Pakistan Team - developments and news (merged)

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Four-match ban unfair, says Afridi

Tuesday February 13, 2007 (0146 PST)

**KARACHI: Pakistani cricket allrounder Shahid Afridi said that the four-ODI matches ban on him is unfair as he did not commit such big offence. **

He was talking with media persons on his arrival from South Africa early Monday morning.
He said that he was furious at anti-Pakistan remarks of a spectator but he was punished severely.
He further said that the code of conduct is very hard for players and the ICC should reconsider it.
On his performance during the series against South Africa, the dashing allrounder said that he focused more on his bowling than batting.
On the World Cup prospects, he expressed his hope that the conditions in the West Indies would favour Pakistan. Our team will definitely win the World Cup, Afridi said.
The world record holder of scoring the fastest century in ODI cricket said that the unfit Pakistani players would be completely fit before the World Cup. He said considering difficult conditions in South Africa the performance of Pakistan team is encouraging and the same team would get full rhythm up to the start of the World Cup.

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Moin Khan made himself available for world cup.
its moin's greatness that he has volunteered in the troubled time. i hope they take him along and have him play if akmal gets nervous which he will.

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Pakistan may name injured pacers in World Cup squad
By our correspondent

KARACHI: Pakistan are expected to select their injured pace duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul in a 15-man squad for the World Cup today after getting an assurance from the International Cricket Council (ICC) that they can replace unfit players ahead of the quadrennial spectacle.

“We have been assured by the ICC that Pakistan will be able seeks replacements for any injured players from the World Cup technical committee,” Saleem Altaf, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCBs) Director of Operations told ‘The News’ on Monday.

Pakistan are grappling with major fitness problems with Shoaib, Gul and two more pacers - Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed - nursing injuries. They were scheduled to name the World Cup squad on Monday after PCB’s request to extend the February 13 deadline for team announcement was rejected by the ICC Last week. But because of the extended injury list, they decided to delay naming the side by a day.

The team will be announced by chief selector Wasim Bari, who is scheduled to return home from South Africa early this morning. “Bari has had consultations with team captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer in South Africa and would talk with the members of the selection committee after returning home tomorrow before naming the World Cup squad,” said Altaf a former Test cricket.

He said that Pakistan can think about selecting some of their key players on the injury list following the ICC assurance. According to Clause 6.5 of the Participating Nations Agreement for the World Cup players can be replaced only in accordance with the World Cup Technical Committee and Medical Regulations after the February 13 deadline.

After March 2, if the WICB Medical Committee certifies that the player is injured under the medical regulations and a team management applies for a replacement, he can be replaced only with approval of the Technical Committee.

According to former Test cricketer Iqbal Qasim, a member of the national selection committee, Pakistan would seriously consider making use of this clause while naming the World Cup squad.

“Shoaib and Gul are two of our important bowlers and if there is any hope of their getting fit before the World Cup then I believe they should be named in the team,” he said. He said that there are conflicting reports on Shoaib’s knee problem, adding that a clearer picture will emerge following Bari’s return.

If either Shoaib or Gul is not selected then Pakistan might pick pacer Mohammad Sami, also on the injury list because of a back problem. Injuries to key bowlers and a four-match suspension on all-rounder Shahid Afridi is likely to pave the way for leg-spinner Danish Kaneria return to the squad for the World Cup.

An integral part of Pakistan’s Test squad, Kaneria is not considered to be a good one-day bowler but because of limited bowling options, Pakistan are expected to include him in their World Cup line-up.

**^ lolz…:smiley: **

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Shoaib in London for opinion on knee trouble
By Our Sports Correspondent

LAHORE, Feb 12: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar reached England on Monday to get a second opinion from doctors about his troubling left knee.

“I received a call from my doctor in London and I have rushed here to have a second opinion about my knee before the World Cup squad is announced,” Shoaib told Dawn from London.

But while the controversial pacer was reluctant to speak in detail about the visit, sources close to him told Dawn that he was on a brief visit to London and was expected to return home on Tuesday. “If he gets a clearance from the doctors about his knees he will be a happy man but if he is advised a surgery, that would take at least three weeks to recover,” sources said.

