Talented wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal notched up a breezy century under pressure before the bowlers came to the party and guided Pakistan to a bonus-point 72-run victory over Afghanistan in the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka lost early wickets in their second innings but extended their lead to 220 runs over Pakistan in the third and final Test in Sharjah to boost their chances of a series victory.
Debutant fast bowler Bilawal Bhatti dismissed experienced duo Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in consecutive deliveries as Pakistan strengthened their hold on the first Test against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Yasir Shah promoted, Shoaib Malik retained in top category
Khurram Manzoor was unbeaten on 131 and Pakistan ended on 263 for three, a lead of 14 runs over South Africa who were bowled out for 249 early in the morning session.
Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir, who has been recalled to the national squad for the upcoming one-off T20 match against England, said that being in and out of the team on a regular basis can adversely impact the mental health of a player but added that he is determined to put his best foot forward in the next game.
Pending Indian visa forces PCB to push back date for Hafeez's testing
Sri Lanka won the just-concluded Asia Cup, but none of their players figure in Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji's most valuable player index. Check it out.
India will enter the 11th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup in second spot behind leaders Australia.
Three wickets in as many balls sent Pakistan tumbling from cruise control to defeat by six runs in the second Twenty20 international against series winners South Africa in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed match figures of 11 for 118 as Zimbabwe collapsed to 120 all out before lunch on the final day of the first Test in Harare on Saturday to lose by 221 runs.
He also wants the ICC to consider changes to ensure 'doosra' stays in the sport
Ravichandran Ashwin has become the fastest Indian bowler to take bag hundred Test wickets during the second match against West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Virat Kohli is the highest-ranked Indian batsman at joint-sixth, but there is no Indian presence in the top-10 of the bowlers' list in the latest ICC Twenty20 Rankings, issued on Wednesday. Suresh Raina, at No 8, is the second Indian batsman in the top-10, with Yuvraj Singh next best at a distant 16th.
Phillip Hughes's tragic death cast a shadow over an eventful year that saw Ashes rivals Australia and England brawl on the field and bond off it, joining India to pull off a bloodless coup and take charge of the game.
Hashim Amla once again gave ample proof of why is he rated as one of the leading batsmen in world cricket. The South African right-hander, who is ranked second in the ICC ODI rankings, kept South Africa's hopes alive in the Champions Trophy with a gritty half-century against Pakistan.
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi produced a brilliant performance with both bat and ball to lead his team to a thumping 126-run victory over West Indies in their first One-day International on Sunday.
Sri Lanka recovered from losing opener Upul Tharanga to reach 99 for one in reply to Pakistan's 451 at close on the second day of the first Test on Thursday.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad has been recalled to Pakistan's Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka after being dropped for the April-May series against Bangladesh on disciplinary grounds. Besides Shehzad, the selectors also recalled southpaw Shan Masood, another out-of-favour opener, who was ignored for the last few series and tournaments.
Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been accused of fraud and misuse of facilities by the administration of the University of Agriculture in his hometown Faisalabad. The administration has ordered him to immediately vacate the land given to him to establish his cricket academy. The varsity administration claimed on Saturday that Ajmal had charged admission fees from one student to join the academy and over 350 students became members.
Former Pakistan pacer Sarfraz Nawaz has accused the ICC of favoring the Indian team.
Azhar Ali's hit a belligerent century on the final day as Pakistan pulled off a dramatic five-wicket victory in the final Test against Sri Lanka to level the three-match series 1-1 on Monday.
In-form Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez returned to Pakistan's 15-member squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka, starting in the United Arab Emirates, next week. Hafeez scored three centuries in four One-Day Internationals in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka.
South Africa's AB de Villiers and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara will take their battle for the coveted No 1 spot in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen to Sydney when they go head-to-head in the first quarter-final of the World Cup.
South Africa beat Pakistan by 28 runs after Quinton de Kock scored his maiden one-day international hundred and Dale Steyn posted his best ever match figures in the fourth game of the series in the United Arab Emirates on Friday.
India may be way behind Australia in the Test rankings, but the World Cup holders are just 0.2 points behind the top-of-the-table Kangaroos in the ODI rankings. According to the latest ICC rankings, Australia and India are on 117 rating points and the scores will only be settled in the upcoming tri-series involving the two teams and England, starting January 18 next year.
South Africa claimed six wickets for 17 runs in a dramatic finish to snatch an unlikely one-run victory over Pakistan in their first one-day international at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
Pakistan's Faisalabad Wolves received visas to participate in the Champions League T20 in India and team manager Haroon Rasheed expressed confidence about his squad's safety in the country.
Australian cricket team coach Darren Lehmann has described Pakistan as tough opponent despite the absence of off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who is under the ICC scanner for a suspect bowling action.
Virat Kohli (fourth), Shikhar Dhawan (seventh) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (ninth) have also maintained their respective positions in the ICC ODI batting chart.
Former skipper Imran Khan has joined the chorus of angry fans and ex-cricketers over the national team's ODI whitewash in Bangladesh, terming the 0-3 loss as a "low point in Pakistan cricket history".
The talented but unpredictable side are not favourites.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni vs Australia in Tests: 65 dismissals -- 51 catches, 14 stumpings -- in 19 games. India's captain is the seventh wicketkeeper to complete 251 catches in 90 Tests. Statistical highlights of the opening day's play in the third India-Australia Test in Melbourne.
Pakistan's senior all-rounder, Mohammad Hafeez is expected to fly to Chennai on December 25th for his bowling action test at the International Cricket Council bowling centre.
Former Pakistan Test cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq has called on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to appoint a full-time spin bowling coach before expressing his desire to fill in the position. The Pakistan off-spinner is currently assisting the England team on a brief consultancy basis, having joined the squad after the two Tests in Bangladesh.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) crackdowns on chucking again. West Indies mystery spinner Sunil Narine has been reported for suspect bowling action during a Champions League T20 match between KKR and Dolphins, in Hyderabad.
Pakistani cricket authorities have turned to former top spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq to help Saeed Ajmal change his bowling action and make a comeback to international cricket.
'If they want us to announce our retirements we will do it, but we can't waste an opportunity to earn good money.'
Shikhar Dhawan scoring 12 runs from Pakistan's ace spinner Saeed Ajmal's first over was the turning point in India run-chase in the WT20 match in Mirpur on Friday. The bowler was immediately taken off and by the time he returned for another spell India were well on the way to victory.
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