lee to lead PM’s XI against Eng
Adelaide: Former Test fast bowler Brett lee will captain the Prime Minister’s XI against England in Canberra next month, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday. lee is one of only four Australian bowlers to take more than 300 Test wickets. “I know first-hand how this important fixture on the Australian cricketing calendar can help propel the careers of young aspiring cricketers,” lee said. “I first played in the Prime Minister’s XI against India in 1999 and was fortunate enough to take four wickets in that match. “less than three weeks later I found myself on the biggest stage of all playing at the MCG on Boxing Day in my first Test match for Australia. “More than 14 years on, I’m proud to lead what I’m sure will be an emerging team of stars here next month.”
Taliban threatens new outlets
Islamabad: The Pakistani Taliban has said it will target journalists and media organisations for “fabricating” the statement of its spokesperson asking news outlets not to pay tribute to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on his retirement. The shura council of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, headed by its new chief Mullah Fazlullah, decided to attack the journalists and media organisations which had carried statement of their spokesman Shahidullah Shahid regarding Tendulkar and Pakistani cricket team captain Misbahul Haq. “In Tuesday’s meeting, we decided to target only journalists and media organisations which twisted the recent statement of Shahidullah Shahid and tried to tarnish Taliban’s image nationally and internationally,” an unnamed senior Taliban leader and member of the shura was quoted as saying by The News daily. “The task has been given to a select group of people within the Taliban to collect information about the journalists and media organisations who fabricated statement of the spokesman,” he said.
Abdi to appear before panel
Mumbai: Ex-Indian Premier league chairman lalit Modi’s lawyer Mehmood Abdi has been asked by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee, probing the IPl match fixing allegations, to appear before it on Thursday morning in New Delhi. Abdi had filed certain inputs with the Justice Mudgal Committee after it had called for all concerned to provide information/inputs of alleged betting and match fixing, a media release issued on his behalf said.
You can’t run away: Irfan
Bangalore: Seeking to make a comeback to the Indian cricket team, injury-prone medium pacer Irfan Pathan said he is working hard on getting the seam position right and added that he is not the one to “run away” from competition. Irfan, who is recovering from a rib injury which he suffered while bowling at the India ‘A’ net session in Bangalore in September, last played for India in the Champions Trophy warm-up match in England in June, before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. “When I made my last comeback, I started to get lBWs. I even got Tillakratne Dilshan quite a few times against Sri lanka. I have got back my swing, which I had lost until last year. Only thing is that I should work on the seam position,” he said here.
‘lack of stadia holding back J&K’
New Delhi: J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the state is unable to host any international cricket match as there are no stadia or infrastructure required at that level. Even as Ranji matches have started in Srinagar, he said when compared with cricket stadia in other cities the standard of those in Jammu and state capital Srinagar was no match in terms of facilities. “It can happen but to host international cricket we do not have stadiums of that quality. Earlier, when we used to host international matches, the standard of stadiums was not so high across the country. But now when we compare the stadiums of other cities with those of Jammu and Srinagar, we do not have that level of infrastructure,” he said. PNS/Agencies