Briefly Cricket

Pakistan cricket suffered yet another setback as the Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided to postpone a tour of its national Under-19 team to Pakistan.

BCB postpones Pak tour

Lahore: Pakistan cricket suffered yet another setback as the Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided to postpone a tour of its national Under-19 team to Pakistan. The team was scheduled to tour Pakistan later this month. The official declined to give reasons for the BCBs decision but said the series could be played at a later date this year. However,sources in the board said the BCBs request could stem from security concerns about playing in Pakistan in present situation,although the Pakistan Football Federation hosted the Bangladesh team for a World Cup qualifying match in Lahore on Sunday.

Legal relief for Kaneria

Karachi: The Sindh High Court restrained the Pakistan Cricket Board and its legal counsel from passing any defamatory or adverse remarks about Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. The court passed the order and summoned board officials on July 26 to hear the petition filed by Kaneria against the PCBs decision not to clear him for national selection. Kanerias lawyer,Dr Farrugh Naseem said that the court had observed that Kaneria was a national asset and had given great services to Pakistan cricket and must be treated with respect.

Afridi gets SLPL clearance

Lahore: The PCB on Monday said it had given clearance to former captain Shahid Afridi to take part in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League starting later this month. A senior PCB official confirmed that they had given permission for the Sri Lankan authorities to sign on around 10 Pakistani players for the league and that list included Afridi. We gave these permissions and clearance for the players including Afridi some time back. But now when he individually also applies for a no-objection certificate or the Sri Lankan organisers reconfirm his availability we see no problem in giving him clearance, the official said. Afridi,who is presently playing for Hampshire in the English domestic T20 event,was entangled in a feud with the PCB last month after the Board revoked his NOC to play for Hampshire.

Afghanistan to play T20s in Pak

Islamabad: A PCB official has said that Afghanistan has expressed interest in playing in a Twenty20 event in Pakistan later this year. Sultan Rana,the PCBs director of domestic cricket,said on Monday that the board has received the request and has raised the likelihood that the 14th team for the competition in September and October will be Afghanistan. Afghanistan would be making its second trip to the country this year,after having lost a one-day series 3-0 to a second-string Pakistan side in May.