Pakistan v New Zealand in 2nd ODI at Abu Dhabi today

Pakistan and New Zealand will feature in the second ODI at Abu Dhabi today. 

Pakistan leads the series 1-0 and a win here will give them an unassailable lead in the three-game series. 

The first game on the same ground had seen Pakistan pile up 287 after batting first on a track that was marginally slow to bat on and on which 200 was said to be a fighting total. 

That also underlined the problems that the New Zealand side faced with their bowling attack in the game, having lost Kyle Mills and James Franklin to injuries before the game. 

And with Pakistan possessing an attack that looks to be one of the better ones in the world, Coral offers 1/2 for their win as compared to 7/4 (888Sport) for the Kiwis to go into the final game with the series alive.

The Pakistani selection in the first game came as a surprise to many an expert. 

Khalid Latif (5/1 at Ladbrokes to top the batting for his side) was preferred as the opener and he went on to bat through 40 overs for his half century. 

He looked like having got the top score for the innings, till Shahid Afridi (8/1 at Betfred to be Pakistan’s best batsman) and Kamran Akmal (7/1 at 888Sport to be Pakistan’s batsman) upset the Kiwi bowlers’ calculations. 

The pair played two of the best innings in the ODI format under the circumstances, and the strike-rates of almost 150 each meant that the Pakistanis managed to get to their extraordinary total. 

Despite Younus Khan’s woeful touch with the bat – he was dismissed for a duck by Shane Bond – Boylesports has him as the favourite – 4/1 – to top the Pakistani batting line-up.

The New Zealand batting was listless. 

Except for a grinding innings of 52 by Aaron Redmond (5/1 at Totesport to top the Kiwi batting), and a usual face-saving effort of 38 by their skipper Daniel Vettori (12/1 at Betfred to top the batting), the rest of the batting fell away. 

Brendon McCullum (4/1 at Sky Bet to top the New Zealand batting) had been one of the strongest hitters of the cricket ball, but he has been going through a rather lean patch; probably caught between the want to play his natural game and bat through the innings. 

It will need McCullum to fire along with the bookies’ favourite to be the best batsman for New Zealand, Ross Taylor (7/2 at Coral) for them to have any hope of squaring the series.

Pakistan win the 2009 T20 Cricket World Cup

After defeating an invincible Sri Lankan team, Pakistan have risen to become the world champions in the T20 Cricket World Cup.

Amid roars of ‘Pakistan Zindabad!’ and ‘Boom Boom Afridi!’ at the historic grounds of Lord’s, Shahid Afridi’s sensible yet electrifying batting took Pakistan Cricket to new heights.

People in Lahore and throughout Pakistan are celebrating on the streets, in their homes and at dozens of public screenings. Sweets, crackers, fireworks, and shouts of Boom Boom Afridi heard everywhere.

So much for a nation sunk in depression and conflict for so long; we badly needed this victory… :)

Pakistan Zindabad!

Pakistan v New Zealand 1st ODI

Pakistan beat New Zealand by 138 runs

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat

Pakistan Innings

287 for 9 (50.0 overs)

New Zealand Innings

149 all out (39.2 overs)

Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Khalid Latif hit half-centuries to help Pakistan reach 287-9 in the first day-night international against New Zealand at Abu Dhabi Stadium here on Tuesday.

Dashing all-rounder Afridi hit a quickfire 50-ball 70 and opener Latif a snail-paced 64 to help Pakistan recover from a precarious 75-4 after Younus Khan won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch.

Akmal gave the innings final touches with a belligerent 43-ball 67 laced with four sixes and five boundaries as Pakistan ran rampage, collecting 107 in the last ten overs.

Afridi, vice captain of the side, was instrumental in initially stepping up the run-rate with his bold hitting as he smashed three sixes and four boundaries during his 30th half-century.

He added 101 runs for the fifth wicket with Latif after New Zealand paceman Shane Bond dismissed opener Salman Butt and Younus -- both without scoring -- in his incisive five-over spell.

Latif, who scored 19 in his only previous one-day in January last year, was also involved in a 57-run stand for the third wicket with Mohammad Yousuf, who shaped well for his 30 before being run out.

Afridi hit Vettori for a six before smashing two off successive deliveries off Nathan McCullum. He hit Bond for a straight drive to reach half-century off 36 deliveries, his first after 33 matches.

Afridi's last ODI fifty came against Zimbabwe at Multan last year.

Paceman Jacob Oram finally got Afridi off a miscued shot, caught at short fine-leg in the 39th over to break a repair-damaging partnership. Latif followed, bowled by Vettori's viscious arm ball two overs later.

Latif hit only two boundaries during his 112-ball knock.

Kamran's innings was special as he made full use of the power-play, and added 86 off just 37 balls for the seventh wicket with Abdul Razzaq, who made 20-ball 26.

The three-match one-day series was relocated to Abu Dhabi after New Zealand refused to tour Pakistan over security fears.

Watch Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st ODI Live

Watch Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st ODI Live

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Younis urges Pakistan to improve fielding in NZ series

Pakistan captain Younis Khan is looking forward to an improved fielding performance from his team in the three-match one-day series against New Zealand starting here from Tuesday.

Fielding let Pakistan down when the two teams met in last month's semi-final of the Champions Trophy in South Africa, where Younus himself dropped a sitter off Grant Elliott which cost his team dearly.

"We need to field very well, and this is one area where we need improvement as New Zealand have a clear edge on us in this department," said Younis during the unveiling of the series on Monday.

Historically, Pakistan is one of the lower ranked teams when it comes to fielding, and Younus was quick to point out the grey area.

"We suffer a lot because of fielding but boys have shown inclination to improve fielding and I am sure this series will not only see them bat well, bowl well, but also field well," said Younis.

"They (New Zealand) are a very dangerous side and we have to be at our best in all three departments to beat them. They have quality players so it would be 50-50 when we start the series."

Pakistan was forced to relocate the series out of their country after New Zealand refused to tour them following terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team in March this year.

The attacks, which killed eight people and left seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured, ended all hopes of Pakistan staging any international cricket in the foreseeable future.

The remaining two one-day matches will be played here on November 6 and 9 before the two teams move to Dubai to play two Twenty20 internationals on November 12 and 13.

After this limited over series, the two teams will play three Tests in New Zealand, also scheduled to be played in Pakistan but moved over security fears.

New Zealand, already depleted by the injuries to opener Jesse Ryder, all-rounder Elliott and pace spearhead Daryl Tuffey -- all missing from the tour, face a wait on paceman Kyle Mills, nursing a shoulder injury.

"Mills is doubtful with a sore shoulder, but we have Tim Southee who can fill in if Mills doesn't play," said Daniel Vettori, who will also be acting coach after Andy Moles resigned following differences with players last month.

Vettori said his team is keen to carry on the momentum built in the Champions Trophy where they finished runners-up to Australia.

"It was good to reach here a week before the start of the series and we are determined to build on the good work achieved in the Champions Trophy," said Vettori, whose team is on a five match (one-day) winning sequence against Pakistan.

Vettori confirmed Brendon McCullum will open the innings despite his recent failures and suggestions that he should bat down the order.

"If the pitch here in Abu Dhabi is the same as we had in Dubai, then it will produce a lot of runs and we will go with Brendon opening the innings, and hope to put good total on the board."

Confident Pakistan leave to Dubai to face New Zealand

Pakistan's 16-man cricket squad left for Dubai early Friday with coach Intikhab Alam confident his team can beat New Zealand in the limited-over series.

Pakistan will play three one-day internationals on November 3, 6, 9 in Abu Dhabi and two Twenty20 internationals on November 12 and 13 in Dubai, in a series relocated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over security fears.

Alam said his team was aiming for a series win.

"Confidence is high and if we play to our potential we can win the series," Alam told reporters at Lahore airport. "We have been doing well in one-day cricket and I hope the good work will continue."

Younus Khan leads the one-day squad, while all-rounder Shahid Afridi will take over for the Twenty20 internationals.

Also leaving the squad after the one-day matches will be opener Salman Butt, Mohammad Yousuf and Wahab Riaz. Imran Nazir, Fawad Alam and Sohail Tanveer will join the 15-man Twenty20 squad.

After the UAE series, Pakistan will fly to New Zealand for three Tests. The series was also originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan but relocated after their rivals refused to tour owing to the security fears.

Younus will return to lead the Test squad.

One-day squad: Younis Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Umer Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz

Pakistan vs New Zealand 2009

Pakistan vs New Zealand in UAE 2009 schedule, Kiwis in Abu-Dhabi and Dubai from November 03-13, 2009 and played three One-day international match and two twenty20 games against Pakistan. Read all information about NZ v Pak series schedule.

