PCB issues notices to Umer Akmal, Hafeez

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued show-cause notices to Test cricketers Umer Akmal and Muhammad Hafeez for talking to the media, Geo News reported.

The cricketers are accused of talking to the media without the consent of the PCB, which is a violation of the board’s code of conduct.

Recently, the PCB had also issued notices to former captain Shahid Afridi, chief selector Mohsin Khan, selector Mohammaed Ilyas, KCCI secretary Ijaz Farooqui and captain of the women’s team Sana Mir.

Taylor appointed New Zealand captain

Batsman Ross Taylor was appointed New Zealand cricket captain Tuesday, replacing Daniel Vettori, who stepped down in March after the World Cup.

Taylor served as vice-captain under Vettori and his appointment was widely expected, with wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum seen as his main rival for the skipper's position.

The 27-year-old said he was humbled by the appointment and believed New Zealand had the talent to be a force in world cricket.

"I've learnt a great deal about leadership having played under Dan Vettori and feel ready to take on what is one of the highest honours in New Zealand sport," he said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge and appreciate the level of responsibility that comes with captaining your country."

Taylor has played 30 Tests, with an average of 41.12, and 107 one-day internationals, averaging 36.8.

Rana Naved Hat-trick in KFC t20 cricket match

Shahid Afridi county cricket in australia 27 of 17 balls for South Australia

Azhar Mahmood Batting - County Cricket

What if Ijaz Butt became the ICC chief?

What will happen when Ijaz Butt becomes the ICC chief? asks harshalb
Apparently to avoid that situation, the ICC isconsidering putting an end to its policy of president rotation - which is not the same as switching on the ceiling fan that the president has just grabbed in fright because he thought he heard Kerry Packer's voice behind him. That is still very much part of the initiation rites at the ICC.

But would it really be bad if Butt was put in charge of world cricket? The current ICC staff hasn't been very successful in educating the players on right and wrong. That's not a problem for Butt, considering the number of class trips to court he has organised for Pakistan's players over the last few years. And I can't see him being lily-livered about enforcing the DRS universally. If the BCCI continue to resist, he'll just sack them on disciplinary grounds and force them retire. Also, when the ICC really make a mess of a situation, there's no one better to confuse the public and the media about what really happened. He may be no Humphrey Appleby, but Ijaz Butt can certainly obfuscate the point with conspiracy theories, denials and predictions so incomprehensible that you forget what you had asked in the first place.

What if Munaf Patel became a better fielder than Jonty? asks Swidwood
India would be world champions. No, wait, they already are. They would put the opposition under pressure because their worst fielder is the world's best fielder. But they are also already No. 1 in Tests, so do they need that?

There is no benefit to India if Munaf's fielding abilities were to suddenly get a massive boost*. It would be better for them if he turned his attention from spin bowling back to pace.

What will happen to the world when Sachin Tendulkar dies? asks Bharadwaj
There now, you've gone and upset my cats, VVS and Rahul, with your horrid question. To pacify them, everyone repeat after me in a breezy fashion: "That's never going to happen. Tendulkar will outlive us all, and will one day be sitting on the beach sipping margaritas, next to a couple of giant tortoises and several cockroaches he has taught how to bat."

Do you think Simon Katich did the right thing by speaking out against Cricket Australia? Or is it better to repress your feelings and hope to get another chance some day? asks Contractless
The ideal strategy would be to stay silent while manipulating the officials, media and players around you to make your way back in. In psychiatric circles it's called the Ganguly Disposition. But very few naturally possess it, and to create it artificially you need to combine electro-shock therapy with a complete understanding of Nietzsche's Superman theory. Don't try it at home.

I wouldn't recommend repressing your feelings, either. Look what happened to Paul Collingwood and his gentlemanly reserve. He chose to make a dignified exit from Tests, only for them to sack him as the Twenty20 captain. And where is he now? Only on the list of ginger cricketers, next to Andrew McDonald.

The Katich way, though axe to foot, is the only way then, I'm afraid. If nothing else, you have the satisfaction of possibly saving future generations from administrative incompetence, and perhaps seeing someone like Greg Chappell attend sensitivity classes.

ICC rated Sri Lanka as best WC host

The International Cricket Council has rated Sri Lanka as the best among the three host nations that conducted the ICC Cricket World Cup in the sub continent in March/April this year.
Secretary Sri Lanka Cricket Nishantha Ranatunga said that today that the ICC has named Sri Lanka as the best host nation following a successful World Cup where a total of twelve matches including one quarterfinal and a semifinal was also worked off in the island.
Bangladesh and India which hosted the final in Mumbai were the other two host countries of the ICC 2011 World Cup. Ranatunga stated that the ICC will officially declare Sri Lanka as the best World Cup host nation during their annual general meeting next month.
These World Cup matches were worked off at three newly constructed stadiums namely R. Premadasa Stadium in Khettarama, Pallekele Stadium in Kandy and at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambanthota.

No iconic status for Indo-Pak Test series

The ICC has decided against giving 'iconic status' to the India-Pakistan series, proposed in the new Future Tours Program from 2012 to 2020.
The new FTP will be finalised at the ICC Executive Board meeting later this month in Hong Kong."There was a proposal to hold a iconic status Indo-Pak series every two years but it has not worked out due to number of reasons mainly because of television broadcasting issues," a PCB official told PTI.

Pakistan had raised the matter that the BCCI had not scheduled regular home and away series against them.

The PCB official confirmed that the ICC had taken into consideration the points raised by Pakistan and made some alterations to the FTP.

"The alterations are not 100 percent to our satisfaction but the FTP is now better for us than the one proposed before by some boards," the official said.

The PCB official said in the altered FTP there were regular home and away series between Pakistan and India .

Pakistan is due to tour India in first quarter of 2012 but that series is a part of the present FTP.

In the new FTP, Pakistan is to host India in 2013 and thereafter there are regular home and away series between the two nations.

The official said even Australia had adjusted its schedule against Pakistan in the new FTP.

"Overall the revised FTP is more acceptable to all the boards and is expected to be approved at the executive board meeting," he said.

Even the weaker nations like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe had complained about not getting enough matches on home and away basis against the stronger Test playing nations in the new eight year FTP.

The PCB official said their concerns had also been addressed in the final draft of the FTP.

He said Pakistan had an understanding with all other member nations that all 'home' series could be played at neutral venues if the visiting teams had reservations about playing in Pakistan due to security concerns.

"That is something that is understood and acceptable to everyone."

PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt and chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed are due to leave on June 24 to attend the ICC meetings in last week of this month.

PCB washes hands off on Aamir row

 The Pakistan Cricket Board has refused to extend any support to pacer Mohammad Aamir, whose five-year ban for involvement in spot-fixing could be extended by the ICC after he allegedly violated the terms of his suspension by turning up in a club game in England.

"PCB's reluctance to get involved in the issue now, even if the ICC extended Aamir's ban, was because last year when the ICC special task force was formed on Pakistan cricket, one of the conditions set forth to the PCB was that it would never show support of any sort for tainted players," a source revealed.

The England and Wales Cricket Board, which along with the ICC is investigating the matter, has already ruled that the concerned match between Addington and St Lukes in a Surrey division one league fixture was a recognised one.

The ECB has said that the Surrey League is affiliated to it, which makes it official cricket, even if it is at the lower end of the amateur game.

Aamir has claimed his innocence insisting that he didn't know he was breaching his suspension terms by playing in what he thought was just a "friendly village match".

"PCB had written to its English counterpart when the issue first came up. And the ECB said it would get back after completing its investigations, but so far it has not sent anything," the source said.

"PCB sees the whole episode as a direct matter between Aamir and the ICC and ECB," he revealed.

"The situation was not good for Aamir as few months back the ICC had warned the fast bowler after it was reported that he played in a in a friendly in Rawalpindi," he added.

WASIM AKRAM APPRECIATES SURESH RAINA’S CAPTAINCY IN THE ODI SERIES AGAINST WEST INDIES

The legendary fast bowler, Wasim Akram has appreciated Indian selectors for giving an opportunity to Suresh Raina, to lead the Indian team against West Indies during the One Day International series.

Pakistan’s former captain, Akram, admired Raina’s captaincy, and rated him as a capable future captain of India.

"Raina's captaincy was promising. It's not easy to lead a team against any opposition but he would have learnt from the mistakes made during the ODI series. The Indian selectors must be appreciated because they are grooming a youngster to lead India in the future," he stated.

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) gave charge to the 27-year-old, as Mahendra Singh Dhoni requested for a break, following the hectic ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and Indian Premier League 4 schedules.

Previously, the board had announced Gautam Gambhir as the ODI captain, but the aggravation of his shoulder injury during the Indian Premier League, ruled Gambhir out of contention.

However, Raina took the opportunity positively and led his team in the 5-match series successfully, winning by 3-2 for India.

Meanwhile, the master of swing bowling, Akram also appreciated the Maharashtra born batsman, Rohit Sharma.

"I had always believed in Rohit Sharma. He has loads of talent and this time he proved himself in the West Indies. By becoming the Man of the Series, Rohit has only improved his chances to become a regular member of the national team."

Akram advised Sharma to concentrate on Test cricket if he wants to cement his place in the team permanently in the presence of Uttar born, Raina and Delhi born, Virat Kohli.

The legendary left-arm bowler, who took 414 test wickets for his national side, Pakistan, is expecting India to win the series against the weak Caribbean side.

He suggested India to consider this series as an opportunity to prepare themselves for the tough, upcoming series against England.

“Although the conditions in England will be hugely different, India must play the Caribbean bowlers, especially the quickies, well. England's true ability at their backyard is there to see.” He added.

ENGLAND MAY PLAY A ONE-DAY SERIES AGAINST PAKISTAN IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Giles Clarke appeared confident of holding a five-match One-Day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and then later a Test series between the two countries in Sri Lanka.

However, this plan is still not confirmed as the director of the ECB John Carr begged to differ with the chairman as he doubted the finalized schedule of the bilateral series the way it had been revealed by Clarke.

According to sources the series might be broken into two, with the ODIs taking place first, in UAE, and then later a two-Test match series in Sri Lanka.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also not sure about the workable schedule of the series and an official of the PCB, while commenting on the recent remarks by the ECB chairman said, “they have not confirmed this schedule, neither the venue nor the break up."

Meanwhile, according to insiders, the PCB has also not decided whether to play the series in the UAE. However, due to England’s refusal to play in Pakistan, the board does not have any other option but to hold the event at a neutral venue.

UAE’s cricketing facilities were used by the PCB last year in a series against South Africa and there is a possibility of doing it again, once it is confirmed that England are indeed going to play Pakistan.

An ODI series against Pakistan before Christmas will add great pressure on the newly appointed one-day skipper Alastair Cook, who will be leading his side in almost ten one-day matches in a span of six weeks against the likes of India and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the PCB is under tremendous pressure to convince foreign teams to tour Pakistan but all efforts have failed and the country is yet to see a high profile international tournament to be played on home soil.

Foreign teams have refrained from playing in Pakistan since the 2009 terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore. The attack injured seven Lankans and claimed the lives of eight Pakistanis.

It was only last month when the Afghan cricket team toured Pakistan since the fateful terrorist attack. However, the tour did not attract international attention and failed to convince other teams to follow suit.

Afridi to leave for London Wednesday

Former captain Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi will leave for London Wednesday to represent Hampshire in the English Twenty20 event, Geo News reported.

He was earlier planned to leave on Tuesday but due to his father’s arrival from the US after treatment, his departure has been delayed. He will leave for London after meeting his father.

Afridi will be representing Hampshire in Thursday match against Essex.

 

PCB disciplinary committee a body of nincompoops

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disciplinary committee’s devilish decision of imposing a sky rocketing fine of Rs4.5 million on all-rounder Shahid Afridi for showing arrogance against the board in the national media, despite an apology he rendered, has dismayed millions in this country.

The stupid action of the PCB has compelled the Afridi to maintain his stance of retiring from national cricket. If such a huge amount is the price of allowing him to play for Hampshire in England, it is too much. Let us not forget that Afridi’s short stint of leading Pakistan in the limited over matches put our team on the path of victories thus adding a new dimension to Pakistan cricket.

By cheerfully accepting the PCB’s decision, Afridi has proved himself to be a true sportsman. Not restoring his captaincy is a clear injustice to his greatness. If retirement from national cricket was the ultimate end, he needed no permission from the cricket board to play for any team or county abroad. It would be worthwhile comparing this case with another one that the PCB disciplinary committee handled last week. It pertains to a mischievous act of abandoning the team in the midst of a Test match performed by wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider. The player who can be dubbed as a lunatic, mad, disloyal, foolish and unscrupulous not only violated the players’ code of conduct but trampled it under his feet. He flew to England without informing the team management for seeking the British nationality, which he considered more precious than representing Pakistan in international cricket. During his stay in England he continued pumping the media with all sorts of rubbish bringing disgrace to Pakistan and its cricket. In addition to some fake personnel he even accused some members of the Pakistan team of giving him life threats in case he did not indulge in match fixing.

When he failed in his efforts to settle down in England and was given a cold shoulder by the cricket circles in England to play for any of the clubs or counties, he was left with no alternative other than returning to Pakistan. With the political leaders playing an active role in our cricket these days, the player is said to be shielded by one of the federal ministers. Playing as a fiddle in the hands of the minister, the disciplinary committee heartily accepted the player’s apology for all sins that he committed and has let him off with a small fine of Rs500,000. Just compare the size of punishment awarded to the two players viz-a-viz the blunders they committed and one will know the wisdom and the cricket vision of the PCB top brass under whose commands the disciplinary committee functions.

Surprisingly, the PCB is prepared to sacrifice a reputed player like Afridi while accepting back nitwit of a player like Haider who has no impressive performance to his credit. By blaming some of the team members who are the future hopes of Pakistan cricket, Haider cannot possibly find a place in the present Pakistan squad. Not only that he has lost his credibility his conduct will remain doubtful for all times. Having also accused the ‘fixing mafia’ for his act of betraying his team, he will remain under their surveillance. The PCB must realise that they would be buying big trouble for Pakistan cricket by accepting back Haider in its ranks. He deserves to be awarded a life ban and kept away from the national scene for all times to come.