India blind team to tour Pakistan

India will arrive in Pakistan and play three back-to-back Twenty20s from November 18 to 20 in Lahore. These matches will be followed by the two teams contesting the three 50-over games from November 22 to 26 in Islamabad.

The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council President Syed Sultan Shah was delighted at hosting the series.

“Although we aren’t as rich as the Pakistan Cricket Board, our dedication is very much alive,” Shah told The Express Tribune. “The same commitment has led to the resumption of the bilateral series. There are many sports suffering from isolation but I think our series will help the country give a strong message to the world.”

Cameron White dumped from Australia's one-day cricket side

The selectors announced squads for the two Twenty20 and five ODI games and will announce the Test side this month. White has struggled of late, failing to score more than 22 in the world cup and losing his place during the tour of Bangladesh.

The big hitting Victorian averaged 35 across 87 ODIs including two centuries and 11 50s. “Cameron White is unlucky to be omitted from the one-day squad having been a regular and successful member of the squad for the last few series,” chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.

“Cameron lost his position in the side during the recent one-day tour of Bangladesh but the (selectors are) confident that he will force his way back into the team through weight of runs.”Hilditch said that the Sri Lankans would be a formidable opposition on their home soil but that he was confident the sides would do well.

“The Twenty20 squad is very well balanced with potentially explosive batsman Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson and David Warner at the top of the order combined with Cameron White, Aaron Finch and David Hussey in the middle order,” he said. “There is also very good all-round talent in Steven Smith, Stephen O’Keefe, John Hastings and Mitchell Johnson providing the side with great flexibility. The fast bowling unit will welcome James Pattinson, who may make his Twenty20 debut for Australia, in combination with the experienced Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson.

“The one-day squad sees the return of Shaun Marsh who was unavailable for the ICC Cricket World Cup through injury. Shaun can open the batting but also provides flexibility throughout the order and gives the squad great balance.

“Also included in the one-day squad are James Pattinson and John Hastings who both impressed on the recent VB Tour of Bangladesh."The Australian team will play two Twenty20 matches, five ODIs and three Test matches against Sri Lankan during the seven-week tour.

Meanwhile Phillip Hughes and Jason Krejza have been flown to Zimbabwe early to replace the injured Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade for Australia A, who are playing the host and South Africa in a tri-series.

Ireland beat England by 3 Wickets

Following the target of 328, Irish side lost the wicket of William Porterfield on the very first ball of innings. Opener Ed Joyce and Paul Stirling added 62 runs in the second wicket partnership. Joyce was lucky to get 3 chances, showing poor fielding the English fielders dropped easy catches.

The resistance of Ed Joyce finished on 32. Niall O’Brien was taken by Swann on 29. This time Kevin O’Brien came on the crease and started crashing English bowlers, he played powerful strokes all around the ground including boundaries and sixes along with Alex Cusack O’Brien scored the fastest hundred of World Cup on 50 balls. Cursack went left O’Brien after scoring 47 runs. Aggressive innings of O’Brien ended on 113. Trent Johnston and Mooney got their target in 49.1 overs.

Sri Lanka need Murali and Malinga to hit ground running

The co-hosts were one of the pre-tournament favourites to win the showpiece but Saturday's 11-run defeat by Pakistan exposed some glaring weaknesses in their bowling armoury. Muralitharan should have been trapping rival batsmen with his mystifying powers of flight and spin but has instead been leaking runs to rank outsiders such as Canada.

In the first match he was the most expensive of the Sri Lankan attack. The off-spinner's figures of 2-38 at the cost of 4.22 against a bunch of part-timers in Hambantota was hardly the kind of stats the world's most prolific wicket-taker would want to shout about.

He was the most economical of the Sri Lankan bowlers against Pakistan but having picked up only one wicket, his success rate would have hardly set Sri Lankan pulses racing. But at least Muralitharan is playing a part in all the action as the same cannot be said of Malinga.

The 27-year-old, who made his name in the 2007 World Cup by claiming four wickets in four balls against South Africa, has not even tested one run-up to the pitch.

SORE BACK

He was sidelined with a sore back against Canada but had been declared fit for the contest against Pakistan.

However, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was not prepared to gamble on his fitness and chose to rest him for "the more difficult matches we have ahead" -- a strategy that backfired on Saturday.

With showdowns against world champions Australia now less than a week away, the Sri Lankans know they can no longer waste time experimenting with their line-ups and plan to draft Malinga into action in their match against Kenya on Tuesday.

"We will consider him for the next game because we need to get him into his rhythm ahead of the game against Australia next Saturday," Sri Lanka's team manger Anura Tennekoon told Reuters.

"Malinga was rested as a precautionary measure. We don't want to take any chance with him because he is our key bowler. Malinga is fit but we don't want to take that extra one percent (risk with his fitness) and play him."

Cricket World Cup matches shown free to public on giant screens in Sri Lanka

Can’t find a ticket for Saturday’s Group-A ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Colombo? No problem! Catch the action on a giant screen, with the papare playing in the background, courtesy of Sri Lanka Police.

Police chief Mahinda Balasuriya told reporters yesterday that giant screens throughout Colombo will telecast the match live at no cost to the public. The screens will be placed at the Galle Face Greens, Parliament Grounds, Nawaloka Ground and P.D. Sirisena Grounds.

Police brass bands, the police chief says, will provide music to add to the atmosphere. He also urged fans without tickets not to swamp the venue, as all tickets have already been sold out. Sri Lanka and Pakistan meet on February 26 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for the 10th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Pakistan kick out Kenya (Highlights)

Pakistan opened their account in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 with a massive victory over Kenya by 205 runs.Younus Khan hits the bull's eye. A total of 17 wickets were fallen during the match, ten of Kenya and seven of Pakistan. Here is the highlights of the match. The package has been compiled by ESPN Star Sports.

Cricket: One-day win offers hope for World Cup

The thick fog which had settled over New Zealand's one-day game has lifted, if just a shade. The 15-man squad is off to India tomorrow to prepare for the World Cup. In itself, the 57-run win over Pakistan at Eden Park on Saturday certainly does not mean they can march down the aisle of their flight chanting, football-style, "Here we go, here we go ..."

Pakistan still won the series 3-2, and deserved it, too. New Zealand have been in an ODI hole for the last six months, with two wins from the last 16 matches. Despite claims to the contrary one win, after all that's gone before, does not suddenly represent momentum ahead of the tournament.

But the win does allow the players to board the plane with a smile and feeling better about themselves than they did last Thursday night. That was when they sat in their changing room at Hamilton's Seddon Park for 90 minutes of straight talking after the Pakistan series was lost.

The mood was grim, the players out of sorts with themselves and the selectors, playing dumb cricket and looking about for something to grasp on to and haul themselves up.

"I'm not going talk about what was said in the meeting, but we wanted to improve on our performance on the field, and a few different things off it," stand-in captain Ross Taylor said.

"And I think the team went a long way to achieving how we want to play," he said of Saturday's win. "It's been a tough six months, but to finish on that note is very satisfying."

After a series in which cricket joined rugby in having "rotation" take on grim connotations in this country, New Zealand's plans are now in sharper outline.

The top four can be locked in, barring injuries or significant form slumps.

Martin Guptill will open with Brendon McCullum, with Jesse Ryder the new No 3 - and staying put after his blistering 107 at Eden Park - and Ross Taylor at No 4.

The middle order will comprise Scott Styris, James Franklin, Nathan McCullum and captain Dan Vettori, with Kyle Mills and Tim Southee to lead the new ball attack.

The swingers will be Jacob Oram, whose tight-fisted medium pace should get him a spot once fit again, energetic fast-medium bowler Hamish Bennett and, if they find a dustbowl somewhere on their travels, left arm spinner Luke Woodcock.

Jamie How and Kane Williamson will start the tournament on the bench.

For all that the selectors, Mark Greatbatch, Glenn Turner and Lance Cairns, fancied having a look at Brendon McCullum in the middle order - which didn't work for a range of reasons, and left the player distinctly toey - they'll still have a McCullum to provide impetus in the last 10 overs.

Older brother Nathan's bracing 65 on Saturday was his second half century in three innings and amply demonstrated how he can press the accelerator.

A strong middle-lower order has been a key to some of New Zealand's better ODI periods.

Think back to Jeremy Coney, Richard Hadlee, Ian Smith and John Bracewell of 20-plus years ago. Chris Cairns, Adam Parore and Dion Nash were no slouches a decade back.

Styris, Franklin, who looked the part in India before Christmas, McCullum N. and Vettori, and perhaps Oram, is the latest incarnation.

Bennett topped the wicket takers against Pakistan, for both teams, with an impressive 11 at 20.9. He took the odd beating along the way, which should be put down as a timely early lesson in his development.

Mills re-emphasised that he remains the frontline new ball operator, and the fielding was consistently slick and accurate through the Pakistan series, the strongest part of the New Zealand operation.

So some encouraging signs but there can be no chance of New Zealand getting ahead of themselves just yet.

Three fitness question marks

New Zealand will set off for the World Cup with three fitness question marks among the squad of 15 players.

Captain Dan Vettori sat out the last two ODIs against Pakistan after straining a hamstring in the fourth game in Napier on Tuesday.

Then Jesse Ryder twinged a hamstring during his blockbusting 107 which set up New Zealand's 57-run win at Eden Park on Saturday.

Ryder batted with a runner from 78 onwards and while it limited his movements, he maintained he would be ready for the start of the Cup, with New Zealand's first game on February 20 against Kenya in Chennai.

"It's a slight twinge. I should be fine by the time we get there," Ryder said.

The third of the battling triumvirate, senior allrounder Jacob Oram, was yesterday cleared to travel by New Zealand Cricket's medical staff.

Oram was a late withdrawal from Saturday's game, having picked up inflammation in an ankle shortly before the start.

He had an MRI scan, an x-ray and independent medical assessment yesterday before being clear to leave with the squad tomorrow.

The diagnosis showed no tear or break.

"I developed ankle pain and although it didn't feel serious I wasn't able to bowl without discomfort," Oram said yesterday.

"I've worked hard over the last six months to get fully fit so it is extremely disappointing to pick up another niggle. However, I am confident it isn't too serious and am determined to do everything I can to be fully fit for the first match." Oram is expected to be available for the first of two one-day warmups, against Ireland, also in Chennai next Sunday.

New Zealand's win was just their second in the last 16 ODIs but a substantial step up from earlier in the series, which Pakistan won 3-2, and will be a morale-booster ahead of the cup.

"It's hard to be confident when you've lost so many games in a row," Nathan McCullum said. "But our boys went out and showed a lot of character, fought really hard and got a good result."

It came in no small part to McCullum's late-innings pyrotechnics, as he shared a bristling stand of 120 from only 84 deliveries for the sixth wicket with Scott Styris which propelled New Zealand to 311 for seven.

McCullum's 65 off 50 balls, was his second half-century of the series and amply demonstrated his value. Styris provided 58 not out off 44 deliveries as the pair took the hammer to Pakistan's bowlers, who leaked 72 from the last five overs.

Pakistan gave it a decent crack, with wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal playing a classy, well-paced hand for 89 off 84 balls, but the loss of captain Shahid Afridi at 44 signalled the end.

Still, they'll go into the World Cup happier than they have been for a while. "We're pretty pleased," coach Waqar Younis said. "It's a while since Pakistan won anything. Now we've got some momentum going into the World Cup."

Cricket: Pakistan eyeing series victory

Pakistan can wrap up their ODI series against New Zealand with victory in Hamilton tomorrow after a topsy-turvy, two-wicket win in game four last night. Needing 263, Pakistan got there after some alarms along the way, courtesy of man of the match Misbah-ul-Haq's unbeaten 93 off 91 balls, with the final honours going to tailender Sohail Tanvir.

Pakistan wanted 14 off the last two overs, and he did it in just one, smearing Tim Southee to the fence three times. New Zealand had glimmers of hope along the way. But they batted poorly, worked hard with the ball but were always up against it and on balance didn't deserve the win which Pakistan occasionally threatened to hand back to them.

When Pakistan were 84 for three, things were intriguingly placed. However the veterans, Younis Khan and Misbah, reshaped the game and made batting look comfortable, putting on 89 untroubled runs before Younis was run out, sent back on a sharp single and slipping.

With 78 needed off the last 10 overs, Pakistan looked fidgety.

When Umar Akmal and the dangerous Shahid Afridi departed within three balls, the game seemed to have swung decisively New Zealand's way.

But Abdul Razzaq had other ideas. He bounced Southee off the seats at mid wicket and 17 came from the 44th over.

Misbah moved into the nineties with solid blows before Sohail finished the job.

New Zealand's batsmen need to take a hard look at themselves after falling headlong over a cliff earlier in the day. At 79 for five in the 21st over, they looked as good as buried.

That they managed to reach 262 for seven, and give their bowlers something to work with, was largely down to the efforts of James Franklin - who was only called in yesterday morning to replace Wellington provincial mate Jesse Ryder, who was ruled out by a finger injury - and Nathan McCullum.

