I’m satisfied with team’s performance: Shoaib Malik

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team captain Shoaib Malik said that the beginning of the ODI series is disgusting but I am satisfied with the performance of the team.

Talking with media in Lahore, Shoaib Malik said that if bowlers did not perform well then South Africa would have succeeded in scoring more than 325 runs.

Batsmen are playing with responsibility and getting out is a part of the game. No player gets out deliberately.

Shoaib Malik said that all players have made all out efforts in each section of the game and he is satisfied with the team’s performance.

Pakistan is dangerous rival despite losing Test series: Mickey Arthur

LAHORE: Coach of South African cricket team, Mickey Arthur said that despite losing the Test series on home ground Pakistan are the dangerous rivals and they cannot be taken easy.

Talking with media after the warm-up match at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore, Mickey Arthur said that he was happy with his team’s performance in the warm-up match. Cricketers played according to plan in batting and bowling and they got full chance of preparing for One-day International series.

He said that Shaun Pollock has played his first match on the tour and he is not bothered by his performance.

He said that there would be a good contest in the One-day series.

Pakistan save match but series goes to South Africa

LAHORE: With determined and courageous batting through out the final day, Younus Khan and Muhammad Yousuf guided Pakistan to secure a draw but could not stop South Africa to take the two-Test series 1-0 by the virtue of their 160-run win in Karachi.

The second and the final Test match between the two countries ended in a draw as Pakistan lost only three wickets in the day’s play and carried the score to 316 for four at stumps here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Yousuf remained not out on 63 with captain Shoaib Malik unbeaten on 20 when the match ended in a draw.

Earlier, Younus Khan scored a brilliant 130, his second of the series and the 14th of his Test career. His confident innings came to end when he was caught behind by Mark Boucher off Jacques Kallis. He batted for almost 4 ½ hours and hit 17 boundaries.

Younus Khan added 89 runs with Muhammad Yousuf for the third wicket stand after being involved in a 161-run partnership for the second wicket with Kamran Akmal (71).

Inzamam-ul-Haq came to play his final Test innings but could make only three runs and was stumped by Boucher off Paul Harris. He was given a warm send-off by the spectators and the players of both teams.

Pakistan scored 103 runs and lost one wicket in the first session and took the score to 211 for two at lunch. Kamran Akmal, who opened the innings with Salman Butt on the fourth day, was dismissed today by Paul Harris for 71.

Between lunch and tea, Pakistan made 71 runs and lost Younus and Inzamam-ul-Haq. In the final session, they scored 34 runs and carried the score to 316 then both captains mutually decided to end the play.

Jacquis Kallis was declared both man-of –the-match and man-of-the-series for his outstanding batting display throughout the series. He made three hundreds and one fifty in four innings.

The Pakistan Cricket Board paid rich tribute to Inzam-ul-Haq on his retirement and awarded him a gold medal. All his colleagues embraced him and there was an emotional scene when Shoaib Malik was weeping while embracing him.

Inzamam fails to surpass Miandad by just three runs in his final Test

LAHORE: Former captain of national cricket team and star batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq could not beat the Pakistan record of making the most Test runs, set by Javed Miandad. He was just three runs away from the record when he got stumped by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off left-arm spinner Paul Harris on the fifth and the final day of the second Test against South Africa here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Friday.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has announced to retire from Test cricket, today played his final innings. He needed only six runs to beat Miandad’s record but could score just three runs.

He has now finished his Test career with 8,830 runs in 120 matches whereas Javed Minadad had scored 8,832 runs in 124 Tests.

When Inzamam made his last Test appearance in Lahore, he needed 20 runs to surpass Miandad but he made 14 and 3 in the match. Thus, a glorious Test career has come to its end. Inzamam-ul-Haq will be remembered for his batting prowess and a number of achievements in Test and One-day International cricket.

Salman Butt fined for criticising umpires

Pakistan vice-captain Salman Butt has been fined 50% of his match fee for making serious public criticism of match officials during the second Test against South Africa in Lahore.

After the third day of the Test, Butt said to the media:

"There have been a few decisions where I feel we were unlucky. I think [Mohammad] Yousuf was not out yesterday and when you get one such decision against your premier batsman it does affect you."

The charge was brought by on-field umpires Simon Taufel and Mark Benson, third umpire Nadeem Ghauri and the fourth umpire Iftikhar Malik following which Butt was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct by match referee Alan Hurst

"It is the responsibility of the captain or vice-captain to set examples on and off the field in not only what they do, but also what they say,"

Hurst said. Negative comments about some umpiring decisions, made by Salman Butt at a media conference and later printed in more than one newspaper, were very specific and could have the effect of creating addition tensions on the field and also undermining the mutual respect that is essential between umpires and players.

"If players or officials have any views of this nature then there are appropriate and far less controversial ways for them to be aired including the captains' reports that are submitted to match referees after every game and I expect avenues such as this to be explored in future."

"In reaching my decision, I took the player's previous good record, his guilty plea and an apology for his actions into consideration."

Kamran, Younus fight back, still a long way to go

LAHORE: Wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal and Younus Khan batted courageously in Pakistan’s fight back to chase an improbable target of 457 runs on the fourth day of the second and the final Test match here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

They have so far added 93 valuable runs for their unbeaten second wicket after Pakistan lost an early wicket. At close of play, Pakistan were 108 runs for the loss of Salman Butt with Kamran batting on 49 and Younus on 48. They have still a long way to go as they are required to make further 349 runs to win with nine wickets in hand.

Earlier, South Africa declared their second innings at 305 for four just before tea and set an improbable target of 457 in remaining four sessions.

The dominance of the South African batsmen continued on fourth day as captain Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis scored centuries and together added 207 runs for the third wicket to guide South Africa to a commanding position.

Resuming at the overnight 154-2, Captain Graeme Smith and Jacquis Kallis stretched their partnership to 145 runs by lunch as Pakistan had to rely on its two spinners. Paceman Mohammad Asif injured his elbow Wednesday after bowling only four overs. He will not be able to bowl anymore in this Test.

Smith completed his nearly six-hour-long century off 254 balls with 12 boundaries in the last over before lunch. He hit a solitary boundary in the entire morning session. He scored his overdue century in over two years when he made 126 against the West Indies at Antigua in 2005.

Kallis had a lucky escape on 47 when captain Shoaib Malik misjudged a lofted shot at long off in left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman's first over. Kallis, who had plundered 155, 100 not out and 59 in his previous three test innings on the tour, completed his third century of the series in 231 balls with seven fours. This was his 27th Test hundred.

Smith was dismissed by Danish Kaneria for 133 but Kallis remained unbeaten at 107 when South Africa declared their innings by tea at 305 for four wickets before Ashwell Prince was bowled by Abdul Rehman for 11.

Pakistan was shot out for 206 in its first innings in reply to South Africa's 357. Now they have an uphill task of making 457 runs to win the match and equal the two-Test series.

Pakistan v South Africa, 2nd Test, Lahore, 2nd day

Pakistan 140 for 4 (Akmal 52, Butt 40, Harris 2-33) trail South Africa 357 by 217 runs

Pakistan failed to capitalise on an aggressive 90-run opening partnership between Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal - losing three wickets for nine runs - as South Africa, helped by sharp fielding, restricted the hosts to 140 for 4, needing another 17 to avoid the follow-on. Earlier, Mark Boucher and Paul Harris frustrated the home side as they posted 357.

Full report to follow

Tea Pakistan 51 for 0 (Butt 30*, Akmal 21*) trail South Africa 357 by 306 runs

Pakistan openers posted an aggressive reply to South Africa's 357 as they raced past the 50-run mark in the nine overs before the tea interval.

Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt, although shaky at times, feasted on the short-of-length tactics adopted by the South African opening bowlers, including hitting Dale Steyn for 19 runs in an over. They provided their team with the start they were looking for after a frustrating time in the field early on.

Steyn, who was the destroyer-in-chief with a second-innings five-wicket haul in Karachi, bowled an impressive first over, beating Akmal with pace and swing. However, he altered his length in the following over and runs started to flow as Pakistan hit 10 boundaries in the brief session.

South Africa 357 (Prince 63, Kallis 59, Boucher 54, Kaneria 4-114, Gul 3-103) v Pakistan

Mark Boucher and Paul Harris helped South Africa pass the 350-mark but an improved post-lunch bowling performance and Boucher's desire to increase the scoring-rate enabled Pakistan to restrict the visitors to 357 in their first innings.

