The board stated that the reason for this change in venues was because of their confidence in the readiness of these upgraded venues, and shared a release in order to announce the updated venue for the tri-nation ODI series.

“Given the advanced stage of preparations at the Gaddafi Stadium and the National Bank Stadium, the PCB has decided to relocate the upcoming tri-nation ODI series to these two venues. The series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa alongside Pakistan, was originally scheduled to be held in Multan,” said PCB in release. 

Both the stadiums are currently under renovations for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. PCB will be the host of the marquee event, which is set to take pace with all the matches to be played in Pakistan, along with the exception of India’s matches, which will be held in Dubai.

The venues for the semi-final and final of the Champions Trophy will either be within Pakistan, or it will change to Dubai. If India qualifies for the semi-final and final, the matches will be held in Dubai, otherwise Lahore will host the clashes.

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In an attempt to cap off a demanding domestic season by playing matches under lights in hot weather, PTI has learned that the PCB has also opted to erect new light towers at smaller venues like Quetta, Abbottabad, and Peshawar in addition to renting out the space for Karachi and Lahore.

To save money, the PCB has chosen to relocate the floodlights that are now in place in Lahore to Rawalpindi and in Karachi to Quetta.

New light towers would be installed in Karachi and Lahore. To that aim, the PCB has initiated the process of requesting tenders from qualified businesses to supply light towers for rental use between August 2024 and July 2025.

A board source stated that some of the towers would be sponsored, but they were unable to provide the precise expenses associated with this procedure.

“The idea behind this process is to ensure smaller venues are also equipped with light towers for domestic cricket and major venues like Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi where most of the international games and CT matches would be played get towers which ensure international standard and uninterrupted provision of light during matches,” he explained.

For the provision of generators for Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Abbottabad, Quetta, Peshawar, etc., the PCB has also requested tenders.

According to the source, the PCB employs generators to power the light towers on the grounds because of power outages and load shedding.

Due to the PCB’s ongoing extensive renovations at its venues in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, there won’t be any spectators present for the second Test against Bangladesh in Karachi.

According to the source, the PCB has previously set aside money in its fiscal budget to pay for all stadium refurbishment and facelift expenses.

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Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the PCB, called a meeting in Lahore where decisions were made.

The meeting was attended by selectors Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, new Pakistani red-ball coach Jason Gillespie, white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, and other top authorities.

After Pakistan’s national team’s disastrous performance in the T20 World Cup, where it lost to both India and the United States and was eliminated from the Super Eight round, the board announced that it plans to significantly restructure its rules.

“The selectors have recommended no change in the financial part of the central contracts which would now be revised into 12-month contracts with players fitness, behaviour and form all to be assessed every 12 months,” a board official said.

The players received central contracts last year that guaranteed no changes to agreement conditions and financials for three years, as a result of an arrangement with former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf.

According to the official, PCB has now mandated that all players under contract, both domestically and centrally, must participate in fitness testing every three months.
The tests would be controlled by the two head coaches.

Additionally, it was determined to adhere to strict technical requirements while evaluating player applications for NOCs to play in foreign leagues, with the main goal being to guarantee the player’s availability and fitness for the national team.

“Only (those) players with a high fitness and performance criteria will receive NOCs, ensuring a high standard of representation in international leagues,” the official said.

At the meeting, it was determined that all players would be required to play in domestic cricket, and before choosing any player for the national teams, selectors were advised to keep an eye on this.

According to the official, all attendees at the conference reached a unanimous decision to enforce strong sanctions for player-made groups and to have zero tolerance for disciplinary cases in order to maintain team cohesion and morale.

To support grassroots cricket, plans are also in place to modernize high-performance centers across the country.

There are plans to open new centers in Peshawar and Islamabad, and Gillespie and Kirsten will be in charge of these projects.

The post PCB Shortens Contract Duration, No Pay Cuts for Cricketers appeared first on Cricket Country.

However, Haris Rauf bowled a magnificent 19th over and gave away just five runs while picking two wickets to give Pakistan an unlikely win by 3 runs. The winner of this game will get a massive advantage as the other team will then have to win the remaining two games to win the series.

