Sammy vows to defend PSL title in Karachi

By Muhammad Asif Khan

KARACHI: The skipper of the Peshawar Zalmi, Darren Sammy has said the charged atmosphere in Lahore, at the PSL final last year, is still fresh in his memory and he is looking forward to lifting the cup for second time around as well.

“We are not underestimating any team but I have made it clear to all the players that Zalmi would be unstoppable if we play our brand of cricket”, Sammy said in a video message prior to his departure in Dubai, for the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The third edition of the PSL will commence from February 22nd with an encounter between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans in Dubai.

Peshawar Zalmi won the last edition of the PSL by beating Quetta Gladiators at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore.

“The scenes at the Gaddafi stadium are still fresh in my memory. I along with other team mates still cherish our part to bring back international cricket to Pakistan”, Sammy said

“People of Pakistan love me and I love them as well”, Sammy concluded

@mak_asif

Sultans upbeat to make a mark in PSL

Muhammad Asif Khan

KARACHI: The new entrant to the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Multan Sultans are fresh but upbeat to uproot the formidable outfits in the third edition of the competition.

In an informal interaction with journalists here on Friday, the Managing Director of Multan Sultans, Khizer Schon shared the idea behind acquiring the most expensive outfit in the Pakistan Super League.

“The passion for cricket in Multan is unmatched and this is one of the reasons of buying this name. We have recently witnessed the enthusiasm, when record number of people turned up to watch an exhibition game,” Schon said

“That was the biggest gathering in the history of the city”, Schon added

The MD said that the team is obviously new but had players to create impact from the onset.

“Under Wasim Akram, Sultans assembled a combination which can rattle any opposition. We are not here to just make our presence felt but to win the cup eventually”, Schon lightheartedly said

Highlighting their strategy for the region, Khizer Schon said it is a long-term roadmap which includes game development at every level.

“To begin with we will scout players from the area. Our focus will be on younger players to comprise junior outfits of Multan Sultans”, Schon said

“We also look forward to assembling women teams by holding events amongst local universities”, the MD said

In the end the Multan Sultans MD shared good news about their foreign players who, he said, are ready to tour Pakistan, if there team qualify for the final games.

@mak_asif

Cricket – Former Stars Set to play on Ice at St Moritz

St Morits, Switzerland – A unique 2-day cricket event set against the backdrop of Swiss mountains is set to take place in Switzerland. The event includes two matches in 2 days. Lake St. Mortiz freezes into an extremely thick layer of ice which then gets covered by the soft falling snow, enabling the lake to withstand more than 200 tons of weight. So, Vijay Singh, CEO, VJ Sports saw this as an opportunity for some cricket near the alps. Two teams, Badrutt’s Palace DIAMONDS and ROYALS are set to take on each other.

The teams will feature former stars like:
Shahid Afridi, Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Shoaib Akhtar, Michael Hussey, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Daniel Vettori, Nathan McCullum, Grant Elliot, Monty Panesar, Owais Shah, Tilakratne Dilshan & Ajit Agarkar.

Traditional cricketing gear, including the red-ball will be used but players will don sports shoes instead of spikes.

Media partnership deal between Peshawar Zalmi and PTV signed

Islamabad – Champion of Pakistan Super LEague (PSL) franchise and the defending champions, Peshawer Zalmi, has signed an agreement of Media partnership with Pakistan’s largest and state owned Pakistan television network (PTV).

The MOU was signed at PTV headquarters located in Islamabad during the meeting of Peshawar Zalmi’s chairman, Javed Afridi and Secretary of Minister of Information, Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera. Peshawar Zalmi cricket matches will be broadcast on PTV Sports, PTV News, PTV World and PTV Home.

Javed Afridi also said and that we are very glad to be associated with Pakistan’s no. 1 and a cardinal television network.

PSL Champions Peshawar Zalmi have cleared all payments with PCB

Peshawar: Pakistan Super League (PSL) Champion Peshawar Zalmi would like to clarify that we have cleared all our payments with PCB within time and at the moment all our energies are focused towards  defending the title, says a spokesman of the franchise

Recent reports in media suggest that some franchises have failed to clear their dues with PCB. Peshawar Zalmi would like to clarify that we on our part have cleared all the necessary fees and payments (including taxes) with PCB and no payments remain in balance.

Peshawar Zalmi firmly believe that Pakistan Super League is the country’s biggest sports brand. We will continue with our efforts in not only supporting  this mega event but also  bringing back cricket to Pakistan.

Understanding the importance of promotions and media engagments,Peshawar Zalmi kicked off its promotional activites as early as december last year, We have been actively promoting the League and our franchise through our media partners and social media platforms. We would like to thank our ardent supporters who have responded positively to our media campaigns .

We wish all the best to PCB and all franchises for PSL season 3, Spokesman

England beat Australia to clinch ODI series, Buttler shins

SYDNEY: A scintillating century from Jos Buttler brought England a 16-run win and a one-day international series victory against Australia in Sydney on Sunday.

