Pakistan bounce back

Pakistan look to have got over their recent setbacks (Ovalgate, drugs, captaincy) with a straightforward win over the West Indies in Lahore. A huge 192 from Mohammad Yousuf pretty much won the game for them. Good to see that they aren’t letting problems bother them on the field as they often did in the past.

All hell breaks loose

What up to then was a series without controversy between two teams whos encounters have thrown up more than their fare share of incidents in the past was ruined yesterday.

Daryl Hair accused the Pakistanis of ball tampering, which led to the players refusing to come back out after tea, and the match being awarded to England by forfeit.

None of Sky’s cameras have picked up any ball tampering, and they have at least two dozen of them. Did Pakistan tamper with the ball? I doubt it, no one is that stupid these days. But one assumes that Hair isn’t so stupid as to accuse someone without actually seeing something. But Hair isn’t saying anything.

If Hair hasn’t seen anything, then the Pakistani team were well within their rights to protest. They may have done it for too long, but they were within their rights. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this. Statements need to come from all parties, including the umpires.

Anyway, for a little fun, you can enjoy more details of Hair and Doctrove incompetence at Cricinfo, here.

England wrap up series

England have beaten Pakistan at Headingly, thus taking an unasailable 2-0 lead in the series. It is England’s first home series win against Pakistan for 24 years.

Batting first, England made a huge total of 515, with Pietersen scoring 135 after a contraversial not out decision early on in his innings, and Ian Bell again in the runs with 119. Umar Gul bowled well to take 5/123. The total was overhauled by Pakistan, who scored 538. England looked like dismissing Pakistan for a low score at 36/2, but Younis Khan (173) and Mohammad Yousuf (192) put on a partnership of 363 to steady things somewhat for them. Pakistan couldn’t capitialise on that fine partnership though, and extras were the next highest scorer.

ICC announce hosts for World Cups and more

The ICC have announced hosts for a whole range of events going up to the 2019 World Cup, to be held in England (probably in Wales, Scotland and Ireland too).

The 2011 World Cup has gone to Asia, with the 2015 event being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The 2009 ICC Trophy will be played in the UAE, and the 2013 event in Scotland. The Netherlands also get a look in, and will host the 2010 World Cricket League Division One tournament.

Surprisingly, the ICC have decided to move the Under 19 World Cup to the associate countries. Malaysia will host the 2008 event, followed by Kenya in 2010, Canada in 2012, and the UAE in 2014.

I was quite surprised by this, as I thought the Twenty20 tournaments would have more of a chance of going to associate countries. Whatever your opinion of Twenty20, one can’t deny that it is probably the most marketable form of the game, and holding it in a country where cricket is not popular could do wonders for the sports popularity in that country. Instead, the first two tournaments will go to South Africa in 2007, and England in 2009, which I suppose is fair enough with those countries being early adopters of the format.

Charging to play a charity match.

According to Cricinfo, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is charging US$1,000,000 for India and Pakistan to play two fund raising ODIs there in April.

This is ridiculous. That million dollars would be very useful to the earthquake victims the matches are raising money for, instead it is going to be lining the pockets of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council. They should be ashamed of themselves.

India and Pakistan to play in England?

According to the BBC, something that several people have been saying is a good idea for years could soon be set to happen.

India and Pakistan have recently agreed to start playing matches at neutral venues again, and will play two ODIs at Abu Dhabi in the UAE next month.

They also have England in their sights, and Lord’s has already agreed to host a game. They just need the go-ahead from the ECB, and the ECB would be mad to pass this oppurtunity up.

Afridi signs for Ireland

Shahid Afridi has signed for Ireland as their second overseas player as they take part in the new-look C&G Trophy.

He joins his countryman Saqlain Mushtaq after Abdul Razzaq pulled out recently.

Having Afridi up the top of the order will help Ireland greatly, especially if they are unable to call on the services of Eoin Morgan and Niall O’Brien.

The two Pakistanis will also give Ireland a formidable spin attack, but I do wonder where this leaves young Irish leg-spinner Greig Thompson.

Asian full members agree World Cup bid

The Asian full members of the ICC (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) have agreed to bid for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

I wonder if the BCCIs current plan of pissing the ICC off as much as possible will help the bid at all?

Ponting should keep his mouth shut

via Cricinfo – The Surfer

After Bangladesh’s win over Sri Lanka, Wasim Akram has chosen to speak out again, saying;

Ponting, you just keep your mouth shut and look back to what they did against you people in Cardiff last year and take a note of the latest one against Sri Lanka.

He’s talking about Pontings pathetic attitude towards the minnows of the game. Ponting thinks that they shouldn’t play in the world cup. He’s wrong of course, and it’s good to see a respected player like Wasim Akram saying so.

India and Pakistan against Twenty20 World Cup

I’ve written earlier about the BCCIs objections to a Twenty20 world cup, saying that they’re totally against Twenty20. Pakistan are also along for the ride, at least according to the BCCI. Although having a domestic Twenty20 cup, and playing an international in England this summer seem to contradict that.

John Cook at CricketBlog.com has an interesting comment on this.

Pakistan and India will also be bidding to host the 2011 World Cup, going up against Australian and NZ. I wonder if the combative approach they’ve taken with the ICC, not only with the Twenty20 World Cup but also with India boycotting the Champion’s Trophy, will harm their chances of winning the bid.

It’s a good point. Will the BCCI and the PCB want to piss off the people who could put a lot of money their way with the 2011 World Cup? I doubt it.