Saturday, 03 Jan, 2009

SYDNEY, Jan 2: Three Pakistani cricketing legends Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan and Javed Miandad have figured among the 55 former players named on Friday in the ICC’s inaugural Hall of Fame list as part of its centenary celebrations.

Launching the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said the initiative, in association with Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (FICA), would provide the chance for the game to recognise its greatest achievers.

‘Given a key theme of the ICC’s centenary year is celebrating the game’s heritage then the foundation of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame is an entirely logical step,’ he said. ‘It will provide a means of recognising the historical contribution of past players, officials and even institutions in making cricket what it is today, a great sport with a great spirit,’ he added.

Legendary opening batsman Hanif Mohammad, nicknamed the ‘Little Master’ by world critics for his magnificent batsmanship features alongwith Pakistan’s greatest skipper and all-rounder Imran Khan and batting maestro Javed Miandad who remains Pakistan’s highest run-getter in Tests.

‘I feel truly honoured to be bracketed among the greatest cricketing legends of all time,’ said Hanif. ‘In fact, I am a little surprised because I haven’t really achieved so much as to be placed in this exclusive list of greats. But I did my best for Pakistan and in getting this honour, I feel proud that I have done something of note for my country.’

The three players will be receiving commemorative caps from the ICC later this month.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, who also features in the list alongwitrh Kapil Dev and Bishen Singh Bedi, said he felt honoured being named along with Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Garfield Sobers.

‘To be recognised by the premier authority in the game, the ICC, and that, too, in its centenary year, is an honour indeed. It is a privilege and I am overwhelmed and humbled to be included in such august company as Sir Donald Bradman and the one and only Sir Garry Sobers,’ he said.

Former Australia wicket-keeper Rodney Marsh became the first Hall of Famer to receive his commemorative cap from ICC President David Morgan. ‘I’m deeply honoured to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Being recognised in this way is humbling, especially when I look at the names of the players in this list and think about those who will join it in the years to come,’ Marsh said. ‘It [ICC Cricket Hall of Fame] is another way of showing what a great history our game has and anything that does that has to be a good thing,’ Marsh said.

The career statistics and biographies of the 55 inductees can be found at the new ICC centenary website, also launched, http://www.catchthespirit.com.

Each year, starting 2009, new inductees will be announced during the ICC awards ceremony. The initial inductees or, in the case of those who have passed away, their relatives will be presented with a commemorative ICC Cricket Hall of Fame cap at an appropriate stage during the ICC centenary year.

The living members of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame will also have the chance to choose new inductees. ‘We have studied numerous Halls of Fame in other sports to see what works and what doesn’t and how best we can achieve our goal, to recognise the game’s greatest achievers. We want to ensure that as many of the game’s stakeholders as possible, including current ICC Cricket Hall of Famers and members of the public, get the chance to have their say in the process of choosing the game’s true legends,’ Lorgat said.

FICA chief executive Tim May was delighted at the new joint initiative of cricketers’ association and the ICC. ‘FICA believes it is important to honour the outstanding contributions many individuals have made to the game,’ said May.

‘The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in association with FICA is obviously the appropriate forum to do so and we are delighted to join with the ICC in this great venture,’ he added.

ICC Cricket Hall of Fame inductees: Sydney Barnes, Bishen Singh Bedi, Alec Bedser, Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Denis Compton, Colin Cowdrey, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Lance Gibbs, Graham Gooch, David Gower, WG Grace, Tom Graveney, Gordon Greenidge, Richard Hadlee, Walter Hammond, Neil Harvey, George Headley, Jack Hobbs, Michael Holding, Leonard Hutton, Rohan Kanhai, Imran Khan, Alan Knott, Jim Laker, Harold Larwood, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Clive Lloyd, Hanif Mohammad, Rodney Marsh, Malcolm Marshall, Peter May, Javed Miandad, Keith Miller, Bill O’Reilly, Graeme Pollock, Wilfred Rhodes, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Garfield Sobers, Brian Statham, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Frank Woolley, Frank Worrell.

Here is a story about his 14 year old son whose a future prospect………….
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/341277.html

He played awesomly for Pakistan to runners up in the U15 world cup. Pakistan have been successful at junior levels in the last decade but there seems to be no systmen in order for player gateways to utilise hidden and unique talent.

Yeah I agree, Malik shouldn’t have been appointed as captain for so long. But they were sympathetic to him and wanted him to prove his worth. That’s why he got 18 months.

However, it wasn’t to be.

Good observation and I agree to all you said.

When I said “why DNA…” that was in the context of why making him captain for life…almost

As is normal for a newbie, what should have happened is “okay, we’ll make up our mind after a couple of series”

Initially, even Graham Smith was given a term but when he had bad patches he was persisted with. He is turning out to be one of a kind though. Wow!

When Malik’s name was suggested by DNA, Malik did seem like an able performer with some intelligence. He did gain respect of many people because of how quickly he adjusted to international cricket. Like I said, when he was made captain, he was performing brilliantly and I will go as far as to say he was Pakistan’s best ODI batsman along with Yousuf.

Like Inzamam, a very good batsman but not a good captain. I don’t blame DNA for thinking all that for Malik because there was no alternative at that time. Afridi wasn’t bowling that well- in fact Afridi only became a reliable bowler when Malik became captain.

Younis was uninterested in captaincy and Yousuf was said to be very meek and religious. DNA didn’t want another Inzamam-like player to captain Pakistan.

That’s why I blame Ijaz Butt because a lot has happened since the 19 months Malik has been captain of the team. He can’t command respect of senior players, he can’t make clever decisions on the field and he has shown some very basic personality deficiencies which a captain should not have, such as arrogance, problem of communication and playing politics.

I dunno why DNA thought so highly of Malik?

Shoaib Malik says he would prefer to have a long-term tenure as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team as appointment on series to series basis puts any skipper any under more pressure.

However, chief selector Abdul Qadir has insisted that the captain should be appointed on series to series basis.

Malik’s tenure as captain expired on December 31 but PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt has said Malik will be retained as captain when the governing council of the Board meets on January 15.

“I am happy with whatever the Board decides but it is a fact that appointing the captain on a series to series basis adds pressure on him. It is better if the captain knows his terms clearly,” Malik told reporters in Lahore.

“If the Board wants to retain me as captain I would be very happy and feel honoured,” he added.

Qadir though said there should be separate captains for the Test and one-day teams and the leader of the team should be announced only ahead of the series.

“I have full regard if the Chairman has said Malik will be retained as captain but I would suggest having the captain on a series to series basis,” the former Test leg-spinner said.

Malik said leading different teams in domestic cricket has also helped him enhance his leadership skills in the last 18 months.

“I have captained the Sialkot and Punjab teams to domestic titles in recent months and it has helped me grow in confidence.”

Malik said he was looking forward to the home series against Sri Lanka but admitted it would not a tough series as Pakistan had not played a Test for 12 months.

Guys please watch these classy vidoes of Mushy and the 3rd upload is of the impressive Adil Rashid whose been selected for England in the forthcoming tour of the Carribean. The first one also features Mushy being the dressing room comedian and playing footabll whilst the rest show some magic wickets and deliveries of the leg spinner.

Sit back,relax and enjoy the legspin kings.

http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/sussex-tv/sctv-player/?m_sctv_moviesID=630#breadcrumbs

http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/sussex-tv/sctv-player/?m_sctv_moviesID=158

http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/sussex-tv/sctv-player/?m_sctv_moviesID=628

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=G43bzzwfe_4

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=E6FpT7B6kyc&feature=related

The only concern I have about him is that he too thin and fragile for a fast bowler and to have back stress fracture at such an early age can prove to be a big problem in future, other than that he seems to be quite confident and intelligent, if you look at his bowling stats in recent domestic tournaments no batsman could give him any problem, even the likes of Younis and Misbah struggled against him, so if he says he is not worried about any batsman it’s a positive attitude. Lets hope he becomes less injury prone and become an asset for Pakistan in future.

For eg this young 18 year old Mohammad Aamer, who is bowling fast and can swing the ball both ways. He is young and inexperienced, he has no idea how life in international cricket will be like. So he shouldn’t make arrogant statements like “I don’t fear any batsman”.

By respecting others and acknowledging the talent of others he will not become any less talented himself. Sohail Tanvir said the same thing, “I don’t care if Tendulkar or Lara is standing before me”.

This trend was started by Wasim who used to say things like, “I have so much confidence that I am better than everyone else”. Agreed Wasim was a great bowler who duped every batsman, including Lara and Tendulkar, but there were also occasions when he got smacked around by these batsmen. So you win some and lose some.

Tanvir was very arrogant when he came and repeated Wasim’s exact words but I read one of his recent interviews where he changed his stance. During a match against India, Tanvir had poor stats and was very expensive and he was asked which batsman he has difficulty bowling to, and he said Tendulkar’s name and explained,

“Tendulkar is hard to get out because he is attacking and he can create a shot out of any kind of delivery, so I am extra careful when I am bowling at him”.

This contradicts his earlier statement that he is better than Tendulkar or Lara and he is not afraid of them.

I wish this new kid Aamer all the best, but he needs to nurture his attitude. You have to do that in international cricket these days, because otherwise you will become like Asif and Shoaib.