MMFZONE Cricsphere

Pakistan and 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:59:00 PST

Pakistan unexpectedly had an awesome 2011

Pakistan's Record in 2011

Test Series'	Result
against New Zealand	Won 1-0 (2)
against West Indies	drawn (2)
against Zimbabwe	Won 1-0 (1)
against Sri Lanka	Won 1-0 (3)
against Bangladesh	Won 2-0 (2)

Overall Test Matches Figures for Pakistan
Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	W/L	Ave	RPO	HS	LS
Pakistan	10	6	1	0	3	6.00	41.59	2.88	594	160

One Day International Series'	Result
against New Zealand	Won 3-2 (6)
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011	Semi Finalist 2
against West Indies	Won 3-2 (5)
against Ireland	Won 2-0 (2)
against Zimbabwe	Won 3-0 (3)
against Sri Lanka	Won 4-1 (5)
against Bangladesh	Won 3-0 (3)

Overall One Day International Matches Figures for Pakistan
Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	W/L	Ave	RPO	HS	LS
Pakistan	32	24	7	0	1	3.42	31.56	4.86	317	124

Twenty20 International Series'	Result
against West Indies	Loss 1-0 (1)
against Zimbabwe	Won 2-0 (2)
against Sri Lanka	Won 1-0 (1)
against Bangladesh	Won 1-0 (1)

Overall Twenty20 International Matches Figures for Pakistan
Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	W/L	Ave	RPO	HS	LS
Pakistan	5	4	1	0	0	4.00	23.71	7.62	198	-

Aggregate of All Formats International Matches for Pakistan during the Year 2011
Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	NR	W/L	Ave	RPO	HS	LS
Pakistan	47	34	9	0	3	1	3.77	34.29	3.85	594	124

Not being a Pakistani but a cricket fan, I feel these stats speak for itself, as Pakistan is the only team currently who is not having its own home ground and currently playing all of its home games at Neutral Venues, still performing that much is exceptional. This is how 2011 went for Pakistan in all three formats of the game. Although I personally felt that Pakistan should had played against the Indians, although some might say it would had made Pakistan's stats look bad but still we could had witnessed an iconic series between the two sides. How can we forget the 2006 Karachi test, which was a sea-saw kinda test match.

Looking forward to Pakistan India Clashes in 2012, whoever wins we would definitely gonna witness an awesome fight between two arch-rivals...

Pakistan v England, keeping the media eyes closed and conscious eyes open

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:05:02 PST

This England v Pakistan series is having some surprises for everyone

By the time I am starting to write my blog 1.50 pm in afternoon Pakistan time on boxing day, where severe battle going on between Aussies and the Indians, where initially Indians dominated the earlier hours by taking six wickets inside a nominal score of 250, but than Haddin was retaliating when I got up and started with my work, now when I checked the scores, Aussies are still on 6 wicket loss for the score of 277, and the Aussie debutant Ed Cowen, like other Aussie Debutants in past, starting to show his colours, after ZAK and Umesh Yadav throttled Aussie lineup and rung danger bells just after the jingle bells. I, being a cricket fan, just wish k May the Best Team wins, because both teams which are on the ground playing for the win.

Another two exciting test teams, although one is on the top of the ranking tables whereas another is on the fifth position, but still Pakistan has the chance to play well and raise both, their moral and their rankings, as in comparison to Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, this is the tough opponent Pakistan is about to start their new years with. Everyone is saying that Pakistan has the upper hand to make Poms lay down on the knees, but I think the other way.

WHY I AM SAYING THIS?

I am saying this because last time, when England toured UAE to play 2 T20 internationals just before the World T20 2010 event in the Caribbean, everyone rated that Pakistan might beat England easily, but English players proved that they are capable of playing outside their English conditions. I am referring to their last venture in the deserts, although many of my fellow colleagues are referring me to their 2005 tour to Pakistan, where Mercurial Shoaib Akhtar took the game away from them, but in my personal opinion, useless to compare that English team with today as today's English team is far more better than that team where their bench strength is a matter of concern for opposition team, this was not the case with Englishmen that time, players like Trescothick, Vaughan, Flintoff are out of the team and are replaced with new blood who are winning them the trophies, and I fear that next 50 over Cricket World Cup might also belong to them as what I am feeling, there are still alot of things in the bag for the English Camp, which they are gonna expose in Australia 2015.

BUT

Still test of how much they can they tackle to hold the pressure of maintaining the same performance of which they won the Male version of World T20 as this is the first ICC Trophy that they have won, so there would be immense pressure over them too while playing against Pakistan.

There are concerns more for Pakistan

WHAT ABOUT PAKISTAN?

Pakistan no doubt on the driving seat, but Pakistan shouldn't get over-confident as this is a genetic problem with them, they should remember one thing that Mushtaq Ahmed is when them, and remember that their last test venture in South Asia was a series win, so useless to get over confident.

Batting woes:

This is the one thing, English camp would surely be eying on, because in the tests, if minus Misbah and YK, Pakistan batting is as bleak as bowling for India, although optimistic personnel might say that we have Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali etc, but I say they are still new to the arena, they surely need some senior support in order to build their innings, like in their last tour to Pakistan, Inzamam, MoYo and YK were targeted openly by their bowlers like Harmison, this time they are surely gonna cash on by taking wickets of four main batting pillars of Pakistani lineup i.e. Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, YK and Misbah himself.

Past experience:

Two of the young players in Pakistani team, i.e. Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, would still be haunted by their last tour to England, where both made their debut, those memories might still hamper their performance, and I am damn sure, Poms' media would surely gonna exploit that factor as well.

Camouflage:

English media is claiming that the series between England and Pakistan would be only a spinner versus spinner. I totally disagree with that.

Both teams are more blessed with faster bowlers in comparison to spinners.
Comparison useless, as Pakistan has two frontline spinners in the team in Ajmal and A. Rehman whereas England have Swann and Panesar, the kinda spin bowlers both team possess is of no comparison
As Mushtaq Ahmed is with their bowlers, he would definitely guide their bowlers how to bowl on those wickets, secondly in comparison to Pakistan, England would be on more high as their last successful test venture was against the formidable batting lineup team...
It'd be more of a mind game that which team's think-tank went for the best planning for game.

Continuous cricket for Pakistan - Fatigue problem:

One should also remember that from the tour of Zimbabwe, Pakistan has been continuously playing cricket, against the tough conditions of Emirates, than to moist and colder place of Bangladesh, than again to Emirates for Series against England, which could hamper their fitness level for sure, and team management should look into this matter as well as in the past too, Pakistani players got injured in the nick of the time, PCB did the right thing to void their contracts with Dhaka Cricket League, in order to avoid this thing, but they should also give chance to the bench strength guys as well so that we could also know when to utilize their capabilities, as what I feel they are not sure of when to utilize their own BS on the right spot.

More matter of concern for Pakistan than England, as England is coming from a rest period.

POST SCRIPT

Being a Pakistani, I'd love to have my team win but I can't avoid these factors which could hamper team's performance.

What Pakistan lost from whole saga?

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:12:04 PST

I don't want to enhance my circle to international media but on the Pakistani media, there has been some confusion prevailing whether they are guilty or sympathizing with them. Lets be honest, any person who defames the country due to his act should be penalized and penalized hard so that next time no one shouldn't dare to do such acts, I might be using bookish language but it takes decades to create trust unlike destroying it which only takes moments or days to do so.

Same happened with Salman, Asif and Amir, who literally thought that they are above the game and they are the kings so have the privilege to do whatever they want, without knowing how much this cricket loving nation expects from them. Asif, who was already convicted of carrying drugged item with him when he last toured Dubai upon returning from the first edition of DLF IPL 2007 via New Delhi. 19 days in Dubai jail and than upon action from Pakistan government, they allowed him to be deported to Pakistan on single condition that he'll never ever allowed to come to Dubai in whatsoever conditions.

I feel pity for Mohammad Amir, who had such a shining career right from the word go, and he self detonated himself by involving into such crap. Although the kinda family background he comes from, benefit of doubt must be given to him because he never knew how sports politics goes on, but still he should had gone to listen to his internal instincts, because I am damn sure there are black sheeps everywhere, but I only and ONLY differ from the court's decision which only penalized that bastard Majeed, whom his brother called him as a religious person, complete bullshit, because if he was a religious person, he shouldn't had involved into this crap.

What about management?

Why management of the Touring Pakistani Cricket Team spared? On what grounds? How Majeed was able to intrude into players' hotel suites during the curfew duration? I must admit and confess, Pakistani players in comparison are very outgoing and forget their limits in such circumstances, but management who are supposed to be competent enough to handle them, misfired, like the person who has gaseous explosion going on in his stomach ;), the fault lies with them, they were first to be trialed in the courts of the UK instead of the players who played the part of exploiting their mismanagement...

Secondly, at the time when such crises raises its head, internal team management are preferred to take ample action, void of it, than the governing body takes action, if touring management in such circumstances take right action on the right time, than ICC won't bother to punish and penalize them as penalizing the one accused twice on the same is null&void according to the global laws.

