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Group D
ScorecardPakistan became one of only two sides to emerge from the group stage unbeaten, completing their stay at Khulna with a thumping 163 victory over West Indies. In front of a packed crowd, Pakistan scored 251 for 9 in 50 overs after being put in. Jahangir Mirza top-scored with 92, and Usman Saeed contributed 40 against a West Indies attack that was without Ravi Rampaul, who was feeling unwell.The West Indies reply was over in 27.3 overs due mainly to a devastating opening burst from Riaz Afridi, who took 5 for 28 runs with Tariq Mehmood and Mansoor Amjad providing able support as West Indies were skittled out for 88.”We simply have to improve our batting as we have not been consistent enough,” said Denesh Ramdin, West Indies’ captain. “We have enjoyed out time in Khulna, it has been fantastic here.”Aqib Javed, Pakistan’s coach, said he thought his side were in good shape going into the Super League. “We stuck to our game plan today and performed well,” he said. “I was pleased with our batting and bowling and I am looking forward to the Super League in Dhaka.”

Waqar Younis has hit out at allegations that Pakistan had deliberately underperformed in one-day tournaments in Morocco and Kenya in 2002. Responding to a letter by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to the Pakistan board which raised the issue, Waqar, who led the team in both competitions, emphasised that there was no truth to the allegations.”We just did not play well and we lost quite a few close matches. Luck did not favour us. But I know everyone tried hard to win,” he said, according to a Press Trust of India report. Waqar added that these stories were floating around only because Pakistan had lost the one-day series to New Zealand and had an important series against India coming up. “Whenever the team loses a few matches on a trot or an important series is coming up, you hear and read about such allegations about match-fixing. So this is nothing new for me.”I can only say if the ACU has any evidence and is convinced any player is involved in corrupt practices, he should be exposed and punished. But simply making allegations or raising suspicions without proof is not fair on the players also. Pakistani people are very emotional and it is now customary to hear and read about allegations of match-fixing if the team does not perform to expectations.”Waqar may feel that Pakistan lost a few close games in those tournaments, but a look at the records suggest otherwise. In Kenya, Pakistan suffered humiliating defeats against Australia – by 224 runs and nine wickets – while in Morocco, they lost to South Africa by 54 runs and to Sri Lanka by 39. Pakistan’s only narrow loss was by 8 runs to South Africa, a match they needed to win to qualify for the final.Meanwhile, the report also stated that Waqar had confirmed his participation in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s domestic tournament, in a bid to win a place in the Test squad for the series against India. “I have not given up hope of playing for Pakistan again, that is for sure.”

The caravan moved east, from Dhaka to the port city of Chittagong, and as it rolled into town, to a backdrop of ship-breaking activities, with tones of metal, life vests, boilers and other seafaring miscellany being sold on the roadside, it became clear that for some in this Indian squad, this trip would be merely an exercise in tourism.Sourav Ganguly, at the end of the first Test, which India won comfortably by an innings and 140 runs, hadsuggested that some of the main members of the squad may be rested to give the fringe players a chance. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this is highly unlikely. Zaheer Khan is on 99 Test wickets, and he will be desperately keen to bring up three figures. Irfan Pathan has just taken ten, and he can’t be rested. This means that for Shib Sankar Paul – who has proudly worn his India training gear even well after practice at the team hotel – and Gagandeep Singh, the dream of playing for India must be put on hold for the moment.Anil Kumble picked up only three wickets in the first Test, and Harbhajan Singh two, and both will be eager for richer pickings. This means that Murali Kartik will probably have to warm the bench a little longer.The strongest indication that India would play the same team, however, came from John Wright, the Indian coach, as the Indians went through a full net session at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday. "I had a chat with Sourav, but we haven’t decided on the team," said Wright. "But you have to value the Indian cap, it is not something to be shared around just for the sake of sharing around."But Wright did concede that this made for an awkward situation for the reserves. "You feel for those players, particularly Mohammad Kaif and Murali Kartik, who put up outstanding performances against tougher opposition – it is tough on them," he conceded. "The other new boys look good prospects, have a good attitude. I’ve been very pleased with the way they’ve come on – they are learning what it is to tour with the Indian team. Players can learn a lot from each other."But if a team is going to have a problem, then having to leave out players who have performed well is not the worst one. India put in a strong showing in the first Test, which put the smile back on Wright’s face. "Bangladesh have probably learnt a lot from that game, so it may be tougher here," he said. Everyone is keen to play – I don’t think there will be major changes, everyone is actually eager to play. We will concentrate on playing good cricket. We will take nothing for granted."Bangladesh’s coach Dav Whatmore, on the other hand, was certainly not best pleased with the way things went at Dhaka. His side dropped so many catches – including two off Sachin Tendulkar – that it was heartbreaking to watch for their supporters. "The ground fielding was OK, it was the catching that was not acceptable," said Whatmore. "The last game is over, it is finished and done and it is history now – we have to learn our lessons from that game. Our ground fielding is much better than that. The more you look backwards you don’t cover much ground, and for us this match can’t come quick enough."

