Critics wrong to question my approach: Misbah

ISLAMABAD: After leading Faisalabad Wolves to victory in the National Super Eight Twenty20 Cup, captain Misbahul Haq criticised those who had questioned his approach to captaincy and batting as being defensive.  Pakistan News Reported

Misbah scored an unbeaten 38 off 25 balls against Sialkot Stallions in the final in Lahore on Sunday night and ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer with 206 runs at a strike-rate of 140.13 and an average of 103. He also hit 12 sixes in the competition the most by any player. “My approach to play according to the team's requirement was misunderstood as my weakness but I will continue to play like this, whether or not I achieve success,” said Misbah about his new aggressive approach to captaincy and batting.

Before the ODI series in South Africa, Misbah averaged 36.60 at a strike-rate of 66.25 in his last 20 games but in his last five games; he has 227 runs at a strike-rate of 80.21. Misbah stepped down as Pakistan T20 captain last May, handing over to Mohammad Hafeez, and was subsequently dropped from the T20 squad, though he remains captain of the Test and ODI sides. He took over the leadership in 2010 at the age of 36, shortly after the spot-fixing controversy had damaged the reputation of the team. He was instrumental in bringing back stability to the team and restoring lost pride, but over time was criticised by the Pakistan media for his defensive approach and fans too have been vocal about his slow batting in international matches.

However, Misbah insists that he would rather win matches than worry about his strike-rate. “Everyone should think twice before making a comment,” Misbah told media after the final. “Players have always gone through lean patches but that doesn't mean they should be written off. I have been playing merely according to the requirements of the team. Whatever has been said and done against me is useless. Criticism is always healthy but never doubt one's potential rather than looking for negative angles to mow down a player. I think my role has been misunderstood and I always try to play for the team, for the game and for my reputation. Cricket is my passion and I am enjoying it more than ever, otherwise playing cricket without passion is pointless.”

Despite his recent success with the Wolves, he ruled out making a return to International T20s, though he will continue to play domestically. “This is how I will be playing but I have no plans to return,” Misbah said. He said the T20 title for Faisalabad was an ‘important' breakthrough for the regional team. “The way the players have been performing over the years, they deserved the title. We played in a number of finals but didn't make it. But this time, I knew something special is coming and everything we did here turned to gold.”

The star and his fan

We shared our star sign and grew up in the same city but had never crossed path, in fact, had not even heard of each other. Then, one evening I was playing squash and I got the news that changed our lives forever; a 16 year old boy had scored a century in 37 balls and Pakistan had slung shot into the final of a quadrangular series in Kenya after rolling over Sri Lanka.

For some reason, the series was not televised live in Pakistan and I missed what should have been our first encounter on October 4, 1996. Wisden, my childhood bible was on Netscape Navigator by then and had reported sixes being hurled into the parking lot of Nairobi gymkhana that evening. I gave little heed and went back to playing Brian Lara Cricket ‘96.

Boom Boom Afridi

Zimbabwe travelled to Pakistan later that month and the boy opened the innings with Saeed Anwar. He came across as a pinch hitter who perished early in the first game. However, Wasim Akram persisted with him as an opener in the second. He was dropped at naught but then showed his magic, scoring 66 of 37 balls including four towering sixes at Gaddafi Stadium. We were formally introduced, I became the fan and Shahid Khan Afridi became my hero.

Tall, and handsome, Afridi was a sensation from day one. Boys wanted to be like him and girls wanted to be with him. When he was batting, no one left the seat or switched channels, with him at the crease, anything was possible – but it was the disappointment that was inevitable.

No matter how many sixes he hit and runs he scored, the idiosyncrasy of his dismissals always gave a sense of unfulfilled potential, which reflects in his statistics over a 16-year career.

His batting seemed promising but the muscle in his arm usually over-powered the nerves in his head. He was brutal against medium pacers but suspect against faster men. If it was pitched up, it rocketed to the rope but often it was pitched short and he rushed to the pavilion instead.

Leg spin was never his forte, or for that matter, any kind of spin. His faster one was exciting but not enough to threaten. The highlights of his bowling were in his silky hair and mischievous smile.