As South Africa resumed on their overnight 259 for 6, an early wicket - Andre Nel caught at short leg off Umar Gul - put the home side into the driving seat straight away. Hoping to dismiss the tail in quick time, and avoid chasing another huge first-innings total, the Pakistan fast bowlers were content on pitching it short even when results seemed to their detriment.

Harris had a previous Test highest of 11 not out and it was pity he missed his half-century as he mixed defence with some decent stroke-play. He also ducked with ease the many short balls that Pakistan's fast bowlers aimed at him. Causing damage with the ball thus far, Harris frustrated Pakistan for 132 deliveries and played some cheeky sweeps off Danish Kaneria and an elegant straight drive off Mohammad Asif.

Though he was there to provide support to Boucher, Harris overtook him while they were batting together, as Gul and Asif failed to bowl even a single yorker to him.

It was a fullish delivery that saw the back of Harris - after a few edges that failed to carry and Younis Khan putting one down at second slip - as he drove Gul uppishly to cover. Boucher, too, was content with taking his time out in the middle and hit only four fours - elegant leaning drives off the fast bowlers and sweeps off the legspinner - and reached his fifty with a pulled six over fine leg. As Boucher perished trying to clear long-on, South Africa had managed 357, after even 300 looked hard to get at start of play today.

With 357 on the board, South Africa will hope to make early inroads especially with a shaky Pakistan opening combination. But the return of Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq to the middle order could frustrate their chances.

Disciplined bowling gives Pakistan the advantage on the first day of the second Test Against South Africa, Lahore

Ashwell Prince and Jacques Kallis hit half-centuries but Pakistan struck back with some disciplined bowling to restrict South Africa on day one of the second and final Test here Monday.

South Africa had posted 259-6 with Prince (63) and Kallis (59) leading the charge at the Gaddafi Stadium when bad light stopped play seven overs ahead of schedule.

Mark Boucher was unbeaten on nine and Andre Nel was yet to score.

It seemed AB de Villiers (45) would ratchet up the South African total but he fell to an unfortunate run-out, giving Pakistan some advantage as they seek to level the series.

South Africa won the first Test in Karachi by 160 runs.

Captain Graeme Smith plundered 46 runs but none of his teammates followed suit against the spin and pace attack of Pakistan.

Key batsman Kallis, who scored a masterly 155 and an unbeaten 100 in the first Test, was not in the best form as he nearly played on Danish Kaneria twice. He regained composure though and hit paceman Umar Gul for two consecutive boundaries to reach his 45th half-century.

Kallis added an invaluable 83 runs for the fifth wicket with Prince, who also defied the bowling with some resolute stroke play.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, who once again went into the Test with just two seamers and two frontline spinners, did not introduce left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman until the 51st over.

Rehman, who took eight wickets in Karachi, was hit for a six by Kallis before Kaneria struck back, trapping the South African with a disguising googly.

Kaneria, who bowled a long spell of 27 overs on either side of lunch, was the best of the home bowlers with 2-73.

Earlier, Kallis added 53 runs for the third wicket with Smith after the tourists lost Herschelle Gibbs (13) and Hashim Amla (10).

Pakistan's pace duo of Gul and Mohammad Asif provided the early breakthroughs. Gul had Gibbs caught in the gully while Asif bowled Amla with an inswinger.

Smith, batting with confidence on 31 with South Africa 70-2 at lunch, drove Kaneria for a boundary before the leg-spinner had the last laugh with a sharp turner which went through bat and pad to hit the off-stump.

Prince and Kallis took the score to 160 before Kaneria claimed the prized scalp of Kallis to raise hopes of dismissing the tourists for a modest total.

Prince, however, kept one end intact and consolidated the South African innings. Rehman finally brought an end to Prince's innings when he beat the batsman in the air to hit the stumps.

Prince hit five boundaries in his stubborn three-hour knock.

The Lahore Test is the swansong for Inzamam-ul Haq who is retiring from Test cricket.

The 37-year-old veteran was brought into the team along with Mohammad Yousuf. Inzamam was unavailable for the first Test while Yousuf pulled out at the last minute citing a lack of match fitness.

