Richards concerned by Ajmal's doosra

	Saeed Ajmal was named Man of the Series for his 17 wickets in two Tests © PA Photos

Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan offspinner, has had his bowling action called into question by Viv Richards. Ajmal was the Man of the Series for his 17 wickets in two Tests against West Indies, but concerns have been raised over the legality of his action.

"Let me put it as mildly and as diplomatically as it can be put," Richards told ESPNcricinfo. "When you look at bowling actions for offspinners in the world at present, the [15 degree] rule made by the ICC has bred what we've seen this series. I wouldn't be blatant as some others, but the rules have helped the freaky stuff we have at present. It accommodates doosras and things we see like that."

The decision to allow a bend in the arm up to 15 degrees was introduced after biomechanical experts found the majority of bowlers had a minor flex in their actions. It is felt, however, that some offspinners struggle to deliver the doosra within those limits. Richards is the latest to voice concern over Ajmal's action, with former fast-bowler Michael Holding and veteran West Indian journalist Tony Cozier having spoken out on the doosra during the course of the series.

Though West Indies may feel uneasy about Ajmal, they also batted woefully against Pakistan's other spinners. During the 196-run defeat at St Kitts, 15 of the 20 wickets fell to spin, with Ajmal taking three in each innings. The batsmen were not much better in the first Test in Guyana, which West Indies won, losing all but three wickets to Pakistan's trio of spinners.

"The problem is that whenever they [West Indies] are confronted by top-class spinners they freeze," Richards said. "It's creating a paranoia and someone needs to ask the batsmen what's needed. I think they need to prepare for the bowlers they are going to face better and watch them more regularly. [At the moment] they just go out and rely on guesswork."

Despite the lost opportunity to win the series, Richards backed the management of the captain Darren Sammy and coach Ottis Gibson. Both had been under intense scrutiny after a poor World Cup and the shambles over Chris Gayle's exclusion and his decision to play in the IPL.

Sammy answered many of his critics with a match haul of seven wickets to deliver victory in Guyana, and Richards felt that performance was crucial to his survival as captain. "What's been on peoples' minds is his contribution to the team as a player," Richards said. "The match in Guyana helped to eradicate some of that stuff. When he was first touted as captain I backed him because I thought he would bring a bit more thought to the role.

"He said the right things about moving the team forward and I backed him to bring camaraderie and togetherness as a leader. Recently his lack of form was concerning people but he silenced that."

His support of Gibson was more reserved but he was happy with the appointment of former opener Desmond Haynes as batting consultant for the series. "I don't doubt [Gibson's] ability as a coach but Ottis needed some help when he started. I felt he needed assistance, as they have done with Desmond Haynes leading on the batting side of things. Ottis can add something to the bowlers, who are in need of help."

Viv Richards was speaking to Cric News to promote Fire in Babylon which was released in UK cinemas last Friday but will be out on DVD on June 6.

Taufeeq puts sloppy West Indies to sword

Pakistan 272 and 202 for 3 (Umar 97*, Sammy 1-29) lead West Indies 223 (Samuels 57, Hafeez 3-23, Ajmal 3-56) by 251 runs

	Taufeeq Umar played some accomplished straight drives on the way to his unbeaten 97 © Associated Press

Ably assisted by the West Indies, Taufeeq Umar worked Pakistan into a formidable position on the third day of the second Test at Basseterre. Taufeeq's unbeaten 97 helped the tourists close on 203 for 3, 251 runs ahead already and well-placed for a series-levelling win.

Having fought back through their tail in the morning, West Indies missed numerous chances - dropping Umar twice by the time he was 13 and once on 94 - in a miserable display in the field. They also took a wicket off a no-ball in the very first over of the innings. The early chances were crucial because until this morning, Taufeeq's batting all series had a constipated feel to it, itching to break free mentally, yet physically unable. When he edged Kemar Roach in the third over only for Darren Bravo to shell a regulation chance at first slip, something in him twitched: he'd stared death in the face and not blinked. A little freedom crept in, disbelievingly at first as he drove Roach next ball down the ground.

In Roach's next over, he cut and drove him again but immediately after, he looked death in the face a second time, Darren Sammy dropping him at second slip. Unburdened and believing now, Umar tore into the most forceful batting from either side all series. Three boundaries came from Roach's next over, two drives before he fairly ripped into a cut. Sammy arrived only to be driven through extra cover. Every shot for a while was firmly struck, heavy with intent before a first opening fifty stand was brought up as lunch approached; unsurprisingly it was another straight drive that brought it.

Hafeez, the fortunate recipient of the Roach no-ball, was a keen partner, though after lunch the tempo dropped drastically. Taufeeq decided now was the time to cash in. For the rest of the day he was unrecognizable from the morning stud, a dour old man of an innings, of nudges, glides, bunts and sturdy defence.

He brought up fifty quietly a little before the day's halfway mark and hit not a single boundary after lunch until half an hour before the close. Typically, it was a straight drive. Thereafter he roused in a bid to reach a first hundred in nearly eight years before the close, driving Rampaul again before being dropped - athletically - by Lendl Simmons at mid-off. A few balls later he narrowly avoided being run out.

But across the afternoon there was relief from Azhar Ali in a pleasant and surprisingly fluent innings. He gave one chance at slip, but looked in little trouble, driving and cutting well in a 76-run stand. More significantly, he rotated strike, which he doesn't often do. Particularly useful in this endeavour was the paddle sweep he employed regularly against the spinners. Soon after tea he reached an inevitable eighth Test fifty but just when a first, breakthrough hundred looked equally inevitable, he fell, cutting to slip.

Both the wicket-taker Devendra Bishoo and the West Indies in general deserved that, for they sharpened up after lunch. Sammy bowled those inswingers Pakistan are unable to comprehend - they come in - to which Hafeez fell; another good start wasted. Bishoo controlled the other end in a good, long spell through an equally long afternoon, unlucky not to have Umar stumped and Ali caught earlier. The very real threat of a big-turning, big-leaping jaffa remained throughout.

Roach of the wretched luck also returned for an energetic spell after tea in which Asad Shafiq was sent back. Ultimately, West Indies did well to keep Pakistan down to just 147 runs after lunch, not only keeping the potential target down, but taking time out.

Still it didn't mask the dominance of Pakistan's position or how the sterling morning work of Rampaul and Roach was wasted. Late yesterday, the pair had landed some heavy blows; not so this morning. From the offset they looked secure and the strokes were accomplished, none of the impatience of the top-order of both sides.

The first boundary came as Roach guided Abdur Rehman through slips and in the next over, he cut Tanvir Ahmed for a far more authoritative boundary. An over later, as Rampaul cut Hafeez for two, the fifty partnership came up.

Eventually it was left to Hafeez - who has at times looked Pakistan's most threatening bowler - to break through, deceiving Roach in flight. Soon Bishoo gave Umar at slip his fourth catch of the innings. How West Indies must have wished later he was standing in their cordon to himself.

Pakistan edge ahead with regular wickets

West Indies 184 for 8 (Samuels 57, Hafeez 2-16, Rehman 2-46) trail Pakistan 272 (Azhar 67, Ahmed 57, Akmal 56, Rampaul 3-68) by 88 runs

	Tanvir Ahmed kept West Indies in the field far longer than they would have liked © Associated Press

Tanvir Ahmed and Pakistan's phalanx of spinners put the tourists in control of the second Test against West Indies on the second day in Basseterre. With Saeed Ajmal, Ahmed first put together a rousing, defiant last-wicket stand of 78 to not only prevent Pakistan's first innings from going to total waste, but actually make it a little imposing.

Ajmal, Abdur Rehman and Mohammad Hafeez then shared six wickets between them as West Indies slumped to 184 for eight on a still decent surface for batting; proof of that was in an elegant fifty from Marlon Samuels. The two sides are among the weakest batting-wise in cricket which is no bad thing for it makes for compelling cricket.

More than anything, Pakistan's spinners were persistent, working their way patiently through the bulk of the batting. Occasionally a partnership lingered or resistance emerged, an obstacle appeared; each time they found a way through.

Ahmed had struck first in a spell which made up in control what it lacked in pace. Off the second ball of the innings, Lendl Simmons was sucked into a needless drive. Taufeeq Umar, once among the best slippers in Pakistan, took the first of three good catches. Another loose drive brought the wicket of debutante Kraigg Brathwaite, though the beneficiary Wahab Riaz was poor. He had nearly given away the initiative when Ramnaresh Sarwan took him for three boundaries in an over, but the arrival of spin halted progress.

Rehman slotted in immediately, stopping runs, but it was Ajmal who caused strife. It wasn't so much the succession of off-breaks, but what each subsequent one hid: the threat of the doosra. Pleasingly, not many came and it was to an off-break that Sarwan fell, another needless rush out of the crease.

Mohammad Hafeez, more bowler than batsman this series, then chipped in. Darren Bravo, initially lost among Brathwaite's debut and Sarwan's blitz, fought neatly with Samuels till he edged Hafeez on the stroke of tea. Soon after the break, Hafeez struck again to remove Brendan Nash.

Hafeez used, it was Rehman's turn. Carlton Baugh wasn't much of an issue, but the key breakthrough was the dismissal of Darren Sammy. Another promising partnership was building when Sammy tried to repeat a straight six from the previous Rehman over. He struck it well, only to see Umar Akmal running along the boundary to take an outstanding catch inches from the rope.

The one obstacle that proved more durable than others was Samuels. Only in the XI because of Shivnarine Chanderpaul's late withdrawal, Samuels at first looked precisely like a man playing his first Test in over three years. But a loose, brief second spell from Riaz in the run-up to tea allowed him to unfurl a couple of sweet square drives and settle down.

After tea he looked better, secure in defence, surer in attack. He didn't always read Ajmal, choosing to play him off the surface but it hardly mattered when he was driving him elegantly over extra cover for four and six. Rehman had already been dispatched over long-on.

In between those strokes, he was patient and measured. But he took on Ajmal once too often. Having already hit him straight, there was little need for another and next ball, Taufeeq took his third, excellent catch of the innings, diving forward at long-off.

That was fitting reward for a day that had been Pakistan's, the first hour apart. In that, they lost three swift wickets and looked set to be rolled over for under 200. Only when Ahmed and Ajmal came together was the innings given unexpected solidity.

Ahmed was his usual self, mixing muscular boundaries with those unique whips, Caribbean style. One such, over midwicket off Devendra Bishoo, brought up the fifty partnership half an hour before lunch. In the next over came two more, a punch through covers and a dainty clip wide of mid-on. And as lunch neared, a streaky edge brought an accomplished maiden fifty. He celebrated immediately, cutting for another boundary.

