Saeed Ajmal was confident of doing well for his domestic side, Faisalabad Wolves, and hoped that the India pitches would work to his advantage in the Champions League T20 later this year. PHOTO: AFP
Doubts surrounding Pakistan’s participation in this year’s Champions League T20 were dismissed after the Indian organisers confirmed that the country’s domestic champions would feature in the qualifiers of the tournament.
Organisers named Faisalabad Wolves among the teams that will take part in the qualifiers for the event that will be played in India from October 6 to October 17.
Faisalabad, which won the Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup recently under Pakistan Test and ODI captain Misbahul Haq, will go through a qualifying phase that will also feature the fourth-ranked team at the Indian Premier League, Otago Volts (New Zealand) and a Sri Lanka qualifier.
The top two teams will then complete the 10 team line-up in the main tournament. The outfits have been divided into two groups with top two teams progressing to the semi-finals.
Due to strained relations between the governments, the Champions League T20, run by the Indian board, ignored domestic sides from Pakistan in its first few years.
However, Sialkot Stallions became the first side from the country to feature in the lucrative tournament last year when it got a slot in the qualifying tournament.
‘We will give our best at the event’
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, a member of the Faisalabad Wolves team, expressed delight on the confirmation.
“I am excited at the development,” Ajmal told The Express Tribune. “I enjoy playing in India and we are looking forward to a good run on our debut. Faisalabad Wolves will give their best to make a mark in the event. The conditions in India will also suit us as we have a good number of spinners.”
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official termed the development crucial as well.
“Definitely, many people doubted it due to fragile relations,” said a PCB official. “While we were hopeful that the organisers will continue the trend that started last year, this confirmation still holds a lot of importance. It shows the PCB’s diplomatic ties with other boards are intact. We’re looking forward to sending our team to India.”
Flower in contention for coaching role
Former Zimbabwe player Grant Flower’s named emerged as one of the leading contenders to become a batting coach for the Pakistan team.
Flower, who played 67 Tests and 221 ODIs, is currently serving in a similar role with the Zimbabwe team. The 42-year old’s contract with Zimbabwe Cricket will expire this August.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB confirmed the Zimbabwean as one of the candidates.
The PCB’s coach hunt committee, led by the board’s director Intikhab Alam, began the search last year.
Several former Pakistan players including batting great Zaheer Abbas also showed interest in the job.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2013.
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