Thursday, May 26, 2011

No home comforts is major challenge: Waqar

No home comforts is major challenge: WaqarPakistan coach Waqar Younis says the lack of home internationals is a major hurdle to his young team's hopes of climbing up the international cricket rankings. Pakistan's second-test victory over West Indies on Tuesday secured a drawn series and ensured it stayed in sixth position, one spot ahead of the Caribbean men.

In the past year, Waqar's charges have played "home" test series against Australia in England and against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates while also facing away series against England, New Zealand and West Indies.

As no test sides have wanted to tour Pakistan since terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team in Lahore more than two years ago, the team hasn't had a choice but to hit the road. "It's tough. It's never easy. We're always touring and playing on different surfaces and we don't know the pitches and conditions," he said on Wednesday.

"It's very difficult to adjust every month or so. It's four (overseas) venues I've done in less than a year. You need to play home to get the confidence of the youngsters. That's not happening so what we're trying to do is taking the youngsters on the tour and trying to prepare them, which is the hardest part in cricket."

Waqar admitted it was difficult to predict a swift return for international tours to his country but was hopeful. "It's not safe, we all know that. There is nothing hidden about it," he said. "We're really sad about it. "I, personally, wanted cricket to go back to the country and it was getting there, things were starting to move in that direction.

"But then something or the other happens in a month or two months time so the whole thing goes back to square one. Let's hope for the best and hopefully, in six months or a year's time, things will settle and we can take cricket back to our country."

Waqar said he was pleased with the way his team bounced back after losing the opening test in Guyana and spoke highly of his inexperienced batting unit. "There has been talk in Pakistan that we are not really batting well, we're not really scoring runs. It's good to see guys getting hundreds," the former fast bowler said.

"We haven't had many hundreds in the past couple of years, and it's good to see Taufeeq (Umar) in good nick and Misbah (ul-Haq) getting runs. "That's a plus. The boys have started knowing how to score runs and on difficult pitches."Taufeeq top scored with 135 and captain Misbah struck an unbeaten 102 in the second innings to anchor Pakistan's charge to victory in St. Kitts.

Pakistan's only individual century in 11 previous tests in the last year had been veteran Younis Khan's 131 not out in Dubai last November. Younis missed the tour of West Indies due to a death in the family but returns to the team for two one-day internationals against Ireland in Belfast on Saturday and Monday.

Waqar was happy to welcome back the veteran but was more reserved on the status of Mohammad Yousuf, the 36-year-old veteran of 90 tests who boasts an average of 52.29. "Mohammad Yousuf is on the wrong side of the 30s so we have to think hard," he said. "He is a fine player, no doubt he's served the country for a long time. If he's 100 percent and fit, why not?"

Yousuf was playing county cricket in England for Warwickshire and has not appeared in international cricket since last November. Waqar also squashed rumors about a rift between him and Shahid Afridi, who was replaced as one-day captain for the Ireland series and has since withdrawn from the squad.

"Misbah is great character. I am not saying that Afridi is not because he's done a really wonderful job in the last six to eight months he's been captain," Waqar said. "I don't have any problem with anyone. It is sad how things are being written and all the issues being printed. We want to improve cricket and this is what we get. It is not fair, I guess."

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Pakistan Cricket: No captaincy assurance for Afridi: PCB

Pakistan Cricket: No captaincy assurance for Afridi: PCBChairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ijaz Butt, brushed aside all the media speculations about his talks with Shahid Afridi saying he has not given any assurance to the all-rounder for keep leading Pakistan in the One Day Internationals.

Some media groups had earlier reported that Shahid Afridi had talked to Ijaz Butt and during the conversation he made himself available to the Ireland tour. They also claimed that the PCB chief had given Afridi captaincy assurance. However, later in the day, Ijaz Butt told local television channel that Afridi has not been given any assurance of captaincy in the two One Day Internationals series against Ireland.

The Sports Encounter had reported on Tuesday that either Misbah-ul-Haq, the Test captain, or all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez are likely to replace Boom Boom Afridi as ODI captain in Ireland. Ijaz Butt’s remarks have cast doubts over future of Shahid Afridi as captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team as it clearly shows a state of anger in the top cricket board authorities after Afridi had told media about his differences with head coach Waqar Younis. Following his remarks in the media, which wasn’t the first instance, the PCB had slapped Afridi with a notice demanding reasons for his media outburst.

Ijaz Butt made it clear that since disciplinary issues is pending against Shahid Afridi, a decision on captain is yet to be taken. Sources told The Sports Encounter that a final decision is expected after a tour report by team manager Intikhab Alam. The PCB Chief held a meeting with Chief Selector Mohsin Hasan Khan on Wednesday during which they discussed the team combination for the upcoming series against Ireland.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Warne apologises for IPL bust-up: report

Warne apologises for IPL bust-up: reportAustralian legspin legend Shane Warne has reportedly apologised for his part in a bust-up with a cricket official after a recent Indian Premier League match. Warne, captain of the Rajasthan Royals IPL team, was involved in an angry exchange with Sanjay Dixit, secretary of the Rajasthan state cricket association, following his team's defeat at home to Bangalore on Wednesday. The prolific wicket-taking spinner was apparently upset over the playing surface that was selected for Rajasthan's last two matches against Chennai and Bangalore, both of which the home side lost.

Dixit claimed Warne had been putting pressure on him to provide a "suitable" wicket for Rajasthan's home matches. Rajasthan Royals chief executive Sean Morris said in an e-mail to Dixit that the franchise had decided to take disciplinary action against Warne and the Australian had accepted it, news agency reported.

"The player has accepted the action that we have taken and apologised for any distress caused," Morris said, without elaborating further. The incident took place in full public view minutes after the post-match prize distribution ceremony at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

After the defeat against Chennai on Monday, Warne had questioned why the home side was asked to play on a different wicket to the one used in previous games. The two back-to-back defeats against Chennai and Bangalore have dented Rajasthan's chance of advancing to the play-offs and shattered Warne's dream of a second IPL title.Warne, who had scripted an amazing Rajasthan triumph in the inaugural Twenty20 competition in 2008, is set to retire from all forms of the game after the current edition.
 

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