Controversially Yours – I tampered but never fixed

Shoaib Akhtar makes sensational claims in his book

Rawalpindi Express is out of control once again. Shoaib Akhtar has made startling revelations in his autobiography ‘Controversially Yours’. The negative remarks about Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram and Shah Rukh Khan will certainly ignite hostile responses, apart from turning his book into a hot cake.

In the autobiography, the exccerpts of which have been released to the media, he described his life as a cricketer and beyond.  It gives a detailed account of his background, his struggles in life and his career marred by injury and indiscipline. A kid who was born with a flat foot, developed whooping cough in his childhood, and when he played cricket he suffered the pain of a sore knee for most of his career.

In his book, soon to make headlines, he describes lack of a father figure – like Imran Khan in 80s – in the team which could have nurtured the amazing talent coming through in the nineties, turning it into world beaters. A team that was known by its infighting, match-fixing and other controversies massively under achieved despite having extra-ordinary cricketers. 
 
In his book he says Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are not match winners. He terms Dravid as a better batsman than the maestro. "I think players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid weren't exactly match winners to start with, nor did they know the art of finishing the game", the book reads.

At one point he describes an incident where Tendulkar chickened out because he (Akhtar) was bowling a lethal spell. He says: "I bowled a particularly fast ball which he, to my amazement didn't even touch. He walked away! That was the first time I saw him walk away from me-that, too, on the slow track at Faisalabad."

Taking a dig at IPL, he criticizes former IPL commissioner Lalit Mody and Shah Rukh K terming them as ‘cheaters’. "Shahrukh and I talked about my not being happy with the money settled on me. Shahrukh and Modi got me to agree. I should have never listened to Modi and Shahrukh."

He did not spare Wasim Akram whom he blamed for destroying his career as his book says: "Wasim Akram threatened to walk out with half the team if I was included in the team. General Tauqir Zia backed Shoaib against Wasim." According to him, Akram was probably against blooding youngsters. 

Shoaib does not seem to be impressed with the role Shoaib Malik played. "Shoaib Malik doesn't deserve to be captain and was made captain because he was a stooge of the PCB Chief Naseem Ashraf," he said. According to him Shahid Afridi deserved to be the captain in 2007 but Malik was chosen instead.

He blames PCB for all the evils prevailing in Pakistan cricket during the days he played. He confessed to have made many mistakes, but insists he was targeted and made scapegoat almost every time, on the pretext of maintaining discipline.

He admitted to have done ball-tampering but denied in strong words his involvement in match or spot-fixing. He said: "Everyone tampers with the ball. I did so too. Tampering should be legalised."
According to him, Amir and Asif were in the company of bad people. He said though he was from a humble back-ground but he treasured the honour of playing for Pakistan, hence he could not even think of indulging in spot-fixing. He describes beating a couple of guys who had approached him for that very purpose.

Formerr president Pervez Musharraf, Javed Miandad and Shane Warne have also come under the scanner in the book which is to be launched tonight in India. He also terms Ireland better than Bangladesh and West Indies who both do not deserve the Test status. 

More to follow ...

CLT20 Qualifier – Ruhuna upset Leicestershire in a tight finish

Both teams needed to win big for the sake of a place in the main round of the Champions league. In the end it was Sri Lankan domestic champions Ruhuna who held their nerves and strangled Leics’ lower order. After scoring 160, being put in, they needed to restrict Leics fewer than 140 to go beyond Somerset and KKR on the net run rate. But they had to battle out a close win and hence have entered in a net run rate battle with the loser of the next game between KKR and Somerset.

Match Report – Champions League T20 Qualifiers Pool B: Leicestershire v Ruhuna at Hyderabad (Deccan), Sep 21, 2011

Matthew Hoggard was unfit, hence Andrew McDonald captained Leicestershire. Jigar Naik replaced Hoggard. Harry Gurney removed Sanath Jayasuriya and Udawatte cheaply with two slower balls to peg back Ruhuna from the outset.

Dinesh Chandimal and Kushal Perera lifted their team with controlled aggression, but latter perished for 19, miss-hitting a pull off Abdul Razzaq.

Chandimal first hit a six of Hendersen and then two back-to-back fours of Abdul, who responded by removing Gunaratne in the same over. At the end of 15 overs, Ruhuna were a modest 104 for 4, needing a strong finish. And strong finish they got from Karunanayake, who blasted a quick-fire 28 off just 15 balls with two fours and as many sixes. That knock eventually made the difference. 
 
Ruhuna looted 56 from 5 overs at the death, reaching a stiff total of 160/6, keeping in mind slowness of the track. Chandimal remained not out on 62 (51b 6x4 2x6). For Leics Gurney and Abdul took 3 and 2 wickets respectively.

Abdul Razzaq was, rightly, promoted to open with Joshua Cobb. They raced to 31 in 2.2 overs before Cobb was holed out in the deep off Arosh Janoda for 15 off 6 balls that included two sixes. McDonald provided good company to Abdul Razzaq who was now well set, as Ruhuna looked concerned.

At 71 for 1 after 7 overs, Leics were in a position to even go for an early finish which would have given them the required positive net run rate. However, to topple both Somerset and Kolkata they needed to reach the target in 13.2 overs, which was beyond them at this stage. Similarly Ruhuna’s dream of restricting Leics under 140 seemed quite unlikely from there on, as they were battling for a win instead.

