SORRY SRILANKA WE ARE KINGS
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Pakistan won by 52 runs
Shahid Afridi shone with bat and ball on his debut as Pakistan's Twenty20 captain to steer the world champions to an emphatic 52-run win over Sri Lanka here on Wednesday.
Afridi smashed 50 off 37 balls in Pakistan's 172-5, and then claimed 1-21 in four economical overs and effected a run out with a direct throw as Sri Lanka were shot out for 120 with 11 balls to spare.
A sell-out crowd of 35,000 at the overflowing Premadasa stadium watched the first T20 match between the two teams since the World Twenty20 final in England in June, when Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets.
The result was the same as seamer Rana Naved and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal picked up three wickets each to stun the hosts.
Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals with skipper Kumar Sangakkara the only batsman to offer resistance against the fired-up Pakistanis with 38 off 31 balls.
Afridi, who was man of the match in both the semi-final and final at the Worlds, once again dominated the battle to help Pakistan end an otherwise dismal tour of Sri Lanka on a winning note.
Pakistan had lost the preceding Test series 2-0 and conceded the one-dayers by a 2-3 margin during the six-week tour.
Afridi hit two sixes and four boundaries after taking over the Twenty20 team from Test and one-day skipper Younus Khan, who has retired from the shortest format of the game.
Pakistan, who elected to bat after winning the toss, lost a wicket off the first ball when Kamran Akmal was bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara after attempting a big heave.
The other opener, Imran Nazir, cracked five fours and a six in his 40 off 28 balls to boost the total as Pakistan moved to 59-3 by the eighth over.
Teenager Umar Akmal, who hit a 20-ball 30, put on 66 for the fourth wicket with Afridi.
Abdul Razzaq and Misbah-ul Haq added a quickfire 33 as Pakistan plundered 47 runs in the last five overs to leave Sri Lanka facing a daunting target of 8.7 runs an over.
Afridi smashed 50 off 37 balls in Pakistan's 172-5, and then claimed 1-21 in four economical overs and effected a run out with a direct throw as Sri Lanka were shot out for 120 with 11 balls to spare.
A sell-out crowd of 35,000 at the overflowing Premadasa stadium watched the first T20 match between the two teams since the World Twenty20 final in England in June, when Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets.
The result was the same as seamer Rana Naved and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal picked up three wickets each to stun the hosts.
Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals with skipper Kumar Sangakkara the only batsman to offer resistance against the fired-up Pakistanis with 38 off 31 balls.
Afridi, who was man of the match in both the semi-final and final at the Worlds, once again dominated the battle to help Pakistan end an otherwise dismal tour of Sri Lanka on a winning note.
Pakistan had lost the preceding Test series 2-0 and conceded the one-dayers by a 2-3 margin during the six-week tour.
Afridi hit two sixes and four boundaries after taking over the Twenty20 team from Test and one-day skipper Younus Khan, who has retired from the shortest format of the game.
Pakistan, who elected to bat after winning the toss, lost a wicket off the first ball when Kamran Akmal was bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara after attempting a big heave.
The other opener, Imran Nazir, cracked five fours and a six in his 40 off 28 balls to boost the total as Pakistan moved to 59-3 by the eighth over.
Teenager Umar Akmal, who hit a 20-ball 30, put on 66 for the fourth wicket with Afridi.
Abdul Razzaq and Misbah-ul Haq added a quickfire 33 as Pakistan plundered 47 runs in the last five overs to leave Sri Lanka facing a daunting target of 8.7 runs an over.
Sri Lanka get chance to avenge Pakistan's World T20 win
Sri Lanka will have an early opportunity to avenge their defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the World Twenty20 final when the two teams clash in a T20 international here on Wednesday.
Younus Khan's Pakistan stunned favourites Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final at Lord's in June, sparking massive celebrations in their cricket-obsessed nation.
