Smith rates Tahir as secret weapon

Pakistan born leg-spinner Imran Tahir will be South Africa's 'secret weapon' at the 2011 Cricket World Cup said skipper Graeme Smith.

Smith explained that it was a conscious decision not to expose Tahir, who only received South African citizenship midway through the just-concluded tour of India, in the one-day series matches against the visitors.

"(Tahir) is someone we want to keep fresh and not allow people the opportunity to see so much of. It was also a tactical decision, with our batting being slightly light in this series (against India)," Smith told a daily SportsDay.

Tahir, who came up with some superb performances in local games, is also familiar with the sub-continental pitches.

"The conditions in India will be a lot more batting friendly, and we will need to adapt our mindset from a batting and bowling perspective," Smith said.

"The great thing about our squad is that it's hard to predict what the line-up is going to be. It's the first time we're going to a World Cup with a lot of different options.

"We need to assess the conditions going into our first game and pick the team accordingly. I don't think we are going there with a set XI in mind. We are going to pick the best combinations for each game; players we believe can win that game," added Smith.

Only Geo Super to broadcast ICC World Cup matches: SC

After hearing at length a petition filed by the Geo Group, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the regulatory body, Pemra, to ensure that all matches of the ICC World Cup 2011 were broadcast throughout the cable network in Pakistan on Geo Super only.
Pemra had issued a letter on December 22, confirming to all cable operators that Geo Super had the exclusive cable rights for the global cricket event. But it arbitrarily withdrew that notification on January 10 under pressure from the government and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
The Supreme Court restored the original notification, ordering Pemra to implement it in letter and spirit. Pemra was represented by Salman Akram Raja and the Geo Network by seasoned lawyer Akram Sheikh in the proceedings. Geo moved the court last week after Pemra cancelled the December 22 notification to deny Geo exclusive rights to air the mega event.
The December 22 notification says: “All cable TV operators/MMDS distributors are therefore intimated that unauthorised distribution of the event through any satellite TV channel other than ‘Geo Super’ shall invoke strict action, under Pemra ordinance and rules/regulations made there under, for infringement of legal rights acquired by (Geo TV) M/s Independent Music Group (Pvt) Limited”.
Pemra Chairman Mushtaq Malick held out a categorical assurance that the apex court ruling on Geo Super having exclusive cable satellite rights “will be fully implemented”. He said action would be taken by the authority for any “unauthorised broadcast” on cable.
Pemra lawyer Raja admitted the court verdict was binding on all stakeholders. “I am sure Pemra will act according to the verdict of the Supreme Court and the notification issued by the authority on December 22.”
Geo lawyer Akram Sheikh warned any unauthorised use would entail strict legal action and would constitute contempt of court. “Geo Super has the exclusive cable rights and no other TV channel can broadcast the World Cup matches on cable,” Sheikh told reporters outside the Supreme Court after the ruling.
Pemra’s withdrawal of the notification had shocked this cricket crazy nation of 170 million people. Geo and Jang Group, the largest media network in the country, had already suffered losses worth billions of rupees due to their independent editorial policy that focuses on bringing people closer to the truth through their reporting, to the dislike of powers that be.
The government was trying to block Geo Super from airing the World Cup and use the potential financial losses as a tool to influence editorial policy of the largest media group, observers believe.
The Supreme Court directions ensure that not only millions of cricket fans will be able to enjoy the World Cup, but also that the editorial independence of the country’s largest media group is preserved. This is a win for cricket fans and independence of media as well, observers say.

Suspened Amir features in practice match

Suspended fast bowler Mohammed Amir created another stir by featuring in a practice match at Rawalpindi's international cricket stadium on Monday and that too under a coach employed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The provisional ban imposed on the 18-year-old fast bowler by the International Cricket Council (ICC) barred him from taking part in any from of the game at all levels.

But Amir was reportedly being supervised by Sabih Azhar, one of the coaches employed by the PCB.

