Pak Cric News

Sri Lanka have the advantage - Dilshan

2011-10-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

Muneeb ur Rehman

October 24, 2011

Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, has said that his team have the psychological advantage over Pakistan after salvaging a draw in the first Test when a defeat appeared to be the most likely result. Sri Lanka trailed Pakistan by 81 runs with just five wickets in hand on the fourth day, but Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene thwarted the hosts with a 201-run stand.

"I think it's [the draw] a huge advantage for us," Dilshan told AFP. "We were well behind in the match and we survived, and since this is a long series we have to come out strongly in each match."

Sri Lanka were in trouble after being bowled out for 197 in their first innings and Dilshan said the Sri Lanka batsmen have to do a better job in the second Test. "We were bowled out for under 200 runs and it was very difficult to come back and win the match. We have to come out strongly in the second Test, especially the first innings, we have to put runs on the board so that this young bowling attack has some confidence while bowling. We can't ask them to bowl with just 200 runs [behind them]."

Dilshan took over as captain from Kumar Sangakkara after the 2011 World Cup and under him Sri Lanka have suffered two 1-0 Test series defeats, away to England and at home to Australia. His own form has been patchy over the same period, and he admitted it was a concern. "Yes, it's a worry but I am sure that I can get runs in the middle order and I look forward to that in the second Test, because five-day cricket needs everyone to perform."

Pakistan let Sri Lanka off the hook in the first Test with a poor performance in the field, dropping six catches in the second innings, but Misbah-ul Haq, the Pakistan captain, said that his team was not deflated by the result. "Slip catching is all about confidence, just like batting. We are really looking forward to doing a lot of practice, and forget the fielding effort in the first match and just go out for a win.

"Nobody's down. The show everybody put up, everyone was focussed, everyone bowling their heart out. We tried everything but in the end you can say luck, or the fielding, you cant do anything about."

The second Test begins on October 26 in Dubai.

Misbah targets improved fielding

2011-10-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Muneeb ur Rehman

October 22, 2011

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has said that his side needs to improve their fielding if they want to win the three-Test series against Sri Lanka. Pakistan dropped six catches in Sri Lanka's second innings, helping the visitors overcome a 314-run first-innings deficit and hang on for a draw.

"The only negative from the Test is our fielding," Misbah said. "Otherwise bowling and batting had so many positives. Pakistan's fielding has improved over time but we need to improve more, like with batting and bowling. We have been for ages on and off in the field, one day outstanding, other days not so.

"But we've focussed and worked hard on this for the last year and a half. The problem still does come up, but we are trying to better it [the fielding]."

Fielding aside, Pakistan had plenty of positives to take from the game. Left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan picked up career-best figures of 5-38 in just his second Test, helping bowl out Sri Lanka for 197 in their first innings, while opener Taufeeq Umar racked up a double-century.

"We took 20 wickets and lost seven, so it's really a positive sign for our team," Misbah said. "We can work hard on fielding, come in with more confidence and do well in the second Test.

Led by Kumar Sangakkara, who made 211, his eighth double hundred in Tests, Sri Lanka were able to keep Pakistan at bay and save the Test, and Misbah praised their rearguard action. "You always rate Sri Lanka as a top-class cricket team. They made a great comeback, we were expecting that. We were aware that they are going to fight, and full marks to Sangakkara and Prasanna [Jayawardene] who put up a brilliant show."

Pakistan were set 170 to win in 21 overs to but opted not to try and overhaul the target, a tactic that Misbah defended. "Realistically, last day wicket ... Twenty20 is a different ball-game, you have field restrictions, a Powerplay. In a five-day game, no restrictions, you can pack one side and nine-an-over becomes difficult, it was not realistic."

Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, said he was disappointed that Pakistan did not even try to chase their target. "I think it's a huge advantage for us," Dilshan said. "I thought Pakistan would try to go for the target and I am a little unhappy they did not try to go for a win."

Dilshan also praised Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene, who made his fourth Test century and added 201 with Sangakkara in their game-saving stand.

"It was a fantastic partnership. Sangakkara showed his class, played well in the middle and guided Prasanna. I can't ask for more from him. He is a fantastic player and Prasanna played equally well.

"Definitely, I am really happy. The thing is, after the first couple of days we were well behind in the match and even then the body language in fielding and bowling on a flat wicket was great."

Sangakkara, Prasanna Jayawardene earn draw for SL

2011-10-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Report by muneeb

October 22, 2011

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Sri Lanka 197 (Mathews 52*, Junaid 5-38) and 483 (Sangakkara 211, P Jayawardene 120, Gul 4-64) drew with Pakistan 511 for 6 dec (Taufeeq 236, Hafeez 75, Ali 70) and 21 for 1

Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene defied Pakistan for six hours, batting almost till tea on the final day to earn a draw for Sri Lanka. After losing five wickets on the fourth evening while still needing 81 runs to make Pakistan bat again, Sri Lanka benefited from six dropped chances in the second innings. Pakistan's bowlers toiled as much as the heat allowed them to, but their effectiveness was blunted by an unyielding pitch, abysmal catching and resolute batting. Both Sangakkara and Jayawardene achieved personal landmarks, with the former reaching his eighth Test double-century, putting him behind only Don Bradman and Brian Lara.

