Rain delays India-New Zealand T20 tie

Visakhapatnam: Bad weather delayed the start of the first Twenty20 international between India and New Zealand in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

The covers were still in place at the scheduled toss time of 6:30 pm (1300 GMT), with heavy rain lashing the southern coastal town since late afternoon.

The two-match series, a build-up for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka later this month, marks Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh's return to big-time cricket after being treated for germ-cell cancer between his lungs in March-April.

The second match is due to be played in Chennai on Tuesday.

Aussie captain Bailey bemused by Twenty20 ranking

Australia captain George Bailey was left scratching his head as to how his side was now ranked below Ireland in the Twenty20 rankings after their super over defeat in the second Twenty20 international against Pakistan on Friday.

Australia and Pakistan were locked at 151 after 40 overs before the Pakistanis took the match in a super over finish at Dubai Stadium, to clinch the three-match series 2-0. The third match will be played here on Monday.

Bailey, however, questioned the rankings system in which minnows Ireland are a place above them.

"That does not look good but I am still not sure how the rankings work," said Bailey of the Twenty20 rankings introduced last year and currently topped by South Africa.

"So Ireland goes past us when we haven't played Ireland in a T20. If Ireland is a better side than us then I guess it will show in a couple of weeks in Sri Lanka," said Bailey of the World Twenty20 championship starting on September 18.

'Pakistan responding well under pressure'

Pakistan beat Australia in Super over to take series

Australia are in Group B of the 12-team competition and open their campaign against Ireland in Colombo on September 19.

Australia have won only four of their last 13 matches but faced strong opponents in South Africa, Pakistan, England, India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

Ireland, associate members of the International Cricket Council, have won eight of their last 11 but all of them against minor nations.
Despite the defeat and the descent in the rankings, Bailey said he took several positives from it.

"I am really pleased that we performed much closer to what I think we are capable of. The guys will take a lot of confidence out of this individually and as a team. But to be so close and to lose raises a lot of questions in the head," said Bailey.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez, whose team jumped to fourth from sixth in the Twenty20 rankings, said victory will give his team more confidence.

"It's a great sign as captain. I am happy in the way players are responding to me as captain. Everyone is confident and this is a great sign for the team ahead of the World Twenty20," said Hafeez.

"As captain I feel very proud of my team and I hope from here on they will continue also in the mega event," said Hafeez of the World Twenty20 in which Pakistan are in Group D along with New Zealand and Bangladesh.

Hafeez said allrounder Shahid Afridi was doubtful for the third and final match after injuring his left hand during Pakistan's 2-1 defeat in the preceding one-day series.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal also hurt his shoulder on Friday but will be fit for Monday's final match, said Hafeez.

Hafeez hails Pak team for coming out on top in 'pressure cooker' T20 tie against Oz

Dubai: Pakistan T20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez has said that all his team's players are responding well under pressure.

Australia went below Ireland to the 10th spot on the ICC Twenty20 rankings following their defeat at the hands of Pakistan in a one-over eliminator on the last ball of their second T20 tie.

After both teams were tied on 151 after 20 overs, Australia batted first and scored 11 in six balls.

Pakistan were 0-10 with one ball left. However Cummins bowled a wide, then Pakistan claimed a quick single from the next delivery to notch an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

"It's a great sign for me that everyone is responding so well, especially under pressure, and it's very pleasing for me as captain. Everyone's getting confidence and I'm very proud," Hafeez said

"I was always very confident and all the time I had belief in the boys that we would win," The Nation quoted him, as saying.

Meanwhile, Australian skipper Geroge Bailey said he was not disheartened by the series loss.

"Whenever it's so close you run things through your mind and there are a lot of what-ifs. We can take a lot of positives from the match and in terms of a spectacle it was a terrific match," he said.

Martin Guptill has a mission

Calcutta: Martin Guptill has been one of the more consistent players for New Zealand in the Tests in recent times. In the last four Test matches, he scored 355 runs, including four half-centuries.

