Pakistan Tour to Sri Lanka Schedule 2012

Date	Matches	Venue
1st  June 2012	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 1st T20	Hambantota
3rd June 2012	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2nd T20	Hambantota
7th  June 2012	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 1st ODI	Pallekele
9th  June 2012	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2nd ODI	Pallekele
13th  June 2012	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 3rd ODI	Colombo (RPS)
16th  June 2012	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 4th ODI	Colombo (RPS)
18th  June 2012	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 5th ODI	Colombo (RPS)
22nd  June to 26th June 2102	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 1st Test	Galle
30th  June to 4th July 2012	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2nd Test	Colombo (SSC)
8th  July to 12th  July 2012	Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 3rd  Test	Pallekele

Twenty 20 World Cup

ICC World T20 is the international championship of T20 cricket. The first T20 Cricket World Cup was held in 2007, in South Africa and next 20/20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012.

ICC World T20 can be described as the international championship of T20 cricket, which is commonly abridged as T20 cricket. As the name suggests, the game is organized by ICC (International Cricket Council), the governing body of cricket in the world. The inaugural tournament of the ICC T20 World Cup was held in the year 2007, in South Africa.

T20 Cricket World Cup 2007 stretched on from 11th September to 24th September, with India winning the championship, after defeating Pakistan by 5 runs (in Johannesburg). Just like the inaugural event had, all the tournaments of the T20 Cricket World Cup will comprise of 12 teams, which will include all the Test-playing nations. Right now, it is expected that the world cup will held around every two years.

Qualification
Talking about the qualification for playing the ICC T20 World Cup, all the Test-playing nations receive the same automatically. As for the rest of the places in the 12-teams championship, they are filled by ICC associate member nations, also known as qualifiers, on the basis of a qualification tournament. In 2007, there were two qualifiers - Scotland and Kenya. In the 2009 tournament, there are three qualifiers - Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland.

Hosts
The hosts of ICC T20 Cricket World Cup are decided on the basis of the bids made by the nations interested in holding the championship. It is the executive committee of International Cricket Council (ICC) that votes on the bids, selecting the host country. It had been decided that the first two tournaments will be held in South Africa and England, since they had opted the T20 format in the earliest stages only. The hosts of ICC T20 World Cup, till 2014, have and will be:

2007 - South Africa

2009 - England

2010 - West Indies

2012 - Sri Lanka

2014 - Bangladesh

2016 - India

Main T20 World Cup Records (Individual & Team)

Batting

Most Runs: Mahela Jayawardene - 615 (18 matches) (2007-2010)

Highest Average: Rohit Sharma - 60.60 (12 matches) (2007-2010)

Highest strike rate: Chris Gayle - 153.47 (11 matches) (2007-2010)

Highest Score: Chris Gayle v South Africa - 117 (57 balls) (2007)

Highest Partnership: Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara v West Indies - 166 (100 balls) (second wicket) (2010)

Most Runs in a Tournament: Tillakaratne Dilshan - 317 (7 matches) (2009)

Most runs in an over: Yuvraj Singh against Stuard Broad - 36 (2007)

Bowling

Most wickets: Shahid Afridi - 27 (20 matches) (2007-2010)

Best Figures: Umar Gul v New Zealand - 5/6 (3 overs) (2009)

Most Wickets in a Tournament: Dirk Nannes - 14 (7 matches) (2010)

Fielding

Most Dismissals (wicket-keeper): by Kamran Akmal - 21 (20 matches) (2007-2010)

Most Catches (fielder): AB de Villiers 16 (16 matches) (2007-2010)

Team

Highest Score: 260/6, by Sri Lanka vs Kenya (2007)

Lowest Score: 68 all out, by Ireland vs West Indies (2010)

Asif Mujtaba Famous SIX - 1 ball 7 Runs Required to Win

In Australia Pakistan was required 7 runs to won the match on last bowl. Asif Mujtaba was facing Mark Wagh. Asif Mujtaba hit six on the last bowl and tie the match. 

Bangladesh Must Not Neglect Pakistan

By Faisal Caesar

In 2009, a group of terrorists attacked on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus at Lahore who were touring Pakistan to play Test and ODI series. And that incident had a seismic effect on Pakistan cricket. Pakistan lost its claim to host the last year’s ICC World Cup and it had become a virtual no-go zone for the international teams. And for which the cricket fans suffered terribly.

The stands at Lahore, Karachi and so on were found empty while the men in green battled home series after home series off-shore. The men in green were devoid of cheers from the home crowd and the Pakistani die hard cricket fans were left in the wilderness off not watching their heroes in action on their home soil.

