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Anonymous at November 01, 2013 0
Dav Whatmore is unlikely to continue as Pakistan coach after the recent defeats against South Africa, and the team manager Moin Khan seems set to replace him.


Moin Khan is participating in the training sessions and working in all three departments – batting, bowling and fielding – more actively than Whatmore.

It seems the ‘opportunist’ players know what is going to happen, therefore, they have ditched Whatmore and are trying to appease Moin.

Team sources say that in team meeting and training sessions Moin Khan is spending more time with players and senior player are co-operating with him as much as they can.

Although Najam Sethi is busy in dealing court issues, some team players know Moin is Sethi’s favourite and his vote would be a key to run team’s affairs in the near future.
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Anonymous at October 30, 2013 2
As the Islamabad High Court directed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to hold elections, former spin bowler Abdul Qadir says he is willing to contest for the post of board’s chairman.

Talking to newsmen in Lahore, Qadir said it’s the first time the PCB wais going to hold elections and things are going in the right direction after the court’s order.

The IHC has barred Najam Sethi from working as PCB chairman and also suspended the Interim Management Committee (IMC), formed by the prime minister.

The court has set up an election committee headed by retired Justice Munir A. Sheikh that will hold the board’s elections by the third week of next month. Until then, board’s secretary will look after the PCB’s affairs.

Qadir said he would work for the betterment of the PCB and would do everything necessary to restore the image of Pakistan cricket within the country and abroad. He said he had his say across the world as a cricketer and he would try his best for the return of international cricket in Pakistan.

The former spinner has worked for the PCB, including his job as chairman selectors. He was also one of the candidates when Pakistan was looking for team’s head coach before Dav Whatmore’s appointment.
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Anonymous at October 21, 2013 0
The interim management of the Pakistan Cricket Board has did everything it could to save it from court’s order but court seems to be committed in resolving this issue. That’s why the Islamabad High Court has ordered that PCB chairman should be appointed by Nov 2, otherwise the caretaker set-up will be declared void.

[caption id="attachment_2415" align="alignright" width="300"]The court has warned that the ad hoc committee will no more be functional after Nov 2 deadline (Photo: Dawn) The court has warned that the ad hoc committee will no more be functional after Nov 2 deadline (Photo: Dawn)[/caption]

During the hearing in Islamabad, the court asked PCB’s lawyer to justify the defeat against a team like Zimbabwe. Further, Justice Shaukat Siddiqui ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to issue the schedule for PCB elections today and asked the board to cooperate with the ECP.

The court said that the elections were critically important under the laws of International Cricket Council (ICC). If held, the elections would be the first to appoint PCB chairman under ICC rules.

A few days back Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issued a notification to form a five-member interim committee, dismissing PCB caretaker set-up

It consists of interim chairman Najam Sethi, former chairman Shehriyar Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Haroon Rasheed and Naveed Akram Cheema. Sethi was elected PCB chairman the same day the notification was announced.

According to the notification, the chairman is to be selected within 90 days but it seems that Sethi wants to delay it. Keeping this in mind, the IHC has ordered to hold fresh elections by Nov 2, and after that the committee will no more be functional.
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Anonymous at July 12, 2013 0
Pakistan Cricket Board acting chairman Najam Sethi a new code of conduct will be introduced for officials and players so that no board or team member would indulge in unconstitutional and illegal activities. Talking to the media in Lahore, he said he did not want to take a step which would later be challenged in courts.

[caption id="attachment_1833" align="alignright" width="300"]“I would run for PCB’s chairmanship if insisted”: Sethi (Photo: AFP) “I would run for PCB’s chairmanship if insisted”: Sethi (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

The Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered to limit Sethi’s authority so that he could not take key decisions as the acting chairman. The court has confined his powers to a few articles of the PCB’s constitution. The petition was filed by Pakistan former captain Rashid Latif, and the SHC has directed Sethi to exercise his power only under the clauses ‘a’ to ‘e’ of the article 6 (1). These clauses restrict chairman to only calling the board’s meeting, leading them and postponing them.

