Coach Bob Woolmer said that England's defeat in the three-day match to the Pakistan A side is a psychological boost for his players.
The Pakistan fast bowler has shaken off a leg injury and been cleared to play in the first Test against England.
Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has been left out of the one-day squad to keep him fresh for next month's tour of India.
Shaharyar Khan blamed participation in a lot of one-dayers for the side's huge loss in the first Test against Australia.
Akhtar refused to shorten his run-up as suggested by the captain and the coach following Pakistan's sluggish over-rate in the first Test.
The veteran wicketkeeper is confident of returning to the team for the next two games of the Paktel Cup.
The Pakistan coach also said that the series is evenly poised after the Mohali fightback.
Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore will not seek an extension to his two-year contract when it expires in February, the Australian has told the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Former Australia player Stuart Law has been confirmed as the Pakistan Cricket Board's first choice for the post of national team chief coach.
Pakistan stalwarts Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq have blamed head coach Waqar Younis for the recent slide in the performances of the national team in ODI and T20 cricket. Younis minced no words at a function in Karachi in blaming Waqar for spreading uncertainty in the team.
Pakistan's former captain and discarded all-rounder Shoaib Malik has said he made a mistake in his career to accept the captaincy of the national team after the 2007 World Cup.
Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has finally broken his silence on his decision to retire abruptly from one-day international last November during the series against England. "It unfortunate I am blamed for the limited over series defeat to England. But one thing is clear I didn't retire abruptly or because of either head coach Waqar Younis or anyone else," Younis said on Geo Super channel. Younis, 37, said he had wanted to retire from ODIs gracefully like he had done from T20 cricket in 2009. He said he was in and out of the ODI team and had to wait for months before he was picked in the team and could retire. "Even where Test cricket is concerned when I feel it is the right time I will announce my retirement. It will be my decision," he added. Younis also declined to comment on statements by Waqar that Younis's sudden retirement on the morning of the first ODI against England upset the team and that he had sat down with Younis and told he could play at any position in all four matches of the series.
'This World Cup is likely to be much more a clash of plans than of talent,' says Devangshu Datta.
Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi will be replaced as Pakistan's T20 captain after the World T20 in India, PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan announced on Monday, while hinting his days as a player were also numbered. PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan told reporters in Lahore on his return from Kolkata on Monday that the board and Afridi had a understanding that he would retire after the World Cup. "He is captain till the World Cup under this understanding and he has said he will retire after the event. Even if he changes his mind and wants to carry on we will have to see whether he can be picked as a player or not," Khan said.
Rajneesh Gupta lists some amazing coincidences in cricket -- a feature guaranteed to amuse you in these anxious times.
Sachin Tendulkar is the sixth Indian to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Statistical highlights on associate member countries defeating Test-playing nations at the 50-over World Cup after Ireland beat West Indies by four wickets in the Pool B match at Nelson, New Zealand on Monday.
From Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, Imran Khan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, these cricketers, among others, etched their names in the annuls of cricketing history with heroic efforts that helped their teams clinch the big prize of One-day cricket. With the 2015 edition of the cricket World Cup starting on February 14, we bring you a brief history of finals from 1975-2011...
The IPL has produced more controversies in its short lifespan than any other sporting league in history.
'Of the 32 captains who have led India in Test cricket, only four have been pure bowlers -- Ghulam Ahmed, Venkatraghavan, Bishan Bedi and myself.' 'The captain must lead with only one idea in mind -- to win the game. The draw mentality is partly because captains lacked confidence and partly because they want to protect their record. If you don't think winning is the point of the game, there is little point in even entering the field.' 'As the Monekygate controversy raged, I received a message from Bishen Bedi, no stranger to controversies himself. "As a captain," he wrote, "take a decision you will be proud of when you look back on history".' Anil Kumble, cricketing legend, on the Art of Captaincy.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances