Champions Trophy team profile: Pakistan

A favourite generalisation about Pakistan is that when they're good, they're superb, but when they're bad, they're abysmal. They are one of the least predictable sides in world cricket, and which side will turn up on the day is anyone's guess.

Pakistan have not won this event before, and this will be their last chance to do so as it is the final installment. They did reach the semi-finals twice in the last three editions though, and have a good track record in ICC tournaments.

Their group consists of South Africa, India and the West Indies, so getting into the knock-out stages will be tricky given their mixed form this year. They have played ODI series against both India and the Proteas this year, drawing with the former and losing to the latter.

They go into the tournament on the back of a four-game tour against Scotland and Ireland, where they were not very convincing. In fact, they nearly lost the two-game series against Ireland after drawing the first game and winning the second by only two wickets.

Strengths
Opposition players tend to underestimate Pakistan, given their middling ranking and erratic performances, and that often works in their favour, especially when one or two players come good in a game.

They also have a spin pairing, of Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez, that has done very well over the past few seasons. Ajmal is the number one ODI bowler, and can spin the ball on a tarpaulin if asked. The batsmen, even those used to spin, will have a tough time against them.

Pakistan's pace attack is also steadily improving, with Junaid Khan a shining light, and Mohammad Irfan proving to be more than the novelty factor. He did very well in South Africa, and given the right conditions will do well in England.

Weaknesses
The top order is not a consistent one, and from one game to the next it can be tough to call who will play. Pakistan often rely on their middle, and sometimes lower, order to get them out of trouble.

As for the wicketkeeping, Kamran Akmal may come good with the bat every so often but he is infamous for his blunders with the gloves. His drops and fumbles are the cause of a few groans in every game, and his skipper will need him to minimise those.

The catch 22 mentioned above, their unpredictability, is a weakness as well. Once something goes wrong early on, their heads drop and matters go from bad to worse, unless one player rescues them. Mental conditioning is not their strong suit.

One To Watch
The obvious, and correct, player to keep an eye on is Saeed Ajmal. He is prolific in ODIs and has an average of 22.91. If the batsmen don't post high enough totals, all eyes will be on him to defend the score.

Probable Bench-Warmer
There are five pace bowlers in the squad, and aside from Junaid Khan, they aren't really assured of a place. It will depend on the match conditions and the opposition, but one imagines Irfan, Ehsan Adil and Wahab Riaz will be fighting to play.

Last Three Tournament Finishes
2009: Losing semi-finalists to New Zealand
2006: Knocked out in group stage
2004: Losing semi-finalists to West Indies

Cricket365 Prediction
How on earth does one predict Pakistan? We're going to say they won't make it out of their group this time, given they have the Proteas, India and the West Indies to content with. Or they'll win the whole thing, you never know.

Squad
Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdur Rehman, Asad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Ehsan Adil, Imran Farhat, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Wahab Riaz

Fixtures
7 June: v West Indies, Oval
10 June: v South Africa, Birmingham
15 June: v India, Birmingham

Champions Trophy team profile: England

Overview
The hosts have never won the tournament. Their best result came in the 2004 edition that they hosted, but they fell at the final hurdle. This year the English will be feeling confident that they can go one better as they boast one of the strongest squads in the competition as well as benefiting from home ground advantage. It will be the last chance for the English to get their hands on this elusive trophy.

Strengths
England possesses a thoroughly professional unit. They are disciplined with bat, ball and in the field. In a tournament that is exclusive to the top eight teams in the world talent is abundant, and the difference between winning and losing could be discipline.

The other great strength of the English squad is that there is a good blend of experience and youth. Old heads such as Jonathan Trott or James Anderson can put their hands up and lead the way if the going gets tough.

On the flip side of the coin, players such as Jonny Bairstow and Jos Butler have not tasted defeat in global tournaments. They will play with freedom and without the fear of failure. Their inhibited stroke play may be just what the doctor ordered for English success.

Weaknesses
Mention has been made of England's disciple as a strength, as it most certainly is a credit in the ledger. Unfortunately, the English sometimes get so caught up in being disciple that they over-step the mark. They become rigid and refuse to adapt to certain situations in the match. If they get caught in this trap once again, then even the likes of Morgan won't be able to right the ship.

The other possible weakness in the hosts' line-up is the inclusion of both Cook and Trott in the top three of the batting order. They are fine players and should ensure that early wickets are not lost to the new white ball. As solid as the start of the innings may be, they will by no means get off to a flyer because both of these players naturally build their innings slowly and methodically. If England find themselves chasing a big target then they might find themselves too far behind to catch up later in the innings.

One To Watch
Due to the tournament being played in early summer, the pitches in all probability will be tough going for the batsmen. Steven Finnhas all the attributes to cause chaos with the hard, new ball. He thunders the ball down at serious pace and uses his height to extract spiteful bounce. Batsmen will do well to survive his spells of bowling, let alone put a competitive total together.

Probable Bench-Warmer
England will select their team according to their traditional strengths. Pace bowlers who can extract movement and batsmen with sound techniques will be joined by the off-spinner, Graeme Swann, who will bring some variety to the attack. There won't be space for another specialist spinner, so James Tredwell will spend his time carrying the drinks, unless Swann suffers an injury.

Last Three Tournament Finishes
2009: Losing semi-finalists to Australia
2006: Group A exit to Australia
2004: Losing finalist to West Indies.

Cricket365 Prediction
England have a strong squad and are comfortable playing in the conditions. They should progress from their group with ease along with Australia. Once in the Semi-final, any team is just two performances away from the title. The host's will fancy their chances as they go into the tournament as one of the favourites.

Squad
Alistair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jos Butler, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Chris Woakes.

Sports & Off The Pitch

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum hopes a change of format and the introduction of several new players will revive his side from the depths of a Test whitewash when they face England in a three-match one-day series starting at Lord's on Friday.

For both teams, this series will serve as a warm-up for next month's ICC Champions Trophy tournament in England and Wales.

McCullum would also like it to act as a pick-me-up for a squad that suffered a 247-run hammering by England in the second and final Test at Headingley on Tuesday.

Friday's match will see New Zealand return to Lord's where they lost the first Test by the comparatively modest, yet still huge, margin of 170 runs after collapsing to 68 all out in their second innings.

They are set to take the field without left-arm seamer Trent Boult, a star performer when New Zealand faced England at home earlier this year and who also impressed in England before aggravating a side strain at Headingley that left him doubtful for the Champions Trophy. Ian Butler is ready to stand-in should Boult be ruled out.

However, the inclusion of eight new players for the ODIs with England should bolster the Kiwis, who lost the corresponding three-match one-day series in New Zealand 2-1 after winning an ODI series in South Africa for the first time in January.

"We've got eight new guys coming into the fold for the ODI series and Champions Trophy and they're quite experienced, some of those guys," said McCullum.

"One thing we have been able to do in recent times is move between the forms of the game and refocus too. That's what this (situation) is going to require on a very short turnaround."

Former captain Daniel Vettori, who ruled himself unfit to play at Headingley because of concerns over an Achilles injury, James Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills and Grant Elliott will all add experience.

Mitchell McClenaghan is an aggressive fast bowler and Colin Munro, when in form, a hard-hitting middle-order batsman.

Meanwhile Luke Ronchi is set to make his debut as an opener after four years qualifying since playing four ODIs and three T20s for Australia.

It's even possible Ronchi might keep wicket rather than McCullum, who found himself behind the stumps at Headingley after BJ Watling was injured at Lord's, having given up keeping in Tests because of injury problems.

"It's something we need to talk about in the next 24 hours before we start to nail down that one-day team but it's definitely up for discussion.

"He (Ronchi) is definitely going to play as an opener."

England will now be under the guidance of one-day coach Ashley Giles as team director Andy Flower takes a break to plot the defence of the Ashes against Australia ahead of the latest edition of Test cricket's oldest rivalry, which resumes at Nottingham's Trent Bridge ground in July.

Whereas the one-dayers and indeed the Champions Trophy, represent New Zealand's best chance of success this tour for many within English cricket, where Test cricket still holds sway, they are something of an annoying interlude.

However, England have never won a major global 50-over tournament and Cook, whose up-tempo 130 at Headingley augured well for the ODIs, insisted the side would not get ahead of themselves.

"There is a long time until the Ashes. A lot of things can change," said Cook. "A lot of important one-day cricket will be played."

Brendon McCullum wants ODI relief against England

London:  New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum hopes a change of format and the introduction of several new players will revive his side from the depths of a Test whitewash when they face England in a three-match one-day series starting at Lord's on Friday.

For both teams, this series will serve as a warm-up for next month's ICC Champions Trophy tournament in England and Wales.

McCullum would also like it to act as a pick-me-up for a squad that suffered a 247-run hammering by England in the second and final Test at Headingley on Tuesday.

Friday's match will see New Zealand return to Lord's where they lost the first Test by the comparatively modest, yet still huge, margin of 170 runs after collapsing to 68 all out in their second innings.

They are set to take the field without left-arm seamer Trent Boult, a star performer when New Zealand faced England at home earlier this year and who also impressed in England before aggravating a side strain at Headingley that left him doubtful for the Champions Trophy. Ian Butler is ready to stand-in should Boult be ruled out.

However, the inclusion of eight new players for the ODIs with England should bolster the Kiwis, who lost the corresponding three-match one-day series in New Zealand 2-1 after winning an ODI series in South Africa for the first time in January.

"We've got eight new guys coming into the fold for the ODI series and Champions Trophy and they're quite experienced, some of those guys," said McCullum.

"One thing we have been able to do in recent times is move between the forms of the game and refocus too. That's what this (situation) is going to require on a very short turnaround."

Former captain Daniel Vettori, who ruled himself unfit to play at Headingley because of concerns over an Achilles injury, James Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills and Grant Elliott will all add experience.

Mitchell McClenaghan is an aggressive fast bowler and Colin Munro, when in form, a hard-hitting middle-order batsman.

Meanwhile Luke Ronchi is set to make his debut as an opener after four years qualifying since playing four ODIs and three T20s for Australia.

It's even possible Ronchi might keep wicket rather than McCullum, who found himself behind the stumps at Headingley after BJ Watling was injured at Lord's, having given up keeping in Tests because of injury problems.

"It's something we need to talk about in the next 24 hours before we start to nail down that one-day team but it's definitely up for discussion.

"He (Ronchi) is definitely going to play as an opener."

England will now be under the guidance of one-day coach Ashley Giles as team director Andy Flower takes a break to plot the defence of the Ashes against Australia ahead of the latest edition of Test cricket's oldest rivalry, which resumes at Nottingham's Trent Bridge ground in July.

Whereas the one-dayers and indeed the Champions Trophy, represent New Zealand's best chance of success this tour for many within English cricket, where Test cricket still holds sway, they are something of an annoying interlude.

However, England have never won a major global 50-over tournament and Cook, whose up-tempo 130 at Headingley augured well for the ODIs, insisted the side would not get ahead of themselves.

ICC withdraws Asad Rauf from Champions Trophy

NEW DELHI: Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf has been withdrawn from next month's Champions Trophy in England amid media reports he is under Indian police investigation for spot-fixing, the ICC said Thursday.

The announcement comes a week after police arrested three cricketers, including Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, accusing them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said the decision was made after media reports on Wednesday “that the Mumbai police are conducting an investigation” into Rauf's activities.

“ ... we feel that it is in Asad's best interests as well as those of the sport and the event itself, that he is withdrawn from participating in the Champions Trophy,” the ICC said in the statement.

