Pakistan squad clears dope tests

Pakistan's preliminary Champions Trophy squad have come clean after results on the dope test conducted by WADA-accredited officers of the Anti-Doping Organisation of Pakistan on July 19 in Lahore turned out negative.

Twenty-six players in the 30-man squad were tested, while four players including Younis Khan who failed to attend due to other commitments, will be tested at a later date. The samples were sent to a WADA-accredited doping control centre in Penang, Malaysia for verification.

"The tests were conducted on 26 of the 30 players in the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy and I can say that it's a great relief that all the tests are negative,"

Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer told AFP.

The PCB, while announcing the squad on July 14, had said that players would be ineligible for selection if they tested positive. The board has taken a strict anti-doping policy after the various scandals to have dogged Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, including the pair testing positive for the banned substance Nandralone before the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. Both were subsequently let off after appealing on a technicality.

While Shoaib has cleared this test, perhaps paving the way for his return to the national squad, Asif is currently suspended by the PCB for testing positive for a banned substance during random dope tests conducted on the sidelines of the IPL, where he played for the Delhi Daredevils.

Champions Trophy task force to visit Pakistan after Aug 14

The task force team, formed for the ICC Champions Trophy, will visit Pakistan after August 14.

Talking with media at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, director media of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mansoor Sohail told that this is not possible for the task force to immediately tour Pakistan because the law enforcing agencies would be busy due to Independence Day celebrations in Pakistan. Therefore, this team can visit Pakistan only after August 14 to review the security arrangements for the Champions Trophy.

He said that this has not been decided to send any official to Switzerland for supervising Mohammad Asif’s dope test.

Media director Mansoor Sohail, who does not know whether Mohammad Asif was presented before the fact finding committee or not on Tuesday, told media that the third meeting of the fact finding committee on Dubai Case of Mohammad Asif was held on Tuesday. Now the next meeting will be held after the committee’s head Shafquat Naghmi returns from Karachi.

Foreign teams to be given full protection: Shoaib Malik

Captain Pakistan cricket team Shoaib Malik said that he asked the star players of foreign teams to ensure their participation in the Champions Trophy as they would be provided complete protection in Pakistan.

Talking with media after a ceremony at a local hotel, Shoaib Malik said that the ICC Champions Trophy would be held in Pakistan according to the schedule.

He said that whatever the security concerns the foreign teams and star players have in their minds are baseless. Besides the successful holding of the Asia Cup, many foreign teams have come and played here.

PT Camp helps me to improve fitness: Kamran Akmal

Test cricketer Kamran Akmal said that the physical training camp of Abbottabad has helped the players to improve their fitness more than 100 per cent.

Talking with media at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, Kamran Akmal said that after going through one-week training in Abbottabad, the players are feeling as they have gone through the training for many months.

He said that the players’ level of fitness has improved through stern training which would be helpful during the next season.

Kamran Akmal said that the players would take a two-day rest after the camp and would begin training individually at the National Academy from Thursday. This training would enable them to be prepared for the practice matches to be played from August 5.

IPL fixes deadline of Aug 6 for Asif’s ‘B sample’

The Indian Premier League has fixed a new deadline for fast bowler Mohammad Asif’s dope test ‘B sample’.

Asif’s lawyer Shahid Karim told Geo News that the IPL management has set August 6 as a new deadline for ‘B sample’ of the fast bowler and sent necessary documents along with the invitation. Now, an urgent request for visa for Switzerland is being sent.

He said that he would go with Asif to Switzerland where the ‘B sample’ is available at a laboratory for dope test of Mohammad Asif.

He said that if there is any delay in completing traveling documents then the IPL would be requested for further extension of deadline.

The lawyer of Mohammad Asif further said that the IPL had earlier set a deadline of July 28 for ‘B sample’ but he requested to the IPL for extending the date as travel documents were not complete.

First Cricket Champions League to be held in India

The first Cricket Champions League will be played in India and one team from Pakistan is also expected to take part in the event.

Indian Cricket Board official and commissioner Indian Premier Leage Lalith Modi said that the matches of the event would be played in Jaipur, New Delhi and Mohali during the current year.

Eight teams will participate in the Cricket Champions League. The teams securing the first and the second positions in the domestic Twenty20 events of South Africa and Australia besides the winner and runner-up of the Indian Premier League will also take part in the event.

Under a proposed schedule, two teams from England had to play in the IPL but due to differences between the Indian and English boards on some administrative matters of the Champions League any team’s participation in the event from England is not looking possible.

Lalith Modi said that if no team comes from England then any team from Sri Lanka or New Zealand would fill this gap.

He said that a team from Pakistan would also take part in the event and the PCB has ensured its complete cooperation in this regard.

Afridi doubtful for Canada quadrangular

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan allrounder, is likely to miss the four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Canada next month due to a wrist injury. He is also attending to his wife, who has been unwell for a while.

"We will consider Afridi for the tournament only when he is fit,"

Salahuddin Ahmed, the chief selector, said on Saturday. An MRI report on his wrist is expected on Monday.

He also missed Pakistan's eight-day training camp at the Army School of Physical Training in Kakul which concluded yesterday. His selection for the tournament will depend on his availability for a series of practice games in Lahore before the team leaves for Toronto.

Canada, West Indies and Bangladesh are the other teams in the series which runs between August 14 and 17, at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground in King City.

Pakistan cricket team’s training camp continues at Abbottabad

Pakistan probable cricketers are being trained for preparation of Twenty20 series and the Champions Trophy and fitness of the players is specially being focused.

The training camp is being held at a beautiful place of Abbott bad where the probable players went through the extensive practice of batting, bowling and fielding. They were told the finer points of technique in every department of the game.

Fitness ahs been an important issue of the team and to over come this problem, the players are going through various exercises at the Army School of Physical Training Kakul under the supervision of army experts.

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Dr Nasim Ashraf said that the objectives of the camp have been achieved which is good omen for the team.

After the training camp, the Pakistan cricket team will play practice matches against Pakistan ‘A’ on August 5, 7 and 9.

Though Pakistan cricket team is fully preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy its bowling attack is facing difficulty due to involvement of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in various cases and fitness problem of Umar Gul.

ICC decides to keep Champions Trophy in Pakistan

The International Cricket Council decided Thursday to keep September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan but it will appoint a commission to ensure security.

The decision came after the ICC's executive board held a teleconference to discuss the possibility of moving the biennial tournament because of security fears raised by Australia, England and New Zealand.

"The Champions Trophy will stay in Pakistan and we thank all member countries for their kind support,"

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf told a news conference.

"The ICC will be appointing a special taskforce to ensure that the implementation of the recommendations of the (ICC-commissioned) security report are indeed being met,"

Ashraf said.

The year's biggest one-day tournament, featuring the top eight one-day nations, is due to be held in Pakistan from September 11 to 28, with Australia as the defending champions.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat sought to allay fears players might pull out of the event, saying the council would do all in its power to ensure their safety.

"It's not something that I treat lightly, but I think it's something that we can manage,"

Lorgat told reporters in Sri Lanka.

"We have to separate perception from reality. While those concerns exist, we will do our utmost to assure them (players) we would not go in a tournament where safety or security is going to be compromised."

Nasim Ashraf said the security commission would comprise ICC president David Morgan, vice president Sharad Pawar, Lorgat, principal advisor Inderjeet Bindra and himself.

It would also feature a representative from the tournament's official broadcasters, ESPN-Star, and a member of the Federation of International Cricketers' Association, he said.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik hailed the decision and vowed to make the tournament a success.

"I congratulate the people of Pakistan, who will now witness the best players playing in the event and we will all combine our efforts with the PCB and the government to make this tournament a great success,"

Malik said.

Pakistan's fate as tournament host was left hanging in the balance on Sunday after a security briefing in Dubai featuring all participating nations decided to wait for the ICC teleconference to announce a decision.

Players from Australia, England and New Zealand had raised security concerns Wednesday.

Australia are due to defend the title they won in 2006 against the West Indies. Hosts Pakistan, South Africa, the West Indies, England, India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are the other teams taking part.

Proteas dismayed by ICC decision

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision on Thursday to keep the Champions Trophy in Pakistan was met with dismay by South Africa’s team.

The ICC decided the tournament would go ahead there in September, despite reservations expressed by players from New Zealand, Australia and England.

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) said they shared those concerns and would seek an urgent meeting with Cricket South Africa (CSA) to discuss the situation.

“The South African team are very disappointed with today’s decision and remain extremely concerned about safety and security in Pakistan,”

Tony Irish, chief executive officer of SACA, told Reuters on Thursday.

“We hope Cricket South Africa will sit down with us and talk to us about whether they are seriously considering sending a team to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan or not,”

Irish said.

PCB’s Fact Finding Committee summons Asif

The fact-finding committee of Pakistan Cricket Board reviewing Muhammad Asif’s Dubai doping case, has summoned the fast bowler.

The first meeting of PCB’s fact-finding committee was held under the chairmanship of Shafqat Naghmi here on Thursday. Committee members Zakir Khan and Nadim Akram attended the meeting.

The committee in its first meeting reviewed the report received from Dubai and later summoned Muhammad Asif on Friday.

Pakistan to host ICC Champions Trophy: Dr. Nasim Ashraf

After months of speculation, dark clouds hovering over Pakistan have disappeared as the International Cricket Council's decision to go ahead with Pakistan as the final host of the Champions Trophy in September.

Addressing a press conference here, the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, Dr. Nasim Ashraf has said that Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy in September. He said many foreign players had expressed concerns about playing in Pakistan after which the ICC constituted a special Task Force to review security arrangements in Pakistan.

Dr. Nasim Ashraf said the Task Force would be headed by ICC President, David Morgan while Sharad Pawar; the President of BCCI would be Secretary. The PCB Chairman specially thanked India for supporting Pakistan. He termed Pakistan as the safest destination for holding the ICC Champions Trophy.

NCA to tour Zimbabwe, Kenya

The National Cricket Academy team will tour Zimbabwe and Kenya from August 20.

Spokesman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that the NCA team in the first stage would arrive in Zimbabwe on August 20 and it would play there two four-day and three one-day matches.

As per schedule, the first four-day match will be played from August 23 and the second from August 29 while the one-day matches will be held on September 4, 7 and 9.

Later, the NCA team will arrive in Nairobi on September 10 and play two four-day and three one-day matches.

The first four-day match will be held from September 13 and the second from September 19 while the one-day matches will be played on September 25, 27 and 28.

‘England top players not to tour Pakistan for CT’

A British newspaper claimed that if the ICC Champions Trophy is not shifted from Pakistan then the main players of England would not take part in the event.

This has been said in the report that the England players are much concerned on the holding of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and therefore the England & Wales Cricket Board would also not compel its players to go to Pakistan so a weaker England team may participate in the tournament.

This has also been said in the report that the British Foreign Office has expressed fears of terrorism in Pakistan, particularly in Karachi.

The Professional Cricketers Association will give a briefing to the England team on the situation of Pakistan before the third Test of the current series between England and South Africa.

ICC board to decide Champions Trophy fate on Thursday

The International Cricket Council will decide Thursday whether Pakistan can host the Champions Trophy in September amid security fears in the country.

A teleconference of the ICC executive board

"will take place on Thursday to take a decision on Champions Trophy,"

an ICC spokesman told on Tuesday.

The year's biggest one-day tournament features the top eight Test nations -- Australia, South Africa, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies. It is scheduled to be held in Pakistan September 11-28.

But Australia, England and New Zealand have raised concerns about security in Pakistan, which is battling militants in tribal areas where Washington has said Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants have created sanctuaries.

The ICC held a meeting on Sunday at its Dubai headquarters to inform the teams of the security arrangements made by Pakistan in the Asia Cup in June-July and its plans for the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan held a peaceful six-nation Asian event from June 24 to July 6.

However, a suicide bomb blast in capital Islamabad earlier this month killed 19 people and a series of small bombings rocked the port city of Karachi, which renewed security fears.

Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi are home to the three Trophy venues.

Sri Lanka, the designated alternative venue for the tournament, is also facing renewed violence between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops.

South Africa and England have been tipped as potential alternate locations for the event.

Dope tests of Pakistan cricket players

The World Anti Doping Agency conducted dope tests on all available players in the National Cricket Academy, Lahore on Sunday.

Dr. Sohail Saleem, the PCB official who assisted the doctors from WADA, later told media that only Younis Khan, Yasir Arafat, Azhar Ali and Bazid Khan missed the tests because of prior commitments abroad.

On question about when the test results are expected, Dr. Saleem said the process would take time as it involves sending the samples out of the country.

ICC board to decide Champions Trophy host

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Sunday said its executive board will take a final decision on the host of September's Champions Trophy amidst security fears in Pakistan.

The year's biggest one-day tournament, featuring the top eight Test nations, is due to be held in Pakistan from September 11 to 28 but Australia, England and New Zealand have raised fears about security.

The ICC held a meeting at its headquarters in Dubai Sunday with representatives from all eight teams to brief them about security arrangements Pakistan made during the recent six-nation Asia Cup.

As well as likely hosts Pakistan the other teams competing in the Champions Trophy are South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

"A meeting was held to brief the security arrangements made by Pakistan in the Asia Cup in June-July and now the concerns will be taken at the ICC Board meeting in due course to arrive a definitive decision on the location of this year's Champions Trophy,"

an ICC press release said.

"Until or unless the board decided otherwise the tournament will be processed in Pakistan,"

it said, without giving a date for a final decision.

I’ll gain rhythm within two weeks: Shoaib Akhtar

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said that he needs two to three weeks for fitness and he would begin physical training from Sunday.

Talking with media after bowling practice at the National Cricket Academy, Shoaib Akhtar said that he would give dope test on Sunday because he has no fears and would also give fitness test once he gains rhythm.

He said that he moved to dispel any suggestion he was running away from dope tests ahead of the Champions Trophy, saying he would be the first to give a sample.

The PCB will conduct dope tests on its 30-man preliminary Champions Trophy squad on Sunday to avoid any further embarrassment following paceman Mohammad Asif's failed test in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 32-year-old Shoaib Akhtar was named in Pakistan's provisional squad earlier this month after Lahore High Court suspended a separate 18-month ban for ill-discipline.

The PCB on Friday left out Akhtar from a 24-member training camp starting later this month on fitness grounds, saying the paceman has asked for time to gain full fitness.

Pakistan feature in a proposed four-nation Twenty20 event in Canada to be held from August 14-17 before hosting New Zealand for a three-match one-day series in late August.

Pakistan host the biennial Champions Trophy from September 11 to 28.

South, Central Blue win in National Women T20

South zone and Central zone Blue have succeeded in the National Women Twenty20 Cricket Championship, being played here at the Quaid-e-Azam Park Steel Town Saturday.

South zone defeated North zone by three wickets.

Batting first, North zone made 97 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs with Sana Javed being the top-scorer (44).

In reply, South zone also made the same score for the loss of the same number of wickets but the South zone was declared winner by 12 runs under the law of slow over-rate.

Second match was played between Central Zone Blue and Central Zone Green.

Central Zone Green scored 101 runs for five wickets. Nazia Nazir made 34 while Saadia claimed three wickets for Central Zone Blue.

In reply, Central Zone Blue achieved the target in the 19th over. Nida Dar scored 25 while Almas Akram took three wickets for 13 runs.

Champions Trophy: ICC meeting to be held on Sunday

All eight participating teams will receive a security briefing about the nature of the problems in Pakistan at the ICC meeting in Dubai ahead of the prestigious cricket tournament.

According to ICC officials, this urgent meeting was called to finalize the hosts of the Champions Trophy. The Chief Operating Officer, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shafquat Naghmi will represent Pakistan while Event’s security officer Sohail Khan and ICC Pakistan representative Ahmed Farooq will also participate in the meeting.

Players from England, Australia and New Zealand have already expressed concerns about playing in Pakistan - whereas India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies are willing to support the hosts.

The ICC will also review the security arrangements during the Asia Cup tournament, which was monitored by experts and security companies on behalf of the ICC.

I’d prefer to play for England if ignored: Kaneria

Pakistan cricket team’s leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said that if he would continuously be ignored then he would prefer to play for England.

In an interview with an England newspaper, Danish Kaneria said that if he is not selected for Pakistan then he may prefer to represent England in cricket.

He said that he is 27 years of age and still has much cricket in him.

Kaneria said that he also wants to play one-day cricket for Pakistan but he has so far been played only 18 ODIs.

Taking disciplinary action against him in February this year, the Pakistan Cricket Board had shifted him from ‘B’ category to ‘C’ of the central contract.

Kaneria said that now he has focused all his attention to county cricket and he does not know what would be his future in Pakistan cricket.

‘All federations including PCB, POA to be held accountable’

Federal minister for sports Najmuddin Khan said that all federations, including the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan Olympics Association, would be held accountable by the ministry.

Talking with media on visit of the National Coaching & Training Centre in Lahore, Najmuddin Khan said that there is an immediate need to change the system at the moment.

He said that the ministry for sports is the ministry of the least importance and nobody considers himself accountable before the ministry for sports. How to ask those sitting in the cricket board, POA and federations as some say they are accountable to the President and the others say they are accountable to an international body.

The sports minister said that after Beijing Olympics, the sports policy would be strictly followed.

He asked the officials who cannot spare time for sports to keep themselves away from their responsibilities otherwise they would be removed.

ICC security delegation visits National Stadium

With Pakistan's hosting right for the Champions Trophy under constant review, another security delegation of the International Cricket Council (ICC) visited National Stadium Karachi.

ICC security team comprising of two British consultants, David Clark and David Battams, assessed the security arrangements at the venue. Interestingly, no senior official of the PCB was there to brief the ICC delegation. Both security consultants also visited VVIP enclosure, Chairman box, dressing rooms, main gate and the ground.

This is the fourth visit of any ICC delegation to assess security and other arrangements before Champions Trophy in September. ICC President, Ray Mali had already expressed satisfaction over security arrangements.

Security delegation will send its final report to ICC, which is holding an important meeting in this regard on Sunday.

Final decision on Champions Trophy venue on Sunday

For deciding the venues of the ICC Champions Trophy, a meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) will be held here on Sunday in which chief executives of cricket boards from the countries, participating in the event.

The ICC will give a briefing to the representatives of the cricket boards on a report for security in Pakistan. The fears mentioned in the report will be discussed in the meeting. The report has been obtained from independent sources.

The final decision for holding the Champions Trophy will be taken in this meeting.

Meanwhile, the ICC sources said that the Champions Trophy will be held only in Pakistan according to the schedule and if has to be shifted or postponed due to any emergency situation then decision would be taken in a separate board meeting of the Council.

Raja holds Asif responsible for ruining own career

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) former chief executive and Captain Rameez Raja said that Muhammad Asif himself was responsible for ruining his career and added that if the Board had taken stern decision in 2006, then Pakistan would not have earned bad name today by dope testing proved positive.

