Umar steadies Pakistan in Bangladesh Test

DHAKA: Taufeeq Umar closed in on a second successive half-century to steady Pakistan on the second day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday.

The left-handed opener, who scored 61 in the opening Test in Chittagong, was unbeaten on 44 as Pakistan reached 87-1 in their first innings at stumps after bowling out Bangladesh for 338.

Azhar Ali was 26 not out when play was called off due to bad light.

Pakistan lost in-form Mohammad Hafeez before Umar and Azhar put on 64 runs for the unbroken second-wicket stand, with Umar hitting eight fours in his 79-ball knock so far.

Bangladesh paceman Nazmul Hossain, returning to the Test side after seven years, struck with his first delivery when he had Hafeez caught behind for only 14, a stark contrast to the opener’s 143 in the last Test.

Bangladesh, resuming at 234-5, earlier lost well-set Shakib Al Hasan (144) and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (40) off successive balls before being bowled out in the afternoon session.

The hosts were strongly placed at 305-5 before losing their last five wickets for 33, with Shakib’s dismissal starting the slide.

Shakib was run out following a mix-up with his skipper as Umar hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end from mid-wicket, while Rahim was caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal off paceman Umar Gul.

Left-handed Shakib and Rahim batted comfortably against Pakistan’s pace-spin combination, adding 82 runs for the sixth wicket.

Fast bowlers Gul and Aizaz Cheema each took three wickets, while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal finished with 2-64.

Former captain Shakib, 108 overnight, cracked 15 fours in a superb 242-ball knock for his highest score in any form of international cricket, while Rahim hit one six and six fours in his 102-ball innings.

Shahadat Hossain, dropped on five by Abdur Rehman at deep mid-wicket off Ajmal, remained unbeaten on 21 with the help of one six and two fours.

Pakistan went wicketless in the morning session despite taking the second new ball immediately it was available as Shakib and Rahim helped their team add 51 runs to their overnight total after a delayed start due to fog.

Rahim, five not out overnight, played some handsome shots in the morning as he slog-swept Ajmal over mid-wicket for the first six of the match and then cut left-arm spinner Rehman for a four in the next over.

Pakistan lead 1-0 in the series after winning the opening Test by an innings and 184 runs.

Pakistan eye win after Younis double ton

Younis, 96 overnight, reached his hundred in the opening over when he flicked paceman Shahadat Hossain for a four. -Photo by AFP

CHITTAGONG: Younis Khan cracked an unbeaten double-century and Asad Shafiq made his maiden international hundred as Pakistan closed in on victory in the first Test against Bangladesh on Sunday.

Younis smashed a solid 200 not out and Shafiq an impressive 104 as Pakistan posted 594-5 declared in their first innings in reply to Bangladesh’s 135 in Chittagong.

The hosts faltered against spin before reaching 134-4 in their second innings at stumps, with debutant Mohammed Nazimuddin and Shakib Al Hasan both unbeaten on 41, still trailing by 325 runs.

“I’m very happy with the double-century and credit goes to the coaches and management of Pakistan’s team. I dedicate this double-hundred to my family,”said Younis.

Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez, who was pressed into Pakistan’s attack after only five overs, struck with his fifth delivery after the tea break when he bowled opener Tamim Iqbal for 15.

Bangladesh lost three wickets in the space of six runs after Nazimuddin and Shahriar Nafees added 50 for the second wicket, with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman and paceman Aizaz Cheema doing the damage.

Nafees made 28 and Nasir Hossain three while Mohammad Ashraful failed to open his account before Nazimuddin and Shakib added 54 for the unbroken fifth-stand stand to steady the innings.

“Our batting has not been up to the expectations, maybe the confidence is a bit low at the moment. But still there was some positive batting from Shakib and Nazimuddin,” said Bangladeshi left-arm spinner Elias Sunny.

Pakistan declared in the afternoon session immediately after Younis turned left-arm spinner Shakib to square-leg for two runs to complete his double-century, his third score of 200 or more in 72 Tests.

Younis dominated the Bangladeshi attack with rich strokeplay, hitting three sixes and 18 fours in his 290-ball knock.

Bangladesh continued to struggle for success as they took more than a session to get their lone wicket, but not before Younis and Shafiq had put on 259 for the fifth wicket.

“I knew I’ll get my first hundred because I’m working hard. So after I got it today, it’s like a dream come true,” said Shafiq.

“I just wanted to play positive and straight as much as possible. It was a pleasure to bat with Younis because he kept correcting me when I played wrong.”

Sunny broke the stand when he dismissed 25-year-old Shafiq, who cracked two sixes and nine fours in his 235-ball innings before being caught by Nafees at long-off while going for a big shot.

Younis, 96 overnight, reached his 19th Test hundred in the opening over when he flicked paceman Shahadat Hossain for four. He was later caught off a Rubel Hossain no-ball by Sunny at deep square-leg on 138.

