Andy Atkinson, an English curator in charge of the pitches during the Pakistan and South Africa series, and a pitch adviser for the ICC, promised to prepare quality pitches with pace and bounce fair to both sides.

Atkinson, who worked in South Africa from 1993 to 2001, said: “I am here to make quality cricket pitches but there are no specific targets of making spintracks to support the home team.” He continued: “I came here two years ago, the soil has no problem, but maybe the way the pitches are made here is a problem. The conditions are much similar to South Africa, the clay content is the same and grass is of the same quality. The whole idea is to make consistent pitches in Pakistan.”The Pakistan board sought Atkinson’s help after criticism of the pitches by Rashid Latif, former captain, Javed Miandad, the coach and Tauqir Zia, PCB chairman. After his tour of Pakistan, Atkinson will fly to Bangladesh to supervise the preparations of the pitches for the ICC Junior World Cup to be held in January and February.Atkinson always has high praise for Australia’s wickets, but rejected Steve Waugh’s demand for uniform pitches. “It is impossible to have uniform pitches all over the world because atmospheric conditions are different,” he said. “They would be detrimental for world cricket.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to organize the forthcoming domestic international matches against South Africa. The decision was taken on Thursday in a meeting that was chaired by PCB Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Tauqir Zia.The South African team arrives in Lahore on Tuesday morning for two Tests and five one-day internationals that will be played in Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi."We are grateful and thankful to the Punjab Cricket Association for their support and cooperation in organizing international matches against Bangladesh. But for the series against South Africa, it has been decided that the PCB will organize the show. Mr Arif Rahim has been appointed the Chairman Organizing Committee of all the three committees at Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi," PCB Chief Executive Ramiz Raja said in a statement.With this decision, the season accreditation cards that were issued prior to the beginning of the home series stand null and void."The accreditation cards, except for print and electronic media and PCB officials, have been cancelled with immediate effect. Fresh accreditation/duty cards to the local match organizers and sub-committee members will be issued by Mr Arif Rahim who has made his camp office in the Gaddafi Stadium," the PCB Chief Executive said.On Friday, the PCB Chief Executive chaired a high level meeting in which security aspects were discussed and finalized."There will be no compromise on security which will be foolproof and tight. I would request all the cricket lovers to kindly support and cooperate with us because Pakistan future domestic events depend heavily on South African series. The crowds, I must admit, have been wonderful for the series against Bangladesh and I am sure their response for the forthcoming series will be equally positive and supportive," Ramiz Raja said.In the meeting, it was decided that falling items – fire arms, weapons, glass and plastic bottles, canes, fireworks, match boxes and any other item that can be used as a missile – will not be allowed inside the ground.The tickets for the first two one-day internationals will go on sale in specific branches of United Bank Limited from Monday. The following are the names of the branches: Alfalah, Anarkali, Bank Square, Bank Square Model Town, Circular Road, Garden Town, Lehhra, Liberty Market, Ravi Road, Riwaz Garden, Shahalam Market, Shadbagh and Wapda House.Tickets will also be available at the Gaddafi Stadium ticket counters at Gate No 2 and 14 from Tuesday between 1000 hours and 1600 hours.The following are the prices of tickets:Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan Enclosures (Gate 1 and 14) Rs1,200; Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Khan Mohammad, Mahmood Hussain Enclosures (Gate 8 and 7) Rs1,000; A.H Kardar, Javed Miandad Enclosures (Gate 2 and 13) Rs800; Saeed Ahmad, Zaheer Abbas, Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmad Enclosures (Gate 11, 12 and 13) Rs600; Nazars Enclosure [for families and ladies] (Gate 3) Rs200, Senior Citizens (Gate 3) Rs100; Majid Khan, Saeed Anwar, Rajas, Abdul Qadir, Sarfraz Nawaz Enclosures (Gate 5, 9, 6, 10) Rs75.Entry for Special Children will be free from Gate No 4.The PCB has continued the following organizing committees: FOR LAHORE:
Members: Mr Amir Hayat Rokari (President LCCA), Lt Col Ghiasuddin, Lt Col Rana Sajjad (both Pakistan Rangers, Punjab), Mr Zakir Khan (G.M Cricket Operations -PCB), Maj (Retd) Javed Manj (Manager Services & HR – PCB), Mr Syed Ahmad Mobin Zaidi (SP Model Town) and Mr M.Shoaib Qureshi (Regional Chief Executive, UBL Lahore Region). RAWALPINDI:
Members: Mr Hamid Ali Khan (DCO Rawalpindi), Mr S.Murawwat Ali Shah (DPO Rawalpindi), Mr Zakir Khan (G.M Cricket Operations – PCB), Maj (retd) Javed Manj (Manager Services & HR), Maj Raja Ahmad Jahanzeb, Mr Ehtisham-ul-Haq, Mr Masood Anwar (President RDCA), Mr M.Ashraf Qureshi.FAISALABAD:
Members: Mr Tahir Hussain (DCO Faisalabad), Capt (retd) Muhammad Amin (DPO Faisalabad), Mr Zakir Khan (G.M Cricket Operations – PCB), Maj (retd) Javed Manj (Manager Services & HR – PCB), Mr Rana Anis Ahmad (Secretary FDCA).

Graeme Smith clearly isn’t a believer in the old adage that the meek shall inherit the Earth. From the moment he arrived on the scene, to the accompaniment of polite barbs from the Australians, Smith’s approach to adversity has bordered on the contemptuous. Trapped between a rock and a hard place, lesser men bemoan their fate. Smith’s responses to such tight squeezes, by contrast, has been as sharp as his jaw line.

Never was that better illustrated than in January, a few days after being informed that his services wouldn’t be required by South Africa’s World Cup squad. Smith, in tandem with Herschelle Gibbs, set Newlands alight with an opening partnership of 368 – at more than five an over – against Pakistan. Smith’s contribution was 151 from 216 balls, a subtle thumbed-nose to selectors who doubted his limited-over credentials. Sure enough, when Jonty Rhodes dropped out of the squad early on in the tournament, it was Smith they turned to, though his contributions weren’t enough to prevent the World Cup hosts leaving their own party early.After such a debacle, a clearout was inevitable, but Smith’s appointment as captain – aged 22 years and 82 days, he was the third-youngest in history after Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Waqar Younis – sent ripples of shock through the South African cricket fraternity. One of the first to feel the sting of the new whip was Lance Klusener, whose laid-back approach found no favour with the new regime. With the critics waiting to pounce, Smith took his squad to Bangladesh and won the Test series with ease.The team left for England, without Klusener and with Bob Woolmer’s impassioned defence resounding across the world – “Graeme Smith has not been playing long enough and after five Tests has no right to criticise someone whose track record for South Africa is so good.” When they got there, they found an England side that clearly fancied their chances. Nasser Hussain spoke of South Africa being there for the taking, while Smith just gritted his teeth and got on with his preparations.It was on the opening day of the series at Edgbaston that the riposte was delivered, one so stunning that it ultimately led to Hussain relinquishing the captaincy reins. Smith smacked the wayward England bowlers all across the park as South Africa closed on 398-1. Smith finished with a magnificent 277, but rain restricted the push for victory. But there would be no denying him, or South Africa, a week later at Lord’s. This time, Smith’s contribution was an equally imposing 259 as South Africa romped to an innings win. Further success came their way at Headingley, as an ebb-and-flow series was drawn 2-2. Though the runs dried up thereafter, Smith still ended the season with a remarkable return of 1200 runs at 75, inclusive of three double-hundreds.He didn’t have the same galvanizing effect on the one-day side, thumped by England in the NatWest Trophy final, and despite having scored 898 runs during the season at 35.92, a first limited-overs hundred has remained tantalisingly out of reach. But his sheer bloody-mindedness should ensure that the aberration is corrected sooner rather than later.Smith’s greatest contribution though has come off the field. In the space of a few months, he has managed to drag the team – and certain team-mates prone to eulogising the dead man – out of the giant shadow cast by Hansie Cronje. Smith’s emphatic refusal to join the Cronje Admiration Society was a slap in the face for the pathetic apologists who would rather have South African cricket looking on darkness, and his dynamic combination with Makhaya Ntini at Lord’s offered a small glimpse of a brighter future. Few in the history of the game have achieved so much while so young.

In yet another spin of the merry-go-round, the Pune district and sessions court has reimposed the BCCI’s suspension of Abhijit Kale from first-class cricket, after the Indian board filed an appeal against a Pune civil-court order.The civil court had ruled, a couple of days earlier, that the ban on Kale could not go into effect without an inquiry. At the time, Milind Hartalkar, the BCCI’s counsel in Pune, had told NDTV: “We are studying the judgments and if necessary we shall move a higher court by filing the appeal in the proper court.”The BCCI had suspended Kale after receiving written complaints from two national selectors – Kiran More and Pranob Roy – alleging that Kale had offered them Rs 10 lakhs each for a place in the Indian team.

Hampshire’s cricketers are celebrating the relaunch of The Rose Bowl Fitness & Squash Club with a New Year `Get Fit’ campaign at Hedge End Retail Park.On 6th and 7th January Robin Smith, John Crawley, Will Kendall, and other team members will be joining The Rose Bowl Fitness & Squash staff to give advice to shoppers who would like to improve their health and fitness after succumbing to the Christmas festivities this year.With the aid of some of the Club’s high-tech sports equipment, the cricketers will be working on their own fitness regimes as they prepare for the start of the cricket season in early April."With all the festivities, Christmas is a notorious time of year for putting on a few extra pounds of weight," says batsman John Crawley. "So, with the help of the new Rose Bowl Fitness & Squash Club, we are aiming to show that regular exercise and sport can be enjoyable as well as beneficial."Robin and the cricketers will be at the Marks & Spencer and Sainsburys outlets between 11am and 2pm on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th January. Further information can be obtained by ringing Katie Hall on 023 8047 2009.Issued by: The Rose Bowl

David Hussey is to sign for Nottinghamshire as their second overseas player for next season, according to the . Although negotiations are continuing and nothing is expected to be announced for a week to ten days, Hussey is almost certain to join Stuart MacGill, the Australian legspinner, at Trent Bridge.Hussey, 26 and brother of Mike, who played his first one-day international for Australia last week, has made a tremendous impact on Australian domestic cricket since moving from Western Australia to Victoria two years ago. He has averaged 97 this season, and averages 72 for Victoria.His four first-class hundreds include a top score of 212 not out against New South Wales, and his impressive form caught the eye of Lindsay Walker, a Nottinghamshire coach. Hussey has also been recommended by Steve Waugh, believed to be the county’s original target, but who turned down an offer for family reasons.

The XXXX Queensland Bulls final home ING Cup game might fall on Friday the 13th but the match will spell good fortune for another champion team- the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.The QIMR is selling tickets donated by Queensland Cricket in the lead-up to the game against the Western Warriors on Friday night at the Gabba.Funds raised from the venture and by collectors at the match will raise funds for vital research into cures, vaccines, treatments and screening tests for more than 30 life threatening diseases including cancer, infectious diseases and clinical diseases.The dollars raised will enhance the wonderful work done by QIMR’s 800 scientists.The Bulls will have a tour of the QIMR facilities from 11.30am and then visit patients in the nearby Royal Children’s Hospital tomorrow as part of their build-up to Friday’s must-win match, which will also be Stuart Law’s final one-day game at the Gabba.The Bulls are third in the ING Cup with two matches remaining, one point behind second-placed Victoria, while the Warriors are the competition leaders.Tickets for Friday’s match can be purchased from the QIMR on 3362 0222.

Farveez Maharoof, Sri Lanka’s Under-19 captain and a fast bowling allrounder, leads the Man of the Tournament standings at the end of the first group phase. Maharoof picked up points in all three of his matches for both bowling and batting to lead the standings with seven points. Maharoof, a Wesley College schoolboy who has played for the A team, is tipped to break into the national squad soon.Mahroof was one point ahead of a quartet of challengers including Chamith Kulasekara, a teammate, and Shikhar Dhawan, an Indian batsman who has hit two centuries and is the tournament’s leading run-scorer. The surprise inclusion near the top of the table is Nepal’s Shakti Gauchan whose patient batting displays against South Africa and Uganda have earned him two Man of the Match awards.

Northerns 183 and 189 for 6 (Kemp 57*) need 84 more runs to beat Easterns 306 and 149
ScorecardA strong fightback from Northerns, particularly from Justin Kemp, balanced the scales and set their match against Easterns up for a close finish at Centurion. Bowling Easterns out for 149 Northerns gave themselves an outside chance of the win, and the 10 points on offer. Kemp, maybe back to the best form of his career, took 3 for 25, and then ended the day on 57 not out, as Northerns reached 189 for 6 in their chase of 273.Boland 279 and 143 for 1 (Sanders 65*, Strydom 62*) beat Gauteng 228 and 193 (de Lange 5-68) by 9 wickets
ScorecardCon de Lange took a liking to the Randjesfontein pitch, as he walked away with the Man-of-the-Match award after completed match analyses of 12 for 116. Starting the third day with a slender 22-run lead, Gauteng was once again bowled out cheaply, with de Lange’s legspin rewarding him with his second five-for of the match. Derek Crookes showed some token resistance with 48, but setting Boland a target of 143 was never going to be enough. A second-wicket partnership of 127 between Mark Sanders (65) and Gerard Strydom (62) saw Boland home by nine wickets inside three days.

The Standard Bank Pro20 series, which is at its halfway stage, has received an overwhelming support from the crowds. Fans are thoroughly enjoying the thrilling entertainment and action of the shortened version of the game and are coming out in large numbers to support the newly formed franchise teams.In the eight matches so far, a total of 70,326 spectators have come through the turnstiles, with the 18,221 who watched the Nashua Dolphins defeat the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers on April 16 being the biggest crowd. The average attendance of 8,820 is an indication of the interest that these matches have generated.Gerald Majola, the CEO of the UCB, said that they had always expected this tournament to generate a large amount of interest. “These are very encouraging numbers. We had every confidence that Standard Bank Pro20 Series would be a great success, and these figures indicate that our confidence has been justified. Entertainment for all has been the key both on and off the field, and it has been wonderful to see the large number of families and young fans enjoying the razzmatazz on and off the field.”All but two of the matches have ended in the last over, with the winning runs in three games being scored in the final over. A total of 2303 runs have being scored in 313.4 overs, at a rate of 7.3 per over, including 51 sixes.