Pakistan to make debut in World Junior Boxing in Baku

KARACHI – A six-member Pakistan team will leave here Friday morning for Baku (Azerbaijan) to make their debut at World junior (17 to 18 years) boxing championship starting at Azeri capital April 24 (tomorrow). The team is:

48kg: Obaid Ali, 51kg: Syed Muhammad Asif, 54kg: Ataullah, 64kg: Tanvir Ahmed. Cuban Francisco will be the coach while experienced boxing official/organiser Akber Ali Shah will be the manager.

Akber Ali Shah, who has been associated with the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) for a number of years, talking to TheNation on the eve of the departure of the team said, Pakistan would be making its debut in the championship in which the highest ever 109 countries are taking part. He said as many as 550 boxers from around the world would be fighting for 54 medals at stake in the event. He disclosed the championship originally was to be started on April 20 but due to disruption of air flights in Europe because of the volcanic ash over Europe, the starting date of the event was brought forward to April 24 by the world boxing body AIBA.

He said Pakistan team for the competition was picked from a junior event organised recently at Hyderabad. Cuban coach Francisco selected all the four boxers.

He said the Pakistani youngster would get big opportunity to appear in a world event where they would be playing against some of the best juniors of western countries. It would be great experience for the Pakistani, he hoped.

He disclosed that the president of the PBF Doda Khan Bhutto had arranged all the money needed for team’s travel, boarding and lodging. He said he could not say what amount was needed for the trip but said it must be big. The team during their 12-day stay in Baku would pay USD100 for each member of the team. This amount did not include the air tickets, he added.

He praised the personal attention given by the PBF president in arranging funds for the boxing since he took over the federation.

Shoaib, Sania finally land in Pakistan

KARACHI: The newly-wed couple of Pakistan-India sportspersons finally landed in Pakistan’s soil Thursday when cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis queen Sania Mirza (now Sania Shoaib) arrived at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 1530 PST via PIA’s flight PK-275.

A huge number of media persons were awaiting the couple to come out of the lounge and speak to them. Although, the couple left for Islamabad soon after, but they spoke to the media persons during which Sania Mirza looked a little tired of the travelling while Shoaib Malik was looking fresh and was receiving greetings from his fans.

Sania Mirza said on the occasion that she is feeling so great to visit Pakistan for the first time in her life. Sania’s mother also accompanied the couple.

Government of Sindh’s officials also presented flowers to the couple while Sindh Sports Minister, Dr Mohammad Ali Shah presented Malik with the Sindhi Topi and Sania with the Sindhi Ajrak. Pakistan International Airlines also gave a reception in the honour of the couple during their short stay at the Jinnah International Airport.

Shoaib Malik said on the occasion that they will stay in Pakistan for at least a week and then they will leave for Dubai.

Government of Pakistan have given the couple status of Guests of the State and booked a suit in a 5-star hotel in Islamabad.

The Pakistan-India sportspersons’ reception will be held in Shoaib Malik’s hometown, Sialkot, on April 25 (Sunday) while the Valima ceremony would be held in a 5-star hotel of Lahore on April 27 (Tuesday).

The couple would also call on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani during their stay in Pakistan.

Pak Boxing team to leave for World Youth Boxing Championship

22/04/2010

Karachi: Pakistan’s young boxing team will leave tomorrow (Friday) earlier morning for taking part in AIBA World Youth Boxing Championship which will be slated 25^th April to 4 May at Baku, Azerbaijan.

109 countries to be a part for this event around the World that is the Qualifying round for Youth Olympics scheduled at Singapore August this year.

According to PBF Spokesmen Vice President of Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) gets boxers and others official’s visa’s at Islamabad in Thursday evening and then tour was are finalized.

Pakistan team leave to Dubai on Emirates Airline Flight No EK 605 from Karachi Jinnah international Airport at 4-45am and then will travel for Baku.

Team is

(1) Obaid Ali (48kg), (2) Mohammad Asif (51kg), (3) Attaullah (54kg) and (4) Mohammad tanveer (64kg)

Cuban Francisco Hernandez Roldan Travel as Coach and Ali Akber Shah will be the team Manager

Vice President of PBF Mr. Iqbal Hussain travel to Baku after some days for some important meetings scheduled with AIBA top officials.

Butt stands in way of Akhtar’s selection

April 22nd, 2010 by Ubaid-ur-Rehman Awan

KARACHI: The Rawalpindi Express refuelled its chances of international comeback Wednesday when he demolished Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s team in the Pentangular Cup One Day Tournament’s crucial match by grabbing six scalps on a batting friendly pitch.

On one side, Shoaib Akhtar has started to sew lips of his critics, but on the other people in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are still not ready to accept the excellence of the world’s fastest bowler.

Sources told The Sports Encounter Wednesday that the name of Shoaib Akhtar was under consideration of the team management and there were chances that the fast bowler would replace an injured Umar Gul, but the man in charge came in the way of his selection. Yes, Mr. Ijaz Butt denied Shoaib Akhtar an entry into the World T20 squad.

A private television news channel, NewsOne, also quoted its sources as saying, “Shoaib named was inclined by the team management but the Chairman PCB refused to approve his name. Team management believed that in the absence of the experience bowler Gul, Akhtar would have been just the right kind of bowler to lift the attack but considering his anguish disciplinary track record, Chairman PCB had asked the team management to come up with any other name.

The Rawalpindi Express last appeared in the National Colours in a Twenty20 International against Aussies in Dubai while he last featured in a Test match way back in December 2007.

Shoaib Akhtar is unfazed by whatever is happening off the field as his total focus is on gaining fitness and making his way into the national team for the upcoming “Testing” season in England.

Shoaib Akhtar started his comeback well with two wickets for 45 runs in the first match against Punjab Stallions to beat them under unlikely circumstances. If that wasn’t enough, the Rawalpindi Express mauled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on a batting friendly surface and captured six important wickets for 52 runs.

With reference to chances of Shoaib Akhtar’s inclusion in the national side, Chief Selector PCB, Mohsin Hasan Khan, when contacted, adopted a defensive stance and said that not only Shoaib but every player who will perform in the domestic circuit would be given fair opportunity.

“PCB Chairman’s clean chit is far more important than the player’s performance and fitness”, Mohsin stated.

He further elaborated that after the PCB chief’s recommendation the selection committee would consider the player for selection. Shoaib Akhtar would be called up in the Back-up Camp along with 8-10 other players whom we are keeping a close eye at, he added.

The Back-up Camp would start from May 3 and before that the PCB Selection Committee would meet to finalise the names of the players for the camp, Mohsin Hasan Khan said.

Meanwhile, after devastating Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wednesday, the world’s fastest bowler told media that he would continue to push for a recall in the national team.

“I’m hoping to make a comeback during the tour of England,” Shoaib, 34, told reporters at National Stadium. “There is plenty of domestic cricket left before our team leaves for England which is why I’m confident of proving my form and fitness,” he stressed.

Shoaib, who has shed a lot of weight and looking very smart, fit and agile in the field, said that he is focussing to play a centric part in Pakistan’s World Cup 2011 campaign next year and would hope to win the title for Pakistan.

http://www.sportsencounter.com/news/cricket/butt-stands-in-way-of-akhtar’s-selection-2976.html

Akhtar name was tipped as Gul's replacement'

Karachi: Pakistan notorious fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's name was tipped to replace injured Umar Gul for the ICC World Twenty20 but Chairman PCB Ejaz Butt had refused to approve his name.

"Shoaib named was inclined by the team management but the Chairman PCB refused to approve his name," claimed NewsOne TV Channel. "Team management believed in the absence of the experience bowler Gul, Akhtar name was put forward but considering his anguish disciplinary track record, Chairman PCB had asked the team management to come up with any other name," quoted the private news channel as saying by sources.

Gul, who is currently is the most successful bowler in the Twenty20 history, has been suffering from a right shoulder injury while Arafat sustained a calf muscle injury on his left leg. Following the MRI scan, which however revealed that both carrying a grade 1 injuries and needed rest for an indefinite of time and with the current condition which appeared like not 'fully fit' team management has decided to drop the duo.

The PCB however on the recommendation of the National Selection Committee headed by Mohsin Khan has named fast bowler Mohammad Sami and left arm spinner Abdul Rehman to replace the injured Umer Gul and Yasir Arafat for ICC World Twenty20, which was approved by the Chiarman PCB.

Akhtar's last appearance for Pakistan came last year in a Twenty20 International against Australia in Dubai, whereas he played his last Test back in December 2007. He is currently featuring in the Pakistan Domestic Pentangular One Day Cup for Federal Areas Leopards and is very much eager to make the most of the chance in order to launch international comeback.

http://www.cricdb.com/archive/international/news/detail.php?nid=3067