Sachin Tendulkar recalls facing Wasim Akram in his first test

Wasim Akram 257* vs Zimbabwe 1996/97

IJAZ WILL GO ON HOLIDAYS AFTER ICC MEETING...

Pakistan cricket board chairman Ijaz butt said that he will go on the holidays after the ICC meeting Ijaz butt who with chief operating officer Subhan ahmed left for Hong kong for attending ICC meeting said that there will be many important decisions will be made in that meeting where as after meeting he will go on his holidays ..

he will return on 22nd july but if there will be any important issue to be discuss in media regard to icc meeting so subhan ahmed will be with you...

While Subhan will act as chairman in the absence of Ijaz, Naveed Akram Cheema, a Governing Board member, will be looking after the Board’s financial affairs.

Mani lashes out at incompetent PCB officials

Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani has said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing a lot of difficulties and standing alone at international level as well as in the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to its non-effective policies and no one is ready to listen them in the ICC meetings. 
Mani while exclusively talking to Nawa-i-Waqt on telephone from London on Friday said: "India is arch-rival of Pakistan which wants to exclude Pakistan from every game especially in cricket and to conquer major games of the world by investing money on them."
He said that BCCI's newly-elected president did not want Pakistan players to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and in no mood to give chance to Pakistan in the IPL in future. He held the current officials of the PCB responsible for this and said till they were part of the board no betterment could be seen in the board. The incompetency of the board brought the game back to many years, and it would take a lot of time to revive in the country. In replying a question, Mani said: "No team is ready to visit Pakistan and this situation will continue till the internal situation of Pakistan will not get better." He said that I personally requested the ICC to bring cricket back to Pakistan in order to revive cricket in the country and asked for ICC's assistance as well, but no response from the PCB made this matter dull and then it was totally thrown into dustbin. Pakistan cricket would continue to face decline till the political interference will not be eliminated from the game, he added. 

India, Pakistan discuss starting women's cricket series

ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan discussed suggestions for a women's cricket series and setting up a women's forum as part of talks between the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries on the promotion of friendly exchanges.

The two-day talks, which ended on Friday, focussed on the dragging Kashmir dispute, peace and security, including confidence-building measures, and friendly exchanges.

"There was a suggestion for a women's cricket series," said an Indian official.

"There was also talk of creating a women's forum between the two countries," the official said.

The suggestions were part of several proposals mooted by both sides to promote friendly exchanges and people-to-people contacts.

The two countries have had limited sports contacts since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which were blamed on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Foreign cricket teams stopped touring Pakistan due to security concerns after the Sri Lankan team was attacked by terrorists in the eastern city of Lahore in March 2009.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited Mohali at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in March to watch the India-Pakistan semi-final of the cricket World Cup.

Afridi, Akhtar to play in Chicago Carnival T20

KARACHI - Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar are among four top international players, who have been invited to play in Carnival T20 cricket which is traditionally played on the USA Independence day July four in Chicago, according to information received here Thursday.
Other players who have received invitation from the organizers are Imran Nazir and Rizwan Cheema of Canada. An organisation called American Cricket Conference CEO Sohail Bari Khurram is organizing the event. The organizers have already started publicizing the event and big posters featuring photographs of top players have been placed at vantage points. Tickets are said to be on sale . The price of entry ticket is as high as US dollar 500.

PCB under fire from Lahore High Court

UAE to host SL, England series

Pakistan will play their 'home series' scheduled for later this season against Sri Lanka and England in the UAE, the PCB has confirmed. With security concerns keeping teams from travelling to Pakistan, the UAE been chosen to host the series, ahead of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

"Both [the series against Sri Lanka and England] will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai," PCB's director operations, Zakir Khan, told AFP. "We did consider a number of options for both the series, but it is the right of the home board to decide the venue and, finally, we have confirmed UAE for all matches in both series."

Pakistan will play three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in October-November 2011. The itinerary for the England series will be "finalised soon" and will reportedly feature three Tests, up to five ODIs and one or two Twenty20 games in January-February 2012.

The UAE has hosted a succession of Pakistan's limited-overs commitments over the previous three years and last October, a full series, including Tests, against South Africa. Authorities in the UAE earlier voiced their desire to sign a long-term agreement with Pakistan to host their 'home' matches, something the PCB was unwilling to do because they believed it pushed the prospect of a full return of international cricket to Pakistan back further.

Afghanistan, who played against Pakistan A in May this year, were the first international team to tour Pakistan since March 2009, when the touring Sri Lanka team were shot at in Lahore. That attack, on the back of growing security concerns over the previous two years, brought an end to international cricket in the country, taking away the 2011 World Cup in the process.

Taylor wants to change 'culture' of Black Caps

Ross Taylor says the "team culture" of the Black Caps will change with him at the helm.

It was announced earlier today that the opening batsman will take over from Daniel Vettori a

s captain of the Black Caps, instead of wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

A former Black Cap has told ONE News that unsuccessful candidate McCullum is part of a "drinking culture" enjoyed by 70% of the team.

That 70% wanted McCullum as captain, it was claimed.

Taylor himself said today that the "team culture is going to change a little bit with myself as captain".

Taylor's squeaky clean image made him the logical replacement for Daniel Vettori as Black Caps skipper.

But according to New Zealand cricket boss Justin Vaughan, no drinking culture exists.

"I mean people who are speculating are speculating from the outside. I mean really to try and push that type of rumour and innuendo is quite irresponsible," he said.

The former Black Cap today said McCullum will not take this announcement well and even said the 57 test veteran will become a divisive figure in the team.

McCullum declined to be interviewed saying in a text "he'll gather his thoughts for a few days."

Afridi remains under PCB’s ‘hawk eye’

KARACHI: 

While Shahid Afridi seeks a fresh start in the ongoing county season, the former captain will remain under the scanner of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which will not hesitate in taking further action against the retired all-rounder in case of ‘foul play’, according to a PCB official.

Afridi, after a long stand-off with the PCB that also involved a legal battle, finally left for England to play for Hampshire after getting his NOC back.

The all-rounder – currently focusing on foreign leagues in the aftermath of his retirement from international cricket – was confident of getting the board’s permission for tournaments like next month’s Sri Lanka Premier League.

However, a PCB official warned that Afridi should not take things for granted.

“Afridi is still being monitored closely,” the official told The Express Tribune.

“The board is keeping a hawk eye on his interviews. Any harsh statement against the board may lead him to trouble again.

“He will have to apply for NOCs for other tournaments again and any foul play will surely block his participation.

“The PCB still has the right to take action against him and block his participation in foreign leagues.

“Legally, the board can take action against a player within 12 months after the suspension of the central contract.”

Afridi had to return from England after the board revoked his NOC for county cricket, following the 31-year-old’s retirement decision and statements against the board. The all-rounder had to face a fine of Rs4.5 million to get his NOC back, even after the out-of-court settlement.

‘I still have zeal to play for Pakistan’

Meanwhile, Afridi insisted that playing for the country always remained his top priority.

“Representing Pakistan has always been my top priority,” the flamboyant all-rounder said before leaving for England yesterday.

“I still have the zeal and energy to play for Pakistan.

“I will make a comeback to the national team when the situation improves,” said the cricketer, who had earlier retired saying he will not play under the current PCB set-up led by Chairman Ijaz Butt.

However, the former captain said he was happy to return to cricket.

“The positive thing is that I am returning to cricket after weeks of tension, which is a good sign.

“Currently my all-out focus would be on performing for my county.”

Afridi is likely to play his first county match for Hampshire this season in a Friends Life T20 game against Essex today.