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.

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.

Pakistan v India, Super Four, Asia Cup, Karachi

Pakistan 309 for 2 (Younis 123*, Misbah 70*, Jamshed 53 retd) beat

India 308 for 7 (Dhoni 76, Rohit 58, Sehwag 49, Anjum 3-51) by eight wickets

Pakistan - courtesy Younis Khan's scintillating hundred - showed plenty of character to make easy work of a target of 309 against India and push their case for a berth in the final on Sunday. Pakistan's openers set the platform with attacking cricket against India's battle-weary seam attack, before masterful middle-order batting from Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq helped them gallop home with 27 balls to spare. The victory not only saved the home side from an early elimination, but also brought the lukewarm tournament to life as the hunt for Sri Lanka's opposition in the final extended to another day, at least.

Pakistan's ruthless approach was similar to the defeat India inflicted on them last week. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision at the toss was a no-brainer as, on a typically benign pitch, Virender Sehwag began the run-glut with imperious hitting before Dhoni and Rohit Sharma crafted workmanlike half-centuries to arrest a sudden top-order jolt. India's bowlers however wilted in unforgiving conditions and Pakistan - backed by a boisterous crowd - never let the initiative slip once the openers set the launch pad.

The intimidation began with Salman Butt's treatment of Praveen Kumar - he cut, drove and whipped anything either too short or wide and Nasir Jamshed found the bowler's gentle swing and pace to his liking as well, stepping down the track to crash one back down the ground. The early hitting started to tell on the fielders as well - Ishant Sharma fumbled to concede a boundary at deep square leg and Praveen failed to sight a skier towards third man. Irfan Pathan, playing his first game of the tournament, then came under the hammer as Jamshed slammed one over his head. Irfan responded with two head-high bouncers but was duly dispatched with controlled hooks.

The only blip in the opening stand was the running. Shortly after a shy at the striker's end nearly claimed Jamshed, poor calling ended Butt's innings. Butt took off for a second run but found himself yards short of his ground.

Jamshed marched on to his fifty - in his first match against a world-class opposition - before cramps cut short his innings at 53. Younis began in his typically breezy fashion, flashing an upper cut, extra-cover drive and a reverse-sweep off Piyush Chawla to bring up his fifty and 5000 ODI runs. And though Chawla bowled Mohammad Yousuf round his legs to leave Pakistan at 168 for 2 in the 26th over, they were still on course for a win.

Younis was particularly harsh on the spinners, making good use of the sweep. Chawla and Sehwag came in for some rough treatment as Younis opened his stance and peppered the on side with several singles, twos and the odd boundary. Misbah's batting showed no signs of the pressures of captaincy as he complemented his partner's urgency by scoring at over a run a ball. Misbah slog-swept Sehwag for the first six of the match; Younis took on Chawla and carted him over the roof, hitting against the turn.

Dhoni brought the seamers back once the ball got older but there was hardly any reverse-swing to work with. Misbah had the audacity to walk across the stumps and fetch a boundary off Irfan with a delicate flick of the wrists, something Sehwag did with equal efficiency earlier. Younis punished anything short and wide outside the off stump as he brought up his fifth ODI century - also his third against India. Misbah continued his on-side bashing with swivelled pulls and aptly finished the game with a flick past wide mid-on.

The story could have been different had Sehwag carried on. He looked set to tear Pakistan apart for the second time in as many matches with a breathtaking assault, upsetting the bowlers with his improvisation. Misbah bravely persisted with the Powerplays after India had blazed 86 in ten, and Pakistan turned the tide thanks to a double-strike by Abdur Rauf which pegged back at India 91 for 3. Yuvraj Singh's brief stint at the crease was punctuated by elegant drives, before Iftikhar Anjum ended his cameo. At 129 for 4, the home side felt a surge of optimism and the crowd played along as well.

However, Dhoni and Rohit ensured the run-rate never dipped below five an over throughout their 112-run stand. Both batsmen took their time to settle in, but neither played second fiddle. Rohit, who has been struggling for form since the IPL, grafted it out at the start, but displayed sound application and urgency to score at a faster rate than his captain. As the partnership mounted, so did the anxiety for Pakistan as the prospect of a challenging chase loomed. Both brought up their half-centuries off successive balls, in the process completing their century stand, which included 68 singles. The pair set up a seemingly defendable total, but ultimately India found themselves at least 30 runs short.

