Pakistan Cricket Round-Up
The Pakistan cricket team lost the first test of its “Home Series” against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 at Lord’s, crumbling to a 150 run defeat at the ‘Home of Cricket’ at Lord’s. It was Pakistan’s 13th consecutive Test defeat against Ashes favourites Australia – a string that started in November 1999. Pakistan’s last win against Australia came in November 1995 while the last draw against same opposition was recorded in October 1998.
The defeat came with some surprising end notes. Captain of the Pakistan team for the tour of England, Shahid Khan Afridi announced his retirement from test cricket after the match. Afridi’s decision resulted in an end to his short-lived comeback to the five-day format after a self-imposed exile of four years. While announcing his retirement Afridi said that he does not have an aptitude for Test cricket.
“I don’t have Test temperament and you can’t play without that. It’s better to have young players, a genuine batsman or a genuine bowler to lead the team.”
Afridi’s retirement has put Pakistan cricket into turmoil and has given a bad name to the country as well. Afridi got rid of the test captaincy as if it was imposed on him. Afridi clarified that he was not ready for Test cricket from the day when he was made the captain of the team. However, the team management and the selection committee insisted to take the charge of the Test squad as well.
Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim criticized the inconsistent policies of the PCB which created a mess in the national cricketing setup. Qasim claimed that the board’s think-tank should be clear about its policies to save the plunging situation of cricket in Pakistan. The left-arm test spinner explained that it seems as if Afridi was forced by the top management of the PCB to take the charge in all formats of cricket despite being fully aware of the fact that he has not faced the red ball in the last four years.
In another move, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board has announced Salman Butt as the full time captain for the Test series against England. Salman Butt is the sixth captain to take charge in the last one year. Wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal would helping Butt in a vice captaincy role in test matches.
There are talks about Mohammad Yousuf’s making a comeback into the national team for the Test series against England. PCB officials have revealed that the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 has contacted the former captain to help Pakistan out in this desperate juncture in England. Mohammad Yousuf has also hinted about his return to the national side for next week’s warm-up match against Nottingham.
In other news, the Chief Executive of International Cricket Council, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haroon-Lorgat-c61719 has asked various boards to negotiate with the PCB on the prospect of taking international cricket back to Pakistan. Lorgat wants international cricket to return to Pakistan by the end of 2011 and said that he himself would join the team visiting Pakistan.
The Standing Committee of National Assembly for Sports has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board for ruining the national game. Chairman Iqbal Muhammad Ali, presiding at the standing committee’s meeting claimed that the persons over the age of 65 should not form part of national sports bodies in the country. Quoting the example of the PCB, Muhammad Ali said that the elderly persons sitting in the board have spoilt cricket in Pakistan.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saqlain-Mushtaq-c88743 on the other hand has offered his services to bring Pakistan cricket out of the current crisis by playing his role in training the young off spinners in the country. Saqlain, who is now a British national, said that he would love to work for the betterment of Pakistan cricket at the grass root levels. Saqlain said that he is ready to serve the board that has given him so much fame and adulation at all levels of cricket. However, he added that he enjoys working with the young talent of Pakistan who are always willing to learn.
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