He never became the boy who initially replaced Mushtaq Ahmed and he could never grow into the man that had replaced Aamir Sohail. To be fair, he did not need to, he already had a place in my life that others did not – he had become my favourite Pakistani cricketer.

He played his cricket outside the realm of the game itself and inside the hearts of his fans. All I wanted was a six and all he wanted was to hear me clap. We were both young and brash and nothing else mattered, not what the scoreboard said and definitely not what coach or captain advised.

It was difficult to judge if he was falling victim to my unconditional love or if he had started taking advantage of it. Like with most things grey, it was probably a mix of both. My applause had turned him deaf and he refused to hear me moan at his failure.

It was soon apparent that he did not have a place in the team but he managed to get selected anyway, his critics grew larger in number but his fans kept increasing as well. He continued to recklessly throw his wicket away but with his departure, stadiums also emptied out, it was the Shahid Afridi paradox.

Then came the summer of 2004 and I was fortunate to follow our team to Amstelveen. A day before the first game I caught up with the boys at Het Spectrum, a water park in Hoofddorp, 20 minutes from Amsterdam.

It was heartening to see how our new coach Bob Woolmer had combined leisure and training for his boys in a swimming pool. However, I was surprised to learn how highly he rated Afridi as a gifted all-rounder. In the previous year, Shahid had scored 21 runs at an average of 5.33 and taken three wickets at an average of 48. Clearly, Woolmer had no idea about cricket in Pakistan.

Next morning Afridi was out for 19 runs that included two fours and a six and Pakistan were bundled out for 192; in reply, India were all out for a 127. Afridi registered bowling figures of 4-20 and I made my first appearance on Wisden Cricinfo; a picture of a fan in a hat, storming the field of play with a Pakistani flag. We were fans reported of potentially putting Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly in danger of terrorist attacks.

Afridi typically went on to score at an average of 21.63 with a strike rate of 147.82 that year but he also remarkably took 22 wickets at an average of 20.27 and a strike rate of 26.3.

Improving his flippers and adding an orthodox off-spinner to his repertoire, eight years into his career, Afridi had suddenly transformed into a bowling all-rounder. Now, for the first time in his life he merited a place in the side for pure cricketing reasons.

Afridi had stepped into the most fruitful phase of his career where his bowling dominated the affair. In time, he would develop a good wrong‘un and drift would become his most lethal weapon. His batting habits had been spoilt for way too long and were beyond repair. Though, now the sixes were mere bonus and his ball did all the talking.

Test cricket and captaincy also came his way but he could not do justice to them either, again, a part of the blame goes to our system that fails to utilize its assets, a mechanism in which all of stakeholders contribute in their own capacity.

Today, he continues to bat like he does not care but, it is the drastic fall of his bowling form that is the real cause of concern and reason for his possible end – he was wicketless in 37 agonizing overs in the five ODIs in South Africa.

The final in Benoni summarized the larger part of Afridi’s career; his batting not responsible enough and bowling not good enough. My love for him was the only reason he was allowed to dress in green and apparently given the last chance to break my trust. Predictably, he crossed the fine line between playing carefree cricket and not caring about the position of his team.

Sixteen years into our relationship, we are both a little older and we understand life a bit more than we did when we started off as teenagers. We realize we should take a break if not break up, but have we matured enough to face reality? The odds are that neither of us have, he will want to continue playing and deep inside my heart, I still crave for him.

Cricket without Lala will never be the same, but time is a great healer and perhaps it’s time for us to bid farewell and move in separate directions, such is life and so is cricket.

Mistakes that we make as friends, siblings, kids and parents are sometimes similar to what we make as heroes and fans. Expectation and disappointment, joy and grief, gratitude and anger, love and hate, are all part of intimate relations. However, taking someone for granted can lead to despair.

It is important that success is rewarded and failures are punished, that good is hailed and ills are condemned. Tragically for Pakistan, far too many times we have done the opposite. Heroes have to be accountable and fans held responsible. Even in the face of adversity we shall unearth more diamonds.

Pakistan drops Younis from Champions Trophy squad

KARACHI: Pakistan on Sunday omitted out-of-form Younis Khan from a 30-man initial squad for the eight-nation Champions Trophy after the middle order batsman flopped in recent one-day matches.