Sethi’s appointment has been under suspicion ever since Zaka Ashraf was suspended. Sethi’s problems have increased after the SHC’s order as the Islamabad High Court has already ordered him hold elections within 90 days of Ashraf’s suspension.

But what a ‘professional’ journalist he is. He responded all this by saying that he would run for the chairman’s election to become its permanent supreme.

He also said he would visit West Indies on a short tour so that he himself understands the team’s issues. Pakistan are in the West Indies to play a limited-overs series.
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Anonymous at July 01, 2013 0
Although more than a decade has been passed since the inception of private channels in Pakistan, but they still seem to be too naive. Let’s take the case Mohammad Amir. Despite repeated announcements by the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not going to soften the pacer’s term, the channels keep on churning out trivial reports every now and then as if the bowler was going to resume his career from tomorrow.

[caption id="attachment_1805" align="alignright" width="195"]There is not a shred of evidence to support media claims that the ICC is going to Soften Amir’s ban (Photo: AFP) There is not a shred of evidence to support media claims that the ICC is going to Soften Amir’s ban (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

The ICC has recently formed a five-member committee, whose task is not what Pakistani media is trying to depict. Our media is blaming the committee that it would amend anti-corruption rules or at least change the punishment laws and, therefore, Amir would be back in the national team.

The reality is that no amendment is going to be made in the anti-corruption laws. In fact, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demanded the ICC to allow Amir start practicing seven to eight months before the end of his term so that when he is available to the national side in September 2015, he would be ready to play international cricket.

Presently, the left-arm fast bowler is not allowed to play any form of cricket. He cannot even enter into the PCB academy. The board’s demand is just that Amir be allowed to start practice in February or March 2015 under experts’ supervision so that he is available on time. Now the ICC’s five-member committee will just look whether the leniency could be made.

Amir was netted into the spot-fixing scandal in 2010 when British tabloid newspaper “News of the World” revealed that the young pacer along with the then captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif deliberately bowled no-balls and bagged money from bookie Mazhar Majeed. Later, the ICC imposed lengthy bans on the trio, who were also imprisoned in Britain in separate cases of fraud and corruption.

Amir will be just 23 in September 2015. However, on moral grounds, a question arises that should he be allowed to resume his career? Or should the authorities make an example of him so that no player can think of spot-fixing, even he has talent akin to Amir.
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Anonymous at June 29, 2013 0
Pakistan former captain Salman Butt has confessed to commit spot-fixing. He admitted it for the first time before media, because he had no other option left. It means the position he maintained during the investigations done by the International Cricket Council and later in the case of corruption and fraud in England was a pack of lies. And now after being rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, he has decided to kneel down.

[caption id="attachment_1792" align="alignright" width="300"]Salman Butt had no option but to apologise after being rejected from the ICC, Britain’s court and the International Court of Arbitration (Photo: AP) Salman Butt had no option but to apologize after being rejected by the ICC, Britain’s court and the International Court of Arbitration (Photo: AP)[/caption]

Talking to the media in Lahore, Butt said he admitted the decision of the ICC tribunal and apologised those who had been disappointed by his wrongdoings.

Now Butt has to cooperate with ICC's anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) and must take part in Pakistan Cricket Board’s anti-corruption course. However, Butt has presented his demands in a single day as if he was trying to make the most of his confession. He demanded the PCB to get ICC’s approval for him so that he could play domestic cricket and when he completes the ban after two year, he would be ready to represent Pakistan. Impenitent.

Butt, who was slapped with a 10-year ban after spot-fixing allegations during the Lord's Test in August 2010, remained imprisoned in England for over a year. But as if it were not enough, he challenged the ICC’s ban in the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) as soon as he was released from jail. But after having been shunned from there too he had no option but to offer an apology. Because an apology can cut his 10-year ban to half and, possibly, he may join the national team again after serving a ban of five years.

He is the same Butt who refused to accept the reality in front of the ICC investigation tribunal and, in fact, later he tried to wriggle his way out of the episode after putting blame on his teammates. Even when he returned home after serving imprisonment, he maintained that Mazhar Majeed and Mohammed Amir conspired against him. All of this fell flat on his face when the ICA also rejected his plea.

Let’s see what the PCB will do to soothe his nerves so that he stops shifting gears.
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Anonymous at May 29, 2013 0
Pakistan Cricket Board chief Zaka Ashraf, who earlier said he did not need a vote of confidence as the board’s chairman, is in doldrums after the Islamabad High Court ordered his suspension.

[caption id="attachment_1225" align="alignright" width="249"]Zaka Ashraf was made the first elected chairman of the PCB in recent elections (Photo: AFP) Zaka Ashraf was made the first elected chairman of the PCB in recent elections (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

He was ordered to stop from working as the board’s chairman on Tuesday after a petition filed by former Army cricket team coach.

The petitioner, Major (Retd) Ahmed Nadeem, had requested the court to suspend Ashraf, challenging his appointment after the PCB elections, held earlier this month.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui issued notices to the board’s chairman, the Secretary Sports Board and Secretary Ministry of Inter Provincial and barred Ashraf from working.

Nadeem had earlier requested the IHC to accept his petition and suspend Ashraf as PCB chief, adding that the nomination committee should also be declared illegal. He also demanded the court to give orders of conducting re-elections.

The IHC’s move came a day after Pakistan national cricket team arrived in England for the eight-nation Champions Trophy, set to be held from June 6 to 23.

After Ashraf’s suspension, the Board of Governors (BoG) has decided to put off the Annual General Meeting that the PCB chief was to attend in Karachi. The BoG has also postponed a scheduled meeting until further notice.

Ashraf has also confirmed that he is not working as the board’s chairman after the court’s order.

PCB’s legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi vowed to defend the case against Ashraf, alleging that the court was not guided properly. He said the PCB’s new constitution – under which Ashraf was made the board’s first elected chairman – was endorsed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistani government. He added that the board would apprise the court in this regard.

This is not the only petition the PCB is facing. Faisalabad and Sialkot regions have also submitted their petitions and another petition was filed by former Pakistani wicket-keeper Rashid Latif against Ashraf’s appointment.

Moreover, the representatives from the regional associations of Lahore, Karachi, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Abbottabad – who were ignored by the PCB in electing its chairman – held a joint press conference in Lahore on Tuesday, demanding Ashraf’s resignation.
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Anonymous at May 28, 2013 0
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman said that Ireland’s willingness to tour Pakistan was a positive development and he would soon talk to Cricket Ireland in this regard.

[caption id="attachment_1202" align="alignright" width="273"]Zaka Ashraf termed Ireland’s willingness to visit Pakistan a positive development (Photo: AP) Zaka Ashraf termed Ireland’s willingness to visit Pakistan a positive development (Photo: AP)[/caption]

Talking to reporters on his arrival to Karachi for attending the PCB’s General Council’s meeting, Ashraf said he would be having discussions with the Irish cricket officials and would also talk to the representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in this regard.

The recently concluded series between Pakistan and Ireland was held in the best environment possible and apart from the Cricket Ireland, the Irish cricketers also appreciated Pakistan for the tour. Moreover, a statement by the Cricket Ireland chief that the team would visit Pakistan if they found security situation satisfactory is a major breakthrough for Pakistan, which has been deprived of hosting international matches for ages.

Talking to the media at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, the PCB chief said that the focus of PCB’s General Council’s meeting to be held on Wednesday would be on administrative matters. He denied the news that the board’s officials would try to take into confidence the unsatisfied members of regions. He added that he did not need a vote of confidence as PCB’s new constitution had been approved and the ICC was also agreed on it.

Talking of Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf, who was named in the recent IPL scandal, Ashraf said the PCB had taken action against such wrongdoings in the past and would do the same this time well on ICC’s request. He said Rauf was ICC’s umpire and the PCB would not take action on its own.

Ashraf’s statement showed that the actions against Nadeem Ghori and Anis Siddiqui in the past were also taken on ICC’s directives. However, the board had claimed that it itself banned both umpires after conducting investigations.

