Australia could take Champions Trophy decision in two weeks

Australia could decide within a fortnight whether to pull out of September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

According to a foreign news agency, Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) chief executive Paul Marsh said a decision will not be made before it get reports from its security experts and the Federation of International Cricket Associations.

Cricket Australia is expected to take a decision within two weeks, according to their spokesman Peter Young.

Asia has become cricket’s powerhouse: Sangakkara

Sri Lanka's wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara Saturday said Asia leads international cricket as the financial hub and custodian of the game which has pioneered unprecedented globalisation.

"Asia have transformed from minnows of world cricket to the true powerhouse of cricket and we are now the economic driving force behind the world cricket,"

said Sangakkara at a seminar marking the silver jubilee of the Asian Cricket Cricket Council (ACC).

The seminar, "past, present and future of Asian cricket" was attended by current and former cricketers and administrators from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and various other Asian countries.

The ACC was formed in 1983 and now has four full and 18 associate members. The seminar was hosted on the sidelines of ninth Asia Cup which is hosted by Pakistan.

Sangakkara, who will play for Sri Lanka in the final against India on Sunday, said Asia was now the spiritual home of the game.

"There is no doubt that Lord's in London has traditionally been accepted as traditional home of the game but, in my opinion, there has been a gradual shift with magnificent stadiums in Asia.

"The ravages of tsunami being soothed by the panacea that is cricket and when I see this all I have to ask has Asia not now become the new spiritual home of world cricket? I think it has."

Sangakkara said Asia had produced world class players who have revolutionised the game.

"Asia have produced teams that have impacted the game in profound ways and cricketers who have individually shaped the way cricket is played and introduced new skills in the game,"

he said.

ACC chief executive Ashraful Huq said Asian cricket had come a long way in the last 25 years.

"From a body formed by some eight experienced administrators, the ACC has come a long way and so has Asian cricket. It is a long successful journey and we are proud to be the leaders of world cricket,"

said Huq.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf, who will take over as ACC chairman from Sri Lanka's Arjuna Ranatunga on Sunday, said Asian cricket had progressed by leaps and bounds.

"Asian cricket is like Ferrari, going fast and smooth and if we follow the rules of transparency and integrity there is no reason why Asian cricket do not attain maximum heights,"

said Ashraf.

ICC agrees to change Oval forfeiture to draw

An agreement in principle is believed to have been reached to change the result of the controversial Oval Test between England and Pakistan in 2006 from an English victory to a draw, following pressure from the Pakistan Cricket Board during the annual ICC meeting in Dubai. The decision will be deemed official and final only after the board meeting concludes on Thursday and if the issue is not revisited before that.

"England and Pakistan have agreed to declare the Oval Test as a draw to maintain the dignity of Pakistan in world cricket, especially after the ball-tampering charges were dropped,"

a source who attended the meeting said. The topic took up a considerable chunk of the morning's proceedings.

The Test was originally awarded to England by umpire Darrell Hair after Pakistan did not come out to field after tea on the fourth day, following accusations of ball-tampering.

Pakistan had, at the time, been in a strong position in the match, having secured a first-innings lead of 331 and removed four England batsmen second-time around. There was nothing at stake in the series, with England already leading 2-0 after wins at Headingley and Old Trafford, but the eventual forfeiture was the first in the history of Test cricket. The removal of England's win could affect their standing in the ICC Test Championship - they are currently third on 110 points, one ahead of their next opponents, South Africa, on 109.

The result had huge off-field ramifications as well. Hair went on to be suspended from the ICC elite panel, and though that decision was overturned last year when he took his employers to the High Court in London, the initial decision formed the basis of Pakistan's appeal for a rethink of the result.

A PCB source told PTI:

"Members of other boards supported us in our stand that the result should be officially changed to a draw as an ICC adjudicator later found Hair guilty of transgressing his authority and not behaving properly during the entire episode. The board agreed the result should be a draw not a forfeited win for England."

Australia players could pull out of Champions Trophy

Ricky Ponting says Australia's players are still uneasy about visiting Pakistan for the Champions Trophy later this year. Ponting's comments came as an Australian newspaper reported that some members of the squad had told their team-mates they would boycott the trip if it went ahead, even if the security advice was positive.

Australia postponed their Test tour of Pakistan earlier this year due to safety concerns and although the ICC is happy with the current security situation there, the Champions Trophy will be discussed at an ICC executive board meeting later this month. Ponting confirmed some individual players had concerns about touring Pakistan.

"We don't know if we're going, and if we do go, we don't know if individuals are going to pull out,"

Ponting told AAP.

"But what we know right now is, yes, there is some apprehension amongst some of the players and that was stated last summer. I don't think that would have changed until now.

"It might change in the coming weeks, if we get some good news from the security reports over there, then the individual's mindset might change a little bit. What happened last summer was probably something that made us all sit back and think about it a little more.

"If Cricket Australia and the players' association decide that we go, then it will be an individual's decision, as every tour is. But there will be some apprehension for sure."

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted an unnamed player as saying several members of the team would not visit Pakistan regardless of the security assessment.

"It is going to come down to the individual's decision,"

the player said.

"We have talked about it, and there are some guys who will go if security advice says it's okay. But there are others who have said they won't go, regardless. At this stage, we are waiting to hear more."

The New Zealand allrounder Jacob Oram has already expressed his concerns about visiting Pakistan for an ODI tour before the Champions Trophy. Ponting, who led Australia to the Champions Trophy triumph in India in 2006, said other players would almost certainly have similar worries.

"I'm sure some of the England players will have some concerns as well as a lot of the New Zealand players who have been confronted with this stuff before, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan,"

Ponting said.

"It just won't be Australian players. There will be a few other teams who will be thinking long and hard if the tour does go ahead there."

Hearing of Shoaib’s appeal likely to open Saturday

The proceedings on the appeal of Shoaib Akhtar against five-year ban likely to be started next week, the head of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appellate tribunal here said.

The PCB appellate tribunal chief Justice (Rtd) Aftab Farrukh talking to Geo News Tuesday said that he would consult with other two members of the tribunal, Salman Taseer and Haseeb Ahsan, after receiving the notification about formation of the tribunal.

“I can not comment on Shoaib Akhtar case as I have not studied it,”

he said.

He said he was busy in other cases, so he would possibly hear the case on Saturday. The proceedings on appeal of Shoaib Akhtar likely to be started from Saturday, he added.

ICC expresses satisfaction over Champions Trophy arrangements

A four-member delegation of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed satisfaction over the arrangements taken Champions Trophy, which will be held in Pakistan from 11 to 28 September.

The ICC delegation was briefed about the arrangements taken Champions Trophy in a meeting here on Friday.

The ICC delegation is in Lahore to inspect arrangements for this year's Champions Trophy to be hosted by Pakistan.

This visit is seen as significant after the concerns being expressed by visiting teams about the security situation in Pakistan.

The ICC delegation includes event and communications managers who met with Pakistan Cricket Board officials here.

They will also visit venues in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan where Champions Trophy matches will be held in September.

ICC's General Manager, commercial Campbell Jameson said that issues related to budget, match schedules, match timings, venues and dates have been discussed with PCB.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi said that both parties had discussed modalities and they are on track for holding the champions trophy in September.

Sri Lanka an alternate venue for Champions Trophy

The ICC has confirmed Sri Lanka will be an alternate venue to host the ICC Champions Trophy in September this year. This decision comes in the wake of Australia postponing their tour to Pakistan on the grounds of security reasons.

If Australia's apprehensions about the security situation in Pakistan don't change in the next few months, the ICC could be faced with a situation where they will have to decide on switching venues. Australia and New Zealand have raised the most concerns, sources said.

"We have named Sri Lanka an alternative venue,"

an ICC spokesperson told Cricinfo.

"As of now, Pakistan will host the tournament and we don't intend to take it away from them."

