Determined Afridi says he will not play to the gallery

KARACHI: Flamboyant and controversial, Shahid Afridi came to the world’s notice as a 16-year-old when he blasted the fastest century in a one-day match from 37 balls against the helpless Sri Lankans.
Fourteen years on and now Pakistan captain, Afridi still enjoys playing to the gallery.
“I love entertaining the crowds. I know people come to watch me hit the sixers,” he said.
“But after becoming captain I have tried to be more sensible while batting or bowling. I want victories for the team not just individual laurels.”
A veteran of 312 one-day internationals, Afridi has never been short of talent. He is a hard-hitting batsman capable of savaging any attack on his day and good enough to pick up 292 one-day wickets with his leg-spin.
For Pakistan to have a chance of doing well in the forthcoming World Cup, Afridi will have to produce the same sort of inspirational performances as he did in the 2009 T20 World Cup.
The all-rounder picked up the man-of-the-match awards in the semi-final and final as he fired on all cylinders with bat and ball to give Pakistan the title.
“That T20 World Cup win was memorable for me and my team mates but personally winning the 50-overs World Cup this year would be a far greater achievement for me,” Afridi told Reuters before leaving for the New Zealand tour in December.
ATTACKING INSTINCTS
Given the responsibility of captaining Pakistan’s T20 and one-day sides since last year, Afridi has been chastised by many former players for his refusal to curb his natural attacking instincts or his penchant to hit sixes. He holds the world record for the most sixes in ODIs with 288.
Afridi has nevertheless brought countless moments of joy for his countrymen.
He was touring the West Indies with the Pakistan youth team in October 2006 when he was rushed to Nairobi to join the injury-hit senior team for a triangular one-day series that featured Sri Lanka and instantly made his mark with the rapid century.
He has also run into controversy. In 2005, while playing the Faisalabad test against England, he was caught on camera scraping the pitch with his boots and was promptly banned for one test and two ODIs.
Last year in Australia, frustrated by a string of defeats, the cameras caught him out again, this time chewing on one side of the ball in the final ODI at Perth as he led the side in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf.
The resulting punishment was a ban of two matches and a fine by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Afridi wasted no time in apologising for his action and soon won back the hearts of his fans.
“He has so much natural talent but I don’t think he has done justice to it. This World Cup is his chance of achieving something significant for himself and his team,” former captain Javed Miandad said.

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I will challenge every charge to prove my innocence: Salman Butt

Disgraced Pakistan opener Salman Butt, who was banned for 10 years for spot-fixing by an ICC Anti-Corruption tribunal on 5 February, 2011, has said he will challenge every charge levelled against him in higher courts to prove his innocence.

“I have nothing to hide or run away from. I am going to challenge every charge to prove my innocence even in the London court,” said the former Test captain.

Butt said that he has no intention of running away from the criminal charges set against him by the Crown Prosecution Service of Britain. The 26-year-old confirmed that he will go to London in March where he, along with other two suspended players, has been summoned by the CPS on 17 March to face corruption charges levelled against him by the London Police.

“I don't agree with the sanctions imposed by the International Cricket Council in Doha,” said Butt. “And I will also be going to London to challenge the case made against me by Scotland Yard in the Crown Prosecutor's office.”

Butt, Asif and Amir were banned by the International Cricket Council for 10, 7 and 5 years respectively. The punishment will be effective from 2 September, 2010- the day when the trio was provisionally suspended by the apex body following spot-fixing allegations set against them by a British tabloid, News of the World. The sanctions against Asif and Butt include two and five suspended years respectively which would be waived off if the duo commits no further breach of the code.

The CPS had charged the trio with conspiracy of defrauding English bookmakers as well as obtaining and accepting illegal money.

The left-handed opener dispelled the thoughts that his cricket career is over and said that he will make a return even if he has to serve out the entire length of the ban. “I will still have four to five years of cricket left in me,” opined the disgraced captain.

He was hopeful his ban would be waived off to some extent even if not completely. Butt admitted that it would be quite tough for him to make a comeback to the fast-paced game after five years but a few successful names of contemporary cricket playing at an age above 35 give him hopes of a successful return to the international arena.

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Pakistan requests ICC to reconsider Mohammad Amir ban

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Sports Ijaz Ahmed Jakhrani has requested the International Cricket Council to reconsider the five-year ban imposed on young left-arm fast bowler, Mohammad Amir.

It was widely expected that Mohammad Amir would get the benefit of the doubt because of his young age but it did not turn out to be. Pakistan’s Sports Minister Jakhrani said, “We think the ICC must review the ban on Aamir again because he is young and was influenced into doing things he might not have wanted to do.”

According to Jakhrani, the ban imposed on the three Pakistani players is a huge shock for cricket in Pakistan and it has damaged country’s reputation all around the world. He feels that the senior players influenced the youngster to bowl those no-balls as he is too young to get involved in such activities.

Mohammad Aamir burst into the international arena through some magnificent performances in the ICC World Twenty20 2009 where the Men in Green ended up as the winners. The young left-arm fast bowler impressed one-and-all with his pace and accuracy in that tournament.

Jakhrani was of the opinion that an emerging youngster like Amir deserves at least one chance to redeem his career. “He should be given a chance to redeem and reform and make a comeback to cricket,” he said.

ICC’s three-man tribunal headed by Michael Beloff banned Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir for ten, seven and five years respectively from all forms of professional cricket on February 5, 2011.

The banned trio was alleged of spot-fixing as the then captain Salman Butt influenced Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir to bowl deliberate no-balls against England at Lord’s in August 2010. An English tabloid, News of the World broke the story to the world during that Test match after which the trio was suspended from cricket by the ICC pending further inquiries.

The hearing of the spot-fixing case was conducted by a three-man tribunal in Doha, Qatar from 6 – 11 January, 2011 but the final verdict was delayed until February. All the three players from Pakistan looked very confident after the hearing; however, the decision imposed on the players has effectively ended their careers.

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Waqar speaks, Afridi declines to comment on ICC bans

LAHORE: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and team manager Intikhab Alam called Tuesday for a fresh start for the national side after three key players were handed lengthy bans on corruption charges.
Riding high after winning the Test and one-day series in New Zealand, the Pakistan team flew home to Karachi and Lahore three days after an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal sanctioned the trio.
Salman Butt was banned for 10 years, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir for seven and five years respectively, after allegations surfaced during last year’s tour of England that they were willing to deliberately bowl no-balls.
“It is important that it’s finished now and we can start afresh,” Waqar told reporters at Lahore airport.
“We can now make a fresh start after a lot of controversies affected Pakistan cricket and I am happy that it’s over now.”
Waqar was coach during England tour where the scandal erupted and gave testimony to the ICC tribunal in Qatar by tele-conference, but said the bans did not affect the successful New Zealand tour.
“The players didn’t talk about it at any time, so there was no way it could affect the team’s performances on the tour,” said Waqar, who welcomed the 3-2 one-day series win in New Zealand.
“I am sure this one-day series win will give us a good build-up for the World Cup,” said Waqar, who took over as coach in March last year.
“We have good momentum, having played South Africa recently and now this hard-fought win in New Zealand gives us good momentum for the World Cup.”
Team manager Alam expressed sadness at the bans but added, “we must move on from here, for the sake of our cricket.”One-day captain Shahid Afridi, who earlier flew into Karachi from New Zealand, refused to answer questions on the bans.
Pakistan is in Group A of the 14-team World Cup which is hosted by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka between February 19 and April 2.
They open their campaign against Kenya in the Sri Lankan town of Hambantota on February 23.

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NZ tour will help at World Cup, says Waqar

AUCKLAND: Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis is hopeful that successful tour of New Zealand will mark a turning point in the fortunes of his team ahead of the World Cup.
Before the tour to New Zealand, where Pakistan won Test series 1-0 and one-day series 3-2, they had not won a Test series since 2006 and a one-day series since 2008.
“I’m pretty pleased because it has been a while since Pakistan won anything, almost three years for a one-day series and quite a few years since we won a Test series, so it’s definitely satisfying,” Waqar said.
He believed that recent spot-fixing scandal and other controversies have helped the team come out fighting.
“I always say that the amount of controversies we have had over the last eight or nine months, we needed something like this. We needed to develop our team again, we needed to bring the teams back into Pakistan and the only way we can do it is if we start playing well,” Waqar said.
“I think this is one reason why we played well. Hopefully in the future we will try to play best cricket we can.”—Agencies

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Hussey, Hauritz out of WC squad

SYDNEY: Veteran batsman Mike Hussey and spinner Nathan Hauritz have been forced out of Australia's World Cup squad by injury.

They will be replaced in the 15-man squad by young South Australian batsman Callum Ferguson and Tasmanian tweaker Jason Krejza.

Hussey was ruled out with a hamstring tendon injury and Hauritz by a shoulder dislocation, with selectors deciding it was not worth taking the risk with players below full fitness.

"The NSP (national selection panel) has determined that the best strategy to ensure a successful campaign is for Australia to enter the tournament with a fully fit squad of 15 from the first game," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.

Hilditch said Krejza, who made his one-day international debut against England at the WACA on Sunday, would be helped by having previously played in India.

He took 12 wickets in his Test debut in India in 2008, but after playing one more Test later that year, had not represented Australia again until Sunday.

"Jason toured India with the Australian Test team in 2008 and understands those conditions. We're certain he'll be a key member of our squad," Hilditch said.

He said 26-year-old Ferguson, who averages 44 in his 28 previous one-day internationals, was picked on the basis of his past performances for Australia.

"Callum has an excellent record in one-day international cricket and played well in the one-day game against England in Sydney recently," he said.

"We think he'll play well in subcontinental conditions."

The Australian squad departs for India on Wednesday night.

Hilditch said in-form West Australian batsman Shaun Marsh (hamstring strain) and left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty (back injury) were not considered as replacements due to their own injury concerns.

In brighter news, team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said other squad members who had been under slight injury clouds were progressing well.

"Ricky Ponting is going well in his rehabilitation following his finger fracture," he said.

"He is batting regularly and is expected to transition into unrestricted training soon after the team arrives in India."

Kountouris said wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin's knee became swollen after being struck while batting during the final one-dayer against England on Sunday, but that was expected to heal quickly.

Likewise, leg-spinning all-rounder Steve Smith was making good progress after straining a groin muscle at the SCG last Wednesday.

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ICC tribunal’s verdict is disappointing: Salman Butt

LAHORE: Former captain Salman Butt said he did not agree with the verdict of the ICC tribunal announced on Saturday.

In a brief talk with media on arriving back here at the Allama Iqabal Airport today, he said that he was disappointed with the ICC decision and the spot-fixing law is needed to be amended.

Salman Butt said that the judge himself said that no law has so far been made on spot fixing and this is needed to be amended.

Butt said that if this law is amended then his punishment may be reduced.

The former captain said that he would plan his future strategy after the getting the detailed verdict.

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Bans not lenient: ICC chief

DOHA: The International Cricket Council’s chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Sunday said three Pakistan players — Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif andMohammad Amir — were banned on solid proof of corruption.
“We are satisfied at the tribunal’s decision, which was taken on solid evidence and we hope with this decision the image of the game will improve,” Lorgat told a press conference in Doha.
Lorgat, who was accompanied by the head of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, Ronnie Flanagan, was speaking a day after Butt, Amir and Asif were handed lengthy bans for spot-fixing.
Butt was banned for 10 years, with five years suspended, while Asif and Amir were handed bans of seven years with two suspended and five years respectively.
The charges relate to alleged incidents during the Test against England at Lord’s last year, when Britain’s News of the World newspaper claimed the players were willing to deliberately bowl no-balls.
The newspaper alleged the three had colluded in a spot-fixing betting scam organised by British-based agent Mazhar Majeed.
In a separate development on Friday, British prosecutors charged the three players as well as Majeed with corruption offences and summoned them to appear in a London court on March 17.
The trio have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Lorgat rejected the suggestion that the punishments were lenient.
“I don’t believe the sentences are lenient by any stretch of the imagination,” said Lorgat.
“I think they are balanced with an expert and experienced jury dealing with the case.”
The three-man tribunal was headed by Michael Beloff QC and also contained Albie Sachs of South Africa and Sharad Rao of Kenya.
“In legal terms you have to be proportionate when you are giving punishment and we must distinguish between match-fixing and spot-fixing, and the jury was independent and they decided on proportionate punishments,” said Lorgat.
Butt and Amir have expressed disappointment at the bans, with Butt hoping to get the ban reduced once the ICC code of conduct — which carries a mimimum five-year punishment — is amended.

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Timeline of cricket corruption cases

DOHA: Pakistan’s Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer on Saturday became the first players to be punished by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following an investigation into spot-fixing allegations.
Before them, all the players who had been implicated in corruption cases were dealt with by their respective cricket boards.
Here is a list of major cases of bans handed out:
LIFE BANS
May 2000:Former Pakistan captain Salim Malik banned for life by a judicial inquiry conducted by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum. Malik was alleged to have fixed matches on Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in 1993, South Africa and Zimbabwe (1994-95).
Australian players Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May also alleged Malik offered them bribes to underperform during Australia’s tour to Pakistan in 1994. Team-mate Rashid Latif also accused Malik of wrongdoing.
Pakistan paceman Ata-ur-Rehman banned for life for perjury during the Qayyum inquiry. His ban was overturned by the Pakistan Cricket Board in 2003 — a decision accepted by the ICC in 2006.
October 2000: Former South African captain Hansie Cronje banned for life by the United Cricket Board of South Africa after he admitted to match-fixing and having contacts with book-makers. Cronje died in a place crash in June 2002.
December 2000: Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin banned for life after an investigation conducted by the Crime Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India. He was found to have contacts with bookmakers and manipulated match results.
December 2000: Former Indian off-spinner Ajay Sharma banned for life in the same inquiry, conducted by the CBI.
BANS
December 2000: The same CBI inquiry found India’s Ajay Jadeja had links with bookmakers. He was banned for five years, but on appeal was allowed to play in domestic cricket in India three years later.
October 2000: South African opener Herschelle Gibbs and paceman Henry Williams both banned for six months after admitting to under-perform in agreement with Cronje. Both failed to follow through on their agreement.
August 2004: Kenya’s Maurice Odume banned for five years by Kenyan Cricket Association for associating with bookmakers.
May 2008: West Indian all-rounder Marlon Samuels banned for two years for links with a bookmaker.
February 2011: Pakistan’s Salman Butt banned for 10 years on spot-fixing. Mohammad Asif banned for seven years and Mohammad Aamer for five years.

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Imran ‘genuinely upset’ by Pakistan bans

KARACHI: Legendary all-rounder Imran Khan on Sunday said he felt “genuinely upset” at the lengthy bans given to three Pakistani cricketers for spot-fixing, but said punishments were necessary for the sake of the game in Pakistan.
An International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal on Saturday banned former Pakistan captain Salman Butt for 10 years, with five years suspended, bowler Mohammad Asif for seven years, with two suspended, and teenage paceman Mohammad Aamer for five years.
“I am genuinely upset over the bans on three key, young and talented players,” Khan told AFP, a day after the tribunal announced the sanctions.
“But once the players were proven guilty a punishment has to be given for the sake of cricket in general and for the sake of Pakistan cricket in particular.”
Khan, who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup, said the loss of three key players would hurt Pakistan’s chances in the upcoming tournament in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
“I feel sad for Aamer, who is probably the best young fast bowler in the world at the moment and had a long way to go,” said Khan of the 18-year-old left-arm paceman, regarded as the hottest property at international level.
“Asif is one of the best new ball bowlers and Butt is a solid opener, so with these three key players Pakistan would have done very well in the World Cup, but that is not to be.” Khan said the nation felt humiliated when the spot-fixing case surfaced in August last year.
“It was great humiliation for the people of Pakistan as the kind of ignominy it brought made people more demoralised than the floods in the country,” said Khan of the natural disaster which struck Pakistan during the same period.
Khan said corruption was a serious problem in Pakistan.
“The sad part of this whole corruption episode is that most of the people sitting at important places in Pakistan are corrupt and with that prevailing what sort of signal we are giving to our youth?” he said.
Khan, who leads the Teherik-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice) political party, hit out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its handling of corruption cases in the past.
“When the match-fixing scandal first surfaced in 1995 and we had judicial inquiry, even at that time the PCB mishandled the case as they were scared that if they ban some key players then team will lose and the Board will be sacked,”he said.
“Until and unless we have an elected Board who takes decisions on merit and without fears of being sacked we cannot have a proper domestic system and we won’t be able to avoid controversies like this spot-fixing thing.”

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Afridi and Co can shock the best in World Cup

Finally, it has been decided; Shahid Afridi will lead Pakistan in the forthcoming World Cup. It’s an unnecessarily prolonged yet sane decision on part of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) simply because change of guard on the eve of the World Cup could have turned out to be disastrous, to say the least, given the unpredictable ways of Pakistan cricket.
Not taking anything away from Misbah-ul-Haq, who led the Test side astutely during the back-to-back South Africa and New Zealand series besides being prolific with the bat, it must be said that Afridi is the right man for the job for the World Cup because he has that aggressive attitude about himself and his game that is required to motivate the players when the chips are down.
Fortunately, things clicked for Afridi just at the right time as he began to find his feet, thus inspiring his men to thrilling series win in the six-match ODI series against the Kiwis.
After a series of nasty controversies that virtually crippled Pakistan cricket last year, our players finally managed to give some good news to to the nation in 2011 by securing the Test and ODI series in New Zealand.
Looking at the broader picture, the whole nation should now get behind Afridi and his team and give them confidence to excel in the game’s showpiece event that starts on February 19.
With all the contestants of the 14-nation extravaganza set to converge on the sub-continent, one would like to stress upon four key ingredients which can steer Afridi and Company to glory and they are: Unity, Courage, Intelligence and Leadership.
Former wicketkeeper Saleem Yousuf rightly pointed out recently that Pakistan players are at their best when united.
When unity permeates within a group, every member feels the responsibility to make extra efforts for achieving the goal and perform in tandem.
If one reviews the recently-completed ODI series in New Zealand, it becomes obvious that though no player maintained a very high degree of consistency, almost every member of the touring side chipped in at crucial stages of the games to bring glory for Pakistan.
When I mention the word ‘intelligence’, it refers to the reaction and the attitude required in respective situation of modern-day limited-overs cricket. Losing from winning positions has been a trait with Pakistan cricket teams and, needless to say, the margin for tactical errors in any sport’s premier competition such as the World Cup is always very small.
Whatever blunders Afridi or the Pakistan team management made in the first and last ODI in New Zealand must not be repeated in the World Cup. That’s what intelligence is all about — delivering the best in crunch games while avoiding mistakes made in the past.
Selecting the playing eleven, making the right decision after winning the toss, correct use of Power Play, etc should come about with the consent of the captain, his deputy, coach and the senior members of the team so that a victory is ensured.
Afridi and his men will also have to show a lot of courage in the World Cup – the sort that former skipper Imran Khan displayed in 1992 or Steve Waugh for the Aussies in 1999 – leading from the front with own excellence, making bold decisions and inculcating the never-say-die spirit among the fellow players.
Afridi has proved on a number of occasions in the past and that he can motivate the players to achieve the unthinkable, but it is essential for him to lead from the front and inspire his team in the World Cup.
One sincerely hopes that the disturbing bans against key players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir do not deter Pakistan in their quest for the World Cup. The experts of the game are tipping India, England, South Africa and Sri Lanka as the semifinalists but if they remain focused, Pakistan is fully capable of springing some big surprises in the mega event.

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I hope Amir comes back strongly: Wasim Akram

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram admitted that the lengthy bans handed out to Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir for corruption on Saturday represented a new low for the besieged sport in the country.
“I feel sad for all three of these kids, two just over 20 and one just 18,” Wasim told AFP.
“I feel for their families because they are key players. This is a low for Pakistan  cricket.”
The International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption tribunal on Saturday banned Butt for 10 years (five suspended), Asif for seven years (two suspended) and teenager Amir for five.
The bans were handed after an investigation into allegations made by the News of the World that the players deliberately bowled no-balls in the Lord’s Test against England in August.
Wasim said he hopes the punishments will serve as a lesson.
“Not only for cricketers in Pakistan, but also for the players of the world, this should be a lesson, and I sincerely hope that the ICC has set an example with this verdict and this will serve as a clean-up, not only in Pakistan cricket, but in world cricket,” said Wasim.
Wasim said Amir is a special talent.
“I was very happy to see Amir’s progress, but with this punishment his career will suffer. I hope he comes back strongly,” said Wasim, of the teenage left-arm paceman who has been compared to him.
Former Pakistan spinner Iqbal Qasim termed the decision as “upsetting”.
“All three players were the future of Pakistan cricket, so it’s a very upsetting day,” said former spinner Iqbal, who is also the head of the National Bank team for which all three players featured in domestic matches.
“All three had promising careers but it’s sad that they fell into a trap and couldn’t recover.
They could have earned more through playing international cricket,” said Qasim, also a former chief selector.
Qasim said the decision must serve as reminder for other cricketers as well as for Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“I hope these punishments will help future cricketers be more responsible.
I think it should also serve as a jolt for the PCB who should have curbed this before it happened,” said Qasim.
Former captain Rashid Latif said the loss of the three players will be temporary.
“To gain an honest system, and have unquestionable integrity, you have to lose something and players come and go – this will be a momentary loss for Pakistan cricket,” said Latif, who blew the match-fixing whistle against fellow players in 1994.
Former paceman Sarfraz Nawaz termed the decision as “pre-judged”.
“The ICC had decided to give punishments to the players because there was too much pressure on them to curb fixing,” Nawaz told AFP.
“It’s an important day for world cricket and very sad for Pakistan.”
Nawaz said Amir and Asif will be sorely missed in next month’s World Cup.
“Amir and Asif are a huge loss,” said Nawaz, of the new-ball pairing.
“They are the world’s best opening bowlers and will be missed, while Butt has matured into a solid opener.”
Fans in the street had a mixed reaction, some calling the decision a “conspiracy” against the Pakistan team.
“The ICC is biased,” said student Mohib Alint.
“They banned three key players so that Pakistan could not win the World Cup.”
But other fans blamed the players.

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Give AMIR 2nd CHANCE.

The three Pakistan cricketers are unlucky. Their misfortune is that they have been caught, albeit via a sting of the News of the World. Not many cricketers who get caught up with shady figures and the used banknotes of the betting underworld are found out.

So on the rare occasion when there is credible evidence to hand, the book has to be thrown in their direction. There may not be many other opportunities for cricket to set an example to any youngster who wishes to make a legitimate living from the game (though the Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield is scheduled to appear in court next week).

If the integrity of cricket is compromised – even via the odd intentional no-ball – then there is little point in playing the game and absolutely no point in anybody paying to watch it. Thus in Doha the urgency to deliver a fierce deterrent to players everywhere has outweighed the need to make the punishment fit the crime.

The ICC tribunal has delivered that fierce deterrent. Assuming the sanctions stand, and whether or not the criminal charges announced yesterday are proven, there is little chance of Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif resuming their international careers. Butt was banned for 10 years, five of which are suspended, so at the very best he will be 31 when his punishment has been served. Asif, taking into account that two of his seven-year sentence are suspended, will be 33 when he can play again. Butt has never been a great player so is unlikely to be deemed indispensable in 2016 while Asif will be near the end of the natural life of an opening bowler.

In five years' time Amir will be 23. Provided he can find the necessary resolve necessary to resuscitate what began as a glittering career, he could play again. Indeed the majority of the cricketing world will surely hope that he does reappear. If anyone is a victim in this distressing episode, it is Amir.

At first glance the acts Butt, Asif and Amir are accused of were hardly the most heinous. The no-balls at Lord's were not going to change the course of the match and no one, as far as we know, was financially damaged by those deliveries. Here were three small (over) steps for man, but one giant leap for cricketing kind.

There have been plenty of intentional no-balls before, delivered out of mischief, malice or hunger. On a dull, cold day it often seemed a cunning ploy, appreciated by all the combatants out on the field – including the umpires – to deliver a no-ball at 12.59pm to ensure that everyone would not have to wait for the completion of another over before trudging off for an eagerly anticipated lunch. That extra delivery sped everyone to the appointed hour most conveniently.

Mike Procter, a charismatic fast bowler before becoming an ICC match referee, has explained how he used to bowl no-ball bouncers at tailenders on purpose. The plan was to put the wind up timorous batsmen and still ensure that there were six balls available in the over to bowl them out. Which Procter invariably did. Far more nefarious was the no-ball deliberately delivered by a fast bowler with a bent arm. Such deliveries could maim unsuspecting batsmen and could cause far more harm than anything conjured up by Asif and Amir at Lord's last August.

