Shoaib is as “asset” to team: PCB chief

New Delhi : Shoaib Akhtar has often been the troublemaker abroad but the enigmatic speedster’s impeccable behaviour on the India tour so far has earned him a pat from Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Nasim Akhtar said the pacer was an “asset” to the team.

Ashraf played down reports about Shoaib’s nightlife in India and said the pacer had not done anything wrong since he arrived here for the cricket series.

“Shoaib is an asset for the team and he has been behaving well. We have no concern about his behaviour,” Ashraf told reporters here on Wednesday.

“We have a team manager who leads the contingent and he is very happy with Shoaib’s behaviour,” he added.

The PCB Chief also criticised those who claimed Shoaib was seen doing charity works in India just to hog media attention.

“It’s wrong to say that he is publicity-hungry. He has genuine concerns about certain issues and in Pakistan also, he engages himself to such causes,” Ashraf said.

“Cricketers are the ambassadors of the country and whenever they go on tour, we leave instructions with them to get involved in such activities. It also improves country’s image.”

Pakistan cricket team is young and not weak at all, says PCB chief

Brushing aside comments that the visiting Pakistan team is the weakest ever to tour India, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Nasim Ashraf today said it is not weak by any yardstick.

Speaking to reporters at the practice area of the Ferozshah Kotla stadium here, Ashraf said the team is young, but not weak.
Same things were said when we last toured India. The team is young and it takes little time to become a mature side. But its not weak. We sent the best available talent in Pakistan, he said.

As to why Pakistan has no quality spinner other than leg spinner Danish Kaneria, Ashraf said that just as India has been producing good spinners for decades, Pakistan tends to deliver high quality fast bowers. This (fast bowling) is where our strength lies, he added.

When asked what message he would like to give to the Pakistani players at a time when there is a major political turmoil back at home, he said that players would like to concentrate on cricket, and hoped that situation improves in the country soon.

We are here to play cricket, and we would like to concentrate on that, Ashraf said.

Earlier, Ashraf said that he had received an assurance from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials that the Indian team would participate in the Asia Cup, which is likely to take place in the first week of June in Karachi.

The ninth edition of the Asia Cup was earlier scheduled for April 2008. But it has been decided to reschedule the biennial at the BCCIs request, which said it clashed with the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Yuvraj should have been in the Test team: Kapil Dev

Jaipur : Surprised by the selectors’ decision to leave Yuvraj Singh out of the team for the first two Tests against Pakistan, former India captain Kapil Dev on Wednesday said it was unfair to omit the “world’s best” left-hander from the side.

“It is surprising to see Yuvraj is not there for the first Test match. The way he is playing his cricket presently makes one thing clear in everyone’s mind that he is the best left-handed batsman in the world presently,” Kapil said.

“In his absence, others who have been given a chance will have to play with extra responsibility as his absence means all who are present in the squad are better than him,” he added.

India take on the arch-rivals in a three-Test series starting in Delhi from tomorrow.

On being asked about the need of a new coach for the team, Kapil said, “What is wrong in Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh? They are doing their job well according to me.”

“The 11 players who are playing international cricket for India are already trained. But, you do need a manager. sometimes a even player like Sachin (Tendulkar) may feel low and in such circumstances you need to have managers who are known as coaches in cricket these days,” Kapil said.

Indian Cricket League announces umpires, match referees

Essel Group’s The Indian Cricket League (ICL) has announced its panel of four umpires and two match referees for the upcoming ICL 20-20 Tournament. The tournament which is slated to start from 30 November 2007 in Chandigarh will have four member umpire panel.

Raymond Julian has umpired in over 500 first class games. Julian became a first-class umpire in 1972 and remained on the list until his retirement at the end of 2001.

Jeffrey Evans from Carmarthenshire, Wales has stood in over 99 first class games apart from officiating Women’s One – Day International Matches.

Trevor Jesty, from Hampshire, has stood in over 180 first class matches. His other credentials include receiving the coveted Wisden Cricketer of the Year – UK in the year 1983.

Dean Johnson from Leicestershire has umpired in list ‘A” matches.

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Ajit Wadekar and EAS Prasanna will hold the positions of match referees in the forthcoming ICL 20-20 Tournament.

ICL chairman executive board Kapil Dev says, “Umpiring for cricket match is not an easy task. It requires precision and experience to give right decision, as one wrong decision can change the match outcome. Our umpires and referees have rich experience of the game and an eye for precision too. We are happy to have them with us.”

Lara will join Indian league Thursday, says organisers

MUMBAI, India: Following media reports earlier this week suggesting that former West Indies captain Brian Lara has declined to play in the Indian Cricket League, organisers on Monday played down the rumours — saying that the champion batsman was not due to arrive for practice sessions until later this week.

According to reports, tournament organisers, Subhash Chandra’s Essel Group, had received word from Lara’s lawyers in London that the batting maestro, who was one of the first to sign for the league, would not be available for the upcoming ICL Twenty20 Championship, which is set to bowl off on November 30.

Former West Indies Captain Brian Lara.

However, Essel Group executive vice president, Ashish Kaul said there is no truth to the media reports and insisted that Lara is on board for Thursday.

“Let me tell you all, however, that Lara is indeed going to play in the ICL and he will be in India this Thursday,” Kaul said.

In the meantime, Caribbean Net News understands that Lara had decided to pull from the league after learning that several other big name players, such as Australian bowling kings Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, who were scheduled to join the league, were no longer among list of initial stars actually joining.

However, Gaurav Seth, the league’s marketing chief announced this week that the exciting top-order batsman and several other international players were not due in before this week to start their preparation for the 17 day tournament, despite others joining their respective camps last Friday.

“Talks that Lara is not coming are mere speculations,” Seth said in a report. “We wanted the foreign players to start joining the team only from this week and are happy that Nathan Astle (New Zealand) and Van Der Wath (South Africa) have already joined us ahead of schedule.

“We are expecting Lara, Vikram Solanki (England) and Nantie Hayward (South Africa) by the 21st or 22nd,” the ICL representative added.

Lara, the Trinidad and Tobago left-hander who holds the world record for the highest Test and first class scores, has been named captain of the Mumbai team for the inaugural “rebel” tournament.

The six-team tournament is to commence at Panchkula stadium, near Chandigarh, on November 30 and concludes on December 16.