Pakistan Hockey Makes it to Asian Games Finals After 20 Years

Pakistan hockey team made it to the finals of the Asian Games after a lapse of 20 years – the last time they did so was also in China in 1990 – with goalkeeper Salman Akbar the hero of the day for saving the last South Korean strike in the semi-finals shootout.
Pakistan will now play Malaysia in the Finals.This was a major upset for the South Koreans who won the Asian gold in both the last two games. It was also a meaningful victory for Pakistan because for many observers the ‘fall’ of Pakistan hockey had become visible at around the same time that the rise of the South Koreans had become evident – at the Seoul Asian Games on 1986, where favorites Pakistan had lost and underdogs South Korea had emerged triumphant. Pakistan had then regained the title in the 1990 Beijing Olympics – twenty years ago.
Pakistan will now face Malaysia in the Finals – another upset since India was considered the favorites but lost to Malaysia in their semi-finals game.

ICC asks suspended players to return documents

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked the lawyers representing the three suspended Pakistani players to return the evidence and other documentation provided to them as part of the process to defend the players against the spot-fixing allegations made against them A lawyer for suspended Test captain, Salman Butt confirmed that he and the other lawyer representing Butt had got a mail from the ICC in this regard.
"Yes they have asked us to return the documentation and other evidence they provided to us before and during the appeal hearing held in Dubai," the lawyer said.
Sources said that the ICC had decided to ask the lawyers to return the relevant evidence and documents after some of the matter was leaked out in the Pakistani media.
"Obviously the ICC believes that someone close to the players is responsible for leaking out confidential information that directly affects the case against the players. So, as a precautionary measure they have asked for the evidence and documents to be returned," one source disclosed.

But the lawyer insisted that the reason for the ICC directive was not because of any leakage of any confidential information or evidence.

"No such information has been leaked out as yet and this is a normal procedure that the lawyers can ask for relevant documents or evidence before the full hearing of the case in January," he claimed.
Sources said interestingly even before the ICC had provided relevant documentation and evidence material to the lawyers preparing to defend the players they had sent the same stuff to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
"Yes it is true the PCB is in possession of plenty of material including transcripts of SMS messages exchanged between the players and their agent Mazhar Majeed for the last three months now," the source said.
The matter apparently has come to a head after a television channel leaked out some text messages supposedly exchanged between Butt and Mazhar Majeed earlier this year during a tournament.
The lawyer said they would have no problems returning the material to the ICC.
The ICC anti-corruption unit had submitted detailed evidence and material when the appeal hearing of Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamir against their suspensions was held in Dubai last month.
Their appeals were rejected by the appeals tribunal leading to them making accusations publicly that the ICC was not treating them with justice.
They had also called on the government to intervene in the matter on their behalf but so far neither the government nor the PCB have shown any intention of getting involved in the matter

Smith ruled out of test with fractured hand

ABU DHABI Nov 23 (Reuters) - South Africa captain Graeme Smith has been ruled out of the rest of the second and final test against Pakistan with a fractured hand.
Smith has "fractured the fourth metacarpal on his left hand" and will be out of action for at least two weeks, team manager Lerato Malekutu said on Tuesday, the fourth day of the match.
The injury may have been originally caused by a blow on the hand Smith suffered from a ball by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the first one-day international in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 29 which forced him to retire hurt.
The left-hander did not open the batting in South Africa's second innings, travelling to the local hospital for x-rays.
The fracture is the third Smith has suffered in the last two years.
The second test enters the final day on Wednesday with South Africa on 173 for four in the second innings, leading Pakistan by 323 runs.
The series is level at 0-0.