Sports

Pakistan took full advantage of another brittle England batting performance to crush the world’s top-ranked Test team by 10 wickets and win the first Test inside three days in Dubai on Thursday. More >

The drought of international sports will be broken on Wednesday when Pakistan take on China in the opening match of four-match hockey test series which explode into action at Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Wednesday at 2.00 p.m.

Though several individual international sportsmen visited Pakistan in the past few years but China is the first international side visiting Pakistan after 2004 Junior Asia Cup.

Pakistan’s bowlers held their nerves to down Sri Lanka by 21 runs in a tense one-day international in Dubai on Friday.

Umar Gul (3-48) bowled well in the final overs to make sure good work by spinners Saeed Ajmal (3-42) and Shahid Afridi (2-42) did not go to waste.

Pakistan dismissed Sri Lanka for 236 in the penultimate over, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan top scored with 64 but it was Angelo Mathews (32 from 40 balls) who kept Sri Lanka in the hunt before Gul took the last two wickets in a thrilling finish.

Sri Lanka were in a tight corner at 6-186 in the 41st over before Mathews and Jeevan Mendis (19) added 32 for the seventh wicket in quick time to make Pakistan sweat.

The series continues in Sharjah (November 20) and Abu Dhabi (November 23).

Both teams also play a Twenty20 international in Abu Dhabi on November 25.

Sri Lanka were set on course for a win by Dilshan, who added 106 runs for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara (45), after they lost opener Upul Tharanga (four) in Gul’s first over.

Sangakkara, who survived a run out attempt with the total at 1-89, finally failed to beat a direct throw from Afridi after he set off for a quick single.

The three Pakistan cricketers convicted of fixing parts of a test match will find out tonight whether they will spend time in jail for their role in the sports’ most serious corruption scandal in more than a decade. More >

Misbah-ul-Haq dug deep and dragged Pakistan to a series-clinching, three-wicket victory over West Indies in the third One-day International of the five-match series here on Thursday.

Misbah led the way with four fours and one six in an unbeaten 62 off 109 balls, Hammad Azam supported with 36, and Umar Akmal made 30, as the Pakistanis, chasing 172 for victory, reached their target with 29 balls remaining at the Kensington Oval.

Earlier, Saeed Ajmal and Wahab took three wickets each to enhance Pakistan’s chance of victory, as it dismissed West Indies for 171 in 43.4 overs.

On the occasion of the third death anniversary of former Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has paid rich tribute to the man “who did so much for Pakistan cricket”.

“Woolmer’s progressive coaching methods made a huge impact on the game of cricket. He was a distinguished cricketer and coach whose contributions to the game and especially Pakistan cricket will never be forgotten,” a PCB statement said on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s Tennis Federation has given up hope of hosting its Davis Cup tie against New Zealand in July after Friday’s suicide bomb attacks in Lahore.

Pakistan on Thursday sacked its manager, coach and selectors, while the entire squad offered to retire, after the four-time champions finished last at the men’s field hockey World Cup.

Pakistan, who won the World Cup in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994, had finished 11th in the 1986 edition in London. They were sixth in the last tournament in Germany in 2006.

Pakistan has objected to New Zealand’s request that their Davis Cup tennis tie be moved to a neutral venue due to security concerns.

Pakistan is scheduled to meet New Zealand in an Asia-Oceania Group II semifinal from July 9-11, but New Zealand has asked the International Tennis Federation to move the tie to either New Zealand or a neutral venue.