Pakistan v New Zealand

Nov-2009
Tue 03  11:00 GMT, 15:00 local	1st ODI - Pakistan v New Zealand Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Fri 06  11:00 GMT, 15:00 local	2nd ODI - Pakistan v New Zealand Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Mon 09  11:00 GMT, 15:00 local	3rd ODI - Pakistan v New Zealand Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Thu 12  15:00 GMT, 19:00 local	1st T20I - Pakistan v New Zealand Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Fri 13  15:00 GMT, 19:00 local	2nd T20I - Pakistan v New Zealand Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Controversies of Pakistan Cricket Team

During the fourth Test against England at the Oval on August 20, 2006, ball tampering accusations were made against the Pakistani team, which resulted in the team forfeiting the match. On the fourth day of the Test, during England's second innings, the ball began to late reverse swing for Umar Gul in particular, resulting in him dismissing Alastair Cook LBW to an inswinging yorker. Four overs later, on examining the ball, umpire Darrell Hair decided there was evidence that the ball had been tampered with. He consulted with the other umpire, Billy Doctrove, and penalised the Pakistani team for interfering with the condition of the ball, awarding five runs to England. Following the playing conditions for that Test, the England batsmen were allowed to choose a replacement ball from a selection of six provided. Although play continued until the end of the afternoon session, the Pakistani team decided in principle, not to reappear at the start of the third session. This decision was made in protest of what they believed to be an unjust and insensitive decision. However Pakistan's claim that the ball had been damaged by being hit to the boundary - and for six - is not entirely credible.The ball in question had not been hit for four during the previous three overs, and was never hit for six. As a result of the Pakistani team's failure to appear at the field, the umpires awarded the test to England, cricket's first and only forfeiture till July 2008 when the cricket's international governing body International Cricket Council (ICC) changed the result of the test from an English win to a draw (it was then restored to an England win in February 2009). The Pakistani team was cleared of any wrongdoing when further proceedings saw captain Inzamam-ul-Haq found not guilty of ball tampering. However, the team's protest led to him being banned for four games on the charge of bringing the game of cricket into disrepute.

Immediately following the ball tampering controversy was the news that its front-line pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif had both tested positive for Nandrolone, a banned anabolic steroid. Though both denied any substance abuse, on November 1, 2006 both Akhtar and Asif were banned for a period of 2 years and 1 year respectively. However, both bowlers were successful in their appeals with the earlier bans being revoked. The World Anti-Doping Agency made an appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the revoking of this ban.[37] However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later dropped the case, ruling it had no jurisdiction to challenge the decision made by PCB.

Reverse swing

Reverse Swing

Reverse swing was first discovered by Sarfraz Nawaz in the 1970s, who then passed it on to another Pakistani bowler, Imran Khan. Khan mastered reverse swing and the evidence of reverse swing by him was seen in 1983 in a Test match against India at Karachi, where he took 5 wickets in 25 balls. Imran Khan subsequently passed this skill on to Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram who are considered to have been the finest exponents of the art.

On Pakistan's 1992 tour of England, England had no answer to the reverse swing, a new phenomenon to them. Pakistan won the series 2-1. The series was controversial one as the Pakistani team were accused of ball tampering, particularly by the English media. However, it was later conceded that the Pakistani bowlers were simply ahead of their time. Following this episode, reverse swing expanded around the cricket world and more bowlers, including those from England, mastered the art.

Records of Pakistani Cricketers

Batsmen

Hanif Mohammad scored 337 against the West Indies in 1958, the first triple hundred by an Asian cricketer, and at the time the longest innings by any batsman in terms of time spent at the wicket.

Hanif Mohammad also held the record for the highest individual first class innings for just over 35 years, 499 runs, until Brian Lara scored 501 for Warwickshire in 1994.

Saeed Anwar holds the record for the highest ODI score, 194, which he scored against the Indian cricket team at Chennai in 1997.

In 2006,Mohammad Yousuf achieved the record for the most Test match runs in a calendar year (1788), the most centuries in a calendar year (nine) and the most centuries in successive tests (six centuries in five successive tests).

Shahid Afridi holds the record for the fastest ODI century, reaching the milestone off just 37 balls and also the third fastest ODI century (45 balls).

Inzamam-ul-Haq and Javed Miandad are the most prolific Pakistani batsmen.

Inzamam Ul Haq has made the 4th highest ODI runs.

Zaheer Abbas has got the 5th highest ODI runs Average.

Bowlers

Wasim Akram took 502 ODI wickets, an ODI record ,which has since been broken by Muttiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka.

Shoaib Akhtar holds the record for the fastest delivery recorded, clocked at 100.2 mph.

Saqlain Mushtaq is credited with inventing the off-spinner's delivery known as the "doosra."

Saqlain Mushtaq also holds the record for being the fastest to reach 100, 150, 200 and 250 wickets in ODI cricket.

Umar Gul holds the record for best T20 match figures , taking 5 wickets for 6 runs against New Zealand in the ICC World International T20 Tornament 2009

Imran Khan holds the bowling average of 22.81 and Shabbir Ahmed holds the bowling average of 23.03

Waqar Younis has taken the 3rd highest ODI Wickets.

Wasim Akram has taken the 2nd highest ODI Wickets. Wasim Also has taken the 9th Highest Test Wickets.

Governing body of Pakistan Cricket Board

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is responsible for all first class and Test cricket played in Pakistan and by the Pakistan cricket team. It was admitted to the International Cricket Council in July 1953. The corporation has been run by former cricketers, professional administrators and trustees, who are often respected businessmen. The Board governs a network of teams sponsored by corporations and banks, city associations and clubs including advertising, broadcasting rights and internet partners.

After taking heavy flak for corruption and match fixing, the PCB re-emerged by taking the initiative to sponsor the wildly successful 2004 tour of Pakistan by arch rivals India. The PCB's experiment with the Twenty20 cricket model has also proven popular and hopes to similarly revive popular interest in domestic games,which it did. The PCB also set up major domestic competitions such as the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and the ANZ Trophy.

History of Pakistan Cricket Team

Following the Partition of India in 1947, and the establishment of the separate nation state of Pakistan, cricket in the country developed steadily and Pakistan was given Test Match status at a meeting of the Imperial Cricket Conference at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 28, 1952 following recommendation by India,[6] which, being the successor state of the British Raj, did not have to go through such a process. The first captain of the Pakistan national cricket team was Abdul Kardar

Pakistan’s first Test match was played in Delhi in October 1952 as part of a five Test series which India won 2-1. Pakistan made their first tour of England in 1954 and drew the series 1-1 after a memorable victory at The Oval in which fast bowler Fazal Mahmood took 12 wickets. Pakistan’s first home Test match was in Dacca in January 1955 against India, after which four more Test matches were played in Bahawalpur, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi (all five matches in the series were drawn, the first such occurrence in test history[7]).

Pakistan playing against Australia at Lord's.

The team is considered a strong but unpredictable team. Traditionally Pakistani cricket has been filled with players of great talent but limited discipline, making them a team which could play inspirational cricket one day and then perform less than ordinarily another day. Over the years, competitions between India and Pakistan have always been emotionally charged and provide for intriguing contests, as talented teams from both sides of the border elevate their game to new levels to produce high-quality cricket. Pakistani contest with India in the Cricket World Cup have seen packed stadiums and elevated atmospheres no matter where the World Cup has been held.

The 1986 Australasia Cup, played in Sharjah, is remembered as a famous last-ball victory for Pakistan against arch-rivals India, with Javed Miandad emerging as a national hero.[8] India batted first and set a target of 245 runs, leaving Pakistan with a required run rate of 4.92 runs per over. Javed Miandad came in to bat at number 3, and Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals. Later recalling the match, Miandad stated that his main focus was to lose with dignity. With 31 runs needed in the last three overs, Miandad hit a string of boundaries while batting with his team's lower order, until four runs were required from the last delivery of the match. Miandad received a leg side full toss from Chetan Sharma, which he hit for six over the midwicket boundary.[8][9]

At the 1992 World Cup Semi Final, having won the toss New Zealand chose to bat first and ended with a total of 262. Pakistan batted conservatively yet lost wickets at regular intervals. With the departure of Imran Khan and Saleem Malik shortly thereafter, Pakistan still required 115 runs at a rate of 7.67 per over with veteran Javed Miandad being the only known batsman remaining at the crease. A young Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had just turned 22 and was not a well-known player at the time, burst onto the international stage with a match-winning 60 off 37 balls. Once Inzamam got out, Pakistan required 36 from 30 balls, which wicketkeeper Moin Khan ended with a towering six over long off, followed by the winning boundary to midwicket. The match is seen as the emergence of Inzamam onto the international stage.[10][11][12]

The 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand marked Pakistan's first World Cup victory. It is remembered for the comeback Pakistan made after losing key players such as Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar, and being led by an injured captain in Imran Khan. Pakistan lost 4 of their first 5 matches and were nearly eliminated in the first round of the tournament after being bowled out for 74 against England, until the match was declared as a "no result" due to rain. Captain Imran Khan famously told the team to play as "cornered tigers", after which Pakistan won five successive matches, including, most famously, the semi-final against hosts New Zealand and the final against England.[13]

The 2007 Cricket World Cup was one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when Pakistan was knocked out of the competition in a shock defeat to Ireland, who were playing in their first competition. Pakistan, needing to win to qualify for the next stage after losing to the West Indies in their opening match, were put into bat by Ireland on a green pitch. They lost wickets regularly and only 4 batsmen crossed double figures. In the end they were bowled out by the resurgent Irish for 132. The Irish went on to win the match, helped by a knock of 72 from Niall O'Brien. This meant that Pakistan had been knocked out during the first round for the second consecutive World Cup.[14][15][16] Tragedy struck the team when coach Bob Woolmer died one day later on March 18, 2007 in a hospital in Kingston, Jamaica. Jamaican police spokesman, Karl Angell, reported on March 23, 2007 that, "Mr Woolmer's death was due to asphyxiation as a result of manual strangulation", and that, "Mr Woolmer's death is now being treated by the Jamaica police as a case of murder."[17] Assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed acted as temporary coach for the team's final group game of the tournament.[18] Subsequent to his team's defeat and the death of Woolmer, Inzamam-ul-Haq announced his resignation as captain of the team and his retirement from one-day cricket, stating that he would continue to take part in Test cricket but not as captain.[19] Shoaib Malik was announced as his successor.[20] Following his return to the squad, Salman Butt was appointed as vice-captain until December 2007.[21]

On March 23, 2007, Pakistan players and officials were questioned by Jamaican police and submitted DNA samples along with fingerprints, as part of the routine enquiries in the investigation into Woolmer's murder.[22] Three days after leaving the West Indies for Pakistan, via London, the Pakistan team were ruled out as suspects. The deputy commissioner of Jamaican police. Mark Shields, the detective in charge of the investigation, announced, "It's fair to say they are now being treated as witnesses." "I have got no evidence to suggest it was anybody in the squad."[23] A memorial service was held in Sacred Heart Church, Lahore, for Bob Woolmer on April 1, 2007. Among the attendees were Pakistan players and dignitaries, including Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was quoted as saying, "After Woolmer's family, the Pakistan team was the most aggrieved by his death."[24] After the World Cup ended, serious doubts were raised about the investigation, with increasing speculation that Woolmer died of natural causes. This has now been accepted as fact, and the case has been closed.[25] Pakistan Qualified for Final Of T20 2009 beating SouthAfrica by 7 runs in 1st semifinal.

Lasith Malinga bowling for Sri Lanka in the ICC World Twenty20 Final against Pakistan at Lord's.

On April 20, 2007, a PCB official announced that former Test cricketer Talat Ali would act as interim coach, in addition to his role as team manager, until a new coach had been appointed.[26] On July 16, 2007, Geoff Lawson, previously head coach of New South Wales, was appointed coach of the Pakistan for two years, becoming the third foreigner to take on the role.[27] In the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, Pakistan exceeded expectations to reach the final but ended as runners-up, after losing the final to India in a nail-biting finish. On 25 October 2008, Intikhab Alam was named as a national coach of the team by the PCB.

On 21 June 2009 Pakistan won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, beating Sri Lanka in the final by eight wickets. Pakistan had begun the tournament slowly losing two of their first three matches but after dismissing New Zealand for 99 in the Super 8 stage they had a run of four consecutive wins including beating previously unbeaten South Africa, in the semi-final, and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan national cricket team

The Pakistan National Cricket Team is an international cricket team representing Pakistan. It is administrated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Pakistan is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status.

Pakistan are the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 champions, ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup champions twice in 2004 and in 2006 making them the first and the only team to become Back-to Back champions in the U19 Cricket World Cup tournaments and they are also the current ICC World Twenty20 2009 champions. Pakistan have been semi finalist 3 times in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000, 2004 and 2009.

Before the independence of Pakistan, cricket was played before the first Pakistan national team was granted test match playing status. Documentation and archives show that during the 18th century, cricket was played on the western side of India and many successful Indian cricketers played for the English cricket team.[2] It was not until July 28, 1952 that Pakistan started playing test match cricket. Their first match took place in Delhi against India on October of the same year. Their first international tour was to England during 1954. Over the half century, Pakistan has become one of the most challenging and unpredictable teams in the world, the team won the 1992 World Cup and were runners up in the 1999 World Cup. The country has produced several world-class players.[3]

As of October 2007, the Pakistani team has played 332 Test matches, winning 30.29%, losing 26.76% and drawing 42.94% of its games.[4] The team is ranked sixth in the ICC Test Championship and fourth place in the ICC ODI Championship.[5] On August 28, 2006, Pakistan won its debut Twenty20 International match in England and were runners up in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in September 2007. They are the current ICC World Twenty20 champions, beating Sri Lanka on 21 June 2009 by eight wickets.