Coaching 'definitely most difficult facet of cricket': Wasim Akram

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said that commentating can be tough, but coaching is definitely the most difficult facet of the game I knew how to play cricket so that was ok, not a problem. Commentating, to start off was tough, it was very difficult. Now I'm really enjoying it as I have got used to it," PakPassion.net quoted Akram, as saying Coaching is definitely the most difficult facet of cricket, because it's frustrating, as you cannot do anything yourself. Nothing is in your control once the boys have taken the field. When I played cricket, I could change the game, but as a coach, I don't have that opportunity, only the players can change the course of a match," he addedAkram's long career came to an end before the advent of the Twenty-20 format of the game. Whilst injuries did hamper his career from time to time, he played in an era where rarely did bowlers opt out of one format of cricket just to extend their careers in another format.Akram felt that some modern day cricketers were taking the easy option of playing just shorter formats, and not giving Test cricket the respect it deserves."It varies from cricketer to cricketer, but if you want to be remembered as a great of the game, for that you have to be known for playing test cricket. For some it's easier to retire from Test cricket, to play just Twenty20 cricket, earn a lot of money and then disappear," he said.Akram, who featured in 104 test matches and 356 one day internationals (ODIs), pointed out that someone like Dale Steyn would be remembered as a great for being an exceptional bowler who runs in hard for every ball he bowls, whatever the format."Nowadays you can be a good Twenty20 player and make a career out of it, but my ambition was always to be the best player in the world in all formats and that should be the aim for every youngster," he stated

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PCB happy with progress made on refurbishments

Sharjah: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has endorsed the Sharjah Cricket Stadium's new facilities ahead of the Test and one-day matches against Sri Lanka to be held in November."Ijaz Butt [chairman of the PCB] visited the stadium and has expressed his delight over the progress we have achieved in renovating the stadium for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series," Waleed Bukhatir, vice chairman of the Sharjah Cricket Club, told Gulf News."We are delighted with the support from the PCB for bringing big cricket back to this stadium."The renovation work at the stadium is progressing so fast that we will complete it much before the deadline."Butt is happy with the changes to the dressing room and the facilities being created for the spectators."The stadium will stage the third Test match of the series from November 3 to 7, nine years after a five-day game was held there.The fourth one-dayer of the series will be held on November 20, the first involving Test-playing nations since 2003.Thankful"We are thankful to Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the president of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for allotting these international matches to Sharjah," Bukhatir said."We are working hard to recreate the same glory that made Sharjah a special venue. The access roads to the stadium are more comfortable now for the spectators and since the stadium is centrally located it will be very convenient for the spectators.Bukhatir, who is also the executive member of the Emirates Cricket Board and chairman of the Sharjah Cricket Council's Al Dhaid cricket village, revealed the 16,000 capacity had to be reduced to adhere to the International Cricket Council's rules, creating special areas for players and officials.The officials from the ICC visited the stadium last week to access the progress of our work and whether the changes have been made according to their rules. We have fully followed the rules so that the stadium can be used not only for this series but also for bigger tournaments in the coming years," he said.

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Pakistan Cricket and Controversies since 2009

Pakistan cricket has been hit badly by different controversies after winning the Twenty20 World Cup in 2009. The worst of all the controversies was the spot-fixing scandal. The scandal did hurt the team badly, but things have moved in a better direction since then.Pakistan had a troublesome time when the Sri Lankan team was attacked by terrorists in Lahore. The team was heading into the Twenty20 world cup with a new leader in Younis Khan.Younis inspired his team to a historic win and things looked like heading into the right direction finally for the team. Lesser did everyone know that the worse hasn’t yet come for the team.Pakistan lost the semi-final in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy and Younis was alleged into match-fixing. The news shattered the confidence of Younis, who stepped-down from the captaincy of the team and took some time-off from cricket.Problems continued for the team as the newly appointed captain of the team, Mohammad Yousuf was unable to win a single match on the Australian tour in 2009-2010 Several other players were questioned over match-fixing and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) handed over punishments to few of the key players of the team including life-bans to Yousuf and Younis A young team was sent to England with Shahid Afridi as the skipper of the side. However, Afridi retired from test cricket which gave an opportunity to Salman Butt to lead the team.The start to Butt’s reign was exceptional as Pakistan overcame the mighty Australians in the second test match of the two-match series levelling the series 1-1 However, several players were alleged of spot-fixing during the four-match Test series against England and Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif along with their captain, Butt were suspended by ICC All the cricket lovers and former players were shocked by the controversy as the suspended players awaited their destiny. ICC found the players to be guilty and banned them for a long period of time along with heavy fines.All these things led to a lot of trouble and shame for the country, but the Pakistan team gelled together to revive the lost glory of their country.The consequences of the wrong-doing helped the Pakistan cricketers to completely focus on the game other than any other thing.The players who were alleged of dividing the team were all out of the side and the team had only those players who wanted to play for their country and win for their team.The team was led by Afridi in the ICC World Cup 2011 and made it to the Semi-Final stage of the tournament. This was an exceptional performance by the team which had gone through a very bad period recently.However, Afridi quit international cricket after the Mega Event, following a dispute with team's coach Waqar Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq was given charge of the team since then.Pakistan is considered to be one of the most dangerous teams in the limited form of cricket and with the players focused on the game; there are plenty of chances of winning the Twenty20 World Cup which will take place in Sri Lanka next year.However, the players are currently focused on the ongoing series with Zimbabwe, which will be Waqar's last assignment with the side, as the former captain has resigned from the job following some health issues.Tagged in: England, Australia, Twenty20, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, World Cup, match-fixing, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, ICC, Waqar Younis, PCB, Lahore, Zimbabwe, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousaf, Mohammad Amir, Spot-fixing, life ban Test your Cricket knowledge by placing free betting on cricket matches. Get most accurate Cricket betting odds and picks for successful betting

