Shoaib Akhtar back in reckoning for Pakistan but its a same old story for Muhammad Asif.

Shoaib Akhtar has been named in a 30 probables for Champions Trophy due in September. But his bowling partner in Muhammad Asif has been in further trouble now when the result of his dope test conducted in IPL found positive. Whoever at the begining Asis denied the reports saying that he dont have any information about it, now Spokesman from IPL confirmed that the sample was of Asif. In reaction to that PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Nagmi said: that the Tribunal from IPL will hear Asif's case and the decision taken by the Tribunal will be the final decision of PCB aswell. Muhammad Asif has appealed against the action taken by PCB and has asked IPL to check the B Sample for the confirmation.

Another cause of concern for PCB is the decision taken by Muhammad Yousuf of not playing in Champions Trophy because of the holy month of Ramzan and Yousuf has been Pakistan's middle-order rock over the last 12 months, scoring over 1100 runs at an average of nearly 70, with three 100s and eight 50s. And he hasn't just milked minnows such as Bangladesh or Zimbabwe; in 14 matches against India and South Africa, he averages over 60, with six fifties and a hundred.

However, the rest of the squad sees some new faces like 16 years old Muhammad Aamir who recently has been recommended by Wasim Akram for the National reckoning, in bowling department apart from Aamir, Muhammad Ali and Anwar Ali are the ones making to the Pakistan Camp for the first time and in batting Under-19 opener Ahmed Shahzad and Middle Order batsman from Lahore Azhar Ali who had a superb season last year has been in the squad for the first time.

Remaining of the preliminary squad are as follows:

Shoaib Malik (capt), Misbah-ul Haq (vice-captain), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shehzad, Khurram Manzoor, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Bazid Khan, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Arafat, Mansoor Amjad, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Mohammad Ali, Iftikhar Anjum, Sohail Khan, Abdur Rauf, Wahab Riaz, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Aamer, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal

England Vs South Africa. 2008.

South Africa's Tour of England, First Test begins on 10th of July at LORD's.

I think South Africa will have the Edge because they have more Mature and Experienced Batting line and there Bowling is inform aswell. On the other Hand England are not far behind they dont loses out to anyone in there Home soil that much easily and in Kevin Pietersen they have a batsmen who can win Matches on his own and his past record against South Africa is any but ordinary. Like Pietersen England's Bowling in past year have been relying heavily on Ryan Sidebottom and he has delivered so far but in these big matches you never know England also have players like Ian Bell, Alistar Cook, Michael Vaughan in Batting and in bowling they have James Anderson and Monty Panesar who can turn his way to success in no time if ball starts to spin.

For South Africa, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and AB De Villiars who scored that brilliant 217* in against India willl hold the key and so far in practise matches Amla and Kallis have been inform and as far as Bowling goes they have Dale Steyn who can rip through sides in Asian Flat spinning tracks then we can only imagine what he will do in England Morne Morkel and Paul Harris have been the found of the last 18 months for South Africa they will try to keep there run going in England and not to forgot the leader of the attack First African player to take 10 wickets at Lord's Makhaya Ntini he has proved dangerous for Left Handers in past and both the openers from England are left handed.

All in All it will be a fascinating match to watch and to give comments on.

No Dhoni for Srilanka Test Series.

India Vs Srilanka, Idea Cup 2008 Test Series.

Squad of 16 players was announced, The India National Selection Committee today announced the sqaud for Srilanka Tour and there is a bad news for the India Batting lienup the Only batsman in Asia Cup from India which seems to pick Ajantha Mendis that is MS Dhoni has pulled out of the tour that means the oppertunity for Parthiv Patel to get into the squad, however selectors have gone with 2 Wicketkeepers that is Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel.

The Other big name missing from the Squad was of Yuvraj Singh who is been replaced by Rohit Sharma, This is Sharma's first call up to India Test squad after his good showing in ODIs many considers him as next Sachin Tendulkar. There has been good news for Harbhajan Singh lovers aswell as the Off Spinner from Punjab has made his way back from that Slap Incident & in named in the Squad along with Pragyan Ojha who did well in his Debut Tour of Pakistan in Asia Cup 2008.

The Squad consist of Following Players:

Anil Kumble (c), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik(wk), Parthiv Patel(wk), Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, RP Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel.

Srilankan's: The Asian Champs.

Srilanka defeated India in the Final of Asia Cup 2008 at National Stadium, Karachi. Srilanka Started off with there most Experienced player Sanath Jayasuriya scoring a 79 ball 100 & ended on their newest Star and the least Experience player Ajantha Mendis taking 6 India Wickets for just 13 runs.

At one Point it looked liked if India will cruise through to the target in no time when Sehwag was batting with Suresh Raina Sehwag Scored 60 runs of just 36 balls before Mendis got him and in the same over Mendis struck again this time with Yuvraj Singh as his Victim. In the spell of 4 overs Mendis took 4 wickets for 6 runs and India was out of it by then. Captain of the India Team tried to rescue his troop but scoring 73 ball 49 before he nicked one behind to Sangakkara of the bowling of Vaas.

