'ACC cannot play further role for Pak-India cricket series'

Chief executive Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Syed Ashraful Haq said that the uncertain situation of the cricket series between Pakistan and India is thought provoking but we cannot play further role to make the series certain.

In an exclusive talk with Geo News, Syed Ashraful Haq said that the Pak-India series is the biggest event not only in Asia but in the world of cricket and everybody wants this series to be held in time.

He said that if the Pak-India series is postponed due to political reasons then the game would be badly affected.

He said the Asian Cricket Council cannot play enough role to make this series certain because this matter is to be finalized not by the boards but the two governments have to deal it.

Yousuf served legal notice: Saleem Altaf

Director-general Pakistan Cricket Board Saleem Altaf has said that Mohammad Yousuf has been sent the legal notice for signing contract with the Indian Cricket League (IPL).

Addressing at a press conference here on Friday, he said that the Cricket World Cup 2011 would commence in February and the final would be played on March 31.

Saleem Altaf said that the 14 matches of the World Cup would be played in four cities of Pakistan – Karachi, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore.

He said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) did not make any objection on the venue of Rawalpindi. However, if the Pindi Stadium is not built in time then the match of the Pakistan-India series would be played in Faisalabad.

Saleem Altaf said that the central secretariat of the World Cup central organizing committee would be based in Lahore and chairman PCB Ejaz Butt would be the convener of the committee.

He told that an international committee would be set up which would review the 15 venues for the World Cup.

Saleem Altaf said that all the four host countries would form their local organizing committees.

He said that the Pak-Indo series would be held in January 2009 as per schedule.

Pakistan, India to clash in Twenty20 final

DURBAN: Pakistan beat New Zealand by six wickets, while India stunned favourites Australia by 15 runs here on Saturday to set up a mouth-watering all-Asian final in the Twenty20 world championships.

Yuvraj Singh smashed 70 off 30 balls as India, electing to take first strike at the jam-packed Kingsmead, made a challenging 188-5 and then restricted Australia to 173-7 in a rousing semi-final.

Australia, needing 27 off the last 12 balls, were kept down to five runs in the 19th over bowled by left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh and six runs in Joginder Sharma’s last over.

Sharma, who was hammered for 31 runs in his first two overs, was gambled for the final over by Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and came good with two wickets at the end.

Opener Matthew Hayden hit 62 off 47 balls and Andrew Symonds scored a 26-ball 43 during a rollicking third wicket stand of 66 that came off just 37 deliveries.

Australia, coasting at 134-2 by the 15th over, lost five wickets for 39 runs to hand India a famous win before some 19,000 delirious South African fans waving the Indian flag.

Seamer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth shone with the ball taking 2-12 off his four overs. Irfan Pathan and Sharma also claimed two wickets each.

The final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Monday will be the first major title clash between India and Pakistan since the limited-overs world championship of cricket in Melbourne in 1985.

Dhoni chipped in with 36 off 18 balls as India plundered 128 runs in the final 10 overs after a slow start. Yuvraj and Robin Uthappa (34) hammered 84 for the third wicket off just 40 deliveries after India had plodded to 41-2 by the eighth over.

Yuvraj walked in after openers Virender Sehwag (nine) and Gautam Gambhir (24) had fallen against the tight Australian seam bowling. Yuvraj took charge immediately, slamming the first delivery he faced from Stuart Clark for six over square-leg.

Symonds’ first over, the 11th of the innings, produced 19 runs as Yuvraj helped himself to a six and four and Uthappa pulled a short ball for six. Yuvraj brought up his half-century off 20 balls by lofting Clark for his fourth six and Uthappa celebrated his partner’s feat by smashing two consecutive sixes off Mitchell Johnson.

In the first semifinal a blistering innings from Imran Nazir helped Pakistan book their place in the World Twenty20 final after a six-wicket victory over New Zealand at Newlands.

The opener smashed 59 from 41 balls, ably assisted by partner Mohammad Hafeez (32), chasing a target of 144.

A middle order collapse had cost New Zealand vital runs after a promising start, Ross Taylor top-scoring with 37. Umar Gul (3-15) was the pick of the bowlers, with good support from debutant Fawad Alam (2-24) and Shahid Afridi (1-24).

Captain Shoaib Malik fittingly hit the winning runs with seven balls remaining, sparking celebrations among the players and new coach Geoff Lawson.

India v Pakistan, One-off ODI, Glasgow

Rain washes out much-awaited clash

The one-off game for the Friendship Cup between India and Pakistan in Glasgow - part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of independence for both India and Pakistan - was a victim of the poor weather that has lashed the United Kingdom over the past ten days. The10:45am start was thwarted by persistent drizzle, and though there was an inspection at 2pm, the intermittent rain and slushy ground conditions meant that not even a 20-overs-a-side game was possible.

India travelled to Glasgow after defeating South Africa in a three-match series in Belfast, while Pakistan haven't played since they went up against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi in May. The two great rivals haven't played each other since April last year, and unfortunately the weather meant that 5000-odd fans who had bought tickets for the game went home disappointed.

As for the teams, the interminable wait for play to start included a dressing-room meeting with Prince Charles, heir to the English throne. Once that was over, they left for the hotel, India to ponder a series against England, and Pakistan more time off before they gather for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

Pakistan to tour India for Tests, ODIs in November

NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket team’s winter season this year will start with 12 limited-overs internationals against Australia and Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Tuesday.

The Indian board finalised the fixtures for the home series against Australia and Pakistan.
Australia will play seven one-dayers during its September 25-October 13 tour of India, scheduled soon after the conclusion of the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

Pakistan will play five limited-overs internationals, followed by three Test matches during its tour of India slated for for November 2-December 13. After the Pakistan team’s visit, the Indian cricketers will leave for a tour of Australia that will feature both Tests and one-dayers.

India’s home schedule will also feature three Test matches in March, whose itinerary the board will finalise later.

Pakistan’s tour of India: Nov 6: First one-day international in Faridabad. Nov 9: Second one-day international in Mohali (day-night). Nov 12: Third one-day international in Kanpur. Nov 15: Fourth one-day international in Gwalior (day-night). Nov 18: Fifth one-day international in Jaipur (day-night). Nov 22-26: First Test match in New Delhi. Nov 30-Dec 4: Second Test match in Calcutta. Dec 8-12: Third Test match in Bangalore.