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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a serious line on the behaviour of the team management for their in-house squabbling, as well as Shoaib Akhtar for his remarks about the board in a recent interview. The PCB did not impose any sanctions on the guilty party, which consisted of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Javed Miandad, Aamir Sohail, and Shoaib, but warned them to play by the rules or “pack your bags and go home”.Ever since Inzamam, the captain, and Miandad, the coach, revealed that they hadn’t been consulted about the choices made by Aamir Sohail for the squad for the forthcoming New Zealand series, there has been an uproar. Inzamam and Miandad were reported to be livid about their snub from Sohail, who publicly criticised the performance of the coach on TV commentary.However, in an attempt to bring the feud to an end, Lt Tauqir Zia, the PCB chairman, today said in a statement: “I am utterly disappointed with a series of statements issued by the team officials and the chief selector. I am sad that such big names of cricket representing a responsible organization have indulged in mud-slinging.”He continued: “I have met all the four officials and have conveyed my disappointment to them. I have warned them that the PCB will not tolerate any further statements from them against each other. They have also been informed that the PCB will be forced to ask them to pack their bags and go home if any further statements are attributed to them. They have been advised to sort out their problems in the PCB offices rather than going to the press and making a mockery of their status and stature.”A PCB spokesman added that as far as they’re concerned, the case is closed and they will not make any further statements on this issue.Meanwhile, Shoaib was reprimanded for criticising the ICC and the PCB in an interview in a local Urdu newspaper. On that matter, the same spokesman said: “He has been told in no uncertain terms to refrain from statements that are against the ICC and PCB policies.” The board did, however, did later receive an apology from Shoaib.Other matters discussed in the two-day meeting included a review of the Bangladesh and South African series and the management of the forthcoming one-day international series against New Zealand – which is now under threat due to security reasons. They also discussed the tour of New Zealand, the junior teams to go to India and Bangladesh, the hosting of the Asia Cup, India’s tour to Pakistan, and the domestic competitions.Ramiz Raja, the chief executive, said a proposed itinerary had been sent to the Indian board consisting of three Tests and seven ODIs, with the venues yet to be decided. It was also revealed that Pakistan would bid to host next year’s Asia Cup, even though Bangladesh have currently got the rights to hold the competition.Ramiz said: “We will bid for the tournament to be organized in April and May. We have decided to bid for the tournament after New Delhi allowed BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to resume cricket activities with and in Pakistan.It was also decided that the probables for next year’s Under-19 World Cup and the Pakistan A team’s tour to India in December will be announced on Monday.

One-day cricket at its best. A last-ball four gave Canterbury victory and Gary Stead a century as earlier heroics by Adam Parore were not enough to keep the visitors at bay in the second-round State Shield match at Eden Park Outer Oval today.First Stead, arriving in the sixth over when Canterbury were 35 for two, played an equal role in a 113-run third-wicket partnership with Michael Papps (65). Then he held the innings together as wickets fell at regular intervals. Finally he controlled the last rush to victory with just the tail-enders to keep him company.His undefeated 101 was a mixture of punishing boundaries and smartly taken singles and it was all about keeping the scoreboard ticking over. The innings was a textbook lesson in adjusting to changing circumstances while maintaining a steady run rate.Auckland gave up plenty of loose balls early, allowing the Canterbury innings to progress through regular fours. But, when Andre Adams, Brooke Walker and Mark Haslam tightened the line, singles became the productive means of maintaining the run rate that was always ahead of Auckland’s at equivalent stages of the innings, coming down to just three required off the last over.The drama came in the effort to ensure Stead was at the striker’s end, Carl Anderson sacrificing himself in a run out to ensure his captain was on hand to score the winning runs and complete his century. It did not happen until the last ball, a classic off drive bringing Stead his just reward in personal and team terms.Auckland’s bowlers had been loose at times; tight at times. Kyle Mills (three for 60 off 10) and Walker in a captain’s effort (three for 41 off 10) took the wickets when it mattered to keep Auckland in the match. But they could never stem the flow of runs.Earlier, the Auckland innings had hardly looked likely to produce a challenging target. Despite useful contributions from Matt Horne (33) and Lou Vincent (47), Auckland at 177 for seven with 10 overs to go looked hardly likely to post a total that would worry a Canterbury side with the likes of Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan and Chris Harris on hand.However, an innings from Parore that was disciplined when wickets were falling around him but burst into action at the end saw Auckland through to 251 for nine. With the help of Haslam as last man in, he took the score from 205 for nine at the beginning of the 46th over to the final total, Parore himself contributing 38, including a couple of towering sixes.The Canterbury bowlers spread the wickets and runs among them, Harris with two for 35 the pick. McMillan (one for 46 off 10) and Cairns (two for 43 off 10) suffered the most when Parore went on the rampage at the end.Even given the bigger than expected task, Canterbury were never greatly troubled by the target – it was losing wickets that gave them problems. But in the end they had enough runs in hand to ensure a much-deserved century for their captain.Auckland weather, pitch (despite the occasional low ball that did not amuse McMillan), Outer Oval surroundings and crowd combined with the teams to ensure a second day of thoroughly entertaining cricket. This time Canterbury took the points, going home with nine from the northern raid, while Auckland were left to rue being on the wrong side of another ultra-close finish.

Peshawar, March 6: Speed merchant Shoaib Akhtar bowled with fire,hostility and venom to place Pakistan in a position of strengthagainst Sri Lanka at stumps on the second day of the second cricketTest at the Arbab Niaz Stadium here on Monday.The 25-year-old from Rawalpindi fired on all cylinders after WaqarYounis was ruled out of action because of a back problem. He finishedwith impressive figures of five for 75 on a track which had nothingmuch for the fast bowlers.Shoaib’s superlative performance saw Sri Lanka being bowled out for268 after having taken lunch at 179 for three. Pakistan consolidatedtheir position by reaching 67 for the loss of one wicket when stumpswere drawn for the day.Pakistan captain Saeed Anwar survived a very confident caught behindappeal off Muttiah Muralitharan to remain unbeaten on 37. His inningsis spiced with seven excellent boundaries. With him was YousufYouhana who was promoted to the No 3 slot to allow Aamir Sohail revertback to his original opening spot.Aamir, who was looking good, fell victim to the part-time off-spin ofMahela Jayawardena after scoring 22 off 62 balls.ShoaibAkhtar, who took his second five-wicket haul in 14 Tests,ripped the heart out of the Sri Lanka middle-order by claiming threewickets in a fiery third spell of 6-0-23-3.Sri Lankan top scorer Marvan Atapattu was also amongst Shoaib’svictims when the 30-year-old from Kalutara failed to keep ashort-pitched delivery away from the stumps and dragged it on afterscoring a cautious 75.The express fast bowler also accounted for Romesh Kaluwitharana,brilliantly caught by debutant wicket-keeper Atiq-uz-Zaman down theleg side, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, who fell for his third successiveduck in the series, and Muttiah Muralitharan.But Muralitharan celebrated his 50th Test in style by smashing threeboundaries and a pulled six off Abdur Razzaq in his enterprising13-ball 22 as Sri Lanka garnered an invaluable 45 runs for the lasttwo wickets.Interestingly, four out of five Shoaib’s victims found their stumpscastled which speaks volumes of the fast bowler’s controlled accuracyalong with some real quick stuff.It was chiefly because of Shoaib Akhtar’s brilliant performance thatPakistan came back strongly in the Test by claiming the last seven SriLankan wickets for 82 runs after the tourists had resumed this morningat 88 for two.The Pakistan captain, anticipating moisture in the wicket and deceivedby green patches on the centre of the pitch, had decided to field onSunday evening after the match had started four hours late because ofovernight rain. However, the wicket turned out to be batsmen’sfriendly.Shoaib was also playing his first match after recovering from a groininjury which had sidelined him from the Lahore one-dayer andRawalpindi Test which Sri Lanka won by two wickets to go 1-0 up in thethree-Test rubber. But barring a foot nail problem on Monday, heappeared fully recovered and is in top physical shape.Atapattu, who had two poor innings in the Rawalpindi Test after afantastic one-day series, was a model of concentration andapplication. He occupied the crease for 348 minutes. He faced 254balls and converted seven of them into sweetly-timed boundaries.He showed excellent footwork and played the ball on its merit. Heconcentrated more in nudging and pushing the ball around but didn’tspare an opportunity to punish anything lose.Atapattu was associated in two useful partnerships.For the third wicket with Aravinda de Silva, he added 64 runs. DeSilva, who started the day at 18, was adjudged leg before byEnglishman John Hampshire off Aamir Sohail when he failed to read anarm ball.For the fourth wicket, Atapattu put on 65 runs with Mahela Jayawardenawho threw away his wicket by playing an irresponsible shot. He triedto hit Aamir Sohail’s flighted delivery over Shahid Afridi’s head whowas fielding at cover. But he failed to get the required elevation asthe crowd favourite jumped in the air to take a good catch but not adifficult one.Aamir Sohail bowled to a teasing line and length to finish with twofor 24. Abdur Razzaq, whose figures were spoiled by Muralitharan endedup with two for 39 while Arshad Khan was not truly rewarded for his 45overs in which he conceded 70 runs and picked up the wicket ofTillekeratne Dilshan by beating the newcomer in the air.

Gio van Bronckhorst will be looking to lead Rangers into the semi-final of the Scottish Cup as the Ibrox side head into a quarter-final clash today.

The Gers won 3-0 against Annan Athletic in the previous round, with Filip Helander, Kemar Roofe and Fashion Sakala all getting themselves on the scoresheet in that match.

They now face Dundee FC away from home and come into the game off the back of a 3-0 win – thanks to goals from James Tavernier, Alfredo Morelos and Leon Balogun – in the Europa League.

How many changes will Gio make to the side? Here is our predicted XI…

McLaughlin, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Sands, Jack, Ramsey, Diallo, Kent, Roofe (4-1-2-3)

We are predicting that he will make seven alterations to the team, with a number of players coming in for this cup clash.

Starting off between the sticks, Jon McLaughlin may replace Allan McGregor. The ex-Sunderland man kept a clean sheet in the last round and, therefore, deserves to keep his place as the cup goalkeeper.

At the back, we are predicting that Filip Helander and Borna Barisic will come in to make up the defence next to James Tavernier. Both players played against Annan Athletic and this match is a chance for them to get out on the pitch.

In midfield, van Bronckhorst could be forced into at least one change. John Lundstram is an injury doubt and we are predicting that Aaron Ramsey will replace him in the middle of the park. The Welshman’s only start for the club to date came in the last round of the competition and this is a big opportunity for him to get some minutes under his belt, with James Sands – who also played in that game – coming in for Glen Kamara.

Out wide on the right, Joe Aribo may drop out due to an injury and this would allow Amad Diallo to make his return on the wing. It would be a huge chance for him to showcase his quality and prove that he can make his loan from Manchester United a success before the end of the season.

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Finally, we are predicting that Alfredo Morelos will be given a rest. He has played nine times since the start of February and van Bronckhorst may axe him from the XI to give him a break, whilst offering a starting berth to Kemar Roofe.

Ex-Gers boss Steven Gerrard previously dubbed him a “Duracell bunny” and he recently came off the bench to score the winner against Aberdeen. He must step up and show that he can fill in for Morelos in the number nine position and help Rangers land a place in the final four of the competition. 

Tavernier, Goldson, Ryan Jack and Ryan Kent are the players we are tipping to remain in the side from the one that beat Red Star Belgrade on Thursday.

