Ireland - A Team with Bold Ambitions

In a match between Ireland and England, England scored 327 in their 50 overs  and gave a very solid target to the Irish fighters .The Irish took good start in initial 10 over’s  but as every one was expecting they were unable to maintain this start and lost 5 wickets at the score of 111. It was obvious that like other associate teams  Ireland would loss the match with a big margin but that was not the case  the Irish player Keven O'Brin had some other ideas  which he explain later in the presentation ceremony after a 3 wicket win.  He said “after the fall of 5 wickets with just  111 runs on the score board we could have easily shorten our goals and the match would have ended with the result 220/5 in 50 overs  but would have meant nothing to over cricket , therefore we took over chances and that paid of”

Now the above statement form Kevin Oberin is a very bold statement , considering the fact that most of the associate teams getting a loss of 200 plus runs .There are 5 associate teams participating in the  current world cup but  surprisingly  non of the team apart from Ireland has shown any positive intent like Ireland. Canadian team played 1992 world cup, Kenya and Netherlands played 2003 world cup so these teams are not new in this game but still they are not able to show any glimpse of their positive attitude.

This is extremely admirable that most of cricketers in Irish team played their first world cup just 4 years back in 2007 still they were able to generate such players who could beat the founders of cricket. Cricketers in the Irish team has showed their talent, now its ICC’s  responsibility to polish their talent by providing them opportunities and by scheduling  tournaments in Ireland.     

M Asim (APCOM Pakistan)

Does Pakistani Wicketkeeper Deserve the Title of World Champion?

What is the meaning of World Champion? To me a team who has best players than all other teams in all field of the game is to be called the World Champion. Champion team must have great bowlers, great batsmen and great fielding composition.  In fielding, the role of Wicketkeeper stands crucial. Australian had won world cup three times in a row because of unforgettable performance of her wicket keeper.  The performance of Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana was also remarkable in a world cup which Sri Lanaka won. Pakistani Wicketkeeper Moin Khan also played extra ordinary in a World Cup which Pakistan won.

In recent world cup AB Deviliar from South Africa, Mahendra Sing Doni from India and Kumar Sangakkara from Sri Lana are performing behind the wickets and also in batting. Especially Australia and Sri Lanka also have good bowlers and batsmen. Therefore, these teams can prove as champion.

Pakistan is also looking forward to win this world cup. But the current performance of Pakistani Wicket Keeper Kamran Akmal can not help Pakistan to win this world cup. The primary duty of a wicket keeper is to perform duties behind the stumps perfectly, but the performance of Kamran Akmal behind the wickets is very poor. Because of his poor performance Pakistan has loss so many series abroad in recent past. But cricket board included him again in team for world cup reference to his batting performance. Infact after in early days of his career he did not play any utility inning for Pakistan. So, if Pakistan wants to become champion again, Kamran Akmal should improve his performance as there is no other quality wicketkeeper besides him with the team at the moment. With the current performance, Kamran Akmal does not deserve to be called champion wicketkeeper, therefore, Pakistan also does not deserve to be called champion in all fields of ODIs cricket.

Author :M.ASIM

Successful Use of UDRS and Questionable Performance of Elite Panel

In a World cup 2011 match between Pakistan and Canada which was supervised by umpires Nigel Long and Darrell Harper, successful demonstration of Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) has acknowledged its importance. In this particular match 8 decisions from umpires were challenged by the players.   UDRS made corrections to 6 decisions of umpires. Only two decisions were ok.

Now imagine in absence of this system where the results of the match were going. A very massive controversy was expected in the absence of this system. Because 6 wrong decisions were enough for changing the result of a match. The standard of umpiring was below standard in this match. Especially the attitude of Australian umpire Darrell Harper was ordinary because 5 of 6 decisions by him were reversed by third umpire. This match also showed the standard of Elite Panel of ICC to the world. After this match the name of Elite Panel should be renamed as Nastiest Panel because of its worst performance. Infact massive changes are required from ICC to improve the standard of Elite panel, but unfortunately no Pakistani umpire is involved in these worst decisions therefore, ICC will remained blind, especially Haroon Lorgat will remained Blind as well as Deaf. The attitude of Indian Board is also unconstructive regarding UDRS. Only one decision in a match between India and England which goes against India made India angry. Now India who is already against this system is criticizing this system with more resentment.  Infact most of the cricket boards are in favour of this system because of its positive results. 

Therefore, fair cricket boards should support this system more aggressively for the betterment of the game. These boards should not allow India to fool around with the spirit of the game only for her own interest.  Because in the presence of this system franchise cannot get their desire results in IPL matches.

Decided Results and Blind Haroon Lorgat

In 2010 Pakistan tour to England, in a one day match due to tight line and length Pakistani batsman could not scored runs with high run rate, an English newspaper “The Sun” blamed Pakistan for match fixing because of low run rate in some overs.  “The Sun” send report to ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat and Haroon Lorgat also said that the allegations looks like true.  Imagine, the evidences were just low run rate in some overs and Mr. Lorgat was convinced from these evidences. But now when the whole world saw that Shane Warn was aware of the result 8 hours before the match played between India and England, Haroon Lorgat remained blind. Not only Haroon Lorgat but all the international media is now blind and deaf.

This situation is not ideal for cricket. It looks like a bookie mafia is operating ICC and boards like India.  Because this is not a hidden fact that India is a safe heaven for bookies. The aim of IPL is also provision of a stage to bookies to play according to there wishes. The induction of businessmen and actress as owner of franchise are not according to the spirit of cricket. Cricket is game of gentlemen and there is no place for corrupt people in the management of ICC. But unfortunately the present CEO of ICC Haroon Lorgat is a man who has double standards. Most of his statements show that he is focusing just on Pakistan. He is now blind on the issue of Shane Warn prediction. This is on the record that Shane Warn had been punished in past for corruption. Cricket lover should condemn the role of Haroon Lorgat and take measure to prevent induction of corrupt people like Haroon Lorgat in ICC management.  IPL is a big question mark on the spirit of cricket where businessmen and actress are controlling the players. The first fair measure that ICC should take to prevent corruption in cricket must be ban on IPL. Indian cricket board should also be warned to take measures against bookies mafia in India. Because involvement of Indian bookies are there in most of spot fixing and match fixing issues. In the issue of Shane Warn and Mark Waugh, in the Issue of Hansi Cronje and Gibbs, in the Issue of Marlen Samuel, in the issue of Jadeja and Azhar Ud Din and in the Issue of Saleem Malik presence of Indian bookies shows their negative role in cricket activities.

Live Cricket

Live Cricket Socre

Live Cricket Socre