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wednesday, june 5, 2013
guyanatimesGY.com
the real danger Sparta Boss presented Windies – Wasim Akram with prizes for “Keep L Your Five Alive” c/ships
Sparta Boss Captain Devon Millington (right) receives the winning trophy and cash prize from organiser Kevin Adonis at the presentation ceremony By Treiston Joseph
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NSA McAl, under the Mackeson brand, presented their 2013 Mackeson “Keep Your Five Alive” Futsal champions, Sparta Boss on Tuesday at a presentation ceremony at the company’s headquarters at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara. At the handing over ceremony national striker and captain of the Sparta Boss Devon Millington expressed his gratitude to the company for hosting the tournament, while offering recommendations for the improvement of the tournament. “On behalf of myself and the team wise I would like to congratulate Mackeson on keeping a tournament like this, we worked hard and were favourites from the start even though we had some critics we just stuck as a team and did our job. “Coming for the next
tournament we would like to know that thing would be a little more organised coming from the executives so things could be more in place like getting awards for most goal scorers, most valuable player and things like that,” Millington said. Further, Mackeson Brand Manager Jamaal Douglas agreed with Millington for ways to improve next year’s tournament, hinting that some new additions are already being conceptualised by officials of the company. “We thought the tournament was great, there was a lovely turnout from beginning to the end… we would like to congratulate the champions Sparta Boss and for next year we will probably be including more teams and probably will also go to different locations as well. “Next year we will definitely put I place most valuable player, probably do
a goal scorer and we will also have more exhibition matches,” Douglas revealed. In addition, organiser of the tournament Kevin Adonis also highlighted that more individual awards will be a great addition to the tournament, which he thought was a success especially since it was the first year for the tournament. “Well I just want to give a lot of thanks to ANSA McAl and Mackeson to funding the venture but overall I was overwhelmed with the support that we got and it can only get bigger and better. “However, like the player (Devon Millington) just mentioned before the players will be looking forward to more incentives but I had to explain to most of the players that this is Mackeson’s first year on board so we should have a bigger and better tournament next year,” Adonis stated.
ONDON – Wasim Akram, the world famous swing bowling icon and former captain of Pakistan cricket team, has praised Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq for bringing positive change to Pakistani team by changing his one-day game as well as attitude towards it. Speaking exclusively to Geo News after Pakistan beat South Africa at a warm up match here at the Oval, the Sultan of Swing said that the West Indies cricket team is the real danger in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy 2013 matches. Akram was surprised that no one talked about the danger posed to all teams by the brilliant players such as Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, and others in the team. “They have brilliant wicket taking bowlers. They have more one-day experience. It will be very interesting to see how the West Indian side plays,” Akram said. Wasim Akram was of praise for the unity shown by the team at the Oval. He said that Pakistan had struggled in South Africa during a recent tour but it was because of the gross and the totally different conditions. “It was also because we are poor in test matches. But in one-day game, we gave South Africa tough time,” he said, answering a question what made the dif-
Wasim Akram
ference between then and the match Pakistan played on Monday at The Oval that outclassed South Africa in all departments. “I really liked the way Pakistan played at The Oval. The main bowlers were rested but Junaid, Wahab, Ahsan Adil and Asad played brilliantly. From the first ball, the body language was good. The attitude was right. South Africa looked dead. Pakistani team chased well and but I was scared that Pakistan gets under pressure when chasing and when wickets fall.” Wasim Akram said that there is “no issue” with Pakistan’s bowling but the problem is in the batting area. “The plan is that Imran Farhat will play as an anchor and will play as a test cricketer to last for 40 hours or so and the boys around him will play as they are in good forms and can play their game. Pakistani bat-
Dejected Ashraful apologises to fans
Japan qualify for 2014 World Cup in Brazil after draw with Australia
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apan have become the first team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup and join hosts Brazil in football’s showpiece tournament next summer. Keisuke Honda scored an injury-time penalty in a 1-1 draw against Australia to secure Japan’s place at the finals for a fifth successive time. Japan have an unassailable seven-point lead in their Asian qualifying group. Manager Alberto Zaccheroni said: “Just qualifying is not enough. We will aim even higher in Brazil.” The Italian added: “I came to bring them to the World Cup – that was my
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Mohammad Ashraful
The victorious Japanese team
bottom line. I feel relieved that I achieved it. “We have a very strong commitment to playing well. We are going to improve further and surprise the world.” Australia, who had taken the lead against Japan through Tommy Oar, are third in the group and bat-
tling with Jordan, Oman and Iraq for the second automatic qualifying spot. The third-placed team will go into a play-off against the team in third in the other group, with the winner of that to face the fifth-placed South American team for a place at the World Cup. (Japan)
ting goes under pressure if there is an issue with the openers going down quickly.” Akram said that Wahab Riaz was crucial in getting Pakistan win the match against Ireland but Kamran Akmal also did well. “I have told Wahab to take batting seriously. I told him that if you are dropped as a bowler you will be taken as a batsman. If he improves then Pakistan’s batting combination will improve tremendously. When asked if Indian side will be under pressure due to the explosive IPL scandal involving many big names of the cricket world, Wasim Akram said that in such situation players normally don’t admit that they are under pressure but such situations does have affects. “Media here is not doing anything about the IPL. There are no breaking news every two minutes here and players don’t feel pressured.” Wasim Akram turned 47 on Monday. He told The News that he missed his wife Huma very much on this occasion. “First of all I want to thank everyone who has wished me. “I miss my wife a lot. My sons misses her too. I have lived a very successful life and it’s only due to the prayers of Pakistanis that I am at this stage. I pray that my country Pakistan does good. I want Pakistan to see progress.” (WICB)
he regret of missing out on cricket was what finally broke Mohammad Ashraful. In his first appearance in front of the media, after he met with the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) last month, the cricketer broke down when asked if he regretted his actions at this phase of his career. “Obviously, I am feeling very bad... Please pray for me,” was all he could tell mediapersons, before being taken inside by his friends, who were standing near his house in Dhaka. Ashraful was sobbing, and was quickly taken upstairs to his apartment. The 2012-13 season saw
Ashraful make his highest Test score, in a bid to come back into the Bangladesh team. His 190 against Sri Lanka was hailed by even his critics who quietly praised his patience. Though the subsequent Zimbabwe tour wasn’t as good, Ashraful still looked to be in good form. But his admission of guilt to the ACSU has now ensured that he stands in breach of several codes and awaits punishment from the BCB. A few minutes before the press interaction began, he was trying to force a smile. He even let out a giggle when asked if he would talk off-camera after he repeatedly said he wasn’t prepared
to talk until the ACSU’s report is submitted to the BCB. “Not talking in front of the camera got me into trouble in the first place,” he blurted out, and laughed. This was an attempt at seeking normalcy but, given what he has admitted to, normalcy will elude him even though the ACSU verdict is still a few weeks away. “I made a mistake. This was the first time in my career that the ICC anti-corruption unit called on me. I did some bad things and I admitted to doing them. I am trying to help them for the sake of cricket,” he said. “After coming back from Zimbabwe, when they asked me, I told them what I had done. I didn’t want to keep feeling guilty, so I told them whatever I did wrong. I made a couple of mistakes, but otherwise I was honest to the cause of playing for Bangladesh.” One of Bangladesh’s most admired cricketers, Ashraful also apologised to his fans. “I apologise to the entire nation, to all my fans and friends. I am guilty about everything. I have disappointed my fans,” he said.
(Cricinfo)