Struggling Malik may open for Pakistan

Karachi: Six months after being dumped as Pakistan captain, senior all-rounder Shoaib Malik is struggling to keep his place in Pakistan's Test line-up.

According to sources, Pakistan team management is finding it increasingly difficult to offer Malik a place in the playing line-up as a genuine all-rounder and might play him as an opener in the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Galle from July 4.

The return of senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf in the middle-order has also caused more problems for Malik. Yousuf was recalled in the Test squad after he broke ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) earlier this summer.

Interestingly, it was after Malik's ascent as Pakistan captain after the 2007 World Cup that Yousuf was 'forced' to leave national duty.

Yousuf defected to the ICL and later blamed Malik for treating senior players shabbily. Yousuf had claimed that it was because of Malik's behaviour that he was forced to switch allegiance to the ICL.

Sources said that the Pakistan team management will offer Malik to open the innings with Salman Butt. Malik has opened the innings in the past and has a good track record playing up the order in Sri Lanka.

On the 2006 tour of Sri Lanka, Malik played a match-saving knock of 148 - his career-best as Pakistan won the Test series.

Pakistan seems all set to give Test caps to rookie pacer Mohammad Aamer and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. The duo performed well in the ICC World Twenty20 in England where Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the final.

Sayali Bhagat says it wasn't Shoaib Malik

Miss India, films , link-ups, break-offs, controversies... sounds familiar?

Maybe a Hindi movie script! But then this is what keeps going on in B-town, especially for our lovely leading ladies. Sayali Bhagat spills the beans on her on-off relationships; and what role Shoaib Mallik, the cricketer from Pakistan, plays in her life.

Very upset with the wrong media hype, Sayali says, “It’s funny. How I can break off with a person I was never seeing? It’s true that we met a couple of times on social occasions. But then that was it. It is so unfair when people wrongly write about you.” But then wasn’t it front page news that the two were dating? “Oh, yes it was, but I guess people just like to add spice till the aroma spreads. Problem was that they fail to understand that sometimes too much spice can get pungent and might cause trouble to people. Especially the person written about. Only I know the kind of mental trauma I underwent because of a misquoted report.” So the real scene was... “All the stories were falsely woven, for reasons best known to the people who did it, but the person who suffered was me. In fact, I was actually dating someone else at that point of time. Let aside the social stature, my personal life went for a toss. I had a bad break-off with my then boyfriend thanks to this report; and it was NOT Shoaib Mallik. He wasn’t even someone from the industry! My career was affected as I wasn’t in the correct frame of mind to work. I went through a traumatic phase.” She continues, “Why don’t people see the work that I’m doing and appreciate that, rather than indulge into rumours and gossip. Even criticism is welcome, but not misinformation.”

Currently, Sayali has managed to gather herself out of all the trauma she underwent. Kirkit and Paritosh Painter’s Paying Guest are the two movies that have released this month. In fact she breaks away from the glam-doll image that she had made for herself so far, in both the movies. In Kirkit, there was a slight grey shade to her character while in Paying Guest, which is an adaptation from the play of the same name, she did a straight-faced comic role. Experimenting more with the comic genre, Sayali has another comedy called Chalu Movies Inc. She has also signed Wilson Louis’ horror film, Shout. She says, “Working is very therapeutic for me as it has helped me overcome most of my mental trauma and look in a positive direction. So, consciously I try and keep my hands absolutely full.”

Psychologist played big role in Pakistan's triumph: Shoaib Malik

24 Jun 2009, 1649 hrs IST, PTI

KARACHI: Former captain Shoaib Malik on Wednesday credited Pakistan's Twenty20 World Cup triumph to his successor Younis Khan's leadership skills and a short stint of the players with a sports psychologist.

"Younis led the side well and he showed he is a good captain. He got the players together and took us into confidence all the time," Malik, who returned home on Wednesday after the historic win, said.

Younis took over as captain in February after Pakistan under Malik lost a home One-day series to Sri Lanka.

The all-rounder said the counseling sessions the players had with the sports psychologist before going to the T20 World Cup had played a big role in motivating the players to do well.

"I think those sessions helped as the doctor used the power of hypnotism to drill it into our minds that we were going to England to become the World T20 champions," he said.

"It helped us a lot play to our true potential." He said the Twenty20 World Cup win had helped erase the memories of the defeat in the final to India in the inaugural edition.

"I was bitterly disappointed as captain and player when we lost that final (in 2007) but now I feel elated we did finally manage to win this title."

Malik said Pakistan deserved to win the World Cup as they had some very good Twenty20 players.

"I think our victory over South Africa in the semi-final showed that we could beat anyone on our day. We had got the momentum going and with Afridi finding his batting form, it was almost like it was pre-ordained to win."

"I am happy just like the rest of the nation over this victory. It is a big honour for our country and we needed this victory at this time," he said.

Pakistan claim Twenty20 crown

LONDON: Pakistan have become the Twenty20 champions defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets in the hard-fought final of the World Cup 2009 here at Lord’s on Sunday.

Chasing 139, Pakistan achieved the target with four balls to spare with Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik were at the crease.

Afridi made 55 from 40 balls with two sixes and two fours while Malik scored 24

World Twenty20: Akmal, Ajmal carry Pakistan into semifinals

www.thaindian.com

London, June 15 (IANS) Inspiring performances from Kamran Akmal and Saeed Ajmal carried Pakistan into the semifinals of the World Twenty20 after they defeated Ireland by 39 runs in a Group F Super Eights match at The Oval here Monday.
Opening batsman and wicketkeeper Akmal hit a flamboyant 57 as Pakistan made 159 for five in 20 overs after skipper Younis Khan won the toss and elected to bat.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal then picked up 4-19 while Umar Gul kept on his fine run with his 2-19 as Pakistan restricted Ireland to 120 for nine in 20 overs despite a brave innings from captain William Porterfield (40).

Pakistan, who were runners-up in the last edition, started the day under clouds of ugly charges by the New Zealand team of ball tampering in their Saturday encounter but finished the day in some style and with every reason to celebrate.

It was a challenging target for Ireland and Porterfield didn’t get much support from the other end. They crawled in their chase and by the time Porterfeild departed in the 14th over, the run rate was beyond their reach.

Kevin O’ Brien scored a patient 26 but the fall of Porterfield triggered a collapse as Ireland lost seven wickets for just 28 runs, four of them to the spin of Ajmal.

Earlier, Akmal scored a crafty 57 off 51 balls and batted through till the end of the 17th over to see Pakistan post a challenging total. His opening partner Shahzaid Hassan (23) played a breezy knock while Shahid Afridi, promoted up the order, entertained The Oval crowd with his explosive 24 off 13 balls.

Ireland tried to pull back things into their control in the last five overs but Abdul Razzaq (15 not out) played a valuable innings to give Pakistan a good total to defend.

Sayali, Shoaib call it quits

After being together for almost two years, ex-Miss India Sayali Bhagat and Pakistani cricket star and ex-captain Shoaib Malik have called it quits. Bhagat and Malik were also supposed to be working on a film together which was to be directed by Wilson Louis.

Our source said, “Sayali and Shoaib were extremely close to each other and they spent quality time together when Shoaib was in India during the Indian tour. However, the constant media glare and the distance took a toll on the special friendship. As problems between the two countries started brewing, the cricket tours also got cancelled and Shoaib stopped coming here. Sayali also got busy with her films (Paying Guest and Kirkit) and she had no time to travel and be with Shoaib. They are not in touch anymore and even the phone calls and smses have stopped.”

Sayali remained unavailable for comment but her business manager, Vinith Handa, said, “Sayali has always loved cricket and that’s why she has been linked with Shoaib and even Irfan Pathan. However, the fact is that she is single and is focusing on her career. With so many films and brand endorsements in the pipeline, where is the time for love?”

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Afridi: Khan Key

Pakistan star Shahida Afridi is backing captain Younis Khan to play an instrumental role at this year's World Twenty20.

"We have Younis as captain now. He has done well and taken the team along with him so far and he will be vital come England," Afridi enthused to Cricinfo of the 31-year-old batsman, who took over from Shoaib Malik earlier this year.

Spinner Afridi, who was named player of the tournament in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa, believes he will have to adjust his approach as the tournament heads to England in June.

"Wickets in England might be slower, a little less bounce so I'll make slight adjustments to my bowling," he said. "Maybe a bit more flight, but generally, as an ODI leg-spinner, you have to be straight and tight and that works in most conditions."

Pakistan are in Group B of the World Twenty20 with hosts England and the Netherlands. The top two teams from each of the four groups advance to the Super Eight stage.

"I don't think we've got an easy group," Afridi concluded. "Especially in Twenty20, you can't say anything about any side because it's anyone's game."