Pakistan clinch first Test Series win in five years

Pakistan players celebrate winning their first Test series in five years.

WELLINGTON: Pakistan clinched a 1-0 series win and their first Test series victory for five years after securing a draw against New Zealand in the second Test.

Chasing 274 for victory on the final day, Pakistan looked well placed to push for a 2-0 series clean sweep when they reached tea at 160 for four.

However Pakistan were unwilling to risk a rare series victory and took a no-risk approach in the final session to ensure a draw.

New Zealand took three wickets in the opening session to boost chances of a rare win of their own, but Younus Khan (81) and the captain Misbah-ul-Haq (70 not out) ground out a patient innings to deny the home team.

“We saw the series as more important than this test,” Misbah said at the post-game presentation.

“Younus Khan batted well in both innings and Umar Gul did well in the last Test, but everybody is contributing and that’s really good to see.”

The series win provided an overdue return of pride to Pakistan cricket, which had seen its international reputation further tarnished since its previous series victory against the West Indies in 2006.

Pakistan has been immersed in yet another corruption scandal arising from their tour of England last year – which deprived the team of key players for this series – while also being stripped of of co-hosting next month’s World Cup due to security failures.

New Zealand remains stuck in a rut of poor performances and will be hoping for a form turnaround in the upcoming one-day games to deliver some confidence and optimism ahead of the World Cup.

“We couldn’t quite play catch-up in this test and that is because Pakistan were on top after Hamilton,” said the captain Daniel Vettori, who was able to take only one wicket in 34 overs on the final day when much of his team’s hopes rested on his arm.

“We now focus on getting our combinations right for the one-dayers and the World Cup.”

Lionel Messi Named FIFA Player of the Year 2010

Barcelona and Argentina player Lionel Messi has been named the FIFA Player of the Year for 2010. The player won the same accolade last year as well. Messi won the prize after three players were short-listed for the title. The other two players were Messi’s Barca team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Spain won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in which Xavi played a pivotal role while Iniesta scored the only goal of the final against Netherlands. However, Messi’s magical performance for his club proved to be the deciding factor. Messi has now become the first winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or, which combines France Football magazine’s European Footballer of the Year prize with the FIFA World Player of the Year.

As he accepted the award, Messi stated, “To be honest, I didn’t expect to win today, but it was already great to be here next to my two mates. To win it makes it even more special. I want to share with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians.”

Messi scored a total of 60 goals in a year for his club and country. He was the top score in the 2010 Champions league with 12 goals. In the league he scored 42 goals in 36 La Liga appearances, greater than any other player in top five European leagues.

At age 23, Messi has already won the World Player of the Year award twice. The Argentinean looks on course to beat the record of Platini, Zidane, Ronaldo and Van Basten; each have won the award three times.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has been named the FIFA World Coach of the Year for his achievements at Inter Milan. Mourinho bagged an unprecedented treble of Serie A, the Champions League and Coppa Italia. Mourinho was up against Spain coach Vicente del Bosque and Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola.

After receiving the award, the Portuguese said, “I would like to congratulate two marvelous coaches: Vicente del Bosque and Pep Guardiola. I’ve worked very hard to reach this far, but I haven’t done it on my own. I want to thank my players, my colleagues and, especially, those who love me and who have supported me at all times to get to experience this very special moment.”

Spare the Rod, save the child

In my flirtation on the internet with cricket forums and the fact I’m a guy who would chat the leg off a chair. I have met many people and made many friendships. The best thing is with the net the World is so small, which does my head in for when I was growing up it would take 10 days to send a letter from The Northern to Southern Hemisphere. I met these two great young people from Islamabad, Pakistan and this is where this story begins.

I say this for English isn’t my first language and the same with them. The irony in this is where they learnt very correct English in strict English schools. I honed my English in smoke filled snooker halls. So you can imagine that there’s a problem in communication when they speak like Audrey Hepburn out of My Fair Lady and I talk like ‘Black Beard the Pirate.’
We were in discussion of the young Pakistani pace sensation Aamer and the allegations against him of match spotting. I was in truth comforting them for their hearts understandable were breaking and I kept saying ‘spare the rod…save the child…’ There was always silence when I said this.