Ajmal gave obdurate support, mixing fortune with pluck. He regularly and comically pulled, once going fine for four and once top-edging for six over slips. Other than that he stuck around, adding the odd run, frustrating the bowling.

West Indies slumped swiftly, alarmingly. The second new ball was wasted, Kemar Roach either too full or short and Ravi Rampaul lacking the energy of earlier bursts. Sammy toiled, but Bishoo floundered as defensive fields were employed. Bishoo finally ended the stand, ten minutes before lunch trapping Ahmed in front but the tide had turned.

Samuels 'not totally satisfied' with Test return

	Marlon Samuels struck seven fours and two sixes in his first Test innings since 2008 © Associated Press

Marlon Samuels made a promising return to Test cricket with a half-century in his first innings for three years, but he was not satisfied after West Indies struggled against Pakistan's attack. After Pakistan's tail wagged to reach 272, West Indies battled to 184 for 8 at the close of the second day, with Samuels having fallen for 57 late in the afternoon.

Still, there were some good signs for Samuels, who has completed a two-year ban for his alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers. He struck seven fours and two sixes and top scored in an innings where no other player had so far reached 25.

"This was my first innings on my return to Test cricket and I conditioned my mind to play a long innings for the team," Samuels said. "It was a good feeling to go out there and play the way I did for the team but I'm not totally satisfied. I have been getting big runs since I came back into first-class cricket for Jamaica and I was looking to carry on and go all the way today.

"I was hitting the ball very well. I came into this match with a lot of runs behind me and my confidence is high. Right now in my life, my form is a state of mind. I don't think my form will leave me at this moment and I am just stroking the ball the way I like and getting into the groove.

"I reached 50 and my goal was to go on and get a hundred. I was thinking once I got to three figures the team would be a good position and we would get the lead. I wanted to be there to get the target for the team."

Samuels departed while trying to get some quick late runs, caught at long-off trying to clear the boundary off the spin of Saeed Ajmal. That left the tailenders Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul with plenty of work to do, with only the No. 11 Devendra Bishoo still to come, and Samuels said he had faith the lower-order men could do the job.

"I was talking to Roach when we were together, and I told him to believe," he said. "He is a guy who can bat and he is showing that. I believe in the guys to do the job for the team and take us close to the runs we need to get for the lead. We're still in the game. There is a lot of cricket left to be played."

West Indies need a similar tail-end effort to that provided by Pakistan after Tanvir Ahmed and Saeed Ajmal put on 78 for the last wicket. Tanvir made his maiden Test half-century and was the last man out for 57, and he said the pair knew it was an important partnership.

"I think Saeed and I did very well to bat the way we did, and give our side such a big partnership because the pitch is not playing easy," Tanvir said. "We needed those runs for the team, and it helped us to post a respectable total. I told Saeed Ajmal to try and play as straight as possible because they were bowling well, and he followed my advice, and I did the same, and it worked."

Bad light halts Pakistan recovery

Half-centuries from Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal helped Pakistan recover from a shaky start in the second Test against West Indies on Friday before poor weather prompted an early close.

Half-centuries from Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal helped Pakistan recover from a shaky start in the second Test against West Indies on Friday before poor weather prompted an early close. © AFP

Azhar hit the top score of 67 and Akmal made 56, as the Pakistanis, electing to bat, reached 180 for six in their first innings before rain then bad light stopped play 16.4 overs early on the opening day at Warner Park. Azhar added 93 for the fifth wicket with Akmal, following a stand of exactly 50 with Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq that resurrected the visitors from 24 for three in the first hour.
Azhar and Akmal, however, both succeeded in gifting their wickets when it appeared they were well set.
Akmal was caught at third man off West Indies captain Darren Sammy, chasing a wide delivery, and Azhar was run out, when Mohammad Salman failed to respond to his call for a single to extra cover off Sammy, and they both ended up at the same end.
Ravi Rampaul was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with three for 40 from 18.2 overs.
Gaining early assistance from the hard, true Warner Park pitch, Pakistan were set back early, when Taufeeq Umar was caught behind for 11, too late in lifting his gloves out of the way of a rising delivery in Rampaul's fourth over.
The Pakistanis were under further pressure when Mohammad Hafeez edged a forward defensive shot, and was caught at third slip for eight in the West Indies fast-medium bowler's fifth over.
Asad Shafiq then cut a short, wide delivery, and was caught at gully for a duck in Rampaul's seventh over to leave Pakistan wobbling.
After lunch, runs started to flow for Pakistan, but the dismissal of Misbah set them back, as they reached 106 for four before rain forced an early tea.
Misbah had got things going after lunch when he carved Kemar Roach to the third man boundary for his second four, and Azhar drove leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo fluently through extra cover for his second four in the next over.
In the following over, Misbah took a pair of boundaries off Roach, steering a delivery to third man, and cutting a short, wide delivery through backward point.
But Misbah was caught low down at mid-on for 25 off Bishoo, essaying an ill-advised on-drive, leaving Pakistan 74 for four.
Akmal came to the crease, and immediately got into the thick of things with a flick through backward square leg for his first boundary, then drove Rampaul sweetly through cover off the back-foot for his second four.
He and Azhar however, were interrupted, when rain stopped play about 40 minutes before the scheduled tea break, and continued to wreak havoc after the break.
The Pakistanis made one change to their team replacing Umar Gul with left-arm fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed.
West Indies suffered a setback with veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul sidelined with a sore shoulder to be replaced by Marlon Samuels as one of two changes.
The other saw Kraigg Brathwaite making his debut at the expense of left-hander Devon Smith, and is the fifth youngest West Indies Test player ever.
Pakistan trail 1-0 in the two-Test series, following a 40-run defeat inside four days in the first Test, which ended last Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium, crushing the visitors' dreams of a maiden Test series victory in the Caribbean.

