The lecture was to give the national side motivation ahead of the crunch match. Akram was part of the 1992 World Cup winning squad and also the captain when Pakistan lost the 1999 World Cup final to Australia at Lord’s.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, who is in Sri Lanka for the World Twenty20, was extremely grateful to Akram for taking time out for the players and hoped that the team would benefit from the advice.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2012.

Australia has previously won the title in 1988, 2002 and 2010, and if they manage to beat India, they will become the second side to win back-to-back titles after Pakistan.

India captain Unmukt Chand, however, is looking to record his name as a winning captain after Mohammad Kaif and Virat Kohli took the trophy home in 2000 and 2008, respectively.

“We are now well-adjusted to the playing conditions here in Townsville,” said Chand. “I am confident my team will perform well when we’ll meet Australia in the final.”

Australia will start the final today as firm favourites, having not lost a single match at the mega event so far. After overcoming England, Nepal and Ireland in the group matches, they defeated Bangladesh in the quarter-finals before getting the better of South Africa in the semi-final. Their form throughout the tournament has made them favourites for the prestigious title.

India, meanwhile, lost its first match to the West Indies but regained its form by ousting Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea and went on to beat Pakistan in a nerve-wrecking quarter-final by one wicket. They sealed their spot in the final courtesy a nine-run win over New Zealand in the semi-final.

South Africa beat NZ to claim third spot

Meanwhile, South Africa claimed third position in the event after easily cruising past New Zealand by eight wickets.  Jan Frylinck set the tone of the match by taking two wickets off two balls in the second over as New Zealand were routed for just 90 after opting to bat. South Africa then cruised home in less than 15 overs, losing just two wickets in the process.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2012.

TOWNSVILLE: After all the hype around the Pakistan team at the ICC U19 World Cup, and a start that saw them defeat Australia in a warm-up series before three wins on the trot, their campaign ended with a disappointing five-wicket loss to Bangladesh to finish eighth in the 16-team event.

Tail-enders Mohammad Nawaz (82) and Shahid Ilyas (44) helped Pakistan reach a 235-run total before a superb hundred by Bangladesh captain Anamul Haque helped them clinch seventh place. Pakistan’s worst show in the tournament, which saw them lose three successive matches, raised many questions. Coach Sabih Azhar blamed the quarter-final loss to India for the dismal campaign.

“That match disturbed our winning momentum,” Azhar told reporters in Townsville, Australia. “But I’m satisfied since we’ve been able to identify four to five very talented players in our line-up. The result at this event should not judge the team’s potential. A few bad sessions have cost us dearly but we’ll learn from our mistakes.

“These boys have the talent to bounce back.”

The team, which leaves for Pakistan today, remained unbeaten in the group phase of the tournament, beating New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scotland. However, a quarter-final loss to the archrivals and defeats to West Indies and Bangladesh turned the campaign around for the U19 side. Meanwhile, the team management was also unimpressed with the tournament’s format. The officials, in their report, have expressed a desire to have a single-league system before the semi-finals and final.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2012.

TOWNSVILLE: Former captain Wasim Akram has declared Pakistan favourites to clinch the World Twenty20 that begins in Sri Lanka from September.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ICC U19 World Cup in Australia, Wasim said the Pakistan side possessed the talent to win the tournament, pointing out players like opening batsman Imran Nazir and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq as match-winners.

“Pakistan are favourites,” said Wasim. “Players like Imran and Razzaq have the ability to turn a match on its head and there’s no reason why Pakistan can’t do well. They also have a very good chance against Australia in the upcoming series in the UAE.”

However, the former left-arm fast-bowler also advised the team’s batsmen to adopt a more ‘risk-taking approach’ after witnessing their show during the Sri Lanka series.

“At times, I thought I was watching a Test match. They need to maintain a strike-rate of over 130 and a boundary should be followed by singles to keep the scoreboard moving. Their approach needs to become more adventurous if they want more success in the format.”

The former all-rounder, while ruling out a long-term role with the national team, said he will hold a camp for fast-bowlers in November, adding that he will also consult under-19 and Pakistan ‘A’ team players.

