Well done Asif and Sami "Pakistan dominate in Sydney"

SYDNEY: Pakistan steamrolled Australia on the first day of the second test, bowling the hosts out for 127 before ending the day on 14-0.
Inspired by controlled aggression of Mohammad Sami and the guile of Mohammad Asif the Pakistanis tore through an anxious Aussie line up that had been put in to bat by Ricky Ponting amidst dark clouds and seaming conditions. The collapse, triggered initially by a hostile burst by Sami (3-27), was topped off by Asif with a career-best of 6-41.

Ponting’s decision to bat first on such a surface may have seemed odd to the puzzled experts but it was characteristic of the confidence he has had in his team over the past couple of seasons. This time around, however, the lateral movement off the pitch and the discipline shown by the visitors was too good for the home side. Simon Katich’s replacement, Phil Hughes, was first to go off a full, wide delivery by Sami that was grasped by Faisal Iqbal at second slip. Hughes, who has a batting average of 52.44 from five tests, has failed to live up to his potential in the last couple of opportunities and did so again despite being dropped by Umar Akmal earlier. Sami was rewarded again for good lines and pace when he first got Ricky Ponting playing an awkward pull shot and then the in form Shane Watson with one that completely squared the batsman up. The Karachi quick had bowled 4 overs, 3 maidens and picked up 3 wickets for only 5 runs at that stage.

Asif soon got on the scoreboard bowling Michael Clarke with a customary in-dipper and accounted for Michael Hussey soon after. Hussey’s 28 off 52 balls seemed to be guiding the Aussies home to some safety but his departure followed by that of Marcus North off successive balls put paid to any such hopes. Brad Haddin punched back the hat- trick ball back to the bowler and signalled his intentions of a counterattack. But his adventure was soon over as he tried to clear mid-off where Mohammad Yousuf took a simple catch.

At 62-6 Nathan Hauritz and Mitchell Johnson combined to exhilarate the bewildered crowd, hammering Danish Kaneria in particular. Asif broke the stand of 44, nipping through Hauritz’s defence first before nailing Johnson who edged one to mid-off. The final contribution came from Umar Gul, who looked rusty but managed to pick up Doug Bollinger. As the last wicket fell Pakistan faced the risky proposition of batting for half-an-hour before close in dimming light.

Imran Farhat and Salman Butt negotiated well, playing with soft hands and bringing their bodies behind the swinging deliveries. The umpires, prompted by a Bollinger short ball that thudded into Farhat’s gloves, finally called time in the fifth over of the innings.

Pakistan will be satisfied with their overall performance today but will be mindful of the fact that the pitch conditions will be pretty similar tomorrow morning. If the overcast condition plays its part on the second day, Sydney could see another round of collapses.

T20 format has helped Test cricket: Afridi

KARACHI: Contrary to Mohammed Yousuf's assumption that T20 cricket would eventually destroy Test cricket, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi says it has actually made the five-day games more result-oriented.

Test skipper Yousuf feels that batsmen these days are paying more attention to adjust to the slam-bang format and hardly care to develop technique, which is essential to be successful in Test cricket.

However, T20 skipper Afridi differs with Yousuf. "I don't think that will happen because Test and ODIs both have their own charm. Infact I would say T20 cricket has introduced a more positive attitude in players and led to Tests also being played more aggressively and being more result oriented," Afridi said.

"What we need to do is strike the right balance in our teams for all three formats of the sport," he added.

Afridi advocated the need to develop the national teams according to the abilities of the players.

"Already we have certain players who are Test specialists including Yousuf himself, then they are players who are specialists for the limited overs cricket and in the third category they are players who are adjust in all three forms of the sport.

"It would not be a bad idea if we can build our Test, ODI and T20 teams according to this policy. We need to groom and develop our players accordingly," Afridi said.

Afridi, who was dropped for the Test series against Australia, said he was always available for his country and if the team management or selectors asked him to join the team for the Tests he would not hesitate to join.

"I would be willing to sacrifice my contract with South Australia if the team needed by services in the Test matches," said Afridi who had announced that he wants to concentrate on ODIs and T20 cricket until the 2011 World Cup.

Afridi said he still believed that Pakistan could beat Australia in the remaining two Tests if the batsmen perform well.

"We should take heart and play the last two Tests with more vigor and focus," he said.

T20 Triumph Fails to Illuminate Year of Cricketing Gloom

The year 2009 was nothing short of a nightmare for Pakistan cricket. Apart from victory in the World Twenty20 Championship in England and the salient on-field performance of Aleem Dar, who was declared ICC’s umpire of the year, 2009 presented a bleak scenario and was replete with unfortunate incidents and controversies.

While Pakistan were placed fifth in the ICC rankings — both in Tests and ODIs — it finished the year being at sixth with no immediate hopes of improvement.

In stark comparison, arch-rivals India began the year at number three in the international rankings of the two versions of the game, but finished as the leaders in Tests and were an impressive second in the ODIs.

Pakistan ended 2009 on a dismal note, losing the Melbourne Test against Australia by a heavy margin of 170 runs.

While Pakistan failed to win any One-day International event or Test series, as many as four captains led the national team during the year which shows the inconsistency of the board administration in this vital area of the game.

But the worst incident of the year, and possibly in the history of the game, was the terrorist attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team in Lahore on March 3.

The harrowing incident not only tarnished the image of Pakistan cricket beyond repair, it was also the last straw in destroying the prospects of international cricket in Pakistan.

The ghastly incident prompted the already apprehensive cricket-playing nations across the globe to cancel all scheduled assignments in Pakistan and to withdraw from their commitments in sports events also for an indefinite period.

However, the emergence of dashing Umar Akmal as middle-order batsman and sensational paceman Mohammad Aamir are definitely among the rare highs that Pakistan cricket experienced in 2009.

India, cheesed off at the Nov 8 attacks in Mumbai, cancelled the scheduled tour of Pakistan in Jan-Feb due to the strained political relations with Pakistan.

It not only deprived Pakistan of revenue in billions of rupees, but also deprived the cricket-mad fans in the country of some high-profile, competitive cricket.

Pakistan played nine Tests in 2009, losing four and winning only one. It lost two Tests to Sri Lanka, one to New Zealand and the last against the Aussies at Melbourne last week.

Sri Lanka won the first leg of ODIs 2-1, after losing the first at Karachi which included a mind-boggling 234-run crushing win in the series decider at Lahore, which triggered the replacement of Shoaib Malik as captain with Younis Khan.

The Islanders then revisited in Feb to play two Test matches. After the first Test ended as a high-scoring draw in Karachi, the second one at Lahore created history when a bunch of terrorists attacked the visitors bus at Liberty Chowk while it was on its way to the Gaddafi Stadium.

Seven Sri Lankan players were injured while eight policemen, guarding the players, were killed on the spot.

As the fans and media watched the the incident in horror and disbelief, the hapless Sri Lankans departed for home with dark clouds hovering over the future of international cricket in Pakistan.

The incident literally rocked the country and took away all kinds of sports events scheduled in Pakistan for an indefinite period.

Pakistan suddenly was the pariah of cricket and was deprived of its share of 14 matches of the World Cup 2011 that were to be staged here.

Not only were the matches removed, they were arbitrarily distributed to India and Sri Lanka by an enraged ICC. Even the World Cup Secretariat, which was to be originally set up in Lahore, was taken away abruptly.

But with so much damage caused by the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankans in Lahore, it was ‘amazing’ that neither the PCB nor the government took any major action against the officials responsible for the “unpardonable” security lapse.

In fact, Wasim Bari, the then human resources director, who was

responsible for coordinating security matters with the senior govt officials along with Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan, was elevated to the post of Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The PCB did, however, protest the snatching of the World Cup matches at the ICC meeting and managed to pull off around 14 million dollars in compensation for the deprivation after serving a legal notice to the international body for stripping its rights of hosting the World Cup.

