Pakistan to launch more spin at England

ABU DHABI: Pakistan will once more depend on spin to maintain their dominance over England when the teams meet in a four-match one-day series starting here from Monday.

Misbah-ul Haq's men blanked England 3-0 in the Tests series with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal finishing with 24 wickets, left-armer Abdul Rehman taking 19 and allrounder Mohammad Hafeez five in a spin-dominated series.

Pakistan's spin repertoire will further be boosted by allrounder Shahid Afridi whose 5-36 helped Pakistan beat Afghanistan in a first-ever one-day between the two countries in Sharjah on Friday.

Even spinning allrounder Shoaib Malik, controversially included in the squad despite failures in the last six one-day matches, will pose problems for England who were routed 5-0 in India last year.

Pakistan captain Misbah acknowledged Afridi's heroics as leg-spinner.

Misbah, however, seeks improvement in his batting, especially in the top order

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Zimbabwe win toss, bat against New Zealand

AUCKLAND: Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.

Zimbabwe have been outclassed in every game so far on their New Zealand tour, losing the one-off Test by an innings and 301 runs, then falling short in the three one-day internationals by 90, 141 and 202 runs.

New Zealand have two international debutants, Michael Bates - whose brother Steven represented New Zealand with the All Blacks - and Harare-born Colin de Grandhomme, who played for Zimbabwe under-19 before emigrating in 2006

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Afridi, Younis help Pakistan devestate Afghans

SHARJAH, UAE: All-rounder Shahid Afridi took five wickets while Younis Khan and Imran Farhat both hit half-centuries as Pakistan beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the day-night international here on Friday.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi took five wickets while Younis Khan and Imran Farhat both hit half-centuries as Pakistan beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the day-night international here on Friday.

Afridi claimed 5-36 as Afghanistan were bowled out for 195 in 48.3 overs before Younis hit an unbeaten 70 and Farhat made 52 to help Pakistan reach their modest target in 37.1 overs in the first-ever one-dayer between the two countries.

Despite the loss, Afghanistan still put up an inspired display at Sharjah Stadium, justifying their rise in international cricket which saw them win the right to play one-dayers in 2009.

Younis, who hit 10 boundaries off 65 balls, added 57 for the third wicket with Farhat after paceman Dawlat Zardan dismissed opener Mohammad Hafeez (eight) and Asad Shafiq (20) in his first five overs to leave Pakistan at 42-2.

Even after Farhat's dismissal to spinner Samiullah Shinwari, Yonuis continued to excel, adding an unbeaten 99 with skipper Misbah-ul Haq, who scored 40 not out with three fours and two sixes, for the fourth wicket.

Misbah said Afghanistan surprised him with their spirit.

"I am really happy with the spirit of the Afghanistan players," said Misbah. "There were times in the match when they put us on the back foot and that was expected, so we did well to win in the end."

Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal said his team put up a satisfactory show.

"This was our first-ever one-dayer against a top team and I am happy with the performance of the team," said Mangal.

"We couldn't put up a big total which was needed against a side like Pakistan."

Earlier Afridi derailed Afghanistan's progress who were set on track for a fighting total by opener Karim Sadiq (40) after they won the toss and decided to bat.

Afridi also became the second spinner with the highest number of one-day wickets (338) behind Muttiah Muralitharan (534), but surpassing India's Anil Kumble who had 333 wickets.

Despite Afridi's brilliance, the Afghan batsmen put up an excellent show and had they not lacked experience – playing their first one-day international against a top nation – they would have scored more.

There was plenty of fireworks on and off the field as the Afghan batsmen hit six sixes during their innings which delighted the bumper 15 000-strong weekend crowd – mostly Pakistan and Afghan expats.

Paceman Umar Gul provided Pakistan with the early breakthrough when he caught Noor Ali (nine) off his own bowling before Afridi dismissed Mohammad Shahzad (20), Mangal (11), Gulbadin Naib (seven) and Sadiq in his first spell.

Sadiq hit two boundaries and two sixes during his aggressive 47-ball knock.

Mohammad Nabi, who scored 37 with two sixes, added 46 for the sixth wicket with Shinwari who finished on 32, an innings studded with four boundaries.

Gul and Wahab Riaz took two wickets each.

Pakistan now play England in the first of four one-day internationals in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

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BPL match-2: Chittagong beat Rajshahi by 53 runs

DHAKA: Chittagong Kings defeated Duronto Rajshahi by 53 runs with a ball to spare in the second match on the opening day of the Bangladesh Premier League here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Friday.

Rajshahi could not reach the target and were all out for 153 runs in 19.5 overs.

Their main scorers were Junaid Siddique (42) and Shabbir Rehman (41 not out) while Dwayne Bravo and Enamul Haque Junior claimed three wickets each for 17 and 27 runs, respectively for Chittagong.

Earlier, Chittagong Kings plundered a mammoth total of 206 runs for four wickets in the allotted 20 overs after they won the toss and decided to bat first.

Pakistan’s Nasir Jamshed top scored with 56, followed by Mahmudullah (43 not out), Jason Roy (43) and Dwayne Bravo (38 not out).

In the inaugural match of the tournament played the same day, Chris Gayle’s thunderous century and Ahmed Shahzad’s fluent half-century made Barisal Burners thrash Sylhet Royals by ten wickets in the inaugural match of the tournament.

Both matches were telecast live from the venue on

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People throng Sharjah stadium for Pak-Afghan ODI

SHARJAH: Expats from both Pakistan and Afghanistan thronged the Sharjah Stadium for the first-ever one-day international here on Friday, with the fans uncertain who to support for a win.

Afghanistan, who rose to gain one-day status in 2009, have played 18 one-day games against fellow Associate teams, but Friday's match was their first against a top Test playing nation.

And for Pukhtoons, one of the major cast living in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan in the province of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, it was a dilemma who to support among a capacity holiday crowd of 15,000.

Pakistan's Umar Gul, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi also speak the Pushtoon language.

"It's no doubt an historic occasion," said Gulbadeen Salami. "I have lived half my life in Pakistan after fleeing there in 1979 so both are my countries.

Most of the Afghanistan players learnt the game while living in refugee camps in Pakistan after they had to flee their country following the Russian invasion in 1979.

Pakistan also helped Afghanistan in setting up their cricket infrastructure and allowed their teams to play in their domestic competitions.

Hundreds of fans started their journey towards the stadium early, taking buses to the stadium from the adjoining states of the United Arab Emirates home to millions of labourers from Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Habibullah Khan, who works in a shop in Sharjah, said he will support Afghanistan.

"I love cricket and will support Afghanistan," said Khan, holding a tri-colour Afghanistan flag. "My favourite player is Mohammad Shazad, who hits sixes and is from my town -- Paktika (one of 34 provinces in Afghanistan)."

But overall, Afridi remains the top favourite player from either side.

"We are supporting both the teams," said Haji Malik from Kabul. "I wish Afghanistan win this match but my favourite is Afridi, who lives in the hearts of all the Pukhtoons."

Organisers hoped the sell-out crowd will induce more and more people to join the game in future.

"Sharjah has been home to cricket for many years now and this Pakistan-Afghanistan match will add to the charm, not only for the locals but also for the expats," said Mazhar Khan, secretary of Sharjah Cricket Council.

The Council started Cricket Benefit Fund Series in 1980s which also supported former cricketers with cash benefits and has staged 201 one-dayers before this match -- a world record in international cricket

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Afridi's 5-36 restrict Afghanistan to 195

SHARJAH: Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took his eighth five-wicket haul in one-day cricket but Afghanistan still managed 195 in their first-ever day-night international at Sharjah Stadium here on Friday.

The 31-year-old leg-spinner took four wickets in his first spell to derail Afghanistan -- who won the toss and batted -- from 54-1 to 101-5 before finishing with 5-36 in his 10 overs.

Afridi also became the second spinner with the highest one-day wickets (338) behind Muttiah Muralitharan (534), surpassing India's Anil Kumble who had 333 wickets.

But despite Afridi's brilliance, the Afghan batsmen put up an excellent show and had they not lacked experience -- playing their first one-day international against a top nation -- they would have scored more.

There was plenty of fireworks on and off the field as Afghan batsmen hit six sixes during their innings which delighted the bumper 15,000-strong weekend crowd -- mostly Pakistan and Afghan expats.

Paceman Umar Gul provided Pakistan with the early breakthrough when he caught Noor Ali (nine) off his own bowling before Afridi dismissed Mohammad Shahzad (20), Nawroz Mangal (11), Gulbadin Naib (seven) and Karim Sadiq (40) in his first spell.

Sadiq hit two boundaries and two sixes during his aggressive 47-ball knock.

Mohammad Nabi, who scored 37 with two sixes, added 46 for the sixth wicket with Samiullah Shinwari who finished with 32 studded with four boundaries.

Gul and Wahab Riaz took two wickets each

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Gayle ton helps Barisal thrash Sylhet by ten wickets

DHAKA: Chris Gayle’s thunderous century and Ahmed Shahzad’s fluent half-century made Barisal Burners thrash Sylhet Royals by ten wickets in the inaugural Twenty20 match of the Bangladesh Premier League here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Friday.

Chasing a modest target of 166 runs, both openers showered a rain of fours and sixes to complete the victory in just 13.1 overs.

Gayle, the West Indian batsman made an unbeaten 101 from only 44 balls with ten sixers and seven fours while Shahzad was 56 not out from 35 balls with nine boundaries and a six.

Earlier, Sylhet Royals scored 165 runs for four wickets in the allotted 20 overs after being put into bat by Barisal Burners.

Captain Peter Trego (62) and Bangladesh international batsman Alok Kapali (56) were the main scorers for the Roylas while Pakistan’s paceman Yasir Arafat was the most successful bowler for the Burners with 2-33.

Geo Super showed the match live from Mirpur.

The second match of the tournament will begin from 5-30 between Chittagong Kings and Duronto Rajshahi at the same ground.

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BPL match-2: Chittagong amass 206-4 against Rajshahi

DHAKA: Chittagong Kings set a huge winning target for Duronto Rajshahi in the second Twenty20 match on the opening day of the Bangladesh Premier League here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

Winning the toss, Chittagong batted first to pile up a big total of 206 runs for four wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Pakistan’s Nasir Jamshed top scored with 56, followed by Mahmudullah (43 not out), Jason Roy (43) and Dwayne Bravo (38 not out).

Earlier, Chris Gayle’s thunderous century and Ahmed Shahzad’s fluent half-century made Barisal Burners thrash Sylhet Royals by ten wickets in the inaugural match of the tournament.

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Aaqib Javed resigns as bowling coach

KARACHI: Aaqib Javed has resigned as the bowling coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Sources add that Javed is expected to join the UAE cricket team as coach.

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