WSF bans Pakistan Squash Federation secretary

New Delhi: The World Squash Federation imposed a one-year ban on Pakistan Squash Federation Secretary Irfan Asghar for stating that WSF President N Ramachandran played a "malicious role" in preventing his country`s players from obtaining visas for a tournament in Belgium.

The WSF said Asghar brought both the sport and the Federation into "disrepute".

The WSF said that in an interview given to `The News` in Pakistan and a website on July 12 and 14, Asghar had alleged that a "delay by the WSF in sending visa letters to Pakistan was the prime reason why the Belgium Embassy in Islamabad refused to issue visas to Pakistani players, preventing them from participating in the World Junior Individual Championship (July 13 to 17, Belgium)."

Asghar had reportedly said that WSF President, N Ramachandran, had a malicious role in preventing the Pakistani players from obtaining the visas.

"The allegations were put to Irfan Asghar by the WSF Disciplinary and Appeals Committee (DAC) who denied that he had spoken to the journalist, Khalid Hussein of The News; and suggested that these comments were totally a personal statement by the journalist and, in effect, suggested he was neither reliable nor credible," the WSF said in a statement.

"Upon enquiry, the telephone log of the journalist proved that a phone call of six minutes duration on 11 July 2011 came from the mobile phone number of Irfan Asghar. The DAC reached the view that such a conversation did take place and that the comments as reported in the press were made by Irfan Asghar," it added.

The WSF said the visa applications could not be cleared because of a confusion created by the PSF itself.

PTI

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Shoaib`s book draws mixed reactions in Pakistan cricket circle

Karachi: Shoaib Akhtar`s autobiography titled `Controversially Yours` has drawn mixed reactions in the Pakistani cricket circles, with some former Test players insisting that he had to add spice and controversy to make it a bestseller.

"Look if there is no controversy a autobiography does not sell and it is understandable he is aware of this," said former captain Aamir Sohail.

Sohail said it would be unfair to pass any judgement on the book without reading it detail, and hoped the revelations made by Shoaib didn`t land him into trouble.

Former captain, Asif Iqbal was disappointed that Pakistan cricket was once again in the limelight for the wrong reasons.

"It is unfortunate that all these things have been said in his book but I guess having retired from he is now planning for a secure financial future," the former captain said.

Former captain and wicketkeeper, Rashid Latif said that Shoaib`s decision to launch the book in India and bring out the controversies in the Indian media was commercially planned to make it a success.

"A lot of things he has said are true, some of his observations are also spot on but I guess he is going to make a lot of people unhappy.

"But no doubt even after retirement he remains one of our most enigmatic and controversial players," Latif said.

"The unfortunate part is once again Pakistan cricket will be discussed for its negative things rather than achievements."

Former pacer, Sarfaraz Nawaz said he was not surprised by the revelations.

"As far as his talk about Wasim Akram trying to derail his career is concerned I can vouch that even when he was playing he had told me personally that he didn`t know why Wasim was after him and bent on destroying his career," Nawaz said.

Salman Ahmed, who runs a sports management company and represented Shoaib during his first stint in the Indian Premier League, was however skeptical about the allegations that Shah Rukh Khan and Lalit Modi had cheated the pacer.

"I don`t believe this about Shah Rukh because I was present at a meeting at his home in Mumbai where he told Shoaib that he was like a brother to him and was even free to stay at his home. I know for a fact that Shah Rukh supported and cared a lot for Shoaib so I don`t know where this cheating issue has come up from."

Salman, however, admitted that he knew for a fact that Shoaib got involved in some controversies during his first stint in the IPL which, if they had come out at that time, he would have been forced to take retirement.

"I can understand him using the big names in India to sell his book but he should be careful about saying too much as it could backfire on him," Salman said. He also disclosed that the fast bowler had kept on negotiating with the banned Indian Cricket League while he was also in talks with the IPL.

"He wanted a price tag of one million dollars but because of his controversial nature no franchise was willing to pay that much and eventually he fetched a lower pirce from Kolkatta Knight Riders."

Former chairman of the PCB, Tauqir Zia dismissed Shoaib`s talk about Akram trying to destroy his career.

"Look Wasim retired in 2003 and Shoaib just this year. If Wasim had wanted him out of the team I don`t think Shoaib would have played that much. There have always been problems between players but I think the comments about Wasim are unfair."

Tauqir also had no doubt that many of the revelations by Shoaib were a gimmick to sell his book.

Former captain, Moin Khan said he was upset by many of the things that Shoaib had said in his book.

"I have not read the full book yet so I don`t know the exact details but I know one thing his comments about Wasim are grossly unfair and unjust and Wasim was one player who everyone looked up to and who guided the youngsters."

PTI

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Shoe problem for India ahead of the final against Pakistan

Ordos (China): The India hockey team is facing an acute shortage of shoes ahead of the summit clash against Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy on Sunday as most of the players have only one pair of shoes for warm-up sessions as well as for matches.

Manjit Kullu, the left half back in the Indian team, has been playing with warm-up shoes in the tournament after his only pair of hockey turf shoes had split into two.

Playing with warm-up shoes is akin to running on ice wearing normal shoes and Manjit is lucky that he has not injured himself till now.

The other Indian player who is without turf shoes is Harpreet Singh. The turf is slippery here at Ordos and both the players are at constant risk of slipping, which can cause serious injury to them.

Both Manjit and Harpreet have just made it to the senior national team and it is difficult for them to afford shoes as a good pair costs around Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000.

Sources in the team say that the pair provided by the Sports Authority of India are not of good quality and so they don`t last long. On an average, a player uses 3-4 pairs every year.

PTI

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 14:52

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‘Pakistan should play aggressively against India in Asian Champions Trophy final’

Lahore: Former Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary and Olympian Khalid Mahmood, and ex-captain Zeeshan Ashraf have urged the national team to play an attacking game against India in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy.

“My prayers are with the Pakistan team to win the final to maintain its supremacy in Asia, and the best technique to beat India is to play aggressive hockey with a solid defence, too,” Zeeshan said.

Pakistan had drawn with archrivals India in their final group stage match in Ordos, China, and now both will clash against each other on Sunday for the trophy.

“It is a good news that Pakistan is in the final, and though the coach is in a better position to adopt a strategy for the final, the previous record shows an attacking game against India could lead Pakistan to win the final,” ex-Olympian Khalid Mahmood said.

Khalid said that the national team should avoid inconsistency, and must take each match seriously since every team is a threat at the international level.

“The defeat at hands of low-ranked Japan (in the ongoing event) and earlier losing to France (during the last tour of Europe) showed the team is having the problem of inconsistency, and with that kind of shortcoming, they can not be a real threat for the European teams,” he remarked.

Zeeshan urged the Asian Hockey Federation to introduce more tournaments in the region if it wants the Asian players to give tough time to European teams.

“The Europeans are having a good number of competitions, but in Asia, only the Azlan Shah Cup and now the newly-introduced Champions Trophy are the two major competitions, which are not enough to make the Asian teams stronger,” he argued.

Bureau Report

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 11:00

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