Lack of international cricket and missing IPL hurt us: Hafeez

Pakistan’s newly appointed T20 skipper, Mohammad Hafeez is disappointed that Pakistani players are not allowed to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), while cricketers from all across the world are enhancing their abilities in the competitive tournament.

The Green Shirts are considered to be one of the best teams of the world in the shortest format of the game as it is the only side to have qualified for the semi-finals of all the three ICC World T20s, including two finals and one title triumph.

Since the ‘Mumbai Attacks’ in 2008, Pakistan and India have shared strained relations and consequently no Pakistani player has taken part in the cash-rich leagueThe Pakistani team is currently having an off-season, not having played any cricket since the Asia Cup 2012 in Bangladesh, which was played in March. The ‘Men in Green’ are scheduled to play a series in Sri Lanka next month and Hafeez feels that it is a massive disadvantage for the players to not to be playing in IPL.

The all-rounder believes that IPL is a great platform for a player to improve his skills as every match is played under immense pressure.

"For about two months we have not been playing international matches, not even Twenty20. If you compare the whole world with us, everyone is there [at the IPL] getting practice in intense scenarios and enhancing their skills, but our players are missing out on that opportunity,” said Hafeez.

Hafeez feels that the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka is not going to be an easy one for his team as the Islanders are never easy to beat on their own backyard. However, the right-handed batsman is positive that his team will not let him down as the boys are working extremely hard in the camp, which is organized in Lahore to prepare for the Sri Lanka series.

He added, "Playing in Sri Lanka at home is always tough. We are wary about the conditions there, but we are optimistic about the result. The whole team is focussed, practice sessions are going well and we are trying to get ourselves into shape for international cricket."

Lack of international cricket has hampered the preparations of Pakistani players, who are due to tour Sri Lanka in June later this year. after its inaugural season

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Personal information
Full name	Mohammad Aamir
Born	13 April 1992 (age 20) Gujjar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan
Batting style	Left Hand
Bowling style	Left arm Fast
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	Pakistan
Test debut (cap 194)	4 July 2009 v Sri Lanka
Last Test	18 August 2010 v England
ODI debut (cap 173)	30 July 2009 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI	24 January 2010 v Australia
ODI shirt no.	90
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2008/09	Federal Areas
2008/09–2009/10	National Bank of Pakistan
2007/08–2009/10	Rawalpindi Rams
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	14	15	28	30
Runs scored	278	167	508	204
Batting average	12.63	20.87	14.11	22.66
100s/50s	0/0	0/1	0/0	0/1
Top score	30*	73*	44*	73*
Balls bowled	2,867	789	4991	1633
Wickets	51	25	120	50
Bowling average	29.09	24.00	21.48	23.76
5 wickets in innings	3	0	7	0
10 wickets in match	0	0	1	n/a
Best bowling	6/84	4/28	7/61	4/28
Catches/stumpings	0/–	6/–	5/0	10/0

Twenty20 International career

[edit]2009 ICC World Twenty20

Amir made his international debut against England in the group stages of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20. He took the wicket of Ravi Bopara with only his second ball, with Shoaib Malik taking a fine catch, and conceded only one run in his debut international over.

Amir continued to impress as the tournament continued, taking a wicket in his opening spell in 6 of the 7 games he played, including the final. He was particularly effective at using the short ball, with his skiddy bouncers rushing onto the batsmen, often causing them to miss-hit the ball for a catch. Amir consistently clocked speeds of above 136.7 kilometres per hour (85 miles per hour)^[7] and bowled his quickest delivery in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka, at 152 kilometres per hour (94.4 miles per hour). His most important moment arguably came in the opening over of the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup final against Sri Lanka.^[8] He bowled with speed and with consecutive short deliveries to the tournament's top scorer Tillakaratne Dilshan obtained his wicket on the fifth delivery and managed to end the over with a wicket maiden.

[edit]2010 ICC World Twenty20

In the initial stages of the 2010 World Cup Amir took three wickets in a five wicket-maiden over in a Twenty20 International match against Australia.^[9] The other two men were run out in the same over. This set a world record of three wickets for a bowler in Twenty20 and 5 wickets for a team in one over.

[edit]Pakistan Cricket Board contract

Amir was ignored by Pakistan Cricket Board when they awarded cricket contracts to Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Yousuf, even after his exceptional performance in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.^[10] Later on the Pakistan Cricket Board awarded Amir a 'C' category contract.^[11]

[edit]One Day International career

Amir made his One Day International match debut against Sri Lanka taking 3 wickets at an economy rate of 4.50 and also scoring 23 runs. -On 9 November 2009 he scored 73 runs against New Zealand which is a record for a number 10 batsman. With his batting partnerSaeed Ajmal, Amir added 103 runs to Pakistan's chase, only to fall short by 7 runs.^[12]

He impressed the Pakistan cricket team, including Wasim Akram, who took credit for discovering Amir, although Akram later commented that Amir needed to gain more weight to aid his development.^[13]

Later in 2009, Pakistan toured Sri Lanka and in the first One Day International match, he shared a 62 run partnership with fast bowlerUmar Gul for the tenth wicket but Pakistan lost by 36 runs. He also played a game against New Zealand in 2009–2010. During a match in the third One Day International match, when Pakistan were reduced to 8 wickets for 86 runs, he scored 73 runs not out, making the highest score by a number 10 batsman in One Day International cricket and putting on a 103 runs, 10th wicket partnership with Saeed Ajmal. He was unable to get his side to their victory target of 212 runs, as Ajmal was declare out in the last over and Pakistan lost by just 7 runs.^[14]

[edit]Test career

After his successful 2009 T20 World Cup tournament, Amir was selected in the test squad for Pakistan for the series in Sri Lanka.^[15]He was chosen alongside fast bowler Umar Gul and Abdur Rauf, ahead of more notable and experienced names such as Sohail Tanvir. He started his Test career well, taking six wickets in the match, which included the wicket of Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara in both innings, as well as the Sri Lankan batsman, Mahela Jayawardene's wicket in the 2nd innings. However he did not get any wickets in his next two Test matches. His next test wickets came in New Zealand where he managed to take four wickets in the first Test match, during a losing game. He won his first Test match with the Pakistan team during his 5th Test match, as Pakistan won comprehensively by 141 runs, he managed to take three wickets in the match including the wicket of Ross Taylor, who scored 97 runs in the second innings. He shone brightly with the bat as well and showed a solid technique for a lower order batsman.

During the Test match series against Australia in 2010, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, he took his first five wicket haul, taking the wickets of Australian batsmen Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke. On 24 July 2010 he was influential in helping Pakistan win the 2nd Test match against Australia; the first Test match Pakistan had won against them in 15 years, which also drew the series 1–1. During this match he took 7 wickets overall, and was declared man of the match. Overall, in the second series, he was the leading wicket taker of both teams with his 11 scalps.

In the summer of 2010, Amir was awarded the man of the match award for becoming the youngest player to ever take a five-wicket haul in England. He also became the youngest player to take 50 test wickets earning praise from several former international cricketers. In that eventful series against England, he took 19 wickets, the highest of the Pakistanis and third highest overall at an outstanding average of 18.3. He also took 2 five-wicket hauls.

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ABOUT AUSTRALIAN CRICKKET

http://www.google.com.pk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CHUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Flivescores.cricket.com.au%2F&ei=pKiyT7_NLuqF4gS84Ij2Cg&usg=AFQjCNFzad1V2a9_V492PIGljDLdt8xCKg&sig2=uuFKQa_OxWjMMMqlYcAA7A

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Shoaib Akhtar Biography
Shoaib Akhtar Biography receives strong comments from Wasim Akram, Shahrukh, BCCI, PCB, Shoaib Malik, Tauqeer Zia and several others. Wasim Akram has termed it as a cheap publicity move by Shoaib Akhtar. He further said that Shoaib was a “problem” when he was an active player and remains just that even in retirement. Wasim Akram rubbished  Akhtar’s claims of making Sachin Tendulkar uncomfortable with his pace in the Faisalabad Test in 2006 as has been claimed by Akhtar in his book titled ‘Controversially Yours’.

“I remember Sachin’s one innings when he was 16 and touring Pakistan. Sialkot Test was Sachin’s 4th Test. He made his debut in that series. There was a lot of grass on the pitch. Waqar and I bowled very fast. Waqar, I think, was 19 and Sachin was 16. Waqar hit him (Sachin) on the helmet just below the chin and he got hurt. But he put a plaster and he came back to score a 50. If a 16-year-old kid wasn’t scared, I don’t think any of the top batsmen in the world is scared of any bowler,” Akram said.

“Maybe he might play on the back foot to block the delivery or maybe he might just see it off. But I don’t think a player like Sachin can get scared of any bowler. He (Shoaib) can write anything to sell a book, but it does not affect me or Sachin,” he said. Cricblogger totally agrees with Wasim on this one. Even though we have critically analysed Tendulkar’s performances and have written about his centuries and of him not being the best of match finishers, we stand with Wasim on this one. Tendulkar is a great batsman and no top batsmen can be scared by any bowler, Ganguly included (pun intended). Cricblogger has also praised Tendulkar’s world records in another article.

On Akhtar’s allegations that Akram was responsible for destroying his career, he said no one but the Shoaib himself was responsible for destroying his career. ”He himself is responsible for destroying his career. Nobody helped him (in destroying his career).” said the King of Swing.

“There is no point in me talking about his book. I still haven’t read his book. But his idea is good. If the books get sold then good luck to him,” Akram said adding that, “You people (media) will ensure his book is a bestseller.”

Shahrukh Khan, the bollywood super star responded to the allegations made by Akhtar in a similar fashion. He said that there is just as much truth in Akhtar’s claim that we (Shahrukh and company) are cheaters as there is in the fact that Sachin fears his (Akhtar’s) bowling.

Rajiv Shukla, a senior BCCI  official demanded an apology from Shoaib Akhtar for making such remarks against Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Akhtar had remarked that Sachin and Dravid lacked ability to finish off games early in their respective careers. It seems unnecessary for the BCCI to jump into the swamp, just ignore Shoaib he is just trying to sell his book.

The former PCB chairman, Tauqeer Zia  has also rubbished Akhtar’s claim that Zia had helped Akhtar when Wasim Akram tried to destroy his career and threatened to walk off with have the team if Akhtar was selected. Zia said that no such thing happened. Shoaib Malik responded to the allegations by Akhtar that Malik was incompetent to be captain and said  that Akhtar’s allegations were a joke.

Meanwhile, there have been some protests in India against the paceman and the opening function of the launch of the book has been cancelled without giving any reason. Shoaib has another public appearance on Monday. Lets see how it goes but one thing is for sure, there are lots of people out there looking to read his book.

Even my blog has seen an unusual rush of visitors on this particular story and the search engines are all flooded with queries about his book and who said what in response. He seems to have achieved his goal, it might just turn out to be a best seller. His slower ball usually works in the midst of bouncers and yorkers. Lets see what he does next.

Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar

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All time great cricketer (gilly)

Adam Gilchrist replaced an injured Ian Healy as wicketkeeper in the Australian team and played his first One Day International (ODI) in the year 1996 against South Africa in Faridabad, India. In that match, he took his first catch in international cricket when he dismissed Hansie Cronje for a duck. Gilly's position became firm in the home cricket squad because the Australian selectors decided to keep different teams for One-day and Test cricket. In the year 1998, during the New Zealand tour, he achieved his highest average of 50 by any Australian batsman.

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