Pakistan invite West indies for Tests

Wahabuddin report
Pakistan's Cricket Board has invited West Indies to play a two-Test series in Pakistan in November.It is another attempt by the board to fill their scheduling gap after the Champions Trophy was postponed.The PCB tried to organise a tour to South Africa, whose board rejected the offer of a one-day series.A planned one-day series against Sri Lanka later this month also looks to have fallen through because of a lack of interest from broadcasters.A PCB spokesman said earlier in the week that the proposed Sri Lanka series, containing five ODIs, was "very unlikely".Cricket South Africa had turned down Pakistan's offer, citing player fatigue following their long tour of England.The eight-team Champions Trophy was scheduled to take place in Pakistan from 12-28 September, but the International Cricket Council postponed the tournament until October 2009 because of security concerns.Pakistan have not played a Test match in 2008, and do not have another scheduled until January 2009, when they are due to host India."It is very difficult in today's hectic schedule to find a window when you postpone a tournament," PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi told the Reuters news agency."But we have invited West Indies to come and play two Tests immediately after the one-day series they play against us in Abu Dhabi in November."The West Indies Cricket Board is yet to comment on the proposed tour.

Australia women's cricket bracing for ICC World Cup:

By Wahabuddin khan- Members of the Australia women's cricket team have celebrated six months until its quest for the ICC Women's World Cup 2009 by taking to the Sydney Tower's Skywalk attraction, said an ICC press release on Sunday.With the ICC Women's World Cup starting on March 7 2009, Lisa Sthalekar, Leah Poulton and twins Kate and Alex Blackwell enjoyed Sydney's best view but it will be the summit of a different climb they set their sights on next year when they look to reach the pinnacle of the cricket world.Sthalekar said she is looking forward to the atmosphere around Sydney during the ICC Women's World Cup."We're really looking forward to playing in the tournament and showcasing to Australia and the rest of the world what women's cricket has to offer," she said."Visitors who come to Australia for the World Cup are guaranteed not only an unforgettable experience at he tournament, but the host cities as well."I can't wait to get out there and play in front of a home crowd. There is nothing better than the support from our Aussie fans."Australia will open its World Cup defence with a trans-Tasman clash against New Zealand on 8 March at North Sydney Oval before completing their Group A commitments with matches against South Africa and West Indies in Newcastle and Drummoyne.Providing they make it through their Group matches to the Super Sixes stage, Australia will play three more matches before the final and playoff matches.

T20 cricket hits new high with 900-million dollar TV deal

Wahabuddin khan

NEW DELHI — Twenty20 cricket's brand value touches new heights on Thursday after pan-Asian ESPN-STAR network agreed to pay 900 million dollars for the proposed T20 Champions League.The network was awarded the global commercial rights of the inter-club tournament for the next 10 years with the inaugural event set to be played from December 3-10 at venues yet to be decided.The deal makes the tournament the highest valued cricket event on a per-game basis, according to a statement from the organisers that comprise the Australian, Indian and South African cricket boards.ESPN-STAR, owned jointly by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and Walt Disney, were awarded the rights after bids were opened in Dubai late Wednesday on the sidelines of the International Cricket Council's annual awards night.ESPN-STAR, which also holds the rights for all ICC events including the World Cup, Champions Trophy and the T20 Worlds, said they were delighted to add the Champions League to their line-up.

Shoaib delayed by visa problem

Shoaib Akhtar remains hopeful of linking up with Surrey despite being refused entry to the United Kingdom on Wednesday due to visa problems.The Pakistan fast bowler, 33, says he has now obtained the necessary paperwork and plans to arrive in London at the weekend."I had to come back (to Pakistan) because I did not have all the papers required," Shoaib was quoted as saying by cricketnirvana.com."I have a 10-year visitor's visa, but the authorities there required a work visa."I am hopeful of getting a work visa soon and hope to fly out to the UK on Saturday (September 6)."Surrey are currently bottom of LV County Championship Division One and recruited Shoaib for their final three games in a last-ditch attempt to avoid relegation.

Shoaib Akhtar to play county cricket for Surrey- Pakistan Cricket Board

The Pakistan Cricket Board has cleared the way for Shoaib Akhtar to join Surrey despite having a history of objecting to its cricketers playing on the county circuit. However Shoaib, who has played little cricket for the last year and only recently overturned a ban from cricket, is hoping to gain fitness in order to press for a place in the national team."Shoaib has not played competitive cricket for months and he needs to regain match fitness," the PCB's chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi, said. "We believe a short county stint might help him in doing that. He requested a No Objection Certificate, which we have issued to him, and we have no problems if he wants to play county cricket."The former Somerset, Worcestershire and Durham player was recalled to the Pakistan team for the limited overs Champions Trophy before it was postponed. He hopes a spell at relegation-threatened Surrey will enhance his case for selection in Pakistan's Test side.The PCB recently refused players including Umar Gul and Ifthikar Rao permission to play for county clubs. "We had stopped our fast bowlers from playing for counties because such stints had affected their form and fitness," said Naghmi. "Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hassan both suffered major injuries while playing county cricket. But Shoaib's case is different. He hasn't played much cricket this year — a county stint could actually benefit him."The fast bowler could be available for Surrey as early as next week as the county, adrift at the bottom of Division One by 18 points with three matches to go, play a key game against Kent at Canterbury. But his debut may be hampered by league rules requiring overseas players to spend at least three weeks in England before playing.Shoaib, who has played 46 Tests for Pakistan, has had a career dogged by injury and controversy. Despite taking 178 Test wickets at an average of 25.69 and 219 ODI wickets in 138 games at 23.2, the bowler was banned by the PCB, which claimed he had tested positive for the steroid nandrolene. The ban was overturned on appeal.

Pakistan welcomes India next year

Tuesday, 02 September , 2008, 20:44
Karachi: Pakistan cricket coach Geoff Lawson said Tuesday that his team is eagerly awaiting the home series against India, scheduled to get underway early next January.Starved of international cricket, Pakistan will be playing their first Test in almost 13 months when they host India for a three-match Test series. Pakistan's last Test was also against India in Bangalore in December 2007."The series against India is the most important assignment for our team," Lawson told reporters in Lahore. "We are all eagerly looking forward to it and I am confident that the team will be fully ready for the Indians," added the former Australian Test pacer, who took over as Pakistan coach last summer.Lawson said that the postponement of the Champions Trophy, which was to be held in Pakistan September 12-28, was a big blow for his team, but he was quick to add that Pakistan will overcome the setback and would focus on the future.

New Zealand win over England by six-wickets(+photos)

WELLINGTON — In a stunning came back of form, New Zealand thrashed England in their opening one-day cricket international by six wickets and with 20 overs to spare at Westpac Stadium here.The win came just days after England outplayed New Zealand in all departments in two Twenty20 matches.Given an extra 30 overs, New Zealand lost the toss but from then on won everything in a morale-boosting performance.England, opting to bat first, were all out for 130 in the 50th over and New Zealand knocked off the target with the loss of four wickets in 30 overs.Bolstered by the return of captain Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram, New Zealand showed no sign of the fragility evident when they spent the two shorter matches firmly on the back foot."We understood that we had to respond today and put in a good performance and whether we won or not was beside the point. But we came out and won, and won well, and it's a very happy dressing room." Vettori said."If we got up towards 200 runs it would have been a defendable total. New Zealand bowled well and fielded exceptionally well."New Zealand started on Saturday by keeping England openers Alastair Cook and Phil Mustard pinned down -- the first boundary from Mustard came only in the seventh over -- and the run rate seldom rose above three.After Chris Martin made the initial breakthrough bowling Cook for 11 in the 10th over, the wickets fell at regular intervals.
Martin bowled Ian bell for five, Oram bowled dangerman Kevin Pietersen for six and Scott Styris bowled Mustard for 31 to have England at four for 67 by the 22nd over.England didn't help their cause with three run-outs before off-spinner Jeetan Patel cleaned up the tail to finish with two for 14 while Martin and Styris both took two for 22.While the England batsmen played as if the slow pitch held demons, Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum played three overs with caution and then launched into the run chase.A six from Ryder and a four from McCullum lifted New Zealand to 18 without loss and they never dropped below four runs an over after that.By the 12th over Ryder and McCullum had taken New Zealand passed 50 and hit seven boundaries, as many as England scored in their entire innings."Whenever you chase a small total if you can get your 50 pretty quickly you take away all the elements of worrying about chasing it down," Vettori said."I think they did a really good job and it sets us up for the rest of the series."Ryder survived a chance on 21 when dropped by Graeme Swann at midwicket and added another 10 runs before being caught by substitute Luke Wright off the bowling of Stuart Broad for 31.McCullum also got a second chance, dropped by a diving Mustard when on 27 and went on to make 42, at a run a ball, before giving Broad his second wicket when Mustard made amends by taking a fine legside catch.New Zealand were then two for 83 in the 19th over and well in control as Jamie How and Ross Taylor stepped up the pace.How was eventually dismissed for 28, with New Zealand nine runs short of victory and it was left to Taylor, not out 24, and Peter Fulton on one to take New Zealand across the line.The second game in the five-match series is in Hamilton on Tuesday.

SHOAIB AKHTAR-Doing well against Australia would be a motivation:

LAHORE,Pakistan`s fast bowler Shoaib akhtar who has played 46 Tests and 138 one-day internationals,had who has taken 178 Test and 219 ODI wickets,said I want to play against Australia. I am making full preparations for the series against Australians as it is not an easy series,” he opined. Akhtar said doing well against Australia would be a motivation. “Australia are world number one team and the way Indians have done well against them, I am sure that we can also do well against them.” Pakistan hosts Australia in March-April this year.pan class="fullpost">Akhtar also showed interest in signing on for an Indian film, raising doubts over his cricket future. Akhtar, however, denied he was leaving the sport to join Bollywood. “I want to play cricket and just showing a little interest in films doesn’t mean I am leaving the game. Regarding acting in movies, Akhtar said that he had five to six offers of acting in films but he would not sign any film. “I would do films after retirement from cricket,” he concluded.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL TO BE HELD AT MUMBAI

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)-promoted Indian Premier League T20 competition will open with a match between the Bangalore and Kolkata regions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, on April 18.The semifinal finals (May 30 & 31) and the final (June 1) will be played at Mumbai. In all, 10 matches will be held in Mumbai — seven home league matches apart from the semifinals and final.
IPL sources said that Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), which won the Mumbai region for $111.9 million for 10 years, had a major say in choosing the venue of the three knock-out matches. The franchise bid document had made it explicit that the highest bidder will have the prerogative to choose the venue for the final weekend matches of the league.“It’s up to the eight franchisees to decide on the team name and they will announce it after receiving the approval from the IPL governing council. They have been given the guidelines document,” said Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner, IPL and vice-president, BCCI.“We have finalised the umpires and match referee panel. It will be a mix of ICC and Indian officials. The ICC anti-corruption and security and anti-doping arrangements have all been finalised,” said Modi.

Australia`s Pakistan tour limited to four cities:

KARACHI - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to limit Australia's tour, which is under threat due to security concerns, to four venues, an official said on Wednesday.The proposed March-April tour will take place in Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad.A senior PCB official said other venues, including Peshawar, Sheikhupura and Hyderabad, were not proposed due to organisational and financial aspects, while Rawalpindi stadium was being renovated."We want them to play at the big venues where matches can be organised smoothly and there is a bigger financial turnover," Zakir Khan, director of cricket operations said..Australia are scheduled to play three tests, five one-day internationals and twenty20 match on their first tour of Pakistan for 10 years but there have been concerns over the trip due to escalating violence in the country, including the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in December.