SPORTS Thursday, 11 September, 2014
PCB in talks with saqlain to helP ajmal LAhore
F
stAff report
oRMER Pakistan offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq has said he is in talks with the PCB to help Saeed Ajmal remedy his bowling action though an arrangement is yet to be finalised. While the delivery of the doosra has come under increasing scrutiny in recent times, Saqlain, one of the pioneers of the delivery, said it was possible to bowl it with a clean action. "It is a matter of concern," said Saqlain, that all of Ajmal's deliveries were found to be illegal. "I got a call from the PCB on Tuesday. We are talking but I haven't yet committed. They have given me short notice. They asked me if I would help Ajmal. I would love to. I said definitely, but we are trying to see if the dates can be worked out. I am hopeful." Saqlain said he had not been paying close attention to Ajmal's action in the recent past. The last time he saw Ajmal bowl live was at Lord's in July, when the MCC played Rest of the World. "I thought he must be bowling legal deliveries so I was focusing on his tactical aspects: how he is setting his field, which ball he would deliver next, how he would trap the batsman," Saqlain, who was on commentary for the game, said. "In that match I was speaking on those lines." Saqlain said he had not worked with Ajmal previously, apart from an informal chat during Pakistan's tour of England in 2010, when they discussed a variation that did not concern Ajmal's stock ball or doosra. Several concerns have been raised over whether the doosra can be bowled with a clean action, and Saqlain said it could be delivered within the ICC's 15degree limit for straightening of the elbow. "of course, it can be bowled within the rules," he said. A spinner begins to face technical issues, according to Saqlain, if his muscles
have not developed properly. "You have to work on four important things: endurance, strength and power, flexibility, and finally quickness or speed," he said. "These are the things to be sorted out first, even before we arrive at the bowler's action, run-up, loading and follow-through." When asked if Ajmal's workload could have contributed to the deterioration of his action, Saqlain said it could be a factor. "If you tire yourself too much, it might affect your strength and power, it might affect your flexibility, it could reduce your bowling speed. So overworking or bowling wrong, or not working at all, depends on the four aspects I mentioned above." Despite Ajmal's age he's 36 Saqlain said he could bounce back through hard work, but making the World Cup depended on how willing Ajmal was. "It depends on the individual. It depends on how much effort he puts in, how early his muscles respond to his routines and how he adjusts to the remodeled action." Saqlain said he had two 16-year olds with suspect actions but they started bowling legally again after four months of work. The PCB remained positive about Ajmal. Its illegal bowling committee understands Ajmal's action needs significant remedial work and a decision on the next course of action, including the possibility of bringing in Saqlain, is likely to be taken by the end of this week. "We can't just fight with the scientific evidence," said PCB official. "He is on the wrong side of 30 but he has done enough in terms of rehabilitating Pak-
istan's image in last four years. His services are significant so we are putting every effort to help him out. At the moment we have called Saqlain and are
working out an arrangement to get him here as soon as possible." Ajmal had his action tested at an ICCaccredited facility at the National Cricket
The name 'Messi' is now strictly prohibited for children
Centre in Brisbane. He was reported by on-field umpires Ian Gould and Bruce oxenford after the first Test of Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka in Galle this August.
SA WOMEN BOWLERS SET UP SWEEP OF IRELAND
ArgentinA Agencies
Parents who wish to name their children after Barcelona star Lionel Messi will now be prohibited from doing so in his home city. Authorities in Argentina have moved to stop any more kids being called 'Messi' amid concerns that the situation could get out of control. It all came about after Hector Varela from Rio Negro in the south of Argentina battled with authorities in order to be allowed to name his son Messi Daniel Varela. This was the first such case in the country, but it has led to a civil servant moving swiftly to ensure that it is not followed by a deluge of other parents in Rosario the forward's home city. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the director of the Civil Register of the Santa Fe province, Gonzalo Carrillo, has said Messi is now not permitted as a forename. It is now "against the law", report the paper, in a bid to take away any confusion following what could have been seen as a precedent. Varela said of the situation with his child's name: "I am Messi's father. Many people chose Lionel as a name for their sons after Messi, but this is more obvious". He requested special permission from the authorities, unaware that his son was to be Argentina's first and that such a fuss was about to be kicked up. Finally, his son was successfully registered as 'Messi Daniel Varela'. Earlier this year, Catalonia's veterinary association released figures that suggested 701 cats and dogs in the region are named after the footballer, as noted by the Independent. It comes days after Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal has named his son 'Pirlo' and followed it up with a brilliant set of hashtags to explain the decision. "Today I have been graced with the birth of my first child Pirlo Kayal. My wife Angela and Pirlo are both doing well. It's been an emotional day, especially for my parents who have come to see the birth of their first grandchild. "I would like to thank everyone for all their support and messages. I also thank god for everything he has blessed me with and today he has blessed me with a son. Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 79, Sector 24, Korangi Industrial Area Karachi.
CMYK
SportS DeSk South Africa's bowlers set up a clean sweep of the three-match Twenty20 international series in Solihull by restricting Ireland to 109 for 8. Their top order then chased down the target with seven balls to spare. After winning the toss, South Africa struck early, reducing Ireland to 18 for 3 inside four overs. The home side made a little recovery and had got to 87 for 4 in the 15th over when they lost two wickets for the addition of no runs. That hurt their ability to push on at the death and they were limited by Shabnim Ismail, Ayabinga Khaka and Chloe Tryon, who took two wickets each for South Africa. Isobel Joyce was Ireland's top scorer with 45; no one else got past 15. South Africa lost Trisha Chetty cheaply in the chase but benefitted from a 53-run stand for the second wicket between Andrie Steyn and Mignon du Preez. By the time they were dismissed for 35 and 37, the visitors were close to victory. Marizanne Kapp scored a brisk 19 to complete the 3-0 win.