Cricket is not Cricket without Shahid Afridi

Saeed Ajmal in delivery stride, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Gros Islet, April 25, 2011 Saeed Ajmal was not able not test his new delivery during the World Cup © AFP Enlarge Related Links Players/Officials: Saeed Ajmal Teams: Pakistan Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan offspinner, has said that he has been working on a new type of delivery, which he will bowl in the series against England early next year. Ajmal told PakPassion that he didn't get a chance to experiment with the delivery during the World Cup 2011 and was now saving it for the England series in the UAE. "I didn't bowl it (in the World Cup) because I wanted to stick with my best and most reliable deliveries in such a high profile tournament," Ajmal said. "I'm saving it for the series against England." He refused to reveal any details about the new delivery calling it "top secret". Ajmal had a successful tour of the West Indies earlier this year where the home ...

Ijaz Butt’s future as the PCB chief hangs in balance, with his family reportedly not in favour of the former Test player seeking an extension when his term ends on October 8. Butt, who has succeeded in marginalising the players’ power in the national team and introduced the culture of giving increased exposure to new and young players, said he will decide on his future only after he knows what board’s chief patron, president Asif Zardari wishes to do. Reports say that Zardari has unofficially told Butt that his tenure will be extended beyond October 8. “But the issue now is what Butt himself wants because in recent times it is no secret that there is growing pressure on him from his family to step down from the PCB post,” a source said. “Butt himself has hinted he might not want to continue beyond October 8 several times during internal meetings as his business and family commitments have suffered in the last two years due to his role as PCB chairman,” the source said. Interes...

Shoaib Malik's and Danish Kaneria's long drawn-out battle to gain clearance from the PCB continued on Monday when they appeared before its integrity committee again. A spokesman for the PCB said the decision on whether the two players - who last played for Pakistan during the England tour last year - can play for the national team is still pending. "Both Malik and Kaneria appeared before the committee but the committee has taken no decision," Nadeem Sawrar, a PCB spokesman, told AFP. Malik, Kaneria and Kamran Akmal appeared before the integrity committee in January before the selection of Pakistan's World Cup squad, and while Kamran was included Kaneria and Malik were not cleared for selection. Kaneria was questioned by police in England last year, in relation to an investigation believed to centre around a Pro40 Essex win against Durham and spot-betting on wides and no-balls during the match, but was not charged. He has since produced a l...

Sharjah will host its first Test in nine years this November, after Pakistan and Sri Lanka reached an agreement to play the last of their three Tests in the UAE at the venue. The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium has hosted more ODIs than any other ground but has not had any international cricket between top teams since 2003. With international stadiums being built in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it had looked unlikely that Sharjah would make a return as a venue for big matches. However, the Emirates Cricket Board has now said there will be a Test there starting November 3. "We've finally confirmed that Pakistan will play a Test in Sharjah," Dilawar Mani, chief of the Emirates board, told the Express Tribune. "We offered Sharjah at the very beginning - apart from Dubai and Abu Dhabi - but it was necessary for both sides to agree to play in Sharjah. We're now delighted to know that it has happened." The other two venues for the Pakistan-Sri L...

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has questioned the decision to rest fast bowlers Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe saying it would hamper their growth as bowlers. "I don't mind taking Zimbabwe lightly and giving chances to youngsters," Akram told AFP, "but it is surprising that you rest Riaz who has just started his career a year ago and is progressing. He doesn't need rest." The Pakistan selectors also omitted seamer Tanvir Ahmed, and instead chose to go with an inexperienced pace attack comprising Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, debutant Aizaz Cheema and Junaid Khan. Commenting on the selection, chief selector Mohsin Khan had said the fresh look to the squad was an effort to blood youngsters. However Akram said the tour would have been a good opportunity for Riaz to continue his development and for Gul to regain his form. "I have seen that out-of-form paceman get back to form by playing easier teams, but here...