Windies recall veteran Sarwan

Updated at: 2312 PST,  Saturday, April 30, 2011

BRIDGETOWN: Veteran batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan was recalled to the West Indies squad in place of opener Devon Smith for the final two matches of the series against Pakistan which has already been lost 3-0. The 30-year-old Sarwan has featured in 166 one-day internationals and has four centuries and 35 fifties.The fourth one-dayer takes place in at the Kensington Oval here on Monday with the fifth and final game in Guyana on May 5. West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Anthony Martin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons.

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Pakistan to host Afghanistan series

Updated at: 1830 PST,  Saturday, April 30, 2011

 LAHORE: Afghanistan's cricket team will become the first foreign national side to play in Pakistan, two years after internationals were suspended over security fears, an official said Saturday.International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since March 2009, when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team in the eastern city of Lahore."Afghanistan will send its national team to Pakistan in July and play the Pakistan 'A' team, and hopefully this will benefit our team," Naseem Ullah Danish, chief executive of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, said. Danish met Pakistan Cricket Board officials in Lahore on Friday where they agreed to play a three-match one-day series, with games in Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.Five Afghan regional teams and their under-19 string are playing their domestic matches in the Pakistani border town of Peshawar, as their main grounds are being renovated.Danish hoped Pakistan's second XI will also play in Afghanistan later this year."We have also invited the Pakistan 'A' team to Afghanistan for the inaugural match in Nangarhar where we have almost completed an international stadium," he said.Since many Afghan players learnt their cricket in Pakistan they owe a great deal to the neighbouring country, Danish said."Pakistan has always been helpful to us and have helped us reach this far in international cricket," he said. Most of the Afghan national team learnt the game as refugees in Pakistani camps after Soviet troops invaded their country in 1979.Afghanistan won the Inter-Continental Cup and the International Cricket Council's divisions five to one in the last two years, earning ICC one-day status and qualifying for the World Twenty20 held in the West Indies last year.International teams were reluctant to tour Pakistan even before the Lahore attack, and the troubled country has since had to play its home matches at neutral venues in England and the United Arab Emirates. The attack, which left eight people dead and wounded seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach, forced the ICC to strip Pakistan of its share of World Cup 2011 matches.But Danish said security in Pakistan would not be an issue for his team."Security is not an issue and by playing in Pakistan we want to send out a positive message to the world and hope that teams come to Pakistan and play here," he said.

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Sri Lanka fix matches since 1992, alleges Tillakaratne

Updated at: 0729 PST,  Friday, April 29, 2011

COLOMBO: Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne has made a sensational revelation that match fixing has been common in Sri Lanka's cricket and promised that he would come out with the names of the responsible persons in the near future.Tillakaratne who led Sri Lanka in Ten Tests between 2003 and 2004 said that he could vouch with responsibility that Match fixing has been a problem in Sri Lanka's cricket since 1992."I can tell this in agreement with my conscience. Match fixing is not something that started happening yesterday or today. According to my knowledge, it happened since 1992. I say this with great responsibility" said Tillakaratne."I am not saying that this match (The world cup final) was fixed. But anyway match fixing is something which has been in this country over a period of time. This has spread like a cancer today" he explained."There were threats of this issue being exposed during various times. But it was pushed down by giving money to various people. If the people who were responsible for that are listening to this, I state this today with great responsibility, I will shortly reveal the names of those responsible" Tillakaratne promised when he appeared in a TV talk show."Why? Because there is a huge following of people who love cricket, and this is a side which they don't know about" he explained.Former captain who said he did not imply categorically that the recent world cup final was fixed, however expressed his reservations about the selections.

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Misbah guides Pakistan to series-clinching victory

Updated at: 0253 PST,  Friday, April 29, 2011

BRIDGETOWN: Misbah-ul-Haq dug deep and dragged Pakistan to a series-clinching, three-wicket victory over West Indies in the third One-day International of the best of five match series here on Thursday.
Misbah led the way with four fours and one six in an unbeaten 62 from 109 balls, Hammad Azam supported with 36, and Umar Akmal made 30, as the Pakistanis, chasing 172 for victory, reached their target with 29 balls remaining at Kensington Oval.The Pakistanis were left reeling on 12 for three, following an opening burst from Ravi Rampaul, who also had Akmal caught behind to leave the visitors on 49 for four in the 12th over, finishing with four wickets for 32 runs from nine overs.Azam joined Misbah and put on 78 for the fifth wicket to put Pakistan back on track before Devendra Bishoo took three for 42 from nine overs to trigger a slide that left the visitors wobbling on 148 for seven in the 36th over.But Wahab Riaz joined Misbah to edge the Pakistanis over the finish line five overs later, when he swung a short ball from Dwayne Bravo over deep backward square leg for six.Earlier, Saeed Ajmal had captured three for 29 from 8.4 overs and Wahab took three for 38 from eight overs to enhance Pakistan's chance of victory, as they dismissed their opponents for 171 in 43.4 overs after choosing to field.The Pakistanis appeared to be under pressure, when West Indies duo Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo comfortably added 86 for the second wicket in a volley of strokes before Ajmal and Wahab brought Pakistan back into the match, which was reduced to 45 overs-a-side.Saeed held a return catch in the 21st over to dismiss Simmons for the West Indies top score of 51, and Mohammad Hafeez trapped Darren Bravo lbw for 47 in the 28th over to leave the home team on 118 for three.But Saeed and Wahab ensured there was no fight-back from the remaining batsmen, as they all failed to offer any substanial scores before a disappointed holiday crowd.Pakistan played an unchanged line-up, but West Indies made two changes, replacing Anthony Martin and wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jr with fast bowlers Andre Russell and Rampaul.Play began an hour and 45 minutes later than scheduled, after rain delayed the start of the match on the day that the island celebrates their national heroes, including legendary former West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers.The victory meant that Pakistan have now won their last eight ODIs against West Indies spread over the last four years, including their 10-wicket victory in a recent World Cup quarter-final in Bangladesh.
The fourth ODI will be played next Monday at Kensington Oval with the final match of the series three days later at the Guyana National Stadium.

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Tiwary, Lee shape Kolkata win

Updated at: 0012 PST,  Thursday, April 28, 2011

NEW DELHI: Manoj Tiwary scored an unbeaten half-century to set up a thrilling 17-run win for Kolkata Knight Riders in an Indian Premier League match against Delhi Daredevils on Thursday.Tiwary hit three sixes and two fours in his 47-ball knock to take Kolkata to 148-7 before Delhi were restricted to 131-9 in 20 overs at a packed Feroz Shah Kotla ground.Delhi fancied their chances with 26 runs needed off 12 balls but Australian paceman Brett Lee effected two brilliant run outs in two balls to tilt the scale in Kolkata's favour.The win, Kolkata's fourth from seven outings, propelled them to joint second place in the points table while Delhi continued to languish at the bottom after their fifth defeat in the Twenty20 competition.Delhi now need to win five of their remaining seven matches if they are to make it to the playoffs.Delhi captain Virender Sehwag made a typically aggressive 34 with five fours and one six after losing his opening partner David Warner (14) in the second over to paceman Laxmipathy Balaji.But Sehwag's dismissal triggered a collpase with Delhi losing their next seven wickets for 87 runs.Kolkata owed their competitive total to Tiwary who played a responsible innings despite losing his partners at regular intervals at the other end.Jacques Kallis (11) and Shreevats Goswami (22) shared 42 runs for the opening wicket before falling in quick succession to Delhi fast bowlers Irfan Pathan and Ajit Agarkar. Skipper Gautam Gambhir, who was bought for a record $2.4 million by Kolkata after Delhi deciding against retaining the left-hander, was caught at deep midwicket off Australian James Hopes for 19. Fast bowler Umesh Yadav then picked two wickets in two balls, removing Yusuf Pathan, who was caught by his younger brother Irfan Pathan, and England's Eoin Morgan in the 15th over. Netherlands' all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate provided Kolkata a late boost with a quick 19 runs from 12 balls, including two fours and a six. Brief scores:Kolkata Knight Riders 148-7 in 20 overs (M. Tiwary 61 not out; U. Yadav 2-29) beat Delhi Daredevils 131-9 in 20 overs (V. Sehwag 34, J. Hopes 25; Iqbal Abdullah 3-25, L. Balaji 2-38) by 17 runs.

