Dissection of Pakistan’s WT20 2014 Debacle

The problems are larger than what some may think. The cure will need time, not just a cure on the pitch, or with the administration, but with the mindset.

Pakistan have ended their World T20 campaign for 2014 in demoralizing circumstances. The winner-takes-all match against West Indies promised much but failed to deliver anything of substantial note. This was Pakistan’s first WT20 without reaching the semi finals at the very least. What was the problem then? Why did Pakistan succumb so easily, admittedly to the world champions? The answers to these questions are not so straightforward as to change 2-3 players and all will be good. The problems are larger than what some may think. The cure will need time, not just a cure on the pitch, or with the administration, but with the mindset.

“Inzamam has supported the mental side of my game” | Exclusive Interview with Imam ul Haq

Imam says that he doesn’t pay attention to the critics and lets his bat do the talking.

Imam-ul-Haq has become a vital part of the Pakistan U-19s at the top of order with his consistent and impressive performances. He has shown a lot of promise and might as well prove to be a future star of the men’s team. Imran Asghar interviewed him back in 2012. Imam talks about his early career, debut for the U-19s and his aims for the future. We hope you enjoy it:

No Leniency for Ball Tamperers

Instead of making a fool out of himself, it would have been better for du Plessis to apologize for his actions and promise to never repeat them.

The Faf du Plessis ball tampering incident has not received the attention it deserved and the discussion was instead shifted to whether ball tampering is a crime or not. People argue that everyone does it and it’s just a matter of how well you can hide it. Regarding the incident itself, du Plessis got away with just a fine of 50% of his match fee. He, along with AB de Villiers, still claims that South Africa are not cheats.

Time for Misbah to speak out on selection

Guess who’s back?

With the recent debacle at the Champions Trophy, Pakistan fans took one consolation from the tournament and that was the hope that finally the Pakistan selectors had seen that there was nothing to be gained in continually picking persistent failures like Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Imran Farhat. Yet fast forward a couple of months to the announcement of the squads to Zimbabwe, and it seems that lessons have not been learnt.

Imran Farhat is back, as is Faisal Iqbal. What we hope to get from these two gentlemen who have for so long not shown consistent product at the international level, I do not know. They will make their half decent scores against the minnows of Zimbabwe and pencil in their places for the upcoming games against South Africa in the UAE, where they will miserably fail us against one of the world’s better sides. It is obvious, and utterly frustrating to see.

So who is making these selections? Well this time around it was contracted selectors hired by the board. Contracted selectors who will no doubt have little or no accountability

Pakistan Cricket: What lies ahead?

 

The first-leg exit of Pakistan from the prestigious tournament has raised a lot of questions.

By Muhammad Asif Khan

With high hopes the men in green embarked on a trip to England around a month before the historic Champions Trophy to get accustomed to the conditions. Even before leaving the country the boys were trained at Abbottabad – a relatively cooler place – to get the English weather feel. However, the first-leg exit from the prestigious tournament has raised a lot of questions back home.

“PCB has come a long way since the 2010 incident”-Zaka Ashraf

Zaka Ashraf is confident and claims that PCB has placed a concrete mechanism to avoid the recurrence of disgraceful incidents like the spot-fixing saga in 2010.

By: Mohammad Asif Khan

KARACHI: The 2010 event in England rocked the very foundations of Pakistani Cricket, however, the incumbent chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is confident and claims that the PCB has placed a concrete mechanism to avoid the recurrence of such disgraceful incidents. “We [Pakistan Cricket Board] have framed a formidable code of conduct along with a strict vigilance mechanism to keep a check on such matters”, Zaka Ashraf told this correspondent for News One TV. Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, fast bowlers Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir were jailed in London, while the ICC suspended the trio for their involvement in the spot-fixing scandal in 2010. “The PCB has a separate anti-corruption code and all measures are also mentioned in the players’ central contracts”, Zaka Ashraf added.

Basit Ali urges PCB to form a think tank

Basit Ali thinks that PCB should form a think tank which consists of Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif and Intikhab Alam.

