The ICC Conference 2011 in Hong Kong and Pakistan…

	ICC surely took some tough decisions in this conference held at Hong Kong, some were meaningful others were meaningless, like allotting unequal number of games among the playing nations Atlast India have won this frontier and many congrats on it as they made Pakistan Cricket on the backfoot. But no blame game as whatever happened, is because of our own mistakes. Why I am saying this? Its because of just 88 test matches, in which some of the India-Pakistan matches schedules are yet to be decided due to political differences between the two boards, officially it says 88 but I say not more than 78 79 test matches after Pakistan tour to Windies to the end of 2020 where this current FTP is limited to. In it we’re unsure of many tournaments which Pakistan is going to play according to FTP, but while reviewing the FTP I find out that there Pakistan has been deprived of its share of games allotted as compared to India, Australia and England, who have been playing a 5 match test series, Pakistan is only given maximum 4 match series, else its flooded with 3 match, maximum 4 match per series even against the opposition like South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand etc. Not counting the ODI and T20 as compared to the above mentioned ones, they are also playing the major share of ODI’s as well, where Pakistan has been the third last behind Windies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in its quota of games to be played between the period. I am not saying it did injustice and did and that, but the matter of fact is that there are mistakes from our end, which made us pay the price to that extend, they just capitalized the advantage they got because of us. Else Boards like BCB and SLC were/are under threat from ICC on losing its membership, PCB could had taken them in the club and tried convincing the ICC to give more share of games under its belt in this current FTP. As far as the rules and regulation that ICC gave a press release about cricket boards without political influence, means Pakistan Cricket Board, Bangladesh Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket are under direct assault and they have 24 months to bring that much change into their whole system. Although Pakistan solitary retaliated and foolishly said that political influence is required for setting up security matters for foreign and national tours etc, but I agree with the ICC on it that cricket boards are required to be elected not selected. It means that Pakistan will experience many changes in its system, influence of governing council, board of governance, which were a tale of old times will revive again. Hoping for the best for Pakistan cricket.

They showed us how the cricket BE played!!!

Credit must be given to Bangladeshis for giving up a good show and showing us that a game consisting of Bangladesh is not a boring game anymore…

Credit must be given to the brave Bangladeshi cricket team for showing a courageous show on the field against the Kiwis, winning the series 3-0 in the fourth one day international played at Mirpur. For me, the main reason for having this a important milestone in international cricket is that unlike previous Bangladesh’s matches, the marketing aspects of their series’ didn’t worth as much as India, Pakistan, Australia, England, Sri Lanka worth. Even at the start of this series, Kiwis were thought as the favourites for this series, as they already had a series win against Pakistan in the UAE…

The Bangladeshi’s really showed the cricket world how the current cricket should be played, competitive and a game which could be anyone’s at anytime, unlike a one sided game or a series, which could be and is proving to be a problem being faced by the modern cricket these days i.e. so called useless games in which a stronger opponent thrashes a weaker minnow by a hefty margin and etc…

I suppose and believe this is the first time since their inception into international cricket, they’ve gained such a series lead against a major test playing team in one day internationals, and so this has literally generated this thought that cricket is literally unpredictible and a funny game, and that too is the essence of this beautiful game. The importance of Pakistan cricket team in modern cricket is just because of the above mentioned reason, and that’s the same reason the ICC is bearing Pakistan cricket board, although they’ve transparency and system problems, because of which, non-deserving people on the helm of affairs of Pakistani cricket are now incharge of it, and although Pakistan suffers the problem of corruption and martyr of merit standards in selection of those people who’d be running the affairs in Pakistan cricket, still ICC HAS to bear it, because Pakistan gives cricketing world an essence of as I mentioned earlier unpredictablity, it could either thrash someone bigger than its own size, else will be thrashed by someone minnow…

Lets see, how the ICC tackle the current funny situation in Pakistani and International Cricket where minnows have started to show tough times to the big teams already…

Skipper announced for Asia Cup and England Tour

Shahid Afridi has been announced as the skipper for Asia Cup and off-shore home-series in England against Aussies and England

Shahid Afridi has been announced as the skipper for upcoming Asia Cup to be played in Sri Lanka, featuring India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. After that they are gonna travel to England where they have to play against Aussies and later against England.

The importance of this series is that this is a full fledged home-series Pakistan has able to play against any opponent since the attack of Sri Lankan team convoy in Lahore on 3rd of March 2009. After that incident Pakistan played a ODI and one only T20 series against Aussies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi just before the 2009 edition of World T20 in England.

Another big news is that some of the seniors minus Mohammad Yousuf have been recalled in the 30 member probables, like Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik and Shoaib Akhtar to name some.

I personally feel the inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar would benefit Pakistani team as what I saw in the Pentangular ODI cup recently concluded just before the start of ICC World T20 2010, and he was impressive aswell. Shoaib last played an international for Pakistan in May 2009 and his last Test back in December 2007, but has this season turned out in domestic cricket in a bid to prove his fitness; he was particularly impressive in the Pentangular ODI cup in Karachi recently.

Again being personal, this time selectors did the right thing in dropping Misbah-ul-Haq, I’ve a great regards for him but his stay on the pitch isn’t benefiting Pakistan as much as he’s expected to. Plus he has been included in the team since Pakistan started their tour to New Zealand and than not to mention Aussie tour where he didn’t perform up-to-the-mark, and even in the World T20 2010, he wasn’t in his prime form like he was once in 2007 edition of World T20 in South Africa and later in tests in India, so I personally think it was time to give that space to someone more deserving.

Inclusion of Shahzaib Hassan is a good omen for the team, I personally think (maybe I am saying too much) that he’s a similar sorta player compared to Sanath Jayasuria, the way he played in RBS Pentangular ODI cup, he deserved a place in playing national team squad.

Kamran Akmal has been named with another keeper on his back Zulqarnain Haider, so that now Kamran Akmal has performance pressure on his shoulder, as during the New Years Sydney Test 2010, he dropped Mike Hussey 4 times in second innings of almost won test match and than fluffing a easy run-out, this sorta performance needed some check and balance and selection committee did the right thing by pressurizing him by placing a second wicket-keeper with him in the squad, the only edge which Kamran Akmal has on Haider is of batting, he’s a much better batsman than Zulqarnain Haider.

The only drawback in this squad I feel is of absence of Mohammad Yousuf whom Shahid Afridi told the media that he [Shahid Afridi] insisted Yousuf to withdraw his retirement decision but Afridi said Yousuf was unwilling to change his mind. He was the successful run-scorer for Pakistan in their last trip to England against the looks of Steve Harmisons, James Andersons etc and now in this trip Mohammad Yousuf’s absence would be greatly felt as I personally feel their isn’t any player of MoYo’s caliber in this currently announced squad.

Probables for Pakistani team:

Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Khurram Manzoor, Shahzaib Hassan, Azhar Ali, Azeem Ghumman, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Faisal Iqbal, Fawad Alam, Hasan Raza, Asad Shafiq, Umar Amin, Aamer Sajjad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi (capt), Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan, Tanvir Ahmed, Aizaz Cheema, Danish Kaneria, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Kamran Akmal (wk), Zulqarnain Haider (wk)

Asian teams can learn alot from England!

Victorious Team England with ICC World T20 2010 Trophy

Dileep Premachandran writes in the Guardian that the Asian sides in general and India in particular can learn a lot from the selection calls England made for their successful World Twenty20 campaign.

England’s last World Cup campaign in the Caribbean is best remembered for pre-dawn pedalos and Battle of the Bottle headlines. This time, the Red Stripes and the El Dorados went hand-in-hand with terrific team spirit. With 2011 looming, the first thing to do is follow Andy Flower’s example and be ruthless in squad selection. Yesterday’s six-hitters are of no use tomorrow.

