The PCB-appointed performance review committee suggested that the country’s cricket body ensure ‘accountability’ in the system and carry out objective appraisals of players and support staff after every tour

Umar Farooq13-Jun-2015The PCB-appointed performance review committee suggested that the country’s cricket body ensure ‘accountability’ in the system and carry out objective appraisals of players and support staff after every tour.PCB had constituted an autonomous review committee, comprising two independent members, Wasim Bari and Iqbal Qasim, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, executive committee head Najam Sethi and chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad to assess the 2015 World Cup performance. They met on Friday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to chalk out their assessment.The role of the committee, however, is unclear and the suggestions made are merely recommendatory with their implementation not made mandatory. The committee highlighted four aspects required to strengthen the team: strategic thinking, fielding and fitness, pick-and-stick policy and positive team culture.The committee also singled out accountability as the significant factor that would help determine the team’s performances. It’s something that Pakistan’s system has lacked as evidenced from how players dropped for one series on the basis of performance return in another without meeting the selection criteria. Selection has especially been inconsistent in limited-overs series.The review committee insisted on the pick-and-stick approach to ensure a player selected received ample opportunities to showcase his ability. Recently, Pakistan picked Sami Aslam, a promising opener who impressed during the Test series against Bangladesh, but was dropped for no reason. Mohammad Sami is another example: having been selected out of nowhere for the Zimbabwe series at home, he now faces the axe ahead of the ODI series against Sri Lanka next month.The selection committee that selects a pool of 15 or more players for a series has always distanced itself from the result, leaving the responsibility of naming the final XI to the team management. However, neither the coach nor the captain take responsibility, and according to PCB’s policy, neither has a vote in selecting the squad. Such a situation has led to nobody taking ownership.The review committee met for the second time this week after its earlier meeting barely lasted 15 minutes. The committee was meant to review the World Cup where Pakistan lost in the quarterfinal. The independent members, according to PCB, have been asked to assess the Bangladesh tour as well, where Pakistan lost all the three ODIs and one T20.”The Committee unanimously decided to expand the scope of their review to include Pakistan’s dismal tour in Bangladesh and reiterated the purpose of the review being to establish reasons for the below par performance and to suggest ways to improve upon such performances,” PCB said in a press release. “The Committee agreed that it was important to undertake a review of the players and support staff performance after every tour as a measure of assessment and there should be accountability at every stage.”

Andre Fletcher and Kevin Pietersen powered St Lucia Zouks to 179 against Trinidad &Tobago Red Steel before rain washed out the game

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2015
Match abandoned due to rain
ScorecardFile photo – Andre Fletcher set up St Lucia Zouks’ innings with a fifty•LatinContent/Getty Images

Andre Fletcher struck 57 off 49 balls and Kevin Pietersen hit 42 off 26 balls as St Lucia Zouks ran up 179 in 20 overs, the highest CPL score at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in Gros Islet before rain washed out the match.Rain arrived five balls into the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel’s chase, forcing the second game of the season to be called off, with the teams taking a point each.Fletcher and Johnson Charles gave Zouks a strong start after the hosts were inserted. They raced to 37 in four overs before Jacques Kallis had Charles caught at short midwicket for 16. Fletcher, joined by Kevin Pietersen, built the innings before kicking into higher gear in a partnership worth 70 in 8.5 overs. Though both batsmen departed in successive overs, late contributions from Henry Davids (27), Darren Sammy(15) and Kyle Mayers (19) ensured that Zouks finished with a formidable total.Fletcher and Pietersen hit 13 boundaries between them while Kallis was the pick of the bowlers for Red Steel, claiming figures of 2 for 31.Kallis would later begin the chase with a four and a six before rain cut the match short.

