Wasim urges Pakistan to unite for World Cup

LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistani cricket hero Wasim Akram on Monday urged players, fans and the media to move on from recent high-profile problems and get behind the country to win the 2011 World Cup.

"Let's forget what problems we've been going through recently and with a positive frame of mind support the Pakistan team to win next year's World Cup," Wasim said in a rallying call during a ceremony unveiling the trophy.

Pakistan has been blighted by a spot-fixing crisis, player suspensions and poor governance, with one-day captain Shahid Afridi expressing a lack of confidence in preparations for the mega event.

Three key players -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer -- were provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over accusations of spot-fixing during the tour to England in the summer.

The trio appear before a ICC code of conduct tribunal in Doha, Qatar next month and face severe punishment, including lengthy bans.

Key players Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik have also courted suspicion and not been cleared by the under fire Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for recent tours.

Their participation in the February 19-April 2 World Cup looks uncertain.

Wasim, who finished as the best player of the tournament when Pakistan won its only World Cup in Australia 18 years ago, acknowledged the build-up had been far from ideal.

"Problems have certainly hurt the team's preparations, but Pakistan is one team which can beat any team in the world on its day," he said.

"Their resilience is tremendous and they can come out of any worse situation and win a match," said Wasim, who played 104 Tests and 352 one-day matches for cricket-mad Pakistan.

He praised the team for showing "great resilience" by winning two of the five matches against South Africa last month.

"They could do the same in the World Cup provided players, selectors and the PCB rally behind the captain and play for the country.

"For the sake of Pakistan, every player has to back the captain, play as a unit, and not only fans, but the media should also back them to win."

Wasim tipped India as favourites to win the event, to be hosted jointly by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan was also to have been a World Cup host but lost that right over fears about security after an armed ambush last year on the Sri Lankan team.

"I think for the first time Australia will not be the top favourites," said Wasim. "To me, India is the top favourite to win, while Sri Lanka and Pakistan are also among the favourites."

ICC eyes Test World Championship

In modern day cricket, the fans enjoy the shorter versions of the game more than Test cricket. After the start of T20 cricket, Test cricket has struggled to keep its interest alive in the international arena. However the International Cricket Council (ICC) is now eying to start a Test World Championship. The ICC is planning the tournament in June 2013 in a bid to revive the flagging interest in Test match cricket. The ICC Chief, Haroon Lorgat in an interview to Australian radio said that the Championship would be played according to the current rankings of the teams in Test match cricket.

According to this ranking system, the points are given to the teams according to the series in which they play against other opponents. However, unlike T20 and ODI cricket, Test match cricket lacks a mega tournament which can decide the top Test cricketing nation. The ICC is now planning to arrange such a tournament which would be good and challenging for the teams.

The ICC is considering a four nations play-off in which the top four Test teams would be battling in the semi-finals before playing the final for the title. This step would improve the level of interest and rivalry amongst teams. Some teams would also look to improve their rankings in order to make it through to the play-offs.

The Australian team and the English team will be fighting even harder to jump in the top four teams or retain their position in the top four. This will make the Ashes series even more interesting and the teams will battle harder against each other. This can also add to the pressure on the teams who will be battling to be in the top four in Test match cricket.

There are many possibilities which are being considered before something is finalized. One concern is that the finals might end in a draw. To avoid that, the ICC is considering a timeless Test match for having a result in the match. Things like this would make Test cricket livelier when the viewers will be certain of a result at the end of the match.

On the other hand, the ICC Chief Haroon Lorgat also confirmed the venue for the 2015 ODI World Cup. He stated that the World Cup would be hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The total number of teams participating would be ten rather than the fourteen teams which will be participating in the 2011 World Cup. This would also make things challenging for the lower ranked teams to make it through to the World Cup in 2015.

The T20 World cup hosts have also been decided by the ICC. The World Cup will be held in Sri-Lanka in 2012. Haroon Lorgat said that the Wrld Cup should be a tournament only for the top teams.

Dejected Naved opts to play Big Bash T20 League in Australia

KARACHI: Disappointed after being overlooked for the Pakistan team, all-rounder Rana Navedul Hasan will ignore the final rounds of the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy to feature in the Big Bash T20 League, starting later this month in Australia.