They must have thought I had retorted to some distant African tribal dialect. Such was their comprehension of my meaning!

So I had a brief giggle when I imagined they were saying what they typed to me in a Cambridge Posh English tongue…..’Excuse me?’

I explained my meaning. In that was Mohammad Aamer really worthy of harsh punishment in lieu of his tender age. I was a bit taken aback by me saying this for grew up with the view that from a young age that one knows right from wrong and if he/she transgresses, well punishment is mandatory. Also in the wake of the evil and abhorrent James Bolger crime in England, when a toddler was killed by two young boys and the debate that raged World wide after in regards to age as a defence for actions. I knew whose view I was championing. It certainly wasn’t the lenient view either!

Though let’s look at this situation. First and foremost he hasn’t been proven guilty in any reputable court of law. So rumours and innuendo from the gutter sniping tabloids just doesn’t cut it in my view. Also he is a young boy in a team of men and if in fact there is corruption infested in the Pakistani ranks well how can he avoid being forcefully coerced by elements with real bite.

I know the gambling scene, having been a huge gambler in my past and have seen good people go to the wall in desperation over it. So gambling syndicates with huge bank roles on the line can make nightmares come true for a person who wants to be a conscientious objector. Also worse, I have known some loosed from hell cold blooded types in my time and they wouldn’t hurt you they’d maim your loved ones.

So what would you do if you were a young 18 year old in this pit of cobras full of deadly venom?

I know all that is pie in the sky stuff, but in truth it has as much merit as the News of the World claims.

So all we can do is pray for the best for Mohammed Aamer

Dawlance Inter department Cricket Tournament 2010

Mr. Tariq Quddusi Director Manufacturing, Mr. Raja Adeel Head of Sales & Supply Chain and Mr. Agha Mohsin Head of Customer Services presenting the winning trophy to Mr. Farhan Mujtaba Captain of the winning team of Dawlance Inter department Cricket Tournament 2010.

Kaka likely to join Manchester United in January 2011

Brazilian superstar Kaka is likely to join Manchester United in a shock loan deal this month which could lead to a permanent 50 million pounds move. The Brazilian superstar midfielder has been heavily linked to a move to Inter Milan with Real Madrid wanting 50 million pounds.

Chelsea, too, is seriously interested in grabbing the playmaker who has now fully recovered from an ankle injury after surgery, the Daily Star reports.

The link has already been established with Kaka, winning a Champions League trophy with Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti when they worked together at AC Milan.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United have now emerged as clear favourites with Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho happy to do business with his old sparring partner Sir Alex Ferguson.

Mourinho would prefer sending Kaka to United rather than his previous club Inter. Ferguson has insisted he will not be buying in the transfer window but a loan deal for Kaka would be the perfect solution.

Broken finger rules Ricky Ponting out of Sydney Test

Ricky Ponting: Out of form and out of the team

Ricky Ponting may never play another Test after being withdrawn from next week’s Ashes contest in Sydney due to his broken left finger. Ponting’s absence creates a raft of issues, including the appointment of Michael Clarke as Australia’s 43rd Test captain later this afternoon, and whether he will add to his 152 appearances in a baggy green.

Australia delayed naming their squad for Sydney – Usman Khawaja will be included – after learning Ponting’s fracture had deteriorated during the fourth Test at the MCG. That result ensured England retained the Ashes and meant Ponting has failed to win them for a record third time.

“I’m devastated to tell you the truth, it was the news I was dreading,” Ponting said after landing in Sydney. “During the game I didn’t think I’d done too much more to it.”

When asked if he was considering retirement he said: “I’m not thinking about it at all.” Ponting, who scored only 113 runs in the first four games, could face surgery on his finger, but is expected to be fit to guide Australia in their push to win a fourth consecutive World Cup. He had an x-ray on the final day of the Melbourne defeat and it showed the fracture had moved during the match.

