Pakistan beat us fair and square: Flower

England coach Andy Flower said on Sunday Pakistan's series-clinching Test win would be a huge boost to the country, but called on his team to show their mettle on subsequent matches in the subcontinent. Pakistan thumped England by 72 runs in the second Test here on Saturday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. They won the first Test by ten wickets...

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Pakistan beat us fair and square: Flower

ABU DHABI: England coach Andy Flower said Sunday Pakistan's series-clinching Test win would be a huge boost to the country, but called on his team to show their mettle on subsequent matches in the subcontinent. Pakistan thumped England by 72 runs in the second Test here on Saturday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. They won the first...

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Pakistan celebrates series win against England

KARACHI: Pakistan Sunday celebrated its extraordinary cricket series triumph over world number one Test side England, with former greats hoping the team build on their astonishing turnaround from virtual pariahs. Pakistan humiliated England by 72 runs in the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, to clinch an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, a victory...

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Saeed Ajmal rises to No.2 spot as Abdur Rehman breaks into the top 10

Crafty off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has risen one more place and his spin partner Abdur Rehman has broken into the top 10 for the first time in his career in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers which were released on Sunday after the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi, Adelaide and Napier Tests. Saeed followed up his 10-97 in the Dubai Test with seven for 130 in...

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ICC Executive Board to meet in Dubai

The ICC Executive Board will hold the first of its scheduled 2012 meetings in Dubai, starting on 31 January 2012 and concluding on 1 February 2012. The major topics on the agenda are: Independent Governance Review In April 2011, the ICC had adopted a new strategic plan which identified the need for an independent governance review as one of the key initiatives to...

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Misbah, Stauss hail resurgent Pakistan

Rival captains Misbah-ul Haq and Andrew Strauss acknowledged Pakistan's excellent performance which saw them win the second Test against England by 72 runs in a thrilling finish here on Saturday. Left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman rocked England -- chasing a tricky 145-run target -- with 6-62 which helped Pakistan bowl out their opponents for a paltry 72 on a weary fourth...

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Pakistan 214 all out as England need 145 to win

ABU DHABI: England were left to chase a 145-run target for a series-levelling win in the second Test after Pakistan were bowled out for 214 in their second innings at Abu Dhabi Stadium on Saturday. Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar finished with six for 62. Pakistan won the first of three Tests in Dubai by ten wickets. Pakistan had resumed on 125-4, with Azhar Ali...

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Sehwag urges fans, media to back India

ADELAIDE: Fans and the media should back the Indian team and not seek explanations for their dispiriting 4-0 series loss in Australia, skipper Virender Sehwag said on Saturday.The last rites were served on India's miserable series when Australia wrapped up a comprehensive 298-run victory early on the final day of the fourth Test at the Adelaide Oval.It was the eighth...

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Zimbabwe in serious trouble in NZ

NAPIER: New Zealand were on the verge Saturday of a huge victory over Zimbabwe on the third day of the one-off Test after destroying the tourists for a record low 51 in their first innings.Forced to bat again, Zimbabwe were immediately in serious trouble in their second innings and went to tea at 12-3, still 432 runs behind New Zealand's 495 for seven declared in...

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Cricket: Shock inclusion in Black Caps test squad

Otago all-rounder Sam Wells has been added to the Black Caps test squad ahead of the one-off test against Zimbabwe starting in Napier on Thursday.The left-handed batsman impressed for the New Zealand XI in the three day match against Zimbabwe scoring 65 in the first innings, combining with BJ Watling for a 125-run sixth wicket partnership on the opening day.The 27-year-old...

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A boost from WAGs for England cricketers

Dubai: England cricket's WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends) arrived Sunday to lift the gloom and calm the nerves of the England cricketers reeling under the huge defeat in the first Test match against Pakistan in Dubai.Some of the cricketers were seen busy pushing prams and escorting their wives to the buses at the Grand Hyatt before the team's departure to Abu Dhabi for the...

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India face humiliating whitewash in Australia

MELBOURNE: Struggling India are desperate to avoid the ignominy of another 4-0 series wipeout in the fourth and final Test against Australia starting at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday. It has been a tour from hell for the Indians, collapsing to heavy defeats in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and with their skipper M.S. Dhoni suspended for the Adelaide Test for a slow...

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South Africa win series despite Sri Lanka’s thrilling win

JOHANNESBURG: Sachithra Senanayake struck a six off the penultimate ball to give Sri Lanka a two-wicket triumph over South Africa Sunday in the final match of a five one-day international series won 3-2 by the hosts. Captain AB de Villiers and predecessor Graeme Smith (125 each) struck tons as South Africa made 312-4, but a century from Kumar Sangakkara (102) led...

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ICC shocked at BCB Chief Executive Manzur Ahmed's death

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has expressed his shock and grief over the demise of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Chief Executive Manzur Ahmed who passed away this morning in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was 55. Mr Lorgat, in his condolence message, said: "The news of Manzur Ahmed's sudden passing away has shocked everyone at the ICC and our thoughts and prayers go out...

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Australia wrap up series win over New Zealand

 Lisa Sthalekar took four wickets to lift Australia to a seven run victory over New Zealand in the third WT20 INTL match and win the five match series with two games to spare. Led by Alex Blackwell's 41, Australia scored 134 for eight after winning the toss and batting first at North Sydney Oval. New Zealand chased valiantly but couldn't overcome the Australian...

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Sachin Tendulkar is a 'cricket god': Hussey

Completely enamoured with Sachin Tendulkar in the present series, Australian batsman Michael Hussey feels it's "inevitable" that the Indian icon would get his 100th century in due course. "He has played brilliantly. Watching him closely, his footwork, the time he has and the straight bat, both off the front and backfoot, he's playing really well. If he continues it's...

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Worcestershire hope to sign spin ace Ajmal

LONDON: Worcestershire have agreed a short-term contract with Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal for this year's Twenty20 season but are awaiting final confirmation of the deal, county officials said Thursday.Ajmal has been in superb form for Pakistan in the first Test against England in Dubai, capturing seven for 55 on Tuesday to leave Andrew Strauss's men struggling...

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Sri Lanka defeat South Africa by five wickets

KIMBERLEY: Sri Lanka celebrated a rare success Friday on a tour to South Africa with a five-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international.Big knocks from captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (87), man-of-the-match Thisara Perera (69) and Dinesh Chandimal (59) lifted the visitors to 304-5 after the home side reached 299-7 with skipper AB de Villiers (96) to the fore.After...

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Flower sets challenge for England players

England coach Andy Flower wants the team to pick up its intensity after losing the first Test against Pakistan by 10 wickets. It was England's first defeat in 13 months, although it had not played a Test since beating India at The Oval in August. England has been unbeaten in its last nine test series, but more importantly, in the subcontinent or Middle East it has beaten...

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Pakistan record 10-wkt win over England in first Test

DUBAI: Pakistan defeated number one ranked England by ten wickets within three days to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.Pakistani opener Mohammad Hafeez alone scored the 15 runs in 3.4 overs to hand England their first defeat in 10 Tests, since losing to Australia at Perth in the 2010 Ashes.Earlier,...

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Afridi top prize in Bangladesh Twenty20 auction

DHAKA: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was the hottest property in an auction held for the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 tournament on Thursday, but English spinner Monty Panesar and former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs failed to attract bids.Afridi was sold to the Dhaka franchise for $700,000 after some intense bidding involving...

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England win toss, bat against Pakistan in first Test

DUBAI: England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat against Pakistan in the first match of the three-Test ‘home’ series here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Pakistan entered the match with two spinners in Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman, but England did not include left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, instead playing a third paceman,...

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Pak-England Test series begins today in UAE

DUBAI: Pakistan will begin today their three-match ‘home’ Test series against England in the United Arab Emirates.Rival captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Andrew Strauss both believe batsmen will be under pressure to perform. The pitch for the opening encounter at Dubai stadium is likely to help spin bowlers and although Pakistan were certain to play with Saeed Ajmal and ...

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England eye rankings jackpot

DUBAI: England will win a $175,000 jackpot for topping the world Test rankings if they win the series against Pakistan or lose by a single match, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Monday. The annual award is presented to the side that finishes at the head of the ICC Test championship table on April 1. England, who rose to world number one in ICC...

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Pakistan take on England in first Test Tuesday

DUBAI: Rival captains Misbah-ul Haq and Andrew Strauss both believe batsmen will be under pressure to perform as Pakistan take on England in the first Test starting here from Tuesday. The pitch for the opening encounter of the three-Test series at Dubai stadium is likley to help spin bowlers and although Pakistan were certain to play with Saeed Ajmal and Adul...

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Dhoni backs besieged coach Fletcher

PERTH: Suspended captain M.S. Dhoni has backed coach Duncan Fletcher as the right man to turn around the fortunes of the beleaguered Indian cricket team, despite a run of dismal overseas tours. Down 3-0 after successive innings defeats in Sydney and Perth, the Indians have already lost the series but have one final chance to redeem themselves in the fourth Test...

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Dav Whatmore meets PCB officials

LAHORE: Dav Whatmore met Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials on Monday. Whatmore is the leading candidate to take charge as the cricket team’s new coach. Whatmore in the past has held the responsibility of coach for the cricket teams of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf and other officials met with Whatmore after which it is expected that a decision...

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Clarke eyes numero uno status in Test

  Australia skipper Michael Clarke was naturally delighted with his team's series triumph over India on Sunday but said he and his players will not rest until they once again top the world rankings. Clarke has overseen a transformation of his country's fortunes since the Ashes drubbing at the hands of England a year ago and their progress was confirmed when they...

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India name T20, ODI squad for Australia

  NEW DELHI: India on Sunday named a 17-man squad for the limited-overs leg of the Australian tour that includes two Twenty20 matches and a tri-series also featuring Sri Lanka: Indian squad:Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran...

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Tendulkar back for India in one-dayers

  NEW DELHI: India picked Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday for the tri-series in Australia, ending the star batsman's self-imposed exile from one-day cricket outside the World Cup. Tendulkar, the world's leading one-day batsman who is chasing his 100th international century, was included in a 17-man squad for the tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka, to be...

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India captain Dhoni suspended for slow over rate

  PERTH: India's horrific tour of Australia got worse when captain M.S. Dhoni was suspended for one Test by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Sunday for a slow over rate. Dhoni was punished under the ICC Code of Conduct after being two overs behind the required rate, adding to the humiliation of his team's defeat in the third Test by an innings and 37...

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Dav Whatmore reaches Lahore to meet PCB officials

  LAHORE: One of the strong contenders to coach Pakistan cricket team Dav Whatmore has reached Lahore Saturday, Geo News reported.Dav Whatmore reached Lahore today by a private airline to hold his final round of talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials who appear set to appoint the Australian as the national team's coach. After landing at Lahore’s Allama...

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Australia close on quick victory over India

  PERTH: Another dismal performance by India's creaking top order had the tourists tottering towards a heavy defeat after the second day of the third Test against Australia in Perth on Saturday. At the close of play, India, needing to win to have any hope of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, were 88 for four in their second innings after yet another collapse,...

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