Amir, along with Mohammed Asif and former Test captain Salman Butt, has been provisionally suspended by the ICC on charges of spot-fixing. The three were charged September 2 by the ICC with various offences under Article 2 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players, relating to the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's.

They were officially notified of the alleged offences and were provisionally suspended pending a decision on those charges.

The trio will learn their fate as the ICC tribunal headed by Michael Bellof will hold a hearing in Doha on February 5. The tribunal deferred the hearing after it failed to give a verdict following a six-day hearing in Doha on January 6-11.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has a biased attitude towards Pakistan

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has a biased attitude towards Pakistan and its cricketers, said readers of The Sports Encounter.

The Sportsencounter.com had asked its readers if the ICC has shown a biased attitude towards Pakistani cricketers in one of its polls concluded on Tuesday.

The web-users, in absolute numbers, are of the view that the ICC has shown double standards while tackling the spot-fixing issue and some of the comments suggested that the statement by ICC CEO, Haroon Lorgat clearly indicated this trend.

A stark majority of the TSE users, 76 percent, said yes to the question, “Is International Cricket Council biased to Pakistani cricketers?”; only 20 percent people thought it was fair; while four percent of the users said they have no information on the subject.

The upcoming final hearing of the spot-fixing case will further reveal how the ICC thinks about Pakistani cricketers as things have started to slightly favour Pakistani trio after the last hearing conducted in Doha earlier this month, after which, the independent tribunal cleared the trio of allegations in the Oval Test.

Big loss for India if Kirsten quits: Akram

ary Kirsten's low-profile coaching approach has been instrumental in Indian cricket team's success in recent years and it will be a big loss for the team when he quits after the World Cup, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said on Tuesday.

Akram rated Kirsten as one of the best coaches in the world and said his three-year association with India has done wonders for the team.

"Gary has done wonders for Team India. He is one of the best coaches that I have seen in international cricket. He has a quiet personality and does his job without much fuss. He plays a good part behind the scenes. He has always been a much organised cricketer and we saw that aspect in his coaching as well," Akram said.

"His qualities as a player and as a person rubbed on Team India as they performed well. MS Dhoni and his men will surely miss him in the dressing room. The management will also have a tough time in trying to find his replacement. But I feel India should concentrate on the World Cup rather than Kirsten. As they say, all good things must come to an end," Akram told a sports website.

Kirsten took over India coach in March 2008 and during his tenure, the team recorded Test and ODI series whitewash of Australia (2-0 and 1-0) and New Zealand (1-0 and 5-0) last year, both at home.

India also drew the home and away three-match Test series against South Africa 1-1, beat Sri Lanka 2-0 at home in 2009 and drew the subsequent Test series 1-1 last year.

Under Kirsten, India recorded their first ODI series victory in New Zealand after 40 years with a 1-0 win in 2009.

In the same year, India beat Sri Lanka 3-1 in the home ODI series but lost to Australia 2-4. They also defeated South Africa 2-1 last year.

In the recently-concluded ODI series against South Africa in South Africa, India lost 2-3, but Akram said that despite India losing the series to Proteas, they can win the World Cup.

"I think India will do well once the seniors are back. And it's always a different feeling to play in your home ground with fans shouting for you. It definitely gives you a high," said Akram.

The former fast bowler, however, warned India not to depend too much on the exploits of Yusuf Pathan, who hit a brutal 70-ball 105 to pull his team out of a difficult situation against South Africa in the fifth and last one-dayer on Sunday, which the Indians ultimately lost by 33 runs.

"Yusuf certainly has stood out with his fantastic showing in the last game. He was the only consistent performer. He is

a clean hitter and has the temperament of a big-match player.

But I hope that India do not start relying too much on Yusuf as it can be suicidal," said Akram.

"The team surely missed the services of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar but Yusuf tried hard to propel India despite their absence. The key was to stay on the wicket in South Africa and Yusuf did just that," he said.