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ICC Chief Executives' Committee to meet in London

The ICC Chief Executives Committee (CEC) will meet in London on 12 September 2011 for a routine meeting that has the following issues for consideration:Venue Accreditation SystemThe CEC will consider an enhanced Venue Accreditation System for international grounds. The initiative responds to the ICC Strategic Plan 2011-15 Bigger, Better Global Game - which highlights the need to provide a world class environment for international cricket, in part by delivering better venues with better facilities to contribute to on-field excellence and more fans.The ICC has an existing approval process which was introduced in December 1997 for new international venues but there is no process for the on-going monitoring of venues. The proposal is that a venue will have to be re inspected and re-accredited every five years or when it undergoes major re building or renovation.Other routine items include updates on international umpire performances, the Future Tours Programme Agreement, Medical Committee projects; the implementation of domestic anti-doping and anti-corruption codes; the ICC World Test Championship as well as Member DevelopmentThe CEC comprises the Chief Executives of the 10 Full Member nations as well as three Associate Member representatives. Also present in the ICC Chief Executive who chairs the meeting and, by invitation, the ICC President and the chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee.

Haroon Lorgat - ICC Chief Executive (Chairman)
Sharad Pawar - ICC President
Clive Lloyd - ICC Cricket Committee Chairman
Mansur Ahmed - Bangladesh
Subhan Ahmed - Pakistan
Ozias Bvute - Zimbabwe
David Collier - England and Wales
John Cribbin - Associate Member Representative
Warren Deutrom - Associate Member Representative
Francois Erasmus - Associate Member Representative
Dr Ernest Hilaire - West Indies
Gerald Majola - South Africa
Prakash Schaffter - Sri Lanka
Sundar Raman - India (alternate for N Srinivasan)
James Sutherland - Australia
Dr Justin Vaughan - New Zealand

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Rain halts Aussies after Marsh, Hussey tons

Michael Hussey hit a 14th Test century and debutant Shaun Marsh his maiden ton before rain halted Australia's progress in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.The two left-handers put on 258 for the fourth wicket as the tourists moved to 411-7 in their first innings by stumps on the third day, a lead of 237 runs with three wickets in hand.Marsh made 141 and Hussey scored 142, his second big knock in the series after a match-winning 95 in the first Test in Galle last week.Just 40.3 overs were bowled in the day as heavy rain washed out play soon after lunch at the Pallekele International Stadium.With more rain forecast over the remaining two days, Australian captain Michael Clarke may be forced to make an early declaration to bid for a series-clinching victory.Hussey and Marsh, who resumed at 264-3, stayed together till 10 minutes before lunch when Hussey holed out to the cover fence against part-time spinner Thilan Samaraweera.Their partnership was the highest ever against Sri Lanka for the fourth wicket, surpassing the 256 by Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly for India in Mumbai in 1997.The pair had joined forces on Friday morning when Sri Lanka grabbed three quick wickets to reduce Australia to 116-3 in reply to their own 174.Both Marsh and Hussey reached their respective centuries in the same over from off-spinner Suraj Randiv 45 minutes after the start of play.Hussey, who was on 76 overnight to Marsh's 87, outscored his partner and achieved his third hundred against Sri Lanka with an on-drive for two runs.Marsh moved to 98 by driving seamer Chanaka Welegedara through the covers for a four and then reached 100 by flicking Randiv to mid-wicket for two.Former Australian opener Geoff Marsh applauded warmly from the stands as his 28-year-old son jumped in the air with a raised bat to celebrate the landmark.The younger Marsh had come into the Test side in place of former captain Ricky Ponting, who had to return home after Galle for the birth of his second child.The century will help the left-hander secure his place in the team even when Ponting returns for the third and final Test in Colombo from September 16.Australia, who were 378-4 at lunch, lost three wickets in the space of one run after resumption before the weather intervened.Marsh added 11 to his lunch score of 130 when he pulled seamer Suranga Lakmal to Kumar Sangakkara on the mid-wicket fence while attempting his 19th boundary.Sangakkara, who had also caught Hussey, picked up his third catch when Brad Haddin lofted Randiv to mid-on.Randiv then bowled Mitchell Johnson first ball, but Ryan Harris prevented a hat-trick.When play was called off, Usman Khawaja was unbeaten on 13 and Harris was on nine.As Australia piled up the runs, Sri Lanka rued the absence of their two first-choice spinners, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath, who were forced to miss the match with injuries.Australia lead 1-0 in the series, their first in Sri Lanka since 2004, after winning the first Test by 125 runs.

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