The sixth-wicket partnership between Sangakkara and Jayawardene - easily the highest for Sri Lanka against Pakistan - ate away whatever advantage remained with Pakistan after yesterday's five dropped chances. Azhar Ali finally ended Pakistan's despair after 73 fruitless overs, trapping Sangakkara leg-before with a legbreak just before tea. Aizaz Cheema had Jayawardene caught behind with the third new ball but it was too late to make up for the largesse of all those missed chances in a match affected by some average umpiring from Tony Hill. Umar Gul cleaned up the tail, leaving Pakistan an improbable 170 to get in 21 overs. Pakistan's top order did not give the slightest impression of going for it, and the game was called off after ten rather pointless overs as Tillakaratne Dilshan let the game meander beyond the start of the final hour.

Sri Lanka could afford to indulge in such psychological banter after Sangakkara and Jayawardene had carried them to safety, the slowness of the pitch allowing them to defend without much trouble. Sangakkara - who had looked near-immoveable after a couple of reprieves yesterday - allowed Jayawardene to take charge, but still put the loose ones away, reaching 200 with a nudge to the fine leg boundary off Cheema in the 143rd over. Jayawardene lofted Ajmal for a straight boundary in the 148th over to bring up a potentially match-saving century after having got a duck in the first innings. Not at any stage did they show even a hint of getting bogged down, unlike batsmen from both teams in the first innings.

Jayawardene, dropped by Wahab Riaz on 11 last evening, was much more positive today, breaking free with a swept boundary when Saeed Ajmal tried to tie him down early with two fielders around square leg. A tiring Junaid Khan - who had kept charging in with energy and going past the outside edge - was pulled emphatically over midwicket.

Pakistan's frustration slowly turned into resignation, a shame given the way they dominated this game for four days, apart from their fielding, which ruined the untiring efforts of their bowlers in the end. As in the first innings, Cheema epitomised Pakistan's willingness to give it everything on a pitch which held up so well in the heat, it could have been good for five more days.

An over from Cheema, the 137th of the innings, told Pakistan's tale of luckless perseverance. After four testing deliveries, Cheema bowled a loopy slow delivery that completely befuddled Jayawardene outside off stump. A ripping reverse-swinging yorker followed but Jayawardene somehow managed to dig it out, almost falling over. The unwavering Cheema was back in his next over with another slower ball followed by another accurate yorker, only to be denied without fuss by Jayawardene. This after Cheema had been denied by umpire Tony Hill after hitting Jayawardene on the pads right after lunch.

Azhar's unexpected strike at the stroke of tea brought relief for Pakistan and they eventually got through the tail with the third new ball but not before Rangana Herath had been grassed by Gul at extra cover, the sixth drop of the innings. Herath stretched the innings till 168 overs, leaving Pakistan to rue their generosity on the field and in hindsight, their cautious approach with the bat in the first innings.

Sangakkara praises Pakistan's bowlers

2011-10-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

muneeb

October 21, 2011

Kumar Sangakkara has said that Pakistan's attack bowled "exceptionally well" on a day when only he stood between Sri Lanka and defeat in the first Test in Abu Dhabi. Sangakkara batted through the fourth day to score 161, whittling the deficit from 267 to 16, as Sri Lanka finished on 298 for 5. Pakistan would have taken several more wickets, though, had their fielders not dropped five catches.

"Pakistan bowled exceptionally well, they used the new ball well. The spinners came on and they also continued to keep the pressure up and that doesn't help," Sangakkara said. "It's a new attack, they got two seniors in [Saeed] Ajmal and [Umar] Gul but it's heartening to see two young bowlers come in.

"Junaid [Khan] used his angles well and used his pace variations well. He bowled in the right areas and that has been a challenge. We have not yet been able to overcome that challenge, but we should do it."

Sangakkara added 153 runs for the second wicket with Lahiru Thirimanne but then watched wickets fall at regular intervals as Sri Lanka lost four batsmen for 80 runs. Sangakkara was also let off twice, off Junaid and Mohammad Hafeez's bowling, and he made his good fortune count by scoring his 26th Test century and his 11th second-innings hundred.

"It would have been nice if I had I got it in the first innings but it was a tough fight and one of my better hundreds," he said. "But there is still work left and if we can get through the first session, we can put some pressure on Pakistan.

"Hundred or 150 [more] would be fantastic, that will also take time away. Let's see tomorrow, first we have to get the morning session out [of the way]. We have to first come out and fight again."

Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar had ground out a double-century and batted for more than 12 hours in energy-sapping conditions. Sangakkara, however, said the fourth day had not been as bad.

"It was pretty alright, the weather was much cooler than the first day, the breeze helped you keep cool and wicket was flat, so I was just making sure we made few mistakes," he said. "I feel fantastic and great, once you bat and do the hard work it's great and there is more to be done."

Pakistan thwarted by Sangakkara, dropped chances

2011-10-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Report by MUNEEB UR REHMAN

October 21, 2011

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Sri Lanka 298 for 5 (Sangakkara 161*, Thirimanne 68) and 197 trail Pakistan 511 for 6 dec by 16 runs

Five dropped catches and four wickets summed up a profligate day for Pakistan, on which their bowlers toiled to create numerous chances only for their fielders - led by Mohammad Hafeez - to spill them. Kumar Sangakkara's fighting century was the only positive for Sri Lanka, and his continued presence their only hope of saving the match.

The bowlers created pressure and some panic but Sri Lanka emerged relatively unscathed, with Sangakkara and Pakistan's fielders taking the match into a fifth day. After four catches had gone down during a 153-run second-wicket partnership that was beginning to hurt Pakistan, they were given an opening via Lahiru Thirimanne's suicidal attempt at a second run. Thirimanne and Sangakkara had survived for more than 50 overs; Sri Lanka then lost three batsmen in little over ten, before an astonishing fifth let-off kept them afloat.

Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan, who had both been denied by the slippery hands of Hafeez, took the fielders out of the equation, bowling Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan respectively for single-digit scores. An inside edge off an attempted cut against an offbreak accounted for Jayawardene while Dilshan drove loosely at one that sneaked through the gap between bat and pad.

It was a characteristic burst from Pakistan after a period of frenzy before lunch when their fielding fell apart in a rush of squandered catches. It allowed Thirimanne and Sangakkara to survive a testing first session as the bowlers were let down three times by Hafeez, including twice off successive deliveries from Junaid.

On a pitch that did not offer much even on the fourth day, the bowlers gave Sri Lanka a hard time, producing false shots, going past the outside edge and hitting the pads. The batsmen countered in their own ways, Thirimanne using the sweep to ward off Ajmal, Sangakkara playing straight, and nudging and cutting when the opportunities came.

Junaid produced the first real chance off the last ball of the 27th over when he induced Thirimanne to edge an attempted drive. It went low to first slip where Hafeez grabbed at the ball and grassed it. Hafeez was to deny Junaid and reprieve Thirimanne again, off the next delivery. If anything, this one was easier. Thirimanne had another escape as lunch approached, when he cut Ajmal straight to the gully fielder, who backed away and was hit on the body. It was Hafeez yet again.

Junaid was to suffer a third time when Younis Khan was unsure whether he had taken Sangakkara's edge cleanly after diving forward at second slip. Younis let off Sangakkara once again before lunch, on 56, dropping a tough diving chance at slip off, ironically, Hafeez.

Thirimanne could not capitalise on the good fortune but Sangakkara continued to resist, even as wickets fell. He used the abundant short deliveries to cut and steer for boundaries on the off side and kept nudging and clipping for runs on the leg. Pakistan fed his strengths throughout the day. Sangakkara looted 81 off 42 deliveries square on the off side and another 51 off 33 square on the leg. Yet another cut shot to the point boundary off Junaid earned him his 11th second-innings Test century, off 173 deliveries.

Angelo Mathews could not reprise his first-innings salvage effort, though. Umar Gul - who hadn't bowled after sending down four overs in the morning - trapped him leg-before off the first delivery with the second new ball, after having got Tharanga Paranavitana right away with the first last evening.

Almost inevitably, Pakistan's fielding came to haunt them again as substitute fielder Wahab Riaz put down a mistimed pull by Prasanna Jayawardene off a disgusted Gul. Jayawardene was also fortunate to get away with a close leg-before shout against Junaid but by the end, he had frustrated Pakistan along with Sangakkara for 125 deliveries.

With Sangakkara's effort beginning to rival Taufeeq Umar's first-innings marathon, Pakistan had no one to blame but themselves for what could have been.

Marvan Atapattu hopeful of saving Test

2011-10-21T00:55:00.000-07:00

Srilanka have an enormous challenge ahead of them to save the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, but their batting coach Marvan Atapattu has said his team can do it. Sri Lanka trail by 267 with nine wickets in hand in their second innings and two days to go.

"We really have to bat well in the second innings and I am sure the boys will do their best to save this match," Atapattu said.

Sri Lanka conceded a first-innings lead of 314 after they were dismissed for 197 and Pakistan replied with 511 for 6 declared. Atapattu said the opportunity had been lost with the first-innings collapse.

"I feel that we missed an opportunity. It's certainly not a 200-pitch and we all accept that," he said. "We were at least short by a good 100 runs. The outfield is not fast by any means and the wicket wasn't a batting-friendly wicket for a start. I wouldn't say it was two-paced but there was something there for bowlers who were ready to bend their backs."