The 35-year-old Younis managed just 116 runs in the series against South Africa earlier this month which Pakistan lost 3-2 and has not managed to score a century since November 2008.

Pakistan is in group B of the event to be held in England from June 3-23. The other teams in their group are arch-rivals India, the West Indies and South Africa.

Defending champions Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England form group A.

All teams had April 6 as the cut off date to announce their initial squad to be trimmed to 15 in May.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said the Pakistani squad was a “mix of youth and experience”.

“Younis’s name was not considered after he did not show the form in the last few matches,” he told AFP.

Pakistani media reported last week that Younis was contemplating retirement from one-day cricket after giving up Twenty20 following the team’s 2009 World Twenty20 victory in England under his captaincy.

But sources close to Younis denied he was retiring from one-day cricket. He was also dropped from the team for a series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates last August before he regained his place against India in December.

Younis has so far scored 7014 runs in 253 one-day internationals after making his debut 13 years ago.

Also overlooked was allrounder Abdul Razzaq, who hasn’t played a one-day since November 2011.

Pakistan face the West Indies in their opening match on June 7 before clashing with South Africa (June 10) and arch-rivals India on June 15.

Probables: Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Ahmed Shehzad, Misbah-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umer Amin, Sohail Tanvir, Hammad Azam, Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, Asad Ali, Anwar Ali, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Imran Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Yasir Arafat, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Zulfiqar Babar, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan.

Misbah not interested in making T20 comeback

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Test and one-day captain Misbah-ul-Haq says he will not return to international Twenty20 despite finishing as the top scorer in the premier domestic T20 competition.  

Misbah scored 206 runs at a staggering average of 103 from five matches and led Faisalabad Wolves to victory in Sunday’s final against Sialkot Stallions. Misbah says he will lead his hometown Wolves in this year’s Champions League.

Misbah had been criticized by some for his slow batting in international matches, but said he now intends to stick with an attacking style.

“I will play aggressively in future, whether I meet success or not is a different story,” he said.

Misbah, who turns 39 next month, quit international Twenty20 last year after playing 39 matches and scoring 788 runs with a decent average of 37.52.

Mohammad Hafeez replaced Misbah as Pakistan’s T20 captain, but he was nowhere near to Misbah’s belligerent batting form in the domestic event at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Misbah’s 206 runs featured a dozen fours and as many sixes while Hafeez scored 145 runs from four matches with 20 boundaries and four sixes.

Hafeez’s Lahore Lions which also had star players like Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal was also knocked down by Misbah in the semifinal.

But despite proving all his critics wrong, Misbah said he was content with playing in ODIs and Test matches for Pakistan.

“I don’t want to make a comeback into (international) T20 and I am concentrating on the cricket which I am playing,” he said.

“I will continue to play for Faisalabad because Faisalabad is my identity.”

Signs of change in Misbah’s batting style first surfaced in the recent ODI series against South Africa which Pakistan lost 3-2.

“If you have seen the last (ODI) series and in this tournament you would have seen a total change in my approach of captaincy and batting,” he said.

“I have decided to play like this in the future too.”

Pakistan’s next international assignment will be the Champions Trophy in June for which the team will play two ODIs against Scotland in Edinburgh and against Ireland in Dublin next month.

Pakistan outplayed by South Africa in first ODI

LOEMFONTEIN: Pakistan were defeated by a big margin of 125 runs against South Africa in the first One-day International here at the Chevrolet Park on Sunday.

Chasing a huge target of 316, Pakistan batsmen could not resist against the South African bowlers and were all out for 190 in 36.2 overs.

Pakistan made a bright start with Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed putting on 42 for the first wicket off 43 balls before they suffered a double blow.

Jamshed was caught at slip by Graeme Smith off Rory Kleinveldt for 25 and Hafeez fell for the same score in unlucky fashion when a drive by Younis Khan was deflected by bowler Kleinveldt into the stumps for Hafeez to be run out.

Asad Shafiq fell cheaply and Pakistan were unable to build substantial partnerships with captain Misbah-ul-Haq top-scoring with 38.

