Waqar says fully fit pace attack critical for Test series against England and Australia

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 13 (ANI): Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis believes that a fully fit pace attack would the key during the Test series against England and Australia this summer.

Waqar told PakPassion.net that once the team returns from the Caribbean after the ICC World T20 Championship, the selectors would review options for the tough English tour, adding that he would like them to pick a few extra fast bowlers in particular to cope with any injury related trouble during the Test series.

He also expressed the hope that both fast bowler Umar Gul and all rounder Yasir Aarafat would get fit on time for the ‘home’ series in England.

“We need a lot of boys to be playing, we may bring a couple extra. We’ve got a long tour this summer. We have given Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat a rest. We need all those fast bowlers for the English conditions,” Waqar said.

When asked about the chances of young fast bowler Mohammed Irfan’s inclusion in the national squad, he said Irfan has got all the ingredients of becoming a world-class pacer.

“He is totally unorthodox, he”s tall, he’s got potential”. “I thought he might be good for the World T20 competition but unfortunately he couldn”t get into the side. I believe in the very near future he could get into the side,” Waqar said.

(ANI)

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Defending champions Pak to leave for West Indies today amidst high hopes

April 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr.24 (ANI): Defending champions Pakistan would be leaving for the West Indies for the ICC World T20 Championship today (April 24) amidst high hopes of retaining the coveted title.

The 15-member Pakistan contingent led by swashbuckling all rounder Shahid Afridi would reach St. Lucia via Dubai and London.

Pakistan, which would start its campaign against Bangladesh on May 1, has a good blend of youth and experience in the squad, but they would have to perform and give more than 100 percent if they have to pocket the World T20 Championship for a second consecutive time.

Players like middle order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, all rounder Abdul Razzaq, and fast bowler Mohammed Asif along with skipper Afridi would have to utilise their experience to good effect and guide youngsters like bastman Umar Akmal, spinner Saeed Ajmal and young pace sensation Mohammad Aamer.

However, Pakistan would be badly missing fast bowler Umar Gul and all rounder Yasir Arafat, both of whom have outstanding statistics in the shortest version of the game,

Both Gul and Aarafat failed to recover on time from injuries picked during the training camp in Lahore, and were subsequently ruled of the tournament. They have been replaced by fast bowler Mohammed Sami and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has urged the media and people of the country to cast aside all controversies and support the national team.

“The media focus too much on creating controversies or issues. At times even the minor issues are blown out of proportion. The national team is now going to the West Indies for an important assignment and I think the media and the people need to support players completely,” The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

Pakistan’s last visit to the West Indies, for the 2007 World Cup, was a rather forgettable one with the team members mired in all sorts of controversy, after the 1992 champions were eliminated in the first round following a humiliating defeat at the hands of minnows Ireland.

The very next day the then coach Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica, which made matters worse.

However, wicket keeper Kamran Akmal and Sami, who were part of the 2007 squad, said that the team is going to the Caribbean with a positive friend of mind and has left the bad memories of 2007 behind.

“Whatever happened in 2007 is now history,” said Akmal.

Sami said though the incidents of that year were hard to forget, he is going to the West Indies with renewed passion and wants to do well for his side.

Pakistan’s contingent for West Indies:

Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Khalid Latif, Misbahul Haq, Fawad Alam, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rehman, Hammad Azam, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer and Saeed Ajmal. Officials: Waqar Younis (coach), Ijaz Ahmed (assistant coach), Yawar Saeed (manager), Shafqat Rana (associate manager). (ANI)

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Yet another PCB ‘confusion conundrum’ over replacements for injured Gul, Arafat

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr.20 (ANI): There seems to be a complete lack of communication between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management as far as announcing replacements for injured bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat is concerned.

While the team management, including captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis had said that fast bowler Mohammed Sami and rookie pacer Mohammed Irfan would be replacing the injured players in the 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Championship, the PCB has come out with a clarification on Irfan’s selection.

On Sunday, chief selector Mohsin Khan had said that the PCB chief Ijaz Butt has confirmed both Sami and Irfan’s name for the West Indies bound team.

However, minutes after Khan’s remarks, the PCB released a press statement saying Butt is still to give his nod to replacements.

“Sami and spinner (Abdul) Rehman will replace Umar and Yasir and both the names have been approved by the PCB chairman,” a PCB statement clarified later.

Rehman, 30, has played two Tests, 11 one-day internationals and two Twenty20s for Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the 6”10 tall Irfan is dejected at the news of him not being selected for the national team.

He was not named in the list of 30-probables Pakistan had sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC), so he can not be selected in the final 15.

The left-arm fast bowler attracted attention following his stupendous performance in the domestic circuit, where he took 43 wickets in 10 first-class matches in his debut season.

Irfan, however, is hopeful of making to the big league very soon, The Daily Times reports.

“Of course I’m dejected at being dropped but I’m not defeated. Hopefully God has something better in store for me in the future,” he said. (ANI)

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Pak to use rookie fast bowler Irfan as ‘surprise weapon’: Afridi

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr 19(ANI): Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi is looking forward to ‘unleashing’ rookie fast bowler Mohammad Irfan as a ‘surprise weapon’ in the Twenty20 World Cup to held in the Caribbean, starting April 30.

Afridi believes that the 6ft. 8inch Irfan has the potential to shine on the international stage.

“I’ve faced him. He is really good. We can actually use him as a surprise package against our rival teams in the Twenty20 World Cup. He is pretty fast, but it’s his height that can really trouble a lot of batsmen,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

“He extracts good bounce. We are hoping that he overcomes the few hurdles which are still there and is with us in the West Indies,” he added.

The 30-year-old also spoke highly of fast bowler Mohammad Sami, who is set to make his Twenty20 Internationals debut.

“Sami is looking good. He has shown his strength and commitment in the camp and is bubbling with energy. I’m expecting him to do well in the World Cup,” Afridi said.

Irfan and Sami have replaced injured fast bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat, who have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.

Afridi also voiced the uncertainty looming over their inclusion in the touring party.

“Their selection in the team is still subject to approval from the PCB chairman. We don’t know whether we will get permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take part in the Twenty20 World Cup because we have selected him from out of the 30-man preliminary squad,” he said. (ANI)

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Pak suffer double blow as Gul, Arafat ruled out of Twenty20 World Cup

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr 19(ANI): Defending Twenty20 World Cup champions Pakistan have suffered a major blow, as fast bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat have been ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies due to injuries.

Gul, Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in the previous two editions of the Twenty20 World Cup, hurt his shoulder during a training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore earlier this month, while Arafat is struggling with a calf injury.

Both players failed to clear their final fitness tests conducted at the Gaddafi Stadium here.

“In mutual agreement with captain and coach, we have decided that we will not take a chance with half-fit players,” The Daily Times quoted Mohsin Hasan Khan, Pakistan selector, as saying.

“We have recommended the names of fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and uncapped Mohammad Irfan as replacements for the injured players. We have picked Sami from the list of five reserves we had kept for the World Cup,” he added.

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi admitted that the absence of Gul is a major blow, but stressed that the team will manage with the players they have.

“Umar is our best bowler, but we have to cope with it and now Sami has to replace him and perform,” he said. (ANI)

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No compromise on discipline, fitness, performance: Pak selector

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr 19(ANI): Pakistan’s cricket chief selector, Mohsin Khan, has said no compromise would be entertained on discipline, fitness and performance for the Twenty World Cup to be held in the West Indies from April 30.

Khan emphasised it was a major factor why the selection committee decided to replace injured fast bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat with fast bowler Moahammad Sami and uncapped paceman Mohammad Irfan.

“In mutual agreement with captain and coach, we have decided that we will not take a chance with half-fit players,” The Daily Times quoted Khan, as saying.

“Umar Gul would be missed in the Twenty20 World Cup and this is disappointing that he is not the part of the team,” he added.

Gul, the leading wicket taker in T20 internationals, is sidelined by a shoulder injury, while Arafat has failed to overcome a calf problem.

Sami and Irfan’s inclusion in Pakistan’s 15-man squad is subject to approval of tournament organisers. (ANI)

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Pak to use rookie fast bowler Irfan as ‘surprise weapon’: Afridi

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr 19(ANI): Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi is looking forward to ‘unleashing’ rookie fast bowler Mohammad Irfan as a ‘surprise weapon’ in the Twenty20 World Cup to held in the Caribbean, starting April 30.

Afridi believes that the 6ft. 8inch Irfan has the potential to shine on the international stage.

“I’ve faced him. He is really good. We can actually use him as a surprise package against our rival teams in the Twenty20 World Cup. He is pretty fast, but it’s his height that can really trouble a lot of batsmen,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

“He extracts good bounce. We are hoping that he overcomes the few hurdles which are still there and is with us in the West Indies,” he added.

The 30-year-old also spoke highly of fast bowler Mohammad Sami, who is set to make his Twenty20 Internationals debut.

