Photos from Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test match between Australia and Pakistan, played at the MCG on Tuesday
Pakistan paceman Mohammad Amir, who spent time in jail and served a five-year ban for spot-fixing, will be able to handle the pressure of returning to England if he is granted a visa for their upcoming tour, said team mate Azhar Ali. Amir was considered one of the most exciting fast bowlers in the world before a 2010 spot-fixing scandal that resulted in bans and jail sentences for him, former test captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif. The trio were cleared to return to the sport by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last September after serving suspensions. The Pakistan Cricket Board has requested a visa for Amir, who has already toured New Zealand for a limited over series, played in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh and featured in the World Twenty20 in India since serving his ban.
Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin slammed the Australians on the podium incident.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq shared a top-class rearguard partnership with Azhar Alias to help salvage a draw against South Africa in the second test as the series ended in stalemate on Wednesday.
India hit out at China for its remarks that there was no consensus over the United States' proposal to ban Pathankot attack mastermind and Jaish-e-Mohammed is chief Masood Azhar at the United Nations
India on Friday came down hard on Pakistan for allowing Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, blamed for the 2001 Parliament attack, to "spew venom" against it, saying it was a matter of concern how a globally banned terrorist could address anti-India rallies.
Kirsten had warned senior pros in the side following the team's loss to the USA and India to adapt to new skill-sets and improve their game awareness, or get left behind.
A rampaging David Warner smashed a run-a-ball century to fire Australia to 278 for two and wrest back the momentum from Pakistan after Azhar Ali's unbeaten double-century buoyed the touring side on day three of the second Test on Wednesday.
The former army chief was also quoted as saying that the Nawaz Sharif government lacks aggression.
"The 'red bag' belonged to one of the hijackers, it contained explosives, and possibly, real passports, too.
Tough to look beyond Shreyas in WC playing XI, Gill will be main player for India, says Azharuddin
Azhar Ali smashed a second century in successive matches on Wednesday to leave the final Test between Pakistan against Sri Lanka poised for an intriguing finish. His 136 enabled Pakistan wriggled out of a tight corner and post 299-8 in their second innings by stumps on the fourth day in Pallekele.
Younis Khan and Azhar Ali struck centuries to punish a sloppy Bangladesh and power Pakistan to a strong 323 for three wickets on the first day of the second and final Test on Wednesday.
China had in August extended by three months its technical hold on the proposal to list JeM founder Azhar as a global terrorist after having blocked the move in February this year at the United Nations.
Differing from the views expressed by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, his predecessor Mohammed Azharuddin today said Mahendra Singh Dhoni has achieved so much in his career as a cricketer and he should be allowed to take a call on his future. "It's Ganguly's personal decision (opinion) and I respect it. At the same time it all depends on Dhoni, on what he thinks about his future. I respect Ganguly's opinion, but I feel Dhoni should be given the chance to decide when to retire," said Azhar on the sidelines of a function to announce the joining of racer Nayan Chatterjee with Meco Motor Sports. "He (Dhoni) deserves that chance. He has been one of the finest captains ever. He has won all major tournaments, got India to the no.1 position in all formats of the game. I think we should not forget his performances," said Azhar in support of the current ODI and T20 captain, who has retired from Test cricket. "It's very hard for me to say. It totally depends on Dhoni, how he feels mentally or how demanding the sport is going to become. We have to give that chance to Dhoni to take the decision on his retirement," the former wristy batsman said.
Telugu Desam president and former Andhra Pradesh chief miniser Chandrababu Naidu has dismissed the entry of former Indian cricket team captain Mohamemd Azharuddin as inconsequential and said that his joining the Congress party will not have any impact on the party.
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali tendered his resignation over presence of tainted paceman Mohammed Aamir in the national training camp but agreed to continue after PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan's intervention.
A watchful first Test century for Azhar Ali took Pakistan to 281 for four at close on the second day of the second Test, on Thursday, and past Sri Lanka's first innings total of 239.
Contradicting himself and his own cabinet colleague, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, one of India's most wanted criminals, has not been arrested and is 'still at large'. Qureshi's remarks came barely an hour-and-half after he accepted the detention of Azhar while speaking to Dawn News channel a little after 9 pm on Wednesday.
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.
Swaraj took up the issue with Wang at a bilateral meeting in Moscow on the sidelines of the Russia-India-China trilateral meeting of their foreign ministers.
Contradicting Defence Minister Chaudhary Mukhtar Ahmad, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik on Wednesday said that Jaish-e-Mohmmad chief Maulana Masood Azhar, one of India's most-wanted terrorists, was not under house arrest and his whereabouts were not known to them."We are looking for him. He is not under house arrest. As far as I know, it (news reports of Azhar's house arrest) is wrong. He is not in Pakistan...We don't know where he is," Malik said.
Pakistan's Azhar Ali and Younus Khan forged a 120-run partnership to stall a rampant Australia on day two of the third and final Test in Sydney on Wednesday after a Peter Handscomb century had helped drive the hosts to 538 for eight declared.
Prachi Desai, meanwhile, has been confirmed in the role of Azhar's first wife Naureen.
Besides the border question, India and China discussed issues related to counterterrorism including Beijing's blocking of India's bid in the United Nations to ban Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said on Thursday.
Centuries by Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq helped Pakistan overhaul New Zealand's total of 274 but a lower-order collapse saw their lead restricted to 74 on day three of the third and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
BJP's ally Shiv Sena was not much impressed with the action, saying it is just usual for Pakistan to take such actions for the sake of it following terror incidents in India.
'Ajit Doval said, "They are threatening us now".'
He said Beijing resorted to this move to allow the 'relevant parties' to reach a consensus.
Jaywant Lele demanded immediate lifting of the ban on the player, saying 'there was no evidence against Azhar'.
India on Wednesday hit out at China for demanding "solid evidence" for getting Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar banned by the United Nations
Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin on Monday slammed the Rising Pune Supergiants management for the manner in which Mahendra Singh Dhoni was removed from captaincy.
If Pakistan allows India to send its investigation team to question Azhar it would take the India-Pakistan camaraderie to a new level, says Rajeev Sharma.
Pakistan have appointed former South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten as head coach of their men's white-ball teams
China on Tuesday maintained that its decision to block the bid to get Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar banned by the United Nations was in accordance with "facts and relevant resolutions"
Days after extending its blockade on India's move to impose a United Nations ban on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, China on Wednesday called for a stronger global response to curb cross-border movement of foreign terrorists.
"Both India and China are victims of terrorism and the region was suffering from the menace. The prime minister said no country is immune from terrorism and on this issue, we cannot afford to have any differences," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters after the meeting.
An illuminating conversation with Chandu Borde, 90, one of India's finest cricketers in the 1960s.
