Cricket is not Cricket without Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi revelled in the Finals Day limelight hammering 11 boundaries, Hampshire v Somerset, Friends Life t20, 2nd Semi Final, Edgbaston, August 27 2011 Shahid Afridi played for Hampshire during his retirement from international cricket Shahid Afridi has said he is "strong, fit and in good shape" to come back from the "wild period" he spent out of the Pakistan limited-overs sides due to his conditional retirement. Afridi had made himself available for selection after Zaka Ashraf succeeded Ijaz Butt as PCB chairman and was named on Wednesday in the ODI and Twenty20 squads for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka in the UAE. His selection came hours after he met with Ashraf in Lahore. "I found Zaka a very cooperative person," Afridi said. "Though he is not a cricketer, I feel he can understand cricketers' problems and is good at managing things. I feel he will do the best for the interests of cricket in the country." Afridi last played fo

Pakistan were so clinical in finishing Sri Lanka off on the fourth day that you wondered if this was the same group of players that is known for losing its way in the final furlong. They remained patient and persistent even when fortune didn't favour them or even when a late partnership held them up. The pitch with variable bounce and turn did the rest for them. Pakistan began the day 76 ahead with nine wickets to take, their bowlers shared the early spoils, and then Saeed Ajmal ran through the tail - no mean feat considering their recent travails with lower orders - to register his third five-for in Tests. The fielders turned up too, diving in desperation for every ball remotely within reach and not missing a single catch, and the batsmen made short work of the 94-run target. Pakistan attacks are reputed to be mercurial and extravagantly talented, but it is an underrated virtue that stood out today - patience. The biggest test of their patience came last afternoon when Kumar Sanga

Finally, one of the worst chapters of Pakistani cricket came to an end as Ijaz Butt was removed as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. An official announcement is still awaited but it is understood that President Asif Ali Zardari has already decided on Butt’s successor. Ijaz Butt’s tyrannical rule started in October 2008 and was shrouded in controversy as Pakistani cricket hit rock bottom. The armed attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore followed by Pakistan’s isolation from international cricket was just a start. No team deems it secure to visit Pakistan to date. As a result we also lost out as co-host of the ICC World Cup 2011. Then, there were spot fixing scandals during England’s tour last year that led to bans on three Pakistani cricketers, two of whom could have led us to the number 1 ranking in world cricket. In the aftermath of these scandals, Butt made some ill-advised accusations against the English team. This ensured Pakistan lost one of the few friends it h

RAWALPINDI EXPRESS <3

RAWALPINDI EXPRESS <3

LALA ROCKS! :)

Faysal Bank T20 Tournament 2007

Who are you gonna support?

Afridi Hits a Huge SIX to Andre Nel, out of the Stadium! BE AFRIDI BE VERY AFRIDI!

Shahid Afridi calling Shoaib Akhtar, and Shoaib Akhtar showing his Discipline :D

Shahid Afridi calling Shoaib Akhtar and Shohaib Akhter showing his discipline :D

Pakistan could tour Bangladesh in December this year as the boards of the two countries discuss the possibility of scheduling a full series when both teams are available. "The two boards have worked closely together to schedule a visit by Pakistan in December which is when both teams will be free from other commitments," Rabeed Imam, the Bangladesh Cricket Board media manager, told the Express Tribune. "Bangladesh is set to host West Indies from October to November this year but have an extensive window to host Pakistan after that until March next year when we are supposed to host the Asia Cup. "With December being the only month when Pakistan could play us, a series may be finalised for that time but the schedule is yet to be finalised. The tour may comprise two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 but that's all to be confirmed." Bangladesh last toured Pakistan in 2008 but since then the two sides have played against each other only twice across all three for

Saeed Ajmal in delivery stride, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Gros Islet, April 25, 2011 Saeed Ajmal was not able not test his new delivery during the World Cup © AFP Enlarge Related Links Players/Officials: Saeed Ajmal Teams: Pakistan Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan offspinner, has said that he has been working on a new type of delivery, which he will bowl in the series against England early next year. Ajmal told PakPassion that he didn't get a chance to experiment with the delivery during the World Cup 2011 and was now saving it for the England series in the UAE. "I didn't bowl it (in the World Cup) because I wanted to stick with my best and most reliable deliveries in such a high profile tournament," Ajmal said. "I'm saving it for the series against England." He refused to reveal any details about the new delivery calling it "top secret". Ajmal had a successful tour of the West Indies earlier this year where the home

Ijaz Butt’s future as the PCB chief hangs in balance, with his family reportedly not in favour of the former Test player seeking an extension when his term ends on October 8. Butt, who has succeeded in marginalising the players’ power in the national team and introduced the culture of giving increased exposure to new and young players, said he will decide on his future only after he knows what board’s chief patron, president Asif Zardari wishes to do. Reports say that Zardari has unofficially told Butt that his tenure will be extended beyond October 8. “But the issue now is what Butt himself wants because in recent times it is no secret that there is growing pressure on him from his family to step down from the PCB post,” a source said. “Butt himself has hinted he might not want to continue beyond October 8 several times during internal meetings as his business and family commitments have suffered in the last two years due to his role as PCB chairman,” the source said. Interes

Shoaib Malik's and Danish Kaneria's long drawn-out battle to gain clearance from the PCB continued on Monday when they appeared before its integrity committee again. A spokesman for the PCB said the decision on whether the two players - who last played for Pakistan during the England tour last year - can play for the national team is still pending. "Both Malik and Kaneria appeared before the committee but the committee has taken no decision," Nadeem Sawrar, a PCB spokesman, told AFP. Malik, Kaneria and Kamran Akmal appeared before the integrity committee in January before the selection of Pakistan's World Cup squad, and while Kamran was included Kaneria and Malik were not cleared for selection. Kaneria was questioned by police in England last year, in relation to an investigation believed to centre around a Pro40 Essex win against Durham and spot-betting on wides and no-balls during the match, but was not charged. He has since produced a l

Sharjah will host its first Test in nine years this November, after Pakistan and Sri Lanka reached an agreement to play the last of their three Tests in the UAE at the venue. The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium has hosted more ODIs than any other ground but has not had any international cricket between top teams since 2003. With international stadiums being built in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it had looked unlikely that Sharjah would make a return as a venue for big matches. However, the Emirates Cricket Board has now said there will be a Test there starting November 3. "We've finally confirmed that Pakistan will play a Test in Sharjah," Dilawar Mani, chief of the Emirates board, told the Express Tribune. "We offered Sharjah at the very beginning - apart from Dubai and Abu Dhabi - but it was necessary for both sides to agree to play in Sharjah. We're now delighted to know that it has happened." The other two venues for the Pakistan-Sri L

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has questioned the decision to rest fast bowlers Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe saying it would hamper their growth as bowlers. "I don't mind taking Zimbabwe lightly and giving chances to youngsters," Akram told AFP, "but it is surprising that you rest Riaz who has just started his career a year ago and is progressing. He doesn't need rest." The Pakistan selectors also omitted seamer Tanvir Ahmed, and instead chose to go with an inexperienced pace attack comprising Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, debutant Aizaz Cheema and Junaid Khan. Commenting on the selection, chief selector Mohsin Khan had said the fresh look to the squad was an effort to blood youngsters. However Akram said the tour would have been a good opportunity for Riaz to continue his development and for Gul to regain his form. "I have seen that out-of-form paceman get back to form by playing easier teams, but here

Umar Gul, the Pakistan fast bowler, has said he is confident of being able to lead Pakistan's bowling attack in the absence of Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, both of whom have been banned from the game for at least five years for spot-fixing. "I can handle the responsibility of leading the bowling attack for Pakistan and won't succumb to the pressure that comes with this added responsibility," Gul told Pakpassion.net. "I feel I have performed well for Pakistan over the years and will continue to do so." Gul made his debut 2003 at the age of 19 and has become a fixture in all three formats, though his Twenty20 and one-day records are currently superior to his Test record, something he hopes to correct in the future. "In twenty-over cricket the bowlers have more energy, the batsmen take more risks and therefore it's easier to take wickets," Gul said. "Yes, no doubt in the past three or four years I've bowled well in the shorter format

After weeks of growing tension and speculation Shahid Afridi, Pakistan's recently axed one-day captain, has announced his retirement from the international game. It is, however, a "conditional" retirement in protest against the way he has been "humiliated" by the PCB, a temporary self-imposed exile more than a permanent retirement. Afridi said he was ready to reverse his decision if and when a new board came into power. "There is nothing bigger than a man's respect, and the way the board has treated me, there is a limit to everything," an emotional, angry Afridi told Geo TV from London, where he is currently preparing for a T20 stint with Hampshire. "I will not play under this board. If a different board comes in, I will definitely return but I cannot play under this board. When you have been humiliated like this, by dishonourable people, what is the point in playing on? "The way I've been treated ... the future doesn't look too

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has turned down an offer to tour Pakistan because of security concerns, the Sri Lankan cricket board told Reuters on Tuesday. “We have refused to tour Pakistan,” a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) spokesman said by telephone. “We are concerned about the security and that’s why we said no to them.” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had been hopeful of coaxing the Sri Lankans into touring the country but Sunday’s terrorist attack on a naval air force base near Karachi’s National Stadium dealt a severe blow to the prospects. Pakistan has not hosted international cricket since the Sri Lankan team visited the country in 2009 when gunmen attacked their team bus in Lahore, killing seven people. The PCB recently made another attempt to convince the Sri Lankans to tour Pakistan. “Yes we have sent them a fresh invite to play the series of three tests, five one-day internationals and one T20 match in Pakistan in October-November,” PCB official Nadem Sarwar told Reuters on Saturday.

Pakistani off spin bowler, Saeed Ajmal, has been declared as the ‘Cricket World Player of the week’. He was included in the elite list of the players due to his superb all round performance in the ongoing second Test match being played at Saint Kitts. Pakistan was in deep trouble in their first innings and had lost nine wickets for 194 runs when he walked to the crease holding his bat with a strong will. He joined fellow tail-ender, Tanvir Ahmed, who was determined for a better show at the other end. He provided excellent support to his senior partner and continued milking runs from the frustrated Caribbean attack. The pair took the score to dignified position and added 78 valuable runs for the tenth wicket. Ajmal helped Tanvir achieve his first Test fifty. As a result, Pakistan were able to score 272 runs and Ajmal remained unbeaten on 23 runs off 79 balls, aided with one six and a four. West Indies were struggling at one time in their first innings after they lost three wickets for

Boom Boom’ Afridi has finally decided to call it a day as far as One Day International Cricket is concerned. He was disheartened by the decision of the Pakistan Cricket Board, when he was removed from ODI Captaincy last week. Pakistan will play two ODI matches against Ireland later this month and the Captaincy was handed over toMisbah-Ul-Haq. Misbah is also leading the Pakistan side in the ongoing two-match Test series in West Indies. According to sources, Afridi was disappointed with the decision of the PCB, which came even after he led the team from the front in the past few months. Pakistan was able to win the series against New Zealand 3-2, gave a real fight in the World Cup, registering themselves in the best four teams of the tournament and finally bagged a series win by 3-2, over the West Indies. Afridi was the leading wicket taker in the World Cup by grabbing 21 wickets at an excellent average of 12.85 and best figures of 5/16. Earlier, quite a few ex-cricketers, including Sa

KARACHI: Sri Lanka, victims of an attack by militants in Lahore two years ago, have been invited to tour Pakistan for a series of games, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Saturday. Yes we have sent them a fresh invite to play the series of three tests, five one-day internationals and one T20 match in Pakistan in October-November,” PCB official Nadem Sarwar told Reuters. “We are waiting for their response but we have given them full security assurances.” Six Pakistani policemen and a driver were killed, and five visiting players wounded, when gunmen ambushed the Sri Lankan team’s buses in March 2009. Since then, no foreign team has visited Pakistan and the country lost its share of the World Cup matches this year. A judicial inquiry blamed senior police officials for neglecting their duties and failing to provide security for the Sri Lankan team.

NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket board on Wednesday slapped a $50,000 fine on soon-to-retire bowling legend Shane Warne over a bust-up between the Australian and an official during this season’s IPL. The punishment casts a cloud over Warne’s last game of professional cricket on Friday when his Rajasthan Royals team take on the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. The leg-spin maestro, captain of the Rajasthan team, was involved in an angry exchange with Sanjay Dixit, secretary of the Rajasthan state cricket association, following his team’s defeat at home last week. Warne was furious about his team being asked to play on a different wicket than one used in previous games, but he later apologised for “any distress” his action may have caused. After a complaint by the Rajasthan cricket association, Warne and Dixit were summoned for a hearing before a disciplinary commission comprising IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and former player Ravi Shastri. “The commission has decided to impose a f

COLOMBO: The scintillating encounter between Pakistan and Australia, besides being a top-ranked affair in their respective countries, also enthralled the local population of the Sri Lankans here on Saturday as they extended wholehearted support to Shahid Afridi’s team. With a massive turn out of spectators, who came in droves to fill the stadium to capacity, lustily cheered the feats of Pakistan players at various stages of the game. A good number of Pakistani fans who had arrived in Colombo to watch the proceedings were also part of the jubilant crowd. Highlighting the thunderous applause for the Pakistan team from the local population, the Sri Lankan commentators said the enthusiastic support was no strange phenomenon to this part of the world. Giving their views and analysis in local languages, the commentators traced the history and recalled the support of Pakistan’s cricket establishments at different stages for advocating the case of Sri Lanka at the international cricket forums

Michael Yardy, the England allrounder, has been withdrawn from England's World Cup squad after suffering from depression. He returned to the UK ahead of England's quarter-final against Sri Lanka in Colombo on March 26. "Leaving at this stage of a World Cup campaign was a very difficult decision to make but I felt that it was the only sensible option for me and I wanted to be honest about the reason behind that decision," Yardy said. " I would like to wish the squad all the very best ahead of the game on Saturday. I would appreciate some privacy over the coming weeks while I spend time with family and close friends ahead of what I hope will be a successful season for Sussex." Yardy represented England in three games this World Cup, picking up two wickets but proved expensive. With the bat in the lower order, he managed 19 runs in three innings. Hugh Morris, the managing director of England Cricket, said: "I would like to offer my full support to Michae

West Indies 112 (Chanderpaul 44*, Afridi 4-30) v Pakistan Pakistan's spinners produced a display of ruthless efficiency to dismantle a feeble West Indies for 112 in the first quarter-final in Dhaka. Shahid Afridi continued his wonderful tournament with four wickets after Mohammad Hafeez impressed with the new ball while Saeed Ajmal was a handful for the lower order. Only three batsmen reached double figures and Shivnarine Chanderpaul's unbeaten 44 was a hollow effort. Between the three of them, Pakistan's slow bowlers had figures of 27.3-5-64-8 and gave another example of how there is a threat from every part of the attack. At no point does Afridi need to fill overs, especially when the weakest link of the bowlers - Hafeez - manages to take 2 for 16 in his full allocation. West Indies' batting, though, was dire after the early life was sucked from them when Chris Gayle fell in the third over and they remained rooted to the crease, managing just seven fours and a solit

NAGPUR: South Africa backed up paceman Dale Steyn’s five-wicket burst with their batting depth to end India’s winning run with a thrilling three-wicket victory in the World Cup on Saturday. Needing 13 to win in the last over off seamer Ashish Nehra, South Africa found an unlikely star in Robin Peterson who plundered 16 runs off the first four balls to help his side achieve a 297-run target. India looked set to post a mammoth total when they reached 267-1 following Sachin Tendulkar’s brilliant 111 for his 48th one-day hundred, but lost their last nine wickets for just 29 runs in nine overs to be bowled out for 296. Man of the match Steyn (5-50) played a key role in his team’s fightback to bag his maiden five-wicket haul in one-day internationals. India, who had been hoping to wrap up a quarter-final place, still top Group B with seven points from five matches. They are followed by West Indies (6/4), South Africa (6/4), England (5/5) and Bangladesh (4/4) as the pool heads for a thrillin

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board has awarded struggling wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal the highest category in player contracts. Akmal is among seven players named in category A along with one-day and twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi, test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar. PCB says in a statement that contracts run until the end of June. Each of the contracted players will be given a monthly salary of 250,000 rupees ($2,950). Akmal’s wicketkeeping has already cost Pakistan dearly in the World Cup. He dropped New Zealand’s Ross Taylor on 0 and 4 before the Kiwi batsman went on to hammer a career-best 131 on Tuesday. Kamran’s younger brother Umar Akmal, opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez, spinners Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal and fast bowler Wahab Riaz were named in category B which attracts a monthly salary of 175,000 rupees ($2,050). Category C —in which players are paid monthly salary of 100,000 rupees ($1,200) —includes test opener Taufiq Umar

