Ramiz wants Test 'window'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i6lJNUlq1Gxt1FDkPZ7iBCYNeRRzH7m34umro-mV_FRWQZMalNixp1F6uCtv1oMT7fQQZ0BelS1CKxDCDzTN_0DfUrLxgCnSHUW0KzMKEIPO3DnOXz97cHDZj4MtRGCUO0-xW6iDPWne/s1600/643xNxcc7671a54d9ce2cd12ca87e5d1f33ce2-ramiz.jpg.pagespeed.ic.WcMbzqFndK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="643" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i6lJNUlq1Gxt1FDkPZ7iBCYNeRRzH7m34umro-mV_FRWQZMalNixp1F6uCtv1oMT7fQQZ0BelS1CKxDCDzTN_0DfUrLxgCnSHUW0KzMKEIPO3DnOXz97cHDZj4MtRGCUO0-xW6iDPWne/s320/643xNxcc7671a54d9ce2cd12ca87e5d1f33ce2-ramiz.jpg.pagespeed.ic.WcMbzqFndK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Former Pakistan batsman Ramiz Raja has urged the International Cricket Council to set aside a two-month window solely for Test matches in a bid to preserve the longest form of the game.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> While crowds for Tests in countries such as England remain strong, Raja, a member of the influential MCC world cricket committee, fears interest in Asia is "dwindling" thanks partly to the rise of lucrative domestic Twenty20 competitions such as the Indian Premier League.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "I feel that the ICC has a decent plan in the shape of the World Test Championship," said Raja after a committee meeting at Lord's on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "There should be a window for that and everything else should stop for a period of two months so the best players are available to play Test cricket."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> He added: "It's got to get better. In Asia, for example, because of poor Test match scheduling, the interest is dwindling.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "When you go back home you are never sure if you are going to have a one-Test series, a two-Test series or whether you are going to have a Test series at all."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - 'Respect' -<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Raja said national governing bodies such as the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Pakistan Cricket Board had to play their part as well.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "You have to acknowledge and respect the status of Test match cricket and it has to come from the cricket boards, in Asia specifically.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "For example, MS Dhoni retired from Test cricket yet got the A-grade contract from the BCCI, Shahid Afridi retired from Test cricket yet got the A-grade contract from PCB.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "It is under a lot of stress in Asia but if we have a properly planned Test match championship, that's the way out of this, otherwise we will be struggling to put aside as much money as is available for the T20 leagues," Raja insisted.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Meanwhile the committee, whose members also include such illustrious names as Ricky Ponting, Brendon McCullum, Sourav Ganguly and Kumar Sangakkara, has come down against reducing Tests from five days to four days after it was suggested a shorter game might be more fan-friendly.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "Last time we met, the committee was split, with some believing we should trial four-day Test matches," said outgoing chairman Mike Brearley, the former England captain.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "This time, most of us thought, looking at the fact that over half the matches that got results last year got results in the fifth day, that we didn't want Test cricket to become more boring. So from a cricket point of view, we believe they should stay five days."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The committee also urged the ICC to move quickly to try to get cricket included for the 2024 Olympics, which will be staged in either Los Angeles or Paris.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "It is crucial to have cricket in the Olympics because the game will be introduced to many new parts of the world," said Raja.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "But for that to happen we have to present a unified front from cricket that we want to be included in the Games.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "Los Angeles would be perfect -- I played cricket there and you'd get massive crowds."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Brearley added it also be a huge boost to cricket in China as the Chinese government would inject huge funds if they had an Olympic team.

Ramiz wants Test 'window'

Former Pakistan batsman Ramiz Raja has urged the International Cricket Council to set aside a two-month window solely for Test matches in ...

Read more »

Sarfraz now Pakistan captain for all 3 formats

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC6kbCYCD4QY2O7hBdaUP1DvrjpjP1CVIA-UJTi6YVSDKID4ihHqF7LGJTie5ZDT3nfd3P-fb-vUj4gCntupOpgKuck80OCCfxvwPeEurlCm-N9G1YgIyzkhrOtV3IetnXX5a26ypgcdp/s1600/643xNx961fca99a02cdac502dbe3b0cc307794-Sarfraz.jpg.pagespeed.ic.YDoU9TwsrX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="643" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC6kbCYCD4QY2O7hBdaUP1DvrjpjP1CVIA-UJTi6YVSDKID4ihHqF7LGJTie5ZDT3nfd3P-fb-vUj4gCntupOpgKuck80OCCfxvwPeEurlCm-N9G1YgIyzkhrOtV3IetnXX5a26ypgcdp/s320/643xNx961fca99a02cdac502dbe3b0cc307794-Sarfraz.jpg.pagespeed.ic.YDoU9TwsrX.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Pakistan Tuesday rewarded Sarfraz Ahmed with the country’s Test captaincy, a fortnight after he led the national team to an elusive Champions Trophy title in England.</div> <div class="fb-quote fb_iframe_widget" fb-iframe-plugin-query="app_id=1499138263726489&container_width=1017&href=http%3A%2F%2Fen.prothom-alo.com%2Fsports%2Fnews%2F152847%2FSarfraz-now-Pakistan-captain-for-all-3-formats&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" fb-xfbml-state="rendered" style="display: inline-block; left: 150.5px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 896px;"> <span style="display: inline-block; height: 47px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom; width: 169px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" frameborder="0" height="1000px" name="f1bfd0f627d40dc" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/v2.5/plugins/quote.php?app_id=1499138263726489&channel=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2FXBwzv5Yrm_1.js%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df20e8151d48aab4%26domain%3Den.prothom-alo.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.prothom-alo.com%252Ff159e89e1770208%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=1017&href=http%3A%2F%2Fen.prothom-alo.com%2Fsports%2Fnews%2F152847%2FSarfraz-now-Pakistan-captain-for-all-3-formats&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 47px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 169px;" title="fb:quote Facebook Social Plugin" width="1000px"></iframe></span></div> <br /> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Underdogs Pakistan trounced India by a record 180-run margin in the final in London on 18 June to lift the Champions Trophy, to the shock and ecstasy of the cricket-mad country.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan named Sarfraz Test captain at a ceremony honouring the winning team hosted by prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> “I take this opportunity to announce Ahmed as our Test captain in addition to one-day and Twenty20 captain,” Khan said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> The 30-year-old will lead Pakistan in the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, likely to be held on the neutral venue of the United Arab Emirates in October.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Ahmed has already led Pakistan in nine one-day internationals since last year, winning seven and losing two. He has also led in eight Twenty20s, winning seven and losing just one.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> The Test captaincy has been vacant since Misbah-ul-Haq retired after winning a three-match Test series 2-1 in the West Indies in May this year.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Ahmed said leading Pakistan in all three formats is a great honour.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> “I am honoured to be appointed Test captain,” he said during the ceremony. “I will do my best to lift the team in all three formats and will not rest on Champions Trophy laurels.”</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Vrinda, FallbackBengaliFont, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> Sharif rewarded every member of the Trophy winning team with a prize of 10 million rupees ($100,000) while members of the team management received five million ($50,000).</div>

Sarfraz now Pakistan captain for all 3 formats

Pakistan Tuesday rewarded Sarfraz Ahmed with the country’s Test captaincy, a fortnight after he led the national team to an elusive Champ...

Read more »

