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SHARJAH-Relentless in their pursuit of another win to secure the second successive whitewash against the West Indies at home, Pakistan didn’t really have to over-exert themselves to march off with an emphatic 244-run triumph, and in four days to boot.Desperately seeking to improve their ranking, this series win would definitely help them not only in moving up the ladder but also add to the morale for the tougher challenges in the months to come. More than the victory over a hapless West Indies, a mere shadow of their glorious past, the most remarkable thing about this Pakistan team is the hunger, intensity and consistency.It was their sixth Test win on the trot, and also the sixth time that they scored well over 400 runs in the first innings of a match. Signs that this Pakistan team is getting its act together.Skipper Waqar Younis has reason to be proud of this winning streak; he indeed has led from the front and this shows, grabbing 4 for 44 to hasten the Windies demise. With a wicket at the top of the order which could easily have been two had the normally safe Shahid Afridi not floored a catch at third slip, he came back to mop up the tail, getting the last two wickets in the first over of the half-hour extension he had requested. Before that he broke the rather effervescent 47 run stand for the sixth wicket between an enterprising Ryan Hinds (topscorer with 46, 55 deliveries, 7 fours) and an adventurous Ridley Jacobs by removing Hinds, leg before for his 350th wicket. It is the third best aggregate by a Pakistani, behind only Wasim Akram (414) and Imran Khan (362).Another indicator that things are moving in the right direction for Pakistan was the fact that three relatively junior members of the side walked away with Man of the Match and Man of the Series Awards in the two test series, Shoaib Akhtar, Younis Khan and Abdur Razzaq respectively.Waqar’s decision to bat again when he could have enforced the follow-on had perplexed many. With the wisdom of hindsight, one can safely say that he didn’t need to put his batsmen back in to make the effort of putting 225 for 5. The West Indies were blasted off for 189, again failing to reach 200 in the second innings to hurry up to their fifth consecutive defeat.The day didn’t start all that badly for the West Indies, as they had three Pakistani wickets down and restricted them to only 74 in the first session. But it only got worse after that.Dillon struck twice in two overs to account for Younis Khan, holing out to mid-off with Darren Ganga bringing off a good catch for the West Indies finally, and Taufeeq Umar was given out after an extended appeal by the bowler that seemingly made umpire Shakeel Khan change his mind and raise the finger. The replays showed that the umpire’s change in verdict – on a delivery that landed marginally outside leg and was headed outside off – was another of several mistakes made by umpires in this series. There was more to come.An out of sorts Inzamam hung in there before perishing to an airy-fairy shot, and Pakistan declared soon after lunch, once Youhana got his 50. There was nothing sporting about the declaration, for in their present form the West Indies had as little a chance of surviving the remaining five sessions as a snowball in Sharjah.On a pitch that again didn’t have much to offer the bowlers by way of support, the Pakistani attack showed its class. Waqar had Chris Gayle plumb in front, and almost had Wavell Hinds who prospered to 34 before he was smartly snapped up by stand-in ‘keeper Taufeeq off Saqlain Mushtaq. In between, Shoaib Akhtar had struck another blow, getting an ever-improving Darren Ganga, amazingly Darrel Hair ruling in the bowler’s favour when the direction was certainly down the leg side.Carl Hooper, whose defiant 84 in the first innings had taken the West Indies to the verge of avoiding the follow-on, fell leg before to Saqlain, another marginal decision. Razzaq accounted for Chanderpaul, and it seemed all over. But Hinds and Jacobs took the fight to the Pakistani bowlers, especially Hinds driving beautifully both to Waqar and Razzaq. But once Waqar sent Hinds back, it was all over bar the shouting. Ridley Jacobs remained not out for 35, but Waqar had once again blown the tail away.The West Indies definitely have to do a lot of soul-searching to survive the Pakistani onslaught in the one-dayers too, but that is a different ball game altogether, and the Pakistanis are known to give in to complacency. The other key area that the West Indies and Pakistan both need to look at is fielding and holding their catches. If indeed, the West Indies had held many of the catches dropped, this series may not have been so one-sided.Hooper and his young team, so far without much hope, must surely be hoping for better fortune in the 3 ODIs to follow.

In the North Zone League Under-22 played at DhruvPandove Stadium, Patiala, Punjab took on HimachalPradesh. Sanjay Dhull’s potent off spin bowlingwas the difference between the two teams as Punjabbeat Himachal by an innings and 11 runs on Friday.On Wednesday Himachal won the toss and elected tobat and were bowled out for 151 in 50.4 overs.Opener Hitesh Angrish made 53 and there were noother significant contributions to the Himachalinnings. Off Spinner Sanjay Dhull excelled withthe ball, picking up 5/31. Punjab innings waspeppered with four half centuries as they declaredat 359/9 in 88.1 overs. Sachin Rana (83), AmitKakriya (73), Munish Sharma (51) and Ankur Sondhi(50 notout) were the batting stars for Punjab.Shavinder Pal was the best of Himachal bowlerswith the figures of 6/117. Himachal Pradesh werebowled out for 197 in their second innings. Punjabbowler Sanjay Dhull again picked up five wickets(5/81) to finish with a match haul of 10/112.Digvijay Singh (55) was the only player to get tohis half century in the Himachal second innings.Punjab took all eight points to Himachal’s none.

Manchester United will be without Edinson Cavani for this evening’s visit of Leicester City to Old Trafford.

What’s the latest?

Ahead of the clash against Brendan Rodgers’ side, the Red Devils interim boss was giving team news updates as the Premier League resumes following the latest international break.

Speaking in the press conference at Carrington, Rangnick said that his international players “all seem to be fit” but then declared that “the only player who is injured, unfortunately again, is Edinson Cavani.”

Cavani was injured on international duty with Uruguay and was forced off with calf problem in the first half of his country’s recent clash against Chile.

On the extent of the 35-year-old’s injury, Rangnick said: “According to the doctor, he will be out for a couple of weeks, four weeks, maybe even five weeks. So we will have to wait and see. That’s obviously bad news to have another striker missing out. Apart from that, all the others seem to be fit.”

Rangnick will be raging

With just nine games to go, United are up against it in the race for Champions League qualification, trailing fourth-placed Arsenal by four points having played one match more.

Although Leicester’s defence has been rather porous this term and Cavani has rarely started in the top flight, Rangnick would have ideally liked to have the Uruguayan at his disposal this evening.

Since joining United, the veteran striker has had a big impact. In total, he has scored 19 goals for the Red Devils, and whilst that is impressive for a 35-year-old who is past his prime, it’s his effect on United’s pressing ability which has truly made him stand out.

With around five pressures per game, his work rate is second to none at Old Trafford, although it’s his successful pressure percentage per 90 of 36.7% which makes him one of the best in this metric, with the Uruguayan ranked within the 99th percentile among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

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Cavani is not just an industrious workhorse in the final third, either. Red Devils legend Paul Scholes has hailed the veteran’s “perfect first touch” and drawn comparisons with another lethal marksman of old in these parts in Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Therefore, with such a crucial fixture coming up this evening, Rangnick will be raging that the Uruguay marksman was struck with injury in midweek and has duly been ruled out for the visit of Leicester, who have won their last three meetings against United in all competitions.

In other news – Man Utd facing disaster over “phenomenal” £31.5m-rated star, supporters will be fuming

Scorecard
Gujarat, overnight on 140 for 2, doubled that total on the third day to take a first-innings lead of 20 against Railways in final of the Ranji Plate League at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. In reply, Railways were at 14 for 1, still trailing by six runs.Gujarat’s lead was due in large part to Nilesh Modi, who added 41 to his overnight 66. However, they were unable to build on that as their middle order – barring Hem Joshipura, who made 36 – failed to chip in with substantial scores.Niraj Patel and Modi added 45 for the fourth wicket after Mohnish Parmar fell early in the day. After Niraj fell, Modi went on score his seventh first-class hundred before he was snared by Harvinder Singh, the former India fast bowler. Modi’s 107 came off 317 deliveries, with 18 fours.Joshipura and Timil Patel combined to help Gujarat take the lead but Joshipura’s wicket, with the score on 255, triggered a collapse; Gujarat lost the last four wickets for 25 runs. Runs came at a trickle, with Gujarat’s run-rate 1.92 runs per over. Sanjay Bangar was the most impressive bowler, with 5 for 54 from his 42 overs in Gujarat’s innings, including 19 maidens.Railways then played out eight overs before close, losing Siddharth Joshi early to Ashraf Makda. Nightwatchman Murali Kartik and Bangar negotiated the remaining overs without further damage. Railways would be pleased with conceding a lead of 20, and a good batting display by them in the second innings could put pressure on Gujarat’s batsmen on the final day.