Wasim also praised Junaid Khan, who impressed followers with his performance in the Test series against Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the swing king added that the Pakistan Cricket Board’s requirement of hiring a ‘qualified’ coach for the national team was the wrong approach.

“Former players like Javed Miandad who have played over 100 Tests don’t need courses or certificates. These people can be hired for the team as they have been in the past.”

Sri Lanka pick rookie spinner

Hosts Sri Lanka included rank newcomer Akhila Dhananjaya in a 15-man squad for next month’s World Twenty20, while recalling unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis.

Dhananjaya, a 19-year-old off-spinner who has yet to play first-class cricket, was selected after taking taking seven wickets in four matches of the ongoing Sri Lanka Premier League Twenty20 competition.

Mendis, 27, last played for Sri Lanka in South Africa in January, having been sidelined with a back injury for home matches against England, Pakistan and India this year.

Mendis, who bowls leg-spin with a unique finger-flicking action, has taken 40 wickets in 21 Twenty20 internationals.

Batsman Dilshan Munaweera and Dhananjaya are the two uncapped players in the squad.

Veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara and seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who were injured during last month’s limited-overs series against India, were included subject to passing fitness tests, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Darren Bravo, Russell boost Windies

Meanwhile, Darren Bravo and Andre Russell, who both missed the Twenty20 series win over New Zealand in Florida, were included in the West Indies squad.

Bravo had to head back to the West Indies from the tour of England after suffering a groin injury and missed the home series against New Zealand. Russell missed the two T20 games against the Black Caps Zealand in Florida due to an injury he had picked up in England, but played the One-Day International series in the Caribbean which followed.

(with additional input from AFP)

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2012.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s proposed tour of India later this year will comprise three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20s from December 24 to January 5, according to the scheduled sent to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by its Indian counterparts.

The tour will start with the two Twenty20s followed by the ODIs. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has proposed matches in New Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Chennai with Mumbai not chosen as venue with fear of a backlash because of the 2008 attacks. According to the PCB officials, the board, after consultation with Misbahul Haq and Mohammad Hafeez, will send a reply to the BCCI shortly.

The official also confirmed that the PCB will send its delegation to India ahead of the tour to assess the security situation as well as the arrangements at the venues.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2012.

The players reached the city after a tough five-hour journey because of which their practice was called off only after a swimming session. Team manager Naveed Akram Cheema added that they were satisfied with the security arrangements in Sri Lanka.

“The hosts have taken strict measures to ensure security of the team,” Cheema told The Express Tribune. “A floor has been reserved for us where no irrelevant person will be allowed to visit. We have also asked all players to remain cautious throughout the tour.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2012.

All three categories stand to earn an increment of 25%, as learnt by The Express Tribune, with the match-fees for all three formats making a 10% jump.

A Category A player for example, will now make Rs313,000 per month and also earn Rs385,000 for each Test appearance, Rs330,000 for taking part in a One-Day International and pocketing Rs275,000 for a Twenty20. The same category saw the player earn Rs350,000 for a Test, Rs 300,000 for a ODI and Rs250,000 last year.

A Category B player will now earn Rs218,000 per month (previously Rs175,000). A Test appearance will fetch him Rs330,000 (previously Rs300,000), an ODI Rs275,000 (previously Rs250,000) and a Twenty20 appearance will now be worth Rs220,000 (previously Rs200,000).

Similarly, in Category C, a player will make Rs130,000 per month (previously Rs100,000). The same player will earn Rs275,000 for a Test (previously Rs250,000), Rs220,000 for an ODI (previously Rs200,000) and Rs165,000 for a Twenty20 (Rs150,000).

In addition, a squad member not featuring in the playing-eleven, will receive 100% of his match fees. Previously the player was entitled to 50% of the match fees.

The increase has come as a welcome relief for the players who have put on an impressive show. Pakistan remained unbeaten in Test and ODI series last year. The start of 2012 also saw the team inflict a 3-0 whitewash on England in the Test series before Pakistan clinched the Asia Cup for the second time.

Clause on participation in international events

Meanwhile, the PCB has also decided to involve itself in players’ participation in foreign events like the Bangladesh Premier League and local championships that are not organised by the board itself.

The players will have to seek permission from the board before making themselves available and their participation is conditioned on the PCB’s permission.

UAE front-runner for Pak-Aus series

The UAE is likely to host Pakistan once again, now for the limited-overs series against Australia in the third week of August, according to Pakistan Cricket Board Director International Cricket Intikhab Alam.

Pakistan had ruled out playing the series – that includes One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20s – in the UAE due to hot conditions and had instead focused on Sri Lanka. However, a refusal from Sri Lanka Cricket was followed by an offer from the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). Alam said that UAE is ‘almost certain’ to act as the hosts where the team may scrap the ODIs and play a seven-match Twenty20 series instead. Malaysia, meanwhile, is also being considered to host the series.

“Australia is an expensive option,” Alam told The Express Tribune. “They suggested Darwin but that is going to prove very costly. We’re considering the ECB’s suggestion to delay the series until after Ramazan so that the conditions get better. We’ll also ask the ICC if we can only feature in seven Twenty20s and not play the ODIs.

“We’ll schedule it in such a way that the team can fly to Sri Lanka directly for the World Twenty20.” The seven-match Twenty20 series will mark good preparations for the mega event that starts in Sri Lanka in September.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2012.

KARACHI: While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is looking for venues to host Australia for a limited-overs series, Cricket Australia (CA) has offered to play in the northern areas of the country.

A CA official confirmed that Australia wanted to play the series in Sri Lanka as well which would have given both teams practice ahead of the mega event. However, with Sri Lanka Cricket’s refusal to host it, Australia is keen to play the series at home, in areas where the weather will be acceptable.

“Pakistan is still the host and we’re relying on it to find us a venue,” CA Public Affairs GM Petery Young told The Express Tribune. “We realise that hosting the series in Australia may be a bit expensive but if the PCB doesn’t find any other venue, we can schedule it to take place here.”

Young, meanwhile, ruled out Australia touring Pakistan given the security situation in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2012.

The development comes after the BCCI gave a positive response to Pakistan’s participation in the Champions League Twenty20 — after the country’s team was the only major Test-playing nation to not have  teams in either the qualifiers or the main round of the event since it started in 2009.

Ashraf, who is currently in London, will travel to Chennai on a two-day visit.  “This is a good gesture,” Ashraf told The Express Tribune. “I will also bring up the bilateral series issue and hopefully we can resume matches between the two teams soon.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2012.

KARACHI: Newly appointed Pakistan hockey captain Sohail Abbas has made realistic plans.

The penalty-corner specialist, who will lead the Greenshirts for the first time in the upcoming Azlan Shah Cup that starts in Malaysia on May 24, has said that an instant impact and immediate results should not be expected from the team.

While acknowledging that it will be an honour to lead the team and vowing improvement ahead of the London Olympics, Abbas added that it will take time for the group of players to gel together.

“Our team comprises a lot of youngsters and we haven’t had many opportunities to play together,” Abbas told The Express Tribune. “The coach and the team management are new as well. Under these circumstances, it won’t be possible to deliver immediate results. However, we will try to get our combination right for the Olympics.”

Abbas added that the seven-nation Azlan Shah Cup will be a challenge for his side given the competitive nature of the participating teams.

“All teams are good. Argentina are favourites and we’ll play our first match against them. So we will be looking for a good start as that always helps.”

The world’s leading goal-scorer added that Pakistan, who will play on the blue Astroturf for the first time, will have to adapt to the new conditions quickly.

“New Zealand and Malaysia have shown improvements, while India have always been our traditional rivals. All these teams have experience of playing on the blue Astroturf and we haven’t even seen it yet. Fortunately, the Azlan Shah Cup will be played on blue turf and that will give the team a chance to get accustomed to it before the Olympics.

“I read in media reports that players found it difficult to play on the blue turf in England and the chances of getting injured have increased. We will only get to know the realities once we play on it.”

Meanwhile, Abbas added that he was fit for the tournament and is also helping the younger players in the team in perfecting their penalty-corner skills.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2012.