World Of Cricket

Lahore: Keen to revive his international career, record-breaking Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf took a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy, but chief selector Iqbal Qasim made it clear that the senior batsman would have to play domestic matches to be considered for selection.

Mohammad Yousuf is all set to make his comeback © Getty Images

The 37-year-old played the last of his 90 Tests against England at Lord’s in 2010 – a match marred by the spot-fixing scandal involving three of his team-mates.

“Yousuf has appeared in the fitness tests and that is good. It is a good sign that he is practicing again but our criteria is clear, players even if they are seniors must appear in domestic cricket matches to be considered for selection,” Qasim told PTI.

Insisting that criteria for selecting players remained their form and fitness in domestic cricket, Qasim said: “We have to see how much domestic cricket he has played.”

The 37-year-old cricketer didn’t play in the last domestic season, although he appeared in the national T20 Super Eights event held in Faisalabad last year in July-August.

Pakistan star-batsman Mohammad Yousuf  insisted that he could still compete at the highest level.

Yousuf has not been considered for selection in the last two years because he has not played in domestic matches in Pakistan, but he took part in a workout led by new Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore on Tuesday.

“I have given a fitness test and now the result is in the hands of PCB,” Yousuf told reporters outside the national academy here.

“I am ready to play for my country and still have enough cricket left in me.”

Yousuf rose from a poor background to become one of the most stylish batsmen Pakistan had ever produced, smashing 1,788 Test runs in 2006 – a world record for a calendar year.

His career drifted after the PCB banned him for an indefinite period in March 2010 following the disastrous tour of Australia, which he captained.

The ban was overturned to allow Yousuf a comeback on the 2010 England tour, during which Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were charged and eventually jailed for arranging deliberate no-balls for money.

Yousuf, who has played 288 one-day and three Twenty20 internationals, said he has been playing regular cricket and wanted to feature in the English county championship, though a deal with Leicestershire fell through.

Whatmore said the fitness of all Pakistani players will be assessed before next month’s tour to Sri Lanka.

“The fitness test was designed to give everyone an idea where they stand now and after a prescription of work to re-test and see the improvement,” the coach said.

Pakistan play two Twenty20s, five one-day internationals and three Tests on their tour of Sri Lanka from late May to mid-July.

Lahore: ICC umpire Aleem Dar appreciated former Pakistani captain Imran Khan for giving an idea of bringing neutral umpires.

Aleem Dar - Umpire from ICC Elite Panel

Winner of three consecutive ICC Umpire of the Year awards in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar has rejected the suggestion that with the introduction of Decision Review System (Decision Review System), neutral umpires in cricket matches should be done away with.

In an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, Dar said he doesn’t think the concept of neutral umpires in international cricket should be negated, and also appreciated former Pakistan captain Imran Khan’s idea of bringing neutral umpires to international cricket.

When asked whether he thinks with the introduction of DRS and other technology in international cricket, neutral umpires should be done away with, Dar replied: “No I disagree. I must appreciate Imran Khan’s idea of bringing neutral umpires to international cricket.”

“I’m very grateful that I’ve been the top ranking umpire for the last 3 years but the opportunity to umpire in the Ashes is just something special and I would not have had that opportunity if it had not been for the introduction of neutral umpires,” he added.

Dar also revealed he feels more stress while umpiring in a match involving Pakistan than any others, including the extremely demanding Ashes series.

“Umpiring in the Ashes series is very tough due to the intensity, but I feel more pressure umpiring a match involving Pakistan than I do in any other match,” he said.

Dubai: In the remembrance of first-class cricketer John Thayer who died shortly before his 50th birthday in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912.

Titanic sunk 100 years, 1514 people lost their lives & John Thayer was one of them

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Early Life and Cricket Career:

John Borland Thayer, Jr. was born on April 21, 1862 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – USA. He was member of a prominent American cricketing family (three of his brothers also played). Thayer attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he was captain of the baseball team in 1879. He played his first match for the Merion Cricket Club as a 14 year old. Thayer was a part of the Philadelphian side that visited England in 1884. During that tour he scored 817 runs with an average of 28, and took 22 wickets for 21 runs each.

In 1884, Lillywhite said of him: ” Bats in finished style, and, with more patience, would be the best in the team in that department. Can hit hard, and is a dangerous man when once well in. Bowls medium round-arm with good command of the ball and a break both ways. Is a splendid mid-off, and shows fine fielding whenever he is placed either at the boundary or close to the wicket.”

In his cricketing career, Thayer appeared in seven matches now recognised as first-class. Three of these were played for the Philadelphians and four were played for an “American Born” side. All were played at the Germantown Cricket Club in Pennsylvania. In his first-class career, he scored 138 runs at 11.50 and took six wickets at 26.83. His highest score (24) and best bowling (3 for 17) both came for Philadelphia against the United States in October 1883.

Family:

On November 9, 1893, in Philadelphia, he married Marian Longstreth Morris (1872–1944), the daughter of Frederick Wistar Morris and Elizabeth Flower Paul. Both her parents were descendants of old-moneyed Philadelphia families. They had four children:

>>> John “Jack” Borland Thayer III (1894–1945)*
>>> Frederick Morris Thayer (1896–1956)
>>> Margaret Thayer (1898–1960) (Mrs. Harold Elstner Talbott, Jr.)
>>> Pauline Thayer (1901–1981) (Mrs. Henry Hoffman Dolan)

*Of the four children, only Jack accompanied his parents on the Titanic.

Titanic Voyage:

Following his cricket career, Thayer entered the business world. He was a vice-president of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Thayer and his family (wife – Marian Longstreth Thayer , son – Jack Borland Thayer , maid – Margaret Fleming) had been in Europe as guests of the American Consul General in Berlin, Germany.

On April 10, 1912 the family boarded the Titanic as first-class passengers from Cherbourg, France. The family had been preparing for bed on April 14, 1912 when the collision with the iceberg occurred. As the ship sank, Thayer made sure that his wife and maid boarded lifeboats, after being told by the Titanic’s designer, Thomas Andrews, that the stricken ship did not have “much over an hour to live”.

His wife Marian Longstreth Thayer and maid Margaret Fleming both managed to board lifeboat No. 4. His son, Jack, dove from the sinking ship and was able to swim to an overturned collapsible boat (B), and was then transferred to lifeboat No. 12 where he also survived. However, Thayer Sr. made it clear that he had no intention of boarding a boat and remained on the Titanic as it went down.

When all of the lifeboats were gone, one eyewitness reportedly saw Thayer looking “pale and determined by the midship rail aft of lifeboat 7.” A short while later, he had gone, so it is likely that he moved to the stern like many other passengers and crew. Thayer’s body, if recovered, was never identified.

Dubai: Guest team will visit at the end of April to play an ODI & a T20I, Bangladeshi officials said ‘yes’ after making a deal with PCB on the seat of vice-president of ICC : Sources. The meeting of ICC Executive Board will start from tomorrow in Dubai. In the light of Woolf report, it’ll be considered to reduce the influence of Test playing nations.

The objection of India raised doubts; is it possible that a single one out of 65 recommendations will be accepted because critics think that India is the most influential nation in the ICC.

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Bangladesh Cricket Team is agreed to tour Pakistan for playing small series of 2 matches. Guest team will visit Pakistan in 3 weeks. The efforts of the chairman Mr. Zaka Ashraf of Pakistan Cricket Board at last bore fruit.

Express paper added that in result of the efforts of PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf and CEO Subhan Ahmed and after meeting with them in Dubai, President of Bangldesh Cricket Board – Mustafa Kamal is ready to send his team on the brief tour of Pakistan.

Bangladesh Cricket Team will arrive in Pakistan in 3 weeks to play 2 limited-overs  matches (1 T20I & 1 ODI). With the arrival of the team, the international cricket will also return to Pakistan after 3 years. It must be remembered that the doors of international cricket in Pakistan are closed because of the March 03, 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lanka Cricket Team.

On Sunday – April 15, 2012; Bangladesh Cricket Board formally announced that they’ll tour Pakistan at the end of April to play an ODI & and a T20I. The ODI is scheduled for April 29 and the T20I for April 30. Both matches will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Sources told that PCB officials have once again assured their counterparts of providing president protocol in terms of security to the guest team.

BCB officials have agreed on sending their team in result of a ‘deal’ with PCB on the seat of vice-president of International Cricket Council (ICC). funny or factPCB has fasten its seat belt for supporting Bangladesh for the seat of vice-president of ICC after the fresh assurance made by BCB.

In addition, the 2-day meeting of the ICC Executive Board will start from Sunday in Dubai, in which council will consider the recommendations of Woolf report to make big reforms in their current setup. In result of these reforms, the influence of test playing nations will be reduced, transparency will be created significantly in its matters and the process of accountability will begin. Less important recommendations of the report can be accepted.

In other matters of the meeting, the successor of Alan Isaac – vice-president of ICC may be elected. This candidate for this position is the current president Mr. Mustafa Kamal of Bangladesh Cricket Board.

