PCB gags players, officials

PCB has decided to restrain the people on its payroll from making controversial statements or appearing on television.

The PCB will issue a circular in next 24 hours to gag the players and officials and appoint a spokesperson in the wake of a spate of statements has created chaos and confusion in the cricket circles.
"We have taken notice of this growing trend of players and officials giving statements on a daily basis on every issue and causing more confusion. In the circular, we will make it clear they cant interact with the media without our clearance," Saleem Altaf, Chief Operating Officer of the Board, told PTI.
There has been plenty of confusion caused in the cricket circles with everyone who is anyone in the Board or Pakistan team giving statements on every issue and this has led to fears of a growing internal rift between the former players employed by the board in recent months.
No more differences please
It was noticed that PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt, Director General Javed Miandad, Chief Selector Abdul Qadir, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam and captain Shoaib Malik have been differing statements on policy matters.
Altaf said after the circular was issued there would be one nominated official spokesman of the Board who would interact with the media.
The first victim of this new strict policy is PCB lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi, who has been asked to explain a statement on the issue of the Board delaying in submitting documents and DVDs with the Lahore High Court relating to the Shoaib Akhtar case.
Reason for explanation
Altaf said the decision to seek an explanation from Rizvi was taken as he had apparently violated the confidentiality agreement between lawyer and client. "Even if the client is wrong somewhere the lawyer is not supposed to go public with statements on this. He has to adhere to this confidentiality clause. Apparently Rizvi didn't do this while commenting on the Shoaib Akhtar case," he said.
Rizvi had said he was as surprised as everyone as to the delay in the Board submitting required documents and DVDs asked by the Lahore High court outlining the disciplinary record of Shoaib Akhtar.
Akhtar has submitted a writ petition with the LHC against the 18 months ban and seven million rupees fine imposed on him by an appellate tribunal of the board.
The court asked the Board to submit the relevant documents and DVDs to confirm Shoaibs past disciplinary record.
Altaf said the Board had also taken note of a statement by senior batsman Younis Khan criticising the pitches and facilities available for matches in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam trophy tournament.
"We are very clear that anyone who is on the payroll of the Board can't give statements when he feels like it or appear on television shows. We aim to regularize this system," Altaf said.
Rizvi has said he would respond to the Board notice within 24 hours time.

SLC to decide Pak itinerary by Friday

Sri Lanka Cricket will by Friday finalise the itinerary for its tour of Pakistan after the host country asked them to speed up.

"We had conveyed to them we just want to play maximum international cricket and they should finalise the itinerary soon," Altaf said.
"They have confirmed the tour but they say they would finalise the itinerary by Friday," Saleem Altaf, Chief Operating Officer of PCB told PTI.
Lanka keen to host India
There are indications the Sri Lankans, who are keen to host India for a one-day series in January or February, might first tour Pakistan for a one-day series and then come in late February for a Test series.
But it is obvious that their delay in finalising the itinerary for their Pakistan series has something to do with their desire to play India as well.
Altaf said Pakistan was not concerned with what plans Sri Lanka had about playing against India in the coming weeks. He said there was no doubt over the tour taking place and said so far the Sri Lankans had also not talked about splitting the tour into two parts in writing.
Pak keen for international cricket
"But if they come up with a suggestion we will look into it because our main purpose is to organise some international cricket at home," Altaf said. Meanwhile, India is waiting for an answer from New Zealand to add an extra Test to their confirmed two-Test series in March.
Altaf said Pakistan was prepared to host Sri Lanka and then Australia in the coming months but insisted they were keen that Sri Lanka finalised the itinerary as soon as possible.
"We need to get all logistical details into place for the one-day and Test matches," he added.
Pakistan invited Sri Lanka for a series after India had cancelled their scheduled Test tour to Pakistan from January 4 due to the strained relations between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks in late November.
Altaf said Pakistan Board was also working out more series in the coming months before the Twenty20 World Cup in England in summer.

Afridi hit himself after T20 WC loss

The 2007 T20 World Cup final loss to India hurt him so badly that Shahid Afridi hit himself with his own bat in frustration.

