No interference in Younis decision - Sports minister
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Sunday, October 18, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Anwar to Cover
LAHORE: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt met former Test cricketer Saeed Anwar on Wednesday, with the chairman indicating his inclination that the ex-opener will be engaged by the game’s authorities for contributing his share to boost the game in the country.
‘The PCB chairman today had a discussion with former Test cricketer Saeed Anwar on utilising his services for cricket. PCB chief and Saeed will meet in the coming week to discuss the plan in detail,’ said a statement issued by the PCB.
Commenting on his discussion with 40-year-old Saeed, Ijaz said: ‘I am thankful for Saeed’s encouraging response and his offer to assist the PCB and Pakistan players. I am sure Saeed will be able to contribute a lot to Pakistan cricket,’ a PCB official press release stated.
Saeed played 55 Tests for Pakistan between 1990 and 2001, accumulating 4052 runs at the average of 45.52, featuring 11 centuries and 25 half-centuries.
The dashing batsman who paired with opener Aamir Sohail during the 1990s, also featured in 247 One-day Internationals, amassing 8824 runs at 39.21 with the help of 20 centuries and 43 half-centuries.
Saeed, a sweet timer of the ball, reached the pinnacle in 1997 when he smashed Viv Richards’ world record (189) by playing one-day cricket’s biggest knock of 194 against India at Chennai. The left-handed batsman quit international cricket after the 2003 World Cup.
Though the PCB chairman has not mentioned which position he will offer to Saeed, sources said the former opening batsman might be tried as batting coach.
However, the decision might be seen as debatable while considering Saeed’s record in the match-fixing issue that emerged in the late 1990s and the subsequent fine of Rs100,000 imposed on him by the one-man Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum Commission in 2000.
‘In Saeed Anwar’s favour a lot of people have said he is clean. Even one of the tapes seems to support this. In light of the above, this commission itself unable to find any compelling evidence to the requisite standard that Saeed was involved in match-fixing a particular match.
However, with the totality of evidence this commission does believe that Saeed has by his actions brought doubt onto himself. Further, this commission felt that Saeed was withholding some evidence from the commission. In light of all of this it is recommended that Saeed be fined Rs100,000 and that he be kept under observation,’ according to the Justice Qayyum ruling.
Apart from Saeed and Saleem Malik who was facing life ban imposed on him by the Justice Qayyum Commission before a court waived the ban recently, other players who were fined by the Commission were Wasim Akram (Rs300,000), Mushtaq Ahmed (Rs300,000), Ata-ur-Rehman (Rs100,000), Waqar Younis (Rs100,000), Inzamam-ul-Haq (Rs100,000) and Akram Raza (Rs100,000).
‘The PCB chairman today had a discussion with former Test cricketer Saeed Anwar on utilising his services for cricket. PCB chief and Saeed will meet in the coming week to discuss the plan in detail,’ said a statement issued by the PCB.
Commenting on his discussion with 40-year-old Saeed, Ijaz said: ‘I am thankful for Saeed’s encouraging response and his offer to assist the PCB and Pakistan players. I am sure Saeed will be able to contribute a lot to Pakistan cricket,’ a PCB official press release stated.
Saeed played 55 Tests for Pakistan between 1990 and 2001, accumulating 4052 runs at the average of 45.52, featuring 11 centuries and 25 half-centuries.
The dashing batsman who paired with opener Aamir Sohail during the 1990s, also featured in 247 One-day Internationals, amassing 8824 runs at 39.21 with the help of 20 centuries and 43 half-centuries.
Saeed, a sweet timer of the ball, reached the pinnacle in 1997 when he smashed Viv Richards’ world record (189) by playing one-day cricket’s biggest knock of 194 against India at Chennai. The left-handed batsman quit international cricket after the 2003 World Cup.
Though the PCB chairman has not mentioned which position he will offer to Saeed, sources said the former opening batsman might be tried as batting coach.
However, the decision might be seen as debatable while considering Saeed’s record in the match-fixing issue that emerged in the late 1990s and the subsequent fine of Rs100,000 imposed on him by the one-man Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum Commission in 2000.
‘In Saeed Anwar’s favour a lot of people have said he is clean. Even one of the tapes seems to support this. In light of the above, this commission itself unable to find any compelling evidence to the requisite standard that Saeed was involved in match-fixing a particular match.
However, with the totality of evidence this commission does believe that Saeed has by his actions brought doubt onto himself. Further, this commission felt that Saeed was withholding some evidence from the commission. In light of all of this it is recommended that Saeed be fined Rs100,000 and that he be kept under observation,’ according to the Justice Qayyum ruling.
Apart from Saeed and Saleem Malik who was facing life ban imposed on him by the Justice Qayyum Commission before a court waived the ban recently, other players who were fined by the Commission were Wasim Akram (Rs300,000), Mushtaq Ahmed (Rs300,000), Ata-ur-Rehman (Rs100,000), Waqar Younis (Rs100,000), Inzamam-ul-Haq (Rs100,000) and Akram Raza (Rs100,000).
PCB on Back foot
The PCB is currently facing major financial problems because of the shifting or cancellation of a number of money-making events like the home series against India and the ICC Hotels are expensive in UAE where Pakistan hosted its one-day series against Australia earlier this year and had to spend more than 10 million rupees on private security guards alone.
The series to be played in Pakistan initially was relocated because of security apprehensions.
According to sources, senior PCB officials were having second thoughts about holding the series in New Zealand as they are unsure whether the board’s marketing team will be able to sell the series for a sufficient amount.
The PCB mulled over the option of hosting the Test series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but gave it up after realising that it would cost almost a million dollars to stage the series there.
New Zealand was believed to be a cheaper option because of inexpensive hotels and also the PCB would not have to make any extra security arrangements. But NZC’s demand has put the PCB in a tight spot.
The series to be played in Pakistan initially was relocated because of security apprehensions.
According to sources, senior PCB officials were having second thoughts about holding the series in New Zealand as they are unsure whether the board’s marketing team will be able to sell the series for a sufficient amount.
The PCB mulled over the option of hosting the Test series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but gave it up after realising that it would cost almost a million dollars to stage the series there.
New Zealand was believed to be a cheaper option because of inexpensive hotels and also the PCB would not have to make any extra security arrangements. But NZC’s demand has put the PCB in a tight spot.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Indian Cricket call the Wall
MUMBAI: Former skipper Rahul Dravid, who has been named among the 30 probables for the Indian team for the ICC Champions trophy, on Friday said he
was happy to be reconsidered for a spot in the One-day side. "I'm happy, it feels nice to be back in the mix," Dravid said. The eight-nation tournament will be played from September 22 to October 5 in South Africa this year. The middle-order batsman, who has scored 10,585 run in 333 matches, last played an ODI against the Australians in Nagpur in October 2007. Talking about the status of other sports which get overshadowed by Cricket, Dravid said the only way to bring them under limelight is to attain more success in that discipline. "A lot of sports do suffer from the magnitude of cricket in India. But there is no point complaining about it. As more and more people get success in other sports, they will get the desired attention," he said. "It has happened with (Abhinav) Bindra at the Olympics and recently with Saina (Nehwal)," Dravid said. The former Indian skipper also congratulated legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar on his 60th birthday. "I wish him well. He has done a lot for the game and for us," he said.
was happy to be reconsidered for a spot in the One-day side. "I'm happy, it feels nice to be back in the mix," Dravid said. The eight-nation tournament will be played from September 22 to October 5 in South Africa this year. The middle-order batsman, who has scored 10,585 run in 333 matches, last played an ODI against the Australians in Nagpur in October 2007. Talking about the status of other sports which get overshadowed by Cricket, Dravid said the only way to bring them under limelight is to attain more success in that discipline. "A lot of sports do suffer from the magnitude of cricket in India. But there is no point complaining about it. As more and more people get success in other sports, they will get the desired attention," he said. "It has happened with (Abhinav) Bindra at the Olympics and recently with Saina (Nehwal)," Dravid said. The former Indian skipper also congratulated legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar on his 60th birthday. "I wish him well. He has done a lot for the game and for us," he said.
Pappu kab Pass hoga
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have to wait to realise his dream of becoming a graduate. The prestigious St Xavier’s College here
denied him promotion following his failure to appear in the BCom Part I examination. Last year, Ranchi University
had bent its attendance rules to enable Dhoni to join the college. Following this, the cricketer resumed his education after a nine year hiatus. Head of examinations (St Xavier’s College) AK Sinha said his institution had relaxed certain rules for the celebrity but would under no circumstances promote him since he did not appear in the final examination. The college’s decision was welcomed by some students. Manish Kumar, Dhoni’s senior, said he is proud to be a student of a college that sticks to the rule book. On the other hand, Meenakshi, another classmate of Dhoni, was unhappy because she would not be able to attend college with the cricketing idol.
denied him promotion following his failure to appear in the BCom Part I examination. Last year, Ranchi University
had bent its attendance rules to enable Dhoni to join the college. Following this, the cricketer resumed his education after a nine year hiatus. Head of examinations (St Xavier’s College) AK Sinha said his institution had relaxed certain rules for the celebrity but would under no circumstances promote him since he did not appear in the final examination. The college’s decision was welcomed by some students. Manish Kumar, Dhoni’s senior, said he is proud to be a student of a college that sticks to the rule book. On the other hand, Meenakshi, another classmate of Dhoni, was unhappy because she would not be able to attend college with the cricketing idol.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Rahul Dravid called
CHENNAI: The selectors finally took a step that clearly indicated that they were worried with India's batting following the T20 World Cup and the
West Indies series. They have brought Rahul Dravid back into the fray for a spot in the ODI side by including him in the 30-member probables list for the Champions Trophy, and if sources close to the selection committee are to be believed, it's not just for filling up the numbers. The Indian batsmen's frailty against short-pitched bowling was there for everyone to see during the T20 World Cup and the selectors believe some solidity is required in the middle-order. Even though India won the series against the West Indies, the general belief among the decision makers is that it is all due to "one match winning effort (from Yuvraj)." It was clearly indicated that Dravid would surely be considered when the final 15 was selected for the Champions Trophy. The veteran right-hander may not fit into skipper MS Dhoni's scheme of things but given the recent performances of the Indian team, the selectors may well take a stern stance. The fact that the Champions Trophy will be played in South Africa, where the pitches will afford steep bounce, has also gone in Dravid's favour. But will there be a chance to see what kind of form Dravid is in before the final team is selected? "Do we need to do that for a player of Dravid's stature? We know what he is capable of," the source shot back. Another player who found himself out of favour was all-rounder Irfan Pathan. By not picking him in the list of 30 probables, the selectors have indicated that they are looking ahead, at least for now. Champions Trophy probables: MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin, M Vijay, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Dhawal Kulkarni, S Badrinath, Ashish Nehra, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, Wriddhiman Saha, Pankaj Singh. Squad for Emerging Nations Trophy: S Badrinath (Capt), M Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli (Vice-Capt), Manoj Tiwary, Ishant Jaggi, Abhishek Nayar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Pankaj Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pradeep Sangwan, Sudeep Tyagi.
West Indies series. They have brought Rahul Dravid back into the fray for a spot in the ODI side by including him in the 30-member probables list for the Champions Trophy, and if sources close to the selection committee are to be believed, it's not just for filling up the numbers. The Indian batsmen's frailty against short-pitched bowling was there for everyone to see during the T20 World Cup and the selectors believe some solidity is required in the middle-order. Even though India won the series against the West Indies, the general belief among the decision makers is that it is all due to "one match winning effort (from Yuvraj)." It was clearly indicated that Dravid would surely be considered when the final 15 was selected for the Champions Trophy. The veteran right-hander may not fit into skipper MS Dhoni's scheme of things but given the recent performances of the Indian team, the selectors may well take a stern stance. The fact that the Champions Trophy will be played in South Africa, where the pitches will afford steep bounce, has also gone in Dravid's favour. But will there be a chance to see what kind of form Dravid is in before the final team is selected? "Do we need to do that for a player of Dravid's stature? We know what he is capable of," the source shot back. Another player who found himself out of favour was all-rounder Irfan Pathan. By not picking him in the list of 30 probables, the selectors have indicated that they are looking ahead, at least for now. Champions Trophy probables: MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin, M Vijay, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Dhawal Kulkarni, S Badrinath, Ashish Nehra, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, Wriddhiman Saha, Pankaj Singh. Squad for Emerging Nations Trophy: S Badrinath (Capt), M Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli (Vice-Capt), Manoj Tiwary, Ishant Jaggi, Abhishek Nayar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Pankaj Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pradeep Sangwan, Sudeep Tyagi.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Cricket war has Started
For the first time since the Multan Test of 2004, or 38 Tests, Pakistan started a Test without Danish Kaneria. They were always going to play three fast bowlers, and going to field first if they won the toss. And they did win it.
Two of those fast bowlers were debutants - the 17-year-old Mohammad Aaamer and the 30-year-old Abdur Rauf. So was Kaneria's replacement, Saeed Ajmal, perhaps getting the nod by the virtue of being an offspinner against Sri Lanka's ready supply of left-hand batsmen.
Amid the debutants, Mohammad Yousuf made a comeback, becoming the first ICL player to play a Test again. Yousuf took Faisal Iqbal's place.
Sri Lanka didn't want to hold back bold moves either, going in without a specialist wicketkeeper. Instead they gave a Test cap to Angelo Mathews, which meant either Kumar Sangakkara or Tillakaratne Dilshan would have to keep. The 31-year-old left-arm spinner Rangana Herath replaced Muttiah Muralitharan who injured his knee during practice. Unlike Pakistan, Sri Lanka went in with only two medium-pacers, Nuwan Kulasekara and the left-armer Thilan Thushara. Mathews provided them the fifth-bowler option.
Pakistan: 1 Salman Butt, 2 Khurram Manzoor, 3 Younis Khan (capt), 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Saeed Ajmal, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Mohammad Aamer, 11 Abdur Rauf
Sri Lanka: 1 Malinda Warnapura, 2 Tharanga Paranavitana, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt/wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Thilan Thushara, 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Rangana Herath
Two of those fast bowlers were debutants - the 17-year-old Mohammad Aaamer and the 30-year-old Abdur Rauf. So was Kaneria's replacement, Saeed Ajmal, perhaps getting the nod by the virtue of being an offspinner against Sri Lanka's ready supply of left-hand batsmen.
Amid the debutants, Mohammad Yousuf made a comeback, becoming the first ICL player to play a Test again. Yousuf took Faisal Iqbal's place.