Without their resourcefulness, plus a bright 37 from Brendon McCullum along with 33 extras, New Zealand would have been in a sorry state on what is the country's best batting pitch.

What made it worse was all five wickets were effectively gifted away.

Martin Guptill, Jamie How and Kane Williamson all unerringly found catchers at short mid wicket, deep square leg and long on respectively.

Taylor drove lavishly at left armer Wahab Riaz slanting the ball across him to be caught at slip while Styris' run out was dumb cricket. Williamson cut to backward point, Styris charged down the pitch, Williamson stayed and the veteran was run out by half a pitch.

Indeed, the running between the wickets throughout the New Zealand innings was distinctly hairy, and that's being kind.

"Unfortunately some guys got out to balls you really shouldn't get out to," captain Daniel Vettori said.

"Five for 80 at McLean Park is not acceptable. It's a great batting deck."

In that first hour, New Zealand looked as if they felt they needed 300-plus to feel confident.

Things began well but there was a suspicion some of the batsmen were looking to sprint before completing the preliminary jog on a ground where runmaking is often regarded as a doddle. Franklin was dropped at backward point on 23 but his 62 off 75 balls enhanced a strong recent record since being recalled for the ODI series in India before Christmas.

Nathan McCullum's unbeaten 53 was his first half-century and demonstrated his late-innings skills.

Had Pakistan bowled remotely consistently, New Zealand would not have reached 250. The bowlers gave up 19 wides and 12 no balls in a performance of seriously mixed quality.

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 was caught for five by Younus Khan at second slip off Tanvir Ahmed in only the second over. Rehman bowled five successive maidens after the break, pinning down the normally free-flowing New Zealand batsmen from the embankment end of the ground while pace bowler Umar Gul attacked from the grandstand end.

The aggressive McCullum, who looked set for a big score, smashed two sixes off Gul but then slashed at a short wide delivery on the next ball and was caught by Azhar Ali at deep backward point.

Taylor never looked settled and while he swept Rehman to the boundary to end the run of maidens he was out in the same over when he got a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal. Guptill adopted the anchor role while the left-handed Ryder was the more aggressive, lofting a six and a four in Rehman's 12th over.

However, he was unlucky to be run out when Wahab Riaz deflected a well-timed straight drive on to the stumps with Ryder well short of his ground. Guptill brought up his fifth test half century with a single but then threw his wicket away when he hit a Rehman full toss straight to Misbah-ul-haq at mid-off.

New Zealand Cricket begins review of India debacle

The Test and ODI thrashing at the hands of India has prompted New Zealand Cricket to start a review of the team’s performance but the body has ruled out sacking captain Daniel Vettori. NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said the 0-5 ODI loss after a 0-1 Test defeat to India within weeks of an embarrassing one-day whitewash against Bangladesh has led to concern about the team’s progress just a couple of months before the World Cup.

But Vaughan dismissed suggestions that the inspirational Vettori, who has been leading the team since 2007 and even doubled up as coach for a brief period, would lose captaincy because of the twin debacles. “I wouldn’t have thought so,” Vaughan told ‘New Zealand Herald’ “We need to go through a proper review and talk about what options there are to help the side improve, but I’d be hard pressed to believe the captaincy would be one of those issues,” he said.

Vaughan is planning discussions with team manager Dave Currie, Vettori, batting coach and selector Mark Greatbatch and performance director Roger Mortimer.

Vaughan said although changes would be made to the team if necessary but given that the World Cup is not too far away, too much tinkering could backfire.

“If we can see a clear case for that (making changes) then it’s something we would have to consider. But it is getting pretty late in the piece,” Vaughan said.

“The danger is obviously that significant change could sometimes be extremely unsettling. It doesn’t mean to say you can’t do it, but you need to go in with your eyes open,” he added.

One of the options being considered is to offer a bigger role to former India coach John Wright, who is currently looking after the NZC’s High Performance program.

“There may have been some discussion on the benefit of him spending some time over there but then we realised it was pretty short notice so it didn’t go any further,” Vaughan said.

“But tapping into Wrighty’s knowledge should have been obvious. I understand people’s desire to see him attached to the Black Caps because the New Zealand public loves John, he’s had a proven international record and the Black Caps aren’t travelling very well at the moment.

“But we are comfortable with the process we went with around the appointment of Mark and the way the team is operating with Roger and the others,” he added.

Cricket-What Australian media are saying about the Ashes

Rain may disrupt play but Australia still need 137 runs to make England bat again with their last two recognised batsmen, Michael Hussey and Marcus North, already at the crease. Here is a sample of the Australian media's reaction to the state of play.

"Supporters are not sanguine. It's been a long time since as many of them spent as much time scanning the heavens or examining meteorology reports online. Better than anything else, that summed up the state of play. Australia is down and almost out" - Peter Roebuck, the Age. "Aussies showed a lot of character today !!! Well done boys ... Tomorrow = Draw...." - Shane Warne, Twitter.

"Burn the bails. Australia showed fight and grit and determination but the truth of the matter is that England can still retain the urn before Christmas ... Forget the weather. It can never be relied upon. There are confidence problems, form issues, batting dramas, bowling concerns, fielding woes and selection troubles for Australia. Apart from that, all is well," Will Swanton, Daily Telegraph.

"The pressure on Australia is immense but it is also building up on England. They have gone for two decades without winning a test in Australia.

"History is a ball and chain they must somehow discard, but they are having trouble cutting the cord. Andrew Strauss' decision to bat on yesterday morning was a sign of a conservative heart." - Robert Craddock, Herald Sun.

"The modern version of The Invincibles, who won a record 16 successive tests under Steve Waugh's captaincy then did it again with Ponting as skipper, have become The Terribles. Just like in the mid 80s, suddenly smirking Poms are trotting out that tired old line: can't bat, can't bowl, can't field." - Malcolm Conn, The Australian.

"Anychance (sic) the Aussie press can say how well England are playing rather than how bad the Aussies are please... Cheers" - former England captain Michael Vaughan, Twitter.

Determined Pakistan tailenders pass follow-on

Determined resistance by the Pakistan tailenders took them to 412 for eight and past the follow-on mark at lunch on the fourth day of the second test against South Africa at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday. Pakistan resumed on 317 for six, needing 385 to avoid the follow-on, and it was left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman who did the bulk of the work as he scored a career-best 41 not out.

Number 10 batsman Tanvir Ahmed, who took six wickets on debut in the South Africa innings of 584 for nine declared, weighed in with 30 not out in an unbeaten ninth-wicket stand of 59 with Rehman. Pakistan made the worst possible start to the day when captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who had scored 77 and was the batsman his team were most relying on, fell to the first ball of the day, trying to drive a Dale Steyn in-swinger and being trapped lbw.

Umar Gul scored a useful 21 before left-arm spinner Paul Harris won a marginal lbw decision to leave Pakistan on 353 for eight. Misbah's overnight partner Rehman enjoyed some early luck, but batted through the session, taking Pakistan to the follow-on mark by hammering Harris for six over long-on.

Tanvir played some magnificent swashbuckling drives, collecting six fours off 40 balls as Pakistan kept the scoreboard ticking over despite the early setback and the pressure of the situation. Steyn had taken four for 98 in 29 overs and Harris three for 97 in 43 overs.The first test in Dubai was drawn, with Pakistan scoring 343 for three in the fourth innings to save the game.

Pakistan's Tanvir makes flying start to test cricket

Pakistan fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed made a flying start to international cricket by reducing South Africa to 114 for three at lunch on the first day of the second test on Saturday. Tanvir, at 31 the oldest quick bowler to make his debut for Pakistan, took three for 28 in seven overs as South Africa crashed to 33 for three after being sent in to bat. Jacques Kallis, who raced to 57 not out off just 65 balls, and AB de Villiers (33 not out) had steadied South Africa's innings with an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 81 at the break.

Kallis was surprisingly aggressive, hitting nine fours and two sixes, as Pakistan's bowlers began to look more and more off-colour the longer the session went on. Alviro Petersen (2) played a loose drive in the second over, edging Tanvir's third delivery in test cricket to Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip. Tanvir was more fortunate with his second wicket, Hashim Amla harshly given out caught behind by wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal for four when a delivery jagged back into his thigh.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith had struggled to 10 before a flat-footed poke at a Tanvir delivery that nipped away from the bat gave Akmal his second catch. Television replays suggested De Villiers was fortunate to be given not out on seven when it seemed he had edged Mohammad Sami to Akmal.

Zulqarnain goes missing in Dubai

DUBAI: Pakistani cricket team wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider went missing from hotel room in Dubai, Geo News reported Monday.

The wicketkeeper Haider is missing from his hotel room since 6am this morning.

Sources said he was last seen at 630am from his room.

The wicketkeeper said in his Facebook post he was leaving cricket as someone gave him bad message on losing in last match.

The wicketkeeper words are: ‘leaving pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game.’

Also, a message from Zulqarnain’s mobile received on cellphone of a friend and Geo News correspondent Sohail Imran, said he is leaving the cricket as someone is giving him murder threats.

The SMS received on Sohail Imran’s mobile phone said, ‘Match haar jao’ (Lose match.)
Geo News

Talking to Geo News, Zulqarnain’s brother Aqil Haider said his brother talked to the family last night.

Omar Akmal will play as wicketkeeper in today’s match.

Cricket-South Africa hold nerve to clinch tense win

South Africa held their nerve to clinch a thrilling two-run victory over Pakistan in a chaotic and error strewn finish to the third one-day international at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Defending a modest total of just 228 for nine, built almost exclusively around an unbeaten century from opener Hashim Amla, South African seamers Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Juan Theron only just managed to defend 34 runs in the final four overs.

Pakistan came up short despite an unbeaten 59 from Fawad Alam who was dropped twice in the closing overs while Theron added to the tension by bowling a no ball with the first delivery of the final over from which 12 runs were required. Amla hit 119, continuing a superb fun of form in the last six months which has seen him score 865 runs in his last 11 ODI innings with five centuries.

On an awkward, rather than difficult or dangerous batting surface which lacked pace, Amla guided and teased the ball into gaps and used his delicate touch to play as late as possible.

His team mates, however, were largely at sea with only J-P Duminy (26) passing 20. AB de Villiers might have done better than his 19 off 40 balls had he not been bizarrely given out stumped by third umpire Zameer Haider despite his back foot being clearly grounded behind his crease.

Pakistan's top order once again struggled although Imran Farhat (47) and Asad Shafiq (43) added 85 for the third wicket to repair the early damage. Shahid Afridi hit his second ball for six to surpass Sanath Jayasuriya as the leading international six-hitter of all time across all formats (353) but was then promptly dismissed.

Seamer Wahab Riaz was the unlikely hero in the closing overs smiting fast bowler Morne Morkel over point for six in a cameo innings of 21 from 11 deliveries which suddenly reignited Pakistan's hopes which had seemed remote with 83 required from the final 10 overs and only five wickets in hand.

SA set for Pakistan sweep?

Cape Town - Urgently needed, but seemingly still a few weeks away … some “super-league” opposition for the Proteas. Thank goodness for India’s full tour of South Africa, in December and January, for an overdue, accurate barometer of where the team are really at in both Test and limited-overs international cricket.

The past few months have seen the Proteas play various forms of the game against, respectively, West Indies, Zimbabwe and now Pakistan, with victories tending to come dime-a-dozen for them.

It is not as if they have flattered to deceive: South Africa’s “intensities”, as they like to say these days, have mostly been commendable against these cowed foes, one of them historically a minnow and the other two lamentably fallen giants of the game.

But it was hoped that the visit to neutral United Arab Emirates to tackle the Pakistanis would at least present them with a sterner examination, even given the array of crises that have engulfed these particular opponents.

Instead the portents from the two-day, two-match Twenty20 international phase of the tour programme in Abu Dhabi are not too good for the remaining few weeks of combat.

Once again South Africa brushed aside Shahid Afridi and company with relative ease on Wednesday, in an affair that seemed uncannily a carbon copy of the previous night.

Of course tides can turn with unexpected rapidity when you criss-cross formats, but early signs are that the Proteas may go on to claim both the five-match ODI series and the pair of Tests to follow without being seriously extended in the UAE.

One thing was rather too clear on Wednesday: Pakistani cricket in general remains at sixes and sevens after its catalogue of scandal, bickering and the country’s political and natural disaster tumult.

There was some very audible jeering and booing from sections of the remaining crowd, too, as Afridi tried unconvincingly and almost flippantly to explain a second shambolic showing on the trot at the ridiculously bloated presentation ceremony.

Clearly all is not well in the camp and among long-suffering supporters, and not even the anticipated return of Younis Khan, a veteran of 202 ODIs and 63 Tests, is any guarantee of a sharp turn in fortune.

He ought to restore some measure of sanity, nevertheless, to a batting line-up which was the main Achilles heel in the T20 games – there was some unseemly slogging anew on Wednesday, and little hint of structure or formula at the crease.

