Zaka Ashraf, a top banker and businessman, is understood to have been picked as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board succeeding Ijaz Butt

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2011Zaka Ashraf, a top banker and businessman, is understood to have been picked as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board succeeding Ijaz Butt, though a formal announcement to that effect is awaited. Ashraf is president of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited and a close confidant of Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari, who as Patron of the board will make the formal appointment.The news has not been officially confirmed by the PCB and in fact senior officials insisted that no decision had been taken; Butt, who is on an extension of tenure, himself told reporters he was not aware of any notification and would be at his office on Wednesday morning. However, Ashraf’s name was all over the Pakistani media, including, significantly, the government-run PTV channel.Ashraf himself appeared on private TV channels and spoke at length about his plans for the PCB. His priority, he said, was to improve Pakistan cricket’s image abroad after a series of high-profile scandals. “I will work day and night to live up to President Zardari’s confidence. My top priority will be to improve Pakistan’s cricket image and stop bookies and match-fixers.”He also said he would try to improve relations with other cricket boards – including India, with whom sporting and diplomatic ties have stalled after a terrorist attack on Mumbai in 2008. “People in both Pakistan and India love cricket so I will try to resume ties,” he was quoted as saying.Ashraf’s three-year term as president of ZTBL ended on September 3, 2011, and he is expected not to carry on in the position once he takes over his duties as PCB chairman. ZTBL is one of Pakistan’s top public-sector banks and is also represented by a team in Division One of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the domestic first-class competition. The team features several players who have played for Pakistan, including Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir and Zulqarnain Haider.Apart from being president of ZTBL, Ashraf is co-chairman of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, Punjab zone. He reportedly studied with Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari in college and stayed in the same hostel.Butt, whose three-year tenure ended on October 8, had attended the ICC executive board meeting in Dubai on October 10 with an extension of his tenure under consideration.
His term was plagued with controversies, including the armed attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore that resulted in Pakistan being denied the chance to co-host the 2011 World Cup, the spot-fixing scandal (and the problems with the ECB in its aftermath when Butt made controversial accusations against the England team), Zulqarnain Haider’s fleeing to the UK mid-way through a tour after receiving threats from bookies and, most recently, a much-publicised clash with Shahid Afridi.

A round-up of the action from the second day of the fourth round of matches in the Ranji Trophy Plate Division 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2011Group B
Assam put on a solid batting performance to take firm control of their match against Jharkhand in Dhanbad. Overnight batsman Amit Sinha went on to score a maiden first-class hundred, Gokul Sharma followed up his effort with a fluent ton of his own and Tarjinder Singh made 75 as Assam piled up 502. Abu Nechim then knocked over two quick wickets, reducing Jharkhand to 25 for 2 at stumps, to consolidate Assam’s position in the match.A 141-run stand between Akshath Reddy and Bavanaka Sandeep carried Hyderabad to a comfortable 298 for 6 against Goa in Porvorim. Hyderabad began the day on 61 for 2, with Reddy and Sandeep at the crease, and Reddy went on to hit his second century in two matches while Sandeep made 68. After the pair was dismissed, the lower middle order built on the platform with cameos that took Hyderabad’s first-innings lead to 151, with four wickets in hand, at stumps.Some stout resistance from Jammu & Kashmir‘s lower order pushed the side from an overnight 302 for 8 to 388, against Maharashtra in Ratnagiri. The boost was courtesy an 86-run stand from Nos. 9 and 10, Samiullah Beigh and Abid Nabi. Beigh made 69, the innings’ second-highest score, before becoming one of left-arm spinner Akshya Darekar’s five wickets. Maharashtra’s openers – Harshad Khadiwale and Chirag Khurana – were steady in reply, putting on a century stand. Khurana fell for 81, after putting on another steady partnership with Sangram Atitkar, who was unbeaten on 56 at stumps. Maharashtra finished on 204 for 2.Group A
Driven by an unbeaten century from No. 7 Amit Kumar and an all-round show from Rishi Dhawan, Himachal Pradesh took charge of their match against Services in Dharmasala. Himachal began day two on 262 for 6, and the overnight pairing of Amit and Dhawan put on a century stand to push the team towards the 350-run mark. That Services bowled 63 extras helped, and they finished with 364. Dhawan then came good with the ball, taking three wickets as Services slipped to 134 for 6.Twenty-one wickets tumbled on day two of the Kerala v Andhra match in Kochi. Kerala began the day on 110 for 6, but their Nos. 8 to 11 managed only two runs among them as the side folded for 130. Atchuta Rao was the pick of the Andhra bowlers, finishing with 6 for 43. Sony Cheruvathur bettered, however, bettered that effort, taking 6 for 25 to ensure Kerala took the first-innings’ lead. Andhra were shot out for 74 as none of their batsmen managed to get past 22. The wickets fest continued in Kerala’s second innings, as they slipped to 81 for 7 – a lead of 137 – with Syed Sahabuddin and Shankara Rao picking up three wickets apiece.Tripura looked on course to take the first-innings’ lead against Vidarbha, reducing them to 204 for 7 after making 281 in Agartala. Udit Patel went on to score a fifty for Tripura at No. 8, ensuring they finished with a competitive total. He eventually fell for 56 to Sandeep Singh, who was the pick of Vidarbha’s bowlers with 6 for 79. Tripura’s bowlers then struck at regular intervals, not allowing the visiting batsmen to build on starts – five of the top seven got into double figures without going past Shiv Sunder Das’ 45 – to give their side the edge going into the third day.

