Gilani to press for PCB chief Ijaz Butt's dismissal with Zardari

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 01:22 PM

Islamabad, Nov 3(ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that he would discuss the deteriorating situation of cricket in the country with President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) patron Asif Ali Zardari.

The government is reportedly under tremendous pressure to sack PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, who is being held responsible for bringing the national team into disrepute.

"I will convey to President Zardari regarding the demand of dismissal of PCB chairman Ijaz Butt," the Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying.

Earlier, it was reported that Butt had been told by higher authorities to appoint new board officials or forget about getting an extension to his two-year term.

"Ijaz has been told he can continue till the World Cup, but only with a new team and the present set of officials should be changed. The orders have come from the top including the President who is also chief patron of the board and the Prime Minister," a source had said.

The source had also said that former captain Javed Miandad was expected to get more authority in the new set-up.

"Until now Ijaz has kept Miandad sidelined by making him director cricket, but virtually giving him no authority or say in cricket matters at all. But the higher authorities now want Ijaz to bring about changes and try to put Pakistan cricket back on the right track," he added.

Butt was appointed as PCB chief by Zardari in October 2008. (ANI)

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Vettori backs UDRS but system won't be used during India tour

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 01:12 PM

Ahmedabad, Nov.3 (ANI): New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori has thrown his weight behind the use of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), insisting "it is good for the game".

The system, however, will not be used in the upcoming three-match Test series in India after the Board of Control for Cricket in India and some key Indian players, including skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, expressed doubt about its efficiency.

Vettori believes the UDRS represents the way forward.

"I like the referral system. There are still a few hiccups with the technology, but I think it is good for the game if it is used consistently," Sky Sports quoted Vettori, as saying.

Black Caps manager Mark Greatbatch echoed Vettori's thoughts and feels the system would help the game. (ANI)

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McGrath tips Australia to win Ashes series 5-0

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 12:58 PM

Sydney, Nov.3 (ANI): Fast-bowling great Glenn McGrath has again tipped Australia to regain the Ashes with a 5-0 whitewash agaisnt England.

"I couldn't have more faith in the boys. We had a Twenty20 loss to Sri Lanka on Sunday, but those matches are unpredictable. I think we'll bounce back and win all Tests. They'll be close, but I'm tipping a 5-0 whitewash," The Age and the Herald Sun quoted McGrath, as saying.

McGrath famously tipped a 5-0 sweep before the 2005 Ashes series, which England won 2-1.

McGrath said he was unlikely to be at the Boxing Day Test, and would spend time with his children and fiancee Sara Leonardi.

The McGrath Foundation's High Tea at the 'G will be hosted by Lee Furlong on December 27.

"The Sydney Test match is a big one for us too, so I'll be there and we'll also hopefully be cheering on a good win," McGrath said. (ANI)

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'Spot-fixing' scam diverted attention from possible 'home games': Butt

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 12:38 PM

Lahore, Nov 3(ANI): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt has said that the tour of England 'spot-fixing' scam has ruined the country's chances of holding 'home games'.

Leading cricket teams have refused to visit Pakistan following last year's terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus, which has also forced Pakistan to hold its 'home' series against Australia and England in England.

"The ICC Task Force was well on its way to bringing a MCC XI team to Pakistan in which two players of each cricket board were to be included. Moreover, Zimbabwe were also interested in sending their national team to Pakistan," the News quoted Butt, as saying.

"The current spot-fixing scam has diverted attention to other issues as work of inviting some teams to Pakistan could not be materialized," he added.

Butt also said that at the moment there is no space left in the cricket calendar to accommodate a visiting team.

"There is no appropriate time left for such activities due to hectic schedule of Pakistan till the World Cup," Butt said.

The ICC's Pakistan Task Force Chairman, Giles Clarke, had called for Pakistan to resume hosting international matches back in August.

He had suggested that an ICC World XI would tour the country "in due course".

In the last two years, Pakistan 'home' games have also been staged in the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand.

Pakistan, which was due to co-host the 2011 World Cup, was also stripped of its matches following the attack on the Sri Lankan team.

Pakistan was supposed to hold 14 matches, including one semi-final. Eight of Pakistan's matches have been awarded to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh. (ANI)

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Ashes: Aussies will err if they leave out 'Mr.Cricket' Hussey, says Arthur

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 12:08 PM

Melbourne, Nov.3 (ANI): Former South African cricket team coach and now coach with Western Australia, Mickey Arthur has said Australia would be "wrong" if they failed to select out-of-form batsman Mike Hussey for the first Ashes Test against England.

Hussey has scored just two Test centuries since the start of 2009 and failed miserably in Western Australia's recent Sheffield Shield clash in Adelaide, notching a golden duck and three from his two knocks.

South Australian Callum Ferguson and 23-year-old New South Wales run machine Usman Khawaja are two players waiting in the wings should Hussey be axed.

But Arthur said Hussey remained technically and mentally strong and would show his class in the heat of Ashes battle.

"I think Australia would be wrong if they didn't pick Mike Hussey," The Age quoted Arthur, as saying on Wednesday.

He added: "He has a wealth of experience, you need your experienced players in a Test match against England and the first Test match of a series it's really important. Mike's playing well, he's hitting the ball well, he's moving well, there's nothing wrong with Mike."

He said: "He just needs a hit-out somewhere and he'll get that in the one-dayers (against Sri Lanka) and he'll be fine, there's absolutely no problem with Huss at the moment." (ANI)

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South Africa defeat Pakistan by two runs in third ODI in Dubai

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 11:56 AM

Dubai, Nov.3 (ANI): A fighting century by opening Hashim Amla and a four-wicket spell by fast bowler Morne Morkel helped South Africa pull off a narrow two-run win over Pakistan in the third one-day international played here on Tuesday night.

Pakistan scored 226 for the loss of nine wickets and the Proteas replied with a score of 228 for the loss of nine wicktes, Fox Sports reports.

South Africa, put into bat by Pakistan, owed it to the 27-year-old Amla who carried his bat through the innings with a resolute 119.

It was the right-hander's sixth one-day hundred - his fifth this year - which brought South Africa back into the match after they struggled initially on a tricky Dubai Stadium pitch.

South Africa, who lost the second match in Abu Dhabi by one wicket after Abdul Razzaq's incredible 72-ball 109 not out, this time negated Fawad Alam's brilliant 59 not out which almost turned the tables again.

Rusty Theron kept his nerves to defend 12 runs in the last over as Pakistan lost two wickets and managed just nine runs.

Amla, who has so far scored 986 runs in 13 one-day matches this year. (ANI)

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Ex-Proteas opener Gibbs was a loner, claims Coach Arthur

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 11:52 AM

Melbourne, Nov.3 (ANI): Former South African cricket team coach Mickey Arthur has described opener Herschelle Gibbs as somewhat of a loner after he criticised the power set-up under him.

Reacting to comments in Gibbs controversial autobiography that said current South African captain Graeme Smith was afforded too much power under Arthur's successful reign from 2005-2010, The Age quoted Arthur as saying that Gibbs, 36, had little idea what was going on around him.

"For the last three years of my time, Herschelle was in and out of the side, he wasn't there for most of the time," said Arthur, who is now coach of Western Australia. I hope he hasn't burnt too many bridges," Arthur said.

"He wouldn't know the conversations that Graeme and I had in private, he had no idea on the handle of relationships between the management and the players because he wasn't privy to any of that. Hersch was trying to salvage a career towards the back end so he was trying anything," he added.

"Hersch was a little bit of a loner, he sort of hung by himself, he never really mixed too freely with the rest of the group," Arthur said.

Gibbs, who battled alcohol addiction throughout his career and had a stint in rehabilitation, hasn't played a Test match for almost three years, although he has featured in one-dayers and Twenty20 internationals this year. (ANI)

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