So I personally think, there are some missing parts still being blacked to us, which we should find out so that the mist from the case clears.

What Pakistan cost from this trial of its players?

Dignity and Integrity, I personally think Pakistan lost from the trial of its players. The name which Pakistanis created globally with their cricketing skills got muddy, the records, landmarks Pakistanis created across the globe, now all in vein, because of these stupid bums.

1. Highest win/loss ratio in Home Tests

Pakistan’s home venues have become no-go zone for international teams due to security reasons but surprisingly Pakistan has the best home record in Test Cricket. Pakistan’s Win/Loss Ratio of 2.54 is the best among all nations. Pakistan has played 151 Tests at home; 56 won, 22 lost and 73 drawn, that gives ratio of 2.54 to Pakistan. Australia with 2.26 is second whereas Sri Lanka with 1.86 is third.

2. Most “Sixes” in ODIs and International Cricket

“367” is the number of Sixes Shahid Afridi has hit in international cricket (including Tests, ODIs and T20 Int.), the most number of sixes by any batsman in International Cricket. In ODIs alone, he has hit 289 Sixes which is another world record.

3. Most runs by batsman in a calendar year of Test Cricket

In 2006, Mohammad Yousuf scored 1788 runs in 11 Tests at average of 99.33. He broke the previous record of 1710 runs in 11 Tests by Viv Richards. Yousuf’s innings were against India, Sri Lanka, England and West Indies. He was in sublime form throughout the year even on hostile batting wickets of England, he scored in bulk; 631 runs in 4 Tests including a double-century and 2 centuries. During course of 1788, Yousuf also scored 665 runs in a 3 Test series against West Indies –most runs by Pakistan batsman in 3 Test series – and he hit 5 centuries in consecutive matches.

4. Nine centuries in a calendar year of Test Cricket

2006 didn’t end for Yousuf by giving him most runs in a year but it also ended up giving him 9 centuries; another world record. At end of the year, in series against West Indies, Yousuf hit 4 centuries in 3 Matches which made his tally to 9 centuries in a year. Arvinda de Silva, Ricky Ponting, Viv Richards and Sachin Tendulkar have hit 7 centuries in a calendar year.

5. Most five-wicket hauls in ODI Cricket

Waqar Younis has taken 13 five-wicket hauls in 262 ODIs; a record of most-wicket hauls by any bowler in ODIs, not only this, he also has record for taking most 4+ wickets in ODIs; 27 times he has taken 4+ wickets in ODI Cricket.

6. Fastest to reach 100, 150, 200 and 250 ODI wickets

All the tallies belong to one man. Perhaps the best spinner ODI Cricket has ever seen. Saqlain Mushtaq, the off-spinner of Pakistan, has record for being the fastest to reach 100, 150, 200 and 250 ODI wickets. He also has two hat-tricks in ODIs; joint record with Wasim Akram, Chaminda Vass and Lasith Malinga.

7. Seven players of batting line-up’s top-order scoring 50+ in a Test innings

In Pakistan’s famous Test victory against India in Karachi 2006, seven Pakistan batsman scored 50+ runs in second innings. In first innings Pakistan were bowled out on 245 but in second innings Pakistan scored 599-7 (declared) with all 7 batsmen who were out scoring 50+ runs. Salmam Butt (53), Imran Farhat (57), Younis Khan (77), Mohammad Yousuf (97), Faisal Iqbal (139), Shahid Afridi (60) and Abdul Razzaq (90) were part of this record.

8. Nine consecutive fifties in ODI Cricket

Between March and October of 1987, Javed Miandad scored 9 fifties in consecutive ODIs. Javed’s innings were 78 , 78*, 74*, 60, 52*, 113, 71*, 68 and 103. He is the only batsman to go that far as second best is 6 consecutive fifties by Gordon Greenidge.

9. Best bowling figures in Twenty20 Internationals

Umar Gul’s 5-wicket haul against New Zealand in ICC World T20 2009 stands as finest spell bowled in Twenty20 Internationals. He took 5 wickets for 6 runs in his 3 overs, these are best figures by a bowler in Twenty20 Internationals.

10. Best bowling figures in Twenty20 Cricket

In first edition of Indian Premier League in 2008, Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir took 6 wickets for 14 runs in a match against Chennai Super Kings while playing for Rajhastan Royals. To date, 4-0-14-6 remains the best bowling figure by any bowler in Twenty20 Cricket.

11. Youngest player to score double-century in Test Cricket

At age of 19 years 140 days, Javed Miandad became the youngest batsman to score a double-century in Test Cricket. In October 1976, Miandad scored 206 runs against New Zealand in Karachi.

12. Only triple-century in second innings of the team

There have been many triple-centuries scored in Test Cricket but, to date, Hanif Mohammad’s 337 against West Indies in Bridgetown 1958 remains the only incident of a batsman scoring triple-century in second innings of the team. In his marathon innings, Hanif Mohammad batted for 970 minutes which is another World Record of longest Test innings played with-respect-to Minutes.
In same match, Pakistan were bowled out on 106 in first innings. In follow-on innings, Pakistan scored 657-8 (declared). The difference of 551 between two innings is the largest difference between a team’s first and second innings; a world record itself.

13. Longest innings of the cricket history

Few major innings since the war have provoked such contradictory critical appraisal as that played by Pakistan's captain in the Lord's Test of 1967. It began at 4.40 p.m. on Friday, July 27, and ended only when he ran out of partners at 3.24 p.m. the following Monday scoring 187 not out.

Press comment along the way embraced the full spectrum of colourful opinion: from the outraged puce of those writers who regard themselves as the guardians of sporting entertainment to the purplest prose that could be mustered by others who acclaimed it one of the batting masterpieces of their time.

14. Maintaining average of 50 throughout batting career

Javed Miandad, along with Herbert Sutcliffe, is the only batsman in Test Cricket whose batting average never fell below 50. Miandad ended his career with batting average of 52.57, scoring 8832 runs in 124 Tests.

15. Five batsmen scoring centuries in a Test Innings

In August 2003 at National Stadium Karachi against Bangladesh, Five batsmen of Pakistan’s batting line-up scored centuries, making it only second instant; first Australia’s five batsmen scored centuries in an innings. Saeed Anwar (101), Tafueer Umar (104), Inzamam-ul-Haq (105), Mohammad Yousuf (102*) and Abdul Razzak (110*) were part of this record.

Now

because of them, the world has got chance to point fingers on our credibility, and past performances, and they have the right to do so because we gave them such chances. We in Pakistan don't feel but I am thinking about the overseas Pakistan scattered globally, how much they'd be humiliated because of their home country cricketers disgraced the Flag and the Nation because of their selfish acts. اللہ ان کو عقل اور ہوش کے ناخن سونگھوائے آمین

Sad day for cricket

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:47:35 PST

http://thinker-thinkingoutofthebox.blogspot.com/2011/11/sad-day-for-cricket.html

It is Really the Tip of the Iceberg This Time

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:39:17 PST

It is Really the Tip of the Iceberg This Time

Old Horses

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:30:02 PDT

Old Stallions did the job for Sialkot, but even though they are

the sixth time winner, Rawalpindi Rams do require standing

ovation for showing signs of improvements.

Even though, Sialkot Stallions won Faysal Bank T20 2011 held at National Stadium, Karachi, but sorry to say, Sialkot do not deserve to be applauded for this achievement, because most of their players have international experience, and like I say, are old-horses and they're of no with the young boys of Rawalpindi Rams. International experience matters alot, no one can't deny that fact, so a team which had 6 players in the final-lineup which was playing against the Rams, who are also part of Pakistan National Cricket side or were part of or were engaged with Australian Big Bash down-under. So was the competition on equality?

Kudos to Rams for showing a continuous and consistent performance from Faisalabad down to Karachi. Rams were the team whose average age in the team was under 30 years in comparison to a team whose main guns were either in their booming 30s or passed.

Look at here, a team whose half of the team is based internationally, on the contrary Rams were the team who had Sohail Tanvir, Umer Amin and Hammad Azam as their internationally played assets, still they were the last time Super8 winners at Faisalabad and finalists in Karachi. I thought such tournaments were for grooming youngsters, instead of giving lifeline to the older ones.

If guys at PCB go that way, than I fear there won't be motivation left for the youngsters to perform. Just look at the other side of the border at east of Pakistan, they've been utilizing the talents they are getting from IPL and CLT20, and got players like Virat Kohli and Amit Mishra to name some, and they've been acting professionally by strengthening their bench-strength, they hired international coaches for the domestic circuits, unlike us who hire international coaches for National Team instead of hiring them at the grass root level.

Like the way we act at the time of floods in Sindh, with no planning although even a common man like me knew such catastrophe might happen but the guys who were to be responsible about it never act on time, similar is the case with Cricket, this current tournament at Karachi was great one, it was a crowd and sponsor puller as well, but still PCB has been taking this tournament as a formality, not more than that, instead of taking it an opportunity to groom youngsters and upgrade ground facilities on regular, which they aren't.

