Zaheer honoured with Wisden Cricketer award of the year

New Delhi, April 9:: Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan was named one of the Five Cricketers of the Year in this year’s Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack published on Wednesday.

In what is arguably the oldest individual honour in the game’s history, Zaheer was joined by West Indians Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ottis Gibson, now England’s bowling coach, and the England pair of Ian Bell and Ryan Sidebottom in the elite list.

All five were rewarded for their performance in the past English season.

The last time an Indian made it to the chart was in 2002 when VVS Laxman was named alongside Andy Flower, Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie and Damien Martyn.

Zaheer was particularly impressive during his stint with Worcestershire.

Meanwhile, South African batting mainstay Jacques Kallis was adjudged the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2007.

ICL vs IPL, leagues apart

Ever since the launch of IPL last week by BCCI one wonders if the latter was just a knee jerk reaction to ICL or was conceived for the benefit of the game.  Indian Cricket League’s (ICL)  goal is create enthusiasm amongst the budding cricketers, carry that enthusiasm and momentum in the Sachins’ of tomorrow and give the domestic cricketers a chance to showcase their talent.  On the other hand IPL’s launch last seemed to be a “me too” by bureaucrats who have dominated the game more than the game itself.

Apparently the BCCI league had been conceptualized about 10 years ago but had recently been finalized.  I think I can assume with reasonable comfort that ICL’s announcement early part of this year expedited IPL by good couple of years.

BCCI top honcho believed just a couple of months ago that a Twenty20 league format (referring to ICL) would serve no good to the game of cricket.  And it is rather ironic that a league was launched by the same governing body just a few months later in the same format.

Ever since the launch of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) BCCI mocked at the league commenting from time to time that who would watch a bunch of retired cricketers.  On IPL launch in Delhi last week, all I saw was great cricketers who were either retired or on the verge of retiring from the game.

ICC refuses to recognize Indian Cricket League, we all know why.  It’s interest is to promote its own agenda in the world rather than promoting the game it represents.  ICC would never disappoint the richest cricketing board in the world; rather going forward when BCCI current head Mr. Pawar becomes its chief will turn into Indian Cricket Council.  It is rather appalling that an incompetent man will represent the council.  A man who is on a mission, a mission to progress his personal agenda and solidify BCCI’s monopoly over the game in India.

I see Indian Cricket League emerging  as a successful business organization, not ridiculed with bureaucracy and corruption like its counterpart, operating as a autonomous organization, investing in building the cricketing infrastructure and take advantage of its media arm to reach out to all cricket loving fans in India and abroad.

Shoaib banned for Five Years

On April 1, 2008 (Tuesday), The 32-year-old, maverick fast bowler was banned by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for five years for gross misconduct and repeated violations of the players’ code of conduct.

Shoaib Akhtar took 178 wickets in 46 Tests and scalped 219 in 138 ODIs during his career. His international career plagued by injuries and controversies has been ruined by this pitiful decision, though the explosive fast bowler would still be eligible to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Shoaib Akhtar was on probation for two years for hitting fellow pacer Mohammed Asif with a bat in South Africa last year.

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf said that the PCB had “lost confidence on Shoaib,” he further added that Shoaib’s presence has spoiled Pakistan cricket at every level.

The temperamental fast bowler is deeply disappointed and hurt by the harsh decision. He has decided to challenge and fight the five-year ban imposed on him.

“For me, nothing is more important than playing for Pakistan.” said Shoaib.

Virender Sehwag smashes fastest triple century in Test history

CHENNAI, India (Reuters) - Indian opener Virender Sehwag smashed his second career triple century and the fastest recorded to spearhead India’s reply against South Africa on the third day of the first test on Friday.Sehwag bludgeoned an unbeaten 309 to match his previous best made against Pakistan in Multan in 2004.

The 29-year-old steered the hosts to 468 for one at stumps in reply to South Africa’s first innings 540 all out, destroying the South African bowling on a good batting pitch.

Sehwag matched the feat of Australian Don Bradman and West Indies batsman Brian Lara, who have also surpassed 300 twice. Lara holds the record for the highest test score (400 not out).

“I have no words to describe this knock,” Sehwag told reporters. “This innings is even better than the one in Multan.

“I showed lot of concentration and patience, I had a point to prove myself (after his test comeback),” he said. “I want to dedicate this innings to my family, and my late father.”

He achieved his triple hundred from an astonishing 278 balls, which surpassed the 362 balls faced by Australian Matthew Hayden when he scored a then world record 380 against Zimbabwe at Perth in 2003-4.

Scorers began recording the deliveries faced only in the modern era, with some of the triple hundreds including those scored by Bradman and England’s Walter Hammond only recorded in terms of minutes taken.

SWITCHING GEARS

The Delhi batsman quickly settled down in the morning before switching gears, attacking both pace and spin to give India the chance for victory with two days left.

Sehwag has shared in an unbroken 255-run partnership for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid, who was on 65. The pair had added 410 runs for the opening wicket in Pakistan in 2006.

He notched his 14th test hundred during a 213-run opening partnership with Wasim Jaffer (73) before destroying the South African bowling after lunch, particularly punishing in-form paceman Dale Steyn and left-arm spinner Paul Harris.

It was his 10th knock of 150 or more.

Sehwag, who scored 151 in his previous test innings, in the drawn final test against Australia at Adelaide in January, scored 118 runs between lunch and tea, racing to his second hundred runs off 78 deliveries.

He smashed a six in the 190s off paceman Makhaya Ntini and again hoisted Harris for another straight six to reach 297 before turning Ntini to squareleg for a single to reach his 300.

A tired Sehwag lifted his arms in triumph before being embraced by Dravid, acknowledging the standing ovation from his team mates and a 30,000 strong crowd.
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