All about Cricket

2011-02-21T01:02:00.000-08:00

Collingwood and Broad star for impressive England

ESPNcricinfo staff

February 18, 2011

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England 273 (Pietersen 66, Collingwood 65) beat Pakistan 206 (Younis 80, Broad 5-25, Collingwood 3-48) by 67
Scorecard

Kevin Pietersen showed he was happy at the top of the order with a timely half-century

Paul Collingwood made a timely impact with a matchwinning allround display and Stuart Broad continued his impressive World Cup build-up as England produced a convincing display to beat Pakistan by 67 runs in their final warm-up game. The batting, led by Kevin Pietersen's 66, posted a strong 273 on a slow surface before Broad blew away Pakistan's top order, then returned to mop up the tail. Collingwood, whose offcutters could prove invaluable as the tournament wears on, chipped in with 3 for 48.

After the embarrassment of their near-defeat against Canada on Wednesday, England's efforts were much more confident second-time around, as they resumed their rivalry with the Pakistan side whom they edged out 3-2 in an emotional home series last September, which came in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal at Lord's. Pakistan, though, have never been a side to excel in matches without much meaning and opted not to utilise Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.

Australia And India Warm Up Match Of Worldcup 2011

2011-02-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

Clinical Australia restrict India to 214.

but india won today

Siddarth Ravindran at the Chinnaswamy Stadium

February 13, 2011

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India 214 (Sehwag 54, Lee 3-35) v Australia
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
A massive crowd befitting an actual World Cup game had turned up to cheer India on at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, but even the booming music and the frequent bugle calls failed to lift them, as the home side's batting flopped in the high-profile warm-up match against Australia, who gave another demonstration of how dangerous a side they are, John Hastings, providing two significant breakthroughs.

One cause of comfort for Indian fans was that Virender Sehwag showed no signs of the shoulder problem that kept him out of the recent one-dayers in South Africa, as he top scored with a half-century. He began with an effortless push for four past extra cover off a low full toss but couldn't provide the customary high-speed start since he was starved of strike: he faced only four deliveries in the first five overs, and 56 in the 23 overs he lasted. He could have been dismissed in the fifth over after a mix-up with Virat Kohli, but Ponting failed to hit the one stump he had to aim at. Sehwag was at his most attacking against the spin of Jason Krejza, skipping beyond leg and looking to cut four times in Krejza's first over. He carved three fours off Krejza, and blasted him over long-off to reach his fifty, but the offspinner had his revenge by bowling Sehwag next ball.

Before his dismissal Sehwag watched a procession of India's specialist batsmen, none of whom made big contributions. Gautam Gambhir never looked at ease in a short stay before edging to slip; Virat Kohli showed glimpses of his class in his 21 before chopping Hastings to backward point; Yuvraj Singh walked after an indecisive response to a bouncer - initially looking to sway out of the way before feathering the ball to the keeper; MS Dhoni was bowled for 11, prolonging his fallow spell in one-dayers.

At 113 for 5, with the seniors dismissed, Suresh Raina had a chance to stake his World Cup claim by reviving the innings. He survived the short balls Australia fired at him but didn't last very long, nicking Brett Lee as he attempted on-the-up drive. Lee was in top form, accurate and slipping in the bouncers and yorkers at pace to trouble the batting. He finished with figures of 3 for 35, the highlight of which was a full and fast delivery that dislodged Harbhajn Singh's middle stump.

Once again, it was left to Yusuf Pathan to ensure India put up a fight. He made an unusually patient 32 (and was 18 off 34 at one stage), and had plenty of fortune as Australia's put down two sitters. Yusuf cut out the big hits, even against Krejza, preferring to paddle-sweep him rather than try to hammer him over long-on. With R Ashwin providing solid support, Yusuf dragged India from the depths of 138 for 8 towards 200, and he attempted his trademark big hits only after spending ten overs at the crease, as he clubbed part-timer David Hussey twice into the stands behind long-on. The crowd started to find its voice again, but was silenced soon after as Yusuf's next swipe flew to Krejza at deep midwicket. There was more late resistance, as Ashwin and Ashish Nehra added 27 to take India to the mild respectability of 214.

Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinf

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 / Scorecard.Bangladesh Vs Pakistan

2011-02-15T18:37:00.000-08:00

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 / Scorecard

Scorecard | Partnerships Table | Bulletin | Article index (3)

ICC World Cup Warm-up Matches

Bangladesh v Pakistan

Pakistan won by 89 runs

2010/11 season
Played at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
15 February 2011 - day/night (50-over match)


Pakistan innings (50 overs maximum)		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
Mohammad Hafeez	c Mahmudullah b Shafiul Islam	21	40	29	5	0	72.41
Ahmed Shehzad	c Suhrawadi Shuvo b Rubel Hossain	103	166	122	9	1	84.42
Kamran Akmal†	c Imrul Kayes b Shakib Al Hasan	1	11	10	0	0	10.00
Younis Khan	b Abdur Razzak	5	9	8	0	0	62.50
Misbah-ul-Haq	c Naeem Islam b Shakib Al Hasan	100	118	100	8	4	100.00
Shahid Afridi*	c Nazmul Hossain b Shakib Al Hasan	14	19	11	1	0	127.27
Abdul Razzaq	c Nazmul Hossain b Rubel Hossain	4	8	6	0	0	66.66
Umar Akmal	not out	19	15	10	1	1	190.00
Wahab Riaz	b Rubel Hossain	0	1	1	0	0	0.00
Abdur Rehman	run out (†Mushfiqur Rahim)	8	7	3	0	1	266.66
Extras	(lb 3, w 7)	10

Total	(9 wickets; 50 overs; 207 mins)	285	(5.70 runs per over)

Did not bat Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Asad Shafiq, Junaid Khan

Fall of wickets1-42 (Mohammad Hafeez, 8.4 ov), 2-47 (Kamran Akmal, 11.2 ov), 3-58 (Younis Khan, 14.6 ov),4-210 (Ahmed Shehzad, 42.5 ov), 5-250 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 46.2 ov), 6-254 (Shahid Afridi, 46.4 ov),7-261 (Abdul Razzaq, 48.1 ov), 8-261 (Wahab Riaz, 48.2 ov), 9-285 (Abdur Rehman, 49.6 ov)


Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
Shafiul Islam	5	1	19	1	3.80
Rubel Hossain	10	0	73	3	7.30	(1w)
Abdur Razzak	10	0	53	1	5.30
Shakib Al Hasan	10	0	49	3	4.90
Suhrawadi Shuvo	5	0	23	0	4.60
Naeem Islam	4	0	26	0	6.50
Mahmudullah	2	0	11	0	5.50	(2w)
Mohammad Ashraful	2	0	17	0	8.50
Nazmul Hossain	2	0	11	0	5.50


Bangladesh innings (target: 286 runs from 50 overs)		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
Tamim Iqbal	b Abdul Razzaq	0	1	1	0	0	0.00
Imrul Kayes	c Umar Gul b Abdur Rehman	39	106	61	5	0	63.93
Junaid Siddique	c Asad Shafiq b Wahab Riaz	38	42	28	6	1	135.71
Mushfiqur Rahim†	c Mohammad Hafeez b Abdur Rehman	9	33	26	1	0	34.61
Shakib Al Hasan*	c Umar Gul b Abdul Razzaq	11	13	12	1	0	91.66
Mohammad Ashraful	b Abdul Razzaq	4	4	3	1	0	133.33
Mahmudullah	c Ahmed Shehzad b Shahid Afridi	12	32	34	0	0	35.29
Naeem Islam	c Abdur Rehman b Mohammad Hafeez	22	58	44	1	0	50.00
Raqibul Hasan	run out (Wahab Riaz)	30	38	31	0	1	96.77
Abdur Razzak	not out	1	6	7	0	0	14.28
Rubel Hossain	c Misbah-ul-Haq b Mohammad Hafeez	0	3	7	0	0	0.00
Extras	(lb 7, w 18, nb 5)	30

Total	(all out; 41.4 overs; 178 mins)	196	(4.70 runs per over)

Did not bat Shahriar Nafees, Nazmul Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Suhrawadi Shuvo

Fall of wickets1-0 (Tamim Iqbal, 0.1 ov), 2-71 (Junaid Siddique, 9.2 ov), 3-98 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 16.6 ov),4-118 (Shakib Al Hasan, 20.2 ov), 5-122 (Mohammad Ashraful, 20.5 ov), 6-128 (Imrul Kayes, 23.2 ov),7-145 (Mahmudullah, 30.1 ov), 8-194 (Naeem Islam, 39.2 ov), 9-195 (Raqibul Hasan, 40.1 ov), 10-196 (Rubel Hossain, 41.4 ov)


Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
Abdul Razzaq	6	0	31	3	5.16	(1nb, 1w)
Umar Gul	4	0	30	0	7.50	(2w)
Wahab Riaz	7	0	42	1	6.00	(3nb, 3w)
Mohammad Hafeez	9.4	1	41	2	4.24	(2w)
Abdur Rehman	8	0	29	2	3.62	(2w)
Shahid Afridi	7	1	16	1	2.28	(1w)

Match details

Players per side 15 (11 batting, 11 fielding)

Toss Pakistan, who chose to bat

Umpires SJ Davis (Australia) and BR Doctrove (West Indies)
Match referee JJ Crowe (New Zealand)
Reserve umpire BNJ Oxenford (Australia)

2011-02-15T17:57:00.002-08:00

Cricket in a new light

When the World Series started playing cricket under lights people laughed it off, but now it's a key part of the game at domestic and international level

Ivo Tennant

February 15, 2011

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Even Lord's eventually installed floodlights although they had to overcome some challenges © Getty Images

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Floodlit cricket, the brainchild of Kerry Packer and hence immediately derided as a bastardised version of the game, is now an assimilated, integral part of the game all over the world. The fact that 52,000 spectators attended the first match to be staged under lights, in Sydney in 1977, illustrated what a novelty and an attraction this would be. A spectacle, too, on a balmy night.

In the southern hemisphere, clearly this would continue to be popular with all age groups. In India, floodlights amounted to a status symbol: in the 21st century even some club matches in Bombay were taking place under lights. In that great bustling city of festivals and outdoor weddings, no one objected to light pollution. Or, as elsewhere in the cricket-playing world, gave any thought to the effect on the environment. When breakaway tours were organised in South Africa in the mid-1980s, braais under floodlights were one method of attracting spectators.

In England there was less conviction that night cricket would take hold, even though the first floodlit match ever staged is thought to have been as long ago as 1952, between Middlesex and Arsenal FC at Highbury football stadium. That was a hit-and-giggle benefit match - and it was assumed when World Series was underway that Packer's night matches would be little different.

"When it was announced World Series would play night matches, the laughter was intense and more than slightly mocking," recalled Richie Benaud, who was instrumental in their promotion for Packer. "It was a marvellous evening in Sydney, full of emotion, even for the more cynical observers."

Of whom, he might have added, there were plenty who felt the climate in England would be an insurmountable obstacle. Although there were one or two freelance ventures, with mixed success, not for another 20 years would the first competitive floodlit fixture between two county sides be staged. Inevitably, on June 26 1997, it rained at The Oval. Was such a sizeable investment sensible if spectators would remain huddled together in the cold and damp?

Worse than rain interruptions during the day were rain interruptions at night, when the temperatures were dropping and the sole attraction was a packed bar. Better, perhaps, to concentrate on holding all such fixtures at the end of June and beginning of July, when daylight hours negated any need for floodlights. Yet before long, crowds were drawn to grounds at varying times of the season. The first limited-overs international match under lights was staged in Bristol in 2000. The quality of thee towers was improving, minimising the glare that was off-putting for players, umpires and spectators, and enhancing the pictures that television viewers were seeing.

Another decade on from the inception of floodlit cricket in England and Giles Clarke, the chairman of the ECB, was advocating that all county clubs should install floodlights of their own and that Test, as well as county, cricket should be played at a time of day that suited the spectators, not necessarily the players. International matches under lights would not be confined to just the one-day variety. Even at Lord's. The advent of Twenty20 cricket attracted a new audience. They liked the concept of matches at night, even if the cricket was a sideshow.

There were, of course, drawbacks. There had to be sufficient kilowatts emitted for the batsmen and fielders to be able to pick out the ball. Light pollution did not go down well with residents who lived close to grounds. There was even a concern at the Rose Bowl that fully lit pylons would interfere at night with aircraft approaching Southampton airport. One or two matches had to be called off because high winds were affecting the lights. At venues like Hove, where Sussex led the way in erecting lights, it was a question of aesthetics. Would the metaphorical golden glow still be apparent?

There were planning issues, so that at Lord's retractable towers, more than 47 metres in height, became the only valid option when night cricket was finally staged there in 2007. And when the first floodlit final was held there in 2010, those Somerset supporters travelling by train were unable to return to the west country that evening as the last Taunton-bound service departed at 8.30pm. Hence the first £200-a-head county match was staged. However popular it had become, night cricket was not cheap

A hat-trick specialist, and Ganguly's unique feat

2011-02-15T17:57:00.000-08:00

A hat-trick specialist, and Ganguly's unique feat

And the most recent Test from which there remain no survivors to tell the tale

Steven Lynch

February 14, 2011

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Saqlain Mushtaq: survived a hat-trick to bowl a hat-trick© AFP

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Who went in on a hat-trick in a one-day international but survived, then took a hat-trick himself later in the game? asked Mujeeb ur Rahman via Facebook
That's an interesting question - and the answer is Saqlain Mushtaq, who went in on a hat-trick for Pakistan against Zimbabwe at The Oval during the 1999 World Cup... and might have been out if Heath Streak had not sent down a no-ball. Later that day Saqlain ended the match - and ensured Pakistan's semi-final place - with a hat-trick of his own, dismissing Henry Olonga, Adam Huckle and Pommie Mbangwa.

Sourav Ganguly started his Test career with a century in his first innings, but ended it with a first-ball duck in his final innings. Has anyone else done this? asked Chintan Jhaveri from India
No, no one has precisely copied Sourav Ganguly's feat of scoring a century in his first Test innings - 131 against England at Lord's in 1996 - and being out first ball in his final innings (against Australia in Nagpur in 2008-09). The closest was by the England wicketkeeper Billy Griffith, who made 140 in his first Test innings against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1947-48, and was out second ball for a duck in his last, against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1948-49. Another Englishman, John Hampshire, came close: 107 in his first Test innings, against West Indies at Lord's in 1969 - watched by Griffith, by then secretary of MCC - but a fourth-ball duck in his last, against Australia at Headingley in 1975. There are five other men who started their Test careers with a century in their first match, but were out for a duck in their last one (not necessarily their final innings): another Englishmen in Frank Hayes, two Australians in Greg Blewett and Harry Graham (oddly, both his 107 on debut and duck in the first innings of his final Test came at Lord's), and the New Zealander Jackie Mills. Among current players Jonathan Trott and Taufeeq Umar, who both scored centuries on debut, made ducks in their most recent Tests.

Which batsman holds the record of most successive ducks in Tests and one-day internationals?asked Sachin from India (no, not that one)
The Test record is five successive ducks, set by Bob Holland of Australia in 1985. It was matched by India's Ajit Agarkar, who failed to score in five consecutive innings in Australia in 1999-2000 (including pairs at Melbourne and Sydney), and equalled again by Mohammad Asif for Pakistan in 2006, when all his ducks came in different matches against India, Sri Lanka and England. The record in one-day internationals is four ducks in a row, bagged by Gus Logie (West Indies), Pramodya Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka), Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe) and Craig White (England). In Twenty20 internationals the Scotland wicketkeeper Colin Smith and West Indies' Andre Fletcher both bagged three successive ducks.

My grandmother and I were talking last week about cricket, and she remembered going to Lord's before the war to watch the South Africans play. King George V and Queen Mary attended, and the players were presented to them during the match. Can you give me any details about this game? asked David Malleson
I imagine the match must have been this one, in 1935, in which South Africa completed their first victory in a Test in England. Wisden reports that "His Majesty, the King, visited the ground on the first day when South Africa, staying in until nearly five o'clock, put together a total of 228". And I wrote, in my book The Lord's Test 1884-1989 (copies still available for avid collectors!), that "On the rest day, the South Africans took tea at Buckingham Palace, and their trip seemed to inspire them, for on the second day England were shot out for 198." South Africa also toured England in 1924 and 1929 in the inter-war years.

Who played second-eleven cricket for Essex and also scored a try at Wembley? asked Richard Goodman via Facebook
This is the great rugby league winger Martin Offiah, who scored a few tries at Wembley, notably a 90-metre solo effort to help Wigan beat Leeds in the 1994 Challenge Cup final. As a youngster Offiah was also a handy cricketer, and played for Essex second eleven in the mid-1980s. Don Topley remembered: "I think I captained him, and remember him from his initial Essex trials during pre-season, probably in 1986 or 1987. I also played schoolboy rugby against him and his brother Cyril. He was a left-arm fast bowler - but Keith Fletcher was not impressed, as Martin bowled a number of accidental beamers at our old captain in the nets. I remember him getting one or two flat ones on the gloves! Perhaps the rugby star in the making was a bit nervous."

A slightly morbid follow-up to last week's question about the oldest Test XI still alive: which is the most recent Test match from which there are no surviving players at all? asked Steve King
At the time of writing - with fingers again firmly crossed - it seems that the final Test between England and India at The Oval in 1946 is the most recent Test match from which there are no survivors (Alec Bedser, who died early last year, was the last). That summer's three Tests and the one-off match between New Zealand and Australia the previous winter are the only post-war Test matches which, at the moment, do not have at least one player left to tell the tale.

Shehzad, Misbah star in Pakistan win

2011-02-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

Bangladesh v Pakistan, World Cup 2011, warm-up

Shehzad, Misbah star in Pakistan win

Mohammad Isam

February 15, 2011

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Pakistan 285 for 9 (Shehzad 103, Misbah 100) beat Bangladesh 196 (Razzaq 3-31) by 89 runs
Scorecard

The innocuous practice game had more reasons to be forgotten than to be remembered despite the centuries by Ahmed Shehzad and Misbah-ul-Haq and Junaid Siddique's brave approach. Pakistan beat Bangladesh convincingly by 89 runs at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Mirpur and it was a game that reminded Bangladesh of holes in their system and gave the young Pakistan batsman ideal practice ahead of their first big tournament.

The Pakistan dressing room went through a nervy first 90 minutes before settling in with the 152-run stand between Misbah and Shehzad, but the battle for the 'story of the day', as far as the locals were concerned, would be a tight contest between the ticket bungle-up and Bangladesh's four dropped catches.

When Shehzad walked in with Mohammad Hafeez to open the innings, the ground was half-full with most of the ticket-holders left stranded at a nearby indoor stadium with vouchers in hand. Shehzad cut and drove with ease though wickets fell quickly for Pakistan. After Hafeez drove straight at Mahmudullah at cover, Kamran Akmal and Younis Khan succumbed as soon as spin was introduced, Kamran miscuing a drive and Abdur Razzak foxing Younis for 5.

The game changed as soon as Misbah took over, with each left-arm spinner looking more ineffective than the other. Razzak and Suhrawadi Shuvo bowled a poor line and their frustration was compounded by dropping catches off each other at long-off when Shehzad was on 42 and 56. Hafeez too had a let-off when Siddique dropped him on 16, a simple chance at midwicket, while Mohammad Ashraful found Shahid Afridi's skier at mid-off hard to handle.

"The four dropped catches were a bit disappointing. Razzak has never been our best fielder but the others were really disappointing," Jamie Siddons, the Bangladesh coach, said. "I'm glad it was a practice game and not the 19th."

Shehzad's batting gave Pakistan hope as it reaffirmed his position at the top of the order alongside Hafeez, who did a fine job in New Zealand. Shehzad latched into anything short and there were many opportunities. He hit nine boundaries and a six in his 122-ball 103. "I think he looked really good and he has been doing well since the New Zealand tour where he got a century in the last game," Pakistan's coach Waqar Younis said. "He is in superb touch, and for a young man to be so responsible at such a big stage, it was great."

It was Misbah's timing, however, that caught the eye, his run-a-ball 100 had four big sixes and eight boundaries. He was severe on the spinners, cutting and punching the ball with ease, a handy lesson for batsmen on both sides.

Bangladesh's chase had a terrible start when Tamim Iqbal played down the wrong line to Abdul Razzaq's first delivery of the innings. Siddique's courage to open up his game was a surprise. Some of his boundaries were exquisite, mainly forcing the ball down the ground but even making room to hit Razzaq over covers. But he holed out to Asad Shafiq off Wahab Riaz, whom Siddique had struck for a six over square-leg an over ago. His 28-ball 38 included six boundaries and the six, and he added with Imrul Kayes, who made 39.

Bangladesh's experiment to use Mushfiqur Rahim at No. 4 failed and so did Ashraful after he struck a boundary off his first ball. Razzaq picked up Shakib and Ashraful after he took out Tamim. Once the game slipped out of Bangladesh's grasp, they used a longer batting line-up to give their batsmen a go before the big game against India on February 19. The result ensured a few more tense net sessions for Siddons and Shakib.

