Eight teams will play in Asia cup 2008

According to this cricinfo report, as many as eight teams will participate in the Asia cup 2008. India, Pakistna, Srilanka and Bangladesh are the obvious four. I am interested to see who are the other four. The game is spreading really fast.

Afridi thinks Pakistan does not need a coach

"Who is the most entertaining hitter in the world?" Ask that question and half the cricket cricket fans would say "Shahid Afridi". A lad who knows only one way of batting: if you can see the ball, hit it hard...as hard as you can. It simply does not matter what is the need of the hour, Afridi knows no other way of playing. He had deliberately chosen to sacrifice his average for strike rate. And since his success depends on luck to a large extent, the frequency of his success has been low as well.

In an interview he has said that he is not going to change his style.

. Every Tom, Dick and Harry tells me to play responsibly. This is my way of playing cricket. Since childhood I had a fancy of hitting sixes and fours and nothing else. I know fans also expect the same from me.This is my way of playing cricket. Since childhood I had a fancy of hitting sixes and fours and nothing else. I know fans also expect the same from me.

I think he fails to see that every Tom, Dick and Harry knows what he needs to do. Has he ever thought why every single person gives him the same advice?

Anyways, I think we all know that he is not going to change. However the following is his opinion about the requirement of a coach for the Pakistani team:

“We don’t need a coach at all. Look at the coaches of Australia and South Africa, they may have played first class cricket only but look at the performance of their teams.

“At international level, you need to perform and win matches. There is no time to tinker with the techniques of the players.

“Senior teams only need fielding coaches who can arrange different drills for the boys. Mohtasim Rasheed, a younger brother of ex-Test cricketer Haroon Rasheed can be good fielding coach for Pakistan. “Coaches should be deployed in academies where youngsters can be groomed properly.

“After 25 or 30 years there is no time to learn ABC of cricket. It is time to perform.”

I am not surprised that he doesn't want a coach....a coach will ask him to play responsibly.

For the complete interview, click here.

Drugs and cricketers

The Maninder Singh incident was shocking. We have known some films stars to be drug addicts but its the first time that an Indian cricketer has been arrested for possessing drugs. He had 1.5 grams of cocaine and he admitted to be in the habit of consuming drugs consistently. He has been granted bail and will spend some tough time now defending himself.

Cricketers and ex-cricketers across the world have had a history with drugs. Some of them did it during or before games as well.

Shane Warne couldn't pass the drugs test in 2003 world cup.

Phill Tuffnel was accused of cosuming drugs in 1996-97, denied the charges- got away but didn't turn up for a random drug test and was suspended for 18 months with a fine of 1000 pounds.

Ian Botham was banned for 63 days for consuming drugs.

New zealand's Stephen Fleming, Dion Nash and Matthwe Hart were banned and fined for consuming cananabis in 93-94.


South Africa's Roger Telemachus, Andre Nel, Paul Adams, Justin Kemp and physiotherapist Craig Smith admitted to consuming drugs in a party celebrating a win and were punished.

Pakistan's Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Aqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed were arrested by West Indian police in 1993 for possesing marijuana. They were arrested along with two British female journalists. The PCB strongly protested and as the matters reached Diplomatic levels, the Prime Minister intervened and got the four out of the crisis.

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif failed to pass an internal drug test just prior to the last Champions Trophy. They were immediately withdrawn from the tournament. A panel of judges banned the cricketers but then PCB formed another Panel which over ruled the decision and set the players free.

The above list does not include all the names. Now, an Indian's name is also included in that. I hope we will get to see fewer such cases....specifically with current cricketers. Those who are caught should be punished to set an appropriate example.

References:
Cricinfo
Hindustan Times
DNA India

Mahesh Bhatt wants to make a movie on Bob Woolmer

Mahesh Bhatt, the Indian film producer is known for controversies. He is always on the look out for controversial subjects to make his movies on. This time his eyes are set on the recent controversial death of Pakistani coach Bob Woolmer.

