It was one of the worst days in test cricket: Vettori

 WELLINGTON: The stop-start nature of a weather-affected third test and howling winds that were gusting more than 80kph had rated as one of Daniel Vettori’s worst in test cricket, the former New Zealand captain said on Saturday.    
Constant drizzle, chilly conditions and the blustery northerly made the second day of the third test against South Africa at the Basin Reserve one of attrition for New Zealand’s bowlers.
They managed just 37 overs on Saturday after rain delayed the start of play for more than four hours, before bad light drove them from the field with 12 overs still due to be bowled in the day’s play.
“From 460 odd days of test cricket, somewhere near the bottom,” the 111-test veteran said with a laugh when asked how the day’s play had rated in his memory.
“Into the wind it’s pretty tough for the seamers and even for the spinners. You get blown around in your run up and in your delivery stride and it can be a little difficult.
“It was a tough day for a bowling side.”
Alviro Petersen (96 not out) and JP Duminy (76 not out) had accumulated a further 110 runs without any loss of wickets after play finally got going at 1425 local (0325 GMT), almost four and a half hours after the scheduled start time to guide the visitors to a commanding 246 for two at the close of play.
The pair offered New Zealand bowlers little opportunity for the breakthrough on a good paced wicket that was gave little assistance, though Petersen was dropped by a diving Martin Guptill when he was on 68.
“I think we were pretty disappointed after winning the toss and that first session (on Friday),” Vettori said of New Zealand’s overall bowling performance from the first two days.
“We probably fought back a little bit last night with the big wicket of (Hashim) Amla but the sort of stop-start nature of today … I think half the guys arrived a little bit late from both teams.
“Just getting into the day wasn’t as successful as we wanted because we needed an early breakthrough this afternoon so overall we are disappoitned in only taking two wickets on a wicket that offered some assistance early on.”
Duminy said South Africa, who only need to draw the test to win the series 1-0 after they won the second match in Hamilton by nine wickets, were unsure of their tactics heading into day three, with the weather expected to get better and remain that way for the remainder of the test.
“We haven’t really discussed the plans going forward,” Duminy said whe asked if the South Africans may just hunker down and bat New Zealand out of the test rather push than for victory.
“I think tomorrow morning we’ll sit down and do that (discuss their tactics). For now we’re just pleased with the situation of the game.”

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Shahid Afridi apologises for hitting fan

Islamabad, March 24: Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi Saturday apologised for hitting a fan at Karachi airport, saying he lost his temper when he saw his little daughter getting almost trampled by enthusiastic autograph seekers.

Afridi was returning home Friday night after Pakistan won the Asia Cup by defeating Bangladesh when he was surrounded by hordes of fans at the airport seeking his autograph. He punched a fan in the face who was insisting on an autograph.

The all-rounder apologized over the Karachi airport incident, Geo News reported on Saturday.

His three-year-old daughter had come to the airport to welcome him with flowers.

 Pakistan star all-rounder Shahid Afridi failed to keep his cool and attacked the fans at the Jinnah International Airport Karachi after return from Bangladesh.
Afridi was among six Pakistani players of Asia cup winning team who returned to Karachi from Dhaka on Friday including Younus Khan, M Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Saeed Ajmal and Sarfaraz Ahmed besides Afridi.
The cricket enthusiasts were waiting for their heroes at the airport and when the team reached there they started greeting and shaking hands with them. A large number of fans were around Afridi to shake hand and to get his autograph. The all-rounder got irritated and started abusing the fans to keep them away. Before departing from airport, Afridi completely got out of senses, returned and attacked fans with slaps and punches.
The national team players are heroes of the nation and their fans love them a lot and feel proud while meeting with them so these heroes should be given due respect and honour for their true sentiments towards their heroes. They should not be beaten or abusing as Afridi did as this is very shameful act and he should say sorry to the fans.
Before the mishap, talking to media Afridi said that a 10 year future plan should be made for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. ”Bangladesh gave a tough time to us and it seemed that we were playing against Australia in final,” he added.

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Shahid Afridi attacks fan at airport

 Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi attacked and slapped a fan at Karachi airport after he returned home from Dhaka where Pakistan won the Asia Cup final against Bangaldesh on Thursday.
Pakistan television channels showed Afridi, wearing a pink T-shirt, first push a youth to the ground and then slap him before his brother intervened and pulled him away in a melee on Friday night.
The incident took place shortly after Afridi had spoken to the media and praised Bangladesh for their outstanding performance in the Asia Cup final.
The footage showed Afridi heading for a waiting car when he turned around and attacked the youth and then pointed his finger at another man before his brother stepped in.
Afridi told reporters he had lost his temper because his young daughter Ajwa had been pushed to the ground.
“I know what I did was wrong, I should have controlled my temper,” he said. “But when I saw my little daughter pushed to the ground I couldn’t take it and lost my cool.”
Afridi, 32, has been banned and fined twice by the International Cricket Council (ICC) during a controversial career.

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Bangladesh tour of Pakistan unlikely

 The Pakistan Cricket Board is gearing up to hear the disappointing news of Bangladesh refusing to send its team for a planned one-day series next month after failing to get government clearance.
Despite the visit of the Chairman of the Pakistan board to Dhaka to watch the Asia Cup final and meet with Bangladesh board officials indications are that Bangladesh will not be touring Pakistan.
"The Bangladesh board has conveyed to Zaka Ashraf in Dhaka that they are not getting clearance from their government to send their team to Pakistan next month," the PTI quoted a source as saying.
Pakistan invited Bangladesh to play three one-day internationals in a bid to revive international cricket in the country.
No Test-playing nation has visited Pakistan since March, 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver and wounding five of the visiting players.
The PCB had even invited a security delegation of the Bangladesh board led by their Chairman Mostafa Kamal to Pakistan earlier this month to inspect security arrangements for the tour.
"The Bangladesh delegation was supposed to send their report and get a response from their government this month. But the matter has been delayed and they have already indicated that they might not get clearance to send their team to Pakistan because of security concerns," the source said.
If Bangladesh refuse to send their team to Pakistan it will come as a setback to the PCB which was very confident that the series would be played next month in Karachi and Lahore.
"The PCB is anticipating a negative answer from the Bangladesh board that is why they have began moves to study the feasibility of holding the Pakistan Premier League T20 event this year," one source said.

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