Pakistan Review News and Reviews

Pakistani Cricket Team and the Year 2002

In the year 2002 Pakistani Cricket team succeed to win Sharjah Cup, Hong Kong Sixes title and Blind World Cup champions at Chennaii. On the other hand they give away Asian Test Championship on a platter to Sri Lanka. Though Pakistan complete a five-nil whitewash of Zimbabwe in November but later in Australia, rated one of the top teams failed to perform according to its potential and the team was badly defeated in the 5 One Day series by Australian cricket team. Some important event during 2002 are listed below:

25 January 2002- Pakistan Under-19 qualify for Super League series by beating England in key game

15 February 2002 - Shoaib Malik at the age of 20 years and 14 days became the fifth youngest centurian in ODI's

8 March 2002 - Pakistan lost Asian Test Championship final and give it away on a platter to Sri Lanka.

9 March 2002 - Sami bowls into record books, took a hat trick

April 17 2002 - Pakistan capture Sharjah Cup

28 April 2002 - Akhtar first bowler to break 100mph barrier

29 April 2002 - Akhtar's 100 mph delivery will remain unofficial

3 November 2002 - Pakistan beat England to win fourth Hong Kong Sixes title

1 December 2002 -Pakistan complete a five-nil whitewash of Zimbabwe

14 December 2002 - Pakistan emerge Blind World Cup champions at Chennai

25 January 2002- Pakistan Under-19 qualify for Super League series by beating England in key game

Pakistan breathed a sigh of relief in Christchurch when keeping their ICC Under-19 World Cup aspirations alive by qualifying for the Super League series when beating England by six wickets.

Having been beaten by Nepal in their match, the Pakistanis were in a must-win situation today and they made the most of it after winning the toss and putting England in.

England were soon in trouble with their two openers back in the pavilion with only 22 runs on the board.

However, Nicky Peng maintained the consistent form he has shown with the bat this summer to score a handy 59 off 83 balls and with assistance from Gordon Muchall (18), Bilal Shafayat (21) and Kyle Hogg (40) built a position of reasonable advantage.

But England could well have done with extra runs in the two overs they missed out on as a result of being dismissed in 48.1 overs.

Pakistan made a solid start which wasn't spectacular but was certainly effective. Opener Salman Butt scored his 35 off 93 balls while his partner Kamran Younis scored 15 off 41 balls. Thirty-five runs were scored for the first wicket and then a key 83 runs for the second wicket as Khaqan Arsal joined Butt to score 62 off 76 balls.

15 February 2002 - Shoaib Malik at the age of 20 years and 14 days became the fifth youngest centurian in ODI's

Shoaib Malik at the age of 20 years and 14 days became the fifth youngest centurian in ODI's. It was Malik's first and overall, the 89th ton by any Pakistani player in limited over international cricket.

Just for the record, Shahid Afridi, for his fastest 37-ball ton at the age of 16 years and 217 days, still remains the youngest, followed by Imran Nazir and Saleem Elahi. Afridi is also the only player to score two ODI tons before his 19th birthday. India's Sachin Tendulkar is the only one with four hundreds before his 22nd birthday.

All ODI centuries before a player's 22nd birthday (29)

Players

Score

Age (yrs & days)

Vs

Venue

Date

Shahid Afridi (Pak)

102

16 y & 217 d

SL

Nairobi (Gym)

Oct 04, 1996

Imran Nazir (Pak)

105*

18 y & 120 d

Zim

St. George's

Apr 15, 2000

Shahid Afridi (Pak)

109

18 y & 201 d

Ind

Toronto

Sep 19, 1998

Saleem Elahi (Pak)

102*

18 y & 311 d

SL

Sialkot

Sep 29, 1995

Shoaib Malik (Pak)

111*

20 y & 14 d

WI

Sharjah

Feb 15, 2002

Ijaz Ahmed (Pak)

124*

20 y & 39 d

BD

Chittagong

Oct 29, 1988

Mehrab Hossain (BD)

101

20 y & 215 d

Zim

Dhaka

Mar 25, 1999

RL Powell (WI)

124

20 y & 266 d

Ind

Singapore (Kall)

Sep 08, 1999

VG Kambli (Ind)

100*

Exactly 21 y

Eng

Jaipur

Jan 18, 1993

RT Ponting (Aus)

123

21 y & 20 d

SL

Melbourne

Jan 09, 1996

CL Hooper (WI)

113*

21 y & 37 d

Ind

Gawalior

Jan 22, 1988

DI Gower (Eng)

114*

21 y & 54 d

Pak

The Oval

May 26, 1978

DL Haynes (WI)

148

21 y & 68 d

Aus

Antigua

Feb 22, 1978

RT Ponting (Aus)

102

21 y & 75 d

WI

Jaipur

Mar 04, 1996

DPM Jayawardene (SL)

120

21 y & 87 d

Eng

Adelaide

Jan 23, 1999

DD Ebrahim (Zim)

121

21 y & 109 d

BD

Dhaka

Nov 25, 2001

SB Smith (Aus)

117

21 y & 117 d

NZ

Melbourne

Feb 13, 1983

SR Tendulkar (Ind)

110

21 y & 137 d

Aus

Colombo (RPS)

Sep 09, 1994

Ijaz Ahmed (Pak)

102*

21 y & 142 d

SL

Brisbane

Feb 10, 1990

DPM Jayawardene (SL)

101

21 y & 150 d

Pak

Vishakapatnum

Mar 27, 1999

MD Crowe (NZ)

105*

21 y & 155 d

Eng

Auckland

Feb 25, 1984

Saeed Anwar (Pak)

126

21 y & 163 d

SL

Adelaide

Feb 17, 1990

SR Tendulkar (Ind)

115

21 y & 186 d

NZ

Baroda

Oct 28, 1994

SR Tendulkar (Ind)

105

21 y & 200 d

WI

Jaipur

Nov 11, 1994

DI Gower (Eng)

101*

21 y & 308 d

Aus

Melbourne

Feb 04, 1979

Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak)

101

21 y & 319 d

SL

Multan

Jan 17, 1992

Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak)

117

21 y & 321 d

SL

Rawalpindi

Jan 19, 1992

CH Gayle (WI)

152

21 y & 328 d

Ken

Simba Ground

Aug 15, 2001

SR Tendulkar (Ind)

112*

21 y & 349 d

SL

Sharjah

Apr 09, 1995
- All data updated to 28.02.2002

9 March 2002 - Sami bowls into record books

On 9 March 2002, during 3rd day's play in the 2nd Asian Test Championship Final
between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, Mohammad Sami,
playing in only his 3rd Test, became the third Pakistani after Wasim Akram and Abdul
Razzaq and 27th bowler overall, to claim the 30th hat-trick in Test cricket. The right
arm fast bowler grabbed the last three Sri Lankan wickets. He dismissed Buddhika
Fernando, Nuwan Zoysa, both leg before and Muttiah Muralitharan, bowled off
consecutive deliveries in his 37th over.

With this hat-trick Sami also joined Wasim Akram as the only two bowlers with
hat-tricks in both forms of the game so far. Wasim Akram, has two hat-tricks in Test
cricket and he same number in LOIs. While Sami had a hat-trick in the 2nd ODI
against West Indies at Sharjah on 15 February 2002.

The current list includes nine Englishmen, eight Australians, three West Indians, three
Pakistanis and one bowler each from South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and
India. No bowlers from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have claimed a hat-trick in Test
matches so far.

It was 30th hat-trick in Tests. Australia's Thomas James Matthews and Hugh Trumble
along with Pakistan's Wasim Akram are the only bowlers to have performed this feat
twice.

The first bowler to perform a hat-trick in Test cricket was Australian, Frederick
Robert Spofforth who dismissed three in a row in his six for 48 against England at
Melbourne in 1878-79. Spofforth's victims were V Royle, F Mackinnon and T
Emmett.

At 21 years and 13 days, Mohammed Sami is the third youngest player after
Pakistan's Abdul Razzaq to achieve this feat. Abdul Razzaq who was 20 years and
201 days old when he took three wickets in a row against Sri Lanka at Galle on 21
June 2000 and India's Harbhajan Singh who was 20 years and 251 days old when he
achieved the same against Australia at Calcutta on 11 March 2000.

8 March 2002 - Pakistan lost Asian Test Championship final and give it away on a platter to Sri Lanka.

From day one, Pakistan have been on the receiving end in this second Asian Test
Championship final. At close on the third day, at 193 for five, with Shahid Afridi and
Yousuf Youhana throwing their wickets away like crazy spendthrifts, Pakistan had
more or less handed the trophy to Sri Lanka. With 101 out of the overall lead of 294
on the first innings to go, the deficit was still quite sizable.

