Captains meet ICC chief in Dubai

DUBAI - International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat hosted the Pakistan and Sri Lanka captains — Misbahul Haq and Tilakaratne Dilshan — at Dubai Sports City on Tuesday. Pakistan manager Col. Naushad was also among the guests.

By Liaqat Ali

Published: Thu 27 Oct 2011, 12:28 AM

Last updated: Wed 24 May 2023, 3:07 PM

It was a great gesture by the ICC chief to have a leisurely meeting with the visiting captains. Col Naushad told Khaleej Times: “We are grateful to the ICC chief for spending some time with us. We discussed the various issues including pitches, weather and the cricketing facilities in the UAE.

“There is no worry as far as the weather is concerned though it is a bit hot but both the teams have got the same conditions back home.“ For Pakistan it looks like a second home. The team has a lot of followers and wherever we play in the UAE we find ample support.

“The same is the case with the Sri Lankan team because people from the island follow cricket religiously. They are a fun-loving people and enjoy every bit of the game in the UAE.” The captains and Lorgat discussed T20-I ranking. Pakistan are in seventh place in the inaugural world rankings while Sri Lank is second.

Pakistan finished runners-up to India in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 before winning the title in England in 2009 and finished losing semi-finalists in the last event held in the Caribbean in 2010.

But Pakistan’s 13 defeats in their last 24 T20-I matches from August 2009 to August this year leaves them at the bottom of the table topped by England.

It was a bit baffling for Misbah but this is way the ranking system works.

Misbah said his players will aim to improve in the most popular form of the game.

Dilshan was more excited about the prospect of Sri Lanka reaching the summit of the T20-I chart.

Top side England face India on Saturday in Kolkota and if the hosts emerge winners, Sri Lanka will be the No. 1 side in the world.

Sri Lanka are playing Pakistan in the one-off T20-I in Abu Dhabi and they have chance to stay on top.

Col. Naushad added: “The pitches also came under discussion. These are mostly batting-friendly surfaces and something should be done regarding it. The pitches should help bowlers and batsmen alike.

“Test cricket needs results otherwise the shorter versions, especially T20, will be big a threat to the format.”

The Abu Dhabi pitch helped bowlers on the first day and Pakistan were in a winning position till the final day.

But their poor fielding let them down and at the same time nothing can be taken away from gusty performance by Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawradene.