Clarke finally has something to smile about

FOR Australia the one-day international series win against England was their first in any format since their tour of New Zealand last March and helped ease some of the disappointment of their Ashes humbling. “After a pretty tough start to the summer, losing the Ashes series, I think it shows a lot of courage for us to come back and play well in this series and win the series tonight,” acting captain Michael Clarke said.“I think it was a great performance by the whole group today. “A few of us got...

Afridi likely to be retained captain for WC: sources

Shahid Afridi is likely to be retained as the One-day captain for the ICC World Cup 2011 after chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt held discussions with the team management in New...

Waqar apologises for remarks

The coach questioned the board’s tactics and said the delay would only cause disharmony in the team with the tournament less than a month away. In response, the PCB sent a showcause notice to the...

Misbah a defensive captain: Rashid Latif

Former skipper Rashid Latif has said that Misbah-ul-Haq is a defensive captain and is not suitable for the job for the upcoming Cricket World Cup starting from February 19. “Pakistan needs an aggressive captain like Shahid Afridi, who should be retained for the World Cup,” he told APP in an exclusive interview on Monday. “I think Pakistan could have won the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington but we wasted the opportunity of winning the Test match because of defensive approach of Misbah,”...

I am passing through most difficult phase, says Malik

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik admits that he is passing through the most difficult time of his career but hopes good times will come again. Malik, 28, has not been selected in a 15-man...

ICC World Cup 2011: Andy Flower defends Matt Prior’s selection

The Director of England cricket team Andrew Flower has backed the decision of the national selection committee to select wicketkeeper Matt Prior ahead of Steve Davies in the team for the ICC World...

Cricket-McCullum, Guptill give NZ springboard in second test v Pakistan

Mccullum, who was dropped in close while on 26, had quickly moved to his 19th test half century and was on 58 at the break, while Guptill, dropped by Tanvir Ahmed on 34 just before lunch, was on 38. It is just the second century-opening stand by New Zealand since 2004.Pakistan had been bowled out for 376, a first innings lead of 20 runs, late on Monday. They hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and are seeking their first test series victory since 2006. New Zealand's aggressive batting line-up...

‘Trio to feature in World Cup if cleared’

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt has said that the suspended trio – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – will be included in the World Cup squad if they are cleared from...

Taylor annoyed to miss out on century

Ross Taylor was happy to be in the runs again but admonished himself for failing to push on to triple figures on the opening day of the second cricket test between New Zealand and Pakistan at the...

'International cricket not returning to Pak in near future'

Dave Richardson, ICC general manager for cricket operations, feels that the Pakistan Cricket Board's initiative to host the final of the country's premier first class competition under lights will have a positive impact on the sport. Richardson said that the ICC, too, was working on several recommendations to make five-day cricket including Test matches more interesting."The PCB has taken a bold decision to hold the five-day final under lights and it will help popularise the sport as well," Richardson...

Pakistan recall Kamran Akmal for NZ one-dayers

Pakistan on Wednesday named Kamran Akmal in a one-day squad — that will effectively be their line-up for World Cup 2011 — for the six-match series against New Zealand getting underway in Wellington...

Grim scenario for suspended players

What looked like a simple open-and-shut case continues to drag on more than four months after it rocked the cricket world. Armed with ‘compelling evidence’, the International Cricket Council (ICC) went to the six-day hearing in Doha confident that it would prove its charges against three Pakistan cricketers, who are accused of corruption. But the verdict was delayed and will now be announced on February 5.Meanwhile, according to Cricinfo, the very fact that the Oval Test was also under investigation,...

Misbah a better choice for World Cup captaincy: Sikander

After former Test cricketers Zaheer Abass, Aamir Sohail and Sarfraz Nawaz, former Pakistan Test bowler Sikander Bakht has also criticised all-rounder Shahid Afridi’s captaincy. Sikander does not want Afridi to lead the Pakistan cricket team in future. Talking to German Radio Deutsche Welle Urdu Service on Tuesday, Sinkander said a captain always lead from the front but Afridi had not been performing well since taking over as captain of the Pakistan’s ODI and T20 teams. “As a player he won the T20...

Waqar hopes for fresh start to Pakistan cricket

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis hopes that his team will be able to play some controversy-free cricket once a decision is taken by an independent tribunal that has finished hearing a spot-fixing case involving Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamir in Doha. “I hope all goes well and I hope the outcome is what cricket requires. Hopefully things will settle after that and we can play controversy-free cricket for a while,” Waqar said on Tuesday after a training session in Wellington. Pakistan is...

