ThePakPolitics

SPORTS • Re: Babar, Yasir star as Pak complete win over Australia

2014-11-03T16:29:34+03:00

2nd Test: Pakistan whitewash Australia after 32 years
By AFP / News Desk / Nabeel Hashmi
Published: October 30, 2014
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Pakistan team pose with the winning trophy of the Test series. PHOTO: AFP
ABU DHABI:

Pakistan achieved their first series win over Australia in 20 years with a thumping 356-run win in the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday, taking the two-match series 2-0.

The elusive win lifts Pakistan to number three in International Cricket Council’s Test rankings behind number one South Africa and Australia.

Spinners Zulfiqar Babar (5-120) and Yasir Shah (3-44) rocked Australia once again for 246 in the second innings soon after lunch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Pakistan won the first Test by 221 runs in Dubai.

Pakistan had taken a big step forward after scoring a mammoth 570-6 declared in their first innings and getting a 309-run lead by dismissing Australia for 261.

That never allowed Australia to stage a comeback and avoid series defeat for the first time since losing 1-0 in Pakistan in 1994.

The defeat was Australia’s third worst in all Test cricket behind their 675 run loss against England in Brisbane in 1928 and by 408 against the West Indies at Adelaide in 1980.

In contrast Pakistan registered their biggest win in terms of runs, beating their 341-run victory over India at Karachi in 2006.

“It’s really an honour for me to lead this side, the way everybody played,” said Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq.

“Every individual performed and I’m really happy about that. I can’t describe my feelings.

“We were working really hard and playing good cricket but not winning, so it’s really good.”

Australian skipper Michael Clarke heaped praise on Pakistan, saying they had ‘played outstanding cricket in both Tests’.

“And we have been outplayed, unfortunately,” he said. “It’s been the track record of Australian cricket [in Asia] for a long time, unfortunately.”

It was Australia’s sixth Test defeat in a row in Asia after they lost 4-0 in India early last year.

Pakistan had to fight hard in the morning session as Steven Smith defied Pakistan during his resolute knock of 97, but once Smith departed, leg-before by Yasir, Australia lost their last four wickets for the addition of just eight runs.

Smith added an invaluable 107 for the fifth wicket with Mitchell Marsh, who fell after scoring 47.

Smith missed a sharp turner from Yasir who also bowled Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc to finish with 12 wickets in the series.

Babar had Nathan Lyon caught for his second five-wicket haul, following up his first in the first Test in Dubai.

Babar finished with 14 wickets in the series as Pakistan did not miss ace spinner Saeed Ajmal’s absence who is suspended due to illegal bowling action.

Before lunch Smith batted resolutely, using his feet against the spinners during his 204-ball knock and hitting a dozen boundaries.

Smith reached his eighth Test fifty with two boundaries off spinner Babar, who failed to add to his three wickets on Sunday.

Marsh, who top-scored with 87 in Australia’s first innings, played Pakistan’s pace-cum spin attack confidently and he and Smith added 55 runs in the first hour.

But Mohammad Hafeez provided the breakthrough when he had Marsh caught by Asad Shafiq off an uppish flick. His 130-ball innings included six boundaries. Hafeez finished with 2-38.

The win is also special for skipper Misbah who equalled the most wins record by a Pakistani captain with 14. Imran Khan and Javed Miandad also won 14 Tests as captains.

Misbah, declared man-of-the-match, equalled the feat of fastest century in all Test cricket during his 101 not out on Sunday, capping a memorable Test match.

Younis Khan was named man of the series for his 468 runs in two Tests.

Final Result

Pakistan defeat Australia by 356 runs and claim the series 2-0.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/783441/paki ... alia-test/

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:29 pm

SPORTS • Re: Babar, Yasir star as Pak complete win over Australia

2014-11-01T06:44:14+03:00

Demoralised Australia fight to save Test after Younis epic
By Agencies | Dawn.com
1.11.2014

ABU DHABI: Australia were left with a daunting task to save the second Test and series after Younis Khan hit an epic double hundred to put Pakistan in command on Friday.

Younis notched a memorable 213 for his fifth double hundred to steer Pakistan to 570-6 declared in their first innings on a flat Sheik Zayed Stadium pitch in Abu Dhabi.

At the close on day two Australia were 22-1 with David Warner on 16 and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon on one, still trailing by 548 runs with nine wickets intact on a day when Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq (101) and Azhar Ali (109) also enjoyed the run feast.

Opener Chris Rogers fell caught behind to paceman Imran Khan for five, putting Pakistan in a strong position to press for their first series win over Australia since 1994.

It was Younis, who hit twin hundreds in the first Test, who once again dominated Australia's hapless bowling during his eight-and-half-hour stay, hitting 15 boundaries and two sixes.

Younis hit Glenn Maxwell for a towering six and, in the spinner's next over, took a single to complete 200. He was finally bowled while playing Peter Siddle across the line and was given a standing ovation by a 12,000 holiday crowd and his team-mates.

When on 181, Younis completed 8,000 runs in his 93rd Test, becoming the third Pakistani batsmen to reach the milestone behind Javed Miandad (8832) and Inzamam-ul Haq (8829).

In all, 28 batsmen in the world have scored 8,000 or more Test runs.

Misbah also completed his hundred with a reverse sweep off Maxwell, taking 166 balls for the mark before he gave a return catch to Steve Smith.

Misbah hit 10 boundaries and a six and added 181 runs with Younis to further hit Australia badly.

At 63 Misbah also became the highest scorer as Pakistan captain, beating Imran Khan's 2408 runs in 48 Tests. This is Misbah's 31st match.

The Younis-Misbah stand flourished in the afternoon after the Australian bowlers toiled hard in the morning session to get only one wicket, that of Ali.

Pakistan added 101 in an extended two-and-a-half-hour session due to Friday prayers after resuming at 304-2.

Younis added 236 with Ali to erase the previous highest third-wicket stand against Australia of 223 held by Javed Miandad and Taslim Arif from a 1980 match in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Australia had another unusually sloppy day in the field as David Warner failed to hold a sharp chance at point from Younis's push off paceman Mitchell Johnson in the third over of the day. Younis was then batting on 112.

Nine runs later Younis edged a Siddle delivery which fell short of Brad Haddin, who hurt his right shoulder in an attempt to hold the catch.

Haddin had to walk off the field and Warner, who replaced him behind the stumps, spurned a stumping chance off spinner Lyon as Younis was well out of his crease on 125.

But Warner made amends as he took a good catch off Ali's glance off paceman Mitchell Starc for a consolation wicket. Ali's 250-ball knock had six boundaries, while Starc was the best bowler with 2-86.

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sat Nov 01, 2014 6:44 am

SPORTS • Babar, Yasir star as Pak complete win over Australia

2014-10-27T08:32:15+03:00

Babar, Yasir star as Pakistan complete emphatic win over Australia

By Agencies | Dawn.com - 27.10.14

Updated about 17 hours ago

DUBAI: Pakistan beat Australia by 221 runs to take a 1-0 lead in two-match Test series being played in Dubai.

Australia, set 438 to win, were bowled out for 216 in their second innings with spinner Zulfiqar Babar (5-74) and leg-spinner Yasir Shah (4-50) sharing the bowling honours.

"We really did well in every department of the game; that helped us to put Australia under pressure," said captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

Talking about Babar and Shah's brilliant performance, Misbah said: "These bowlers are young at the international level but have a good experience playing first-class cricket and I must appreciate the temperament they showed against a team like Australia."

"If we play disciplined cricket like this, we can win the series," Misbah said adding, "We just need to be consistent and stick to the basics."

This victory makes Misbah-ul-Haq, 40, the oldest captain after England's W. G. Grace in 1896 to win a Test against Australia.

Australian captain Michael Clarke gave credit to their opponents. "Credit to Pakistan," he said adding, "We didn't bat well and now have couple of days to turn it around in the second Test and I'm sure you will see a different team in the next Test."

After setting an imposing 438-run target, Pakistan rattled the Australians through a brace of wickets apiece from spinners Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah to leave Australia tottering on 59-4 at stumps on the fourth day on Saturday, needing six wickets for a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Australia's best chase to win a Test was way back in 1948 when they made 404-3 against England at Headingley while their best chase against Pakistan was 369-6 at Hobart in 1999.

Australia had raced to 44-0 before Babar struck twice in the 14th over, inducing David Warner, who had scored his third successive test century in the first innings, to come out of the crease for a smart stumping when he was on 29 with his first ball and then trapped Alex Doolan (nought) leg before with his last.

Michael Clarke survived a review leg-before decision on nought off Shah before trapped in front of the wicket in the leg-spinner's next over for three.

Clarke was disappointed at his failure. "I'm really disappointed with my personal performance in this Test match.

"I am not looking to blame anybody else or criticise anybody else. But if you look at all facets of the game we've been outplayed at this stage," said Clarke who made two in the first innings.

Earlier during Pakistan's batting, Younis Khan hit a record-making 103 not out and Ahmed Shehzad 131 to bolster Pakistan to 286-2 declared.

Younis swept Steve O'Keefe to square-leg boundary for his sixth boundary to get to his second hundred in the match following his 106 in Pakistan's 454 in the first innings. Australia conceded a big 151-run lead after being dismissed for 303 in their first knock.

Younis became the seventh Pakistani batsmen, but first against Australia, to score twin hundreds in a Test.

Hanif Mohammad (1964), Javed Miandad (1984), Wajahatullah Wasti (1999), Yasir Hameed (2003), Inzamam-ul Haq (2005) and Mohammad Yousuf (2006) had also achieved the distinction in the past.

With his 26th hundred, Younis also edged ahead of Inzamam (25 hundreds) as the highest Test century maker for his country.

The second and final Test starts in Abu Dhabi on October 30.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1140304/babar- ... -australia

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Mon Oct 27, 2014 8:32 am

SPORTS • Re: Pak beats Australia - 23.3.14

2014-03-23T22:43:15+03:00

Umar Akmal stars in Pakistan’s 16 runs win over Aussies

AFP

DHAKA: Umar Akmal smashed 94 off 54 balls as Pakistan bounced back after a morale-sapping loss against India to defeat Australia by 16 runs in the World Twenty20 in Dhaka on Sunday.

Elder brother Kamran Akmal contributed a run-a-ball 31 and Shahid Afridi returned unbeaten on 20 off 11 balls to lift Pakistan to 191-5 after they were sent in to bat.

Australia were bowled out for 175 in reply off the final ball of the match despite a spectacular third-wicket partnership of 118 from 64 balls between Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch.

Maxwell hit 74 off 33 balls with six sixes and seven boundaries, while Finch chipped in with 65 that included two sixes and seven fours.

The pair came together after 35-year-old left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, who opened the bowling, dismissed David Warner and Shane Watson in the first over to make it 8-2.

Maxwell and Finch launched a brilliant counter-attack to raise Australia's 100 by the eighth over, with Maxwell contributing 58 off 20 balls.

Seamer Bilawal Bhatti conceded 30 runs in the eighth over, giving away two sixes and three fours, besides bowling a waist-high full toss that fetched five extra runs.

