Shehzad and Masood stake claims for Test spot

SHARJAH: Pakistan 'A' opening batsmen Ahmed Shehzad and Shaan Masood staked their claims for next week's first Test against South Africa by scoring solid half centuries against the Proteas in the warmup match on Wednesday.

Shehzad scored an attacking 66 with 10 fours while Masood batted confidently against seam and spin before being retired out on 50 off 140 balls. Pakistan A finished the second day of the three-day game on 230-4 after South Africa declared its first innings at 354-8.

Pakistan selectors left the second opening slot vacant while naming a 12-man squad for Monday's first Test, and either Shehzad or Masood will get the nod to partner Khurram Manzoor at Abu Dhabi.

Asad Shafiq, who will likely play in the middle order in the first test, was unbeaten on 32.

Tillakaratne Dilshan calls time on Test career

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's former skipper and opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan is to retire from Test cricket but will remain available for shorter versions of the game, the country's cricket board said Wednesday.

Dilshan, who will be 37 on Monday, is due to hold a make a formal announcement at a press conference on Thursday, Sri Lanka Cricket spokesman Rajith Fernando told AFP.

“He is retiring from Test cricket but will be available to play in one-day matches,” Fernando said.

The aggressive right-hander began his Test career in November 1999 playing against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo and the last of his 87 appearances came against Bangladesh at Colombo in March.

He scored 5,492 Test runs, including 16 centuries, with a batting average of 40.98. He is the sixth highest Test run scorer in Sri Lanka's history.

He also took 39 wickets with his off-spin at an average of 43.87.

Dilshan has been a key factor in Sri Lanka's rise to the top of the rankings in Twenty20 cricket, smashing an unbeaten 74 off 51 balls in his last match -- a six-wicket win over South Africa at Hambantota in August.

Younis strikes form ahead of South Africa Test

ABU DHABI: Experienced Pakistan batsman Younis Khan hit a brilliant hundred in the two-day match against hosts United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, providing a batting boost ahead of the forthcoming two-Test series with South Africa.

Younis scored 103 in Pakistan's total of 317-9 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Pakistan will look to Younis and captain Misbah-ul Haq to anchor the batting against world number ones South Africa in the first Test starting in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Pakistan have been badly let down by their batting in their last five Tests, losing 3-0 in South Africa and squaring a two-Test series 1-1 in Zimbabwe this year.

Besides Younis, wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal scored 71 and Abdur Rehman 52.

A satisfied Younis said he wanted to take responsibility.

“I always try to lead as a senior player from the front,” said the 34-year-old.

“It's not pressure but just a question of self pride to do well against big teams.”Pakistan's second string is also playing a three-day tour match against South Africa in Sharjah.

Pakistan 'A' openers Ahmed Shahzad and Shan Masood, along with number three Azhar Ali, also scored half-centuries, showing it is not all doom and gloom from a batting perspective ahead of the Tests.

Brief scores: Pakistan 317-9 (Younis Khan 103, Adnan Akmal 71, Abdur Rehman 52)

Pakistan capable of giant-killing act: Sethi

LAHORE, Oct 5: The logo for the upcoming cricket series between Pakistan and South Africa was unveiled in an impressive ceremony at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club here on Saturday.

Pakistan’s high-profile ‘home’ series comprising two Test matches, five One-day Internationals and two T20 matches is scheduled to be held from Oct 14 to Nov 15 at neutral venues of the UAE.

Commenting on the series, caretaker PCB chairman Najam Sethi hoped Pakistan would produce a better show against South Africa and will make amends for the recent defeats against Zimbabwe.

Sethi said the national team should be confident of doing well against the Proteas and must take heart from the memorable Test series whitewash of England in the UAE early last year.

“It gives me great pleasure to be part of this ceremony where the series logo for the Pakistan-South Africa series 2013 is being unveiled. For such a high-profile series, the unveiling of the logo is an event that inspires us to brace ourselves for an action-packed series against South Africa, one of the world’s best cricket opponents in all formats,” he said.

“Both Pakistan and South Africa squads boast exciting talents. I am positive that Team Pakistan under Misbah-ul-Haq will produce another giant-killing act, just as they did against England at the same venues,” he added.

He hoped Pakistan would take the advantage of ‘home’ wickets in the UAE, as South Africa did at their home soil to whitewash Pakistan in a three-Test rubber earlier this year.

“Pakistan players should consider themselves as champions, and at no point should underestimate themselves [in cricketing contests],” Sethi insisted.

Supporting Misbah as skipper, caretaker PCB chairman said that neither selectors nor the team management had even considered changing Misbah as captain, reckoning he was the best available choice for the slot.

Sethi also noted that Mohammad Hafeez’s batting performance was on decline, terming it worrying.

Commenting on the efforts aimed at reviving international cricket in Pakistan, Sethi, referring to the much talked-of Pakistan Premier League, said: “The PCB is trying to hold an international league, which will help resume international activities in Pakistan.”

On bilateral series with India, Sethi said cricketing ties with India would be restored soon as he got full support from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

He also said he could remove all wrongdoings in the PCB provided he was given the authority to work freely.

Praising the sponsors for the Pakistan-South Africa series, Sethi hoped that more such sponsors would come forward to support Pakistan cricket.

Arif Pardesi, chief executive officer of the title sponsors, and other sponsors’ representative were also present at the logo unveiling ceremony.

South Africans begin preparations for Pakistan series

SHARJAH: The top-ranked Test side South Africa spent a busy Sunday at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium as they began their preparations for the three-day match fixture against Pakistan ‘A’ which precedes the series against Pakistan.

The Proteas are slated to play two Tests, five One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 games against Pakistan during their trip to the United Arab Emirates.

The squad captained by Test leader Graeme Smith opted for an afternoon session to get acclimatised to the heat. Though their practice was scheduled from 2:00pm, they arrived early to warm up and underwent a long practice.

Smith, who has been out of competitive cricket since May due to an ankle injury, is fit and raring to go.

Star bowler Dale Steyn, who could not give his best in the Champions Trophy and also missed the Sri Lanka tour because of groin, neck and ankle problems, is fit and has arrived here, as have other star players like Hashim Amla and one-day captain A.B. de Villiers.

J.P. Duminy, who spent six months recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, is all set for a comeback to Test cricket. His last Test match was against Australia in November 2012, though he played in the one-day matches against Sri Lanka in July this year.

Faf du Plessis, captain of South African Twenty20 team and hailed as one of the finest strokemakers in the game, also trained hard under the watchful eye of head coach Russell Domingo.

Before arriving in Dubai, Smith told reporters in Johannesburg that he felt as though he was going on his debut tour as it is his first since ankle surgery five and half months ago.

"Three months on crutches was hard and it hasn't always gone smoothly,” he said.

 Right now I feel like I am going on my first tour in a way, just with lots of experience. I am nervous, I have not played cricket for a long time and I will need to maximise preparation with just one warm-up match before the first Test.

“I need to make the most of the next few days before the first Test in Abu Dhabi commencing from Oct 14.”

Smith is aware of the threat that Pakistan can pose through their spinners and had closely watched the Pakistan-England series here in January last year. Pakistan dominated that series and won 3-0.

 We expect the wickets to spin, we expect the worst in that regard, and [Saeed] Ajmal and how we handle him could be the key to the tour.

Meanwhile, Pakistan ‘A’ led by Umar Amin trained during the morning session. The team includes Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Faisal Iqbal, Asad Shafiq and Aizaz Cheema.

Indian court clears Srinivasan's return as BCCI boss

NEW DELHI: India's Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated N. Srinivasan as the country's cricket chief, but ordered him to stay away from a fresh enquiry into alleged spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League.

Srinivasan, 68, widely regarded as the most powerful man in world cricket, had been barred by the court from taking charge since his election on September 29 as chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a third year.

“Srinivasan can take over as BCCI president, but we have also formed a new probe panel to investigate the case,” ruled A.K. Patnaik, one of the two judges who heard the case.

The court appointed a three-member panel headed by a former judge to investigate a scandal that has rocked the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament run by the BCCI.

The probe will be separate from investigations by police, who have filed charges in court against a string of officials, players and bookmakers for illegal betting on the IPL.

A cricket body in the eastern state of Bihar which is not affiliated to the BCCI had petitioned the court to prevent Srinivasan's return on moral grounds because his son-in-law had been charged in the scandal.

The son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, was the team principal of the Chennai Super Kings, the IPL franchise owned by Srinivasan's India Cements company and captained by national skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Srinivasan, who has not himself been accused of any wrongdoing, stepped aside temporarily as BCCI president in June when Meiyappan was named in the scandal.

The new Supreme Court-appointed panel, whose expenses will be borne by the BCCI, was given four months to submit its findings to the court. The verdict came after Srinivasan agreed not to interfere in the panel's working.

“Srinivasan has himself made it very clear that he would not be involved in the investigation of IPL match-fixing allegations,” BCCI lawyer Aryama Sundaram told reporters outside the court.

“It is not a setback for either the BCCI or Srinivasan. The independent probe panel was suggested by Srinivasan himself much earlier.”

The Bihar association had argued in court that a previous internal BCCI probe had absolved Srinivasan, Meiyappan, India Cements and other IPL officials of wrongdoing even before police had filed charges in court.

The BCCI's head of operations, Ratnakar Shetty, welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. “We are very happy the court has allowed the president to take charge,” Shetty told reporters. “This is very important for the functioning of the

board.”Srinivasan's immediate task will be to finalise the schedule for next month's tour by the West Indies for two Tests and three one-day internationals.

South African officials are also waiting to hear whether India will undertake the highly-anticipated tour of their country at the end of the year.

Srinivasan's hold on world cricket stems from India's vast television audience, which enables the country to generate almost 70 percent of the game's revenues.

Misbah confident Pakistan can cope without Hafeez

LAHORE: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said Monday his side was ready to take on the mighty South Africans, despite missing an opener and enduring a wretched recent run of form.

The sides meet for a two-Test series in the United Arab Emirates starting next week, with Pakistan coming off the back of an embarrassing drawn series against minnows Zimbabwe.

South Africa, rated number one Test team in the world, whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 at home earlier in the year, but Misbah insisted his men would rise to the challenge.

“Our preparations and moral are good,” the 39-year-old skipper said as the team left for the UAE.

“We have to forget the past and play competitive cricket in this tough series.”

Pakistan have won only one of their last eight Tests, with their batsmen letting them down repeatedly.

They go into the series with just one specialist opener in the 12-man squad as regular Mohammad Hafeez was dropped after scoring just 102 in his last five Tests.

“No doubt Hafeez is a senior player but because he is out of form it was difficult for him (to get into the team) but I am sure others are also capable to do well,” said Misbah.

Misbah said a three-day practice match between Pakistan 'A' and a South Africa XI, starting in Sharjah on Tuesday, would give them the chance to identify a replacement.

“We will use a regular opener, there will be no makeshift arrangements and I am sure that we will find another opener from the three-day match,” said Misbah.

With the experienced Hafeez, Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar left out, it is a fresh-faced Pakistan top order that will take on the might of South Africa's four-man pace attack.

The selected opener Khurram Manzoor has played only nine Tests while two other candidates for the second opening berth -- Ahmed Shehzad and Shan Masood -- have yet to make their Test debuts.

Sign of things to come as South Africa prosper in warm up

SHARJAH: Five top order South Africa batsmen warmed up for next week's first Test against Pakistan by scoring half centuries against Pakistan A on Tuesday.

Jacques Kallis (70), Alviro Petersen (58), AB de Villiers (58) Hashim Amla (50) and JP Duminy (50 not out) all were among runs in hot and humid conditions as South Africa progressed to 332-5 at the close on the first day of a three-day warmup match.

Only captain Graeme Smith, returning after a six-month layoff due to ankle surgery, missed out when he was out leg before wicket for 2 after being dropped in the slips on 1.

Petersen and Amla put on 105 runs for the second wicket before both retired to give the rest of the batsmen some work as none of the second-string Pakistan bowlers could trouble them.

De Villiers and Kallis also scored at a healthy run-rate of over four an over by adding 97 runs for the fourth wicket. Kallis hit four sixes and six fours before he gave a return catch to part-time offspinner Sohaib Maqsood.

Usman Qadir, son of Pakistan's former legspinner Abdul Qadir, got the other success of the day when de Villiers was caught by Pakistan A captain Umar Amin.

The Test series begins in Abu Dhabi on Monday with Dubai hosting the second Test from Oct. 23-27.

Scores: South Africa 332-5 (Jacques Kallis 70, Alviro Petersen 58, AB de Villiers 58, Hashim Amla 50, JP Duminy 50 not out; Sohaib Maqsood 1-17) vs. Pakistan A

We’re better prepared than England, Smith warns Pakistan

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa captain Graeme Smith said he felt like a rookie going into the team's tour to the United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan after six months out of the game with an ankle injury but felt confident of his side's chances against the hosts.

Smith has played 110 Test matches for the Proteas and holds the world record for the most five-day matches as captain, 102, but he admitted to nerves before the team departed on Friday.

“It feels surreal to be sitting here today,” he told reporters.

“When I went into surgery five and half months ago I knew it was going to be a long road back.

“And it was, it three months on crutches was hard and it hasn't always gone smoothly. Right now I feel like I am going on my first tour in a way, just with lots of experience.

“I am nervous, I have not played cricket for a long time and I will need to maximize preparation with just one warm-up match before the first test.

“I need to make the most of the next 10 days. I need the experience of being out in the middle again in order to contribute to the side like I want to.”

Doctors are hopeful they have finally solved Smith's chronic ankle problem, helped by custom-fitted boots that should more evenly distribute the weight on the joint.

He admits periods of the last few months have been disheartening and painful, but remains motivated to play more matches for South Africa.

“I still have the drive to want to play at international level, I still feel like I have the motivation to do it. When you have been captain from the age of 22 and helped to develop a team, you want to see it through.

“There were days when I was really sore, but I had a lot of phone calls from team mates and (coach) Russell (Domingo) checking up on me and that really made a different to know that people still cared.”

Pakistan beat England 3-0 in their last series in the Middle East in January last year.

“I watched the series, the ball spun a bit but I thought England weren't as mentally prepared as they could have been,” Smith said.

“We understand the style of cricket we want to play, we understand how to be successful in different conditions.

“We expect the wickets to spin, we expect the worst in that regard, and (Saeed) Ajmal and how we handle him could be the key to the tour.”

South Africa beat Pakistan 3-0 in their home summer last season and have only lost three of their previous 21 five-day matches against the sub-continent side.

The first test starts in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 14, with the second set for Oct. 23 in Dubai. There will also be five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.

Afghan fans in cricket heaven as World Cup dream comes true

KABUL: War-torn Afghanistan erupted in wild celebrations Friday as its cricket team beat Kenya to qualify for the 2015 World Cup, just 12 years after the game took hold in the wake of the Taliban's fall.

About 3,000 fans packed onto the field at Kabul's only cricket stadium to watch the match on a big screen, with noisy chants and dancing marking each boundary as Afghan batsmen carried the side to an easy victory in Sharjah.

Celebratory gunfire tore through the air in the eastern city of Jalalabad, but there was no immediate repeat of the nationwide explosion of bullets that met Afghanistan's recent victory in the South Asian Football Federation cup.

“Tears come out of my eyes because of my happiness,” Zakir Mohammadi, 23, told AFP, the national flag draped across his shoulders.

“I am speechless and can't express myself. This is a great feat for our cricket team and for all Afghans.”

Large crowds of supporters also celebrated in the southern city of Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, where police issued strict warnings on the radio before the game that people should not celebrate by firing guns in the air.

“This is a great success for our country. Afghanistan have proved their ability to the world despite 30 years of war,” Shahzada Masood, chairman of Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), said.

“This shows the talent of our players. They can beat any team on their day despite the limited facilities that they have.”

Afghanistan's cricket side has progressed rapidly since the country emerged from the austere rule of the Taliban in 2001, and the achievement makes up for narrowly missing out on the 2011 World Cup.

Tens of thousands of Afghans learned the game in refugee camps in Pakistan after they were forced to flee during the decades of war and turmoil that followed the Soviet invasion in 1979.

Cricket boomed after the Taliban era as many Afghans returned home, despite the Islamist militants waging a bloody insurgency against US-led troops and the Kabul government.

The game is now played on any piece of open ground, ranging from scruffy city parks to rural roads, with boys often using discarded pieces of wood for bats and wickets.

“I can not ask for a better performance than this. They truly played like champions,” said Nazir Ahmad, 27, who works as a tailor in Kabul.

“I wish our team further success in the World Cup.”Afghanistan became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council in 2001 and an associate member earlier this year.

Sport was rarely played under the Taliban. The football stadium in Kabul was a notorious venue for executions, stonings and mutilations before matches.

Saeed Ajmal forced to apologise to Whatmore

LAHORE: Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has had to apologise to the national team's coach Dav Whatmore over seemingly innocuous remarks the player made in a television interview about having a foreign-born coach.

“There is no difference, just that we are paying more to him, otherwise there is no difference,” Ajmal told Pakistan's Geo Super channel when asked about the influence of having a foreign coach.

Ajmal said there were some language difficulties to overcome, but also praised former local coaches Waqar Younis and Mohsin Khan, which prompted Whatmore to use his Twitter feed to say he had been 'deeply upset and hurt' by the comments.

The Pakistan Cricket Board moved quickly to defuse any controversy and issued a statement that said they had advised Ajmal to meet Whatmore and apologise for his comments.

“I immediately went up to Dav and apologised and explained the context and circumstances in which I made certain remarks,” Ajmal said in the statement after he met the Australian.

“Dav has worked tirelessly with the Pakistan team and it would be extremely unfair not to recognise his services.

“I enjoy very good relations with Dav and am hopeful of continuing this in the coming series.”

Pakistan play South Africa in two-tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches from Oct. 14 in the United Arab Emirates.

Moin hints at Hafeez axing, says Pakistan can surprise South Africa

LAHORE, Oct 3: Pakistan team manager and former captain Moin Khan, while giving a clear hint that all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez will not be part of the Test squad against South Africa, has said that Pakistan have the potential to beat the Proteas in the upcoming Test series if the team play according to a plan.

“Though Hafeez is a potentially sound cricketer, his current form is not very good and so he has not been considered for the Test squad. However, no one can write him off because he has served Pakistan well in the past and I believe he still has a lot of cricket left in him,” Moin said while talking to reporters during the practice match between PCB Chairman XI and Chief Minister XI at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Moin said he had no role in the selection of the team, adding the selectors will announce it after watching the performance of the players in the two practice matches. While the first practice match is currently being played at the Gaddafi Stadium, the second one will be held in the UAE during which the Pakistan Test squad will be announced.

Sources told Dawn that the selectors would be relying on young and inexperienced openers like Khurram Manzoor, Shan Masood or Ahmed Shehzad for the Test matches against top-ranked South Africa.

Some critics and former players, however, have expressed their surprise at the omission of experienced openers Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat who enjoy a very impressive track record against the Proteas. They questioned the criteria under which the two players have been axed by the selectors and have not even been considered for the ongoing trial matches to prove their form and fitness.

Moreover, Moin further said that though it would not be an easy series for Pakistan, if the team played according to a strategy and with good planning, they could surprise South Africa.

“It will not happen that we will just go to the UAE, play the series and win it. For that, we will have to play according to a plan and by giving our full efforts on the ground because the South Africans are a very tough side,” he said.

The two-Test series against the Proteas will commence from the 14th of this month which will be followed by T20 games and one-day series.

Commenting on the practice match, Moin said the cream of Pakistan cricket was being seen in action here and the players must give their best to prove their mettle to the selectors.

To a question, Moin said that wins and defeats were part of the game but he would be a worried man if his team did not play positively or give their best shot.

“Zimbabwe [Test] defeat was an eye opener for all of us and now it is up to the players how much they can learn from the mistakes which they committed in that Test at Harare. That is the only way to improve our performance,” he said.

Afghanistan seek World Cup boost from India, Pakistan

SHARJAH: Afghanistan coach Kabir Khan is pleading with India and Pakistan to help his team make an impact in their maiden World Cup appearance in 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

Afghanistan booked their place in the game's global showpiece by beating Kenya by seven wickets on Friday and now will look for crucial support from defending champions India and 1992 winners Pakistan.

“I would like to play more against the Full Member countries in the lead up to the World Cup,” said former Pakistan Test player Kabir, wary of the generally faster pitches in Australia and seam-friendly conditions in New Zealand.

“I'm expecting that our neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan will play some matches against us and help us prepare for our biggest tournament.”

Afghanistan were playing in the fifth tier of international cricket just five years ago and have twice qualified for the World Twenty20 tournament, in 2010 and 2012.

But one-day clashes with the world's leading nations have been limited to just two -- a seven-wicket loss to Pakistan and a 66-run defeat to Australia in Sharjah in 2012.

“I'm expecting a great response in Australia and New Zealand. The big teams will like to punish us but we'll prepare as best as we can and try to show the world what we're capable of,” added Kabir.

It will be a tough mission for Afghanistan who will play in Group A in the 2015 World Cup alongside four-time champions Australia, co-hosts New Zealand, Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka and another qualifier that will be confirmed in February next year at the final qualifying round in New Zealand.

On Friday, Afghanistan dismissed Kenya for just 93 in the 44th over before they reached their target in the 21st over when captain Mohammad Nabi hit Shem Ngoche for a boundary through midwicket.

Nabi, who finished on 46 not out, and Hashmatullah Shaidi, put on 62 for the fourth wicket to bring their side home with 175 balls to spare.

Nabi smashed two huge sixes and three fours to assure his team of second place in the World Cricket League behind runaway winners Ireland who have also qualified for the World Cup.

Like many of his teammates, the 28-year-old Nabi was born in a refugee camp and learned the sport in a camp in the Pakistan city of Peshawar after his parents fled Afghanistan in the wake of the 1979 Soviet invasion.

Nabi went on to make his first class debut with the MCC.

“I didn't expect to play in a World Cup when I started playing cricket,”said Nabi.

“But now I can cherish this moment and look forward to playing against the best sides in some of the best playing facilities. Playing in a World Cup will be one grade up and we'll try to work hard and do better.”

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Nabi added: “We know about some teams but we'll leave no stone unturned in our preparations and will try to give them a run for their money.

“There will be no pressure against Australia. We played against them in Sharjah and I had a good outing against them (making 46 runs) and maybe they'll be a little scared with me.”

Afghanistan will play their opening match of the 2015 World Cup against Bangladesh in Canberra on February 18.

They will then tackle Sri Lanka (February 22, Dunedin), Qualifier 3 (February 26, Dunedin), Australia (March 4, Perth), New Zealand (March 8, Napier) and England (March 13, Sydney).

Ireland, who won the World Cricket League ahead of Afghanistan, will play in Group B in the World Cup, joining defending champions India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe and the fourth qualifier.

Hafeez axed, Irfan included in Test squad to face South Africa

LAHORE: Pakistan Saturday dropped out-of-form opener Mohammad Hafeez from the 12-man squad to play a Test series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates this month, the South Asian country's cricket body said.

The series starts in Abu Dhabi on October 14, with the second Test in Dubai from October 23.

The 32-year-old, Pakistan's Twenty20 captain, has scored just 102 in his last five Tests. He managed 43 in a 3-0 Test defeat in South Africa in February and scored only 59 in the two-Test series against Zimbabwe last month.

Misbah-ul Haq was last week retained as Test and one-day captain.

Three players will be added to the squad after a three-day practice match between Pakistan 'A' and South Africa in Sharjah starting from October 8.

Pakistan and South Africa will also play five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals, for which squads will be named later, the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.

Pakistan, who are without a chief selector, left out batsmen Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shahzad and Shan Masood, but they still have a chance of making the larger squad, which so far only has one opener in Khurram Manzoor.

Paceman Mohammad Irfan, at 7ft 1in the tallest cricketer to play at international level, earned a Test recall despite an unimpressive two-match stint in South Africa earlier this year when he took just one wicket.

Pakistan looked set to ploy a spin-dominated attack against South Africa with the inclusion of 34-year-old left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman. Umar Amin, 24, was also recalled after failing to impress in four Tests in 2010. He will lead Pakistan 'A' in the practice match.

Squad: Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Khurram Manzoor, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Umar Amin, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Abdul Rehman, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali.

English Premier League: Moyes confident of United recovery

MANCHESTER:
Manchester United manager David Moyes has no doubt his side will turn around their difficult start to the campaign and figure in the title reckoning.

Moyes succeeded Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford in the pre-season following the trophy-laden manager’s retirement and, since then, the Premier League champions have lost three of their first six matches of the new campaign.
They did secure a 1-1 draw in the Champions League at Shakhtar Donetsk in the midweek but return to league action at bottom-of-the-table Sunderland today with lots of ground to make up.
The fitful start, United’s worst to a season since 1989, has left them eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
And with 32 matches of the league season remaining, a bullish Moyes told reporters at a news conference yesterday that his side would be in the title race come the end of the campaign.
“They’re really good players and they know the standards they’ve set over the years and together we’ll work to get it right, I’ve got no doubt about that,” he said.
“Anybody who comes in to a new job you learn as you go along and I’m doing that as well.
“I already knew I was coming to work with a group of really good players but that we’d have difficult times as well.
“There’s a long way to go in the Premier League. It’s a long season and you see great changes as the season goes on, so we’ll hang in there and get ourselves as close to the top as soon as we can.
“It’s a good club, Manchester United. I’m sure they know they picked the right man for the job and Sir Alex was part of that process as well.”
City seek Everton boost after Bayern beating
Manchester City return to domestic action against Everton with manager Manuel Pellegrini looking for a reaction following his team’s humiliating Champions League loss to title-holders Bayern Munich.
Since arriving in pre-season, his new side have been outstanding in 4-0 and 4-1 Premier League victories over Newcastle and Manchester United but sloppy in a 2-0 win over Hull and a goalless draw at Stoke, and undermined by defensive errors in 3-2 defeats at both Cardiff and Aston Villa.
City defender Micah Richards said the home team would need to raise their game considerably if they were going to salvage something from a difficult week.
“We’ll look forward to Everton and try to get a better result,” he said. “We’ve had two disappointing results. Against Villa we played really well and didn’t get the points we wanted and we didn’t play well against Bayern.
“It’s two poor results and hopefully we can make it better at the weekend.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.