Meanwhile, a PCB official said that Wasim Bari was on his way back from South Africa and he would hand over the World Cup squad to the board on Tuesday for further submission to the ICC which has set a Feb 13 as deadline for the final squad.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/02/13/spt4.htm

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Afrid says :

Our team will definitely win the World Cup. All the unfit Pakistani players would be completely fit before the World Cup, said a very optimistic Afridi.](http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=353911&ssid=88&sid=SPO)
^ typical pathan…:cb:

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Apparently there were reports flying around that Asif and Akhtar had again tested positive…

Pakistan Cricket Board rubbishes ‘secret dope tests’

By Indo Asian News Service

Lahore, Feb 13 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) late Tuesday termed as ‘utterly baseless’ a newspaper report that claimed that fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammed Asif recently failed a secret dope test.
‘The report is utterly baseless,’ PCB said in a statement issued from its headquarters here.

‘PCB reiterates that it would conduct testing of all players selected for the World Cup 2007 in the West Indies Feb 16 once the Pakistan squad returns from the tour of South Africa,’ it said.

Daily News had reported Tuesday, quoting unnamed sources, that Akhtar and Asif had failed a secret dope test as possibly the traces of nandrolone were still there.

They had tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug in October, and were sent back home from India where they were to take part in the Champions Trophy.

The newspaper said the secret tests had ‘only proved the board’s worst nightmare true as the players have again tested positive for nandrolone’.

The rider for the two, banned for using anabolic steroid Nandrolone last year before the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rescinded the punishment, is that they would have a fitness test March 2 to be able to travel to the West Indies.

The World Cup starts in West Indies March 11.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will also be conducting random dope tests during the 16-nation tournament.

Akhtar, 31, and Asif, 24, had to return home just before Pakistan’s first Champions Trophy match in India last October, after it was confirmed that they had tested positive for nandrolone in precautionary tests in their country.

Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year. But both were let off and reinstated to the team after they appealed to a PCB panel.

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) challenged the PCB decision to lift the ban, and the issue is now with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The ICC has supported WADA.

According to PCB’s director operations Saleem Altaf, the tests on the entire team would be carried out Friday.

‘The reason behind another round of internal dope tests by the PCB is to avoid any unpleasant surprises during the World Cup,’ he said.

According to the News, the PCB decided to secretly test Shoaib and Asif before schedule to check whether they were still carrying traces of nandrolone.

CAS is expected to begin hearing the case in Switzerland in the next few weeks.

Shoaib and Asif may get a life ban if they test positive for any illegal substance during the World Cup.

Copyright Indo-Asian News Service

I sure hope this is not true…:bummer: especially for Asif..

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Kaneria is in and he is sooo glad…

Leg-spinner Kaneria, meanwhile, was delighted to hear of his inclusion in the squad.
"I think the spinners are going to have a lot of success in the World Cup as many of the pitches have been relaid and traditionally conditions there help the spinners.** “I am not going to experiment if I get a chance to play. It is going to be wicket to wicket and all about patience. I will just deliver what my captain wants,”** he said.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/pakistan/6357221.stm)

^ bechar Kaneria …seedha saadha spinner…
he wants to prove himself sooo bad…
:frowning:

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^ proven match winners have to plead their way into the team while chronic failures get free rides

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PCB pressing panic button!

Former players including legends Imran Khan, Majid Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram are to help players during WC training camp (commencing 23rd Feb. at Gaddafi stadium)
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\02\18\story_18-2-2007_pg2_2

It can only be good for the morale of the team

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^ How inviting them equals 'pressing panic button?'

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I don't think Nasim would be necessarily inviting them to the camp (an offer some of them might still refuse) if our team had been winning like SA or Australia. Our openers could do well with a few coaching tips from the likes of Miandad and Majid and even Asif could benefit from a few tips from Wasim on how to bowl yorkers at the death, something he's isn't so good at yet.

