Qadir's 'googly gift' revived Afridi's career as a match-winning bowler

Former Pakistani spinner Abdul Qadir has revealed that he was the man behind the turnaround in ODI and Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi's fortunes and abilities.

Qadir said that when Afridi's bowling was suffering a lean patch during early 2009, he had visited the all-rounder at one of the local camps.

"I spoke to him privately and told him that I would give him a gift that would bring him five wickets against the Australians in the next ODI series to be played in the UAE," PakPassion.net quoted Qadir, as saying.

"I taught him how to bowl a googly in a way that complements his characteristic bowling action and gave him tips on field placements and on bowling certain lines and lengths in order to outwit the batsmen."

"I also advised him to envisage he was playing a Test match rather than another limited overs game," he added.

The tips appeared to have benefited Afridi, who went on to exceed Qadir's expectations by achieving career best figures of 6-38 in the very first ODI against Australia, and finished as the leading wicket taker of the series.

Afridi continued following Qadir's guidelines thereafter, as was evident from his performance in the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup, where he showcased great variety and immense control, continually flummoxing the batsmen with his googlies.

He finished the tournament with 11 wickets at an impressive average of 13.54

Zulqarnain changes his lawyer

KARACHI: Pakistan wicket keeper batsman Zulqarnain Haider, who left Pakistan cricket team in Dubai due to life threats by the match fixing mafia and applied for assylum in UK, has now changed his lawyer.

Zulqarnain told The Sports Encounter scribe that he has changed his lawyer because his previous lawyer lacked professional expertise and she was dependent on other lawyers.

Zulqarnain is due to appear in court for his assylum case on January 6 while police report will be submitted on January 10.

John Wright named new coach of New Zealand

john Wright has been named as the new coach of the New Zealand cricket team.

NZ Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan said on Monday that the former test captain and coach of India will replace Mark Greatbatch.

Wright's appointment is effective immediately, as New Zealand face Pakistan in the first of three Twenty20 internationals in Auckland on Boxing Day.

Mark Greatbatch, who coached the team on their recent tour of India, will now head an independent selection panel that includes current selector Glenn Turner and former test player Lance Cairns, Stuff.co.nz reports.

Vaughan said Greatbatch would continue his role as batting coach within the NZC high performance programme.

It means captain Daniel Vettori is no longer an official selector.

A full review of the national team was undertaken after the ODI side suffered their 11th consecutive defeat in India.

Announcing the changes, Vaughan said: "A thorough review of the Black Caps tour of India has been undertaken over the last week."

"All aspects of the tour - playing performance, preparation, selection and support staff - were examined to ensure that the Black Caps have the greatest chance of succeeding.

"The changes being made are a direct result of that process and should make a real difference," he said.

The recommendations of the review were endorsed for implementation by the NZC board. (ANI)