Asanka Silva had McDonald caught behind to put pressure on Abdul who was, as proved later, caught between thought of an early NRR-boosting finish and a normal win. Nearing his fifty and on either side of the team hundred, Abdul punished Jayasuriya, hitting him for a four and a huge straight six. With 53 required from the last 8 overs and with seven wickets remaining, it seemed just a formality from there on. But Ruhuna fought back valiantly through their spinners, strangling the scoring rate and getting wicket in the process.

Abdul Razzaq had increased the tempo, getting a life or two, but eventually was out in trying to manufacture a shot, with a view to race towards the target. His innings of 68 (46b 6x4 2x6) was brilliant, but in the context of the game proved insufficient as no other batsman looked capable to put bat on the ball.  

Leics meandered along aimlessly to get just 24 in the last 5 overs to end 5 short of the target, a poor display by their lower middle order. Gunaratne and Silva both got 3 wickets each, but Dinesh Chandimal was named the Man of the Match for his stabilizing knock of 62 not out.

The result meant Ruhuna were still in line for an outside chance of qualifying if the next result goes their way.

Ruhuna 160/6 (Chandimal 62*, Gurney 3/33) beat Leicestershire (156/8 (Abdul Razzaq 68, Gunaratne 3/27) by 5 runs

Man of the Match: Dinesh Chandimal

Pakistan vs Zimbabwe - Hafeez stars again in close win

Pakistan gave their out-going coach, Waqar Younis, a perfect farewell by winning the final match of the Tour as well. Tatenda Taibu sparkled to pull off a close win, but Pakistan again proved too good for the hosts. Hafeez, unsurprisingly, continued his heroics.
 

Match Report – 2nd T20I: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Harare Sports Club, 16 September 2011

Pakistan made one change, replacing Aizaz Cheema with Junaid Khan. The batting again looked thin as they played with five front line bowlers. Zimbabwe too made a solitary change, bringing in an extra spinner in Prosper Utseya for Chris Mpofu.

Zimbabwe’s decision to start with Utseya’s off-spin did not seem to trouble Pakistan, but seamers, helped by frequent bowling changes, jolted Pakistan’s top order. Pakistan were 34 for 3 at the end of powerplay overs, with Shafiq, Ramiz and Shoaib Malik all undone by seam bowling.
 
At this stage, Hafeez and Umar Akmal put the innings back on track by getting 59 runs for the 4th wicket. They scored at about 7 an over which was adequate at that stage. Hafeez continued his scintillating form by scoring uninhibited. He got boundaries at will, Utseya being his primary target. The departure of Hafeez for 51 (38b 5x4 1x6) brought Zimbabwe back in the game. Ray Price took the prized scalp, as Hafeez was caught at long on.

Umar Akmal, batting at less than run-a-ball, needed to take over the aggression from Hafeez. His run out gave Zimbabwe a clear upper hand. The boundaries dried out as Zimbabwe fielded and bowled brilliantly. The middle overs struggle meant Pakistan needed to finish strong but Misbah, Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Shah could only take Pakistan to 141 for 7 at close.

Kyle Jarvis bowled brilliantly for his 3 for 14. At the innings break, Zimbabwe had good chances to secure their first win of the tour by chasing down this mediocre total on a batting, albeit a tad slow, surface.

In reply, Zimbabwe started well as Vusi Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha cruised to 28 in four overs. Introduction of spin reaped immediate reward, as Chibhabha was brilliantly caught by Yasir shah at mid-on.

Junaid Khan came on to remove Sibanda, and Hafeez became the third man to get a wicket in his first over in the innings when Zhuwao missed a straighter one. Hafeez continued to be Zimbabwe’s night-mare when he nipped out Masakadza and Brendan Taylor in quick succession to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 61 for 5 in the 12^th over.

Charles Coventry clattered two fours off Junaid khan but perished going for the third in a row, playing on a rising off-side delivery. At 71 for 6, the chase seemed over for the hosts, but Tatenda Taibu had other ideas. He did not lose hope and got Elton Chigumbura to go for a final push.

Zimbabwe needed to score at 11 an over in the last 4 overs to upset Pakistan. Sohail Tanvir was hooked for a four by Taibu, followed by a thumping Six by Chigumbura a ball later. Trying to repeat the shot, he was pouched by Shafiq at long-on. Taibu was running out of partners, and overs.

Saeed Ajmal bowled a tight 18^th over, leaving Zimbabwe to score 29 from the two left. Taibu reduced the target to 20 from 6 balls, a stiff task but not impossible.

Taibu moved back a little staying on the back foot and hit the first ball from Sohail Khan for a stunning straight six to instill belief in the hosts’ camp for a sensational end. But Sohail pulled back things by not leaking another boundary as Zimbabwe ended agonizingly short. They lost by just 5 runs as Taibu remained unbeaten on 37 off 28 balls.

Junaid got two scalps, but the star of the show once again was Hafeez who had outstanding figures of 3 for 11 in three overs. He was again the Man of the Match.

Mohammad Hafeez may have wished the Tour continued on for some more time, as he is in the form of his life, so far, both with bat and ball.

Pakistan won all the matches on the trip, a perfect practice ahead of a tough season, while Zimbabwe have many holes to fill before they take on New Zealand.

Pakistan 141/7 (Hafeez 51, U Akmal 28; Jarvis 3/15) beat Zimbabwe 136/7 (Taibu 378, Chigumbura 24; Hafeez 3/11) by 5 runs

Series: Pakistan won 2-0

Man of the Match: Mohammad Hafeez

Pakistan vs Zimbabwe – Phenomenal Hafeez gives Zimbabwe a T20 lesson

Mohammad Hafeez produced his best T20I performance with both bat and ball to help Pakistan roll over Zimbabwe in the first T20I. It was an embarrassing thumping for a team that has gone down steadily as the tour progressed.

Match Report – 1^st T20I: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Harare Sports Club, 16 September 2011

Ramiz Raja and Kyle Jarvis made debuts for their respective teams, as Zimbabwe put Pakistan in on a perfect batting track. Hard-hitting Charles Coventry and Cephas Zhuwao also made come backs. Mohammad Hafeez, enjoying a spectacular tour, and Asad Shafiq made mockery of the decision as both toyed with the hosts’ bowling, which comprised of only three front line bowlers.

Shafiq’s stroke play showcased his all-round talent. He played spectacularly on both sides of the square, hitting crispy cuts and eye-catching pulls. He hit Mpofu for four consecutive fours in one over, as Pakistan raced towards 50 in just 4.2 overs.

Hafeez despite playing second fiddle wasn’t slow either, but he went into extra gear after unfortunate demise of Shafiq. Shafiq was run out for 38 (off just 23 balls with 6 fours and a six) when he slipped attempting a run as he tried to return back from middle of the pitch.

Ramiz Raja joined Hafeez and both took the score to 147 from 74 for one in the 7^th over. Hafeez gave a tough chance at long leg as his six brought up his first T20 fifty. Ramiz hit two fours in a somewhat struggling debut innings of 23 off 27 balls. Coventry grabbed Hafeez at mid wicket when he mistimed, a rarity, a full toss from Chamu Chibhabha. He made 71 off just 48 balls which included six classy boundaries and 3 sixes.
 
Umar Akmal and Sohail Tanvir promoted up the order by Misbah, brought life into a slowing innings by finishing strongly. Sohail hit two sixes in the final over bowled by Mpofu which cost him 18 runs. Pakistan finished at 198 for 4, giving Zimbabwe a tough challenge.

In reply Pakistan bowled well as Zimbabwe crumbled under pressure. Misbah took a stunning catch, running and lunging back full strength, to send back Vusi Sibanda and start the rot.

Pakistan chipped away regularly and Zimbabwe’s innings never took off for a reasonable length of time. Sohail Khan took two wickets in his first over. Zimbabwe reached 63 for 3 in 8 overs and looked to regain the lost ground, But to their horror, Mohammad Hafeez was given the ball and he struck two in two in his first over to leave them reeling again.

Every thing Hafeez touched turned to gold as he came back to finish the innings and misery for Zimbabwe by cleaning up Ray price, the last wicket. Before that Charles Coventry sparked for a brief period but it was never going to be enough at this stage. He made 30 off just 13 balls with the help of 4 fours and a six. Zimbabwe folded for just 113 in 15.2 overs as Pakistan won by a hefty margin of 85 runs.
Man of the Match Hafeez took 4 for 10 in just 14 deliveries, what a series he has had!

Pakistan have gone from strengt5h to strength in this tour as opposed to the hosts who have lost the plot after putting up brave fight in the one-off Test and the first ODI. They have last chance to salvage some pride on 18^th when both teams play 2nt T20I, the last fixture of the series.

Summarised Scores:

Pakistan 198/4 (Hafeez 71, Shafiq 38; Chibhabha 1/17) beat Zimbabwe 113/10 in 15.2 overs (Coventry 30; Hafeez 4/10, Sohail Khan 2/13) by 85 runs

Man of the Match: Mohammad Hafeez

ICC irked as BCCI shuns ICC Awards ceremony

ICC News and Opinion: Haroon Lorgat terms it a shame >

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat blamed BCCI for the absence of Indian players at the annual awards ceremony last night. Terming it a shame he regretted to see no Indian representation despite the fact that they were invited about two weeks in advance.

He said: "I know for a fact that they were invited. We sent those invitations through the BCCI. Perhaps that's the question which should be asked to the BCCI.

"It was quite disappointing that the Indian team did not attend the Awards function last night. I know for a fact that my team had invited them some months back. We probably have confirmation of their likely attendance and in fact the very date was scheduled around their availability in London. Well, they haven't and England team has attended," Lorgat said. 
 
"It's a great shame and disappointing that not long ago they were the number one Test team in the World. They won the World Cup in such a great style. And there were many fans and people looking forward to their attendance. It's a shame that they did not attend.

"There is Spirit of the cricket Award that went to MS Dhoni for the wonderful leadership he showed when he recalled Ian Bell. It was a deserving award and quite a shame that he was not there to accept it," Lorgat said.

Indian team manager Shivlal Yadav however laid blame on ICC. According to him an ICC communication officer had informed him at 12 noon but it was too late as "the players were already away, some shopping, some sight-seeing as this was their final day of stay in London".

ICC communication officer Colin Gibson contradicted BCCI by saying: "The Indian team management had been invited to attend tonight and they were invited some weeks ago. Those who were nominated for awards have known it since 26th of August, in Canterbury, when the short-listed names for the awards were announced”.

Indian captain won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award, but he was not there to receive it. And many Indians payers were nominated in ICC Test and ODO Teams of the Year. The world knew there were Awards going on, but Team India remained oblivious!

This lack of sportsmanship on the part of BCCI must have hit hard on ICC whose major source of revenue comes from India. On one hand they cannot antagonize India but at the same time they expect more from them, as they are the World Champions and were until recently world’s number one Test nation.

