Imran Farhat’s 107 for Pakistan A against India has earned him an expected return to Pakistan’s squad for the first Test against India. In a 15-man squad relatively free of surprises, Pakistan have included four fast bowlers as well as Abdul Razzaq who has only recently recovered from typhoid. Razzaq missed the Tests against England with an elbow injury and was considered doubtful for the first Test after he was admitted to hospital.Iqbal Qasim, a member of the selection committee, told Cricinfo that the squad was a straightforward one to pick. “It wasn’t too much of a problem. I would say most of the squad picked itself and only a few little areas needed some consideration. You don’t want to disrupt a winning combination too much.”Farhat’s recall is notable; he was dropped in December 2004 after the Melbourne Test against Australia. At that time, he had played in 11 consecutive Tests as the first-choice opener for Pakistan, an extended run that few openers have been granted in the recent past. “But I was never disappointed during the last year because such up and downs come in your career,” said Farhat of his exclusion to AFP. He spent most of the year performing solidly on the domestic circuit, where in eight matches this season, he averages over 60. His performance ensured that rumours of an alleged bust-up between Farhat’s father-in-law, Mohammad Ilyas, and Bob Woolmer over Farhat’s continued exclusion from the Pakistan side last year were overlooked. A timely century against India in the warm-up game sealed his return.”Imran has performed very well domestically since he got dropped and he was rewarded for that by being picked for the Pakistan A side. By scoring a century he has taken his opportunity very well and he deserves a place in the squad,” added Qasim. Although his inclusion means Pakistan now has two specialist openers in the squad – Salman Butt is the other – the mood within the camp suggests he is unlikely to find a place in the starting line-up. As Pakistan continue their search for a settled opening pair, it seems likely the Shoaib Malik experiment as opener will continue for the time being. Woolmer is thought to be keen on giving Malik another opportunity while, according to Wasim Bari, the chief selector, Inzamam prefers Malik for the balance he provides with his offspin.Many thought Umar Gul, who played such a vital role in Pakistan’s win against India in Lahore in 2004, would find a place in the squad but Mohammad Asif edged him out. Qasim admitted picking between the two was a tough decision. “They have both done well recently. Ultimately we had only one place available and we just felt, given how he did against England on his ODI debut, and how he has improved over the last year and performed domestically, that he deserved a chance ahead of Umar. But it was a very tough choice.”Asim Kamal also finds himself out of Pakistan’s squad for the first time since his debut against South Africa in October 2003. With eight fifties in 12 Tests, he could consider himself unlucky but he has been woefully out of form in the last few months, as Qasim acknowledged. “We are monitoring him but he’s unlucky because he has been out of form for a while now. Even before the England series, he seemed out of touch, domestically and in warm-up games. He remains in contention, however, as he has proved himself capable of handling international cricket.”Yasir Hameed and Riffatullah Mohmand have also been released from the squad although the former, stricken with typhoid, will curse his luck. After missing out on the Test series against England, Hameed was recalled for the last ODI of the series in Rawalpindi, where he responded with a controlled half-century. He is likely to be out for at least a week now.Pakistan
Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan (vice-capt), Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Yousuf , Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Asif.

Matabeleland’s ten-wicket drubbing of Mashonaland at Harare Sports Club on Monday was – on paper – a superb result. The reality is that the victory was a hollow one.Mashonaland, traditionally one of Zimbabwe’s strongest sides, were a hastily-assembled group of willing, but limited and woefully inexperienced , youngsters. The reason for that is simple. Bruce Makovah, the province’s head selector, refused to name players from the six big clubs which last year defied a provincial directive not to play any league matches.The origins of the row are complex, but stem from dissatisfaction within the clubs with the stand taken by board members. It culminated in Makovah trying to physically break-up a match between two of the “rebel” clubs last October, when allegations were made that he and others racially abused and threatened players. Zimbabwe Cricket still does not appear to have looked into the incident.Back to Monday’s match. Not a single Mashonaland player who took the field in Harare had played List A or first-class cricket. Finding any information has proved a tough ask. Even seasoned cricket-watchers in Zimbabwe know almost nothing about them. One observer noted that overlooked in all the row is that by fielding the side they did, Mashonaland made a virtual mockery of provincial cricket.This might seem to be yet another little local difficulty in a country with bigger issues, but it will impact on the national side. In the same fixture last season, Mashonaland fielded no fewer than eight internationals, including Tatenda Taibu, at the time Zimbabwe’s captain.Given that Zimbabwe will only be playing one-day cricket for the next year, the Fairweather provincial tournament is the only chance the selectors have to watch players in that format before they pick the squad to tour West Indies (assuming that even takes place). Even with the best available squad, Zimbabwe will struggle. But Makovah’s action has potentially left an already sparsely populated cupboard even more threadbare.The irony is that Makovah is also the newly-appointed head of national selection, so he knows what he is doing. That dual role also makes it highly unlikely that, unless sat on from above, he will relent and pick players he has blacklisted from his province for the national side.In normal circumstances, the head of selection might expect to be called to account by his board. But in Zimbabwe, who you know is more important than what you do. Makovah is an ally of Peter Chingoka, the ZC chairman, and Ozias Bvute, the MD, so few expect this latest farce to even be commented on. It was telling that the Herald, Zimbabwe’s state-controlled newspaper, did not mention the match.

“Circumstantial evidence shows that Bengal is not getting proper treatment. If they (the selectors) have dropped him now, then why did they include him in the Indian squad for Pakistan? Where is the logic?”
“Please spare me. I am terribly upset and am not in a position to comment. All I can say it was totally unexpected.”
“The selectors are claiming that they want to look forward. Then why why have they taken Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman? I don’t understand whether they are looking forward or backward. His experience to the Indian middle order. They are maintaining double standards towards Sourav Ganguly.”
“It’s a shocking news. It seems a conspiracy, especially when Yuvraj Singh is not in the team”
“I was sure that he (Ganguly) will be in the squad. How can they ignore his experience?”
“Ganguly’s return may seem possible but is highly improbable.”
“I think it was coming and the decision has made it clear that the selectors have already made their mind to keep Sourav out. If they are talking about the future by infusing young blood, then why single out only Sourav? Since Yuvraj was ruled out, Sourav should have made the squad and I cannot blame the selectors alone for the decision, I think it’s also the management’s move to shut the door on the former skipper. It seems Sourav’s fate is quite clear.”
“This is a good forward-looking move. And if Saurav is not picked now, definitely there is a still slimmer chance for him in the future.”

The reward of a thoroughly deserved, maiden Test hundred for Runako Morton had to be put on hold yesterday as the third day of the third and final Test was delayed by the damp, wintry weather that had already trimmed 101.5 overs off the match.Heavy overnight rain left pools of water across an already sodden outfield and, although it abated in the morning, it remained overcast and play was unlikely until after lunch. Morton, the least experienced but by some way the most consistent West Indies batsman on a tour of inconsistent batting, was eager to resume another flawless, disciplined innings of 70 from 133 balls, with eight, mostly driven, fours, the total 256 for 4 and the new ball due after 11 balls.He was likely to have a lengthy wait. The outer bands of a hurricane-known in these parts as a cyclone-to the north of New Zealand have brought the rain, the gloom and the frigid temperatures that have spoiled the Test. The more play lost increases the likelihood of the draw that would save West Indies the worry of yet another series whitewash but to achieve it with the help of the weather would bring no satisfaction.Morton has been the revelation of a tour for which he was the last man chosen. He has observed the simple dictum of batting within his limitations, defending stoutly with a straight bat against worthy deliveries, driving strongly-and often hard into the pitch-when the length is right. His performances in the one-day internationals, where he disregarded the trauma of a first ball dismissal in the opening match to be West Indies’ high scorer, and his solid 63 in the first innings of the second Test established a strength of character that was again in evidence on the second day here.These were alien conditions for a cricketer raised in the heat and sunshine of the Caribbean with negligible overseas experience. But the 27-year-old Nevisian is driven by the realisation that he is not one of the favoured few-and by the desire to make up the wasted years of a troubled past. His history includes the infamous yarn about his grandmother’s fictitious death so he could return home early from a tour of Sri Lanka and several run-ins with the authorities, both cricket and civil. Now settled by marriage and his religion, he has put such a background behind him and concentrated on what he does best.His omission from the first Test eleven, in spite of his ODI form, was proof that not everyone is yet convinced of his credentials and that the retention of his place depends solely on the weight of runs. The injury that eliminated Ramnaresh Sarwan from the equation was an unexpected opportunity and Morton has seized it.He entered 20 minutes into the dismal second morning at 111 for 2 after Shane Bond combined the disguise of a slower ball and the accuracy of a yorker to bowl Daren Ganga for a competent but, yet again, unfulfilled 38. For the next hour, Morton was mainly a spectator at the opposite end as Brian Lara battled to come to terms with the lack of form and preparation that resulted in his implausible sequence of failures in the first two Tests. To mount his rehabilitation, Lara reverted to the No.3 position for the first time since he accumulated his record 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004. The 28 he put together on the opening day was by no means genuine Lara but it was at least an entrée of better things to come.On resumption, he mixed a few aerial drives and cuts with a some trademark boundaries, a flowing off-drive, a rasping cut over slips, a delicate steer to third man, a vicious pull to mid-wicket. He and Bond were engaged in a stirring duel, during which he fell flat on his back swaying out of the path of a searing bouncer, but he came through that unscathed. The champion left-hander was just beginning to reveal the class and dominance of one who has scored more runs than anyone else in Test cricket when, to the palpable disappointment of the 1,000 or so spectators braving to weather in anticipation of a command performance, he was out.

Attempting to pull the gentle, teasing medium-paced swing of Nathan Astle, Lara only managed to get it on the bottom edge of the bat from where it deflected into pad and stumps. It was Astle’s 50th Test wicket, in his 76th Test, and the second time he had claimed the West Indies premier batsman in the series. Lara’s additional 55 were gathered from the same number of balls with nine fours to add to his three of the first day. His dismissal, as always, left the innings at the crossroads at 171 for 3 and was soon followed by the bizarre run out of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.Morton, then 26, on-drove Chris Martin to the right of the left-handed Daniel Vettori at mid-on and twice shouted for the available single. As he charged down to the bowler’s end, his captain briefly responded but then headed back for the safety of his ground. The two made the non-striker’s crease simultaneously while Vettori casually lobbed the ball to the keeper to complete the run out. Standing umpire Mark Benson indicated that Morton should go but, as he headed for the team room, in understandably furious mood, proceedings were halted as third umpire Gary Baxter reviewed TV replays as to who had actually touched down first. It took ages to determine and was close enough for it to be called a dead-heat. But this was cricket, not horse racing, and Baxter ruled against the beleaguered captain, reducing the West Indies to 189 for 4.It was now that Morton’s temperament was confirmed. To be involved in a run out is disturbing at the best of times but doubly so when your partner is the captain and the match at a delicate stage. If anything, it seemed to stiffen Morton’s resolve. He continued untroubled, relieved at the sight of Chanderpaul, along with his other colleagues in the players’ area, rising to applaud his 50, reached with one of his eight boundaries. With an equally determined Dwayne Bravo, the partnership set things right again over the next hour and a half. It was worth 67 when the weather finally closed in and halted play just past the half-way point of the day.

Scorecard

With England’s batting stocks in a healthy state, those players trying to force their way in through county cricket will have to wait patiently for their turn. The A team named to face Sri Lanka next week gives a fair indication of the pecking order and, on the first day at Lord’s, Ed Joyce offered reminder of why he is in that list, if not quite at the top.He is not in the immediate frame for a call-up after the winter successes of Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook and Owais Shah, but he enjoyed a reasonably impressive A tour of West Indies – with three half-centuries in the one-day series – and all he can do now is churn out a mountain of runs for Middlesex. This was a decent start and he was easily the most assured batsman on show after beginning confidently with punchy shots through the legside. He motored along a decent rate, in conditions that had tempted Robert Key, Kent’s captain, to bowl first but were initially wasted by the bowlers.Joyce is not quite in the flamboyant mould of most of England’s current order, but he knows his game and last season produced the goods as he racked up 1668 runs at 61 in the County Championship. He began this season with a minor blip, failing twice for MCC against Nottinghamshire, but the first serious bat of a summer can often be a hit and miss affair.Here, though, he was back to his compact best and didn’t offer a chance, progressing to a composed century off 148 balls, the 15th first-class ton of his career. He doesn’t make great use of the straight boundaries, preferring to work the ball square, but is content to wait for the right ball to hit. It can be easy to label a left-hander who doesn’t bludgeon the ball like Brian Lara, Matthew Hayden or Marcus Trescothick as a nudger and nurdler. While there is certainly this aspect to Joyce’s game he also possess the power to thread the infield – or go over it – as his late six into the Grandstand showed.What Joyce must now do is show that he is better than what is currently in the England side. Geoff Miller, the England selector, watched part of the day from the press box and hinted that it will take a lot of runs for the management to try new batsmen given the choices that are currently on offer.But as showed by the likes of Cook and Shah, who will line-up alongside Joyce for England A next week, a chance can come along out of the blue and then it is about grasping the moment. Middlesex were certainly grateful he took his chance today after they frittered away their tea position of 220 for 4. Kent’s bowling improved through the day, following a wasteful start with the new ball. Ed Smith, against his former team-mates, was squared-up and edged to second slip, while Shah didn’t settle during his brief stay in the middle. He was fortunate to escape a bottom-edged pull before edging to second slip straight after lunch.Joyce’s fluency was in sharp contrast to the obduracy of Ben Hutton, who took 148 balls over his 47 before top-edging a pull to long leg and wasting his hard graft. The attack continued to chip away and Justin Kemp was rewarded for a preserving display when he removed Nick Compton and Ben Scott, while Robbie Joseph deserved his Championship-best four-wicket haul. Martin van Jaarsveld had a good day at second slip, holding three catches of which the third, to remove Craig Wright, was a sharp effort in front of first slip.Middlesex’s late demise only went to highlight the importance of Joyce’s effort. He was a class apart today and more innings like this will make his case very hard to ignore – regardless of the other batsmen in the frame.

Corey Collymore, the West Indies fast bowler, has joined his captain Brian Lara and others in calling for faster pitches in the Caribbean. Collymore lamented the docile nature of the surface at Warner Park Stadium where the third Test was played and likened it to that of the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia, the venue of the second Test.He pointed out that there must be more encouragement for young fast bowlers such as the Barbadian pair of Fidel Edwards and Tino Best and Jamaican Jermaine Lawson, all of whom bowl in excess of 90 miles an hour. “It is not an easy surface to bowl on,” the 28-year-old Collymore said. “There is not much difference to this wicket than the last wicket we played on (in St Lucia). I think it is something that we need to look at around the Caribbean if you have young fast bowlers.”You have Fidel who has just been injured, you have Tino, Jermaine Lawson and these guys, and if you need fast bowlers in the West Indies team, you need proper wickets to bowl on.”Edwards sustained a hamstring injury in the first Test and is unlikely to play for the rest of the series, while Best and Lawson are yet to make an appearance despite a strong call from Lara after the second Test for at least one of them to be included.This was Collymore’s first Test series after he was sidelined because of knee surgery during the 2005 tour to Australia, where he bowled impressively. “It has been going okay. I think my pace is still a bit down and it’s something I need to work on and get myself strong again, but so far I have been enjoying my cricket and enjoying myself.”There were fairly decent crowds on the first, third and fourth days but the turnout was quite disappointing compared to the virtual sell-out on May 23 when the first ever one-day international was played here, also featuring India.”Quite honestly, probably the crowd could be a bit disappointing but for me personally, it is not a matter,” Collymore said. “Crowd support is good obviously but for me personally, the crowd is not a problem. I am here to play cricket and cricket plays in the middle and not in the stands.”

ScorecardEngland were denied the chance to build on the psychological advantage of their 100-run at Lord’s when rain washed out the second one-day international against India, at Shenley, after just 16 overs.It was India, in fact, who were better placed when the rain arrived after restricting England’s early scoring. Charlotte Edwards followed her duck at Lord’s with just four this time around before edging Jhulan Goswami. Caroline Atkins, batting at No. 3 in place of Claire Taylor was soon trapped lbw. aylor missed this match after suffered a sore arm, the result of her unbeaten 156 at Lord’s. Therefore, India were sensing their opportunity.However, a series of heavy showers sent the players heading to the pavilion and although the sun appeared during the afternoon, the outfield had become too wet for any further play.

“Not again. Not now…my hope is that common sense will prevail all around.” That was the comment yesterday by Grenada’s Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, in responding to reports of the latest dispute to surface between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and West Indies Players Association (WIPA).The sensitive issues involved include the WICB’s surprising exclusion of all-rounder Dwayne Bravo from a retainer contract as offered to seven others, and a planned meeting by the board with skipper Brian Lara to discuss recent controversial comments at the conclusion of the fourth Test in the series against India, including being handicapped as captain by the selectors.Mitchell confirmed to the Sunday Express that he had received a telephone call from WIPA’s president and chief exective officer Dinanath Ramnarine about implications for the future involvement of Lara and Bravo in the West Indies team.”But I am awaiting a promised letter from WIPA,” he explained, in order to also obtain the views of the board before considering what relevant approaches should be pursued with his CARICOM colleagues. “What is at stake is the future of West Indies cricket, at a time when we are collectively spending millions and millions of dollars in preparation for next year’s Cricket World Cup. This is not a time for us to be faced with another crisis in relations between the board and the association and I hope common sense prevails on all sides,” added Mitchell.In a statement issued on July 15, when the board disclosed the exclusion of Bravo from retainer contracts offered to seven other players, the board signalled that it may have to resort to “appropriate action”, even as Lara has himself hinted of reviewing his availability for captaincy of the West Indies team.The board said it had considered “at length recent statements and actions” of Lara during and after the conclusion of the final Test match against India at Sabina Park, Jamaica, and a committee, headed by WICB president Ken Gordon, was established to investigate “all matters” pertaining to his statements. The committee, which hopes to meet with Lara by this week, “will take such actions as considered appropriate” after hearing from him.Along with Gordon, three other committee members named are former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, ex-CEO of the board Gregory Shillingford and Sir Alister McIntyre, former vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies.In a circulated e-mail note, Shillingford has already warned that it appears from “various responses, through e-mails from the ICC and FICA and communication from WIPA and others, we are heading down the same disastrous path that we travelled down previously…”Responding last Wednesday to the WICB’s expressed concern over statements by Lara, as well as the exclusion of Bravo from a retainer contract that could be in conflict with an agreement with official sponsors Digicel, the Players Association accused the board of disregarding rulings by both FICA and the ICC pertaining to “respective commercial and promotional rights”.Claiming lack of “information promised to us by the board” by last week, WIPA have warned of their readiness to “take such steps as necessary to protect the rights and interests of their members”.

The three teams taking part in the DLF Cup will be hoping that historydoesn’t repeat itself. The last time they played each other in athree-cornered contest, way back in 1991-92, Australia went on to beatIndia in the World Series final. Yet, none of the teams went on to makemuch of an impression at the World Cup that followed, shunted out of thesemi-final places by the likes of New Zealand and the new boys, SouthAfrica.Some sections of the Australian media are already querying the value ofthis tournament. The spectre of injuries, with the Ashes just two monthsaway, and skepticism over the BCCI’s plans to promote the game innon-traditional centres had much to do with that. India and West Indieswill, however, see it as a tremendous opportunity to test themselvesagainst the very best. And with the exception of the rested AdamGilchrist, Australia have arrived here with as strong a team as they couldhope to field.Rustiness could well play a part. India and West Indies last played inearly July, and their one-day series – won 4-1 by the rejuvenatedCaribbean outfit – was as far back as late May, while Australia last gottheir flannels dirty on their tour of Bangladesh in April.Shortly before that, they had suffered the humiliation of being unable todefend 434 against South Africa, an eventuality that would have beenalmost unthinkable had a certain GD McGrath been in the line-up. Australiaremain a formidable side without him, but even at the ripe old age of 36,he’s the X-factor that can never be discounted. McGrath’s presence willalso give Brett Lee even greater freedom to let rip, and it will also beinteresting to see how the lanky Stuart Clark – impressive in his role asMcGrath’s replacement – goes against the shot-happy Indians, both East andWest.The batting is intimidating on paper, with the likes of Ricky Ponting andAndrew Symonds capable of turning a match in the space of a few overs. Andfor Michael Clarke, who launched his Test career so memorably againstIndia two years ago, it’s another chance to rediscover the sort of formthat made him one of the game’s most exciting young talents.India also have a couple of young ‘uns on the road to redemption. Aftersome stellar displays with both bat and ball last season, the wheels cameoff for Irfan Pathan in the West Indies. So too Suresh Raina, who caughtthe eye with some superb knocks before it all went awry in the Caribbean.India will be hamstrung in the initial exchanges by the illness that hasruled Yuvraj Singh out of at least one game. Yuvraj was in resplendentform last season, going from mercurial talent to genuinely consistentmatchwinner with some sublime efforts in pressure situations.His absence will be offset by the return of Sachin Tendulkar, the mostsuccessful batsman in the history of the white-ball game. If he andVirender Sehwag can revive the chemistry at the top of the order, evenAustralia’s famed bowling line-up could be in for a struggle. Tendulkarmay also play his part with the ball, as India explore their options aheadof the Champions Trophy on home soil. If Brett Lee’s assessment that theball will swing is correct, then India are likely to have Munaf Patel or SSreesanth sharing the new ball with Pathan, leaving the newly consistentAjit Agarkar to operate as first change.With so many part-time slow bowling options, Ramesh Powar may struggle toget a game in tandem with Harbhajan Singh, except in the unlikely event ofLes Burdett, the Adelaide curator, preparing a square turner.For a team that has always prided itself on its array of fast-bowlingtalent, West Indies also have one of the one-day game’s better slowbowlers in Chris Gayle, whose height and accuracy makes him so hard to getaway. Gayle though will be a second line of attack, with Fidel Edwards andJerome Taylor expected to provide shock value with the new ball. IanBradshaw and Corey Collymore form a steady support cast.With the last hurrah not far away, Brian Lara will also be keen to imposehimself with the bat. Gayle’s destructive capabilities in that regard areperfectly complemented by the maturity with which Ramnaresh Sarwan andShivnarine Chanderpaul bat these days. Their game-breaker, though, couldbe the ebullient Dwayne Bravo, whose allround skills and composure insweaty-palm moments had much to do with the pasting that India got in theCaribbean.If the rankings are any guide, it should be a tussle between Australia andIndia, with West Indies providing the nuisance value. Yet, as Bravo andhis mates showed not so long ago, rankings don’t count for much when youtap into the inspiration that can elevate your skills to a higher plane.And what better way to ambush Australia than to catch them cold, comingstraight out of a hibernation that would put a hedgehog to shame.

Mohammad Azharuddin’s life ban could be on the verge of being overturned despite widespread concern at the message this would send out.Azharuddin was banned from the game for life by the Indian board (BCCI) in 2000 after a federal inquiry found him guilty of match-fixing. He denied the charges and is awaiting judgement on a suit filed by him in a court in his home city of Hyderabad challenging the ban.It is believed that the new BCCI leadership is convinced Azharuddin has served enough punishment and deserves to be pardoned. An indication of his possible return to favour came when it was revealed he had been invited to a function in Mumbai on November 4 to honour him and other Indian captains for their services to the game.The ICC, which has adopted a strict zero-tolerance policy towards anyone found guilty of match-fixing, is far from happy with the news and is thought be be considering boycotting the event if Azharuddin attends.In a statement unlikely to make him many friends in Dubai, Ratnakar Shetty, the board’s chief administrative officer, said that Azharuddin “had undergone enough punishment and he should be allowed to lead his life like cricketers who had faced similar charge in other countries but are going about as if they had done no wrong.”He then said that there was a feeling among the current board that while the punishment handed out might have been correct, it “was a knee-jerk reaction”. He continued: “In retrospect, they feel the board had been too harsh on its players considering the way the other boards went about protecting the guilty.”The Indian board are understood to be riled that other players who were implicated in the scandal continue to play, but Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, warned that “we need to be careful when we compare cases with cases … it was alleged and proved that Azharuddin was actively involved in match-fixing.”But that cut no ice with Shetty. “Azhar should not be compared with those who got away with murder, people who continued to play after serving a token punishment. One is being persecuted and condemned for life while others strut about as paragons of virtues.”The ICC are taking this seriously. Yesterday, it issued a statement detailing the process for a banned player to be reinstated. But at 43, Azharuddin is not likely to make a comeback and so his rehabilitation into the cricket world does not actually need any official approval.