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.

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.

PCB pledges aid for flood victims

KARACHI: Pakistan cricket on Tuesday pledged more than $133,000 for flood victims and said it was working to drum up further funds through an international exhibition match in England.

Pakistan has been devastated by massive flooding that has affected 20 million people in the country’s worst ever natural disaster.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it felt duty-bound to support the victims and pledged 11.42 million rupees, or $133,440, to the prime minister’s flood relief fund.

The donations were made by PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, PCB staff and players in the national team, who are currently on tour in England.

The PCB said it was in talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board about holding an exhibition match in England with international stars to raise further funds.

Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi has also launched a campaign and is touring flood-affected areas to distribute funds and food. Running a separate campaign is Pakistan’s international cricket umpire Alem Dar.

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

Younus set to miss out due to bitter relations with PCB

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Younus Khan may not find a place in the squad for the tour of England due to bitter relations with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the aftermath of his battle against the board for the indefinite ban.

According to sources in the board, PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt will force Younus’ omission when chief selector Mohsin Khan, captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis meet to finalise the squad on June 20 in Dambulla.

Butt, according to sources, is not happy with the statements given by Younus’ lawyer Ahmed Qayyum against the PCB after the former captain’s indefinite ban was lifted earlier this month. The chairman has also questioned Younus’ recent performance for Pakistan which, according to him, may not make him an automatic selection for the tour of England.

Akhtar, Malik included in Asia Cup squad

LAHORE: Pakistan’s controversial fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar is set to make his international comeback after he, and former captain Shoaib Malik who had his year-long ban lifted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), were named in the 15-man squad for the Asia Cup announced yesterday.

Also included in the squad was opener Imran Farhat while fast-bowler Umar Gul, who missed the 2010 World Twenty20, opted out of the tournament due to lack of fitness and former captain Younus Khan was overlooked.

“Akhtar and Malik passed their fitness tests have been included in the 15-man squad,” said PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt.

Shoaib Malik’s one-year ban lifted

Shoaib Malik’s appeal against the punishment handed out to him by the PCB earlier this year has been “partially accepted” by an independent arbitration tribunal, which has overturned his one-year ban and halved his Rs 2 million fine.

“His appeal has been partially accepted,” the PCB’s legal advocate Talib Rizvi told Cricinfo. “The ban has been lifted and his fine has been halved. The board has the right to review the decision but as of now he is eligible to play for Pakistan again.”

Younus free to play despite hearing

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) further cleared the way for former Pakistan captain Younus Khan’s international comeback by saying that he is free to represent Pakistan despite the ongoing appeal hearing.

“Younus was not banned but merely not considered for selection so he can make his comeback at the discretion of the PCB whenever the chairman wants,” PCB’s lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi told The Express Tribune. “There is an ongoing hearing but since there was no ban involved, I’m not sure what charges the lawyers are contesting.”

Governing Board against Ijaz Butt

LAHORE: The head of the National Assembly (NA) Committee on Sports Iqbal Muhammad Ali has revealed internal strife in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with several Governing Board (GB) members not in favour of the chairman Ijaz Butt.

While the GB, according to PCB Chief Operating Officer Wasim Bari, was completely supportive of the chairman despite continuous criticism and the wave of u-turns the PCB has taken with him at the helm, Ali confirmed things were different behind the chairman’s back.