Pakistan Cricket News delivered to your Cell: For some days I have been fascinated by the easy and utility of , this is without doubt a step closer to interconnecting the entire world via the mobile phone. The best portion of twitter which I have grown to love is the ability to deliver instant news right to my cell phone. I have configured a few twitter accounts and attached them to some RSS feeds and whenever the feed updates I get pinged immediately with an SMS containing a short description and a tinyurl to browse through using GPRS. I have for the past few weeks created a number of Twitter accounts which is customized to update you with Pakistan specific news from some leading news sources in Pakistan. With a strong passion for cricket I have just recently configured the Pakistan Cricinfo RSS feed with a twitter account aptly calling it and now whenever there is a story update on Cricinfo about anything related to the Pakistan Cricket scene I get the news sent to me instantaneously. To get these news delivered to your cell phone all you have to do is Signup for an account into your friends list and rest assured you will get the next update sent right to your cell phone I am still trying to configure the account to be able to provide you with live score updates, and if that becomes possible I shall attach the feed right to the same twitter page
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi is to organise a camp for his country's youngsters in late June. Afridi, who received very little formal coaching himself, plans to run the camp for under-19 and under-14 players in Karachi, the city he has lived most of his life in. He told Karachi-based, Dawn: "Sadly, nowadays we are not producing such cricketers from our city. I think, as national heroes, it is our foremost duty to make some sort of contribution to ensure we don't lag behind." Danish Kaneria and Mohammad Sami are other internationals from Karachi, a city who's representation in the national team has decreased over the years. Afridi added: "There was a time in the past when there was stiff competition for places at the Karachi level and a number of those players went on to represent Pakistan. But now there are hardly a couple of players representing Karachi in our national teams." Afridi also plans to invite some of his team-mates to the camp, dates for which have not been decided, to add their input and build into they young talent, commenting: "I intend to invite a good number of former and current Pakistan players during the camp for giving tips as well as do some coaching.
- Akhtar In Line For Recall
Controversial Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar is on the verge of receiving a recall to the national squad. Akhtar was included in a list of 20 to attend a conditioning camp in preparation for the two-match ODI series against Scotland and India next month. The Rawalpindi Express has enjoyed a topsy-turvey international career of late and has been hampered by injury and off-field problems. He has played a single Test and four one-dayers since February 2006. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) pulled Akhtar out of the Afro-Asia Cup in India. The reason behind his absence was that he was deemed unfit. Akhtar tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone during the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. He was sent home a day before Pakistan were due to play their opening game of the tournament.
He was banned for two years after a three-man tribunal set up by the board found him guilty. A new tribunal appointed to review the appeal against the ban then acquitted Akhtar. The downward spiral continued when he was selected for the tour to South Africa in late 2006/07. He took four for 36 in the second Test but injured his hamstring during the clash. "He has been working hard to get back into top shape and he remains one of our main strike bowlers, so we have decided to bring him back into the reckoning for selection," chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told Reuters. "At the camp, Shoaib has to prove he has made a complete recovery from his knee and ankle injuries," Ahmed added. Akhtar has played 43 Tests and 133 one-dayers and will want to add to his tally sooner rather than later as age is not on his side this time around.
-
Inzy Calls For Clarity
Bob and Inzy before the untimely death of the former.
Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has called for the Jamaican police to reveal the cause of Bob Woolmer's death and bring an end to the confusion. Recent reports have suggested that the police will announce that Woolmer was not murdered - as they claimed in the week after Woolmer's death - and in fact died of natural causes. There was speculation that Inzamam and the Pakistan squad were involved in the death, and Inzy is hoping that the record will be set straight sooner rather than later. "Time will prove our innocence in the case and we want it to be over sooner rather than later," he told Pakistan's Express newspaper. "Besides all the trauma, I was alleged to be, God forbid, involved in Bob's murder. "Now the true facts are coming out and I am thankful to the Almighty and pray that Pakistani cricket never sees such days again." Inzamam, who retired from one-day cricket after the World Cup, admitted that the time between their loss to Ireland and the day they left Jamaica was incredibly tough. "Those were the most traumatic days of our lives. We were thrown out of the World Cup, Bob died and no one contacted us from Pakistan to give us any consolation," he said. "I pray no Pakistani ever has to go through such circumstances."
The Asia XI won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening ODI against the Africa XI on Wednesday.
The Asian XI was at full strength with a formidable battling line-up boasting Sanath Jayasuriya, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Mahela Jayawardene and Mohammad Yousuf - and they did not disappoint.
Sehwag found the form he had been lacking for India in recent months. He hit seven boundaries and a six in his impressive 42-ball 45. Veteran middle order maestro, Sourav Ganguly then chipped in with a masterful 32 off just 29 balls.
So two Indians got the ball rolling only for the rolling to turn into a thumping, through the efforts of Sri Lankan and Asian captain Mahela Jayawardene (65) and Pakistan ace Mohammad Yousuf (66).
Yuvraj Singh then came in and played a cameo innings down the order. He scored at just over a run a ball, and frustrated the African bowling attack with his streaky shot making and lack of foot movement. Singh fell for 31, chipping the ball to Justin Kemp on the edge of the inner ring.
Harbhajan Singh played another handy innings down the order. He scored 20 off just 22 balls and picked up a slight leg niggle in the process.
Morne Morkel, playing in his first One-day international was by far the pick of the bowlers. He finished with figures of three for 68 in his allotted 10 overs. His older brother, Albie Morkel showed why he is always a threat with the ball. He took with two for 64.
Elton Chigumbura was another player to produce a standout performance with the ball. The Zimbabwean took two for 56 and showed true grit and determination in an attack minus premier paceman Shaun Pollock.
AB de Villiers must be commended for a fine fielding display. He worked tirelessly in the field and gets a special mention alongside Thomas Odoyo. The pair engineered the run-out of the dangerous wicket-keeper/batsman Mahandra Singh Dhoni.
The big-hitters in the Africa XI will have to bring their A-game if they are to chase down the formidable total under the lights in Bangalore.
Asia set Africa a mammoth 318 runs for victory in the opening ODI of the three-match ODI series.
No comments:
Post a Comment