PCB slaps fine of Rs.500, 000 on Haider

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday imposed a fine of Rs.500, 000/- on former wicketkeeper Zulqarnin Haider.
The former wicketkeeper appeared before the PCB’s Disciplinary Committee and admitted his mistake.
The committee slapped Haider with the fine of Rs.500, 000 and decided to keep him under observation for a period of one year.
Committee’s head Sultan Rana said that a lenient penalty has been imposed on Haider due to illness of his father.
Realizing his mistake, the wicketkeeper accepted the penalty and promised to avoid such actions in the future.
Later, speaking to media men, he said that he had realized his mistake and was ready to resume his cricketing career.
It may be mentioned here that Haider ran away from the team’s hotel ahead of last one-day international against South Africa in Dubai. He claimed that he was threatened by bookies, who wanted him to fix the match.

Pakistan restores Afridi's right to play abroad

LAHORE: Pakistan on Thursday restored permission for former captain Shahid Afridi to play abroad, allowing him to join England's Twenty20 tournament and ending a damaging row, an official said.
The announcement came after the star all-rounder halted legal proceedings and appeared before a three-man disciplinary committee in Lahore, where he said he had been forced into making a mistake.
The 31-year-old locked horns with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by announcing his retirement from international cricket after being dumped as one-day captain, and by condemning the current management.
The PCB said Afridi violated the players' code of conduct, suspended his central contract and revoked permission for him to play abroad, preventing him from joining Hampshire in the ongoing Twenty20 league in England.
"Afridi regretted the matter and said he will not contest the charges," said PCB legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi on behalf of the committee.
"The committee unanimously decided to fine him 4.5 million rupees ($53,000) for various breaches of the code of conduct," he said.
"The committee also recommended his NOCs (No-Objection Certificates) to play abroad be restored, which the Pakistan Cricket Board has endorsed," Rizvi added.
The three-man disciplinary committee was made up of former first class player Sultan Rana, Test opener Shafiq Ahmed and Usman Wahla.
The stand-off began last month after Afridi publicly criticized coach Waqar Younis for meddling in team selection during a one-day series against the West Indies, which Pakistan won 3-2.
"Afridi appeared before the committee and explained his position and conduct which led to the suspension of his contract and revoking of the NOCs," said Rizvi, the legal advisor.
Afridi's retirement announcement and allegations against officials were both serious violations of players' code of conduct, he said.
The PCB suspended his central contract and ordered him to appear before the disciplinary committee on June 8.
Instead, Afridi went to court, challenging the sanctions and demanding that he be allowed to play abroad. The court ordered the committee meeting adjourned and summoned both parties on June 9.
It temporarily upheld the revoking of the NOCs before Afridi withdrew the case after meeting PCB chairman Ijaz Butt in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka's Jayasuriya to retire after 1st England ODI

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya will retire from all forms of international cricket after the first one-day match of their England tour later this month, he said on Thursday.
"I called here to inform (you of) my retirement from all forms of (international) cricket after 20 years of play," Jayasuriya told reporters in Colombo.
"I'll retire after playing a one-day and a T20 game," he said. Sri Lanka face England in a Twenty20 match on June 25 before the first one-dayer at the Oval three days later.
The 41-year-old all-rounder, who quit test cricket in 2007, made the announcement after Sri Lanka Cricket recalled him for the T20 and one-day squads to face England.
Jayasuriya, who helped Sri Lanka to their only World Cup triumph in 1996, remains the island nation's highest run scorer in one-day internationals with 13,428 runs from 444 matches.

Kirsten appointed South Africa coach

JOHANNESBURG: Gary Kirsten, who led India to their 50-over World Cup triumph this year, has been appointed coach of his native South Africa.
The former opening batsman will formally take over in August ahead of the two home series against Australia and Sri Lanka, Cricket South Africa said at a news conference on Monday.
Kirsten's successful three-year stint as India coach ended in April when he turned down a lucrative contract extension.
The 43-year-old will be taking over from Corrie van Zyl at South Africa.
Kirsten played 101 tests and 185 one-day internationals for his country.

Nadal beats Federer for sixth French crown

PARIS: Rafa Nadal sealed a record-equalling sixth French Open title with a 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1 win over Roger Federer on Sunday to continue his dominance on clay over his great rival.
The victory meant the Spaniard equalled Bjorn Borg's men's singles record at Roland Garros while it also made sure he would remain world number one amid pressure from Novak Djokovic.
Swiss Federer, who was bidding to beat Nadal in western Paris for the first time in five attempts, raced into a 5-2 lead in the first set and squandered a set point before errors crept into his play as the top seed turned the screw with some exceptional recovery shots.
Nadal rattled off seven games in a row to move 2-0 ahead in the second set as gasps went around a packed crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier, who were mainly supporting record 16-times grand slam champion Federer.
A slow start to the two-week tournament by Nadal was long forgotten by the time two of the greats of the game came to clash in the final after third seed Federer had ended second seed Djokovic's 41-match winning streak in 2011 in the semis.
Like so many of their epic duels down the years, this was another match full of exhilarating rallies and spellbinding winners but "King of Clay" Nadal deservedly prevailed.
Nadal, who has only ever lost one match in his seven years at the French Open, gave Federer a glimmer of a chance in the second set but easily won the tiebreak 7-3.
Federer battled back from 4-2 down in the third with some sublime tennis to extend the contest and had 0-40 on Nadal's opening service game in the fourth set.
However, Nadal roared back to claim his 10th grand slam title when a resigned Federer hit a forehand long, the emotional Spaniard dropping to his knees in celebration.

Donald turns down N.Z. bowling coach job

WELLINGTON: Former South African paceman Allan Donald rejected an offer to become New Zealand's bowling coach Sunday to pursue a job in his homeland, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said.
Donald worked as the Black Caps' bowling coach for three months earlier this year and New Zealand administrators had hoped to sign him on permanently.
NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said Donald had reached a verbal agreement with the governing body but it fell through when the South African had a last-minute change of heart.
"We did everything possible to retain Allan but it is understandable that a role in South Africa would be attractive to both him and his family," Vaughan said.
"Unfortunately that is the nature of professional sport and although I understand the reasons for Allan's decision, it is disappointing."
Vaughan said he believed Donald wanted to become South Africa's bowling coach under a new Proteas management team set to be unveiled this week.
During his time with New Zealand, Donald helped to lift the Black Caps from one of the worst form slumps in their history.
Along with coach John Wright, he turned around the team's fortunes and they exceeded expectations to reach the semi-final of the World Cup in March, losing to Sri Lanka in Colombo. AGENCIES