Good Start for Pakistan in Asian cup 2012

Pakistan built, nearly self-destructed and counterattacked with the bat. Bangladesh built, nearly self-destructed and counterattacked with the bat. Pakistan's base was strong enough to weather the near-self-destruction. Their counterattack proved sharper in the end as they stopped hosts Bangladesh short of what would have been their highest successful chase at home.

Bangladesh produced most of the unexpected passages in the game. They reduced Pakistan to 198 for 7 from 135 for 0. They recovered from 135 for 5 to become the favourites towards the closing stages of the game. But when it came to the critical moments which decided the match, Pakistan proved superior.

Umar Gul smashed his highest ODI score of 39 from 25 deliveries to convert 198 for 7 into 262 for 8. With Bangladesh requiring 39 off 40 with five wickets in hand, Gul and Saeed Ajmal took 5 for 17 between them to ensure that Shakib Al Hasan's heroic innings ended in frustration and disappointment.

Shakib had induced the Pakistan batting collapse, along with Shahadat Hossain. Like a fighter who has resolutely accepted the fact that he will always have to battle more than his fellow soldiers, he brought his side back into contention after they threatened to implode in the chase.

Young Nasir Hossain matched his former captain stroke for stroke in an 89-run sixth-wicket partnership at a run a ball. Shakib drove, Nasir pulled, Shakib slashed, Nasir pulled harder, and Bangladesh hoped.

When Nasir took consecutive fours off Gul in the 44th over, Bangladesh seemed to have moved decisively in front. Gul is made of sterner stuff, though. He found nip off the pitch and movement in the air with a 21-over old ball and bowled Nasir for 47. Ajmal, who had gone for 11 in the previous over, stepped in now.

With the asking-rate under six, Abdur Razzak decided to slog at a full delivery only to get bowled. Mashrafe Mortaza saw the flight but did not read the doosra. Bowled again. Shafiul Islam had two deliveries to keep out in the next over, the 46th. Gul hurled in the inswinging yorker first up. Gone leg-before.

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10:58 PM

Australia lifted CB Series in low-scoring grand final

In a Thrilling Final match Australia beat Sri Lanka by 16 runs to win the best-of-three match one-day international tri series at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

Australia scored 231 off 49.3 overs and held off a determined fightback to dismiss the World Cup finalists for 215 with seven balls to spare in the third ODI final.

Paceman Clint McKay proved Australia's match-winner taking five for 28 off 9.5 overs, including the big wickets of captain Mahela Jayawardene for 15 and Dinesh Chandimal for just five.

Veteran Brett Lee chipped in with three wickets for a more expensive 59 runs.

Upul Tharanga topscored for Sri Lanka with 71 off 122 balls, but once he was caught behind off Shane Watson, Sri Lanka dropped behind the required run-rate and needed 22 for victory off the last two overs.

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade topscored with 49 off 74 balls in Australia's innings, with fellow opening batsman David Warner hitting 48 off 45

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4:45 AM

Opening the door for American Cricket

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor today suggested that cricket series between the arch-rivals India and Pakistan could be organised in a neutral venue like the USA.

Pointing out that the USA has many cricket enthusiasts, Tharoor, who had his education in that country, today hoped that an Indo-Pak cricket series would well be appreciated by the public there.

"We have a large patriotic population of both Indians and Pakistani in the USA and a handful of cricket enthusiasts as well. That`s a very, very good way to organise cricket in third countries when terror strikes have stopped cricket between the two countries," Tharoor said.

"It will be terrific to see a baseball stadium in the USA crowded for a cricket match, though the stadium will be small by cricket standards," he added.

"There is a lot at stake in Indo-Pak rivalry as there is some historical baggage (of Partition). There is a greater degree of detachment among spectators which makes Indo-Pak cricket so exciting," said Tharoor, who has co-authored a book `Shadows Across the Playing Field` with former Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan.


Recalling the resumption of Indo-Pak cricket in 2004 that was termed as a friendship tour, Tharoor said, "For the first time so many cricket visas were given. The atmosphere was so good among fans."

"In earlier days, a total of about 200 used to be quite competitive. Now the standard has gone up. Test cricket is considered as the highest degree," Tharoor said.

"If there is any record in this ongoing seven-match India-Australia series, it will not linger much in your memory, but an achievement in Test cricket has an embedding quality which would be remembered for 40-50 years," Tharoor said.

Tharoor was speaking at the launching ceremony of his book in the city.

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12:02 AM

No need of 50-over ODIs

Twenty20 has rendered one-day cricket irrelevant and the 50-over format should be done away with, according to spin great Shane Warne.

"I`ll say it again, one-day cricket should go. It has evolved into Twenty20," said the Australian legend, asserting the game would be better off with just two formats.

"Cricket only needs two forms of the game. Something needs to be done about scheduling: it`s been going on for too long," Warne wrote in his column.

The leg-spinner, who led Rajasthan Royals to a fairytale triumph in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League, remains a staunch supporter of the Twenty20 format and believes one-dayers simply has no business in the international calendar.


Warne was equally critical of Australia`s post-Ashes schedule which pits them against the same English side for a seven-match ODI series.

"Unfortunately, Australia now plays a series of ridiculous limited-overs matches against England, and then more one-dayers in South Africa and India, before the next Test in Brisbane in November.

"It is a joke that any international team has to play seven ODIs after a five-Test series against the same team," Warne said.

"There are only nine Tests between now and the next Ashes series in Australia at the end of next year, but a ludicrous number of one-day cricket in the same period," he added.

Dwelling on Ashes, Warne said it hurt him to see the side lose the urn.

"It hurts. It hurts a bloody lot losing the Ashes. I really felt for Ricky Ponting and the Australian team after seeing Andrew Strauss lift the little urn at The Oval. It took me back to Michael Vaughan doing the same in 2005, and how it felt to lose the Ashes for the first time in my career. I understand how all the Australian players must have felt," Warne said.

"The vultures are circling and looking for answers, but to me it`s pointless and destructive to sling criticism about why we lost the Ashes. It is more constructive for those in charge to work out how to move forward.”

"Many members of this team were playing in their first Ashes series, but there comes a time when the transition period is over. How long is that period?" he asked.

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1:58 AM

Indians involved in match-fixing in SriLanka

NEW DELHI: Match-fixing has returned to haunt the game of cricket and this time it is the Pakistani cricketers who are facing the heat after a disastrous tour of Lanka. ( Watch )

Former Pakistan chief selector Abdul Qadir made startling allegations, saying Pakistani players are linked to Indian bookies.

It came to light during the tour of Sri Lanka with stories of Pakistani players being approached by suspicious Indians, as reported by manager Saeed Yawar.

Pakistan Cricket Board has taken strict action in its bid to come clean from the match-fixing allegations. Sources within PCB told Times Now that people who are key suspects had approached the Pakistan players during the series in Sri Lanka. These people have been following the team for the last three tours. It is also indicated that strict action would be taken against Pakistan team manager in Sri Lanka, Yawar Saeed.

As contradicting reports emerged during the tour, the report came to light with ICC sources confirming to Times Now that they will look into the incident after the PCB had informed the parent governing body regarding suspicious incidents during the tour.

The report gained further prominence with former Pakistani chief selector Abdul Qadir accusing the team of having fixed matches in Sri Lanka. Qadir also lashed out at the team for its pathetic display during the tour.

The emerging Indian angle to the incident is the most disturbing. As more and more Indian bookies' names have been revealed in the match-fixing cases in the recent times.

Talking to Times Now, Abdul Qadir maintained his statement and confirmed the reports. Qadir speaking exclusively to Times Now on the match-fixing said, "This is a sensitive issue. One has to be careful. Whatever I said if it is correct of incorrect, I do it professionally."

Salman Ahmed, who is an agent who represents a few Pakistani players also confirmed the Indian angle to reports. Ahmed told Times Now, he had seen Indian bookies during various tours and also during the multi-million Indian Premier League.

