Mohammad Hafeez to represent Lahore Lions

By Aftab Tabee

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) November 20, 2012: Pakistan’s Twenty20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez has decided to play for Lahore Lions in the upcoming National Twenty20 Cricket Tournament 2012 which will be played from December 2-10, 2012.

Talking exclusively with this scribe, Mohammad Hafeez who has been leading the Faisalabad Wolves in the previous editions of the domestic Twenty20 competitions, said that he was forced to relinquish his ties with the Faisalabad region only due to one man.

“President Faisalabad Region Anwar Chaudhry has been interfering in the team’s matters for a long time which has left me with no option to part ways with the team”, Mohammad Hafeez said. 

Pakistan’s Twenty20 skipper said that Mr. Anwar Chaudhry had been poking into the team management’s matters which had put him under stress as captain of the Faisalabad Region. He added that the latest example of Anwar Chaudhry’s high-handedness is non-selection of Zeeshan Qazi for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy squad of Faisalabad Region despite of taking the most number of wickets. Instead, brother of former fast bowler Shahid Nazeer was inducted into the Faisalabad squad, he added.

President Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA), Khawaja Nadeem has also confirmed Mohammad Hafeez’s inclusion in the Lahore Lions squad for the upcoming T20 tournament.

The Lahore Lions will be led by former Pakistan skipper and legendary batsman Mohammad Yousuf and will also have the services of Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal who are integral part of the national Twenty20 cricket team.

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Match-fixing issue was reported to ICC: Ed Hawkins

By Bipin Dani

MUMBAI, India (TheSportsNEXT) November 18, 2012: The Indian cricket board may have rubbished his claims on match-fixing (2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan at Mohali was fixed), however, the UK-based journalist, Ed Hawkins insists he had brought the issue to the notice of the ICC.

Speaking exclusively with TheSportsNEXT.com over his mobile from London on Sunday, Ed Hawkins said, "I gave information to the ACSU (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) in Feb following a second trip to India when I was still investigating. Also, the allegations have been reported from a bookmaker. The book (Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy, which is available from Bloomsbury in India) analyses these claims in great detail and the conclusion is to ask for an investigation".

Ed Hawkins is betting.betfair's chief cricket tipster. He has been a tipster for more than 14 years, the majority at the Racing Post. He has built a reputation as shrewd student of the game thanks to memorable tipping feats like tipping Pakistan for glory at the 2009 World Twenty20, Rajasthan for inaugural IPL glory and a 90 per cent profit on the World Cup in the Caribbean.

He has been a sports journalist for more than 14 years. Twice he was named the Sports Journalists Association betting Writer of the Year. He has also ghost written the autobiography of Michael Holding, the West Indies legend.

"Spot-fixing is possible", he stays, adding, "Spot fixing is prevalent the world over so long as matches are being televised in India. I think county cricket in the UK is waking up to the need to be seriously vigilant".

"Also spot fixing is such minute details that it is almost impossible to prove or even detect. It may be something as minor as a maiden over in an ODI, which is normal. But here are some points to help...

1 ACSU need help from players. Players need to police the game because they know what is going on in the dressing room

2 ACSU are dilligent and work hard but they need more officers

3 Make match fixing illegal in India", he further added.

During England Test matches he writes a live betting blog, despairing at Alastair Cook's technique and turning to copious amounts of cake to cope with the trauma of it all.

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Zaheer Abbas applies for Pakistan batting coach job

By Ubaid Awan

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) November 4, 2012: After former captain Salim Malik expressed his keen interest in joining the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as batting coach, Asian Bradman Zaheer Khan also jumped into the reckoning on Saturday when he applied for the job with the cricket board, TheSportsNEXT.comhas learnt.

Zaheer Abbas, who is regarded as one of the finest batsmen produced by Pakistan cricket, has been demanding a local batting coach for the national cricket team and now he has decided to come practically into the contention.

With Zaheer Abbas’s interest, the race to win post of Pakistan batting coach has heated up as other former Pakistani cricketers are also taking keen interest in the role.