AND in other news, Cost £2.2m, now worth 145% more: Rangers struck gold on “consistent” £18k-p/w dynamo…

Global news agencies have struck a deal with Cricket Australia (CA), ending a week-long media rights dispute which affected coverage of the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Brisbane.”The News Media Coalition has reached an agreement in its talks with Cricket Australia regarding news coverage during the current season,” a statement, issued by a coalition of media groups including Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Associated Press and Getty Images, said.The agencies had blacked out coverage of the first Test, after deciding to boycott the 2007-08 season in protest against new terms imposed by the Australian board.Coverage of the ongoing second Test at Hobart will begin with immediate effect.

Zimbabwe will play three warm-up one-dayers against a National Club League select side as preparations continue for the series against South Africa A and Bangladesh. The first of the three South Africa matches is on January 25 in Bulawayo, and the squad will be announced on January 23.Ray Price could yet be in the Select side. It is still not clear whether he will make himself available for selection after his appearance for Old Hararians last Saturday. Zimbabwe’s warm-ups started last week, with two teams drawn from their 30-man provisional World cup squad playing each other. National captain Prosper Utseya led one of the sides and the veteran Gary Brent the other.”These warm-up matches are basically to wash away the holiday hang-over and recondition these guys,” said national team manager Givemore Makoni. “We have picked players from the national squad, Zimbabwe A, the high-performance squad and a number of development sides, to take part in this session.”It was refreshing to see former Zimbabwean international all rounder Douglas Hondo, whose career had been put on hold owing to a nagging stress fracture of the back injury, taking to the pitch again.”Makoni was then asked whether Hondo, the strike-bowler, will travel to the West Indies for the World Cup which gets underway in March. “What we named was a provisional 30-man squad for the ICC’s administrative purposes,” he said. “What that means is that if a player proves himself on the field and convinces the selectors before the deadline of the 13th of next month, then we will give him a chance. This is not just for Hondo but for all the players currently playing competitive cricket.”

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) batsmen put their team in a strong position and gave them the possibility of victory, on the third day of the four-day, Group A, third-round Patron’s Trophy match against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), here at the National Stadium on Saturday.After KRL had attained a big 120-run first innings lead over PIA, the Airliners ran up a solid score of 429 for 6 in their second innings yesterday. Faisal Iqbal, the captain, then applied closure, setting KRL a target of 310 and his own team a realistic chance of a win.Peshawar’s talented Yasir Hameed, who scored 57 runs in the final one-day international for Pakistan against England at Rawalpindi on Wednesday, had made his intentions known with an unbeaten 61 on Friday as the PIA second-wicket stand in the second innings was worth exactly 100 by the day’s close. Yasir lost his overnight partner Kamran Sajid (60) with only 16 runs added, but he continued piling up the runs with great credit. His knock of 139 was the 11th hundred of his first-class career, having come in five hours and 43 minutes’ batting off 231 deliveries with 20 fours.With Bazid Khan (20), his third-wicket stand was worth 64 runs. Another 81 runs were added for the fourth wicket with his youthful captain Faisal. The latter, who turns 24 on December 30, also reached his career’s 11th century. Faisal scored 114 runs off just 160 balls in three hours 19 minutes with 15 hits to the ropes and three above them. After Yasir’s departure, he was helped by all-rounder Jannisar Khan (26) in an invaluable partnership of 73 runs for the fifth wicket.With Asif Mujtaba, the veteran left-hander and the top-scorer of the first innings with 44 not out, unable to bat due to a fractured finger while fielding, Faisal decided to declare the PIA innings closed. KRL had made no runs in the only over bowled till the close of play.PIA, who shared the Patron’s Trophy title last season with Habib Bank as the final was rained off, drew their previous match in the ongoing competition against the same opponents, which turned out to be a tall-scoring affair. PIA have never won the Patron’s Trophy outright since it was introduced back in 1972-73. Habib Bank have been the winners a record seven times. KRL are currently lying at rock bottom in the five-team Group A points table. They started the tournament by being beaten in both their matches in the first two rounds. If they go on to win on Sunday, PIA will collect only six points though.
Set to chase a target of 325 runs to win the match, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited(SNGPL) had lost three second innings wickets in reaching 118, by the close of play on the third day of their four-day, Group A, third-round Patron’s Trophy match against Habib Bank, here at the United Bank Limited (UBL) Sports Complex Ground No.1 on Saturday.Habib Bank, after having gained a big first innings lead of 125 runs, crashed to a second innings total of 199 all out yesterday. SNGPL though are still 207 runs short of a victory with seven wickets in hand. Imran Khalid, a 21-year-old slow left-arm bowler from Kasur who also plays for Faisalabad, again got among the wickets as he captured 4 for 63 for SNGPL to follow his first innings 5 for 72. He was ably assisted by another young man, Asad Ali, who took three wickets for 56 runs in 12 overs.Mahmood Malik, the fast bowler, also bowled well with figures of 2-19 in nine overs. Most Habib Bank batsmen just threw away their wickets but Younis Khan, the Pakistan vice-captain, and Humayun Farhat, the wicketkeeper, both got half-centuries. Their sixth-wicket stand was worth 79 runs after five wickets had fallen with just 89 on the board. Younis, after making 44 in the first innings, followed it up with a knock of 54 runs, off 108 balls with seven boundaries. Humayun’s 52 were made in his characteristic, bludgeoning manner. He faced only 48 deliveries and sent the ball to the ropes seven times.After the early loss of Mohammad Hafeez, the opener, SNGPL prospered through an innings of 34 off 52 balls with four fours by his partner Sohail Idrees. Youngster Sufyan Munir is still at the crease with an unbeaten 58, made off 90 deliveries with seven fours. As long as he and Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, are at the crease, their team are in with a chance. Otherwise, Habib Bank should be able to win today (Sunday). Abdul Rehman, their left-arm spinner, with figures of 8-53 on Friday, has already completed 10 wickets in the match with two more yesterday.Habib Bank have been a record seven-time winners of the Patron’s Trophy Championship title, in addition to sharing the trophy with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) last season after the final was rained off. SNGPL started this season’s tournament with a creditable draw against Pakistan Customs in the second round.
Riaz Afridi, Peshawar’s 20-year-old right-arm fast-medium bowler, returned first-class career-best figures of 7 for 78, as National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) were bowled out for a poor total of 161 runs, on the third day of their four-day, Group B, third-round Patron’s Trophy Cricket Championship match against Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), at the Sheikhupura Stadium on Saturday.After the opening day’s play on Thursday was cancelled due to foggy conditions and poor light, NBP reached a modest score of 123 for six in the 34 overs possible on the second day. Four of their six wickets had already fallen to the young, talented Riaz Afridi. His partner Tahir Mughal picked up the three wickets at a personal cost of 67 runs in 22 overs. Riaz bowled 24.2 overs for his seven-wicket haul. The only player to bat with some conviction yesterday was Mansoor Amjad, the the teenaged allrounder,whose 44 runs at number seven came with five boundaries off 96 balls.In the 12 overs bowled by the NBP bowlers by the day’s close, PTCL had lost one wicket in making 26 runs. Their main intention on the final day today (Sunday) would surely be to take first innings lead and the three points on offer.PTCL are currently perched on top of the points table with a tally of 15 in Group B. National Bank, five-time winners of the competition, are at the second spot.
Adil Nisar, the captain, hit the highest score of his first-class career as the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) compileda total of 446 for 5 declared, on the third day of their four-day, Group B, third-round Patron’s Trophy match against Service Industries, at the Iqbal Stadium on Saturday.Adil, the 27-year-old, left-hand batsman from Lahore, who began yesterday at his overnight 145 not out in WAPDA’s first innings 268 for 2, took his tally to an eventual 232, off 343 balls in eight minutes short of eight hours while hitting as many as 33 fours in addition to a six. By the close of play, Kashif Raza, the fast bowler from Sheikhupura, had captured all four Service Industries wickets to fall, at a personal cost of 45 runs in 14 overs.At 137 for four, with only one more day to go in the match, Service are still 160 runs short of averting the follow-on. In case they manage to hold on for a draw, WAPDA are sure to gain the three first innings lead points from this encounter. Adil, who now has three double-hundreds in his nine career centuries in 92 first-class matches, took his third-wicket stand with Aamer Sajjad from 142 to 194. Aamer hit seven fours and a six in his 81 runs, that came off 146 balls in a little over three hours. Bilal Khilji then hit a quick 39 runs off 38 deliveries with six boundaries, with Mohammad Irshad, Service’s opening bowler, finishing with three wickets for 127 runs.In the Service reply, Shahjahan Mirza, the opener and a newcomer on the scene, was still holding the fort with an unbeaten 42 with four fours at the draw of stumps. Faisal Khan meanwhile hit a worthy 61 with three fours and two sixes in two hours’ batting.WAPDA were the runners-up of the 2003-04 competition while Service Industries are currently placed at the bottom of the five-team Group B table.

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Jacob Oram: hopeful of playing in the Tests© Getty Images

After being cleared of a stress fracture, Jacob Oram, the New Zealand allrounder, is hopeful of being fit for the three Test series against Australia which begins in March. Oram has been diagnosed with a stress reaction and is receiving treatment for a bruised vertebrae which is likely to prevent him from bowling during the series. However, he could still play as a specialist batsman.”If I was asked to play as a specialist I’d love to but that won’t be easy because the middle order is fairly packed at the moment,” Oram told . “And if I did [play as a batsman], it would only be a short-term thing because ultimately I want to be an allrounder. It’s not really my call, but it is something I’m interested in.”Oram’s performance with the bat during the recently concluded two-Testseries against Australia should give him the edge over Craig McMillan andHamish Marshall, two other contenders for middle-order berths. Oram toppedthe Test batting averages in that series, and his magnificent 126 at theGabba was the only century for New Zealand.”Plenty of people are saying to me `give up the bowling, your body is not up to it’ but the reason I worked so hard on my bowling was to help my chances of getting in the side.”I played as a specialist batsman at Headingley [against England last year] and it felt like I only had one arm so being an allrounder is a nice thing to fall back on and something I would never let go of lightly. As for when I bowl again, I don’t know, I don’t think anybody does and we are not putting any deadline on it.”Aware of Oram’s importance to the side, New Zealand Cricket’s medical teamis chalking down a comprehensive recovery programme for him. Oram has not been given permission to run yet and is not expected to play club cricket for a fortnight.However, there better news for Daniel Vettori, who was given the all clearto return to action for Northern Districts this weekend after recovering from back injury

Although Ashish Nehra is definitively ruled out of the Test series against New Zealand, he should be back on his feet in time for the one-day triseries, said Andrew Leipus, the Indian team’s physiotherapist.When questioned about Nehra’s chances of playing the triseries, Leipus said: “That’s the goal at the moment – one day cricket. But not Test matches”.Nehra’s ankle injury has kept him out of competitive cricket ever since the World Cup earlier this year.

Y Venugopal Rao hit an unbeaten 74 to hold the Andhra Pradesh innings together in their Ranji Trophy league match against Karnataka at Kurnool on Monday.Winning the toss, Andhra Pradesh elected to bat but lost one opener early. There were, however, a string of significant scores all through the batting line-up. GN Srinivas made 39, and Fayaz Ahmed scored 48.At the close of play, Andhra Pradesh were 251/5, with Venugopal Rao batting on 74 and RVC Prasad not out on 2. For Karnataka, Dodda Ganesh was the best bowler, picking up two for 46.