Pakistan series not confirmed: Sri Lanka Cricket

Sri Lanka had been willing to tour Pakistan but the deteriorating security situation in the country led to a change in plans. -Photo by AFP

KARACHI: It has emerged that Sri Lanka have not agreed to play an upcoming series against Pakistan in the UAE despite several media reports confirming the series venue as Abu Dhabi & Dubai.

“We haven’t been informed of venues for the series yet. In fact the other day, I read on BBC website that series was confirmed to be played at Abu Dhabi. I learnt about it only then. We are going to discuss this matter at our Interim Committee meeting and then only we can communicate with PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and finalise the venues,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee chairman Upali Dharmadasa was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror on Saturda.

He added that SLC will try to convince the PCB again to host the series in Sri Lanka as it will also give the Sri Lankan fans the chance to watch the matches.

The PCB had previously refused to play the series in Sri Lanka and preferred the UAE because it offered better profits.

Sri Lanka had been willing to tour Pakistan but the deteriorating security situation in the country led to a change in plans.

This week, media reports quoting CEO of Emirates Cricket Board Dilawar Mani confirmed UAE as hosts for series which will be played in October.

“The tour has been confirmed. We have to sit with PCB officials in the next few days to finalize venues,” Mani had said.

The series will comprise three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 International.

Sharma demolishes England middle-order at Lord’s

LONDON: India opening bowler Ishant Sharma turned the first test against England on its head on Sunday with three wickets in the space of 16 balls on the fourth morning at Lord’s.

Bounding in from the Nursery end, Sharma accounted for Kevin Pietersen (1), Ian Bell (0) and Jonathan Trott (22).

Altogether four wickets fell in 32 balls for eight runs and at lunch England were 72 for five in their second innings, an overall lead of 260, with five sessions remaining.

Pietersen, England’s first innings hero with an unbeaten 202, edged a steepling delivery to Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps. The same combination accounted for Bell in the same over, nibbling fatally outside the off stump.

Openers Andrew Strauss (32) and Alastair Cook (1) also succumbed in the morning session after England had started the day well placed on five for no wicket after dismissing India for 286 on Saturday evening in reply to their 474 for eight declared.

Strauss, who has had a lean test run in the English summer so far, looked in good order, taking 10 runs off a Praveen Kumar over including consecutive leg-side boundaries.

But he lost Cook with the total on 23, caught by Dhoni off Kumar from a delivery moving just enough to catch the edge of the left-hander’s bat. It was only the second ball Cook had faced from Kumar and his first on Sunday in 43 minutes at the crease.

Trott hooked Sharma to the boundary and Strauss slashed Kumar for another four but there was still plenty in the pitch to interest the bowlers and both batsmen were forced on occasion to hurriedly adjust their shots.

Strauss, who had scored only 49 runs in his previous five test innings in the English summer, was dismissed lbw by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh trying to sweep a ball which would have hit middle stump.

Pietersen and Bell departed in a double wicket maiden from Sharma who then knocked Trott’s off stump back as the batsman went to drive.

Eoin Morgan, who failed to score in the first innings, and wicketkeeper Matt Prior were both on five at the interval.

Zaheer Khan, who left the field in England’s first innings with a hamstring strain, was still missing on Sunday morning while Sachin Tendulkar was also absent with a virus infection.

Scoreboard:

England first innings 474-8 declared (K. Pietersen 202 not out, M. Prior 71, J. Trott 70; Praveen Kumar 5-106)

India first innings 286 (R. Dravid 103 not out)

England second innings (overnight 5-0)

A. Strauss lbw b Harbhajan Singh 32A. Cook c Dhoni b Kumar    1J. Trott b Sharma 22K. Pietersen c Dhoni b Sharma 1I. Bell c Dhoni b Sharma 0E. Morgan not out 5

M. Prior not out 5

Extras (b-3, lb-1, w-2)    6

Total (five wickets; 31 overs)    72

Fall of wickets: 1-23 2-54 3-55 4-55 5-62

Still to bat: G. Swann, S. Broad, J. Anderson, C. Tremlett

Bowling (to date): Praveen Kumar 12-1-39-1 (1w), Ishant Sharma 13-6-15-3 (1w), Harbhajan Singh 6-0-14-1

Amir Khan knocks out Zab Judah

Amir Khan knocks out Judah to win IBF crown

LAS VEGAS: Britain’s Amir Khan knocked out Zab Judah in the fifth round to add the IBF junior welterweight title to his WBA super lightweight crown in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

The end came with a bodyshot that crumpled Judah (41-7, 28 KOs) to his knees. The experienced American complained afterwards that the punch was low but replays showed it was on the belt line and legal.

“I knew he was getting hurt because he kept moving away and ducking,” said Khan (26-1, 18 KOs). “I kept hitting him in the face but the punch that dropped him was clean and on the belt.”

Khan, 24, was dominant from the first bell, punishing Judah with stiff left jabs and solid straight right hands.

Judah showed effective head movement for the first few rounds, meaning few of Khan’s punches landed cleanly, but the 33-year-old threw very few punches in return, even as Khan pursued him relentlessly.

Khan landed with just 61 of the 284 punches he threw during the fight but Judah threw only 115 punches in return, landing a mere 20, as Khan pursued him relentlessly.

Even with Judah’s evasive techniques, Khan scored with several solid flurries, backing Judah to the ropes and landing right hands that had the largely British crowd roaring with approval.

By the fifth, Judah was no longer able to escape the full force of Khan’s blows. Khan had by now found his range and was landing with increasing ease.

“If it had gone a few more rounds, I would have knocked him out with a clean shot,” said Khan. “It was just a matter of time. I think I overwhelmed him with my speed and power.

I could have gone in with a plan to knock him out sooner, but I wanted to take my time.”

Khan had won all four completed rounds on every judge’s scorecard at the time of the stoppage but Judah insisted that the coup de grace had been a foul blow.

“It was a low blow,” he said. “I was trying to get myself together. When the referee started counting, I thought he was giving me a standing eight count. I thought I would have the chance to get up. I didn’t understand.”