Mahela Jayawardene was out for just four runs in the first innings of his final Test as Sri Lanka built a platform for a solid first innings total in the second and final match against Pakistan in Colombo, Thursday.
Pakistan will be without leading paceman, Junaid Khan for the series against New Zealand after he was advised to undergo another six weeks of rehabilitation following his knee injury.
The PCB banned Shehzad for violating anti-doping regulations after he tested positive for a prohibited substance in May and his suspension was scheduled to end on November 10.
Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, announcing the World Cup squad and two reserve players, said the 11 from the 2017 Champions Trophy had been retained in the selection process.
Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz will play no further part in the Champions Trophy after suffering an ankle problem during their defeat by arch-rivals India in their Group B clash on Sunday.
The most impressive among the Pakistani pacers, who made life difficult for Indian batsmen, Junaid Khan revealed that the legendary Wasim Akram's inputs about the host batsmen's 'weaknesses' helped him get eight wickets in the just-concluded three-match ODI series.
Pakistan pace bowler Junaid Khan has turned down some attractive offers to play for English counties this summer as he wants to put all his energy in preparing well for the Champions Trophy, a tournament his side has never won.
Sri Lanka recovered from losing opener Upul Tharanga to reach 99 for one in reply to Pakistan's 451 at close on the second day of the first Test on Thursday.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has said the pace trio of Umar Gul, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan played a crucial role in Pakistan's first ODI series win in India since 2004-05.
Wrecked by Pakistani seamers in their opening ODI match, India's under-fire cricketers will have to pull themselves up against the arch rivals when they clash in a must-win second cricket One-dayer, in Kolkata, on Wednesday with the form of their top-order batsmen a concern.
Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has heaped praise on Junaid Khan, saying the young left-arm pacer has the traits of becoming someone like legendary seamer Wasim Akram.
Pakistan's speed merchants Mohammed Irfan, Junaid Khan and senior pro Umar Gul went full throttle at the team's nets session on Tuesday as they bowled aiming at one stump under watchful eyes of bowling coach Mohammed Akram.
The Kerala government has taken a serious view of an incident in which a Pakistan national allegedly violated visa rules and acted in an advertisement film shot at the high-security Info Park in Kochi in June.
Sri Lanka duo Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara shared a double-century partnership before Pakistan hit back by grabbing three late wickets on the fourth day of the second Test on Tuesday.
The team includes four Pakistanis, three Indians, three Englishmen and one Bangladeshi, with Kane Williamson of New Zealand as 12th man.
Zimbabwe are still in with a chance of an upset victory, but Pakistan appeared in control at close on the fourth day of the second Test in Harare on Friday. Pakistan, needing 264 for victory, finished on 158 for five.
The Pakistan spinners got in on the act after pace duo Umar Gul and Junaid Khan ripped through the Sri Lankan top order to bundle out the tourists for 239 in their first innings on day one of the second Test on Wednesday.
Hashim Amla notched his 20th Test century but three wickets for 34-year-old debutant Zulfiqar Babar allowed Pakistan to restrict South Africa to 245 for eight on the opening day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
In a fresh blow to the Pakistan cricket team, fast bowler Junaid Khan is likely to be banned for suspect action. According to Basit Ali, former Pakistani batsman and cricket analyst, Junaid's action is objectionable.
The trio will replace Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan and Abid Ali after selectors spoke with skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed and coach Mickey Arthur following Pakistan's 4-0 defeat by England in their recent ODI series.
He has been dropped from Pakistan's World Cup squad due to injury but pacer Sohail Tanvir insists he is fit to play and should have been retained in the side for the quadrennial event starting February 19 in the sub-continent.
Sohail Tanvir was on Wednesday, dropped from Pakistan's World Cup squad after being declared unfit by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
England opener Jonny Bairstow says batting alongside Australian swashbuckler David Warner during a successful Indian Premier League helped raise his game.
Tharoor described what is meant by inclusive India and in course of that slammed violence in the name of religion. He said that Tabrez Ansari was beaten up mercilessly and was forced to chant Jai Shree Ram. "This is an insult of Hindu dharma and of Lord Rama that someone uses His name to kill another person," he said.
After earning a surprise call to the World Cup squad, rookie Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan cannot stop thinking about bowling to Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and getting him out.
Pakistan's left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir has been ruled out of the World Cup after failing to completely recover from a knee problem and will be replaced in the squad by promising youngster Junaid Khan.
Debutant fast bowler Bilawal Bhatti dismissed experienced duo Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in consecutive deliveries as Pakistan strengthened their hold on the first Test against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
England have by far been the best team in the tournament.
World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan has been named mentor of Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi. The former pace ace, who is now chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, a political party, returns to cricket after a break of over two decades.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani said that the Sri Lankan delegation will visit the grounds and hotels where the teams will stay in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad besides meeting the board, police and security officials.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that left-arm paceman, Rahat Ali would be replacing injured fast bowler Junaid Khan in Pakistan's World Cup final squad.
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.
Pakistan's most accomplished batsman Younus Khan completed an unbeaten double century on Friday to turn the course of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. At the close Zimbabwe, set 342 for victory when Pakistan declared their second innings closed at 419 for nine, were 13 for one after Tino Mawoyo was dismissed lbw for two by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
'My father's dreams for me were connected to cricket.'
'I knew if I did well in cricket, his soul would rest in peace.'
A dispute with Pakistan players over their central contracts is not affecting the team's preparations for the World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday.
Kamran Akmal, the leading run scorer in the Pakistan Super League, is left out of the 15-strong squad after scoring just 68 runs in three ODIs against the West Indies earlier this month.
Jonny Bairstow's magnificent century helped England make light work of chasing down a whopping 359-run target to beat Pakistan by six wickets in the third one-day international.
Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes produced a record 273-run partnership in an unbroken opening stand to help Bangladesh whittle down Pakistan's huge lead to 23 runs at the close of the penultimate day of the opening Test at Khulna on Friday.
Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup with a calf muscle injury, an official of the country's cricket board told Reuters on Sunday.
Zimbabwe completed only their 11th Test victory with a dramatic 24-run win over Pakistan at Harare Sports club on Saturday to draw the series 1-1.
