Tribune  Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:29:41 +0000

England dropped struggling batsman Ian Bell from their one-day and Twenty20 squads on Tuesday while drafting in Danny Briggs and Jos Buttler for the limited over series against Pakistan.  

Bell struggled in the three-test series against Pakistan – 29 being his highest score in six innings – as England, the top ranked test team, suffered a rare whitewash.

All-rounder Tim Bresnan has been included in both squads but his participation is subject to a fitness test to gauge his recovery from an elbow injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.

Hampshire left-arm spinner Danny Briggs’s prospects of an international debut brightened with the selectors naming the 20-year-old in both the one-day and Twenyt20 squads.

Buttler, Somerset’s hard-hitting 21-year-old who has played four Twenty20 Internationals, has also been named in the 16-member one-day squad.

“We have selected two squads that include both experienced international players and younger players who have performed strongly for England Lions in recent months and deserve an opportunity to further test themselves against quality opposition,” national selector Geoff Miller said.

“Playing against Pakistan in the UAE will be challenging but it is important that these players continue to develop their skills so that we are able to make strides in limited-overs cricket, particularly on the subcontinent.”

England play the first of their four one-day internationals against Pakistan on February 13 and the 50-over series would be followed by three Twenty20 matches on February 23, 25 and 27.

Pakistan are hosting the series in the Gulf due to security concerns in their own country.

England ODI squad: Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steve Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.

Twenty20 squad: Stuart Broad (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann.

Tribune  Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:54:16 +0000

It was rare not only for being the first time in over 100 years that a team won a Test after being bowled out for less than 100 runs.

Rare, for not even the most optimistic firebrand predicted a clean sweep of the world’s number one side. Rare, for a composed, calculated approach defined Pakistan’s play throughout the most controversy-free series for the team in recent memory. Rare, for they were facing a well-rounded, superbly-skilled side that had not lost a series since 2009. Rare, because for almost six years negative headlines have followed the Pakistan cricket team from London to Jamaica to drug-testing laboratories to a roundabout in Lahore and back to London. Rare, for this time it was all smiles – and not just from the ever-beaming Younis Khan, who took the catch of the series to snare a well-set Alistair Cook.

There was much joy, as footage of spontaneous bhangra on TV channels testified. There was perhaps even more gloating, as talk of post-colonial revenge and seemingly limitless word-play on ‘whitewash’ filled the online feeds. But as the final wicket fell in a largely empty stadium in Dubai, a quiet relish filled the hearts of millions of Pakistanis watching on television.

If you had licked their hearts during the moments of crises, some of which are listed above, it would have poisoned you. Today it would taste sweeter than five cartons of mithai.

Of course, the game is just that – a game. But tell that today to the chai wallah, the chief executive, the cynical cricket correspondent: he will laugh at you louder than those watching Ian Bell flap, flail and fail against Saeed Ajmal.

The win has lifted a nation. In these under-funded, over-nuanced days, this is a considerable achievement. As a metaphor for a wounded animal – some of the wounds self-inflicted, others not – which has risen with measured intelligence, reasoned aggression and, above all, grace, the success of the Pakistan cricket team should be lionised for many moons.

On the field, England had been set 324 to win. The spinners, Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, slowly spun Pakistan into hunting distance, before an Umar Gul spell set the victory parade in motion, England falling short by 71 runs.

Monty Panesar was the last man to get out, unfortunately showing no sense of occasion when, clearly without a hope of overturning his lbw verdict, he suspended celebrations by ‘going upstairs’ for a television review. It was perhaps a suitable end for a series, which has highlighted the effectiveness but also lingering question marks over the DRS system. The series also had the most lbw decisions ever in a three-match series: Monty’s was the 43rd.

Pakistan are now unbeaten in seven series under Misbah ul Haq. Aside from the team, the captain himself has lived out a real-life version of the phoenix myth. Yet it is the entire squad and its backroom staff and, dare we say it, the much-maligned Pakistan Cricket Board which must be credited for rising from the ashes since those very long, very dark nights of the soul when the spot-fixing scandal broke in mid-2010. It is already one of the great sporting stories of the generation.

The sun-baked pitches of Dubai and Abu Dhabi have also proved a surprise. Many expected dull games: essentially batting paradises masquerading as cricket matches. Before the series, 0-0 was a serious prediction, perhaps even more plausible than 3-0 to Pakistan.

We have all been proved wrong. Rarely has that felt so good.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2012.

Tribune  Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:49:33 +0000

DUBAI: Pakistan test team captain Misbahul Haq is on a high after his team’s spectacular 3-0 whitewash of England, but the man has a calm head on his shoulders and an eye on the future.

Many have said that Pakistan’s phenomenal success owes to the UAE’s close-to-home conditions and Misbah realises the challenge of playing well on away tours.

“That’s another challenge, this team loves challenges and that challenge is in our minds and everybody is just focusing to prove themselves outside Pakistan, so we are looking forward. If we just go to South Africa and Australia, we just want to do well there.”

Misbah, a veteran at 37, said the current team is a blend of youth and experience.

“Only time will tell what you can achieve or what you can do. We just want to do well and that’s what we are aiming for and youngsters are coming up, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez are doing well and seniors are supporting them,” said Misbah.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja agrees. “We have got to beat South Africa and Australia on their grounds and I am sure this team can achieve that.”

He showered huge praise on the players. “The current players have become the latest pin-up boys of world cricket,” Raja told AFP. “It’s a dramatic turn-around for Pakistan and hats off to their discipline, consistency and distinction.

But, he says, this is just the beginning to a glorious end. “I would still call it work in progress, the beginning of something special,” said Raja.

Pakistan’s resurgence is not only surprising but praiseworthy as they have not lost a Test series, winning nine of the 15 Tests, with one defeat and five draws – all under Misbah.

Moreover, there have been no problems off the field, something which has consistently derailed Pakistan’s on-field progress.

“He (Misbah) has been a tremendous leader of a young and transformed team,” said former Pakistan captain and coach Waqar. “His cool and calming influence is good for the team and credit to the management for keeping discipline in the team,” said Waqar, who quit as coach in September last year after developing health problems.

The victory, Misbah believes, will help Pakistan move on from the many controversies that Pakistan cricket has been embroiled, particularly the spot-fixing scandal of 2010, which ended in lengthy bans and ultimately jail terms for three of its key players – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.

“It’s a wonderful win but the most important thing in any sport or life is that whatever you achieve it goes in the past. If you are stuck with it you can’t move ahead and improve,” said Misbah.

Misbah also believes the win will make the world sit up and take notice of a team that has quietly, on the side, worked hard to regain lost pride. “We have been ignored for quite some time, but our performance will help us get better scheduling and respect,” said Misbah.

The other side

The dejection is now in England captain Andrew Strauss’ tone. Strauss, under whom England had not lost a Test series since their 1-0 defeat in the Caribbean in February 2009, said that analysis of the team’s defeat should follow.

“It’s very important we debrief this tour very thoroughly, like we do on any tour and learn some lessons and don’t walk away if that’s staring at us in the face. But at the same time it’s not all doom and gloom, you don’t become a bad side overnight,” Strauss said.

Strauss admitted that playing spinners on turning pitches was a different challenge but England also have tours to Sri Lanka (April) and India (November) this year and he hoped that the batsmen learn fast.

“I have not been involved in any series where so many of our batsmen have had hard times as this one. We have all got some questions to answer individually, some soul searching and thoughts to put into on how we can do things better going forward,” he said.

“If you are a good enough player, you find a way. It may take you a week or so finding a way you don’t make the same mistakes again. We haven’t been good enough or quick enough to adapting our game, that’s for sure,” Strauss said.

Pakistan and England will now play a four-match one-day series, starting with the first in Abu Dhabi on February 13. That will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals.

