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Nasim Ashraf, chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and Enver Baig, senator and member of Senate Standing Committee on Sports, have withdrawn their charges that were levied due to the recent statements made against each other.A committee meeting was held yesterday under the chairmanship of Tahir Mashahdi in Islamabad which Ashraf was asked to attend. In the course of the meeting, Baig withdrew his recent allegations against the PCB chairman when he had called the PCB chief a “dishonest and incompetent person.” In response, Ashraf expressed his regrets over dubbing Baig a ‘sick man’ in a recent statement and also assured the committee that he will withdraw the legal notice served on the senator.The committee has summoned a requisitioned meeting on June 26, according to Baig, in which the PCB chairman will answer various questions relating to the financial and administrative affairs of the board. Ashraf has also been asked to produce the details of PJ Mir’s package that was offered to him as the media manager of Pakistan cricket team during the World Cup.PCB is currently involved in placing a coach for the national team before it departs for the short tour of Scotland as well as offering central contracts for which a list of 30 has already been handed over by the selection committee.

ScorecardIndia A turned in a sound allround performance to humble Pakistan A by 130 runs in their limited-overs match in the Top End Series in Darwin. Opener Gautam Gambhir led the assault for India with an undefeated 142 which propelled them to 313. His 147-run opening stand with Robin Uthappa (72) laid the foundation for a big score. Rohit Sharma (47*) joined Gambhir after captain Venugopal Rao was dismissed, and the pair added 121 in the last 15 overs.Pakistan began poorly, with Rudra Pratap Singh and Shib Paul, the Indian seamers, making early inroads. Rafatullah Mohmand was the only batsman to cross fifty, while the rest succumbed, mostly to the spinners. Leg spinner Piyush Chawla finished with figures of 3 for 34 from his 10 overs while Rao chipped in with two wickets, including that of Mohmand for 84. Parthiv Patel, India’s wicketkeeper, too had a good outing, effecting five dismissals.

The management of the South African team in Pakistan has lodged an appeal with the ICC against the two-Test match ban handed down to Andrew Hall following an incident in the second ODI at Lahore a week ago.Hall was found guilty by Clive Lloyd, the ICC match referee, of two breaches of the Code of Conduct. The first was a Level 2 breach for inappropriate and deliberate physical contact, for which he was banned for one ODI (that ban was served today in the final match of the Pakistan series). The second was a Level 3 offence for conduct that brings the game into disrepute, for which he has been banned for two Test matches.In accordance with ICC regulations, a player found guilty of a Level 3 or 4 offence has 24 hours from notification of the sentence to lodge an appeal. The appeal is likely to be heard within the next five days.Hall, South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith and the Pakistan batsman Yousuf Youhana were involved in an on-field altercation during the Pakistan innings in the second ODI at Lahore on Oct 4. The match officials did not report the incident, but Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive, exercised his right to cite the players and call for video footage of the clash. After the hearing Hall received his double ban, while Smith was suspended for one ODI (like Hall, he missed the decider in Rawalpindi) and fined 50% of his match fee for a Level 2 offence relating to the use of obscene or offensive language, and Youhana was found guilty of a Level 1 offence of bringing the game into disrepute and fined 50% of his match fee.Hall’s appeal will be heard by Sir Oliver Popplewell, a former English high-court judge – and a former president of MCC to boot. Sir Oliver is the England & Wales Cricket Board’s nominated member of the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission, and has been appointed as the appeals commissioner for Hall’s case by Urvasi Naidoo, the ICC’s legal counsel.

Heath Streak: hopeful of playing for Zimbabwe again – but it won’t be as captain© Getty Images

The 13 rebel Zimbabwe players are to have their contracts terminated by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, according to a report in today’s London . The ZCU is expected to release the news today that it is to sue the players for breach of contract.According to the report, the group of 13, led by Heath Streak, the former captain, heard about the news “on the grapevine” yesterday. “The lawyers are dealing with it now,” said one of the players. “I’ve been told the ZCU are taking legal action, and we’ll have to decide if we counter-claim.”After the players put forward a six-page document outlining their grievances, including what they called “racial and unethical discrimination in the selection of the national team”, the ZCU made some concessions, agreeing to change some of the selection panel. Out went Ali Shah, a former Test cricketer, John Brent, a former provincial player, and Geoff Marsh, the Australian coach. They were replaced by Mpumelelo Mbwanga, a former player, and Richie Kaschula, who played for Rhodesia. Mbwanga, however, declined to take up the post, citing “conflicts” as the reason (he is also a TV commentator).However, the players are thought to be against the remaining two members of the panel, Max Ebrahim and the chairman Stephen Mangongo, who have little playing experience. It is thought that the players see these two as the main culprits in mixing politics with selection.Streak today told the BBC that he hopes to play for Zimbabwe again, but Peter Chingoka, the ZCU chairman, stressed that if Streak did play again, it would not be as captain. “There is no business in the world that can possibly operate under threats from employees – and that is what they are.”The unnamed player added that some of the players picked to play in the first one-dayer against Sri Lanka didn’t want to play in the matches, and supported their cause. “We’re not having any more meetings,” he said. “We have been in meetings for two weeks. We are sick of meetings. It’s getting dirty. Everything’s coming out. I have no idea what the consequences are going to be but we are not budging until they meet these fair demands of ours.”Another player also expressed his heartache at not being able to represent his country. “It’s so sad that it has come to this,” he lamented. “I was just remembering when I was 12 or 13, watching a Test match from the nets at HSC [Harare Sports Club] playing out our own Test and looking at the players on the field, wishing, hoping that one day I would have the honour of playing for my country.”He continued: “My Test cap sits at home now, whether I will have the pleasure of donning it once again is uncertain. Why can’t I just play cricket and fulfil a life-long dream of one day walking off the field for the last time while the sun goes down at Sports Club, take my cap off and leave because it’s my time? Then sit in the dressing-room and say farewell to all my friends who too have fought for the honour to wear and fight under the baggy green. What a nightmare this is for all of us.”

With time ticking away and reports over uncertainty of sponsorship of its annual first-class championships, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has secured a five-year deal with one of the Caribbean’s most popular beers.Carib Beer has reached a five-year agreement to become the title sponsor of the West Indies four-day first-class championship. It has now been renamed the Carib Beer Cricket Series.As in the previous two years, the championship will involve two stages to decide, first, the Carib Beer Cup (top territorial team) and, subsequently, the winners of the Carib Beer International Challenge."Along with the recent announcement of our relationship with Trinidad and Tobago cricket, this is an exciting addition to our sponsorship list," said Norman Sabga, chairman and chief executive officer of Ansa McAl, the group that owns Carib Brewery."The West Indies first-class cricket championship, now the Carib Beer Cricket Series, is one of the biggest competitions on the Caribbean sports calendar. We see a close link between Carib beer and the West Indies first-class competition."As the official beer of the West Indies cricket team, our vision is for Carib Beer to become the most sought after Caribbean beer in the international market place, consolidating our position as the beer of the Caribbean."We know this vision will not be lost on many of the players who will participate in the Carib Beer Cricket Series, as they, too, seek to be among some of the most sought after cricketers in the world."Reverend Wes Hall, president of the West Indies Cricket Board, agreed that Carib Beer and cricket were firmly rooted in the way of life of Caribbean people."We’ve enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Carib Beer over the years and we are very pleased that this relationship has been expanded to the West Indies first-class championship as the title sponsor," Hall said."This is a very important competition in West Indies cricket as it is a stepping stone for players into the senior West Indies team. We are looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with one of the premier companies in the Caribbean."Carib Beer was previously involved with West Indies cricket when they were the Official Sponsor of the West Indies team to the 1999 World Cup in Britain and the tour of the same nation a year later.Carib Beer is the flagship brand of the Trinidad and Tobago-based Carib Brewery, a truly Caribbean company with brands of high international standing and repute.In the previous first years, the regional first-class series was sponsored by Busta, whose contract came to an end last season.Eight teams will contest the Carib Beer Cricket Series that opens on January 31.They are territorial teams Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands, as well as a West Indies `B’ team (Under-23s) and international invitees, India "A".

