Cricket Hornet

Umar Akmal's woes continue after a PCB disciplinary committee found him in breach of his central contract. The PCB subsequently imposed a three match ban on him, as well as a Pakistani Rs 1 million fine. But in perhaps the harshest punishment of all, all No-Objection Certificates issued to him for participation in overseas tournaments were revoked for two months, meaning Akmal will be ineligible for all but the last two weeks of the Bangladesh Premier League.

The chain of events that led to today's sanction began when Akmal called an impromptu press conference last month and accused coach Mickey Arthur of using abusive language towards him, demanding an investigative committee be set up to probe the matter. Instead, the PCB formed a disciplinary committee to investigate potential breaches of contract by Akmal himself, culminating in today's sentence.

A press release issued earlier today laid out the sanctions, saying that they had been "awarded with a heavy heart but with the hope that they would serve as a precedent for all cricketers who should be mindful of their obligations and the consequences of their actions".

The development caps what have been a torrid few months for Akmal. His central contract was terminated in July. Two months prior to that, he was sent home from the Champions Trophy after he was found to be the only player to have failed to meet fitness standards. With Arthur having made fitness a priority, Akmal has found himself cut adrift from the international side.

The fallout from Umar Akmal's accusations against Mickey Arthurrumbles on as the PCB has decided to form a committee to look into the matter.

The committee comprises three members: director of cricket operations Haroon Rasheed, director of media Amjad Bhatti and the PCB's general manager legal Salman Naseer.

Though the claims behind Akmal's allegations can be verified with relative ease, the committee is likely to stumble upon logistical difficulties from the start. Inzamam-ul Haq, a key witness to the alleged "abusive language" Arthur subjected Umar Akmal to, is out of the country performing Hajj, while Arthur is away on holiday and not expected to return till the second week of September.

Earlier this week, National Cricket Academy head coach Mushtaq Ahmed denied that abusive language was directed towards Akmal by the head coach, saying Arthur used "slang words" but they were not directed at Akmal. The PCB initially appeared to throw its weight behind Arthur by issuing the show-cause notice to Akmal immediately after his outburst, but this latest development suggests that the matter remains wide open.

The statement issued by the PCB at the time seemed to leave no room for the formation of a committee to ascertain blame. "The PCB strongly condemns reckless statements made by batsman Umar Akmal with regards to his omission from the ICC Champions Trophy squad," it read.

"Head coach Mickey Arthur had placed Umar in his white ball format plans and gave him repeated chances for redemption. Unfortunately, though, the batsman remained incapable of reaching the required fitness level. The PCB awaits his response to the show cause notice issued to him yesterday and hopes that, in the meantime, the batsman will refrain from making baseless allegations."

Arthur's predecessor Waqar Younis, one of Akmal's harsher critics of late, had advised against the formation of a committee in a press conference on Thursday. "This matter needs to be resolved by way of mutual understanding," Waqar said. "Someone needs to sit Umar down and explain to him that when a teacher or any other senior figure ticks you off, it isn't such a big deal. I don't think Mickey Arthur would have gone overboard when chastising Umar. It's purely frustration on his part because he isn't part of the team."

Pakistan could be on the verge of hosting their highest-profile international visitor in the last eight years, with Sri Lanka all but committing to play a T20 there in September or October. This would, in itself, represent an extraordinary gesture by SLC, given its own side had been the target of the 2009 terror attack that stopped international cricket being played in Pakistan for six years. Since that attack, in wh