When are we gonna plan on long-term scale! A question, which answer is kinda gloomy to find way out.

ICC, PCB and PTT Recommendations

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:17:43 PDT

Not every recommendations but some of them are worth applying, don't know why they're taking time for it!

I know it is going to be a boring conversation but is an important aspect is availability of Cricketing Infrastructure spanned into different parts of the country instead of 3 4 test centers where all around the year, cricket is played. When International Cricket used to organize in Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, were a must for visiting teams to play there, ignoring smaller test centers, like Sheikhupura, Multan (although their newly built stadium is quite big), Faisalabad, Peshawar, Hyderabad Sindh, Mirpurkhas, Sialkot, etc investing in infrastructures in these cities is beneficiary for Pakistan Cricket, as most of the team which plays for Pakistan, hails from these divisions and smaller remote areas, so it's time for investing in infrastructures instead of wasting money on ICC meetings, where things are preplanned and such meeting are just a formality.

I just wanna know, what improvement did they bought into existing infrastructures? Nothing! I pass everyday from National Stadium Bridge off to Karsaz Road, its shades are all getting rusted, paint and blocks are getting down. When getting free time, when international games aren't organized on your grounds than why don't spending some bucks on them, to make them ready when international cricket returns to Pakistan! Are they thinking so far??? I don't think... They're in mood to fill the pockets but not of the cricket board's but of their own selves, that's why they willing to resume cricketing ties with India but not utilizing one percent of it into their already built ones.

Why am I saying like that?

Talent Hunt Campaigns

Currently talent hunt programs are happening in Lahore, but not in the remote areas of Pakistan where majority of the talent for Pakistan comes from, so they are wasting this money at wrong place! I'd had preferred such camp to be held at Sialkot, Nowshehra, Peshawar, Swat, Multan, or Hyderabad Sindh, plus such talent hunting schemes are useless when it's happening once at a time, like ECB conducts its county games according to divisions i.e. North, South etc, the same way they should had conducted this talent hunt thing. In this way vacant placed cricket grounds were fully utilized instead of concentrating in one city for whole over Pakistan.

Vacant placed cricketing facilities

Since no international cricket is being played in Pakistan, than its better to let it be upgrade, look at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, the work on its pavilion is still unfinished, National Stadium in Karachi, its short of capacity for a city vastly spanned, maybe it was suitable for the city till 1996 but now city has spanned alot but still its seating arrangements are not upto the mark, big-screen is also ill-placed on the ground level, a major-overhaul is required specially at NSK, but apart from that, new cricketing venues are also required, and refurbishment of existing ones specially at Hyderabad Sindh is required, else it'd be used as marriage halls or/and helipads.

Winning the trust

Winning the trust of Pakistani investors is a big thing, and that could only be done while completing the projects on time plus making this domestic tournaments as a successful package! Already this current domestic Faysal Bank T20 Super 8 2011 tournament was a big success as every team had its own sponsor, therefore sponsors are willing but on the same time, they're reluctant because of the ill-management and corruption in the cricket board, such thing should be stopped! When domestic tournaments would be a successful package, they (the PCB) will get reserves for upgrading their existing infrastructures.

Why am I still sarcastic?

Because I am not seeing a plan, vision and/or guidelines on which they are working/moving/crawling, they just know how to cry on spilled milk, but are not willing to work out on the reasons! Things are really creepy in the jungle of PCB (as they are running the organization as the rule of the jungle). Atleast when they're about to leave the seats, they should do something good for the country, for goodness sakes! Before they came into power, Pakistan had some say in cricketing world, Pakistan ranked in between 3 - 4 before 2008, both in tests and ODIs, apart from World T20 Event, no other ICC labeled trophy is shelved for Pakistan., during the same period India has one T20 event in 2007 and one 50 over Cricket World Cup under their name. Plus I personally feel, next year's World T20 event is again gonna go under the name of India as Sri Lanka is familiar for Indians, as they already had last year's Asia Cup played at Dambulla under their belts, whereas no planning whatsoever from Pakistan's end can be seen, as last time when these two teams met, Dhoni was captaining the side both at Sri Lanka and Mohali but this time when Pakistan's gonna play in Sri Lanka, it'd be Misbah's turn to wear the cap of Skipper, no stability whatsover, 3 players already in court rooms (the famous trio), the fourth one (Kaneria) going to do the same. I feel they are in spot of bother when it comes to planning for future, they just want to complete their time, already they're showing their grievances when ICC showed them some recommendations to apply. Some of them I felt were logical, but still for it they're willing to take dictations, than what can I say!

Peace!

Blunders... Nothing more than blunders

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 02:31:18 PDT

Kapil Dev

Batting and fielding averages

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	6s	Ct
Tests	131	184	15	5248	163	31.05			8	27	61	64
ODIs	225	198	39	3783	175*	23.79	3979	95.07	1	14		71
First-class	275	384	39	11356	193	32.91			18	56		192
List A	310	270	47	5481	175*	24.57			2	23		99

Bowling averages

	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10
Tests	131	227	27740	12867	434	9/83	11/146	29.64	2.78	63.9	17	23	2
ODIs	225	221	11202	6945	253	5/43	5/43	27.45	3.71	44.2	3	1	0
First-class	275		48853	22626	835	9/83		27.09	2.77	58.5		39	3
List A	310		14947	9161	335	5/43	5/43	27.34	3.67	44.6	3	2	0

Imran Khan

Batting and fielding averages

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	6s	Ct
Tests	88	126	25	3807	136	37.69			6	18	55	28
ODIs	175	151	40	3709	102*	33.41	5105	72.65	1	19		36
First-class	382	582	99	17771	170	36.79			30	93		117
List A	425	384	80	10100	114*	33.22			5	66		84

Bowling averages

	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10
Tests	88	142	19458	8258	362	8/58	14/116	22.81	2.54	53.7	17	23	6
ODIs	175	153	7461	4844	182	6/14	6/14	26.61	3.89	40.9	3	1	0
First-class	382		65224	28726	1287	8/34		22.32	2.64	50.6		70	13
List A	425		19122	11312	507	6/14	6/14	22.31	3.54	37.7	12	6	0

I am not here to degrade Indian legend by showing such stats but I feel being a sports loving person, it'd be on equality. Honestly if these stats were vice versa i.e. Kapil Dev having stats of Imran Khan and Imran Khan having stats of Kapil Dev, I'd had taken it as this is what sports is all about, means showing sportsmen spirit. But right now when ICC (should I call it International Cricket Council or Indian Cricket Council????), announced the list of all time eleven on the eve of the 2000th test match of international cricket, they made some great blunders, like one I just mentioned above. No doubt Dev has been a great skipper and led his team to famous victory at the 1983 Cricket World Cup, but ignoring these criteria's while announcing an all time 11 that too when international/global cricket is celebrating 2000th test, ignoring not only Imran Khan but also Gary Sobers, Vivian Richards, Richard Headley etc, than personally I think there's some mistake in it, ok the team must have to be limited to 11 players but you can't ignore players like I mentioned up above and also Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose! Plus how can we ignore Great Hanif Muhammad, who was given the title of little master by the Queen Elizabeth herself, plus Javed Miandad (know many will crack jokes on him), but the kind of ton innings he played in tough situations, were all match winning scores. So I must say ICC showed biased ness.

Why am I saying like that?

Economically I must admit Kapil Dev is way too much better than Imran Khan in any format of the game, but apart from Economy rate, Strike rates and Averages are also given importance. Mind you both of them were bowling all-rounders means their major was bowling, rest the readers are quite capable of understanding who's better!

Peace!

Why bowlers into scrutiny all the time?

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:32:48 PDT

A blunder which will snatch remaining advantage from bowlers and grant them directly to batsman

ICC has always been in spot of confusion when it wants to innovate the game of cricket. Right now, ICC made modifications into ODI game by introducing usage of 2 different balls from both ends of the wickets. Implementation of such rule means that a bowler will have to limit himself to conventional swing, and no reverse swing whatsoever.

It must also be noted that it'll give advantage to the team batting, most probably the team which has a strong batting lineup. I am not saying this because I am a Pakistani but I am saying this as a cricket fan that cricket should be a game in which competition between bat and ball on equal grounds.

Why am I saying like that?

I am saying this because of the reason that a pace bowler can bowl swing or reverse swing when it gets old, but when two different balls are to be used from both end, than how can a ball be getting rough enough to be swinging? Only the condition of the pitch can alter it that too during the death overs, maybe new-ball bowlers can take advantage of some sort during the initial over, but this thing would also hamper spin-bowling department as older balls are favourable for spin bowlers, but when balls are to be changed from each end, than bowlers like Saeed Ajmal, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Muhammad Hafeez, Suraj Randhiv, Ajantha Mendis might get some trouble, troubling the batsman.

What else????

The guys at ICC also restricted batting and bowling Powerplays to the period between the 16th and the 40th over, means bowlers are going to get spanking from batsman with love, as the ball(s) is going to be new and hard and it will be on comfortable height for batsman to hit, and therefore they'll have to have revert this stupid law, just like they had to do the same with super-substitute thing which got a biggest flop rating, I can't find a legitimate reason why and what were the grounds, making the game so complicated by introducing usage of two different ball game in a single inning?

What I say?

The Pakistani print and electronic media has been criticizing this move by ICC as personally I feel it's a sick-man's sick dream to introduce such move. Limiting powerplays in between 16th to 40th is a good move but they made a contra of it by introducing such clown-faced recommendation.

Post Script

I say ICC will have to revert it as already before its implication into an international game, it's a flop idea for sure, don't wanna be rational but it'll give advantage to a particular team who're not able to produce reap of fast bowlers, and when they themselves will start to wobble when their own spin bowlers will start to get spanking because of this, they will than pressurize ICC to revert it. So I am keeping my fingers crossed on it.

Peace!

This is not an article but a notice

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 04:48:03 PDT

Sorry about previous some posts in which I HAD to moderate some settings as the original CSS file for my blog got corrupt, so I was literally busy with making a new one, so sorry about this HTML version of Cricsphere, but now its all done and now you'll have a plain blue version of it.

Thanks for bearing

Cheers

ICC and Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:30:53 PDT

Harper did the right thing raising voice against this thing, no one is above the law, the way Indian skipper criticized.

Atlast someone dared to say something openly and bluntly that he's against rationality in the game of cricket, just like Australian Darrel Harper mentioned in his latest radio interview.

It must be noticed that its against the integrity of umpires and officials that players pointing fingers on the integrity of those who manage a particular game, but the way umpires and officials were criticized by Indian skipper. Anyways don't wanna say rough about it because its a natural thing but on the contrary it must be noticed that a game should be played with its full spirit.

Anyways, coming back to Pakistan, because of criticism of Pakistan Cricket Board on Pakistan Task Team findings, now members of Pakistan Task Team are expected to visit Pakistan soon, to have a look into ground realties for which Pakistan Cricket Board heavily criticized ICC-PTT on. But I personally feel that the findings of ICC-PTT was well managed because before 1999, Pakistan Cricket Board was run under Governor Bodies, and they used to conduct elections and elect chairman of the cricket board, it was after 1999 that ad-hoc was implemented where chairman of the cricket board was selected by Patron-in-Chief which is usually President of the Country, and the whole problem starts from there.

Why am I saying like that?

I am saying this because of following reasons:

President of the country doesn't have time to look into the matters of cricketing affairs, and whatever is presented in front of him, he's to believe them, because its his own appointed personnel. Limiting the power of many people into one single personnel, means there would be a series of blunders, as the chairman would try to poke into other matters like selection of the team and other matters, plus he'll try to have all powers under him including governor board's meetings and etc. As there wont be scrutiny or audit of what he does, he'd definitely try to bring his own people into helm of affairs of the board so that there would be anyone who'd be pointing fingers on him. He'd definitely not like a scenario where there would be chance of elections.

What were the main points, PCB raised fingers on ICC-PTT findings?

They wobble that:

The Fact-Finding report was made on the opinion of one person (Ramiz Raja, who was the only Pakistan in that lot which prepared this report)
This fact finding report was void of ground realties, which prevails in Pakistan.
Interaction with Government is necessary when it comes to settling of security and other similar matters.

PCB itself requested ICC for preparing of such report, but there should have been clear guideline, instead of giving privilege

What I say?

I say that these people are living in la la land! First of all, tell me one thing. before 1999 when PCB was run like a joint stock company, which was mentioned in the panels of Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan, also known as SECP, even than teams used to visit Pakistan and play good cricket as well, ok admit it that since September 11, 2001 times have changed but still so much influence of Government ain't good for the game itself. I don't know what other reasons are there other than easiness of having corruption in the board. They have literally bankrupt that Hen which used to lay golden eggs because of their spend-theft activities.

By spend-theft, I mean those expenditures which includes unnecessary traveling of our beloved chairman of cricket board whenever and wherever the team is touring to, since its obligatory for Pakistan Cricket Team to play their home and away games on the foreign shores, so its like Eid for the management of Pakistan Cricket Board to enjoy the freedom of traveling world-wide, who can resist to such privileges.

So I am definitely in favour of what ICC recommended but on the same, I do oppose their unnecessary poking, and on this I am in favour of PCB because its none of ICC's matter as although there are some flaws in the PCB but still Pakistan Cricket Board is Incharge of domestic matters and ICC don't have any obligation to impose whatsoever grounds, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka also have the same issues i.e. Governmental influences etc but ICC never dare to poke there and impose its authority, it can give suggestions and guidelines but implementing them in on the hands of PCB or the home country cricket board.

Don't wanna be rational that's why not saying that because Sharad Pawar is the President of ICC, that's why this and that is happening, we must admit that India has created its lobbying power to an extend where Pakistan will need some time to reach.

Post Script

By the time I am writing this, India is about to play England in the 2000th test match of cricketing world and still Mr. Butt is on his way to the London to experience that special test match plus have "informal talks" with ICC and ICC-PTT members. I just wanna conclude that they should keep their media cell active so that hoax like such shouldn't get space on national and international media, in a TV show when CEO of PCB Subhan Ahmed came, and clarified many rumours that they have not rejected but showed some reservations regarding SOME points of their fact-finding reports so one can't say we've rejected them. I just say when such step was taken before such things erupted, couldn't that been much better? A good manager is a person who senses such things before they occur.

Peace!

What I think of pros and cons off this current ICC Conference for Pakistan Cricket

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 06:38:08 PDT

These couple of days have been very interactive for the cricketing world, specially when it comes to decision makings and rules regulations for the future of the game, as if how the game is to be played from now on.

I agree with many but disagree with some as:

Things I agree with:

No-Government influence in Cricket Governing Body in a Country
Elections in the Country's Cricket Board chairman and other members instead of being selected from the higher authorities of their Governments
Runners' rule
Test Championships etc

But things I disagree with:
Following are some of the points I greatly disagree with. Some of them even looks like minute points but they are capable of hampering the game itself. Although I must admit not everyone would agree with me on these points specially like you're reading point like Hawke-Eye, which majority wants to remove it from International Cricket but I think another way.

Hawke-Eye removal

There can be modification into Hawke-Eye like instead of predicting the 2.5 rule (in simple, the distance it's gonna cover after passing the batter) it should be removed as there're some confusion with it but it could had been used for only predicting the overall path of the ball since it pitched and hit the batter so that one can understand what's going on because I feel human-eye is a much better tool than this Hawk-eye and Virtual Technologies, because with assistance from technology, human-eye can best predict, which way the ball's gonna move so it's useless that such technology has been wiped-off from cricket. I'm not putting my weight on this technology but somewhat its helpful for umpires whether they're upstairs or on field. I'm in favour of retaining these powers with umpires as they are the best to adjudge such decision. Although I am not a great fan of its prediction, look at this for reference. Plus what I feel that Hawk-Eye may struggle with predicting the curved trajectory of a cricket ball after bouncing: the time between a ball bouncing and striking the batsman may be too short to generate the three frames (at least) needed to plot a curve accurately.

Matches distributions

Matches' distribution among the member countries have been unequal, where India, England and Australia have been the major beneficiaries from current FTP which is for the period between 2011 to 2020 season. I already wrote about unequal distribution, but forgot to mention that how other teams are going to progress when they're going to play less matches compared to India, Australia and England, how can a team progress up to ICC Test and ODI rankings when it is to play mere 88, 89 matches when the formers are going to play 120 matches a piece during the same period. I am not saying this being a Pakistani but overall, when it comes to teams like South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand as well, they also got double figured matches.

Window for Domestic Tournaments

This is the major concern for me, as business is a funny thing which requires competition among the masses, here India was able to create window for two of its multimillion tournaments in this current edition of FTP, if that's the case than SLPL is just round the corner, plus many countries are planning to stage their own edition of Premier Leagues', plus many countries are already having their own T20 domestic tournaments like England and Australia and most probably West Indies too and therefore we can expect from them that they can also press ICC to give window for their domestic tournaments, and therefore by giving space to such tournaments, ICC itself have self-detonated.

Test and ODI Cricket Ratings

They didn't discussed it like the way it should had been but it is a major concern as there are some comical errors in the rating system, as what I feel in-order to create a sense of performance variable points system, they forgot that there could be instances like a number two team in the test ranking, playing a number seven ranked team, at latter's home-ground, if former wins series 2-1 or even 1-0, it'll not affect its ranking, but if the second team wins even a single test game against the number two sided team, it's ranking will improve vice versa and similarly that number two team will have some decline to its ratings. Similar was the case with Pakistan, when before ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, it toured New Zealand, it won the test and ODI series but still its ratings weren't moved, although those games which Pakistan lost in ODI's that time were close games and Pakistan didn't lost those games with the margin less 50 runs. Unlike FIFA having its ratings in which they calculate how much a team scored goals and how much goals were scored against them and who were the opposition they were playing with, they also applied variances but it is working unlike this ICC Ranking System, where I can't understand and what in the world made them to apply performance variable calculus for robots when the players playing on cricket grounds are human beings.

Last but not the least, The Associates
Initially before this meeting, the Associates were scrapped off from 2015 ICC Cricket World

Cup which is awarded to Australia and New Zealand, and this tournament was initially limited to 10 top full member teams, but in this meeting it was decided that this tournament would be a 14 teams with four teams being from the associates, which have to play the qualifiers. Associates have taken it as their win as now they are able to play against the big guns and polish themselves.

What About Pakistan Cricket Board?

I think these were the major points which could create a difference in future for the games, but still for Pakistan Cricket Board I'd say they should work for the recommendations laid down by ICC Pakistan Task Team a.k.a. ICC PTT, they should work for the implementations of those recommendations, instead of making lame excuses like they've been right now. Satisfying the ICC ain't an achievement, instead clearing up their own collars and their own house if what is really mattered. I don't wanna say anything more which might make me end-up being blocked from blogosphere, but what's my philosophy that you should point fingers on others but not before clearing up yourself and well-prepared. That's where I'm finding this cricket-board being foolishly runned, is this a way a corporate organization is run? I don't think so.

What I say, and WHY?
What my experience working in the corporate, they ask for work and results, and in case of

presentation or slides of achievements, you're advised to be fully prepared, confident, bold and fluent, and you should work on yourself that much that people around you should act according to you, instead of they dictating the terms on you. This current Cricket Board is working vice-versa, they're not confident, agile and most importantly without any homework at all, so how can they say that they posses achievements of some sorts? Pathetic is a hard term but its still not enough for them, as they are more than they are seen above the ground.

Post-Script
In short, I can only say that Pakistan should work on the next FTP from today so that such mishaps which happened this time ain't gonna happen again, plus ICC should also pave way from all member countries to have almost equal number of games during the FTP period, there can be a difference of ± 5-10 games but difference like one can see in this current FTP where one team is playing 120 odd games while other team is playing 80 odd during the same period, they wobble that they're taking all possible steps to promote the game of cricket, than how and what in the world is making the over-looking such basic things. I am not saying this being a Pakistani but being a sports lover that when ICC is saying clear up the mess from your house, than they should first apply the same with them and clear up those drama-queens which are in ICC, responsible for such a mess. They say spot and match fixing is a big mess in cricket, I say they should first remove betting from cricket as I feel this is not the main instead the root cause and mother of all problems and a bone-of-contention.

No offence... Cheers!

People getting happy on so much little achievements

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 08:51:53 PDT

Doing nothing for Pakistan Cricket,

instead have been a curse

PCB has been on the high that they achieved what they wanted from the ICC meeting held at Hong Kong. Most probably it means that they expected very low results from that meeting.

WHY I AM SAYING THIS?

Even the results of the FTP negotiations are not as bad as initially expected. Between now and April 2020, Pakistan have 88 Tests scheduled which is considerably lower than the big guns of England, Australia and India but alongside Sri Lanka (88) and ahead of West Indies (84), South Africa (82) and New Zealand (80). This, officials said, was the result of increased efforts over the last year with other boards, an indication that relations with a few members might be improving, albeit tentatively.

England and Australia will play 109 and 107 Tests respectively between now and April 2020, with five Ashes series planned - three in England and two in Australia. Pakistan, who have had to play their home series at neutral venues in recent times due to security concerns in their own country, will host Bangladesh and Australia in 2012, and South Africa in 2013. They will play 88 Tests in total till April 2020.

In March 2012, they (Pakistan) are even scheduled to tour India and getting that inked into the FTP is being considered an achievement by the board. If political relations improve, there could be more tours which will add considerably to Pakistan's schedule. Means a conditional schedule, which means that although it seems Pakistan able to gather some India tours in bags but under the conditions, dictated by the BCCI itself.

Secondly, Mr. Butt has been busy touring China, and on asking he is saying that whatever the reports hovering in Pakistan and Internationally regarding influence of governmental authorities on cricket boards must be removed, is a fallacy.

I just can't imagine why this old man instead of going to the mosque and start praying to Allah for his sins, instead doing politics in the cricket board itself. I just hope something better goes into admin matters of Pakistan Cricket.

Faysal Bank Super 8 T20, light at the end of tunnel!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:55:34 PDT

Although the tournament was only 8 days, but it was an

action packed tournament, which ended on the first super

over of Pakistan Cricket History

The most exciting T20 venture Pakistan Cricket ever had just ended last night with a bang and an upset when Rawalpindi Rams snatched Faysal Bank 2011 Super 8 T20 Tournament trophy from Karachi Dolphins.

Dolphins who were playing its 5th final in this this domestic T20 tournament, had some highs and lows during the 8 days long tournament they participated in.

Some Lows

No one will say this was a low, but to be honest, we lacked in captaincy, and batting. Bowling paved the way for Karachietes enroute to the finals. I am objecting on captaincy because of the blunders they did in the match against Multan Tigers, making unnecessary batting shufflings, giving strike to them who're pinch hitters over those who best suited to the situation, take example of Sarfraz Ahmed, who is a regular batter but was demoted into the batting order to give way for the sloggers like Sohail Khan and the skipper Sami himself, and when Sarfaraz came on strike, although he scored 8 on 3 balls but that was just too little too late.

Secondly, we lag in power hitting department, I am not aiming in dark, but seriously if you go through the score line of Karachi, they heavily relied on 2, 3 batters, i.e. Rameez Raja Junior scoring 238, Asad Shafiq scoring 174 and Khalid Latif scoring 136 of their route to the finals playing 5 matches, they did played their part but they were the ones only whom the team heavily relied, unlike Rams, who had unknowns but everyone in their team played its part. Whatever matches Karachi won in this tournament is because of their batting.

Smiling Highs

Karachi lost the match on super-over, secondly kept their legacy of participating into the 5th final of this tournament, but there were couple of highs for the blue shirters, as their bowling did cover their captaincy and batting blunders throughout the tournament and kudos for them to have such attack and making a cliffhanger. I'd like to point out some of the bowling performances by Karachi during the tournament.

Sohail Khan

Bowl, Bat	Team		Opposition	Ground	Date
5/23	K Dolphins	v	R Rams	Faisalabad	1 Jul 2011
4/18	K Dolphins	v	S Stallions	Faisalabad	30 Jun 2011
3/32	K Dolphins	v	Wolves	Faisalabad	28 Jun 2011
2/32, 0*	K Dolphins	v	Tigers	Faisalabad	26 Jun 2011
14/105, 0

Tanvir Ahmed

Bowl, Bat	Team		Opposition	Ground	Date
1/39	K Dolphins	v	R Rams	Faisalabad	1 Jul 2011
1/55	K Dolphins	v	S Stallions	Faisalabad	30 Jun 2011
1/32	K Dolphins	v	Wolves	Faisalabad	28 Jun 2011
0/36, 1	K Dolphins	v	Tigers	Faisalabad	26 Jun 2011
2/27, 7*	K Dolphins	v	R Rams	Faisalabad	24 Jun 2011
5/294, 8

Azam Hussain

Bowl, Bat	Team		Opposition	Ground	Date
2/31	K Dolphins	v	R Rams	Faisalabad	1 Jul 2011
2/34	K Dolphins	v	S Stallions	Faisalabad	30 Jun 2011
2/10	K Dolphins	v	Wolves	Faisalabad	28 Jun 2011
1/33, 1*	K Dolphins	v	Tigers	Faisalabad	26 Jun 2011
3/38	K Dolphins	v	R Rams	Faisalabad	24 Jun 2011
10/440

Mohammad Sami

Bowl, Bat	Team		Opposition	Ground	Date
1/18	K Dolphins	v	R Rams	Faisalabad	1 Jul 2011
2/43, 0	K Dolphins	v	S Stallions	Faisalabad	30 Jun 2011
1/5, 18	K Dolphins	v	Wolves	Faisalabad	28 Jun 2011
0/32, 0	K Dolphins	v	Tigers	Faisalabad	26 Jun 2011
0/31, 2	K Dolphins	v	R Rams	Faisalabad	24 Jun 2011
4/129, 20

Although bowling was also not upto the mark but they did paved the way for the team. Everyone chipped in with the contributions, and if their were not fielding and captaincy blunders, things might have gone in Karachi favour. But still taking nothing away from Rawalpindi Rams, they were the under dogs, and that's why they complimented each other and complemented exquisitely. Plus one shouldn't forget Awais Zia's onslaught on Karachi pace batteries, from start Pindi were on 5th gear which honestly speaking didn't allow Karachi to recover although it looked the game shifted either this way or the other but literally they played according to their plan and stick to it, therefore they deserved this win.

Hoping for the best for Pakistan cricket.