PCB’s General Council’s meeting would be held on May 29 (Wednesday) in Karachi, and considering the news true, it would be Ashraf’s last meeting, because new set-up is expected after the formation of new government. According to sources, the son of possible Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif – Hamza Shehbaz – is likely to be made new PCB chairman.
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Anonymous at May 24, 2013 0
After the approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued No Objection Certificates to all Pakistani players for Sharjah Sixes 2013.

[caption id="attachment_1088" align="alignright" width="300"]Sharjah Sixes is also featuring Shahid Afridi and Ahmed Shehzad (Photo: Getty Images) Sharjah Sixes is also featuring Shahid Afridi and Ahmed Shehzad (Photo: Getty Images)[/caption]

Earlier, the PCB denied granting NOCs to players who are participating in the tournament. The board had stated that it could not allow players to take part in the tournament because it did not know whether the tournament was authorised by the ICC. Surprisingly, the board’s statement came at a time when Shahid Afridi and Ahmed Shahzad had played one match apiece.

Afridi, Umar Akmal, Hammad Azam, Rana NAveed-ul-Hassan, Haris Sohail and other Pakistani players are participating in the tournament, started on May 20.

Had the ICC not given the green light to the tournament, Afridi would have come under a disciplinary action as he had played a match without an NOC from the board. Cricnama has learnt that the ace all-rounder played for Dubai Lions in Ajman Cricket Tournament and scored 38 runs.

Sharjah Sixes 2013 continue till June 1 and including the hosts, 48 teams from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan are taking part in the tournament.
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Anonymous at May 24, 2013 0
The Indian cricket board is trying to portray its innocence despite such a big spot-fixing scandal in the India Premier League (IPL) and has been given a free hand by the International Cricket Council (ICC) throughout the episode.

[caption id="attachment_1092" align="alignright" width="247"]Asaf Rauf was earlier caught in a sex scandal, and this second one may be the end of his career (Photo: Getty Images) Asaf Rauf was earlier caught in a sex scandal, and this second one may be the end of his career (Photo: Getty Images)[/caption]

The umpires the ICC had appointed for the next month’s Champions Trophy also included a Pakistani umpire, Asaf Rauf. But as soon as the news came out about police in Mumbai investigating him, his name was withdrawn from the umpires’ list.

Rauf, who earlier earned a bad name regarding a sex scandal, is now once again in the limelight. Unfortunately, he supervised the May 15 match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians in which three players of the former team were arrested for spot-fixing allegations.

In a statement issued Thursday, the ICC said that it was in the best interest of Rauf and the sport that the umpire was withdrawn from supervising in the Champions Trophy.

It is indeed surprising that neither the ICC nor the PCB knows, in which matter Rauf is being investigated. Could this be the end of the road for Rauf?
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Anonymous at May 24, 2013 0
Although Zaka Ashraf has become the first constitutional and elected chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), all is not well for him. Because, on the one hand, different regions are not happy with the decision, and on the other, his political affiliation and closeness with the Pakistan People’s Party, which has lost its influence after the defeat in the recent elections. Under these circumstances, the PCB has called a meeting of the General Council to get a nod of approval for the chairman’s tenure.

[caption id="attachment_1085" align="alignright" width="249"]Reports say Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shehbaz is interested in PCB chairmanship (Photo: AFP) Reports say Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shehbaz is interested in PCB chairmanship (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

Moreover, amid the rumours of President Asif Ali Zardari leaving his office, Ashraf is surely in hot water. Another news add insult to injury that Hamza Shehbaz – the nephew of Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif and the son former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif – is interested in the post. Thus, it will be all doom and gloom for Ashraf.

Sources told Cricnama that as many as 50 rooms of a five-star Karachi hotel have been booked for the May 29 event.