Mudassar Nazar Photo © CricInfo

Given the history of Rashid Latif’s chronic back trouble I did have reservations about his selection at this time. He’d been out of international cricket for a number of years and his relations with his teammates could hardly be described as harmonious. Under such circumstances one needs superhuman mental toughness in order to perform. Well, here we have it, he has given everyone ample proof on this tour, he’s the toughest kid on the block!

Shahid Afridi on his way to a quick fire 11 runs Photo © CricInfo

Waqar Younis won the toss again and predictably, elected to bat because Cardiff’s pitch looked a good one-day track. There was even bounce for batsmen to get excited about but then Pakistani batsmen were pitted against two of the best bowlers of modern day cricket. There were early signs, Brett Lee was not at his best but he was good enough to get rid of Shahid Afridi who looked ill at ease throughout his brief stay. Quite noticeably, not a single ball was pitched up to him and this unsettled him. You can bet on your life, these Aussies will give him the same dose every time, unless he changes his game.Razzaq was decidedly uncomfortable against Lee when he strolled in at number three. Saeed Anwar was equally so against Glen McGrath, who had him all at sea in his first spell. Using full advantage of his height, he extracted pronounced bounce out of this good batting pitch and once hit Saeed a painful blow on his left shoulder. Pakistan weathered this storm competently then lost it in a hazardous fashion.Razzaq and Inzamam threw their wickets away in a moment of madness. Both were stumped in the same over, trying to manhandle Shane Warne. I am afraid Warne is far too experienced a bowler to let these guys take liberties. Inzamam’s intended slog was atrocious, especially so early on. I know he’s been getting a lot of runs recently but he should cast his mind back on the last Australian tour when he looked so out of touch for most of the tour. He’s in great form and should make the most of it. It was a dreadful mistake and put Pakistan on the back foot immediately.Younis Khan must by now hate the English umpires. Peter Willey (an old friend) has always been rather trigger-happy. Out of his six international innings on this tour, Younis has unfortunately been victim of poor decisions on at least three occasions. He must be outraged as well as devastated. Remember, he is in good nick and could make all the difference to this ailing batting line up.

Youhana with a delicate leg glance in his innings of 91 not out Photo © CricInfo

Pakistan from 85 for 6 managed to pile up 257 runs and Rashid and Youhana were quite magnificent. If only we could get a decent start in every game. Time and again Inzamam and Youhana have bailed Pakistan out in the last eighteen months. Imagine how belligerent these two batsmen would be if they came into bat at 150 for two.Rashid has been a revelation on this tour. Every week, we deliver a lecture on mental toughness in our National Cricket Academy and I can assure you, Rashid Latif will be requested to give more than one lecture on this subject.Pakistan missed him behind the stumps when he could not keep wicket because of an injury. He and Youhana made sure Pakistan remained competitive in the game by scoring very attractive fifties and one can say they did not deserve to be on the losing side.

Ricky Ponting on his way to a score of 70 Photo © CricInfo

When you are defending a total like this, it’s important not to concede free runs in the early overs. Pakistan let Australia off the hook and their batsmen romped off to an electric start. For some reason, Ricky Ponting saves his best for Pakistan and is so cocky against all our bowlers. Not many batsmen in the world can take as much liberty against Shoaib Akhtar as he does. He is super quick on his feet and relishes fast bowling. After hitting fast bowlers all over the field he just struts around like a king. I can tell you, many a fast bowler in my era would have hated his guts and done something to curb his style. Anyway, with Mark Waugh as his partner he took the score to 133 before Mark bid him goodbye.

Bowler Razzaq hugs emergency keeper Khan who has just caught out Mark Waugh Photo © CricInfo

