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Inzamam-ul-Haq leads his side back onto the field … but too late to save the Test © Getty Images

The ICC is to intervene on England’s claims for compensation from the forfeited Oval Test after Pakistan rejected their demands for £800,000 in lost revenue.

As expected, following the failure to reach an agreement between the two countries’ boards, the ECB has now requested assistance and an ICC disputes panel will decide how much compensation England are to receive following Pakistan’s forfeiture of the game.

The ECB originally asked the PCB for £800,000 after they refunded all fifth-day ticketholders and also gave a 40% reimbursement to the 23,000 in the ground on the day of the abandonment, the fourth day. But Pakistan formally rejected this claim, as they maintain that the actions of the umpires were to blame for the resulting refusal by Pakistan to resume the match, and as the employers of the officials, the ICC is responsible for the losses.

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Mohammad Asif arrives at the preliminary tribunal hearing at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore © AFP

Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif attended the preliminary hearing of the tribunal investigating the doping case at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headquarters in Lahore today. Both players - suspended from the Champions Trophy after testing positive for nandrolone, a banned steroid - recorded their statements separately. They were asked to submit their written statements for the next hearing, scheduled for October 26, after a break in proceedings for Eid.

“The hearing lasted around four hours as we had to do some initial work and then heard Akhtar and Asif,” Shahid Hamid, the chairman of the tribunal, told reporters. “We have given them reports of their tests and have asked them to submit their written statements in the next hearing.” The tribunal consists of Hamid and Intikhab Alam while Waqar Ahmed, the third member and medical expert, was unable to attend the hearing.

The tribunal is expected to return its findings in two weeks, after which the PCB will decide on a final course of action. Both players are liable to face bans of anywhere between one and two years. Hamid said that the players were briefed about the procedures and added that they had the option of bringing their lawyers in the next hearing.

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Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has said the International Cricket Council should make Pakistan’s dope-tainted pace duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif “pay heavily” if they were proven guilty of using banned drugs.

The pace duo were pulled out of the Champions Trophy in India after they tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone.

“It’s not really associated with cricket but you can’t be too naive to suggest that it wouldn’t happen. Obviously it’s here. Players know the rules and its very strict guidelines and you’ve got to work within those,” Waugh said.

“If you step outside of it then you’ve got to pay the consequences. So I think if they’ve done the wrong thing, they’ll certainly pay pretty heavily for it,” he was quoted as saying by an Australian portal ABC.

Matthew Hayden, Australian Test opener, echoed Waugh’s views. He said the ICC should get tough and send a clear message that drugs were not acceptable in cricket.

“We are very proud of having a clean sport that does its best to maintain the standards so that we pass onto the youngsters a clear message that drugs in our game aren’t acceptable,” he said.

Mark Taylor, another former Australian captain, said Akhtar and Asif had to be dealt with appropriately.

“It’s certainly disappointing for cricket and obviously disappointing for the two gentlemen involved,” he said.

“People like Shoaib Akhtar bring a lot of people to the game but they do have a role to play in the game with what we’re trying to teach our youngsters with what they should and shouldn’t do in sport.

“Obviously (drugs) aren’t a part of sport so they have to be dealt with appropriately.”

The secret behind Pakistan’s success at a time when they had been written off completely lies in a simple formula of playing the natural game without worrying about anything else, reveals skipper Younis Khan.

This winning trick was provided by the stand-in skipper just as the team was coping with the shocking news that key bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were flying back home after having been tested positive for a banned drug.

“I told the boys to play their natural game. We should not look at the fact that which team is stronger or weaker. We do not have to see how many points we take from a game, but what is important is that we maintain consistency,” Younis told.

Younis, whose team landed here yesterday to play their two matches of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand and South Africa at Mohali on October 25 and 27, said their win against Sri Lanka had done wonders to their confidence.

“It was a good win. But the boys cannot afford to be complacent. We saw how Australia lost to West Indies. We’ve got to give our best shot and we will get through,” he said.

The 28-year-old prolific batsman admitted though that the team was missing the services of experienced players like Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shoaib.

“Naturally, they are experienced players and their presence alone is a great asset. However, the boys know they have a task to accomplish whatever the circumstances may be.”

Also see Champions Trophy, 2006.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting on Tuesday said the doping episode involving Pakistani pacemem Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif had come as a big surprise to his team and recalled how they had come out well from a similar scandal four years ago to win the World Cup.

“We have all been surprised and a bit shocked to know about the allegations. We don’t know much about it. It’s a PCB matter and they have to get to the bottom of this. We have to play tomorrow and that’s all we are focussing on,” he said on the eve of the match against West Indies.

Having gone through a similar scandal involving champion leg-spinner Shane Warne in 2003, Ponting said his squad did well to recover from the mighty blow.

“It was obviously pretty hard for us at that time. We had a team meeting once we found out about Shane’s incident. We decided to get everything out in the open and talk about it as much as we could that night itself so that it didn’t continue the next day into our cricket,” Ponting said.

Like the Pakistan Cricket Board had done prior to this edition’s Champions Trophy, the Australian Board had also tested all its players at home before the World Cup, which resulted in Warne’s positive dope test for a diuretic.

The PCB has announced a tribunal to look into the doping charges against Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a three-man tribunal that will hear doping charges against fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, possibly as early as this week. Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, announced that the tribunal will be chaired by barrister Shahid Hamid and will also include Intikhab Alam, the former Test captain and coach, and an unnamed doctor who is an expert on doping.

Shoaib and Asif, sent home on the eve of Pakistan’s first match after they tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, await the results of the ‘B’ samples. “Shoaib and Asif are likely to appear before the tribunal later this week,” Ashraf told reporters at a press conference in Karachi. “On the recommendation of the tribunal and of the overall findings we will take action. The responsibility is on the alleged offenders [to prove their innocence] because it is an individual act.”

Incidentally, Hamid represented former player Salim Malik during a match-fixing inquiry in 1998 but left midway through the case. Malik was given a life ban in 2000. The doctor, the PCB added, would be named on Thursday.

The row over compensation for the abandoned Oval Test rumbles on.

Last week, the Pakistan board refused the ECB’s claim for £800,000 to cover losses resulting from the abandoned match. The PCB insists that the ICC are responsible for compensation as it was the umpires, their employees, whose actions led to the match being called off. The ECB has now given the PCB until the end of the month to settle.

“The Pakistan board has been very consistent in saying to us that England are the totally innocent party and whatever happens England should not be economically penalised on that Test match,” David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said. “The argument, particularly following the hearing at The Oval, that Pakistan has raised is that there was a causal effect to prevent the game being concluded and Pakistan’s contention would be that the claim should be to the ICC rather than to the PCB.

“We’ve now formally gone back to Pakistan and have pointed out to Pakistan that, in our opinion, if there is a causal effect then it is up to Pakistan to take up with the third party not for England to take up. So the ball is back in Pakistan’s court.

“If there isn’t an obvious resolution it can be referred to the ICC’s panel. That is the proper course we would take, rather than engage in any legal fight. We will refer it at the end of this month if we have not had a response.”

“We have said in our letter that the Oval Test not being completed is a case of cause and effect. Saleem Altaf, Pakistan’s director of cricket operations, said last week. “The ECB should realise that we have been vindicated in our stand on ball-tampering, which led to the effect. They should contact the person responsible.”

Pakistan cricket, already besieged by multiple controversies, has received another body blow with Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, their leading new-ball bowlers, testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid Nandrolone during an internal dope test carried out by the Pakistan Cricket Board. They have been recalled to Pakistan and will miss the Champions Trophy.

Salim Altaf, Director Operations, PCB, told Cricinfo that the board, as signatories to the ICC’s Anti-Doping Policy (ADP), had carried out a routine test on 19 players at the end of September. The tests were put in place at the behest of Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach and are thought to be the first ever held in Pakistan cricket. The results were sent to the nearest World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) laboratory, in Malaysia for analysis. “They told us two samples had come back positive - of Asif and Shoaib - and the chairman was duly informed,” said Altaf.