The presidents and secretaries of all the regions will participate in the General Council meeting and the board’s officials will try to defend their offices by taking into confidence the unsatisfied members. If they agree, Zaka Ashraf will succeed in salvaging his newly rewarded constitutional chairmanship. And if they don’t, Hamza Shehbaz will replace Ashraf as the new PCB chief.
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Anonymous at May 23, 2013 0
Pakistan’s decision to drop Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal from the 15-man squad announced for the upcoming Champions Trophy is being crticized by some experts. The analysts are going to blame the decision if Pakistan fail to perform in the biggest tournament of the year. However, the axing of the duo seems justifiable to an extent, given their performances, but the Pakistan Cricket Board has raised many eyebrows after denying the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to both the players for taking part in the Sharjah Sixes 2013.

[caption id="attachment_1067" align="alignright" width="300"]Action may be taken against Shahid Afridi for playing without an NOC (Photo: AP) Action may be taken against Shahid Afridi for playing without an NOC (Photo: AP)[/caption]

Earlier, a report said that Afirdi and Akmal would participate in Sharjah Sixes tournament. The tournament has started from May 20 and will continue till June 01. It has been confirmed that Afridi has reached the UAE but on the other hand PCB has said that players cannot take part in private tournaments. Afridi may get into hot water as he has played a match in the event without an NOC.

Cricnama has learnt that the Pakistani all-rounder has played in Ajman Cricket Tournament for Dubai Lions and scored 38 runs. Because Afridi did not have an NOC, he can be charged for violating the code of conduct. The PCB has not yet hinted for any action to be taken against him.

Afridi has been recently awarded ‘Category A’ in the central contract. The 'honour' seems quite surprising for a player representing the national team in only one format of the game.

Apart from Akmal and Afridi, Hammad Azam, Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan, Haris Sohail and other Pakistani players are participating in the tournament. The tournament is being held under the auspices of the Sharjah Cricket Council. Pakistan’s former captain and coach Waqar Younis is the tournament’s brand ambassador.
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Anonymous at May 21, 2013 0
The first and foremost priority of Pakistan Cricket Board chief Zaka Ashraf has been to bring international cricket back home, but after repeated refusals by Bangladesh to tour Pakistan, the board seemed to have back-burnered the demand.

[caption id="attachment_1021" align="alignright" width="300"]Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom said the board is considering Pakistan’s idea of a reciprocal tour (Photo: AFP) Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom says that the board is considering Pakistan’s idea of a reciprocal tour (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

There are some good news, Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom says that Ireland team is willing to tour Pakistan as a reciprocal visit, given the country’s satisfactory security situation.

He told Sunday Independent that Irish Cricket Board was indebted to Pakistan for their support in the form of agreeing to play in Ireland for a number of times in past.

Pakistan has not witnessed an international match since March 2009 when gunmen attacked Sri Lankan team in Lahore. The country was also deprived of hosting the 2011 World Cup. Therefore, the day Ashraf took charge, he started working for the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.

Pakistan, who are in the UK these days to acclimatize to English conditions before the next month’s Champions Trophy, are set to play two ODIs against Ireland on May 23 and 26.

Deutrom said PCB had asked for a reciprocal tour and the Irish board is considering the idea, “provided that we could have the requisite comfort levels around safety and security levels for the squad while there”.

He said the board had earlier considered the idea of visiting Pakistan but the government and a professional security firm advised against it.

The Cricket Ireland CEO said that the board’s willingness to visit Pakistan was not mere rhetoric and he had had discussion with Pakistan representative in the ICC, Intikhab Alam in this regard.

Earlier in 2012, Bangladesh expressed their willingness to tour Pakistan but backed off after a stay order by the Bangladesh Supreme Court. In December, they again showed wilingness to visit Pakistan but Pakistan’s euphoria soon gave way to despair when Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Nazmul Hassan linked the team’s visit to Pakistan’s security, which was a euphemism for saying a straight 'No'.

Anyway, let’s hope against hope for Ireland tour to Pakistan.
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Anonymous at May 15, 2013 0
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has awarded its Central Contracts for the 2013 Calendar year for 21 players according to their performances, and surprisingly, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi are in Category A despite their “wonderful performances”.

[caption id="attachment_922" align="alignright" width="300"]The reality is that the central contracts have been awarded according to seniority and not by performance, because Afridi’s and Younis’ performances are known to everybody (Photo: Getty Images) The reality is that the central contracts have been awarded according to seniority and not by performance, because Afridi’s and Younis’ performances are known to everybody (Photo: Getty Images)[/caption]

Both players are only representing the team only in one format of the game. Afridi has retired from the Test cricket and has been ruled out of the one-day format, thus he is part of the side only in T20s. On the other hand, Younis is still in the Test team, but he has been excluded from the ODI team. He took retirement from Twenty20 format four years ago.

However, the players must be feeling delighted as they have been deprived of their salaries for the past six months. Moreover, the PCB has reportedly raised their salaries by 15 percent.

The board increased players’ salaries by 25 percent last year, thus the current rise is less than the previous one but an increment of 40 percent in two years is welcoming. However, denying players’ salaries to get their signatures on the contracts is unfair. Because of the same techniques of the Sri Lankan board, their tea, and players lack consistency.

Pakistan Test and ODI captain Misbah ul Haq, T20 captain Mohammad Hafeez, and present world’s number one spinner Saeed Ajmal are also in A category apart from Younis and Afridi.

Four players who are part of the current 15-man squad for the year’s biggest tournament are placed in the Stipend category: Wahab Riaz, Ehsan Adil, Umar Amin and Asad Ali.

Abdur Rahman, Umar Akmal and Umar Gul who were included in the Category A in the 2012 contracts have been relegated to Category B this time.

Aizaz Cheema and Taufeeq Umar have been relegated to Category C from B.

Before the recent alleged rise of 15 percent, the Category A players were being given Rs385,000 in Tests, Rs363,000 in ODIs and Rs275,000 in T20s in terms of match fees. The Category B players were receiving Rs330,000 in Tests, 275,000 in one-dayers and 220,000 in T20s, and the Category C players were receiving 275,000 in Tests, 220,000 in ODIs and 165,000 in T20s as match fee.

Category A: Misbah ul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi

Category B: Umar Gul, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Junaid Khan, Abdul Rehman, Shoaib Malik, Nasir Jamshed

Category C: Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Aizaz Cheema, Adnan Akmal, Faisal Iqbal, Ahmed Shahzad

Stipend: Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Umar Amin, Zulifqar Babar, Asad Ali, Haris Sohail, Anwar Ali
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Anonymous at May 09, 2013 0
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has been elected the first-ever elected head of the sports body for a four-year term under the new PCB constitution.

[caption id="attachment_852" align="alignright" width="273"]Ashraf, 60, was earlier appointed indefinitely under the old system by President Zardari in October 2011 (Photo: AP) Ashraf, 60, was earlier appointed indefinitely under the old system by President Zardari in October 2011 (Photo: AP)[/caption]

The International Cricket Council (ICC) directed all its member boards to become autonomous and free of government interference by June 2013. The ICC threatened sanctions if the boards failed to meet the requirement by the time.

The 60-year-old Ashraf was earlier appointed indefinitely under the old system by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in October 2011.

The new PCB constitution, introduced in February, replaced the old system under which the board chairman was elected by the Patron of the board i.e. Pakistan’s president.

Ashraf has now been re-elected again under the new constitution when the PCB’s board of governors met in Islamabad on Wednesday.

“Zaka Ashraf has taken over as the first elected chairman of the PCB who will serve his tenure of four years from today as prescribed in the PCB constitution,” the PCB said in a statement.

The PCB chairman was among the two nominees interviewed by the nominee committee. The other candidate was former Lahore Stock Exchange chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan. Both candidates were recommended by President Zardari.

Ashraf presented the new constitution to the ICC last month where ICC President Alan Isaac commended PCB’s effort in this regard.
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Anonymous at April 30, 2013 0
Contrary to all expectations, even concerns, Pakistan has appointed little-known Trent Woodhill as the national team batting coach. Only the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) can answer the question that why it preferred Australian Woodhill when the likes of Mohsin Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Javed Miandad are present in the country. But for Woodhill himself it is quite a challenge to coach a batting line-up about which nothing can be said prematurely for its unpredictable nature.