The little hiccups are simply rolled outChris Dehring, CEO of the World Cup Organising Committee

The countdown is on for the World Cup and tickets are moving quite slow. But organisers are not too worried, and don’t expect the visa problems being experienced by some fans to have a major effect on ticket sales.The problems some nationalities were having obtaining visas were believed to be playing a major part. There were teething problems in Australia, and New Zealanders expressed dismay. Now, the Pakistanis have found out they have to send their passports to New Delhi, India.Negotiations are under way between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistani Foreign Office to get the visas issued in Pakistan instead. Ahsan Malik, a spokesman for the PCB, said there was a precedent where special visa arrangements were made for fans in the past.Citizens from Britain, Canada, Ireland and South Africa are exempt from the visa requirement but supporters from major cricketing countries like India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are not.Delroy Taylor, senior project officer for ticketing, said he didn’t believe the visa situation would stop fans from making it to the region. When the second phase of ticketing ended in November, only half the 800,000 seats had been sold. The nine local organising committees expect to rake in US$40 million from ticket revenue.Taylor added that it was strongly believed the majority of tickets would be snapped up by Caribbean fans when the final phase of ticketing started on February 1. “I wouldn’t say the visa situation could be aligned to the ticket sales,” Taylor said while at the airport yesterday. “The ticket sales opened a long time ago [May 1, 2006] and the visa system just came about a few weeks ago.”The ticket sales are slower than hoped. The ideal is that we would have loved to have sold all by this time. But we are expecting the people of the Caribbean to come on board and buy most of the tickets in the final phase. This is the phase which most people in the West Indies can relate to – first come first served. The international market has snapped up a lot of the tickets in the early stages.”Chris Dehring, the chief executive of the World Cup Organising Committee, was more upbeat. “This event has faced so many challenges that at this stage, everything is full steam ahead,” he told The Miami Herald newspaper. “The little hiccups are simply rolled out.”Today marks 44 days to go before the official start of the event and Taylor remained optimistic. He noted that the stadia were being completed and there had been a definite up-swing in spectator interest.”We were expecting this would happen,” Taylor said, “there is a feel-good factor happening around the Caribbean. A year ago there was scepticism, but now the stadia are being painted and they are right in front of us for the people to see.”

Darren Gough: won the TV show but did his decision to stay home from Pakistan cost him his place? © BBC

Darren Gough has said he is disappointed at not being named in England’s one-day squad for India but insisted that he is not intending to retire from international cricket.”I’m not a 20-year-old demanding a place,” Gough told the BBC. “I can understand they want to go with the young guys but I still hope I have another World Cup left in me. I am one of the best bowlers at the end of a one-day match. You can’t buy one of them at a local superstore – it takes years and years.”Gough opted out of the Pakistan leg of the winter tour to concentrate on his participation in the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, which he won, but dismissed any talk of quitting. “”I’ve got a year left at Essex,” he countered, “and they’ve offered me another year after that.”In the recent past, England have tended to make anyone who has chosen to miss a tour work to regain their place, but at 33 and with a string of knee operations behind him, time is against Gough.David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, said that others needed to be tried ahead of the 2007 World Cup. “With Liam Plunkett and James Anderson performing well in Pakistan, and Simon Jones now available for selection again, we feel the priority is for these players to gain as much experience of one-day cricket as possible.”

