Salman Butt emerges frontrunner for Pak Test captaincy

May 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 19 (ANI): Left-hand Pakistan opener Salman Butt has emerged as a frontrunner for the captaincy for the upcoming back-to-back Test series against England and Australia.

According to sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the board is contemplating to reward Butt with the Test captaincy for his impressive show in the just concluded ICC World T20 Championship in the West Indies.

T20 skipper Shahid Afridi is likely to lead the team in the upcoming Asia Cup and later in the one-day tournament against England and Australia in England. However, the board would have to appoint a new captain for the Test series as Afridi has decided not to play the five-day game, The Daily Times reports.

Butt had served as vice-captain under Shoaib Malik, but he failed to impress the selectors during his stint as Malik’s deputy following which he was removed. (ANI)

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“Heartbroken” Ajmal says Hussey’s final over onslaught will forever haunt him

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 18 (ANI): Pakistan’s stunning loss to Australia in the semi-final of the ICC World T20 Championship at the Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia has left off-spinner Saeed Ajmal ‘heartbroken’.

Chasing a challenging 192 for victory, Australia needed 48 runs from the last 18 deliveries.

Skipper Shahid Afridi threw the ball to the trusted Ajmal to bowl the final over of the match with the Kangaroos still needing 18 more runs.

Pakistan looked all set to reserve a berth in the final of the T20 World Championship for the third consecutive time. But Mike Hussey had some other ideas. He smashed Ajmal for three sixes and a four in the final over to register a breathtaking win over the defending champions.

Hussey’s merciless hitting is still playing on Ajmal’s mind, as he has still not been able to cope with the heavy defeat.

“When Hussey hit the last six I was absolutely heartbroken, I am still heartbroken. It was a very emotional and difficult time for me. My teammates all came up to me and consoled me and told me not to worry, but I was very upset. The pain is there, when you lose a game of this magnitude it hurts really badly,” Ajmal told PakPassion.net.

Ajmal, who boasts an economy rate of only 6.24 in the slam bang version of the game, said that it was pre-planned that he would be bowling the final over of the match and that he had his own game plan ready.

“The first delivery was perfect, it was what I had planned, it was a perfect yorker to Johnson and it only went for a single. However then the wind seemed to pick up and I was bowling into the wind which made me lose my line and length,” he said.

Ajmal, however, did not deny Hussey the credit for his stupendous show in the all important tie.

“It was an amazing innings, you have to give Hussey a lot of credit for playing that sort of innings in such an important match at such a crucial time,” he said.

Now that the tournament is over, Ajmal says he is already looking at doing better in the upcoming tournaments.

“The best way for me to get over this match is to start playing cricket again, get the ball in my hand and to start bowling again. Thankfully the Asia Cup is not far away and I am looking forward to playing in that tournament in Sri Lanka. I have faith in my ability and I am confident that I can bounce back after the match in St Lucia,” he said.

But the question is would Ajmal bowl the final in a crunch match again?

“Of course I would,” is his answer. (ANI)

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White being tipped to replace Clarke as Oz T20 captain

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, May 17 (ANI): Victoria captain Cameron White, who led his side to the Big Bash title, while winning four of the past five championships, is being tipped to be the new Australian Twent20 skipper after incumbent Michael Clarke’s tenure comes under review over his suspect batting in the shortest version of the game.

Clarke has conceded that his position must come under review following Australia’s seven-wicket loss to archrivals England. He finished with 92 runs in the tournament at 15.33. White on the other hand scored 180 runs at 45, with a strike rate of 146.34 compared with Clarke’s strike rate of 80.7.

It is a difficult consideration for selectors because of Clarke’s astute leadership and excellent winning record as captain. But his not holding his place in the Twenty20 team as a batsman is proving a weakness, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Clarke’s performances in the three World Twenty20s so far have yielded 108 runs at an average of 10.8, with a strike rate of 77.14. White, by contrast, has played only 20 games for Australia, but has more runs – 481, at a superior average of 43.72 and an excellent strike rate of 148.45.

“There is no doubt the selectors will need to have a look at my performances. I certainly know they haven’t been up to scratch and as good as I would’ve expected throughout this whole tournament, and probably Twenty20 cricket in general,” said Clarke.

“I’m sure the selectors will have a look and if I’m not the right person for the No.3 position and the captaincy of this team they’ll make that decision,” he said.