[caption id="attachment_710" align="alignright" width="214"]Trent Woodhill is currently coaching the most unsuccessful team Delhi Daredevils of the ongoing Indian Premier League (Photo: Getty Images) Trent Woodhill is currently coaching the most unsuccessful team Delhi Daredevils of the ongoing Indian Premier League (Photo: Getty Images)[/caption]

PCB Director International Cricket Intikhab Alam announced decision in front of the reporters and said the newly appointed Woodhill, 42, will render his services on a three-week probationary period and helped the batsmen during the coming Champions Trophy.

Because of the consistent poor batting performance by Pakistan’s batsmen, various circles are urging for the appointment of a batting and coach, and the team’s disappointing show in the recent tour of South Africa added to the intensity of these demands.

Woodhill has coached Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League and currently in the support staff of the most unsuccessful team Delhi Daredevils of the ongoing Indian Premier League. He had also been New Zealand’s assistant coach last year. Woodhill will directly reach London for Pakistan’s coaching in the Champions Trophy. His three-week performance will determine his permanent position in the team.

Several former Pakistani cricketers, including Zaheer Abbas and Saleem Malik showed their interest to fulfil the position when the PCB published its advertisement last year, but the board was searching for a candidate accredited with at least Level 3 coaching and had five-year experience with top players.

Only time will tell what strategy Woodhill develops that will help Pakistani batsmen produce runs.
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Anonymous at April 17, 2013 0
When Pakistan leave for England to take part in the ICC Champions Trophy, a “vigilance expert” will probably be accompanying them to “monitor the presence of any unwanted men around the team”.

[caption id="attachment_597" align="alignright" width="300"]The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is working on a plan to send “vigilance expert” with the team who will help players to avoid match fixers The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is working on a plan to send “vigilance expert” with the team who will help players to avoid match fixers[/caption]

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is working on a plan in this regard to help players avoid potential match fixers, a PCB official, who declined to be named, told AP news agency.

The ICC banned Pakistani players Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and former captain Salman Butt after their involvement in spot-fixing scandal during Pakistan’s last tour of England in 2010.

The eight-nation Champions Trophy will be held in England between June 6 and 23.

Pakistan are in group B, along with archrivals India, South Africa and West Indies. The group A is comprised of Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
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Anonymous at April 15, 2013 0
Four more bowlers have been selected on the third day of trials in Islamabad and Karachi by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in collaboration with Ufone, to hunt fast-bowling talent from across the country.

[caption id="attachment_548" align="alignright" width="300"]PCB will give away a grand prize of Rs1 million to the bowler who achieves the fastest speed over 145 kph PCB will give away a grand prize of Rs1 million to the bowler who achieves the fastest speed over 145 kph[/caption]

The officials selected Nasir Malik and Akhtar Ayub from Islamabad with top speeds of 138 kph and 137 kph and Abdul Ameer and Muhammad Imran Khan from Karachi with top speed of 132 kph.

Under the programme “King of Speed”, the board is seeking for bowlers who can bowl with a speed of 145 kph (90 mph) or more.

Six bowlers were earlier selected from Faisalabad, Multan and Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

In Faisalabad, trials were held on Sunday where scores of candidates showed their talents. Two lucky ones, Faisal Rana and Rana Adil, were selected.

In the round one, 20 bowlers will be selected from 10 cities (two from each city), who will then join round two. After round two, three pacers selected via wild card entry will join Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram in the final round to be held the National Stadium of Karachi.

The trials began from Multan and Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on Saturday, where Atta Ullah, Amir Yamin, Wajid Ali and Mahfooz Ahmed were selected.

The “King of Speed” trials are set to take place in Peshawar (April 16), Quetta and Abbottabad (April 17), Mirpur (April 18) and Lahore (April 20) as well.

The organisers will give away a grand prize of Rs1 million to the bowler who achieves the fastest speed over 145 kph. And in case of more than one winners, the amount will be equally shared.

Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram will also be helping the PCB to unearth the obscure talent in the country as he is not coaching the Kolkata Knight Riders in this season of the IPL.

Pakistan’s fast bowlers once dominated the international cricket and the team was famous for their production line of quicks.