A penny for your thoughts: Michael Slater’s career had more highs, including this 106 against West Indies in 1999, than lows© Getty Images

Mental strength is such an important characteristic, but a calf injury will get a player more sympathy than a sick mind. Steve Waugh’s most enviable trait was not run-scoring or baggy-green pride, it was the grey matter his cap protected. Unforgiving, unflinching, almost all-conquering, Waugh’s brain was the model for long-term success.Waugh grew to understand the power of the mind and set about dismantling those of the opposition with his mental disintegration. Michael Slater was a successful and senior member during the early years of Waugh’s captaincy, but while his team-mates were looking for flaws in their rivals, Slater was experiencing problems with a pattern that was last year diagnosed as bipolar disorder. His behaviour started taking noticeable turns in 2000 and over the next year his actions created much publicity but received little help. Team-mates turned from him, and professional assistance was too far away.Slater this week revealed he suffered from the manic depressive disease, which causes large mood swings, and was worried about how his announcement would be received. The threat of admitting weakness has lasted much longer than his playing days. Society says injury-induced retirees are glorified; those with sick minds are signed off as nutcases.”Are people going to think I’m a fruit loop,” he asked Enough Rope’s Andrew Denton as he shared his secret. Twenty percent of Australians experience some sort of mental illness, yet an opening batsman who thrilled and spilled in a Test career of 71 Tests, scoring 5312 runs at 42.83, was more cautious – scared even – than facing Ambrose and Walsh at their fastest.The sad case of Slater, who believes the disorder was a by-product of the spinal disease Ankylosing Spondylitis afflicting him since he was at the Cricket Academy, highlights a disturbing cricketing anomaly. The mind is a player’s greatest weapon but maintenance and repairs are generally left to the individual.Why don’t teams tour with psychologists? A usual support-staff contingent includes a coach, manager, physiotherapist, masseuse and sometimes an assistant coach, bio-mechanist, yoga instructor and chef. Bodies are temples, but minds are like mini-bar bills and are the user’s responsibility. For help it’s usually necessary to make an international phone call or have a chat with a senior figure behind the nets.The problem with the in-dressing-room solution, compared to the confidentiality of a professional, is the trusted player or coach has a team duty to pass on information about the sufferer’s mindset. Forget the personal damage, what could it do to the side? Waugh, who praised his former team-mate for talking publicly about the illness, made the selectors and Malcolm Speed, the then Cricket Australia chief executive, aware of Slater’s slide in 2001 and he was dumped, never to return, for the final Test of the Ashes tour.While losing the one-day series 5-0 to Australia, John Bracewell said his batsmen were offered the use of Gilbert Enoka, the team’s psychologist, and the reaction was the stereotypical “send them to couch” humour. At his next public outing Bracewell effectively told the doubters to grow up. Psychologists were part of professional sport.Slater will forever wonder whether things could have been different. It now seems absurd that Waugh’s golden calf injury sustained at Trent Bridge in 2001 was a national concern and the state of Slater’s seriously worsening state of mind was mockingly dismissed. Waugh recovered to play at The Oval and scored a gutsy 157 not out; Slater’s combined problems – panic attacks that rushed him to hospital, reactive arthritis that folded him into a wheelchair – forced him to retire at 34. Leaping, helmet-kissing celebrations like his Lord’s 152 were old, fanciful dreams.The first signs of Slater’s bipolar disorder came in 2000 with his television commentary debut in England, and grew to become as common as a couple a day. Panic attacks are worse than any hamstring strain or bone-spur operation. The health problems were compounded and contributed to by the separation from his wife Stephanie, the accusation that he was addicted to cocaine and the awful, false rumour that he was the father of Adam Gilchrist’s child.

Down-time: Slater argues with Venkat after he was denied a catch to Rahul Dravid at Mumbai in 2001© Getty Images

