Love, donkeys and Pakistani cricket

Following the accusations of suspected match-fixing hurled at Pakistan’s cricket team, a plethora of explanatory theories have been put forth. Some, like the Pakistan Team Manager Yawar Saeed, discount the view that the cricket team is ‘institutionally corrupt’ whilst the more diehard of enthusiasts have instantly suggested that it is merely an Indian-manufactured conspiracy. Furthermore, some – who have been disillusioned by the team’s objectionable conduct – have resorted to leading a procession of donkeys through the streets of Lahore and pelting them with shoes. Of course, there are some, like Veena Malik (Mohammad Asif’s ex-girlfriend) who have capitalized on this opportunity just to unleash a personal vendetta.

Unfortunately, the core issue – of the team’s fraudulence – cannot be rectified by tossing rotten tomatoes at innocent donkeys. There must be a more instructive response to this debacle which, in this context, can only be reaped through the ICC Cricket Code of Conduct. This essentially outlines a set of regulations that govern the conduct of ‘professional players in the sport of cricket’ and indicates that the players may be eligible to the following punitive actions in the event of match-fixing:

a)     Fined a percentage of their salary

b)    Banned from a number of matches or

c)     Banned for a number of years or for life.

Govt seeks to be part of investigation

ISLAMABAD: The spot-fixing scandal allegedly involving Pakistan’s cricketers continued to create waves on Monday, with the government scrambling to get involved in the matter. With a three-member team from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) preparing to fly out to London, Pakistan has officially asked Scotland Yard to allow it to be part of the investigations into the scandal.

“Scotland Yard has been requested to make Pakistan a part of the investigation process,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told The Express Tribune.

The request has been made through the Pakistan High Commission in London, the spokesman said. “We are  waiting for their (Scotland Yard) response,” he added.

The government had already announced that it would send a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team to London to examine the allegations that some Pakistani cricketers were involved in spot-fixing. The team, which will be headed by by FIA director Altaf Hussain, who will be accompanied by Inam Ghani and Inspector Tahir, have applied for UK visas, and will proceed to London as soon as their documents come through.

Officials said the FIA team will study claims that Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif deliberately bowled no-balls during the final Test against England at Lord’s.

Late Sittings at Office

PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing…
And who’s at work? Most of them ??? Take a closer look…

All or most specimens are ??
Something male species of the human race…

Look closer…. again all or most of them are bachelors…

And why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!!
Any guesses???
Let’s ask one of them…
Here’s what he says… ‘What’s there 2 do after going home…Here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee that is why I am working late…Importantly no bossssssss!! !!!!!!!!! ‘

This is the scene in most research centers and software companies and other off-shore offices.

Bachelors ‘Time-passing’ during late hours in the office just bcoz they say they’ve nothing else to do… Now what r the consequences. ..

‘Working’ (for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture.

With bosses more than eager to provide support to those ‘working’ late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers and of course good feedback, (oh, he’s a hard worker… goes home only to change..!!). They aren’t helping things too…

To hell with bosses who don’t understand the difference between ‘sitting’ late and ‘working’ late!!!

Very soon, the boss start expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.

So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when u get married and start having a family… office is no longer a priority, family is… and
That’s when the problem starts… b’coz u start having commitments at home too.

A breath of stale air at The Oval

With Pakistan desperate to record their first Test win over England since November 2005 – having lost five of the six Tests played since – the return of Mohammad Yousuf has been seen as a vital ingredient to set the record straight.

The inclusion of youngsters at number three and four for the first three Tests of the tour was widely seen by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a fresh start for Pakistan cricket. However, following a spate of low scores and continuous humiliation, the board was forced to call back the retired Yousuf to bolster the fragile batting line-up that has been severely tested in bowling-friendly conditions.

While the conditions have proved a nightmare for the batsmen, Pakistan bowlers, though, have proved their worth on the tour.

“The conditions have been overcast throughout,” said captain Salman Butt on the eve of the match. “The bowlers know how to utilise them so that has been the difficult part for the batsmen. But we can’t use it as an excuse and it has been four Test matches so far and we should come up with something better this time.”

Kamran returns as well

Injuries, too, have forced Pakistan to revamp their squad with the latest casualty being backup wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider who aggravated his finger injury in his debut match at Edgbaston. Unfortunately for Pakistan, it will be the second time this year that regular wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal returns to the playing eleven after being omitted for just one match after horrors behind the stumps.

Broad’s throw aggravated finger injury: Zulqarnain

LAHORE: Pakistan’s injured wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider has blamed England’s Stuart Broad for aggravating his finger injury that has ended his tour of England that still has two Tests, two Twenty20s and five One-Day Internationals remaining.

Haider, who top-scored for Pakistan in the second innings at Edgbaston, had the ball thrown at him by Broad after his follow-through that, as the batsman took evasive action, hit Haider’s hand. A subsequent x-ray showed a hairline fracture that ruled Haider out of the third Test starting tomorrow at The Oval and out of the remainder of the tour as well after just one appearance.

