NZ level series 1-1 beating BD by 75 runs

Oram leads Kiwis to fly high in 2nd ODI

After recovering from early batting setback, New Zealand showed their class as they level the three-match BRAC Bank ODI Series 1-1 winning the 2nd match by 75 runs against Bangladesh at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) in the city on
Saturday, reports UNB.
Defending a modest total of 212 reached mostly relying on a hurricane fifty by all rounder Jacob Oram, the Black Caps dismissed the Bengal Tigers for 137 in 42.4 overs.
The hosts’ innings featured a 50 plus stand between Junaed Siddiqui and skipper Mohammad Ashraful, and a little Mashrafe cameo of run-a-ball 27 with three fours and a six that lifted the total to over 100.
Chasing the target of 213, opener Tamim Iqbal had to go for a duck being trapped by Kyle Mills in the very 2nd ball of the innings.
Then number three Mushfiqur Rahim (11), looking good after pulling Tim Southee in front of square leg for four, couldn’t hold his nerve as he was undone by a Mills delivery that nipped back off the seam and his off stump was pegged back.
At 18 for 2, Ashraful came in the middle to join Junaed and between them tried to consolidate the Bangladesh innings adding 53 runs in the 3rd wicket until the last ball of the 27th over.
Junaed, the hero of the previous match, made 32 off 68 balls with three fours before Vettori at mid-off took a one handed catch off Southee delivery to put the pressure back on the Tigers.
With the departure of Junaed at 71/3, the downfall of the Bangladesh innings began as they lost wickets at regular intervals to give the New Zealanders a chance to redeem some pride after a humiliating seven-wicket defeat in the first ODI on Thursday.
Middle order Shakib Al Hasan (10) and Naeem Islam (run out without facing a ball), Mohammad Ashraful with a 86-ball 40, Abdur Razzak (3) and Shahadat Hossain (0) could not give the momentum that was needed to notch a series victory over a test playing nation like New Zealand.
Kyle Mills was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up three wickets for 13 runs in 6.4 overs while Oram grabbed two wickets for 23 runs in 8 overs.
Earlier, as the New Zealanders were sent into bat first, all rounder Jacob Oram came to the rescue of his side from an early batting wobble when his hurricane fifty enabled the visitors to post a moderate 212 for 9 in 50 overs.
Oram, who scored team highest 57 in the previous match, gave a hammering to left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak in the penultimate over plundering 25 runs with three big sixes and one four.
The tall left-hand batsman remained not on 75 off 62 balls with five fours and four sixes to make his overall 11th ODI fifty and the 3rd against Bangladesh. Number 11 Jeetan Patel, who came in place of Gillespie, remained not out on 4.
Oram and Patel added innings highest 45 runs in the 9th wicket. Oram with his all round performance was adjudged the man of the match.
But the scenario would have been different if Razzak could hold on to Oram off a Shahadat delivery when he was batting on 26.
Then in the first ball of the 47th over, Jeetan Patel could be run out if Bangladesh had appealed against him.
TV replay suggested that Mashrafe’s throw from mid on broke the stumps and non striker Patel was short of the crease when Nez Zealand were 168 for 9.
Apart from that unconquered innings from Oram, the Bangladesh bowling lineup especially medium pacer Syed Rasel with his 2nd career best figure compelled the Black Caps onto back foot picking up wickets at regular intervals.
Rasel completed his quota of 10 overs in his 1st spell to send back three top order batsman.
The Khulna Division medium pacer made the first breakthrough in the 8th over when he sent back dashing opener Brendon McCullum for 12 caught at slip by Junaed Siddiqui with team total at 31.
At 42/1, on completion of the first power play, the Bangladesh side took control of the match as they picked up three wickets in the 2nd power play just conceding three runs (11-15 overs).
Number three Jamie How became the second victim of Rasel when his leading edge went to Ashraful at the mid wicket region. How failed to open his account facing 16 balls.
Rasel, who was wicket less in the first ODI, picked up his 3rd wicket in the 14th over sending back opener Jesse Ryder for 30 off 42 balls with four fours, as he took a return catch diving to his left.
Pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza then came in the scene when he took the wicket of Scott Styris for a duck brilliantly caught by Junaed at slip leaving the total hovering at 45/4 after 14.4 overs.
Right-arm off spinner Naeem Islam also joined the fray taking his maiden wicket of Flynn, bowled for 25 off 46 balls.
Naeem also made Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori his second scalp before left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan sent back right-handed batsman Ross Taylor for 33.
At 115-7, Kyle Mills joined Jacob Oram to make the second highest partnership of the innings of 41 runs before he was bowled by Shakib for 17 to leave the team total at 156/8.
Apart from Rasel’s magical spell of 10-4-23-3, new comer Naeem Islam and Shakib Al Hasan bagged two wickets each for 20 runs respectively. Mashrafe took one for 29 in his 10 overs.
Both the sides will travel to Chittagong on Sunday to play the series decider and 3rd ODI billed for Oct 14.

