First Pak cricket team captain, Kardar being remembered today

KARACHI: Former captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team Abdul Hafeez Kardar is being remembered on his death anniversary today (Saturday).

Abdul Hafeez Kardar was born in Lahore Punjab in 1925. He is the first captain of the Pakistan cricket team. Commonly referred to as the father figure of Pakistan cricket, Kardar’s contribution toward cricket in Pakistan are numerous.

Under Kardar’s captaincy, Pakistan played 23 test matches against all the leading teams of that time and was victorious against all of them.

Pakistan got its test status in 1952 and toured India; there they lost the series 2-1 but Pakistan managed to win the second test at Lucknow comprehensively.

Pakistan’s greatest achievement under Kardar’s captaincy was the victory against England at Oval. Australia was also beaten by Pakistan in Karachi in 1957 by Kardar’s men.

Kardar was a dauntless left handed batsman known for cracking the ball right over the bowler’s head. As a left hand spin bowler, he was equally effective. Kardar was also associated with Warwickshire. In his career as a cricketer, Kardar score 6,832 runs and captured 344 wickets.

Kardar was a visionary who modernized Pakistan cricket and popularized the game. He was instrumental in putting Pakistan on the international cricket map.

Kardar was also a strong advocate of promoting the game of cricket in Asia. Kardar retired in 1958. He later served Pakistan cricket as the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Passionate about cricket and sincere, he never compromised on his principles.

Kardar later became Pakistan’s ambassador to Switzerland. This great cricketer passed away in his hometown Lahore in 1996. SAMAA

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Wagner given ICC clearance to represent New Zealand

DUBAI: South Africa-born pace bowler Neil Wagner has been declared eligible to play for New Zealand after the International Cricket Council ruled there were special circumstances why he did not meet residency regulations, NZ Cricket said on Thursday.

The ICC requires a player to spend at least 183 days in a country for four successive years to be considered for selection.

The 26-year-old Wagner, who moved to New Zealand in 2008, failed to achieve the minimum number of days on two occasions.

Once because he was playing a Twenty20 competition overseas with his New Zealand province Otago and the second time due to a family wedding.

NZC then sought dispensation from the world governing body to select the left-armer, who took a record five wickets in one over in a first class match in 2011.

"Approval was given for both occasions meaning the South African born player is now available for selection by New Zealand," NZC said in a statement on Thursday.

New Zealand, who were beaten by Wagner's native South Africa in their Twenty20, one-day and test series last month, tour the West Indies in July and August before a trip to India in late August and September.

If selected, Wagner would join a growing list of recently capped New Zealand players born in South Africa.

Wicketkeeper batsman BJ Watling and wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk both played tests earlier this year, while all rounder Grant Elliott played for New Zealand in 2008 and 2009.

Middle order batsman Dean Brownlie also spent most of his life in Western Australia and moved to Christchurch in 2009 but qualified for his adopted country through his New Zealand-born father. AGENCIES

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Cricket: Clarke vows to keep pressing for victory

PORT OF SPAIN: Australia captain Michael Clarke vowed to keep making ambitious declarations even if it meant risking seeing his plans come back to haunt him.

Clarke set the West Indies a 215-run target off 61 overs in the second Test on Thursday, after declaring on 160 for eight early in the afternoon, only for torrential rain to wash away any chance of a result.

His decision to tempt the West Indies to force a result had paid dividends in the first Test in Barbados, which his team won by three wickets, despite declaring his team's first innings 43 runs behind.

Thursday was also set for an intriguing finish when West Indies reached 53 for two off 11 overs before rain returned to end the weather-battered contest.

"My goal my whole career has been to help the Australian team win as many games as possible and I guess now that I am captain I have the opportunity to show that," said Clarke.

"At times with my declaration, when there is a chance for winning, you've got to have a go at it.

"There's going to be times that it might backfire and we might lose every now and then. But I enjoy the brand of cricket that we're playing at the moment.

"I know the guys are really focused on the team having success and trying to win as many games as we can. And I think it's bringing the best out of the team."

