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Drama unfolded in Islamabad when Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) added Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif in the playing XI without the prior permission of the PCB, in their match against Khan Research Laboratories. WAPDA’s move was rejected by match referee Khalid Niazi, as at the time, both players were still part of a rehabilitation programme and were not allowed to participate in the first-class tournament without the consent of the PCB integrity committee.Saeed Anwar, captain of Khan Research Laboratories, instantly objected after spotting the two players’ names in the final squad before the toss. When asked to produce the no-objection certificate, the WAPDA manager referred to a letter written to the PCB seeking permission – which was apparently denied – following which Niazi called the board to clarify their stance. Butt and Asif, whose spot-fixing ban was lifted on September 2 this year, had been signed by WAPDA as non-executive 17th grade employees. The duo, however, are allowed to travel with the 15-man squad during the ongoing tournament.Rahat Ali picked up match figures of 9 for 83 to help Khan Research Laboratories to a five-wicket win. The loss left WAPDA lingering with 16 points and at sixth place in the points table before the final round of games beginning on December 7.Port Qasim Authority captain Khalid Latif scored 172 out of his team’s first-innings total of 215 against United Bank Limited at the Marghzar Cricket Ground in Islamabad. Latif, who has played five ODIs and seven T20Is for Pakistan, also completed 8000 first-class runs during his innings. He last played an ODI in 2010 in Perth, where he was dismissed for a duck.Umar Siddiq struck twin tons – 113 and 174 – to set up a strong platform for United Bank Limited as they set a target of 499. PQA managed 204 in 40 overs but had lost seven wickets before the game was drawn. Fast bowler Ehsan Adil claimed eight wickets in the match.Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) registered their first ever win in first-class cricket after beating Rawalpindi in a low-scoring encounter at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. After being four down without a run on the board in response to Rawalpindi’s first-innings total of 163, FATA mustered a score of 89. However, they completed a stunning comeback after bowling Rawalpindi out for 105 and then hunting down the target of 180. The win elevated FATA off the bottom of the table, after drawing three and losing two of their previous five games.Lahore Whites continued to struggle with the runs as they suffered another defeat, this time by an innings and 160 runs against rivals Karachi Blues. Karachi posted 363 on the back of a century from Saad Ali before Lahore were shot out for 145 and 58. Lahore Whites, who are at the bottom of Pool B with four losses and two drawn games, are facing a possible relegation from the tournament and will have to qualify for the main round next year if they remain in that position. Lahore Blues, the other team from the region, are placed fourth in Pool A with 12 points.

MS Dhoni has been named captain of the new Pune franchise, Rising Pune Supergiants, for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.Dhoni, who led Chennai Super Kings to two IPL titles, was named Supergiants’ captain for only one season for now. “He has always been a phenomenal leader for teams that he has represented including the Indian side,” team owner Sanjiv Goenka said at the team’s logo unveiling. “Right now the focus is only on 2016 and the team building. That’s why we named Dhoni as the captain.”His track record in both domestic and International arenas have been remarkable. I firmly believe he will lead our team extremely well on and off the field.”Having made the most successful bid for a new franchise, Dhoni was Pune’s first pick at the player draft in December. The other four players chosen were Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Steven Smith and Faf du Plessis.”Practically we hope there will be complete harmony in the team. The likes of MS, Steven Smith and Faf du Plessis are seasoned leaders. I don’t think there will be any chance of a friction in the team,” Goenka said.Rising Pune Supergiants, owned by New Rising, will have INR 27 crore to spend at the player auction on February 6 to make up the rest of the squad.