PAK vs ENG 5th T20I When And Where To Watch And Live Streaming Details

Pakistan vs England 5th T20I can be watched on Sony Sports Network. The fans can also watch the match live on SonyLiv app.

PAK vs ENG 5th T20I Date, Time and Venue

The Pakistan vs England 5th T20I will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on September 28. The match will get underway at 8:00 PM IST and 7:30 PM local time.

PAK vs ENG 5th T20I Probable XIs

Probable XI Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Wasim Jr

Probable XI England: Alex Hales, Philip Salt (wk), Will Jacks, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali (c), David Willey, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Olly Stone, Reece Topley/Luke Wood.

Squads:

England Squad: Philip Salt(w), Alex Hales, Will Jacks, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali(c), David Willey, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Tom Helm, Luke Wood, Sam Curran, Richard Gleeson, Jordan Cox

Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Shan Masood, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Haider Ali, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani, Aamer Jamal

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If all goes according to plan, fans in Pakistan can witness Test cricket for the first time since the Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009, later this year.

The Sri Lanka-Pakistan series, which will be the Pakistan’s first of the World Test Championship was earlier supposed to be played at a neutral venue. However, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo on Saturday, Sri Lanka could be open to playing at least one Test in the country, after a security delegation headed by Mohan de Silva visited Lahore and Karachi and gave SLC “very positive feedback”.

“The feedback we got from the security team was very positive,” SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said.

“We’ll be talking to the PCB about some alternatives before we arrive at a decision. The government will be consulted as well.”

Sri Lanka will have to return the favour to Pakistan, who were the first board to send a team – Pakistan U19 side – after the island country was terrorised on by the April 21 bombings.

READ: Misbah-ul-Haq ‘camp commandant’ for 17-day conditioning camp

The biggest concern for Sri Lanka now would be to obtain the players’ consent. The Sri Lankan team that played one T20I in October 2017 at Lahore was without any prominent names.

Pakistan, who have played hosts to Zimbabwe (2015), World XI (2017), Sri Lanka (2017) and West Indies (2018) since the 2009 Lahore attacks, are keen to bring Test cricket back home.

In the recent MCC World Committee meeting, the PCB managing director Wasim Khan presented the country’s case and emphasised the importance of bringing international cricket back to Pakistan.

“It was a very positive meeting with the MCC,” Wasim was quoted as saying in the report.

“Shane Warne, Kumar Sangakkara and Mike Gatting, the chair of the committee, were present there. They wanted to me to present on the current security in the country, along with what impact playing no international cricket here has had, and what can be done to restore it.

ALSO READ: Saqlain Mushtaq applies for head coach role of Pakistan U-19 team

“I am very, very confident that we will have an MCC team touring us in the near future. But there are some matters related to security that need to be covered before they send their team. We will work very closely with the MCC to make sure that the tour happens.”

The MCC too expressed its support to see the resumption of tours to the nation after 10 years and showed interest in sending a touring team of its own, subject to security clearances.

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In a major boost that will revive cricket in Pakistan, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers on Monday confirmed that he will appear for Lahore Qalandars in their home matches against Islamabad United and Multan Sultans in Season Four of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) this year.

De Villiers, who announced his decision to retire from international cricket in May last year, will return to the politically unstable country for the first time since South Africa toured Pakistan in 2007.

“I am delighted to confirm that I will represent Lahore Qalandars in front of our home crowds on 9 and 10 March, during the HBL PSL 2019,” said De Villiers, who played a Test and three ODIs at the venue during the 2007 tour, was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. (ALSO READ: Cricket Australia tells Pakistan Cricket Board they won’t be touring)

“I look forward to revisiting the Gaddafi Stadium and aim to play my part in helping Lahore Qalandars achieve something they have been aspiring for since the inception of this tournament in 2016.”

De Villiers follows in the footsteps of Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, David Miller, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir, who were part of the World XI side that toured Lahore in September 2017 for a three-match Twenty20 International series. (ALSO READ: South Africa allrounder Albie Morkel retires from all forms of cricket)

Since the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked in Lahore in May 2009, Zimbabwe (in 2015) and West Indies (in 2018) are other countries who have visited India’s arch-rivals.

