Ouch! Lankans blown away like rag dolls by resurgent Pakistan

The Sri Lankan cricketers set out on the tour full of hopes and confident that they could rub the Pakistanis in the dust in the desert and enhance their standing in the one-day game.

But their hopes were blown away like rag dolls, hit by a desert storm in the form of the rampaging Pakistanis who just ran away with the series, at the time of writing 3-1 in a five match series.

While the Sri Lankan cricketers will be licking their wounds, the Pakistanis are basking in the glory of their success in having outplayed the Lankans and adding to their success achieved in South Africa prior to this series.

To reiterate, the Pakistanis are individually brilliant, but rarely play as a team. But against the Sri Lankans the Pakistanis shed that misgiving and worked as a well knit combination to bury the Lankans.

Misbah's tremendous experience

The Pakistani captain Misbah ul Haq, with his tremendous experience proved the better captain and put Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews to second place. While Misbah was able to get the best of every member, Mathews was found wanting.

From nowhere emerged the star batsmen to heap trouble on the Lankans, the right handed Twenty20 Captain, the stylish and hard hitting right-hander Mohammad Hafeez.

He had not had a good run with the willow in South Africa and his place was questioned and his career looked on the line. But asked to bat one drop, he just feasted on the innocuous Lankan attack to smash three centuries in four innings which was quite remarkable.

Whatever his critics may say, he is highly talented, has the technique and temperament to smash any attack with strokes to send the ball carpet like on the ground and loft for six when he desires.

Consistent batting by Hafeez

It was his consistent batting, that took the pressure off the other batsmen such as Shakjeel Khan, Shoaib Maqsood, Misbh and Ahmed Shahzad and helped them get among the runs.

What stood out in the Pakistani batting was that their front liners took it upon themselves to tot up the big runs, and not exposing the second half of the batting which was admirable and encouraging.

As for the bowling, The Pakistanis had only the mesmerizing spin of off spinner Saeed Ajmal to boast of. But with the sudden inclusion of seam and swing bowler Umar Gul from a nine month layoff following surgery, the attack looked unplayable.

While the Pakistani batting and bowling looked adequate, it was their feeling that was found wanting. Their catching and ground fielding left room for improvement. In the game they lost they gave away vital runs with over throws.

On the whole the Pakistanis proved the better and competent side and fully deserved their success and in keeping their cool and not getting rattled and panicky carried away the COOL and COOL Trophy with their 3-1 success.

Swann jumps before being pushed

England off-spinner Graeme Swann who suddenly announced his retirement from all forms of the game mid way through the Ashes series after his team lost the series 3-0, has been taken to task by critics in England.

Former England cricketers Michal Vaughan and Derek Pringle questioned Swann's comments to the England media where he had said: 'some people playing the game at the minute have no idea' about the situation and added I hope they look back and are embarrassed about how they carry on'.

Former England captain Vaughan said: 'This tour for England was already a disaster...now it's a bloody joke. As a respected senior player in the dressing room Swanny why didn't you sort players out who got too big for themselves'.

But Swann was quick to respond saying that his comments were not directed at current England players. Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne defended Swann suggesting he had made the comments in the hope of firing up an England team facing a 5-0 series defeat.

Emotional time for Swann

Warne said it is emotional time for Swann and hopefully that was a way to lift the guys and say 'come on, pull your heads out and let's finish the tour on a high note'. The off-spinner's grandmother has blamed unwelcoming Australians for Swann's sudden retirement and said something 'nasty' must have happened to convince the England star to turn his back on the Ashes.

Swann has taken 255 Test wickets. 'There is something gone wrong there and I blame the Australian players, a certain one'. Mina Swann, 89 told The Journal newspaper in Newcastle.

Memorable experience - sub head

Here in Dubai for the cricket, it was a memorable experience visiting the Dubai Sports City. One has to see it to believe. They lay a lot of emphasis on sport, obviously realizing its value.

The Dubai International Sports Conference was held yesterday under the theme 'empowering the future of football'. Portugal and world star class footballer Christiano Ronaldo was one of the speakers. This was the real Madrid and Portugal's stars second shot at the two-day conference which was held at the Mina al Salam Hotel in Jumeirah. Ronaldo has previously spoken at this conference in 2011.

Rush in list of speakers

Also on the list of speakers was Ian Rush the great ex-Liverpool and Wales striker and former Italian referee Irluig Collina. Collina is also a member of the UEFA Referees Committee and was a speaker and moderator at the opening session. Pep Guardiola, the Bayern Munich boss, and Uli Hoeness, the club President, former England manager and head coach of Russia, Fabio Capello, Juventus coach Antonia Conte, Spain and Barcelona midfield player Xavi Hernandez and Dubai Sports Ambassador and Argentina football legend Diego Maradona also attended the glittering function.

Member of the Executive Office of the Dubai Sports Council and head of the conference organizing committee Mohammad Al Kamali, said that Ronaldo's return to participate in this event reflects the high international status achieved by the conference.

The Dubai International Sports Conference was held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.

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