A loss against Sri Lanka on Thursday will mean India will have to wait on the result of the Pakistan-Bangladesh match on Friday to know whether they progress to the final.

Pakistan to play against India in Asia Cup tomorrow

Pakistan would play against India tomorrow in the super four stage of Asia Cup at National Stadium here.

A practice session of Indian team was held at National Sports Complex on Tuesday morning.

Talking to media, India coach Gary Kirsten while talking to media said that his top priority would be to defeat Pakistan and qualify for the final. He said Pakistan is also a tough opponent like Sri Lanka.

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Super Four, Asia Cup, Karachi

Sri Lanka 302 for 7 (Sangakkara 112, Tanvir 5-48) beat
Pakistan 238 for 9 (Misbah-ul-Haq 76, Malik 52, Mendis 4-47) by 64 runs

Pakistan continued their poor performance in Asia Cup with another humiliating defeat when Sri Lanka won their first match of the Super-4 stage by 64 runs here on Sunday at the National Stadium.

Chasing a tough target of 303 runs, Pakistan could make 238 runs for nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

They played under pressure right from the ball one when opener Salman Butt was dismissed without scoring any run.

However, captain Shoaib Malik and Younus Khan made 72 runs when Younus departed on 47.

Later, Pakistan lost four more wickets including Malik, who got 52 with three fours.

Then, Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfraz Ahmed set to take their team to recovery and added 66 runs for the seventh wicket when Misbah was bowled by Mendis for a valuable 76. he faced 70 balls and hit four sixes and three fours.

Sri Lanka piled up a big score of 302 for seven wickets in the allotted 50 overs after put into bat by Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik in the second match of the Super-4 stage of the Asia Cup here on Sunday at the National Stadium.


Opener Kumar Sangakkara was the architect of the Sri Lanka innings who scored 112 off 110 balls. He hit ten fours and one six in his ninth ODI hundred, second against Pakistan.

Except him, no one could reach fifty as Chamara Silva made 46 with five fours and Chamara Kapugedera got 43 with two sixes and as many fours.

Other main scorers were captain Mahela Jayawardene (29) and Thilan Tushara Mirando (28).

From Pakistan, left-arm fast-medium bowler Sohail Tanvir displayed excellent performance with a career-best five for 48. His previous best was 4-34 against Zimbabwe at Hyderabad (Sindh) early this year.

Other wicket takers were pacer Wahab Riaz and leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad. Both took one wicket each.

Pakistan made two changes, bringing in Mansoor Amjad and Wahab Riaz for the injured Umar Gul and Fawad Alam.

Amjad, who is making his ODI debut, has played one Twenty20 match for Pakistan before and took three wickets for three runs against Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka brought back Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, who were all rested for the game against the UAE. They also replaced Dilhara Fernando with Thilan Tushara.

Teams:
Pakistan: Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik (captain), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mansoor Amjad, Wahab Riaz, Iftikhar Anjum.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Tushara.

Technical Committee allows Pakistan to replace Gul with Rauf

The Technical Committee of the Ninth Asia Cup 2008 has permitted Pakistan to replace injured fast bowler, Umar Gul with Abdur Rauf.

The three member committee comprising Zakir Khan (Chairman), Mr. K. K Haridas (Member) and Iqbal Sikander (Member) considered the request from the pakistan team management for the replacement and allowed it.

Abdur Rauf will join the Pakistan Team for the rest of the tournament.

Gul was ruled out of the tournament with a rib cage injury during the match against India on Thursday.

Injured Umar Gul out of remainder of the Asia Cup

Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has been ruled out for the remainder of the Asia Cup because of a rib cartilage injury. He has been advised two weeks rest.

"Gul has been advised complete rest for at least two weeks and this is a big setback for us as he is one of our main bowler's,"

Salahuddin Ahmed, a Pakistan selector, told PTI.

Gul sustained the injury during Pakistan's group match against India on Thursday. He pulled up in his first over and, despite receiving some treatment, had to leave the field after bowling only 1.2 overs. His departure left Pakistan's bowling attack severely depleted and India chased down their target of 300 with 47 balls to spare.