Bitterness ends, Pakistan to tour Bangladesh soon

Pakistan News and opinion: PCB accepts BCB’s request for a full tour in December >

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has agreed to tour Bangladesh in December this year to play 2 Tests, three ODIs and a T20I accepting a proposal from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The relations between the two boards were sour since 2009, when Bangladesh cancelled a scheduled tour by Pakistan team immediately after the Lahore terrorist attacks on Sri Lankan Team bus in March 2009. PCB cold-shouldered Bangladesh from then on, as it deemed the action by BCB as uncalled for and unsporting being a brotherly board and country. It was thought that at a critical time when Pakistan needed support, Bangladesh turned away. 
 
The relations turned even bitter when Bangladesh opposed Pakistan, to the surprise of PCB, and supported ICC resolution to shift the World Cup matches out of Pakistan. Two months ago, Bangladesh postponed an under-19 tour to Pakistan, but now it seems the ice is melting.

Pakistan is already suffering from lack of cricket as no team is likely to tour the country on security grounds in near future. Bangladesh too has been exposed to limited chances, especially in the Test arena, resulting in the deterioration of the performance of their team. Both nations require each other’s support, and it is evident that both sides have understood this fact at last.

Bangladesh has been denied an Indian full tour for many years in future, resulting in a feeling of resentment and emptiness. They already have a dearth of tours against a quality opposition, and denying Pakistan was only worsening the matter.

It is hoped that the tour is formally approved paving the way for a return Bangladesh tour, which Pakistan desperately needs.

ICC Awards – ODI Team of the Year announced

ICC News: The Team includes Dhoni as captain, while Umar Gul is the sole Pakistani >

The ICC panel formed for the purpose of LG ICC Awards has announced the ODI Team of the Year, an ICC release has revealed today. The Awards ceremony will be held late in the day in London. MS Dhoni will lead the team, becoming the only player selected for the 4^th year running.

The 12-member team includes four Indians, three Sri Lankans, two South Africans, and one player each from Australia, Pakistan and England. AB de Villiers and Shane Watson are the only players apart from Dhoni who also were part of the ICC ODI Team of the year 2009.

The finalists of the last World Cup, India and Sri Lanka, are duly represented by most number of players. The performance of Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan was instrumental in helping India become world champions and this also gave them a place in the ICC line-up.

The runners-up, Sri Lanka, are represented by their captain Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Lasith Malinga (12^th man). 
 
The selection panel includes Clive Lloyd as chairman, Zaheer Abbas, Mike Gatting, Danny Morrison and Paul Adams. Although there was no set criteria, but the statistics were used as a guide to select the team.

Lloyd said: "This has been an outstanding year for 50-over cricket. I think everyone saw in the ICC Cricket World Cup how exciting this format can be. The ICC Cricket World Cup was rightly applauded as one of the greatest in history and no one who was in Mumbai will forget that remarkable evening.”
The ICC Test Team of The Year was announced by the same panel last month.

The ICC ODI Team of the Year 2010:

Virender Sehwag
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Kumar Sangakkara
AB de Villiers
Yuvraj Singh
Shane Watson
MS Dhoni (C)
Graeme Swann
Zaheer Khan
Umar Gul
Dale Steyn
Lasith Malinga (12^th man)

15-day deadline for the candidates to apply for Pakistan coach

Pakistan News: Both national and foreign candidates are open to apply >

After meeting of the 3-membrer committee today, the PCB has advertised the job for national coach, giving the candidates 15 days to apply for the role. PCB chairman has given the committee free hand in choosing any candidate they may feel suitable.

The committee formed for the selection of coach consists of Zaheer Abbas, Intikhab Alam and Naushad Ali, while Ramiz raja has been named to assist them. The minutes of the meeting have been sent to Ramiz in Zimbabwe where he is commentating on the current series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

After the meeting, Intikhab Alam said: "The PCB Chairman briefed us prior to our meeting and has given us a free hand in the search for the national coach. We definitely will be considering both local and foreign applicants and the advertisement goes up today and will give interested parties 15 days to apply for the role. 
 
"We will scrutinise and interview the candidates and then the PCB will announce the coach in light of our recommendations. Also, the committee can approach someone on their own if they want to." He said.

The committee was formed on 29 august following Waqar’s announcement to not continue with the job after the Zimbabwe series citing personal and medical reasons. No member can apply for the job himself.

Among others, the names of Aqib Javed, Mudassar Nazar, Dav Whatmore, Mickey Arthur and Mushtaq Ahmad are being speculated in the media.

Pakistan v Zimbabwe – Hafeez and Cheema star in crushing win

Day 5 Report – Only Test: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, 1 - 5 September 2011

Pakistan registered an easy win on the final day, as Zimbabwe’s resistance did not last long, giving Pakistan an easy target of 88 to win, which they achieved losing just three wickets.

Tatenda Taibu perished in the very first over of the day, contrary to Zimbabwe’s expectations, when he edged behind off Aizaz Cheema. He did not add to his over-night 58.

Cheema celebrated his 32^nd birthday by ending the innings in his next over to bag 8 wickets on debut, second best figures for a Pakistani after Mohammad Zahid’s 11 for 130 against New Zealand in 1996.
 
Zimbabwe’s 141 meant Pakistan needed 88 to win on a weary but playable surface. Hafeez’s figures of 4 for 31 were his best in the Tests, as Cheema’s 4 for 24. Cheema showed character on a dead track by bowling his heart out. The way he hurried the batsmen and made use of the reverse swing will certainly do no harm for his Test future.

Zimbabwe started with Kyle Jarvis and Ray Price, but Hafeez and Taufeeq played their shots from the outset. Hafeez slog-swept Price for a six, while Taufeeq hit two crisp boundaries off Jarvis to start the chase aggressively. Taufeeq again left the scene cheaply as he got a good one from Jarvis.

