Australia’s one-run loss to Zimbabwe “wont be a setback”: Johnson

St. Lucia, Apr 28(ANI): Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has refused to label his side’s one-run loss to Zimbabwe in their opening T20 World Cup warm-up game as a setback.

“I think we did a pretty good job with the ball. There was only a couple of overs there that got away from us a little bit,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Johnson, as saying.

“Obviously we would have liked to have won. When you come into these practice games you want to be pretty close to your best. It won’t be a setback,” he added.

The 28-year-old further admitted that though the loss was disappointing, his team is strong enough to go the distance in the tournament.

“It’s disappointing to lose in a practice match, but we’ve just got to keep going forward, keep working hard in our training sessions and make sure we’re ready for the World Cup,” Johnson said.

Australia lost the warm-up game at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia, despite a four-wicket haul from Johnson.

Chasing Zimbabwe’s 173 for seven off 20 overs, the Australian team was restricted to 172 for seven.

Johnson claimed 4-23 from his four overs, and was the pick of the Oz bowlers. (ANI)

Afridi says form in Pak’s warm-up games vital to ICC T20 World Cup title hopes

St. Lucia, Apr.28 (ANI): Keen to retain the ICC World T20 Championship, Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi is in no mood to let his team relax in the warm-up matches ahead of the important tournament.

Pakistan would kick start its campaign in the tournament against Bangladesh on May 1, but before that it has to play two practice games against the Windward XI (today April 28) and Zimbabwe (on Thursday, 29 April), and Afridi wants his side to win both the matches before the real test starts.

“We want to get off to a flyer and the importance of the warm up games should not be underestimated,” PakPassion.net quoted Afridi, as saying.

In 2009, although Pakistan took home the coveted trophy, its performance in the first two matches against England and India was ordinary to say the least, and Afridi knows that repeating the same mistakes again could dent hopes of lifting the championship for the second consecutive time.

“The Bangladesh match is the first match in the tournament for us and it is a vital game, so we must make sure that we are fully prepared, ready and in good form ahead of the first match. This is why the two warmup matches are crucial,” Afridi said.

He said he would want his squad to give its all in the warm-up matches and start the campaign with a bang.

“The matches against Windward XI and Zimbabwe will be used as vital practice for the real thing, We want to take the matches very seriously and ensure that our players make full use of the warm up fixtures. We dont want to start slowly and would much rather go into the tournament showing some decent form,” Afridi said. (ANI)

Oz skipper awaits arrival of three key players for T20 World Cup

Sydney, Apr 26 (ANI): Skipper Michael Clarke is waiting for the arrival of three key Australian players, which is hampering the team’s preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean.

Australia is set to play warm-up games in St Lucia against Zimbabwe on Tuesday and against the Windward Islands on Thursday.

Vice-captain Cameron White and opening bowler Shaun Tait are yet to arrive after completing commitments in the Indian Premier League.

Mike Hussey’s team the Chennai Super Kings won the IPL final in Mumbai on Sunday, although he wasn’t named in the playing 11.

“Michael Hussey is still not here. Shaun Tait is due to arrive today and Cameron White is on his way as well. Hopefully they get here quickly,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying.

“Those guys will be a little bit jetlagged from their flights but we’re pretty fortunate they’ve played a bit of cricket as well. We need to use both practice games to build momentum but also to give guys who haven’t played in the IPL a chance to get some cricket under their belt,” he said.

Australia has been drawn in Group A to face world champions Pakistan on Sunday in St Lucia and Bangladesh in Barbados on May 5.

Australia, who made a first-round exit at the 2009 World T20 in England, are unseeded in the 12-team event to be played over 17 days, with the final in Barbados on May 16. (ANI)

Former Pak selector urges Shoaib Akhtar to call it a day

Karachi, Mar 29(ANI): Former Pakistan national selector Ehteshamuddin has urged injury plagued fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to call it a day, despite the 34-year-old declaring himself fit to play again.

Last week Akhtar took part in three one-day practice games against the Afghanistan national team, which was training in Lahore. He played only as a bowler in the first two games, and in the third game he only turned up to bowl his overs.

“I think Akhtar should announce his retirement because it’s clear that his body is no longer able to support a fast bowler’s workload. Akhtar as a bowler has been finished since late 2006. After that point, he has never been fit enough to play international cricket,” Cricistan.com quoted Ehteshamuddin, as saying.

This is not the first time that Etheshamuddin has questioned Akhtar’s fitness. Earlier, he had left the fast bowler out of Pakistan’s 2007 squad to South Africa citing lack of match fitness as the reason behind his decision.

Akhtar has not featured in a five-day match for Pakistan for more than two years, and many cricket followers and scribes around the globe are asking the question “Will we ever see Shoaib Akhtar in a Pakistan shirt again?”

He had earlier said that his international career was not over and stressed that his aim is to win back his place in the Pakistan team.

“My aim and goal is to win back my place in the Pakistan team and I strongly believe that I will be back. You know things change very quickly in Pakistan cricket and I’m confident that my chance will come again,” Akhtar had said.

“I can’t say when, but I believe my chance will come,” he added. (ANI)

Pak skipper Younis Khan fractures finger

Benoni (South Africa), Sep.19 (ANI): Pakistan cricket team’s Champions Trophy dreams suffered a major set back when captain Younis Khan fractured his finger during a warm-up match against Sri Lanka here.

Doctors have advised Khan complete rest for the next three days. It is unsure whether he will be playing in the next two practice games on Saturday and Sunday.

Notwithstanding Khan’s injury, Pakistan, however, trounced Sri Lanka by 108 runs in the first warm-up match ahead of eight nation tournament.

The Pakistan team is staying in Johannesburg’s Santon Sun Hotel while in South Africa.

Team manager Yawar Saeed has expressed satisfaction over the security arrangement.

“Over half a dozen security guards have been deputed to guard the floor where Pakistan team is staying. I think in recent times this is one of the best security cover the team is provided with,” The News quoted Saeed, as saying. (ANI)

Coach Alam says ‘mentally tough’ Pakistan ready for World Twenty20

Karachi, May 25 (ANI): Pakistan cricket team coach Intikhab Alam has said that the national squad is both mentally and physically fit to take on its opponents in next month’s World Twenty20 Championship in England.

Pakistan reached the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007, but fell to India in the title clash.

Alam told The News that this time he is hopeful that Pakistan would go all the way to the title.

“One of our primary tasks is to make the players mentally tough. Mental toughness is one of the key elements needed to win a major title and we believe that the players can improve in that area with help from steps like having a psychologist around for a while,” he added.

“Our aim is to win the title and England and thankfully our preparations are on the right track,” he stressed.

Pakistan warmed up for the World Twenty20 by comprehensively beating Australia in a one-off Twenty20 International in Dubai on May. Later, the national cricketers attended a conditioning camp in Bhurban and then played a series of practice games in Lahore.

The players will now compete in the RBS National Twenty20 Cup getting underway in Lahore from Monday.

The Pakistan team players will only compete in matches on the first three days of the five-day contest.

“We have decided to give the boys a two-day rest because its also equally important to rest and rejuvenate,” said Alam. (ANI)

‘Akhtar is addicted to strong pain-killers and can’t live without them’

Karachi, May 24 (ANI): Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s prolonged fitness problems maybe primarily due to his addiction to strong pain killers.

According to the sources privy to the Pakistan cricket camp, Akhtar is so addicted to pain-killing injections that it seems he can not live without it.

“He (Akhtar) is addicted to strong pain-killers and it seems he can’t live without them,” The News quoted the source, as saying.

He also revealed that Akhtar virtually begged for a particular pain killer during the recent one-day series against Australia in the UAE.

“Akhtar was so desperate for a particular pain-killing injection during the tour of UAE that he almost begged a local doctor for it. The doctor, however, told him that he would risk being thrown out of UAE is he administered that injection,” he said.

Akhtar looked out of sorts during the whole series and failed to bowl his quota of ten overs in any of the five games of the series.

It may be noted that the PCB had initially selected Akhtar for the World Twenty20 championship, but later axed him from the 15 man squad after the pacer developed a ‘mysterious’ skin disease.

Akhtar also missed the five-day conditioning camp in Bhurban, and stayed out of the three practice games played in Lahore from May 20-22. (ANI)

‘Mysterious’ skin disease cast doubts over Akhtar’s Twenty20 World Cup participation

Lahore, May 21 (ANI): The ‘mysterious’ skin disease has created doubts about Shoaib Akhtar’s participation the Twenty20 World Cup starting from June 5 in England.

Akhtar did not participate in the Bhurban training camp, and now the skin infection has forced him out of the three practice games to be played ahead of the team’s departure to England.

“Shoaib will miss all three practice matches because of the condition. At this juncture I will not say anything more about his status in Pakistan’s squad for the World Cup but we will make an announcement on Thursday (today),” The Daily Times quoted coach Intikhab Alam, as saying.

Alam had already made it clear that Akhtar would have to prove his fitness to make it to the mega event, failing which he may be axed from the squad.

“Shoaib will have to play in the practice games otherwise there could be problems for him,” Alam had said.

The controversial pacer could find himself in more trouble with the PCB contemplating disciplinary action against him for violating the central contract with regard to his medical report submitted for skipping the national camp held in the hill resort of Bhurban.

Sources in the PCB said that board officials were unhappy with Akhtar’s medical report that allowed him to skip the conditioning camp.

They added the PCB’s view was that since Akhtar was getting medical attention privately, the board could not be held responsible if he faces any doping problems during the T20 World Cup in England. (ANI)

Akhtar must prove his fitness to make it to England for T20 World Cup : Alam

Lahore, May 20 (ANI): Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said that Shoaib Akhtar must prove his fitness to make it to the ICC World Twenty20 championship starting from June 5 in England.

Alam said Akhtar will have to prove that he is 100 percent fit otherwise he would be dropped from the squad for the mega event.

“Shoaib will have to play in the practice games otherwise there could be problems for him,” The Nation qouted Alam, as saying.

The controversial pacer could find himself in more trouble with the PCB contemplating disciplinary action against him for violating the central contract with regard to his medical report submitted for skipping the national camp held in the hill resort of Bhurban.

Sources in the PCB said that board officials were unhappy with Akhtar’s medical report that allowed him to skip the conditioning camp.

They added the PCB’s view was that since Akhtar was getting medical attention privately, the board could not be held responsible if he faces any doping problems during the T20 World Cup in England. (ANI)