A round-up of the second round of matches in the Ford Trophy 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2011Jimmy Neesham’s all-round effort helped Otago pip Wellington by six runs at the Basin Reserve and pick up their second straight win in the Ford Trophy. Otago had lost their top six for just 97 by the 23rd over, and Wellington looked to have control of the game at that point. However, Neesham, batting at No.8, smashed his way to 55 from 51 balls, hitting seven fours and a six to lift his team to 219. He built a 60-run partnership with Derek de Boorder (31) for the seventh wicket and a 45-run partnership with Neil Wagner (21) for the eighth. Still, Otago were bowled out with 10.1 overs to spare – New Zealand seamer Andy McKay took 4 for 34 – and Wellington had a gettable target to chase.Neesham would not be denied though, despite Wellington appearing, once again, to be ahead at 157 for 5. Neesham took three of the last five wickets to fall – including that of New Zealand allrounder James Franklin, who top scored for Wellington with 58 – to earn his side the victory. Neesham ended up with figures of 5 for 44, as Wellington lost their last five wickets for 56 runs. Fittingly, it was Neesham who finished the game, dismissing Franklin and Scot Kuggeleijn off consecutive deliveries to wrap up the innings in 39.4 balls, one fewer than Otago faced.The game between Northern Districts and Canterbury at Blake Park in Mount Maungauni was called off because of rain after Canterbury had made 267 for 9. Former New Zealand batsman Peter Fulton top scored with 66.The Auckland v Central Districts game in Auckland was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

South Africa produced an exhibition of blistering seam and swing in the first innings, followed by nagging persistence in the second, to nip out 12 of the 18 wickets they needed for victory at the start of the third day

The Report by Nitin Sundar05-Jan-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsVernon Philander produced a spell of high-quality seam bowling on the third day•AFP

