Pakistan Vs. Australia 2009 Series

[Sadaf Gondal]

Schedule of Pakistan Vs. Australia 2009 Series in UAE
Schedule:
April 22: First ODI at Dubai
April 24: Second ODI at Dubai
April 27: Third ODI at Abu Dhabi
May 1: Fourth ODI at Abu Dhabi
May 3: Fifth ODI at Abu Dhabi
May 7: Twenty20 at Dubai

PAKISTAN SQUAD:

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.

[naz]

is bar main bhi dekh he longi
waise meko yeh tak nahi pata tha ke captain change hochuka hia
kab hua tha ku hua tha

[Sadaf Gondal]

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after finalising the MOU with Cricket Australia announced the itinerary of ODI series against Australia starting from 22nd April in UAE. Following the MoU signing, it is widely hoped that there might not prop up likelihood for the cancellation of series.

Pakistan as host to play five-match ODI series and a Twenty20 International at Dubai and Abu Dhabi and all matches will be played under floodlights.

The schedule of Pakistan-Australia forthcoming ODI cricket series has been made available as per which, the first and second matches will be played in Dubai on April 22 and 24 respectively while three matches to be held in Abu Dhabi on April 27, May 01 and May 3 correspondingly.

Pakistan has already announced its squad and Australia meanwhile is due to announce their touring squad following its ongoing ODI series in South Africa on April 17.

[Sadaf Gondal]

KARACHI: Enigmatic fast bowler and widely acclaimed as Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar on Tuesday said that Australia will start as favourites in the upcoming One-day series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from April 22.

The controversial pacer, who made a comeback to the team for the series on Monday, said although conditions are in favour of Pakistan, Australia will hold the edge as they had been playing international cricket on a regular basis.

"Australia is still one of the best teams in the world despite their recent form and for us it is going to be a very hard series.

"In comparison Pakistan has played less international matches and against weaker opposition so we will have to get into our strides quickly although we have advantage of playing in conditions similar to our own," Akhtar said.

Akhtar added that he was delighted to return to the national and was looking forward to the coming series.

"Playing against Australia is always special just like against India. They are always tough opponents so a good performance against them is always extra special and sweet for me and the team," he said.

"I am feeling good and bowling with rhythm and I am very fit and so I am hopeful of doing well in the coming series."

He cautioned that the pitches and outfield in Abu Dhabi were pretty heavy and last time Pakistan played there against the West Indies in November, some of the pacers suffered injuries.

[Sadaf Gondal]

SYDNEY: Australia have announced on Wednesday a 14-man squad for playing series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Australia omitted a trio of star players from their squad to face Pakistan this month, preferring to rest them ahead of the Ashes campaign in England.

Selectors told skipper Ricky Ponting, batsman Michael Hussey and bowler Mitchell Johnson to sit out the limited overs series against Pakistan, which will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for security reasons.

Instead they brought troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds in from the cold and welcomed back injury-prone Queenslander Shane Watson and veteran quick Brett Lee, subject to fitness.

Michael Clarke was named captain of the touring party, with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin replacing him as vice-captain.

The team consists of the following players:
Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin (vice captain), 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]

Pakistan captain Younis Khan is disappointed that Australia have rested key members of their squad for the ODI series, beginning on April 22, because their presence would have benefited a young Pakistan side. The Australian selectors left out Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson from the five-match series in Dubai.

"When you play against the top players like Ponting, you learn different and good things," Younis told AFP. "Ponting is a brilliant captain and, when you play against such a leader, you tend to learn. Hussey is a stubborn batsman and Johnson has developed into a world-class bowler whose every delivery is near 140 kmph. So we will miss them."

Michael Clarke was named captain for the series and the Australia squad also includes returning allrounders Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson and fast bowler Brett Lee. "It is a great opportunity for this young [Pakistan] team," Younis said. "When you play against a top team like Australia there are a lot of opportunities to learn and I hope my team gain in experience."

Younis said that he was not "expecting much" from his team but hoped that his players would learn from Australia's attitude on the field. "The Australians have an attitude which says everything about their cricket. That is, not to give up, aggression in all situations and I am sure my team will observe that.

"If my team plays a little bit above their potential then I am sure we can achieve better results. I am not expecting much from this team but my main expectation is that they play with full throttle and potential."

Pakistan's squad for the series includes Shoaib Akhtar, who has returned after recovering from a knee injury. "My request to Akhtar is to play for the team, for himself, and remain focused on the game," Younis said. "I will not put extra pressure of expectations on him but he will have to play with his full ability."

[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]

is bar main bhi dekh he longi
waise meko yeh tak nahi pata tha ke captain change hochuka hia
kab hua tha ku hua tha

jub SL say haray thay then Shoaib nay resign kar diya tha, phir PCB nay younis khan ko captain bana diya..dekha karay newz

[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.