Captain Aaron Finch scored a century as Australia beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the opening One-Day International between the countries at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. Chasing 281 to win, the tourists reached their target with an over to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, with Finch making 116 and Shaun Marsh unbeaten on 91.
'No one knows Pak and understands Pak better than China,' Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
'We will have to convince the world that Pakistan has nothing to do with the terrorism,' Asif said.
'It's a long series, our bowlers have had a really big workload and we feel we're going to need Mitch's bowling at some point.'
England completed a crushing 347-run victory over Australia with a day to spare in the second Ashes Test on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Australia's selectors have responded to the threat of a first ever Test series sweep on home soil by dropping five players from their squad for the third match against South Africa, which begins in Adelaide on Thursday. Joe Burns, Adam Voges and Callum Ferguson, as well as wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, paid the price for a string of batting collapses, while seamer Joe Mennie was also axed after the innings defeat in the second Test in Hobart.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday halted a probe by the government's anti-graft watchdog against the chief justice's son, who was accused of receiving over Rs 342 million from a real estate tycoon to influence cases, and ordered formation of a commission to investigate the matter.
The government will not spare those who issued threats to Kashmiri girl band, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdulhah on Thursday said, but maintained there was no need for legal action against the grand mufti who issued Fatwa terming singing as un-Islamic.
With the four-Test series against India around the corner, Shane Watson will look to touch up his batting skills at international level following his inclusion in Australia's 13-member One-Day side for the next two matches against the West Indies.
Katich is confident that their captain Dinesh Karthik will once again excel in his designated finisher's role
Since the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, Australia's on-field histrionics had been toned down under the leadership of the wicketkeeper-captain.
India captain Virat Kohli, on Sunday, criticised the Decision Review System, saying 'it is not consistent at all and becoming a talking point in every game'.
Australia have named the following 17-man squad for the five-Test Ashes series against England, which begins at Edgbaston on Aug. 1.
Paceman Mitchell Starc retains his place in the side despite what was perceived to be a sub-par performance in Adelaide, and will be looking for a strong performance in conditions which are expected to favour his skills at the new Perth Stadium.
Australia coach Justin Langer said that England are obviously the red-hot favourites going into the World Cup and said the team deserves to be the number one team in the world.
The 21-year-old is now level with Englishman Jack Russell (vs South Africa at Johannesburg in 1995) and South Africa's AB de Villiers (vs Pakistan at Johannesburg in 2013).
Dashing Australian opener David Warner took to instagram to announce the birth of his second child, a daughter with wife Candice. The daughter has been named Indi Rae. Warner and Candice have a 16-month old daughter named Ivy Mae. The proud father posted pictures of the newborn Instagram along with the mother and elder daughter. "@candywarner1 and I welcomed beautiful little Indi Rae Warner into the world this morning. Mum was absolutely amazing. #prouddaddy," Warner posted.
Aaron Finch has been dumped as Australia's captain in the shorTest form of the game and replaced by Test skipper Steve Smith just a month before the start of the World Twenty20.
Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques is in line for his first Test in three years after being named in the squad for their three-match tour of Sri Lanka in July and August.
Batsman Shaun Marsh and all-rounder James Faulkner have been ruled out of Australia's limited overs tour of South Africa, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.
Wade could get a look in as Australia bring Handscomb; Stoinis fit for semi-final
The five-times World Cup winners face the tournament hosts to decide who will meet the winner of the first semi-final between India and New Zealand in Manchester on Tuesday.
'If he's looking to hit the ball and not leave the ball like he is I think he'd be fine'
Australia's players will boycott an 'A' team tour of South Africa later this month unless a new pay deal is struck with Cricket Australia beforehand, the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) said on Sunday.
Langer's side secured their spot in the last four with a 64-run win over hosts England at Lord's on Tuesday and return to the famous north London ground on Saturday to face neighbours New Zealand in their penultimate round-robin tie.
