PCB stops Afridi, Umar, Ajmal, from Big Bash League participation

By Tasawwar Abbas

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) November 15, 2012: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday barred three of the country’s top Twenty20 stars Umar Akmal, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi from participating into next month’s KFC Big Bash League to prepare for the upcoming India series.

There was a growing criticism on the PCB for letting the key players participate in the Australian domestic Twenty20 competition ahead of the all-important series against India.

Former skipper Shahid Afridi was due to represent Sydney Thunder while the world’s best Twenty20 bowler Saeed Ajmal and hard-hitting Umar Akmal had signed contracts with Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Sixers, respectively.

Pakistan will play two Twenty20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals during the course of two weeks long tour to India which happens to be their first full series since 2007. Pakistan cricket team will land on Indian soil on December 22 with first match on Christmas Day.

Talking to local media persons, Chairman PCB Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf said, “Since the Big Bash League was clashing with our Twenty20 tournament we have asked the players to feature in the national event so that selectors can check their form and fitness for the selection of the squad for India.”

It is important to mention here that Shahid Afridi has already presented his services for the domestic Twenty20 cricket tournament which will be played either in either Multan or Karachi from December 2, 2012.

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Big Bash League to rev up Pak cricketers: Zaka Ashraf

By Shoaib Ahmed

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) November 8, 2012: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appreciated the Pakistani cricketers getting a chance to play in the KFC Big Bash League (BBL) saying playing under Aussie conditions will help them become better cricketers.

PCB double standards comes to the fore yet again as stylish Mohammad Yousuf is yet to get NoC for featuring in President’s Trophy

Talking exclusively with TheSportsNEXT.com on Thursday, the PCB Chairman said that playing in Australia domestic cricket competition is a good opportunity for Pakistani cricketers.

"In Big Bash League, Pakistani cricketers make good money and get ample opportunities to play against the world’s top players on Australian wickets which is going to help them to achieve the competitive edge at international nationals”, Zaka Ashraf told this scribe.

The PCB has once again showed its double standards as on one side it has allowed top cricketers like Saeed Ajmal, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi to play in the KFC Big Bash League but on the other it has stopped Mohammad Yousuf from playing in the domestic cricket tournament.

It is a good omen for Pakistan cricket that foreign cricket leagues are inviting them but at the same time it’s a hard nut to crack for the cricket fans in Pakistan that why Zaka Ashraf is yet to hand Mohammad Yousuf NoC to play in the domestic cricket competition.

The PCB refused to issue a non-objection certification (NoC) to Mohammad Yousuf for his participation in the ongoing President’s Trophy first-class cricket tournament.

Only last month, Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf had told this scribe at the National Stadium during the exhibition match between Pakistan Stars XI and World International XI that he was not going to risk Pakistani cricketers before the much-anticipated Pakistan-India cricket series as the national team can’t bear fitness problems to any of the top cricketers.

However, on the other hand, Mohammad Yousuf, who is out of PCB selectors’ favors for a long time, is still waiting for green signal from the PCB to play national domestic cricket tournaments but the PCB officials are keeping mum on his issue.

The PCB’s silence has prompted former skipper Rashid Latif to lash out at the cricket board officials who are not doing justice to the talent and experience of Mohammad Yousuf.

Rashid Latif wants Mohammad Yousaf in his domestic team Port Qasim Authority and he requested the PCB to issue him the required NoC in this regard but he is yet to receive the PCB version on the issue.

The PCB officials and authorities were not available to comment on the issue despite of several attempts.

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Saeed Ajmal joins Adelaide Strikers for KFC Big Bash League

By Nadene Smith

SYDNEY, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) November 7, 2012: Pakistan’s best off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has signed up with Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming KFC Big Bash League 2013, the franchise confirmed Wednesday.

Saeed Ajmal is regarded as the world’s best off-spinner and has been a huge success in the shortest format of the game over the years which prompted the Adelaide Strikers to strike a deal with the Pakistani orthodox spinner.

Saeed Ajmal holds 15.4 strike rate in the Twenty20 Internationals and has best figures of four for 19. He has done equally well in the One Day Internationals as he boasts a strike rate of 33.6 with best returns of five for 43.

Saeed Ajmal will replace Kieron Pollard of West Indies and represent the Adelaide Strikers against Perth Scorchers on December 9 before leaving for national duty. He will return later in the tournament if the Adelaider Strikers required him.

The Sydney Strikers camp was ecstatic to have hired services of the world’s best spinner and coach Darren Berry told reporters here, “We know what this guy is capable of, having seen him run through both the Australian and English batsmen a couple of months ago, so to have him on board is a great result for the Strikers”.

Saeed Ajmal was equally excited to be part of the Adelaide Strikers and was waiting for his stint at Adelaide. He told Aussie media, “I am really excited about playing for the Adelaide Strikers and really happy that I will get the chance to show my talent in BBL. I am very keen to meet up with the rest of the boys soon and play my best in the games that I am available, with the hope that Adelaide make the final stages and I can return to help win the competition."

The Adelaide Strikers also announced two more signings including South Australia Redbacks’ wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman and Queensland right-arm spinner Cameron Boyce.

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