2 March 2018

U-23 tournament in Pakistan in doubt
after BCCI refuses to send team
NEW DELHI: BCCI’s strong
stand to not send the Indian team
for Asia Emerging Nations Cup,
slated to be held in Pakistan this
April has put a question mark on
the tournament’s organisation in
the country. A Pakistan Cricket
Board (PCB) official privy to the
developments revealed that in the
worst case scenario, the tournament
will have to be shifted out of
the country to either Sri Lanka or
Bangladesh.
PCB chairman Najam Sethi,
who is also the head of the Asian
Cricket Council (ACC) told the
media in Dubai that he would
soon be calling a meeting of the
ACC in Colombo to take final
decisions regarding the Asia
Emerging Nations Cup and Asia
Cup, which is scheduled to be
held in India, later this year, in
September.
Dr M. Arif Hafeez
Sports Reporter
Sethi also said that the next
meeting of the ACC would be
decisive as venues and dates for
both the aforementioned events
physiotherapy treatment in
Thailand or return to
Bangladesh would be
taken in next 24 hours",
Dr.Debashish Chaudhary
attached with the
Bangladesh Cricket Board
(BCB), said exclusively.
The 30-year-old all
rounder consulted two
hand specialists in
Bangkok Hospital (Dr.
K A R A C H I :
Bangladesh skipper
Shakib Al Hasan may not
be able to play in all
matches in the Nidahas
Trophy.
"The skipper is in
Thailand, where he sought
opinions from two specialists
and the decision Yongsakdi Liengudom)
whether he should take and Vejthani Hospital.
One of the surgeons is
believed to have opined
for the surgery, whereas
the other has suggested
the physiotherapy.
Dr. Yongsakdi
Liengudom and the other
one who saw Shakib on
Tuesday are specialists in
hand and micro surgery.
"The surgery, even if it
is a minor one (i.e. scare
removing) will be the last
option as he already had
would be decided. The PCB chairman
was quoted saying by
Sportskeeda, “We agreed to host
the event in April this year on the
Shakib "doubtful" for Nidahas Trophy:
Two specialists differ on opinion
Afridi strikes down prospects
of rejoining national squad
S H A R J A H :
Flamboyant all-rounder
Shahid Afridi struck down
the possibility of rejoining
the national team in near
future.
Speaking to Geo.tv, the
former T20I captain said
that he has played for the
national team to the best of
his abilities and the cricket
he is playing now is only
for his fans and his charity
organization.
Afridi commended the
captaincy of Karachi
Kings’ skipper Imad
Wasim, by saying that he
consults with the team
whenever he faces any
challenge during the game.
“He doesn’t take all
decisions by himself, he
listens, he is taking everyone
along, there were twothree
times when the pressure
was on him but he
remained relaxed,” the allrounder
said.
Afridi appealed to
cricket fans living in the
United Arab Emirates to
enjoy Pakistan Super
League by visiting stadiums.
“I believe the first two
seasons were very good, in
this season so far fan turn
out is a bit low,” he said.
"There should have been
more marketing for PSL to
get more crowd in the
ground. I request fans to
come to the stadium and
enjoy cricket.”
Afridi expressed his
hope that the crowd will
come in a throng from the
matches being played at
Sharjah till the final.
Interestingly, while
Sports Reporter
KARACHI: Sri Lanka's
new coach Chandika
Hathurusingha preferred
the Club tournament be
played on the shortest format
of the game.
"The ongoing Club
tournament now being
played in Sri Lanka is
known as Club T-20. It
used to be played on a
longer-over format but our
coach wanted it to be converted
into T-20 and that's
how it is underway here",
responding to a question,
Afridi shared his observation
that he has not yet
seen any special talent
from the young, emerging
players in this edition of
the PSL.
“One of the main reason
behind PSL is to bring
out new talent. Boys who
don’t get the opportunity
to showcase their potential
in the domestic setup join
franchises to show their
one of the SLC (Sri Lanka
Cricket) board officials,
speaking exclusively, said.
The tournament is
scheduled to be played till
March 3.
Perhaps keeping the
forthcoming Nidahas
Trophy in mind, Hathu is
believed to have introduced
this format.
The tri-nation series
with India and Bangladesh
will be played from March
6-18.
In the meantime,
talent, but I have not seen
any special talent up till
now.”
Afridi expressed his
hope that three, four
youngsters playing in the
PSL join the national team
like Hasan Ali, Imad
Wasim, Shadab Khan and
Fakhar Zaman.
Karachi Kings will be
playing their next match
against Multan Sultans on
Friday.
Hathurusingha wanted Club tournament
be played on shortest format
Coutney Walsh, the interim
coach of the
Bangladesh team, is in
India (Kolkata) to deliver
the 2018 edition of the
Tiger Pataudi Memorial
Lecture on Wednesday.
The Bangladesh team
will fly from Dhaka to Si
Lanka on Sunday.
The BCB (Bangladesh
Cricket Board) will send
one of his selectors to Sri
Lanka. Habibul Bashar
may travel with the team
during this tournament.
one. If it (surgery) is still
unavoidable, he may be
sent to Australia", a wellplaced
source added.
"We are keen Shakib to
travel with the team to Sri
Lanka even if he has to
miss the few matches. In
case, Shakib is unable to
lead the side, the vice
captain Mahmudullah
will be in charge of the
team", the source added
further.
Angelo Mathews
ruled out of
Nidahas Trophy
COLOMBO: Former
skipper of Sri Lanka,
Angelo Mathews frustrations
with injuries continue
as he has been ruled out of
the upcoming series
Nidahas Trophy tri-nation
tournament with a new
injury.
Sri Lanka 20-man
squad: Dinesh Chandimal
(Capt), Upul Tharanga,
Danushka Gunathilaka,
Kusal Mendis, Dasun
Shanaka, Kusal Perera,
Thisara Perera, Jeewan
Mendis, Suranga Lakmal,
Niroshan Dickwella,
Sadeera Samarawickrama,
Isuru Udana, Jeffrey
Vandersay, Akila
Dananjaya, Amila Aponso,
Asitha Fernando, Lahiru
Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep,
Dushmantha Chameera,
Dananjaya de Silva.
Bangladesh have been
searching for a head coach
since November a year ago
when Chandika
Hathurusingha resigned
and joined his home team
Sri Lanka.
Chandimal had earlier
led the side to victory in
Bangladesh in a One-Day
International tri-series that
also featured Zimbabwe,
and in a bilateral T20I
series against the home
side. "I personally feel that
[Khaled Mahmud] Sujon
should go as team manager",
ESPN quoted BCB
president Nazmul Hassan.
B I R M I N G H A M :
Australian hurdling star
Sally Pearson admitted
Thursday she was heading
into the IAAF World Indoor
Championships and
Commonwealth Games
learning how to best manage
coaching herself.
Pearson, 31, claimed her
ninth Australian 100m hurdles
crown last month and
will use the indoor champs
in Birmingham as a perfectly-timed
warm-up for next
month's Gold Coast
C o m m o n w e a l t h s .
"Sometimes I don't know
who's talking in my head,"
joked Pearson, who won the
world indoor 60m hurdles
title in Istanbul in 2012, the
same year she went on to
win Olympic gold over
understanding that all nations
would participate in it.”
India has strictly refused to
play Pakistan in any series that is
not under the aegis of ICC since
the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai.
And even in other public forums,
the Indian board has been reluctant
to give any concessions to
Pakistan.
Sethi thus cleared any air of
doubt stating that Pakistan’s participation
in the Asia Cup in India
will similarly be subject to conditions.
He also added that his participation
in the ICC board meetings
in Kolkata later in April
would be subject to whether the
ICC could acquire a visa for him
from India.
“I have no interest in travelling
to India. If the Indian authorities
issue a visa I will go if not the ICC
should see,” Najam Sethi added.
Rangers Gymkhana
wins in Karachi
Champions Trophy
Sports Reporter
KARACHI: Rangers
Gymkhana overpowered
Saeed Akhtar Cricket Club by
32 runs in All-Karachi
Champions Trophy League
Cricket Tournament here at
KGA Ground.
Summarized Scores:
Rangers Gymkhana batted
first in the match and put
on board 158 runs for 7
wickets. Ejaz Khan batted
well for the side scoring 43
runs with the help of five
fours. Bashir Ali contributed
26 runs.
In reply, Saeed Akhtar CC
was bowled out for 126 runs.
Khalid Hafeez top scored for
the side 38 runs.
SHARJAH: The knee
injury sustained by
Islamabad United bowler
Rumman Raees is not as
serious as initially feared,
sources privy to the matter
said on Thursday.
Raees had to be
stretchered off the ground
during the match against
Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday night, after his
right-leg knee stuck on the
KARACHI: Tickets for
the two eliminator matches
of Pakistan Super League
2018 to be played in
Lahore are available
exclusively at TCS
Express Centres from
today.
The tickets will be
available at 78 TCS
express centres in Karachi,
Lahore, Sheikhupura,
Kasur, Raiwind,
Faisalabad, Gujranwala,
Friday, March 2, 2018
Sportlight
Sialkot, Hyderabad.
Details of the locations of
these TCS Express Centers
are available on the website.
Due to security reasons,
there is a maximum cap of
five tickets per CNIC and
buyers will have to be
present with their original
CNICs at the time of making
the purchase.