Sunny finished with 3-123, while off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah and Shahadat took one wicket each.

Hafeez, Younis take Pakistan to big lead

Hafeez put Pakistan on course for a big total with a 164-run stand for the opening wicket with left-handed Taufeeq Umar, who scored 61 for his 12th Test half-century. -Photo by AFP

CHITTAGONG: Opener Mohammad Hafeez cracked a career-best 143 and Younis Khan an impressive 96 not out on Saturday to put Pakistan in a commanding position in the opening Test against Bangladesh.

Hafeez hit 14 fours in his fourth Test hundred as Pakistan posted 415-4 in their first innings at stumps on the second day in reply to Bangladesh’s 135, to gain a 280-run lead with six wickets in hand.

Younis, playing his 72nd Test, completed 6,000 runs when he lofted left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan for a straight six in the last session. He also hit 10 fours in his 155-ball knock.

Asad Shafiq, who put on 104 for the unbroken fifth-wicket stand with Younis, was 40 not out with two sixes to his name as the tourists plundered 283 runs in the day after resuming at 132 for no loss.

Hafeez, whose previous best was 119 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo this year, was unlucky to be adjudged leg-before off left-arm spinner Elias Sunny, as TV replays suggested he inside-edged the delivery on to his pad.

It was a frustrating day for Bangladesh, who not only struggled to take wickets on an easy-paced track but also dropped a couple of catches.

The hosts took the second new ball immediately after it was due and Shahadat Hossain had a chance to dismiss Younis on 15, but Sunny dropped the catch at deep square-leg.

Bangladesh also let off skipper Misbah-ul-Haq on five when the batsman edged paceman Rubel Hossain, but Shahriar Nafees failed to hold on at second slip.

Sunny, who made a seven-wicket Test debut at this venue against the West Indies in October, then trapped Misbah (20) leg-before when the batsman attempted to sweep a full-toss.

Hafeez earlier put Pakistan in a strong position when he added 164 for the opening wicket with left-handed Taufeeq Umar (61) and 56 for the second wicket with Azhar Ali (26).

Hafeez, 74 overnight, reached his century in the morning when he drove off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah through the covers for a four.

Bangladesh broke the opening-wicket stand when Mahmudullah trapped Umar leg-before after the batsman had added eight runs to his overnight score of 53.

Umar’s 164-ball knock contained eight fours.

Shahadat was the other wicket-taker, having Azhar caught by wicket-keeper and captain Mushfiqur Rahim in the afternoon.

Hafeez, Umar put Pakistan on top

CHITTAGONG: Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar cracked unbeaten half-centuries to put Pakistan in command after Bangladesh crashed to 135 on the opening day of the first Test on Friday.

Pakistan made a strong reply to reach 132 for no loss in their first innings at stumps, with Hafeez hitting nine fours in his 74 not out and Umar seven boundaries in his unbeaten 53.

Umar gave a chance in the last over of the day bowled by left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan, but Shahadat Hossain failed to hold on to the ball at mid-on.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman earlier finished with 3-9 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal with 3-40 as Bangladesh were dismissed in just 51.2 overs after being put in to bat in Chittagong.

Pacemen Aizaz Cheema and Umar Gul also gave a good account of themsleves as they wrecked the hosts’ top order before finishing with two wickets each.

Bangladesh also had their shot-selection to blame for their dismal batting display against Pakistan’s pace-spin combination as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Lower-order batsman Nasir Hossain top-scored with 41 with the help of one six and seven fours before being the last man out.

Debutant opener Mohammed Nazimuddin also offered some resistance as he batted more than a session for his 79-ball 31 with the help of five fours before he was caught by Hafeez in the slips off Gul.

Mohammad Mahmudullah (18) was the other batsman to reach double-figures.

Pakistan, playing their first Test in Bangladesh in almost a decade, put the hosts in deep trouble in the morning when they took five wickets for 47 runs in the opening 23 overs.

Cheema rocked Bangladesh with two quick wickets while Gul, Ajmal and Rehman each took one wicket after the tourists had won the toss and elected to field.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq opened the attack with off-spinner Hafeez, but had to rely on his fast bowlers to jolt the hosts on an easy-paced track.

Hafeez gave away nine runs, including a six over long-off by opener Tamim Iqbal, in his opening three overs before being replaced by Cheema who struck with his fourth delivery.

Cheema had Tamim (nine) caught behind and then had Shahriar Nafees caught by Younis Khan at second slip for no score in his next over.

Bangladesh continued to struggle against pace as they soon lost Mohammad Ashraful, caught behind off Gul after making just one run.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (four) was trapped leg-before in Ajmal’s first over, while former captain Shakib Al Hasan (eight) was caught at square-leg by Hafeez while sweeping Rehman.

Bangladesh to probe stoning incident

Home fans in Chittagong for the third one-day international were angry with South Africa umpire Johan Cloete.