Pakistan spinners strike but Windies on top

Geoargetown, Guyana: Pakistan's spinners fought to regain control of the first Test on Friday after their batting collapsed dramatically against the West Indies who finished the second day with a 100-run lead.

Devendra Bishoo made an impressive start to his Test career finishing with 4 for 68 in the first innings. © AFP

Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal both struck early blows as West Indies reached 34 for two in their second innings when bad light stopped played 13 balls early at the Guyana National Stadium. Pakistan had been dismissed for 160 in reply to West Indies first innings total of 226, about 40 minutes before the scheduled close with leg spinner Devendra Bishoo finishing with four for 68 from 25 overs on his Test debut.
Seamer Ravi Rampaul took three for 27 from 17 overs for his best figures in a Test.
"I felt the pressure to perform after seeing Saeed and the other Pakistan spinners bowling so well and getting so much help from the pitch," said Bishoo.
"I felt it was my duty to go and get wickets for the team. I tried to vary my pace a lot because the pitch was playing a bit slow and tried to bowl the balls in the right areas."
Abdur Rehman topped the scoring for the visitors with 40 not out while Azhar Ali made 34 and Umar Akmal hit 33.
Hafeez then gave Pakistan a bright start when the West Indies batted again, grabbing the scalp of Devon Smith lbw for one playing down the wrong line.
It was the sixth straight innings the part-time Pakistani off-spinner had dismissed the left-handed West Indies opener in the last month, stretching back to the quarter-finals of the recent World Cup.
Ajmal, who took five wickets in the West Indies first innings, also trapped Darren Bravo lbw for eight, when the left-hander played back and across to a well-pitched delivery.
Pakistan's fortunes in the match shifted spectacularly after they continued from their lunchtime total of 45 for one.
Before lunch, the Pakistanis looked to have firm control, after Hafeez, Pakistan's most prolific batsman in the one-day series, was bowled for four, dragging a delivery from Rampaul into his stumps in the second over of their innings.
Azhar and Taufeeq made steady progress either side of the interval in between a couple alarming moments.
Taufeeq was fortunate on one when he edged a rising ball from Rampaul between second slip and gully for his first boundary.
His heart rate was raised again when he was on five, West Indies appealing unsuccessfully for a caught behind off the same bowler.
After lunch, the visitors lost five wickets for 23 runs in the space of 78 deliveries, and were wobbling on 80 for six.
Taufeeq was lbw to West Indies captain Darren Sammy for 19 playing forward and across a delivery angled in to the left-hander from around the wicket in the fifth over after lunch.
Three overs later, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was trapped lbw plumb in front for two on the backfoot to a flatter, faster delivery from Bishoo.
Azhar was bowled in the next over, offering no stroke to a delivery moving back to give Sammy his second wicket in 12 overs that cost 16.
Asad Shafiq was lbw for two playing down the wrong line to a leg-break from Bishoo, following a successful West Indies review of New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden's not-out verdict, and Mohammad Salman was lbw for four, suffering a similar fate.
Pakistan reached 113 for six at tea, as Akmal added an even 50 for the seventh wicket either side of the break with Rehman.
Akmal then had a rush of blood, and was caught behind off Bishoo, when he top-edged a pull to trigger a collapse that saw Pakistan lose their last four wickets for 30 runs in the space of 65 balls.
Umar Gul was also caught behind, top-edging a pull at a short delivery from Rampaul, who also trapped Ajmal lbw for one, following a review of New Zealand umpire Tony Hill's not-out verdict.
The visitors' innings came to a close, when Wahab Riaz was caught behind, groping at a delivery outside the off-stump to give Kemar Roach his only wicket.

Pakistan looking to create history

Misbah-ul-Haq will have to shoulder the responsibility of the batting

Pakistan are looking to become the latest international side to create history on Caribbean soil, when they begin their search for a maiden Test series victory against West Indies, starting on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium.

On six previous visits, starting back in 1958, the Pakistanis have come awfully close, but they have failed each time.

The visitors share the unenviable record of being one of the two Test-playing nations not to hold a Test series victory in the Caribbean along with Sri Lanka.

Pakistan have won just four of the 21 Tests they have played in the Caribbean, but there is huge optimism that Misbah-ul-Haq's side, brimming with confidence having won the preceding One-day International series 3-2, can put this little matter to rest.

Pakistan has far fewer concerns about their line-up than their opponents.

Though they have lost former captain Younus Khan to a family bereavement, there are strong signs that the batting still has backbone with the likes of Misbah, Mohammad Hafeez, and Umar Akmal.

The visitors' bowling has been boosted with the arrival of Umar Gul, whose fast bowling will give the attack a greater edge, but the spin bowling of Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, as well as Hafeez could prove decisive against typically leaden-footed West Indies batsmen.

All of this means that West Indies will have their hands full trying to protect their cherished record at home against the visitors.

The West Indies have not won a Test series, let alone a Test, in just over two years, and it would require an amazing performance, or an incredible change of fortune for them to turn the tide against Pakistan.

The hosts trimmed their squad to 13 following a warm-up match over the weekend, and predictably, fast bowler Fidel Edwards has been recalled following a two-year absence, and veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul has also been included.

Edwards was sidelined by a career-threatening back injury that required surgery, and returned to serious competitive action this year, taking 22 wickets for his native Barbados in the WICB Regional first-class championship.

He has not played a Test since the ill-starred tour of England two years ago, and is playing his first international match since the World Twenty20 Championship later that same year.

Squads:

West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (captain), Brendan Nash (vice captain), Devendra Bishoo, Carlton Baugh Jr, Darren Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith.

Pakistan: (from): Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Abdur Rehman, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Hammad Azam , Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Salman, Saeed Ajmal, Tanvir Ahmed, Taufiq Umar, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Younis Khan.

Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Tony Hill (NZL), TV Umpire: Asoka De Silva (Sri), Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

I'm mentally and physically ready: Nash

Brendan Nash is ready for the Test action

West Indies vice-captain Brendan Nash is quietly confident of personal and team success as the Windies continue to prepare for the Test Series against Pakistan. Speaking on Tuesday, the left-hander said the build-up was "going really well" ahead of the start of the first Test at the Guyana National Stadium.

"I'm feeling mentally and physically ready for the series. I am hitting the ball really well and I'm where I want to be in the lead-up to the Test series. I played in the WICB Regional 4 Day Tournament and I managed to get some good runs. I felt I batted really well. I'm happy to be part of the team unit for the Test series here against Pakistan," Nash said.

"I'm looking to get onto the field. I love Test cricket and I really enjoy playing for the West Indies so I'm happy to be back among the boys again. We have a few new players who I have not had the joy of playing a Test match with, so that's exciting for me. We have good camaraderie in the team and we are all focused on the two Test matches upcoming."

The 33-year-old was speaking after a full three-hour training session. The Windies will have another session on Wednesday morning.

Nash last played for the West Indies in the three-Test series in Sri Lanka in December, where he made two half-centuries in three innings. Overall he has played 18 Tests, hit 1,049 runs at 38.85 per innings with two centuries.

"I'm feeling really good the way I'm batting. The last time I batted in a first-class match I got over 200 [207 for Jamaica against Trinidad and Tobago]. Admittedly, that was a little while ago, but I have carried that form with me. Pakistan have a good team, they have some good bowlers, but I believe I am experienced enough and capable enough to handle myself. We have a good team and things are taking shape, so we believe we will do very well against the Pakistanis," Nash added.

"We saw some great cricket in the warm-up match and we had a good training session today. We will have another session as we prepare for the match and everyone is looking forward to Thursday. As the vice-captain I have added responsibility and I'm always happy to help the others in the team in any way I can. That has been my style from the first day I joined the team.

West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Brendan Nash (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Carlton Baugh (wicketkeeper), Darren Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith

Edwards returns, Chanderpaul, Sarwan named for first Test

Fidel Edwards, Shiv Chanderpaul will bring rich experience to the squad

The WICB Selection Committee has named the following 13 players in the West Indies squad for the first Test:

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite who was invited to participate in the two day match will remain in Guyana to work with batting consultant Desmond Haynes during the period of the first Test.

All-rounder Andre Russell, who was also involved in the two day match will return to Jamaica.

Fast bowler Fidel Edwards returns to the West Indies squad for the first time in two years. The vice-captain of the Test squad continues to be Brendan Nash, whereas the veteran pair of Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan will strengthen the middle-order.

Squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Brendan Nash (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Carlton Baugh Jr (wk), Darren Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith

Misbah warms up in style for Test series

Misbah-ul-Haq led from the front

Misbah-ul-Haq warmed-up for the first Test against West Indies with an undefeated hundred for Pakistan in their tour match against Guyana Monday at Bourda Oval in Georgetown, Guyana.

The Pakistan captain was undefeated on 101, when his side declared on 330 for seven in their first innings on the opening day of the two-day match.

Guyana -- with veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the line-up -- reached 25 without loss in reply when bad light stopped play.

Misbah struck seven fours and four sixes from 132 balls in just over three hours at the crease, reaching his milestone with a six to prompt the Pakistan declaration.

The 36-year-old Misbah led a solid batting effort from the visitors, which also featured 57 from Azhar Ali, 52 from Mohammad Hafeez, the Man-of-the-Series in the preceding five One-day Internationals, and 40 not out from Umar Gul.

Azhar and Hafeez shared an opening stand of 92 before the Pakistanis wobbled to 136 for three.

Misbah added 69 for the fourth wicket with Umar Akmal, but the visitors then slumped to 244 for seven.

It took an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 86 between Misbah and Gul to get Pakistan back on the right track.

Leg-spinner Amir Khan, a member of the West Indies Under-19 side that recently won a bilateral series with Australia Under-19s in Dubai, was the pick of the Guyana bowlers with three for 88 from 26 overs.

The first Test between West Indies and Pakistan opens on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium.

Pakistan are seeking their first Test series victory on Caribbean soil.

