The Surfer
Haroon and the sea of stories
No, we are not talking about Salman Rushdie’s book but Haroon Rashid, the former Pakistan team manager, who lost his job a year back
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
No, we are not talking about Salman Rushdie’s book but Haroon Rashid, the former Pakistan team manager, who lost his job a year back. Allegations were rife that the nightouts of the then errant Shoaib Akhtar, a rumour of rape - which later turned out to be fabricated story - against one of the allrounders all led to the exit of Rashid. A year later, The Telegraph met up with him, and found him still cheerful. “Apne mulk mein yeh sab hota rahta hai... It’s part of the game”. He intends to apply for a coach’s job in the National Cricket Academy or in one of the regional sides.
Laptopless in Lahore
Mario Rodrigues, a correspondent of The Statesman, has been relieved of his laptop while gallivanting in a posh area of Lahore. The Jung reports that the sad incident occurred when Rodrigues was waiting for transport after coming out of a moneychanger to encash some foreign currency. A bike screamed to halt behind him, the snatch was done in an instant and the culprits zoomed off., with the victim not even managing to get a look at their faces.
Mario Rodrigues, a correspondent of The Statesman, has been relieved of his laptop while gallivanting in a posh area of Lahore. The Jung reports that the sad incident occurred when Rodrigues was waiting for transport after coming out of a moneychanger to encash some foreign currency. A bike screamed to halt behind him, the snatch was done in an instant and the culprits zoomed off., with the victim not even managing to get a look at their faces.
Blood is thicker than Khaki
Two policemen have been suspended for security breach at the Indian team’s hotel. The crime? They allowed their relatives to sneak past the security cordon, and go to Sachin Tendulkar’s room for photos and autographs.
Two policemen have been suspended for security breach at the Indian team’s hotel. The crime? They allowed their relatives to sneak past the security cordon, and go to Sachin Tendulkar’s room for photos and autographs.
A discount and they still stay away
Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offering 50% of the tickets free of charge to the fans, not many turned out to watch the Test. It was the same story in 2003-04, when not many turn out for Tests. However, like last time, you can bet they will turn in large numbers for the ODIs. That's the version of the game that rules in Pakistan.
Full postDespite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offering 50% of the tickets free of charge to the fans, not many turned out to watch the Test. It was the same story in 2003-04, when not many turn out for Tests. However, like last time, you can bet they will turn in large numbers for the ODIs. That's the version of the game that rules in Pakistan.
World Cup: it's time Warne chose
The speculation over the possibility of Shane Warne returning to one-day cricket continues
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
The speculation over the possibility of Shane Warne returning to one-day cricket continues. "It appears Warne would like to return to the one-day arena for the big event but wants to declare his hand in his own time," writes Tim Lane in The Age. "It's not clear yet whether the chairman of the panel, Trevor Hohns, is close to tearing his hair out."
Full postMuch ado about the roof
" Telstra Dome's debut as an open-air cricket venue threatened to dissolve into farce last night," writes Nabila Ahmed in The Age , "with the roof opened, closed and opened again in a night of confusion caused by a massive shadow across the
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
"Telstra Dome's debut as an open-air cricket venue threatened to dissolve into farce last night," writes Nabila Ahmed in The Age, "with the roof opened, closed and opened again in a night of confusion caused by a massive shadow across the ground."
Full postI will open… No I will … And the argument continues
Images of what looked liked a heated argument, involving the usual suspects - Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Greg Chappell - were beamed in the television on day 1 of the game
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Images of what looked liked a heated argument, involving the usual suspects - Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Greg Chappell - were beamed in the television on day 1 of the game. Tongues wagged, minds tried to guess what could they have been talking about and newspapers have revealed that the discussion revolved around opening the innings and that Dravid wanted to take upon himself the responsibility of opening with Virender Sehwag. Chappell remained silent throughout, staring intently at Dravid’s face.
Pradeep Magazine, the sports editor of Hindustan Times tells us what really happened.
In the ground, Dravid told Ganguly that he need not open as he himself had decided to take the slot.
What the world saw was Ganguly, who was mentally prepared to open the batting after his skipper has told him about it earlier, telling Dravid: "You need not sacrifice your position for me as I am ready to open". Sources said Dravid replied that he had batted on several occasions when the score was 0 for one, so it was no big deal "for me to open".
The story would have rested there. But it seems that when a Ten Sports employee went to Chappell to confirm whether a sheet of paper that showed Ganguly opening was correct or not, the coach cut out Ganguly's name and put it at the No. 5 slot.
Full postWhat's eating Ravi Shastri?
Ravi Shastri is not a happy man
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Ravi Shastri is not a happy man. Sourav Ganguly’s inclusion in the side has left him stunned, though he doesn’t believe there would have been any pressure from Sharad Pawar, the board chief. However, he sees the weak hand of the Indian think-tank. "… that's the team management's decision. If you ask me for my choice, he would not have fitted into my XI. I think it's a weak decision. I think it’s short sighted and if you are looking into the future of Indian cricket, I don't think this is a wise decision as well. Because, if he is going to open the innings, what have you taken three specialist openers there for?
"If Sourav Ganguly should have played in the side, he should have replaced Tendulkar, Dravid, Yuvraj Singh or Laxman. Tell me who will you drop amongst these?"
Strong words… but time here for an old trivial story. When Ganguly made his Test debut against England in 1996, Shastri had fumed at the selection, hinting at zonal politics. Ganguly went on to have a bumper series then. Can he repeat the act?
