Monday, June 20, 2011
Many questions remain unanswered in Afridi’s case
While the raging dispute between Shahid Afridi and the Pakistan Cricket Board has come to a close, the governing body of the game in Pakistan has succeeded in avoiding many important and pertinent questions which were raised during the last two weeks.
This was stated by Mehmood Mandviwalla who appeared as counsel for Shahid Afridi in the case.
Mehmood felt that the main question is whether there is a link between the grant of the NOC to play for Hampshire with the disciplinary proceedings since the ICC clearly lays down the guidelines for refusal of NOC by a home board.
“The question is whether the PCB follows such guidelines or again uses its own judgement to grant, refuse or take away an NOC that has already been given,” Mehmood pointed out.
He added that the ICC recognises that players have a fundamental right to earn a living and hence cannot be deprived of an NOC by a home board and that an NOC is only a guarantee that the player should remain available to play for the national side and the player’s fitness should not be comprised while playing county cricket.
He further stated that the PCB does not appear to have a permanent disciplinary committee and it functions on a need-basis with excessive authority that is delegated to them.
Winner of Pakistani domestic t20 cup will not be a part of Clt20 2011
The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) Governing Council has confirmed the format and dates for the 2011 tournament to be played in India, with more teams than ever before having a chance to win domestic T20’s biggest prize.
The 10-team CLT20 will follow the same format as 2010 and will be held in Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata from 23 September to 9 October.
Before the tournament kicks off however, a six-team event will be played in Hyderabad from 19-21 September to decide the final three teams that qualify for the main event.
With six sides in the qualifier and another seven already confirmed as participants in the tournament, a record 13 teams will have a chance to claim the most prestigious prize in domestic cricket.
The two stages are explained below:
Stage I: Qualifier
Venue: Hyderabad
Dates: 19 September - 21 September
A six-team qualifier will be held in Hyderabad from 19-21 September. Kolkata Knight Riders (fourth, IPL), Trinidad and Tobago (Champion, West Indies) and Auckland Aces (Champion, New Zealand) have already been invited to participate, with the teams from Sri Lanka (one) and England (two) yet to be confirmed. The top three teams at the conclusion of the qualifier will advance to the main tournament. The format for the qualifier will be announced soon.
Stage II: 2011 Champions League Twenty20
Dates: 23 September - 9 October
Venues: Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata
The top three teams from the qualifier will join three IPL teams, two T20 teams from Australia and two from South Africa in the main event. As in 2010, the 10 teams will be divided into two groups of five, and the top two sides from both groups will play the semi-finals.
Seven high-calibre teams have already been invited to participate – South Australian Redbacks and NSW Blues from Australia, Warriors and Cape Cobras from South Africa, as well as the top three sides from the 2011 IPL, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.
The seven qualified teams are among the elite domestic T20 line-ups. Each has competed in previous CLT20 tournaments, and with the exception of Mumbai Indians, all have reached the semi final stage or better in the first two years of the tournament.
The line-ups already contains the 2009 (NSW Blues) and 2010 (Chennai Super Kings) Champions and 2010 Runner-Up (Warriors), showing CLT20 as the true test of world’s elite domestic T20 teams.
Bengaluru will host the inaugural game on 23 September and along with Chennai will host a semi-final. The 2011 CLT20 Final will be played in Chennai on 9 October.
Winner of Pakistani domestic t20 cup will not be a part of Clt20 2011
The 10-team CLT20 will follow the same format as 2010 and will be held in Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata from 23 September to 9 October.
Before the tournament kicks off however, a six-team event will be played in Hyderabad from 19-21 September to decide the final three teams that qualify for the main event.
With six sides in the qualifier and another seven already confirmed as participants in the tournament, a record 13 teams will have a chance to claim the most prestigious prize in domestic cricket.
The two stages are explained below:
Stage I: Qualifier
Venue: Hyderabad
Dates: 19 September - 21 September
A six-team qualifier will be held in Hyderabad from 19-21 September. Kolkata Knight Riders (fourth, IPL), Trinidad and Tobago (Champion, West Indies) and Auckland Aces (Champion, New Zealand) have already been invited to participate, with the teams from Sri Lanka (one) and England (two) yet to be confirmed. The top three teams at the conclusion of the qualifier will advance to the main tournament. The format for the qualifier will be announced soon.
Stage II: 2011 Champions League Twenty20
Dates: 23 September - 9 October
Venues: Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata
The top three teams from the qualifier will join three IPL teams, two T20 teams from Australia and two from South Africa in the main event. As in 2010, the 10 teams will be divided into two groups of five, and the top two sides from both groups will play the semi-finals.
Seven high-calibre teams have already been invited to participate – South Australian Redbacks and NSW Blues from Australia, Warriors and Cape Cobras from South Africa, as well as the top three sides from the 2011 IPL, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.
The seven qualified teams are among the elite domestic T20 line-ups. Each has competed in previous CLT20 tournaments, and with the exception of Mumbai Indians, all have reached the semi final stage or better in the first two years of the tournament.
