PCB set to retain Afridi as skipper for World Cup

Updated at: 1526 PST,  Monday, January 31, 2011 KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt, in all likelihood, will announce Shahid Afridi as the captain of the Pakistan team for the upcoming World Cup although some players are backing Misbah-ul Haq as the leader. According to sources, Butt has decided to now stick with Afridi as captain although there...

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Vettori, Ryder return to NZ squad

Updated at: 1008 PST,  Monday, January 31, 2011 Skipper Daniel Vettori and opener Jesse Ryder have made a return to the New Zealand squad for the fourth ODI in Napier on Tuesday. New Zealand selectors made two changes to the squad for the fourth One-Day International against Pakistan in Napier.Ryder and Vettori come back into the reckoning with Luke Woodcock and Kyle...

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Afridi hints at limited role for Akhtar

Updated at: 1008 PST,  Monday, January 31, 2011 Pakistan ODI captain Shahid Afridi has indicated a limited role for experienced fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the remaining matches in New Zealand and next month's World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.After Pakistan's win over New Zealand in Christchurch in the third ODI, Afridi said that Akhtar was left out of...

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Ajmal, Tanvir rate India as favourites

Updated at: 1008 PST,  Monday, January 31, 2011 Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir feel that India will be the biggest threat for all teams including Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup. "I think India, Australia and South Africa can pose big threat as they have very strong squads for the tournament," Ajmal told Pakistan's former captain and...

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Windies elect to bat in Sri Lanka one-dayer

Updated at: 1008 PST,  Monday, January 31, 2011 COLOMBO: West Indies captain Darren Sammy elected to bat after winning the toss against Sri Lanka in the opening one-day international on Monday. The remaining two matches will also be played in Colombo on Friday and Sunday. West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt), Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan,...

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Bangladesh beggars to be 'paid' during World Cup

Updated at: 1458 PST,  Sunday, January 30, 2011 DHAKA: The mayor of Chittagong city in southern Bangladesh said Sunday that he would pay hundreds of beggars a daily wage to keep them off the streets during the cricket World Cup. Manzur Alam said that about 300 disabled beggars would be given 150 taka (two dollars) a day after the tournament's opening ceremony on...

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Australia take series after Brisbane victory

Updated at: 1654 PST,  Sunday, January 30, 2011 BRISBANE: Australia wrapped up a morale-boosting one-day series victory over England with two games to spare after a 51-run win in the fifth match at the Gabba on Sunday.Michael Clarke's team took an unassailable 4-1 lead in the seven-match series after hitting 249 in 49.3 overs and then bowling out the visitors for...

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Hafeez, Afridi help Pakistan level series against Kiwis

Updated at: 1001 PST,  Saturday, January 29, 2011 CHRISTCHURCH: Mohammad Hafeez scored his first one-day century and Shahid Afridi blasted the equal-fastest half century in New Zealand as Pakistan levelled their one-day series against the hosts following a 43-run victory at Lancaster Park on Saturday. New Zealand never really challenged Pakistan's imposing 293...

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Pakistan set 294-run target for Kiwis in 3rd ODI

Updated at: 1001 PST,  Saturday, January 29, 2011 CHRISTCHURCH: Allrounder Shahid Afridi blasted 25-ball 65 runs and opener Mohammad Hafeez scored a brilliant maiden ODI hundred to steer Pakistan to an impressive total of 293 for seven in the allotted 50 overs in the third One-day International here at the AMI Stadium on Saturday. Hafeez was superb in mastering...

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Pak-NZ 3rd ODI at Christchurch Saturday

Updated at: 2132 PST,  Friday, January 28, 2011 CHRISTCURCH: The third One Day International (ODI) between New Zealand and Pakistan is scheduled to be played on Saturday at the AMI stadium, Christchurch. New Zealand have a 1-0 lead in the series and Pakistan are still in the hunt of a series leveller as the washed out second game of the six-match series wooed their...

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Kolkata says can be ready for World Cup

Updated at: 1602 PST,  Friday, January 28, 2011 NEW DELHI: The bosses of Kolkata's Eden Gardens insisted Friday they could be ready to host next month's India-England World Cup clash after the venue was ruled out because of unfinished renovation work. The International Cricket Council (ICC) sparked a logistical nightmare for organisers on Thursday by asking for an...

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Kolkata says can be ready for World Cup

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England beat Australia to avoid series defeat

Updated at: 1245 PST,  Friday, January 28, 2011 ADELAIDE: Inspired by a Jonathan Trott century England secured a 21-run victory over Australia on Wednesday, keeping alive their hopes of winning the one-day series after trailing 3-0. The tourists needed a win to claw their way back into the seven match series and a fine century by man-of-the-match Trott helped them...

