Ganguly is fit; dilemma over replacement

          Kolkata: The Indian cricket team, which is currently taking part in the second Test against Pakistan in Lahore, is likely to face tough selection problems for the Rawalpindi Test following Sourav Ganguly's declaration of fitness here today. Ganguly who is scheduled to fly to Lahore tomorrow was issued a fitness certificate by his doctor. The left-handed batsman and skipper of the team, has now fully recovered from the lower back injury that he sustained in the fifth one-day international against Pakistan in Lahore on March 24. "I had a talk with Ganguly this morning. He says he is 100 per cent okay. A physio who saw him also says he is completely fit. So, I feel that he is now physically fit," Orthopaedic specialist Dr Kalyan Mukherjee, was quoted by a national news agency as saying. Mukherjee also confirmed that he had signed the fitness certificate and handed it over to the cricketer's father Chandi Ganguly this morning. The national selectors now have a problem in deciding who to leave out of the Rawalpindi Test, since Yuvraj Singh, who replaced Ganguly in the squad for both the Multan and Lahore Tests has come out trumps with scores of 59 and 112. At the moment, if the axe has to fall on anybody, it could be VVS Laxman, who hasn't done much in both the Tests so far.

Bari mounting pressure on Inzi to sack Moin (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Pakistan's chief cricket selector Wasim Bari is reportedly mounting pressure on captain Inzimam-ul-Haq to drop former captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan from the Test squad. The selection committee, headed by Wasim Bari, didn't want to include Moin after the first Test, but Inzamam managed to convince them otherwise. "The selectors are divided on the issue of leaving out Moin. But Wasim Bari seems to be adamant to oust him. The selectors, minus Bari, are of the view that it would be premature to throw Kamran Akmal in the series against India as Moin provides the fragile lower-order batting the impetus that is required," the Dawn quoted a PCB source as saying. Moin is currently out of the second Test with a groin injury. Kamran Akmal, a certain heir to Moin, was included in his place. "The selectors have complained against Moin's attitude and body language. They also claim that Moin lacks the required level of fitness to excel at the international level," the sources disclosed. Moin, it may be recalled, was drafted into the team for the Test series against South Africa after Rashid Latif said he was taking a break. Moin's gutsy batting saved Pakistan from defeat in the Faisalabad Test that enabled Inzamam's men to win their first series against Graeme Smith's men.

           On the tour to New Zealand, Moin's career-best 137 saved Pakistan from defeat in the first Test. He also scored two half centuries on that tour before hitting a defiant 50 against India in the fifth and last One-day International at Lahore against India. "In addition to this, Moin plays the same role as Javed Miandad when Imran Khan was the captain. Inzamam, the selectors view, needs someone on the field whom he can trust while taking crucial decisions," the sources added. Bari was asked to resign by former PCB chief Lt. General Tauqir Zia after the 2003 World Cup disaster when he demanded that veterans in the squad be retained. Bari was reappointed as chief selector in January this year when Shaharyar Khan removed Aamir Sohail.

Bonhomie over threats of sledging at Lahore (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Former Sri Lankan captain and the ICC's referee for the current Pakistan-India series, Ranjan Madugalle, is reported to have told both Inzimam-ul-Haq and Rahul Dravid to warn their respective teams to avoid sledging at all costs ahead of the start of the second Test here. According to the Dawn, Madugalle was of the view that as a bouncy track was being prepared for the Test, the pacers could get carried away after claiming a wicket or otherwise. Eleven wickets fell on the first day of the Test, but neither Madugalle nor the umpires Steve Bucknor or Simon Taufel reported a case of sledging. Pakistan, however, was found to be three overs behind in the over-rate but the Indians bowled according to the required ratio.

Pak speedsters' overnight `unfitness' baffles PCB (Go To Top)

          Lahore: The Pakistani team was shattered on Monday morning, the opening day of the ongoing second Test against India, when its two frontline players reported unfit. According to the Dawn, All-rounder Abdul Razzaq and fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed pulled out of the crucial second Test despite having declared themselves fit on Sunday evening. But all of a sudden they expressed their intention to be left out citing unfitness. While Razzaq reportedly withdrew citing a side strain, Shabbir decided to sit out because of a shin injury. To add insult to injury, back strain and cramps threatened Umar Gul's further participation in the match. The factor that puzzled everyone was how the two fast bowlers suffered the mysterious injuries overnight. Their integrity and sincerity to the Pakistan team is also said to be under question. The report said that even if they were really injured on Sunday evening, why didn't they inform the team management so that some reinforcement(s) could be called up. According to the paper, the fast bowlers were annoyed, in particular, with the recent spate of criticism by skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq. In his column published in an Indian newspaper, Inzi had held his fast bowlers responsible for the thrashing inning defeat in the first Test at Multan. The skipper wrote: "Our bowlers have forgotten how to bowl straight. Right from the start of the one-day series, it is our bowlers who have let the side down. In

PCB is giving tickets for free (Go To Top)

          Lahore: As far as earnings through ticket sales are concerned it seems things are not going the way the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had desired. According to the Nation, in order to generate response, the cricketing authorities are offering free tickets through promotional props to attract college and school students to come and see the ongoing second Test. The report said that so desperate is the situation that some Board officials were seen offering people standing outside the stadium free entry on the first say of the second Test against India.

          The report said that the PCB is quite disappointed to see the empty Gaddafi Stadium. "It's very disappointing that people don't want to see Test matches and only like to watch one-day Internationals," a PCB official was quoted as saying. According to the paper, nearly 2000 people came to see the opening day's play and the number increased later in the day. "Young fans of the game are busy in their studies these days. But we have sent tickets to some of the schools and colleges so they can come to the stadium to see the match," said PCB CEO Ramiz Raja. "As the game has turned a bit Pakistan way, people might come keeping in mind that the home team might win the match," he added. Only in the general stands where seats are priced at Rs.50 were crowded with fans while a few hundred spectators were sitting in the Zaheer Abbas, Muhammad Hanif and Imtiaz Ahmed enclosures. Some invited Indian families were sitting in the Imran Khan stand. Raja said that the prices of tickets have already been slashed to the minimum. "Some 2000 tickets of the Imran Khan and Abdul Hafeez Kardar enclosures were sold on the Internet in India and those people would also be coming to see the match," he added.

Irfan learnt bowling in mosque courtyard, says father (Go To Top)

          Lahore: India's Irfan Pathan, who has impressed one and all by his bowling skills over the past six months, learnt his first lessons in cricket in the courtyard of a mosque where his father Mahmood Khan is still the Muezzin (preacher). Mahmood Khan, who is here to watch his son play in the second Test, says that he faced problems from Muslim faithful who questioned the right of his son to practise in the mosque courtyard. On several occasions Irfan has also exhibited excellent batting skills. On Monday he hit a valuable 49 runs at a time when his team needed it the most. He shared a 117-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh to bail his team out of trouble According to the News, during the first day's play on Monday when an Indian TV crew approached Irfan's mother Shamim Bano for an interview, she promptly replied: "I will talk later because I want to watch Irfan bat." The paper said that Irfan's parents are confident that even if he becomes a superstar, fame will not go to his head.

Pak attack Indian bowlers at will (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Two brilliant centuries by Imran Farhat and Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq propelled the hosts to 355 for the loss of three wickets at the end of the second day of the Lahore Test against India. The in-form Pakistani skipper proved his worth playing some brilliant shots as he smashed his 19th Test century. His knock has been studded with 14 boundaries, and Pakistan now lead India's first innings score of 287 by 68 runs. Inzamam's deputy Yousuf Youhana scored the 21st half-century of his career as he, along with his captain, attacked the Indian bowlers at will. At the end of the second day, Pakistan were 355 for 3 with Inzamam (118) and Yousuf Youhana (62) at the crease.