South Africa produced an exhibition of blistering seam and swing in the first innings, followed by nagging persistence in the second, to nip out 12 of the 18 wickets they needed for victory at the start of the third day. Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander delivered spells of unmitigated menace to demolish Sri Lanka’s last eight first-innings wickets for 90 runs, allowing South Africa to enforce the follow-on around 30 minutes after lunch.The pair’s combined first-innings effort on the third morning yielded 6 for 28 in 17 overs, and provided a cruel twist to Sri Lanka’s plans of batting through the day. Wickets weren’t that easy to come by in the second innings, following Tillakaratne Dilshan’s customary brainfade, but South Africa chipped away to skim the top order by stumps.The wicket-fest left Sri Lanka staring at defeat with two days of good weather expected in Cape Town. Their euphoria after winning the Boxing Day Test has steadily dissipated since the toss at Newlands, and the tone for another day of disappointment was set early in the piece.Kumar Sangakkara leaned out to the third ball of the morning to square-drive Steyn uppishly to point, where Hashim Amla gleefully pouched the chance. Sangakkara’s exit meant Thilan Samaraweera was in the middle much earlier than he’d have bargained for. Philander proceeded to systematically work him over with an exhibition of high quality seam bowling, easily the highlight of the day’s action.Philander hit his default lengths in his very first over, and got a couple to curl away devilishly as Samaraweera groped inside the line. In his next over, he repeated the dose to Mahela Jayawardene, befuddling him with another one that leapt away. Samaraweera nearly covered the line the next time, nudging it off the outer half of the blade towards gully.Philander gradually moved the lure closer to off stump. Samaraweera spotted another one that straightened and let it whistle by, uneasily close to off stump. As if to get Samaraweera thinking, Philander nipped the final ball of that over – the last before drinks – back in, to produce an inside edge. The variation may have been on Samawaraweera’s mind as he sipped on his drinks, and the uncertainty could have only increased when Philander’s first ball after the break also jagged in. Samaraweera was gone next ball, clearly unsure which way the ball was going, and offering a limp bat in response. The ball snapped away to take the outside edge and land in the slips, putting a smile in Philander’s face. Not once did he touch 140 kph in that spell. He didn’t have to.Steyn then took over, getting fast outswingers to buzz away in his second spell. His full length first drew Jayawardene into a fatal poke, and in his next over, Angelo Mathews feathered one that kept swerving from the time it left Steyn’s hand. Imran Tahir ended the first session with a ball that confirmed there would be no respite against spin. It landed a couple of feet outside Thisara Perera’s off stump, on the bowlers’ foot marks, and spun back in viciously to have him bowled. Within the space of a session, Sri Lanka’s outlook had turned just as drastically. Dinesh Chandimal kept fighting, but the tail had no chance against Philander after the break.There might be a defence for Dilshan’s strange decision at the toss, but there can be none for the shot he played in the second innings. He seemed to be walking to the dressing room even as he wafted loosely and edged Philander, who was snaking the shiny new ball even more viciously than in the morning. Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne stonewalled for 26.1 overs to produce Sri Lanka’s longest partnership of the match thus far, but it was only a matter of time before South Africa made further incisions.Thirimanne feathered Jacques Kallis onto his pad en route to short leg, to bring Sangakkara and Jayawardene together for the second time in the day. Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, their two best batsmen were about to fail them again. By now, Tahir was getting the ball to do magic out of the rough, and Sangakkara inevitably nudged one to Kallis at slip. A little later, Kallis bent low and plucked Jayawardene’s second outside edge of the day, this time against Morne Morkel. Samaraweera survived to stumps along with Mathews, but even a machine-gun celebration from him tomorrow might not suffice to rescue Sri Lanka.South Africa walked back smiling and chirpy, but one man in the home team must be apprehensive. Mark Boucher clanged two regulation chances, that are not expected to affect the course of the game, unlike his drop of Sangakkara in Durban. Still, the South African selectors will be tempted to look at a young replacement sooner than later.

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has said he would rather win matches than worry about maintaining a balance between attack and defence

Umar Farooq07-Jan-2012Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has said he would rather win matches than worry about maintaining a balance between attack and defence. Though Misbah led Pakistan to six wins in 10 Test matches in 2011, there has been some criticism that he adopts a safety-first approach as captain.”Cricket these days should be taken up with a balanced approach,” Misbah said at the end of a four-day training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium organised to help Pakistan prepare for their upcoming series against England in the UAE. “[But] it’s better to win by playing defensively, instead of losing by playing aggressively. It’s all about the situation; what you are required to do or not do in a particular scenario.”The camp in Lahore mainly focussed on the bowlers and entailed strenuous fielding drills at the beginning of each day, as well as mental strengthening sessions for the players. Among the batsmen, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez were spotted having intense sessions in the nets. A big positive to come out of the camp was that fast bowler Junaid Khan, who suffered an abdominal muscle strain during Pakistan’s recent one-day series against Sri Lanka, was declared fit to play. The players have now dispersed and will reconvene on January 9 to leave for the UAE, with the first Test to begin on January 17 in Dubai.England are the No. 1 Test team in the world according to the ICC rankings, but Misbah said his team would not be intimidated by their opposition’s reputation. “My approach is simple in cricket: when you go onto the ground, give your 100% and focus on your performance. Forget about who the opposition is, do what you can do right, play tough cricket and then you look at the results. When you do all these things right, results will be in your favour.”While fast bowler Aizaz Cheema had said the conditions in the UAE are similar to those in Pakistan, Misbah said, based on his experience of playing in the UAE, both batting and bowling will be a challenge. “If you look at the conditions in the UAE, it’s difficult for bowlers to take wickets, it’s also difficult for batsman to score runs because of the slow pitches where the ball doesn’t come onto the bat. It will be a challenge for both teams; both departments will have to work hard.”England is a thoroughly professional team, and we have to put in real hard work to score runs against them and will have to bowl up to the mark to bowl them out.”The Decision Review System (DRS) is a welcome addition to the series, he said. “I always say it (the DRS) gives both teams a chance because umpires are also human-beings and they can make mistakes sometimes. This is an option for both batsmen and bowlers to help rectify the mistakes of the umpires. I am always in favour of this superb innovation. No doubt it needs better accuracy but I still believe it’s quite helpful for the teams.”Pakistan had an impressive run in 2011; they did not lose any of the Test series they played and reached the semi-finals of the World Cup. They have been helped by consistent all-round performances, Misbah said. “If you look at our recent performance, Pakistan is doing well in every department: batting, spin bowling, fast bowling. We do lack [a bit] in fielding and there are a few lapses, but overall every department is doing the required hard work. Against top teams you can’t depend on a specific department, you have to perform well in every department to compete.”

