Kiwis to bat first against Pakistan

 Updated at: 0301 PST,  Saturday, January 15, 2011
WELLINGTON: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and put his side into bat in the second Test against Pakistan Saturday, with the Black Caps seeking to square the two-match series.

The home side was thrashed inside three days by the tourists in the first Test and need to win in Wellington to draw the series.

They have made one change to their side, dropping out-of-form opener Tim McIntosh and bringing in left-arm swing bowler James Franklin.

"Sometimes if you can have that extra bowler in the likes of a Franklin then it allows Chris Martin or Tim Southee to be even more of a strike bowler," Vettori said.

The Pakistan side is unchanged and captain Misbah-ul-Haq said he would have elected to bowl first had he won the toss.

Vettori has described the Basin Reserve venue as the home of New Zealand cricket, but in recent years it has been anything but a fortress for Kiwi cricket.

They have lost three of their past four matches at the venue, while Pakistan have never tasted defeat in Wellington after drawing their first two matches in 1973 and 1985 and winning three Tests since then.

Fine weather is forecast for the opening day although Wellington's notorious gale-force winds are expected in the afternoon session.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Reece Young, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, Chris Martin, James Franklin.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz; Umar Akmal (12th man).

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS), Rod Tucker (AUS)
Third umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

Read More

Strict security arrangements for QA Trophy final

Updated at: 1610 PST,  Friday, January 14, 2011

KARACHI: Due to tense situation in the city, security has been made high alert at the National Cricket Stadium and a heavy contingent of police has been posted at all its gates.The five-day final of the Quad-i-Azam Trophy is being played at the National Stadium from Thursday.This final is a historic match which is being focused by all cricket world but due to current situation in Karachi security has been alert in the stadium to avoid any unpleasant incident.Admission is free for the people to watch the match but the management has directed strict checking before allowing the spectators to go to the enclosures.ICC general manager Dave Richardson has come here specially to watch the final match.

Read More

PCB to send QA Trophy final report to ICC

 Updated at: 1548 PST,  Friday, January 14, 2011
KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will send a detailed report to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the final of the Quad-i-Azam Trophy being played between PIA and Habib Bank here at the National Stadium.

Sources told Geo News that the ICC had asked the PCB to send a report regarding the experiments during the match, captains and officials of the two teams and the TV viewership of the match.

The historic final of the Quad-i-Azam Trophy is being played under floodlights in which an orange ball is being used.

ICC general manager Dave Richardson who has come here to watch the final will give his comments on the match to the ICC.

Read More

Pakistan, N Zealand play 2nd & final Test tomorrow

 Updated at: 1527 PST,  Friday, January 14, 2011
WELLINGTON: All eyes will be on the Basin Reserve pitch when covers are stripped off on the first morning of second cricket Test between New Zealand and Pakistan here Saturday.

Both teams say they would welcome some pace and bounce, and it appears that is exactly what they will get as tourists seek a rare series win and hosts a series-levelling result following their 10-wicket humiliating defeat at Hamilton.

The first Test pitch at Seddon Park was almost sub-continental in that it was slow, flat and largely lifeless, which suited Pakistan to a tee. Basin Reserve, however, should offer more of traditional New

Zealand surface with a good covering of grass and some movement for first few days.

"It looks pretty grassy. We wouldn't mind more sideways and bounce, it's good for us. It would be a good wicket," New Zealand coach John Wright said.

While New Zealand are hoping for familiar conditions, Pakistan's bowlers would also relish them and likely pose even more problems to a fragile home lineup that could not keep the tourists at bay even on a flat deck.

"I think conditions will be suitable for seamers, not only for us but also for New Zealanders as well," Pakistan quick Umar Gul said. "But I think we have good fast bowlers, myself, I bowl 140kmh-plus and Wahab (Riaz) is bowling 145kmh-plus, so I think at the moment we are a bit faster. This is a very good chance for us to win a series."

Wright's task this week has been straightforward - to get his batsmen in a frame of mind to play test cricket. But after they were frivolous in second innings of Hamilton Test in being bowled out for 110, that job may sound easier than it is.

If they could find away to survive, Wright believed they could threaten Pakistan and square the series. "Provided we get the runs and apply ourselves, we'll out a lot of pressure on Pakistan," he said.

"It is what it is, test cricket, there's no excuses. We don't need any explanations, if you're picked as a batter your job is to get runs.

It's about occupying crease and not giving your wicket away, it's not rocket science."

Wright said some harsh words had been spoken after Hamilton and he was confident they had hit home, though he warned that change may take ore than just a week. "They're in process of learning what it's like to play test cricket consistently," he said.

Read More