Yet the yearning to go to draconian lengths to deter fixing of any sort is justifiable. Before any professional cricketer contemplates that preordained wide or no-ball, maybe a bell will now ring in his head: "Remember what happened to Asif and Amir." However, even beyond Pakistan there should be sympathy for Amir. By contrast Butt prompts little compassion, if only because he appears to have made so many of us look stupid. In 2010 it seemed as if Butt – calm, urbane and softly spoken – was just the man to restore a semblance of order to Pakistan cricket, especially after he led his team to victory over Australia at Headingley. Then we saw the beady eyes of the Pakistan captain, who was standing at mid-off at Lord's and staring, not at the batsmen, but at the precise location of Amir's feet as he delivered the ball. Soon the stench of betrayal was in the air.

Throughout that 2010 summer we had marvelled at the old-fashioned virtues of swing and cut in Asif's bowling. At 28, and after several run-ins with the authorities, he should know the score.

But Amir is still an 18-year-old, albeit one who can boast 51 Test wickets. And most 18-year-olds, upon entering an international dressing room, simply do as they are told.

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Amir, Asif and Butt handed lengthy bans by ICC

An International Cricket Council corruption Tribunal has announced its verdict on the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the cricket world in August 2010, handing down lengthy bans to the trio of Mohammad Asif, Mohommad Amir and Salman Butt.
Butt faces a 10-year ban while Asif and Amir are banned for 7 and 5 years respectively. Their cricketing careers seem to be almost certainly over barring the opportunity for an appeal is permitted by the ICC.

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Manager Intikhab Alam praises Pakistan’s performance

Manager Intikhab Alam praises Pakistan’s performance

Intikhab Alam, manager of the Pakistan national cricket team, has praised the side for winning the ODI series against New Zealand and finding form at the right time just before the ICC World Cup 2011.

Speaking to reporters, Alam said, “Its great emergence by Pakistan team after they were hit by problems on and off the field during the tour of England last year. It is a great turnaround by the team and each and every member of the team and the team management are to be complimented for their contribution in the success of the team.”

Alam praised the head coach Waqar Younis for putting in extra effort during the practice sessions. This effort by Waqar ultimately made possible for the Men in Green to win a Test and ODI series in New Zealand after 18 years.

“Boys have shown improvement in all areas of the game and coaching staff was working tactically and technically to make players perform consistently in the World Cup,” he said.

After losing the three-match T20 series 2-1, Pakistan came back strong by winning the two-match Test series 1-0 and then the six-match ODI series 3-1, with one match still to go on today at Eden Park, Auckland.

Pakistan’s performance against the Black Caps has come at a time when their ace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif are suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for being allegedly involved in spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England last year in August.

Alam praised the batsmen and the bowlers for clicking at the right moment and insisted that the win against New Zealand was a combined effort by everyone.

Alam reiterated that the players would have to maintain consistency in order to do well in the World Cup, which is set to begin from the 19^th of this month, jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “We have developed good combination and if players maintained their rhythm and consistency that will bear fruits in the World Cup,” said a confident Intikhab.

The series in New Zealand was the last competitive fixture for Pakistan before the World Cup and this series helped the Shahid Afridi-led eleven prepare for cricket’s mega event of the year.

Pakistan came to New Zealand after losing the T20 and ODI series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which raised concerns about the lack of preparedness of the Pakistan squad for the World Cup. However, the Test and ODI victories in New Zealand must have served as a morale booster for Pakistan right before they take on the rest of the world in the World Cup.

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Waqar Younis satisfied with Pakistan performance against New Zealand

Waqar Younis satisfied with Pakistan performance against New Zealand

After success in the 5th ODI against New Zealand, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis is quite hopeful about the team’s victory in the last One Day International against New Zealand.

The consecutive three wins of the green shirts would prove beneficial for their performance in the ICC World Cup 2011 starting on 19 February. Waqar said, “I think it's important to keep the momentum going and finish on a winning note."

Younis wants his team to play well and maintain the energy and confidence to win the 6th ODI. He said the team played well but still some players couldn’t get a chance in the series, as they could not be included in the playing eleven.

"The aim is to win, but I'm not really sure what we will do at the moment. We have got a couple of guys who are sitting out and haven't played more cricket, so they would get a chance."

Waqar added, “Each member of the team felt much distressed due to the controversies surrounding Pakistan cricket. Now it's good to see the guys making comebacks and playing well." He said he is looking forward to more victories.

About the captaincy issue, he criticized the PCB for delay in announcing the captain. All participating countries have announced their team skippers, but it is only the PCB which is showing care-free attitude towards this important issue, he said. They seem to be unaware that confusion over captaincy can leave negative effects on team’s performance, he said and added the team would possibly be split into different groups that would be dangerous for its unity.

Waqar added that if the team worked hard, they would be victorious as they were in 1992. The coach expressed his expectation that Pakistan would win the trophy.