CHITTAGONG: The Bangladesh Cricket Board are to carry out an investigation after the car carrying match officials following Tuesday’s defeat by Pakistan was alleged to have been stoned.

Home fans in Chittagong for the third one-day international were angry with South Africa umpire Johan Cloete after he decided Bangladesh all-rounder Farhad Reza was out leg before wicket off the bowling of spinner Saeed Ajmal.

Fans booed when the replay of the incident was shown on the giant screen at the ground as it appeared Reza had managed to get his bat to the ball first.

After Reza’s dismissal, Bangladesh then lost their last three wickets for two runs to be bowled out for 119 and a 58-run defeat to lose the series 3-0.

“An incident happened and the window of the car carrying the match officials broke,” Mesbahuddin Serniabat, the security chief of the Bangladesh Cricket Board told reporters on Wednesday.

“But we are not fully convinced if it is because of stoning. It may be just an accident. We are investigating the matter,” he said, adding that no one was hurt in the incident.

This is second reported incident of stoning in a year at a cricket match in Bangladesh after the West Indies team bus was pelted after they bowled out Bangladesh for 58 runs during the World Cup in March.

Younis Khan expects tough test from Bangladesh

Misbah-ul-Haq (L) inspects the pitch during a training session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.

CHITTAGONG: Pakistan will begin their first Test series in Bangladesh for almost a decade in Chittagong on Friday determined to extend their 100 percent winning record against the hosts.

The tourists, who beat Sri Lanka in all formats of the game in the United Arab Emirates last month, have already asserted their supremacy over Bangladesh by making a 3-0 clean sweep of the one-day series.

Pakistan played their lone Test series in Bangladesh in January 2002, winning both matches in Dhaka and Chittagong by an innings under the captaincy of Waqar Younis.

Pakistan have won all of their six Tests against Bangladesh since 2001, the closest match being in Multan in 2003 when they triumphed by one wicket following Inzamam-ul-Haq’s match-winning unbeaten century.

The tourists, now led by reliable batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, were not seriously tested in the one-dayers against the hosts after putting in impressive performances with both bat and ball.

But senior Pakistani batsman Younis Khan said Thursday he expected a tough fight from Bangladesh in the Tests.

“When we play Tests we expect a Test-level competition,” he said.

“They struggled in the limited-overs matches, but Test cricket is a different ball game.

“If they stick to their goals, they will give us tough competition. It will not be easy for us since Bangladesh are playing in home conditions.”

Bangladesh strengthened their brittle batting by including former captain and middle-order batsman Mohammad Ashraful in the 15-man squad.

Ashraful, with 2,418 runs in 56 Tests, will look to justify his recall after being dropped for the home series against the West Indies in October-November.

“During the one-dayers, our fielders and bowlers did a good job, so it’s time our batsmen put up a good performance,” said Bangladesh’s top-order batsman Shahriar Nafees.

“The focus now is on the Test series. We want to come back strongly and play our best cricket.”

Bangladesh will rely on their spin attack led by Shakib Al Hasan and Elias Sunny to keep pressure on the Pakistani batting line-up at the traditionally spin-friendly venue in Chittagong.

Shakib is the key all-rounder in the side with 1,421 runs and 89 wickets in 24 Tests, while Sunny made an impressive seven-wicket Test debut at this venue against the West Indies two months ago.

Bangladesh will seek to improve their dismal run since gaining Test status in 2000, losing 61 of their 71 matches, winning just three with seven drawn.

The second and final Test will be played in Dhaka from December 17.

Bangladesh (from): Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mohammad Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Elias Sunny, Shahadat Hossain, Suhrawadi Shuvo, Robiul Islam, Mohammed Nazimuddin.

Pakistan (from): Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Aizaz Cheema, Mohammad Khalil.

Sehwag goes past Sachin as India plunder 418

Sehwag's 15th ODI century was his first as captain

INDORE: Virender Sehwag smashed the highest individual score in one-day internationals on Thursday, hitting 219 as India piled on 418-5 in the fourth match of the series against the West Indies.

The Delhi opener plundered 25 boundaries and seven sixes during his 149-ball blitz, joining compatriot Sachin Tendulkar as the only batsmen in history to score double-centuries in the 50-over format.

Sehwag moved past Tendulkar’s 200 not out — against South Africa in Gwalior last year — in the 44th over when, on 197, he cut Andre Russell to the point fence.

He was finally dismissed in the 47th over when he was caught in the deep off Kieron Pollard and was clapped off the field by the entire West Indies team and some 30,000 jubilant home fans.

Sehwag’s blistering knock helped India notch their highest one-day total, surpassing the 414-7 they made against Sri Lanka in Rajkot in 2009.

It was Sehwag’s 15th three-figure knock in one-day cricket and the first since making 175 against Bangladesh in the opening match of the World Cup in Dhaka in February this year.

Sehwag, who is captaining India in the series in the absence of the rested Mahendra Singh Dhoni, had managed just 46 runs in the previous three matches.

But he found the right conditions to strike form on the run-laden pitch at the Holkar stadium in Indore and lift India towards a decisive 3-1 lead in the series.

Sehwag, who was dropped on 170 by West Indies captain Darren Sammy in the covers, put on 176 for the first wicket with Gautam Gambhir (67) and 140 for the second with Suresh Raina (55).

It was the ideal tune-up for Sehwag as he prepared for the four-Test series in Australia starting later this month.

Left-hander Gambhir, who had scored 16 runs in the series, broke the shackles to hit 11 boundaries in his run-a-ball innings during the rollicking opening stand.

Gambhir, who also heads to Australia next week, was unlucky to be run out in the 23rd over when Sehwag changed his mind about taking a sharp single to the cover region.

The West Indies suffered a blow before the start when star batsman Darren Bravo was ruled out of the must-win game due to a hamstring strain.

Bravo was replaced by Kieran Powell.

India brought in debutant leg-spinner Rahul Sharma in place of fast bowler Umesh Yadav, the only change from the side that lost the third match in Ahmedabad on Monday.

Warner named in inexperienced Australia test squad

Explosive opening batsman David Warner is set to earn his first test cap after he and three uncapped fast bowlers were named in an inexperienced Australia squad on Saturday to face New Zealand in Brisbane.

Limited overs specialist Warner is likely to start the first test at the Gabba on Thursday in place of all-rounder Shane Watson, who is one of five players unavailable for the team due to injuries sustained in South Africa.

Patrick Cummins, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris were all also ruled out of selection on Friday with their fitness to be assessed next week.

“The absence of these players obviously provides a great chance for David Warner, James Pattinson, Ben Cutting and Mitchell Starc to come into the squad and perform on the international stage and I know that is an opportunity they are all looking forward to,” chairman of selectors John Inverarity said in a statement.

“Although injuries to those key players are not ideal, this provides an opening for these promising young players to come into the Australian squad and further their development.

“David, James and Mitchell have been in and around the Australian limited overs squad at various times recently and showed that they have the talent and skills required to perform on the international stage.”

Fast bowler Cutting has been called into the 12-man squad for the first time while fellow quicks Starc and Pattinson have been involved in limited overs squads previously.

Pattinson took four wickets in the first innings for Australia A in their ongoing match against New Zealand in Brisbane, while Starc took three, though both were expensive conceding more than five runs an over in batsmen-friendly conditions at Allan Border Field.

Peter Siddle is likely to lead the attack when the test begins on Thursday, with two of Cutting, Starc and Pattinson likely to join him while Nathan Lyon is expected to provide the spinning option.

Fast bowler Trent Copeland, who made his test debut in Sri Lanka before missing out on the test series against South Africa failed to earn a recall after rain in Sydney on Friday disrupted a first class match he was playing in.

“Trent has had a lack of opportunities to push for selection in recent times,” Inverarity said.

“He will be disappointed but will work hard with New South Wales and I have no doubt he will again be putting his hand up for inclusion with good performances for his state.”

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will take over the vice-captain role until Watson returns to the side, Inverarity said.

Australia squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Phillip Hughes, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Ben Cutting

Windies snatch thrilling draw in final test

MUMBAI: West Indies snatched a thrilling draw with the scores level after India failed to score the three runs they needed for victory in the last over on a riveting final day of the third and final test on Saturday.

Needing two runs to win off the last ball, Ravichandran Ashwin and Varun Aaron scampered a single before Ashwin was run out while going back for an improbable second run, with India finishing on 242 for nine.

It was only the second time that a test has been drawn with the scores level. The other instance was when England failed to beat Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 1996.

Seventeen wickets fell on the Wankhede Stadium pitch, which was a batting paradise on the first four days with both teams posting huge first innings totals.

Spinners Pragyan Ojha and Ashwin forced a batting collapse in the first session as West Indies were bundled out for 134 in their second innings.

Half-centuries from Virender Sehwag (60) and Virat Kohli (63) put India on course for victory and a 3-0 series whitewash as they chased a target of 243 runs from 64 overs.

However, West Indies struck back by picking up crucial wickets during the closing stages to halt India’s progress.

Sehwag stroked a chancy 60 off 65 balls and added 82 runs for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid (33) to launch India’s charge towards the target.

Sehwag, who was dropped three times, hit eight boundaries before he was finally caught by West Indies captain Darren Sammy off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo while trying a cheeky reverse paddle sweep.

Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar (3) fell soon after in similar fashion, trying to drive on the up against part-time off-spinner Marlon Samuels, and were caught at short mid-wicket.

West Indies had a sniff of victory at that stage with India at 113 for four, but Vangipurappu Laxman (31) and Kohli steadied the ship with a 52-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Kohli notched up his second fifty in the match with three boundaries and a six and took his team close to the target but his dismissal, with India still needing 19 runs to win, put the pressure back on India’s tailenders.

GENEROUS TURN

In the morning, the visiting batsmen, put under pressure by the generous turn on offer, played some atrocious shots and helped India’s spinners give life to a match that had looked like ending in a draw for the past two days.

Resuming on their overnight score of 81 for two, the tourists succumbed meekly in just 95 minutes in the morning, losing their last eight wickets in 23.2 overs as Ojha (6-47) and Ashwin (4-34) ran riot.

Left-arm spinner Ojha added four more wickets to his overnight tally of two and bowled in an uninterrupted spell on the final day, extracting good turn and bounce.

Ashwin, who notched his maiden test century on Friday, took four wickets to add to his five-wicket haul in the first innings.

Kraigg Brathwaite (35) and first-innings centurion Darren Bravo (48) added 61 for the third wicket, the only notable partnership in the innings, but Braithwaite’s dismissal in the fifth over of the morning opened the floodgates.

West Indies lost their last eight wickets for 43 runs as Bravo, Samuels, Carlton Baugh, Ravi Rampaul and Sammy all got out trying to play attacking shots against the Indian spinners.

Misbah content after Pakistan ride out controversies

“I hope my team shows more improvement and consistency on the tour of Bangladesh which like any other tour is not easy.”

ABU DHABI: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq on Saturday hoped his team continued their winning streak during the tour of Bangladesh starting next week, after whitewashing Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the one-off Twenty20 international on Friday, capping a successful tour in which they also won the three-Test series 1-0 and five-match one-day serie 4-1.

Pakistan play a Twenty20 international against Bangladesh on Tuesday. They also play three one-day and two Tests on the tour.

Misbah said his team is determined to continue the good form.

“I hope my team shows more improvement and consistency on the tour of Bangladesh which like any other tour is not easy,” said 37-year-old Misbah, who has not lost a Test series since taking over in October last year.

Misbah has lost only one of ten one-day matches since replacing Shahid Afridi as limited overs captain in June this year.

Misbah said his team will not take Bangladesh lightly.

“The morale and confidence of the team is very high after beating a team like Sri Lanka, but despite that we are not going to take Bangladesh lightly as they are a tough team in their home conditions,” said Misbah.

Misbah said the team was very united in the wake of spot-fixing scandal which ended in jail sentences for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.

“The situation under which Pakistan cricket went through in the last year has binded the team very well and as required all the players showed unity and discipline which is a very good sign,” said Misbah.

“Discipline and focus on and off the field was very important and that’s what we have shown after some problems hit us hard, but I am confident that this bunch of players will continue in that spirit,” said Misbah.

Sri Lanka had contrasting fortunes during the tour, but skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan hoped fans back home would show patience.

“I know like us every cricket fan in Sri Lanka would be disappointed,” said Dilshan, who has lost three Tests and as many one-day series since taking over in May this year.

Dilshan said all the players tried their best.

“I hope fans believe in us and give us more time because we tried our level best. There were times when we were in strong positions but we didn’t capitalise on them and lost track,” said Dilshan.

Sri Lanka tour South Africa next month where they play five one-day and three Tests — a grueling tour in Dilshan’s opinion.

“South Africa is one of the best teams in the world so we have to sit down, try to address our mistakes and I am confident that all the young players will do the job well,” said Dilshan.

Ganguly: Azhar must take a stance

"There are too many whispers going around," Sourav Ganguly said when asked about Vinod Kambli's claims that the 1996 World Cup semis between India and Sri Lanka was fixed.

Ganguly also rubbished Kambli's claim that the match at the Eden Gardens ruined his career.

"His (Kambli's) claim that his career was finished because of that game is rubbish. How can that game ruin his career, he was not out then," Ganguly told a news channel.

Ganguly said the decision to field could have been the result of Sri Lanka's earlier league match against India at the Feroz Shah Kotla, where Sri Lanka chased down 270-odd runs with ease.

"I can sympathise with Azhar. I can understand the reasons of putting Sri Lanka in. If you remember, Sri Lanka chased 270-odd runs in Delhi in an earlier match."

Ganguly further hoped that Kambli has his facts right. Meanwhile, the 1983 World Cup winning skipper, Kapil Dev, asked if Kabmli was sleeping all these 15 years.

The media should not give credence to all these statements, Kapil felt.

Kambli, a former Indian cricketer, who has often been embroiled in controversies both on and off the field, on Thursday raised suspicion on the 1996 World Cup semifinal between India and Sri Lanka and said he found "something amiss" in the game.

Pawar slams 'irresponsible' Kambli

ICC president Sharad Pawar termed Vinod Kambli as “irresponsible” and said he would rather believe in what players like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have to say on the matter.

"I honestly feel that his allegations are irresponsible statements. I would rather believe in what Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar or Ajit Wadekar say," Pawar said.

Pawar, a former BCCI chief, said if Kambli was an honest and committed cricketer, he should have made the allegations after the mega tournament in 1996, instead of raking it up now.

"If he was an honest and a committed cricketer he should have spoken about it then. But he kept quiet, so I hold him irresponsible," Pawar added.

Pawar also said that he felt Kambli did not attach much importance to cricket during his playing days.

"If he (Kambli) had give importance to cricket, he could have been like Sachin Tendulkar. But consistency was always a problem with him," Pawar told Times Now.

Kambli has created quite a flutter by claiming that something was "amiss" in India's loss in the 1996 World Cup semifinal against Sri Lanka. That led to Sports Minister Maken on Saturday asking the BCCI for a probe or else his ministry might order it.

But, senior BCCI official Rajiv Shukla said Kambli's claims were not worth investigating.

Amla, de Villiers power South Africa

Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers batted South Africa into a strong position at the close of the third day of the second Test against Australia in Johannesburg.

Amla (89 not out) and De Villiers (70no) shared in an unbroken 139-run stand for the fourth wicket as the Proteas ended the day on 229 for three in their second innings - a lead of 199 with seven wickets remaining.

The pair helped stage a recovery after three wickets had fallen in the morning session of a day which started with a minute's silence for South Africa-born former England all-rounder Basil D'Oliveira, who has died at the age of 80.

When the action started South Africa were quickly into their stride, with Jacques Rudolph hitting two fours in the second over off the bowling of Pat Cummins.

However, with an advantage of 10 runs overall, the hosts lost their first wicket in the eighth over of the innings, with the score on 40.

Rudolph had made 24 when he top-edged the 23rd delivery he faced to Brad Haddin.

Graeme Smith looked in good touch, with successive boundaries off Peter Siddle in the 14th over taking the score on to 59 for one.

However, his partnership with Amla yielded just 16 more runs and ended when Smith (36) sliced a Nathan Lyon delivery to Phil Hughes at point.

Jacques Kallis struggled to make an impact and after making just two from 17 balls, his contribution was over when he edged Cummins to Michael Clarke at first slip, giving the paceman his second wicket and leaving South Africa just 60 runs ahead with three batsmen out.

That dismissal brought De Villiers to the wicket and he and Amla averted further trouble from the remaining 10 balls of the session.

However, soon after the restart Amla survived a referral after a Cummins delivery hit him on the pad.

In the 37th over wicketkeeper Brad Haddin believed he had run out de Villiers and celebrated spectacularly - but television replays showed the batsman had comfortably made his ground.

That incident summed up the session for Australia, who were left frustrated as Amla and De Villers took control of events.

Their 50 partnership came up off 100 balls in the 44th over - and the next 50 runs took another 11 overs.

During the century stand, Amla brought up his 20th Test fifty, while De Villiers, who top-scored with 64 in South Africa's first innings, collected his 25th.

Australia, who need to win this Test to draw the two-match series, had still not managed to find a way to separate the pair when the teams went off early for bad light, with stumps being called without the teams reappearing.

Butt and Aamer appeals heard next week

LONDON: Britain’s top judge will next Wednesday hear appeals by Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer against their sentences for spot-fixing, a judicial official said.

Former Pakistan captain Butt, 27, was on November 3 sentenced to two and a half years in prison and fast bowler Aamer, 19, was sentenced to serve six months in a young offenders institute.

Lord Chief Justice Igor Judge, the head of the English judiciary, will hear their appeals, a spokesman for judiciary told AFP, adding: “It has been scheduled for next Wednesday.”

Butt, Aamer and fast bowler Mohammad Asif, 28, were all jailed for their parts in fixing elements of the August 2010 Test match against England at Lord’s. Cricket agent Mazhar Majeed was also jailed.

Asif and Butt were found guilty charges of conspiracy to cheat at gambling and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments after a trial, while Aamer and Majeed admitted the charges.

Under the current arrangements, the four will serve half their sentences before being released on licence.

I played in Pakistan’s best-ever side: Saeed Anwar

DUBAI: Former Pakistan captain and opener Saeed Anwar said that he was glad to have been a part of one of Pakistan’s best sides.

In an interview with ICC World Radio Show, Anwar said that he had no regrets and enjoyed his time playing for Pakistan immensely.

“I have no regrets from whatever cricket I played and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The good thing about my career was not about individual performances but collectively Pakistan won a lot which is the most satisfying part. The most memorable thing for me was that I played in an era when Pakistan had its best-ever side,” Anwar said.

Saeed, who played 55 Tests and 247 ODIs between 1989 and 2003, said:

“I don’t see any value in batsmen making big runs, establishing records but not winning matches for their sides. Pakistan and India should be praised for providing joy and entertainment to world cricket”

Anwar stated that the best teams in his era were India and Australia and he was fortunate to have scored against both sides.

“A player should play such an innings that his side should win. I really rate Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting very high because whenever they have scored runs, their teams have mostly won,” said Anwar who started his career in 1990.

