Kamran doesn't deserve another chance, Iqbal says

 "Kamran Akmal deserved to be dropped. He had been tested more than once and hence does not deserve to be given another chance," remarked former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal to Gulf News immediately after Pakistan Cricket Board announced their One-day and Twenty20 squad for the upcoming tour of West Indies.

Pakistan selectors appointed uncapped 29-year-old Mohammad Salman as the new wicketkeeper following Akmal's dismal show in the recent World Cup in which he had dropped many crucial catches.

Senior players Abdul Razzaq, Younus Khan and Umar Gul have been rested as uncapped Usman Salahuddin, Hammad Azam and Aizaz Cheema have been included in the team.

"It is nice to hear the selectors use the term rested while dropping some of the senior players. They have used the term rested taking into consideration their contribution in the past and their seniority. However, it is a fact that some of the senior players did not perform in the World Cup," said Iqbal.

"It is good to try out a new wicketkeeper. I haven't seen much of Salman but heard a lot about another young wicket keeper in Sarfraz Ahmad, who also deserved to be considered," said Iqbal, who captained Pakistan's first World Cup team in 1975.

"India deserved to win the World Cup because they were the best team. It was great of Pakistan, who were trailing in the sixth or seventh position in world ranking before the start of the World Cup, to finish among the top four. Unfortunately we had a bad day in Mohali and our fielding let us down," he said.

Shahid Afridi will lead the Twenty20 and One-day team in the West Indies.

"It is nice to hear that Afridi has agreed to lead the team to West Indies as he had stated that he might take a break. It is important for the team to be playing under Afridi," said Iqbal.

Tour starts on April 18

Pakistan's West Indies tour will commence from April 18 with a warm-up game and followed by a Twenty20 match on April 21 in St Lucia.

The five match One-day series will commence on April 23, while the Test matches will begin on May 12.

Pakistan selectors will meet soon to select the Test squad. It is likely that Kamran's younger brother Adnan may return as the wicketkeeper for the Test side. Though Younus Khan and Umar Gul may return to the Test team, Razzaq, who scored only 104 runs and took five wickets from all the World Cup matches, is likely to be ignored.

Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmad Shehzad, Taufeeq Umar, Usman Salahuddin, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Rahman, Saeed Ajmal, Tanvir Ahmad, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam, Aizaz Cheema and Mohammad Salman (wk)

Reserves: Rameez Raja (Jr), Sadaf Hussain, Asif Zakir, Sohail Khan, Zulifqar Babar.

Razzaq questions basis for exclusion

Abdul Razzaq, the Pakistan allrounder, has questioned the basis for his exclusion from the ODIs and Twenty20s on the tour of West Indies. Razzaq played a peripheral role in his team's World Cup campaign and claimed his exclusion was not justified given he hadn't had enough opportunities.

"I was told to bat at No. 8 and I hardly got a few overs in every match. So, where does the question of my non-performance arise?" Razzaq was quoted as saying by PTI. "How can one perform when he is batting at No. 8 and bowling just a few overs in every match?"

In eight games at the World Cup, Razzaq didn't complete his quota of ten overs even once and picked up five wickets at 32.20. He made 104 runs, batting in the lower order, at 26 and with a highest of 62 against New Zealand.

"One hardly gets time to settle in or build a proper innings. It was the same situation in bowling also," Razzaq said. "I had told the team management I was ready to bat at No. 3 because I have batted at that position before and have also done well. But as it was the World Cup and due to requirements of the team, the management didn't accept my point of view and I was kept at No. 8."

Razzaq, 31, said he was determined to make a return. "I want to come back. I think I can still continue playing for a couple of more years as I pay a lot of attention to my fitness."

Another player left out of the Pakistan squad was Kamran Akmal, following his wicketkeeping woes in the World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board announces squad for tour of West Indies

