ICC backs new testing methods
Dubai: Seeking to address doubts raised by the University of Western Australia (UWA), the ICC on Saturday defended its recent drive against chucking and its processes of identifying, testing bowlers with suspect actions. UWA was formerly the sole biomechanical testing centre for bowling actions and it has raised doubts over the reliability of the tests that have led to several players being banned from bowling in international cricket. The apex cricket body also rejected “any suggestion that bowlers are being targeted depending on which region they come from” and said that the “concerns of umpires relate solely to the bowling action of the player”. Following recommendations made by its Cricket Committee in June, the ICC encouraged umpires to report suspect actions with greater confidence. After that five bowlers — Kane Williamson, Sachithra Senanayake, Saeed Ajmal, Prosper Utseya and Sohag Gazi — have been reported, tested and subsequently banned from bowling in international cricket. The ICC backed the accuracy and consistency of the procedures used during the testing of these bowlers.
Pakistan will struggle in WC: Sohail
Melbourne: Former captain Aamir Sohail on Saturday predicted that Pakistan will have tough times in the cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year as the team does not have quality back-up players. “Pakistan team is not playing well. We don’t have back up players and that’s why you see those players making comebacks often and that too without much effort,” Sohail said at an event here.
Pakistan A beats Australia
SHARJAH: Australia test captain Michael Clarke flopped for the second successive time as Pakistan A romped to a 153-run victory on the last day of its four-day warm-up match against Pakistan A on Saturday. Clarke, who scored 10 in the first innings, could make only 5 runs in the second innings before he was dismissed by fast bowler Rahat Ali with Australia dismissed for 185. The warm-up game was the only opportunity for Clarke to prepare for the two-test series, starting Wednesday, after he missed the one-day series due to a hamstring injury sustained against Zimbabwe in August. Needing 339 runs for victory in a minimum 90 overs on the last day, Australia’s top order crumbled to 49-3 before opening batsman Phillip Hughes (65) and Mitchell Marsh (35) added 68. Opening batsman Chris Rodgers was run out in the first over, Clarke departed in the third while Glenn Maxwell (18) hit three boundaries before Mohammad Talha (3-32) found the outside edge inside the first hour. Australia’s middle-order collapsed against left-arm spinner Raza Hasan (3-60), who struck off successive deliveries by getting edges off Marsh and James Faulkner to the slips. Hasan brightened his chances of making his test debut in the absence of the suspended Saeed Ajmal when he had Peter Siddle (41) caught behind. Brief Scores — Pakistan A: 305/8 & 306/3 beat Australia: 273/8 & 185 (Phillip Hughes 65, Peter Siddle 41; Mohammad Talha 3-32, Raza Hasan 3-60) by 153 runs.
Pakistan recalls Umar for 1st test
ISlAMABAD: Pakistan has recalled opening batsmen Taufeeq Umar and Mohammad Hafeez while naming three uncapped players on Saturday for the 15-man squad for the first test against Australia. The 33-year-old Umar has played 43 tests but the left-hander last competed for his country against Sri lanka in 2012. Hafeez is also making a comeback after being ignored for the August series against Sri lanka which Pakistan lost 2-0. Rookie middle-order batsman Haris Sohail has been rewarded for his century in Pakistan A’s 153-run victory against Australia in the warm-up match which ended Saturday while the other two uncapped players are fast bowler Imran Khan and legspinner Yasir Shah. The first of two tests begins Wednesday in Dubai.