PCB to seek feedback on Aamir
Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has made it clear that he would seek proper feedback before taking any decision on banned pacer Mohammad Aamir’s return to the national team. The PCB chief moved to play down the impression that the Board had taken a final decision to quickly get Aamir back into the national team. “Right now we don’t even know when the ICC will relax Aamir’s ban to allow him to resume playing domestic cricket before his five year ban ends in 2015,” Khan said. “Then we have to see how Aamir performs in domestic cricket. The selectors have to monitor his form, fitness and attitude in domestic cricket,” he added. The PCB chief said the Board would give a clear signal to the selectors to consider the left-arm pacer for the national team again once it is convinced that the youngster has truly reformed himself and has learnt from his ban. “People are assuming he will be playing domestic cricket soon and will be back into the Pakistan team. But we have a clear vision that he has to go through a proper process if the ICC gives him the required relaxation to play domestic cricket before the end of his ban period,” he said.
I’m targeting a WC return: Harbhajan
New Delhi: Fresh from leading Punjab to a runner-up finish in the Vijay Hazare one-day tournament, out-of-favour Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is happy with his own showing in the domestic circuit and is keen to make a comeback into the national team for the 2015 World Cup. “I am targeting the World Cup. It would be great to be a part of the team in Australia and New Zealand. For a player, World Cup is a big tournament and I am keeping my hopes alive,” Harbhajan, who was part of India’s World Cup-winning team in the 2011 tournament, said. “Everyday I wake up, I stay positive and think that I am going to be part of the team. I am motivating myself to do well for India again. And of course I am looking forward to play all the games, make sure I perform well and get back into the Indian side,” he added.
Yashpal returns as chairman
New Delhi: Barely a week after he had tendered his resignation from the post of chairman of DDCA’s senior selection committee, former Test batsman Yashpal Sharma was on Wednesday reinstated as the head of the panel only 10 ahead of Delhi’s opening Ranji Trophy game against Saurashtra. “Yes, Yashpal is back as the chairman of the senior selection panel. He had some issues but I believe all those will be sorted out. He will be resuming charge from tomorrow,” DDCA president Sneh Bansal said. A week back, Yashpal had tendered his resignation citing his inability to continue. While some attributed it to his media contracts during the upcoming India versus Australia series which would have affected his work as Delhi selector.
Hafeez ton spurs Pak to 281/3
Sharjah: Opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez carried his bat through the first day in smashing an unbeaten 178 and spurring Pakistan to 281-3 against New Zealand in the third and decisive test on Wednesday. Hafeez, recovered from a niggly hamstring which sidelined him from the drawn second test, cracked 23 fours and three sixes to overshadow Daniel Vettori’s surprise comeback to test cricket after more than two years. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq, dropped on 20 by wicketkeeper BJ Watling off Ish Sodhi’s sharp legspin, was not out on 38 after he won the toss and elected to bat on a subcontinent-like flat pitch. Offspinner Mark Craig took 2-67, while Younis Khan was unexpectedly out for 5, trapped lbw by Vettori.
B’desh beat Zim in 3rd ODI, win series
Dhaka: Bangladesh clinched the one-day international series against Zimbabwe with two games to spare after a comfortable 124-run win in the third match on Wednesday. It was Bangladesh’s biggest win by margin against Zimbabwe, eclipsing a 121-run victory in 2013 at Bulawayo. Zimbabwe was bowled out for 173 in pursuit of Bangladesh’s 297-7, after sending the home side into bat. Only captain Elton Chigumbura resisted with 53 not out. Brendan Taylor was the next best scorer with 28. left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny claimed 4-27, his career-best effort eclipsing his 4-29 in the last match. Pacers Rubel Hossain (2-22) and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (2-24) complemented Sunny to give the side an unassailable 3-0 lead, after sweeping the test series 3-0. “I’m very happy, all the boys are very happy,” Bangladesh captain Mortaza said. “Once again, Tamim and Bijoy (Anamul Hque) were fabulous, and later on, even though they were small innings, Shakib, Mushfiq, Riyad and Sabbir played brilliantly. Agencies