But the joy was short-lived as Pakistan, touring Sri Lanka a week later, slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the Test series and lost the one-dayers 3-2 against Kumar Sangakkara's rampant home team.
Pakistan salvaged their reputation by winning the last two one-day matches and hope to carry the momentum into Wednesday's clash in which they will be led by flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
Afridi, man of the match in both the semi-final and final of the World Twenty20, was appointed T20 captain after Younus quit the shortest form of the game soon after leading Pakistan to the title.
"It is not important that we lost the Test and one-day series," said Afridi. "This is a new game and we are determined to end the tour on a positive note."
Sangakkara was, however, confident of a good showing by his team, provided the top order batsmen delivered.
"Our bowling always stepped up when we wanted it to," the Sri Lankan captain said. "We have just got to make sure our batting keeps up."
Sri Lanka called up in-form opening batsman Mahela Udawatte to replace Tillakaratne Dilshan, who is still recovering from finger and eye injuries sustained during the third Test last month.
Udawatte is expected to open the innings with swashbuckling veteran Sanath Jayasuriya.
Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the world's leading wicket-taker with 770 Test annd 511 one-day wickets, will lead the bowling in the absence of experienced seamer Chaminda Vaas.
Vaas, who retired from Test cricket after the Pakistan series, was ignored by the selectors despite saying he will play limited-overs cricket until the 2011 World Cup.
Pakistan (from): Shahid Afridi (capt), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamir, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Rao Iftikhar.
Sri Lanka (from): Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Udawatte, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedara, Thilina Kandamby, Angelo Matthews, Ajantha Mendis, Malinga Bandara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Thilan Thushara.
(Article: Copyright © 2009 AFP) 
Saturday, August 8, 2009
A tribute to hansei cronje
A tribute to hansei cronje
Hansie Cronje, was a tenacious cricketer who captained the South African cricket team at the tender age of 24 years. Leading South Africa to great success on the world stage, he was a very handy batsman and more than competent with the ball. He had excellent tactical skills and was able to lead his team to many wins against the best the world could offer. Having been banned for life from any involvement in cricket, as a result of his admission to accepting bribes from bookmakers, he will long be remembered as the only player to have had the guts to come clean and accept the consequences.
Career Biography
Born in Bloemfontein to parents Ewie (father) and San-Marie (mother) Cronje. He attended Grey College, a prestigious private boys school reserved mainly for the very affluent. Hansie, graduated as the head of his class after completing his matriculation (yr12).
Playing in a number of provincial cricket sides, he was selected as a representative for the all schools South African cricket team in both 1986-87. His major cricket debut was made in 1987, when he was selected as an all-rounder to represent Free State and at the age of 21, was made captain of the team. Whilst playing for Free State, he attended the local university in Blomfontein.
Hansie quickly developed as a cricketer of international quality and was selected to represent South Africa against the West Indies in 1991, when he was promoted to the national squad after having impressed the UCBSA selectors with his performances at the provincial level.
In 1994, aged just 24 years, he was made captain of the South African team and became the youngest person promoted to this position in over a century.
In 2000, Hansie was banned for life by the UCBSA, after he admitted to the King Commission of having accepted bribes from bookmakers during the previous few years.
As a result of his life ban, in 2001, he became the financial manager for an agricultural machinery company based in Johannesburg.
Cronje was killed on 1 June 2002, in a plane crash. He was the only passenger on a plane carrying cargo. He has now taken his palce alongside other legends of cricket past in that great cricket stadium in the sky.
He is survived by his wife Bertha, whose greatest wish was that the world would forgive the mistakes of Hansie and see him for the true person and champion he was.