Afghanistan seal historic World Cup qualification

HARJAH:
Afghanistan reached the World Cup for the first time yesterday, completing a remarkable journey from refugee camp cricket to rubbing shoulders with the sport’s superpowers.

The team that was playing in the fifth-tier just five years ago, and is forced by the precarious security situation in its country to stage home matches in the Gulf, swept past Kenya by seven wickets to secure a historic spot in the 2015 showpiece.
After dismissing Kenya for just 93 in the 44th over at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Afghanistan reached their target in the 21st over when captain Mohammad Nabi hit Shem Ngoche through midwicket for a boundary.
They had to endure a brief moment of worry before romping to victory when they were reduced to 34 for three.
But Nabi, who finished on 46 not out, and Hashmatullah Shaidi, put on 62 for the fourth wicket to bring their side home with 175 balls to spare.
Nabi smashed two towering sixes and three fours to assure his team of second place in the World Cricket League behind runaway winners Ireland who have also qualified for the World Cup.
Afghanistan will play in Pool A at the World Cup in 2015 along with co-hosts Australia and New Zealand as well as Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka and another qualifier.
Netherlands, the UAE, Scotland, Kenya, Namibia, Canada, Uganda, Hong Kong, Nepal and Papua New Guinea will now compete for the last two World Cup berths at the final qualifying event to be staged in New Zealand in February next year.
Afghanistan were already overwhelming favourites to beat Kenya in the last match of an exhausting two-year qualifying competition.
In Monday’s Twenty20 international, they routed the African side by 106 runs and carried that form through to Wednesday when they romped to victory by eight wickets in the first of the two determining One-Day Internationals.
Then, Kenya were dismissed for just 89 with Afghanistan reaching their target inside 18 overs.
Yesterday, Kenya were put into bat and struggled again with Morris Ouma top-scoring with 39.
Rakep Patel, with 18, was the only other batsman to reach double figures in an innings where the first boundary didn’t arrive until the 16th over.
Slow left-armer Hamza Hotak was the leading Afghanistan bowler, claiming three of 19 off his 10 overs.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.
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Pakistan vs South Africa: Smith feels like tour rookie after long layoff

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa captain Graeme Smith said he felt like a rookie going into the team’s tour to the United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan after six months out of the game with an ankle injury.
Smith has played 110 test matches for the Proteas and holds the world record for the most five-day matches as captain, 102, but he admitted to nerves before the team departed on Friday.

“It feels surreal to be sitting here today,” he told reporters. “When I went into surgery five and half months ago I knew it was going to be a long road back.
“And it was, it three months on crutches was hard and it hasn’t always gone smoothly. Right now I feel like I am going on my first tour in a way, just with lots of experience.
“I am nervous, I have not played cricket for a long time and I will need to maximise preparation with just one warm-up match before the first test.
“I need to make the most of the next 10 days. I need the experience of being out in the middle again in order to contribute to the side like I want to.”
Doctors are hopeful they have finally solved Smith’s chronic ankle problem, helped by custom-fitted boots that should more evenly distribute the weight on the joint.
He admits periods of the last few months have been disheartening and painful, but remains motivated to play more matches for South Africa.
“I still have the drive to want to play at international level, I still feel like I have the motivation to do it. When you have been captain from the age of 22 and helped to develop a team, you want to see it through.
“There were days when I was really sore, but I had a lot of phone calls from team mates and (coach) Russell (Domingo) checking up on me and that really made a different to know that people still cared.”
Pakistan beat England 3-0 in their last series in the Middle East in January last year.
“I watched the series, the ball spun a bit but I thought England weren’t as mentally prepared as they could have been,” Smith said.
“We understand the style of cricket we want to play, we understand how to be successful in different conditions. We expect the wickets to spin, we expect the worst in that regard, and (Saeed) Ajmal and how we handle him could be the key to the tour.”
South Africa beat Pakistan 3-0 in their home summer last season and have only lost three of their previous 21 five-day matches against the sub-continent side.
The first test starts in Abu Dhabi on October 14, with the second set for October 23 in Dubai. There will also be five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.

CM Shahbaz asks PCB to intensify efforts for international cricket’s revival

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has assured full cooperation to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in providing security to foreign teams and instructed it to invite any country to resume international cricket in Pakistan as soon as possible.

Shahbaz was addressing the prize distribution ceremony at the end of the practice match between Chief Minister XI and PCB Chairman XI at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Friday. Stating,

 We will prove to the world that under the current circumstances the country is quite capable of holding international events and I will ask the PCB to immediately invite any international team to Pakistan. We will provide all kind of security to our distinguished visiting team.
“Pakistan is in dire need of international cricket events, so the PCB should launch full efforts,” he added.

A ghastly terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 here had closed the doors of international cricket on Pakistan.

During those days, Shahbaz’s government had been dismissed by the federal government and late Salman Taseer was heading the Governor’s rule. However, earlier the Shahbaz government had made strict security arrangements when the Sri Lankans came to visit Pakistan as first part of the same 2009 tour to play one-day matches.

But when the visitors undertook the second leg of the tour to play two Test matches, a Governor’s Rule was in place. A huge security lapse occurred at the time when a bunch of terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan cricketers’ bus, injuring quite a few players and killing eight policemen.

Since then, no foreign team has toured Pakistan. Former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf tried his best to get the Bangladesh team to play in Pakistan in 2011 but his efforts failed since then Punjab govt, headed by Shahbaz Sharif, refused to cooperate with the PCB hierarchy in providing security guarantees to Bangladesh team and the tour was called off.

On Friday, Shahbaz handed over the trophy to skippers Younis Khan and Umar Amin who shared it as the match ended in a tame draw due to heavy rain which interrupted the play on the last two days.

Shahbaz, jokingly admitted that his team (CM-XI) had been outclassed by the PCB Chairman-XI in the match.

The Chief Minister also handed over the keys of a women’s cricket ground to the PCB and asked them to hold matches there. The ground is situated in the Model Town area.

Not much activity has been witnessed at the ground since it was established a year ago, mainly due to the lack of women cricket events in the city. As it is, the women cricketers often play at the Kinnaird College ground so the Model Town ground may prove a financial burden for the PCB.

Shahbaz hoped that the Pakistan team would return triumphantly from the upcoming South Africa series, to be played in the UAE in October-November this year.

He said the country had produced world class cricketers like Hanif Mohammad, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and many others and the current Pakistan team must keep the flag flying in the future games.

Meanwhile, Younis Khan and Umar Amin in their speeches said that the practice match had provided a good workout to the players before the South Africa series.

As for the match, the PCB Chairman-XI had declared their first innings at the overnight total of 197 for three with Azhar Ali unbeaten on 80 and Asad Shafiq on 46.

In the second innings, the CM-XI which had conceded a heavy first innings lead of 107 runs, batted well as their openers Khurram Manzoor (80) and Shan Masood (25) put up an unbeaten 111-run stand in 27 overs.

While Khurram batted with lot of aggression, Shan remained defensive throughout his knock.

Khurram’s innings was laced with 13 fours and two sixes and came off just 96 balls in 119 minutes. Shan, who is a contender for the opener’s slot in the Pakistan Test team alongwith Ahmad Shahzad, could not impress much as he took 66 balls to score just 25 with one boundary.

Summarised scores:

CHIEF MINISTER XI 90 in 34.2 overs (Sohaib Maqsood 29, Faisal Iqbal 20, Wahab Riaz 17; Zulfiqar Babar 6-22) and 111-0 in 27 overs (Khurram Manzoor 80 not out, Shan Masood 25 not out).

PCB CHAIRMAN XI 197 for 3 in 77 overs (Azhar Ali 80 not out, Asad Shafiq 46 not out, Mohammad Hafeez 22, Ahmed Shehzad 37).

West Indies squad to tour India

ST. JOHN'S: The West Indies Cricket Board on Thursday announced a 15-man Test squad for the tour of India, starting later this month.

West Indies will play two Tests, from Nov 6-10 and Nov 14-18 as well as three one-dayers on Nov 21, 24 and 27 at venues to be announced.

A spokesman for the West Indies Cricket Board said that the participation of left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell is subject to him being passed as fit by the WICB's medical panel.

Squad

Darren Sammy (captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sheldon Cottrell, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Chris Gayle, Veersammy Permaul, Kieron Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Shane Shillingford, Chadwick Walton.

Kabir, Aqib put friendship aside in World Cup pursuit

SHARJAH: Kabir Khan insists he and former Pakistan teammate Aqib Javed will remain close friends despite their Afghanistan and UAE teams locked in a race to reach the 2015 World Cup.

Afghanistan coach Kabir is set to be celebrating on Friday when his side tackles Kenya in the concluding World Cricket League (WCL) qualifier.

A victory will put the team from the war-ravaged nation into a maiden World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

But should Kenya stun the heavily-favoured Afghan side then the UAE, who have finished their programme, will qualify instead alongside WCL winners Ireland.

Kabir, who also had a stint with the UAE until March 2011 before Aqib joined in April 2012, laughed off the idea of any personal rivalry.

“It does remind me of our good old days when Aqib and I used to battle for one fast bowler's slot in the playing XI as Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were automatic selections,” he said.

“But times have changed and we're now professional coaches and have loyalties towards our respective sides. Obviously, I have never played in a World Cup and, as such, for me this will be the biggest achievement of my career,” said Kabir, who played four Tests and 10 ODIs between 1994 and 2000.

“Aqib and I are good friends and discuss a lot of cricket. While he consults on the UAE players and how he can improve the cricket system here, I try to pick his brains on ways and areas to improve my fast bowlers.”

Aqib Javed, who featured in 22 Tests and 163 ODIs from 1988 to 1998, agreed that he has enjoyed a healthy rivalry with Kabir on the field.

“Throughout my playing days, I was always on a trial – thanks to bowlers like Kabir. It's a vicious circle of life that we're again fighting for a position but in a different role and for a different reason. But instead of thinking about ifs and buts, I prefer moving on and setting new and fresh targets for myself,” said Aqib.

Afghanistan has the momentum leading up to Friday's determining match, having won five consecutive 50-over matches.

Afghanistan, which was playing in the World Cricket League Division 5 in 2008, have also had an excellent build-up.

In Monday's Twenty20 International against Kenya, they won by 106 runs and carried the momentum through to Wednesday, when they romped to victory in the first of the two ODIs by eight wickets inside 18 overs after skittling Kenya out for 89.

“The way Afghanistan are playing, they look solid and unstoppable,” said Aqib. “If they qualify for the World Cup, it will be a great achievement and well-deserved too,” he added.

We will give them a good reply: Ajmal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal defended his performances this year, saying he will do better in the two-Test series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates this month.

Ajmal took 24 wickets in three Tests against England in the UAE last year as Pakistan whitewashed the then-No. 1 ranked team.

But this year, Ajmal has done little to impress either the Proteas or Zimbabwe, as Pakistan has lost four of its last five Tests.

South Africa routed Pakistan 3-0 and Ajmal finished with just 11 wickets, 10 of those in the second Test at Cape Town. Against Zimbabwe last month, Ajmal took 11 wickets in Pakistan's first Test victory but hauled in only three wickets in the second Test as Zimbabwe recorded a stunning victory to level the series.

Ajmal defended his efforts, speaking on Tuesday in Lahore where Pakistan was in camp.

“I have taken 25 wickets in the last five Test matches out of which three Test matches were played on green top wickets in South Africa,” he said.

“Who says it's a bad performance?

“I am not saying that I will take 20 or 40 wickets against South Africa in the coming series, but I will try my best to be the man of the series.”

Ajmal said he will not be eyeing “revenge” against South Africa, but will challenge the Proteas on wickets which are expected to help spinners.

“We know it takes spin in Dubai, and yes we are capable of bowling them out twice in Test matches,” he said.

“There's nothing like revenge in cricket, but we will give them a good reply.”

In his career, he has taken 147 wickets in 28 Tests at an average of 26.78. He is ranked fourth in the current Test rankings behind South Africa fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka.

“Last time when we played in Dubai, England was No. 1 and we were at the same position (at No. 6) but we performed very well,” Ajmal said.

“We will try our best to perform as well as we did against England in the UAE.”

Ajmal said he was focusing on his doosra, an offspin delivery that turns away from right-handed batsman, to outfox the Proteas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“My strength is the doosra and I do take 70 percent of my wickets through i

Spot-fixing accused ran Chennai Super Kings, Hussey says

SYDNEY: Indian cricket chief N. Srinivasan's son-in-law ran the Indian Premier League's (IPL) Chennai Super Kings team, ex-Australia star Mike Hussey has claimed, in comments that could add fuel to a spot-fixing scandal.

Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan has been charged by Mumbai police with forgery, cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of contract and handing critical team information to alleged bookmakers.

But the embattled Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief, under fire for a family member's alleged involvement in the scandal, has maintained that Gurunath was only a “cricket enthusiast” even though he sat in the team dug-out during matches and took part in IPL auctions.

Hussey, who has been part of the Chennai Super Kings franchise since the Twenty20 competition's first edition in 2008, asserted in his new autobiography 'Underneath the Southern Cross' that Meiyappan was running the team.

“Our owner was India Cements, headed by Mr. Srinivasan,” Hussey wrote, according to excerpts published on the ESPNCricinfo website.

“As he was also on the board of the BCCI, he gave control of the team to his son-in-law Mr Gurunath. He ran the team along with Kepler Wessels, who was (then) coach.”

Hussey is the first player to openly state that Meiyappan was in charge of the team. His comments could cause further trouble for Srinivasan, who won a third year in office on Sunday.

The Supreme Court has barred Srinivasan from taking charge until it has ruled on a petition by a cricket body in the eastern state of Bihar that he had no moral right to continue after Meiyappan was charged.

Srinivasan has distanced himself from Meiyappan, saying the law would take its own course and he himself could not be held accountable for his son-in-law's actions.

The scandal has already seen two Rajasthan Royals players, Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and upcoming spinner Ankeet Chavan, banned for life by the BCCI.

An internal BCCI probe, which cleared Meiyappan and other IPL officials of wrongdoing, has been termed “illegal” by a court which ruled that Srinivasan may have had a hand in its formation.

BCCI may ask Tendulkar to quit after 200th Test

MUMBAI, Sept 30: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to ask Sachin Tendulkar to quit Test arena after his 200th game against the West Indies in November.

According to a Mumbai Mirror report, sources within the BCCI have confirmed that since Tendulkar has not given any signal of announcing his Test retirement, he will be asked by the board to make way for younger blood.

However, given Tendulkar’s vast experience and seniority, the officials are in a fix to who could take up the topic with the batting genius.

It will be a BCCI administrator and not the selectors who are likely to raise the subject, the report cites.

The top BCCI official who spoke to the newspaper has said the national selection committee cannot axe Tendulkar as long as he keeps himself available for the selection.

“At the same time, his batting frailties have become too stark to ignore. He could not face a bowler like Monty Panesar in home conditions. He was further exposed in the series against Australia. Now the tricky bit is who will let him know this,” said the source.

With controversies surrounding the BCCI over N. Srinivasan and his presidential post, the messenger who will approach Tendulkar has been kept under the carpet. Even the re-elected BCCI president Srinivasan refused to comment.

The report states that, the overwhelming impression at the Annual General Meeting was that Tendulkar, aged 40, is well past his prime and hasn’t been scoring well. He is yet to score a century overseas since he scored 146 against South Africa at Cape Town in 2011.—Agencies

Saeed Ajmal forced to apologise to Whatmore

LAHORE: Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has had to apologise to the national team's coach Dav Whatmore over seemingly innocuous remarks the player made in a television interview about having a foreign-born coach.

“There is no difference, just that we are paying more to him, otherwise there is no difference,” Ajmal told Pakistan's Geo Super channel when asked about the influence of having a foreign coach.

Ajmal said there were some language difficulties to overcome, but also praised former local coaches Waqar Younis and Mohsin Khan, which prompted Whatmore to use his Twitter feed to say he had been 'deeply upset and hurt' by the comments.

The Pakistan Cricket Board moved quickly to defuse any controversy and issued a statement that said they had advised Ajmal to meet Whatmore and apologise for his comments.

“I immediately went up to Dav and apologised and explained the context and circumstances in which I made certain remarks,” Ajmal said in the statement after he met the Australian.

“Dav has worked tirelessly with the Pakistan team and it would be extremely unfair not to recognise his services.

“I enjoy very good relations with Dav and am hopeful of continuing this in the coming series.”

Pakistan play South Africa in two-tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches from Oct. 14 in the United Arab Emirates.

Haddin in, Warner out for India tour

Captain Michael Clarke was also among the 14 players selected for the seven-game series in India from October 11, who will be coached by Steve Rixon while Darren Lehmann is rested.

Whether Clarke makes the trip or not depends on treatment for his chronic back problem, with national selector John Inverarity making clear he was picked ‘subject to fitness.’

Haddin was the surprise inclusion, winning his place on the back of a lean England one-day series by alternative keeper Matthew Wade, which Australia won 2-1.

Haddin, 35, was drafted back into the Test side in place of Wade for the recent Ashes series against England to serve as Clarke’s vice-captain. He broke Rod Marsh’s 30-year-old record for the most dismissals in an Ashes series, but was not in the team for the subsequent one-day matches.

“Wade has been omitted due to lack of form and has been replaced by Haddin, who captured an Ashes series record of dismissals in July and August,” said Inverarity.

“Wade is 25 and has a great deal of natural ability both as a batsman and as a keeper. The selectors are confident that he will regain form and press hard for selection in the future.”

The Australia squad in full includes Clarke (c), George Bailey (vc), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Haddin, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges and Shane Watson.

Injury rules Clarke out of India tour

SYDNEY: Captain Michael Clarke was ruled out of Australia’s One-Day International (ODI) tour of India this month with his long-standing back problem needing further treatment ahead of the home Ashes series against England.
The star batsman was picked in the initial 14-man squad last month but the chronic injury has failed to show as much progress as expected, with George Bailey assuming responsibilities as skipper.

“Michael was very keen to captain the ODI team to India but unfortunately he hasn’t progressed enough to be available for selection,” said national selector John Inverarity.
Clarke has been plagued by back problems for years and it flared up again before Australia’s final ODI in Southampton last month.
He played in that game, but selectors are reluctant to take any more risks with Clarke given a big home summer coming up including the return Ashes series which starts with the first Test in Brisbane on November 21.
“Clarke has a recurring low-back injury that requires ongoing management,” said team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris. “During the recent England ODI series his injury flared up again and has been slow to improve with his regular treatment regime.”
Australia are due to play a seven-game ODI series and one Twenty20 in India from October 10, coached by Steve Rixon while Darren Lehmann is rested.
South Australia’s Callum Ferguson has been called up to replace Clarke with veteran wicket-keeper Brad Haddin assuming Bailey’s previous role as vice-captain.

Clarke in doubt for Ashes opener

SYDNEY: Australian captain Michael Clarke yesterday admitted he may not be fit for the first Ashes Test against England next month, with his long-standing back problem in need of extended treatment and rest.

Clarke was ruled out of Australia’s one-day tour of India this month and while desperate to be ready for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on November 21, the star batsman is pragmatic.

“Where I sit right now is I don’t know when I’ll be back playing cricket,” he said. “We have no idea how long it’s going to take.

“There’s certainly no guarantee [for the first Test] at this stage. It’s hard for me to say that because I’m trying my best not to look at it like that.

“I’m always positive and if they ask me, I’ll say I’ll be fit in a week’s time. But you ask Alex [Kountouris, team physio] who knows me very well, and he’d say there’d be doubt I won’t be right.”

Clarke has been plagued by back problems for years and they flared up again before Australia’s final One-Day International in Southampton last month at the end of a gruelling five-Test Ashes tour to England, which Australia lost 3-0.

Coach Darren Lehmann said all he could do was hope Clarke would be fit to face arch-rivals England, who are bidding to win a fourth straight Ashes series — something they last achieved in the 19th Century.

“I hope he improves his back pretty quickly,” said Lehmann.

“[The Ashes] is a long way off so hopefully with all the medicos behind him he should be right. However, only time will tell.”

In a further blow, fast-bowler James Pattinson also revealed he had no hope of being fit for Brisbane as he battles a back stress fracture, with the third Test in Perth seen as his likely earliest return.

South Africa series: Hafeez appears certain to lose Test berth

KARACHI:
The mystery surrounding the selection of the final squad for the Test series against South Africa is likely to continue for another week as the 15-man line-up for the two matches is now expected to be named in the UAE.

The team, which was to be announced after the three-day practice game that ends in Lahore today, is now tipped to be named during or after the two practice matches in the UAE, featuring all the 28 Pakistan probables.
These matches include a three-day practice match between Pakistan A and South Africa, starting on October 8, while the remaining Pakistan players will be involved in a two-day game against the UAE on October 9 and 10.

However, The Express Tribune has learnt that Mohammad Hafeez appears certain to be axed from the Test squad for the series against the Proteas starting on October 14.
The Pakistan Twenty20 captain is struggling for runs in the longer format, managing just 102 runs from his last 10 innings. Additionally, he could score only 22 in the Lahore practice game planned ahead of the team selection. With Hafeez’s off-spin bowling hardly being used in Tests, the selectors are contemplating dropping the seasoned campaigner.
“There are four contenders for three slots for the openers,” said an official close to the selection committee.
“These include Khurram Manzoor, Shaan Masood, Ahmed Shehzad and Hafeez — who has the weakest case among all.
“The selection committee prefers youngsters for this series. Dropping Taufeeq Umar and Imran Farhat was the part of the same plan as the duo is still struggling to cement their place long after making their debuts.”
Meanwhile, the official said the selectors were against the idea of including two specialist wicket-keepers in the final squad.
“Adnan Akmal is favourite to retain his place over Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan.”
He added that Umar Akmal was not certain to make a Test comeback with Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Umar Amin appearing favourites to fill the batting slots with captain Misbahul Haq and Younus Khan.
Moin rules out Hafeez inclusion in Test squad
Pakistan manager Moin Khan, who claimed that team selection was not his domain, signalled the decision has been taken to drop Hafeez.
“Hafeez’s current form is not good that’s why he is not in the Test squad for the time being,” said the former captain while speaking to reporters in Lahore.
“But at the same time, he is a cricketer with immense potential and has contributed a lot for Pakistan. He is our Twenty20 captain and we cannot write off a player of his calibre.”
The manager while confirming a delay in team announcement said it will take four to five more days to finalise squad.
Azhar, Shafiq shine on  rain-interrupted day
Meanwhile, only 28 overs could be bowled on the second day of the practice match between the Chief Ministers XI and the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chairman XI in Lahore before rain stopped the post-lunch proceedings.
Azhar and Shafiq, who resumed the penultimate day’s play on 134 for three, remained unbeaten and took the PCB Chairman’s XI score to 197 for three in 77 overs. Azhar reached 80 off 187 deliveries while Shafiq was playing on 46 from 127 balls.
The Chief Ministers XI, led by Younus, were bowled out for a paltry 90 on the opening day after fiery figures of six for 27 by left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2013.
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PAS AFRIKA SERIES

south afrika teem will reach the dubae today for playing series with pakistan

SAMIFINAL

TOMORROW SAMIFINAL BETWEEN

Former champions CSK are aware that their opponents have not lost a single game in this venue in the last Indian Premier League, and add the home side's performance in the ongoing tournament, the record surely wears an invincible look. Considering that they will be playing in front of the home crowd, the scenario is ideal for RR skipper Rahul Dravid, though he also knows that the tournament's toughest challenge awaits them. The hosts know the conditions like the back of their hands and the strategies that they planned had been executed well. But then again, the CSK, led by the redoubtable Indian captain MS Dhoni , could be an altogether different proposition. Rajasthan would do well to not read too much into CSK's defeat last night. On a day when nothing went right after three successive wins, the famed CSK outfit crashed to an eight-wicket defeat after being bowled out for 118. While the CSK bowlers had no answer to T & T's Lendl Simmons (63), they would hope to dish out a much better display with both bat and ball on Friday. The visitors have tremendous depth in their batting and bowling. In Dhoni, they have a cool and shrewd skipper who is also in blazing from with the willow. Though he may not have done much against T&T, Dhoni`s 19-ball 63-run knock against Hyderabad Sunrisers is testimony to the kind of form he is in. Suresh Raina and Michael Hussey are as solid as ever and Murali Vijay has also shown good form. Ravindra Jadeja has not been up to the mark but he can be never be counted out. The likes of Subramaniam Badrinath, Dwayne Bravo and Ravichandran Ashwin give their batting the much-needed depth down the order. Their bowling too has variety and options in Jason Holder, J Bravo. Albie Morkel, Ashwin and Jadeja. On the other hand the hosts, who have not put a foot wrong do far in the tournament, can take heart from the fact that the visitors have suffered a tame defeat to Trinidad and Tobago. The conditions here suit them and they have been able to get the better of many fancied teams, be it in the IPL or in the ongoing tournament. They do not have too many big stars but certainly have players who know their role. In Dravid, Shane Watson and Brad Hodge they have the experience and class which is supported by energetic and talented youngsters like Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Kevon Cooper and Ashok Menaria. All these young players are eager to keep proving their mettle in the top leagues. The hosts also have the bowling which has teeth and variety. Watson, Shaun Tait are seasoned campaigners while rookie Vikramjeet Malik, Rahul Shukla and Pravin Tambe have been used as surprise packages. It would not be wrong to assume that the Pink City is set for a high-voltage clash between two formidable sides. Squads Rajasthan Royals: Rahul Dravid (captain), Stuart Binny, Kevon Cooper, James Faulkner, Brad Hodge, Vikramjeet Malik, Ashok Menaria, Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Rahul Shukla, Shaun Tait, Pravin Tambe, Siddharth Trivedi, Shane Watson and Dishant Yagnik. Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (captain and wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, S Badrinath, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Jason Holder, Michael Hussey, Imtiaz Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, Albie Morkel, Chris Morris, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohit Sharma, Murali Vijay. Match starts 8PM IST

Read more at: http://www.thatscricket.com/news/2013/10/03/preview-clt20-semi-final-1-rajasthan-royals-chennai-super-kings-jaipur-069405.html