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Pakistan bowl out Windies for 171

Updated at: 2334 PST,  Thursday, April 28, 2011

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Saeed Ajmal and Wahab Riaz enhanced Pakistan's chances of a series-clinching victory in the rain-affected third one-day International against West Indies here on Thursday.Ajmal captured three for 29 from 8.4 overs, and Wahab took three for 38 from eight overs, as Pakistan dismissed their hosts for 171 in 43.4 overs after choosing to field in the match at Kensington Oval.The visitors appeared to be under pressure, when compatriots Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo comfortably added 86 for the second wicket in a volley of strokes before Ajmal and Wahab brought Pakistan back into the match, which was reduced to 45 overs-a-side.Saeed held a return catch in the 21st over to dismiss Simmons for the West Indies top score of 51, and Mohammad Hafeez trapped Darren Bravo lbw for 47 in the 28th over to leave the home team on 118 for three.But Saeed and Wahab ensured there was no fight-back from the remaining batsmen, as they all failed to offer any substance or stability before a disappointed holiday crowd.Pakistan are playing an unchanged line-up, but West Indies made two changes, replacing Anthony Martin and wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jr with fast bowlers Andre Russell and Ravi Rampaul.Play began an hour and 45 minutes later than scheduled, after rain delayed the start of the match on the day that the island celebrates their national heroes, including legendary former West Indies all-rounder Garfield Sobers.]The Pakistanis lead the five match series 2-0, following an eight-wicket victory in the first ODI last Saturday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia, where they also won the second ODI by seven wickets.The victories meant that Pakistan have now won their last seven ODIs against West Indies spread over the last four years, including their 10-wicket victory in a recent World Cup quarter-final in Bangladesh.The fourth ODI will be played next Monday at the same ground, with the final match of the series three days later at the Guyana National Stadium.

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3rd ODI: Pakistan elect to field against Windies

Updated at: 2041 PST,  Thursday, April 28, 2011

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to field against West Indies in the rain-affected third one-day International at Kensington Oval here on Thursday.Pakistan are playing an unchanged line-up, but West Indies have made two changes, replacing Anthony Martin and wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jr with fast bowlers Andre Russell and Ravi Rampaul.Play was scheduled to begin an hour and 45 minutes later than scheduled, after rain delayed the start of the match on the day that the island celebrates their national heroes, including legendary former West Indies all-rounder Garfield Sobers.The two sides will now contest a 45 overs-a-side match.The Pakistanis lead the five match series 2-0, following an eight-wicket victory in the first ODI last Saturday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia, where they also won the second ODI by seven wickets. The victories meant that Pakistan have now won their last seven ODIs against West Indies spread over the last four years, including their 10-wicket victory in a recent World Cup quarter-final in Bangladesh.The fourth ODI will be played next Monday at the same ground, with the final match of the series three days later at the Guyana National Stadium. Teams:West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Kirk Edwards, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Kemar Roach, Devendra Bishoo, Ravi RampaulPakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Salman, Hammad Azam, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan Umpires: Asoka De Silva (SL), Peter Nero (WI), TV umpire: Norman Malcolm (WI), Reserve umpire: Joel Wilson (WI)Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ).

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Rain delays start of West Indies, Pakistan ODI

Updated at: 2010 PST,  Thursday, April 28, 2011 BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Pakistan suffered a setback in their bid for a series-clinching victory in the third One-day International against West Indies here at Kensington Oval Thursday.Rain delayed the start of the match on the day that the island celebrates their national heroes, including legendary former West Indies all-rounder Garfield Sobers.The Pakistanis lead the five match series 2-0, following an eight-wicket victory in the first ODI last Saturday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia, where they also won the second ODI by seven wickets.

