PCB must frame strategy for Sri Lanka tour

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan cricket team is back after a very successful Zimbabwe tour where they outclassed the hosts in every format of the game, Test, ODIs and T20s, it was in fact a significant achievement and every countrymen must feel proud of this, but this is all past now well done team Pakistan you have done the wonders.
Now team must focus on the next assignment which is against Sri Lanka as they will give a run for their money to green shirts. If we closely look at the Zimbabwe series, then we all get close to a conclusion that over all this series victory was largely possible through some individual performances, specially this series belongs to one man, M Hafeez, who has gone from strength to strength and shown all-round performance and turns the tables on Zimbabwe and enabled Pakistan to win specially the ODI series and the two T20s.A new Hafeez is born in this particular series and has managed to get rid of the tag of inconsistent performer, a serious allegation and a question mark on his abilities, to a great extant with his superb al round consistent performances.This series also point out the flaws in Misbah's captaincy, with his defensive approach that could have easily cost Pakistan the Test series against Zimbabwe. If the PCB wants to continue with Misbah as captain then he has to change his approach and must adopt an aggressive strategy for the upcoming series against Sri Lankans. Mistakes like this will not go unpunished against an experienced Lankan side. They will be roaring to go against Pakistan as they have a point to prove.Bowling always remained as Pakistan's main weapon, but in Zimbabwe the tourists struggled to make impact. It’s true that Aizaz Cheema, the debutant managed to take eight wickets in the match, but he looks out of sorts and at this age, 32, it will be difficult for him to perform on regular basis. Sri Lanka, England or other top sides will certainly pose grave threat to this weak Pakistani bowling.PCB top brass must now adopt a more realistic approach to focus on the present and the future of cricket, when no international team is willing to come to Pakistan sighting so-called security concerns then there is no need of wasting national wealth on appointment of a foreign coach. PCB has a luxury in appointing a coach if they look closely around they will find the likes of little master Hanif Muhammad, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas and if the PCB wants to go for a young and energetic person then they can easily go for Rawalpindi Rams coach Sabih Azhar, who has proved his Mattel by guiding different sides to victory stands.If the PCB continue to waste time on finding a foreign coach then the players will suffer but it will also give a very negative message to local coaches that the management doesn't recognize their services and they are not capable enough to coach or manage the national side. One thing is sure Pakistan cricket team will not have an easy ride against the Sri Lanka side, luck doesn't always favours it can run out any time, and the time is not far away, Sri Lanka side can provide the right kind of shock which is required to awake PCB high command from the deep slumber.

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Emirates on board as Pakistan cricket sponsor

KARACHI : Emirates Airlines has announced a sponsorship deal for domestic cricket in Pakistan in alliance with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it was announced here on Thursday.“The airline – an ICC Official Partner – has a long history of supporting cricket both at global and grassroots level – and is set to strengthen its commitment to the sport by sponsoring a number of tournaments, including the National T20 Cup 2011, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2011-12, Pentangular Cricket Cup 2011-12, One-Day Cricket Cup 2011-12 and Super 8 T20 Cricket Cup 2012, it said in a statement.“The sponsorship marks Emirates most significant foray into mainstream sports in Pakistan and will include development opportunities for talented youngsters.“Although we are proud of our involvement in cricket around the world, with prestigious partnerships such as the ICC which gives the airline sponsorship rights to all its major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup – contributing to the growth of the sports at a grassroots level is particularly satisfying for us,“ said Badr Abbas, Vice President Pakistan & Afghanistan.“To be associated with a sports which the people of Pakistan follow with great passion allows us to create closer ties with them and demonstrates our on-going support for the growth of cricket. Domestic cricket has produced many world-class players and we hope that through this sponsorship, Emirates will play a role in the continued success of the sports,” he said.

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Pakistani cricket caught out as dictator remains on strike Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/pakistani-cricket-caught-out-as-dictator-remains-on-strike-20110925-1krl3.html#ixzz1Z0OtwPEI

Libya's despot is proving difficult to dismiss at the stadium named after him.THE statues cast in gold in his image have been torn down in Tripoli and the paintings of his likeness defaced. But the name Muammar Gaddafi still stands proudly atop one monument Libya's rebels will find it difficult to lay their hands on.In 1974, a young Colonel Gaddafi, then only five years into his despotic rule of Libya, spoke at the second Islamic Summit Conference in Lahore, Pakistan. In a typically bellicose and lengthy address, he offered his support for Pakistan's controversial pursuit of nuclear weapons, describing the country as ''the Fort of Islam In the spirit of the bonhomie his speech inspired, Pakistan's then Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, renamed the Lahore Cricket Stadium the Muammar Gaddafi Cricket Stadium, despite the dictator's indifference to the game.Throughout Gaddafi's increasingly brutal career since, his name has stood.The morally delicate dilemma for the world's cricketers of walking out onto the Muammar Gaddafi Stadium ground is unlikely to arise any time soon. Pakistan hasn't hosted an international match since 2009, when the visiting Sri Lankan team was attacked by armed militants at a nearby roundabout.But regardless of cricket's future in Pakistan, there is a growing movement to have Gaddafi's name torn down from the largest stadium in the land."We have tolerated this ridiculous name now for about 37 years," Farooq Tirmizi wrote on the webpage of the Express Tribune newspaper."As we watch the scenes of horrific violence visited by the madman upon the Libyan people, let us at least do them the courtesy of removing their tormentor's name from our biggest stadium.Online, support is growing for the stadium to be renamed. One name suggested is that of Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar, this month named the International Cricket Council's umpire of the year for the third successive season.Others in Pakistan would like to see the ground renamed after the country's first cricket captain, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, while others still would like to see the return of the simple Lahore Cricket Ground.Writing in the influential Dawn newspaper, Saad Shafqat said there was no place for an memorial for Gaddafi."Lahore's great Test centre is no ordinary stadium. It is a travesty for it to carry the name that it does. It is the headquarters of the Pakistan Cricket Board, which makes it not just the spiritual but also the official home of Pakistan cricket.

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Pakistan cricket has something to rejoice

After a long spell of despair caused by conflicts and controversies, Pakistan cricket has at least two events to rejoice. Firstly, the great honour brought to Pakistan by a highly competent, honest and respected cricket personality called Aleem Dar and secondly the team’s success against Zimbabwe. For his excellent performance as an ICC umpire, Aleem deserves a bouquet studded with diamonds and rubies for becoming the world champion in the field of umpiring three times in a row. He won the rare award by delivering 100 percent accurate results in ODIs and Twenty20s and 98 percent in Test matches during the last one year.During the World Cup 2011 Aleem delivered 15 decisions all of them proving correct when challenged. This was because he relied on his own ability rather than technology. It indicates how much confidence he had on his knowledge of the game, ability and the sense of judgment. The awards were given in an ICC function held in London, surprisingly not attended by India although its team was there playing a series against England. They were perhaps not pleased by the honour bestowed upon Aleem.Unanimously voted by all cricket captains and members of the selection panel Aleem defeated strong competitors like Ian Gould and five time winner Simon Taufel. The sparkling honour brought to Pakistan by Aleem is the second great event to find a place in the annals of Pakistan cricket after Imran Khan’s triumph in the 1992 World Cup.The second event, not apparently as great, is Pakistan’s clean sweep over Zimbabwe in their recently concluded tour. By defeating the hosts in the series comprising one Test, three ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals, Pakistan achieved a 100 percent result. Win against Zimbabwe, being the bottom team in the ICC ranking the victory, is nothing much to boast about but still it is an achievement to boost the morale of the upcoming young players who played an active role in defeating the hosts. Although Misbahul Haq led the team with all the proficiency, Muhammad Hafeez emerged as an all-rounder heading for super stardom. As for the seniors, Younus Khan performed well because the Zimbabwe bowlers were not capable of posing any threat to him. Imran Farhat was a combination of success and failure while Shoaib Malik was a complete flop I hope the PCB selection committee members take some lessons from it. Cricket is a game in which the players must remain constantly in touch with the game. Unfortunately, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has the bad habit of discarding the players on one pretext or the other rendering them out of practice for the game. The selection committee must also realise that a successful team must be a practical combination of youth and experience and avoid stuffing the team with too many youngsters. Apart from the good result, the Zimbabwe’s tour has been a good experience for our team’s future endeavours especially the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, which commences in the UAE on October 18. Sri Lanka being one of the top teams of the world, we must select a strong combination and prepare them well for the tough fight.Coming to other cricket affairs, with the end of Zimbabwe’s tour coach Waqar Younis has said goodbye to cricket necessitating the appointment of a new coach. The PCB having received lot of nominations for the job both from home as well as abroad, a meeting is likely to be held soon to discuss the problem. I am glad the security problem has rendered the appointment of a foreign coach to a lower priority. Let us hope a highly competent Pakistan batsman is appointed on the all important job on which hinges the proficiency of players and success of the team. Claiming that 90 percent of the decisions taken by the PCB chairman were wrong, former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad acting as director general of the board fell out with the boss and left the matter to be decided by President Asif Zardari in his capacity as patron-in-chief of the PCB. Same was the position of Shahid Afridi who continued to harbour the ambition of still playing for Pakistan. Both of them attended a meeting called by the President in Karachi. According to press reports both the players were given ‘no lift’ by the President while Ijaz Butt’s versions were held supreme. This indicates a positive chance of Ijaz’s extension on the job after October 8, the day his tenure as chairman PCB ends. Another spell of bad luck, sorrow and gloom and conflicts and controversies for Pakistan’s cricket