"It's hard conditions, tough conditions. Obviously, we knew what we were against, but we weren't at our best. Tomorrow will be a new day and hopefully the ones who missed out will have a good day tomorrow."

One batsmen who thrived in these tough conditions was Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar, whose 12-hour double-century set-up Pakistan's push towards victory. His 236 was the first double-hundred by a Pakistan opener since Aamer Sohail's 205 at Old Trafford in 1992.

"It was my burning desire to score a Test double-hundred," Taufeeq said. "I am delighted to hear that I am in an illustrious company of Hanif [Mohammad] and Sohail. It was very hot, but I kept telling myself that my team needed me to stay and I achieved that to put my team in a strong position."

Pakistan ride on Taufeeq double-century

2011-10-21T00:52:00.001-07:00

October 20, 2011

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Sri Lanka 47 for 1 and 197 trail Pakistan 511 for 6 dec (Taufeeq 236, Hafeez 75, Azhar 70) by 267 runs

Twelve hours of monkish accumulation in the Abu Dhabi heat earned Taufeeq Umar only the seventh double-century by a Pakistan opener, and the first since 1992. It also left a tired Sri Lanka waiting for a declaration as Pakistan's batsmen, barring Misbah-ul-Haq, favoured accumulation over urgency. Misbah finally relented about an hour before close of play, after the lead was 314, leaving the Sri Lanka openers a testing period to survive.

Sri Lanka's day got worse when umpire Tony Hill, who is having a rough game, harshly adjudged Tharanga Paranavitana leg-before first ball. Several close shaves against the new ball followed, which was the last thing Sri Lanka needed after Taufeeq had ground them out of the match.

Taufeeq went through three contrasting partnerships on the third day: he collected runs without risk with Younis Khan, stepped back as Misbah attacked the bowlers and finally took charge when Asad Shafiq - coming in at 436 for 4 - remained stuck on 1 for 30 deliveries.

As is often the case in sagas of self-denial, there wasn't a particular Taufeeq stroke that stood out. What did was the way he got his runs - dabbing and steering when he could have indulged in a cut, stepping out to clip and drive when he could have lofted, nudging when he could have flicked. He patted away numerous half-volleys and scored less than a third of his runs in boundaries. He ran 90 singles, 21 twos and 10 threes in the sapping heat.

There were also outside edges that did not carry, inside edges that missed the stumps and a let-off soon after Taufeeq had reached his century yesterday, but in an innings that spanned close to 500 deliveries, it was almost par for the course. Taufeeq continued to pull with zest throughout, showing that nine successive sessions on the field had not diminished his effort.

With Taufeeq's patience at one end, Misbah brought the urgency the innings had begun to scream for before umpire Tony Hill ruled him caught behind, his third big error of the game.

After Chanaka Welegedara had accounted for Azhar Ali in the seventh over of the morning, Taufeeq and Younis ensured Sri Lanka's relief was temporary with a stand that had a sense of inevitability in the resolute manner it was built. Welegedara tested Pakistan in the morning, getting nip off the surface and swing in the air. A ripping inswinger uprooted Azhar's off stump. It was the tenth time Azhar had failed to convert a half-century into a Test hundred.

Apart from that, and a couple of edges and mis-hits that didn't carry to the fielders, Pakistan carried on unbothered, though they did not really dominate. Taufeeq and Younis hardly took any risks. Younis benefited from a dropped catch by Prasanna Jayawardene off Tillakaratne Dilshan when on 16 but was handed a marginal leg-before decision by umpire Rod Tucker. It was again Welegedara who earned the breakthrough with a delivery that straightened a little.

Younis' departure quickened proceedings considerably. With a mixture of slog-sweeps, a late cut and a reverse-sweep, Misbah chugged along at close to run-a-ball. Even Rangana Herath, who had troubled Pakistan the most, was reduced to bowling in the rough outside leg stump from over the wicket. The line got rid of Misbah just before tea, though the ball had only brushed his sleeve before being taken by Prasanna Jayawardene. Taufeeq was again left to push on with another new batsman for company.

This time, Taufeeq was forced to be the aggressor, with Shafiq refusing to score till a message from the dressing room forced him to look for some runs. Even then, he managed 26 from 94 and ultimately ran out Taufeeq, ironically refusing a sharp single to a man who had been on the field for all three days.

That was the only way the immoveable Taufeeq could have got out, but not before Sri Lanka had been deflated. Their nightmare was complete when Paranavitana went immediately. Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne were positive, though, as they got through 11 overs without further damage.

Patient Taufeeq puts Pakistan in charge

2011-10-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

Muneeb ur Rehman

October 19, 2011

Pakistan 259 for 1 (Taufeeq 109*, Hafeez 75, Azhar 60*) lead Sri Lanka 197 by 62 runs

The painstaking efforts of Pakistan's top order put their side in control against a helpless Sri Lankan attack which was remorselessly taken apart on an unresponsive surface, first by the positivity of Mohammad Hafeez and then by the self-denial and accumulation of Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali.