White was predictably diplomatic when asked about taking over the leadership in wake of Clarke’s comments.

“If that’s what Michael thinks, that’s what he’s thinking. I’m in no position to think about selection. All I can do is make sure I’m doing well and the team’s doing well and playing my part for the team and supporting Michael as vice-captain as well,” White said. (ANI)

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Yuvraj’s form a window for Dravid?

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

India’s disastrous run in the World T20 in the Caribbean and Yuvraj Singh’s indifferent form might have opened a window of hope for Rahul Dravid’s inclusion back in the limited overs side, according to sources. Some of the selectors are seriously mulling over bringing the former India skipper back to the ODI fold with an eye on next year’s World Cup, according to a source in the BCCI. “Yuvraj Singh looked out of sorts in the Caribbean,” a selector told The Sunday Express on conditions of anonymity. “He is a talented cricketer but he is not doing justice to his talent — maybe he needs to return to the drawing board.”

According to the selector, the left-hander could get the axe for next month’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, and that might open up a slot in the middle order. “Asia Cup is going to be the litmus test for the team,” he said, “and after the Caribbean debacle, the young players will be under pressure. So experience is needed to calm the nerves, and also help (skipper) Mahendra Singh Dhoni in decision-making.”

Dravid, according to the selector, is “still in our scheme of things as far as ODIs are concerned. I should say he has a fifty-fifty chance of returning to the team for Asia Cup.” Incidentally, Dravid was brought back to the ODI squad after last year’s World T20 but was dumped after just two series despite a couple of good knocks in the Champions Trophy.

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IPL’s role in T20 to torn tee, the post-party debate has begun

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If somebody is saying behind me that somebody tore my shirt then what can I say? I didn’t even take any shirt to West Indies. I had taken only T-shirts

Ashish Nehra has his defence in place on his alleged involvement in a pub brawl

Nothing like that has happened. It’s all media’s imagination. One channel carries a story and others follow. We were all together near the team hotel’s swimming pool before departing for home

Indian team manager Ranjib Biswal dismisses all talk of brawl as a figment of imagination

Every player involved in it (IPL) has only got good words to say. But I am pleased I had the rest this time. At the time my body needed a bit of a break after a tough winter in South Africa and Bangladesh and I feel fresh. That was much required… (but) it would have been fantastic to learn some more skills in different conditions.

England seamer Stuart Broad is one of the few lucky ones to come into the World T20 fresh

I think it is a very poor excuse to say IPL parties were the reason for the team not performing here. If that was the case then Sri Lanka would not have been in the semis, nor England and Australia. I don’t think that is an issue at all

Sunil Gavaskar is clear that the IPL had nothing to do with India’s dismal show in World T20

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“In-house” tennis tournament helping Pak cricketers relax, keep fit during ICC T20WC

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 14 (ANI): The Pakistan cricket team, which is just a couple of steps away from retaining the ICC World T20 Championship in the West Indies, has adopted a unique way of keeping itself fit and also avoid boredom during the tournament.

Sources close to the team have revealed that players are having a tennis tournament of their own which is keeping them engrossed off the field, thus ensuring that there were no distractions and squabbles during the tour.

Players have formed doubles teams and have been competing with each other throughout the Caribbean tour.

Salman Butt has Kamran Akmal as his partner, while Umar Akmal has paired up with fast bowler Mohammad Sami. Skipper Shahid Afridi plays alongside his Karachi teammate Fawad Alam, and Mohammed Sami has joined Khalid Latif, PakPassion.net reports.

“Tennis has been a good way of the boys bonding. They have had some good fun on the tennis court and it”s definitely helped with their fitness and stamina levels. I would say they were pretty cool and laid back on the tennis court, rather like Roger Federer, instead of the firebrand John McEnroe. The pressure can get quite intense and these sort of fun activities definitely have helped the boys,” sources close to the team said.

They also revealed that the team of Afridi-Alam and Kamran-Salman are vying with each other for the top ranking in the tournament, which would continue till the end of the T20 championship.

Wonder whether this love for tennis of Pakistani cricketers has anything to do with Shoaib Malik’s wedding with Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza. (ANI)

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`No team can get near us,’ says Tait

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia (West Indies), May 14 (ANI): Lightning fast bowler Shaun Tait has said that no team “can get near us” if Australia continue to play to their ability at the World Twenty20 in the West Indies.

“”If we play well, I don”t think anyone can get near us. We”re a disciplined outfit. We all know our games very well. We have gelled as a team perfectly and we”re playing really good cricket. The only way we can come unstuck is against ourselves,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Tait, as saying.

“We”re our biggest challenge. If we play badly, I think that”s the only way we can bomb out of the comp,” he added.

“Without getting too far ahead of ourselves and too cocky or arrogant, if we play our best cricket we”ll win the tournament,” Tait said on Wednesday.

Undefeated Australia play defending champions Pakistan in their semi-final in St Lucia on Friday.

England has entered the final after beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the first semi-final on Thursday.

Tait was one of the heroes for Australia in the 2007 World Cup with 23 wickets in the Caribbean, and can see plenty of similarities between the current T20 campaign and the way Australia crashed through all comers in the one-day international showpiece three years ago.

“Definitely. It sort of reminds me a little bit of the World Cup in 2007 when we went through flawless,” Tait said.

Despite not advancing beyond the semi-finals in the two previous World T20 tournaments in 2007 and 2009, Australia have swept through the group and Super Eights rounds.

“We”ve been pretty relaxed, the atmosphere. We haven”t had great long meetings about opposition teams,” said Tait.

“We are just concentrating on our own game. We know that we”ve got the team and the players. If we play well, we should win the competition,” he said. (ANI)

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Keeper Haddin says Clarke is the best in the business

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia (West Indies), May 14 (ANI): Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin has described skipper Michael Clarke as one of the best in the business in the modern era, and rubbished criticism about his form in the ongoing World Twenty20 championship in the Caribbean.

Clarke has made just 48 runs in the World T20 at an average of 12, but has had more success with his captaincy, guiding Australia to five wins from five outings.

His strike-rate in the tournament of 70.58 ranks him well below the other five batsmen in Australia”s top six, but Haddin says the skipper is desperately needed when Australia”s openers fail to fire.

””Michael”s still our best player. He”s still a world-class batsman. Class is always class. The role he plays here can”t be underestimated,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Haddin, as saying.

””Michael is there to do the role that”s pretty tough, running hard between the wickets. He comes out when we”re in trouble. You need explosive batsmen but you need players like Michael to play in any different situations,”” he added.

””His captaincy has been first class. All the teams have explosive bats and world-class bowlers, but what he”s brought to us is make sure we”re doing our little things best, a presence in the field, taking all the catches,”” Haddin said. (ANI)

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Umar Akmal doubtful for semi-final clash against Oz in T20 WC

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia (West Indies), May 14 (ANI): Young Pakistan middle-order batsman Umar Akmal is a doubtful starter for today’s World T20 Championship semi-final clash against Australia.

According to reports, Umar was taken to a local hospital here after he complained of back pain, and would be going through an MRI scan later.

Any final decision regarding Umar’s inclusion in the final eleven for the all important match against the Kangaroos would be taken after his MRI report comes, The News quoted sources in the Pakistani dressing room, as saying.

There are speculations that uncapped young batsman Hammad Azam may replace Umar, if he is declared unfit to play.

Umar’s absence could severely dent Pakistan’s hopes of playing in the final of the ICC World T20 Championship for the second consecutive time, as he has been in good form in the ongoing tournament.

He scored a brilliant 51 of 43 balls in the last Super Eight match against South Africa at the Beausejour Stadium here, which helped Pakistan register an easy 11 run win knocking the Proteas out from the tournament. (ANI)

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Players themselves to be blamed for semi-final loss: Sangakkara

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Gros Islet, May 14 (ANI): Dejected after the seven wicket loss to England in the semi-final of the ICC World T20 Championship here, Sri Lanka cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara has said no one else but the players themselves are to be blamed for their shoddy performance in the all important match of the tournament.

Last year’s finalist, Sri Lanka could manage to put only 128 on the score board after Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat at the Beausejour Stadium here. For England, it was once again Kevin Pietersen who shone with the bat, showing no signs of fatigue after flying back from London following the birth of his first son. He remained unbeaten on 42.

Sangakkara, who himself made just 16, said losing wickets at regular intervals restricted the team from posting a fighting total.

“In the first six overs if we”d got 40 runs with wickets in hand we could have accelerated through the middle but we lost three wickets early. Angelo Mathews (58) played very well but we didn”t bat smartly today,” he said.

Commenting on the smart bowling tactics of England pacers, who used slow looping bouncers to good effect, Sangakkara said : “ Everyone has those sorts of deliveries these days but it”s how you use them that counts and I thought England did that very well.”

Veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya finished the tournament with just 15 runs from six innings, but the Sri Lankan skipper avoided comments on whether it was the 40-year old batsmen’s last international outing.

“Unfortunately he didn”t have a great run but to his credit he stuck with the team through a difficult period and the team stuck with him. He showed a lot of support and we made sure he felt wanted, unfortunately he didn”t deliver but we still had more than enough quality to do better than we did today,” he said during the post-match presentation. (ANI)

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Proteas could take a lesson or two from England on T20 plans

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Cape Town (South Africa), May 13 (ANI): South Africa would do well to take lessons from England on Twenty20 international selection policy, a Sports24.com report has opined.

Commonly no match for South Africa for several years in one-day cricket generally, England have significantly remodelled their battle-plans more recently and, it appears, worked themselves into a position where they are suddenly both outplaying and outsmarting their old southern hemisphere foes.

According to the web site, England has pretty much had the Proteas’ number in the limited-overs arena since 2008, when they trounced them 4-0 in the NatWest Series that closely followed South Africa’s historic 2-1 Test series triumph on enemy soil.

Since then they have been responsible for eliminating Graeme Smith’s side from the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa last summer, followed that up by beating them 2-1 in the ODI series, and more recently torpedoed them twice in T20 combat in the Caribbean – first in a warm-up affair and then in the Super Eights phase of the ICC World Twenty20.

Paul Collingwood’s sharp, well-toned and noticeably confident side are semi-finalists against Sri Lanka and tipped by most pundits to advance to Sunday’s final in Bridgetown too.

The report opines that South Africa have, rightly or wrongly, shown huge faith in several players to carry the flag across all formats, and also a willingness to field T20 sides dangerously close to an average age of 30.

In certain respects it is a tribute to the proven (often very proven indeed) versatility of some senior South African players, yet it is also difficult not to wonder whether a stronger infusion of youth ought to be a key objective henceforth for the Proteas in the fast-evolving T20 landscape. (ANI)

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S. Africa’s Smith says only England ”can challenge” Australia in T20

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia (West Indies), May 12 (ANI): South Africa’s cricket skipper Graeme Smith has said that only England can stop Australia from winning the World Twenty20 in Barbados on Sunday.

Smith”s side were knocked out of the tournament after their loss to Pakistan on Monday in St Lucia and the big left-hander had no doubts about which teams were the main chances to claim the T20 world title.

“It”s about having good players with confidence who really believe and know their game very well and know their strengths,” Smith said.

“Australia probably at the moment are playing the most dominant cricket. They have really beaten teams comprehensively throughout this tournament. Having played against England, they played positive cricket against us,” Smith said.

“If they can maintain that level of play then I think they are probably the one team left that can challenge Australia”s pace attack,” he added.

England topped Group E in the Super Eights with three wins en route to Thursday”s semi-final against the second team in Group F (0130 AEST Friday).

Australia has topped Group F overnight, avoiding a semi-final clash with England on Friday. (ANI)

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Eves World 20-20 Cup: White Ferns go through to semifinals

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St.Kitts (West Indies), May 12 (ANI): The New Zealand woman’s cricket team – the White Ferns — outclassed Pakistan to enter the semi-finals in the Women”s ICC World T20 at Warner Park, St Kitts.

They now face the West Indies in the semifinals on Saturday.

An economical opening spell by spinner Erin Bermingham and seamer Sian Ruck ensured the White Ferns held a firm grip on the game from the start after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat.

Strike bowler Nicola Browne then ripped out both openers to initiate a collapse that saw Pakistan reduced to 30 for seven.

Browne snared two more wickets to finish with excellent figures of four for 15 while Kate

Broadmore, Lucy Doolan and Sophie Devine chimed in with one apiece.

The White Ferns needed only 8.2 overs to complete the rout but did lose the wickets of Suzie Bates (4), captain Aimee Watkins (15), Sophie Devine (23) and Rachel Priest (2) along the way. (ANI)

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Brutal Australia sweeping all aside in quest for T20 crown

May 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia (West Indies), May 11 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke is confident about his team lifting this year’s World Twenty20 Cup title after two unsuccessful attempts.

””With the strength of our squad, we”ve spoken about any situation we get in, we believe we can win,”” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying.