Rashid Latif backs selection of wicket- keeper Salman for Windies Test Series

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has backed the selection of Mohammad Salman as a wicket- keeper for the West Indies Test series.

He said those dissatisfied over the selection, fail to realize the importance of the wicket- keeper for the team.

"It is the most important slot, wicketkeeper is the man who controls the whole game and you need an experienced guy to handle the pressure and act accordingly. The criticism on his (Salman's) selection is simply baseless," he said.

He also slammed the selection committee for being voiceless in the selection procedure, saying it was nothing more than a bunch of "yes men".

"The role of the selection committee is disappointing, they have been making blunders. Even before the West Indies trip the selection for the World Cup was questionable," The Dawn quoted him as saying.

He also revealed that he was available for the post of the chief selector, if given the opportunity.

Saeed Ajmal vaults into third position

Saeed Ajmal is the lone Pakistan bowler in top ten

Pakistan's off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has broken into the top three of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers for the first time in his career. The latest player rankings were released on Friday after the conclusion of West Indies and Pakistan ODI series in Guyana.

The 33-year-old from Faisalabad, who took six wickets in the series which Pakistan won by 3-2, has climbed 16 places and now sits in third position, just five points behind Zimbabwe's left-arm spinner Ray Price.

Saeed's rise means the top four spots are now occupied by spinners with New Zealand's Daniel Vettori leading the field and England's Graeme Swann sitting in fourth position.

Saeed's jump also means he has now become Pakistan's highest-ranked bowler with captain Shahid Afridi dropping out of the top 10 after a disappointing series by his high standards. Shahid, who managed just two wickets, has slipped five places to 14th position.

Saeed's fellow off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez has also improved his ranking after claiming six wickets in the series at 23.50. The 30-year-old from Sargodha has moved up seven places and now occupies 27th position.

The West Indies bowlers have also made good progress in the latest rankings with fast bowler Ravi Rampaul and wrist spinner Devendra Bishoo heading in the right direction.

Rampaul, the 26-year-old Trinidadian, claimed eight wickets in three matches and has been rewarded with a jump of 15 places which has put him in 29th position. The 25-year-old Bishoo, who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 11 wickets, has rocketed 114 places and now sits just outside the top 100 in 116th position.

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, West Indies opener Lendl Simmons has rocketed 150 places to 67th position after finishing as the leading run-getter in the series with 279 runs at just under 70.

Hafeez, who was the second most successful batsman in the series with 267 runs, has improved his ranking by 17 places and is now in 49th position. Misbah-u-Haq's series contribution of 184 runs has helped him move up three places to 31st spot while Umar Akmal has achieved a career-best ranking of 23rd after rising four places.

Hafeez's all-round performance in the series has also helped him become the sixth-ranked all-rounder in the world. His 267 runs and six wickets in the series have helped him climb six places in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders.

In the Reliance ICC ODI Championship table, Pakistan had started the series with a difference of 35 ratings points relative to West Indies. This gap had meant Pakistan was expected to win the series convincingly. As such, because the rankings are weighted to reflect this difference, Pakistan's failure to win comfortably has meant it has dropped points.

Despite losing the series 3-2, the West Indies has earned four ratings points which puts it five points clear of ninth-ranked Bangladesh, while Pakistan has dropped three ratings points to open the gap with fifth-placed England by five points.

Pakistan next ODI commitment is a two-match series against Ireland in Belfast on 28 and 30 May, while West Indies will play world champions India next in a five-match series at home in June.

All-rounder Hafeez jumps to 6th in ICC ODI rankings

Pakistan and its bowlers have slipped in the Reliance ICC Rankings for the One Day Internationals despite winning the five-match series by 3-2 but all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has scampered to career-high sixth position.

Mohammad Hafeez. Courtesy: AP PHOTO

In the latest edition of the ICC ODI rankings released Friday, Pakistan’s orthodox off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has dropped from second to third position, while skipper Shahid Khan Afridi has also gone out of the top ten ODI bowlers list at 14^th position.

Pakistan cricket team has 4397 points and have a rating of 100 and still find them at sixth position while West Indies are at eighth position.

The series proved good one for opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez who has jumped to his career-high sixth position in the all-rounders list with 323 rating points. Skipper Shahid Afridi is still the third best all rounder in the ICC ODIs Rankings.

Mohammad Hafeez. Courtesy: GETTY IMAGES

West Indian fast bowler Ravi Rampaul has also achieved his career-high 29^th position in the rankings while captain Darrey Sammy and Dwayne Bravo are at 35^th and 39^th position respectively.

Pakistani batsman Umar Akmal is at 23^rd position, Misbah-ul-Haq at 31^st, while West Indian young sensation Lendl Simmons has jumped to 67^th position after a brilliant show in the series.

It’s important to mention here that Pakistani skipper Shahid Khan Afridi had recently criticised the ICC Rankings as despite of winning an overseas series Pakistan have got their points cut in the list.

A great way to end the series - Sammy

Darren Sammy, the West Indies captain, is confident his team can take some positive momentum into next week's first Test after they ended the one-day series against Pakistan with a pair of victories. Pakistan took the series 3-2, but West Indies finished with a one-run win in Barbados, followed by a comprehensive 10-wicket success in Guyana on Thursday.