For three long years Pakistani soil didn’t host a home series.

But suddenly there raised a hope.

Bangladesh wished to break the jinx by visiting Pakistan this year. A security mission led by the Bangladesh cricket board (BCB) chief Mustafa Kamal visited Pakistan, observed the match venues and other security issues and expressed his complete satisfaction. The team also met Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rahman Malik who gave them full assurance regarding security. Fully satisfied with security measures and other arrangements Bangladesh agreed to play matches at Lahore and Karachi.

But suddenly there was a twist in the tale.

According to The Nation, ‘The BCB later proposed to play the series on a neutral venue which the PCB ruled out for not being cost effective. The BCB thus deferred their decision of sending team to Pakistan until the ICC board meeting scheduled to take place in Dubai on 14-16 April.’

I am quite astonished by the attitude of our cricket board. But before this I was taken aback by another immature act of our board.  BCB of appealed for a 5-run penalty against Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup held in Dhaka where Aizaz Cheema was claimed to obstruct the field off our batsman Mahmudullah Riad. Bangladesh lost the final by 2 runs but in fact we won the hearts of the cricket lovers all around the world. Bangladesh wants to win games through playing matches and not by such dumb approaches. And off-course such an immature act met a justified result - The appeal was rejected by the ACC.

Let me discuss about the tour now. Still the fate of the tour has not been decided and certainly the Pakistani fans out there, hungry for cricket, are heavily disappointed with such a sudden twisted attitude of Mustafa Kamal. If Mustafa Kamal didn’t wish to tour Pakistan then he shouldn’t have given such assurances early on. As a chief of a cricket board one must have that sense of dignity and loyalty – he must be a man of words. And due to his sudden twisted attitude the relationship between the two countries is at bay.

Suddenly cricket fans from both the countries are involved in a war of words in the social networking sites and all these things are happening due to Mustafa Kamal’s twisted attitude.

Also, I came around with much fake news published in Pakistani print and electronic media which simply made things worse to worst. Zaka Ashraf continued to heat up the media rather than applying a composed measure. While at the other end our Mustafa Kamal’s colour continued to change everyday like a Chameleon.

But who are suffering the most?

It’s none but the cricket fans. The acts of the board chiefs have dragged the fans amidst of war of words which is absolutely unexpected. In my opinion the cricket fans must not suffer. I think Bangladesh must tour Pakistan.

Bangladesh must respond to those fans who are deprived of cricket for the last three years. We mustn’t forget Pakistan’s help in building our cricket when we had no hope. We were provided coaches from them, they had provided us ample support in the ICC regarding our Test status, they had supplied us players for our Dhaka League in the 90’s when cricket was still not popular and in the recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) it had been their players who were instrumental in making the mega event a great hit.

So far Pakistan’s act has been like a true brother and by talking with many of them I can realize their immense love towards our people, their sad feeling for us regarding 1971. But such an act by the BCB chief has been a bolt from the blue forms them.

The BCB is trying to take refuge behind the ICC’s inability to provide neutral umpires, match referees and other officials for the series. But the ICC has ensured in applying special rules regarding those matters. And I don’t see any problems in playing with umpires like Alim Daar and Asad Rauf who are world’s best umpires in true sense of terms.

You might ask me why the Pakistanis aren’t hosting the Australians in their own country with whom they’ll play in Sri Lanka this June. The answer is Australians didn’t give assurance like our BCB chief gave to PCB.

We can’t afford to hear words like ‘Traitors’ due to Mustafa Kamal’s acts. I don’t wish any bitterness between the two nations who enjoys a wonderful brother-hood. Mustafa Kamal must act according to his given assurances. Bangladesh should tour Pakistan in the name of brother-hood. Bangladesh must tour Pakistan to help their brothers resume international cricket. Bangladesh should tour Pakistan so that there lays more options of exchanging tours when Bangladesh will have no matches against the top teams. And surely playing against Pakistan’s quality attack will improve us more and more.

The tour’s fate is yet to be decided. But as an optimist I’m quite sure that Bangladesh will not neglect Pakistan.

Courtesy: www.sportpulse.net

Should PCB Appoint Shoaib Malik Captain Once Again?

Here are some statements of players and officials regarding Shoaib Malik before the Inquiry Committee after complete failure of Pakistan team in Australia…  

Then Coach Intikhab Alam 

"He (Malik) is a negative person and he creates problems. I wanted him to be sent back home," 

Shahid Afridi blamed him for back biting and said,   

"I told him clearly on his face that if he continues this practice of his double standards he will not survive in the team for too long and I will not have him in the team if I am made captain," 

Muhammad Yousuf 

"He played politics all the time. Former chairman, Dr Nasim Ashraf made a big blunder and hurt Pakistan cricket when he appointed Malik captain in 2007 when his place in the side was also not confirmed. This led to other players also believing they could become captain, it set a wrong precedent in Pakistan cricket," 

Former assistant coach Aaqib Javed also has no good words for Malik but insists that the Shoiab Malik is not the only one creating problems in the team. 

A committee member remarks about Malik   

"Dimak ki tarah tha wo (He was like termite)."

There are some media reports that Pakistan cricket coach Dav Whatmore and ex PCB chairman Ijaz Butt are in favour of Shoaib Malik as Captain. But before appointing him captain again, PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf and Coach Dav Whatmore should read these negative statements once again and then decide for Shoaib Malik future role. They must analyze these statements and should find the reasons for these statements.

Bangladesh Cricket Team Will Visit Pakistan this year, BCB Prisednt

According to BCB president Mustafa Kamal,

“Bangladesh cricket team will visit Pakistan this year” 

This news came after a statement of PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf in which he warned sports ties with Bangladesh threatened in case of Bangladesh refusal from tour of Pakistan while responding to a statement on twitter from a Bangladesh official.    

PCB had invited Bangladesh cricket team for tour of Pakistan. This tour is seeking approval from Bangladesh Prime Minister Haseena Wajid and she has to make any decision yet.

International cricket is suspended in Pakistan since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009.

In March 2012, Bangladesh security team has already analyzed security measurements and has send report to BCB.

Bangladesh Cricket Team Refused For Tour Pakistan….

According to Geo news, Bangladesh Cricket Officials twitted on twitter that Bangladesh cricket team will not visit Pakistan.

 In current scenario of cricket world when India is dictating his terms and conditions everywhere, Pakistan cricket board did not read the situation wisely.  This is an open fact that India is working on agenda to make Pakistan isolate from rest of the world in every field of the life. Before the last visit of Sri Lanka cricket team to Pakistan, BCCI tried to stop them but Sri Lankan dare to visit Pakistan and resultantly they were attacked by terrorists.  There is no clear evidence of Indian involvement in these attacks but this is on the record that India was against Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan. After that Pakistan cricket team tour to Bangladesh was scheduled, but for unknown reasons Bangladesh Government (headed by Haseena Wajid) prevented Pakistani team from visit of Bangladesh.  And now after refusing Bangladesh cricket team tour to Pakistan, as usual in return BCCI offered Bangladesh Cricket Team to Visit India in the current year. This is a common perception that Haseena Wajid government always remained under influence of India.  

Keeping in view the recent past behavior of Haseena Wajid government towards Pakistan, the chances of Bangladesh cricket team tour to Pakistan were zero percent but the current management of PCB shown dumbness and waste its potential uselessly for nothing to achieve and harmed Pakistan cricket even more.

One can understand the dumbness of current Pakistan government and PCB clearly from their foolish actions. Even a 10 years old boy can understand the intensions of India towards Pakistan and Pakistan cricket. India is against any team tour to Pakistan but Pakistan government and PCB is still begging them for playing against Pakistan.  The past actions and statements of Haseena Wajid invites every one to understand his hateful behavior towards Pakistan but Pakistan government and PCB is still begging them to play with Pakistan.  And now when Haseen Wajid Government did not allow Bangladesh team to visit Pakistan, naturally relations between Pakistanis and Bangladeshis will became cold in general. This will not be in interest of the people of both the countries. The responsibility of this unlike situation is on Pakistan government and PCB who developed this scenario by misreading the intensions of Bangladesh Government towards Pakistan.

The best Pakistan can do at this time is to play good cricket and wait for suitable time for resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.  Stressing on other team for tour of Pakistan at this time will do not help Pakistan cricket and even it will make relationship worst with other nations.

In recent domestic Faysal Bank T20 Championship, the people of Pakistan took keen interest. Cricket fans came to the grounds to watch the matches in huge numbers. This is an encouraging factor; therefore, PCB should try to focus on playing more domestic matches for keeping alive the interest of Pakistanis. PCB should make sure the participation of our international heroes in these matches.  Huge crowds in grounds will encourage cricket loving nations to visit Pakistan. To me this would be the good policy for Pakistani government and PCB to adopt at present.