The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not issue No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to fast bowler Junaid Khan to represent Lancashire in the County championship.
Junaid has been injured twice within the four months period and PCB want to protect him from further injuries. Pakistan's next international assignment is to play a full series in Sri Lanka followed by the 'home' series against Australia, also to be played in Sri Lanka, before featuring in the fourth edition of the ICC World Twenty20.
Speaking to a news outlet, Junaid said will; "I prefer to play for Pakistan that give fame and respect in the cricketing world as I want to serve my country."
"I understand I am at the beginning of my career but injuries can happen anytime. I have a long career ahead. The most important thing is that I am still on my feet after the injury and ready to play again," he added.
"I want to take my country to new height in the cricket world with my bowling and want to win matches for my country through my performances," the promising left armer said.
Junaid has been out since Febuaury, when he sustained a fracture of the patella (knee cap) during the Twenty20 series against England. Junaid said that he has recovered from the knee injury.
The move to Lancashire, which requires approval from the Pakistan Cricket Board, would be of great beneficial to Junaid. Fellow compatriot Wasim Akram played for the North East English county for around two decades. Though over-work on what is already perceived as a injury prone body might have severe consequences on the career of the seamer.
Pakistan Cricket are risking being expelled by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2013 by not making the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) go democratic. The ICC have set a date for March 2013 for all cricket boards to follow their instructions for face a penalty; which can be expulsion from ICC affiliated nations.
Pakistan President, Asif Ali Zardari; who is also the PCB cheif-in-patron rejected a proposal of how Pakistan cricket could go democratic. He believes how Pakistan run their internal cricket should be of no concern of the ICC. Recently only Sri Lanka and Bangladesh along with Pakistan were the only cricket boards that had a government member in charge of it; Sri Lanka has since taken steps to eradicate this problem. Bangladesh are also thought to be doing the same. Which leaves Pakistan alone fighting a lost cause. Looking at the whole scenario, it is bewildering why PCB are not following suit and solving the issue with ample time in hand. Just for easy understanding; at the moment the PCB is run by the government of Pakistan, with President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari being the person who appoints. The PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf was appointed by Zardari. The ICC wants all cricket boards to have a elected board members from where one gets elected to be chairman PCB. This stops any political interference. The ICC is not alone in following such a regime; Football's World governing body, FIFA also do the same.
In an Exclusive Interview to the local TV channel, Geo News, the newly appointed Pakistani Head Coach Dav Whatmore and Fielding Coach Julien Fountain were extremely optimistic regarding the future of Pakistan Cricket as the two are all set to take up the challenges, or as Dav Whatmore described it, that he intends to “embrace” the culture, the people and the players of Pakistan.
Playing without the number one seed Aisam ul Haq Qureshi who had retired from the the Davis Cup tie due to knee injury, Pakistan lost their singles, reverse singles and doubles matches in straight
Arcilla took home the first victory for the Philippines after defeating Aqeel Khan 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 on Friday.Treat Huey made it 2-0 for the Philippines after routing Yasir, 6-1, 6-0 and 6-3, in the other singles match. Huey and partner Rube Gonzales then increased the Philippines’ lead to 3-0 after they vanquished the Pakistani tandem of Aqeel Khan and Jalil Khan, 6-1, 6-4 and 6-2, in their doubles encounter.
Finally, Francis Alcantara trounced Muhammad Abid, 6-2, 6-1, and Johnny Arcilla defeated Yasir Khan, 6-3, 6-4 in the reverse singles to complete the sweep 5-0 for the Philippines ending all Davis Cup dreams for Pakistan.
We all follow men’s sports, cricket in particular, with baited breath and some of us lie awake at night in mourning when our favourite team of lads loses a match or two. Men’s sports are exciting, and we all enjoy watching athletes perform in peak condition; it’s entertainment, and it is also vicarious living. Through them, we can see and almost feel what life is like as a sportsman in his top level of fitness, performing tasks we mere mortals could never do in our regular, everyday lives. However, whenever women’s sports are mentioned, with cricket in particular, the response, devastatingly, is usually a sneer.
Why do we do this to our female athletes who deserve to be celebrated rather than mocked, or worse, ignored? One can suspect that even though we in modern times like to think of ourselves as being egalitarian, we still harbour shameful 19th century prejudices about women. Because of this thinking, most of us do not take women or women’s sports seriously. Many of us think that women only play sports for a bit of fun and are not professional in their attitude; that women are physically weaker and not athletic therefore not entertaining. Some of us even think that women do not belong in sport at all, as exercise goes against some religious ideals and that women have more important work to do around the home, such as raising children and keeping house and should not focus on physical fitness in any way.
Misbah and Whatmore had held a meeting in which they discussed plans for a month long conditioning and training camp and the introduction of new and upcoming players in the camp. Whatmore has prepared a short list of around 30 probables to attend the camp after watching the national super eights Twenty20 cup in Rawalpindi and he wanted to discuss them with Misbah.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Wednesday cancelled the tri-nation tournament after India and Malaysia decided to skip the event
Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Asif Bajwa said the board was informed that the government in New Delhi had blocked the visit. "It is very disappointing that India... has refused to send their team, terming the current situation not conducive for the tour," Bajwa told AFP
The tournament assumed significance as it would have been the first visit in eight years by an Indian hockey team to Pakistan. The three-nation competition was to take place from April 9 to 13.
"We had made top-level security arrangements for the event and had thought that the event will give a new fillip to Indo-Pak hockey as both countries are also (participating) in London Olympics 2012, but everything is spoiled," said Bajwa.
KP: You played in the Under 19 World Cup in 2008 in Malaysia, what was the feeling like representing Pakistan again after you did it at Under 15 level too? |
The Pakistani Domestic season for 2011-2012 came to an end with the Faysal Bank T20 Super Eights. The players, team management and the coaching staff are not worried about Bangladesh touring Pakistan or not, instead they have better plans. Yes the recently appointed foreign coach Mr. David Whatmore along with another foreigner Julian Fountain who is the fielding coach is working on the physical fitness of the national cricketers. The players undergo several physical tests and prove their fitness levels, and also to impress the foreign coaching think tank. Mr. David Whatmore and his fielding assistant have shown great dedication and sincerity towards coaching Pakistani cricketers, not only they mingled with the Pakistani national team, but they were also present on every single day at the Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Tournament recently held in Rawalpindi. Their presence and keen observation on the proceedings certainly proved a great motivational factor for some of the Young as well as discarded players that played brilliantly in the tournament and showed that they are still hungry to play for Pakistan or to represent the country at the highest level. Among these players, top of the list was Ex Pakistan Captain and the controversial all rounder Shoaib Malik, who not only led his side Sialkot Stallions to another T20 title but was also influential in his team’s successful campaign. His all round show was a huge factor in Sialkot’s triumphant tournament. Malik scored 101 runs in 3 innings at an average of 50, and played a crucial innings of 62 in the final against Karachi Dolphins that took the game away for the Dolphins at just the half way stage. With the ball in his hand Malik was impressive too as He was the second highest wicket taker of the tournament grabbing 7 wickets at an impressive economy of fewer than 7.
due to security reasons.
GeoSuper