After Hafeez had batted with purpose in a productive morning session, Taufeeq and Azhar stonewalled at under two runs an over till tea before displaying some urgency in the final session to leave Sri Lanka deflated in the Abu Dhabi heat. Taufeeq played second fiddle to Hafeez, blocked half-volleys after lunch along with Azhar Ali and displayed refreshing freedom after tea to reach his second century in three Tests. Azhar, mostly bordering on the over-cautious, continued to display the solidity that has marked his short career with another half-century in a partnership which grew to 141 by the end of the day.

Nothing worked for Sri Lanka after their batsmen had collapsed yesterday. Mahela Jayawardene - one of the safest slip fielders around - failed to hold on to the only real chance that Pakistan gave during the day. Azhar, on 7, edged Rangana Herath towards slip but Jayawardene could not grasp the ball as it died in front of him. Towards the end of play, umpire Tony Hill failed to spot a clear inside edge off Taufeeq's bat into the wicketkeeper's gloves when he was on 102.

The tone for Pakistan's dominance was set by Hafeez in the first over of the day bowled by Chanaka Welegedara which went for 10. Sri Lanka would have wanted more from their seamers in the morning, but an in-form Hafeez proved hard to crack on the flat pitch. The heat also restricted the length and effectiveness of the seamers' spells; only Herath consistently troubled the batsmen with clever use of flight and variations, something not reflected in his returns of 33-9-53-1 for the day. Herath beat Hafeez with flight and turn off his third delivery and would have sneaked a carrom ball through him but for a late inside edge.

Hafeez targeted the seamers and eventually broke free against Herath to loft him for a straight six before being trapped in front with an arm ball. Pakistan stalled inexplicably after Hafeez's departure, defending everything and refusing to take charge of a second session they should have dominated. They should have taken the lead before tea but with Azhar remaining stuck on 7 for 43 deliveries at one stage as they scraped 59 runs in 30 overs in the second session.

They seemed to have woken up at the stroke of tea, though, with Azhar taking Suranga Lakmal for consecutive fours. Taufeeq, on 65 off 200 deliveries, came out a changed batsman after tea. He took 35 off his next 59 balls to reach his century with two boundaries and a tuck off Lakmal in the 86th over. The landmark reached, he shut shop for the rest of the day, scoring only nine off his final 37 deliveries. Pakistan still collected 85 off 31 overs after tea, finally attempting to rub in their advantage. The second new ball came and went, almost unnoticed.

At no stage during their partnership were they pretty to watch, but Taufeeq and Azhar will rightly point to the scoreboard, and to Pakistan's position, to show that it was worth the grind.

Butt has 'been caught' court told

2011-10-19T11:44:00.001-07:00

Richard Sydenham at Southwark Crown Court

October 19, 2011

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Salman Butt ended a long spell in the witness box with further tough questioning © Associated Press

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Salman Butt was told by the prosecution he had "been caught" as his long vigil in the witness box that stretched over three days was completed in the afternoon of the eleventh day of the alleged spot-fixing trial in London on Wednesday.

Butt faced the prosecution headed by Aftab Jafferjee QC for two days running, following the day he spent in the stand with his own counsel on Monday. It was an often fraught exchange that concluded with Butt accepting no part in the alleged spot-fixing and Jafferjee telling the court that he was "controlling" the players through the no-balls.

Former Pakistan captain Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif are facing charges of conspiracy to cheat, and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, following the Lord's Test last year when they allegedly conspired with agent Mazhar Majeed, teenage pace bowler Mohammad Amir and other people unknown to bowl pre-planned no-balls. Butt and Asif deny the charges.

The jury was walked through the detail of the frantic phone traffic between Butt, Majeed, Asif and Amir on the night before the Lord's Test commenced, after Majeed had been caught on a secret camera pocketing £140,000 for pre-planned no-balls to be bowled plus future fixes. A previous amount of £10,000 had already been paid.

There were 20 calls or texts between Butt and Majeed, 25 between Amir and Majeed and four between Butt, Asif and Amir. Some of these calls or text messages were made in the early hours.

"The Lord's fix was on Mr Butt in the early hours of the morning and you know it don't you," Jafferjee said.

Butt replied: "No."

"It's all going on behind your back is it?" Jafferjee asked sarcastically.

Butt: "Yes."

"It's the three of you who are all (planning) the no-balls Mr Butt," Jafferjee continued. "You are all saying what is going to go on, isn't it?

Butt: "I'm not part of it."

"But we agree don't we Mr Butt," Jafferjee went on, "that if Amir and Asif were involved they would have to have spoken to you?"

Butt: "Okay, I'll take that from you (with a wry grin)."

"Everything suggests that Amir was in on the fix doesn't it Mr Butt?"