“Sami is looking good. He has shown his strength and commitment in the camp and is bubbling with energy. I’m expecting him to do well in the World Cup,” Afridi said.

Irfan and Sami have replaced injured fast bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat, who have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.

Afridi also voiced the uncertainty looming over their inclusion in the touring party.

“Their selection in the team is still subject to approval from the PCB chairman. We don’t know whether we will get permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take part in the Twenty20 World Cup because we have selected him from out of the 30-man preliminary squad,” he said. (ANI)

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Pak suffer double blow as Gul, Arafat ruled out of Twenty20 World Cup

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr 19(ANI): Defending Twenty20 World Cup champions Pakistan have suffered a major blow, as fast bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat have been ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies due to injuries.

Gul, Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in the previous two editions of the Twenty20 World Cup, hurt his shoulder during a training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore earlier this month, while Arafat is struggling with a calf injury.

Both players failed to clear their final fitness tests conducted at the Gaddafi Stadium here.

“In mutual agreement with captain and coach, we have decided that we will not take a chance with half-fit players,” The Daily Times quoted Mohsin Hasan Khan, Pakistan selector, as saying.

“We have recommended the names of fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and uncapped Mohammad Irfan as replacements for the injured players. We have picked Sami from the list of five reserves we had kept for the World Cup,” he added.

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi admitted that the absence of Gul is a major blow, but stressed that the team will manage with the players they have.

“Umar is our best bowler, but we have to cope with it and now Sami has to replace him and perform,” he said. (ANI)

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No compromise on discipline, fitness, performance: Pak selector

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr 19(ANI): Pakistan’s cricket chief selector, Mohsin Khan, has said no compromise would be entertained on discipline, fitness and performance for the Twenty World Cup to be held in the West Indies from April 30.

Khan emphasised it was a major factor why the selection committee decided to replace injured fast bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat with fast bowler Moahammad Sami and uncapped paceman Mohammad Irfan.

“In mutual agreement with captain and coach, we have decided that we will not take a chance with half-fit players,” The Daily Times quoted Khan, as saying.

“Umar Gul would be missed in the Twenty20 World Cup and this is disappointing that he is not the part of the team,” he added.

Gul, the leading wicket taker in T20 internationals, is sidelined by a shoulder injury, while Arafat has failed to overcome a calf problem.

Sami and Irfan’s inclusion in Pakistan’s 15-man squad is subject to approval of tournament organisers. (ANI)

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PCB gives Afridi, Akmal brothers central contracts despite being guilty of ‘misconduct’

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Mar.19 (ANI): Rubbing salt into the wounds of banned senior players, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has omitted the names of former captains Mohammed Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik and all rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan from the list of players given a central contract, while offering the same to Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

Afridi, and the Akmal brothers (Umar and Kamran) have been included in the list of 37 cricketers who will be offered the year-long contracts despite being slapped with hefty fines for ‘misconduct’ during the winless tour Down Under.

The contracts will be valid from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, a statement issued by the PCB said.

While players like Afridi, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria and Kamran Akmal have been named in the ‘A’ category, veteran batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, opener Imran Farhat and middle order batsman Umar Akmal have been bracketed in the ‘B’ category.

Surprisingly, young pacer Mohammad Aamer has also been given a ‘B’ category contract despite performing well through out last year.

In addition to the three categories, the board has introduced a special ‘stipend’ category, which has been offered to top domestic and under-19 cricketers, The Dawn reports.

Players offered different central contracts are:

Category ‘A’: Umar Gul, Salman Butt, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal

Category ‘B’: Umar Akmal, Mohammad Aamir, Saeed Ajmal, Faisal Iqbal, Misbahul Haq, Imran Farhat

Category ‘C’: Fawad Alam, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz, Abdul Rehman. (ANI)

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Afridi in, Malik out of PCB’s squad for T20 World Cup

March 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Mar.13 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-man squad sans the name of the skipper for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Championship in the Caribbean.

The squad also includes all-rounder Shahid Afridi and Akmal brothers (Kamran and Umar), who were slapped hefty fines by the PCB for violating the player’s code of conduct during the winless tour of Australia.

Announcing the team at the National Stadium here, chief selector Mohsin Khan expressed the hope that the squad would be able to defend the title.

“Name of the captain will be announced later by the PCB.This is the best possible team and if they play to their potential I am sure they can defend the title,” The Daily Times quoted Khan, as saying.

He also backed the board’s decision to ban and impose hefty fines on some of the senior players of the team, describing it as a necessary step.