Sri Lanka didn't want to hold back bold moves either, going in without a specialist wicketkeeper. Instead they gave a Test cap to Angelo Mathews, which meant either Kumar Sangakkara or Tillakaratne Dilshan would have to keep. The 31-year-old left-arm spinner Rangana Herath replaced Muttiah Muralitharan who injured his knee during practice. Unlike Pakistan, Sri Lanka went in with only two medium-pacers, Nuwan Kulasekara and the left-armer Thilan Thushara. Mathews provided them the fifth-bowler option.
Pakistan: 1 Salman Butt, 2 Khurram Manzoor, 3 Younis Khan (capt), 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Saeed Ajmal, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Mohammad Aamer, 11 Abdur Rauf
Sri Lanka: 1 Malinda Warnapura, 2 Tharanga Paranavitana, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt/wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Thilan Thushara, 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Rangana Herath
Science of MS Dhoni Rescued Home
GROS ISLET: Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a captain's knock as India battled inclement weather to defeat the West Indies by six wickets via the
Duckworth-Lewis method and take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match ODI series at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia on Friday. ( Watch ) Scorecard In Pics Needing 11 runs off the last over after the target was revised to 159 from 22 overs, Dhoni (46 not out) sent Jerome Taylor's second delivery for a six over mid-wicket as India won with a ball to spare. Blogs: All morons, please stand up 1983: Anniversary of India's 2nd tryst with destiny The One-dayer was almost reduced to a Twenty20 fixture as it witnessed as many as four stoppages due to rain during the West Indies innings -- including a two hour and five minutes delay at the start of the match. The interruptions forced the overs to be brought down to 27 per side. The West Indies, put into bat after Dhoni won the toss, rode on Ramnaresh Sarwan's 62 to post a competitive 185 for seven and India were set a revised target of 195 following the D/L method. The visitors needed a strong start and Dinesh Karthik (47 off 43 balls) and Gautam Gambhir (44 off 38) did just that. The duo put on 84 runs before a direct throw from Ravi Rampaul ended Karthik's innings. Gambhir and Dhoni took the score to 95 for one off 13.3 overs when rain intervened for the fifth time and following a 22-minute delay, the target was revised to 159 in 22 overs. Needing another 64 runs from 51 deliveries, India lost Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh (2) in quick succession. With 11 runs required off the last seven deliveries, Rohit Sharma too departed leaving Dhoni to see the team through. The skipper's 34-ball unbeaten knock included a couple of boundaries besides the six in the last over. While Dhoni sparkled, opening partnership too did the job. Karthik and Gambhir not only complemented each other but also gave the visitors perfect launchpad to go for victory after Sarwan's 58-ball 62 guided the West Indies to 185 for seven. Sarwan was involved in two crucial partnerships, 51 runs with Runako Morton (22) and another 48 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (15) before he was run out going for a non-existent second. Gambhir's strong throw found Sarwan short of the mark. His innings included five fours and a six. He carried on the momentum provided by captain Chris Gayle (27), who gave the hosts a rollicking start after the match started two hours and five minutes late following a rain delay that first reduced the match to 41 overs a side. Gayle hit Ishant Sharma for a couple of boundaries in each of his first two overs. Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra (3/21) received similar treatment in his second over, another couple of boundaries, before rain intervened with the West Indies at 27 for no loss from 3.3 overs. Play resumed after a 15-minute delay but the distraction was enough to unsettle the West Indies captain, who departed chasing a widish delivery from Nehra. Gayle slashed the first ball after resumption and Dhoni did the rest behind stumps. His 14-ball stay at the crease had six hits to the fence. Morton (22 off 34 balls), who was a silent spectator till then was joined by Sarwan and the duo took the score to 56 for one from 9.1 overs before rain intervened for a third time. Following another 15-minute delay, the overs were reduced to 36 per side. However, rain forced play to be suspended again just two deliveries on re-start with the hosts on 57 for one. This time play remained suspended for an hour and 20 minutes before it resumed with the overs reduced to 27 a side. Morton greeted RP Singh with a four but fell soon after. Sarwan though didn't let the stoppages affect his rhythm as he took 16 runs off one Yuvraj over to help the hosts go past the 100-run mark in 16 overs. Along with the vastly experienced Chanderpaul, the duo put on 48 runs before the left-hander departed trying to hoist Yusuf Pathan over mid-on and Nehra doing the rest
Duckworth-Lewis method and take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match ODI series at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia on Friday. ( Watch ) Scorecard In Pics Needing 11 runs off the last over after the target was revised to 159 from 22 overs, Dhoni (46 not out) sent Jerome Taylor's second delivery for a six over mid-wicket as India won with a ball to spare. Blogs: All morons, please stand up 1983: Anniversary of India's 2nd tryst with destiny The One-dayer was almost reduced to a Twenty20 fixture as it witnessed as many as four stoppages due to rain during the West Indies innings -- including a two hour and five minutes delay at the start of the match. The interruptions forced the overs to be brought down to 27 per side. The West Indies, put into bat after Dhoni won the toss, rode on Ramnaresh Sarwan's 62 to post a competitive 185 for seven and India were set a revised target of 195 following the D/L method. The visitors needed a strong start and Dinesh Karthik (47 off 43 balls) and Gautam Gambhir (44 off 38) did just that. The duo put on 84 runs before a direct throw from Ravi Rampaul ended Karthik's innings. Gambhir and Dhoni took the score to 95 for one off 13.3 overs when rain intervened for the fifth time and following a 22-minute delay, the target was revised to 159 in 22 overs. Needing another 64 runs from 51 deliveries, India lost Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh (2) in quick succession. With 11 runs required off the last seven deliveries, Rohit Sharma too departed leaving Dhoni to see the team through. The skipper's 34-ball unbeaten knock included a couple of boundaries besides the six in the last over. While Dhoni sparkled, opening partnership too did the job. Karthik and Gambhir not only complemented each other but also gave the visitors perfect launchpad to go for victory after Sarwan's 58-ball 62 guided the West Indies to 185 for seven. Sarwan was involved in two crucial partnerships, 51 runs with Runako Morton (22) and another 48 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (15) before he was run out going for a non-existent second. Gambhir's strong throw found Sarwan short of the mark. His innings included five fours and a six. He carried on the momentum provided by captain Chris Gayle (27), who gave the hosts a rollicking start after the match started two hours and five minutes late following a rain delay that first reduced the match to 41 overs a side. Gayle hit Ishant Sharma for a couple of boundaries in each of his first two overs. Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra (3/21) received similar treatment in his second over, another couple of boundaries, before rain intervened with the West Indies at 27 for no loss from 3.3 overs. Play resumed after a 15-minute delay but the distraction was enough to unsettle the West Indies captain, who departed chasing a widish delivery from Nehra. Gayle slashed the first ball after resumption and Dhoni did the rest behind stumps. His 14-ball stay at the crease had six hits to the fence. Morton (22 off 34 balls), who was a silent spectator till then was joined by Sarwan and the duo took the score to 56 for one from 9.1 overs before rain intervened for a third time. Following another 15-minute delay, the overs were reduced to 36 per side. However, rain forced play to be suspended again just two deliveries on re-start with the hosts on 57 for one. This time play remained suspended for an hour and 20 minutes before it resumed with the overs reduced to 27 a side. Morton greeted RP Singh with a four but fell soon after. Sarwan though didn't let the stoppages affect his rhythm as he took 16 runs off one Yuvraj over to help the hosts go past the 100-run mark in 16 overs. Along with the vastly experienced Chanderpaul, the duo put on 48 runs before the left-hander departed trying to hoist Yusuf Pathan over mid-on and Nehra doing the rest
PCB Selecting Customers
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided not to appoint paid selectors in future and will have a single selection committee to pick both
national senior and junior teams. A senior PCB official said that the hue and cry over the dissolution of the separate selection committees was not justified as people do not know the real facts. "The governing council at its last meeting had expressed dissatisfaction with the working of the selection committees. The council members asked the Chairman Ejaz Butt to finish the practice of having paid selectors and appoint new ones on honorary basis," the official said. "The members felt when a selector was on the Board payroll there was the likelihood of a conflict of interest (with other officials). "They suggested that in future selectors be appointed on honorary basis but be given stipends, daily allowances and other perks as admissible under board rules," he added. He said it was also decided that in future there would be only one national selection committee which would pick all teams and that the governing council members were not happy with the working of former chief selector Abdul Qadir. A number of candidates are being tipped to be appointed on the new committee with names of former Test players Aamer Sohail, Haroon Rasheed, Saleem Yousuf and Basit Ali doing round.
national senior and junior teams. A senior PCB official said that the hue and cry over the dissolution of the separate selection committees was not justified as people do not know the real facts. "The governing council at its last meeting had expressed dissatisfaction with the working of the selection committees. The council members asked the Chairman Ejaz Butt to finish the practice of having paid selectors and appoint new ones on honorary basis," the official said. "The members felt when a selector was on the Board payroll there was the likelihood of a conflict of interest (with other officials). "They suggested that in future selectors be appointed on honorary basis but be given stipends, daily allowances and other perks as admissible under board rules," he added. He said it was also decided that in future there would be only one national selection committee which would pick all teams and that the governing council members were not happy with the working of former chief selector Abdul Qadir. A number of candidates are being tipped to be appointed on the new committee with names of former Test players Aamer Sohail, Haroon Rasheed, Saleem Yousuf and Basit Ali doing round.
Experomenting on tests
The ICC will not be short of blueprints but its seriousness about altering the five-day format might be tested in the coming months. Here's TOI's
take on a possible new beginning for Tests... This might be a tough ask. If you are a Test cricket buff, set aside, for an instant, the associated sentiments. Forget the indulgent, intellectual delights of absorbing five days of nuanced interplay between bat and ball. The thrill of watching an absorbing draw, the mythology of unforgettable past contests. Forget the wisdom in tampering with the credentials of a classic format. Or the ethics involved in messing with the aura of tradition. Instead, place yourself in the shoes of ICC president David Morgan, and think about what you could do to better market a niche sporting product which currently thrives only on a handful of keen annual contests. As former Test cricketer Arun Lal says, "There is no right or wrong in it. The crowds are simply not coming in for Tests, just for T20. Sadly, Tests are fast becoming unfashionable and tedious for newer generations. If the audience desires change, if broadcasters want change, it is inevitable." Yet, Tests represent the pinnacle of achievement for players and change has its birth pangs. A cult cannot go mainstream without compromising. Morgan's comments on the need for reducing Tests to four-day affairs and making technical upgradations to make night Tests - read prime-time TV slots - a possibility has understandably set off a wave of resentment. Even administrators are generally cagey dwelling on the unknown. The BCCI is less traditional but it's early days yet. Some ex-India players have voiced their opinion against it, and Pakistan's Javed Miandad has said that "T20 is good entertainment and has commercial value but any move to tamper with Tests will prove counter-productive". Cricket Australia is "not initially enthusiastic". The game is steeped in convention but post-Morgan, it won't be easy to squirm out of this particular debate. The ICC's ideas, too, are far from being fleshed out. So will four-day Tests indeed become workable reality? Faster, more result-oriented, more viewer friendly, less indolent, yet true to the broad theatrical panorama of the original? Is it at all possible? The first casualty has to be the draw, although Tests have become more result-oriented than anyone would have guessed: Since the last 10 years, only 24.95% of Tests have been drawn, out of a staggering 465 matches. Since 2000, 75.68% Tests have produced results. Between 1990 and '99, the corresponding figure was 64.27%. Of the 17 matches played so far in 2009, though, 47.06% have been drawn. So where does one draw the line? "Scoring rates have gone up anyway and no one wants to bat for three days anymore. But I think draws can be dispensed with," says one-time Test opener and Delhi and Knight Riders' Aakash Chopra, who revels in the longer formats. "Only about 2% draws are memorable. The public needs results." But simply reducing the duration from 5 days to 4 won't reduce draws: most first-class matches are four-day affairs and most are dull draws. This is what Morgan doesn't mention. Clearly, it needs to be a limited-overs affair because it will be impossible to alter all known Test-match pitches so dramatically in favour of the bowler. "You can be penalised for slow over rates but you can't be penalised for slow scoring. It would be impossible to stipulate," says Chopra. The better idea would be a cap on overs. Here's our simple proposal: A maximum of 80 overs per side per innings, ensuring an innings is completed in a day. If the side batting last (on Day 4) fails to chase down the target, it loses. If the batting side is bowled out in less than 80 overs, their remaining quota would be added on to the opposition's share of overs as a bonus. For e.g., if Side A is bowled out in their first innings in 60 overs, then Side B will face a maximum of 100 (80+20) overs when it's their turn to bat. Here, too, the ICC and hosting associations will need to improve the quality of some pitches. Substandard or underdone tracks need to be phased out. Unless that is done, the toss will become vital as no team will want to bat last on a wearing pitch. Will the ICC penalise grounds which don't live up to these 'four-day standards'? The same 80-overs-a-side/two-innings-each scenario could be ideal for night cricket too, the moment a workable ball is manufactured. Batting under lights, though, will introduce a whole new element and fresh debate. The number of sessions a day could be reduced to two, with a longer break in between. In an idea borrowed from golf, matches could be compulsorily scheduled so the last two days fall on weekends, to pull in more crowds. Maybe, such 4-day Tests could even be trialled among weaker, 'second-tier' teams first. Undoubtedly, many more interesting ideas will crop up as the ICC pushes to make it a reality. "It's bound to happen," says Lal, "Earlier there was only one format, so more people watched Tests. Not anymore."