Butt: "Yes."

Jafferjee then talked about what he has repeatedly called "the performance" that followed Amir's first no-ball, as Amir checked his spikes, examined the crease and Butt then arrived to sprinkle sawdust on the crease.

Jafferjee: "You would agree it was a performance wouldn't you Mr Butt?"

Butt: "I didn't bring the sawdust with me from the hotel. It is always there on the ground when the weather is damp."

"Yes no-balls are bowled accidentally, sawdust is there out on the ground and batsmen do tap the pitch," Jafferjee hit back. "But what you and Majeed and Amir and Asif did was exploit things what normally happen out on the cricket pitch."

The prosecutor then reminded the jury of the text message that Majeed sent to the undercover News of the World reporter just before the third pre-planned no-ball was delivered. Because Amir was bowling beautifully and eventually reduced England to 47 for 5 in that first innings, Majeed texted to warn the journalist that the captain might tell Amir not to bowl that no-ball now because of the form he was in.

Jafferjee concluded: "He (Majeed) was talking about you because you are in there controlling the players and particularly the youngest player out there - the impressionable Amir, Mr Butt. And you have been caught."

Although Butt defended himself consistently and stoically, he was forced to concede on several occasions that Majeed's fixing-related messages to him were "annoying". Jafferjee pressed him hard on why he never - in the messages before the court anyway - told Majeed that he would not tolerate it anymore.

The night before he allegedly agreed to bat out a maiden at The Oval in the third Test - the night before they eventually won the match - was such an episode that Jafferjee focused on. On how when Majeed called him, unknowingly on speakerphone so the journalist could hear, to say: 'You know the maiden over yeah?' To which Butt went 'Yeah'. Majeed continued, 'Do one more'. It was then that Butt said, 'No mate, just leave it.' Butt did not bat out the maiden. Majeed contacted Butt again on the same subject the following morning, a Saturday, before Butt left for the ground.

Jafferjee continually pressed Butt on why he did not respond more angrily to Majeed. "You were on the verge of a great win and you didn't tell Majeed how annoyed you were by these messages?" Butt reasoned that he was focusing on the game and didn't want to get into an awkward conversation at that time. Butt also said in the subsequent celebration dinner that Majeed attended along with "seven or eight" of the players he never mentioned the messages.

Jafferjee was unimpressed by the answers he was receiving on the issue and at one point said: "You are lying your head off to this jury aren't you Mr Butt?"

Before the day ended, Butt's lawyer Ali Bajwa QC told the court that some Pakistan numbers in the phone records during this time corresponded to calls Butt made to family, friends and former players including Imran Khan, who Butt admitted he would call for advice.

The case continues.

Pakistan vs Sirlanka 1st Test Live hare

2011-10-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

Pakistan vs Srilanka 1ST Test at Abu Dhabi Live Cricket Channel Link hare

http://pakcric-news.blogspot.com/p/live-channel-1-10.html

Boom Boom's Back

2011-10-12T07:44:00.001-07:00

Boom Boom's Back

Author: Muneeb ur Rehman;

It’s not much of a surprise but Shahid Afridi has decided to come back from his conditional retirement. The flamboyant all-rounder last month had said that he’ll be making a very ‘crucial’ decision about his carrier making most of his fans’ hearts jump to their throats. But he had also killed the surprise for most of us. Because we all knew that the great Ijaz Butt (the guy’s a freaking mountain) was near the termination of his tenure and it was obvious that Afridi wanted to wait before he finally went bye-bye. Afridi fans are ecstatic that he’s back and while he was away, BOOM BOOM didn’t disappoint his fans with his performances in county cricket and last week, a Pakistani team comprising of Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhter, Azhar Mahmood and guest player Jason Roy won the inaugural Titans Of Cricket Challenge which was all about a cricketer’s skills in all the three departments.

Afridi had retired because he had problems with Coach Waqar Younis and Ijaz Butt who both turned a deaf ear to him. This was a conditional retirement because he had openly announced that as long as Waqar Younis and Ijaz Butt were in the management, he will not play cricket for Pakistan. So, lucky for Afridi all the hindrances in his way are gone now. Let’s just hope he’s selected back in the team as quickly as possible without any further drama and perform to his best in the series against Sri Lanka and England. Because we all know that when a Pakistani player of Afridi’s caliber makes a comeback, he comes with a BANG; in his case, it’ll be a BOOM and another BOOM.

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Shahid Afridi Back In International Cricket

2011-10-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

Breaking News BOOM BOOM returns to INternational Cricket
Alaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
tommorow he will announce in press confress via Waqt News
~H

The Pakistan Government has announced the new Chairman of PCB

2011-10-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf...the new PCB Chairman!

