Cricket: Pakistan looking for venue for Australia ODIs

LAHORE: Pakistan are looking for a suitable venue to stage their one-day series against Australia later this year, an official said Saturday.

Pakistan have been forced to play their home series at the neutral venues of United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and England since international cricket was halted in their country after attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.

The terrorists attacks in Lahore, which left seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured and killed eight people, suspended all international cricket in Pakistan.

Even before the attacks Pakistan had been a 'no go' zone for international teams since the 9-11 attacks on the United States which sparked security fears in and around Pakistan.

Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998, forcing them to play in Sri Lanka and Sharjah (2002) and in England in 2010.

They have five one-day matches scheduled for August this year and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said three venues were under consideration.

"We are looking out for a suitable venue for the five one-days against Australia as it would be very hot to play in the UAE in mid-August," Ahmad told AFP.

The three available options are South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and we are looking at these venues, Ahmed said.

The PCB is also seeking the return of international cricket to their country and have invited Bangladesh to play a one-day series in April.

A Bangladesh delegation is expected to tour Pakistan to assess security before deciding on the series.

Read More

BPL: Imran, Azhar guide Dhaka to 5-wkt win over Barisal

DHAKA: A third wicket 92-run partnership between Imran Nazir and Azhar Mahmood helped Dhaka Gladiators defeat Barisal Burners by five wickets in a Twenty20 match here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing a modest total of 157, Dhaka completed the victory with ten balls to spare.

Imran Nazir made 65 off 40 balls with six fours and three sixes while Azhar Mahmood hit 42 from 30 balls with seven boundaries.

Kieron Pollard also blasted an unbeaten 35 off 17 balls with four towering sixes and a four.

For Barisal, Kabir Ali and Suhrawadi Shuvo claimed two wickets each.

Earlier, sent into bat by Dhaka Gladiators, Barisal Burners scored 156 for six in the allotted 20 overs.

Ahmed Shahzad top scored with 51 with seven fours, followed by 33 by Peter Mustard, who hit two sixes and as many fours.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan took two wickets for 22 for Dhaka.

Read More

Pakistan to take on England in 2nd T20 today

DUBAI: After an eight-run win in the first of three Twenty20 internationals against England on Thursday, Pakistan will take on England in the second match today, Geo News reported.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said he hoped Pakistan will carry the momentum in the next two Twenty20 matches, which would take place in Dubai today and Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The win in the Twenty20 series can lift Pakistan to fourth position that currently rests at fifth.

On the other hand, England captain Stuart Broad also hoped to fight back strongly in upcoming matches.

Pakistan routed England in the three-Tests 3-0 but suffered a 4-0 reverse in the following one-day series, prompting former cricketing greats and media commentators to call for changes in the team and captaincy.

The Pakistan captain said the country had under-performed in the past because of such a response to defeats, insisting that his side had not become bad players overnight just because of the loss of the one-day series.

Misbah has not lost a Test series since taking over the Pakistan captaincy in October 2010 and the defeat against England was his first since taking charge as one-day captain in June last year.

Pakistan had won the preceding two one-day series before he took over.

Read More

South Africa cruise to victory on de Villiers ton

WELLINGTON: South African captain AB de Villiers compiled a superb century to lead his side to an easy six wicket win over New Zealand in the opening one-day international at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

De Villiers, in deft touch, was not out for 106 with Faf du Plessis on 66 as South Africa overhauled New Zealand's 253 for nine with 28 balls to spare.

On a ground with a history of favouring the side batting second, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss, elected to bat first and never seriously threatened from there as his batsmen failed to gain momentum.

Although the target was not immense, South Africa wavered at the start of their innings with Hashim Amla (8), Graeme Smith (9) and Jacques Kallis (13) falling in quick succession to be 35 for three by the 10th over.

But from there de Villiers steadied the run chase and they slowly and surely reeled in the New Zealand total although the South African captain played down the comprehensive nature of the win.

Read More

New Zealand 253 for nine against South Africa

WELLINGTON: New Zealand scored 253 for nine off their 50 overs after winning the toss and batting first in the opening one-day international against South Africa at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

Brendon McCullum top scored with 56 and Kane Williamson made 55 while Lonwabo Tsotsobe took two for 41 for South Africa.

Earlier New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat in the opening one-day international against South Africa.

The Wellington wicket traditionally favours the team batting second but New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said the pitch looked different and "we want to put a good total on the board".

The three-match ODI series follows the three Twenty20 matches won by South Africa 2-1.

Read More

Cricket: Sylhet’s first BPL win, stuns Rajshahi

DHAKA: Sylhet Royals at last won its first match in the Bangledesh Premier League when it surprisingly defeated Duronto Rajshahi by a big margin of nine wickets here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

Chasing 125 to win, wicketkeeper batsman from Pakistan kamran Akmal guided Sylhet to complete his team’s first victory in the tournament in only 16.3 overs.

He remained unbeaten on 72, providing an opening stand of 52 with Peter Trego (24) and an unbeaten second wicket partnership of 72 with Tom Maynard (22 not out).

Earlier, Rajshahi sent into bat by Sylhet, was restricted to 124 for nine in the 20 overs.

Pakistan opener Shahzaib Hasan was the top-scorer with 54 while only two other batsmen Abdul Razzaq (21) and Khalid Latif (14), both also from Pakistan managed to enter into double figures.

Paceman Sohail Tanvir, also from Pakistan, captured four wickets for 13 while Abul Hasan took three wickets.

Read More

Cricket: Ireland clinch T20 series against Kenya

MOMBASA, Kenya: Ireland beat Kenya by two runs to complete a 3-0 clean sweep in their Twenty20 cricket series at the Mombasa Sports Club on Friday.

Batting first, Ireland made 107-9 and despite an impressive 4-14 from man-of-the-match Shem Ngoche, the Kenyans came too short of overhauling the target in the low-scoring match.

Skipper Collins Obuya top-scored with 42 and Indian Premier League-bound Tanmay Mishra contributed 37 as the hosts put up a more competitive contest than in the previous two matches of the series.

Fast bowler Boyd Rankin and spinner George Dockrell put the early brakes, taking both the Kenya openers, David Obuya and Alan Duncan cheaply in a fast opening spell.

All-rounder Andrew White weighed in with another two wickets and John Mooney grabbed the last wicket to ensure the narrow victory.

Read More

BPL: Bravo shines in Chittagong’s 13-run win

DHAKA: A brilliant allround performance by Dwayne Bravo gave Chittagong Kings a thrilling 13-run victory against Dhaka Gladiators in a low-scoring Twenty20 match here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

Sent in to bat by Dhaka, Chittagong were restricted to 120-6 in the allotted 20 overs.
Bravo top scored with an unbeaten 48 with two sixes and as many fours, followed by Jahurul Islaam’s 40.

For Dhaka, Elias Sunny captured three wickets for 23.

Chasing 121, Dhaka Gladiators could manage 107 runs for the loss of nine wickets.

Their prominent scorers were Amanul Haque (22) and Mohammad Ashraful (20) while only three other batsmen could move into double figures.

Chittagong’s top scorer Bravo came as bowler again to take two for 21 while Kevon Cooper bagged three for 13 and Enamul Haque Junior took two for 15.

Geo Super showed this match live from Mirpur, Dhaka.

Read More