The line-ups already contains the 2009 (NSW Blues) and 2010 (Chennai Super Kings) Champions and 2010 Runner-Up (Warriors), showing CLT20 as the true test of world’s elite domestic T20 teams.
Bengaluru will host the inaugural game on 23 September and along with Chennai will host a semi-final. The 2011 CLT20 Final will be played in Chennai on 9 October.
Fazal Mahmood Pakistan Cricket Legend
6 part documentary on Fazal Mahmood, Pakistan's first great fast-bowler.
‘I’m not interested in captaincy’ : Mohammad Hafeez
Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has dispelled the impression that he was in any way interested in becoming captain. “My job is to perform well for the country as a player, I’m not interested in captaincy,” he said. “My interview has been misinterpreted and misreported.” However, he said it was up to the Pakistan Cricket Board if they thought him good enough to appoint him captain in the future.
Tanvir keen to establish himself as all-rounder
Fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed, who made a sensational debut against South Africa last October is looking forward to establish himself as an all-rounder in Pakistan team.
“Six wickets haul on debut against the powerful team like South Africa boosted my confidence and now my good batting has raised my spirit,” he said in an interview on Monday.
“My maiden half century against the West Indies in Basseterre gave me a chance to improve my batting and prove that I can serve Pakistan in both departments of the game in addition to fielding,” Tanvir, 32, said.
“If you look at my batting record I am not a novice as I have scored 14 half centuries and my batting average is just under 21 in first-class cricket,” he pointed out.
“It’s great to be coached by my favourite cricketer Waqar Younis. I started my cricket watching him,” he recalled.
“When I was told by the coach that I was playing against South Africa on a flat Abu Dhabi track last year, I was under pressure in the start,” he revealed.
“But when I got the prized scalps of Hashim Amla and captain Graeme Smith, it thrilled me and inserted energy into my bowling,” he commented.—APP
'Not happy with Afridi's decision to move court' : Afridi's manager
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi's manager has admitted he was not happy nor in agreement with the all-rounder's decision to move court against the PCB.
Umran Khan, whose company Aces and Middle East represents number of Pakistani players made it clear he wasn't really happy with the threat of legal action taken by his star client.
"It wasn't a situation that I was really happy with. When he (Afridi) left for England, it was a simple situation. We had answered the showcause notice (PCB) and we'd accepted the breaches of the articles. But once he got back to Pakistan then people started influencing him and I couldn't control that as I was here in England," Umran told website Pakpassion.net.
Having worked with a lot of the Pakistani players, Umran had learnt a lot that their mentality is different.
Umran said that Pakistani players opt for the public bravado rather than using common sense. He said common sense would dictate that you face the punishment and move on.
"What they actually did was take the long way around and end up doing exactly what I said. He could have just faced the disciplinary committee as was planned, got the fine, and accepted that he'd broken the code of conduct and he'd probably have been playing for Hampshire a lot sooner than now," Umran said.
"Like I said, I wasn't part of the decision to go with the legal threat. Shahid would let me know what was happening but it was a situation I wasn't entirely in agreement with.
"But that's done now. We've got to move on now. He's got a big fine to pay and we've got to make sure he can pay it," he added.
Afridi went to the Sindh High Court challenging the disciplinary process initiated against him by the PCB for breaching the code of conduct.
But later, he withdrew the petition and appeared before the disciplinary committee that has fined him 4.5 million rupees but permitted him the NOC to go and play for Hampshire.
Umran felt that the fine was quite excessive.
"It's a lot of money. But if you look back at then I think that the PCB were left in a situation where they had to come across strongly. I think it would have been different had Shahid faced the committee on the original hearing. He might have received a lesser fine at that time. But going back to your question, I think it's excessive. But once you've been fined then you have to pay the fine," he noted.
Umran also made it clear that Shahid had more problems with the Pakistan team management rather than the board.
"Shahid has said that the major issues are with the management. I could be reading it wrong but from my understanding the board isn't the major issue.
"The board is responsible for the running of Pakistani cricket but the daily running of the team is done by the management. The team management affects the team a lot more than the board. I'd say it has more to do with the management then it does with the board," he added.
Peaceful co-existence is the need of the hour
Have you lately noticed the struggle between the cricketers and the administrators around the globe? Shahid Afridi vs PCB, Simon Katich vs Cricket Australia and Chris Gayle vs West Indies Cricket Board, all parties have their stands and versions. But how's that going to help the sport? Trust me it didn't help and it won't help.
Take Pakistan for instance. Pakistan cricket's plight is not unknown to the world. Afridi was the only captain Pakistan had in the last couple of years who could produce some results amid various controversies, including the semi-final finish in the World Cup. And here he's now, fed up, retired from international cricket and fighting with his board to allow him play in the English county. After a prolonged tussle, he was given the permission but not without a hefty fine. The 'Boom Boom' Afridi was satisfied and showed no intentions of contesting it.
On the face, the problem's solved but what a loss to international cricket. Another sad end of a hero. Is it? Luckily with Afridi, or for that matter, Pakistan players, a comeback can never be ruled out. But that's not how the heroes must be treated. They deserve much more respect by their people.
Pakistan in particular need to handle their players properly and not with dictatorial accent. You have your three best players serving the ban, seniors like Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Akhtar calling it a day, Misbah ul Haq and Younus Khan holding the strings together to let some promising players find their ground and shine. At this time, one needed a player like Afridi, who not only adds star value to the team but fills the loopholes with his all-round skills.
PCB chief Ijaz Butt needs to emerge out of the shadow of his ego and think about the future of cricket in a country that's as passionate as its neighbour. Pakistan needs to clean up the mess quickly. Stabalise the team, instill security and let it flourish. All Pakistan needs is return of international cricket, but that's not happening in near future. So wait patiently!
West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), on the other hand, seems to have just one motto - clash with its players. It's been a never-ending battle between the players and the administrators. Both sides have committed mistakes. But it's high time they resolved the issues. The WICB could never figure out how to handle Gayle. He's a spirited bird. He likes to dominate and that's his strength as a player. Unfortunately, this very quality has irked the administrators. Gayle could not find a place in the team in the recent ODI series against India despite having a brilliant run in the IPL. His team needed him badly but to no avail. And after his heated debate with the Board, his chances of playing in the Test series also look bleak. According to a report in the 'Trinidad Guardian', Gayle may give up playing for his country. What pity!
Pakistan and the West Indies have the history of clashes between the players and the administrators. Australia on the contrary has always been known for its professional handling of the players. But that was till opener Simon Katich controversy did not break out. He was refused the central contract on the grounds of his age. The omission was slammed by Katich and fellow players.
If age was the problem, why was Michael Hussey in the squad and if performance was the criterion, Katich had averaged a little over his career average of 45.03 last year. He had scored 796 runs in 9 Tests. So the logic behind Cricket Australia's decision defied the facts.
So what is it with boards picking on the players and the vice-versa? Both players and cricket boards need each other to survive. One is nothing without the other. So why this growing animosity? It's not really a very good sign. The Indian cricket has had its share of such incidents and they have never made things better. Both players and boards have to exist peacefully, in tandem and with respect for each other. That's the best they can do for the sport.
Not many stars in Pak Super 8s T20 tourney
The top Pakistani cricketers will be missing from action in the national Super Eights Twenty20 tournament with the likes of Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz opting to play in English County season.
Afridi will turn up for Hampshire, forcing the Karachi City Cricket Association to hand the rein of the team to Test discard fast bowler Mohammad Sami.
"Due to Afridi not being available now we have also been forced to make changes in our squad and bring in two spinners, Azam Hussain and Haris Ayaz," KCCA President, Siraj-ul-Islam Bukhari said.
Lahore Lions, the defending champions, will miss Riaz and Razzaq.
"Both of them are playing for English counties at the moment with the permission of the board," one official said.
Rana Naved and Yasir Arafat are also expected to miss the domestic tournament because of their commitments in England.
The top eight teams of the national T20 championship qualify to play in Super Eights, to be held in Faisalabad from June 24.
Already a number of prominent players have been forced to miss the event as the Karachi and Lahore teams, under new regulations, can only field one side each. In the past they fielded two sides each in the national T20 event.
"Those players who played for the other Karachi and Lahore sides are automatically not eligible to play the super eights," the official said.
However present captain Misbah-ul-Haq and former captain Shoaib Maliik will be seen in action for the Faisalabad and Sialkot sides.
No winners
The good part about the dispute between Shahid Afridi and the Pakistan Cricket Board is that it’s over, at least for now. The bad part is that it was an unnecessary tussle that could easily have been avoided in the first place. Also, it’s quite evident from Thursday’s outcome that both parties continue to hold grudges and it won’t be surprising if the issue crops up again in the not too distant future. Officially, the dispute that was triggered after the PCB stripped Afridi of Pakistan’s one-day captaincy last month was resolved last Thursday after the board’s disciplinary committee slapped the all-rounder with a hefty fine of Rs4.5 million. The board also agreed to restore a No Objection Certificate for Afridi to play abroad.
But privately, both parties continue to badmouth each other. The board is claiming victory by declaring that it has carried out disciplinary action against the country’s most popular cricketer. Meanwhile, Afridi’s camp believes its petition against the PCB has ‘borne fruit’, adding that the board only came to the negotiating table after Afridi decided to go to court to seek justice. The truth of the matter is that it was a lose-lose situation for both parties right from the start. By lashing out at the PCB, Afridi had breached discipline. By revoking his NOC, the board had abused its powers. The fact that both parties needed ‘political’ intervention to resolve the issue leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Afridi and Ijaz Butt, the controversial PCB chairman, were made to sit together in Islamabad by influential quarters and were instructed to reach a deal. In the end, Butt agreed to grant Afridi his NOC. In return, Afridi withdrew his court case against the PCB and appeared before its disciplinary committee. The three-man panel went through the motions and took disciplinary action against Afridi. The details, however, were already decided in Islamabad two days ago during the Afridi-Butt meeting. The match, as they say, might have been fixed.
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