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Pakistan can get to the top of world rankings: Waqar

Waqar Younis, who quit as Pakistan cricket coach last week, says the squad he managed is highly capable of taking the country to the top of the world rankings.Lahore-based Pakistani cricketers and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials gave Waqar a farewell Friday night at the National Cricket Academy, hours before the former captain left for Sydney, reports the Express Tribune.Waqar, who had said the Zimbabwe tour would be his last, citing personal and health reasons for quitting, was with the team for a little over a year.'It's not like I won't be coming back to Pakistan as this is my own country,' said Waqar before departing from Lahore airport.'I am leaving for personal reasons, but once things improve, I will definitely give coming back a thought. In the meantime, it was a good experience with the PCB as well as the players. Coaching Pakistan was an experience altogether which went well.Waqar who decided to step down before his contract ended in December, is said to be suffering from a liver ailment for which his Sydney doctors have advised him long-term treatment under their direct supervision.Despite severe criticism by former captain Shahid Afridi, Waqar termed his tenure successful as he facilitated the creation of a team that is gelling well.'I am leaving the team as a unit and I hope they remain that way. They are capable of giving Sri Lanka a tough time. And with the spirit in the team that I have seen, I am optimistic of good results.'Former Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam praised Waqar for his services.'I have worked with him in various capacities and found him a true professional,' said Alam.'Apart from his wonderful cricketing career, he has now done an excellent job with the team as a coach and obviously his resignation is a setback to our plans.''His performance was outstanding,' said PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. 'I can understand the reasons for his wanting to leave and I hope he is able to resolve all his issues. He's welcome to come back and serve Pakistan cricket any time.

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Swann backs Bopara to become a fine England all-rounder

England spinner Graeme Swann has backed Ravi Bopara to become a fine all-rounder.Bopara took four wickets for 10 runs against the West Indies and it were England's best bowling figures in a T20 international. England won by 10 wickets after Craig Kieswetter and Alex Hales led England to achieve the modest target of 125.'Bopara was unplayable. He has good control these days and is developing into a fine all-rounder,' Swann, England's stand-in Twenty20 captain, was quoted as saying by BBC.'He never looked like going for any runs out there - he was phenomenal.'Swann was delighted to get off to a winning start as a captain.'I enjoyed every moment of today,' said Swann. 'It was a dream start as captain. I asked the boys to give everything and they did that, I was delighted with the way everybody performed.' Bopara revealed that he was delighted but embarrassed at delivering record figures of 4-10.'It feels quite embarrassing that I have the best figures when you've got the incredible bowlers we have in our team,' he said.'But I'm very proud to be a part of this team. We've got a very tough series coming up in India, which will test us.'The way we've played this summer in England has been exceptional. To beat Sri Lanka and India - the two teams that contested the World Cup final - on our own turf is an unbelievable thing

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Guernsey snatches victory from the jaws of defeat to win Pepsi ICC WCL Division 6

