PCB suspend Afridi contract

THE PAKISTAN Cricket Board (PCB) have reacted to Shahid Afridi’s ‘conditional’ retirement by suspending his central contract.

In addition, the PCB have put together a showcause notice detailing several breaches of code, which Afridi has seven days to answer to and could later face disciplinary action.

The all-rounder sensationally ‘quit’ on Monday saying he would never play for Pakistan again under the current board and saying he would only return with a fresh new board in place.

One of the breaches of code the PCB have raised up with Afridi is that he announced his retirement to the media before informing the board and the second breach is the fact he publicly criticised the board to the media.

Afridi’s participation in the English Twenty20 Cup for Hampshire and the new Sri Lankan Twenty20 competition is now in jeopardy after the PCB revoked his No Objection Certificates.

This messy situation has just got a lot more messier, that’s for sure.

Afridi ‘quits’ international cricket

IT HAS been reported Shahid Afridi has ‘conditionally’ retired from international cricket and will not play for his country again under the regime of the current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The news follows Pakistan’s recent ODI series win against Ireland, a tour which Afridi was dropped as captain before he pulled out of the squad altogether citing personal reasons – to be with his ill father.

The Pakistan Cricket Board gave no official reason for the dropping of Afridi as skipper for the two-match series but reports suggest it was in relation to Afridi’s differences with head coach Waqar Younis – an issue Afridi raised up after their 3 – 2 ODI series win against the West Indies last month but without mentioning anyone in particular.

On his conditional retirement, Afridi is quoting as saying: “I will not play under this board. If a different board comes in, I will definitely return but I cannot play under this board. When you have been humiliated like this, by dishonourable people, what is the point in playing on?

“The way I’ve been treated … the future doesn’t look too good. I can’t play under a board that doesn’t respect its players. Because of this, under protest, this is a conditional retirement.”

 

Pakistan claim series with comfortable win

PAKISTAN have won the second ODI against Ireland in Belfast to claim a comfortable 2 – 0 series win.

The Irish certainly put in more of a fight in comparison to their thrashing on Saturday when they were dismissed for 96.

Again batting first, Ireland set a competitive total of 238/8 from their 50 overs largely thanks to a fine century from Paul Stirling, who scored 109 runs from 107 deliveries hitting 7 fours and blasting 4 sixes in the process.

The tourists had a brief scare early on in their chase when Mohammed Hafeez fell for a duck when he was caught at mid-on off the bowling of Trent Johnston.

But contributions from Azhar Ali (39), Younis Khan (64) and Umar Akmal (60 not out) steered Pakistan to victory winning the two-match series 2 – 0.

Pakistan thrash poor Ireland

PAKISTAN made easy work of their first One-Day International in Belfast against Ireland with a comfortable seven-wicket victory.

Left-armed paceman Junaid Khan was the shining light for the visitors who blitzed his way through the Irish top order as the home team were dismissed for a miserable total of 96.

Khan took 4/12 as the home side collapsed from 44/1 to being dismissed for just double figures. Saeed Ajmal continued his fine form from the recent Test series against the West Indies by cleaning out the tail – finishing with 3/7.

Openers Mohammed Hafeez (52) and Taufeeq Umar (23) looked set to give Pakistan a ten-wicket victory but three consolation wickets for Ireland reduced the winning margin.

Ireland will be hoping for a much improved display and result in the second and final ODI between the two sides on Monday (May 30).

 

Afridi to miss Ireland series

SHAHID Afridi will miss Pakistan’s two-match ODI series against Ireland due to personal reasons, it has been confirmed.

The allrounder has decided not to play a part in the upcoming series starting on Saturday (May 30) in-order to spend time with his ill father.

Afridi’s pull out comes less than a week after the squad was announced when it was revealed he had not been selected as captain – losing the privilege to Misbah-ul-Haq.

Pakistan draw series with convincing win

PAKISTAN have won the second Test against the West Indies in St Kitts to draw the series 1 – 1.

The toursists completed a ruthless 196-run victory just before lunch earlier today to level the series after their first Test defeat in Guyana just over a week ago.

With West Indies starting the day in huge trouble on 130/5 needing a further 297 runs to win, the result of this contest was never in doubt as spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman looked to finish things off quickly.

And they did dismissing the home side for 230 all out ending with the embarassing run out of Kemar Roach with two sessions spare on the fifth and final day.

Overall, the series has shown that both sides’ batting needs serious work  as runs down the order proved so vital in both matches. The low-scoring nature of these matches has shown both teams vulnerability in their top order batting and playing against spin.

The West Indies missed the presence of their former captain Chris Gayle, someone who could give them a great start to their innings, but the performances of spinner Devendra Bishoo should give them huge encouragement for their upcoming home series against India.

For Pakistan, Saeed Ajmal was the star man as their leading wicket taker. Match figures of 11/11, his first ten wicket match haul, proved not enough to win the first Test but ended on the winning side in St Kitts.

But they will also take great heart from the performances of batsman Azhar Ali, Taufeeq Umar and captain Misbah-ul-Haq who all made big and telling contributions in their victory here.

Pakistan on verge of victory

PAKISTAN will need just five more wickets to claim victory and square the two-match Test series against the West Indies.

Yesterday (Monday) proved to be another day of domination for the tourists, which saw captain Misbah-ul-Haq register his third Test century (102 not out) and opener Taufeeq Umar score his fifth hundred (135), as the West Indies were given a daunting total of 427 to win after Pakistan declared on 377/6.

And by the close of play, Pakistan were halfway there in the wickets count reducing the home side to a miserable 130/5 – still needing 297 runs with only five wickets left in the hutch.

The West Indies got their chase off to the worst possible start when debutant Kraigg Braithwaite was dismissed for a duck by Tanvir Ahmed.

Spinner Abdur Rehman was the pick of the bowlers claiming three wickets – that of Lendl Simmons, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels to put the away side firmly in the driving seat.

Taufeeq shows his class as tourists build lead

AN UNBEATEN 97 from opening batsman Taufeeq Umar has given his team full control as Pakistan built a useful lead in the second Test at St Kitts.

At the close of play Taufeeq was three runs short of his fifth Test hundred as the tourists ended on 202/3 – a lead of 251 with seven wickets remaining.

Azhar Ali also continued his good form in the match scoring 53 following the 67 he made in the first innings. 

With plenty of wickets in hand, Pakistan look set to get a lead which surely would prove too much for the West Indies to reach and therefore level the series at 1 – 1.

Earlier in the day, the West Indies tail ragged to get them up to 223 – 49 runs adrift from Pakistan’s first innings total of 272.

The tourists final wicket partnership of 76 between Tanvir Ahmed and Saeed Ajmal on Saturday has proved so vital for them and has probably been the factor to decide victory and defeat.

Spinners dominate again as West Indies struggle

A POOR batting performance from the West Indies has given Pakistan control of the second Test at St Kitts.

The home side closed on 186/8 still 86 runs adrift from Pakistan’s first innings total after the lower order batsman came to the tourists rescue in the morning session.

In what has been a rather unpredictable series, the tourists managed to grind their way to a par score of 272 all out – largely thanks to a last wicket partnership of 78 between Tanvir Ahmed (57) and Saeed Ajmal (23 not out) which resulted in mass frustration for the home side.

And Pakistan took that momentum into their bowling as early wickets put the home side under huge pressure. Opening batsman Lendl Simmons went without troubling the scorers and debutant Kraigg Braithwaite scored 15 before being caught at slip.

Again its was Pakistan’s spinners causing all the problems with Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman taking two wickets each and proving difficult to face for the West Indies batsman.

Top scoring for the home side was Marlon Samuels who made 57 but the loss of regular wickets throughout the day meant it was the away side taking the honours on the second day.

West Indies will be hoping for some runs down the order or else they could find themselves in big trouble.

West Indies take upper hand on rain-hit day

Second Test – West Indies v Pakistan, St Kitts – Day 1 Stumps

Pakistan 180/6

IN FORM pace bowler Ravi Rampaul ripped through the Pakistan top order as the West Indies dominated the opening day of the second Test in St Kitts.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the tourists got off to the worst possible start when Rampaul dismissed Taufeeq Umar (11), Mohammed Hafeez (8) and Asad Shafiq for a duck inside the first hour of play.

Post lunch, spinner Devendra Bishoo broke a promising partnership of 50 between Azhar Ali and skipper Misbah ul Haq as Pakistan looked to rebuild their innings from the poor start. Misbah looking to attack failed to get hold of one and Marlon Samuels took a simple catch at mid on before rain halted play and ended the session.

After tea, Ali and Umar Akmal carried the fight on as the tourists looked like getting back into the match before the players were off the field again because of the rain.

But when the rain stopped the return to play did no favours for the away side as two late wickets fell to give the West Indies the edge. 

Pakistan lost their fifth wicket Umar Akmal skied a ball to third man from captain Darren Sammy’s bowling and the late and disastrous run-out of Azhar Ali was a big blow as the tourists ended the day in a precarious position at 180/6.

Before the start of play, the home side were dealt a blow when they learnt Shivnarine Chanderpaul had to be ruled out because of injury – Marlon Samuels was chosen as his replacement.