KARACHI: At the time when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is trying to put its house in order with the introduction of a newly amended constitution, former test cricketer Basit Ali urged the PCB chairman to constitute a think tank for the betterment of Cricket in the country. “PCB should form a think tank which consists of Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif and Intikhab Alam. I guarantee that Cricket in this country would get better with their valuable contributions”, Basit Ali said, while talking to this correspondent for News One. “PCB Chairman [Zaka Ashraf] has been sincere in his efforts, other departments should also put their differences behind for the sake of Pakistan Cricket”, he added.

Exclusive: Edgbaston Champions Trophy warm up games confirmed

The three games to take place at Birmingham, as the warm up for the Champions Trophy have been confirmed.

It has been confirmed that three Champions Trophy warm up games will be played in Birmingham before the tournament kicks off. In an exclusive discussion with the blog, the news was broken that Sri Lanka will play all three games in preparation at Edgbaston.

The games that catch the eye are two Asian derbies as Sri Lanka face off with Pakistan and India. The third game at the venue will be the 1996 World Cup winners with the present World T20 champions, West Indies. Sri Lanka versus India will be a televised fixture. Tickets for the games will set you back £15 if purchased in advance, and £20 on the day at the ground.

What is next for Asif and Butt?

Unless Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif fulfill the prerequisites mentioned by ICC, their return is not possible.

By: Mohammad Asif Khan

After the International Cricket Council (ICC), independent anti-corruption tribunal and the London court, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) also upheld the penalties imposed by the ICC on Pakistani crickets Muhammad Asif and Salman Butt.

Misbah, Hafeez, Ajmal will be the Key in Champions Trophy

These 3 are undoubtedly the key who the team heavily rely on for runs, wickets, stability and balance.

Misbah, Hafeez, Ajmal – The Faisalabad trio are the nucleus of the one day side and the 3 most valuable one day players in terms of leading batsmen, leading all rounder and leading bowler as well as experienced respected leadership presences in the case of Misbah and Hafeez that you wouldn’t consider dropping and hence have a longer description in place for them. Ajmal might not be a leader, but there is no disagreement about him being Pakistan’s biggest talking point from the perspective of opposition camps. These 3 are undoubtedly the key who the team heavily rely on for runs, wickets, stability and balance. They are the go to men who have all played over 80 of these 50 over internationals with impressive success.

Whatmore denies rift with Misbah

Whatmore denied any rift between Hafeez and Misbah.

Pakistan cricket team head coach, Dav Whatmore, replied to fans on twitter to quash all suggestions of any rift with his skipper, Misbah-ul-Haq. This was amid Pakistani media reporting that Whatmore along with Mohammad Hafeez are at loggerheads with the captain.

Apart from media groups, former chairman Ijaz Butt also took a dig at Whatmore and his reported ‘game plan’ against Misbah. When asked about a fan about Butt’s comments, Whatmore tweeted and clarified by saying “@dfwhatmore: I have never been disloyal to any of my players especially the captain.” He then added “@dfwhatmore: He is an astute leader. Its a pleasure 2 work with him as an individual that has the best interests of Pak cricket at all times!”

Pakistan to play Zimbabwe, WICB still optimistic for a full tour

A statement on the WICB website suggests that they are still interested in Hosting Pakistan for a full tour.

By Muhammad Asif Khan

KARACHI: Pakistan’s tour to the West Indies scheduled for July was part of the ICC’s Future Tour Program, however, the recent ambiguous signals from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) provoked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to shift to a contingency plan.

“The WICB was planning to host India and Sri Lanka for a tri-nation series during the period, and wanted to reschedule Pakistan’s tour”, a PCB source revealed to this correspondent. “Now we have scheduled a pending test series with Zimbabwe in this window”, the source added.

PCB gears up for strict measures to avoid repeat of 2010 incident

Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were banned and jailed for their involvement in spot-fixing in 2010.

By Muhammad Asif Khan

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket team with embark on a trip to London to participate in the prestigious Champions Trophy with two worries this time around, along with tackling with the tough oppositions, avoiding the kind of incidents that occurred in 2010 would also be in the back of everybody’s mind.

Pakistan, in 2010, went to England on a full-tour to face the home team but three of the players – Captain Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir – were caught and later sent to jail for their involvement in the notorious spot-fixing episode.

2014 ICC World T20 Logo Launched

The 2014 ICC World T20 to be held in Bangladesh.