A wicketkeeper, a middle-order batsman and an allrounder top the buying list of the Pune Warriors, who have started knocking on the doors of rival franchises to explore any possible trading opportunities

Nagraj Gollapudi23-Feb-2012A wicketkeeper, a middle-order batsman and an allrounder top the buying list of the Pune Warriors, who have started knocking on the doors of rival franchises to explore any possible trading opportunities. At the moment the Warriors have to fill three slots for international players having released Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine (injured) and bought out West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor’s contract. But they have only a week left before the trading window – opened specially for them in the aftermath of the truce signed by the BCCI and Sahara, who own the franchise – ends on February 29.It is understood that names such as young South Africa batsman Richard Levi and Ireland allrounder Kevin O’Brien are among the players the Warriors might consider. Levi catapulted himself into contention after he blasted the fastest T20I hundred against New Zealand on February 19. As for O’Brien, who went unsold in the IPL’s supplementary auction on February 4, insiders reveal he could still be a prospect.Tim Southee, the New Zealand fast bowler, who played last year as a replacement player for the Chennai Super Kings, could get a look-in, too, especially if Allan Donald, the Warriors’ bowling coach, backs him. Donald spent a few months as bowling consultant with New Zealand till the World Cup last year and was impressed by Southee’s aggression.The Warriors also require a wicketkeeper. Robin Uthappa did the job for them in IPL 2011 with Paine playing only two matches, one of them as a specialist batsman.Sourav Ganguly, the Warriors’ mentor and a favourite to take over the leadership reins in the absence of Yuvraj Singh, is expected to take the final call on the shortlist of players when he meets the franchise officials later this week.With a purse of $3.4 million available to them, the Warriors have no shortage of funds. If anything there are no big international players left in the market who would be available for the entire IPL season, which starts on April 4 and ends on May 27.According to a BCCI official, the Warriors could face competition from some other franchises who are on the lookout for temporary replacements. “Mumbai Indians might look for a replacement for Andrew Symonds, who retired recently,” the board official said. “It is not going to be easy for Warriors. It is not like they want someone so [they] go get him.”Meanwhile Sahara have sent a letter to the owners of the other franchises, asking them to consider their request of fielding five foreign players this season to offset the absence of Yuvraj. The BCCI had originally refused to entertain the Warriors’ request, but after negotiations, allowed Sahara to seek “consent” from the other eight franchises on the issue. Most franchises ESPNcricinfo spoke to recently were not in favour of such a move.Their stand has still not changed. “If it is five for them, then it should be five for everybody. I have spoken to five to six other franchises and they are of the same opinion,” a franchise official said.The Warriors officials have conceded that it would be hard to get a consensus among the remaining eight franchises. But the Warriors have decided to stay positive and are also interested in some players from other teams. They would be writing to the IPL to express their interest. The IPL would then contact the concerned franchises and get back to the Warriors.

Chris Gayle’s prospects of representing the West Indies again look grimmer than ever after he was left out of the WICB’s 30-man training squad ahead of the home series against Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Mar-2012Chris Gayle’s prospects of representing West Indies again look grimmer than ever after he was left out of the WICB’s 30-man squad for a fitness and training camp ahead of the home series against Australia.While the squad featured a host of other players not contracted directly to the WICB – Tino Best, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin among them – 32-year-old Gayle was conspicuous by his absence, following earlier calls by the board’s chief-executive Ernest Hilaire for the former captain to make his priorities clear.Gayle has not played for West Indies since last year’s World Cup, in large part due to comments he made against the board and the coach Ottis Gibson during a radio interview.The WICB asked Gayle to retract his comments and the batsman has refused to do so.

West Indies training squad

• Contracted players: Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Shannon Gabriel, Nelon Pascal, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Shane Shillingford, Devon Thomas.