Picking players on reputation is always tempting, but it seldom works. Misbah-ul-Haq, for example, got Pakistan to within a big hit of winning the 2007 World Twenty20 final. But what has been his output over the past 12 months? Is it worth persisting with him when an exciting talent such as Hammad Azam waits backstage?

For India, the decisions to be made are harder still. Yuvraj Singh is hardly in the same age bracket as Misbah or Jayasuriya, yet the feeling persists that we may already have seen the best of him. His waistline and lethargic movement in the field tell you exactly why Gary Kirsten felt compelled to have a rant and now is perhaps the best time for him to address the injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons.

While English cricket taps its feet to Bruce Springsteen’s Better Days and looks forward with optimism to an Ashes series and a 50-over World Cup, nearly half of the India squad that returned from the Caribbean with no tickertape parades to welcome them must contemplate show-cause notices for their part in a pub fracas.

For more than a decade, we’ve heard how English cricket could learn by looking east, to wristy strokeplay, wily spin and mastery of reverse swing. Times have changed. India and Pakistan, and maybe even Sri Lanka, could look at this English Twenty20 side to realise where they have gone wrong

Between them, the subcontinent’s cricket powers won only seven of 17 matches in the West Indies. All three were hammered by Australia, though Pakistan came within an over of exacting revenge at the second time of asking. On no account could it be called a successful tournament, with the same old frailties popping up to haunt each side.

With the World Cup only nine months away, which way will each of the teams go? Pakistan have not reached the latter stages since 1999, while India did not survive the first round in 2007, leaving Sri Lanka to fly the Asian flag all the way to the final.

Pakistan have done something right by getting rid of some of the egos, including the “termite” called Shoaib Malik.

England’s last World Cup campaign in the Caribbean is best remembered for pre-dawn pedalos and Battle of the Bottle headlines. This time, the Red Stripes and the El Dorados went hand-in-hand with terrific team spirit. With 2011 looming, the first thing to do is follow Andy Flower’s example and be ruthless in squad selection. Yesterday’s six-hitters are of no use tomorrow.

Picking players on reputation is always tempting, but it seldom works. Misbah-ul-Haq, for example, got Pakistan to within a big hit of winning the 2007 World Twenty20 final. But what has been his output over the past 12 months? Is it worth persisting with him when an exciting talent such as Hammad Azam waits backstage?

Isn’t it time Sri Lankan cricket drew a line under the Sanath Jayasuriya era? The man’s 40 and now has a political career to think of as well. He’s still capable of the odd cameo, but when was his last innings of substance? Thank him for yeoman service and send him on his way.

For India, the decisions to be made are harder still. Yuvraj Singh is hardly in the same age bracket as Misbah or Jayasuriya, yet the feeling persists that we may already have seen the best of him. His waistline and lethargic movement in the field tell you exactly why Gary Kirsten felt compelled to have a rant and now is perhaps the best time for him to address the injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons.

England’s Twenty20 campaign was notable for the manner in which they kept faith with what they saw as a winning combination. Paul Collingwood and Luke Wright bowled an over each, but, otherwise, there was implicit trust in the five men chosen to do the job.

Pakistan operated on similar lines, though their weak links, such as Mohammad Hafeez, were too easily targeted by eagle-eyed batsmen.

For India, the problem lies in finding five wicket-taking bowlers. You know there is a problem when an opening bowler, Praveen Kumar, bowls at a pace that’s slower-ball speed for such as Dirk Nannes and Stuart Broad. Praveen is a clever swing bowler who knows Indian conditions well, but he’ll never be better than first or second change.

If this tournament showed anything, it was the value of pacy new-ball operators. Where are India’s? And who do Sri Lanka have, apart from Lasith Malinga? How do India’s selectors explain their scattergun policy to pace selection? Dhawal Kulkarni was part of the squad that toured New Zealand last year. Dropped without playing a game. Abhimanyu Mithun, who enjoyed a wonderful Ranji Trophy season, was chosen for the home series against South Africa. Dropped after one game. So much for nurture.

On the batting side, the theme is misplaced expectation and a lack of patience. In some ways, Sachin Tendulkar was the worst thing to happen to Indian cricket. These days, every 17-year-old with a little talent is expected to emulate him. It nearly destroyed Ambati Rayudu’s career. Only now, at the age of 24, is he finding his way again. Indian cricket should just accept there will never be another Tendulkar.

Had Ian Bell been Indian, he would have been on the scrap heap instead of playing an Ashes-winning innings at The Oval last summer. That a player takes time to find his feet has been forgotten. Suresh Raina still has issues against the short ball, but he’s only 23. The way people talk about him and Rohit Sharma, you’d think they were Misbah’s age and beyond redemption.

Rahul Dravid spent four seasons in domestic cricket before breaking into the national side. It took him another five years to establish himself as a world-class batsman. Now, we expect batsman of that quality to emerge in the time it takes to make a Pot Noodle.

England won the World Twenty20 because they were brave – they picked Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter ahead of more recognized names such as Matt Prior, and gave Eoin Morgan licence to express himself.

India could have backed the exuberant strokeplay of Manish Pandey or the uber-confidence of Virat Kohli. Instead, they went with the same options that had fallen so short in England a year earlier.

Most of all though, Collingwood’s team showed there’s just no substitute for sprightliness in the field. Broad may have dropped David Hussey in the final, but the catches he and Collingwood took epitomised a team at the top of their fielding game. India were similarly brilliant in 2007 and questions must be asked as to why so many of the same players have become such laggards in the field now.

Nothing, though, would have been as galling as the sight of Graeme Swann teasing and tormenting Australia’s batsmen in the final.

Till that final-over meltdown in the semi-final, Saeed Ajmal bowled beautifully for Pakistan. Suraj Randiv showed glimpses of promise for a Murali-less Sri Lanka, while Harbhajan Singh was tidy [and wicketless] for India. But Swann was a class apart, flighting the ball, turning his quicker one and generally befuddling every batsman he came across.

For decades, a blond Australian apart, the subcontinent had a monopoly on spin talent. No longer. Asian batsmen will thrive on home surfaces, but unless the bowlers improve and are backed up by fielding that’s not Laurel-and-Hardy quality, the 2011 World Cup could be a rerun of the 2006 Champions Trophy, when all three sides watched the foreign mob battle for glory.

Start of Pakistan’s Journey in World T20

Today at 10.30 PM Pakistan Standard Time i.e. +5 GMT, Pakistan is going to start its journey in World T20 against Bangladeshis who have been gaining some form which have been seen in recently concluded series’ against England and India at home, so this time it wont be that much easy winning against them. Although record show that their last win in WT20 was back in South Africa edition in 2007, and against Pakistan, Pakistan have the upper edge against them winning all 3 matches overall.

But like I mentioned earlier I am not a great fan of rating the teams on stats or past performance. Sign of improvement have been shown in Bangladeshi cricket team just like before the eve of 1996 Cricket World Cup in South Asia, Sri Lanka improved themselves to be a tough competitors in presence of Pakistan and India in the region, similarly the case I’ve been seeing with Bangladesh.

They already have beaten the best sides in ODIs like Australia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka too, and Bangladeshi’s have already beaten us in 1999 CWC in England in a league encounter, so one must say the Bengal tigers are starting to roar.

On the other hand, if I narrate what stats mention, Pakistan have the upper hand, although Bengal skipper mentioned they will exploit the turmoil which Pakistan cricket has faced since its concluded disaster tour of down-under earlier this year. So Pakistan should keep note of it, because I am sorry to say but they’ll try to exploit no doubt about it, and we already have an example set by our elder when they took men from the land of Irish too much easy and they had shown what they were capable of, as we’ve been playing international cricket so its not a good idea to take them easy, because we must admit they are a good and better unit than us when fielding is concerned and where we lag alot.

Lets hope next morning when I wake up I’d have a Pakistan 2 – 0 Bangladesh scoreline.

Let the best team win!