Now, he wants to carry the form into the two-match Twenty20 International series against India, the first of which will be played at Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

Guptill says scoring runs in the series will also help in boosting his confidence ahead of the World T20, which is scheduled to be held at Sri Lanka from September 18.

“Though I have failed to score the hundreds, the fifties go in a long way to prove that I’m in good shape. I have got the starts but I have failed to convert them."

“Now, I want to translate this form in the T20 format… Scoring some runs in the series will also help in boosting my confidence ahead of the World T20. In all probability, I will be opening the batting or come at first down… If I can score some runs at a brisk pace, it will also help the team in getting off to a good start,” Guptill said.

New Zealand had last played a T20 match in July. The right-handed batsman said that the side will not have any problem in adjusting to the T20 format.

“It’s true that T20 is more about aggression. You have to go in there and hit the ball right from the outset. I think we have a really strong batting line-up that can do well on the Indian pitches… We have prepared well for the series. The boys had their own ways of preparing for the series… But they are all raring to go out there and perform to the best of their abilities,” he said.

The 25-year-old Guptill said that the India tour has been a good learning experience for them.

“We had lost the Hyderabad Test in a very bad way. We failed to adjust to the conditions. But we put up a good fight in the second Test where the conditions were to our liking…"

“Despite losing the Test series, the guys are in high spirits. The tour has been a good learning experience for us… Most of the guys didn’t know much about the Indian conditions. So, this experience will help them in the future,” Guptill concluded.

Pollard shrugs off favourites tag

Bridgetown (Barbados):- Kieron Pollard has shrugged off the favourites tag being heaped on the West Indies side preparing for the ICC Twenty 20 World Cup in Sir Lanka later this month.

The big hitting all-rounder says being labelled as favourites would only put the West Indies players under a certain amount of pressure going into the tournament, reports CMC.

Pollard, a T20 specialist and one of the world's most valuable cricketers, said it's only performance on the field of play that counts.

"We have a very good team and a lot of people are saying we are favourites. But you know when you are favourites it comes with a pressure tag as well," said Pollard, part of a 15-man squad involved in final preparations at the High Performance Centre at UWI, Cave Hill, Barbados.

"But you know hopefully names on paper comes for nothing. It is performance in the field. So it's a matter of putting all what you have practiced into play."

Pollard's comments follow similar statements from the West Indies captain Darren Sammy earlier this week playing down the favourites tag.

Windies are currently fifth in the ICC T20 rankings, below South Africa, England, Sri Lanka and India.

The likes of New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor, Australia all-rounder Shane Watson and former India captain Sourav Ganguly have publicly lauded Darren Sammy's men as one of the favourites to win the World Twenty20.

"Twenty 20 is about who does the basics right. You have a situation to play to the best of your ability and try to execute as properly as possible and hopefully it comes off for you on that day," said Pollard, the joint highest paid player in the 2010 Indian Premier League, representing Mumbai Indians.

"It's another day of cricket. Another tournament and once we relax and play our cricket we are going to do well."

The West Indies defeated New Zealand in series involving all formats of the game earlier this year, and are currently involved in a week-long training camp ahead of the limited-overs showpiece.

Pollard said he is anxious to show his worth in bowling after recovering from a shoulder injury that affected his bowling last year.

The West Indians have been pooled with Australia and Ireland in Group B in the 12-team tournament.

Their campaign gets underway against the Aussies in Colombo Sep 22.

IPL poster boy wallows in obscurity

Visakhapatnam -- Ravindra Jadeja's Rs. 10 crore tag at this year's IPL auction may have led to raised eyebrows, but it instantly put him in the bracket of the world's best T20 players. But less than four months after he played his last IPL game, Jadeja finds himself out of favour.

He is not in the T20 team that will play New Zealand from Saturday, and also does not feature in the squad for the World T20 later this month. Worse, he does not figure even in the India 'A' squad that will tour New Zealand next week.