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^^ It is not necessary that when you win you need a morale boost or pep talk, it is "Required" when your confidence is low as now Paksitan team' s right now. If you are saying that they can't benifit anything then you are WRONG.

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I dont believe for a second that any Pakistani who has played "gali cricket" dont know how to bowl yorkers, and that Pakistani when goes to National team he is fully aware of it and very much capable how to excute a yorker.

Bob Woolmer (his old website) he has said many times in Q&A that he is a man of L&L instead of full length balls, The coach is your teacher and what he tells the player(s) to practice in the nets reflect in the actual game and that is what you see!

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^ Again you got me wrong. I said Nasim won't necessarily be 'inviting' ex-legends if Pakisan had not been losing so badly.

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GA, sorry if I am reading wrong what you have typed but it is kinda ritual for Pakistan camp that the old hero's visit them or sent a video (its a moral booster or pep talk) for the players who will go and play in WC. I think it was before 92 but I remember vividly its part of Pakistani team prep.

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[quote=GoldenAsif]
PCB pressing panic button!

Former players including legends Imran Khan, Majid Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram to help players during WC training camp (commencing 23rd Feb. at Gaddafi stadium)
[

Majid: Message to stroke makers like Younis, Yousaf and Inzi, play your natural shots and keep bowlers under pressure.

Javed: Special message for Openers, play sensibly, judge singles smartly and cash on singles, Singles will help you build the inning and at the death, Afridi, Razzaq could take care of hammering. Important message from Javed, Don’t listen to Woolmer, he doesn’t know anything about cricket, he only use his laptop, wait after world cup i will be back.

Wasim: Teaches them how to bowl at the death, how yorkers could be lethal. He will also tell them “I always wanted to help you all but Waqar presence was keeping me away. As a bonus I could also teach you how to fix games”.

Sarfaraz Nawaz is missing from advisory board :slight_smile:Imran: Lecture on psychological strength, especially for Inzi to lead from the front, and don’t sit out important games even if you are not fit, since I don’t think if you were ever fit anyway.](“http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%href(\story_18-2-2007_pg2_2It”)

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Kitna roain apnee qismat ko…a new phadda..:frowning:

Shoaib Akhtar can sue Woolmer: PCB](http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=355293&ssid=88&sid=SPO)

Karachi, Feb 19: The Pakistan Cricket Board today said if Shoaib Akhtar feels he was racially abused by coach Bob Woolmer, the speedster could sue him in court and seek an apology and damages.

“We have also read claims in newspaper reports that Woolmer allegedly called Shoaib “Blacky” something which he (Woolmer) has denied. But the way we look at it, Shoaib has the simple route of taking legal action if he believes racists comments have indeed been made,” a senior board official said.

The Dawn newspaper had carried a report, quoting sources close to Shoaib as saying that the fast bowler wanted a public apology from captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Woolmer for insulting and abusing him in South Africa and had also threatened legal action against them.

However, Woolmer last Friday rubbished the claims that he had racially abused Shoaib and said he was consulting his lawyers to take legal action against the newspaper.

“As far as we are concerned, Woolmer has not reported any such incident in his tour report. We are yet to study the report of team manager, Talat Ali,” he said.

Talat has been retained as manager for the world cup in the West Indies.

The board official said if and when Shoaib did go to court against Woolmer, than obviously the PCB would review its relationship with Woolmer and assist the fast bowler.

“So far we have not heard or been told anything about this incident,” the official said.

Woolmer`s contract with PCB expires at the end of June and all indications are the board would not be offering him or his support staff another contract.

The PCB on Saturday also accepted the resignation of South African trainer Grant Compton, who was brought in by Woolmer to work at the National cricket Academy in Lahore.

The board refused to negotiate new terms and a raise in fees for Compton for his new contract.

“He will be leaving soon. His resignation has been accepted and he has been told to clear his dues with the accounts and administration. We wish him best of luck in his future assignments,” said Saleem Altaf, PCB director, cricket operations.

Sources said the board was not in favour of retaining Woolmer as it felt he had lost his rapport and respect of many of the players in the Pakistan team.

“Obviously the board doesn`t want to bring up this issue at this stage before the World Cup,” one source said.

The source said the board was also keen to see Inzamam take his final bow from international cricket after the World Cup.

“The feeling is Inzamam is bringing negative vibes into the team and he will also not be entertained after the tournament,” he claimed.

Bureau Report

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yeah tu honaa hee thaa !
i wish they could let inzi continue in test cricket for a year or so. if not then oh well....

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**Indian Media at its best. **

Doping scam: Pressure on Shoaib, Asif

The Pak dope saga refuses to end as Shoaib Akhtar and Mohd Asif are now rumoured to be in London for a treatment to eliminate the traces of Nandrolone from their bodies.

In the latest development on the Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif’s doping saga, the Pakistan Cricket Board has said that the two fast bowlers could be withdrawn from country’s World Cup squad if they did not appear for the dope tests.

PCB’s statement comes in as a new twist to the story after reports that the Board might be looking to shield its tainted players ahead of the big competition in the Caribbean.

The PCB conducted dope tests on 19 players on Friday but Shoaib, Mohammad Asif and Shahid Afridi are yet to make themselves available for the tests.

Afridi however, has informed the PCB in advance that he would undergo tests after returning from England where he is playing a charity match. However, mystery still surrounds the whereabouts of Shoaib and Asif, who had reportedly gone to London to seek private medical opinion.

Rumours are rife that the duo are undergoing some kind of a programme to eliminate the traces of the banned substance nandrolone from their bodies.

PCB’s Director, Cricket Operations, Saleem Altaf, however, denied any knowledge in this regard. “Obviously there will be rumours in these circumstances. What I know is that the Board has not sent them to London. They have gone there on their own. Shoaib to consult a specialist about his knee problem and Asif for opinion on his elbow injury which flared up in South Africa,” Altaf said.

He, however, denied the two bowlers could be attending a programme to clear their bodies of traces of nandrolone.

Oh well…I guess they’ll show up now or then…:konfused:

Daily Activity
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see as I had predicted…

Too late to hold pep-talk for WC squad, says Miandad

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s move to invite former greats for delivering pep-talk to the World Cup-bound players has not found favour from former captain Javed Miandad, who thinks it’s too late to organise such meetings.

A PCB official confirmed that chairman Naseem Ashraf had contacted greats like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram to discuss preparations for the World Cup.

Miandad confirmed to PTI that Ashraf had called him.

“I told him I am very busy and I will see if I can take time out to meet with the Pakistani players,” said Miandad, who appeared in six World Cup tournaments including the one in 1992 when Pakistan emerged champions.

But he made it clear that he was not keen to take up the PCB offer at present when Pakistan are moving from one crisis to another and their World Cup campaign appears to be in a bad shape.

"This is not the right time to do anything. I don’t think any general pep-talk will make any difference. You can only help with particular problems in the team. They should tell me what they are inviting me for," Miandad said.

“This is not the right time to invite us. If they wanted advice from us they should have invited former greats well before time,” he added.

“If players have any problems anyone is welcome to call me and seek advice,” said Miandad.

Appreciating the good intention behind Ashraf’s effort, Miandad, the veteran of 124 Tests, said the initiative was taken a bit too late.

“I think only the present coach and captain can now resolve the issues in the team which is still capable of doing well in the World Cup if everyone performs to his optimum,” Miandad said.

Miandad himself has remained coach of the national team on three separate occasions and the last time he was replaced in 2004, current coach Bob Woolmer took over from him.

Meanwhile, the PCB officials said no arrangements had been made to send off the team in a grand fashion as was done in 2003 when Pakistan were eliminated in the first round of the World Cup.

“There will just be a quiet reception by President Pervez Musharraf and it would be attended by selected players and some board officials. The team will be given a quiet send-off as we don’t want to raise expectations of people and create hype,” one official said.

The Pakistan team starts training in Lahore from February 23, but doubts remain over the fitness of fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul who will undergo fitness tests later this month.