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Friday, 25 May, 2012
Sports 19
ICC probing fixing suspicion in Kenya-Pak World Cup game JohannEsBURg aGencies
A Kenyan player is being investigated over suspicion of fixing a 2011 Cricket World Cup game against Pakistan in Hambantota in Sri Lanka, according to the chief of Kenya Cricket Board. Tom Sears, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Kenya, did not give the name of the Kenyan
Pakistan, Sri lanka to compete for Mobilink Jazz Cup 2012
player but said that the ICC has begun investigation into the matter. "We are happy to assist the ICC in any way to ensure that any corruption in the game is dealt with and if there has been any wrongdoing, any individuals involved are punished accordingly. The Kenyan Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs is aware of the allegations and has also pledged their support in eradicating any corruption,"
Sears said. It is learnt that the ICC has advised the Kenyan Board not to engage the player concerned in any official capacity. The player who is not part of Kenya's current squad has not been suspended but is under investigation. Sears said Cricket Kenya was contacted by the ICC late last year over the fixing suspicions. An ICC spokesman, however, refused comment, saying that it has a standard
policy of not making any comment on the ACSU's activities. Pakistan won the match by 205 runs after bowling out Kenya for 112. During the Pakistan innings, Kenya's bowlers conceded 37 wides, equalling the world record. Kenya's performance in the 2011 World Cup, which they ended without a win, was heavily criticised and some senior players were not offered new contracts.
Pakistan drub Argentina 4-2 g
Nz down india in Azlan Shah Cup iPoh aGencies
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lAhORe: Moied Javeed, Director Marketing Mobilink, Subhan Ahmad, COO PCB and Jahanzeb Taj, VP Marketing Mobilink with the Mobilink Jazz Cup logo for the Pakistan and Sri lanka cricket series. STAff PHOTO LahoRE staff report
Mobilink Jazz has announced its decision to support the upcoming Sri Lanka - Pakistan cricket series, which has been titled the Mobilink Jazz Cup 2012. The announcement was made at a local hotel, where representatives from Mobilink and PCB also inaugurated the official series logo. The Mobilink Jazz Cup 2012 for the Sri Lanka – Pakistan series is unique as it will be the first time that Pakistan’s away series will be sponsored by a Pakistani brand. The series will be held between the 1st of June and the 12th of July 2012 in Sri Lanka, with the series comprising of two T-20 matches, five One-Day Internationals and three Test matches. This initiative is a continuation of Mobilink’s commitment to providing healthy entertainment to the people of Pakistan, whilst continuing to satisfy the nation’s passion for cricket. Addressing the media, Jahanzeb Taj, Vice President Marketing, Mobilink, highlighted, “Mobilink Jazz has a long standing commitment to the game of cricket in Pakistan and is also the official cellular service partner for the Pakistan Cricket Board.” Subhan Ahmad, Chief Operating Officer, PCB added, “The Sri Lanka Pakistan series is a highly anticipated contest, and offers a lot of excitement for the fans of cricket. I would like to thank Mobilink Jazz for their support to Pakistani Cricket, which has helped us continue our journey of success.”
ETERAN penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas celebrated his captaincy debut with a rasping drag-flick into the net as Pakistan defeated Argentina 4-2 in the opening match of the 21st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament o Thursday. Three-time champions Pakistan, who lost last year's final to Australia through a golden goal, squandered a two-goal lead to allow the tough-tackling Argentina draw 2-2 level, but then scored twice in the last five minutes to assert their supremacy. Pakistan opened the scoring in the 34th minute, when they just had nine players on the field. After a fine solo run Shafaqat Rasool sent a diagonal ball that was picked up on top of the circle by Muhammad Irfan, who beat Argentine goalkeeper Juan Manuel Vivaldi with a firm hit. Skipper Abbas made it 2-0 in the 50th minute with a firm shot that beat Vivaldi and went high into the net. Down 0-2, the Argentines came back strongly and exploited the gaps in Pakistan's own defence. Gonzalo Peillat reduced the deficit with a penalty corner conversion in the 53rd minute when their star striker Pedro Ibarra was off the field due to a yellow-card suspension. Argentina were back on level terms at 2-2 in the 62nd minute as Mathias Parades moved behind Pakistani defenders to capitalise on a through ball from Mathias Villa, slotting it into the boards. However, Pakistan, missing several seasoned players who are facing disciplinary action for playing in the World Hockey Series in India, scored two field goals to clinch full points from the first outing here. Haseem Khan put Pakistan in the lead again by deflecting
CoLoMBo cricinfo
law College win LahoRE staff report
Punjab University Law College won the PU Inter-collegiate Cricket Championship beating Hailey College by six wickets in the final here at the Old Campus ground on Thursday. scores: hailey College 188 for all in 35 overs. Bilal 62, hasan 28. Amir three for 24 and zeeshan two for 30. law College 189 for four in 29 overs. Asif 57, Tayyab 49, Jahangir 37. hasan one for 32.
