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India seal historic Test win against Pak

          Multan/ New Delh/ Srinagar: India won their first ever Test on Pakistani soil, beating the hosts by an innings and 52 runs on the fifth morning on Thursday. The Indians had not won any of their previous 20 tests in Pakistan, losing five and drawing 15. Pakistan's Vice Captain Yousuf Youhana, who struck a fighting 112, mishit but left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan to be caught by stand-in captain Rahul Dravid at mid-wicket. Pakistan were bowled out for 216.

          Indian fans reacted with joy over the historic win. "I am feeling very nice that after 14 years India went to Pakistan. I was waiting for the last wicket to fall. It was very interesting and Sehwag played well," said Siddharth Singh, a cricket buff in New Delhi. "India really played well so they were able to win the test match. Pakistan could not perform at their home pitch. Sehwag played well," said Meer Hussain, another cricket fan in Srinagar.

          India had amassed 675 for five, with Virender Sehwag scoring a record 309 and Sachin Tendulkar 194 not out. Pakistan replied with 407 in the first innings and 216 in their second innings. Meanwhile, India's left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan has been ruled out of the second Test at Lahore following a suspected hamstring injury. "Before Anil speaks to you, I have just an announcement about Zaheer Khan. Zaheer Khan injured his right leg muscle. It's a suspected hamstring injury. He wouldn't be in the Test only in Lahore. He will reach Lahore the day after tomorrow", Ratnakar Shetty, the team's manager, told reporters. India captain Saurav Ganguly is already out of the first two Tests with a back injury.

          The second Test starts in Lahore on April 5 and the final Test in Rawalpindi begins on April 13. Anil Kumble was India's best bowler in the second innings, grabbing six for 72 after Pathan's career-best four for 100 in the first had allowed India to enforce the follow-on. Kumble said the team would carry on from here, and is looking to win the Test series. "It will really feel nice. We have won none of Tests in Pakistan for the last twenty years. We can make a history out of these wickets. We will be taking this confidence with us to Lahore and it further makes better for us to win the series. We will try our best to win the series," Kumble told reporters.

Ganguly returns home for medical check-up (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: Cricket captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday returned home to consult a specialist for his back injury even as India rejoiced after its team registered a historic maiden test victory on Pakistani soil. The 31-year-old sustained the injury when he fell awkwardly while fielding against Pakistan in the fifth and final one-day international on March 24, which India won by 40 runs to clinch the series 3-2. Ganguly said he hoped to be back in Pak/istan in a day or two. "I feel good that my team has won. I have come back for treatment and will go back in two, three days time," he said. Ganguly, who missed the first Test, has also been ruled out for the second Test starting in Lahore on April 5 while the final Test in Rawalpindi begins on April 13. Rahul Dravid led India in Multan in the absence of Ganguly, who was replaced in the team by Yuvraj Singh for the opening test in a three-match series.

Imran Nazir, Umar Gul added to Pak squad for Lahore Test (Go To Top)

          Multan: Pakistan opener Imran Nazir and seamer Umar Gul have been recalled by the Pakistan selectors for the second cricket Test against India to be played at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium from April 5. The announcement of the squad was made shortly after Pakistan's innings and 52 run loss to India in the first Test in Multan on Thursday. The Pakistan selection that comprised Sultan Rana, and Ihtashamul Haq met under the chairmanship of former wicketkeeper Wasim Bari. Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq and the team's coach Javed Miandad also participated in the deliberations. The squad is as follows: Inzamamul Haq (captain), Yosuf Youhana (Vice captain), Imran Farhat, Imran Nazeer, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Umar Gul, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Asim Kamal, Shoaib Akhtar, Misbahul Haq, Danesh Kaneria, Mohammad Sami and Shabeer Ahmed.

Huge total spurred me to go for the kill: Kumble (Go To Top)

          Multan: Pakistan's chief tormentor in the first Test being played here, Anil Kumble, has said that India's huge total of 675 for 5 declared had played a huge role in restoring his confidence as a bowler at the international level. Kumble, a veteran of 12 years standing and having a most enviable record against Pakistan, said: "I am happy that my bowling will play a part in India winning this Test. But I think I was able to bowl well and put the batsmen under pressure because of the huge total posted by our batsmen in this match."

          So far, Kumble has taken 8 for 171 in the match that is likely to end before lunch today. "I have always bowled well against them (Pakistan). And in this match after the first few balls, I felt good as the ball was pitching in the right spot. It seemed as I was carrying on from where I had left off in my last Test in Sydney," the News quoted him, as saying. The leg spinner also indicated that he is keen to cross the 400- wicket milestone, being just 10 wickets short of the mark. "Honestly speaking, I have never looked at individual records. For e the best recognition has been the respect given to me by my teammates and the Opposition. Kumble insisted that instead of criticizing the pitch credit must be given to the team playing well on it and winning on it. "We are just one wicket away from a historic win. It is very special for me and the team," he said.

Two decisions lost Pak the match, says Qadir (Go To Top)

          Karachi: Pakistan's erstwhile leg spinner Abdul Qadir has also joined the bandwagon of criticism against the umpiring decisions against Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and his deputy Yousuf Youhana, saying that both rulings changed the course of the Multan Test. Talking to a television channel, Qadir was quoted by the News as saying that had these decisions not been given, both Inzamam and Youhana could have steered the team out of trouble. "On this type of pitch our batsman could also score such a big total," Qadir said, adding that Pakistan's fielding in the match left a lot to be desired.

          He also said that players like Shahid Afridi, Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat should be persisted with, as they were the future of Pakistan cricket. "If I were a chief selector, I would have never dropped these players from any match and instead have given them encouragement," Qadir added. The players should be treated in such a way that they take the game very lightly, which is very important for their good performances, he said.