New iPhone Application

Nowadays I am thinking about a new iPhone application, which might use some iPhone SDK 3.0 features and cocos2d architecture. Thinking, thinking, thinking……………………………………… I would appreciate if anyone might give some input or share their idea, and I might make an application around it. thanx in advance

AZOSH goes online in gaming

Our clan AZOSH started playing online Counter Strike on 24th January 2009. Well, it is late but still fortunate enough for us to enhance our skills by playing with world class players online. Before joining the online servers, we brothers used to play against BOTS turn by turn. Well, actually we still go online turn by turn due to lack of resources….. but it is still a great experience.

azosh | dangerking has made an impact online and is considered to be the most entertaining player in our team; and he will continue to increase his skills.

Happy Gaming

Australia complete World Cup treble && End of an awful tournament

Australia put the seal on the most dominant campaign in World Cup history, securing their fourth title and their third in a row since 1999 thanks to Adam Gilchrist’s scintillating 149 from 104 balls. But that, sadly, is not what the final of the ICC World Cup West Indies 2007 (to give it its full and fully deserved title) will be remembered for.

It was entirely appropriate that a sorry tournament should have a sorry end, though it must be said that the embarrassment in the final moments far exceeded anything that preceded it. That the magnificent Australians were reduced to pleading for some positive coverage for themselves was a reflection of the pathetic depths this tournament had slumped to. But even they knew it was futile: even their towering, majestic and wholesome performance could not rise above the shambles.

In a sense they contributed, though in an entirely different and positive way, to the hollowness of this World Cup. But it was hardly their fault they reached such heights that no team came within touching distance. They dominated the tournament like no team has ever done in the history of cricket, and had it not been for the disgraceful finish, they would even have been entitled to two victory celebrations. They were almost twice as good as their opponents.

South Africa, their closest competitors in the one-day arena, kept apace with them for about 20 overs in their first-round match, and for a few overs today, Kumar Sangakkara, and to a lesser extent, Sanath Jayasuriya were able to match them with their skills. But over the whole length of the tournament, they were overwhelmingly awesome. It could have been hardly imaginable that they could better their performance of 2003, when they didn’t lose a game. But they have, and in doing so, they have set new limits for execution of cricket skills.

The organisers have done exactly the same. It was thought nothing could get worse than the World Cup in South Africa, which felt interminable, tiresome and stifling. The ICC has succeeded in dragging the level even lower. They have brought the World Cup to the most joyous and spontaneous part of the cricket world and squeezed every ounce of enjoyment out of it. Since they measure success in terms of cash, it has been bragged that the tournament has broken records in cash receipts, but in all other ways, it has been an abysmal failure.

Such has been the level of alienation among the passionate fans here that many locals have come to view the ICC’s organisation of the tournament as occupation of their land. Cricket lover after cricket lover has lamented the pricing and the fact that “they have taken the party, the culture out of our stands”.

It can be argued the tournament has been conducted in an efficient manner. The grounds have been spruced up, the players have been looked after well, and from a media point of view the facilities have been excellent. But they have failed to grasp the priorities. Perfection has been achieved in the most trivial things. Not a can of Coke has entered the stadiums, fans have been asked to turn their garments carrying offending logos inside out or face eviction, but they failed to feel the pulse of the cricket fan, a far more significant “stakeholder” in cricket than the sponsors.

Percy Sonn and Malcolm Speed, the top-level ICC officials, were booed at the presentation ceremony. The contrast couldn’t have been sharper because the same crowd gave a thumping ovation to Garry Sobers and Everton Weekes moments later. When hosts are booed at their own party, you know how much it has soured. Administrators who feel no kinship for sport will never find affection from its supporters. Entirely fittingly, it was Sonn who presented the trophy to the winner, for it was his prerogative as the president of the ICC. Sobers is merely the greatest cricketer that ever lived.

Of course, the players were not blameless. Many teams played soulless, spiritless cricket. And it didn’t help that India and Pakistan, two of the tournament’s biggest draws, combusted before the party began. Ironically, Bangladesh and Ireland, the teams that provided the most exciting days in the first round, also doomed the Super Eights to a series of meaningless matches.

But they could hardly be faulted when teams worthier than them featured in equal mismatches. England were an embarrassment before South Africa, who capitulated even more abysmally before Australia. West Indies lost horribly to South Africa and New Zealand even more horribly to Sri Lanka. Matches went from bad to worse at such pace that in the end no expectations remained. It was a tournament in which journalists spent more time focusing on the poor performances than celebrating stirring ones.

Good moments were scarce.

• There was Tamin Iqbal’s sensational charge against India,
• Boyd Rankin’s energetic bowling against Pakistan,
• Herschelle Gibbs’ six sixes,
• Muttiah Muralitharan’s magical spell against India,
• Lasith Malinga’s sensational four-in-four,
• AB de Villier’s turbo-charged hitting on one leg against West Indies,
• Mahela Jayawardene’s sublime hundred against New Zealand in the semi-final,
• and ultimately, Adam Gilchrist’s demolition of Sri Lanka in the final. Too few for a tournament lasting 46 days.

One thing that might emerge from this is a shorter event, but it may be for the wrong reasons. Sponsors and television channels can’t afford to lose India early. So expect the format to be tweaked to ensure India’s presence at the business end.

In the end, it will be a tournament that will be remembered for the bad, ugly and terrible. A horrible death, under-performances, resignations, sacks, and retirements kept us busy. The legacy of this vast and meaningless World Cup will be despair and emptiness. It couldn’t have ended sooner.

link: Awesome Australia but awful organising

Gambling and cricket

An interesting article published on BBC site, discussing what and how of match-fixing.

Gambling and cricket

Warni, McGrath and Langer retired

The retiring dads sat on the outfield with their children in a scene that would have been like a Sunday picnic if the SCG was not almost full. Gold glitter was blown from machines, the crystal Ashes trophy was handed over and Ricky Ponting lifted the prize. He had stayed away from the flashing cameras in the immediate aftermath of the victory as the thought of the three senior players departing made him cry.

“I shed a bit of the tear out on the ground,” Ponting said. “I tried to stay away from the cameramen and the photographers for about ten minutes. Even when we took the last wicket [it was emotional], thinking that would be the last time we’d be walking off with Glenn and Shane. I was hoping to get a chance to bat with Lang, so I was a bit dirty on Matty for not getting out.” It had been the best seven weeks of his life.

Still damp from the exploding champagne, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer grabbed a soft drink from the fridge before covering topics from the next generation to comebacks and spotlight withdrawal. Warne wore a casual cap in the middle while McGrath and Langer spoke under their baggy greens. McGrath’s was in good shape and ready for more wear. Langer’s had faded and ripped. He sniffed it and grimaced to convince everybody of how bad it smelt.

Link: Emotions show as champions depart

“It’ll be pretty hard to replace 15 or 16 seasons of your life on top of the world. How am I going to replace that? I’m a pretty competitive person, so playing poker will be up there with pool, snooker or golf. I will have the odd wager on the golf course, but nothing can replace the opportunity to play for Australia.” Shane Warne

“We’ve actually played some of the best cricket I’ve ever been involved in. I don’t think I’ve been involved in a side that’s played relentless and tough cricket like we’ve played this summer. That’s what led to the collapses with England, the mistakes. The constant pressure in both batting and bowling was just outstanding.”Warne

“There will be no comebacks. It’s time for the young guys to step forward now. Australia’s in a very healthy position so there won’t be any calls next year for us to come back.” Glenn McGrath

“Since Brisbane it’s been an amazing team performance. There’s been no standout player. When we’ve bowled there have been no easy runs and when we’ve batted they’ve had to work really hard for their wickets. In the first Test there was a bit leftover from the Ashes in 2005 and we just haven’t let up the whole time.” McGrath

“The first morning was a bit emotional for me. It was business as usual after that. There’s no denying when the national anthem was on and I saw my family up in the box and looked around for the last time before we went out to field, I knew that I was pretty upset. It probably affected the way I played the first day, I dropped three catches. That’s good. I’d be upset if I wasn’t a bit upset about it.” Justin Langer

The Numbers Game – 2006

An interesting survey of the year 2006, which tells that Bret Lee’s batting performance was better than Sachin Tendulkar………….

link: When Lee outbatted Tendulkar

Statistical highlights of 2006 in Cricket

What a wonderful year it was for Muhammad Yousaf. His total of 1788 in 19 innings broke Viv Richards’s 30-year old record for most runs in a calendar year. He also scored nine hundreds and took the record for most centuries in a year from Richards, who’d scored seven in 1976. Yousuf also scored centuries in five consecutive Tests in 2006 and is in second place with Jacques Kallis for most centuries in consecutive matches. Only Sir Don Bradman, who made hundreds in six consecutive Tests, is ahead of him – and Yousuf can break that record on the tour of South Africa. Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan broke the record for the highest partnership in a lost test when they added 363 for the third wicket at Headingley.

Besides Muhammad Yousaf, Irfan Pathan also began the year with a great success. Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the first over of a Test Match when he dismissed Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf off the last three balls of the first over at Karachi. The Lahore Test between India and Pakistan was also the first test match to have two triple-century partnerships. Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan put on 319 while Dravid and Sehwag put on 410. The 410-run partnership between Sehwag and Rahul Dravid at Lahore was the second-highest opening partnership in history, falling three runs short of the world record set by Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad against New Zealand at Madras in 1955-56.

Stephen Fleming begins his tenth year as captain of New Zealand in 2007; last year, he broke Arjuna Ranatunga’s record (193) for most ODI caps as captain when he led New Zealand out for the 194th time during the Champions Trophy. Fleming now has 195 caps and counting at the helm.

Shane Warne became the first bowler to take 700th test wicket.  And who can forget the Johannesburg chase, where Australia became the first team to score 400+ score in a 50 over one day match. They also achieved a name in scoring the most runs in a 50 over one day match, which did not last for 6 hours as South Africa chased the total and made the highest score in a 50 over one day match. Ricky Ponting’s 164 off 105 balls at the Wanderers is the highest score in a defeat in a 50-over match. Mick Lewis got smashed for 113 off ten overs at the Wanderers, the most expensive figures in one-day cricket. South Africa and Australia smashed a total of 26 sixes and 87 fours at Johannesburg and broke the record for most fours and sixes in a match.

But as both teams crossed Sri Lanka’s previous total of 398 by scoring 434 and 438 by Australia and South Africa respectively, Sri Lanka took back the record by hammering 453 in 50 over one day match against Holland. When talking about Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga broke the record for the highest opening stand in ODIs when they clobbered 286 in 31.5 overs against England at Leeds. Muralitharan took five ten-wicket hauls this year, breaking his own record set in 2001 when he took ten wickets in a match on four occasions. Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara broke the world record for the highest partnership for any wicket when they amassed 624 for the third wicket against South Africa at the SSC in Colombo. They surpassed the 576 put on by Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama for the second wicket against India at the Premadasa in 1997.

link: A year dominated by Yousuf, Murali and Australia

A day of remembrance

November 30th, 2006 will go in the record books as the day when Muhammad Yousaf broke a couple of records. For me there will be one more addition other than these, that will be my last day in Intagleo Systems (Pvt) Ltd.
Woww……. A year and 10 months…… 648 days to be precise……….from Feb 21st 2005 till Nov 30th 2006…………………….. a wonderful experience and great learning helped me to get a job in Techlogix Pvt Ltd.
Developers of both teams; CCTV and Agrando(RTV) arranged a farewell for me. A couple of old colleagues were called too. We had lunch in AFC, H-Block branch. It was great fun. Thanx to everyone a lot. I appreciate everyone for giving me such an importance.
The Experience:
The time I spent in Intagleo was unique in its own way. I learned new domain, technologies and tools. I came across many problems and the way my managers helped me out is unforgettable. I appreciate for what they have done for me and I give them high regards. The staff was very helpful and caring, they were always there whenever I needed any guidance. I really appreciate the times my network manager spent with me, the approaches he told me to follow in the development field…….are tooo goood. My managers always put me at ease in handling my responsibilities and I enjoyed my fellow developers experiences and made them enjoy my experiences toooo. They all treated my like their brother and shared every problem with me and I did the same with them. We tried to help each other in any problem which was bugging anyone of us. We participated in many games(indoor and outdoor) and I still smile on those events, lunchs, dinners and farewells which we gave to our fellow developers….I did not think that I will be getting a farewell so early in my life, but still I had a great time with everyone there and I wish them best of luck for the future.

Yousuf breaks 30-year-old record

A typically elegant, clipped on-drive for four off Corey Collymore took Mohammad Yousuf from 44 to 48 on the fourth day of the final Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Karachi. A modest raise of the bat acknowledged that the drive also took him past one of the longest-standing records in cricket, of most runs in a calendar year.
Sir Viv Richards’s had scored 1710 runs in 1976, a memorable run during which he scored two double-hundreds against England in England and the closest anyone had come to it since was Ricky Ponting in 2005, with 1544 runs. And just before he went past Richards tally, he had glided past Zaheer Abbas’s record for the most runs made by a Pakistani batsman in a three-Test series. Abbas had made 583 runs against the visiting Indians in 1978-79.

http://content-pak.cricinfo.com/pakvwi/content/current/story/270423.html

A series of unfortunate events for PCB

Thanks to the Australian umpire Darrel Hair, Pakistan cricket has been in the spotlight since August’s Oval Test against England when the captain, Inzamam-ul Haq, refused to take his team back on the field after it was accused of ball-tampering.
Inzamam was acquitted of tampering but was handed a four-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute, and according to Zaheer Abbas, who was Pakistan’s manager on the tour, he had “lost the confidence” of senior board officials.
Inzamam’s replacement, Younis Khan, last week refused to lead the side, saying he did not want to be a “dummy” captain. The refusal prompted Khan to resign, although he was reinstated by Ashraf on Saturday, hours before the team’s departure for India and the Champions Trophy.
The crisis gripping Pakistan cricket intensified on Monday with the resignation of the PCB’s director of operations, Abbas Zaidi.
Zaidi’s departure comes three days after the resignation of the former PCB chairman, Shaharyar Khan, and two days after Mushtaq Ahmed was sacked as assistant coach for the Champions Trophy. This is what an umpire can do……………… Not only he can turn the face of the match but he can also turn the fate of the team playing that match. Lets hope everyting turns out gooood………and Pakistan return home with the Champions Trophy. Good luck Pakistan Cricket Team