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.

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.

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

Speculation grows over Inzamam's future

Speculation over the future of Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, is mounting with some reports claiming he is set to retire from Test cricket after playing in the second Test in Lahore against South Africa.

Geo TV and Jang, the Urdu-language daily, both reported that Inzamam had reached an agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board which would see the batsman play one last Test at home before bowing out - unlike many ex-cricketers in Pakistan - with some grace and dignity.

The reports also suggested that the board may make a financial payment to Inzamam, a golden handshake of sorts, for announcing his retirement. This, however, was denied emphatically by a statement from the board, which stated

"that all policy decisions regarding Inzamam will be announced in the next couple of days which will be in the larger interest of the game."

"The newspaper report that the PCB has carried out a deal with Inzamam by assuring him a guaranteed sum of 10 million rupees for his retirement from Test cricket, is absolutely incorrect,"

it said

None of these reports, however, have quoted Inzamam directly. The only newspaper to quote him on the topic, the Daily Express, another Urdu daily, has him denying any such plans.

"I have no plans to retire at the moment. I am available for the second Test and have told the selectors of my desire,"

Inzamam said. However, to add to the confusion, the same newspaper's front page has also carried the retirement story. The Daily Express has also quoted Inzamam claiming he has cancelled his trip to London where he was expected to be present for hearings in the Darrell Hair case.

Inzamam stepped down from the captaincy and retired from ODIs after Pakistan's early exit at the World Cup earlier this year. He was initially keen to play on in Tests, but the board and selectors have, unofficially, been equally keen for him to step away and didn't award him a central contract.

To complicate matters further, Inzamam was also one of four players to sign up for the Indian Cricket League (ICL), a move which meant, according to the PCB's stance, that he would not be considered for Pakistan selection.

Yet Inzamam was, according to the selection committee, considered for the first Test squad against South Africa. He wasn't picked because he made himself unavailable. If he does play one last Test, Inzamam has an opportunity to surpass Javed Miandad as the leading Test run-scorer for Pakistan as he needs 20 runs to go past Miandad's haul of 8832.

No player above rules and regulations: Nasim Ashraf

NEW YORK: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Nasim Ashraf has said that no player is above rules and regulation and if any player does not want to play, it would be his own choice.

Ashraf, who is on a visit here, told reporters that the players were fully motivated and determined to win the cup to wipe out the blot of defeat hanging over the team.

Responding to a question, he said there was no truth whatsoever in a television channel's report that somep layers had threatened to boycott the championship,saying no one had refused to go South Africa.

"However, if any one doesn't want to play, it's his choice, but if any player says that he is above the rules and regulations that would be unacceptable."

Indian Cricket League approaches Inzamam

All in favour say 'Aye': "Players who are out of favour, or not international cricketers, or who are nearing the end of their careers will rightly see this as an opportunity to benefit financially", says Inzamam-ul-Haq

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, is the latest international star to have been approached by the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Inzamam, who announced his retirement from one-day cricket after Pakistan's failed World Cup campaign, confirmed that ICL officials had contacted him.

"They have been in touch with me and I am considering their offer,"

Inzamam told

"If the terms are right, I will play."

The parallel league has stirred the cricket world, evoking visions of a Kerry Packer-style circuit. The players it has targeted so far, however, are those who have retired from international cricket in one form or another. Brian Lara has already signed on, while Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Stephen Fleming have also expressed an interest.

The PCB announced recently that centrally contracted players would be unable to join the league but kept the door open for ex-internationals or players not contracted.

Nasim Ashraf, PCB chairman, told AFP that any player joining the league would be ruled out of future internationals.

"Our position on the breakaway Indian league is clear and firm. Since it [league] is not approved by the ICC any player joining it will not be considered for future selection. No current player will be allowed to sign the league and all cricket boards of the world have this same stance."

Inzamam said he believed the league would ultimately benefit Indian cricket itself.

"What harm is there if it means that more people will watch cricket, come to the grounds and watch stars in action? It furthers the profile of cricket."

Inzamam did acknowledge that ultimately the choice will come down to financial benefits to the player. "Players who are out of favour, or not international cricketers, or who are nearing the end of their careers will rightly see this as an opportunity to benefit financially and I don't see anything wrong with that.