Talking to Geo News here, Rameez Raja said that it was unfortunate for Pakistan stormed by controversies one after the other. He said that the cricketers by virtue of central contract were employees of the Board against whom severe disciplinary actions should be taken instead of rescuing them. If the Board gets strong, then it would never fall prey to the political maneuverings, but Muhammad Asif, when tested positive in 2006, was let off on political considerations and now, first the Dubai case and then the IPL dope test came to the fore.

Asif demands B sample test from IPL

Fast bowler Mohammad Asif has formally contacted the Indian Premier League for getting a ‘B sample’ test after testing positive for a banned substance during play in the IPL.

His lawyer Shahid Karim told Geo News here on Wednesday that he has held a detailed meeting with Mohammad Asif in which it was decided to make an immediate contact with the IPL and demand for a ‘B sample’ test.

The IPL management has been mailed and asked that Asif wants a ‘B sample’ and seeks guidance in this regard.

The IPL has also been asked that what the procedure was adopted for the first sample test.

Shahid Karim told that no letter regarding suspension has so far been received from the Pakistan Cricket Board and the future strategy would be decided after receiving the letter.
The IPL announced on Monday that the 25-year-old fast bowler had failed a drugs test at the lucrative Twenty20 tournament held from April to June.

"We will fight the case because we believe that our client has not taken any drug so we will go for the B sample test and do whatever required to clear Asif's name,"

lawyer Shahid Karim said.

The announcement, the latest in a series of shocks for Pakistani cricket, comes a month after Asif was seized at Dubai airport while returning home from India on charges of possessing opium.

He was detained for 19 days before being deported by police in the Gulf emirate, who said the quantity of illegal drugs found was "insignificant."

In October 2006, Asif was banned for one year and fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for two years after they failed dope tests conducted internally by the PCB.

The bans were however overturned on appeal.

Shahid Karim said Asif was shocked at the development but was very confident that his name would be cleared.

"Asif is a talented bowler and wants to play for his country. He is confident that he will get out of this trouble and play again for the country,"

said Karim.

Pakistan names 30 probables for Champions Trophy

The Chief operating officer, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shafquat Naghmi has announced Pakistan’s preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy here in a press conference today.

The Pakistani squad includes: Shoaib Malik (Captain), Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Nasir Jamshaid, Azhar Ali, Misbah-ul-Haq (V. Captain), Khalid Latif, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Bazid Khan, Fawad Alam, Masood Amjad, Shoaib Akhtar, Rao Iftikhar, Abdur Rauf, Anwar Ali, Muhammad Amir, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Kamran Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, Yasir Hameed, Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Yasir, Sohail Khan, Mansoor Amjad, Umer Gul and Khurram Manzoor.

Last week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) allowed the PCB to delay the naming of 30 probables until July 15. Pakistan is due to host the biennial Champions Trophy, featuring the top eight cricket countries from September 11-28. The cut-off time for submitting the final 15-member squad to the ICC is August 11.

Bright star Asif slips into the darkness

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has gone from bright new hope to fallen star in the space of just two years and his latest troubles could spell the end of his career.

The 25-year-old paceman was on Monday identified as the player who failed a drugs test during the April-June Indian Premier League and now faces a lengthy ban from the game.

It may prove to be the last twist in a career which was tainted by a first doping row in 2006, a fight with fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar in September last year and a 19-day detention in Dubai on charges of possessing an illegal drug last month.

Former captain Wasim Akram said Asif is another example of a career which has spiralled out of control.

"Boys like Asif come from small towns and they are unable to handle the fame and money so they get distracted and I'm disappointed at the fate such a talented bowler has met,"

said Wasim.

There has never been any doubt over Asif's talents with the ball.

When he dismissed legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar during his match and series-winning seven-wicket haul in Karachi in January 2006, he was instantly compared with Australian master quick Glenn McGrath.

Asif followed it up with 17 wickets to help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka 2-0 two months later.

Nominated as one of the International Cricket Council's emerging players of 2006, he was hailed as the "bowler of this generation" by none other than legendary Pakistani all-rounder Imran Khan.

Asif hails from a village called Machikay, near Sheikhupura, a small town in central Punjab which also produced medium fast bowler Rana Naved-ul Hasan.

He caught the selectors' eye with a burst of 7-35 for Sialkot in a first-class match in 2005 and was handed a ticket to Australia with the Pakistan national team.

His first international outing at Sydney proved a forgettable experience as his 18 overs in Pakistan's third loss in as many Tests went wicketless.

But the determined novice worked hard to ensure it was not his last, undergoing a short stint at India's MRF pace academy under the eagle eye of former Australian legend Dennis Lillee.

He showed signs of improvement by taking ten wickets in a first-class match against Ashes-winning Michael Vaughan's England in November 2005.

Injuries to his back and elbow stopped him showing his true potential, however and he missed Pakistan's first three Tests in England in the summer of 2006.

He finally arrived with a bang at the Oval, grabbing 4-56 to help Pakistan gain the upper hand before his team ended up forfeiting the game in a protest over ball-tampering allegations.

He was expected to lead Pakistan's attack on Indian pitches during the Champions Trophy before the dope test saga unfurled.

He and fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar tested positive for nandrolone.

Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year but the bans were however overturned on appeals.

Asif promised that he would learn from the first pitfall, but recent developments suggest otherwise.

PCB launches women's Twenty20 tournament

The Pakistan board has launched the National Twenty20 Quadrangular Championship as part of its plans to prepare the national women's team for the inaugural World Twenty20 in England in 2009. The domestic tournament will be held in Karachi between July 18 and 27.

The 64 cricketers will be divided among four zonal teams: North Zone [Peshawar, Abbottabad, Islamabad], Central Zone Blues [Lahore, Sialkot], Central Zone Greens [Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi], and South Zone [Karachi, Hyderadad, Quetta]. Urooj Mumtaz, the national captain, will lead the South Zone squad.

The WorldTwenty20 is set to increase the profile of the women's game since their matches will be staged alongside the men's event, the first time that it's happening. Mumtaz, in her blog entry on Cricinfo in May, wrote about what the tournament could mean for women's cricket despite the fact that Pakistan have not yet played international Twenty20s.

"Knowing that we are going to have the opportunity to play at the same grounds as some of these players, on the same day, at the World Twenty20 is really exciting,"

she said.

"It's a great opportunity to promote the women's game."

The opening day of the competition sees South Zone face Central Zone Blues and Central Zone Greens take on North Zone.

Squads:

North Zone: Qanita Jalil, Asma Tehseen, Wajiha Sundas, Naila Qureshi, Tayyaba Khan, Shakila Naz, Sana Javed, Badar-un-Nisa, Marriam Hasan Shah, Naila Nazir, Hina Shafique, Salma Faiz, Faiza, Waheed, Sumaiya Akbar, Kiran Mukhtar
Coach: Nadeem Abbasi
Manager: Hajra Sarwar

Central Zone Blues : Sabeen Abdul Samad, Zeba Manzoor, Nida Dar, Almas Akram, Bismah Maroof, Taskeen Qadeer, Marina Iqbal, Sabahat Rashid, Mehwish Tariq, Faryal Awan, Saima Jamil, Sidra Amin, Nimra Imran, Marriam Butt, Tehreen Iqbal
Coach: Mohammad Riaz
Manager:Zeb-Un-Nisa

Central Zone Greens: Asmavia Iqbal, Sania Khan, Sukhan Faiz, Atiya Shakira, Asfa Batool, Sana Gulzar, Nazia Nazir, Rabiya Batool, Sadia Yousuf, Anum Zahra, Shaumaila Mushtaq, Armaan Khan, Nazia Sadiq, Sadia Iqbal, Maria Javed
Coach: Aftab Warraich
Manager: Riffat Manzoor

South Zone: Batool Fatima, Nain Abidi, Sana Mir, Urooj Mumtaz, Javeria Khan, Sajida Shah, Sumaiya Siddiqui, Kanwal Naz, Rabia Shah, Kainat Imtiaz, Nahida Khan, Shazia Anjum, Masooma Junaid, Humaira Masroor, Sana Taj
Coach: Farrukh Bari
Manager: Ayesha Qureshi

Source: Cricinfo

Yousuf pulls out of Champions Trophy

Mohammad Yousuf has made himself unavailable for Pakistan's Champions Trophy campaign in September, thus further depleting Pakistan's 30-man list of probables for the tournament.

The announcement of the squad has already been delayed twice so far, initially because of disagreement between the board and selectors over some names on the list, as well as uncertainty over Shoaib Akhtar's eligibility.

The names were supposed to be made public today, but the revelation that Mohammad Asif, one of the names in the squad, was the player who tested positive in a dope test at the IPL, meant another delay. The names will, the board now says, be announced tomorrow.

But Yousuf will not be among them. Yousuf will be unavailable because the tournament will be played during the month of Ramadan.

"Yousuf has asked to be excused from the Champions Trophy as it will be held during Ramadan and he does not want to be playing during that month,"

a source told.

"We have respected that decision and not picked him in the squad."

Though Yousuf had made the request to the board a while back, final confirmation only came today. Mohammad Hafeez is likely to take his place in the list of probables. His decision will come as a blow to a squad already likely to be missing Asif. Uncertainty remains over the inclusion in the final 15 of Shoaib, and possibly Umar Gul as well, who is yet to recover from an injury sustained during the Asia Cup.

Yousuf has been Pakistan's middle-order rock over the last 12 months, scoring over 1100 runs at an average of nearly 70, with three 100s and eight 50s. And he hasn't just milked minnows such as Bangladesh or Zimbabwe; in 14 matches against India and South Africa, he averages over 60, with six fifties and a hundred.

As Yousuf Youhana, he was one of the few Christians to have played for Pakistan and the only one to have captained the side. But he publicly announced his conversion to Islam in September 2005 and has since been a devout, practicing Muslim. Ramadan is among the holiest months in the Islamic calendar, where Muslims are expected to fast between sunrise and sunset. Pakistan players have on occasion played while fasting in the past and it is popularly thought that some were fasting during the 1992 World Cup.

Asif fails in dope test at IPL: Indian Board

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif tested positive for a banned substance during random testing at the Indian Premier League, the Indian Cricket Board announced on Monday.

The Indian Cricket Board has confirmed the player in violation during the IPL is Mohammad Asif.

Asif, 25, played for the Delhi Daredevils team in the IPL, a lucrative Twenty20 tournament that ran from April 18-June 1 and featured the world's top players.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had been informed of Asif's positive test and it depended on the player if he wanted his 'B' sample to be tested, the statement added.

"It was also checked if Mr Asif had applied for and was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE),"

the statement said.

"It was found that Mr. Asif had not applied for a TUE. A note in writing has been sent to the player and his home board and to the franchisee on the findings,"

it added.

Officials compared the result from the WADA-approved laboratory in Switzerland with data collected by IDTM, the Sweden-based independent agency which organised testing in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards.

The nature of the banned substance has not been disclosed.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had been informed of Asif's positive test and it depended on the player if he wanted his 'B' sample to be tested, the statement added.

If Asif takes up the offer the case will be referred to the IPL's three-member Drugs Tribunal that includes former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, once the results of the 'B' sample are known.

The lanky seamer faces a ban from future editions of the IPL and possible punishment from the Pakistan board if all tests go against him.

Asif was detained at Dubai airport for three weeks for possessing opium while returning from the IPL in June. But Dubai public prosecutors dropped the case citing "insignificance" and deported him to Pakistan.

Asif, who made his international debut in January, 2005, has so far played 11 Tests and taken 51 wickets at an average of 23.13.

He also has 36 wickets from 31 one-day internationals and 12 wickets in nine Twenty20 internationals.

Fine payment: Shoaib sends written reply to PCB notice

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has requested to the Pakistan Cricket Board to withdraw for the time being from a demand of paying the fine of Rs seven million as his case is still in the court. However, he assures to pay the fine on the complete verdict from the court.

A meeting of the PCB officials and the selection committee was held today at the PCB headquarters in Lahore for finalizing the preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy.

On this occasion, Shoaib Akhtar sent his written instance on PCB's notice regarding the fine of Rs seven million.

He has adopted the instance that since the case is still in the Lahore High Court and the complete verdict is due to be announced whereas no deadline has been determined for the payment of the fine of Rs seven million, he therefore requests to the Board to withdraw its demand for paying the fine and consider him for selection.

Shoaib also requested to the Board not to relate his selection to any other issue.

He also assured the PCB that he would pay the fine on the decision of the LCH.

Row between PCB officials, selection committee intensifies

A row between officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and national selection committee has intensified as the selectors have been called for a meeting in Lahore on the selection of 30 probable players for the ICC Champions Trophy.

The PCB governing body has directed the selection committee to prefer those players for selection who have entered into an agreement with the PCB.

In this connection, a committee has been formed which comprises of Zakir Khan, Aaqib Javed, Mudassar Nazar and Haroon Rasheed.

Most of the 30 probable players, selected by the national selection committee, do not hold central contract of the PCB.

However, the selection committee did not intimate this to the four-member committee and thus Salahuddin Sallu and the two members of the committee are meeting with the PCB officials in Lahore on Monday.

Four-nation Twenty20 tournament confirmed

Organisers have confirmed a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Toronto involving hosts Canada, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies in August.

"There were some teething problems initially but now everything is going according to plan,"

Noman Nabi, chairman of Sports International Marketing - the company staging the August 14-17 tournament - told the News. Nabi said packed stadiums are expected for the event, with approximately 12,000 spectators expected for each game.

The tournament faced major hiccups last month when the original organisers backed out.

"We only came in the picture last month and signed an MoU with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in mid-June,"

Nabi said. He said they had signed an MoU with the Bangladesh Cricket Board while all terms and conditions have been verbally agreed with the top officials of Cricket Canada.

"They [Cricket Canada] have assured us that they would soon confirm the participation of the West Indies in the tournament,"

he said. Noman said there was a delay in confirming the four-day event as Cricket Canada were a "bit apprehensive" about the venture after the earlier organisers backed out.

"The PCB has been very supportive,"

he said.

"The tournament is aimed at building Pakistan's image in Canada because a successful Twenty20 tournament will help revive cricket in that country.

"Canada has a big Pakistani community and since the event will begin on August 14 we believe it would be a perfect time to celebrate [Pakistan's] Independence Day there."

Team selection delayed until Shoaib Akhtar ‘pays up’

Senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and national selectors seemed to be on a collision course after Pakistan delayed naming their preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy following a dispute with controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar over the payment of a seven million rupees fine.

The selectors had included Shoaib in a 30-man provisional list for the Champions Trophy but some Board officials disapproved it, saying that the fast bowler cannot be a part of it until he pays the fine.

With PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf not in the country, it was left to Shafqat Naghmi, the Board’s chief operating officer, to resolve the issue after it snowballed into the newest controversy to hit Pakistan cricket.

Naghmi has summoned the national selectors to the Board headquarters in Lahore on Monday (July 14) to discuss the provisional list. The PCB has decided to name the Champions Trophy probables after the meeting.

The Board landed itself in an embarrassing situation when the preliminary list was leaked to the media before it was officially announced.

The list was due to be released on Friday — the deadline set by the International Cricket Council (ICC). A PCB official, however, said that the ICC has relaxed the deadline till July 15.

“It (the announcement of the list) is not an issue,”

Mansoor Sohail, PCB’s media director, said.

“The list will be released after the meeting between Board officials and the selectors on Monday,”

he added.

While Sohail tried to play down the episode, this correspondent has learnt that the selectors were unhappy at the way PCB officials have tackled the issue. Sources said that the selectors included Shoaib and another controversial pacer Mohammad Asif in the list after getting permission from Ashraf before he left for England for a week-long visit. They weren’t expecting other PCB officials to question the list.

According to well-placed sources, it was Zakir Khan, PCB’s Director of Cricket Operations (International), who raised an objection on Shoaib’s inclusion in the list. Zakir has had problems with Shoaib in the past and the two are not the best of friends.

But Naghmi made it clear that Zakir’s objection came because of an entirely different reason.

“We have a policy or a vision for the first year to concentrate mostly on the 26 players we are paying a monthly salary or retainer to,”

Naghmi told.

“This pool numbers 26 and we needed 30,”

he added.

“We had also decided that if any extraordinary talent outside this pool emerges, then we have men like Mudassar Nazar, Aaqib Javed and Haroon Rasheed at the academy who spot this talent.

“So anytime the selectors pick outside this 26, a committee headed by Zakir Khan needs to just approve that these are the guys we should pick. That was scheduled for this morning but couldn’t happen and will now happen on Monday,”

he added.

When contacted by ‘The News’, chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed made it clear that the selection committee will accept any decision made by the PCB Governing Board.

“It (Governing Board) is the supreme authority and its decision will be final,”

he said adding that the selectors had picked the best players in the provisional squad.

Of those best players, two are disputed.

Shoaib is the main bone of contention. He was banned for five years on April 1 this year over repeated breaches of discipline but later the punishment was reduced to 18 months but he was slapped with a Rs 7 million fine.

Later, Shoaib filed a petition with the Lahore High Court against the ban and fine last month. The court suspended the ban but refused to clear the fine until the case is taken up for regular hearing in September.

The board’s legal opinion suggests that Shoaib will become eligible after he pays the fine.

“We got the written court order today,”

Naghmi said.

“They suspended the ban but not the fine. We have asked our lawyer whether Shoaib becomes eligible after paying the fine and the lawyer believes that is the case. We’ve sent a letter to Shoaib to pay the fine by Monday.”

The second player in question is Asif. A PCB fact-finding committee is to probe an incident that led to his detention in Dubai last month for allegedly carrying a banned drug.

The three-man committee, which includes Naghmi, Zakir and Nadeem Akram, will begin its work from Monday, after receiving documents related to the case from Dubai.

Wasim Akram criticises Shoaib Malik, selecters

Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan captain, has criticised Shoaib Malik for his captaincy and for not bowling his off-spin in important matches, and also not including the match-winning bowler in the team.

The former captain of Pakistan cricket team, criticizing the captain of the present national team, said that he avoided to bowl in important matches and bowled against easy rivals.

Wasim Akram said that it was the captain’s fault and not the selectors’ for not playing Abdul Rauf after he took three wickets in a match.

He also criticized the selection committee and called for inclusion of Mohammad Aamer, the 16-year-old left-arm seamer from Rawalpindi, into the national team.

Champions Trophy: ‘Pakistan’s preliminary squad by July 15’

Chief operating officer Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shafquat Naghmi said that Pakistan’s preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy would be announced after getting the approval from the PCB governing body.

Talking in the Geo News programme ‘Scorer’, Shafquat Naghmi said that the selection committee has finalized the squad for the Champions Trophy and waiting for an approval from the governing body under the PCB procedure and the team would be announced soon after getting the approval.

Sahfquat Naghmi said that the deadline for announcing the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy is July 15 and the team would be announced before the deadline.

In reply to a question regarding the inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar, he said that it would be known when the team would be announced.

However, he told that the copy of the Lahore High Court decision has been received.

PCB to demand compensation if Trophy is relocated

Pakistan will demand for a substantial compensation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in case this September’s Champions Trophy is relocated from here because of security fears.

Well-placed sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told ‘The News’ on Wednesday that

“Pakistan will not take any negative ICC decision on the Champions Trophy just lying down and will seek compensation in case the tournament is taken out of the country”.

