Pakistan, England first ODI in Abu Dhabi today

 

Pakistan insist England remain a formidable cricket side and will treated as such in their upcoming one-day series in the United Arab Emirates despite recording three resounding triumphs in the Test matches.

 

Misbah Ul-Haq s team completed a 3-nil sweep of England in the Test matches and the teams now face each other in four one-dayers and three Twenty20 internationals.

 

Pakistan are high on confidence after their successes in the longer format but Misbah was adamant England were as dangers as ever.

 

“I think they are a good team, even in the one dayers. If they lost 4-0 it doesn t mean they are not a good side,” Pakistan s captain said.

 

“They are a good side and they can perform very well on their day. So we have to be aware of that and I think we have to really play good, hard cricket to beat them.”

 

Pakistan will be expected to do well but Misbah said that did not create any extra pressure on his team.

 

“Pressure is always on every player, every team whenever you play international cricket,” he said.

 

“I think it doesn t mean if you are winning it s an added pressure on you. I think it s better to take every game one by one that s what we doing and I don t think we have an added pressure.”

 

For England, the series represents the chance for some redemption after being well beaten in the test matches.

 

Captain Alastair Cook told reporters the one-dayers gave his players the chance to express themselves.

 

“Certainly the one-day game dictates that you have to be positive and we are not going to have men around the bat all the time at all. So it certainly changes your mentality as a batter, it does free you up,” he explained.

 

“And we ve got a good record against Pakistan, when we ve played against them. So certainly we have had success against these bowlers before in one day cricket, so hopefully we can, not talk of banishing memories of the test matches, but we have to free up a little bit and you have to attack and hopefully that will help us.

 

Cook added: “Obviously the test tour didn t go to plan and we didn t play very well.

 

“So a new format – the squad has introduced six fresh faces and that s brought fresh enthusiasm to the side and (it s now) a squad which over the last couple of days has trained very well, played well against the Lions, and the are very keen to start well tomorrow.”

 

England s top order came under a fire of criticism for their performances in the test matches but Cook was confident they were only one good innings away from being back to their best.

 

“You always know when you play for England it s amazing how quickly it turns around, both when you re doing well and when you re doing bad.

 

“We haven t become bad players over a two months period. Yes, our results, we haven t play well enough at all but we don t become bad players.

 

“If we can get a good performance and get our confidence back, then hopefully we can show people what we’re made of.”
 

United go on top after Suarez handshake snub

 

Manchester United regained top spot in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday in a stormy clash marred by fresh controversy stemming from the Luis Suarez racism affair.

 

Two second-half goals in three minutes from United talisman Wayne Rooney — playing in his 500th game at senior level — saw the champions go one point clear of Manchester City, who face Aston Villa on Sunday.

 

But the early kick-off at Old Trafford was dominated by incidents involving Suarez, who scored Liverpool s only goal in his first start since returning from an eight-match ban for racially abusing United captain Patrice Evra.

 

Despite assurances from both clubs  managers during the week that Evra and Suarez would shake hands before the kick-off, the Uruguayan caused an unnecessary flashpoint by ignoring Evra s outstretched hand.

 

Evra angrily grabbed Suarez s arm as the South American walked away, before United defender Rio Ferdinand then snubbed Suarez s offer of a handshake.

 

Disgusted United manager Sir Alex Ferguson branded Suarez a “disgrace” afterwards and said the striker should never play for Liverpool again.

 

“I couldn t believe it. I just could not believe it,” Ferguson said when asked for his reaction. “I had a chat with Patrice this morning and he said he was going to shake his hand. He said  I have nothing to be ashamed of. 

 

“Suarez is a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club. He shouldn t be allowed to play for Liverpool again.

 

“The history that club s got, he could have caused a riot. It was terrible what he did. It was a terrible start to the game and it created a terrible atmosphere.”

 

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish later insisted he had not seen the incident, but lost his cool with a television interviewer at the suggestion it had led to a bust-up between players from both sides at half-time.

 

“I never knew he didn t shake his hand. I will take your word for it. That is contrary to what I was told,” Dalglish said.

 

“It s bang out of order to blame Luis Suarez for anything that happened today, how many bookings were there? The fans had a bit of banter.”

 

Dalglish meanwhile admitted Liverpool had been beaten by a better side.

 

“They were the better side but you would expect that at home. We left ourselves with a mountain to climb,” Dalglish said.

 

The Suarez incident was the main talking point of a low-key opening 45 minutes, with Paul Scholes  header from close range the best scoring chance.

 

However, tempers flared on the stroke of half-time, with Suarez appealing for a foul after being tackled by Ferdinand when through on goal, and later kicking the ball angrily towards the dug-out area.

 

Police and stewards were then called to the tunnel to defuse tensions between scuffling players from both sides.

 

When the second half kicked off, Rooney effectively settled the result in a devastating three-minute spell.

 

The England striker volleyed in his first from close range on 47 minutes after Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson inadvertently flicked on a Ryan Giggs corner.

 

Rooney then made it 2-0 in the 50th minute after a Jay Spearing blunder let in Antonio Valencia. Valencia s pass found Rooney, who coolly stroked his shot past Pepe Reina.

 

United remained firmly in control for the remainder of the half but a lapse in concentration saw Suarez pull a goal back for Liverpool to set up a nervous final 10 minutes.
 

Mathews fireworks prompt Australia rethink

PERTH: Australia will revisit their bowling plan for Angelo Mathews after the powerful Sri Lankan almost engineered another remarkable comeback win for his side at the WACA Ground on Friday.

Mathews, who famously combined with Lasith Malinga for a 132-run ninth-wicket stand to help Sri Lanka beat Australia in Melbourne in November 2010, threatened to perform similar heroics on Friday, before falling just six runs short of the victory target.

Number seven Mathews and number 11 Dhammika Prasad came together with 52 runs required, chasing a victory target of 232.

The pair still needed 18 off the last over to snatch victory, which became just eight off four balls when Mathews hit Mitchell Starc’s first two balls for four and six.

But with six needed off two balls, Mathews was caught on the boundary trying to hit the winning runs, ending his innings on 64 from 76 balls.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke said his side needed to find a way to curb the right-hander’s clean hitting.

“He continues to make runs against us. He is that type of player and if he gets past 20 he is unstoppable. He strikes the ball as clean as anybody,” Clarke said.

“We need to keep working on our plans to him and probably be a bit more disciplined early to him to try to get him out for less than 20 more often, because he is a very good striker of the ball.”

Mathews averages 41.50 in one-dayers against Australia, well above his career average of 33.45, and he said he was not surprised by news the Australians would place more focus on his wicket in future matches.

“They have a idea of me, so I have to think a bit ahead,” he said.

The 24-year-old said memories of his MCG heroics were in his mind late in the chase.

“We were almost there. The MCG game was at the back of my mind, but unfortunately we couldn’t pull it through,” he said.

Mathews, who also claimed two wickets with the ball in the Australian innings, said he would welcome any opportunity to bat further up the order in future one-day internationals.

“Obviously yes, but the team needs me finishing off the game,” he said when asked if he would like a promotion in the batting order. AGENCIES

Tri-series: Australia rest Mike Hussey in 3rd ODI

 

Australia on Saturday said Mike Hussey would be rested for their third game in the tri-nation one-day international series, with allrounder Mitchell Marsh brought into the squad.

 

Australia go into Sunday s match against India in Adelaide unbeaten, after victory over Sri Lanka in Perth on Friday and an earlier win over India.

 

“Mike Hussey is to be rested and will not travel with the squad to Adelaide while Ben Hilfenhaus has returned to Hobart and will not join the squad for tomorrow s match,” Cricket Australia said.

 

West Australia s Marsh will join the squad in Adelaide, it added.

 

Australia have yet to name their squad for the remaining games in the series, which continues until March 8.

Tennis: Australia clinches Davis Cup tie against China

 

Australia on Saturday took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in their best-of-five Davis Cup tie against China after Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione claimed a straight sets doubles victory.

 

Davis Cup veteran Hewitt and Guccione did not drop a service game in their 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 win over China s Zhang Ze and Li Zhe.

 

Australia were in a comfortable position going into Saturday s match after Hewitt beat China s best ranked male player Zhang Ze and Tomic bested rising youngster Wu Di in their singles matches on Friday.

 

The reverse singles games to be played on Sunday will be best-of-three sets.
 

Pakistan, Afghanistan set for historic one-dayer

 

Pakistan and Afghanistan play a historic first-ever one-day international between the two countries here on Friday with both captains vowing to make the game a memorable one.

 

“It is a very important game for both countries and we will try to make the occasion memorable with some quality cricket,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said.

 

“It is important for countries like Afghanistan to play a top team which will help them improve and we are going to play with our full strength team as they have some good players.”

 

Friday s match in Sharjah Stadium — which holds the world record of staging the most one-day internationals with 201 — is fitting because most of the Afghan players learnt the game in Pakistan while staying as refugees after the Soviet invasion of their country in 1979.

 

Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal thanked Pakistan for giving them chances.

 

“We thank Pakistan for allowing us to play this one-day and also giving us opportunity to play in their domestic competitions which raised our confidence,” said Mangal, who led Afghanistan to one-day status.

 

“It is a history making match against a top team like Pakistan and we will try our best to put up a good fight in a contest which is a big challenge for us,” said the 27-year-old Mangal, an off-spin bowler.

 

Mangal said his team had prepared well for Pakistan s spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman who were behind the 3-0 destruction of England in their three-Test series: Ajmal finished with 24 wickets while Rehman took 19.

 

“We have prepped well for Pakistan s spin duo and I am confident my batsmen will do their best,” said Mangal, adding that paceman Hamid Hassan, who has 24 wickets in 14 one-day internationals, will miss the match through knee injury.

 

They still have Mohammad Nabi, an off-spinner who took five wickets while playing for an ICC Combined XI against England last month and wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Shahzad who scored 51 and 74 in the same match.

 

Pakistan will be further boosted by the return of all-rounder Shahid Afridi who will add variety to team s spin attack.

 

Mangal hoped a sell-out crowd of 15,000 largely Afghan and Pakistan expats, enjoying the weekly holiday here, will show their support.

 

“We want the public to share this historic moment with both the teams,” said Mangal.

 

War-ravaged Afghanistan gained a notable foot up on the world cricket stage by finishing fifth in the 2011 World Cup qualifiers which earned them the right to play one-day internationals.

 

They also won the right to play the third edition of World Twenty20, held in the Caribbean in 2010, by winning the qualifying tournament and then finished with a silver medal in the Asian Games in China in November that same year.

 

Afghanistan, one of the 59 associate members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), are also the title holders of the Inter-Continental Cup meant for the Associate nations.

 

The ICC, which contributes approximately 700,000 dollars a year to help Afghanistan s development in cricket, has shown great delight in their progress, terming it as “a success story in cricket”.
 

Afghanistan excited at Pak ODI exposure

 

They have promised to put up their best showing in their first-ever one-day international against in Sharjah on Friday, an official said.

 

The war-torn country has played 18 one-day internationals since gaining status in 2009 but all their matches were against associate and affiliate teams Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, Kenya and Scotland.

 

And the prospect of playing Pakistan, World Cup champions of one-day cricket in 1992, left the Afghanistan players ecstatic.

 

“It s a great opportunity for Afghanistan players and they can t wait for Friday,” team manager Shafiqullah Stanikzai told AFP. “It s a tough challenge for the team but we will show our qualities and fight to the last.”

 

Of their 18 ODIs to date, Afghanistan have won 11 and lost seven and Stanikzai said despite the big challenge his team will not let their fans down.

 

“The Afghanistan team is an entertainment package and we will try to give the best possible fight to Pakistan, who are the form team after beating England 3-0 in Tests and doing well in one-day cricket recently,” said Stanikzai.

 

The cricket relationship between the two countries goes a long way, as the game was made popular in Afghanistan by refugees who spent years living in Pakistan when Soviet troops invaded their country in 1979.

 

In the last three years cricket has progressed in the war-ravaged country by leaps and bounds.

 

Afghanistan finished fifth in the World Cup qualifiers in 2009 to win the right to play one-day cricket and the following year they won the qualifying tournament to earn an opportunity to play in the World Twenty20 held in West Indies.

 

Stanikzai said Afghanistan are progressing fast.

 

“With this opportunity we hope to build our team and next month we will feature in the World Twenty20 qualifiers and hope to win that again to play the main tournament,” said Stanikzai of the World Twenty20 event to be held in Sri Lanka in September-October this year.

 

Afghanistan s team will be led by Nawroz Mangal and has exciting players in Karem Sadiq, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad and fast bowler Hamid Hassan.

 

Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan said his team will not take Afghanistan lightly.

 

“Afghanistan s team is coming up very fast and we will take them very seriously,” said Khan, hoping his team carry on their good work from the 3-0 Test series win over England.

 

“This one-day against Afghanistan will give us an opportunity to switch to the one-day mode before the series against England,” said Khan of his team s four-match series starting from February 13.

 

Pakistan have brought in all-rounders Shahid Afridi and Hammad Azam in the squad for the one-day matches.

 

Organisers in Sharjah hope a large number of Afghan and Pakistan expats will come to support their teams.–AFP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

England captain Strauss hopes team will learn from mistakes

DUBAI: England captain Andrew Strauss stressed a 3-0 hammering inflicted by Pakistan was not “all doom and gloom” for his team, hoping they learn from their mistakes and move on.

Pakistan thumped England by 71 runs in the third and final Test on Monday to seal an emphatic 3-0 win — the first whitewash in all Tests between the two countries.

England had not lost a Test series under Strauss since their 1-0 defeat in the Caribbean in February 2009.

“It’s very important we debrief this tour very thoroughly, like we do on any tour and learn some lessons and don’t walk away if that’s staring at us in the face. But at the same time it’s not all doom and gloom, you don’t become a bad side overnight,” Strauss said after the defeat.

England, who rose to number one in Test rankings in August last year after winning their last six series, continued to struggle in Asian conditions with Pakistani spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman destroying them in the series.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took 24 wickets while Rehman finished with 19.

For England, Jonathan Trott remained top scorer in the series with 161 with Alastair Cook 159 and wicketkeeper batsman Matt Prior finishing at 150.

Strauss also managed 150 but key batsmen Kevin Pietersen (67), Ian Bell (51) and Eoin Morgan (82) were major let downs.

Strauss admitted playing spinners on turning pitches was a different challenge.

“Obviously, the challenges here are diffrerent, English sides generally have not played well in these sort of conditions in the past, we need to break that tradition and we are not going to do that by doing the same things,” said Strauss.

England also have tours to Sri Lanka (April) and India (November) this year and Strauss hoped the batsmen learn fast.

“I have not been involved in any series where so many of our batsmen have had hard times as this one. We have all got some questions to answer individually, some soul searching and thoughts to put into on how we can do things better going forward.

“It is also important for the guys to start turning their attention towards Sri Lanka in the particular challenges. There may not be the same challenges as here, but they will be slightly different in terms of the conditions etc, so we need to learn lessons from this.

“If you are a good enough player you find a way, it may take you a week or so finding a way you don’t make the same mistakes again. We haven’t been good enough or quick enough to adapting our game, that’s for sure,” Strauss said.

Pakistan and England will now play a four-match one-day series, starting with the first in Abu Dhabi on February 13. That will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals.

‘Housewives of Beverly Hills’ reunion: Part 2 tonight

TrendPK.com: ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ will air the second part of their reunion show tonight, and now the previews about the episode are out.

Newcomer Brandi Glanville will have some more time as she only came out during the end of part one, and it seems she will be getting into it with the other women, states E! News. Glanville and Kyle Richards will discuss the game night situation where they fought along with Kim Richards.

Glanville will comment on the crystal meth accusation: “Do I regret saying that specifically? Yes. But the truth is she was on something. She was in and out of the bathroom all night and she’s in rehab now, so clearly I wasn’t wrong.”

Now, the real question will be how Kyle responds to this.

Will you tune in?

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Gisele Bundchen’s reaction to Tom Brady’s Super Bowl loss

TrendPK.com: Last week, Gisele Bundchen’s private email was released in regard to her hoping for a Super Bowl win for her husband, Tom Brady, but it seems it didn’t work but she isn’t blaming her husband for the loss.

While Bundchen was leaving the game, a New York Giants fan reportedly commented, “Eli owns your husband,” to which Bundchen made her own comment, states TMZ. The supermodel then allegedly said to a friend, “My husband cannot f****ing throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.”

She was then later spotted hugging her husband in support.

What do you think about her comment?

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