Ashraful lays the blame on batting

Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful has said that they could not do well in batting although they did well in bowling and fielding in the 2nd ODI of the BRAC Bank Series at the SBNS Saturday, reports UNB.
“Our bowling and fielding were good. But we were not able to do well in batting and we were (also) a bit slow. Besides, the pitch conditions didn’t suit us. It was easy to bat in the first innings but as the day progressed it became difficult to bat in the 2nd
innings,” he said at a post match briefing after their 75-run defeat to the Black Caps at the SBNS.
Replying to a query, Ashrful said that in the last three matches they came close to win but couldn’t avail those chances except in the previous one where Bangladesh notched a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand. “We are doing well in bowling, but we still need a lot of hard work in batting,” he added.
Asked if they felt any pressure before playing this match as a win was needed to clinch the series, the ace batsman replied in the negative. He said: “We didn’t take it as a pressure; rather, we focus on to play good cricket match by match. We’ll try our best to do well in all the three departments in Chittagong.”
Replying to another to a question, he said that after the departure of Shakib Al Hasan and Naeem Islam, “we were almost out of the match.”
About Abdur Razzak, who conceded 25 runs in the last over under the hammering of Jacob Oram, Ashraful said: “Razzak also bowled the last over of the innings in a couple of matches, but he was not successful today (Saturday). This can happen.”
He believed that they could have won the match if they were able to make good start and healthy partnerships.
About the opponent, the 24-year old Bangladesh skipper, whose unbeaten 60 played an important part in Bangladesh’s maiden ODI victory over the Black Caps, said: “They (New Zealand) really bowled well. They read the wicket effectively and didn’t allow us to play free shots.”
He added that Oram in his batting gave chances but Bangladesh could not capitalize on those.
Ashraful praised the contribution of Syed Rasel, whose magical spell of 10-4-23-3, enabled Bangladesh to restrict the Kiwis to modest total of 212/9. “Rasel was our strike bowler in 2007 and his similar performance is very much needed for us,” he said.
However, Ashraful expressed his optimism to do well in the next ODI and Test matches in Chittagong.

Last over’s 25 runs came as mental boost: Vettori

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, after their 75-run victory over Bangladesh in the 2nd ODI on Saturday, thinks that the last over’s 25 runs came as a mental boost for them, reports UNB.
“Razzak has the tremendous success behind him and he was their prime bowler. We know he might bowl in the last over and our plan was to amass as much runs as we could in the last over. It gave us a lot of confidence although still our batting was not up to the mark,” he said.
Commenting on the nature of the pitch, Vettori said: “We played in Pakistan and India. There are a lot of runs in the pitch. But here it’s too tough to rotate the scoreboard.”
However, Vettori didn’t hesitate to give Jacob Oram full credit for enlivening the series.
“He really did a good job for us. At first, he recovered the initial collapse and then took two wickets to settle the match.”
Man of the match Oram, whose all round performance kept New Zealand in the series alive, however, said that he batted as per the game plan of the side and his proper execution of the game plan was the reason behind the success.
“It was a tough wicket and early collapse pushed us back. To recover from the odd situation you had no other way but to stick to the game plan,” he said.
The Kiwis all rounder added: “They bowled really well and used the pitch cleverly.
We just wanted to rotate the scoreboard with one or twos. The condition was too tough as well.”

Boat race in Narsingdi

NARSINGDI, Oct 11: Sher-e-Bangla Club here on Saturday organised a colorful boat race in the river Meghna, reports UNB.
Twenty-eight teams participated in the competition under four categories.
Teams of Sultan Majhee, Kabir Ahmed, Billal Mia and Nurul Islam won first prizes in their respective categories.
Industries Secretary Enayetur Rahman distributed the prizes among the winners.

Gayle to lead Stanford

West Indies skipper Chris Gayle has been named captain of the Stanford Superstars team which will face England on November 1, according to a Cricket365com report.
A Superstars Selection Panel, led by Viv Richards, opted for the left-handed batsman to lead the team throughout the lucrative Stanford Super Series which also involves Trinidad & Tobago and Middlesex.
“Our selection panel gave much thought to this selection and deliberated extensively and there was consensus that Chris is the man for the job,” Richards said.
“He’s an experienced international cricketer, possesses a cool head and is the best man for the job in this all important match.”
Sylvester Joseph was named vice-captain of the 17-man Superstars team.

Imran hit century in NCL

Barisal take 111 lead over Rajshahi

A brilliant century by skipper Imran Ahmed enabled Barisal Division to take 111-run first innings lead over hosts Rajshahi Division on the 2nd day of the four-day Ispahani
Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium on Saturday, reports UNB.
Khulna Division resumed the first innings today with overnight 186 for 7 in 90 overs and finally scored 273 for all in 123.2 overs to take a comfortable lead.
Two down Imran Ahmed, who resumed batting with 53 runs, scored the first century of the league making 110 with seven boundaries before he was caught by opponent captain Khaled Mashud Pilot, off a Sabbir delivery.
Another night watch batsman Sajedul Islam (43) completed half century scoring just 50 runs that featured six fours and a six.
Pacer Alamgir Kabir, who grabbed six wickets for 53 runs, claimed one more wicket today to finish with 32-8-76-7.
In reply, hosts Rajshahi Division were struggling with 162 for 7 in 54 overs when bails were drawn for the 2nd day on Saturday.
Opener Shakil Haider (42), lower order Mushfiqur Rahman (34), skipper Khaled Mashud (19), Anisur Rahman (18) and Sabbir Rahman (batting 18) were the notable Rajshahi batsmen reaching the double figure.
National colour pacer Sajedul Islam caused the major damage to the Rajshahi inning claiming six wickets for 33 runs in 16 overs with six maidens.
Barisal Division 1st innings: 273 all out in 123.2 overs (overnight 186 for 7 in 90 overs); Imran Ahmed 110, Sajedul Islam 50, extras 30, Alamgir 7/76.
Rajshahi Division - 162 for 7 in 54 overs; Shakil haider 42, Mushfiqur rahman 34, extras 14, Sajedul Islam 6/38.
In the day’s other match at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Khulna, hosts Khulna Division were in the driving seat against Sylhet Division on the second day (Saturday).
Replying to Khulna Division first inning total 178 runs, Sylhet Division resumed the first innings with 46 for 6 in 21.1 overs and were bundled out for 74 runs in 34.2 overs.
Abul Hossain Raju (17), Sharifullah (16), Mithun (13) and Nazmul Hossain (11) were the main contributors for Sylhet Division while another 12 runs came from extras.
Pacer Ziaur Rahman and Rabiul Islam took three wickets each for 20 and 22 runs respectively.
In reply, Khulna Division opened the 2nd innings to score 187 for all in 67.4 overs.
Pacer Ziaur Rahman (39), skipper Tushan Imran (35) Dollar Mahmud (31), Sahagir Hossain Pavel (30) were the major scorers for Khulna Division.
Nabil Samad and Shuvashish Roy again performed brilliantly in the 2nd innings capturing five wickets each for 73 and 43 runs respectively.
Chasing a huge 291 runs to win, Sylhet Division opened the 2nd innings on the day and scored 18 for 2 in 5 overs on the day two.
Khulna Division Ist innings: 178 all out in 61.2 overs; Mustafizur Rahman 45, Nazmus Sadat 43, Tushar 28, Nabil Samad 8/61, Shuvashish 2/34.
2nd innings- 187 all out in 67.4 overs; Ziaur Rahman 39, Tushar Imran 35, Dollar Mahmud 31, Sahagir Hossain 30, Suvashis Roy 5/43, Nabil Samad 5/73.
Sylhet Division: 1st innings - 74 all out 34.2 overs, Raju 17, Shrifullah 16, Mithun 13, Ziaur Rahman 3/20 and Rabiul Islam 3/22.
2nd innings - 18 for 2 in 5 overs.
The day’s other match between Chittagong Division and Dhaka Division could not be held for the second successive day due wet ground at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium at Fatullah.

