Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Controversial ad terming Pakistan players match-fixers removed
The Moa Brewing Co. had launched the ad campaign, featuring Tuffey, where he claims that Pakistani players are match fixers and while New Zealand win matches, the Pakistanis take home cash cheques.
The ad drew strong criticism from the Pakistani community in New Zealand with Dunedin-based former Test player and coach Khalid Ibadullah terming the campaign as "quite insulting and quite offensive".
Ibadullah also drew the attention of the Pakistan Cricket Board to the campaign, which reacted very strongly to it and decided to look into the matter.
A PCB spokesman said that the ad has been withdrawn now after the matter was taken up with the company.
The company had earlier defended the commercial pointing out that Pakistan cricket has been hit hard by match fixing allegations and that three of its top players - Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamer - were in fact banned by the ICC for spot-fixing last year.
The PCB official had said while it was true that the three players were banned for spot-fixing but that didn't give the company the right to cast slurs on Pakistan cricket.
I can play for another 2 years: Razzaq
Out-of-favour all-rounder Abdul Razzaq insists that he has at least two years of cricket left in him at least after losing out on his place in the squad as well as failing to get a central contract.
Razzaq was dropped from the national team after the World Cup earlier this year, missing the series in West Indies, Ireland and the ongoing Zimbabwe tour. However, the 31-year-old said that he was ready to make a comeback.
“I think there is some favouritism which isn’t good for cricket,” Razzaq told reporters in Lahore. “I’ve been playing for a long time on the basis of my performance. I did not play due to anyone’s favour and nor do I want to play like that.
“I was overlooked for the national team but my county stint helped me maintain my form and fitness. A player’s career is automatically extended by a couple of years when you maintain a high standard of fitness.”
However, Razzaq still had a grudge over his batting position and said that he was misused for a long time. He started off as a bowler but was used as a number three batsman in the 1999 World Cup before being pushed down the order in a bid to increase the scoring rate.
However, Razzaq said the rotation of his batting position disturbed his performance.
“With my ability, I feel I was under-utilised. It might be the policy of the team management but I feel that I won’t be able to give my best.”
‘Pakistan should aim higher’
Meanwhile, the cricketer said that Pakistan were a better team than what their place in the International Cricket Council World Rankings suggest.
“Pakistan should focus on the top three positions. We have to work hard. We need to play tougher opponents.”
Mohsin lauds Cheema’s efforts after win
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Selector Mohsin Khan said that the selection committee achieved the target of finding a talented paceman as the team won the one-off Test against Zimbabwe by seven wickets.
Mohsin said the win was a result of team work and praised debutant fast-bowler Aizaz Cheema, who celebrated his 32nd birthday yesterday and claimed eight wickets on a pitch where other pacemen suffered. “I won’t rate the win as a huge achievement,” Mohsin told The Express Tribune. “The win wasn’t against a top-class team but we have achieved our target of finding a fast-bowler who can support the other pacers.”
Pakistan’s decision to rest the pace duo of Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz drew criticism from various former cricketers but the chief selector said the decision was taken in the team’s interest and it proved a useful one.
“This tour was the best opportunity for youngsters and they justified our decision especially Cheema. I watched each of his deliveries and he impressed me with his fitness and commitment.”
Rues missed opportunity by batsmen
However, Mohsin rued missed opportunities of scoring centuries by captain Misbahul Haq (66), Azhar Ali (75) and Younus Khan (88) in the first-innings.
“They should have converted their innings into centuries,” he said while praising the performance of man-of-the-match Mohammad Hafeez before warning the team of complacency in the upcoming limited-overs series.
“Zimbabwe will be tough in that format and the team should not take the hosts lightly.”
Zaheer impressed with comeback
Former captain Zaheer Abbas said he was delighted to see the team fight back and win the match.
“Pakistan had an ordinary start to the Test match, which seemed to be heading towards a dull draw after a good show by the hosts,” he said. “The way the team made their comeback was a very good sign.”
PCB not to take legal action against NZ brewery
The Moa Brewing Co. had launched the ad campaign dubbed “The Moa Pakistani Backhander”, which detailed an offer to consumers for one free case of beer for every 10 purchased, and likened the deal to numerous incidents involving match-fixing scandals featuring the Pakistan cricket team.
“Pakistanis love cricket and they love making money. Sometimes they combine the two with a good old Pakistani Match Fix so that the Black Caps get to win a game and the Pakistanis get a big cheque from the TAB,” the online brewery advert had stated.
“It’s a win-win all round and we here at Moa love the business principles behind it, which is why we’re offering a Pakistani Backhander of our own.”
“So, for every 10 cases of Moa ordered, the contact person who does the ordering, that’s you, gets 10 per cent of the match fee – a free case of Moa beer for themselves that we don’t tell anyone about… “Is this ethical? No. Is it Pakistani? Yes!” it added.
Responding to media reports about the advertisement, The PCB said in a statement that it “finds the report very disturbing,” and contacted New Zealand Cricket in this regard.
“The PCB has been advised that the said advertisement was taken off air less than 24 hours of its launch. It is rather unfortunate that the advertising company became insensitive to the feelings of the Pakistani nation while airing their ad, which is not only unethical but also disrespectful,” the statement said.
“However, after the assurance from New Zealand Cricket, PCB is does not intend to pursue the matter any further,” it added.
Pakistan cricket, the known cricket for its victory and talent! It has produced many legendary cricketers. Pakistan has lot fruit to come in future. The remarkable victory of world cup, that Pakistan won in year 1992 due to the uncountable hard work of the excellent players of our national team. Our superb hero Imran khan is the role model for all the upcoming players. Not last in the race are some of the essential name inzamaam ul haq, Abdul razaaq, waseem akhtar and lot more that has to be mentioned as they are the pride of Pakistan cricket.
The era of ruling cricket world will be revised by Pakistan, lot changes are take-in place. The ex players are being motivator for the fresh arrivals. Domestic cricket is recognized and bullied by the chairman of PCB. Every player and associated member is putting in best efforts to bring back the image of Pakistan cricket as it was in the year 1992. Though, Pakistan did not do well in the 1996 although they tried their best efforts. The world cup of 2011 was great, they did really well. Now they need to buck up little more seriously to rule international grounds. Pakistan Cricket team captain Shahid Afridi said the players needed to look up their fielding to get close to a victory and if they want to stay in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011.
He said the revolutionizing in batting line-up could be thought about, adding up the team requirements sustain from media and nation at this significant moment, as the team is going through difficult and crucial times.
Afridi stressed that Fielding plays a very important role towards wining of game; accordingly, the players will have to improve and enhance their skills and performance in fielding area. The leading batsman on the advisory note said if the spinners had bowled well, the match would not have been gone; however, the team is not downhearted and it will never be disappointed. They just need to focus upon the tactics to handle the situations well and play just game. And the men in green are capable enough to get to track line and win the match.
