Deepika Shines at yuvraj's Birthday Party

Actress Deepika Padukone was the centre of attention at the birthday party of cricketer Yuvraj Singh.
Yuvi threw a party for family and friends at Mumbai’s J W Marriott Hotel. While many senior members of the Indian cricket team were absent, the bash did see the presence of Yuvi’s close friend Zaheer Khan, who, like Yuvi, is also known to have several friends in the film industry.But one person who set many heads turning was Deepika Padukone, who has previously admitted to being “friends” with some cricketers.The Om Shanti Om actress looked dazzling at the party and mingled with guests without any air of a celebrity.Eyewitnesses say the body language between Deepika and Yuvi suggested that there was indeed something brewing between them.At the party, Yuvi particularly seemed to be in a mood to celebrate after proving his detractors wrong about him being suited to the five-day format of cricket.One person who was conspicuous by his absence at the party was Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Malik retains captain of Pakistan team:

KARACHI - Shoaib Malik is to retain the Pakistan`s captain until the end of next year despite the series defeat against India, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said on Thursday.
"We will stick to our decision to name him as captain for the year (2008). We will give him our full backing and we feel he can mature into a good captain in time," Ashraf told reporters.The 25-year-old Malik's captaincy and own form have come under the microscope after Pakistan's one-day and test series defeats at home to South Africa and then the disappointing showing in India.Malik led Pakistan in the one-day series in India, which the hosts won 3-2, and the first test in New Delhi which India won by six wickets before going on to complete a 1-0 series triumph.Vice-captain Younis Khan was the captain for the last two tests as Malik was ruled out with an ankle injury.Ashraf said the board had made Malik the captain this year keeping in mind the future of Pakistan cricket."He is young and he will learn from his mistakes. Overall the team's performance in India lacked focus," he said.Ashraf said Pakistan's Australian coach, Geoff Lawson, had been asked to give a detailed report on Pakistan's first test series loss in India since the 1979-80 rubber.

India near cricket Test series win over Pakistan

Misbah-ul-Haq relished India's attack with a second successive century to boost Pakistan's hopes of forcing a draw in the third and final Test here on Tuesday.The middle-order batsman followed his second-Test 161 with a brilliant 133 not out as Pakistan warded off a threat of follow-on to post 537 in their first innings in reply to India's 626.India were strongly placed to clinch their first Test series against Pakistan at home since 1980 after reaching 131-2 in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day for an overall lead of 220.The hosts lead 1-0 in the series, with the final Test heading for a draw.India lost openers Gautam Gambhir (three) and Wasim Jaffer (18) before former captains Sourav Ganguly (63 not out) and Rahul Dravid (35 not out) steadied the innings with an unfinished 105-run stand for the third wicket.Ganguly, who smashed a maiden Test double-hundred in the first innings, raced to his half-century off 57 balls with a six off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and nine fours.The hosts needed a couple of early wickets in the morning to raise victory hopes after Pakistan had resumed at 369-5, but had to wait for two sessions to wrap up the innings on a track where the ball sometimes kept low."Our first target was to avoid the follow-on and we did that. If India set a target then we will go after it. The pitch surprises me as the odd ball keeps low, but it's getting better and better," said Pakistan's coach Geoff Lawson."I think this needs to be a five-Test series. It's little unsatisfactory to have three Tests because it's tough to come back after losing the first. India and Pakistan deserve a five-match series."India also earned a dubious distinction of conceding a record 76 extras in a Test innings, surpassing the previous highest of 71 by the West Indies against Pakistan at Georgetown in 1988.

The sundries were the third-highest contributor in the innings after Misbah and stand-in captain Younis Khan (80).Misbah, who had played just seven Tests before this series since his debut in 2001, was Pakistan's find of the tour as he remained a thorn in India's flesh with scores of 82, 45, 161 not out, six and 133 not out in five innings.The 33-year-old played a key role in two useful partnerships to thwart India, adding 144 for the sixth wicket with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal (65) and 93 for the next with debutant Yasir Arafat (44)."It surprises me that he (Misbah) has not played much, but he has been outstanding in this series. It needs an unplayable ball to get him out. He concentrates hard and has shown he is a world-class player," said Lawson.India's 19-year-old seamer Ishant Sharma, playing only his second Test, claimed the last four wickets to finish with 5-118, but Pakistan had already saved a follow-on at that stage.Needing 427 to make India bat again, Pakistan achieved their objective in the second hour of the morning during the Misbah-Akmal partnership.There was no stopping Misbah, who continued to frustrate the Indian attack with a solid defence and a flawless shot-selection. He hit 17 fours in his 322-ball knock.It was the second successive time Misbah and Akmal helped their team avoid the follow-on, having already done so in the drawn second Test in Kolkata with resolute centuries.With the pitch offering little help to seamers and spinners, India found wickets hard to come by as they got just one in the morning.Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was the lone wicket-taker in the morning, when he had Akmal stumped by Dinesh Karthik.Akmal executed some handsome shots and added 33 to his overnight score of 32. He hit 12 fours in his eighth half-century.India 1st innings 626 (S. Ganguly 239, Y. Singh 169, I. Pathan 102; Y. Arafat 5-161, D. Kaneria 3-168)Pakistan 1st innings (overnight 369-5):

Fall of wickets: 1-59 (Hameed), 2-149 (Butt), 3-221 (Younis), 4-227 (Yousuf), 5-288 (Iqbal), 6-432 (Akmal), 7-525 (Arafat), 8-527 (Sami), 9-529 (Akhtar).

Pakistan pacer Asif recovering after surgery

Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif has undergone successful keyhole surgery in Australia to fix a chronic elbow problem that forced him to miss the ongoing series in India.A Pakistan cricket Board official said the surgery was carried out by a well known Australian specialist in Sydney on Monday."The initial reports are that it was not a major operation and it has been successful," Shafqat Naghmi, chief operating officer, told Reuters on Tuesday."But Asif could recover up to three months before he resumes playing cricket," he said, adding that a specialist would soon determine how long the full rehabilitation period will be."We fear he would require to rest for three months, which means he is certainly out of next month's home series against Zimbabwe," he said.Naghmi said Asif would also face a race against time to be 100 percent fit for the home series against Australia tentatively scheduled for March 9.The Australians are due to send a delegation to Pakistan in January after general elections to assess the security situation ahead of their tour, which includes three tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match.Asif has this year had to sit out four one-day games against South Africa and was ruled out of the Indian tour.And here is the rest of it.

UPDATE 1-Cricket-India gain upper hand after Younis's 80

BANGALORE, India, Dec 10 (Reuters) - India grabbed two more wickets in the second session to wrest the initiative at tea after Younis Khan struck a masterly 80 for Pakistan on day three of the third and final test on Monday.Younis, stand-in captain for injured Shoaib Malik, shared in two fruitful partnerships after the visitors resumed at 86 for one on a placid pitch.But Younis's dismissal along with the experienced Mohammad Yousuf (24) in subsequent overs saw Pakistan, seeking to level the series, reduced to 265 for four with 162 more needed to avoid the follow-on.In-form Misbah-ul-Haq and Faisal Iqbal were at the crease on 17 and 14 respectively at tea.Saurav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan blasted their maiden double hundred and century respectively on Sunday after Yuvraj Singh smashed 169 to help hosts India post an imposing first-innings total of 626.India are 1-0 up in the series after winning the opening test by six wickets in New Delhi.Resuming at seven, Younis took his overnight second-wicket stand with Salman Butt (68) to 90 and then shared in an entertaining stand of 72 with Yousuf for the next wicket Left-handed Butt fell half an hour before lunch when he edged Ganguly, bowling gentle medium-pace, behind.

Younis, who scored a century in the drawn second test in Kolkata, batted with controlled aggression for his 20th fifty.The Indian attack looked largely ineffective barring two inspired spells by the tall seamer Ishant Sharma.Younis, who hit 12 fours in his 156-ball essay, combated India's experienced spin duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh with ease, despite having a minimum two men in catching positions.He was bowled by off-spinner Harbhajan trying to reverse sweep, a stroke that had fetched him a couple of boundaries earlier.Yousuf fell in the same over in which he had a verbal duel with home skipper Kumble standing at gully. He drove at an away -going delivery from left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan for Yuvraj Singh to take a low catch.

.

"Younis Khan" hits fifty to lead Pakistan fightback

BANGALORE, India, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Younis Khan struck a masterly half century to steer Pakistan to a confident 180 for two at lunch on the third day of the third and final test against India on Monday.Younis, stand-in captain for injured Shoaib Malik, hit 62 and took his overnight second-wicket stand with Salman Butt (68) to 90 after the visitors resumed at 86 for one.Mohammad Yousuf (6) was at the wicket with Younis at lunch break.Saurav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan blasted their maiden double hundred and century respectively on Sunday after Yuvraj Singh smashed 169 to help hosts India post an imposing first-innings total of 626.India are 1-0 up in the series after winning the opening test by six wickets in New Delhi.Resuming at seven, Younis, who scored a century in the drawn second test in Kolkata, batted with controlled aggression for his 20th fifty.

The visitors still need 247 runs to avoid the follow-on.Younis and Butt, 50 overnight, drove left-armer Pathan freely for boundaries before Ganguly, bowling gentle medium-pace, struck half an hour before the break to dismiss left-handed Butt, who edged behind. The Indian attack looked largely ineffective on a placid pitch barring an inspired opening spell by the tall seamer Ishant Sharma, who got the ball to move and troubled Butt.Younis, who hit 10 fours, reverse swept off-spinner Harbhajan for a boundary and used his full reach to combat experienced leg spinner Anil Kumble.Yousuf looked tentative early but settled down quickly to dourly defend against the spinners, who operated with a minimum of two men in catching positions..

We have a game plan "Younis"

Bangalore: Many Indian dailies here have published news that Younis Khan had expressed his reluctance to lead the team in the Bangalore Test in place of the injured Shoaib Malek.What happened was that the reporters who published that news had checked with Ehsan Malek, the Pakistan team manager about it.Although he had categorically denied the rumour on Thursday night, the reporters went ahead and published that Khan was a reluctant captain.Some even stated that Mohammad Yousuf was also reluctant to lead the team and that there is rift in the team over selection of the replacement."I am the vice captain and I will lead the team. I was never the vice captain before and I was requested to take up the job for this series. This is a big series so I thought I needed to do it," Khan said. However, he did clarify that he does not want captaincy on a long term basis.A candid Khan then went on to say: "Whenever I have been given captaincy I have been running away from it. If you captain the team in an India-Pakistan series, your life is bound to get spoiled. You are judged on your performance. It is really tough captaining in an India-Pakistan series."

When asked whether it was his team's best chance to equal the series with many of the Indian players injured, Khan said: "We have a game plan for this match."We will play according to it. It does not matter who is playing or not. In Kolkata we proved that we can fight. Here we want to show that we can win."To a query whether his team was under pressure having to win here to save the series, Khan said: "Pressure is bound to be there in all international matches. It will be double in an India-Pakistan match. It all depends on how we handle the pressures and apply ourselves," he believes. .

India v/s pakistan,Banglor test, first day-India 365-3

BANGALORE, Chinnaswamy Stadium- Saurav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh struck historical centuries. A record fifth wicket partnership of 300 runs to help India overcome a poor start and reach 365 for five at the close of the opening day of the third and final test against Pakistan on Saturday.Ganguly and Yuvraj surpassed the previous best stand for the fifth wicket against Pakistan, of 200 between Ravi Shastri and Sandeep Patil at Faisalabad in 1984-85.Great Ganguly was unbeaten on 125 and Yuvraj hit a career-best 169 before he was caught by Faisal Iqbal off Mohammad Sami. The Punjab batsman slammed 28 boundaries and a six off 203 balls.They help the hosts recover from 61 for four after choosing to bat. Yuvraj completed his third Test century when he cover drove Yasir Arafat for his 18th boundary after facing 137 balls. Earlier in the over he had stylishly square cut the bowler to the third man fence.Pakistani debutant Yasir Arafat grabbed three early wickets to give the visitors, who trail the three-match series 1-0, a great start in seaming conditions.Pakistan spearhead Shoaib Akhtar was at his hostile best and struck Rahul Dravid (19) on his shoulder with a delivery that lifted sharply.But Shoaib left the field during the second session for a scan after complaining of back pain. A Pakistan team spokesman said the injury-prone bowler was expected to take the field on Sunday. Mohammad Sami provided an early breakthrough when he had a Gautam Gambhir edge behind for five for his first wicket in the series.All-rounder Arafat, dismissed Dravid, opener Wasim Jaffer (17) and Vangipurappu Laxman (5) in an impressive display of seam bowling.Arafat then dismissed Jaffer in the next over when the second test double centurion shouldered arms to a delivery that cut back sharply and was trapped in front.Laxman was then dismissed when he played a low delivery from Arafat onto his stumps.The visitors were unable to add to their success, however, as in-form Ganguly and Yuvaj, player of the series of the preceding one-dayers, took control after settling in.

-Cricket-In form Misbah almost turned his back on game

Misbah-ul-Haq, who has ignited his Pakistan career in recent months, said he almost turned his back on the game at the age of 23 in favour of a business career.He studied for his MBA in business management and only started playing top-level cricket at 24."Before my first-class debut I was in two minds about which way to go but I chose cricket because of my love and passion for the game," the 33-year-old Misbah told Reuters."Even after two years of choosing cricket though I thought I might have chosen wrong. But in 1999 my fortunes changed, I made my first-class debut and two years later was playing against New Zealand on my test debut."Ever since I have not had any thoughts in my mind apart from playing cricket. I'm now really happy."Misbah was a fringe player for Pakistan three months ago but a successful Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa and a maiden test century against India in Calcutta this week have boosted his credentials.He scored 161 not out at Eden Gardens as Pakistan replied to India's intimidating total of 616 for six declared.Misbah's partnership of 207 with Kamran Akmal earned a draw which means Pakistan can level the series if they win the third and final test which starts here on Saturday

England v/s Sri Lanka -Muralitharan Bowls Sri Lanka To Victory:

Kandy, Wednesday December 5, 05:05 PM: Sri Lanka beat England by 88 runs on the fifth and final day of the first Test on Wednesday.Ian Bell top-scored with 74, as England chasing 350 to win were bowled out for 261.England fell to an agonising defeat as Sri Lanka secured an 88-run victory with only 25 minutes of play left in a dramatic first Test in Kandy.Both Prior and Bell played exceptionally well. Prior's 63, off 147 balls, was certainly one of his finest innings in an England shirt. He appeared accomplished and at ease throughout, defending well and occasionally striding out to strike a cover drive. Struck on the head by a bouncer from Dilhara Fernando, he batted on seemingly unflustered. Tellingly when he reached his fifty his runs had been divided equally between the leg- and off- sides.And then everything changed. Muralitharan took the new ball off Malinga and produced a spell of 5-2-5-3. Having been held at bay throughout the day, this was the true mark of one of history's greatest bowlers, able to produce a match-winning spell at the crucial moment, turning the new ball like a top on an unhelpful surface.Prior was undone by a doosra that spun past his bat and clipped off stump. Bell was bowled in the next over by an off-spinner, and Ryan Sidebottom fell in the over after that, unluckily given out lbw despite a palpable inside edge. From 248 for six, England were now 253 for nine and the game was over.England looked to have lost the match much earlier than that, defeat never seeming more imminent than when Paul Collingwood slapped a catch off Fernando to Kumar Sangakkara at short extra cover. That left England 90 for five in just the 20th over of the day.

Adam Gilchrist `s snatched ball back:

John-a cricket lover who snatched Adam Gilchrist's record-making cricket ball has given it back.
Melbourne midwife John decided to return the ball -- which Gilchrist last month smashed out of Hobart's Bellerive Oval to become the first batsman to achieve 100 Test sixes -- for the good of the game.He met Cricket Australia officials last night.span class="fullpost">They plan to exhibit the ball in cricket museums.Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said John had asked for nothing in return, despite Gilchrist's offer of a signed bat."He is very happy to give it back unconditionally," Mr Young said."He is very comfortable with the idea that the ball will go on public display as something the public will enjoy."On November 17, John chased Gilchrist's ball out of the ground, retrieving it about 200m from the stadium.He had been in hiding since the Herald Sun published a picture showing him running outside the ground clutching the ball.Gilchrist and Cricket Australia had publicly appealed for him to return the $100 item.The ball may tour cricket museums over summer and has been deemed so important it may even have a place in the Long Room at Lord's."John said he had always dreamed of owning a Test cricket ball ... but just didn't like the thought of being responsible for an empty exhibition case.''

Muralitharan `s world record 709th Test wicket:

Sri Lanka off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took his 709th test wicket on Monday to move to the top of the all-time list above Australian Shane Warne.Muralitharan bowled England's Paul Collingwood for 45 shortly before lunch on the third day of the first test, sparking wild celebrations in Kandy.England kept Muralitharan at bay during his first spell of the morning but he struck immediately in his second, bowling Collingwood from around the wicket.The wicket, greeted with fireworks from Sri Lankan supporters, completed Muralitharan's 61st five-wicket haul in tests.Muralitharan had previously held the world record after surpassing West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh (519 wickets) in 2004, but he was subsequently overtaken by Warne after suffering a shoulder injury that year.Muralitharan holds other bowling records in test cricket including the most five-wicket (61) and ten-wicket hauls (20).The 35-year-old is renowned for extracting prodigious turn from his unique rubber-wristed bowling action.Muralitharan has also developed a special delivery called a "doosra" that spins in the opposite direction to his usual off spinner.

