England board to discuss corruption probe

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will meet on Saturday to discuss an ICC investigation into possible corruption during Friday's one-day international against Pakistan at the Oval. The International Cricket Council said on Saturday it is investigating the match after receiving information from a British newspaper alleging a suspicious scoring pattern in Pakistan's innings. Pakistan won the third game of the five-match series by 23 runs. "The ECB is seeking clarification and details from the ICC and the ECB board will meet later today to discuss the matter," the board said in a statement on Saturday. Earlier ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the investigation followed a report in the Sun newspaper which said bookmakers knew details of Pakistan's innings before the match began. "A source informed The Sun newspaper that a certain scoring pattern would emerge during certain stages of the match and, broadly speaking, that information appeared to be correct," Lorgat said in a statement. "We therefore feel it is incumbent upon us to launch a full enquiry into this particular game although it is worth pointing out at this stage that we are not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred. "The ICC maintains a zero-tolerance approach to corruption. Any player or official found guilty of an offence will face the full rigour of our robust Anti-Corruption Code so that we can ensure the integrity of the sport is maintained." PAKISTAN TRIO SUSPENDED Pakistan test captain Salman Butt and opening bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have returned home after they were provisionally suspended by the ICC following newspaper reports of premeditated no-balls in the fourth test against England at Lord's last month. British police, who are also investigating the spot-fixing allegations, questioned a fourth player, Wahab Riaz, last week. Pakistan Sports Minister Aijaz Jakhrani said the government would not take action unless there was clear evidence against a player. "The ICC has the power and an anti-corruption unit and they should go ahead and use that," Jakhrani told the Indian news channel CNN-IBN. "If they get any proof then we will definitely look into it." He added that if the government had cracked down on corruption in the past the recent scandals would not have happened. "If we had made some harsh decisions in the past it would not have happened. If we had taken some harsh decisions young players would not dare to do something wrong," he added. "This is the time when we have to take some tough decisions. This time we will not spare anybody." Jakhrani said he was also unhappy with the role of team management and felt they were not strict enough. "This is the thing management has to do. Access to players should not be easy and mobile phones should not be available to the players when they are playing.

ICC to sit back until Scotland Yard finishes probe

 NEW DELHI: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt said that no leniency would be given to the players involved in corruption nor such request has been made while ICC president Sharad Pawar said that no compromise would be made on the supremacy of the game and the ICC would take aany action only after the Scotland Yard completes its investigations.

Sharad Pawar held talks at his home in New Delhi with Ijaz Butt on Thursday to discuss allegations that Pakistan players were paid to bowl deliberate no-balls during a match in England last month.

The ICC chief vowed the regulatory body would "maintain the sanctity" of the game amid Pakistan's spot-fixing betting scandal.

"We will never tolerate any nonsense or corruption in the game of cricket. We want to maintain the sanctity of cricket," Pawar, who is also India's agriculture minister, told reporters after the 90-minute talks.

Pakistan players Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt have all written to the ICC saying they will defend themselves over disciplinary action brought against them, their lawyers confirmed this week.

Butt said they would remain suspended until a probe by the Scotland Yard was completed.

"The matter is under investigation. Until that investigation is completed, we cannot comment on it," he said. "The ICC has suspended the players. Unless the suspension is removed, they cannot play."

Replying to a question, Pawar said that the PBC is fully cooperating with the ICC.

Pakistan may lose neutral UK matches

Pakistan's cricket future has grown significantly more clouded after it emerged that English administrators may rule out further neutral matches in Britain. Test skipper Salman Butt and seam bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif returned home on Friday after they were suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following allegations of deliberate no-balls in last month's Test at Lord's as part of a betting scam. The claims have sparked an international furore and vastly overshadowed the subsequent action on the field. All the suspended trio have been interviewed by British police and Pakistan seamer Wahab Riaz, still in the one-day squad, is due to be questioned by detectives next week. While ICC and police investigations continue, the dual effect of negative headlines and poor gate receipts has pushed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) towards blocking the use of their venues for more matches to follow Pakistan's series against Australia earlier this year. This would leave the Pakistani team with nowhere else to play "home" fixtures other than Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where they are scheduled to meet South Africa next year. The ECB had harboured thoughts of hosting matches between Pakistan and India in the British Isles, but those plans, alongside more modest ones to host a one day series between the Pakistanis and Sri Lanka, have now been shelved. "Nobody is thinking about that one any more," an ECB official told London's Sunday Telegraph. Although a number of figures including Australian captain Ricky Ponting have urged the international community to not shun Pakistan for the alleged corruption of four players, it seems inevitable that the country will be treated harshly. Despite the fact, security problems and the disastrous consequences of recent flooding have left Pakistan in more need of support than ever. Gone is much of the goodwill that allowed the scheduling of the Tests against Australia, dubbed the "spirit of cricket series" by an optimistic ICC earlier in the year. Pakistan's torturous tour of England goes on, meanwhile, with Captain Shahid Afridi arguing that there was still time to salvage some respect from the rubble. "We all want to go home with respect," said Afridi, ahead of the second one-day international at Headingley on Sunday. "We want to play some good cricket and get some victories. "Yesterday (Friday) the performance was much better, not 100 per cent, but I was quite happy with the efforts from the boys." But he admitted it was difficult to remain upbeat with such a pall hanging over the squad. "We all know we are playing in a very tough situation, but we are trying to forget everything that is going on. "It's not easy, but everyone is looking to us and we need to keep our image."

Pakistan ready to play 2nd ODI in Headingley

LONDON: Pakistan will play its second ODI match out of a five matches series in Headingley today (Sunday). Both teams have reached Leeds. Pakistan captain, Shahid Afridi, termed the defeat in the first match as sorrowful. He has said that Pakistan lost by 24 runs owing to irresponsible batting. Afridi added that after the spot fixing scam, Pakistan's bowling has been weakened; taking advantage, England succeeded to make a big score.

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.