Defiant Younus guides Pakistan to safety

DUBAI: Younus Khan notched his 17th test hundred to guide Pakistan to a draw against South Africa on the final day of the first test on Tuesday.

Set 451 for victory after the visitors declared their second innings on 318 for two, Younus stroked an unbeaten 131 as Pakistan lost just one wicket on the fifth day to reach 343 for three.

Younus got solid support from skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (76) as the pair put on an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 186.

Their partnership was a record for any Pakistan wicket against South Africa, eclipsing the 161-run second-wicket stand between Kamran Akmal and Younus scored in Lahore during the 2007/8 season.

South Africa began the day with high hopes of pushing for victory but did not help their chances by spilling three catches.

Younus was dropped twice, with his score on 16 and 70, while Misbah was put down at

Pakistan face an uphill battle to save the first test

DUBAI: Pakistan face an uphill battle to save the first test after closing the fourth day on 109 for two after being set a formidable winning target of 450 by South Africa on Monday.

Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla both hit centuries in compiling a record third-wicket stand of 242 for South Africa against Pakistan, allowing the tourists to declare on 318 for two in their second innings.

Pakistan made a solid start and they reached 41 before Mohammed Hafeez, who scored a breezy 34 off 47 balls, edged a delivery from paceman Dale Steyn to first slip.

Taufeeq Umar (22) and Azhar Ali (37 not out) then defied their opponents for 18.2 overs with a second-wicket stand of 34 before Umar was caught at first slip off a ball from Johan Botha.

Ali and Younus Khan (11 not out) saw their team to stumps although Ali suffered a painful blow on his thumb from a Steyn

Butt puts his trust in Pakistan pace trio

NOTTINGHAM: Pakistan captain Salman Butt has backed the seam bowling trio of Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul to carry on from where they left off against Australia when they face England.

Pakistan go into the first of a four-Test series against England starting at Trent Bridge here on Thursday on the back of a three-wicket second Test ”home” win against Australia at Headingley, where Ricky Ponting”s men were dismissed for just 88 in the first innings.

England batsman Paul Collingwood has suggested Pakistan were flattered by the overcast conditions in Leeds, where opening batsman Butt was captaining his country for the first time after Shahid Afridi quit Test cricket following a 150-run first Test loss to Australia at Lord”s the week before.

However, Butt – speaking to reporters at Trent Bridge here on Wednesday – said the pace trio”s high profile was a reflection of how well they had all been performing.

“They bring a lot of confidence to us as a team because whatever totals you do, you are always confident you can defend it.”

Butt added that with 18-year-old Aamer – who took seven wickets at Headingley – being a left-arm quick, the trio had complementary abilities.

“Mohammad Aamer has most skills that a fast bowler needs. He has pace on his side, swing and the mental side of Mohammad Aamer is very good. He is mature for his age.

“Mohammad Asif is, I think, one of the best seam bowlers in the world – very accurate lines and lengths and Umar Gul, I think, with the old ball, with the reverse swing, is one of the most lethal guys in the world.

“So I think I am a lucky person to have all these three up my sleeve.”

The Pakistan-Australia series was played in England because no international cricket has taken place in Pakistan since an armed attack on Sri Lanka”s team bus in Lahore in March last year.

“We are very thankful for this ”homely” atmosphere, though this is not home, the support we got and we hope it carries on,” Butt said.

Pakistan”s batting, in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan, both omitted following the fall-out from a 3-0 series loss in Australia earlier this year, has looked fallible.

Butt though was happy to persevere with Test novices Azhar Ali and Umar Amin despite calls for at least one of the former captains to be recalled.

“They”ve played in difficult batting conditions and against one of the world”s best bowling attacks.

“Nobody comes out of home having played 40 or 50 odd games.

“So you have to give them the chance, give them the time and back them through those times to become people like Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan or Inzamam-ul-Haq.

“They also became stars when they performed in the middle, not before.”

Afridi”s exit was a reminder of the volatile nature of Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan”s last Test series in England, in 2006, ended with the team forfeiting The Oval finale after they refused to take the field following a decision by the umpires to penalise them for ball-tampering.

Butt though insisted the past was of no concern.

“We need to focus on the game at hand and the games to come. What we cannot control, we should not be thinking about it.”

At the age of 25, Butt – the sixth man to lead Pakistan in Tests in seven years – is a relatively young captain of his country.

“In a way, it has been like that – you always give it to the senior people,” said Butt.

“But if anybody is better equipped, to lead a team – it is the right of the nation to have that person in charge, rather than a person who is old.”

Butt was pragmatic about his own captaincy prospects. “If I keep on doing well, I will stick to it. If I don”t do well, obviously nobody would like me to carry on.”

Kashmiri youth killed in Indian firing

SRINAGAR: One person was martyred and several others injured in Noorbagh area on Sunday when Indian police fired bullets upon the funeral procession of a youth, who had succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.

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Kashmiri youth killed in Indian firing

Attabad lake outflow exceeds 7500 cusecs

HUNZA: The inflow and outflow of water in Attabad lake is rising continuously due to the swift melting of glaciers in the area, ARY NEWS reported.

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Attabad lake outflow exceeds 7500 cusecs

Pakistan ignore Younus for England tour

LAHORE: Former captain Younus Khan has been left out of Pakistan’s test and one-day squads for the tour of England despite being eligible for international cricket again after having an indefinite ban for ill-discipline overturned.

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Pakistan ignore Younus for England tour

Younus, Malik, Akhtar in preliminary squad

LAHORE: Pakistan on Tuesday named banned former captains Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik in a preliminary 35-man squad for next month’s Asia Cup and tour of England.

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Younus, Malik, Akhtar in preliminary squad

Sami And Kaneria To Lead Karachi Teams In National T20

Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) has announced the teames for Pakistan National T20 Cup with Test fast bowler Muhammad Sami and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria will lead Karachi teams.

KCCA announced that speedster Sami will lead Karachi Dolphins while ace spinner Kaneria will be the skipper of Karachi Zebras. In the meantime the training and practice session of the team will be held at National Stadium on February 22.

Karachi Dolphins: Mohammad Sami (Captain), Shahid Afridi, Khurram Manzoor, Khalid Latif, Shahzaib Hasan, Fawwad Alam, Afsar Nawaz, Hasan Raza, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Tanvir Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Azam Hussain, Ramiz Raja, Irfanuddin, Fahadullah, Haris Ayaz, Tariq Haroon, Adnan Baig, Asif Zakir, Faraz Ahmed, Misbah Khan, Rumman Raees, Anop Ravi and Mahroof Aziz. Shafiq Kazmi (Manager).

Karachi Zebras: Danish Kaneria (Captain), Faisal Iqbal, Asad Shafiq, Shaharyar Ghani, Aga Sabir, Akbar Rehman, Saeed Bin Nasir, Ali Asad, Farhan Iqbal, Daniyal Ahsan, Uzairul Haq, Tabish Khan, Sohail Khan, Tahir Khan, Rameez Aziz, Babar Rehman, Noman Alvi, Javed Mansoor, Malik Aftab, M. Waqas, Zohaib Shera, Shan Masood and Abdul Ameer. Munir Ali Qadri (Manager).

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Sami And Kaneria To Lead Karachi Teams In National T20

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Sami And Kaneria To Lead Karachi Teams In National T20 was first posted on February 19, 2010 at 12:52 pm.

Furious Younus Thrashes Fan

Short tempered former Pakistan team’s captain Younus Khan gave a sound beating to one of his fans in Karachi.
During the ongoing lottery event worth Rs100million, a man said to be Younus’s fan stumbled and fell on him. Upon this, the former captain, known for his bad mood swings, started thrashing the man, and angrily left the venue.

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Furious Younus Thrashes Fan was first posted on February 19, 2010 at 1:00 pm.

PCB Recall Fawad Alam, Abdul Rauf from Australia

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recalled players Fawad Alam and Abdul Rauf from Australia to reduce the size of the touring squad, officials said in a statement on Thursday.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim told newsmen that a request by the team management to send senior batsman Younus Khan to Australia before the second test in Sydney starting on Sunday had been put on hold.

“The team management had asked us to rush Younus to reinforce the team but after discussing the matter with the board chairman we have decided that a final decision would be taken after the second test,” Qasim said. Pakistan lost the first test.

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PCB Recall Fawad Alam, Abdul Rauf from Australia was first posted on January 1, 2010 at 9:06 pm.

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