take on a possible new beginning for Tests... This might be a tough ask. If you are a Test cricket buff, set aside, for an instant, the associated sentiments. Forget the indulgent, intellectual delights of absorbing five days of nuanced interplay between bat and ball. The thrill of watching an absorbing draw, the mythology of unforgettable past contests. Forget the wisdom in tampering with the credentials of a classic format. Or the ethics involved in messing with the aura of tradition. Instead, place yourself in the shoes of ICC president David Morgan, and think about what you could do to better market a niche sporting product which currently thrives only on a handful of keen annual contests. As former Test cricketer Arun Lal says, "There is no right or wrong in it. The crowds are simply not coming in for Tests, just for T20. Sadly, Tests are fast becoming unfashionable and tedious for newer generations. If the audience desires change, if broadcasters want change, it is inevitable." Yet, Tests represent the pinnacle of achievement for players and change has its birth pangs. A cult cannot go mainstream without compromising. Morgan's comments on the need for reducing Tests to four-day affairs and making technical upgradations to make night Tests - read prime-time TV slots - a possibility has understandably set off a wave of resentment. Even administrators are generally cagey dwelling on the unknown. The BCCI is less traditional but it's early days yet. Some ex-India players have voiced their opinion against it, and Pakistan's Javed Miandad has said that "T20 is good entertainment and has commercial value but any move to tamper with Tests will prove counter-productive". Cricket Australia is "not initially enthusiastic". The game is steeped in convention but post-Morgan, it won't be easy to squirm out of this particular debate. The ICC's ideas, too, are far from being fleshed out. So will four-day Tests indeed become workable reality? Faster, more result-oriented, more viewer friendly, less indolent, yet true to the broad theatrical panorama of the original? Is it at all possible? The first casualty has to be the draw, although Tests have become more result-oriented than anyone would have guessed: Since the last 10 years, only 24.95% of Tests have been drawn, out of a staggering 465 matches. Since 2000, 75.68% Tests have produced results. Between 1990 and '99, the corresponding figure was 64.27%. Of the 17 matches played so far in 2009, though, 47.06% have been drawn. So where does one draw the line? "Scoring rates have gone up anyway and no one wants to bat for three days anymore. But I think draws can be dispensed with," says one-time Test opener and Delhi and Knight Riders' Aakash Chopra, who revels in the longer formats. "Only about 2% draws are memorable. The public needs results." But simply reducing the duration from 5 days to 4 won't reduce draws: most first-class matches are four-day affairs and most are dull draws. This is what Morgan doesn't mention. Clearly, it needs to be a limited-overs affair because it will be impossible to alter all known Test-match pitches so dramatically in favour of the bowler. "You can be penalised for slow over rates but you can't be penalised for slow scoring. It would be impossible to stipulate," says Chopra. The better idea would be a cap on overs. Here's our simple proposal: A maximum of 80 overs per side per innings, ensuring an innings is completed in a day. If the side batting last (on Day 4) fails to chase down the target, it loses. If the batting side is bowled out in less than 80 overs, their remaining quota would be added on to the opposition's share of overs as a bonus. For e.g., if Side A is bowled out in their first innings in 60 overs, then Side B will face a maximum of 100 (80+20) overs when it's their turn to bat. Here, too, the ICC and hosting associations will need to improve the quality of some pitches. Substandard or underdone tracks need to be phased out. Unless that is done, the toss will become vital as no team will want to bat last on a wearing pitch. Will the ICC penalise grounds which don't live up to these 'four-day standards'? The same 80-overs-a-side/two-innings-each scenario could be ideal for night cricket too, the moment a workable ball is manufactured. Batting under lights, though, will introduce a whole new element and fresh debate. The number of sessions a day could be reduced to two, with a longer break in between. In an idea borrowed from golf, matches could be compulsorily scheduled so the last two days fall on weekends, to pull in more crowds. Maybe, such 4-day Tests could even be trialled among weaker, 'second-tier' teams first. Undoubtedly, many more interesting ideas will crop up as the ICC pushes to make it a reality. "It's bound to happen," says Lal, "Earlier there was only one format, so more people watched Tests. Not anymore."
Tanvir goes to Royal Rajhistan
The Pakistan Cricket Board has given a green signal to all-rounder Sohail Tanvir to play for his Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan
Royals in a charity match against Middlesex at Lord's on July 6. The sports management company which represents Tanvir said in a statement that Tanvir would represent the Rajasthan Royals in the match being played for the British Asian Trust. Tanvir was the best bowler of the IPL in the first season and played a key role in his team's title win. However, he could not play the second edition after the Pakistan foreign ministry advised the PCB not to send its players to India due to security concerns arising out of the tense relations between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks last November. The IPL was later moved to South Africa but by that time the IPL franchises had either terminated or suspended the contracts of the Pakistani players due to their unavailability for the second season. Portfolio world, the sports management company also quoted Shilpa Shetty the co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals as saying that she was excited to have Tanvir back in the team. "He was truly missed in the IPL second season," Shetty was quoted in the statement. Tanvir, the left arm pacer, struggled in the recent T20 World Cup in England and was dropped from the playing eleven.
Royals in a charity match against Middlesex at Lord's on July 6. The sports management company which represents Tanvir said in a statement that Tanvir would represent the Rajasthan Royals in the match being played for the British Asian Trust. Tanvir was the best bowler of the IPL in the first season and played a key role in his team's title win. However, he could not play the second edition after the Pakistan foreign ministry advised the PCB not to send its players to India due to security concerns arising out of the tense relations between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks last November. The IPL was later moved to South Africa but by that time the IPL franchises had either terminated or suspended the contracts of the Pakistani players due to their unavailability for the second season. Portfolio world, the sports management company also quoted Shilpa Shetty the co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals as saying that she was excited to have Tanvir back in the team. "He was truly missed in the IPL second season," Shetty was quoted in the statement. Tanvir, the left arm pacer, struggled in the recent T20 World Cup in England and was dropped from the playing eleven.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
PCB Vs BCCI
KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board
has refused to sign the new Future Tours Programme which spans from 2012 to 2020 unless the Indian board revises the
draft. Sources in the PCB confirmed that officials had voiced strong objections at the International Cricket Council meetings held last week in London
when they learnt that the Indian board had not scheduled a single bilateral series with Pakistan in their proposed draft of the new FTP. "The Indian officials came up with the justification that they couldn't schedule any bilateral series with Pakistan because of the existing relations between the two countries," one source said. "The Indian representative also made it clear that Pakistan should not raise a hue and cry over the proposed FTP since whenever relations between Pakistan and India improved the Indian board would find windows for bilateral series," he said. The source said Pakistan had rejected BCCI's viewpoint and said since the FTP was being prepared well in advance how could the Indian board decide prematurely not to schedule any bilateral series with its neighbour. The Pakistani representatives had made it clear at the meeting that they would not sign the FTP if the BCCI did not revise the draft. The ICC has asked all member countries to submit draft proposals for the next FTP which involves all Test playing nations. Sources said India had also ignored Bangladesh in preparing the draft FTP and is pushing for a two-tier Test championship system
He also said that PCB was already upset with BCCI's attitude over the 2011 World Cup hosting right issue. "Representatives from several countries have privately told PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt they sympathise with Pakistan and would like to accept its proposal of hosting
the 2011 World Cup matches at neutral venues but they can't go against India which want no matches being hosted by Pakistan at home or at neutral venues," the source disclosed.
has refused to sign the new Future Tours Programme which spans from 2012 to 2020 unless the Indian board revises the
draft. Sources in the PCB confirmed that officials had voiced strong objections at the International Cricket Council meetings held last week in London
when they learnt that the Indian board had not scheduled a single bilateral series with Pakistan in their proposed draft of the new FTP. "The Indian officials came up with the justification that they couldn't schedule any bilateral series with Pakistan because of the existing relations between the two countries," one source said. "The Indian representative also made it clear that Pakistan should not raise a hue and cry over the proposed FTP since whenever relations between Pakistan and India improved the Indian board would find windows for bilateral series," he said. The source said Pakistan had rejected BCCI's viewpoint and said since the FTP was being prepared well in advance how could the Indian board decide prematurely not to schedule any bilateral series with its neighbour. The Pakistani representatives had made it clear at the meeting that they would not sign the FTP if the BCCI did not revise the draft. The ICC has asked all member countries to submit draft proposals for the next FTP which involves all Test playing nations. Sources said India had also ignored Bangladesh in preparing the draft FTP and is pushing for a two-tier Test championship system
He also said that PCB was already upset with BCCI's attitude over the 2011 World Cup hosting right issue. "Representatives from several countries have privately told PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt they sympathise with Pakistan and would like to accept its proposal of hosting
the 2011 World Cup matches at neutral venues but they can't go against India which want no matches being hosted by Pakistan at home or at neutral venues," the source disclosed.
PCB Vs BCCi
KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board
has refused to sign the new Future Tours Programme which spans from 2012 to 2020 unless the Indian board revises the
draft. Sources in the PCB confirmed that officials had voiced strong objections at the International Cricket Council meetings held last week in London
when they learnt that the Indian board had not scheduled a single bilateral series with Pakistan in their proposed draft of the new FTP. "The Indian officials came up with the justification that they couldn't schedule any bilateral series with Pakistan because of the existing relations between the two countries," one source said. "The Indian representative also made it clear that Pakistan should not raise a hue and cry over the proposed FTP since whenever relations between Pakistan and India improved the Indian board would find windows for bilateral series," he said. The source said Pakistan had rejected BCCI's viewpoint and said since the FTP was being prepared well in advance how could the Indian board decide prematurely not to schedule any bilateral series with its neighbour. The Pakistani representatives had made it clear at the meeting that they would not sign the FTP if the BCCI did not revise the draft. The ICC has asked all member countries to submit draft proposals for the next FTP which involves all Test playing nations. Sources said India had also ignored Bangladesh in preparing the draft FTP and is pushing for a two-tier Test championship system
. He also said that PCB was already upset with BCCI's attitude over the 2011 World Cup hosting right issue. "Representatives from several countries have privately told PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt they sympathise with Pakistan and would like to accept its proposal of hosting
the 2011 World Cup matches at neutral venues but they can't go against India which want no matches being hosted by Pakistan at home or at neutral venues," the source disclosed.
has refused to sign the new Future Tours Programme which spans from 2012 to 2020 unless the Indian board revises the
draft. Sources in the PCB confirmed that officials had voiced strong objections at the International Cricket Council meetings held last week in London
when they learnt that the Indian board had not scheduled a single bilateral series with Pakistan in their proposed draft of the new FTP. "The Indian officials came up with the justification that they couldn't schedule any bilateral series with Pakistan because of the existing relations between the two countries," one source said. "The Indian representative also made it clear that Pakistan should not raise a hue and cry over the proposed FTP since whenever relations between Pakistan and India improved the Indian board would find windows for bilateral series," he said. The source said Pakistan had rejected BCCI's viewpoint and said since the FTP was being prepared well in advance how could the Indian board decide prematurely not to schedule any bilateral series with its neighbour. The Pakistani representatives had made it clear at the meeting that they would not sign the FTP if the BCCI did not revise the draft. The ICC has asked all member countries to submit draft proposals for the next FTP which involves all Test playing nations. Sources said India had also ignored Bangladesh in preparing the draft FTP and is pushing for a two-tier Test championship system
. He also said that PCB was already upset with BCCI's attitude over the 2011 World Cup hosting right issue. "Representatives from several countries have privately told PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt they sympathise with Pakistan and would like to accept its proposal of hosting
the 2011 World Cup matches at neutral venues but they can't go against India which want no matches being hosted by Pakistan at home or at neutral venues," the source disclosed.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Test on Tests
LONDON: Looking to maintain the pre-eminence of Test cricket, the sport's governing body has paved the way for a day-nighter trial next year and
approved the use of video referrals in the five-day format. The International Cricket Council cast aside concerns that the authority of on-field match officials will be undermined, and will allow the batsman and fielding captain to refer decisions to the television official from October. They will be limited to two unsuccessful referrals per innings. On Thursday, the ICC Board will discuss the possibility of 2011 World Cup games being held again in Pakistan, along with Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Co-hosting rights were stripped from Pakistan in April due to security fears in the wake of an attack on the Sri Lankan team by gunmen in Lahore. The first day of the ICC meetings in London said that a barrier to day-night Tests was finding a suitable replacement for the traditional red ball that is clearly visible under lights. It will wait for the results of an experiment in first-class cricket before taking a decision early in 2010 on an international trial later in the year. But former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist, who played in such trials in the mid-1990s using fluorescent orange balls, said it created an "unfair contest". "Test cricket should be tampered with as little as is possible," Gilchrist said. "Its rules, customs and playing conditions, like Major League Baseball, should remain as close to how it has been played for the past 130 years. "Many of cricket's innovations should be applied only in the shorter forms of the game. This not only includes the expanded umpire referral system, but especially the mooted introduction of night Test cricket and a different colored ball needed to accommodate this." The main problem for Gilchrist playing for the Sheffield Shield in Australia was the imbalance in the matches. "Often it made for an unfair contest, especially when batting, which always seemed much more difficult late in the evening than earlier in the afternoon," he said. Retractable lights have recently been installed at Lord's to cater for night cricket, but the chances of the venue hosting the game will depend on the success of any trial. The ICC Board also agreed on Wednesday that captains of sides who are fined three times for slow-over rates in a year will be banned for one match in that format. Only umpires, not batsman, can decide when play should be suspended for bad light when conditions are "unreasonable or dangerous," rather than merely "unsuitable" as is currently the rule.
approved the use of video referrals in the five-day format. The International Cricket Council cast aside concerns that the authority of on-field match officials will be undermined, and will allow the batsman and fielding captain to refer decisions to the television official from October. They will be limited to two unsuccessful referrals per innings. On Thursday, the ICC Board will discuss the possibility of 2011 World Cup games being held again in Pakistan, along with Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Co-hosting rights were stripped from Pakistan in April due to security fears in the wake of an attack on the Sri Lankan team by gunmen in Lahore. The first day of the ICC meetings in London said that a barrier to day-night Tests was finding a suitable replacement for the traditional red ball that is clearly visible under lights. It will wait for the results of an experiment in first-class cricket before taking a decision early in 2010 on an international trial later in the year. But former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist, who played in such trials in the mid-1990s using fluorescent orange balls, said it created an "unfair contest". "Test cricket should be tampered with as little as is possible," Gilchrist said. "Its rules, customs and playing conditions, like Major League Baseball, should remain as close to how it has been played for the past 130 years. "Many of cricket's innovations should be applied only in the shorter forms of the game. This not only includes the expanded umpire referral system, but especially the mooted introduction of night Test cricket and a different colored ball needed to accommodate this." The main problem for Gilchrist playing for the Sheffield Shield in Australia was the imbalance in the matches. "Often it made for an unfair contest, especially when batting, which always seemed much more difficult late in the evening than earlier in the afternoon," he said. Retractable lights have recently been installed at Lord's to cater for night cricket, but the chances of the venue hosting the game will depend on the success of any trial. The ICC Board also agreed on Wednesday that captains of sides who are fined three times for slow-over rates in a year will be banned for one match in that format. Only umpires, not batsman, can decide when play should be suspended for bad light when conditions are "unreasonable or dangerous," rather than merely "unsuitable" as is currently the rule.
India Backing Up
Leaving behind their pathetic show in the Twenty20 World Cup, Indian batsmen came firing on all cylinders as they trampled the West Indies attack to reach an intimidating 339 for six after opting to bat at Sabina Park. Blogs: 1983: Memories of India's World Cup win To Pak, with love However, defending even such a massive total proved quite a task for the Indians as they just about managed to bowl the hosts out for 319 in 48.1 overs. It was a spirited chase by the hosts, for whom Shivnaraine Chanderpaul top scored with 63 and Denesh Ramdin played a sparkling 29-run knock down the order. Earlier, Yuvraj treated the host bowlers with utter disdain and clobbered them for seven huge sixes and 10 boundaries apart from sharing a crucial 135-run stand with Dinesh Karthik (67) to shape the Indian innings. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (41), Yusuf Pathan (40 unbeaten) and Harbhajan Singh (21 not out) also chipped in with useful contributions. With the wicket of Chanderpaul in the 36th over it looked all over for the hosts but their lower order batted with steely resolve and made it an edge-of-the-seat contest. West Indies required 21 off the last two overs with one wicket in hand but Ashish Nehra removed Ramdin in the first ball of the 49th over to bring a huge relief for his side. Ramnaresh Sarwan (45) and Runako Morton (42) did well and got the starts for the West Indies but could not convert those into big knocks. Jerome Taylor (21) and David Bernard (19), batting at number seven and nine respectively did their best but their effort went in vain in the end. For India, Nehra (3/49) and Yusuf Pathan (3/56) took three wickets each. It was raining sixes as 23 of them were hit in the match. Only thrice a One-dayer has witnessed more sixes. The West Indies chase began in the right earnest with Chris Gayle (37) and Morton quickly putting up 65 for the first wicket before comeback man Asish Nehra got rid of the skipper. Gayle miscued a pull off the left-armer and Harbhajan took a smart running catch at mid-on. Morton's entrainig knock in which he hit for fours and a six ended when Yousuf had him caught behind. The hosts maintained a good run-rate to keep their hopes alive but continued losing their settled batsmen. The big-hitting Dwayne Bravo (8) though was extremely unlucky as he got out on a high full toss of Ishant Sharma but umpires did not call that a no-ball. Chanderpaul and Darren Bravo, making his debut, added 36 quick runs wicket but just when the partnership had started looking threatening Yusuf separated the pair by dismissing the former, ending all hopes of the hosts. Chanderpaul had just hit Yusuf for a massive six but failed to do an encore hitting straight to Ravinder Jadeja at deep mid-wicket but not before hitting three fours and three sixes in his 59-ball knock. Earlier, Yuvraj hit a blazing century and Karthik smashed a brilliant 67 to resurrect the India's innings, which was rocked by short-pitched bowling, led by Jerome Taylor. Early dismissals of Gautam Gambhir (13) and Rohit Sharma (4) had left India reeling at 32 for two but Yuvraj and Karthik batted with patience to not only save India from more jolts but also laid a solid platform for a good finish. After guiding his side to a safe position, Yuvraj opened his arms to good effects and punished the host bowlers all over the park en route to his 12th ODI century. He hit both Taylor and Chris Gayle for two sixes each and also added 86 runs for the fourth wicket with Dhoni. Yuvraj batted fearlessly as he hit Lionel Baker for two fours and a six to reach 98 and then stole a single off Taylor to complete his magnificent century. The Punjab southpaw was looking unstoppable but Dwayne then dealt the visitors twin-blow by dismissing Yuvraj and Ravinder Jadeja (0) off successive balls in the 39th over. Yuvraj's brilliant innings ended while trying to work one on the leg side but just managed a nick and stumper Denesh Ramdin took a splendid diving catch on his right. Yusuf Pathan (40 off 38) hit the first ball of the last over for a six and Harbhajan Singh (21 off 13) smashed the last one into the crowd to provide perfect finish to India. Earlier, Gambhir and Karthik, who switched to the opener's role in the absence of injured Virender Sehwag, gave a steady start to India, adding 25 for the first wicket. However Gambhir's lean patch continued as he could not build on and fell to a short-pitched delivery from Taylor. Surprised by the bounce, the left-hander mistimed an attempted pull shot only to find Dwayne Bravo. Rohit Sharma (4) became the second victim of the short-pitched stuff as he tried to pull one off Baker but just managed a top-edge to Dwayne in the square-leg region. Yuvraj and Karthik relied more on ones and twos initially and steadied the rocking ship but once they got their eye in, and spinners were launched into the attack runs started flowing from their blades. Yuvraj first hoicked rival skipper Chris Gayle for a huge six over the mid-wicket then meted out the same treatment to spinner Suleiman Benn to bring up the 100-run partnership. Karthik hit six boundaries in his 77-ball effort before being done in by a paddle scoop.
Razzaq and Yousaf Returns to Glory
World Twenty20 champions Pakistan on Monday unveiled the 15-man squad to tour Sri Lanka next week, including in the line-up pardoned rebel
Indian league players Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq. Both Razzaq and Yousuf risked their international careers when they played in the Indian Cricket League (ICL), which is not recognised by the International Cricket Council or the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB) banned all 23 players who joined the ICL, but in February this year the Sindh high court suspended the bans on all but two ICL players, paving their way to return to Pakistan's squad. Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saqlain Mushtaq, who are now retired, did not appeal against the ban. "Yousuf and Razzaq snapped their ties with the ICL so we have cleared them to play for Pakistan and have included in the squad," a PCB release said. Razzaq was the first ICL player to return to international cricket after he replaced injured all-rounder Yasir Arafat and appeared in the World Twenty20, which ended Sunday with Pakistan lifting the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. They beat Sri Lanka at Lord's in London, and will now play three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 match on the Sri Lanka tour. Yousuf, 34, was declared the best Test batsman in 2007 after scoring a world record 1,788 runs in the previous calendar year. Yousuf and Razzaq joined the ICL after being left out of the team which finished runners-up in the inaugural World Twenty20 held in South Africa two years ago. "I am happy to be named in the squad," Yousuf said. "I have not played a Test since December 2007 (against India at Bangalore) so it will be tough to stage a comeback but I will try to do my best." All-rounder Shahid Afridi, declared man-of-the-match in Pakistan's semi-final and final win in the World Twenty20, will skip the Test leg of the Sri Lanka tour but will be available for the limited over matches. Injury-prone paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who missed the World Twenty20 due to groin problems, was also not considered for selection for the Sri Lanka tour. Also axed from the squad was paceman Sohail Tanvir, part of Pakistan's winning team on Sunday. Rookie 17-year-old paceman Mohammad Aamir, easily the find for Pakistan in their World Twenty20 win, will supplement the attack along with the more experienced Umar Gul and Razzaq. Also returning to the squad is paceman Abdur Rauf, who played four One-day matches last year but was never selected for the Tests. Pakistan starts the current tour on June 29 with a three-day side match in Colombo. The first Test starts at Galle from July 4. The other two Tests will be played in Colombo (12-16 July and 20-24 July) followed by One-day series and the Twenty20 match. Squad: Younus Khan (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Salman Butt, Khurrum Manzoor, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamir, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rauf, Faisal Iqbal, Fawad Alam.
Indian league players Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq. Both Razzaq and Yousuf risked their international careers when they played in the Indian Cricket League (ICL), which is not recognised by the International Cricket Council or the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB) banned all 23 players who joined the ICL, but in February this year the Sindh high court suspended the bans on all but two ICL players, paving their way to return to Pakistan's squad. Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saqlain Mushtaq, who are now retired, did not appeal against the ban. "Yousuf and Razzaq snapped their ties with the ICL so we have cleared them to play for Pakistan and have included in the squad," a PCB release said. Razzaq was the first ICL player to return to international cricket after he replaced injured all-rounder Yasir Arafat and appeared in the World Twenty20, which ended Sunday with Pakistan lifting the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. They beat Sri Lanka at Lord's in London, and will now play three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 match on the Sri Lanka tour. Yousuf, 34, was declared the best Test batsman in 2007 after scoring a world record 1,788 runs in the previous calendar year. Yousuf and Razzaq joined the ICL after being left out of the team which finished runners-up in the inaugural World Twenty20 held in South Africa two years ago. "I am happy to be named in the squad," Yousuf said. "I have not played a Test since December 2007 (against India at Bangalore) so it will be tough to stage a comeback but I will try to do my best." All-rounder Shahid Afridi, declared man-of-the-match in Pakistan's semi-final and final win in the World Twenty20, will skip the Test leg of the Sri Lanka tour but will be available for the limited over matches. Injury-prone paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who missed the World Twenty20 due to groin problems, was also not considered for selection for the Sri Lanka tour. Also axed from the squad was paceman Sohail Tanvir, part of Pakistan's winning team on Sunday. Rookie 17-year-old paceman Mohammad Aamir, easily the find for Pakistan in their World Twenty20 win, will supplement the attack along with the more experienced Umar Gul and Razzaq. Also returning to the squad is paceman Abdur Rauf, who played four One-day matches last year but was never selected for the Tests. Pakistan starts the current tour on June 29 with a three-day side match in Colombo. The first Test starts at Galle from July 4. The other two Tests will be played in Colombo (12-16 July and 20-24 July) followed by One-day series and the Twenty20 match. Squad: Younus Khan (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Salman Butt, Khurrum Manzoor, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamir, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rauf, Faisal Iqbal, Fawad Alam.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Security Terrors
KARACHI: Security
concerns have returned to haunt Pakistan cricket forcing administrators to shift a 'home' Test series against New Zealand in
December back to the same country. Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said that Pakistan would be going to New Zealand in early December for Tests before leaving for Australia for a scheduled Test and ODI tour. "New Zealand was supposed to tour Pakistan this winter but due to security concerns they informed us it would not be possible for them to send their team," one source said. "Instead they offered to host the Tests as 'home' Tests for Pakistan to which we have agreed in principle with minor details to be worked out. Depending on time we could play three Tests maximum and two minimum," he said. Meanwhile, New Zealand would also give dates for a One-day series that would be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this year or next year. "The Tests and One-dayers are part of the New Zealand team's tour to Pakistan which was not possible in existing circumstances," the source said. The source said the two boards worked out a compromise when PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt was recently in London for the World Cup meetings.
concerns have returned to haunt Pakistan cricket forcing administrators to shift a 'home' Test series against New Zealand in
December back to the same country. Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said that Pakistan would be going to New Zealand in early December for Tests before leaving for Australia for a scheduled Test and ODI tour. "New Zealand was supposed to tour Pakistan this winter but due to security concerns they informed us it would not be possible for them to send their team," one source said. "Instead they offered to host the Tests as 'home' Tests for Pakistan to which we have agreed in principle with minor details to be worked out. Depending on time we could play three Tests maximum and two minimum," he said. Meanwhile, New Zealand would also give dates for a One-day series that would be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this year or next year. "The Tests and One-dayers are part of the New Zealand team's tour to Pakistan which was not possible in existing circumstances," the source said. The source said the two boards worked out a compromise when PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt was recently in London for the World Cup meetings.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Money drives
Much have been told about India's debacle in the ICC World Twenty20. Be it media, former players, Indian cricket board or the team management, all have their own set of stories regarding the blame game.
Barely three days later, India will fly to West Indies to play four One-day Internationals. But all seem to have forgotten if Dhoni's men will be able to regain the glory in the Caribbean.
While coach Gary Kirsten blames IPL for the players' fatigue and niggles, captain Dhoni says it's not fatigue but 'lack of playing as a unit for long' is responsible for the Twenty20 debacle. Dhoni admits India failed to perform as a unit and were "not up to international standards" in England and confessed the fall in India's standard in the game.
Fatigue, injury or lack of playing as a unit, the tiring six-week Indian Premier League schedule before the World Cup is to blame only. And, the Indian cricket board is supposed to protect the national team from any activity that spoils India's chances. But the huge money involved with the IPL2 silenced everybody.
While Mr Pawar and his men were busy with the general elections to protect their political fiefdom, Modi & Co went ahead with organising the IPL in South Africa. And the only gain of the BCCI was it got richer by close to US $ 1.75 billion, solely from the sale of TV rights.
Dhoni, after the defeat to South Africa, made clear even the 10 days in the Caribbean might also be hard to stay in the present and not think about what you would be doing afterwards. However, the long break after the series till the Champions Trophy in South Africa in September will come good for the side.
Let's hope for the same and pray "good sense prevails in the wise men of the BCCI" who seem to have one point agenda of making money, come what may. Or else, I won't be surprised to see the Board forcing the players to go for ad shoots and or, generate revenue in some other way than using the break to regain form.
Barely three days later, India will fly to West Indies to play four One-day Internationals. But all seem to have forgotten if Dhoni's men will be able to regain the glory in the Caribbean.
While coach Gary Kirsten blames IPL for the players' fatigue and niggles, captain Dhoni says it's not fatigue but 'lack of playing as a unit for long' is responsible for the Twenty20 debacle. Dhoni admits India failed to perform as a unit and were "not up to international standards" in England and confessed the fall in India's standard in the game.
Fatigue, injury or lack of playing as a unit, the tiring six-week Indian Premier League schedule before the World Cup is to blame only. And, the Indian cricket board is supposed to protect the national team from any activity that spoils India's chances. But the huge money involved with the IPL2 silenced everybody.
While Mr Pawar and his men were busy with the general elections to protect their political fiefdom, Modi & Co went ahead with organising the IPL in South Africa. And the only gain of the BCCI was it got richer by close to US $ 1.75 billion, solely from the sale of TV rights.
Dhoni, after the defeat to South Africa, made clear even the 10 days in the Caribbean might also be hard to stay in the present and not think about what you would be doing afterwards. However, the long break after the series till the Champions Trophy in South Africa in September will come good for the side.
Let's hope for the same and pray "good sense prevails in the wise men of the BCCI" who seem to have one point agenda of making money, come what may. Or else, I won't be surprised to see the Board forcing the players to go for ad shoots and or, generate revenue in some other way than using the break to regain form.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
India Back to Home
LONDON: Defending champions India bowed out of the World Twenty20 after losing to hosts England by three runs in a key Super Eights match at a packed Lord's here on Sunday.India restricted England to 153-7 after electing to field in good batting conditions, but then fumbled their reply to be stopped at 150-5 despite scoring 56 runs in the last five overs.Needing 15 off the last three deliveries, Yusuf Pathan smashed Ryan Sidebottom straight for six off the first, but managed only a single of the next before skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit the last ball for four.Dhoni (30 not out) and Yusuf (33 not out) added 63 for the unbroken sixth wicket after half the side was back in the pavilion by the 14th over with only 87 on the board.India paid dearly for conceding 16 extras in England's innings, including 14 wides as two deliveries from off-spinner Harbhajan Singh went for boundaries behind the wicketkeeper.England, who also lost their first match to South Africa, now face the West Indies at the Oval on Monday in a match that will almost certainly take the winner into the semi-finals along with the Proteas.India slipped to 24-2 by the fourth over as Sidebottom, who replaced leg-spinner Adil Rashid in the England team, removed Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina.Gautam Gambhir and Ravindra Jadeja took the total to 62-2 in the 11th over when Dmitri Mascarenhas broke through by having Gambhir caught at fine-leg by Stuart Broad.Off-spinner Graeme Swann grabbed two wickets in four balls to reduce India to 87-5 by the 14th over.Swann had Jadeja caught in the deep after the batsman, playing his first match in the tournament, plodded for 35 balls to make 25.Yuvraj Singh, who hit the first ball he faced for a six, was stumped by James Foster in the same over after making 17 off nine balls.Earlier, Kevin Pietersen top-scored for England with 46 off 27 balls, with three fours and a six, after sharing a second-wicket stand of 71 with opener Ravi Bopara (37).Harbhajan picked up three wickets, but England's lower order retrieved the situation by adding 53 runs in the last five overs
Friday, June 12, 2009
Bravo 's Rescue
An under-tested India ran into a red-hot West Indies, who didn't even need a significant contribution from Chris Gayle during a tense chase. Dwayne Bravo was his usual top-dawg self today, taking four wickets to keep India down and then resurrecting the chase after a subdued Gayle had got out early, with an innings that was both aesthetic and cruel.