In murky and overcast conditions, with floodlights blazing down since early afternoon,
Muttiah Muralitharan had added another three wickets for only 39 to his first innings
tally of four for 55. And with Inzamam-ul-Haq (unbeaten on 38 with just one four) the
only recognised batsman left, this incomparable Sri Lankan match-winner was going
for the kill.

Pakistan really gave it away on a platter. They had seemed to be taking the challenge
to Sri Lanka, as Afridi and Inzamam put on 84 for the third wicket. It was as
self-assured a partnership as any, and had the potential to assume threatening
proportions. Afridi, given a life when he was dropped by Jayasuriya at first slip off
Chaminda Vaas, was by now on 70 and playing his shots fluently and effortlessly. He
had smitten Muralitharan for a six to mid-wicket, and clubbed three exquisite fours as
Vaas was brought on.

At that point Pakistan had clawed their way back, but then Afridi lunged down the
wicket to Muralitharan, only to be beaten comprehensively by a straight delivery, and
Kumar Sangakkara had no problem in stumping him.

Yousuf Youhana, usually so sedate and dependable, inexplicably seemed in a hurry to
dictate terms. He lofted Muralitharan for four over extra cover, but perished doing the
same on the onside. His miscued drive was pouched by Marvan Atapattu with a
palpable sigh of relief. Abdul Razzaq got a reprieve from umpire Athar Zaidi when he
was plumb in front, but Muralitharan got him, this time umpire Harper adjudging in the
bowler's favour when the ball was clearly turning enough to miss leg stump.

Mohammad Sami had brought Sri Lanka's innings to an earlier than planned close
with a hat-trick to end Pakistan's leather chase spread over nearly five long sessions.
Pakistan's batsmen then failed to make amends for their woeful first innings display,
with Taufeeq Umar going cheaply, bowled by Vaas through the gate. Younis Khan
had looked steady when he flicked one to square leg and Thilan Samaraweera, who
snapped up a smart catch diving to his right.

Vaas then pulled Razzaq straight down the throat of Taufeeq Umar at deep square
leg. Thilan Samaraweera, the new kid on the block with an out of this world Test
average of 100-plus, came out, but he got out early, flicking one from Shoaib Akhtar
only to see Rashid Latif take a breathtaking catch well outside his range. It was Latif's
uncanny anticipation and a super dive that resulted in the catch of the match.

Sri Lanka had reached 528 for seven when Sami caught Buddhika Fernando plumb in
front; the umpires brought the extended session to a close in mid over. But Sami had
found his unerring line and length and the break was not to make him falter. He
trapped Nuwan Zoysa first ball after lunch, and the hat-trick ball, a fast in-swinging
yorker, found Muralitharan's inside edge uprooting the middle stump.

This was the third consecutive hat-trick in the ATC matches involving Pakistan and
Sri Lanka. Before Sami it was Wasim Akram who had two hat-tricks in as many
matches in the last ATC in 1999 against Sri Lanka. Looking for wickets in a bunch,
Pakistan finally grabbed the last four for just 28 runs, but by then the damage had
been done.

© CricInfo Limited

April 17 2002- Pakistan capture Sharjah Cup

SHARJAH, April 17: Pakistan well and truly whipped Sri Lanka to lift the Sharjah Cup in style, by a massive margin of 217 runs Wednesday.

The highly rated Sri Lankan batting crumbled without resistance. They were sent packing for 78 in 16.5 overs, their second lowest score in One-day Internationals, chasing 295.

It was a remarkable performance by Pakistan, to say the least. More so after two demoralizing defeats in the qualifying round against the same opposition. But Wednesday Pakistanis came to terms with themselves.

Yousuf Youhana, who had, had a lean time earlier in this tournament, struck form at the right time. So insipid was the Sri Lankan batting that Pakistan wiped them out with the help of only three seamers. Only Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara and Russel Arnold were able to reach double figures. Once they were out, there was virtually no resistance from the likes of Mahela Jayawardena and Upul Chandana.

Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar picked three wickets each while Wasim Akram claimed two. All three bowled extremely well and were admirably supported in the field. Earlier, a scintillating fifth wicket stand of 155 between Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan laid the
foundation of the highest total in the tri-nation competition, New Zealand being the third team.

Youhana played probably one of his best one-day knocks of his career, amassing 129 off 131 balls, his best in his 100th One-day International which included eight fours and three sixes. His innings was a treat to watch and was rightly named Man of the Final.

It was Youhana's first century in Sharjah as well as against Sri Lanka. But that should in no way undermine the fine knocks of Imran Nazir (63 off 61 balls) and Younis's 66 from 71 balls. It was Imran's second half century in last two outings.

Sri Lankans were visibly unsettled by the injury to their champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. It was tragic and took them quite sometime to recover from the shock. And that to on off-spinner's 30th birthday.

Dawn

28 April 2002 - Akhtar first bowler to break 100mph barrier

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar became the first bowler to break the 100mph barrier in Saturday's third one-day international against New Zealand, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Although Akhtar finished wicketless as his side defeated New Zealand by 66 runs in the third one-day international on Saturday, he clocked 100.04mph with the sixth ball of his second over to Craig McMillan.

"According to the speed gun operated in the ground by a sponsor, Shoaib Akhtar bowled a delivery at a speed off 161kph (100.04mph)," the PCB said in a statement.

"I am delighted to bowl that fast -- the speed machine is authentic and it should be acknowledged throughout the world," Shoaib told reporters on Sunday.

The previous record for the fastest delivery was held by Australia's Jeff Thomson, who was timed at 99.8 mph (160.5 kph) in 1975 in controlled conditions.

29 April 2002 - Akhtar's 100 mph delivery will remain unofficial

Shoaib Akhtar's 100 mile an hour delivery at the weekend, the first ever recorded, will remain unofficial, an International Cricket Council (ICC) spokesman said on Monday.

The 26-year-old Pakistan fast bowler was clocked at 161 kilometres an hour, a fraction over the 100 miles an hour mark, during the third one-day international against New Zealand on Saturday.

"These things are pretty unofficial," ICC spokesman Mark Harrison said. "There is no official ICC policy but we do regard it as an interesting part of the game. "If it creates interest and spectator entertainment, that's a good thing."

Harrison said there was a possibility the ICC could introduce a fast bowling table as part of its impending players' rankings. "It could be a part of it," he said. "We are looking at the whole issue."

Akhtar's feat, the cricketing equivalent of the first sub-four minute mile, was announced in a terse statement by the Pakistan Cricket Board at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. "According to the speed gun operated in the ground by a sponsor, Shoaib Akhtar bowled a delivery as a speed of 161 kph (100.04)," the statement said. The speed gun operated by the host broadcasting company was out of order.

Akhtar, whose career has been interrupted by injury and allegations of throwing, had no doubts about the legitimacy of his achievement. "The speed machine is authentic and it should be acknowledged throughout the world," he said. "With my fitness and the speed I am generating, I can deliver over 100 miles an hour any day and I would be delighted it's accepted."

Akhtar has been competing with Australian express bowler Brett Lee to reach the landmark. Lee was clocked at 99.8 miles an hour in Cape Town this year. The second fastest delivery ever is the 99.8 clocked by Australian Jeff Thomson during a special net session in 1976. West Indies' Andy Roberts recorded 96.0 in the same trial.

Thomson, England's Frank Tyson and Jamaican Michael Holding have been by common consensus the consistently quickest bowlers since World War Two. Thomson, with a short run and slingshot action, was fearsome for two years before a shoulder injury in late 1976 reduced his effectiveness. With a lengthened run he still occasionally generated express speed in a Test career which lasted until 1985.

Tyson was nicknamed Typhoon after he blew the Australian batting aside in the 1954-55 series, including seven for 27 in a display of raw pace at Melbourne. His career was as short as it was spectacular and he later emigrated to Australia where he pursued a career as schoolmaster and journalist.

Whereas Thomson and Tyson were primarily strength bowlers, Holding ran in from the boundary ropes with the grace of an Olympic sprinter. On a lifeless pitch at the Oval in 1976 he returned match figures of 14 for 149, defeating the batsmen through the air with pace alone.

He had the longest Test career of the trio, shortening his run and operating in his later years as first or second change.