The 2017 PSL final and two eliminators in Pakistan were proof that Pakistan now remains a safe country to tour. This year, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ha decided to host eight PSL matches in Lahore and Karachi.

De Villiers however, will be available for only the group stage matches, but was happy to play a part to expedite the quick return of the sport to Pakistan.

“I am fully aware that cricket is like a second religion in Pakistan,” he said.

“I still remember the support and appreciation we received in 2007. Furthermore, I feel I have a role to play in helping international cricket return to Pakistan. These have been some of the motivating factors for me to return to Lahore.

“I sympathise with the people of Pakistan because they have been cricket-starved for no fault of theirs, but I am optimistic that the days are not too far when international cricket will return to Pakistan and the stadia will once again be packed with crowds.

“Due to prior family commitments, I will only be available till the last group stage game. I want to thank Lahore Qalandars for giving me an opportunity to represent them and I look forward to not only enjoying my time in the HBL PSL 2019 but also contributing in making it a stronger brand.” (ALSO READ: Simply the best: AB de Villiers leads congratulatory wishes on Twitter after Dale Steyn smashes Shaun Pollock’s record)

This year’s PSL will begin on February 14 in Dubai with defending champions Islamabad United locking horns with Lahore Qalandars. The league will be played across five cities. Abu Dhabi will be hosting the league matches for the first time.

The tournament will move to Pakistan on March 7. Lahore and Karachi will host three and five matches, including the final, respectively.

Ehsan Mani, the PCB chairman, said: “We appreciate the decision of AB de Villiers and look forward to welcoming him to the home of Pakistan cricket. I am sure de Villiers’s appearance will attract new fans, and more eyeballs will follow the PSL than ever before.

“I am confident that de Villiers’s decision at the back of his fellow World XI, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and the Windies’ cricketers’ decisions to play in Lahore will encourage other leading cricketers and international sides to visit this cricket-passionate country. (ALSO READ: Pakistan Super League Draft 2019: Complete list of players picked by the six teams)

“For the Lahore crowds, it will be a great opportunity to watch this generation’s cricket genius live in action. I am sure they will turn up in great numbers to support de Villiers as well as Lahore Qalandars and their opponents.”

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It is widely known that cricket was first played in India in 1721. Our story begins in Colonial, undivided India, with John Laird Mair Lawrence, later the 1st Baron Lawrence, and more commonly referred to as Sir John Lawrence, and his elder brother Henry, making the journey to India in 1830 to take up positions in the British Indian Civil Service.

John served initially as an assistant Judge, Magistrate and Tax Collector. His services during the First Sikh War (1845-46) and during the great Mutiny of 1857 resulted in his being awarded a Baronetcy as Knight Grand Cross of the Bath. While on a home visit in 1863, John was sent back to India as Viceroy upon the sudden and unexpected demise of Lord Elgin. His tenure as Viceroy was to last from 1864 to 1869.

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Lahore having always enjoyed the accolade of being the cultural capital of North-West India, and later, of Pakistan, and  himself being a man of refined and aesthetic tastes, John Lawrence hit upon the idea of laying out extensive Botanical Gardens in Lahore on the lines of the Kew Gardens of London during his tenure as the Viceroy. The original layout had incorporated 176 acres, and had included a zoo in addition to the Botanical Gardens, together with appropriate roadways to facilitate approach to these places of interest. There used to be a statue of Lawrence on the premises of what came to be known as the Lawrence Gardens, but that was later shifted to Foyle and Londonderry College in Northern Ireland, where the young Lawrence had gone to school.

One of the chief attractions of Lawrence Gardens was the Lahore Gymkhana Cricket Club, founded in 1880, the second oldest in the South-East Asian subcontinent, and nestling cosily within the confines of the Gardens. The wicket at LGCC has been very thoughtfully laid out in a North-South orientation to obviate any difficulty that batsmen may have in sighting the ball against the backdrop of the morning or evening sun.

