Ice-cream parlour can prove my innocence - Butt

 LONDON — Former captain Salman Butt insists a London ice-cream parlour could help clear him of 'spot-fixing' allegations made as part of the corruption scandal surrounding the Pakistan cricket team.

Butt said thousands of pounds discovered in his London hotel room after a 'sting operation' conducted by Britain's News of the World (NoW) tabloid, came from daily tour allowances, bat sponsorship and the ice-cream parlour opening.

His explanation is set to form part of his defence at a make-or-break disciplinary hearing, in Doha, Qatar, next month.

Butt was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following allegations he and colleagues conspired in the bowling of deliberate no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord's in August.

Fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammed Aamer were suspended on the same allegations.

Butt had only been captain of the side for less than two months, following Shahid Afridi's resignation when he was implicated in the scandal.

He set out his case in a lengthy interview in Lahore to a 'Special Report' on British-based satellite station Sky Sports News broadcast Monday.

Sky put a figure of 29,000 pounds (46,000 dollars) to him as the amount found in his room.

"Everybody knows the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) pays us daily allowances on tours and it was a long tour, so about 11,000 pounds of this money was from my daily allowances," he said.

"Being captain I have extra entertainment allowance which amounts to about 4,500 pounds from the tour -- which I had with me," the 26-year-old opening batsman added.

"The rest of the money was advanced payment for my bat stickers which I was under contract by Capital Cricket which shows on the back of my bat.

"People can have their opinions but I know where the money came from."

Pressed on whether the money was "clean", Butt added: "Of course, 100 percent.

"2,500 pounds was given to me for the opening of an ice cream parlour in Tooting (south London).

"As you guys (Sky) are from England you can go there any time to Tooting. I believe the name is Afters and the manager, the people working over there, they will tell you that I had to do the opening of the ice cream parlour along with Mohammad Aamer.

"And that's what we were paid for."

Butt insisted there was no way as a novice skipper he could have improperly influenced Aamer and Asif.

"These kind of people do not let others decide their roles," he argued.

Butt, Asif and Aamer have been suspended until the ICC hearing in Doha on January 6.

"I wish all three of us get back and play for our country which is our passion because we love cricket and we would love to get back and play for our country," Butt said.

"I know inside what I am made of, where I have come from and how I have played my cricket and believe me it has been a lot of passion throughout my life...the love of the game has brought me there. And that love is bigger than anything, any corrupt thing which exists.

"So I believe, inshallah (god willing), that I will be back playing for my country again."

Pakistan may lose some senior cricketers for World Cup 2011

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may drop some of its senior players from the squad which would feature in the upcoming cricket world cup scheduled to start on Feb. 19 next year, officials said Tuesday.

Talking to media, PCB's chief selector Mohsin Khan gave a clear indication that some senior players like wicket keeper batsman Kamran Akmal and former captain Shoaib Malik could miss out on the World Cup preliminary squad but he said there would be enough talent on the national team to do well in the mega event.

"No player is irreplaceable, it would be a setback if we lose some of our leading players but not something that would mean we can't do well in our coming series and tournaments," said Khan.

Khan also tried to make it clear that the selectors can't announce any team until the players get clearance from the PCB.

Reports said that besides the three suspended players, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir, Pakistan could also be without other leading players who have not got clearance from the ICC or the PCB to play international cricket.

These players have been allegedly involved in cricket corruption and banned to participate in international sports events till they are proved innocent.

Akmal and leg spinner Danish Kaneria last week met with the officials of the board to find out why they were being ignored for national selection but nothing came out.

Khan also made it clear that they had been told in clear terms by the board not to make any compromises on fitness or discipline.

Cricket experts in the country hold the view that no doubt the young cricketers are talented and energetic but these cannot replace experienced players as the world cup is the world's toughest competition.

We don’t need Amir and Asif

Imran Khan, who was recently in New Delhi to promote the World Cup, proclaimed Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif to be “the best opening bowling pair in the world” and said that these bowlers are particularly significant to Pakistan’s chances of winning championship. He further said that without these bowlers in the team, the Pakistani bowling attack is “not potent.”

With all due respect to the cricket legend, I do not agree with Mr Khan’s comments here.

While I completely agree with him that Amir and Asif may be instrumental to Pakistan’s success at the World Cup, let’s not forget that these players were allegedly involved inmatch fixing. And this is definitely not the time to demoralise the existing team members by calling them incompetent.

The spot-fixing saga

Amir and Asif have not been convicted yet, but they have not been acquitted either. To be honest, I for one won’t be surprised if Amir and Asif are found guilty. While a young player like Amir’s involvement in the spot-fixing saga is deeply saddening, this is nothing new for Asif who has been prone to controversy off the field.

Let’s put all emotions aside and be prepared for one of our worst nightmares - the two players  may be out of the cricket scene for a while. Do not defend these players. If they are found guilty, let them go and move on.

This is not the end of the world!

Pakistan has produced talent that has dazzled fans and cricketers worldwide. I would like to remind our former captain that our team has demonstrated great character, battling against considerable odds to win two ODI’s against South Africa and held them off in the test series as well – and they did this without Amir and Asif. They have it in them to do it again at the World Cup next year, but they need our support.

This is the time to imbue confidence in the existing team players and to back them up as our team goes through what may be one of the toughest periods in Pakistan’s cricket history and the players prepare for the mega event; some for the first time in their lives.

As Wasim Akram recently said,

“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.”

A time to win back fans

More importantly, the Pakistani team doesn’t need to win the World Cup right now; they need to win back the hearts of cricket fans around the world. They need to show the world that they are ready to fight tooth and nail against the toughest opponents – that this sport and representing their country means everything to them.

It doesn’t matter if Amir and Asif play or not, not even who captains the team and it surely doesn’t matter if we win this World Cup. All that matters is that when it is all over, we can hold our heads high and proudly shout to the world, “We gave it our all!”

Pakistan will raise winning team for WC: Afridi

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi feels that his team will transform itself into a winning outfit in the lead up to the World Cup that starts in February 2011.

“The World Cup is an all-important event for all of us, which is why we are taking all possible steps to put the team back on track,” said Afridi.

“The boys are working hard in the camp in Lahore and I’m sure that they would be in much better shape when we leave for New Zealand for a full series,” he added.

Pakistan will leave for New Zealand on December 17 to play three Twenty20 internationals, two Tests and six ODIs. The tour will conclude just days before the start of the World Cup.

Afridi is confident that Pakistan will conclude its World Cup preparations in New Zealand on a positive note.

“New Zealand will prove us with a great opportunity to get fully ready for the World Cup,” said Afridi. “We are more or less sure about our World Cup combination and the one-day series in New Zealand will help us take a final decision on it.”

Abdul Razzaq - an all-rounder Pakistan needs

Abdul Razzaq is an individual who is regarded as a respected all-rounder throughout the cricketing world. For Pakistan it is their good luck that inspite of lacking serious domestic infrastructure, it has been able to produce talented cricketers. It is a gift that has been associated with Pakistan Cricket for a long time and one wonders for how long they will cash in on it.

Abdul Razzaq has been in the Pakistan side for more than 10 years and he has been able to produce some memorable performances during this time. As Pakistani cricket is under the cloud of spot fixing and has lost its main strike bowlers, the importance of Abdul Razzaq has increased even further.  Not only can he ball well, he also has this wonderful ability of scoring match wining innings for Pakistan. Recently he has been able to repeat this batting extravaganza and it reminded us of the old times when he used to explode. Originally he was a bowler but later he also added batting to his resume. When Pakistan is seriously considering a replacement for Aamir and Asif, Razzaq is definitely on everybody’s mind as he is almost a permanent member of their One Day and Twenty20 line up. Razzaq’s medium fast bowling has been effective for Pakistan as in the past he has been able to bowl opening spells as well as in the middle over’s. He has been doing this for Pakistan for many years. Razzaq has managed to take many wickets, especially in One Dayers through some accurate and tidy bowling. The fate of Aamir and Asif is yet to be decided and one feels that Pakistan has to rely on its experienced players who haved performed for them in the past.

In the past, Pakistan has been using Razzaq as their main bowler and to his credit he has been able to provide them with important breakthroughs at vital moments. He can slow down the run rate with his accurate and straight bowling and with his in-swinging abilities, can dismiss batsmen at any stage of the match. The Pakistani balling line-up despite the absence of Aamir and Asif has bowled well recently and has been able to trouble the batsmen throughout.  In the recent Twenty20 matches against South Africa, the Pakistani ballers did not ball poorly and had the batsmen been able to perform their duty, the ballers would have posed problems for the opposition. In these times, Pakistan needs someone like Razzaq who has a lot of International experience under his belt to take the responsibility of a senior baller in the lineup.

Razzaq, apart from the 2007 period, has remained a permanent member of the Pakistani One Day squad. In 2007, he was dropped from the squad because of poor form but later on whenever he has been given chances he has been able to perform with both bat and ball. An injury and lack of form forced him to be dropped out of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. He was also not selected for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, and as a result he decided to retire from International cricket. But in October 2007 he revoked his decision saying that he made the decision in the heat of the moment.

Pakistan needs to capatalise on Razzaq’s experience as an all rounder in the coming series and the World Cup. One thing that goes in Pakistan’s favor is that he is recognized as a genuine all rounder who can take his side out of trouble. He has a tendency of bowling an accurate line and length and picking odd wickets. Pakistan bowling is still powerful as they have the experience of bowlers like Razzaq who can provide a breakthrough and has the ability to pick the wicket of any batsman. Though, he has slowed down a bit, his accuracy and length still remains, making him deadly.

With time he has learned adopted a quick arm bowling action, which makes it difficult for the batsmen to figure out with what speed the ball is going to be delivered. He is also the youngest baller to take a hat trick in Test cricket in a match against Sri Lanka. In the Cartlon and United series in Australia in 1999 he managed 5 wickets for 43 runs in a match against India and he scored 70 valuable runs. He has dismissed Tendulkar a number of times in the series and was named Man of the Series.

In recent times, Razzaq has been able to perform well in the Twenty20 format.  In the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup, he performed well in the tournament by taking 5 wickets at an economy rate of 5.92 and at an average of 14.80.  In the 2010 Twenty20 series against England he scored a match winning 46* from 18 balls, it helped Pakistan to level the two match series 1-1. Razzaq also performed reasonably well with both bat and ball in the 3 matches of the 5 match One Day Series against England in September.

Razzaq would definitely add variety in the Pakistani balling lineup as he generally balls with a disciplined length and does not give much to the batsman to score in his spells. With his presence, Pakistani balling will not be lacking experience.  Another display of his all-round performance was witnessed recently when he single handedly won Pakistan the third One Day Match against South Africa. His knock of 109* off 72 balls helped Pakistan to level the 5 match series. He struck 7 fours and 10 sixes to take the initiate away from South Africa and gave Pakistan a victory which at one time seemed impossible.

Razzaq is one all-rounder who cannot be ignored in the Squad and if he has a good day, he can easily best the opposition. .