By the time Bravo came out to bat, India had made a smart start to their defence of a fighting 151. After Zaheer Khan went for two boundaries in the first over, MS Dhoni chose to give Gayle no pace. Three of the Powerplay overs were bowled by spinners, and two by Irfan Pathan who didn't come on to the bat either. Harbhajan Singh, especially, fast-tracked Gayle's downfall, bowling a maiden to him to finish the Powerplays. Gayle had reached 20 off 23, after which frustration got the better of him, and he top-edged Yusuf Pathan, who had done well to keep him quiet in his first two overs.
Quietly, though, No. 3 Lendl Simmons, who had earlier taken a blinder, had quietly played himself in. And just when it seemed West Indies were out of it, having got off to a slow start, Bravo changed the pace of the game. With Bravo came more intent in the running and odd boundaries that kept West Indies with the rate. His batting was a treat for the eye. He often went inside-out to the spinners, stepping out and clearing extra cover in one fluid motion.
Pragyan Ojha, who was kept back until Gayle got out, got the treatment in the ninth over, and Yusuf was late-cut just as effectively in the 10th. There was nothing frenetic about this partnership, no undue risks or big hitting, even as the required run-rate stayed around nine and 10. It was almost as if they knew something that others didn't. When Bravo drove Harbhajan over extra cover in the 12th over, followed by more good running, West Indies had reached 80, and the target looked within reach.
When Dhoni brought back his fast bowlers, it was Simmons' turn to pick up the pace, as boundaries in the next two overs kept West Indies abreast. With the second four, a vicious pull off Ishant Sharma, Simmons moved into the 40s, almost unnoticed. When Ojha got Simmons for 43 in the next over, West Indies still needed 54 off 33. But it was also the time Bravo found another gear. The next ball he lofted for a six down the ground, ensuring there was no break in the momentum. Harbhajan bowled a tight next over, after which West Indies were left needing 39 off 24.
Even that couldn't get anything rash out of Bravo, who kept hitting straight, or over extra cover. With Shivnarine Chanderpaul joining in and hitting unorthodox shots like only he can, it became a stroll towards the end. Quite fittingly, Bravo ended it with a six off Zaheer Khan, over extra cover, elbow high for the pose.
Prime Numbers
7The number of overs in which India scored 5 or less. West Indies had only three such overs
48The number of runs scored off Indian spinners by Bravo
37The number of balls sent to the boundary in the match, the third highest tally in the tournament.
13Number of dot-balls faced by Dhoni in the match. He faced a total of 23 balls in the match.
81Harbhajan Singh's bowling average in the tournament. Even though the economy rate of 6.75 is good, the inability to take wickets has caused his average to rise.
West Indies shouldn't have been chasing 154 in the first place. Like the one against Australia, even this win was originally set up by fast bowlers relishing the lively conditions. But unlike then, their bowling was backed up by solid fielding today, but for just one lapse. It was that dropped chance off Yuvraj Singh, when he was 32 off 27, that made the game close.
This time it was Jerome Taylor's opening partner, Edwards, who put West Indies ahead. The tone, though, was set by Taylor in the first over, troubling Gautam Gambhir with the bouncers. Edwards took the cue, and removed his Deccan Chargers team-mate, Rohit Sharma, with a bouncer. He troubled Suresh Raina too with the short-pitched stuff until the latter played back to a full delivery and edged it to Denesh Ramdin.
It was now time for the fielders to stand up, as Simmons took a superb running-back-and-diving catch to send Gambhir back. It was a short delivery again, the first Gambhir faced from Bravo - 29 for 3 in the fifth over.
Yuvraj and Dhoni had no choice but to consolidate. Gayle and Kieron Pollard slipped in five overs for just 20 runs. Under pressure to get going, Dhoni cut Bravo straight to sweeper-cover. Two balls later, Yuvraj picked the same fielder out, but was dropped by Andre Fletcher. India would have been 71 for 5, but for the drop. Whereupon, Yuvraj played a little gem to pull India out of all sorts of trouble, but it would stay the second-best effort of the night.
His hitting was clean, there was no need to be cute as he and Yusuf threatened to run away with the game. But Edwards finished off what he started, taking Yuvraj with a bouncer in the 18th over, after which India got only 23 off the last 14 balls.
By the time Bravo came out to bat, India had made a smart start to their defence of a fighting 151. After Zaheer Khan went for two boundaries in the first over, MS Dhoni chose to give Gayle no pace. Three of the Powerplay overs were bowled by spinners, and two by Irfan Pathan who didn't come on to the bat either. Harbhajan Singh, especially, fast-tracked Gayle's downfall, bowling a maiden to him to finish the Powerplays. Gayle had reached 20 off 23, after which frustration got the better of him, and he top-edged Yusuf Pathan, who had done well to keep him quiet in his first two overs.
Quietly, though, No. 3 Lendl Simmons, who had earlier taken a blinder, had quietly played himself in. And just when it seemed West Indies were out of it, having got off to a slow start, Bravo changed the pace of the game. With Bravo came more intent in the running and odd boundaries that kept West Indies with the rate. His batting was a treat for the eye. He often went inside-out to the spinners, stepping out and clearing extra cover in one fluid motion.
Pragyan Ojha, who was kept back until Gayle got out, got the treatment in the ninth over, and Yusuf was late-cut just as effectively in the 10th. There was nothing frenetic about this partnership, no undue risks or big hitting, even as the required run-rate stayed around nine and 10. It was almost as if they knew something that others didn't. When Bravo drove Harbhajan over extra cover in the 12th over, followed by more good running, West Indies had reached 80, and the target looked within reach.
When Dhoni brought back his fast bowlers, it was Simmons' turn to pick up the pace, as boundaries in the next two overs kept West Indies abreast. With the second four, a vicious pull off Ishant Sharma, Simmons moved into the 40s, almost unnoticed. When Ojha got Simmons for 43 in the next over, West Indies still needed 54 off 33. But it was also the time Bravo found another gear. The next ball he lofted for a six down the ground, ensuring there was no break in the momentum. Harbhajan bowled a tight next over, after which West Indies were left needing 39 off 24.
Even that couldn't get anything rash out of Bravo, who kept hitting straight, or over extra cover. With Shivnarine Chanderpaul joining in and hitting unorthodox shots like only he can, it became a stroll towards the end. Quite fittingly, Bravo ended it with a six off Zaheer Khan, over extra cover, elbow high for the pose.
Prime Numbers
7The number of overs in which India scored 5 or less. West Indies had only three such overs
48The number of runs scored off Indian spinners by Bravo
37The number of balls sent to the boundary in the match, the third highest tally in the tournament.
13Number of dot-balls faced by Dhoni in the match. He faced a total of 23 balls in the match.
81Harbhajan Singh's bowling average in the tournament. Even though the economy rate of 6.75 is good, the inability to take wickets has caused his average to rise.
West Indies shouldn't have been chasing 154 in the first place. Like the one against Australia, even this win was originally set up by fast bowlers relishing the lively conditions. But unlike then, their bowling was backed up by solid fielding today, but for just one lapse. It was that dropped chance off Yuvraj Singh, when he was 32 off 27, that made the game close.
This time it was Jerome Taylor's opening partner, Edwards, who put West Indies ahead. The tone, though, was set by Taylor in the first over, troubling Gautam Gambhir with the bouncers. Edwards took the cue, and removed his Deccan Chargers team-mate, Rohit Sharma, with a bouncer. He troubled Suresh Raina too with the short-pitched stuff until the latter played back to a full delivery and edged it to Denesh Ramdin.
It was now time for the fielders to stand up, as Simmons took a superb running-back-and-diving catch to send Gambhir back. It was a short delivery again, the first Gambhir faced from Bravo - 29 for 3 in the fifth over.
Yuvraj and Dhoni had no choice but to consolidate. Gayle and Kieron Pollard slipped in five overs for just 20 runs. Under pressure to get going, Dhoni cut Bravo straight to sweeper-cover. Two balls later, Yuvraj picked the same fielder out, but was dropped by Andre Fletcher. India would have been 71 for 5, but for the drop. Whereupon, Yuvraj played a little gem to pull India out of all sorts of trouble, but it would stay the second-best effort of the night.
His hitting was clean, there was no need to be cute as he and Yusuf threatened to run away with the game. But Edwards finished off what he started, taking Yuvraj with a bouncer in the 18th over, after which India got only 23 off the last 14 balls.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Imran Khan on Pakistan
Former Great Imran Khan Spoke on Pakistan Team few days back.
Pakistan has made an impressive entry into the Super Eights, where they will start their campaign with a game against Sri Lanka. Fans must have noticed how rusty they were against England the other day, but they were an improved lot against Holland.
If they can shake off the rustiness that has set in due to the lack of international cricket, Pakistan has the tools to do well in this tournament. T20 cricket is still at a work-in-progress stage, and teams are coming to grips with its frantic pace. However, one thing I have figured out is that bowlers who bowl to take wickets and slow bowlers who can vary their pace have a very good chance in this format.
Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi have been very successful in both games because of the variety they possess. The former was bowling his doosras really well, and this made him very hard to face, especially for an inexperienced team like Holland. Umer Gul has also been one of the few pace bowlers to do well, and that’s because he bowls intelligently, with the aim of taking wickets and not merely to restrict runs.
It is imperative to have variety from a bowler's point of view. I do not subscribe to the view that bowlers are going to suffer at the hands of marauding batsmen. The fact of the matter is that you need to bowl only four overs, and if you prevent the batsman from settling down against you, it will be hard for him to hit you out of the ground. Most of the time, bowlers bowl like they do in the longer versions of the game, which allows batsmen to play predetermined shots. A lot of batsmen just line the bowler up for their next shot, and if you can surprise him, chances are you will restrict his scoring options. This is where Gul has succeeded so far, when even the likes of Brett Lee have been going for lots of runs.
The only area of concern for the Pakistanis is their fielding. They dropped Kevin Pietersen and he made them pay for it in the game against England. Good players do not keep giving you chances and it’s important to minimize mistakes on the field in T20 cricket because there is no time to make amends. The batting looks to be in good touch now, with every batsman getting some time in the middle. It's heartening to see Younis Khan, who has not been doing well in T20, getting a good knock in the last game.
I have often been asked whether I would have enjoyed T20 cricket. With all humility I would say that I would have excelled in this form. Even in my time, I used to love hitting sixes, and I always backed myself to clear the ground. As far as bowling is concerned, the challenge of keeping batsmen in check would have been a tremendous one for me, and since I always bowled to take wickets, I not have done too badly in that aspect of the game. All-rounders have an edge in this format, so I think I would have fitted in rather well. I always enjoyed playing under pressure, and T20 cricket does put a lot of pressure on players - it's a curious mix of pressure and fun which the players seem to be getting used to now.
That said, I would never have considered this format as the true test of my skill and calibre as a cricketer. The true test of a cricketer is whether he has talent, technique and temperament. Only success in Test cricket can prove that you possess all these three in ample measure.
Pakistan has made an impressive entry into the Super Eights, where they will start their campaign with a game against Sri Lanka. Fans must have noticed how rusty they were against England the other day, but they were an improved lot against Holland.
If they can shake off the rustiness that has set in due to the lack of international cricket, Pakistan has the tools to do well in this tournament. T20 cricket is still at a work-in-progress stage, and teams are coming to grips with its frantic pace. However, one thing I have figured out is that bowlers who bowl to take wickets and slow bowlers who can vary their pace have a very good chance in this format.
Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi have been very successful in both games because of the variety they possess. The former was bowling his doosras really well, and this made him very hard to face, especially for an inexperienced team like Holland. Umer Gul has also been one of the few pace bowlers to do well, and that’s because he bowls intelligently, with the aim of taking wickets and not merely to restrict runs.
It is imperative to have variety from a bowler's point of view. I do not subscribe to the view that bowlers are going to suffer at the hands of marauding batsmen. The fact of the matter is that you need to bowl only four overs, and if you prevent the batsman from settling down against you, it will be hard for him to hit you out of the ground. Most of the time, bowlers bowl like they do in the longer versions of the game, which allows batsmen to play predetermined shots. A lot of batsmen just line the bowler up for their next shot, and if you can surprise him, chances are you will restrict his scoring options. This is where Gul has succeeded so far, when even the likes of Brett Lee have been going for lots of runs.
The only area of concern for the Pakistanis is their fielding. They dropped Kevin Pietersen and he made them pay for it in the game against England. Good players do not keep giving you chances and it’s important to minimize mistakes on the field in T20 cricket because there is no time to make amends. The batting looks to be in good touch now, with every batsman getting some time in the middle. It's heartening to see Younis Khan, who has not been doing well in T20, getting a good knock in the last game.
I have often been asked whether I would have enjoyed T20 cricket. With all humility I would say that I would have excelled in this form. Even in my time, I used to love hitting sixes, and I always backed myself to clear the ground. As far as bowling is concerned, the challenge of keeping batsmen in check would have been a tremendous one for me, and since I always bowled to take wickets, I not have done too badly in that aspect of the game. All-rounders have an edge in this format, so I think I would have fitted in rather well. I always enjoyed playing under pressure, and T20 cricket does put a lot of pressure on players - it's a curious mix of pressure and fun which the players seem to be getting used to now.
That said, I would never have considered this format as the true test of my skill and calibre as a cricketer. The true test of a cricketer is whether he has talent, technique and temperament. Only success in Test cricket can prove that you possess all these three in ample measure.
Younis 11 Agaisnt Sri Lanka
Speaking at a press conference here at Lord's ahead of his team's Super Eights match against Sri Lanka, Younis said he has great expectations from his team.
