Pakistan announced 20-player squad

LAHORE: The Selection Committee of Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday announced 20 probables for up-coming Asia Cup. Final 15 players would be announced on June 22.

Wicket keeper batsman Kamran Akmal has been dropped for the purpose of imparting rest while Sarfaraz Ahmed is on for Akmal.

Shoaib Malik, Salman Butt, Younus Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Misbahul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Sohail Tanveer, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Nasir Jamsheed, Yasir Hameed, Bazeed Khan, Nouman Ullah, Mansoor Amjad, Saeed Ajmal, and Abdul Rauf are among the probables. The training camp would get underway from June 22 in Karachi.

ICC backs Pakistan to stage successful tournament

LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Pakistan was given a vote of confidence Tuesday by international cricket bosses as it gears up to host the Champions Trophy later this year.
International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ray Mali said he was confident Pakistan would put on a good tournament as the country had experience of running such events in the past. The tournament, from September 11-28, involves all the major cricketing powers -- Australia, South Africa, India, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
Pakistan also host the six-nation Asia Cup involving defending champions Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates from June 24 to July 6. Mali, who arrived with other ICC officials for Wednesday's launch of the biennial Champions Trophy, said: "The Asia Cup will give Pakistan an opportunity to rehearse for the Champions Trophy. " Mali and other ICC officials held talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over preparations for the event. PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf gave assurances on security. "The ICC is launching the event in Lahore on Wednesday and that is an ample proof that there are no problems. We have made foolproof security arrangements for the event," said Ashraf.
It will be the first time that Pakistan has staged a major sporting event since hosting a quadrangular tournament in 1997. Pakistan also hosted some matches of the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. Australia put off their March-April tour to the trouble-hit country this year over security fears. .

Shoaib Malik fined for slow over-rate during the second match of the tri-series against India

Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee for a . International Cricket Council match referee Jeff Crowe found Malik and his team to have been two overs short of the target when time allowances were taken into consideration. Pakistan’s players were each fined 10 per cent of their match fees, 5 per cent for every over, while the captain was fined doubled in accordance with ICC rules. "Although there was a rain interruption late in the innings, which always makes it difficult to keep the overs flowing, Pakistan only bowled 13 overs by the first drinks break and never managed to recover that deficit," said Crowe of his decision. Pakistan’s bowlers were guilty of bowling as many as 15 wides and three no-balls, which contributed to the slow over-rate. India beat Pakistan by 140 runs, but both teams will progress to Saturday's final should India beat Bangladesh on Thursday. .