LAHORE - Former Pakistan team coach Waqar Younis has backed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to appoint M Hafeez as captain for the Twenty20 format and vice captain for the One-day matches and urged thesen9iors players to forget their captaincy aspirations and support new captain. Former Pakistan coach and legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis applauded the Board’s decision to choose Hafeez over other candidates for the captaincy. Waqar also feels that to introduce Hafeez to international captaincy initially in the shortest version is a wise move by the PCB.

“It would have been unwise to throw him into the deep end and give him the captaincy in the longer formats. He is a fine and right choice and he wishes him well and hope that he will be successful,” a sports website quoted Younis as saying

Speaking about getting support from senior players in the team Younus said: “I hope that Hafeez gets the support of all the players in the team and the squad, particularly the senior players”. “I sincerely hope that the guys who were thinking about becoming captain or hoping that they would be chosen as captain, stop thinking about the issue of captaincy and instead get behind Hafeez and support him for the sake of Pakistan cricket and the country. They should forget their captaincy aspirations and support Hafeez,” he added.

“I hope that Hafeez gets the support of all the players in the team and the squad, particularly the senior players. I sincerely hope that the guys who were thinking about becoming captain or hoping that they would be chosen as captain, stop thinking about the issue of captaincy and instead get behind Hafeez and support him for the sake of Pakistan cricket and the country. They should forget their captaincy aspirations and support Hafeez.”“Hafeez has always provided good support to captains that he has played under and he deserves the support of his team-mates. I think things will work out well for him, especially in the shorter versions” added Waqar.

Waqar also had a strong message to the selectors with regards to a policy that he feels is in place to appease all of the regional administrations in Pakistan. According to Waqar that policy entails picking players who he feels are passed their best and are selected from the various regions to keep the regional administrations on side with the Board and selectors.

Waqar who took 789 international wickets in an illustrious career that spanned nearly fourteen years also urged patience with regards to the philosophy of three teams for the varying formats and suggested to the selectors that if the policy of three different teams does not work straight away, then do not hastily scrap the idea. In addition he feels that the key to success for Pakistan cricket is stability and not to make rushed and not well thought out decisions in future. “You have to make changes for each format, but this time around the selectors have made a lot of changes.

The problems is that in the history of Pakistan cricket if something goes wrong they rush into making drastic changes and destroy the whole system. I would urge the selectors that if the policy of three separate teams does not work immediately then do not scrap the idea, stick with it and give it some time to work. “There is so much cricketing talent in Pakistan, that despite all of the ups and downs in recent times and the controversies, the Pakistan cricket team is still playing some excellent cricket and improving,” stated Waqar.

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The five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches clash with some of the dates of the Sri Lanka Premier League T20 competition which runs from August 10-31. "It is very unfortunate that Sri Lanka is no longer hosting our series in August due to the Sri Lankan Premier League," Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told Reuters on Saturday. "We had started our preparations for the series but now we have to look at other neutral venues after this latest development.

"This series is very important for us ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in September," he said. South Africa, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates are possible alternate venues. In March, Sri Lanka agreed in principle to host the series. Pakistan have played their "home" series abroad, mainly in the United Arab Emirates, since a gun attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore in March 2009 killed seven people and left five players injured.

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The 22-year-old left Australia last Friday to play county cricket for Yorkshire but incomplete documentation meant he was instructed to take the long trip back home on Tuesday. Starc blamed "incorrect communication" from Australia and promised to go straight back to Britain once it was sorted out.

The leftarmer, who has taken 10 wickets in four tests for Australia, said he was "shattered" to miss Yorkshire's match against Gloucestershire, which starts on Wednesday. Yorkshire Cricket Club confirmed Starc's departure and said the blame lay with "incorrect advice given to him in Australia".

"The necessary paperwork from Yorkshire County Cricket Club is in order and accepted by the UK Border Agency but unfortunately is insufficient to allow Mitchell to fulfil the full visa requirement," the club said in a statement on its website. Starc also denied media reports that Cricket Australia were to blame for the mistake.

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ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood believes that cricket has no boundaries and the game can play a part in reviving the ties between India and Pakistan. Mahmood, who now has a British passport, said that the game has brought the two nations closer in the past and the same thing can happen again. “When we toured [India] in 1997, there was a tension between the two nations. But after that tour, tensions eased and the situation improved. The game has no boundary. In the past, it was cricket which brought the two nations together, and I hope it will play the same role in future too,” Mahmood, the only Pakistan player playing in the current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), was quoted as saying. Cricketing ties between the two neighbours remain suspended since the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 and Mahmood said the people of the both nations wanted peace. “I hope the tensions between the two countries ease, and like two good neighbours, we live together and move forward. That will be good for every Pakistani and Indian as well. We want peace,” he said.

Mahmood, who is playing for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL, had faced visa problems before coming to India. But the 37-year-old said that the incident was a part of history now. “The issue is over, done and dusted. It’s been a wonderful experience to play in the IPL, where top players from around the world share the same dressing room. I am quite happy to be part of Kings XI Punjab and the IPL,”

Mahmood also feels that the current Pakistan team is doing well under the leadership of Misbahul Haq and the appointment of the experienced Dav Whatmore will also help them improve further. “The team has been playing well under Misbahul Haq. Barring ODIs against England, they haven’t lost a series. The coach Dav Whatmore also knows the [Pakistani] culture very well from his experience in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. I think Pakistani cricket is in safe hands.”

Mahmood, who represented Pakistan in 143 ODIs and 21 Tests, also said that he was not averse to playing for Pakistan in future. “I never said no to them [the PCB]. But it’s in the air and anything can happen. I want to play competitive cricket, which I am playing [at present]. But if an opportunity comes my way, I will think about it,” he said, adding that at 37 he was not getting any younger and would have to weigh his options as he was traveling around to the world to play the game.

Mahmood, whose inclusion has helped Punjab strike the right balance, said he was pleased with his performance so far. “Everybody is chipping in with the ball and bat. We are placed at No. 4 [in the points table] and if we can win [another] 2-3 games, we have got really a good chance to proceed further. I have heard many people saying that it has made the difference since I joined the side [Punjab], which is quite pleasing.” Mahmood, who has been among the wickets and making useful contributions with the bat lower down the order, said he would love to bat at No. 3 or 4, but that call is not his. “It’s not about me, it’s about getting the team balance right. If I get an opportunity to bat up the order, I would love it. However, the important thing is to win games.” He also said that IPL had helped in scouting young talent and praised team’s youngsters like Mandeep Singh and Parvinder Awana for putting up a good show. “We [Punjab] don’t have big names, but youngsters are putting in a lot of energy. We like each other’s company and each other’s success,” he said. Mahmood has high regards for Sachin Tendulkar and said getting a batsman of his calibre out was always an achievement and brought a special feeling. “There is no doubt that he is the best player in the world,” said Mahmood.

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The ICC requires a player to spend at least 183 days in a country for four successive years to be considered for selection. The 26-year-old Wagner, who moved to New Zealand in 2008, failed to achieve the minimum number of days on two occasions.

Once because he was playing a Twenty20 competition overseas with his New Zealand province Otago, and the second time due to a family wedding. Wagner had been expected to be named in the squad after he received dispensation from the ICC last month. He is the third South African born player to be named in the test squad following wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk and wicketkeeper batsman BJ Watling. "Neil has been an extremely good performer in (first-class cricket) for a number of seasons and deserves his opportunity," national selection manager Kim Littlejohn said.

Swing bowler Tim Southee, who struggled for line and consistency in the test series against South Africa and was dropped from the side, has not been included in the test squad for the tour that begins with two Twenty20 internationals in Florida before moving to the Caribbean. Southee, however, has been named in the limited overs sides for the two Twenty20 games and five one-day internationals.

Aggressive batsman Brendon McCullum has been rested for the limited overs portion of the tour, Littlejohn said, as has all-rounder James Franklin. McCullum also normally keeps wickets during the shorter forms of the game but Watling, who has recovered from a hip injury that gave van Wyk the opportunity to cement his place in the test side in the series against South Africa is likely to be behind the stumps in McCullum's absence.

New Zealand open their tour on June 30 with their first Twenty20 match in Florida. Twenty20 squad: Ross Taylor (captain), Martin Guptill, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Daniel Flynn, Ronnie Hira, Tom Latham, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson

One day squad: Ross Taylor (captain), Martin Guptill, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Daniel Flynn, Tom Latham, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson

Test squad: Ross Taylor (captain), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Neil Wagner, Daniel Flynn, Mark Gillespie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tarun Nethula, Kruger van Wyk, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson

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Last week, Tendulkar was offered one of the 12 seats in the upper house of parliament that are reserved for those who have distinguished themselves in various fields such as the arts, sciences or social services. "When you get nominated because of your contribution in your field, it's an honour. I was excited to be nominated," Tendulkar, 39, told a televised press event in Pune in western India. "I don't think I will stop (playing) cricket and go straight into politics. I will keep playing cricket. Cricket is my life and will always be," he added.

Tendulkar has not formally accepted his nomination, but such honours are rarely handed out without the prior agreement of the nominee. It is unclear exactly when Tendulkar might take up his seat. The "Little Master's" nomination has raised eyebrows in India, with questions over how the cricketer, who has previously steered clear of politics, could balance his sporting commitments with his duties as an MP.

Some former players have also wondered if the batsman may lose his universal popularity in India as the proposal to nominate him came from the ruling Congress party. Opposition parties were quick to criticise the move as an attempt by the beleaguered government to distract attention from its difficulties over a series of graft scandals and accusations of policy paralysis. "What is Tendulkar going to do in the Rajya Sabha? He has no scope there," Bal Thackeray, head of the regional Shiv Sena party, told reporters in Mumbai.

Tendulkar, however, stressed that his nomination had nothing to do with politics. "I have played cricket for 22 and a half years. And I understand that I was nominated because of this reason. I am not a politician," he said.

"There are many responsibilities on me. I would definitely like to contribute in the field of sports because that is my expertise.”Tendulkar has played more Tests (188) and one-day internationals (463) than any other player since his debut in 1989. He is the highest run-getter in both forms of the game and in March became the first batsman to complete 100 international centuries - 51 in Tests and 49 in one-dayers. The batsman is currently playing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, a franchise-based Twenty20 competition.

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Wright, who took on the role at the end of 2010, had declined an offer to extend his contract, citing a desire to pursue other interests. "I appreciate the offer to extend my contract but after much consideration I feel it's the right time to move on and look at other opportunities," the 57-year-old said in a statement issued by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).

NZC chief David White said: "John has been an outstanding servant for cricket in New Zealand over a long time and it is disappointing to lose someone of his calibre. "We were keen to see him continue his head coach role, however understand and respect his decision to look for another challenge.

"We are keen to fill this critical role as soon as possible but are conscious that we need to take the time to find the right candidate who can take us through to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup."A former New Zealand captain, Wright amassed over 9,000 runs in tests and one-day internationals as a left-handed opening batsman before taking up coaching with stints with English county side Kent and India from 2000-2005.

As New Zealand coach, Wright oversaw the team's run to the one-day World Cup semi-final last year and December's test win over Australia in Hobart, the first on Australian soil since 1985.

New Zealand kick off their West Indies tour with two Twenty20 matches in Florida, the first on June 30, followed by five one-day matches and three tests in the Caribbean in July and August.     (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Mumbai: Depsite his side registering a five-wicket victory over Deccan Chargers in an IPL match here, Mumbai Indians captain Harbhajan Singh was critical of the Wankhede Stadium pitch, saying that “it was not a proper Twenty20 wicket”.

“A different wicket from what we have played at the Wankhede. Not good for T20 cricket. I came today and saw the pitch and said wow what to expect here, we never know what to expect from this track ever,” Harbhajan said after the match. “From next time, I think we have to ensure that we know what kind of wicket we are going to play,” he added.

Asked about his side’s performance, Harbhajan said, “We did not play any better than Deccan, both teams batted poorly. Of course, our bowlers did a superb job. Rohit batted well and Ambatu Rayudu was there to take us home.”

Chargers captain Cameron White said the toss was crucial in such a wicket. “It was an important toss but we did not play too well. Our bowlers tried their best but the total was too small,” he said.

Asked about Steyn’s fiery fast bowling spell of 2/10, White said, “He (Steyn) bowled fantastic and we made a match out of it. One thing you don’t want to do is to have Steyn’s overs remaining with the game finished.”

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KARACHI: Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq has opposed the idea of forming three separate teams for all formats before adding that only three to four changes in the playing eleven were possible. Pakistan selectors have pondered over the idea of forming separate teams ahead of the World Twenty20, but is yet to be implemented.

“Three to four changes can be made and are necessary,” Misbah told The Express Tribune. “But changing an entire line-up of 11 or 15 players can’t be done.”The captain also expressed his desire to continue leading the team, including for the World Twenty20 that takes place in Sri Lanka in September. Calls for Misbah, who has often faced criticism for a ‘defensive’ approach to captaincy and batting, to be dropped from the limited-overs versions of the game have gathered pace, especially Twenty20.

Pakistan went down to England 4-0 in the One-Day Internationals (ODI) – ending a fine run that saw the team remain unbeaten in ODI series in 2011 – before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat in the Twenty20s .
However, Misbah, who turns 38 next month, said that he wanted to continue leading the team and feature in all three formats of the game.

“I don’t want to just play Test cricket. I want to lead the team at the World Twenty20 as well but obviously that’s up to the selectors. As far as people calling my batting style defensive is concerned, I play according to the situation. I’m the captain and I have an added responsibility.”‘I will prove my critics wrong’ The right-hander, a late starter having made his international debut at the age of 26, vowed to prove his critics wrong.

“When I made my debut, people called me old and said I have little future in the game. But I’ve been able to prove them wrong with my performances. Now I’m confident of doing the same.”Misbah, who has played 98 ODIs, 34 Tests and 39 Twenty20s, added that he has never opposed the idea of a deputy, which the Pakistan management is yet to appoint. He added that a good rapport with head coach Dav Whatmore, whose first assignment with the team was the Asia Cup that Pakistan won, has been established.

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KARACHI  - Pakistan women cricket team is the current Asian champion but still don’t have a dedicated and specialized coaching staff, Nain Abidi told the SportsEncounter on Wednesday.

Talking exclusively with this scribe, Nain Abidi, women team’s vice captain, said that despite the fact that the women cricket team has performed exceedingly well in the recent matches and series the truth is that it only has a master coach which certainly is not enough when the competition is getting tough all the time in international cricket. She demanded of the Pakistan Cricket Board to appoint full time specialized batting and bowling coaches for the women’s cricket team.

Nain Abidi said: “We are improving with each passing day and our current coach Mohtashim Rasheed is working hard with us. But if we have specialized batting and bowling coaches then we can improve at a faster pace”.

She added, “Pakistan Cricket Board women wing is giving us back-to-back international matches which is helping us very much and is very healthy for Pakistan women cricket”. Pakistani man’s coach Dav Whatmore is staying in National Cricket Academy (NCA) Lahore and women team usually practice in the nets at the NCA.

When asked about receiving any guidance from the foreign coach, Nain Abidi said, “Yes, some days ago we were doing practice at NCA when Dav Whatmore monitored our progress and gave us some important advice which we implemented and improved a lot”.

It is important to mention here that Pakistani women team will visit Ireland in August 2012 where it will play a tri nation series with host nation and Bangladesh. After the tri-nation series, Pakistan women cricket team will tour England and play four T20 matches before taking part in the Women’s ICC World T20 tournament in September.

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