SPORTS
www.thefrontierpost.pk
MONDAY
APRIL 13, 2015
IMRAN KHAN FEATURED IN BENAUD'S GREATEST TEST XI SYDNEY: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan featured as an all-rounder in the Greatest Test XI of all time picked by Australian cricket legend Richie Benaud back in 2004. Benaud, who passed away at the age of 84 in Sydney on Friday after a prolonged illness, had played and covered international cricket for more than 50 years and had probably seen more players in action than most people. Benaud’s Greatest Test XI: Jack Hobbs, Sunil Gavaskar, Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Viv Richards, Imran Khan, Gary Sobers, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Sydney Barnes, Dennis Lillee. —Agencies
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ANEES TO LEAD PAKISTAN IN FIRST ASIA CUP T20 FOR BLIND KARACHI: Syed Sultan Shah, the chairman of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), has appointed Anees Javed as the captain of Pakistan blind team for the first Asia Cup T20 to be held later this year. Anees made his debut in international cricket with home series against Sri Lanka in 2008 and has played numerous international series since then. He was also the part of Pakistan team in the last Blind World Cups as well as the T20 World Cup in 2012. The 22-year-old Anees is also the captain of Islamabad blind cricket team. —Staff Report
National training camp concludes, Pakistan squad off to Bangladesh
Azhar promises tough fight in Bangladesh
istan’s Test side. “I have a big example of Misbah who led Pakistan in tough times and positively. Being a team memLAHORE: Newly appointed Pakistan oneber I saw a lot of good things in him, how day captain Azhar Ali Saturday said his he handled the situations so this is goteam would not take Bangladesh lightly ing to help me. “There are a lot of great after their strong World Cup performcaptain around the world, but for me ance, promising a tough fight from his Misbah is the best captain I have played young players next week. Ali will lead with.” Ali hoped his the team for the first under-performing time on tour starting batsmen would show with the first of three improvement. one-day internationals “Bowlers definitely in Dhaka on Friday. did well in the World He replaced Misbahul Cup so we are going to Haq, who retired from rely on them, but it’s one-day cricket after important that batsPakistan slumped men should also feel out of this year’s the sense of responsiWorld Cup, co-hostbility. Cricket is ed by Australia and changing and we as a New Zealand, in the team have to play ANTIGUA: England’s head coach Peter Moores hits a ball to Gary Ballance during nets at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium quarterfinals. with a positive frame on Sunday. —FP Monitoring Ali, 30, said his team of mind. I am seeing how excited the were ready for Bangladesh, who shocked England to also reach the World Cup stand cricket has changed a lot and ob- players are. They want to do something quarterfinals, where they lost to India. viously we do have to take our cricket for- good for Pakistan and I am sure... it will “Bangladesh’s performance in the World ward in a positive way. But if you expect be a different side.” Ali said his batsmen Cup was good and they looked a much- a sudden change that is not going to hap- must match the fast pace of modern improved side. They are also tough in pen as rather breaking in the race we cricket and score quick runs. "Definitely cricket these days is going fast and we their condition, so we are no way going should gradually bring on a change.” Ali said he was inspired by former cap- are surely going to match the pace at the to take them lightly,” Ali told reporters on the last day of the training camp. tain Misbah, who is still leading Pak- top level,” he concluded. SAO PAULO: Most Brazilian foot- ly $7 million more this year than in all where football is not as competitive.” ballers dream of making it to a top of 2014. Ukraine, Italy and Spain Tardelli said he will still be able to play European club. These days, though, were the countries that spent the at a top level in China. “I’m not too worsome of the country’s most promis- most to recruit players from Brazilian ried, we play in some high-level coming players are heading to a very dif- clubs between 2011 and 2014, but petitions here,” he told Brazil’s SporTV. ferent sporting nation. China is fast now they are all about to be sur- “Maybe the technical quality is not becoming the new destination for passed by China. It has become hard- the same as in Brazil and Europe, but some of Brazil’s best players, rather er for other markets to compete with it’s not going to be a problem.” Another high-profile Brazilian to than the English Premier League, the Chinese, especially for second-tier Spain’s La Liga or the Bundesliga in players not usually targeted by big- move to Chinese football was 23LONDON: Former England Germany. Thanks to hefty invest- spending teams such as Barcelona, year-old playmaker Ricardo Goulart, captain Andrew Strauss also hold its meeting in Dubai. has said exiled batsman ments to boost football in the Asian Real Madrid or Chelsea. These play- who helped Cruzeiro win two-straight STAFF REPORT Asked about the future of long Kevin Pietersen was the country, Chinese teams have ers are now getting better offers from Brazilian league titles and was being become much more attractive to China than from the smaller European looked at closely by some top EuroLAHORE: As part of a restruc- serving chief executive of the best player he ever played pean clubs after making his debut Brazilian and South American play- clubs that had been signing them. turing process, the Asian ACC, Ashraful Haq, the PCB of- with. “In terms of being “Players worth 3 or 4 million euros with Brazil last year. Goulart’s reers, making high-salary offers that Cricket Council (ACC) will ficial said he was unlikely to be re- able to do things that overshadow the players’ desire to to teams in Europe now are being ported $16.2-million move to relocate its headquarters from tained in the restructured ACC other cricketers couldn’t, signed for about 10 million in China,” Guangzhou Evergrande was the move to better clubs in Europe. Malaysia to Singapore, a sen- set-up. He said since the ICC in the England side while China was the country that has Ferreira said. “Some European coun- biggest transaction involving a Brazilior official of the Pakistan provided funds for the develop- I was involved he was the spent the most on transfers from tries are not being able to sign as ian club in the latest transfer window, Cricket Board (PCB) said Sun- ment and staffing of the ACC it one guy that stood out for Brazilian clubs so far this year, top- many players as before, and China has and the highest ever for a Brazilian day. The final approval for was felt it should directly super- me,” Strauss was quoted ping almost $40 million in the sign- emerged as a new market, investing in player going to China. With Brazilian saying by restructuring the ACC will be vise things. Asked if the issue of as given at the meetings of the appointing a new president of the cricket.com.au on Sunday. Strauss and Pietersen had a ing of nine South American players, football and taking away the best play- clubs struggling financially, it’s diffiICC starting this weekend in ICC was on the agenda, the offi- fractured relationship off the field, sullied by a series of including two from Brazil’s national ers and coaches to try to improve cult for players to reject big transfer Dubai. “As part of the restruc- cial said it would be discussed. scandals. In 2012, Strauss bowed out of international team. “China is trying to become a their game,” Brazil coach Dunga said. fees and monthly salaries of about The ICC president’s position cricket in a controversial fashion after it was discovered global player in the sport, it wants to “We have to adapt to this the best way $350,000, nearly three times more turing process the ACC headquarters will be moved to Sin- has fallen vacant after the resig- that Pietersen had been sending text messages to cer- become relevant internationally,” said we can.” Striker Diego Tardelli this year than local clubs can afford to pay gapore for some taxation laws nation of Mustafa Kamal of tain South African cricketers that denigrated his cap- Fernando Ferreira, head of the Brazil- became the first player from a Chinese their top players. Established stars such as Neymar Bangladesh who resigned after tain and disclosed information on how to dismiss the ian sports consultancy firm Pluri. club to be picked for Brazil’s national reasons,” he said. Secondly he said since the the World Cup after a row with left-hander. Two years later, Strauss was caught calling “And signing some of the best players team. He was considered one of the top still make a lot more in the top EuroICC would now be looking after ICC officials over a statement he Pietersen a “c-t” during a commentary stint when he in Brazil is part of this process, it’s prospects in the country when he pean clubs, especially including earnall development work of the made after the India-Bangladesh mistakenly thought his live microphone was turned off. part of the strategy. They are coming made the move to Shandong Luneng ings with sponsors and other enPietersen was axed following England’s 0-5 Ashes white- to Brazil to gather ‘raw material,’ to instead of taking up other deals that dorsements. Other players who left ACC, the workforce of the Asian match. Although Pakistan’s NaBrazilian clubs this year for the high could have increased his profile. body would be reduced signifi- jam Sethi is set to take over as the wash last summer, but a change in leadership at the Eng- find ‘skilled labor’.” Before accepting the transfer, Tardel- salaries in China include Argentines China has been steadily ramping up cantly. “If there are now 20 new president in June, the PCB land and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reignited the staffers these will be reduced by official said the ICC could discuss right-hander’s hopes to once again represent the team. investments on foreign players and is li said he called Dunga to ask if he Hernan Barcos and Dario Conca, as more half while some former three options in this regard. But Strauss says the hype and publicity surrounding the third country with the highest would risk losing his place in the na- well as Bolivia’s Marcelo Moreno. players among these staffers “Bangladesh can constitutional- Pietersen has distracted the ECB, and the only way to put spending on international transfers in tional team by going to a country that About 30 per cent of the foreign playwill be given other coaching as- ly nominate another candidate to it behind them is to start winning games of cricket. “It’s 2015, according to numbers released lacks football tradition. “I told him ers in China’s Super League are Brazilsignments by the ICC as part of replace Kamal till June or it very important for English cricket to move on from the through FIFA’s transfer matching that I won’t analyse a player just by tak- ians or came from Brazilian clubs. the development projects,” the could forego its right to have its Kevin Pietersen situation,” said Strauss. “That threatens system, behind Germany ($118 mil- ing into consideration where he is “This is going to continue for some official said. He said the re- candidate as the president,” he to envelop everything at the moment. The story has be- lion) and England ($174 million). playing, I’ll analyse him based on his time,” Ferreira said. “China will constricting of the ACC had been explained. The PCB will be rep- come more of a distraction than actually him playing or Chinese clubs have spent more than performance,” Dunga said. “But we tinue to be an attractive market to discussed for a while now and a resented by its chairman Sha- not, it’s become that big,” he added. “The ECB and Eng- $85 million on the international mar- have to understand that there will be football players and we can only asfinal decision taken which would haryar Khan, Najam Sethi and land team’s efforts to move on from him haven’t worked ket through March 17, FIFA said, more pressure on these players. If they sume that the country will eventualbe ratified at the ICC board chief operating officer Subhan so far, (but) by winning, that will allow them to move for- more than five times what it spent in don’t play well, people will quickly say ly succeed in its quest to become a 2013. They have already spent near- that it’s because they went to a country world power in football.” —Agencies ward.” meeting. He said the ACC would Ahmad at the ICC meetings. “There will be two teams fighting and I believe my young boys will perform well,” said Ali about the tour where Pakistan will also play a Twenty20 international followed by two Tests. Ali said his young team, including new uncapped opener Sami Aslam, would progress with time. “I under-
STAFF REPORT
Brazilian players chasing cash-rich Chinese football
Asian Cricket Council Pietersen best player I have played with, headquarters to says Strauss move to Singapore
Remembering Richie, a mentor and a friend
I
Tony Cozier
t was an opportunity not to be missed. It was September 2013 and Richie Benaud would be in Barbados for the first time since appropriately delivering the annual Sir Frank Worrell Memorial lecture at the University of the West Indies, Barbados campus, a decade earlier. At 83, he was unlikely to come again. As it has sadly turned out, it was his last chance to catch up with the five of the West Indian survivors from the unforgettable 1960-61 series in Australia when he, as inventive home captain, and Worrell, his similarly minded West Indies counterpart, influenced their teams into an exuberant approach to the game that revived the fading image of Test cricket. Immediately sparked by the unprecedented tie first up in Brisbane, the series captured the public’s imagination to such an extent that 100,000 thronged
the streets of Melbourne to hail their popular visitors at the end. It was a phenomenon unheard of, before or since. A lunch at one of the island’s top restaurants, overlooking the spectacular Rockley beach on Barbados’ south coast, seemed the ideal setting for Benaud to be joined by his 1960-61 challengers, Garry Sobers, Wes Hall, Seymour Nurse, Cammie Smith and Peter Lashley. Everton Weekes, then 88 and as effervescent as he is two years on, was also along; he had piled up runs while Benaud twirled his legspin in the 1955 series in the Caribbean. By then, it was Sir Garry, also one of Barbados’ ten national heroes, Sir Wes and Sir Everton. I knew them all as friends, principally from years of covering West Indies wherever they ventured, Benaud from the eight seasons in Australia as part of the Channel Nine panel, learning the intricacies of television, as opposed to radio, commentary under his guidance. In addition, I first met Richie’s wife and soul mate, Daphne, when she was secretary to the renowned cricket writer, EW Swanton. I was in no doubt they would
all be as enthusiastic about the idea as they immediately were. Yet the exercise turned out to be not quite as straightforward as it appeared. As keen as he was, Richie had one caveat. He was coming for an event unrelated to cricket (it was a special birthday celebration of a close friend of the Benaud’s, a Trinidadian long since resident in Sydney) and didn’t want any diversion from the occasion. “One possible problem that springs to mind is if media outlets demand access with cameras, tape recorders and notebooks, something which, if it happens, would certainly detract from the idea,” he emailed when I put my lunch proposal to him. He was, after all, then as famous for his second career as television’s most authoritative commentator as he was as captain and player. I nervously assured him that wouldn’t be the case, that I had it in all under control. So the date was set, the restaurant booked, the local contingent confirmed and sponsorship agreed with the Cricket Legends of Barbados group. I got my son Craig busy designing a four-page menu, entitled “Remembering the great times”,
carrying images of the seven players along with the iconic pictures of the final run out of the tied Test, the summarised scores of the matches and, of course, the menu (Opening Batsmen, starters; Middle Order, main course; Tail-Enders, sweets). Then, suddenly, a setback. Richie had fallen in the shower at his west coast villa and damaged his ribs. After examination at a nearby clinic, he was transferred to a private hospital on the outskirts of Bridgetown for a couple days’ observation. Crestfallen, I cancelled the restaurant reservation and advised the others of the situation. Somehow, word got back to Richie. Daphne called to say that whatever I had done I should undo it since Richie was adamant he wasn’t going to let a little pain and some tight strapping around his upper body put him off. He would be there at the appointed time. So the lunch arrangements were restored and, to their shared delight, the invitations to the local contingent reinstated. There was only one anxious moment when Richie arrived at the restaurant; as Wes Hall approached as if to
greet him with a hug, he recoiled. “No hugs today!” he exclaimed, pointing to his rib cage. The group, including Daphne, Michele Kennedy-Green, the birthday girl from Sydney, and her sister, Patricia, took their seats at a round table at 1.10 pm. We reluctantly broke up three hours later. After glasses were raised in memory of those of the 1960-61 team who had passed on – Sir Frank, who died of leukaemia, aged 42, Sir Conrad Hunte, Gerry Alexander and Alf Valentine – the banter became increasingly animated, the stories more and more richly embellished, the laughter louder, Cammie Smith’s as infectious as ever. It was just what everyone had expected. Within two months of Benaud’s return to Australia, the joy of that day turned to apprehension over his well-being after he fractured two vertebrae in a car crash driving home from a round of golf. When, a year later, he revealed that he was receiving radiation treatment for skin cancer, the anxiety turned to trepidation. He battled his ailment gamely. Daphne emailed occasional reports, revealing
that they had been walking each morning along the beach in Coogee, the location of their flat between the innumerable summers in England for BBC television. Richie even talked optimistically of returning to Channel Nine commentary for Australia’s Sydney Test against India last January. It proved a forlorn hope. His death on Friday has thrown a pall of gloom over cricket’s global family. West Indians of a certain vintage especially remember his role, along with Worrell, in overseeing as influential a Test series as the game has known. Those of more contemporary generations, who knew him mostly from his reassuring presence on their television screens, appreciated his professionalism, noticed his immaculate dress sense, marvelled at his remarkable cool even in the tensest situations and, above all, valued the absolute impartiality of his measured commentary, a rare attribute at a time of much overt jingoism. (Tony Cozier has written about and commentated on cricket in the Caribbean for 50 years)