KARACHI: Pakistan cricket was plunged into deeper turmoil when the country’s cricket board barred former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan from national duty besides taking stern action against five other team members.
Acting on ‘recommendations’ made by a probe panel, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) imposed one-year bans on former skipper Shoaib Malik and seasoned allrounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. The duo was also fined Rs2 million each after being identified among the main culprits behind Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia.
Shahid Afridi was handed a fine of Rs3 million for ball tampering and will be under probation for six months while Kamran Akmal and his younger brother Umar were also slapped with similar penalties. The Akmal brothers were punished for making trouble after the Sydney Test which Pakistan lost from a seemingly winning position. Kamran has been asked to pay a fine of Rs3 million while Umar has been handed a fine of Rs2 million.
“For the shameful act of Shahid Khan Afridi, which has brought the game and country into disrepute, he be fined rupees three million. A warning be issued to him by the Chairman PCB and he be put on probation for 06 months, during which his conduct be strictly monitored,” said the statement.
Afridi was banned for two Twenty20 Internationals after he was caught chewing the ball by TV cameras during the fifth One-day International against Australia in Perth.
Just hours after making the announcements, the PCB backtracked on its decision against Yousuf and Younis, saying that the two players can be selected for Pakistan “as and when the PCB deems appropriate”.
Earlier in the morning, the PCB had announced what sounded like shockingly harsh life bans for the two senior players
“Mohammed Yousuf and Younis Khan keeping in view their infighting which resulted in bringing down the whole team, their attitude had a trickledown effect which is a bad influence for the whole team, should not be part of national team in any format,” said a PCB statement.
However, later in the evening, the PCB made it clear it hasn’t banned the duo, adding that the two players have just been suspended indefinitely.
Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said that the Board announcement was misinterpreted adding that Yousuf and Younis could be considered for national duty in future.
He added that the players have the right to appeal against the punishments handed by the Board.
The recommendations were made by an inquiry committee that was headed by PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari and included governing board member Wazir Ali Khoja, director of cricket operations Zakir Khan, team manager Yawar Saeed and lawyer Taffazul Rizvi.
“The recommendations of the inquiry committee have been accepted by PCB in totality,” said the PCB statement.
“The recommendations will go a long way to arrest the continuing decline in Pakistan cricket,” it added.
However, the committee’s credibility was questioned again on Wednesday by experts and former greats.
“All of its members are working for the PCB so where is the neutrality,” asked Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain.
Rashid Latif, another ex-skipper, said that the players will get relief from court. “I’m sure that the players will contest these bans and win cases in court against the PCB,” he said.
The committee began its proceedings soon after the team’s return from Australia last month and heard the players and team officials — coach Intikhab Alam, assistant coach Aaqib Javed, the then manager Abdul Raqeeb, physiotherapist Faisal Hayat and analyst Mohammad Talha during a series of meetings at the PCB headquarters in Lahore.
The probe panel also reviewed reports filed by Raqeeb and Intikhab related to last year’s tours to the United Arab Emirates for a one-day series against New Zealand, Pakistan’s Test series in New Zealand and the catastrophic tour of Australia where the team was routed 3-0 in the Test series and 5-0 in the one-day series.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Daryl Harper won’t stand at World T20
DUBAI: Daryl Harper has not been chosen to officiate at the World Twenty20 in West Indies although the ICC insist the decision has nothing to do with his controversial role in the fourth Test between England and South Africa, at the Wanderers in January, and is based on “general performance reasons”.
Harper came under the spotlight when he was the third umpire in control of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in Johannesburg. He gave Graeme Smith not out under the review procedure when he was unable to hear a clear noise as the ball passed the edge.
“It will be noted that Daryl HarperÖhas not been selected for this event,” the ICC said. “This decision was taken by the selection panel for a number of general performance reasons. It must be categorically stated, however, that none of these reasons is related to his role as third umpire in the fourth Test between South Africa and England earlier this year.”
While Harper won’t be in West Indies, three international panel umpires — Marius Erasmus from South Africa, Australia’s Rod Tucker and Shavir Tarapore from India — will join their elite colleagues.
The decision on the umpiring appointments was taken by a four man committee comprising of Dave Richardson, the ICC general manager, Ranjan Madugalle, the ICC chief match referee, David Lloyd the former England coach and now TV commentator and Srinivas Venkataraghavan the former elite umpire from India.
Umpires Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Billy Doctrove, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Rudi Koertzen, Asoka de Silva, Simon Taufel, Asad Rauf (all from the elite panel of ICC umpires), Marais Erasmus, Shavir Tarapore and Rod Tucker (from the international panel of ICC umpires).
Harper came under the spotlight when he was the third umpire in control of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in Johannesburg. He gave Graeme Smith not out under the review procedure when he was unable to hear a clear noise as the ball passed the edge.
“It will be noted that Daryl HarperÖhas not been selected for this event,” the ICC said. “This decision was taken by the selection panel for a number of general performance reasons. It must be categorically stated, however, that none of these reasons is related to his role as third umpire in the fourth Test between South Africa and England earlier this year.”
While Harper won’t be in West Indies, three international panel umpires — Marius Erasmus from South Africa, Australia’s Rod Tucker and Shavir Tarapore from India — will join their elite colleagues.
The decision on the umpiring appointments was taken by a four man committee comprising of Dave Richardson, the ICC general manager, Ranjan Madugalle, the ICC chief match referee, David Lloyd the former England coach and now TV commentator and Srinivas Venkataraghavan the former elite umpire from India.
Umpires Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Billy Doctrove, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Rudi Koertzen, Asoka de Silva, Simon Taufel, Asad Rauf (all from the elite panel of ICC umpires), Marais Erasmus, Shavir Tarapore and Rod Tucker (from the international panel of ICC umpires).
Clarke in squad for New Zealand Tests
WELLINGTON: Vice-captain Michael Clarke has been included in Australia’s Test squad only two days after quitting a cricket tour of New Zealand for personal reasons and returning to his Sydney home.
Clarke, 28, left the team hotel on Monday on the eve of its third One-day International against New Zealand at Hamilton to be with his partner.
“Michael has arrived home to support Lara through this difficult time,” Clarke’s manager, Chris White, said on Tuesday.
At the time there was speculation over whether Clarke would be included in the team for the two Test matches in New Zealand starting later this month.
Clarke, 28, left the team hotel on Monday on the eve of its third One-day International against New Zealand at Hamilton to be with his partner.
“Michael has arrived home to support Lara through this difficult time,” Clarke’s manager, Chris White, said on Tuesday.
At the time there was speculation over whether Clarke would be included in the team for the two Test matches in New Zealand starting later this month.
PCB imposes bans, fines on players
LAHORE: After the crushing defeat by Australia, meted out to the National cricket team, the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has imposed bans, fines on various cricket players, held responsible for their poor performance.
In the light of recommendations by inquiry committee, PCB has imposed one-year ban on playing of all-rounder Shoaib Malik and Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, alongwith a fine for Rs 2 million each.
Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Omar Akmal have been issued final warnings to improve their disciplinary behavior; while both Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal has been fined Rs. three million and Omar Akmal has been fined Rs. two million. These three have also been placed on a six-month probational period.
Sources have also said that a 15-member National squad for the forthcoming 20/20 cricket world cup has also been finalized by the National Selection Committee.
Shoaib Malik, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, Younas Khan and Muhammad Yousaf have not been included in the squad, while Muhammad Hafeez, Salman Butt, Khalid Lateef, Omar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razaq, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Hammad Azam, Omar Gul, Muhammad Aamir, Muhammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal, and Kamran Akmal, are included.
The selection committee has also finalized the names of 5 reserved players, which include, Shahzeb, Muhammad Sami, Raza Hassan, Naveed Yasin, and Sarfaraz Ahmad.
PCB would be making the enquiry report public within the next few days.
Muhammed Yousuf and Younis Khan have been banned from international cricket for life.
Abdul Qadir lauds PCB decisions
LAHORE: Former leg spinner and former PCB Chief Selector Abdul Qadir, appreciating the recent decisions by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and termed them as brave, Geo News reported Wednesday.
Talking to media, he said the Board should stick to their decisions, as the decisions made in past by earlier Boards were not put into action.
It should be mentioned the PCB imposed bans and fines on various players including Younis Khan, Muhammed Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Omar Akmal and Shahid Afridi.