A relieved Pakistan finally saw Maxwell off in the 12th over when he attempted to sweep Shahid Afridi and holed out to Ahmed Shehzad on the square-leg fence.

Afridi also bowled skipper George Bailey for four as Australia lost their last seven wickets for 29 runs.

It was Australia's first group two match in the Super-10 stage, while Pakistan had lost to India by seven wickets on Friday.

India, the West Indies and hosts Bangladesh are the other teams in the group, from which the top two will advance to the semi-finals.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said the plan to attack from the start paid off.

“I think were a bit defensive against India, but today the boys went out and expressed themselves,” said Hafeez. “Umar Akmal showed his real talent today.”

“We wanted him to attack and that's what he did. It is really nice to have a win under our belts. It will give us the confidence for the matches to come.”

Australian skipper George Bailey said poor catching let his team down.

“Batting and bowling can go either way, but fielding was in our hands,” he said. “We've set high standards and we didn't do well today.”

“Pakistan bowled really well and did not allow us to build the momentum that Maxwell and Finch created.”

The Akmal brothers put on 96 for the third wicket after Pakistan were reduced to 25-2 by the fifth over, losing the key wickets of Ahmed Shehzad and Hafeez.

Umar Akmal hit four sixes and nine boundaries before he fell in the final over, caught on the fence attempting another big hit off Mitchell Starc.

Australia's 43-year-old spinner Brad Hogg, the oldest player ever in the World Twenty20 competitions, had a forgettable outing.

Hogg dropped Umar Akmal on the mid-wicket fence when the batsman was on 22 and then conceded 29 runs in three wicketless overs after being called on to bowl in the ninth over.

Kamran Akmal, who was also dropped early in the innings, was finally dismissed in the 13th over when Warner held a running catch on the point fence off the bowling of Nathan Coulter-Nile.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1095055/umar-a ... er-aussies

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:43 pm

SPORTS • Pak beats Australia - 23.3.14

2014-03-23T19:23:33+03:00

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1j20d ... rt?start=4

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:23 pm

SPORTS • Pakistan claims historic Test victory against Sri Lanka

2014-01-20T19:48:27+03:00

Pakistan claims historic Test victory against Sri Lanka

Agencies

Updated on 2014-01-20

SHARJAH: Azhar Ali hit a brilliant hundred as Pakistan pulled off a thrilling win in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Monday, levelling the series 1-1.

Set a daunting 302 to win in a possible 59 overs, Pakistan owed their successful chase to Ali's fifth Test century (103) as he and Misbah-ul-Haq shared a 109-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Misbah, who finished with 68 not out, hit the winning single with nine balls to spare in fading light.

Ali, ironically dropped for the first two Tests, hit paceman Suranga Lakmal for a boundary, then twice took two to reach his hundred off 133 balls.

He hit six boundaries before falling caught behind with just seven still needed to win.

Pakistan's chances seemed to have faded away at 107-3 at tea, as they needed 195 in the last 35 overs. But Ali upped the tempo during a rapid 89-run partnership in 14.5 overs with Sarfraz Ahmed (48) which left Sri Lanka on the defensive.

Even when Sarfraz was out, caught behind off paceman Shaminda Eranga, Pakistan needed 116. Sarfraz hit four boundaries and a six off 46 balls.

But Misbah supported Ali as Pakistan achieved their second best chase in all Test cricket, behind the 314 they chased against Australia in Karachi in 1994.

Sri Lanka had won the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets while the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan had lost Ahmed Shehzad (21), Khurram Manzoor (21) and Younis Khan (29) as they were derailed in their chase.

Needing to score at a rate of more than five an over to win, Pakistan were given a rapid 35-run start by the sixth over but paceman Suranga Lakmal (3-79) halted that progress by dismissing openers Shehzad and Manzoor within 13 runs.

Younis Khan tried to increase the pace before being caught off Angelo Mathews two overs before tea, but the scenario changed in the last session.

With the series tied, Pakistan also remained unbeaten in five series in the United Arab Emirates, which has become their home since security fears -- sparked in the wake of attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009 -- forced them to play at neutral venues.

They twice drew series with South Africa (2010 and 2013) and beat Sri Lanka (2011) and England (2012).

Misbah said Pakistan desperately wanted the win.

“That was really a much wanted win. We wanted the win it for our coach Dav Whatmore and wanted to give him a winning farewell,” said Misbah of the team coach who ends his two-year tenure with this match.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews regretted batting failure.

“We dominated for three-and-a-half days but unfortunately could not score big in the second innings and lost,” said Mathews, declared man-of-the-series for his 412 runs in three Tests.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 214 in their second innings, with left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman finishing with 4-56 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal taking 3-53, but not before their batsmen had kept Pakistan at bay on the morning of the fifth and final day.

On an exciting day when both teams had a chance of victory, Mathews (31) and Prasanna Jayawardene (49) shared a 62-run stand for the sixth wicket and batted positively to add 56 in the first hour after the tourists resumed at 133-5.

But Mohammad Talha gave Pakistan their much-needed breakthrough when he had Mathews caught off a miscued hook.

Rehman then grabbed two quick wickets to put the brakes on Sri Lanka, having Dilruwan Perera caught at short-leg for eight before removing Rangana Herath for a first-ball duck.

Herath recorded a golden pair in the match as he was also dismissed first ball in the first innings.

Prasanna hit six boundaries in his 88-ball knock before he was dismissed by Ajmal, who also removed Shaminda Eranga to wrap up the innings.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1081508/pakist ... -sri-lanka

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:48 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan pulls off sensational win in first one-day

2013-12-29T00:13:03+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuxzwuVDH20

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Dec 29, 2013 12:13 am

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan pulls off sensational win in first one-day

2013-12-25T22:02:02+03:00

Cricket: Hafeez, Ajmal lead Pakistan to series-clinching win vs SL
December 25, 2013 - Updated 2238 PKT

ABU DHABI: Mohammad Hafeez notched his third hundred of the series while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal grabbed four wickets to help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the fourth one-day international on Wednesday.

Hafeez finished with 113 not out for his ninth one-day hundred as Pakistan knocked off their modest 226-run target in the 42nd over to take an unbeatable 3-1 lead ahead of Friday's fifth and final match.

Pakistan had restricted Sri Lanka to 225 all out in 48.5 overs with Ajmal (4-39) and paceman Umar Gul (3-37) sharing the spoils.

Hafeez, who hit hundreds in Pakistan's two wins in the first and third matches in Sharjah, pushed Tillakaratne Dilshan for his 12th boundary to complete three figures, raising his bat and blowing a kiss to his wife in the stands.

Hafeez became the sixth batsman in all one-day cricket to hit three tons in one bilateral series.

In all Hafeez hit two sixes and 12 boundaries off 119 balls, while Sohaib Maqsood finished with a 56-ball 46 not out with a six and four boundaries.

Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad (44) put Pakistan on track during a solid 84-run stand after opener Sharjeel Khan was dismissed for 13.

Shehzad, who hit a career best 124 in Pakistan's two-wicket loss in the second match in Dubai, started off well with three boundaries in Nuwan Kulasekara's third over while Hafeez matched his partner with as many boundaries in Suranga Lakmal's seventh.

The stand set up victory and even after Shehzad's dismissal, caught in the slips off Lakmal, Pakistan wiped off the target with consummate ease.

Shehzad hit five boundaries during his 56-ball knock as Sri Lanka's bowlers were rendered ineffective.

Maqsood and Hafeez shared an unbroken 111-run stand for the third wicket.

This becomes Pakistan's seventh one-day series win in the year, their best-ever in a calendar year, beating the six series win record achieved in 2011.

Earlier, Sri Lanka failed to post a big total after Angelo Mathews opted to bat after winning the toss on a flat Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.

Gul removed openers Kusal Perera (eight), Tillakaratne Dilshan (eight) and Dinesh Chandimal (five) to reduce Sri Lanka to 36-3 before Ajmal tightened the screws at the end of the innings.

Ashan Priyanjan fought hard during his 93-ball 74, which included ten boundaries, to register the highest score for a one-day debutant for Sri Lanka, beating Chamara Silva's 55 made against Australia in Colombo in 1999.

Priyanjan shared two useful stands of 89 with Kumar Sangakkara (51) for the fourth wicket and then added another 40 with skipper Angelo Mathews (38) to keep Sri Lanka on course for a respectable total.

But Sangakkara's run out, off a brilliant piece of fielding by substitute fielder Anwar Ali at point, derailed Sri Lanka. Sangakkara had looked good duing his 78-ball knock, featuring three boundaries.

Priyanjan had looked solid until he tried an unusual shot off paceman Junaid Khan and was bowled just three balls into the batting power-play.

Ajmal then bowled Nuwan Kulasekara (one), trapped a dangerous looking Mathews and Sachitra Senanayake (nought).

Kithuruwan Vithanage chipped in with a useful 27 before he became one of Junaid's two wickets.

After the conclusion of the one-day series, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play three Tests, starting in Abu Dhabi on December 31. (AFP)

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-13179 ... in-4th-ODI

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Wed Dec 25, 2013 10:02 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan pulls off sensational win in first one-day

2013-12-22T22:17:43+03:00

After losing their second match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan wins the third:

Pakistan thrash Sri Lanka with comprehensive victory

AFP
Updated at2013-12-22 16:21:12

SHARJAH: Mohammad Hafeez demonstrated his all-round skills to guide Pakistan to a convincing 113-run win over Sri Lanka in the third day-night international on Sunday.

The 33-year-old right-hander smashed a career best unbeaten 140 to steer Pakistan to an imperious 326-5 before Hafeez the bowler took 2-35 to dismiss Sri Lanka for 213 in 44.4 overs at Sharjah stadium.

The win gives Pakistan a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Hafeez accounted for the dangerous Dinesh Chandimal (36) and Seekkugge Prasanna (22) in an incisive spell to thwart any hopes Sri Lanka had harboured.

Paceman Umar Gul, playing his first match since March this year after a knee operation, gave Pakistan a sound start by dismissing Kusal Perera (seven) and Dimuth Karunaratne (nought) in his first spell of five overs and then had the last man Lasith Malinga to finish with 3-19.

Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan hit ten boundaries in an aggressive 62-ball knock of 59 but fell to Shahid Afridi as the Sri Lankan innings fell apart.

Kumar Sangakkara also hit a six in his 14 before he fell to paceman Junaid Khan who took 2-40.

Skipper Angelo Mathews chipped in with 44 but his dismissal signalled the end.

Earlier, Pakistan were once again helped by Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad after they were put into bat.

Hafeez, who hit 122 in the opening game in Sharjah last week, laid the foundations of the innings with opener Shehzad (81) during their second wicket stand of 160 after Pakistan lost Sharjeel Khan for two in the third over.

Hafeez, dropped by Lasith Malinga off leg-spinner Prasanna when 26, took full advantage of the chance and hit 11 boundaries and three sixes in an enthralling knock.

He took a couple off Malinga in the covers to reach his hundred, which came off 119 deliveries, and added a quickfire 75 for the fourth wicket with skipper Misbah-ul Haq who made a rapid 26-ball 40.

Shehzad set the tempo, following his 124 in Pakistan's two-wicket defeat in the second match in Dubai, with an 89-ball knock which had six fours and two sixes.

Shehzad was run out in the 31st over but Hafeez kept one end intact as Pakistan scored 105 in the last ten overs with Misbah also in top form.

Sohaib Maqsood chipped in with a run-a-ball 21, laced with two sixes and a four. Amidst the run-spree, Thisara Perera took 2-58.

The remaining two matches will be played in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Friday.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1075698/pakist ... ve-victory

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Dec 22, 2013 10:17 pm

SPORTS • Pakistan pulls off sensational win in first one-day

2013-12-18T23:48:01+03:00

Pakistan pulls off sensational win in first one-day

AFP
Updated at2013-12-19 00:40:06

SHARJAH: Pakistan survived a late order scare from Sri Lanka to pull off an exciting 11-run win in the first one-day international in Sharjah on Wednesday, to go 1-0 up in the five-match series.

Pakistan's innings was built around a brilliant 122 from Mohammad Hafeez which saw them post an impressive total of 322-5 in their 50 overs but were made to work hard for their win, finally bowling Sri Lanka out in 49.4 overs.

Besides Hafeez's 122, Sohaib Maqsood (73) and debutant opener Sharjeel Khan (61) were the main contributors on a flat pitch.

Sri Lanka had all but lost the match at 221-7 but Sachithra Senanayake (42) and Seekkuge Prasanna (42) gave Pakistan a scare during their 87-run partnership for the eighth wicket, a record for Pakistan-Sri Lanka one-day internationals.

Sri Lanka needed 27 off the last two overs but both the batsmen were out in quick succession to hand Pakistan a deserved win.

Sri Lanka got off to a solid start with Tillakaratne Dilshan (30) and Kusal Perera (64) batting quite comfortably against the spin-cum pace Pakistan attack.

Dilshan pulled a short Junaid Khan delivery straight to deep square-leg before Kumar Sangakkara (23) and Perera added 47 for the second wicket.

Perera, who hit five boundaries and a six off 68 balls, also holed out off Hafeez before leg-spinner Shahid Afridi then struck twice, dismissing Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne (10) in quick succession.

Dinesh Chandimal hit a 50-ball 46 while Angelo Mathews made 31 off 32 balls during a resolute 73-run stand for the fifth wicket before the tail wagged.

Paceman Junaid finished with 3-44.

Earlier, Hafeez smashed 122 off 129 balls in a power-packed Pakistan batting performance after they won the toss.

Hafeez, whose place was in danger over poor form after only 147 runs in the last eight one-dayers, hit seven boundaries and four sixes in his seventh one-day hundred.

He hoisted paceman Suranga Lakmal over long-on for a six to reach the three-figure mark.

Hafeez added 140 for the third wicket with Maqsood and 83 for the second wicket with Sharjeel to give Pakistan a good platform.

Maqsood was run out after hitting four sixes and two boundaries during an entertaining 68-ball knock.

Shahid Afridi, promoted to fifth in the batting order, produced a fiery 12-ball knock of 34 studded with three sixes and two boundaries as Pakistan mustered 103 in the last ten overs.

Hafeez and Sharjeel raised the scoring rate, with the opener hitting two sixes and a four off paceman Thisara Perera in the 13th over and then hit spinner Sachitra Senanayake for a boundary towards long-off to bring up his half-century off 46 balls.

Dropped on 56 by Thisara off Seekkuge Prasanna, Sharjeel failed to benfit from the lapse, holing out off the same bowler five runs later.

Lakmal finished with the best bowling figures of 2-73.

The second match will be played in Dubai on Friday followed by the third in Sharjah on Sunday and the last two in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Friday.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1074852/pakist ... st-one-day

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:48 pm

SPORTS • Saeed Ajmal's 400th wicket in international cricket

2013-12-13T11:53:22+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7i6ZFm7aHw

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:53 am

SPORTS • Afridi stars in tight win over Sri Lanka

2013-12-12T15:24:54+03:00

Afridi stars in tight win over Sri Lanka

In all Afridi hit three sixes and two boundaries to help Pakistan overcome a tough challenge from world number one Sri Lanka.

Updated at2013-12-12 01:33:07

DUBAI: Dashing allrounder Shahid Afridi starred in Pakistan's exciting three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international at Dubai stadium on Wednesday.

Afridi scored an unbeaten 20-ball 39, hitting the winning six off the first ball of the final over by paceman Nuwan Kulasekara to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

In all Afridi hit three sixes and two boundaries to help Pakistan overcome a tough challenge from world number one Sri Lanka who had taken the match to the final over with Pakistan needing six runs.

Set a challenging 146 to get, Pakistan lost Ahmed Shehzad (four) in the third over but Mohammad Hafeez (32) and Sharjeel Khan (34) steadied the innings through their 57-run second wicket stand before they lost three wickets in the space of seven runs.

Sharjeel holed out after hitting three fours off 31 balls while Hafeez, who hit two fours and a six in his 27-ball knock, fell leg-before and Umar Akmal was run out for five. It was left to Afridi to see Pakistan through.

Criticised for his recent poor batting form, Afridi hit two towering sixes in Kulasekara's 16th over to give Pakistan a sniff of victory.

When on 23, Afridi also became the first player to score 1,000 runs and take 50 wickets in all Twenty20 cricket. In all he has 73 wickets in 69 matches.

Afridi said he was delighted to return to his aggressive batting.

“Pakistan won and I'm very happy for that. I have to mention (skipper) Hafeez, who was not feeling well but still he played for the country,” he said at the presentation ceremony.

“It's nice to bat well, once in a blue moon.”

Sent into bat, Sri Lankan batsmen did not capitalise on the good starts before Mathews (50) and Lahiru Thirimanne (23 not out) added 58 for the fifth wicket stand to take their team to 145-5 in 20 overs.

Mathews hit five boundaries and a six off 34 balls before holing out in the last over. He hit paceman Bilawal Bhatti for three boundaries in one over before sending left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir to long-on ropes to reach his fifty off 32 balls.

Experienced opener Tillakaratne Dilshan managed just seven before he was the first wicket to fall in the second over.

Kusal Perera (15) and skipper Dinesh Chandimal (22) then added 32 for the second wicket but off-spinner Saeed Ajmal put on the initial brakes with 2-35. Kumar Sangakkara scored 21.

Pakistan gave an international debut to 19-year-old Usman Shinwari after the left-arm paceman was drafted into the team as late as Tuesday but the youngster from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bowled only one over, costing nine runs.

Tanvir finished with 2-32 while leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took 1-20 in his four overs.

The second match will also be played in Dubai on Friday. The two teams also play five one-day internationals and three Tests.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1061705/afridi ... -sri-lanka

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Thu Dec 12, 2013 3:24 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan holds on for tight win over South Africa

2013-11-27T21:52:25+03:00

Pakistan hold nerve to seal historic series win over South Africa

Agencies

Updated at2013-11-27 23:24:49

PORT ELIZABETH: Pakistan held on for a thrilling one-run win in the second one-day international on Wednesday to beat South Africa in an ODI series for the first time, making its short-notice tour an historic one.

Pakistan defended its 262 in a rain-shortened 45-over game by the smallest of margins as South Africa fell just short of the nine runs it needed off the last over at St. George's Park to take the three-game series to a decider.

Pakistan has the chance to be the first team ever to whitewash South Africa at home in an ODI contest in the final game.

A century partnership between Hashim Amla (98) and AB de Villiers (74) took South Africa to the brink of victory, but Amla's wicket fell off the last ball of the penultimate over. Junaid Khan took 3-42 for the victorious tourists, who just held on under intense pressure.

Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad's 102 set up victory for Pakistan, while Dale Steyn's career-best 6-39 was part of a losing effort for South Africa as the world's leading team in test cricket continued to struggle for consistency in ODIs.

Following a 4-1 drubbing by the South Africans in United Arab Emirates at the start of the month, Pakistan turned the tables dramatically weeks later to send South Africa to its first one-day series defeat at home in over two years.

The Pakistanis have the chance to become the first team to ever whitewash South Africa at home in the final game in Centurion this weekend.

Pakistan wasn't even meant to tour now, but was asked to fill a gap in South Africa's home schedule after India shortened its upcoming series. It also lost key players to injury before the series started and still came through for a momentous win.

Shehzad's 102 off 112 balls with eight fours and two sixes laid a winning platform in Port Elizabeth.

He shared a 124-run partnership for the third wicket with Sohaib Maqsood (42) after coming through an early onslaught by Steyn in overcast conditions at the start of the day.

Umar Akmal added a quick-fire 42, but it was Pakistan's cool under pressure at the end that sealed their triumph as a partnership of 110 between Amla and De Villiers looked to have put South Africa on track to come from behind to win and stay alive in the series.

Saeed Ajmal struck for the crucial wicket of Amla on the last ball of the penultimate over and Khan had JP Duminy caught off the second ball of the last over as Pakistan fought until the end to make sure of its moment in history.

Misbah hails series victory

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hailed the series win against South Africa.

Misbah admitted that a win seemed unlikely with two overs to go.

He said: “But there is always pressure on the side batting second. We knew that we would have a chance if we had one good over so that South Africa needed more than a run a ball in the last over, especially if they had new batsmen at the crease.”

“It really means a lot to us to beat South Africa in a bilateral series for the first time, especially doing it in South Africa,” said Misbah.

It was especially satisfying because Pakistan were recently beaten 4-1 by the same opponents in the United Arab Emirates.

“It is a young side and now they believe they can win. That was what was lacking (in the previous series),” said Misbah.

De Villiers struggled to explain yet another failed run chase by his team, who have now lost their last seven matches when batting second.

“I had the game in my hands with Hash out there with me,” he said.

“I've finished a lot of games like that before and I was on a bit of a roll there. I should have caught my breath a little bit and looked at the situation again. It is very disappointing.”

Teams:

South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Imran Tahir

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal (wkt), Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan.

http://dawn.com/news/1058940

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:52 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan holds on for tight win over South Africa

2013-11-24T23:05:27+03:00

All-round Ali, Bhatti spur Pakistan to victory

Agencies - Updated at 2013-11-24 23:55:55

CAPE TOWN: Debutants Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali spurred Pakistan to victory after their team had been in deep trouble in the first one-day international against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday.

The newcomers shared an eighth wicket stand of 74 to rescue Pakistan from a precarious 131 for seven, then shared five wickets as Pakistan won by 23 runs.

Pakistan made 218 for nine in their 50 overs after winning the toss.

Despite a half-century from returning veteran Jacques Kallis, South Africa were bowled out for 195.

Bhatti (39) and Ali (43 not out) prospered after Pakistan's recognised batsmen struggled against a strong South African pace attack.

Bhatti, 22, took three for 37 in South Africa's innings, while Ali, 25, claimed two for 24, including the crucial wicket of Kallis, bowled for 50.

Bhatti and Ali shared the man of the match award and earned high praise from captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

“I am very happy, especially as the two youngsters set it up. The plan was to negotiate the new ball, then accelerate but we kept losing wickets at the wrong time. It was not a good total but the bowlers did really well,” said Misbah.

For the first time since South Africa began their rise to the top of the Test rankings, the hosts fielded all three of their leading fast bowlers - Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel - in the same one-day side.

With Kallis returning for his first one-day international since February 2012, South Africa applied relentless pressure as Pakistan struggled. But Bhatti and Ali, who have both scored first-class centuries despite primarily being picked as bowlers, went for their shots to keep their side in the game.

Steyn took three for 33 and Morkel three for 39, while Philander claimed one for 37.

Bhatti and Ali put on 74 off 70 balls. Bhatti made his 39 off 25 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes, while Ali hit six fours in a 55-ball innings.

“We spoke about batting out the 50 overs,” said Ali.

“We have played together a lot in domestic cricket so that helped.”

South Africa suffered an early blow when Hashim Amla exposed his leg stump and was bowled by Junaid Khan in the third over of their innings.

Graeme Smith followed in the next over, stumped by Umar Akmal off Mohammad Hafeez, although it was a fortuitous dismissal for the wicketkeeper as the ball bounced off his gloves, onto the ground and into the stumps while Smith's foot was momentarily off the ground.

Kallis and Quinton de Kock put on 42 for the third wicket before De Kock was bowled by Bhatti.

Batting with calm assurance, Kallis reached 50 for the 103rd time in one-day internationals but was then bowled by Ali, edging an in-swinging delivery from Ali off the bottom of his bat into the stumps.

When David Miller edged Ali to Akmal, South Africa were 123 for six.

JP Duminy made 49 before he was caught behind, attempting a reverse sweep against Saeed Ajmal and Bhatti claimed the last two wickets to seal a memorable win for the tourists, who were beaten 4-1 by the same opponents in a recent series in the United Arab Emirates.

“The bowlers did a brilliant job in getting them seven down but we let it slip at the end,” said South African captain AB de Villiers.

Teams:

South Africa: AB de Villiers, (captain), Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal (wkt), Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali.

Umpires: Johan Cloete (RSA), Chris Gaffaney (NZL) TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) Match referee: Chris Broad (Z)

http://www.dawn.com/news/1058263/all-ro ... to-victory

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Nov 24, 2013 11:05 pm

SPORTS • Pakistan holds on for tight win over South Africa

2013-11-23T21:44:31+03:00

Pakistan holds on for tight win over South Africa

Agencies - 23.11.13

CAPE TOWN: Pakistan held on for a close six-run win in the second Twenty20 on Friday to end a six-game losing streak to South Africa in limited-overs games.

Shahid Afridi’s 3-28 backed up earlier half-centuries by Umar Akmal and captain Mohammad Hafeez as Pakistan successfully defended its 176-4 at Newlands to draw the series 1-1. Akmal made 64 and Hafeez 63 in a match-winning 102-run stand off just 55 balls after Pakistan opted to bat first and made it count.

Hashim Amla replied with 48 opening South Africa’s chase, but legspinner Afridi accounted for Quinton de Kock (26), Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers to have the hosts 87-3.

After Amla was out just short of his half-century, JP Duminy (47 not out) and David Miller were held at bay by good death bowling by Sohail Tanvir to give Pakistan a long-awaited win. South Africa finished on 170-4.

The teams begin their three-game ODI series at the same ground on Sunday.

"We have been working hard," said Hafeez, who was named man of the match and man of the series. "We knew we had to win this game to stay positive for the rest of the series."

Akmal and Hafeez combined for their century stand to lift Pakistan from a slow start at 44-2. Akmal had five fours and four towering sixes in his explosive 64 off 37 balls in Pakistan’s only significant partnership. Hafeez hit five fours and three sixes for his 63 off 41 balls before he was out in the 17th over to Dale Steyn (2-29).

Akmal fell to Steyn in the last over but the damage was already done, giving the home team a tough target to chase down under lights.

Amla began brightly, stroking five fours while opening partner De Kock hit four boundaries in his 26.

Spinner Afridi changed the game, though, having De Kock and captain Du Plessis caught in the deep and then bowling De Villiers with a quicker, flatter delivery. Amla fell to Pakistan’s other spinner, Saeed Ajmal, leaving Duminy and Miller with 60 runs to get in only 27 balls.

Their unbroken 53-run stand brought South Africa close, but Tanvir held his nerve in the final over to concede just six runs off the first five deliveries, clinching just a second win for Pakistan in nine limited-overs games against the South Africans.

Teams: South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, David Wiese, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Aaron Phangiso.

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal (wkt), Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan.

Umpires: Johan Cloete, Shaun George (both RSA)

TV umpire: Karl Hurter (RSA)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

http://www.dawn.com/news/1057868/pakist ... uth-africa

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sat Nov 23, 2013 9:44 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan wins Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament

2013-11-10T12:06:19+03:00

While we weep over the disastrous performance of our cricket team against South Africa, our real national game, hockey, has given us something to draw hope from. Long may our Hockey XI play with the same fluidity and grace, bringing back trophy after trophy to lighten our hearts and give us back some sense of achievement.

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:06 pm

SPORTS • Pakistan wins Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament

2013-11-10T12:01:08+03:00

Pakistan wins Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament

DAWN.COM - 10.11.13

KAKAMIGAHARA: Defending champions, Pakistan, on Sunday retained its title defeating hosts Japan by a margin of two goals in the final match of the third Asian Champions Trophy field hockey tournament being played in Japan's Kakamighara city, DawnNews reported.

The Japanese team took an aggressive start scoring one goal to take the lead in the first half.

Pakistan replied with a comeback in the second half scoring three goals before the 66th minute.

The green-shirts had remained unbeaten in the tournament defeating Omman, Malaysia, China and India in the group stage matches.

The previous match played between Pakistan and Japan, during the group stages, had ended in a 1-1 draw.

Malaysia secured the third position in the tournament.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1055434/pakist ... tournament

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:01 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-11-04T15:09:34+03:00

Saeed Ajmal secures top bowler’s ranking

November 03, 2013

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday released new one-day rankings, placing Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal on the top.

Muhammad Hafeez is on top of the list in the ICC ranking list for all-rounder category. Hafeez is also among the top ten bowlers.

India’s Virat Kohli grabbed top position in the list for batsmen with South African batsman Hashim Amla on the second.

Misbahul Haq was the only Pakistani batsman who succeeded in securing his place in the top ten.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-12497 ... rs-ranking

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:09 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-11-02T10:41:38+03:00

(We lost the second Test against South Africa, we lost the first ODI. Now we've come back to win the second ODI. For that at least, thank you Pak XI.)

Pakistan beat South Africa in second one-dayer

Agencies

Updated at2013-11-01 23:33:29

Dubai — Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and paceman Mohammad Irfan shared six wickets as Pakistan thumped South Africa by 66 runs in the second day-night international in Dubai on Friday.

Afridi took 3-26 and Irfan finished with 3-53 as Pakistan defended a low total of 209 to square the five-match series at 1-1.

South Africa pulled off a sensational one-run win in the first match in Sharjah on Wednesday. The remaining matches will be played in Abu Dhabi (November 6 and 8) and in Sharjah (November 11).

Saeed Ajmal (2-15) also shared the bowling spoils as South Africa were bowled out for 143 in 40.4 overs with Ryan McLaren top-scoring with 29 not out.

"It was a really good performance, especially after getting out for a low score, our bowlers did the job for us again," said Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq.

South African captain AB de Villiers admitted his team's batting was a concern.

"We have a few issues in the batting and it's up to us to turn it around. I'm very disappointed. Pakistan were too good for us."

Misbah attacked with slow bowlers as early as the fifth over, introducing Mohammad Hafeez who dried up the runs after Colin Ingram fell for four in the second over of the innings.

Ajmal accounted for Graeme Smith (14), who was bowled off his legs with South Africa on 43.

Six balls later Jean-Paul Duminy, who struck three boundaries in his 25, fell in paceman Mohammad Irfan's second spell, caught in the slips.

When on 21, Duminy completed 3,000 one-day runs in his 106th match.

Afridi struck with his first ball, trapping Faf du Plessis for 12 and in his next over he had dangerman De Villiers caught behind for 10, leaving South Africa reeling at 73-5.

It became 83-6 when Hafeez caught David Miller, who had made 11, in front of the wicket with a sharp delivery.

McLaren and Wayne Parnell (21) put on 35 for the seventh wicket but it only delayed the inevitable as South Africa slumped to their second lowest total against Pakistan, behind the 101 they made in Sharjah in 2000.

For Pakistan, Ahmed Shehzad was the mainstay with an 85-ball 58.

Hafeez (26), Afridi (26) and skipper Misbah (25) failed to capitalise on good starts as McLaren (4-34) and Morne Morkel (3-38) ran through the innings.

Shehzad had steadied the innings during a 48-run second wicket partnership with Hafeez and another 60 for the third wicket with Misbah before McLaren derailed the innings with a double strike.

Hafeez played on and was bowled in McLaren's first over.

When he had made eight, Misbah completed 1,000 one-day runs in 2013, becoming the third batsman to achieve the milestone after Australia's George Bailey and India's Virat Kohli.

But Misbah perished in rather soft fashion, flicking McLaren straight into the hands of mid-wicket. He hit a boundary and a six off 44 balls.

Pakistan needed Shehzad to keep going but the opener too fell an over later, caught and bowled off leg-spinner Imran Tahir to leave Pakistan in danger at 117-4. Shehzad hit four boundaries off 85 balls.

Umar Amin (14) and Umar Akmal (18) took Pakistan to 148 and into the power-play but both fell at the same score, Umar hitting Morkel straight into the hands of point while Amin edged McLaren's slow delivery to wicket-keeper AB de Villiers.

Afridi hit four boundaries off 20 balls while Wahab Riaz hit two sixes in his 18 to help Pakistan cross the 200-mark.

Brief scores: Pakistan 209 in 49.4 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 58; R. McLaren 4-34, M. Morkel 3-38); South Africa 143 in 40.4 overs (R. McLaren 29 not out, Shahid Afridi 3-26, Mohammad Irfan 3-53).

Teams: Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Wahab Riaz

South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Coiln Ingram, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Graeme Smith, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Shozab Raza (PAK) TV umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

http://www.dawn.com/news/1053398/pakist ... d-one-daye

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sat Nov 02, 2013 10:41 am

SPORTS • Pakistan's modest world champion

2013-10-23T08:20:38+03:00

Pakistan's modest world champion

AFP
Updated at2013-10-22 11

FAISALABAD: Rising sports stars regularly spout the cliche about not letting success change them, but in the case of Mohammad Asif, Pakistan's sole current world champion, it seems to be true.

The 31-year-old was given a hero's welcome when he returned to Pakistan after winning the amateur world snooker championship a year ago, feted by politicians and media alike.

He still lives in the same modest house in a nondescript corner of Faisalabad, an industrial city in Punjab province, and still practises at the same grubby basement club.

He says he has seen nothing of the $100,000 reward promised him by the government for his win, but his success has made him a superstar in the city once known as the “Manchester of Pakistan” for its countless cotton mills.

“Wherever I go, thanks be to God, I get special love from the people, everybody is caring and praying for me,” he told AFP.

“Now everyone in the city recognises me, which gives me pleasure.” The biggest change for Asif has been his wheels. Gone is his rickety old motorbike, replaced by a gleaming black Toyota Corolla emblazoned with “M. Asif -- World Champion”, a gift from Pakistan's richest man, property tycoon Malik Riaz.

Asif is only the second Pakistani to win the world title, after Mohammed Yousuf, nearly 20 years ago, but his campaign nearly ended before it began.

A shortage of funds meant the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) had practically given up hope of sending players to last year's championship in Bulgaria until a slew of personal donations allowed Asif to board the plane.

The shy, softly spoken Asif repaid their generosity with a fairytale win, beating England's Gary Wilson 10-8 in the final.

Now he has his sights set on matching the achievement of his professional counterpart Ronnie O'Sullivan, who in May successfully defended the world crown he won in 2012.

“I am ready to defend my title and am confident I will win it again,” Asif said ahead of the tournament in Latvia starting on November 27.

Asif helped Pakistan to victory in last month's world team championship in Ireland and he said the experience has brought him added mental steel.

“The recent wins have boosted my morale and have matured my game. I have learnt how to handle the pressure, which is key in snooker,” he said.

All being well, Asif plans to turn professional next year thanks to a $20,000 sponsorship deal from entrepreneur Nadeem Omar.

Illustrious names like Jimmy White, James Wattana and Ken Doherty are all former amateur champions, with the Irishman being the only player so far to have held both the amateur and professional crowns.

Despite enjoying great popularity at amateur level around Pakistan, snooker struggles for funding and exposure in a country obsessed with cricket.

While cricket stars earn good livings with big-money sponsorship deals and endorsements for everything from banking to shampoo, snooker is left to struggle on thanks to the efforts of dedicated amateurs. But for Asif, there is no comparison.

“This is the best game. Technically there is a lot of joy in it, you have to beat your opponent by yourself whereas in cricket you have to rely on your teammates,” he said, noting that the sport had a distinguished history in Pakistan. “Our founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah also used to play this game.”

http://www.dawn.com/news/1051043/pakist ... d-champion

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Wed Oct 23, 2013 8:20 am

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-18T19:47:14+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnod54lk5-E

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:47 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-18T19:36:49+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYkRy6UQnjw

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:36 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-18T19:24:03+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By2n2gWQhuw

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:24 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-18T17:30:58+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxObb3Rkovs

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:30 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-17T22:26:20+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxvLdYDhOBk

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:26 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-17T22:22:52+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKEONECmPmo

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:22 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-17T15:52:17+03:00

Pakistan clinch rare win over top-ranked South Africa

Agencies

Updated at2013-10-17 16:58:34

ABU DHABI: Pakistan completed a rare victory over top-ranked South Africa on Thursday after the Proteas were bowled out for 232 at tea on the fourth day of the first cricket Test.

Pakistan, who only needed 40 runs for its first Test win over South Africa in six years after taking a huge 193-run first innings lead, reached the target after the loss of three wickets.

Earlier, A.B. de Villiers made a gritty 90 off 157 balls with seven fours and a six but gave a tame catch in the covers off seamer Junaid Khan while Robin Peterson made an unbeaten 47 before he ran out of partners in South Africa's otherwise disappointing batting.

Offspinner Saeed Ajmal got 4-74 while Khan ended up with 3-57. Pakistan has won only three Test matches out of the previous 21 against South Africa and the last victory came in 2007 at Port Elizabeth. It was whitewashed by South Africa 3-0 in February.

Resuming at the overnight 72-4, nightwatchman Dale Steyn (7) resisted for 44 more deliveries and took the team's total to 104 before he finally ran out of patience and was clean bowled by left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (2-51) off his third delivery of the day.

J.P. Duminy looked shaky in his brief stay as seamer Khan had him trapped leg before wicket for zero.

Babar should have had the wicket of Faf du Plessis on 6 before lunch but wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who featured in three of the four dismissals on Tuesday afternoon, couldn't hold on to a thick edge.

De Villiers was the only South African batsman to read the spinners well as he raised his half century with a straight six over Babar's head besides hitting four boundaries in his half century.

De Villiers was familiar with the pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium as he made his career best unbeaten 278 against Pakistan in the drawn Test in 2010.

But Pakistan struck immediately through Ajmal after lunch when he made a good reflex one-handed low catch off his own bowling before de Villiers departed after putting up an innings-best partnership of 57 with Peterson. South Africa still trailed by 3 runs when de Villiers was dismissed but Peterson and Vernon Philander stretched the lead to 39 by adding 42 for the ninth wicket.

Ajmal got rid of the last two wickets in three balls when he had Philander caught behind and No. 11 Morne Morkel gave the offspinner a simple return catch at the stroke of tea interval.

The second and final Test starts in Dubai from October 23.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1050128/pakist ... uth-africa

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Thu Oct 17, 2013 3:52 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-16T14:49:59+03:00

Misbah ton lifts Pakistan to 442
AFP
2013-10-16

ABU DHABI: Captain Misbah-ul-Haq ended his two-year century drought in Test cricket as Pakistan grabbed a formidable lead of 193 runs against No. 1-ranked South Africa on Wednesday in the first cricket Test.

Misbah's 100 off 187 balls anchored Pakistan to 442 before it was bowled out shortly after tea on the third day.

Misbah's first hundred since scoring an unbeaten 102 against the West Indies in May 2011 in St. Kitts was well supported by opening batsmen Khurram Manzoor (146) and Asad Shafiq (54).

Vernon Philander, who removed Manzoor in the first session after Pakistan resumed at 263-3, ended up with 3-84.

Top-ranked Test bowler Dale Steyn went wicketless until his 24th over when he had Misbah trapped leg before wicket to finish with 3-88.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1050092/misbah ... tan-to-442

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Wed Oct 16, 2013 2:49 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-15T23:35:33+03:00

Khurram ton puts Pakistan on top against Proteas

October 15, 2013

ABU DHABI: Opener Khurram Manzoor notched a maiden hundred to help Pakistan take an upper hand in the first Test against South Africa in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old right-handed batsman was unbeaten on 131 and skipper Misbah-ul Haq on 44 not out as Pakistan made a strong reply of 263-3 to South Africa's 249 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Manzoor put a solid 135 for the opening wicket with debutant Shan Masood (75) to help Pakistan take a 14-run lead with seven wickets intact.

Manzoor, who hit twin half-centuries in Pakistan's last Test against Zimbabwe in Harare in September, dominated the ball during his 244-ball knock and has so far hit 14 boundaries.

He along with Misbah added 85 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand as Pakistan looked set to get a big lead.

In the morning South Africa were dismissed after adding just four runs to their overnight score of 245-8.

Manzoor in company of Masood started confidently, blunting a four-pronged South African pace attack on a lifeless pitch, reaching 77-0 at lunch.

Left-hander Masood was the first to reach his maiden half-century, off 102 balls while Manzoor reached his sixth fifty -- third in a row in Tests -- off 96 deliveries.

Masood finally fell, leg-before to part-timer Jean-Paul Duminy after hitting eight boundaries off 140 balls.

South Africa then hit back with two quick wickets. Paceman Vernon Philander had Azhar Ali caught behind for 11 and then Morne Morkel had Younis Khan caught in the slips for one to leave Pakistan at 178-3.

Manzoor though continued in the same vein, sweeping left-arm spinner Robin Peterson for two boundaries and an over later pushed the same bowler for two to reach three-figure mark, getting a standing ovation from the 7,000 strong crowd.

He took 198 balls to reach the milestone, bettering his previous best of 93 made at Colombo against Sri Lanka in 2009.

Manzoor and Masood dominated the bowling in the first session, putting on a solid hundred-plus stand.

This becomes Pakistan's first century stand for first wicket since Taufiq Umar and Mohammad Hafeez put on 114 against England in Dubai in January last year, ten Tests earlier.

The Manzoor-Masood pair is Pakistan's sixth different combination in seven Tests as they struggled to find a solid pair for several years.

Misbah too has batted solidly, hitting four boundaries.

Earlier, Mohammad Irfan (3-44) dismissed centurion Hashim Amla off the second ball of the day after South Africa resumed at 245-8.

Amla, who made 118, edged one sharp Irfan delivery straight into the hands of slip where Younis Khan held a regulation catch. He hit 13 boundaries off 252 balls and held the South African innings on Monday.

With the catch Younis equalled Javed Miandad's all-time Test catches record for Pakistan with 93. Miandad reached the tally in 124 Tests but Younis was quicker in 85 matches.

The second and final Test starts in Dubai from October 23 before both teams play five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals. (AFP)

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-12261 ... st-Proteas

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Tue Oct 15, 2013 11:35 pm

SPORTS • Pakistan-South Africa Series in Abu Dhabi

2013-10-15T15:55:03+03:00

Rare century partnership spurs Pakistan reply
First Test Match

Dawn - 15.10.2013

Shan Masood scored 75 on debut as Pakistan enjoyed a rare century opening partnership to build a solid foundation of 155 for one wicket at tea on the second day of the first Test against South Africa in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Together with Khurram Manzoor, they saw off South Africa's much-vaunted pace attack to pile on 135 runs for the first wicket before Masood was trapped leg before wicket by spinner JP Duminy. South Africa were dismissed in the morning for 249.

They are the first opening pair to compile a century partnership in Pakistan's last 24 Test innings, the last one coming when the side beat England in Dubai in early 2012.

Pakistan have experimented with six different opening pairings in their last seven Tests but looked to have found a potential solution with the 24-year-old Masood and Manzoor, who has passed 50 in each of his last three innings.

Masood, who hit a four off his first ball in Test cricket, showed plenty of maturity as he shrugged off a barrage of short deliveries and verbal abuse from an increasingly frustrated South African attack, bringing up his maiden 50 in 102 balls. Manzoor, 72 not out, will be aiming to pass his Test high score of 93 in Tuesday's final session, which Pakistan begin 94 runs adrift of South Africa after dismissing their opponents early in the morning.

Resuming on 245 for eight, South Africa added just four runs to their overnight total in four overs as they lost their last two wickets cheaply.

Hashim Amla, who had been the outstanding performer of the opening day, was out to the second ball of the morning, edging to slip for 118. It was the third wicket of the innings for giant seamer Mohammad Irfan (3-44).

The second match of the two-Test series starts on Oct. 23 in Dubai.

Teams:

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn.

Pakistan: Khurram Manzoor, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Shafiq, Shan Masood

Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)

Third Umpire: Ian Gould (ENG)

Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

http://dawn.com/news/1049915/rare-centu ... stan-reply

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Tue Oct 15, 2013 3:55 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pak XI's Zimbabwe Tour

2013-09-15T11:39:42+03:00

Mediocrity won't win you Tests, Misbah tells batsmen
Agencies

HARARE: Pakistan's batting woes returned to haunt them as Zimbabwe pulled off a dramatic 24-run win to level the series on the fifth day of the second Test at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Inexperienced Zimbabwe fast bowler Tendai Chatara took five for 61 as Pakistan were bowled out for 239 despite an unbeaten 79 by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

“The batting is a bit of a worry,” said Misbah, looking ahead to Pakistan's next Test series, against world champions South Africa in the United Arab Emirates next month.

“All the batsmen have to learn from their mistakes. You can't win Test matches with twenties and thirties. You have to score big runs like Younis Khan did in the first Test.”

Younis scored the only century of the series, an unbeaten 200 in the first Test, which Pakistan won by 221 runs at the same venue.

Misbah and opening batsman Khurram Manzoor both scored two half-centuries in the second Test, while Younis contributed 77 in the first innings. But the rest of the batting failed against the spirited Zimbabwean attack.

“Zimbabwe deserved the victory,” said Misbah.

“They played excellent cricket in the first Test as well. From the start they were positive and they kept us under pressure throughout the game.”

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor praised his team. “It takes a lot of character to come back from a big loss. Beating a world-class team is a wonderful feeling.”

He said the bowlers had performed particularly well considering the team did not have a bowling coach.

Taylor said Zimbabwe's performance in the first Test, in which they were on top for much of the match, had shown the importance of not relaxing.

“Even though we won the Test we learnt a lot from the way Pakistan went about playing.”

It was only Zimbabwe's fifth win against a major Test nation - their third against Pakistan - and their most significant victory since they beat India in 2000/01.

Resuming at 158 for five, Pakistan suffered an early blow when Chatara trapped Adnan Akmal leg before wicket with only five runs added. Akmal, who made 20, went back to a ball which angled in towards his stumps.

Abdur Rehman scored 16 in a seventh wicket partnership of 34 with Misbah, who was content to continue to bat watchfully, as he had done on the fourth afternoon, before Rehman was caught behind off Tinashe Panyangara.

Chatara returned to the attack and immediately claimed the wicket of Saeed Ajmal in almost identical fashion to the way he dismissed Akmal, with the batsmen going back to a ball which cut back sharply and hit him on the pads.

Misbah faced 161 balls in reaching 58 at lunch. He stepped up the pace after the interval, keeping the strike with singles in the first two overs from Chatara and Brian Vitori, then taking 11 runs off an over from Chatara, including two boundaries. Two more fours came from Vitori's next over.

The second four off Vitori meant, however, that Junaid had to face the second new ball, which was taken with 26 runs needed. Chatara had Junaid caught at gully with the fourth delivery.

Last batsman Rahat Ali edged a single off the next delivery. Seeking to retain the strike, Misbah pushed the last ball of the over into the covers but sent Rahat back as Hamilton Masakadza swooped to pick up the ball.

Rahat was unable to regain his crease and was run out comfortably, sparking exuberant celebrations by the Zimbabwe players.

http://dawn.com/news/1042839/mediocrity ... ls-batsmen

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:39 am

SPORTS • Re: Pak XI's Zimbabwe Tour

2013-09-07T15:02:37+03:00

Rehman, Ajmal combine to take Zimbabwe down

Published at2013-09-07 15:45:47

HARARE: Pakistan removed nine Zimbabwe batsmen in a session to race to a 221-run victory on the final day of the first test as the host crumbled to 120 all out at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman had four wickets each to rip the heart out of Zimbabwe's batting lineup, which came nowhere near the 342 it needed to win on the final day.

Ajmal had 4-23 and Rehman 4-36 to complete the fightback for Pakistan, which had surrendered a 78-run first-innings deficit before turning the match around in the second innings.

Younis Khan's 200 not out was the game-changing contribution as the tourists made 419-9 declared to set the Zimbabweans an improbable target.

Zimbabwe lasted just 46.4 overs in its second innings.

Scores: Pakistan 249 and 419-9 declared (Younis Khan 200 not out; Prosper Utseya 3-137) def. Zimbabwe 327 and 120 (Elton Chigumbura 28; Saeed Ajmal 4-23, Abdur Rehman 4-36) by 221 runs.

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:02 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pak XI's Zimbabwe Tour

2013-09-06T20:49:51+03:00

Younis double century sees Pakistan to lead of 341

September 06, 2013

HARARE: Younis Khan reached his double century with a six and Pakistan immediately declared its second innings on 419-9, a lead of 341 over Zimbabwe on day four of the first test on Friday.

Younis just made it to 200 not out before the planned declaration from captain Misbah-ul-Haq, leaving Zimbabwe way behind and just over three sessions to survive in the series opener.

Younis hit 15 fours and three late sixes in his double hundred, and shared century partnerships with Misbah and Adnan Akmal (64) to lift Pakistan out of trouble after the tourists trailed by 78 runs following the first innings.

Younis was almost solely responsible for the turnaround, facing 404 balls and taking Pakistan from 23-3 early in its second innings to a position of dominance. (AP)

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-11705 ... d-of-341--

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Fri Sep 06, 2013 8:49 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pak XI's Zimbabwe Tour

2013-09-05T22:18:50+03:00

Younis, Misbah lead Pakistan fightback

Ajmal took all three wickets that fell on Wednesday as the host nation added 46 runs to their overnight 281 for seven

Published at2013-09-05 18:12:09

HARARE: Veteran Younis Khan and captain Misbah-ul-Haq led a Pakistan fightback after his side lost three early second-innings wickets on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Pakistan were 168 for four at the close, a lead of 90 runs, with Younis unbeaten on 76.

Both senior Pakistani players ground out a fourth-wicket stand of 116 after their side, who trailed by 78 runs after the first innings, slipped to 23 for three against Zimbabwe's new ball bowlers Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara.

It was slow going against accurate bowling on a pitch of occasional low bounce. The partnership occupied 48.4 overs and Pakistan were still in trouble when Misbah played too early at a slower ball from Shingi Masakadza and gave a simple catch to cover.

Misbah made 52 off 157 balls, with four fours.

Younis and Asad Shafiq saw out the day and will resume on Friday, with a new ball due after 10 more overs. Younis, who came to the crease soon after lunch, had faced 174 balls by the close and hit seven fours, while Shafiq was 15 not out.

They will aim to take their side to a total which will give off-spinner Saeed Ajmal a chance of bowling Zimbabwe out. Ajmal took seven for 95 in Zimbabwe's first innings of 327.

Ajmal took all three Zimbabwe wickets that fell on Thursday as the host nation added 46 runs to their overnight 281 for seven. It was his eighth haul of five or more wickets in Tests, but his best figures remain seven for 55 against England in Dubai in January 2012.

Elton Chigumbura became the third Zimbabwe batsman to score a half-century, making 69 before he was ninth out, caught off bat and pad at short leg by Azhar Ali after a 129-ball innings which included eight boundaries.

Pakistan made a disastrous start to their second innings, losing Khurram Manzoor before lunch, with Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez following soon after the interval.

Tinashe Panyangara took two wickets for 12 runs in an opening spell of eight overs. Predominantly swinging the ball away from the right-handed batsmen, he gained both his wickets with deliveries which cut back, trapping Manzoor and Azhar leg before wicket.

Tendai Chatara claimed the third wicket when Hafeez drove a catch to short cover.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1040746/younis ... -fightback

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:18 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pak XI's Zimbabwe Tour

2013-08-31T22:57:21+03:00

Pakistan win third ODI and series against Zimbabwe

By Mushtaq A Subhani
August 31, 2013

HARARE: Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by 108 runs in the third and final One-day International to take the three-match series 2-1 here at the Harare Sports Club ground on Saturday.

After being sent into bat by Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor, Pakistan made 260 for six in 50 overs and then their spinners bowled Zimbabwe out for 152 in 40 overs.

Off-break bowlers Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez, and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman grabbed two wickets each while leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took one wicket.

Only Malcolm Waller provided some resistance, coming at number six and was the last man to be out for a valuable 48 with four boundaries.

Among others, three batsmen scored in the twenties while the remaining batsmen could not reach the double-figures.

Earlier, Misbah-ul-Haq led from the front to take Pakistan to a competitive total. He was the mainstay of the batting as usual scoring 67 off 85 balls with 6 fours while opener Ahmed Shehzad made 54 off 85 balls.

Umar Amin (33 off 25 balls) and Sarfraz Ahmed (22 off 13 balls) tried to accelerate towards the end.

Mohammad Hafeez who had retired hurt earlier with a hamstring injury, came to bat again after Sarfraz’s dismissal and remained not out for 26.

Pace bowler Tendai Chatara was the pick of the Zimbabwe attack picking up three for 48.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-11616 ... t-Zimbabwe

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:57 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pak XI's Zimbabwe Tour

2013-08-29T21:21:42+03:00

Hafeez, Junaid wrap up big win for Pakistan

2013-08-29

HARARE: A commanding century by Mohammad Hafeez and a four-wicket haul from left-arm seamer Junaid Khan led Pakistan to a series-levelling victory over Zimbabwe in the second one-day international on Thursday.

After Hafeez had carried Pakistan to an imposing total of 299 for four with an unbeaten 136, Junaid stubbed out a promising run chase by the Zimbabweans to secure a a 90-run win and set up a series decider on Saturday.

Captain Brendan Taylor led Zimbabwe's reply from the front with an assured 79, but his dismissal saw the hosts collapse from 200 for four in the 39th over to 209 all out in the 43rd as Junaid finished with figures of 4 for 15.

Taylor had shared partnerships with Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Malcolm Waller as Zimbabwe laid a platform for what would have been the highest successful run chase at Harare Sports Club, only for Junaid and Saeed Ajmal to snuff it out.

Ajmal induced a top-edge from Taylor that was taken one-handed by seven-foot Pakistan bowler Mohammad Irfan, and in the next over Junaid dismissed both Waller and Elton Chigumbura to end any hopes of victory for Zimbabwe.

Pakistan's batsmen had struggled in the first ODI on Tuesday, which they lost by seven wickets, leading captain Misbah-ul-Haq to call on them to end a prolonged run of substandard performances in 50-over cricket.

Hafeez answered that call with a superb knock, hitting five sixes but also showing restraint after Pakistan had stuttered to 84 for three in the 22nd over.

The 32-year-old gained control of the innings in a 129-run stand with Umar Amin, who recorded his maiden half-century.

Although the pair added just 66 runs over their first 23 overs together, they cashed in on the batting powerplay when they hammered 43 runs in five overs.

Amin was brilliantly run out by Tendai Chatara soon after, but Hafeez went to his century in the following over and was well supported by Shahid Afridi in the final stages of the innings.

“We were not thinking to score 300 to be honest, we were thinking of about 260, but the two partnerships with Umar Amin and Shahid Afridi really made the difference,” said Hafeez.

Afridi clubbed three sixes on his way to 39 not out as Pakistan took 64 runs from the final five overs of the innings, leaving Zimbabwe with a target that proved well beyond them.

“They just ran away from us, and scoring 300 against that attack is always going to be difficult,” Taylor said.

“Credit to them - they came back strong, and we're going to need our best performance on Saturday.”

Lineups:

Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Brendan Taylor, Timycen Maruma, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara, Brian Vitori.

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Amin, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1039157/hafeez ... r-pakistan

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Thu Aug 29, 2013 9:21 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pak XI's Zimbabwe Tour

2013-08-29T18:58:46+03:00

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe to level series
By Mushtaq A Subhani

August 29, 2013

HARARE: Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second One-day International to level the three-match series here at the Harare Sports Club ground on Thursday.

Chasing a huge target of 300, Zimbabwe were going well towards victory with 200-4 in 39th over when Saeed Ajmal dismissed Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor who top scored with 79.

