Two years on, Pakistan to host first international series

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, told AFP.

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 took up 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.

Botha’s all-round show in Rajasthan win

JAIPUR: Johan Botha put in an impressive all-round performance to guide Rajasthan Royals to a crushing seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Friday.

The South African off-spinner finished with 3-6 off two overs to help Rajasthan restrict Mumbai to their lowest IPL total of 94-8 and then scored 45 to shape his team’s victory with 11 balls to spare.

It was Rajasthan’s fourth win in eight matches and Mumbai’s second defeat in seven games of the Twenty20 tournament.

In another match, Virat Kohli smashed a 42-ball 67 with the help of four sixes and West Indies opener Chris Gayle a brisk 49 off 26 balls to set up Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 26-run victory over Pune Warriors.

Pune finished on 155-5 chasing a 182-run target to suffer their fifth defeat in seven matches.

New Zealander Jesse Ryder top-scored with a 34-ball 51 for Pune and skipper Yuvraj Singh cracked 41 off 23 balls with the help of three sixes.

Mumbai still lead the league table with 10 points while Bangalore and Rajasthan each have nine points.

Botha earlier struck with his third delivery when he trapped West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard lbw before accounting for Australian Andrew Symonds and Rajagopal Sathish in his next over.

Symonds top-scored with 17 in Mumbai’s dismal batting show. There were just two sixes and four boundaries in the entire Mumbai innings.

Mumbai’s Harbhajan Singh, who took a short first run and returned for a second in a bid to keep the strike in the final over, hit a last-ball six off seamer Shane Watson.

Rajasthan owed their victory to spinners, with Shane Warne and Ashok Menaria also playing crucial roles in restricting Mumbai.

Warne conceded just 13 runs off four overs and left-arm spinner Menaria 20 runs, sharing three wickets in the process.

Menaria, who opened the attack, bagged two of the first three wickets, including that of skipper Sachin Tendulkar, to send Mumbai reeling at 46-3 in the opening nine overs.

He had Tendulkar stumped for seven runs and then held a return catch to dismiss Ambati Rayudu (11) before Warne put more pressure on Mumbai when he had Rohit Sharma (13) caught by Botha at long-off.

Brief scores:

Mumbai Indians 94-8 in 20 overs (A. Symonds 17; J. Botha 3-6, A. Singh 2-14, A. Menaria 2-20) lost to Rajasthan Royals 95-3 in 18.1 overs (J. Botha 45, S. Watson 26; M. Patel 2-18) by seven wickets.

Royal Challengers Bangalore 181-5 in 20 overs (V. Kohli 67, C. Gayle 49, AB de Villiers 26; A. Thomas 2-23, R. Sharma 2-27) beat Pune Warriors 155-5 in 20 overs (J. Ryder 51, Yuvraj Singh 41, R. Uthappa 23 not out) by 26 runs.

Players’ assets should be examined, says Zulqarnain

LAHORE: Wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider says the assets of every cricketer in the country should be examined regularly to curb the menace of fixing in cricket.

“Assets of the cricketers [in Pakistan] should be examined every year and the income tax department can play a vital role in this regard,” Zulqarnain said while talking to reporters at his residence here on Friday.

“In Pakistan where many people are struggling for two-time daily meals many cricketers own 15 houses. The whole nation should think about this to end the difference [of living standard] between the people,” added Zulqarnain.

Declining to mention the name of any player who might be involved in fixing business, Zulqarnain reckoned it was not good as the government was already investigating the matter.

He said the other players around the world should also come forward to help those who wanted to eradicate match-fixing and spot-fixing trend in cricket.

Zulqarnain claimed had he not sacrificed his career in Dubai by abandoning the national side to leave for Britain, no progress would have been made to check corrupt elements in cricket.

The player revealed he had given important information on fixing to the interior minister and there was progress in this regard.

Who is Duncan Fletcher?” Kapil Dev asks

NEW DELHI: India’s newly-appointed coach Duncan Fletcher on Thursday got a taste of the challenges he faces when two senior former players said a fellow countryman should have got the job instead.

Fletcher, a former Zimbabwean all-rounder who rose to prominence during his eight-year stint as England coach, was awarded a two-year contract Wednesday by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar, former Indian captains and influential voices in the cricket establishment, expressed displeasure over Fletcher’s appointment.

