Louis Klazinga (2-58), Christi Viljoen (5-87) and Stephen Baard (2-32). Ireland ended at 298 in 83.5 overs.Namibia began wiping off the lead with Viljoen following his five wicket haul with a brisk unbeaten knock of 48. Namibia ended the day at 58 for one when rain interrupted play and forced an early closure.

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Match officials announced for Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 6 in Malaysia

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the match officials for the upcoming Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 6 (WCL Div. 6) in Malaysia which includes Steve Davis who has been nominated for the ICC Umpire of the Year 2011 award and is a member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires.Davis will be part of a team of officials from a wide-range of countries who will be officiating in a week-long tournament which begins on 17 September. During his time with the match officials, Davis will also be acting as a mentor and helping to educate and guide the umpires throughout the tournament, as part of an ICC initiative for umpires development outside the Full Members.The umpires standing in WCL Div.6 are:
Srinivasan Adachani (Oman)
Steve Davis (Australia)
Imran Haji (Kuwait)
Neil Harrison (Japan)
David Odhiambo (Kenya)
Durga Subhedi (Nepal)
Kalidass Viswanadan (Malaysia)
Former West Indies Test batsman, Adrian Griffith, will be the referee for the tournament which is taking place across three grounds in Kuala Lumpur ? Kinrara Oval, Selangor Turf Club and Bayuemas Oval. These venues were also used for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup which was held in Malaysia in 2008.
The finalists of the event, will be promoted to Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 5 which will be staged in Singapore in early 2012.The full schedule for WCL Div. 6 is as follows:
Fixtures
15 Sep - Team Arrivals
16 Sep - Practice
17 Sep - Guernsey v Jersey (Kinrara Oval), Malaysia v Kuwait (Selangor Turf Club), Fiji v Nigeria (Bayuemas Oval)
18 Sep - Malaysia v Nigeria (Kinrara Oval), Kuwait v Jersey (Selangor Turf Club), Guernsey v Fiji (Bayuemas Oval)
19 Sep - Reserve Day
20 Sep - Malaysia v Fiji (Kinrara Oval), Jersey v Nigeria (Selangor Turf Club), Kuwait v Guernsey (Bayuemas Oval)
21 Sep - Fiji v Kuwait (Kinrara Oval), Nigeria v Guernsey (Selangor Turf Club), Malaysia v Jersey (Bayuemas Oval)
22 Sep - Reserve Day
23 Sep - Malaysia v Guernsey (Kinrara Oval), Jersey v Fiji (Selangor Turf Club), Nigeria v Kuwait (Bayuemas Oval)
24 Sep - Final (Kinrara Oval), 3rd/4th Play-off (Selangor Turf Club), 5th/6th Play-off (Bayuemas Oval)
All matches are scheduled to start at 1030 local time

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'Good Test wicket' awaits Aussies, Sri Lanka

Australia and Sri Lanka clash in the second cricket Test in Pallekele from Thursday, relieved they will not be playing on a dustbowl like the one in Galle.The controversial dry wicket in the first Test last week was described as "poor" by match referee Chris Broad and the International Cricket Council sought an explanation from Sri Lankan authorities.Australia won the match by 125 runs as 40 wickets fell in four days - 16 on the second day itself - with 273 being the highest total in the Test.Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan and his Australian counterpart Michael Clarke, who had both criticised the Galle wicket, said the one at the Pallekele International Stadium looked a much better surface."It's a good Test wicket," said Dilshan. "Batting will be a lot easier and it could turn on the fourth and fifth days."Clarke, hoping to put his first Test series as Australia's captain beyond Sri Lanka's reach, also seemed happy with the pitch on offer."It's a lot drier than it was yesterday, but I am sure it will play much better than the one at Galle," said Clarke."The wicket is compact, it is hard. It is very important to put up big scores whether you bat first or second. I also think spin will play a big part as the game progresses."The tourists had announced their playing XI in advance on Tuesday, with Shaun Marsh due to make his debut in place of Ricky Ponting, who returned home after Galle to await the birth of his second child.The left-hander, son of former Australian opener Geoff Marsh, is not a novice to the big stage, having played in 35 one-day internationals and five Twenty20 games.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, added promising seamer Shaminda Eranga and unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis to the 11 that played in Galle in a short-list of 13 announced by Dilshan.Eranga, 25, who took part in the preceding one-day series, will be awarded a Test cap if left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara failed to recover from a knee injury suffered during training on Wednesday.Mendis looked set to replace off-spinner Suraj Randiv, who claimed 2-76 in the first innings at Galle, but returned wicketless in the second despite the helpful track.Clarke said he was surprised Mendis did not play in Galle."He is a very good bowler with a lot of variations," the Australian captain said. "I will be very happy if he is again left out for this match.Dilshan said the hosts had overcome the defeat in the first Test and were ready for the challenge ahead."This is a new game, a new wicket," the Sri Lankan captain said. "The confidence in the team is high. I am sure we will put up a much better performance here."Clarke expected Sri Lanka to bounce back strongly in the series."I am pretty certain they will be tougher than they were in the first Test," he said. "There are a lot of good players in their team and we will have to be at our best if we want to win again.The third and final Test of the series, Australia's first in Sri Lanka since 2004, will be played at the Sinhalese sports club in Colombo from September 16.

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