Bowlers give Sri Lanka 9wkt win over India in 2nd ODI

By Fathima Zanaida

HAMBANTOTA (TheSportsNext) July 24, 2012: Sri Lankan seam bowlers provided the goods for Sri Lanka which outplayed strong Indian side by nine wickets in the second One Day International at Hambantota on Tuesday.

The victory was contributed to a disciplined bowling performance by the Sri Lankan medium pacers who extracted enough purchase out of the seamers-friendly conditions and rattled a rock-solid Indian batting line-up ferociously.

Zaka Ashraf terms India-Pakistan series as 'ice-breaker'

By Tasawwar Abbas

LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf said Tuesday that the resumption of Pakistan-India cricketing ties is an “ice-breaker”.

Talking to reporters in Lahore, Zaka Ashraf revealed that President Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI), N Srinivasan has confirmed him about the three-match One Day International and two-match Twenty20 International series in phone call.

Belgium beat Pakistan 2-0 in Olympic warm-up

By Asif Khan

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 24, 2012: Pakistan hockey team got off to the worst possible start to their Olympic tour here Tuesday as they were belted hard by Belgium in their first warm-up match by 2-0 ahead of the London 2012.

Mansoor demands probe into Olympic visa scam

By Ubaid Awan

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 24, 2012: Pakistan’s former hockey captain and goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed appealed Tuesday to the government to thorough investigate into the Olympics visa scam which is handing bad name to Pakistani athletes worldwide.

Why did South Africa defeat England?

By Adrian Meredith

VICTORIA, Australia (TheSportsNext) July, 24, 2012: South Africa shocked England, who are ranked 1 versus South Africa, who were just downgraded to 3, at home in England! They didn't just lose, but they were beaten by an innings! So how did this happen?

Mark Boucher's absence inspires South Africa

AB de Villiers is actually a specialist wicket keeper who, early in his career, dreamed of taking over from Mark Boucher in the team. He is nowhere as good as Boucher as a keeper but he is nonetheless a specialist keeper so him playing didn't hurt too much. It also meant extra batsmen (not that they needed it) so the team overall wasn't missing too much. Boucher missing, though, certainly inspired Jacques Kallis, probably also A B de Villiers but it may have inspired the whole team.

Kamran Akmal closes in on PCB central contract

By Babar Malik

ISLAMABAD (TheSportsNext) July 24, 2012: Former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal is closing in on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) central contract after he was recalled into the national fold.

The PCB selectors finally put an end to the exile imposed on Pakistan’s best wicketkeeper-batsman, as per the statistics, and decided to give him a chance to exhibit his skills in the upcoming One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates.

Bangladesh to play two more T20Is in Europe

By Saqibul Islam

DHAKA (TheSportsNext) July 24, 2012: After historical whitewash in the Twenty20 International series against Ireland, Bangladesh cricket team has added another T20 match to its tour to Europe.

Bangladesh cricket team are schedule to play against Scotland and 25^th July which would have been their last match on the tour, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced Monday that the national team will take on Netherlands on July 26, 2012 to conclude a successful tour.

Intikhab given task to make Qadir ink PCB contract

By Tasawwar Abbas

LAHORE (TheSportsNext) July 24, 2012: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has handed a task to ‘former cricket coach and manager Intikhab Alam to convince a furious Abdul Qadir and make him sign the contract.

Former leg-spin bowler Abdul Qadir, who is renowned for his short temper, lost his nerves when the PCB offered him a short contract extension.

Hashim Amla deserved triple ton the most: brother

By Bipin Dani

MUMBAI (TheSportsNext) July 24, 2012: Hashim Amla's family in Durban was happier than the rest of the world to see his triple hundred in the month of Ramadan.

Speaking exclusively over telephone from Durban, his elder brother, Ahmed Amla, who is also a professional cricketer, said, "We are very pleased for him. Someone had to be the first to achieve the 300 and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving human being, never mind that he is an amazing batsman".

Pak-India series: Rashid Latif advises PCB to focus financial aspect

By Ubaid Awan

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 24, 2012: Former Pakistani wicketkeeper and whistleblower against match fixing, Rashid Latif has advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to focus on the financial side of the upcoming bilateral series between Pakistan and India.

Pakistan and India will take on each other in limited overs internationals in December this year and former Test captain is of the belief that the PCB should also overcome the budgetary shortcomings through this series.