Shakib looking for short break

Shakib-ul-Hassan, the Bangladesh cricket team all-rounder intent to take some rests from the competitive cricket after upcoming IPL; the all-rounder has not taken any substantial rest for last two years.

While talking to ESPNCRICINFO the world No. 1 all rounder says that he is not sure whether he will play in county cricket this year or will go for rest. He says; "The county cricket (stint) hasn't been confirmed yet. I still don't know if I would play (county), even if I am fit, I haven't stopped (playing) for the last three years, so I am thinking that only if I get a 15 to 20 days rest after the IPL, I will go and play in England. If they [whichever county team he might sign with this season] tell me to go and join them straight after the IPL, I won't go, that's what I have planned."

Shakib-ul-Hassan had only three times breaks in his career since his debut that was made in 2006. The all-rounders has played a lot of cricket and also increased his ranking in international cricket, he is one of the most useful all-rounder in international cricket.

"I have played a lot of cricket, I need a break. I have some stuff of my own to take care of," he added. "To play good cricket, one needs to stay away from cricket too."

Shakib is coming off a productive year, in which he came with an average of 44 with bat while 29 with ball in ODI cricket, following by test cricket in which he averaged 50 with the bat and 29 with ball.

"Personally, I want to improve by finishing matches for the team," Shakib said. "My bowling isn't going that well too. It's difficult to keep both going, batting and bowling. I feel that it is hard to concentrate on both in training. I have seen that if I take one discipline and work on it, it gets better. But to work on both is a bit difficult. It is a problem at times, so there's a lot of room to work hard."

Although Bangladesh performance in ODI cricket has improved but still lacking match winner performers in Test cricket. Shakib believes that Bangladesh may not win in Tests now but he will help his team to find such players through whom they can take 20 wickets of opposition. Shakib said;

"We may not win Tests (now) because we haven't got the attack to take 20 wickets. We need genuine bowlers to take 20 wickets, but we will win one-day games. This (present performance) has helped us set new goals. It is important that four or five players are performing (in the same game) for Bangladesh.

 "I feel that at home we can handle teams a lot better than we can away from home. (Bigger teams like) India still have trouble (playing) away from home. So I think we should (first) become tough competitors at home so that in the next year or two, no one can come and whitewash us easily."

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Taylor expects Wright to continue with coaching

John Wright, the New Zealand team coach contract will expire after West Indies tour in August. White, New Zealand cricket chief executive is hopeful that decision on Wright's future will take place before the April's end. Wright took the coaching job of Black Caps in 2010 and had a successful summer with a historic win over Australia in Hobart and impressive performance against South Africa.

New Zealand chief executive, White said; "We said we would give John three weeks after the South African series, just to give him time to think about his future, we would like something sealed within four weeks."

White is in mood of extension in contract for Wright, he said; "We'll give John some space, it's been a long period of cricket, and then we'll sit down and discuss the future. It's a big commitment these days. If you look at our calendar for the next 12 months it's really challenging in terms of both time and commitment, so John is weighing his options." 

Wright's crack relationship with John Buchanan could be a reason for him to reconsider the extension. However, White expects that this apparent tension should not be a deciding factor.

"In any professional sporting organisation you have strong people and sometimes you have positive tension. Sometimes that's a good thing, because you get [positive] outcomes," he told Fairfax NZ News.

Ross Taylor has come out with strong support for Wright and expects him to continue in the role, adding to this Wright was the person who appointed Taylor as the captain. Taylor said; "I've got a good relationship with him, and obviously I'm looking forward to him hopefully staying around," Taylor said.

The Black Caps are having a busy season, after the West Indies tour they will have to go India in August, followed by T20 World Cup 2012, tours to Sri Lanka along with a home series against England.

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West Indies draw series with 14-runs victory

West Indies 160 (D. Smith 63, B. Lee 3-23) beat Australia 146 for 9 (D. Warner 58, M. Samuels 3-23, F. Edwards 3-23) by 14 runs and draw the 2-matches T20I series by 1-1.

West Indies bowler’s dominance in 2nd T20 helped the team to win the match by 14-runs and draw the T20 series by 1-1. Some brilliant performances were seen from Fidel Edwards and Marlon Samuels with ball, both the bowlers took 3-wickets each. No one can ignore Dwayne Bravo in any format of cricket, a useful player who can turn match through batting, bowling and fielding, and he did it again.

Despite outstanding bowling performance, the home side openers Smith and Charles also provide an opening stand of 72 runs. This stand was very useful; it played a vital role of sitting 160 runs total on the board.  Smith gone with 63 runs from 34 balls while Charles succeeded to make 37 runs from 21 balls.

The fast bowlers as considered weapon for Australia delivered once again at a time when West Indies were on top. Experience bowler Lee fast and furious spell didn't made victims only but also helped the other bowlers “Watson” and “McKay” to build pressure on the batsmen, Watson and McKay shared 2-wickets each.

Although the main player of Australia in T20 cricket David Warner delivered but the other players couldn't give him a back up so. Warner threatened the West Indies bowlers and scored 58 runs from 43 balls. His presence boosts the run rate of the team, unfortunately the team start struggling as he depart. Hussey and Wade managed to hit sixes but with the strike rate they were batting wasn't enough to make the day for Australia.

Dwayne Bravo who was on talk to not include in playing-XI of second T20I, he was given the ball when 19 runs were required from 6 balls. Bravo conceded only 4 runs in that over and took 2 wickets. First he removed McKay with brilliant catch of Pollard while bowled David Hussey with a slow delivery to get second wicket. West Inidies won the match by 14 runs and succeeded draw the series.

Series Result: Drw by 1-1
Man of the match: Dwayne Smith
Man of the Series: Shane Watson 

MATCH CEREMONY:
George Bailey [Australia Captain]: "Great start from the West Indies, I think we pulled it back to about par, 160, and I thought we were on course to knock it off. They put pressure on us, the wicket of David Warner was huge, run-outs change matches. The crowd were great and hopefully we provided some good entertainment." 

Darren Sammy [West Indies Captain]: "We knew it was a 180-plus pitch. We tried Polly and myself up the order to try and get some momentum- that didn't work today but we kept going. The work we've been doing in the camp and throughout the series has been paying off and I want to ask the boys to keep doing that. We want to keep doing well in the Tests and hopefully continue the good results."  

Dwayne Smith [Man of the Match]: "I was pleased with the performance and glad we got a win. I've been doing a lot of work on my batting, doing the things I know and it seems to be working." 

Shane Watson [Man of the Series]: "Today was a bit disappointing to not get the result we wanted. It's been an up and down series and today was another learning experience. It worked out well for us to hold them back to 160. We were well on the way so it's disappointing and once again a learning experience."

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Another Fail Fills India's Account | India Lost By 11 runs.

Once again Jacques Kallis has shone his class on his big night at the Wanderers Stadium. Kallis had flown halfway across the world from New Zealand just in time for this game but there was not any jet lag sign and Kallis played his game, before an intriguing Twenty20 international between South Africa and India that was split India's day by rain.

The contest, which went the way of the hosts by 11 runs, was for the New Age Friendship Cup but was also serving as a tribute to Kallis, with profits going towards his foundation that provides scholarships for talented cricketers from under-privileged areas. The all-rounder made sure he didn't miss out, hitting 61 at the top of the order as a much-changed Proteas XI smashed their way to 219-4. Kallis made 61 off 42 balls and Ingram raced to 78 off 50 deliveries after South Africa were sent in to bat.

However it was Colin Ingram who was the star of the show with his maiden Twenty20 international half-century. Vinay Kumar started a strong start with an over that went for just two but Ingram and Kallis ensured South Africa were always in charge. Kallis looked very confident and he treated every bowler with style, Ashwin and Rohit Sharma were dispatched over midwicket for huge sixes.

India seemed to have stopped the shower of runs to some extent. Indian captain MS Dhoni used eight bowlers but runs flowed as the batsmen took advantage of a good batting pitch, short boundaries and a fast outfield. Dhoni tried slow-mediums of Virat Kohli But South Africa's batsmen responded in style and gifted them with back to back fours.

After Kallis's show that marked South Africa's position very strong, from India's side Gambhir gave India a superb start in run chase before rain arrives. Playing the last ball of the innings typified how shell-shocked India were, as Ashwin missed a straight catch under the lights to concede a six. That stroke boosted South Africa to 219, a score which would require India to better the highest-successful chase in T20s they achieved against Sri Lanka in 2009.

Gautam Gambhir seemed to be in the mood to pull it off on his own and he had started his blaze with the boundaries. Albie Morkel was the victum, his first over went for 16 runs.The show ended very soon and rain sinked India's hopes.The Duckworth-Lewis went against India and India lost by 11 runs. Even a total of 71 for 0 after 7.5 overs proved to be comfortably behind the Duckworth-Lewis par score of 82.

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I'm hitting ball nicely and feel in good form - Andrew Strauss

England team captain Andrew Strauss has strong belief that he can return to being in force in test cricket despite failing again. He was also disappointed with the four consecutive defeat but still hope to make a strong come back. Although Strauss failed to deliver in Galle test but insisted that he feels in good form. Strauss contributed 26 and 27 runs in England's two innings during their 75-runs lost against Sri Lanka. 

Andrew Strauss hasn't scored any century in Test cricket since Brisbane at the start of the 2010-11 Ashes, his failure in scoring runs has disappointed Andrew Strauss and has increased pressure on him. Strauss said;

"At the moment it is frustrating me as much as anyone, I'm hitting the ball nicely and feel in good form but you're judged on your performances and I've not performed well enough. Hopefully I will put it right next week. 

"Sometimes it goes with the territory and you go through periods where you can't kick on for whatever reason and then you get through it, release a barrier and you get some big scores in a row." 

Although Strauss is 35 now but still he thinks that he is fit and can play more cricket. He said; "If you keep getting to 30 then I don't think it is a terminal decline, unless you're very unfit, which I don't think is the case with me, My job in the side is to score runs and I haven't done that as much as I would have liked over the last 12 months or so, but I want to put it right next week." 

 

Strauss has only been dropped once during his test career during England tour to Sri Lanka in 2007, his dropping came due to failure in recovering from 2006-07 Ashes series. This time Strauss position comes with the added responsibility of captaincy but, talk of his future was off the agenda.

"Questions about my position are just not something I'm going to answer in the middle of the series. My focus is very much on winning the next game and it would be wrong to think of anything else."

England continues to struggle and received the fourth consecutive lost in test cricket, also have posted 300 just once in four Tests this year.

"It is hard to say we're making progress having lost four in a row," Strauss. "I think individually people's gameplans against spin have come on but we haven't showed it out in the middle. If you want to win Test matches you need to get runs on the board and we haven't done that. In the fourth innings you can understand the odd dismissal but we had less of an excuse in our first innings." 

Stuart broad injury has also led the team down; he was suffering from a tight right calf on the fourth day.

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Herath led Sri Lanka's victory charge

Sri Lanka 318 (M Jayawardene 180, Anderson 5-72) and 214 (P Jayawardene 61*, Swann 6-82) beat England 193 (Bell 52, Herath 6-74) and 264 (Trott 112, Herath 6-97) by 75 runs

Sri Lanka received the first test victory at home since the retirement of Muralitharan in July 2010, the Islanders completed a 75-run victory over England in Galle. Sri Lanka had played 17 test matches until this game and won just once since the leading Test wicket-taker retirement.

It's early to say that Sri Lanka has found the replacement of Muralitharan in spin department as Herath led Sri Lanka's victory charge. The left arm spinner took 12 wickets, which reminds Muralitharan’s era. Herat specialty is that he bowls with flight and has all traditional verities, also has brilliant control on his deliveries.

Sri Lankan team still contain match-winning players, century in the first inning remind us the magnificent Jayawardene (180). His century came at a time when English bowlers were on top, and had controlled over the match. Prasanna Jayawardene unbeaten 61* runs in the second innings helped the Islanders to set a target of 340 runs for England to win. Although Swann failed to take a wicket in first innings but come back strongly with 6 wickets in 2nd innings.
 
In chase, the England team lost the main players Strauss and Cook early on 48 runs, both the players kept going with the worst performance. Trott tried his best to take the team on winning track but failed to do so, he scored 112 runs. Although the defeat was cruel reward to his century but led an example of patience and hard work for the other players.

Trott and Prior laid a partnership of 81 runs for the fifth wicket which sustained the hopes for the team but didn't last for long time.  After Prior dismissal a dramatic change take place, England lost the last six wickets on 31 runs. England received the loss of 75 runs in first test of Sri Lankan tour which is their fourth consecutive lost in test series after being No. 1 in test cricket.

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Watson & Hussey's heroics ruined Pollard's valiant knock

Shane Watson and Mike Hussey guided Australia to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies despite a  brilliant knock by Kieron Pollard in the first Twenty20 international.

Watson hit six sixes in his 69 while Hussey was unbeaten on 59 when Australia passed their target of 151 to finish on 153 for two with 11 balls to spare. The pair had shared a stand of 107 before George Bailey saw out the match.

It was tough on Pollard, who shone as the hosts opened and was unbeaten on 54 in their innings of 150 for seven, his knock coming off 26 deliveries and including five sixes and two fours.

Johnson Charles and Nkrumah Bonner both made 24 as Dan Christian finished with three for 27.

Dwayne Smith smashed two boundaries but was out two for 10 when he got a slight outside edge to a Brett Lee delivery, Matt Wade comfortably taking the catch.

Bonner joined Charles at the crease with the latter enjoying himself, scoring three consecutive fours off Lee before he was lbw to Watson.

Charles had scored a speedy 24, including four boundaries, off 16 deliveries as the hosts reached 38 for two.

Darren Bravo scored four off his first delivery before Bonner, after a tentative start, got two boundaries and the pair were moving the score along before the former was out off Christian for 12.

Darren Bravo toe-ended a pull shot which went out to Pattinson at deep mid-wicket, leaving the hosts on 66 for three and matters became more serious when Bonner (24) became Christian's second victim, clean bowled with just six more on the board.

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Williamson denies SA to end the tour on winning note

South Africa 474 for 9 dec (Petersen 156, Gillespie 6-113) and 189 for 3 dec (de Villiers 68) drew with New Zealand 275 (Guptill 59) and 200 for 6 (Williamson 102*)

An outstanding effort of 102* from Kane Williamson and best career figures of 6 for 23 made the third test as an interesting one.  Although fielders gifted Williamson two lives and one by umpire at start but later on with brilliant batting effort he succeeded to draw the final test.

After losing Ross Taylor due to injury, New Zealand had only 9 wickets to play with, but Williamson and Bracewell played out 19.1 overs together, both the players didn't give any chance to South African bowlers to get wicket. The twist in the match was found when Philander was given new ball to bowl but he wasn't succeeded to get any wicket.

South Africa gifted four clear chances in the second innings; Petersen dropped Williamson on 10 followed by his captain later on when Williamson was on 22. Graeme Smith also disappointed with catch he dropped of Browlie, also Bracewell get a life due to poor fielding of di Villiers at second slip. At the end of the day, Bracewell remained unbeaten 20* runs with Williamson (102*).

Early in the 3rd test, South Africa was invited to bat first by New Zealand captain after winning the toss. Centuries of Petersen and Duminy helped South Africa to put a total of 474/9 in 1st innings. Petersen scored 156 runs while Duminy scored 103 runs, along with this Hashim Amla scored 63 runs who left the match due injury later on.

In reply, the Kiwi side bowled out at 275 runs in 1st innings, once again Philander lead the bowling side with 6 wickets, and he also becomes the second cricketer to take 50 wickets in quick time. His mate Dayle Steyn supported him very well with the two wickets he took. Guptill was the top scorer for New Zealand with 59 runs while Flynn scored 45 runs.

After taking a big lead, South Africa declared the second innings at 189/3 and gave 389 runs target to New Zealand for win. De Villiers was the top scored with 68 runs while the former captain Graeme Smith put a knock of 41 runs in low total. 

Morne Morkel was given the attack; fortunately for him, he delivered and took all the 6 wickets that New Zealand lost in 2nd innings. His wicket taking efforts take South Africa close to winning track but the fielders didn’t support him and the match resulted with draw. New Zealand ended the third test with 200/6 in 80.4 overs, with draw result in 3^rd test South Africa win the series by 1-0.

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Victory for Cairns in libel case against Modi

New Zealand former all-rounder Chris Cairs has won the libel case against the former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. The all-rounder has been awarded damages of £90,000 ($142,000). Along with this, the IPL commissioner has been ordered to pay costs - that is amounted £1.5 million ($2.4 million) - by the judge, Davide Bean who delivered his judgment on Monday in the absence of Cairns and Modi in court.

"Today's verdict lifts a dark cloud that has been over me for the past two years," Cairns said. "I am proud that I had the courage to stand up and defend my name and feel great relief that I can once again walk into any cricket ground in the world with my head held high." 