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Pakistan, West Indies third ODI today

Updated at: 1524 PST,  Thursday, April 28, 2011

BRIDGETOWN: The third ODI between Pakistan and West Indies is taking place today (Thursday) in Barbados, Geo News reported. Pakistan lead ODI series by 2-0.Pakistani team is hopeful to keep the lead in ODI series by beating West Indies today.By winning today’s match, Pakistan would retain winning streak against West Indies in ODI series. Pakistan have won previous five series against the same team.

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Let ICC decide legality of ‘Doosra’: Iqbal Qasim

KARACHI: Former Pakistan spiner Iqbal Qasim reckons that calling the ‘Doosra’ an illegal delivery during a Pakistan match isn’t right since off-spiners all over the world have now started mastering its art.Qasim’s claims come after former West Indian pacer and commentator Michael Holding said that the Doosra could not be bowled legally during the second One-day International match between Pakistan and West Indies in St Lucia.“Such a comment which is directed at a team is not prudent from a commentator like Holding,” Qasim told PPI.“Doosra is no more the secret weapon of Pakistani bowlers as other bowlers like Sri Lanka’s Ajanta Mendis and India’s Harbhajan Singh are also bowling it with great effect.“Pointing fingers only at the Pakistani bowlers is not correct.”Iqbal advised Holding to take his reservations over the ‘Doosra to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and ask them to take laboratory test not only of the Pakistani spinners but of every bowler who bowls it before commenting on its legality.Qasim added that since the referees and umpires monitoring the matches haven’t objected to the delivery, the probability that the ‘Doosra’ being illegitimate is very low.“There are cameras, umpires and referees closely observing matches so if Doosra had been an illegal delivery, they must have had complained to ICC. However nothing has happened yet and hence, Doosra is a legal delivery,” he said.He recalled the incident of the Australians complaining about the bowling action of Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan before it was deemed legal by the ICC

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Shehzad hails Afridi as Pakistan sight series win

BRIDGETOWN: Ahmed Shehzad has thanked the Pakistan management team for showing confidence in him following his World Cup calamity which almost cost him a trip to the Caribbean. The 19-year-old opening batsman was speaking after he made 102 – his second One-day International – to lead Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory over West Indies on Monday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Shehzad failed to score consistently in five matches in the World Cup, and was dropped, leading to questions about his place in the squad for the tour of the Caribbean.But the Pakistan selectors and the team management continued to show faith in him and Monday’s hundred was a down-payment on that investment. Shehzad has become the latest player to hail the visitors’ limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi for instilling a sense of self-belief and self-confidence in him. “I would like to thank my team management for the way they have supported me,” he said. “Shahid is the man to follow. He is giving confidence to every single individual – I think it is amazing.”Afridi was naturally happy to see Shehzad find his feet again, and believes he has a bright future. “I think he is a very, very talented guy,” said Afridi. “He really performed well in New Zealand, but he did not have such a good World Cup. “Myself and the team management have confidence in him, and he showed he is capable of performing.” Pakistan will now focus on winning the third ODI on Thursday at Kensington Oval here, and take an unbeatable lead in the series. The Pakistanis have outplayed West Indies in every department, with their spin bowlers in particular finding the conditions in St. Lucia so favourable they restricted the home team to modest totals of 221 for six and 220 all out, and their batting hardly troubled by the hosts’ tame attack of which Devendra Bishoo has taken four of the five wickets that have fallen.