It was a typical one-day dismissal. In trying to run Razzaq down to third man with an angled bat, Mark Waugh was comfortably caught behind. Mark had looked in supreme control of the game and it’s hard to imagine that a player of his ability has been made to fight for his place in the team during the last Australian Cricket season. Ricky Ponting, as is his wont, soon got carried away and trying to slog Saqlain over mid-wicket picked the wrong ball and was comfortably caught at long on by Razzaq.I was excited for a little while because Pakistan was given an opportunity to push at the Australians. Pakistan knew they’d have to bowl Australia out, to win this game as the Aussies had ample overs to canter home after this brisk partnership.I think Waqar should have introduced Saqlain a lot earlier than he did. Bevan is a master at work in the one-day game, especially when he does not need to score at a furious pace. His timing is immaculate and picking up gaps in the field is his hobby. He makes batting in one-dayers look so easy. He truly is a great batsman for this particular form of cricket.Steve Waugh made sure Pakistan stayed on the back foot. What a tremendous cricketer he is. At the start of his career there was a strong rumour this chap was a pushover if you bowl short at him. He’s proved everybody wrong.In the end it turned out to be a no contest. The Australians like in the World Cup final were all over our team. Maybe they have some kind of mental hold over the Pakistanis? Come on boys, it is time to push the Australians back.

Ed:Mudassar Nazar is a veteran of 76 tests and 122 ODIs. He is currently the chief coach of Pakistan’s National and Regional Cricket Academies. In view of the overwhelming interest of users in CricInfo’s articles, we have invited him to write for us.

According to a report from The Telegraph, Aston Villa are preparing a summer approach to sign Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. 

The lowdown: Hot property

The 26-year-old has been the subject of heightened speculation in the last 12 months and has been linked with big-money moves to Real Madrid and Manchester United previously.

Despite reported efforts from the Yorkshire club to tie down the England international and stave off suitors, it would appear that the upcoming summer transfer window is set to be a crucial one for the midfielder.

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The Villans now look set to make a fresh approach for the Leeds star.

The latest: Massive price hike for Phillips

As per The Telegraph, the Midlands club are preparing to ‘make a renewed £60million approach’ for the defensive midfielder.

It is claimed that, having had a £25m offer for Brighton colossus Yves Bissouma rebuffed, Villa manager Steven Gerrard will turn attention to Phillips.

Villa attempted to sign the 19-cap England ace back in 2019 for £25m (Birmingham Mail), but they are now said to be lining up a much more lucrative £60m move.

The verdict: Would be a smart signing

Phillips – who caused a stir when discussing interest from Villa before sharing his admiration for Gerrard last summer – has the ability to be a welcome boost to the Villa Park squad, particularly as Douglas Luiz continues to be touted with a summer exit.

Already a proven Premier League performer, adding the man once described as ‘phenomenal’ by Ian Wright following a standout display in England’s 1-0 victory over Croatia at Euro 2020 would be a shrewd move as Villa look to improve next season.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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Boasting impressive attributes in both an attacking and defensive sense, the £45m-valued midfielder possesses strong tackling and interception prowess (WhoScored), and he could offer much-needed additional steel to the Villans’ ranks.

In other news: Journalist makes summer claim regarding current Villa star. Read more here!

Scorecard

	Hasan Raza rescued the Lahore Badshahs with a 34-ball 43 (file photo) © ICL

The undefeated reign of the Lahore Badshahs came under threat on more than one occasion in the battle between the two new Indian Cricket League outfits in Hyderabad. It was the last match of the league stage for both teams, ironically at different ends of the spectrum; both had got off to winning starts in their first game of the tournament, but while the Badshahs had conquered all other teams on their way, the Ahmedabad Rockets had fizzled out after a successful launch.The Badshahs, who had rested a few key players in their previous game, were back to full strength for the final match ahead of their semi-final clash against the Kolkata Tigers on April 2. Inzamam-ul-Haq decided to bat at the toss, and though Imran Farhat fell early, Imran Nazir and Taufeeq Umar set up a solid foundation with a 60-run stand.Sumit Kalia then thrust the Rockets into ascendancy with three wickets in the tenth over – removing Umar, Nazir and Humayun Farhat for a first-ball duck – to leave the Badshahs in peril at 62 for 4. Kalia wasn’t done though and got the emperor, Inzamam, in his next over; his spell at close read 4-0-20-4. Hasan Raza led a revival with his 34-ball 43, but four wickets in seven balls meant the Badshahs were headed for a score around 140.However, Heath Streak’s sky-high confidence of having dismissed Azhar Mahmood and Mohammad Sami off the first two balls of the 20th over were quickly grounded when Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who’s been given the green signal to play for Yorkshire, smacked two sixes and a four to push his team’s score to 151.The Badshahs bowlers began chipping away early, and by the seventh over, the Rockets were reduced to 43 for 4. Sridharan Sriram and Anshu Jain then strung together a 48-run stand. Mushtaq Ahmed got Sriram to tickle one to the wicketkeeper Humayan, and the Rockets needed a further 63 from 42 with five wickets remaining.Jain didn’t give up and Streak gave him company at the other end, and the equation came down to 22 off 12. Naved-ul-Hasan was entrusted the ball for the penultimate over, and there was no reciprocation of favours towards Streak, as only four runs were conceded, Streak having managed only two off four deliveries. Mahmood’s task of bowling the final over was made easier, and he didn’t make a mess of it as the Badshahs extended their winning streak to seven, romping home in a 11-run win, their closest match so far in the tournament.