Rising Pune Supergiants – welcome to the family #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/tZqipos17O

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 18, 2016

ScorecardSimon Katich’s fourth Pura Cup century of the season gave second-placed New South Wales a handy lead and then four cheap Western Australian wickets put them in a strong position heading into the final day. Katich moved to 189 before chopping on to leg stump in sight of what would have been his fourth double-century in the past year. The ball clipped the bail and he became one of four victims for Ben Edmondson.Beau Casson added a useful 72 not out and was part of a stand with Katich that took New South Wales one run behind, then Nathan Bracken pitched in with 30. But Brad Haddin, perhaps overawed by being tipped to be Australia’s new wicketkeeper-batsman following Adam Gilchrist’s retirement, was an early casualty, adding five to his overnight 8 before being caught by Chris Rogers off Marcus North.Then came a procession as Doug Bollinger delivered two sharp blows, and Casson’s slow left-armers also bagged a couple to send Western Australia’s top order back. Three of the dismissals were lbws and they were in severe trouble at 4 for 36. Luke Pomersbach and Aaron Heal will resume with a huge task to push third-placed Western Australia into any kind of lead and then hang on for the draw. New South Wales, however, will be confident of capturing the final six wickets to keep their final bid secure.

Having earned a Test recall after nearly two years, Mohammad Kaif said he was expecting to be picked based on his domestic performance. He was named as replacement in the squad for the second Test against South Africa after Sachin Tendulkar was ruled out with a groin injury.”I had scored some 1000 to 1200 runs,” Kaif told the tabloid . “A bulk of them were scored on tough wickets so the call was kind of expected.” He scored 687 runs at 59.73 from eight Ranji Trophy games for Uttar Pradesh and 266 at 52.46 from two Duleep Trophy matches for Central Zone this season.Kaif was dropped from the Test side after India’s tour of West Indies in June 2006 despite scoring an unbeaten 148 in the second Test in St Lucia. “I had learned a lot during this period. I think whatever happens, happens for some good only. So I think there must have been some good reason of my being away from the Indian side.”I must thank my supporters and those who stood by me in my bad period. I hope that the bad phase has ended and this selection will bring more good news for me in the future.”Though excited about being included in the squad, Kaif said India would no doubt miss Tendulkar. “Captain Anil Kumble will never have wanted him [Tendulkar] to be out of the side,” Kaif said. But now I have got a chance and if I play, I will try and make the best out of it.”

ScorecardEvin Lewis cracked nine fours and one six during his 41-ball 56•WICB Media/Ashley Allen

Opener Evin Lewis struck a quick fifty as Trinidad & Tobago knocked off 107 within 14 overs to secure 18 points; their first win at home this season.Lewis was dismissed for 56 off 41 balls but Kyle Hope stayed unbeaten with Marlon Richards to seal the victory. This meant that Leeward Islands remained rooted to the bottom of the table with a solitary win in eight matches.Leeward Islands were left to play catch-up right from the first day, when they were bowled out for 225. Debutant Keacy Carty, who had steered West Indies Under-19s’ tense chase against India Under-19s in the World Cup final, was the first to go, bowled by Rayad Emrit for 5. Daron Cruickshank soon became Emrit’s second victim. Nkrumah Bonner mounted some resistance with 47 before Jahmar Hamilton and Rakheem Cornwall added 74 together, but the lower order was cleaned up by pacer Marlon Richards.Legspinning allrounder Imran Khan pitched in with two wickets. He then led T&T’s batting effort with his ninth first-class fifty, at the top of the order. Narsingh Deonarine and Steven Katwaroo also stroked fifties to give their side the advantage with a first-innings lead of 181, despite Cornwall’s five-for.Leeward Islands fared marginally better in their second dig, managing 287, but the small target was brushed off by T&T. Carty hit a fifty as did Cornwall, but Imran’s four-wicket haul rattled the middle order. His match haul of six wickets eventually put him joint second on the wickets charts, with 37 scalps.
ScorecardRonsford Beaton’s five-for in the first innings followed by Leon Johnson’s 107 shaped Guyana’s six-wicket win against Windward Islands in St Lucia. Guyana picked up 18 points with the win to strengthen their position at the top of the points table.After being inserted, Devon Smith and Jelornie Robinson set Windwards up nicely with a 120-run partnership for the second wicket after Beaton had removed Tyrone Theophile early. Raymon Reifer broke the stand by removing Robinson for 57, a wicket that triggered Windwards’ middle-order collapse. A combined bowling effort from Guyana, led by Beaton, ensured that no other Windwards crossed the score of 20 as they lost nine wickets for 80 runs. Beaton cleaned up Windwards’ tail quickly as they were bowled out for 216.Guyana’s strong response was built on Johnson’s century, while Vishaul Singh and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (46) played the support roles. Johnson struck 13 fours in his 107 and also shared a 119-run fifth-wicket stand with Vishaul, who made a patient 58 – a partnership that put them in control after they were at a wobbly 100 for 4. Guyana got a late push when Johnson and Reifer combined for the seventh wicket to add 62, a stand that set them up for over 300. Mervin Matthew’s late wickets, that helped him complete career-best figures of 6 for 81, helped Windwards bowl Guyana out for 339, a 123-run lead.Windwards suffered another batting collapse in the second innings that had them lose seven wickets for 41 runs as they slumped to 131 for 9. Smith’s 51 was the only score of note before Shane Shillingford provided lower-order resistance with a quick 26 that took his side to 161 before they were bowled out. Reifer led Guyana’s bowling effort, picking up 4 for 35, while Devendra Bishoo and Beaton accounted for a total of five wickets.In their pursuit of 39, Guyana were reduced to 13 for 4 by Shillingford and Kyle Mayers. Johnson then came out full of positivity though, and smashed a quick 17 to take his side home without further damage.
ScorecardJustin Greaves’ 5 for 41 and fifties from Kraigg Brathwaite and Roston Chase set up Barbados’ six-wicket win over Jamaica at Sabina Park. The result, though, had no bearing on the points table as Barbados maintained their second position, while Jamaica follow at third.Shacaya Thomas and Andre McCarthy struck fifties but Greaves’ five-for cut through Jamaica, bowling them out for 177 as only two other batsmen made double-digit scores, both without touching 20.Nikita Miller led the hosts’ bowling effort, cutting through the visitors with a haul of 8 for 67. Barbados, though, were rescued and helped to a 40-run lead by Brathwaite and Chase’s fifties. Brathwaite stroked 11 fours during his 130-ball 66, while Chase’s knock came with eight fours.Jamaica slumped to 80 for 7 in their second innings before Devon and Jason Dawes combined to add 63 for the eighth wicket. Their partnership helped the hosts set Barbados a fighting if still small target of 118. Jomel Warrican and Hayden Walsh combined to pick up 6 for 90 for Barbados, while Miguel Cummins finished with 2 for 20.Brathwaite combined with Jonathan Carter to help take Barbados to 77 for 1 in the chase, before both batsmen fell in consecutive overs. Chase then came in and smacked a brisk 35 to take them home with six wickets in hand.

Shane Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler currently signed up with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), has accused international boards of succumbing to pressure from the Indian board to ban players believes players who join the unofficial Twenty20 league.”I’m just disappointed that players are getting banned. I just don’t think that is fair,” Bond, 32, said. “All boards want to make money and they have been quick to jump in with the BCCI, basically doing what they told them.”They [boards] are really the ones who are breaching contracts and probably aren’t acting ethically very well.”The BCCI has refused to recognise the ICL and later launched a multi-million dollar official version, the Indian Premier League (IPL). International Cricket Council regulations prevent contracted players from taking part in any league or tournament not sanctioned by the home board where they are based. The popular belief is that the financially-powerful BCCI has pushed various boards to ban players who play in the ICL from appearing in international or domestic competition.Bond believes these boards could have made a joint demand that the ICL pay a fee in return for each player, with the money going into facilities and grassroots development projects. “We’re professional cricketers and we should be able to play anywhere and for anyone,” Bond said, criticising NCZ for retracting their permission to allow him play in the ICL.Bond, who took 79 wickets in 17 Tests and 125 wickets from 65 ODIs, will debut for Delhi in the ICL’s new tournament starting on Sunday. “It is a job and we are trying to provide and look after families,” he said. “We are forced into a situation where we are getting banned from a job we want to do.”Bond also warned that legal action could be taken if more players were prevented from competing in the ICL. “I think we are going to see it get a ruling in the high court or supreme court. Something like that will happen one day because it will get over the top … people would have had enough.”

Sri Lanka fast bowler Dilhara Fernando has been sent to Western Australiawhere he will spend ten days working with fast bowling expert Darrel Fosterin an attempt to ward off future injuries.Fernando, the quickest of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, suffered a stress fracture ofhis back at Sharjah last October and, though now back bowling in the nets,the team management is keen for Foster to iron out slight technical faultsin a powerful bowling action that places a severe strain on his back.When Fernando returns he will rejoin the national training squad and themanagement are hopeful that he will be in contention for the forthcomingSharjah tournament in April.

The Bangladesh players have been fined five percent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during the third ODI against Pakistan in Lahore. Mike Procter, the match referee, also reprimanded Shahriar Nafees, the Bangladesh batsman, for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.Bangladesh were found to be one over short of the target after taking time allowances into consideration. Players are docked five percent for every over their team fails to complete within the alloted time and captains are penalised double, resulting in a ten percent cut in the match fee for Mohammad Ashraful.Nafees was found guilty of breaching clause 1.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings.” Nafees kicked and damaged an advertising hoarding after a misfield, but was let off with only a reprimand.”It was Shahriar’s third misfield in the innings and he was obviously frustrated as it was a crucial game because Bangladesh was playing to stay alive in the series,” Procter said. “But it is not the sort of example that players should be setting at any time. Shahriar pleaded guilty, apologised for the incident and promised not to repeat it again.”All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee.Nafees had scored a duck in that match, and was dropped in the subsequent game in Multan. Pakistan lead the series 4-0.

Scorecard

Russel Arnold blitzed a 40-ball 66 to inspire the Chennai Superstars to a nail-biting victory over the Kolkata Tigers in Hyderabad. Set a challenging 186 to win, Arnold and the Superstars held their nerve to post their first win of the tournament, with two balls to spare.While it was Arnold who applied the finishing touches, it was the in-form opener Ian Harvey who laid the groundwork with an express 49 featuring three sixes and four fours. He and G Vignesh gave the Superstars a flier, raising 49 off the first five overs.By the time Harvey was dismissed in the tenth over, the Superstars had raced to 92.Though Hemang Badani fell cheaply soon after, the asking-rate wasn’t allowed to increase too much from the initial 9.30. It was the Arnold show from then as the other batsmen contributed a mere 11 of the required 53 runs. A torrent of boundaries flowed from his bat and even his mishits cleared the ropes, including a top-edged pull which flew over fine leg.Earlier, after opting to bat, the Tigers were reduced to 14 for 3 by the third over. However, a brutal onslaught from captain Craig McMillan (69 off 41, five fours, four sixes) and a relatively tempered half-century from Abhishek Jhunjhunwala enabled them to reach a formidable total. At that stage, it seemed the Tigers would condemn the Superstars to their third successive defeat but Arnold’s pyrotechnics carried the Chennai side to victory.Despite the defeat, the Tigers are in third place, one above the Superstars. The Lahore Badshahs top the table having won all three of their games so far.

Vikram Solanki held up Warwickshire for a further 85 minutes today as Worcestershire topped 300 in a first innings at New Road for the first time this season.Solanki is a batsman who cashes in on his big innings. Resuming on 113 – thed ninth first-class century of his career – he went on to pass 150 for the seventh time.Three fours off Graeme Welch in the sixth over put him back in the groove but overnight partner Steve Rhodes was content to plod along with only five in the first hour.Solanki eventually collected 25 boundaries to reach 160 in 311 minues before a loose drive off Dougie Brown flew straight to substitute Stuart Eustace at mid-off.Rhodes contributed 28 to a partnership of 112 in 34 overs and added only 25 in 135 minutes this morning to reach 45 in a lunch total of 311 for six.