2nd Semi-final: Pakistan ready to face Indian challenge

Greenshirts are ready to face Indian challenge on Wednesday (today) at Mohali in the Pakistan vs India 2nd semi-final of ICC World Cup 2011. The match is scheduled to begin at 14:30 Local time. This match is regarded as the biggest match of cricket history and the excitement reaches to peak in both nations across the border and people are waiting for the match

In order to crush the strong batting line guest side will depend on the pacer Umar Gul and spin attack. In batting Afridi-XI will consist of senior batsmen Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq while the young batsmen are also ready to contribute their role. Doubts again rose about the participation of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the big match and it is not decided yet that he will play or not? In this regard, team leader of Pakistan, Shahid Afridi said that the participation of Shoaib will be decided after looking the pitch. Kamran Akmal and Muhammad Hafeez will open the Pakistani innings. Asad Shafiq will likely to play on one-down.

According to Afridi there will be pressure on India, not on Pakistan. He said that we are playing the game very confidently and our purpose is to give happiness to the Pakistani nation by winning the trophy. He said that team is very balanced and united. Afirid further said that due to collective efforts of all players we reach into the semi-finals. He was addressing to a post-match press conference with his Indian counterpart.

Pakistan vs India 2nd Semi-Final

On the other hand aggressive batsman Yousaf Pathan is likely to replace Ashwin. Come back of Ashish Nehra is also expected. The captain of blue shirts MS Dhoni is very confident too, he said that as a batsman I am not worried about my form, when you take an important responsibility, there is pressure on yourself. He said that we are concentrating on good cricket but the reality is this that only one team will play the final.

Stay with us for the live updates for Pakistan vs India 2nd semi-final.

Pakistan starts training for NZ tour

LAHORE: Pakistan’s cricket team started training at a camp set up in Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore, ahead of the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Pakistan is to play three Twenty20 International, six one-day international and two Test matches during the tour.

Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and other players joined the camp which will continue till December 15.

Coach Waqar Younis is supervising the camp.

On the first day of training, Team Manager Intikhab Alam told reporters that none of the players had sought the board’s permission to participate in advertisement shoots.

“The World Cup is just three months away. Players should only concentrate on their game,” he said.

To a question, he responded that Javed Miandad will assume charge any time today. Trend Pk

Graeme Smith wants clean sweep against Pakistan

ABU DHABI: South African captain Graeme Smith said he would like to end the tour with a clean sweep in all three formats of the game as they take on Pakistan in the second Test starting from Saturday.

South Africa beat Pakistan in both the Twenty20 matches and took the five-match one-day series 3-2 on the tour shifted to United Arab Emirates because of security fears in Pakistan.

Pakistan escaped with a draw in the first Test in Dubai on Tuesday after Younis Khan notched a fighting unbeaten century and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scored 76 not out after South Africa set them a challenging 451-run target.

Smith said his team would love to win the second Test — the first-ever in Abu Dhabi Stadium, which like Dubai has become Pakistan’s neutral venue.

“For us it has been a successful tour in terms of the end results and we would love to add Test series to

Tsotsobe’s best restricts Pakistan to 203

ABU DHABI: Lanky South African paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe carried his Twenty20 form into the 50-over game with a career-best feat to derail Pakistan to 203 in the first day-night international here on Friday.

The 26-year-old from Eastern Province took 4-27 off his ten tight overs as Pakistan lost their last eight wickets for a mere 46 runs after winning the toss and deciding to bat on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch.

Tsotsobe, who took five wickets in South Africa’s 2-0 win in the Twenty20 series which finished here on Wednesday, rocked the Pakistan middle-order with a burst of three wickets off just nine balls during his second four-over spell.

Tsotsobe’s effort backed by disciplined spin bowling by Johan Botha (2-40) put brakes on Pakistan’s innings after Mohammad Hafeez (68) and returning Younis Khan (54) put on 114 for the second wicket.

Tsotsobe

Tsotsobe’s best restricts Pakistan to 203

ABU DHABI: Lanky South African paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe carried his Twenty20 form into the 50-over game with a career-best feat to derail Pakistan to 203 in the first day-night international here on Friday.

The 26-year-old from Eastern Province took 4-27 off his ten tight overs as Pakistan lost their last eight wickets for a mere 46 runs after winning the toss and deciding to bat on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch.

Tsotsobe, who took five wickets in South Africa’s 2-0 win in the Twenty20 series which finished here on Wednesday, rocked the Pakistan middle-order with a burst of three wickets off just nine balls during his second four-over spell.

Tsotsobe’s effort backed by disciplined spin bowling by Johan Botha (2-40) put brakes on Pakistan’s innings after Mohammad Hafeez (68) and returning Younis Khan (54) put on 114 for the second wicket.

Tsotsobe

Pakistan’s Younis wants to leave past behind

LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan’s former captain Younis Khan said Thursday he wanted to move on from bitter troubles this year and rebuild his career, after winning back a place in the national team.

The 32-year-old resolved a long-running battle with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday and was immediately picked to play for Pakistan’s limited over series against South Africa starting next week.

“I am happy to be back and eager to play for my country,” Younis told reporters. “I am available to play in all three forms of the game and it’s up to the management to play me whenever they want.”

Younis announced his retirement from Twenty20 cricket after leading Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title in England last year and since then, his career has suffered badly.

He was one of seven players banned or fined over disciplinary charges following the team’s

Younis ready to meet PCB chairman

Staff Report

LAHORE: Former skipper Younis Khan has confirmed that he has formally received a letter sent by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this week.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday, Khan said he is ready to meet PCB’s chairman.

Younis was one of the seven players banned or fined by the PCB following a dismal tour to Australia earlier this year.

“I will be in action whenever I get my opportunity,” he said.

To a question, the star batsman said he is absolutely fit and ready to join the team. SAMAA

Younis Khan gets green signal for return

Younis Khan gets green signal for return in the national squad after the announcement of team for ODIs, T20s and also for Tests against South Africa.
Talking to media-men at Qazzafi stadium Lahore, Younis said that a meeting, required for his return, will soon be held. He said he has received a letter from PCB in which he is asked to meet. He said he thought that the letter would contain strict conditions for the return, but the have just asked to meet.

PCB to serve second notice to Younis

Staff Report

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to serve another notice to former skipper Younis Khan.

According to sources, the second notice will be a binding on Younis to respond to the charges against him.

“If Younis Khan did not contact the cricket board, he would be served a show cause notice,” it said.

The stylish batsman was among seven players who were banned or fined by the PCB for various reasons following the dismal tour of Australia early this year. SAMAA

Younis sends legal notice to British tabloid

KARACHI: Former captain Younis Khan has sent a legal notice to British tabloid ‘News of the World’, which claimed in a report that he like several Pakistani cricketers had signed Mazhar and Azhar Majeed as his agents in the United Kingdom.

Sources close to Younis told a news agency that Younis instructed his lawyer Ahmed Qayyum to issue the notice to the tabloid for publishing the report.

“Yes, the notice has been sent and in it Younis has demanded that the newspaper publish a denial and also pay damages of USD 10,000 towards the flood relief fund for the millions of Pakistanis displaced by the floods,” a source said.

“The brothers approached Pakistani players to sign them during the 2006 tour and Younis refused,” source says. (Agencies)

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