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17 Sports mike Tyson barred from entering nz
cOlOmbO: Pakistan cricketers stretch during an icc Twenty20 cricket world cup practice session ahead of their semi-final match against Sri lanka in colombo. afp
WELLINgtoN AfP
The New Zealand government on Wednesday blocked former heavyweight boxing champion and convicted rapist Mike Tyson from entering the country. Tyson had originally been granted a visa, despite opposition from Prime Minister John Key, to visit in November for a charity event. But associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson said the visa has now been cancelled after the show sponsor, the Life Education Trust, made clear it "no longer wants to have any involvement" with Tyson's visit. "Given that the Trust is no longer supporting the event, on balance, I have made the decision to cancel his visa to enter New Zealand for the Day of the Champions event," the minister said. Wilkinson said the original decision to grant Tyson a visa was "a finely balanced call" and the letter of support from the Trust was a significant factor in approving the application. Tyson was sentenced to six years in prison in 1992 for raping an 18-year-old woman and under New Zealand law anyone sentenced to more than five years in jail is denied a visa, although this can be waived in certain circumstances. Key had described the Tyson visa decision as "a line ball call". He said he did not understand the rationale behind allowing Tyson into the country and said he would never approve a visa being granted to someone with a serious conviction such as violence against a woman. "I can see it from both sides, maybe it was a long time ago, but in my view they are very, very serious issues," he said. Life Education Trust chief executive John O'Connell told Fairfax Media his board had initially turned Tyson down and the letter of support was written by a well-meaning volunteer. "We are a charity that works with children and their self-esteem and relationships with others. Clearly there is a brand values disconnect, we believed, between being involved with Mr Tyson," O'Connell said. "Certainly the rape conviction was the key thing."
pCB chief seeks input from former cricket greats on ppL LAHoRE StAff REPoRt
Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohammad Zaka Ashraf has sought input from former cricket greats, Sunil Gavaskar and Wasim Akram on the proposed Pakistan Premier league in near future. PBC Chief who is in Sri Lanka to watch the ongoingT-20 World Cup held meetings with the former Indian batting master, Gavaskar and Wasim to seek their expertise on the PLL which PCB is planning to organise at a suitable time in near future, said a spokesman of PCB said on Wednesday. Zaka Ashraf discussed in length the holding of the PPL with Gavaskar who assured his all out support to make the event a big success. “ It is a good step for the development of cricket in Pakistan and the holding of PPL will be a step forward for bringing interna-
tional cricket to Pakistan,” said Gavaskar. PCB Chairman invited Gavaskar to visit Pakistan who accepted the invitation and also assured him (Zaka) that he will endeavour to bring former test cricketers to Pakistan to discuss the holding of PPL. It may be mentioned here that PCB Chief is making strenuous efforts for the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan and he has planned to organise PPL to ensure the participation of foreign cricketers in it. Zaka Asrhaf had a similar meeting with former Pakistan captain ,Wasim on the organisation of PPL and promotion of cricket in Pakistan. “Wasim also assured the Chairman that he would put up his suggestions for the holding of PPL and termed it (PPL) a positive effort for bringing back international cricket to Pakistan,” he added. The Chairman asked the former pace bowler to help develop cricket in Pakistan
,specially the grooming of pace bowlers at National Cricket Academy. “ Wasim offered his services for the training of upcoming bowlers at NCA and assured the Chairman that he would be glad to play any role as far as development of cricket or training of young cricketers are concerned “. PCB Chief had a productive meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of International cricket council, Dave Richardson who accepted his invitation for visiting Pakistan in coming months, most likely in November. Zaka Ashraf discussed the current Pakistan cricket scenario with the ICC official and highlighted the steps and efforts being made for the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan. “It’s been a long time to visit Pakistan and I will like to visit Pakistan to see cricket development and to discuss cricket related affairs with PCB Chairman,” said Dave.
pakistan need new strategy
LAHoRE StAff REPoRt
Pakistan need to rethink their strategy for today’s World Twenty20 Super Eight game against undaunted Sri Lankans after being lucky to move to the semi-final of the World T20. Pakistan coach
Thursday, 4 October, 2012
Dav Whatmore without elaborating expressed his belief: "We need to rethink a few things, that's for sure, and that will be done,". "We have had some reasonable performances just recently. But they have played very well in the last three weeks or so, in the warm up games and also in this tournament. So there is no room for mistakes now. iMRaN CoNgRatuLatEs tEaM: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has congratulated national cricket team for qualifying for semi final of T20 World Cup as well as victory against Australia. In a message on Wednesday, he said that Pakistan's victory has brought a message of happiness for the nation. He said that Pakistani players showed their best performance, adding, by following the same spirit our national team could bring the world cup to Pakistan. gREEtiNgs to tEaM FRoM PM: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has congratulated the Pakistan Cricket Team for qualifying into the semi final of the T20 World Cup match and defeating Aus-
tralia in a crucial match in Colombo on Tuesday. In his message of greetings to the Manager and Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team, the Prime Minister praised the out standing performance of the players.The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that Pakistan Cricket Team would continue its present performance and bring laurels to the country. PaKistaN outPLayED us: BaiLEy: Australia captain George Bailey could not explain his team’s batting collapse, but merely admitted: “Pakistan outplayed us. The ball turned more, they used spin against us well. I wanted my top-order batsmen to do the majority of the scoring, but they didn’t.” Though Australia qualified for the semi-finals from Group 2 despite losing to Pakistan by 32 runs in their final Super Eight match, Bailey conceded his team’s weakness against spin remains a concern. “We worked hard on it but it did not show today. Tactically Pakistan played a shrewd game. We have good players of spin. We managed to beat
them in Dubai too. However, we have to overcome this shortcoming,” he added. Bailey said getting off to a good start was vital in T20 cricket. He said: “Twenty20 is all about momentum. We did not play well in the first six overs and hence could not reach the target. They took the catches well and fought hard.” MoMENt oF Joy: The moment South Africa reached 121 runs against India, the streets in Pakistan echoed with life-threatening gunshots fired, apparently by jubilant cricket lovers. Tuesday was no exception when the green shirts defeated the apparently confident Australians by 32 runs in a make-or-break tie in Colombo and later when South Africa opened up doors of semi-finals for the Pakistan team. As soon as the Pakistani side appeared victorious, various city neighborhoods started echoing with ear-splitting aerial firing that sometimes have been lethal for the bystanders or passersby or in some cases the shooter himself.