Hafeez was going smoothly just like the fist innings, until Price bowled him around his legs when he went for a sweep the umpteenth time. He made a 37-ball 38 with the help of 6 fours and a six. Azhar too got out before Younis and Misbah steered Pakistan home well before the Lunch break.

This is Pakistan’s second consecutive Test win, a feat achieved after almost five years. The team continues to grow under Misbah who has a young but disciplined group of players. Zimbabwe too showed the willingness to fight against a much superior team. So the Test yielded something for both the teams.

Mohammad Hafeez earned man of the match award for his brilliant all-round performance, eclipsing the equally impressive efforts of Tino Mawoyo and Aizaz Cheema.

Summarised Scores:

Pakistan (Hafeez 119, Azhar Ali 75; Lamb 2/85) and 88/3 (Hafeez 38; Price 2/35) beat Zimbabwe 412 (Mawoyo 163*, Cheema 4/79, Ajmal 4/143) and 141 (Taibu 58*; Cheema 4/24, Hafeez 4/31) by 7 wickets

Man of the match: Mohammad Hafeez

Pakistan v Zimbabwe – Hafeez bowls Pakistan within sight of victory

Day 4 Report – 1^st Test: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, 1 - 5 September 2011

After Pakistan managed to get a 54-run lead, Zimbabwe made the pitch look like a minefield as Hafeez ran through their middle order, reducing them to 69 for 8 before a late recovery by Taibu ensured the match enters the final day.

Pakistan started well, with both Younis and Adnan Akmal playing out the first hour safely. Zimbabwean spinners, especially the ultra-miserly ray Price bowled on a leg-stump line. This not only restricted Pakistan, but made the rough come into play. Younis broke the chains which Price had tightened around him – just 9 runs off him in 82 balls – by coming down and launching him over long on for six.   
 
Akmal played with flare, reverse sweeping the spinners from outside leg and then leaning back to cut whenever opportunity arose. Pakistan went into the lead when Akmal late-cut Kyle Jarvis for four, third boundary of the over. Just when Pakistan looked like to run away from Zimbabwe, Akmal ran himself out for 45-ball 36 which included 5 fours.

Saeed Ajmal looked solid from the outset as Younis looked to move on, but Price removed him 12 shy of hundred. It was a vital wicket, as Zimbabwe bowled Pakistan out shortly after lunch despite resistance from Ajmal.  He was last man out for 28, as Pakistan made 466. Price bowled 50.1 overs and gave away just 69 runs for two wickets, bowling as many as 24 maiden overs!

Aizaz Cheema gave Pakistan an early breakthrough when Vusi Sibanda, a compulsive puller, perished playing another pull. After just 8 overs of seam, Misbah turned to his trump card, Ajmal, who broke through in his first over. Hero of the first innings, Tino Mawoyo, was bowled round his legs by a vicious turner. The flood gates were opened.

Cheema and Ajmal got a wicket each and Zimbabwe were reeling at 31 for 4. Any thought of a rearguard action or a counter-attack was blown away by Mohammad Hafeez, who rocked the Zimbabwe middle order with his little pack of variations.

He too got a wicket - that of Craig Ervine - in his first over, when the batsman, playing for an off-spinner, missed the slider. From 45 for 5, Zimbabwe only had Tatenda Taibu to get them out of the mire. At the stroke of Tea, Sohail Khan misjudged a catch to let of Tatenda Taibu.


Best player of spin in his side, Taibu needed some one to stick with him but Hafeez got three out of the way in quick succession. It looked all over for Zimbabwe at 69 for 8, just 14 runs ahead.

The match looked like ending today, but Taibu and Jarvis stood firm to prevent that. After defending astutely for an hour, Taibu opened his arms to hit a couple of fours and a six off Hafeez. Jarvis too settled down and both ended the day at 135 for 8, a lead of 81 runs with a couple of wickets in hand.

Their unbeaten 66-run partnership has frustrated Pakistan but they still have defeat looming unless something dramatic happens on the final day.

Tenacious Taibu remained not out on 58, while Jarvis will resume on 20 when the final starts tomorrow with Pakistan firm favourites.

Summarised scores:

Zimbabwe 412 (Mawoyo 163*, Cheema 4/79, Ajmal 4/143) and 135/8 (Taibu 58*, Hafeez 4/31) lead Pakistan (Hafeez 119, Azhar Ali 75; Lamb 2/85) by 81 runs with 2 wickets remaining

Nasser says Pakistan could have challenged England in Tests if …

Nasser Hussain's contrasting remarks about Pakistan and India

In an interview with a leading cricket website, Former English captain Nasser Hussain termed South Africa as the biggest challenge to England’s number one position. He, however, fancied had Pakistan not entangled in match-fixing and selection controversies, they too would have posed a real threat.

He said that England’s next big test will come in winter when they play in India, Sri Lanka and UAE against Pakistan. Apart from that, he said: "South Africa are a threat, they rely heavily on Morkel and Steyn. Imran Tahir is a very useful addition to them. They are a good side but I still fancy England.

“If you had all of the Pakistan team available and all fit, and none of the politics, and none of the going around in circles with captains and all that, with their bowling attack, they would be a threat to world cricket but unfortunately that's not the case." 


In the interview he expressed hope that England will rise in ODIs too, as they have started to select unorthodox players for the format. In that regard, as he states, next World Cup in Australia is very important.

Nasser has been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late. After an on-camera altercation with Ravi Shastri over the use of DRS, he equated some of the lazy Indian fielders with ‘donkeys’ during the T20 match between the two teams. BCCI officially protested while many in India got furious over the remarks.

Ravi Shastri at the toss in today’s first ODI match said that Indian players are lazy because they are intimidated by many donkeys around.

Nasser Hussain is generally regarded as a well-respected even-minded cricket expert. He was born in India, but bread in England and went on to captain England in all forms of the game.

A hundred wins and a new baby for Ponting

Australia news: Shaun Marsh to debut as ‘Punter’ flies home to be present at his child’s birth

Ricky Thomas Ponting has become first player to be part of 100 Test wins, a remarkable and matchless feat. Incredible ‘Punter’ was already a leader in that regard by a big margin, but Australia’s victory over Sri Lanka at Galle today broached a unique ‘century’ for him.

The Test finished a day earlier which meant Ponting had time to be with his wife, Rianna, who is expecting to give birth to their second child in a couple of days. After a week’s break, Ponting will fly back to play in the third and last Test match.

Being part of 100 Test wins seems an unbelievable feat at first glance, but it shows how dominant Australia were in the previous decade and a half. For this reason, Australians occupy all the top 7 positions. It is remarkable that next man (still playing) on highest wins is Mark Boucher, who has been part of 70 Test wins. 
 
Ponting’s journey, Australia’s in effect, started in December 1995 against Sri Lanka, and the ‘ton’ too was accomplished against the same team. Every one knows how special a player Ponting has been over the years, but in matches won by Australia, in all 100 of them, he averages five and a half runs per innings more than his over-all test average of 53.26.

He has scored 8375 runs in Test wins, about 2000 more than the next man Steve Waugh. His over-all win percentage is about 65%, 6^th overall with Adam Gilchrist leading the list with 76 %. But in Australia’s prime from 1999 to 2006, when he too was firing all cylinders, his contribution was 74%.

For a man like Ponting, who relishes a Test win more than any thing, this feat means a lot. As he himself said each victory was significant for him since Australia’s slide started in 2008.

After the latest win over Sri Lanka in their backyard Ponting said: "My proudest moment as captain was walking off the field in Durban [in 2009] when we beat South Africa over there. That was with a very young team. That was the proudest moment of my captaincy, and I think Michael Clarke will say something similar now.”

His captain Michael Clarke played rich tribute to the master by saying: "It's a very special victory for Punter. I think the one thing I've always said is a great player is determined by his longevity and Ricky's played a hell of a lot of Test cricket, scored a hell of a lot of Test runs and captained a hell of a lot of Test victories as well. He's an amazing player. His bowling wasn't even too bad yesterday."

In Ponting’s absence, David Warner has been called by the Australian selection panel to be with the squad. Shaun Marsh is expected to make his debt in the second Test.

On his departure, Ponting said: "Hopefully the baby comes in the next couple of days and hopefully I'll be around for a few days and hopefully be able to get them out of hospital and be back in time to get prepared to play the third Test. As the tour's worn on, one thing I didn't want to do if at all possible was miss the birth, and Rianna's started to struggle a little more the last few days so she just needs me home at the moment."

The couple has a 3-year old daughter named Emmy Charlotte.

Stats credit: ESPNcricinfo

Champions League T20 2011– squads and schedule

CLT20 News: 13 teams and two rounds

Third edition of the Champions League will kick off in India from September 23 between 10 domestic teams from most of the top cricketing nations. Chennai Super Kings are the defending champions. Inaugural edition was won by New South Wales.

Top three teams from IPL, two from Australia’s BBL and two from South Africa’s Standard Bank Pro 20 have automatically qualified for the main event.  A qualification round to choose the remaining three teams will be held from September 19 to 21.

Champions League T20 qualifying will be contested by six teams divided into two groups. The teams include Leicestershire and Somerset (England), Kolkata Knight Riders (India), Ruhuna (Sri Lanka), Trinidad and Tobago (West Indies) and the Auckland Aces (New Zealand). 
 
Again there is no representation from Pakistan, apart from Abdul Razzaq who is part of Friends Life T20 winners, Leicestershire.

Squads 

Chennai Super Kings (India): MS Dhoni (cap), Albie Morkel, S Badrinath, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Doug Bollinger, Michael Hussey, Dwayne Bravo, Suraj Randiv, Wriddhiman Saha, Shadab Jakati, S Anirudha, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, M Vijay

Mumbai Indians (India): Sachin Tendulkar (cap), , Kieron Pollard, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Aiden Blizzard, Lasith Malinga, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ambati Rayudu, James Franklin, Davy Jacobs, Dhawal Kulkarni, Suryakumar Yadav, Ali Murtaza, Munaf Patel, T Suman

Royal Challengers Bangalore (India): Daniel Vettori (cap), AB de Villiers, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chris Gayle, Mohammad Kaif, Dirk Nannes, Asad Pathan, Saurabh Tiwary, Mayank Agarwal, S Aravind, Raju Bhatkal, Arun Karthik, Virat Kohli, Abhimanyu Mithun, J Syed Mohammed

Kolkata Knight Riders (India): Gautam Gambhir (cap), Jacques Kallis, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Eoin Morgan, Yusuf Pathan, Ryan ten Doeschate, Manoj Tiwary, Iqbal Abdulla, Shakib Al Hasan, L Balaji, Rajat Bhatia, Jaidev Unadkat, Manvinder Bisla, Shami Ahmed

Cape Cobras(SA): JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Robin Peterson, Owais Shah, Dale Steyn, Justin Kemp, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Richard Levi, Johann Louw, Justin Ontong, Vernon Philander, Andrew Puttick, Michael Rippon, Dane Vilas

