SHOAIB OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RETURN TO INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

ISLAMABAD: Shoaib Akhtar has not yet given up the hope of refreshing his international career, believing that his return to domestic cricket for Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) will lead him to the national squad. He has not played a Test for Pakistan since December 2007.Shoaib's last appearance for Pakistan was last year, a wicket less outing in a Twenty20 International in Dubai against Australia. Fitness issues, the rise of Mohammad Aamer and the return of Mohammad Asif have eased him further out of contention squad.He is leading his domestic side KRL in the ongoing RBS Cup. "I've been working really hard on getting match fit and am playing currently in the cup and have been feeling good," he said. "The most important thing is to get some cricket under my belt. We are unbeaten and second in the table with one game to play against Habib Bank.""My aim and goal is to reclaim my place in the Pakistan team and I strongly believe that I will be back," sources quoted him as saying."You know things change very quickly in Pakistan cricket and I am confident that my chance will come again. I can't say whether it will be the Twenty/20 World Cup or later in the summer in England, but I believe my chance will come."Pakistan's next major assignment—after the two Twenty20s against England in Dubai - is the World Twenty20 tournament in the Caribbean in April- May.Shoaib has missed the first two editions of the tournament, having been sent back from the inaugural tournament in South Africa in 2007 for a fall-out with Mohammad Asif.Shoaib is also planning to play in Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 tournament, due to begin on February 27, in a bid to remind selectors that he is still around. Shoaib has even expressed hope for leading the national side in ODIs, one of the few big names without having to lead the side at all."I've enjoyed the responsibility of captaining the boys [at KRL] and they have shown me great support. Captaincy is something that I really enjoy."Leading your national team is the dream of every cricketer and I am no different. As a young boy when I first started playing cricket it was my dream to be the captain of my country. I hope that one day I will be given that chance before retirement," he added.

PAKISTANI PLAYERS TO BE INCLUDED IN NEXT IPL SEASON

ISLAMABAD: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi has said that two new teams would be introduced in the next year's season of the league with the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers.Talking to a private TV channel, he said that IPL officials wanted to include Pakistani players in this season too so they included them in the auction but inclusion of a player in the team depended on the franchise owner and Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) had nothing to do with it. He said that Pakistani players were always welcomed in India because the local crowd always liked to watch Pakistani and Indian players in action.Answering a query about security issues and anti-Pakistan sentiment in India, he said Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not want any such pressure on sports, they believe that sports and politics should be kept apart.

JAYASURIYA SEEKS TO BALANCE SPORT WITH POLITICS

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya will embark on a political career by taking part in the upcoming parliamentary polls on April 8.Jayasuriya is seeking to become a member of parliament under the ruling coalition United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the south coast district of Matara, his hometown.The 40-year-old was recently dropped from the Sri Lanka ODI team but he has no plans to end his cricketing career despite his entry into politics."I have no plans to retire from international cricket at this stage as I believe I can successfully balance the workload of playing for Sri Lanka while also serving the people of Matara as an MP," Jayasuriya said on Thursday."It has been an honour representing Sri Lanka on the cricket field during the past 21 years and after careful consideration I believe now is the right time for me to serve the people of Matara."Jayasuriya's marathon international cricket career started in 1989 and has spanned 110 Tests and a record 444 One-day Internationals.

AAMIR ATLAS CONFIDENT TO BEAT TOP SEED

PESHAWAR: Squash player Aamir Atlas is confident to beat World No 1 Ramy Ashour of Egypt in the North American Open Squash Championship, the second PSA Super Series event of the year to be commencing at Richmond University Campus, Virginia from February 21-27.Aamir will leave for Virginia from Islamabad on Friday (Feb 19). After winning double gold medals in South Asian Games (SAG), Aamir had vowed to maintain the winning streak."Top of the line players will take part in the championship and I have trained hard to improve my game," said Aamir. Aamir will face a qualifier in the first round and is anticipated to take on the defending champion and tournament favourite Ramy Ashour in the second round of the event."I am every excited about this particular match.I have recently beaten the then World No 1 Gregry Gaultier. I'm looking forward to replicate the same performance," he said. "I will not be preoccupied with the fact that my second round opponent is World No 1 and I will be putting in my best to beat him and would also try to claim the title," Aamir told APP before leaving for Islamabad.Aamir said that he had enjoyed playing in South Asian Games in Dhaka where he clinched gold medal in individual event and also led his side to clinch team event's gold medal.

HARBHAJAN TAKES INDIA TO TENSE VICTORY

KOLKATA: India retained their number one Test ranking after off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took five wickets to force a series-levelling victory over South Africa in the second and final Test on Thursday.
Harbhajan dismissed last man Morne Morkel leg before with nine balls of the match remaining after man-of-the-match Hashim Amla (123 not out), who scored his third successive Test century, had almost guided the tourists to a draw.
South Africa were bowled out for 290 in their second innings as India won by an innings and 57 runs.
Morkel survived 20.4 overs with Amla, who stonewalled throughout the last day in a magnificent show of patience and control. Harbhajan finished with five for 59 off 48.3 overs.
India had to win the match to retain the top ranking as well as avoid their first series defeat at home since 2004 to Australia after losing the opening Test in Nagpur. Amla, who scored 114 in the first innings, battled hard as he forged a partnership of 70 with Wayne Parnell (22) for the eighth wicket to guide the tourists to 250 for seven at tea.
Fast bowler Ishant Sharma broke the stand soon after the break when he had Parnell caught at mid-on and then dismissed Paul Harris caught at third slip for four before Morkel forced a tense finish.
Harbhajan dismissed overnight batsman Ashwell Prince for 23, JP Duminy for six and Dale Steyn for one in a spell that destroyed South Africa's middle-order after the tourists resumed on 115 for three.
Indian spearhead Zaheer Khan did not take the field after straining his quadricep on the fourth day when only 34.1 overs had been possible due to rain and bad light.
The overnight pair of Amla and Ashwell Prince lasted 26.4 overs before Harbhajan struck when he had Prince playing loosely to be caught at mid-off.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra took his third wicket of the innings when he dismissed AB de Villiers lbw for three with a googly just before lunch.
Amla, who was also adjudged man-of-the series, hit a double century in the first Test which the tourists won by an innings and six runs in their bid to reclaim the top ranking from the hosts.