Casual cricket began at LGCC from 1880. A turf wicket was laid out in 1882, using earth imported from Worcestershire. The Maharajas of Patiala and of Jammu & Kashmir were regular visitors to LGCC with their respective teams to play against the host club in the early 1900s. In 1911, a match was played on this ground between a British Army XI and a World XI, the latter winning the game by 61 runs. The victorious team had included several players from Gloucestershire and Lancashire, whilst the Army XI had been mainly drawn from representatives from the following Regiments: the 87th Punjab, the 17th Lancasters, the 15th Sikh, and the King’s.

The pavilion used to contain a central high-ceilinged hall that was used as a Museum, and was reputed to be a treasure trove of cricketing memorabilia, recalling great past deeds for or against the Club. Former Pakistan captain Fazal Mahmood was fond of saying that LGCC has always been sacrosanct in Pakistani cricket circles, and was “the most prestigious in the province. Every cricketer dreamt of playing there”.

First class cricket began at the LGCC grounds with the Lahore Tournament of 1922-23, when a match between the Muslims and the Sikhs was played at this venue, with the Muslims winning by an innings and 74 runs. After Partition, Lawrence Gardens was metamorphosed as the Bagh-e-Jinnah. We shall visit this venue again later in the narrative.

At the turn of the 19th century, George Foster Abell, Justice of the Peace and Director of Lloyd’s Bank, was to be found residing at the Foxcote Manor, Andoversford, Gloucestershire, one of the stately homesteads of England. Abell and his wife Jessie Elizabeth, nee Brackenbury, had raised a family of four children, comprising two sons, the elder being born on June 22, 1904, and the younger seeing the light of day two years later, and two daughters.

George Abell Jr’s biographers seem to be somewhat at odds amongst themselves regarding his place of birth. ESPNCricinfo has him being born at Worcester. His profile in The Peerage, giving details of the genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe, mentions the Gloucestershire habitation of his father at the time of his birth.

The Dictionary of National Biography (1901 – 1990) expresses the view that Abell was born at Sanderstead, Surrey. The whole paradox leaves the seeker after the truth rather bewildered on the issue, particularly given the fact that he was to later make his first class debut for Worcestershire, rather than for Surrey or Gloucestershire.

The eldest child, the elder son, was named George Edmond Brackenbury, and was educated at Marlborough College, going on to become a Senior Prefect. Going up to Oxford, Abell studied at Corpus Christi College, where he obtained a First Class in Classical Honour Moderations (1925), and a Second Class in Literae Humaniores (1927). He was a triple Blue for rugby, cricket, and hockey, and captained the Oxford rugby XV in 1926.

His cricket profile shows Abell representing Marlborough College in 9 Second-Class games between 1921 and 1923, and playing against such opposition as Rugby School (3 games at Lord’s), Winchester College, Cheltenham College, and Wellington College, generally as a right-hand batsman and wicketkeeper.

Abell’s first documented cricket match during his tenure at Oxford appears to be a Freshmen’s Match between two teams called CH Knott’s XI and TB Raike’s XI (though each team had, in point of fact, comprised 13 players) in 1924. Representing Knott’s XI, Abell had scored 23 and made a stumping.

Abell had just about celebrated his 19th birthday and had barely finished his school career when he made his First-Class debut playing for Worcestershire against Essex at Worcester in 1923. Indeed, his profile shows that Abell had last represented Marlborough College earlier that month.

Johnny Douglas, having won the toss for Essex, opted to bat first, and the visitors scored a healthy 407 well before stumps on first day. Worcestershire responded with 263. Abell, not having been able to put his name on the scorecard while keeping wickets, was dismissed for 1. Essex then declared on 279 for 8. Set 423 to win, Worcestershire were dismissed for 319. This time Abell was left stranded on 6.

Abell represented Oxford in First-Class cricket from 1924 to 1927, playing a total of 24 matches for them and scoring 418 runs with a highest of 50 and an average of 17.41. He held 27 catches for his university team and completed 10 stumpings.

His career for Worcestershire lasted from 1923 to 1939 and entailed 34 matches, during which he scored 1,290 runs with a highest of 131 and an average of 25.29. He had 2 centuries and 3 fifties for his county, and held 41 catches as a wicketkeeper, adding 13 stumpings to his tally of dismissals.