“He needs to commence treatment immediately to achieve a satisfactory outcome,” Alex Kountouris, the team’s physiotherapist, said. “The treatment options include surgery or aggressive splinting and immobilisation of the injured finger.”

He will see a specialist again over the next day to decide on the best option. “His return to cricket will be based on how quickly the fracture heals and he will hopefully commence training in the later part of the Australian summer,” Kountouris said. “He is expected to be fully fit for the World Cup.”

Ponting’s Test future is less clear as Australia’s next five-day engagement is currently scheduled for Sri Lanka in August, although there is a talk of a series against Bangladesh after the World Cup. He is already 36 and Australia have realised during their poor Ashes performance that they have to start rebuilding through young players.

The deputy Clarke will replace Ponting, who took over the captaincy in 2004. However, Clarke has had a poor campaign with the bat as well and there are lingering questions over his suitability to control the team at such a crucial period.

Khawaja was on standby for Ponting in Melbourne and was also called late into the squad for the opening game in Brisbane when Clarke had a bad back. He started the season well for New South Wales, scoring a double-century, and leads the Sheffield Shield run list with 598 at 74.75.

Despite his strong overall record, he hasn’t posted a first-class hundred since his 214, although he has produced some useful half-centuries. The past four Tests have shown that Australia need big scores from their top six to survive against England and it is a tough ask for a debutant to provide such leadership to an ailing outfit.

New Nike concept store has been launched in Faisalabad

The new Nike concept store has been launched Sitara Mall, Faisalabad. This is in continuation of Nike’s ongoing expansion in the retail sector in Pakistan. The new store was inaugurated by the Test Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team Misbah-ul-Haq, along with renowned batsman Mohammad Yousuf and Mohamad Hafeez. Also present at the occasion was CEO of Speed Mr Adil Matcheswala, Head of Retail Mr Shayan Siddiqui, CEO Sitara Mall Muhammad Adrees and Director Sitara Mall Mian Haseeb and numerous other prominent celebrities. The event was covered by GEO Super, Express News and other renowned TV channels.

This gala event which was appreciated by the residents and shoppers of Faisalabad marked yet another milestone for Nike in Pakistan.

Javed Miandad appointed as batting consultant

Lahore, Pakistan: In a refreshing development which will be beneficial to Pakistan’s chances during their upcoming tour to New Zealand, former Pakistan captain and legendary batsman Javed Miandad was appointed as a batting consultant to the Pakistan cricket team.

The move comes after various attempts by the PCB to play down the need for a batting coach for the national team amidst numerous batting failures on the tour of England during the summer.

The media and former players criticized the PCB for having Waqar Younis & Aaqib Javed as a part of the coaching staff when the real need for the team was for a batting coach.

Miandad has served the PCB in various capacities after his retirement and was currently holding the position of Director Operations. He has held the head coaching position on the famous tour to India in 1999 and was keen to replace Intikhab Alam earlier this year after he was relieved of his head coaching duties.

It will be curious to see whether Waqar Younis & Javed will establish a healthy working relationship or will there be another clash of egos between the two men. One thing is for sure though that our young and upcoming batsmen will definitely learn a few tricks from the finest batsmen the country has ever produced.

Ronaldo, Zidane play for Pakistan

UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane. SOURCE: UNDP

World champion footballers and UN Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane Tuesday announced that the 8th Annual Match Against Poverty will raise funds for the nearly 25 million people affected by the Pakistan floods and Haiti earthquake.

The two men, who use their celebrity status to promote the anti-poverty work of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), will mobilize their all-star team to challenge Greek-side Olympiacos in a friendly game on 15 December.

The match, which will be played at Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece, is part of the global campaign to achieve the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the targets to slash poverty, hunger, disease and other social ills, all by 2015.

“With five years left to accomplish the set of eight goals,” said Zidane, “I hope this 8th Annual Match Against Poverty will help communicate a sense of urgency that we all need to join the team to end poverty now.”