'Sri Lanka are a good side. But it's also a good chance for us because I believe that if we make the right things at the right time, we can beat them easily.'
The Pakistan captain is hoping that his players will be able to counter the threat posed by Sri Lanka's spin duo of Muttiah Muralidaran and Ajantha Mendis.
'We are used to the Sri Lankan spinners now,' said Younis, whose team bounced back from a crushing 48-run against England to beat the Dutch by 82 runs and qualify for the Super Eights.
'I hope the batsmen will play well against them (spinners). Because of cold conditions the ball might not break here at Lord's. But that said, if you play your shots against a bowler like Mendis, there is always a chance that you might give away your wicket.'
Younis ruled out the inclusion of seasoned all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, saying that it would be difficult for the player to take the field against Sri Lanka after arriving here just before the Super Eights match.
'I don't think it's possible for him to come here after 16 or 17 hours of travel and then take part in the match right away.'
The Pakistan captain termed the inclusion of Razzaq as a great sign for his team and said he would include the all-rounder in the playing line-up as soon as he is ready.
'Sri Lanka are a good side. But it's also a good chance for us because I believe that if we make the right things at the right time, we can beat them easily.'
The Pakistan captain is hoping that his players will be able to counter the threat posed by Sri Lanka's spin duo of Muttiah Muralidaran and Ajantha Mendis.
'We are used to the Sri Lankan spinners now,' said Younis, whose team bounced back from a crushing 48-run against England to beat the Dutch by 82 runs and qualify for the Super Eights.
'I hope the batsmen will play well against them (spinners). Because of cold conditions the ball might not break here at Lord's. But that said, if you play your shots against a bowler like Mendis, there is always a chance that you might give away your wicket.'
Younis ruled out the inclusion of seasoned all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, saying that it would be difficult for the player to take the field against Sri Lanka after arriving here just before the Super Eights match.
'I don't think it's possible for him to come here after 16 or 17 hours of travel and then take part in the match right away.'
The Pakistan captain termed the inclusion of Razzaq as a great sign for his team and said he would include the all-rounder in the playing line-up as soon as he is ready.
South Africa slams England
South Africa as awarded the favourites as they easily registering a seven-wicket victory against Hosting England at Trent Bridge. where host only manage to scored 111 Runs in their first Super Eights match. Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell were on fire in their attacking overs and gave laid a solid foundation for other bowlers, which was Cleverly backed by immpresive spin bowling and super Fielding.Roelof van der Merwe's with Perfect Line and Length took the most important wicket of Kevin Pietersen and then half of the Batting lineup was slumped by South Africa
Only Owais Shah made the only contribution of 38 off 33 with two good sixes, but unfortunately he was not supported by any of his team mates. and wickets were falling at regular intervals.England played some false shots and the selection of shots were loss not adequate.On the Contrary South Africa were outstanding and outclassed England in every deparmtment.The target was not at all difficult with such as small total, but chose to take their time on a surface that grew slower by the minute - a key factor in Paul Collingwood deciding to bat first - yet still eased home with 10 balls to spare as Jacques Kallis helped himself to an unbeaten 57.
Winning a rare toss was about the only thing that went well for England. South Africa started the match in perfect style when Steyn removed Ravi Bopara with his fifth ball as an inside edge crashed into off stump. Luke Wright then found that opening against a top-quality attack was a different proposition from the Netherlands or lacklustre Pakistan efforts. He was beaten twice by the impressive Parnell, as he tried to crash the ball through the off side, then edged another attempt to the keeper to leave England 4 for 2.
The scene was set for Pietersen, but it proved another case of KP failing and England failing with him. He opened his account by whipping his first ball from Steyn imperiously through midwicket and drove the next through mid-off as Steyn momentarily had problems with his run-up. Two more boundaries followed off Kallis's opening over, but the next bowling change was decisive.
Albie Morkel's second delivery was a low full toss and Pietersen hit it pretty well and fairly straight, but van der Merwe went airborne to his left at mid-on and got both hands to a stunning catch. It was a huge moment for both teams, deflating for England and completely uplifting for South Africa. Morkel's successful over was the first maiden of the tournament and England's tally of 25 for 3 the lowest six-over total so far in the event.
Shah and Collingwood had no choice but to opt for a period of consolidation as Graeme Smith quickly turned to his spinners. Shah injected momentary life into the innings when he launched a full toss from Johan Botha down the ground for six then he followed that by attacking van der Merwe's next over, launching him straight and taking two more boundaries through cover and midwicket, but the revival didn't last.
Kallis returned to the attack and after Collingwood paddled him for four past the diving Mark Boucher, Kallis responded by clattering the stumps as the batsmen backed away to give himself room and then greeted James Foster with a rearing bouncer.
Despite having been taken for 17 in his previous over, van der Merwe had the confidence of his captain and responded with an over which effectively killed off the innings. Foster tried to reverse sweep the first ball but just lobbed a simple catch to short third-man and Dimitri Mascarenhas lasted three deliveries before backing away to cut, losing his off stump.
The last hope of England setting anything competitive lay with Shah, but he was undone by a sharp delivery from Kallis that moved away a fraction and took the edge. It meant the lower order was left having to try and bat out the 20 overs and they couldn't managed it when Parnell gave himself superb figures by cleaning up Stuart Broad and James Anderson in two balls.
Smith fell early in the chase as he top-edged a pull and was well caught by Foster who ran towards short fine-leg. England actually bowled reasonably well, but the game had long since been lost during their innings. Kallis enjoyed the rarity of being able to bat within himself during a Twenty20 innings to reach fifty off 46 balls. This was an ominously slick display from South Africa but for the hosts, who lifted their game in the nick of time in the group stage against Pakistan, another huge improvement is needed to have a chance of progressing further.
Only Owais Shah made the only contribution of 38 off 33 with two good sixes, but unfortunately he was not supported by any of his team mates. and wickets were falling at regular intervals.England played some false shots and the selection of shots were loss not adequate.On the Contrary South Africa were outstanding and outclassed England in every deparmtment.The target was not at all difficult with such as small total, but chose to take their time on a surface that grew slower by the minute - a key factor in Paul Collingwood deciding to bat first - yet still eased home with 10 balls to spare as Jacques Kallis helped himself to an unbeaten 57.
Winning a rare toss was about the only thing that went well for England. South Africa started the match in perfect style when Steyn removed Ravi Bopara with his fifth ball as an inside edge crashed into off stump. Luke Wright then found that opening against a top-quality attack was a different proposition from the Netherlands or lacklustre Pakistan efforts. He was beaten twice by the impressive Parnell, as he tried to crash the ball through the off side, then edged another attempt to the keeper to leave England 4 for 2.
The scene was set for Pietersen, but it proved another case of KP failing and England failing with him. He opened his account by whipping his first ball from Steyn imperiously through midwicket and drove the next through mid-off as Steyn momentarily had problems with his run-up. Two more boundaries followed off Kallis's opening over, but the next bowling change was decisive.
Albie Morkel's second delivery was a low full toss and Pietersen hit it pretty well and fairly straight, but van der Merwe went airborne to his left at mid-on and got both hands to a stunning catch. It was a huge moment for both teams, deflating for England and completely uplifting for South Africa. Morkel's successful over was the first maiden of the tournament and England's tally of 25 for 3 the lowest six-over total so far in the event.
Shah and Collingwood had no choice but to opt for a period of consolidation as Graeme Smith quickly turned to his spinners. Shah injected momentary life into the innings when he launched a full toss from Johan Botha down the ground for six then he followed that by attacking van der Merwe's next over, launching him straight and taking two more boundaries through cover and midwicket, but the revival didn't last.
Kallis returned to the attack and after Collingwood paddled him for four past the diving Mark Boucher, Kallis responded by clattering the stumps as the batsmen backed away to give himself room and then greeted James Foster with a rearing bouncer.
Despite having been taken for 17 in his previous over, van der Merwe had the confidence of his captain and responded with an over which effectively killed off the innings. Foster tried to reverse sweep the first ball but just lobbed a simple catch to short third-man and Dimitri Mascarenhas lasted three deliveries before backing away to cut, losing his off stump.
The last hope of England setting anything competitive lay with Shah, but he was undone by a sharp delivery from Kallis that moved away a fraction and took the edge. It meant the lower order was left having to try and bat out the 20 overs and they couldn't managed it when Parnell gave himself superb figures by cleaning up Stuart Broad and James Anderson in two balls.
Smith fell early in the chase as he top-edged a pull and was well caught by Foster who ran towards short fine-leg. England actually bowled reasonably well, but the game had long since been lost during their innings. Kallis enjoyed the rarity of being able to bat within himself during a Twenty20 innings to reach fifty off 46 balls. This was an ominously slick display from South Africa but for the hosts, who lifted their game in the nick of time in the group stage against Pakistan, another huge improvement is needed to have a chance of progressing further.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Upcoming matches
Ireland v New Zealand at Nottingham Jun 11 (13:30 local, 12:30 GMT)
England v South Africa at Nottingham Jun 11 (17:30 local, 16:30 GMT)
Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Lord's Jun 12 (13:30 local, 12:30 GMT)
India v West Indies at Lord's Jun 12 (17:30 local, 16:30 GMT)
South Africa v West Indies at The Oval Jun 13 (13:30 local, 12:30 GMT)
New Zealand v Pakistan at The Oval Jun 13 (17:30 local, 16:30 GMT)
England v South Africa at Nottingham Jun 11 (17:30 local, 16:30 GMT)
Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Lord's Jun 12 (13:30 local, 12:30 GMT)
India v West Indies at Lord's Jun 12 (17:30 local, 16:30 GMT)
South Africa v West Indies at The Oval Jun 13 (13:30 local, 12:30 GMT)
New Zealand v Pakistan at The Oval Jun 13 (17:30 local, 16:30 GMT)
Jayasuria in Super Action
Sanath Jayasuriya may be turning 40 at the end of the month but his demolition of the West Indian attack, which paved the way for Sri Lanka's 15-run victory at Trent Bridge, was as violent as any innings played during his heydays. In the absence of Chris Gayle, Jayasuriya ensured that the crowd had its fill of massive hits, blitzing 81 off only 47 balls, and his occupation of centre stage was so complete that Tillakaratne Dilshan's second half-century of the tournament was largely overshadowed until after his dismissal.
The West Indian bowlers made novice errors while bowling to Jayasuriya. They often gave him too much width, allowing him to free his muscled forearms and launch the ball over the off side, instead of cramping him for the room he loves. They bowled too short and too straight as well, giving Jayasuriya the space to lift the ball off his pads. Denesh Ramdin, West Indies' captain for the day, was forced to make frequent bowling changes but none of his bowlers were able to break Sri Lanka's opening stand before it caused severe damage. Jayasuriya and Dilshan added 124 for the first wicket in 12.3 overs, and Dilshan took charge thereafter to steer Sri Lanka towards a match-winning total.
Jayasuriya's innings today ended a period of poor Twenty20 form: he had a quiet IPL and his scores in three innings since arriving in England were 26, 1 and 2. He certainly didn't look out of touch today, though, tearing into Fidel Edwards' first over by launching the first ball through cover and the third over cover for fours, before pulling a short fifth ball powerfully over deep backward square leg.
He was aggressive against all comers, slashing Dwayne Bravo in his first over to the boundary, sweeping and reverse sweeping Sulieman Benn, and powering Kieron Pollard to the long-off boundary. And when Edwards returned after everyone else had failed to take a wicket, Jayasuriya attacked him once again, carving the first ball over the point boundary, pulling two short balls for fours behind square, before chipping a wide one past the wicketkeeper. Edwards' two overs cost 37 runs and he wasn't given the ball again.
Jayasuriya dominated the early scoring, contributing 32 out of Sri Lanka's first 40 runs, but Dilshan eventually emerged from his shadow with astonishing improvisation. He moved across his stumps to Pollard's first ball, bent down low, ready to play the scoop and sent it flying over the wicketkeeper's head for four. Dilshan may not have even been looking at the ball as he made contact but it was no fluke. He had played it against Australia and he did it again against Lendl Simmons. Dilshan went on to cut Pollard over point for six and a four during a first over that cost 19. He rattled Pollard, forcing the bowler to abort his run-up by getting into position extremely early to repeat his scoop, and even reverse-swatted Benn for four. He switched to a higher gear after Jayasuriya was dismissed, finished with 74 off 47 balls.
West Indies withered under the onslaught: Benn dropped Dilshan at short third man and Andre Fletcher let one pass him on the fine-leg boundary. The last bowler Ramdin turned to, however, proved to be their best. Simmons first struck in the 13th over, trapping Jayasuriya who attempted a reverse-hit when a century was there for the taking, and his next big wicket, that of Dilshan, was also a result of a failed reverse-sweep. Those two strikes from Simmons helped keep Sri Lanka under 200.
Chasing 193 is a daunting task but even more so when a team is without their most dangerous hitter. West Indies had rested Gayle, who suffered a knee injury during his razing of Australia, because this match was, for all practical purposes, a dead rubber. They were dented further when their other half-centurion against Australia, Andre Fletcher, lost his leg stump to a slower full toss from Lasith Malinga.
Simmons, who opened in Gayle's absence, showed some fight, mowing Ajantha Mendis to the midwicket boundary and reverse-hitting him past short fine leg. West Indies' cause was aided by sloppiness in the field: Jayasuriya and Malinga both conceded five wides and Xavier Marshall's 14 included five overthrows.
West Indies had raced to 65 for 1 after six overs but a passage of play during which they lost three wickets in seven balls ruined their chances of victory. Muttiah Muralitharan landed the first punch, inducing Simmons to edge to first slip, and Mendis struck twice in an over, getting rid of Marshall and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. West Indies had slipped to 73 for 4 and even though Bravo, who reached his 50 off 37 balls with a thunderous six over long-on off Malinga, and Ramnaresh Sarwan shared a 77-run partnership, the innings had lost too much momentum and there was always too much lost ground for the batsmen to make up. Sarwan and Pollard startd the final over needing 28 but managed only 12.
The victory put Sri Lanka on top of Group C, the toughest pool in the preliminary round.
The West Indian bowlers made novice errors while bowling to Jayasuriya. They often gave him too much width, allowing him to free his muscled forearms and launch the ball over the off side, instead of cramping him for the room he loves. They bowled too short and too straight as well, giving Jayasuriya the space to lift the ball off his pads. Denesh Ramdin, West Indies' captain for the day, was forced to make frequent bowling changes but none of his bowlers were able to break Sri Lanka's opening stand before it caused severe damage. Jayasuriya and Dilshan added 124 for the first wicket in 12.3 overs, and Dilshan took charge thereafter to steer Sri Lanka towards a match-winning total.