Naved, who was cleared to play after a one-year ban was imposed on him in, was not considered for the New Zealand tour despite an impressive performance in the first-class tournament. The all-rounder has played 74 One-Day Internationals (ODI) taking 110 wickets and scoring 524 runs.

“I have no other options than to fulfil my contract with Tasmania. In spite of a good show in the Quaid Trophy, I was not selected for the team,” Naved told The Express Tribune.

“I cannot prove more on my fitness and form after which I’ve decided to go to Australia rather than playing here,” said Naved, who is among the top wicket takers in the Quaid Trophy.

He added that he would leave for Australia on December 21 and play for Tasmania in the opening match on December 30.

Naved questions selection

The all-rounder, who spearheads top-placed Wapda’s attack, said he was deeply disappointed after not being preferred for the national side.

“I don’t know what the criterion is for selection. Why  Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik have not been selected is a mystery.”

‘PCB permission not required’

Naved said he would not require permission by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for ignoring the ongoing tournament while opting for the Big Bash T20.

“I don’t require the PCB’s permission as I am not a centrally-contracted player. I will miss three rounds of the Quaid Trophy for which I have already taken permission from my department.”

Available for national team

The all-rounder, however, maintained that playing for Pakistan remains his top priority and he will be available if he is called for the ODI series against New Zealand.

“I am available anytime for the national team because my contract with Tasmania allows me to do so,” said Naved before adding that he was hopeful for a berth in the ODI series and the World Cup.

Mohsin gives hope to Naved

Meanwhile, Pakistan Chief Selector Mohsin Khan has given hope to Naved saying that all the available players including the all-rounder who have been given the PCB’s clearance are under consideration for the New Zealand ODI series and the World Cup.

“We are trying to form the best pool of players for the World Cup. We are also keeping a close look on the available players for who we have a clean chit from the PCB,” Khan told The Express Tribune.

“We would try our best that any player who deserves a place in the national team doesn’t get ignored.”

The chief selector added that the preliminary squad for the World Cup is expected to be announced before December 15.

Naved’s ODI performance

Matches:                  74

Wickets:                  110

Bowling average:   29.29

Runs:                       524

Batting average:    15.87

Atlas moves into third round

pakistan’s top-ranked squash player Aamir Atlas Khan defeated world no 1 egypt's Ramy Ashour in second round of world open sqash tournament 2010 in dammam .Atlas won the first set by 11-2 and egyption magician look's  uncomfortable due to his injury and decided to with draw from the match . 

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imran khan collects $140,000-plus in Sacramento for Pakistani flood victims

A plea for help in Sacramento – featuring a Pakistani national icon – raised more than $140,000 Saturday for flood victims in Pakistan.

The fundraiser was billed as a lunch with Imran Khan, who captained the Pakistani cricket team to a World Cup title in 1992 and has since become involved in politics and humanitarian efforts.

About 380 people – most from the local Pakistani American community – filled a Hyatt ballroom for the event. They donated money to Khan's foundation, which is rebuilding villages wiped out by floods this summer.

Floods affected more than 20 million people – mostly subsistence farmers who lost their livelihood, Khan said. His Imran Khan Foundation is rebuilding 100 villages with schools and health centers, Khan said.

"It was just such a huge devastation and so little response from the international community," he said.

Those at the event watched a video of the damage and heard Khan speak about the flooding he witnessed first-hand in his ancestral village.

Many attributed the amount of money raised Saturday to Khan's credibility.

His fame helps his cause, but Khan also has built a college and cancer hospital in Pakistan, said Muhammad Nawaz, 52, of Sacramento. That Khan says less than 2 percent of money donated to his foundation goes for administrative costs – while the rest goes directly to those in need – inspires faith, Nawaz said.

"People are relying a lot on the idea that he can really do something," he said.

Few, if any, people at the event had relatives affected by the floods – likely because many local Pakistani Americans emigrated from different areas of the county, said Iftikhar Ahmad, former president of the Muslim Mosque Association in Sacramento. But the sight of countrymen in need makes it "our job to help them," he said.

"I don't know anybody affected," said Mohammad Fayyaz, 47, of Sacramento, who said he was born in Pakistan and left at age 15. "Overall we're all family."