Pakistan have a strong pace attack for the one-day series against Bangladesh even without banned strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar, captain Shoaib Malik said. Malik said his players are professionals and would not let themselves be distracted by the controversy generated by Shoaib's five-year suspension, handed down last week for repeated indiscipline.
Wicketkeeper Moin Khan was also included in the team but speedster Umar Gul was left out.
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.
Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera struck centuries to lead Sri Lanka to 317 for four on the first day of the second Test on Sunday.
The Pakistan fast bowler was suffering from a "slight niggle" in the back, but is expected to play in Rawalpdini.
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.
Pakistan would continue with the system of central contracts for its players except for those with fitness or bowling action problems
Pakistan lost the one-day series in South Africa 3-1. They also lost the Test series 2-1.
Pakistan included injured fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul in their 15-man squad for next month's World Cup.
Iftikhar will fly out on Wednesday to join the team for the last three ODIs.
Pakistan have lost batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounder Shoaib Malik for the first Test against South Africa.
Tendulkar out in the nineties again Three runs shy of his 42nd century, the Mumbai batsman dragged an Umar Gul delivery onto his stumps and departed for 97 in the fourth ODI against Pakistan in Gwalior. For the sixth time this year, and second in the ongoing series, he was out in the nineties.
The veteran faltered in the nervous nineties for the 13th time in his career when fell for 99 against Pakistan in the second ODI.
Although he did nothing of note in the Twenty20 World Cup final against India on Monday, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi still emerged as the tournament's most valuable player (MVP).
India, who lead the series 2-1, retained the side which won the third one-dayer in Lahore.
Indian team Media Manager G S Walia said the team was given an off day as the members had travelled yesterday and were tired.
Batsman Faisal Iqbal and pace bowler Umar Gul were included in the 16-man squad for the final Test against India, starting on Sunday.
Afridi will captain a 14-man squad for the December 13-21 tournament also involving India and Sri Lanka.\n\n
Opener Phil Jaques scored an unbeaten half-century as Australia 'A' struggled to 120 for six on the opening day of a four-day unofficial Test against.
"There have been problems with his travel schedule and he will not be able to leave before the first test," Saleem Altaf, director of cricket operations, told Reuters.
Pakistan's skipper believes Brian Lara has the charisma and batting form to inspire the West Indies to a series levelling win in the second Test.
Debutant Fawad Alam hit a maiden Test century as Pakistan battled back against Sri Lanka on the second day of the second Test on Monday.
The South Africa-born batsman scored his fifth Test century as England ended Day 1 in the third Test against Pakistan on 347 for 6.
New Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has asked Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul to cut down their run-ups in the one-dayers.
PCB chairman Tauqir Zia's son pulled out of the team as he 'has to prepare for his exams'.
Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh will be among a host of former stars in the India Maharaja team which will take part in the inaugural edition of the Legends League Cricket (LLC), starting on January 20 in Oman.
Pakistan have dropped plans to conduct "major surgery" on the national team as it included senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Test squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh.
Suspended from international cricket for an illegal bowling action, Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal on Friday returned to the national side.
Former opener Gautam Gambhir rated Virat Kohli's stroke-filled 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup as one of the greatest innings from the Indian captain in international cricket. Chasing a big target of 330 in Dhaka, Kohli smashed 183 off just 148 balls, with 22 fours and one six, to guide India to a six-wicket win with 13 balls to spare in the fifth match of the Asia Cup in Dhaka, on March 18, 2012.
'The lack of opportunities here remains the biggest worry.' 'We have seen investment summits, but if you look around, much of it is only on paper and not on the ground.'
Meanwhile, the sports ministry has asked the PCB not to offer a long-term contract to its incumbent director of cricket Mohammad Hafeez yet, who came into the role after the 50-overs World Cup last year.
Former leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed wished Khan "a long and healthy life".
Australia captain Pat Cummins ensured Usman Khawaja, the first Muslim cricketer to play for Australia, was not showered by champagne amid the celebrations after winning the Ashes series.
The trophy for their two Twenty20 matches in the Dubai, starting Thursday, is being dedicated in memory of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, who died last week after being hit on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the fourth One-Day International on Wednesday in the UAE to clinch the ODI series, which is their seventh One-day series win in the year.
Kumar and others, including former JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, were accused of raising anti-India slogans.
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