Virat Kohli remained the highest-placed Indian batsman at fourth even as Shikhar Dhawan rose a rung to sixth in the latest ICC ODI rankings.
BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of an Indo-Pak bilateral series stating that no such series is scheduled in Futures Tours & Programme (FTP) calender. "In the FTP, we had a series planned in 2015 but there is no series planned in 2016 against Pakistan. India will be playing against them in Asia Cup and the World T20 since they are multinational tournaments. And India has been playing them for many years," Thakur told the media.
A defiant fifth-wicket stand of 74 between Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq ensured Pakistan secured a draw in the second Test against New Zealand on Friday to maintain a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
With none of the senior players keen on batting at the number three slot, the Pakistan cricket camp is in a quandary over who to send in the crucial position during the second Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday in Wellington.
South Africa will have to dig deep if they are to avoid defeat in the first Test after being reduced to 72 for four wickets in their second innings, still trailing Pakistan by 121 runs, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Younus Khan led Pakistan's fightback with a dogged century after the hosts made a terrible start to the first Test against Australia in Dubai on Wednesday. After opting to bat first, Pakistan put up 219 for four wickets at stumps on the first day, with captain Misbah-ul-haq (34) and Asad Shafiq (9) at the crease.
Pakistan clinched a second consolation victory in the fifth and final one-day international against Sri Lanka on Sunday but the hosts still won the series 3-2.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat against India in their Asia Cup ODI.
Pakistan fought back from a precarious position to beat Afghanistan by 72 runs, and also claim a bonus point, in the Asia Cup match in Fatullah on Thursday. Thanks to wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal, who scored an unbeaten 102 off 89 balls, they were able to recover from 117 for six inside 30 overs and put up a solid 248 for 8. In reply, minnows Afghanistan were dismissed for 176 in 47.2 overs. A look at the statistical highlights from the match.
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.
Citing the incident of Shiv Sena activists storming the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai protesting against the resumption of bilateral cricket series between the arch-rivals, the ICC President Zaheer Abbas said he feared for Pakistan players' security during the World T20 in India next year.
ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson on Wednesday made it clear that international cricket can return to Pakistan only after the security situation improves in the country. Richardson was speaking at a press conference held after he presented the ICC Test Championship mace to Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq at the Gaddafi stadium here for bagging the number one position in the ICC rankings.
Kamran Akmal smashed an unbeaten century to lift Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over Australia in the final one-day match in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Akmal cracked 116 off 115 balls to help his side overhaul Australia's 250 for four with three overs to spare, denying the touring side a fourth successive win in a series played in the UAE due to security concerns in Pakistan.
Shahid Afridi returned a career-best haul of six wickets to guide Pakistan to a comfortable four-wicket win over Australian in the first of five one-day internationals in Dubai on Wednesday. The experienced leg-spinner, subtly varying his pace on a slow turning wicket, ripped through the Australian middle order as the visitors collapsed to 168 all out after a solid start. Pakistan made hard work of reaching a modest target before sealing victory in the 45th over.
Pakistan players may get a chance to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season as a few of the franchises are keen on having their Pakistani sign-ups to play for them. Sources close to the players say at least four Pakistani players including Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal could be in line to play for their old franchises in the IPL which is likely to be held in either England or South Africa after being shifted from India.
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field against Pakistan in the rain-delayed opening match.
The top order of the Bangalore Royal Challengers clicked in unison as Rahul Dravid's men chalked out a five-wicket win with one over to spare against lowly Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League battle between the laggards in Hyderabad on Sunday. With this win, the Bangalore side avoided the ignominy of finishing last in the IPL, while the Deccan Chargers could not avoid the wooden spoon.
Younis Khan's superb 218 put Pakistan in a strong position before they picked up four England wickets to take complete control on the third day of the fourth and final Test at The Oval on Saturday.
India are all set to drop a rung to sixth in the ICC Test rankings, replaced by arch-rivals Pakistan in the fifth position.
'It's always a pleasure to come here and challenge ourselves against a very, very good team' 'We are concentrating on our strengths and jobs. If we execute them well, it will be a challenging series'R
Australia's Shane Watson and Pakistani batsmen Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul Haq will be among 25 internationals who will figure in a second players' auction of the lucrative Indian Premier League on Tuesday. During the closed door auction, teams will be allowed to use their unspent budget to buy new players and finalise squads before a 30-day deadline.
Shane Watson has roared back to his classy best.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat in the Twenty20 World Cup first semi-final in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday.
The West Indies Cricket Board has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to work for a "mutually agreeable solution" over its demand for 26.2 million pounds as compensation for the former's decision to abandon its tour to India.
Pacemen Rao Iftikhar and Umar Gul took seven wickets to overshadow Chris Gayle's brilliant hundred as Pakistan beat the West Indies by 31 runs in the third one-dayer to wrap up a 3-0 series whitewash on Sunday.
Gazi Misbah-ud-Din, the operational commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and Muzaffar Ahmad alias Tajamul, divisional commander of the outfit were arrested over the past two days.
Pakistan jumped three places to third in the ICC Test Championship table following the seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final Test in Pallekele on Tuesday.
"If their regular combination doesn't play we will definitely get some psychological advantage," Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul Haq told reporters on Saturday.
Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has dismissed reports about a move by some senior players to oust him from the skipper's job.
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.
Former batting great Sunil Gavaskar believes India and Pakistan must start a dialogue to pave the way for the revival of regular matches between India and Pakistan.
Former captain Javed Miandad has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board not to send a team in next year's World T20 in India if the BCCI does not agree to the proposed bilateral series in December.
Kane Williamson's assured unbeaten 70 guided New Zealand to a comfortable four-wicket win over Pakistan in the second One-Day International in Sharjah on Friday to level the series at 1-1.
'People tell me to forget, but it is something to learn from.' 'A couple of seconds can change your life completely.'
James Hopes and Misbah-ul Haq led the list of 14 players signed up in the second 'auction' for the IPL.
Pakistan posted 347 for 5 and then restricted the visitors to 243 for 7 in 50 overs.
Pakistan show rare consistency to scale T20 summit
Pakistan pacer Umar Gul failed to impress the national selectors in his comeback bid.
They have instead recalled batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, all rounder Yasir Arafat and included youngster Fawad Alam in the 15-member party.
Younis Khan is willing to captain the national team after clarifying certain issues with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