Pakistan bowlers restrict Sri Lanka to 131

DUBAI: Pakistan bowled Sri Lanka out for 131 in 40.3 overs in the first day-night international at Dubai stadium here on Friday.

Dinesh Chandimal topscored with 28 as Pakistani spinners shared seven wickets between them on a slow pitch which helped the slow bowlers.

Top Cricket News: Smith, Amla send South Africa to crazy victory

Top Cricket News: Smith, Amla send South Africa to crazy victory: CAPE TOWN: Centuries by Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla sent South Africa to a crazy eight-wicket win over Australia inside two-and-a-half days...

Smith, Amla send South Africa to crazy victory

CAPE TOWN: Centuries by Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla sent South Africa to a crazy eight-wicket win over Australia inside two-and-a-half days and after trailing by 188 runs in the opening test at Newlands on Friday.

Smith made 101 not out and Amla 112, sharing a 195-run partnership as South Africa reached its victory target of 236 for just two wickets before lunch on day three for a 1-0 lead in the series.

Australia’s bowlers took just one wicket on Friday on a pitch where it was skittled out for 47 in a game-changing collapse in its second innings on Thursday, its lowest score since the 19th century.

Smith and Amla restored sanity after a chaotic second day when 23 wickets fell, batting fluently to take South Africa to an absurd victory after it trailed by a big margin in the first innings just a day ago.

Inspired by 151 from captain Michael Clarke, Australia made 284 batting first and then blasted out South Africa for 96 for their 188-run lead.

But Australia responded by slumping to its worst batting score in tests since 1896 _ and its fourth lowest total ever _ to see its dominant position in the match suddenly disintegrate in a heap of wickets on the second afternoon.

Australia also missed two crucial chances off Amla in the final stages of a traumatic test for the Baggy Greens, dropping the right-hander off the last ball of the second day and again early on Friday when he was on 30, when Shane Watson spilled a regulation catch at first slip.

Amla made the most of his two lives to go on the attack. He sent flashing drives through the covers for his 13th test century and first against the Aussies, powering the Proteas to victory with 21 fours in a 134-ball innings.

He carved three straight boundaries off Ryan Harris _ the bowler who produced the two missed chances from Amla _ to race to three figures before edging a catch to Clarke in the gully off Mitchell Johnson with South Africa 14 short of victory.

Amla’s 195-run stand with Smith was a South African record second-wicket partnership against Australia, beating another mark that had stood for over 100 years in another slice of history in a test which produced a string of records amid the madness on Thursday.

Smith saw South Africa home with his unbeaten hundred, and first test ton in a year, nudging a single through midwicket to complete a dramatic turnaround in a hectic test that lasted barely two days but is set to be remembered for years.

Top Cricket News: Australia bowled out for 47

Top Cricket News: Australia bowled out for 47: It's raining wickets at Sahara Park in Newlands as South Africa have bowled out Australia for 47 runs and set themselves a victory target of...

Australia bowled out for 47

It's raining wickets at Sahara Park in Newlands as South Africa have bowled out Australia for 47 runs and set themselves a victory target of 236 runs to win.

SCORECARD

Australia at one point looked like they would fall short of the lowest-ever Test total, held by New Zealand when they managed 26 against England in Auckland in 1954-55.

They only avoided that unenviable record with their last pair at the crease, when Peter Siddle edged Vernon Philander to the third man rope.

Last man Nathan Lyon top-scored with 14, after putting on 26 for the last wicket with Siddle, while debutant Vernon Philander took five for 15 for the Proteas.

It continued an enthralling second day's play in which 22 wickets had already fallen with 29 overs still remaining before stumps.

Remarkably, despite their capitulation Australia are still well-placed to win the Test after they dismissed South Africa for 96 earlier in the day.

The tourists therefore held a lead of 235, thanks mainly to skipper Michael Clarke's 151 - an innings that has been made to look remarkable by today's events.

With plenty of time left before stumps the 123-year-old record for the most wickets in a day was also within sight.

That mark stands at 27 in a match between Australia and England at Lord's way back in 1888.

Australia had begun their second innings looking to build a match-wining lead after Shane Watson's five-wicket haul dismissed the Proteas for their lowest score against the Antipodeans since 1932.

Their efforts immediately unravelled as they were 13 for three before tea.

Watson was trapped lbw by Dale Steyn from the third ball of the innings before Ricky Ponting went the same way despite reviewing his call to become Philander's first wicket.

Phil Hughes then departed from the final ball before tea, caught at third slip, but the Australian collapse really took hold after the break.

Michael Hussey fell first ball after the interval, slashing Morkel to gully, before Philander claimed the crucial wicket of Clarke to yet another reviewed lbw decision.

The wickets continued to tumble, with the situation clearly getting to Brad Haddin when he edged behind after advancing down the wicket, as Australia slumped to 21 for nine.

At that point the lowest-ever score looked likely but Siddle and Lyon saved some of their side's blushes before the spinner was last man out caught by AB de Villiers off Steyn.

