Pakistan news: No DRS for Pakistan's Tests in the UAE

Pakistan last used the DRS during the World Cup © AFP

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There will be no DRS for Pakistan's Test series against Sri Lanka and England in the UAE, though the system will be in place for the one-day matches. The PCB has not been able to reach an agreement with its broadcaster, Ten Sports, to fund the technology required for the DRS for the Test matches, its chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said.

"We in principle support the use of the DRS and want it for both Tests and ODIs but unfortunately we couldn't reach an understanding with our broadcasters for the Tests," Ahmad told PTI. "We have however reached an understanding with a company to bear the costs for the use of the DRS technology in the one-day matches in both series."

In its annual conference in June, the ICC had agreed to make the DRS mandatory for all Tests and ODIs, subject to commercial considerations. The DRS it mandated included Hot Spot but not necessarily ball-tracking technology.

Since the PCB had contracted its broadcaster before the DRS had been approved, it did not have any agreement on who would fund the required technology. "But when we sign our next contract for broadcasting rights we will try to ensure the broadcaster is willing to bear the costs of using the DRS system in our series including Tests and ODIs," Ahmad said. There was no announcement about whether the DRS for the series would employ the Hot Spot, ball tracking or both.

Since the ICC's decision at their conference, countries have used the DRS in different forms. For the ongoing England-India Test and one-day series, Hot Spot is being used but reviews for lbw decisions have been disallowed. Contrastingly, Sri Lanka have decided to use ball-tracking technology for their home series against Australia but have not been able to afford Hot Spot. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe have not used the DRS for either of their home series against Bangladesh and now Pakistan. The last time Pakistan used the review system was during the World Cup.

Pakistan are scheduled to play three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka in the UAE in October-November, and then three Tests, four ODIs and three T20s against England in January-February next year.

Pakistan news: I want to represent Pakistan in all formats - Riaz

Wahab Riaz wants to have a long career with Pakistan © AFP

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Pakistan seamer Wahab Riaz has credited the series he played against Australia A two years back as being crucial in his development and believes he will become a complete bowler once he has perfected his inswinger.

"The great thing about that tour was that we were playing against a talented side," Riaz told PakPassion.net. "As a result, we also had to ensure that we were performing at a higher level and giving it our best. The thing is, when you are competing against a good side, you have to be more disciplined and you also learn to experiment a little bit.

"Personally, after playing against a strong opposition like Australia A in their conditions, I started to gain more confidence. I remember that in the very first innings I was able to grab five wickets against them. Consequently, the confidence I gained from that achievement, I never let go of it and have never looked back."

Riaz broke into the Test side in the 2010 tour of England that was eventually tainted by the spot-fixing scandal, but he made an impact right away, taking a five-for at The Oval on debut. His stock ball is the one that is angled away from the right-hander, but he is now developing the one that moves the other way. "I have been working very hard to develop the inswinging delivery and it is coming along. While it will take some time to perfect, I know that once it is perfected I will become a better all round bowler."

Riaz is confident he can develop the inswinger without ruining his natural ability to shape the ball away. "I have talked to Wasim Akram too and he has helped me a lot. I obviously can't develop deliveries and skills in just one month because for so many years, I have been bowling to my strength and sticking to basics. I know that people want to see the inswinger more often and God willing, this will happen. They [the fans] will have to wait just a little while longer."

Riaz was rested for Pakistan's ongoing tour of Zimbabwe and that gave him a chance to play country cricket for Kent, which he termed "a really good experience".

"After playing for Kent, with respect to the English conditions, you learn that one has to bowl differently every day, and you have to adjust relative to the wicket and match situation," he said.

Riaz currently averages 9.50 with the bat from seven Tests, but is confident that he can make a more substantial contribution. "At this point, I still need to focus a little bit more when batting and improve my concentration," he said. "I have been working hard to improve. Also, concerning my batting, the coaches at Kent have helped me a lot so when I play for Pakistan next time around, I will be a different batsman."

Riaz is capable of hitting 90 mph on a regular basis, which he puts down to working hard on his strength and fitness levels. "I have built up my strength and have also developed myself in this regards," he said. "While previously I was fast, now, in English County cricket this season, I have touched 93-94 mph quite regularly [in T20 games]. I always take care of my fitness and give it my full attention and that I believe is the main reason for the extra pace nowadays."

In an era when many bowlers have chosen to give up one or the other format, Riaz is confident he can manage to keep playing all three versions of the game. "It depends on your fitness level and your determination - what you want to do. Twenty20 and one-day cricket is basically entertainment cricket, for players who want to play less so they can play for a long time. But in my view, Test cricket is the real deal. I'm working hard on my fitness, and god-willing I will try my best to represent Pakistan in all formats for a long time."

Zimbabwe v Pakistan / News

Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Harare

Openers power Pakistan to series win

Firdose Moonda

September 11, 2011

Pakistan 228 for 0 (Hafeez 139*, Farhat 75*) beat Zimbabwe 225 for 6 (Masakadza 68, Tanvir 2-33) by 10 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Mohammad Hafeez, with Imran Farhat, put on Pakistan's best opening partnership in ODIs © Associated Press Enlarge

Pakistan strolled to victory with no trouble at all, chasing a below-par score on a batsman-friendly pitch in Harare. They won the three-match series in comprehensive style as Mohammad Hafeez scored his third ODI century and Imran Farhat came good as well, in the second match after making his comeback. The pair put on 228, Pakistan's highest opening partnership, to ensure an emphatic win.

It was a tough day for Zimbabwe's bowlers, who failed to threaten and were unable to stem the run-flow. By contrast, Pakistan's attack restricted Zimbabwe after Brendan Taylor mistakenly put his side in to bat. Taylor actually wanted to bowl, but asked to bat instead, and when he asked if he could reverse his decision, he was denied permission to do so.

With some assistance on offer for the seamers, Pakistan's left-arm pair of Sohail Tanvir and Junaid Khan gave little away. Tanvir extracted movement early on and both bowled around the off stump to deny Zimbabwe easy runs. Their opening pair, Chamu Chibhabha and Vusi Sibanda, gave in to frustration. Chibhabha was caught at mid-off while trying to go over the top and Sibanda perished, for the sixth time in 11 innings this summer, to the pull.

Junaid continued to impress as his spell went on and caused problems with the short ball. After seven overs, he injured his ankle while racing to square leg to field off his own bowling and had to go off, but returned to complete his spell.

Smart stats The 228-run partnership between Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat is the highest opening stand for Pakistan in ODIs and their fourth-highest overall. The 253 balls faced during the opening partnership is the highest ever for Pakistan in ODIs, surpassing the previous best of 243 balls between Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti against New Zealand in 1999. The double-hundred partnership is the 14th for Pakistan in ODIs, bringing them level second with Australia on the list of teams with the most 200-plus stands. India are on top with 17. The victory is Pakistan's fourth ten-wicket win in ODIs. Their previous such win came against West Indies in the World Cup game in Dhaka. Hafeez's 139 is the second-highest score by a Pakistan batsman against Zimbabwe in ODIs behind Mohammad Yousuf's 141 in 2002. Hafeez has now scored two centuries and two fifties in his last six ODI innings. The 47 balls remaining at the end of the win is the second-highest for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in ODIs, in games in which they have successfully chased 200-plus targets. The 104-run stand between Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor is the third-highest third-wicket stand for Zimbabwe against Pakistan in ODIs.

Spin was introduced from both ends after 20 overs and Zimbabwe eased into single scoring mode, with Hamilton Masakadza and Taylor putting on the team's best performance against Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal. Zimbabwe scored 52 runs in 10 overs with the bulk of them coming in singles. Masakadza played responsibly, spotting the gaps and doing most of the calling.

Cheema returned to try and break what was becoming a sizeable partnership but he did not succeed, though he kept the runs down. Masakadza brought up his half- century with a small nudge to fine leg and Taylor reached the milestone with a quick couple in the same area. They had crafted the platform to launch from, but neither were able to.

Taylor was caught at third man after upper-cutting a short and wide delivery, and Masakadza was run out by a direct throw from Misbah-ul-Haq, after he had started the acceleration with Tatenda Taibu at the other end. With the energy Taibu brought to the crease, Masakadza was encouraged to take on the bowling and smashed the biggest shot of the match, a six that landed in the rugby field.

Taibu swept confidently and was the most at ease with the attack, but could not provide the required impetus. Tanvir bowled him and it was up to Elton Chigumbura to finish strongly but it was a tough ask. Only at the end did Chigumbura launch and Zimbabwe finished with a 14-run over.

Zimbabwe's bowlers were always going to struggle to defend 225. Chris Mpofu and Brian Vitori were able to keep Pakistan to 36 in the first ten overs. The change bowlers, however, were ineffective and expensive, and Pakistan were running away with the chase at 70 without loss after 15 overs.

Ray Price tried his best to contain, but had no support from the other end. Hafeez played aggressively, the pull shot serving him well, while Farhat accumulated. The pair had to take few risks as they were rarely put under any sort of pressure.

Hafeez's century came with a slog-sweep for six. He then tore into Vitori, smacking him for three fours in his eighth over. Hafeez, fittingly, finished the match off with a trademark pull behind square to win the series for Pakistan.

Innings Dot balls 4s 6s PP1 PP2 PP3 Last 10 overs NB/Wides Zimbabwe 181 16 3 22-1 18-1 37-3 74-3 0/7 Pakistan 134 19 1 36-0 34-0 49-0 23-0 0/11

Sri Lanka v Australia, 2nd Test, Pallekele, 5th day

Rain helps Sri Lanka salvage a draw

 

Sri Lanka 174 (Mathews 58, Harris 3-38) and 317 for 6 (Sangakkara 69, Paranavitana 55, M Jayawardene 51, Harris 3-54) drew with Australia 411 (Hussey 142, Marsh 141, Randiv 3-103)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Kumar Sangakkara was caught at slip in the fourth over of the day © AFP Enlarge

Australia did many things right in the second Test but in the end they couldn't beat the Pallekele weather, or Sri Lanka, as the match faded away to a gloomy draw on the fifth afternoon. The teams will now head to Colombo for the final match with the series still undecided, a heartening outcome for Sri Lanka, who were outplayed for most of the first two Tests but fought hard on the final two days in Pallekele.

Only 35.3 overs were bowled on the final day, not nearly enough for Michael Clarke and his men, who needed a run of wickets to set up a small chase. Ryan Harris worked tirelessly to finish with three wickets - and a hamstring niggle - but when the weather and gloomy conditions set in during the early afternoon, Sri Lanka led by 80 runs with four wickets in hand, having done enough to save themselves.

Australia made four breakthroughs in between meal breaks and rain delays, starting the day encouragingly when Kumar Sangakkara was caught at slip for 69 in the fourth over. Harris extracted some movement from the new ball and squared Sangakkara up with a delivery that swung in just a touch and then seamed the other way, and the edge was taken by Clarke.

Later in the same over, Clarke put down an edge when Thilan Samaraweera had not scored, and chastised himself for a potentially costly mistake. However, he made sure to end the 41-run partnership that followed between Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene, when Jayawardene edged Trent Copeland to slip on 51.

Clarke hurled himself to his left to snare the ball just above the turf, the second time in the Test that Jayawardene had been out to a stunning catch in the cordon. It led to an uncomfortable moment when Jayawardene stood his ground despite Clarke telling him that he was "100% certain" he had taken the ball cleanly, which replays quickly confirmed was the case.

But Australia just couldn't force the collapse they needed; the next wicket came ten overs later when Prasanna Jayawardene (21) edged behind off a wonderful Harris ball that seamed away just enough. That was followed by the dismissal of Samaraweera, who had made a steady 43 when he suffered a lapse in judgment, edging behind when he tried to cut a Shane Watson inswinger that was too close to his body.

It was a loose shot at the wrong time, a disappointing end for Samaraweera, who has been one of the culprits in Sri Lanka's batting struggles during this series. Had he survived another five overs, he could have finished with an unbeaten half-century; instead, Angelo Mathews and Suraj Randiv saw the Australian threat off until the rain set in.

It was a frustrating outcome for Australia, who have outplayed Sri Lanka in both Tests but could still face a drawn series if Sri Lanka succeed at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in the third Test starting on Friday. However, the SSC has hosted three draws in its past five Tests, and as positive as Clarke and his Australians are, they would be content to make it four draws from six.

Whatever the SSC provides, both teams have some selection decisions to ponder over the next few days. Sri Lanka need to play both Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis if fit - both missed this game due to injury - while their batsmen were again outdone by their Australian opponents.

For Australia, the major issue is deciding which batsman will make way for Ricky Ponting, who will have rejoined the squad after missing the Pallekele Test for the birth of his daughter. Shaun Marsh's century on debut has all but secured his place and the selectors would be reluctant to tinker with the opening combination, which could mean Phillip Hughes plays and Usman Khawaja is the man to miss out.

There is also concern regarding whether Harris' hamstring trouble - he left the field for assessment during the last day before returning shortly before the final rain delay - is serious enough to put him in doubt. Peter Siddle and James Pattinson are in the squad as the backup fast men.

But the biggest question is whether the teams will get five days of uninterrupted Test cricket at the SSC in Colombo. No rain and no bad light would be a victory for fans of both sides, regardless of the result.

England news

Broad ruled out of India tour

Stuart Broad holds his arm in pain during his 10th over at Lord's © PA Photos

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Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the remainder of England's home season, as well as the five-match ODI series in India next month, after sustaining a muscle tear to his right shoulder. He suffered the injury while bowling during the tied fourth ODI at Lord's on Sunday, and will now miss both the final match in Cardiff next Friday, and the two Twenty20s against West Indies, which he was due to captain.

ECB chief medical officer, Dr Nick Peirce, said: "Stuart has a muscle tear within his shoulder and will require an initial period of rest and rehabilitation. Exact timescales will be determined in due course but he is likely to be ruled out of cricket for a number of weeks."

If his recovery goes to plan, there is a chance Broad could be fit to join the England squad and resume his captaincy duties for the one-off Twenty20 against India in Kolkata on October 29.

Broad had earlier revealed there was "bad news" about the extent of the injury he picked up two balls into his final over of the Lord's ODI. "Bad news on the shoulder, torn a muscle, I know which one, just can't spell it. Gutted," he posted on Twitter. He was subsequently dosed up on painkillers and ready to bat at No.11 if needed during England's chase, which was ended seven balls early by rain.

With Morgan, England's Twenty20 vice-captain, sidelined due to a shoulder injury there is no obvious replacement for Broad as captain. One option would be to give the job to the 50-over captain, Alastair Cook, but he refused to think too far ahead, saying, "We'll cross all those bridges when they arrive."

The fact that the one-day series is now safe for England takes pressure off the final match at Cardiff on Friday. Jade Dernbach was left out at Lord's - England played Steven Finn instead - so he would be the logical replacement for Broad in Cardiff. However, the pitch can favour spin so it may be an opportunity to give Samit Patel another outing before the Twenty20s against West Indies and the tour to India.

England have had been hit by far fewer injuries than India during the Test and one-day series, but had to contend with some problems nonetheless. Chris Tremlett (back) missed three Tests and Jonathan Trott (shoulder) two, while Morgan was ruled out of action following the first one-day international at Chester-le-Street.

For Broad, meanwhile, it adds to an injury-hit 10 months which included the stomach strain that ruled him out of the final three Ashes Tests in Australia, and the rib injury which ended his World Cup campaign. He had been dropped from the one-day side after a lacklustre first half of the English summer against Sri Lanka, but enjoyed a superb second half to the season which included a Man of the Series performance in the 4-0 Test whitewash against India.

 

ICC Awards 2011

Jonathan Trott is ICC Cricketer of the Year

Jonathan Trott with his ICC Cricketer of the Year award © Associated Press

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Jonathan Trott, the England batsman, has been named the Cricketer of the Year for 2011, the ICC's top accolade. He received the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy at the annual ceremony in London, after his team-mate Alastair Cook had won the Test Cricketer of the Year award.

"It's fantastic to be part of a successful team and I never envisaged winning this award. It's a brilliant feeling to be recognised," Trott said.

In 12 Tests during the period under consideration, Trott scored 1042 runs at an average of 65.12, including four centuries and three half-centuries. He also played 24 ODIs, scoring 1064 runs at an average of 48.36 with two centuries and nine 50s. Trott was chosen for the award ahead of Cook, last-year's winner Sachin Tendulkar and South Africa batsman Hashim Amla.

Previous winners of the Cricketer of the Year award include Rahul Dravid (2004), Andrew Flintoff and Jacques Kallis (joint winners in 2005), Ricky Ponting (2006 and 2007), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (2008), Mitchell Johnson (2009) and Sachin Tendulkar (2010).

Cook, however, won the Test Cricketer award after having a prolific year in the format. Cook played 12 Tests, and in 18 innings he scored 1302 runs at an average of 51.74, including six centuries and four half-centuries. His 235 not out against Australia in Brisbane kick-started England's first Ashes victory away from home since 1986-87.

Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka captain, was the only player to win two awards on the night. He was named the ODI Cricketer of the Year and also picked up the People's Choice Award. Sangakkara scored 1049 runs at an average of 55.21 in 25 ODIs. He also had 26 catches and 10 stumpings as wicketkeeper and led Sri Lanka to the final of the 2011 World Cup.

Though India spent most of the period under consideration at No. 1 in the Test rankings, and won the 2011 World Cup, their only award winner was the captain MS Dhoni, who was given the Spirit of Cricket accolade. Dhoni was not present at the ceremony despite being in England.

The ICC chose West Indies legspinner Devendra Bishoo, ahead of other nominees Darren Bravo, Wahab Riaz and Azhar Ali, for the Emerging Player Award. Bishoo, 25, played five Tests in the voting period and took 21 wickets at an average of 35.42. He also picked up 19 wickets at 21.57 each in 11 ODIs.

Ryan ten Doeschate, the Netherlands allrounder, was named the ICC Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year for the third time in four years, and for the second year running. ten Doeschate was chosen ahead of Afghanistan allrounder Hamid Hassan, and the Irish duo of Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien, both centurions in the 2011 World Cup.

New Zealand seamer Tim Southee won the award for Twenty20 International Performance of the Year, for his spell of 5 for 18 against Pakistan in Auckland.

Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar has won the David Shepherd trophy for the Umpire of the Year for the third consecutive time. He beat competition from Steve Davis, Ian Gould and five-time winner Simon Taufel.

Stafanie Taylor, the West Indies women's allrounder, was named the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year.