Pakistan want South Africa Test series

Pakistan is aiming for a home or away Test cricket series against South Africa in October after Australia pulled out of a tour due to security fears, the country's cricket chief said.

Pakistan are due to play only three Test series over the next two years, hosting India in December-January and then touring Sri Lanka and Australia in 2009.

Australia were due to play three Tests, five one-day matches and a Twenty20 here in March-April but the tour was postponed this month due to a wave of Islamic militant violence across Pakistan.

"The lack of Tests is worrying for us so we have negotiated with a number of countries and are hopeful to either host or tour South Africa for a Test series in October this year,"

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf told AFP.

Pakistan's Australian coach Geoff Lawson said earlier this month he was surprised at his team's lack of Test series.

"It is strange that we play only three Test series in two years but I am not responsible for the FTP (Future Tours Programme) and I don't organise the programme,"

Lawson said earlier this month.

The FTP is a programme of Tests and one-day matches to take place between ten full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) between 2001 and 2011.

Pakistan have partially filled the gap created by the Australian tour postponement by arranging a five-match one-day and one Twenty20 international series with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh arrive here on April 6 and start the one-day series with the first match in Lahore two days later.

"We are playing Bangladesh and then hope to have another five-match series with Sri Lanka before the Asia Cup in June. New Zealand and the West Indies have also shown interest to tour for a one-day series,"

said Ashraf.

"We also hope that Australia fulfil their commitment to tour us in April next year and we are negotiating on that as well."

Ashraf said he hoped either New Zealand or the West Indies would agree to tour before the ICC Champions Trophy, which Pakistan hosts from September 11-28.

Pakistan's hopes of hosting Sri Lanka soon after Bangladesh were dashed as the proposed programme (April 23-May 5) clashed with the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) which starts from April 18.

PCB proposes to host South Africa for a three-match series in October this year

Pakistani cricket officials are making efforts to line up a three-match Test series against South Africa this fall in a bid to give their Test-starved cricketers a wholesome contest against one of the best teams in the cricket world.

After chasing several Test-playing nations to fill in the blanks left in their Future Tour Programme (FTP) by Australia’s pull-out earlier this month by lining up one-day matches, Pakistan’s cricket authorities have finally started to think more sensibly.

In a year when Pakistan are guaranteed to play dozens of One-day Internationals (ODIs) and just three Tests, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been in a mad rush in recent weeks, trying to fix ODIs with any team that was willing to oblige.

But not anymore, it was learnt here on Sunday. A top Board official told ‘The News’ that that the PCB will soon be sending a formal proposal to the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) for a three-match Test series immediately after this September’s ICC Champions Trophy.

“We have had a verbal communication with them (South Africa) over a possible Test series and their response is encouraging,”

said Shafqat Naghmi, PCB’s Chief Operating Officer. Naghmi said that Pakistan want to host South Africa for the Test series which will be an arrangement outside the FTP.

“Our first priority is to host the South Africans for the proposed Test series in October but if because of any reason they cannot visit then we will be willing to send our team to South Africa,”

he said.

Naghmi said that the PCB did its research before sounding out the South Africans for a Test series.

“We scanned the FTP and other tour commitments of the top Test-playing teams and found out that South Africa are the only leading side that has a window big enough in their FTP to fit in a Test series this year,”

he added.

The PCB official said that the Board has made contact with the UCBSA, realising the fact that their team might end up playing hardly any Test cricket in 2008.

“Following the postponement of the Test series against Australia, Pakistan have been just left with three Tests (against India) during the whole of this year,”

he pointed out.

Pakistan’s last Test outing was against India in Bangalore last December and if PCB’s proposed Test series against South Africa fails to materialise then they would begin their Test year in November when they host India for a three-match Test series.

Naghmi said that UCBSA officials reacted positively to the PCB proposal and have asked for a detailed offer in black and white.South Africa were the last team to tour Pakistan for Tests and ODIs last October. Under Graeme Smith, the Proteas won the two-match Test series 1-0 and the ODI series 3-2.

This January, Pakistan hosted Zimbabwe for a five-match ODI series and were scheduled to meet world champions Australia in a home series during March-April that was initially supposed to include three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 International.

But the Aussies refused to honour their FTP commitment, citing security fears and the PCB was left with the tough task of saving the home season from becoming a complete disaster.The Board tried to line up one-dayers against India and Sri Lanka but so far it has only managed to confirm a home series against lowly Bangladesh involving five ODIs and a Twenty20 game next month.

Efforts are on to confirm five one-dayers against Sri Lanka but after an initial breakthrough that came in the form of a recent promise from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chairman Arjuna Ranatunga, the hurriedly-planned series is likely to fall victim to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Pakistan v South Africa, 5th ODI, Lahore

Protease snatch victory from jaws of defeat to win series against Pakistan

LAHORE: South Africa defeated Pakistan by 14 runs in a thrilling finish when Pakistan collapsed from 199 for five to 219 all out in 46.3 overs in the in the fifth and the final One-day International here at the Gaddafi Stadium today.

They also won the five-match series against Pakistan 3-2.

Winning the toss, South Africa made 233 runs for nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Their most in-form batsman Jacques Kallis was the top-scorer with 86 while Herschelle Gibbs scored 54 and Jean-Paul Duminy made 44.

The most successful bowler from Pakistan was pacer Shoaib Akhtar, who is playing an international match after 14 months. The fast bowler captured four wickets while pacer Rao Iftikhar Anjum claimed three wickets. Sohail Tanveer and Shoaib Malik took one wicket each.

In reply, Pakistan’s top and middle order batsmen played well, particularly, Younus Khan and Muhammad Yousuf through their 106-run third wicket stand put Pakistan on the path of victory. They scored 58 and 53, respectively.

Later, captain Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq carried the score to 199 but then the wickets began to fall and within 20 runs they were all out to give the Protease an unbelievable win in the match and the series.

From South Africa, pacers Albie Morkeel and Makhaya Ntini grabbed four wickets each.

Ntini was adjudged the man-of-the-match while Muhammad Yousuf of Pakistan was declared the-man-of-the-series.

Pakistan v South Africa, 4th ODI, Multan

A clinical South Africa levelled the five-match series 2-2 with a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in Multan. The visitors boosted their chances of a comeback by restricting Pakistan to 230 after the hosts decided to bat on a flat surface.

Following that, Shaun Pollock and Graeme Smith effortlessly outclassed the opposition with a match-winning 159-run stand after Herschelle Gibbs got the ball rolling. Pakistan failed to really fire with the bat and they completely fizzled in the field, putting all the pressure on themselves going into the final ODI in Lahore.

The home side was put under the kosh by Gibbs, who exploited the Powerplays by using his feet against the pace bowlers to get width and elevation. Inside six overs the field was scattered - fine leg was in, mid-on up, a man square out on the off-side boundary - but Gibbs continued to make it look easy in the middle with 39 from 35 balls. A flustered Shoaib Malik called Shahid Afridi in the second Powerplay and the in-form man - enjoying an exceptional 2007 with bat and ball - - got Gibbs first ball courtesy Billy Bowden's error in judgment. The ball, fast and sliding down leg stump, caught Gibbs on the knee roll as he hopped up. Replays showed it would have missed leg stump.

If Pakistan thought they had made a breakthrough, they were to be sorely disappointed. As Mickey Arthur, South Africa's coach, suggested the day before, Pollock was promoted because of his ability to play spin well and score quickly. And that's what he did, cutting Afridi for repeated fours and sweeping Abdur Rehman's left-arm spin to minimise the spinners' effect. It didn't help Pakistan's cause that the ball didn't turn much, but Pollock rose to the occasion, hitting his 13th ODI half-century without any fuss.

There was simply no pressure on him. He found the gaps almost every time he played a shot but what stood out was his ability to pick up boundaries. Mohammad Asif returned for a second spell and was whipped off the pads before being driven through cover; then Pollock pulled him for four more. After dropping Smith and giving him his umpteenth life of the series, Umar Gul returned just to be slapped for four and six in successive balls by Pollock. With 12 to win and 14 for a hundred, Pollock holed out to long-off for 90 from 84 balls but there was little remorse as he walked off.

Smith, meanwhile, had been confident pushing off the front foot into the gaps as Pakistan's body language slumped. He struggled to sweep but was fluent when offered width. Smith only had seven boundaries in his 81 but it hardly mattered as he supported Pollock and held up one end.

Like he has all series, Smith grafted but with South Africa only chasing a moderate total his approach worked like a charm on an easy batting track. He fell with just three to win and fiercely admonished himself with his choice of shot, but South Africa wouldn't have complained. In a see-saw first half, a watchful partnership of 91 between Younis Khan and Malik lifted Pakistan from a precarious 38 for 3 before Andre Nel's double-strike brought the visitors back into the game.

Younis was forced to buckle down right from the start, after Afridi miscued his first delivery against Makhaya Ntini to a back-pedalling Andre Nel at mid-on for 0. Yasir Hameed's first aggressive shot, in the ninth over, was intercepted by a diving Gibbs at midwicket and Mohammad Yousuf's slowness resulted in his first failure of the series, as he was run out for the 35th time in his career.

Younis mostly waited, watched, nudged and steered, and at times preferred walking across and flicking the pace bowlers across the line as he chugged along to his first fifty of the series. While Younis used his feet and hit Johan Botha for six over long-on, Malik also ticked along to raise the run-rate to four an over. After inside-edging Botha onto his boot early in his innings, Malik settled down, dropping the wrists or tucking off his pads for singles. When Jacques Kallis was thrown the ball in the 32nd over Malik checked a drive to mid-off, falling for a 54-ball 45.

South Africa kicked down that window of opportunity, with Nel picking up Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq in the 38th over, both to loose shots. Kamran Akmal and Rehman then pushed Pakistan over 200 with some aggressive but chancy strokes in a 60-run seventh-wicket stand. South Africa aren't ranked No. 2 in the world for nothing, and they came out in ruthless fashion. Their aspirations of maintaining their record of never having lost a bilateral ODI series against Pakistan just got a whole lot easier.

Final ODI shifted to Lahore due to security concerns

The final ODI between Pakistan and South Africa has been shifted to Lahore from Karachi following security concerns raised by the tourists.

"The fifth ODI will now be played at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on 29th October,"

read a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "The venue was changed on the request of the South African team management.

"On the request of the PCB, the South African team management sent one of their security officers to Karachi yesterday who held meetings with various offices of the government of Sindh. Despite all assurances given to the security officer, he felt that playing in Karachi was not feasible for the moment."

South Africa avoided playing in Karachi on their previous tour in 2003, but played a warm-up game and a Test this time, staying in the city for over ten days. But the twin suicide bombs targeted at Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister, that killed 140 people and injured hundreds more last Thursday made the situation uncomfortable for South Africa.

Logan Naidoo, the South African manager, said,

"We deeply regret this decision especially for the people of Karachi for having deprived them of this opportunity but unfortunately the members of the South African contingent are not comfortable traveling to Karachi. After consulting with Cricket South Africa back home, we would like the venue to be shifted to some other city."

Naidoo added that this does not rule Karachi out as a venue for future tours.

"We have already played two matches in Karachi during the current tour and hope to play there on our next tour as well."

The decision is a significant one for the status of Karachi as a venue with Australia due to tour the country in March next year for the first time in a decade. The city has only recently started hosting international matches again; following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, a number of tours to Pakistan were cancelled. When cricket eventually returned, visiting teams avoided Karachi in particular.

But India's decision to play an ODI at the venue on their ground-breaking 2004 tour gradually signaled a return to the international fold. Since then India and the West Indies have played Tests there, while England played an ODI in 2005.

The PCB expressed its disappointment at the decision and reiterated that Karachi was safe to hold any international event.

Asif unlikely for last two ODIs

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, is likely to be rested from the last two one-day internationals to be played against South Africa on October 26 and 29. The national selectors want to give Asif a proper rest before Pakistan's tour of India beginning in the first week of November.

Asif missed the first three matches of the one-day series, which Pakistan lead 2-1, due to an elbow injury sustained during the second Test against South Africa in Lahore.

"He [Asif] is not certain to play in the last two games because we need him in India for the Tests and one-day internationals and he is a proven performer,"

chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told Reuters.

Pakistan are also waiting on the fitness of left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who is suffering from a groin injury.

Pakistan v South Africa, 3rd ODI, Faisalabad

Yousuf steers Pakistan to convincing win over South Africa

FAISALABAD: Star batsman Muhammad Yousuf once again guided Pakistan to a convincing six-wicket victory and a 2-1 series lead over South Africa here at the Iqbal Stadium on Tuesday.

