Younus, Gul return for West Indies Tests

Former captain Younus Khan and experienced fast-bowler Umar Gul returned as selectors announced a 15-man squad for the forthcoming Test series against the West Indies.

The duo will replace limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi, who retired from Test cricket last year, and opening batsman Ahmed Shahzad for the two-match series starting from May 12. Misbahul Haq, who led the team against New Zealand in the last Test series, has been retained as captain.

Younus, the experienced middle-order batsman was rested for the One-Day International (ODI) series following an unimpressive show in the World Cup. Meanwhile, Gul opted to rest for the limited-overs leg of the tour, citing a hectic schedule in past three months.

“Younus is an integral part of the team’s batting line-up,” said chief selector Mohsin Khan. “His presence will definitely boost the team in the Test series.”

While the inclusion of the duo was on cards, the selection committee made a surprising decision by sticking with wicket-keeper Mohammad Salman and overlooking Adnan Akmal, younger brother of Kamran, who was impressive in the series against New Zealand.

“Salman has satisfied us with his performance but we can’t overlook the performance of Adnan Akmal in the New Zealand series,” the chief selector had said earlier.

As part of its policy to give chance to youngsters, the selectors also preferred to keep all-rounder Hammad Azam and left-arm pacer Junaid Khan in the squad while Tanvir Ahmed was also retained.

Meanwhile, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and Fawad Alam failed to get the selectors’ nod despite an impressive run in the domestic tournaments.

Selectors met secretly

In an attempt to avoid media amid allegations of biased team selection by the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), the selection committee met secretly to finalise the Test squad.

The selection committee, which usually meets in Lahore or Karachi, choose an undisclosed venue for the meeting before naming squad via a media release. While the selectors remained unreachable, the PCB officials were also unaware of the venue of the meeting.

“I don’t have any information on where the meeting is taking place,” PCB spokesperson Nadeem Sarwar confirmed to The Express Tribune. “Maybe at a local hotel somewhere.”

KCCA plans action against ‘unjust’ selection

Meanwhile, the KCCA lamented the decision to overlook Karachi players for the Test squad.

The KCCA President Sirajul Islam Bukhari told The Express Tribune that snubbing deserving Karachi players will be the main agenda of the body’s executive council meeting.

“We will plan on how to raise issue of ignoring deserving players in our meeting on May 10,” said Bukhari. “Players like Kaneria, Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Khurram Manzoor and Khalid Latif are ignored despite good performances. The continuous neglecting of our players is a serious issue which needs to be resolved.”

Pakistan

Misbahul Haq (captain), Younus Khan, Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Salman, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam

PCB threatens action on proposed ICC amendments

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has served a legal notice to the International Cricket Council (ICC), questioning the proposed amendments to the ICC constitution, as per reports in the Daily Times. The amendments provide for autonomous functioning of national cricket boards without any inte 

rference by the government.

According to the legal firm representing the PCB, DLA Piper UK LLP, such provisions constitute unfair practices as per Section 184(1) of the B VI of the Business Companies Act 2004 (the B VI Act). PCB has threatened legal action if ICC decides to implement these proposals.

The ICC amendments have also made free elections mandatory for members of the executive body or outside nominees to cricket administrative bodies.

Such provisions, if implemented would call for the exit of PCB chairman, Ijaz Butt, says Zakir Husain Syed, sports administrator and sports analyst. It would also mean withdrawal of the practice of President of Pakistan acting as the appointing authority to PCB.

The other national cricket boards that are likely to protest this amendment are Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, since they are structured on similar lines.

AFGHANISTAN WOULD BE HAPPY TO PLAY A SERIES IN PAKISTAN

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Naseemullah Danish has said that his team would be very happy to play a bilateral series in Pakistan. Danish also said that there are no security concerns in Pakistan and the atmosphere in the neighbouring country is ideal for cricket.

No international cricket team has visited Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore back in March 2009 and the green shirts have been playing their home matches away from Pakistan on neutral venues like United Arab Emirates and England.

Danish also thanked the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt for his support and said that Afghanistan is ready to send its cricket team to Pakistan so that it also clears the concerns of the other countries.

The CEO said, “We are thankful to the PCB chairman for his continuous support and ready to send our team to Pakistan to break the ice. Security is not an issue and by playing in Pakistan we want to send out a positive message to the world.”

Afghan cricket team is currently coached by the former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif who replaced another former Test cricketer Kabir Khan. Danish praised the services of Latif as the coach of the national team and said that former Pakistan captain has made a huge difference to the standard of cricket in the Afghanistan team.

Danish went on to say that apart from playing a series in Pakistan, Afghanistan also wants PCB to give them technical support and send more coaches across the border so that they can teach the youngsters.