South Africa remained unchanged, leaving veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock on the sidelines. Pollock was dropped for the first Test -- the first time in his 107-Test career.

Inzamam prepares for final battle

Apart from looking light of paunch, not much about Inzamam-ul-Haq's last touch-football training session appeared any different to the many that preceded it. He ambled around on the periphery, occasionally roused himself to sprint and throw passes, before stopping to amble again. The others accorded him the respect they always have by not really running after him that hard.

Cool as you like he had a bat in the nets, but admitted the occasion got to him.

"Today when I went to do batting practice in the nets I got a little bit emotional."

The last year has been unkind to Inzamam and it has brought him to this: resignation from the captaincy, ODI retirement and now from Tests, when he feels he can still play on for a year.

"It was a tough decision, but when I looked at the youngsters in the dressing room, I thought they shouldn't be put under pressure and it was better to quit. Every player should realise himself when it is the right time for him to leave."

"There are lots of youngsters who have bright futures and I hope by the time the next World Cup (2011) comes, the team will be in better shape. The way we have performed in the World Twenty20, there are lots of encouraging signs."

Inzamam praised the Pakistan board for affording him this send-off, dignified if a little forced, but it's one very few ex-players have been able to command. He wasn't thinking ahead just yet, however.

"My priority is to perform well and help Pakistan draw the series."

His return puts Pakistan in an unusual situation. Shoaib Malik, the captain, rightly sees it as a bulking up of the middle-order, especially with the return also of Mohammad Yousuf. But it could leave them distracted as well, as Graeme Smith has pointed out.

"Both players are coming back after a while and it might affect Pakistan,"

said Smith.

"We're making sure we concentrate on playing the style of cricket we played in the first Test."

But Smith acknowledged that both were serious batsmen, no matter what the situation or context.

"We were prepared for Yousuf in the first Test and we have played against Inzamam recently so our game-plan is pretty much in place for these two batsmen. We are pretty comfortable but they are world-class players. How they fit back in their setup is their challenge and how we bowl is our challenge."

Over 20,000 international runs, 35 hundreds and 17 years after his debut, against West Indies in 1991, Inzamam will play his last game at the venue where it all began: the Gaddafi Stadium.

"I still remember that game. It feels as if it was only yesterday."

If it was, then some day it's been.

Pakistan’s 16-man team for 2nd Test announced

KARACHI: Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been included in the 16-member Pakistan squad for the second Test match.The team has been announced by the selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board here today.

Chief selector Salahuddin Sallu announced the 16-member team at a press conference in the National Stadium, Karachi on Friday.

The team consists of the following players:
Shoaib Malik (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Yousuf, Younus Khan, Salman Butt, Taufiq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Muhammad Hafeez, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Asif, Umar Gul, Misbah-ul-Haq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum.

The second and the final Test between Pakistan and South Africa will be played from Monday, October 8 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Inzamam-ul-Haq will play the last Test match of his career.

Inzamam to retire after Lahore Test

Former captain hopes to break Miandad's record

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former captain of the Pakistan team, has announced he will retire from international cricket after the second Test against South Africa at Lahore. Inzamam will be hoping to end his career by breaking Javed Miandad's Pakistan record of 8832 Test runs. Inzamam currently has 8813 runs, still needing 20 runs to become the highest run-getter for Pakistan in Tests.

Inzamam made this announcement at the National Stadium in Karachi where Pakistan are currently playing the first Test against South Africa. A few hours later, the board named Inzamam in a 16-man squad for the second Test. In recent days speculation has mounted over Inzamam's future, with him declaring himself unavailable for the first Test against South Africa. He is also one of three Pakistani players to sign with the Indian Cricket League.

Apart from Inzamam's inclusion, the selectors have decided to stick to the same 15 that were announced for the ongoing Test in Karachi. While Inzamam is almost certain to play, the match could also feature a return of Mohammad Yousuf who opted out of the first Test due to lack of match fitness. Thus a brief reunion of Pakistan's strong middle-order comprising Inzamam, Yousuf and Younis Khan is very much on the cards.

Pakistan squad:
Shoaib Malik (capt), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Danish Kaneria, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Misbah-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Anjum