Pak win first test series against Australia in 20 years
www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 8th November 2014
Pakistan achieved their first series win over Australia in 20 years with a thumping 356-run win in the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday, taking the two-match series 2-0. The elusive win lifts Pakistan to number three in International Cricket Council's Test rankings behind number one South Africa and Australia. Spinners Zulfiqar Babar (5-120) and Yasir Shah (3-44) rocked Australia once again for 246 in the second innings soon after lunch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Pakistan won the first Test by 221 runs in Dubai. Pakistan had taken a big step forward after scoring a mammoth 570-6 declared in their first innings and getting a 309-run lead by dismissing Australia for 261. That never allowed Australia to stage a comeback and avoid series defeat for the first time since losing 1-0 in Pakistan in 1994. The defeat was Australia's third worst in all Test cricket behind their 675
run loss against England in Brisbane in 1928 and by 408 against the West Indies at Adelaide in 1980. In contrast Pakistan registered their biggest win in terms of runs, beating their 341-run victory over India at Karachi in 2006. Pakistan had to fight hard in the morning session as Steven Smith defied Pakistan during his resolute knock of 97, but once Smith departed, legbefore by Shah, Australia lost their last four wickets for the addition of just eight runs. Smith added an invaluable 107 for the fifth wicket with Mitchell Marsh, who fell after scor-
ing 47. Smith missed a sharp turner from Shah who also bowled Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc to finish with 12 wickets in the series. Babar had Nathan Lyon caught for his second fifth wicket haul, following up his first in the first Test in Dubai. Babar finished with 14 wickets in the series as Pakistan did not miss ace spinner Saeed Ajmal's absence who is suspended due to illegal bowling action. Before lunch Smith batted resolutely, using his feet against the spinners during his 204-ball knock
and hitting a dozen boundaries. Smith reached his eighth Test fifty with two boundaries off spinner Zulfiqar Babar, who failed to add to his three wickets on Sunday. Marsh, who top-scored with 87 in Australia's first innings, played Pakistan's pace-cum spin attack confidently and he and Smith added 55 runs in the first hour. But Mohammad Hafeez provided the breakthrough when he had Marsh caught by Asad Shafiq off an uppish flick. His 130-ball innings included six boundaries. Hafeez finished with 2-38. The win is also special for skipper Misbah-ul Haq who equalled the most wins record by a Pakistani captain with 14. Imran Khan and Javed Miandad also won 14 Tests as captains. Misbah set the world record for the fastest half-century and equalled the feat of fastest century in all Test cricket during his 101 not out on Sunday, capping a memorable Test match.
BCCI demands $ 42 mn in damages from WICB
Calling West Indies' pullout midway into the India tour a "monumental disaster", the BCCI has slapped a US $ 41.97 million damages claim on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). The BCCI also suspended bilateral relations with the WICB till the dispute was resolved, and threatened legal action if the West Indies board didn't respond within 15 days. Scheduled to play five ODIs, a Twenty20 and three Tests, the West Indies players pulled out of the series after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala on October 17. They cited the failure of West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) and WICB to respond convincingly to their questions related to the memorandum of understanding and collective bargaining agreement signed by the two parties in September. In a a stern four-page Global financial trader TradeNext has organised a trials day to select an Asian football star in front of Premier League and Football League scouts for the competition's 40 finalists. The players have battled through training and skills sessions across the country to compete in the SFAAFS final at Wembley Powerleague on Saturday, November 8. TradeNext has organised the trials after highly impressed by the standard of players who entered their groundbreaking competition. TradeNext is funding the trials to give the 40
letter addressed to WICB president Dave Cameron, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel indicated that if the WICB failed to respond within 15 days about how it intended to compensate the losses in "acceptable terms", the BCCI would initiate legal proceedings. "Pending resolutions of all disputes the BCCI suspends all bilateral cricketing relations with the WICB," Patel's letter stated. Patel's missive arrived even as Cameron and senior WICB officials were engaged in meetings with players and WIPA in Trinidad to resolve the dispute. The meeting was facilitated by Prime Minister of St Vincent, Ralph Gonsalves, who helped resolve the dispute between Chris Gayle and the WICB three years ago. As soon as Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies ODI captain, said that the play-
ers would be forced to take extreme steps unless they got clear answers from WIPA and WICB regarding the new MoU/CBE, Patel said the BCCI understood the seriousness of the issue and attempted to avert the debacle. Patel pointed out that Bravo and his teammates continued to play till the fourth ODI only because of the intervention by him and the other senior BCCI officials. Patel stressed that the consequences of the West Indies pullout were "multifold and crippling" to the Indian board. "The BCCI is faced with huge revenue losses, a loss of reputation and is at risk of losing valuable commercial partners," Patel wrote. "The consequences of cancellation of a committed home Tour during the biggest festival season Diwali in India is a monumental disaster for the BCCI. It is during this
season that our partners derive the most value from their rights. "Our broadcaster had committed to its advertisers during this season and on account of your actions, is facing a severe crisis the effects of which are felt by the BCCI. The BCCI holds the WICB responsible and liable for all such consequences and intends to enforce its rights to seek compensation from the WICB to the fullest extent permissible in law." Patel demanded a written assurance from the WICB explaining how it intended to pay damages claimed by BCCI and warned a failure would mean further sanctions. "In the event the BCCI does not receive such a proposal in acceptable terms, within a period of 15 days from receipt of this letter, please note that the BCCI has peremptorily instructed.
SPORT WORLD
IPL betting: Mudgal panel clears Srinivasan of wrongdoing
The Mudgal committee in its final report to the Supreme Court of India said it did not find any evidence to link BCCI president N Srinivasan to his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan’s betting activities during the Indian Premier League T20 tournament in 2013. The report, submitted to a bench headed by Justice T S Thakur, will be taken up for hearing on November 10 and marks the culmination of the extensive inquiry process set in motion by the Supreme Court in October last year. Even as the Justice Mukul Mudgal committee held Meiyappan guilty of betting, it failed to find enough evidence of his involvement in the far more serious offence of spot fixing. Evidence of his involvement in fixing would have put not just him but Srinivasan and the players of M S Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings in serious legal trouble. The Mudgal committee had first submitted its report in February, finding Meiyappan guilty of betting and rejecting the claim of Chennai Super Kings that he was not a team official. With regard to Srinivasan and some eminent cricketers, it said allegations against them were unverified and needed to be probed. The court, while asking the Mudgal panel to probe the charges, had forced Srinivasan to keep off the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) till the probe was over. The committee is learnt to have said in its final report that there was no clinching evidence to link Meiyappan's betting activities to his father-in-law. Although the panel said some nagging issues about Srinivasan's conduct remain unresolved, its report vindicates his stand that he had nothing to do with Meiyappan's work, and will allow him to renew his request to the apex court to let him get back to the top post in BCCI.
Amir Khan aims for Grand slam when he faces Devon Alexander
Amir Khan will top the bill at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas’s most prestigious boxing venue, when he faces Devon Alexander, a former two-weight world champion from the United States, on December 13. Khan, the former IBF and WBA light-welterweight champion, beat Luis Collazo there in May on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s first bout with Marcos Maidana.
England appoint Ramprakash as full-time batting coach
Mark Ramprakash, will be appointed as England team’s new batting coach. Ramprakash, 45, has been working with England’s batsmen part-time since Graham Gooch was sacked as Test batting coach last April. This appointment, which begins with England’s one-day tour of Sri Lanka later this month, will formalise his role across all three formats.
Trial to select Asian football star
players a chance to join the Premier League clubs. TradeNext Chief Executive Mohsin Jameel said: “We are delighted to have found so much Asian talent through our Search
For An Asian Football Star competition. We felt the finalists deserved the chance to be seen by scouts and talent spotters from leading clubs in the Premier League, including
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, and the Football League. We hope that some of them do enough at our trials to go on to earn the opportunity to perform at the highest
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level.” The trials not only give the finalists to shine at the competitions but the winner of SFAAFS will attend the TradeNext FootballCV Academy for a week, and train at the FA’s St George’s Park Centre of Excellence. Boxing legend Amir Khan has been following Search For An Asian Football Star and supporting the players chasing a pro career. He said: “SFAAFS is a great opportunity for young lads to improve their football skills and gain valuable experience. And now that TradeNext is funding the trials, it couldn’t get much
better!” FA-qualified coaches from SFAAFS organiser FootballCV www.footballcv.com have been hugely impressed with the quality of players – from the Under-12s to the Under18s. FootballCV director David Mallinger said: “Our coaches have seen some real talent. The 40 finalists have earned the chance to showcase themselves in front of scouts from leading Premier and Football League clubs.” The SFAAFS final kicks off at 3 pm, on Saturday November 8, at Wembley Powerleague.