Pakistan Cricket Roundup
Pakistan cricket team has started its England tour in a quite convincing manner, with a close win against MCC XIs in a practice T20 match on Sunday followed by an impressive 3-day game draw against Kent at St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury.
In the three day game, that was always projected to end in a stalemate, Pakistan’s side was remarkable in every department, weather it was teenager Mohammad Aamer’s sensational pace attack, or it was 20 years old Umar Akmal playing in the middle order or furthermore it was Pakistan’s top batting order featuring Fawad Alam and Umar Amin.
At the same time Pakistan’s talismanic captain Shahid Afridi got a muscle rupture just a week before the “home series” against Australia on English grounds – as Australia refused to tour Pakistan due to security issues.
The seasoned all-rounder, who is leading Green shirts during the England tour, confirmed that the he has been slightly troubled by the strain but was confident that he will be there to lead his side against Australia in the opening T-20 international on 5th July.
"I don't think it’s anything serious," said Afridi. "It’s just a minor side strain and hopefully I'll be fully fit soon".
National Coach of Pakistan side Waqar Younis has underplayed the injury, saying: "Our physiotherapist has just arrived back from London with Shahid Afridi and the scan showed a small muscle rupture in his side. He has been asked to rest for two days and have some treatment, then we will reassess things, but we're hopeful he will be fine".
Moving to the off-field issues of Pakistan cricket, the matter of controversial team selection for the England tour has got the attention of the sports committee of the parliament's upper house. The committee has called upon the Pakistan Cricket Board officials and members of selection committee to give an explanation over the "injustice in selection".
The head of the Senate's committee on sports, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi said, "We have come to know that there are injustices in the team selection and to probe that we have summoned officials and selectors in a meeting in Islamabad on July 9."
The squad for extended tour of England was announced last month when the players were busy with the Asia Cup assignment. The announced squad got a heavy criticism from the former players and even some of the selection committee members who were not consulted during the selection.
Exclusion of former Skipper Younis Khan was the biggest controversy as he was not included despite his indefinite ban revoked by the board.
Pakistan’s former captain and the legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has offered his unconditional, free of charge services to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He said that he wants to join the head coach Waqar Younis to help Pakistan team come out of its recent malaise. However he is not willing to join the team as a full time coach because of his busy schedule.
“I have told the cricket board I am available free of cost. Whenever they have a camp they can call me, and if I am in Pakistan I will be there to help the bowlers and help the captain”.
The fast-bowling great is also bowling consultant of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
Wasim said that he has recommended the former captain Mohammad Yousuf to return to the international cricket.
Cricket fans can expect the recommencement of bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan a reality soon as the issue was discussed at the foreign secretary level in Islamabad recently, sources said.
PCB and reliable sources in the foreign ministry revealed that the matter did come under discussion during the meeting of foreign secretaries as the government of Pakistan is keen restart bilateral cricket series with the arch rival India.
India had suspended cricketing ties with its neighbour Pakistan as a consequence of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Since then both sides have faced off multi-nation series and tournaments on neutral venues. The latest encounter between the cricket teams of both countries was in the recently concluded Asia Cup where India finished as Champions after defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
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