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KARACHI, Nov 17: Pakistan’s champion wicket-keeper/batsman Rashid Latif hasbeen given a green signal to resume playing, quashing fears that hiscricketing career was over.Rashid was forced out of the current Test series last week in Zimbabwe withrecurrence of an old neck problem.The 34-year-old stalwart told that doctors in South Africa gave him the ‘go ahead’ to return to active cricket within a week after extensive physiotherapy considerably eased the discomfort in his neck and leftshoulder.”I am going to Lahore on Tuesday where PCB’s panel of doctors will examineme whether I can rejoin the Pakistan team at the earliest,” Rashid said. “Ihad already faxed the reports of the South African specialists to the PCB.”Rashid, who returned home Saturday night, was sent to Johannesburg (SouthAfrica) on the recommendation of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s chairman, LtGen Tauqir Zia, for a thorough check up by specialists.”The doctors in South Africa have told me that I can join the team inZimbabwe by the 23rd of this month for the one-day series,” Rashid said.PCB took a timely decision to contact the United Cricket Board of SouthAfrica and arranged for appointments with specialists in Johannesburg andPretoria.The South African specialists, Dr Carl S van Heerden (a neurosurgeon) andDr Thys de Beer, an expert in shoulder injuries, after conducting three daysof comprehensive tests, which included scans and related examinations cameto the conclusion that there is nothing seriously wrong with Rashid.Cricket circles here were anxious when initial reports from Harare indicatedthat Rashid’s playing career was threatened by a neck problem that couldhave paralysed the former Pakistan skipper for ever.Rashid, a salient part of Pakistan side since his comeback after athree-year hiatus in April 2001 when he was kept out by his arch rival MoinKhan, vehemently denied that he was injured before the team left forZimbabwe.”Actually the problem arose when I had nets in cold and rainy conditions inHarare. I felt a sudden numbness in my left shoulder. “Then I realised thatsomething was seriously wrong here and that I shouldn’t play until I feltfine. At first I was told my injury was a career threatening one,” Rashidexplained.On instructions of Pakistan coach Richard Pybus and physiotherapist DennisWaight, an initial diagnosis indicated the cervical nerves in Rashid’s neckwere affecting his left shoulder.”I could risk permanently paralysing my left shoulder if I continued playingand it left me worried which is why I opted to pull out of the Zimbabwetour,” a worried Rashid said.Rashid also appeared as a guest player in a Ramazan cricket tournament atUBL Sports Complex Sunday.”I just wanted to check for myself how I felt. Thank God, I did not feel anyproblem at all despite the fact I did some running in the field,” Rashidnoted with satisfaction.Rashid sounded optimistic as regards his rejoining the Pakistan squad afterPCB’s panel of doctors, Tauseef Razzaq, Meesaq Rizvi and Sohail Saleem,examine him on Tuesday.”I am extremely hopeful of rejoining my team-mates for the one-day series inZimbabwe and South Africa. If not, then my target would be the Tests inSouth Africa,” he hoped.Rashid further more praised Kamran Akmal, his understudy who is playing inZimbabwe Tests. “Kamran is a fast learner and is capable of improvingfurther. I see a bright future for this kid.”Rashid, who has played in 34 Tests and 140 One-day Internationals since hisdebut in 1992, expressed the hope that he will play in the World Cup earlynext year. “I want to play in the World Cup in South Africa and hopefullyPakistan will do very well there.”Rashid was on the sidelines during the last World Cup in England three yearsago, having played in the unsuccessful campaign in 1996, hosted jointly byPakistan, India and Sri Lanka.Pakistan lost a tense quarterfinal to old rivals India in Bangalore by 39runs with Rashid hitting two sixes in a run-a-ball innings of 26 before hewas stumped by Nayan Mongia off slow left-armer Venkatapathy Raju.

Somerset disabled cricketer Andy Margetts is putting the finishing touches to his packing before he sets off shortly with the England Disabled Team for a tour of India.Thirty nine year old Andy who lives in Taunton is the only player from the Cider county who has been selected to make the thirteen day trip, during which England will play three Test matches against the host nation.Andy was a founder member of the Somerset Disabled Cricket Club, and over the last few years has represented his country on a number of occasions.Julian Bellew, the secretary of the Disabled Cricket Club told me: "It has been great for everybody at the club to have Andy playing for England. During the past season he has been outstanding and made a number of invaluable contributions for his country."All rounder Andy has also been in good form for Somerset in 2002, the highlight of which was a century against Hampshire, and helping the team to get through to the quarter finals of the national knock out competition before missing out to the Isle of Wight who were the losing finalists.Earlier this week Andy told me: "This is the chance of a lifetime and I am really looking forward to it. This will be the highspot of my cricket career and I’m aiming to make the most of it."Andy continued: " I have received a lot of sponsorship from various local organisations, including £200 from Somerset County Cricket Club, and I’m very appreciative of all the support that I have been given to help me make this trip."Chief executive Peter Anderson told me: "Somerset County Cricket Club are thrilled to bits that Andy has gained representative honours. This means that the Club are represented right through the national youth teams, in the women’s game and now in the disabled side, in fact it’s a clean sweep for Somerset."To celebrate their successful season Somerset Disabled Cricket Club are holding their annual dinner at the Civil Service Club in Taunton on Friday November 29th.Anyone wishing to attend the dinner should contact the club secretary Julian Bellew on 01460 54537.

Stephen Harmison’s inclusion in today’s Test team marks a significant step in the ECB & Durham Cricket Academy’s bid to nurture future England stars.Since its establishment six years ago, the Academy has played a major part in creating the youngest average age County squad in the country and spawned a number of players that have represented England at various international levels, most recently Gordon Muchall for England Under 19s.The Club’s pursuit of excellence received a boost last year when Durham wasnamed one of seven First Class Counties to form part of a new national network of ECB County Cricket Academies. The aim of the Academy is to identify cricketers who have the potential of playing at the highest level of the game and to deliver a comprehensive development programme which will provide them with the opportunity of fulfilling their potential.Stephen joined the Durham Academy in 1996 before progressing to the Durhamplaying staff in 1998.

Somerset supporter Barney Spender is appealing for sponsors in his bid to raise money for the Ben Hollioake Memorial Trust.The 39 year-old ,who was brought up in Kingsdon near Somerton, where he parents still live and writes for the Times, is to run the Athens Marathon on November 3 and hopes to raise £2,000 for the Trust which has been set up to commemorate the Surrey and England cricketer who was tragically killed in a car crash in Australia in March.”Ben’s death was a terrible tragedy not just for his family but for the whole cricketing community,” said Spender. “I didn’t know Ben personally but those I have spoken to who did have nothing but a warm regard for a young man who had tremendous cricketing potential. As someone who has mingled with the cricketing fraternity as a journalist for some 15 years now, I feel it is a right to do something to preserve that memory.”The Ben Hollioake Memorial Trust, which will be overseen by the LordsTaverners, will raise money for a number of projects such as aiding young cricketers, cancer research – something that was close to Ben’s heart following his mother’s fight against the disease – and animal welfare.Anyone who would like to help Barney reach his goal of £2000 can send a donation to:
Barney Spender
Ben Hollioake Memorial Trust
11a Athenlay Road
Nunhead
London SE15 3EA
(cheques payable to Ben Hollioake Memorial Trust)

Although this match has not been afforded first-class status, the first day of the Hampshire v Loughborough UCCE gave the sparse crowd some excellent entertainment as the visitor’s amassed 371-5dec in just 92 overs.Hampshire fielded a young side, and Nic Pothas was drafted in as a late replacement for Lawrence Prittipaul who was ill.Three Hampshire hopefuls, returning from college next week were on show in the UCCE side, James Adams who hit a dogged half century, John Francis who edged leg-spinner Ian Hilsum to slip on 5, and Chris Benham and all-rounder who supported his captain with 54* in a partnership of 171*.Mark Powell the Loughborough captain played a sparkling innings, striking 21 fours and two sixes in scoring 124*, his innings was the mainstay of the Loughborough task. 47 extras also contributed to the score as the Hampshire bowlers toiled. Ian Hilsum took two wickets just before the lunch interval, after Adams and Atri had put on 106 for the first wicket, then Powell dominated the afternoon proceedings.Hampshire were given half an hours batting before the close, but the visitors luck was out as Kenway was dropped before he scored by the wicket-keeper, he then advanced to 16 not out, and Laney smote two huge sixes to finish the day 21*.

80 runs from John Crawley saved Hampshire’s embarrassment as they struggled to save the follow-on after Leicestershire has scored 428 in their first innings.Vince Wells added just one to his overnight score before he edged Mullally to give Kenway his fourth slip catch. Following some lusty hitting from the veteran DeFreitas, the innings folded when three wickets fell in 22 balls.Will Kendall and Derek Kenway were dismissed cheaply, before skipper Robin Smith and John Crawley, batting at the Rose Bowl for his new county for the first time, revived the innings with a 70-run stand. Smith showed some of his fine array of strokes, driving the short ball hard to the boundary and playing off his legs much in his old style, before he fell to a sucker punch and was well caught at long-on by Carl Crowe.Crawley was a lone figure by now, with Johnson, Pothas and Udal departing quickly to the medium pace of Maddy and Dagnall. When he was finally out for 80, Crawley had struck nine fours.With Hampshire facing the follow-on, youngsters Chris Tremlett and James Hamblin stayed till close of play, but Hampshire still require another 34 to avoid it.

With so much going on at the Rose Bowl with the new pavilion, a remark was made as to the place buzzing. This was however taken seriously as a swarm of bees stretched across the playing fields as players and umpires lay flat on the ground, and as the bees moved towards the members enclosure, spectators were seen scurrying away. After the bees had settled on the advertising board an expert bee-keeper from the local council arrived to clear the danger.

The most exciting day’s cricket in the Busta tournament so far saw EnglandA’s early afternoon advantage snatched away by an electric partnershipbetween Guyana’s Carl Hooper and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

In a packed Bourda stadium, the veteran of West Indies cricket and his youngprotegy added 157 for the fifth wicket to leave the game intriguinglybalanced after two days in this Busta International Shield semi-final at Georgetown.Hooper was finally dismissed in the over before stumps, just nine runs shortof his century which not only deprived him of a $100,000 (Guyanese) prize,offered by a local pharmaceutical company if he made 100, but also left himwith 111 runs still to get to win the big US$50,000 prize put up by the WestIndies Cricket Board for the first Caribbean batsman to 1,000 runs.His 91 from 136 balls was full of both power and subtlety as he punishedthe spinners with a confidence that has grown as he has run into the bestform of his life. He was eventually out to a ball from Chris Schofield thatcame over the wicket and bounced into the rough, popping up high to giveVikram Solanki an easy catch running round from first slip to silly point.By the time he departed, Guyana had recovered from their potentially disastrousposition in the early afternoon of 33 for four in reply to England A’s first innings total of 293.At the fall of his wicket, they were in a more comfortable zone at 190 forfive, still trailing England A by 102 but with Sarwan still at the crease,having made his sixth half-century of the season, the tourists still havemuch to do before they can claim victory at the half-way stage, which mayearn them a place in the final.Schofield spearheaded the action for much of the day when he added another36 runs to his overnight total to close the innings unbeaten on 64. But hewas involved in two run outs which saw Chris Read depart in the third overof the morning for 24 after gambling unsuccessfully on a risky single andthen after making a stylish 32 from 69 balls, Alex Tudor was also dispatchedby a fielder’s rapid return.”That was very disappointing,” said Schofield afterwards. “The atmosphere was very loud so we were relying more on eye contact than hearing the calls. There was a quick second when you couldn’t hear your partner and that’s when we ran into trouble. These things happen and you apologise and get on with it but it is a pity it happened twice in the same day,” he said.There were two more near misses but Hooper missed a return from MahendraNagamootoo to let Tudor off the hook and Ryan Sidebottom made his crease bya whisker shortly before he was lbw to Hooper, a wicket that wrapped up theinnings and gave Hooper figures of 5-49.With Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sarwan in the Guyana line-up, the293 total looked well short of a winning first innings one but a remarkablespell from the England A bowlers led to the demolition of the top order withfour wickets falling for just six runs.Graeme Swann captured opener Seonarine Chattergoo with an easy caught andbowled chance, then had Travis Dowlin caught at extra cover by Michael Powellfor a duck. Chanderpaul, back from a three-month absence after injuring hisfoot in Australia, edged Tudor to the wicket-keeper Read, who took abrilliant catch just millimetres of the ground and Usman Afzaal took anotherexcellent catch at third slip to dismiss Azumeel Haniff, openingSidebottom’s account in the match.But then, to an overwhelming reception from his home crowd, Hooper arrived topartner the 18 year-old Sarwan. They played watchfully to tea but returnedfrom the interval to inflict a major assault on the bowlers. In the firstfive overs, they blasted 37 runs to all parts of the ground, theNorthamptonshire off-spinner Swann heaved over the boundary fence twice bythe mighty Hooper.The partnership was enthusiastically urged on by the crowd who wererelishing the big hitting by two top-class batsmen but despite theonslaught, England A never gave up hope of breaking the stand with skipperMark Alleyne maintaining pressure throughout with a regular rotation of hisbowlers.But they had to wait until the penultimate over of the day before they wererewarded with Hooper’s wicket, which saw him depart to stunneddisappointment from his doting supporters.England A’s bowling figures reflected a heavy day’s work. Swann yielded justseven runs from his first six overs but by the close, 62 runs had beenpicked off his 13 overs after Hooper’s brutal assault.”Hooper and Sarwan attacked us and I think we were a bit stunned by that andlet them get away to a 157-run partnership,” said Schofield.”But hopefully we can come back tomorrow and get them all out before theyget to 290 and win on first innings.”We knew that if got to 270, it would go right down to the last day and Ithink if we do get them out, even if they win first innings, there is stilla lot to come. We are still confident we can get an outright win from thisgame,” Schofield said.

WestpacTrust Park in Hamilton will become an even brighter jewel in the New Zealand cricket crown next summer, thanks to the needs of the Waikato rugby team.Heavy delays to the re-development of Rugby Park in Hamilton – caused by the delay in the arrival of very necessary steelwork – have meant the Waikato Rugby Union must look for another venue or venues for its five home NPC matches against Counties-Manukau, Wellington, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Otago in August-September.Yesterday a meeting of the Waikato stadium trust, which administers the development of both WestpacTrust Park and Rugby Park, gave the WRU permission to play on WestpacTrust.John Turkington, the Northern Districts cricket chief executive and a member of the stadium trust, said the dual use of WestpacTrust Park would be of great benefit to both sports.”We are now going through the resource consent process toward installing floodlights at WestpacTrust Park. There has been one objection, which is not unsurmountable.”If consent is obtained the lights could be up in time for the first rugby match on August 24.”Floodlighting would make WestpacTrust an ideal venue for day-night matches, one-dayers or tests, from next summer onward.”The planned lights will be on four towers and will produce the best day-night cricket viewing in New Zealand.”In England they work on a basis of 1250 lux as satisfactory for cricket. Carisbrook are, we think, about 2000 lux, while the new lights at WestpacTrust are designed to give us about 2810 lux,” said Turkington.The park groundstaff were confident that winter sporting traffic would not damage WestpacTrust’s reputation of being one of the best cricketing surfaces in New Zealand.”The last rugby match is scheduled for September 29, and the provisional Shell Trophy draw has the first match at WestpacTrust starting on November 29,” said Turkington.”The ground staff are confident there will not be a problem getting the ground ready for cricket in the nine-week gap after rugby finishes.”Other improvements at WestpacTrust, such as increasing spectator amenities and developing practice facilities would be fitted into the new programme.Turkington said the stadium trust had much of the funding already in place, as the trust had received strong backing from the Hamilton City Council, Trust Waikato, the Lotteries Board and other community interests in the Waikato area.The building of new terrace spectator areas at WestpacTrust – using fill from the re-shaping of Rugby Park – last summer gave the park more spectator-room, without detracting from its traditional tree-and-grass tranquillity.Now the addition of more seating, and floodlights, must promote WestpacTrust higher in the New Zealand Cricket scheme of things.There was additional impetus for greater use of grounds such as WestpacTrust yesterday from Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, playing the English season with Middlesex.In the latest of his regular columns on CricInfo, Fleming commented on England’s sweeping defeat of Pakistan in the first Test at Lord’s last weekend – when the England seam bowlers Andrew Caddick and Darren Gough demolished the Pakistan batting – as the classic case of a home team prospering on a pitch designed to aid the home bowlers.In the sub-continent, wrote Fleming, you expected dry pitches that gave spinners a lot of help. In Australia they prepared pitches that gave bounce and pace, and suited their style of fast-medium bowlers and wrist-spinners.England and New Zealand, said Fleming, should be ideal for the preparation of pitches that had some pace, and assisted the seam bowlers.This was the case when New Zealand thrashed Pakistan at WestpacTrust Park in the third Test last summer, after New Zealand lost the first Test on an experimental “drop-in” pitch in the first Test at Eden Park, and played a tiresome draw in the second at Jade Stadium.The WestpacTrust pitch at Hamilton, said Fleming, was ideal for New Zealand purposes.He cited Carisbrook as another pitch which suited the New Zealand style of game, and said New Zealand should play more often on such grounds that favoured them, and not take the risk of experimenting with “drop-in” pitches.With WestpacTrust Park moving up to the front line of New Zealand international venues, Fleming may have his wish granted sooner than he might have expected.

After two washed-out matches at Sabina Park, it was a relief to getsome cricket underway again with the third one-day international atthe Kensington Oval in Barbados. The pitch looked like a cracker, fullof runs and holding plenty of promise for a high-scoring one-dayer.Sourav Ganguly, the Indian captain, won the toss and, as expected,asked the West Indies to bat first.The hosts’ batting impressed me very little. The West Indian batsmen -perhaps as a result of their 2-1 Test win over India – looked overconfident and complacent. The batting on display oozed carelessness,and it was no surprise that the Indian bowlers capitalised on that tothe fullest extent.

I was particularly disappointed with Brian Lara and the way he jumpedout to Harbhajan Singh so early in his innings. It only showed thatLara wanted to hit Harbhajan out of the attack, even though he hadbeen at the wicket only for a couple of deliveries. Harbhajan himselfwas only in his second over at that point, and Lara’s wicket couldonly be attributed to a sever lack of self-confidence or, indeed, asupreme over-confidence.The Indian attack, for its part, looked particularly sharp andincisive. I was impressed especially with Tinu Yohannan, who struck meas a very quick learner. His line was excellent, and he was preparedto attack the batsman and make him play at the ball all the time. Inmy opinion, that is what good bowling is all about.The only West Indian batsman who seemed prepared to stick around andgraft his runs was the skipper, Carl Hooper. In possibly the form ofhis life, Hooper seemed to have no trouble at all with the pitch orthe bowling, and his partnership with Ramnaresh Sarwan, at one stage,looked to take the West Indies to a considerably strong total.Sarwan’s dismissal was the turning-point. After the youngster, noneappeared willing to stick with Hooper at the crease and give him thesupport he so desperately needed. Admittedly, he played a knock ofconsiderable brilliance, but even he must have known that onceShivnarine Chanderpaul – the West Indies’ Mr Dependable at the moment- was brilliantly run out, it was going to be an uphill struggle.India were helped in no small measure by the fact that the West Indiescould not bat out their full quota of overs. That in itself meant thatthe target was not going to be an imposing one.The Indian outfit during the match looked a very strong side. Thefielding was sharp, and the captaincy was spot-on. Ganguly’s bowlingchanges were well thought-out and effective. Once the work in thefield was done, the batsmen had to merely buckle down to their task,and that they did with great efficacy.

Ganguly himself played a good knock, but Dinesh Mongia, coming in atnumber three, was a revelation. We have seen his ability to unleashthe fireworks, but this was a calm and measured innings from theyoungster. Recognising the situation, he quickly adapted his game tocollect the runs at a steady rate, rarely panicking or slogging.With such an innings chasing such a moderate total, the Indian chasewas always going to end with a win. Mongia, with his all-rounderperformance, deserved the Man of the Match award in full. The WestIndies, going by their lacklustre approach to the match, will have todo something extraordinary if they are to come back in this series.

Surrey allrounder Chris Jordan will pursue opportunities elsewhere after being released from the club at the end of his contract. Jordan had been at Surrey for six years, having joined at the age of 17, but struggled to make an impact this season, making eight first-class appearances and none in limited-overs cricket.Born in Barbados and eligible to play for England and West Indies, Jordan received a cricket scholarship at Dulwich College and was once regarded as one of Surrey’s brightest prospects. However, he struggled for consistency and in July Surrey’s team director, Chris Adams, said Jordan “needs to show us what he can do”.”I am very grateful for all the opportunities I have been given with Surrey, and will always remember my time at the club very fondly and wish them all success for the future,” Jordan said. “I remain a very ambitious cricketer and now very much look forward to continuing my cricketing career elsewhere.”Jordan, a fast if occasionally wayward bowler, was part of Surrey’s 2011 promotion-winning side and played for Barbados ahead of the 2012 English season. He started the Division One campaign in the first XI and was even employed as a makeshift opener, but managed just one half-century to go with 23 wickets at 39.93 before losing his place.First-class career averages of 21.83 with the bat and 38.47 with the ball attest to a talent as yet unfulfilled, although at 23 he still has time to develop and will likely attract interest from several counties.Adams said: “Chris has been with Surrey from the age of seventeen and it’s unfortunate that he hasn’t been able to earn a regular place in the first team. He is at the stage of his career where he needs to be playing regular first-class cricket if he is to fulfil his ambitions in the game therefore it is in his best interests that he looks at opportunities elsewhere.”