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There is uncertainty over the participation of Pakistan players in the upcoming Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League as a result of a strained relationship between the two boards

Mohammad Isam and Umar Farooq05-Sep-2013There is uncertainty over the participation of Pakistan players in the upcoming Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, Bangladesh’s domestic one-day competition, due to a strained relationship between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the PCB.With less than five days before the start of the league on September 10, none of the 12 Dhaka clubs have managed to confirm the services of a Pakistan player. This season, a club can field up to three foreign players during a match and can register 10 players during the season. However, according to the BCB, it has not received any no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the PCB, a situation similar to what occurred before start of the Bangladesh Premier League earlier this year.An NOC is mandatory under a new ICC ruling on players participating in another country’s domestic competition. Previously, the Dhaka clubs contacted the players who then sought permission from their respective province or department, and a letter was sent from the BCB or the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) to help with visas in Bangladesh.This year, however, the process is likely to be a drawn out one due to the impasse between the boards. Relations between the two boards have been difficult since a Dhaka court ruling stopped Bangladesh from touring Pakistan in April last year. Throughout 2012, the BCB sought to conduct the tour only to back off citing security fears. In December 2012, BCB chief Nazmul Hassan put the tour on hold and said that the side would visit Pakistan only if the overall security improved. Two weeks later, the PCB refused to issue NOCs to its players to participate in the BPL, giving the Bangladesh board another reason to delay the proposed international tour. The PCB’s decision to prohibit its players from the BPL resulted in chaos as franchises scrambled to find last-minute replacements for Pakistan players two days before the tournament began.”It wasn’t us who told them not to come [to play in the BPL],” Hassan said. “It was the PCB who denied NOCs at the last minute. We played without them, and that is how we have remained. If suddenly they change the decision and contact the clubs here, it will be a different situation.”We will play the Dhaka Premier League without the Pakistani players because the PCB hasn’t given them the NOC. There’s no need for any discussions. We have accepted their hasty decision not to send players during BPL. We were not invited for any discussions at the time.”According to the PCB, it is seeking a formal written communication from the BCB before considering the release of its players. The PCB said that players were being approached directly with no written agreement from the “Bangladeshi organisers and board”.The current requirement of an NOC to engage with a player from a foreign country was prevalent last year, and the PCB had to issue the letters to its players, after the BCB made it mandatory for clubs to sign only overseas cricketers with first-class experience.Iqbal Yusuf Chowdhury, who is in charge of Cricket Coaching School (CCS), one of the twelve Dhaka Premier League clubs, said he would seek the BCB’s help in getting Pakistan cricketers to play in the tournament: “I will submit a letter on Saturday, to ask BCB to help me with NOCs from PCB.”Other Dhaka club officials have already started to look elsewhere this year, particularly to countries where players are free between September and October. A few clubs are interested in approaching Sri Lanka cricketers and some players have reportedly signed up. Clubs are also likely to contact players from England, India and Zimbabwe.A steady flow of Pakistani cricketers, international and uncapped, has been a feature of Bangladesh’s domestic competitions, particularly the Dhaka Premier League. Ever since the clubs were allowed a quota of foreign players, they have mainly been interested in bringing cricketers from Pakistan.Even when the second tier of the Dhaka league system or the first-class competition allowed foreigners for a short while, Pakistani players were the ones in demand. Players who are regulars in the Dhaka Premier League could also suffer financially, as a result of the issues between the boards. Usually, players are paid between $5,000 to $15,000 per season, depending on their first-class experience and Dhaka league performance. For international players, the rate goes up substantially and the clubs are often rewarded.Wasim Akram was the biggest name from Pakistan to have played in the Dhaka league. Shahid Afridi, Abdur Razzak, Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat have also played domestic cricket in the country; Farhat scored the first double-century in Bangladesh first-class cricket. In recent years, Misbah-ul-Haq, Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Khurram Manzoor, Khalid Latif, Fawad Alam and Hammad Azam have played in the Dhaka Premier League regularly.

Otago captain Brendon McCullum said for them the victory against Lions came down to the confidence gleaned from their 14-match winning run, which ended with this tie

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Sep-2013When Otago needed 65 runs off the final five overs in their chase of 168, with only four wickets in hand, it looked like Lions had won the game in Jaipur. But James Neesham managed to take it to the Super Over. When Otago had got only seven runs off the first five balls of the Super Over, they looked in bad shape again. But Brendon McCullum charged down to convert one of many good deliveries from Sohail Tanvir into a full toss and hit it for six to give them a defendable 13. When Lions needed only three off the final three deliveries of their over, it seemed the game had finally got away from Otago. But the fielders and Neesham held their nerve, again.In the end, captain McCullum said, for them it came down to the confidence gleaned from their 14-match winning run in T20s which ended with this tie. “I think it’s the luxury of winning all the games on the bounce, it breeds confidence,” McCullum said after victory was secured via a superior boundary count. “The guys get pretty composed in the middle and are backing their ability.”They might have been clear in their mind as to what was needed to be done, but the nerves were still jangling, McCullum admitted: “I don’t know about calm. I played about three dots and in the Super Over [and that] wouldn’t have gone down that well. I missed two really good balls from Tanvir to start the over and at the end was fortunate to get one away.”Neesham, who had thumped 52 off 25 to get it to the Super Over, was entrusted with bowling it for Otago. He didn’t bowl the best of overs, dishing out several length deliveries but, as he said later, it was just his day. “Everyone has their day I guess. I guess it was just my day. Someone new stood up in each game, so I guess it was my turn.”He mirrored McCullum’s thoughts, saying that the situation was tense but he didn’t let that get to him. “Did I look calm? Got to be cool on the outside and not let on, and just be clear in your plans and go forth from there. I think this feeling will linger for a while.”

Sabbir Rahman is a middle-order batsman who is building a reputation as a finisher. Needing 104 from 14.2 overs was right up his alley, and with someone like Shakib at the other end, the job was slightly easier

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur24-Apr-2015Shakib Al Hasan bowled four tight overs and was the innings top-scorer with an unbeaten 57; Mustafizur Rahman took two for 20 in his international debut. But Sabbir Rahman’s entertaining unbeaten 51 pipped both to the man-of-the-match award.Of course, there was reason for choosing him ahead of the other two. To complete the seven-wicket win over Pakistan, Bangladesh needed an innings like Sabbir’s, especially when they lost three wickets within the first six overs of the chase. And the men out were Soumya Sarkar, run out without facing a ball, Tamim Iqbal, who scored two hundreds and a fifty in the ODI series, and Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s form batsman for more than three years.Sabbir had only spent seven minutes at the crease during the just-concluded ODI series, having batted only in the first game. But he brought the confidence of the whirlwind 123 against the Pakistanis in the practice match two days before the ODI series. It was the visitors’ first wake-up call, after they went on to lose the game by one wicket in Fatullah.So when Mushfiqur saw Sabbir walking in, he knew a confident hitter was heading to replace him. He just told him to trust the wicket, something that Sabbir says not many outgoing batsmen say.”When I was crossing Mushfiqur , he told me that the wicket is superb,” Sabbir said. “He said, ‘You just have to stand there and play’. Sometimes batsmen get out and say negative things like the wicket isn’t great. But Mushfiqur words gave me a lot of confidence.”Sabbir is used to such chases, particularly from domestic cricket. He is a middle-order batsman who is building a reputation as a finisher. Needing 104 from 14.2 overs was right up his alley, and with someone like Shakib at the other end, the job was slightly easier.”I did not see much difference between these situations in domestic and international cricket,” he said. “I always try to play seriously. My confidence rose after that hundred in the practice game. In this innings, I didn’t put much planning into the approach.”I just always try to be positive when I go to the middle. I play well when I bat positively. I hope I keep playing in this way. I wasn’t afraid, I just tried to play ball-to-ball. I didn’t see who was bowling,” he said.Shakib was batting freely at the other end, so Sabbir swiftly moved to 11 off his first ten balls. Bangladesh needed 67 from the last ten overs when he suddenly swung into action. He flat-batted Wahab Riaz over mid-off and squeezed one through the covers, before swinging wildly and the top-edge taking the ball for his first six.In Wahab’s next over, Sabbir again flat-batted him over the bowler before deftly touching the ball to get a second boundary in the over through fine-leg. At the start of the 15th over, he went for a reverse-sweep off Saeed Ajmal. Two more fours followed off Wahab, who conceded three fours in total in his last over and went for 39 in four overs.The win was a matter of formality from that point, and Bangladesh achieved something they haven’t been able to do since 2007: beat Pakistan in a T20. “The biggest thing for me is that Bangladesh won the T20. I always think that if my one run helps the team, I am happy,” Sabbit said. “One was for gold medal, and this was a first T20 win over Pakistan. On both occasions, my plan was to be positive. I am happy to have contributed to Bangladesh’s win.”He struck seven fours and a six in his 32-ball innings. He was brilliant in the field, effecting a run out off the last ball of the innings. Like many young players are asked, Sabbir too faced the question about the format of cricket he prefers. Sabbir said: “For me T20s come first, then the ODIs.”

Misbah-ul-Haq expressed his wish to captain Pakistan in a home Test before his retirement

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2015Misbah-ul-Haq, who turns 41 on Thursday, expressed his wish to be able to lead Pakistan in a home Test before retiring. International cricket returned to Pakistan after a six-year hiatus, but Misbah, who retired from ODIs following Pakistan’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to Australia in March, regretted not being a part of the current squad.He praised Zimbabwe’s decision to tour Pakistan and hoped that it would open the gates for other Test nations to make the trip in the near future.”I would love to captain Pakistan in Tests at home before I retire,” Misbah told . “I hope soon some team will visit Pakistan and we will play a Test series here. Even during the matches against Zimbabwe I regretted not being part of the team.”People have proved that cricket is still alive in Pakistan,” he said. “The way fans have turned out to watch matches, despite searing heat and extraordinary security measures, it has strengthened the view that international cricket should be played here.”The people of Pakistan have shown to world that they can’t be kept away from cricket. We have given a very strong message to the world,” he said. “Zimbabwe is not much popular as compared to other cricketing countries, (and) still the fans have come out in large numbers to support them. It shows how badly we were missing cricket.””The government should take more steps to bring cricket in Pakistan.”Misbah said the home advantage could do wonders in nurturing the new upcoming talent in Pakistan cricket.The series was received with extraordinary fervour and excitement in Pakistan. Fans with placards and posters that read “thank you Zimbabwe” were a common sight at the Gaddafi Stadium during the two T20Is. Though the talks for a Test series against India are under way, it is expected that they will play in the UAE, a neutral venue.

The summer solstice must have seemed even longer to Kent than normal, as they put themselves under pressure in their against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road as Rory Kleinveldt and Azharullah both took five-wicket hauls to bowl them out for just 140.

ECB/PA21-Jun-2015
ScorecardAzharullah, and his new ball partner Rory Kleinveldt, ripped through Kent•Getty Images

The summer solstice must have seemed even longer to Kent than normal, as they put themselves under pressure in their against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road as Rory Kleinveldt and Azharullah both took five-wicket hauls to bowl them out for just 140.Having been dismissed so cheaply on what has been one of the country’s flattest wickets, that they fought back late in the day to limit Northamptonshire to 193 for 7 shows just how dire their situation was in mid-afternoon.The pleasant Sunday conditions were in contrast to the mizzle that ruined Saturday’s opening day and in fairness to the visitors, the green tinge to the pitch suggested something as spicy as the curry on the nearby Wellingborough Road. Despite the early loss of both openers, Kent seemed well placed at 93 for 2 with Rob Key and Sam Northeast playing shots all around the square. That was with ten minutes left in the session when the largely self-inflicted carnage took place.Previously the model of consistency this season, Northeast was unsure whether to leave or play at Kleinveldt outside the off stump and ending up edging to wicketkeeper Adam Rossington for 36. Darren Stevens was lbw to the very next ball and three further deliveries later, Key was bowled for 35, playing all around one from Azharullah. Tredwell’s dismissal – bowled Azharullah for 0 – on the stroke of lunch, meant that four wickets had fallen in a remarkable 19-ball spell and Kent were 97 for 6.Forty-four balls after lunch, Kent were all out and although Azharullah and Kleinveldt bowled well to produce the home side’s best and second-best bowling figures of the season, the movement was hardly excessive.Northamptonshire’s players showed on occasions that with application, batting was far from impossible and the likelihood is that the surface will improve further over the next two days. The chief example of that was provided by 23 year-old Rob Keogh. Predominantly a leg side player, he has the cool temperament to play the long innings as evidenced by his 163 not out to save the game at Derbyshire this season and 221 against Hampshire two years ago.Keogh is closing in on 700 runs and has a chance of becoming the first Northamptonshire player to reach 1000 first-class runs in a season since Stephen Peters in 2010. Alex Wakely’s 50 in support, helped Keogh run up 70 for the third wicket and while all batsmen played and missed during the day, it was a surprise when Keogh edged Matt Coles to Adam Ball at third slip for 68, with eight overs remaining in the day.That was the first of three wickets in successive overs for Coles who finished with figures of 4 for 62 and who now has 42 Championship wickets in his first season back with his original county, after a brief spell at Hampshire. To add to Northants’ late woe, Cobb departed in Mitchell Claydon’s last over of the day to leave the home side 53 in front with three first-innings wickets left. This seesaw day leaves the remaining two days impossible to predict.

UAE’s opening bowlers – Mohammad Naveed and Manjula Guruge – took seven wickets between them to set up a comfortable five-wicket win against Kenya in Southampton

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jun-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo – Mohammad Naveed finished with figures of 4 for 36•AFP

UAE’s opening bowlers – Mohammad Naveed and Manjula Guruge – took seven wickets between them to set up a comfortable five-wicket win against Kenya in Southampton.UAE made good use of their decision to insert Kenya by having them 31 for 3 within nine overs. Collins Obuya threatened with a 47-ball 36, in which he hit seven fours, but the most substantial stand of the innings was 65 between Nelson Odhiambo (24) and Nehemiah Odhiambo(62) for the sixth wicket, but Nehemiah’s dismissal in the 31st over retracted any hopes of a comeback. Kenya lost the last four wickets for 24 as they were bowled out for 171 in the 41st over. Naveed finished with figures of 4 for 36.In reply UAE lost Qais Farooq in the second over for 4, and two more wickets by the end of 11th over as the match evened out. Amjad Ali (49) and Swapnil Patil (38) then added 66 for the fourth wicket to wrest the game from Kenya’s grasp. Nehemiah contributed with the ball as well, taking 2 for 28. Mohammad Shahzad and Amjad Javed chipped in with cameos to help UAE reach the target.

Australia completed a 405-run thrashing of England on the fourth day at Lord’s, where England were set 509 for victory and were bowled out for 103

The Report by Brydon Coverdale19-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsChris Rogers received medical attention before retiring hurt on 49•Associated Press

In the end, it was a 405-run annihilation, but there were all sorts of other figures that highlighted just how dominant Australia were in this Lord’s Test. England claimed 10 wickets in the match; Australia took 20. England scored 415 runs in the match; Steven Smith and Chris Rogers between them made 495. England had to survive five sessions to salvage a draw; they lasted just 37 overs. Ultimately, only two numbers mattered: 1-1.That is the scoreline that the teams take to Edgbaston, and this Investec Ashes series is alive and kicking. And as we have learnt after Cardiff, things can change quickly. Do not assume that Australia will again dominate in Birmingham. For now, they will celebrate with gusto their enormous win at the home of cricket. That they dismissed England for 103 in the second innings on a pitch decried on the first day as a road was testament to their strength.Michael Clarke’s declaration shortly before lunch meant a victory target of 509 for England. Before long, that number was so abstract it might as well have been painted by Kandinsky. In a disastrous middle session they lost five wickets for 57 runs. They had needed some magic but found themselves be-Mitched, as Mitchells Johnson, Starc and Marsh all claimed important wickets.Their problems started when Adam Lyth edged behind for 7 off Starc, the victim of a fine ball that bounced and moved away, but also of his own poor judgment – it was a ball he could have left. Alastair Cook wafted at one and was tamely caught behind off Johnson for 11, and Gary Ballance managed 14 before he also edged behind, this time off a short rising ball from Marsh.None of the batsmen looked especially comfortable, and Johnson sent down the odd nasty bouncer to keep them guessing. But it was not just the pace that caused problems – Ian Bell found an inside edge that flew up to short leg off Lyon for 11. The most embarrassing dismissal, though, came shortly before the tea break.Joe Root had driven Marsh to mid-on, where Johnson collected and threw at the stumps at the wicketkeeper’s end. His throw was so accurate it struck the middle of middle stump and Ben Stokes had neglected to ground either bat or foot, leading to the farcical sight of him hovering in the air well inside his crease, but with nothing having touched down. He was out for a duck, and looked like a goose.After tea, to paraphrase Ron Burgundy, things escalated quickly. Jos Buttler edged the first ball of the session, off Johnson, behind to Peter Nevill, who pouched his seventh catch of the match and equalled the all-time record for wicketkeeping catches on debut, although the dismissal record of eight remained out of reach. Four balls later, Moeen Ali fended a fearsome bouncer to short leg.At seven down, it felt as though Johnson might need just three more balls to finish the job, such was his venom. But Stuart Broad survived a few overs before he drove Lyon on the up to cover for 25, which turned out to be England’s highest score. Josh Hazlewood finished the procession by bowling both Root for 17 and James Anderson for a duck.The odd ball had stayed a touch low, but there was nothing wrong with this pitch. On day four, it still felt like a pretty good day-two surface, and England could not blame the conditions for their collapse. There will be plenty of time for ruminations over the next week and a half before Edgbaston, and they won’t like what they find.Australia showed earlier in the day that it was still a good pitch, declaring at 254 for 2 shortly before lunch. Chris Rogers had sent a scare through the Australian camp when he suffered a dizzy spell and required medical attention on the ground; he retired hurt on, with the total on 114 for 0. That brought Steven Smith to the crease to join David Warner, and Smith enjoyed the licence to attack.Smith played some outlandish strokes during his 48-ball stay, notably when walking across his stumps before the ball was bowled, then working it from far outside off stump through the various large gaps on the leg side. They were the shots of a man in such strong form that he could put any ball wherever he wanted, and knew it.He struck nine fours, including three in three balls off Stuart Broad, the second of which brought up his half-century from his 43rd delivery. It was more than a cameo but less than the starring role he had played with his first-innings double-century; in the end he was bowled for 58 dancing down the pitch to Ali.Smith finished with an aggregate of 273 runs for the match, the second highest by any batsman in a Lord’s Test, behind the 456 that Graham Gooch compiled in 1990, when he made 333 and 123. At the other end, Warner added 23 to his overnight score before he thumped Ali to extra cover and was caught for 83, missing the chance to join Smith and Rogers on the Lord’s honour board.Clarke found the beginnings of some form in making an unbeaten 32 from 34 deliveries and Marsh clubbed a couple of sixes in what became the last over of Australia’s innings, and finished on 27 from 19 balls when his partner declared. Clarke wanted to give his men five sessions to bowl England out. They didn’t even need two.