England on verge of series success

England's whitewash in the Tests was unexpected and so, too, is their current standing in the one-day series. They are already in an unassailable position following two victories in Abu Dhabi - spearheaded by Alastair Cook and Steven Finn - and a win in Dubai will give them a notable series victory which would buck the trend of their recent struggles away from home in this format.

And they hold the advantage despite only two batsmen firing. Cook has been outstanding with a pair of well-crafted hundreds and was well supported on both occasions by his Essex team-mate Ravi Bopara. The others still have significant issues to confront and it can't be left to the captain all the time. Unlike the batsmen, all the bowlers have played key roles and, as in Test cricket, England possess a fine attack.

Pakistan have plenty of issues to sort out. They appear short of a quality batsman and can't quite decide on the balance of their team. They have got one game left to find out some answers before it is too late to save the series.

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Quietly Samit Patel is have a good few months for England. He didn't lose ground during the whitewash in India and has played a crucial part in the two victories here. His left-arm spin is proving hard to score off - only Afridi, briefly, took to him in Abu Dhabi - while he is selfless with the bat when needed and held a decent catch to remove the dangerous Umar Akmal in the second game. There could well be changes to England's Test squad for Sri Lanka and Patel has done himself no harm.

It took a month, but England finally managed to get through an innings without major damage against Saeed Ajmal during the second one-day international. Ajmal's figures of 1 for 54 were ordinary compared to his recent exploits, but it would be dangerous to suggest England are close to cracking him. It will be a surprise if he goes two consecutive matches with little impact.

Team news

Pakistan appear very unsure about what to do with their team, but the lower-order clearly needs to be strengthened. One option is to recall Shoaib Malik, who can also bowl some offspin, or bring in the young allrounder Hammad Azam. Either way it could be Abdur Rehman who makes away after a wicketless display in Abu Dhabi and a horrid 12-ball innings. They may also feel compelled to change the wicketkeeper after two poor games by Umar Akmal, but then balance becomes an issue.

Misbah troubled by wicketkeeper issue

Misbah-ul-Haq has admitted that the frailty of Pakistan's batting is affecting the balance of the ODI side and obliging them to select an inferior wicketkeeper.

Misbah, Pakistan's captain, said the travails of the batsmen were responsible for the decision to press Umar Akmal into service as wicketkeeper. While 21-year-old Umar is a talented batsman, he has looked raw - at best - with the gloves and missed important chances in both games as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four match ODI series.

In the first game Umar missed a tough stumping offered by Ravi Bopara when the batsman had just 1, while in the second he dropped a straightforward chance offered by Alastair Cook when he had scored 28. Bopara went on to make a half-century; Cook went on to make a century. Had Umar taken either chance, Pakistan may well have won.

Pakistan do have other options. The 26-year-old Adnan Akmal, one of Umar's older brothers, has established himself as Pakistan's first choice wicketkeeper in Test cricket. His problem, however, is a relative inability with the bat - he has scored two half-centuries in a 59-match List A career - while Umar is good enough to win a place as a specialist batsman.

While the rest of Pakistan's batting line-up continues to struggle - they have registered a score of 250 or more just three times in their last 27 ODIs - it renders it difficult for the selectors to compromise the team's batting strength further by recalling a wicketkeeper who is unlikely to contribute meaningfully with the bat.

"It's a really difficult decision for us to keep a wicketkeeper - especially such a talented wicketkeeper who performed well - out of the side," Misbah said. "But it's due to the pressure on our batting line-up. It's not clicking so it's troubling us at the moment. It's really a problem for us.

"The balance of the side is the problem. In the Sri Lankan series we had the same problem. We are not having contributions from the lower middle-order. It is really an area of concern for us to play a specialist wicketkeeper. In future, we have to concentrate and find a permanent solution to that problem. The PCB, the selectors and the team management, we're all looking for that."

Pakistan also have the option of recalling Kamran Akmal. While Kamran, at 30 the oldest of the three Akmal brothers, has not played international cricket since a poor display in the World Cup, he has five ODI centuries to his name and offers something of a compromise between Umar and Adnan. The fact that Kamran was mentioned in the spot-fixing trial that saw three of his former team-mates - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir - jailed may also have counted against him. No charges have ever been brought, however, and Kamran continues to produce good performances at domestic level and in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Misbah did offer some mitigation for Pakistan's struggles. He said that losing the toss and batting under lights was a substantial disadvantage and that his side's faults had been magnified by the conditions in the UAE.

"Chasing has always been a problem for Pakistan," he said. "Even with great players in the batting line-up we've struggled most of the time. When it comes to UAE conditions it's difficult. With two new balls and batting under lights in the evening, the ball moves around a bit. Sometimes it skids; sometimes it seams. It's really difficult for teams - particularly Asian teams - batting second. But as professionals we have to adjust.

"England's fast bowlers are bowling really well and the performance of our fast bowlers is not like that. It's maybe due to bowling first rather than second - it's totally different bowling under lights - so I'm really pleased the way our bowlers are performing."

Misbah also defended the selections of Imran Farhat and Shoaib Malik. Perhaps, though, there was a little more passion in his defence of the former than the latter.

"Imran has played three games for us," Misbah said. "He has scored one fifty against Afghanistan and in the last game he scored 47. So how can you say that he's underperforming? Everyone in the batting unit has to take responsibility

Kaneria denies involvement in spot-fixing

Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan legspinner, has claimed he played no role in the spot-fixing case in which his former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield has been convicted and sentenced to four months in jail. During Westfield's sentencing, Kaneria was named in court as the go-between between Westfield and the bookmakers on whose orders Westfield deliberately conceded a fixed number of runs in an over in a Pro40 match in 2009. However, Kaneria, who is captaining Sind in the Pentangular Cup final, has said he is completely innocent.

"I am completely innocent from day one. All allegations against me are false," a nervous-looking Kaneria said repeatedly, after the opening day's play of the final, in Lahore. "The Essex police cleared me and I have clearance certificates from both the ECB and ICC, so I am not feeling any pressure. I am just enjoying my cricket."

Kaneria later issued a statement that pinned the blame entirely on Westfield, claiming that Westfield had presented himself as "naive and vulnerable" and open to the malign influence of a third party to try to escape a prison sentence.

"Westfield is a convicted fraudster and admitted liar," the statement said. "In trying to reduce his own guilt he has tarnished my name. It was quite clear that Westfield would say anything to avoid a custodial sentence. In court he attempted to portray himself as a naive and vulnerable person who was easily lead astray."

Kaneria and Westfield were both questioned by Essex police in March 2010, regarding a Pro40 match against Durham in September 2009. While Westfield was charged with conspiracy to defraud, Kaneria was released on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

Westfield pleaded guilty to spot-fixing charges in January 2012 and was convicted. During his sentencing, Kaneria was named as the middleman in the spot-fixing plot.

Kaneria now faces the possibility of a disciplinary tribunal in England. Essex police will hand over the evidence to the ECB, which will decide whether to hold its own investigation. The maximum penalty, if Kaneria is found guilty, is a lifetime ban from all cricket worldwide.

When asked if he was ready to face an inquiry in England, Kaneria repeated that all allegations against him are false.

The PCB's integrity committee has offered its full cooperation to the ECB, should the England board decide to hold an inquiry. Farogh Naseem, Kaneria's lawyer, played down suggestions that his client had new evidence to answer, saying Kaneria had been cleared by the Essex police and the ICC. "It is Westfield's words against Kaneria and a lot will depend on what evidences he puts before the court against my client," Naseem said.

Kaneria has not been cleared to play for Pakistan since the 2010 Trent Bridge Test against England. He has continued to play domestic cricket in Pakistan. He has persistently pleaded his innocence since the initial arrest and he was selected for a Test series against South Africa in late 2010 before being withdrawn by the PCB because he was not able to obtain the required documentation from Essex police.

PCB will invite Sri Lanka women`s cricket team

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will invite the Sri Lankan women`s team to Pakistan next month after receiving positive vibes from the Sri Lankan government on helping Pakistan revive international cricket in the country.







According to a media report, the Sri Lankan government has agreed to send its women`s team to Pakistan after talks between Sri Lankan President Mahindra Rajapakse and President Asif Zardari during the former`s state visit to the country. “Both the head of states are keen followers and lovers of cricket and discussed cricket relations during their meetings,” the report said. It said that Sri Lanka had agreed to cooperate in helping Pakistan restore international cricket on its home grounds.
“In the first stage the Sri Lankans will send their women`s team and than both boards will find a time slot for the Sri Lankan men’s team to visit Pakistan soon,” the report added. No Test playing nation has visited Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March, 2009 in which six Pakistani policemen and a van driver were killed and five of the visiting players wounded.
Last year, the Pakistan board urged the Sri Lankans to come and play a FTP series in Pakistan but due to the reluctance of the Sri Lankan players to tour Pakistan because of security concerns the series was than held in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. But the report said that after the Sri Lankan President`s visit to Pakistan the situation had changed and Sri Lanka were now willing to support Pakistan. Pakistan has also invited Bangladesh to send its team for a Test series in April this year and is waiting for a security delegation from the Bangladesh board to visit Pakistan to give approval to the security arrangements and plans for the series.
End.

Razzaq may face action for lying to selectors

KARACHI: Pakistan's experienced allrounder, Abdul Razzaq could face disciplinary action from the PCB after he allegedly misled the national selection committee into believing that he was unfit to bowl.
A source close to the selection committee said that Razzaq, who is playing for Duronto Rajshahi in the BPL, was given a NOC by the Pakistan Cricket Board to take part in the league after he told the selectors he would not be able to bowl if selected for Pakistan.
"Razzaq was under consideration for the one-day series against England. But he informed the selectors that due to a shoulder injury he couldn't bowl. He claimed he should be given a NOC for the BPL where he would only play as a batsman," the source said. "The selectors didn't consider him because Razzaq said he was not fit to bowl," the source said.
"But now Razzaq is bowling for Rajashahi side in the BPL. He is not only batting but also bowling regularly for them which is strange," the source said. Chief selector, M Illyas, when contacted, confirmed that Razzaq had informed him he would not be able to bowl in the BPL.
"I don't know what the situation now is? But he told us he was not fit to bowl," Illyas said. Sources close to the board said that chairman, Zaka Ashraf had taken note of the incident since Razzaq was among those players, given central contracts by the board last year.
"Razzaq will be asked to give an explanation over how he claimed he was unfit to bowl," a source said.
End.

Pakistan vs England, 1st ODI, Abu Dhabi

PAK: 130-all out (35.0 Ovs)

ENG: 260/7 (50.0 Ovs)

England won by 130 runs

England in Pakistan 2012

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

February 13, 2012

England won the toss, and elected to bat first

MOM: Alastair Cook

ENGLAND INings:

Batsmen R B 4s 6s SR Alastair Cook (c) b S Ajmal 137 142 14 0 96.48 Kevin Pietersen b S Afridi 14 36 1 0 38.89 Jonathan Trott b S Afridi 0 1 0 0 0.00 Ravi Bopara st U Akmal b S Ajmal 50 69 4 0 72.46 Eoin Morgan lbw b S Ajmal 2 8 0 0 25.00 Craig Kieswetter (wk) c W Riaz b S Ajmal 9 19 0 0 47.37 Samit Patel not out 17 12 2 0 141.67 Stuart Broad c & b S Ajmal 1 2 0 0 50.00 Graeme Swann not out 13 12 2 0 108.33 Extras: (b 1, lb 10, w 5, nb 1, p 0) 17 Total: (7 wkts, 50 ovs) 260 RR:5.20 Did not bat: James Anderson, Steven Finn Bowling: PAK O M R W Nb Wd ER Umar Gul 8 0 53 0 0 0 6.60 Mohammad Hafeez 10 1 30 0 0 0 3.00 Shahid Afridi 10 0 55 2 0 1 5.50 Saeed Ajmal 10 0 43 5 0 0 4.30 Wahab Riaz 7 0 47 0 1 4 6.70 Shoaib Malik 5 0 21 0 0 0 4.20 Fall of Wickets Powerplays Mandatory: 1st to 10th over - 48 runs Bowling: 16th to 20th over - 23 runs Batting: 36th to 40th over - 27 runs

Match Officials Umpires: Ahsan Raza(Pak), Simon Taufel(Aus) Third Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena(SL) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAK INings: Batsmen R B 4s 6s SR Mohammad Hafeez lbw b S Finn 5 11 1 0 45.45 Imran Farhat c C Kieswetter b S Finn 10 16 1 0 62.50 Asad Shafiq lbw b S Finn 0 1 0 0 0.00 Younis Khan c C Kieswetter b S Finn 15 18 2 0 83.33 Misbah-ul-Haq (c) lbw b Samit Patel 14 29 1 0 48.28 Umar Akmal (wk) st C Kieswetter b G Swann 22 39 1 0 56.41 Shoaib Malik c K Pietersen b Samit Patel 7 23 1 0 30.43 Shahid Afridi c G Swann b Samit Patel 28 22 4 0 127.27 Umar Gul lbw b G Swann 2 10 0 0 20.00 Saeed Ajmal c A Cook b S Broad 5 21 0 0 23.81 Wahab Riaz not out 8 21 1 0 38.10 Extras: (b 0, lb 2, w 7, nb 5, p 0) 14 Total: (10 wkts, 35 ovs) 130 RR:3.71 Bowling: ENG O M R W Nb Wd ER Steven Finn 10 1 34 4 5 0 3.40 James Anderson 6 0 24 0 0 2 4.00 Stuart Broad 6 2 21 1 0 0 3.50 Samit Patel 5 1 26 3 0 1 5.20 Ravi Bopara 1 0 4 0 0 0 4.00 Graeme Swann 7 3 19 2 0 0 2.70 Fall of Wickets Mandatory: 1st to 10th over - 40 runs Bowling: 16th to 20th over - 15 runs

Pak Vs Eng 1st ODi

PAK 130-all out (35.0 Ovs) Wahab Riaz* 8 (21)	ENG 260/7 (50.0 Ovs) Graeme Swann* 7-3-19-2 Stuart Broad 6-2-21-1
CRR 3.71   Last Wkt S Ajmal 5(21)

ENG WON BY 130 runs


So England register their first win of the tour and go 1-0 up in the 4 match ODI series. Good effort from them, especially after what happened in the Tests earlier. That's it from us here, do join us for all the cricket that's happening from across the world; the CB series in Australia, the Bangladesh Premier League and the final T20I between New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Cheers and bye bye!
Cook: It was a good day for us. We got a very good score on the board and then Finn bowled well. It's been a hard, frustrating tour. We haven't played to our potential but we showed what we can do today. It is a different format and the pressure of men around the bat is gone, so we could bat better. Bopara did well, he just came in and played well and made it easier for me. It is great to start the series well, all the lads have been working very hard and we'll look to come back fresh for the next game. Finn bowled a great spell with the new ball and was backed up by Broad and Anderson, so it was a good team performance. We'll enjoy tonight.
Cook is the Man of the Match for his 137