Latest Cricket News

Kamran, Younus, Razzaq left out for WI tour



Pakistan's selectors have omitted senior players Younus Khan, Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq for the ODI series in the West Indies from 21 April.

The Pakistan cricket Board has, however, retained all-rounder Shahid Afridi as captain for the five One-Day Internationals and one T20 game in the Caribbean.

Pakistan's one-day team was announced on Wednesday just one week after the World Cup semi-final loss to India in Mohali.

Afridi and chief selector Mohsin Khan had indicated that they were looking at rebuilding a fresh side for limited overs cricket.

The 16-member squad also does not include fast bowler Umar Gul, who himself withdraw from the tour.

"I wanted a break from cricket for a while so I requested the board to not consider me for the tour," Gul said.

"I had also informed the chief selector that I wanted to spend time with my family," added Gul, who finished with 14 wickets in the World Cup.

The selectors have included rookie pacer Aizaz Cheema, who joins Junaid Khan as the two uncapped players in the touring squad.

Khan said that the squad for the two test matches against the West Indies would be announced later.

He said wicketkeeper Kamran had been dropped because of poor form. "Basically we want to try out some new players on this tour," said Khan.

Uncapped Mohammad Salman will replace Kamran, who struggled at the World Cup, while the selectors have also included young batsman Usman Salahuddin and all-rounder Hammad Azam.

Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Taufiq Umar, Usman Salahuddin, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam, Aizaz Cheema, Mohammad Salman.


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Jayawardena, selection panel step down


Veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardena quit as vice-captain and a three-member selection committee also resigned en masse in a major shake-up in Sri Lankan cricket following the team's World Cup defeat.

"I think it's time to move on, give the reins to someone younger in the team," Jayawardena told AFP.

The resignations came a day after Kumar Sangakkara stepped down as one-day and Twenty20 captain.

Jayawardena, 33, was vice-captain for the World Cup, where Sri Lanka lost to India by six wickets in the final in Mumbai last week despite his impressive century.

Sri Lanka Cricket chairman D. S. de Silva said the governing body had accepted Jayawardena's resignation.

Jayawardene, who has scored 9,527 runs in Tests and 9,423 in one-day internationals, quit as Sri Lanka captain in February 2009.

The selectors, led by former batsman Aravinda de Silva, also handed in their resignations to Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. De Silva was the vice-captain of the 1996 World Cup-winning Sri Lankan side. Sangakkara stood down on Tuesday to allow selectors to groom new leaders for the next cricket World Cup in 2015.

Sri Lanka's next international assignment is the tour of England in May-July for three Tests and five one-dayers.



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Pakistan team now needs a younger wicketkeeper: Waqar Younis

Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal appears to be on his way out of the national squad after coach Waqar Younis told the selection committee to look for a younger replacement.

"This debate over the wicketkeeper's performance is a difficult one, but I think the Pakistan team now needs a younger wicketkeeper who can carry the load for the next few years," the Daily Times quoted Waqar, as telling media persons after holding a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt.

Waqar also said he wanted to be part of the process where new players were being inducted into the team.

"I am in support of making changes in the team but they should not be total changes and it should be a sensible and a gradual process to groom new players," he added.

Waqar's remarks about the need of a new wicketkeeper is a clear indication that the experienced Kamran may have played his last international match at the 2011 World Cup semi-final against India in Mohali, and even selectors are now said to be keen to induct a new keeper for both the Test and one-day sides.

Kamran's younger brother Adnan Akmal and Sarfaraz Ahmed are said to be front runners for the position, as both have played for Pakistan in the past.

Kamran has played 53 Tests, 137 ODIs and 38 Twenty20 internationals so far, but in recent times, his wayward wicket-keeping abilities and inconsistent batting has disappointed both selectors and fans.