Chasing 140, West Indies reached the target without breaking a sweat, as the openers Lendl Simmons (77 not out) and Kirk Edwards (40 not out) cruised home in the 24th over. Mohammad Hafeez was the Player of the Series but Simmons was the highest run scorer over the five games, with 279 runs at 69.75, including four half-centuries.

"Simmons has been great all throughout and again today he demonstrated his ability with the bat," Sammy said after the win. "His shot-selection was superb, and he formed a very good partnership with Kirk, who also played well. It is good to see we are getting performances like these. The players are growing and the self-belief is there.

"We now look ahead to the Test matches with confidence. Some new players will be coming in to join the setup and we know we will maintain the same momentum we had during the ODIs."

The victory was set up by a fine bowling effort led by Ravi Rampaul, who took 4 for 45, while Sammy himself picked up 3 for 30. It is the first time in Sammy's short captaincy career that West Indies have strung together two consecutive wins in any format, excluding matches against the Associates.

"[It was a] great way to end the series, we asked for a win and we got one here today," Sammy said. "The crowd was superb and they gave us the positive vibe from the start. I want to thank the fans for coming out and showing us so much love. We fed off that and went out and delivered in style. The bowlers did another fantastic job for us. They pegged back the Pakistanis and our fielding was also tops."

The Test series begins in Guyana next Thursday, before the second and final Test starts in St Kitts the following week. 

 

Rampaul sets up big Pakistan defeat in dead rubber

Pakistan's batting was undermined by West Indies' three frontline seamers and their bowling upstaged by another blistering innings from Lendl Simmons in a 10-wicket loss in the fifth one-day international on Thursday.

A fluent 55 off 83 balls from Mohammad Hafeez failed to inspire the Pakistanis, and their batting crumbled for the first time in the series as they were all out for 139 in 41.2 overs after they chose to bat on an unpredictable Guyana National Stadium pitch.

The visitors' bowlers found it difficult to defend such a modest target as Simmons hit a career-best, unbeaten 77 from 73 deliveries, and fellow opener Kirk Edwards supported with 40 from 71 ball to guide the hosts to victory with 159 balls remaining. Pakistan however, won the five-match series 3-2, with comfortable victories in the first three matches, securing the result.

"It is a disappointing end to the series for us because it was not a pitch on which we should have been dismissed for 139," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

"Our batting has been struggling for a long time, and I think we need someone to help us with situations like this."

"We all wanted to bat on this pitch and that is why the management and I decided to bat, but we did not play well. The thing that I always keep stressing - building partnerships - we did not build any partnerships and this is what was missing."

Afridi added: "The series victory is important for us. We are not playing any cricket at home, so winning this series is very important and will keep the morale high, and I think for the future it will be good for us."

Hafeez and Umar Akmal were the only Pakistani batsman to pass 20 as Ravi Rampaul up-ended the visitors batting with four for 45 from his allotted 10 overs.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy grabbed three for 30 from 10 overs, and Dwayne Bravo supported with two for 16.

"It is a good feeling to have won again, but it's been well-played in the last two games for the boys," said Sammy.

"We played as a team, and got the result that we wanted. This was the type of performance for which we have been searching for a very long time. It showed the good work that we have been doing at practices has finally transferred to the game, and it was good to see everybody taking part, and it was a total team effort."

He added: "The way we have chased down totals in the last two games, I guess it may be fair to say that our guys are more comfortable doing this. But throughout the series, we created several opportunities to win it, but we did not put enough runs on the board."

Hafeez dropped Simmons on 31 at slip off Saeed Ajmal before the West Indies opener knocked a short delivery from Afridi to long-on to bring up his 50 from the same number of balls in the 16th over.

He then carried West Indies over the threshold when he punched a delivery from Ahmed Shehzad to point, and stole a second run from an overthrow.

The two sides now contest two Tests, starting next Thursday at this same ground, and from May 20 to 24 at Warner Park in St. Kitts.

Pakistan contest a two-day, practice match on Sunday and Monday at Bourda Oval - the previous international venue here.

Simmons ensures West Indies ends on a high

Lendl Simmons and Kirk Edwards during their match-winning stand

Pakistan's batting was undermined by West Indies' three frontline seamers and their bowling upstaged by another blistering innings from Lendl Simmons in a 10-wicket loss in the fifth one-day international.

A fluent 55 off 83 balls from Mohammad Hafeez failed to inspire the Pakistanis, and their batting crumbled for the first time in the series as they were all out for 139 in 41.2 overs after they chose to bat on an unpredictable Guyana National Stadium pitch.

The visitors' bowlers found it difficult to defend such a modest target as Simmons hit a career-best, unbeaten 77 from 73 deliveries, and fellow opener Kirk Edwards supported with 40 from 71 ball to guide the hosts to victory with 159 balls remaining.

Pakistan however, won the five-match series 3-2, with comfortable victories in the first three matches, securing the result.

"It is a disappointing end to the series for us because it was not a pitch on which we should have been dismissed for 139," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

"Our batting has been struggling for a long time, and I think we need someone to help us with situations like this."

"We all wanted to bat on this pitch and that is why the management and I decided to bat, but we did not play well. The thing that I always keep stressing - building partnerships - we did not build any partnerships and this is what was missing."

Afridi added: "The series victory is important for us. We are not playing any cricket at home, so winning this series is very important and will keep the morale high, and I think for the future it will be good for us."

Hafeez and Umar Akmal were the only Pakistani batsman to pass 20 as Ravi Rampaul up-ended the visitors batting with four for 45 from his allotted 10 overs.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy grabbed three for 30 from 10 overs, and Dwayne Bravo supported with two for 16.

"It is a good feeling to have won again, but it's been well-played in the last two games for the boys," said Sammy.

"We played as a team, and got the result that we wanted. This was the type of performance for which we have been searching for a very long time. It showed the good work that we have been doing at practices has finally transferred to the game, and it was good to see everybody taking part, and it was a total team effort."

He added: "The way we have chased down totals in the last two games, I guess it may be fair to say that our guys are more comfortable doing this. But throughout the series, we created several opportunities to win it, but we did not put enough runs on the board."

Hafeez dropped Simmons on 31 at slip off Saeed Ajmal before the West Indies opener knocked a short delivery from Afridi to long-on to bring up his 50 from the same number of balls in the 16th over.

He then carried West Indies over the threshold when he punched a delivery from Ahmed Shehzad to point, and stole a second run from an overthrow.

The two sides now contest two Tests, starting next Thursday at this same ground, and from May 20 to 24 at Warner Park in St. Kitts.

Pakistan contest a two-day practice match on Sunday and Monday at Bourda Oval - the previous international venue here.

Windies take pride in ten-wicket thumping

Dead-rubber syndrome struck with a vengeance in the fifth and final ODI at Providence, as Pakistan succumbed to a crushing ten-wicket victory at the hands of Lendl Simmons and Kirk Edwards, who built on a disciplined bowling effort on a slow and low surface to chase down a moderate target of 140 with more than 26 overs remaining. Simmons was once again the star of the batting display, as he followed up his vital half-century in Barbados with an unbeaten 77 from 73 balls, while Edwards played the supporting role to perfection with 40 not out from 71.

The manner of West Indies' victory was every bit as emphatic as the margin, as they romped past a distracted Pakistan team to record their second crushing victory against Test opposition in the space of two months, having routed Bangladesh with more than 37 overs to spare during the recent World Cup. Soon after that performance, however, West Indies themselves were crushed by 10 wickets by Pakistan in their Dhaka quarter-final, and so, having already lost the series with two games to spare, there was only a limited amount of succour to be had. Still, a win is a win, and for a young and remodelled outfit, it could prove vital for forging confidence in the weeks and months to come.

For Pakistan, only Mohammad Hafeez produced a performance of any note. He continued his impressive run of form with an 83-ball 55, but the rest of the line-up succumbed meekly to a combination of seam and wrist-spin, as they were bundled out for 139 in 41.2 overs. Ravi Rampaul once again returned the outstanding analysis of 4 for 45, but it was the medium-pace of Darren Sammy, with 3 for 30 in ten overs, that carved open the top-order and laid the foundations for the win.

Hafeez, who made an excellent 121 from 138 balls in Pakistan's one-run D/L defeat in Barbados earlier in the week, took advantage of the chance to bat first by easing along to his 12th ODI half-century, and his fourth in the last six weeks. Having launched the innings with a first-ball pull for four off Rampaul, Hafeez added five more boundaries in reaching his half-century from 66 balls, but his was a lone hand as his colleagues came and went.

First to fall was Taufeeq Umar, back in the side after sitting out the fourth ODI. He made a laboured 3 from 12 balls before snicking a length ball from Rampaul through to Carlton Baugh behind the stumps.

Ahmed Shehzad proved to be even less fluent, as he ground along to 9 from 33 balls, including a solitary glanced boundary off the legspinner Anthony Martin, who took the new ball in his second ODI appearance. Sammy, however, double-bluffed him by calling the keeper up to the stumps and immediately sending down a bouncer. Shehzad took a wild swing, but under-edged the shot onto his stumps.

At 48 for 2 it was already proving to be a one-man show, and Pakistan's scorecard got even more lop-sided when Usman Salahuddin was nailed lbw on the sweep by Bishoo for 8, albeit to a shocker of a decision as the ball pitched way outside leg. One over later, Misbah-ul-Haq failed for the second match in succession, as Sammy tailed a wicked inswinger into his back pad, and this time there was little doubt about the lbw.

Umar Akmal, restored to the team after a break in Barbados, reinvigorated the scoring with a towering swipe for six over long-off, but when Hafeez under-edged a cut onto his own stumps to hand Sammy his third wicket, the innings was in freefall at 93 for 5. Umar added one more boundary in a 27-ball 24 before falling in a similar fashion, dragging on to Rampaul as he attempted a glide to third man.

Shahid Afridi has found some tame ways to get out in recent times, but he could do nothing about a brutal lifter that climbed from nowhere and flew through to Baugh, and three balls later Rampaul had his fourth as Wahab Riaz prodded loosely to slip. The wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman provided some resistance with an unbeaten 19 from 30 balls, including a fine cover drive as Rampaul over-pitched, but a brace of Dwayne Bravo lbws wrapped up the innings with more than eight overs to spare.

West Indies' run-chase was over in a flash. They eased along to 34 for 0 in six overs before the mid-match interval, and though each man survived a tough chance behind the wicket - Edwards on 6 and Simmons on 31 - the only real opportunity came when Edwards was sent back for a sharp single, only for an alert Mohammad Salman to whip off the bails having noticed that his bat was over the crease but still in the air. The third umpire decided that there was too much doubt to give the decision, and that was effectively that.