Latif dares Pakistan for an Asiad re-match

Karachi: Afghanistan coach Rashid Latif is a furious man after allegations were levelled that the Twenty20 match between Pakistan and his wards in the Guangzhou Asian Games was fixed and has openly challenged for a re-match.

Latif, a former Pakistan captain but now coach of the Afghanistan cricket team, said his boys victory over the their much-fancied opponent in the semi-finals of the T20 cricket competition in last month's Asian Games was not a fluke."My challenge is we will beat the same Pakistan team again. All this talk about the match being fixed is degrading the hardwork of the Afghani players," Latif said.

Since Pakistan lost at the hands of newcomers Afghanistan in the last four of the Asian Games, there has been speculation in the Pakistan media that the match was fixed.

The President of a cricket club whose players were in the national team that lost to Afghanistan has also written to the cricket board (PCB) to investigate the match.

Allegations have been raised that since Rashid was coach of the Afghanistan team he got his clubmate, Pakistan captain Khalid Latif and some other players to play slowly in the T20 match.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone can say what they like. I can only say I challenge them for a rematch at any venue and I know for certain we will beat them again by a bigger margin this time," Latif said.

He said the Afghanistan team could even pose a hard time to the Pakistani national team as they play with a lot of passion and pride on the ground.

"Something that is lacking in this Pakistan team right now," he stated.

The PCB has said it is studying the report of the manager and coach of the team that played in the Asian Games.

Latif also dismissed suggestions made by former greats, including Imran Khan and Arjuna Ranatunga that former players can help the International Cricket Council identify incidents of spot-fixing in international matches.

"I don't know why they are saying this after so many years. The fact is that when they played this menace of match fixing had started but at that time they didn't do anything and instead supported the players responsible for it. If they had done something then things would have been different now.

"I don't agree with them about former players being able to eradicate spot fixing incidents in matches. I think this menace is very difficult to stop now. It can only be stopped if the players themselves realise how much damage it is doing to the game," he said.

Butt Vows to Take on Lorgat

It has been decided by the lawyers representing the suspended skipper of  the Pakistan cricket team Salman Butt, in the alleged spot-fixing scandal, to file a protest letter against Chief Executive ICC; Haroon Lorgat.

The said letter will address the three-man independent tribunal of the ICC which is going to hold the hearing upon the issue, in Doha in January.

Disclosing the details of the matter, Aftab Gul, a lawyer from Butt’s legal team told the reporters about their plans to dispatch a letter to the tribunal in the coming few days. The letter will draw the attention, of the concerned authorities, to the recent statement that the ICC chief made about the case.

A few days back, while talking to the reporters, Lorgat had said that it would disappoint him if ICC anti-corruption unit is unable to prove the charges against  the suspended trio from Pakistan; comprising of Muhammad Aamir, Muhammad Asif and the Skipper Salman Butt.

Supporting his earlier statement, while talking to an international news channel, Lorgat said, “We have worked hard at collecting all the evidence that we would require to make the charges stand.”

The 3-man tribunal will be headed by Michael Beloff, who also happens to be the chairman of ICC code of conduct commission. The other two members include Justice Albie Sachs from South Africa and Sharad Rao from Kenya.

As Lorgat was reported to have said that ICC was not ready to show any leniency in the case, Gul had regarded those remarks as pressure building tactics before the hearing could actually take place. “He basically is already trying to rule these players guilty, although, the charges brought against them have yet to be proven by the ICC’s ACU. We will ask the independent tribunal to take up the matter with Lorgat, who, as ICC CEO, has to remain neutral and avoid giving statements on the case which is yet to be decided. Such statements have caused grievance to my client who is yet to be proven guilty” said Gul.

Butt has not been leaving any stone unturned to prove himself innocent. In order to present his case more professionally, he has now hired Aitzaz Ahsan, one of top lawyers from Pakistan along with the legal team which has been preparing his case hard for the hearing, which is to be held in Doha and which is going to decide the future of the trio into the sport. If the verdict goes against them, the players will reserve the right to challenge the verdict of the 3-man Tribunal, at the Court for Arbitration for Sport.

Miandad wishes China to become neutral venue for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Former captain and Pakistan’s Cricket ambassador to China Javed Miandad believes that if China becomes another venue for Pakistan’s offshore international matches that will also help promote the game in that country. “At a time when cricket playing nations are reluctant to visit Pakistan, I think China is another option for us to arrange our home series at a neutral venue,” he told APP on Tuesday.  He said that the Chinese wanted to promote the cricket in their country, which was the most popular game of sub-continent. “They want to promote cricket and need our help for that.I think the best thing that we can do in this regard is to hold our matches there,” he said. Miandad, one of the mentors of the fledgling sport in China, said that the cricket stadium at Guangdong University of Technology, where T20 international cricket tournament in the Asian Games was held was suitable for all kind of international matches. The ground has an 80-metre boundary, seven pitches and other facilities which suit international standards, he added. He said Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt during his visit to China was astonished by the quality of the ground and facilities provided in the cricket stadium. He said Butt had also expressed the wish to make China a venue for one of Pakistan’s offshore international games. He said China had great talent for cricket and their future in the game was bright. “I have looking after their cricketing affairs for the past two years. Although they are new to the game, they have the potential to become a great world side,” he remarked.  During President Asif Ali Zardari’s first visit to China as the head of state, a couple of years ago, the two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the promotion of cricket.  Under the MoU Pakistan agreed to provide all necessary assistance to China for promoting the game. After that both the countries gave important assignments to Miandad - Pakistan appointed him ambassador to Cricket China, while China made him senior advisor to China Cricket Association. The erstwhile cricket great said that Pakistan was also considering to send a group of former players as a coaching team to China to train their youth. He said the International Cricket Council and Asian Cricket Council had also asked cricket playing nations to help China and the United States of America to promote the game.

Want to earn same respect as coach as I did as a player: Waqar

pakistan coach Waqar Younis on Tuesday said he wants to earn respect and admiration just like he did when he was a player.

In an interview to Geo Super channel, Waqar said: "As a coach I am giving the same commitment like I did when I was a player. The intensity and hunger has not gone down."

"As the coach of the Pakistan cricket team I want to earn the same respect and appreciation as I earned during my playing days. Whenever I leave my position, I would like to do it with my head held high."

Despite all the bad phase that Pakistan cricket is going through, Waqar is upbeat that his players are capable of surprising everyone.

He said: "People say we are a young team and we have no senior players or a true leader. However, they forget that young players played a key role in the 1992 World Cup. They also went on to become great players in Pakistan cricket history."

He added: "My job is to help the youngsters adapt to the conditions and pressure of international cricket and make them perform well. I am trying my best to use my experience and exposure for the benefit of the team."

With the team preparing for the World Cup, Waqar accepted that his main concern is keeping the players fit.

"There are few fitness issues with Misbah (ul-Haq), Wahab (Riaz) and Khurrum (Manzoor) but it is not serious. With World Cup approaching, it's a player's responsibility to be match fit," said Waqar.

Waqar also accepted that under Javed Miandad's guidance during the national camp in Lahore players have become more technically sound.

Ice-cream parlour can prove my innocence - Butt

 LONDON — Former captain Salman Butt insists a London ice-cream parlour could help clear him of 'spot-fixing' allegations made as part of the corruption scandal surrounding the Pakistan cricket team.

Butt said thousands of pounds discovered in his London hotel room after a 'sting operation' conducted by Britain's News of the World (NoW) tabloid, came from daily tour allowances, bat sponsorship and the ice-cream parlour opening.

His explanation is set to form part of his defence at a make-or-break disciplinary hearing, in Doha, Qatar, next month.

Butt was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following allegations he and colleagues conspired in the bowling of deliberate no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord's in August.

Fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammed Aamer were suspended on the same allegations.

Butt had only been captain of the side for less than two months, following Shahid Afridi's resignation when he was implicated in the scandal.

He set out his case in a lengthy interview in Lahore to a 'Special Report' on British-based satellite station Sky Sports News broadcast Monday.

Sky put a figure of 29,000 pounds (46,000 dollars) to him as the amount found in his room.

"Everybody knows the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) pays us daily allowances on tours and it was a long tour, so about 11,000 pounds of this money was from my daily allowances," he said.

"Being captain I have extra entertainment allowance which amounts to about 4,500 pounds from the tour -- which I had with me," the 26-year-old opening batsman added.

"The rest of the money was advanced payment for my bat stickers which I was under contract by Capital Cricket which shows on the back of my bat.

"People can have their opinions but I know where the money came from."

Pressed on whether the money was "clean", Butt added: "Of course, 100 percent.

"2,500 pounds was given to me for the opening of an ice cream parlour in Tooting (south London).

"As you guys (Sky) are from England you can go there any time to Tooting. I believe the name is Afters and the manager, the people working over there, they will tell you that I had to do the opening of the ice cream parlour along with Mohammad Aamer.

"And that's what we were paid for."

Butt insisted there was no way as a novice skipper he could have improperly influenced Aamer and Asif.

"These kind of people do not let others decide their roles," he argued.

Butt, Asif and Aamer have been suspended until the ICC hearing in Doha on January 6.

"I wish all three of us get back and play for our country which is our passion because we love cricket and we would love to get back and play for our country," Butt said.

"I know inside what I am made of, where I have come from and how I have played my cricket and believe me it has been a lot of passion throughout my life...the love of the game has brought me there. And that love is bigger than anything, any corrupt thing which exists.

"So I believe, inshallah (god willing), that I will be back playing for my country again."

Pakistan may lose some senior cricketers for World Cup 2011

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may drop some of its senior players from the squad which would feature in the upcoming cricket world cup scheduled to start on Feb. 19 next year, officials said Tuesday.

Talking to media, PCB's chief selector Mohsin Khan gave a clear indication that some senior players like wicket keeper batsman Kamran Akmal and former captain Shoaib Malik could miss out on the World Cup preliminary squad but he said there would be enough talent on the national team to do well in the mega event.

"No player is irreplaceable, it would be a setback if we lose some of our leading players but not something that would mean we can't do well in our coming series and tournaments," said Khan.

Khan also tried to make it clear that the selectors can't announce any team until the players get clearance from the PCB.

Reports said that besides the three suspended players, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir, Pakistan could also be without other leading players who have not got clearance from the ICC or the PCB to play international cricket.

These players have been allegedly involved in cricket corruption and banned to participate in international sports events till they are proved innocent.

Akmal and leg spinner Danish Kaneria last week met with the officials of the board to find out why they were being ignored for national selection but nothing came out.

Khan also made it clear that they had been told in clear terms by the board not to make any compromises on fitness or discipline.

Cricket experts in the country hold the view that no doubt the young cricketers are talented and energetic but these cannot replace experienced players as the world cup is the world's toughest competition.