“It’s about how a common man moves from harmless betting to serious match-fixing, only to meet his heart’s desires. It’s a lesser known fact that betting and match fixing are very rampant in poor countries. We will start shooting for the film in mid-July."- Mahesh Bhatt

No points for guessing who is the hero of the movie. Its Imran Hashmi, who is playing a bookie. Bhatt is just looking at the possible match fixing angle. The film will be directed by Kunal Deshmukh, who has been an assistant to Mohit Suri so far. The film will be shot in India and England.

Read the Story on The Time of India.

Magic pictures

Rain spoiled the game...

You played really well dada



Celebrations for Bangladesh

Bravo Pakistan

Its good to see Pakistan get back to winning ways straight away. Its wasn't a joke for them to beat the world cup finalists at this time. They not only won the first match, but also are doing a fine job at the moment in the second one. The team is spirited, has nothing to lose and have a point to prove.

They are scoring at a rate of over 6.3 at the moment with 20 more overs to spare and seven wickets in hand. isn't that a cool position to be in? Also good to see Salman Butt score some runs at the top. Opening has been Pakistan's biggest problem and once openers start doing well, they will find winning relatively easier to come.

Sunday game washed off

I have been busy with work for the entire last week. Waited desperately for Sunday to come so that I can catch the India-Bangladesh match on tv and make some entries in this blog. But Alas! the days game has been called off and the match seems to be heading towards a draw.

I want to see India blast some very quick runs in the first session and then get Bangladesh out twice. But then who knows.....we might not have any cricket tomorrow either.

A Bangladeshi friend tells me that the time and the venue are bad. Monsoon is due in Bangladesh and the venue is one where monsoon hits first. If thats true, its the mistake of the organizers. Whats the point in organizing matches when you know that the chances of rain are high?

I am happy to see Sachin and Ganguly get their centuries. Specifically Sachin. Its his opportunity to play freely without pressure and get back to form. I hope to see him hit a few more of those tons in the matches to come against tougher opponents.

If I was younger, I'd propose to Mandira- Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu has made yet another interesting comment. In an interview with the Times of India, Sidhu said "Mandira is a beautiful person from within. If I were 20 years younger, I'd have gone down on my knees and proposed to her." He said it when asked about his opinion on Madira's recent saree controversy.

Story on the Times of India.

Is it another one of those funny Siddhuisms?

Related stories:
Mandira Bedi's Saree

Imran Farhat punished

This was coming for sure. A few days ago, when the PCB selectors overlooked Farhat while deciding the team for the upcoming series against Srilanka, his father-in-law stormed into the selectors and thrteatened them. You can follow the story here. Farhat also expressed his annoyance over the matter. Then he susequently apologiged.

Now, Farhat has been punished for that. He has been kept on probation for six months in which his conduct will be watched and he will be fined half of his next match fee. His aplogy made the PCB take a softer approach.

Story on BBC

Related stories:

Imran Farhat's father-in-law in war with PCB selectors?

Cricket joke

The Devils challenged the Angels to a game of cricket.

"But we've got all the cricketers," said the Angels.

"Yes. But we've got all the umpires!" exclaimed The Devils.

The most strange umpiring decision I have ever seen

I received this youtube link on mail and was shocked to see what happens there. I replayed it again and again to find out whats the matter but am still clueless. Can someone explain whats happening here?

Imran Farhat's father-in-law in war with PCB selectors?

Well, this one is quite a shocking news from "The Daily Times" from Pakistan. Imran Farhat's father-in-law Mr. Mohammad Ilyas is a former Pakistani test player. He perhaps didn't like it much when the selectors over looked his son-in-law for the latest team. Selector Shafqat Rana said that

Ilyas, father-in-law of Imran, entered the room of selectors and said: “thank you very much for not selecting Imran. Now the war is on.”

This is very interesting. I had never heard anything like this before. I wonder how much he helped Farhat's future prospects.

Gilchrist cleared

Does the tiger need any accessories to kill the lesser animals in the jungle? Certainly not. The roar kills half of them and those who have the heart to survive the roar are torn apart by his claws.

