Osman Samiuddin

August 24, 2006

'Shaharyar Khan, chairman PCB, told Sky TV that his team's protest was to last "a few minutes". Immediately a contradiction was set in place' © Getty Images

Blame for what happened at The Oval and its aftermath can - and has been - liberally flung in several directions. Darrell Hair's eventual and Inzamam-ul-Haq's initial obstinacy, the ICC match referee Mike Procter's haphazard communication skills and the Pakistan Cricket Board's less than firm handling of the crisis.

As more information from Sunday dribbles through, the last named in particular are being asked increasingly difficult questions in Pakistan and for them, something is about to hit the fan. Inzamam can still count on public support, given the inclusive nature of his protest (he was defending the country's honour), but it is looking difficult for his board to expect the same.

Ex-officials and players are rarely happy with successors but there appears genuine cause for grief. As a fiasco unfolded on Sunday, Shaharyar Khan, chairman PCB, told Sky TV that his team's protest was to last "a few minutes". Immediately a contradiction was set in place; "a few minutes" was considerably more and doubts appeared about the team's intent.

Khan giving a statement was questionable enough (not more though than him appearing in a Pepsi commercial last year), given that the team's manager Zaheer Abbas was hired for just this sort of situation (Journalist Khalid H. Khan, in Dawn asked why Zaheer Abbas was seen doing little more than chatting on his mobile phone, walking in and out of the dressing-room). The next day, the PCB only shook up more dust. They were wrong in claiming that the ball was roughed up because Kevin Pietersen was spanking sixes - those came after the ball was changed.

They were ambiguous in their stance on Hair; "he was a good umpire" but their team had problems with his attitude. They were contradictory in their explanation of what happened in those crucial minutes after tea and before the game was forfeited. The fate of the ODIs wasn't decided though their captain and coach were already publicly threatening cancellation. As Inzamam's hearing is now postponed, they still can't find one voice through which to speak - do they want hearings postponed or do they not?

'As Inzamam's hearing is now postponed, they still can't find one voice through which to speak - do they want hearings postponed or do they not?' © Getty Images

Arif Abbasi, chairman of the PCB through the ball tampering and match-fixing crises of the '90s and no mincer of words was appalled by the management's lack of knowledge through the events. "It was a shambles. No one appears to have known the laws regarding forfeiture as the crisis was occurring. The manager Zaheer Abbas went missing, the chairman was making comments about things he didn't know and there was no communication at all between Pakistan and the umpires. As a study in crisis-management, it was as poor as it gets. Since then, it appears as if they haven't done their homework on anything."

Others have been similarly scathing. Aaqib Javed was in the 1992 side in England, during which a ball was also changed, with considerably less hoopla. "It's not the first time it has happened. In 1992 while we were playing, our manager Intikhab Alam told us not to worry, he would handle everything while we should just play on. Afterwards, he sent a letter protesting. Where was the manager now and did anyone know the rules? Let's not forget though that Hair was correct in all the actions he took and he should be lauded for those decisions."

Javed also raised concerns that Shaharyar hadn't been firm enough, in his capacity as chairman, with the players or match officials. "One player in the dressing-room told me that all decisions were being taken by Inzamam about the protest. Shaharyar's very nature is of compromise, once a diplomat, always a diplomat. Not being clear and firm on issues is natural. When they convinced Inzamam to come out, it actually made Pakistan and Inzi look more foolish."

That observation wasn't a stray one; in an article for The News, columnist Shahed Sadullah questioned the PCB's decision, together with Mike Procter, to convince the team to return. The gesture was humiliating as well as pointless, "totally compromising Pakistan's stand. You either protest or you do not; you cannot hedge your bet both ways. That takes away the moral high ground completely and that is what the PCB's actions have done."

Khalid H. Khan, in Dawn asked why Zaheer Abbas was seen doing little more than chatting on his mobile phone, walking in and out of the dressing room © Getty Images

One well-placed source close to the board painted a none too flattering picture: "They were like a whole group of Inspector Clouseaus, all bumbling through without knowing quite what they were doing, without knowing the law, making one statement after another, each one contradicting the last." The list could go on; both Imran Khan and Javed Miandad have also registered their concerns over the board's handling. But as the source acknowledged, "it's been such a big cock-up that questions will most definitely be asked when they get back."

For one, the Senate is likely to pounce. Since the 2004 loss at home to India, the standing committee for sports has hounded the board - through wins, losses, draws - over their finances, the lack of a constitution (the board has operated ad-hoc since 1999) and any other topical controversy. This is heaven-sent. The tour is drawing to a close but the PCB's headaches aren't. In fact, on return, they are likely to turn into a migraine.

Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo

Cricinfo staff

August 23, 2006

Wasim Raja in action in England on Pakistan's 1974 tour © The Cricketer

"Wasim had a big heart attack on the field," a Surrey spokesman told Cricinfo. "He felt dizzy, and mentioned this to the slips, saying that he felt he had to go off. He was carried off but then collapsed on the boundary."

Wasim, the brother of Rameez Raja, was a bearded left-hand middle-order batsman, whereas Rameez was a clean-shaven right-hand opener. Wasim could bowl, too; brisk, flat top-spinners rather than legbreaks, pioneering the style followed by Anil Kumble and Shahid Afridi. Wasim also had one outstanding series when he proved himself the most effective of some very fine Pakistan batsmen in the West Indies in 1976-77.

He might have made a good Pakistan captain in a rather old-fashioned amateur swashbuckling fashion, but coming from the country's elite, studying in Durham and marrying an Englishwoman, he tended to be above the political battle. This, however, stood him in good stead in later life, when he was appointed as one of the ICC's elite panel of match referees.

"It is a very sad and heart-breaking news. As a teenager, I used to go and watch all the games in which Wasim Raja used to play," former captain Wasim Akram said. "He was a crowd favorite not only because of his hard-hitting abilities but because he was a charismatic character. He was an idol of most of the youngsters in the 70s and 80s."

"We grew together and played our cricket not only as team-mates but also as opponents," said Javed Miandad. "He was not only a true sportsman but a thorough gentleman. We have been involved in some of the best matches. It is sad to lose a great cricketer, a good sportsman and a true ambassador of the country."

Wasim played 57 Tests between 1973 and 1985, scoring 2821 runs at 36.16 with four hundreds, the best of which was 125. He also took 51 wickets at 35.80 with a best of 4 for 50. Both his career-best performances came against India at Jalandhar in 1983-84. He also played 54 ODIs. He was subsequently a match referee in 15 Tests, the last of which was in 2003-04.

Test matches are now on. 

Sri Lanka team: (from)
 *DPMD Jayawardene, +KC Sangakkara, ST Jayasuriya, WU Tharanga,
 TT Samaraweera, TM Dilshan, MF Maharoof, M Muralitharan,
 SL Malinga, CK Kapugedera, CRD Fernando, KMDN Kulasekara,
 MG Vandort, S Weerakoon, GI Daniel, KTGD Prasad, CM Bandara,
 WPUJC Vaas.

Pakistan team: (from)
 Shoaib Malik, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf,
 *Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, +Kamran Akmal, Naved-ul-Hasan,
 Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria, Iftikhar Anjum, Imran Farhat,
 Faisal Iqbal, Umar Gul, Abdul Razzaq, Arshad Khan.

Match State: Stumps - Day 1

        The ground was hit by heavy showers early in the morning and it's
        still pouring down, the outfield is completely water logged and
        chances of play starting today looks bleak.
       Update[07:30 GMT] - As expected the umpires have called off the
        day's play

-Bintfarouk

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, (March – April 2006)

1st ODI - Colombo (RPS)
17 March            (Match abandoned)

2nd ODI - Colombo (RPS)
19 March            (Pakistan won by 4 wickets)

3rd ODI - Colombo (SSC)
22 March             (Pakistan won by 4 wickets)

PAKISTAN WIN ODI SERIES 2-0

1st Test - Colombo (SSC)
26 - 30 March           

2nd Test - Kandy
3 - 7 April                  

Hey everyone!

The final and decisive one day mach was played between South Africa and Australia today. WHAT A MATCH IT WAS!!!

The world record was hit by Australia, a total of 434/4. Who would have imagined South Africa would come in and win?!?!!.

Here’s how it was:

I missed australia’s innings, but who knows, if I had seen it, maybe I would have given up all hope for S.A. to win…

My brother and sister woke me quickly after they saw the score saying that an electrifying game was onnn… who could miss that?? None of us even dared to leave the television room. Sixes and Fours were flying like craaazzzy. The game was down to the wire. The captain of S.A.Greaeme Smith, came on the field, knowing in his mind he had the victory …. And people…….he did!! He scored 90 runs just off 55 balls. Then came in Hershelle Gibbs with 175 off just 111 balls. Wickets went, but South Africa was in the game. Down to the wire, Mark Boucher hit the winning boundary with one ball to spear in the match. The total was 438/9.

for mor info, check out cricinfo... the best cricket site: http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html

What a game it was…… I am still in exasperation; Nothing can bring me down today or the rest of the week.

I saw the world record in cricket, and I will never forget it …. Never.

1st ODI - Peshawar (Pakistan won)
Feb 6           

2nd ODI - Rawalpindi (India won)
Feb 11           

3rd ODI - Lahore
Feb 13 (D/N) (India won)
           

4th ODI - Multan (India won)

Feb 16 (D/N)           

5th ODI - Karachi (India won)
Feb 19

yeah india won the ODI sereis.......life goes on

The VB series:

Australia v Sri Lanka (2006)
Melbourne - 13 Jan

Australia v South Africa
Brisbane - 15 Jan

South Africa v Sri Lanka
Brisbane - 17 Jan

Australia v South Africa
Melbourne - 20 Jan

Australia v Sri Lanka
Sydney - 22 Jan

South Africa v Sri Lanka
Adelaide - 24 Jan

Australia v Sri Lanka
Adelaide - 26 Jan

Australia v Sri Lanka
Perth - 29 Jan

South Africa v Sri Lanka
Perth - 31 Jan

Australia v South Africa
Melbourne - 3 Feb

Australia v South Africa
Sydney - 5 Feb

South Africa v Sri Lanka
Hobart - 7 Feb

1st Final
Adelaide - 10 Feb

2nd Final
Sydney - 12 Feb

3rd Final (if req.)
Brisbane - 14 Feb

Definately looking forward to this one   !!!!!!