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PCB chief Zaka Ashraf to be in India next month

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf will visit India in the second week of December to hold talks with BCCI officials on resumption of bilateral ties cricket between the two countries.

An official in the PCB confirmed that application for a visa had been filed with the Indian High Commission and other travel arrangements were also being made for the visit in second week of December.

“The PCB Chairman himself is attaching a lot of importance to the visit as it will be an official one that has been encouraged by the Indian board,” the official said.

PCB's former Chairman Ijaz Butt also visited India several times but sources said most of the time he went there to tie up issues with the broadcasters who hold rights to Pakistan cricket and for his own private business.

“Except for the 2011 World Cup semi final in Mohali Butt didn't go to India with any formal meeting set up with the Indian board officials,” a reliable source said.
Newspaper:Indian Express,28th Nov

 

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Ravichandran Ashwin chosen for Dilip Sardesai Award

Rewarding Ravichandran Ashwin for his stupendous show in the just-concluded Test series against the West Indies, the BCCI on Monday decided to bestow the Dilip Sardesai award on the off-spinner.

The 25-year-old, who was the Man-of-the-series in the three-Test series with 22 wickets, will be presented the trophy at the BCCI Annual Awards Ceremony in Chennai on December 10.

"R. Ashwin will receive the Dilip Sardesai Award for being India's best cricketer in the 2011-12 Test series against the West Indies," a BCCI release said. The award comprises a trophy and a cheque of Rs 5 lakh.
Newspapereccan Chronicle, 28th Nov

 

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PCB hopes to host foreign teams, including India in 2012

The newly-appointed PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf is confident about international cricket's return to Pakistan next year, and hoped that neighbours India too would be visiting the strife-torn country sooner than later. Ashraf said he was hopeful that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would break the
ice and tour Pakistan next year.

"I am looking forward to seeing the revival of international cricket in Pakistan in 2012," he said.

"India till recently had reservations about touring Pakistan due to the conditions. But I would like to see the Indians respond in a positive manner to our offer.

"We would also like to see the Indians in Pakistan at some stage," Ashraf told the 'Jang' newspaper.

Ashraf will be visiting India and Bangladesh next month on the invitations of the respective boards of two countries to discuss bilateral cricket ties and future tours.

Ashraf said there was not an iota of doubt that Pakistan cricket has been badly hurt by foreign teams' refusal to tour the country due to security issues.

"Bringing back international cricket to Pakistan remains one of my main priority. It is good that our team is presently doing well and producing positive results but it is equally important that they play at home in front of their people and supporters," he said.

He also dispelled the impression that PCB was trying to strike a deal with the Bangladesh Cricket Board over the issue of nominating a joint candidate for the ICC vice president's post.

"If we are allowing Bangladesh to nominate their candidate it is because they deserve this right since in 2003 they supported our candidate, Ahsan Mani for the key ICC position. There is no deal involved in this," Ashraf said.

He said in order to convince foreign teams to visit Pakistan, the PCB would soon set up a vigilance cell that would monitor the security issues and also matters related to corruption and fixing.

"We are willing to work very closely with the ICC on security matters to satisfy them. We are willing to assure foolproof security for visiting teams," he added.

No test playing nation has visited Pakistan since 2009 after the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in which six Pakistani policemen and a van driver were killed.
Newspaper:Hindustan Times, 29th Nov

 

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Chandimal fined, Hafeez reprimanded for Twenty20 dissent

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Sunday it fined and reprimanded Sri Lanka middle-order batsman Dinesh Chandimal and Pakistani opener Mohammad Hafeez for violating its code of conduct.

"In separate incidents, both players were found to have breached article 2.1.3 of the code which relates to showing dissent at an umpire's decision," the ICC said in a statement.

"After play concluded, the players admitted the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions offered to them by match referee Andy Pycroft. As such, there was no need for formal hearings".

The charges had been laid by on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Zameer Haider, the statement added.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the only Twenty20 match in Abu Dhabi on Friday, to add to their 1-0 victory in the preceding three-Tests and 4-1 win in the five-match one-day series.

In both cases, the charges related to incidents that took place when they were out lbw. Both players showed the bat towards the umpire in displays of dissent

"Accepting an umpire's decision is an essential feature of cricket and part of the game's unique spirit," said Pycroft.

"These players' behaviour was not acceptable in any form of cricket and they must take responsibility for what they do."

Chandimal has been fined 10 percent of his match fee while Hafeez has received an official reprimand. The difference in penalty is due to the degree of dissent displayed, said Pycroft, a former Zimbabwe all-rounder.
Newspaper:Mid Day, 29th Nov

 

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Akram advocates one coach for Pakistan

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram on Tuesday urged the nation's cricket authorities to appoint a single head coach rather than three separate ones for bowling, batting and fielding.

Pakistan have been on hunt for a national team coach since Waqar Younis quit the post in September this year citing health problems.

Former opening batsman Mohsin Khan has since led the team on an interim basis and has shown a willingness to continue.

But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a three-man committee to find a replacement for Younis, suggesting a foreigner would be better suited to the hot-seat.

New PCB chief Zaka Ashraf has stressed the need for separate batting, fielding and bowling coaches in addition to a head coach, but Wasim cautioned against complicating team affairs.

"I think the idea of separate coaches doesn't suit Pakistan," Akram said. "Pakistan need one head coach who should guide the team... in case the of too many coaches things will get complicated."

The PCB committee had shortlisted five candidates for the post but progress has been delayed after Ashraf said he wanted separate coaches for each department.
Newspaper:Times Of India,30th Nov

 

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Confident Irfan looks to the future

NEW DELHI: With 19 wickets and three fivers in the kitty from five innings in the Ranji season, Irfan Pathan is back in the frame.

Out of national consideration for more than three years, the 27-year-old Baroda seamer is making the chances count this time around.

Most importantly, his much celebrated in-swingers are back, troubling batsmen no end. "The ball is coming out just the way I want it to. I have worked with TA Shekar for a few months now and things have got sorted out," Pathan said on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the Delhi-Baroda Ranji match.

Besides, Irfan is not neglecting his batting, putting in a lot of hours of practice with the willow.

Irfan says he has left the hamstring injury behind and has been bowling long spells with good intensity. "I'm bowling long spells and batting a lot as well. So, that answers questions about my fitness."

Now that he is performing well, does he see himself touring Australia with the Test now that Praveen Kumar has been ruled out with injury? Irfan refrained from commenting on his chances. "It's always feels good when you perform well," he said.

Given the pace bowling resources India have at the moment, Irfan may have to wait for a fair amount of time before he can make an international comeback. But if he can keep bowling the way he has been this season, he may start ringing a few bells around.
Newspaper:Times Of India, 1st Dec

 

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Simplicity key to success, says Andy Flower

LONDON: England coach Andy Flower said there were no "mysterious answers" to success after twice being honoured at the 2011 UK Coaching Awards.

The former Zimbabwe batsman was named UK Coach of the Year and High Performance Coach of the Year having led England to their first Ashes triumph in Australia since the winter of 1986/87 at the start of this year.

He then guided the team to the top of the world Test rankings with a 4-0 whitewash of India.

A modest Flower said experience had taught him there are no "mysterious answers", adding "simplicity is the best place to start".

But England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB) chief executive David Collier was happy to sing Flower's praises.

"Andy has been an outstanding coach to the England cricket team and I am delighted that his dedication, knowledge and all-round leadership skills have been recognised within the wider sporting world.
Newspaper:Times Of India,1st Dec

 

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On a comeback trail, Zaheer hits his stride

When his first ball was fired way down the leg side, it was obvious Zaheer Khan was feeling a bit edgy. It is natural to be riddled with doubts when one is making a return to the game after undergoing a surgery. On Wednesday, Zaheer was bowling for the first time in a competitive game since he
broke down at Lord’s on July 21.

The left-arm seamer is considered crucial to India’s chances in the Test series against Australia that a fully-fit Zaheer will double the team’s bowling strength.

He had been bowling in the nets for a month but he was aware that a match situation will be the real test. Zaheer would be pleased with how things went on the first day. Opening the Mumbai bowling in the Ranji Trophy tie against Orissa, he struck with his fifth delivery and bowled six overs on the trot, finishing the day with a wicket for 20 runs. Fellow pacers Dhawal Kulkarni (4) and Aavishkar Salve (2) took over from there to leave Orissa reeling at stumps.

Promising start
The start will do his confidence a world of good. His body is used to the kind of workload he had in Wednesday’s six-over spell, but the litmus test of his fitness will be how he copes with the third and fourth spells.

The chief examiners were out there, national selector, Surendra Bhave, and India physio Ashish Kaushik.

The verdict that Zaheer was looking to hear desperately came. “Well bowled, Zak”, said Kaushik, as the bowler walked back at stumps. The national selector was watching from the scorer’s box and was overheard saying, “he looked good.”

Zaheer started erratically with most deliveries drifting towards the leg stump. But importantly, he got a wicket that proved the catalyst for the spell. It was the first ball he had managed to pitch on target. Orissa opener, Bikas Pati, pushed at the length delivery on off-stump to offer a comfortable catch to Suryakumar Yadav at gully.
Newspaper:Hindustan Times,1st Dec

 

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Ashraf hopes to 'break the ice' with India on bilateral cricket ties

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf said that he wants to “break the ice” on restoration of bilateral cricket ties with India when he travels to the country next week and holds formal discussions with his counterparts across the border.

Ashraf is due to visit India next week on the invitation of the BCCI to discuss bilateral cricket ties, including the planned Pakistan tour to India early next year as part of the Future Tours Programme.

“I will go to India with an open mind. We want to break the ice. But at this stage I am not in a position to say anything on the FTP series in India. The picture will only be clear once proper discussions are held,” Ashraf told reporters here.

Ashraf said that a clear picture on the matter will, however, be known only after his formal discussions with Indian Cricket Boards officials.

“The response from the Indian Board President Srinivasan to my letter was very positive. But the fact remains that at this stage one can’t say when the next Pakistan and India bilateral cricket series would be played or where,” Ashraf said.

He pointed out that when it comes to Pakistan and India cricket relations, it was not just about two Boards but about two countries.

“That is one reason why we are keeping the foreign office in the loop even on my planned visit to India. We want to play India on bilateral terms, but it would be premature to say which venue we can play at,” he said.
Newspaper:The Hindu,4th Dec

 

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‘I just love being Sourav Ganguly'

That fun-filled winter afternoon was more than a decade and a half ago.

Sourav Ganguly, with wicketkeeper Saba Karim for company, hopped on to a cycle-rickshaw outside Lucknow's state-owned Gomti Hotel to go to a theatre in the busy Hazratganj area to watch “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.”

Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, W.V. Raman, Robin Singh, Sunil Joshi etc. were all part of this 20-odd member entourage, all on cycle-rickshaws, eager to watch the Shahrukh Khan-starrer on November 18, 1995, almost a month after its release.

“Those were indeed lovely days,” remarks Sourav as one reminds him of the days when domestic first-class cricketers were happy to spend their rest days outdoors in spite of limited avenues available.

“I remember it was before the East-South Duleep Trophy match in that government stadium (K. D. Singh Babu Stadium). It was such fun.”

From being a young aspirant who dreamt of playing for the country, Sourav today has left his best cricket behind. For him, there is nothing left to prove in the game but the passion for cricket remains.
Newspaper:The Hindu,4rth Dec