Sri Lanka last hosted the tournament in 2002 and the ICC expressed satisfaction with regard to all the arrangements and support they received from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

In a new development, the board is likely to be caught in a Catch 22 situation whether to oblige the Pakistan Cricket Board and play a series of three to five ODIs in Pakistan next month, a decision which may upset the Indian board because it will clash with the much anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) which is due to start on April 18. Several of Sri Lanka's top cricketers have signed for the tournament. If Sri Lanka agree to Pakistan's request, their one-day squad will fly directly from the West Indies to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the selection committee is due to meet the Cricket Committee headed by former Sri Lankan batsman Aravinda de Silva today to finalise the tour and player contracts for the next 12 months. Among the clauses that are due to be included in the contracts are for players to be accompanied by their wives on tour, and also to make it compulsory for the cricketers to play domestic cricket to be eligible for national selection.

The latter clause could jeopardise the players from signing up to play for English counties and for the IPL, both of which would require sanction from SLC. It is learnt that the Sri Lankan players, currently touring the Caribbean, are not happy with this clause, but highly-placed sources said the Cricket Committee is strongly pressing for its inclusion.

Pakistan hope to face Australia within a year

Pakistan Cricket Board will look to reschedule Australia's Test tour in November or next March after the original trip was postponed on Tuesday.

Australia's players are relieved the decision was made to cancel the visit over security and saftey concerns, but they are still due in the country for the Champions Trophy tournament in October, an event David Morgan, the ICC president-elect, wants to go ahead as planned.

Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer, said in an interview that Cricket Australia had asked the hosts to propose a new date.

"We have looked at the international schedule and all of the other factors, and we think either November this year or March next year would be a good time for the tour to go ahead,"

Naghmi said.

"If it was to proceed in November, it would most likely be a split tour, with the Australians then coming back in March.

"But if it were to take place in March, it would be a full tour. From reading James Sutherland's statements, I think he favours March."

Australia are also due in India in October and will host a Test series against New Zealand and start a contest with South Africa before the end of 2008.

Both the PCB and the Australian government do not believe the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is due to start on April 18, had any influence on the team staying home.

"There have been suggestions that somehow the decision by Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board is related to proposed Twenty20 games in India,"

Stephen Smith, Australia's foreign minister, said in the Australian.

"I absolutely reject that suggestion. From the first time I had a conversation with Cricket Australia about this matter, I was absolutely convinced that CA had the security, safety and welfare of their players and any members of a touring party uppermost in their minds."

The window in the calendar theoretically frees Australia's players to take part in the lucrative IPL, but there have been suggestions Cricket Australia will stage a short limited-overs series before leaving for the West Indies on May 10. However, Tim Nielsen, the national coach, has not finalised Australia's schedule and believes Twenty20 games would be good preparation.

"As long as it fits in and Cricket Australia is comfortable with it, I don't have any problem,"

Nielsen told the Age.

"It is nice that they can play some competitive cricket. I always encourage guys to be playing county cricket when it fits in because it is nice to be playing competitive, organised cricket. It is probably the best preparation they can get to put their bodies through those sorts of workloads."

Michael Clarke and Stuart Clark joined Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee in welcoming the decision to pull out of the tour.

"I don't think 'disappointed' is the right word - I'm rapt Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association made the decision and it didn't have to come down to individual players,"

Clarke told AAP.

"I'm very relieved and happy they've done that for the playing group."

Clark said the squad was worried about the situation in Pakistan.

"I don't think anyone likes it when a cricket tour gets called off because that's our job, but there were obviously concerns from everyone involved,"

he said.

"We were getting third-hand information, reading the papers and listening to the news on the TV and we were obviously getting the sensational news about bombings and stuff like that."

Pakistan coach Lawson slams Australia postponement

Pakistan cricket coach Geoff Lawson said Australia's decision to call off their tour over security fears on Tuesday was disappointing and unjustified.

Lawson, a former Australia paceman, lashed out after the tour scheduled for March-April was postponed following a double bomb attack in the eastern city of Lahore that killed at least 21 people.

"I don't think they (Australia) are justified in postponing the series. I am living in Pakistan and feel secure,"

Lawson told reporters.

"I am disappointed, although it was expected. It is a shame that we are not playing Australia at a time when they are beatable."

The tour was due to begin on March 29 and Lahore was one of the venues where Australia were due to play.

Lawson said the postponement would have multiple effects on Pakistani cricket.

"There is an immediate disappointment of not having the best team in Pakistan and it's a loss for players, fans, administrators who lose quality cricket,"

he said.

"It may have a major effect in the short term and it's up to the PCB to assure that it will not have a major effect in the longer run,"

he added, referring to the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"I think the Australians should have come here full steam ahead,"

Lawson, who took up his position last August to replace the late Bob Woolmer, told the Australian Associated Press here.

"Bombs do go off. You can't argue with that. But they're focused on particular targets that have nothing to do with sport, and particularly nothing to do with cricket."

Bangladesh agree to tour Pakistan next month

Minnows Bangladesh said Tuesday they would tour Pakistan next month after world champions Australia postponed a cricket series there over security fears.

Cricket Australia Tuesday told Pakistan authorities that their team's upcoming tour starting late this month was postponed, but not cancelled, though no new date has yet been set.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf told a press conference they had contacted other countries as potential replacements and hoped Bangladesh would come instead, and later Tuesday the PCB got its wish.

"We have accepted Pakistan's proposal to play five one-day matches and a Twenty20 match in Pakistan in April,"

Bangladesh Cricket Board official Gazi Ashaf Hossain Lipu confirmed in Dhaka.

"We will meet soon to fix the dates and venues of the matches."

Pakistan last month also invited India for five one-day matches as an alternative if the Australians refused to tour, but the arch-rivals turned down the invitation citing a busy schedule.

Ashraf said he hoped the Australia tour would be rescheduled once they get security clearance.

"The Australian series is not cancelled, it is postponed for the time-being and we hope that once their security team gives clearance Australia tour us whenever they get a time slot,"

said Ashraf.

The PCB chief denied that Pakistan faced financial losses because of the postponement.

"Since the series will be played we are not going to lose any finances and we are sure that it will be rescheduled,"

said Ashraf.

He said the PCB had insured the Australian series with a British-based company for a sum of seven million dollars -- the reported value of an Australian series in television rights.

Ashraf said he would meet CA chairman Creagh O'Connor in Dubai next week.

"We have conveyed our disappointment over the tour postponement and now I am going to meet the CA chairman in Dubai on March 17 where we will talk about the series and other matters relating to the series."

Pakistan managed to avoid any financial losses when they were forced to play their home series on neutral grounds in 2001 and 2002, also amid security fears.

The West Indies and Australia refused to tour Pakistan because of security fears following the 9/11 attacks on the United States and the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, which borders Pakistan.

This time Pakistan refused to switch the Australian series to neutral venues.

Australia says Pakistan tour unlikely before 2009

Cricket Australia on Tuesday postponed a scheduled tour to Pakistan due to security fears and said it was unlikely to proceed before 2009.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said his organisation had no alternative but to postpone the tour, which was due to begin later this month, given the security situation in Pakistan.

"Our absolute priority has been the security and safety of our players and our employees,"

he told reporters in an announcement that came as two explosions rocked the city of Lahore, killing at least 20 people

"We've left no stone unturned, we wanted to play this tour."

He said CA acted on advice from the Australian government and its own advisers.

While CA said in a statement that it hoped the tour could be rescheduled "in the near future", Sutherland made it clear that it would not happen before next year at the earliest.

"There's a couple of windows in 2009 and 2010 and there might be a little bit of massaging in order to make that happen,"

he said.

Officials from both countries are scheduled to meet in Dubai next weekend to discuss possible dates for the deferred tour.

Sutherland denied that pressure from Australian players was behind the decision.

"I understand that some players may have had feelings about the tour, but from CA's perspective we had absolute obligations were were committed to under the Future Tours programme,"

he said.

"If the safety and security warnings had been sufficient for us to tour then we'd have toured."

The Australian government, which has a travel advisory warnings against travel to Pakistan, said it was pleased with the decision.

"I welcome today's decision by Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board to postpone the Australian Cricket Team's planned tour of Pakistan,"

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.

"The agreement reached between the two boards is a welcome outcome in light of the uncertainty surrounding the tour."

Sutherland said neutral venues had been considered but the final decision on them had been up to Pakistan, which was "desperate for the tour to proceed on its home soil.

Asked if Australia had not cancelled the tour outright because it feared a fine from the International Cricket Council, Suther land replied:

"It's not that easy to answer that question simply, there's a process that is in place under the ICC regulations and we've done everything in accordance with those regulations."

CA chairman Creagh O'Connor said in a joint statement with the PCB that it had been a difficult decision.

"We wish no loss to Pakistan Cricket Board and look forward to undertaking this tour in the near future,"

he said.

In the statement, PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf expressed disappointment at the decision.

"I guess there is not much we could do and sincerely hope that the tour of Australia to Pakistan can materialise at the earliest opportunity."

Pak-Bangladesh series to be held as an alternative to Australia test tour: Nasim Ashraf

Bangladesh have agreed in principle to play a one-day series in Pakistan next month as an alternative to Australia test tour, which was postponed because of security concerns.

The world champions were due to visit Pakistan at the end of this month for a 30-day tour but put the trip on hold after a spate of suicide bombings following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto late last year.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf told a news conference that although Bangladesh were set to play next month, Pakistan were hoping the postponed series against Australia would be held soon.

"The series will be some time in April,"

he said, referring to the Bangladesh tour, adding the venues and dates would be worked out in the next few days.

"We hope to host Australia for a full series before we go to there in late 2009,"

Ashraf added.

"They took their decision after much deliberations and we accept that. We just want to hold this series soon."

Ashraf hoped the Australian's tour postponement would not affect the organisation of the Asia Cup in June or other ICC future tour programmes in Pakistan, including the Champions Trophy in September.

"We maintain conditions are still conducive to hold cricket events in Pakistan,"

he added.

"Our security plans have also been very good. Teams have toured Pakistan in recent times and have had no problems. The Australians have based their decision on their own assessment of security situation in Pakistan."

The PCB chief added that he did not feel Australia's decision had anything to do with their players appearing in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament in April.

Government Advice Prompted Oz To Pull Out

Cricket Australia took the decision to postpone their tour of Pakistan on government advice, according to chief executive James Sutherland.

Sutherland confirmed the one-day world champions would not be travelling to Pakistan for a three-Test series, which was scheduled to start on March 29, due to security concerns.

There have been a number of bomb blasts in Pakistan since the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto - the latest of which occurred in Lahore and is reported to have killed 24 people.

"Ultimately the starting point is to look at the Federal Government's advice to Australian travellers to Pakistan and it's not favourable,"

Sutherland said.

"The question for us was to then have a closer look and say what are the implications for the Australian cricket team given those quite serious warnings that are in place on the DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) website?"

The Australian players, particularly all-rounder Andrew Symonds, had expressed their concerns about going to Pakistan but Sutherland said this was not a factor in Australia postponing the tour.

"We understand some players may have had feelings about the tour but from Cricket Australia's perspective we had an absolute obligation that we were committed to (going to Pakistan) under the future tours programme and if the safety and security warnings had been sufficient for us to tour then we would have toured."

Cricket Australia (CA) told the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) they were willing to play the series in a third country.

But the PCB instead agreed to postpone the series in the hope it could be re-scheduled in Pakistan at a later date following a week of deliberations.

Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998 with the three-Test series in 2002 staged at neutral venues in Colombo in Sri Lanka and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

Sutherland is hopeful Australia might be able to tour Pakistan in 2009 or 2010 provided the security situation improves in a country which has seen more than 600 people die in suicide attacks this year alone.

"We want the tour to go ahead, we want to play cricket against Pakistan and we want to play ideally in Pakistan but right now it's not appropriate to be playing in Pakistan,"

Sutherland added.

"But that is not to say that at some stage in the not too distant future things won't have settled down and we will be able to play in Pakistan.

"There are a couple of windows in 2009 and 2010 and it might take a little bit of massaging in order to make that happen but that is what we are setting our sights on at the moment."

Sutherland said he could understand the PCB not moving the series to a neutral venue given the 2002 series was played in front of almost empty stadia.

"Playing at a neutral venue was one of the options that was certainly put on the table but at the end of the day that is something for the Pakistan Cricket Board because it's their tour and we certainly sympathise with their position in that they desperately want the tour to go ahead in Pakistan."

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have the power to fine Cricket Australia if it was felt there was insufficient justification for refusing to tour.

But the ICC insist that was not on their agenda.

"No, since it was a mutual decision between the two cricket boards there is no question of the ICC imposing any fines,"

a spokesman told PA Sport.

"It is a joint declaration, it is not a cancellation, it is a postponement.

"Both the boards can mutually postpone a tour.

"It has happened in the past, it is a decision the boards have taken so we support it."

Pakistan cricket chief Nasim Ashraf insisted conditions in the country remained conducive to hosting international sporting events despite Australia's decision to postpone their tour.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ashraf said:

"We maintain conditions are still conducive to hold cricket events in Pakistan.

"Our security plans have also been very good. Teams have toured Pakistan in recent times and have had no problems.

"The Australians have based their decision on their own assessment of the security situation in Pakistan."

Australian tour to Pakistan postponed

JOINT CRICKET AUSTRALIA/PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD MEDIA RELEASE

Cricket Australia (CA) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have announced that the Australian Cricket team tour to Pakistan scheduled for March/April 2008 has been postponed.

New dates for the tour will be decided in the near future.

The Chairmen of the two boards will meet in Dubai next weekend to further discuss possible dates for the deferred tour.

The ICC Future Tours Program is complex and changes require extensive consultation with other member boards with whom Australia and Pakistan have existing commitments. This process will be undertaken over coming weeks.

Commenting on the decision, CA Chairman Mr Creagh O’Connor said:

"We are very sorry that the tour could not take place at this time.

"This was a difficult decision based on independent review of the circumstances prevailing in Pakistan at the moment.

"We wish no loss to Pakistan Cricket Board and look forward to undertaking this tour in the near future".

PCB Chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf said:

"We are obviously very disappointed at this decision.

"I guess there is not much we could do and sincerely hope that the tour of Australia to Pakistan can materialise at the earliest opportunity.

National Sr Cricket Cup: Qadir steers Lahore to victory

Former Pakistan skipper and googly bowler Abdul Qadir put up fine display as Lahore Whites managed their fourth victory in a row when they edged out Sheikhupura Stags by 20 runs in 10th National Senior Cup Cricket Tournament here on Monday at Railway Stadium.

Meanwhile, Shah Faisal Seniors and Lahore Veterans Yellow also managed wins at different centres.

Lahore Whites made 218-7 with Qadir hitting quick-fired 41 with the help of 3 sixes and 3 fours. Ghaffar Kazmi hit a solid half century (68) with Ameer Akbar making 27 and Ali Zia adding (23). Arshad Rafi took 3-46.

In reply, Sheikhupra Stags made only 198-9 with Fayyaz Haider 52, Babar 47, Izzad Saeed 16. Qadir took 2-17, Tariq Siddiqui 2-23.

Okara’s Gymkhana Ground saw Okara Veteran lost to Lahore Yellow Veterans by six wickets. Okara’s middle order batsmen Ramzan Ali and Muhammad Yaseen hit 55 and 33 respectively in team’s total of 222.

Tehseen Shah took 3-42 and Azmat Puri 2-39. Lahore Yellow chased the target with greater determination and promise posting 223-4 in 25.4 overs. Asad Iqbal hit unbeaten sparking (87) while Shafqat Tanveer scored valuable (53), Imran Kazmi 34.

Shah Faisal Seniors defeated Lahore Veteran Red by 5 wickets at Lahore’s Faisal Town Ground. The winners put up 267-6 with Ashfaq Ahmed shone with sterling (106) not out, and Sajid Umer making 48.

Shah Faisal Sr reached the total by making 268-5. Man of the Match Karamat Ali dominated with fine 79, Khalid Jamshed followed his foot prints with polished 72. Shahid 31, Naveed 30 were their other main scorers. Saleem Butt took 3-43.

The umpires were Mian Aslam, Muhammad Iqbal, Waleed Yaqoob, Muhammad Kaleem, Jamil Kamran and Hashim Ali.