ich six policemen and two civilians were killed, only Zimbabwe have toured the country, playing five internationals in Lahore in 2015.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are due to play each other in a full series that starts at the end of September. An SLC release said that "Sri Lanka will play at least one of the three T20s in Lahore, in September," so long as "the logistical and operational plans fall in place".
Speaking at the Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) AGM in Colombo on Saturday, SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala appealed for Asian unity, and cited Pakistan's willingness to tour Sri Lanka during the island's own civil war as reason to play in Lahore.
"I am keen to take my team to Pakistan," Sumathipala said. "We have had our security experts visit and make an assessment, and things look positive with things improving all over the country and especially Lahore being cleared. We have three T20 games coming up against Pakistan in September and we would like to play at least one of those games in Lahore.
"I call upon each one of you as members to play your role and give Pakistan the security of your support. There is always risk - there were two attacks in London during the Champions Trophy - but cricket continued under the security assurances of the ICC, so likewise we too must be as accommodating and understanding as possible with our members and extend our fullest support to them as the cricketing family of Asia."
Despite Sumathipala's eagerness, it is not clear yet how Sri Lanka's players will react to the prospect of playing in Pakistan. Out of the squad that was attacked in Lahore, only Chamara Kapugedara stands a chance of being selected for future T20s, but other players will also have heard the details of that attack from team-mates who had lived through it. Many are likely to have reservations. Thilan Samaraweera, who was shot in the thigh during the attack, has spoken about the trauma the incident had inflicted upon him and his family. Other former players have also spoken of it as being one of the darkest days of their lives.
The PCB, meanwhile, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that preparations to host Sri Lanka will begin now. "The SLC president and I had very fruitful talks on the sidelines of the ACC meet in Colombo on Auguest 11 and 12," PCB chairman Najam Sethi said. "I am grateful for his decision to support our efforts to bring international cricket back to Pakistan. We shall start preparations to stage one or two T20 matches in October in Lahore. This is a historic decision. Once Sri Lanka have toured Pakistan, the door will be open for safe passage of other teams to Pakistan."
When and whether the game - or games - goes ahead will also depend on how a planned series between Pakistan and a World XI side pans out. The status of that World XI tour - currently scheduled to be played between September 10 and 16 - is still uncertain, and dependent on the political situation in Lahore in September.
The scenario has been complicated by the recent dismissal of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister; because of this, a very significant by-election is due to take place on September 17 - one day after the last World XI series is due to be played. A high-profile series so close to an election is likely to stretch security resources in the city. The Punjab government has had multiple meetings with PCB officials and, according to PCB chairman Najam Sethi, are agreed about the dates subject to a go-ahead from the province's chief minister Shehbaz Sharif (brother of Nawaz). Punjab's law minister Rana Sana Ullah has confirmed that the government is determined to host the series.
Sumathipala's optimism is also indication that a deal has been reached. With both boards and various governments keen for the match to be played in Lahore, player protestations - if there are any - may not be enough to halt that political will.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi said the decision to move the event to Malaysia was amicably agreed upon by all participants © Associated Press

The Asian Cricket Council has withdrawn the hosting rights of the 2017 Under-19 Asia Cup from India and handed it over to Malaysia, following their annual general body meeting. A decision on the senior team Asia Cup, also scheduled to be held in India next year, however, has been deferred until the ACC's next meeting.

The PCB had raised its objections to touring India for the Under-19 Asia Cup, which was to be played in Bengaluru in November. Given the tense political climate between India and Pakistan, PCB chairman Najam Sethi, who also heads the ACC, tabled a resolution to get it shifted. The BCCI had already written to the Indian government, seeking clearance to host the event as it would include a team from Pakistan.

"The matter of shifting the tournament to Malaysia was amicably agreed by all participants in the development and executive committees, since no one wanted it marred by security considerations of any member," Sethi told ESPNcricinfo.

The Western Region qualifying round for the Under-19 Asia Cup will be hosted by Kuwait, despite discussions around the venue following the diplomatic crisis in the Gulf. The round will include Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain. According to Sethi, the nine teams in the Western Region pool will play each other, including Qatar as well as teams from countries that have broken diplomatic ties with it. In addition to that, Kuwait will also host the Under-16 Asia Cup, which was to be held in Qatar.

The tournament will feature eight teams, with four - Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - qualifying automatically. They will be joined by two teams each from the Western and Southern Region, who need to earn qualification into the main tournament. In 2016, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal and Afghanistan qualified, and India won the championship, beating hosts Sri Lanka
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by 34 runs in Colombo

It is envisaged that the series, which could could be launched next year, would feature three matches between the champions of the two leagues.

The Caribbean Premier League is in talks with the Pakistan Super League to create an annual series of matches between the winners of the two leagues. The CPL hopes that the idea will give the league more context and ultimately make it more commercially viable.

be launched next year, would feature three matches between the champions of the two leagues, to take place just before the 2018 CPL season. The United States is viewed as an attractive location to stage the games, given the large number of cricket fans from both Pakistan and the Caribbean there.

"It would make the most sense, to have a three-game series over four days," said Pete Russell, the chief operating officer of the CPL. "You have to look into all the practicalities - the commercial viability of it. The US would be a great place to play games like that. There's definitely a feeling here that there's a great Pakistani community, and obviously a great Caribbean community as well, so it'd be an interesting place to play it, wouldn't it?"

The potential size of the TV audience for such matches means that the broadcasting rights could be of significant value, and therefore help to make the CPL, which has lost money in each of its four full seasons and expects to do so again this year, self-sustainable.

"Why wouldn't we do it? It seems to be a good opportunity. We are always looking to evolve here and that is definitely something on our wishlist," Russell said. "It's a big thing to sort out but we're a progressive bunch here and would like to move things forward in that regard because it gives an identity - whoever wins this tournament is going on to something else. That was what was so good about the Champions League."

Although the Champions League was discontinued in 2014, Russell hopes that the CPL can work more closely with other T20 leagues, and can eventually stage tournaments with the champions of several countries.

"There's lots of opportunities to look at the champions of CPL - they could play the champions of PSL, the champions of Bangladesh etc. It's logical. It's also what the fans would want to see because it brings the best of the leagues together. The challenge is when do you do it, and how do you do it? Those are challenges that I'm sure everyone is looking at. From CPL's perspective it's definitely something that we think would be great. The champions of all these leagues would make for a great spectator sport."

One major problem with the Champions League was the number of players eligible to play for multiple teams. In the case of the proposed series between the CPL and PSL champions, it is understood that the CPL favours players representing the team from their home leagues if there is such a conflict. Who players from other nations would represent if they had a choice could be more problematic.

The players will now have to report to Pakistan chief coach Arthur for a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy on August 22.

Pakistan cricketers who are currently participating in the Caribbean Premier League and the English domestic season have been asked to cut short their stints in the wake of late finalisation and rescheduling of the ICC World XI series to be played mid September, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Friday (August 11).

"The centrally contracted players were given permission for participation in the CPL and English county season subject to recall if the World XI series took place mid September, they are now being recalled owing to the changes in schedule brought about due to the change in the original World XI tour of Pakistan plan," PCB stated in a media release.

During its annual meeting in June this year, the International Cricket Council had confirmed sending a World XI side for a three-match Twenty20 series to be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, as a move to resume top flight cricket in Pakistan.

The original plan was for the series to conclude in the last week of September. However, constituency elections on September 17 and also Pakistan's series against Sri Lanka in UAE that starts on September 24 and the adequate preparation time needed for it, has forced the World Series to be rescheduled.

"The series has been brought forward to mid September instead of last week of September because the Punjab Government wants it to be held before the NA120 election on September 17. It can't be held after September 17 because there is no time to both hold the series and also give National Coach Mickey Arthur time for training the team before the series starts with Sri Lanka on September 24," the release added.

The players will now have to report to Pakistan chief coach Arthur for a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy on August 22, followed by a pre-series training camp, conducted by the Pakistan team management, ahead of the ICC World XI T20 matches.

Gibbs and de Villiers at the 2007 World Cup

AB de Villiers has been slammed by former teammates Herschelle Gibbs and Ashwell Prince for his continued absence from South Africa's Test side, with Gibbs all but accusing de Villiers of 'disrespecting the team and the game'.

Players past and present traded barbs in an ugly spat on Twitter, with former spinner Paul Harris and Simon Harmer also weighing in.

De Villiers announced in January that he would be taking a break from the Test arena to focus on one-dayers and T20s and his absence is still a major talking point in South African cricket, especially after the Proteas suffered a 3-1 series defeat in England.

After skipper Faf du Plessis said this week that de Villiers had "earned the right to do whatever he wants to" in regards to his playing future, Gibbs slammed the current captain for "putting a player on a pedestal!".

In a series of tweets, Gibbs compared de Villiers to legendary allrounder Jacques Kallis and said that "no one player bigger than the game".

19h

nik kershaw @kersh63

Replying to @hershybru and 2 others

I don't disagree but I think there's a fear in cricket admin players need to be handled different - they can survive outside intl cricket.

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Herschelle Gibbs

✔@hershybru

Has nothing to with administrators..that's the national captain speaking! Did smith ever say kallis could do that? and he achieved more

11:17 AM - Aug 11, 2017

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De Villiers and du Plessis also found themselves in the firing line of Prince, the former Test batsman and national selector.

Prince also fired back at Harris and Harmer after they weighed in with their thoughts.

18h

Ashwell Prince @ashyp_5

@paulharris12 Didn't hear you say that when both Biff and Faf hung Vern out to dry in public did I? Some #proteafire they've got going there https://twitter.com/paulharris12/status/895913281516429312 …

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paul harris @paulharris12

O my word Ash....why always looking for a fight. We were all team mates once. There are better ways of going about it than Twitter. Surely.

12:53 PM - Aug 11, 2017

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Du Plessis confirmed this week that while de Villiers had not officially retired from the five-day game, he was not expected back in the white clothing any time soon.

"The last time I spoke to him, he wasn’t keen to play yet again," Du Plessis said. "So from my point of view I’m not expecting him to come back.

"Whether we win or lose people always want AB to play, because he is the best player in the team.

"But we’ve played a year and a half without him. I hope that he comes back and plays, but I’m not expecting him to, and I’m preparing to look ahead without him.

"I need to try and get it out there that people must expect that it's probably not going to happen. We don’t want to lie about it. If he’s not coming back, then he’s not coming back, but I can't make that decision for AB.

"AB has earned the right to do whatever he wants to. He’s played 100 Tests, he’s played away from home from 12 years. He’s done everything he could possibly achieve, apart from winning the World Cup.

Du Plessis and de Villiers at the 2016 World T20

"He just wants to spend more time with his family. That's AB's only reason."

De Villiers has planned to discuss his future with Cricket South Africa this month to "make a final decision about what happens for the next few years".

The right-hander has scored 8074 runs in 106 Tests, including 21 centuries, at an average of 50.46.