Zimbabwe to reach Pakistan on January 12

The touring Zimbabwe squad will arrive in Karachi on January 12 for a five-match ODI series as well as a four-day and a three-day match.

The tour will start with a four-day match from January 14 at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex followed by the three-day match from January 22 at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium. The ODI series starts on January 26 with the first match taking place in Hyderabad before matches at Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura.

The last time Pakistan and Zimbabwe met was at Kingston in a World Cup match where Imran Nazir's majestic 160 powered Pakistan to a mammoth win. Zimbabwe last toured Pakistan in September 2004 for a tri-nation ODI tournament, also involving Sri Lanka, when they failed to win a single match.

Khalid Latif replaces Hafeez in ODI squad

Pakistan's continuing troubles with their opening combination have forced the selectors to call up Khalid Latif and release Mohammad Hafeez from the 15-man squad to face South Africa in the third ODI in Faisalabad on Tuesday.

Pakistan have tried two opening combinations in two games so far and Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal have provided starts of 18 and 1. Hafeez was dropped for the second ODI and the highest score by an opener remains Nazir's 16 in the first ODI.

The 21-year old Latif has been on the fringes of selection to the senior squad for some time now. He first came to national attention when he led the Pakistan U-19 team to victory in the 2004 World Cup in Bangladesh.

He was unlucky to miss out on selection for the ICC World Twenty20 despite impressing during the various training camps held before the tournament. But solid performances in the recent home series against Australia A have finally paid off.

Latif ended the three-match ODI series in September as the leading scorer on either side. His tally of 228 runs included one fifty and a spectacular unbeaten 142 in Lahore as Pakistan successfully chased 332 against an attack that included Jason Gillespie, James Hopes and Dan Cullen.

"We are struggling with an opening pair at the moment,"

Salahuddin Ahmed, the chief selector said.

"We are already playing Kamran as an opener to make place for an extra bowler."

"Latif is a very good, upcoming youngster and was in brilliant form against Australia A recently. He fully deserves his place in the squad. Hafeez has been released and he will go back to regain his form in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy."

It is understood that Latif will not play in Faisalabad but may get an opportunity later in the series. Still, Pakistan are likely to go in with their third different opening pair in as many matches; Nazir's continuing run of poor scores means Yasir Hameed will most likely open the innings with Akmal.

And in light of an impressive bowling performance in the second ODI, Pakistan will not risk Mohammad Asif for the third game. Asif sat out the first two matches with an elbow injury that flared up during the second Test in Lahore.

Pakistan eyes winning T20 WC championship by defeating New Zealand

CAPE TOWN: Pakistan eyes to make milestone by winning ICC Twnety20 World Cup after cruising into historic victory over New Zealand in the semi-final here at Newlands on Saturday

Pakistan defeated New Zealand by six wickets as it easily chased the target of 144 runs set by New Zealand in 18.5 ours with loss of four wickets.

Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir and Umar Gul by taking three wickets helped Pakistan beat New Zealand by six wickets with seven balls to spare.

Gul was not introduced until the 12th over at Newlands but quickly removed Scott Styris (18), Peter Fulton (10) and Jacob Oram (1) to restrict New Zealand to a modest 143 for eight after electing to bat first.

Pakistan were never behind the asking rate and remained in control throughout the run chase. Captain Shoaib Malik (26 not out) finished the contest in style by hammering off-spinner Jeetan Patel over mid-wicket for six.

Earlier, Ross Taylor top-scored for New Zealand with an unbeaten 37 from 23 balls. He smashed paceman Mohammed Asif for 17 in the final over.

Openers Brendan McCullum (26) and Lou Vincent (28) shared a 50-run opening stand before wickets started to fall on a regular basis.

Pakistan will meet India in Monday’s final.

Imran Nazir steers Pakistan to post 349 runs

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Pakistan for the first time in the 2007 World Cup looked in form after being ousted from the mega event when they set Zimbabwe an improbable target of 350 runs in their last group ‘D’ match here today.Put in by Zimbabwean captain Prosper Utseya, Pakistan piled up a huge score of 349 runs in 49.5 overs, thanks to opener Imran Nazir’s devastating career-best innings of 160 from 121 deliveries. This is the highest individual score by any batsman in this World Cup.Imran hammered 14 fours and eight record equaling sixes to share the World Cup record with Australia’s Ricky Ponting for hitting the most sixes in an innings. Ponting did it in 2002-03 when he hit eight sixes in his unbeaten innings of 140 against India at Johannesburg.Pakistan’s 349 is their highest World Cup innings and the eighth highest in the World Cup history. Pakistn’s previous best was 338 for five in 60 overs against Sri Lanka at Swansea in the 1983 World Cup.The main feature of the innings was captain Inzamam-ul-Haq’s emotional exit from the ODI field. He scored 37 off 35 balls with three fours and the same number of sixes. He was given a warm send-off by the Zimbabwean and Pakistani players when Inzamam returned to pavilion with tears in his eyes.Elton Chigumbura was the most successful Zimbabwean bowler who took three wickets for 50 runs.

I did not select Nazir in World Cup squad, says Woolmer

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer on Friday distanced himself from faltering opener Imran Nazir saying that he did not select the player in the 15-man World Cup squad.“Imran Nazir was picked by the chairman of selectors and you should ask him why he is here,” Woolmer told Pakistani reporters when asked to comment on Imran Nazir failure to find form in recent matches.It is commonly believed that the Pakistan team these days is decided by the team captain and coach with the approval of the national selection committee that is headed by former Test cricketer Wasim Bari.When Imran Nazir was preferred in the squad over the more solid Yasir Hameed and the more experienced Imran Farhat, a few eye brows were raised.Now that the flamboyant batsman has been unable to find any form in the lead up to the World Cup and the opening game against the West Indies, questions are being asked as to why Imran Nazir is a part of the Pakistan team in such an important event.Woolmer is apparently unhappy with the way Imran has been playing but makes it clear that he doesn’t have many options.“You can send back players and bring in new ones. The tournament rules do not allow it,” he said.Woolmer said that Imran will have to rise to the occasion as Pakistan cannot afford to give his wicket cheaply all the time.