UNDP will receive half of the match’s proceeds, which will go to ongoing relief efforts in Haiti and Pakistan.

“Our goal with this 8th Match Against Poverty is to support the people and Governments of Pakistan and Haiti to recover from the devastating natural disasters which affected them so terribly in 2010,” said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, expressing gratitude to Zidane and Ronaldo for raising awareness for those who are often too quickly forgotten.

Olympiacos Football Club owner Evangelos Marinakis also voiced hope that the match would bring people around the globe together and break down barriers. “Using football’s magic driving force, Olympiacos F.C. is on the pitch to raise an appeal against poverty and mobilize action towards achieving the MDGs,” he said.  Olympiacos will donate its share of the proceeds to parents of children with special needs, as well as to homeless and disadvantaged communities in Piraeus.

Earlier this year, the 7th Annual Match took place in Lisbon, Portugal, where Zidane, Ronaldo and the UNDP Goodwill team played Benfica and raised more than a half million Euro for the people of Haiti.

Proceeds from previous matches have benefited anti-poverty initiatives ranging from support to female entrepreneurs to the construction of sports centres for street children and the disadvantaged throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

PCB to select World Cup players without ICC assistance

Haroon Lorgat denies impressions that cricket world’s governing body in anyway was interfering in the affairs of PCB.

DUBAI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not send a list of potential players for the 2011 World Cup to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-corruption and Security Unit before selecting the final squad.

This was decided at a meeting of the national cricket selection committee, headed by former Test player Mohsin Khan.

The names of the players for the upcoming New Zealand tour and World Cup were also discussed in the meeting.

The PCB had said earlier that it will seek guidance from the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit while finalising the preliminary 30-member squad for the World Cup.

The Chief Executive of ICC Haroon Lorgat on Saturday categorically denied  impressions that the  cricket world’s governing body in anyway was interfering in the affairs of  PCB.

“We are not in any way dictating terms with the PCB and giving them advises on  certain issues including selection of the team for the Cricket World Cup,” he told APP Sports Correspondent Ehsan Qureshi in an exclusive interview at the Dubai Sports City International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

“The PCB is an independent body and they have to take their own decisions in various matters. We are not interferring  with them,” Lorgat said.
He denied that the ICC has issued any instructions to the PCB not to pick players like Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal or Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan in the 30-man provisional squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

“The PCB is free to select their teams and run their affairs. The ICC just wants to extend assistance in streamlining their things,” he commented.
Responding to a question about the return of international cricket to Pakistan, he said it was premature to say anything at this stage.

“The Pakistan Task Team has been looking at this since January 2009 and looking at ways how it can help bring international cricket back to Pakistan. But it is difficult to give  any time frame about it at this point in time,” he pointed out.

He said as per the ICC rules, Pakistan will be allowed to include the three players facing the charges of spot-fixing—Salman Butt, Muhammad Aamir and Muhammad Asif—in the  World Cup squad if they are cleared by the ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal which hold its hearing in Doha (Qatar) from January 6 to 11, 2011.

Haroon Lorgat said he had great sympathy with Pakistan cricket and wanted to help them in all positive ways and means.

Reacting to the inclusion of ICC Code of Conduct Commissioner Michael Beloff, in the Anti-Corruption Tribunal, Haroon said: “You have to read and understand the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Officials which clearly explains the process and allows Michael Beloff to chair the tribunal.

“The hearing in October was all about whether the three players should be allowed to return to international cricket on the basis of the charges which were levelled by the ICC ACSU General Manager. In January, the tribunal will decide whether there was enough evidence to back those charges.”

According to ICC Anti-Corruption Code  Article 5.1.2, Beloff will be the chairman of the three-member committee which also include Justice Albie Sachs of South Africa and Sharad Rao of Kenya.

Article 5.1.2 of the Code says: “The Chairman of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission shall appoint three members from the ICC Code of Conduct Commission (which may include the Chairman) to form the Anti-Corruption Tribunal to hear each case. One member of the Anti-Corruption Tribunal, who shall be a lawyer, shall sit as the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Tribunal.”