Almost one week after the heartbreaking incident, the PCB was ready to send its national team to Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series without really confirming the security situation there. However, the aftermath of Sri Lankan attack saw Bangladesh refusing to host Pakistan for the series.

Pakistan were then forced to host the ODI and T20 home series against Australia at the neutral venues of Abu Dhabi and Dubai but lost the five-ODI series 2-3 before winning both T20 games.

The only real high point of Pakistan cricket arrived when the team went to England for the T20 World Cup as absolute underdogs and stunned the world by lifting the trophy.

The victory not only resurrected Pakistan’s image to a great extent, it sent the emotionally-scarred nation into a frenzy.

It was the first hugely positive news for the people of this war-torn country who had only experienced blood and gore, deadly bomb blasts, displacements and economic crisis over the past few years.

As a well-knit Pakistan under the able leadership of Younis Khan tamed Sri Lanka in the final by eight wickets, millions danced in the streets and chanted slogans against the terrorists, vowing to defeat all odds for a better Pakistan.

However, the massive impact created by the exuberant Pakistan team in England faded rather quickly.

Pakistan were outclassed in every department of the game by Sri Lanka in their own backyard and they won the three Test series 2-0 only to follow it up with a 3-2 ODI series win.

Pakistan’s next big assignment was the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa. They had an average run in the mega event but their meek submission to a lowly-rated New Zealand in the semis again sparked a big controversy.

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports Chairman Jamshed Dasti soon afterwards issued a statement, alleging the players were involved in match-fixing during the event.

The NA body subsequently summoned PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, Coach Intikhab Alam, Manager Yawar Saeed and Captain Younis Khan for a grilling session on the debacle in Champions Trophy.

Younis, cheesed off at the allegations hurled at his side, chose the NA session to tender his resignation from captaincy that stunned everyone involved.

Later, Younis agreed to return as skipper on his own terms and the PCB eventually relented. Controversial manager Yawar Saeed lost his post as manager while associate manager Shafqat Rana was also shown the door. The PCB chairman named Younis as captain till the 2011 World Cup, subject to fitness.

As things unfolded, Pakistan lost the ODI series 2-1 to New Zealand in Abu Dhabi amid rumours of a rebellion against Younis the skipper.

Visibly perturbed by the reports of groupings against him, Younis requested the PCB chairman for a break from the three-Test series against New Zealand.

Accepting it quickly, the chairman appointed Mohammad Yousuf as the third captain of the year after Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan.

A new-look Pakistan side overcame initial hiccups in New Zealand before finding its feet to level the three-match series 1-1, thanks to a magnificent comeback of dope-tainted Mohammad Asif to international cricket.

On the management side, National Cricket Academy Director Aamir Sohail tendered his resignation, citing interference in work, a similar argument was put forward by Abdul Qadir and Javed Miandad in their resignations as chief selector and diretor general, respectively.

Saleem Altaf was the fourth among Ijaz Butt’s hand-picked Test cricketers who was shown the door when the Governing Board acceded to the chairman’s desire to remove Altaf as COO.

The Governing Board failed to assert itself on many issues, including the ad hoc appointment of Financial Officer Mohammad Naeem, a close relative of Ijaz Butt.

Pakistan Cricket Experts feel 2009 been The Worst

According to some of the former Pakistani cricketers, the year of 2009 has been the worst one in the recent history of Pakistan cricket. According to these former players, the deadly terrorist attack which took place on Sri Lankan cricket squad in the month of March, damaged Pakistan’s image on various ways.

It may be remembered that as many as 7 cricketers of Sri Lankan squad were wounded in the said attack. The event took place as Sri Lankans were approaching the venue for a Test match Lahore.

As one of the fallouts of the event, no other international cricket squad toured Pakistan. In another significant development, the ICC, the parent body of world cricket, shifted out 2011 Cricket World Cup matches from Pakistan.

However, the former cricketers agreed that becoming the champions in World Twenty20 in England, was one of the better moments. Under the leadership of Younus Khan, Pakistan secured the championship of World Twenty20 in the month of June, 2009.