Jayasuriya's innings today ended a period of poor Twenty20 form: he had a quiet IPL and his scores in three innings since arriving in England were 26, 1 and 2. He certainly didn't look out of touch today, though, tearing into Fidel Edwards' first over by launching the first ball through cover and the third over cover for fours, before pulling a short fifth ball powerfully over deep backward square leg.
He was aggressive against all comers, slashing Dwayne Bravo in his first over to the boundary, sweeping and reverse sweeping Sulieman Benn, and powering Kieron Pollard to the long-off boundary. And when Edwards returned after everyone else had failed to take a wicket, Jayasuriya attacked him once again, carving the first ball over the point boundary, pulling two short balls for fours behind square, before chipping a wide one past the wicketkeeper. Edwards' two overs cost 37 runs and he wasn't given the ball again.
Jayasuriya dominated the early scoring, contributing 32 out of Sri Lanka's first 40 runs, but Dilshan eventually emerged from his shadow with astonishing improvisation. He moved across his stumps to Pollard's first ball, bent down low, ready to play the scoop and sent it flying over the wicketkeeper's head for four. Dilshan may not have even been looking at the ball as he made contact but it was no fluke. He had played it against Australia and he did it again against Lendl Simmons. Dilshan went on to cut Pollard over point for six and a four during a first over that cost 19. He rattled Pollard, forcing the bowler to abort his run-up by getting into position extremely early to repeat his scoop, and even reverse-swatted Benn for four. He switched to a higher gear after Jayasuriya was dismissed, finished with 74 off 47 balls.
West Indies withered under the onslaught: Benn dropped Dilshan at short third man and Andre Fletcher let one pass him on the fine-leg boundary. The last bowler Ramdin turned to, however, proved to be their best. Simmons first struck in the 13th over, trapping Jayasuriya who attempted a reverse-hit when a century was there for the taking, and his next big wicket, that of Dilshan, was also a result of a failed reverse-sweep. Those two strikes from Simmons helped keep Sri Lanka under 200.
Chasing 193 is a daunting task but even more so when a team is without their most dangerous hitter. West Indies had rested Gayle, who suffered a knee injury during his razing of Australia, because this match was, for all practical purposes, a dead rubber. They were dented further when their other half-centurion against Australia, Andre Fletcher, lost his leg stump to a slower full toss from Lasith Malinga.
Simmons, who opened in Gayle's absence, showed some fight, mowing Ajantha Mendis to the midwicket boundary and reverse-hitting him past short fine leg. West Indies' cause was aided by sloppiness in the field: Jayasuriya and Malinga both conceded five wides and Xavier Marshall's 14 included five overthrows.
West Indies had raced to 65 for 1 after six overs but a passage of play during which they lost three wickets in seven balls ruined their chances of victory. Muttiah Muralitharan landed the first punch, inducing Simmons to edge to first slip, and Mendis struck twice in an over, getting rid of Marshall and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. West Indies had slipped to 73 for 4 and even though Bravo, who reached his 50 off 37 balls with a thunderous six over long-on off Malinga, and Ramnaresh Sarwan shared a 77-run partnership, the innings had lost too much momentum and there was always too much lost ground for the batsmen to make up. Sarwan and Pollard startd the final over needing 28 but managed only 12.
The victory put Sri Lanka on top of Group C, the toughest pool in the preliminary round.
India WINS
India's bowlers were clinical in their demolition of the Ireland batting, the batsmen were equally solid in chasing down the moderate total, thus consigning Ireland to their first defeat in Twenty20 internationals. Zaheer Khan ran through the top order full of left-hand batsmen, Pragyan Ojha took a first-ball wicket in his second Twenty20 international too, and the new opening combination of Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma got India off to another solid start.
Zaheer, who made his comeback from his shoulder game only in the last game, was fast and accurate today, getting the ball to shape away from the left-hand batsmen. He didn't swing it as much as his opening partner Irfan Pathan did, but his pace and accuracy did the trick. Jeremy Bray was the first one to go, on the last ball of the second over, playing all around a yorker. Soon Zaheer was on a hat-trick when William Porterfield chased the first ball of the fourth. Andre Botha survived the hat-trick, but guided one to slip in the same over.
Something strange happens when the batsmen sight Ojha. On Ojha's debut, Shakib Al Hasan tried to pull a delivery too full for the shot and paid the price. Today Kevin O'Brien, Ireland's saviour against Bangladesh, walked across and went to pull, and dragged it from way outside off onto his leg stump. There must be something.
Just into the seventh over, Ireland were four down for 28, with the small matter of Harbhajan Singh's topspinners and Ishant Sharma's sharp seam movement to negotiate. Gary Wilson got a doosra in Harbhajan's second over, which took the off stump, and from 48 for 5 it seemed they could only go up.
John Mooney and Andrew White went about rebuilding sensibly, but it was extremely difficult for them to accelerate even though they managed to kept their wickets. The 24-run partnership ended when Mooney tried to reverse-sweep Ojha in the 15th over. In a way the stroke gave credit to the tight bowling that didn't allow runs with orthodox cricket.
A 15-run 16th over from Irfan Pathan took Ireland close to 100, but Zaheer came back to remove White for a 25-ball 29. Alex Cusack and Kyle McCallan got two more boundaries as Ireland got 39 in the last three overs to reach 112.
In the chase India didn't set Trent Bridge alight. Although Gambhir cut the first ball of the innings for four, they didn't look in any undue hurry. Only one six and six fours were hit in the 77-run first-wicket partnership. In the five overs of Powerplay - five because the rain had cut the match short to 18 overs a side - India got to 38 without taking any unwise risks.
Rohit looked solid, Gambhir still not at his best. But Ireland never looked like getting a wicket. The highlight of Gambhir's innings was an inside-out drive off offspinner Regan West in the ninth over. In West's next, though, Gambhir sliced to short third man and missed out on consecutive half-centuries. Quite inconspicuously Rohit had moved to 35 by then.
MS Dhoni walked out at No. 3 again, but Rohit picked up the pace. A trademark slog, which incredibly doesn't look unwieldy, off Boyd Rankin took him into the 40s. Ireland, to their credit, stuck to their task in the field. Case in point being sliding saves to delay India's win, and a good diving catch by Bray at deep square leg to send Dhoni back.
Rohit got to his fifty with another trademark shot, which is at the other end of the spectrum when in terms of aesthetics. He took a step outside the line of a McCallan offbreak, and nonchalantly drove it over extra cover. With a late-cut single, he took India to the win. It was a fitting final shot, because India had hardly taken any chances on the night.
Zaheer, who made his comeback from his shoulder game only in the last game, was fast and accurate today, getting the ball to shape away from the left-hand batsmen. He didn't swing it as much as his opening partner Irfan Pathan did, but his pace and accuracy did the trick. Jeremy Bray was the first one to go, on the last ball of the second over, playing all around a yorker. Soon Zaheer was on a hat-trick when William Porterfield chased the first ball of the fourth. Andre Botha survived the hat-trick, but guided one to slip in the same over.
Something strange happens when the batsmen sight Ojha. On Ojha's debut, Shakib Al Hasan tried to pull a delivery too full for the shot and paid the price. Today Kevin O'Brien, Ireland's saviour against Bangladesh, walked across and went to pull, and dragged it from way outside off onto his leg stump. There must be something.
Just into the seventh over, Ireland were four down for 28, with the small matter of Harbhajan Singh's topspinners and Ishant Sharma's sharp seam movement to negotiate. Gary Wilson got a doosra in Harbhajan's second over, which took the off stump, and from 48 for 5 it seemed they could only go up.
John Mooney and Andrew White went about rebuilding sensibly, but it was extremely difficult for them to accelerate even though they managed to kept their wickets. The 24-run partnership ended when Mooney tried to reverse-sweep Ojha in the 15th over. In a way the stroke gave credit to the tight bowling that didn't allow runs with orthodox cricket.
A 15-run 16th over from Irfan Pathan took Ireland close to 100, but Zaheer came back to remove White for a 25-ball 29. Alex Cusack and Kyle McCallan got two more boundaries as Ireland got 39 in the last three overs to reach 112.
In the chase India didn't set Trent Bridge alight. Although Gambhir cut the first ball of the innings for four, they didn't look in any undue hurry. Only one six and six fours were hit in the 77-run first-wicket partnership. In the five overs of Powerplay - five because the rain had cut the match short to 18 overs a side - India got to 38 without taking any unwise risks.
Rohit looked solid, Gambhir still not at his best. But Ireland never looked like getting a wicket. The highlight of Gambhir's innings was an inside-out drive off offspinner Regan West in the ninth over. In West's next, though, Gambhir sliced to short third man and missed out on consecutive half-centuries. Quite inconspicuously Rohit had moved to 35 by then.
MS Dhoni walked out at No. 3 again, but Rohit picked up the pace. A trademark slog, which incredibly doesn't look unwieldy, off Boyd Rankin took him into the 40s. Ireland, to their credit, stuck to their task in the field. Case in point being sliding saves to delay India's win, and a good diving catch by Bray at deep square leg to send Dhoni back.
Rohit got to his fifty with another trademark shot, which is at the other end of the spectrum when in terms of aesthetics. He took a step outside the line of a McCallan offbreak, and nonchalantly drove it over extra cover. With a late-cut single, he took India to the win. It was a fitting final shot, because India had hardly taken any chances on the night.
Razzaq Returns in National Colors
The ICC has approved the PCB's request to add Abdul Razzaq to replace one of its two injured players in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20. This makes Razzaq the first former ICL player returning to international cricket after being banned.
Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, had told Cricinfo that a request had been sent to the ICC's technical committee. "He is an allrounder and we've requested he replace Arafat, who is also an allrounder." A source close to the player also confirmed that Razzaq had been contacted by the board and apprised of the situation.
On the same day ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat confirmed the decision. "The PCB has advised the ICC it has imposed a sanction on Abdul Razzaq in accordance with the ICC Board resolution," he said.
While both Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir are carrying injuries, Arafat's hamstring strain seems the more serious and Razzaq represented a like-for-like change in that he is an allrounder.
The Pakistan team manager, Yawar Saeed, said Arafat had been diagnosed with a lateral hamstring tear and would not play any further role in the tournament. News of Tanvir, who played with a back strain in the victory against Netherland yesterday, was better - he was back training with the rest of the squad at The Oval today.
Razzaq was one of several ex-ICL players granted amnesty by the PCB a few weeks back, shortly after the Indian board set the ball rolling for players to come in from the unofficial league. Other boards followed suit; some set a 'cooling off' period in place, while others like the PCB said they would handle each player on a case-by-case basis.
Ironically, Razzaq's name was on the original list of 30 probables the PCB had sent to the ICC in early April - before the BCCI announced the amnesty - but the board u-turned and scratched his name off because the ICC objected to his ICL status. And with more irony, the comeback completes a full circle of sorts for Razzaq: it was only after being overlooked for the 2007 World Twenty20 squad that he decided to turn his back on Pakistan cricket. He lambasted the team's set-up at the time, claiming he had been treated badly and then retired from international cricket, before taking back his announcement.
Pakistan will welcome back Razzaq's skills. He was one of the ICL's most valuable players, leading his franchise Hyderabad Heroes to the title in the first season and a runners-up spot the second time round. His form in the recently-concluded domestic Twenty20 was outstanding as well and limited-overs competitions in England hold special memories. It was in the 1999 World Cup that Razzaq first announced himself as a major talent, picking up a bundle of wickets and scoring some crucial runs, often at one down.
Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, had told Cricinfo that a request had been sent to the ICC's technical committee. "He is an allrounder and we've requested he replace Arafat, who is also an allrounder." A source close to the player also confirmed that Razzaq had been contacted by the board and apprised of the situation.
On the same day ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat confirmed the decision. "The PCB has advised the ICC it has imposed a sanction on Abdul Razzaq in accordance with the ICC Board resolution," he said.
While both Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir are carrying injuries, Arafat's hamstring strain seems the more serious and Razzaq represented a like-for-like change in that he is an allrounder.
The Pakistan team manager, Yawar Saeed, said Arafat had been diagnosed with a lateral hamstring tear and would not play any further role in the tournament. News of Tanvir, who played with a back strain in the victory against Netherland yesterday, was better - he was back training with the rest of the squad at The Oval today.
Razzaq was one of several ex-ICL players granted amnesty by the PCB a few weeks back, shortly after the Indian board set the ball rolling for players to come in from the unofficial league. Other boards followed suit; some set a 'cooling off' period in place, while others like the PCB said they would handle each player on a case-by-case basis.
Ironically, Razzaq's name was on the original list of 30 probables the PCB had sent to the ICC in early April - before the BCCI announced the amnesty - but the board u-turned and scratched his name off because the ICC objected to his ICL status. And with more irony, the comeback completes a full circle of sorts for Razzaq: it was only after being overlooked for the 2007 World Twenty20 squad that he decided to turn his back on Pakistan cricket. He lambasted the team's set-up at the time, claiming he had been treated badly and then retired from international cricket, before taking back his announcement.
Pakistan will welcome back Razzaq's skills. He was one of the ICL's most valuable players, leading his franchise Hyderabad Heroes to the title in the first season and a runners-up spot the second time round. His form in the recently-concluded domestic Twenty20 was outstanding as well and limited-overs competitions in England hold special memories. It was in the 1999 World Cup that Razzaq first announced himself as a major talent, picking up a bundle of wickets and scoring some crucial runs, often at one down.
Younis khan speaks
Pakistan skipper Younis Khan said nation is waiting for huge victory and he is confident his team would deliver impressive performance in coming matches to fulfill cricket fans expectations."Twenty20 cricket always good fun," said Younis. "We lost to England and now we are in the Super Eights so we must take it easy about this cricket. It's good entertainment,” said Younis in a post match press conference."Everybody follows Twenty20 these days and the good thing about it is it is changing every single over. If you lose a couple of wickets in an over you could lose quite easily. But if you get 20-25 runs from an over you can be on your way quite easily. You need energy whether you are batting, bowling or fielding.""We wanted to be positive and so we batted first," said Younis. "The spinners Afridi and Ajmal bowled really well and they were given excellent support by Kamran Akmal behind the stumps.""Everybody knows we are slow starters," explained Younis "we are always like that and I hope we have performances like that in every game
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
South Africa Show
Last day South Africa Steeled Show from Newzealand on a last ball win and continue their Winning streak on T20 since Warmup matches.The Spinner Roelof van der Merwe rescued and save the day for South Africa
Pak Saves Honour
Yesterday hopefully it was a better day for Pakistan Cricket as they eventually Qualified for t20 Super Eights where they would meet the other Much More Competent Teams they already played in there Own Group.
Pakistan batted quite well where all the Top order Batsman contributed in team total of 175.However again the lapses in the Field was clearly seen by Pakistanis where they drop simple catches and runouts.They have bowled wonderfully specially the spinners Afridi and Ajmal.They just flattened the Dutch Batsman by sharing 7 wickets in there attack
Pakistan batted quite well where all the Top order Batsman contributed in team total of 175.However again the lapses in the Field was clearly seen by Pakistanis where they drop simple catches and runouts.They have bowled wonderfully specially the spinners Afridi and Ajmal.They just flattened the Dutch Batsman by sharing 7 wickets in there attack
Pakistan not willing to win
Latest Interview by Pakistan's Skipper Younis commented and indirectly told fans that they shoiuld also loose hope and be mentally prepared to accept the weakness of the team.
the Same thoughts can be clearly seen and replicated from the Pakistanis on the field.They were trying to vote in favor of his Captain that they are also least Bothered to Loose the Mega Event
the Same thoughts can be clearly seen and replicated from the Pakistanis on the field.They were trying to vote in favor of his Captain that they are also least Bothered to Loose the Mega Event
Younis Khan after losing against England
"It would be sad if we don't make it, but I have never attached too much importance to Twenty20 cricket, as it is fun cricket. I mean it is more for entertainment, even if it is international cricket. It is all for the crowd."Younis Khan, Pakistan's captain, after the England loss."
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sri Lanka slams Australia
Yesterday was another upset for T20 World Cup as Sri Lanka made Convincing win against Aussies.Sangakara and Dilshan secured half centures where Sangakara Later Rescued the team making an unbeatable 55.In the Bowling department Mendis Crunched and Crushed the Australian Top order
Sunday, June 7, 2009
One more Humilating defeat for Pakistan
Pakistan lost against England in their first match,They once again proved that they cannot batt through the inning and cannot even chase the score on the supporting wickets for batsman.England on the other side batted wonderfuly and post a solid total of 185.When Pakistan came into bat they were struggling to hit the ball on the right spot and start losing wickets before taking the Arial Route.
Fielding was again the major reason for this humilating defeat for Pakistan
Now the match Agaisnt the Holland is the only hope for Pakistanis to keep them alive in the Tournament
Fielding was again the major reason for this humilating defeat for Pakistan
Now the match Agaisnt the Holland is the only hope for Pakistanis to keep them alive in the Tournament
Saturday, June 6, 2009
T20 World Cup 2009 matches Fixtures
06 Jun,2009 1:00 PM GMT
AUS vs WI
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
06 Jun,2009 5:00 PM GMT
IND vs BAN
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
07 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
SA vs SCO
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
07 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
ENG vs PAK
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
08 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
IRE vs BAN
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
08 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
AUS vs SL
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
09 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
PAK vs NED
Lord's, London
To be played
09 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
NZ vs SA
Lord's, London
To be played
10 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
SL vs WI
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
10 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
IND vs IRE
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
11 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
D1 vs A2
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
11 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
B2 vs D2
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
12 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
B1 vs C2
Lord's, London
To be played
12 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
A1 vs C1
Lord's, London
To be played
13 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
C1 vs D2
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
13 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
D1 vs B1
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
14 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
A2 vs C2
Lord's, London
To be played
14 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
A1 vs B2
Lord's, London
To be played
15 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
B1 vs A2
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
15 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
B2 vs C1
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
16 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
D1 vs C2
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
16 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
D2 vs A1
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
18 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
T.B.C. vs T.B.C. (T20I 1st Semi Final)
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
19 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
T.B.C. vs T.B.C. (T20I 2nd Semi Final)
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
21 Jun,2009 2:00 PM GMT
T.B.C. vs T.B.C. (T20I Final)
Lord's, London
To be played
AUS vs WI
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
06 Jun,2009 5:00 PM GMT
IND vs BAN
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
07 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
SA vs SCO
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
07 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
ENG vs PAK
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
08 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
IRE vs BAN
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
08 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
AUS vs SL
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
09 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
PAK vs NED
Lord's, London
To be played
09 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
NZ vs SA
Lord's, London
To be played
10 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
SL vs WI
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
10 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
IND vs IRE
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
11 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
D1 vs A2
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
11 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
B2 vs D2
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
12 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
B1 vs C2
Lord's, London
To be played
12 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
A1 vs C1
Lord's, London
To be played
13 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
C1 vs D2
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
13 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
D1 vs B1
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
14 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
A2 vs C2
Lord's, London
To be played
14 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
A1 vs B2
Lord's, London
To be played
15 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
B1 vs A2
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
15 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
B2 vs C1
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
16 Jun,2009 12:30 PM GMT
D1 vs C2
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
16 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
D2 vs A1
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
18 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
T.B.C. vs T.B.C. (T20I 1st Semi Final)
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
To be played
19 Jun,2009 4:30 PM GMT
T.B.C. vs T.B.C. (T20I 2nd Semi Final)
Kennington Oval (The Oval), London
To be played
21 Jun,2009 2:00 PM GMT
T.B.C. vs T.B.C. (T20I Final)
Lord's, London
To be played
Netherland over England
First Upset of the Tournament.Holland.Netherland Beating hosting nation England at the Historic Ground Lords making an international mark and making a History
Friday, June 5, 2009
World Cup 2011
This post is the central idea of What were the real reasons that Pakistan was excluded from the World Cup Hosting teams and switching the matches to India.Is it a game,conspiracy or a right decision
ICC T20 World Cup
Netherlands register their First Victiry of World Cup making the very first upset of World Cup against the Hosting nation England.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
ICC T20 World Cup
Today is 5th June and today world cricket teams will enter the mega event of ICC T20 Championship where India will be defending its championship
Abdur Razzaq
The pakistan most fascinating All Rounder of Pakistan will also be considered for Pakistan team for the Upcoming Tour Against Srilanka.Razzaq has also scored many runs and bowled out his Opponents wickets.
His inclusion will also help Pakistan to Re establish its batting and Bowling Departments yet his fielding is again a issue for selectors
His inclusion will also help Pakistan to Re establish its batting and Bowling Departments yet his fielding is again a issue for selectors
Muhamamd Yousaf
How would you take the decision of PCB to accept and Consider Yousaf for upcoming Tour after T20 world Cup In England.The living Legend scored many runs for pakistan and rescued his team for several years Now.His inclusion will definatly improve the batting strength of Pakistan and will be probably main batsman for the Pakistan team.
IMRAN NAZIR
The most dangerous player of T20 format refuses the board demand of Resigning from ICL as he told me that he cannot ruin his professional cricketing career as he do not see his chance in Pakistan National Team.the player scored massive rapid runs in Domestic T20.Onceagain proving the Point of his merit selection
ICL
Plz post your comment on ICL players.Is ban on these players Justifiable just because of One board which is suipposingly generating revenue for ICC.Many of the young players have signed ICL due to huge money attraction
Pak v India warmup martch IICC T20 cup
Rohit Sharma smashed 80 runs of just 53 balls while Gautam Gambhir played a calm knock of 52 runs of just 47 balls to guide India to emphatic 9 wicket win over Pakistan. Chasing the target of 159 runs for victory India achieved the target in just 17 overs with the loss of only one wicket.
Rohit Sharma smashed 9 fours and two huge sixes in his inning of 80 runs, he was finally dismissed in the 16th over by 17 year fast bowler Mohammad Aemer. However when he got out the task for India was much easier with 19 runs needed of last four overs. M.S.Dhoni played some lovely drive in end to finish the match in 17 overs.
This win continued the India winning streak in World Cup against Pakistan. They have never lost a single game to Pakistan in the world cup. In the last world cup also they have played twice with Pakistan and came out as winner on both occasions.
Now India will take on Bangladesh in their first game of twenty20 World Cup on 6th of June at Trent Bridge.
Earlier Pakistan Captain Younis Khan won the toss and elected to bat first. But Praveen Kumar strikes with his fifth bowl to dismissed Shahzaib Hasan for duck. However Pakistan batsman continues the counter attack from both ends. With Ahmed Shehzad smashing 25 runs of just 19 balls and Kamran Akmal getting 19 runs of just 9 deliveries. Both put on 43 runs of just 22 balls for the second wicket. But brilliant fielding by Suresh Raina sent Akmal back in the pavilion.
After Akmal dismissal Pakistan loss two quick wickets of both Shehzad and Afridi (0 run of 1 ball), so score of 45/1 in the fifth over suddenly slipped to 45/4 at the end of 6th over. But Thanks to Younis Khan (32 runs of 32 balls) and Misbah-Ul-Haq (37 runs of 30 balls) and in the end some great hitting by Yasir Arafat (25 runs of 16 balls) Pakistan reached a comparative total of 158/6 in 20 overs.
Once again Indian bowlers failed to bowl good line and length in the depth overs. They conceded as many as 45 runs in the last four overs to allow Pakistan to reach a decent total.
Match Summary (India won by 9 Wickets)
Rohit Sharma smashed 9 fours and two huge sixes in his inning of 80 runs, he was finally dismissed in the 16th over by 17 year fast bowler Mohammad Aemer. However when he got out the task for India was much easier with 19 runs needed of last four overs. M.S.Dhoni played some lovely drive in end to finish the match in 17 overs.
This win continued the India winning streak in World Cup against Pakistan. They have never lost a single game to Pakistan in the world cup. In the last world cup also they have played twice with Pakistan and came out as winner on both occasions.
Now India will take on Bangladesh in their first game of twenty20 World Cup on 6th of June at Trent Bridge.
Earlier Pakistan Captain Younis Khan won the toss and elected to bat first. But Praveen Kumar strikes with his fifth bowl to dismissed Shahzaib Hasan for duck. However Pakistan batsman continues the counter attack from both ends. With Ahmed Shehzad smashing 25 runs of just 19 balls and Kamran Akmal getting 19 runs of just 9 deliveries. Both put on 43 runs of just 22 balls for the second wicket. But brilliant fielding by Suresh Raina sent Akmal back in the pavilion.
After Akmal dismissal Pakistan loss two quick wickets of both Shehzad and Afridi (0 run of 1 ball), so score of 45/1 in the fifth over suddenly slipped to 45/4 at the end of 6th over. But Thanks to Younis Khan (32 runs of 32 balls) and Misbah-Ul-Haq (37 runs of 30 balls) and in the end some great hitting by Yasir Arafat (25 runs of 16 balls) Pakistan reached a comparative total of 158/6 in 20 overs.
Once again Indian bowlers failed to bowl good line and length in the depth overs. They conceded as many as 45 runs in the last four overs to allow Pakistan to reach a decent total.
Match Summary (India won by 9 Wickets)
Rashid larif on ICC world t20
Rashid Latif's T20 World Cup semi-final lineup prediction Rashid Latif, one of Pakistan's enfant-terribles and a much sought-after cricketer for the rent-a-quote agency he runs, last week expressed concern that India's cricketers would be jaded after having played the IPL and would hence not do well at the T20 World Cup which starts in England in a couple of days.
I don't think it was a brilliant idea to have the Indian Premier League before the Twenty20 World Cup. It was poor thinking on part of the Indian cricket officials.Maybe he knows something about the international cricket calendar and global weather patterns that no-one else does.The period from April to June is typically the leanest for international cricket because to a large extent, West Indies and England are the only places where cricket can be played. It is far too hot in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh and cold in Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand. Even in England, April and May are the rainy months.Given contractual commitments, the IPL had to happen. There was a lot that the IPL organizers did wrong when it came to engaging the Indian government. There was no way that the tournament would be postponed (because there simply was no other free slot available) or cancelled (telecast rights, team owners having spent millions of $ in securing the services of players). So, the tournament went to South Africa, and was a rip-roaring success primarily because of the quality of cricket.There's also no doubt that the Indian players have been on the road for the last 3-4 months after the tour of Pakistan was cancelled, playing ODIs in Sri Lanka, touring New Zealand and then the IPL. Yet, I don't quite think they're at a stage where they're jaded.Given a choice between turning up for a T20 World Cup after playing 15 T20 games involving most of the best cricketers and ODIs & a single T20 game against Australia's third choice XI, I know which one I'd prefer if I was an international cricketer.Going by Latif's logic, countries that didn't contribute significantly to the IPL player base should do very well at the T20 World Cup. So which country has the most number of players in their T20 World Cup squads who didn't show up at the IPL? Let's exclude the Associates teams for obvious reasons.
Country
# of players
Australia
11
Bangladesh
13
England
9
India
0
New Zealand
8
Pakistan
15
South Africa
3
Sri Lanka
5
West Indies
11The semi-final lineup suddenly looks so bloody obvious: Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies and Australia.
Labels: india, indian premier league, rashid latif, twenty20, twenty20 world cup
I don't think it was a brilliant idea to have the Indian Premier League before the Twenty20 World Cup. It was poor thinking on part of the Indian cricket officials.Maybe he knows something about the international cricket calendar and global weather patterns that no-one else does.The period from April to June is typically the leanest for international cricket because to a large extent, West Indies and England are the only places where cricket can be played. It is far too hot in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh and cold in Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand. Even in England, April and May are the rainy months.Given contractual commitments, the IPL had to happen. There was a lot that the IPL organizers did wrong when it came to engaging the Indian government. There was no way that the tournament would be postponed (because there simply was no other free slot available) or cancelled (telecast rights, team owners having spent millions of $ in securing the services of players). So, the tournament went to South Africa, and was a rip-roaring success primarily because of the quality of cricket.There's also no doubt that the Indian players have been on the road for the last 3-4 months after the tour of Pakistan was cancelled, playing ODIs in Sri Lanka, touring New Zealand and then the IPL. Yet, I don't quite think they're at a stage where they're jaded.Given a choice between turning up for a T20 World Cup after playing 15 T20 games involving most of the best cricketers and ODIs & a single T20 game against Australia's third choice XI, I know which one I'd prefer if I was an international cricketer.Going by Latif's logic, countries that didn't contribute significantly to the IPL player base should do very well at the T20 World Cup. So which country has the most number of players in their T20 World Cup squads who didn't show up at the IPL? Let's exclude the Associates teams for obvious reasons.
Country
# of players
Australia
11
Bangladesh
13
England
9
India
0
New Zealand
8
Pakistan
15
South Africa
3
Sri Lanka
5
West Indies
11The semi-final lineup suddenly looks so bloody obvious: Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies and Australia.
Labels: india, indian premier league, rashid latif, twenty20, twenty20 world cup
T20 World Cup England warmup matches
Please Post Your comment on the defeat of pakistan by India.where india crashed bowling lineup and registering yet another t20 win against traditional rivals
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