Pak Cricket Diaries

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
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Dairy of Younis Khan

May 21, 2007 | Younis Khan

After my first month of county cricket it’s nice to be able to say Yorkshire are top of the league and that I’m feeling in good form. I’m enjoying life very much.
Obviously the World Cup wasn’t a good time for me so it has been nice to have a change of scenery, start scoring runs and winning matches again. And I was married on March 30 so life is quite different now.

It is a pleasant change to come back from a game and be able to talk about my day or my performance with my wife Amna, rather than be alone as sometimes happens when you are on the road as a cricketer.

My form wasn’t too good at first and I started the county season as I had finished the World Cup, making just four and 12 against Surrey but at least we won the match. I scored 42 against Durham and then came my best game of the year so far when I hit 106 and 202 not out against Hampshire.
Sadly the game didn’t have a happy ending as we couldn’t get the last two wickets we needed to win. But from a personal point of view it couldn’t have gone any better, especially when I chipped in with 4-52 in their second innings. We were up against two great bowlers in Shane Warne and Stuart Clark so I knew I had to lead by example. Everyone was asking me how to play Warne so I tried to show them the way.

The thing is I am a good player of leg-spin because I bowl it myself and I have also spoken a lot about it to Mushy bhai (Mushtaq Ahmed) and Danish (Kaneria). I was just glad to show my best form as Yorkshire are a big club and I was keen to do something special for them.

The team have been very good to me and have made me feel very welcome. They are all good guys. I travel with Adil Rashid so we have become good friends. He is keen to learn from me, especially about leg-spin so when we are driving to matches he listens to what I have to say very much about my experiences.

Adil has a lot of talent with bat and ball and he is also a good fielder, but England shouldn’t be too impatient with him and instead should let him develop for at least another two seasons. After that he might just be ready for an England debut.

One of my most recent games was a one-day match against Lancashire. I soon understood what the rivalry was like between those two counties. It was like Pakistan against India. Whenever you field on the boundary the fans say things to you but it was all in good humour. If you are a good player they respect you. It was good fun but a shame we couldn’t win the game.
I’ve also been keeping in touch with the guys in Abu Dhabi, especially Umar (Gul). I was very pleased to see they won the series against Sri Lanka. I’m always happy when Pakistan wins whether I’m playing or not. It’s good for team morale that we keep winning, and Sri Lanka are a tough side also, especially in those conditions.

I have been talking regularly with the chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed, not necessarily about my availability or anything like that, just about Pakistan cricket in general. He was the one who first supported me to play for Pakistan in 1999, before he was a selector. So I will always appreciate what he did for me.

I was very pleased for Shoaib Malik that he was able to win in Abu Dhabi. There would have been a lot of pressure on him so it will give him and the team a lot of confidence.

http://khan.bigstarcricket.com/bs/players/khan/article_2194.shtml

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This time it is DAN (Danish Kaneria). He is promising to unload his new secret weapon given a chance :slight_smile:

I want to play against India in July
May 23, 2007 | Danish Kaneria

I may be a fair distance from my country and my Pakistan team-mates here at Essex but I was still delighted to see the boys beat Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.
I want to congratulate the team for doing so well in the Emirates and also congratulate the new skipper Shoaib Malik for leading the team to victory in his first series as captain. The selectors seem to have got things right with his selection.

I haven’t spoken to Shoaib yet since he was appointed but I have tried without success to reach him by telephone. I hope to catch up with him one way or the other very soon. He has my full support.
I have never played under Shoaib’s captaincy but I know he has done a good job with Sialkot. We have played a lot of cricket together so he knows what I can do and equally I know him well also. I look forward to giving him my 100 percent effort and helping him lead Pakistan to many more victories.

Talking of the selectors, I have been speaking to Salahuddin Ahmed on occasions while over here in England. Sallu always encouraged me to play county cricket and he said it would help to develop my game by bowling in different conditions.
He always observes my performances in England and Pakistan and it’s nice to know that my many wickets for Essex (in four-day and one-day cricket) are being noticed back home by the selectors.