Jeremy Frith named Player of the Tournament Channel Island goes 33rd in the world rankings while runners-up Malaysia go 34th ; Both travel to Singapore in February for Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 5Kuwait beats Jersey in 3rd/4th play-off while Nigeria defeats Fiji in 5th/6th showdown Guernsey snatched victory from the jaws of defeat today to beat Malaysia and win Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 6 (WCL Div. 6) at Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur. By virtue of reaching the final both teams have been promoted to WCL Div. 5 and will travel to Singapore in February.By winning the tournament, Guernsey has now climbed two places in the ICC Global Rankings to now occupy 33rd position while Malaysia occupy 34th place in the rankings. Guernsey did not lose a match throughout the entire week-long event held in Malaysia.Guernsey's Jeremy Frith earned his third Player of the Tournament award at the conclusion of the game while team-mate Tom Kimber was named Man of the Match. Frith previously won the honour in Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 7 in Guernsey and then again in Singapore after Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 6 both in 2009.Elsewhere, Kuwait defeated Jersey to win the third/fourth play-off while Nigeria claimed its only victory of the tournament when it beat Fiji the sides' fifth/sixth play-off at Bayeumas Oval.Under another sunny sky at Kinrara Oval, Malaysia took on Guernsey in the finals of Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 6 in Kuala Lumpur. The hosts winning the toss and electing to bat on home turf.The hosts took its time to score runs and had just reached the 50-mark when Guernsey all-rounder dismissed opener Faris Almas by re-arranging the 21-year-old's stumps in the process. Rakesh Madhavan and Ahmed Faiz did their best to steady things for the locals but captain Suhan Alagaratnam failed to put in a repeat performance from yesterday's game, the 25-year-old making just four runs before smashing the ball in the air to be caught at deep point.All-rounder Hammad Ullah Khan decided to step up to the plate, scoring 53 before being stumped off the bowling of GH Smit, the latter having a good day with the ball taking three wickets. Malaysia took its time to score runs in front of an enthusiastic bunch of supporters and by the time its 50 overs was completed had managed to just clear the 200 mark.As the clouds rolled in and fear of rain began to surface, Guernsey took to the field and made an abysmal start to proceeding with both Smit and Adam Martel departing for ducks, leaving the side reeling two down going into the third over. The arrival of stalwart Frith alongside Tim Ravenscroft should have steadied the innings but Almas had other plans and proceeded to run out the latter for 21 much to the delight of the home support. The top order proved to be disappointing in the afternoon heat, Frith departing not long after Ravenscroft and the side were soon five down with just 40 runs on the board and not even in the 10th over.Malaysia's trio of bowlers kept the opposition under pressure, Hassan Ghulam, Khan and Aminuddin Ramply continued to terrorise Guernsey's batting line-up while the side's quick actions in the field proved tough for the Channel Island side. The side promptly slumped to 65-7 before the 20th over had even begun

But all was not lose for Guernsey, a fight back from Tom Kimber and David Hooper saw the side push on the hosts with Hooper contributing some 45 runs before he was run-out while Kimber valiantly continued the side's push for victory alongside the side's tail-enders. Kimber's starred with the bat for the men in green to snatch victory for the side when he smashed his way to an un-beaten 82 off 92 balls in a patient innings by the 21-year-old right-handed batsman. He guided the side to victory with three balls to spare and clinch an ecstatic Guernsey team the title of Pepsi ICC WCL Division 6 Champions.Le Prevost said: "It feels simply brilliant to win today and to have been six or seven down and then see young Tom Kimber come out and guide us to victory with a fantastic knock of 82 not out."We've had two extremely tough games of cricket against Malaysia and it's been a fantastic week to have won every game and walk away as champions. I'm extremely proud of how the team has performed as a whole and I hope we can keep that momentum going for Division 5 in Singapore."Player of the Tournament, Frith commented: "It's obviously great to win another player of the tournament award but this week was very much a group effort and it is great to have won every game along the way and then to come out the end as champions too. I work with development of cricket in Guernsey and to see the likes of Tom Kimber, Jamie Nussbaumer, Tim Ravenscroft and David Hooper along with Ben Ferbrache come through this tournament and perform so well is pleasing."Malaysia captain, Suhan said: " It's been a great week of cricket in Malaysia and it's obviously disappointing to have lost the final but Guernsey played some great cricket and Tom Kimber should be congratulated for great knock "We need to work on our batting ahead of going to Singapore in February and we'll take each game as it comes but I'd definitely like a chance to beat Guernsey next year in Division 5."Meanwhile, in the third/fourth play-offs at Selangor Turf Club - Jersey had Kuwait steadily on the back-foot with two of the top order departing for just two runs each while captain Hisham Mizra's disappointing tournament continued when he retired hurt after scoring just eight runs.The lower order then proved to be the run-makers of the innings, with Muhammed Amin, Saad Qamar and Azmatullah all contributing substantially to the Kuwaitis final total, Saad adding 50 to the 212 that the side managed to make. Jersey's Anthony Hawkins-Kay once again proved to be the most successful the Channel Island's bowlers claiming three wickets.In reply, Jersey fell just eight runs short of the total, to miss out on third place position in the event despite some valiant batting once again from Corey Bisson and Peter Gough. The duo actually concluded the tournament as the third and fourth highest run-getters overall, just behind team-mate Dean Morrison and Guernsey's Frith.Kuwait Mohammed Naseer proved to be the man on target today claiming four wickets taking his total wicket-haul for the tournament to nine by the conclusion of today's game. By beating Jersey, Kuwait are now 35th in the world with the Jersey side one place beneath them.In the final play-off, for fifth/sixth position between Fiji and Nigeria, the Nigerian side posted a respectable total of 235 in its 50 overs with Ramit Gill and Sean Philips proving to be the stand-out batsman. Meanwhile Mohammad Khan and Tasheed Tawheed of Fiji picked up a trio of wickets each at the venue that was used for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2008.In reply, Fiji managed just 133 runs despite a valiant effort by Josefa Dabea who made 46 not out for the side but the day belonged to Varun Behani who claimed three wickets for 30 runs and alongside the Nigerian bowling attacked secured the side its first and only victory of the tournament.
Score in brief Final
1st/2nd play-off at Kinrara Oval
Malaysia 208-9, 50 overs (Ullah Khan 53, Shafiq 38, Smit 3-31)
Guernsey 211-8, 49.3 overs (Kimber 82 not out, Hooper 45; Ullah Khan 3-58)
Guernsey won by two wickets
3rd/4th play-off at Selangor Turf Club
Kuwait 212 all out, 44.5 overs (Bhatti 32, Amin 43, Saad 50, Azmattulah 44; Hawkins-Kay 3-52)
Jersey 204 all out, 49.5 overs (Bisson 59, Gough 54; Naseer 4-29)
Kuwait won by eight runs
5th/6th play-off at Bayeumas Oval
Nigeria 235-9, 50 overs (Gill 48, Philips 43; Tawheed 3-50, Khan 3-39)
Fiji 133 all out, 42.4 overs (Dabea 46; 3-30)
Nigeria won by 102 runs