Gilchrist did tear the Srilankan bowlers apart on the world cup final. Bad losers on the south Asian island cried foul over a squash ball inside his gloves. How instrumental was that in his performance? Well....the kind of form he was in, he probably could have scored all those runs with just one hand. But a complaint is a complaint and must be addressed. The law makers opine that Gilly did nothing unethical by inserting that squash ball in his gloves.

Read the story here.

Dhoni getting hugs

While Dravid and Sachin are getting injured with bouncers, Dhoni's life seems to be going cool after the world cup. A highly enthusiastic woman fan of the Dhoni breached security and reached out to give him hugs. The security personnel rushed in quickly but then realized that Dhoni knew the woman. No actions against her.

Tough time for Dravid

Nothing is going right for Dravid. A humiliating loss at world cup and now a bleeding nose. Apparantly the Indian bowlers are very excited now. Sreesanth injured Sachin with a bouncer a day ago and now RP Singh has smashed the nose of his captain with one. I hope our bowlers produce such deliveries in some of the matches in the coming series.

Sexiest cricketer

Sri Lanka might have lost the world cup in the carrebian, but they gone back home with some unique distinction. Accordong to a poll conducted by a Barbados magazine, Latish Malinga has been chosen as the world's sexiest cricketer. "With his eye-catching, blond-streaked curly hairdo, eyebrow ring and tattooed biceps, the unique 23-year-old strikes 'Easy' as the type who would be up for anything, and anywhere," the Easy Magazine of the Sunday Sun newspaper was quoted by news agency PTI as saying about Malinga.

Close in competition were Daniel Vittori, Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle, Shaun Tait, Shane Bond and Andrew Flintoff

Alas! No Indian on that list!

Here is the story on IBN LIVE.

No confidence motion for Speed?

If you are one of those who think that the world cup wasnt spicy enough, here is more spice for you. The fight between BBCI and ICC has been quite an interesting story. Its now threatening to become a formal war. No points for guessing that Speed hasnt been a hero for BCCI.Both's financial interests keep conflicting and they keep fighting all the time.

Now, Niranjan Shah, the Indian board secretary has hinted that BCCI might bring a no confidece motion against Speed in the next available opportunity. Shah thinks that things are getting more and more bureaucratic and that Speed has employed too many people thereby wasting money. He thinks that the game of cricket is being ignored.

Cricket Joke

Mrs Jones : I'd like my son to be excused playing cricket. I don't think he should mix with that sort of person.

Teacher: How d'you mean?

Mrs Jones: Well; I distinctly heard him say that the man in the white coat was a vampire!

Dick Motz is dead

Former NewZealand fast bowler Dick Motz is dead. He was the first New Zealander to take more than 100 test wickets. Dick Motz, at 67, was found dead at his home in Christchurch.

Repors on cricinfo, rediff, DNA India

Mandira Bedi's Saree

Indian cricket hardly stays out of controversy. The latest one involves Mandira Bedi. On the final, in the pre-match discussion show, co-anchor Mandira Bedi wore a Saree that sported national flags of all 16 participating nations and the Indian flag, which was the largest one, was placed below her knee- close to her feet.

Indian people didn’t like it and where the web was immediately flooded with objections (thanks to web2.0 interactivity), Sony Max, the channel also started getting calls. In the lunch time, when the show resumed, Mandira had changed her Saree and immediately apologized to the audience. She said that she didn’t mean to hurt anyone.

Indian law does not allow anyone to display the national flag of India on one’s clothes. This is a serious offence and where I can understand that Mandira wasn’t aware of the law, I am surprised that Puneet Nanda, the designer of the Saree wasn’t aware of the law either. And also I am surprised that Sony’s legal department allowed that to happen.

Mandira’s apology didn’t really calm people down. Two complaints have been registered against her and a court in Kozhikode will hear the case on 10th of may. Mandira and the designer of the Saree face upto three years of imprisonment for showing disrespect to the national flag. But I think they will get much milder punishments as the disrespect was not intentional.

Mandira Bedi has been quite a controversial character ever since Sony appointed her as a co-anchor for the match discussion shows. Her knowledge of cricket was as good as nothing and her comments many times put off the audience. Now that she has built some knowledge of the game over a long period of time, she still continues to be in controversy for something or other. Lets see where this onegoes.