Adam Voges reflects on how the frankness with Australia coach Darren Lehmann told him he was out of the World Cup squad allowed him to focus on securing a Test spot

Daniel Brettig06-Jul-20151:28

‘It’s been a long road to get here’ – Voges

“I’m done then, am I?”Through his tears, Adam Voges summoned the gumption to ask Darren Lehmann if his international hopes were completely snuffed out. It was Allan Border Medal night in January 2014, and outside Doltone House on Sydney’s Elizabeth Street, Lehmann had told Voges that he would not be figuring in the team’s 2015 World Cup plans.Up to that moment, virtually all of Voges’ opportunities to play for Australia had been in coloured clothing. His record showed he had seldom let the team down. So to hear he would not be considered for the squad that would compete for the game’s biggest trophy on home soil truly hurt. There was not much room for any other chances, but Voges had to ask the question.Stubbing out a cigarette, Lehmann replied. “No, you’re not done, there’s always opportunities.” It might have been a throwaway line from a selector to a jilted player, but it has turned out to be very true. Voges cast off any bitterness about missing a World Cup spot and forged ahead for West Australia. Eighteen months later he is set to play in the first Investec Ashes Test in Cardiff.”I didn’t think I’d ever let anyone down when I’d played one-day cricket,” Voges said. “I thought my performances statistically were good and I played in a lot of teams that won games, so from that point of view it was pretty disappointing. But Boof was very honest and I knew exactly where I stood at the end of it.”It took a little while I must admit, but I moved on and my focus from then was doing well for WA. I think during that conversation I said, ‘Well I’m done then am I’, and his answer was no, you’re not’.”So maybe there was that little glimmer of hope when I walked away from that, but he certainly didn’t shut the door that’s for sure. It was just an honest chat that we had. It hasn’t changed me or him as a person in any way. I think there’s still a mutual respect and a good relationship there. I’m sure it was a hard chat for him to have as well.”Lehmann’s frankness allowed Voges to focus on Western Australia, and a prolific 2014-15 season elbowed him onto the plane to the West Indies and England. In Dominica he showed the value of his calm, measured batting on the way to a memorable debut hundred, and in England his ability to soak up pressure and bat around more combustible teammates will be invaluable.Adam Voges ended a long wait for the baggy green with a century on debut in the Caribbean•Getty Images

“I was batting the other day [in Chelmsford] and I came out and Warner was smacking them. Then he got out and Watto came in and he smacked them. Then he got out and Mitch Marsh came in and he smacked them,” Voges said. “I was quite happy doing my thing at the other end. If I can build partnerships with those guys then that’s what I try and focus on.”There will be times where I hopefully get a bit of a run on as well, and I’m certainly not there to just occupy balls. I’ll certainly be proactive and positive in the way that I play but those guys were on a different level the other day. I think that’s the art of batting, knowing when are the right times to attack and when a bloke is bowling well and you need to get through a tricky period. And knowing when you can cash in as well.”Generally, an Ashes is not considered the best time to include players with minimal Test match experience. However, Voges’ rich history of first-class matches, both in England and Australia, leaves him well placed to make an immediate impact, much as the opener Chris Rogers did in 2013.”I’ve learnt a bit of patience over the last few years,” Voges said. “My two young ones will be here tomorrow, and I think they’ve taught me patience pretty well. But I think it’s just experience – it’s going to be a big occasion, I’m sure there will be some nerves. You’d be disappointed if there weren’t.”But just going back and knowing I’ve played a lot of cricket now and just being able to go back on that experience and hopefully that will hold me in good stead.”That experience includes plenty of knowledge of England players. Stuart Broad, for one, was a team-mate with Nottingham. “Off the field, he’s a nice guy,” Voges said. “I’ve played a lot with him, I’ve always got along well with him. It’s always different when you walk across the white line, and we won’t be saying too much to each other I’m pretty sure. Once it’s all finished I’m sure we’ll have a beer afterwards but we’re here for business now, and that’s how it will be.”It’s the Ashes, we all grow up watching and is probably the most important Test series, so from that point of view, because of the occasion and how big it is, there’s always going to be a little bit of niggle in the heat of the moment, and that’s fine. Looking forward to getting out there.”

Academy duo Lewis McManus and Mason Crane saved Hampshire from a sixth defeat of the season and handed Durham their first draw

ECB/PA22-Jul-2015
ScorecardLewis McManus, a former England Under-19, was playing only his second first-class match•All Out Cricket

Academy duo Lewis McManus and Mason Crane saved Hampshire from a sixth defeat of the season and handed Durham their first draw, preventing them from reclaiming second spot from Warwickshire. Chris Rushworth took nine wickets in the match – including a hat-trick spread over two innings – but could not quite force victory for Durham.Hampshire had slumped to 39 for 5 in pursuit 305 for victory as Rushworth and Ryan Pringle carved through the home side’s batting. But a 43-run stand between McManus and Joe Gatting steadied Hampshire, before the 20-year-old wicketkeeper and Gareth Berg added 53 for the seventh wicket to frustrate the visitors.Rain slowed Durham down further, as nine overs were lost to a half-hour shower, allowing allowed McManus, now joined by Jackson Bird, to regroup. Bird and James Tomlinson both fell lbw to Pringle but Crane, on first-class debut, joined McManus in helping to see out the final 5.2 overs with Hampshire nine down, making the most of an uncharacteristic drop from Paul Collingwood.McManus finished on 53 not out from 166 balls, his maiden first-class fifty, after clipping the final delivery of the match, from Rushworth, for four. The draw all but ended Durham’s title dreams and kept Hampshire glued to the bottom of Division One.”I was looking at surviving those last six balls and getting the team over the line and get a draw but to get that and a half-century at the same time was a bonus,” McManus said, after playing in only his second first-class match.In the morning, teenage legspinner Crane was denied a debut five-for as he took four scalps before Durham declared. Mark Stoneman made sure the board kept moving with an aggressive 88, which included two sixes that cleared the boundary comfortably.Scott Borthwick was Crane’s first wicket of the day, as one turned out the rough to bowl Durham’s No. 3 for 39. Australia international John Hastings – who was moved up the order to push the run rate – swung straight into the hands of James Vince, before Stoneman was bowled.That wicket was enough to persuade Collingwood to declare – setting Hampshire 305 to win in a minimum of 72 overs.And Hampshire got off to a howler as Michael Carberry edged behind to the first ball of the innings to give Rushworth yet another wicket – and complete a rare hat-trick, with all three wickets occurring in different overs. Rushworth had taken wickets with the final ball of the 109th over and first ball of the 11th over to finish Hampshire’s first innings on Tuesday.Liam Dawson followed the opener after lunch when he was pinned lbw by Rushworth before Jame Vince was also leg before but to Pringle. Adams was the next to depart when he edged behind trying to withdraw his bat to give Rushworth his ninth wicket of a storming match.Former Durham captain Smith completed a disastrous 4.3 overs in which four wickets and only seven runs were scored when he flicked to Collingwood at slip. But two long stands swung the game back towards Hampshire’s grasp as McManus continued his run of scoring his highest score in each of his four first-class innings by classily playing the situation.Bird was lbw to Pringle – the spinner concluding with career best figures of 5 for 63 – with 8.5 overs remaining to jangle the nerves before Tomlinson fell with less than 15 minutes before the 6pm cut off.Crane came in and scored his first professional runs – on the day he was given a first professional contract – before Collingwood spilled a regulation slip chance to heighten the suspense. But Hampshire got away with their collapse in tense circumstances.

Mark Wood has enjoyed the thrill of taking the wicket that won the Ashes for England, but on the horizon is the less palatable thought of an operation on a persistent ankle ailment

Andrew McGlashan18-Aug-2015Mark Wood has spent the last week trying to soak up the experience of being the bowler who took the Ashes-winning wicket for England when he dismissed Nathan Lyon at Trent Bridge. However, on the horizon are the less palatable realities that he may miss out on the final Investec Test at The Oval due to the congestion among England’s quicks and could also require surgery on the ankle problem that has plagued him throughout his short career.It is almost impossible to wipe the smile off Wood’s face, and the memory of that moment when Lyon’s stumps were splattered will stay with him forever, but he has conceded, having sought specialist advice, that the pain management that currently goes into keeping him serviceable – “it doesn’t hurt as much when I take the pills the doctor gives us” – may not be the long-term solution.”I’ve had that many injuries so far in my short career that I never want to be thrown out of the team,” he said. “Long term, the ankle problem may need some work done to it – whether that’s time off or maybe an operation. That might be the case. It’s about fitting it in at the right time.”In the shorter term, Wood’s place for the final Test of the season will come under scrutiny should James Anderson recover from the side strain that kept him out of the fourth Test. Anderson bowled on an adjacent pitch before having a stint in the nets themselves, having also bowled yesterday.”Jimmy has 400 Test wickets, he’s England’s leading bowler – he had a bowl yesterday and seemed fine – but I’m going to prepare as I have every other game. I’m sure everyone would want Jimmy in the side so if he’s fit he probably gets the nod.”Wood has emerged in all three formats during the season, beginning with his ODI debut against Ireland before his first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s and he also played in the T20 side. It would seem unlikely that will remain a viable workload if he is to enjoy more than a fleeting international career.Mark Wood might require surgery on his long-standing ankle ailment•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