Pakistani first-class cricketer Nauman Habib has died

2011-10-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

Pakistani first-class cricketer Nauman Habib has died in Peshawar, reportedly a victim of murder. Habib, 32, had gone missing on October 9 after leaving his house in Hayatabad, Peshawar, for a nearby gym; his body was found near his house on October 11. Habib had been playing for Peshawar against Multan from October 6-8 in the first round of this season's Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and had taken seven wickets in the match.

Habib, a right-arm seamer, played 63 first-class matches and 30 List A games. He had taken 221 first-class wickets at an average of 26.22, with nine five-wicket hauls; he took ten wickets in a match three times.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh

2011-10-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Cricket Board Tuesday welcomed the decision taken in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Executive Board meeting held a day ago in Dubai that the next president of ICC will be nominated by Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Karachi Dolphins vs peshawar panthers

2011-09-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

vs

Karachi Dolphins vs peshawar panthers
The 3rd Match of The Day 30 Sep

Live Link Hare

http://pakcric-news.blogspot.com/p/live-geo-super-tv.html

Karachi Dolphin his first win in faysal bank t20

2011-09-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Faysal Bank T20 2011-12
Cricket mela in Pakistan
At National Cricket Stadium Karachi
Today 3rd match of the day 29 sep 2011
Karachi Dolphins vs Islamabad Leopards

Karachi has Won the match by 8 wickets with good captain innings
Boom boom Afridi of his half century

Afghan Cheetas v Faisalabad Wolves live link

2011-09-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

YE HAIN CRICKET PAKISTAN
Faysal bank T20 2011-12 Cricket Mela
in karachi
The 4th Day Of tournament of faysal bank t20
2nd match of day 29 september
a big match
Afghanistan vs Faisalabad

Live Geo Super

Afghanistan vs Rawalpindi Rams Live Link

2011-09-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

Faysal Bank T20 2011-12 Matches
Faysal bank T20 3rd day

This is the 3rd match of day is
Afghanistan vs Rawalpindi

Line Link http://pakcric-news.blogspot.com/p/live-geo-super-tv.html

Islamabad Leopards v Peshawar Live Link

2011-09-27T23:29:00.000-07:00

Islamabad vs Pashawar
VS

the 3rd Day of faysal bank t20 2011-12 link hare
Live on GEO SUPER

Karachi stun Abbottabad with last-ball win

2011-09-27T23:22:00.000-07:00

Text size: A | A

Rameez Aziz and Hasan Raza pulled off a heist as Karachi Zebras beat Abbottabad Falcons off the last ball of the game and claim a six-wicket victory. Karachi had slumped to 28 for 4 in the fifth over and looked unlikely to threaten Abbottabad's total of 158 that was built around Yasir Hameed's 73. But Aziz and Raza first steadied the innings and then launched a counter-attack over the closing overs to stun their opponents. Raza was the more aggressive of the two; his 74 came from 50 balls and included 11 fours. Aziz ended the day on 67 from 53 balls, with 10 fours. Their 132-run partnership was memorably capped by Raza as he struck left-arm spinner Khalid Usman for the winning runs.

Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar powered Lahore Eagles to their third win in a row at the National Stadium in Karachi. Farhat and Umar both made half-centuries as Lahore cruised past Quetta Bears by nine wicketswith 23 balls to spare. Quetta struggled after choosing to bat, as Lahore's bowlers proved difficult to get away. Umar was in the thick of the action in the field, running out Bismillah Khan and Abid Ali, the latter's wicket setting off a Quetta collapse. It took a quickfire 26 from Saeed Khan just to push his side to 125. Lahore's openers made short work of their target. Farhat was the dominant partner, striking six fours and a six in his 50, which came from 33 balls. Umar was a little more circumspect, his 50 taking 49 balls and containing five fours. The win consolidated Lahore's position at the top of Group A.

A collective bowling effort helped Sialkot Stallions win by five balls to spare against Lahore Lions at the National Stadium in Karachi. Seamer Naved-ul-Hasan bagged three wickets and was supported by Sarfraz Ahmed, Raza Hasan and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, each of whom took three. Lahore captain Abdul Razzaq made a quickfire 42 but the lower order crumbled and folded for 121. Sialkot lost their openers in quick time in the chase but wicketkeeper Shakeel Ansar (42) and Shahid Yousuf (47) got their team back on track. The pair added 72 and captain Shoaib Malik stayed through to the end with an unbeaten 15.

