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Mohammad Amir returns to the T20I squad.  Fast bowler Mohammad Amir was recalled to the T20I roster on Saturday as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming 20-over series against South Africa. Amir's inclusion in place of Waqas Maqsood was the only change to a dominant T20I side that whitewashed both Australia and New Zealand 3-0 late last year. Meanwhile, Asif Ali and Sahibzada Farhan have reprised their positions in the T20I squad, and will link up with the team in Africa after not being picked for the Tests and the ongoing ODI series. The hard-hitting Asif comes fresh from a successful stint in South Africa's Mzansi Super League where he scored 150 runs at a strike-rate of over 180 for the Cape Town Blitz. In a 16-match T20I career, Asif has scored 237 runs at a strike-rate of just under 140. Farhan has scores of 0, 39 and one in his three T20I innings for Pakistan but boasts 452 runs in 22 career T20 matches at a s...

"My words were not directed towards anyone in particular and I certainly had no intention of upsetting anyone," says Sarfraz Ahmed. Pak­is­tan captain Sarfraz Ahmed apologised on Wednesday following a controversial comment aimed at South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo which was picked up by a stump microphone during the second one-day international in Durban on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the 37th over of South Africa’s run-chase during the game at Kingsmead when Phehlukwayo got an inside edge off a Shaheen Shah Afridi delivery that narrowly missed the stumps. As Phehlukwayo, who was on 50 at the time, ran to the non-striker’s end, Sarfraz was heard on the stump microphone saying in Urdu:  "Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj?" When translated into English that means: "Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What [prayer] have you got her to say for you today?" The skipper tweeted...

For Virat Kohli and Ross Taylor, it's a personal battle, with both in electric form and looking to gain a psychological edge.  Virat Kohli and Ross Taylor will vie to prove they are the world's best one-day international batsman as India and New Zealand clash in the first of five ODIs in Napier on Wednesday. For both sides, the series is an opportunity to fine-tune planning ahead of the World Cup. But for Kohli and Taylor — currently ranked first and third in the world respectively — it's a more personal battle, with both in electric form and looking to gain a psychological edge. The McLean Park wicket promises to be a belter, with New Zealand's Tom Latham showing just how ripe the pitch is by smashing 110 off just 60 deliveries, including 10 fours and six sixes, in a domestic Twenty20 match last week. “I think it's going to be a high-scoring affair,” declared New Zealand coach David Stead on Tuesday. “I'll be surprised if it's not. T...

Virat Kohli was been selected as captain of both the Test and one-day international (ODI) teams picked annually by the International Cricket Council (ICC).   The International Cricket Council on Tuesday named Indian skipper Virat Kohli the captain of its annually selected Test and One-Day International teams. Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas has been named as a member of the Test squad. The teams were picked by the ICC's voting academy which comprises former cricketers and veteran journalists. Kohli finished 2018 as the number one batsman in both Tests and ODIs, while India ended the year as the top-ranked Test team and number two behind England in the ODI rankings. He was also named cricketer of the year in the ICC awards, becoming the first-ever player to clinch all three top honours. The Indian skipper has scored 1,322 runs at an average of 55.08 with five centuries in 13 test matches for India. He has also scored 1,202 runs in 14 ODIs, including six centuri...

Mohammed Hafeez of Pakistan bats during the 2nd One Day international match between South Africa and Pakistan held at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban on January 22, 2019.   South Africa won the toss and decided to bowl in the second one-day international against Pakistan at Kingsmead on Tuesday. South African captain Faf du Plessis said his team had been “a bit rusty” in the first match in Port Elizabeth on Saturday when they lost only two wickets but were unable to defend a total of 266. Du Plessis said the decision to bowl was based on likely pitch conditions. “Generally the wicket is a bit slow during the day but at night it skids on and is a bit better for batting.” Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said the team had been boosted by their win in Port Elizabeth. “It was a very good, complete performance,” he said. “Confidence is very high.” Both teams made two changes. South Africa brought in fast bowler Dane Paterson and left-arm spinner Tabraiz...

MELBOURNE: Switzerland’s Roger Federer hits a return against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during their match at the Australian Open on Sunday. MELBOURNE: Defen­ding champion Roger Federer was stunned by fiery Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas who ended his bid for a record seventh Australian Open Sunday on a day of upsets that also saw second seed Angelique Kerber crash out. The Swiss master caved in under the energy and pressure of a man 17 years his junior to tumble out 6-7 (11-13), 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) in the last 16 on Rod Laver Arena. World No.2 Kerber was also sensationally bundled out by a woman playing the event for the first time, with American Danielle Collins humiliating the Wimbledon champion 6-0, 6-2 in under an hour. The man Federer beat in last year’s final, sixth seed Marin Cilic, was also sent packing by Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut, who now plays Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals. Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova and fifth seed Sloane S...

Atletico De Madrid coach Daniel Limones (back L), 32, trains with youths at Atletico De Madrid club's new facility for developing football in Lahore. ─ AFP In this picture taken on January 6, 2019, youths exercise with local coaches at Atletico De Madrid club's new facility for developing football in Lahore. ─ AFP Atletico De Madrid coach Daniel Limones (back L), 32, trains with youths at Atletico De Madrid club's new facility for developing football in Lahore.  In this picture taken on January 6, 2019, youths exercise with local coaches at Atletico De Madrid club's new facility for developing football in Lahore. ─ AFP Atletico De Madrid coach Daniel Limones (back L), 32, trains with youths at Atletico De Madrid club's new facility for developing football in Lahore. ─ AFP Spain's Atletico Madrid are taking on a challenge tougher than winning La Liga ─ developing football in cricket-mad Pakistan, where bat and bal...

RUSSIA’S Maria Sharapova competes against Ashleigh Barty of Australia during their match. MELBOURNE: Swiss great Roger Federer denied on Sunday his defeat to Greek young gun Stefanos Tsitsipas signalled a changing of the guard as he announced he will play the French Open this year for the first time since 2015. The 20-time Grand Slam champion was shocked by a man 17 years his junior in the last 16 of the Australian Open on Rod Laver Arena. But Federer, the defending champion, played down suggestions it was the beginning of the end for a man who has dominated the sport for so long. “I’ve heard that story the last 10 years. From that standpoint, nothing new there,” he said. And in a signal that he is hungry for more, the 37-year-old said he planned to play on clay again this year for the first time since 2015. “It’s a bit of a desire. I’m in a phase where I want to have fun and I’ve missed not doing it,” he told reporters of the French Open. He missed Roland...