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Not since 1994 have Pakistan led Australia in a Test series. A telling 221-run victory in Dubai means that Misbah-ul-Haq’s wonderfully resilient team are now a chance of breaking an identical 20-year drought between series wins over the same opponent

The Report by Daniel Brettig26-Oct-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details5:04

Coverdale: Pakistan a bigger threat than Australia thought

Zulfiqar Babar picked up 5 for 74•Getty ImagesNot since 1994 have Pakistan led Australia in a Test series. A telling 221-run victory in Dubai means that Misbah-ul-Haq’s wonderfully resilient team are now a chance of breaking an identical 20-year drought between series wins over the same opponent.Pakistan proved far more skilful, resourceful and focused than Australia, who missed Ryan Harris and Shane Watson rather more than Misbah’s men suffered for the absence of Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan. The Australia lower order battled manfully but could not erase the sins of the top six, who apart from David Warner failed utterly in conditions that have become an all too familiar source of trouble.Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah were the fourth-innings architects of Pakistan’s triumph, their expertise and subtlety providing a reminder that most spin bowlers are forged in first-class cricket and are invariably better for experience. By contrast, Michael Clarke’s team have an array of problems to address, not least the increasing comfort with which Pakistan’s batsmen played his bowling attack across the Test.The day was not without some moments of doubt for Pakistan, not least when they spurned a quartet of chances during the afternoon session, though Babar and Yasir continued to bowl diligently and well on the worn pitch. But Pakistan always had time to spare, and Mitchell Johnson’s line-ball stumping went their way in the ascendant much as it often did for Australia during their years of dominance.Chris Rogers and Steven Smith had begun with determined intentions, and as happened in the first innings and again on the fourth evening an Australia pair started firmly. Despite some extravagant turn for Yasir and reverse swing in both directions from Rahat Ali, they made it through to morning drinks.Misbah-ul-Haq threw the ball to Imran Khan, who proceeded to work on bending the ball in the manner of his namesake, albeit at a lesser pace. Rogers had kept out many a threatening delivery and was the only Australian to face more than 100 balls in each innings. But he was late in recognising Imran’s inswinger, and to the sound of Pakistani roars his middle stump was tilted back.Mitchell Marsh is a young man who will learn from this experience, but his defensive skills against spin were found wanting in each innings. Too crooked across a straight delivery from Babar on day three, he was now too hard-handed against the same bowler, shooting the ball off the bat straight into the lap of silly point.Though raised on slower, spinning pitches in New South Wales, Brad Haddin’s method has never been particularly suited to the natural variations of subcontinental pitches. His firm hands and penchant for driving at the line of the ball can look imperious, but here it was inadequate as a Babar straight ball zipped between bat and pad to strike leg stump.All the while Smith fought and fidgeted, but gradually lost momentum as wickets began to fall. Not a single boundary was hit in the morning session. There was more intent when Smith and Johnson resumed in the afternoon, their efforts to score a little more often spreading Misbah’s field.After a while, the fifty stand arrived, and Pakistan began to show signs of tension. No fewer than four chances went down from the bowling of Babar – Smith surviving a stumping chance on 37, then dropped by Misbah on 44, albeit from a fiercely struck cover drive. Johnson’s patience was tested, and when he was on 23, Ahmed Shehzad at deep midwicket turfed a slog-sweep that should have been taken. When Johnson was on 25, Yasir Shah misjudged a top-edged Johnson sweep at backward square leg and could only get one hand to it.Smith passed 50 and could glimpse tea, but Yasir’s return to the attack brought a half-volleyed flick to short leg. It was a blur of pitch, ball and bat, but replays confirmed a fair catch and Smith trudged off. Johnson and Siddle fought their way through the second new ball, and maintained faint hope at tea.Few alarms were raised in the early minutes of the evening session, Australia daring to hope they might emulate some of the escapes made by South Africa and England in earlier years when they showed the best teams are as capable of wriggling to a draw as galloping to a win.But Yasir found some variety out of the rough to Johnson, who had begun playing in a slightly more defensive vein. A review for an lbw when he padded up was rejected, but a straighter delivery in the same over beat the outside edge and had Sarfraz Ahmed screeching in the sort of stumping appeal shared by quick-witted wicketkeepers.Replays seemed to show some of Johnson’s boot behind the line, but the third umpire Nigel Llong concluded that none of it was grounded. His decision was the cue for Pakistani jubilation – and a thunderous glare from Darren Lehmann in Australia’s viewing area. Johnson departed glumly.That moment more or less finished the match. Siddle eluded an lbw appeal and review by Babar the following over, but a hearty inside edge gave the left-arm spinner a deserved five-wicket haul in his next. Pakistan now cannot lose the series. Australia, Ashes and all, cannot win it.

Morne Morkel, the South Africa fast bowler, will miss the third Test of the series against Pakistan due to the hamstring injury he picked up during the course of the second game

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Feb-2013Morne Morkel, the South Africa fast bowler, will miss the third Test of the series against Pakistan due to the hamstring injury he picked up during the course of the second game. Dolphins’ quick Kyle Abbott has been named as his replacement for the Test, which begins on February 22.Rory Kleinveldt, who was already part of the Test series squad, is expected to make South Africa’s starting XI though, ahead of Abbott.Abbott’s domestic form prompted his call-up, CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson said: “Kyle swings the ball nicely and is another player who has earned a call-up through outstanding form at franchise level. He has done extremely well in the Sunfoil Series [the domestic first-class competition] this season.”He had an outstanding match return of 12 for 96 against the champion, Cape Cobras, and finished the series as the leading wicket-taker [49 wickets] and an economy rate of under three to the over.”Morkel had pulled up halfway through his 21st over in Pakistan’s first innings, and left the field. He came out to bowl in the second innings, but managed only 3.1 overs before his hamstring trouble flared up again, leaving Jacques Kallis with the job of finishing his over for the second time in the match.Meanwhile, seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe is likely to have fully recovered from his ankle injury in time for the limited-overs leg of the Pakistan series, Hudson said. “We did consider Lonwabo Tsotsobe [for the Tests] but unfortunately he is still recovering from an ankle injury. He will only be fit in time for the limited overs segment of the tour.”Tsotsobe was ruled out of December’s Twenty20 series against South Africa with ankle issues, but managed to play the ODIs that followed in January. He has not played any competitive cricket since.

ESPNcricinfo previews the third ODI in Centurion

Firdose Moonda29-Nov-2013Match facts Saturday, November 30, 2013
Centurion, 10.00 (08.00 GMT)David Miller will be expected to take up some of the slack left from the absence of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis•AFPBig Picture Usually once a series is won there is not much to get excited about but this is a little different. Pakistan, who have already racked up what their captain Misbah-ul-Haq called “a really big achievement” by beating South Africa for the first time in a bilateral series, stand to add to it. Victory at Centurion will make them only the second team to whitewash South Africa in an ODI series of three matches.Although South Africa will be concerned with avoiding that fate, they also have the smaller picture to consider. While the Twenty20 side has found its rhythm, the ODI outfit cannot seem to do the same. Batting inconsistencies continue to work against them and even though one game cannot help them fix it, it may be an opportunity to solve some problems.Without Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, some of South Africa’s next generation will be on display and with public speculation mounting about whether there is space for the two stalwarts in the set-up, this will be the chance to see. The middle-order focus will be on David Miller, who hasn’t been his usual destructive self, with the bowling expected to perform as they have throughout the recent ODI matches.Pakistan will also want batting improvements if there are to seize their chance for total domination. Even if their top-order fail again they will back their bowlers to make up for any lapses, as has been the case in the opening two rubbers.Along with a South Africa revival, Pakistan’s goal may be spoiled by afternoon thunderstorms which have come down all week and are forecast for Saturday. Should the heavens open again, it may put an early end to the series which is now in its sixth week of limited-overs clashes.Form guide
(last five completed games most recent first)
Pakistan WWLLLW
South Africa LLWWWIn the spotlight The promising start Henry Davids made to his international career unravelled in his last six T20s. He has only managed single-figure scores, appeared to be struggling on subcontinental surfaces and against quality spinners but was also asked to bat in the middle order, where he was more exposed. He has not played an ODI for South Africa yet, although he has the domestic record that suggests he should have, and it may be a chance to show he has what it takes to play at the highest level. On his home ground in a dead rubber, Davids will be faced with pleasant pressure although he may still bat outside of his preferred position in the top two.Mohammad Hafeez has not contributed significantly with the bat in seven ODIs, all against South Africa, since his undefeated 136 against Zimbabwe. Without Dale Steyn in the opposition attack, Hafeez will fancy his chances of registering a worthwhile score and breaking a run drought against a team who has not been able to assert himself over with bat in hand.Team news South Africa are without three of their biggest names which will force them to make substantial alterations to their XI. Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis are out with injury niggles while Graeme Smith has been given compassionate leave after his grandmother died.Quinton de Kock is an opener by trade and could replace Smith in the top two but because he has shown he can adjust to the No. 3 position as well, it may make allow Henry Davids to bat in his usual position as an opener. Vernon Philander will likely come back in for Steyn while Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell will have to fight it out for the allrounders’ spot.South Africa: (possible) 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Henry Davids, 3 Quinton de Kock (wkt) 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Wayne Parnell, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Lonwabo Tsoosbe, 11 Imran TahirAlthough changing a winning combination isn’t the done thing, Pakistan may still have reason to make one change to their XI. With Nasir Jamshed continually misfiring and no Steyn to trouble Mohammad Hafeez early on, they could pair Hafeez with Ahmed Shehzad at the top and bring Umar Amin into the middle order to bolster the batting.Pakistan: (possible) 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Sohaib Maqsood, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Umar Akmal (wkt), 7 Umar Amin, 7 Shahid Afridi, 9 Bilawal Bhatti, 9 Anwar Ali, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Junaid KhanStats and trivia The last time South Africa lost all the matches scheduled in a one-day series was against Sri Lanka in 2004 when they were defeated 5-0 away from home. Before that, they were last swept in England in 1994.Excluding series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Pakistan last swept a one-day series away from home in 2005, 3-0 against West IndiesQuotes “There’s a lot to play for. From an opportunity point of view, it’s really good for the other guys to get a go. We know we’ve got India in a few days’ time. To create winning momentum is going to be important for us.”

