SPORTS Friday, 4 March, 2016
PCB threAtenS Pulling out of World t20 Lahore
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Agencies
HE Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened pulling out of the World Twenty20 if they did not get a clear message about the security situation from the Indian government. Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, called for India to publicly acknowledge Pakistan’s participation in the tournament and to also promise full security to their cricket team. The Pakistan government had initially granted the PCB permission to play in India, but the board has decided to put the visit on hold until they are guaranteed foolproof security. The PCB’s move was prompted after the Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh had expressed his state government’s difficulty in providing security for the India-Pakistan clash in Dharamsala, on March 19. “We have concerns and the threats are Pakistan-specific. Even now, the Himachal Pradesh chief minister has also
said that they will not guarantee the security,” Shaharyar said during a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. “We have been informing the ICC on a daily basis about these threats which is not encouraging for us. “Although our government has already given permission, these latest threats need to be taken seriously. Political parties like Shiv Sena [threatened us], now even the Congress has also said they will not let us play along with some other groups. Those are the ones creating agitation.” It has been reported that Virbhadra, who heads the Congress government in the northern state, wrote to the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) saying that the match should not be played in Dharamsala. Virbhadra’s concerns were regarding the prevailing local sentiment in Himachal over recent terrorist attacks in Pathankot, which lies close to the Pakistan border near the intersection of the states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. “We have told the ICC that there is only
one step that the Indian government needs to take and that is to issue a public statement that they are ready to welcome Pakistan and ensure full security for our team, which has-
n’t come as yet,” Shaharyar said. “We have already been given permission [to travel] and we want to come, but we need reassurance and they should give
a statement that will create a sense of security among us. I spoke to the BCCI and they are giving us a private assurance, claiming that it’s all about internal politics, nothing else, and that Pakistan should come. “But a public statement is important and it should come, as there are threats and we can see them. We have written to the ICC that they should come forward and we’ve asked the Indian government to assure us and give a statement. If they won’t give the statement, then I see it’s very difficult to go to India. There is no deadline in making the decision but we will have to monitor till the end and can even pull out at the eleventh hour.” Pakistan are currently in Bangladesh, where they failed to qualify for the final of the ongoing Asia Cup. They are set to return to Lahore on March 5. Nisar Ali Khan, Pakistan’s interior minister, said that a report about the team’s visit to India will be presented to the Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif after consulting with Shaharyar.
Asia Cup disaster: Afridi’s job is safe, PCB chairman declares SportS DeSk Shahid Afridi will retain his position as the national T20 captain until the end of the upcoming World T20 despite a disastrous exit from the Asia Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan said on Thursday. Pakistan were knocked out from the Asia Cup Twenty20 following a five-wicket-defeat at the hands of hosts Bangladesh on Wednesday. Afridi’s side have thus far only managed to beat UAE in the tournament while they also suffered a thumping loss to India. “I promised Shahid Afridi that he will be retained as Pakistan captain until the end of the World T20,” said Khan in a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. However, the PCB chief hinted at the possibility of changes in the national side as well as the team management before the World T20. “I should held responsible for the team’s poor performance as well,” Khan said, calling for accountability within the PCB. Shaharyar revealed that he had expressed dissatisfaction over the inclusion of several player in the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup and World T20 but the final decision had to be taken by the selection committee. “The selection committee took decisions after the input of the captain and the coach.” The PCB chairman said he had also consulted Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq over Pakistan’s recent performances.
BCCi secretary hopeful of Pak-india match in dharamsala SportS DeSk Following a meeting with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur said on Thursday that he was hopeful of the Himachal Pradesh government giving the go-ahead for the World T20 encounter between Pakistan and India. Thakur said that he expected the match to take place as scheduled despite the state government refusing to host the game. “I am very hopeful [of the match taking place]. The meeting [with chief minister on Wednesday] was held in a very positive atmosphere,” he said. “The government will also try and speak to those [families and few others] who have raised concerns. I am very hopeful of a positive outcome. The government have to announce that the match is on. From the BCCI’s side, the match is on.” CM Singh had initially expressed inability to provide security for the World T20 clash in the wake of objections raised by the families of martyrs and exservicemen, who consider hosting Pakistan as an ‘insult’ to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Pathankot airbase terror attack in January earlier this year. Thakur, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, said it was decided that any bilateral series match between Pakistan and India would not be held in Dharamsala, with the World T20 encounter being an exception as the country’s image was at stake. “It was decided [in the meeting] that in case of a bilateral series between Pakistan and India, no matches should be held in Dharamsala,” said Thakur. “But the venues for the World T20 were decided a year ago and to organise the match elsewhere now is almost impossible. So we [BCCI] and the state government are making our best efforts to sort out the issue at the earliest. Bilateral series is a different ball game. But this is a world event and India has the honour to host the event. We are not co-hosting with any other country. India is the sole host and onus is on us to make it a successful event.” When asked about objections raised by families of martyrs in the Pathankot attack, Thakur said that the BCCI has enormous respect for Indian soldiers who were killed in the assault, but they cannot politicize a sporting event. “We all condemn the Pathankot attack. But at the same time, we can’t bring politics to sports,” he said. “We have the utmost respect for our martyred soldiers and their families but some of the people [mainly politicians] who are objecting to the game are same people who let Pakistan play in Dharamsala post Kargil War.”
Shakib Al hasan reprimanded for stump strike SportS DeSk Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has received an official reprimand for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct in his team’s five-wicket win against Pakistan in Mirpur. Shakib turned around to hit the stumps after being bowled in the 18th over of the chase off Mohammad Amir, after which he immediately apologised to the onfield umpires. Shakib, who was found to have breached Article 2.1.8 relating to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match”, admitted the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by match referee Jeff Crowe. A level 1 violation imposes a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum of 50% of the player’s match fees. Bangladesh will play the final of the Asia Cup against India on March 6.
PAKISTAN HAS ENOUGH TALENT, NEED TO PLAY CORRECT COMBINATION: IMRAN KHAN SportS DeSk Pakistan’s legendary cricketer-turnedpolitician Imran Khan said Thursday the country’s cricket team has “enough talent” but there was a need to get the team combination right. Khan’s reaction came after Pakistan exited from the Asia Cup T20 title race yesterday, following a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. Top order remained the team’s major concern. Pakistan, after recovering from 284 posted 129-7, came within touching distance of victory after the 18th over, before Bangladesh reached a winning total of 131-5 and secured a place in Sunday’s final against India. “Pakistani cricket fans anger at unceremonious exit of Pakistan team
From T20 Asia Cup is understandable as our nation is oozing with talent,” Khan, who captained Pakistan to the World Cup victory in 1992, tweeted. “Pakistani cricket fans anger at unceremonious exit of Pak team From T20 Asia Cup is understandable as our nation is oozing with talent.” Khan underscored the need to make appointments in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on merit. “This talent can only be polished if PCB becomes an institution built on merit, [including] selection of its head purely on merit,” he said. “But how can we expect [Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif] to select PCB chief on merit when all [organisations] are being headed by people rewarded for services to Sharifs.”
Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.
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