Tribune  Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:16:32 +0000

Set a daunting 324-run target, England were bowled out for 252 with Umar Gul taking four for 61 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal grabbing four for 67 to help Pakistan achieve their maiden Test clean sweep against their opponents. With the ball turning, it was always a difficult task for England, who have been unable to play the spinners throughout the series.

Pakistan won the first Test here by 10 wickets and the second by 72 runs in Abu Dhabi. The team also became the first team to win a Test after being bowled out for under 100 in the first-innings since 1907.

England, 89 for two at lunch, were still in with a chance with Alastair Cook (49) and Kevin Pietersen (18) batting well but they lost four wickets for 84 runs. Pietersen hit Abdul Rehman for a boundary and then a six but Ajmal struck from the other end, producing a beautiful delivery to bowl Pietersen through the gate. Ajmal then produced another good ball, which caught the edge of Cook’s bat and was held by a diving Younus Khan at first slip. Ian Bell (10) and Eoin Morgan (31) added 37 before Gul dismissed them in the space of three runs. Gul then dismissed Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann with the new ball. Matt Prior remained unbeaten on 49 while Monty Panesar was dismissed by Rehman for nine.

Michael Vaughan

“Pakistan have been outstanding, they’ve been a unit. I’ve been very impressed by their professionalism and their unity. They’ve got three bowlers who can bowl any team out.”

Javed Miandad

“Our bowlers did a splendid job but overall it was a team effort. The team is going on the right track and I congratulate them for the memorable success that they have achieved.”

Waqar Younis

“Pakistan have proved themselves with this remarkable performance. The team has shown great attitude, especially Misbah, who led the team from the front.”

Moin Khan

“After being dismissed for 99, the win is unbelievable and the team has achieved what we dreamed about. It has become a well-knitted unit while avoiding controversies.”

A slideshow of pictures of Pakistan’s victory in the third test match can be viewed here. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2012.

Tribune  Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:22:50 +0000

Strauss, who top-scored in the England’s first-innings with a 56, rued his batsmen’s failure to contribute with big scores.

“I’m a bit surprised we didn’t get bigger scores,” said Strauss. “That was a consistent failure on our part. You have to give credit to Pakistan. When they got their noses ahead in the game, they didn’t let us back in.”

England lost the first Test by 10 wickets, the second by 72 runs before losing the final Test in Dubai, failing to keep out Pakistan spinners with Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman capturing 43 wickets between them.

“The lesson is to get bigger scores on the board in this part of the world and to play the spin bowlers a bit better. Test cricket is difficult by its nature, especially if you allow opposition bowlers to get on top of you, and we regret the way we played in the first Test, which set the tone for the series.

“But every time you come across these kind of things in your career you have to overcome them. We are better at the end of the third Test than we were at the start of the first.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2012.

Tribune  Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:29:45 +0000

With the clean-sweep in the bag, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief has termed the 2015 World Cup the team’s real target, the ascent to which requires a qualified coach. Ashraf, while talking to reporters, said that despite recent success, a qualified coach was required for a longer period, who can help Pakistan achieve their real targets.

“No doubt the team has achieved tremendous success under Mohsin,” said Ashraf. “But we need a qualified coach. Our target is the World Cup for which we want to bring a qualified head coach.”

The PCB interviewed Dav Whatmore for the position and he looks the most likely to get the board’s nod.

Akhtar supports Mohsin

Meanwhile, former fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar wants Mohsin to be appointed as the permanent coach.

“Mohsin has gelled the team well,” said Akhtar. “I don’t see any reason to remove him and the PCB should make his appointment permanent.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2012.

Tribune  Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:34:42 +0000

While there was no official announcement on the development, it has been learnt that the PSF has asked Gul to start his stint immediately. Jansher, who has a record eight World Open titles to his name, was appointed early last year. However, the squash maestro, who is reportedly suffering from Parkinson’s disease, has remained away from the position for over six months.