Shahid Afridi hit 34 off 16 balls before he was last man out but his innings was never likely to alter the outcome. Afridi hit three sixes, including a massive strike which sailed out of the ground and into a car park.

Kleinveldt, whose first two balls were hit for four, came back strongly to finish with four for 22 in 5.2 overs, while Ryan McLaren took three for 19.

Earlier, Colin Ingram smashed an unbeaten century as South Africa piled up 315 for four after being sent in to bat.

The left-handed Ingram made 105 not out off 103 balls with ten fours. It was his third one-day international century and his second against Pakistan.

He shared partnerships of 120 for the third wicket with captain AB de Villiers (65), 62 for the fourth wicket with Faf du Plessis (26) and 50 off only 23 balls with Farhaan Behardien, who hammered 34 not out off 14 deliveries.

Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla set an aggressive tone with an opening partnership of 72 after South Africa were sent in, with both batsmen going for their shots against Junaid Khan and Umar Gul despite the Pakistan new ball bowlers getting some early assistance from the pitch.

The win gave South Africa a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The second match will be played in Centurion on Friday.

Hewitt ousts Isner at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California: Lleyton Hewitt, who won Indian Wells Masters titles in 2002 and 2003, rallied to topple 2012 finalist John Isner Saturday in the second round.

The Australian veteran saved all four break points he faced en route to a 6-7 (6/8) 6-3, 6-4 victory in two hours and 23 minutes.

The 32-year-old Aussie will face Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka for a place in the round of 16.

Hewitt, now ranked 98th in the world, won the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament in the build-up to the Australian Open in January, but he hadn't put together back-to-back wins on the ATP Tour this year.

He beat Czech Lukas Rosol in three sets in the first round, as Isner received a first-round bye.

The big-serving American peppered Hewitt with 18 aces, but was broken twice.

Isner fended off three match points in the final game before Hewitt closed it out with a forehand winner. (AFP)

South Africa amass 315-4 against Pakistan in first ODI

BLOEMFONTEIN: Colin Ingram smashed an unbeaten century as South Africa piled up 315 for four in the first one-day international against Pakistan here at the Chevrolet Park on Sunday.

The left-handed Ingram made 105 not out off 103 balls with ten fours. It was his third one-day international century and his second against Pakistan.

He shared partnerships of 120 for the third wicket with captain AB de Villiers (65), 62 for the fourth wicket with Faf du Plessis (26) and an unbeaten 50 off only 23 balls with Farhaan Behardien, who hammered 34 not out off 14 deliveries.

After Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and put South Africa into bat, the Proteas piled up a massive 315 runs for the loss of only four wickets in the 50 overs.

Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla set an aggressive tone with an opening partnership of 72 after South Africa were sent in, with both batsmen going for their shots against Junaid Khan and Umar Gul despite the Pakistan new ball bowlers getting some early assistance from the pitch.

The South Africans opted for the batting power play immediately after the compulsory first ten overs but lost Smith when he gloved an attempted reverse sweep to be caught behind off Saeed Ajmal, one of four spin bowlers in the six-man bowling attack, for 30.

Amla made 43 before he was caught at deep square leg off Mohammad Hafeez.

De Villiers and Ingram then set South Africa on the way to a big total with a run-a-ball stand during which they kept the score moving quickly against the Pakistan spin bowlers with deft placement and good running between wickets.

Umar Akmal benched by SNGPL after poor conduct .

KARACHI: President’s Trophy table-toppers SNGPL benched national team player Umar Akmal from their President’s Trophy seventh-round match against PIA in Lahore on disciplinary grounds yesterday.
The Express Tribune has learnt that Umar had snubbed the team management request to appear in their crucial fifth-round match against ZTBL, and instead opted to take part in the wedding preparations of his brother Adnan.
“Umar refused to play when SNGPL wanted him,” a member of the SNGPL team management told The Express Tribune. “He doesn’t own the team. He’ll only be given a chance if we need him. We want to send out a strong message that no individual is bigger than the team and indiscipline will not be tolerated.
“He hasn’t been doing well for the last few months and instead of working hard to get back in form, he’s overlooking his duties. He’s lucky to survive in the national side as it is and should be working hard.”

