Misbah calls for need to make changes in Pak team for Windies tour

Misbah

Islamabad: Pakistan national team captain Misbah-ul Haq has said that there is a need to make changes in the current squad for the upcoming series against West Indies in July.

Pakistan had a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy campaign, losing all three of their group games, for which Misbah and his team came into the firing line, along with coach Dav Whatmore.

However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to retain the same management for the series against West Indies, where they play five one day internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 internationals.

Stating that a player should not get complacent about his place in the team if he does not perform upto expectations, Misbah, who has yet not returned from London, said that he would be actively deliberating the selection of the squad for the upcoming tours of West Indies and Zimbabwe .

However, the Pakistani skipper said that he is confident that his team can do well despite the hammering they received in England, adding that they are capable of beating any team in the world if they manage to overcome their long-standing problem of consistency.

Dismissing speculations that he and some other players have remained behind in London to avoid the anger of disappointed fans, Misbah further said that the team had prior permission from the PCB to remain in London after the end of the Champions Trophy, and insisted that the players had planned their vacations before the start of the tournament.

The selectors have assembled in Lahore to select the final squad for the West Indies tour. Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi and other players turned up for fitness tests at the National Cricket Academy.

PAKISTAN VS WEST INDIES FIXTURE-2013

Explore all the information like live scores, fixtures/schedule, statistics and result on Pakistan tour of West Indies 2013 begin from July 14, 2013. Pakistan cricket team played five one-day international and two Twenty20 games in West Indies during 15-days Caribbean tour. Pakistan were originally scheduled to play two Tests, five ODIs and two T20s in the Windies in June-July, but WICB planned a tri-series involving India and Sri Lanka.

Thursday July 11 - Pakistan 50 over warm up game (opposition TBC) Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
1st ODI	Sunday July 14	Providence Stadium, Guyana
2nd ODI	Tuesday July 16	Providence Stadium, Guyana
3rd ODI	Friday July 19	Beausejour Cricket Ground, St Lucia
4th ODI	Sunday July 21	Beausejour Cricket Ground, St Lucia
5th ODI	Wednesday July 24	Beausejour Cricket Ground, St Lucia
1st T20I	Saturday July 27	Arnos Vale Ground, St Vincent
2nd T20I	Sunday July 28	Arnos Vale Ground, St Vincent

Tri-Series: IND vs WI SCORE BOARD-2013

won the toss, elected to field.

WI won by 1 Wicket.

IND : 170/10 Overs: 50 R:R: 4.58

R Sharma 60(89) S Raina 44(55) D Sammy 41/2

WI : 230/9 overs: 47.4 R:R : 4.82

J Charles 97(100)

D Bravo 55(78) U Yadav 43/3 Player of the Match J Charles

Tri-Series: IND vs WI-2013

India's winning streak ends in Kingston
GAME 2: Dhoni-less India go down by one wicket in low-scoring game.
Yahoo! Cricket

Roach celebrates the winning runs with Best. (AFP)

West Indies scrambled to a one-wicket victory with 14 balls to spare over India in the second match of the Celkon Mobile Cup Tri-Nation One-Day International Series at Sabina Park on Sunday.

Birthday boy Kemar Roach and last man Tino Best ensured the West Indies did not complete their own destruction, turning in match saving performances.

The home side had to reply to the World Cup and Champions Trophy holders' total of 229 for seven.

They tottered from the comfort of 142 for three in the 28th over via a rash of irresponsible shots, even with Johnson Charles battling to hold the innings together.

However the opening batsman joined the apparent suicide pact: he was eighth out for 97 and when Sunil Narine also gifted his wicket at 220 for nine.

It was left to the Barbadian fast bowling pair of Roach -- on his 25th birthday -- and Best to see the West Indies home amid in a nail-biting finish.

India was deprived of the calming influence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the field after the captain was hobbled while batting by a suspected right hamstring strain.

But, under the supervision of Virat Kohli, the visitors refused to give up, even when Charles and Darren Bravo (55) appeared to be tilting the balance decisively the home team's way.

Their fourth-wicket partnership of 116 lifted the Caribbean side from the early discomfort of 26 for three.

Umesh Yadav, who removed the dangerous Chris Gayle, and Devon Smith in his opening burst, added the important wicket of Charles to keep his team's hopes alive in the match. He finished with the best figures of three for 43.

West Indies were themselves without their regular captain throughout the match.

With Dwayne Bravo was sidelined with a groin strain, it was Kieron Pollard took the reins of leadership.

Ravi Rampaul also missed out with a twisted ankle, but as it turned out his replacement Best played a key role in the victory.

He claimed the wickets of Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja near the end of the Indian innings before returning to ensure his team scraped over the line to consolidate their position at the top of the three-team standings.

They now have two wins in two matches and head to Trinidad for repeat clashes with India and Sri Lanka before the final on July 11.

Opening batsman Rohit Sharma had top-scored for India with 60 and featured in a 58-run fifth-wicket partnership with the experienced left-hander Suresh Raina.

Raina's knock of 44 was the next best effort among a batting line-up that generally struggled to come to terms with the two-paced nature of the pitch earlier in the day.

It was the same experience for Sri Lanka on the way to their six-wicket defeat at the hands of the West Indies in the tournament's opening fixture on Friday at the same venue.

Roach and former captain Darren Sammy had identical bowling figures of two for 41.

Best also claimed two victims in his final spell after being expensive and wayward in his earlier effort with the new white ball.

Unusually, spinner Narine proved the most expensive, conceding 56 runs off ten wicketless overs, including 17 off the last over of the innings.

Strauss backs England to punish Aussies

The former captain believes England have never been stronger favorites.

AFP

Strauss, Cook and Boycott: Some fun at Wimbledon before the big Ashes test.

 LONDON: Former England captain Andrew Strauss believes his country have never been stronger favourites to win the Ashes after Australia's descent into chaos in recent weeks.

Strauss, who masterminded back to back Ashes triumphs in 2009 and 2011 before retiring last year, has been stunned by the turmoil gripping the Australia squad ahead of the forthcoming series between the old rivals in England.

Australia batsman David Warner missed the majority of the recent Champions Trophy after being suspended for punching England star Joe Root in a Birmingham bar.

Then just weeks before the July 10 start of the Ashes, Australia sacked coach Mickey Arthur and replaced him with Darren Lehmann, while captain Michael Clarke asked to step down from his role as a selector.

Strauss confident

Strauss is confident England will take full advantage of the Australian angst.

"England are in very good shape. The Aussies have been in turmoil over the last few weeks, sacking their coach and David Warner whacking an England player," he told Live at Wimbledon, where he was set to take his place in the Royal Box on Friday.

"England have gone about their business very quietly and have never had a better chance to win an Ashes series. The guys will be excited and I'm starting to get nervous."

Strauss, a former England opener, also backed Root to make the opener's spot his own against Australia.

Nick Compton was given the chance to cement the role as partner to captain Alastair Cook and scored back-to-back centuries in New Zealand in the winter.

But a slide in form led to chairman of selectors Geoff Miller to say Root was "currently the best" option ahead of the Trent Bridge opener next month.

Compton impresses

Compton impressed for Somerset this week against Australia, scoring 81 in a tour match, and will turn out as a guest for Worcestershire against the tourists next week.

But Strauss still feels Root is the man for the job.

"He's dealt with everything that's come his way, including that punch (by Warner)," Strauss said.

"He looks very composed, looks entirely capable of making that job his own and I'm looking forward to watching him and Alastair Cook."