“At this stage, the ICC has no further comment to make.”

Rauf, 57, who has stood in 48 Tests and 98 one-day internationals, was one of the umpires during the IPL.

There was no immediate comment available from the Mumbai police or Rauf but the Press Trust of India and other domestic media said the umpire was under investigation by the police as part of its spot-fixing probe.

Spot-fixing is an illegal activity where a specific part of a game, but not the outcome, is fixed.

Sreesanth, who has played 27 Tests and 53 one-dayers for India, is alleged to have been paid four million rupees ($72,000) to give away around 14 runs in an over while playing against the Kings XI Punjab on May 9.

His Rajasthan Royals teammates, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, are said to have agreed to similar deals in two other IPL matches.

The Indian cricket authorities recently said they would launch their own probe into the allegations, promising strict action against the players if they are found guilty.

The trio were refused bail on Tuesday after they appeared in court in New Delhi on spot-fixing charges.

The scandal widened when police in Mumbai arrested Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh Randhawa earlier this week as part of the alleged spot-fixing which has caused outrage among fans in the cricket-mad nation.

His family denied the actor was involved in any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that the investigation was a matter for the Indian authorities.

“We have nothing to do with this case, Rauf is an ICC umpire and was officiating in an Indian event and whatever has happened it's on Indian soil.

Paceman Boult in doubt for Champions Trophy

The New Zealand pace bowler Trent Boult is in doubt for the Champions Trophy one day cricket tournament in England because of a nagging side strain.

Left armer Boult has carried the fight for the Black Caps recently with 19 wickets in 5 tests against England, but his side strain isn't responding to treatment and he'll have a scan in London tonight to assess the injury.

Boult didn't bowl in the final stages of the second test at Headingley where the home side wrapped up New Zealand for 220 in their second innings to win the match by 247 runs.

The England off spinner Graeme Swann took a man-of-the-match 10 wickets, while the young home batsman Joe Root and the Blacks Caps' pace bowler were voted Players of the Series.

The first of three one-day internationals is at Lord's on Friday night.

West Indies coach puts money on England to rule Champions Trophy

England have been invincible at home. They have two quality fast bowlers to exploit the swing, and have high-quality batsmen in the form of Alastair Cook and Ian Bell to tackle the swing. England, more often than not, are hard to defeat at home. They made it to the finals of Champions Trophy 2004, which was held in England. They  also won the  ICC World Twenty20 in England.

West Indies Coach Ottis Gibson has also picked England as favourites to win this tournament. He also feels that England are more familiar with the conditions and hence they would be a tough team to beat at home. “England would be the best team to play in England in these conditions at this time of the year” Gibson said. “In my mind, they are the favourites and for the rest of the seven teams, it is who gets settled and used to the conditions quickly enough.

“And that’s what our aim is – to get there and get ourselves acclimatised as quickly as possible,” Gibson said. “We know that we have a lot of guys who have played in England before in those conditions but it is all about gelling as soon as we can and making sure that when the main event comes on June 7, we are ready for that.”

Although West Indies won the Champions Trophy in 2004, they failed to replicate the same performance when they toured England the last summer. They were thwarted by an excellent bowling performance from England. England wrapped up the Test Series 2-0 and the three match ODI Series 2-0.

But West Indies were crowned T20 Champions last year. Gibson also explained the importance of winning a major tournament. “Winning major events gives the confidence” Gibson said. “There will be some pressure of course, but the fact that we have won the last major event means that we get confidence from it also, and there is a lot of belief among the players.”

He also said that conditions will play an important role. “It might be that we think when we are playing subcontinental teams, which play spin very well, we might want to play an extra fast bowler or whatever the case may be. We don’t know that yet.”

“Getting out of the group is our first challenge and getting to the quarter-finals and semi-finals, and then our aim is to be playing on the 23rd, in the finals. I think we have a pretty good record in finals.”