His problem stems from ankle impingements, a common complaint for fast bowlers, which have caused significant inflammation and led to him requiring a cortisone injection earlier this series in order to be fit for Trent Bridge where he returned in place of the injured Anderson.Wood admitted he had started to struggle during the Lord’s Test as back-to-back fixtures at the start of the series took their toll, but he was able to sustain his pace at Trent Bridge when he was handed the new ball, even if Australia’s woeful batting meant his workload was limited.”So far I’ve managed my ankle well in this series and that’s been okay. You saw at Lord’s that I struggled a bit, so it might be the case that I’ll have to miss games or have that operation. But there’s a big game on Thursday which I want to be a part of then a heavy schedule coming up after that. I don’t want to miss games, but it might have to be done to make sure I can perform at my best and not let the team down.”As Wood alluded to, such is the packed nature of England’s schedule that missing matches would be inevitable if surgery was required. Shortly after the one-day series against Australia is finished next month – one that is shaping as a series for Wood to miss – the squad fly to the UAE for three Tests against Pakistan followed by four ODIs and three T20s. Then it is almost straight to South Africa for a full tour including four Tests and hot on the heels of that is the World T20 in India leading right into the start of the next English season.For Wood, the conflict is wanting to savour every moment of his young England career but also being wise enough – with the aid of the input from the medical team – to do what is best to ensure those England days have longevity.”If I did get this done it might mean I don’t have to take as many pills and get my ankle taped,” he said. “There are positive and negatives on both sides so just have to weigh it up as to when is the right time in the schedule that I can get away with it if I do need it do. But I may not need it at all. Jimmy Anderson has had an ankle problem for years that the management have told me about so if I can do what he’s done then I would prefer that.The potential for tweaking his action has not been completely discounted, either, although Wood said his current approach – a sprinter’s kick at the start with an explosive delivery stride – is all he has ever used, but he is aware of the thoughts of former fast bowlers who worry about the impact it has on his body.”I have spoken to a couple of guys about injuries. My style of bowling off a short run and explosive at the crease probably doesn’t help my body at times. I heard Glenn McGrath mention that my short run puts more pressure on, but I don’t know any different to be honest. Maybe that’s something I can look at and discuss with the team.”There should be caution, however, about changes to a bowling action. The man who may force him onto the sidelines for this Test – Anderson – almost had his career ruined by a desire to try and remodel his action while Steven Finn’s career was severely disrupted when his run-up was tinkered with.

Hamilton Masakadza has been dropped from Zimbabwe’s ODI squad for the home series against Ireland due to his patchy form

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2015

Zim squad for Ireland ODIs

Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Brian Chari, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams
In: Craig Ervine, Wellington Masakadza
Out: Graeme Cremer, Hamilton Masakadza

Hamilton Masakadza has been dropped from Zimbabwe’s ODI squad for the home series against Ireland due to his patchy form. However, there will still be family representation in the XV, with his younger left-arm spinning brother, Wellington Masakadza, having been included. If Wellington does get a game, he will be the third of the Masakadza siblings to play for Zimbabwe, with fast bowler Shingi also have made the national team.Middle-order batsman Craig Ervine, who missed the home ODIs against Pakistan due to a hamstring niggle, returns to the squad. Graeme Cremer, who had sprained his ankle during that Pakistan series, misses out, having not yet fully recovered. A Zimbabwe Cricket statement said his ankle might require another two weeks to heal, and he will undergo an MRI scan to confirm the extent of the damage to it.Following unconvincing scores of 15 and 7 against Pakistan, Hamilton Masakadza was left out for the final ODI of that series, and it was expected that he might miss out here.Zimbabwe host Ireland for three ODIs, starting on October 9.

Joe Root described Alastair Cook as a model pro without banter and regretteds the fact the third longest innings in Test history might have been ended by a no ball

Andrew McGlashan16-Oct-2015Such were the exertions that Alastair Cook had put himself through in nearly 14 hours at the crease in temperatures easily in the high 30s – and the convention that the England captain usually only speaks after a Test match is finished, except for the occasional TV grab – that for the second day running it was left to a team-mate to marvel at the captain’s qualities.This time it was Joe Root, seemingly leader-elect and a player who will go onto challenge whatever stack of records Cook leaves behind, after he made 85 in dominating a fourth-wicket stand of 141, who was the spokesman.”As you can imagine being out there for two days it’s taken a lot out of him, but I’m sure it’s a good pain and one at the start of the week he’d have loved to have had,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll rest up tonight and be as fresh as a daisy tomorrow.”It was a hell of an effort, two days in that heat showed huge amounts of skill, concentration and fitness. We spoke a lot as a side about batting long periods of time out here and how important it will be if we are to give ourselves a chance of winning. Our captain has led from the front and set the example for the rest of the series.”Such have been the conditions in the UAE that even Cook – who is well known for not sweating – has had to change his gloves more than ever. There is, as yet, no count on the exact number of pairs or volume of shirts that the third longest Test innings required. Root did, though, say that while Cook may have changed gloves he did not change persona at any stage whether in the middle or the dressing room.Joe Root shows his frustration at a century that eluded him•Getty Images

“He was just the same as always, pretty down to earth chats about rubbish. It’s a bit like batting in the middle, he doesn’t give you any banter or doesn’t look like he’s overly concentrating. He’s just a model professional, he knows what he needs to do and he can switch off when he needs to. I think that’s one reason he can bat long periods of time.”Cook’s innings, which made him the leading non-Asian batsman in Asia ahead of Jacques Kallis, eventually ended with a top-edged sweep to short fine leg – a shot that had been a key part of his stay – but replays showed that Shoaib Malik’s delivery was a no-ball. Although Malik’s foot did drag back, it is the first point of planting that matters and he had nothing behind the line. It was one of the increasingly rare dismissals where the front line was not checked, so there was no recourse.Root, though, acknowledged how the energy-sapping conditions that the players have gone through are the same for the umpires, two men who have to stand in the middle throughout.”It’s disappointing,” he said of Cook’s dismissal. “It’s tough, the umpires are in a position where they can never win. If they make a good decision they are expected to do it, if they make a bad one everyone wants their heads. I have a little of sympathy for the umpires out there in that heat as well, they have to concentration for just as long as we have but you want to see those decision go the right way. Unfortunately everyone makes mistakes.”

Dale Steyn could spend the rest of the Mohali Test as a spectator after picking up a groin strain in the field on the second day

Firdose Moonda in Mohali06-Nov-2015Dale Steyn could spend the rest of the Mohali Test as a spectator after picking up a groin strain in the field on the second day. Steyn did not bowl at all in India’s second innings as a “precaution,” according to the CSA Twitter feed at the time, but the post-day analysis appears more serious.”I think he’s struggling. I think he has got a groin strain and I can’t see him bowling tomorrow,” Claude Henderson, South Africa’s spin consultant, said.The news will come as a blow to South Africa, who are looking to limit India’s lead, which has already reached 142 by the end of the second day, and may have looked to Steyn to generate reverse swing. They will not lack for an option in out and out pace though, with Kagiso Rabada bowling at around 145 kph plus.Steyn’s absence will leave Vernon Philander to lead the attack, with Morne Morkel missing the match through injury and will force South Africa to rely more heavily on spin. Henderson hopes legspinner Imran Tahir, who has taken three wickets so far but has been used sparingly by Hashim Amla, will have the opportunity to make more of an impact.”Imran Tahir has just come back into Test cricket. He is seen as an attacking bowler by Hashim, so maybe that’s why he is using him in short spells, and Dean Elgar took four wickets in the first innings. But I agree, I would have loved to see him bowl longer today. Maybe that will happen tomorrow,” Henderson said. “The good sign is I’ve seen Imran bowl a few balls in the last session that turned and bounced.”That sign may not be so good for South Africa’s chase, which is already looking tough, and which Henderson said could get tougher as soon as India’s lead pops over the 200-run mark. “We need wickets early to try to create some pressure. Anything above 200 will be challenging,” he said. “But I’ve seen this team do some special things. With our batting line-up I wouldn’t be at ease if I was India because there’s a lot of time left in this game. But you don’t want to go past 300.”

A round-up of the Regional 4 Day Tournament matches that ended on November 9, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2015Four wickets each from offspinner Steven Jacobs and left-arm pacer Raymon Reifer helped Guyana bowl out Windward Islands for 125 in their chase of 230, for a 104-run win at the Providence Stadium. After Guyana were all out for 95 on the third day, Windwards had the entire last day to bat but lasted 46.1 overs as the hosts took 18 points compared to Windwards’ three.Guyana built on their decision to bat by posting 362 with the help of opener Rajendra Chandrika’s maiden first-class hundred (146). Several other batsmen reached double-figures but could not build on starts as Shane Shillingford troubled the middle and lower order to finish with 6 for 107. Windwards’ batting was led at the top by Devon Smith’s 52 and 46 runs from opener Tyrone Thephile before Jacobs took four in the first innings to restrict the visitors to 228, for a lead of 134 runs.Guyana were then skittled for only 95 as Shillingford ran through their lower order again, with 5 for 36, and Windwards were set a target of 230. Only four of their batsmen reached double-figures because Jacobs claimed four more to finish with career-best match figures of 8 for 91. Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored 34 in each of the innings.Barbados‘ bowling attack combined with a first-innings century from Kraigg Brathwaite to lead them to a 10-wicket win after making Jamaica follow-on to claim 17 points in the first round of the Regional 4 Day Tournament. After posting 373 in the first innings, Barbados dismissed Jamaica for 189 and 187 to chase a target of only four runs.Put in to bat, Barbados were led by Brathwaite’s 14th first-class hundred (119), followed by a 77 from No. 3 Shai Hope and useful contributions from Sharmarh Brooks (49) and Roston Chase (48). The lower order didn’t contribute much and Nikita Miller’s 4 for 100 meant they were restricted to under 400.Jamaica’s top order also fared better than their lower order, but not better than Barbados’ top order. Opener John Campbell scored 49 and Kirk Edwards chipped in with a fifty (58) before four wickets from Kevin Stoute (4 for 21) and three from left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican bowled Jamaica out for 189, to make them bat again. The second time, Campbell top-scored with 35 and only five more batsmen scored in double-digits. Miguel Cummins and Ashley Nurse took three wickets each to dismiss Jamaica again and the Barbados openers took three overs to register the win.

Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar Ali and allrounder Mohammad Hafeez chose to stay away from the ongoing conditioning camp in Lahore, reportedly due to Mohammad Amir’s inclusion among the probables for the camp

Umar Farooq24-Dec-2015Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar Ali and veteran allrounder Mohammad Hafeez have chosen to stay away from the ongoing conditioning camp in Lahore, apparently due to Mohammad Amir’s inclusion among the probables for the camp. Azhar confirmed that he had stayed away because of Amir and Pakistan’s team media manager, Agha Akbar, said Hafeez’s absence was also apparently for the same reason.Amir, who is in the selection mix after serving a five-year ban for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, was one of the 26 probables named for the pre-season conditioning camp in the build-up to the New Zealand tour. Both Hafeez and Azhar were playing domestic matches in Karachi and had missed the first three days of the camp which began on December 21. They were scheduled to join the camp on Thursday, but Agha Akbar confirmed that the pair did not train with the side.”Both are not joining the training camp today apparently because of Mohammad Amir,” Akbar told ESPNcricinfo.Azhar was more direct. “I will not attend the camp as long as Amir is there,” he said. “This is my decision and we are open to discuss with the PCB. I don’t want to comment on Hafeez’s decision, but we both have the same stance.'”In November, Hafeez had reportedly turned down an offer in the Bangladesh Premier League from the Chittagong Vikings franchise, who had enlisted Amir. Hafeez told ESPNcricinfo that he could not play “with any player who has tarnished and brought a bad name to the country”, but was open to accepting an offer from a different franchise. He stressed that this was his personal opinion.In November 2011, Amir – along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif – was sentenced in a London Court on charges conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat at gambling after a plot was uncovered in a sting operation to bowl deliberate no-balls in a Test against England in 2010. Amir was given a six-month jail sentence and served half of it at the Portland Young Offenders Institution in DorsetHe was also given a five-year ban by the ICC, and his suspension period formally ended on September 1 this year. Amir had been allowed to return to cricket ahead of schedule by the ICC in January and has since featured in Pakistan’s domestic T20 and first-class competitions. He was also a part of the BPL 2015-16, playing nine matches for the Chittagong Vikings franchise.