Aamir ready for return to domestic cricket
Karachi: Pakistan’s banned left-arm pacer Mohammad Aamir has welcomed the changes made in the ICC anti-corruption code and said he is ready for a quick return to domestic cricket. “I am already doing intensive training to maintain top fitness and I am confident that whenever the ICC gives the clearance I can get back into domestic cricket quickly,” he said. The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it had pushed for the ACU code to be revised in a bid to ensure that the 22-year-old Aamir is allowed to play domestic cricket before his five-year ban ends in August 2015.
20k Indians to travel for Ind-Pak WC clash
New Delhi: The South Australian government is expecting around 20,000 Indian travellers for the marquee clash of the 2015 World Cup between fierce rivals India and Pakistan scheduled at the revamped Adelaide Oval on February 15. The general tickets were sold out in 12 minutes for the mouthwatering match at the 50,000 plus capacity stadium but fans still can buy holiday and business packages, said John Rau, Deputy Premier of South Australia. The match will be played on day two of the tournament. India have managed a hundred percent win record against Pakistan in the tournament history.
Sachin’s book in regional languages
Mumbai: Due to enormous demand, the publishers of Sachin Tendulkar’s record-breaking autobiography, ‘Playing It My Way’, has decided to translate the book in Indian regional languages. Hachette India will be co-publishing Tendulkar’s autobiography after being flooded with interest from several publishers. Poulomi Chatterjee, Publisher, Hachette India, said, “We have had an overwhelming response to the launch of this bestseller and are in talks with several Indian language publishers. We look forward to co-publishing this bestseller in Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Assamese, Telugu and Bengali. We will be finalising our publishing partnerships over the next few weeks for a summer 2015 release of these Indian language editions.”
DD ropes in Amre, Simons removed
New Delhi: IPl franchise Delhi Daredevils has roped in former India batsman and current Mumbai Ranji Trophy coach Praveen Amre as their assistant coach for the upcoming season, removing South African Eric Simons, who was with the franchise for five editions, starting 2010. Delhi Daredevils CEO Hemant Dua said: “Amre is a respected coach. We are confident with his extensive experience and understanding of the domestic scene, will compliment our head coach Gary Kirsten in his turnaround plans for Delhi Daredevils.”
Pak dismiss NZ for 262, lead by 319
Abu Dhabi: Fast bowler Rahat Ali’s rich haul of 4-22 helped to give Pakistan firm control of the first Test against New Zealand on Tuesday despite opening batsman Tom latham hitting a fighting maiden Test century. New Zealand failed to cope with Ali’s reverse swing in a miserly bowled 17 overs of left-arm swing, and was all out for 262 late on the third day. left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar chipped in with 3-79 as New Zealand’s top order found it tough in its first ever Test in the UAE. Pakistan, which declared at 566-3, didn’t enforce the follow-on and stretched its lead to 319 by reaching 15 without loss at stumps. Corey Anderson made a rapid 48 off 70 balls with eight fours, but he and latham fell to Ali after putting on 83 runs for the fourth wicket, New Zealand’s best partnership, during a brief aggressive batting spell in the second session. Brief Scores — Pakistan: 566/3 decl and 15/0 lead New Zealand: 262 (Tom latham 103, Corey Anderson 48; Rahat Ali 4/22, Zulfiqar Babar 3/79) by 319 runs.