LONDON: England have been left in no doubt about what will be required of them in the first Test against New Zealand starting at Lord’s today.

The world’s second-ranked team struggled on their recent tour of New Zealand where they were outplayed in the three-Test series, salvaging a 0-0 draw only by stubbornly batting out a gripping final day of the third match in Auckland. With the five-match Ashes series against Australia starting in July, captain Alastair Cook and his teammates know they must focus fully on beating New Zealand under the enterprising leadership of Brendon McCullum.

“They under-performed in New Zealand but you don’t just discard somebody because they have had a bad time as a unit,” said England chairman of selectors Geoff Miller. “You say right, not good enough, improve. That’s the message they have been given. New Zealand are a good side but we didn’t play to the capabilities shown in the past. That has got to be rectified.”

Wasim Akram inspires New  Zealand’s Boult

New Zealand’s Trent Boult hopes to succeed where cricket hero Wasim Akram failed by getting his name on the Lord’s honours board.

Pakistan great Akram was the pre-eminent left-arm fast bowler of his generation, and arguably the best of all-time.

Yet for all the occasions he was too hot to handle for England’s batsmen with his blend of reverse swing and pure pace, he never managed a five-wicket innings haul, or 10 wickets in a Test, that would have put his name on the Lord’s honours board.

“Idolising Wasim Akram, it has always been with me that I want to be a swing bowler,” said Boult. “That’s what started me off. It doesn’t get much better than him, in regards to world-class bowlers and left-arm bowlers around the world.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.

LONDON: Alex Ferguson bowed out in triumph following his last Old Trafford match as Manchester United manager only to leave successor David Moyes with the familiar problem of what to do with striker Wayne Rooney.

No sooner had the Premier League champions defeated Swansea 2-1 on Sunday to bring down the curtain on Ferguson’s final home match after more than 26 years in charge of United, than the veteran manager revealed England international Rooney had submitted a transfer request.

Ferguson, who retires at the end of the season, dropped Rooney for the Swansea match and said the forward had not been in the right frame of mind to play.

“I don’t think Rooney was keen to play because he’s asked for a transfer and he wants to think it through in his mind,” Ferguson told Sky Sports. “I think that’s a good idea.

“We’re not going to let him go. I think maybe he’s a little bit frustrated that he’s been taken off once or twice in the last few weeks.”

Rooney last asked to leave United in 2010, when he accused the club of failing to match his ambitions, only to change his mind and sign a new five-year contract.

Ferguson, perhaps conscious of the Rooney problem that will confront Moyes, thanked supporters and urged them to back his successor.

“You’ve been the most fantastic experience of my life,” he said, as fans in the crowd of 75,572 fell silent to listen to the man who revived United following his arrival from Aberdeen in November 1986.

“My retirement doesn’t mean the end of my life with the club. I’ll be able to enjoy watching them, rather
than suffer with them. Your job now is to stand by our new manager.”

Everton manager Moyes will take over as manager on July 1, having signed a six-year contract, with Ferguson taking up a role as a director and ambassador.

Wenger prepares Arsenal for Wigan game

For Arsenal, failure to defeat Wigan Athletic today would leave their hopes of a 16th season in the Champions League in severe jeopardy; for Wigan Athletic, anything other than a win would quickly sour the taste of a memorable FA Cup final shock.

As end-of-season fixtures go, the clash at the Emirates could hardly have more importance to the two sides involved.

“Both teams will go for it, it’s a huge game for both of us,” Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told reporters yesterday. “We are on a remarkable run and have been hugely consistent and our destiny is in our hands.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2013.

PML-N

Casting his vote at the Government Technology College Railway Road’s polling station in NA-119 and PP-142, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said he was sure of his party’s victory. He told reporters that if voted to power he would unite all the political forces and draft a strategy to “bring Pakistan on the road to prosperity.”

Former chief minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif cast his vote at the Model High School Model Town of NA-126. Emerging from the polling booth, he expressed the hope that his party would win a clear majority. Chaudhry Nisar, another prominent PML-N leader, cast his vote in his native town of Chakri.

