India vs Sri Lanka in India, Nov-Dec 2009

Sri Lanka in India Three Test, five ODI and Two T20 match series

Sri Lanka will be looking for the elusive test match and series win when they tour India for a Three Test, five ODI and Two T20 match series from November to December 2009. The team arrive in India on November 8th for the 55-day tour.

Pakistan Cricket Team News - ICC Cricket World Cup 2007

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Pakistan Cricket Team News

Inzamam announces retirement from ODI Cricket

Following coach Bob Woolmer's death, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has announced his retirement from one day cricket.
The 37-year-old will be playing his last ODI on Wednesday when Pakistan feature in their last match of the 2007 World Cup, against Zimbabwe in Jamaica. The Pakistan skipper spoke to his father on the phone before taking the decision. The legendary batsman is one of the members of the 10,000 ODI runs club. He made his mark in the 1992 World Cup when his blistering knock of 60 from 37 balls took his side to the final that they went on to win. Whoever takes on the mantle of captaincy from him, will do so under tremendous pressure, and in the midst of a crisis like never before.

Akhtar and Asif out of World Cup

Pakistan pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been ruled out of the world cup due to injury.
Shoaib has been unable to recover from a knee injury that forced him to be sent back from South Africa in January. While, Asif has been carrying a niggling elbow problem since that tour, and neither will be fit enough for the tournament starting on March 13. The two have been in the news for doping issues as well as injury-related matters. They will be replaced by Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami who are expected to join the squad in the Caribbean at a later date. Pakistan play the West Indies in the opening match of the world cup on the first day of the tournament - March 13 in Jamaica.

Pakistan team leaves for World Cup

The Pakistan cricket team has left for the World Cup in the West Indies without its two frontline pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.
Akhtar and Asif are in London being treated for knee and elbow injuries, and they have yet to undergo internal drug tests. The pair failed drug tests last October and were suspended until December when they successfully appealed. Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad says the national selectors should forget about them and replace them with two more spin bowlers who will be more effective on slow pitches in the Caribbean. Pakistan have also yet to receive permission from the World Cup technical committee to replace the injured all-rounder Abdul Razzaq with Azhar Mahmood.

Injured all-rounder Abdul Razzaq ruled out of World Cup

Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq is out of the World Cup after injuring his knee during training on Monday.
Razzaq has been ruled out of playing action for at least five weeks, and therefore, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the national selectors have decided to replace him with Azhar Mahmood. The selectors have also confirmed that fast bowler Umar Gul will play after recovering from a shin injury.
Doubts, however, remain over new-ball pair Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, both of whom failed drug tests last year but were subsequently reinstated. They must submit to more tests this week. The rest of the 15-man squad, plus five stand-by players, have already been officially tested by doping officials. Shoaib and Asif both tested positive for nandralone in September but were cleared after claiming they had not knowingly taken the banned substance.
Reports suggest the pair have had private tests while in London for treatment on their injuries. Shoaib has knee and hamstring trouble while and Asif has an elbow problem. Pakistan leave on Thursday for Jamaica, where they open their campaign on 13 March against hosts West Indies, before facing Zimbabwe and Ireland in Group D.

Pakistan paceman Gul cleared for World Cup

Pakistan paceman Umar Gul has been cleared to play in the World Cup after recovering from a shin injury, his availability helping ease some of the side's injury fears ahead of next month's World Cup in the West Indies.
The 24-year-old was sent home from the recent tour of South Africa without playing in the test or one-day series after developing a shin problem as a complication from an existing ankle injury. "Gul is fine now and has been bowling in the nets with the team. His availability is a big boost for the team," team coach Bob Woolmer told reporters on Tuesday. Gul, who has taken 30 wickets in 25 one-day internationals, is considered as key member of the bowling attack with doubts remaining over new-ball pairing Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif for the March 13-April 28 tournament.
Woolmer said he had no new details of Shoaib and Asif's progress, with the pair receiving treatment in London for their knee and elbow injuries. "Gul is the most improved bowler over the last year," Woolmer said of the injury-prone player, who also has 61 test wickets. Pakistan are in Group D of the World Cup with all their pool matches being played in Kingston, Jamaica. The open their campaign on March 13 against hosts West Indies, with Zimbabwe and Ireland making up the four-team group.

Pakistan names three injured fast bowlers in World Cup squad

Pakistan cricket selectors Tuesday named injured fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif in the 15-member squad for the World Cup.
The World Cup begins in the West Indies from March 13 and Pakistan is placed in Group D along with the host, Ireland and Zimbabwe. Pakistan has also planned to conduct dope tests of the World Cup players. Asif and Akhtar both tested positive last year before the Champions Trophy in India and were first banned for one year and two years respectively, but were exonerated by the PCB's appellate commission. Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who has played just 16 one-day internationals since making his limited-overs debut against Zimbabwe in 2001 and has taken 12 wickets, was recalled to the World Cup team. Pakistan has packed its side with four all-rounders Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez.
Afridi has been serving a four-match ban and will not be available for Pakistan's first two games in the World Cup against the West Indies and Ireland. Afridi was dismissed during the first one-day match against South Africa on Feb. 4 and reacted to comments from a spectator on leaving the pitch. Afridi then approached the fan with his bat and for his misconduct, the International Cricket Council's match referee Chris Broad from England handed him a ban of four one-day international matches. Opening batsman Imran Nazir, who returned to international cricket in the ongoing one-day series in South Africa, was also included among the squad.

Pakistan team : Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Rana Naved, Rao Iftikhar, Danish Kaneria.

Banned Afridi will miss early World Cup games

Pakistan's Shahid Afridi will miss the early matches of the 2007 World Cup after he was banned for four one-day internationals.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) found Afridi guilty of a Level 3 breach of its code of conduct after he directed his bat at a spectator during the first one-day international against South Africa at Centurion on February 4. The ban means Afridi will miss the last two matches in Pakistan's current one-day series against South Africa, as well as the showpiece opening match of the World Cup against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica on March 13 and the game against Ireland in Kingston on March 17. Pakistan's assistant manager, Asad Mustafa, said Afridi would not appeal against his punishment.

Inzamam to lead Pakistan in World Cup 2007

Pakistan Cricket Board has retained Inzamam-ul-Haq as captain of the national cricket team for next year's World Cup.
"Inzamam has led the team admirably and we have extended his tenure as captain for the tours of South Africa and more importantly for the World Cup 2007," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Naseem Ashraf said. The 36-year-old Inzamam led Pakistan to a 3-1 victory in a one-day series against the West Indies on Saturday after the home side beat the tourists 2-0 in a three-match Test series last month. Pakistan play three Tests and five one-day internationals on their tour of South Africa between January and February next year. Ashraf hoped Pakistan will do well in the World Cup to be held over March and April in the West Indies.
"World Cup will be won by a team which has self-belief and I saw this current Pakistan team to have exemplary belief, unity and maturity," said Ashraf. Inzamam, who took over as captain in September 2003, has led Pakistan in 28 Tests, winning ten, losing nine and drawing nine. He has also led Pakistan in 82 one-day internationals with 50 wins, 29 defeats and three no results. The PCB also showed confidence in their English coach Bob Woolmer and vice captain Younis Khan who will continue in their posts

ICC Cricket World Cup 2007

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All World Cup Cricket matches in West Indies start at 09:30 local time (14:30GMT). The first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 will be played on March 13, 2007 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, between the host West Indies and Pakistan.

Pakistan Matches