Showing posts with label Western Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Western Australia. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Shahid Afridi to Play in Australia

That could happen if an approach by New South Wales is materialized.

Afridi has been approached by NSW to play for their T20 team, and possibly their Sheffield Shield team as well, next season.

After Younis Khan (South Australia), Umar Gul (Western Australia), and Sohail Tanvir (South Australia), Afridi will become the 4th Pakistani player in 2 years to represent an Australian domestic side if the deal goes through.

That is good news for the allrounder, who is probably still on a high after leading Pakistan to the World T20 title.

What's next?

A higher valued IPL contract?

Possibly.

The Deccan Chargers would be kicking their behinds for canceling his contract earlier this year. If he was still on their roster, he could have represented them at the Champions League.

Irrespective, the Chargers won, Afridi won, Pakistan won, so alls well that ends well!

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Friday, January 23, 2009

Umar Gul Shows his Australian Colors

Prior to the series against Sri Lanka, he had just returned to Pakistan after a successful stint with Western Australia, whom he represented in the KFC Twenty20 Bash, Australia's domestic 20-20 competition.

He was spotted wearing the Western Australia colors during one of the team's practice sessions.

Showing people your Aussie colors Gul?

Well he has every reason to.

The Twenty20 Big Bash is still going on. The final is tomorrow. Gul has been back in Pakistan for 10 days now. Yet he's still the leading wicket taker of the competition.

Shows why he's one of the finest when it comes to 20-20.

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Monday, January 5, 2009

Fiery Gul in Australia

Due to the New Year holidays I missed the progress of Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir down under in the ongoing Twenty20 Big Bash.

But now, I am back, and am pleased to find that Gul has been in fiery form for Western Australia.

Last week he managed a 4 wicket haul in his first game for WA, and last night he managed 3-21 against Tasmania.

What's more, Gul even hit the winning runs of the only ball he faced in the game - a 4 of the penultimate delivery of the match leading WA to 2nd place in the points table.

Gul even held 3 catches in the match - wonder where he was fielding.

He didn't have that good a game in his 2nd match against New South Wales, where he went for 41 runs in his 4 overs.

On the other hand, Sohail Tanvir hasn't tasted the same success with South Australia losing to defending champions Victoria.

Victoria haven't lost many 20-20 games in Australia over the last 3-4 years. They have also won the competition 3 times on the trot prior to this one.

When South Australia managed 183, they may have smelled a chance with the best 20-20 bowler in the world in their ranks.

But Victoria showed why they are the best 20-20 side in Australia, if not the world.

Hodge, the leading 20-20 run scorer in the world and White, the captain with the most 20-20 wins creamed the SA bowling.

And they have an opener named Blizzard!

AC Blizzard !!!

What an amazing name you have there Aiden.

And apt for 20-20 cricket too.

Its only appropriate that a man with the name 'Blizzard' has a 20-20 strike rate of 177.95!

I forgot I was writing about Gul. Yep he's been fiery with the ball.

But AC Blizzard. Watch out for the future - the papers can have a field day with headlines.

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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Pakistanis Debut Down Under

The Twenty20 Big Bash, Australia's domestic 20-20 competition got underway a few days back.

Now normally I would not be covering an Australian domestic competition and would be relying on Jrod to hear about how Victoria is fairing, what David Hussey is doing, how Bryce McGain is shaping up, and the other happenings down under.

But this season has been quite different in Australia.

Different for us atleast.

As many as 3 Pakistani internationals have turned out for Australian states in their domestic competitions this season.

First Younis Khan played a few One-dayers and first class games for South Australia.

And now Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir are playing for Western Australia and South Australia respectively in the Twenty20 Big Bash.

Both the Pakistanis went up against each other 2 days ago as WA took on SA.

Umar Gul even snared up Tanvir's wicket. First ball!

Gul made an impressive debut for his Australian state team picking up 4-15 in 3.2 overs.

His effort though could not help WA to victory who lost by the D/L method.

Tanvir picked up only 1 wicket nd had a forgetful debut with the bat.

I'll be following these 2 down under.

Elsewhere David Hussey continued business as usual smashing a 47 ball unbeaten 100. He even picked up 2 wickets.

Well he's not the future PM for nothing.

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