Misbah a defensive captain: Rashid Latif

Former skipper Rashid Latif has said that Misbah-ul-Haq is a defensive captain and is not suitable for the job for the upcoming Cricket World Cup starting from February 19.

“Pakistan needs an aggressive captain like Shahid Afridi, who should be retained for the World Cup,” he told APP in an exclusive interview here on Monday.

“I think Pakistan could have won the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington but we wasted the opportunity of winning the Test match because of defensive approach of Misbah,” he commented.

“Teams are easily chasing total over 300 runs in 90 overs in current days but because of Misbah’s cautious and defensive mindset, Pakistan missed the opportunity to emerge 2-0 winner,” he said.

“By holding up the name of the captain for the World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already created rift in the team,” he said. “Personally I have nothing against Misbah but he is not fit to lead Pakistan in the mega event like World Cup,” he noted.

He admitted that there are some shortcomings in Shahid Afridi’s game, but he had been playing like that for years.—APP

Blaming Afridi for defeat absurd: Sallu

 Former Test cricketer and chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed Sallu on Monday said blaming skipper Shahid Afridi for Pakistan’s poor show in the first ODI at Wellington is unjust as the whole team had flopped badly to hand convincing win to the Kiwis.

Talking to Dawn, Sallu pointed out that Afridi had scored 601 runs with two centuries and had a strike rate of 144 in 2010, coupled with 19 wickets in the ODIs, and it was unfair to blame him solely for a single defeat at Wellington.

“A few former cricketers are putting the blame squarely on Afridi because they have an axe to grind with the all-rounder,” said Sallu.

“They are also citing Afridi’s performance in the recently concluded 20-20 series against the Kiwis but then they should also consider that it was his bowling (4-14) that was key to Pakistan’s victory in the last Twenty20 game.”

Not mincing any words about Afridi’s critics, Sallu said the agenda of these handful of ex-cricketers was quite obvious to everyone.

“May I ask these critics what was the performance of our openers and middle order batsmen in the first ODI, barring Misbah-ul-Haq?

“All others including opener Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq and Umar Akmal have been in New Zealand for the past three weeks and well acclimatised with the conditions, and yet they failed to score even 40 runs between them.

“These critics must realise that one-day cricket is not a single wicket competition and blaming an individual for the defeat is quite absurd,” argued Sallu.

“Can the detractors of Afridi tell me how any team could defend a small 125-run target, and that too on a field that had short boundaries? Even Sir Gary Sobers would find it difficult to defend this total in a Twenty20 game, let alone a fifty over match.”

Sallu also criticised senior bowler Shoaib Akhtar who conceded as many as 47 runs in just 4 overs to nearly settle the contest in the hosts` favour.

“Shoaib’s spell is hard to defend and I would even suggest that it would be better if spinners are introduced sooner in the innings since the New Zealanders are traditionally vulnerable to spin,” said Sallu.

“There are another five games to be played and I am confident that Afridi and his boys will come back strongly in the series.”

Kirsten not to continue as Indian coach

It might be the end of the road for Gary Kirsten as far as his endeavours as the Indian cricket coach is concerned after it was reported that that he does not wish to apply for an extension after the 2011 World Cup.

Apparently, family commitments is the reason for Kirsten taking such a stand according to a top BCCI official.

"It is a topic that has been discussed at length for a long time. I can confirm that he will not continue his coaching assignment with India after the World Cup,"

"Everyone was keen for Gary to continue for another term, perhaps of three years. The team and the coach have developed an excellent rapport over the last three years. Everyone can see the results, which are obvious. Gary has also put in a lot of effort behind the scenes to bolster team spirit and oneness among the unit. We must respect his decision, especially because it is based on family commitments." the official said.

The former South African opener has played a major role in India's meteoric rise in the world cricket which includes reaching the top spot in Tests and hanging on to that position for over a year now.

It has been reported that Kirsten might be interested in taking over as coach of the South African national team at the conclusion of the World Cup.