The board had asked for the concerned samples to be tested again though there was some confusion over whether the second results had arrived. The PCB claimed in the morning that the results were due tomorrow, but Dr Nasim Ashraf, newly-installed chairman of the PCB told reporters in Rawalpindi that the second test had also yielded the same results.

The decision to call back the players pre-empts the embarrassment of them being found guilty during the tournament, at one of the random drugs tests recently put in place by the ICC for major events. The ICC had, according to the PCB, been informed of the situation and a decision was expected to be taken soon on whether two replacements can be sent. The possible replacements, the PCB says, are Abdul Rehman, the left-arm spinner who toured Sri Lanka with Pakistan earlier this year, and all-rounder Yasir Arafat.

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Backed into the corner by the late withdrawal of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, Pakistan showed incredible self-belief and no little skill to pull off a splendid four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first high-quality match of this Champions Trophy. Sensational allround performances from Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik inspired them, after Sri Lanka’s spin duo had threatened to tilt the game their way. But Razzaq, such a clean striker of the ball when in the mood, just wasn’t to be denied, on a night that Pakistan cricket aficionados will cherish for a long time to come.

When Razzaq, who had earlier taken 4 for 50, came to the middle, Pakistan needed 53 more, with just 47 balls remaining. By the time he thumped Dilhara Fernando for a massive six over long-off to finish matters, 11 balls remained. In the excitement created by his booming strokeplay, Shoaib Malik’s role was nearly forgotten, but his 59-ball 46 was just as crucial after Pakistan appeared to lose their way in mid-innings.

Imran Farhat had ensured that Pakistan got an ideal start, with a glorious off-drive and an even better one straight down the ground as Sri Lanka were put under pressure from the off. With Mohammad Hafeez also stroking some lovely shots, even the usually impeccable Chaminda Vaas was made to look wayward as Pakistan rattled along at nearly seven an over.

A superb catch from Kumar Sangakkara standing up to Vaas stemmed that initial tide, but Farhat continued to drive and pull with impunity after Mahela Jayawardene dropped him at first slip when he had made just 25. Fernando was not amused and his anguish was exacerbated when Farhat unveiled a superb off-drive after surviving a huge leg-before shout.

Jayawardene then threw the ball to Farveez Maharoof, who had figures of 6 for 14 in his last outing, and he struck with his very first delivery, abetted by a poor shot from Younis Khan. That brought in Mohammad Yousuf, in such imperious form of late, and he was quickly into his stride despite being struck flush on the helmet by Fernando.

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Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been told he cannot bowl for three weeks and his selection for the tour of England rests on the recommendation of a medical commission, a senior Pakistan board official said on Tuesday.

Akhtar is struggling to recover from an ankle injury after having undergone a knee operation in Australia in February.

Director of Cricket Operations Saleem Altaf conceded it did not appear possible for Shoaib to recover in time to play from the start of the tour this month end.

See also Pakistan vs England, 2006.

An India-Pakistan final is the ideal clash in this part of the world where there is a large number of expatriates from the two nations who follow the game passionately.

The two teams clash for the second time in the BSNL EurAsia Cricket Series, with the stakes higher in today’s final here at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

India ‘A’, led by Venugopal Rao, have been the most impressive so far in the six-nation tournament, but Hasan Raza’s men demonstrated they are back in business with a thoroughly professional batting performance to beat Sri Lankan by eight wickets enroute to the final.

It’s also crunch time for the Pakistanis, who were soundly beaten by the Indians in the first phase of the league.

Skipper Raza believes partnerships are the key to his team’s success. “We have a strong batting but it’s important to get the partnerships going as we did against Sri Lanka,” he said.

“India has no dearth in this department so we can’t just rely on our batting. The bowling has been a bit wayward at the start but that too fell in place as we came back from a difficult situation.”

