Zulqarnain to appear before PCB committee today

LAHORE: Pakistan's runaway wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider will appear before the disciplinary committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today (Friday), Geo News reported.

In a long awaited hearing Zulqarnain will try to convince the disciplinary committee that his decision to desert the national team in Dubai and flee to London, where he sought asylum, was justified as he was under threat from alleged match-fixers.

According to Zulqarnain, he received the threat during the series against South Africa last year in Dubai after which he left the hotel without informing the team management.

The wicket-keeper only returned to Pakistan in late April after getting assurances of security from interior minister, Rehman Malik.

The PCB, however, has told Zulqarnain to face disciplinary proceedings for violating his central contract.

He said the chairman of the Board, Ijaz Butt had also ignored attempts by Zulqarnain to seek a one-to-one meeting with him.

The board is also upset with Zulqarnain's latest claims in the media that some Pakistani players involved in spot-fixing.

Sources said the disciplinary committee is expected to record statements of some Pakistan players who were in the team that played against South Africa and manager, Intikhab Alam.

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Bravo, Sarwan lead Windies to win in lost series

KINGSTON: Darren Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan led the West Indies to a comfortable seven-wicket win over India in the final encounter of their five-match one-day international series on Thursday.

With India having already clinched the series by winning the first three games, West Indies were able to finish off with a second straight win which delighted a lively crowd at Sabina Park.

With former skipper Chris Gayle watching in the crowd in green-framed sunglasses, there was a relaxed mood for a game which meant little to India.

The Caribbean side had exactly the same sequence of results in their recent ODI series against Pakistan, with a pair of wins after the series was gone.

This time, though, they will take encouragement from the performances of batsmen Sarwan (75) and Bravo (86) as well as a bowler ahead of Monday's first test.

Andre Russell, who won acclaim for his hard-hitting batting in the last game in Antigua, continued to establish his credentials as a genuine all-rounder with an impressive spell of 4-35.

Virat Kohli's 94 off 104 balls, on a good batting track in the Jamaican capital, was the heart of the Indian innings including a 110-run partnership with Rohit Sharma (57).

But West Indies took the last seven wickets for just 62 runs as India failed to use all their alloted 50 overs and set a target which was always achievable on such a kind surface.

The hosts, though, have made a habit of struggling when chasing down targets and when they lost opener Lendl Simmons (6) early, trouble looked on the cards.

Sarwan then produced his best innings since returning to the team -- batting with intelligence and tidiness -- before he had to retire with cramp.

Bravo, whose promise has long been heralded, delivered his best score in international cricket -- the left-hander hitting three fours and six sixes.

West Indies needed to get a move on given they had left themselves 80 to get from the last 10 overs and when Bravo was stumped off Amit Mishra, leaving his foot right on the crease but with nothing grounded behind, nerves began to show.

Marlon Samuels (28 not out) and Kieron Pollard (24 not out) easily guided them home, however.

Samuels celebrated the winning runs by dashing to the stands to shake hands with fellow Jamaican and former skipper Gayle -- a move that might not win him appreciation in all quarters of the Caribbean.

Now the focus turns to the five-day game and West Indies, who have struggled against spin all through their home series against Pakistan and India, will now need to give great thought to their selection.

Gayle seemed happy enough in the 'party stand' with friends but it remains to be seen whether he watches the first test from that vantage point or if peace is finally made between him and the selectors.

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England uproot Sri Lanka top order

SOUTHAMPTON: Sri Lanka were reduced to 81 for four against England on a rain-marred first day of the third and final Test at the Rose Bowl here on Thursday.

Only 38 overs out of a scheduled 90 were possible on the opening day of what was the first Test ever staged at the home of southern county Hampshire.

But that was enough time for England, 1-0 up in this series, to rip through a top order lacking Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan, out with a broken thumb suffered while making 193 in the drawn second Test at Lord's.

By contrast stand-in skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, the tourists' two most experienced batsmen, have yet to score a fifty this series and managed a mere six runs combined on Thursday.

James Anderson marked his comeback to England duty by taking two wickets, while the 6ft 7in Chris Tremlett, who troubled Sri Lanka with his pace and bounce, also struck twice on the ground where he made his name.

Anderson ended the day with a return of two for 24 runs in 16 overs while Tremlett, who until his move to Surrey last season played for Hampshire, had two for 17 in just 11.

Sri Lanka were in dire straits at 39 for four.

But Thilan Samaraweera (24 not out) and Prasanna Jayawardene (10 not out) prevented further collapse with an unbroken stand of 42.

"It was nice, I played here for a long time and it's been a couple of years since I've been back, so it was nice of the Hampshire fans to welcome me back," said Tremlett.

"I think as a whole we bowled pretty well. It was certainly an improvement on last week (at Lord's).

"It was impressive for Jimmy to come back in without any overs. The Twenty20 game he was going to play in got washed out but he hit his straps straightaway, so credit to him," Tremlett added.

Anderson, who missed Lord's with a side injury, was recalled in place of Steven Finn as England looked to build on a series lead secured by an innings and 14-run victory in the first Test in Cardiff.

England, after captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and fielded, saw Anderson strike in the 13th over.

Test debutant Lahiru Thirimanne, in for Dilshan, edged to Strauss at first slip and fell for 10.

Sri Lanka spent more than an hour on 23 for one because of a rain break.

But five balls after the resumption, that became 23 for two when opener Tharanga Paranavitana was lbw on the back foot to a full length swinging delivery from Tremlett.

Sangakkara is one of the world's leading batsmen, with an impressive Test average of more than 56 coming into this match.

But on Thursday he only made two before, trying to drive an Anderson delivery that cut away off the pitch, he was caught behind by Matt Prior.

It took Sangakkara's tally for the series to a meagre 65 runs at an average of 13.

Another lengthy rain break followed before, in late evening sunshine, Tremlett produced a lifting delivery that Mahela Jayawardene could only edge to wicketkeeper Prior to leave Sri Lanka 39 for four.

"Sangakkara will be pretty unhappy seeing the replay of the shot he played.

"Tharanga lost it half-way down the track; the debutant (Thirimanne) got a good ball, and Mahela got a beauty," said Sri Lanka batting coach Marvan Atapattu.

The former Test opener also offered an implied rebuke to Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene for arriving late on tour following stints in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League.

"People coming from 50-over and then 20-over versions doesn't really help... You're in a country where your technique is going to be tested.

"It doesn't happen overnight; you need some time. This is why players need to get to a place like England, play a few practice games, get runs and get into Test level." (AFP)

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India dismissed for 251 against West Indies

 KINGSTON: India failed to build on 94 from Virat Kohli and 57 from Rohit Sharma, and were dismissed for 251 in 47.3 overs in the final one-day international against West Indies here on Thursday.

Kohli struck 10 boundaries from 104 balls, and Sharma hit two fours and one six from 72 deliveries in a 110-run stand for the second wicket, propping up the Indians after they were sent in to bat on a hard, bouncy Sabina Park pitch, and stumbled to 79 for three in the 17th over.

When Kohli was run out in the 36th over, failing to beat Ramnaresh Sarwan's throw to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr going for a second run, the visitors batting collapsed under mean, purposeful West Indies bowling.

The world champions lost their last seven wickets for 62 in the space of 70 deliveries, as Andre Russell, playing an international match for West Indies on home soil for the first time, captured four for 35 from 8.3 overs.

Yusuf Pathan threatened to turn the tide for India, but Russell had him caught behind for 30 in the 46th over at the height of the carnage.

Kieron Pollard took two for 39 from eight overs, and Kemar Roach two for 52 from his allotment of 10 overs to support Russell in the demolition of the Indian batting.

West Indies made one change to their line-up for the match, with opener Adrian Barath making his return, following a five-month injury lay-off, nursing a damaged hamstring.

The Indians made two changes - Subramanian Badrinath and Praveen Kumar are not playing, so Shikhar Dhawan returns after missing the previous match, and Vinay Kumar plays his first match on the tour.

The visitors were looking to sign-off the ODI series with a resounding victory, after they stumbled in the fourth ODI two days ago, losing by 103 runs at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

The world champions still hold an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series, after victories in the first three matches.

But they will want to finish strongly, bringing West Indies back down to earth, particularly with a three-Test series immediately following.

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Sri Lanka slump against England on rain-marred 1st day

SOUTHAMPTON: England made Sri Lanka collapse to 29 for three at tea on the first day of the rain-marred third Test at the Rose Bowl here on Thursday.