Twenty20 Will Finish Pakistan Cricket'

Pakistan captain Mohammed Yousuf says he's worried too much Twenty20 cricket will "finish" cricket in his country.

The reigning Twenty20 world champions have taken a liking to the game's shortest format but Yousuf feels an over-emphasis is undermining players' ability to bat successfully in Test and even one-day cricket.

His comments came after Pakistan's 170-run defeat by Australia in the first Test, where, despite the hosts declaring in both innings, the tourists were dismissed for 258 and 251 on a placid MCG wicket.

In their past 14 Tests Pakistan have only passed 350 runs in an innings twice and the failures, according to Yousuf, relate to Twenty20 cricket.

"It used to happen before but now because of Twenty20 cricket no player knows how to stay at the wicket anymore," Yousuf told cricket website Cricinfo.

"Batsmen are finding it very difficult. I know the format has money, players get it and boards do but if Pakistan hypes up Twenty20 too much, Test and ODI cricket will really go down."

Pakistan hold the best win-loss ratio in international Twenty20 cricket and claimed the world championship in England earlier this year.

The format's popularity in Pakistan means most players are playing that form of the game at club level, and Yousuf says that has left the current crop of players unsuited to the longer forms of the game.

"Both in Tests and ODIs we have problems," Yousuf said.

"We struggle to bat 50 overs. Against New Zealand we couldn't make 212 in 50 overs. Everyone played shots and got out.

"Until players play with discipline and play ball to ball and leave balls they are supposed to we will struggle in ODIs, let alone Tests.

"If you see a ball, hit it because you have to score. But if you are going to slog all the time what is the point? I could have hit jumping out but unless you get a ball to hit what is the point?

"That is the point of Test cricket. It is necessary that Pakistanis, the media, the board, the fans realise that we (need to) play as little Twenty20 as possible.

"One domestic tournament is enough and a World Cup apart from that, but my belief is that you have to reduce Twenty20 heavily.

They shouldn't play it in club cricket - even there you play 20 overs, not 40-over matches.

"I only have two to three years left in my career but I worry Twenty20 will finish Pakistan's cricket."

Younus Khan’s Chances of Playing in Sydney

LAHORE: The chances of Younus Khan appearing for Pakistan in the New Year Test in Sydney have reduced significantly after no further decision was taken on the Pakistan team management’s request to call up the former captain to bolster the batting. The second Test is due to begin on January 3 and given the considerable travel time between the two countries, even if the request is accepted on Thursday (today) and Younus is asked to leave the same day, he might struggle to be ready in time for the Test on Sunday.

In any case, it appears as if the selection committee is not entirely convinced of the need for Younus, at least without him having attempted to find some kind of form first in domestic tournament Pentangular Cup starting on January 2. “It is not like the team is losing just because he isn’t there,” a member of the selection committee was quoted as saying on Wednesday. “The Pentangular is happening and that would be a good way for him to play and get some practice. The Sydney Test is looking very unlikely right now and no decision was taken today. And who will he replace there? Various batsmen have scored some runs here so it might be unfair to drop them,” he added.

Initially, the selection committee appeared to be waiting for the result of the first Test in Melbourne, which Pakistan ultimately lost by 170 runs, before taking a decision. Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan’s captain, reiterated after the match that the side needed Younus and that a request had been made some time ago. But there appears to be a gap in communication: one selector claims that no official request has come in writing to them from Australia and another said that PCB chief Ijaz Butt had received the request and was going to consider it after discussing it with the selectors.

Amid the confusion, it is increasing likely that Pakistan will have to do without Younus as they attempt to level the series in Sydney. Pakistan’s batting struggled in both innings of the first Test, bowled out for 258 and 251 on what was widely acknowledged to be an unusually placid MCG surface.

Afridi Makes Big Bash Splash

Shahid Afridi has made big impressions all over the world playing for Pakistan and he continued that trend with South Australia on Tuesday night in the Twenty20 Big Bash when he made an immediate impact by taking 4-19 against Western Australia at the WACA Ground.

But now he wants to get cracking with the bat.

Afridi burst onto the world stage as a 16-year-old in 1996 with a blistering century off a record 37 balls in his first-ever one-day international innings, and ever since has been one of the great enigmas with the bat.
He is capable of being one of the most devastating batsmen in the abbreviated forms of the game, but the bowling of the now 29-year-old has continued to improve and it was his leg-spinners that earned him man-of-the-match honours as the Redbacks beat the Warriors.

Afridi enjoyed the bounce and turn he got from the WACA wicket to claim the wickets of Luke Ronchi, Ashley Noffke, Aaron Heal and Nathan Coulter-Nile, and he's always liked plying his trade on the pitches in Australia.

"That was a good track for bowlers, especially when I was getting good turn and bounce from it. I always enjoy bowling in Australia and in this situation my team needed me as a bowler. I always enjoy cricket, especially in Australia and India," Afridi said.

"You can learn a lot of things from here if you play with cricketers and on good tracks. If you perform here it matters a lot so always I'm very keen to perform. Over the past two and-a-half or three years I've totally focused on my bowling and I always enjoy my bowling here in Australia. Certainly I am looking forward to performing with my bat here as well."

Afridi's South Australian debut didn't get off to the ideal start, though, when he was caught first ball trying to hit spinner Heal out of the ground.

Now he is looking forward to finding form with the bat as he uses the Big Bash as preparation for Pakistan's upcoming one-day series with Australia.

"It was the first game and every new member had their own pressure, and when I hit the ball in the air I thought it was going to be a home run, but I didn't get one," he said.

"Compared to IPL (Indian Premier League) and all the other tournaments, this tournament is right up there. It's good cricket, good pitches and this is good preparation for me before playing in the one-dayers against Australia. Hopefully if I perform well I will go with good morale into that so it's very important for me."

Afridi doesn't want to be playing Test cricket at the moment due to the amount of games being played in all formats, but has taken a keen interest in the battle at the MCG and sees the first hour as crucial if Pakistan has any chance of a highly-improbably run chase.

"I want to give time to my family as well and until the 2011 World Cup I just want to focus on playing one-day and Twenty20 cricket," Afridi said.

"The first one hour is very important for both teams. This is the crucial wicket of (Mohammad) Yousuf and Umar Akmal."

"Umar is obviously playing positive and attacking cricket, which I like in him, and the first hour is crucial and important."

Aamer Youngest Fast Bowler to Take Five Wickets

Mohammad Aamer, at 17 years and 260 days, become the youngest fast bowler in history to claim a five-wicket haul in Tests.
The left arm fast medium bowler from Gujjar Khan achieved this feat by taking five for 66 in Australian second innings on the fourth-day of the first Test match at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday (December 29).
Pakistan’s Wasim Akram held the previous record. The left arm fast bowler was 18 years and 253 days old when claimed five wickets for 56 in New Zealand’s first innings at Dunedin on February 11, 1985. The former Pakistan skipper also took five wickets for 72 in the second innings of the match.
Pakistan’s Nasim-ul-Ghani is the youngest bowler to take five wickets in a Test innings. The slow left-arm orthodox bowler was 16 years and 307 days old when he took five wickets for 116 runs in West Indies’ second innings at Georgetown on March 17,1958.
Shane Watson scored his maiden century in the 25th innings of 15th Test match by making an unbeaten 120 off 220 balls with 10 fours and a six. His previous highest was 93 in the first innings of the match. Pakistan’s fifth dropped catch of the match ensured Watson became the first Australian batsman since Michael Hussey (121) at The Oval in August 2000 to reach triple figures in a Test, breaking a team sequence of 20 unconverted half-centuries. In 12 innings as Australia’s Test opener, he has now scored 716 runs at the eye-catching average of 65.09. Shane Watson’s century was Australia’s 63rd in 54 Test matches against Pakistan.
With 93 in the first innings and an unbeaten 120 in the second, Shane Watson became the eighth Australian and 41st batsman overall on 42 occasions to score a hundred and a ninety in the same Test match. West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the only batsman who did the same twice.