The Chennai Super Kings, captained by MS Dhoni, had shelled out the huge sum for him in the February auction. Incidentally, the player management firm that manages Jadeja and his contracts, Rhiti Sports, also manages the India skipper.

Ejection justified

Board sources say his ejection from the India team is justified as he failed in the IPL (191 runs in 19 matches @ 15.91 and just 12 wickets). "He hasn't been consistent," says a source. In fact, they are not in favour of grooming him for the future by picking him for India 'A'. This raises the question that whether the amount paid to players like him is justified.

Ex-players like Madan Lal agree. "Others must have fared better. That is why he is not in the team. First of all, I don't understand how anyone can pay so much for a player who is not sure of his place in the national side."

Unlike other players, who have gone back to the National Cricket Academy for fitness and off-season programmes, Jadeja hasn't done so.

In the run-up to the Test and T20 series, players not in the India and 'A' squads were at the NCA for various reasons. But not Jadeja.

His coach Mahesh Chauhan says Jadeja is grinding out at the inter-district level. "He has scored a century and picked up a few wickets. He captained Jamnagar to the final."

Awaiting a call

Jadeja had to skip the Buchi Babu tournament (in Chennai) for Saurashtra (a pre-cursor to the domestic season) as his father was in hospital.

The left-arm spinner is awaiting a call to one of the two teams for the Challenger Series, which will be played from September 29 at Rajkot.

There is a strong chance he'll make it to one of the teams as India will be busy at the World T20.

‘Second-biggest day’ for Yuvraj

Calcutta: Visakhapatnam projects itself as the ‘City of Destiny’ and it’s rather appropriate that Yuvraj Singh’s India comeback is set to be there.

Indeed, it’s a day closer to his big-stage return and the ‘warrior’ is more than just “excited.”

“Saturday, I guess, will be the second-biggest day of my career, after April 2, 2011, when we won the World Cup,” Yuvraj told The Telegraph from Vizag.

After being off top-bracket cricket for 10 months, Yuvraj is in the squad for the two T20 Internationals against New Zealand and the World T20.

Speaking on Thursday evening, Yuvraj added: “I’m excited and, as I said in Mumbai, I’m counting the hours.”

Yuvraj confirmed that his mother Shabnam and “around 10-12 close friends” are going to be present in Vizag, which hosts the first T20.

“Mom and the others should reach on the day of the match... It will be nice to have them at the ground,” Yuvraj stated.

Yuvraj’s battle against cancer, meanwhile, isn’t only being chronicled in the form of a book, but is also going to be shown on the small screen by way of a documentary — Zindagi Abhi Baaki Hai.

“There will be three episodes, each an hour-long... The footage was shot when I was undergoing chemotherapy in the US and later... I’m letting it out in the hope that some cancer victim(s) may get inspired,” Yuvraj pointed out.

The documentary is going to be telecast on Colors on Sundays. The first episode will be aired in November.

YouWeCan, set up by the Yuvraj Singh Foundation, has taken the initiative for Zindagi Abhi Baaki Hai.

The documentary is expected to serve a dual purpose — (a) to boost the cancer patients’ morale, telling them that the battle can be won and (b) to spread awareness.

Bhajji set to begin "new chapter"

VISAKHAPATNAM: Harbhajan Singh has said that his comeback in the T20 series against New Zealand will be the beginning of a "new chapter" in his career, following an extended international downtime of over a year.

"I won't say this is a second debut but yes, it's going to be a new day and a new chapter for me," he said.

The 32-year-old last played international cricket in August, 2011, before being sidelined by injury and R. Ashwin’s rising star.

"It's not that I was dropped for the first time last year. But it has been for the longest period of time. It makes you feel as if you are doing it for the first time," he said.

Despite an experience of 98 Tests and 229 ODIs, the off-spinner said a return to India colors always involved the constant challenge of passing critical assessment.

"It's always tough when you are out. Making a comeback is tougher than earning your maiden International call. It involves a lot of things. When you're out, you get injured and then again out. It's always been challenging."

