Asia Cup will go ahead as planned - Ashraf

Nasim Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has said the Asia Cup will proceed as planned in June 2008 in Karachi, after the BCCI assured him of India's participation. The tournament, originally scheduled for April, had to be postponed since the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to get underway in the same month.

"The Asia Cup is very much on,"

Ashraf told reporters in New Delhi.

"I've talked to BCCI officials about the tournament and they have promised that India would certainly take part in the tournament."

Ashraf explained that the dates had to be shifted taking into account Pakistan's busy international season - which includes a home series against Australia in April followed by a tri-series in Bangladesh - and also the fact that a few players would be participating in the IPL.

"Some of our top players will be taking part in the IPL,"

Ashraf said.

"Then another reason why we agreed to find new dates for the event was the fact that April didn't suit us because our players will be playing in a tough series against Australia just about the same time."

Ashraf also confirmed that the BCCI had floated the idea of contesting a tri-series between India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka instead of the Asia Cup to raise more profits but the PCB decided against it.

"Our contention is that it is not just about the money,"

he said.

"Next year would be the 25th anniversary of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is why we want to assure that the Asia Cup is held in a successful manner in June."

The previous edition was held in Sri Lanka in 2004 but the biennial event had to be postponed in 2006 due to scheduling problems. Pakistan was slated to host it in February 2006 after India's bilateral series in Pakistan but the BCCI said it was unable to fit in another one-day tournament with England touring for a three-Test and seven-match ODI series.

The current edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, including Oman and United Arab Emirates, aside from the four Test-playing nations.

Imran won’t be able to keep Chennai date

KOLKATA: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), who will organise a seminar in Chennai on the eve of two Afro-Asia Cup matches there next month, has ‘lost’ its star speaker and legendary cricketer — Imran Khan.

“There are too many things happening on political front in Pakistan and, so,
Imran has expressed his regrets for not participating in the seminar. We’re
disappointed,”

ACC chief executive Syed Ashraful Huq said. The seminar, with `Leading Cricket’ as its theme, will be held on June 8.Huq said Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene and senior pro Shaun Pollock, a former South African captain, are “certain” to participate. Jayawardene is captaining Asia and there’s a good chance Pollock is going to be Graeme Smith’s (injured) replacement as South Africa captain.

“ICC President Percy Sonn’s death has come in way of a meeting involving
Africa’s selectors. We’ve been busy making arrangements for Saturday’s funeral
in Cape Town,”

is what somebody involved with selection process said.

A decision is expected in a day or two.

“Right now, there are plans for two Board chiefs (India’s Sharad Pawar and
Pakistan’s Dr Nasim Ashraf), too, to take part in the seminar,”

Huq added.

Besides a representative from women’s cricket, there could be a guest speaker from Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

Afro-Asia Cup gets underway in Bangalore on June 6. Edition No 1 was hosted by South Africa in August 2005.

Shoaib Akhtar in doubt for Afro-Asia Cup

Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistan fast bowler, is unlikely to take part in the Afro-Asia Cup in India next month, citing personal commitments. He added that he needs more time to recover fully from his knee injury, which ruled him out of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi later this month.

"I have some personal commitments in June, so it is unlikely that I will play,
although these are international matches,"

Shoaib was quoted as saying by Reuters.

"I have informed the Pakistan Cricket Board about this."

Shoaib was included in the Asian one-day squad for the Afro Asia Cup earlier this week after he told ten days before the squad was announced that he was confident of recovering in time. However, he later stated that he needed more time to get his rhythm back and was hopeful of playing in the one-off Twenty20 international against the Africa XI which precedes the three-match series.

"I have offered to play the Twenty20 match instead as it will give me a chance
to bowl a few overs in competitive conditions,''

he was quoted by PTI.

"I am fit but I want to be super fit and make a permanent return to
international cricket.''

Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan next year

Asia Cup will be next held in Pakistan from April 17 to May 3 next year after a gap of two years, according to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The tournament was scheduled to be held in 2006 but was postponed due to an already-packed international schedule for the four Test playing nations.
"We could not hold the Cup in 2006 as the international calendar was packed. None of the Test playing teams had the time to squeeze in the tourney," said Ashraful Huq, chief executive of the ACC.
Referring to the 2010 Asian Games to be held in China, where Twenty20 cricket will be a part of it, Huq pointed out ACC's efforts to induct China into its fold. "The biggest job at hand is to get China to play cricket."
There would be eight teams, the four Test playing nations India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - as also four qualifiers from the continent.