"For younger players too, there are rewards. Playing alongside players such as Lara or McGrath can only be a good thing for your development as a young player."

Inzamam's own international future is currently uncertain. Though he has left one-day cricket, he wants to carry on playing Test cricket

"for as long as I feel I am performing."

Noises coming from the board in recent months suggest Inzamam may not be a part of Pakistan's next Test squad against South Africa but the selectors have publicly said he will be called to the probables camp for the series in September and October.

Inzamam is currently Pakistan's second-highest run-scorer in Tests, just 19 runs behind Javed Miandad and he plans to fight for his place

. "I want to pass 10,000 Test runs and I believe I am capable of doing that, given the opportunity."

He has limited opportunities to prove his form and fitness to selectors, however. Pakistan's domestic season is not due to start till December. Reports linked him to some county sides earlier in the season but those plans have fallen through. Until the season starts, Inzamam will play club cricket for Lahore Gymkhana.

Inzamam looks to county cricket to revive Test career

Training hard, Inzamam insists his Test career isn't yet over

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, has expressed his interest in playing county cricket in a bid to regain his Test place.

"I have offers from league clubs in England but I want to play for a county to ascertain my form and fitness for a place in the Test team,"

Inzamam said.

"I am training hard and am fit. I played a one-day match at the weekend and will continue my efforts to get into the Test side."

Pakistan selectors have said Inzamam will have to prove his fitness to get a place in the home series against South Africa in late September this year. However, there are no further domestic matches in Pakistan, meaning Inzamam is looking to England to gain match practice.

"I have been in touch with people,"

he said,

"and if there is a place vacant in the county I would definitely like to go and play."

Inzamam, who retired from ODIs after Pakistan's disastrous World Cup and resigned from the Test captaincy, has never played for a county in a long and illustrious career. Although the Pakistan Cricket Board left him out from their list of centrally-contracted players, the country's chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said

"the doors of Test cricket are open for him"

Pakistan's one-day team are in Scotland for two one-dayers, against the hosts on Sunday at Edinburgh before facing India in Glasgow next Tuesday.

Inzamam gives the thumbs-up to Whatmore

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, has backed Dav Whatmore to be appointed as coach of the Pakistan team. "He has a lot of experience and a strong coaching background like Bob [Woolmer] did,"Inzamam told Reuters. "He appears most likely to be selected as coach."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has interviewed three Australians - Whatmore, Geoff Lawson and Richard Done - for the coaching position which fell vacant after the death of Woolmer during the World Cup in March.

Inzamam, who retired from ODIs and stepped down as captain after Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup, said Whatmore had a lot of experience working in the cricket set-up in the region.

"He has coached Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and produced good results. So I think he is the one the board will eventually select.

"The Pakistani players need an experienced and strong coach like Woolmer to guide them and get the best performances out of them. I have always said our team needs a qualified coach."

Inzamam had earlier also stated his intention of wanting to continue playing Test cricket.

Inzamam keen to play on in Tests

Inzamam-ul-Haq, former Pakistan captain, wants to play Test matches for some more time before retiring "in an honourable manner."

Inzamam retired from ODIs after a disastrous World Cup and resigned from the Test captaincy. The PCB is expected to leave out Inzamam from its list of centrally-contracted players, on the basis that he is no longer an ODI player. Further, sounds coming out of the board and selection committee suggest that it may be difficult for Inzamam to find a way back into the team.

"I am not going to play for long but I do want to play a few more Tests as I think I can still contribute to Pakistan cricket,"

Inzamam said at a function where he was feted for his contribution to the game.

"I don't understand why they (selectors) keep on saying things about my form and fitness. Obviously if I am not fit or not in form I myself will not make myself available for selection,"

Inzamam said.

"But the selectors should not make such a big issue of these things. I want to play Test matches but honourably and I also want to finally retire in an honourable manner,"

he added.

Tauqir Zia, the former board chairman, at the same function reminded Inzamam that every player had to go someday, mindful perhaps that few Pakistan players have ever left the game graciously.

"What I would advise Inzamam is to accept whatever the board and selectors decide for him. What they decide, will be in the national interest and their decision must be accepted sportingly by him,"

Tauqir said.

Inzamam, who has played 119 Tests and 378 One-day Internationals (ODIs) for Pakistan, ruled out reversing his retirement from ODIs and said once a player retired, he should stay retired.

"It is never easy for a professional cricketer, who has represented his country for 17 years, to forget the past and adopt a new lifestyle. But I have taken my decision on one-dayers," he said.

Central contracts list finalised; Inzamam snubbed

KARACHI: National selectors have ignored former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq while finalising a list of 30 players to be submitted today to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for issuance of central contracts.

Well-placed sources told ‘The News’ on Tuesday that the members of the national selection committee have reached a consensus on the list of players to be recommended for new central contracts. They have decided against recommending Inzamam for a central contract but have opted to keep in the list all other leading national cricketers who were previously given contracts by the PCB.

Sources said that the selectors have snubbed Inzamam mainly because they do not think that the 37-year-old batsman is valuable for the Pakistan team any more.

However, the official reason to be given for his omission would be the fact that Inzamam is only available to play Tests following his decision to retire from ODIs.

Inzamam was at the helm of Pakistan’s disastrous World Cup campaign this March when they crashed out of the 16-nation spectacle following defeats against the West Indies and underdogs Ireland. The Multan-born player resigned as Pakistan captain and also announced quitting ODI cricket following the debacle.

Sources said that the Board has given clear instructions to the national committee that is headed by former Test cricketer Salahuddin Ahmed to only consider players who are available for national duty both for Tests and one-dayers.

Inzamam, who has 8813 runs from 119 Tests and is one of the highest run-getters in ODI cricket (11739 runs from 378 games), fell out of favour with top PCB officials following the World Cup disappointment and was later singled out as the chief villain behind the disaster by a probe committee appointed by the Board.

The selectors were asked by the Board to submit a list of 30 players whom they believe should get central contracts.

The PCB officials will discuss this week the list to be submitted by the national selection committee and will later award central contracts to 20 players. The contracts will come into effect from July 1.

A new pay formula, which the PCB official say would reward performance more than seniority was approved by the Board’s ad-hoc committee in Bhurban last week.

The PCB suspended the previous contracts following Pakistan’s first-round exit from the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Sources said that the selectors have included several young players in the list including talented all-rounder Fawad Alam and pacers Najaf Shah, Abdul Rauf and Mohammad Irshad. Second string players like batsmen Hassan Raza and Asim Kamal have also been recommended.
The selection committee that also includes former Test cricketers Shafqat Rana and Saleem Jaffar has also included discarded Test opener Imran Farhat in the list.

The left-handed batsman was fined by the Board last month over misconduct. Imran had an argument with the chief selector after he was dropped from the Pakistan squad for a three-match series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.

Last few days in Caribbean hardest of my life: Inzamam

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq says he and fellow teammates endured a 10-day ‘nightmare’ in Jamaica following the sudden death of their coach Bob Woolmer on March 18.

In his diary for bigstarcricket.com, Inzamam also wrote that he was relieved to know that Woolmer was not murdered

“I am pleased to hear that Bob was not murdered, all the boys will feel the same as I’m sure his family will also. But this verdict will never take away one of the toughest periods in our lives. It was a nightmare,”

he wrote.

Jamaican Police on Tuesday announced that Woolmer died of natural causes almost three months after launching a murder probe following a pathologist reports which said that the Englishman was strangled.

Pakistani players had to go through Police interrogation, were finger-printed and had to give DNA samples before being allowed to fly out of Jamaica.

“Those final 10 days in the Caribbean were the hardest of my life. We went through hell. I was always hopeful and confident that Bob died naturally and that the Jamaican doctors made a mistake. It seems likely that the doctors there have said something wrong, maybe, but I don’t know the full facts,”

he added.

Inzamam, 37, who had to resign as Pakistan captain after leading the team in its worst ever World Cup campaign, said that Woolmer’s ‘murder’ announcement was a fatal blow for the quadrennial spectacle.

“I don’t know what has happened there but I can tell you it wasn’t good for the players or for Pakistan cricket. Actually when they started talking about ‘murder’ it was not a good thing for the world of cricket, not just Pakistan. It took over the whole World Cup,”

he wrote.

Inzamam said that he is feeling better after a two-month layoff and is now planning to make his international return.