Safin stuns Davydenko in Moscow

MOSCOW, Oct 11: Former world number one Marat Safin defeated Russian compatriot and three-time champion Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4 to reach the Kremlin Cup semi-finals on Friday, reports AFP.
Seventh seed Safin struck 17 aces to knock out the world number five and will now tackle Germany’s Mischa Zverev for a place in Sunday’s final where he will be hoping to win his first title since lifting the Australian Open in 2005.
Zverev reached his first career semi-final with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win over Viktor Troicki of Serbia after trailing 5-1 in the deciding set and then having to save two match points.
Fabrice Santoro reached the last four winning an all-French quarter-final 6-3, 2-0 after Paul-Henri Mathieu retired because of an illness.
In the Saturday’s match for a place in the final, Santoro will meet unseeded Igor Kunitsyn of Russia, who defeated another Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-2.
In the WTA section of the 2.4-million-dollar joint event, world number one Jelena Jankovic of Serbia set up a semi-final showdown with defending champion Elena Dementieva after beating Italian Flavia Penetta in the quarter-finals.
Jankovic, the top seed, was a 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 winner over Penetta, recording her fifth victory over the 26-year-old Italian in as many meetings.
The duo traded breaks throughout the opening set, forcing a tiebreak, which Jankovic, who is seeking her season’s fourth crown, won 8/6 for a one-set lead.
The Italian started the second set with an immediate break for a 3-1 advantage but Jankovic moved up a gear to take five consecutive games to win the set and the match.
Jankovic will now face defending champion and third seed Dementieva, who advanced to the semis with a tough 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) victory over Russian compatriot Nadia Petrova.
The tournament’s second seed, Dinara Safina of Russia, beat her fifth seeded compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 7-5 to record her seventh win in their 11th head-to-head clash.
In the semi-finals, Safina will meet another Russian, Vera Zvonareva, the event’s seventh seed who completed the last-four line-up by beating Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 7-5, 6-4.

Mendis lifts Lanka in Toronto T20

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Saturday announced a 20-member final squad for the Merdeka Cup Football Tournament to be held October 15-25 in Malaysia, reports UNB.
The final squad has been named from the initially selected 30 booters following a five-week training camp under new national coach Shafiqul Islam Manik.
Bangladesh, placed in tough group B with Mozambique, Myanmar and Vietnam, will play their first match against top seed Mozambique on Oct. 16 at the Stadium Shah Alam.
In the remaining, group matches Bangladesh will play Myanmar on Oct. 18 and Vietnam on Oct. 20.
In the last year’s Merdeka Cup, Bangladesh lost all the three group phase matches against Singapore, Indonesia and Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh team: Aminul Haq, Biplob Bhatacharya, Hasan Al Mamun, Rajani Kanta Barman, Kazi Mozammel Hossain Saikat, Enamul Haq Sharif, Arman Aziz, Mohammad Robin, Mohammad Sujan (Vice Captain), Mamunul Islam Mamun, Wali Faisal, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Prantosh Kumar Das, Zahid Hasan Emily, Amit Khan Shuvro, Ariful Islam, Motiur Rahman Munna (Captain), Zahid Hossain, Enamul Haq and Abul Hossain.
Officials - Badal Roy, Shawkat Ali Khan Jahangir, Mokbul Hossain, Shafiqul Islam Manik (coach), Golam Rabbai Chhotan (assistant coach), Dr Mahfuzullah Chisty (physio) and Mohammad Mohsin (coaching staff).

Franklin comeback on cards

All-rounder James Franklin is hoping to be back in competitive action for Wellington by the middle of next month, according to a Cricket365com report.
The 27-year-old New Zealand international has been on the sidelines for almost a year after undergoing patella tendon surgery.
The all-rounder has just completed a three-week stint in Canberra under former New Zealand staff coach Ashley Ross and feels confident he will be back in action sooner rather than later.
“I do want to be batting and bowling in Wellington’s first game (against Canterbury, starting on November 17),” he said.
“If I can start the season on time and finish the season than that is a massive tick.
“If I play for Wellington, good. If I go beyond that and regain my sport in the New Zealand team, fantastic.”
Franklin attempted a comeback in August as part of the New Zealand Emerging Players Tour to Australia but was troubled by the problem knee.
“In hindsight my expectations may have been higher than reality,” he told The Dominion Post.
“I got told at the outset by the surgeon that the recovery would be six to eight months and being the athlete you only really hear the number six. Then I thought if it goes really well it might only be four months.
“I’ve been closer to 11 now and it’s only been in recent times that I’ve been able to do multiple tasks on my knee on the same day like bowling and doing weights.
“It’s been frustrating but I’ve been pretty clean in my career injury-wise so I can’t complain.

