PCB allows Ajmal, Afridi, Umar short stint at KFC Big Bash League 2012

By Ubaid Awan

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) November 19, 2012: After a request by the Cricket Australia, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday allowed three Pakistani cricketers Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, and Umar Akmal to enjoy a short stint at the KFC Big Bash League 2012.

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The permission will mean that the three top Pakistani cricketers will miss the final stages of the local Twenty20 tournament which runs in parallel with the Australian Twenty20 competition.

The decision is also to the contrary of the PCB’s earlier stance of saving its cricketers from injuries ahead of the all-important tour to India. PCB selectors will also be going through their previous statements where they had made it mandatory for the top cricketers to make sure their presence in the domestic T20 competition to be picked for the India tour.

The top quality trio will return home for the conditioning camp in Lahore for the India tour but will miss the major part of the country’s domestic Twenty20 competition.

It is important to mention here that Saeed Ajmal is associated with the Adelaide Strikers, Shahid Afridi signed up with Sydney Thunder after transferred from Melbourne Renegades, while Umar Akmal is due to represent the Sydney Sixers in the KFC Big Bash League 2012.

Talking to local media on Monday, a PCB spokesperson said that the decision was reversed after receiving a request by the Cricket Australian and the three Pakistani cricketers will miss the final stages of the local T20 tournament to be part of the KFC Big Bash League franchises for a brief period.

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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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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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