Pakistan players' agent, Salman Ahmad, speaking exclusively to Times Now on the entire controversy said, "I can identify the people who were around when there was Indian Premier League. They were the same people when South Africa was playing in Pakistan. These are the same people who were in Sri Lanka when Pakistan was playing its matches. These people were there when teams like Mumbai, Punjab or any other team was playing. These were the same people during the time of Asia Cup also. From their faces, one could identify that they were from India. I am on a flight to Colombo and unless I see them tomorrow in Colombo I cannot comment further. When I identify, the relevant authorities will get to know."

Cricket journalist of Sri Lanka, Rex Clementine, speaking to Times Now said that this is nothing much to worry about. He said, "A few Indians were spotted at the place where Pakistan players were put up. From that day, these reports were coming out. Once it becomes official, the situation will be alarming. Right now, it is all unconfirmed. The security around the players is very tight. One cannot approach the players easily because they have been guarded by special forces."

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9:00 AM

Cloud over cricket's presence in 2010 Asiad?

BANGALORE: Cricket is fast gaining in popularity globally but if the stand-off between the BCCI-ICC on the WADA

code persists, it may spell
trouble for the sport's presence in the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November next
year.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) secretary general Randhir Singh hopes the issue won't reach such a stage and feels the misunderstanding in the Indian cricket board and among the players will be sorted out soon.

"I don't think the issue will go that far as the Asian Games is 1-1/2 years away. I hope it is sorted out in the next few days," Randhir Singh told TOI.

"It seems to be a case of misunderstanding and it is upto the International Cricket Council, who have signed the WADA code, to address the issue and solve the crisis," he said.

Cricket (in T20 format) is to be played in the Asian Games for the first time next year after the OCA agreed on its inclusion in 2007.

Randhir would also not buy BCCI's argument that the high profile players' security will be at risk once they furnish their whereabouts to the WADA official concerned.

"There are 1,000 of players, including superstars, from all sports who are in the Registered Testing Pool and none of them have faced any problem," he said. The OCA -- the supreme authority of the Asian Games -- has formed its anti-doping rules in accordance with WADA codes.

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9:42 AM

Top most embarrassing cricketers

Poor Mitchell Johnson. First the Aussie quick bowler bowls like a drain against every team in England - including the national side, who have so far this Ashes series smashed 331 runs off him - is pillared by press both back home and in Britain, and THEN his mother steps in to add her sixpence.

In the Australian media she has been blamed for distracting him after complaining of having him 'stolen' from her by his fiancée. She has now produced a gushing apology that concluded: "Never forget I love you, mate."

Sportsmen and their mothers do not always go hand in hand, and below are ten more examples when mums make their super-star kids cringe, just as they did at the school gates when they licked their hanky and wiped that grubby mark off their cheek. Cue wincing and blushing.

1. Angela Morrison

The mother of Republic of Ireland international striker Clinton Morrison, Angela, similarly felt the need to protect her little baby back in December 2002.

The then-23-year-old was turning out for Birmingham City and tangled with QPR defender Rufus Brevett at Loftus Road.

After the tempestuous game, which Brum won 1-0, Angela took exception to the treatment Brevett had given her boy and she confronted him in the players’ lounge.

Brevett said to Angela: "Your son's got a big mouth."

To which she began to swing her handbag and snarled: "I know. He gets it from me."

Stewards had to rush to the scene to stop trouble escalating.

2. Brigitte Warne

In February 2003 Australian leg-spinning great Shane Warne was suspended from cricket by the Australian Cricket Board after he was deemed to be using performance-enhancing drugs. In actual fact Warne had been taking advice from his mother on how to lose a stone or two, the vain peroxide tweaker.

Brigitte handed him a diuretic pill so he could shrink his 36” waste. Warney forgot to tell the team doctor, Trefor Jones, or the physio, Errol Alcott – perhaps because he was worried his team-mates would rib him for using drugs that are used by jockeys and excessive dieters. Or perhaps it was because diuretics are used to mask other performance-enhancing drugs …

Chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Dick Pound, was unimpressed with Warne's explanation that his mum had given him the banned tablet. "Poisoned by his mother?” Pound chuckled. “It is good, very good. It ranks up there with the one 'I got it from the toilet seat'.”

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11:34 AM