Full postA judge and his quandary
Wasim Akram's solicitor has rubbished the statements of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum, who in an interview with Cricinfo had said a "soft corner" for Akram might have influenced him while handing out a lenient punishment in the match-fixing case
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Wasim Akram's solicitor has rubbished the statements of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum, who in an interview with Cricinfo had said a "soft corner" for Akram might have influenced him while handing out a lenient punishment in the match-fixing case
Wasim's solicitor, Naynesh Desai, responded to Qayyum's comments: "It beggars belief that he can say something like this six years after the event. He is not suggesting that Wasim lied to him, but that he had let him off because he liked him. It looks like the judge is peeved about something and he is having a pop at everyone. How can he help Saleem Malik on his appeal when he banned him from the game in the first place?"
Click here to read the article by Angus Fraser
Full postBet on Tendulkar - to fail
Lose money if Tendulkar scores The word is out that India will win the first Test
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Lose money if Tendulkar scores
The word is out that India will win the first Test! No, it's not a Cricinfo expose on match-fixing but what punters in Raipur in central India are predicting. India Abroad News Service reports that the bookies have collected bets worth a whopping Rs 560 million ($12.72 million) and the amount is expected to go past 700 million by the time the match ends. Raja, a top punter, is quoted as saying, "The betting money has come from 22 centres of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh".
The word is out that India will win the first Test! No, it's not a Cricinfo expose on match-fixing but what punters in Raipur in central India are predicting. India Abroad News Service reports that the bookies have collected bets worth a whopping Rs 560 million ($12.72 million) and the amount is expected to go past 700 million by the time the match ends. Raja, a top punter, is quoted as saying, "The betting money has come from 22 centres of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh".
Sachin Tendulkar, the safest bet in the past, is not finding many takers this time. "Market has shown good response for Dravid and Dhoni but people are reluctant about Sachin," another punter said. Apparently bookies will lose 80% if Tendulkar hits a ton. Hmm... how the wheel has turned...
The little big man
Meanwhile, Tendulkar, who is 1.6 metres tall, has asked for larger sightscreens! Salim Altaf, director of cricket operations of the Pakistan Cricket Board, is quoted by Reuters as saying, "They [Indian team management] have said that Tendulkar has asked for the changes because he feels he might not be able to sight the ball leaving the bowler's hand properly in the backdrop of the current sightscreens ". Wonder whether the punters know about this...
Meanwhile, Tendulkar, who is 1.6 metres tall, has asked for larger sightscreens! Salim Altaf, director of cricket operations of the Pakistan Cricket Board, is quoted by Reuters as saying, "They [Indian team management] have said that Tendulkar has asked for the changes because he feels he might not be able to sight the ball leaving the bowler's hand properly in the backdrop of the current sightscreens ". Wonder whether the punters know about this...
Ganguly or Chappell?
Imran Khan, writing in the The Hindu bats for Greg Chappell: "Plenty has been written about the Sourav-Chappell politics and I simply don't know enough to comment. However, I have known Greg for a long time now, and he is a straight-talking guy. That's a trait that can land you in hot water every now and then, but it also means that he is an honest, hard-working, committed individual. Few people know more about strategy and pressure than Greg, and his batting pedigree is beyond question. If you judge a coach by his credentials, then few in world cricket can be compared to Greg."
Full postImran Khan, writing in the The Hindu bats for Greg Chappell: "Plenty has been written about the Sourav-Chappell politics and I simply don't know enough to comment. However, I have known Greg for a long time now, and he is a straight-talking guy. That's a trait that can land you in hot water every now and then, but it also means that he is an honest, hard-working, committed individual. Few people know more about strategy and pressure than Greg, and his batting pedigree is beyond question. If you judge a coach by his credentials, then few in world cricket can be compared to Greg."
Ill-Lee-gally dangerous
Peter Roebuck in The Age delivers his closing to the jury about Brett Lee's beamers and spares a thought for the victims who have lived to tell the tale Australia must think long and hard before including Brett Lee in its limited-overs team
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Peter Roebuck in The Age delivers his closing to the jury about Brett Lee's beamers and spares a thought for the victims who have lived to tell the tale
Full postAustralia must think long and hard before including Brett Lee in its limited-overs team. So far, the selectors and board have been fortunate that none of Lee's bean-balls has caused permanent damage, but these deliveries are extremely dangerous.
South Africa's strange tactics
Bob Simpson, the former Australian player and coach, beleives South Africa would have to change their style of cricket if they hope to move up the ladder
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Bob Simpson, the former Australian player and coach, beleives South Africa would have to change their style of cricket if they hope to move up the ladder.
Full postMy assessment was based on their negativity and the inability to alter their tactics based on the changing circumstances of a match.
A most intense rivalry
Bob Woolmer - a self-confessed citizen of the world - reveals in The Times what the India-Pakistan series is all about and what it means to the people of both countries:
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Bob Woolmer - a self-confessed citizen of the world - reveals in The Times what the India-Pakistan series is all about and what it means to the people of both countries:
What impresses me is the lack of antagonism or violence between the supporters. There is no inane chanting as at a football match in England. Large queues have waited patiently for tickets all day in Lahore. Cricket, I think, is the most significant factor in creating a patient outlook on the sub-continent, in spite of matches between India and Pakistan leading to almost unbearable tension. The pressure on both sides is definitely doubled by a huge external force of expectation.
But he did warn that there was a danger of overkill:
Full post