Career Statistics
Born:
25 September 1969, Bloemfontein - South Africa
Died:
1 June 2002, Outeniqua Mountains, near George, Western Cape - South Africa, Result: Plane Crash
Major Teams:
Free State, Leicestershire, South Africa, Ireland
Batting Style:
Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style:
Right Arm Medium
Test Debut:
Saf v Win at Bridgetown, 1991-92
ODI Debut:
Saf v Aus at Sydney, World Cup, 1991-92
Hansie Cronje, was a tenacious cricketer who captained the South African cricket team at the tender age of 24 years. Leading South Africa to great success on the world stage, he was a very handy batsman and more than competent with the ball. He had excellent tactical skills and was able to lead his team to many wins against the best the world could offer. Having been banned for life from any involvement in cricket, as a result of his admission to accepting bribes from bookmakers, he will long be remembered as the only player to have had the guts to come clean and accept the consequences.
Career Biography
Born in Bloemfontein to parents Ewie (father) and San-Marie (mother) Cronje. He attended Grey College, a prestigious private boys school reserved mainly for the very affluent. Hansie, graduated as the head of his class after completing his matriculation (yr12).
Playing in a number of provincial cricket sides, he was selected as a representative for the all schools South African cricket team in both 1986-87. His major cricket debut was made in 1987, when he was selected as an all-rounder to represent Free State and at the age of 21, was made captain of the team. Whilst playing for Free State, he attended the local university in Blomfontein.
Hansie quickly developed as a cricketer of international quality and was selected to represent South Africa against the West Indies in 1991, when he was promoted to the national squad after having impressed the UCBSA selectors with his performances at the provincial level.
In 1994, aged just 24 years, he was made captain of the South African team and became the youngest person promoted to this position in over a century.
In 2000, Hansie was banned for life by the UCBSA, after he admitted to the King Commission of having accepted bribes from bookmakers during the previous few years.
As a result of his life ban, in 2001, he became the financial manager for an agricultural machinery company based in Johannesburg.
Cronje was killed on 1 June 2002, in a plane crash. He was the only passenger on a plane carrying cargo. He has now taken his palce alongside other legends of cricket past in that great cricket stadium in the sky.
He is survived by his wife Bertha, whose greatest wish was that the world would forgive the mistakes of Hansie and see him for the true person and champion he was.
Career Statistics
Born:
25 September 1969, Bloemfontein - South Africa
Died:
1 June 2002, Outeniqua Mountains, near George, Western Cape - South Africa, Result: Plane Crash
Major Teams:
Free State, Leicestershire, South Africa, Ireland
Batting Style:
Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style:
Right Arm Medium
Test Debut:
Saf v Win at Bridgetown, 1991-92
ODI Debut:
Saf v Aus at Sydney, World Cup, 1991-92
Sunday, August 2, 2009
PCB clarifies Qadir & Gen. Tauqir Zia statement regarding match fixing in Sri Lanka
PCB clarifies Qadir & Gen. Tuque Zia statement regarding match fixing in Sri Lanka
It is very surprising to note in today’s papers the statement by Gen. Tauqir Zia & Mr. Abdul Qadir regarding match fixing in Colombo. May be Mr. Qadir is not aware of the control mechanism for match fixing, but we are sure Gen. Tauqir Zia would be aware of the match fixing controls.
Match fixing in all the ICC matches are monitored by ICC under the supervision of Lord Condon. Currently there are one or two senior staff of Lord Condon in Sri Lanka ensuring complete control over the match fixing. How does PCB come into this matter? The matter was reported by the PCB staff in Sri Lanka to the concerned official of the ICC in Sri Lanka and they took some urgent steps in this regard.
It is very surprising to note in today’s papers the statement by Gen. Tauqir Zia & Mr. Abdul Qadir regarding match fixing in Colombo. May be Mr. Qadir is not aware of the control mechanism for match fixing, but we are sure Gen. Tauqir Zia would be aware of the match fixing controls.
Match fixing in all the ICC matches are monitored by ICC under the supervision of Lord Condon. Currently there are one or two senior staff of Lord Condon in Sri Lanka ensuring complete control over the match fixing. How does PCB come into this matter? The matter was reported by the PCB staff in Sri Lanka to the concerned official of the ICC in Sri Lanka and they took some urgent steps in this regard.
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