Hafeez’s bowling test in chennai
Karachi: Senior all-rounder, Muhammad Hafeez is expected to fly to Chennai, India on December 25th for his bowling action test at the International Cricket Council bowling centre. A member of the Board of Governors of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it is yet to be decided if Hafeez will go for an informal bowling test or an official ICC test. If Hafeez appears for an official ICC test and in case he fails the bowling action test again he can face a ban from bowling in international cricket for another year which would rule him out of bowling in the World Cup. Hafeez was suspended from bowling in international cricket last month by the ICC after failing a bowling test soon after he was reported for his action by match officials after the first test against New Zealand. Sheikh said Ajmal had been included in the Punjab squad that will play in the pentangular one-day tournament starting from December 31st in Multan which will also serve as a test for the 30 probables named for the World Cup.
BCCI maintains opposition to DRS
Mumbai: Two days after senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and a few former India players came out in support of the much-debated Decision Review System, the Cricket Board maintained on Tuesday that the referral process in its current form is unacceptable. “We have always maintained that DRS in its current form is not acceptable to us. Our opposition is to the ball tracking technology and the process by which players have to take the call. Why can't the third umpire sitting in front of TV screen decide on the referrals,“ BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told reporters here on Tuesday. Patel, who spoke after the Governing Council meeting of the Indian Premier league that was chaired by Ranjib Biswal, said if ICC makes these changes BCCI has been asking for in the DRS, the Indian Board would embrace it.
Kiwis donate for peshawar victims
Wellington: The New Zealand cricket team has donated their prize money and match fees earned after beating Pakistan in a One-Day series to the victims of the Peshawar massacre, where more than 140 Army school children and teachers were killed. The Kane Williamson-led New Zealand defeated Pakistan 3-2 in a One-Day International (ODI) series recently. Pacer Adam Milne donated his $500 prize for bowling the fastest ball of the series. All the donations were handed over to Pakistan player Younis Khan. “New Zealand players and officials have handed over some donations and kit bags,“ Younis was quoted as saying by The Nation Tuesday.
Peterson doubtful for second Test
Port Elizabeth: South Africa's left-arm spinner Robin Peterson is doubtful for the Boxing Day Test against the West Indies here after picking up an injury during a fielding session on Tuesday, according to media reports. Peterson cut his left index finger and had three stitches. He did not feature in South Africa's first Test win against the West Indies in Centurion. He was the team's only slow blower and his unavailability could make way for the return of leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who was dropped for this series, or off-spinner Dane Piedt.
‘Would like to see Burns bat in top 3’
Melbourne: Queensland cricket coach Stuart law has said that he wants Joe Burns, who has replaced injured Mitchell Marsh in the Australia Test squad, to bat as high as possible in the order if he is picked to play the Boxing day Test against India. “I'd really like to see him bat in the top three,“ law said. “I'd hate to see him sitting around waiting to bat because he'd be a nervous wreck by the time he got in. He doesn't sit around and watch very well —he's up and walking around because he just wants to be out there playing cricket. “I'd like to see him bat at No.3 instead of torturing the kid by sitting him in the dressing room on Boxing Day batting down at No.6,“ the coach was quoted as saying by 'Sydney Morning Herald'. law revealed that the 25-year-old batsman, who is all set to become Australia's 441st Test player, rejected a contract extension in order to put pressure on himself to score runs. “He's knocked back an extension with a contract just to say: 'I want to put myself under pressure to score runs', and that's refreshing in this day and age whenplayers want their money up-front and before they actually achieve anything,” law said.
Unhappy with fitness trial: pak team
Karachi: Senior members of the Pakistan cricket team are not happy with a decision of the selectors to hold fitness trials on December 27 and 28th for the centrally-contracted players ahead of next year's World Cup. A reliable source in the board told that most of the players were complaining of fatigue after spending nearly three months in the United Arab Emirates playing against Australia and New Zealand and also in domestic cricket. The PCB while giving out the central contracts this year had made it clear that all contracted players will have to appear for fitness tests every four months and those players not coming up to the required fitness standards set by the selectors will have a percentage of their annual retainers docked. This happened before the team left for the UAE when some players were docked percentage of their contract salaries including senior players like Afridi and Umar Akmal for not meeting fitness standards.