West Indies, on the other hand, have stunned observers by resisting the urge to tamper with their squad, and have named an unchanged roster for the match. They will continue the struggle without Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, and now fast bowler Jerome Taylor – all at the Indian Premier League – while Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and beanpole left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn have been overlooked again. Although Fidel Edwards is fit again and played in the West Indies first-class championship for his native Barbados, it is felt that he may be eased back into the game, and will likely return for the two Tests that follow the ODI series. West Indies captain Darren Sammy was under no illusions about the enormity of the task that confronts his side, but stressed they had to seize the tight moments.“We weren’t rolled over,” he said. “We kept ourselves in the matches right to the finish. There were moments when things could have gone either way, but we didn’t make it happen. “We have to find a way to make it happen for us. We have to find a way to win those tight situations.” Sammy remained confident that West Indies could stage a fight-back in Barbados with a victory. “It’s not out of our reach,” he said. “We have been showing the fight. We have the belief that we can turn things around and make it happen.”Squads:West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice captain), Carlton Baugh Jr, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Anthony Martin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith.Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbahul Haq (vice captain), Abdur Rehman, Ahmed Shahzad, Asad Shafiq, Hammad Azman, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Salman, Sadaf Hussain, Saeed Ajmal, Tanveer Ahmed, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Usman Salahuddin, Wahab Riaz.

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Rankings system stumps Afridi

KARACHI: Pakistan take on the West Indies in the third One-Day International (ODI) today with more than just the series win in mind.The visitors lead the five-match series 2-0 and victory in Bridgetown will mean Pakistan remain undefeated in the last five series between the two sides. But the fact that it does not earn Pakistan a single rating point in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI Championship has baffled captain Shahid Afridi whose aim is to improve the team’s ranking.Pakistan, currently sixth, will stay put even if they whitewash the series and Afridi questioned the system that offers little reward against lower-ranked opponents. However, even a 4-1 or 3-2 win against the ninth-placed West Indies means a drop in points for Pakistan since they are expected to beat the hosts.“I can’t understand this system,” Afridi told The Express Tribune from Bridgetown. “There should be some advantage for the visiting sides as winning a series is never easy for them no matter who they’re playing against.”The all-rounder said that the system is difficult for the lower-ranked teams.“It’s really difficult to prosper under the current ranking system. I have little clue what it’s based on.”Afridi is not the first captain to criticise the ICC Ranking System, which also drew criticism from former Sri Lanka captain Kumara Sangakkara who termed it as ‘unfair’.

‘Series win first priority’
Despite no incentive in improving the rankings, Afridi said his side remained focused to seal the series, which was always the first priority.“We’ll give our best to seal the series which is our main focus. It will boost the morale of the young team. The conditions will be a bit overcast and that will be taken into consideration.” Captain happy with youngsters

Afridi added that he was satisfied with the performance of his young brigade that has done well so far.“I’m happy with the performance of the young players and they are stepping up to the challenge,” said Afridi while hoping for a better show from left-arm fast-bowler Junaid Khan in the remainder of the series. “It’s not appropriate to expect a youngster to become a star overnight. He needs time and hopefully he would improve in the remaining matches.”Khan, who made his international debut on the ongoing tour, has played two ODIs and a Twenty20 but is yet to get off the mark in the wickets column.

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India double cash bonus for Cup winners

Updated at: 1804 PST,  Wednesday, April 27, 2011

MUMBAI: India's cricket chiefs on Wednesday doubled the cash bonus for each member of the World Cup winning team amid reports that the players had complained about being poorly rewarded. "The cash incentive to the members of the World Cup winning Indian team has been increased from 10 million rupees ($225,000) per player to 20 million rupees," the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement. India won the April 2 final, beating Sri Lanka at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium and triggering wild celebrations across the country. But press reports said some players were unhappy about the size of their bonus. "A player's life is very uncertain. Who knows what will happen next?" one anonymous player told the Indian Express last week. A string of state governments and private companies also showered the team with plots of land, luxury houses and money.

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Nabbed bookies 'threatened' Zulqarnain

Updated at: 1508 PST,  Wednesday, April 27, 2011

SIALKOT: Police said Wednesday that arrested bookmakers had confessed to being behind death threats to former national wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider.The 25-year-old abandoned the team in Dubai last November and fled to London, saying he had received death threats from bookies who wanted him to fix a match.Haider said he was retiring from international cricket and applied for political asylum in Britain, but returned home on Monday after the government gave assurances about his safety and that of his family."We have arrested eight bookies and some of them have revealed they were behind threats to Haider," police official Nasir Qureshi said from Sialkot."We have confiscated their data which has a number of international contacts and the investigation is still on."Qureshi said an official press conference could be called on Thursday."We have found a number of satellite telephones and diaries which have international contacts and we hope to get further details in the next 24 hours," he added.Haider last week announced that he was prepared to revoke his application for asylum and return to resume his career after meeting Interior Minister Rehman Malik in London.On his return Haider said he had not yet decided on his future."I am happy to return and have got the kind of security promised to me. They have given me superb accommodation," said Haider."There were some reasons when I left the team and went to Britain. I will spend some time with my family and haven't decided on my playing future."On Monday, Malik said Haider had revealed some important details but refused to share them with the media.The Pakistan Cricket Board said Haider had not made contact and only when he does, would a fact-finding committee take up the matter.The committee, formed last year, found no clear motive behind Haider's disappearance but termed him "mentally ill". 

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Fletcher new India coach

Updated at: 1501 PST,  Wednesday, April 27, 2011

MUMBAI: Former England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher was appointed to the high-pressure post of India coach on Wednesday, less than one month after the country won the World Cup on home soil.India had been on the look-out to replace South African Gary Kirsten who stepped down from the role following his success in guiding the cricket-crazy nation to victory in the showpiece event.Fletcher, a former Zimbabwean all-rounder who came to prominence as a coach when reviving the England team over several years and helping them regain the Ashes in 2005, has been awarded a two-year contract.Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary N. Srinivasan made the announcement in Mumbai, naming Fletcher over other possible choices including New Zealander Stephen Fleming and Zimbabwean Andy Flower.Fletcher, a taciturn 62-year-old, takes over one of the biggest jobs in cricket before India tour the West Indies in June followed by an important tour of England from July to September."The contract with Fletcher is for two years. He may not join the team in the West Indies as he has some prior commitments," Srinivasan told reporters after a BCCI meeting.India are currently ranked number one in Test cricket, and number two in one-day internationals.Fletcher, who played six one-day internationals for his country, was credited with turning around England's fortunes in Tests under captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan during his eight-year stint.After taking the reins in 1999 as England's first foreign coach, he oversaw Test series wins over Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the West Indies.With Vaughan, he helped England win their first Test series in South Africa in the post-apartheid era in 2005, before guiding them to the historic Ashes victory the same year, their first since 1986-87.However he could not taste similar success in one-day internationals and resigned following England's disappointing 2007 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean where his team failed to qualify for the semi-finals.Vaughan said Fletcher would enjoy the challenge of working with Indian players but might struggle under the constant press attention."Duncan will work well with all the talent," he wrote on Twitter. "His biggest challenge will come from the media. He has never really understood how it works."Fletcher has recently served as a consultant to South Africa and New Zealand. 

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Malinga defends Sri Lanka Test retirement

Updated at: 1942 PST,  Tuesday, April 26, 2011

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga on Tuesday brushed aside criticism that he quit Test cricket to be able to make quick money from tournaments such as the Indian Premier League.The injury-prone bowler invited controversy when he made himself unavailable for Tests during a forthcoming tour of England because of a knee injury, but continued to play in the lucrative Twenty20 competition in India.Malinga announced his retirement from Tests last week, saying the injury prevented him from playing in the longest version of the game, and has since been under fire for picking club cricket over country."The Test retirement was never about money," Malinga, 27, told reporters in Colombo."I can't be a commentator, coach or umpire. But I can bowl well and get wickets. It's unfair to say money was the root cause of my decision," said the fast bowler, who is on a three-day return visit to Sri Lanka from India.Malinga, the highest wicket-taker so far in the IPL with 16 scalps from six games, hoped his decision would allow him to play for at least four more years."My right knee is getting weaker each day. I have a long-standing degenerative condition that I need to carefully manage," he said."I love playing for Sri Lanka. It's my dream to play for my country. I'm not sure if my knee will inflame again."Malinga said he was looking forward to playing the one-dayers and Twenty20s during Sri Lanka's tour of England, which starts next month.

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Shehzad century steers Pakistan to victory

Updated at: 0236 PST,  Tuesday, April 26, 2011

GROS ISLET: Opener Ahmed Shehzad struck his second one-day international hundred to anchor Pakistan to a confident seven-wicket victory over West Indies on Monday.Shehzad hit seven fours and one six in his 102 from 148 balls as Pakistan successfully chased 221 for victory in the second ODI at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.Umar Akmal carried the visitors over the threshold with 12 balls remaining when he lofted a delivery from Dwayne Bravo to long-off for the final boundary of the match.The result means that Pakistan take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series after winning the first game by eight wickets on Saturday at the same ground.Pakistan have now won their last seven ODIs against West Indies, a sequence spread over the last four years."We made a plan at our team meeting and our guys stuck to it and that was good," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi."Shehzad is a very talented guy and he showed that he is capable of performing. He took his time, but chasing a small total, he could afford to do that and we won the game."I think our bowlers are doing a great job, and the fielding has improved because it is a very important area for us. Our batting has shown responsibility and we hope to maintain this discipline right throughout the series."The visitors' spin bowling trio of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Afridi had dominated on another docile pitch.After Pakistan chose to field, West Indies were dismissed for 220 in their 50 overs - one less than the total they made in the first ODI. Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi shared six wickets for 102 runs in 30 overs between them, and only West Indies opener Lendl Simmons looked close to getting on top of them, leading the way with 51 from 48 balls, which included four fours and two sixes."We didn't make use of the key moments in the match," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy. "We could have tried to squeeze their batsmen more and when we batted we got a good start, but did not capitalise on it. "The spinners continue to bog us down, and we could have got a lot more on the board. It seems that whatever approach we have taken, we seem only able to get the same kind of total on the board. We have a lot more work to do."Shehzad shared three successive half-century partnerships with Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq that put Pakistan firmly on course for their victory.He glanced a delivery in the 44th over from Dwayne Bravo to deep fine leg for a single to reach his milestone from 143 balls."We tried to keep wickets in hand. It was not a huge total so I knew that I had to control my stroke-play and not get carried away," said Shehzad.He was fortunate on 30 when he came close to being run out after pulling a delivery from Bravo to mid-wicket and Hafeez turned down the chance of going for a single. Sammy fired his throw from mid-wicket wide of the stumps and the opener was able to regain his ground.By the time he became the second wicket for leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo in the 46th over, Pakistan required just 30 from the final 28 deliveries which came with little trouble.The third and fourth matches of the series will be played on Thursday and Monday at Kensington Oval in Barbados, with the final game coming three days later at the Guyana National Stadium

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Pakistan bowl out Windies for 220 runs

 Updated at: 2224 PST,  Monday, April 25, 2011

GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Pakistan spinners Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and skipper Shahid Afridi restricted West Indies to a modest 220 all out in the second one-day international on Monday. The three exploited another docile Beausejour Cricket Ground pitch after Pakistan, who won the first game on Saturday by eight wickets, chose to field. Ajmal, Hafeez and skipper Afridi shared six wickets for 102 runs in 30 overs between them, and only West Indies opener Lendl Simmons looked close to getting on top of them, leading the way with 51 from 48 balls, which included four fours and two sixes.Hafeez made the first breakthrough when he trapped left-handed opener Devon Smith lbw for 16 in the sixth over, and Ajmal struck with his first delivery when Darren Bravo was caught at slip for 12 to leave West Indies 58 for two in the 12th over.From there the pressure mounted on the West Indies batsmen once Afridi employed an all-out spin attack and wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.Marlon Samuels made 29 and Kemar Roach, batting at nine, scored 24, but no other West Indies batsman passed 20.Pakistan fielded an unchanged 11 but West Indies brought leg-spinner Anthony Martin in for his international debut to replace fast bowler Andre Russell.The third and fourth ODIs will be played this coming Thursday and next Monday at Kensington Oval in Barbados, with the final match of the series three days later at the Guyana National Stadium.Pakistan have won their last six ODIs against West Indies spread over the last four years, with the hosts most recent victory a 54-run triumph in the opening match of the 2007 World Cup staged in the Caribbean at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