PPP

Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf cast his vote in the home constituency NA-51 of Gujjar Khan. Yousaf Raza Gilani’s family, still protesting against the election commission’s code of conduct which they allege led to Ali Haider Gilani’s abduction, cast their votes in the Hamid pur Kanora’s polling station of NA-152.

The chairman of the party, Bilawal Bhutto Zadrari, however, seemed missing from action. When contacted the spokesperson of Bilawal House stated that they were not aware if he cast his vote. The co-chairman was to cast his vote through postal ballot. President Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto and Aseefa Bhutto cast their votes earlier through postal ballot.

Other luminaries

Vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Shah Mehmood Qureshi cast his vote in the NA-148 constituency of Multan. JUI-F’s Fazlur Rehman cast his ballot in the NA-25 of D I Khan.

Asfandyar Wali Khan and Ghulam Ahmed Bilour of Awami National Party (ANP) cast their votes in NA-7 and NA-1, respectively. Meanwhile, the head of BNP-M Sardar Akhtar Mengal cast his vote in his area polling station in Wadh High School.

One of the main contenders for NA-55, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed cast his vote at the Government Boys High School Zia-ul-Aloom, Raja Bazar. The Awami Muslim League leader praised the electoral body, saying it had made all the efforts for transparent and smooth conduct of elections.

Prominent Figures

The man behind the effort of holding one of the biggest polls in the nation’s history, CEC Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G Ebrahim cast his vote in Defense Karachi. He described elections as the `victory of democracy’ and urged every voter to play their part in the electoral exercise. “Our future is in democracy. Let every Pakistani cast their vote. If the good people will not cast their vote, bad people will win,” he said.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry cast his vote at Railway Accounts Academy polling station in Quetta. Speaking to reporters, he said that the conduct of elections is the proof that there is the rule of law in the country.

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani exercised his constitutional right to vote and cast his ballot in Rawalpindini for NA-54.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2013.

LONDON: Manchester United confirmed that David Moyes will succeed Alex Ferguson as manager of the club.

Moyes’s departure from Everton was announced earlier in the day and United subsequently revealed that he has been awarded a six-year contract at Old Trafford.

“When we discussed the candidates that we felt had the right attributes, we unanimously agreed on David Moyes,” said Ferguson in a statement, the day after he announced his decision to retire after 26 years in charge.

“David is a man of great integrity with a strong work ethic. I’ve admired his work for a long time and approached him as far back as 1998 to discuss the position of assistant manager here.

“He was a young man then at the start of his career and has since gone on to do a magnificent job at Everton. There is no question he has all the qualities we expect of a manager at this club.”

Moyes, 50, has been at Everton since 2002 and will take over from Ferguson on July 1.

“It’s a great honour to be asked to be the next manager of Manchester United,” he said in a statement released by his new employers.

“I am delighted that Sir Alex saw fit to recommend me for the job. I have great respect for everything he has done for the football club. I know how hard it will be to follow the best manager, but the opportunity to manage Manchester United isn’t something that comes around very often and I’m really looking forward to taking up the post next season.”

Ferguson set for emotional sendoff

Meanwhile, emotions will be running high at Old Trafford on Sunday for Alex Ferguson’s last home game as Manchester United manager with his retirement overshadowing the presentation of the Premier League trophy to the champions.

Ferguson will take his seat in the dugout for the final time with Swansea City the visitors for his home farewell.

Fans unable to get a ticket will be able to line the streets and toast the Scot on Monday evening when United embark on an open-top bus parade through the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2013.

SHEFFIELD: Ronnie O’Sullivan outclassed Barry Hawkins 18-12 on Monday to win his fifth World Snooker Championship and become only the third man to claim back-to-back titles at the Crucible Theatre.

The 37-year-old Englishman, returning to the sport after a year-long absence, showed no signs of rustiness over the two weeks of competition, culminating in a comfortable win over world number 14 Hawkins.

“I thought it was a brilliant final,” O’Sullivan told reporters after making a final-record six century breaks.

“Overall, the snooker was really good. In December/January, I’ll have a better idea of whether I will return to play here. I enjoyed my year out and I intend to play in some smaller events for the love of the game.

“I do appreciate what snooker has done for me and what it’s given me but it’s the build-up I struggle with. It’s hard to keep a lid on what I go through sometimes.

“At no stage did I feel relaxed in any match. You just don’t here. You have to face your demons and that’s why it’s such a hard tournament.”

Asked whether he would return to the Crucible next year, O’Sullivan replied: “I’ve had a great time and I enjoyed every moment.

“Everyone knows me…I am up and down. I didn’t know what to expect.

“I realised after a year out that I didn’t really miss snooker — I just missed having something to do, so if I can balance it with other things, then that’s the way forward for me.”

O’Sullivan, 10-7 up overnight, watched his opponent win the opening frame of the day.

Breaks of 76 and 55 lifted O’Sullivan to a four-frame lead at 12-8, but the gritty Hawkins produced a break of 90 to take the following frame before O’Sullivan responded with a 133.

Hawkins reduced the deficit to four frames at 14-10 before O’Sullivan produced a clearance of 124.

The unfancied Hawkins compiled a century of his own with a 127 and then made it 15-12 with a break of 66.

Hawkins threatened to move to within two frames of O’Sullivan in frame 28 before a missed red on the cushion proved costly and O’Sullivan punished the error with a break of 77 to lead 16-12.

A run of 88 enabled O’Sullivan to claim the following frame and he clinched the title with a fine break of 86.

Hawkins lauds world champion

The 34-year-old Hawkins, who has won only one ranking tournament in his career, paid tribute to his fellow countryman O’Sullivan.

“There’s no shame in losing 18-12 to him because he’s got to go down as the greatest ever player,” said Hawkins. “He’s a phenomenal talent.

“The way he makes it look so easy is frightening. He’s unbelievable. I think I played well but I just made a few mistakes.”

Hawkins believes O’Sullivan could go on to beat Stephen Hendry’s record of seven world titles.

“If he wants it, I’m sure he could do it if he carries on playing like that. I’d like to see him stay because the game is better with him in it.”

Six-time world champion Steve Davis became the first man to win back-to-back titles at the Crucible in 1983 and 1984, before Hendry won five in a row in the early 1990s.

Hendry holds the record of seven world titles since the tournament moved to its permanent base at the Crucible in 1977.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2013.

MADRID: Roger Federer showed little sign of rustiness on his return to action after a two-month break as he cruised past Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-3 to progress into the third round of the Madrid Open.

The world number two had suffered from a back injury in his last outing at Indian Wells at the beginning of March, but he looked comfortable on his first appearance on the clay in 2013 against the world number 48.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner got off to the perfect start as he broke in the third game before holding serve to take the first set 6-3.

And Federer broke Stepanek again early in the second set to move ahead 3-1 before breaking once more to serve for the match at 5-2.

However, he was then broken himself for the first time in the match as Stepanek finally took a break point opportunity at the eighth time of asking. That only delayed the inevitable though as Federer broke again in the very next game to seal the win.

Next up the three-time champion in Madrid will face either 14th seed Kei Nishikori or Victor Troicki tomorrow.

Serena makes serene progress

In the women’s event, world number one and defending champion Serena Williams continued her serene progress when she eased past Spanish wild card Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2 7-5 in the second round yesterday.

Chasing a fourth title of the year and the 50th of her career, Williams had too much power for the slightly-built Dominguez Lino, who nonetheless managed to unsettle her illustrious opponent with some clever drop shots and lobs.

Williams, 31, said she had enjoyed the test and the experience would stand her in good stead the next time she came up against a player like the 47th-ranked Spaniard, who likes to mix up her shots.

“I made a lot of errors, but her game kind of forces you to make errors,” the American told a news conference. “It was a really good clay-court tennis match for me.

“Seeing as I have a few more tournaments on clay, it was perfect to play a match like this, so I know if I face another opponent like that I’ll have that experience and I’ll know how to play.”

A 15-times grand slam singles champion, Williams will play unseeded Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic or 13th-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko for a place in the quarter-finals.

Russian second seed Maria Sharapova was due to play her second-round match against American qualifier later at night.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: Sanaullah Haq, a Pakistani prisoner, who was hit with a sharp weapon in a Jammu jail on Friday, has been declared ‘brain dead’ by the Indian doctors, the foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.

“The wounded prisoner remains in critical condition. He is brain dead but vitals are functioning with the help of medication,” the Foreign Office spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry told The Express Tribune.

Chaudhry said officials from Pakistan High Commission visited Sanaullah Ranjay in Chandigarh hospital for the second time on Sunday and were informed by doctors that chances of his survival are “very slim.”

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir also plans to travel to Chandigarh to inquire about the health of Sanaullah.

“Our High Commissioner will visit Chandigarh once the Indian authorities give him formal permission.”

Sanaullah, a resident of Sialkot, was attacked by a former Indian soldier convicted for murder in Jammu’s Kot Bhalwal jail. Pakistan is exploring the possibilities of taking Sanaullah’s family members – two 15 and 18-year-old sons – to India and evacuating him back for better medical treatment.

A foreign office official said that the sons cannot travel to India because they still don’t have national identity cards made.

“His (Sanaullah) brother-in-law will now go to India,” the official added.

The ministry spokesperson also confirmed to The Express Tribune that Pakistan has demanded release of 47 Pakistani prisoners in India who have already completed their prison terms. The Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India has written a letter to Indian foreign secretary in this regard, he added.

The letter also demands Indian government to take appropriate steps for the security of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.

Amnesty International also issued a formal statement demanding both India and Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure security of prisoners, reported Times of India.

“Both Indian and Pakistani authorities must take prompt and concrete steps to ensure that prisoners do not face any further attacks,” said director of Amnesty International India, Shashikumar Velath.

Security beefed up in prisons

Security in and around all cells of foreign convicts especially Indian civil convicts has been doubled across the jails of Punjab province of Pakistan.

Inspector General of Prisons Punjab Mian Farooq Nazeer in an interview with APP on Sunday said that on the special directive of the caretaker chief minister of the province, foolproof security arrangements have been put in place in all 32 jails with the deployment of special contingents equipped with sophisticated weapons.

All superintendents of jails have also been directed to submit a security inspection report daily to DIG and IG of the prison. Similarly, fearing backlash following death of Sarabjit Singh, Pakistani prisoners in the jails of Indian state of Punjab have been segregated from other prisoners, the Press Trust of India reported on Sunday.

All superintendents of the central jails of the state have been ordered to shift the 57 Pakistani inmates, including two women, to side barracks and not to allow any interaction with Indian prisoners. Also Pakistani prisoners will not be permitted to leave their barracks till further notice.

The jail officials have also been directed to check the food provided to Pakistani inmates and to supply it in person.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2013.

ZURICH: Saudi Arabia’s Hafez Ibrahim al Medlej made a late withdrawal from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presidential election yesterday, leaving three candidates in the running.

No reason was given for the pullout in an AFC statement issued late yesterday, less than 24 hours before today’s vote, but Medlej had earlier announced his intention to withdraw to avoid diluting the Arab vote.

On the other hand, Fifa have warned the Qatar Football Association to steer clear of Mohamed bin Hammam after Kuwait objected to the banned former AFC chief’s possible interference in the AFC’s presidential elections today.

Kuwait Football Association official Husain al Musallam drew Fifa’s attention to the presence of Bin Hammam’s associates at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the election for a new leader at the 47-member confederation.

Fifa deputy secretary general Markus Kattner said Bin Hammam’s direct or indirect involvement in the election would be a breach of the life-ban Fifa had slapped on the Qatari for corruption and bribery.

“We would like to turn your attention to the fact that this lifetime ban from all football related activity imposed on Mr Bin Hammam,” said Kattner in a letter to Qatar Football Association general secretary Saoud Al Mohannadi. “This specifically prohibits any member or employee of the football family (example member associations, officials and so on) to contact or meet with Bin Hammam regarding any football related issues.

“In the event Bin Hammam should visit, attend or meet various AFC members or AFC member associations in order to support specific candidates around the upcoming AFC elections, this would cause a clear and serious breach of the sanction imposed on Bin Hammam.

“Anyone who fails to comply with a decision passed by a body, a committee or an instance of Fifa, may be sanctioned,” the official warned, citing the Fifa disciplinary code.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2013.

STUTTGART: World number two Maria Sharapova saved her best performance of the week for last when she successfully defended her Stuttgart Grand Prix title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over second-seed Li Na of China to kick off her claycourt season in style yesterday.

Sharapova, who needed three sets in all her previous rounds in Stuttgart, found it easier against Li, taking revenge for her Australian Open straight-sets semi-final defeat to the Chinese.

“I thought I would play three sets,” said Sharapova before stepping into a luxury sports car, a gift from the tournament sponsors. “Li is a great opponent. I knew it would be one of the toughest matches because she had a great week.

“I was very fortunate to be in this position. Our head-to-head is pretty tight. She beat me in Australia and she beat me pretty well so I wanted revenge.”

The top seed, her loud grunts echoing around the stadium, snatched a break at the start, with a sizzling backhand down the line that left Li stranded.

The Australian Open finalist bounced back in the next game and grabbed her own first break when Sharapova sent a forehand long after a long rally.

Sharapova was in no mood for adventures, however, and quickly established a double break cushion.

The pair traded blows until Sharapova earned another break point and went 4-3 up.

With a superb first-serve figure throughout the game, she kept her opponent pinned to the back and earned her second title of the year.

Nadal wins record eighth title in Barcelona

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal extended his record number of Barcelona titles to eight as he brushed off a slow start to beat Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-3.

Last weekend’s Monte Carlo runner-up regained his accustomed position on an ATP winner’s podium with his fourth title of 2013 and his third on clay for the year. The Spaniard won his 39th clay title and 54th overall.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2013.

STUTTGART: French Open champion Maria Sharapova admitted she had dug deep to reach the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart’s WTA tournament after her three-hour marathon victory over claycourt specialist Lucie Safarova.

Sharapova, who won last year’s Stuttgart title en route to her Roland Garros victory, needed three hours, nine minutes to squeeze past her Czech opponent for a 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3 second-round victory.

“I’ve had a few three-hour games in my career, so I knew I just had to keep fighting until the end,” said the Russian. “That’s when it’s the time to get the game-plan going and calm down a little bit.

“Clay is one of her favourite surfaces and I knew this was going to be a tough game, so I am glad to get through. The first match of the claycourt season is always tough, it’s nothing like practising.”

Meanwhile, second-seed China’s Li Na has admitted she has one eye on a brand new sports car, the winner’s prize here, as she prepares to face Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals.

Li breezed through her second-round match in 74 minutes to see off Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-1, 6-2 in straight sets in her first match of the claycourt season.

Kvitova made the last-eight after beating Germany’s Julia Goerges 2-6, 7-6(7/4), 6-2 in her second-round match.

“I have a lot of room in my garage for a new car and it’s a pretty nice one,” joked Li, with a brand-new Porsche parked at the side of the court, ready for the winner of tomorrow’s final to drive away.

“It’s always tough when you change surface, so I’m excited to win my first match on clay for the season.”

Nadal ousts Paire in Barcelona

Elsewhere, Rafael Nadal overcame another hurdle on his way to a possible eighth Barcelona Open title in nine years when he recovered from a poor start to beat Benoit Paire 7-6 6-2 in their delayed third-round match yesterday.

Nadal had been set to meet the 13th-seeded Frenchman on Thursday before rain washed out the day’s play.

“It wasn’t brilliant but getting the victory was the most important thing,” said Nadal. “It’s going to be a tough tournament. We are taking things step by step.”

Meanwhile, top seed and world number four David Ferrer, another Spaniard whom Nadal beat in the final in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, lost to Russian qualifier Dmitry Tursunov in the second round.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2013.