Sri Lanka's Jayasuriya to retire from Test cricket:

Sri Lanka batsman Sanath Jayasuriya said he would be retiring from Test cricket after the series opener against England in Kandy."This is the best opportunity for me to retire from Test cricket," Jayasuriya told Sky Sports News. "I decided that this is my last one."
The 38-year-old, who was dismissed for 78 on Monday in his 110th test, has scored 14 centuries since making his debut against New Zealand in Hamilton in 1991.He said he would continue to play one-day cricket. He has made 403 appearances for Sri Lanka in the limited-overs game.He was a member of Sri Lanka's World Cup winning team in 1995, and is the only player in the world to score over 12,000 runs and take over 300 wickets in the 50-over format.

Shoaib Akhtar is offered for Bollywood movie

Pakistani star fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is offered from Bollywood to actin the movie. The star is considering the proposal."I have a piece of news for you. I have got an offer from Bollywood," Akhtar disclosed to media persons Kolkata on Sunday.Akhtar said the producer and director would meet him with the script during the December 8-12 third Test against India in Bangalore."I will decide whether to work with them once I listen to the script," said the Pakistan fast bowler.Akhtar said he has watched the two recent Bollywood releases - Sanjay Leela Bhansali 's Saawariya and the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Om Shanti Om .I have also heard about the movie Chak De India , he said.Shoaib Akhtar has some serious business lined up in Bangalore. The Pakistan paceman, having watched Aaja Nachle this weekend, was floored by the sensational return of Madhuri Dixit to the silver screen and is now all set to seriously enter Indian cinema.
Having completely recovered from a bout of chest infection and fever, Akhtar admitted that he was in a bad shape when the Kolkata Test started. “Honestly, I didn’t know how I bowled my first two deliveries. I was completely blank and felt dizzy. I didn’t even know where I pitched the ball and who I was bowling to. I couldn’t sight the batsman because my head was badly in a spin.”

INDIA V/s PAKISTAN-2nd test- pak loose half of the vickets:

Sunday, December 02, 2007 12.30 pm (pak time).
Pakistan was 203 for five Pakistan need 413 more runs to win ,on day three of the second Test at Eden Gardens on Sunday..Pakistan need 263 more runs to avoid the follow-on.Earlier, India chipped in with regular wickets to put Pakistan on the mat at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test on Sunday.Resuming at 50 for loss of one wicket, the visitors failed to negotiate the Indian spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble to lose four wickets and reach 154 for 5 in their first innings at the Eden Gardens.Off spinner Habhajan Singh snared in-form batsmen Salman Butt (42) and Mohammad Yousuf (6) while Kumble foxed Faisal Iqbal as Pakistan still needed 263 runs to avoid the ignominy of
follow on.In between, pacer Munaf Patel got the prized wicket of stand-in skipper Younis Khan (43), who needlessly chased an away going delivery to gift a simple catch to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.Misbah was playing at59(89) and Akmal at 25(68).

ICC Illegal Bowling Actions Reporting Process(AN ARTICLE)

* ICC umpires and/or the match referee will report a bowler considered to have a suspect bowling action at the end of a Test or One day International. Umpires will retain the right to ‘call’ a bowler during a game, at their discretion. A report will initially be based on observations reached with the naked eye. The use of slow motion match footage will only be used to reinforce this initial impression. * The bowler’s team manager and the ICC will be notified of the report within 24 hours.

* Within a further period of 24 hours, a public statement will be issued by the match referee, confirming the reporting.

* The bowler’s Board will be notified by the ICC and copies of the relevant match footage supplied.

* Within a period of 21 days, the bowler will be required to work with an independent member of the ICC’s Human Movement Specialist panel. This will include the filming of his action under laboratory conditions and using latest technology opto-reflective techniques.

* The Human Movement Specialist’s report will confirm if the bowler’s action exceeds the permitted 15 degrees of straightening, or if he has been cleared to continue playing.

* If the action is found to be legal, the bowler can immediately resume his career, although the clearance does not constitute any form of exemption against being reported in future
If the report finds that the bowler’s action exceeds 15 degrees of straightening, he will be immediately suspended from international cricket. There are then two options available to him:
* To carry out remedial action to rectify his action to meet the ICC standard, or
* To contest the decision within 14 days and seek a hearing of the ICC Bowling Review Group (BRG) to make a final decision
* A BRG hearing will be held within 21 days and the outcome will decide to either uphold the decision of the expert report and suspend the bowler, or alternatively overturn the decision and clear the player to resume his international career

The ICC Bowling Review Group will consist of the following:
* A member of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, chairman
* A current ICC Match Referee
* A former international player
* A former international umpire
* A member of the ICC panel of Human Movement Specialists
* ICC General Manager – Cricket, as an ex-officio member
A second report within the space of two years proving an illegal action would see the bowler suspended from all international cricket for a minimum period of 12 months.

Usha Uthup sings in the honour of visiting Pakistani team:

30-nov-2007-Kolkata-Usha Uthup was singing in honour of the visiting Pakistani team and journalists, Uthup, best known for her 'Ramba ho, ho, ho...' song of the 1980s film 'Armaan', said: 'I strongly believe that music and cricket can bridge the gap between our two nations. But music wins in the end because in cricket you still fight on the field.'The interesting moment of Thursday's function came when Uthup invited Pakistani journalist Shahid Hashmi to the stage and sang a popular duet - 'Pyaar karna bhi zaroori hai' from the film 'Vaardat' - with him.'This is a great combination. You have seen many partnerships but this is perhaps the best one - an Indian singer and a Pakistani journalist in a dosti duet,' said Usha.
'It was a great honour for me to share the microphone with one of the best singers of India. It was a nice experience,' Hashmi said.And before singing 'Yeh dosti hum nahi torenge' from 'Sholay', Usha said: 'This song is especially for our Pakistani guests. I believe the people of the two countries are still the same.'

Shoaib Akhter`s bowling action-Indians not easy !

Indian batesman complain against Pakistan’s express fast bowler Shoaib Akhter`s bowling action.This has increased the problem of Pakistani cricket team,already facing severe fitness problems.Indian batesman criticised the akhters bowling action at new Dehli test.indian batesman said that shoaib akhter has performed,some time, illegal bowling action.Specifically the ball whic hresulted the Rahul dravid out was illegal.The Indian camp is quite convinced that the ball that clocked 150kmph and cut back sharply could not have been legal.The secretary indian cricket board (BCCI),Mr.Naranjan shah has reacted carefully.He said international cricket board should consider the actions of the controvercial players.

Wasim Jaffer's bat sparkled brightest-1st day 2nd test: (+photos)

November 30, 2007-Kolkata:Wasim Jaffer hit a sparkling unbeaten century to take India to a healthy position on the 1st day of the 2nd Test at the Eden Gardens -Kolkata.
Jaffer scored up his fifth Test century and had faced 163 balls during the first two sessions of play. He got 23 boundaries adding 136 for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid (50).Dravid struck seven fours during his half-century before he was scalped by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.Initially, India lost opener Dinesh Karthik early on after electing to bat. Sohail Tanveer inflicted the early jolt in the second over as Karthik failed for the third consecutive time in the series. But Jaffer and Dravid denied Pakistan any further success as the duo held the fort for the home side.At tea, India`s score was 206-2 with Jaffer unbeaten on 124 and Sachin Tendulkar giving him company on 26.
Tanvir, his initial success notwithstanding, was made to look more like a rookie by Jaffer than he has looked at any stage of his international initiation. And as Sachin Tendulkar helped up the pace nearer tea, with a swift fifty partnership, Kaneria's raggedness encapsulated that of his side's. Pakistan had their share of problems: Shoaib looked pretty unfit and struggled to complete his overs, Sami started off promisingly but drifted away and Tanvir, for some reason, kept feeding Jaffer on that middle and leg line. Younis Khan, the captain - Malik is injured and is not in the team - even turned to Yasir Hameed's leg spin and made Tanvir bowl left-arm spin but were thwarted by some fine batting from Jaffer and Tendulkar. Finally, Kaneria broke through with a googly to dismiss Tendulkar but Pakistan lacked intensity and had run of ideas as the day wore on. Finally,India decide to call it off for the day due to bad light.They werw at 352-3 (Jaffer 192*, Tendulkar 82, Ganguly 17*)
Indian team: Anil Kumble (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Mahendra Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel.
Pakistan team: Younis Khan (captain), Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria.
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen, South Africa, and Billy Doctrove, West Indies.
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka.
TV Umpire: Amish Saheba, India.

On "1996" tour, Gary Kirsten hated India

NEW DELHI: Quiz question: Which South African cricketer wrote the following words for a journal in his 1996-97 India tour dairy: "62 days in a country where westernised living conditions are regarded a luxury is no task for the faint-hearted."Answer: Gary Kirsten.
In fact, his tour diary indicates that the former opening batsman had problems with almost every aspect of the Indian condition: food, socializing, travelling.The tour diary was published in the December 1996-January 1997 issue of SA Cricket Action. Kirsten also wrote that "to spread cricket to all corners of India, we played in what could politely be classed as one-horse towns, places with more cows on the street than cars."For the record, the South Africans played one-day games in Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Faridabad, Rajkot, Guwahati and Mumbai. The Tests were played at Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Kanpur."I'll never forget arriving in Rajkot — laughter broke out in the bus when we were told we had reached our hotel, yet there didn't seem to be one in sight. It was actually above another building... A sense of humour is a necessity on this tour," wrote Kirsten. One wonders how the present BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, who hails from Rajkot, would react to that.Kirsten, who has been offered a two-year term with a package similar to Greg Chappell's, had also cribbed about the unavailability of direct flights to a playing destination..

"Bob Woolmer" Inquest Fails to Determine How Cricket Coach Died

Nov. 29 (Mr.Khan News) -- A Jamaican coroner's inquest into the death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer at the World Cup in March failed to determine what killed him, the sport's governing body said.An 11-member jury, which heard testimony from more than 50 witnesses over five weeks in Kingston, returned an open verdict yesterday after finding insufficient evidence of a criminal act or death by natural causes.Woolmer was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on March 18, a day after Pakistan exited the World Cup in an upset loss to Ireland. The inquest was opened after Jamaican police said in June that the 58-year-old Briton died of natural causes, reversing its initial assessment that he was murdered.``It is important to note that, following an exhaustive police investigation, no credible evidence has been produced to prove that there was any foul play connected to Bob's death,'' the International Cricket Council said in a statement.

Four days after Woolmer's death, police began a homicide investigation following a local pathologist's assessment that he'd been strangled. Police examined closed-circuit TV pictures, quizzed Pakistan players and other hotel guests and hired cricket anti-corruption officers to investigate whether his death was linked to match-fixing.``It should also be noted that extensive investigations by the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit found no evidence of match-fixing or corruption of any kind related in this case,'' the Dubai-based ICC added.During earlier testimony in the coroner's inquest, which began Oct. 16, Jamaican pathologist Ere Sheshiah said Woolmer died of pesticide poisoning and asphyxia, Agence-France Presse said. Pathologists from the U.K., Canada and South Africa concluded that Woolmer died from natural causes, most likely heart disease, the ICC said.Woolmer, a former England batsman, suffered from diabetes and had put on weight since taking the Pakistan job in 2004. Blood, vomit and diarrhea were found on the walls and floor of his hotel bedroom and bathroom, Mark Shields, Jamaica's deputy police commissioner, said at the start of the investigation. .

Buoyant "England" win "Sri Lanka" tour cricket match

COLOMBO (Mr.Khan News) — Michael Vaughan's England celebrated a morale-boosting win ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka as the gloom lifted around the injury-hit tourists on Tuesday.England, preparing for Saturday's first Test in Kandy, surpassed a victory target of 246 for the loss of five wickets in the last session of a three-day practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI here.Left-handed opener Alastair Cook led the charge with 58 and Kevin Pietersen made 59 on a slow track at the Nondescript Cricket Club where England were dismissed for 134 in the first innings.The victory was set up the previous evening by Yorkshire paceman Matthew Hoggard, who grabbed five wickets including three in one over to send the hosts crashing to 81 all out.Wicket-keeper Matthew Prior clinched the win with two consecutive boundaries off Jehan Mubarak to remain unbeaten with 27 alongside Owais Shah (33 not out).

England had further reason to smile as fast bowler James Anderson recovered from a bruised ankle that forced him off the field on the second day and looks certain to play in the first of three back-to-back Tests.However, strike bowler Steve Harmison is likely to miss the Kandy Test even though scans on a troublesome back at a local hospital on Tuesday morning showed no serious injury.Harmison, 29, who suffered back spasms on Sunday, was a late entrant to the touring squad after proving his fitness playing first-class cricket in South Africa following a hernia surgery.Vaughan said later his team was ready to take on Sri Lanka in the Test series."It's always difficult in this part of the world, so this was a good game of cricket for us to win," the England captain said. "We feel we are in good spirits going into the first Test.

"How much of an impact this result has on the Tests remains to be seen. But yesterday we were looking like losing, so to come through and win shows a lot of character, which is a good sign for the team."The SLC XI added four runs to their overnight total of 77-8 before being all out for 81 with Kaushal Lokuarachchi unable to bat due to a hand injury.Vaughan and Cook put on 50 for the first wicket before the England captain, who made 28, mis-hit a ball from part-time bowler Mubarak to Tillekeratne Dilshan at point.Ian Bell, looking to step up the scoring, top-edged a drive off Dilshan to long-on as England slipped to 74-2.Pietersen and Cook put on 65 either side of the lunch interval before both departed in quick succession.Cook, England's man in form with 63 in the tour opener and 35 in the first innings here, hit six boundaries before he was trapped leg-before by Mubarak.Pietersen smashed five fours and a six when he edged an intended cut off another part-time bowler Chamara Kapugedara to wicket-keeper Kaushal Silva.The home side missed the leg-breaks of Lokuarachchi, the lone specialist spinner in the team who dislocated his right index finger while attempting a return catch off Bopara on Monday.England leave for Kandy on Wednesday morning for three days of hard training before the first Test..

Cricket "Zimbabwe" to tour "Pakistan" next year after elections

KARACHI, Nov 27 (Mr.Khan News) - Zimbabwe will tour Pakistan after the host country's general elections on Jan. 8 to play five one-day internationals, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Tuesday.The official told Reuters that at the request of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, which has had its test status suspended since 2005, the team would play a four-day and three-day game before the one-day series."They want their players to get exposure in the longer duration of the game as they are not playing tests at the moment," the official said.The one-day internationals will be stagedin Karachi, Hyderabad, Multan, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura.

The official said the itinerary for the Australian team's tour to Pakistan in March-April next year would be completed after a visit by a delegation of Cricket Australia following the elections.The Australian Cricketers' Association have said they are worried about security arrangements in Pakistan because of the political upheaval since the introduction of emergency rule.Australia are due to arrive in Pakistan on March 10 to play three tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 international."We are not worried because their tour is still some months away and by that time the elections would have been held and things would have settled down politically," the PCB official said. .

Australian Cricketers Association worried about security in pakistan

YDNEY (Reuters) - There is increasing concern among Australia's cricketers about their planned tour of Pakistan next year.The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) said they were worried about security arrangements in Pakistan because of the political upheaval since the introduction of emergency rule.ACA president Darren Lehmann told reporters on Monday the tour should be cancelled, or moved to a neutral venue, if there was any risk to player safety."If there's any risk at all then I'm presuming the tour might not go ahead," Lehmann said."But if security say it's fine then we'll be going."Australia are due to tour Pakistan next March but Lehmann said the ACA and Cricket Australia were planning to visit the country in January to determine whether it was safe enough.Lehmann said they would present their findings to the players who would make the final decision."We put everything on the table for them and then it's a group decision from there," Lehmann said."Pretty much they're happy to go with the ACA and Cricket Australia what we recommend and that'll be a joint discussion along the way so if we say 'Look we think it's safe to go', they'll go."

India Survived A Top Order Collapse In Delhi Test:

DEHLI,The first Test in Delhi is intriguingly poised after Pakistan closed day three 167 runs ahead of India at 212-5.Danish Kaneria took three wickets in 15 balls as Pakistan snared India's final four wickets for 14 to restrict the home side's first innings lead to 45.Salman Butt gave Pakistan an excellent start with 11 fours in his 67 but three wickets fell for 12 within eight overs.Misbah-ul-Haq, dropped on one, hit two sixes and shared an unbroken 51 with Kamran Akmal to add a further twist.On a fluctuating day of Test action, VVS Laxman had taken his seventh-wicket partnership with Anil Kumble to 54 before Kaneria made the breakthrough.The India captain edged a sharp leg-break to Younus Khan at first slip for 24.The 22-year-old Tanvir bowled Harbhajan Singh round his legs for one in the next over before Kaneria removed the last two batsmen Zaheer Khan (9) and Munaf Patel (0) with successive deliveries. Khan smashed Kaneria over long on for six but could only mis-hit the next flighted delivery to be caught by a running Shoaib Akhtar at mid off. Patel fell lbw first ball.Pacemen Shoaib and Tanvir had led Pakistan's fightback by triggering a top-order batting collapse on the second afternoon before Laxman added 115 runs for the sixth wicket with Mahendra Dhoni (57).Laxman, 33, who completed his 30th Test fifty, glided Shoaib through the slips for his only four in the morning before running out of partners.He hit eight fours in his 135-ball knock spanning over four hours but was left stranded on 72.Butt and Yasir Hameed calmly recorded the Pakistan 50 in the 16th over, before skipper Kumble and spin partner Harbhajan began to restrict the scoring slightly.

Kumble made the breakthrough in the 26th over when Hameed pushed forward to a full and fast delivery, the ball flew off the face of the bat and was brilliantly caught inches from the turf at silly point by Laxman.In the fourth over after tea, Younus was adjudged lbw by Simon Taufel when he was hit low on the pad pushing forward to Kumble.
That brought in the prolific Mohammad Yousuf who promptly hit two fours in reaching 10 from his first three balls.But when he was on 18, he succumbed to the first ball of Harbhajan's new spell when some extra turn caught his inside edge and gave the spinner a simple return catch.Less than four overs later Butt was back in the pavilion as well, when Kumble's googly deceived him and the edge was comfortably snaffled by Rahul Dravid at slip.

Pakistan were only 116 ahead when they lost their fifth wicket, skipper Shoaib Malik unluckily losing a solitary bail when he got a bottom edge via the pad.It might have been even worse had Wasim Jaffer taken a reasonably straightforward chance at short-leg given by Misbah off his irate captain when only a single had been added.Misbah then dispatched Harbhajan for two sixes in an over and with Akmal striking four fours in his 20, the sixth-wicket pair began to build the sort of target to give India's batsmen cause for concern as the increasingly fascinating encounter nears its conclusion.

Harbhajan pitches in for India win over Pakistan

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is confident of victory in the first test against Pakistan despite only two teams having successfully chased a fourth innings target of over 200 runs at the Ferozshah Kotla ground.Pakistan were 212 for five in their second innings at stumps on the third day, leading by 167 runs, after Harbhajan and leg spinner Anil Kumble caused a batting collapse on Saturday.Harbhajan, who took two for 51 and Kumble three for 55, said they succeeded despite the pitch playing better than the first two days when the ball often kept low.Pakistan were 231 all out in the first innings and India were dismissed for 276 in reply."We've a good chance, the wicket is playing better," Harbhajan told reporters. "I can't believe the match is being played on the same pitch.""Kumble has always done well here and once again he has brought the game back to us," he said.The Indian skipper, the third highest wicket taker in test history, took 10 Pakistan second innings wickets to achieve victory in 1999.
The 37-year-old has taken seven wickets so far in the game. Pakistan's Misbah-ul Haq followed his first innings 82 with 29 not out after being dropped on one, adding 51 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket with Kamran Akmal (21 not out)."If Wasim Jaffer had held the chance, maybe they would be seven, eight, nine even all out," Harbhajan said. "The pressure was such."Pakistan opener Salman Butt, who hit 67, said his team had still not averted defeat."If we get another 120-130 runs it would be safe for us," he said. "India have some good batsmen so we have to bowl well like we did in the first innings."The pitch is low and slow but none of the batsman got out because of that."

Security for Pak. cricket team reviewed

New Delhi (PTI): Security for visiting Pakistani cricket team was on Saturday strengthened and a country-wide alert sounded by Union Home Ministry against terror strikes in the wake of an e-mail to a television channel threatening an attack on the team and a series of explosions.An alert was sounded following intelligence inputs suggesting that various sleeper cells of militants outfits like banned Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islamia (HuJI) and Lashker-e- Taiba (LeT) would be targeting some key installations in the country, official sources said.They said the security for the Pakistani cricket team, now playing a test match here, was further strengthened with more security personnel deployed at the hotels where they are staying.

The states and the Union territories have been asked to keep a strict vigil on their entry and exit points and deploy strengthen intelligence-gathering.The states have also been asked to ensure beefed-up security to the public transport system which could be the target of militants, the sources said.The email address -- guru_boys2000@yahoo.com -- was created on Friday and central security agencies were trying to trace it.Friday's email received from guru_alhindi@yahoo.fr had been generated on November 22, a day ahead of the blasts in Uttar Pradesh and the authorities were in touch with the service provider to give other details including the server from which the email identity was registered.

SHAH RUKH NOT IN CRICKET MATCH AGAIN-SHOAIB MALIK DISAPPOINTED-KAPIL DEV DEFENDED

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has upset so much when Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) accused the actor of using the ongoing ODI series to promote his latest Hindi flick ‘Om Shanti Om’.He has vowed never to be a spectator at match involving the Indian team.Shoaib Malik's elder brother Imran Malik,at the Ferozeshah Kotla,watching the first Indo-Pak Test, said his whole family love Shahrukh a lot and Shoaib Malik was very disappointed to know that the great khan may not come to watch any match again."We often discuss cricketing matters at length and yesterday Shoaib was very disappointed after knowing about Shahrukh's statement," said Imran Malik." Shoaib Malik was of the view that if we can go and watch their films why cannot they watch our matches?" The cricket legend and former Indian captain Kapil Dev supported Shah Rukh Khan's presence at cricket matches, saying association of a celebrity like him would popularise the game. He added that Shah Rukh was a cricket fan and watched the fifth ODI between India and Pakistan because of his sheer craze for the sport."I think like any other cricket buff Shah Rukh took time off to watch a match and there was nothing wrong in it. If the Prime Minister of India comes to watch a match, it is a great thing for cricket," he said."Shah Rukh is known for his movies and acting and if he had a chat on his film, I don't think it was wrong," he said.Kapil said a star like Shah Rukh did not need to use a cricket match to make publicity for his movie."Shah Rukh is already a popular personality in the world through his films. Does he need cricket to popularise himself and his work?"

Cricket: England draw Sri Lanka tour opener

England drew their first match of the Sri Lanka tour on Thursday after gaining useful batting practice at the Colombo Cricket Club.The tourists, replying to Sri Lanka Cricket XI's mammoth 500-5 piled over the first two days of the practice match, scored 315-6 on the final day before the game was called off.Opener Alastair Cook made 63, Ian Bell hit 49 and Paul Collingwood smashed a belligerent 52 off 69 balls before all three batsmen retired to give others a chance at the crease.England captain Michael Vaughan made 38 but star batsmen Kevin Pietersen was dismissed cheaply.Vaughan was trapped leg-before by leg-spinner Malinga Bandara, while Pietersen fended at a short ball from Nuwan Kulasekera and was caught at gully for four.It was England's first hit since the one-day tour of Sri Lanka a month ago when they recorded an impressive 3-2 win in the five-match series.The tourists get another chance to tune up for three back-to-back Tests starting in Kandy on Decemer 1 when they play a first-class match against the same opposition in Colombo from Sunday.The home team, comprising Sri Lanka's second-string, had batted for two days with opener Upul Tharanga making 112, 20-year-old Chamara Kapugedara 141 and Thilana Kandamby an unbeaten 107.The local spinners suffered as much on the dead wicket as their English counterparts Monty Panesar (1-117) and Graeme Swann (1-112).After the Kandy Test ends on December 5, the second Test will be played in Colombo from December 9-13 and the third in Galle from December 18-22.Brief scores:SLC XI 500-5 decl (U. Tharanga 112, M. Warnapura 48, C. Kapugedara 141, T. Kandamby 107 not out, K. Silva 54 not out, R. Sidebottom 1-46, S. Broad 1-41, M. Panesar 1-117, G. Swann 1-112)England: 315-6 (A. Cook 63 retired out, I. Bell 49 retired out, P. Collingwood 52 retired out, Owais Shah 38 retired out, R. Bopara 40 not out)

Shahrukh Khan And Deepika Padukones- guest appearance at 5th ODI:

JAIPUR-Sunday, November 18: Although He have played a hockey coach role in Chak De India but cricket seems closer to the heart of Shahrukh Khan, who made a guest appearance in the fifth one day international,here.Attired in white shirt and black trousers and sporting a ponytail, the actor joined Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) President Lalit Modi to share his views on the match to anchor Rameez Raja. It's great to see the camaraderie between the players. They are talking to each other and enjoying the game, it feels good," the great khan said.He also took the opportunity to thank his fans for making Om Shanti Om a roaring success."Have you seen the movie yourself?" he asked Raja. When the Pakistani cricketer-turned-commentator replied in the negative, Shahrukh said, "Before theTest series starts, do find out time and watch it. And watch it with your family."Later, RCA spokesman Anant Vyas told that Shahrukh had arrived after being invited by Modi."He's a dear friend of Mr Modi and has arrived here on an invitation," he said. Once the interaction part was over, Shahrukh took his side in the VIP enclosure at the SouthBlock of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.Shahrukh, along with Om Shanti Om co-star Deepika Padukone, who is often linked with Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, had also turned up to root for the team when the side took on Australia in Mumbai last month.Prior to that, Shahrukh also made a surprising visit to the press box at The Oval where India were playing the third and final Test against England.

PAKISTAN BEAT INDIA IN 5TH ODI BY 31RUNS-INDIA WON THE SERIES:

wahabuddin khan`s report
Pakistan won the best for the last as their batsmen piled up 306-6 and then bowled out India for 275 to win the fifth and final ODI in Jaipur on Sunday. Shoaib Malik and Mohd Yousuf struck fluent fifties to boost Pakistan's total, while India capitulated in front of the Pakistani bowlers led by Sohail Tanvir, who bagged four wickets. Batting first, Pakistan's new opening pair of Salman Butt and Imran Nazir settled quickly.when a slower Santh delivery prompted Nazir to slap a simple return catch, Pakistan were struggling on 77-3 in the 17th over.Then Yousuf and Malik came to the crease, and the experienced pair mixed the occasional boundary with a series of ones and twos to rebuild Pakistan's innings.Yousuf was twice lucky to remain at the crease, firstly when he was trapped in front by Yuvraj only for the appeals to be waved away by umpire Billy Doctrove, and then when his top-edged sweep fell between the fielders at square leg.But, he and Malik - who heaved two wonderful sixes over mid-wicket and six fours in an aggressive knock - had soon moved Pakistan to 245-3 with eight overs remaining.
Kartik returned to the attack to have Malik cleverly stumped, and Yousuf fell in similar fashion to Yuvraj two overs later, but Misbah-ul-haq (22) and Fawad Alam (31no) took up the baton.The pair put on 38 in 4.5 overs, sharing two sixes and three fours, and even after Misbah fell to a brilliant caught-and-bowled to Irfan Pathan, Alam saw Pakistan past 300.It was always going to be a tough total - despite the batsman-friendly surface in Jaipur - but Pakistan got off to a fabulous start with four wickets in the first 12 overs. Tanvir was the hosts' main tormentor, the seamer trapping Gautam Gambhir plumb in front in the fourth over, and inducing a rash swipe from Virender Sehwag in the 12th.

That came after the seamer had snared the precious wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, the Little Master edging to slip just as he looked like getting into his stride.Rao Iftikhar was the other early wicket-taker, Robin Uthappa falling to a simple catch at first slip two balls after he had been dropped by the same fielder, but Sharma and Yuvraj built something of a recovery.With the dewy conditions playing havoc with the spinners' grip and the seamers increasingly ineffectual under the lights, the pair milked the ones and twos in putting on 81.However, minutes after reaching his maiden half-century, Sharma fell for 52 when he dollied Malik to long-on - and Yuvraj followed suit when he was given out caught behind off Umar Gul on 50 despite the ball appearing to come off his shoulder.While Dhoni remained even the asking rate of over nine an over did not seem totally out of India's reach, but the wicket-keeper soon took one liberty too many when he skied Malik to mid-wicket.The hosts were never in the race thereafter and Malik took his third wicket with his off-spinners when Kumar holed out at mid-wicket, before Kartik skewed Iftikhar to backward point to end his enterprising knock of 16.Pathan (44 off 39 balls) produced some late fireworks, but he was left with far too much to do and home resistance was finally ended with a ball to spare when Tanvir clean bowled the left-hander to finish with figures of 9.5-0-53-4. Indian skipper Dhoni said the early strikes by Tanvir left his team struggling and praised Malik and Yousuf.
"Pakistan exploited the conditions," he said. "Our top order batsmen played the kind of shots they would not on a normal day."