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the squad for the tour of West Indies which is scheduled to start later in April 2011.
Following Pakistan’s 29-run defeat to India in the semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2011, the selection committee has decided to include youngsters for the tour to the Caribbean.
Shahid Afridi would lead the squad for the upcoming series as a captain while Misbah-ul-Haq, who was hugely criticised for his performance in the ICC World Cup 2011 semi-final against India, would serve as a vice captain.
On the other hand, Kamran Akmal, who displayed a dismal glove work throughout the World Cup, has been replaced by Muhammad Salman.
Senior batsman Younis Khan has also been dropped for the next series as he also could not perform up to the expectations in the recently concluded global event. In the semi-final against India, he not only batted poorly, but his fielding was also below par.
Pacer Umar Gul, who performed well throughout the ICC World Cup 2011 except for the game against India, has also been dropped.
In order to improve the batting of the Pakistan team, the PCB chief Ijaz Butt and skipper Shahid Afridi asked legendary cricketer Javed Miandad to take on the responsibilities as a batting coach ahead of the West Indies tour.
Miandad however, declined to take on the responsibility officially saying that now the time is not sufficient to train the team properly but he will keep on guiding them.
The tour to West Indies includes one Twenty20, five One Day Internationals and two Test matches. The tour will start with a warm-up game on 18 April, 2011 before it gets underway officially with the Twenty20 international on 21 April.
The squad comprises of Shahid Afridi, (captain) Misbah-ul-Haq, (vice-captain) Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Usman Salahuddin, Asad Shafiq, Aizaz Cheema, Hammad Azam, Junaid Khan, Tanveer Ahmed, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz and wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman.
Rameez Raja, (junior) Sadaf Hussain, Asif Zakir, Sohail Khan and Zulfiqar Babar will be in the reserves pool.

Pakistan Cricket Board delays squad announcement

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has delayed the announcement of the national squad for the tour of theWest Indies. The selection committee was supposed to make the announcement yesterday but has now delayed their announcement by a day.

According to details the announcement was deferred as the players were called in by Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, for a ceremony in their honour after they succeeded in reaching the semi-finals of the recently concluded World Cup 2011, which was jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Pakistan were ousted from the tournament by India in Mohali.

The minister has awarded Rs500,000 to every player of the national squad for their efforts in the mega event.

Earlier, the selection committee headed by Chief Selector, Mohsin Khan, met the PCB Chairman, Ijaz Butt, and, Pakistan skipper, Shahid Afridi, to discuss the selection of the team for the upcoming tour, which consists of a Twenty20, two Test matches and five One Day Internationals (ODIs).

Although the team has not been announced, it is rumoured that all-rounder, Abdul Razzaq, pacer, Umar Gul, and, middle-order batsman, Younis Khan, will be rested for the tour in order to give young players a chance to show their talents in the Caribbean.

Skipper Afridi has confirmed the omission of Umar Gul, as the pacer made himself unavailable for the tour.

According to reports, four young players may join the national squad. The players include wicket-keeper, Mohammad Salman, Tanvir Ahmed, Azhar Ali and Hammad Azam.

Meanwhile, Afridi reiterated that the PCB needed to appoint a full time batting coach for the national team.  Favouring the appointment of Pakistan’s phenomenal former batsman, Javed Miandad, the Pakistan captain said, “Our biggest fear was our batting in the World Cup. So accepting there are batting problems we‘ve told Miandad that the country needs him”.

Pakistan’s batting form proved to be their Achilles heel as they failed to chase an achievable total of 260 runs against a mediocre Indian bowling attack in the ICC 2011 World Cup semi-final.

On the other hand, this is the first time since 1992, that the PCB has not fired the national coach and skipper along with senior players after a loss in the World Cup. In fact the Men in Green received a hero’s welcome on their return by fans and the cricket fraternity.

Earlier, Afridi stated that he would prefer missing the West Indies tour but later he agreed to lead the team.

Coach, Waqar Younis is not in favour of leaving out all the senior players. In an interview he suggested that the Pakistan team needs a balance of experience and youth to survive.

I AM ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO WORK WITH OUR PLAYERS: MIANDAD

I am always available to work with our players: Former Test Captain, Javed Miandad

After helping the Men in Green to prepare for the New Zealand 2010-11 tour, former Pakistan test captain Javed Miandad has been approached to assist the squad’s batting lineup.

Thanking the skipper, Shahid Afridi and the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt, a generous Miandad responded that his services are always available for the Pakistan team in times of need. 

"I am always available to work with our players. I will be able to focus full-time on this job in a few months time," maintained Miandad.

Even thought the cricket veteran has not given his final word for the upcoming West Indies tour, but is expected to inform the board of his decision soon.

After much deliberation between the team selectors, and the management regarding the squad’s preparations for the West Indies tour, scheduled to begin on 18^th April, 2011, Miandad was offered the role of batting coach by Ijaz Butt and Shahid Afridi, in a bid to liberate the team of the irregularities that tainted the team’s World Cup performances.

"We are trying to persuade Miandad to help the batsmen…We realize there are batting problems so we have told Miandad that the country needs him, so hopefully he will accept that role," said Afridi.

