Pakistan Vs. Australia 2009 Series

[Sadaf Gondal]

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a team for one-day series against Australia. Shoaib Akhtar is also included in the team.

The chief selector of PCB selection committee Abdul Qadir has announced the team during a press conference here.

A five matches series will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. First and second match of the series will be played in Dubai on April 22 and April 24 respectively.

Three matches will be played in Abu Dhabi on April 27, May1 and May3. The team is as follows:

Younis Khan(captain), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamsheed, Misbahul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal(wicket keeper), Shoaib Akhter, Umer Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Sohail Tanveer, Yasir Arfat, Fawwad Alam, Ahmad Shahzad and Saeed Ajmal.

[Sadaf Gondal]

Brett Lee is on target for a quick return from injury after being fast-tracked into Australia's one-day squad for the series against Pakistan later this month. Lee had an ankle and foot operation in January and initially eyed a comeback through the Indian Premier League, but his plans changed when he convinced the selectors and support staff of his improving health.
Andrew Symonds is also part of the squad for the engagements in the UAE following his Cricket Australia clearance for a string of off-field issues. Shane Watson, who is recovering from back stress fractures, is in the 14-man outfit that will be led by Michael Clarke. Ricky Ponting will rest ahead of the World Twenty20 and the Ashes along with Mitchell Johnson and Michael Hussey.
The appearances of Lee and Shaun Marsh (hamstring) are subject to fitness while Watson has been called as a specialist batsman, although he may take the ball later in the tour. "Brett's return to bowling at full pace will be monitored carefully and will be reviewed closer to the date of the commencement of the tour," Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. "He'll need to get cricket under his belt and we'll need to look at how we do that, but at the moment it's step-by-step. He's got to get back to bowling full pace before we can make any decisions."
An extra player was chosen to support Lee, with Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brett Geeves and Ben Laughlin rounding out the pace attack. Peter Siddle has been left out but remains in Hilditch's plans for the major series in England, starting with the World Twenty20 in June. "He is seen as a potentially key member of our squad for our defence of the Ashes," Hilditch said.
Symonds and Lee last played for Australia in the Boxing Day Test before heading for surgery. Lee, who flew to South Africa this week in a bid to train with the one-day team, struggled through the international summer before a stress fracture in his foot flared in Melbourne. He was also found to have a problem in his ankle and both issues were fixed during surgery.
"Whether he's passed fit or not is outside my hands," Hilditch told AAP. "But he's got a fair bit to go, basically I think he's bowling at 80% at the moment, so he's going to have to be bowling at full pace, off a full run pretty shortly. It's going to be touch and go but if we can get him around the squad sooner rather than later he'll be better off."
In eight Tests in 2008-09 Lee managed 21 wickets at 47.80 and also battled for fitness following a bout of giardia during the trip to India. He has not played a limited-overs match since the tour to the West Indies last July and his selection means his time with the Kings XI Punjab will be limited to two weeks at the most.
Symonds had a minor knee complaint and was back for Queensland in January, but he was suspended from the South Africa tour due to behavioural problems. Despite showing no batting form, he was picked last week in the 30-man preliminary outfit for the World Twenty20 and his heavy hitting and useful bowling have kept him in Australia's thoughts.
"At his best Andrew is a dynamic one-day player with an outstanding record for Australia," Hilditch said. "It will now be up to him to seize this opportunity."
Australia squad Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Brett Geeves, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Ben Laughlin, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson.

[Sadaf Gondal]

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team coach Intikhab Alam said that a balanced team has been selected for the cricket series against Australia and Pakistan team would fight with great effort to get this series to its credit.

Talking with media here on Wednesday, Intikhab Alam said that for preparations of the series to be held in the United Arab Emirates, a three-day training camp would be commenced at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore from Friday and the team would leave for Dubai in the morning of April 13.

He said that he along with Aaqib Javed has reviewed the facilities and the wicket at the Dubai Sports City ground and he is much satisfied.

Intikhab Alam said that Shoaib Akhtar has returned in the team after proving his fitness and his comeback is very good for the team.

He said that a balanced team has been selected for the series against Australia and if the ICL players get clearance it would benefit Pakistan.

[Ali Shah]

Pakistan aik aur series harnay wala hai

[naz]

Pakistan aik aur series harnay wala hai

insan ko umid achi rakhni chahye

[Ali Shah]

insan ko umid achi rakhni chahye

Insaaan ko haqeqat ko bhi mad e nazar rakhna chahye.............

[naz]

Insaaan ko haqeqat ko bhi mad e nazar rakhna chahye.............

waqt aik sa nahi rehta
leken phir bhi umid achi rakhni chahye

[Ali Shah]

waqt aik sa nahi rehta
leken phir bhi umid achi rakhni chahye

jab haqeqat smanay ho tau umeed rakhnay ka koi faida nahe ............

[sheem]

haan lee b wapis agaya hai aab tu

hogi maze ki series waise i hope dubai ki pitch help karegi Pak ko

[Sadaf Gondal]

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has said he is satisfied with the venues in the UAE. Alam, 67, who visited the two venues, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, told the News that he was confident that the wickets would help produce high-quality contests during the five ODIs and one Twenty20 international against Australia.
"The wickets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been prepared keeping in mind our own strengths," said Alam. "We want to retain some kind of home advantage. We expect them to be batting wickets but sporting ones that are suitable for one-day cricket. We saw a few local matches being played on those wickets and they look very good. The overall conditions there are excellent. The Dubai stadium in fact, can be compared with the best sports facilities in the world."
Alam pointed out that Australia, who will be landing in Dubai on April 17 after having played on bouncy tracks at home and in South Africa, might face problems adjusting to the conditions in the UAE. "The pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will not be as much bouncy as the ones in South Africa and it will be interesting how the Australians adjust to the conditions there," he said.
While Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Mitchell Johnson have been rested for the series, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson and Brett Lee will be looking to make the most on their return to the national fold. Despite the absence of the big names, Alam said Australia would remain a very strong team. "The Australians are very professional and they have enough bench strength to overcome the absence of any player," he said.
Alam was also pleased with the return of Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, back after clearing a series of extensive fitness tests last week. "A fit Shoaib Akhtar is a great addition to our team," Alam said. "He adds more firepower to our bowling attack and I'm happy that he is back," he added.
Following security concerns from teams over playing in Pakistan, the PCB has been forced to shift series overseas. Pakistan though, will be confident of performing well away, as shown in the 3-0 ODI series whitewash of West Indies back in November last year. While Dubai will host the first two ODIs and the final game of the series, the Twenty20 international, Abu Dhabi will stage the remaining matches.