“Broad’s throw hit my right hand quite hard and that aggravated the injury that I had on my little finger,” Haider told The Express Tribune. “If you look at replays, it clearly shows that his throw hit my right hand before hitting my shoulder.”

Broad was fined 50 per cent of his match fee by the match referee Ranjan Madugalle for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct after he pleaded guilty but the fast-bowler, according to former Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar, often got away with his on-field antics due to his father Chris Broad, another match referee.

The fast-bowler was also involved in a ball-tampering row in a Test against South Africa where television cameras clearly showed the bowler stopping the ball with his spikes.

While there was no official complaint by the South African authorities, the referee’s failure to take action against England’s fast-bowler after the incident had also irked Gavaskar as well as former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan.

Haider was due to consult a specialist in London today after which the full extent of his injury was to be ascertained. He replaced the under-performing Kamran Akmal in the playing eleven for the Edgbaston Test that Pakistan lost by nine wickets.

While Haider’s form remained indifferent behind the stumps, his half-century in the second innings saved Pakistan from an innings defeat.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2010.

Zulqarnain hopes to emulate Edgbaston feat

Following a debut with mixed fortunes, Pakistan’s wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider remains determined to keep his place in the side for a long period.

Haider, who was picked in place of the under-performing Kamran Akmal scored a face-saving 88 in the second innings at Edgbaston that allowed Pakistan to avoid an innings defeat. However, his golden duck in the first innings as well as dropped catches – the reason why Akmal lost his place in the side – remained a worry for the team as they battle hard to build back from crushing back-to-back defeats.

“It was a do-or-die situation for me, going into the second innings,” Haider told The Express Tribune. “But my promise to myself and my faith in God helped me build my confidence and allowed me to score that half-century. There was a lot of pressure, considering the situation that we were in but I was used to the English conditions and that helped me a lot.

“I didn’t think of this as my first and last chance and that, too, helped with my confidence.”

While none of the Pakistani batsmen showed ability to stay in the middle for long, Haider faced 200 deliveries in his patient knock that will give the Pakistan management a lot of hope given the long tail that the playing eleven has. Haider not only faced aggression with the type of deliveries he had to face but also bowlers’ frustration when Stuart Broad threw a ball straight at him after his follow-through.

No need for seniors on the England tour: Afridi

KARACHI: Pakistan One Day International and Twenty20 captain, Shahid Afridi has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to continue to rely on the current team’s youngsters for the remaining England tour saying that they have shown satisfactory performance on the sojourn so far.

The former Test captain, who retired after Pakistan lost the first Test against Australia, feels that the inclusion of the senior players would not do any wonders but instead disturb the winning combination.

“Youngsters should be given preference as they have managed to impress us all with their performance. There is no need for the seniors in the remaining England tour,” said Afridi after his return to Karachi on Tuesday night.

He believed the youngsters, especially Azhar Ali have proved that they have a bright future and that dropping them will dismantle their confidence.

Retirement decision taken  for the team

Salman says captaincy no ‘hassle’

LEEDS: Salman Butt has insisted captaining a young Pakistan side shouldn’t be “that much of a hassle” when he leads the team in the second Test against Australia at Headingley.

Salman was thrust in to what is widely regarded as one of the most difficult jobs in world cricket after former captain Shahid Afridi quit the five-day format after the team’s 150-run loss in the first Test at Lord’s last week.

Former vice-captain Salman, a 25-year-old opener who scored Pakistan’s only two fifties at Lord’s, will become his country’s seventh Test captain in three years when the Australia finale starts today.

However, he takes over a team without former captains and senior batsmen Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan, both suspended following the team’s 3-0 series loss in Australia earlier this year.

However, Salman, said that he is not overwhelmed leading a side that has less experience.

Team is comfortable under my captaincy: Afridi

Shahid Afridi has said that he respects all the players in his team and they too feel comfortable to play under his captaincy.

“It is difficult, especially due to players from the different cultures, different cities, but the thing is that I respect these guys. Whatever their problems, I listen, and I’m talking to the management and the coach as well. But they’re feeling good playing in my captaincy,” website theage.com.au quoted Afridi, as saying.

Afridi said he had inherited a team of young players. “The guys are united. As a captain, I’m trying to keep the guys as close as I can . Normally I take them for dinners together,” he said. “The communications problem is not there any more. We are all sitting together, talking to each other. Whatever problems (they may have), they’re coming to me and the coach and they’re sharing their problems.”

Australia dismissed for 253 as Aamer strikes

LONDON: Mohammad Aamer struck for Pakistan in the seventh over on the second day as Australia were dismissed for 253 runs in their first innings.Hussey, on 39 overnight, again showed his ability to marshal the tail as he took his score to 56 not out, reaching his 42nd test half-century with an inside edge for four off Umar Gul. He faced 100 deliveries.

Doug Bollinger was the last man out, bowled by a Mohammad Aamer yorker for four, made in 56 minutes. Aamer finished with 4-72.

Simon Katich top scored in the innings with 80. He was one of three wickets in a crucial seven-ball spell from Mohammad Asif (3-63) that turned the match in Pakistan’s favour on day one.