Citing concerns over the inconsistencies observed in the batting order, Afridi confessed that the team desperately needed guidance from a batting guru. 

"Our batting inconsistency has been a source of concern for us since last year and when you have a problem with a particular subject you go to the best teacher of that subject," Afridi explained.

The Captain claimed that Miandad, who is also the PCB Director General, is the best choice for the position.

The cricket maverick has previously coached the Pakistan squad on three occasions. Unfortunately, each time the involvement ended bitterly due to Miandad’s differences with the management and the board. Even last year, he was involved in an argument with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt on issues regarding his remuneration.

Miandad, who holds the record of being Pakistan’s leading test run scorer with a tally of 8832 runs, has performed in 233 One Day Internationals’ and 124 test matches.

WAHAB RIAZ REVEALS HIS PLAN TO DISMISS YUVRAJ SINGH WORKED TO PERFECTION

Wahab Riaz reveals his plan to dismiss Yuvraj Singh in ICC World Cup 2011 worked to perfection

Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz has said that his plan to dismiss India’s Yuvraj Singh off the first ball worked to perfection on the day.

Riaz bowled India’s premier left hander with a fine late swinging yorker off the first ball he faced in the semi-final of the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2011.

The left-arm fast bowler added that he and his coaches had been working hard to accomplish the target since it was confirmed that they would play their archrivals in the semis.

“It was a dismissal that I had played out in my mind several times after it was confirmed that we would play India in the semi-final,” said the young left-arm pacer. “I worked hard on that particular delivery in the nets with the coaches, Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed. We all felt that the only way to stop Yuvraj's golden form was to get him in the first few balls.”

Wahab was the most successful Pakistan bowler against India as he returned with career best figures of 5 for 46 from his spell of 10 overs. It was also Wahab’s first five-for in One Day International cricket.

The 25-year-old pacer further revealed that he not only had plans for Yuvraj, but also for the complete batting line-up of India.

Reminiscing their clash with the archrivals, Riaz said that opener Virender Sehwag’s wicket was sensational but Singh’s wicket was special for him.

“The wicket of Virender Sehwag set my adrenalin flowing because he is such a dangerous player,” said the young pacer who was given a chance in the high-pressure game ahead of speedster Shoaib Akhtar. “But Yuvraj's wicket was special as he was out first ball and his dismissal really shocked and stunned the spectators.”

The Lahore-born bowler, who made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2008, admitted that he had been under pressure ahead of the semi-final game against India. He also told that he could not sleep for three days before the match.

However, Wahab was dejected that despite his five-wicket haul, the team failed to win the match. He said that the defeat was very disappointing and frustrating. He said that it hurt them more since they restricted the mighty batting line-up of India to a manageable total.

Wahab reckoned they could have easily won the game with their batting depth and a few partnerships could have seen them home, but it was not the case.

Sangakkara steps down as ODI and T20 captain

Kumar Sangakkara has stepped down as captain of Sri Lanka’s ODI and T20 teams but has offered to continue as the Test captain on an interim basis for the forthcoming series against England and Australia “if this is considered helpful for the new captain”. He will continue as a player in all formats of the game.

His decision, revealed on Tuesday, comes days after he led Sri Lanka to the World Cup final. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews are among those tipped to take charge of the limited-overs’ sides, while Thilan Samaraweera is being discussed as an option to lead the Test team.

Sangakkara was the third highest scorer in the 2011 World Cup and scored 48 in their defeat to India in the final.

“I would like to announce that after careful consideration I have concluded that it is in the best long-term interests of the team that I step down now as national captain so that a new leader can be properly groomed for the 2015 World Cup in Australia”, a statement from Sangakkara said.

“This was a decision I made prior to the 2011 World Cup. I will be 37 by the next World Cup and I cannot therefore be sure of my place in the team. It is better that Sri Lanka is led now by a player who will be at the peak of their career during that tournament.

“It has been a true honour and a great privilege to serve my country as captain during the past two years and, although bitterly disappointed that we could not win the final, I am very proud of the performances of the team.

“I met with the selectors on Monday and I explained my reasons for my decision and I assured them of my fullest support in helping our new captain settle into the leadership.

“In this regard, I have offered to continue as the Test captain for the forthcoming series with England and possibly Australia if the selectors believe this would help the new captain and aid the transition.

“I have no plans of retirement from international cricket at this stage and subject to form and fitness I would like to be considered for selection in all three formats of the game for the foreseeable future. “