Having completed his studies at Oxford, Abell joined the Indian Civil Service in 1928, being posted initially as a District Officer in the Punjab, and being instrumental in quelling a riot in Dera Ghazi Khan Jail almost single-handedly by walking right into the middle of the fracas while the jailers and warders thought it prudent to take refuge on the roof. Recognising the young man’s sterling qualities, the Governor of Punjab appointed Abell as his private secretary in 1941.

In 1943, Abell was promoted to the post of Deputy Secretary to the Viceroy, the 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow. Two years later he was the Private Secretary to the then Viceroy, Viscount Wavell. Abell continued in the capacity of Private Secretary to Viceroy Louis Mountbatten till the sun set on the British Empire in India.

When Mountbatten later became the Governor-General of India, Abell continued to serve as his Private Secretary. He was reportedly one of the members of the brains trust behind the draft of the Partition Plan of undivided India, along with General Ismay, and Christopher Beaumont, private Secretary to Cyril Radcliffe, Joint Chairman of the Boundary Commission. In this privileged capacity, Abell was privy to many undisclosed secrets of a traumatic period of the history of the Indian subcontinent.

Back in England, Abell joined the Bank of England in 1948, and served as a Director of the Bank from 1952 to 1964. During this time,one of his major contributions in the Human Resources Development of the Bank was to do away with the dichotomy between female and male staff members, integrating both genders into a unified workforce of the Bank.

Abell also served as Civil Service Commissioner from 1964 to 1967; Chairman of the Rhodes Trustees, affiliated to Oxford University, from 1969 to 1974 (having previously served as a trustee from 1949); Chairman of the Governing Body of his old alma mater, Marlborough College, from 1974 to 1977; and President of the Council of Reading University from 1970 to 1974.

Honours came thick and fast for Abell. He was appointed OBE (1943), CIE (1946), and KCIE (1947). He received an honorary LLD from Aberdeen University in 1947, and became an honorary fellow of Corpus Christi College in 1971. During his Civil Service days in India, despite his ever-increasing load of responsibilities as a career diplomat, however, he found the time to play cricket.

While on civil service duty in India, Abell lost no time in pursuing his love for cricket, and played his initial First-Class match on Indian soil for the Europeans against the Muslims in the final of the Lahore Tournament of 1928-29, at Lawrence Gardens.

The Muslims won rather easily by an innings and 74 runs, with Abell scoring 8 in a first-innings total of only 105. Boosted by centuries from Ferozuddin (140*) and S Wazir Ali (153*), the Muslims declared at 389 for 2. Abell then top-scored with 56 in total of 210. Jahangir Khan, with 6 for 49 and 4 for 48, was easily the pick of the bowlers for the Muslims.

It was the Lawrence Gardens ground again on February 1, 1930, and this time Abell was leading the Punjab Governor’s XI against the Muslims. The Governor’s XI lost their second wicket at 14 when skipper-wicketkeeper Abell joined Vishwanath Hoon at the crease. The pair added 124 before Hoon (53) was out. Wickets fell at regular intervals from one end, and it was left to the skipper (92) to play the definitive innings in a total of 225. Jahangir, the perpetual thorn in the flesh of all opposition, captured 4 for 68.

The Muslims were then reduced to 18 for 4 and later 79 for 5 before Wazir Ali (181) and Fida Hussain (88) added 224. The lead swelled to 123. Once again Abell found himself at the crease early, at 12 for 2; once again he had a stand with Hoon (37), this time adding 79. The total reached 192 for 6 before time ran out on the drawn game. The Punjab skipper not only covered himself with glory with the bat with his scores of 92 and 116, but also behind the stumps, with 2 catches and 2 stumpings.

This was Abell’s second First-Class century, after his 124 for Worcestershire against Sussex at Hove in 1925, during his undergraduate days at Oxford. Worcestershire had won the game by 221 runs. Abell had contributed behind the stumps as well by holding 4 catches in the second innings. The 30-year old District Officer’s magnum opus with the bat was to follow at the end of 1934.

In The Shorter Wisden India Almanack 2014, Saurabh Somani, in describing a Cricket Control Board meeting held at Shimla in 1934, quotes Anthony de Mello as saying; “It was with something like trepidation that I submitted my proposal for a trophy to the august gathering … Even I was not prepared for the events that followed. The late Maharajah of Patiala [Bhupinder Singh] jumped up when I was scarcely halfway through my proposal. The pine-scented air seemed to be immediately electrified. In deep tones, charged with emotion, His Highness claimed the honour and privilege of perpetuating the name of the great Ranji, who had prematurely departed this life only the year before.”

Despite the earnest plea of the Patiala of naming the award for the proposed new domestic First-Class tournament of India after Ranji, the issue was to prove to be a rather more complicated affair. In a shameless attempt to curry favour with the then British Viceroy of India, Vizzy was vehemently in favour of naming the cup the Willingdon Trophy, after Lord Willingdon, a former Eton and Cambridge alumnus who had played 40 First-Class matches in all. Fortunately, better sense prevailed and the tournament was named after Ranji.

In the inaugural season of 1934-35, a total of 13 Ranji Trophy matches were played all over undivided India, 2 of these in what is now Pakistan: between Sind and Western India at Karachi Gymkhana, and between Northern India and the Army was played at Lawrence Gardens Ground, Lahore.

Richard Bamfield won the toss for the Army in the latter, the fourth Ranji Trophy match of all. The Army batted first and scored runs at a fair clip considering that their total of 203 came in 62.3 overs. The main scorers were Ferozuddin (31), St Leger Morris (44), and Chris Hodgson (33). For Northern India, Mubarak Ali and Khadim Hussain captured 3 wickets each.

The first day ended with Northern India on 72 for 1 after Amir Elahi had been dismissed for 30. At the crease were wicketkeeper Abell (24) and Ahmed Raza (9). Abell went into lunch on the second day at 128, having added 104 to his overnight score.

From the fact that the second wicket stand between Abell and Ahmed ‘Aghajan’ Raza, begun on the first day at the total of 53 for 1, was to realise 304, it may be safe to assume that it was Raza who had accompanied Abell back to the pavilion at the interval, although his individual score at that point is not mentioned. Perhaps a little introduction to this Aghajan may be in order here.

Born on August 20, 1910, Agha Ahmed Raza Khan, more popularly known as Aghajan, appears to have been a member of the Burki clan that was to produce 40 First-Class cricketers in all. Three of Aghajan’s four sisters were to become the proud mothers of Test captains of Pakistan: eldest sister Iqbal Bano, married to army officer Wajid Ali Khan Burki, was the mother of Oxford Blue Javed Burki; Mubarak, married to Jahangir (the cricketer, mentioned above), was the mother of Majid Khan, her second son; and Shaukat, married to the civil servant Ikramullah Khan, was the mother of Imran Khan.

Aficionados of the history of Indian cricket will be aware that the first individual century in the history of Ranji Trophy cricket had been scored in the third match of all when Syed Mohammad Hadi (132 not out for Hyderabad against Madras). The next two individual centuries were scored in the match at the Lawrence Gardens, with Aghajan being dismissed for 101. George Abell was to produce the first double century in the history of the tournament (210); he was to become the first to score a double century on Ranji Trophy debut, becoming also the first wicketkeeper to do so.

Given below is the chart of the 9 batsmen to have scored double centuries on Ranji Trophy debut till 2017-18:

Note: Of the above, three have been wicketkeepers: Abell, Kunderan, and Gupta

Charles Kindersley, skipper of Northern India, declared at 459 for 7. That ended the action on the second day. For the Army, Robert Osborne-Smith had figures of 4 for 134. The Army were dismissed for 204, with Morris (86) again top scoring. Amir Elahi picked up 4 for 86 to ensure a facile victory for Northern India by an innings and 52 runs.

Abell played 75 matches in all in his First-Class cricket career from 1923 to 1941-42, scoring a total of 2,674 runs at 24.75, with his 210 as his highest. He had 4 centuries and 8 fifties and held 97 catches, adding 35 stumpings to his wicketkeeping statistics. He was seen in a captaincy role in 10 of these games.

The Private Secretary of the Governor of Punjab played his last First-Class game for Northern India in a Ranji Trophy clash against Southern Punjab at the ground of the prestigious Aitchison College of Lahore in 1941-42, leading his team to victory by 74 runs. His personal contributions in the game included scores of 11 and 2, a stumping, and 2 catches behind the wickets.

The remaining part of the saga of Abell is soon told. The 24-year old novice in the Indian Civil Service married Susan Norman-Butler, daughter of Arthur Francis Norman-Butler, Inspector of Schools, in 1928. The couple was to raise a family comprising two sons and a daughter.

Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire, Sir George Edmond Brackenbury Abell passed away on January 11, 1989, aged about 84 years, at Ramsbury, Wiltshire, carrying to his gravemany of the murky details of the secret shenanigans associated with the gory tale of the Partition of India.

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West Indies coach Stuart Law has praised Pakistan‘s security arrangements during his team’s time in Karachi, saying he hoped their experience would open the door for more cricket series to be held in the country. The West Indies  completed a three-match Twenty20 series late Tuesday and although his team was whitewashed by world number one Pakistan 3-0, Law was happy with their treatment by authorities.

“It’s a bit daunting for the people outside but once you get here and see for yourself, you feel more confident,” he said during the post-match press conference.  “The security has been outstanding, and we haven’t had any problems.”

Pakistan’s military put stringent security arrangements in place with 8,000 policemen and military personnel guarding the team hotel and stadium for the series. “I’m not saying that it will open the floodgates and bring everyone rushing back, but from what I’ve seen here, it’s more than adequate and we should be able to get cricket back to Pakistan,” said Law.

Pakistan is on a long road to revive international cricket following six years of isolation from 2009 to 2015. Pakistan was a “no-go” area for foreign teams after militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009. After being shunned for years, Zimbabwe toured Pakistan for a short series in 2015.

The successful outing was followed by two Pakistan Super League finals in 2017 and 2018 along with three Twenty20 matches against a World XI and one against Sri Lanka last year. The 49-year-old West Indian coach Law is a former Australia batsman who was part of the team that lost the 1996 World Cup final to Sri Lanka in Lahore.

“I’m a big fan of Pakistan cricket,” said Law. “The fans here in the subcontinent are pretty passionate. This was the first time I’d been to Karachi and the fans here were outstanding every night.

“They were very respectful to us. Everywhere we’ve been, we’ve been treated very well.” Law said he felt for Pakistan players for not being able to play on their home grounds.

“I feel sorry for the Pakistan players who don’t play enough cricket in front of their home fans. Every game for them is an away game so you feel for those boys who can’t play in front of their families week in week out.” Since 2009 the United Arab Emirates has served as Pakistan’s neutral venue.

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Lahore: Sri Lanka‘s cricket team arrived in Lahore under heavy security Sunday to play the final Twenty20 of a three-match series, eight years after they were attacked by gunmen there. The team and their officials were taken to a five-star hotel in a bomb-proof bus with hundreds of security guards on the roads and at the resort. International cricket was suspended in Pakistan after the 2009 gun attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, which left eight people killed and seven visiting players and their staff members injured.

Sri Lanka — the first major team to visit the country since the incident — will play a Twenty20 match on Sunday evening before flying back to Colombo via Dubai. Several Sri Lankan players and officials, including survivors who came under gunfire in 2009 and their head coach, had opted out of the Twenty20 fixture after some voiced concern about security.

Sri Lanka played two Tests, five one-day internationals and the first two Twenty20 matches of the series in the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan’s neutral venue since 2009. In the last eight years Pakistan have only hosted minnows Zimbabwe in 2015, the final of Pakistan Super League and a three-match Twenty20 series against a World XI — comprised of players from seven countries — earlier this year.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera, appointed captain of the new-look team, said it was great to be back. “Its nice to be in Pakistan again,” said Perera, who was part of the World XI last month. “We are thankful for a warm welcome and will do our best to entertain the crowd with some good cricket.”

Sri Lanka’s sports minsiter Dayasiri Jayasekera and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala are also on the tour while a two-member security delegation is in Lahore for the last two days to oversee security arrangements. “We are thankful to the Sri Lankan team for coming to Pakistan and I request the fans to support both the teams during the match,” said Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed, whose team also arrived from Dubai early Sunday.

Heavy security with air survelliance will be in place during the match with fans having to go through various check points and body searches.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hopes a safe tour by Sri Lanka will help them convince the West Indies to visit for three Twenty20 internationals next month. “It’s a historic moment,” PCB chairman Najam Sethi told AFP on Friday. “With improved security we hope fully fledged international cricket will return to Pakistan in the next two years.”

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By Shahid Hashmi

Lahore: Tens of thousands of security will be deployed in Lahore on Sunday when Sri Lanka become the first major cricket team to visit Pakistan since they were targeted in a deadly ambush in 2009 — with attack survivors among those returning to the scene. Several Sri Lankan players and officials, including their head coach, have opted out of the Twenty20 fixture, after some voiced concern about security following ongoing militant attacks. But Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan Tillakaratne, who came under gunfire in 2009 and are now Sri Lanka’s team manager and batting coach, will be with the squad as it is shuttled in and out of Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium under heavy guard. 
FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2017-18, 2nd T20I at Abu Dhabi

Pakistan’s Ahsan Raza, a reserve umpire in 2009 who was among those shot — and needed emergency surgery to repair a collapsed lung and damaged liver — will also be on the field. Eight people were killed and eight wounded in the March 3, 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s bus convoy near the Gaddafi Stadium, an incident which brought cricket tours to Pakistan screeching to a halt. Eight years later, Sri Lanka will become the first top cricket nation to play in Pakistan since the incident, accelerating a gradual resumption of international fixtures as security improves. Sunday’s game, the third and final Twenty20 — with the other two played in UAE — comes after Lahore also hosted this year’s Pakistan Super League final and a one-off fixture between Pakistan and a World XI last month.

Raza was wounded when Pakistani Taliban militants targeted a bus carrying officials, killing the driver. Another bus’s driver was hailed as a hero after shepherding the players to safety under a hail of bullets. “It’s a great honour that I will be umpiring in the match which is bringing Sri Lanka back to Lahore,” he told AFP. “They have set their every fear aside… their tour will have a great impact on the revival of cricket in Pakistan.” Meher Mohammad Khalil looking forward to welcoming Sri Lanka back to Pakistan

New beginning

Sunday’s Twenty20 international is being hailed as a brave decision by Sri Lanka and a milestone for Pakistan as it attempts to end its sporting isolation. Thousands of security personnel will guard routes to the stadium, and air surveillance and intelligence monitoring is also in place as Pakistan rolls out head-of-state level measures.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi called it a “historic moment”, pointing out that a generation of fans in the cricket-mad country have grown up without seeing any international games in their home stadiums. “Our stadiums have remained empty. Now all that is poised to change, for the better… I foresee a full fledged restoration in the next two years,” he told AFP. Mohammad Hafeez wants more teams to visit Pakistan

PCB officials are already setting their sights on bringing the West Indies to Pakistan for three T20 internationals in November. But Sri Lanka’s visit was not fully backed by its players: regular skipper Upul Tharanga, Lasith Malinga, Niroshan Dickwella, Dushmantha Chamera, and Akila Dananjaya all pulled out, as did their South African head coach Nic Pothas and physiotherapist Nirmalan Thanabalasingham.

Suranga Lakmal, who still carries the splinter from a bullet wound in his leg, and fellow 2009 survivor Chamara Kapugedara also stayed away. Stand-in skipper Thisara Perera, who played in Lahore in September as part of the World XI team, praised the security arrangements and said he had no concerns about safety. PAK dominate SL, win 1st T20I by 7 wickets

“I am really satisfied with the security, so no problems there,” he told AFP. Fans are also applauding Sri Lanka’s decision to return to Lahore, and this week many headed out to buy last-minute tickets for Sunday’s game. “I am very happy really, as I have purchased tickets for me and my family members,” one woman said in Lahore’s upscale Gulberg neighbourhood.

The country’s most famous supporter, Sufi Jalil, fondly known as “Chacha Cricket” (Uncle Cricket), who aims to attend every Pakistan match regardless of the venue, was himself on the way to Gaddafi Stadium when the attack took place in 2009. “They are welcome,” he said of Sri Lanka. “What happened in the past is behind us, this match will be a new beginning and we are all united in this cause.”

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