Testimonials: Top of the Charts

Pakistan News & Features Services

“A familiar sight. Sachin Tendulkar performing and India not winning. The Indian Little Master clinched the Player of the Tournament award but the World Cup trophy was collected by the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting. Both of them are profiled in ‘Top of the Charts’ alongwith 23 others who did well in the Cricket World Cup 2003. Nice book which should me in the collection of every cricket enthusiast.” 

Ravindra Kumar

Must-Read book: Top of the Charts

Pakistan News & Features Services

Top of the Charts is another book to be authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood and it also relates to the Cricket World Cup 2003 which was hosted in the continent of Africa for the first time and it creates waves on many fronts. 

Top of the Charts, brought out by Jumbo Publishing in 2005, profiles the top performers of the Cricket World Cup 2003. The hardbound 188-page book, having ISBN:969-8893-01-6, is available in Pakistan for Rs 500.

Bibliographical details: Top of the Charts

Pakistan News & Features Services

Author: Syed Khalid Mahmood

Title: Top of the Charts

Publisher: Jumbo Publishing

Place: Karachi, Pakistan

Year: 2005

Pages: 188

ISBN: 969-8893-01-6

Top of the Charts available at special World Book Day discount

Pakistan News & Features Services

Jumbo Publishing, as part of the World Book and Copyright Day 2014 celebrations, has offered its books at highly discounted prices and the offer will remain valid until May 23, 2014. The offer, however, is valid in Pakistan only.  

Top of the Charts, having the India’s Little Master Sachin Tendukar on its title, is now available at Rs 100 only while its cover price is Rs 500. 

Authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood, the book contains profile and photographs of the top 25 performers of the Cricket World Cup 2003 which was considered to be the greatest-ever sporting show to have been staged in the continent of Africa.

Jumbo Publishing’s World Cup Sixer

Pakistan News & Features Services

The 11th edition of the Cricket World Cup will be staged in Australia and New Zealand in February-March 2015 and the marketing campaigns for the showpiece event, less than a year away now, have started gaining momentum. 

Although quite a few other global cricket tournaments are being staged regularly, besides the regional and bilateral contest, the World Cup remains the ultimate title and the enthusiasts of the game, alongwith the administrators, offer it special treatment. 

Jumbo Publishing, acclaimed as the leaders in the field of sports publishing, have already brought out half a dozen books on Cricket World Cup. 

Spotlight on World Cup 2003, Top of the Charts, Mission Caribbean, Fiasco, Asian Glory and Mohali Mystery are Jumbo Publishing’s six Cricket World Cup books which have won the hearts of the bookworms. 

A few copies of all these six titles are still in stock and the cricket fans can get hold of them if they haven’t done it yet. The Jumbo World Cup books are considered essential for the bookshelf of every cricket enthusiast.

In focus: Top of The Charts

Pakistan News & Features Services

The students of the game of cricket have now once again become proactive in turning their attention to the World Cup as they eagerly await the 11th edition of the premier global event scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand in February-March 2015. 

Sachin Tendulkar, who had played first of his six World Cups when the tournament was staged previously in Australia and New Zealand in 1992, has now retired but his fan following has not diminished. Top of the Charts, having the Indian little master on its cover, is one book his fans cannot afford to miss, if they haven’t got hold of it yet. 

Authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood, the book contains profile and photographs of the top 25 performers of the Cricket World Cup 2003 in which Tendulkar was adjudged Player of the Tounament although the event was clinched by the then all-conquering Australians.

Jumbo Publishing’s books in greater demand as Cricket World Cup Fever grips

Pakistan News & Features Services

The countdown to the Cricket World Cup 2015, to be staged in Australia and New Zealand, has already begun with less than year to go when the top teams will assemble again to prove their mettle against each other. The World Cup will be returning Down Under after a gap of 23 years. 

The only other time when Australia and New Zealand had played host to the mega event earlier was way back in 1992. And the team which had emerged triumphant was Pakistan with Imran Khan having proudly lifted the coveted trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 25, 1992. 

This time another team from the subcontinent, India, will be going there as the defending champions and they will be challenged by 13 other teams during the 11th edition of the tournament to be staged between February 14 and March 29, 2015. 

As in the past the cricket fans all over the globe are getting more enthusiastic for the books connected to the World Cup and the ones having brought out by Jumbo Publishing are once more in greater demand. 

Spotlight on World Cup 2003, Top of the Charts, Mission Caribbean, Fiasco, Asian Glory and Mohali Mystery are Jumbo Publishing’s six Cricket World Cup books that feature prominently in the list of favourites.

