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Younis launches cricket team for disabled

New Delhi: Younis Khan launched a national cricket team for disabled people on Wednesday and appealed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and citizens of the country to come forward and help the team to establish on permanent lines.

"The most important part of this campaign is that disabled people can't be ignored as they are part of our daily life," Younis was quoted as saying in Times of India.

He further told the newspaper, "I myself have been sparing time whenever possible to support and encourage them and help them set up their own team."

Younis revealed that six months ago people had approached him to get involved in the project for forming a Pakistan disabled team.

"I responded initially because it was for a good cause but after watching the enthusiasm and keenness of these disabled people for cricket, I now feel I am doing these people no favour."

He also urged the media to take time out for the cause and do whatever possible to help the disabled people.

"I am helping them organize a national cricket league for disabled people and I am thankful the cricket board has been very supportive and helpful to us," Younis said.

Inaugural Champions League put back due to Trophy clash

By N.Ananthanarayanan

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The inaugural Twenty20 Champions League has been postponed until December due to fears it could undermine next month's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

The Champions League, originally scheduled from September 29 to October 8, would have started on the reserve day for the Champions Trophy final. But it will now be held from December 3-10, organisers said in a statement on Thursday.

The Indian, Australian and South African boards are jointly staging the $6 million (3.2 million pound), eight-team Champions League.

Last week the International Cricket Council (ICC) asked them to review the dates because the competition involved many international players and the governing body's rules prohibits major events until a week after an official tournament.

"While the Champions League Twenty20 is a domestic tournament not affected by ICC rules, we have agreed to the ICC request as a gesture of goodwill," organisers added.

The top two domestic Twenty20 teams from India, Australia and South Africa plus English champions Middlesex and Pakistan winners Sialkot will contest the league.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

Test cricket is the real test of character

As the Pakistan Cricket Board ponders on holding its own version of the Indian Premier League (IPL), former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad denounced the idea saying such a move would destroy the game in the country. We at zeecric.com bring to you the excerpts:Miandad said the IPL is nothing but entertainment and lacks quality."The involvement of too much money will destroy the game of cricket. It (IPL) lacks quality and a cricketer can never get the confidence he needs as a player. Even the greatest of bowlers cannot do anything about conceding sixes and fours," Miandad told the `Dawn`.The former Pakistan coach insisted five-day cricket not T20 was the real test of a player`s ability as there was the latter does not require players to showcase their technique.Miandad also felt Pakistan cricket was on a downward spiral and said the absence of quality opponents in the team`s schedule."One reason for this is that talented players are not being groomed properly. Also, we are not playing against high ranking teams and competing with the weaker sides which doesn`t improve your game.
"It is contesting against quality teams like Australia and India that your potential is truly put to the test But this is not the case at present," he said. Australia recently refused to tour Pakistan for a Test series due to security concerns, which was later rescheduled for 2009-2010.He came down heavily on the Australian players who played in the IPL at the cost of the pre-scheduled tour of Pakistan."It would have at least made it clear if whether their players had genuine security concerns or they were avoiding the Pakistan tour because they wanted to play in the IPL," he alleged.The cricketer, who has played 124 Tests, also lashed out at the PCB saying there was not a single person who knows the game."It`s an one man show in the team and the board."Miandad also criticised the Board`s handling of Shoaib Akhtar issue and said the pacer should not have been allowed to play in the IPL."There should be no compromise on discipline. The Board handled the issue so poorly that the image of the country has been tarnished. No country is now ready to attach importance to Pakistan. Mistakes should not be tolerated to prevent them from being repeated again."A tribunal, headed by Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh recently suspended Shoaib`s five-year ban for one month so that he could play in ongoing Indian Premier League.

Dhoni`s batting sting missing: Lalu

IPL matches have found an avid follower in railway minister Lalu Prasad but he feels the sting in the country`s Twenty20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni`s batting is missing."Earlier, Dhoni used to bang the balls but nowadays he has curtailed his shots... Jada style maarne mein pareshan rahata hei (he has become style-concious)," Lalu said last night to questions."Dar se khelta hoga, kahin out ho jaiga (Dhoni might have curtailed shots for fear of getting out)," he said in his characteristic tongue-in-cheek style.The minister said he had been making time to watch the IPL matches.Dhoni will lead `Super Kings` against `Deccan Chargers` in a do-or-die match in Hyderabad today as a loss would all but end his team`s chance of making it to the semifinals. Dhoni`s brigade narrowly lost the match against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday.Bureau Report

Flintoff doubtful for one-dayers

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff looks likely to miss June's one-day internationals against New Zealand as he continues to recover from injury.
Flintoff is nearly halfway through a six-week recovery programme after suffering a side strain, with the first one-dayer scheduled for 15 June.
"I've still got a few weeks before I'm fit," said the 30-year-old.
"I saw (England selector) Geoff Miller and (England coach) Peter Moores last week and they're not going to rush me."
Miller is set to announce the one-day squad on Friday, with a Twenty20 game on 13 June followed by one-dayers on 15, 18, 21, 25 and 28 June.
If he remains on schedule, Flintoff should have completed his recovery from the side strain by 19 June.
"I've not got a fixed date yet on when I can play," added Flintoff.
"I'm not sure what the chances are of me being fit for the England one-dayers .
"These things have a history of taking six weeks and it will be three weeks on Thursday since I did it."
Flintoff injured his side while bowling for Lancashire against Durham earlier this month.
The side strain injury came after Flintoff, who has not played for England since the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia, underwent a fourth operation on his ankle last October Flintoff could make his comeback in the final few matches of Lancashire's Twenty20 Cup qualifying group or their championship match against Sussex at Hove on 29 June.
England play their first Test South Africa at Lord's on 10 July in the opening match of the series but Flintoff is not setting himself any targets.
"I'd love to be involved against South Africa, but I think I learned my lesson from last time, building up and trying to play against New Zealand and it didn't happen," he said.
"I'm going to see how it goes. I'd love to play against South Africa obviously, but I'm not going to build it up too much because I don't want to get disappointed again."

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