But if Pakistan are set to unleash a seasoned musket in the hope of revival, don’t forget that the Proteas plan to roll out a double-barrelled shotgun imminently themselves, in the form of Messrs Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn.

That should only tilt the scales more strongly South Africa’s way, while commentator and former national captain Kepler Wessels made the point that the better team from the more lotto-like T20 fixtures really ought to prevail more convincingly as the demands stretch to 50 overs a side from Friday.

Still, the competence of Pakistan’s trio of spinners on Wednesday – Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal – did afford that embattled outfit a few shafts of light for the assignments ahead, and simultaneously serve a reminder to the Proteas not to stumble into a complacency trap.

That ought to be avoided, especially in the ODIs as the scramble mounts for squad places to the 2011 World Cup and some pleasant problems increasingly face the selectors.

For a second night in succession, for instance, the ambitious Warriors trio of Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Rusty Theron and Colin Ingram did their budding CVs much more good than harm.

Theron, especially, is making shelf-life a little precarious for someone like Charl Langeveldt, who once boasted near-undisputed best credentials in the country for death bowling but is being rather rapidly marginalised.

The younger man deservedly won man-of-the-match for the second T20 international, whereafter the pretty chilled, appealing character gave prize-giving MC Ramiz Raja a pearl of bowling wisdom: “Once you release the ball it’s out of your hands.

We sense victory: Hilfenhaus

Ben Hilfenhaus, who had the last laugh on a wicket-filled fourth day of the first Test, said Australia was sensing victory. “We have our tails up, we have plans to bowl to each of their batsman tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, and if we can bowl to those plans, we'll have a good chance,” he said. “So yeah, we definitely sense victory.”

Hilfenhaus said Australia will look to put pressure on Sachin Tendulkar by denying him runs. “It's a hard wicket to get in on, but once you're set, there doesn't seem to be much problem making runs, so you have to tie them down,” he said. “Tendulkar is the big wicket for us. If we get him early, that'll set us on our way. We'll look to put him under the pump and hopefully watch him crumble.

Ishant Sharma, who had played a major part in bowling Australia out for 192, said the mood in the Indian camp was tense after losing four wickets.

“But everyone is in a good frame of mind and we believe that whoever is at the crease can do a job for the team,” he said, adding that V.V.S. Laxman will definitely bat if needed.

If India manages the 161 runs still needed for victory, it will be only the third instance of an Indian side successfully chasing a target of over 200 against Australia. The previous two occasions were in Mumbai in 1964 and in Adelaide in 2003.

Ishant said his recent struggles with the ball and with no-balls (he bowled 15 this Test) were because he was still adjusting to a shortened run-up.

“I struggled in Sri Lanka as well because I have shortened my run-up by two steps,” he said. “It's just two steps, but it's taking time to find my old rhythm. I'm missing my steps a little bit.

“I spoke to Zak (Zaheer) about it and a few seniors in my team. The good thing is that I'm still bowling at the same pace that I was getting with my previous run-up.”

Pakistan Vs South Africa 2010 in UAE - Fixtures and Schedule

Pakistan Cricket board had announced Pakistan and South Africa series in UAE which will act as the 'home' for Pakistan. Pakistan Vs South Africa 2010 is scheduled to start from 26 Oct. The matches to be played at Dubai and Abu Dhabi which includes 2 T20s, five ODIs and 2 test matches.

There has been no international matches on the Pakistani soil after the Lahore attack. Earlier, Pakistan has hosted the Australian and New Zealand team in UAE and are planning host Australia and England again next year in UAE. The full Schedule of Pakistan Vs South Africa 2010:

Oct 26 - Tue			Pakistan v South Africa, 1st T20I	16:00 GMT			Sheikh Zayed Stadium	Abu Dhabi
Oct 27 - Wed			Pakistan v South Africa, 2nd T20I	16:00 GMT			Sheikh Zayed Stadium	Abu Dhabi
Oct 29 - Fri			Pakistan v South Africa, 1st ODI	11:00 GMT			Sheikh Zayed Stadium	Abu Dhabi
Oct 31 - Sun			Pakistan v South Africa, 2nd ODI	11:00 GMT			Sheikh Zayed Stadium	Abu Dhabi
Nov 02 - Tue			Pakistan v South Africa, 3rd ODI	11:00 GMT			Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium	Dubai
Nov 05 - Fri			Pakistan v South Africa, 4th ODI	11:00 GMT			Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium	Dubai
Nov 08 - Mon			Pakistan v South Africa, 5th ODI	11:00 GMT			Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium	Dubai
Nov 12 Fri - Nov 16 Tue			Pakistan v South Africa, 1st Test	06:00 GMT			Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium	Dubai
Nov 20 Sat - Nov 24 Wed			Pakistan v South Africa, 2nd Test	06:00 GMT			Sheikh Zayed Stadium	Abu Dhabi

Pak, S Africa to play match for flood victims

A charity match to raise funds for the flood victims of the Pakistan has been added to next month’s schedule for the country’s UAE-based cricket series against South Africa. The Pakistan and South African national sides will face each other nine times between Tuesday, October 26, and Wednesday, November 24 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The schedule begins with two T20 games that will be played in the capital’s Zayed Sports City, and the proceeds from it will go towards flood relief efforts.

Organisers have not yet specified which match will become the fundraiser. The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Ijaz Butt, said: “I would like to thank the Emirates Cricket Board for once again making their world-class stadiums and facilities available to us for the upcoming series.”“The UAE has become a home away from home for the Pakistan team and I would especially like to extend my appreciation to Cricket South Africa for playing a match for the benefit of the millions of flood victims in Pakistan.”

Andrew Strauss: We were absolutely determined to win against Pakistan

The relief Andrew Strauss felt was obvious. You could see it in his smile and hear it in his voice. The least-loved series has finally come to an end, England winning the final match by 121 runs. When the last wicket fell England celebrated as though they had won a major trophy, not a tinpot cup for yet another one-day series at the end of a long summer.

This match mattered, to the players and to the supporters who filled the Rose Bowl, their roars still echoing around the rafters long after the final ball had been bowled. When Strauss left his post-match press conference he was treated to an ovation from the fans waiting outside. After everything that has happened these last few weeks there was more than the series at stake last night. England were motivated by stronger fuel than the simple desire to win their sixth straight rubber. Asked by one mischievous journalist if he had had "nightmare visions" of Pakistan lifting the trophy, Strauss paused, chuckled and admitted that actually yes, he had. Typically it was the kind of question he would have been too diplomatic to answer.

Last night he made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. "We were absolutely determined to win this game," he said. "It was a huge game of cricket. We have been to some pretty unpleasant places as a team over the last few days and we showed a lot of unity and togetherness.

"We came out today determined to finish on a high. Having been 2-0 up in the series and being quite cosy and comfortable about things it was a bit of a shock to the system to suddenly be 2-2, especially given what went on over the last week."

Unity and togetherness. He used the phrase twice. Strauss thinks his team will be stronger for this experience, that their will has been tested and strengthened by what they have been through. "If this series has proved anything it is that unity and togetherness are absolutely crucial at all times. We will have gained a hell of a lot from what has gone on in the last few weeks in terms of bringing us closer together and fighting our corner and that can only stand us in good stead for Australia."

Australia. This time tomorrow all the talk will be of the Ashes. And while Strauss admitted that he and his team were "keen to move on from the series", he reiterated his message to the ICC that it cannot afford to sweep these issues under the carpet. "The ICC need to take a firm lead," he said. "It would be very easy to say the series is over, things will calm down and cricket will return to normal. If we do that we will have to contend with this again at some stage in the future."

The headlines and conversations will soon move on, but spot-fixing is not going to go away just because people stop paying so much attention to it. "This summer has clearly demonstrated that when there is a sniff of something in the air it devalues the whole game and no one wants to play cricket in those circumstances."

As for Shahid Afridi, he too seemed relieved that he would not have to face any more questions from the press. Not that he has been providing many answers. After last night's match he laughed off even the more serious inquiries of Sky's interviewers, insisting that the players were all friends, that Pakistan would be bound to be welcomed back to England in the future to play more neutral Tests and that his team had forgiven Jonathan Trott for his argument with Wahab Riaz in the nets at Lord's. That was more than the Pakistani fans have managed – Trott was viciously jeered and booed all night long, both in the field and at bat.

The sorriest part of it is that suspicious minds have become commonplace.

Last night's match sparked predictable speculation. Pakistan raced to 63 in under 13 overs, then scored 72 runs in the next 24 – rather than credit England's bowling, some pundits and members of the public privately preferred to question Pakistan's motivation. And understandably so. No one is sure what to believe any more.