“Who is Duncan Fletcher?” Dev told the Hindustan Times newspaper.

“I would like to see Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh (former India players) as coaches of the Indian team. Not because they are Indians but because they did a great job at the T20 World Cup in 2007.”

Gavaskar said former India all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath, who played a key role in guiding the team to their first World Cup win in 1983, should have been picked.

“Someone like Amarnath would have been a better choice for the simple reason that the core of the Indian team today is from the Hindi-speaking belt,”he told the NDTV news channel.

“He would have got on brilliantly with this group as well as the seniors. It would have been a lot easier for Amarnath to understand and interact with the players.

“There is a perception and a wrong one that an Indian (coach) can be influenced and that he will get involved in politics. You are presuming that he cannot be a strong person.”

Lasith Malinga bows out of Tests, will play ODIs and T20s

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga announced his retirement from Test cricket on Friday, citing a “degenerative knee condition” as the reason behind his decision.

Malinga, who Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker at the World Cup, said he will continue to play one-day international and Twenty20 cricket despite the knee problem.

The sling-arm action bowler is currently playing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League and had made himself unavailable for Sri Lanka’s tour of England, attracting criticism that he had chosen to play for club over country.

“In January this year I wrote a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket and released a statement to the media confirming that I planned to reassess my Test future after the World Cup,” he said in a statement.

“I decided that I needed to make myself unavailable for Test cricket in an effort to prolong my career as a national cricketer for Sri Lanka.

“Although I am sufficiently fit to play both ODI and T20 cricket, I have a long-standing degenerative condition in my right knee that needs to be carefully managed.”

Bishoo spins Windies to T20 win over Pakistan

GROS ISLET, St.Lucia: Leg spinner Devendra Bishoo claimed four wickets as the new-look West Indies beat Pakistan by seven runs in their Twenty20 international on Thursday.

The Guyanese spinner ran through the Pakistan middle order as they fell short in their chase of West Indies’ total of 150 for seven.

West Indies picked a youthful team for the one-off game and the upcoming ODI series, having dropped experienced batsmen Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

One of the young faces, opening batsman Lendl Simmons got West Indies off to a great start with a lively 65 off 44 balls and left-hander Darren Bravo struck 42 off 33 as the Caribbean side brought up their 100 in the 13th over.

But, as so often, Darren Sammy’s side failed to build on their good foundation and ended up falling short of a really strong total, with just two other players making double figures.

Pakistan lost both their openers, Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez, early but Umar Akmal’s 41 from 60 balls put them in with a chance.

Bishoo, who caught the eye of West Indies selectors with his performances in regional Twenty20 cricket, then showed his value in the shortest form of the game with some astute bowling.

The vital breakthrough came when Sammmy made a fine catch at extra-cover off Bishoo, to dismiss skipper Shahid Afridi (12) and break up what was a potentially match winning partnership.

Sammy then ran out Mohammand Salman and when Marlon Samuels caught Umar at deep midwicket off Ravi Rampaul, Pakistan were in trouble at 109-7.

But some loose bowling and some spirited resistance from Saeed Ajmal (21 not out) at the end gave the tourists a glimmer of hope and the last pair needed 14 from the final over.

Jamaican all-rounder Andre Russell kept his composure, after a no-ball with his first delivery of the over, and the West Indies had cause for celebration at the start of their home campaigns which also includes two tests with Pakistan in May and three against India in June.

Cricket: India, Sri Lanka set to lock horns over IPL recall issue

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday urged Sri Lanka to reconsider a decision to recall their players midway through the Indian Premier League in the latest clash with the sport’s international schedule.

Sri Lankan cricketers playing for various IPL franchises have been ordered to return home by May 5, more than three weeks before the end of the money-spinning Twenty20 tournament, to prepare for an upcoming tour of England.

Sri Lanka’s tour starts with a warm-up game on May 14 before the first Test at Cardiff on May 26.

“According to us, the Sri Lankan players were to stay here till May 21 as they had promised and the franchises are also under the same impression,” the Indian cricket board’s vice-president Rajiv Shukla told reporters.

“But now they want to go back early and it is not appropriate.”Shukla said the Indian board would try to convince Sri Lanka Cricket to reverse their decision.

Haider’s Pakistan return in doubt after threats

ISLAMABAD: Wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider is reconsidering his plans to travel back to Pakistan after claiming he received threatening telephone calls.

Haider told Geo Television on Thursday that an anonymous caller from Pakistan threatened him, saying: ”you are coming back despite being told not to come, you are responsible for the consequences.”

Haider had reportedly informed Scotland Yard about the calls and is reconsidering whether to travel to Pakistan on Apr. 24.

Last week, he revoked his application for asylum in Britain after meeting the Pakistan interior minister.

Haider fled the team hotel in Dubai last November, saying he received death threats from match fixers.

Malinga, Mathews out of Sri Lanka’s squad for England Tests

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka left out fast bowler Lasith Malinga as well as all-rounder Angelo Mathews and named four uncapped players Wednesday in a 16-member Test squad for the upcoming tour of England.

Sri Lanka play three Tests, five one-dayers and one Twenty20 international during the tour starting on May 14.

Malinga, who last played a Test in August last year, was ignored despite being in top form during the recent World Cup. He is currently playing in the Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians.

A five-member selection panel gave call-ups to Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera and Nuwan Pradeep, all of whom are yet to play in Tests.

“Thirimanne and Chandimal are promising young batsmen who have already played one-day games,” chief selector Duleep Mendis told reporters.

The squad includes four fast bowlers in Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal and Pradeep.

“Fernando is the most exposed fast bowler out of the lot. The others are being tried out to gain experience of bowling on fast English wickets,” Mendis said.

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who played in Sri Lanka’s previous Test series against West Indies, was also left out of the squad, which will be led by new captain Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Mathews, widely tipped to get the vice-captaincy role, was not considered due to fitness concerns.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene (wicket-keeper), Thisara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep

Javeria steers Pakistan women to two-wicket win over Sri Lanka

Javeria Khan’s unbeaten half-century guided Pakistan Women’s two-wicket win in the one-day international against Sri Lankan Women on Thursday.

The one-off ODI, being played at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club, was a low-scoring encounter, as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 153 runs with Sadaf Yousuf and Qanita Jalil taking three wickets each.

Javeria carried the bat and held the Pakistan chase together as wickets fell around her at regular intervals. She opened the innings with Nida Dar but was soon joined by Nahida Khan, as Nida was dismissed in the second over by Eshani Kaushalya. Nahida (5) and two-down batswoman Bismah Mahroof (7) were medium-pacer Kaushalya’s next two victims are she reduced Pakistan to 21-3 in six overs.

Captain Sana Mir then held her innings together for 43 balls as she scored 20 runs in the 41-run partnership with Javeria. She was, however, bowled out by her counterpart Shashikala Siriwardene in the 20th over. Marina Iqbal, who replaced Sana, could only survive three deliveries from Siriwardene before being given out leg-before. At this stage, Pakistan needed another 91 runs off 30 overs with five wickets in hand.

Javeria then shared a 53-run stand with Asmavia Iqbal, who scored 25 runs, to take Pakistan closer to the total. While Sri Lanka staged a late comeback to reduce Pakistan to 137-8, the visitors were anchored home by their resilient opener with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier, Qanita gave Pakkistan the perfect start when she bowled out Chamari Jayangani on the first ball of the innings. The medium-pacer then dismissed Suwini de Alwis in the third over to reduce the hosts to 8-2.

None of the middle-order batters could get into double figures as wickets continued to fall through the early overs. Captain Shashikala Siriwardene fell to left-arm medium-pacer Masooma Junaid after scoring four runs, and was soon followed by Sandamali Dolawatta and Dilani Surangika, both of whom were dismissed by left-arm spinner Sadia Yousuf.

At 48-6, the hosts’ chances of crossing the 100-run mark appeared slim when Deepika Rasangika and Eshani Kaushalya started building a partnership. The two lower-order batters were able to resurrect the Lankan innings to some extent with their 62-run partnership that came in 14 overs.

Pakistan captain Sana Mir then brought herself into the attack and managed to break the partnership in the 35th over when she had Rasangika edge a ball to wicketkeeper Batool Fatima after scoring 31 runs. Kaushalya’s 52-ball vigil also ended soon when she became Qanita’s third victim. The all-rounder top-scored for the hosts with 35 runs, which included two fours.

Sri Lanka saw a late flurry from Udeshika Pabodhani, who hit three fours in her 33-ball 19 as the hosts finished their innings on 153 runs, with one ball to spare.

The one-off ODI will be followed by a quadrangular series, which also includes Netherlands and Ireland. Pakistan play their first match of the series against Netherlands on Saturday.

Emotional Gayle says West Indies board ‘froze’ him out

GROS ISLET: Chris Gayle claimed on Wednesday he had been frozen out by the West Indies Cricket Board and was left with no option but to choose the money-spinning IPL over national team duty.

The former captain said he was forced to accept an offer to play for the Royal Challengers Bangalore because he was not sure about his place in the West Indies team, following his axing for the opening matches of Pakistan’s tour.

West Indies officials reacted angrily to Gayle’s decision, and said they were less than pleased with the manner in which the he handled the situation.

They begrudgingly gave him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the IPL.

But a few hours later Gayle blasted the WICB in a revealing radio interview from India.

He said after getting injured during the World Cup, he paid all expenses for medical treatment in Britain before returning home to Jamaica, where he took it upon himself to commence a rehabilitation programme with his personal trainer.

“A group of players were selected for a training camp in Barbados, and I never got a call, nobody spoke to me, and I decided to leave it alone,” an emotional Gayle said in an hour-long interview on Jamaican radio station, KLAS Sports.

“I continued my training programme, and I came to find out via the media that a Twenty20 squad was announced, and a One-day International squad was announced, and I was stunned when I saw a big headline in the newspapers, ‘Gayle, Sarwan, Chanderpaul dropped’.

Gayle said he was puzzled because no WICB official had actually called to check-up on him.

He felt the least they could have done was to call him to the training camp at the West Indies High Performance Centre in Bridgetown, and assess his fitness before making a decision about the team.

“The only communication I have had with anyone connected with the WICB was when I sent a text message to (team physio) C.J. Clark, and gave him an update about how I was doing,” he said.

“I told him I was feeling good, the progress I was making, I was running, I was in the gym, and working. His only response was that he would send a fitness programme, which I did not receive until the IPL offer had presented itself.”

He continued: “I wanted to get back on track as quickly as possible. I wanted to play and represent West Indies.

“This was my ultimate goal, since I did not have a contract, but I was forced into this decision because teams were picked, I was not informed about what was happening, and I did not know what the future would hold.

“The matches could be played, and other players do well, and I could still be sitting on the sidelines, so I had no other choice.”

Gayle said when he requested the NOC from the WICB, there was a hive of activity, and correspondence from various officials was coming left, right, and centre.

“All of a sudden, everybody got energy, and they were trying to contact me,” he said.

“As much as I wanted to play for West Indies, they left me with no choice.

“I have served West Indies for many years, but I was disrespected a lot, and I have been playing under a lot of pressure.”

Pakistan will play one Twenty20, five ODIs and two Tests against West Indies during their tour which starts on Thursday.

The WICB, who said that so far a national squad had only been named for the T20 and first two ODIs, was “most disappointed” at Gayle’s conduct.

“The WICB does not accept Gayle’s reason for making himself unavailable but as he has already clearly made his choice and has travelled to India, the WICB does not wish to stand in his way,” it said in a press release.

Kochi, Mumbai win in low-scoring thrillers

KOLKATA: Kochi Tuskers Kerala pulled off a stunning six-run win against favourites Kolkata Knight Riders in a thrilling Indian Premier League match on Wednesday.

Ravindra Jadeja struck an 18-ball 29 with three sixes and a four to take Kochi to 132-7 before Kolkata were restricted to 126-9 off 20 overs on a slow Eden Gardens track.

In the other match of the day, Mumbai Indians rode on a clinical effort by their bowlers to hand a seven-wicket thrashing to Pune Warriors and register their third win in four matches.

Kolkata, leading the points table before this match, lost quick wickets in their chase and could never recover from the early setbacks despite a fighting 46-run knock by Manoj Tiwary.

Jadeja impressed with the ball as well, picking up two wickets including the key scalp of Tiwary.

It was Kolkata’s second defeat from five outings and Kochi’s third win from as many games.

Spinners Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan earlier shared six wickets after Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir won the toss and elected to field.

New Zealand star Brendon McCullum (23) and Mahela Jayawardene (25) gave Kochi a steady start, putting on 49 runs for the opening wicket.

It was Bangladesh left-arm spinner Shakib who gave Kolkata a key breakthrough when he had McCullum caught by Eoin Morgan while Pathan accounted for Jayawardene, Brad Hodge and Parthiv Patel in quick succession.

In Mumbai, Munaf Patel grabbed three wickets for eight runs while Ali Murtaza and Abu Nechim took two apiece to bowl out Pune for 118 in 17.2 overs before Mumbai overhauled the target off the last ball.

Skipper Sachin Tendulkar scored a fine 35 off 39 balls and shared 74 runs for the second wicket with Ambati Rayudu (37) to set the platform for the chase.

Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds (16 not out) hit two fours in the 18th over and Rohit Sharma (20 not out) brought off the winning runs with a six to give Mumbai their third victory in four matches.

Pune failed to bat out 20 overs despite a 45-run knock by Robin Uthappa who perished to a blinder of a catch by West Indian Kieron Pollard.

It was the second defeat for the IPL debutants in four games.

Brief scores:

Pune Warriors 118 all out in 17.2 overs (R. Uthappa 45; M. Patel 3-8, Abu Nechim 2-13, Ali Murtaza 2-18, L. Malinga 2-28) lost to Mumbai Indians 124-3 in 20 overs (A. Rayudu 37, S. Tendulkar 35) by seven wickets.

Kochi Tuskers Kerala 132-7 in 20 overs (R. Jadeja 29, M. Jayawardene 25; Yusuf Pathan 3-20, Shakib al Hasan 3-28) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 126-9 (M. Tiwary 46; R.P. Singh 2-25, R. Jadeja 2-25) by six runs.

Pakistan Cricket Board tightens agent rules

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket chiefs on Wednesday released a new set of tighter regulations for the registration of players’ agents in light of last year’s spot-fixing scandal.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in future approved agents needed to have clearance from the police and the cricket board of the country the agent lives in.

“These regulations shall be applicable with immediate effect to all persons wishing to act as agents for the cricketers who have or are representing Pakistan at all levels or who participate in cricket organised by the PCB,” a statement said.

The regulations follow a spot-fixing scandal involving three Pakistani players, Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, and their agent Mazhar Majeed.

The three players have been handed lengthy bans on charges of corruption relating to last year’s Lord’s Test against England in which the trio were alleged to have taken money from Majeed for deliberately delivering no-balls.

Fresh faces set to clash in Pakistan-West Indies T20

GROS-ISLET: Old foes West Indies and Pakistan face each other in a Twenty20 International for the first time on Thursday.

The Beausejour Cricket Ground in this coastal town on the northern circumference of this volcanic island of St Lucia forms a picturesque backdrop for the occasion.

It is hard to believe that though Twenty20 matches have become popular in the modern game that the two sides have not been fortunate enough to cross each other’s paths in this version before now.

Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam said there were great expectations of his side, following a strong, if not successful show in the World Cup.

“We’ve brought some youngsters with us, and I think it’s a golden opportunity for them to make a name for themselves, and to make a career in the sport,” said Alam.

“It was a long journey from Pakistan to the Caribbean, but we travelled well, and the boys are all happy and they’re well.”

“The people in Pakistan are very happy with us [following the World Cup]. Now the expectations are even higher for this tour of the West Indies because we have never won a [Test] series out here before.”

West Indies manager Richie Richardson said there have been enough good individual performances from his side in the last few months to make him feel confident, but they would have to put it all together to overcome the Pakistanis.

“We’re about to head into this series, which is very important – it’s a home series,” he said.

“As a region, it’s always very important, and for our home fans, who look forward to excitement and to us doing well.

“It’s easier for us to do well with our home crowd and their support, and it gives an opportunity to bring ourselves back up the ladder – to dig deep, work hard, prove ourselves, and give back to our fans.”

He added: “People across the World have been accustomed to the West Indies providing exciting cricket and we must work harder to give that to them.”

Both sides have made significant changes in personnel since the World Cup, and have invested heavily in a number of unproven players for the limited-overs portion of the series, which includes this T20I.

Pakistan have dropped wicketkeeper/batsman Kamran Akmal and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, while fast bowler Umar Gul and experienced batsman Younis Khan were dropped from the team.

