Cricketers In Their Childhood - Rare Photographs

Rare Childhood Photographs of Cricketers

Childhood Picture of Andrew Staruss

Childhood Picture of Chris Cairns

Childhood Picture of M.S.Dhoni

Gautam Gambhir with his sister Ekta

Childhood Picture of Imran Khan

Childhood Picture of Rahul Dravid

Childhood Picture of Ricky Ponting

Sachin Tendulkar with Coach Mr. R. Achrekar

The Great with The Greatest- Sachin Tendulkar (right) with Sir Don Bradman (left)

Childhood Picture of Sachin Tendulkar

Childhood Picture of Saurav Ganguly

Childhood Pictures of Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh

Childhood Picture of Wasim Akram

Childhood Picture of Yuvraj Singh

Childhood Picture of Zaheer Khan

Umar Gul and Arafat Out of Pakistan's T20 Squad

Defending champions Pakistan suffered a double blow when pacer Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat were ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup in the WestIndies after failing to recover from injuries sustained during the ongoing preparatory camp in Lahore.

The selectors have recommended the names of Mohammad Sami and uncapped Mohammad Irfan as their replacements, however, a final decision would be taken by thePCB Chairman Ejaz Butt.

Chief selector, Mohsin Khan told reporters here that both Gul and Arafat failed to clear the final fitness test on Sunday.

Sri Lankan Cricket Team Attacked by Gunmen in Lahore

The bus of Sri Lankan Cricket team were attacked by gunmen today in Lahore, when they were way to the Gadaffi Stadium. At least 4 persons were killed, according to witnesses and cricket officials. Sri Lankan media said four of their players received injuries in the attack - Sangakara, Mendis, Samaraweera and Tharanga.

A witness told Reuters he believed two police commandos were killed along with a regular policeman and a traffic warden. Shopkeeper Ahmed Ali said the two police commandos had been driving behind the team bus when they were hit.

"It was a very heavy firing and I heard at least two explosions at the time," said a Reuters witness who had been on his way to cover the test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

City police chief Haji Habibur Rehman said:"It was a terrorist attack and the terrorists used rocket launchers, hand grenades and other weapons."

The attackers had managed to flee, he added.

The test match has been cancelled, officials said.

News Source: Reuters, http://news.sky.com/

Geoff Lawson Has Been Sacked From Pakistan Cricket Coach

Geoff Lawson has been sacked as coach of Pakistan. It had been announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board earlier this week that Lawson's contract would not be renewed when it expired in April 2009. After a meeting between Lawson and the new PCB chairman Ijaz Butt today it has been decided that the dismissal will be immediate. Lawson will be given three months advance salary as a severance.

In his first press conference since taking over as PCB chairman Butt claimed he "had no utility" for Lawson, and confirmed he intended to sack him. Though he softened that position later in the week after several prominent ex-Pakistan internationals came to the defence of the incumbent coach, it now seems that Lawson's position had been made untenable.

Lawson himself has defended his record as coach since succeeding the late Bob Woolmer last year, stating "We [Pakistan] have got the best record in world cricket in one-day internationals and we're 21 (wins) and nine (defeats) since I've taken over." He also coached the side to the final of the inaugural world Twenty20 tournament, which they lost to India.

Butt, who reportedly described Lawson as a "useless person", said earlier this week that the coach had failed to produce the desired results and added that he firmly believed that a Pakistani could do a better job.

Lawson had claimed not to have had any contact with Butt since he took office, and had been seeking a meeting with the Board to clarify his position. That finally appears to have occurred this morning. Butt had been reluctant to sack Lawson only because of the financial loss the Board would suffer as a consequence.

News Courtsey: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/

Shoiab Akhtar Surrey Interest Spoiled At Heathrow Airport

It seems that lady luck is not on the side of Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. The controversial fast bowler, who flew to London on Wednesday to play county cricket, was told by the authorities at the Heathrow Airport that a working visa was needed to play professional cricket in England and his tourist visa was not sufficient. Although the Pakistan Cricket Board had given Akhtar a No Objection Certificate (NOC), clearing the way for him to play in Surrey’s last three County Championship matches, the visa problems mean that the plan has been put on hold. Akhtar, who arrived back home on Thursday, is likely to complete his documents in two days and fly to London on Sunday or Monday.

Surrey look set for relegation from Division One as they are bottom of the County Championship table with 18 points with three matches to go. They recruited Akhtar for their last three matches. Akhtar is very disappointed after the incident. He was scheduled to play his first match for Surrey against Kent in Canterbury. “I was eagerly looking forward to play for Surrey and will now try again to go to London if the required documents are complete,” he told reporters on Thursday.

Pakistani and Sussex Legspinner Mushtaq Ahmed Retires

Former Pakistani and Sussex legspinner 38-year-old Mushtaq Ahmed has retired from cricket because of his persistent knee injury.

Mushtaq Ahmed, who played his last Test in October 2003, made the decision after six seasons and three county championship titles with English side Sussex.

According to The Argus in Brighton yesterday, Mushtaq is the greatest player to have represented the county in their 169 years. The instinct was to snort and think of Maurice Tate, John Snow, Ranjitsinhji and Ted Dexter. Yet it took the arrival of Mushtaq for Sussex to win the championship for the first time in 2003.

They succeeded again in 2006 and 2007 and Mushtaq's hauls of wickets for each season before this one - 103, 82, 80, 102 and 90 - reads more like the sequence of an in-form batsman than a bowler in the age of 16 championship matches. He could be the best overseas signing made by any county.

"This is a very hard decision for me to make, as I feel that I could possibly play one more year, but out of respect I would only do that if I felt 100 percent," Mushtaq said.

"I am going to miss playing for the club greatly," Mushtaq said. "I am truly honoured to have spent six wonderful years here. There are not enough words to express my gratitude to the club."

Mushtaq took 185 wickets in 52 Tests for Pakistan between 1990 and 2003, with a best of 7-56 against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1995. He fared less well in one-day internationals, with 161 wickets in 144 matches.

He ends his career with a total 1,407 wickets, 598 of them for Sussex.

Asia Cup 2008 Super 4: Sri Lanka v/s Pakistan : Snapshots

Asia Cup 2008 : Super 4 : Sri Lanka v/s Pakistan

Venue: National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan

Result: Sri Lanka Won by 64 Runs

Kumar Sangakara of Sri Lanka who scored 112 runs (110 Balls, 10 4's and 1 six)

Sohail Tanveer of Pakistan (He took 5 wickets for 48 runs and scored 9 runs)

Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka (He was 4 not out and took 1 wicket for 44 runs)

Second Drug Scandal Involving Mohammad Asif: Arrested In Dubai

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif was arrested at Dubai Airport for carrying contraband drugs in his luggage. He has been detained in the Airport on Sunday. He is due to appear before the magistrate on Tuesday in Dubai.

Mudassar Nazar, Director of the National Cricket Academy is now in Dubai to help out in the case. It is the second drug scandal involving Mohammad Asif.