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Lahore Lions crush Hyderabad Hawks by 82 runs

KARACHI : Lahore Lions defeated Hyderabad Hawks by 82 runs in the second match of the Faisal Bank National Twenty20 Cup 2011 being played here at the National Stadium on Sunday.Chasing an improbable target of 195, Hyderabad Hawks were bundled out for 112 runs in 18.4 overs. All their batsmen except four failed to get into double-figures.The main scorers were Sharjeel Khan (30), Faisal Athar (23) and Azeem Ghumman (20)For Lahore Lions, slow left-arm spinner Raza Ali Dar and left-arm fast-medium bowler Wahab Riaz claimed two wickets for nine and 19 runs, respectively.Earlier, openers Ahmed Shehzad and Kamran Akmal guided Lahore Lions to set a difficult target of 195 runs for Hyderabad Hawks. After being put into bat by Hyderabad Hawks captain Azeem Ghumman, Lahore Lions piled up a big total of 194 runs for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs.Ahmed Shehzad and Kamran Akmal provided a solid start of 116 runs in 12 overs on the basis of which other batsmen easily took the score to 194.Both openers hit half-centuries as Ahmed made 72 off 50 balls with nine boundaries and Kamran scored 62 from 41 deliveries with seven fours and a six.Kamran’s younger brother Umar was unbeaten on 33.Off-break bowler Nasir Owais took three wickets for Hyderabad Hawks.

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Lahore Eagles win toss, bat against Karachi Zebras

KARACHI : Lahore Eagles captain Taufiq Umar won the toss and elected to bat against Karachi Zebras in the third and the last match of the opening day in the Faisal Bank National Twenty20 Cup 2011 being played here at the National Stadium on Sunday.Teams:Karachi Zebras: Khurram Manzoor, Rameez Aziz, Akbar-ur-Rehman, Hasan Raza, Faisal Iqbal, Anwar Ali, Danish Kaneria (captain), Farhan Iqbal (wk), Azam Hussain, Uzair-ul-Haq, Atif Maqbool.Lahore Eagles: Taufiq Umar (captain), Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Hamza Paracha, Kamran Sajjad, Adnan Akmal (wk), Saad Nasim, Junaid Zia, Emmad Ali, Ali Azmat, Mustafa Iqbal.

