Pakistan players seek participation in IPL

LAHORE: The organizers of the Indian Premier League (IPL) continue to snub Pakistani cricketers and are unlikely to consider them for any future events.Pakistani cricketers refused to play in the league when it was based in India as a result of a call from their government as the relationship between the neighbours soured. Although the IPL will now take place in South Africa, the organisers have not invited the Pakistani cricketers to reconsider their stance.The IPL franchises had signed some of the leading Pakistan cricketers, including skipper Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar and Salman Butt.It is understood that the IPL organisers were upset by the refusal of the Pakistan government to release the players. They have now refused to take them back. While some of the Pakistani players have written e-mails to the IPL organisers and to their respective teams, they have not received any replies. The IPL feels that it is only required to pay non-participating players if they are injured. The Pakistani players, however, argue that they cannot be blamed for a decision made by their government. They have also demanded that they be included in the tournament now that it is being held in South Africa, or failing that receive the money they were promised by the franchises.Some of the Pakistani players who have signed with sports management companies said they hope to fight their case against the IPL. In a recent TV interview, Khan threatened to seek legal redress.

New Zealand squad named for World Twenty20

WELLINGTON: New Zealand's selectors have gambled on injury-prone all-rounder Jacob Oram being fit for the ICC World Twenty20 in June, naming him in a 15-man squad announced Tuesday. The 30-year-old Oram, ranked the fifth-best all-rounder in the world in one-day internationals, has been plagued by injuries over the past four years, which have seen him in and out of the national side.He did not play in the just-concluded three-Test series against India because of an Achilles strain.But he has been included in the squad for the World Cup in England on the assumption that he is fully fit, Glenn Turner, the head of the selection panel, said.The squad also includes Brendon Diamanti, who has yet to play an international Twenty20, and four other players absent from the side that won the two Twenty20s against India last month.The recalled players are Peter McGlashan, who last played against Sri Lanka in 2006, James Franklin, who played against Australia in February, and Scott Styris and Kyle Mills, who turned out against the West Indies in December.Turner said the fickle English climate had presented a challenge in selecting the side."We're really not sure what conditions will prevail in early June," he said."But being able to take 15 players means we have hopefully been able to cover all angles."In selecting the side we have been particularly conscious of selecting players in the middle and lower order who are boundary hitters."Notable omissions from the squad are one-day specialists Grant Elliott and Tim Southee, who are both on the list of replacement or cover players. The World Twenty20 opens on June 5. New Zealand's group matches are against Scotland on June 6 at the Oval and South Africa on June 9 at Lords. New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Brendon Diamanti, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor.

Australian squad to play Pakistan

MELBOURNE: Australia's 14-man squad named Wednesday to play Pakistan in a one-day series in the United Arab Emirates beginning this month.Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin (vice captain), Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Brett Geeves, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Ben Laughlin, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson

Spectators interest in IPL continues despite shifting to SA

CAPE TOWN: The interest of spectators in the Indian Premier League (IPL) continues despite its shifting to South Africa.Chairman IPL Lalit Modi has claimed that the tickets of the initial matches were sold out in just two hours.Talking with media here on Wednesday, Moddi said that he assures the spectators that they would get the opportunity to watch the best cricket in the IPL matches. He said that like the first edition of the IPL, great entertainment is being provided this time, too. Lalit Modi said that thousands of tickets were arranged for the IPL’s initial matches and all were sold out in just two hours which reflects how much enthusiasm of the spectators found in the IPL.Meanwhile, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab and renowned film actress Preity Zinta said that the same players who play against each other would play together and would remain together. Spectators would get much entertainment and she believes the IPL this time would be more interesting than earlier.

Yousuf agrees to end deal with ICL

KARACHI: Star batsman Mohammad Yousuf has agreed once again to end an agreement he signed with Indian Cricket League (ICL).

According to sources, he could represent the Pakistani side in One-Day series against Australia once the agreement is terminated. Sources also said some more players may follow suit if given an opportunity to represent the country.

IPL second edition schedule released

CAPE TOWN: The opening match and final of the second edition of IPL, shifted overseas to South Africa, are to be held at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town and the Wanderers in Johannesburg respectively on April 18 and May 24.The semi finals are to be held on May 22 and 23 in Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively, as per the full schedule of the Twenty20 League available.In a double header on the first day, last year's winners Rajasthan Royals would take on Royal Challengers, Bangalore, while Mumbai Indians would clash with first edition's runners-up Chennai Super Kings at Cape Town.In all, the 59 matches will be held in eight cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, East London, Kimberly, Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth.Kingsmead in Durban, which has a large number of South Asians, has been allotted the lion's share of 16 matches while the Centurion Park in Pretoria would host 12 ties.The Wanderers in Johannesburg and Newlands in Cape Town come next best with eight matches each, with the latter playing host to four of these on the first two days of the cash-rich, high-profile competition.Seven matches are to be held in St George's Park in Port Elizabeth while Buffalo Park in East London has been allotted four matches.Two matches each have been handed over to Outsurance Oval in Bloemfontein and De Beers Oval in Kimberley.There are a total of ten double headers (two matches back to back at the same venue) with Durban hosting half of these.

Pakistan drops Shoaib Akhtar for BD tour

LAHORE: Pakistan Wednesday omitted yet-to-be fully fit Shoaib Akhtar from a 16-man squad for this month's tour of Bangladesh where they play two Twenty20 and five one-day internationals.The team departs on March 7 and play the first of two Twenty20 matches on March 10. The other Twenty20 and the first three one-day matches are scheduled for Dhaka. The last two one-day matches will be played in Chittagong.Squad: Younus Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Fawad Alam, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanver, Mohammad Aamir, Yasir Arafat, Yasir Shah, Rao Iftikhar, Sarfraz Ahmed. Fixtures: March 7 - Departure from Karachi, March 10 - Ist Twenty20 in Dhaka, March 12 - Second Twenty20 in Dhaka, March 13 - Ist one-day international in Dhaka, March 15 - Second one-day international in Dhaka, March 17 - Third one-day international in Dhaka , March 20 - Fourth one-day international in Chittagong and March 22 - Fifth one-day international in Chittagong.