“Besides playing a bilateral series we are looking forward to receiving technical support from the PCB as well,” Danish added.

Afghanistan cricket team is improving quite rapidly in international cricket and it has become one of the better associate teams of the International Cricket Council. Afghan team won the recent ICC Intercontinental Cup and also got Silver Medal in the Asian Games last year. Majority of the Afghan cricketers play their club cricket in Peshawar and Karachi and their experience is quite evident at the international level.

Prove me if I am a bookie: Akmal's father in law

Mohammad Illiyas Chaudhary, the father-in-law of discarded Pakistani wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal may drop the legal case against Zulqarnain Haider, who has denied him (as a fixer) naming in public, but is still angry.
"I wonder why I am always being projected as a match-fixer...Neither me, nor my son-in-law (Kamran Akmal, married to his daughter, Ayesha) are match fixers. It hurts me a lot. Those who have alleged us have never produced evidence", he said exclusively over telephone from Pakistan.
"I am not a bookie but owns five-six commercial malls in Pakistan", he said proudly. However, interestingly, Mohammad Illiyas admitted having "friendly links" with the former Pakistan skipper, Salim Malik, who has been life-banned (for his involvement in fixing matches) by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
"Yes, we are still friends. We were neighbours during the time when (Salim) Malik was life-banned. But is it a crime to be his friend ?", Illiyas Chaufdhary asked. "We have still maintained our old friendship", he added further.
"Kamran (Akmal) has not been dropped but is rested", the father-in-law said. "The PCB had conducted full enquiry against him and found no evidence". The 29-year-old wicketkeeper was made the vice captain of the Test squad in 2010 but was removed following allegations.
In the 2nd Test match on the 2009-10 tour of Australia, Akmal dropped four catches in the Australian innings raising doubts over his role and was questioned by the PCB.The International Cricket Council (ICC), in early September 2010, also sent an official notice to telling him that he is under investigation for allegedly fixing the Sydney Test. "He is a match-winner and will bounce back in the squad", the F-i-L opined.

Former players criticise Pakistan team picks

Former Pakistan cricketers Tuesday lashed out at the team selection for the forthcoming two-Test series against the West Indies, while leg-spinner Danish Kaneria accused authorities of ignoring him.

Pakistan on Monday named a 15-man squad for the series in the Caribbean, ignoring Kaneria and Kamran Akmal and axing wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal.

The selection committee gave no reason for dropping the three players but Pakistani media reported that Kaneria did not get clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while Kamran was dropped for his poor performance in the World Cup.

Kaneria, the subject of a criminal investigation in England last year over allegations that he was involved in spot-fixing in a Pro40 county match between Essex and Durham in 2009, but later cleared, expressed anger.

"I can't understand why they have dropped me after I was cleared by the Essex police and that letter of clearance has been submitted to the PCB," Kaneria told AFP.

"I have submitted whatever details I had... but now no board official picks up my phone and no answer is given to me," added the 30-year-old bowler, who has taken 261 wickets in 61 Tests -- the most by a Pakistani spinner.

"I have served my country for over 10 years and don't deserve such treatment. When no charges were levelled against me and police cleared me, then why the PCB is treating me like this?"

A former chief selector, Salahuddin Ahmed, said the PCB had displayed double standards in not selecting Kaneria.

"The PCB had said Kamran, Shoaib Malik and Kaneria needed clearance but they selected Kamran for the World Cup and excluded Malik and Kaneria.

"This time they didn't take both Kamran and Kaneria. I think Kaneria is a world class spinner and deserved a place in the Tests," said Ahmed.

All three of those players were summoned before a PCB "integrity committee" in January, after which only Kamran was given clearance. The committee was formed on the advice of the International Cricket Council following the spot-fixing scandal in England last year.

Ahmed described other choices as unjust.

"The members of this selection committee don't go to the grounds and judge players on their own and they also hide from coming in front of the press to give reasons for selection, simply because they are murdering merit every time," he said.

Another former chief selector, Iqbal Qasim, said Pakistan's selections had been inconsistent.

"After his brilliant wicket-keeping in New Zealand where he took eight catches in a Test last year, Adnan deserved a place in the Test team. It is total injustice against a youngster," Qasim said.

"I don't know what type of rebuilding they (selectors) talk about when they eliminated a deserving youngster."

Former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir also attacked the selectors, saying they must explain Adnan's omission.

"Ignoring a youngster who has performed well behind the stumps is an injustice," said Qadir, another former chief selector, who resigned over interference in selection in 2009.

Pakistan play the first of two Tests in Guyana from May 12. The second Test starts in St. Kitts from May 20.