PCB under fire for its ‘ad-hocism’

August 26th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has backed the selection of fast bowler Mohammad Asif in the 15 member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy saying his presence will add 'fire' to the team's bowling line up. "I think Asif's presence in the team will lend experience and sharpness to the bowling attack especially on the South African pitches where pace bowlers usually have a good time.

August 22nd, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sacked assistant coach Aaqib Javed from his post due to the team's dismal show in the Sri Lanka series. Javed has been replaced by Mohtashim Rasheed.

August 19th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali, 67, has been named the greatest sports star by Australia's No. 1 sporting magazine Alpha.

August 12th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan chief selector, Abdul Qadir has retracted from his earlier statement where he had alleged that some Pakistani players had contacts with Indian bookies. Qadir said he was only worried of a possible match fixing deal.

August 9th, 2009 LEEDS - Australian cricket fans have claimed responsibility for a hotel fire alarm that roused the England team from their beds the morning of their batting collapse on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley. The Fanatics - Australian supporters who follow the Test team around the world - claim they set off the fire alarm at the Radisson Hotel in Leeds about 4.30 a.m.

August 8th, 2009 HEADINGLEY - The amusing truth behind why the England cricketers were evacuated from their Radisson hotel in Leeds at 4.30 am was a woman who set off fire alarms while trying to dry her undies. According to reports, the woman had rinsed her stockings and knickers in a sink and left them near a light to dry, but they started smouldering.

August 7th, 2009 LEEDS - England's Ashes side were evacuated from their hotel this morning hours before the start of the fourth Test against Australia following a fire alarm. According to The Mirror, the players and staff were removed from the Radisson SAS Hotel and were forced to wait outside amid heavy rain in Leeds.

August 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Health experts are criticising David Beckham for endorsing health firm Herbalife. The soccer ace has come under fire for becoming the face of the health supplement giant, which has been accused of running a pyramid selling scheme.

July 27th, 2009 Brooklyn (New York, US),J - A cricket player was battling for his life Sunday night after being struck by lightning while racing off the field to escape a sudden thunderstorm in Brooklyn. According to the New York Daily News, Patrick Gibson, 41, was barely breathing and his legs were badly burned after the Marine Park lightning strike.

July 25th, 2009 KOLKATA/NEW DELHI - Under fire from the Indian cricket board, former captain Sourav Ganguly Saturday went back on his allegations about the board having different rules for different players, and said he knew "what to say and what not to". "Being a responsible person, I know what to say and what not to say.

July 21st, 2009 LONDON - Former England captain Michael Atherton has praised Andrew Flintoff for his superb bowling spell of five for 92 on the fifth and final day of the Lord's Test, but warned that England still have a long way to go in the Ashes series. "Obviously, the big story of the day is Andrew Flintoff's first-ever five-wicket haul at Lord's.

July 2nd, 2009 PERTH - Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has backed a "hungry" Brett Lee to fire the Australians to a 2-1 victory in the 2009 Ashes series against England in England. Lee, on the comeback trail after undergoing a major operation on his ankle, has taken just 29 wickets at an average of 45.44 in 10 Tests in England.

July 1st, 2009 LONDON - England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has said that he has no problem with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff boozing, as long as he knows that he is required to be fit to fire at his opponents on the cricket field. Strauss was speaking after Flintoff, 31, was disciplined for going on a drinking session in Belgium and missing a team bonding visit to the World War I trenches in Flanders.

May 31st, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan speedster Umar Gul is banking upon his stupendous form in the Twenty20 version of the game to help his side win the World Twenty20 Championship this time around. Gul, who single handedly took the game away from Australia in the Twenty20 match played in Dubai earlier this month, said he would continue his aggressive style of bowling during the cricket extravaganza, starting in England from June 5.

May 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are themselves to blame for losing the hosting rights for the 2011 cricket World Cup. "I thought they could have handled the entire thing in a better way.