My priority list for PCB
Undoubtedly, the new Pakistan Cricket Board management has been proactive in solving problems. Unexpectedly, it has been our new PCB Chairman who has come to the rescue. Zaka Ashraf seems to be more serious about his priorities than the previous management, but there remain issues that need immediate attention. So here’s my list of what should be top on the priority list: 1. International tours For more than a year, the Pakistani cricket team has not played at any venue outside of the Asian continent. Other than hosting a series in the UAE, we have had no practice on international pitches like Australia, England, South Africa and ...
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Why Ponting was dropped and Tendulkar wasn’t
The month of February saw two greats being met with two different fates. Both Ponting and Tendulkar have not been pulling their weight in the ODIs recently but while one was dropped from the ODI team and his career in the format all but ended, the other got a life line to go to Bangladesh and participate in the Asia Cup. Australia is a country where tough decisions are taken in a stride and selectors are ruthless and unforgiving. As Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor found out before Ponting, reputation counts for little when a team is being picked. If you ...
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Why Younis Khan is king
The Pakistan – England Test series finally witnessed a century, and it came from none other than the most reliable batsmen out there – Younis Khan. I had been waiting for a Younis Khan century throughout the series and last week, he made it happen. Younis’ performance was most satisfying because I had been anticipating it for some time and to top it off, I was at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to witness it. I don’t remember a Test series that Pakistan has played that has not involved a match-winning or match-saving century by Younis. Calls to drop Younis from the Test squad prior ...
Read Full PostWill this be Ponting’s last year?
The vultures are circling and Ponting can hear them clearly. He knows that if he lies down now, they will surely tear his flesh apart. Critics have been calling for his head for some time and he knows he hasn’t been able to shut them up. Potential successors to his spot in the team have been putting up their hands with notable performances and it only seems to be a matter of time before he will be shown the door. Unless, he comes up with a performance that only Ponting is capable of. There used to be a time when ...
Read Full PostPonting, it’s time to hang up your boots mate!
There was a time when bowlers would shudder and captains would hold their heads in their hands as this man would walk in. Ricky ‘Punter’ Ponting was at one time the most feared one-down in the game. After the carnage left by the Australian top order, Ponting would just hurt the bowling side more. He would upper cut or pull with contempt anything short from fast bowlers, dismissing the deliveries with disdain from his presence towards the boundaries. If it was full, he would drive. Even spinners rarely stemmed the run flow. He was a majestic sight to behold, an ...
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