The Australian government has decided to cut down gambling advertisements and the broadcasting of live odds during television coverage of all sports, including cricket, in response to the blurring line between commentators and bookmakers

Brydon Coverdale27-May-2013The Australian government has decided to cut down gambling advertisements and the broadcasting of live odds during television coverage of all sports, including cricket, in response to the blurring line between commentators and bookmakers. Betting is legal in Australia and the move will be seen with interest in India, where there is a feeling that legalising betting will decrease the influence of criminals in the industry.The prime minister, Julia Gillard, on Sunday announced that the federal government would demand changes to the broadcasting codes that would limit advertisements for betting companies and the updating of odds from betting companies or commentators to scheduled breaks in play.For Australia’s football codes that would mean such promotions could only be shown at breaks such as quarter-time or half-time, while during cricket coverage it would likely refer to changes of innings and lunch and tea breaks. Any representative of a gambling company providing updates during such breaks will not be able to do so from the venue and will not be able to appear with the commentary team.The Gillard government’s move is largely the result of in-play betting updates during coverage of football codes, especially the National Rugby League. This year, a hefty sponsorship deal allowed bookmaker Tom Waterhouse to appear alongside Channel Nine commentators during their coverage of NRL matches, which prompted a public backlash amid concerns over the growing move to the mainstream of sports gambling.The NRL and Channel Nine altered Waterhouse’s role several weeks into the season as a result of the public reaction to the increasingly blurred line between commentator and bookmaker. Although the prevalence of betting information during cricket coverage had not reached that stage, Cricket Australia’s CEO James Sutherland indicated in February that CA would consider what was and was not appropriate, and had already spoken to Channel Nine about the way such updates from sponsor Bet365 were presented.Sutherland’s comments at the time came shortly after the release of the Australian Crime Commission’s report into links between performance-enhancing drug use, organised crime and possible betting corruption in sport in Australia. Although cricket was not implicated in any way, the report highlighted the need for vigilance from all sports.

The first-ever Twenty20 at the Queens Sports Club ground in Bulawayo was a thriller with the home team squeezing home by six runs

The Report by Mohammad Isam11-May-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Shakib Al Hasan was superb with bat and ball, but it wasn’t enough for Bangladesh•AFPThe first-ever Twenty20 at the Queens Sports Club ground in Bulawayo was a thriller with the home team squeezing home by six runs. Zimbabwe fought back mightily when it mattered and Bangladesh imploded just when they could smell the win. The visitors collapsed from 120 for 1 in the 15th over to being kept down to 162 for 8. Tinashe Panyangara bowled a terrific final over, giving away just three runs as the Bangladesh lower-order failed to play smartly.Zimbabwe had earlier made 168 for 5 after deciding to bat first. Hamilton Masakadza struck his seventh fifty while captain Brendan Taylor made a quickfire 40 as they put Zimbabwe on course for a big total. Bangladesh were brought back into the game by their spinners after the Taylor-Masakadza partnership ended, with Shakib Al Hasan getting both wickets and bowling economically in between.Shakib was doing the job with the bat too, hammering 65 off 40 balls and helping add 118 for the second wicket with Shamsur Rahman. He struck eight disdainful fours and two sixes while Shamsur ended up with his maiden fifty, after a slow start.The pair had taken Bangladesh to within 49 of the target with 34 balls to go, but the moment Shakib was dismissed, the Bangladesh batsmen started to make a meal of the chase.Shamsur fell two balls later and it was down to the Bangladesh captain, Mushfiqur Rahman, to steer the chase. He began badly though, involved in two mix-ups that ended in run-outs of Nasir Hossain and Mahmudullah in the 16th over. Nasir was inches short of safety as Tinotenda Mutombodzi broke the stumps. Mahmudullah was far from the crease at the other end after he got mixed calls from Mushfiqur; Mutombodzi swooped on the ball to his left and scored a direct-hit.Then the pressure got to Ziaur Rahman, the Twenty20 specialist who had a torrid time connecting bat on ball. He frustrated Mushfiqur, with whom he almost had a collision, before falling to Panyangara’s clever length in the 18th over. This wicket, and the eight runs from the over, perhaps swayed Taylor into picking Panyangara to bowl the last over.Mushfiqur hit two sixes in the melee of wickets, before holing out to deep square-leg off the first ball of the final over when 10 runs were required. Panyangara was more resourceful in his last two overs than his first two, keeping it full to choke the runs. Sohag Gazi has some batting credentials but looked out of his depth towards the end of the chase while Abdur Razzak missed everything even though he was given room to swing.Panyangara took three wickets while Prosper Utseya broke the Shakib-Shamsur partnership, taking both wickets. Brian Vitori was also excellent, giving away just 24 from his four overs and picking up the wicket of Tamim Iqbal in the first over.This, after the Bangladesh spinners brought them back into the game with some control over the big-hitting in the last seven overs. Taylor and Masakadza put on 74 for the second wicket with the Zimbabwe captain severe on anything pitched on legstump. He made 40 off 25 balls with six fours and a paddle-swept six. He fell in the ninth over, after which Masakadza tried to up the run-rate but wasn’t too successful.He was dismissed after making 59 off 48 balls with four boundaries and a six. They failed to get the big hits away in the last five overs, with Shakib taking 2 for 20 and one wicket apiece for Gazi, Shafiul Islam and Mahmudullah.Bangladesh now have a final shot at redeeming the tour on Sunday. Mushfiqur will be under some pressure as he was in charge after the Shakib-Shamsur partnership broke, but couldn’t see the team through.

Bayern Munich will not sack Thomas Tuchel in the wake of their 3-2 loss to Bochum, but CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen refused to offer the board's support.

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Bayern beaten for third time in a rowTuchel under fire after another lossCEO says he will be in charge next weekWHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern found themselves 3-1 down at Bochum in a match that was interrupted on two occasions because of fan protests. Kane managed to pull a goal back late on for the German giants, but he could not prevent his team from losing a third consecutive match. Coach Tuchel has come under pressure amid the reigning Bundesliga champions' miserable run, and reports he is not considering resigning and has been assured that he will not be fired.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT DREESEN SAID

Asked by if Tuchel will be sacked, Dreesen said: "It was clear that this question was coming, it had been looming for some time. I don't believe in these monstrous statements of support for coaches. I've already said something about this, but it's not a question that arises for us today. We have to concentrate on the next games.

"I know how you want to hear it. I can say it that way too. But these vows of loyalty are usually over after a week, so I say it in my own way. I've said before – and I'll even repeat myself – that's not an issue we're currently dealing with."

When he was asked if Tuchel will still be in charge next week, Dreesen said: "Of course!"

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Bayern's misery began when the Bavarian side were outclassed in a 3-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen – in which they failed to have a shot on target – last week. They followed that up with another disappointing performance in the Champions League, losing 1-0 to Lazio in the first leg of their last-16 tie. The loss at Bochum now leaves Bayern eight points behind Leverkusen in the Bundesliga table.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?

Bayern have another difficult test coming up as they take on RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on February 24. Leipzig put up a good fight when they came up against Real Madrid in the Champions League during the week, though they ended up losing 1-0, and followed that up with a 2-0 win against Borussia Monchengladbach to keep them fifth in the league.

Phillip Hughes’ fine form in county cricket has helped win him a call-up into the Australia A side to side to play England Lions at Edgbaston

George Dobell11-Aug-2012Phillip Hughes’ fine form in county cricket has helped win him a call-up into the Australia A side to side to play England Lions at Edgbaston, following an injury to Peter Forrest.Hughes, 23, who is in England playing for Worcestershire as their overseas player, scored a century at the same ground this week and became the first Worcestershire opener to carry his bat in a first-class game since 2008. He is leading the club’s averages in all formats of the game, with a first-class average of 45.12, a T20 average of 100.50 and a List A average of 97.80.Kevin Sims, Australia’s A rehabilitation manager, said: “Peter Forrest sustained a minor side strain in the match against the England Lions at Old Trafford and with only one match remaining we have decided to send him home to prepare for the upcoming season.”Hughes, who has not played Test cricket since December, missed out on the original selection for the A tour, but has continued to work on his technique after it was exposed at the top level. His century against a strong Warwickshire attack this week was his first in first-class cricket since September.His call-up is not such good news for Worcestershire. Sitting at the foot of the Division One table, they are already struggling for reliable batsmen and face an uphill battle to avoid relegation. Hughes will miss their Championship match against fellow strugglers Lancashire at New Road, but should be back ahead of the CB40 game against Leicestershire.The first unofficial Test of the two-match series between Australia A and England Lions ended in a draw. The second begins at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has defended his decision to send a letter to the press, with comments on SLC, but said that the fallout from the incident was not a distraction for his side ahead of the Boxing Day Test

Andrew Fernando in Melbourne25-Dec-2012Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has defended his decision to send a letter to the press — with perceived questionable comments on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) — but said that the fallout from the incident was not a distraction for his side ahead of the Boxing Day Test. SLC, in an official release, stated it will review the actions of Jayawardene and team manager Charith Senanayake, during the lead up to the Test in Melbourne.Jayawardene’s letter to the press, in which he said he had lost all confidence in dealing with SLC, had been prompted by a local newspaper’s reporting on a previous letter he had written to the board. He had believed the letter to be confidential, and the contents of which, if released, could potentially embarrass the support staff working with the Sri Lankan team. In his subsequent release to the press, Jayawardene expressed his disappointment with the board for having allowed his letter to be made public, which, in turn, was believed to be a breach of his contract for portraying the board in a negative light.”It’s not really a distraction,” Jayawardene said on the eve of the Test. “It’s not the first time something like this has happened and I’ve just taken it on board. I honestly don’t know what I’ve done in this scenario. The document was released by them, and I just asked the question, “How did that happen?” I think hopefully we can get that resolved pretty soon once they realise I haven’t done anything wrong. Right now my focus is on this tour and to try and give my best for the team. I don’t think most of the guys even know what’s going on.”Sri Lanka are waiting on the fitness of Nuwan Kulasekara, who has been struggling with a bruised rib, with Dhammika Prasad on standby to step into the pace attack. Kulasekara was hit by a delivery that leapt up off a crack on the fifth day in Hobart, and has not yet shaken off the soreness from the blow. He has been bowling in the nets, but will have his fitness determined on the morning of the Test.Opener Dimuth Karunaratne, meanwhile, is set for an extended run at the top of the order, despite having had an inauspicious start to the series in Hobart, scoring 14 and 30. Sri Lanka have a more experienced opener in Tharanga Paranavitana in the squad, but Jayawardene said the management had identified Karunaratne as a promising future prospect, and hope to give him opportunities free of the pressure of having to hold a place in the team. Karunaratne has played two Tests, and made a run-a-ball sixty against New Zealand last month. He was brought into the Test team after having had success in an A team tour to South Africa.”When we made the call on Dimuth, we wanted to make it a long-term decision. Whatever happens, he will at least get a good year in that slot. I think he’s shown a lot of promise as a Test opener. I think everyone’s very pleased with the way he’s been batting. It was unfortunate he got some good deliveries in the last Test. The way he bats gives us more opportunities. If he gets going, he’s a very aggressive batsman and he’ll score quickly for us. That will win Test matches, not just here, but in Sri Lankan conditions as well. That’s something we are looking for him to do. He’ll definitely get a longer run in the team.”Jayawardene also said a strong performance from the experienced top order would be Sri Lanka’s best chance of securing a maiden victory in Australia. Sri Lanka slipped to 87 for 4 in their first innings in Hobart in one of the defining periods of the Test, which enabled Australia to secure a first innings lead of 114. Sri Lanka’s top order had also failed to fire collectively in the two Tests preceding the tour, in a home series against New Zealand.”A good performance from the top order will give us an opportunity to put pressure on the Australians, and our best chance of winning a Test match here would be our batters putting runs on the board. The top order has been our strength over the last couple of years when four or five guys have been getting the job done. Yes, we’ve had a couple of hiccups in the last few Test matches – in the last series against New Zealand and the one in Hobart. That can happen. You can’t be consistent for that period of time. We’ve got the experience, and we’ve got the talent. We just need to produce the goods.”Jayawardene was also confident his team would not be affected by any crowd hostility stemming from the ball tampering controversy in Hobart. Sri Lanka’s management had alerted the match referee to footage they believed might have shown Peter Siddle picking the seam of the ball during their first innings, but had stopped short of making an official complaint. Siddle, a Victorian, was cleared of any wrongdoing by the ICC after the conclusion of the match.”I think we’ve been through a lot of hostile things in the past. 1995 was one thing, and even after that. I don’t think it will faze our guys at all. If anything that might give us a little extra. What you have to remember is that there will be a good, partisan Sri Lankan crowd in Melbourne as well, so it might go against them (Australia) as well. A lot of the younger guys probably won’t even understand what the crowd is going to tell them. It’s not going to be a big issue.”

Zimbabwe have a lot to work on, but their goal is simpler. They would want to equalise instead of conceding a 2-0 lead before moving to Dhaka for the last three games

The Preview by Mohammad Isam in Chittagong22-Nov-20140:42

Zimbabwe look to turn a corner

Match factsNovember 23, 2014
Start time 1230 local (0630 GMT)Big PictureBangladesh are finally up and running in ODIs this year. In their 14th attempt, they have broken the duck which had caused them so much grief in 2014. Taking the 1-0 lead in the five-match series against Zimbabwe, therefore, has double significance.Of course, much of the attention would go to Shakib Al Hasan for the way he enforced himself on the visitors. After Bangladesh slipped to 70 for 4, it was Shakib who rescued them with a timely century, his first in four years. He added 148 for the fifth wicket, a Bangladesh record, with Mushfiqur Rahim.Later it was still Shakib who provided the early breakthroughs and finished with four wickets. Mahmudullah, new captain Mashrafe Mortaza and Arafat Sunny all bowled well to take two wickets each.Zimbabwe on the other hand had a nightmare on the field. Captain Elton Chigumbura dropped Mushfiqur on 16 and later overstepped when the same batsman was caught at the boundary, on 56. Brendan Taylor made up for his dropped catch with his first fifty on tour. But more would be expected from Sikandar Raza and Hamilton Masakadza. The pair once again provided Zimbabwe a quick start but could not capitalise.Zimbabwe would want at least one of their openers to score a big innings•AFPTheir bowling, too, started well with Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara restricting the Bangladesh openers, but once Shakib and Mushfiqur opened up, they lost shape. The spinners too did not do justice to the slowness of the pitch.Bangladesh would now look to Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque to give them a better start, while also expecting Mominul Haque to cut away the cute shots and focus on scoring runs. Mashrafe would also hope that the pace attack doesn’t give away too many runs at the start.Zimbabwe have a lot to work on, but their goal is simpler. They would want to equalise instead of conceding a 2-0 lead before moving to Dhaka for the last three games.Form guide(last five completed games, most recent first)
Bangladesh WLLLL
Zimbabwe LLWLLIn the spotlightMushfiqur Rahim was said to be under-par in the Test series but through a rickety 65 in the first ODI, he has regained his touch. His wicketkeeping has not been great but he did take a leaping catch at a crucial stage of the match.Solomon Mire made his debut in the first game and though he did not contribute much with the ball or bat, he looks like one for the future. He has a promising bowling action and is a big hitter, exemplified by the one big six he struck during his short stay.Team newsBangladesh have opted to retain the same combination as the first ODI.Bangladesh (possible) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Sabbir Rahman, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Arafat Sunny, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Al-Amin HossainVusi Sibanda’s form may be worrying the team management, in which case they could go for Timycen Maruma.Zimbabwe (possible) 1 Sikandar Raza, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Vusi Sibanda, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Regis Chakabva, 6 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 7 Solomon Mire, 8 Tinashe Panyangara, 9 Tendai Chatara, 10 Tafadzwa Kamungozi, 11 John NyumbuPitch and conditionsThe start has been advanced by an hour, to 12.30pm, which would mean a little less effect of the overpowering dew, benefiting both sides. Weather remains cool in Chittagong, so the team batting first will get the best of conditions on a flat, slow deck.Stats and trivia Shakib Al Hasan became the 12th player to score a hundred and take four wickets in the same ODI. He is also the fourth after Steve Waugh, Sanath Jayasuriya and Jacques Kallis to score 2000-plus runs and take 100 wickets at home. Brendan Taylor became the fourth Zimbabwe batsman to score 30 or more ODI fifties.Quotes”We lost too many wickets in the first 15 overs. We need to correct that and make sure to put up a better performance in the second game.”
“The year we have had, I don’t think one win will make us relaxed. We will be up and running in the second ODI.”

Reactions from former players and officials on the sentences after the spot-fixing trial

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2011
Michael Vaughan: “More can be done to try and catch more than just the three we’ve seen in court”•Getty ImagesFor me, there’s still a lot of questions to be answered because they weren’t exposed by any of the cricketing members; they were exposed by the . I still think the ICC could be doing a lot more than they are doing. Unfortunately, the anti-corruption unit is a pretty toothless tiger. They can’t get into the real depth of it all because they haven’t got the resources available to them. I don’t hold it against them; they’re doing the best job they possibly can. They can’t do sting operations like the , they can’t infiltrate these betting networks. They’ve tried their best.
After this case we can say that we are doing something about it and we don’t tolerate any sort of fixing, be it spot or match-fixing, or cheating. From now on, it is a very good deterrent to players, administrators and people who watch the game and try to manipulate it. I would hate to think that I’ve played in any game that we have won because it was fixed. I would rather hope that we won because we had played better.
This is a sad day for Pakistan cricket, a sad day for the cricketers and their families. I can just imagine what the families are going through. In a society where crime pays… Where this sort of thing goes on, an impressionable young man would have got swayed by it. A message has to go that crime does not pay. I feel sad for the cricketers but I feel that you have to punish crime, so that it becomes a punishment for aspirants of the corruption of cricket that crime does not play.
The real possibility of spending time in prison is a further compelling argument for players to distance themselves from those who seek to profit illegally from the game
I hope it sends a shockwave through the game and I’m delighted with the way it’s been handled. I still believe there are more out there and more can be done to try and catch more than just the three we’ve seen in court over the last few weeks.
The sentences could have been harsher. What saddens me is that the ICC didn’t take a stronger line when they had a chance. When they found these players guilty with their own investigation earlier in the year, they were only banned for five years. I don’t understand that kind of logic. If you get caught doing anything like this you should be banned for life and the ICC should get a wake-up call themselves and be more pro-active in rooting out the problem because it won’t go away without pro-active measures. Players are susceptible when they are young to being lured into this kind of thing so [the ICC] has to get the message through when young.
Absolutely the decision is a hard one for the families of the three cricketers. Justice has been done and you’ve got to get rid of the corrupt elements from the game. The verdict will act as a great deterrent for future aspirants. These big fishes need to be taken to task.
We’ve played quite a bit of cricket against them throughout the last two or three years as well, with Test series in Australia as well as over in England and some one-day series as well. I definitely didn’t suspect anything of what’s come out over the last year or so. Whether it’s jail, whether it’s a life sentence, there’s no doubt the punishments are very severe for doing the wrong thing.