Cricket

World XI to revive international cricket?

Twelve cricketers belonging to Afghanistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA and West Indies are expected to land at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport in the next day and a half. They make up the numbers for the International World XI squad which will take on Pakistan Star XI in two Twenty20 matches at the National Stadium Karachi this weekend. The matches have been arranged jointly by the Sindh Minister for Sports Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, with support...
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Pakistan’s Super Eight challenge

Pakistan’s Super Eight challenge
Pakistan have been pitted in the so-called ‘group of death’ in the Super 8 stage of the World Twenty20 currently underway in Sri Lanka. The 2009 champions play their first match of the Super Eights against a strong South African team before taking on neighbours and 2007 champions India on Sunday and then finally, they play Australia, whom they recently defeated in a T20 series in Dubai. While Pakistan have been undefeated so far and have managed...
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Ajmal exclusion

Ajmal exclusion
Saeed Ajmal’s exclusion from the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) shortlist of players for the Cricketer of the Year awards has drawn great ire from Pakistan, be it administrators, former cricketers or the passionate cricket fans. ICC has ruled out a chance for Ajmal’s late inclusion in the list, saying it does not have any authority over the final list, which is decided by an independent jury, who decided to leave out Ajmal. In return,...
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Change of guard and recalls

Change of guard and recalls
The Pakistan Cricket Board, on Thursday, announced the national squads for next month’s tour of Sri Lanka. Three separate teams were announced for all three formats of the game, with Mohammad Hafeez being appointed captain for the Twenty20 squad in place of Misbah-ul-Haq. Besides the change at the helm of the T20 squad, a few surprise recalls were handed out to players previously discarded from the national side. These included Mohammad Sami, Imran...
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Domestic success for international revival?

Domestic success for international revival?
With the ‘successful’ completion of the domestic Twenty20 Super Eight tournament in Rawalpindi, there have been calls for brining international cricket back to the country. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been trying to convince its international counterparts that the country is ready to host international matches again. One such attempt led to inviting Bangladesh for a short series this month (April) before Pakistan leave for their tour...
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What-more should Mohsin do?

What-more should Mohsin do?
Pakistan left the cricketing world stunned with their 72-run win over England in the second Test match at Abu Dhabi. As the team erupted in celebrations at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, one of the prominent scenes was that of stand-in coach Mohsin Hasan Khan being thrown in jubilation by his team. Much of Pakistan’s recent success has been (rightly) credited to the captaincy of Misbah-ul-Haq and his team’s newfound work ethic. Pakistan have now won...
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The Ajmal argument

The Ajmal argument
Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has come under criticism by the English media, specifically Bob Willis, who has questioned the bowler’s action. Commenting during the first day’s play between Pakistan and England at Dubai, Willis said “Why is it that all these spinners wear long-sleeved shirts buttoned around the wrist?” said Willis. “The answer is clear isn’t it? They are bending their elbows.” While Ajmal, in his post-play press...
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Facing the music

Facing the music
Pakistani cricketers, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were handed down sentences at the Southwark Crown Court in London today. Salman Butt is to get 30 months of prison time as the judge holds him responsible for ‘corrupting Amir’ while Mohammad Asif has been handed a one-year sentence and Amir will be detained for six months at the Young Offenders Institution. In your opinion, is this a fair verdict? More importantly, will this discourage...
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Too big a war?

Too big a war?
Pakistan’s Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were found guilty of spot fixing by an English court, while Mohammad Amir pleaded guilty to the charges even before the proceedings had begun. The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the trio in February this year for violating the anti-corruption code and they now face possible jail terms in England. Amir’s situation in the scandal might beg leniency as he was only 18 when the incident occurred...
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From the frying pan into the fire?

From the frying pan into the fire?
“…involved in corruption, committing irregularities and serious violation of law and indulging in favouritism and discrimination.” This is the introduction to Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new chairman Zaka Ashraf, at least according to a petition filed against him in the Supreme Court by a senior officer of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd (ZTBL) of which Ashraf is the serving chairman. Quite an enviable track record (details...
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