Via Cricinfo; Cairns was suing the former IPL chairman in the UK's first Twitter libel case over a defamatory tweet sent in January 2010, in which Modi referred to Cairns' alleged involvement in match-fixing as the reason for barring him from the IPL auction. Cairns brought the matter to court, saying the allegations threatened to reduce his cricketing achievements to "dust".

Justice Bean said that the commissioner failed to provide any reliable evidence which prove that Cairns was involved in match-fixing or spot fixing. The Judge said;

"It is obvious that an allegation that a professional cricketer is a match-fixer goes to the core attributes of his personality and, if true, entirely destroys his reputation for integrity. The allegation is not as serious as one of involvement in terrorism or sexual offences (to take two examples from recent cases). But it is otherwise as serious an allegation as anyone could make against a professional sportsman."

Modi said in a brief statement: "I have received the judgement and I am immediately considering an appeal with my legal team. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment any further at this time." 

The case centred on the reason for the all-rounder dismissal from Indian Cricket League (ICL) to the auction of IPL. Chris Cains leaded the Chandigarh Lions in ICL, but due to IPL third auction the kiwi player cancelled his contract with ICL.

Some Chandigarh team-mates were invited to court for the evidence, unlikely for Cairns they claimed against him.  While on witness stand Cairns succeeded to defend himself and talked on evidence almost for eight hours. The Judge said that the evidences he heard from team-mates (TP Singh, Gaurav Gupta and Rajesh Sharma) was not to believe. He said

"The hearsay evidence of Uniyal and Ablish is inconsistent and unreliable; and Karanveer Singh's last-minute evidence falls well short of sustaining the defendant's case. They had an obvious incentive to put forward by way of mitigation that they were only obeying orders, or at least giving into pressure from their charismatic captain," Bean wrote in his judgement. 

Horward Beer, the former ICL anti-corruption officer conducted the investigation into allegations failed to impress the judge. Bean accepted the evidence of Cairns, according to him the rival T20 League (ICL) dismissed Chris Cairns due to his injury.

"Despite prolonged, searching and occasionally intrusive questioning about his sporting, financial and personal life he emerged essentially unscathed." 

Lalit Modi was given 28 days to settle with the Kiwi all-rounder, so as to make an interim payment of £400,000 in costs to the claimant's legal team. Modi was also allowed to have right of appeal against the level of damages.

A TWEET THAT CAN TURN DOWN YOUR LIFE:

In nowadays life, it becomes fashion as every body trying to attracts other with what he write on twitter, facebook or any other social network. Especially, most of the guys claims that matches in cricket are fix, or point out a match with match fixing or spot fixing allegations. Any team/player have rights to sue on your allegations, be careful instead of finding yourself in such cases. My personal advice for you all.

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No one should have business in my retirement - Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar, who has been asked so many times by the former Indian Cricketers to take retirement from international cricket said that the retirement decision is his a lone. According to him, it's quite selfish to take retirement at a time when you are on top, so no one should have business in his personal decision.

While celebrating his achievement of scoring 100th international hundred convened by World Sports Group at Mumbai, the legendary cricketer told media in conference; "When I feel I don't have that, on that day, I will think of retirement, I feel those who say you should retire at the top are selfish," he said, "because when you are at the top, you should serve the country instead of retiring. 

"When I retire is something I will decide because when I started it was not decided by someone else. Those who are advising me about retirement did not bring me into the team. I get my strength from my coaches and family."

Sachin Tendulkar also said that he had already lived out all his dreams. "I don't have any other dream now. There were two big dreams: one was playing for India and the second was to lift the World Cup. That was my biggest dream." He added; "Maybe you guys have not understood properly. I have always said that when I decide to retire I will let you know. Where is the question of not answering?"

Tendulkar is not sure that whether he will play 2015 world cup or will leave the team before the mega event. "When this question was asked in 2007 [World Cup 2011], it was tough for me to answer. It's the same situation: I don't know what to say about 2015. If people keep praying for me that means a lot. I will keep trying, the rest is in god's hands. I just want to enjoy the game. I don't want to set targets."

Although Sachin Tendulkar achieved the milestone of 100th international hundred but was targeted by some former cricketers due to his slow batting in the match. India lost that match against Bangladesh, Sachin scored 114 off 147 balls in that match.  He said;

"I don't think we are celebrating just that game. Where I have reached today, it has taken me 23 years to be at that place. Results are very important for me. Yes, it was a disappointment for us to not make the final, and let me tell you there was no major celebration after I scored a hundred as we had lost the match."

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Sammy's efforts goes in vain, as Australia levelled the series

Two early strikes from Brett Lee proved the key as Australia beat the West Indies by 30 runs on Sunday and in doing so squared the five-match series two-all. 

Heading into the clash the West Indies knew that a win would secure a shock series victory, their first in ODIs since 1995.

As has been the case in the last three games (the opening one-dayer didn't quite go to plan for the hosts), the Windies showed great fight but thanks to a fine opening spell from Lee, they were unable to chase down their target of 282.

Having struggled with opening partnerships of 31, 19, 34 and three prior to Sunday's encounter, David Warner and Shane Watson at last hit their straps after being put into bat by Darren Sammy.

The duo scored at a consistent rate throughout their opening stand of 118, with Warner (69 off 61 balls) initially the slower of the two before pushing on while Watson (66 off 89 balls) was calm and collected.

However, their work and that of number three Peter Forrest (53) was wasted by the middle and lower order as batsmen fell at a steady pace throughout the last 15 overs, with a rain break not helping their cause.

Kemar Roach (three for 53) and Andre Russell (four for 61) were the chief destroyers for the hosts, with the duo going for some tap but collecting a number of wickets courtesy of catches in the deep too.

Australia needed to start strongly and Lee did just that, picking up the wickets of Johnson Charles in his first over and Marlon Samuels in his second, with neither batsman troubling the scorers. Indeed, Lee's figures at one stage read: three overs, three maidens, two wickets.

From that point it was always going to be hard for the hosts to get back in it.

Adrian Barath stood firm as the Bravo brothers departed and when the opener was dismissed by Xavier Doherty for 42, the West Indies were reduced to 76 for five and in a world of trouble.

After the hitting of Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy in the fourth ODI, the Australians would no doubt have been weary, and they had ever reason to be.

Pollard smashed two maximums before the big all-rounder tried one big shot too many and holed out to midwicket off Watson's bowling.

If the Australians thought the game was in the bag then they couldn't have been more wrong.

Darren Sammy would not go down without a fight and equaled the fastest fifty by a West Indian in ODIs as he racked up 52 off just 20 balls.

Sammy added a further 32 as he hammered the Aussie attack to all ends in a fine display of hitting. The crowd roared with ever shot - was the impossible within reach?

For a moment it seemed it may be but when Sammy skied Ben Hilfenhaus into the leg side with 30 still needed, the dream died, but it did so with dignity, a characteristic not found in many West Indies defeats in previous years.

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Afridi impressed by Bangali tigers & said: "They played like mighty Australians."

Pakistan's all-rounder Shahid Afridi heaped praise on Bangladesh, who lost by just two runs to his team in the Asia Cup final, saying the minnows were as good as the mighty Australians in the title clash.

"It seemed as if we were playing against Australia in the final. Bangladesh have matured a lot as a team and it felt good to win such a hard final," Afridi told reporters after reaching his hometown last night from Dhaka.

Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq were the other members of the victorious Pakistan team to return from Dhaka.

Speaking loudly to make his voice audible to the media as hundreds of people gathered at the Karachi airport to give a warm welcome to their heroes, Afridi said Pakistan may have won the final but they still need to improve in many areas.

"We need improvement in some areas and we need to produce more players. I would urge the cricket authorities to lay lot of stress on our domestic cricket and implement a 10-year plan so that we can get maximum number of quality players," Afridi said.

The players were greeted by loud slogans and fans dancing to fast beats at the airport. Other members of the team will reach Lahore on Saturday.

Afridi said he was impressed by the performance put up by Bangladesh and felt the Bangladesh Premier League had helped them a lot.

"I think by holding the BPL they did well and their players fought hard. I think we also need to make our domestic cricket as competitive as possible. We can look at the examples of the IPL and BPL while counting the benefits of such events," Afridi said.

Afridi said he felt happy that whenever he produced good bowling spells, the team did well.

"It feels good that whenever I bowl well we tend to win matches. I was struggling before the final and I worked hard in the nets so I am happy I could perform in the final and win the Man-of-the-Match award," he said.

Afridi said it was up to the selectors to decide if there was need for changes in the team for one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches.

"T20 cricket is a totally different format of the game but yes I think that when players like Ahmed Shahzad, Nasir Jamshed and others have done well they should be given chances in T20 cricket," he said.

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PCB efforts are likely to go in vain, as Bangladesh unwilling to visit Pakistan

The Pakistan Cricket Board is gearing up to hear the disappointing news of Bangladesh refusing to send its team for a planned one-day series next month after failing to get government clearance.

 Despite the visit of the Chairman of the Pakistan board to Dhaka to watch the Asia Cup final and meet with Bangladesh board officials reliable sources have said that indications are that Bangladesh will not be touring Pakistan .

"The Bangladesh board has conveyed to Zaka Ashraf in Dhaka that they are not getting clearance from their government to send their team to Pakistan next month," a source said.

Pakistan invited Bangladesh to play three one-day internationals in a bid to revive international cricket in the country.

No Test-playing nation has visited Pakistan since March, 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver and wounding five of the visiting players.

The PCB had even invited a security delegation of the Bangladesh board led by their Chairman Mostafa Kamal to Pakistan earlier this month to inspect security arrangements for the tour.

"The Bangladesh delegation was supposed to send their report and get a response from their government this month. But the matter has been delayed and they have already indicated that they might not get clearance to send their team to Pakistan because of security concerns," the source said.

If Bangladesh refuse to send their team to Pakistan it will come as a setback to the PCB which was very confident that the series would be played next month in Karachi and Lahore.

"The PCB is anticipating a negative answer from the Bangladesh board that is why they have began moves to study the feasibility of holding the Pakistan Premier League T20 event this year," one source said.

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POLLARD'S TON LEAD WI 2-1

 West Indies followed up a swashbuckling second One-day International hundred for Kieron Pollard with another purposeful effort in the field to grab a 42-run victory over Australia in the fourth Digicel ODI on Friday.

The hosts prevailed in spite of enterprising batting from Brett Lee, whose 59 was the top score, and David Hussey, with 57, as Australia failed to successfully chase a target of 295 in the contest at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

Kemar Roach formalised the result with 21 balls remaining, when he had Lee caught on the long-on boundary trying to add to the five fours and five sixes he had smashed in his 48 ball innings.

The victory meant that West Indies grabbed an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the five-match Digicel Series, which concludes on Sunday at the same venue.

West Indies lost the first Digicel ODI by 64 runs last Friday at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in St. Vincent, where they rebounded to win the second Digicel ODI by five wickets two days later, before earning a tie in the third Digicel ODI three days ago at the same venue.

Pollard swung the match decisively with a spectacular 102 from a mere 70 balls, fuelling a late West Indies surge to 294 for seven from their allocation of 50 overs, after they were sent in to bat on a hard, true pitch.

He crunched five fours and eight sixes, the last of which came off Lee and sailed high over mid-wicket onto the Piton Party Mound to usher him to his milestone.

The damage inflicted by Pollard, affectionately known to teammates as “The Beast”, meant that West Indies plundered 117 from the last 10 overs of their innings.

Several other batsmen got starts for West Indies without carrying on – Adrian Barath stroked 41 and fellow opener Johnson Charles scored 37.

Andre Russell cracked 34 from 32 balls and West Indies captain Darren Sammy struck a 31 not out from a mere 13 balls in a robust finish to the innings for the home team.

Dwayne Bravo set Australia back early, when he had David Warner caught at mid-on for one in the second over, but Peter Forrest joined Shane Watson and they struck the ball with crisp assurance, putting on 53 for the second wicket.

But Sammy had Watson caught at mid-on for 28 in the ninth over and Forrest caught at third man for 24 in the 11th over, wobbling Australia on 62 for three.

West Indies faced stiff resistance, when left-hander Mike Hussey and George Bailey came together to add 49 for the fourth wicket.

Russell scalped both of them – caught behind essaying ill-advised cross-batted strokes – in the space of three balls in the 21st over, leaving Australia 112 for five.

Again, West Indies met defiance from the Aussies, as Matthew Wade came to the crease and put on 67 for the sixth wicket with David Hussey, whose knock contained seven boundaries from 54 balls, threatening to spoil the party for the near capacity crowd.

Kieron Pollard had Wade caught at long-off in the 34th over and Kemar Roach bowled Hussey in the 39th over, leaving Australia to pursue 98 from the last 68 balls of the match.

West Indies found it difficult to put a cork on Lee in the closing overs, as the Aussie speedster unleashed an array of hefty blows, after Roach struck him on the right hand with a “beamer”.

But the Maroon Warriors kept their nerve and wickets at the other end inched them to the finish line.

Earlier, Barath and Charles put on 56 for the first wicket to give West Indies an enterprising start.

Barath, playing his first match of the series, hammered nine fours from just 31 balls and Charles was unusually subdued, striking three fours and a six off 62 balls.

Clint McKay had Barath caught behind in the 11th over and Marlon Samuels spent 41 balls over 11 before he fell in similar fashion off Lee, leaving the Australians 83 for two in the 21st over.

Charles and Darren Bravo were just beginning to get into the thick of things, as the Windies lost two wickets to successive deliveries in the 26th over.

Charles was caught at long-on off Doherty and Dwayne Bravo was struck in front and adjudged lbw – after Australia challenged Indian umpire Shavir Tarapore’s not-out verdict – off the very next ball.

The younger Bravo added 40 with Pollard for the fifth wicket before he was caught at long-off, trying to clear the fielder.

Pollard and Russell then combined in a 94-run, sixth-wicket stand that re-ignited the Windies innings.

Russell hit four fours off just 32 balls, but departed when he was caught at cover, slicing a delivery from Watson in the 47th over.

Pollard duly reached his milestone and when he too, was caught at deep cover, Sammy held no prisoners smashing two sixes and a four off the last three balls, as the over cost 23 runs.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES (maximum 50 overs)

J. Charles c Lee b Doherty 37

A. Barath c wkpr Wade b McKay 41

M. Samuels c wkpr Wade b Lee 11

D.M. Bravo c D. Hussey b Watson 25

D.J. Bravo lbw b Doherty 0

K. Pollard c M. Hussey b Lee 102

A. Russell c Bailey b Watson 34

*D. Sammy not out 31

+C. Baugh not out 0

Extras (lb3, w10) 13

TOTAL (7 wkts) 294

S. Narine, K. Roach did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-52 (Barath, 10.1 overs); 2-83 (Samuels, 20.6); 3-106 (Charles, 25.2); 4-106 (D.J. Bravo, 25.3); 5-146 (D.M. Bravo, 35.4); 6-240 (Russell, 46.2); 7-278 (Pollard, 49.3)

Bowling: Lee 10-0-72-2 (w2); Hilfenhaus 10-1-43-0 (w5); McKay 10-1-57-1 (w2); *Watson 10-0-55-2 (w1); Doherty 10-1-64-2

AUSTRALIA (target: 295 off 50 overs)

*S. Watson c Roach b *Sammy 28

D. Warner c Narine b D.J. Bravo 1

P. Forrest c Charles b Sammy 24

G. Bailey c wkpr Baugh b Russell 25

M. Hussey c wkpr Baugh b Russell 26

D. Hussey b Roach 57

+M. Wade c Russell b Pollard 15

B. Lee c (sub) Mathurin b Roach 59

C. McKay c Pollard b D.J. Bravo 2

X. Doherty c *Sammy b Narine 1

B. Hilfenhaus not out 0

Extras (lb1, w11, nb2) 14

TOTAL (all out) 252

Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Warner, 1.1 overs); 2-56 (Watson, 8.1); 3-62 (Forrest, 10.1); 4-111 (Bailey, 20.1); 5-112 (M. Hussey, 20.3); 6-179 (Wade, 33.6); 7-196 (D. Hussey, 38.4); 8-235 (McKay, 43.4); 9-250 (Doherty, 45.3)

Bowling: Roach 9.3-0-74-2 (nb1, w3); D.J. Bravo 6-0-47-2 (w5); Narine 10-2-21-1 (w1); *Sammy 9-0-42-2 (nb1); Russell 7-0-34-2 (w1); Samuels 3-0-17-0 (w1); Pollard 2-0-16-1

Result: West Indies won by 42 runs (21 balls remaining)

Series: West Indies lead five-match series 2-1

Toss: Australia

Man-of-the-Match: K. Pollard (West Indies)

Umpires: G. Brathwaite, S.Tarapore

TV umpire: K. Dharmasena

Match referee: A. Pycroft

Reserve umpire:  P. Nero

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