Match Preview:- Bangladesh V West Indies 2011. Only T20

Match Preview:-
The only T20 game between takes place in between Bangladesh and West Indies on Tuesday 11Th October. The game brings together two teams that are struggling to make a impact in the shortest form of the game, less than a year to the 4Th edition of the World T20 Championships. Under new skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh have a real chance to start getting on winning ways again in home conditions against a team that are struggling for any form. Whereas, The Windies will look to beat a team that had a appalling tour of Zimbabwe.

Probable line ups:-
Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful, Alok Kapali, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain and wicket-keeper), Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Abdur Razzaq, Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain.

West Indies
Lendl Simmons, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Keiron Pollard, Danza Hyatt, Carlton Baugh (wicket-keeper), Darren Sammy (captain), Andre Russell/Kemar Roach, Davendra Bishoo and Ravi Rampaul.

Pitch and Condition:-
The Sher-E-Bangla stadium in Dhaka is usually a flat track that will be of great assistance to the batsman. We can expect a high scoring encounter.

Prediction:-
On paper the West Indies look stronger, but in home conditions, I am going for a win for the Tigers.

Mohammad Amir:- One Year On... A fans Journey

27th August 2010, sitting in the stands at Lords was a dream. I had just turned 28 years old that day, and was at the ground to watch my hero's play the game I love more than myself. What i witnessed that day, I wrote in my article, ( http://www.atouchofirishintheglobalvillage.com/2010/10/fight-for-justice-in-england-for-his.html ). The next few months were trying to say the least.

I've supported Amir throughout his ordeal. Petitions, that were posted to the PCB, in person to the High Commission of Pakistan in London to fight for a boy that I believed had not received the support he should have received from the authorities that could have advised a kid better. A kid that came from a poor background had been left in a big world without any real support.

In the past year we have seen the players banned for five years, minimum, and charged by the Met Police for corruption. I have read the entire transcript and there is little doubt that the spot-fixing happened for real. The idea that it was a fabricated story and stitch up doesn't work anymore. Amir was always looked by me as a kid that had got stuck in a big world... until now

They say tough times make people grow up, but has Amir learnt from his mistake? When it comes to your career, you forget loyalties and do whatever possible to help your OWN career, has Amir done so? NO! Amir has had ample chances to come clean to the ICC but has not done so. His shown his loyalty to Salman Butt, but not to his own career and Pakistan Cricket. For that alone, in my opinion, Amir has not done his duty, as a human, as a Pakistani. Pakistan Cricket deserves better than a kid that has not grown a touch in a year. Pakistan Cricket, and its fans deserve better than Mohammad Amir and his ego....

Shoaib Malik:- What Could Have Been‏

Fast rewind 30th March 2011, Pakistan V India 2nd Cricket World Cup Semi Final and after India were restricted to a mere 260, Pakistan had begun their run chase. After a good start from the openers, both openers perished leaving Pakistan 70-2 in the 16th. Young, but talented Asad Shafiq at the crease with nerves jangling and enters a guy oozing class, a guy who is big game player. A man for such occasions.

Enter Shoaib Malik, a man averaging over 50 (4 hundreds) against India in ODI Cricket. A guy who has been there and worn that Tee-Shirt, so to speak. A guy that has the charisma to stride out, punch the gloves of Shafiq and let him know there is no pressure as his here. A man that even when Asad Shafiq gets out that can dictate the game. A man that Misbah can play around and take the team over the line.

Now nothing is for certain but can you imagine how the chances of Pakistan of winning that game would have increased had Malik been available? A guy dropped because he wasn't cleared by the PCB's integrity committee for his overseas assets.

Now fast forward to today and Malik has been cleared. My question is why has it taken the best part of a year? Why have Malik and his family had to go through this for so long looking like some dodgy fraudulent people? Why has the Pakistan public been made to suffer in his loss? And last but not least if its hard for us fans to look at something like Mohali and think of what could have been, then how must a Malik think whilst watching when he knows he should be out there in the middle?

I remember 2009 and the T20 final at Lords, I was in a stand watching and always knew with him there we will win. His return makes me feel happy but still can't let go of what could have been.