The 5th ICC World T20 logo was launched this weekend.

The 2014 ICC World T20 to be held in Bangladesh will be hosted between the 16th March and 6th April next year.

It will be the longest World T20 both in terms of matches and the number of participants.

Pakistan have won 16 out of 26 matches at ICC World T20s.

Pakistan are the only team to reach the final 4 in the 12-team event with 100% consistency so far in the past 4 editions.

Pakistan have a strong record in Bangladesh for tournaments
2000 Asia Cup = Winners
2004 Under 19 World Cup = Winners
2008 Tri Series = Winners
2012 Asia Cup = Winners

Surely we can expect them to reach the semi final or final again?

Ajmal Backs The Greens To Win ICC Champions Trophy 2013

Saeed Ajmal targets glory for Pakistan in England this summer “The last four ICC events we have got through to the semi-final. This time with the ICC Champions Trophy coming, we want to win it. That is what we are dreaming,”

Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophies

1998 = First round, Captain Aamir Sohail

2000 = Semi finalists, Captain Moin Khan

2002 = First round, Captain Waqar Younis

2004 = Semi finalists, Captain Inzamam

2006 = First round, Captain Younis Khan

2009 = Semi finalists, Captain Younis Khan

Rashid Latif sees Younis More Effective in Coaching Role

 

Rashid Latif thinks Younis Khan should retire from ODIs and become a batting coach.

By Muhammad Asif Khan

KARACHI: After getting dropped from the Champions Trophy squad, the one-day international career of the former skipper, Younis Khan has probably reached a decisive juncture. The veteran batsman might be in a dilemma, but his close friend and another former captain, Rashid Latif is categorical on this matter, and feels that Younis Khan should call it a day in the ODI cricket.

Pakistan Fans Should Be Confident of Success in England

Left to Right: Pakistan’s leading one day batsmen, bowler and all rounder.

1) Tournament Memories in England – 1999 World Cup finalists, 2004 Champions Trophy semi finalists and 2009 World T20 winners.

2) Tournament Success in ICC events since 2007 World T20 – 8 out of 9 ICC men’s events they have reached the semi final. The only exception was the 2012 U19 World Cup quarter final where they were defeated by their neighbours by only 1 wicket. They rise to the occasion and turn it on.

Misbah to Lead at CT

Misbah will be 39 when the tournament is in progress which was the same age of Imran Khan when he won the 1992 World Cup, the only ICC ODI senior team tournament Pakistan have won.

Misbah ul Haq will captain the green shirts in the ICC Champions Trophy in England in June.

Pakistan have never won an ICC Champions Trophy.

Pakistan have never played an ICC Champions Trophy final.

Zaka Ashraf assured Misbah of retaining captaincy for the showpiece event.

Misbah will be 39 when the tournament is in progress which was the same age of Imran Khan when he won the 1992 World Cup, the only ICC ODI senior team tournament Pakistan have won.

Before, the ICC Champions Trophy, Misbah will lead Pakistan in matches against Scotland and Ireland in 2 match series in May.

Misbah was Pakistan’s leading ODI run scorer against South Africa with 227 runs in the series at an average of 57.

Misbah has been Pakistan’s 2nd leading ODI run scorer since 2011 at an average in excess of 45 with 10 half centuries contributing in winning causes.

Champions Trophy to be Terminated After 2013

The upcoming championship will be the last of its kind

The 2013 Champions Trophy which is to be held in England will bring an end to the 14 year old tournament, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) have decided to have one championship for each of the game’s three formats from 2015. “If you don’t see it in the schedule, it means it is not planned for the future,” Haroon Lorgat, the-then Chief Executive of ICC, said at a press conference following an executive board meeting.

Mr. Pakistan Cricket

Mr Pakistan Cricket will be attending his 3rd ICC tournament in just as many years

Mr Pakistan Cricket will be in attendance during the Champions Trophy and Pakistan’s matches in Scotland this summer. Mr Pakistan Cricket is an iconic Pakistan supporter who is now widely recognised in his costume in the stands. He has attended the 2011 World Cup, matches in Pakistan’s 2011 tour of the West Indies, Pakistan vs England in the UAE 2012 and travelled to watch the team at the 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka most recently.