The hosts, set 303 to win by England after winning the toss and electing to bowl, were always struggling in their chase and eventually managed only 286 for six.

The result gave England an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match ODI series, a remarkable turnaround after Australia had trounced the tourists 4-0 in the Ashes Tests.

Australia’s hopes largely rested with Steve Smith (45) and Mitchell Marsh (55), but both were dismissed at a crucial stage of the chase, with Smith falling to a contentious low-down catch by Buttler off the bowling of Mark Wood (2-46).

Marcus Stoinis made a late attempt to lift Australia with a punishing 56, but England managed to hold on despite losing pacemen Liam Plunkett to a leg injury early in the Australian innings.

Buttler, 27, was the only batsman from either team really to get to grips with a slightly slow pitch, and his late surge enabled England to reach a total which had seemed out of their reach until the final few overs.

Several English batsmen failed to capitalise on promising starts, but Buttler notched his fifth one-day international century from the last ball of the innings as England helped themselves to 38 off the final two overs.

Buttler himself took 28 runs from the last 11 balls he faced. He faced 83 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes, in a dashing innings that gathered momentum in the last 10 overs.

Just as England appeared to be struggling against a full-strength Australian attack, Buttler found a willing ally in Chris Woakes late in the innings, the seamer making 53 from 36 balls in a match-winning partnership of 113 in 11.5 overs.

Australia recalled pacemen Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for the match, the first time in the one-day series that the trio of Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who spearheaded the Ashes win, had been reunited.

The tactic appeared to be working until Buttler and Woakes came together and turned the match on its head. The English were aided by sloppy Australian fielding, with four missed catches and two botched run-out attempts.
The easiest of the catches to go to grass was a howler by Cameron White, who failed to get a hand to a skied chance from Moeen Ali when he was on one.
Marsh was the unlucky bowler, but had his revenge a few minutes later when he bowled Ali for six, continuing the all-rounder’s wretched tour.

Smith dropped Eoin Morgan (41) on 18 off spinner Adam Zampa, while Starc got his fingers to a tough caught-and-bowled chance.

Cricket – Global Zalmi league fixtures revealed

Karachi – Pakistan Super League (PSL) Champions Peshawar Zalmi announced schedule of his own T20 League “Global Zalmi League”, Kashmir zalmi and fifteen other foreign teams will be in the event, Action will begin on eleven February. Each team will also include two youth players from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA.

The Peshawar-based Zalmi fans and talented cricketers will gather themselves together under Zalmai’s banner, show their skills. They organized Zalmai World Cup consisting of ten foreign zalmai teams last year in UAE.

According to the celebrity and popularity of the World Cup, Peshawar Zalmi announced  holding of the “Global Zalmi League”, The league will start in February from Ajman Oval. The League will share zalmi teams of the sixteen countries from all over the world. Australia Zalmi, Austrian Zalmi, Bahrain Zalmi, Bonn Zalmi, Canada Zalmi, China Zalmi, Dubai Zalmi, Kabul Zalmi, Kashmir Zalmi, Korea Zalmi, London Zalmi, Paris Zalmi, Saudi Arabia Zalmi, South Africa Zalmi, Torino Zalmai, USA Zalmi team.

Javed Afridi, chairman of the Peshawar Zalmi, says that the establishment of the Global Zalmai League (GZL) and the creation of Zalmi teams in the sixteen countries of the world is honorable for us .The Global Zalmi League includes Overseas Pakistani and Indian people, from which the people of both countries There will be an opportunity to get closer .All sixteen teams in the Global Zalmai League can include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA cricketers.

Cricket – Pakistan blind players await UAE visa for world cup

By Muhammad Asif Khan

Karachi – In an unprecedented development, the Pakistan team took the field without five of their main players against the arch-rival, India in a game of the ongoing Blind World Cup in Ajman, UAE. (Click here for video message from Sultan Shah President, PBCC)

Terming the situation disappointing the president of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), Sultan Shah urged the relevant quarters to resolve the issue at the earliest.

“We have been facing a lot of hardship in acquiring visa for our players despite untiring efforts, the situation is indeed disappointing. Apart from Pakistan, four Bangladesh players have also failed to get the UAE visa thus far”, Sultan Shah said

Badar Munir, Riyasat Khan, Sajid Nawaz, Mohsin Khan and Rashid failed to get UAE visa to travel to Ajman so far.

“Our staff has been in the UAE since January 2nd and in touch with relevant UAE authorities but to no avail so far. The treatment with the national heroes is embarrassing to say the least”, Sultan Shah added 

The fifth edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup is underway from January 8th in Pakistan and United Arab Emirates. Six teams including hosts Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka,

Bangladesh, Australia and Nepal are featuring in the tournament with the final match is scheduled to be played in Lahore on January 21st.

India, after refusing to travel to Pakistan, are playing their matches in Ajman, UAE.

“I appeal to both UAE and Pakistan governments to look into the matter on urgent basis”, Sultan Shah concluded

@mak_asif on twitter.

