Karachi (ANI) Pakistani cricketers have expressed their happiness over the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming a slot for a Pakistan team in the forthcoming Champions League (CL), and have vowed to win that trophy for their country.

“Our aim is to lift the trophy in our first try because we’re hungry for success and have been kept away from this for the last four years,” Sialkot Stallions’ star all-rounder Rana Naved told The Express Tribune.

“Stallions have top T20 players, which makes us a formidable unit and we can’t be taken lightly,” he added.

The BCCI told Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf that it had no problems in a team from Pakistan taking part – a notion they will propose to the governing council. If approved, it will be the first time a team from Pakistan, believed to be reigning champions Sialkot Stallions, will be the part of this high-profile event.

…click here to read more

Kolkata (PTI) Herschelle Gibbs on Saturday rated Rohit Sharma ahead of his India teammate Virat Kohli and said that the duo could be real matchwinners for the country in the days to come. Sharma scored a blistering 109 not out and shared an undefeated 167-run stand (from 106 balls) with Gibbs (66 not out) to guide Mumbai Indians to a comfortable 27-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL match here, which ended the home team’s six-match winning run.

Having seen Sharma from close quarters in their past association with Deccan Chargers, Gibbs said that Sharma was technically more sound. Describing himself as a “fan” of Sharma, the veteran South African said: “I have seen him grow over the years. It’s been five years. His cricket has definitely gone forward. Nobody questions his talent.”

“Virat Kohli is another one. Definitely they have taken the cricket to another level. But as far as talent and technique is concerned, I think Rohit is a little bit better than Virat. The more Rohit plays these sort of innings, his temperament would get better. His self-belief would also increase. It’s good for India that Rohit Sharma performs.”

…click here to read more

Karachi (ANI) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has welcomed the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) invitation to compete in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament this year, saying it could lead to a “revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties.”

“We feel it is a significant and positive development. We had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the participation of a Pakistan team and hope that this step could lead to a revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties,” The News quoted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO, Subhan Ahmed, as saying.

The BCCI has approved a Pakistan-based Twenty20 team’s participation in the tournament which features leading domestic Twenty20 teams from around the world.

…click here to read more