The Pakistan Cricket Board's selection committee has called up Inzamam-ul-Haq for fitness trials for the forthcoming Test series at home against South Africa. Inzamam's fitness will be ascertained at a week-long fitness camp ahead of the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa in September.
"We have decided to invite a few players including Inzamam-ul-Haq to check their fitness for the Test series against South Africa," Salahuddin Ahmed, the chief selector, told The News.
Considering the fresh rethinking on the part the board, the chances of Inzamam making a comeback to the national team for Test matches now look good. Inzamam was not given a central contract by the board and the official reason for his omission was his retirement from ODIs after the World Cup. The board was keen to award contracts to only those who could play both forms of the game.
"It all depends on his fitness," Salahuddin said. "If Inzamam proves his fitness, he could be selected for the series against South Africa.
"We have decided to arrange a one-week training camp ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup as it would be too difficult to have an idea of players' fitness at the eleventh hour of the start of the series."
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Foolproof security for Australia A, U-19 - PCB
Pakistan will provide the Australia A and Under-19 teams, due to visit in September and October, with the kind of security cover generally reserved for Test squads touring the country.
Zakir Khan, director cricket operations, PCB, told The News he is confident the tours of the Australian squads will go ahead without any problems and that players and officials alike will be completely safe. Close protection officers will accompany the squads through the entire tour.
More
Zakir Khan, director cricket operations, PCB, told The News he is confident the tours of the Australian squads will go ahead without any problems and that players and officials alike will be completely safe. Close protection officers will accompany the squads through the entire tour.
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PCB dope testing before world Twenty20 meet
The Pakistan board has decided to carry out dope tests on the 30 players in the provisional Twenty20 World Championship squad before the final 15-man side is announced next month.
Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, has instructed the board officials to get the tests carried out as soon as possible so that the results are received from a laboratory in Malaysia before the final squad is picked on August 10. The tournament takes place in September.
More
Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, has instructed the board officials to get the tests carried out as soon as possible so that the results are received from a laboratory in Malaysia before the final squad is picked on August 10. The tournament takes place in September.
More
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Afridi - Something is hurting inside!
In an interview with local and international media at a training camp in Qadafi Stadium, Shahid Afridi once again revealed that he was a contender for the top job in Pakistani team and he could not conceal his disappointment at not getting even the job of skipper's deputy. While talking to the journalists he admitted that he became a contender for captain's position after Younis Khan rejected the offer made to him, because he thought it was in the best interest of the team and he was ready to accept any such offer if it was ever made to him. Too bad, the offer never came his way and Shoaib Malik was chosen instead by the PCB.
"It is great honor to be in Pakistani team and being a captain is even greater honor," he said.
It was quite obvious from Afridi tone and words that after he was overlooked for captain's job, he was hoping to become vice captain but once again he was overlooked by PCB and Salman Butt was chosen out of nowhere.
"Board did the right thing to appoint Shoaib Malik as captain. He is a very talented cricketer and the decision of appointing Salman Butt as vice captain is PCB's so what can I say?"
Well, Mr. Afridi, you could say that it was also the right decision or if not at least you could keep your mouth shut so that people wouldn't try to read between the lines and make you look like a fool.
"It is great honor to be in Pakistani team and being a captain is even greater honor," he said.
It was quite obvious from Afridi tone and words that after he was overlooked for captain's job, he was hoping to become vice captain but once again he was overlooked by PCB and Salman Butt was chosen out of nowhere.
"Board did the right thing to appoint Shoaib Malik as captain. He is a very talented cricketer and the decision of appointing Salman Butt as vice captain is PCB's so what can I say?"
Well, Mr. Afridi, you could say that it was also the right decision or if not at least you could keep your mouth shut so that people wouldn't try to read between the lines and make you look like a fool.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
CHRONOLOGY-Pakistan coaches in the last decade
Australian Geoff Lawson on Monday became Pakistan's 12th appointment as coach in the last decade.
Since 1997 Pakistan have had nine coaches with some, including former captain Javed Miandad and South African Richard Pybus, in charge for more than one term.
Changes have often been triggered by internal politics, heavy defeats and man management issues.
Below is a chronology of the coaches who have worked with the Pakistan team since 1998.
Sept 1998. Javed Miandad replaces Haroon Rasheed.
April 1999: Miandad resigns over differences with the players following a tournament in Sharjah despite a successful tour of India.
Mushtaq Mohammad is brought in as coach two weeks before the World Cup in England where Pakistan reach the final but lose to Australia.
Aug 1999: Mushtaq is replaced after the World Cup defeat with the team facing a government inquiry about match fixing in games lost to Bangladesh and India.
Sept 1999: Wasim Raja is appointed coach.
Nov 1999: South African Richard Pybus is appointed coach for the tour of Australia after serving as assistant coach at the World Cup.
Dec 1999: Intikhab Alam replaces the sacked Pybus after Pakistan are whitewashed by Australia in a test series amid reports of disciplinary issues in the team.
March 2000: Miandad returns to relace Intikhab, who is sacked after a home series defeat by Sri Lanka.
April 2001: Miandad is fired after Pakistan's ill-tempered tour of New Zealand and Pybus is brought back by the board for the tour of England.
Sept 2001: Mudassar Nazar takes over as coach after Pybus does not return to Pakistan due to security concerns following the 9/11 attacks.
Sept 2002: Mudassar is summoned to return home midway through the ICC Champions Trophy. Pybus takes over again.
March 2003: Pybus resigns after Pakistan are knocked out in the first round of the 2003 World Cup. The board turns again to Miandad.
April 2004: Miandad is forced to step down after Pakistan lose tests and one-dayers to arch rivals India at home in a series marred by internal problems in the home camp.
June 2004: Former England player and ICC high performance manager Bob Woolmer becomes coach.
March 2007: Woolmer dies during the World Cup from natural causes one day after Pakistan are shocked by Ireland and tumble out of the tournament.
July 2007: Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson is named as the new coach -- the third foreigner to get the job.
Since 1997 Pakistan have had nine coaches with some, including former captain Javed Miandad and South African Richard Pybus, in charge for more than one term.
Changes have often been triggered by internal politics, heavy defeats and man management issues.
Below is a chronology of the coaches who have worked with the Pakistan team since 1998.
Sept 1998. Javed Miandad replaces Haroon Rasheed.
April 1999: Miandad resigns over differences with the players following a tournament in Sharjah despite a successful tour of India.
Mushtaq Mohammad is brought in as coach two weeks before the World Cup in England where Pakistan reach the final but lose to Australia.
Aug 1999: Mushtaq is replaced after the World Cup defeat with the team facing a government inquiry about match fixing in games lost to Bangladesh and India.
Sept 1999: Wasim Raja is appointed coach.
Nov 1999: South African Richard Pybus is appointed coach for the tour of Australia after serving as assistant coach at the World Cup.
Dec 1999: Intikhab Alam replaces the sacked Pybus after Pakistan are whitewashed by Australia in a test series amid reports of disciplinary issues in the team.
March 2000: Miandad returns to relace Intikhab, who is sacked after a home series defeat by Sri Lanka.
April 2001: Miandad is fired after Pakistan's ill-tempered tour of New Zealand and Pybus is brought back by the board for the tour of England.
Sept 2001: Mudassar Nazar takes over as coach after Pybus does not return to Pakistan due to security concerns following the 9/11 attacks.
Sept 2002: Mudassar is summoned to return home midway through the ICC Champions Trophy. Pybus takes over again.
March 2003: Pybus resigns after Pakistan are knocked out in the first round of the 2003 World Cup. The board turns again to Miandad.
April 2004: Miandad is forced to step down after Pakistan lose tests and one-dayers to arch rivals India at home in a series marred by internal problems in the home camp.
June 2004: Former England player and ICC high performance manager Bob Woolmer becomes coach.
March 2007: Woolmer dies during the World Cup from natural causes one day after Pakistan are shocked by Ireland and tumble out of the tournament.
July 2007: Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson is named as the new coach -- the third foreigner to get the job.
Contract for Inzamam?
The Pakistan Cricket Board has awarded performance-based central contracts to 20 players but former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is not among those who will receive the monthly retainers.
Inzamam also does not figure in a shortlist of 20 bench players given smaller retainers based on their performances in domestic cricket.
"The concept of the new contracts is not just based on seniority. Now 40 percent points will be awarded for performance and the remaining 60 for fitness, discipline and seniority," Zakir Khan, director of cricket operations, told Reuters on Monday.
He said the board had no grudge against Inzamam, who retired from one-day internationals and stepped down from the captaincy after Pakistan's early World Cup exit.
Inzamam has said he wants to continue playing test cricket.
"If Inzamam is fit he will be considered. We have given those players contracts and retainers who are available for both forms of the game," Khan said.
The board had cancelled the central contracts of its players after they returned from the World Cup. Those contracts were based on seniority.
Injury-prone fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been given a central contract in the A category although he has played just one test and four one-dayers in the last 14-months.
In addition to Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Asif have been given A category contracts which have a monthly salary of 250,000 rupees ($4,166).
Salman Butt, Mohammad Sami, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Danish Kaneria and Kamran Akmal will get 150,000 rupees ($2500) in the B category.
Imran Nazir, Rao Iftikhar, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah ul Haq and Yasir Arafat have been placed in the last category which carries a salary of 100,000 ($1666).
The monthly retainers are in addition to the match and tour fees and other incentives earned by the players.
Inzamam also does not figure in a shortlist of 20 bench players given smaller retainers based on their performances in domestic cricket.
"The concept of the new contracts is not just based on seniority. Now 40 percent points will be awarded for performance and the remaining 60 for fitness, discipline and seniority," Zakir Khan, director of cricket operations, told Reuters on Monday.
He said the board had no grudge against Inzamam, who retired from one-day internationals and stepped down from the captaincy after Pakistan's early World Cup exit.
Inzamam has said he wants to continue playing test cricket.
"If Inzamam is fit he will be considered. We have given those players contracts and retainers who are available for both forms of the game," Khan said.
The board had cancelled the central contracts of its players after they returned from the World Cup. Those contracts were based on seniority.
Injury-prone fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been given a central contract in the A category although he has played just one test and four one-dayers in the last 14-months.
In addition to Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Asif have been given A category contracts which have a monthly salary of 250,000 rupees ($4,166).
Salman Butt, Mohammad Sami, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Danish Kaneria and Kamran Akmal will get 150,000 rupees ($2500) in the B category.
Imran Nazir, Rao Iftikhar, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah ul Haq and Yasir Arafat have been placed in the last category which carries a salary of 100,000 ($1666).
The monthly retainers are in addition to the match and tour fees and other incentives earned by the players.
What happened with Whatmore
While PCB was busy in announcing the decision to appoint Jeff Lawson as new coach of Pakistan for next two years, at least one person was left bewildered at the turn of the events within a short span of time. Dave Whatmore who was the darling of South Asian cricket just a few months back must be wondering what happened to his bid to become Pakistani coach after his name was unceremonuosly scratched out of the list of possible coaches just days before the final decision was announced at a press conference by PCB.
Whatmore has no one else to blame but himself for this snub, after he initially declined to become Pakistani coach rejecting an offer that was made to him by PCB, right after the sad death of Bob Woolmer. Everyone knew by then that Whatmore was eyeing the highly lucrative position of India's coach as Greg Chappel was slowly being pushed out by the Indian Board. He even expressed this desire during the recently concluded World Cup when he was still Bangladeshi coach, for which he received a repremand from the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
What happened afterwards was not what Whatmore could have thought. After his refusal to become Pakistani coach, he was not even selected among the final candidates for the Indian position. At that time too much water had passed under the bridge since PCB had already advertised the position and they were actively looking at all the options. Although Whatmore was still in the mix, he was not the only candidate. He was invited to be interviwed by PCB along with fellows Aussies Jeff Lawson & Richard Done. At that point he was still a leading candidate but then suddenly something happened that tilted the balance against him.
As the rumor have it, Sri Lanka's world cup winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga had a chance meeting with Pakistan's manager-cum-coach Talat Ali in Scotland where the team had recently gone to play two one-day games. According to reliable sources in the Pakistan team Ranatunga advised Talat and the Pakistani players not to have Whatmore as a coach. According to a source, "Ranatunga during his talks with Talat and some senior players gave them a run down on Whatmore and eventually his advice was to avoid him,” he added, “Ranatunga did admit that Whatmore was coach when Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup but said the players had a big credit in this as well,” Rantunga advised them how he had problems with Whatmore when he was Sri Lankan Captain. This advice when looked at coupled with Whatmore's recent performance with Bangladeshi team pretty much convinced PCB that he was not the right man for the job.