in a shot from Irfan in the 65th minute and Muhammad Waqas rounded off the scoring with a brilliant goal in the penultimate minute from a rasping cross by Shabbir Ahmed. While Argentina will face New Zealand in their next match on Friday, Pakistan will play the Black Sticks on Sunday. A lacklustre India began their campaign in the 21st Azlan Shah Cup hockey with an embarrassing 1-5 defeat at the hands of a speedy New Zealand in Ipoh on Thursday. Starting with an opportunistic strike past a rusty Indian defence in the opening minute, New Zealand ripped through the Indian backline as five different players registered their names on the scoresheet to repeat their runaway victory last year. New Zealand, who are drawn in the same group as India in the London Olympic Games, had outplayed India 7-3 in the 2011 Azlan Shah Cup, when India finished sixth in a field of seven nations despite starting as double defending champions. Simon Child (1st minute), Andy Hayward (34th), Nick Wilson (32nd),
Team is showing confident: Qasim
Sri lanka recall trio to face Pakistan Sri Lanka have included all-rounder Jeevan Mendis in their ODI squad to face Paksitan, but there is no place for his namesake Ajantha. tWenty20 squad: Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal lokuarachchi, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Sachithra Senanayake, lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedera, Upul Tharanga, isuru Udana. one-day squad: Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Sachithra Senanayake, lasith Malinga, Rangana herath, Upul Tharanga, Nuwan Pradeep, Dilhara Fernando.
The ICC were initially alerted to a possible involvement of the Kenyan player in another international game with a report from another player that several approaches were made to spot-fix international matches involving other Full Member countries. Subsequently another allegation was made against the same cricketer concerning the World Cup match between Kenya and Pakistan last February.
LahoRE staff report
Pakistan Hockey Federation President Qasim Zia has pointed out that the team has shown confidence in the opening match of the Azlan Shah Cup Hockey that rolled into action at Ioph, Malaysia on Thursday. Talking to journalists, he said that the new look Pak team took a fine start in the Azlan Shah Cup by beating Argentina convincingly. “It is good to see the team putting up a confident boosting performance o take a much needed start in the tournament,” he said. PHF Chief termed Azlan Shah cup a “tough team tournament“, as world’s top six teams are taking part in the event which is a good preparations for Olympics. “All the six teams have qualified for the London Olympics and
it is very beneficial for our team to play with these teams to get high quality match practice for the Olympics,” he asserted. Qasim Zia praised the talent of young talent of the team and said the six junior players have performed to a highest level in league with their senior players. “The presence of junior players in the side strongly endorse the stance of PHF for securing better future of the game,” he said. “We firmly believe these youngsters will keep doing hard work to be a useful part of the team in its coming ties of Azlan Shah Cup.“ Qasim said beating Argentina is a decent result on part of Pakistan team as the Argentinian side always proved a superior rival during past four years in international events. “It is a good beginning but we have to play a number of matches in the tournament and all depends how our team performs in its coming assignments,” said PHF Chief. Qasim Zia said the team management under the guidance of former Olympian, Akhtar Rasool is doing a lot to improve the performance of the team and a lot of hopes are pinned with the team management to take measures for inspiring the team to success in the coming matches. “Our aim is to prepare the team for Olympics and participation in Azlan Shah and then the tour of Europe are the two important assignments to achieve this objective,” he said adding “These two events would help in finalizing our squad for Olympics and will also reveal our prospects in Olympics”.
Stephen Jenness (61st) and Matt L'huillier (65th) scored for New Zealand, who only the previous night had one of their players, Blair Hilton, ruled out of the tournament after undergoing an emergency operation for appendicitis. India's lone goal came through Shivendra Singh in the sixth minute, which kept the scores level at 1-1 until the 34th minute. New Zealand stunned the Indian defence in the opening minute of play when defender Sandeep Singh faltered in stopping a long shot inside the circle. Child made India pay for the lapse by picking up the ball and slamming it into the boards despite two defenders and the goalkeeper being in the circle. India drew parity five minutes later when Shivendra received a long through pass from Birender Lakra and beat a defender before slotting it past New Zealand custodian Kyle Pontifex. The Indian defence wilted under New Zealand's persistent attack midway in the first session, but just managed to hang on as goalkeeper P R Sreejesh warded off a series of shots in three successive penalty corners in the 16th minute. Sreejesh was again in the picture three minutes later when he blocked a penalty corner shot from Hayward and also a rebound attempt from Nick Wilson before the ball was cleared. India's off-colour strikers failed to make an impression on the Black Sticks. In the 23rd minute when Shivendra send a diagonal pass to Yuvraj Singh who failed to control the ball and sent a high shot wide of the mark. New Zealand scored their second goal from their fifth penalty corner in the 34th minute when Hayward's low shot beat Sreejesh to give them a 2-1 lead at half-time. India forced two penalty corners in the space of four minutes, but V RÂ Raghunath's shots failed to trouble the New Zealand defence. India's ace penalty corner specialist Sandeep was not on the field during this period.