During this time Slater gave regular signs of his trouble. Glass of wine in-hand, he jumped on stage to sing with Jimmy Barnes at the 2001 Allan Border Medal, then there was the Rahul Dravid outburst, the buying of his long-saved-for Ferrari and four tattoos when one would have done. “This might clear up for a few people why my behaviour appeared erratic,” he explained of his decision to go public.Why it wasn’t dealt with, and why he wasn’t properly helped as it was happening remains a mystery. The talk on that Ashes tour was Slater was running quickly off the rails, but he was left on his own. Slater said he felt isolated as his friends turned their backs.Now a commentator who talks like he batted – fresh, mostly relaxed and highly entertaining – Slater’s eye-sparkle remains but his body looks worn out for a 35-year-old. He hopes for a long career but worries the “fruit loop” reaction could hinder his prospects. If his bipolar revelation has that effect it would be a greater injustice than the lack of support he received as he careered out of international cricket.”I wish I’d been stronger,” Slater said. “I was too sensitive and wore my heart on my sleeve.” Perhaps he was just right: there were far more highs than lows. Perhaps the people around him should have worried more about their caring than the cracking up. Mental injuries must be treated more seriously than any grade-one muscle tear.

Corey Collymore: took two wickets to help West Indies to the brink of victory © AFP

Close
ScorecardWest Indies closed the fourth day of the final Test at Bulawayo needing only one more wicket to take the match, and the series, after an astonishing day’s play in which 18 wickets fell. It wasn’t easy on a crumbling pitch, but the batsmen had only themselves to blame for their own indiscipline, as was the case with West Indies, and faint hearts, as it was with Zimbabwe.West Indies started the day in confusion, crumbling to 128 all out, but finished with fierce determination, and now need only to turn up on the final morning to wrap up this topsy-turvy match. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, began with brilliance and finished in ignominy, surrendering their earlier advantage to collapse to 90 for 9.There have been many stirring passages of play in this all-too-brief series, but none more than than today. Zimbabwe needed early wickets to put West Indies under pressure, and that’s exactly what happened. Daren Ganga, who didn’t add to his overnight score of 8, drove Andy Bilgnaut straight to Stuart Carlisle at cover (17 for 2). Then Heath Streak produced the ball of the series to remove Brian Lara with a wicked inswinging yorker which pierced his high backlift and knocked his middle stump clean out of the ground (21 for 3).Zimbabwe were on fire. Wavell Hinds and Ramnaresh Sarwan did stem the vibrant bowling for a while, but without conviction. Sarwan, on 9, slashed at Blignaut and Craig Wishart picked up a sharp catch at slip (51 for 4). Hinds then played forward to Ray Price and was given out, caught at short leg by Carlisle, although television replays suggested it was pad and arm (51 for 5).Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ridley Jacobs, the last two recognized batsmen, tried to retrieve the situation before falling in consecutive overs. Streak returned to take the vital wicket of Chanderpaul, trapped lbw for 15, with a fast, straight ball (82 for 6). In the next over Jacobs edged an attempted drive at Price on to his pads, and was snapped up by Trevor Gripper at short leg (82 for 7).Omari Banks and the rest of the tail were left with the virtually impossible task of giving their team a respectable second-innings score. He and Merv Dillon fought on for more than half an hour before Price broke through, having Banks caught off pad and bat by Mark Vermeulen for 16 (127 for 8). Corey Collymore was then surprised to be bowled behind his legs by Price, and Fidel Edwards was bowled by Blignaut, ending the innings in a hurry on a meagre 128. Price took 4 for 36 – his poorest figures of the series, but still impressive – and Streak and Blignaut finished with three wickets apiece.It was a fine performance by Zimbabwe, but now came the real test of their nerve. The highest target they have successfully chased was 162, against India at Harare in 2000-01, when they won a titanic struggle by four wickets. With Zimbabwe’s tendency to choke though, nothing could be taken for granted – and they did their best to uphold their reputation.Vusi Sibanda edged Dillon to second slip in the first over of the innings, without a run on the board. Then Gripper edged a ball from Collymore low to Jacobs, and West Indies believed they had another wicket. Gripper stood his ground though, and the third umpire finally ruled not out. For once the luck was going Zimbabwe’s way, but the question remained as to whether they could take advantage of it.

