The Pakistani fast bowler, who was recalled from the Twenty20 World Cup on disciplinary grounds, is no stranger to controversy.
Pakistan's hopes of an automatic World Cup qualification got tougher after plummeted to their lowest-ever rating of 86 following their five-match ODI series loss against England.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hopes international cricket will soon return to the country as he celebrated the team's climb to the top of the test rankings by being awarded the ceremonial mace to mark the achievement on Tuesday.
The former India fast bowler will make his debut as the latest member of the Emirates Elite Panel of match referees when he takes charge of the Test series later this month.
Pakistan have already lost fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for the four-Test series because of an ankle stress fracture.
The Pakistan leg spinner has been ordered to remain as fresh as possible for his country's tours to Sri Lanka and England.
India gained three points to move from sixth to fifth, replacing Sri Lanka.
India may be way behind Australia in the Test rankings, but the World Cup holders are just 0.2 points behind the top-of-the-table Kangaroos in the ODI rankings. According to the latest ICC rankings, Australia and India are on 117 rating points and the scores will only be settled in the upcoming tri-series involving the two teams and England, starting January 18 next year.
Victory over Australia on Saturday will lift India to third place.
Pakistan's strength has undoubtedly been their bowling and no side has managed to score over 200 against them.
Undefeated India, England, Pakistan and host Bangladesh will start as favourites when the Super League quarter-finals of the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup 2016 are played from 5 to 8 February in Mirpur and Fatullah. These four teams topped their respective groups in the preliminary league with an all-win record, displaying all-round strengths good enough to take any one of them all the way to the title. Sri Lanka and the West Indies, the other two Test nations in the last eight, will also fancy their chances even as qualifiers Namibia and Nepal look to make a mark against the bigger teams. There is a strong possibility of arch-rivals India and Pakistan facing-off in the semi-final (On February 11), if both the teams win their respective quarterfinal matches. India meets minnows Namibia in Fatullah on Saturday, while Pakistan faces a comparatively difficult task against the West Indies on Monday at the same venue.
Consistent death bowling from a Bumrah and spinners picking up wickets in the middle overs is why the average run-rate in the last few years hasn't exploded the way one would have expected, says Dhruv Munjal.
Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer backed under-fire limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying the time has not yet come to write him off, in Kolkata, on Monday.
Statistical highlights of the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan, at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Sunday.
The commercial prospects of day-night Tests, however, have not been lost on the world's richest cricket board and it announced last month it would host a floodlit Test against New Zealand when the Black Caps tour later this year.
Pakistan cricket has got more bad news ahead of the World Cup after all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez failed to clear the informal bio-mechanics test in Chennai.
Seeking to capitalise on its financial clout, the BCCI is set to demand a greater share of the profit from the revenues generated by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Board of Control for Cricket in India's secretary Sanjay Patel on Tuesday confirmed that the demand for a great share of the revenue earned by the International Cricket Council had been made by India.
Just 54 people turned up on the first day of an England-Pakistan Test a few weeks ago.
India will launch their World Cup title defence against traditional rivals Pakistan in Adelaide on February 15 and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his side is capable of adapting and performing in any condition.
Henry Blofeld, who charmed the cricket world for more than 40 years, bids farewell to the microphone come September. Haresh Pandya salutes the Master.
Statistical highlights from the day's play
Penpix of the Afghanistan squad for the 2015 cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances