BIRMINGHAM: The second test between Pakistan and England will begin today as Pakistan has dropped wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and brought in uncapped Zulqarnain Haider in his place while spinner Saeed Ajmal replaces Danish Kaneria. Pakistani skipper Salman Butt is optimistic that his team will settle the score after winning the second test. The weather condition in Birmingham will support bowlers.
Pakistan may drop leg-spinner Danish Keneria and bring in off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for the second and final Test against Australia, starting at Headingley from Wednesday.
LONDON: The Pakistan team has been announced for the first Twenty20 International to be played against Australia today at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham. The team comprises of Shahid Afridi (captain), Slaman Butt, Shahzeb Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Aamer. Fast-medium bowler Umar Gul has returned in the team after a long time. He could not play the World T20 due to his fitness problems.
Umar Akmal's aggressive half century, combined with disciplined bowling efforts from Shoaib Akhtar and Saeed Ajmal, helped the Pakistanis to start their English summer with a six-run victory over MCC …
KARACHI: Pakistan on Sunday announced two different squads for the Twenty20 matches and Tests on their tour of England. Pakistan will play two Twenty20 internationals against Australia on July 5 and 6 before playing two Tests against the same opponents. After playing Australia, Pakistan will feature in four Tests, two Twenty20 and five one-day games against England. The tour ends on September 22. The squad for the One-day Internationals against England will be announced later. Squad: (Twenty20): Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt (vice captain), Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Amir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam Squad: (Tests): Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt (vice captain), Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Tanveer Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria.
LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-man national cricket team for the 10th Asia Cup in Sri Lanka to be played from June 15-24. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt told at a press conference here on Thursday that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and allrounder Shoaib Malik have passed their fitness test after which they have been included in the team. He said that he had no pressure on selection matter. On this occasion, captain Shahid Afridi said that a balanced team has been selected for the Asia Cup. The team is as follows: Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt (vice-captain), Imran Farhat, Shahzeb Hasan, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Umar Amin, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Moahammad Aamir, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman. Reserves: Mohammad Irfan, Fawad Alam, Athar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar.
LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team off-spinner Saeed Ajmal said that the final over he bowled in the semi-final of the World Twenty20 has become a nightmare for him and he is still sad and disappointed on the loss. In an interview to a website, Saeed Ajmal said that he could not satisfy the confidence his captain Shahid Afridi had in him and he would be sorry for ever on his failure. He said that he tried to bowl the players in block hole but could not do so due to breezy winds. Saeed said that except the ball thrown to Mitchell Johnson no other ball fell on target due to which Michel Hussey took full benefit. However, he said that he would try his best to get Pakistan victorious through his fine bowling in the forthcoming Asia Cup.
Saeed Ajmal’s moment of despair
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Defending champions Pakistan knocked South Africa out of the World Twenty20 with an 11-run Super Eights win at the Beausejour Stadium here on Monday. The victory kept Pakistan’s own qualification hopes alive. The result meant England, who have won both opening Super Eight games, would qualify for the semi-finals regardless of the outcome of their final match against New Zealand later here on Monday. But, in order for Pakistan to progress to the last four, they have to hope England beat New Zealand by a sufficiently wide margin to go through on net run-rate. New Zealand, also on two points, will go through with a win over England. Their victory would send them into the knockout stages. Pakistan and South Africa both have two points from three matches but Pakistan have a superior run-rate. Umar Akmal struck 51 from 33 balls as Pakistan recovered from a poor start to make 148 for seven. In reply, South Africa were only 56 for three after 10 overs but a spirited 53 off 41 balls from AB de Villiers gave them a fighting chance which they were unable to make the most of as Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal took four wickets. Brief scores: Pakistan 148-7, 20 overs (U Akmal 51; C Langeveldt 4-19) South Africa 137-7, 20 overs (AB de Villiers 53; S Ajmal 4-26) Result: Pakistan won by 11 runs.
Saeed Ajmal starred with the ball as Pakistan drubbed South Africa by 11 runs to keep alive their slender hopes of qualifying for the semifinals of the Twenty20 World Cup on Monday.Though Pakistan pos…