Abdul Qadir said, ‘We should tell the world that we can make good decisions, as sacrifices make a good nation.’
Bangladesh drop Ashraful for England Tests
DHAKA: Bangladesh have axed experienced batsman Mohammad Ashraful for a two-Test series against England following his inconsistent form, selectors said Tuesday.
The 25-year-old former captain, with 2,256 runs in 53 Tests, has not scored a half-century in his last 12 Test innings. He also skipped a recent one-day series against the tourists.
Ashraful failed to make the most of his last chance to impress the selectors, making just one and 30 in the ongoing warm-up game against the tourists in Chittagong.
"He did not play well in the national league and also in the practice match against England," Bangladesh's chief selector Rafiqul Alam said.
The selectors named three left-arm spinners -- Shakib Al Hasan, Abdur Razzak and Enamul Haque -- in the 14-man squad for the Test series beginning in Chittagong on Friday.
The second Test starts in Dhaka on March 20.
Shakib will continue to lead Bangladesh in the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza, who has been rested.
Test squad: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Raqibul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Abdur Razzak, Enamul Haque, Shahadat Hossain.
The 25-year-old former captain, with 2,256 runs in 53 Tests, has not scored a half-century in his last 12 Test innings. He also skipped a recent one-day series against the tourists.
Ashraful failed to make the most of his last chance to impress the selectors, making just one and 30 in the ongoing warm-up game against the tourists in Chittagong.
"He did not play well in the national league and also in the practice match against England," Bangladesh's chief selector Rafiqul Alam said.
The selectors named three left-arm spinners -- Shakib Al Hasan, Abdur Razzak and Enamul Haque -- in the 14-man squad for the Test series beginning in Chittagong on Friday.
The second Test starts in Dhaka on March 20.
Shakib will continue to lead Bangladesh in the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza, who has been rested.
Test squad: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Raqibul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Abdur Razzak, Enamul Haque, Shahadat Hossain.
Sohail Abbas has no plans to retire soon
NEW DELHI: World’s highest goal scorer and Pakistan’s famed drag flicker Sohail Abbas says he has no plans to retire soon, his lacklustre showing in the Hockey World Cup notwtihstanding.
Sohail feels he still has a few more years of hockey and he would like to serve his country.
“I have no plans to retire. I think I still have some years left in me. So I want to serve my country as long as I can,” the 34-year-old Sohail told mediapersons on Monday soon after the four-time Cup winners went down 1-2 to Australia to wrap up their Pool B engagements with only three points.
Sohail was not at his best in the tournament and just could not get his act right while executing his penalty-corner hits or drag flicks, greatly affecting Pakistan’s prospects. However, he attributed the team’s dismal showing to fatigue.
“We have been playing continuosly for the last six month. So the players were fatigued and that led to the drop in the performance levels.” Sohail also refused to accept that his fitness levels have gone down. “I am very happy with my fitness in this World Cup. I have played four World Cups. In fact, fitness wise it has been one of my best-ever. So I want to continue playing,” he said. Asked whether there will be pressure on him to retire after the team’s poor showing here, he said: “If the federation does not want me, then it is a different thing. I cannot comment on that.”
Sohail feels he still has a few more years of hockey and he would like to serve his country.
“I have no plans to retire. I think I still have some years left in me. So I want to serve my country as long as I can,” the 34-year-old Sohail told mediapersons on Monday soon after the four-time Cup winners went down 1-2 to Australia to wrap up their Pool B engagements with only three points.
Sohail was not at his best in the tournament and just could not get his act right while executing his penalty-corner hits or drag flicks, greatly affecting Pakistan’s prospects. However, he attributed the team’s dismal showing to fatigue.
“We have been playing continuosly for the last six month. So the players were fatigued and that led to the drop in the performance levels.” Sohail also refused to accept that his fitness levels have gone down. “I am very happy with my fitness in this World Cup. I have played four World Cups. In fact, fitness wise it has been one of my best-ever. So I want to continue playing,” he said. Asked whether there will be pressure on him to retire after the team’s poor showing here, he said: “If the federation does not want me, then it is a different thing. I cannot comment on that.”
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