IPL

MI and CSK Both M S Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have been inspiring leaders and in Michael Hussey and Kieron Pollard, they have two genuine match-winners. The game between Chennai and Mumbai promises to be riveting contest. New Delhi: After 72 matches and close to 50 days of non-stop action, the league stage of the nine-team IPL-6 slugfest has thrown up four contenders for the title, two of whom, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals have tasted triumphs earlier. And by virtue of finishing on top of the points table, CSK, and second-placed Mumbai Indians will get the first shot at booking a berth for the May 26 final when they face off in Qualifier 1 at the Kotla here on Tuesday. The most consistent team in the tournament’s history, with titles in 2010 and 2011, CSK will enter the contest with an edge over Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai, who in the past five editions, have not been able to realise their potential by winning the league despite being one of the better balanced squads on paper. The M.S.Dhoni-led Chennai team are a top pick to be one of the finalists at the Eden Gardens this Sunday because even if Mumbai do get past them on Tuesday, they will get one more chance in Qualifier 2, where they will clash against the winners of Eliminator 1 between the Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. And CSK losing two matches on the trot looks an unlikely scenario although the fickle nature of the format is known to have thrown up surprising results. Mumbai will derive confidence from the fact that they have beaten CSK in both league matches thisseason. However,strokeplay is hardly going to be smooth and hassle-free on the slow Kotla track. Despite that, it is very likely that the likes of Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Michael Hussey for CSK and Sharma, Kieron Pollard and Dinesh Kathik for Mumbai will turn out to be the main protagonists tonight. Sachin Tendulkar is likely to return to Mumbai’s XI after missing out the previous two games and given the fact that an IPL triumph is a rare missing feather from his cap, the 40-year old, who has had a rather patchy season, will be pumped up to play an important role with the bat. As far as bowling resources are concerned, MI will believe that with the likes of Mitchell Johnson and death specialist Lasith Malinga to ally with Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha, they have a decent chance to restrict the free-flowing CSK batsmen. But Chennai have more than a competent unit themselves. Dwayne Bravo, R. Ashwin, Chris Morris and find of the season Mohit Sharma have all been effective for CSK.

PCB officials stay away from Twenty20 opening ceremony

KARACHI: To the dismay of sports scribes, neither of the top Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials turned up for the official unveiling ceremony of the Faysal Bank T20 tournament.

It was supposed to be a ‘Meet the Press’ event but reporters were just greeted by Faysal Bank officials here at a local hotel on Friday and obviously nothing substantial and news-worthy came up.

One face-to-face meeting with PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed but it was announced that the purpose of this was to have an interaction with the press and to invite them for a lunch.

It is certainly not the kind of start PCB would have wanted and especially given the importance of the tournament. Some of the top officials of the board are in the city including Subhan Ahmed. On 22 sept, PCB’s director training and education Wasim Bari, governing board member Wazir Ali Khoja and Subhan went to Governer House and Chief Minister House for a meeting related to the T20 event.

Present on the occasion, apart from the bank officials, was discarded Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who has been sidelined by the PCB from the national team on the suspicion of being involved in ‘spot-fixing’. But amazingly, he was asked to by PCB to come in the so-called ‘Meet the Press’ ceremony it has been learnt by ‘The News’.

Considering the strict attitude of the board against Kaneria by sidelining him completely from international cricket, every one was not expecting to see him attending the event as a PCB guest.

It has been learnt that the player received a call from the assistant of Zakir Khan, who was recently demoted to the post of director domestic cricket by the board, asking him to attend the event.

Such double standards raise questions about PCB’s double standards. If Kaneria is involved in any wrongdoing then he should be completely sidelined once and for all. But if he is innocent then he should be allowed to make a comeback since he is the premier Test leg-spinner of Pakistan and certainly there is no one in Pakistan, who is even half as good as Kaneria, as it was proved in the case of Yasir Shah’s outing during the recently-concluded tour of Zimbabwe. 

Cricket: Yousuf opts out of T20 event

LAHORE: Uncertainty Mohammad Yousuf continued as the former captain pulled out of the National Twenty20 Cup for personal commitments. While all-rounder Abdul Razzaq takes over the captaincy of Lahore Lions in the season-opening domestic tournament, doubts emerged over Yousuf`s injury and why he had to pull out. Yousaf, however, insisted that he was fit and still had the passion to continue playing cricket.“

“My decision is based on my personal commitments,” Yousuf told. “I don't know why people are trying to portray me negatively but I can confirm that I`m fit and still have the passion to play cricket.”

Reports have surfaced that have suggested that Yousuf had opted against playing cricket after being constantly overlooked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The board also snubbed the former captain from the list of central contracts, offered to players for the second half of the year.

But the 37-year-old confirmed that he has not distanced himself from cricket and had no intentions to retire. Yousuf last played for Pakistan in 2010 against South Africa, returning home midway through the tour due to fitness issues. He has been overlooked subsequently with suggestions that fitness was a concern but Yousuf clarified that it was no more.

“Fitness is no longer a concern and if anyone wants to test my fitness level I have no issues. I`ve been playing county cricket and have just returned after playing league cricket.”

With Yousuf missing out on the event, the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) said that it was disappointing.

“This is purely his own decision because we wanted him to play,” said LCCA President. “He was made a part of the squad after his consent and now he`s withdrawn suddenly. He has conveyed to us that the reason behind it is personal commitments and nothing else.

“It`s disappointing that we have to miss out on his experience but we still have a variety of players in our line-up.”

Yousuf displayed good form in the country championship as he scored 109, 68 and 72 in his last three innings for Warwickshire in May.

Last year, he left Wapda and joined Lahore after a fallout with teammate Rana Navedul Hasan. However, Wapda`s head of sports Naveed Akram Cheema still remained optimistic over Yousuf`s return to the department side while another department ZTBL is also keen to sign Yousuf for the

upcoming season.

'I am a happy and satisfied man after stint as Pak coach,' says Waqar

Outgoing Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has said that he was a ‘satisfied man’ after his stint in charge despite it being affected by the spot-fixing scandal, and the in-fighting between players and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

“I am happy and a satisfied man and have learnt a lot during this tenure,”

The 39-year-old further hailed the winning tour of Zimbabwe, saying that the national team showed wonderull capabilities in all three forms of the game.

He said “I think there is no need to say much as results speak for themselves, we won all the matches on the tour and players did their best and gelled well to give this good performance,” 

SHOAIB LEAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shoaib Akhtar made some startling revelations about his autobiography 'Controversially Yours'.

Concentration is only key to my success: Aleem Dar

After reaching Lahore for the first time after wining the ICC award for best umpire for the third consecutive time in London this month, Aleem said, that it is the result of his full concentration on the game during every match that helps him a lot to take a right decision even on crucial stages.
“Umpiring is a hard job to do, particularly, when technology is also at work in the match,” Aleem's remarks.
Thanking his fans, Aleem said the award was not only an honour for him, but it is for all Pakistanis.
Stating that all efforts should be made to bring back the international cricket to Pakistan, Aleem said lack of international cricket in Pakistan on security grounds has undoubtedly damaged cricket in Pakistan as such an atmosphere is not suitable for producing talented umpires and players.
Aleem requested to the PCB to introduce central contract for the umpires like other cricket playing nations besides other incentives.
Earlier, Dar was accorded a warm welcome. He was also garlanded and offered bouquet by fans who raised slogans in his appreciation.

Zimbabwe whitewash will help against Sri Lanka: Misbah

"As a player you always look ahead when you are confident. i think during the Zimbabwe tour all the players were positive and this will help in UAE tour."