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sunday, 6 May, 2012
Olympic gold the pinnacle of the sport: Nadal Page 21
May calls for fixing amnesty
LAHORE stAff RepoRt
T
HE head of the Federation of International Cricketers Association believes that all cricket countries should offer an amnesty for information on match-fixing. Although FICA chief executive Tim May
7 players asked to appear before PHF committee LAHORE stAff RepoRt
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Friday summoned seven hockey players who participated in recently concluded controversial World Hockey Series in India to record their statements. The PHF last week issued show cause notices to those hockey players who played in the Indian held World Hockey Sereis, which was declared illegal by the International Hockey FFederation. The players include Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmad, Tariq Aziz, Zeeshan Ashraf, Adnan Maqsood, Shakeel Abbasi and Imran Warsi. “They have violated the constitution of the PHF by taking part in the event which was declared ‘unsanctioned’ by the game’s ruling body, the International Hockey Federation (FIH),” said PHF secretary general Mohammad Asif Bajwa. “They have been asked to appear before the PHF disciplinary committee on May 7 to explain their point of view,” Bajwa said.
concedes that the England and Wales Cricket Board's decision to offer a threemonth amnesty has not led many players to take advantage of it, he sees it as a worthwhile exercise as the game tries to rid itself of the match-fixing scourge. The ECB were prompted to offer the amnesty in the wake of former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield's con-
viction for spot-fixing. "My understanding is that they didn't really gather a great deal out of that exercise. But I think it is a worthwhile exercise for other countries to do," said former Australia international May. "Just because the England players didn't have much to report doesn't mean that Australian, New Zealand, Pakistan,
Indian, Sri Lankan players haven't got much to provide either. "I think there are players out there that are holding a great deal of information from the past or even the current that would assist the people who are put in charge of reducing, minimising or eradicating corruption from our game." Convicted spot-fixer Mohammad Asif was on Thursday released from prison after serving half of a 12-month sentence. Asif was one of three Pakistan players who were sent to jail after they were found guilty of agreeing to bowl noballs during a tour of England. They were also banned from cricket by the ICC for a minimum of five years, but while that was expected to act as a deterrent to other players considering fixing, May acknowledges that it is unlikely to have eradicated the problem. "I'd like to think that cricket was clean at the moment, but I think I'd be naive to think that," May told pakpassion.net. "I think it's important that if we really want to attack these issues that we know what is going on. "I think there is some information out there and we should make it as easy as possible for players to come forward with it."
yousuf in trouble with BD intelligence DHAKA
Agencies
Pakistan's former captain Mohammad Yousuf is in trouble as he is being investigated by the Bangladesh intelligence agencies for allegedly submitting a fake clearance letter to play in the Dhaka league. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has handed over the matter to the intelligence agencies after participating clubs in the Dhaka Premier League which remains suspended refused to resume playing in the event until the Yousuf matter was resolved. The BCB had to step in after Yousuf appeared for the Victoria sporting club in the league against Abhani club on March 28. The same day Abhani refused to complete the match insisting that since Yousuf had played for the Mohammadan club the previous year he was not eligible to play for Victoria. Abhani also claimed that the NOC letter submitted by Yousuf on behalf of Mohammadan club was fake and fraud. Yousuf when contacted in Lahore insisted that he had no role to play in the whole issue. "I don't understand what is the fuss is about. The NOC letter was given to me by the Victoria club which obtained it after signing me on to play for them in the Dhaka league.
Now whether it is a fake or genuine how should I know," he said. Yousuf, who has not played for Pakistan since November, 2010, also made it clear that he was approached by Victoria to play for them and he agreed after being under the impression that he could play for a different club in the Dhaka league after obtaining clearance from his previous employers. "That was my impression as that is the international cricket law. I went to Dhaka after being given a copy of the NOC and clearance by Victoria. They obtained the NOC from Moham-
madan it had nothing to do with me," he insisted. Yousuf also said that he would neither approach the Pakistan Cricket Board for assistance or hire any legal help as it was a internal mater of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. "It is for them to sort out things. But I am disappointed with all this controversy," he added. Under BCB rules, a player can only represent another club in the Dhaka league after one year and if he obtains NOC from his previous employers. Abhani claims that Mohammadan have not given any NOC to Yousuf.