Ray Price: caused West Indies problems again with 4 for 36 © AFP

And they couldn’t. Vermeulen was in fine form while scoring 24 off as many balls, but he fell just before tea to the curse of modern cricket – the one-day diagonal bat – trying to drive Hinds through the off side dragging the ball onto his stumps (32 for 2). Gripper reverted to the stonewaller he used to be, nudging a dogged 8 off 34 balls, and on tea he was given out caught at short leg by Ganga off Banks (33 for 3).Zimbabwe’s pusillanimity then reached new heights. Wishart started well, pulling Banks for a flat six over midwicket, but once again he flattered to deceive, slashing Hinds to first slip for 13 (54 for 4). With Edwards nursing a dodgy ankle and unable to bowl, Hinds did a useful job in putting the ball on the spot and letting the batsmen – and occasionally the pitch – do the work.After Wishart’s departure, the floodgates opened. Wickets fell steadily and ingloriously as the batsmen seemed to lose the will even to hit the ball off the square. Stuart Matsikenyeri ran himself out (62 for 6) and Blignaut padded up to Banks and was lbw (63 for 7) – two of the softest of dismissals imaginable. Tatenda Taibu and Price then both fell to Collymore and the white flag had well and truly been raised.Streak hit Banks over long-on for a final defiant six, and he and Blessing Mahwire showed more fight than their predecessors. But they only delayed the inevitable, and ensured that Zimbabwe survived until what will be a token fifth day.

NSW will battle against a large slice of history tomorrow after being set 406 runs for victory in its Pura Cup cricket match against Western Australia at the WACA ground.The Blues dragged back 26 runs late in the day for no loss in the knowledge that they have never scored more than 281 in the fourth innings in a match at theWACA.And they have a woeful record in recent times in the four-day game in Perth having lost four of their last five matches outright.Blues openers Brad Haddin (14no) and Grant Lambert (8no) negotiated ten overs late in the day in fading light.The Warriors earlier declared their second innings closed at 6-158, an overall lead of 405 runs nearing stumps on the third day of the match.It came after Warriors pace duo Brad Williams (4-89) and Jo Angel (4-91) skittled the Blues out for 253 in reply to the Warriors’ first innings total of 7(dec)-500.Brad Hogg (17no) and Kade Harvey (13no) were the unbeaten batsmen when West Australian captain Simon Katich finally ended the innings.Scott Meuleman (0) was the first casualty caught behind off Stuart Clark’s (2-39) bowling without a run on the board.Katich (23) fell trying to pull Clark while Ryan Campbell (11) and Marcus North (9) had their stumps rattled by Don Nash (3-59) in the rush for quick runs.Opener Michael Hussey (60) continued his good form with an entertaining knock before he was Nash’s third victim while Chris Rogers (18) swept Higgs straight to Michael Clarke.Earlier Angel and Williams wrapped up the tail after lunch to secure first innings points after Graeme Rummans’ (55) defiant knock of just under four hours came to an end.The Blues batting lineup folded after Rummans was caught behind for Angel’s third scalp, losing their last five wickets for 48 runs.Mark Higgs (23) fell soon after with Hussey taking a sharp catch in slips off Williams’ bowling.Brett Van Deinsen, who batted with a runner after injuring his back bowling yesterday, made a quickfire 27 before he became the fourth victim of theCampbell-Angel combination of the innings.Williams then took a fine return catch to dismiss Nathan Bracken for a duck before Nash (9) was run out in a mix-up with Stuart Clark (6no).Williams’ earlier claimed the crucial wicket of Michael Bevan (66) while young WA quick Michael Clark (1-33) snared captain Shane Lee’s (18) wicket.An outright win for the Warriors will see them leapfrog South Australia into second place on the Pura Cup ladder while NSW will need a miracle to win and get off the bottom of the table.

Delhi gained eight points on account of an innings and 21 run victoryover J&K in a North Zone U-14 league match at the Sports Stadium inKathua. Electing to bat on day one, Delhi declared their first inningsat 275 for 9 in 77 overs. Skipper G Chabra led the way with a stylish122 in 177 balls. Then Delhi’s Tehlan who took 4 wickets combined withKarki and Pant who both took 3 wickets to restrict J&K to just 104 in64.3 overs. Only opener I Dev offered some resistance to make 43.Then following on, 171 runs behind, J&K didn’t do well in their secondessay either by getting out for 150 in 99.4 overs. Tehlan was the mostsuccessful bowler again by taking 3 wickets. I Dev again was theleading scorer having made 46.