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Now everyone should support Afridi, says Abdul Qadir

KARACHI: With the confusion ending with the appointment of Shahid Afridi as Pakistan cricket team captain for the upcoming World Cup, former Test cricketer Abdul Qadir urges that all the gossiping should also end and players, board and the nation should now rally around Shahid Afridi.

“The board shouldn’t have taken such a path of uncertainty over the captaincy row. Such a confusion over captainship — only days before the World Cup was not a prudent step. However, they have named the captain and now everyone should forget about the past and start supporting the captain and the team for the World Cup,” the former spin maestro, Abdul Qadir told PPI.

He said that the need of the time is that everyone should abandon criticising the team and blistering out all the negative aspects.

“Since World Cup is loitering at our head, everyone, though it be PCB think tank or former players, they should all start supporting the team and speak only that, which they sincerely believes could help Pakistan in their World Cup campaign,” said Qadir, who is also a former chief selector.

However, Qadir said that winning series against New Zealand, which has earlier lost series against Bangladesh and India, was not a big thing and the team should prepare itself for tougher opposition in the World Cup.

He said that Pakistan would need spinners in the Asian pitches during the World Cup, therefore Saeed Ajmal or Abdur Rehman should be featured in the sixth and final match of the series, in order to give them some exposure ahead of the World Cup.

“They have to feature Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman in the World Cup matches so I think they should feature them in the remaining last match of the series against New Zealand to give them some practice ahead of the World Cup,” Qadir said.

He further said that Pakistan has an effective opening combination in Ahmed Shahzad and Mohammad Hafeez, who both have scored centuries in the ongoing series against New Zealand.

“I think Kamran Akmal is a match winner, however, they should send him down the order at sixth or seventh place as he is capable of playing well when the ball is old. Moreover, Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shahzad have been playing well,” he added

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Pakistan trio to face UK criminal charges

LONDON: Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir will face criminal charges in Britain over allegations they conspired with bookmakers to fix a match last year against England.
The trio have protested their innocence to the International Cricket Council but Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said on Friday they and their agent have been summoned on charges of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat.
The players have been suspended from all cricket since Sept. 3 after a British tabloid alleged they bowled no-balls at prearranged times during August’s fourth test at Lord’s to fix spot betting markets.
It was alleged 150,000 pounds ($241,000) was forwarded through businessman Mazhar Majeed.
CPS head Simon Clements said the organisation, which was responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by British police, believed it had enough proof to convict the players.
”We are satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute,” Clements said.
”The International Cricket Council tribunal is due to announce its decision tomorrow, but criminal proceedings are active now.”
Clements said the CPS will apply for extradition orders against Butt, Asif and Amir —the latter of whom has apologized for bowling five overs in a friendly last week —if they do not return to Britain next month.
Majeed is due to appear for an initial hearing at London’s City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 17.
”I would remind everyone that these men are entitled to a fair trial and should be regarded as innocent of these charges unless it is proven otherwise in court,” said Clements, whose organization received a file of evidence from Metropolitan Police on Dec. 7.
”It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice the trial.”
An ICC anti-corruption tribunal, which questioned the players for more than 45 hours in Doha last month, is expected to deliver its own verdict on the players’ cricket future on Saturday in the sport’s biggest fixing scandal of the past decade.
”I think now the situation is very bleak for all the three cricketers,” former test fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz said. ”I won’t be surprised if tomorrow the ICC anti-corruption tribunal gives them tough punishments.”
But Amir’s lawyer Shahid Karim hopes for a positive judgment for his 18-year-old client, who troubled England and Australia batsmen until the scandal broke following an investigation by the News of the World.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it might consider the three players for the World Cup if they are exonerated.
On the request of the ICC, Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi, coach Waqar Younis and former security manager Kahwaja Najam Javed also recorded statements at the Doha hearing.
”The appearance of these three is a clear indicator that the decision would not be in the cricketers’ favor,” Nawaz said.
A new group of cricket fans calling themselves the International Organization for Justice in Cricket, asked in a statement on Friday for the hearing to be halted while British police investigate.
The group claims to include hundreds of cricket fans from South Africa to Pakistan.
”The tribunal is at best a kangaroo court and a simple formality to ensure that the careers of the cricketers are ended and the country disgraced,” the group said in Dubai.
”The real culprits, the corrupt and those incompatible to the honor of cricket, will carry on well after this tribunal.”
Nawaz said Asif and Amir could escape tough punishments only if they could prove that they did not take money and bowled no-balls on the directives of captain Butt.
”Otherwise it will be difficult for them to get any favors from the tribunal,” he said. Nawaz urged tough action against the players if the tribunal finds them guilty.
”I have no doubt that all three will now go to London for March 17 hearing,” Nawaz said. ”They have to; they have no choice.”

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United Pakistan a very dangerous side: Saleem Yousuf

KARACHI: Former Test wicketkeeper Saleem Yousuf believes that a united Pakistan  side could prove dangerous at 2011 World Cup.
“As a united team, Pakistan team is going through purple patch after taking unbeatable 3-1 lead over New Zealand,” he told APP in an interview at Karachi Gymkhana here on Thursday.
“It’s a good comeback after disastrous start in the six match one-day series,” the 51-year-old Yousuf, who featured in 32 Test matches and 86 ODI for Pakistan between 1982 to 1990, said.
“If Pakistan team maintain the same momentum, they can be good team in the World Cup in sub-continent conditions,” he said.
“Pakistan is capable of reaching beyond the quarterfinal rounds. This side is a good combination and is proving adversity brings out the best in them.”
“There are no stars in current Pakistan team. But their are several utility cricketers, who could prove good for the team,” he said.
“It was important that team remained focused and jelled during the World Cup.
“We can recall 2007 World Cup when a powerful Pakistan team’s crashed out in the preliminary rounds. We must take lessons from the past to this year’s World Cup,” he stated.
Yousuf was of the opinion that Pakistan was showing marked improvement in the field but more efforts were required from the players.
“Its nice to see Younis Khan taking three catches in the field,” he commented.
“But we got to improve in fielding department as well substantially curbing the tendency to concede too many extras. ,” Yousuf , who carried Pakistan to an exciting victory over West Indies in 1987 World Cup, said.
He expressed his delight that there were no controversies on the current New Zealand tour.
“Any controversy on off the field badly at this moment will badly affect Pakistan players,” he added.
He praised the batting show by young opener Ahmed Shehzad, who scored his maiden hundred.
“Its good sign for team ahead of World Cup for the team and the player,” he commented.
He also complimented Misbah-ul-Haq for his consistent batting display in Test matches as well in ODI series.
Yousuf advocated Shahid Afridi as captain for the World Cup stating that a change at this stage will not be good for team.
Commenting on the performance of Kamran Akmal, who is making a comeback in the team, he said the wicket-keeper was an experienced player and his presence could be good for the team.

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World cup kit for Pakistan

These are two possible kits for Pakistan Team.Lets see which kitt will used in world cup.

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PCB names Shahid Afridi as captain for World Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) late on Thursday night announced that Shahid Afridi will lead the Pakistan side in the cricket World Cup, to be held from February 19 – April 2 in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The cricket board (PCB) announced their 15-man squad for the showpiece event on January 18 but  did announce a skipper until today (Friday).

Pakistan’s current limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi and the Test skipper Misbahul Haq were the two contenders for leading the team in the World Cup.

They downplayed the ongoing row but former players lashed out saying the decision was likely to harm team unity.

Afridi had earlier said: “It would not be an issue for me if I’m removed as captain.”

“It doesn’t make a difference whether Misbah leads the side or I lead the side because we both are playing for our country.”

Afridi had also shrugged-off reports of differences with Misbah.

“We don’t have any differences. He is a good player who remains focused on his job.”

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Ahmed Shehzad’s maiden ton guides Pakistan to 268

Ahmed Shehzad mustered his maiden century, and put Pakistan in a comfortable position against New Zealand, in the fifth One Day International (ODI) of the six-match series at the Seddon Park Ground in Hamilton.

In the process, Shehzad guided the visiting team to a competitive 268-run total for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted quota of 50 overs.

The talented youngster, who did not have a single half-century prior to this innings, hammered 115 runs off just 109 balls. Wickets fell around him, but he wasn’t bogged down, as he hammered the opposition bowlers to all corners of the park. In his brilliant knock, he smashed 12 fours and three sixes.  

Ross Taylor, the New Zealand captain won the toss and chose to field first in order to take advantage of the overcast conditions. However, the bowlers were not able to find any movement through the air with the new-ball.

The Pakistani openers started sedately, adding 20 runs in their first 6 overs. Hafeez returned to the pavilion, scoring 14 runs, while Shehzad went about collecting his runs at a decent rate.

Kamran Akmal, who has been out of form, looked good for his 17-run innings, until he got run-out while attempting a suicidal run. The wicket-keeper batsmen left Pakistan wobbling at 73 for 2 after 15 overs.

Ahmed, who was coasting nicely, opened up and played a couple of scintillating shots. In the process, he added 47 runs with Younis Khan, and shared a 77-run stand with Misbah-ul-Haq.

In the middle overs, the Kiwi bowlers struck back and dismissed both Misbah and the centurion in quick succession. Nevertheless, a late-order blitz for Shahid Afridi (24) and Umar Akmal (32) helped Pakistan post a challenging target.   

It was a determined bowling effort from the New Zealand bowlers. They ended up restricting the opposition to a manageable total. The new-ball bowlers put the ball in the right areas, while the support attack continued the good work.

Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram displayed a brilliant spell of seam bowling, as the duo hardly missed their line and direction with the white kookaburra.

Mills’s excellent bowling earned him figures of 2 for 42, while Oram finished his spell with decent figures of 2 for 49.

In the middle overs, Nathan McCullum, tied down the flow of runs at one end, grabbing economical figures of 1 for 40 in 10 incisive overs.

A 269-run target will test the home side, as they look to avoid a series defeat against Pakistan.

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