Parthiv fined for excessive appealing

          Lahore: Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel has been fined 60 per cent of his match fees by ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle for excessive appealing during the second day's play of the second Test against Pakistan. The young Indian stumper was summoned by Madugalle for a hearing late on Tuesday evening after the two umpires Steve Bucknor and Simon Taufel had reported Patel to the referee. Indian captain Rahul Dravid and team manager Ratnakar Shetty were also present during the hearing. Patel, 19, is the second player after Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan to face disciplinary action during the series. Khan was fined 80 per cent of his match fees during the first Test in Multan.

Pak look to replace Shoaib, Sami for third Test (Go To Top)

          Lahore: The dismal show by Pakistan's speedsters Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami has prompted the country's cricket board to mull over the inclusion of three promising pacers - Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar and Fazle Akber into the team. Quoting PCB sources, the News on Wednesday said that the three bowlers have been put on notice for a possible call-up to Pakistan team for the third Test. While Rana played in the first ODI against India at Karachi, the uncapped Iftikhar was a member of the Pakistani squad for the first two one-day internationals at Karachi and Rawalpindi, but was then dropped by the selectors. Akber, who has played in the past for Pakistan in both Tests and ODIs, has been in prolific form this season with the ball taking over 50 wickets already. While stating that the three could be a good backup for the future, PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan has expressed disappointment with the performances of Shoaib and Sami.

Pak wants to tour India this year: Shaharyar (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Pakistan would like to tour India later this year and not in early 2005 as offered by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), the PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan, said here on Tuesday. Rating the ongoing India tour as a `goodwill tour', Khan said that both countries would like to come nearer to each other by arranging cricket tours more and more. The cricketing relations between the two countries have revived, and there is no need to arrange the two countries cricket tournaments in other countries, he said, adding, "I personally do not like both countries competing at the neutral venues as both countries' cricket fans want to see their stars in action at home."