“I needed a long time afterwards to get away from it all. After a two-month break I now feel relaxed again, the stress is gone and day by day things have become better. I started practice again two weeks ago. For six days a week I go to the gym and in the evenings when the weather is cooler I go to Lahore Gymkhana to practice my cricket. The club has good practice facilities, good bowlers, good pitches — they are a good club and it gives me all that I need for practice,”

he explained.

He added,

“Before the World Cup we were playing a lot of cricket and it was tiring. Then after all that happened at the World Cup I felt I need that two-month break. Now I’m mentally focused and feeling refreshed and very ambitious to play more Test cricket. I’m confident that I will and I’m working hard to make it happen.”

Inzamam, who has scored 8813 runs from 119 Tests, wants to continue playing cricket till he reached the 10,000-run milestone.

“I’m aware that I need a few runs (21) to pass Javed Miandad (to become Pakistan’s highest run-scorer) but I am looking further ahead than that. I want to score at least another thousand Test runs and get to 10,000. The summer that Pakistan has coming up later in the year is all the motivation I need with tough series against South Africa at home, India in India and then Australia at home. Hopefully the selectors will feel that my experience will be useful to the team. InshAllah,”

he signed off.

Inzamam hoping to play Tests for one-two years more

ISLAMABAD: Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq says he may play on Test cricket for Pakistan for another one to two years.

“I feel I have one to two years of cricket left in me,”

said the man who is already one of Pakistan’s most successful Test batsman with 25 centuries to his credit.

Inzamam stepped down as skipper and also quit one-day cricket after Pakistan’s unceremonious exit from the World Cup held in the West Indies in March-April this year.

Pakistan lost the opening first round match to the hosts West Indies and then followed it up with another ignominous defeat to lowly Ireland in their second outing on March 17, thus completing an humiliating early elimination from the World Cup.

Inzamam accepted responsibility for the defeat against Ireland.

“It was a bad day for the whole team.”

To a question why Pakistan usually fail on fast and bouncy tracks in foreign countries, Inzamam suggested to improve the domestic cricket structure.

“Our players at home usually play on low, slow wickets. If pitches in domestic first-class matches are fast with enough bounce, then our batsmen will learn to live with the phenomenon and cut down on their rate of failure abroad,”

he said.

To a question when did he last speak to Bob Woolmer before his death, Inzamam said the moment came when the coach met the players in the dressing room after the defeat.

“He (coach) was downcast but he emphasised that such things do happen in sports,”

he said.

‘Pakistan await vindication over Bob’

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has urged Jamaican authorities to reveal the cause of coach Bob Woolmer’s death as soon as possible and finally clear the team of involvement.

Jamaican police are reportedly due to announce that Woolmer — who was found dead in his hotel room the day after the team were knocked out of the World Cup — was not murdered after all

.“Time will prove our innocence in the case and we want it to be over sooner
rather than later,” Inzamam said. “Besides the entire trauma, I was alleged
to be, God forbid, involved in Bob’s murder,”

he expressed.

“Now the true facts are coming out and I am thankful to Almighty,”

he added.

Inzamam said the team were still shaken by the days between March 17, when minnows Ireland sent Pakistan out of the World Cup, and March 28, when they returned home with police saying they were still in the frame.

"Those were the most traumatic days of our lives. We were thrown out of the World
Cup, Bob died and no one contacted us from Pakistan to give us any consolation,”

said Inzamam.

“I pray no Pakistani ever has to go through such circumstances,”

said Inzamam, who quit one-day cricket and relinquished the captaincy after the World Cup.

The PCB said it has yet to receive any information from the Jamaican police and would not comment until a formal announcement comes from the Caribbean.

Inzamam-ul-Haq not selected for camp

Inzamam-ul-Haq has not been included in a provisional squad set to undergo a rigorous two-week conditioning camp in Abbottabad. The 20-member squad, announced by the national selectors, will start the camp from June 10. There are two more similar camps in Quetta and Karachi thereafter.

There has been growing speculation in Pakistan about the future of Inzamam in the Test squad. While he is expected to get a central contract, his exclusion from the preparatory camp suggests that he may not figure in the immediate future plans of Pakistan. The presence of Misbah-ul-Haq, Asim Kamal and Faisal Iqbal in the camp suggests that other middle-order options are being explored by the Pakistani setup.