PALLEKELE: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Wednesday urged his team to learn the lessons of the 110-run defeat against New Zealand. The Black Caps rode on a brilliant unbeaten 131 by Ross Taylor to post a challenging 302-7 before Tim Southee removed the top order with a burst of three early wickets to bowl Pakistan out for 192. “There were quite a few lessons to be learned from the defeat, especially those chances we gave to Taylor and when you give such chances to a player like him he makes you pay,” said Afridi. Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal let Taylor off twice in the same Shoaib Akhtar over – once when the batsman was on nought and then on eight – allowing two straightforward chances to slip past him. Afridi said his bowlers were poor in the death overs when New Zealand plundered 139 runs off the last 10 overs. “I think the way we started with the ball was good, but then the missed chances maybe demoralised the bowlers and they were very poor in the end,” said Afridi. Afridi hoped h

PALLEKELE: Coach Waqar Younis is not willing to dump struggling wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal even after his woeful performance behind the stumps played a key part in Pakistan suffering one of its worst ever defeats in the World Cup. But all bets are off when the dust settles from the one-day tournament. New Zealander Ross Taylor went onto to score a career-best 131 off 124 balls on Tuesday, with Akmal twice letting the Kiwi batsman off the hook _ on 0 and 4. The 110-run margin of defeat came close to Pakistan’s biggest ever loss in the World Cup when England recorded a 112-run victory in 2003 at Centurion, South Africa. “Without a doubt, he dropped catches which really cost us the game,” Younis said of Akmal’s poor work behind the stumps. “We are in the middle of the tournament, we can’t really sort of kick him out at the moment.” Akmal has had big question marks hanging over his performance for over a year now since Australia whitewashed Pakistan in test, one-day and twenty20 series last

The crowds that travelled through the hills to watch the first one-day international in Pallekele were first treated to cricket's adaptation of The Comedy of Errors, with Kamran Akmal playing the lead and Shoaib Akhtar in a strong supporting role, and then to a gory massacre. Pakistan were so comically incompetent that they allowed New Zealand, who had to endure the tragic struggle of Jamie How, to build a satisfactory platform from which Ross Taylor launched an assault so brutal that Pakistan were gutted and unable to defend themselves by the end of the innings. A stronger opponent would have made Pakistan regret the glut of extras and dropped catches much earlier but New Zealand's batsmen did not dominate the bowling until the end. And then they did so in some style. Martin Guptill was their solitary performer in the first half, and Taylor used massive slices luck to get going. But in the last six overs, Taylor broke free in unprecedented manner, taking 28 off a Shoaib over

PALLEKELE: New Zealand pace spearhead Tim Southee said Sunday that in-form Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq was in his sights for the match between the Group A rivals on Tuesday. The 36-year-old Pakistan batsman was in prime form on his side’s recent tour of New Zealand, making 203 runs in four innings to help Pakistan secure a series win and has continued to score runs at the World Cup. Misbah scored 65 against Kenya, 83 not out against Sri Lanka and 37 against Canada, playing a key role in his team’s three wins in as many matches. “He has obviously been having a great period not just against New Zealand but also in the World Cup,” said Southee. “Hopefully, we have learnt from the way we bowled against him in New Zealand and we can work on a couple of things to try and put an end to the form he is in, also (Shahid) Afridi and a couple of other guys who are standing up in key moments in games.” Southee said his team had put the defeat against Australia earlier in the competition behind t

COLOMBO: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis urged his opening batsmen on Saturday to regain their form in a hurry after failing in all three of their team’s World Cup matches to date Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad have only given their side first-wicket starts of 11, 28 and 16 in Pakistan’s victories against Kenya, Sri Lanka and Canada in Group A. With the next game looming on Tuesday against a buoyant New Zealand, Younis said the openers need to give Pakistan some solid starts in the games ahead. ”I am sure they will come good in the remaining three matches because, after that all matches are knockout matches,” Younis said. ”We need openers to fire.” Pakistan has not yet chased a total in this World Cup and has depended heavily on captain Shahid Afridi, who has bagged nearly half of the scalps to top the wicket-takers list with 14. While openers are struggling on the slower pitches of subcontinent, experienced batsmen Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and young Umar Akmal have taken on the main

KARACHI: Though Pakistan have won their first two matches in the World Cup, former captain Imran Khan believes the team would struggle as the tournament progresses as it is playing a specialist bowler short. “I strongly believe that although Pakistan have won against Sri Lanka, they are playing with one specialist bowler short and need to include a bowler in place of a batsman or an all-rounder,” he said. Imran, under whom Pakistan won their first and only World Cup title in 1992, said he would try to speak to captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis on the matter. He pointed out that Pakistan’s bowling could struggle against strong opponents and on a good batting pitch. “So far our bowlers have done well in the World Cup but the team could feel the pinch against stronger oppositions. I think they must give Saeed Ajmal a chance or include an extra pace bowler,” he said. The cricketer-turned-politician also maintained that the green-shirts were not utilising all-rounder Abdul Razzaq

KARACHI: Pakistan’s banned pace bowler Mohammad Amir has decided to finish his degree during his forced isolation from cricket. The 18-year-old abandoned his studies when he started globetrotting as his career with Pakistan took off but his promising future was abruptly halted after he was found guilty of corruption by an International Cricket Council tribunal last month. Handed a five-year ban from the sport, Amir said he wanted to use the time productively. “I had to leave my college studies because of my full-time career in cricket once I was selected for Pakistan. But now I am trying privately to get a college degree,” the teenager said on a news channel. “I am passing through the toughest period of my life and I have realised just how important it is to get a good education.” Amir, former test captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, were banned for a minimum of five years after being found guilty of bowling pre-arranged no balls during a test against England last year. They are app

DHAKA: Ruthless West Indies humiliated Bangladesh with the bat and ball in front of their own fans on Friday, skittling the World Cup co-hosts for their lowest ever ODI score of 58 before chasing down the target in 12.2 overs. Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn claimed four wickets while Kemar Roach and Darren Sammy bagged three scalps each as Bangladesh were flattened in 18.5 overs. The boos around the Shere Bangla National Stadium could still be heard when the West Indian openers Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo came out to bat but Shakib Al Hasan’s men were powerless to stop the visitors winning by nine wickets. A sell-out crowd of 25,000 jeered the home team and threw paper placards on the field after Bangladesh fell below their previous low of 74 against Australia in Darwin in 2008. Bangladesh’s reckless batting on a slow wicket saw them being bowled out for the lowest total in this World Cup after Kenya made 69 against New Zealand. It was also the fourth lowest total in World Cup history

Abdul Razzaq wants to play a bigger role in Pakistan's World Cup campaign. In two matches so far, Razzaq has been a peripheral figure, having played a total of 10 balls and bowled just five overs in each game. Part of the problem has been his low spot in the batting order, way down at number eight. Pakistan's middle order has performed well, so Razzaq has not had the opportunity to do anything after coming in. Compensation has come in the form of opening the bowling, but though he improved in the second game against Sri Lanka, he remains wicketless. "It is my wish to bat up the order but that's up to the team requirement," Razzaq said after a practice session at the P Sara Oval in Colombo. "It is the team's unity that everyone is doing what is needed. Whenever I get a chance I will perform. The main aim is to perform for the team. Our batting line-up is looking long just because it is performing well, otherwise it will look short if it doesn't perfor

“I slept early, so I couldn’t watch the England-India match,” Younis said on Monday, when asked about the Group B match in Bangalore. “I missed it, but scores show that even… 400 runs is gettable in the sub-continent.” England, chasing 339 to win, finished on 338 for eight in a sell-out match featuring 676 runs, with centuries from Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar and England captain Andrew Strauss. Younis said he was happy to take on the responsibility of being a senior player in the team, who have won both of their opening fixtures. “As a senior player, I am happy to put my contribution in the team’s totals,” said Younis, who scored 50 against Kenya and 72 against Sri Lanka. “It is a good feeling and the win against Sri Lanka has put us closer to the quarter-finals.” Younis, who normally bats at number three, said he had no problems batting one place lower. “My job is that whenever there is need, I can play at three and now if the team needs me at four then I am ready to bat there as