“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.

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.

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.

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.

Younis Khan was dropped, not discarded: Iqbal Qasim

“Younis was not picked, but it doesn’t mean that he was sidelined forever”-Iqbal Qasim

By Muhammad Asif Khan

KARACHI: Younis Khan’s poor run of form has not only cost him a place in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy but also put his ODI career in jeopardy. Some former cricketers have advised him to hang his boots. However the chief selector, Iqbal Qasim, feels that this important call had to be made by the veteran batsman himself. “Putting an end to somebody’s career is not the mandate of the selection committee. Whoever performs is considered for selection and Younis Khan is no exception”, said Iqbal Qasim while talking to this correspondent for News One TV. “In view of the current form, Younis was not picked, but it doesn’t mean that he was sidelined forever”, The chief selector added.

Pakistan’s tour of West Indies postponed

Pakistan seemed to have the ammunition to fire them to their first ever Test win in the Caribbean.

Pakistan’s tour of West Indies later this year has been postponed due to reasons not specified at this moment of time. The tour, scheduled for July this year, would have been the second time Pakistan would have toured the Caribbean in the past two years.

West Indies have been in a rich vain of form lately and have recorded six straight wins, their best run since the 80s. In a far cry to those times, the pitches now suit spin bowling and Shillingford has bowled the Windies to newly found form. With the pitches as they are, Misbah and his team will be disappointed as, in Ajmal and Rehman, Pakistan seemed to have the ammunition to fire them to their first ever Test series win in the sunny islands.

Junaid snubs county offers, concentrates on CT

Despite an injury, Junaid Khan was impressive in South Africa.

By Muhammad Asif Khan

KARACHI: In the recent tour to South Africa, Pakistan’s batting line-up  didn’t perform up to the expectations, but pacemen Junaid Khan and lanky Muhammad Irfan caught everybody’s attention including the English county teams. However, one of the duo, Junaid Khan has said that his entire focus is on the upcoming Champions Trophy.

“I have played for Lancashire, and recently got good offers from Durham and a few other county teams, however my entire focus is on the Champions Trophy at the moment, hence I turned down the offers”, said Junaid Khan while talking to this correspondent for News One TV. “PCB also advised me to skip county offers to avoid possible injuries before the mega event.” he added. The left arm fast bowler hurt his leg during the recently concluded tour of South Africa where he performed impressively. 

Younis Khan Dropped From 30 Man Probables For CT13

Younis Khan had a poor series against South Africa.

Squad: Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Ahmed Shehzad, Misbah-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umer Amin, Sohail Tanvir, Hammad Azam, Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, Asad Ali, Anwar Ali, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Imran Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Yasir Arafat, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Zulfiqar Babar, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan