Wasim Akram has always been my inspiration: Zia

Islamabad: Upcoming left hand pace bowler Zia ul Haq names  legendary Wasim Akram as the hero he looks up to in his bid to become a top rated cricketer. Since his first class debut on October 2010 at the age of 15, Zia has turned heads in the cricket world and the media despite his young career. His debut season saw him take 10 wickets in 4 matches at just under...

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Domestic cricket: A job well done

The domestic Super Eight Twenty20 Cup 2011-12 was a star studded affair featuring almost all the familiar faces from the national team. The tournament lived up to its reputation and provided for some awe-inspiring and thrilling cricket. Sialkot Stallions remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and emerged as the deserving winners under the leadership of Shoaib Malik. The...

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Maybe the authorities don’t like me: Razzaq

Pakistan’s star all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has turned to England, after failing to appeal to the selection committee at home. Razzaq will represent Leicestershire in the team’s Twenty20 campaign next month, but has not ruled out playing for the country. “I’ll definitely love to make a return to the team like any other national cricketer,” the 32-year-old said. Razzaq, who...

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Captaincy not out of the question for Younis

Captaining the national cricket team again is not out of the question for senior Pakistan batsman Younis Khan even after his unceremonious exit from the post in 2009.Leading the national team has been an honour and if the board has any offer I will consider it,” said the 34-year-old cricketer, while conceding that he was not after the title and had no issues playing...

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Chanderpaul says 10,000 runs due to hard graft

ROSEAU: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, only the 10th player in history to make 10,000 Test runs, believes hard graft and long hours in the nets propelled him to his landmark. The 37-year-old became only the second West Indian to reach the magic figure when he went to 14 in his side's second innings in the ongoing third and final Test against Australia at Windsor Park. Playing...

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Deccan stun Pune to record first win in IPL

PUNE: Deccan Chargers defeated Pune Warriors by 18 runs to achieve their first victory in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium on Thursday.The Chargers who never won any match prior to this now finally recorded their maiden win after five successive losses in the tournament.Chasing 178, the Warriors could reach 159-7 in the...

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Australia set 370-run target for West Indies

ROSEAU, Dominica: Australia dismissed opener Adrian Barath for nought as West Indies suffered a miserable start to their pursuit of 370 to win the third and final Test at Windsor Park on Thursday.After Australia had been bowled out for 259 in their second innings to set West Indies the sixth highest run chase in Test history, the home side failed to get through the seven...

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Indian legend Tendulkar offered political role

NEW DELHI: India's prime minister has put forward batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar for membership of the upper house of parliament, reports said on Thursday.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written a letter to the president recommending the cricketer be nominated to the Rajya Sabha, an India news channel quoted sources as saying.Tendulkar, who turned 39 this week, was...

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IPL: Switch-hitter Peterson does a Pietersen

NEW DELHI: Unheralded South African Robin Peterson became an overnight sensation in the Indian Premier League after leading Mumbai Indians to victory with a stunning batting display. Peterson, 32, adopted the switch-hit made famous by his former countryman Kevin Pietersen after his team needed 32 off the last two overs against Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday night. The left-hander,...

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Deccan to face Pune in IPL today

PUNE: Deccan Chargers will arrive in Pune buoyed by the fact that they have finally got their first point of the tournament, courtesy the washout against Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday.A couple of wins, however improbable it may seem after five successive losses, is all that it takes to lift a team. Pune Warriors, on the other hand, have four wins and they have nicked...

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West Indies fight back against Aussies

ROSEAU, Dominica: West Indies grabbed the wicket of David Warner just before lunch to finish off a good morning for them here at Windsor Park on Wednesday on the third day of the third and final Test between West Indies and Australia.The tourists hold a lead of 128 runs over the hosts after they had earlier bowled the West Indies out for 218 in their first innings - a typically...

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Mumbai snatch 4-wkt win from Punjab

MOHALI: Mumbai Indians defeated Kings XI Punjab by four wickets when Ambati Rayudu smashed a boundary off penultimate ball from Azhar Mahmood in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday.Chasing a modest target of 169, Mumbai Indians completed the stunning victory in 19.5 overs with an unbeaten 14-ball 36-run...

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South Africa decline Bangladesh tour

JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa has declined an invitation to play limited-overs and Twenty20 internationals in Bangladesh next month. "Unfortunately there are too many practical obstacles that prevent us from accepting this commitment," CSA chief executive Jacques Faul said. "At the moment most of our senior Proteas are spread around the world ... and those who are...

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IPL: Kolkata-Deccan match abandoned due to rain

KOLKATA: The second match to be played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers here at the Eden Gardens was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain on Tuesday. Both teams were awarded one point each after the umpires called off the match. In the wake of this decision, Deccan Chargers who never won any match after six matches in the tournament are not...

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Wade's maiden century frustrates Windies

ROSEAU, Dominica: Matthew Wade's maiden test century guided Australia to a respectable first innings total of 328 all out here at lunch on the second day of the third and final Test with the West Indies. Wade's innings of 106 rescued Australia from a perilous looking overnight score of 212-7 - they had been 169-7 at one point on the opening day - and gives them a great...

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IPL: Sehwag powers Delhi to 8-wkt win over Pune

PUNE: Captain Virender Sehwag led from the front to guide Delhi Daredevils to a comfortable eight wicket win with 24 balls to spare against Pune Warriors in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium on Tuesday.This was interesting to note that only four wickets fell in the entire Twenty20 match which produced 294 runs.Chasing 147,...

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Ponting answers critics with run landmark

ROSEAU: Australian veteran Ricky Ponting answered questions about his retirement in customary style as he became Test cricket's second-highest run-scorer in the third match against West Indies.The 37-year-old, who has repeatedly faced down calls to quit, overtook Rahul Dravid's 13,288 by the narrowest of margins -- a single run -- when he was out for 23 on day one at Windsor...

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PCB sends official communique to BCB

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has not given up hope on getting Bangladesh to fulfil commitment of playing in the country and has termed the writ petition filed in the Dhaka High Court against the tour as devoid of merit and not in public interest. The PCB issued a press release today in which it said that it has asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board to keep it updated...

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Muhammad Yousuf out to revive career

LAHORE: Veteran Pakistan batsman Muhammad Yousuf took part in a fitness test on Tuesday to try to revive his international career, insisting he could still compete at the highest level. The 37-year old played the last of his 90 Tests against England at Lord's in 2010 a match marred by the spot-fixing scandal involving three of his teammates. He has not been considered...

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Tendulkar turns 39, urged to carry on

NEW DELHI: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar turned 39 on Tuesday with an impassioned plea from his childhood coach to carry on playing cricket for India since he is "far from finished". "All those murmurs about his retirement must stop, this is not the right time to go," said Ramakant Achrekar, 80, the man credited with the early training of the leading scorer in Test history. "He...

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IPL: Two matches today

PUNE: Two matches will be played in the Indian Premier League (IPL-2012) Tuesday, Geo News reported. After being undone at their home stadium, Delhi Daredevils will look to avenge their defeat when they take on Pune Warriors in the return fixture of the IPL 5, played at the latter’s home, the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, today, April 24, 2012. This match will start in the...

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