Jerome Taylor’s wicket sealed a humiliating defeat for West Indies at Headingley © Getty Images

Extremely disappointing. That was the general consensus from three former regional players after West Indies’ humiliating defeat by an innings and 283 runs at Headingley, their worst ever.Deryck Murray, the former West Indies wicketkeeper who is currently the Trinidad & Tobago board president, felt the “unfortunate” loss of experienced batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and captain Ramnaresh Sarwan was no excuse for the huge margin of defeat, and the “frightening gap that we really have to close”.”We really need, and I’m saying … I’m a board member, and I’m saying this to the other board members, we need to stop talking and actually do things that will kick start our development and get us to a [competitive] state,” said Murray. “We have had defeats all over…at Headingley, at Lord’s, we’ve had them everywhere. That’s not good enough for West Indies cricket.”Tony Gray, former West Indies fast bowler and T&T Under-19 coach, was unhappy as well. “It’s a disappointment for me,” said Gray “being not just a West Indies cricket fan, but a former player, to see us perform that way. Even if Sarwan was out through injury, we should have shown a little more resolve, a little more fight.”He said changes needed to be made for the third Test on June 7. He suggested that fast bowlers Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards be given a chance. Gray felt that even if he was injured, Sarwan should remain on tour, if only in a motivational role to help with the team’s confidence.Joey Carew, a former chairman of selectors, blamed the batsmen’s technique for their meek surrender. “It is obvious without the services of Sarwan and Chanderpaul the batting will be weakened, but this had nothing to do with them. They have to look at their technique, and look at the way they play. At the moment, it doesn’t look like they have that knowledge.”

Roberts: ‘I think he [Pathan] has a problem with the final couple of strides of his run-up’ © Getty Images

Heeding a request from the Indian team management, Andy Roberts, the legendary West Indian fast bowler, has spent some time with Irfan Pathan, trying to pin-point the problem areas with regard to his bowling. Roberts felt that Pathan’s run-up was an area of concern, and spent close to half an hour, after the fourth day’s play, trying to rectify it.”I think he has a problem with the final couple of strides of his run-up,” Roberts said. “If you don’t have your run-up right, then you will have problems with the rest of the action. He was missing his run-up a few times, but by the time he finished he was OK. It was just a couple of minor corrections.”Roberts had spent some time chatting with the team management on the second day of the warm-up match at the Police Recreation Ground. The team-management, in turn, thought it best to use his services. “Well it so happened that I was watching him bowl at training in the morning,” added Roberts, “That was the first time I’d seen him bowl. I didn’t watch him in all the one-dayers because I wasn’t present at all the games. Also watching a bowler on television it is not always possible to tell what the problem is. Today, I spotted something. I approached the coach [Greg Chappell], who asked me if I could have a word with him.”In the twenty minutes he spent with him, Roberts asked Pathan to take his run-up without the stumps, and also asked him to measure his run-up to where he felt comfortable for his delivery stride. Pathan then had a lengthy bowl with his new run-up. Roberts was also seen advising Pathan to apply more thrust while following through and swing his arms faster.This isn’t the first time an expert was asked to spend some time with the team. On India’s 2003-04 tour to Australia, Bruce Reid, the former left-arm fast bowler, was roped in to help out the fast bowlers, and, at the end of the tour, was praised for his services.