Shoaib Akhter On World Cup 2011

2011-02-13T08:24:00.000-08:00

World Cup 2011

World Cup defining moment for Pakistan - Shoaib

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur

February 13, 2011

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Shoaib Akhtar: "I want people to realize that still, very honourable people play for our country." © Getty Images

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Series/Tournaments: ICC Cricket World Cup

Teams: Pakistan

Shoaib Akhtar has called the upcoming World Cup his last, claiming it to be the "defining moment" of Pakistan cricket and perhaps of his own career. In a characteristically free-wheeling chat, Shoaib reaffirmed that he wanted to stay fit throughout, and end the tournament with the trophy in hand.

"Is this the twilight of my career? Yes. It is very special, playing in the sub-continent's World Cup," Shoaib said in Dhaka. "I am not sure about how long I'm going to be playing, but I will try to make sure it is full of memories".

"My personal target is to play every match and to leave 45-50 days after winning the World Cup," Shoaib said. "Obviously there's a huge difference between being 26 and 36. I have experience now but at the same time, I'm still bowling very quick, touching 145-150 kph easily." Shoaib used several adjectives to describe the Pakistan team ranging from "dangerous", "the most balanced" and the one having the cause it needs, but what stood out was him using the word "hurt" to describe the side.

"Obviously we are a very hurt side, whatever has happened in the last year or so. Pakistan needs a situation to gather themselves, and playing in India and Sri Lanka in the quarterfinals, that is going to really motivate us. I think the crowds, the situation, what happened to us, whatever the team has been through for the last six-seven months, that will inspire us. We are a very dangerous side but a very hurt side."

"We need to win at any cost, the team needs a situation, and what better situation than the World Cup. I think this is a defining moment for Pakistani cricket.

Shoaib's personal motivation for this tournament comes from proving people wrong, not just about himself, but the team too. "I wish Mohammad Amir was playing right now, I would have retired easily but it is not happening. That's what motivates me to come and play my last World Cup. I want people to realize that still, very honourable people play for our country."

On the field, Shoaib said that Pakistan's ability to swing the new and old ball both ways is their strong point. "The main advantage for us is reverse swing, that's where I think Pakistan team's strength lies. We have the best combination of reverse swing and new-ball fast bowlers. I think we can manage to put it out right," Shoaib said, adding that the slow nature of the wickets might yet hamper the fast bowlers but will assist the batsmen.

Of his possible duel with his old nemesis Sachin Tendulkar, Shoaib confirmed that he hasn't lost sight of the rivalry or of taking the important wickets.

The 2009 World Twenty20 triumph was perfect for the situation at the time in Pakistan, but Shoaib firmly believed that if they can do the job again this time, it could provide the people back home with more than just heroes or a trophy. "Pakistan needs to win this World Cup to bring back cricket to Pakistan, the charm back to the country. People of Pakistan are missing cricket, they are dying to watch players from all over the world playing against Pakistan."

'We should make the semi-finals' - Afridi

2011-02-13T08:21:00.003-08:00

World Cup 2011

'We should make the semi-finals' - Afridi

February 11, 2011

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Shahid Afridi left for Dhaka on February 11 with the rest of the Pakistan team © AFP

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For the first time in three World Cup campaigns, Pakistan enters with a fresh-looking squad. Disastrous first-round exits in 2003 and 2007 were compounded by the absence of new faces, with the team reliant instead on jaded stars. But for the 2011 World Cup, seven out of Pakistan's 15-man squad have not played more than 35 ODIs, and for eight, this will be a first World Cup. It is the kind of unknown they thrive on, the kind captain Shahid Afridi feels makes them "the most dangerous team at the World Cup."

Afridi's optimism is based on more than just the newness of his squad. Since the end of the Australia tour last year, Pakistan's ODI cricket has taken on the kind of swing that has marked their finest years: days of a complete, comprehensive ineptitude mixed casually with moments of such force they cannot be stopped.

They've lost more than they've won since the Australia tour - 10 losses, 8 wins - but they've pushed good teams to the very brink, usually in direst off-field circumstances. And the immediate run-in was much needed: a first ODI bilateral series win in over two years. "For some time now we've been trying to give the team an identity, a face on the field," Afridi told ESPNcricinfo before heading off to Dhaka.

"It's coming along. We've got some good young players in the set-up now, guys like Umar [Akmal], [Ahmed] Shehzad, Wahab [Riaz] mixed with some experienced guys. I see us as the most dangerous team at the World Cup." A number of the older heads have not played in World Cups before: Misbah-ul-Haq, the vice-captain, Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman.

The balance of a potential first XI, Afridi says, is right. Two of their openers have scored centuries in recent games and a third, dangerous option is back. The middle order has patience and power, old and young and the bowling spin and pace. "We've got options and I like that. We have batsmen like Younis [Khan] and Misbah who can play long innings, guys in the middle who are power-hitters. We have wicket-taking bowlers so I'm happy that we have a balanced side."

Though he has captained the ODI side through the last year, Afridi was only appointed leader for the World Cup last week, having led the side to the series win in New Zealand. He has said previously that not getting the captaincy wouldn't affect him, but criticism of his individual form - as there has been by some former players recently - has clearly irked him.

"There is uneducated criticism of my performances from former players on TV," he said. "They should know that over the last year [in 2010] I have scored the most runs and taken the most wickets for Pakistan."

Behind those numbers - he was 2010's leading Pakistani run-scorer and joint leading wicket-taker with Shoaib Akhtar - is a more complicated story. His batting has held more substance - two hundreds and nine scores between 24 and 65 in 18 innings - are important numbers. But the bowling has lacked the wicket-taking bite of the last couple of years, averaging 45.05 per wicket and taking less than a wicket per game.