Then pace bowler Junaid Khan got two wickets in one over and later Abdul Rehman also got two to wrap up the match as the hosts were all out for 209 in 42.4 overs.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-11584 ... vel-series

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Thu Aug 29, 2013 6:58 pm

SPORTS • Re: Pak XI's Zimbabwe Tour

2013-08-24T19:28:32+03:00

Shehzad, Hafeez heroics give Pakistan series win over Zimbabwe

Published at 2013-08-24

HARARE: Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez shared a 143-run partnership with Ahmed Shehzad and then took three crucial wickets to set up a 19-run win over Zimbabwe in the second Twenty20 international on Saturday, clinching a 2-0 series win for the tourists.

Zimbabwe finished on 160-6 in 20 overs chasing Pakistan's 179-1.

Shehzad hit 98 not out and Hafeez an unbeaten 54 for the bulk of Pakistan's total, with their 143-run stand for the second wicket coming off just 86 balls as Zimbabwe's bowlers were battered for the 14 overs the pair were together.

Hafeez also made a key contribution with the ball to claim the first three Zimbabwe wickets with his offspin, including top-scorer Hamilton Masakadza for 41. Elton Chigumbura hit 35 not out from 19 balls at the end in a losing effort for Zimbabwe, which got slightly closer than the first game on Friday, when the hosts lost by 25 runs.

Zulfiqar Babar took 2-21 to back up Hafeez's three wickets for Pakistan.

Shehzad won the man of the match and man of the series awards after his second straight half-century of the series.

The opener's 98 on Saturday came off just 64 balls and he just missed out on a maiden T20 century after needing three runs off the last ball of the innings to go to three figures. He only managed a single having already smashed six fours and six sixes in his brutal knock.

Hafeez's half-century was off 40 deliveries and the pair carved Zimbabwe's attack apart from the sixth over after Nasir Jamshed was out for 23 and Pakistan was 36-1.

Seamer Shingirai Masakadza was the only wicket taker with 1-42 and six of Zimbabwe's seven bowlers went for more than seven runs an over.

Shehzad clubbed sixes in the 19th and 20th overs to race toward his century but was thwarted right at the end when, on 97, he could only clip the ball to midwicket for a single. Pakistan still had enough.

Zimbabwe openers Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza shared a 50-run opening stand, but Hafeez removed Sibanda, captain Brendan Taylor and Masakadza in the space of 45 runs to dent Zimbabwe's hopes.

Babar dismissed Sean Williams and Timycen Maruma in the space of three balls to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 104-5 and the home team couldn't recover despite Chigumbura's two fours and two sixes near the end. The countries also will contest three one-day internationals and two tests on the three-week tour.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1038050/shehza ... r-zimbabwe

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sat Aug 24, 2013 7:28 pm

SPORTS • Pak XI's Zimbabwe Tour

2013-08-23T23:35:07+03:00

Shehzad, Afridi mastermind Pakistan victory
August 23, 2013

HARARE: Ahmed Shehzad shone with the bat and Shahid Afridi struck with the ball as Pakistan opened their tour of Zimbabwe with a comfortable victory in the first Twenty20 international on Friday.

Shehzad's measured 70 allowed Pakistan to post a strong total of 161 for five, before Afridi snubbed out Zimbabwean resistance with three wickets to secure a 25-run victory.

Although Zimbabwe were much improved from the side that lost a recent one-day series against India 5-0, they let things slip in the field midway through the Pakistan innings and also lost their way after a promising start with the bat.

Shehzad's patience up front proved key to the match as he saw out a tricky opening period when Pakistan lost Nasir Jamshed and captain Mohammad Hafeez to Tendai Chatara, before slowly taking control against Zimbabwe's other seamers.

"Early on it was doing a bit. They bowled a good channel and that's why they picked up a couple of wickets, but after six overs the ball was coming on nicely and I was able to manoeuvre the ball," Shehzad said.

The opener took 17 runs off Elton Chigumbura's first over to put the pressure back on Zimbabwe, and shared in a 55-run stand with debutant Sohaib Maqsood.

Shehzad struck six fours and a six in his 50-ball innings before he was eventually caught on the boundary off the bowling of Shingirai Masakadza.

Afridi ensured that Pakistan finished strongly, hitting 23 not out from 16 deliveries, and then made key breakthroughs in the Zimbabwean innings in claiming figures of 3 for 25.

The home side started brightly with a 53-run opening stand between Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda, but their inability to accelerate from a solid base meant that they never really threatened to achieve their target.

Afridi picked up the wickets of Sibanda and Timycen Maruma after laboured innings by both batsmen, and also dismissed the dangerous Chigumbura cheaply.

Although Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor came in at number three and finished unbeaten, he was often starved of the strike as he faced just 30 balls in top-scoring with 32.

Malcolm Waller's late salvo saw him take a six and a four off Saeed Ajmal's final over, but with too much to do Zimbabwe finished well short of the line.

"We always know that once we score 150-plus, it will be tough for the opposition to score the runs with our good bowling side," Hafeez said.

The two teams will face off again at the same venue in the second and final Twenty20 international on Saturday.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-11499 ... -victory--

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Fri Aug 23, 2013 11:35 pm

SPORTS • Re: Afridi, Babar heorics seal thrilling win for Pakistan

2013-07-29T18:05:55+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMd8B6u-TLs

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:05 pm

SPORTS • Re: Afridi, Babar heorics seal thrilling win for Pakistan

2013-07-29T01:56:13+03:00

Pakistan triumph over Windies to clinch T20 series

2013-07-29

KINGSTOWN: Pakistan wrapped up their tour of the West Indies with an 11-run win in the second Twenty20 international in St Vincent on Sunday to complete a one-day double over the world T20 champions.

The visitors ran through the home team's top order at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown to lay the foundation for success as they defended a modest target of 135 for seven by restricting the West Indies to 124 for nine from their 20 overs.

It ensured a successful conclusion to Pakistan's tour on the back of a 3-1 win in the five-match ODI series played in Guyana and St Lucia.

Opener Ahmed Shehzad scored a breezy 44 in 53 balls but was not supported by his partners. His departure for the fourth wicket in the 13th over brought Umar Akmal to the crease and he took over the scoring responsibility on a slow track.

While spinner Sunil Narine threatened to sweep through the rest of the Pakistan batting, taking three wickets in a second spell at the end of the innings, Akmal helped push the tally to 135 with an unbeaten 46 off 56 balls.

In reply, West Indies lost their first three wickets in three overs, including another failure for Chris Gayle, who lobbed a ball straight to cover and was out for one.

Dwayne Bravo, Narine and Kieron Pollard threatened a dramatic rescue, even though the asking run rate went to more than 12 an over.

During a dramatic 17th over, Pollard smashed 20 runs off the first four balls with two sixes landing on the roof of the stand.

Zulfiqar Babar then had him caught in the deep and took a second wicket with the next ball, dismissing Bravo in similar fashion. Tino Best, the last man in, threatened some drama too with two huge sixes but fell short in the end.

Teams:

West Indies - D. Sammy (captain), C. Gayle, J. Charles, M. Samuels, L. Simmons, D.J. Bravo, K. Pollard, D. Sammy, C. Barnwell, S. Narine, T. Best.

Pakistan - Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Hammad Azam, Umar Amin, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Asad Ali.

Umpires: G Brathwaite and J Wilson

TV umpire: P Nero

Match referee: D Boon

Reserve umpire: D Butler

http://www.dawn.com/news/1032540/pakist ... t20-series

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:56 am

SPORTS • Re: Afridi, Babar heorics seal thrilling win for Pakistan

2013-07-28T15:40:38+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QenPJ0uz_c

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Jul 28, 2013 3:40 pm

SPORTS • Afridi, Babar heorics seal thrilling win for Pakistan

2013-07-28T02:45:42+03:00

Afridi, Babar heroics seal thrilling win for Pakistan

KINGSTOWN: Thirty-four-year debutant Zulfiqar Babar took three key wickets then struck a six off the final ball of the match to give Pakistan a two-wicket victory over West Indies in the first Twenty20 international on Saturday.

Babar dismissed Marlon Samuels (25), Lendl Simmons (6) and Dwayne Bravo (25) to finish with three for 23 from his four overs in West Indies' 152 for seven at Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent.

The visitors lost wickets at regular intervals in their run-chase but were always up with the required rate and, with the scores tied and one ball to go, Babar launched Samuels over the mid-off boundary to seal the win.

Kieron Pollard (49 not out) showed a welcome return to form as he anchored the West Indies innings after they had won the toss and elected to bat.

Pakistan lost early wickets in their reply, but Umar Amin, also playing his first T20 international, smashed 47 in 34 balls before he was stumped off the bowling of Samuels.

Shahid Afridi took Pakistan close, scoring 46 from just 27 deliveries, including launching his 400th six in all international cricket.

With Pakistan needing six off the last over, Samuels took his team to the brink of a super over, before bowling a full toss that Babar smashed for six from the final delivery.

“It was a great effort from the players, I was really happy to see the desire to win and really happy with the contributions of the debutants and Shahid Afridi. It was a tough chase, we had to be positive,” Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said.

The second and final match of the series will be played at the same venue on Sunday.

Teams:

West Indies: D. Sammy (captain), C. Gayle, J. Charles, M. Samuels, L. Simmons, D.J. Bravo, K. Pollard, D. Sammy, S. Narine, T. Best, S. Gabriel.

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Hammad Azam, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan.

Umpires: G Brathwaite and P Nero TV umpire: J Wilson Match referee: D Boon Reserve umpire: D Butler

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sun Jul 28, 2013 2:45 am

SPORTS • Re: Misbah, Shehzad lead Pakistan to series-clinching win

2013-07-26T02:21:14+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgx5bk93Wzc

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Fri Jul 26, 2013 2:21 am

SPORTS • Misbah, Shehzad lead Pakistan to series-clinching win

2013-07-25T01:39:19+03:00

Misbah, Shehzad lead Pakistan to series-clinching win

Agencies

Misbah scored 63 runs off 93 balls.
2013-07-25

GROS ISLET: Captain Misbah-ul-Haq led Pakistan to a four-wicket victory over West Indies with yet another calm and composed half century in the fifth and final one-day international to clinch the series 3-1.

Man of the match and series, Misbah, hit 63 off 93 balls for his fourth half century of the series, and opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad scored a valuable 64 to guide Pakistan to 243-6 after West Indies made 242-7.

The Pakistan captain featured in two productive partnerships by adding 66 runs with Umar Akmal (33) for the fifth wicket stand after steadying the innings with 59-run partnership with Shehzad.

Misbah said it was tough to bowl first but his side was confident of successfully chasing the target.

"Everybody bowled really well, which was the key in this win. Always tough to bowl first, especially in pressure games like this, but everybody was really positive, that we were going to chase well," he said.

West Indies, after being put into bat, was indebted to captain Dwayne Bravo for a rapid 48 with Marlon Samuels (45) and opening batsman Johnson Charles (43) also making useful contributions.

A late assault by Dwayne Bravo sparked life into a lethargic West Indies effort. Under pressure to deliver for a team seeking victory to square the series, the captain smashed 48 off just 27 deliveries with five fours and three sixes, dominating a 53-run seventh-wicket partnership with former skipper Darren Sammy, who belted his way to an unbeaten 29 off 18 balls.

Pakistan, assured of maintaining their unbeaten run in ODI series in the Caribbean since 1988, were in control through most of the innings via tight, disciplined bowling, pacers Junaid Khan (3 for 48) and Mohammad Irfan (2 for 34) leading the effort until Bravo cut loose.

Such was the transformation that after crawling to 159 for five in the 42nd over, 83 runs were hammered off the remaining 58 balls to at least give the West Indies a fighting chance of restricting the Pakistani batsmen in conditions that appear tailormade for batting on a hot, steamy afternoon.

Samuels 45 and Charles 43 held the home side's innings together, although at a considerably slower pace, before the arrival of the cavalier captain.

Both fought to dominate the admirable Pakistan bowling effort and perished when seeking to press on the accelerator.

In stark contrast, the usually destructive Chris Gayle was again a mere shadow of his plundering best, labouring to 21 off 34 balls batting for the second consecutive match in the unusual position of number in the order.

His replacement at the top, Devon Smith, failed yet again, falling victim to an aggressive Junaid, who followed up with the wicket of Darren Bravo to have the West Indies faltering in the early exchanges.

Saeed Ajmal removed Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons in the final rush for runs and, unusually for the wily spinner, conceded 57 runs off his 10 overs.

Scores:

West Indies 242 for seven off 50 overs (Dwayne Bravo 48; Junaid Khan 3-48); Pakistan 243 for six off 49.5 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 64, Misbah-ul-Haq 63; Tino Best 3-48).

Squads:

West Indies: Devon Smith, Johnson Charles (wk), Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo (capt), Darren Sammy, Sunil Narine, Tino Best, Jason Holder

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt),Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Asad Ali, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Thu Jul 25, 2013 1:39 am

SPORTS • Re: West Indies pull off tie to stun Pakistan

2013-07-22T14:52:22+03:00

Pakistan's lightning assault sees off Windies

Agencies - 2013-07-22

GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Inclement weather, the Duckworth/Lewis method and a lightning assault by Pakistan's middle-order batsmen stole the thunder from the West Indies as the visitors snatched the rain-affected fourth one-day international by six wickets on Sunday.

In a match already reduced to 49 overs-per-side and after Marlon Samuels blazed an unbeaten 106 in the home team's total of 261 for seven, Pakistan were set a revised target of 189 off 31 overs as a second shower of the day interrupted play when they were 68 for two off 17 overs.

Needing a further 121 off 14 overs, half-centuries from Mohammad Hafeez and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq sped the visitors to the target with one over to spare.

“It was like a T20 game when we came back out,” said a delighted Misbah after his key role in the victory.

“Mohammad Hafeez and I realised that we just had to play normal cricketing shots and look for the odd boundary. It was a case of not panicking and just staying focussed on the target.”

Following a tie in the third match two days earlier, Pakistan now have an unbeatable 2-1 lead going into the fifth and final match at the same Beausejour Stadium venue on Wednesday.

West Indies seemed a dejected bunch when they took the field after being told by the umpires of the revised target, and Pakistan capitalised, Hafeez and Misbah crashing 54 runs off five overs before home captain Dwayne Bravo tried to get his team back into the match.

Hafeez fell to Kemar Roach for 59, an innings decorated by five fours and two hooked sixes off fast-medium bowler Jason Holder, while Bravo himself accounted for Shahid Afridi who was promoted up the order to accelerate the Pakistani scoring.

However, new batsman Umar Akmal (29 not out) maintained the required scoring tempo and with Misbah showing his remarkable versatility in speeding along to 53 off 43 balls at the other end to keep his team well on course, it was left to Akmal to finish off the match with three consecutive boundaries off the disheartened West Indies captain.

“When we came back on the field after the recalculation, two of our main bowlers (Roach and Sunil Narine) had already bowled five overs so we were virtually without their services at this crucial stage,” said Bravo, who conceded 49 runs off six overs.

Samuels returned to something like his sumptuous best, stroking four sixes and nine fours off 104 balls in a feast of batsmanship in the midday sunshine.

He put on 95 for the fifth wicket with Lendl Simmons, who supported Samuels' classy assault with a belligerent 46 off 44 balls.

West Indies made two significant decisions before a ball was bowled in replacing hard-hitting Kieron Pollard with Devon Smith and demoting Chris Gayle to number five in the batting order in light of his continuing struggle for runs against the new ball.

He was back in the middle at 63 for two after Smith fell cheaply to Mohammad Irfan and Johnson Charles was trapped leg-before by Wahab Riaz, benefiting from a huge slice of luck almost instantly when put down by Hafeez off Wahab before he had scored.

Although far from his destructive best, Gayle contributed 30 to a 57-run third-wicket stand with Samuels before failing to clear long-on off the bowling of Shahid Afridi.

West Indies: CH Gayle, J Charles†, DS Smith, DM Bravo, MN Samuels, LMP Simmons, DJ Bravo*, DJG Sammy, KAJ Roach, SP Narine, JO Holder

Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal†, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan

http://www.dawn.com/news/1030863/pakist ... ff-windies

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Mon Jul 22, 2013 2:52 pm

SPORTS • West Indies pull off tie to stun Pakistan

2013-07-20T10:32:22+03:00

West Indies pull off tie to stun Pakistan
AFP
07-20-2013

GROS ISLET: West Indies and Pakistan tied the third one-day international at Beausejour on Friday after the home side rallied in a thrilling final over.

West Indies scored 14 runs off the last over bowled by seamer Wahab Riaz to finish level with the visitors on 229 off 50 overs.

The five-match series remains tied at 1-1 with the remaining two games to be played at the same venue on Sunday and Wednesday.

Earlier, Pakistan were again indebted to captain Misbah-ul-Haq and the late aggression of Umar Akmal in totalling 229 for six against the hosts at the Beausejour Stadium on Friday.

In his usual calm, unruffled manner, Misbah compiled a topscore of 75 to steady the innings after the early loss of both openers while Akmal swatted an unbeaten 40 off 31 deliveries, dominating an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 52 with Wahab Riaz (19 not out) to give the tourists a fighting chance on a pitch offering considerably more pace and bounce than for the first two ODIs in Guyana.

Fast-medium bowlers Jason Holder and Dwayne Bravo took two wickets apiece but skipper Bravo's decision to persist with himself over the final overs proved costly.

It was a bewildering decision given that Marlon Samuels was only allowed three overs, which cost four runs.

Playing in front of his home fans, former captain Darren Sammy completed his 10-over spell for a cost of 30 runs while claiming the wicket of opening batsman Nasir Jamshed.

Misbah's effort was ended in the 45th over via a Bravo yorker, leaving him still short of that elusive first ODI hundred.

He has now extended his record for the most half-centuries in this form of the game, 27, without getting to three figures.

During the course of his innings the 39-year-old became the most prolific run-scorer so far this year in the 50-over-a-side format.

Energised by the assistance from the Beausejour pitch, the West Indies bowlers claimed the first three wickets via miscued pulls and hooks, Kemar Roach displaying impressive presence of mind to snare Ahmed Shazad on the fine-leg boundary as he tossed the ball upwards before momentum took him over the rope and returned onto the field to complete the catch to give fellow-Barbadian Holder the first wicket of the match.

Debutant Haris Sohail took some time to get going but contributed a useful 26 in a 60-run fourth-wicket partnership with his captain that was essential that Pakistan managed some sort of platform that allowed for the late assault by Akmal and Wahab, especially given the swift demise of Shahid Afridi to Holder.

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles (wk), Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo (capt), Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Kemar Roach, Sunil Narine, Jason Holder

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan

P.S. If Australia can crash out in the first innings of the present Test match, 128 all out, no reason for us to feel ashamed of our performance either.

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Sat Jul 20, 2013 10:32 am

SPORTS • Re: Shahid Afridi's Return to Form

2013-07-16T15:09:19+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jTAmQyNd98

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lD0UUrKqpM

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:09 pm

SPORTS • Re: Shahid Afridi's Return to Form

2013-07-15T16:17:25+03:00

Well SEM, this time the two men, Afridi and Misbah, put aside their differences and played brilliantly together. I'm delighted today that Afridi got back his self-confidence and played with all the skill we know he possesses.

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:17 pm

SPORTS • Re: Shahid Afridi's Return to Form

2013-07-15T16:15:07+03:00

Afridi's brilliance must not mask Pakistan's batting failure

Ahsan Chawla

Updated at 2013-07-15

Pakistan was rescued yesterday by one man’s dazzling performance. The mercurial Shahid Afridi scored 76 and claimed 7 wickets to pummel the West Indies in a comeback performance of epic proportions. He walked in the middle when the Pakistan's score was a sorry 47-5, and combined with captain Misbah-ul-Haq for a record-breaking sixth wicket partnership of 120 runs. Starting his innings in typically aggressive fashion, he took the fight to the West Indian bowlers, who never looked to threaten the flamboyant all-rounder, before repeating the act with the ball. At the end of the day, Pakistan completed a stunning come-from-behind 126-run win.

Afridi brilliance in Guyana, however, should not mask what was once again a pitiful effort with the bat by Pakistan. Out of the six batsmen before Afridi, only two made it to double figures. The first being the skipper, who by now, is used to facing the brand new ball and the other Umar Akmal.

Ahmed Shehzad, also making a comeback, played a gentle out swinging delivery from a bowler playing only his fourth ODI onto his off stump, unsure whether to play or leave. The heavily experienced Mohammad Hafeez was bowled while offering no shot, perhaps out the fear of getting out in the slips. Asad Shafiq too played a poor shot to edge one to makeshift wicketkeeper Johnson Charles who pulled off a stunner whereas Nasir Jamshed was unlucky to be on the receiving end of a harsh umpiring decision.

The Pakistan batting lineup, brittle as ever, has suffered from similar lapses for quite a while now. Maybe taking a leaf out of the captain’s book, they have failingly tried to play slower than their natural abilities would allow. It could be the constant fear of failure or the lack of faith shown by selectors in the young squad that has encouraged otherwise flamboyant batsmen to play in a much more reserved manner than they would prefer. Take Shehzad for example. Naturally a very aggressive batsman, in Pakistan colors he seems unsure of his range. He seems overawed by the circumstances facing him and prefers to simply survive the initial spell from any bowler, however inexperienced he may be. His dismissal proved just that point - his instincts pushed him to offer a shot, his caution advised him to sway his bat away and the confusion cost him his off stump. A batsman must never play anything but his natural game.

In the last 42 completed innings by Pakistan within the past two years, the overall strike rate has touched 100 merely two times. The batting has not fared well even with a lower benchmark, going over 80 only fourteen times. Compare this with India, whose success in the past two years has been phenomenal. India’s strike rate has crossed 100 nine times in their past 49 innings, with 34 innings being scored at a strike rate of above 80. The comparison goes to show the method both teams have adopted and the results are there for all to see.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1029206/afridi ... ng-failure

Statistics: Posted by Mirza Ghalib — Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:15 pm