Inzamam retired from the one-day game in the aftermath of a disastrous World Cup but said that he was keen on continuing in the longer version of the game. However, a severe indictment from an inquiry commission on the World Cup seemed to indicate that the road ahead would be tough.

Younis Khan and Danish Kaneria have also not been included in the camp as they are playing county cricket for Yorkshire and Essex respectively. The duo have been given permission by the Pakistan board to play in the county circuit till September. Shoaib Akhtar, who had been dropped from the Afro-Asia Cup squad due to injury concerns, has been called up to the camp.

"We need Akhtar in the hectic schedule ahead and hopefully he will play a
crucial part on the tour of Scotland,"

said Salahuddin Ahmed, the chief selector to AFP, adding,

"Akhtar has been bowling eight overs on the trot without any trouble and we hope
he will get into top gear in the tune-up camp".

Among those included in the camp are Fawad Alam and left-arm medim-fast bowler Najaf Shah. The 21-year old Fawad Alam who plays for Karachi in domestic cricket has a career average of 47.60 in domestic List A cricket. While Alam hasn't played a Test match, he has played his only ODI in the recently concluded Abu Dhabi series. Shah who also played his sole ODI in the same series, has also been called up after an impressive domestic season

Camp attendees

Shoaib Malik (Captain), Salman Butt, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Yasir Hameed, Misbah-ul-Haq, Naved Latif, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzak, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Najaf Shah

Inzamam days away from make-or-break Test selection

KARACHI: Pakistani selectors are likely to make a call in the next few days that would make or break former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq’s fading Test career.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the national selectors to submit a list of 30 players out of which around 20 would be awarded new central contracts next month.

Under normal circumstances, it would have not have been a particularly tough job for chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed alias Sallu and his two colleagues — Shafqat Rana and Saleem Jaffar. But for the selectors, the ticklish issue is that of Inzamam.

It is now, more or less, their call whether Inzamam would be allowed to continue his Test career after having stepped down as Pakistan captain following the national team’s humiliating first round exit from the World Cup in March.

Inzamam, one of Pakistan’s most successful batsmen, also decided to retire from one-day cricket after the World Cup debacle but made it clear that he intends to continue playing Test cricket.

If the selectors do not include the Multan-born maestro in the 30-man list, then it would be game over for Inzamam. And if they do, then the PCB, which had announced its plans to rebuild the Pakistan team, would distance itself from the issue saying that it were the selectors who thought that Inzamam was still good enough to be awarded a central contract.

The PCB is to award ‘performnace-based’ central contracts to the country’s top 20 players next month.

Shafqat Naghmi, the Board’s Chief Operating Officer, has said that the selectors have been asked to submit the names of at least 30 players as soon as possible. He has also said that if the selectors include Inzamam in the list, then he would be retained on the list of the contracted players.

A selector, when contacted, confirmed that the committee has been asked to submit the list. However, he said that the selection committee would take its time before recommending players for central contracts.I

nzamam, 37, has fallen out of favour with top PCB officials since the World Cup debacle. He was later singled out as the chief villain behind Pakistan’s disastrous World Cup campaign by a probe committee appointed by the PCB.

Sallu was one of the members of that probe committee which labelled Inzamam as a dictator in its report.

Insiders say that top PCB officials and the national selectors are unwilling to select Inzamam in Pakistan’s Test squad but neither of them is ready to bell the cat.

One of main reason for this approach is the fact that Inzamam is regarded among the most accomplished of Pakistani cricketers.

He is one of the highest run-getters in ODI cricket having scored 11739 runs from 378 appearances. Inzamam is also the second highest scorer in Test cricket for Pakistan with 8813 runs from 119 Tests. In fact he just needs 20 more runs to overtake former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad as the all-time top scorer for Pakistan in Test cricket.

Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja has been rooting for Inzamam, saying that the national team needs him as a top class middle order batsman.

There is also an element of sympathy and some former Test cricketers have urged the PCB to allow Inzamam a swansong by fielding him in the home series against South Africa in September-October this year so that he can break Miandad’s record of most Test runs for Pakistan.