Intikhab rubbishes match-fixing allegations

Intikhab Alam: "Though we have lost this ODI series it's good for our cricket and also for the image of Pakistan cricket if we win the remaining two matches and have a happy ending"
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has rubbished allegations that some of his players were involved with bookmakers during his team's ongoing tour of Sri Lanka, where they have conceded the Test and ODI series.
"I don't believe in such rumours, it's total rubbish," Intikhab said after Pakistan recorded their first win on tour, beating Sri Lanka comprehensively by 146 runs in the fourth ODI in Colombo.
"I have faith in every player of the Pakistan team. We have gone through such situations before. It takes a lot when you haven't won a single game so far of course it's a matter of concern. Though we have lost this ODI series it's good for our cricket and also for the image of Pakistan cricket if we win the remaining two matches (including the Twenty20) and have a happy ending."
Pakistan cricket has been rocked in the past few weeks by allegations that bookies were seen staying in the same hotel floor as the team. The Pakistan Cricket Board had subsequently informed the ICC to investigate these allegations also sought legal advice on unsubstantiated accusations by former chief selector Abdul Qadir on the involvement of the players.
The ICC has a representative of its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit looking into it. The side's poor performance in Sri Lanka, soon after their triumph in the ICC World Twenty20 in England has come as a shock in Pakistan.
Pakistan play the fifth and final ODI at the same venue (R Premadasa Stadium) on Sunday, before winding off their tour with a Twenty20 International on Wednesday.

Zaheer ruled out of Champions Trophy

Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy starting late September, after undergoing a major shoulder surgery in South Africa last month. It is feared that he could miss the seven-match home ODI series against Australia in November-December as well if the recovery doesn't go according to plan. But a BCCI media release on Friday said Zaheer was responding well to the surgery and was expected to return to international cricket towards the end of the year, suggesting he could be in contention for the Australia series.
"Zaheer Khan had an arthroscopic labral repair in his left shoulder on 13th July 2009 done by the Johannesburg-based Dr Mark Ferguson," the release said. "Zaheer is undergoing rehabilitation in South Africa and is recovering very well. He is expected to return to international cricket by the end of this year."
Zaheer will return to India from South Africa on August 9. After 10 days, he will head back to South Africa for further rehabilitation on his shoulder, the release said.
He picked up the injury to his bowling shoulder during the second edition of the IPL while playing for the Mumbai Indians. Zaheer fell on his shoulder while fielding and was subsequently advised rest. Zaheer aggravated the injury during the World Twenty20 and had to undergo surgery in South Africa in July, causing him to miss the four-match ODI series in West Indies.
The 30-year-old has been advised a minimum of three months' rest. Ferguson, who carried out the surgery, has successfully treated Sachin Tendulkar and former India players Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble in the past.
The team for the ICC event has to be selected by August 23. The national selectors will be meeting on August 16 to pick the squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka starting September 8 and the Champions Trophy, beginning on September 25. Zaheer had been named in a list of 30 probables for the Champions Trophy.
India will be thankful that the injury is not likely to cost Zaheer any Test matches, if the recovery goes to plan. Although a big loss, it should be relatively easier to replace Zaheer in the shorter formats. It gives both RP Singh and Munaf Patel an opportunity to present better claims for their inclusion in the side, and Praveen Kumar a chance to cement his place as third seamer. Ashish Nehra has also sprung up as an option after he had a fairly successful return to international cricket in the ODIs in West Indies.

Selectors draw flak for Clark's absence

Australian media criticized national selectors for ignoring Stuart Clark, who helped his team make a turn around in the Ashes.
The 33-year-old Clark, who was playing in his first Test since elbow surgery last December, rekindled Australia's hopes of defending their title in the five-match series which Ponting's men are trailing 0-1.
Australia bowled out England for 102 and took a 94-run lead with their 196 for four by stumps yesterday.
'The Daily Telegraph' said Clark was "inexplicably overlooked" by the selectors in the first three Test.
"Clark had been the invisible man of Australia's Ashes campaign, inexplicably overlooked for the first three Tests as Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle struggled and went for more than four runs an over," the paper said.
"He was back with a vengeance and created the suffocating pressure that Australia has been sadly lacking in England," it added.

The report in 'Sydney Morning Herald' was on similar sentiments as it also pointed out selectors' inexplicable resistance to Clark in the first three matches.
"The selectors' inexplicable resistance to Clark prior to Headingley could not have been more emphatically highlighted as a most serious error as England were unable to survive more than 33 overs," the SMH reported.
Noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck praised Clark's achievements, describing him as pick of the Australian bowlers.
"Belatedly recalled and keeping an unerring length, the old trouper probed constantly, making the batsmen play, always asking questions. Clark looked his old self, denying the batsmen soft runs, squeezing them tight, drawing them into prods and taking outside edges," he wrote in the 'Herald Sun'.
ABC radio also felt Clark's return was overdue and it sharpened the Australian bowling attack, giving the visitor's a hope of levelling the series.
"In a stunning shift of momentum, triggered by Andrew Flintoff's withdrawal and Matt Prior's back spasm that delayed the toss, England had its worst day of the series," Maxwell said.
"If it can muster a 150-run lead, Australia should be levelling the series on Monday," he said.