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Sri Lanka tour will be good World Cup preparation: Gibson

Updated at: 1605 PST,  Thursday, January 27, 2011 The West Indies team's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka is being seen as "good preparation" for next month's ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Speaking before the team departed from the Caribbean, Head Coach Ottis Gibson said the three matches in Sri Lanka will give the team a chance to get acclimatized to the conditions, where...

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Clarke turns to his Indian mentor for change of fortune

Updated at: 1605 PST,  Thursday, January 27, 2011 Struggling Australia stand-in skipper Michael Clarke has turned to his childhood mentor and Indian-origin coach Neil D'Costa in a bid to revive his batting form ahead of the upcoming World Cup in the sub-continent. The move comes a day after national selector Greg Chappell publicly backed the batsman to return to...

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Swann hoping to be fit in time for CWC 2011

Updated at: 1605 PST,  Thursday, January 27, 2011 Injured England off-spinner, Graeme Swann has revealed that he has battled for long with the back problem but insisted that he will be fit for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in the sub-continent. Swann flew back to his home from Australia in the middle of the ongoing bilateral one-day series after he was ruled...

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Campbell satisfied with performance in India

Updated at: 1605 PST,  Thursday, January 27, 2011 Head coach of the West Indies women's team Sherwin Campbell has expressed satisfaction with the development and commitment demonstrated by the team on the recent tour of India. The team returned home late Tuesday after three weeks on the sub-continent. They lost the five-match ODI Series 2-3, after taking a 2-1 lead,...

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Morkel, Tstosobe make rapid strides

Updated at: 1605 PST,  Thursday, January 27, 2011 South Africa's victory in the five-match ODI series against India on Sunday has coincided with its key performers making rapid progress in the Reliance ICC ODI Rankings. Man of the Series fast bowler Morne Morkel, who ended with 12 wickets, moved up by 10 places to secure the second spot behind New Zealand captain...

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ICC Inspection team rules out Kolkata for 27 February India v England fixture

Updated at: 1605 PST,  Thursday, January 27, 2011 A venue inspection team which included the Tournament Director, members of the Central Organising Committe (COC) and the ICC, have today reported on the readiness of five outstanding venues scheduled to host matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Following the inspection tour, the three Sri Lanka venues - Colombo,...

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Luke Woodcock called up for third ODI New Zealand v Pakistan, 3rd ODI, Christchurch

Updated at: 0807 PST,  Wednesday, January 26, 2011 Luke Woodcock, the only uncapped player in New Zealand's World Cup squad, has been included in 12-man team for the third ODI against Pakistan in Christchurch on January 29. Ross Taylor will captain the side while Daniel Vettori will stay with the team but won't play the match.We think it's important for everyone...

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Rain wipes out second one-dayer New Zealand v Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Queenstown

 Updated at: 0807 PST,  Wednesday, January 26, 2011 Pakistan 31 for 0 v New Zealand Abandoned Queenstown is the place for adrenaline-junkies but there was little excitement on Wednesday as persistent rain allowed only 4.2 overs of play in the second one-dayer between Pakistan and New Zealand. There were showers early in the morning, but it cleared up before...

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Southee and Ryder crush Pakistan

Updated at: 0807 PST,  Wednesday, January 26, 2011 Shahid Afridi won the toss and batted. Daniel Vettori wanted to do the same. Both captains expected the drop-in pitch at the Westpac Stadium to have runs in it. Instead, Pakistan's batsmen faced a torrid examination of their techniques during an extravagant display of swing and seam bowling from Tim Southee. They...

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John Wright hints at changing opening combination

Updated at: 0807 PST,  Wednesday, January 26, 2011 New Zealand coach John Wright has hinted at splitting the one-day opening combination of Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder for the series against Pakistan, as his side seeks to end a 11-match losing streak in the format. Wright hopes to use the six games against Pakistan to zero in on the right line-up for the World...

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Rain delays NZ-Pak second ODI

Updated at: 0323 PST,  Wednesday, January 26, 2011 Rain delays NZ-Pak second ODI QUEENSTOWN: Rain delayed the start of play in the second one day international between New Zealand and Pakistan in Queenstown on Wednesday. Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Queenstown Events Centre, a venue where no side batting first has ever won....

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Inzamam blasts PCB over World Cup build-up

Updated at: 1607 PST,  Monday, January 24, 2011 KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq Monday accused the sport's authorities of creating factions within the national side by delaying the naming of a captain for next month's World Cup. Pakistan is the only one of 14 competing teams to have failed to name a captain for the tournament, to be jointly...

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Refreshed Anderson returns to mount fresh challenge

Updated at: 0031 PST,  Tuesday, January 25, 2011 England's pace spearhead James Anderson is back after a break at home to spearhead the campaign in the remainder of the ODI series against Australia.Anderson returned home at the end of the five-match Test series, thereafter he missed the Twenty20 International series and the first three matches in the ODI series.Anderson...

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Miandad advises Pakistan players to learn from Tendulkar

Updated at: 0031 PST,  Tuesday, January 25, 2011 Former captain and director-general of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Javed Miandad has urged Pakistan cricketers to learn from the achievements of India batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar. Rather than letting their on-field performance speak for them, Miandad feels that the players are happy to brag about their performance...

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Dhoni wants batsmen to step up for CWC 2011

Updated at: 0031 PST,  Tuesday, January 25, 2011 India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was disappointed that the batsmen failed to fire as a unit in the five-match ODI series against South Africa, which concluded on Sunday with the Proteas eking out a 33-run win in the final one-dayer to clinch the series 3-2. "It's a disappointing series for the batsmen. Bowlers were...

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Smith lauds team's ability to fight back

Updated at: 0031 PST,  Tuesday, January 25, 2011 South Africa captain Graeme Smith on Sunday said that winning the ODI series against India was all the more commendable as they had fought back from 1-2 down and this victory would be a morale booster for next month's World Cup. "It was lot more exciting than what I had thought. I think going in to Port Elizabeth...

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PCB says legal action from Zulqarnain futile

 Updated at: 0031 PST,  Tuesday, January 25, 2011  LAHORE: Terming a much-hovering legal action from wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider against PCB, the counselor Tafazzal Rizvi Monday said, the former’s intentions are useless as “there should be a proper reason for lawsuit against PCB”, Geo News reported. It may be mentioned that Zulqarnain Haider, currently...

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New Zealand thrash Pakistan by 9 wkts

 Updated at: 1142 PST,  Saturday, January 22, 2011 WELLINGTON: New Zealand ended an 11-match losing streak in emphatic fashion on Saturday, crushing Pakistan by nine wickets in their first one-day international at Westpac Stadium. New Zealand's opening combination of Jesse Ryder (55) and Martin Guptill (40 not out) made a mockery of the troubles Pakistan's...

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Pakistan bundled out for 124 against Kiwis

 Updated at: 0920 PST,  Saturday, January 22, 2011 WELLINGTON: Brendon McCullum made animpressive return to wicket-keeping duties with five catches while Tim Southee took five wickets as New Zealand bowled Pakistan out for 124 in their first one-day international at Westpac Stadium on Saturday. It is the fourth time McCullum, who has relinquished the gloves...

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Pakistan to bat first against New Zealand

Updated at: 0600 PST,  Saturday, January 22, 2011 WELLINGTON: Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first in their one day international against New Zealand here Saturday as the two sides begin fine-tuning for the World Cup. The tourists go into the six-match series holding the upper hand, coming off a 1-0 series victory over New Zealand in the two Tests and with...

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Pakistan seal series win with draw

Updated at: 1055 PST,  Wednesday, January 19, 2011 WELLINGTON: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-haq led from the front, scoring his second half century of the match, to ensure his side batted out the final day to draw the second Test against New Zealand on Wednesday and claim their first series victory since 2006. Misbah finished the day on 70 not out, following...

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New Zealand name squad for World Cup

 Updated at: 1125 PST,  Wednesday, January 19, 2011  WELLINGTON: New Zealand cricket chiefs backed their struggling one-day team to reverse a dramatic form slump, avoiding wholesale changes in the World Cup squad named on Wednesday. Chief selector Mark Greatbatch said the Black Caps had a point to prove after losing their past 11 one-day internationals,...

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Younis falls as 2nd Test reaches climax

 Updated at: 0932 PST,  Wednesday, January 19, 2011 WELLINGTON: Younis Khan was dismissed in the final over before tea to leave the second test between Pakistan and New Zealand finely balanced on the last day on Wednesday. The tourists were 160 for four at tea and need a further 114 runs in the final session to win the two-test series 2-0, having won the first...

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Pakistan retain Afridi as ODI captain for NZ tour

Updated at: 0846 PST,  Tuesday, January 18, 2011Pakistan on Wednesday retained flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi as captain while controversial wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal was also recalled for the upcoming six-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 22 in Wellington.The national selection committee met in Lahore today and announced a 16-member squad...

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