From World T20 high, Pakistan come down to Galle low

September 14th, 2009 KARACHI - Former Pakistan cricket captain Javed Miandad said Monday Pakistan is blessed with the best bowling attack in the world and can beat any team provided the squad overcomes its batting problems. "I think Pakistan has one of the best bowling attacks in the world and if they improve their batting they can win the Champions Trophy," The Nation quoted Miandad, who has coached Pakistan in three previous stints in the past, as saying.

August 13th, 2009 KARACHI - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday appointed former captain Javed Miandad as its batting consultant following the national team's disastrous tour of Sri Lanka this summer. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said Miandad has been asked to help Pakistans struggling batsmen ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy that gets under way in South Africa from Sep 22.

August 13th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan blind cricket team has been refused visas by the British High Commission in Islamabad. According to a press release of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), the British High Commission denied giving visas to the blind cricketers following which their tour to England was cancelled.

August 12th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan captain Younis Khan has defended Mohammad Yousuf in spite of his below-par showing in the recently-concluded one-day series against Sri Lanka, saying that the premier batsman will take his time to adjust to the demands of international cricket. Younis said Wednesday that Yousuf has returned after a gap of over a year, and that there is a big difference between playing the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and international cricket.

August 8th, 2009 KARACHI - Following the Pakistan cricket team's dismal Sri Lankan tour, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to overhaul the team management. The News quoted PCB sources, as saying that the team's manager and assistant manager are likely to be sacked, while the coach and captain will be asked for an explanation once the team returns home on August 13.

July 27th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has vehemently denied rumours of divisions in his team, saying he would step down if such a problem existed. In an emotional interview to Daily Jang Monday, Younis stressed that there were no problems in the Pakistan team and speculations of infighting in the dressing room are being spread by some people with vested interest.

July 13th, 2009 KARACHI - Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq fears the internal rift in the national cricket team could be one of the reason behind their below-par performance in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka. Inzamam also felt that skipper Younis Khan is making no efforts to bring the team together.

July 10th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for dissolving the national senior and junior selection committees, and said that the board has made a mockery of the country in the cricket world. "The way the selection committee issue was handled it made us a laughing stock in world cricket," The Nation quoted Haq, as saying.

July 7th, 2009 GALLE - Pakistan captain Younis Khan today said that team's lack of Test cricket-just three Tests in the last 18 months -- had proved costly, as they slumped to a 50-run defeat by Sri Lanka in the first test in Galle. "I never thought we would lose this game because we needed only 97 runs today with eight wickets in hand.

July 6th, 2009 KARACHI - Comeback man Mohammad Yousuf rated his century against Sri Lanka in the Galle cricket Test as the most valuable knock in his career. After hitting a superb ton on his return to international cricket on the second day of the first Test Sunday, the Pakistani batsman vowed to continue his prolific run.

July 4th, 2009 COLOMBO - Veteran Sri Lankan cricketer Chaminda Vaas has decided to retire from Test cricket, chief selector Asantha de Mel said Saturday. The 35-year-old left-arm bowler, who has served Sri Lanka at the top level for 15 years, will however be available for the One-Day Internationals (ODI) and Twenty20 cricket, the official said.

July 1st, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistans Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for losing the 2011 World Cup hosting rights. After a meeting with Pakistan Sports Board in Islamabad, Jilani told reporters that those steering Pakistan cricket were responsible for failure to bring the World Cup 2011 matches back to the country.

July 1st, 2009 KARACHI - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given the green signal to the security arrangements being made for the safety of its cricketers in Sri Lanka. Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said Wednesday that he was personally satisfied with the security cover being offered to the national team which begins its 45-day tour of Sri Lanka June 29.

June 29th, 2009 KARACHI - Six months after being dumped as Pakistan captain, senior all-rounder Shoaib Malik is struggling to keep his place in Pakistans Test line-up. According to sources, Pakistan team management is finding it increasingly difficult to offer Malik a place in the playing line-up as a genuine all-rounder and might play him as an opener in the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Galle from July 4.

June 14th, 2009 LONDON - Lancashire have confirmed that they are willing to stage Pakistan's "home" Test matches next summer. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) post terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March, coupled with ongoing instability in Pakistan, has been looking for alternative venues for its 2010 series.