The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) stares at financial ruin after its powerful Indian counterpart demanded nearly $42 million in damages for the Caribbean team’s abrupt withdrawal from a tour of India last month. A spokesman for the WICB confirmed they had received a letter from the BCCI “outlining what the BCCI estimates as its losses from the premature end of the West Indies tour of India”. The spokesman said the WICB had 15 days to respond. The BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel, who signed the letter to WICB president Dave Cameron, did not respond to calls from Reuters.
Islamic State fears grow in Pakistan and Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: The Islamic State organisation is starting to attract the attention of radicals in Pakistan and Afghanistan, unnerving authorities who fear a potential violent contagion. Far from the militants’ self-proclaimed “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria, the name of IS has cropped up several times in militant circles in recent weeks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the historic homeland of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Leaflets calling for support for IS were seen in parts of northwest Pakistan, and at least five Pakistani Taliban commanders and three lesser cadres from the Afghan Taliban have pledged their support. Pro-IS slogans have appeared on walls in several cities in both countries and in Kabul University, where a number of students were arrested. Militant, security and official sources questioned in recent weeks say these are local, individual initiatives, and at this stage IS has not established a presence in the region.
ICC ‘justifies’ crackdown on chuckers
DUBAI: Cricket’s global governing body Monday justified its crackdown on bowlers with illegal actions, vowing to only allow unorthodox deliveries like the ‘doosra’ within the rules. The International Cricket Council (ICC) in its major drive to root out the problem of illegal deliveries suspended high profile bowlers like Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal, Sri Lanka’s Sachitra Senanayake, Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya and Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi in the last four months.
ICC likely to offer olive branch to banned players
DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Monday said it is likely to allow banned players to feature in domestic matches a few months before their punishment expires. The provision in the players’ code of conduct will come up for approval in next month’s board meeting in Dubai and may specifically benefit Pakistan’s pace-man Mohammad Amir whose five year ban expires in August next year. ICC chief executive David Richardson confirmed that rules on banned players are likely to be relaxed.
Jockey all set to explore more business avenues in Pakistan: Enrique Cardenal
ISLAMABAD, OCT 23 (DNA) – Jockey international is all set to look for more avenue of cooperation with the Pakistani counterparts with a view make available quality Jockey products to Pakistani consumers. Enrique Cardenal Brand Director Jockey Asia and Spain expressed these views in a media talk on Thursday.
23rd Anniversary of Azerbaijan’s Independence
Azerbaijan celebrates Independence Day on October 18. Exactly 23 years ago, after the adoption of the Constitutional Act, Azerbaijan gained the long-awaited independence, having surmounted many challenges.History inevitably proves that preserving the independence is much more difficult than to gain it. Azerbaijan twice had the opportunity to become a sovereign state during the 20th century. Unfortunately, the first opportunity failed shortly thereafter because of outside interference, internal opposition and the general political instability.
I can’t believe Ajmal has been able to bowl for so long: Hair
SYDNEY: Timid officiating has allowed a generation of ‘chuckers’ to flourish in international cricket and the current crackdown on bowlers with illegal actions has arrived two decades late, according to former test umpire Darrell Hair. Pakistani’s Saeed Ajmal is the highest profile of a string of spinners who have been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) recently for bending their elbows beyond the 15 degrees allowed while bowling the ball.
Pakistan comes first, always: Misbah
ABU DHABI: Struggling Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq on Monday said he needed to start scoring runs again to continue playing as captain of the one-day side. Misbah, 40, withdrew himself from the third and final one-day match against Australia in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, raising doubts over his captaincy barely four months from the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Shahid Afridi instead led Pakistan, but their fortunes did not change as Australia pulled off a sensational one-run win in the last over to seal a 3-0 whitewash.
Azerbaijani First Lady sends Eid felicitations
ISLAMABAD, OCT 09 (DNA) -Embassy of Azerbaijan organized sacrifice (Qurbani) distribution ceremonies in various districts of Pakistan including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Okara, Multan of Punjab district as well as Dera-Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat (KPK).The ceremonies were a collaborative effort as in Punjab province the event was held in collaboration with Bait-ul-Mal (Sweet Homes), in Dera Ismail Khan with AIMS Foundation and in Lakki Marwat with Saif foundation.
Olympic Council slams money-obsessed India for ‘killing’ cricket
INCHEON: The head of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has launched a scathing attack on India over its refusal to enter a cricket team at the Asian Games, saying its decision was “killing” the sport. Twenty20 Cricket was added to the Asian Games programme four years ago as a way to try and promote the sport in the region. But India, the world’s richest and most influential cricketing nation, has steadfastly refused to send a men’s or women’s team to either the 2010 or the 2014 Asian Games. The Indian cricket board (BCCI) said its players were too busy with their other commitments. The Asian Games, which ended in South Korea on Saturday, clashed with the lucrative Champions League Twenty20 taking place in India.