"I don't know exactly what it is but I felt pain after just a few balls and it became unbearable,"

Gul said. Abdur Rauf, the fast bowler who made his debut against Zimbabwe in February, is likely to be named as a replacement. Sohail Khan, who was part of Pakistan's squad for the Kitply Cup in Bangladesh, hasn't recovered from a malaria attack.

Pakistan qualified second from their group after their loss to India and their first match of the second round is against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Pakistan v India, Group B, Asia Cup, Karachi

ndia 301 for 4 (Sehwag 119, Raina 84) beat
Pakistan 299 for 4 (Malik 125, Younis 59) by six wickets

A mighty performance from India's batsmen, led by Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina, made short work of Pakistan's competitive target of 300 and gave India two points to take into the next round. Sehwag and Raina tore into Pakistan's depleted and wayward bowling attack and sent fielders on frequent ball-retrieving missions as they scored at over eight an over during their partnership of 198 for the second wicket. The impact of that devastating stand was that India overhauled their target with six wickets and 48 balls to spare, their quickest run-chase while facing a target of 300.

The Indian approach was in stark contrast to Pakistan's methodical planning of their innings. Their openers played cautiously at the start, guarded against early wickets, and accelerated once the new-ball had been seen off to set up a launch pad. Malik's maiden century as captain was the cornerstone of the innings and the platform he provided allowed the batsmen that followed the freedom to innovate and bat aggressively in order to propel Pakistan to 299 for 4. In the end, however, they needed plenty more to challenge a trailblazing Indian batting line-up.

Pakistan's defence was blighted by a rib-muscle injury to Umar Gul, as a result of which he left the field after bowling only 1.2 overs. Shoaib Malik's offspin was also unavailable because he didn't take the field after cramping towards the end of his century. This left the acting captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, with only three specialist bowling options - Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar Anjum and Shahid Afridi - and their flat performance cost Pakistan dearly.

Despite snaring Gautam Gambhir early - Misbah reacted in 0.2 seconds at gully to take a one-handed catch to his left - Pakistan were unable to contain India. After the Kitply Cup final, Dhoni had admitted that promoting Raina ahead of himself was a mistake but today Raina walked in at No. 3, instead of the out-of-touch Rohit Sharma.

Bristling with confidence after his maiden century against Hong Kong, Raina began with free-flowing cover drives when offered width outside off stump by Tanvir and Iftikhar Anjum. He did most of the early scoring and Sehwag hadn't got off the mark till the fourth over. However, Sehwag began to gather momentum by flicking consecutively to the long-leg boundary when Anjum strayed on to his pads, and slashed two short and wide balls from Tanvir to the third-man boundary.

With Tanvir and Anjum proving toothless, Misbah turned to Afridi in the 11th over. Afridi bowled one satisfactory over before Sehwag hit him for two straight sixes in his second. Raina lofted Anjum audaciously over extra cover for another six and when Misbah brought Tanvir back, Sehwag immediately glided him down to the third-man boundary.

Pakistan began to heammorage runs and by the time Malik took the field, India had raced to 100 in 14 overs. They found the boundary virtually every over: Raina lofted Fawad Alam's leg break over the deep-midwicket boundary, Sehwag hit Afridi over long on once more. And when Malik, who wasn't allowed to bowl for 71 minutes after taking the field, turned to Salman Butt, Sehwag responded by charging him and smashing the ball twice into the stands at deep midwicket to move into the 90s.

Sehwag brought up his century of only 80 balls but Raina missed his, chipping Anjum tamely to Alam at cover but, at his departure, India needed 90 runs in 23 overs and victory was only a matter of time.

The ease with which India achieved victory was startling for Pakistan, on a sluggish pitch, had worked extremely hard to build a competitive total. They reverted to the caution-before-aggression approach that won them the Kitply Cup final against India. In that game, Butt and Younis Khan did the groundwork, steering Pakistan cautiously to 104 for 1 after 25 overs before they went on to score hundreds in a final total of 315 for 3.

Today, Malik's effort was an example of how to pace an innings. He and Butt gave the first eight overs to the Indian bowlers and took no risks. By the end of the 13th over, Pakistan had only scored 38 but the Indian fast bowlers had failed to create wicket-taking opportunities. Thereafter, Malik began to attack, driving Praveen straight for four and then gliding him between Dhoni and short third man. He was offered width twice by Ishant and cut him through and over point for fours. Dhoni finally resorted to spin in the 20th over but by now Malik was well set and he hit Chawla for two fours through midwicket to reach his half-century off 61 balls.

Malik and Younis, who scored 59, strengthened Pakistan's grip on the game during their 129-run stand for the second wicket. Brimming with confidence, Younis swept the spinners fluently, made room to cut, lofted them over midwicket and threw them completely off line by using the reverse sweep repeatedly. They played crucial roles in helping set a challenging target but their hard-working partnership, during which they ran between the wickets splendidly, was put firmly in the shade by the blitzkrieg launched by Sehwag and Raina.

Pakistan v Hong Kong, Group B, Asia Cup, Karachi

Pakistan 288 for 9 (Younis 67, Alam 63*, Tanvir 59, Nadeem 4-51) beat

Hong Kong 133 by 155 runs

The final scoreline might indicate an emphatic victory for Pakistan but it needed an Asia Cup-record 100-run eighth-wicket stand between Sohail Tanvir and Fawad Alam to set up the win. Both of them made their maiden ODI half-centuries to lift Pakistan to 288, a score which proved well beyond the reach of Hong Kong's inexperienced batsmen.

After Pakistan chose to bat on a blisteringly hot day in Karachi, Nadeem Ahmed, the Hong Kong left-arm spinner, sliced through the Pakistan middle-order as what was expected to be a straightforward opening encounter for the hosts threatened to become a tricky one before Tanvir and Alam's rescue act.

Coming in with Pakistan at a precarious 161 for 7, Tanvir and Alam initially worked the singles, effectively employing the sweep shot. The left-arm spinners initially kept them in check but the partnership gained impetus only after the 44th over, when Pakistan had progressed to a more reassuring 219.

Tanvir raced to his maiden ODI fifty as a confident reverse-sweep, a conventional sweep and a powerful off-drive all fetched him boundaries. He holed out to long-off in the 47th but Alam, who had been subdued during the partnership, remained unbeaten to ensure the runs kept flowing and that his side weren't bowled out.

Hong Kong had earlier got off to a dream start as Pakistan lost their in-form opener Salman Butt in the first over for a duck. Afzaal Haider, the 36-year-old seamer, shaped the first two deliveries into the left-hander, before getting the next one to move away, inducing the outside edge. On a pitch a bit on the slower side, Haider extracted a hint of movement and troubled Shoaib Malik, who opened the innings, and Younis Khan early on.

With Pakistan on a scratchy 33 for 1 after eight overs, some loose bowling in the next couple of overs let them off the hook. Thirty runs came off them as a flurry of boundaries from Malik gave the innings momentum. He fell soon after to an athletic catch by Hussain Butt at backward point but with Younis getting into his stride and Mohammad Yousuf continuing his splendid form, Pakistan were in command at 121 for 2 after 19.

Left-arm spinner Najeeb Amar bowled it flat and full to restrict the runs at one end while Nadeem was more adventurous, varying his flight and length. He was rewarded with the wicket of Mohammad Yousuf - top-edging a sweep. Younis continued to attack, impudently slog-sweeping Nadeem for six and then paddling him for four. Despite the batsmen's attacking mindset, Nadeem flighted the next ball and Younis, who danced down the track, was beaten by the turn and easily stumped.

There was more joy for Nadeem as Misbah-ul-Haq failed to read a straighter one to be lbw. Another flighted delivery foxed Shahid Afridi, who checked his shot to offer a low return catch, and Sarfraz Ahmed was run out soon after as Pakistan slid to 161 for 7. An upbeat Hong Kong had eight fielders in the ring at this stage but things went all downhill from there.

Faced with an intimidating target, Hong Kong's batsmen were all at sea against Pakistan's formidable fast bowling unit as they were unable to force the pace. A barrage of bouncers, especially from Umar Gul, discomforted the openers but they hung around for a while. Tabarak Dar dodged a snorter from Gul off the penultimate ball of the seventh over but was forced to retire hurt when he was hit on the jaw off the final ball.

That triggered a collapse, with four wickets falling in quick succession. Opener Skhawat Ali was the first to go, pulling Tanvir to substitute Mansoor Amjad at fine leg. Iftikhar Anjum then struck with his first delivery, bowling Irfan Ahmed before Tanvir got his second with a middle-stump yorker to send back Courtney Kruger.

Anjum was soon rewarded again for his wicket-to-wicket line as Hussain Butt became the next batsman to be bowled, leaving Hong Kong at a hopeless 45 for 4. With the spinners backing up the good work of the fast bowlers, the run-rate quickly shot up above eight, and the match meandered towards a foregone conclusion.

Pakistan may have had some anxious moments but will be pleased with the manner in which their lower-middle order pulled them out of a dicey situation ahead of a tough encounter against arch-rivals India, on Thursday.

Malik: Anyone Can Win It

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik believes there is no clear favourite for the Asia Cup, which begins on Tuesday.

Many pundits have tipped Pakistan for glory after an impressive recent run of form. Malik's side have claimed victory in 12 of their 13 one-day internationals this year and beat India and Bangladesh to claim the Kitply Cup earlier this month.

That win was all the more remarkable considering star bowler Mohammad Asif was held in Dubai over allegations of possessing drugs for the duration of the competition.

Nevertheless, Malik was quick to play down his sides chances of triumphing on home soil.

"I wouldn't say any team is favourite,"

Malik told Chennai Online.

"India is a strong and balanced side but we showed in the tri-series final they can be beaten. So in a way this Asia Cup I think is going to be the closest one in recent years."

Former Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Sarfraz Ahmed has been called into the Pakistan squad to replace out of form wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal.

Holders Sri Lanka come into the tournament on the back of consecutive ODI series defeats against England, Australia and the West Indies. The 2007 World Cup finalists have won just two ODIs all year and will be without injured duo Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene told the Times of India that his side have been pulling out all the stops to turn their slump around.

"We have had good preparations as it is an important cup to win. Both India and Pakistan will be hard to beat,"

said Jayawardene who welcomes back Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan after their absence against the West Indies.

India fast bowler Sreesanth has failed to recover from the side strain he suffered during the IPL and will miss tournament.

Sreesanth joins Sachin Tendulkar on the sidelines for the three-time champions who will be looking to build on their victory over Australia in the VB Series earlier this year.

Bangladesh enter the competition on the back of comprehensive defeats to Pakistan and India in the Kitply Cup.

The form of star batsman Mohammad Ashraful, who has been promoted up the order to number three by coach Jamie Siddons, could hold the key to whether Bangladesh can progress past the group stage of the tournament.

As in the 2004 Asia Cup, minnows Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates will make up the numbers. Honk Kong face the daunting task of games against India and Pakistan in Group A, while the UAE join Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Group B. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.

Pakistani officials are viewing the tournament as good preparation for hosting the ICC Champions Trophy in September.

England and Australia have already expressed security concerns about travelling to the country this autumn and a smoothly run Asia Cup could play a crucial role in alleviating those fears.

Indian team reaches Karachi

A fifteen-member Indian squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni arrived in Karachi late Sunday night to make their claims at the Asia Cup starting this Tuesday.

Guarded under heavy security, Indian team was cheered by the crowd who had gathered to have a glimpse at the neighbouring cricket stars.

However, the media was kept a distance from the men in blues as the visitors were rushed to the team hotel as soon they came out of the lounge.

Indian cricketers are now scheduled to have their first practice session followed by a pre-tournament press conference later on Monday evening.

India will play their first match in Asia Cup on Wednesday against minnows Hong Kong followed by the big match against arch rivals Pakistan on Thursday.

Shoaib Malik says, "Pakistan is Favourite for Asia Cup."

The captain of Pakistan cricket team has stated that Pakistan are favorite for Asia Cup after having won tri-nation series in Bangladesh.

Talking to media in Karachi he said that victory in tri-nation series has lifted up moral of national cricket team and I hope that ours would demonstrate excellent performance in round the corner Asia Cup.

India and Srilanka cricket teams would confer us tough time therefore our players have to prove industrious against them, he said.

Responding to a question skipper said that Kamran Akmal has been part of national team by dint of his performance, on friendship basis instead.

Pakistan would have edge on opponents on account of home-ground nevertheless, the guests are not soft-under-belly.

Training Camp for Asia Cup begins at National Stadium

In connection with the preparations for the Asia Cup, commencing from June 24, the training camp for the national cricket team probable players has begun from Friday here at the National Stadium.

The Pakistan Cricket Board selection committee has initially announced 20 players for the event in which fast bowler Mohammad Asif and wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal have not been included.

The probable players did training today at the National Stadium.

Keeping in view the form and the fitness of the players, the selection committee will announce the final 15-member team on Sunday.

Players included in the team have reached Karachi where they will undergo training in the supervision of coach Geoff Lawson.

Pakistan's Asia Cup probable Squad

The axe has finally fallen on Kamran Akmal as Pakistan have left out the under fire wicketkeeper from the list of 20 probables announced for the Asia Cup, which begins on June 24. All the other members of the squad that won the Kitply Cup in Bangladesh have been included among the probables.

"We have decided to rest Kamran Akmal. He needs to sharpen up his stumps work,"

Salahuddin Ahmed, chief selector, told Cricinfo. Akmal has been Pakistan's regular wicketkeeper since November 2004, when he took over from Moin Khan, playing virtually non-stop in all three formats. Over the last two years, however, Akmal's form has been poor behind the stumps. The slump began on the 2006 tour to England, where he fluffed a number of chances, but since then he has been unable to improve.

The last straw came when he was criticised by Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, in an email leaked to the press for claiming a controversial catch against Virender Sehwag during the Kitply Cup league match against India, which Pakistan lost by 140 runs.

"[The] wicketkeeping was pathetic, especially after Kamran Akmal dropped the catch and pretended that he had held on to it,"

Ashraf wrote to team manager Talat Ali.

"This is unsporting behaviour but perhaps one has to give him the benefit of the doubt as he may not have realised that the ball had slipped out from his hand, which was picked up by the cameras. I do not want such behaviour from any Pakistani player. Please warn everyone. We ought to be looking at playing another 'keeper."

Part of the reason Akmal was persisted with for so long was that he was Shoaib Malik's preference, particularly as Malik was able to utilise him as an opener. But a poor showing in front of and behind the stumps in Bangladesh has finally meant he can no longer hold his place. Sarfraz Ahmed, the former U-19 World Cup winning captain, has been expectedly called up as Akmal's replacement.

Other inclusions in the probables are opening batsman Yasir Hameed, Mansoor Amjad, Abdur Rauf and Saeed Ajmal, the offspinner off the back of an impressive first-class season, taking 38 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 29.

"He [Amjal] was impressive this season and we want to assess him more carefully now before we announce the final squad,"

Salahuddin said.

While Sarfraz has played only three ODIs, not having batted in any of them, Hameed has been in and out of the side since last year, though he made his debut in 2003. Rauf is a fast bowler who has played one ODI, against Zimbabwe in February. The final squad will be named on June 22.

Probables for Asia Cup

Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Bazid Khan, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Yousuf, Nasir Jamshed, Abdur Rauf, Naumanullah, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Younis Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Hameed, Mansoor Amjad, Saeed Ajmal

ICC backs Pakistan to stage Champions Trophy

Pakistan was given a vote of confidence Tuesday by international cricket bosses as it gears up to host the Champions Trophy later this year.

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ray Mali said he was confident Pakistan would put on a good tournament as the country had experience of running such events in the past.

The tournament, from September 11 to 28, involves all the major cricketing powers -- Australia, South Africa, India, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

Pakistan also host the six-nation Asia Cup involving defending champions Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates from June 24 to July 6.

Mali, who arrived with other ICC officials for Wednesday's launch of the Champions Trophy, said:

"The Asia Cup will give Pakistan an opportunity to rehearse for the Champions Trophy."

Mali and other ICC officials held talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over preparations for the event.

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf gave assurances on security.

"The ICC is launching the event in Lahore on Wednesday and that is an ample proof that there are no problems. We have made foolproof security arrangements for the event,"

said Nasim Ashraf.

It will be the first time that Pakistan has staged a major sporting event since hosting a quadrangular tournament in 1997. Pakistan also hosted some matches of the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.

Australia put off their March-April tour to Pakistan this year over security fears.

Selectors to meet on June 19 for Asia Cup team

The national selection committee will meet on June 19 at Lahore to select the Pakistan cricket team for the Asia Cup.

