Younis Khan: Thought about retirement after being dropped from ODIs against Australia

Pakistan’s man-of-the-series against Australia, Younis Khan, said he thought of retiring after being dropped unceremoniously from the one-day squad last month.

“Yes the thought of retirement crossed my mind. I was so disappointed and upset at being dropped for the one-day series,” Younis said. “But my family and my friends told me you must not give in and try to do something for the country,” he said on Geo Super channel.

The senior batsman, who left an undeniable mark in Pakistan’s 2-0 victory over Australia in the Test series which concluded today, said his anger stemmed from the fact that he was sidelined by selectors after just one match. “I got a chance to play just one match in 18 months in Sri Lanka and I had to return owing to a family tragedy so when they dropped me for the one-day series against Australia I was upset and thought about retirement.”

Younis said he was hurt when selectors talked about him not featuring in their ICC World Cup 2015 plans. “It hurts because if a player like me is not part of the future plans then what can other players say.”  Younis said the incident was now a thing of the past and he has moved on. He dismissed comparisons between his batting averages in Test and one-day cricket which is around 53 and 31.

“The reason for this is because in one-day cricket I have never concentrated on my own performance or getting big scores I have always tried to play my role in getting a win for the team. Yes playing in the World Cup is a big dream for me and I want to play a similar role that Javed or Inzamam played the last time we won the ’92 World Cup,” he said.

Younis also praised batting coach Grant Flower in his success as a batsman. “It would be unfair not to mention the contribution of Grant Flower in this series win and our batting performances. Grant played a huge role in helping all the batsman play the way they did against Australia.”

The former captain said when he reached Dubai, the Zimbabwean had spent six-to-eight hours a day with him for a week at the nets working on his and other player’s batting. “I thank him for the support and help he gave me. It would be unfair not to mention his name while appreciating everyone’s contribution.”

Younis also spoke about the role of Misbah-ul-Haq in the team and series. “Misbah this time was a changed person and he was coming to us for suggestions and it all worked well for us. In the end our onus was that if we failed as senior players we were answerable. But if we took a decision we must stick to it no matter what happened.”

Younis Khan: Thought about retirement after being dropped from ODIs against Australia

Misbah ul Haq was most sensible choice to lead Pakistan: Najam Sethi

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Pakistan‘s nominee for the post of International Cricket Council (ICC) President, Najam Sethi has disclosed how he had to take a firm stand to prevent Misbah-ul-Haq from being removed as captain this year.

“They were people who told me that I should look at other options but I decided to announce Misbah as captain until the World Cup 2015 because I know he is our best option to handle this team,” Sethi said on Geo News.

Sethi had rocked the Pakistan cricket community earlier this year when as chairman of the board he announced Misbah had been retained as captain until the World Cup. With the World Cup a year away they were many skeptics who felt that before the event Misbah at his age wouldn’t be able to survive in the team.

“Misbah has been our most sensible choice to lead the team because he has brought lot of calm and stability to this team in most difficult times for Pakistan cricket,” Sethi said. “But when I was Chairman they were many people who told me that it was time for a change and to move. They dropped the name of Shahid Afridi very strongly as a replacement. But I took the decision to retain Misbah because I knew he was the best person to lead this side,” Sethi said.

“I am happy that today he has vindicated this trust in him and people need to realize that he bats the way he did in the past because of the team requirements. Look when he didn’t get runs Pakistan lost that is how important a role he plays in the middle order,” Sethi said.

Sethi who voluntarily stepped down as PCB chairman and allowed the election of Shaharyar Khan to head the cricket affairs said similarly in the case of Younis Khan he had taken a stand.

“As Chairman I took the stand to back Younis. They had demoted him in the central contracts list and when they came to me and tried to justify this I told them Younis deserved the top grade and I used my powers to promote him,” Sethi said. .

Misbah ul Haq was most sensible choice to lead Pakistan: Najam Sethi

New Zealand hoping to adapt to UAE conditions for Tests against Pakistan

New Zealand cricket team is furiously trying to adapt to weather and pitch conditions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as they eye a rampant Pakistan squad, ahead of their Test series.

New Zealand start a three-day warm-up match against Pakistan A in Sharjah on Monday before going to Abu Dhabi to face Pakistan in the opening match of a three- Test series followed by two Twenty20s and five ODIs.

Star all rounder Corey Anderson made it clear that dealing with the heat and the slower wickets was their priority as they settled into a tour that would take them up to Christmas and be crucial to their World Cup preparations at the other end of summer, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Anderson said that it feels like it’s now the start of summer, as New Zealand finished another practice session under the Sharjah sun, coming off two losses and a washout at home to South Africa.

He said that they have just been adjusting to the heat and the conditions there, adding that it’s obviously a lot lower and slower. He also said that New Zealand has a bit of a challenge on their hands but he is sure they would adapt.

Anderson said that it was vital for the New Zealand batsmen to get some runs against Pakistan A and for the bowlers to get some overs under the belts. Their top order had struggled against South Africa and there would certainly be immediate pressure on that department.

Anderson also admitted that they had been watching Pakistan’s latest demolition of Australia with keen interest, the report added.

New Zealand hoping to adapt to UAE conditions for Tests against Pakistan

Shoaib Malik: I am happy match officials didn’t report me for suspect action

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has heaved a sigh of relief after the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that his bowling action has not been reported by the match officials during a recent game in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.”Malik’s action was scrutinised by the umpires and the match referee during a recent match between Malik’s ZTBL side and Karachi Dolphins after he took five wickets in the first innings. But after the umpires and match referee studied the video recordings of his bowling they found nothing wrong with action,” a PCB official confirmed.

“No report was made to the board about Malik’s bowling action and he is clear to bowl in the tournament,” the official added.

Malik, who has been in good form with the bat and ball while captaining the ZTBL bank side, said he had been concerned after media reports that his action would be reported to the board.

“I am happy now that the match officials didn’t make any report because I have been focusing on my bowling a lot now,” Malik said.

“Being an allrounder and since I play a lot of T20 cricket in foreign leagues now I know it is important to also contribute as a bowler with my off-breaks,” he insisted.

Malik has been out of favour with the Pakistani selectors since he played in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh earlier this year. His last Test appearance was in 2010, while he played his last ODI was in the Champions Trophy last year in England.

“I always remain hopeful of a comeback to the national team which is why I am playing the domestic matches and enjoying them. I know I have a lot of cricket still left in me and the national team always needs a quality all-rounder,” said Malik.

The all-rounder admitted that the recent crackdown by the ICC on bowlers with suspect actions had increased the pressure on bowlers, particularly off-spinners.

“But I have worked a lot on my action and I am satisfied with the way things are going. So far no one has ever reported me anywhere since 2006 when my action was cleared by the ICC,” he said.

Malik’s name is expected to feature in the list of 30 probables which will be sent to the ICC later this month for the World Cup.

Shoaib Malik: I am happy match officials didn’t report me for suspect action

Misbah-ul-Haq Equals Fastest Test Hundred

No one can believe, that a 40 years old guy can make a fastest Test hundred. Misbah-ul-Haq converted the fastest fifty in Test cricket just off 21 balls and register his name into the joint-fastest century off 56 balls on the fourth day in Abu Dhabi. But Misbah-ul-Haq did it brilliantly against Australia in the 2nd test at Abu Dhabi on Nov 02, 2014. Before that he done a fastest fifty in the history of test cricket. So it likes a dream that Pakistan captain holds the two respected records of test cricket, and make his name on the top of list. This is simply unbelievable for whole world, especially for Pakistan fans. He has been criticizing due to his famous word “Tuk Tuk”. A magnificent inning played by him, which he can proud himself through out his career. We should give a huge applause to Misbah for this special inning. We’re sure now he’ll get the respect as he deserve.

Fastest Hundred in The History of Test Cricket

 Fastest Fifties in the History of Test Cricket

Misbah-ul-Haq converted the fastest fifty in Test cricket – off 21 balls – into the joint-fastest century – off 56 balls – on the fourth day in Abu Dhabi on Nov 02, 2014© Getty Images

Abu Dhabi

Darren Lehmann confident of Chris Rogers’ Test team selection despite his growing age

Australia cricket team coach and selector Darren Lehmann has said that age would not be a factor for selectors regarding the playing future of Test opener Chris Rogers.

As always, the deciding factor would be runs. Rogers has struggled against pace and spin on the low, slow pitches of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) against Pakistan.

