Group B, Match 6 PAK vs SA: South Africa reach semis
Oct 27, 2006
South Africa tore through Pakistan's top order for a landslide 124-run win in Mohali to book their place in the Champions Trophy semi-finals. Chasing South Africa's 213/8 Pakistan lost all their wickets for 89 by the 25th over. South African paceman Makhaya Ntini took 5-21 off six overs,as all-rounder Shahid Afridi offered Pakistan brief hope with a four and a six in his 14, and Yasir Arafat (27) and Umar Gul (7) staved off the inevitable with a late stand of 30. None of the top seven reached double figures.
Pakistan's record lowest one-day score is 43 off 19.5 overs against West Indies in Cape Town in 1993. Earlier, the Proteas won the toss but were reeling at 42-5 before Mark Boucher (69) and Justin Kemp (64) ground out 131 to set a total of 213-8.
Pakistan (Playing XI) : Younis Khan (Captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Rao Iftikar Anjum, Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Arafat, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul.
South Africa (Playing XI) : Graeme Smith (Captain), Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Charl Langeveldt, Shaun Pollock.
ICC Champions Trophy, Mohali: South Africa 213-8 (50 overs) bt Pakistan 89 (25 overs) by 124 runs
Pakistan, South Africa to fight for semifinal berth
Oct 27, 2006
After their defeat against New Zealand, Pakistan will have to regroup quickly and find their best form when they clash with South Africa in the Champions Trophy at Mohali on Friday.
Pakistan team (from) : Younis Khan (capt.), Shoaib Malik, Muhammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Naved-ul-Hasan, Faisal Iqbal, Imran Farhat, Rao Iftikhar and Umar Gul.
South Africa team (from) : Graeme Smith (capt.), Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Abraham Devilliers, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Andrew Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterseon, Loots Bosman and Charl Langeveldt.
Group B, Match 5 NZ vs PAK: Kiwis beat Pakistan to make semis
Oct 25, 2006
Pakistan were all out for 223 in 46.3 overs, chasing New Zealand's formidable 274 for seven at Mohali. Scott Styris and Stephen Fleming both hit half-centuries in a pitch where early conditions helped the Pakistani Pace attack.
With this win New Zealand reached the Semis at the expense of Sri Lanka. The result leaves Pakistan needing to beat South Africa in their final group game to qualify for the semi-finals. Pakistan were struggling at 83-4 before Mohammad Yousuf (71) and Shoaib Malik (52) added a vital fifth-wicket stand of 96.
New Zealand (Playing XI): Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Scott Styris, Brendon McCullum, Peter Fulton, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, James Franklin, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Younis Khan (Captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Rao Iftikar Anjum, Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul.
ICC Champions Trophy, Mohali: New Zealand 274-7 (50 overs) bt Pakistan 223 (46.3 overs) by 51 runs
Pakistan could miss speedsters on bouncy Mohali pitch
Oct 24, 2006
When Pakistan take on New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international encounter at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) ground, Mohali Wednesday, they will definitely miss the services of fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif on a "hard-rolled and bouncy track".
New Zealand team (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Brendon McCullum (wicket-keeper), Hamish Marshall, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori and Lou Vincent
Pakistan team (from) : Younis Khan (captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Faisal Iqbal, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Imran Farhat, Umar Gul, Mohammad Hafeez and Rao Iftikhar Anjum.
Group B, Match 2 SL vs PAK: Pakistan wins after a slump
Oct 17, 2006
Pakistan won their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka by 4 wickets with 11 balls remaining. Sri Lanka were all out for 253 in 49.2 overs in Jaipur after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
For Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya top scored with 48 from 35 balls with five boundaries and two huge sixes. Upul Tharanga, who put on 63 runs with Jayasuriya and 45 runs with skipper Mahela Jayawardene, was caught behind by Kamran Akmal off a Abdul Razzaq delivery for 38 runs. Razzaq ended up with 4 wickets for 50 runs in 7.2 overs.
For Pakistan Imran Farhat hit a 53 of 64 balls while Mohammad Yousuf was run out for 49. Shoaib Malik remained unbeaten on 46.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): U Tharanga, S Jayasuriya, M Jayawardene (capt), K Sangakkara (wk), M Atapattu, T Dilshan, F Maharoof, C Vaas, L Malinga, M Muralitharan, D Fernando
Pakistan (Playing XI): I Farhat, S Malik, Y Khan (capt), M Yousuf, M Hafeez, A Razzaq, K Akmal (wk), S Afridi, N-ul-Hasan, I Anjum, U Gul
Champions Trophy Group B, Jaipur: Pakistan 255-6 (48.1 overs) bt Sri Lanka 253 (49.2 overs) by four wickets
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have withdrawn fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from the Champions Trophy team after they tested positive for performance-enhancing steroid nandrolone in a test carried out three weeks ago. The new ball pair who were suspended and recalled, face a second test now. Under the ICC anti-doping rules the punishment for a first violation is two years.
Pakistan beat RCA XI in the warm up match
Oct 12, 2006
Pakistan Captain Younis Khan made a half-century and Shoaib Akhtar bowled a good spell (8-3-13-0) as Pakistan won against another RCA XI selection by 93 runs at the Neerja Modi School ground, Jaipur.
Warm-up match, Jaipur: Pakistan 280-8 beat Rajasthan Cricket Association XI 187-4 by 93 runs
Younis Khan refuses to lead Pakistan in Champions Trophy
Oct 5, 2006
Younis Khan today dropped a bombshell by refusing to lead the Pakistan cricket team in the upcoming Champions Trophy just two days before their departure to India.
Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq was on Thursday cleared of the ball tampering charges. Pakistan Cricket Board spokesperson Abbas Zaidi confirmed the acquittal as the ICC Disciplinary Hearing concluded in London at the Oval.
However, it was not all-good news for Inzamam as he has been banned for four One-Day Internationals for bringing the game into disrepute. This means that he will miss the Champions Trophy that will take place in India next month.
"Inzamam has been cleared of ball tampering but was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute. It is a Level 3 offence and he has been banned for four ODIs with immediate effect," ICC spokesperson James Fitzerald said.
The 36-year-old had 24 hours to appeal against the verdict that was given after the Code of Conduct hearing by ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, but he chose not to raise a voice.
Umpires Darrell Hair of Australia and Billy Doctrove of the West Indies had leveled the charge after Pakistan forfeited the Oval Test.
Hair had penalised the team five runs for ball tampering on the fourth day of the match and Pakistan protested by refusing to take the field after tea that led to the first ever forfeiture of a Test.
Inzamam and the two umpires were among 11 witnesses, who gave evidence in the closed hearing.
Mushtaq Ahmed takes Pakistan coach job
Sep 15, 2006
Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has been appointed as assistant coach for next month's Champions Trophy in India.
The 36-year-old, 52-Test veteran, who is currently playing county cricket with Sussex, has acted as a bowling coach in the past.
Cricket board official Saleem Altaf said the contract would be reviewed after the tournament.
Mushtaq was drafted into the Test squad in the home series against England towards the end of last year, but did not play.
He was later appointed as bowling consultant in the one-dayers and than bowling coach for the series against India earlier this year.
There was speculation he would be picked for the recent Test series in England, but he was overlooked as Pakistan lost 3-0.
Altaf also said Pakistan would set up a training camp in Jaipur for a week and were planning some friendly games before beginning their Champions Trophy campaign on October 17.
The third series in three years between arch-rivals India and Pakistan promises to be a pulsating contest.
India triumphed on their historic 2004 tour to Pakistan, and Pakistan fought back valiantly to draw the 2005 series in India.
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