Pakistan Cricket Weekly Roundup
Pakistan Cricket Team is all set to face off the hosts England in the final Test of four-match Test series at Lord’s today, 26th August. The hosts are leading the series by 2-1. Pakistan, after defeating England in the third Test at Oval, has got an opportunity to draw the series by 2-2. Pakistan is playing the final test with the same winning combination of Oval.
England after winning the first two matches of the series in an impressive way started sniffing a 4-0 whitewash but the inexperienced Pakistan side, boosted with veteran Mohammad Yousuf’s presence in the middle order, had some other ideas. Clinical bowling from teenage pacer Mohammad Aamer and Wahab Riaz – who replaced injured Umar Gul in the third test – bagged Pakistan six wicket win against England after 5-years winning drought.
Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday had announced squad for One Day Internationals and T20s against England. All-rounder Boom Boom Afridi has been retained as captain for the limited-over matches. After Tests, Mohammad Yousuf got a place in the ODI and T20 squads as well while Younus Khan has been once again ignored by the selectors. The chief selector of Pakistan, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohsin-Hasan-Khan-c77595 revealed that PCB has not cleared Younus Khan for selection.
While Sania Mirza powered into the second round of US open qualifying event by defeating Russia’s Ksenia Lykina, Shoaib Malik has once again been dropped from the limited overs squad. Just turned 36 Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq have been named in the squad for T20 and ODI series. Fawad Alam has also been included in the T20 and one-day squad. Alam, pretty happy upon his inclusion, said he will try his level best to avail the opportunity to get a place in the 2011 World Cup squad.
Pakistan’s former Test Captain has slammed PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and the selection committee for once again ignoring experienced Younis Khan for upcoming ODI series against England that starts from next month. The former wicketkeeper said that he was extremely disappointed by the PCB and selection committee’s decision of not including Younis into the one-day side. 38 years old Moin Khan, who played 245 one-days and 69 tests for Pakistan said that Ijaz Butt has taken the issue as a matter of his ego.
“jaz has made it a matter of ego denying Pakistan an opportunity to field strong team and increase http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s chances to win,” said the prolific wicketkeeper while taking to media reporters.
Chairman PCB http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 had announced a winning bonus of Rs. 5 Lac each for the playing XIs of the Oval Test while Rs. 2.5 Lac for non-playing members and team officials for winning a test against England after a drought of 5 years. Pakistan’s last victory against English side came back in November 2005. PCB spokesman revealed that the players and officials of Pakistan cricket team have donated half amount of their bonus for flood victims. The total amount of donation calculates as Rs. 46, 25,000. PCB employees and players have already contributed Rs. 114, 20,000 to PM’s Relief Fund for flood victims.
New Zealand Cricket, on the other hand, has ruled out prospects of touring Pakistan for any fundraising match. Chief executive of NZC Justin Vaughan supported the idea of fundraising cricket matches but at the same time made it clear that Black Caps have no ideas of travelling to Pakistan for this purpose. Earlier the PCB had revealed that NZC has offered to play in Pakistan to raise funds for its flood victims but Vaughn said that his message to the PCB was misread.
"At no point did we offer that the Black Caps would be touring as they certainly won't be playing there this year," said the NZC chief.
Pakistan will be touring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 at the end of this year where the side will play six ODIs, two Tests and three T20 internationals. The six ODI series is supposed to be a preparation for next year’s World Cup.
Tags: