Cricket - Int News
PCB donates in excess of PKR10million in PM’s relief fund
By Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (April 18, 2020):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deposited PKR10,536,500 (approximately one crore and five lakh Pakistani rupees) in Prime Minister’s Covid-19 Pandemic Relief Fund as part of its contribution in the fight against the pandemic.
The PCB had announced on 25 March that the centrally contracted players will make a collective contribution in the emergency relief fund, while the PCB will separately match the contribution of its staff.
PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said: “I want to thank all the centrally contracted players and the PCB staff for their generous contributions in the Prime Minister’s Covid-19 Pandemic Relief Fund. Cricket has once again demonstrated that it values, respects and cares for its fans, followers and supporters, and will continue to do so.
“In these difficult times, we pray for the health and safety of our paramedics and other frontline fighters, and hope the government will succeed in its endeavours in overcoming this pandemic.”
Dr Fehmida Mirza, Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, said: “The PCB has been one of the leading organisations, which has helped and supported the government by spreading public service messages to create awareness about this pandemic.
“They have now gone an extra yard by making this generous donation, which will be used to support our frontline fighters as well as the underprivileged. On behalf of the government, I thank the PCB and hope they will continue to use their brand and reach so that we can collectively achieve our objectives.”
ICC announces allocation of points for ICC Women's Championship
Sports Desk
ISLAMABAD (April 15, 2020):-The ICC Women’s Championship Technical Committee (TC) has decided that teams will share points in all three series in the ICC Women’s Championship that did not take place during the competition window.
India and Pakistan share points after their series could not be played; points also split for the South Africa v Australia and Sri Lanka v New Zealand series cancelled due to COVID-19
With respect to the India v Pakistan series, the TC concluded that the series could not be played because of a Force Majeure event after the BCCI demonstrated that it was unable to obtain the necessary government clearances to allow India to participate in the bilateral series against Pakistan, which forms a part of the ICC Women’s Championship.
Meanwhile, two other ICC Women’s Championship series have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. South Africa were to host Australia and Sri Lanka were to host New Zealand in the last round of matches.
The India-Pakistan series was originally scheduled in the sixth round of the competition, between July and November 2019, but despite the best efforts of both the boards, it was unable to take place.
All eight teams in the 2017-2020 edition of the ICC Women’s Championship play each other in a three-match series. The host of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021, New Zealand, and the next four highest-placed teams on the points table qualify directly for one-day international cricket’s pinnacle event.
Australia (37 points), England (29), South Africa (25) and now India (23) have qualified by virtue of being the top four. Pakistan (19), New Zealand (17), West Indies (13) and Sri Lanka (5) complete the table.
The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier is scheduled to be played from 3-19 July in Sri Lanka, this is subject to review due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 10 teams vying for the three remaining places in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 will be the hosts, Sri Lanka, along with Pakistan and West Indies from the ICC Women’s Championship, the two other teams with ODI status, Bangladesh and Ireland, and the winners of the five regional qualifiers - Thailand (Asia), Zimbabwe (Africa), Papua New Guinea (East Asia Pacific), United States of America (Americas) and Netherlands (Europe).
PCB announces departures of Haroon Rashid and Agha Zahid
Sports Reporter
ISLAMABAD (April 10, 2020):-Chief curator Agha Zahid and Haroon Rashid, Director – Domestic Cricket, will leave the Pakistan Cricket Board when their contracts expire on 30 April and 31 May, respectively.
According to media department of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Haroon was re-employed in April 2017. Prior to his reappointment, Haroon had served the PCB in various roles including chief selector, Pakistan senior and junior national teams’ coach and manager, head of youth game development and acting head of the National Cricket Academy.
Agha Zahid had joined the PCB in 2001 after retiring from first-class cricket in 1992-93.
Haroon Rashid said: “In my latest stint with the PCB, I was particularly pleased with the way we planned, implemented and delivered the new but highly successful and competitive domestic structure within a very short span of time. This was a result of a complete team effort and I thank all my colleagues who got behind the new structure and supported me.
“While I will continue to follow Pakistan cricket and pray for its progression, I will now focus on other priorities in life and try to spend some quality time with my family.”
Agha Zahid said: “I had an excellent time with the PCB in the past 19 years, in which I oversaw the preparation of pitches that produced stars who continued to keep Pakistan at the top of the cricket pedestal. Obviously, the role had its own challenges and sometimes my team and I were at the wrong end of the stick. But overall, I had a highly satisfying time.
“I want to thank all my staff and colleagues and wish Pakistan cricket continues to move in an upward direction.”
PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: “On behalf of the PCB, I want to sincerely thank Haroon Rashid and Agha Zahid for their hard work and services over a vast number of years.
“With Mudassar Nazar having already announced his departure in May, the PCB will now use this opportunity to restructure the NCA and domestic cricket to create a different and streamlined High Performance structure that serves the game and it’s cricketers in a more seamless way. Amongst many areas, the new system will focus on coach education and the assessment and re-training of our current elite coaches; in addition, the improved streamlined system will enable us to further bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.”
The highly-rated Ali Raza Siddiqui, who has been Agha Zahid’s deputy for the last two years, will take over the role in the interim period, while the restructuring process of the two departments will commence from next week.
PCB refers Umar Akmal matter to Disciplinary Panel Chairman
Sports Reporter
ISLAMABAD (April 9, 2020):-After determining that Umar Akmal has not requested for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has referred the matter to the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel, Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan, former Lahore High Court Judge.
The PCB made the determination after examining the contents of Umar Akmal’s reply in which no written request for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal had been made for the purposes of contesting liability or level of sanction or both as per Article 4.6.6 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code.
In accordance with the Article 4.8.1 of the Code, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel shall now issue a public decision confirming the offences under the Code specified in the Notice of Charge and imposing applicable sanctions.
Until the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel will not announce his decision, the PCB will not comment on the matter.
· Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code reads as: “Failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code”.
· Article 4.8.1 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code reads as: “In such circumstances, a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal shall not be required. Instead, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel (sitting alone) shall issue a public decision confirming the offence(s) under this Anti-Corruption Code specified in the Notice of Charge and the imposition of an applicable sanction within the range specified in the Notice of Charge. Before issuing that public decision, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel will provide written notice of that decision to the National Cricket Federation to which the Participant is affiliated, the PCB Vigilance and Security Department and the ICC.”
· According to Article 6.2, the range of permissible period of ineligibility for those charged and found guilty under Article 2.4.4 is a minimum of six (6) months and a maximum of a lifetime.
· Umar Akmal was issued a Notice of Charge by PCB under the PCB Anti Corruption Code (the “Code”) on Tuesday, 17 March, and he had responded within the stipulated deadline.
· Umar Akmal was provisionally suspended on 20 February 2020.
Dinesh Chandimal's "new hair-stylist" makes him bald
By BIPIN DANI
Cricket and tresses seem to have a special connection, for hair makes news every time it belongs to someone be it in Team India or Sri Lankan cricket.
Due to the current lock-down owing to the Corona Virus, former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has not had his regular appointment with his renowned hairstylist, Samantha K. Pathirana (whose clients include prominent Sri Lanka and foreign cricketers). So wife Isika turned hairstylist!
Speaking exclusveily over her mobile from Colombo on Wednesday morning, she said, "yes, I made him "almost" bald. He decided to remove his long hair and beard for two reasons. He is an army man and there he is not allowed to keep long hair".
"Secondly, you can say it is a way of appreciating the humble work being done by the army, police, doctors and para-medical staff and also cleaners. They are doing round the clock excellent work in the country during this difficult lock down period".
Isika knew that Team India captain Virat Kohli also had his hair cut by his wife Anushka. "Yes, I saw that in the news but I did it for Dinesh a week before that".
Australia's star opening batsman David Warner too shaved head bald to show support for Covid-19 fighters. He, however, was not helped by his wife Candice but did it by his own with a charged- machine.
Warner has even suggested others to follow suit, including India captain Virat Kohli, and Australia team-mates Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Joe Burns, Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis, TV personality Piers Morgan, and golfer Travis Smyth.
PCB not to issue NOCs for Ramadan cricket
By Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (April 4, 2020):-The Pakistan Cricket Board today said due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, it will not issue NOCs for any cricket during the holy month of Ramadan.
The PCB in a statement said: “We have been approached by some organisers, seeking clarification on the PCB’s NOC policy for Ramadan cricket. At this time it is appropriate we follow our overarching policy which states that organised cricket in Pakistan will remain suspended until normalcy returns to society. In this background, the PCB will not issue any NOCs for Ramadan cricket.
“These are unprecedented, tough and challenging times for the world as all economic and sporting activities have come to a standstill with sole focus being on health and safety of the people. The PCB strongly urges organisers and cricketers to religiously follow all precautionary measures, including remaining indoors, maintaining social distancing and avoiding gatherings.
“The PCB takes the welfare and wellbeing of its staff and cricketers very seriously. It has around 220 professional cricketers on its payroll apart from its staffers. The PCB will ensure that full player salaries continue to be honoured until at least the end of the 2019-2020 financial year. Furthermore, we have put in place systems to ensure that monthly salaries are paid on time and without delay.
“The PCB is monitoring the situation in the country closely as it evolves and will amend its policy when appropriate.”
ICC Women T20 World Cup delivers record-breaking fan engagement numbers
Sports Desk
ISLAMABAD (April 2, 2020):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) today revealed record digital and broadcast viewing figures for the ICC Women’sT20 World Cup 2020, which has become one of the most watched women’s sporting events in history as the sport continues to set new benchmarks on and off the field.
ICC’s digital channels were in overdrive during the 21 February to 8 March event in Australia, with an astonishing 1.1 billion total video views, making it the most watched ICC women’s event ever and the second most successful ICC event after the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.
The figure was more than 20 times the video views delivered in the previous edition played in the West Indies in 2018 and 10 times the previous most successful women’s cricket event, which was the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2017.
The record-breaking trend continued via broadcast with the final of the event achieving record viewership in both India and Australia, after their teams played in front of 86,174 fans at Melbourne Cricket Ground on International Women’s Day.
As India made the final of the event for the first time, fans watched 1.78 billion viewing minutes of live match action on TV of that game alone. The figure is 59 times more than the final of the previous edition in 2018 between Australia and England, and comprised 35 per cent of the overall viewership for the tournament.
The live average audience for the final in India was 9.02 million, higher than all matches of the 2018 tournament played in the West Indies. This figure is 154 per cent higher than the second most viewed match in the competition – the tournament opener between Australia and India on 21 February. The overall viewing minutes across the whole event in India was 5.4 billion, almost three times more than the 2018 edition.
The digital streaming figures too were impressive in India, peaking at 3.1 million for concurrent users of Hotstar during the final.
In Australia, the average audience for the final was 1.2 million, making it the most watched women’s cricket match and the sixth-most watched cricket match ever on subscription television in Australian broadcast history.
ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney: “These quite outstanding broadcast and digital numbers demonstrate the power of women’s cricket to aggregate a huge global audience and engage fans. This undoubtedly consolidates our position as one of the leading women’s sports in the world and we want to build on the momentum from this event and create a long-term sustainable foundation for the game.
“It reinforces our belief that there is a significant opportunity around the women’s game and collectively we must promote it further so more fans can watch it, more kids are inspired by it and sponsors and broadcasters want to be a part of it.
“We have built on the record-breaking success of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 and continued our focus on deepening engagement with existing fans and bringing new fans to the game with relevant, engaging content that goes beyond match highlights. Cricket fans want competitive cricket with context and the world’s best players did not disappoint in Australia earlier this year.”
ICC expresses sadness at death of DLS method founder Tony Lewis
Sports Desk
ISLAMABAD (April 2, 2020):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed its sadness at the death of mathematician Tony Lewis, who co-developed the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system of calculating target scores in rain-affected limited-overs matches.
Lewis, who passed away at the age of 78, had developed the original Duckworth-Lewis method jointly with Frank Duckworth, which was adopted by the ICC in 1999. After the retirements of Duckworth and Lewis, Steven Stern became the custodian of the method and his name was added to the system in 2014.
Frank Duckworth (left) and Tony Lewis co-developed the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system of calculating target scores in rain-affected matches
Frank Duckworth (left) and Tony Lewis co-developed the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system of calculating target scores in rain-affected matches
Geoff Allardice, ICC General Manager – Cricket: "Tony’s contribution to cricket is huge. The present day system of resetting targets in international cricket is based on the one developed by him and Frank more than two decades ago.
"His contribution to the game of cricket will be remembered for years to come and we send our condolences to his family and friends."
Lewis, a graduate in mathematics and statistics from Sheffield University, retired as a lecturer of Quantitative Research Methods from Oxford Brookes University. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2010.
ICC clears Devon Conway to play for New Zealand
BIPIN DANI
South Africa's loss while New Zealand's gain. That's how Glenn Pocknall, the Firebird team coach described.
The 28-year-old SA-born wicket-keeper batsman has been cleared by the ICC to play for New Zealand.
"He came to NZ for a new start and cricket wasn’t necessarily the main motivation. It was having a quality life. No family here just moved here with his partner", the coach Glenn Pocknall, speaking exclusively over telephone from Wellington, said.
Interestingly, Conway had a "miserable" First Class debut. In 2009, playing for Gauteng, he was out for a duck (against Easterns).
"Yeah, it came long way from that", the coach said.
"We receive 100s of players saying they coming every season and the first point we look at is there domestic record, if they even have one....When we heard Devon was coming and looked at his statistics from SA we thought someone was having us on.... His record was outstanding and had just come off a double Ton in one of his last innings".
"He didn’t walk into our team and it wasn’t till our keeper (Tom Blundell) got injured that he got a chance. You could see straight away he was a very good player. The pitches in NZ slightly different to those of SA so he received some great mentoring and coaching from Luke Woodcock (current Wellington Firebirds batting coach and formerly played with Devon here) about some subtle changes he needed to make".
"In a short space of time and some hard work he turned himself into an even better player and dominated First Class cricket for the last two seasons. His 327 * this season was against two BLACKCAP Test bowlers in Matt Henry and Todd Astle".
"He’s a very good badminton player too however have to curb his enthusiasm for that to save his arms and shoulders for batting out in the middle", the coach further added.
Air Chief condoles on demise of Azam Khan
Sports Reporter
ISLAMABAD (March 31, 2020):-Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force has expressed his heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of legendary squash player Azam Khan who breathed his last in UK on Saturday.
The Air Chief, who is also President Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), showered praise upon one of the greatest squash players of all times, who died at the age of 95 year. Describing the legend as an inspiration for the young squash players in the country, the Air Chief said that Azam Khan proved that hard work and focused approach would ensure success in fulfilling the desired objectives in one's life.
He further said that Azam Khan carried along the legacy of his elder brother Hashim Khan by winning four consecutive British Open crowns from 1959 to 1962. He added that his name has acted as a motivating force for the younger generations of Pakistan squash players to achieve greater heights.
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