Sources told this scribe that Zaheer Abbas has resigned from the PCB coach hunting committee and is now available to work as batting coach.

Zaheer Abbas has a clear edge over Salim Malik as Malik has had a tainted past but there is no question about the integrity of Zaheer Abbas while his reputation as a good batsman can be gauged by the fact that he was called by numerous former international cricketers as Asian Bradman.

Pakistan cricket team has been let down by batsmen over the years at international level and currently doesn’t have even a single quality Test batsman, a fact which has led Pakistan to numerous defeats in important matches.

Pakistan crashed out of the last month’s ICC World Twenty20 in semi-final when their batsmen failed to chase down a moderate target of 139. The dismal performance forced the PCB authorities to think seriously about having a full-time batting coach for the national cricket team.

PCB chief Zaka Ashraf constituted a three-man committee to scrutinize, shortlist, and recommend candidates for the post. The committee also included Intikhab Alam and Colonel (Retd) Naushad Ali other than Zaheer Abbas and had mandated time till December 5 to figure out the right man for the job.

It is important to mention here that Zaheer Abbas, a right-hand batsman, represented Pakistan in 78 Test matches and scored 5,062 runs at an average of 44.79 with highest score of 274. During the course of his Test career, the Asian Bradman hit 12 centuries, 20 half centuries and also took 34 catches. Zaheer Abbas also played 62 One Day Internationals scoring 2,572 runs at a healthy average of 47.62 with highest score of 123. He hit seven hundreds and 13 fifties during the course of his ODI career.

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Lahore court issues contempt notice to POA

By Tasawwar Abbas

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 25, 2012: Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan of Lahore High Court (LHC) issued notice to President, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Arif Hassan on Thursday.

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The contempt notice was served on contempt petition filed by Imtiaz Gill Secretary General of Pakistan Badminton Federation.

The LHC served the notice for Pakistan Olympic Association's failure to admit Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) as constituent member of Pakistan Olympic Association and restraint exercised by the POA regarding badminton for the past few years, after the Lahore High Court declared the parallel Pakistan Badminton Federation illegal body on June 18th.

The court has fixed October 31, 2012 for further proceedings.

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Shikhar Dhawan misses cricket on his wedding day

By Bipin Dani

Shikhar Dhawan to get married to Eesha Mukherjee on October 29

MUMBAI, India (TheSportsNEXT) October 25, 2012: India's 27-year-old top order batsman Shikhar Dhawan is "sad" on missing the match on his wedding day.

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Eesha Mukherjee

The left-hander was originally included in India 'A' squad for the three-day game against England, which is scheduled to be played at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, from 30 October 2012 to 1 November 2012. However, he was later withdrawn and replaced by Ambati Rayudu.

"I know it is the chance I would not have loved to miss. But it is not in my hands. I am helpless", he said over telephone from Delhi on Wednesday evening.

"My marriage was planned a few months ago and the match has recently been organised. It happens sometimes unfortunately", he added.

The opener, who played five ODIs and one Twenty20 for India, will get married to Esha Mukherjee.

Shikhar Dhawan also revealed that it was fellow cricketer Bhajji who turned out to be the inadvertent fixer of this match. "We were introduced on a networking website (Facebook)", he said. "Harbhajan, along with a few other players have been invited in the reception. Those who are not playing in a match are likely to attend the reception", he added.

The function on Oct. 29 will be followed by marriage on Oct. 30.

"Yes, Esha is interested in cricket and comes to watch me play in IPL matches", he added. "She is an amateur boxer and love sports. She used to play karate".

Esha's mother is English and father is Bengali. "I have learnt a bit Bengali", he says.

"No immediate honemoon is planned. Our season starts soon and I am available to play for my team", he signed off.

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Impossible to fix matches by umpires: Daryl Harper

By Bipin Dani

Daryl Harper finds it "Impossible" for cricket umpire to fix matches

MUMBAI, India (TheSportsNEXT) October 15, 2012: Former ICC umpire, Darrell Hair was not surprised with the recent allegations of fixing against match umpires. However, according to another retired ICC umpire, Daryl Harper, the result of the match can’t be fixed in normal circumstances.

 

Speaking exclusively with TheSportsNEXT.com from Adelaide on Monday, Daryl Harper said, "I don't believe that it would be possible for umpires to fix the result of a match without drawing attention to themselves. A series of poor decisions would be likely to attract attention and may lead to an umpire's demotion".

Adding further, he said, "However I do think that it would be possible to give marginal decisions in favour of one particular team. Often with an LBW appeal, an umpire has an element of doubt in his mind and in such a case, he usually gives the batsman the benefit of his doubt".

"I imagine that if an individual umpire was tempted by money or other benefits, to officiate against the spirit of the game and against what we know is right, then decisions in favour of one team would be possible", he believed.

"I officiated at the international level from 1994 until 2011 and I was never approached to perform in any way for anyone's benefit. I actually found that the principle of treating every player with the same even handed approach was the only way I could umpire. It was so difficult trying to get every decision correct, I can't imagine how an umpire could deliberately favour anyone", the 61-year-old Australian signed off.

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Abdul Razzaq may miss Pakistan-India series

By Nadira Mushtaque

Abdul Razzaq may also have to sit out of Pakistan-India series!

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 14, 2012: Pakistani cricket fans may not find veteran hard-hitting all-rounder Abdul Razzaq in action during the upcoming Pakistan-India series after the PCB decided to penalize him for his media outburst against his skipper.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Monday, started penalizing the outspoken veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq for his media outburst against T20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez by dropping him for the upcoming Hong Kong Super Sixes 2012.

Sources told TheSportsNEXT.com on Monday that the star all-rounder is unlikely to be considered for the upcoming Pakistan-India series to be played in December this year.

Earlier local media had reported that Abdul Razzaq was likely to lead Pakistani outfit in the Hong Kong Super Sixes tournament which is held every year in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Super Sixes 2012 tournament will be played on October 27-28, 2012 at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

The PCB has appointed wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal as skipper of the team which also includes Owais Zia, Umar Akmal, Hammad Azam, Yasir Shah, Junaid Khan and Tanvir Ahmad.

It is important to mention here that Abdul Razzaq had lashed out at Mohammad Hafeez for keeping him out of the all-important Semi-Final encounter against Sri Lanka in the recently conclude ICC World Twenty20 2012 which Pakistan lost by 16 runs.

Abdul Razzaq had alleged that it was Mohammad Hafeez and not the team management which decided to drop him out of the playing eleven and gave only one chance during the whole tournament.

The veteran all-rounder, who has the reputation of a great finisher and hard-hitter of a cricket ball, had earlier on Monday apologized to the Pakistan Cricket Board for his media outburst.

The PCB will hold another round of meeting with Abdul Razzaq on Friday.

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PCB appoints Javed Miandad as batting consultant

By Ubaid Awan

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) September 8, 2012: Former Pakistani captain and ex-head coach Javed Miandad has been appointed as batting consultant of the national cricket team for the upcoming 2012 ICC World Twenty20, sources told TheSportsNext.com on Saturday.

 

The 2012 ICC World Twenty20 is commencing from September 18, 2012 in Sri Lanka where cricket teams from across the world would vie for supremacy in the shortest format of the game.

Sources told this scribe that PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf made the appointment on Saturday after realizing the need to have senior professional with the team during the mega event.

Javed Miandad will remain with the Men in Green during the course of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, sources added.

Javed Miandad, 55, who represented Pakistan between 1975 and 1996, is the country’s leading run scorer in Test cricket.

Regarded as the “greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced” by ESPNcricinfo, Javed Miandad has previously worked with the PCB as batting coach of the national cricket team but his over-enthusiasm and habit of interfering into players’ issues made senior cricketers in the team to get him off the job in 2003.

Miandad has had a total of three coaching stints with the national cricket team.

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