Andre Nel, Kalicharan, Jayasuriya hail facilities at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium

By Shehzad Owaisi

Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah gets tributes from international cricketers

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 25, 2012: International cricketers recently toured Pakistan for a couple of festival Twenty20 matches in Karachi and during their trip they freely roamed around the biggest metropolis defying all the impression in international media about security concerns in the terrorism-hit country.

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While most of the players that made the International World XI returned home after participating in the two exhibition matches on October 20 and 21 at National Stadium Karachi, former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya, former West Indian cricketer Alvin Kalicharan, and former South African fast bowler Andre Nel stayed a little longer in Karachi.

During their stay in Karachi, the three former cricketers roamed through some of the busiest markets in the metropolis and interacted freely with their fans without having to worry about security.

Recently, Sanath Jayasuriya, Andre Nel, and Alvin Kalicharan visited Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Stadium, which is owned and run by Sindh Sports Minister Dr. Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, who accompanied the players. Administrator of his AO Clinic Nusrat Fahim and Vice Chairman of Asghar Ali Shah Sports Foundation, Dr. Syed Junaid Ali Shah, were also present on the occasion.

The foreign cricketers visited various enclosures at the Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Stadium and had but praise on their lips after visiting the hostel built for cricketers at the Stadium premises.

Talking to reporters, these cricketers said that Dr. Syed Mohammad Ali Shah is a true sports fan and his passion has helped him in coming up with such a place fully equipped with modern needs of the game.

Sanath Jayasuriya told reporters that Dr Shah has done a marvelous job by constructing and running the Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Stadium without any government help and the cricketers from Karachi can never forget his contribution for the sport.

Alvin Kalicharan said on the occasion that Dr Shah is a passionate sportsman and once he aims at doing something for the sport he achieves all of his goals.

South African fast bowler Andre Nel said that by holding the two Twenty20 matches, Dr Shah has proved to the world that Pakistan is a safe country for cricket.

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Pakistan may host Bangladesh before India tour

By Saqibul Islam/Babar Malik

Return of international cricket to Pakistan is not a far cry any longer

DHAKA/ISLAMABAD, Bangladesh/Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 24, 2012: Pakistan is likely to host Bangladesh in December before the highly-anticipated tour to India, sources told TheSportsNEXT.com on Wednesday.

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After an approval by new BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon, the Bangladesh cricket team may play three One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals in Pakistan.

This would be the first tour by a Test playing nation to Pakistan since March 2009 terrorist attacks on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

The newly-inducted BCB president Nazmul Hasan, who has made his mind pretty clear in favor of sending his team to Pakistan, is chairing meetings with the board officials these days which would decide the future of the series.

Bangladesh cricket team was due to tour Pakistan in April this year for a short series but the country’s high court stayed the tour after which the BCB was left with no option but to suspend the tour citing security concerns.

Meanwhile, Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf has said that the Bangladesh cricket team will tour Pakistan in December for a series comprising of three One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals.

Talking to reporters here, Zaka Ashraf said, “We are in contact with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), however the details of the tour have not been finalized”.

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Foreign cricketers start landing in Karachi tonight

By Ubaid Awan

Jinnah International Airport all set to receive foreign cricketers

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 18, 2012: Arrival of foreign cricketers in Pakistan for the upcoming two Twenty20 matches between International World XI and Pakistan Stars XI will commence tonight.

As per the arrival schedule that the event organizers shared with TheSportsNEXT.com, the South African cricketers including Justin Kemp, Loots Bosman, Andre Nel, Andre Seymore, and Nantie Hayward will arrive at Jinnah International Airport Karachi at 02:30am Pakistan Standard Time.

West Indian cricketers including Ricardo Powell, Steven Taylor, Jermaine Lawson, and Adam Sanford will land at Jinnah International Airport at 04:30am Pakistan Standard Time.

Afghanistan cricketers will arrive in Karachi at 1:15pm on Thursday while International World XI skipper Sanath Jayasuriya will join the team at 03:30pm on Thursday.

The two Twenty20 matches between Pakistan Stars XI and International World XI will be played at National Stadium Karachi on coming Saturday and Sunday.

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Dr Shah renames WorldXI for exhibition matches

By Ubaid Awan

ICC Objection results in renaming of World XI as International World XI

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 17, 2012: Sindh Sports Minister, Dr. Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, on Wednesday, changed the name of World XI to International World XI after the International Cricket Council objected on the name.

The ICC spokesman, Samiul Hasan told local media, “The ICC doesn't permit the names World or World XI for exhibition matches”.

A letter has been sent to the Pakistan Cricket Board in this regard, he added.

A Pakistan Stars XI led by Shahid Khan Afridi will take on International World XI led by former Sri Lankan legendary captain Sanath Jayasuriya in two Twenty20 matches to be played at National Stadium Karachi on October 20 and 21.

Cricketers from West Indies, South Africa and Afghanistan are participating in the two Twenty20 matches which would be the first time since March 2009 that international cricketers would tour any part of Pakistan.

In the first major international cricket event in Pakistan in more than three years, the Pakistan Cricket Board has already allowed the event organizers to use National Stadium Karachi and also let its centrally contracted players to participate in the matches.

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Zaka Ashraf meets former Test captain Majid Khan

By AM Khan

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) September 28, 2012: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf held a meeting with former legendary player and Pakistan Test Captain Majid Khan at his residence on Friday.

 

During their meeting ways and means to further improve the domestic cricket structure in Pakistan came under discussion.

The PCB Chairman briefed Majid Khan on the measures being taken to revamp the Domestic Cricket set-up and sought his suggestions to further rev it up.

Majid Khan also shared his views on return of international cricket to Pakistan which is on the top priority of the PCB chief’s list.

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