But the country has been lacking quality pacers for quite a while, prompting PCB’s chief selector Iqbal Qasim to say last month that if serious efforts were not made, Pakistan might not get quality pacers.
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Anonymous at April 12, 2013 0
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that Grant Flower is one of the candidates it is considering to appoint as the team’s batting coach.

[caption id="attachment_468" align="alignright" width="300"]Grant Folwer is the younger brother England coach, Andy, and is batting coach of Zimbabwe (Photo: PA) Grant Flower is the younger brother of England coach, Andy Flower, and is batting coach of Zimbabwe (Photo: PA)[/caption]

The 42-year-old Grant, younger brother of England head coach Andy Flower, is currently coaching Zimbabwe’s batsmen and his contract is going to end in August, ESPNcricinfo reported.

As Zimbabwe Cricket is not clear about whether they would reappoint Grant when his contract ends, he has emerged as a strong candidate to fulfil the role in Pakistani team.

But the PCB has made it clear that it may appoint a batting coach before the end of Grant’s tenure in August.

Several former Pakistani cricketers, including Zaheer Abbas and Saleem Malik also showed their interest to fulfil the position when the PCB published its advertisement last year, but the board was searching for a candidate accredited with at least Level 3 coaching and had five-year experience rubbing shoulders with top players.

The news of the PCB mulling over to appoint Grant as a batting coach had mixed reaction from critics. On the one hand, there are experts who poured scorn on the idea of considering Grant when Pakistan itself has experienced cricketers like Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq to name few.

Some saw Grant unfit for the job as they thought he himself was ordinary during his career and, according to them, the PCB considering him means it had run out of options. Meanwhile, Grant’s appointment would also bring disappointment for those who are against the induction of another foreign coach in the team as Pakistan have already two of them – Dav Whatmore (head coach) and Julian Fountain (fielding coach).

On the other hand, analysts in support of Grant opined that former national players as coach tried to manipulate team members which culminated in division among the players. To them, foreign coaches were more neutral, so Grant would be the best option. They also rejected the impression that Grant was ordinary and gave example of his brother, Andy, who is the head coach of a team like England.

Another reason Grant’s supporters give is that domestic coaches often failed in matches outside Pakistan because of their lack of know-how about the foreign pitches, and given Pakistan’s recent performance in South Africa, Grant is the right one to fulfil the role.

Grant has been coaching Zimbabwe’s batsmen since October 2010. During his career as a cricketer himself, he was capped 221 one-dayers and 67 Tests.
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Anonymous at April 11, 2013 0
 

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a schedule for trials to seek out fast bowlers from across the country.

[caption id="attachment_455" align="alignright" width="300"]PCB will give away a grand prize of Rs1 million to the bowler who achieves the fastest speed over 145 kph (Photo: AFP) PCB will give away a grand prize of Rs1 million to the bowler who achieves the fastest speed over 145 kph (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

Under the programme, known as the “King of Speed”, the PCB, with the collaboration of cellular company Ufone, will hunt for bowlers who can bowl with a speed of 145 kph (90 mph).

Pakistan’s fast bowlers once dominated the international cricket and the team was famous for their production line of pacers.

But the country has been lacking quality pacers for quite a while, prompting PCB’s chief selector Iqbal Qasim to say last month that if serious efforts were not made, Pakistan might not get quality pacers.

“The King of Speed camps will be set up in ten cities across Pakistan from 13th to 21st April and the trials will be held in two phases,” a PCB release said.

The trials will start from Garhi Khuda Bakhsh and Multan and will be held in Faisalabad (April 14), Islamabad (April 15), Peshawar (April 16), Quetta, Abbottabad (April 17), Mirpur (April 18), Lahore (April 20).

The PCB, with the help of its sponsors, will also award a grand prize of Rs1 million to the bowler who achieves the fastest speed over 145 kph. And in case of more than one winners, the amount will be equally shared.

Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram will also be helping the PCB to unearth the obscure talent in the country as he is not coaching the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL this season.

Wasim has also agreed to help current bowlers in the national team before the eight-nation ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in England from June 6-23.
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