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Notebook McGrath to join Worcestershire
Posted: Sunday June 20, 1999 09:46 AM
WORCESTER, England (AP) -- Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath is set to replace countryman Tom Moody as Worcestershire's overseas player next season. McGrath, playing for his country in Sunday's World Cup final at Lord's, has been offered a two-year contract to play in the seasons 2000 and 2002 either side of Australia's tour of England in 2001. Worcestershire cricket committee chairman Martin Horton confirmed that the county had agreed terms with the 29-year-old paceman who was wanted by three other counties. Worcestershire is reported to be paying McGrath 100,000 pounds (US$60,000) for each of his two seasons. McGrath indicated before the start of the season that he wanted to play county cricket in England and Worcestershire is hopeful the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) will not block the move. "Glenn hasn't actually signed yet for Worcestershire but it is pretty certain that he will," Horton said. "Everything is sorted. His agent has gone back to the ACB to formally request permission for Glenn to play for us and we are waiting confirmation. "They might not particularly want a fast bowler to play county cricket but I understand they had previously stated they would not stand in Glenn's way." Moody has decided to end his 10-year spell in England which began with Warwickshire in 1990 before he moved on to neighbor Worcestershire.
Pakistan's famous fanLONDON (AP) -- As one TV commentator put it, if cricket is a religion then Abul Jalil is its first fundamentalist preacher.The 50-year-old unemployed man from Pakistan has not missed a home match since 1984 and over the past five years has traveled to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Sharjah and now England to cheer for Pakistan. During that time, the Guardian newspaper reported, he did it without spending a single penny on flights, accommodation or match tickets. Jalil has normally been looked after by Pakistanis in other countries, including in England. Millions of television viewers of this World Cup have come to know Jalil's moustacheless, silver-bearded face as cameras have zoomed in on him countless times at Pakistan matches, showing him dancing ecstatically with arms raised toward the heavens. He has always appeared at matches wearing a green robe and scarf, the national color of Pakistan, always managing to get tickets even though Pakistan games were sold out before the tournament. To the Pakistani fans and players, Jalil is known as "chacha" or uncle in Punjabi and Urdu, and fans queue in hundreds to take photographs or take his autograph at matches, the Guardian said. "The fans and the players are like my children," he was quoted as saying. "I love to follow the team and make them happy. That's my job now," he said. Jalil, who is married with six children, took the role of Pakistan's chief cheerleader after he lost his job in an engineering factory 15 years ago. "I can't keep away from a match," he said.
Final bettingLONDON (AP) -- The bookmakers are found it tough to split Australia and Pakistan and come up with a clear favorite for Sunday's final at Lord's. On Saturday, Ladbrokes offered odds of 10-11 for both teams, while rival William Hills offered odds of 8-11 on Australia to win and even money for Pakistan. A third company, Coral, listed both teams at joint 5-6 favorites.
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