Following the decision, Umar left the ground and held a press conference stating that his family was his priority.
Adnan was also omitted from the playing-XI as Muhammad Rizwan’s good show forced the management not to tinker with the winning line-up.
Meanwhile, on the field, SNGPL laboured to 160 for four in 63.4 overs as play was called off early due to bad light. Ali Waqas was unbeaten on 68 after Anwar Ali had taken three wickets for PIA.
In another match, HBL clawed back against UBL after being bowled out for just 193, reducing the opponents to 58 for five at stumps, courtesy two wickets apiece from Ehsan Adil and Abdul Ameer in Rawalpindi. Humayun Farhat scored 79 for HBL as UBL’s Rumman Raees bagged a five-for.
SBP made 261 for eight against ZTBL with half-centuries from Gulraiz Sadaf (69) and Kashif Siddiq (53), as Sohail Tanvir bagged six wickets at the Diamond ground in Islamabad.
NBP were in trouble against Wapda after they were bowled out for 164. In reply, Wapda made 44 for no loss. In another match, KRL scored 266 for eight in 81.4 over against PQA.

Saeed Ajmal signs for Adelaide Strikers in BBL

KARACHI: Adelaide Strikers have signed Pakistan’s star spinner Saeed Ajmal for this year’s edition of Australia’s Big Bash Twenty20 league.

Ajmal, who is currently ranked as the number one bowler in T20 and ODI cricket, will play in the first match against Perth Scorchers in place of West Indies’ Kieron Pollard who is unavailable due to international commitments.

He could return for the Strikers later, depending on his availability. Ajmal said he was looking forward to playing in the BBL and hoped to give it his best shot.

“I am really excited about playing for the Adelaide Strikers and really happy that I will get the chance to show my talent in the BBL,” Ajmal said.

“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.”

Ajmal is the leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals, with 69 from 48 matches.

Ajmal’s inclusion in the squad was a great boost to the Strikers, their coach Darren Berry said.

“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,” Berry said.

Tim Ludeman and Cameron Boyce have also signed for the Strikers.

Pakistan’s Umar Akmal is also expected to play in the first three matches for reigning BBL champions Sydney Sixers after they recently signed him while Shahid Afridi plays for Sydney Thunder.

However, the Pakistani trio’s participation in the Big Bash will be interrupted by their country’s hotly-anticipated limited-overs tour to India.

Saeed Ajmal thrilled to play in Australian Big Bash

KARACHI: Wily off-spinner Saeed Ajmal said Wednesday he was thrilled at joining Adelaide Strikers for the Australian Big Bash Twenty20 league next month.

He is one of three Pakistani players who have signed to play in Australia’s Twenty20 event, along with flamboyant allrounder Shahid Afridi and dashing young batsman Umar Akmal.

Ajmal is the leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals, with 69 from 48 matches, seven ahead of Afridi, who is joining Sydney Thunder. He is also the world number on ODI bowler.

“I am really excited about playing for the Adelaide Strikers and really happy that I will get the chance to show my talent in the BBL (Big Bash League),” Ajmal said.


“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.”

But the Pakistani trio’s participation in the Big Bash will be interrupted by their country’s hotly-anticipated limited-overs tour to India – the arch-rivals’ first full series in five years.

Pakistan play two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals in India between December 25-January 6.

Ajmal will be available for the Strikers’ first match, against the Perth Scorchers on December 9, and is likely to return to play the remaining matches of the league after the India tour.

The 35-year-old’s foxy bowling guided Pakistan to the semi-final of the World Twenty20 held in Sri Lanka last month, where he snared nine wickets in six games.

Akmal will play for Sydney Sixers and is expected to be available for the side’s first three matches

Umar Akmal primed for Big Bash

Pakistani batsman Umar Akmal has signed up with the Sydney Sixers for the first half of this summer’s Australian Twenty20 Big Bash League (BBL), according to ESPNcricinfo.

Akmal, who is expected to add firepower to the middle order of the Champions League T20 winners, will feature in the first three matches of the BBL starting next month.

The batsman said he was looking forward to joining the Sixers for their second campaign.