Warriors(SA): Johan Botha, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Ashwell Prince, Colin Ingram, Justin Kreusch, Lonwabo Tsotsobe Lyall Meyer, Jon-Jon Smuts, Kelly Smuts, Rusty Theron, Craig Thyssen, Andrew Birch

New South Wales Blues (Australia): David Warner, Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich, Stuart Clark, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Hazelwood, Moises Henriques, Nic Maddinson, Steve O'Keefe, Ben Rohrer, Daniel Smith, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Patrick Cummins

South Australia Redbacks (Australia): Callum Ferguson, Cameron Borgas, Adil Rashid, Daniel Christian, Shaun Tait, Tom Cooper, Daniel Harris, Michael Klinger, Nathan Lyon, Tim Ludeman, Aaron O'Brien, Gary Putland, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, James Smith

Leicestershire (England): Paul Nixon, Andrew McDonald, Abdul Razzaq, Will Jefferson, CW Henderson, James Taylor, Joshua Cobb, Jacques Du Toit, Wayne White, Jigar Naik, Matthew Boyce, Nathan Buck, Harry Gurney, Nadeem Malik, Tom New, Shiv Thakor, Alex Wyatt

Somerset (England): Marcus Trescothick, JC Buttler, Craig Kieswetter, Alfonso Thomas, Murali Kartik, Justin Langer, G Dockrell, Craig Meschede, Steve Kirby, Nick Compton, Lewis Gregory, BJ Phillips JC Hildreth, AV Suppiah, PD Trego

Ruhuna Elevens (Sri Lanka): Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Dinesh Chandimal, Janaka Gunaratne, Shihan Kamileen, Amal Athulathmudali, Milinda Siriwardana, TM Sampath, Yashodha Lanka, Arosh Janoda, Shalika Karunanayake, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Omesh Wijesiriwardene, Alankara Asanka Silva, Chinthaka Perera

Auckland (New Zealand): Martin Guptill, Lou Vincent, Andre Adams, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey, Rob Quiney, James Adams, Michael Bates, Colin de Grandhomme, Roneel Hira, Gareth Hopkins, Anaru Kitchen, Bruce Martin, Colin Munro

Trinidad & Tobago (West Indies): Daren Ganga, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Lendl Simmons, Jason Mohammed, Dave Mohammed, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Rayad Emrit, Sherwin Ganga, Shannon Gabriel, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree, William Perkins

A total of 29 matches will be played in both rounds combined.

CLT20 Groups

GROUP A		GROUP B
A1	Chennai Super Kings (India)	B1	Royal Challengers Bangalore (India)
A2	Cape Cobras (South Africa)	B2	Warriors (South Africa)
A3	NSW Blues (Australia)	B3	South Australian Redbacks (Australia)
A4	Mumbai Indians (India)	B4	Q1
A5	Q2	B5	Q3

Champions League T20 - Qualifying Round

Date	Local	GMT	Match Details
Sep 19, 2011	16:00	10:30	Qualifier: Trinidad & Tobago v Ruhuna Rhinos
Sep 19, 2011	20:00	14:30	Qualifier: Kolkata Kt Riders v Auckland Aces
Sep 20, 2011	16:00	10:30	Qualifier: Trinidad & Tobago v Leicestershire
Sep 20, 2011	20:00	14:30	Qualifier: Somerset v Auckland Aces
Sep 21, 2011	16:00	10:30	Qualifier: Leicestershire v Ruhuna Rhinos
Sep 21, 2011	20:00	14:30	Qualifier: Kolkata Knight Riders v Somerset

Champions League T20 - Main Round

Sep 23, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group B: RCB v Chevrolet Warriors
Sep 24, 2011	16:00	10:30	Group A: Cape Cobras v New South Wales Blues
Sep 24, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group A: Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians
Sep 25, 2011	16:00	10:30	Group B: Chevrolet Warriors v South Aus Redbacks
Sep 25, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group B: TBC v TBC
Sep 26, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group A: Mumbai Indians v TBC
Sep 27, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group B: TBC v South Australian Redbacks
Sep 28, 2011	16:00	10:30	Group A: New South Wales Blues v TBC
Sep 28, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group A: Chennai Super Kings v Cape Cobras
Sep 29, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group B: TBC v Royal Challengers Bangalore
Sep 30, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group A: Mumbai Indians v Cape Cobras
Oct 1, 2011	16:00	10:30	Group B: South Australian Redbacks v TBC
Oct 1, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group B: TBC v Chevrolet Warriors
Oct 2, 2011	16:00	10:30	Group A: Mumbai Indians v New South Wales Blues
Oct 2, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group A: Chennai Super Kings v TBC
Oct 3, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group B: Royal Challengers Bangalore v TBC
Oct 4, 2011	16:00	10:30	Group A: Cape Cobras v TBC
Oct 4, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group A: Chennai Super Kings v NSW Blues
Oct 5, 2011	16:00	10:30	Group B: Chevrolet Warriors v TBC
Oct 5, 2011	20:00	14:30	Group B: RCB v South Australian Redbacks
Oct 7, 2011	20:00	14:30	TBC v TBC, 1st Semi Final T20
Oct 8, 2011	20:00	14:30	TBC v TBC, 2nd Semi Final T20
Oct 9, 2011	20:00	14:30	TBC v TBC, Final T20

Pakistan v Zimbabwe – Hafeez and Azhar lead Pakistan’s strong reply

Day 3 Report – 1st Test: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, 1 - 5 September 2011

Pakistan needed to bat whole of the third day without losing too many wickets to get back on even terms with Zimbabwe. Mohammad Hafeez, with his third Test century, lead the way for them, but loss of 5th wicket at the stroke of stumps meant the match was still hanging in balance.

