Pakistan willing to dish out $1.5 million to SLC

Pakistan is willing to pay Sri Lanka up to $1.5 million to play a hastly arranged series here in January-February. According to sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pakistan is unlikely to generate any substantial profits from the series that was lined up after India decided to pull out of its tour of Pakistan over last month’s terror attacks in Mumbai.

The cancellation of that much-awaited series caused whopping losses of almost $25 million to the cash-strapped PCB.

Though the itinerary of the series against Sri Lanka is yet to be decided, it has been learnt that the PCB is ready to dish out $1.5 million to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for the series that is likely to take place from Jan 20 to Feb 25.

The amount is for three Tests and five One-day Internationals. However, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is still undecided on the tour itinerary and is now asking for a reduction in the number of one-day games.

According to sources, SLC has asked PCB to revert to the initial tour itinerary that included three Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 game. That itinerary was revised by the PCB after SLC asked for the inclusion of two more one-dayers instead of the sole Twenty20 game.

However, that request came from SLC when Arjuna Ranatunga was its interim head. After his sacking, the Sri Lanka board is now asking for yet another change.

Meanwhile, the PCB marketing team is making all out efforts to find sponsors for the series. However, it is yet to achieve any major breakthrough.

According to sources, the board is looking for a title sponsor for the series that would fetch it around $300,000. Such a sponsorship would help the PCB to break even - a far cry from the $25 million it was expecting to receive from the money-spinning series against India.

Courtesy: Dailymirror(Thaindian News)

Lankan tour to Pakistan to go ahead

The Sri Lankan tour to Pakistan will proceed as scheduled from 20 January to 25 February 2009. However Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge has stated that since the proposed tour to Pakistan would be taking place under the aegis of the ICC it should be subject to security clearance of the ICC, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said today.

Courtesy: Dailymirror

Growth propelling parts of SL into middle-income status - WB

According to the World Bank Annual report 2008 it projects an emerging new reality that South Asia can no longer be characterised as a uniformly low-income region. Growth is propelling several Indian states, along with Bhutan, Maldives, and parts of Sri Lanka, into middle-income status. At the same time, per capita incomes and human development indicators in Bangladesh, Nepal, most of Pakistan, and the lagging regions of India and Sri Lanka are those of low-income countries.

Courtesy: Dailymirror

Suspected US missiles hit inside Pakistan border

Pakistani Intelligence sources have revealed that several missiles have struck areas near the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan killing 7 suspected Taliban militants. The U.S. military usually offers no comment on these types of cross boarder attacks, though they are one of the forces in the area capable of such strikes.

Courtesy: Dailymirror (CNN)

Mendis is a danger - Malik

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik believes Sri Lanka will provide stern opposition for his side during their tour next month.

The Pakistan Cricket Board have invited the Sri Lankans for three Tests and three one-day internationals in a series starting in January, filling the gap in the calendar created by India’s cancellation of their scheduled tour.

The PCB will finalise the dates for the series against Sri Lanka this week.

Pakistan have lost 1-0 to both South Africa and India in their only Test series in 20 months since Malik took over as captain.

While he was disappointed by the cancellation of the Indian tour, Malik feels that the Sri Lankans would provide an equally good series.

“We are disappointed with India’s decision not to tour Pakistan,” Malik said.

“India have been doing well so it would have been a good series, but Sri Lanka are also a good team.

“We have to do a lot of hard work since we have been out of international cricket for so long.

“Sri Lanka have been doing well at the international level. They will be tough opponents, but we will be ready for them.”

Malik is especially wary of the threat posed by spinner Ajantha Mendis, who is Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker this year and was instrumental in their 2-1 win over India in a three-match Test series earlier this year.

“Sri Lanka have two quality spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis,” Malik said.

“We have played Murali on numerous occasions in the past, but Mendis would prove a handful.

“We have to master him.”

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has banked his hopes on fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has not played a Test or a one-day match for Pakistan this year due to suspension and injury.

Although he is available for selection, Shoaib is still fighting to overturn an 18-month ban imposed by the PCB for disciplinary reasons.

He was picked for a three-match one-day series against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi, but did not play a match due to a calf injury.

“Shoaib will be our key man,” said Intikhab. “He is back and is now full of confidence.

“I see him as a completely changed man and he will be an asset for the team.”

Courtesy: Dailymirror