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Strong test playing nation – India is the biggest hurdle in the approval of the recommendations of Woolf report who already rejected it. BCCI adopted the stance in the meeting held in February that there is no justification to change the current setup. The objection of India raised doubts; is it possible that a single one out of 65 recommendations will be accepted because critics think that India is the most influential nation in the ICC.

“If India objects to the main recommendations of the Woolf review, then there is next to no chance of the recommendations being enacted,” said Lawrence Booth, the editor of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. “You are asking the powerful nations to cede their power. It just doesn’t happen.”

It must be clear that the report which consists of 68 pages emphasized the ICC to do complete overhauling, it says that ICC is now a governing body of cricket not the ‘club’ of test playing nations. In the best interest of the cricket which is an international sport, ICC should be empowered to promote and develop this sport.

The most important recommendation is to reduce the influence of test playing nations, it is suggested in the recommendations to rebuild and empower the executive board of ICC. The voice of the associate and affiliate countries must be made effective. Currently, 10 permanent members are part of board with voting rights but the suggestion is to give membership to 3 more independent countries and the chairman of the board should also be independent.

It is also suggested in the report to simplified the procedure of giving permanent membership to the associate and affiliate nations and the income of cricket should be distributed on the basis of necessity. The extra income of ICC must be divided in all cricket playing nations; currently permanent members get 70% of the income.

Various measures to take rid of corruption in test playing nations are also suggested in the report, it is also mentioned to take review of the ‘conflict of interests’ between the member nations and it must also be solved.

In compared to India, the reaction of the member nations is very low whereas Pakistan Cricket Board agreed to review some of its part. CEO of Cricket Australia James Sutherland said that the board would “be silly” to reject the recommendations of the Woolf report outright.

Transparency International also has weighed in, calling for the board to approve the ethics and anti-corruption measures and including a swift timetable for their implementation.

Lahore: Pakistani fast bowler and the heartbeat of millions around the world – Mohammad Amir is today celebrating his 20th birthday.

Mohammad Amir celebrating after taking a wicket during Pakistan tour of England 09'

Many Many Happy Returns of the Day to the young sensation of the world. The one who stunned the world by showing miracles, the one who made test cricket look easy, the one who left the sultan of swing behind, the one who bowled double-wicket maiden in world cup.

Yes I’m talking about Mohammad Amir who was born on April 13, 1992 in Gujjar Khan, Punjab – Pakistan.

>>> He so far has taken 51 wickets in 14 test matches with an average of 29.09.

>>> He played 15 ODI’s in which he bagged 25 wickets with an average of 24.00.

>>> In 18 T20I’s, he took 23 wickets with an average of 19.86.

He is currently serving 5-year cricketing ban imposed on him by the governing body of cricket – ICC as he was involved in disgracing spot-fixing incident.

His fans around the world hopes that very soon they’ll see him in action again.

Lahore: Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore said that he favours having separate players for the three different formats of the sport.

PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf with new coach Dav Whatmore

Whatmore also said in an interview given to Geo News channel that he was ready to face challenges in the coming days as the coach of the Pakistan team.

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore said that he favours having separate players for the three different formats of the sport.

Whatmore also said in an interview given to Geo News channel that he was ready to face challenges in the coming days as the coach of the Pakistan team.

Whatmore made it clear that he enjoyed the full support of the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf and said he had taken up the job because he saw it as a big challenge and was already enjoying working in Pakistan.

“The depth of talent in Pakistan cricket is amazing. I got a chance to see the talent while witnessing the recent domestic competitions in Lahore and Rawalpindi,” he said.

The former Australian Test batsman, who joined the Pakistan team before the Asia Cup last month replacing Mohsin Khan in controversial circumstances, insisted that in order to produce quality cricketers it was necessary to tap into the immense cricket talent in Pakistan at the domestic and grassroot level.

“It will take time to make Pakistan a top cricket nation and we will also face many challenges and difficult times in future but it can be done,” he said.

Whatmore said he and fielding coach, Julian Fountain had already prepared six month, 12 month and 18 month plans for individual players to further polish their talents.

Asked about reports that he was a hard person to get alongwith and that in the past he had faced problems while working with the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh teams, Whatmore said many things written about him were not true.

“A lot of the perception of me as a person and coach is wrong,” he added.

Whatmore also insisted that he enjoyed a good relationship with the national selection committee as he believed in team work.

The Australian, who is the fourth foreign coach hired by the Pakistan board since 1999, said he had enjoyed his first experience with the team in the recent Asia Cup.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t win all our matches in the tournament but we ended up bringing back the cup home and that gave me satisfaction. The defeat to India was a setback but they played well on that day,” he said.