14 Thursday 16th September, 2010 Latif sees trio vow to appeal charges Afghanistan playing tests within 2 yrs

BY SIMON BRIGGS dice the police investigation into the Higgins, another victim of a News Of he three players implicated in case. Could this be the beginning of a The World sting, was last week cleared the Lord’s spot-fixing scandal say fightback by the accused men? of fixing matches by an independent Tthey will appeal against the disci- Despite the dossier of evidence put enquiry. plinary charges brought against them together by the News of the World On Sept 2, the ICC announced that by the International Council. sting, there has always been a suspi- it was bringing “various charges” The news constitutes the first sign cion that criminal charges might not against the three Pakistanis. According of defiance from the three players at materialise, because no one in the to the rules of the Code of Conduct, the the heart of the story – Mohammad United Kingdom has suffered financial- accused have 14 days from that point to Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman ly as a result of the alleged conspiracy. indicate whether they want to call a Butt. The players have also complained The players may also have been hearing or not. that the ICC’s involvement could preju- encouraged by the fact that John According to a statement from the players’ lawyers, they “have written to the ICC indicating their intention to Musharraf urges leniency for defend themselves”. It is not clear when ISLAMABAD (AP) - Rashid Latif the hearing will take place, as the play- believes Afghanistan has the talent to ers have requested time to prepare. All achieve test match status within two Amir in fix case three left England on Friday and are Wahab Riaz years. now in Pakistan. Latif takes over as coach of BY MIN LEE Meanwhile, Scotland Yard inter- dominated by former police officers. Afghanistan this week after resigning as HONG KONG (AP) - Former Pakistan man at 18, who came under the influence viewed a fourth Pakistani cricketer on People with a police background may the Pakistan Cricket Board’s wicketkeep- president Pervez Musharraf has urged of senior players, needs to be seen com- Tuesday — the left-arm bowler Wahab know how to run an investigation, but ing coach at the National Cricket leniency for suspended cricketer passionately for the sake of Riaz — at Kilburn Police Station before those who have played the game profes- Academy. Mohammad Amir, who is his family and for the sake releasing him unconditionally. sionally are better placed to spot incon- Just last month Latif resigned from a fighting allegations of of cricket at large. It’s a Although Wahab was not directly gruous elements in a match as it is hap- brief stay as Afghanistan’s coach match-fixing, saying the very sad incident,” implicated in any spot-fixing, he was pening. when head coach Kabir Khan was fired. 18-year-old may have Musharraf told reporters. photographed by the News Of The There is also a feeling that more Latif cited differences with Afghan offi- acted under the influence “Instead of destroying World wearing a jacket that apparently could have been done to protect the cials but resolved those this week. of older players. a person, rehabilitation of belonged to Mazhar Majeed, the alleged Pakistan players from potential fixers. “I am impressed with the amount of Amir, fellow bowler the person is required. fixer. According to the newspaper, the Ehsan Mani, the former ICC president, talented players I saw in Kabul and Mohammad Asif and Test We need to do every- pocket was allegedly stuffed with has told The Wisden Cricketer maga- Jalalabad,” Latif told The Associated captain Salman Butt are thing to rehabilitate him £10,000 in cash, money the undercover zine that he questions the Pakistan Press on Wednesday. challenging corruption and set an example for reporter had handed to Majeed as a Cricket Board’s role in the affair. “Within a year or two I hope they charges pressed by the others.” down payment. “When players first come into the start playing test matches.” International Cricket Council Musharraf’s com- The ICC made its own statement international game they are given a Latif, the former Pakistan captain, after a news report showed ments came as he yesterday, announcing plans to review one-to-one induction [by the ICC] on resigned from his academy job on Former Pakistan president an agent for the trio accept- plotted a return to the workings of the Anti-Corruption how they might be compromised,” said Tuesday after making critical comments Pervez Musharraf and Security Unit. The outcome is like- Mani, himself a Pakistan national. on the match-fixing scandal then explain- ing money for organizing the Pakistan politics. He announced ing them to the PCB. deliberate bowling of no-balls at pre- on Wednesday he is forming a new polit- ly to be more officers on the beat, and “But it appears the Pakistan board is Afghanistan, as one of the six affiliate arranged times during a Test against ical party and will return to the country more educational programmes for the clearly not getting the message through members of the International Cricket England at Lord’s last month, in order to for the next set of national elections in players. to its players. The onus is on the PCB to Council, plays one-day internationals and fix bets. 2013. The former president took power The move follows the comments of explain how players under its control Twenty20 internationals but not tests. Asked about the scandal on the side- in a coup in October 1999 and stepped Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the new chair- could apparently behave like this.” Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands and lines of an investor conference in Hong down in 2008 amid nationwide protests. man of the ACSU, who admitted earlier Mani wants the betting industry Scotland are the other five teams. Kong on Wednesday, Musharraf con- Mazhar Majeed, who was shown in this month that “we’ll be looking at legalised in India and Pakistan so any Afghanistan competed in this year’s demned cheating but urged leniency for news reports accepting money in return whether we need to strengthen our unusual patterns can be monitored. World Twenty20 in the Caribbean and Amir, citing his youth, his talent and poor for the no-balls, was arrested and unit, and whether we need people with impressed despite losing both of its group family background. released on bail without being immedi- different skills”. (C) The Telegraph Group, matches against South Africa and India. “This boy, I would say, is hardly a ately charged. The ACSU is understood to want to London, 2010 Only the ICC can grant test status on add more cricketing expertise to a staff a team, but Latif was confident that Afghanistan was good enough now to compete in tests with Bangladesh, ranked last of the nine test-playing teams. Zimbabwe’s test status is suspended by lose the ICC but that will end next May. Roger Federer to skip Davis Cup playoffs “I think if they (Afghanistan) now BASEL, Switzerland uled to play at the to Iran 3-0 play against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in (AP) - Roger Federer will Shanghai Masters starting test matches they can spring a few sur- skip Switzerland’s Davis Oct. 10, then return to prises,” he said. Cup match in Kazakhstan Europe for the indoor hard- Latif sees his primary job as prepar- this weekend to stay fresh court season in Stockholm, ing Afghanistan’s backup players for the for the rest of the season. his hometown event in step up to international cricket. “I need some extra Basel, and the Paris “That’s my main target and once it’s time to relax after the Masters. achieved I don’t see any reason why they could not compete with other test-playing intense weeks in North His competitive season countries,” he said. America so I can finish the ends at the ATP World Tour “One needs time to groom the backup year strong,” Federer said Finals in London from Nov. players and that’s the only reason I want- on his official website on 21. ed to have a year or two before Wednesday. Switzerland travels to Afghanistan could go for the test status.” Federer reached the Kazakhstan for the playoffs U.S. Open semifinals - los- starting Friday to decide ing in five sets to Novak which country will remain Djokovic last Saturday - in the world group next ICC rubbishes won the Cincinnati year. The Swiss team will Masters, and lost in the be led by U.S. Open quarter- Toronto Masters final. finalist Stanislas reports of fixing Roger Federer in IPL Federer is next sched- Wawrinka.

The International Cricket Council on Wednesday refuted media reports that 29 Indrajith Subasinghe in Vietnam Englishman Pont appointed 500 shuttlers for Central Province Sri Lanka, which filed to make the players who participated in the Indian Super Eight stage of the 15th Asian Premier League were under the scanner Bangladesh bowling coach Badminton Championships Junior Girls’ Volleyball Tournament, of its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit contested the ranking tournament and The Central Province Open Badminton for suspected match-fixing or spot-fixing. lost to a strong Iran outfit 3-0 yesterday. Championships will commence today at the St. Englishman Ian Pont has as fast bowling consultant for A key feature of the Iran team that “In particular, over the last 24-36 Anthony’s College Indoor Stadium in Katugastota with hours we have noted a number of specif- been appointed Bangladesh’s Northants. beat Sri Lanka is that its players are Achini Rathnasiri and Diluka Karunarathne rated considered one of the strongest in the ic unfounded media allegations about bowling coach. He applied for the bowling as the top seeds in men’s and women’s categories ranking tournament. individual players being investigated by The 49-year-old held a coach vacancy with the respectively. The manner in which Sri Lanka took the ACSU - a so-called list of 29 players,” similar role with the England team earlier this Over 500 shuttles will contest the Championships on the challenge from Iran suggests that ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said in a mail to Netherlands for two years year but was not shortlisted. which will continue till September 19 (Sunday). The the islanders have made some improve- individual member boards. until the 2007 World Bangladesh events to be worked off are: Under 12,15,17 Boys’ and ment in volleyball. “This is to confirm that there is no Girls’ Singles, Open Men’s Singles and Doubles, Open The teams contesting the Super Cup. Cricket Board Eight segment are Kazakhstan, such list and we believe it is simply a Pont told BBC spokesman Jalal Women’s Singles and Doubles, Mixed Doubles, over 35 Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, way that the media is trying to fish for Sport: “It’s an excit- Yunus said: “He Singles and Doubles and the Over 40 and Over 50 cate- Chinese Taipei, Korea and China. gories. information without any basis for doing ing job to get my accepted our offer The teams contesting the ranking The Closing Ceremony will be held on September 19 tournament are Sri Lanka, India, so,” he added. teeth into but there and obtained a visa. with Chief Minister Central Province Sarath Australia, New Zealand, Iran, Fiji and “If there were any specific players is not much time Hopefully he will be being investigated by ACSU we would Ekanayake expected to grace the occasion as Chief Hong Kong. before the one-day in Dhaka on Today Sri Lanka is expected to play have notified the relevant Member Guest. (MP) series with New Thursday.” against Australia. Board.” Zealand.” The one-day The London-based The Times had Bangladesh international series reported that 29 players, two of them turned to Pont after Ian Pont against New Zealand Australian, were named in a secret Carlton Cup 2010 dossier, detailing match-fixing and spot- former South-Africa all- starts on 5 October. fixing in the IPL’s second edition, pre- rounder Lance Klusener Pont said: “There is not Wennappuwa Knights down Colombo Bulls pared by the ACSU. rejected the position having much time to assess the Lorgat advised individual boards to been approached in August. squad but I know they have After leading 28-23 at half-time, Malinda Fernando top scored registered a comfortable 78-44 win dismiss any queries with regards to the Pont, who also runs a some interesting young fast Wennappuwa Knights BC went on with 24 points while Gavin Cooray over Air Force BC at the same venue. reported dossier. cricket academy and is bowlers coming through. to post a comfortable 73-48 victory chipped in with 18 points for the win- At ‘lemons’ the winners were ahead “Kindly dismiss such queries and if author of the coaching manu- “My first job will be to over Colombo Bulls BC in an ‘A’ ners. Anushka Vishvanath netted 9 48-27. Division match of the on-going points for the losers. Sujith Master netted 28 points in doubt please refer any media al The Fast Bowler’s Bible, look at what areas need Carlton Cup 2010 Basketball Police down Air Force for the winning team while enquiries to the Head of ICC Media and played for Nottinghamshire improving and develop skills Tournament at the Depot Police Meanwhile, in the second ‘A’ Ramanath Mendis top scored with Communications, Colin Gibson,” he and Essex in his county that are already good.” courts in Colombo last Tuesday. Division match of the day,Police BC 12 points for the losers. (MP) said. (www.cricketnirvana.com) career and recently worked (BBC)