Finally it ended from where it started as Pakistan has defeated Australia in the group match

The defeat against Pakistan was the first Australia defeat after 35 wins in world cup matches. Australia had almost forgotten the taste of defeat in the world cup matches but Pakistan team gave them the taste of defeat.

Australia batted first and they managed to score 176 runs in 46.4 over. Haddin was the top scorer for them. He made slow 42 runs. The bowling performance from Pakistan side was good and they took quick wickets in the end. Umar Gul took 3 wickets.

The start from Pakistan batting was also not good as Hafeez departed early in the inning. Asad Shafique and Umar Akmal scored good runs and they win the match for Pakistan. Umar Akmal was named man of the match. He was 44 not out. Brett Lee took 4 wickets and remained the best bowler for them.

Pakistan’s middle order batsman and brother of wicket keeper Kamran Akmal is injured during the practice secession.

Team manager Intakhab Alam said that he has an injury on the index finger but thankfully it’s not fractured. He said that the injury is not serious and scans are also conducted of his finger. He said that it was looking good and there are no fracture found in the finger.

After bad performance of Kamran Akmal in the last match Pakistan team is considering to replace him with 20 year old Umar Akmal. Kamran keeping in the last match against New Zealand was very poor and he dropped two catches of R Taylor.

Pakistan is schedule to play against Zimbabwe in the next match and it is possible that Kamran Akmal will be the keeper in the next match. He is not having good world cup cricket so far. There is a lot of criticism on him after the last ODI.

Captain said that the performance of current keeper is not good and he also missed two stumping changes against Sri Lanka. He added that Pakistan has an option in shape of Umar Akmal and Kamran may be rested in next game.

Afridi said that we are here to perform well and whatever will be in benefit of the team they will try it. Shahid said that Kamran worked hard in training but don’t know what happened to him in the game and he dropped catches may be a bad day for him.

Kamran was out of the team due to his bad form before the world cup but after performing well and getting ICC clearance he come back in the team but so far he is not performing well for Pakistan. Pakistan is schedule to play against Zimbabwe on 14^th march and they have time to think to resolve the issue. Coach said that they will think about the future after the tournament.

Opener Muhammad Hafeez played well and scored a century. He scored 115 runs. He went out in 44th over. Middle order also performed well for Pakistani team. Misbah scored 35 runs while Umar Akmal scored quick 44 runs. The star of Pakistani batting was Shahid Afridi. He scored 65 runs in 25 balls. He hit five fours and five sixes. Captain really picked up the run rate of the team.

Pakistan scored 293 runs in 50 over. New Zealand started the chase confidently. They got 44 runs opening stand. Styris and Williamson also played well and both scored in 40’s. Pakistani bowlers didn’t allow the Kiwi batsmen to score runs freely. Kiwis were able to score 250 runs in full fifty over after losing nine wickets. Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanveer and Umar Gul took 2 wickets each. Muhammad Hafeez was named man of the match.

Shahid Afridi, Misbahul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younus Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir and Ahmad Shahzad.

Mohsin Hasan Khan said that for selection committee it was difficult to decide that which player should be in team and which should be excluded from the squad. He added that they have picked the best available team for the world cup.

Shoaib Akhtar will lead the fast bowling department along with Gul. Mohsin also added that for Asian Pitches spinners will be an important factor so they have picked two spinners in the team.

Misbah Ul Haq is performing well in New Zealand and it is under observation that he might be retained as captain for the world cup 2011. He is leading the team well and after winning the first test match Pakistan team is about to win the 2nd one. Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rahman will hold the spin department for Pakistan along with Shahid Afridi and Muhammad Hafeez.

Young fast bowler also joined Umara nd Imran and he also decided to sue Mazher Majeed for alleging him in spot fixing. Agent Mazher Majeed told the reporter that he had given 10,000 pounds jacket to Mazher Majeed.

Pakistan is being targeted and is under allegations of spot fixing. Three Pakistani players are already suspended by ICC and it is fair that the suspension may be extended to some other players too. Pakistani players have now decided to stop giving free space to Mazhe Majeed for alleging Pakistani players and they will now take legal action against him. Kamran Akmal also showed his unhappiness on media and said that media should perform duty with in limits and they are highlighting the issue without any knowledge. he added that media should support players rather then blaming them.

In the video Mazher Majeed was accusing Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz and Imran Farhat for their involvement in spot fixing. Mazheer Majeed said that he contacted with young players as they agreed quickly to work with him. Umar Akmal and Wahab Riaz have been included in Pakistani squad for NZ tour.

Maher also said that Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Razzak and Younis Khan were not included in spot fixing. Pakistan is under great cricket controversy and the scandal of wicket keeper Zulkernain Haider is also linked with fixing.

Kamran Akmal got clearance slip from ICC to play for Pakistan but Selector Mohsin Hassan Khan said that Kamran was not picked for NZ as he didn’t get clearance from board. Pakistan announced team for NZ tour and many players including Kmran Akmal, Muhammad Yousaf, Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria were not able to get their place in NZ touring squad.

Twenty20 squad includes Shahid Afridi , Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shahzad, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Adnan Akmal (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Tanvir Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir and Wahab Riaz.

Test squad includes Misbah-ul-Haq , Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir and Wahab Riaz.

Kamran Akmal is not able to find his place in the team despite of clearance from ICC and scored double century in the domestic cricket. Spinner Danish Keneria is also not selected. Shoaib Malik is out from Pakistan team since England’s tour and he also failed to get selection in Pakistan team. Muhammad Yousaf is also not selected and Wahab Riaz will be along with the team depends upon his fitness.

Pakistan is schedule to play three T-20, two test and six ODI matches in New Zealand. The series will start from 23rd December.

JH Kallis, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy also scored half centuries. JP Duminy played lovely inning of 59 runs on 41 balls at the end of the inning. Kallis score 83 runs and laid a foundation for the big score. Shoaib Akhtar was the most expensive bowler for Pakistan as he went for 77 runs in his 7 over and pick up 1 wicket.

Pakistan team looked confused since after they found their wicketkeeper batsman Zulkarnain Haider missing. They started the inning well and openers provided them with 82 runs start. Pakistan’s batting collapse in the middle order and experienced batsmen Younis Khan and Muhammad Yousaf could not do much in batting.

Umar Akmal played a sensible inning and scored 60 runs. Abdul Razzak was the last hope for Pakistan but he went out after scoring 39 runs. Pakistan team got all out after scoring 260 runs in 45th over. They lost the decider by 57 runs.

Scorecard

There were 3 T-20 matches between Pakistan and South Africa and Pakistan won 2 of them. This is the fourth contest between these two sides. This is an important match as the income of the match will be distributed in the charity cause for the affected people of Pakistan.

People are coming to the ground as they wants to help Pakistani people who get homeless after the disastrous flood. Match will start at 9 pm Pakistan’s local time. Shahid Afridi will come to the ground leading his team and looking for the win. Zulqarnain Haider the wicket keeper batsman will play his first T-20 match.

Pakistan squad consists of Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Imran Farhat, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Tanvir Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz and Zulqarnain Haider.

South African Squad consists of J Botha, LL Bosman, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, CA Ingram, JH Kallis, DA Miller, JA Morkel, M Morkel, WD Parnell, RJ Peterson, GC Smith, DW Steyn, J Theron and LL Tsotsobe.

You can see and enjoy on line scorecard to get the ball to ball information of the match.

SCORECARD