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Lahore set 195-run target for Hyderabad

KARACHI : Openers Ahmed Shehzad and Kamran Akmal guided Lahore Lions to set a difficult target of 195 runs for Hyderabad Hawks in the second match of the Faisal Bank National Twenty20 Cup 2011 being played here at the National Stadium on Sunday.After being put into bat by Hyderabad Hawks captain Azeem Ghumman, Lahore Lions piled up a big total of 194 runs for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs.Ahmed Shehzad and Kamran Akmal provided a solid start of 116 runs in 12 overs on the basis of which other batsmen easily took the score to 194.Both openers hit half-centuries as Ahmed made 72 off 50 balls with nine boundaries and Kamran scored 62 from 41 deliveries with seven fours and a six.Kamran’s younger brother Umar was unbeaten on 33.Off-break bowler Nasir Owais took three wickets for Hyderabad Hawks.

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Hyderabad Hawks win toss, put Lahore Lions into bat

KARACHI : Hyderabad Hawks captain Azeem Ghumman won the toss and elected to field against Lahore Lions in the second match of the Faisal Bank National Twenty20 Cup 2011 here at the National Stadium on Sunday.Teams:Lahore Lions: Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal (wk), Nasir Jamshed, Abdul Razzaq (captain), Umar Akmal, Riaz Ali Dar, Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Cheema, Imran Ali, Tanzeel Altaf, Adnan Rasool.Hyderabad Hawks: Azeem Ghumman (captain, wk), Sharjeel Khan, Faisal Athar, Aqeel Anjum, Rizwan Ahmed, Lal Kumar, Mir Ali, Zahid Mahmood, Nauman Ali, Ghulam Yasin, Nasir Awais.

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Yasir’s ton seals big win for Abbottabad in T20 opener

KARACHI : Yasir Hameed’s magnificent century sealed a big victory of 72 runs for Abbottabad Falcons against Quetta Bears in the opening match of the Faisal Bank National Twenty20 Cup 2011 here at the National Stadium on Sunday.Put into bat by Quetta Bears captain Bismillah Khan, Abbottabad Falcons made 190 runs for only two wickets in the allotted 20 overs with the help of a century by opener Yasir and a half-century by Adnan Raees.Opener Yasir scored 101 and Adnan made 51 and both remained not out.In reply, Quetta Bears could not chase the huge target of 191 and made only 118 runs for the loss of eight wickets.Fast bowler Junaid Khan captured three wickets for 24 and Khalid Usman claimed two for 10 for Abbottabad Falcons.

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National T20 Championship begins today

KARACHI : Karachi Dolphins hope to get sixth time lucky as they begin as hot favourites for the title at the Faysal bank T20 Championship which explodes into action here at the National Stadium from Sunday.The Dolphins have played and lost five domestic T20 finals and have never annexed the title but the heartening fact for their fans is that their team is one of the most balanced outfits in the tournament and has a solid chance of finally winning the crown.Led by the charismatic Shahid Afridi, the star-studded Dolphins have received a pre-tournament boost as they will now be playing on home turf after the event was recently moved here from Lahore because of a dengue outbreak in the Punjab.They have been placed in a rather easy group 'D' with Peshawar Panthers and Islamabad Leopards. One expects them to have an easy sailing at least till the knock-out stage Their main rivals are Sialkot Stallions and Lahore Lions but Dolphins' good luck is that the two of their biggest rivals are in the same group, which means that one of the big two will not be able to go beyond group stages.But perhaps more importantly, it will be the support of home crowd and the advantage of playing in their own backyard that can help them to finally reign supreme in the event.Meanwhile, the tournament can be lit up by the unknown Afghan Cheetas, who are taking part in the event for first time in history.Though, they are not bringing some of their main players to the event but history beckons that the Afghans can prove to be tough nut to crack in shortest format of the game. They have been placed with current champions Rawalpindi Rams, former winners Faislabad Wolves and a dangerous Multan Tigers' outfit in Group 'B', in what certainly seems to be a 'group of death'. But Cheetas' can turn out to be the surprise package of the event.Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria will be leading Karachi Zebras in the tournament and they will play the last match on Sunday against bitter rivals Lahore Eagles. The crowd can expect to see some fireworks when these two take on each under floodlights. The other teams to join them in Group 'A' are lowly Abbottabad Falcons and Quetta Bear.Meanwhile, five-time champions Sialkot stallions, the most successful side of Pakistan's T20 history, have been drawn with Lahore Lions and Hyderabad Hawks.Hawks can prove to be a nightmare for these two giants, as they have become a strong team in recent times and can cause a few upsets.Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali is expected to be the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the tournament today.Today's matches: Abbottabad Falcons vs Quetta Bears (12pm), Lahore Lions vs Hyderabad Hawks (4pm) and Karachi Zebras vs Lahore Eagles (8pm).

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