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Pakistan win toss, put Windies into bat in 2nd ODI

Updated at: 1839 PST,  Monday, April 25, 2011

GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to field against West Indies in the second One-day International on Monday at Beausejour Cricket Ground here.Pakistan are unchanged, but West Indies have brought leg-spinner Anthony Martin in for his international debut to replace fast bowler Andre Russell.Pakistan lead the five-match series 1-0, after winning the first ODI by eight wickets last Saturday at the same ground.The third and fourth ODIs will be played this coming Thursday and next Monday at Kensington Oval in Barbados, with the final match of the series three days later at the Guyana National Stadium.Pakistan have won their last six ODIs against West Indies spread over the last four years, with the hosts previous victory a 54-run triumph in the opening match of the 2007 World Cup staged in the Caribbean at Sabina Park in Jamaica.Teams:West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Devon Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Kirk Edwards, Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh Jr (wk), Anthony Martin, Kemar Roach, Devendra BishooPakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Salman (wk), Hammad Azam, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid KhanUmpires: Asoka De Silva (SL), Norman Malcolm (WI), TV umpire: Peter Nero (WI)
Reserve umpire: Gregory Brathwaite (WI) Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ)

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Zulqarnain Haider returns

Updated at: 1502 PST,  Monday, April 25, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Runaway former wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider returned home from Britain on Monday after receiving government assurances about the safety of his family.Haider, who turned 25 on Saturday, fled the Pakistan team's hotel in Dubai on November 8 for the United Kingdom after saying he had received demands that he fix a one-day match against South Africa under the threat of death.He arrived by plane in Islamabad on Monday and was escorted by security officials to Interior Minister Rehman Malik's office where he met the minister, who had guaranteed his safety."I am happy to return. There were solid reasons behind my going to London and I am sure everyone realised that no one can put his career at stake for nothing," Haider told reporters after the meeting.With his younger daughter on his lap, Haider added: "I am happy the way I was given full security. I want to spend some time with my family and then meet PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) chairman (Ijaz Butt) which I will share with you.""Haider will be given full security as promised," Malik said. "He is a citizen of Pakistan so there is no restriction on his movement. He has told us some facts which at this point of time we cannot share with the media."Wearing a casual shirt and jeans, Haider was earlier whisked away by security officials to avoid a scrum at the airport, where he also met his wife, daughters and brother, witnesses said.The wicketkeeper was part of the Pakistan team in the series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates when he went missing on the day of the fifth and final one-day match on November 8.He fled to London and announced his retirement from international cricket. A week later he applied for asylum there.Last week Haider met Malik and, after receiving promises of safety for himself and his family, agreed to return home. He said he had also decided to withdraw his asylum request.After his disappearance the PCB terminated his contract and formed a committee to establish the facts surrounding the dramatic departure.But the three-member committee said there were no clear motives behind his disappearance and also declared him "mentally ill".After meeting Malik last week, Haider also said he would return to cricket."Since I have been given full assurances of safety, I have no reason to continue with my asylum application and after returning home I want to resume my cricket career," he said.The PCB said Monday that Haider had not yet been in touch with them."If he makes a contact, then only we will have to decide whether he will have to appear before the committee. He didn't submit details sought by the fact-fixing committee last year," PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said.Haider played one Test, against England at Birmingham last year, as well as four one-day and three Twenty20 internationals in a short career.On his Facebook page Haider had also promised to name Pakistani players involved in match-fixing, but he never supplied the names.British media reported that Haider was questioned by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), the International Cricket Council (ICC) wing that deals with match-fixing claims, in London last year but that the unit did not find anything substantive to back up his allegations. 

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