Pakistan’s historic win in the final of the T20 World Cup

KARACHI: Pakistan’s historic win in the final of the T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka at Lord’s sparked jubilation across the country and worldwide.

People took to the streets after the match in all major cities of the country including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta and expressed their joy in their own peculiar manner.

They distributed sweets and danced to the beat of drums to celebrate the much-needed victory. While some people resorted to aerial firing, others set off fireworks lighting up the night sky.

They also sang national songs and chanted slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. Large screens were installed in all major cities for people to watch the match.

Theses were the scenes witnessed not only in Pakistan but also in every corner of the world wherever Pakistanis are living. Whether it would be streets of US or grounds of Britain, Pakistani flag flying high conveying the message of peace and expressed that Pakistani nation is a peace loving nation and fond of healthy activities.

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi stood tall with a mature 54 to guide Pakistan home © Getty Images

It wasn't the edge-of-the-seat final that would have signed off the ICC World Twenty20 in style, but that won't matter to Pakistan who gave their nation a something to savour amid troubled times. From the moment Tillakaratne Dilshan, the tournament's top-scorer, fell in the opening over Pakistan had a grip on the match. Shahid Afridi, who emerged as their trump card, guided his team home in the 19th over with an unbeaten 54, and it was left to Younis Khan to raise the trophy in what he later announced would be his final Twenty20 international, in front of a sea of delirious Pakistan supporters.

Umar Gul's best in Twenty20 internationals

Umar Gul's spell of 5 for 6 in three overs against New Zealand was the best in Twenty20 internationals © Getty Image

Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik celebrate Pakistan's eight-wicket win

Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik celebrate Pakistan's eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 at Lord's © AFP

South Australia keep steady squad

Chris Duval has rejoined South Australia after four years with Tasmania © Getty Images

A year after giving their squad a significant overhaul, South Australia have kept a steady course for 2009-10 with few changes to their playing group. The fast bowlers Chris Duval and Matthew Weeks have been added to the senior squad, while the opening batsman Tom Plant has been axed.

Weeks, 26, returned to South Australia's starting line-up last summer after a three-year absence. Duval is the only addition from outside the state, returning to his original side having spent the past four seasons with Tasmania.

The Redbacks now have three Cricket Australia-contracted players with Graham Manou and Callum Ferguson joining Shaun Tait on the national list. That opened up places for James Smith and Jake Haberfield to be promoted from the state's rookie list and both now hold full deals.

The rookie list has taken on a new look with only Michael Cranmer, Cameron Francis and Kane Richardson named at this stage. Of last season's rookies, Jake Brown, Andy Delmont and Jason Donnelly have slipped out of the group.

None of the changes are major and it is a far cry from South Australia's off-field dealings last year, when they raided four players from New South Wales and Victoria in addition to signing Pakistan's Younis Khan. All states must finalise their round one offers by next Friday prior to the player transfer pool opening.

Fulton to lead New Zealand Emerging Players

Tim Southee and Peter Fulton are the two internationals in the squad © Getty Images

Peter Fulton will captain a New Zealand Emerging Players team set to take part in a quadrangular tournament in Australia in July. Fulton and Tim Southee are the only players in the 15-man squad with international experience.

The group includes two men who have not yet qualified for full New Zealand selection but will do so within the next two years. Colin de Grandhomme, 22, has previously represented Zimbabwe A but having settled in Auckland he had a productive season with the bat in 2008-09.

The left-arm fast-medium bowler Neil Wagner has also been given the nod following a strong domestic summer for Otago. Wagner, 23, was born in Pretoria and last year played for the South African Academy side.

Other men picked for their first taste of New Zealand representative cricket include the Auckland batsman Anaru Kitchen and the legspinner Tarun Nethula. The squad will be coached by John Wright and Matthew Horne, and will take on teams from Australia, India and South Africa in Brisbane.

Squad Peter Fulton (capt), Nick Beard, Hamish Bennett, Te Ahu Davis, Colin de Grandhomme, Anaru Kitchen, Tarun Nethula, Jeet Raval, Lance Shaw, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson,

Younis happy to have Razzaq back

Younis Khan: "He (Razzaq) is a senior guy and his return will be good for Pakistan cricket. He would be in any team in the world" © AFP

Younis Khan, the Pakistan captain, has welcomed the return of allrounder Abdul Razzaq to the Pakistan side after a two-year exile caused by his decision to opt for the Indian Cricket League. Razzaq was fast-tracked into the national Twenty20 squad in England shortly after quitting the ICL, but his participation in the opening Super Eights match against Sri Lanka at Lord's today is highly unlikely as he arrives just hours before the game.

"This game is not possible but I think he will manage the last two games," Younis said on the eve of the game. "He is a good name in world cricket and in Twenty20 he is a fantastic allrounder.

"He is a senior guy and his return will be good for Pakistan cricket. He would be in any team in the world."

Razzaq was one of several former ICL players granted amnesty by the Pakistan Cricket Board a few weeks ago shortly after the Indian board took the initiative to allow players to return from the unofficial league. Razzaq was named in the original list of 30 probables the PCB had sent to the ICC in early April - before the BCCI announced the amnesty - but the board made a U-turn and scratched his name off because the ICC objected to his ICL status. However, when Razzaq confirmed that he had snapped ties with the ICL, the PCB named him as an emergency replacement for the injured seamer Yasir Arafat.

Razzaq is likely to play the next Super Eights match against New Zealand at The Oval on Saturday.

Younis also took the opportunity to clarify someunusual comments he had earlier made on Twenty20 cricket, comparing it to "WWF" and saying that it was better to take it easy and have fun in this format. He defended his comments and urged everyone not to take them too seriously.

"I am a simple guy. Sometimes people think I am wrong because when we lose I am still laughing," Younis said. "You must look forward, if you lose or win. This is life. Sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days."

Bangladesh selector defends Twenty20 selections

Rafiqul Alam: "It boiled down to Mehrab and Raqibul and the former's poor fielding and unhealthy strike-rate played against him" © AFP

Rafiqul Alam, the Bangladesh chief selector, has defended the team selection for the ICC World Twenty20 where the side crashed out in the group stages. Alam's decision to pick batsman Raqibul Hasan was reportedly questioned before the team set out for England but Alam rushed to Raqibul's defence, saying he had the ability to stabilise the innings if the top order failed.

A rusty Bangladesh, returning from an international lay-off of nearly five months, lost both their group stage matches, including one to Ireland. Their only two wins on tour came during the warm-ups, against minnows Scotland and Netherlands. Raqibul managed only 29 runs in the two official games.

"Raqibul has been our best batsman internationally and he is a technically sound player," Alam told theDaily Star. "When selecting the team we had a choice between him, Mehrab Hossain jnr. and Ziaur Rahman. Zia was quite ordinary in this year's Premier League Twenty20 and 50-over version...

"It boiled down to Mehrab and Raqibul and the former's poor fielding and unhealthy strike-rate played against him. Also our top order is not very strong so we had players like Raqibul and Mushfiqur [Rahim] who can at least take the team to a respectable total if the top four batters fail."

PCB gave me no independence - Abdul Qadir

"I would've asked Younis to step down from ODI and Twenty20 cricket and made Shahid Afridi captain in both formats

Having maintained a steady silence since he abruptlystepped down from his post as chief selector earlier this week, Abdul Qadir finally let loose on the reasons behind his decision, blaming primarily a lack of independence in his role. Qadir also said had it been his choice, Pakistan's Twenty20 side would not be led by Younis Khan and that Shoaib Malik would not be in the side at all.

In particular, Qadir launched an attack on Intikhab Alam, Pakistan's coach, and Yawar Saeed, the team's manager, blaming them for interfering in selections and rendering his selectors "a dummy" committee.

"Why did I resign? If you do not get the respect, the justice or independence in your job it is better to leave," Qadir told Cricinfo. "If the PCB does not honour its contract then what is the point? I was told I would be given independence and a free hand in selection but that has not been the case."

The spark for the differences seems to have emerged from the ambiguous parameters assigned to the chief selector. The board's policy, for home games, is that the selection committee decides on a playing XI, in consultation with coach and captain. According to Qadir, 'consultation' allowed, effectively, the team management to finalise the XI without any input from selectors.

Chris Gayle goes downtown,

Chris Gayle goes downtown, Australia v West Indies, ICC World Twenty20, The Oval, June 6, 2009

© Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images

'Spin is our strength' - Sana Mir

Sana Mir, the Pakistan women's captain, has said she is banking on her spinners to help her side put up a strong show in the women's World Twenty20.

"Our strength lies in our spin attack," she told reporters at Lord's. "We are planning to make full use of our plus point and do well in this tournament." Mir, a legspinner, has been Pakistan's best bowler in ODIs this year, taking nine wickets at 18.44 in seven matches, and offspinner Sajjida Shah has also turned in some decent performances.

Pakistan finished in a creditable sixth place at the women's World Cup in Australia earlier this year, and Mir hoped to build on that in the World Twenty20. "I believe we are among the favourites in this tournament."

Mir's side has two warm-up games - against West Indies on Monday, and South Africa on Tuesday - before playing their first match of the tournament against Sri Lanka on Friday. England, who were clinical during their World Cup win in March, and India are also in Pakistan's group for the league phase.

Sana Mir

Pakistan

Full name Sana Mir

Born January 5, 1986, Abbottabad, North-West Frontier Province

Current age 23 years 153 days

Major teams Pakistan Women, South Zone Women (Pakistan)

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Legbreak

Batting | Bowling | Career statistics | Latest Articles | Latest Photos

Batting and fielding averages

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	4s	6s	Ct	St
ODIs	31	30	6	325	35	13.54	940	34.57	0	0	27	0	9	0
T20Is	3	2	1	25	14	25.00	48	52.08	0	0	3	0	0	0

Bowling averages

	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10
ODIs	31	30	1400	821	31	4/10	4/10	26.48	3.51	45.1	1	0	0
T20Is	3	3	57	37	7	4/13	4/13	5.28	3.89	8.1	1	0	0

Career statistics

ODI debut : Pakistan Women v Sri Lanka Women at Karachi, Dec 28, 2005 | scorecard

Last ODI : Ireland Women v Pakistan Women at Dublin, May 26, 2009 | scorecard

ODI statistics :

- Statsguru ODI analysis - Player analysis menu/filter ODI match list --------------------------------- Batting career summary Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages --------------------------------- Bowling career summary Bowling innings list Best innings bowling Bowling series averages --------------------------------- Fielding career summary Fielding innings list Most catches in an innings Fielding series statistics

T20I debut : Ireland Women v Pakistan Women at Dublin, May 25, 2009 | scorecard

Last T20I : Ireland Women v Pakistan Women at Dublin, May 29, 2009 | scorecard

T20I statistics :

- Statsguru T20I analysis - Player analysis menu/filter T20I match list --------------------------------- Batting career summary Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages --------------------------------- Bowling career summary Bowling innings list Best innings bowling Bowling series averages --------------------------------- Fielding career summary Fielding innings list Fielding series statistics

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de Grooth leads Netherlands to famous win

Netherlands 163 for 6 (de Grooth 49, Borren 30, Anderson 3-23) beat England 162 for 5 (Wright 71, Bopara 46) by four wickets

How they were out

	Jeroen Smits leaps for joy as Netherlands celebrate their dramatic last-ball win ©

Cricket's rich history of thrilling upsets was given another chapter as Netherlands sensationally beat England by four wickets in the opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 at Lord's. Needing seven off the last over Ryan ten Doeschate and Edgar Schiferli ran for their lives and with two needed off the last delivery Stuart Broad missed a run-out from his follow through and the resulting overthrow set off wild scenes of celebration.

Tom de Grooth played the innings of his life to hit 49 off 30 balls and Netherlands paced their pursuit of 163 so expertly that they were always ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis when steady rain began to fall to add to the drama. But the game deserved to be played to a finish and crucially Netherlands had the experience of ten Doeschate, who plays professionally for Essex, up their sleeve as he didn't come in until No. 6.

Each time England nipped out a wicket the next Netherlands batsman held their nerve until the final-over equation with seven needed. England missed three chances off the first three balls as the fielding crumbled under pressure in the closing stages, with two run out opportunities and a dropped catch as ten Doeschate cracked a chance back to Broad.