Wicketkeeper Muhammad Salman has been given a chance, while batsmen Hammad Azam and Usman Salahuddin, as well as left-arm fast-medium bowler Sadaf Hussain have been included in the team for the first time.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, and Sulieman Benn – four high-profile members of the West Indies World Cup squad – have all been sidelined by the selectors for this match, and the first two One-day Internationals that follow.

For this T20I, the home team have brought in the uncapped quartet of batsman Danza Hyatt, all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, off-spinner Ashley Nurse, and left-arm fast bowler Krishmar Santokie.

West Indies have also been fortified with the inclusion of stylish batsman Marlon Samuels, who is once again eligible for selection, after serving a two-year ban for his alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers.

Utility player Lendl Simmons, the nephew of Ireland coach Phil Simmons, the former West Indies all-rounder, is also back in the squad, along with batsman Andre Fletcher, who will handle duties behind the stumps.

Squads

Pakistan (from): Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice captain), Abdur Rehman, Ahmed Shahzad, Asad Shafiq, Hammad Azam, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Salman, Sadaf Hussain, Saeed Ajmal, Tanveer Ahmed, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Usman Salahuddin, Wahab Riaz

West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Danza Hyatt, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons

Umpires: Norman Malcolm, Peter Nero

Match referee: Jeff Crowe

TV Umpire: Gregory Brathwaite

Chris Gayle opts out of Pakistan series for IPL stint

ST. JOHN’S: Former captain Chris Gayle has angered the West Indies Cricket Board by making himself unavailable for the entire home series against Pakistan so he can play in the IPL.

The WICB says in a statement on Wednesday that while Gayle was rehabilitating an abdominal strain he suffered at the World Cup under the supervision of team medical personnel in Jamaica, it assumed he was preparing for Pakistan.

Instead, it said it was “surprised” to discover he accepted a request from Royal Challengers Bangalore to join them as an injury replacement for the rest of the IPL and “did not accept” his reasons.

But as he wasn’t contracted to the WICB, Gayle was reluctantly granted a release by the board as he was already on his way to India.

WICB chief slams Sarwan corruption rumours

GROS ISLET (St Lucia): West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Chief Executive Ernest Hilaire has blamed irresponsible reporting for rumours that batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan was being investigated for match-fixing.

Hilaire was responding to an open letter from Guyana`s Minister of Sport, Frank Anthony, which criticised the WICB for failing to protect Sarwan from the damaging allegations.

Anthony had written the letter to the WICB seeking clarification on the matter, which made headlines in a few sections of the Caribbean media.

“When properly assessed, the situation is to be blamed squarely on an erratic and unprofessional approach from some irresponsible media operatives, who reproduced the information from [an] anonymous blog without bothering to verify the source or veracity of what was before them,” said Hilaire.

Hilaire informed the minister that the WICB had not spoken publicly about the matter because it does not have the authority to comment on such issues.

“It is the exclusive purview of the International Cricket Council,” he said. “In any event, if the WICB were to comment on every accusation, story, rumour, or suspicion expressed in the media or blogs, it would be a never-ending exercise of responses.”

He added: “The WICB is in possession of information from time to time on anti-corruption matters and I am sure you would agree that it would be inappropriate to distribute such information either to confirm or deny ongoing investigations or suspicions.”—AFP

Deccan Chargers worsen Delhi Daredevils’ woes with 16-run win

NEW DELHI: Little-known opener Sunny Sohal hit a half-century and Kumar Sangakkara made a solid 49 to set up Deccan Chargers’ 16-run win over Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday.

Sohal top-scored with an impressive 62, as Deccan posted a competitive 168-4 before restricting Delhi to 152-7 for their second victory in five matches of the Twenty20 tournament.

Australian David Warner scored a 48-ball 51 with the help of one six and five fours for Delhi, who suffered their third defeat in four games. He added 52 for the fourth wicket with Venugopal Rao (21).

Seamer Harmeet Singh bagged two crucial wickets, including that of skipper Virender Sehwag (12), to put Delhi under pressure, while Australian paceman Daniel Christian finished with 2-38.

Yogesh Nagar (23) and Australian James Hopes (17 not out) were the other main scorers for Delhi.

Sohal, who smashed a six and a four off successive balls from South African fast bowler Morne Morkel, earlier put on 92 for the second wicket with skipper Sangakkara, who hit one six and eight fours in his 35-ball knock.