Harbhajan has been playing for English county Essex, where he picked up 11 wickets in two matches, before single-handedly (5/37, 22) blasting his team to a win over Netherlands in a Pro-40 game.

"I was ready to work hard and take challenge. You get your family and friends support, but at the end of the day you're all alone fighting it out there in the middle. With
Almighty's help, I'm here again and now I'm looking forward towards doing well," he said.

Harbhajan said he was always eager to perform well for the country without resting on the past laurels, and that it was his willpower ad desire to play for the country that had brought him into contention again.

"You cannot live in the past glory. For anyone, it does not depend what you've done in the past but what you do in the present and future. In my case, I had the willpower and the desire to wear the India jersey again-- it's the biggest thing for me. It makes me proud."

It will be a double comeback against New Zealand as cancer survivor Yuvraj Singh also returns to the international fold.

"We all are proud of Yuvraj,” Bhajji said, “He has always been a true fighter. There was fear and doubt about the life-threatening disease. But he never had any doubt and was always positive."

"The sufferer only feels the real pain. The days' must be quite long for him when he was taking chemotherapy... Glad that he has come out strong. Obviously, it will inspire all the cancer patients. Hats off to him for the way he fought it with mother by his side. He is a role model," he added.

Harbhajan was part of the 2007 World T20 winning side. He called the experience a life-changing one. “It was a tournament that changed Indian cricket. We were never the favourites. Nobody actually felt that we could win it. Everybody wrote us off saying we're a young side. Moreover, the format was new to us. Despite all odds, we did it.”

“Now with IPL, the guys are really doing well in this format. It's always an honour to represent the country in World Cup. We all are looking forward to it. Hope to enjoy the moment playing in the World Cup and come out with flying colours,” he added.

On his rivalry with Ashwin, Harbhajan said, “He has done very well for India. It's great to see Indian bowlers doing well. I've always stated that healthy competition is always good. I'm looking forward towards forging a potent partnership with him.”

Bailey hopeful of winning T20 WC despite Australia's record loss to Pak

Melbourne: Australia Twenty20 captain George Bailey has said his team can still win the World Cup in Sri Lanka despite their record loss to Pakistan in the opening Twenty20 clash.

Australia crashed to their second-lowest total of 89 en route to a seven-wicket thrashing at the hands of Pakistan in the opening match of their series last night.

Australia's lowest Twenty20 total of 79 came against England at Southampton in 2005.

Pakistan made short work of their target in Dubai, scoring 3-90 from 14.5 overs led by Kamran Akmal's unbeaten 31. Shoaib Malik was nine not out.

"I'm very disappointed and there's plenty to go away and work on. You don't ever want to be setting those sorts of records," Bailey said.

"But in terms of the group we've got together and what we're capable of, it certainly hasn't altered my thoughts that we can still be a very good team. I still think we can win it. Definitely. Absolutely," he added.

"I certainly don't think we'd win if we played like we did today," the AAP quoted Bailey, as saying.

The Australian skipper said he couldn't pinpoint one reason for the team's batting collapse.

"It's just one of those things. It's hopefully just a bad performance and one that you won't see again. Even if we gained a tiny bit of momentum, we gave it back by losing a wicket," he said.

The three-game series continues in Dubai on Friday night.

Just can’t wait to get on to the field, says Yuvraj

Mumbai: Yuvraj Singh, who is likely to stage a comeback to international cricket on Saturday in Visakhapatnam after recovering from a rare germ cell cancer, said that he was counting the hours daily on his impending return.

“It is going to be a huge moment in my life. I can’t wait for 8th (September) to come in. Everyday I put up status message, counting the number of days left…"

“So two-three days, some hours to go... I just can’t wait to get on to the field. I can’t wait for the excitement, to get on the field and bat,” he said at a promotional here on Wednesday.

Within months of his recovery from his illness, Yuvraj was included in the Indian team for the World Twenty20 Championship in Sri Lanka as well as the two T20s against New Zealand.

“It is this environment that I am used to... That is something that I have been doing since the age of 15... since I was a kid. So when that was taken away from me I was shocked. It is like when a child gets his first Christmas gift and is waiting to open it… eager to know what is in store...it is like that,” the Man of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup, said.

However, Yuvraj was non-committal on how well he would perform in his comeback match.

“I don’t know how I will play. I don’t know if I would be making one run or 20 runs, take a catch or take a wicket. Whenever I climbed four steps, I used to get breathless. When I was like this, I felt it was not going to be possible. It was tough. But I worked very hard. I practised hard at the National Cricket Academy."

“For me, it is an achievement that I am back on the field. I don’t know how I am going to play on 8th. All I know is that to get on the field is a huge achievement for me. I feel very proud of myself. I am thankful to my family, friends and people of India for showering so much love on me. With all these emotions I will take the field,” he added.

The left-hander underwent treatment in the United States in January this year, involving three sessions of chemotherapy, and returned to India in April, after successfully battling cancer.

When Yuvraj was diagnosed with cancer, cricket was the only motivating factor for him.

“The aim was to save my life. Cricket is my life. When I was battling cancer, I thought if I came out of this, I would definitely play for India. And that kept motivating me... I used to watch matches where India were playing. I also used to get frustrated,” he said.

“But one day, Anil Kumble came and said I must stop watching all these things and improve my health, try and get better. People’s influence was important to me,” he added.

Yuvraj’s return and fighting spirit has drawn allround praise, including his former captain Sourav Ganguly.

“He will play a couple of matches against New Zealand and we should be able to know about his fitness then. Personally, I will not say that I am not worried about his health. But, it's a great thing that he has recovered so well from cancer.”

Pakistani spinners wreck Australia in first T20

Pakistan's spinners Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Raza Hasan bowled Australia out for just 89 to set up an easy seven-wicket win in the first Twenty20 international here on Wednesday.

Ajmal (2-13), Hasan (2-15) and skipper Hafeez (2-24) shook the Australian batting before left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir (3-13) wrapped up the innings in 19.3 overs. Pakistan then romped home in 14.5 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

It was an easy win for Pakistan at Dubai Stadium after going down 2-1 in the preceding one-day series.

Shoaib Malik hit the winning boundary, finishing with nine not out while Kamran Akmal finished with an unbeaten 31 with three boundaries and a six.

The victory was never in doubt once Pakistan bowled well. Hafeez (17) and Imran Nazir (22) gave Pakistan a solid start of 30 before losing Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed (10) in quick succession.

Akmal and Malik saw off the target without any discomfort.

The second match will be played here on Friday.

Earlier Australia were let down by poor shot selection against quality spin bowling after they were sent into bat.

Australia hit only three boundaries in the innings with their last coming in the fourth over as Pakistani spinners never allowed them to settle on a turning track, reducing their opponents to their second-lowest Tweny20 total.

Opener David Warner top-scored with 22 off 25 deliveries, hitting two boundaries.

Cameron White (15) and captain George Bailey (14) were the only others to reach double figures.

Paceman Umar Gul dismissed Shane Watson (eight) in the third over while Tanvir accounted for Michael Hussey (one) in the next before Warner and Bailey put on the best stand of the innings, adding 33 for the third wicket.

Pakistan's spinners then came into their own, as the last eight wickets went for a mere 43 runs.

Australia's lowest Twenty20 total of 79 came against England at Southampton in 2005.

Battle ready Yuvraj "thrilled" to get back in team

Mumbai: Indian cricketer and Arjuna Award winner Yuvraj Singh is all charged up to get back on the field following a successful battle with cancer.

Interacting with reporters during a cancer awareness campaign on Wednesday, Yuvraj said he was thrilled to be back in the team and couldn't wait to get into action.

"I can't wait to just get on the field, hold my bat, take leg stump, stand at point or stand anywhere in the field. I just can't wait to get into that environment. That is one environment I am very used to, that is one thing that I have been doing for the last 15-17 years since I was a kid," Singh said.

Earlier last week Yuvi was seen practicing harder with the fellow team members ahead of the T20 matches against the touring New Zealand and also the ICC World Twenty20 tourney to be held during September in Sri Lanka.

Known for his 'never say die' attitude, Yuvraj termed his comeback as an achievement as he thanked his fans and family for their support.

"I don't know how will I perform in September 8. Whether I make 1 run or 20 runs, maybe I will take a catch or wickets. For me, getting back on the field is a huge achievement for me and I feel very proud of myself, I am very thankful to my family, my friends, people of India, who prayed for me, so with these emotions, I would get on the field on that day," he said.

Bailey says Australia in form for T20s; rests star pacer Starc

Sharjah: Australian captain George Bailey has said his side will carry on winning momentum into their Twenty20 series against Pakistan in Dubai.

Following Australia's 2-1 victory in their one-day international, Bailey said that in-form pacer Mitchell Starc may be rested for T20 series in the UAE.

Starc was man of the series in the one-day internationals against Pakistan, which Australia won 2-1.

Six fresh players have arrived for the three-game T20 series, which is a lead-up to the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka later this month.

"The quick turnaround means we've hardly really spoken about Twenty20 yet. Mitchell Starc has had a pretty good hitout so he's probably one we might look to rest early on," Bailey admitted.

The series against Pakistan will be an excellent warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka starting on September 18, news.com.au reports.

Bailey said there was a great feeling in the Aussie change rooms after their three-wicket win in game three of the ODI series on Tuesday morning and it was heartening to see key members of the T20 squad show some form.

"It was nice to see Davey Warner start to hit a few boundaries, David Hussey scored some runs (43 as opener in game three), Glenn Maxwell (56 not out) performing as well as he did under pressure," Bailey told a press conference on Tuesday.

"Mitchell Starc is performing well (player of the series with nine wickets). As well as the team performing really well and getting the victory, for those guys to perform well for us is also a real confidence-booster."

Bailey is keen to get some game time into new arrivals Ben Hilfenhaus, Clint McKay and fellow pace bowler Pat Cummins, as well as Watson, middle-order batsman Cameron White and Brad Hogg.

Afridi doubtful for Pakistan's T20 series with Australia

DUBAI- All-rounder Shahid Afridi is a major injury doubt for Pakistan ahead of their Twenty20 series against Australia in Dubai.

"You must have witnessed it yesterday -- Shahid had a thumb injury, where his left thumb was wounded quite badly, the skin tore off and blood was oozing quite profusely," team manager Colonel Naveed Akram Cheema told reporters on Tuesday.

"He's received about two stitches. The doctors intend to examine the intensity of the wound (and) how far can it be healed.

"We haven't taken a decision yet (on whether he will be fit for the first match on Wednesday)."

Afridi had the injury bandaged and was able to complete his 10-over spell in Monday night's third and final one-day international in Sharjah, but his bowling was ineffective and he took 0-62 as Australia won the match by three wickets to seal a 2-1 series win.

The absence of Afridi, who missed last Friday's second match of the ODI series with a back injury, would be a major blow to Pakistan as both sides prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 that starts in Sri Lanka in less than two weeks.

Afridi was man of the match in the semi-final and final when Pakistan won the World Twenty20 tournament in 2009 in England, and he has taken more wickets in the shortest international format of the game than any other player in history - 58.

If Afridi is absent, more responsibility is likely to fall on his fellow spinner Saeed Ajmal and also fast bowler Umar Gul, recalled after being left out of the ODIs.

Gul (55) and Ajmal (54) are second and third on the list of all-time Twenty20 international wicket-takers behind Afridi, but captain Mohammed Hafeez said his side's hopes would depend on the team rather than individual brilliance.

"Yes, Umar Gul is a match winner and he has done a great job for Pakistan over the years, but everyone has to play their role to win a game and we're not depending on one particular player," Hafeez said.