Holder five-for stuns India

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4IxuLuDkLUlHKuGkdU-xZKE6A8HlF_lEzNb-BluHbF_GC9c69RPSN8MVGylI-1mZkwNpqb4EAzeEm-qXefY9wcF8sZzvXR2MJLMkubhAxiYBWYrHnqR3-as-if-Ko8TeDlyNJ_gGSaC3/s1600/64d47675df04afd2752b4625994e6d18-india.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="643" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4IxuLuDkLUlHKuGkdU-xZKE6A8HlF_lEzNb-BluHbF_GC9c69RPSN8MVGylI-1mZkwNpqb4EAzeEm-qXefY9wcF8sZzvXR2MJLMkubhAxiYBWYrHnqR3-as-if-Ko8TeDlyNJ_gGSaC3/s320/64d47675df04afd2752b4625994e6d18-india.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> West Indies captain Jason Holder led from the front with a five-wicket haul as his side snatched an 11-run win over India in the fourth one-day international in Antigua on Sunday.<br /> <br /> <br /> India came into the match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium leading 2-0 in the series and set a modest target of 190 to maintain their unbeaten run in this short campaign.<br /> <br /> <br /> But the visitors were undone by a combination of disciplined West Indies bowling and their own inexplicable lethargy at the crease.<br /> <br /> <br /> That pedestrian progress was typified by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's painstaking innings of 54 off 114 deliveries -- the slowest of his 64 ODI half-centuries -- before he fell off the last ball of the 49th over bowled by Kesrick Williams.<br /> <br /> <br /> That left India needing 15 runs off the final over with only two wickets in hand.<br /> <br /> <br /> It was Williams' only success of a miserly 10-over spell but proved critical as Holder sealed the win which keeps the series alive heading into the fifth and final match in Kingston on Thursday.<br /> <br /> <br /> He dismissed Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami in the space of four balls to finish with five for 27, his best-ever ODI figures as India folded for 178.<br /> <br /> <br /> "At the halfway stage there were a few heads dropping in the dressing room but it took a big effort and I'm really pleased to play a part in keeping us in the series," said Holder after receiving the man of the match award.<br /> <br /> <br /> "We targeted getting wickets at the front to challenge their other batters who haven't had much work to do of late. It worked this time."<br /> <br /> <br /> Ajinkya Rahane's excellent form at the top of the order continued with a top score of 60, but the rest of the Indian batting struggled to establish any sort of momentum as the West Indies showed discipline and purpose with the ball.<br /> <br /> <br /> Young fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, brought into the team in place of medium-pacer Miguel Cummins, set the tone for the fightback with the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik.<br /> <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Holder removed his Indian counterpart, Virat Kohli, for the second time in as many matches via a top-edged hook.<br /> <br /> <br /> - Indian off day -<br /> "Our shot selection wasn't up to mark but credit to the West Indies bowlers for the pressure they put on us to force those mistakes," said Kohli in assessing his team's surprise defeat.<br /> <br /> <br /> "I am sure the guys are going to come back extra hard for the final match. We just needed a complete performance and today wasn't one."<br /> <br /> <br /> Ealier, pacers Umesh Yadav and Hardik Pandya claimed three wickets each while wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav again teased and tormented the West Indies batsmen in adding two more victims to his series haul as the hosts limped to 189 for nine batting first.<br /> <br /> <br /> While each of the top five managed to get a start, none could get past 35 as India exerted almost complete control over a line-up that lacked the inspirational spark to put the opposition under pressure.<br /> <br /> <br /> Openers Evin Lewis and Kyle Hope were the joint top scorers with 35 apiece although their slow progress -- the opening stand of 57 was broken in the 18th over -- meant those who followed were required to pick up the pace.<br /> <br /> <br /> None managed to do so for any sustained period with Pandya and Kuldeep doing the bulk of the damage to the West Indies batting line-up early on.<br /> <br /> <br /> Umesh then ensured there was to be no threat from the reputed lower-order big-hitters as he accounted for Holder, Rovman Powell and Ashley Nurse in his second spell.<br /> <br /> <br /> India had rung the changes for this match with Karthik replacing Yuvraj Singh in the middle-order, Ravindra Jadeja coming in as a specialist spinner for Ravichandran Ashwin and Shami making his first ODI appearance since the 2015 World Cup as Bhuvneshwar Kumar was rested.

Holder five-for stuns India

West Indies captain Jason Holder led from the front with a five-wicket haul as his side snatched an 11-run win over India in the fourth on...

Read more »

'Tigers certain to play World Cup proper'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCMIsvsea7jqlmvYFjfnzDJQzo7cZd6PNEiYQH1rS3NO_f5HnIjcrYTsCCq-7TSHyTy_byS7obwQKoJ0FjzsbEH0_Bhu6_StRWSh4EELK7qOUUqBZDanYjoYZZvKtNAiR1c-s2fYqJisG/s1600/158bc2a69d06891cea6c2c6c30296dbc-Tigers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="643" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCMIsvsea7jqlmvYFjfnzDJQzo7cZd6PNEiYQH1rS3NO_f5HnIjcrYTsCCq-7TSHyTy_byS7obwQKoJ0FjzsbEH0_Bhu6_StRWSh4EELK7qOUUqBZDanYjoYZZvKtNAiR1c-s2fYqJisG/s320/158bc2a69d06891cea6c2c6c30296dbc-Tigers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Tigers are certain to play in the next World Cup proper, to be held in England and Wales in 2019.<br /> <br /> Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan said this at a press briefing on Sunday. The BCB boss said Bangladesh will be among the top eight teams in the ICC rankings till 30 September, which means they won't need to play in the qualifying stage.<br /> <br /> It was confirmed when Bangladesh outplayed New Zealand in the Champions Trophy in England last month. The win sent the Tigers to sixth, their best ever, in the rankings.<br /> <br /> Afghanistan's wins over West Indies and Sri Lanka in separate bilateral ODI series helped Bangladesh's cause. And now it will be one of these two former champions who will go to the main tournament as the eighth-placed team.<br /> <br /> The other will have to play in the qualifying round for a place in the World Cup proper.

'Tigers certain to play World Cup proper'

The Tigers are certain to play in the next World Cup proper, to be held in England and Wales in 2019. Bangladesh Cricket Board president...

Read more »

India outvoted in crucial vote on ICC constitution

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgd405OyNiJAgrN4CidxoOHWwlnGwsBv_fxFfU6HJ0kZrrhTsZv49dMtbGHQXm1rOArj8FwTjY7SEvGejjwFKJZRinr2p-gCHXb_TveJM5C0y6l7HNIzkSmIoCz9Pm235rjgpkYxkTXwY/s1600/xb15b8628337e04f9a5d2d57de66a3187-ICC.jpg%252Cqjadewits_media_id%253D136903.pagespeed.ic.Yzn_Ivks5g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgd405OyNiJAgrN4CidxoOHWwlnGwsBv_fxFfU6HJ0kZrrhTsZv49dMtbGHQXm1rOArj8FwTjY7SEvGejjwFKJZRinr2p-gCHXb_TveJM5C0y6l7HNIzkSmIoCz9Pm235rjgpkYxkTXwY/s1600/xb15b8628337e04f9a5d2d57de66a3187-ICC.jpg%252Cqjadewits_media_id%253D136903.pagespeed.ic.Yzn_Ivks5g.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The ICC's new constitution moved a step closer to reality on a dramatic late afternoon in Dubai, as cricket's Full Members exercised their collective will to outvote the BCCI, said espncricinfo.com.<br /> The Indian board was the only member to object against a new financial model and was one of the only two countries to vote against the new governance changes. The finance model received a 9-1 vote in favour, while the governance structure was passed by an 8-2 margin, said the sports news website.<br /> <br /> It said although the majority was overwhelmingly in favour of the new ICC constitution, it will be approved formally only after being ratified at the annual conference in June.<br /> <br /> “In the financial model that was passed in Dubai on Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) share of the ICC revenue was only $293 million, a little more than half the amount the Indian board wanted.<br /> <br /> “Apart from the BCCI, the Sri Lanka Cricket was the other board member to oppose the governance structure. It is understood the SLC wanted to see the changes that had been made after the ICC received feedback from the members.<br /> <br /> “The BCCI was alone in opposition to the finance model, after its office bearers - the secretary Amitabh Choudhury and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry - had rejected the ICC's settlement offer worth approximately $400 million on Tuesday. The Indian board wanted $570 million, the share it was getting under the Big Three model.<br /> <br /> “The settlement offer had been made by ICC chairman Shashank Manohar to Amitabh Choudhury. Manohar was the head of the ICC working group that had prepared the proposed constitution, which comprises the finance and governance structure models.<br /> <br /> “The BCCI then approached most of the major Full Members with a counter offer: it gets $570 million but none of the other Full Members get anything less than what was stated in the new constitution.<br /> <br /> “ESPNcricinfo understands the other Full Members rejected the BCCI's offer, leaving Choudhry and Chaudhry in a tight position on Wednesday morning, hours before the ICC Board meeting,” said espncricinfo.com.<br /> <br /> "The alternative left for them was to adopt the middle ground," an official present in Dubai told the espncricinfo.com.<br /> <br /> The espncricinfo.com said the BCCI was told that it would do well to consider Manohar's offer. "It is INR 700 crore, and they were told to consider hard before making a move."

India outvoted in crucial vote on ICC constitution

The ICC's new constitution moved a step closer to reality on a dramatic late afternoon in Dubai, as cricket's Full Members exerc...

Read more »

Pakistan beat WI in first Test

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h-xPD7_FNKczkdppAtuA1xOB8aYnY9KuJALjpkYEO1gTNbTzj5iXdny1iPyXTZOqEx-8zP0f4JnSXLYDXmJKf7hMrqLHAuI6JL5sPT_xqVg3j1wNDxtkciwXjsKcf3mZrQFC3Oa3gD5k/s1600/36e93336c97353eacad8236d60b793cd-arafat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h-xPD7_FNKczkdppAtuA1xOB8aYnY9KuJALjpkYEO1gTNbTzj5iXdny1iPyXTZOqEx-8zP0f4JnSXLYDXmJKf7hMrqLHAuI6JL5sPT_xqVg3j1wNDxtkciwXjsKcf3mZrQFC3Oa3gD5k/s320/36e93336c97353eacad8236d60b793cd-arafat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hit successive sixes off Devendra Bishoo to give Pakistan victory by seven wickets in the first Test against West Indies in Jamaica on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> The tourists had bowled West Indies out for 152 in the second innings leaving them a target of 32 to win on the final day, which was reached in less than 11 overs.

Pakistan beat WI in first Test

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hit successive sixes off Devendra Bishoo to give Pakistan victory by seven wickets in the first Test agai...

Read more »

Younis breaks 10,000-run barrier

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wt6TbNJuZU1_hdzj2IBYEVoJiuZQCaLVv3I40crT4f5CgQq03Bw75TsH3qYdnRafQBCd9vzbJAnUUDO0ZYYlKsFnwPVemQ9vnHQSwzxeNca5IK7lZCg74s4NFobrQNgmt4cjBPA_T6dC/s1600/8123b237036b32b9d9f183e063b764a4-Yunis-Khan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wt6TbNJuZU1_hdzj2IBYEVoJiuZQCaLVv3I40crT4f5CgQq03Bw75TsH3qYdnRafQBCd9vzbJAnUUDO0ZYYlKsFnwPVemQ9vnHQSwzxeNca5IK7lZCg74s4NFobrQNgmt4cjBPA_T6dC/s320/8123b237036b32b9d9f183e063b764a4-Yunis-Khan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Younis Khan became the first Pakistan player to complete 10,000 Test runs as his team reached 201 for four in reply to the West Indies first innings total of 286 at stumps on the third day of the rain-affected first Test at Sabina Park on Sunday.<br /> <br /> Younis moved on from a painfully slow start to get to 58 while Babar Azam stroked 72 in dominating a 131-run third-wicket partnership with the former captain to give the tourists the ascendancy into the final session of the day.<br /> <br /> However, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel dismissed both in the space of three deliveries to limit Pakistan’s progress and leaving captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq to continue the workmanlike effort heading into the fourth day.<br /> <br /> Having confirmed this series as the last before he retires from international cricket, 39-year-old Younis played with exaggerated care at the start of his innings. In contrast, Azam displayed much more aggression and purpose although he once again fell short of a maiden Test century.<br /> <br /> Possibly mindful of his proximity to the landmark when he started his innings 23 runs away from the cherished goal, Younis took 47 minutes to get off the mark while Azam attempted to keep the scoreboard ticking over at the other end.<br /> <br /> Playing his first Test in the Caribbean after missing the 2011 tour due to the death of his brother, the former captain eventually started to creep towards his 10,000th run, triggering the celebrations when he swept a delivery from off-spinner Roston Chase in the first over after tea to the backward square-leg boundary to become just the 13th player overall-and the oldest-in the history of the game to scale that summit.<br /> <br /> “I thought about bowing out of international cricket three years ago but one of the motivating factors for me to stay was to get to ten thousand runs,” Khan said at the end of the day.<br /> <br /> “I am finished after the series, no matter how many runs I score, but I just hope I have been able to make a useful contribution as a player and also help the younger ones to do as well as I have, or even better.”<br /> <br /> Hailed as a potential successor to Younis as the permanent occupant of the number three batting position, Azam enjoyed a moment of luck just after lunch when West Indies captain Jason Holder failed to hold on to a caught-and-bowled chance with the batsman on 12.<br /> <br /> Yet just as it looked as if their partnership would continue until the close of play, Gabriel broke through.<br /> <br /> Younis mistimed an off-drive to give to be caught at extra-cover and become the fast bowler’s 50th Test wicket. Then in his next over a tentative Azam played on to spark further celebrations among the West Indian players.<br /> <br /> Earlier, Holder finished unbeaten on 57 after the delayed start to another rain-affected day as Mohammad Amir completed his best Test innings figures to wrap up the home side’s innings after they resumed at the overnight position of 278 for nine.<br /> <br /> He bowled last man Gabriel to finish with six for 44, an effort which improved on his previous best of six for 84 against England at Lord’s in 2010.<br /> <br /> Play started 90 minutes later than scheduled due to the continuing effects of heavy, torrential rain on a damp outfield which reduced play to just 55 minutes on the second day.<br /> <br /> Pakistan started their reply brightly with Azhar Ali looking ominous before he chased a wide delivery from Alzarri Joseph to give a catch to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.<br /> <br /> Ahmed Shehzad, playing his first Test for almost two years, also opened brightly with a flurry of shots, including five boundaries in 31 only to be trapped leg-before on the back foot by Holder.

Younis breaks 10,000-run barrier

Younis Khan became the first Pakistan player to complete 10,000 Test runs as his team reached 201 for four in reply to the West Indies f...

Read more »