US T20 cricket tournament abandoned due to weather

DALLAS: American cricket T20 team competition which was held in Dallas was abandoned due to inclement weather.

The sixteen teams’ competition was reduced to 8 teams for the quarter final stage when the tournament was abandoned.

The prize money of twenty five thousand dollars was equally distributed among eight teams who qualified to quarter finals.

According to details the T20 cricket tournament was organized in Dallas with special permission from ICC (California) America.

This cricket tournament was participated by Sri Lanka, West Indies, India, USA and Pakistani international players.

Pakistani players Shabaz and Naveed Latif attended the tournament as special guests as the PCB did not allow them to play in Dallas.

Some of the Pakistani national team players who participated in this tournament included, Shabbir Ahmad, Mansoor Akhtar, Shahzad Hasan, Saud, Sharyar Ahmad, Khalid Latif, Noorul Qamar. Indian player Sharma, West Indian Andrew Paul, and other prominent players also attended the tournament.

The tournament had sixteen teams contesting for the final cup including Star Eleven, US Open Florida, AFL Gladiators, Smart Choice Houston, Punjab Lion, and Alumina Cricket Club Chicago, Punjab (India) 20/20, Mama Cricket Club Houston, PIS Royal, Royal Cricket Club, Midland Club Midland, and GTCC.

The bad weather and raining for the whole week forced the organizer to abandon the tournament before the final.

The prize money of twenty five thousand was equally distributed among the finalist’s teams.

Sethi briefs PM Nawaz on Pak-India cricket developments

LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najam Sethi Sunday called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and briefed him about the affairs of the board at length.

Speaking to Geo News here, Sethi said: “meeting with the premier was encouraging”.

The PCB chairman further said he deeply briefed PM Nawaz on the Pak-India cricket and developments in the restoration of the game between two neighboring countries.

“PM Nawaz agreed on the proposal for holding elections in the board at the earliest”, he said and added that the premier would give approval of the PCB constitution after returning from India.

PM Nawaz, who is also Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Cricket, assured full cooperation and provided guidelines to Sethi for the improvement of the game.

Pakistan to play cricket series against New Zealand

LAHORE: Pakistan will play a series of three Tests, five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and one Twenty20 match during the month of November against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Before this series, Pakistan will play one Twenty20 International, three One-day Internationals and two Test matches against Australia in October at same venue.

According to sources that schedule would be finalized soon between Pakistan and New Zealand.

On other side, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is trying to hold series in Australia and New Zealand.

Green Shirts will likely to play their two ODIs before taking part in the World Cup 2015 in New Zealand.

Necessary to support Big 3 to play international cricket: Sethi

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Najam Sethi said it was necessary to support the ‘Big 3’ to play international cricket.
 
Najam Sethi added that next year Pakistan would nominate the ICC president.

Sethi held a news conference here on Friday after spending the previous day taking part in the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai.

Najam Sethi told reporters that Pakistan would support the ‘Big 3’ after its conditions would be met.

The PCB chairman said he was first informed of the ‘Big 3’ issue on January 8. Sethi told reporters that he discovered on February 8 that Bangladesh was onboard with the proposal while Pakistan and Sri Lanka remained opposed to the ‘Big 3.’


Informing the media about the need to support the ‘Big 3,’ the PCB Chairman said he had held detailed meetings with all countries including India. “We have signed MoUs with all boards for tours over the course of the next eight years.”

According to Sethi some boards had cancelled tours to play against Pakistan. The PCB chairman said after signing the deal Rs30 billion revenue would be generated for Pakistan. The PCB Chairman further said that a series against India had been decided.

Najam Sethi added that the next meeting of the Asian Cricket Council will be held under his chair in Lahore.


When asked about Mohammed Amir, Sethi replied that talks were ongoing with the ICC and the former bowler would play cricket soon. “A decision regarding Amir’s punishment will be taken during the next ICC meeting in June.” Sethi said it was his understanding that Amir’s punishment would be reduced by one year.