Hafeez, still on the overnight score of 79, got another life in day’s second over, when Chris Mpofu could not hold on to a simple return catch. Hafeez slowed down as he neared hundred, but Azhar played a few classy drives for four en route to reach his fifty.

Hafeez then pulled Vitori emphatically to bring up his ton, on 127 balls with 16 fours and a six. Contrary to the first hour, both batsmen decelerated considerably in the second hour before Lunch. Ultra defensive approach cost Hafeez his wicket as he drove tamely to midwicket off part-timer Hamilton Masakadza. He made an attractive 119, his highest test score.

The post Lunch session saw Pakistan build another century-plus partnership, between Younis and Misbah, after Azhar Ali perished, missing an opportunity to get to his maiden hundred on a belter. He nicked behind off Greg lamb to go for 75 filled with 11 boundaries. He did really well to get Pakistan on track after an early wicket, as he and Hafeez put together 188 runs for the third wicket.

Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq both got a life each, as Zimbabwe fielders emulated Pakistan in the catching department. Misbah, after getting a life off Lamb, went after him by hitting two fours interspersed with a bent-knee swept six. Ray Price, who was bowling extra-miserly, holding one end up, made Younis glove one that turned but to his agony the chance was spilled at forward short leg. After Tea, Misbah reached his fifty before Younis. It was his ninth fifty in last eleven innings.

Misbah continued to sweep and get boundaries, until he fell over while attempting another off Greg Lamb, and was caught by Vitori at short fine leg. He made 66 but promised more. Umar Akmal joined Younis and played cautiously as the day approached to an end. Younis reached to his fifty, a very subdued one by his standards.

Playing for the day, both laboured in the last hour or so. Younis remained unbeaten for 61, but Umar Akmal was unlucky to be dismissed in a peculiar fashion in the last over of the day. He pulled Lamb fiercely but the ball ricocheted off the forward short leg fielder and popped up to Taylor at leg gully who happily swallowed it.

Umar’s wicket gave Zimbabwe hope of getting Pakistan out short of their own total, and then if they could put Pakistan under pressure if they bat well in the second innings. Pakistan, with a long and inexperienced tail, still have a lot of work at their disposal.

The morning session will be an important one for both teams.

Summarised scores:

Pakistan 357-5 (Hafeez 119, Azhar Ali 75; Lamb 2/85) trail Zimbabwe 412 (Mawoyo 163*, Cheema 4/79, Ajmal 4/143) by runs 55 runs with 5 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Image credit: thenews.com.pk

Pakistan v Zimbabwe – Cheema shines but Mawoyo ton ensures Zimbabwe cross 400

Day 2 Report – 1st Test: Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, 1 - 5 September 2011 >

Tino Mawoyo scored a fine 163 not out as Zimbabwe drained Pakistan to post a big first innings score. Mohammad Hafeez then counterattacked with a strokeful unbeaten half century to keep Pakistan at par with Zimbabwe.

Mawoyo's innings was a model of patience as he batted for 645 minutes, consuming 453 balls; third longest ever innings by a Zimbabwean. It was a little fortuitous knock but full of grit and determination.

He put on 96 with Craig Ervine, as Pakistan had to wait for their first wicket in the morning session. Ervine became Junaid Khan’s first Test victim as he lobbed a return catch to a relieved Junaid. He missed a well-deserved fifty by just one run.

Second new ball did not prove productive for Pakistan as debutant Greg Lamb gave good company to Mawoyo, who inched towards his century after entering the nervous nineties. After a few nervous moments he reached the landmark - his maiden Test ton - off 327 balls with 12 fours.

After Lunch, with score at 314 for 5, Mawoyo played more purposefully and the score moved along at a better rate. Lamb missed out on a debut fifty, when Ajmal got him LBW for 39. It was then Aizaz Cheema’s turn to get his first Test scalp, by removing Ray Price through a sharp catch at short leg by Azhar Ali.

Cheema made good use of the reverse swing getting next three wickets; two of them clean-bowled. The delivery which nailed Kyle Jarvis was a special one, an inswinging yorker. Mawoyo, meanwhile, continued his vigil and reached 150. Adnan Akmal missed a stumping, but Cheema ended the innings by removing the last man, as Mawoyo was left stranded on 163 not out.

His innings gave Zimbabwe a chance to ensure Pakistan start under pressure when they come out to bat. Ajmal and Cheema both took 4 wickets each.

Pakistan lost Taufeeq Umar cheaply – LBW to Kyle Jarvis - but Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali played out the day by knitting together a 100-run partnership.

Hafeez was enterprising as he played delicious strokes all around the park, making full use of the docile track. He got a life early in his innings when Taylor dropped a sitter in slips, off Brian Vitori. He remained unbeaten on 79, in just 93 balls with the help of 15 crispy boundaries and a bent-knee six over midwicket off Lamb. Azhar too looked solid for his 27.

Pakistan were 116 for 1 at stumps, in just 29 overs. Hafeez and Azhar have an opportunity to score big for themselves, and give Pakistan a solid platform come the third day of the Test match.

Summarised scores:

Pakistan 116/1 (Hafeez 79*) trail Zimbabwe 412/110 (Tino Mawoyo 163*, Cheema 4/79, Ajmal 4/143) by 296 runs