Yet the pressure of leading in the field hasn't, he says, affected him. "The pressure is there as captain for sure, to keep everyone up on the field, to get everything going, to get the field right and to do well yourself but I enjoy that. You have good and bad days but I'm confident my bowling is fine at the moment."

Afridi's own World Cup record is poor. In 12 games, spread over three tournaments, he averages 11.36 with the bat and 39.85 with the ball, an aberration he is keen to rectify. "I've not been good at past World Cups, but my role and position has never been fully settled going into them. I go into this feeling better and much more positive and, importantly, my role and place is clearer than it has been in past tournaments. There are good times and bad times but I'm hoping this will be a good World Cup for us.

"Realistically, with the kind of team we have, we should really make the semi-final and of course we want to play the final and win it - everyone does - but we should make the semi."

2011-01-18T15:31:00.000-08:00

Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf left out of World Cup

January 18, 2011

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The left-arm pace of Sohail Tanvir was preferred over Tanvir Ahmed © AFP

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Pakistan's selectors have displayed an unusual consistency in their ODI squad, retaining all players bar one involved in the New Zealand ODIs for their World Cup campaign. Fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed, who is part of the 16-man ODI squad in New Zealand, is the unlucky one, missing out.

In opting for continuity, the selectors have not picked the veteran Mohammad Yousuf, indicating that his career is all but over. And as had been widely expected, they have remarkably not named a captain or deputy so far, leaving open the possibility that Shahid Afridi, who has been the limited overs leader, may be replaced.

The 15-man squad is generally low on surprise, and given that Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Shoaib Malik, four key players, are not cleared for selection, almost picked itself. It is a fairly fresh one also; eight of the players have no previous World Cup experience.

The batting spots are shared by a mix of the old and new, with Asad Shafiq and Umar Akmal the ones to keep an eye on, around Younis Khan. The presence of Misbah-ul-Haq will raise some eyebrows. He has only played two ODIs in 2010 and was dropped midway through Pakistan's last ODI series against South Africa.

The bowling has considerable variety, with Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz expected to share the bulk of pace duties. Sohail Tanvir has a chance to resurrect his career after two injury-struck years. Much might depend on the spinners, with Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman providing contrasting support to the threat of Afridi.

Yousuf made the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad but hasn't played a one-dayer since he was recalled for the series-decider against South Africa last November in Dubai and made only 3. Though he has played 281 ODIs for Pakistan, he scored only one half-century in 10 matches last year and his World Cup experiences have generally been poor: he has only two half-centuries in 13 career World Cup matches.

The situation with the captaincy has built up steadily over the last few weeks. There has been increasing speculation that Afridi may be removed, the board not pleased with his regular public statements, including criticisms of his own side. He was retained as ODI captain for the New Zealand ODIs but his personal performance in the last ten ODIs doesn't help his case. He averages 20.9 with the bat and 48.7 with the ball. The move to name Misbah as vice-captain for the New Zealand ODIs is seen as a means of putting pressure on Afridi.

But before leaving for New Zealand, Afridi said he was not worried about the position. "I am not worried about the captaincy, it never worries me," Afridi told reporters. "I have never run after the captaincy in my entire career. It is something for the cricket board to decide. If they feel I am the right man they will appoint me and if they don't they will make someone else captain.

"I am a senior professional and I know what I have to do. I have to lead the team to win the series and perform well as player. I know our winning the series will be very important because if we win in New Zealand it will give us a boost for the World Cup."

Squad: Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Ahmed Shehzad

Kamran, Misbah-ul-Haq in ODI squad to play NZ

2011-01-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

Kamran, Misbah-ul-Haq in ODI squad

Kamran Akmal returns to Pakistan's ODI team after not being cleared to play the Twenty20s and Tests against New Zealand © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Kamran Akmal | Misbah-ul-Haq

Series/Tournaments: Pakistan tour of New Zealand

Teams: Pakistan

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has been included in Pakistan's squad for the ODI series against New Zealand after being left out of the Test and Twenty20 squads. He exchanges places with his younger brother Adnan, who misses out. Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who played the first two ODIs against South Africa but not the final three, also finds a place, while opener Ahmed Shehzad returns to the side, suggesting he is being considered for Pakistan's World Cup squad.

Kamran has not been part of the national side since the summer tour of England and his absence had been surrounded by confusion, which his return does little to clear up. Speculation linking him to the spot-fixing scandal has been rife, but in October he received written clearance from the ICC stating that he could be picked for Pakistan. Since then, he has been scoring heavily on the domestic circuit. However, he was not "given clearance" to play the Tests and Twenty20s in New Zealand by the PCB's integrity committee, which did not provide details about why that decision was taken.

The 19-year-old Shehzad, who made a promising debut last year against Australia in the Middle East, played all three Twenty20 games against New Zealand, scoring 83 runs at an average of 27.66 and a strike-rate of 150.90, with a top score of 54.

Misbah made 14 and 17 in his two ODIs against South Africa and did not feature in the Twenty20 games against New Zealand. Shahid Afridi has been retained as captain. Pakistan will play six one-dayers against the hosts, with the first game taking place in Wellington on January 22.