woods misses Quail hollow cut, watney leads
QUILL ReUteRs
A frustrated Tiger Woods missed a cut for only the eighth time in a PGA Tour event while Nick Watney stormed into a one-shot lead in Friday's second round of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. Former world number one Woods battled to a one-over-par 73 at Quail Hollow Club, struggling with his putter, failing to birdie any of the four par-five holes and finishing one stroke outside the cutline. The greatest player of his generation and arguably the best of all time, Woods has now missed four cuts in his last 36 PGA Tour appearances after missed the same number in his previous 231 starts. "The entire week I didn't play the parfives well," Woods told reporters after parring his last nine holes for an evenpar total of 144, a distant 12 strokes behind fellow American Watney who fired an eight-under 64. "You just can't do that, especially when all of them are reachable with irons. I didn't take care of the par-fives, missed a couple of other little short ones for birdie and consequently got no momentum during the round." Asked to explain why he had struggled, Woods replied: "It all has to do with my setup. If I get over the golf ball and I feel uncomfortable, I hit it great. "It's just that I get out there and I want to get comfortable, and I follow my old stuff, and I hit it awful." The 14times major champion, playing his first PGA Tour event since tying for 40th last month's Masters, then reiterated what has become a mantra for him as he strives to regain the form that once saw him dominate the game. "I know what I need to do, it's just I need more (repetitions) doing it," said Woods, who has been grooving a new swing with coach Sean Foley over the last two years. "Obviously we've changed a bunch of different things, and every now and again I fall into the same stuff, old stuff. It takes time to get rid of old patterns."
Malik rejects county offer to get back in to national side LAHORE stAff RepoRt
Following in the footsteps of West Indian Chris Gayle, Pakistan's former captain and allrounder, Shoaib Malik has also snubbed English county offers to try to win a spot in the national team for the coming tour to Sri Lanka. "I had been approached by some of the counties to play this season but I have decided to focus on my return to the national side," Malik said today. Sources said country sides Hampshire and Essex had made offers but Malik after consulting his wife Sania Mirza and family decided he could get a ticket for the Sri Lanka tour. The national selection committee is due to announce the touring squad around May 10 after which coach Dav Whatmore will set up a conditioning camp in Lahore for the selected players and reserves. Pakistan play three Tests, five ODIs
and two T20 matches in Sri Lanka from June 1. They also take on Australia in five ODIs and three T20 matches in August before taking part in the ICC World T20 Championship in Sri Lanka in September/October. Malik said his main focus remained on getting back his international career on track as playing for the national team was the biggest honor for any player. Malik, 30, said he was made offers through his agent in England but turned them down because the Sri Lanka tour and Australia series clashed with the English season. "This time they are strict clauses in the contracts for the overseas players. The county teams wanted assurance that I will play for them once I sign the contract even if I am selected for Pakistan and I couldn't accept that," Malik added. "I had no option but to turn down the offers as I know the coming series
are important for my career as a Pakistan player," he said. Malik said he had been training hard and was in good touch and was hopeful that the selectors would give him a chance to establish himself again in the team. "I have played domestic cricket and done well and I think I have a very good chance of wearing the Pakistan cap again," Malik said. Other Pakistani players have also got offers from counties including offspinner Saeed Ajmal but have turned them down because of the series against Sri Lanka and Australia. Malik said his main focus remained on getting back his international career on track as playing for the national team was the biggest honor for any player. Malik, 30, said he was made offers through his agent in England but turned them down because the Sri Lanka tour and Australia series clashed with the English season.
"This time they are strict clauses in the contracts for the overseas players. The county teams wanted assurance that I will play for them once I sign the contract even if I am selected for Pakistan and I couldn't accept that," Malik added. "I had no option but to turn down the offers as I know the coming series are important for my career as a Pakistan player," he said. Malik said he had been training hard and was in good touch and was hopeful that the selectors would give him a chance to establish himself again in the team. "I have played domestic cricket and done well and I think I have a very good chance of wearing the Pakistan cap again," Malik said. Other Pakistani players have also got offers from counties including offspinner Saeed Ajmal but have turned them down because of the series against Sri Lanka and Australia.