Everyone admists that even in his stint with Sri Lanka, it was the single minded determination of then Sri Lankan captain and vice captain, Rantunga and Arvinda Desilva, not the brilliance of Whatmore that won them the world cup. For the first time PCB management which has been knows for its hasty decisions which are often wrong, took a long time to think about a decision and the outcome has been slightly positive in a sense that they at least avoided a person who has nothing to show for in his last few years as a coach of a national team.
Whatmore has no one else to blame but himself for this snub, after he initially declined to become Pakistani coach rejecting an offer that was made to him by PCB, right after the sad death of Bob Woolmer. Everyone knew by then that Whatmore was eyeing the highly lucrative position of India's coach as Greg Chappel was slowly being pushed out by the Indian Board. He even expressed this desire during the recently concluded World Cup when he was still Bangladeshi coach, for which he received a repremand from the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
What happened afterwards was not what Whatmore could have thought. After his refusal to become Pakistani coach, he was not even selected among the final candidates for the Indian position. At that time too much water had passed under the bridge since PCB had already advertised the position and they were actively looking at all the options. Although Whatmore was still in the mix, he was not the only candidate. He was invited to be interviwed by PCB along with fellows Aussies Jeff Lawson & Richard Done. At that point he was still a leading candidate but then suddenly something happened that tilted the balance against him.
As the rumor have it, Sri Lanka's world cup winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga had a chance meeting with Pakistan's manager-cum-coach Talat Ali in Scotland where the team had recently gone to play two one-day games. According to reliable sources in the Pakistan team Ranatunga advised Talat and the Pakistani players not to have Whatmore as a coach. According to a source, "Ranatunga during his talks with Talat and some senior players gave them a run down on Whatmore and eventually his advice was to avoid him,” he added, “Ranatunga did admit that Whatmore was coach when Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup but said the players had a big credit in this as well,” Rantunga advised them how he had problems with Whatmore when he was Sri Lankan Captain. This advice when looked at coupled with Whatmore's recent performance with Bangladeshi team pretty much convinced PCB that he was not the right man for the job.
Everyone admists that even in his stint with Sri Lanka, it was the single minded determination of then Sri Lankan captain and vice captain, Rantunga and Arvinda Desilva, not the brilliance of Whatmore that won them the world cup. For the first time PCB management which has been knows for its hasty decisions which are often wrong, took a long time to think about a decision and the outcome has been slightly positive in a sense that they at least avoided a person who has nothing to show for in his last few years as a coach of a national team.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Lawson is the new Pakictan Coach
After months of speculations Jeff Lawson has finally been named as new Pakistan coach. It was almost a dead heat between him and Dave Whatmore but in the ned it was Lawson's fast bowling background that won him the final nod. The appointment has been made for a period of two years.
"Pakistan has many pace bowlers and we win matches with them", Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, said. "Having a former fast bowler on board is an advantage for that definitely."
"We weighed all our options and, though all three were highly qualified, we felt Lawson was most suitable to our needs. Dav Whatmore and Richard Done were not any less candidates, just that Lawson was what we needed."
There were rumors in the media that Sri Lanka's ex-captain Arjuna Rantunga played an important role in tilting the bar against Whatmore and in Lawson's favor but PCB chairman dismissed this as inaccurate.
Lawson, a level 3 qualified coach, will arrive in Pakistan on August 15 and is expected to be on a similar financial package as was Woolmer. He is likely to bring his own management support team with him and Ashraf said Pakistan might appoint a specialist batting coach, given their brittleness in that department. "We will definitely have a fielding coach and we want world-class trainers and physiotherapists as well. We want to have a streamlined management team and Lawson has his ideas on that," said Ashraf.
This is Lawson's first international assignment although he has been head coach with Australia's New South Wales team and is currently involved officially with the state.
"Pakistan has many pace bowlers and we win matches with them", Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, said. "Having a former fast bowler on board is an advantage for that definitely."
"We weighed all our options and, though all three were highly qualified, we felt Lawson was most suitable to our needs. Dav Whatmore and Richard Done were not any less candidates, just that Lawson was what we needed."
There were rumors in the media that Sri Lanka's ex-captain Arjuna Rantunga played an important role in tilting the bar against Whatmore and in Lawson's favor but PCB chairman dismissed this as inaccurate.
Lawson, a level 3 qualified coach, will arrive in Pakistan on August 15 and is expected to be on a similar financial package as was Woolmer. He is likely to bring his own management support team with him and Ashraf said Pakistan might appoint a specialist batting coach, given their brittleness in that department. "We will definitely have a fielding coach and we want world-class trainers and physiotherapists as well. We want to have a streamlined management team and Lawson has his ideas on that," said Ashraf.
This is Lawson's first international assignment although he has been head coach with Australia's New South Wales team and is currently involved officially with the state.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
'I'm always thankful to Dalmiya' - Shoaib Akhtar
Cricinfo staff
July 5, 2007
Shoaib Akhtar has said that he would always be thankful to Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former ICC and Indian board president, for supporting him when doubts were being raised about his bowling action.
"The first time, in 1999-2000, was awful," said Shoaib, in an Asian News International report, of the suspicions raised at the time. "I'm always going to be thankful to Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the then ICC president, for his support. But, as I said, every controversy has made me a better and stronger person. I may have felt gutted, but the controversies haven't killed my josh (passion) and desire to play for Pakistan."
Shoaib also said that the doping controversy, during the Champions Trophy last year, was one of the toughest periods in his life. "My own countrymen shunned me, with some even refusing to look at me. It was a terrible period. Everybody's body mechanism isn't the same and certain levels are higher in my body compared to others.
"My hormone level fluctuates. I didn't take drugs to enhance my performance. I don't need to. I don't know why I was treated so badly. The test didn't show I was an evil person. I've always been misunderstood. I've never seen myself bigger than the game."
Shoaib wasn't happy with the way the entire Bob Woolmer episode was handled. "His death left me stunned. What's worse is his body remained in Kingston for weeks and weeks. Such indignity."
July 5, 2007
Shoaib Akhtar has said that he would always be thankful to Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former ICC and Indian board president, for supporting him when doubts were being raised about his bowling action.
"The first time, in 1999-2000, was awful," said Shoaib, in an Asian News International report, of the suspicions raised at the time. "I'm always going to be thankful to Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the then ICC president, for his support. But, as I said, every controversy has made me a better and stronger person. I may have felt gutted, but the controversies haven't killed my josh (passion) and desire to play for Pakistan."
Shoaib also said that the doping controversy, during the Champions Trophy last year, was one of the toughest periods in his life. "My own countrymen shunned me, with some even refusing to look at me. It was a terrible period. Everybody's body mechanism isn't the same and certain levels are higher in my body compared to others.
"My hormone level fluctuates. I didn't take drugs to enhance my performance. I don't need to. I don't know why I was treated so badly. The test didn't show I was an evil person. I've always been misunderstood. I've never seen myself bigger than the game."
Shoaib wasn't happy with the way the entire Bob Woolmer episode was handled. "His death left me stunned. What's worse is his body remained in Kingston for weeks and weeks. Such indignity."
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
WADA and out: no winners in the drugs scandal
Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif can heave a massive sigh of relief. You can be sure that if their case had been heard at the Court for Arbitration for Sport their plea of ignorance would not have been received sympathetically.
Read More @ Cricinfo
Read More @ Cricinfo
Doping: Shoaib and Asif exonerated
The Court of Arbitration for Sports has been forced to dismiss an appeal by the World Anti Doping Agency over the reprieves for the Pakistan fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, saying it had no jurisdiction to overturn the decision.
Read More @ Cricinfo
Read More @ Cricinfo
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Ifs and Butts
I was lucky enough to watch Salman Butt on debut. The immediate observation was this was a young player with a tremendous amount of time and hence--almost paradoxically--able to play the ball wonderfully late. A bright future as Pakistan's star opener beckoned. Since then Salman has delighted and dumbfounded. Some of his best efforts have come against Australia while last summer he was sent home early from England after a disappointing tour.
Read More @ Cricinfo
Read More @ Cricinfo
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