Meanwhile, Gul has been training in Malaysia for five years and several players made significant progress in the world rankings under him, persuading the PSF to make the switch.

“Gul is a qualified coach,” a PSF official told The Express Tribune. “More importantly, he’s well aware of modern techniques and that made him our first choice. He’ll work with the youngsters and we’re hopeful of getting the desired results.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2012.

Tribune  Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:35:42 +0000

Sajjad outclassed his top-ranked opponent with scores of 58-48, 22-57, 79-35, 117-0, 88-7 and 67-43, including breaks of 68 and 67 in the third and fourth frames to set up a last-eight clash with Sharjeel Mehmood.

Meanwhile, the experienced Naveen Pervani hit the tournament’s highest break of 117 on his way to a convincing 5-1 win over Khurram Agha. He will now face Vishan Gir in the quarter-finals.

Mohammad Asif scored the other century break of the day in his 5-2 win over Shah Khan and will take on Sohail Shehzad in the last-eight clash.

Abdul Sattar and Sultan Mohammad will also be vying for a place in the semi-finals.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2012.

Tribune  Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:38:00 +0000

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side now sits two points adrift of City, who beat Fulham before the six-goal thriller in west London.

A Jonny Evans own-goal and strikes from Juan Mata and David Luiz left United three goals down by the 50th minute. But they fought their way back onto level terms through two controversial penalties, both converted by Rooney, and a Javier Hernandez equaliser in the 84th minute.

Rooney is confident his team’s sensational second-half recovery will not have gone unnoticed by Roberto Mancini’s City squad.

“Of course it’s two points lost, we understand that,” said Rooney. “But after being 3-0 down all the City players at home won’t enjoy watching us, the way we fought back and the spirit of the team. A lot of teams would find it easy to put their heads down and accept defeat but we carried on, worked hard and got something out of the game.”

Referee Howard Webb found himself at the centre of attention because of the two penalties he awarded United, and the two he denied Ferguson’s side in the first half.

Ferguson inevitably felt aggrieved by the two his side did not get.

“We had two penalties in the second half which I think were justified,” said Ferguson. “I think that we could’ve had four penalties and a winning game. But it was a massive effort from our players and a great game for the neutral.”

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admitted he was disappointed by the failure to wrap up the win from such a commanding position.

The defensive meltdown leaves the Blues just one point clear of fifth-placed Newcastle in the race for a top-four finish.

Cisse bags debut winner

Elsewhere, Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse enjoyed a dream debut for Newcastle as his second-half strike secured a 2-1 win against Aston Villa at St James’ Park.

“I’ll remember this day and I’ll work hard to get many more days like this,” said Cisse. “I didn’t even think that it was a beautiful goal, I was just happy to see the ball cross the line.”

Alan Pardew’s side took the lead through Cisse’s compatriot Demba Ba in the 30th minute before Robbie Keane equalised for Villa deep into first half stoppage-time.

But Cisse bagged the winner in his first appearance since his £10-million transfer from German club Freiburg with a powerful finish past Shay Given in the 71st minute.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2012.

Tribune  Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:39:07 +0000

Wade clubbed 67 off 69 balls in a man-of-the-match performance and David Hussey chipped in with a brisk unbeaten 61 as Australia made 216 for five off a rain-reduced 32 overs before India were restricted to 151 off 29.4 overs.

Clarke said the team needed to go after the bowling once rain interrupted their innings when Australia were 35 for two in 11 overs.

“We knew we only had 21 overs after the break,” said Clarke. “Wade was outstanding on debut. David continued his good form, and Michael Hussey keeps getting runs in all forms of the game.”

His opposite number was not too thrilled after India’s poor run continued. MS Dhoni, who saw his team lose the Test series 4-0 before they levelled the two Twenty20s, admitted his side underperformed.

“Once they came back after the break, they went after our bowling,” said Dhoni. “Our loose deliveries were too loose. That was the difference. We didn’t get off to a good start in the chase.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2012.