Clarke’s has said that their last Super Eight fixture against the West Indies has to be about enjoyment and doing what is right.

It is Australia alone who are assured of their place in the semi-finals.

West Indies can reach the semi-finals with a victory against Australia, but a defeat has left India facing almost certain elimination after their second loss in the Super Eights stage. (ANI)

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Here’s how ‘hapless’ India could still sneak into the ICC T20 WC semis

May 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St.Lucia, May 11 (ANI): ‘Hapless’ India still has an outside chance of qualifying for the semifinals of the ICC World T20 Championship, however, a place among the last four teams would require the men in blue to play some hard competitive cricket and more importantly pray for a lot of luck.

Having lost both their previous Super Eight matches, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men would have to beat Sri Lanka by a margin of at least 20 runs in today’s (May 11) match and then hope that West Indies lose to Australia.

Currently India has conceded 63 more runs than it has scored, compared to Sri Lanka”s 24. If they win by 20 runs, their difference will reduce to 43 while Sri Lanka”s will increase to 44, which would thus pave the way for India to proceed to the semis.

On the other hand West Indies, which defeated India quite comprehensively in the last game are still unsure of moving further in the tournament, and would have to defeat the Kangaroos, who haven’t lost a match in the tournament so far, to make it to the semi-finals. (ANI)

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India defeat Sri Lanka by 71 runs to cement semi-final berth in ICC Women’ T20 WC

May 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St.Kitts (West Indies), May 11 (ANI): India registered a resounding 71 run victory over Sri Lanka to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World T20 Championship at the Warner Park here.

India posted a respectable total of 144 for Sri Lanka to chase, Sulakshana Naik and Mithali Raj did the bulk of scoring, both hitting half-centuries.

Naik smashed five boundaries on her way to 59 and was ably supported by Raj, who made 52.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 73 in their 20 overs.

Diana David the pick of the Indian bowlers taking an impressive 4-12 that included the wickets of top-order batters Suwini de Alwis, Chamari Polgampola and Sripali Weerakkody.

India will now take on Australia in the first semi-final at St Lucia on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand pace bowler Nicola Browne led her side’s rout of the Pakistan team in the final game of Group B to secure the top place in the pool.

Browne, who took 4-15, demolished the Pakistan batting line up with Sana Mir’s side finishing its 20 overs for 65-9. Having won the toss and electing to bat only three of Pakistan’s side made it into double figures, Nain Abidi (11), Urooj Mumtaz (14) and Sania Khan (15). (ANI)

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Rusty Pak ‘terribly out of order’ in ICC T20 WC : Akram

May 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 8 (ANI): Following the two consecutive losses against Australia and England in the ICC World T20 Championship, defending champions Pakistan are looking ‘terribly out of order’, former captain Wasim Akram has said.

In his column on ESPN, Akram pointed out that Pakistan has not played any competitive cricket in the recent past, which was evident from their performances in the two games against Australia and England.

Pakistan was comprehensively beaten by Australia by 34 runs in the last of their group matches, while suffering another humiliating six-wicket defeat at the hands of England in the first match of the Super Eight Stage of the tournament on Thursday.

Akram observed that the Pakistan team management has failed to rope in the best set of players in the tournament so far.

“They have not yet been able to decide on their best-choice XI. Players have not played competitive cricket in last two months or so. No wonder why they have been on pins and needles in the tournament so far,” he said.

Akram, one of the finest fast bowlers of his time, underlined that Pakistan’s batsmen would have to improve their application if the team has to move further in the tournament.

“Batting has not really come off for the Pakistanis. If Kamran Akmal does not fire at the top, the team looks in disarray. Misbah-ul-Haq is not looking the player he was at the inaugural edition three years ago in South Africa. The defending champions’ batting needs immediate address,” he said. (ANI)

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Injured Gul advised three weeks complete rest

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 6 (ANI): Doctors have advised injured Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul complete rest for three weeks before he can take the field again.

Gul suffered a shoulder injury during the training camp at Lahore and was subsequently ruled out of the ICC World T20 Championship in the West Indies.

Gul, who is Pakistan’s most successful bowler in the shortest version of the game, said that even though he has been advised complete rest, he is keeping track of the team’s progress at the World T20 Championship.

“Doctors have advised me three weeks complete bed rest, so, I am not playing cricket at all. But I am definitely following the progress of my team in the World Cup,” The Daily Times quoted Gul, as saying. (ANI)

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