Chief of the selection committee Salahuddin Sallu told Geo News that captain Shoaib Malik, coach Geoff Lawson and selector Shafqat Rana are arriving from Bangladesh on Monday and on their returning home the team selection would be discussed.

He said that the number of players would be determined after consulting with the team management and the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The chief selector told that the training camp of the team would be held in Karachi.

Asia Cup 2008 Schedule

24 June	Group A	Bangladesh v U.A.E	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
24 June	Group B	Pakistan v Hong Kong	National Stadium, Karachi
25 June	Group A	Bangladesh v Sri Lanka	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
25 June	Group B	Hong Kong v India	National Stadium, Karachi
26 June	Group B	Pakistan v India	National Stadium, Karachi
26 June	Group A	Sri Lanka v U.A.E	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
28 June	2nd Stage	not known v not known	National Stadium, Karachi
29 June	2nd Stage	not known v not known	National Stadium, Karachi
30 June	2nd Stage	not known v not known	National Stadium, Karachi
02 July	2nd Stage	not known v not known	National Stadium, Karachi
03 July	2nd Stage	not known v not known	National Stadium, Karachi
04 July	2nd Stage	not known v not known	National Stadium, Karachi
06 July	Final	not known v not known	National Stadium, Karachi

Hong Kong refused warm-up matches

The Pakistan Cricket Board has turned down a request by Hong Kong for warm-up matches ahead of the Asia Cup, which begins on June 24, citing logistical reasons.

"The Hong Kong Cricket Association had asked us for some warm-up matches in Lahore as part of their preparation for the Asia Cup,"

Zakir Khan, the PCB's director of operations.

"We refused and said they must arrive on June 21, according to the Asian Cricket Council's approval for every team."

It is learnt that Hong Kong had wanted to come ten days before the event to warm up, at which time the PCB would be in the final stages of preparation for the tournament.

A board official denied an earlier report that security reasons were behind the scrapping.

"Hong Kong were in Pakistan a month ago on a development tour so the question of security is a non-starter,"

he said.

Hong Kong face hosts Pakistan in their opening game in Karachi on June 24.

Pakistan vows full security for Champions Trophy

An International Cricket Council official said Thursday that Pakistan's government had made stringent security arrangements for the upcoming biennial Champions Trophy.

Pakistan hosts the Champions Trophy from September 11 to 28 with top eight Test playing countries -- Australia, South Africa, India, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies -- competing.

The matches will be staged in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, cities that have been hit by several suicide attacks over the past year before a lull in recent months.

"The government of Pakistan has taken comprehensive measures to ensure foolproof security for ICC (International Cricket Council) Champions Trophy and have constituted high powered committees to oversee the arrangements,"

ICC director for event management Ahmad Farooq said in a statement.

A meeting took place between officials from the interior ministry, the Pakistan Cricket Board and ICC event management in Islamabad on Tuesday to oversee the arrangements, he said.

"The interior ministry offered its full cooperation to ensure immaculate security during the high-profile event and established high-level committees which will be headed by some very senior officials,"

Farooq said.

This will be the first time that Pakistan has staged a major sporting event since hosting a quadrangular tournament in 1997. Pakistan also co-hosted matches of the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.

Foreign teams have been reluctant to tour Pakistan in the wake of the 2001 invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan and ensuing war against terrorism.

Australia put off their March-April tour to the trouble-hit country this year over security fears. They agreed to split the postponed tour in 2009 and 2010 after elections and the formation of a new government have seen improved security.

Pakistan will have an opportunity for a dress rehearsal of the Champions Trophy when they host the six-nation Asia Cup in Lahore and Karachi from June 24-July 6.

India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates will also feature in the Asia Cup.

Pakistan team announced for Women’s Asia Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the 14-member Pakistan squad for the Women’s Asia Cup.

The fourth Women’s Asia Cup Cricket Tournament will be held in Sri Lanka from May 2 to 11.

Besides Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India will participate in the tournament.

Urooj Mumtaz will lead the national women’s team. Other players of the team will be: Taskeen Qadir, Sajida Shah, Mismah Muarif, Nain Abedi, Sana Javed, Sana Mir, Qanita Jaleel, Asmavia Iqbal, Batool Fatima, Shumaila Mushtaq, Almas Akram, Javeria Khan and Sadia Yousuf.