Pages

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Pakistan could tour Bangladesh in December

Pakistan could tour Bangladesh in December this year as the boards of the two countries discuss the possibility of scheduling a full series when both teams are available. "The two boards have worked closely together to schedule a visit by Pakistan in December which is when both teams will be free from other commitments," Rabeed Imam, the Bangladesh Cricket Board media manager, told the Express Tribune.

"Bangladesh is set to host West Indies from October to November this year but have an extensive window to host Pakistan after that until March next year when we are supposed to host the Asia Cup.

"With December being the only month when Pakistan could play us, a series may be finalised for that time but the schedule is yet to be finalised. The tour may comprise two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 but that's all to be confirmed."

Bangladesh last toured Pakistan in 2008 but since then the two sides have played against each other only twice across all three formats, once each in the World Twenty20 2010 and in the Asia Cup 2010.

Pakistan were scheduled to visit Bangladesh last year but the series was postponed amid reports of differences between the two boards. "The proposed tour by Pakistan at the end of the year is part of the Future Tours Programme one originally scheduled for last August and later moved to 2011-12," Imam said.

"The BCB and the PCB have always been in a cordial and healthy relationship. You may recall that Bangladesh toured Pakistan in 2008 when other teams weren't touring and we returned for the Asia Cup later that year as well."

Gulf Oil ropes in Dhoni

India cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be the new face of Gulf Oil, a Hinduja Group Company, which manufactures lube brands.

The company signed Dhoni, who has just won the ‘Spirit of Cricket award' of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as its brand ambassador. MSD is set to represent the Gulf brand in India as well as in some of the global markets, a release from the company said. Already the two are linked with Gulf Oil being an official team partner of the MSD-led Chennai Super Kings. On the association of Gulf with MSD, Ravi Chawla, President – Lubricants, GOCL said, “We are excited to have him as the face of the brand, as he is a youth icon-confident, result oriented and in tune with times”

GOCL produces a wide range of lubricants for the automotive sector and is present in 80 countries.