Pakistan dismantles Sri Lanka in Asia Cup ODI

Pakistan Won!!  

Jubilant Misbah and Azam as Pakistan dismantles Sri Lanka with 6 wickets in hand

Well that was a good news as many cricket fans were keeping their fingers crossed and speculated that Sri Lanka would strike back after their defeat at the hands of the Indians by 50 runs on 13 March, to make their presence felt in the tournament.

But today was another day. Sri Lanka batting first gave a target of 188 for Pakistan to chase. While the Sri Lanka openers did not do well, it was captain Sangakkara who played marvelously and scored 71 before being bowled by Aizaz Cheema. Next worthwhile contribution came from Tharanga who scored 57 when Saeed Ajmal struck and sent him back to the pavilion. At best the Sri Lanka made 188 in 45.4 overs. 

Aizaz Cheema was the most deadly bowler today who took four wickets for 43 in 9 overs. Saeed ajmal followed closely and took 3 for 27 in 8.4 overs including one maiden over. Umer Gul did not do less and took 2 for 20 with one maiden over.

When it came to Pakistan to bat, there was disaster in the begining. Openers crashed too soon and so did Younis Khan. Hafeez, Jamshed and Younis could only add 31 runs. Sri Lankan Lakmal was instrumental in sending Younis and Jamshed back to rest room. But then came Umar Akmal and captain Misbah - and to everyone's surprise, Misbah stood his ground. Both Akmal and Misbah added very valuable 149 runs. Umar was unlucky to play a high angle shot when at 77 and was caught by Tharanga on the ball of Maharoof. 

The joyous mustached replacement of Chacha Cricket as Pakistan wins

Misbah was joined in by Azam after Umer, who hit the winning 4, while Misbah was 77 and brought victory to Pakisan.

Aizaz Cheema - the bowling hero of Pakistan against Sri Lanka Thursday

Well played Sri Lanka, but credit does go to Aizaz Cheema for dismantiling Sri Lankan batting line and to Misbah and Umar Akmal for scoring tremendously that led to Pakistan's victory.

Aizaz rightly awarded the player of the match award.

Much satisfied Misbah walks back to pavilion after winning over Sri Lanka

Commenting on the day's play, Pakistan captain Misbah said:

"It was a really good partnership between me and Umar Akmal. I told him to play his normal game, the runs automatically came. Cheema was hit for a lot of fours in his first couple of overs. I told him your main weapon is aggression, so bowl with aggression, No point containing batsmen on these pitches, best to take wickets. It was important for me to get my confidence back, England series was not good for me, so this innings is a confidence booster. We have to be more consistent with the bat, the bowling is always keeping us in hunt."

Well now, Pakistan should be in high spirits and Misbah too, who was earlier being blamed for his slow paced batting. His wonderful performance is certainly a good omen for Pakistan who get ready now for their encounter with India on 18 March.


Shared from: Jaho Jalal

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Watch Pakistan vs England Test Match Online [ Free Live Streaming ]

Probable Match Team Line up for Pakistan:

 Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Adnam Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz  


Probable Match Team Line up for England:
Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett 

Last Five Matches:
Pakistan WWDWD
England WWWWW

Current ICC Ranking:
Pakistan # 5
England # 1

Series: England tour of United Arab Emirates, Jazz Cup 2012

Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Kick off date/time: Tuesday, January 17 , 2012 6:00 AM GMT

Live Streaming links for the match between Pakistan and England are given as follows:

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India overpowers Sri Lanka to lift the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy

It was India's day when it embattled Sri Lanka in the final clash of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup finals in a jam packed Mumbai arena. Sri Lanka gave a tough target of 274 for India to match. But the Indian resolve to win was seen right from the outset, even after losing its stalwarts Sehwag and Tendulkar very early in the match.

The incoming Kohli, Gambhir, Dhoni and Yuvraj looked calm and confident with utter ease to chase the target. Almost every ball was a scoring ball and the target was achieved with much ease without any irresponsible shots or even gestures. Kohli's 97 and Dhoni's 91 were the match winners for India. The last six by Dhoni was hit with so much ease as if it was a normal hit. Dhoni went onto win the Man of the match award for his unbeaten match winning performance of 91 , whereas Yuvraj Singh won the Man of the Tournament for his exceptional all round performance.

The crowd roared to the tremendous victory and the team thanked the crowd for their support.

Watching the Indians playing with an exceptional resolve to win reminded me of the lacking resolve by the Pakistani players when they played against India in the semi final. The slow paced game and the in-attitude to win was clearly visible. The players like and Younis and Misbah played as if the winning or losing the game didn't matter at all. The wasting of dozens of balls by Misbah cost Pakistan dearly and allowed an un-ceremonial exit from the tournament. The team threw in the towel too easily.

The winning resolve shown by India should be a lesson for Pakistan in its future cricket to stand firm and win rather lose with their callous and casual attitude.

Well done Sri Lanka and well played India - you deserved to lift the trophy.

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Pakistan loses Cricket World Cup 2011 semi final to India

Pakistan lost the semi final of the Cricket World Cup 2011 to India by 29 runs. How the above newspaper headlines is attributed to Pakistan's defeat, read my hunch at:

A bad omen and dismal performance sends Pakistani team back home (Jaho Jalal) 

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Clash of the Cricket Titans at Mohali

The cricket teams of Pakistan and India are readying to meet in the semi finals of the ongoing ICC World Cup Cricket 2011 on 30^th March at Mohali, Chandigarh in India. The semi final between the cricket titans is being considered as the most crucial, and important match of the ongoing championship as the two favourites are also otherwise teams of the countries at loggerhead on issue of Kashmir since their independence from British India in 1947.

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The Indian team will have the jam packed stadium to its advantage as the crowd will be whistling, dancing and cheering when a Pakistan wicket falls or when an Indian player hits a six or a four. Although a few Pakistanis have been allowed to visit India to watch the match, even they will find them at odds amidst a rather hostile crowd. This will put Pakistan team under lot of pressure and strain and all alone, surrounded by cheering crowd supporting India.

The highlight of the match would be the presence of prime ministers of both India and Pakistan in the arena. The match is being dubbed, therefore, as a window of opportunity for both the leaders to take initiative and bring their countries closer than ever before.

In the meantime, Mohali in general and the area around the arena has been turned into a fortress for security reasons. A security force of 4,000 personnel assisted by 150 CCTV cameras has been deployed, while helicopters would hover from the third dimension to thwart any untoward incidence.

As for the players, Pakistan’s captain Shahid Afridi and Indian all rounder Yuvraj are being tipped as favourites as these two players can generate the charisma for their teams and the crowd. Afridi with his Boom Boom appearance makes the crowd to roar and cheer, while raising their hopes of victory. This is not going to be an ordinary day and the entire Pakistan-India subcontinent would come to a virtual standstill for the entire duration of the match.

Pakistan wishes the very best for its team and pray they put up a stiff resistance to an equally strong Indian squad and WIN, Inshallah. 

Originally posted at: Jaho Jalal

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Pakistan outclasses Australia

The match between Pakistan and Australia was a thriller. Pakistan, which had never defeated Australia in any World Cup cricket match since 1999, had its day when it tamed the Australians in the ICC World Cup 2011 played at the Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday.

The Australians crumbled one after the other and could not stand against the power bowling of paceman Umar Gul who took 3-30 and Afridi and finally exit the stadium with mere 176.

The charged Pakistani batsmen found it easy to reach the target and won the match by four wickets. Although Misbah's duck and Afridi's mere two were a big setback, but it was due to superb batting of Kamran, Umar, Asad and Razzaq that carried the jubilant day for Pakistan.  

The win put Pakistan top of Group A, ahead of Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand, who will play South Africa in the quarter-finals.

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Pakistan overpowers Sri Lanka

In what can be described as a sensational and hair-raising duel between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the ongoing World Cup Cricket championship 2011, Pakistan finally overpowered Sri Lanka and won their second match of the championship.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, which was certainly a wise decision, leaving no chance till the end. The superb performance of Younas Khan (72), Misbah (83) and Kamran Akmal (39) set a challenging target of 278 for Sri Lanka. Although Sri Lankna could achieve the target, but their batsmen crumbled one after the other against the Pakistan bowling onslaught. Afridi, having taken 5-16 against Kenya, took another 4-34, while Shoaib Akhtar took two wickets and Umar Gul and Hafeez and Rehman one wicket each. Only Silva could cross 50 (57) while Dilshan and Sangakkara crossed 40s but could realize their half centuries. Sri Lanka was all out for 266 in the 50 overs.

For Pakistan Misbah and Younis played a vital role in setting a formidable target, while Afridi overpowered the Sri Lankan batsmen with his spins, assisted by Shoiab and others.

The proud and happy man of the match Afridi commented after the game, ”That was a big game. The way Misbah and Younis played - beautiful and very mature. The fielders relaxed a bit, but on a stage like this we can't do that. I am sure they will improve in the coming games. Good conditions for bowlers - spin and bounce. This is a strong message to other teams, we will come stronger, game after game!"

Congratulations Afridi and the rest of the team – well played Misbah, Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar and rest of the boys. We wish you best of luck and hope you all keep your wits about as you did today.

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Peace returns to Malam Jabba

Malam Jabba – the biggest ski resort in Pakistan has seen its good days and bad days. Good days when it was a thriving ski resort for the skiing enthusiasts of Pakistan and even attracted enthusiast from abroad. Located in the Karakoram mountain range and some 40 km from the town of Saidu Sharif in the Swat Valley, the resort was established due to joint efforts of the governments of Pakistan and Austria. Besides ski slope of about 800m with the highest point of the slope 2804m (9200 ft) above sea level, the Malam Jabba Ski Resort was equipped with modern facilities including roller/ice-skating rinks, chair lifts, skiing platforms, telephones and snow clearing equipment. The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation had a beautiful hotel constructed at the foot of the ski slopes.

The bad news came when the ski resort was badly damaged during 2008 when militants took control of the area. After Pakistan Army’s successful operation, and control over the area, the resort is under repair and renovation and is thus closed for the tourists for now.

And the good news again is that the resort has been restored and a 5-days peaceful skiing gala is being organized by the PaRRSA (the Provincial Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority) of the Khyber Pakhtunkwa province from 26-30 January 2011. It may be mentioned here that after cleansing the area from militancy by the Pakistan army, an “Aman Mela (Peace Fair)” was held in Swat in July last year, which attracted over 40,00 thousand tourists beside a huge participation by the locals.

Besides being a tourist and skiing resort, Malam Jabba also assumes significance from the fact that there are to Buddhists stupas and six monasteries that are located close by the resort. These monasteries dating back to some 2,000 years are also an added tourist attraction for the skiers and spectators.

Related Reading: Skiing in Pakistan (Hobby Shobby)

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Stop War – Start Tennis slogan wins international acclaim

India and Pakistan are the two countries in the South Asia that have their relations never at ease for the last seven decades. Both countries have fought war over the disputed issue of Kashmir and have gained nothing out of the bloody wars and bitter relations. Both suspect each other if anything goes wrong in either of the two countries.

But while the diplomatic overt and covert war goes on between the two countries, there rose a sportsman and a tennis player with a slogan that brought a breeze of fresh air. Aisam ul Haq Qureshi of Pakistan, pairing with the Indian Rohan Bopanna not only played wonderful tennis recently and even took the Pakistani national flag to the Arthur Ashe Tennis stadium in USA for the first time in its history when he and Bopanna played the men’s double final with the Bryan brothers early this year. Although the duo lost the finals, Aisam won over the hearts of millions when he told the jam packed crowd at the Arthur Ashe stadium, “ feel there is a very wrong perception of Pakistan as a terrorist country. We are a very peace-loving country and we want peace as much as you. Since September 11, every time I come to the States or Western countries, I feel people have the wrong impression about Pakistan as a terrorist nation. There are extremists I think in every religion but, just because of them, you cannot judge the whole country as a terrorist nation. I just want to get this message across as a Pakistani.”

His emotional yet heart winning address was part of the slogan he raised earlier “Stop War – Start Tennis” for the leaders and people of both India and Pakistan with a view to shunning their differences and start a peaceful start for the better future of the two countries.

The United Nations has already nominated Aisam as an ambassador of goodwill. The World Peace and Sport Organization of Monaco has also recognized both players quest for peace and awarded them the prestigious Peace Image of the Year award.

Now acknowledging his message of peace and efforts to bring Pakistan and India closer, the International Olympic Committee has announced to decorate both Aisam and Bopanna’s shirts in the IOC Museum Lausanne, Switzerland. It may be added here that both Aisam and Bopanna have been wearing shirts with “Stop War – Start Tennis” slogan even during the Wimbledon and after that.

We commend Aisam and Bopanna’s efforts and wish Aisam the very best of luck as he intends playing the 2011’s first Grand Slam Championship – the Australian Open.

Related Reading: Aisam ul Haq Qureshi (Pakistanpaedia)

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Bravo Amir Khan!! For retaining the WBA title

The prosing young Pakistani-British boxer Amir Khan has successfully defended the light-welter weight title of the WBA by defeating Marcos Maidana of Argentina at Las Vegas. The match wasn’t all that easy as there were tougher and biting shots from his opponent, specially in the 10th round, almost costing him a KO. But he kept his wits about and earned a unanimous 114-111, 114-111, 113-112 decision to continue reigning the light welter weight category.

The close encounter could have turned the tide in anyone’s favour. Even Maidana was expecting the titile due to his superb performance and not giving in till the end. Those who witnessed the match live were keeping their fingers crossed as they were watching a superb and fierce resistance from both the opponents. A dejected Maidana later remarked, “I thought I won. I thought I did fight enough in the final rounds to win, but they gave it to him.”

I can well imagine the despair shown by Maidana. Having played boxing myself in my youth, I know what a close call is. I was too faced with a forceful opponent and we boxed on with utter ferocity and biting hits. We both expected to win, and I did while my opponent showed the same reservation and despair after it was over. And I tell you how wonderful is the feeling when the referee raises your hand, even when I was bleeding from nose and a torn lip. But at that time who cared about the injuries.

Anyway the judges had it all on their record and Amir Khan scored 45% of the punches (273 out of 603), while Maidana could only score mere 20% (156 out of 767). So that allowed Amir a victor with a clear margin. Bravo Amir then for a superb performance and we hope to watch you defending the title next time too.

Related Reading: Amir Khan defends WBA title at Las Vegas (Sporty Arena)

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Russia and Qatar Stun Football Giants

While the Britons were almost certain to host the 2018 World Cup Football, the Russians rose to clinch the opportunity and would be hosting the mega football event – their very first. Russians overpowered the other strong contenders like the Netherlands, Belgium, England, Portugal and Spain.

The nomination of Qatar to host the 2022 Cup also came as a big surprise as the contenders also included big giants and favorites like the US, South Korea besides Japan and Australia. Like Russia, it would also be Qatar’s first time to host the championship. The Qataris were jubilant and overjoyed and started blowing the noisy Vuvuzelas no sooner did they hear of their nomination, while waving the Qatari national flag. The people of Kansas City were really doomed and sad as their dream of holding the mega event could not become a reality.

It may be adde4d that although Qatris love to play football, like all other Arab countries of the region, the team is ranked 113th and has never played in the mega event. But as the FIFA president said that they are taking the game to the new lands, Qataris got lucky. They will have to accelerate the pace of work on building the city of Lusail, the venue of the 2022 World Cup, which is still incomplete and would lot of efforts to make it come to the expectations of the football lovers and players when they land here in 2022.

So it is best of luck to Russia and Qatar for 2018 and 2022.

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Pakistan is Asian Games Hockey Champion

Pakistan beat Malaysia 2-0 to bag yet another gold medal for Pakistan. In fact this gold has been awaited for the last 20 years when Pakistan won the gold in 1990 Asiad in Beijing. This time too China brings good luck to Pakistan.

Today Pakistan also won gold in squash team event by beating Malaysia. So in a day Pakistan beat Malaysia twice and both times filled their bags with gold. Pakistani girls also won gold in the women cricket earlier in the ongoing Asian Games. Pakistan got lucky as McKenna did in the final scene of the epic movie McKenna’s Gold.

Read full story at JahoJalal: Pakistan is Asian Games Hockey Champion

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Missing Pakistani Wicketkeeper

When the Pakistani cricket team was in England recently, there was uproar in the British media about the involvement of three Pakistani players in match fixing. Although despite many probes, even the Scotland Yard also jumped in, there was no concrete evidence found so far to affix blame on the Pakistani players. At that time, I wrote that we must protect our strategic assets against the underworld pressure tactics and save them from falling.

Perhaps like many other vows, that effort went waste, since today once again there headlines about Pakistani players – this time missing of the wicketkeeper from the hotel in Dubai. Zulqarnain Haider, - the hero hero of Pakistan's victory in the fourth ODI with South Africa, is said to have collected his passport last night and has been missing from his hotel room since six in the morning.

Now this is something unbearable. What was the security officer of the Pakistan doing? Sleeping in his room so that anyone could sneak out at liesure? Why was he handed over his passport last night? Didn’t warning bells sounded in the ears of the team manager and the security officer?

At the time of posting this write-up, there is news that Haider has aired him being threatened by someone to lose the last match. Haider is said to have told some friend of his that he was going to England instead of Pakistan. Even the team manager Intikhab Alam has been quoted as saying that he knows the whereabouts of the missing player – why doesn’t he tell where? While this jigsaw puzzle could have been a good input for Agatha Christie to write a new mystery book, but not for Pakistan in any case.

We have the habit of repeating our mistakes many times and make sure that these cause us maximum harm before there is no room is left for more harm to come. The missing of an ace players seems to be height our ignorance about matters related to our players’ security and leaving them at their own to succumb to the pressures which they bear all alone. For God sake get up and open your eyes – everyone….

Related Link: Protecting our strategic assets

PS: 8^th Novemebr (after the the 5^th ODI) Well the sudden leaving of Haider did make the difference in the fifth ODI between Pakistan and South Africa on 8^th November at Dubai as Pakistan lost by 57 runs, which made the South Africans won by 3:2. So now it is to be seen whether someone threatened him or promised him “some other mans” to skip the ODI so as to brighten the chances of South African squad to win or he left the team due to some fears. In both ways, his absence made the same desired effects for the South Africans. Time will tell

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Bravo!! Abdul Razzaq

Well the jubilation by everyone who watched the match was just great last night between Pakistan and South Africa in Abu Dhabi. Many viewing the match on TV closed their sets and went to sleep after Shahid Afridi succumbed to South African bowling. No one could imagine that Pakistani team would be able to close on to the given target and even outclass the South Africans in the very last over. Well they weren’t very wrong in their assessment as seeing the abysmal performance of Pakistani team in the first ODI and the T20 matches, one could not even dream of aggressive come back from the Pakistani players.

The surprise came from that calm and expressionless Abdul Razzaq. And what a marvelous performance he gave that astounded not only the South Africans, but Pakistani team and the crowd as well. His third ODI hundred of 109 off 74 balls brought Pakistan to a stunning victory over South Africans. His score of 109 included ten sixes which were hit with extreme ferocity and precision that cheered the crowd and made them dance with excitement. The last over was simply superb. With 6 balls and 14 runs to score, it was a tense moment for everyone. But Razzaq was out there to show to the world the very best of him last night. He bagged the 14 runs with two mighty sixes and two runs.

Despite his stupendous performance, he still looked calm and expressionless as always. This reminds me of my favourite tennis player Bjorn Borg who showed no emotion or expressions when he would win the Wimbledons one after the other.

Best of luck AR, you made the difference and you deserve all the applause and commendation from everyone of us. Thank you for bringing smiles on our morose faces after series of defeats in the ongoing tour and the floods that hit us so badly recently.

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Protecting our strategic assets

Recently there has been much uproar on the spot fixing allegations against some of our players. One of them includes an 18 years emerging bowler Muhammad Aamir. Within a short span of time, the bowler has made headlines in the cricket world for completing his bagful of 50 wickets. A great feat indeed.

And here come in forces that distract such youngsters, still in their infancy, through their heinous designs to sideline them by involving them in such ugly blackmailing as that of spot fixing. And an innocent Youngman would soon be coerced and lured in to bowl a no-ball for some good cash. And this is probably something that has happened. And the desired results have been achieved by the forces of the underworld that have succeeded in breaking an emerging bowler and stamping his future, at least for now. The decision by the inquiry commission would decide the fate of this young man – may be a life ban.

Now that the uproar on their conduct unbecoming has subsided considerably, there is a time to ponder over what has happened, what could happen next and was there any chance in the first place to have averted this disaster?

Well to start with, while I do not subscribe to the act of this young man, and fell rather embarrassed as his act has embarrassed the nation the world over, I pondered over the issue when the anger subsided (remember I earlier wrote “When enough is not enough” awhile ago, soon after the incident). Everyone knows in PCB and all those who matter that blackmailers and bookmakers are after these youngsters to spoil them. So did anyone protect them? Was anyone over watching these players and keeping a track over their activities? Did anyone see who comes to meet them, or where do they go late at night? Did anyone charge them for disobeying the rules of not staying out late at night?

Probably no one.

The tam is being managed by two oldest persons living in Pakistan; I mean Mr. Yawar and Mr. Shafqat Rana. Couldn’t we find some hawkish and rather younger people who could enforce discipline? The PCB top man is also a man of fragile health, though of a heavy stature otherwise. He is often found asleep when his duties require of him extra vigilant and active. Unlike many previous PCB top men, he has accompanied the team to almost every country, probably making the best of his remaining days. But is he delivering?

So when this is the state of the managers and the chairman, it has been very easy for the outsiders to have a rollicking time and finding easy ingress into the enclosed circles of the team and praying their victims with much ease.

I think we need to protect our strategic assets of our sports so that they do not succumb to blackmailing, coercion and underhand deals. We need to employ security men around these so that no one takes them for granted and spoil their careers. And also as a result the nation, the team and the sports is not let down.

It is just a loud thinking but I hope someone seriously considers it and takes measures to avert any such happenings in future.

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