KUALA LUMPUR, 20 June 2004 — Defending champions United Arab Emirates coasted to a 61-run victory over hosts Malaysia yesterday in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy at the Royal Selangor Club Oval in Kuala Lumpur.
UAE won the toss and opted to bat, scoring a target of 267 runs for the hosts to chase thanks to S. Maqsood, who top scored with 83 runs.
A.A. Khan (54) and Karim Khan (39) were equally devastating with the bat as the Malaysian fielders had a tough time trying to contain the UAE batsmen.
Maqsood, who faced 97 balls, hit three boundaries and four sixes before eventually falling to a catch by M. Muniandy.
The Malaysian bowling attack was led its skipper Suresh Navaratnam and was loose in their deliveries with a total of 23 extras. Suresh was the best Malaysian bowler with figures 4-46 but the damage had been done. Malaysia started off brightly but their three top batsmen Rohan Selvaratnam (40), Rakesh Mahdevan (68) and Sarath Jayawardhene (51) were all victims of run outs.
In the end, Malaysia could only score 206 runs, falling short of the UAE total by 61 runs.
UAE will now take on Kuwait in the semifinals today at the same venue. Kuwait defeated a spirited Afghanistan side by 49 runs in their quarterfinal match.
Oman had the easiest of the quarterfinal matches as they defeated Bhutan by 10 wickets. Bhutan, who batted first, could only manage a paltry 70 runs and Oman surpassed the total in only 4.4 overs with A. Illayas hitting 50.
In the semis Oman will meet Qatar, who dashed the hopes of Nepal with a four-wicket victory.
Fiery Pacer Akhtar Sues Accusers Over Defamation
In Lahore, Pakistan’s fiery pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar has sued two citizens for $1.7 million each for allegedly defaming him, his lawyer said yesterday.
Akhtar, considered the fastest bowler in the world, moved the petitions through his lawyer against Syed Muzammal Hussain and Najmaul Abass Shah at a local court.
“We have filed two defamation cases against these publicity mongers for defamation and mental agony caused by their allegations,” Akhtar’s lawyer Taffazul Rizvi told AFP.
The move came after civil courts in Lahore dismissed the petitions filed against Akhtar by both Hussain and Shah.
Hussain last year filed a case against Akhtar for remarks the bowler made in a British newspaper that he claimed hurt Pakistan’s image.
Akhtar was quoted by the newspaper as saying that he would have claimed more wickets if he had been playing for Australia.
Shah filed a case against Akhtar claiming he hurt religious sentiments by attending a fashion show last year.
“The court has asked the two respondents to appear on July 5,” Rizvi said.
Akhtar, who was involved in a fitness row with Pakistan Cricket Board last month, was Friday named among 26 probables for next month’s Asia Cup.
He is currently playing for Durham county in England and is expected to return home next week.
Dravid Keen to Step Down as India’s One-Day Stumper
In Bangalore, Indian batsman Rahul Dravid is hopeful teenage Test wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel will relieve him soon as the side’s one-day gloveman.
Dravid is among the top Test batsmen in the world, but won a regular one-day spot only after agreeing to keep wicket two seasons ago. The move helped India play an extra batsman.
However, the 31-year-old has often spoken of the strain of keeping wicket.
“Wicketkeeping is not something that comes naturally to me. I look upon it as a challenge and I try and do my best,” Dravid told reporters yesterday.
“I hope Parthiv will be given the opportunity to become a full-fledged wicketkeeper batsman (in one-dayers) that probably India needs in the future.”
He said he hoped Patel’s improving test batting on the last two tours of Australia and Pakistan would earn him a regular one-day spot soon.