Top of the Charts stars at Karachi Literature Festival

Pakistan News & Features Services

Jumbo Publishing’s stall, showcasing fabulous sports, turned out to be one of the major attractions of the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF 2014) organized at Karachi’s Beach Luxury Hotel from February 7 to 9. 

Top of the Charts, having the recently retired Sachin Tendukar on its cover, caught the imagination of numerous cricket fans at the KLF 2014. 

Authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood, the book contains profile and photographs of the top 25 performers of the Cricket World Cup 2003 which was considered to be the greatest-ever sporting show to have been staged in the continent of Africa.

Top of the Charts

Pakistan News & Features Services

Contents:
Foreword 09
Sachin Tendulkar 15
Sourav Ganguly 25
Andy Bichel 33
Ricky Ponting 39
Damien Martyn 47
Brett Lee 53
Chaminda Vaas 61
Adam Gilchrist 67
Glenn McGrath 72
Rahul Dravid 79
Marvan Atapattu 85
Zaheer Khan 91
Khalid Mahmud 99
Herschelle Gibbs 105
Wasim Akram 111
Vasbert Drakes 119
John Davison 125
Andy Flower 133
Collins Obuya 139
Javagal Srinath 144
Jan Burger 151
Tim de Leede 157
Ashish Nehra 163
James Anderson 171
Shane Bond 179
The Author 186

Top of the Charts

Pakistan News & Features Services

Top of the Charts is Jumbo Publishing’s second book on the mega event of the World Cup 2003 which was hailed to be the greatest-ever sporting show to have been staged in the continent of Africa. Authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood, the book contains profile and photographs of the top 25 performers of the tournament. 

Book Details: 

Title: Top of the Charts 

Subject: Cricket 

Pages: 188 

ISBN: 969-8893-01-6 

Price in Pakistan: Rs 500 

Year of Publication: 2005

Recapturing Cricket World Cup 2003 with Spotlight on World Cup 2003, Top of the Charts

Pakistan News & Features Services

Jumbo Publishing got off to a flying start in 2005 with the publication of their maiden book, Spotlight on World Cup 2003 which contained the highlights of the Cricket World Cup 2003 organized for the first time in the continent of Africa. 

They followed it up with another book, Top of the Charts, which also related to the same event later in the year. It was quite unusual to find two different books on the same subject and by the same author, Syed Khalid Mahmood. 

Both the hardbound titles were well received in the market and Jumbo Publishing had succeeded in making a mark right away. Some reviewers had gone on to compare both the books with the best ones in the business.

The positive press to the first couple of books brought out by Jumbo Publishing provided them the much needed recognition in the starting which subsequently enabled to them make even greater impact in the field in the following years. 

Spotlight on World Cup 2003 contained contributions from other renowned personalities as well, besides the bulk of the narration from the author. Light was thrown on the various aspects of the high-profile event which had taken the African hosts, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe by storm. 

Top of the Charts profiled the top 25 performers of the World Cup 2003. The book contained eye-catching photographs of the elite list of cricketers who made the tournament their own by their spectacular performance.

Brief Profile: Mansoor Akhtar

Jumbo Editorial Team

Mansoor Akhtar was a flamboyant top-order batsman whose grace and poise are still talked about with awe. He was held in very high esteem by Imran Khan, who was hugely impressed by his batting skills.

He first came in prominence by having featured in a world record opening partnership of 561 in first-class cricket in 1976-77. Still a teenager, his contribution in the monumental stand was an unbeaten 224 while his partner, Waheed Mirza, scored a triple century.

After having blunted the fearsome West Indian pace battery in a side game, he was rewarded with the Test cap against the same opponents in 1979-80. He went on to play 19 Test matches and 41 One-day Internationals for Pakistan but his record was deemed as modest and many people thought that he didn’t do justice with the loads of talent he possessed.

Although he played his last Test and ODI in 1989-90 but he continued playing first-class cricket for United Bank Limited until 1997-98. He has lost none of his hunger for runs and the 53-year-old Mansoor Akhtar is still scoring heavily in veterans cricket at all levels. He has been the head of sports department of United Bank for over a decade.

**Mansoor Akhtar has contributed foreword to Top of the Charts

Brief Profile: Anwar Jabeen Qureshi

Jumbo Editorial Team

Anwar Jabeen Qureshi is a known personality in the media and business circles. He is presently the Chief Executive Officer of A J Communications, a Karachi-based company, having interests in diversified fields.

Having done Masters in International Relations, Political Science and Mass Communications, L.L.B. and short courses of MBA, he served the country’s leading bank Habib Bank, as General Manager, Publicity & Public Relations Division, having had the opportunity to work with as many eight Presidents of the bank directly including the former Financial Adviser to the Prime Minister, Shaukat Tareen. He played a pivotal role in promoting the image of Habib Bank.

He has had an illustrious career in the field Public Relations, Marketing, Mass Media and Event Management. He is a famed speaker, having delivered lectures at various forums locally and abroad. He has conducted a lot of programmes, having had long stints with radio and television.

He has had a very actice social life as well. Having been associated with quite organizations he was one of the charter members of the Rotary Club of Karachi Airport of which he has been the President since July 2009.

**Anwar Jabeen Qureshi has reviewed Top of the Charts

Foreword: Top of the Charts

By Mansoor Akhtar

Pakistan’s cricket team until a few years ago had quite clearly lacked in the critical areas of game plan and strategy, mental strength, fitness and making optimum use of their individual brilliance to the team’s cause.

The decline had begun as early as the World Cup 1999 final and peaked during the World Cup 2003 and it became more obvious in the aftermath of the twin series defeats against India at home in early 2004.

The services of Bob Woolmer as coach were acquired by the Pakistan Cricket Board in an effort to ensure that the team came up with improved performance and did justice with the loads of talent it possessed. The move has paid rich dividends right away.

Woolmer, acclaimed the world over as the best cricket coach of the recent times, has taken command of the situation and the performance of the team has been quite encouraging with his arrival.

A team having endured lean patch for quite sometime could not have been expected to become the world-beaters overnight but they have been working in the right direction and the results are there.

There has been marked improvement in certain areas. Most importantly the fitness level of the boys has improved. They have become mentally tough now. The fielding has become much more athletic and purposeful. These factors have helped the team in winning matches on a more regular basis than in the past.

Now let me touch the subject of the book. The World Cup 2003 was a forgettable outing for Pakistan. A lot was expected from the team but it choked in the games that mattered.

Pakistan could only register victories over the minnows like the Netherlands and Namibia, who didn’t even enjoy the status of full membership of the ICC.

Pakistan, undoubtedly, had been placed in the tougher of two groups but nobody expected them to falter against all the Test playing nations. The way things stood even Zimbabwe could have taught them a lesson if the weather didn’t intervene at Harare.

After being overpowered by Australia, India and England, Pakistan faced an improbable task of crushing Zimbabwe by the heaviest of margins in their last game. Under the circumstances it looked very unlikely that Pakistan would have achieved the objective if the game was not ruined by rains.

The Pakistan team has already faced a lot of media criticism for having failed to deliver in the tournament. On the positive side the team did learn its lessons quickly and with the change in guard there are signs of a turnaround. They need to continue winning to regain their confidence that was shattered in the last World Cup.

We need to acknowledge the role of writers, authors and statisticians who devote their energies in producing publications of historical value. Knowing his caliber and having gone through his previous books there’s no doubt whatsoever in my mind that Syed Khalid Mahmood’s Top of the Charts will be another success story.

***For further details about Top of the Charts, please write to jumbopublishing@yahoo.com or call Asad Raza at 0333-2304024

Book Review: Top of the Charts

By Anwar Jabeen Qureshi

The eight edition of the ICC World Cup 2003 was indeed special for the fact that it was being staged in the continent of Africa for the first time with South Africa hosting the majority of the matches while Zimbabwe and Kenya were the co-hosts.

It’s always quite an adventure to be in Africa and the added attraction of the topmost cricket tournament taking place there it was the favorite destination to many, presenting an opportunity not be missed.

Syed Khalid Mahmood’s Top of the Charts, featuring Man of the Tournament Sachin Tendulkar on the cover with the coveted award, doesn’t throw light on the oft spoken subject of wildlife in Africa but there’s plenty to read about the event itself.

Obviously it’s a cricket book after all and if you missed the World Cup in 2003 due to any reason this is one publication you must read and preserve. You need to keep a copy of the Top of the Charts in any case because you will feel like revisiting those picturesque grounds that was lit on fire by the explosive cricketers from different parts of the globe.

It wasn’t a particularly pleasing tournament from Pakistan’s point of view as they were knocked out in the first round. After all sports are sports so is cricket the author has worked wonders to keep up the spirit and interest alive. So it’s not surprising that there’s just one Pakistani, Wasim Akram, in the list of 25 top performers profiled in the book.

Australia and India dominated the event, having played the final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. There are chapters on four cricketers from each of these two countries whose supporters had plenty to cheer about during the course of the tournament.

The author has profiled all those 25 top performers in the usual crisp style of his. The action photographs, particularly those in colour, are quite lively. It’s a kind of book that must be a part of your collection for many reasons.

***For further details about Top of the Charts, please write to jumbopublishing@yahoo.com or call Asad Raza at 0333-2304024