Sources said that the PCB’s primary demand in case Pakistan are deprived of the Champions Trophy will be to get a US$3 million hosting fee from the ICC. As the host country of the Champions Trophy, Pakistan are to receive that amount from ICC - the game’s governing body.

But they could be deprived of the fee if the tournament which is scheduled to be held from September 11-28 in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi is relocated from Pakistan.

The Board is also considering demanding the hosting rights of the next edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. The 2010 tournament has been awarded to the West Indies but the PCB will ask the ICC to reconsider that decision in case this year’s Champions Trophy is taken away from Pakistan.

However, a PCB source conceded that such a demand might not be acceptable to the ICC as it would be punishing for the West Indies.

The ICC is under considerable pressure from a few competing nations to take away the Champions Trophy from Pakistan because of security concerns. Several players from Australia — the Champions Trophy title-holders —, England and New Zealand have openly raised doubts about their participation in the tournament.

A series of bombings in Islamabad and Karachi has not helped Pakistan’s cause in spite of repeated assurances from the PCB and the government that all possible steps will be taken to ensure the safety of players and officials during the Champions Trophy.

The ICC has kept Sri Lanka as an alternate venue for the Champions Trophy but questions have also been raised about the strife-torn island nation’s choice as Champions Trophy hosts. Fresh reports have suggested that the Champions Trophy is more likely to be played in South Africa than Sri Lanka in case it is relocated from Pakistan.

Both Sri Lanka and South Africa have shown their keenness to host the Champions Trophy. Gerald Majola, the chief of Cricket South Africa (CSA), was quoted as saying on Wednesday that his country can host the tournament successfully in case it is approached by the ICC even at such short notice.

Sri Lankans top ICC Test batting, bowling rankings

Latest edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test player rankings issued Tuesday (rankings as on June 17):

Leading batsmen (rank, player, team, rating, average, highest rating)

1. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) 893 55.19 938 v ENG at Kandy 2007
2. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) 890 49.08 890 v AUS at Bridgetown 2008
3. Mike Hussey (AUS) 882 68.38 921 v WI at Kingston 2008
4= Ricky Ponting (AUS) 880 58.37 942 v ENG at Adelaide 2006
4= Mohammad Yousuf (PAK) 880 55.49 933 v WI at Karachi 2006
6. Jacques Kallis (RSA) 877 57.14 935 v NZ at Centurion 2007
7. Matthew Hayden (AUS) 834 53.51 935 v ENG at Brisbane 2002
8. Mahela Jayawardene (SL) 810 51.93 844 v WI at Guyana 2008
9. Younis Khan (PAK) 799 49.14 856 v ENG at Headingley 2006
10. Kevin Pietersen (ENG) 795 49.55 909 v WI at Headingley 2007

Leading bowlers (rank, player, team, rating, average, highest rating)

1. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) 897 21.95 920 v BD at Kandy 2007
2. Dale Steyn (RSA) 892 21.60 897 v IND at Ahmedabad 2008
3. Stuart Clark (AUS) 863* 21.46 863 v WI at Bridgetown 2008
4. Brett Lee (AUS) 794 29.58 811 v WI at Antigua 2008
5. Makhaya Ntini (RSA) 777 27.85 863 v IND at Durban 2006
6. Ryan Sidebottom (ENG) 748* 25.11 748 v NZ at TrentBridge2008
7. Chaminda Vaas (SL) 709 29.09 800 v IND at Chennai 2005
8. Anil Kumble (IND) 708 29.06 859 v SL at Bangalore 1994
9. Shoaib Akhtar (PAK) 684 25.69 855 v NZ at Wellington 2003
10. Shane Bond (NZ) 668* 22.39 778 v WI at Auckland 2006

Note: * = provisional rating: a bowler qualifies for a full rating when he reaches 100 Test wickets.

Leading Test all-rounders (rank, change, player, team, rating, highest rating)
1. (- ) Jacques Kallis (RSA) 495 616 v PAK at Durban 2002
2. (- ) Daniel Vettori (NZ) 324 360 v ENG at Lord's 2008
3. (- ) Andrew Flintoff (ENG) 302 501 v PAK at Multan 2005
4. (+2) Dwayne Bravo (WI) 295 295 v AUS at Bridgetown 2008
5. (-1) Chaminda Vaas (SL) 294 300 v WIS at Guyana 2008

Note: * = provisional rating: a batsman qualifies for a full rating after playing 40 Test innings; a bowler qualifies for a full rating when he reaches 100 Test wickets.

Younis: Shoaib Needs Extra Care

Younis Khan has backed Shoaib Akhtar to return to the Pakistan side - but insisted the troubled fast bowler needed to be treated with extra care.

Shoaib was freed by a court to play for the national side after a Lahore High Court judge suspended his 18-month ban for a breach of disciplinary.

A tribunal had already reduced Shoaib's ban from the PCB from five years - with the latest appeal hearing suspending the sentence until September.

However Younis believes that Shoaib needs to be looked after to get the best out of him.

"I have spent a lot of time with him,"

Younis told The News.

"He is like a child and needs constant attention. He needs extra care.

"He is a match-winner. Fast bowlers are fun-loving and passionate. More passionate than other players.

"Shoaib is hounded by the media all the time. He needs privacy and encouragement."

ICC waits for Asia Cup security report

The ICC is awaiting a report from its security consultants, working with the Pakistan authorities, on the Asia Cup in its bid to assess the situation in the country ahead of the Champions Trophy in September.

"At this stage we are working towards the Champions Trophy being held in Pakistan in September,"

said Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive officer. The ICC board and the chief executives' committee received a presentation from security consultants hired to oversee the situation and agreed upon a process to deal with any incidents that may occur in Pakistan between now and the end of the tournament.

"The process involved an exchange of information between the competing teams, the ICC and the security consultants",

said Lorgat.

"The ICC will not compromise the safety and security of any individual at one of its tournaments and if it is not appropriate to play in any country then we will not do so."

On Sunday a bomb blast occurred in Islamabad where 10 people were feared dead. Pakistan president Pervez Musharaff, who was at the closing ceremony of the Asia Cup, condemned the attack and insisted the country needed healthy competitions like the just-concluded tournament.

"I congratulate the Pakistan board and the Asian Cricket Council for organising this event successfully,"

Musharraf said.

Dr Nasim Ashraf assumes charge as president ACC

The Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Dr.Nasim Ashraf has earned another distinction when by taking charge of President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Sunday.

He has assumed the charge of the continental body for the two-year term after the Annual General Body (AGB) meeting replacing Arjuna Ranatunga of Sri Lanka.

Holding quits ICC over Oval change as Zimbabwe remain

Michael Holding quit cricket committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in protest at the ICC's decision, taken at its board meeting in Dubai, to change the result of the 2006 Oval Test from an England win over Pakistan to a draw.

Pakistan were originally ruled to have forfeited the match, something never before seen in a Test, following their refusal to take the field after tea on the fourth day having previously been penalised five runs for ball-tampering by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove.

A subsequent hearing cleared Pakistan of ball-tampering and, on Thursday, the ICC took the extraordinary step of altering the match result.

The West Indies former fast bowler Holding, while accepting Pakistan were not guilty of ball-tampering, said their refusal to play should not go unpunished.

"When you take certain actions, you must be quite happy to suffer the consequences,"

he said while commentating for a TV channel on Friday during Kent's semi-final win over Durham in English cricket's domestic 50-over event.

"I have just written my letter of resignation to the ICC cricket committee because I cannot agree with what they've done.

"A lot of things that are happening today I don't want to be involved with, so I've moved on."

Holding's announcement set the seal on a turbulent week for the ICC which saw England and South Africa pushing for the suspension of strife-torn Zimbabwe from world cricket.

But the Asian bloc -- led by the game's commercial powerhouse India -- opposed the move.

Instead a compromise was reached which saw Zimbabwe pull out of next year's World Twenty20 in England.

That move came after the British government had made it clear it would not issue visas to Zimbabwean cricketers, thereby effectively cancelling their scheduled tour of England in 2009.

Had Zimbabwe insisted on its right to participate, the lucrative tournament could have been moved elsewhere although that in turn could have led to a boycott by England and other leading nations.

Meanwhile concerns have been raised regarding the finances of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).

Malcolm Speed effectively stepped down early from his post as ICC chief executive because of the board's failure to take action on the back of an audit by leading accountants KPMG, said to have noted "serious financial irregularities" in ZC's books.

But incoming ICC president David Morgan, formerly the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, told reporters in Dubai:

"The full membership of Zimbabwe is currently not in doubt. There was not even a discussion on the issue of Zimbabwe's membership."

Geoff Lawson doesn’t play role in troubled times: Younis Khan

The senior player and the stylish batsman of Pakistan Cricket Team Younis Khan said on Friday that coach of national team Geoff Lawson did not play his role in time of need and left all the crucial matters upon players.

“Pakistan team needs Shoaib Akhter and Muhammad Asif however they have to improvise their fitness level”

Pakistan v Bangladesh, Super Four, Asia Cup, Karachi

Pakistan 116 for 0 (Butt 56*, Jamshed 52*) beat

Bangladesh 115 (Rauf 3-24) by ten wickets

A clinical performance from Pakistan had them coast to a ten-wicket win in the inconsequential final Super Four match of the Asia Cup. In a refreshing change at the National Stadium in Karachi, the bowlers dominated the proceedings in the first session but for Bangladesh it was the same old story as their batting collapsed to 115 all out - the lowest total of the tournament.

On a pitch offering sideways movement and extra bounce, Abdur Rauf sliced through the top order with three wickets and Iftikhar Anjum bowled an astonishing six maidens - equalling the record for a Pakistani - to put the hosts on course. Half-centuries from openers Nasir Jamshed and Salman Butt helped complete the formalities with more than 30 overs to spare.

The plethora of big scores which have been easily chased down hasn't dissuaded captains from choosing to bat first, and Bangladesh continued the trend. While Sohail Tanvir extracted significant lateral movement from the pitch initially, it was Rauf who got the early wickets.

On one of the cooler days of the tournament, on a difficult pitch, Bangladesh's batsmen compounded their troubles with some ill-advised shots. Opener Nazimuddin attempted to pull a short delivery in the second over from outside off and only managed to top-edge it to Shoaib Malik at cover.

Mohammad Ashraful and Tamim Iqbal didn't bring out their strokes except when the bowlers erred, but their steady approach lifted Bangladesh to 41 for 2. Ashraful hadn't connected with an attempted hook in the ninth over but got hold of a short one from Rauf in the next to launch it over the midwicket boundary. Rauf's next ball was a fast bowler's classic reply: a snorter aimed at the body which forced Ashraful to give Misbah-ul-Haq a catch at point.

Raqibul Hasan has shown a heartening and - for a Bangladesh batsman - a rare ability to stick it out in the middle but this time he went for an ambitious hook first ball off Tanvir to hole out at short fine leg.

With Bangladesh at a dicey 49 for 3, Rauf came up with the best over of the match. The first ball was a sharp bouncer which Tamim fended to slip, and Alok Kapali barely survived the next five torrid deliveries - a couple of well-directed bouncers, and a mixture of incoming and away-going deliveries.

Iftikhar Anjum followed the Rauf formula of throwing in a surprise bouncer while also testing the batsmen against the deliveries which seamed off a length. Kapali struck three boundaries in Anjum's first over but he was undone by the extra lift in the pitch as well. It was a superb comeback by Anjum, conceding only seven runs in his final seven overs and beating the bat on umpteen occasions. He finished with figures of 10-6-20-2 and was unlucky to not get more wickets.

Saeed Ajmal backed up the good work of the fast bowlers, picking up two late-order wickets off his doosra, which the batsmen struggled to pick as Bangladesh folded in the 39th over.

The flimsy total wasn't going to be much of a challenge for a Pakistan batting line-up that convincingly chased down 309 against India on Wednesday. Jamshed provided the early momentum, repeatedly carting the bowlers in the arc between long-on and midwicket as Pakistan went into the dinner break at 23 for no loss.

Shahadat Hossain extracted the same bounce which aided the Pakistan bowlers, and troubled both openers in the first over after the resumption but there were few alarms after that. Pakistan scored a boundary in virtually every over with a series of off drives off Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahadat.

There was a brief lull after spin was introduced at both ends before Butt carved Abdur Razzak through extra cover in the eighteenth over. That opened the floodgates as Jamshed pummeled Mahmudullah over long-on for six and brought up his fifty with a swept four to midwicket. Butt also completed his fifty with three sweeps to the boundary off Razzak before an authoritative cut put Bangladesh out of their misery.

Bangladesh are still without a win against challenging opposition since last year's World Cup and the poor showing at the Asia Cup isn't the sort of preparation they'd want ahead of a tough tour of Australia.