South Africa skittled out for 96

Earlier, Shane Watson produced a devastating spell to help bowl South Africa out for their lowest Test score against Australia since 1932.

Watson claimed five wickets in a stunning 21-ball spell after lunch on the second day as South Africa collapsed to be all out for 96 in Cape Town.

The Proteas had made a solid start, reaching 49 for one at lunch, but their batting simply fell apart in the face of Watson's swing and seam movement as they lost nine for 47 after the break.

In the end they were thankful just to pass the follow-on, after Michael Clarke's superb 151 had helped Australia reach 284 this morning, as last-pair Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir got them across the line.

Watson, who was at one point on a hat-trick, finished with five for 17 while Ryan Harris claimed four for 33.

Harris had claimed the only wicket before the break when he bowled Jacques Rudolph, playing his first Test in just over five years, with a ball that seamed between bat and pad.

Skipper Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla had looked comfortable thereafter but the carnage began when Clarke brought Watson on immediately after lunch.

South Africa had not added to their interval score when Watson struck twice, both times successfully using the TV review, to have Amla lbw while the cameras showed Jacques Kallis had edged a pull to Ricky Ponting at second slip.

Watson then struck twice more in two balls when Smith unluckily dragged on, after making 37, before Ashwell Prince was caught plumb in front to a yorker.

Australia's use of the TV review was proving vital as they sent two more appeals upstairs and were rewarded when AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher - to hand Watson his five-for - were both lbw with the score on 77.

South Africa were now struggling just to avoid the follow on and Vernon Philander edged Harris to Ponting at third slip before Peter Siddle ran out Morne Morkel with a direct hit.

That left it up to last pair Steyn and Tahir to get their side across the follow-on mark - a job they did in a 13-run stand - before Harris bowled Tahir.

Earlier, Clarke's brilliant innings was finally ended for 151 as Australia's tail added vital runs this morning.

South Africa took an hour and 20 minutes to claim Australia's final two wickets, during which time the visitors added 70 runs.

Morkel claimed both wickets, although he had to wait over an hour for the initial breakthrough as Clarke and Siddle built a 59-run stand.

Their combination was eventually broken when Siddle (20) offered a leading edge to De Villiers at cover.

Clarke then hit a pair of straight boundaries off Morkel to bring up his 150, and add further gloss to one of the finest innings of his career, but later in the over he was clean bowled trying to find the ropes again.

Determined India on top in victory bid

Sachin Tendulkar became the first player to reach 15,000 Test runs as India edged closer to victory in the first Test against West Indies in Delhi.

The 38-year-old Tendulkar reached the milestone towards the end of the third day's play and he also still has an outside chance of claiming an unprecedented 100th international century after finishing on 33 not out.

Rahul Dravid was also still there on 30 not out as India closed on 152 for two, needing another 124 to win with two days remaining.

Opener Virender Sehwag had earlier clubbed a typically belligerent half-century to set India on their way after a superb bowling display from debutant Ravichandran Ashwin (six for 47) had pegged back West Indies.

The tourists had boasted a 95-run lead after first innings but they were reduced to 21 for two at the start of their second knock last night and their troubles continued this morning.

Nightwatchman Fidel Edwards was the first to go after scoring just one run, slashing loosely at Ishant Sharma and edging through to keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Namesake Kirk Edwards advanced from his overnight 15 to a patient 33 before he shouldered arms to Umesh Yadav and lost his off stump.

Then spinner Ashwin took centre-stage, trapping Darren Bravo lbw for 12 and bowling Marlon Samuels for a duck in the same over to leave the West Indies 63 for six.

It was 84 for seven when wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh edged Yadav (two for 31) to opposite number Dhoni.

First-innings centurion Shivnarine Chanderpaul (47) and captain Darren Sammy (42) led a recovery of sorts, but Ashwin struck to dismiss both players, as well as last man Ravi Rampaul for 18, as the West Indies were dismissed for 180.

That gave the tourists a lead of 275, which might have been less than they had hoped for after first innings, but was still a testing target for India.

However, the hosts wasted no time in taking a big chunk out of that target as Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir put on a half-century opening stand in less than 10 overs before the West Indies made their first breakthrough, Samuels trapping Gambhir lbw for 22.

Sehwag continued to look in ominous form and he brought up his 29th Test half-century off only 52 balls, with two sixes and four other boundaries.

He did not last much longer, though, as he was bowled via an inside edge by Sammy to depart for a run-a-ball 55.

That wicket saw Tendulkar join Dravid at the crease and the veteran duo guided their side towards their victory target with an unbroken 57-run stand.

During that partnership Tendulkar reached 15,000 Test runs with single to extra cover off Devendra Bishoo, earning him the congratulations of both Dravid and opponents alike.

Dravid, who himself is approaching 13,000 Test runs, had a run-out scare just before the close but he survived and India will now fancy their chances of going on to claim victory.