Mohammed Hafeez led the Pakistani run-chase with an unbeaten century and featured in two partnerships with Shahid Yousuf (79 for the second-wicket) and Raza (109 for the third-wicket without being separated), which set the stage for their thumping victory over Sri Lanka. (more…)

Propelled by some clinical all-round performance from its key players, a confident India `A’ scored a convincing 34-run victory over Pakistan `A’ to top its group in the BSNL EurAsia Cup cricket tournament at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Friday.

Electing to bat first, India `A’ was put on the right track by the top-order batsmen. Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Shikhar Dhawan and Venugopala Rao emphasised the team’s batting strength by setting Pakistan `A’ a challenging target of 270.

Blistering start

Rohit’s imperious strokeplay lit up India’s performance after Dhawan and Uthappa gave the team a blistering start. However, the team lost its momentum in the middle overs when skipper Venugopala Rao failed to take charge even as Rohit raised his game.

Dhawan set the tempo with his trademark style of dominating the attack from the start. He played his drives with authority. But, the Delhi left-hander was guilty of throwing his wicket away after a brilliant 51-ball essay of 52 with eleven fours.

Uthappa displayed confidence in the middle in a 61-ball knock of 52 with six fours but he paid the price for playing across after promising a bigger innings. (more…)

Pakistan Cricket Board might hire former South Africa Test star Jonty Rhodes as a specialist fielding coach ahead of its team’s tour of England in June.

“The chances are good that we will get Rhodes on a short-term contract. We should be able to have him in Pakistan in May,” a PCB spokesman said.

“We want him working with our senior players before they tour England in June,” he was quoted as saying by ‘BBC Sports’.

Rhodes, who played 52 Tests and 245 one-day internationals, is rated one of the best fielders in cricket history.

The 37-year-old, who retired from the game in 2003, spent much of his international career playing under current Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, the then in charge of the South African national team in the 1990s.

See also Pakistan vs England, 2006.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is confident that express bowler Shoaib Akhtar would be fit before the important tour of England in June.

A PCB official said that reports about Shoaib’s recovery from his knee operation and stress fracture of his ankle bones were encouraging and he should start bowling soon.

“The physiotherapist and trainer have given us a good report on his rehabilitation process and we are hopeful he would be available for the England tour,” the PCB official was quoted as saying by ‘The News’ today.

Shoaib underwent a knee surgery in Australia after he was ruled out of the ODI series against India due to injury problem. He also missed the Sri Lanka tour as he was recovering from the surgery.

“He was advised six to eight weeks of rest and he has made good progress. He is a valuable player for the team and his presence in England would be very important for us,” the official said.

On another speedster Shabbir Ahmed, who has been suspended for 12 months by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for having an illegal bowling action, the PCB official said efforts were being made to convince the ICC experts to review Shabbir’s action before the completion of the suspension period.

“Shabbir has been working on his action and we might send him abroad soon because we are very keen his action should be reviewed before the 12-month suspension period is completed,” the official said.

See also Pakistan vs England, 2006.

The two India-Pakistan one-dayers for the DLF Cup in Abu Dhabi this month will be shown live on Zee Sports and Doordarshan in India and on PTV and Ten Sports in Pakistan, Zee said after reaching agreements on media rights for the event.

Zee will telecast the matches on the cable network while Doordarshan will beam the pictures into terrestrial homes, a statement from Zee said on Thursday.

Similarly, PTV will televise the matches on terrestrial network in Pakistan and Ten Sports to cable and satellite homes.

In Singapore, the matches will be available on the Star Hub.

In the Malaysian Territory, Astro All Asia Network will broadcast the matches. In the United States, Zee Sports has entered into an agreement with Echostar Satellite granting the American DTH telecast major exclusive broadcast rights for the DLF Cup.

Zee will leverage its international network in the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East and South Africa, where the matches will be broadcast through the Zee International feeds.

Zee Sports has also reached an agreement with All India Radio to broadcast live commentary.

HUM FM will provide live radio commentary in Pakistan and the Middle East.