Yousuf scored his third successive score of over 50 runs and remained not out on 58, his 56 th ODI fifty. He has so far made one hundred and two fifties in the series.

Chasing a modest target of 198, Shahid Afridi opened for the first time in the series made a whirlwind 32 off 18 balls whereas his partner Yasir Hameed replacing Imran Nazir could score 18 from 46 balls. Younus Khan also made a brief stay and made only 10 and Pakistan were reeling at 68 for three when experienced Yousuf and captain Shoaib Malik came to their rescue.

Both batted sensibly and carried the score to 147 when Shoaib was dismissed for 42. He faced 62 balls and hit two fours and one six.

However, Yousuf continued his calm and steady innings and with Misbah-ul-Haq steered Pakistan to victory with 11 balls left.

Misbah contributed an unbeaten 29 off 32 balls with two fours and one six.

Albie Morkel claimed two wickets for 30 and Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Nitni took one wicket each.

Shahid Afridi for his allround performance was declared man-of-the-match. He made a breezy 32, grabbed three wickets and took two catches.

Earlier, Winning the toss, captain South Africa Graeme Smith chose to bat first and opened the innings with Hershelle Gibbs to give a 43-run stand. However, other batsmen could not contribute useful scores except Justin Kemp, who made 42 off 74 balls with two sixes. Smith was the top scorer with 48 off 68 balls with five fours.

Pace bowler Iftikhar Anjum and leg-spinner Shahid Afridi captured three wickets each for 33 and 37, respectively while Umar Gul claimed two for 25 and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman took one wicket.


Man Of The Match: Shahid Khan Afridi

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 beat South Africa by 25 runs to level series 1-1

LAHORE: Pakistani bowlers did splendid job to get Pakistan a marvelous 25-run victory over South Africa with three balls left after star batsman Muhammad Yousuf inspired with a magnificent century. Thus, the five-match series has been leveled 1-1 as the Protease had won the first match by 45 runs.

Set a target of 266 runs, South Africa made a disastrous start as they lost their two experienced batsmen Herschelle Gibbs and Jacquis Kallis in the first two overs for only four runs on the board. Both batsmen were out for a duck.

However, captain Graeme Smith and A.B. de Villiers rescued their team and carried the score to 80 when de Villiers was dismissed by Iftikhar Anjum for 35.

Then, wicket began to fall at regular intervals but Smith stood at the crease for long. Ultimately, he was dismissed by left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman for a solid 65, which he made off 96 balls with five fours.

Later, Shaun Pollock and Morkel resisted for a while but both got out for 37 and 31, respectively and then Umar Gul and Iftikhar Anjum mopped up the tail as South Africa were all out for 240 in 49.3 overs.

Iftikhar Anjum and Umar Gul captured three wickets each for 43 and 59, respectively while Sohail Tanveer, Abdul Rehman and Shahid Afridi took one wicket each.

Earlier, Muhammad Yousuf ‘s magnificent century helped Pakistan to make 265-9 in the allotted 50 overs.
He scored 117 runs, his second hundred against South Africa and 13th overall in 244 One-day Internationals. He faced 143 balls and hit nine boundaries. He was later adjudged the man-of-the-match.

During his innings, Yousuf was involved in three major partnerships – 60 with Younus Khan (32) for third wicket, 107 with Shoaib Malik (56) for fourth and 41 with Misbah-ul-Haq (21) for fifth wicket.

After winning the toss first time int the series, captain Shoaib Malik opted for batting but his openers let him down again as both were dismissed for 13 runs.

Then Yousuf and Younus took the score to safety and later Yousuf and Shoaib strengthened the position.

However, Shahid Afridi could not repeat the innings which he played in the previous match and after opening his account with a huge six was caught at boundary line on the very next ball.

From South Africa, pace bowlers Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini and Charl Langeveldt claimed two wickets each while Shaun Pollock and Jacquis Kallis got one wicket each.

Man of The Match: Muhammad Yousuf

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 loses to South Africa after great fight back

LAHORE: Pakistan lost their first One-day International of the five-match series against South Africa after a great fight back here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

South Africa won the sensational match by 45 runs with 21 balls remaining to lead the series 1-0.