Hearing begins on Pakistan cricket corruption

A special tribunal of the International Cricket Council opened an appeal hearing on Thursday for the three Pakistan players who face possible life bans if found guilty of spot fixing. The suspended...

ICC told about long no-ball odds after Butt’s grilling

Cricket bosses have told the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption tribunal into alleged spot-fixing by Pakistan’s Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir taking place at the Qater Financial tower here on Sunday that the odds of guessing three separate no-balls in a specified period would be 1.5 million to one.The Pakistan trio facing the hearing are alleged to have conspired to bowl deliberate no-balls on the orders of alleged fixer Mazhar Majeed — the agent of Butt. The alleged...

Squads of all teams for IPL 2011 | IPL 4

Auction for Day 1 out of 2 days is no over. Here are the shortlisted players and their teams for IPL 2011 till now:Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina , M Vijay, Albie Morkel, Michael Hussey, Wriddhiman Saha, Dawyne Bravo, Doug Bollinger, S Badrinath, Muttiah Muralitharan, R. AshwinDeccan Chargers: Kevin Pietersen, Cameron White, Kumar Sangakkara, JP Duminy, Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Dale SteynDelhi Daredevils: Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, David Warner,...

Players sold at IPL 4 auction 2011 and their price

The auction for IPL 2011 is going on. This is going to be fresh auction with some teams retaining some of its previous players. Here are some of the players sold at IPL auction 2011.This was the list of players sold before lunch in Day 1 of IPL Auction 2011: S.N.PlayerCountryTeamPrice 1Gautam GambhirIndiaKolkata$2.4 million 2 Yusuf Pathan India Kolkata $2.1 million 3 Robin Uthappa India Pune $2.1 million 4 Rohit Sharma India Mumbai Indians $2 million 5 ...

Cricket-Rehman helps Pakistan strike back in 1st NZ test

Pakistan's Abdul Rehman produced a spell of tight, left-arm spin bowling to halt New Zealand's momentum as the hosts lurched to 160 for five at tea on the first day of the first test at Seddon Park on Friday. Kane Williamson was on 12 while debutant wicketkeeper Reece Young was two not out after Brendon McCullum (56), Ross Taylor (six), Jesse Ryder (22) and Martin Guptill (50) were all dismissed during the session.McCullum and Guptill had steered New Zealand to 78 for one at lunch after Tim McIntosh...

Pakistan cricket 'spot-fixing' trio face tribunal

A make-or-break anti-corruption tribunal against Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer opens in Doha Thursday, with the players facing lengthy bans if found guilty. The hearing will be held behind closed doors at the Qatar Financial Centre from 0630 GMT and is scheduled to run until January 11, although lawyers have indicated a verdict may come earlier.The three face charges of spot-fixing during Pakistan's tour of England last year in a scandal that rocked the sport....

Cricket spot-fixing accused desperate to play again

Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer on Wednesday voiced confidence they would again play for their country ahead of a make-or-break anti-corruption tribunal in Doha. The pair, along...

Afridi not assured to lead Pakistan in World Cup

Pakistan ODI and T-20 skipper Shahid Afridi is currently not assured of leading Pakistan in the forthcoming World Cup as his performance has not impressed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) members.“Afridi’s recent performances as captain have not impressed too many Board members and one of the biggest issues that are irking them is his public criticism of his team mates. Results have not been great, but the public criticism of team mates is not going down too well with the decision makers,” sources close...

Pakistan better suited for ODI cricket - Afridi

Pakistan's one-day captain Shahid Afridi has said Pakistan will be a surprise package in the World Cup later this year, despite the problems plaguing the team's recent campaigns, due to them being better suited to the 50-over format."No matter what people say and believe, I'm confident that Pakistan will do really well in the World Cup," Afridi told the News after returning from New Zealand following the three-match Twenty20 series there which his side lost 1-2."I won't make any predictions but...

Announcement of cricket WC squads deferred

Pakistan cricket selectors have deferred the announcement of names of thirty probables for World Cup and squad one day series against New Zealand after failing to reach a decision on the final selection. The national selection committee had a marathon meeting here on Friday at Gadaffi Stadium and deliberated upon the names of players but deferred the final selection till next week.Mohsin Hasan Khan presided over the meeting which was attended by members, Mohammad Ilyas (Member), Azhar Khan and Asif...