Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold. — Joseph Chilton Pearce
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sPorTs Thursday, 19 september, 2013
icc agReeS on dRS top-up aFteR 80 oveRS in each teSt inningS
LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday revealed the outcome of discussions on various issues during its Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) meeting in Dubai from September 16-17, announcing that the Decision Review System (DRS) referrals will be topped-up by two after 80 overs in an innings of a Test match, starting October 1, 2013. The ICC said in a release on its website, “The CEC reviewed the performance of the Decision Review System (DRS) during the Ashes series and received an update on a technology trial that was conducted during the Old Trafford Test. A paper prepared by Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following their series in England was also discussed.” “The CEC agreed that a Working Group be constituted to consider how the ICC should best use technology in umpire decision-making in the future. The considerations of the group will be wide ranging and include a review of the objectives and philosophies of using technology, the technologies, protocols and procedures as well as the role and training of television umpires,” it added. “It was also agreed that a trial will be conducted whereby a team’s referrals will be topped-up to two reviews after 80 overs of an innings. STAFF REPORT
japan open on pRioRity liSt: lee
phF muSt Still tRy to enter cw games phf ignoreD ioc-backeD poa because it relies heavily on state-run pakistan sports boarD LAHORE
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STAFF REPORT
OME people in the hockey community are hoping against hope that Pakistan might still participate in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year if the authorities requested the world hockey bosses and the games management to give some more time. Sources said that after the failure to qualify for the World Cup, skipping the Commonwealth Games would be a big loss. Experts said the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) must try its best to make possible the participation of the Greenshirts as the event would be held next year. If sincere effort was made Pakistan could still enter the games, they said. Pakistan hockey authorities failed to submit their expression of interest for the games due to the conflict between two groups, both claiming to be the legitimate
Pakistan Olympic Association. One is AFTER THE FAILURE TO recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), while the QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD other is backed by the government. CUP, SKIPPING THE It showed no interest in sending an entry to the 2014 Commonwealth COMMONWEALTH GAMES Games. Former Olympian Samiullah WOULD BE A BIG LOSS said that it was the responsibility of the PHF to resolve the issue. He said that the PHF should have contacted the FIH preparation of Pakistan hockey team for directly for the Green-shirts’ participation. the Asian Games 2014. He further said that there was still Samiullah further said that all major hockey playing nations, including time and if the PHF really wanted to Australia and New Zealand, participate in serve hockey it should try to participate Another Olympian the tournament and it would be the best in the games.
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Afridi, who led Pakistan in ICC World Cup 2011, is said to be a top candidate to get the captaincy again of the ODI side for the forthcoming series against South Africa in the UAE after insiders hinted that the PCB had decided to relieve Misbah-ulHaq of the duties. Afridi said that after having played 17 years for the country he always considered it as a big honour to captain the national team. "I think the position we are facing right now is that all the senior players
need to contribute more and play a more decisive role in the South Africa series," he said. The all-rounder was removed as captain of the Twenty20 and ODI teams in 2011 after differences with PCB and has since then not been given a chance to lead the national side again. "In principle it has been decided that since there is little time before the South Africa series and the Test matches are to be played before the limited over games, Misbah and Dav Whatmore will continue as captain and head coach for the Tests but Afridi will be brought in as ODI captain while Mohammad Hafeez will continue to lead the T20 outfit," one source said. Pakistan is due to play three Tests, five ODIs and two T20 games against South Africa from mid-October. The source said that the selectors, who have been given a one month extension by the PCB, had met with the caretaker chairman of the board Najam Sethi on Tuesday in Lahore in which the South Africa series was discussed. "Basically the selectors agreed that Misbah should be given one final chance in Tests against South Africa but it was necessary to introduce a fresh approach to the ODI outfit and Afridi's name for the captaincy came under discussion," he said.