The opener has scored 88 runs at an average of 22 against Pakistan. And with a career average of 36.06 in 16 matches, the county club Victoria batsman is a realist, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Rogers has previously stated that he’s only ever a couple of low scores away from having his head on the chopping block.

Lehmann said that one would have to speak to the whole selection panel there, in light of Rogers’ Test spot. He added that from his point of view the opener has had a good 12 months.

The coach said that one talks about age but at the end of the day they want performances from all their batsmen regardless of age. He said that Rogers would be disappointed with his output in the two Test matches.

So, Lehmann added that again it’s going back to Shield cricket and getting some runs and then see whether Rogers’ in Brisbane or not.

Australia host India for a four-Test series starting in Brisbane on December 4, the report added.

Darren Lehmann confident of Chris Rogers’ Test team selection despite his growing age

Shane Watson: Open to batting in any position

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, poised to return to the national team after a prolonged injury layoff, said on Monday that he is willing to bat in any position to help his team bounce back from their poor performance against Pakistan in the ongoing Test series.

Australia lost the two-match Test series 2-0. They are staring at another defeat in the second game, needing 459 more runs with only six wickets in hand going into the fifth day of the match Monday. Watson said that he is ready to bat at the crucial No.3 batting slot and the long layoff has given him a new perspective on cricket. “I just want an opportunity to be able to play again and wherever they want me in the batting order, I’m happy to be a part of the team,” he was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Watson will play his first game for Australia since April, making a comeback from ankle and calf ailments in Wednesday’s Twenty20 series opening match against South Africa at the Adelaide Oval. “I am as fresh as I have been for a long, long time. I’m ready to play,” he said. “I love playing the game of cricket, and this break has really continued to make me realise how much I love the game and how much I love playing. So any game that is available, I want to be able to play.”

The 33-year-old said he closely watched Australia’s poor performances against Pakistan. “After everything that we have done over the last 18 months to build it up, things are never meant to go perfectly well. We have had an incredible run in the Ashes last summer and in South Africa as well. “Things always pop up at times to give you a reality check when you need it. This, certainly from afar, it looks like it has been a really big reality check for everyone,” he said. Watson said his injury enforced break has helped improve his batting technique and physical training regimes.

“I didn’t want it (the break) because I just want to play as much as I possibly can for my country. “But out of any negative situation I have always tried to find the positives and there has certainly been some positives out of it,” the Rajasthan Royals player said.

“To be able to just continue to be able to refine my batting, but also continue to look at where my physical preparation is as well … that is also the most important thing to me, to be able to stay fit.”

Shane Watson: Open to batting in any position

One Day International with featuring Eight Scores of More Than 50

It happened in Karachi in 2007-08, when Pakistan’s 347 for 5 contained five individual half-centuries and Zimbabwe‘s 243 for 7 included three 50 plus. The highest individual score in that match, although, was Younis Khan‘s 79. Australian first innings in Jaipur was, he first occasion that the top five in the batting order had all reached 50 plus in the same ODI. The match at Jaipur was only the second one-day international to feature eight scores of more than 50.

Oldest Pakistani Test Debutant

Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, who took five wickets in Pakistan’s victory over South Africa in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, was 34 years 308 days old at the start of his first match. Only one Pakistani has made his overall Test debut when older: when off spinner Miran Bakhsh was 47 when he played in two matches of their first home series, against India in 1954-55. Amir Elahi was 44 when he took part in Pakistan‘s very first Test, against India in Delhi in October 1952, but he had previously played a Test for India in Australia in 1947-48. And Gul Mohammad celebrated his 35th birthday during his only Test for Pakistan against Australia in Karachi in 1956-57 after previously winning eight caps for India. Only 11 more players, including current squad players Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Irfan, have made their Test debuts for Pakistan after turning 30.

Defeat mere by 1 Run

South Africa’s slight victory in Sharjah was the 27th occasion that a side had won an ODI by one run. It was the 3rd time it had happened to Pakistan, where they were on the wrong end of the first such result, against New Zealand in Sialkot in October 1976, and also in the most recent previous instance losing to West Indies in Bridgetown in May 2011. In between, Pakistan also managed to win one by a single run against West Indies in Sharjah in October 1991. Champions of the one-run finishes are Australia, who had won five ODIs by that slender margin; India, New Zealand and South Africa have all won four.