The draw meant that Australia retained their two-decade grip on the Frank Worrell Trophy with just the final Test to play starting in Dominica on Monday.

In an effort to win on Thursday, West Indies captain Darren Sammy switched his batting order, moving Kieran Powell to open and placing himself at number three.

But Australian seamer Ben Hilfenhaus soon had the West Indies rocking, trapping Powell lbw for just four in his second over which allowed Sammy, himself, to come to the crease.

Hilfenhaus had both openers back in the dressing room just two overs later when he produced a beautiful outswinger that took the edge of Adrian Barath's bat and the catch was taken by Clarke at first slip.

That left West Indies on 13 for two.

Sammy, though, still had his sights firmly set on an unlikely win and launched into an attack on Hilfenhaus, striking him for two boundaries and a six over long-off.

He reached 30 not out from 26 balls with his team still needing another 162 runs to win when the weather brought an end to the contest.

"Sixty overs was enough. We thought we could get the runs. Our plan was to see how far we could get by tea and then reassess after that," said Sammy, who believes his team are still capable of levelling the series.

"The guys believe now that we can not only compete but we can win matches against top opposition and we go into every game thinking we can."

Sammy's optimism was boosted by seeing fast bowler Kemar Roach bag another five wickets to become first West Indian sincde 2005 to take 10 wickets in a match.

"It was difficult. The wicket wasn't assisting fast bowlers much. You had to be accurate," said man-of-the-match Roach.

"I am very proud of the way we fought. Now we will practise hard for Dominica and on Monday we will be ready and raring to go."

Australia have injury worries ahead of the third Test after fast bowlers Peter Siddle and James Pattinson were forced to return home with back injuries.

But they do have two cover in the squad -- Ryan Harris, who played in the first Test, and left-armer Mitchell Starc, who last played in the Perth Test against India in January.

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Ganguly inspires Pune to beat Delhi by 20 runs

DELHI: Captain Sourav Ganguly’s allround performance guided Pune Warriors to beat Delhi Daredevils by 20 runs in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Saturday.
The former India captain first hit 41 and then grabbed two wickets to lead his team from the front while Australia’s Steven Smith also contributed 32..
But the star was New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder who smashed 86 from 58 balls with four sixes. He together with Ganguly added 93 for the second wicket stand which helped Pune plunder 192 for three in 20 overs.
However, Delhi accepted the challenge as captain Virender Sehwag blasted 57 off 32 balls with four sixes and five fours but as soon he got out other batsmen could not resist against Pune bowlers except England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who made 32 with three sixes.
South African pacer Alfonso Thomas captured three wickets for 22 runs besides Ganguly’s 2-27.
Pakistan’s first sports tv channel Geo Super televised the match live from Delhi.

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Windies coach Gibson fined for DRS outburst

PORT OF SPAIN: West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee after hitting out at the DRS review technology system during the drawn second Test against Australia.
The incident took place on Tuesday when, during the post-third day's play media briefing, Gibson challenged the DRS and its implementation by the match officials.
He was subsequently charged with breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.
"In the pre-series meetings it was agreed that players and coaches should not engage in negative media comments. Ottis accepts that he overstepped the mark during the game and has now accepted his sanction," said Jeff Crowe of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.
Gibson had been frustrated by what he saw as inconsistencies in the system caused by the absence of Hot-Spot and Snicko technology.
"I can't say what I really want to say about the DRS because the ICC will sack me or ban me or whatever," Gibson had said.
"If the ICC is going to use DRS I think they should use all the technology and I think if we haven't got all the technology we shouldn't use it at all."
Australia won the first Test in Barbados before the rain-affected second Test here ended in a predictable draw.
The final match starts in Dominica on Monday.

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Plessis guides Chennai to down Rajasthan by seven wickets

CHENNAI: South African batsman Faf du Plessis hammered a brilliant 52-ball 73 to help Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier league here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk on Saturday.
Chasing 147, Chennai reached the target off the final ball when captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni flicked off Kevon Kooper on fine leg for a quick two.
Suraish Raina also made a useful contribution of 26 while medium-pacer Cooper claimed two wickets for Rajasthan.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals made 146 for four in the allotted 20 overs batting first after captain Rahul Dravid won the toss.
England allrounder Owais Shah top scored with 52 with four fours and three sixes followed by Ashok Menaria (36) and Dravid (26).
Geo Super showed this match live from Chennai for cricket lovers in Pakistan.

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Gayle, de Villiers help Bangalore beat Punjab

MOHALI: The 131-run fourth wicket partnership between Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers paved the way for an easy five-wicket win for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kings XI Punjab in the 25th match of the Indian Premier League – V here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Friday.
Chasing 164, Bangalore completed their third victory in 19.3 overs after Gayle and de Villiers hit half-centuries.
Gayle made 87 off 56 balls with four sixes and eight fours while de Villiers scored 52 from 39 balls with six boundaries.
Their partnership was the fourth century stand and the highest for any wicket so far in the tournament.
For Punjab, medium-pacer Parvinder Awana captured four wickets for 34 runs.
Earlier, Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and put Punjab into bat who scored 163 for six in the allotted 20 overs.
Main scorers were Australiann batsman David Hussey hit 41 and Pakistan-born English county allrounder Azhar Mahmood, who was playing his first match in the tournament, remained not out on 33.
Seamers Zaheer Khan and Andrew McDonald claimed two wickets each for Bangalore.
Pakistan’s first sports tv channel Geo Super televised this match live from Mohali

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Samuels lashes out at critics of his bowling action

NEW DELHI: West Indies spinner Marlon Samuels on Friday lashed out at critics of his bowling action in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), saying they were "evil".

"They are doing it because they can't play my bowling," the Pune Warriors all-rounder told the Times of India. "If I was hit into the galleries, my action would never have been questioned."

The off-spinner was reported last week by match officials for a suspect bowling action following his team's match against defending champions Chennai Super Kings.

According to IPL rules, Samuels, 31, will be suspended from bowling for the rest of the tournament if his action is reported again.

Samuels has faced problems with his action in the past, particularly when bowling his faster deliveries.

The West Indies star was suspended from bowling when reported for a suspect action after the third Test against South Africa in Durban in 2008.

He underwent remedial work and was cleared to bowl by the International Cricket Council last year.

Samuels, who has claimed 19 Test and 67 one-day international wickets, said the "faster ball" was a spinner's weapon.

"I have worked very hard on my bowling," he told the newspaper. "Slow bowlers these days need to have variations and the faster ball is surely a great weapon to have."

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is leading the Pune Warriors, defended Samuels.

"I'm surprised that he has been warned," Ganguly told reporters. "If you look around the IPL, I'll be honest, there are worse actions going on."

Samuels lauded Ganguly for backing him. "He is a great captain and I am happy that he has so much faith in me," he said.

The 76-match Twenty20 IPL has nine teams playing each other on a home-and-away basis before the top-four sides qualify for the play-offs. The final will be played on May 27.

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Chennai emerge victorious in tight game against Pune

CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings held their nerves to win by 13 runs against Pune Warriors to whom they had lost five days ago.
Chasing 165, Pune needed 21 off the last over but they could not manage due to some sharp catching and fierce bowling by Chennai and in the end they were restricted to 151 for seven in the allotted 20 overs.
Main contributors for Pune were Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews (27), West Indies’ Marlon Samuels (26), captain Sourav Ganguly (24) and Australia’s Steven Smith (23).
Sri Lankan Nuwan Kularasekara and West Indian Dwayne Bravo took two wickets each for 10 and 28, respectively.
Earlier, openers Faf du Plessis (58) of South Africa and Subramaniam Badrinath (57) provided a solid start of 116 runs in 15.3 overs to Chennai who batted first after being sent in by Pune. This was the first century opening stand of the tournament.
Captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni also blasted a 12-ball 28 with fours and a six.
For Pune, Marlon Samuels of the West Indies captured three wickets and India’s pacer Ashish Nehra claimed two.
The match was shown live by Geo Super, the first sports tv channel of Pakistan.

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