Former Pakistan stalwarts accused New Delhi of double standards andbelieved that India had pulled out of the Asian Test Championshipbecause they were afraid of losing. Intikhab Alam, a former captainand coach, said: “It’s a senseless decision. In my personal opinion,the Indians are afraid of losing to Pakistan.”Hasib Ahsan, another vocal Test off-spinner, went a step ahead when hesuspected Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) involvement inthe withdrawal. “I suspect that BCCI themselves asked their governmentnot to clear the tour because they know they can’t go anywhere afterlosing to Pakistan in Lahore,” he said.Pakistan had thrashed India in the inaugural Asian Test Championshipfixture at Kolkata in near silence. India were last year bulldozed byMoin Khan’s men in the Asia Cup one-day tournament in Dhaka. Pakistanwon both the titles while India failed to qualify for the finals.The Indians have suffered a string of defeats after their historicsuccess against the Australians at home. They lost the one-daytournament finals in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka while lost the first Testat Galle by 10 wickets. “If India thinks that Kashmir issue would beresolved by not playing cricket, then they are foolish,” Hasibcontinued, adding: “India has mixed sports and politics and I knew itfrom the last two to three months that they have no plan to come toPakistan.”Intikhab said: “This decision spells politics and politicians would bethe only gainers and cricket will be the loser.” Intikhab questionedNew Delhi’s policy of only targeting cricket. “Yasin Merchant won theAsian snooker championship in Karachi in June while an Indian playerappeared in a squash tournament in Peshawar earlier this month. InOctober, India will be sending its contingent for the SAF Games. Butwhen it comes to playing cricket, they disallow permission.”New Delhi’s policies and logic are mindboggling in the backgroundthat they had said in April that they had no objection if India playsPakistan in any multinational tournaments,” Intikhab said.Intikhab demanded New Delhi to spell out its policy and come out cleanrather than confusing the situation and playing ping pong withPakistan. However, the former Surrey player felt that since all thethree Asian countries have won World Cups, they needed to play againsteach other more often to form a formidable Asian block.Wasim Akram, under whose captaincy Pakistan won the Chennai andKolkata Tests in 1999, wondered if he would get another chance to playa Test against India. “I don’t know if I will get a chance to playthem again. I am in the twilight of my career and time is not in myhand. That’s precisely why I was keen and geared up for the LahoreTest,” Wasim, who was also a member of Imran Khan’s 1986-87 BangaloreTest winning team, said.Wasim said New Delhi’s decision has not only dampened the hopes anddreams of cricketers of the two countries, it has also spoiled theparty of billions of fans.”If the Australians or the Englishmen dream to play in the Ashes,cricketers from Pakistan and India like to play against each other.Similarly, there is probably more interest in the followers of thegame when India and Pakistan lock horns rather than Australia facingEngland,” Wasim said.PCB Cautious: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reacted cautiously tothe fate of two other assignments involving India after New Delhireportedly withdrew its team from the Asian Test Championship startingAug 29.Pakistan `A’ is scheduled to tour India in Nov while traditionalrivals are to jointly host a quadrangular tournament next year inMarch, also involving the West Indies and Zimbabwe. While the PCBofficials restrained from any comments on New Delhi’s decision, theysaid a formal invitation from India regarding the Pakistan `A’ team’stour was still awaited.”As regards the quadrangular tournament, that stage at present is toofar away. Let’s see how the winds blow in the days to come,” directorof the PCB, Brig Munawar Rana, said from Lahore. Brig Rana, on India’swithdrawal, said since the highest authorities in India have taken thedecision, Pakistan’s response would be issued by Islamabad. He,however, admitted that a statement from the foreign office wasexpected sometime Wednesday evening.The PCB official said India had informally invited to host Pakistan`A’. He, nevertheless, added that once a formal invitation isreceived, it will be considered keeping in mind the present situation.

The Asian Test Championship continues to cruise without India’s participation.The only difference made by big brother India’s withdrawal was to reduce the championship from a ‘quadrangular’ to a ‘triangular.’ However, what made India act as a ‘step brother’ is a mystery. The reasons advanced by the sports minister don’t seem very convincing.One is compelled to accept the common man’s theory reinforced by the opinion of some top cricketers that ‘India is scared of losing to Pakistan’.I feel one should show some sympathy towards India as many of the top players are unfit and have just gone through the humiliation of a 2-1 thrashing at the hands of Sri Lanka. Thus, pundits muse, how can a timid outfit pick up the courage to face its latest conqueror Sri Lanka and the Pakistanis in the ATC?Let us not forget the nerve centre of the Indian team rests in Sachin Tendulkar. As long as he is not fit to play, the team tends to remain in doldrums.Whatever the cause, the fact remains that India’s absence has taken away lot of charm and excitement from the tournament. Apart from lowering the quality of an important competition, the absence is causing a colossal financial loss to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), a sports body dear to all Asian cricket countries.India’s absence from a crucial tournament designed to determine the ‘Asian test champions’ caused tremendous disappointment and anger in cricket playing countries of the region. Even some top cricketers like Imran Khan have demanded action against India for slipping out of a commitment, but does anyone really care?Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, Chairman PCB and the current President of the ACC, however, took the right decision to hold the tournament without India. The 1st match of the tournament was played between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the gorgeous newly built Multan Cricket Stadium, which Pakistan won by an innings and 264 runs. Creating lot of interest among the local population, the match drew a good crowd.Five Pakistan batsmen scored centuries equalling the record established earlier in 1954-55 in a match between Australia and the West Indies at Kingston. Bangladesh batsmen and the bowlers, both failed to impress. In their 1st innings total of 134 runs, the highest individual score was 19 while in the 2nd innings Habibul Bashar was able to score an unbeaten half century (56). Pakistan lost only 3 wickets in the one innings they batted. While the pace bowlers were wayward with no sting, the spinners lacked guile. The contest was a one sided affair.With such a glaring mismatch and the record of losing all the four test matches played till then, many observers of the game felt that Bangladesh had been granted test status rather prematurely. Looking like a confident and a hard working outfit, the Bangladesh captain as well as players accepted their weakness with absolute grace. Skipper Naimur Rahman was quite bold to acknowledge, ‘We do not care what people call us. We are a new Test nation and will learn and come up with time’.Their resolve to improve and face tough opponents with courage deserved respect. In the past we have seen Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a similarly precarious condition, fighting for years to win their 1st test match. Bangladesh’s desire to improve at a quick pace is indicated by the fact that they have engaged a top trio of coaches comprising Javed Miandad (Pakistan), Andy Roberts (West Indies) and Trevor Chappell (Australia) to train the boys and to bring them up to the standards of other countries. Brimming with talent and full of determination, they are bound to improve with experience and due passage of time.In their 2nd encounter of the tournament Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka at Colombo by an innings and 137 runs. Sri Lanka was flying high after achieving a convincing 2-1 victory over India. In the 3rd and last Test of the series, Sri Lanka handed India a humiliating defeat by an innings and 77 runs.Four of its players, Marvan Atapattu (108), Mahela Jayawardene (139), Hashan Tillakaratne (136*) and Thilan Samaraweera (103*) scored centuries. With a terrific haul of 11 wickets in the match, Muttiah Muralitharan demolished the Indian team. Bangladesh had to face such gladiators in the field.With Sri Lanka a far superior side, the encounter again proved to be a one sided affair. Although Bangladesh crumbled for 90 runs in the 1st innings it gave a better fight in the 2nd innings scoring an impressive 328. The redeeming factor for Bangladesh was a glorious century (114) by Mohammad Ashraful.Bangladesh shall have to swallow the bitter pill of losing all the five tests played so far, for the sake of gaining experience and the far and wide hope of a victory sometimes in future. The present Asian Test Championship is perhaps the best learning ground for them.One must appreciate the ACC for their firm resolve in staging the championship without India. One can only hope that India comes back in the fold soon.

On the day of his 38th birthday Hampshire captain Robin Smith led his side to the three bowling bonus points needed to secure promotion to next season’s County Championship Division One.Alan Mullally’s dismissal of Greg Smith at around 4.20pm on the second day ensured jubilant celebrations on the field and among the small band of visiting supporters.In something of an anti-climax rain, which has continually interrupted this match, returned shortly afterwards with Notts’ first innings still stuttering along at 212-9.Play re-started after an hour and Notts’ last-wicket pairing of Richard Logan and Nadeem Malik added another 33 before Logan lost his middle stump to Mullally for a career-high 29 out of an all-out total of 245.Just 12 overs were bowled during the first two sessions of the day, with Notts adding 34 runs for the loss of Usman Afzaal. The England tourist will look back on his dismissal with regret. Clean bowled by Alex Morris nine runs short of his century he is now stranded on 999 runs for the season. Just prior to his demise he ambled two runs when a comfortable three was on the cards with more purposeful running.In the first over after tea Chris Read drove Alan Mullally for the two needed to bring up the Notts’ 200, thereby securing the first batting point.The Notts’ `keeper didn’t hang around much longer, playing around the swing of Morris, whose fifth victim of the innings also took him to 50 Championship wickets for the season.Mullally snared his third victim soon afterwards as Stephen Randall’s lack of foot movement was a contributory factor in his thickish edge through to Adrian Aymes.Then came the dismissal of Smith which led to the fulfilment of a season’s dream for the Hampshire side. Umpires David Shepherd and David Constant watched the fielders celebrate before making a couple of riotously funny attempts at doing the `high-five’ themselves.Mullally joined Morris in claiming a five-wicket haul and the celebrations could begin in earnest with poor light preventing Hampshire from beginning their innings

The unexpected never happened as pathetic Zimbabwe were forthe second time put in their place by the unbeaten SriLankans who won by the comfortable margin of 79 runs Tuesdayto make sure of playing in Sunday’s final in the KhaleejTimes Trophy here at the Sharjah Stadium.Requiring 251 for victory to have an outside chance ofmaking the final, Zimbabwe, finished at 171 for eight intheir allotted 50 over. As it happened like in their twoprevious outings, Zimbabwe batsmen from the outset neverappeared to be with any chance of upsetting the applecart.Apart from the second wicket stand between Stuart Carlisle(37) and Trevor Gripper (26) that realized 61 runs,Zimbabwe’s batting woes continued as wickets fell at regularinterval.Although Doug Marillier, batting lower down, managed anunbeaten 52, hitting two fours off the last two deliveriesto reach the landmark, there was no resistance at the otherend.The Sri Lankans always looked in command and bowled tightlywithout ever looking menacing and were never threatened byan inept and out of depth Zimbabwe batting for whom thelosing streak extended to 15 and could become 16 Wednesdaywhen they face Pakistan unless the latter give a similarperformance as that which handed Bangladesh their mostmemorable triumph in 1999 World Cup.In an uninteresting tie that provided hardly any worthwhileindividual feat, Sri Lanka’s stylish batsman MahelaJayawardena was named Man-of-the Match for his 63 thatproved to the highest score of the match.Earlier, diminutive Jayawardena (63) and reliable RusselArnold (55) put on 111 for the fourth wicket to steer SriLanka from possible low score against the modest Zimbabwebowling resources.The two joined in the rescue act at the total of 62 for withthree skipper Sanath Jayasuriya (25), Avishka Gunawardena(14) and Marvan Atapattu (9) back in the dressing room.Slowly and gradually the two got on top of the Zimbabweattack and reached fifties before throwing their wicketswhen centuries were up for grabs. Arnold hooked straightinto the throat of Brent off Streak. Jayawardena holed outto Gripper off Marillier.For Arnold it was his first dismissal in three outings. Ofthe later batsmen, only Kumar Sangakkara made anysignificant contribution in his 35 before losing his stumpsaiming for a big hit off medium pacer Gary Brent, the bestof Zimbabwe bowlers.Although former skipper Heath Streak picked up four wicketsincluding both the openers he proved expensive and conceded59 runs from his quota of 10 overs, his first over costing14 runs.