Earlier in the day Ishant Sharma took 3 quick wickets to limit the damages done by Jayasuriya before Jayasuriya build a partnership of 131 for the 5th wicket with Dilshan who also scored a half century. But this effort of Ishant goes in waste as Indian batsmen looked out of sort against the spin of Mendis.

Shoaib Malik & Geoff Lawson have been given Vote of Confidence by Chairman PCB.

Dr. Nasim Ahsraf Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board said on 4th July 2008 that he has full conidence on Shoaib Malik & Geoff Lawson which means they will retain there jobs atleast for the 2 year period they were appointed for initially.

Ashraf had previously criticised Pakistan Team Management and Players for not giving there 100% when they lost to India by 140 run in Kitply Cup round match, however on Friday he said the Pakistan is a yound Team & they are Improving it will take time to groom & the players are doing there best for that cause, Today we dont have a team like we used to have in 90's or 80's where Imran Khan Javed Miandad Wasim Akaram Waqar Younis Amir Sohail Saeed Anwar there kind of talented cricketer were playing in a same team. The players we have today are not as much gifted as they were but atleast they are trying there best for Pakistan & after the match against Srilanka when i went in to the Dressing room i saw Shahid Afridi Crying & wanting to be dropped for not being able to perform & i saw Shoaib Malik on strecher with drips & Cold Packs around his body but still wanting to be on field.

I feel sorry for these players when i see people criticising them after they have given there 100% in these circumstances it is hard for a player to digest all this critics but our players do the same & you can see by the result against India how good mentally our players are.

Kolkata Knight Riders.

A Franchise that promised alot, but did they delivered the pairing of Sourav Ganguly & Shahrukh Khan whick for many are there inspiration in their respective fields.

But what do you guys think are they good enough to come back strongly next year & do better than what they did in the Annaugrall season of Indian Premiere League ?

And what kind of players they should buy to inhence there teams performance & add to there strenghts ?

Muhammad Asif - What Next ?

There has been zero doubts over the natural talent that M.Asif Possesses but the fact is that in his relatively short career Muhammad Asif has been in soo many controversies first it was that doping case in England when he & dear friend Shoaib Akhtar was caught on taking drugs & later it was proved by the positive result of the test conducted on them. Then came the T20 Incident where he got hit on the leg by a cricket bat from Shoaib Akhtar, & now came the drugs issue again when he got caught on the Dubai International Airport containing a ban substance in his wallet which let to his 20 days detention at the Dubai Airport, after which he claimed that i didnt had anything with me it was a mistake. I wonder who’s right the Dubai Airport Officials or Muhammad Asif.


Anyways, there has been three controversies in the career of 3 years in Muhammad Asif’s life. I always hears about Shoaib Akhtar & his controversies & no one talks about what is happening with Muhammad Asif & no one is even intrested in Asif & what he has done in recent past & obviously no one knows what is next for him will he be playing for Pakistan again in Champions Trophy or will he be surving a ban for what he has done.

Shoaib Malik - Is he the one for the future ?

The leadership qualities of Pakistan Captain Shoaib Malik have been under heavy scrutiny after a series of poor performances by the Team. It is a fact that Malik’s performance has gone down drastically since he has been made the Captain he has only scored one three figure score in his one year as Pakistan Captain & the Team itself have not been performing to their level best. There were doubts on his appointment when he was appointed as captain of Pakistan Team with seniors like M.Yousuf Abdul Razzaq playing at that time naming Malik as captain has not been the most famous choice amongs the people of Pakistan & now with the results also not going his way it has been a fairly hard time for Malik over the last year or so with his personal life as well as the captain of Pakistan. He didnt had anything accept for a final Appearance in the annaugural T20 World Cup till last month when he won a Tri-Nation cup with India and Bangladesh being other two sides participating.
But to be frank Malik has not been what we all expected of him or what PCB expected of him atleast his popularity has been going down rapidly & now after the Asia Cup. some people beleive that his Position in team is also not automatic now

Shoaib Akhtar's Ban has been revoked till the final judgement.

Tafazzul Rizvi, The PCB Lawyer said on 30th June 2008 that Shoaib Akhtar’s appeal against his ban of 18 Months has been uphelp & this means the Paceman is free to play for Pakistan & continue his career else where aswell till the final verdict by the High court of Lahore which is expected in September or late September But the Fine will remain as it is.

Shoaib Akhtar on the other hand is delighted with the oppertunity given to him by the High Court & said he’s excited to play for his country again & is ready to play, his fitness has been the major couse of concern amongs selectors & he’s looking to play some county cricket to prove his fitness. He added the he wants to play the Champions Trophy & he wants to win it for the people of Pakistan & Is very thankfull to the Chairman of PCB Dr. Nasim Ashraf for his help in last two months.

Nasim Ashraf when asked about the decision said: The Decision of the court will be respected, and now it is upto the selector to see whether he will be picked or not.

Salahuddin Ahmed the Chief Selector PCB said: Shoaib Akhtar’s selection in future will be based on his fitness & match practise.