Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi set to create history at the US Open

KARACHI: The Pakistani nation finally has something to cheer about, as their tennis ace Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi made history at the last Grand Slam of the year by becoming the first man from the country to make it to the finals of a Grand Slam event.

The Lahore born 30-year old has made it to the finals of both the doubles and mixed doubles event, producing a stunning display of tennis along with his partners Rohan Bopanna and Kveta Peschke.

It has been a truly memorable week for Aisam-Ul-Haq and India’s Rohan Bopanna, as they finally made an impact on the tennis world after having easily their best season at the international level, winning some events whilst making it to the quarterfinals at the biggest stage of them all, Wimbledon, where only an injury to the Pakistani quashed their dreams.

However, they have redeemed themselves big time at the Arthur Ashe Stadium and that was visible as they trounced some of the biggest pairs in the game, before disposing off Argentine pair of Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (7-5) and 6-4.



This is the best ever performance for both players individually as well as a pair ever since they started playing together around two years ago.



The incredible aspect about the pair is that they belong to countries that have fought three wars and have a bitter history - to say the least - across the Wagah border.



The duo is a symbol of hope and peace, and if they win, they are set to be wild celebrations across Wagah and for once some more than a billion people will be united in a moment of triumph.



The two have been great buddies of the court and have brushed aside the bitterness that prevails; they have been extremely lucky that their games complement each other, and above all, they have proven to the rest of the world that the two nations can have love and tolerance for each other only if politics are kept aside.



With their golden run, they have proved to the poverty-stricken people of the region that they can touch the sky if they unite and spread across message of love, peace and tranquillity.



The duo was quietly confident before leaving for the United States. Aisam-Ul-Haq had remarked then that he and his partner were up for something very special and they sure have done that.



They were finally rewarded for their consistent performances, winning a berth amongst the seeds for the event; they are currently placed at number 15 in the ATP doubles team rankings.



While India has had many outstanding doubles pairs like Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, Pakistan has struggled to make an impact at either the singles or doubles event.



Aisam-Ul-Haq is easily the best player to represent Pakistan on the ATP circuit and has proven that anything can be achieved with hard work and determination.



He has an impeccable demeanour off and on the court, and is already being hailed as a hero in the country as he continues breaking records at a time when Pakistan’s more esteemed and revered cricketing team lets the nation down with their spate of controversies and abysmal on-field performances.



He hails from a tennis background and he and his sister have the unique record of being one of the few pairs of siblings to have represented their country at the Davis Cup and Federation Cup, the country level competitions for men and women.

Essex police clear Kaneria over betting allegations

KARACHI: Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has been cleared by Essex police of betting during an English county match last season, his lawyer said.

"The police have cleared Danish as they didn't find any concrete evidence to support the allegations," Furqan Anwar told a foreign news agency on Wednesday.



Kaneria, who has played 61 tests and taken 261 wickets, was questioned by police investigating allegations two Essex players placed bets on their Pro-40 match against Durham last September.



The police did not name the players but media reported they were 29-year-old Kaneria and former England Under-19 pace bowler Mervyn Westfield, 22, who was released by Essex last month.



Both players denied the allegations.



Pakistan cricket was hit by a spot-fixing and betting scandal this month when three players -- test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif -- were provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their alleged involvement in the scam.



Scotland Yard and the ICC anti-corruption unit are investigating the case and all three have been questioned at Kilburn police station in London.



Kaneria had been allowed by police to play for Essex this season until Sept. 15 while they conducted their investigations into the betting allegations.



Kaneria said he would not make any comments on the case and was just relieved to be cleared of any charges.

Afridi facing tough task in boosting Pakistan

CARDIFF: Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi admitted he had a job on his hands to raise the morale of his scandal-hit side after they were bowled out for just 89 by England in a thumping Twenty20 loss. Pakistan were dismissed for their lowest Twenty20 score in 40 matches at this level at Sophia Gardens here on Tuesday as England won by six wickets to wrap up a 2-0 series win with a mammoth 36 balls to spare. World Twenty20 champions England, who completed a 3-1 Test series win over Pakistan last month, will now look for fresh success when the teams meet in the first of five one-day internationals at Chester-le-Street, northeast England, on Friday. "We were very bad, inexperienced and immature from my side and from all the batsmen," Afridi told reporters. "I think we played very bad cricket. "It will be a big challenge to compete in the one-dayers, but we have some time," he added. "Me, my coach (Waqar Younis) and the team, we will sit together and talk." Pakistan's tour has been overshadowed by a 'spot-fixing' scandal that has seen Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif all suspended by the International Cricket Council after allegedly conspiring to deliberately bowl no-balls during last month's fourth Test at Lord's. But Afridi said off-field problems could not account for Pakistan's form. "We are coming through a bad situation, but as professionals we should take that from our mind and focus on our cricket. "At this stage I know our morale is very down. It is down day by day, and game by game. But one victory and it will be very high. "I just want one victory. I'm not letting my team down like this, not in the one-dayers," Afridi added. But he conceded the loss of the suspended trio had hit Pakistan hard. "I made some plans as a captain, I knew Salman Butt was my opener and key player, and Asif and Amir. "Everything has changed as a captain for me, but inshallah (God willing) I will bring my team up." Victory, built on seamer Tim Bresnan's man-of-the-match winning return of three wickets for 10 runs in 3.4 overs, saw England to a seventh straight Twenty20 success - equalling the record for consecutve international victories in this format shared by South Africa and Pakistan. "In this form of the game it can be tough to win consecutively," said England Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood. "It just takes one performance from the opposition to take it away from you. "To have that 'World Cup', you can have added pressure on you as well. "But the way we've played over the last two games, the boys are enjoying that added pressure," added Collingwood, who led England to a five-wicket win over Pakistan here on Sunday.

Afridi wants focus back on Pakistan action

CARDIFF: Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi said he hoped his side could now focus on their cricket rather than bat away a slew of 'fixing' allegations after their return to international duty ended in defeat.

World Twenty20 champions England beat Pakistan by five wickets in the first of a two-match Twenty20 series here on Sunday, holding their opponents to just 126 for four.

This was Pakistan's first fixture since Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were suspended by the International Cricket Council after newspaper allegations the trio were involved in a betting scam that saw no-balls deliberately bowled in last week's fourth Test at Lord's.

"We have to play to cricket, we don't take these things with us (on to the field)," Afridi told reporters.

Afridi was encouraged by the way Pakistan, with the leg-spinner himself taking two for 27, sparked an England collapse from 42 for one to 62 for five before an unbroken stand of 67 between Eoin Morgan (38 not out) and man-of-the-match Michael Yardy (35 not out) saw his side defeated.

"The way my boys played I am very happy. I know it's not a perfect total but the way our boys played was good," Afridi explained.

"At one time it looked like we were going to win this game. But the way Morgan and Yardy played, they did very well," said the all-rounder, who last
year led Pakistan to World Twenty20 glory in England.

Afridi, looking ahead to Tuesday's second Twenty20 in Cardiff and the subsequent five one-dayers against England, added: "We are very confident and inshallah (god willing) you will see us play some good cricket."

And he said boosting the confidence of his players would not be a problem for either him or coach Waqar Younis.

"This is my job and the coach's job to lift the morale and keep the guys in high spirits."

But he admitted: "After what has been going on for a week or ten days, it (the situation) has been very difficult."

A smiling Afridi insisted none of his players had bought Sunday's News of the World, saying: "No-one buy, no-one buy".

There had been concerns Pakistan might encounter a hostile reception from spectators but they were well-received by a sporting crowd of just under 11,000 and a delighted Afridi said: "It was good, the people enjoyed the game. We got some good support as well."

England captain Paul Collingwood insisted the controversy raging around Pakistan, stoked by fresh allegations on Sunday, had not distracted his team in any way.

"We were absolutely 100 percent focused on the game."

He added he could understand why some fans might be losing faith in the integrity of cricket.

"Of course I do. We all know we've got to get to the bottom of this and we'll do anything as players, or management, commentators, umpires to eradicate this from the game. It's as simple as that."

Sunday's match was England's first Twenty20 fixture since they beat Australia in the World Twenty20 final in Barbados in May.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said Collingwood.

"It was so nice to get the guys together because it's been a few months since some very fond memories and that success in the Caribbean."

England have dropped Kevin Pietersen from both their limited overs squads even though the admittedly out of form batsman was named man of the tournament at the World Twenty20.

Instead he has returned to county cricket in a bid to regain confidence ahead of England's Ashes defence in Australia later this year and Collingwood said: "I understand the bigger picture in terms of KP going away and getting into some form.

"That's exactly what he's done.

"He's already scored a hundred (for Surrey against Sussex in a 40-over match on Saturday) so we are all delighted for him.

"I think with the big winter we've got coming up, you understand these kind of decisions."