Non-contracted players: Samuel Badree, Tino Best, Nkrumah Bonner, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Shane Dowrich, Danza Hyatt, Garey Mathurin, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Krishmar Santokie, Dwayne Smith

“The Board requires you to provide a general public retraction of the comments made in the interview in question and the effect it has had on the team, coach, captain and management, and to express a commitment to team and management,” Hilarie told Gayle in an email in January.”If the terms of that retraction can be agreed, WICB will be happy to consider you eligible once again for selection.”In the meantime, Gayle has taken part in various Twenty20 competitions around the world, including the IPL, the Big Bash League in Australia and the BPL in Bangladesh.He is currently in South Africa as part of the Dolphins’ T20 squad in Durban, but is yet to make his debut due to a groin injury.The other notable absentee from the training squad was Ravi Rampaul, who could not be considered for the camp due to illness.Rampaul had earlier this month been ruled out of regional matches for Trinidad and Tobago due to a shoulder problem.Editied by Daniel Brettig

Apart from trying to help win a Test match for the West Indies over Australia, Shillingford is playing for the right to have his name inscribed on a grandstand

Daniel Brettig in Roseau22-Apr-2012Entering the third Test in Dominica, Shane Shillingford is in a novel position. Apart from trying to help win a Test match for the West Indies over Australia, Shillingford is playing for the right to have his name inscribed on a grandstand.Roseau’s picturesque cricket ground and the newest Test match venue in the Caribbean, Windsor Park has major stands adorned with the names of two of Shillingford’s relatives, Grayson and Irvine Shillingford, alongside Norbert Phillip and Adam Sanford. They were the only Test cricketers to have emerged from Dominica before Shillingford’s debut, leaving the island’s one international umpire Billy Doctrove to have his name emblazoned on the players’ and officials’ pavilion.One stand remains unnamed on the far side of the ground, open to Shillingford to earn his place over five days from Monday. “I’m looking forward to get a chance to play at home, being the first one to play a Test from Dominica [at home],” Shillingford said. “I’m pretty much looking forward to that. I know the Dominican people will be coming out in big numbers to support.”I’m definitely confident coming on from the game in Trinidad, even more so knowing my family, my fans are coming out to support, so I really want to do well and we come out with a victory to level the series.”Most of the players have played here a number of times already and seeing for the Australians this is their first time, the environment, first time being here, playing here, so I think it’s a bit of an edge for us. But we do have to do the basics to come out with a win.”Shillingford made a fine impression on a helpful surface in Trinidad, spinning the ball while maintaining a very sturdy line and length. In the second innings he also showed plenty of variation, befuddling Ricky Ponting with a top spinner and keeping his end quiet while Kemar Roach charged in at the other. Speaking about his repertoire, Shillingford said he had deliberately held the top spinner back from initial viewing, but used it more as his confidence grew.”Yeah definitely. It was a case where you didn’t want the batsman to know all about you right there and then,” he said. “And coming in the second innings we needed to get wickets and stuff. Most of the time I try to bowl and build pressure and then try it, but in the second innings I did bring it in earlier. We were trying to get early wickets to give ourselves a chance to win the game.”There is added incentive for Shillingford and all the West Indies players ahead of an England tour that follows closely on the heels of the Australia series. The squad is likely to be named towards the end of the Test, the players then having two days off before flying across the Atlantic.”Well it definitely is something I’m looking forward to,” Shillingford said. “I’ve always wanted to play … I’ve played club cricket in England so the experience is there. I’m really looking forward to going there and playing Test cricket.”On past evidence, Windsor Park’s pitch will offer some spin, but there is also grass on the surface two days out from the match, offering hope of a little more pace than the surfaces used in Barbados and Trinidad. Shillingford reckoned his home track would provide some incentive for all bowlers, and batsmen.”I’ve not had a good look at the pitch but I know playing here in a first-class game there’s been a good deal of spin,” he said. “I’m not sure what preparation has been done to the wicket. All I know is that it’s an allround pitch where the batsman has to put in and the bowler has to put in.”Should he put in adequately across this match, the Shane Shillingford Stand may soon be unveiled.

Cricketers not contracted with Sri Lanka Cricket will no longer be allowed to use the board’s facilities, according to a proposal by the board’s executive committee

ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-2012Cricketers not contracted with Sri Lanka Cricket will no longer be allowed to use the board’s facilities, including medical assistance, the board’s executive committee has decided. SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga confirmed these details to ESPNcricinfo.The decision has so far met with a positive response. “I believe it’s fair enough,” Ken de Alwis, the spokesman of the Sri Lanka Cricketers Association told . “If a player signs a contract, then he becomes an employee of SLC. But if a player does not sign it, then SLC has no obligation to look after his interests.”The SLC will submit the contract proposals to the association.Fast bowler Lasith Malinga didn’t sign an SLC contract last year but received medical assistance from the board when he returned to Sri Lanka briefly for treatment during the current IPL season, in which he’s representing Mumbai Indians. Malinga plays for Sri Lanka in limited-overs internationals but has retired from Test cricket. Nishantha Ranatunga, at the time of Malinga’s treatment, had said: “Though he has no central contract, it is the SLC’s duty to look after the national players.” The latest proposal by the SLC, though, suggests a chance of stance.