On the third day, the sun shone brightly and the mood was lifted all round. Okay, so England were still unable to practise out in the middle, but after yesterday’s misfortunes, it was a relief just to make it to the indoor arena at the BKSP – a quaint little tent of a building, set in the middle of a field of cricket and football pitches, that would fit four or five times into one of those giant complexes at Lord’s or Old Trafford.For Ashley Giles, England’s senior bowler in the absence of Darren Gough, Andy Caddick and now, Andrew Flintoff, it made a pleasant change to be able to talk cricket without having his tongue firmly embedded in his cheek. As he sat on the steps outside the building, the beads of sweat on his forehead were, for the first time, the only signs of moisture in the immediate environment.England have not enjoyed the best of luck on this tour so far, but for Gilesit is just a relief to be back in Asia, every spinner’s spiritual home. “I’ve looked forward to returning,” he said. “It’s been a year and a half since we were last on the subcontinent, and I enjoy being here. The pitches generally suit you, and you tend to get more overs and more responsibility, and so more wickets as well.”For Giles, the summer of 2003 was not one to remember – although in fairness, he let nobody down in his six Tests, and more than made up for his shortage of wickets (nine) with fruitful contributions with the bat. “I helped to create a few partnerships,” he conceded, “but I need to go on more. I’m never going to belt it like Freddie [Flintoff], but I should maybe go on to score a hundred.”The addition to the coaching staff of Mike Watkinson, a former England offspinner, is a clear bonus for Giles. While the rain has been pouring, the pair have kept busy by working on such menial tasks as rhythm and balance, and Giles’s approach to the wicket. “It’s no disrespect to the other coaches,” says Giles, “but I think Winker mentally appreciates the trauma that spinners sometimes go through. I like the way he’s thinking. He understands me.”Giles’s likely partner-in-crime, as and when the first practice match getsunderway at the Bangabandhu stadium on Sunday morning, is the Worcestershireoffspinner, Gareth Batty. The pair do not know each other too well at present, but Giles knows from experience that tours of the subcontinent are ideal places to forge a team spirit.”Those tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka were the ones that I have enjoyed themost,” he admitted. “I’m not just talking from a personal point of view, although it was nice to take wickets and contribute to victory [Giles took24 wickets in the six matches, including seven in England’s victory at Karachi, and six more as they clinched the Sri Lankan series in Colombo].”More importantly, it was the way the team bonded on that tour. There’s not a lot to do at nights out here, so we spent a lot of time eating, chatting, going into each other’s rooms and watching videos. We talked more about cricket, and more about each other as well, and when you do that, I think success comes hand-in-hand.”After a summer of doing a fill-in job when the seamers were tired, Giles is clearly relishing the chance to take centre stage once again. “Back home, it may be viewed as a build-up to Sri Lanka,” he said, “but I’ve been looking forward to this series – for my personal role in the team, and the opportunity it presents.”We dare not take these guys lightly. They had some impressive individualperformances against Australia and Pakistan, and if we underestimate them, we’ll get hammered.”

Pakistan Customs were not only forced to follow on by Habib Bank, but they will now also be relegated to the non-first-class Grade-II circuit next season. Needing to score 356 to avert the follow on after Habib Bank had put up 506 in their first innings, Customs were all out for 283 at the United Bank Limited (UBL) Sports Complex. They ended the third day on 49 for 1, still 174 runs short of avoiding an innings defeat.However, no matter what happens on the final day today (Thursday), Customs will have to suffer the ignominy of being demoted to the Grade-II tournament, from where they will have to start the process of seeking promotion all over again. Starting at their overnight score of 74 for 3 and needing another 282 runs to make Habib Bank bat again, Customs were 168 for 6. Fawad Alam, who had earlier helped add 59 for the fourth wicket with Azhar Shafiq (32) continued to take the fight to the opponents.He and Murtaza Hussain shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 80. Fawad was unlucky to fall six runs short of a well-deserved hundred, which would have been only the second of his short first-class career. He batted for just over four hours facing 184 balls and hit nine boundaries. Murtaza’s unbeaten 43 included three fours and a six and came off 124 balls in about three hours.Two quick wickets at the end by new-ball bowler Shahid Nazir, who finished with 3 for 33 from 16 overs, and Shahid Afridi’s legbreaks hitting twice at the middle order, broke the Customs’ resolve. They lost an early wicket in the second innings before the batsmen took control.The two top teams from either group are looking for qualification to the tournament’s Quadrangular Stage round that gets underway from January 15. Habib Bank, the record seven-time winners of the Patrons Trophy, are currently placed second behind Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).They need a win in this match to stay as one of the two top teams in their group. Customs have collected only six points from their three previous matches and find themselves placed at the bottom of the points table.Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited’s (SNGPL) splendid effort for a first-innings lead fell a mere eight runs short on the third day at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Sports Complex on Wednesday.Chasing Pakistan International Airline’s first innings score of 384, SNGPL finally fell for 376. PIA faced an uneasy situation in their second innings, and lost two wickets with only 15 runs on the board.SNGPL received an early setback as they lost their first wicket without any addition to the score after a brilliant start of 149 runs by their openers. Ayub Dogar perished for 66 off 108 balls with seven fours and a six. His partner, Mohammad Hafeez, took his score to 88 off 180 deliveries with nine boundaries, but four wickets fell with only 34 runs added. It needed a 144-run fifth-wicket partnership to give SNGPL the hope of taking a lead.Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, hit seven boundaries in his knock of 81 in just short of three-and-a-half hours off 162 balls. Saleem Mughal scored 72 off 117 balls with seven fours.Unfortunately, the last five wickets added a mere 49 further runs and SNGPL fell behind. Kamran Sajid, filling in for Umar Gul who was unable to bowl because of fever, captured 3 for 57. Fazl-e-Akbar took 3 for 65. Samiullah Niazi, the left-arm opening bowler, took two quick PIA wickets when they batted the second time. They are now only 23 runs ahead with the final day remaining.SNGPL, with nine points from their three previous matches, also need a win to take their tally to 18, something which could even have taken them into the Quadrangular Stage ahead of PIA. With only one more day to go in the match, this may not happen.PIA, who have never won the Patron’s Trophy but shared the title last season with Habib Bank after the final was rained off, currently have a total of 15 points. They require an outright win to stay in contention for the next round.Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) had Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) reeling at 108 for 8 as their match finally got underway on the third day at the Sheikhupura Stadium.With the first two days washed out, first because of heavy rains and then due to the unplayable conditions at the ground, WAPDA immediately put PTCL in after Adil Nisar won the toss.Sarfraz Ahmed and Faisal Irfan, the new-ball bowlers, struck early as two wickets fell with only five runs on the board. After a third-wicket stand of 51 runs, Farooq Iqbal played havoc with the ball and took 5 for 37 in 17.3 overs.Babar Naeem, the Rawalpindi left-hander, top-scored with 33 off 81 balls with four fours and a six. Zulqarnain Haider, the wicketkeeper, contributed a patient 26 off 102 deliveries in a little over two hours with a four and a six. Six of the nine batsmen who came to the crease failed to reach double-figures. Tahir Mughal scored 18 at No.8.WAPDA, who were the Patron’s Trophy runners-up in 2003-04, are at second spot in the five-team table with 12 points from three appearances. PTCL, who have a total of 18 points, have never won a national title. They need a win, or at least a draw with three points, to retain their position, though they can advance to the next round even if they drop to second place.If the poor playing conditions persist and no points are gained by either team in the other Group B match being played in Peshawar — between National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) — then PTCL and WAPDA will qualify for the Quadrangular Stage round.There was no play for a third consecutive day in the match between National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at the Arbab Niaz Stadium.The match, originally scheduled to be played at the Lahore City Cricket Asociation (LCCA) Ground in Lahore, was shifted because of the poor conditions there mainly due to heavy fog and poor visibility. In Peshawar, first heavy rain and then unplayable conditions have prevented any play so far.The sun was out on Tuesday, but the ground didn’t dry up as expected. The two teams wanted to play yesterday but the umpires felt that the pitch and the surroundings were not conducive for the match to begin. With only the final day left today (Thursday), it is doubtful whether even the first innings issue would be resolved here.NBP, five-time winners of the tournament, are at third place in Group B with only nine points. They needed an outright win over ZTBL to stay in contention for the Quadrangular Stage round, for which the top two teams from either group will qualify.If there’s no play even on the last day and no points are gained from the fifth and final round matches, then Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) will qualify for the Quadrangular Stage round.Service Industries, after having gained no points from their four matches of which they lost three and drew one, have already suffered demotion to the non-first-class Patrons Trophy Grade-II circuit. Ironically, they had qualified for the ongoing tournament after having won the last season’s Grade-II championship.

Vikram Solanki will celebrate his recall to the England side by opening the innings in the first NatWest Challenge match against India, with Michael Vaughan dropping down to bat at three. Solanki made a century in a losing cause in last Saturday’s C&G Trophy final, and sheer weight of runs has given him an opportunity to test himself against the country of his forefathers.”Once he got picked in the squad we earmarked him to come back and open the batting,” said Vaughan, quoted on the BBC Sport website. “I’ve played at three for Yorkshire throughout the summer and I don’t feel it being a huge change.”England’s one-day form, or lack of it – three wins in their last 10 – has been a major concern for the team management, and Vaughan suggested that a back-to-basics approach might suit England best. “We like to have three guys who can play their orthodox game at the top and score in a nice fashion,” he said. “I didn’t score many runs in the [NatWest Series] but I feel my form has come back in the Tests and I’m playing well again.”Glamorgan’s Alex Wharf is one of the newcomers in the squad, and there was also a recall for Gareth Batty, as England attemped to put the disappointment of the NatWest Series – New Zealand and West Indies contested the final – behind them.”In the summer we didn’t perform to the standard we would have expected,” said Vaughan. “We’ve made a few changes and in depth and in athleticism we feel a bit better going into this tournament.”India have won seven of the last 12 matches between the sides, but the teams haven’t met since the 2003 World Cup, where India won by 82 runs.

Rahul Dravid has defended the decision to appeal against Inzamam-ul-Haq for obstructing the field in the first ODI at Peshawar while adding that the team has decided not to react to allegations of “unsportsmanlike” behaviour.The umpires upheld the Indians’ appeal after Inzamam fended off Suresh Raina’s throw from mid-off with his bat while still out of his crease. Inzamam had written in a syndicated column that the appeal made by the Indian fielders was “against the spirit of cricket” and added that dismissals like “obstructing the field”, “handled the ball” and “hit the ball twice” went against the spirit of the game. Terming the appeal “unsportsmanlike” he went to the extent of saying that it could have an “adverse affect on the relations between the two opponents”.Dravid read out a statement to the press, clearly suggesting that India had no intention of taking the issue up with the concerned authorities. “In my opinion, and in the opinion of the umpires and match referee, both of whom I have spoken to, the Indian team did not act in any manner that was unsportsmanlike or against the spirit of the game,” he said. “If it was the case, the umpires and match referee would have taken action. We had the option of taking up the issue with relevant authorities but keeping the relevance, importance and context of this series in mind we would like the issue to pass and put it to rest.”Moin Khan, a former Pakistan captain, also wrote in his column for Press Trust of India that Dravid’s decision to back the appeal was “deplorable”. He also said that it appeared as though India wanted to win “by hook or by crook” and Dravid should have realised what bearing his action would have on the series.

Supersubs may be an extinct phenomenon but it’s the Powerplays that came to the fore in the low-scoring dogfight at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Both batting line-ups suffered jolts with the effect of the second Powerplay and, in a coincidence of sorts, both scored exactly 24 runs and lost three wickets in the ten specified overs.While Andrew Flintoff preferred to enforce the two Powerplays immediately after the 10th over, when India were motoring along at a run-rate of 5.6, Rahul Dravid, defending a modest target, chose to hold it back. While England fought back through the nagging accuracy of their unheralded medium-pacers – Kabir Ali and Liam Plunkett – India turned it around with a thrilling spell of spin.It would have no doubt been a tough decision to take: India didn’t have too many runs to play with, the ball had lost much of it’s early shine, and Kevin Pietersen was toying with the medium-pacers with some brash swipes to leg. Dravid, who’s usually favoured wicket-taking to restriction, revealed the rationale behind the move.”It was a tough one as a captain and it’s not easy with players of the calibre of Pietersen and Flintoff to come. We had only 203 to defend and needed wickets. At that stage, Pietersen was going really well. We thought we’ll just break things up a bit and delay it by two or three overs. We got another wicket but Flintoff came in and that posed some more problems.”Flintoff had joined Pietersen in the 12th over and the duo hushed up the jam-packed Kotla by carting 60 in the next eight. To compound matters, Dravid hadn’t yet used his fifth bowler yet. That was when dust started turning into gold. Yuvraj came on and delivered, of all things, a full toss. Pietersen swept it straight to deep midwicket.Dravid needed to act, swiftly. “Once we’d got Pietersen, we had the opportunity to use the second Powerplay. For me it was the last throw of the dice. If Pietersen hadn’t got out in three or four overs, we would have had to use it anyway.” As it turned out, the dice landed magically. Flintoff swept to his doom and heralded a manic passage of play when the stadium erupted back to life. Within the next ten overs the game was as good as over (when England crumbled to 141 for 8) and chants of “Bring back Sourav” (that were heard during the lunch break) were a distant memory.