Pakistan ODI squad: Shahid Afridi (capt), Muhammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umer Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umer Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanveer, Tanveer Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad

Tribunal defers verdict till February 5

2011-01-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

Spot-fixing controversy

Tribunal defers verdict till February 5

January 11, 2011

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Awaiting the verdict - Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif © Getty Images

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News : Delay unfair, absurd, say former players

News : Salman Butt under investigation over The Oval Test too

News : Differences between Butt and Asif grow

News : Spot-fixing hearing endgame begins

News : ICC makes its case against suspended players

In Focus: Match-fixing

Players/Officials: Mohammad Amir | Mohammad Asif | Salman Butt

Teams: Pakistan

Three Pakistani players will have to wait until February 5 to discover the eventual outcome of the spot-fixing charges laid on them by the ICC. A six-day hearing in Doha, Qatar failed to come up with a verdict on the various corruption charges that Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir face over incidents in two Tests last summer against England.

The very fact that the Oval Test was also under investigation, in addition to the Lord's Test, provided a late twist to the final day of an ultimately anti-climactic six-day hearing. The players will remain provisionally suspended until they reconvene in Doha to hear the judgement of the ICC tribunal formed to deal with the spot-fixing case.

At the end of a day of fevered speculation that concluded the hearing, Michael Beloff QC, the head of the tribunal and ICC code of conduct commissioner, finally made a statement alongside fellow tribunal members Albie Sachs and Sharad Rao.

"The tribunal has been constituted to hear charges against Butt, Amir and Asif brought under the ICC's anti-corruption code in relation to two Tests played during August 2010 between Pakistan and England, the Oval Test and the Lord's Test," Beloff said.

The tribunal had not arrived at a verdict because, Beloff said, there had been representations made to the tribunal, "to reserve any decision on the charges... until it (the tribunal) has had sufficient time to give the issues careful consideration and until it is able, at the same time as handing down its decision, to provide written reasons." The task of studying the issues at hand, arriving at a decision and issuing an in-depth hand-written reason for its decision, said Beloff, "would not be feasible in the timeframe agreed for this hearing in Doha.

"The tribunal has therefore determined to continue its deliberations and hold a further hearing in Doha on the fifth of February of this year, at which its decisions will be handed down to the parties and any consequential matters will be dealt with. Until that date, all three players will remain suspended from all cricketing activities."

Until today a definitive decision had been expected from the lengthy tribunal hearings. In fact, it is believed that the ICC's legal team was keen on having a verdict out today. But the gravity of the possible sanctions - which range from five years to a lifetime ban - the desire of the players' lawyers to defer a verdict and the sheer weight of a six-day, 45-hour proceeding which featured oral and written testimonies and tapes, video recordings as well as forensic submissions, made a quick verdict impossible.

The ICC's lawyers, though, expressed "happiness with the way hearings have gone," It is understood that in a bid to press for a verdict on Tuesday they withdrew all charges relating to the Oval Test, bar one against Butt.

The hearings began last Thursday and were held behind the firmest of closed doors. There were no official statements were made at all during the hearings, though as proceedings continued, it became clear that differences between the defences of Butt and Asif had emerged, possibly hampering the cases of both players.

An apparent contradiction, however, materialised soon after the tribunal's statement. Though Beloff said that "all charges relating to the Lord's Test remain under consideration," Asif's London-based legal firm said that on one charge relating to that match, Asif had, in fact, been acquitted.

A statement from their office said that Asif was, "delighted to have been acquitted of the charges brought against him under article 2.4.1 in relation to the Lords Test Match, also played in August 2010."

"Mohammad Asif has co-operated fully with the ICC investigations, and is now looking forward to a timely and satisfactory outcome in relation to the outstanding matters brought against him under the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Players Support Personnel."

The particular charge against Asif states that the code "prohibits providing or receiving any gift, payment or other benefit (whether of a monetary value or otherwise) in circumstances that the Player or Player Support Personnel might reasonably have expected could bring him/her or the sport of cricket into disrepute."

The charge, carrying a punishment of a six-month ban, appears a minor one compared to the other charges that Asif is facing. But the acquittal is thought to stem from the fact that no money was found in Asif's hotel room in London during police investigations.

Amir's lawyer, Shahid Karim, who had earlier pushed for the deferment, indicated that the extra time would help his client prepare better to deal with the verdict. "The request we made to the tribunal has been accepted," Karim said. "On February 5th if the punishment is harsh then we will discuss it with them so we will prepare for that. It is a hearing.

"I am happy with the procedure of the hearing. The ICC code of conduct has a clause which points to looking at the player's age and past disciplinary record and Amir is young, so we hope the tribunal will keep this in mind."

Spot-fixing Hearing End Game Begins

2011-01-10T07:03:00.000-08:00

Spot-fixing hearing end game begins

January 9, 2011

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News : ICC

makes its case against suspended players

News : Reports suggest accused trio's defence differs

In Focus: Match-fixing

Players/Officials: Mohammad Amir | Mohammad Asif | Salman Butt

Teams: Pakistan

The endgame has begun at the ICC's hearing into the spot-fixing inquiry involving three players from Pakistan. The anti-corruption tribunal will hear closing statements from the ICC and lawyers for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir from Monday and is expected to reach a verdict on Tuesday.

Sunday, day four of the hearings taking place in Doha, Qatar, began with the completion of the cross-examination of former captain Butt by the ICC's lawyers. The focus then shifted to Amir who presented his defence, questioned first by his lawyer Shahid Karim before Jonathon Taylor and Ian Higgins, the ICC's lawyers, began their questioning; Amir used an interpreter, who was present through the hearings.

It is believed that the broad strategy of Amir's defence relies on the burden of proof being on the ICC to prove their case. Indications throughout, reinforced by those familiar with the case, have been that a previously unblemished disciplinary record, and his youth, might be played upon to buffer against potential sanctions; the possibility of precisely such mitigating circumstances is present in the ICC's anti-corruption code of conduct.

Such a strategy would be, legal practitioners in Pakistan observe, entirely in keeping with Karim's reputation as an astute litigation expert. Nevertheless, Amir's day of questioning is thought to have been middling, neither disastrous nor outstanding for his prospects.

But as the days pass and a picture of proceedings slowly emerges from a hearing which has, in the fullest sense, been held behind closed doors, it appears that the equation between Butt and Asif could be vital to how events pan out.

Already it has played a part. In their opening remarks on the first day, it was reported by the BBC, Asif and Butt's reasons behind the deliberate, pre-planned no-balls allegedly bowled in the Lord's Test last year differed. It also emerged that Butt, as well as being cross-examined by the ICC's lawyers, was also questioned by Asif's lawyer Alexander Cameron. Significantly, Amir was not questioned by either Butt's or Asif's lawyer on Sunday.

Butt's own defence had what was described as a "tough" cross-examination on Saturday. There are suggestions also that the questioning of one particular witness by Butt's lawyer Yasin Patel earlier in the hearing may have hurt his client's stance. In any case, the equation is likely to become clearer on Monday, when Asif begins his defence and will presumably be open to questioning by the ICC as well as Patel.

Butt and Amir left together at the end of a day that extended nearly half an hour beyond its scheduled time. Asif, as has become usual, was the last to leave and he arrived on Sunday nearly one and a half hours before the hearing began at its scheduled time of 9 30am.

After Asif completes his defence, both the ICC and the players' lawyers will be expected to make their closing statements - and the former appear perky enough ahead of it - before the three-man tribunal of Michael Beloff QC, Justice Albie Sachs and Sharad Rao deliberate over the verdicts.

pakistan cricket at his best

2011-01-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

Pakistan Cricket At His Best

Off-field events dominate build-up

2011-01-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

New Zealand v Pakistan, 1st Test, Hamilton

Off-field events dominate build-up

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya

January 6, 2011

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Match facts

Friday, January 7
Start time 11.00 (2200 GMT)

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Big Picture

Just as two exciting Test series conclude on two different continents, New Zealand and Pakistan begin one of their own in Hamilton. But unlike the Ashes or the South Africa-India Tests which had massive build-ups, drew large audiences and captivated fans, this one is destined to be a sideshow. And that's because the eyes and ears of the cricketing world would be transfixed on an event in Doha, where the three players suspected of being involved in the spot-fixing controversy will know their fate.

As the ICC's three-man tribunal examines the charges against Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, who won Pakistan a Test on their previous tour here, the former team-mates of the tainted trio will do well to retain their focus on the action at the ground. Instability, indiscipline and allegations of corruption have done enough in recent months to deflect attention from the efforts of a Pakistan team trying to rebuild.

Under a new captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, and with a set of youngsters who've made an encouraging transition to international cricket, Pakistan punched above their weight when they held South Africa to a 0-0 draw, albeit in placid conditions, in the UAE in November. Conditions in New Zealand, traditionally favouring more swing and less palatable for batsmen, present Pakistan with a fresh challenge and an incentive, despite starting underdogs, to motivate themselves and repair some of the reputation sullied by events off the field.

New Zealand, too, come in to the series on the back of a better-than-expected performance in their Test series in India, where they were beaten 0-1 in a three-match series. Though their woeful ODI form has prompted changes at the top, with John Wright replacing Mark Greatbatch as coach, their past performance in Tests, with Brendon McCullum's success at the top of the order, the emergence of Kane Williamson and the reliability of Chris Martin, would give them plenty of hope in home conditions.

Forsaken trio face toughest test

2011-01-05T11:28:00.000-08:00

January 5, 2011

Forsaken trio face toughest test

Posted by Kamran Abbasi 8 hours, 18 minutes ago in Ethics and morality

In the middle of last year, three men held the future of Pakistan cricket in their hands. A young captain in command of possibly the most compelling new-ball partnership in world cricket. A triumverate that might save Pakistan cricket from implosion. Instead Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir face calamity. Pakistan cricket is once more on the brink of disgrace.

The three players have responded to adversity in very different ways. Butt has been most vocal with shifting statements of bravado, innocence, and counter accusation. Amir has spoken up too, but generally to extract sympathy for his plight, describing the current proceedings as the toughest test of his career. Meanwhile, Asif has been monkish in his silence. The differences reflect their personalities to some degree but are probably most indicative of the legal advice they have received.

Their cricket board, for its part, after an embarrassment of bluster has virtually abandoned the defendants. Bluster comes easily to Pakistan cricket administrators and politicians, hence this dramatic change, after the intervention of the ICC to improve anti-corruption mechanisms within Pakistan cricket, presents a bleak outlook for Butt and his fellows. The present and future of Pakistan cricket forsaken on a nod, wink, and slap from the ICC.g

2011-01-05T04:39:00.000-08:00

pakistan have left out experienced allrounder and former captain Shoaib Malik from the list of 30 probables for the 2011 World Cup. Malik had been under the scanner of the PCB's integrity committee and ultimately appears to have failed to gain clearance for selection. Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, over whom there has been as much speculation, has, however, been selected.

The pair, alongside legspinner Danish Kaneria, have been frozen out of recent Pakistan squads. The trio have not participated for Pakistan in any format since the summer tour to England; Kaneria was part of the Test squad for the South Africa series in the UAE but was prevented from travelling by the board at the very last minute. Though not an ODI regular, he also doesn't find a place in the 30.