Angelo Mathews reappointed Sri Lanka’s ODI and T20 captain

Colombo: Former captain Angelo Mathews was reappointed Sri Lanka’s ODI and T20 captain by the national selectors in a move that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President, Thilanga Sumathipala described as a roundly unanimous decision by the national selectors on the recommendations of Head Coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe and SLCs management headed by CEO Ashley de Silva.

 

The whole exercise was based on the new coach’s new strategy of a short term, medium and long term plan of optimising the national team to winning heights. Hathurusinghe chipped in to say that ‘I thought Mathews is the best person to captain the ODI team.’ My only concern is player fitness, but we have a long term plan in place,” he grated. Mathews, aged 30, in turn responded that he was honoured to take the job back after long deliberation in the national interest.

“It’s a thing you don’t ever think of taking back. There were a few reasons I decided to take it back as the president’s request was that it was a national call, and also considering the fact that we need stability running to the world cup in eighteen months’ time. Cricket has given me a lot, and if I turn my back I feel it is not fair by my country.  Some may like it, some may not. Hathu (Hathurusinghe) is not here to survive. I have worked with him in the A team and know his capacity. He’s here to do a job. Both of us think equally in the interest of the team.

The announcement was made to the media Tuesday at the SLC auditorium with SLC CEO, Ashley de Silva and Vice President in charge of international cricket, K. Mathivanan, Chairman of Selectors, Graham Labrooy and Head Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe attending.

The 16 member squad was also announced with Test captain Dinesh Chandimal regaining the selectors nod. Also significant was the naming of 22-year old fast bowler, Shehan Madushanka, a Sri Lanka Development Squad Emerging XI player in view of SLCs long term plan which Head Coach Hathurusinghe explained was to evolving ideally seven pace bowlers approaching the World Cup 18 months hence.

SLC President Suumathipala stressed that unfortunately there had been a fractured phase when Dinesh Chandimal, who took over the job when Mathews quit it five years ago, was injured and a stop gap captain in Upul Tharanga had to be appointed. Mathews had been laid back by injury by playing too much cricket having played the most number of matches in the world that had affected his body.

Chief Selector, Graham Labrooy said that Mathews appointment was in view of the long term. He would not be bowling in Bangladesh. But would progressively turn his arm in short bursts in ODIs only. On the naming of Madushanka, he said, “He has pace about 136 to 137 mph and bowls a quicker ball at 140 mph. He may or may not play in Bangladesh. Looking at the pace bowling department, we are going forward with Madushanka as a long term investment because we need to be competetive.”

On Chandimal’s recall, Labrooy said, “He has shown a lot of interest. In India his approach was aggressive with good strike rates, and his inclusion had been recommended by the head coach.” As to Kusal Mendis’ recall, he said, “Kusal had gone back to club cricket and got some big runs. The new captain and coach believe in him a lot”.

Chandimal reacted that ‘I’m happy to be back in the ODI squad and look forward to delivering.’

Curtsy srilankacricket.lk

Philander takes six as South Africa beat India in first test

CAPE TOWN – Seamer Vernon Philander took career-best figures as rampant South Africa claimed a 72-run victory over India on a gripping fourth day of the first test on Monday.

 

Set 208 for victory, India were skittled out for 135 in 42.4 overs in their second innings on a lively wicket with Philander the chief destroyer, recording figures of 6-42 for his first five-wicket haul in tests since 2013.

India had looked to seize control of the test when they bowled South Africa out for 130 in the morning session, but found the home attack on the seamer-friendly wicket too much of a challenge.

After day three had been a washout, 18 wickets fell in 64 overs on Monday, all going to seamers.

South Africa resumed on 65 for two, but were only able to double their score before they lost their last eight wickets.

Mohammed Shami (3-28) and debutant Jasprit Bumrah (3-39) were the pick of the Indian bowlers and there were two wickets for Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-33).

Only an attacking 35 from De Villiers stemmed the tide to a degree before he was the last man out.

South Africa, without injured seamer Dale Steyn who will miss the rest of the series with a heel problem, weathered a first-wicket stand of 30 for India in reply, before the wickets began to fall at regular intervals.

Shikhar Dhawan (16) sparred a rising deliver from Morne Morkel (2-39) to gully.

Philander picked up his first wicket as Murali Vijay (13) edged to third slip.

Cheteshwar Pujara (four) became Morkel’s second victim with the score on 39, before Indian captain Virat Kohli (28) took the attack to the South Africans.

He was undone playing across a straight delivery from Philander.

Rohit Sharma (10) was bowled off the inside edge by Philander before the tourists’ first-innings hero Hardik Pandya edged Kagiso Rabada to De Villiers in the slips.

Rabada claimed the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha (eight) with the last ball before tea.

Philander then took three wickets in four balls to seal victory after a seventh-wicket stand of 49 between top-scorer Ravichandran Ashwin (37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13 not out) had briefly sent jitters through the Newlands crowd.

South Africa are hosting India in a three-test series this month, with matches to come in Pretoria, starting on Saturday, and Johannesburg.

Reuters