Jamaica coasted to a seven-wicket win against Guyana at Kensington Park, chasing down the target of 63 in just under two hours. Fast bowler Andrew Richardson picked up the last two Guyana wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 232. Darwin Christian, the overnight batsman, was bowled by Richardson for 37 and Veerasammy Permaul drove Richardson straight to Danza Hyatt at mid-on.Jamaica got off to a shaky start, as Esuan Crandon bowled Brenton Parchment off the inside edge and had Hyatt caught at slip to leave them at 9 for 2. Wavell Hinds hung around to polish off the remaining runs and seal the victory.Amit Jaggernauth’s five-wicket haul helped Trinidad & Tobago register a comfortable 215-run victory against Leeward Islands at Couva. Chasing 403, Leewards were dismissed for 187, with offspinner Jaggernauth finishing with 5 for 48.Leewards, resuming at their overnight score of 118 for 4 showed little resistance as they lost their last six wickets for just 69 runs. Jaggernauth sliced through the middle and lower order and was supported by left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed, who took two wickets. This was T&T’s maiden victory in the tournament year’s Carib Beer Series, and they now have 20 points from three games.Windward Islands crashed to 91 all out to give Barbados a 141-run victory on the final day at Portsmouth. Set to chase 233 in a minimum of 60 overs, the home side crumbled, losing their last six wickets for just 10 runs. Earlier, Barbados declared their second innings on 183 for 9 shortly after lunch, giving either side a shot at registering an outright victory.Barbados offspinner Ryan Austin was the most impressive bowler, taking 4 for 26 in 12 overs to engineer the collapse. Liam Sebastian, who retired hurt in the first innings, resisted with 32 in the second while the rest faltered. The strong Barbados seam attack of Corey Collymore, Tino Best and Pedro Collins shared the first three wickets, before the spinners took over. Windwards paid the price for some rash strokes.Barbados, in their second innings showed a lot of urgency to push the scoring but lost wickets at regular intervals in the process. After an opening stand of 81, they were suddenly caught off guard, losing five wickets for 33 runs, with Kenroy Peters, the left-arm seamer, claimed four top-order wickets. Kevin Edwards and Patrick Browne consolidated, adding 40 for the sixth wicket, before Ryan Hinds declared the innings.With this victory, Barbados now have 30 points, ahead of Jamaica while Windwards are languishing at the bottom of the table with seven points.

Holland 56 for 3 trail Ireland 407 for 4 dec (Bray 135, Botha 97, Joyce 54, Molins 53, Gillespie 50*) by 351 runs
ScorecardIreland eased into the semi-finals of the Intercontinental Cup after their match with Holland petered out into a tame draw, with the poor weather which had washed out the first day returning to bring a premature end to a game which had long since ceased to have any meaning.Ireland’s powerful batting performance yesterday had ended any hopes Holland had of reaching the last four, and they had to be content with some gentle batting practice. Resuming at 56 for 3, they soon lost Eric Szwarczynski but then Ryan ten Doeschate (84) and Alexei Kervezee (46*) put on 115 for the fifth wicket to ensure that at least they were saved the embarrassment of having to follow on. By the time ten Doeschate was caught behind off Andre Botha, the game had meandered into insignificance, and the return of the rain was not unwelcome.Holland have suffered appallingly from the weather. Their first match at home to Scotland was washed out, and almost half of this game fell victim to the elements, making it almost impossible for them to mount any serious challenge for a semi-final berth. What was, on paper, the strongest of the four zonal groups in the tournament was reduced to a meteorological lottery.But that does not ignore the fact that Ireland rallied superbly to defeat the fancied Scots, and then clinically batted Holland out of this game knowing that a draw was all they needed to book a place in Namibia. They will face the United Arab Emirates at Windhoek in a three-day game starting on October 23.