Jawed’s Blog

PROLIFIC scorer Mohammad Yousuf says the best thing about his world record for the most Test runs in a calendar year is his country will be mentioned whenever people talk about the new landmark.

“I am happy this world record has Pakistan’s name,” said Yousuf, who beat West Indian great Viv Richards’ 30-year-old mark with his 124 on the fourth day in the third Test against the West Indies today (AEDT).

“I would like to dedicate the record to my mother, my wife and my brothers who have been a great support and are very happy about my success,” said Yousuf, who rose from the slums of Lahore to make his Test debut in 1998.

Yousuf said his record was for his country.

“It is a great honour to create a world record.

“You play for your country, which is a great privilege, and to create history is a matter of great pride,” said Yousuf, who also set a new Pakistan mark for a three-Test series score of 665.

The 32-year-old right-handed batsman drove paceman Corey Collymore to the boundary to cross Richards’ record tally and went on to set a new mark of 1,788 Test runs in 11 Tests.

He also scored his ninth century of the year, beating his own record of eight that he set on Monday in the first innings. One of the previous holders for the century record was Richards, again in 1976.

Yousuf also equalled Australian great Don Bradman’s record of scoring six centuries in successive Tests – although it took him only five matches compared with Bradman’s six.

But Yousuf played down the comparison with Richards and other Pakistani greats.

“I still feel that Richards and Brian Lara are the two greatest batsmen of this century,” he said.

“I had followed Richards in my childhood and think he should still be regarded as the greatest.

“Lara is the best batsman of my time, scoring 400 runs in a Test innings is no mean achievement and Lara has done it,” said Yousuf, referring to the master West Indian’s highest Test score made against England at St. John’s in 2004.

The International Cricket Council has confirmed Darrell Hair will not umpire in any further international matches.

Hair’s position had been the subject of debate since he penalised Pakistan for ball-tampering in the controversial Oval Test against England in August.

The Australian’s contract as an elite umpire runs until March 2008, but he will not be offered a new one. And between now and then, the ICC will not ask him to officiate in any matches between Test-playing nations. Whether or not Hair is paid his full salary for 17 months is an issue that remains in the hands of lawyers.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: “I had hoped we could find a way for Darrell to continue umpiring at the top level. “But the ICC executive board didn’t wish to appoint him in international matches. “The ICC has a number of lawyers and we are in contact with them, and we will have more discussions with Hair after a few days. “I spoke to Darrell on Friday after the decision was made, and he was very disappointed.”

ICC president Percy Sonn added: “It was clear from discussions that the ICC board had lost confidence in Mr Hair. “As such, it was resolved that he should not be appointed to international matches involving ICC full members.”

On 20 August, Pakistan were in the field against England on the fourth day of the final Test of the series. Hair, already regarded as a controversial figure – particularly in the subcontinent – awarded England a five-run penalty because he believed the ball had been interfered with. The Pakistan team refused to resume play after the tea interval in protest against the decision leading to the first fofeiture in 129 years of Test cricket.

ICC adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle later cleared Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball-tampering charges. But as a direct result of that controversy, it has now been decided that the laws on ball-tampering will be referred to the ICC Cricket Committee.

Hair offered his resignation to the ICC in exchange for US$500,000 in the wake of the Oval match. And the first indication that his days as a Test umpire might be over came when he was removed from the panel for October’s Champions Trophy in India on security grounds.

His fellow umpire at The Oval, West Indian Billy Doctrove, has always maintained a lower profile.

Pakistan team recently jolted by a series of incidents: the Oval fiasco, Captaincy issue and the most recent doping issues which left the team without their front line bowlers. But they showed incredible self-belief and no little skill to pull off a splendid victory over Sri Lanka in their first match of champions trophy. It was a joint team effort to win the match, in the end it wasn’t easy to win but Razzaq made it child’s play.

Abdul Razzaq is one of my favorite players. He is one of the best allrounders in the cricket history. I would rate hime all time best allrounder and a true match winner. Todays Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is the latest example of his allround performances.

Inzamam and Pakistan have got what they were seeking: they would feel that justice was done, their honour has been restored, and the four-match ban was a small sacrifice for their valiant hero who had stood up to be counted.

Inzamam refused to take the field in forth test match against England at Oval, when Darrell Hair accused Pakistan team of ball tempering and that match was awarded to England, as Pakistan forfeited the match. Read my post Darrell Hair : culprit caught again.

Ovalgate has got the resolution that most people wanted, and it was hardly a surprise. No one seriously believed the ball-tampering charges against Inzamam-ul-Haq’s team would be, or could be, proved, and everyone expected Inzamam to get some sort of a ban. A crisis has blown over, and cricket has come out smiling.

It has been seen to have dispensed justice. Dropping the ball-tampering charge would make it look fair in the eyes of fans in the subcontinent, and the punishment to Inzamam is proof that the law has been upheld. ICC chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle and adjudicator for this case said:

“Hair acted on a mere suspicion; he acted in haste (his fellow umpire wanted to wait); he could have avoided the crisis had he chosen the diplomatic route; and since there was the equal possibility of the ball being damaged naturally, the umpires were wrong in penalising Pakistan”

Everyone can now get on with the business of cricket. For good measure, it has also announced that Darrell Hair will not officiate during the Champions Trophy. That would make, apart from Pakistan, who haven’t wanted Hair for quite a while, even India, the powerful hosts of the Champions Trophy, happy.

People who love to see cricket won’t love to see Darrell Hair umpiring, the man famous for his incorrect decisions and controversies against the south asian teams specially against the Pakistan team.

He has been in the spot light since England last toured Pakistan, and again here when Pakistan visiting England, he made blunders in the 3rd test match, which cost Pakistan the match and in the final and 4th test match he again accused Pakistan of being cheating in the field without any proof.

He is another austrailian with big filthy mouth and biased behavior. His country man Dean Jones, the former Australia Test batsman turned TV commentator, has been sacked by his employers, Ten Sports, after being heard calling South African player Hashim Amla a ‘terrorist’ on live television during the fourth day’s play between Sri Lanka and South Africa at Colombo. [more...]

It wasn’t the first time, Autrailians have been indulge in so many similar controversies, you may find those easily as their numbers are high . One thing I should suggest them quit arrogance, quit biasness and just concentrate on the beautiful game of cricket.