Expressing his views,
M.A. Mannan, President
and CEO, TCS Holdings
said, “We are delighted to
be part of the Pakistan
Super League. Cricket, as
we know, has huge fan following
in the country and
we thank the PCB for
entrusting us with the
7
PSL eliminator tickets available at
TCS Express Centres from today
SHARJAH: Whether
it’s Shahid Afridi’s acrobatic
catch at the boundary or
Joe Denly bringing back
memories of Jonty Rhodes,
this edition of the Pakistan
Super League (PSL) has
seen some fantastic fielding
from teams.
Pakistan and Karachi
Kings coach, Mickey Arthur
has also taken notice and is
all praise for the effort being
put forward by the players
in the field. “The fielding
standard around the PSL has
been outstanding. They
have put the Big Bash to
shame,” Arthur told Geo.tv,
adding “it shows the culture
we are trying to create at the
national level is permeating
down.”
Arthur termed the level
of competition in the league
as being extremely high.
“The quality is outstanding.
It's a fantastic a competition
to be part of and it’s going
from strength to strength.”
The coach also spoke of
the importance the tournament
holds for Pakistani
youngsters and how it prepares
them for the next
level. “The best thing it
[PSL] does is it exposes
young Pakistan boys to
international talent and the
intensity of playing international
cricket.”
He emphasised that
young Pakistani cricketers
need to be learning from
the best players from
responsibility of sale of
tickets. We are confident
that we will facilitate
cricket fans by offering
smooth and hassle free
delivery of tickets to let
them enjoy thrilling
moments of PSL in
Pakistan.
The tickets for the two
eliminators are already
available online on
Yayvo.com.
Announcement for the
sale of tickets for the final
of PSL to be played in
Karachi will be made
soon.
Fielding during PSL has put Big
Bash to shame, says Arthur
around the world.
Commenting on Shahid
Afridi’s contribution to the
Karachi Kings, Arthur said:
“He [Afridi] has brought a
level of competition to the
squad that has been fantastic.
He still has the desire
and still wants to win
games.” The coach, however,
did clearly state that
when it came to reconsidering
retirement Afridi had
made his decision. “He is
done.”
Rumman Raees’ injury not as
serious as feared: sources
KARACHI: A few team
owners in the ongoing
Pakistan Super League
(PSL) are not happy with
the attitude of some of their
overseas signings, who
they suspect are not going
all out to avoid
fitness/fatigue issues before
the lucrative Indian
Premier League. Sources in
some of the franchises
competing in the PSL have
said that some players have
even pulled out of matches
citing niggles. "Joffra
Archer is one example. He
is playing for Quetta
100m hurdles in London.
"I don't know how to differentiate
from who's the
athlete and who's the coach
Gladiators and he pulled
out of a crucial match and
this didn?t exactly make
the owners, management or
fellow players happy,? a
source said. He said the
Quetta Gladiators owner,
Nadeem Omar, didn?t say
anything to Archer but suspected
the all-rounder was
only keen on being fully fit
and fresh for the IPL,
which begins shortly after
the PSL ends on March 25.
Archer will make his IPL
debut this year and was
bought for an astounding
USD 800,000 by Rajasthan
sometimes. "That's quite difficult
because as an athlete
you always want to do
exactly what's written down
Royals. Defending champions,
Peshawar Zalmi, are
also not happy with the
unavailability of West
Indian veteran all-rounder,
Dwayne Bravo, who is yet
to show up in the PSL third
edition. Zalmi depends
heavily on the allrounder
who is reportedly yet to
fully recover from an
injury and reach Dubai. "It
is not about the money but
when you lose a player of
high caliber it upsets the
team?s plans," one source
said. Bravo has been
retained by Chennai Super
on the programme, you want
to work hard and finish the
session but sometimes the
coach has to step in and say
ground while saving a
boundary.
According to sources,
Rumman’s scan results
turned out to be encouraging.
The results indicate that
the injury is not of a serious
nature and his ligament is
safe. The 26-year-old
bowler will be rested for a
couple of matches to allow
him time to recover, the
sources added.
PSL owners not happy with overseas players
Kings for this years IPL for
6.40 crore approximately
USD one million. Sources
say few others in the PSL
who have been auctioned
in the IPL are also suspected
of not giving their best
and reserving their
resources for the more
lucrative Indian league.
Pakistan?s former Test
captain, Salman Butt, says
he is not surprised since
there are many T20
leagues being played in
the world but the IPL
remains the most lucrative
for players.
Pearson swapping hats at world indoor athletics
'No, you've done enough,
you've got what you want
out of that session'. "I'm constantly
switching hats," she
said, adding that she had little
problem between training
for indoor and outdoor
events because they were
both sprint-based. Pearson
battled back from four serious
injuries in 12 months to
win world outdoor gold in
London last year, an
achievement she described
as her "proudest moment".
"Coming back to competition
was a huge deal for
me," she said, having broken
an arm in the Rome
Diamond League meet in
2015 and sustained a hamstring
injury a year later that
saw her miss the Rio
Olympics.