Three-man appellate tribunal arrives at verdict

Shoaib's five-year ban upheld

Cricinfo staff

April 30, 2008

	Shoaib Akhtar arrives at to hear the outcome of his appeal © AFP

Shoaib Akhtar's international future was left dangling in limbo after the appellate tribunal set up to hear his appeal against a five-year ban upheld the ban, but only temporarily, deciding instead to revisit the appeal in June.

The decision is given an even stranger hue because it allows Shoaib to play outside Pakistan - the Indian Premier League (IPL) for example - even though the league maintains that he will only be allowed to play if his ban on playing for Pakistan is removed.

Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh, the head of the three-man tribunal, said the main hearing into Shoaib's appeal against the ban would now take place in June and that the ban on playing in or for Pakistan would stay in place until then.

"We have seen Shoaib's track record and believe that he has not learnt any lesson. He flouted discipline of the board, he harmed the chairman of the board and fellow cricketers and above all sentiments of the nation," Farrukh said.

"We considered every aspect of the decision of the disciplinary committee and think that they banned Akhtar on grounds of indiscipline and there was no victimisation."

There had been concerns from day one of the appeals process, particularly because Farrukh had expressed great reluctance in heading the tribunal. Soon after he was appointed, Farrukh told a local TV channel that he didn't have the time to take up this case, a situation seemingly borne out by today's verdict.

Meanwhile, Shoaib's position with the IPL remains unclear. While the PCB clarified that he is free to play in the IPL, a league spokesperson told Cricinfo that their position of not allowing him to take part in the tournament "remains the same" as of now. The IPL had decided to bar Shoaib from the tournament in "the interests of international discipline" after the PCB's initial decision to hand him a ban. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Kolkata Knight Riders, the team that bought Shoaib for US$425,000, said they will abide by the IPL stand.

To further muddy matters, Shoaib's lawyers have said they will push for a hearing date earlier than June if the IPL doesn't let him play. "After this interim order we hope that the IPL will allow Akhtar to play in the IPL but if they don't we will press for an early hearing of the appeal than the set date of June," Abid Hasan Minto told reporters.

With both international cricket and the IPL ruled out, one option for Shoaib would have been the Indian Cricket League. The unofficial league does not fall under the Indian board - and has an all- Pakistan team in its Twenty20 tournament. However, its business head, Himanshu Mody, confirmed to Cricinfo that the ICL was not in talks with Shoaib.

The tribunal's decision comes just a day after Shoaib apologised to the PCB chairman, Nasim Ashraf, in the second of three hearings.

On April 1 the board banned Shoaib from playing cricket, for and in Pakistan, for violating the players' code of conduct by publicly criticising the PCB and various policies. Shoaib filed an appeal against the ban claiming that he was being "victimised" and then went on a media rampgage in which he accused the board chairman of various financial wrongdoings. Shoaib's ban took into account that he was already on two years' probation for hitting Mohammad Asif with a bat before the start of the World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007. That offence saw him fined 3.4 million rupees ($52,000 dollars) and banned for 13 matches.

© Cricinfo

Pakistan v Bangladesh, 3rd ODI, Lahore

Akmal and Butt set up 23-run victory

The Bulletin by Jamie Alter

April 13, 2008

Pakistan 308 for 8 (Butt 132, Akmal 100) beat Bangladesh 285 for 7 (Shakib 75, Tamim 63, Aftab 42) by 23 runs

	Kamran Akmal made his first fifty-plus score since May 2007 a special effort, and that helped seal the series win © AFP

A total of 309, disappointing given that Pakistan had been 151 for 0 in the 23rd over, ultimately proved sufficient as they wrapped up the series with a 23-run win over Bangladesh. The bulk of the total came from centurions Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt, one trailblazing and the other smoothing over some middle-order cracks.

Tamim Iqbal and Aftab Ahmed's sparkling approach to a daunting target and Shakib Al Hasan's 75 with the lower order kept visions of a memorable chase under satisfactory lights at the Gaddafi Stadium flickering but it all proved a bit quixotic as Shahid Afridi snapped up two wickets in the 46th over to end their hopes.

Promoted to open in the absence of an injured Nasir Jamshed, Akmal teed off with a manic 81-ball 100 before Butt rounded off with a more measured and career-best 132. From 17 in seven overs Pakistan went to 51 from ten and after the completion of the Powerplays they were 132, thanks largely to Akmal's belligerence. Given lives on 1 and 19 he revved up the pace after a watchful start with three consecutive fours in the eighth over.

He took a particular liking to Abdur Razzak, making room to cut square of the pitch repeatedly as he reached fifty off 43 balls. Razzak continued to struggle for length and with no assistance from the surface Akmal milked runs. His timing only improved as he trained his attention towards Farhad Reza, smacking three fours in one over. A fourth hundred came shortly afterwards and was raucously cheered by a sparse crowd - 70 runs had come in boundaries - but Akmal remained on 100. Backing away once too many in an attempt to steer spin away cheekily, he was bowled by Mahmudullah. It was his first score of fifty or more in just shy of a year.

Pakistan's total should have been sizably larger but Bangladesh pulled matters back superbly with three more wickets in six overs. Butt stuck around to ensure a superb platform wasn't entirely squandered, scoring his fifth ODI hundred and first against anyone but India. Butt has often stepped on the accelerator early in his innings but today he kept up one end tightly. His shots remained positive while his footwork minimal and it paid off on a track without much spin. There were few boundaries along the way but Butt scored at a healthy clip and eased to his hundred.

Here Bangladesh, through their pace bowlers, hit back again to limit the damage in the last ten overs efficiently with four wickets for 72 runs, Pakistan basically crawling past 300. Tamim and Aftab shrugged off a watchful first few overs, during which Pakistan drew first blood with the wicket of Shahriar Nafees, to add 90 in 13 overs. Tamim's shots were almost all power and beauty and no crude hoicks. The two Sohails, Tanvir and Khan, didn't allow any free runs with the new ball and Tamim made room to carve the ball through extra cover or drill it straight. His driving was especially eye-pleasing as he kept the run rate at bay and his fifty came up from 52 balls.

However, a bullet piece of fielding from Fawab Alam at third man cut Tamim short on 63 and Aftab's repeated attempts at reverse-sweeping proved his downfall after a perky 42, with Akmal holding onto a simple catch. Mohammad Ashraful succeeded in running himself out for 16 and it left much for Shakib and the lower order to do under a burgeoning run rate. They didn't throw in the towel, refreshingly. With ten overs to go, 103 needed, and six wickets in hands Bangladesh had a sniff as Shakib and Mahmudullah (24) combined for to add 59.

Shakib top-scored with a plucky 75 that limited the margin of defeat, highlighted by some fine inside-out shots against Alam and some great running. It helped Bangladesh past their previous best against Pakistan, 245, but as the asking rate kissed 13 a truly fine knock came to an end with a paddle against Afridi, whose double-wicket over properly ended the chase. Mortaza and Dhiman Ghosh took 19 off the 47th over from Iftikhar Anjum to rattle Pakistan a bit and Bangladesh's 285 was their best against quality opposition. Sadly, the series's most compelling match was watched by a threadbare crowd. With two games to go the hosts may well ring in some changes with bigger challenges to come this season.

Jamie Alter is a staff writer at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

Shoaib Akhtar banned for five years for violating discipline

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board has banned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar from playing cricket for five years on Tuesday for violating the players' code of conduct while it has been decided to give warning to leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. These decisions were announced by Dr. Naism Ashraf, chairman Pakistan Cricket Board during a news conference in Islamabad. He said that Shoaib Akhtar violated the PCB’s code of conduct for 14 to 15 times during the last few years. He further said that in October last year, a fine of Rs.3,400,000 and a ban on playing 13 matches was imposed on him for violating the code of conduct and the PCB had decided that Shoaib Akhtar may be banned for life if he further violates discipline. The PCB chairman told that the disciplinary committee, after hearing the cases of Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria, has recommended to give a warning to Danish Kaneria and impose a five year-ban on Shoaib Akthar. Dr. Nasim Ashraf told that due to this ban Shoaib Akhtar would be ineligible to play in Pakistan or to play for Pakistan anywhere else in the world but the Board would have no objection if he plays cricket anywhere in the world except Pakistan. Regarding his playing for IPL cricket, Nasim Ashraf said that this would be decided by the IPL administration. The PCB chairman said that Shoaib Akhtar has the right to appeal against the decision. Regarding the decision of just warning Danish Kaneria, Dr. Nasim Ashraf said that since this was Kaneria's first offense on discipline, this was decided to severely reprimand him.

Courtesy Geo

Pakistan urge Sri Lanka to fill Australia gap

KARACHI: Pakistan are asking to Sri Lanka to help fill their scheduling gap after Australia shelved a planned tour over security fears, an official said Wednesday. Pakistan want Sri Lanka to visit in the second half of April after Bangladesh agreed to play earlier in the month. Australia were due to tour from March 29 to April 29. "Sri Lankan Board's president Arjuna Ranatunga is coming to Pakistan on Thursday and I hope that he will agree to send his team for a one-day series," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf said. Bangladesh will play five one-day matches next month here, Ashraf added. Sri Lanka are touring the West Indies until April 15. Ashraf also brushed off doubts over Pakistan's hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy in September and the Asia Cup in June and July. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Pakistan will host the elite Champions Trophy from September 11-28. But it named Sri Lanka as an alternative venue in case Pakistan is not cleared on security issues. "ICC is sending an advanced party to Pakistan on Thursday which will assess facilities and security in Pakistan and we hope to host the event in a befitting manner," Ashraf said. Separately, an Asian Cricket Council delegation is in Pakistan and will announce the dates and venues for the Asian Cup in Lahore on Thursday. "We have unequivocal confirmation from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong to come for the Asia Cup," said Ashraf. Ashraf also said he held meetings with Cricket Australia (CA) chief Creagh O'Conner in Dubai and hoped that the postponed Australia series will be rescheduled very soon. CA has invited the PCB chairman to visit Australia to fix new dates for the tour. Australia's tour had been in doubt for months amid questions about security following a series of major blasts and serious political upheaval.

Courtesy Geo

Pakistan v Zimbabwe, 5th ODI, Sheikhupura

Pakistan complete clean sweep

The Bulletin by Kanishkaa Balachandran

February 2, 2008

Pakistan 187 for 3 (Younis 63, Manzoor 50) beat Zimbabwe 181 (Taylor 49, Chigumbura 34, Rauf 3-45) by seven wickets

	Younis Khan's 63 off 51 balls led Pakistan's run-chase in Sheikhupura © AFP

The win was set up by Pakistan's sprightly young bunch - which included four debutants - who showed exemplary commitment in the field to keep Zimbabwe in check for much of their innings. The overcast conditions were tailor-made, it seemed, even for Pakistan's untested seam-bowling attack, and Hamilton Masakadza's decision to bat first was perplexing. After a top order wobble, Zimbabwe were lifted by a rearguard from Elton Chigumbura and Brendan Taylor, but couldn't sustain the momentum as Pakistan quickly clawed back to shoot them out for a woefully inadequate score.

Sharp reflexes - a refreshing change from earlier games - handed Pakistan their early wickets as Abdur Rauf managed to hang on to a low return catch, literally off his toes. Debutant Rizwan Ahmed's athleticism contributed to the next two wickets, first running out Vusi Sibanda with a fiery throw to the wicketkeeper from deep backward square-leg, and then holding onto a stunner to his left at cover to send back Tatenda Taibu. Wahab Riaz, one among an assembly line of left-arm quicks in this series, was the beneficiary for the second, a wicket in his first international over.

As the sun disappeared behind the clouds and the mercury dipped in Sheikhupura's first international match for nearly a decade, the situation got worse as Zimbabwe lost half their side before the halfway stage. Chigumbura and Taylor, however, buckled down and produced a stand of 85, against the run of play. Pakistan allowed the game to drift a little as bowlers were made to pay each time they erred. The boundaries were interspersed with intelligent running and before anyone knew it, the pair had added fifty.

Taylor, who's had an inconsistent series with the bat, punished anything on full while Chigumbura, a proven allrounder, took on Fawad Alam's left-arm spin and punished anything full and wide outside off stump, unfurling forceful drives. Rizwan, the legspinner, excelled in the field but had a forgettable debut with the ball as the pair feasted on his half-trackers.

	Wahab Riaz had figures of 8-3-19-2 on debut © AFP

But just when a lower-order revival threatened to push the score over 200, the spinners struck back, breaking up the stand. Thereafter Rauf returned to clean up the last two wickets with inswinging yorkers to end the innings with over four overs to spare.

Zimbabwe's attack lacked the sting and pace to cause Pakistan any trouble. Nasir Jamshed threw his wicket away early when the going was good, but Younis and Manzoor were determined not to miss out.

Manzoor was impressive, the bridge between domestic and international cricket seemingly invisible as he sized up his first ball with a firm backfoot punch to the cover point boundary. Busy at the crease, he was particularly strong with his bottom hand, unfurling another punch on the hop, this time beating the covers.

But Manzoor soon took a backseat as Younis arrived and the chase progressed at pace. Chigumbura suffered as Younis announced himself with a punchy square drive and then blazed three consecutive boundaries in his next over, immediately after the second Powerplay began. Each was classic improvisation, beginning with a scorching square drive, following it up with a straight six after exposing all stumps on the walk, and then ending with a biff over midwicket.

Younis didn't slow down once the spinners came on. Ray Price was welcomed with a reverse sweep and Keith Dabengwa's long hops were bludgeoned to the on side. He soon brought up his fifty with a sweep to fine leg. Manzoor, meanwhile, was providing solid support.

Both looked set to see Pakistan through, before recklessness set in. Younis fell slogging, while Manzoor was cleaned up sweeping across the line, just after reaching his half-century. By that stage, however, the deal had been sealed as Pakistan, after four unconvincing victories, ended on a high before taking on the Australians.

Kanishkaa Balachandran is a staff writer at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

Pakistan v Zimbabwe, 4th ODI, Faisalabad

Malik and Yousuf power Pakistan win

The Bulletin by Osman Samiuddin in Faisalabad

January 30, 2008

Pakistan 245 for 3 (Yousuf 108*, Malik 88) beat Zimbabwe 244 (Taibu 51, Malik 3-55) by seven wickets

	Zimbabwe struck early in Pakistan's innings but Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf steered their team to victory © AFP

A hundred from Mohammad Yousuf and a fine all-round performance by Shoaib Malik led Pakistan to a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Yousuf and Malik put on 141 for the third wicket to steer Pakistan's chase, with Yousuf's 14th century the first in what has been a horribly one-sided Mobilink Cup. Malik's 88 added to the three wickets he took earlier to restrict Zimbabwe to 244.

The pair came together after Pakistan's newbie openers had gone by the 15th over. Malik had already settled by then, returning to the one-down role he had once made his own, with Younis Khan resting. He averages over 40 from 34 innings at No.3 and it was immediately easy to see why so many argue for him to move up the order. He was off the mark immediately, clipping off his toes for four and in the next over he drove and cut Gary Brent for a couple more.

Soon after, he twice cut Elton Chigumbura and then did likewise to Brent five overs later. Having grabbed the initiative then and with no real pressure, Malik's calculating approach came out, as he dabbed and nudged runs for fun. A swift fifty was brought up, and though he lofted Ray Price over the boundary and welcomed Hamilton Masakadza with a brace of boundaries soon after, he was more than happy to play second fiddle.

Yousuf, meanwhile, began regally, picking up singles when he felt like it and only occasionally breaking sweat to find the boundary. It seemed for a while as if he wasn't even there, at least until a late dab to third man in the 27th over brought up the fifty partnership.

He made his presence known after it, twice depositing Masakadza over wide mid-on to bring up his own fifty. His pace picked up to such an extent that only 34 balls later, he was bringing up an effortless hundred, the highlight of which was a magnificent loft over long-on off Price. The only blemish on a flawless innings was a mix-up with Malik, which prevented the captain from reaching a hundred of his own.

It didn't prevent Malik from taking the Man-of-the-Match award. He had already excelled earlier, prompting a slump as Zimbabwe - not for the first time in this series - let slip a position of considerable strength after opting to bat. Sean Williams and Tatenda Taibu had rescued the innings early, with an intelligent 85-run partnership, but just when much was promised, Malik dismissed both, and Brendon Taylor, during eight mid-innings overs.

The pair have been Zimbabwe's best batsmen this series and it was soon apparent why. Taibu repeatedly came out of his crease to neutralize the early swing which so bewildered the openers, most effectively when he drove Kamran Hussain past mid-off for the day's first boundary. He cut twice soon after, but the real spurt came from Williams in the 14th over.

Hussain tired after an impressive opening spell and Williams took toll, twice flicking him through midwicket for three and driving over point to bring up Zimbabwe's 50. He then targeted Shahid Afridi, driving him elegantly through extra cover to mark the fifty stand, before cutting and lofting him for six an over later.

Taibu provided typically impish support and at that stage, until Malik brought himself on little was of concern. But in his second over, Williams inexplicably chipped back two short of what would have been his third fifty of the series. Taylor went in Malik's next over and the drive quickly petered out of the innings. Taibu fell immediately after getting to his ninth half-century and runs soon slowed to a trickle.

Singles were grudgingly given up, boundaries even more so. Chigumbura and Chamu Chibhabha battled well without any great urgency and it was only at the death, through Keith Dabengwa, that Zimbabwe rallied. He took 19 off the last over, part of a 33-ball 45, to drag Zimbabwe to a competitive score. Competitive, but no more.

Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

Pakistan v Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI, Hyderabad

Tanvir and Jamshed seal victory

The Bulletin by Faras Ghani in Hyderabad

January 24, 2008

Pakistan 239 for 5 in 46.2 overs (Jamshed 74, Afridi 43*, Yousuf 38*) beat Zimbabwe 238 (Masakadza 87, Taibu 81, Tanvir 4-34) by five wickets

	Shahid Afridi cracked 43 to usher Pakistan to victory © AFP

Nasir Jamshed scored his second successive half-century and Shahid Afridi notched an unbeaten 43 to guide Pakistan past Zimbabwe in the second ODI of the Mobilink Cup in Hyderabad. Pakistan lead the series 2-0 with three to play.

Jamshed, after the early loss of Salman Butt, shared a 95-run second-wicket partnership with Younis Khan to start Pakistan's chase confidently. Jamshed began in a hurry, lofting Gary Brent over extra cover for his first boundary of the day in only the second over. He was dropped by Brent off his own bowling early on, but there was no respite for the fielding side as he first cut fiercely past point and then drove Brent past mid-off. Elton Chigumbura then bore the brunt of Jamshed's bat - flicked over midwicket, edged over point and then turned past square-leg for consecutive boundaries.

The 18-year-old continued, smashing Chamu Chibhabha through extra cover before glancing Chigumbura to fine-leg for his 11th boundary, and bringing up his half century off only 42 deliveries. Jamshed got another reprive when on 72 - dropped by Brent again at long-off - but he was finally dismissed soon after thanks to some stunning work by Ray Price. With a quick pick-up in his follow-through, stopping a fiercely driven straight drive, he threw down the stumps and beat Jamshed's dive. Worse was to follow for Zimbabwe when Younis was run out for 35 two balls later going for a tight single.

Zimbabwe were in with a sniff as Shoaib Malik, too, followed four overs later - stumped off Price. Misbah-ul-Haq added 39 runs with Mohammad Yousuf to halt the slide but his dismissal brought Afridi to the middle. His arrival settled things once and for all as his 27-ball knock - loaded with four fours and including two sixes - finally thwarted faint Zimbabwe hopes. He enjoyed some fortune, however, dropped twice during his knock. But as Afridi pulled Hamilton Masakadza over midwicket and dispatched Chibhabha over the sight-screen, Zimbabwe were left ruing a sloppy display in the field.

Earlier, Tanvir, who was the Man-of-the-Match award, triggered a late batting collapse to restrict Zimbabwe to 238 for 8 off their 50 overs after the visitors opted to bat first. With seven overs to go, Zimbabwe were well-placed on 209 for 3 - an ideal position from which to launch a final assault. However, Tanvir captured two quick wickets as Zimbabwe lost five for nine and finished the innings fifty runs short of a competitive target.

Zimbabwe's platform had been laid by a 137-run third-wicket partnership between Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu, but none of the lower-order batsmen took advantage. The last ten overs produced only 45 runs with two boundaries - both in the last over - as Zimbabwe panicked. Pakistan's bowling, too, improved considerably, as Tanvir used the slower ball to good effect. Iftikhar Anjum, who gave away 37 runs off his first four overs, also came back strongly to capture a brace of wickets in the first over of his second spell.

Until then, things had gone well for Zimbabwe, as a spirited fightback by Masakadza and Taibu resurrected the innings after Tanvir's early double strike left Zimbabwe on 19 for 2. However, Tanvir apart, Pakistan's fast bowlers, failed to trouble Zimbabwe - as had been the case in Karachi and Masakadza and Taibu took full toll.

Using his feet well, Masakadza was particularly severe on Anjum. Overpitching frequently, Anjum was smashed through extra cover. When he pitched short, he was pulled. Even Samiullah Khan came in for stick: bowling full and wide he was driven through the covers and flicked off his legs for boundaries. As Masakadza pulled Anjum for another boundary to square leg, then top-edged one over gully and swept Malik in quick succession, he brought up his seventh ODI half-century.

Taibu meanwhile was content with singles and twos to keep his score moving. Even the normally reliable Afridi pitched short and was repeatedly cut for easy runs. With Pakistan opting for only three specialist bowlers - a ploy that failed to be tested in the first match - both batsmen scored easily. Pakistan's lethargic fielding didn't help, as easy singles were given away, and a few half-chances went begging.

Taibu reached a steady fifty off 70 deliveries, just as Masakadza lost his concentration and drove loosely at Afridi, inside-edging on to his stumps for a well-made 87, his highest ODI score. Brendan Taylor briefly took advantage of Younis Khan, cutting past point for four and smashing him for a straight six.

The return of Tanvir, however, proved Zimbabwe's undoing as first Taylor departed then Taibu soon after. Zimbabwe's hopes of posting a competitive total vanished, and although Samiullah was swept and pulled for valuable boundaries by Gary Brent, 238 proved too small a target for an experienced Pakistani batting line-up.

Faras Ghani is an editorial assistant at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

Pakistan v Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Karachi

Spirited Zimbabwe fight hard chasing 348

The Bulletin by Faras Ghani in Karachi

January 21, 2008

25 overs Zimbabwe 139 for 3 (Sibanda 59, Chibhabha 39*, Tanvir 1-26) need a further 209 runs to beat Pakistan 347 for 6

India v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Bangalore, 4th day

Misbah and Ishant light up the day

Dileep Premachandran at the Chinnaswamy Stadium

December 11, 2007

India 626 and 131 for 2 (Ganguly 63*, Dravid 35*) lead Pakistan 537 (Misbah 133*, Younis 80, Akmal 65, Ishant 5-118) by 220 runs

Misbah-ul-Haq, superbly supported by Kamran Akmal and Yasir Arafat, shepherded Pakistan to safety, but India overcame the early loss of both openers to stretch their lead to 220 by stumps. Sourav Ganguly's brilliant half-century led the Indian effort, on a pitch that didn't deteriorate like it was expected to. Misbah's unbeaten133 was the focal point of the day's play, but there was also an eye-catching spell from Ishant Sharma, whose pace and ability to extract bounce from the dodo-dead surface triggered Pakistan's slide from 525 for 6 to 537 all out.

