A tale of two teens

Two 19-year-olds have made Test centuries in the last week, both on Test debut, and both in a losing cause. Umar Akmal, younger brother of Kamran, made 129 from just 160 balls in his first ever Test innings, which he followed up with a creditable 75, the highest individual score of anyone in Pakistan’s second [...]

Read Full Post »

New Zealand vs Pakistan: Test Series Preview

The obvious point to make ahead of a New Zealand – Pakistan Test series is that the two sides have, on the face of it, diametrically opposed approaches. New Zealand are sometimes dull, usually reasonably efficient and often mediocre, whereas Pakistan are exciting, unpredictable, inconsistent and fleetingly brilliant. Recently, though, New Zealand have been through [...]

Read Full Post »

Pakistan clinch a crucial win

India versus Pakistan often fails to live up to the hype, usually because there is so much of that hype, but this had twists and turns enough to satisfy even the most jaded 50-over cynic. Shoaib Malik’s 128 from 126 balls, much of which came in partnership with Mohammad Yousuf (who himself made 87), helped [...]

Read Full Post »

Champions Trophy: Group A Preview

The second most prestigious tournament in everyone’s third-favourite format of the game is nearly here. Can you contain yourself? Here are the Group A runners and riders: Australia will no doubt have had a confidence boost from driving a steamroller over England over the latter part of the summer, but doubts remain over how they [...]

Read Full Post »

PCB Settle with ICC – sort of

The legal dispute between the PCB and the ICC has apparently reached a conclusion, with agreement seemingly reached on an out-of-court settlement. The Pakistani board look set to drop their legal action over the security-influenced decision to deny them their share of 2011 World Cup hosting rights, with chairman Ijaz Butt (“possibly the worst PCB [...]

Read Full Post »

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: One Day Series Preview

After the Test series, Sri Lanka’s first home series win against Pakistan, the two sides move on to ODIs with the tourists looking for revenge. In trying to get their own back, Pakistan will be boosted by the return of ICL exiles Naved-ul-Hasan and Imran Nazir (as well as Abdul Razzaq,back after sitting out the [...]

Read Full Post »

Pakistan’s dead cat bounce

Yesterday’s recovery from Pakistan has proved to be somewhat of a dead cat bounce, as the tourists lost their last 9 wickets for just 35 runs (only the top three made it into double figures) to allow Sri Lanka to wrap up a historic win (and their first home series win against Pakistan) within three [...]

Read Full Post »

Pakistan bounce back

After their shocking display in the first innings, Pakistan fought back in their second innings of the Second Test against Sri Lanka, closing day 2 on 178/1, having clawed back the first day’s deficit through impressive displays with both bat and ball. First, it was Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal who took the game by [...]

Read Full Post »

Pakistan collapse

Pakistan’s strong record in Sri Lanka is taking a beating. After the tourists’ collapse from a strong position in the First Test, they have managed to concede a first-innings deficit within less than a day’s play in the Second Test. Kulasekara, Thushara and Mendis all finished with impressive figures for Sri Lanka as Pakistan made [...]

Read Full Post »

The return of Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf has made a century on his return to international cricket, making 112 for Pakistan as the tourists recovered from 80/4 to earn a first-innings lead of 50 runs in the First Test at Galle. Notably, Pakistan continued to play the bowling of Ajantha Mendis well, with the spinner ending wicketless and going for [...]

Read Full Post »

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Test Series Preview

The build-up to the imminent Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan may have brought up memories of two recent meetings between the sides – the recent World Twenty20 final, and of course the sadly curtailed Test series of four months ago – but there’s change afoot for both sides. For the hosts, Kumar Sangakkara [...]

Read Full Post »

Pakistan vs Australia – in England

The ECB have announced that Pakistan will play two Tests and two Twenty20 matches (no ODIs, interestingly) against Australia in England (and possibly Wales – the venues are yet to be confirmed) next July. Previously, hosting matches in England had been considered too expensive for the PCB, but that obstacle seems to have been overcome. [...]

Read Full Post »