The Pakistani all-rounder said that his biggest regrets in his life were seeing Pakistan lose the 1999 World Cup final to Australia and the Twenty20 World Cup final to India in 2007.
"Believe me these two moments still haunt me. After the T20 final I hit myself on the foot with my bat so hard in utter frustration at the way I got out that I couldn't walk properly for two days," he said.
Afridi said he wants to be a part of a Pakistan team that wins a World Cup.
"People say I have two or three years of cricket left in me. I would love to be a member of a team that either wins the T20 World Cup or the 2011 World Cup," Afridi said in TV interview.
"I like to play my natural game and that is my strength. I want people to enjoy my game," he added.
On captaincy, Afridi said he enjoyed leading the Sindh and Karachi teams in domestic cricket but wouldn't like to comment on getting the national team's rein.
"That is not my job that is for the board to decide. I am just happy to be part of the Pakistan team," he said.

F1 teams agree to cut costs

The FIA, in conjunction with the Formula One teams have announced a raft of proposals in a bid to cut escalating costs.

Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Monte Carlo, the key components of the changes will see savings on engine costs, a ban on in-season testing outside GP weekends and a reduction in staff numbers.
Engines will be available to the independent teams from 2010 for less than US$6.7million (£4.5million) per team per season, supplied by an independent supplier or a manufacturer backed by guarantees of continuity.
There will be no in-season testing from next year except during a race weekend and during scheduled practice.
The teams have also agreed manpower will be reduced by means of a number of measures, including sharing information on tyres and fuel to eliminate the need for 'spotters'.
The FIA estimate the list of changes for 2009 will save the manufacturer teams approximately 30% of their budgets compared to 2008, with the savings for independent teams even greater.

Alonso's agent rejects accident talk

Fernando Alonso's agent has denied reports that the Formula One star was involved in a minor plane accident on Sunday.

There had been suggestions the two-time world champion was flying back from a holiday in Kenya with his wife when the light aircraft he was travelling in brushed a building on take-off, damaging a wing.
But the agent for the Renault driver insisted it was not as serious as reported.
"It seems that the plane took a blow while they were parking it," said Luis Garcia Abad. "Fernando wasn't even inside the aircraft.
"We didn't give it the slightest importance and because of that this commotion surprises us. It doesn't even qualify as an accident."

Inter to get Eboue for free?

Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue may walk in the steps of former team-mate Mathieu Flamini and move to Italy on a free transfer.

AC Milan managed to secure the services of Flamini from Arsenal a year ago, as the Frechman's deal with the Gunners expired last summer. It was considered a steal for the Rossoneri, and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was left fuming.
It could be a case of déjà vu as another Gunner could be heading to Inter soon, the player being rightback Emmanuel Eboue, whose current deal ends in the summer, and is said to be on the lookout for a change in scenery.
The Nerazzurri have no backup for current rightback Maicon and this is precisely the reason Eboue is being looked at.
Estudiantes defender Marcos Angeleri has also been linked to a winter move to the reigning Italian champions, but the Arsenal man may be seen as a more appealing signing due to his versatility, and to top it all off, he has a EU passport thanks to his part-Belgian nationality.

Man City locked on hitman Trez?

Manchester City could be in line for a surprise swoop for Juventus striker David Trezeguet, according to recent reports.

The highest-scoring foreign striker for the Old Lady has spent the majority of the current campaign in the stands due to multiple injuries.
The Frenchman went under the knife in September after sustaining a knee tendon injury in Juve's first game in the Champions League this season, a 1-0 win over Zenit St. Petersburg.
Trezeguet also have both knees operated on earlier in the season, when he struggled in pre-season and the early rounds of the Serie A competition. The French striker is slated for a return this month.
The hitman has just resumed training recently, and is reported to be making strides as he closes in on a comeback.
However, rumours have it that his return could be in a sky blue jersey as it is alleged that Manchester City has the intention of making a US$30 million bid for the player to ply his trade in the Barclays Premier League.
The Eastlands club are monitoring the situation at the Stadio Olimpico as Trezeguet may have a hard time finding his place in the Juve attacking rotation, as he has to battle Alessandro Del Piero, Amauri, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Sebastian Giovinco for a starting berth.
The English side are optimistic about landing the French striker, even though they are currently in the wrong half of the BPL table.
Reports of the deal remain rumours at this stage, and unless there are any formal discussions or statements made, it is highly unlikely that a player, who has scored an incredible 130 times in just over 200 appearances, would walk away from the Old Lady.