Tail wag leaves Oz frustrated

BANGALORE, Oct 11: Harbhajan Singh led an Indian revival at the end of the third day of the first Test in Bangalore after a four-wicket haul from Mitchell Johnson had left the hosts with their backs to the wall.
Harbhajan struck a half-century as the Indian tail frustrated the Australians, who had looked on course for a big first-innings lead, to reach the close at 313 for eight.
Useful knocks from Rahul Dravid (51), Sourav Ganguly (47) and Virender Sehwag (45) had kept India from total capitulation, although they still looked to have a mountain to climb when Johnson claimed his fourth wicket of the day, that of Ganguly, to leave India at 232 for seven.
That set the stage for Harbhajan to lead a fightback as he combined with Zaheer Khan in a stand of 80 runs that was only ended just before stumps when the off-spinner edged a rising Shane Watson delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Zaheer remained unbeaten on 35 when stumps were drawn early due to the fading light, while skipper Anil Kumble was yet to open his account.
Johnson prised out three top-order wickets with an outstanding spell of pace and swing in the morning, although it was tearaway fast bowler Brett Lee who gave the Australians a heady start when he trapped Gautam Gambhir plumb in front.
Johnson then swung into the act, dismissing Virender Sehwag although the opening batsman was a victim of his own undoing.
Sehwag slashed at a delivery channelled down the corridor from Johnson and the outer edge flew straight to Matthew Hayden at first slip.
Both openers failed to add significantly to their overnight scores, Sehwag falling for 45, an addition of just two runs, while Gambhir, overnight 20, fell for 21.
India were in distress when Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were dismissed in relatively quick succession.
Tendulkar, needing 77 runs to better Brian Lara’s world record of the highest run getter in this version of the game, had managed only 13 when he spooned a catch to Cameron White at short cover as Johnson snared him with a slower delivery.
Laxman was Johnson’s third wicket of the morning, the Hyderabadi right-hander facing 11 deliveries before edging Johnson to Haddin for no score.
Then came a revival of sorts.
In a display reflecting more grit than quality strokeplay, Dravid got India past the 100-run mark. Quite typical of his innings, the 100 came up with an inside edge past Haddin.
Dravid had raised 49 runs for the fifth wicket with Ganguly when a dubious lbw decision sent him back to the pavilion.
A delivery from Watson flicked the flap of Dravid’s pads as he reached forward to defend, but replays suggested that Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf had judged erroneously, height and a possible inside edge providing doubt.
Ganguly, after an unspectacular but effective start, put on 40 runs for the sixth wicket with Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The wicketkeeper batsman, however, contributed just nine runs to that alliance before he was bowled by part-time left-arm spinner Michael Clarke with a delivery that spun just enough to beat the bat.
Ganguly, who is set to retire at the end of this series, battled on patiently before he was dismissed three short of a half-century.
The left-hander, and former India skipper, was Johnson’s fourth wicket, but this time the lbw decision from Rauf was more credible.
Harbhajan, at the centre of the controversies of the Sydney Test earlier this year, returned to taunt the Australians - although this time his bat did the talking.
The feisty off-spinner smashed Australia’s bowlers around the park as he top-scored with an entertaining 54.
Five boundaries studded Harbhajan’s innings, including consecutive blows in a Lee over. The first was pulled to midwicket and the second was top-edged over Haddin for four.
Harbhajan had raised 80 runs for the eight wicket with Zaheer before being dismissed.
Johnson finished the day with four wickets from the 20 overs that he sent down, conceding 62 runs.