Bashley had a double cause for celebration as both the first and second teams saw off their counterparts from New Milton in the latest round of New Forest Indoor League matches.Dean Miller’s fine unbeaten 47 had seen Milton reach a respectable 120 for 5 in their Division One clash. But Steve Latimore (21) and Shaun Lilley (22no) guided Bashley home to a two wicket victory with just three balls remaining.Meanwhile, in Division 3, Milton II fared little better. Their 102 for 3 was based around Jamie Snellgrove’s 36 not out. But thanks to 28 not out from Stuart Wait and 26 not out from Dave Morris, Bashley II wasted no time in knocking off the runs for the loss of just one wicket in the ninth over.Burley suffered a heavy loss at the hands of Esso. Only Paul Yates looked in any sort of form, scoring almost half the sides’ runs in a modest total of 85 for 5. Esso lost just one wicket in reply with Andy Parrott (25no) and Jason Ford (27no) taking them past Burley’s score in the penultimate over.An unbroken fifth wicket stand of 57 between Trevor Phillips (42no) and Ed Molloy (20no) resured Lymington from a potentially embarrassing situation against five-man Paultons. Lymington had slumped to 55 for 4 from 8 overs, but Phillips and Molloy batted sensibly to take their team to a much healthier 112.Wayne Smith then bagged two wickets as Paultons were dismissed for a paltry 56 with only Mark Weaver (21) making a score of any note.There was a high scoring match between north Forest rivals Ringwood and Godshill in Division 2. Godshill might have felt happy with their 129 for 3 (Gerald Pettley 28, Jim Harrison 28no, Alan Cousins 25no, John Hopkinson 25no), but Ringwood swept to a four wicket victory with seven balls remaining thanks to 26no from Neville Bush and an unbeaten 25 from Alan Gregory.Brockenhurst’s poor start to the season continued as they fell to defeat against Esso II despite a undefeated 47 from Dick Wickison. Brock totalled 105 for 4, but Wickison’s heroics were in vain as Jon Church (21) and Pete Miller (28no) ensured a three wicket win for the men from Fawley.

Manicaland secured three easy victories in Mutare last weekend. OnSaturday Manicaland Under-16s defeated Midlands Under-16s in a firstever encounter. Drawn from schools in Gweru, Masvingo and Chiredzi,the visitors tried hard but were well beaten by a local side selectedfrom Mutare Boys High and Hillcrest College. Tino Mawoyo hit a fluent49 as a warm-up for his trip to East London this week to captainZimbabwe Under-16s in the Nuffield week.On Sunday Manicaland (now called Mutare Sports Club) handed a 162-runhammering to the once mighty Old Hararians. Weakened without nationalteam absentees Gary Brent, Trevor Penny, Dirk Viljoen and Conan Brewer(Zimbabwe Under-19s), Old Hararians proved easy meat. UnlikeManicaland, who has good reserves, other sides in the national leagueare vulnerable to withdrawals.Batting first, Manicaland hit 237 for seven off 45 overs. 33-year-oldMark Burmester set the tone with a bruising 63-ball 52 (6 fours, onesix). Pulling the opening bowlers in front of square a la Jayasuriya,his combative personality kept Old Hararians out of the game all day.Richie Sims added 51 but the innings of the day came from Leon Soma whorevelled in an unexpected promotion in the batting order. Cracking 61off 53 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes), Soma launched into everything beforefalling to Paul Strang trying one heave too many.Recently back from an expensive 10-day (12-over) visit to Bangladesh,Strang (three for 47) tried hard but was unable to win the match on hisown. With four schoolboys (two 15-year-olds) and too many uncommittedfielders, the cheerful ex-Manica was left to smile ruefully as chancesbecame half-chances. Academy player Ryan Butterworth (three for 51)was the only other successful bowler. Strang top-scored with 18 butonce he had gone Old Hararians bombed to 75.Burmester took two for 4, Sims two for 6, and Justin Lewis with threefor 8 off seven overs simply wasted his time. No one was good enoughto touch anything. The Denyer brothers Terry and Noel – latereplacements for missing players – took three hot catches between them,exemplifying the gap between Old Hararians’ and Manicaland’s reserves.The Manicaland second team provides good back-up and despite theoccasional blip is far too good for the rest of the second league.This week they mauled Old Georgians II by seven wickets at HillcrestCollege.OGs managed just 101 in 26 overs (Chinoro 2/17, Sheth 2/38, Yatras3/20, Malvern 2/20) which Manicaland II picked off in 17.3 overs(Yatras 41 not out).Sadly it seems many first league clubs in Zimbabwe are teetering onbankruptcy; playing numbers are down and senior players de-motivated.League cricket is in crisis as traditional powerhouses find theirfeeder systems hijacked by academy transfer quotas. Morale is affectedwhen cricketers are unable to play with their mates. There is talkthat Eddo Brandes has approached Manicaland to return as a player.Following the premature retirements of Adam Huckle, Andy Whittall andBrett Robinson, it now seems out-of-contract Bryan Strang will also belost. He intends plying his trade in the Lancashire Leagues. Seniorplayers who once envisioned coaching careers in Zimbabwe findthemselves sidelined by fast-track.This Sunday Manicaland play Kwekwe at home whilst Manicaland II playBSC II at Alex (Harare).

