Trio can play World Cup, if found innocent: ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified that the suspended Pakistani trio can become the part of Pakistan World Cup squad if they are declared innocent by the independenttribunal.

ICC had suspended three Pakistani players i.e. former test skipper Salman Butt, fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir on their alleged involvement in spot fixing scandal revealed by the British tabloid News of the World (NOTW) in August last year during the fourth npower test match between Pakistan and England at Lords.

ICC has formed three members tribunal to decide on fate of these players. The tribunal has started its hearing in Doha from today and will continue till January 11. In the meantime, the deadline of announcing the preliminary squad for the participating teams is finished, ICC has made it clear that the suspended trio will play world cup if they will declare innocent by the Beloff led tribunal.

The news is very positive for the Pakistan team as they are seriously missing the services of Amir and Asif in their vulnerable bowling department and inclusion of either Amir or Asif will certainly lift the morale of the team and also boost the chances of the Pakistan cricket team in the mega event.

Captain hails Kamran Akmal’s return

Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s limited-overs captain, has welcomed the inclusion of experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal in the country’s preliminary 30-man squad for World Cup 2011.

“Kamran is one of our most experienced players. He is a key team member especially for One-day Internationals which is why I’m happy that he is back,” Afridi told ‘The News’ on Wednesday.

Akmal, a former Pakistan vice-captain, was ignored for national duty for back-to-back series against South Africa and New Zealand.

Though there were no formal charges against him, it was widely believed that the Lahore-based player was a match-fixing suspect.

After last year’s tour of England, Akmal was sidelined as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided against clearing him for national duty.

However, following a series of meetings at the PCB headquarters in Lahore, PCB’s integrity committee finally decided to clear him to play for Pakistan. He was later included in Pakistan’s preliminary squad for the World Cup getting underway from February 19.

“The World Cup is our most important target and obviously we will need all our key players for it,” said Afridi.

Meanwhile, Akmal said on Wednesday he was delighted to be back among Pakistan’s World Cup probables.

Kamran said he was never involved in any wrongdoing.

“I have always played cricket the right way and when the PCB asked me to appear before the committee I complied and I am happy that they have included me in the preliminary squad,” he said.

Kamran, 28, was under suspicion of match-fixing during Pakistan’s surprise defeat in the Sydney Test against Australia in January last year.

Kamran, said he hoped Pakistan would do well in spite missing key players.

“We have to play with the available players and I am sure that if we play to our potential we can win the World Cup.”

Kaneria questions Pakistan axe

KARACHI: Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria Thursday sought clarification from selectors over his omission from the national team, saying he had always played clean cricket and was disappointed at being overlooked. 

The 30-year-old leg-spinner was not cleared for play by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over suspicions of spot-fixing and was not included in the team for two Tests against New Zealand, the first of which starts in Hamilton on Friday. 

He was also left out of the 30-man preliminary squad listed for next month's World Cup to be jointly hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. 

The leg-spinner was arrested in May on charges of spot-fixing during a Pro40 match between Essex and Durham a year earlier, but released without charge. 

Kanria said his London-based barrister is in Karachi and has sought a meeting with the PCB. 

"I have asked my barrister Steve Haurigan... to talk to the PCB and clear up this problem and the damage to my name. Mr Haurigan is in Karachi and has requested a meeting and is waiting a reply from the PCB," Kaneria said. 

"Naturally I am disappointed after being overlooked for the series against South Africa in United Arab Emirates in October-November last year and then I was not selected for the New Zealand tour and then for the World Cup," he said. Kanria was dropped mid-way from the tour of England in August and sent home. He has not been selected since. 

"I fully cooperated with the PCB and submitted all the documents they wanted from me." 

Kaneria said his English county cricket team Essex had failed to sign him for 2011 for financial reasons and not over the spot-fixing allegations. 

"I have played my cricket clean and after being cleared by police in England Essex gave me a letter saying that because of the financial crunch they did not want my service after 2010," said Kaneria. 

The wily leg-spinner has so far taken 261 wickets in 61 Tests -- the most by any Pakistani spinner in their all Test matches
.