“I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the Big Bash League when the Sixers approached me,’’ said the 22-year-old. “I’m looking forward to spending December in Australia and will be aiming to assist them to go back to back and win the tournament again.’’


Akmal becomes the second Pakistan international to join the BBL after teammate Shahid Afridi signed up with Sydney Thunder.

Sydney Sixers continued their recruitment spree to snap up top-order batsman Daniel Hughes, who was added to the NSW Blues rookie list this season. The exciting young player is considered a prospect of the future for NSW and is sure to boost the batting attack when David Warner becomes unavailable because of Australian Test selection.

The Sixers signed West Indian Sunil Narine as their first import but the spinner is expected miss the team’s opening clash with crosstown rivals Sydney Thunder at the SCG on December 8.

Tight security to be given to Pakistan team

The Centre on Monday assured foolproof security to the Pakistan team during its upcoming India tour to play limited over cricket series beginning December 25. "We will provide foolproof security to the Pakistan cricket team," union minister of state for home RPN Singh told
reporters in New Delhi.

His comments came in the wake of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray opposition to the Indo-Pak cricket series, saying his party won't allow Pakistan cricket team to play in India.

"The matches will happen as per schedule. Those opposing it should take the game as game only," Singh said.

Home ministry sources said the Central government will ensure three-tier security to the Pakistan cricket team during the matches and their practice in stadiums.

The series would comprise three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals between December 2012 and January 2013. The ODI matches will be played in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi and the Twenty20 games in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

The two countries have not played a bilateral series since Pakistan's tour of India in 2007. Cricket ties between the two countries were snapped following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his then Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani had watched the high-profile World Cup semi-final in Mohali last year.

Boom Boom Afridi Play FIrst Class

Shahid Afridi has made himself available to play first class cricket for 4-day domestic President Trophy in order to regain his form and match fitness for series against India in Dec 2012 - Jan 2013.

Shahid Afridi will be representing Habib Bank Limited's squad in place of Abdur Rehman who has been banned to play any competitive cricket citing the dope-ban against him..

He will be playing the matches from 17th of November.

Pakistan women begin Championship preparations

KARACHI: 
Pakistan women began preparations for the ninth Asian Swimming Championship that will start from November 15 in Dubai.
According to the Pakistan Swimming Federation (PSF) secretary Majid Waseem, the federation is sending four swimmers, including one male, Sikandar Khan, in the championship. The PSF pins their hopes on Liana Swann to make a mark for the country in five events.

“Our girls perform better in the short races at the national level, so they are our natural choice,” Waseem told The Express Tribune. “Our swimmers are preparing for the National Games currently and we expect them to be ready for the Asian Championship.”

Batting coach: ‘PCB to shortlist candidates soon’

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) committee will meet this week to shortlist candidates for the batting coach position, according to an official close to the committee’s proceedings.
The PCB had advertised for the vacancy last month and set November 4 as the deadline for prospective candidates to send in applications.
According to details, about two dozen candidates from various countries including local hopefuls have applied for the post.

“The committee will assemble this week to shortlist candidates,” said the official. “It will try to finalise a batting coach before the team’s training camp for the India tour gets underway.”
Legendary batsman Zaheer Abbas, who resigned from the committee to apply for the position, is the apparent leading candidate. Other national cricketers applying for the job are Salim Malik and Asif Mujtaba.
The official refused to divulge the exact number of candidates, but said around two dozen former cricketers and coaches including contenders from Australia, South Africa and England have applied.
Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones has also shown interest in taking the job but said he can only work as a part-time coach due to his busy schedule.
The criteria set down by the PCB for eligible candidates include a Level-3 coaching course certificate. They also need to have “working experience of five years in a similar cricketing role with elite cricketers”.
However, the official said the committee is ready to overlook a few shortcomings to pave way for a former Pakistan batting legend to become coach.
Former Test great including Hanif Mohammad and former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt have backed local candidates, tipping Abbas as the best man for the position.

