Lahore (Pakistan) – Paceman Mohammad Amir was set to make his return to the Pakistan team after being selected on Friday for an upcoming series in New Zealand, months after completing a five-year spot-fixing ban. Mohammad Amir practises in the nets in Lahore on December 29, 2015 © AFP Arif Ali His inclusion in the Twenty20 and one-day international squads remains contingent on him being issued a visa by Wellington…
Graeme Smith called in to help South Africa
Cape Town – Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith has linked up with the South African team as an adviser ahead of the second Test against England which starts at Newlands on Saturday. “Graeme Smith was a wonderful cricketer for South Africa and a wonderful captain,” says current captain Hashim Amla © AFP/File Ian Kington “Graeme was a wonderful cricketer for South Africa and a wonderful captain,” said current captain Hashim…
Pakistan coach excited over Amir return
Karachi – Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis expressed excitement Thursday over the imminent return of Mohammad Amir following a five-year ban for spot-fixing. Pakistani cricketers Mohammad Amir (R) was charged with accepting money in exchange for arranging deliberate no-balls during a Test match at Lord’s in England in 2010 © AFP/File Arif Ali Amir, 23, is favourite to get the selectors’ nod for a tour of New Zealand, where Pakistan…
Nelson wicket has New Zealand, Sri Lanka in a spin
Nelson (New Zealand) – New Zealand were paying close attention to the Saxton Oval wicket on New Year’s Day amid suggestions it could offer spin for Saturday’s crucial fourth one-dayer against Sri Lanka. New Zealand wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi (L) attempts to run out Danushka Gunathilaka of Sri Lanka during the 3rd One Day International cricket match at Saxton Oval in Nelson on December 31, 2015 © AFP Marty Melville Another…
S. Africa’s Amla faces pressure in second England Test
Cape Town – South African captain Hashim Amla will be under pressure in the second Test against England, starting at Newlands on Saturday. Hashim Amla will be under pressure in the second Test against England, starting at Newlands on Saturday © AFP/File Marco Longari Amla and South Africa have not produced a single convincing Test performance since defeating a weak West Indies team at the same venue in the 2015…
Revived Sri Lanka turn tables in New Zealand ODI
Nelson (New Zealand) – A cracking 91 by Tillakaratne Dilshan set Sri Lanka up for an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Nelson on Thursday to keep their one-day series alive. Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka takes the catch of New Zealand’s Martin Guptill during their 3rd One Day Int’l match, at Saxton Oval in Nelson, on December 31, 2015 © AFP Marty Melville Sri Lanka knocked off their 277-run…
Ashes 2015 review: Memories of a golden summer of cricket
Lord’s was under a state of siege. The game seemed to be in meltdown. England had clumsily sacked the coach and controversially ended the international career, again, of their most illustrious player. A few days earlier the team had returned from a Test tour of the Caribbean with their tail between their legs. The 1-1 draw that they contrived against a weak West Indies followed a World Cup in which…
England take bold option with Alex Hales and Zafar Ansari included in squad for Pakistan Test series in UAE
Of all England’s difficult assignments this year, none is more taxing than their imminent tour to the desert. There will be times in the United Arab Emirates while playing Pakistan when they will fondly recall the Ashes as a cakewalk and look forward gleefully to facing the world No 1 might of South Africa. The squads announced for the next leg of this relentless year of Test series (almost all…
England vs Pakistan: Alex Hales and Zafar Ansari named in squad to tour UAE as opener Adam Lyth is left out
England have selected uncapped pair Alex Hales and Zafar Ansari for the forthcoming Test series against Pakistan. Both men have been named in a 16-man squad for the three-match series in the United Arab Emirates, which begins next month. Nottinghamshire opener Hales has been picked ahead of Adam Lyth, the Yorkshire batsman who played all seven Tests this summer but struggled badly for form during the Ashes, while Surrey all-rounder…
County round-up: Zafar Ansari lifts Surrey title hopes with timely 99
While the England selectors were meeting to pick their squad to face Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, Zafar Ansari yesterday chose a timely moment to underline his case for a call-up, missing out by just one run on what would have been a second century of the season as Surrey advanced their attempt to pip Lancashire to the Second Division title. The 23-year-old all-rounder is a contender as both…