Friday, 14 September 2012
Five Pakistanis, Stallions part of CLT20
Five Pakistanis will be part of the Champions League in addition to Sialkot Stallions which will become the first Pakistan side to feature in the Twenty20 event.
The Shoaib Malik-led Stallions will, however, need to qualify for the main event and will take on Auckland Aces (October 9) before taking on Hampshire two days later in a bid to seal their progress.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has been named in Hampshire’s squad, while former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood will represent the Kiwi side.
The other qualifying group comprises Yorkshire, Trinidad & Tobago and Uva Next, winners of the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League earlier this year who have named Fawad Alam and Umar Gul in their squad.
Sohail Tanvir, who will represent South Africa’s Highveld Lions, in the only Pakistani certain to take part in the Champions League.
Nine players opt for IPL teams
Meanwhile, all nine players named by two teams have opted to turn out for their IPL instead of the home sides. The Trinidad & Tobago players Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine will represent Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively, while Faf du Plessis, Albie Morkel and Michael Hussey (Chennai), Mitchell Johnson (Mumbai), Brett Lee (Kolkata) and Morne Morkel (Delhi) are the other players named in two teams.
However, according to tournament rules, the IPL franchises will have to pay $150,000 to the ‘home’ teams of the players. It has also been reported that IPL contracts force players to turn up for them instead of their home teams.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2012.
Team will give their best in T20 World Cup: Whatmore
Dav Whatmore said, “We have already set a momentum. I am confident my boys will carry it into the WorldCup.”
Dav said while praising his team’s magnificent T20 performance against Australia. Emphasizing the role of warm-up matches, Dav stressed “T20 is a volatile format. One over can change the course of the game. It is a format where a player or a team has to be at their utmost best and that too within a short span.”
Replying to a question, he said that Saeed Ajmal was a good bowler, who could get wicket on each of his ball. He said it was my good fortune that a player like Saeed Ajmal was in his team.
Replying to another question, Dav Whatmore said that he expected good performance from all players in each match. Although it was a practice match against India, but the victory in this match was important, he said.
The national cricket team coach said that it was not necessary that all the players winning against Australia be retained, some changes might be made in accordance with the circumstances.
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Hafeez Speaks To The Press After Arrival For World T20
Mohammad Hafeez the Pakistan Twenty20 captain, has said that experienced Twenty20 players, Pakistan's past record in the World Twenty20, and familiarity with Sri Lankan conditions give his side confidence ahead of the upcoming world event.
"Winning the World Cup is always something special for the nation," Hafeez said after arrival in Colombo. "We have done it two times earlier and this time we've got a good chance and have a good team. We have also got good momentum after winning the [Twenty20 international] series against Australia [in the UAE] and that has boosted the morale of the team."
Pakistan were runners-up in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007, won the 2009 edition in England and were semi-finalists in West Indies in the 2010 event. "We have done a great job in the last three T20 tournaments," Hafeez said. "We have been very successful in the event. We really want to ensure that we should not be complacent.
"We have a good team with some of our players having played a lot of T20 cricket. Shahid Afridi is one those along with Yasir Arafat, Abdul Razzaq, Imran Nazir. We've got good specialists in the team and have a combination that can do really well in these conditions in the mega event."
Afridi is recovering from a finger injury that kept him out of the T20Is against Australia and Hafeez said he was looking forward to the allrounder's return. "He is one of the experienced lads in our side. He is a match-winner for us since the past 15 years. He has ample experience to come out and perform on any day. He is in good shape and feeling confident."
Pakistan are used to Sri Lankan conditions, having visited the country in June for three Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is. Several members of the side's World Twenty20 squad also played in the recent Sri Lanka Premier League.
"We have been allowed by the PCB to play in the SLPL mainly because they wanted us to get used to the conditions. Most of us have played here before and [also] the recent series win [against Australia] gives us the confidence that we can do something special."
Pakistan are in Group D in the World Twenty20 along with New Zealand and Bangladesh and will play their group matches in Pallekele. Hafeez said his attack has the variety to suit the conditions.
"We know that the Pallekele pitch is suited for fast bowlers and we are prepared to execute with the mix we have got. We have good seamers and spinners."
Pakistan will begin their campaign against New Zealand on September 23. Hafeez said they could not afford to take any team lightly. "Any team can make a difference even in one over. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe might not be very good Test sides but in T20s they have performed well. New Zealand are dangerous on any day and so are Bangladesh. I am wary of the pressure of the first round and the boys are ready for the challenge."
Hafeez insisted that fielding always creates a difference in this format. "T20 demands a lot of energy and we have seen the team doing well in fielding winning more matches," Hafeez said. "We are working very hard to bring more energy in the field. The boys have taken most of the catches in the recent series against Australia and we are looking forward to an improved show in the field."
Fantastic day for nine-wicket Abdur Rehman and Somerset
"Whenever I play, I am representing the Pakistani image" :Abdur Rehman
An explosive spell of bowing by Pakistan left arm spinner, Abdur Rehman saw him acclaim his career best figures of 9-65. Bowling for Somerset against Worcestershire at Taunton, Rehman put in a spell 24 overs that showed why he's one of the most consistent performers on the world stage. Only Peter Trego picking up the eighth wicket of the innings, denied Rehman the chance to capture the perfect ten.
Rehman was understandably pleased with his performance. "I am really happy that I performed for my team. I am bowling with good rhythm at the moment and hope to take this experience with me when I return to Pakistan". He added "Playing in these conditions will InshAllah help me in the future. If and when required and I play for Pakistan in these shores, I will have experience of these conditions".
Already having a Test fifty to his name, Rehman was adamant that not only his bowling but batting and fielding was coming on leaps and bounds. "After games and days off my time is spent in the nets. I am working really hard on my batting. I see batting as a important aspect to my game". Though Rehman primarily plays as a specialist bowler for Pakistan, he looks at it differently, "It is essential that I contribute with the bat when I play. It would be wrong for me to think that I have bowled and done my job. I genuinely believe I can became a good batsman".
Abdur Rehman played a crucial role in the whitewash of England at the start of the year and remembers the series as a career highlight, though he has the utmost respect and gratitude for his spin partner, Saeed Ajmal. He believes Ajmal is the best bowler in world cricket. He spoke about how the pair try to work in tandem by stating, "We look to stop the flow of runs. If you can stop the runs then the wickets usually follow. It's important to bowl in pairs as that is how pressure is created". Asked if there was any friendly rivalry between the two, Rehman said that they both respected each other and only ever want Pakiatan to win. Which of the two, or any other teammate get's the wicket, is irrelevant.
Though a regular in the squad for the ODI format, Rehman is yet to nail down a regular place in the starting 11. He did play on two out of the three games last week against Australia and feels that he can make that final push. "I have been a regular in the ODI squad for sometime now. I always look to perform to my best ability but understand Pakistan is blessed with great spinners". He added "All I can do is doing my best for Pakistan whenever I get a chance. I played against Australia in two games and felt I did well. I believe in my ability and InshAllah I'll do well whenever given the chance".
Rehman missed out on the Twenty20 squad for the World Championship but he held no ill feelings towards anyone. He stated "Im pretty sure Pakistan will do us proud. I am sure we will get to the final at the very least and think we can definitely win the World Cup". He saw the recent series win over Australia as a good benchmark from which the team can progress from and also believed that great things can be achieved by the team with the support of the Pakistani public behind them. "The Australia series showed we are a superb team. Beating any Australian team in any format is not easy, but we did it. The people of Pakistan need to get behind the team and InshAllah the team will bring the title home".
ICC Awards: Ajmal can still be included, says former ICC chief
KARACHI: Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani has slammed the governing body’s response to Pakistan’s protest after its off-spinner Saeed Ajmal’s was omitted from the shortlist.
The ICC rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to reconsider the decision and said that changing the decision of the independent jury was beyond its control and there was not enough time left as candidates were finalised.
The ICC annual award ceremony will be held in Colombo on September 15.
However, Mani said it was still possible for the governing body to make amends and the decision to snub the deserving cricketer is still reversible.
“The ICC has definitely made a mistake somewhere,” the former ICC chief told.
“The stats speak clearly for Ajmal and there is absolutely no doubt that he was a deserving candidate to be in the shortlist.
“I am aware of the selection process and its transparency but I feel the ICC has made a mistake over Ajmal. This is a mistake made at the executive level. The ICC must admit it and include the spinner among the final nominees.
“It needs strong leadership but it is still possible to make amends in the list. If I was the ICC chief I would have ordered it.
“If the Oval Test decision could be reversed twice then it is just a case of giving due credit to a deserving player and there should be no hesitation in it.”
‘PCB’s boycott plans childish’
However, the former ICC chief criticised the reaction of the PCB which was planning a partial or complete boycott of the awards’ ceremony to record their protest.
“It will be a childish act,” said Mani. “The PCB supporting their cricketer is fine and that is their right. But boycotting the ceremony will marginalise us.
“The PCB should use other fronts to protest the decision and avoid such embarrassment in the future.
“They should raise the matter in the next ICC board meeting and call for an inquiry on the selection process made for this year.”
The awards ceremony takes place in Colombo on September 15 ahead of the 2012 World Twenty20.
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