The ICC Conference 2011 in Hong Kong and Pakistan...

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:19:02 PDT

ICC surely took some tough decisions in this

conference held at Hong Kong, some were meaningful

others were meaningless, like allotting unequal

number of games among the playing nations

Atlast India have won this frontier and many congrats on it as they made Pakistan Cricket on the backfoot. But no blame game as whatever happened, is because of our own mistakes.

Why I am saying this? Its because of just 88 test matches, in which some of the India-Pakistan matches schedules are yet to be decided due to political differences between the two boards, officially it says 88 but I say not more than 78 79 test matches after Pakistan tour to Windies to the end of 2020 where this current FTP is limited to.

In it we're unsure of many tournaments which Pakistan is going to play according to FTP, but while reviewing the FTP I find out that there Pakistan has been deprived of its share of games allotted as compared to India, Australia and England, who have been playing a 5 match test series, Pakistan is only given maximum 4 match series, else its flooded with 3 match, maximum 4 match per series even against the opposition like South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand etc.

Not counting the ODI and T20 as compared to the above mentioned ones, they are also playing the major share of ODI's as well, where Pakistan has been the third last behind Windies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in its quota of games to be played between the period.

I am not saying it did injustice and did and that, but the matter of fact is that there are mistakes from our end, which made us pay the price to that extend, they just capitalized the advantage they got because of us. Else Boards like BCB and SLC were/are under threat from ICC on losing its membership, PCB could had taken them in the club and tried convincing the ICC to give more share of games under its belt in this current FTP.

As far as the rules and regulation that ICC gave a press release about cricket boards without political influence, means Pakistan Cricket Board, Bangladesh Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket are under direct assault and they have 24 months to bring that much change into their whole system. Although Pakistan solitary retaliated and foolishly said that political influence is required for setting up security matters for foreign and national tours etc, but I agree with the ICC on it that cricket boards are required to be elected not selected. It means that Pakistan will experience many changes in its system, influence of governing council, board of governance, which were a tale of old times will revive again.

Hoping for the best for Pakistan cricket.

BCCI doing injustice, claims Modi

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:35:25 PDT

Sri Lankan Premier League and BCCI... What's next?

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 08:16:01 PDT

I personally can't understand objections

by BCCI on not sending its players to

SLPL

I gotta say, we South Asians are pretty good in creating a drama, of whatever the reason. At one end we have BCCI who have been acting like a GodFather of cricketing world, on the contrary, there's a buffoon as chairman of the slot, who is only busy in giving job opportunities to retired personnel of whatever the field, they just have to have some sort of hello hi with him. On the contrary, I must say, that Sri Lanka has been a victim, as during the recently concluded Cricket World Cup 2011, it was the only full fledged team, as a host who was deprived of playing its full quota of home games at HOME (remember, their last game against the Kiwis was at Wankhede, Mumbai, although it was a home game for Sri Lanka), secondly it didn't got its match fees and broadcast money from BCCI, as we all know today most of the construction work done on that scale, the span Sri Lanka did on its ground was on macro scale, and so it had to leased them, and if news on Thursday (16th June, 2011) are to be believed true, Sri Lanka cricket asked for loan on easy installment from its government for expenditures made on its infrastructures and facilities, I can be wrong but a cricket board recovers that amount from ground door fees and broadcasting facilities. It means the SLC didn't get its share of pie from the Cricket World Cup 2011 package itself, that's why I am calling SLC as victims and they're being victimized more and more when its about to start its own domestic T20 tournament at R. Premadasa Stadium, at Colombo.

I am not getting this point, when IPL is having IMG responsible for the logistics and marketing of the multimillion tournament, so when Sri Lanka Cricket appointed Somerset, how can it be claimed that its not owned by SLC but Somerset? While reading the case history of SLPL, SLC did gave a tender, which a Singapore based company, Somerset, won it for the logistics and marketing of the tournament, so I don't think there's anything wrong with it... Everyone does it. Even during the last part of Sharjah Cup, WorldTel used to do the same job before TenSports came for the same, don't wanna say the same for Pakistan Cricket as there has been a dilemma with Pak Cricket that we do not had a permanent broadcaster in near past, since inception of TenSports into Pakistan Cricket.

Not wanna use tough words but

atleast one should be realistic

when pointing fingers on

someone else, as when you point

one finger on others, four points

you back

Plus secondly, last nail into the coffin, BCCI also took away its players from participating into the SLPL claiming its a tournament run by a private party. I'm damn sure of the two scenarios over here:

One, if the same was appointed in accordance with BCCI, such thing wouldn't had happened, i.e. go for IMG-TWI, so that India-Sri Lanka cricket boards' partnership goes longer like their test teams are having...
Second, it can be a tactic to gather attention into this tournament, else being a Sri Lankan domestic tournament, no one would go for this tournament, hence television audience will be decreased.
Third, I must not mention this, but as Indian Masala has already been involved with Sri Lankan Cricket, it can be a tit-for-tat, against SLC when it called its players back from recently concluded IPL, for its national side tour to tough conditions in England. Lasith Malinga gave its retirement for the same as he wanted to participate into this multimillion tournament, later from which SLC compromised.

So I say, these are the three scenarios which are involved, else there's no reason why BCCI is objecting and not allowing its players to involve in this tournament, maybe because it wants to give ample importance and glamour to its players, so that they're only limited to IPL and Indian Cricket Board based matches, as it rates them as their product, like we say in Urdu, Sonay ka Anda Dene Wali Murghi, and no one except PCB rates their players as raw material which are to be ignored and put into dustbin.

Are heroes treated like that?

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:56:04 PDT

Not only Afridi but there are many players

who were disgraced in current cricket

board's tenure.

After a week long gap, I'm again in a mood to write one, as dust from Afridi-PCB controversy starting to settle as Afridi withdraw his petition against the PCB and made himself available for the hearing at PCB HQ. On the other hand PCB gifted him with hefty fines and with that gave him a PCB NOC which means he can now play his remaining stint with UK County Hampshire and the SLPL.

Since 8th of October 2008, when this Azaab-e-Ilahi (God's Curse), imposed on us in the shape of PCB chairman, following the support with some of the in-power political parties and parties in the opposition, has ruined and deteriorated Pakistan's and Pakistan Cricket's image once and for all, It'll take sometime to get these wounds healed.

We lost players like MoYo and Younis just because they came in against of the Butt's dictatorship. They claim that we got rid of dictatorship but I say a new sort of idiotic dictatorship has been imposed on us where no one's accountable on the top but the sub-ordinates do.

I am too young to have a memory of PCB's history but whatever I heard and searched about PCB from my elders and from the internet, I never found a clue that so many players went in against of the administrator of the PCB to the court in a same tenure. Players had to have a visit to Provincial High Courts in order to gain some justice against the PCB. I don't know why and what in the world making them so complacent to take action against this buffoon in human shape. Neither he has provided with a future plan for Pakistan cricket, nor invested in PCB property like Grounds, infrastructures etc, but in order to get positive gestures from the people in power, he has created an International Cricket Ground in Garhi Khuda Bukhsh. I do not object on this construction of ground but what guarantee do they give it'd be well maintained, unlike National Stadium in Karachi, which is under shattered, although they've worked so much on the outfield but what about the outlook of the ground? Similarly with a domestically used PCB held cricket ground recently constructed at Mirpurkhas, Sindh, which outer walls were on ground when last year torrential rains after Cyclone Phet hit Thatta and adjourning areas.

Talking about players, this is not the first time that a senior has retaliated against the current administration of the PCB, Younis Khan who won us the 2009 WT20 stint in the UK also came under fire, than MoYo and so on and so forth. I just thank Almighty Inzamam-ul-Haq retired on the right time, else the kinda respect and response he got from everyone wasn't even thinkable. Already we're famous in the World for not respecting our seniors when they retired, they came up with a boom and die with a spark like a star whose life's diminished with just a spark of light and than its a history. I don't think after great Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, I don't remember we gave a standing ovation to an outgoing sports personality, whether it comes to two great W's. Saqlain Mushtaq, who innovated the Doosra Ball, Shoaib Akhtar, even those who're in and are in hot waters although because of their own, the PCB should have had supported them whatsoever, we should not forget many of our current cricket team players' hail from humble background, so when PCB is spending so much in creating their own housing societies and etc, they should invest in their own players because of them, the PCB is able to generate money but instead of investing them into their players, they're using them in themselves, and let players to play for foreign leagues, to earn, instead of doing something like that on their own ground. I was hearing about PPL or PCL whatsoever since Pakistan played that famous Karachi test against the Indians in 2006-07 season, had they started it on war-approach, if they had started PPL or PCL back than, eventhough attack on Sri Lankan team would had happened, atleast we'd had some source of earning and similarly up-to-date upgrade of our grounds, or at Dubai, Sharjah and/or Abu Dhabi. It could had been a profitable venture in whatever the circumstances.

Look what India have gained from their domestic multimillion tournament, they've up-to-date ground facilities, they are able to have back-benches populated so that there's backup to every single player, on the contrary I need not to mention what's the situation in Pakistan, even those who do not watch cricket know what's and where's wrong! Instead of spending time in investing and creating new ways of generating incomes, they are wasting their energies in court visits and Uncle Butt's foreign trips with the team. May Allah bless us all, Ameen.

He too, did it...

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Tue, 31 May 2011 09:38:24 PDT

Many people will disagree with me but I

feel don't blame PCB as they're pathetic

but I didn't expect such a childish act

from him

As right now when I am writing all this, Pakistan white washed Ireland 2-0, in Belfast yesterday (Monday, 30th May 2011), but again Pakistan Cricket was under spotlight later that night, when I was about to sleep at night when news broke that former Pakistani ODI Skipper Shahid Afridi has retired from International Cricket under condition that he'll return when current cricket board will be dissolved.

Being a Shahid Afridi fan, I said to myself mate you did just right, as whatever was happening with you recently means that such an action was on cards. But later on when I thoroughly went through all this fiasco, I felt that PCB was on fault but Afridi on the other hand was not right in going for an emotional tactic.

Why I am saying so?
Because in an corporate organization (don't wanna say PCB though), one must has to follow the rules and regulations of an organization whether you like it or not, its obligatory. If Afridi had some sort of problems with management, he should have created some lobbying so that he may get some favour against the PCB which could had made his case a lot stronger than right now, as right now when I am writing this, PCB has terminated his central contract and thinking of sending another show-cause notice to him! That's what I feel decisions made on emotions backfire, this is the prove of it.

Reasons to prove:
1. If PCB was so hostile than weren't there any other options other than exposing your aces?

2. If he felt he was not treated the way he should have been, than there were other ways to expose them instead of exposing them in front of Pakistani media, which has been without a sense of patriotism and will publish any report without confirming that whether it'll help the country or not!

3. If he was having problems with management, than he should had gone for a step-by-step revelation, instead of direct revelation, consequences he's already facing. I feel the current PCB will put him under such restrictions that he'll find it difficult to return from that exile, even though if PCB changes.

4. There are ways like putting your case in front of the board of directors of PCB. I know those people are also sold out but still there was some moral gap than that yeah I put my case over there that's why I am taking such drastic steps, than PCB won't had any chance for explanation.

5. He could had taken a diplomatic step that he complained of having players respecting problems, he could had made a league of his own comprises of former skippers in this tenure and than he could had put pressure on the PCB, that could had worked.

The reason I am writing all this, there were alternatives but taking a drastic step to show he was innocent and others were doing wrongly to him, is a childish act, because already retirements from a Pakistani player has been a joke as they retire and they come back. What I feel the definition of retire is to end, finish and not to continue, what sort of retirement is this? Like some English communication errors, we're using redundant and ambiguous terminologies like partial retirement etc. Already Pakistani Cricket has suffered alot because of this "partial retirement sort of blackmailing", this should be stopped by any means. Respectable nations don't do such pathetic acts to deteriorate their country's impression and let their country's flag to go down, when our players will learn it? Time will tell

Sick man's old dream... No doubt

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Sun, 29 May 2011 04:11:38 PDT

Before working properly on this proposal of

staging a home-game in Pakistan, should remain

realistic of the ground realities.

By the time I am writing this, Pakistan have won their first ODI against the Irish. Too bad the game was not telecast on television but still there was not that much hype created for this match as well.

But the real test gonna start for Pakistan in late October when its gonna host Sri Lankans, the current ICC CWC 2011 finalists. It'll be great test for Pakistan on the whole, not only for Pakistani Cricket Team, and (Pathetic performing) Pakistan Cricket Board but also Pakistani Government and Authority, as rumours which prevails in Pakistan that talks have been under going with Lankan authorities for staging Pakistan's home games against Lankans in Pakistan. I personally feel its a sick man's old dream (I am not working on Indian mentality but we should admit reality, the kind of incompetent government sadly we possess I have to admit, we are not in a position to stage an international game against a major opponent in Pakistan.

Winning confidence of the foreign teams is another thing but possessing self-competence is another. When our Eastern and Western borders are not safe enough from intruders so how in the world can we say that we are in a position to stage our home-games in Pakistan? First we should clear-up our own collars with the mess created by our own and than try to look into their eyes, else we'll be laughing matter internationally like we're these days.

Until we do not clear up the mess (this is a time wasting exercise, whoever created it), we should not risk calling teams to play in Pakistan, although its expensive staging games abroad but that's the only option we're left with because of our own in-competency. If I were at the place of Butt, I'd had ceased all international cricketing activities, and would had worked on the grass-root level level upgrade of cricket grounds, infrastructure, facilities, working on B and C teams, just like Proteas authorities did and when they returned, they returned with a bang in 1992, they have their share of weaknesses but their weaknesses are camouflaged by their strong points. Why can't we learn from them? Lets hope and keep our fingers crossed, and hope so in future we can expect something better...

Cheers

Butt, Butt nothing but BUTT

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Sat, 28 May 2011 23:52:32 PDT

Not optimistic with what

being happening in Pakistan

Cricket recent past

Right now when I am writing this, Pakistan-Irish first ODI has been late due to rains and covers are still on. Too bad the games aren't to be telecast so have to rely merely on live-scorecards, that's a major turn-off for cricket-fans as they like to have games telecasted on television. Anyways whatever, Irish might not admit it openly but it's a major platform for them to prove ICC wrong when they've decided to have No-Associates 2015 Cricket World Cup which is supposed to played in Australasia.

Apart from this development, captain again changed, gash!!! Means Mr. Butt has now presided over nine changes in the Test and ODI captaincy during his tenure as chairman, a period of less than three years, what other reasons he might be able to present, other than the Waqar-Afridi objection in team-selection and its matters, what other solid reasons he's able to present that too on a particular time???

I still remember, Shoaib Malik and MS Dhoni were selected as skippers on the same time for the inaugural ICC World T20 Event in South Africa, since than Shoaib Malik, Younus Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Salman Butt and lastly Misbah-ul-Haq is the latest inclusion worth mentioning in this list.

Board of Control for Cricket in India has been consistent with their policies, the major prove is consistent with Dhoni, he has been rated as their premier man, and so they back him in whatsoever circumstances although like Pakistan, there were voices raised that Dhoni should be replaced this and that etc. but they back their man and from a number 5 rated team, now its rated in top three teams whether its in ODIs, T20s or Test Matches.

Here, we're not sure of who's to be the premier, and playing a musical chair game with the person who has to lead and represent the nation and its green coloured flag internationally on cricketing grounds. I am not saying this being a Afridi fan, but the reality is since we lost the ODI series in UAE against Proteas, our performance has been on the up, winning ODI series in New Zealand, ending up 4th in ICC Cricket World Cup, when no one was rating them to cross the preliminary round robin, and than winning the ODI series in Windies, after such performances, we should credit the captain and he should had been favoured instead of being rusticated from team captaincy. Although he did commit a mistake that he made this news break that yeah there was something fishy going on in the camp, which I personally think being unethical, because the way Pakistani Media has been acting these days, mentally torchering, mixing up the facts and figures, and emotionally blackmailing, breaking news to them is just like giving custody of an one liter milk to a cat.

Under those circumstances, I don't think even if we win this Irish ODI series, we should start celebrate, but much better if we take consistent steps to develop Pakistan Cricket.

Cheers!

Series of Dilemmas

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 25 May 2011 02:44:55 PDT

How much further time they'll

take to leave Pakistan Cricket?

Right now when I am writing this thing, that too after hell of a days because of my mid-terms and finals during the period when Pakistan was playing its Cricket World Cup 2011 quarter-final game in Bangladesh, therefore had to take a break from this thing as after 4 weeks after that quarter-final match and 2 weeks after the final were my finals, anyways we were at change.

Everyone in Pakistan is wobbling of a change, the walls of Karachi are coloured with slogans of change this and that, like we say in Urdu "Inqilab", meaning the same as former, but they (politicians) should take lessons and motivation from our beloved Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, who has been a brand ambassador of change himself in Pakistan's most favourite and loved sport.

Instead of changing the state of domestic utilized cricket grounds, upgrading National Stadium for Cricket in Karachi and other international grounds in Pakistan, concentrating on grass-root level, he has been concentrating more on changing the skippers to satisfy his own league of bureaucratic friends, its upto them who they want to keep and who's not. It means that they only want those in their league who're "yes boss" sort of nature, those who defy this rule are being spanked out, like they did with recently knocked out Pakistani ODI skipper Shahid Afridi, just on the basis of argument on team selection with team coach Waqar Younis, if reports are to believed true, the things were under intense coating since the conclusion of South African tour to the Emirates ODI series.

Mr. Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board has not been able to produce a long-term or a five-year plan which he believes can apply into the Pakistan Cricket, the only thing which he applied was the legacy of changing the team and its skippers on the regular interval, making it difficult for the players to get-set, which is a basic requirement, else if the people on head do not change their ways of applying things and making not-so-difficult things into catastrophe, than I fear we as Pakistanis should say our prayers and should not foresee such situation where our cricketers like players of other sports in Pakistan making their voices heard that if not than they're willing to play for some other country, this is already starting of a catastrophe and if people on head do not act on it, than that time is very near where we'd be seeing Pakistani origins playing for teams in Jungle Green, Navy Blue, Golden Yellow, or even in Burnt Blue colours kits and our own national team deprived of them. Irony....

Peace... No offence... Truth always hard to digested...

Quarter half of CWC 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:39:42 PDT

By the time I am writing this, Pakistan have won

and made their mark into the semis where they

are expected to meet India or Australia

By the time I'm writing this, Pakistan just managed to storm into the Semis of a 50-over ICC Event since 1999. Many people are praising Pakistan for their effort and no doubt its a great achievement but fielding lapses and not finishing the game early.

Even in the Aussie group game, I felt they gave 20 extra runs in the end, and while reviewing the score-cards, Pakistan lost its 1979 world cup game against the same opposition, they lost the match by one wicket, because they instead of taking care of leaking of runs, they only emphasized on taking wickets to be a hero. I don't wanna mention that particular team or the captain but against their game against the Proteas I second their skipper that when you wear national team's jersey, you play for national team instead of yourself while slogging in the batting power-play span.

Same goes for Pakistan, they had the chance to limited the Windies under triple figure mark, but they leaked some extra runs while everyone wanting to take wicket instead of working n leakage of runs. Against relatively easier team like the West Indies, they managed to win but against the big teams like India/Australia or South Africa/New Zealand, whoever Pakistan is going to play now in future, will not gave such chance of recovery. Specially when Proteas who're having a great run in this CWC, might able to get rid of their "Chokers" tag.

Lets see what happens in these remaining 3 days of knockout stages. My best wishes with Pakistan but being a sports loving person, I also wish may the best team wins this tournament.

Adieu la légende Shoaib Akhtar

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:18:38 PDT

Akhtar going back to his mark after bowling out

fast and furiously MJ with a beautiful delivery

after Sachin at Kolkata

As the title says for itself, Adieu la légende. I was in my university when this news broke that one of my personal favourite fast bowler of all time, Shoaib Akhtar got a retirement as soon as Pakistan's world cup comes to an end, either by winning or even before that. I was reading comments on Cricinfo, and everyone got me flashbacked to that marvelous bowling spell at Kolkata and than the Cricket World Cup 1999 Semi Final fiery spell against the Kiwis, or the Current Cricket World Cup 2011s league match against the mighty Lankans, where he bowled out a fast delivery to get rid of Mahela Jayawerdene.

Although Akhtar's carrer has several full stops, which resulted delay in his career debut aswell, but I personally think he was much better than the current lot of Pakistani so called cream, who preferred themselves on Pakistan, don't wanna name them but you guys know whom I am pointing to, atleast he came out of all grays around him, specially the time when Pakistan recently toured England where spot-fixing scam took place, or if going at the time-line, he was not named even at the Match-Fixing tribunal's outcome where Pakistan's cream got punishments including Wasim Akram but he was spared as he was also with the team since 1996-1997.

His carrer, although has been ruined because of two factors during his primitive career, as according to South Asian Standards, they're very little and only handful. If we sneak peak into his career we'll find out that because of his injuries and bowling-action controversies, because of which it has been a mere that he used to play a complete series.

Bowling averages

	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10
Tests	46	82	8143	4574	178	6/11	11/78	25.69	3.37	45.7	10	12	2
ODIs	163	162	7764	6169	247	6/16	6/16	24.97	4.76	31.4	6	4	0
T20Is	15	15	318	432	19	3/38	3/38	22.73	8.15	16.7	0	0	0

Fir me, following were some of my personal favourite spells by him.

The wicket, gave identity to this fast bowler

at that time for Indian players and fans

4 for 71 v India, Asian Test Championship, Kolkata, 1999
Two balls that silenced 100,000 spectators. Indian fans weren't too familiar with Shoaib Akhtar but he introduced himself in a manner that left a packed Eden Gardens shell-shocked in a minute. He broke through Rahul Dravid's defences with a fiery inswinging yorker that uprooted leg stump but what followed was unfathomable to the crowd then. India's best batsman strolled to the crease to wild cheers and walked back to the pavilion to stunned silence. Facing Shoaib for the first time, Sachin Tendulkar was at the receiving end of another inswinging yorker, which he failed to keep out and which sent the middle stump cartwheeling towards the wicketkeeper. Shoaib had well and truly arrived. He bagged eight wickets in a match-winning performance.

Akhtar's fiery spell didn't allow the Kiwis to

get settled during the Cricket World Cup 1999

3 for 55 v New Zealand, World Cup semi-final, Manchester, 1999
Shoaib lit up the World Cup semi-final in Manchester in front of a partisan crowd to give his favourite opposition their first taste of what would be a regular diet from him. He hit 90 mph consistently and, though he went for a few, he aimed correctly and just at the right time to prevent New Zealand from posting a challenging score in what turned out to be a one-sided knockout. Shoaib bowled three spells, and dislodged a batsman in each. Nathan Astle was his first victim. Stephen Fleming had just slashed him to third man when Shoaib returned from round the wicket to fire in a 92mph yorker that cleaned up leg stump. And, in his final spell, pace gave way to subtlety as Chris Harris was undone by a superbly disguised slower ball. New Zealand were kept to 241 for 7, and Pakistan chased that down with no difficulty.

Akhtar broke the 100mph barrier in the same match

6 for 11 v New Zealand, 1st Test, Lahore, 2002
New Zealand were steamrolled with both bat and ball in Lahore and Shoaib joined in the hammering. New Zealand were up against it after Pakistan had piled up 643 in the first innings, and Shoaib's spell shut them completely out of contention. His six victims were all either bowled or lbw as his fiery pace and toe-crushing lengths simply proved too hot to handle. In a spell of fifty deliveries, Shoaib bagged 6 for 11 and skittled out New Zealand for 73, towards a massive defeat.

A fast bowler shattering the stumps of another

fast bowler at Colombo, 2002

5 for 21 v Australia, 1st Test, Colombo, 2002
Australia's pre-eminence had rarely been challenged in the late nineties and the early noughties, but one Shoaib spell threatened to cause a major upset against a young Pakistan team. Pakistan were looking to limit the damage after conceding a lead of 188 in the first innings but Shoaib sprung the Colombo Test back to life in a spell that made a nonsense of an unfavourable pitch with searing pace. Called on to bowl for a second spell after Australia had been well-placed at 71 for 1, Shoaib fired in a series of inswinging thunderbolts that crippled a powerful line-up. Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh were sent back in a matter of five deliveries and Adam Gilchrist was knocked off with a missile from round the wicket. Australia lost nine wickets for 53, of which Shoaib nipped out five, to collapse to 127 all out. The Pakistan batsmen, for their part, suffered a collapse of their own to lose by 41 runs.

Akhtar during ODI match against the Aussies

at Brisbane, an spell which allowed Pakistan to

win their first bilateral ODI series against Aussies

in their own backyard

5 for 25 v Australia, 3rd ODI, Brisbane, 2002
Shoaib starred in another significant win for Pakistan, this time helping them seal an ODI series in Australia. He had the cushion of a competitive score and derailed an Australian line-up that struggled to put up a challenge. Ponting fell to pace, Darren Lehmann was bowled round his legs, Michael Bevan was caught behind while the tail offered little resistance. Shoaib followed up three wickets in three overs with a couple more down the order to finish with 5 for 25 and catch Australia short by 91 runs.

Akhtar's 5-for in first and 6-for in the second

innings literally shattered the Kiwis like this

Ian Butler's wicket

6 for 30 v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Wellington, 2003
Shoaib's love affair with New Zealand's batting continued in Wellington, the hosts caving in to a devastating spell to set up a memorable victory for Pakistan. His pace acquired greater potency with the movement and swing in a windy Wellington and the New Zealand batsmen failed to measure up to that. Shoaib had picked up a five-for in the first innings but his batsmen had let that effort down, conceding a lead of 170. New Zealand looked good to put it beyond the visitors in the second innings before Shoaib struck. He removed a stodgy Mark Richardson and Scott Styris off successive deliveries, and combined with seamer Shabbir Ahmed to clean up the tail. New Zealand lost seven wickets for eight runs in 10.4 overs and Pakistan's batsmen stepped up in the second innings to chase down 274.

Although one must not forget the bowling spell against the Kiwis at Pallekele, one must praise Ross Taylor where he literally shattered SA, but he's one of the greats of the game when it comes to fiery fast bowling, and while the chapter of Shoaib Akhtar gonna end, I don't think there would be a pace bowler like him as Shane Bond retired, Tait and Lee gonna soon, so I'd call this decade in which fast bowling would have an end. Alas!

Shoaib Akhtar at his best

noreply@blogger.com (Murtaza Moiz) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 22:23:46 PST