Shoaib Akhtar admits Sachin feared him

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has admitted that Indian star batsman little mater Sachin Tendulkar has feared the paceman.

Shoaib had a very good record against the Master Blaster, dismissing him on many occasions in international cricket. The most famous dismissal Shoib will be keep saying may time would be when Tendulkar was clean bowled by the express pacer in a Test match in Kolkata. He claimed that Wasim Akram did not encourage new fast bowlers and went on to add that Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were not match winners to begin with.

The Rawalpindi express opened up that he had been working on his biography for the past one and half year. Shoaib opened up to Times of India, he stated, that he life is going on very peacefully post-retirement. He explained about his autobiography saying that he went to book a whole year and a half and have written is his experience, put as honestly for others to know. 

The 36-year-old claimed that every thing mentioned in the book was true. He added this is the truth for the world; it may be a big controversy. It saddens him to hear all kind of stories about Pakistani cricket in the world. People should know what we go through and why we are the way we are.

Akhtar last played for Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2011. He did not feature in all the games during the ICC World Cup 2011, but proved his fitness and consistency towards the end of his career.

He was expected to play the Semi-Final match of the World Cup against their arch-rivals India, but replaced by left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz.

Wasim Akram: Gambhir is a captaincy material

KKR bowling Coach Wasim Akram feels that Indian opening batsmen Gautam Gambhir is a captaincy material. Akram feels that Gambhir has leadership skills are at par with those of MS Dhoni and he will be future skipper of India. 

Wasim Akram hints Gambhir is future Indian skipper

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, was impressed with the way Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders in the last season of IPL. Akram added that he has looked and worked with Gautam Gambhir as the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders and I have no doubts in saying that Gambhir is a world class cricketer. He even quoted that Gambhir is a fighter and very committed individual, he is at par with Mahendra Singh Dhoni when it comes to leadership and man-management.

The left hand pacer, who captained Pakistan in 25 Tests and 109 ODIs, said Gambhir has almost recovered from his head injury that he sustained during India's disastrous tour of England and could soon be playing. Akram added that Gambhir is a strong boy but concussion after the head injury took a toll on him. Gambhir suffered a head injury during the Oval Test in London while trying to take a high catch off Kevin Pietersen's bat.

That injury sidelined Gambhir from the lone Twenty20 International and the ODI series against England. He also missed the two qualifying matches for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Champions League Twenty20. However, KKR has qualified for the Champions League Twenty20 main tournament for the first time even after losing their qualifying round match to Somerset.

Swann excited to lead young England team

England new T20 skipper, Graeme Swann is excited to lead the young English team. Swann will be leading the England in two T20 series against West Indies in the absence of regulat T20 skipper Stuart Broad was sidelined due to shoulder injury. 

Swann is excited to lead young England team

The off-spinner and the stand-in captain said that he was really excited to lead some of the brightest and upcoming young talents like Jonny Bairstow who played an impressive hand against India in the final ODI. Swann added that these young guys are coming into a pressure situation, but they believe they were good enough to cope and outcome the pressure. 

Graeme Swann is the 5th captain who is leading England team in last one month, following up Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Stuart Broad and Eoin Morgan. Swann said that he is sure that the young talent will very excite and they will feel some pressure and sure they will enjoy it once they get on to the park. The have got lads like Danny Briggs and Scott Borthwick coming into this squad who are superb young spinners with exceptional records in Twenty20.

However, the 2 matches will be a part of England's preparation for next year's world T20 championship to be held in Sri Lanka. 

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi passes away aged 70

Indian legendary Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi passed away in Dehli at the age of 70, suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung infection for which there is no cure. The Nawab of Pataudi, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi married to Sharmila Tagore and survived one son Saif Ali Kahn and his two daughters Soha and Saba Ali Khan.

pataudi passes away at 70

Pataudi played 46 Tests between 1961 and 1975 and was debatably he is India's greatest captain. He had chance to lead Indian team in his fourth Test, when he was 21, in Barbados in 1962. He became youngest test captain in Test history, a record that stood until 2004. Pataudi led India in 40 Tests and had a successful career despite damaged the vision in his right eye, which was damaged in a car accident. He also captained Sussex and Oxford University.

Tiger Pataudi makes his Test debut England on December 13, 1961 and played his farewell match against against West Indies on January 23, 1975. He scored his maiden test century 113 against England in his 3rd Test and his highest score was 203 not out against England. Under Pataudi captaincy India won their away series win defeating New Zealand 3-1.

Pataudi has scored 2793 runs at an average of 35 and made 6 centuries, Pataudi served as a match referee between 1993 and 1996, officiating in two Tests and ten ODIs. Pataudi Trophy was named for the bilateral trophy for India and England series. Pataudi was also a consultant to the BCCI from 2007 and part of the first IPL governing council but refused to continue in the role in October 2010.

At the opening ceremony of the 2011 Champions League Twenty20, Ravi Shastri called for a minute of silence in honour of Pataudi.

ICC World T20 2012 schedule unveils

The World Twenty20 Champions England will enter the tournament with a tag of defending champions.  The 2012 World Twenty20 is scheduled from September 18 to October 12, 2012 in Sri Lanka. ICC has confirmed Colombo, Pallekele and Hambantota as the venues for the tournament.

ICC WORLD T20 scheduled released

The World Twenty20 2012 all 12 teams are divided into four groups and each group is having 3 teams in a preliminary round. England, the defending champions, and India are in Group A and will be joined by one of the Associate teams that qualify in the qualifiers. The other second qualifier will join with West Indies and Australia in Group B. While Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe make Group C, and Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh finishes up the Group D.

The top two teams from each group will make it through the group stages, after which there will be a Super Eight stage, featuring two groups. The format is same as the last edition of 2010. The tournament will include two teams qualifying from the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012, the qualifying tournament, which features 16 teams held in the United Arab Emirates from March 13-14 2012.

However, as everyone can expect top eight teams will reach Super eight’s until some miracles happen and the super eights will be interesting fight to see as all the teams will be fancying their chance to clinch the trophy.

ICC World Twenty20 2012 Schedule:

Group A: England, India, Qualifier 2

Group B: Australia, West Indies, Qualifier 1

Group C: Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Group D: Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh

Super Eight Groups (S8)

Group 1: A1, B2, C1, D2

Group 2: A2, B1, C2, D1

Group Stage

Sept 18

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Hambantota (19:30 local time)

Sept 19

Australia v Q1, Colombo (15:30)

India v Q2, Colombo (19:30)

Sept 20

South Africa v Zimbabwe, Hambantota (19:30)

Sept 21

New Zealand v Bangladesh, Pallekele (15:30)

England v Q2, Colombo (19:30)

Sept 22

Sri Lanka v South Africa, Hambantota (15:30)

Australia v West Indies, Colombo (19:30)

Sept 23

Pakistan v New Zealand, Pallekele (15:30)

England v India, Colombo (19:30)

Sept 24

West Indies v Qualifier 1, Colombo (19:30)

Sept 25

Pakistan v Bangladesh, Pallekele (19:30)

Super Eights

Sept 27

C1 v D2, Pallekele (15:30)

A1 v B2, Pallekele (19:30)

Sept 28

D1 v C2, Colombo (15:30)

B1 v A2, Colombo (19:30)

Sept 29

A1 v D2, Pallekele (15:30)

C1 v B2, Pallekele (19:30)

Sept 30

B1 v C2, Colombo (15:30)

D1 v A2, Colombo (19:30)

Oct 1

B2 v D2, Pallekele (15:30)

A1 v C1, Pallekele (19:30)

Oct 2

B1 v D1, Colombo (15:30)

A2 v C2, Colombo (19:30)

Oct 4

Men’s semi-final: Group 1 winner v Group 2 runners-up, Colombo (19:00)

Oct 5

Men’s semi-final: Group 2 winner v Group 2 runners-up, Colombo (19:00)

Oct 7

Men’s final, Colombo (19:00)

Somdev Devvarman received Arjuna Award

Indian star Somdev Devvarman has been recognized for his efforts in tennis as he was awarded the Arjuna Award. The World number seventy Somdev Devvarman was noticed for his national tennis successes on Tuesday.

Somdev Devvarman was awarded the Arjuna Award by Indian sports Minister Ajay Maken. Built up in the year 1961, the Government opinionated Arjuna Awards recognise exceptional achievement in national sports.

Somdev rewarded with Arjuna Award

The Indian number one Devvarman won singles gold medals for India at both the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. He also joined with Sanam Singh to win gold in the men’s doubles at the Asian Games.

The 26-year-old Devvarman, one of 19 awardees of the prestigious awards in 2011, is the first tennis player to be honoured since WTA star Sania Mirza in 2004. Mahesh Bhupathi won it in 1995 and Leander Paes received the honour in 1990. Devvarman was unable to attend the official ceremony hosted by President Pratibha Patil on 29 August as he was contesting for the US Open 2011.

Murali says India will soon regain No. 1 position

Team India has just finished off disastrous tour of England, where they had lost Tests, ODI’s and T-20 and ended the England summer without a win.

Murali is confident that India to regain No.1 spot

The retired Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan feels the Indian cricket team will soon bounce back to regain its number one position in Tests. India went to England as the number one in Tests, but gently surrendered their top ranking after a 4-0 whitewash.

The World Champions has nothing to cherish off from the England tour as they failed to win a single match in the rain-marred five-match series, where they lost to 3-0. Murali said that India has a very good team and they were at their best prior to this series. And it was just one bad series. He added that many key were injured and rested in the series and team is not at its best. Murali is sure that MS Dhoni-led Indian team will clinch the number one ranking in Test cricket very soon.

The leading wicket taker went to explain the factors that India’s pathetic tour as players like Sehwag, Yuvraj and Gambhir are key factors of their winning combination but they had to meet full fit and roaring England team in their home soil. While Murali backed the Indian off-spinner who is going through a rough patch.

Sourav Ganguly: seniors should take call on retirement

Sourav Ganguly, India's most successful Test skipper says the time is not right for senior players to retire and selectors should not force them to quit the game.

Sourav says that senior players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman should decide on their retirement on their own while coming to quit the game. The day their performance drops, they will leave on the field, and there is no need to pressurize them.

The former skipper said that Indian greats like Dravid and Laxman have already phased out from ODI cricket. Sachin also plays very less ODI’s these days. Now It is good to see youngsters perform so well in the shorter format but he is really more worried about Tests. Ganguly said that the nation hasn’t seen anyone who can fill these big shoes and challenge these seniors. He also added that definitely, the time hasn't come to phase out seniors in Tests.

who will ablt fill big shoes of Sachin & Dravid?

However, India’s finest all-rounder ever Kapil Dev, felt selectors should take the decision and proposed an orderly phase out of the seniors. The 1983 World Cup winning captain said that all three seniors Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman should not play together. As one of them will be  rested and two of them will be playing so that a youngster can be tested in his place. Kapil said that this rotation method of players will help Team India to find out a youngster who can meet these greats.

Everyone knows that it is not going to be easy job to find replacements for the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman. Meanwhile, Madan Lal said that there was lack work ethics in the current young players.  They have to raise their fitness levels. Players like Kohli, Pujara and Rohit will have to be given chances. Suresh had plenty of chances thrown at him and it’s now time for Yuvi to prove he belongs to Test arena.

Indian top players skips off CLT20

All the top players of Indian cricket are planning to skip ongoing Champions league T20, where World’s top T20 teams form will be in battle for Nokia CL T20 2011. In CL T20 four franchise representing India Mumbai Indian (MI), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Fist it was turn of Kolkalta Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir, who ruled out of CL T20. Gambhir has gone through constant injury blows in the England summer where he had to return home without playing one-dayers.  The left handed batsmen skipped qualifiers of CL and have to wait whether, Gambhir will gain fitness and able to play the tournament.

Indian top players to skip CL T20

Coming to Mumbai Indians, their skipper Sachin Tendulkar has headed back to India while the one-dayers were in progress due to toe injury. Sachin said that he will be not playing in CL due to injury. MI middle order batsmen Rohit Sharma also retuned India after fracturing his finger was also doubtful. Meanwhile off spinner stated that he was ready to roar in the CL T20 is now considering him to stay out of the tournament.

Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Zaheer Kahn was never expected to return of playing for the franchise in the Champions League. The IPL Champions Chennai Super Kings key players were also thinking of to skip CL T20. CSK skipper MS Dhoni, ho has been playing all the three formats of international cricket for India without any rest is considering taking rest and same with Suresh Raina as well. Although it was unknown yet who will be playing for their franchise as there is pressure for the management to represent their clubs.

However, the tourney lost its charm as all the top guns of local team was not being part of CL T20. 

Roger Federer the most respected, trusted player

Roger Federer the Swiss Mastero was the second person in the list of most respected, admired and trusted personality, after the former South African president Nelson Mandela.

According to the new global study, more than 50,000 in 25-countries all around the globe show their respect and admire Roger Federer. The 16-times grand slam champion, Roger Federer has been one of the most famous tennis celebrities in world.

Roger Federer is the 2-most respected man in the world

Swiss Maestro has is the number two on the list of the most respected and admired personalities in the world. Behind the tennis champion, the other celebrities, who are most respected are, Queen Elizabeth, Bono, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. While, England soccer star David Beckham finished on the 24th place. Roger Federer has updated a comment on Face Book saying that, Leaving Australia. I had a great time in Sydney; I love Australia and can’t wait to be back in January for the Australian Open.

The 30-year-old Roger Federer is at 2nd position with a 72.1 average, second to former South African president Nelson Mandela, who had 78.5. Federer finished in front of other public figures known for their philanthropic work, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Bono.

The world No.4, Federer was actively involved in charitable activities on the ATP World Tour, of the Rally For Relief to support Queensland flood victims. Earlier this season and through his own foundation, Federer Foundation supports education and sports projects in Ethiopia, South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Switzerland.

Rank	Name	Rating
1	Nelson Mandela	78.5
2	Roger Federer	72.1
3	Bill Gates	71.7
4	Warren Buffett	69.7
5	Richard Barson	68.3
6	Steve Jobs	68.3
7	Orpah Winfery	67.7
8	Bono	67.7
9	Ratan Tata	66.3
10	Elizabeth II	64.9