I was treated unfairly in the steroids case: Asif

MELBOURNE: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has claimed that he was unfairly treated for testing positive to steroids.

He vowed to “tell everything” about his drug dramas. Banned for a year for testing positive to steroid nandrolone during the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, Asif has only just returned to Test cricket. The lanky paceman began his Test career against Australia at Sydney in January 2005. Before returning to the Test fold against New Zealand last month after playing againstSouth Africa at Lahore in October 2007, Asif had claimed 51 wickets in 11 Tests. “I had a very strong case, but they didn’t actually listen. Nobody was with me, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was on the back foot. I was just alone and had to handle the whole thing. I will tell everything when the time comes. It’s not the right time … It was a very difficult time for me,” The Courier Mail quoted Asif, as saying on Saturday. “There were lots of things in my mind at that time. Sometimes I thought I would not be back. That was a tough period but I continued my training and practice. Now, I am very happy and I am playing good cricket,” he added. There is little doubt that the lean fast bowler, who holds an outstanding bowling average of 22.22 after taking 70 wickets in 14 Tests, can be a serious menace to Australia’s batsmen. Known for his deadly accurate bowling, the 26-year-old Asif says he wants to make up for the lost time. After taking a series-high 19 wickets at 19.78 in the three-Test series against the Kiwis, Asif vows he will bowl even better against Australia as he is only now reaching peak fitness.—Agencies

Pakistan, England T20 Dates Finalised

England and Pakistan will be landing in Dubai on February 16 to play two Twenty20 International on February 19 and 20 and both matches will be played in Dubai Sports City Stadium, an official from Dubai Sports City confirmed.

The two-match series was infact purposed by the ICC task-force[headed by ECB Chairman Giles Clarke] to help Pakistan in funds raising as the cash-strapped Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) facing difficulties in generate revenues due to international teams' refusal to tour Pakistan because of security reasons.

Last year, the ICC moved the Champions Trophy from Pakistan to South Africa and India refused to tour Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks. And PCB revenues have fallen sharply after it was forced to stop hosting international matches due to ongoing security concerns.

PCB's chief Ijaz Butt said that its annual revenues fell by 71 percent as they lost $40 million in revenues from the loss of the India series alone.

With no scheduled Twenty20 internationals before the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies in May, the England Board was eager to arrange two extra internationals in order to prepare for the T20 World Cup. The England team currently in South Africa will head to Dubai after concluding their tour. On other hand Pakistan finishing up their ongoing tour of Australia on February 5.

Dubai Sports City will also hosting England Lions and Pakistan A team from February 7 to 26 next year. They will be playing five one-dayer and 5 Twenty20s, scheduled for Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

SOURCE

Tasmania Signs Rana Naved

LAHORE: Tasmania has signed Pakistan all-rounder Rana Navedul Hasan as their international player for the Big Bash Twenty20 Tournament. Naved’s signing comes only three days before the Tasmania’s first game against New South Wales (NSW) at Bellerive Oval on Wednesday. Naved, 31, is Tasmania’s third pick after Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga pulled out due to national commitments and England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas withdrew due to a knee injury. A Sheikhupura-born, all-rounder currently falling in PCB’s C category central contract after been granted amnesty by the national board for severing ties with the Indian Cricket League.

PCB WILL DECIDE ABOUT YOUNIS KHAN ON MONDAY

18-10-2009:- The Pakistan Cricket Board will announce on Monday whether Younis Khan continue as captain of the Test and ODI sides or a new skipper will take over.
PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt is due to address a press conference immediately after concluding a meeting of the governing council in Lahore in which he is expected to inform the members what he plans to do.

Pakistan cricket has plunged into a crisis since last week when Younis submitted his resignation to Butt, in protest against the match-fixing allegations made against him and his team for losing to Australia and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy.

The crisis has also created a clear divide in Pakistan cricket with one side pressurising the board to accept Younis' resignation and opt for a new captain while the other side believes the board should convince Younis to take back his resignation by accepting some of his demands.

The anti-Younis camp is propagating that if the board does not accept his resignation, it might lead to an open revolt by around eight to nine players in the team against his captaincy.

The anti-Younus side also took great pains to point out that Younus exit would have no political repercussions with Sports Minister Aftab Shah Jillani making it clear that the government would not interfere in the matter.

National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports puts Pakistan cricket in crisis

lahore: Pakistan cricket has plunged into fresh crisis as Younis Khan has resigned from captaincy. The drama took place in Islamabad on Tuesday during a National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports hearing that was held to discuss the performance of the national team in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa. Pakistan’s close one-wicket loss to Australia in a group match and their defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the semi-final by five wickets sparked allegations from a parliamentarian that the team threw the matches and under-performed deliberately.

This obtuse show started with a report in the Indian newspaper after Pakistan’s semi-final loss to the Black Caps and Younis’ crucial dropped catch off Grant Elliot. The bizarre Indian report hinted at match-fixing. The International Cricket Council (ICC) immediately cracked down on the report and though it was retracted the next day, but in Pakistan it was blown out of proportion in the following days without any sanity and logic.

Younis submitted his resignation during the hearing to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt, protesting the statement made by standing committee chairman Jamshed Dasti, who had made the allegations before retracting them and saying that he had been misunderstood. Dasti, however, summoned the team management including the captain and coach Intikhab Alam for the hearing to ‘clear the air’. To call the PCB officials and team skipper was perhaps the most illogical decision. Dasti’s allegations, retraction and the so-called hearing clearly showed that how much he loves to be in the limelight.

Younis refused to take back his resignation despite persuasion by Ijaz. Younis, who had taken strong exception to the allegations, had insisted that their last-ball win against Australia that closed the doors on India’s chances in the Champions Trophy was not fixed. He had also refuted claims that Pakistan had thrown away their semi-final game against New Zealand. Younis said he led the team with an injured finger and felt disappointed at being summoned for investigation. “I set an example and led the team from the front despite having my finger injured.” Intikhab, who was also present at the meeting, blamed the Indian media for raking up the controversy. “It was an emotional decision on the part of Younis to tender his resignation. It was a propaganda by Indians. We have rejected match-fixing allegations,” said Intikhab. The PCB chief said the 31-year-old captain’s resignation was rejected and the matter would be discussed later. “At this stage I can only say if he sticks to his decision then his resignation will be discussed by the Governing Council of the board at its next meeting on October 19,” Ijaz said.

The development has been criticised by former players, who blame it on political interference and called it a blow to the sport in the country. “Politicians have no need to interfere in cricket and they have not only snatched our captain but have damaged the game badly,” former captain Ramiz Raja said. “Our honourable captain was insulted by the investigation and we acted on baseless allegations.”

Another former captain Rashid Latif blamed the media and the PCB. “I think the media was irresponsible by relaying an inauthentic statement by someone and Younis, being an honourable man, resigned over that. I don’t see him taking his decision back,” he said. Former captain Aamir Sohail termed Younis’ decision ‘emotional’. “Younis has acted in haste and with emotion. The Pakistan team needs him and he shouldn’t have felt so strongly about the investigation. This is very common in Pakistan, so he should withdraw his resignation,” said Sohail.

Younis has a history with captaincy. He once stepped down from his role as stand-in skipper, days before the 2006 Champions Trophy, because he was unhappy with the board administration over a number of seemingly trivial issues. Once the administration changed, however, he took up the role again. A few months later, after the 2007 World Cup and Inzamamul Haq’s resignation, he turned down the captaincy claiming later that the environment and circumstances at the time were not right for him to take it up. He only took over as full-time captain in February this year, after Shoaib Malik was pushed aside.

Mushataq Recommend Afridi as Pakistan Captain

Former Pakistani leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has said the PCB should replace Pakistan captain Younis Khan with all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

"I think, it would be better if the PCB change the captain (Younis Khan) and give the responsibility to Afridi. As Younis himself has said it does not bother him if he is not the captain and he is willing to play as a senior member of the side," The News quoted Mushtaq, as saying.

Mushtaq's comments came a day after Afridi met with PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt to review the team's performance in the Champions Trophy.

In November, Pakistan is scheduled to play a three-match one-day series against New Zealand [ Images ] in Abu Dhabi and two Twenty20 [ Images ] matches in Dubai.

Mushtaq feels that it is high time that Afridi should be given the responsibility of captaincy.

"Afridi is one of those players, who, if given extra responsibility of captaincy will also raise his individual game. We saw that happen in the Champions Trophy tie against the West Indies when he put his head down and batted with responsibility," Mushtaq said.

"The team needs to play more positively without fear and Afridi can bring that element to the team.

He also Added that "Besides, as a senior player and vice-captain he is not bothered about seeking advice from other players. That is sign of a good captain,".

Younis Khan Resignation To PCB

Dubai: Pakistan skipper Younis Khan has quit as captain of the Pakistan team following allegations that he had fixed the match against New Zealand and Australia in the just concluded Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Khan was summoned before the National Assembly with accusation that he deliberately lost the matches. According to information, Khan has submitted the resignation to Ejaz Butt, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during the hearing of the assembly.

The PCB is yet to officially announce that Khan has resigned.

Malik never blamed team management

KARACHI: Fearing disciplinary action from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shoaib Malik has backtracked on his criticism of the team management, saying his comments on constant shuffling of the side’s batting order were misunderstood

In an interview, Malik said he never meant to hurt anyone or be critical about the team management.

‘That was never my intention. I just spoke on a pure cricketing matter with a point of view of giving some positive input but my statement came out the wrong way,’ he said. Malik’s statement comes after the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said the senior batsman’s comments were being reviewed. ‘I am reviewing what Malik has had to say and will take a decision on it by Monday,’ Ijaz told reporters in Lahore. Malik had made it clear that he would no longer like to open the innings or bat at number three in future and felt the team management created uncertainty among the players by shuffling the batting order a lot. The former Pakistan captain has now clarified that he never meant to violate the PCB’s code of conduct. Malik said he did express his displeasure over the continuous shuffling of batting order in the ICC Champions Trophy but it didn’t meant that he had any axe to grind with the captain or the coach. ‘I am totally satisfied with Younis Khan’s captaincy and will continue to support any decision of the team management,’ he said. ‘I am always available to bat at any position if my team needs me to do this. But what I meant to say was there should be no unnecessary shuffling of the batting order as it disturbs the players,’ he added. Malik insisted he was a team man and as a senior player would continue to support the captain and coach. ‘I am a team man and if my team needs me to bat at a certain position I will do it in future also,’ he said.—Agencies

Younis claims about his fitness to play against New Zealand

Karachi: Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan is uncertain about playing in the series against New Zealand starting next month in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Wasim Bari told mediapersons that Khan would soon meet board chairman Ijaz Butt and brief him about his finger injury that he sustained just before the ICC Champions Trophy.

"Younis knows best about his injury. He would be meeting us next week after which it will be decided whether he would be playing in the series against new Zealand," The News quoted Bari, as saying.
Pakistan will be playing three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches in the series.

Khan played three matches in the Champions Trophy matches despite suffering the injury.

Unconfirmed reports said that the PCB has decided to sack Khan from captaincy of the national squad and appoint vice-captain Shahid Afridi to the post.

Bari,however, has rejected the speculations.

Younis Khan’s captaincy came under attack from various quarters following the loss against New Zealand in the Champions trophy semi-final.

The loss against the Kiwis also sparked off a match-fixing controversy where both captain and coach Intikhab Alam were accused of losing the matches against Australia and New Zealand in the elite eight-nation tournament ‘deliberately’.