Aisam, Rojer lose Paris Masters final

KARACHI: 
Pakistan ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his Dutch partner Jean-Julian Rojer were defeated by the Indian pairing of Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupatti 7-6, 6-3 in the doubles final of the Paris Masters yesterday.
The Indian duo only took an hour and 26 minutes to seal the match and win their second Masters title of the year.
Despite the defeat, Aisam expressed satisfaction and said that qualifying for the ATP World Tour was his main aim. Aisam will participate in the ATP World Tour for the second time in a row, which he believes is his biggest achievement of the year.
“Making it to the London Masters was my aim for the year and I have achieved it,” Aisam told The Express Tribune. “It’s my second year in the ATP London Masters. The top eight teams are competing and I have proved my worth. It was with Bopanna last year and this time around Rojer will get to play his first World Tour so I am excited for both of us.”

Aisam and Rojer will make their team debut as the sixth seeds in the tournament.
In the singles final, David Ferrer downed Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 6-3 to claim the title.
Murray eyes Tour Finals win to cap glorious year
Meanwhile, Andy Murray has set his sights on capping a glorious year by winning the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena.
Murray will return to play in front of a British audience for the first time since his US Open breakthrough and he is keen win one more title.
“There’s always pressure at all of the major tournaments you play but I feel a little bit more relaxed coming in this year than I have in previous years because I managed to win the US Open,” said Murray. “The only thing I can guarantee is that I’ll give 110 percent on the court and fight as hard as I can until the end of all the matches and see where that gets me. Against all the guys here you’re going to have to play a top-quality match to win.”
The tournament usually features the top eight players in the world rankings, although reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal is continuing his recovery from a knee injury, handing Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic a place in the draw.
Murray is in Group A along with Djokovic, Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and it is Berdych who will be Murray’s first opponent today.
Defending champion Federer, who will lose the number one ranking to Djokovic today, takes on Tipsarevic, Spain’s David Ferrer and former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in Group B. (WITH ADDITIONAL INFO FROM AFP)
Murray
“The only thing I can guarantee is that I’ll give 110 percent on the court, fight as hard as I can until the end of all the matches and see where that gets me.”
Aisam
“Making it to the London Masters was my aim for the year and I have achieved it. This is the first time I will play the tournament with Rojer, so I am excited for both of us.”

Notices issued to over 20 cricketers for tax evasion

ISLAMABAD, The income tax department has issued notices to over 20 cricketers who were found to have evaded taxes over the past two years. More than Rs100 million is expected to be recovered from them in back taxes.

This is the first time that notices have been issued to cricket celebrities who will be grilled about tax liabilities.

The investigation department has already compiled the tax profiles of 21 cricketers on the basis of information collected by the income tax intelligence directorate of the FBR.

A senior income tax official told Dawn on Friday that the Regional Tax Office (RTO), Lahore, had issued notices to Umer Akmal, Misbahul Haq, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razaq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Imran Farhat, Rana Naveedul Hassan, Saeed Ajmal, Taufiq Umar and Wahab Riaz.

In most cases, the cricketers have their tax deducted at source. They did not file tax returns and found legal ways to pay less by fitting themselves in the category of low tax liability.

According to the official, most of them paid tax at the rate of six per cent (minimum slab) which is a violation of the income tax ordinance. In accordance with their income they should have been in the higher tax slab.

The official said that an amount of Rs7.5 million was expected to be recovered from Umar Akmal alone.

RTO Karachi issued notices to Shahid Afridi, Younus Khan, Abdul Rahman, Asad Shafiq and Tanvir Ahmad; RTO Sialkot to former captain Shoaib Malik and RTO Peshawar to Umar Gul.

According to the official, RTO Rawalpindi has finalised notices to be served on Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanveer and Yassir Arafat.

And six cricketers — Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan, Wahab Riaz, Asad Shafiq, Tanvir Ahmed, Yassir Arafat and Kamran Akmal — do not figure on the tax roll at all.

Among the 15 prominent players on the tax roll, seven did not file tax returns in 2010 and 2011, although they might have earned huge amounts of money during that period from domestic and international cricket. They are: Imran Farhat, Saeed Ajmal, Taufiq Umer, Umer Akmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul and Sohail Tanveer.

Misbahul Haq, who was captain during the recent series against Australia, filed only an employer’s statement about his earnings in 2010, but nothing the following year. Muhammad Hafeez, who captained the T20 matches in the same series, did the same.

Senior cricketers Mohammad Younus Khan and Shoaib Akhtar have been found to have done the same.

Last but not least, none of the cricketers has filed wealth statement.

Under the income tax law, it is mandatory for a person paying more than Rs35,000 in income tax a year to file the wealth statement.

KARACHI: Pakistan Test and one-day captain Misbah-ul-Haq has backed an International Cricket Council (ICC) move to introduce day-night Tests but suggested initial trials with the coloured ball in first class cricket.

“It is a good move by the ICC but I think first day and night first class matches need to be held regularly as the coloured ball remains an issue,” Misbah told reporters.

On Monday the ICC said countries could now agree to play day-night matches.

Experiments have been conducted with pink, orange and yellow balls to decide which colour is best in both daylight and under floodlights.

A day for fast-bowlers at President’s Trophy

KARACHI: 
NBP made a recovery of sorts after PQA fast-bowler Tanvir Ahmed pegged them back with a seven-wicket haul in the first-innings, reaching 80 for two in pursuit of a 211-run target at the President’s Trophy.
It was a superb day for the bowlers as a total of 18 wickets fell on the second day of the match. Ahmed started the rout, helping dismiss the NBP side for a paltry 117 after they resumed the day at 100 for four to concede a crucial 33-run first-innings lead.
On the green-top pitch, PQA were then bowled out for 177 with Daniyal Ahsan top-scoring with a gutsy 45. Fast-bowler Umaid Asif bagged a five-for, while Imran Khan continued to impress as he claimed three wickets.

NBP then made a sound start to the chase and now need another 131 runs to win.
Meanwhile, selection committee member Azhar Khan, who witnessed the proceedings, said the batsmen needed to show their character on difficult pitches.
“Our batsmen need to understand that their runs on difficult pitches would create a strong impression,” Azhar told The Express Tribune. “But it’s that whenever there is seam and swing, most of our batsmen in first-class cricket look like novices. If they want to stake a claim in the national side, they must show determination in difficult conditions.”
Elsewhere, Wapda were close to an-innings win against UBL, who were struggling at 81 for eight in their second-innings and still trail by 119 runs at the Sports Stadium Sargodha.
Earlier, half centuries from Kaleem Ahmed (70), Amir Sajjad (54) and Sohaib Maqsood (52) helped Wapda to 321 all out in 100.1 overs.
Elsewhere, medium-pacer Fahad Masood took six wickets to give league-leaders HBL a narrow first-innings lead against PIA, despite Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed scoring fifties at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot.
Misbahul Haq completed his century and Samiullah Niazi claimed six wickets to put SNGPL in a strong position against ZTBL, while KRL were close to taking the lead in the first-innings against SBP before play was called off.

Whatmore denies wanting to get rid of Hafeez

KARACHI: Pakistan’s head coach Dav Whatmore Saturday strongly denied wanting Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez replaced, branding such reports as an attempt to demoralise the team before its tour of India.
Local media this week reported that Whatmore has suggested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should replace Hafeez, who took over as Twenty20 captain in May.
“I wish to clarify that I am currently not in Pakistan and have not given any interview or statement to any media. Neither have I submitted or discussed any such suggestion to the PCB,” Whatmore was quoted as saying in a PCB release.

Pakistan reached the semi-final of the World Twenty20 held in Sri Lanka last month but Hafeez’s captaincy was criticised by former players and the media, who blamed him for making arbitrary decisions.
Team-mate Abdul Razzaq also lashed out at Hafeez for dropping him from the semi-final line-up against Sri Lanka.
However, PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf this week confirmed Hafeez was being retained as Twenty20 captain for the series against India.
Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to World Cup victory in 1996, said such reports were aimed at demoralising the team.
“The news item is totally incorrect and based on wrong intentions. It is an attempt to demoralise the team when they are preparing for the all-important Indian tour,” said Whatmore.
Pakistan are due to tour India for two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals in December and January – the first bilateral series between the two countries in five years.
India stalled bilateral sporting relations with Pakistan following the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai, which left 166 people dead and were blamed on militants based across the border.
But after hectic efforts from Pakistan, India relented in July this year, inviting the arch-rivals to tour. New Delhi cleared the tour earlier this week.