Kim leads Longs Drugs Challenge

DANVILLE, California, Oct 11: South Korea’s In-Kyung Kim shot a 3-under 69 in cold, windy conditions Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Mollie Fankhauser in the Longs Drugs Challenge, while top-ranked Lorena Ochoa was two shots behind, reports AP.
The 20-year-old Kim, winless in two seasons on the LPGA Tour, had an 8-under 136 total on the Blackhawk Country Club course. Fankhauser shot a 68.
“It was really cold this morning,” Kim said. “I was just like, `Go out there and do my best and, you know, hopefully I can start (fast),’ which I did. “I have a little lower ball flight, so I think that helps me a little bit with the wind. And if it’s not raining, I’m OK with everything, any conditions.”
Thirty-nine players shot under par in the first round, but only 17 in the second.
Ochoa, a seven-time winner this season who lost a playoff to Suzann Pettersen last year at Blackhawk, followed her opening 70 with a 68.
“There’s no other way to describe it but a really tough day,” Ochoa said. “I did make a few bogeys out there and a couple silly mistakes. But at the same time I was really pleased, really happy, especially with the way I finished, making three birdies out of the last four holes. For sure dinner will taste better, and I’m right there where I’d like to be for the weekend”
Angela Stanford was 5 under after a 69, and Pettersen (72), LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng (72), Kristy McPherson (70) and Charlotte Mayorkas (71) were 4 under.
Kim had four birdies on the front nine, dropped a stroke on par-3 10th and closed with eight straight pars. The 2005 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion lost a playoff to Ochoa last season in the Wegmans LPGA. In her last five starts, she has two top-10 finishes and five top-20s.
“I feel I’m getting there,” Kim said. “The competition is really hard and tough. I like to challenge myself. I think it’s been fun, and I think I’m going to have more fun.”
Bay Area star Paula Creamer, the Samsung World Championship winner Sunday at Half Moon Bay, was even par after a 70. Santa Cruz resident Juli Inkster, the Hall of Famer who won in 1999 and 2000 at Twelve Bridges, shot a 77 to drop to 3 over.
First-round leaders Maria Hjorth and Michele Redman struggled Friday. Hjorth, nearly five months pregnant, followed her opening 66 with an 80, leaving her 2 over. Redman was 3 under after a 75.

SPORTS NOTES

Warne,s late
night drinking
binges during
2005 Ashes

LONDON: Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has admitted that he used to have late night drinking binges to battle his personal problems during the 2005 Ashes series which Australia lost after 16 years, reports PTI.
Warne’s marriage with Simone was breaking up at that time, and he found himself in a lewd text message scandal and was alleged to having affairs with several women.
He said he would awake till 3 am in the morning sipping away drink after drink trying to forget the personal issues after returning from the cricket field.
“There were times I’d sit there and drink my mini-bar until three in the morning, just to get to sleep. Set the alarm, wake up and say ‘here we go again,’” he told ‘ Daily Telegraph’.

Lawson to
face scrutiny
from Butt

KARACHI, Oct 11: Coach Geoff Lawson is likely to face more scrutiny from the new Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt who has made it clear that he was not satisfied with the results produced by the Australian, reports PTI.
Lawson, who has a coaching contract with the board until August next year, was appointed by former chairman Nasim Ashraf after Pakistan made an ignominious exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.
But after a year at the saddle by the Australian, sources say some senior board officials and players in the national team believe that PCB might have acted in haste in preferring Lawson to other candidates, Dav Whatmore and Richard Done.
Butt has told the local media he would definitely be reviewing the performance of the team and the coaching staff.
This year, Lawson has been constantly on vacations and he had just returned from Australia on September 27 after a month-long holiday.

Ganguly’s
denial

BANGALORE: Sourav Ganguly on Saturday denied that he had given any interview to a Bengali daily in which he had lashed out at the national selecto rs for treating him as the “sacrificial goat” all the time.
“The reports of an interview from Bengali daily published in various newspapers are false. I have not given an interview of that sort to anyone and hopefully also in future,” Ganguly said in a statement which was read out by Indian team logistics manager Russel Radhkrishnan.
“I would request you to clarify with me before publishing news from other sources,” he added.

Ex Olympic
champion
Alexi dies

MOSCOW, Oct 11: Alexi Prokurorov, a Russian cross country skier who won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics, died Friday after he was hit by a car while crossing a road. He was 44, reports AFP.
He was heading toward a train station in Vladimir, 100 miles east of Moscow, and died at the scene, police said.
The Russian Cross Country Ski Federation said Prokurorov was about to board a train to Moscow to have a medical exam for insurance coverage.
Federation secretary Yuri Garmash said Prokurorov was a 13-time national champion and received state honors for his services to the sport.
Prokurorov competed in five Winter Games, winning the 30-kilometer freestyle in Calgary, Alberta. His last Olympics was in 2002 at Nagano, Japan, where he was the Russian team’s flag bearer, the International Ski Federation said.