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Lahore Test: Hopes high

          New Delhi: Cricket enthusiasts across India expressed confidence that the team would repeat its superlative performance in the first Test in Multan, and win the second Test match which began on Monday at Lahore. Eager fans in New Delhi could be seen crowding shops to catch a glimpse of their cricket heroes in action. With the team having bagged the one-day series 3-2 and an innings victory in the first test at Multan, most of the cricket fans seemed confident of India lapping up the three test series as well. "These days the Pakistanis are sluggish in front of the Indian team. Indians are on top these days," said Rakesh, a cricket fan. "India will win the match," said Mohammed Zia, another cricket enthusiast.

Yuvraj ton pulls India out of disaster (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Yuvraj Singh smashed his maiden Test century to pull out India from disaster to a respectable 287 after Pakistani pacer Umar Gul bulldozed through the Indian top order in the second test here. Seeking to avenge its crushing defeat at Multan, the home side had made 61 for one at close to set the stage for a crucial day tomorrow which will have a major bearing on the course of the match. The two spearheads of the Pakistani attack - Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami - were again ineffective but the third seamer Umar Gul (5 for 31) had the formidable Indian batting tottering at 147 for seven at one stage. But Yuvraj Singh, playing only in his third Test, came to the rescue, scoring 112 from 129 balls in a knock that included 15 boundaries and two sixes in the company of 19 year old Irfan Pathan who proved that he was handy with the bat too. The duo put up a brilliant 117-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Irfan Pathan scoring a career-best 49 that included seven fours and a six.

         But India suffered another setback losing Irfan Pathan in the post-tea session. Pathan was caught and bowled by spinner Danish Kaneria. The new man at the crease. Lakshmipathy Balaji nicked Mohammad Sami to be caught behind for a duck. Anil Kumble scored 6 runs and India were put into bowl after Yuvraj bowed out at 112. At stumps on the first day, Pakistan were 61 for 1, losing opener Taufeeq Umar to a brilliant delivery by Lakshmipathy Balaji. Imran Farhat (25) and Yasir Hameed (4) will resume at the crease tomorrow.

Losing Pak captaincy doesn't bother me: Inzimam (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Pakistan's cricket captain Inzimam-ul-Haq has said that his focus will be on restoring the playing pride of the team, rather than being bothered about issues like losing the post of captain due to a series loss. "No. I am not taking any pressure on this count. I am not thinking about losing the captaincy. Captaincy is there one day and gone the next. What's important is that we perform as a team," the burly Multan batsman was quoted by the News as saying ahead of Monday's second Test against India. Inzamam said that the first session of play in the second Test would be very crucial for both teams. "I think it will define the rest of the match. Which is why if we bowl first, we have to take advantage of the conditions to the maximum," he said.

PCB not amused by Pepsi's anti-Pak commercial (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Taking strong exception to the anti- Pakistani commercial launched by the Indian arm of Pepsi, the official sponsors of the Pakistan cricket team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly conveyed its displeasure over the issue to the company's senior management. India's recent dominance over the Pakistan team in the one-day and Test series led Pepsi India to come out with banners and posters that said: "Pakis Khallas ... Ab Aur Badi Hai Pyaas (Now that we've finished off the Pakistanis, our thirst has increased). But a helpless Pepsi official here told the News that Pepsi India was a completely separate entity and didn't have to consult their sister concern in Pakistan before launching such cricket-related ad campaigns. The Pepsi campaign has left many ad gurus and critics surprised, especially since this series has been aimed at promoting goodwill between the two neighbors after a gap of several years.