I know Pakistan have a game in Scotland in July against India and I would love to be involved in that match. Although I am grateful to Essex for giving me opportunities to play county cricket, my first preference is always to play for Pakistan and I am available for them whenever they want me – for Tests or one-day internationals. I hope my name is included in the squad for that match as it should be a great game.

**Here at Essex, I have been busy working on a new delivery. We didn’t have a match for a week recently so I was able to spend many hours in the nets. **
I call it ‘the tweaker’ but I can’t say yet what it does. I haven’t perfected it and need to bowl it a few more times in the nets before I will have the confidence to unleash it on the batsmen in matches. Maybe if I am picked for the India match in Scotland you will see it!

I love having the ball in my hand and in practice I am always trying to develop new deliveries. This is the exciting part of cricket and sport. You never stop learning and I will always try to learn new skills for the rest of my career, and in life.

Finally, I would just like to pay my condolences to my friend and team-mate Faisal Iqbal (and his family) after his father expired. His father was the first person who picked me in first-class cricket when he was the manager of PNSC. I will always be grateful for what he did for my career and for the times he supported me.

http://kaneria.bigstarcricket.com/bs/players/kaneria/article_2202.shtml

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Y. Khan is at Durham for the next 3 days. :smooth:]

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Interesting wedding date, March 30th. Either the marriage was hastily arranged, or Younis Khan wasn't expecting Pakistan to reach the Super 8 stage of the World Cup.

Looks like both Younis and Kaneria have been talking to selecter Salahuddin. Must be trying to remain in his good books.

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Gloatfest going in with YoYo.

Danesh, where er.. what can you say.* "I can't believe its not butter"* ?
.....Maybe he will be just good enough to get in the test side.

BRIDAL PICS.
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well Russi jul gayi but.............its been a while Danish has talked about his secret delivery as in the beginning of every series he says he has invented some magic delivery but he'll not bowl that.......atleast this time he said he'll try to bowl............................well he has been doing pathetically since last England series of Pakistan. We should give an opportunity to somebody else I think.

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Inzi planning to play for a long time !

World Cup nightmare will never leave us
Jun 13, 2007 | Inzamam-ul-Haq

I am pleased to hear that Bob was not murdered, all the boys will feel the same as I’m sure his family will also. But this verdict will never take away one of the toughest periods in our lives. It was a nightmare.

Those final 10 days in the Caribbean were the hardest of my life. We went through hell. I was always hopeful and confident that Bob died naturally and that the Jamaican doctors made a mistake. It seems likely that the doctors there have said something wrong, maybe, but I don’t know the full facts.

I don’t really want to make blame, but I am annoyed that we all had to go through this, for nothing. It was unnecessary and very hurtful for Bob’s family.
I don’t know what has happened there but I can tell you it wasn’t good for the players or for Pakistan cricket. Actually when they started talking about ‘murder’ it was not a good thing for the world of cricket, not just Pakistan. It took over the whole World Cup.

It was hard and painful enough to lose a good friend like Bob as he was a great human being but to then be caught up in a murder investigation was very, very difficult for all of us. And as captain I probably felt the pressure most.

I was one of the few who saw Bob lying in his room and it was very upsetting. We had become close as captain and coach over the three years he had spent with the Pakistan team.

We were already very down and depressed after losing to Ireland. We knew we had let our country down and that we would be leaving the World Cup. Then to go through all that we did with police interviews and with the world’s media after us it was very, very tough. As I said, they were the hardest days I have known.

We felt at times as though people were pointing the finger at us and that was not fair. It was unbelievable, not right.
There was a lot of pressure on me because the team did not qualify for the second round and then Bob died. It was very hard because not only did Pakistan lose at the World Cup, but I had lost a very close friend in Bob
I needed a long time afterwards to get away from it all. After a two-month break I now feel relaxed again, the stress is gone and day by day things have become better.

Since the World Cup I have spent a lot of time with family. I went to the north of the country as it’s too hot in Lahore with the temperature at 49 and 50 degrees.

I started practice again two weeks ago. For six days a week I go to the gym and in the evenings when the weather is cooler I go to Lahore Gymkhana to practice my cricket. The club has good practice facilities, good bowlers, good pitches – they are a good club and it gives me all that I need for practice. Sunday is a rest day.

Before the World Cup we were playing a lot of cricket and it was tiring. Then after all that happened at the World Cup I felt I need that two-month break. Now I’m mentally focused and feeling refreshed and very ambitious to play more Test cricket. I’m confident that I will and I’m working hard to make it happen.

I’m aware that I need a few runs (21) to pass Javed Miandad (to become Pakistan’s highest run-scorer) but I am looking further ahead than that. I want to score at least another thousand Test runs and get to 10,000. The summer that Pakistan has coming up later in the year is all the motivation I need with tough series against South Africa at home, India in India and then Australia at home. Hopefully the selectors will feel that my experience will be useful to the team. Inshallah.

http://inzamam.bigstarcricket.com/bs/players/inzamam/article_2286.shtml

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Inzi lives in Lahore now???
Inzi goes to the gym???????

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^ Permanent base in the off season Is Multan.

~**~ Tussi Baray ----- Ho ~~~~ ~**~
~**~ Tussi Baray ----- Ho ~~~~ ~**~
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It seems like Inzi might be heading to play in rebel series.

I will soon decide on Indian league offer
Aug 9, 2007 | Inzamam-ul-Haq

I gave a statement recently that I have been made an offer by the Indian Cricket League. The PCB then gave a statement saying players would be banned if they play in this league. In my case this is rubbish.

It is understandable the board saying this about their players under a central contract but they have not given me any contract, and it’s an open market. If they are not selecting me I have a right to play cricket anywhere, whether in county cricket, Bangladesh, or India.

Every player is asking their board for more money. This Indian league is offering more money. It’s like back in the Kerry Packer days when players were only getting about £500 for a Test match. When Kerry Packer came along their pay improved. It’s the same here. I have been offered about $50,000 a month.
The Boards and ICC are afraid because the players are asking for more money and they know that if they don’t pay the money the players may go and join the Indian league.

But I’m not only interested in money, I’m interested in playing cricket. The ICL is offering me good money and cricket. I have not played any cricket for four months since the World Cup. Although I am still desperate to play for Pakistan it is not good for me if I get picked for Test cricket with no match practice behind me. There is no cricket in Pakistan before the South Africa series so I need to play.

I would like to go and play in India and then as soon as my country needs me I would come back for national duty. I hope things can work out because I am still desperate to play for my country but I also need to play. I have to give a decision in about three or four days. Inshallah things will work out.

My training is going well, I have been doing a lot of running and gym work and I have lost a lot of weight, about 8kgs. Inshallah it will help me if and when I play again for Pakistan.

http://inzamam.bigstarcricket.com/bs/players/inzamam/article_2528.shtml

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Why I did not take up lucrative ICL offer
Aug 22, 2007 | Younis Khan
I have just left England for Pakistan, after almost a full county season, and I must say I have had a really nice time and my all-round game has improved very much.
We were top for around three to four months so that shows we have won a lot of matches. I have got along with all the guys well, especially young Adil Rashid who was my driving partner, and the captain and the coach. I don’t know if I will be returning but that depends on the club and on my future commitments.

My batting has developed – I made two scores of 200 or more – and I am now a better bowler because of the experience of bowling so many overs in the Championship, one-day games and even Twenty20 cricket. I hope I can get a few more bowling opportunities now I have made this progress.

I spent a couple of days with Inzamam before I left Leeds and as he was about to replace me in the Yorkshire team. I was really impressed with the shape he was in. He told me he has lost 9kgs and he really looks as fit as I have ever seen him. It’s good for the county and for Pakistan that he is in such good condition.

I am now looking forward to linking up again with Pakistan and the new coach Geoff Lawson. First, I will visit my family in Mardan again before we fly to Kenya for some warm-up matches prior to the Twenty20 World Cup, which should be good fun. I have enjoyed playing the format for Yorkshire, it’s a great crowd-puller.

The other subject I’m sure you are all keen for me to discuss is the ICL and what is happening to me and the Pakistan players.
Well, it is the personal decisions of those players who have chosen to go and I respect their decisions. It is not for me to criticise. I don’t know the details and if it is all signed and sealed but if (Mohammed) Yousuf is going to India and will be banned from playing for Pakistan that will be very disappointing as he is a great player who I have scored many runs with at the crease. I think we are one of the most successful batting combinations in world cricket.

However, if Yousuf and Inzy are not going to be around it does present youngsters with an opportunity. It will be the same when I go. There will still be a Pakistan team when me, Inzy bhai and Yousuf are long gone.
Look how everyone was sad after the 2003 World Cup when Wasim, Waqar, Saeed Anwar retired. We still had a lot of wins afterwards so things do move on.

I was the first Pakistani to reject the Indian Cricket League offer and the reason is I feel a loyalty to my department – Habib Bank – and for Pakistan. I still feel that I have another four or five years of international cricket in me and I don’t want to jeopardise that and be disloyal to Habib Bank by signing for the ICL.

When I have been playing for Pakistan or county cricket in England, Habib Bank have still paid me my salary all year round for the last six or seven years and I want to repay that loyalty they have had in me.
I am not anti-ICL, though. Maybe in the future I will take up their offer. They offered me a lot of money to play and I was very grateful. But until I can be assured that I can play there and still return to play for my country and for my department when they need me – like with county cricket – I cannot go to the ICL.

http://khan.bigstarcricket.com/bs/players/khan/article_2574.shtml

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**It’s time for Pakistan to lead the world
Aug 31, 2007 | Shoaib Akhtar **

After a short warm-up in Kenya, it’s going to be time to get down to business in the Twenty20 World Cup and to be really honest I can’t wait for the big stage again.

I have been away from international cricket for too long and I just can’t wait to play cricket because I have been struggling for the last four years, which have been the toughest of my life and most people do not understand what I have been through with the chucking allegations – three times they accused me of chucking at the peak of my career, I have been banned twice and told not to bowl.

These things were always hanging over me and I used to wonder what am I going to do next. Then as soon as I came out of all that I struggled with injuries because if you are mentally not there you can’t perform physically because the brain orders the body what to do. My brain wasn’t in place for most of that time so I tended to pick up injuries.

But hopefully all of those dark days for me and the team are in the past. We are looking ahead and I am supporting my captain who is a young captain and is like a little brother to me. He always asks my advice and asks ‘What should I do and how should I approach you, how do I get the maximum out of you?’

I told him how I operate and the way I work. I wish my other captains had asked me how to get the maximum out of me. The only thing I told my former captains or even the present captain is that the most important thing for us is to win games, not to criticise our personal lives so leave that alone.

Yes be disciplined and practice on time and go with the team and do these things, but if you want to ride a bike, go off for a nice meal, do a bungee jump or other adventurous things, that’s your personal life and you shouldn’t be criticised for it. They (former captains) never understood that and I think they had a match with me rather than took the match out of me.

But the possibilities over the coming months are very exciting especially against South Africa, India and Australia. I really think it is about time we started to lead the world as we should have done for the last few years with the talent we have had.

We’ve got the luxury of a battery of fast bowlers and we should use it against Australia. I think we are the best side right now as far as talent is concerned: we have the best all-rounders, the best fast bowlers and record-holding batsmen in the team.

We just need to get our act together and start performing now, not later, now. The next four years should belong to Pakistan cricket rather than to Australia. The fact we now have a good Australian coach can help us achieve that. Hopefully this new era can begin with success in the Twenty20.

http://akhtar.bigstarcricket.com/bs/players/akhtar/article_2673.shtml