Shoaib Malik included in squads for ODI, T20 series

DUBAI: Discarded former captain Shoaib Malik was also included in the Pakistan squads for One-day International and Twenty20 International series.

"On the request of Misbah, the selection committee has agreed to send Malik
to join the one-day and T20 squads," Pakistan Cricket Board said.

Malik's inclusion comes as a surprise after he flopped in his last five one-day innings, scoring a mere 33 runs. He managed just 22 in three Twenty20 innings.

Following are the revised squads:

One-day squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Azhar Ali, Hammad Azam, Shoaib Malik.

Twenty20 squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Awais Zia, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Cheema, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam, Shoaib Malik.

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PCB, ICC clarifies confusion over Ajmal's bowling

DUBAI: Pakistan cricket authorities and the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday clarified the confusion over Saeed Ajmal's bowling action, saying the spinner had been cleared within the specified limits.

Ajmal himself created more confusion, by claiming he has special dispensation from the ICC to straighten his arm beyond the allowed 15 degrees.

The 34-year-old off-spinner, who took 24 wickets in the 3-0 Test series whitewash of England, claimed that the ICC has allowed him extra leniency, up to 23.5 degrees.

As per the ICC rules a bowler can only straighten his arm up to 15 degrees, beyond which his action will be deemed illegal.

"I don't know about my bowling action, but somebody was telling me your action is bad. ICC has allowed me 23.5 because my arm is not good because of an accident, that is why a problem," Ajmal told BBC television on Monday after being declared man-of-the-series.

"Otherwise no problem, straightaway cleared by ICC."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Ajmal was referring to elbow extension, and not the arm.

"Ajmal was referring to the angle of elbow abduction i.e. the angle of the upper arm to the forearm and not the degree of elbow extension. This angle is approximately 23 degrees in Ajmal's case," the PCB said in a statement.

"The ICC's level of tolerance of 15 degrees relates to the degree of elbow extension that is permitted in the bowling action i.e. the amount by which the arm is straightening," it added.

The PCB said the previous tests conducted on the action of Ajmal showed that the degree of elbow extension is well within ICC's tolerance levels.

ICC general manager cricket David Richardson also backed the PCB's stance.

"There is a big difference between the elbow carry angle (elbow abduction) and the degree of elbow extension. There is nothing preventing a bowler bowling with a bent arm, provided he does not straighten it beyond the permitted degrees of tolerance," said Richardson.

Pakistan won the third and final Test here by 71 runs.

Ajmal's bowling action, reported by match officials during a one-day series against Australia here in 2009 before it was cleared after remedial work by experts, once again came under suspicions following his career-best 7-55 in the first Test, also played in Dubai.

Former England paceman Bob Willis raised suspicions over his 'doosra' (second one) -- a ball which turns the other way than a normal off-break -- while England coach Andy Flower said he has his own opinion and left the matter to the ICC.

But after Ajmal's claim on relaxation, Flower on Tuesday showed surprise.

"If that's the degree, then there's a problem, said Flower when asked about Ajmal's claim of special dispensation. "That's ridiculous."

"That is an ICC issue, though. They are there to police the game, and make sure that it is played within the rules, so they've got to scrutinise his action.

"We've all got our own views, but our job is to combat whoever is put against us, and part of it is also to play the game in the right spirit."

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Azhar Ali joins Sachin Tendulkar in 10th position

Pakistan's young gun Azhar Ali has not only claimed a career-best ranking but has also achieved the distinction of sharing 10th position with India's iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen which were updated after the Dubai Test which finished on Monday.

Azhar Ali scored 157 in Pakistan's second innings score of 365 which set England a target of 324. England finished 71 runs short when it was bowled out for 252 to suffer a 3-0 whitewash - its first against Pakistan in 22 series.

For making his highest first-class score, Azhar was not only declared the man of the match but was also rewarded with a jump of 12 places in the batting table which has given him a place alongside Tendulkar.

For someone like Azhar Ali, who was first picked as a fast bowler in the Pakistan Under-19 squad in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2002, this is a huge turnaround in his career.

Azhar, who was shortlisted for the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year Award at the LG ICC Awards in London in 2011, featured in a match-winning 216-run third wicket partnership with Pakistan's most experienced batsman Younus Khan. Younus' contribution in that stand was 127, which was his 20th Test century.

For this, the 34-year-old has made a jump of five places which puts him back in the fifth position. Younus had dropped six places to 10th spot after the Abu Dhabi Test following scores of 24 and one.

England captain Andrew Strauss and Pakistan's other youngster Asad Shafiq have also made gains. Strauss has lifted five places to 28th position after scores of 56 and 25, while Shafiq, who scored 45 in Pakistan's first innings score of 99 all-out, has moved up four places to 43rd spot.

Batsmen losing ground include Alastair Cook in sixth (down by one), Misbah-ul-Haq in 12th (down by four), Jonathon Trott in 13th (down by seven), Ian Bell in 17th (down by five), Kevin Pietersen in 20th (down by one), Matt Prior in 22nd (down by one), Mohammad Hafeez in 33rd (down by three), Taufeeq Umar in 41st (down by six), Stuart Broad in 48th (down by two) and Adnan Akmal in 83rd (down by 11).

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers, Pakistan's left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman has maintained an upward movement and has gained two more places after figures of five for 40 and two for 97. He now sits pretty in seventh position.

The 31-year-old from Sialkot had entered the series in 19th position and after finishing with 19 wickets, he has managed to gain 12 places in the bowlers' chart. Abdur Rehman alone earned 29 ratings points from the third Test and now trails England's sixth-ranked Graeme Swann by the smallest margin of one ratings point.

England's Monty Panesar is the other left-arm spinner to head in the right direction. Panesar had figures of two for 25 and five for 125, efforts which were enough to earn him four places and 30th spot on the bowlers' chart.

Saeed Ajmal, who won the player of the series award for claiming 24 wickets in the series, has consolidated his second position while achieving his career-best rating of 835. Saeed had entered the series in 12th position, trailing number-one ranked Dale Steyn of South Africa by 190 ratings points. This lead has now been trimmed to 61 ratings points.

Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has gained one place on the bowlers' table and he is now in 15th position. While doing so, he has also achieved a career-best rating of 624 ratings points.

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ICC announces details of official travel and tour providers for WT20 2012

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the appointment of the official travel agents for the ICC World Twenty 2012 which will be staged in Sri Lanka from 18 September to 7 October.

Gullivers Sports Travel, Sport Abroad and Thomson Sport in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland as well as Australian Sports Tours (AST) in Australia and New Zealand have been appointed with more appointments expected in the coming weeks.

In a first for an ICC cricket tournament, Emirates Live, a collaboration between the Emirates Airline group of companies and TUI Travel PLC's Sport Division, has been appointed providing global reach and access to this exciting cricket event in beautiful Sri Lanka, Asia's equivalent of the Caribbean.

These official travel agents have been carefully selected by ICC Travel, ICC's official travel licensee till the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

ICC Travel will also donate US$10 from every package purchased to educational charity Room to Read who partners with the ICC to promote literacy and access to books.

ICC Travel have extensive experience of arranging tours for all budgets and requirements across a range of major sporting events but with unmatched expertise in cricket, having operated a similar function at ICC Cricket World Cups and the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC World Twenty20 tournaments.

If cricket fans would like to obtain information on official travel packages to the ICC World Twenty20 2012 in Sri Lanka they should go to www.icctravel.net.


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Please note that the ICC will take measures, (including legal action if appropriate), to stop unofficial tour operators who trade in match tickets and travel packages or who otherwise use ICC trademarks or associate themselves with ICC events without prior authorisation from the ICC.

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England ODI, T20 squads named for Pakistan series

DUBAI: Experienced middle-order batsman Ian Bell was Tuesday dropped from England's one-day squad after struggling to find his form during his team's 3-0 Test defeat to Pakistan.

The 29-year-old managed just 51 runs in six innings and failed to cope against spinner Saeed Ajmal, who finished with 24 wickets in the series. Pakistan romped to a 71-run win in the third Test on Monday.

Hampshire spinner Danny Briggs and Somerset batsman Jos Buttler were included in the 16-man one-day squad for the first time.

Buttler made his international Twenty20 debut against India last year but is yet to play for England in the 50-over format.

Alastair Cook will lead England in the four-match one-day series which starts in Abu Dhabi on February 13.

Stuart Broad will captain a 15-man Twenty20 squad that includes Nottinghamshire's Alex Hales for the three-match T20 series against Pakistan.

Paceman Tim Bresnan is also included subject to fitness.

"Bresnan's inclusion in both squads is subject to a fitness assessment during the preparation period as he continues his recovery following an elbow operation," said the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Bresnan was forced to return home from Dubai last month, barely three days into the tour, after failing to recover from last year's elbow operation.

"We have selected two squads that include both experienced international players and younger players who have performed strongly for England Lions in recent months and deserve an opportunity," said national selector Geoff Miller.

Buttler, 21, hit two centuries and a half-century in his last five innings against Sri Lanka A, including one century from just 56 deliveries, while 20-year-old Briggs is one of three spinners in the 16-man squad.

England ODI squad: Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott

England T20 squad: Stuart Broad (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann

ODI fixtures:
1st ODI, February 13, Abu Dhabi
2nd ODI, February 15, Abu Dhabi
3rd ODI, February 18, Dubai
4th ODI, February 21, Dubai
T20 series:
1st T20, February 23, Dubai
2nd T20, February 25, Dubai
3rd T20, February 27, Abu Dhabi

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Saeed Ajmal creates confusion over bowling action

DUBAI: Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal on Tuesday created more confusion about his bowling action, by claiming he has special dispensation from the game's governing body to straighten his arm beyond the allowed 15 degrees.

The 34-year-old off-spinner, who took 24 wickets in the 3-0 Test series whitewash of England, claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has allowed him extra leniency, up to 23.5 degrees.

As per the ICC rules a bowler can only straighten his arm up to 15 degrees, beyond which his action will be deemed illegal.

"I don't know about my bowling action, but somebody was telling me your action is bad. ICC has allowed me 23.5 because my arm is not good because of an accident, that is why a problem," Ajmal told BBC television on Monday after being declared man-of-the-series.

"Otherwise no problem, straightaway cleared by ICC."

Pakistan won the third and final Test here by 71 runs.

His bowling action, reported by match officials during a one-day series against Australia here in 2009 before it was cleared after remedial work by experts, once again came under suspicions following his career-best 7-55 in the first Test, also played in Dubai.

Former England paceman Bob Willis raised suspicions over his 'doosra' (second one) -- a ball which turns the other way than a normal off-break -- while England coach Andy Flower said he has his own opinion and left the matter to the ICC.

But after Ajmal's claim on relaxation, Flower on Tuesday showed surprise.

"If that's the degree, then there's a problem, said Flower when asked about Ajmal's claim of special dispensation. "That's ridiculous."

"That is an ICC issue, though. They are there to police the game, and make sure that it is played within the rules, so they've got to scrutinise his action.

"We've all got our own views, but our job is to combat whoever is put against us, and part of it is also to play the game in the right spirit."

Pakistan cricket team management said Ajmal was cleared by the ICC within the permissible limits and they will issue a further clarification shortly.

A spokesperson for the ICC has denied that any special exception has been made for Ajmal and that the Pakistani spinner is also bound by the 15 degree rule.

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Afridi in Pakistan one-day, T20 squad

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced 15-member one-day international and Twenty20 squads for the England series, Geo News reported.

T20 specialist Shahid Afridi and Hammad Azam have been included in the limited over formats. Misba-ul-Haq is retained as captain.

One-day squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Azhar Ali.

Twenty20 squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Awais Zia, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Cheema, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam.

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Mazhar Majeed working as cleaner in jail: UK paper

LONDON: The convicted former cricket agent of Pakistani players Mazhar Majeed has reportedly found himself a cleaner’s job in a jail in Britain.

The mastermind of the spot-fixing scam that involved Test match cheating by Pakistan’s then captain Salman Butt and two fast bowlers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir gets £9.50 a week (about 1,350 Rupees per week).

Mazhar Majeed is serving his time at the Ford open prison in West Sussex.

The Sun newspaper reported on Monday that Mazhar also gets his own cell with freeview TV.

“He’s over the moon. He could have been given harder jobs,” a source told The Sun about the cricket agent who is serving two years and eight months jail sentence.

Captain Salman Butt, 27, and bowlers Mohammad Asif, 28, and Mohammad Amir, 19, were also locked up for the no-ball fixing scandal in 2010 against England.

The Prison Service said: "We do not comment on individual prisoners. Prisoners located in open conditions are rigorously risk-assessed.

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Playing spinners on turning pitches was a different challenge: Strauss

DUBAI: England captain Andrew Strauss stressed a 3-0 hammering inflicted by Pakistan was not all doom and gloom for his team, hoping they learn from their mistakes and move on.

Pakistan thumped England by 71 runs in the third and final Test here on Monday to seal an emphatic 3-0 win -- the first whitewash in all Tests between the two countries.

Strauss, under whom England had not lost a Test series since their 1-0 defeat in the Caribbean in February 2009, said analysis should be follow on the team's defeat.

"It's very important we debrief this tour very thoroughly, like we do on any tour and learn some lessons and don't walk away if that's staring at us in the face. But at the same time it's not all doom and gloom, you don't become a bad side overnight," Strauss said after the defeat.

England, who rose to number one in Test rankings in August last year after winning their last six series, continued to struggle in Asian conditions with Pakistani spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman destroying them in the series.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took 24 wickets while Rehman finished with 19.

For England, Jonathan Trott remained top scorer in the series with 161 with Alastair Cook 159 and wicketkeeper batsman Matt Prior finishing at 150.

Strauss also managed 150 but key batsmen Kevin Pietersen (67), Ian Bell (51) and Eoin Morgan (82) were major let downs.

Strauss admitted playing spinners on turning pitches was a different challenge.

"Obviously, the challenges here are diffrerent, English sides generally have not played well in these sort of conditions in the past, we need to break that tradition and we are not going to do that by doing the same things," said Strauss.

England also have tours to Sri Lanka (April) and India (November) this year and Strauss hoped the batsmen learn fast.

"I have not been involved in any series where so many of our batsmen have had hard times as this one. We have all got some questions to answer individually, some soul searching and thoughts to put into on how we can do things better going forward.

"It is also important for the guys to start turning their attention towards Sri Lanka in the particular challenges. There may not be the same challenges as here, but they will be slightly different in terms of the conditions etc, so we need to learn lessons from this.

"If you are a good enough player you find a way, it may take you a week or so finding a way you don't make the same mistakes again. We haven't been good enough or quick enough to adapting our game, that's for sure," Strauss said.

Pakistan and England will now play four-match one-day international series, starting with the first in Abu Dhabi on February 13. That will be followed by a series of three Twenty20 internationals.

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Pakistan aim greater heights after England rout

DUBAI: Pakistan's cricket team put its numerous problems behind them through consistent performances as they wiped out the world's best team England 3-0 with captain Misbah-ul-Haq aiming to move on to further heights.

The victory, Misbah believes, will help Pakistan move on.

"It's a wonderful win but the most important thing in any sport or life is that whatever you achieve it goes in the past. If you stuck with it you can't move ahead and improve," said Misbah after beating England by 71 runs in the third Test.

Pakistan's resurgence is not only surprising but praiseworthy as they have not lost a Test series, winning nine of the 15 Tests, with one defeat and five draws - all under Misbah.

Moreover, there have been no problems off the field, something which have consistently derailed Pakistan's on-field progress.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja showered huge praise on the players.

"Sky is the limit for them because this wasn't an easy series. Now this win will help this team build in confidence," said Raja, who warned against complacency.

Misbah acknowledges the challenge of playing well on away tours.

"Only time will tell what you can achieve or what you can do. We just want to do well and that's what we are aiming for and youngsters are coming up, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez are doing well and seniors are supporting them," said Misbah.

Former captain and coach Waqar Younis also praised Misbah

"We have been ignored for quite some time, but our performance will help us get better scheduling and respect," said Misbah.

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England announce team for ODI, T20; Bell dropped

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced squads for one-day and Twenty20 series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

ONE-DAY SQUAD: Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.

TWENTY20 SQUAD: Stuart Broad (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann.

Ian Bell has been omitted from the squad. He had passed 50 only once in his last 14 ODI innings and had looked uncomfortable against Saeed Ajmal.

Jos Buttler and Danny Briggs are uncapped in ODI cricket.

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Pakistan make historic clean sweep against England

DUBAI: Pakistan's bowlers sealed an emphatic 71-run win in the third and final Test against England here on Monday, wrapping up a humiliating 3-0 series whitewash in the process.

Set a daunting 324-run target, England were bowled out for 252 with paceman Umar Gul taking 4-61 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal 4-67 to help Pakistan achieve a first-ever Test cleansweep against their opponents.
With the ball turning again it was always going to be a difficult task for England's batsmen, who have struggled to play the Pakistani spinners throughout the series, on a weary fourth day pitch at Dubai Stadium.

Pakistan won the first Test here by ten wickets and the second by 72 runs in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan have also become the first team to win a Test after being bowled out for under 100 since 1907 when England, shot out for 76, beat South Africa at Leeds.

It was England's seventh series whitewash, their first at the hands of Pakistan. Pakistan have now recorded five series whitewashes, their last coming in a 3-0 win over Bangladesh in 2003.

England's last series whitewash came in 2007 when they were routed by Australia 5-0.

So dominating have been Pakistanis spinners that Ajmal finished the series with 24 and Rehman with 19.

An elated Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq praised his team.

"It's a wonderful team effort," said Misbah, who now has won nine of the 15 Tests as captain, with one loss and five draws. "It's a big win against a big team, achieved through hard work."

England captain Andrew Strauss said the lack of run-making had left him disappointed.

"It's a bit of surprise as well as disappointment because we did not put scores on the board, and we must give credit to Pakistan," said Strauss who has lost his first series since losing to the West Indies in 2009.

"We have important lessons to learn from this defeat."

England, 89-2 at lunch, were still in with a chance with Alastair Cook (49) and Kevin Pietersen (18) batting well but they lost four wickets in the space of 84 runs.

They went to tea at 173-6.

Pietersen, who struggled for runs in the series, hit Abdul Rehman for a boundary and then hoisted him for a six to post England's 100. But Ajmal struck from the other end.

The off-spinner produced a beautiful delivery to bowl Pietersen through the gate for 18. He had a mere 67 runs for the series during which he was out to spinners on five occasions.

In his next over, Ajmal produced another sharp turning delivery which caught the edge of Cook's bat and was smartly held by a diving Younis Khan in the lone slip.

Ian Bell (10) and Eoin Morgan (31) added 37 for the fifth wicket but again failed to produce a big score in the series as Gul dismissed them in the space of just three runs.

Pakistan took the second new ball at 196-6 and the first ball saw Gul dismissing Stuart Broad (18) and then Graeme Swann on one.

Matt Prior remained not out at 49 when Monty Panesar was dismissed by Rehman for nine.

England had looked for big partnerships after resuming at 36-0 but that never transpired.

Pakistan could have wrapped the match earlier had they not dropped two crucial catches, the first off Strauss on 26 when wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal grassed a simple chance off Gul.

But that didn't hurt Pakistan as Rehman trapped the England captain in the very next over. Strauss challenged the decision by Australian umpire Steve Davis but his review failed.

Gul then let off Cook at 24 when he failed to hold a top-edge sweep off Rehman.

Cook had also benefited from a dropped catch on Saturday when Taufiq Umar let him off in the third slip off a miscued drive off Gul when he was four.

Ajmal then broke a dangerous looking 37-run stand between Cook and Jonathan Trott (18) by forcing a top-edge sweep which was smartly snapped up by Rehman at square-leg.

The teams will now play four one-day and three Twenty20 internationals

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India win toss and field in opening ODI

MELBOURNE: India won the toss and chose to field against Australia in the opening tri one-day series international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and all-rounder Dan Christian will make their one-day international debuts while Peter Forrest was named 12th man.

India made one change to Friday's eight-wicket Twenty20 win over Australia, resting opener Virender Sehwag.

Sachin Tendulkar, searching for his elusive 100th international century, will open the India innings with Gautam Gambhir, while Manoj Tiwary was made 12th man

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Younis, Azhar put Pakistan in command against England

DUBAI: A dashing century by Younus Khan and a patient half-century by Azhar Ali helped Pakistan take a formidable lead of 180 runs against England on second day of the third and final Test being played here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Both batsmen first shrugged off the early loss of their openers to reach 120 for two at tea and then extended the score to 222-2 at stumps.

Younis made 115 not out, supported at the other end by Azhar who was on 75. The pair has so far added 194 runs for their unbeaten third wicket partnership.

Pakistan were 180 runs ahead of England with eight wickets remaining in the second innings.
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Pakistan, who lead 2-0 in the three-Test series, are hoping for a clean sweep by putting up a formidable total in their second innings to punish the tourists.

When Younis swept Monty Panesar for two runs, he reached his 20th Test hundred from 166 balls with eleven fours and a six.

This was the first hundred in the current Test series as no other batsman from Pakistan and England could so far make any three-figure score.

Earlier, Pakistan bowled out England's lower order to trail by 42 runs as the touring party made 141 in reply to Pakistan's first innings of 99.

Abdur Rehman's five-wicket haul ensured a half century by captain Andrew Strauss (56) only resulted in a modest lead for England.

Then Pakistan made a disastrous start again in the second innings losing their openers for 28 runs on the board..

James Anderson was the first to strike, dismissing Taufeeq Umar (6) for the second time in the match, this time caught at slip.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar trapped Mohammad Hafeez lbw (21) on the sweep.

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India's Jadeja lands $2.0 million IPL jackpot

NEW DELHI: Young India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was sold for $2 million at the Indian Premier League auction in Bangalore on Saturday, but a host of big-name stars missed out.

Reigning IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, owned by Indian cricket chief Narayanaswamy Srinivasan, bagged the 23-year-old Jadeja after an intense bidding war with Deccan Chargers.

Jadeja joins India colleagues Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma in the $2-million-a-year bracket in the money-spinning Twenty20 league.

Just 17 of the 144 foreign and Indian players who had thrown their hat in the ring found favour with the franchises in the morning session of the auction, which was restricted to players not already aligned to any team.

Among the chief gainers were Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, bought by Delhi Daredevils for $1.4 million, and Indian seamer Vinay Kumar, who fetched $1.0 million from Royal Challengers Bangalore.

New Zealand wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum went to Kolkata Knight Riders for $900,000, while 41-year-old Australian spinner Brad Hogg was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for $180,000.

A bigger surprise, however, was the list of players who missed out.

There were no takers for England's James Anderson, Graeme Swann, Ian Bell, Matt Prior and Ravi Bopara.

Veteran Indian batsman Venkatsai Laxman, struggling to retain his place in the Indian Test team, was also unsold. Even in-form Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle was ignored.

Jadeja, Jayawardene, Kumar and McCullum belonged to the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers franchise, which played in last year's tournament before being thrown out of the IPL in September for non-payment of dues.

The franchises spent money to strengthen their line-ups ahead of the fifth edition of the IPL which will be played between April 4 and May 27.

Much depended on the availability of the players for the seven-week 76-match tournament.

England's international players will not be available for more than a month, since their tour of Sri Lanka ends on April 7 and is followed by a home series against the West Indies starting in mid-May.

The leading Australians can join the IPL only after their tour of the West Indies finishes on April 27.

The auction is being held in the shadow of the withdrawal of the Sahara group, sponsors of Team India and owners of the Pune Warriors franchise, from their association with Indian cricket earlier on Saturday.

Sahara, which cited a "one-sided emotional relationship" with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their decision, did not take part in the auction.

It remained to be seen if Pune's withdrawal will leave eight teams in the fray for this year's tournament.

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India beat Australia by 8 wickets in T20

MELBOURNE: India broke through for their first tour win with a convincing eight-wicket win over Australia in the second Twenty20 international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

Australia were dismissed for 131 with two balls left after winning the toss and India reached that target with 135 for two off 19.4 overs.

The Indians were always in control of the run chase, but tensions mounted in the final over as the Australians ringed the field around Gautam Gambhir before he pierced the circle for the winning runs with two balls to spare.

Gambhir remained unbeaten on 56 off 60 balls while skipper M.S. Dhoni, who promoted himself in the batting order to number four, was not out 21 off 18 balls.

Ravindra Jadeja was named man-of-the-match for his outstanding fielding effort of two run outs and a caught and bowled in Australia's innings.

India's win gives them some much-needed impetus in Sunday's opening match of the tri one-day series against Australia at the MCG also involving Sri Lanka in the tournament.

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PCB to conduct rehabilitation for Amir

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board will conduct a rehabilitation programme for fast bowler Mohammad Amir under the anti-corruption code, an official said on Friday.

Amir, 19, was released from a British prison on Wednesday after serving half of his six-month sentence for his part in a spot-fixing scandal.

Pakistan Cricket Board legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi said Amir's rehabilitation programme would begin soon.

"Under the ICC anti-corruption code a convicted player undergoes an official education session to the reasonable satisfaction of ACSU programme during his period of ineligibility, in Amir's case it is five years," Rizvi told AFP.

"Further Amir has to agree to such additional reasonable and proportionate monitoring procedures and requirements as the ACSU may reasonably consider necessary."

"PCB and ICC are on the same page in this matter and are already in contact over the official anti-corruption education session," Rizvi added.

Since the spot-fixing scandal, the PCB has introduced stricter clauses in players' contracts in a bid to clamp down on malpractice in the game, and it has established its own anti-corruption unit.

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Bowlers dominate first day in Pak-Eng final Test

DUBAI: Bowlers dominated the play as sixteen wickets fell on the opening day of the third and final Test match between Pakistan and England here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

At stumps, England were 104 runs for six wickets with a slender lead of five runs after they bowled out Pakistan for a low score of 99 in the first innings.

Captain and opening batsman Andrew Strauss was still at the crease with a fighting 41 along with night-watchman James Anderson who was not on three.

For Pakistan, left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman claimed three wickets for 23 runs while pace bowler Umar Gul took two early wickets for 28. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal got one for 40.

Strauss batted with determination and patience and hit four boundaries in his 120-ball innings.

Paceman Umar Gul led Pakistan's fightback by dismissing opener Alastair Cook (one) and Jonathan Trott (two) before Strauss added 57 for the third wicket with Kevin Pietersen (32) during their bids to overcome batting frailties.

Pakistani spinners Abdul Rehman and Saeed Ajmal, who grabbed 34 of the 40 wickets in the first two Tests, then grabbed four more wickets, with Rehman dismissing Pietersen and Eoin Morgan (10) and Ajmal accounting for Bell (five).

Pietersen's dismissal made it 34 leg-before dismissals for the series, beating the previous record of 33 in the Pakistan-West Indies series in the Caribbean in 1993.

Rehman, who took 3-23, then bowled Matt Prior (six) with England just one behind Pakistan.

Earlier in the morning, England's pace duo of Broad and Anderson bowled well to expose Pakistan, who won the toss and batted. Asad Shafiq topscored with 45.

Pakistan were routed for a low score of 99 in their first innings by England pacemen Stuart Broad (4-36) and James Anderson (3-35).

Anderson struck in the first over, trapping opener Taufiq Umar for a duck.

Broad then clicked into gear, snaring Ali in his third over through a caught behind and Younis in his next, caught off a rising delivery, again by wicket-keeper Prior.

He then claimed Hafeez's wicket trapping him leg before. Australian umpire Simon Taufel initially turned down the appeal but changed the decision after England called for a review.

From the other end Anderson trapped Misbah-ul Haq for one in a decision challenged by the Pakistani skipper to no avail. That left Pakistan struggling at 21-5.

Shafiq and Adnan Akmal (six) added 18 for the sixth wicket before Broad changed ends to dismiss the wicket-keeper, again with a sharp incoming delivery which caught the batsmen in front of the stumps.

Graeme Swann then teased a miscued a drive from Rehman (one) gathered by a grateful Pietersen at mid-off, leaving Pakistan in danger of being bowled out for their lowest ever Test total -- 53 against Australia in 2002.

Shafiq hit his first boundary in the last over before lunch to take Pakistan to that lowest mark and then hit another off left-arm spinner Monty Panesar to avoid the ignominy.

But Panesar, who took 2-25, had the last laugh, breaking the 34-run stand -- the best of the innings -- between Ajmal (12) and Shafiq after lunch.

Gul made 13 before Anderson bowled him to wrap up the innings.

England resisted the temptation to change their line-up but Pakistan brought paceman Aizaz Cheema for Junaid Khan.

England, playing for pride after losing the first two Tests and the series, now hold a slight lead on a seemingly batting-friendly pitch.

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England 104-6 at close, Pakistan routed for 99

DUBAI: England were 104-6 at the close on the opening day of the third and final Test match, after Pakistan were bowled out for 99 in their first innings at Dubai Stadium here on Friday.

Andrew Strauss was unbeaten on 41 and with him James Anderson on three not out, as England lead by just five runs.

Stuart Broad took 4-36 and Anderson finished with 3-35.

Asad Shafiq topscored for Pakistan with 45

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An Independent Review of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Arrangements: Bertrand de Speville

The threat of corruption in sport, and in particular cricket, has been highlighted by a number of scandals over the last thirty years. This has prompted the International Cricket Council to take vigorous action against the dangers of corruption. That action has principally been guided by the recommendations made in a ground breaking 2001 report by Sir Paul Condon (as he then was) which set up the codes of conduct and procedures that followed.

In the aftermath of the 'spot-fixing' matter involving 3 Pakistan players, against whom disciplinary and criminal proceedings have now been concluded, the ICC Board commissioned Bertrand de Speville (formerly Solicitor General of Hong Kong, Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong and adviser to the Council of Europe Multidisciplinary Group on Corruption) to carry out an independent review of the anti-corruption capability of the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) and to recommend whether any further steps should be taken by the ICC to safeguard the integrity of the game. This review comes 10 years after the Condon Report and builds upon the foundations laid then.

The ICC wishes to place on record its appreciation to Mr de Speville for the work that he has carried out in preparing his report.

Watch ICC ACSU chairman Sir Ronnie Flanagan speak on the positives of the Bertrand de Speville report

Click here for Bertrand de Speville Report - 27 Recommendations and ICC's Preliminary Response

Click here for Bertrand de Speville Report - A Review of the Anti-Corruption Arrangements of the ICC

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Results of the ICC Board meeting in Dubai

The ICC Board held the first of its scheduled 2012 meetings in Dubai on 31 January 2012 and 1 February 2012. The major items considered or decisions taken were:

Independent Governance Review

Following adoption of the new ICC Strategic Plan in April 2011 which, inter-alia, identified the need for an independent governance review as one of the key initiatives to 'Build a Bigger, Better Global Game', the ICC Board received from Lord Woolf of Barnes and PricewaterhouseCoopers a 60-page report containing 65 recommendations and a transitional plan.

The report was presented at the meeting and, as was previously decided, the Board agreed to study the report in detail together with ICC Members and other stakeholders before fully considering the report and its recommendations at the next Board meeting in April 2012.

The recommendations are summarized into five main areas:

. Role of the ICC

. The ICC Board

. Ethics

· Membership, Board structure and Committees

· Funding

ICC Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, in thanking the review team for their comprehensive and crucial report, said: 'This has to be the most important exercise that the ICC Board will take responsibility for in seeking to grow the game for future generations.'

Until the report has been discussed by the Board at its next meeting, the ICC is not in a position to make further comment on the subject.

Lord Woolf and PricewaterhouseCoopers Report will be available in the next 24 hours on the ICC website at www.icc-cricket.com.

ICC President from 2014 onwards

Following Board discussions since October 2011 and consistent with recommendations in the Woolf Report, the Board passed a unanimous resolution recommending to the ICC Council an amendment to the ICC Articles of Association so that from 2014 the current Presidency role is split.

The recommendation creates a new system whereby the Presidency would be an Ambassadorial role appointed on a one-year rotational basis, while a Chairman would lead the Board.

The necessary amendments to the Articles of Association will be discussed at the next ICC Board meeting before being submitted for approval by the ICC Annual Conference in June. The Board will also consider the position and role, if any, of the ICC Vice President between 2012 and 2014. Accordingly, the nomination received of Mustafa Kamal, the Bangladesh Cricket Board president, for the ICC Vice-Presidency from 2012-14 will be considered as a part of this process.

Furthermore, Egon Zehnder, the International executive recruitment firm, have been appointed to conduct the search for the ICC Chief Executive who will replace Haroon Lorgat when he vacates the position at the end of the Annual Conference in June 2012.

Promotion of Test Cricket

A total of US $3.8m in prize money will be shared among the top four sides on 1 April 2013, 2014 and 2015, after the ICC Board approved a proposal to substantially increase incentives in the form of prize money to promote Test match cricket in the period before the ICC Test Championship event in 2017.

Haroon Lorgat said: 'This worthy increase in prize money for the top four teams in the Reliance ICC Test Rankings can only be right. We are delighted at the growing interest and quality of Test match cricket and we must continue to promote the pinnacle form of the game before and beyond the Test Championship in 2017.'

Previously, the top team in the Reliance ICC Test rankings received a cheque for $175,000 but in future will receive a minimum of $450,000 rising to $500,000 in 2015. From 2016 there will be further increases in Test prize money.

Rankings	2013	2014	2015
1st	450	475	500
2nd	350	370	390
3rd	250	265	280
4th	150	160	170

(*in USD '000s)

Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme ("TAPP")

The ICC Board approved an initial $12m Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme ('TAPP') which is aimed at developing more competitive teams among Full Members and Associate/Affiliate Members. This decision sets in practice an initiative identified in the ICC Strategic Plan, the 'Targeted Performance Fund', and is also in line with a recommendation contained in the Woolf Report.

Amongst the necessary criteria, Member applicants will need to present a proper strategy and business plan aimed specifically at improving on-field performance (Performance Improvement Plan ('PIP'). The financial support:

· Could be in the form of grants and/or "soft loans" or non-financial (expertise, scheduling etc);

· Could be for activities aimed not only at directly improving performance (e.g. training camps, contracting of coaching staff, etc.) but also those aimed at related areas that would benefit and sustain on-field performance such as administration, commercial, legal or other relevant support;

· Must be subject to the Member contributing matching resources to implement the PIP

Haroon Lorgat said: 'I am pleased that the Board is focused on supporting Members to grow and improve their performances. This programme is a first step in the right direction and is intended for the lower performing Full Members and the higher performing Associates/Affiliates.'

Independent review of the ACSU by Bertrand de Speville

The ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit Chairman, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, presented the independent report received from Bertrand de Speville, formerly Solicitor General of Hong Kong, Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong and adviser to the Council of Europe Multidisciplinary Group on Corruption.

The report contains a total of 27 recommendations. In receiving the recommendations, the Board concurred with the preliminary views of Sir Ronnie that seven of the recommendations (e.g. unexplained wealth, minimum periods of ineligibility, etc.) were either unworkable or unsuitable for cricket. Of the remaining 20, thirteen recommendations have been accepted while seven are consistent with current ACSU policy or practice.

The Board will consider the report in further detail in due course.

The De Speville Report and the ICC preliminary responses can be found at www.icc-cricket.com

Guyana and the West Indies Cricket Board

The ICC Board reiterates the principle of non-interference in the sport by Governments and were concerned to learn of the developments in Guyana where the Government has dissolved the Guyana Cricket Board and replaced it with an Interim Management Committee. In condemning this government intervention in the strongest possible terms, the ICC Board reaffirmed the principle of non-interference and that the only legitimate cricketing authority is that recognized by the West Indies Cricket Board.

ICC Safety and Security Code

Following the Lahore Attack in March 2009, the ICC Executive Board had established a Security Task Force to review the existing safety and security arrangements for international cricket and to make such recommendations to the ICC Board as it considered appropriate to help create a safe and secure environment for international cricket.

The ICC Board agreed that the ICC and its Members should adopt a Safety and Security Code as guidance for best practice.

The ICC Executive Board also received formal presentations from Interpol and on the ICC Global Cricket Academy, which is universally recognized as a world class facility. The ICC GCA has already been used by seven Full Members, including both Pakistan and England in their current Test series, and 17 Associate and Affiliate Members.

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Pakistan vs England third Test squads

DUBAI: Rival squads and match officials for the third and final Test between Pakistan and England starting at Dubai Stadium on Friday:

Pakistan (from): Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman

England (from): Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Graham Onions, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Steve Davies, Monty Panesar, Ravi Bopara

Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS) and Steve Davis (AUS)
TV umpire: Shahvir Tarapore (IND)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (IND)

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England desperate to avoid Pakistan whitewash

DUBAI: Spin-weary England will be desperate to avoid the humiliation of a series whitewash against Pakistan in the third and final Test which starts at Dubai Stadium on Friday.

Andrew Strauss's men, pulverised by Pakistan spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman, are also in danger of losing their world number one spot after a dismal 10-wicket defeat in Dubai and the 72-run capitulation in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan have never inflicted a Test series whitewash on England, who topped the Test rankings in August last year with an unbeaten nine series sequence, but have seen 34 of their 40 wickets tumble on tour to Pakistan's spinners.

Off-spinner Ajmal has led the destruction with 17 scalps while left-armer Rehman has claimed 12 wickets and Mohammad Hafeez five.

England need to win to guarantee their top spot on April 1 -- the cut-off date for a $175,000 award to the side sitting at the top of the ICC Test championship table.

But their celebrated batting order has so far failed to answer the challenge laid down by Pakistan's wily spinners.

Jonathan Trott (141 in four innings) tops their batting chart, while Andrew Strauss (68) and Alastair Cook (109) have failed to provide strong starts.

Key batsmen Kevin Pietersen (17 in four innings), Ian Bell (36) and Eoin Morgan (41) have also struggled to cope with the slower ball as England lost the first Test in three days and the second in four.

The tourists will resist the temptation of replacing Morgan with Ravi Bopara whose last Test innings was a 44 not out, against India at The Oval.

Speaking after the Abu Dhabi defeat Strauss said his chastened team needed to bounce back after two dismal performances.

"Pakistan have thoroughly deserved their victory in the series," he said.

We've been below where we want to be and we need to come back and bounce back strongly from this.

"As a batting unit we have to hold our hands up and say we haven't been good enough, it's been pretty apparent, we need to be better than that," said Strauss, whose last hundred came 30 months ago.

The defeats have left no doubt about England's vulnerability to the slow ball on subcontinental wickets, a weakness they will need to address before tours to Sri Lanka and India later in the year.

"If you take the point of view, which I think you've got to, that you learn as much from your defeats as you do from your victories then I think we've learned some valuable lessons going forward," Strauss said.

"It's not easy in these conditions, in these circumstances but we're good enough players to be able to adjust to the conditions we've encountered."

Under Strauss' stewardship England have won only twice on the subcontinent -- both times against minnows Bangladesh.

Pakistan are chasing the whitewash as they look to climb the Test rankings and captain Misbah-ul Haq has vowed his team will be going for the jugular in Dubai.

"We will try our level best to do the same we did in the first two Tests, we have the best team up against us so they can come back in the series, but what is in our control we will do," said Misbah, who has not lost a series since taking over in October 2010.

"We need to to do our hundred percent and be focused for good cricket."

The Dubai Stadium pitch, which provided help to spinners from the first day of the opening Test, is likely to continue its assistance to slow bowlers.

Pakistan may consider replacing left-arm seamer Junaid Khan with Wahab Riaz, who has been part of the squad without taking the field.

Test squads:

Pakistan (from): Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman

England (from): Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Graham Onions, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Steve Davies, Monty Panesar, Ravi Bopara

Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS) and Steve Davis (AUS)
TV umpire: Shahvir Tarapore (IND)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (IND)

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Australia beat India in first T20

SYDNEY: Australia defeated India by 31 runs in the first of two Twenty20 internationals at the Sydney Olympic stadium on Wednesday.

Australia scored 171 for four and restricted India to 140 for six.

Man-of-the-match Matthew Wade top scored with 72 off 43 balls in Australia's innings and India did not recover after falling to 81 for six in the 14th over.

India captain M.S. Dhoni top scored for his side with an unbeaten 48 while Dan Christian and David Hussey took two wickets each.

The second match in the series takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

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Amir released from prison

LONDON: Convicted fast bowler Muhammad Amir has been released from the young offenders institute in Weymouth, two days before on completion of half of the jail term he was awarded by the Southwark Crown Court here.

Amir was serving a six-month sentence for spot-fixing after the 19-year-old.

Amir was found guilty in the scandal that shook the cricketing world in May 2010. Amir, Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif had taken bribes from bookie Mazhar Majeed.

Undercover reporter Mazhar Majeed from now defunct British publication News Of The World secretly videotaped Majeed during transaction that played a key role in securing the conviction. Amir was the first and the only of the three players who changed his defence to a guilty plea and was sentenced for only 6 months.

Amir’s legal team had initially confirmed that he will be released on February 9 and that he will complete part of his remaining sentence on licence at a London address.

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that Muhammad Amir was released this morning. "Amir was released today in the morning," said a spokesperson speaking to The News, without giving any further details.

It is believed that Amir will stay in London for about 2-3 weeks and then he will leave for Pakistan. He has visa to stay in the UK till the end of March.

A source confirmed that a probation officer from the Prison Services accompanied Amir to the guarantee address where he will be staying to ensure that being a young offender he has all the requirements at the address.

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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 in Dubai. The third and final Test begins in Dubai from February 3.

Under Flower England had been unbeaten in their last nine Test series, which saw them rise to number one in rankings last year. But after being set a tricky 145-run target to win on Saturday, England were dismissed for a paltry 72 runs as Pakistan's spin bowlers came to the fore.

"We realise that we haven't been very skillful in dealing with that type of cricket. In saying that, it's also right to praise the Pakistan team for what they have done. They beat us fair and square," said Flower.

"They have beaten us properly in two matches. They have fought hard and worked hard at their game and in a way I'm very happy for them. It's good for their cricket and it's good for their country."

Flower, a former Zimbabwean batsman, said defeats were a 'wake-up' call for England. "It was a wake-up call no one wanted to get. Not to that degree. But, yes it is," said Flower.

"Yesterday (Saturday) was very poor. The three days preceding that were pretty good. We put ourselves in a good position where we could have won the Test but then performed very badly with the bat to lose it.

"We didn't put any pressure on their bowlers in the second innings. We allowed them to bowl and create pressure. In saying that, the conditions to play against quality spinners were difficult and we weren't good enough."

Pakistan spin duo Abdul Rehman, who recorded career-best figures of 6-25, and Saeed Ajmal (3-22) led the fightback after they had conceded a first-innings lead of 70 runs. Flower said dropping a few catches in the first innings was crucial.

"Maybe we dropped a couple of important catches, but other than that the bowlers and fielders were outstanding and Monty Panesar was great. But obviously our batting against spin let us down."

England dropped Misbah-ul Haq on 30, who went on to make 84. Panesar, playing his first Test since the Cardiff Test in 2009 Ashes, took 6-62 to bowl Pakistan out for 214 in the second innings. Flower admitted that not playing well in the subcontinent was a big challenge to overcome.

"This is a great challenge for all of us. The issues are not going to disappear. We've got another Test. We've got a one-day and T20 series, and then we've also got Sri Lanka and India before the year is out.

"So these issues will not disappear and we've got to face them with skill and a bit of courage. We've got to be a lot better than we were yesterday. Each individual will have to work very hard in working out his method of scoring."

When asked if batsmen repeating mistakes was frustrating, Flower said: "I think that is fair comment, yes. We expect to learn quickly and that is a big part of our job, and my job."

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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 Test by ten wickets in Dubai.

The third and final Test begins in Dubai from February 3.

Under Flower England had been unbeaten in their last nine Test series, which saw them rise to number one in rankings last year.

But after being set a tricky 145-run target to win on Saturday, England were dismissed for a paltry 72 runs as Pakistan's spin bowlers came to the fore.

"We realise that we haven't been very skillful in dealing with that type of cricket. In saying that, it's also right to praise the Pakistan team for what they have done. They beat us fair and square," said Flower.

"They have beaten us properly in two matches. They have fought hard and worked hard at their game and in a way I'm very happy for them. It's good for their cricket and it's good for their country."

Flower, a former Zimbabwean batsman, said defeats were a 'wake-up' call for England.

"It was a wake-up call no one wanted to get. Not to that degree. But, yes it is," said Flower.

"Yesterday (Saturday) was very poor. The three days preceding that were pretty good. We put ourselves in a good position where we could have won the Test but then performed very badly with the bat to lose it.

"We didn't put any pressure on their bowlers in the second innings. We allowed them to bowl and create pressure. In saying that, the conditions to play against quality spinners were difficult and we weren't good enough."

Pakistan spin duo Abdul Rehman, who recorded career-best figures of 6-25, and Saeed Ajmal (3-22) led the fightback after they had conceded a first-innings lead of 70 runs.

Flower said dropping a few catches in the first innings was crucial.

"Maybe we dropped a couple of important catches, but other than that the bowlers and fielders were outstanding and Monty Panesar was great. But obviously our batting against spin let us down."

England dropped Misbah-ul Haq on 30, who went on to make 84. Panesar, playing his first Test since the Cardiff Test in 2009 Ashes, took 6-62 to bowl Pakistan out for 214 in the second innings.

Flower admitted that not playing well in the subcontinent was a big challenge to overcome.

"This is a great challenge for all of us. The issues are not going to disappear. We've got another Test. We've got a one-day and T20 series, and then we've also got Sri Lanka and India before the year is out.

"So these issues will not disappear and we've got to face them with skill and a bit of courage. We've got to be a lot better than we were yesterday. Each individual will have to work very hard in working out his method of scoring."

When asked if batsmen repeating mistakes was frustrating, Flower said: "I think that is fair comment, yes. We expect to learn quickly and that is a big part of our job, and my job."

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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 which sent the cricket-mad nation into a frenzy.

Former captain Zaheer Abbas said the spinners made the impossible possible as they wrecked England for 72 -- their lowest total against Pakistan in all Tests -- after they were set a modest target of 145 to win.

"It's an extraordinary win," Abbas told AFP. "I will give credit to captain Misbah-ul Haq and to spinners as even the best in the world lose courage when they have a meagre 145-run target to defend."

Left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman grabbed a career-best 6-25 while Saeed Ajmal took 3-22 to destroy England for a second consecutive defeat after Pakistan won the first Test in Dubai by 10 wickets.

Iqbal Qasim, a great left-arm spin bowler in his playing days, said the victory would lift Pakistani cricket.

"Pakistan will gain tremendous confidence after this win over the world number one team," said Qasim. "Pakistan outclassed England during the two Tests and now I think all those teams who were not ready to play us will want to compete."

Fellow former spinner Abdul Qadir said Misbah's men had delighted the whole country with their performance.

"The team has lifted the nation by beating the world number one team," said Qadir, who wrecked England for their previous lowest total of 130 in Lahore in 1987. Pakistan had also bowled England for 130 at the Oval in 1954.

"I will give credit to Misbah for the way he is leading the team, and to all the players and the management," said Qadir, hoping Pakistan also win the third Test in Dubai for a clean sweep.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf was full of praise for Misbah and the team.

"Credit to Misbah for this fabulous win," said Ashraf. "Misbah never looked tense even under extremely (high) pressure moments and that is why his players responded with this impressive win."

Pakistani media also trumpeted the team's win on the main television news and with front-page headlines.

"No. It wasn't a dream. Pakistan's spin merchants ran through a hapless England batting, stealing the unlikeliest of victories from the highest-ranking Test team in the world," the News said under a banner headline "The Triumph."

"By the time Pakistan's spinners were through, the mighty England batsmen had begun to resemble a bunch of amateurish schoolboys. A shell-shocked England had lost to the Pakistani underdogs," the News said.

The paper said the win marked a turnaround in Pakistan cricket.

"Abu Dhabi represented a miraculous turnaround, a triumph of sheer will over adversity. Just over a year ago, the Pakistan team had been as close as it is possible to becoming the pariahs of the cricketing world.

"Shamed and humiliated, three of its players were in prison for spot-fixing, and a combination of politics, intrigue, nepotism and sheer incompetence had taken its toll on the team," said the paper.

College student Farooq Khan said Misbah's men had made the nation proud.

"We hear so many bad things about our cricket team, but in the last two years Misbah and his team have made us proud," said Khan. "We are proud of the team, Misbah and coach Mohsin Khan."

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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 the Abu Dhabi Test which was enough to put him ahead of England's fast bowler James Anderson in second position.

The 34-year-old has earned 50 ratings points for this achievement giving him a career-best rating, and he now leads Anderson by 25 ratings points but still trails number-one ranked Dale Steyn of South Africa by 84 ratings points.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who had figures of two for 67 and six for 25 to win the man of the match award, has jumped five places to ninth spot. The 31-year-old from Sialkot had also gained five places in the bowlers' rankings after his match figures of four for 89 in the Dubai Test.

This is after 23 years year that two Pakistan spinners figure inside the top 10 of the Test player rankings. In September 1988, Abdul Qadir was ranked fifth and Iqbal Qasim 10th, along with Imran Khan (third), Wasim Akram (eighth) and Tauseef Ahmed (13th). The very fact that Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez are currently the two top-ranked ODI bowlers means this is undoubtedly one of the finest periods for Pakistan spinners in the history of the game.

Also making upward movements are Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon (all Australia), Chris Martin, Doug Bracewell (both New Zealand), while Monty Panesar of England has returned to the rankings in 34th position.

Siddle, who won the man of the match award for his six for 96 in the Adelaide Test, has gained two places and is now in fourth position with a career-best rating, Harris's match figures of four for 112 has lifted him four places to 22nd spot, while Lyon's match figures of five for 111 has earned him nine places and puts him in 43rd position.

Martin has jumped three places to 13th position following his match figures of eight for 31 in the Napier Test which has also earned him the man of the award while Bracewell has climbed four places and is now in 31st position after his five for 38.

Mainstays of their sides' batting orders - Michael Clarke, Misbah-ul-Haq, Ricky Ponting and Ross Taylor - have made big strides in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen.

Clarke, who struck 210 and 37 and ended up as the player of the series against India, has moved up seven places and now occupies third position. Ponting is the next highest-ranked Australia batsman in 14th position after he climbed eight places following his scores of 221 and 60 not out.

Misbah has broken into the top 10 for the first time in his career in eighth position by rising six places following his contributions of 84 and 12 while Taylor's 122 retired hurt in Napier has lifted him three places to 17th position.

Other notable batsmen moving up the order include Azhar Ali in 22nd (up by two), Andrew Strauss in 33rd (up by one), Brad Haddin in 41st (up by two), Asad Shafiq in 47th (up by 12), Virat Kohli in 50th (up by 17) and Bradley-John Watling in 78th (up by 23).

Reliance ICC Test Championship table

Despite Pakistan having already won its seventh series out of 11 against England since 1983-84, there is still a lot to play for in the third and final Test which starts in Dubai on Friday 3 February.

For England, the equation is very simple and straightforward - it has to win the Test to be guaranteed a number-one spot at the 1 April cut-off date and with it a US$175,000 prize which is presented annually to the side which tops the Reliance ICC Test Championship table at the cut-off date.

If England wins the Test, it will finish on 120 ratings points and will top the table irrespective of how South Africa's three-Test series in New Zealand, to be played from 7-27 March, pans out.

However, England's failure to win the Dubai Test will give South Africa a chance to not only reclaim the number-one spot but will also win the US$175,000 prize.

If England loses the Dubai Test and with it the series 3-0, it will finish on 118 ratings points and can be overtaken by South Africa by a ratings point, provided South Africa sweeps the series in New Zealand.

If England salvages a draw, then it will end on 119 ratings points but will be beaten by South Africa by 0.01 of a ratings point, again if the Proteas win all the three Tests against New Zealand.

The incentive for Pakistan is to win the Test and the series 3-0 is also high. It has the opportunity to narrow the gap with India and Australia to just three ratings points. The two sides are currently sitting on 111 ratings points each, but India is ranked third by a fraction of a point following the home side's 4-0 series win.

A 2-1 series win will mean it will finish on 105 ratings points, while a 2-0 series win will earn it eight ratings points and it will finish on 107 ratings points.

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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 'build a bigger, better global game'. In August 2011, after confirming the scope for the review, the ICC Board appointed Lord Woolf of Barnes and PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct the review.

The governance review is intended to help the ICC's aspiration to be a well governed and leading global sporting organization. The Board had agreed that, inter-alia, the ICC's committee structure and Board makeup will benefit from a thorough governance review, recognizing that the ICC's Memorandum and Articles were drafted at a time when the cricket landscape was very different.

Following an interim report presented by Lord Woolf during October 2011, the ICC Executive Board will now receive a final report with recommendations. Lord Woolf, who has been assisted by PricewaterhouseCoopers and advised by Judge Mudgal of India, had previously praised the Board for embracing the concept of an independent review.

The scope of the review is comprehensive and includes:

. Clarifying the role and structure of the ICC and its committees to ensure that strategic goals are met effectively and that decision-making is made in the best interests of the game. This would include consideration of independent committee members and directors

. The ICC President nomination and election process

. The Member categories and criteria for membership

. The effectiveness of the regulatory environment

. The Constitutional framework and documents to ensure they are 'fit for purpose'

. Making recommendations to ensure that the ICC enjoys a reputation as a well governed and leading global sporting organisation.

ICC Vice-President (2012-2014) nomination

The ICC Board will consider the nomination received from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the next ICC Vice-President who will succeed Mr Alan Isaac as the ICC President in 2014.

Promotion of Test Cricket

Following the decision to defer the Test World Championship, the ICC Board will consider a proposal to increase incentives in the form of prize money to promote Test match cricket in the period before the ICC Test Championship event in 2017.

Other agenda items include update reports on the ICC Global Cricket Academy, the implementation of Anti-Corruption Codes at domestic level, the adoption of a Safety and Security Code, the independent report from KPMG on ticketing during the ICC Cricket World Cup and the annual report from the ICC Ethics Officer.

The ICC Board consists of the chairman or president from each of the 10 Full Members plus three Associate Member representatives. Also present at ICC Board meetings is the ICC President, who chairs proceedings, the ICC Chief Executive and the ICC Vice-President, as well as, by invitation of the President, the ICC Principal Advisor.

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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 day Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch.

This was the world's top ranked test team's lowest total against Pakistan in all Tests, worse than the 130 they made at The Oval in 1954 and again in Lahore in 1987.

The victory gives Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead with the third and final Test in Dubai. They won the first Test by ten wickets in Dubai.

Misbah said Pakistan's win was a huge achievement.

"It's a big win against the top side in the world," said Misbah, who has won eight of the 14 Tests since taking over as skipper in October 2010. "I don't have words to describe this win which was made possible through a team effort."

Misbah said his team has proved it can do well against the world's best teams.

"There was a lot of pre-series talk that it's our first big real test against a top team, so we had a very good opportunity to prove ourselves and the team has done well to prove this," said Misbah, who has not lost a series yet.

Pakistan were able to at least set some sort of target by Azhar Ali (68) and Asad Shafiq (43) who put on an invaluable 88 runs for the fifth wicket before left-armer Monty Panesar finished them off for 214 with 6-62.

Misbah said his team believed they could beat England despite setting them what looked on the face of it a modest run chase.

"I think we had the realisation that we will have to fight whatever the target is and we also knew that the England batsmen were not scoring runs, they were struggling, especially when the ball was turning.

"We had a good hope that we could make a match out of it and in the end the bowlers proved that and bowled well to give us the win," said Misbah, of his bowlers which saw Saeed Ajmal also take 3-22, taking him to the landmark of 100 wickets in 19 Tests.

He became the fastest to 100 wickets for Pakistan, beating Waqar Younis and Mohammad Asif who reached the target in their 20th Test.

Asked will his team look for a clean sweep against England, Misbah said: "We will try to do our best, we are up against the best team so they can come back in the series, but we will do what we can do, play well."

Strauss praised Pakistan's performance.

"Pakistan have thoroughly deserved their victory in the series," said Strauss, whose team was unbeaten in their previous nine series since losing to the West Indies in early 2009.

"We’ve been below where we want to be and we need to come back and bounce back strongly from this."

Strauss lamented England's weakness in the sub-continent.

"As I said at the start of this tour this is the final frontier in a lot of ways, the sub-continent. English sides haven’t done very well out here in the past and we came here and approached things pretty positively.

"I think we felt we had a great chance to win this series. But, I think the fact we got rolled over twice in Dubai and here meant that there was some baggage there going into this final innings," said Strauss.

Strauss admitted low targets are tricky.

"Sometimes those sorts of totals are the hardest to chase because you know that you’re almost there. I suppose it’s easy to get caught between two schools, whether to be patient and wait for scoring opportunities."

Strauss said England did well to be in a winning position on the first three days.

"It’s bitterly disappointing becuase we’d worked so hard over the course of the game to get ourselves into a winning position and you’ve got to give a lot.

"But having done all that hard work you need to go on and complete the job, we just didn’t play well enough, individually and collectively."

Both teams will also play four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 after Tests.

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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 and Asad Shafiq at the crease after putting on an unbeaten 71 on Friday.

The duo were cautious early on, scoring just 11 runs from seven overs, but became more attacking as the desert sun burnt through the fog shrouding the Sheikh Zayed stadium and Azhar reached his 14th Test 50 with a flicked shot past square leg.

Strauss had started with Broad and Graeme Swann before introducing Monty Panesar, a decision that paid quick dividends as the Sussex spinner bagged his fourth wicket of the innings.

Shafiq (43) was Panesar's latest victim, getting a thick edge to a turning delivery that was comfortably held by Anderson at slip to end Pakistan fifth-wicket stand at 88.

In came Adnan Akmal. The wicketkeeper scored a career-best 61 in last week's first Test and he began aggressively here, but that was also his undoing, although Ali was first to fall.

Ali tried to fend off Anderson's fierce delivery with his glove, but the ball edged off the bat for a routine catch for wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Pakistan were now on 170-6.

Ali made 68 from 195 balls with eight boundaries.

Akmal (13) was to follow in the next over, Broad claiming his first wicket of the innings thanks to a catch from Strauss at slip.

At lunch, Saeed Ajmal (11) and Abdur Rehman (10) were batting with a vital 26-run partnership but Rehman departed in the very first over after lunch.

Then Panesar wiped off the remaining two wickets in the same over dismissing Ajmal for 17 and Junaid Khan for nought while Umar Gul remained not out on ten

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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 consecutive away Test loss for formerly top ranked India after a 4-0 series loss in England last year and they have yet to win a series in Australia in 10 tours.

Sehwag, who led the team in place of the suspended M.S. Dhoni in Adelaide, said while fans had every right to be upset by the series outcome, they should get behind the team.

"They should be upset with our performances and I totally agree with them, but this is the time the fans should back the team," Sehwag said.

"When we won the World Cup everyone was happy and cheering for Team India, and now this time we need the support of the fans and everybody, they should back their own team."

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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 Napier.

The Zimbabwe batsmen had no answer to the swing variations of New Zealand's four-pronged pace attack, backed by the subtle tweaking of Daniel Vettori.

Malcolm Waller contributed the bulk of the runs with 23 in the Zimbabwe first innings before he was caught at third slip by Dean Brownlie off Tim Southee.

Veteran paceman Chris Martin was New Zealand's chief destroyer taking two for five off six overs in Zimbabwe's first innings and dismissing all three wickets to fall so far in the tourists' second turn at bat.

Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell and Southee also took two wickets in the first innings and Vettori took one.

The 51 runs in 28.5 overs in Zimbabwe's first innings was their lowest Test innings total. Their previous lowest score was 54 against South Africa in Cape Town in 2005

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