Injured Mills to miss series opener against Pakistan

September 27th, 2009 CENTURION - Pakistan middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik has refused to open the innings in case the team management decides to send him up the batting order as the regular openers have not been so successful in the ongoing Champions Trophy, The News reports. According to sources privy to the Pakistani dressing room, Malik is reluctant to open the innings which has forced the team management to drop Misbah-ul Haq in order to accommodate captain Younis Khan.

September 26th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan will host a limited overs series against New Zealand in UAE Nov 3-13, the country's cricket board announced Saturday. According to the itinerary announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pakistan will host New Zealand for a three-match One-day International (ODI) series in Abu Dhabi Nov 3-9 following by two Twenty20 Internationals in Dubai Nov 12 and 13.

September 25th, 2009 LONDON - The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has released the itinerary for Pakistan's 'home' series against Australia which is to be played in England in 2010. The ECB has also announced the dates of the home Test and one-day series which the English team is scheduled to play against Bangladesh, Australia and Pakistan next year.

September 15th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan's Test discard Faisal Iqbal will lead the national team in the Hong Kong Sixes Tournament 2009 starting Oct 31. A nephew of former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad, Faisal recently led Pakistan A team on its tour of Sri Lanka.

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.

September 2nd, 2009 WELLINGTON - New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Mills doubts that skipper Daniel Vettori's new role as a national selector will harm his relationship with the players. Vettori and head coach Andy Moles officially became members of the four-man selection panel on Tuesday after New Zealand Cricket (NZC) heeded the duo's desire for a more hands-on role in team selection.

August 29th, 2009 LAHORE - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has assured Pakistan that international cricket would return to the troubled nation as soon as it is safe to for the foreign teams to return there. ICC President David Morgan said international cricket will return to Pakistan as soon as it is 'safe' and 'secure' for the game to be played there.

August 29th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan might host New Zealand in a one-day international series in United States or Malaysia if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fails to convince the UAE cricket authorities regarding hosting the matches in that country. "These are available options for us although our first preference is to have the series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai," a PCB official said.

August 28th, 2009 LAHORE/LONDON - Pakistan will play a 'home' Test series against Australia in England next year. It will also play a series against England.

August 17th, 2009 KARACHI - New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has demanded $750,000 from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host the three-match Test series in November. The series was supposed to be played in Pakistan but was relocated because of security apprehensions.

August 7th, 2009 KARACHI - With four Pakistani players injured, the current Twenty20 world champions may not be able to put their fittest foot forward during their face-off with Sri Lanka in Colombo on August 12. The News quoted Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam, as saying that the team management has decided not to call for replacements for theTwenty20 game.

June 28th, 2009 COLOMBO - The Sri Lanka cricket authority has made foolproof security arrangements for the visiting Pakistan cricket team, as it does not a repeat of the Lahore terror attack in which six Sri Lankan players were injured. Spokesman of the Sri Lanka team, Charith Senanayake said military security have been hired by the board to safeguard the visitors.

June 20th, 2009 AUCKLAND - New Zealand Cricket Players' Association chief Heath Mills said pre-tour security inspection of major cricket countries in the world should become a standard practice. New Zealand is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in August and September.

June 5th, 2009 NOTTINGHAM - India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni indicated Friday that his star performers Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan are almost certain to miss the opening game against Bangladesh in the World Twenty20 here Saturday. Opening batsman Sehwag and pace spearhead Zaheer are suffering from shoulder injuries.

May 27th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australia will play six Tests, 10 one-day internationals and three Twenty20s against the West Indies and Pakistan in 2009-2010. According to the Herald Sun, the summer will open with three Test matches against the West Indies, followed by three against Pakistan, the first in Australia since 2004-05.