3 November 2002 - Pakistan beat England to win fourth Hong Kong Sixes title

Pakistan have successfully defended the Hong Kong Sixes title that they won at the Kowloon Cricket Club Ground in 2001 after seeing off a strong challenge from England in Sunday's final. The three-wicket win that Moin Khan's men secured gave them their fourth Hong Kong Sixes title.

The hero of the Pakistan win was Naved Latif, who made 31 before retiring. The 26-year-old batsman plundered 15 runs off England's star bowler of the tournament Chris Silverwood to turn the match in his side's favour. Silverwood, who had bowled two of the meanest overs of the tournament in the matches leading up to the final, conceded 21 runs in all as Pakistan were left needing a manageable 14 runs off the final over, bowled by Adam Hollioake.

1 December 2002 - Pakistan complete a five-nil whitewash of Zimbabwe:

Pakistan completed a five-nil whitewash of Zimbabwe, beating them by 70 runs in the final one-day international. After putting up a much better performance for 75 per cent of the match, Zimbabwe collapsed pitifully following the dismissal of Andy Flower.

It was another hot sunny day, another good batting pitch, and Zimbabwe, hammered whether they bat first or second, decided to put Pakistan in to bat. They made two changes, bringing back Craig Evans and Henry Olonga for Sean Ervine and Gary Brent, while Pakistan restored Wasim Akram for Mohammad Zahid.

Shoaib Akhtar was a leading figure in this match; not only did he produce a vicious spell of bowling timed at between 95 and 99.3 mph, but he also faced a disciplinary hearing for a sledging incident with the batsmen and allegedly hurling a bottle of water into a section of the crowd that was heckling him.

Zimbabwe opened with Travis Friend and Olonga, and these two produced the most - the only - impressive new-ball bowling for the country on this tour.They had Pakistan's makeshift opening pair of Kamran Akmal and Faisal Iqbal playing warily, if not in actual trouble, with some seam movement and a fair degree of accuracy, and Friend removed Kamran for 3, fishing outside the off stump.

It appeared that Pakistan, after the ease with which they rolled over Zimbabwe throughout the tour, were a little careless; Misbah-ul-Haq had not scored when he skyed an attempted pull and Friend himself completed the return catch; Pakistan 16 for two.

Youhana scored 405 runs in the series and for the first time Zimbabwe managed to dismiss him - but for 88 (93 balls) and due to a run-out. Quick work by Grant Flower at mid-on accounted for him as he backed up too far, and Pakistan were 219 for five after a stand worth 129.

Shahid Afridi announced himself with a huge straight six off Olonga's last ball; the bowler's figures of one for 53 off ten overs did him no justice. But Olonga got his revenge in the next over with a fine throw from the deep to run Afridi out for 8.

Douglas Hondo bowled with great accuracy and skill, and got his reward when Younis (90 off 75 balls) missed a well-deserved century as he hit a low full toss straight to midwicket. Wasim Akram (22) and Saqlain Mushtaq (13), both unbeaten, saw Pakistan through to a total of exactly 300 for seven wickets.

© CricInfo Ltd

14 December 2002 - Pakistan emerge Blind World Cup champions at Chennai

For a team that was initially doubtful to even make it to the Blind World Cup in Chennai, Pakistan have done remarkably well, batting and bowling consistently throughout the tournament and beating out title-holders - and gritty ones at that - South Africa in the final to emerge champions.

Winning the toss, Pakistan took a gamble and ask South Africa to bat at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Throughout the tournament, teams batting first have tended to
rack up massive scores, but that did not happen on this occasion.

Once the in-form batsman, skipper Rory Field, was dismissed at the top of the order,
South Africa lost direction and at one stage were 86 for five. But the 96 runs added for
the sixth wicket by NA Meyer and Riann Liebenberg proved a stabilising influence, and
a quickfire 34 off as many balls from PA Le Roux got South Africa to a competitive
total of 255 for eight in their 40 overs.

Pakistan too got off to a mediocre start, with the first three batsmen not being able to
cross 15. But Mohammad Ashraf Bhatti, who has been in splendid nick throughout the
World Cup, took it upon himself to guide his side to a win, despite the wickets falling
around him.

Bhatti ended on 87 not out off 96 balls, striking five fours in his responsible knock. He
was accompanied for some time by skipper Abdul Razzaq, who made 30. Pakistan
finally ended up cruising home by five wickets in 37.2 overs, and Bhatti deservedly got
the Man of the Match award for his knock.

© CricInfo