“The problems of indiscipline and infighting were affecting the team like cancer and I back all the decisions, not as chief selector, not as a former player but as a Pakistani,” Khan said.

While former captain Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, both of whom were also fined by the PCB, have been axed from the squad, veteran batsman Misbah-ul- Haq and opener Salman Butt have staged a come back in the team.

Under-19 all-rounder Hammad Azam has aloe been rewarded with a place in the senior team for his brilliant show in the Uder-19 World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year.

Another opener Mohammad Hafeez has also secured a place in the squad for the tournament, which will be played in West Indies from April 30 to May 16.

Squad:

Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Khalid Latif, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Misbahul Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Khan Afridi, Fawad Alam, Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Hammad Azam, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal.

Reserve players: Shahzaib Hasan, Hasan Raza, Naved Yasin, Mohammad Sami and Sarfraz Ahmed. (ANI)

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Shoaib dropped for Bangladesh tour

March 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Mar.4 (ANI): Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has not been included in the Pakistan cricket team for the tour of Bangladesh that gets underway from the next week.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced a 16 member squad for the forthcoming Bangladesh tour.ccording to sources, the selection committee did not consider Akhtar for the selection, as he was not hundred percent fit.

Akhtar last played for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in the home one-day series. But his lacklustere performance in the first game saw him being dropped from the playing eleven.

Pakistan would be playing five one-day internationals and two Twenty-20 games on the tour.

Fixtures: March 7 – Departure from Karachi, March 10 – Ist Twenty20 in Dhaka, March 12 – Second Twenty20 in Dhaka, March 13 Ist one-day international in Dhaka, March 15 – Second one-day international in Dhaka, March 17 – Third one-day international in Dhaka , March 20 – Fourth one-day international in Chittagong and March 22 – Fifth one-day international in Chittagong.

Pak team: Younus Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Fawad Alam, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanver, Mohammad Aamir, Yasir Arafat, Yasir Shah, Rao Iftikhar, Sarfraz Ahmed. (ANI)

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Waqar says Pak pace attack ‘too inexperienced’ for international cricket

February 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Feb.24 (ANI): The lack-luster performance by the Pakistani bowlers in the on-going Test match against Sri Lanka has irked former speedster Waqar Younis.

Younis has termed the present Pakistani pace attack as ‘inexperienced’.

“Our fast bowlers are too inexperienced. I mean our three fast bowlers have a total of 20 or 25 Tests combined. Only Umar Gul has some Test experience while Sohail Khan is a debutant, and Yasir Arafat has played just one Test,” The News quoted Younis, as saying.

Pakistani bowlers including leggie Danish Kaneria, toiled hard on a dead and slow Karachi pitch, as the Lankans piled-up runs with captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraveera inking their names in the record book with double centuries against their names.

Sri Lanka posted a huge first innings score of 644 for seven wickets, before declaring.

Younis expressed amazement at the team management’s decision to include Sohail Khan in the playing eleven for the first Test.

“Sohail is certainly not of Test class yet. He is too raw and too inexperienced,” Younis said.

He also charged coach Intikhab Alam, for blaming the pitch for Pakistan’s forgettable performance on the first two days of the match, saying the bowlers didn’t perform upto their potential.

“The criticism of the pitch could have waited until the end of this Test,” he said, adding, “The more important thing to do right now is to somehow save this Test.” (ANI)

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Pakistan name uncapped Amin in one-day squad

January 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Jan.12 (ANI): Pakistan have included uncapped batsman Umar Amin in a 15-man squad for the one-day series against Sri Lanka this month.

‘Amin has been rewarded for his excellent performances in domestic cricket,’ a Pakistan Cricket Board said on Monday.

The left-handed batsman is expected to be given a chance to fill the void created by the defection of senior batsman Mohammed Yousuf to the unofficial Indian Cricket League, the Dawn reports.

The Pakistan selectors included fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who is still entangled in a court battle with the board over the 18-month ban and seven million rupees fine imposed last year for disciplinary reasons.

An appeal by Shoaib is pending in the Lahore high court and he has been able to continue playing after the court suspended the ban until the appeal was decided.

Yasir Arafat, the 26-year-old who played the last of his eight ODIs in February last year, was preferred over all-rounder Fawad Alam.

The first one-dayer is on Jan. 21 with further games in Lahore and Multan.

Sri Lanka will also return in February to play two tests in Karachi and Lahore. They were invited for the unscheduled tour by the Pakistan board after India cancelled a test series in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

Squad: Shoaib Malik (captain), Khurrum Manzoor, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Amin, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Arafat. (ANI)

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