James Anderson marked his comeback to England duty by taking two wickets, while Chris Tremlett struck on the ground where he made his name with southern county Hampshire.

Mahela Jayawardene was three not out and Thilan Samaraweera nought not out in the first Test ever played at the ground.

In the five overs possible between lunch and tea, England took two wickets for six runs.

Anderson's figures stood at two for 12 in nine overs, while Tremlett had an analysis of one for five in five.

Lancashire swing bowler Anderson, who missed the drawn second Test at Lord's with a side injury, was recalled in place of Steven Finn as England looked to build on a 1-0 series lead secured by an innings and 14-run victory in the first Test in Cardiff.

After England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and fielded, Anderson struck in the 13th over.

Test debutant Lahiru Thirimanne, in for injured Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan, who had his thumb broken by Tremlett while making 193 at Lord's, edged a drive through to Strauss at first slip and fell for 10.

Two balls later, the rain that had delayed the start by more than an hour returned and forced an early lunch with Sri Lanka 23 for one.

And five balls after an 81-minute rain break, 23 for one became 23 for two when Tharanga Paranavitana was lbw on the back foot to a full length swinging delivery from Tremlett.

Sangakkara, the third left-hander in Sri Lanka's top three, had to be persuaded to lead the side in Dilshan's absence after resigning the captaincy following the team's World Cup final defeat by India in Mumbai in April.

One of the world's leading batsmen, with an impressive Test average of more than 56 coming into this match, Sangakkara has often struggled in England.

And on Thursday he only made two before, trying to drive an Anderson delivery that cut away off the pitch, he was caught behind by Matt Prior.

It took Sangakkara's tally for the series to a meagre 65 runs at an average of 13.

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West Indies win toss, field against India in final ODI

KINGSTON, Jamaica: West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to field against India in the final One-day International on Thursday at Sabina Park here.

West Indies have made one change, with opener Adrian Barath making his return to the line-up, following a five-month injury lay-off, nursing a damaged hamstring.

The Indians have made two changes - Subramanian Badrinath and Praveen Kumar are not playing, so Shikhar Dhawan returns after missing the previous match, and Vinay Kumar plays his first match on the tour.

The visitors will be looking to sign-off their ODI series with a resounding victory, after they stumbled in the fourth ODI two days ago, losing by 103 runs at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

The world champions still hold an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series, after victories in the first three matches, but they will want to finish strongly, bringing West Indies back down to earth, particularly with a three-Test series immediately following.

Teams:
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Lendl Simmons, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Carlton Baugh Jr (wk), Andre Russell, Kemar Roach, Anthony Martin

India: Suresh Raina (captain), Parthiv Patel (wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Manoj Tiwary, Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma

Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG), Joel Wilson (WI), TV umpire: Norman Malcolm (WI)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ)
Reserve umpire: Gregory Brathwaite (WI)

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PCB restores Afridi permission to play abroad

Updated at: 1918 PST,  Thursday, June 16, 2011
LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board reinstated a no-objection certificate Thursday, clearing former captain Shahid Afridi to join Hampshire in England's Twenty20 tournament, a disciplinary committee said.The committee unanimously decided to fine him 4.5 million rupees ($53,000) for various breaches of the code of conduct," Pakistan Cricket Board legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi announced on behalf of the committee.The committee also recommended his NOCs to play abroad be restored, which the Pakistan Cricket Board has endorsed," said Rizvi.

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England win toss, put Sri Lanka into bat in final Test

SOUTHAMPTON, England: England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to field against Sri Lanka in the rain-delayed third and final Test at the Rose Bowl here on Thursday.

England, 1-0 up in this series, made one change from the side that drew the second Test at Lord's.

Ashes spearhead James Anderson, who missed that match with a side injury, replaced fast bowler Steven Finn.

Sri Lanka were without captain and opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan who had his thumb broken by fast bowler Chris Tremlett while making 193 at Lord's.

Kumar Sangakkara, his immediate predecessor as captain, took over the leadership of the side.

Meanwhile Dilshan's place in the side was taken by Test debutant opener Lahiru Thirimanne who, like Sangakkara, made a hundred in last week's drawn warm-up match against Essex.

Sri Lanka also recalled seamer Thisara Perera in place of the struggling Farveez Maharoof.

Rain delayed the start by 75 minutes.

This match marked the debut as a Test ground of the Rose Bowl, the home of southern county Hampshire, which became the 10th venue in Britain to stage a Test match.

England owe their lead in this series to an innings and 14-run win in the first Test in Cardiff.

Victory in this match would see England go joint-second in the ICC Test rankings, alongside South Africa, with only India, their next opponents this English season, above them.

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Afridi to appear before disciplinary committee today

KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi is all set to receive a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the country’s cricket board after appearing before the disciplinary committee Thursday.

After getting the NOC, Afridi will be able to play in an ongoing English Twenty20 event as the all-rounder withdrew his petition against the board from the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday.

The development took place within less than 24 hours of Afridi and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday under the gaze of senior government officials.

On Wednesday, the PCB summoned Afridi for a hearing at its headquarters in Lahore today.

“PCB has been informed by Shahid Khan Afridi that the constitutional petition filed by him before the Sindh High Court has today been dismissed as withdrawn,” said a PCB media release.

“Therefore, in continuation of the proceduere that had been postponed as per court orders, PCB has directed Shahid Afrdito to appear in person before the Diciplinary Committee of PCB on 16 June,” it concluded.

Afridi said he had taken the initiative.

“I have withdrawn my petition filed before the High Court of Sindh at Karachi against Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a first step to resolving the matter,” Afridi said in a statement.

“As a true sportsman and cricketer, I believe that for the future progress, advancement and success of cricket in Pakistan it is necessary to strengthen PCB as an institution,” Afridi said.

“I have all the zeal and energy to play cricket for the nation for many years to come. I will be appearing before the disciplinary committee tomorrow, inshallah (God willing).”

According to sources, during the meeting Butt agreed to reissue an NOC to Afridi to play professional cricket abroad provided the all-rounder withdrew his court case against the Board. Both parties agreed on a compromise after which Afridi withdrew his petition on Wednesday.

Sources said the player will now appear before a PCB disciplinary committee later this week. “The committee will recommend that the Board should reissue Afridi an NOC to play in England. It might also penalize the former captain but the punishment won’t be strict as was expected before the Afridi-Butt meeting,” said the source.

Sources close to Afridi said the star cricketer will leave for London later this week to represent Hampshire in the English Twenty20 event — Friends Pro-t20.

“We have withdrawn the petition and after this Afridi will appear before the disciplinary committee likely on Thursday,” Afridi’s lawyer Mehmood Mandviwala told reporters outside the SHC.

“We didn’t want to go to court but were forced. Now I hope Afridi will get the NOC (no-objection certificate) and will be able to play in England and Sri Lanka,” he added.

The PCB revoked Afridi’s permission to play abroad, preventing him from appearing in the ongoing Twenty20 league in England and threatening his participation in next month’s inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League.

The stand-off began last month after Afridi accused coach Waqar Younis of undue meddling in team selection during the one-day series against the West Indies, which Pakistan won by 3-2.

The PCB removed him as one-day captain and in protest, Afridi announced his retirement from international cricket and accused PCB officials, including Butt, of mishandling his case.

The PCB said Afridi had violated the players’ code of conduct. It suspended his central contract and revoked his NOC. Afridi then went to court last week.

Afridi’s lawyer said the star would appear before a PCB disciplinary committee when a new date is set. A spokesman said the PCB would wait for the court to formerly order out the petition before deciding on a future course of action.

Meanwhile, Hampshire are still awaiting confirmation that star signing Shahid Afridi is free to play in their Friends Life t20 title defence.

“We haven’t received any notification from the PCB yet,” said a Hampshire spokesman.

“We are aware as a club that there have been discussions between Afridi and the PCB but we were not privy to those.

“We are very hopeful that the rumours are true that he has been granted a No Objection Certificate, but at the moment we have to wait on confirmation from the PCB.”

“If we get confirmation that the NOC has come through then we will get Shahid on a plane immediately.

“Having spoken to Shahid last time he was here I’m under no illusions that he is raring to get back to Hampshire to play.”

Afridi has already missed Hampshire’s opening six games of the Twenty20 tournament and the Royals expect him to at least miss Friday’s visit to Glamorgan, meaning an earliest possible return will come against Essex next Thursday.

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