Opportunity for Pakistan to gain two places in ODI championship table

Pakistan has a chance to improve its ranking in the Reliance ICC ODI Championship when it goes head-to-head with World Cup finalist Sri Lanka in a five-match ODI series which starts at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Friday.Second-ranked Sri Lanka is presently sitting on 119 ratings points, just one ahead of world champion India, while sixth-ranked Pakistan trails fifth-ranked England by five ratings points.However, all this will change depending how the series between the Asian rivals pans out.If Pakistan wins the series 4-1, it will move ahead of England to fifth position on 108 ratings points - its best ranking since May 2009 - while Sri Lanka will drop to fourth position on 112 ratings points.A 5-0 victory will earn Pakistan nine ratings points which, in turn, will put it on 110 ratings points and fourth position on the championship table - its best since November 2008 - while Sri Lanka would slip to sixth position on 109 ratings points.In a sharp contrast, a 5-0 win for Sri Lanka will lift it to 123 ratings points - seven behind number-one ranked Australia - while a 4-1 win will earn it two rankings points. These are the only two scenarios where there will be no changes to the championship table as even a 3-2 win for Sri Lanka will mean it will slip down the ladder.A 3-2 series win will put Sri Lanka alongside India on 118 ratings points but when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point, India will be ranked second while Sri Lanka will be in third position.To find out exactly how Pakistan-Sri Lanka series will affect the Championship table, please click here. The ODI Championship table, unlike the Test Championship table, is updated after every match.In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara is the highest-ranked batsman from either side in seventh position. If the former Sri Lanka captain manages to display the same form he showed in the Test series, which helped him share the player of the series award with Saeed Ajmal, then he has a very good chance of moving as high as fifth.Other batsmen aiming for upward movements are Tillekeratne Dilshan (11th), Mahela Jayawardena (15th), Umar Akmal (17th), Angelo Mathews (35th), Mohammad Hafeez (38th), Younus Khan (41st), Upul Tharanga (43rd) and Shahid Afridi (48th).In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, Pakistan boasts four bowlers inside the top 30 with Saeed Ajmal in sixth spot, Shahid Afridi in 18th position, Umar Gul ranked 25th and Mohammad Hafeez in 29th place.For Sri Lanka, Lasith Malinga is the highest-ranked bowler in eighth position, 19 points behind Saeed Ajmal, while Suraj Randiv is 42nd.In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders, fourth-ranked Hafeez and fifth-ranked Shahid Afridi have a good opportunity to gain one place each by moving ahead of third-ranked Jacques Kallis of South Africa.The ODI player rankings will next be updated on Thursday 24 November
Series schedule:

11 Nov - First ODI (d/n), Dubai International Cricket Stadium

14 Nov - Second ODI (d/n), Dubai International Cricket Stadium

18 Nov - Third ODI (d/n), Dubai International Cricket Stadium

20 Nov - Fourth ODI (d/n), Sharjah Cricket Stadium

23 Nov - Fifth ODI (d/n), Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

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Afridi stars as Pakistan thump Sri Lanka

Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi capped an excellent return to international cricket with three wickets as Pakistan thumped Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the first day-night match here on Friday.Afridi took 3-27 in his first match since returning from a six-month exile, helping Pakistan dismiss Sri Lanka for a paltry 131 in 40.3 overs before Younis Khan and Imran Farhat hit fifties to anchor the chase at Dubai stadium.Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez (five) in the second over of their innings but Farhat added 103 for the second wicket stand with Younis Khan (56 not out) to ensure a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.Farhat hit leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna for his seventh boundary to reach his ninth one-day fifty but with only 17 needed he was trapped leg-before wicket by paceman Suranga Lakmal for 50.Younis, whose fifty was his 45th in one-dayers, took the team past the target in just 21.5 overs. He hit seven boundaries during his 57-ball knock.Pakistan were on course for a comprehensive win thanks in large part to Afridi, who finished with 3-27 and was ably supported by Saeed Ajmal (2-21) and Mohammad Hafeez (2-24) as Sri Lanka lost their last seven wickets for 54 after opting to bat.Dinesh Chandimal top-scored with 28 while opener Upul Tharanga (25) and Mahela Jayawardene (24) were other notable scorers but none went on to make a big score against some lethal spin bowling.Sri Lanka lost Tillakaratne Dilshan in the second over of the match, bowled by paceman Aizaz Cheema for four.With their captain back in the pavilion, Sri Lanka did not recover as wickets continued to fall, in-form Kumar Sangakkara falling for five after struggling through 24 deliveries.Chandimal and Tharanga added 30 for the third wicket before Pakistan's spinners ran riot, grabbing the last seven wickets for a mere 54 runs.Afridi, who only last month decided to go back on a decision to retire from international cricket in protest at being sacked as one-day captain, struck in his first over of the match Chandimal hit him for a six off his fourth ball, but the leg-spinner had him leg-before the very next ball. Chandimal hit two sixes and a four off 31 balls.The 31-year-old Afridi then dismissed Prasanna (five) and Lasith Malinga (11) during his incisive 9.3 overs spell.Jayawardene and Tharanga were the others to provide some resistance but they too departed to spinners.The second match will also be played in Dubai on Monday. The remaining matches are scheduled for Dubai (November 18), Sharjah (November 20) and Abu Dhabi (November 23)The teams will also play a Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on November 25

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Aamer can appeal fixing sentence

LONDON : Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Aamer was given permission at a London court on Friday to appeal against his six-month jail sentence for his part in the spot-fixing betting scam.The fast bowler, 19, was sentenced to serve six months in a British young offenders' institute last week after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to cheat at gambling and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments.A judge at the Court of Appeal refused Aamer bail but granted him permission to appeal against his sentence.Judge Kathryn Thirlwall said any appeal should be heard by November 29.Former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt, 27, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, is also seeking to appeal.It is expected that their cases will be heard together.Butt, Aamer and fast bowler Mohammad Asif were jailed at Southwark Crown Court in London on November 3 for their part in fixing elements of the August 2010 Test match against England at Lord's.Aamer admitted involvement in pre-arranging no-balls for shadowy South Asian betting rings. Cricket agent Mazhar Majeed also pleaded guilty.The four will serve half their sentences before being released on licence.The fixing rocked the world of cricket after it was uncovered by the News of the World, the Rupert Murdoch-owned British tabloid which was shut down over a phone-hacking scandal in July this year.

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Sri Lanka bat in first Pakistan ODI

DUBAI : Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and decided to bat in the first day-night international against Pakistan at Dubai stadium here on Friday.Sri Lanka preferred leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna over the more experienced off-spinner Syraj Randiv, while they also gave debut to 26-year-old allrounder Kosala Kulasekara.As expected, Pakistan included Shahid Afridi but left out Shoaib Malik. Afridi was recalled for the series after he last month went back on his decision to retire decision.Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Abdul RazzaqSri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kosala Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dilhara FernandoUmpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA) and Ahsan Raza (PAK)TV umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG)Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
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Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

November 11, 2011

at Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first.

SL 131 / 9 in 40.2 overs
Current Run rate: 3.24
Sri Lanka - 1st Innings

PAK                                                                                                                       SL

Sri Lanka - 1st Innings

Batting		Runs	B	4's	6's	S/R
Upul Tharanga	c Aizaz Cheema b Mohammad Hafeez	25	56	2	0	44.64
Tillakaratne Dilshan	b Aizaz Cheema	4	8	1	0	50
Kumar Sangakkara	c Sarfraz Ahmed b Abdul Razzaq	5	24	1	0	20.83
Dinesh Chandimal	lbw b Shahid Afridi	28	31	1	2	90.32
Mahela Jayawardena	c Abdul Razzaq b Saeed Ajmal	24	57	0	0	42.11
Angelo Mathews	run out (Abdul Razzaq)	10	31	0	0	32.26
Kosala Kulasekara	c Umar Gul b Mohammad Hafeez	0	6	0	0	0
Seekkuge Prasanna	st Sarfraz Ahmed b Shahid Afridi	5	14	0	0	35.71
Lasith Malinga	Batting	11	13	0	1	84.62
Suranga Lakmal	st Sarfraz Ahmed b Saeed Ajmal	0	2	0	0	0
Dilhara Fernando	Batting	0	1	0	0	0
Extras	(b 0, lb 5, w 13, nb 1, pen )	19
Total	(40.2 overs , 9 wickets )	131   ( 3.26 runs per over)

Fall of wickets: 1 - 12 (Tillakaratne Dilshan, 1.5), 2 - 36 (Kumar Sangakkara, 10.5), 3 - 66 (Upul Tharanga, 18), 4 - 77 (Dinesh Chandimal, 19.5), 5 - 104 (Angelo Mathews, 29.5), 6 - 107 (Kosala Kulasekara, 32.4), 7 - 120 (Mahela Jayawardena, 37.1), 8 - 122 (Seekkuge Prasanna, 38.5), 9 - 129 (Suranga Lakmal, 39.5)

Pakistan - Bowling

Bowling	O	M	R	W	NB	WD	E/R
Umar Gul	5	2	11	0	1	1	2.2
Aizaz Cheema	5	1	18	1	0	1	3.6
Abdul Razzaq	5	0	25	1	0	2	5
Mohammad Hafeez	10	0	24	2	0	0	2.4
Shahid Afridi	9.2	0	27	3	0	3	2.89
Saeed Ajmal	6	0	21	2	0	1	3.5

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South Africa beat Australia by eight wickets

Cape Town : South Africa captain Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla led their country to a remarkable comeback victory against Australia when the hosts won the topsy-turvy first test by eight wickets on Friday.Chasing 236 for the win after a bizarre second day in which 23 wickets fell and parts of all four innings took place, Smith (101 not out) and Amla (112) put on 195 for the second wicket to stun Australia.Smith hit the winning run just moments after completing his century to spark jubilant scenes at Newlands.The tourists had established a 188-run lead after the first innings but were then promptly bowled out for 47 - their lowest test total in 109 years - and only narrowly avoided the lowest test score of 26 when they were reduced to 21-9.Australia captain Michael Clarke, who scored 151 in their first innings, was extremely critical of his team's performance."We played disgraceful shots and our execution with the ball today wasn't great," he said during the presentation ceremony."We've got a lot of work to do before the next test on Thursday."(My century) was useless, it was a waste of time. You want to help your team win. I'll certainly forget about it very quickly. I guarantee you this is one tough time for that team up there.Australia's attack bowled well in the first hour as South Africa resumed on 81 for one, and were unfortunate not to separate Smith and Amla. But they lacked precision thereafter as South Africa's second-wicket pair seized control.Smith and Amla grew increasingly aggressive, hammering 36 boundaries between them as South Africa won in 50.2 overs, four minutes after the scheduled lunch break, which was pushed back due to the closeness of victory.Australia could have gained a foothold in the game, but Amla was dropped by Mike Hussey at backward point on 29 off the last ball of Thursday's play, and again on Friday at first slip by Shane Watson on 30. Seamer Ryan Harris was the bowler on both occasions.The two teams will now travel to Johannesburg where the second and last test of the series begins on Thursday

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Pak-Sri Lanka first match of ODI series today

DUBAI :  Pakistan-Sri Lanka first match of the one-day series will be played here today,Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka Captain Misbahul Huque and Sri Lanka Captain Tilak Ratne agreed that the fast bowler Lasith Malinga would make the difference between the two teams during the ODIs, while Misbah added he would be applying a rock-solid strategy for victory. Malinga, 28 had played a major role in getting victory for Mumbai Indian last month in Champions League. Misbah said, “Malinga is a dangerous bowler, his role would be important in the series and Sri Lanka would have an upper hand in his presence. Malinga has taken 148 wickets in 94 one-day.”Dilshan declaring him an asset and a great bowler for the team said, “His come back is of great value. Pakis tan team with the inclusion of Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaque has been strengthened.Misbah said that the coming back of the all rounders has given his team an edge. Dilshan said that they would be winning the ODIs to take revenge of the test series defeat.Besides all rounders Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaque, Sohail Tanvir, young batsman Umar Akmal and wicket keeper Sarfaraz Ahmad have made a come back in the team. There seems to be stiff completion for getting into the 11-member national team for the first match, as ace players like Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaque, Sohail Tanvir and Umar Akmal are among the contestants.Probable Pakistan one-day squad for the first mach: Misbahul Huque (Captain), Muhammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Shahid Afridi, Yunus Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafique, Umar Gul, Abdul Razzaque, Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan.

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Malinga holds key in one-day series

DUBAI : Rival captains Misbah-ul Haq and Tillakaratne Dilshan agreed sling-action paceman Lasith Malinga could make the difference when Pakistan and Sri Lanka play their first one-day international here on Friday.The 28-year-old fast bowler, who bowls with a round-arm action is fresh from his exploits in last month's Champions League where he finished as the player of the tournament in Mumbai's title triumph with ten wickets.Pakistan captain Misbah conceded Malinga could be vital."Malinga is a very good bowler, he makes a difference and everyone knows he is a good bowler," said Misbah on Thursday. "We have played very well against him but they have an edge with him in the side."Pakistan won the preceding three-Test series 1-0 when Sri Lanka were without Malinga who retired from Test cricket earlier this year because of persistent injury problems.Dilshan said Malinga, who has 149 wickets in 94 one-day internationals, is an asset for his team."Lasith is one of the assets for Sri Lanka," said Dilshan. "He is one of the great bowlers in the world and he can guide other bowlers as well and his comeback in the series is a good sign for the team."Malinga was also sidelined with injury when Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the group match in Colombo in this year's World Cup.But once Malinga returned, Sri Lanka finished runners-up to India. Pakistan lost to India in the semi-final of the World Cup.Pakistan were boosted by the return of allrounders Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq who both had turbulent periods since the World Cup.After the West Indies series in May, Afridi fell out with then coach Waqar Younis before being sacked as one-day captain. In protest he retired from international cricket and only took back his decision last month.Razzaq was sidelined after a poor World Cup, but was recalled after he led Pakistan to Super Sixes title in Hong Kong earlier this month.And Misbah hoped both the allrounders give Pakistan more strength."Both Afridi and Razzaq give strength to our team," said Misbah, who was appointed captain for all three formats in June this year. "We know Sri Lanka are a good side but we are ready for them."Dilshan also hoped his team remain focused and win the series."We know we have not won a series since the World Cup, so the players are determined to put that behind and play our brand of cricket to win the series," said Dilshan, who took over from Kumar Sangakkara after the World Cup.Sri Lanka need to win 4-1 or better to keep their second place in the ICC (International Cricket Council) one-day rankings intact. They drop one place even if they win 3-2 On the other hand Pakistan jump fifth to their current sixth place if they win 4-1 and in case they win 5-0 they go to fourth

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Court dismisses Kaneria petition against PCB

KARACHI : Leg spinner Danish Kaneria's hopes of playing for Pakistan were dealt a blow on Thursday when his appeal against the PCB's refusal to consider him for selection was dismissed by the Sindh High Court. The Pakistan Cricket Board has not selected Kaneria since his involvement in a spot-fixing investigation held in England last year which resulted in his contract with English county side Essex being terminated. Kaneria was questioned by Essex police over a Pro-40 match between Essex and Durham in 2009, but was cleared of any wrongdoing. However, the PCB have refused to consider him for international matches. "The court has said that it does not have the jurisdiction to rule on our petition. We have been told to seek redress from either the Lahore High Court or go to the Supreme Court," Kaneria's lawyer Faroog Naseem said. Kaneria, who has taken 261 wickets in 61 tests, last appeared for Pakistan against England in Nottingham in 2010. "I am disappointed over today's decision but I have still not given up my fight to get clearance for national selection," Kaneria told reporters. "It has been a hard last one year for me and I still want this stigma cleared from my name." Kaneria said he would consult his lawyer and decide whether to file a petition in the Lahore High Court or appeal in the Supreme Court. (reuters)

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Watson sends South Africa crashing

CAPE TOWN : Shane Watson took five wickets in 20 balls to send South Africa crashing to 96 all out on the second day of the first Test against Australia at Newlands on Thursday.The Australian all-rounder enabled his side to take a 188-run first innings lead with a devastating spell in which he took five wickets for 17 runs.South Africa struck back, reducing Australia to 13 for three at tea after an extraordinary session in which 12 wickets fell for 60 runs in 18.1 overs.South Africa were 49 for one at lunch in reply to Australia's 284 but lost nine wickets for 45 runs in 11.3 overs after the interval.Australian captain Michael Clarke took his first innings score to 151 before he was last man out in a frustrating morning for the South Africans in which Australia reached 284 after starting the day precariously placed on 214 for eight.Tailender Peter Siddle made 20 and supported Clarke in a ninth wicket stand of 59, the second best of the innings, as the last two wickets added 70 runs.Watson struck with the second ball after lunch when the Australians successfully called for a review after umpire Ian Gould gave Hashim Amla not out after he was struck on the pad. Replays showed the ball would have hit the top of leg stump.Four balls later Jacques Kallis was out for nought, again after a review, caught at second slip when replays showed he had got a faint edge to an attempted pull which looped off his shoulder to Ricky Ponting.Watson made another double strike, bowling Graeme Smith for 37 off an inside edge and trapping Ashwell Prince leg before wicket with a full, straight ball before AB de Villiers became the third batsman out to a reviewed decision, lbw to Ryan Harris after being given not by umpire Billy Doctrove.Mark Boucher was Watson's fifth victim - with television umpire Billy Bowden again called into action, this time because the batsman queried Gould's lbw decision.Watson fell to the third ball of Australia's second innings, leg before to Steyn. Ironically if he had called for a review he would have survived because replays showed the ball would have gone over the top of his stumps. Ponting was leg before to Vernon Philander and Phil Hughes was caught at third slip off Morkel.Australian batsman Shaun Marsh did not bat at number three because he was off the field for the whole South African innings because of a back problem.

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3rd Test Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Sharjah,

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Opportunity for Pakistan to gain two places in ODI championship table

Pakistan has a chance to improve its ranking in the Reliance ICC ODI Championship when it goes head-to-head with World Cup finalist Sri Lanka in a five-match ODI series which starts at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Friday.Second-ranked Sri Lanka is presently sitting on 119 ratings points, just one ahead of world champion India, while sixth-ranked Pakistan trails fifth-ranked England by five ratings points.However, all this will change depending how the series between the Asian rivals pans out.If Pakistan wins the series 4-1, it will move ahead of England to fifth position on 108 ratings points - its best ranking since May 2009 - while Sri Lanka will drop to fourth position on 112 ratings points.A 5-0 victory will earn Pakistan nine ratings points which, in turn, will put it on 110 ratings points and fourth position on the championship table - its best since November 2008 - while Sri Lanka would slip to sixth position on 109 ratings points.In a sharp contrast, a 5-0 win for Sri Lanka will lift it to 123 ratings points - seven behind number-one ranked Australia - while a 4-1 win will earn it two rankings points. These are the only two scenarios where there will be no changes to the championship table as even a 3-2 win for Sri Lanka will mean it will slip down the ladder.A 3-2 series win will put Sri Lanka alongside India on 118 ratings points but when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point, India will be ranked second while Sri Lanka will be in third position.To find out exactly how Pakistan-Sri Lanka series will affect the Championship table, please click here. The ODI Championship table, unlike the Test Championship table, is updated after every match.In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara is the highest-ranked batsman from either side in seventh position. If the former Sri Lanka captain manages to display the same form he showed in the Test series, which helped him share the player of the series award with Saeed Ajmal, then he has a very good chance of moving as high as fifth.Other batsmen aiming for upward movements are Tillekeratne Dilshan (11th), Mahela Jayawardena (15th), Umar Akmal (17th), Angelo Mathews (35th), Mohammad Hafeez (38th), Younus Khan (41st), Upul Tharanga (43rd) and Shahid Afridi (48th).In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, Pakistan boasts four bowlers inside the top 30 with Saeed Ajmal in sixth spot, Shahid Afridi in 18th position, Umar Gul ranked 25th and Mohammad Hafeez in 29th place.For Sri Lanka, Lasith Malinga is the highest-ranked bowler in eighth position, 19 points behind Saeed Ajmal, while Suraj Randiv is 42nd.In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders, fourth-ranked Hafeez and fifth-ranked Shahid Afridi have a good opportunity to gain one place each by moving ahead of third-ranked Jacques Kallis of South Africa.The ODI player rankings will next be updated on Thursday 24 November.

Series schedule:
11 Nov - First ODI (d/n), Dubai International Cricket Stadium
14 Nov - Second ODI (d/n), Dubai International Cricket Stadium
18 Nov - Third ODI (d/n), Dubai International Cricket Stadium
20 Nov - Fourth ODI (d/n), Sharjah Cricket Stadium
23 Nov - Fifth ODI (d/n), Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

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ICC should include Pakistan in corruption inquiry: Zaka Ashraf

LAHORE : Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf said Thursday the spot-fixing incident was unfortunate and the nation had been disgraced by Mohammed Asif, Salman Butt and Mohammed Amir. Speaking to the media at the National Cricket Academy, the PCB chairman said the ICC had been asked to include Pakistan in future corruption inquiries. Ashraf also commented on Shahid Afridi’s return to the national side and said the former captain was selected on the basis of talent.

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