Ricky Ponting describes Pakistan as a very dangerous side

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has described Pakistan as a very dangerous side, predicting that the team will get better by the day as the 2011 World Cup progresses.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, Ponting drew comparisons between Pakistan and his own team, which is looking for a record fourth consecutive World Cup crown.

“They have some good bowlers. Their fast bowers have done well here. They have Shahid Afridi who is in terrific form. Then they have (Mohammad) Hafeez, who can bowl. Rehman is there and also Saeed Akmal. So in a way they are similar to Australia,” The News quoted Ponting, as saying.

He said Pakistan are a well-balanced side, and have made their presence felt at the World Cup by beating co-hosts Sri Lanka, one of the favourites for the title.

After Australia’s Pool A match against Sri Lanka was washed out by rain at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Ponting hoped that his team would be fully prepared to face Pakistan in their last group game on March 19 at the same venue.

Speaking on his team’s abandoned match against Sri Lanka, Ponting said that he was ‘surprised’ by the slowness of the wicket at the R Premadasa Stadium, adding that more than the players, he was disappointed for the crowd after the match was rained out.

“We had a sold-out crowd, which would have seen a good match had it continued. I’m really disappointed for the fans,” Ponting added.

Afridi's performance at World Cup inspiration for entire Pak team: Intikhab

Pakistan's World Cup captain Shahid Afridi has been a source of inspiration for his entire squad after lifting the man-of-the-match trophy twice at the group stage of the mega event, team manager Intikhab Alam has said.
"Afridi has been an inspiration for the entire team," The News quoted Intikhab, as saying.
"He has given some stellar performances in this tournament so far and has been man-of-the-match twice already which is a great sign for Pakistan," he added.
According to Intikhab, it was very important for Afridi to lead from the front, as the entire team starts performing "if the leader does well."
"As a team's captain, Afridi had the biggest burden of responsibility on his shoulders," he said, adding, "It's great to see that he has really lived up to all the expectations," said Intikhab.
"As captain and senior player, Afridi was always one of the most important members of the team and now he has once again proved himself to be one of the valuable players.y giving such solid performances, he has certainly raised the bar for his teammates," he added.
Afridi, who has been sensational as a bowler in this World Cup, is yet to really fire as a batsman in this tournament.
He has scored 7, 16 and 20 in his first three outings, but Intikhab expressed confidence that Afridi would deliver with the bat as the event progresses.
"He has been brilliant with the ball but so far hasn't played a big knock," said Intikhab. "But it doesn't worry us because he is a big game player and will also do well with the bat in this event."
Pakistan are looking to top Pool A in a bid to have an easier quarter-final, but they will have to conquer both New Zealand and Australia for this.
Intikhab was of the view that Afridi will once again be the vital cog for his team in the tough matches against the Black Caps and the Aussies.
"He is the man in form and we are confident that Afridi will continue delivering for Pakistan in this tournament," the team manager maintained.

Indian Parrot Predicted Pakistan as ICC World Cup Champion 2011

I 'm no match fixer: Akmal

CONTROVERSIAL Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has hit out at claims he was involved in rigging the infamous Sydney Test last year, saying he has never accepted a cent to throw matches.

Akmal spoke of his devastation at rumours he deliberately underperformed as part of a match-fixing scam against Australia that allegedly netted Pakistan players $3 million.

Akmal, a key member of Pakistan's World Cup squad, has been one of the most scrutinised figures in world cricket. The ICC and Scotland Yard detectives last year launched separate probes into the gloveman, who was also accused of being among the architects of the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the sport during Pakistan's tour of England last July.

The 29-year-old was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing but Akmal says he was shattered by innuendo which painted him as a corrupt, money-grubbing match fixer..

"I have never been asked by anyone to do this [match fixing]. I can't believe what people would say. Nobody has ever talked to me like that.

"All I care about is playing cricket. I play for Pakistan, I don't do any other activities that would damage my country or my name."

To help prove his innocence, Akmal declared to cricket authorities four properties he owns in Pakistan that he says were accrued via legitimate income.

The dark cloud of suspicion has hovered over Akmal since January 2010. In a horrific performance at the SCG, the Pakistan keeper dropped Michael Hussey three times and botched a simple run out as Australian produced a miracle comeback to win the second Test by 36 runs.

Such was the scrutiny, a leaked report from the Pakistan Cricket Board revealed team officials privately feared Akmal performed poorly in Sydney for financial gain.

Player agent Mazhar Majeed, the manager caught out in a British tabloid sting last year, intimated the Pakistan team made around $3 million from the Sydney Test debacle. His claims were supported by opener Yasir Hameed, who reportedly confirmed the SCG Test was rigged.

But Akmal insists he has never been approached by match fixers and says he was so concerned about his glovework he sought advice from former Australian keeper Ian Healy in the lead-up to the Sydney Test.

Akmal's dismal performance saw him axed for the next Test in Hobart, where Healy had promised to meet to work on some technical issues.

"I didn't drop catches to help Australia," Akmal says.

"These things happen. Not every day is a good day in cricket, sometimes you have good days and other days you have bad games, but I have tried very hard in every game I play for Pakistan.

"I have ignored all this, I play for honesty, I play to win for my country."

I play to win for my country: Kamran Akmal

 Just a couple of months before the World Cup, there was uncertainty over whether Kamran Akmal will be allowed to play for Pakistan in the global spectacle.

There were strong rumours that he was being investigated for suspected links to match-fixers and the speculations gained weight after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to drop him for the series against South Africa in the UAE last November.

However, the Pakistan wicketkeeper was cleared by the authorities and is now a key member of the national team at World Cup 2011.

Kamran is now hoping that all the match-fixing allegations won’t hurt his reputation.

“I’m very happy to be back in the team,” Kamran said in an interview on Friday.

“I was upset to be dropped but my brother, my wife and my family have encouraged me to keep trying.

“I never gave up. I spoke to Ian Healy, he told me some things to improve and I worked on that,”he said referring to the former Australia Test wicketkeeper.

“I have also had help from Brad Haddin and Adam Gilchrist, so I am very happy. My wicketkeeping is not on the spot, but I’m working hard with these good coaches and I’ve been getting better,” he added.

Kamran also hit out at claims that he was involved in rigging last year’s Sydney Test which Pakistan lost from a seemingly winning position.

“I will never ever think like that. I play for love of cricket, not for money,” Kamran said. “I have never been asked to do this (match-fixing).

“All I care about is playing cricket. I play for Pakistan, I don’t do any other activities that would damage my country or my name.”

Kamran came under the scanner following a horror showing in Sydney where he dropped Mike Hussey three times and wasted a run-out chance as Australian produced a stunning comeback to win the Test by 36 runs.

Player agent Mazhar Majeed, who was caught out in a British tabloid match-fixing sting, claimed that the Pakistan team made about $3 million from the debacle.

“I didn’t drop catches to help Australia,” Kamran said. “These things happen. Not every day is a good day in cricket. Sometimes you have good days and other days you have bad games but I have tried very hard in every game I play for Pakistan. “I have ignored all this, I play for honesty, I play to win for my country.”

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