With a lead of 89, India started sedately and were soon in trouble. Gautam Gambhir did his Australian tour prospects no good at all with another failure, clueless against a full slower ball from Shoaib Akhtar, while Wasim Jaffer played a couple of lovely strokes before being trapped in front by Arafat. At that stage, India were only 115 in front, with Rahul Dravid in scratchy form.

Ganguly, though, was impervious to the pressure, pulling Mohammad Sami for four to send out the message that there would be no repeat of the diffidence that cost India a Test here in 2005. When Shoaib came back into the attack, he twice smacked him through cover point, and when Arafat was then taken for three fours in an over, the momentum had clearly shifted.

Dravid started to play a few shots of his own, but the main aim was to turn the strike over to the man in splendid form. Danish Kaneria's introduction was the proverbial red rag and Ganguly sauntered down the pitch twice to hit him for a six and a four as his 50 came from just 57 balls. The odd delivery did keep low and trouble the batsmen, but with the lead over 200, India wouldn't have cared much.

For much of the day, they had struggled to close out the Pakistan innings, with Misbah proving an impenetrable barrier. At the Eden Gardens, he and Akmal had both made centuries, adding 207 to rescue Pakistan. They provided a 144-run encore in Bangalore, with a combination of watchfulness and belligerence.

Except for the odd ball that did something, there were few demons in the pitch, and Misbah and Akmal started the day at a fair clip as they went in search of the 58 needed to ensure India bat again. Ishant once again had no-ball problems, and both men preyed on errors in line to drive him through the covers.

Irfan Pathan was much more economical at the other end, but the introduction of Harbhajan Singh couldn't halt the Pakistani momentum. Misbah drove him beautifully through point for four, and Akmal then swept fine as 427 came into view.

Anil Kumble switched to spin at both ends after the drinks interval, but Akmal got Pakistan past the follow-on target with another sweep to the rope at fine leg off Harbhajan. He was out soon after for 65, lured forward by a flighted delivery, but on the whole, the Indian spinners were guilty of bowling too flat.

Misbah flicked Kumble through midwicket to move into the nineties, and with Yasir Arafat proving adept at cutting the ball down to third man, the runs and India's frustration mounted. It was no different for more than an hour after lunch. A glance for four off Harbhajan took Misbah to a second successive century, off 258 balls, and a powerful cut for four off Kumble then revealed his intention to step it up a gear.

Arafat was the perfect foil, unflustered in defence and capable of punishing shots when the opportunity presented itself. When Kumble dropped short, he twice heaved him over midwicket for fours, and when Pathan returned for another spell, he flicked through midwicket for another.

With spin not providing the breakthrough, Kumble turned to pace, and the rewards were immediate. With his height and pace, Ishant was a menace, and the 93-run partnership ended when Arafat played on after an accomplished 44. After that, the end was swift. Sami was cleaned up with a yorker, while both Shoaib and Kaneria fell to short balls directed at the body. Ishant finished with 5 for 118 in only his second Test, a strong statement ahead of the selection for the squad to Australia.

The highlight, though, was Misbah and a rearguard action that left India to contemplate some brisk batting on the final morning if a result was to be possible. Only one team has a realistic chance of victory, but at a venue where they haven't won for 12 years, it remains to be seen if India will force the issue.

Dileep Premachandran is an associate editor at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

India v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Bangalore, 3rd day

Younis and Misbah keep Pakistan afloat

Dileep Premachandran at the Chinnaswamy Stadium

December 10, 2007

Pakistan 369 for 5 (Younis 80, Butt 68, Misbah 54*, Akmal 32*) trail India 626 by 257 runs

After their efforts that saved the Kolkata Test, Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal staged another rearguard action that brightened Pakistan's chances of avoiding the follow-on in the final Test. Pakistan had slumped to 288 for 5 midway through the afternoon, but their unbeaten 81-run partnership righted the balance somewhat on a day when the Indian bowlers had to work exceptionally hard for little reward. The variable bounce challenged the batsmen, but also took its toll on the Indians, with 31 byes conceded in an astonishing tally of 70 extras.

When Faisal Iqbal's innings of 22 was ended by a nasty lifter from Ishant Sharma, India would have scented an opportunity to finish things off quickly. Sharma was impressive with the second new ball, bowling with good pace and extracting disconcerting bounce. Misbah survived a couple of confident leg-before shouts, and luck was very much on his side on a day when Rudi Koertzen failed to spot a thin edge behind off Harbhajan Singh's bowling. Misbah was on one at the time, and his 151-ball half-century frustrated the Indians all afternoon.

He wasn't all stodge either, playing some lovely cuts and steers when the bowlers dropped short, but the aggressive intent was left to Kamran Akmal, who once again cut and drove beautifully against his favourite opposition. By stumps, Pakistan needed just 58 to ensure India bat again, a healthy position that appeared unlikely when their two main men fell in quick succession before tea.

After Salman Butt had fallen in the morning session, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf added 72 at a fair clip. Younis played a glorious cover-drive off Ishant Sharma, and once again showed his mastery of the reverse sweep with three off Harbhajan. With Yousuf driving Anil Kumble on the up over cover, some of the Indians must have been dreading another marathon partnership between two men who average over 80 together, and an astounding 171.50 against India.

Younis's predilection for the reverse sweep, though, changed the game. When Harbhajan came round the wicket, he went for it again, only to be undone by the low bounce. Soon after, an irked Yousuf walked up to Kumble at gully and exchanged words. He didn't appear to be mollified by the response, and the incident probably had a lot to do with his dismissal - a loose steer to point after Irfan Pathan had angled one well wide of off stump.

Pakistan had enjoyed the better of the morning session too. Butt eased a couple of lovely drives through the covers, though he was also extremely fortunate to survive a vociferous shout for leg before from Pathan. Younis played a superb straight drive off Sharma and a square drive off Pathan, but the inconsistent bounce kept both batsmen on their toes.

Sharma was bowling too many no-balls though, and Kumble turned to Sourav Ganguly to exert some pressure from one end. And the move paid off when Butt, who had been put down at short leg by Gautam Gambhir off Harbhajan, got a thin edge to a delivery that slanted away from him.

Both Younis and Yousuf were lucky to see outside edges fly past the lone slip, and with Kumble bringing himself on 20 minutes before lunch, it was apparent that there would be a serious examination by spin in the afternoon. Instead, it was gentle medium-pace that almost did the trick, but Simon Taufel failed to spot that Younis had glanced one down the leg side off Ganguly. Dinesh Karthik's lukewarm reaction probably made up his mind, and Ganguly was a far from happy chappie as he walked off the field for lunch. It just about summed up a day when India huffed and puffed without being able to blow the house down.

Dileep Premachandran is an associate editor at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

India v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Bangalore, 2nd day

Ganguly and Pathan pile on the agony for Pakistan

Dileep Premachandran at the Chinnaswamy Stadium

December 9, 2007

Pakistan 86 for 1 (Butt 50*, Younis 7*) trail India 626 (Ganguly 239, Pathan 102, Arafat 5-161) by 540 runs

The last time Pakistan played here, Inzamam-ul-Haq's brilliance and Younis Khan's appetite for the long haul shut India out of a Test match. There was perfect symmetry here, only this time they were on the receiving end, with Yuvraj Singh reprising Inzamam's class and Sourav Ganguly batting on and on in the manner that Younis had back in 2005. By the time he was out for 239 on the stroke of tea, India had gone past 600, and thoughts of a series-levelling victory had long since ebbed away from the Pakistan camp. By stumps, they had whittled away 86 from the deficit, losing Yasir Hameed along the way.

Irfan Pathan added a scintillating maiden Test century just for good measure as an attack deprived of Shoaib Akhtar's pace struggled to make any impression. The three-man attack and part-timers toiled away without reward on a pitch where the slightest error was ruthlessly punished. A profusion of half-volleys and half-trackers was served up by bowlers ready for the knackers yard and Ganguly and Pathan cashed in happily during a 178-run partnership that really was the last straw.

With Bangalore's new metro system being built, most of the roads leading to Mahatma Gandhi Road, the city's main thoroughfare and adjacent to the stadium, are one-way. And it was a similar story out on the pitch as India piled on the runs and the punishment. Pathan, whose batting ability has never been in doubt, walked into a situation that was perfect for him. He cut and drove with immense power, taking time to loft the odd ball miles over the rope. At the other end, Ganguly eased to a first double-century in Tests, with the roof nearly coming off the Chinnaswamy Stadium as fervent cries of 'Dada, Dada' soared into the air.

He celebrated with a glorious straight drive off Arafat and both men then proceeded to treat Kaneria like a net bowler. When he dropped short, he was cut past the off-side field. When he gave it some air, the ball sailed out of sight, and when he pitched on the legs, he was swept away. After a point, Younis gave up and opted for Salman Butt and Hameed. To the batsmen, it made not the slightest difference, with the ball disappearing into the gaps and to the boundary as India exacted retribution for the events of March 2005.

The only man to miss out on the run-fest was Dinesh Karthik, caught behind off Arafat in the morning. He had been extremely fortunate not to be given out shouldering arms to Mohammad Sami, and Pakistan's sense of injustice had only grown when Ganguly square-drove and flicked Arafat for fours.

The end of that 66-run partnership may have given Pakistan a glimmer of hope, but Ganguly and Pathan extinguished it with batting as pitiless as seen in Sydney in 2004 and at The Oval earlier this year. Ganguly, whose effort surpassed Vinod Kambli's 227 as the highest by an Indian left-hander, fell going for the sweep and the only interest after tea was in whether Pathan would get the seven needed for his hundred.

Anil Kumble fell to a Kaneria googly and Harbhajan Singh was then cleaned up to give Yasir Arafat five for the innings. A nearly full stadium then held its collective breath as Ishant Sharma played out four balls to give Pathan the strike. He didn't need a second invitation. The first ball of Kaneria's over was cracked over wide long-on for six, and though he perished to a slog the next ball, resounding applause followed him all the way back to the pavilion.

Hameed and Butt survived some anxious moments against Pathan and Sharma with the new ball, as the pitch started to show signs of irregular bounce. Butt laced some beautiful drives on his way to another 50, but Hameed was once again outfoxed by Kumble. Younis was in the middle at the close, and it needed another monumental effort from him for Pakistan to salvage at least pride from a game that had been even more of a mismatch than the Mayweather-Hatton fight on Sunday morning.

Dileep Premachandran is an associate editor at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

India v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Kolkata, 5th day

Younis hundred helps Pakistan salvage draw

The Bulletin by Osman Samiuddin

December 4, 2007

India 616 for 5 dec (Jaffer 202, Laxman 112*, Ganguly 102, Tendulkar 82) and 184 for 4 dec (Jaffer 56) drew with Pakistan 456 (Misbah 161*, Akmal 119, Harbhajan 5-122) and 126 for 4 (Younis 107*, Yousuf 43*)

India were disappointingly lethargic, except for brief periods in the afternoon or when Anil Kumble was involved. Kumble had brought the game alive in the afternoon, with two wickets. But as the two Y's came together with another century partnership - their ninth - even Kumble's tenacity wasn't to be enough.

Younis especially was determined: as captain, his side had to be rescued and following low scores against his favourite opponent, here was the perfect opportunity to rectify that. He was also familiar with the situation, having faced similar ones against South Africa recently. So familiar in fact that he graced the occasion with a third hundred in four Tests, each of them in the fourth innings of a Test.

It says much about his character and his batting that you can't call the innings a dogged, dour rearguard. There was much studious defence, but he never dawdled. What runs were on offer, were gladly taken. Having arrived in the first over after lunch, he brought up his fifty in the last over before tea.

After it, he seemed to speed up, pulling Zaheer Khan to bring up the fifty stand and continued in much the same manner through the session. Only Kumble posed a serious challenge, troubling him with googlies and trapping him plumb when in the 90s (Rudi Koertzen disagreed) but even he was driven and cut for pleasing boundaries. No shot better captured the innings than the reverse-sweep which brought up his hundred: defiant, unbowed and positive.

Yousuf meanwhile helped himself back into some form. He was unusually quiet to begin with, recognition of the pressure of the Test and his own lack of runs. But a fluid punch through point off Munaf Patel eased him gently into the role of Younis's second fiddle, one in which he didn't falter. By tea, he was set and after it was rarely hassled, choosing occasionally to stroke a cover drive, but opting generally to pat balls back.

India helped them with a surprisingly inert display after tea. The inactivity was captured best by the inside edge on to Yousuf's pad, which looped up in the air, barely a foot from two close-in fielders. Bizarrely, neither made even an attempt. Harbhajan Singh, the bowler, complained rightly, but perhaps not too much for he was flat through much of the day, mirroring Danish Kaneria's disappointing last-day performance at Delhi. He searched constantly, for the right angle, the right line, the right length, but fruitlessly.

Only Kumble it was who pushed and it was because of him India had a sniff at all. They had declared almost an hour into the morning, setting Pakistan 345 runs or 81 overs to survive. Zaheer got rid of Yasir Hameed before Kumble took over.

Second ball after lunch, Kamran Akmal was bowled by a rare, fair-spinning leg-break. The situation thereafter was made for Kumble: no real chance of the opposition chasing, a fifth-day surface and nervy batsmen naturally keen to push on, trying instead to defend. The appearance of threat was there in every ball, even if the actuality of it wasn't. Fielders encircled batsmen as a lynch mob might an unfortunate, dust flew up off the pitch, and Kumble was the centre of all focus.

Even though nothing happened for nearly an hour after that breakthrough - Harbhajan as much as a cussed Salman Butt to blame - Kumble was not to be denied. Coming round the wicket, he soon trapped Butt. He then replaced Harbhajan with Munaf Patel just after mid-day drinks, who produced in his first over what seemed then to be a pivotal moment. It was touched by genius as well, a slow off-break that nevertheless turned sharply enough to go through the defences of Misbah-ul-Haq, leaving Pakistan rocking at 78 for 4.

Both Patel and Kumble sniffed away, but it wasn't to last and as tea approached Younis and Yousuf dug themselves in. There they would stay after it, despite Kumble's best efforts.

Osman Samiuddin is the Pakistan editor of Cricinfo

© Cricinfo