Lahor Lions vs Sialkot Stallions Live Link Hare

2011-09-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

This is A Big Match Of Faysal Bank T20 2011-2012 Lahor Lions Is the Great Side But Sialkot Stallians is Also Great match of tournament

Lahor Lions Vs Sialkot stallions
Link GEO SUPER

Abbottabad Falcons vs Karachi Zebras

2011-09-27T04:43:00.000-07:00

VS
Live Link Hare
http://pakcric-news.blogspot.com/p/live-geo-super-tv.html

Karachi Zebras VS Quetta Bears Full Score Card

2011-09-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

Karachi Zebras 172/5 (20/20 ov)

Quetta Bears 128 (18.3/20 ov)

Match over

Faysal Bank T-20 Cup - Group A
Twenty20 match | 2011/12 season
Played at National Stadium, Karachi
26 September 2011 - day/night (20-over match)


Karachi Zebras innings (20 overs maximum)		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
Khurram Manzoor	b Arun Lal	62	68	52	6	1	119.23
Rameez Aziz	run out (Taimur Siddiq/†Bismillah Khan)	24	17	12	5	0	200.00
Anwar Ali	run out (†Bismillah Khan)	32	29	21	2	1	152.38
Faisal Iqbal	c Mohibullah b Sher Hasan	6	12	9	0	0	66.66
Akbar-ur-Rehman	not out	23	26	14	1	2	164.28
Hasan Raza	b Arun Lal	17	17	13	1	0	130.76
Danish Kaneria*	not out	2	1	1	0	0	200.00
Extras	(b 1, w 1, nb 4)	6

Total	(5 wickets; 20 overs; 87 mins)	172	(8.60 runs per over)

Did not bat Uzair-ul-Haq, Atif Maqbool, Farhan Iqbal†, Azam Hussain

Fall of wickets1-36 (Rameez Aziz, 3.6 ov), 2-93 (Anwar Ali, 10.3 ov), 3-117 (Faisal Iqbal, 14.1 ov),4-132 (Khurram Manzoor, 15.5 ov), 5-170 (Hasan Raza, 19.5 ov)


Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
Saeed Khan	4	0	25	0	6.25
Arun Lal	4	0	53	2	13.25
Sher Hasan	4	0	28	1	7.00	(1nb)
Faizullah	3	0	24	0	8.00	(1nb)
Abid Ali	4	0	33	0	8.25	(1w)
Mohibullah	1	0	8	0	8.00


Quetta Bears innings (target: 173 runs from 20 overs)		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
Bismillah Khan*†	c Danish Kaneria b Uzair-ul-Haq	11	22	15	1	0	73.33
Fareed-ud-din	c Azam Hussain b Uzair-ul-Haq	24	25	18	4	0	133.33
Mir Wais	b Atif Maqbool	21	27	20	2	0	105.00
Abid Ali	run out (Danish Kaneria)	26	36	23	2	0	113.04
Arun Lal	st †Farhan Iqbal b Azam Hussain	13	17	13	1	0	100.00
Mohibullah	c Atif Maqbool b Azam Hussain	2	7	5	0	0	40.00
Munir Ahmed	lbw b Anwar Ali	10	9	5	0	1	200.00
Taimur Siddiq	c †Farhan Iqbal b Danish Kaneria	0	2	3	0	0	0.00
Saeed Khan	b Danish Kaneria	0	1	1	0	0	0.00
Sher Hasan	b Danish Kaneria	2	0	7	0	0	28.57
Faizullah	not out	1	0	2	0	0	50.00
Extras	(b 4, lb 7, w 7)	18

Total	(all out; 18.3 overs)	128	(6.91 runs per over)

Fall of wickets1-40 (Bismillah Khan, 5.1 ov), 2-45 (Fareed-ud-din, 5.3 ov), 3-82 (Mir Wais, 10.5 ov), 4-110 (Abid Ali, 14.1 ov),5-115 (Arun Lal, 15.3 ov), 6-116 (Mohibullah, 15.5 ov), 7-118 (Taimur Siddiq, 16.3 ov), 8-118 (Saeed Khan, 16.4 ov),9-126 (Munir Ahmed, 17.1 ov), 10-128 (Sher Hasan, 18.3 ov)


Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
Anwar Ali	3	0	12	1	4.00
Azam Hussain	4	0	31	2	7.75
Danish Kaneria	3.3	0	23	3	6.57	(3w)
Uzair-ul-Haq	4	0	27	2	6.75	(3w)
Atif Maqbool	4	0	24	1	6.00

Match details

Toss Karachi Zebras, who chose to bat

Sarfraz, Hasan help Sialkot thrash Hyderabad

2011-09-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

Seamer Sarfraz Ahmed and left-arm spinner Raza Hasan took seven wickets between them as Sialkot Stallions restricted Hyderabad Hawks to 96 for 8 and went on to win by nine wickets at the National Stadium. Sarfraz did the early damage, taking three wickets in his first two overs, leaving Hyderabad 12 for 3. Shahzad Haider and Rizwan Ahmed then put on 51 runs for the fourth wicket but it took them ten overs as they tried to rebuild after the early losses.

Abdur Rehman dismissed Haider for 42, Sarfraz came back to take his fourth wicket, and Hasan took three scalps as Sialkot did not allow Hyderabad's innings to get going. Hasan conceded just 12 runs in his four overs, Sarfraz 13 and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan went for 14. Shoaib Malik ensured Sialkot did not waste time getting to the meagre target, and scored a run-a-ball 50, helping them get there with 20 balls to spare.