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PCB has put indefinite bans on former captains Younis Khan and Muhammad Yousif while another former captain Shoaib Malik received a 1 year ban along with Rana Naved from playing in any format of Cricket for Pakistan. T20 Captain Shahid Afridi received a fine of Rs. 3 Million with a 6 months probationary period and similar punishment was handed to both the Akmal brothers.

Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, are reportedly punished for their infighting and was viewed as a bad influence on the team. The recommendation says that they should not be part of national team in any format as their attitude would be bad for the whole team. However both are allowed to play any form of domestic Cricket.

The exact reason of handing 1 year bans to Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved are not released by the committee. However, it is said that they have been banned due to their indisipline and are also fined Rs. 2 Million. Shoaib’s name was constantly speculated being one person causing unrest amongst the other players since he was removed from Pakisatan Cricket Team’s Captaincy.

Kamran & Umar Akmal are fined for their behavior in the aftermath of the Sydney Test where Kamran Akmal was poor with gloves. Sarfraz Ahmad was called from Pakistan to replace Kamran in the 3rd test at Hobart but he insisted publicly that he would be selected in the team to play the third Test. Umar Akmal, Kamran’s younger brother was alleged to have feigned an injury to not play the Test as a protest although he did play eventually. Kamran Akmal has been fined Rs 3 million while Umar Rs 2 million with both on probation.

Shahid Afridi is fined Rs. 3 Million and put on probation for 6 months for the ball biting incident in the 5th ODI at Perth where he was also Captain. He has been warned by the Chairman PCB and will be under strict monitoring on his conduct for next 6 months. Afridi was also punished by the ICC for the same incident when he was banned for 2 matches.

The decision has been taken on the inquiry committee’s recommendations after the team’s dismal and winless tour to Australia. The inquiry committee was comprised of former players Wasim Bari, Zakir Khan and Yawar Saeed with Taffazul Rizvi, Legal ADvisor PCB & Wazir Ali Khoja who is a member of the PCB governing council.

There is a mix reaction of the PCB’s decision to ban and fine the senior players amongst public and former players. The decision is over the top according to some former players while some think that this would end the player power culture which has arrested Pakistan cricket for long. However all seem to agree that there are discipline problems in Pakistan Cricket team while some thinks that lack of discipline and player power are major reasons for the decline of Pakistan Cricket.

One player spolit team unity – Yousuf

Read this at Cric Info

It has to be Shoaib Malik surely, think he was also responsible why Younis Khan resigned.

Pakistan lost the only T20 by 2 runs to Australia. So close but yet so far, that is the story of the whole tour for Pakistan.

Pakistan run chase started badly with both the openers going cheaply.

Kamran Akmal gave Pakistan a great chance to win this one. He hit 64 of 33 balls and was the only shinning star of the innings. Kamran hit 7 fours and 2 sixes in his blistering knock.

Apart from Kamran, only his brother Umar got into to double figures with 21 but he too went on the first ball of last over when Pakistan needed 10 of 6 balls.

This defeat really sums up Pakistan’s worst tour of Australia.

Umar Gul’s 3 wickets send the hosts packing for 127 in the only 20/20 match of the series.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in International T20 at Melbourne Cricket ground.

Shane Watson was run out early in his innings with a very good fielding from Umar Akmal.

Warner (24) and Clarke (32) rebuild the innings. David Hussey (40 Not Out) was the only other player with a good contribution.

Rest of the 7 Australian batsmen were sent back in the hut with none of them were allowed to get into to double figures.

Highlight of the innings were Umar Gul’s 3 wickets and 3 excellent run outs by Pakistan fielders.

Pakistan need 128 to win from 20 overs.

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Pakistan Innings:

Australia set 208 in 50 overs for Pakistan to win the World Cup.

Although Pakistan lost Ahsan early but Babar and Ahmad build up a good partnership of 54.

Then came doran and struck twice to get both Babar (28) and Ahmad (36) in a quick succession.

Captain Azeem and Rameez rebuild the innings somewhat. Then Rameez went for 23 after hitting some good boundries including a touring 6.

Now the Big man Hammad Azam is on the crease with 98 to get of 20 overs. He is yet to be dismissed in this ICC U-19 world Cup.

Oh no, what an anti climax. Hammad has been dismissed for the first time in this tournament. He goes for 0, the only failure but it comes in the final.

Hammad’s wicket brought a mini collaps here. Pakistan lost Waqas, Azam Sarmad and Usman quickly in the chase. Leaving last wicket to get 40 and they fell short by 25 runs.

Australia Innings:

Australia were 6 down at 150 in 40 overs.

Pakistan seamers started very well and picked up 3 early wickets.

Then spinners came on and really tighten the scoring rate.

Specially Hassan Raza from Sialkot bowled a great spell, only giving 6 runs of 6 overs with a wicket.

Armstrong and Richardson put up a 62 run partnership before Sarmad Bhatti came back and removed both on consecutive balls.

Australia finished at 207/9 in their 50 overs.

Sarmad Bhatti took 3 wickets while his new ball partner Fayyaz Butt took 2.

Australia 286/6 (50 ov)
Pakistan 246 (47.4 ov)

Man of the match Ryan Harris (Australia)

Pakistan lose 4 early wickets for just 60 runs chasing Australia’s 287/6.

Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. The contest was even in the first 45 overs until the batting powerplay of last 5 overs produced 60 runs for Australia.

Marsh and Clarke scored 80’s as Michael Hussey also got 49.

Apart from Asif and Saeed Ajmal, all the bowlers were expensive with Umar Gul going for 80 in his 10.

In Pakistan’s reply Kamran Akmal went early for just 1. Salman Butt and Younis Khan started building the innings before Salman was given out LBW. A very bad decision from umpire Ashoka Dasilva as the replay showed that the ball pitched way outside leg and was also going over the top.

Butt’s wicket brought the wickets of Captain Yousif and Yonis Khan.

Umar Akmal and Fawwad Alam rebuild the Pakistan innings.

UMAR Akmal scored a good fifty while Fawwad Alam got 33 before he was bowled by Mckay in persuit of increasing the scoring rate.

Afridi and Rana Naved made quick 40 and 33 respectively to take Pakistan close.

But 5 wickets from Harris left Pakistan 40 runs short…….

Pakistan 274 (49.4 ov)
Australia 275/5 (48.3 ov)

Man of the match CL White (Australia)

Australia Squad:
Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.

Pakistan Squad:
Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (capt), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammed Aamer, Saeed Ajmal.

Pakistan Innings:
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first. Pakistan batsmen started well and lost first wicket on 61 runs when Kamran Akmal gave away his wicket to Shane Watson.

Salman Butt played an excellent innings of 72 runs but failed again to play through the innings.

Pakistan’s Ex-captain Younis Khan also played well and scored 46 runs on his come back to the side.

Then the time for Afridi fireworks… he scored a quickfire 48 off 28 balls with 3 sixes and 5 fours.

Watson took four wickets to restrict Pakistan to 274 runs.

Pakistan has much to thank to Shahid Afridi for his late surge which took Pakistan to a respectable total to defend. Again the batting was less than impressive with 6 top order batsmen getting starts but failed to deliver the knock out punch with a big innings. Pakistan 274 all out looked 20-30 runs short of the winning total.

It was a good pitch to bat on but was also helpful to seamers. I was surprised by the absence of Umar Gul. Continue reading »