Sri Lankan Sangakkara looked set to reach his half-century before falling in a bid to step up the run-rate. Australian Cameron White helped Deccan cross the 150-mark with a brisk 25-ball 31 not out in the closing overs.

Atapattu appointed Sri Lanka’s batting coach

COLOMBO: Former captain Marvan Atapattu will be Sri Lanka’s batting coach on the upcoming tour of England.

The appointment on Tuesday signalled public forgiveness from Sri Lanka Cricket for Atapattu, who retired in 2007 following a spat with the national selectors and dropped most links with the governing body.

In a controversial farewell press conference, he referred to the selectors as “muppets headed by a joker.”

After retiring, Atapattu played in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League, which was regarded as a rebel league by the Indian cricket authorities and International Cricket Council.

The 40-year-old Atapattu played 90 Tests and 268 one-day internationals in a 17-year international career.

The opening batsman scored 5,502 test runs including 16 centuries, six of them double hundreds, and 8,529 ODI runs including 11 centuries.

Choosing Atapattu continued the major overhaul of Sri Lanka cricket following the World Cup, where the team reached the final this month.

Former Australia batsman Stuart Law is the new coach, Tillakaratne Dilshan the new captain, and former skipper Duleep Mendis heads a new selection committee.

The tour of England starting next month involves three tests, five one-dayers and two Twenty20s.

Centurion Hafeez leads Pakistan to tour-match win

Mohammad Hafeez carried on with his impressive World Cup form as he led Pakistan to a 68-run win over University of West Indies Vice-chancellor’s XI on Monday.

Hafeez (retired hurt on 101) and Abdur Rehman (four wickets) were the stars for Pakistan as they played their first tour match at the Mindoo Phillip Park Stadium in Castries, St. Lucia.

Pakistan made 287 runs from their quota of 50 overs, with handy contributions from most batsmen including, Taufeeq Umar (44), Ahmed Shehzad (49) and Umar Akmal (57). However, it was Hafeez’s 93-ball knock that did the most damage, after the West Indian university side dropped the stand-in Pakistan captain in the first over. The opener then went on to plunder 10 fours and two sixes before retiring out to give his teammates a chance to gain batting practice.

Umar Akmal was also impressive with the bat as he hit eight fours and a six in his 57-run stint.

For the hosts, pacer Carlos Brathwaite was the most successful bowler, with three wickets off his 10 overs and Nkruma Bonner also chipped in with two wickets from his four overs of leg-spin bowling. West Indies international Fidel Edwards could only manage one wicket from his eight overs, while star all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was expensive on his return from injury as he gave away 69 runs from his right overs.

The hosts’ captain and opener Omar Phillips could only score nine runs before being bowled out by medium-pacer Tanvir Ahmed, who returns to the Pakistan side after missing out on the World Cup.

Miles Bascombe was dismissed for 26 by left-arm seamer Junaid Khan, and the opener was soon followed back to the pavilion by Kyle Corbin, who was caught off the bolwing of Wahab Riaz.

Bravo then combined with Bonner for the hosts’ biggest partnership (48 runs) and resurrected the chase. Bonner was dismissed by left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman for 43 runs. Bravo, true to his reputation as a big-hitter, scored 63 runs from 70 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes to become Rehman’s second victim.

Rehman took two more wickets to finish with figures of four wickets for 27 runs off his 10 overs. The hosts were eight wickets down and 68 runs behind the target when they finished up their quota of 50 overs, to finish at 219-8.

Pakistan’s limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi opted to sit out, along with Misbah-ul-Haq, Saeed Ajmal and Sadaf Hussain.

Pakistan meet West Indies on Thursday, in the one-off Twenty20 match before the one-day international series gets underway on Saturday (April 23).

Pakistanis: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Taufeeq Umar, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Hammad Azam, Usman Salahuddin, Mohammad Salman (wicketkeeper), Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Abdur Rehman

University of West Indies Vice-chancellor’s XI: Omar Phillips (captain), Miles Bascombe, Kyle Corbin, Nkruma Bonner, Dwayne Bravo, Kjorn Ottley, Chadwick Walton, Carlos Brathwaite, Kevin McClean, Keron Cottoy, Fidel Edwards, Gilford Moore