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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 8, 2015
Pakistan’s Ajmal cleared to bowl a week before World Cup (REUTERS) - Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been cleared to bowl after passing biomechanic tests on his remodelled action, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday. A week before the start of the World Cup, the ICC said Ajmal and Bangladesh spinner Sohaq Gazi had been re-tested in Chennai last month and cleared to resume bowling in international cricket. “At the retests, it was revealed that the amount of elbow extensions in both off-spinners’ bowling actions for all their deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance ....” the world governing body said. “The umpires are still at liberty to report Saeed Ajmal and Sohag Gazi in the future if they believe they are displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal actions from the retests.” Spin spearhead Ajmal pulled out of Pakistan’s World Cup preliminary squad in December with the board ruling out any chance for the 37-year-
NOTABLE DATES JUNIOR middleweight Ivor `Baba’ Simmons improved his professional boxing record to three victories from as many fights when he knocked out Keith Smart on February 8, 1979 in Georgetown, Guyana. Simmons was 19 years old when he turned pro in September 1978. He brushed aside Terrence Clarke in his first bout and hurried on to secure four wins from four fights by July 1979. His first defeat came at the hands of Trinidadian David Noel. The bout was held at Sparrow’s Hideaway in Port of Spain, Trinidad on May 2, 1980. The more experienced Noel TKOed the Guyanese in the last round of a fight scheduled for six. Simmons lost his next four fights and quit the ring after being TKOed by light heavyweight Andre `Stone’ Purlette in November 1993.
Cross country race for Linden today
Saeed Ajmal old to get his remodelled action cleared before the February 14-March 29 tournament. But he has not given up hope of playing in the showpiece competition. “Obviously if an emergency arises I am available for the World Cup even with my modified action although I would like to do more work on my modified action and new deliveries,” he told reporters in Lahore.
“I am really delighted today at my action being cleared but I want to return to top cricket when totally comfortable that I can repeat my old performances,” Ajmal said. “It has been a hard time for me and it is not easy to have had my World Cup plans disrupted. But the bad times are now over and it is the start of a new phase of cricket for me,” he added. Ajmal, who has
taken 178 Test, 183 oneday international and 85 Twenty20 wickets is likely to return to the national side against Bangladesh in April. “I don’t have any plans to retire and want to play for another three to four years,” he said. Pakistan, World Cup winners in 1992, begin their campaign against arch-rivals and defending champions India in Adelaide on February 15.
MCYS/EBFA Pee Wee League
THE season for the Athletics Association of Guyana is under way. Its second event for 2015 is a cross country run in Linden today. At 14:00hrs, runners will step to the line and compete for medals in four categories. Registration starts an hour before. The race starts at the Bayrock football ground, makes its way through a network of streets before returning to the ground for the finish. Athletes will compete
in the 13-15 years Boys and Girls for a distance of one kilometre. The Youth Females (16 & 17 years) run for 2 km; Youth Males 3 km; Junior Females (U-18 & U-20s) 3 km; Junior Males 4 km and the big boys in the Open Males for a distance of 6 km. Traditionally, the cross country race kicks off the athletics season. However, the association got off to a shaky start. Its first event was a Developmental Meet at the GDF ground on February 1.
TTCB confirms support for Mahabir, Garner
Craig Primary needle Herstelling; Diamond and Agricola draw CRAIG Primary School moved into second place behind Grove Hi Tech in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport-sponsored East Bank Football Association Pee Wee Under-11 League yesterday, following a 1-0 win over Herstelling Raiders when play continued at the Grove Playfield, East Bank Demerara. The other game produced a 0-0 stalemate between Diamond United FC and Agricola Red Triangle. The Craig Primary/ Herstelling feature clash was just as hotly contested as the first game with the teams not afraid of going forward as well as defending in numbers, underscoring the high levels of energy at this level. Both sides came close on occasions to scoring but could not as the ball either went wide or over the crossbar. The players and
coaches of the teams were perhaps settling to accept a draw but that was not to be. In the penultimate minute of the half-hour game, Craig, from another forceful run, were rewarded with a corner. The ensuing shot found the head of Malcolm Seepaul who sent the ball into the back of the net to secure full points for Craig Primary. The points garnered from this win added with the one for the 2-2 draw with Diamond the week before take Craig to 4, two behind Grove Hi Tech - each team playing two games apiece. The opening match between Agricola Red Triangle and Diamond United was an even affair with neither team scoring. The point gained by Agricola was their first of the league, having lost their opening game to Grove by the lone goal of that clash.
Diamond move to 2 points from three matches including two draws.
Action will continue this Saturday at the same venue.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday February 08, 2015) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Australia & New Zealand (2) 14 Today’s Quiz: (1)Where was the first ever cricket World Cup tournament held? (2) Who were the winners of the first World Cup competition? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Joel Garner The T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) yesterday confirmed support for former West Indies fast bowler Barbadian Joel Garner and local man Baldath Mahabir at the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) elections next month. Garner will challenge incumbent Dave Cameron for the post of president while
Mahabir will challenge for the post of vice-president. In confirming his decision, Mahabir said yesterday the TTCB had given him their word that they intend to nominate Garner and himself. The elections will be held on March 7, and Mahabir will battle the incumbent Emanuel Nanton for the post of vice-president.