DAV WHATMORE FACES ANGRY PAKISTANI FANS ON RETURN FROM ZIMBABWE LAHORE: Pakistan's head coach Dav Whatmore and cricketers faced the heat for the first time for the national team's disappointing performance in Zimbabwe when they returned home. In an unusual happening a few hundred angry cricket fans gathered outside the Lahore airport terminal and as soon as the players and coach came out they were booed. Some of the angry cricket fans were also carrying banners demanding the captain and coach to step down for the team's defeats in the ODI and Test match in Zimbabwe. Not surprisingly the players and coach hastened out of the terminal and were whisked away in waiting cars by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials without any interaction with the waiting media. "We wanted to express our disappointment because even after losing a Test to a weak team like Zimbabwe we see no remorse from the captain, coach, manager or players," one of the protesters told a television channel. STAFF REPORT
INDIA-PAKISTAN CRICKET SERIES WILL IMPROVE RELATIONS former captain zaheer abbas feels restoration of bilateral cricket ties with inDia woulD prove to be beneficial for pakistan as presently inDia is in a stronger position in worlD cricket LAHORE STAFF REPORT
"I have always said that regular Indo-Pak cricket relations and ties also lead to improved relations at people to people and government levels," Abbas said. The former batting great, who has held key positions in Pakistan cricket, said he was happy to see Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif taking steps to encourage regular cricketing and sporting ties between the two nations. "At the moment the Indian
RANA MUJAHID phf secretary
Afridi ready to captain Pakistan again senior all-rounDer shahiD afriDi has once again expresseD his interest in captaining the pakistan cricket team
TOKYO: Badminton’s world number one, Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei, said Tuesday he has been selective about his competition schedule despite worries at home that he has been playing too much. “Indeed, I have been playing in so many tournaments,” the 30-year-old said in Tokyo on the eve of the $200,000 Japan Open, the eighth leg in the 12-round World Superseries. “But I have adjusted the number of tournaments I play,” he said through an interpreter, noting that he skipped the last Superseries event, the $250,000 China Masters in Changzhou last week. AGENCIES
mentioned that those presenting lame excuses of POA dispute were themselves to be blamed for Pakistan’s expulsion from the Commonwealth Games. They were themselves contesting the POA election and were now pretending to be innocent, he said. The PHF secretary Rana Mujahid could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Pakistan finished a poor sixth in the last Commonwealth Games held in India and their best-ever finish was a silver medal in the 2006 Games in Melbourne. POA President Arif Hasan on Tuesday said that elimination of Pakistan hockey team from the Commonwealth Games was a big setback for the national sport. “We provided every opportunity to the PHF to send the entry before the deadline but they didn’t pay any heed,” Arif said. PHF officials, who are playing a big role in the parallel POA body, showed no interest in sending an entry because they had to send it through Arif-led POA.
team is better than us and there is no doubt about it. If we play against India regularly it will benefit our players," he observed. Abbas said that the situation had changed over the years in international cricket and in Indo-Pak relations. "What is sad is that there have been instances in the past when India and Pakistan have not played each other for years after one or two series evven though Indo-Pak contests generate so much interest and revenues for the Boards and players," he said. The former skipper said that at the moment India is the hub of international
cricket. "The money is there. India has a big market for cricket and it is good to hear that Pakistan Cricket Board officials have held meetings with Indian Board (BCCI) officials," he said. But Abbas advised the PCB to also reap benefits from any future matches with India. "We should ensure that any understanding or agreement with the BCCI is also beneficial to us and it should not be like last December when we went to play in India and didn't get a single penny from it," he said. The former batsman also called on the PCB to appoint a batting coach for the national team as soon as possible and said in his opinion Javed Miandad should be the first choice for the job. "There is a definite need to have a batting coach with the current lot of players who really need to lay more stress on their game and apply themselves. The way we played on the recent tour of Zimbabwe our quality just didn't come through. It was
disappointing to lose a Test to a weak team," Abbas said. He also advised Misbah-ul-Haq to work on his captaincy and approach. "Our captains need to bring about the qualities that Imran Khan had. They need to be bold and set examples for other players. It is a captain's job to encourage young players and motivate other seniors," he said. "In our days we didn't have specialist coaches but we learnt from each other even though there I loved was professional playing against jealousy in the team. But in the India but end every unfortunately in player was trying to prove my career I got to with his play just a few performances that he is better than Test series others."