Farooq to go to PM about Services’ no to cricket in Srinagar

November 3rd, 2009 SYDNEY - Australia's wicketkeeper Brad Haddin returns to first-class cricket today and the injury-enforced break might be a blessing in disguise for him. Haddin is also planning to play in the Indian Premier League next year for Mumbai Indians who are most likely to secure his services.

November 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Wednesday disqualified Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) from this year's Ranji Trophy tournament after the team's refusal to travel to Srinagar for their match against Jammu and Kashmir. SSCB was scheduled to play Jammu and Kashmir at Srinagar Nov 3-6 in the Plate Division of the Ranji Trophy season-opener Wednesday.

October 29th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said that New Zealand's forthcoming assignment against Pakistan would be a tough one in the absence of a full time coach. In an interview to The News, Alam highlighted that international teams do need the services of a coach who can guide the players regarding their individual game and chalk out strategies for the squad, and since the Kiwis appear to be in no hurry to appoint a new coach following Andy Moles departure, captain Daniel Vettori would have a tough time in the UAE one-day series against Pakistan.

October 19th, 2009 SRINAGAR - A golf coaching camp has been organised for the first time in Srinagar. The State Tourism Department, in association with the Professional Golf Association of India, organised the camp for the age group of 7-17 years.

October 19th, 2009 JAMMU - Kashmir's cricket body blamed malcontents for the recovery of suspected explosive material from state cricketers on Sunday. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and president of the state cricket body Farooq Abdullah said he suspected that local players who were not selected could be behind the episode.

October 18th, 2009 JAMMU - A day after two cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir were detained and questioned in Bangalore, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and president of the state cricket body Farooq Abdullah called for a probe in the matter. Talking to mediapersons in Jammu Sunday afternoon, Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), said: "The entire blame cannot be laid on the Karnataka Police, for they were fed with wrong information by some people from here." Abdullah said that he suspected the hand of those in the matter who could not find a place in the team.

October 18th, 2009 SRINAGAR - The arrest of two Kashmiri cricketers on suspicion of carrying explosives and their subsequent release has shocked cricket lovers here who say the players were harassed as they belonged to the valley. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has demanded an apology from the Karnataka police and lodged a strong protest against the arrest of the two players in Bangalore where they had gone to participate in a national championship.

October 1st, 2009 MELBOURNE - The Victorian Bushrangers are hoping to secure the services of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff for the upcoming Twenty20 Big Bash should Muttiah Muralitharan miss the competition because of international commitments. Muralitharan could miss out on the Australian season as Sri Lanka could contest a tri-series with India and Bangladesh early in the new year.

September 3rd, 2009 SRINAGAR - Cricket fever has gripped the youth in Kashmir Valley as scores of them have turned out for the Ranji trophy selection camp in Srinagar. The Ranji trophy trials were held at Sheri-Kashmir Cricket stadium on Wednesday.

September 2nd, 2009 MUMBAI - The Indian Premier League (IPL) and its commissioner Lalit Modi has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take a final call on whether or not to terminate the services of IMG as an organiser of the event. IPL and BCCI sources said that BCCI president Shashank Manohar will review the issue and present his report and recommendations to the BCCI's working committee on September 24.

August 13th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may rope in former opener Saeed Anwar to put its house in order. Anwar met PCB chief Ijaz Butt on Wednesday, following which speculations are rife that the former southpaw may get a key position in the board.

July 31st, 2009 KOLKATA - Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly Friday made his debut in cricket administration - questioning several decisions of the Jagmohan Dalmiya regime during a nearly hour-long address at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Annual General Meeting (AGM) here. Dalmiya, as expected, was elected uncontested for another term of the cash-rich body.

July 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Pakistan's legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram is wondering why the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not utilising his services to groom young bowlers. Akram, who has helped Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan and also struggling Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson, feels that he got only limited opportunities to work with Pakistani bowlers.

July 27th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Rugby Association of Kashmir has hired a professional American rugby coach to develop the game in the Himalayan region. Gregory Bruce, a former Rugby player arrived in Srinagar on the special request of Jammu Kashmir Ruby Association (JKRA).

June 10th, 2009 LONDON - Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram is sick and tired of seeing retired old men at the helm of Pakistan cricket, and is convinced that this is the right time for the younger generation to come forward in a bid to bring the sport back on track in the country. The former Pakistani captain believes that the change of guard could start with the appointment of a "youngish" chief selector in place of Abdul Qadir, who has recently resigned from the position.