England win makes Pakistan a cricket power: Misbah

DUBAI: Winning captain Misbah-ul Haq said his team’s 3-0 routing of world number one England sends a strong message to the cricketing world — Pakistan is a power and should be ignored no more.

Misbah’s men won the third and final Test by 71 runs on the fourth day at Dubai Stadium here on Monday to seal the first-ever series whitewash in all Pakistan-England Tests.

And that, Misbah believed, will go a long way in further establishing Pakistan, which has not lost a series since August 2010, as a global power.

“We showed the world again that we are a power in the cricketing world,” said Misbah, 37. “Now, it’s time to give importance to the Pakistan team again.”

Misbah said Pakistan had emerged from various problems surrounding the team, notably the spot-fixing scandal on their tour of England in 2010 which ended in lengthy bans on Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

“That was a big ask for a team, you can say we just came out of such problems and I think the way the team came out and the way the team is progressing, it’s a wonderful thing,” said Misbah, who took over in October 2010.

Since then Pakistan have won nine of their 15 Tests, lost one and drew five.

“Everybody has to look out for Pakistan cricket because everbody was just ignoring our cricket, our team and lot of things were said about the team. Our performance should be recognised and Pakistan cricket should be recognised.

“We didn’t get the edge in international fixtures and now we must be given an edge in the international scheduling,” said Misbah.

Misbah demanded the return of international cricket to Pakistan, suspended in the wake of terrorists’ attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.

“You can’t keep away a nation from international cricket after this performance. The whole world, the ICC, the playing nations should think about it and revive our international cricket.

“How long we can play like this? We go home for four days and then we play our home series outside (the country).

“It’s almost one year now that I haven’t stayed at home for not more than a month, it’s a difficult thing for cricketers.”

Misbah said nobody expected the 3-0 win.

“We were expecting that England would have problems here because of the slowness of the wickets. Our bowlers really bowled well on these wickets, but we were not expecting these sort of results to come.”

England captain Andrew Strauss admitted that batting had let down his side.

“We didn’t bat well in all three Tests, to be honest with ourselves. If you keep getting out for 140 or 150 then you are not going to win many Test matches,” said Strauss, lamenting the first Test defeat here by 10 wickets.

Pakistan won the second by 72 runs in Abu Dhabi.

“There are obviously some regrets from the batsmen about the way we played their spinners, more regrets particularly I think how we played in the first Test because that set the tone for the rest of the series.”

Strauss praised Pakistan, especially their spinners Saeed Ajmal who took 24 wickets in the series and Abdul Rehman who finished with 18.

“You need to give Pakistan huge amount of credit because their two spinners were very impressive and made life difficult for ourselves and when we did get in front of them in Tests they were able to wrest the initiative back in their favour,” said Strauss.

Strauss denied his team ever took Pakistan lightly.

“We never underestimated Pakistan, they have played lot of good cricket in the last 12-18 months, we knew that their spinners were good enough and they played outstandingly, they are well led and very tight and cohesive unit and that’s important for a side to play consistently.” AGENCIES

Pressure mounts on India’s old batsmen after Australia debacle

NEW DELHI: Pressure is mounting on India’s ageing Test batsmen to make way for fresh talent after the team sunk to the “lowest of lows” in Australia where they suffered a humiliating 4-0 series whitewash.

The eighth consecutive overseas Test defeat on Saturday — following an identical scoreline in England — left a battered India searching for a way to stop the rot.

Fingers were being pointed at underperforming batting stars Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman — all pillars of the Indian lineup for more than a decade.

Tendulkar, the world’s leading Test and one-day batsman who turns 39 in April, was clearly burdened by the pressure of chasing his 100th international century, a feat which continues to elude him.

His highest score in the series was 80 and even though he made 287 runs at an average of 35.87, the milestone — which no other player has achieved — seemed to shackle his usually free-flowing batting style.

Dravid, 39, the second-highest scorer in Test cricket after Tendulkar, managed just 194 runs in eight innings at a poor average of 24.25 with one half-century.

And Laxman, 37, who has thrived against Australia in the past, looked woefully out of touch as he jabbed and plodded to 155 runs at 19.37.

Tendulkar will get another chance to make amends in the upcoming one-day tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka, but Dravid and Laxman are not part of the limited-overs team.

With India not due to play another Test series until September, the senior players have time to ponder their future amid calls for an overhaul of the side.

“Indian cricket has sunk to the lowest of lows,” wrote Cricinfo editor Sambit Bal, who said the revered trio could no longer be banked on to deliver.

“In another time these very men… would have been relied on to forge a revival. But their time has gone now. Indian cricket has no option but to embrace the future, however uncertain it may seem.”

Even International Cricket Council president Sharad Pawar, a former Indian cricket chief, felt younger players needed to be thrown in the ring.

“The time has come for some changes in the Indian team,” Pawar told the CNN-IBN news channel. “One has to take risks and give an opportunity to the younger generation.

“Such a move might change the entire atmosphere in the team.”

But former India captain and spin legend Bishan Bedi called for an immediate end to the witch-hunt against the senior players.

“Please show some respect to the players who have served the country for so long,” Bedi told the Press Trust of India. “They don’t need our suggestions as to when they should retire.

“Someone will eventually take their places. But we will probably never be able to find replacements for these once-in-a-generation players.”

Bedi last week lashed out at what he said was the Indian cricket board’s obsession with the glitzy Indian Premier League (IPL), accusing it of ignoring the longer form of the domestic cricket.

“The board’s priorities are wrong,” Bedi said. “The Ranji Trophy (first-class domestic tournament) should be our most valued tournament, not the IPL.

“Mark my words, this IPL will strike a fatal blow to Indian cricket and that day is not far.”

The annual IPL, which started in 2008, features players from around the world playing Twenty20 cricket for private franchises, with multi-million-dollar fees for the top stars.

Meanwhile, Indian cricket chief Narayanaswamy Srinivasan defended the battered Test team, saying the one-day series could change the tourists’ fortunes.

“There is no need for a knee-jerk reaction,” he said. “We have faith in the team. We should not put pressure on the players. Only months back they won the World Cup.” AGENCIES

Messi named Best Player in Europe

MADRID: UEFA has named Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the Best Player in Europe for the 2010-11 season.

Messi claimed 38 votes for the newly-created award, putting him some distance ahead of Barcelona team-mate Xavi, in second place with 11 votes, and third-placed Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who received just three votes.

The UEFA Best Player in Europe Award is given to players on the basis of their performances for club and country. The award is designed to replace the old Ballon d’Or award for the best player in Europe, which has been supplanted by the FIFA Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world.

Messi enjoyed a hugely successful season with his club, scoring 31 goals in the league to help clinch the league title and putting in a man-of-the-match performance in the Champions League final victory over Manchester United.

“I’d like to thank all the people that voted for me, and all my team-mates,” Messi said. “I keep all these awards at home and I still have some space for more. It’s an honour to be so successful and to come up with the goods at the right time – thanks to my team-mates for helping me achieve this.

“My motivation comes from being at a club that’s so successful and having a structure that allows us to be so successful. That was taught to me when I moved over and I’ve tried my best to keep it up.”

UEFA Best Player in Europe 2010-11 top ten

1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

2 Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona)

3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

4 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)

5 Falcao (FC Porto)

6 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

7 Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)

8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan)

9 Gerard Pique (Barcelona)

10 Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke)

 

Miandad turns down Pakistan coaching job

LAHORE: Pakistan confirmed Tuesday that former captain Javed Miandad has turned down an offer to become the side’s batting coach.

The team has been let down by faltering fielding and under-achieving batsmen and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and one-day captain Shahid Afridi had asked Miandad to come on board, manager Intikhab Alam said.

“The Pakistan team surely needs a batting coach and the board approached Miandad but he unfortunately declined the offer because of personal reasons. But I am sure that he will come and help the players in the near future,” Alam told reporters during team’s training camp for the West Indies tour.

But Miandad indicated he had rejected the offer because he was unwilling to work alongside other coaches.

“When you have four, five separate coaches, then the blame game starts in case the team loses a series or a tournament,” Miandad told reporters.

“For the last three years I have been saying ‘give me the team with full responsibility’, but it was not done,” he added.

Pakistan fly out to the Caribbean early Thursday to play one Twenty20 international, five one-day matches and two Tests.

Miandad’s Test batting average never dropped below 50 throughout his 20-year career. His 8,832 Test runs at 52.57 remain a record, with espncricinfo.com describing him as “the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced”.

The right-hander, now a PCB director, had initially hinted that he was willing to help out the squad, but also said he was unwilling to tour. He has had three separate stints as coach since 1998, the last of which was in 2004.

Alam said he was nevertheless happy with the team’s preparations for the West Indies.

“I can say this with great satisfaction — that this team maintained exemplary discipline during the World Cup, and I am also happy with the fitness level of the team because, unlike the other teams, we didn’t have any serious injury problems during the mega-event,” said Alam.

Alam said the team had moved on since their 29-run defeat in the World Cup semi-final against arch-rivals India.

“It was great disappointment to lose in the semi-final, and I can tell you that players wept in the dressing room. But since then they have moved on which was very necessary,” said Alam, also a former captain and coach.

He said he hoped that new players would put in strong performances during the West Indies tour.

“We have selected some new players in the team as we felt that the West Indies tour will help us groom some youngsters, and I hope these players grab this opportunity,” said Alam.

Arvinda de Silva Could Not Bear World Cup Defeat

Sri Lankan head of selection team Arvinda de Silva has resigned from his post. He has resigned after the defeat. Arvinda de Silva said they were appointed to bring changes in the team and he think that they are not succeeded in making the team champion so resign from the post. Arvinda de Silva was part of 1996 world cup winning team and he want the repetition of performance of 1996 in 2011.

Sri Lanka has chance of world cup winning but they lost from strong Indian side. Arvinda de Silva said that team give 200% in the field but they were not lucky enough to win the world cup.

Arvinda de Silva Decision

Arvinda de Silva is disappointed after not succeeding and said that his team give more then 100% but failed. There are question for the inclusion of not 100% fit Murlitharan in the team. Arvinda de Silva said that he is ready to take the responsibility of Murli inclusion in the team.

Arvinda de Silva said that Murlitharan is a bowler who can change the match at any time and it was right decision to go with him in the final. Captain Sangakkara and vice captain Jayewardene has also resigned from the position along with selector Arvinda de Silva.

Shahid Afridi In Top ICC Rankings

Pakistan’s captain Shahid Afridi is in top ICC ranking. He is at number three position in the top five all-rounders. Shahid Afridi also jumped five places up and reached number nine spot in top ten best bowlers.

The performance of Shahid Afridi in the world cup had lifted the team. He took his team to top ranking. It was his effort that brings the team to the semi final. Pakistan lost the match against India in the semi final. Shahid Afridi was wicket less in that match. He led the team like a true captain.

Shahid Afridi decided to skip the West Indies tour after the world cup but he later on decided to travel with team and make himself available for selection. He is now selected in the team and will travel to West Indies.

Shahid Afridi Wants Result Oriented West Indies Tour

Shahid Afridi said that the tour of West Indies will be result oriented. He added that youngster included in the team will help them a lot and they will definitely try to overcome the West Indies team. He is hoping for favorable results for Pakistan team.

Shahid Afridi added cricket lovers are expecting from team and they will try to give series win to nation.

Pakistan Will Visit West Indies Without Shahid Afridi

West Indies tour of two test matches, five ODIs and a T-20 match is starting from 18^th April will be without Shahid Afridi. Pakistan captain for the world cup Shahid Afridi will not go with the team in the tour. He wants to have rest after the world cup as they are going to get three weeks time before the tour.

Vettori Accepted Defeat Realistically

New Zealand captain Denial Vettori has accepted the defeat against New Zealand in the semi final boldly and said that it was not good performance from the New Zealand batsmen. Vettori was not happy on the field when they were losing the game. After the match when he was called up for post match interview he came after drying his eyes.

Dhoni’s men draw strength from explorer’s pep talk

MOHALI: A South African explorer’s pep talk will be ringing in their ears when the Indian cricket team walk out for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against Pakistan.

Johannesburg-born Mike Horn, also a motivational speaker, has returned to India for yet another stint with Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men who are fine-tuning their skills and finalising strategy for the match in this tiny north Indian city.

Dhoni denied his team mates needed any extra motivation but felt the players have benefitted from the interaction with the explorer who has undertaken various para-gliding, rafting and sailing expeditions through the Amazon, the Himalayas and to the North Pole.

“He is a great guy to be with, I don’t think most of the Indians know about him and what he has done,” Dhoni told reporters at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium on Tuesday.

“He is an explorer basically and shares his experiences with us. He is not there to motivate the team. It is just that the experience that he has got, only a few in the world have gone through that.

“It actually defines what you can do as a human being. You can push yourself for competition. He loves the team, has been part of us in quite a few series in the past.”

South Africa provides the bulk of India’s support staff, including coach Gary Kirsten and mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton.

With the hype around the match that would draw a full-house including prime ministers from both the countries, the Indian players need to avoid every possible distraction.

Dhoni said at least he was not thinking about the hype.

“All this has been part of Indian cricket for a long time, this is not the first time that we have seen it,” he said.

“Some of the distinguished guests will be there to see the game but will be here to enjoy cricket. So we have to be at our best.

“When you talk about hype and pressure, thinking or not thinking does not help you perform. What does not help you needs to be kept away. You need to think more about the skill aspect.”

Talking of skill, Dhoni’s form with the bat has not been really great — his highest score in the tournament being 34.

The Indian captain believes he did not get enough opportunity to chip in with the bat.

“I have been batting quite well but some of the situations have not really been good for playing flamboyant cricket,” he said.

“Against Bangladesh, I could not get to bat. Also (in other matches), some shots went straight to the fielders.

“When you are batting at five, six or seven, if the top order scores well, it does not give much opportunities to the lower order (batsmen).” AGENCIES

Match-fixing remarks misunderstood: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that his remarks about preventing match-fixing were misunderstood and that he did not say anything which could affect the team’s morale.

Speaking to newsmen outside Parliament House today, Malik said there is no need to announce Wednesday as a public holiday, adding he would make a request for this to the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, he called upon the nation to offer special prayers for the team’s win.

The Interior Minister said that he would be present at Mohali’s stadium himself to encourage the team. TrendPK

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