Set a tough target of 295 runs, Pakistan began their innings with confidence but their top order batsmen could not cope up with fine bowling by Makhaya Nitni, who grabbed early four of the five wickets fell for 92.

However, star batsman Muhammad Yousuf and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal got together to give Pakistan some stability and added 60 runs. Yousuf scored 53, the only half-century of the innings and this was Yousuf’s 55th ODI fifty.

Later, Kamran Akmal also got out for 35 and Shahid Afridi was joined by debutant pacer Sohail Tanveer. Both plundered 43 runs in just 31 balls before Sohail was dismissed for 26, made off 17 balls with two sixes and one four.

Shahid continued his blasting innings but was caught near boundary line. He made 47 off 26 balls with five fours and two sixes. He was ninth man out and five balls later Pakistan were all out for 249.

Earlier, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat. Captain Graeme Smith and Hershelle Gibbs opened the innings and gave a solid start of 85 runs before Smith was run out.

Soon they were 97 for two when their most in-form batsman Jacquis Kallis was run out.
Gibbs then was joined by AB de Villiers and both made the scene with brilliant batting. They made 137 runs for the third wicket partnership and both scored centuries.

Gibbs made 102 off 128 balls with 11 fours and one six while de Villiers remained not out on 103, made off 95 balls with nine fours and three sixes, and was later adjudged man-of-the-match.

PCB XI v South Africans, Lahore, warm-up match

South Africans 328 for 4 in 45 overs (de Villiers 113*, Boucher 103) beat Pakistan Cricket Board XI 152 in 31.3 overs (Amjad 42, Morkel 3-22, Langeveldt 3-29) by 176 runs

AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher struck belligerent hundreds to lead the South Africans to a convincing 176-run win over Pakistan Cricket Board XI in a warm-up match at the Bagh-e-Jinnah Stadium in Lahore.

Boucher, opening the batting in place of the rested Graeme Smith, and de Villiers came together at 36 for 2 and added 165 runs for the third wicket to propel South Africa to a massive total. Boucher hit 14 boundaries and a six in his 106-ball innings while de Villiers was more aggressive, remaining not out on 113 off 95 balls.

Earlier, Abdur Rauf began to justify captain Taufeeq Umar's decision to field by removing Herschelle Gibbs and Jean-Paul Duminy early. But Shaun Pollock, playing his first game of the tour, made a mess of Rauf's figures. He smashed sixes off the last four deliveries of the innings and finished not out on 33 off 11 balls.

The PCB XI were never in the hunt, losing wickets at regular intervals before being bowled out for 152. Albie Morkel and Charl Langeveldt were the main beneficiaries of a poor batting display, claiming three wickets apiece. The only resistance came from Mansoor Amjad, who top-scored with 42, and Ahmed Shehzad, the 15-year old opener, who hit Pollock for two sixes on his way to 35

"It is nice to get hundred in the warm-up match but the real match, the one-day international, is coming up and I look forward to that,"

said de Villiers, ahead the first of five ODIs starting on October 18.

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.

Pakistan squad announced for ODI series against SA

LAHORE: The Pakistan squad has been announced for the series of five One-day Internationals against South Africa.

Addressing a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium, chairman national selection committee Salahuddin Sallu announced the 15-member squad.

He said that the team has been announced for the first three One-day Internationals.

The final team for the three ODIs against South Africa would be selected from the squad comprised of the following players:

Salman Butt, Muhammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Younus Khan, Shahid Afridi, Muhammad Yousuf, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Sohail Tanveer, Abddul Rehman and Muhammad Asif.

Muhammad Asif doubtful for ODI series

Mohammad Asif is a doubtful starter for the ODI series against South Africa - commencing next week - due to an elbow injury. Asif will also not bowl any further during the second Test in Lahore.

Asif went off the field on the third day of the Test, after having bowled four overs, with what was thought to be a recurrence of an elbow problem that has bothered him since last year's tour of England.

Talat Ali, Pakistan's manager, said Asif had sought medical advice and been told to not bowl for the next week.

"There is a light inflammation in the elbow. He can do his normal training but he has been advised by the doctor to not bowl for the next week."

Though Ali added that Asif should be fit, the ODI series begins in Lahore from October 18, which gives Asif little time to get match-fit.

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.