Dion Nash made it clear to the New Zealand selectors that he is fit and ready, with the bat at least, to be considered for the one-day team to return to Australia in the New Year with a hard-hit innings of 77 not out for Auckland against Otago in Dunedin today.The first day in the State Championship match at Carisbrook was quite a pedestrian until Nash started to hit out towards the end.Auckland finished on 268/6, a position much better than it had been at tea when it was 177/6.It was only in the final session that the bat shone through to any great extent.The game which had started in very cold and overcast conditions with a hint of rain graduated into clear blue skies and a cool breeze and Auckland did well to be 92/1 at lunch under these circumstances.Prospective Test batsman Matt Horne looked good and seemed certain to go onto a big score but was adjudged lbw to David Sewell for 49.Most of the other Auckland batsmen got into their twenties did not, unfortunately for them, go on. Nick Horsley scored 25, Kyle Mills 23, Tim McIntosh and Rob Nicol both scored 21.The exception was Nash, who showed all his class and hit hard during his excellent innings which has so far latest 124 balls with 12 fours.Captain Brooke Walker was a patient support for Nash as he scored 21 not out in their 91-run stand in 131 minutes from 106 balls.The Otago bowling again failed to press home the advantage they had at tea, but Kerry Walmsley could be considered unlucky not to finish with a bag of five, finally capturing three scalps. His three for 52 came off 25 overs while Craig Pryor took two for 72 from 18 overs and, like Sewell, never stopped trying.However, tomorrow could easily see Auckland carrying onto a large total on a good batting wicket and then putting the pressure on an Otago batting line-up which has not gone on so far this season.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) referee Brian Hastings of NewZealand would see Pakistan opener Shadab Kabir Thursday for showingdissent on the first day of the second Test.”I have asked him (Shadab) to see me and that’s nothing serious,”Hastings said Wednesday.Shadab stood his ground after being given out caught behind byBangladeshi umpire Mahboobur Rahman on the first day of the TestWednesday. “He is a young player and he must learn to acceptdecisions,” Hastings said without revealing further details.Shadab made four in Pakistan’s 99-1 in reply to Bangladesh’s 148. TVreplays showed the ball did elude Kabir’s bat, but the Bangladeshiumpire raised his finger to show him the way.Shadab, dumped after playing three Tests in 1996, is on a comebacktrail after scoring over 700 runs in Pakistan’s domestic tournament.The decision may cost Shadab dearly as he is not likely to get anotherinnings in the Test.Another opener Naved Latif is also waiting on the sidelines and istipped to partner Taufiq Umer in the one-day series that follows thisTest.

The Australian cricket team for the first Test against South Africa startinghere on Friday was announced today.Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel (12th man).

Sachin Tendulkar’s inclusion in India’s team for the third National Bank Series One-Day International against New Zealand, at Jade Stadium tomorrow, would be particularly helpful as the side attempts to pick up their first win of the tour.Coach John Wright said the side had managed 20-odd wins in recent ODIs during his time as coach without Tendulkar and that proved the side was not dependent on him, so his presence would be a boost nonetheless and it would be good for cricket.”We have to create situations and an attitude where you expect any one of six or seven to be able to do the job,” Wright said.Lifting the side back from the 2-0 deficit they face in the seven-game series was a case of making individuals in the team aware of what is required of them.”We finished the last year badly, we’re starting a new year for us tomorrow so it is really self awareness and team awareness.”The fielding in the last match was unacceptable and it may cost a player or two their place in the side tomorrow. Fielding is all about giving to the team, it’s about attitude and commitment. It’s a giving process and it was the most disappointing area of our performance in Napier.”But that can happen. It can happen once, if it happens again that will be serious.”Everyone can have a bad day but I am sure you will see a better fielding performance tomorrow,” Wright said.India would not be looking to rest players during the series. They wanted to win the series and that meant doing their best with the best players available to achieve that.And that would be the side’s best preparation for the World Cup.The main things ahead of the side, apart from winning, were to get batsmen into form and to rediscover the eagerness and zest that the side had in England and at the ICC Champions Trophy where there was an evident hunger.The development of the side’s bowling had been a big bonus from the tour so far and that was timely given that it was an area of concern when looking at the Cup from the longer term.”At Auckland and Napier we blew winning opportunities in both games and I look at the potential for improvement and I am very optimistic about this side performing well in South Africa, no matter what happens here.”I have a lot of confidence in this side and I know that the boys will perform well in South Africa. But have said that we don’t need fielding performances like the other day,” he said.