Australia welcome back 19-year-old fast bowler Patrick Cummins after the latest in a series of injury problems that has restricted him to six limited-overs matches since he took seven wickets on his Test debut against South Africa last November.

"It's going to be particularly important, especially once we get to Sri Lanka (for the World Twenty20) to have that genuine out-and-out pace," Australia captain George Bailey told reporters.

"It makes it hard for teams to settle, and there's no doubt that Patrick's got that express pace. He's well skilled with his changes of pace, his slower ball and his bumper, which is very good, and a very good yorker.

"For someone so young I think his execution is outstanding, and he gives us great versatility as he's someone who can bowl at the top, through the middle or at the back-end of the game."

Australia have opted to keep fellow fast bowler Alister McDermott with the squad for the Twenty20 internationals.

McDermott, the son of former Australia fast bowler Craig, was called up as a replacement for Clint McKay after the latter suffered a hamstring strain during a pre-tour training camp, and although McKay is now fit again, McDermott, 21, will stay on.

Pakistan, Australia change gear for World Twenty20

Dubai: Pakistan and Australia will be looking to tune up for this month's World Twenty20 championship in a three-match series which starts here on Wednesday.

The Twenty20 series follows a three-match one-day series which Australia won 2-1 but Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez hoped a new format and some fresh players will help his team.

"These matches give both teams a good chance to settle for the mega event," said Hafeez of the fourth edition of the World Twenty20 to be held in Sri Lanka from September 18 to October 7.

Pakistan finished runners-up to India in the first edition of the World Twenty20 held in South Africa in 2007 and two years later bagged the title in England.

They were losing semi-finalists to Australia in the 2010 edition held in the West Indies. These stats, Hafeez believed, make Pakistan a good Twenty20 team.

"It's disappointing not to win the one-day series but the confidence is still high that we have got a good Twenty20 side and I am confident that we can beat Australia," said Hafeez, who replaced Misbah as T20 captain in June this year.

Hafeez admitted off-spinner Saeed Ajmal will be the key player after taking ten wickets in the one-day series.

"Ajmal is a world class bowler but we are not depending on him alone," said Hafeez. "I think other bowlers must support him from the other end."

Pakistan will be boosted by the return of spearhead Umar Gul who was rested for the one-day series, while allrounders Abdul Razzaq and Yasir Arafat, opener Imran Nazir and paceman Mohammad Sami also make the squad.

Allrounder Shahid Afridi, Pakistan's top player in Twenty20 cricket, is likely to miss the first and second match (in Dubai on September 7). He may return in the third, also in Dubai, on September 10 after injuring his hand in the third one-day on Monday.

Australia were strengthened by the return of star allrounder Shane Watson, pacemen Ben Hilfenhaus, Clint McKay and Pat Cummins, as well as middle-order batsman Cameron White and spinner Brad Hogg.

Their captain George Bailey was confident that new players will boost the team.

"There'll be a nice injection of some energy and enthusiasm into the group. We'll try to find a settled lineup as quickly as possible, particularly with the batting. These will be really important games against Pakistan.

"Any momentum that we can get that we can take into Sri Lanka will be excellent."

Bailey said allrounder Glenn Maxwell, who hit a match-winning 56 not out in the third one-day, will be a key component for Australia.

"Glenn was someone Mickey Arthur (head coach) and I pushed really hard for (at selection) just because of the x-factor and the versatility that he has," said Bailey.

Pakistan series good prep for World T20: Watson

Fit-again all rounder Shane Watson hoped a three-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan will give a good preparation to his side for next month's World Twenty20.

The 31-year-old joined the Twenty20 squad here after missing the three-match one-day series due to a calf injury sustained on the team's tour of England in July this year.

Pakistan and Australia play the Twenty20 matches in Dubai on September 5, 7 and 11.

Watson believed playing a dangerous Twenty20 side like Pakistan will give good preparations to Australia, who are ranked ninth in the shortest form of the game.

"These matches are very important and will give us a good lead to the World Twenty20," said Watson of the event starting in Sri Lanka next month. "We haven't really had a long time together as a Twenty20 team so it will be good playing Pakistan."

Australia were the losing semi-finalist of the first World Twenty20 in 2007 before they were thrown out of the second edition in the first round in England two years later.

They lost to England in the 2010 event final held in the West Indies.

"We have played well in Twenty20 and were unlucky on missing out on the final the last time. This team has got good balance of young and experience and on our day we can beat the best teams in the world," said Watson.

Australia earlier this year appointed George Bailey as their Twenty20 captain. They are placed in Group B of the 12-team World Twenty20, alongside the West Indies and Ireland.

Watson hoped all players will get to know their roles in the team.

"These three matches (against Pakistan) will be challenging and it's going to be a great period for us to continue to know what exactly are our roles in Twenty20," said Watson who has so far scored 643 runs in 27 Twenty20 matches.

He also has 21 wickets as a medium pacer.

Watson admitted Pakistani spinners and oppressive heat in United Arab Emirates will be a big challenge.

"The heat is always there, you play throughout the year so heat is part and parcel for both the sides," said Watson. "Pakistan have got high class spinners with (Saeed) Ajmal and (Shahid) Afridi and they can certainly change the game.

"In Twenty20 cricket you don't have much chance to be able to work the ball, when the ball is turning a score of 130 140 is good. There is no doubt they are good spinners but we will work hard," said Watson.

"It (UAE) is a great place to play cricket and I am excited and at times these are similar conditions we get in Sri Lanka ao it gives us a good chance to combine as a team and understand our roles," said Watson.

White eyeing Oz career comeback with solid showing against Pak spinners

Sydney: Australia all-rounder Cameron White is convinced his good form displayed in Indian and England domestic competitions can continue in their ongoing series against Pakistan in the UAE.

The Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, starting next month, would follow the current series in Dubai, and White wants to make most of it to bring his international career back on track.

The former Australia T20 skipper has regained a place in the squad for the three-match series starting on Wednesday night after being dumped as captain and player in October 2011.

"Against Pakistan I've had pretty good success. Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Abdur Rehman, Shahid Afridi, I've done well against them. So I'm going to stick to what I've done previously," The Age quoted White, as saying.

White's record against Pakistan includes blasting 43 off 31 balls in the 2010 T20 World Cup semi-final and thumping scores of 105 and 55 in the 2009/10 ODI series.

"I feel as though I'm not worried about those guys. In terms of worrying about which way the ball's spinning, I feel as though I don't have too many issues with that. Hopefully they don't make me look silly," White added.

Cook to now decide on Kevin Pietersen's England fate

London, Aug 31: New Test captain Alastair Cook along with England team bosses Andy Flower and Hugh Morris will now decide on Kevin Pietersen's fate, as reports appear that there will be no quick return for the disgruntled batsman following Andrew Strauss' retirement.

Pietersen must still confess all to Flower and Morris and come clean with reassurances about his future behaviour.

"He must still make a full apology for the text messages he sent. There is still a process we must go through, and he needs to explain himself at meetings with Andy and myself before we can go any further, and that will be behind closed doors," Morris said.

The Pietersen saga could see the announcement of the Test squad to tour India and the awarding of central contracts being pushed back until after the World T20.

England's selectors will be meeting before then and had wished to announce both the squad and the contracts before the players headed off to Sri Lanka, but that is far from guaranteed, The Daily Mirror reports.

Cook will also get involved in the discussions now.

"I've been on the outside for a lot of the saga. The issue hasn't changed though. Clearly I'll get involved over the coming weeks, but this will happen behind closed doors before we can move on," said Cook.

Pak T20 Premier League plans shelved to next year

Karachi, Aug30: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf has said Pakistan's plans to launch its own international Twenty20 Premier League have been shelved to next year.

"I think, we should be able to launch it sometime in March next year and we will be inviting overseas players to participate in the event and make it successful," the Daily Times quoted Ashraf, as saying.

Ashraf said although a lot of planning had already gone into the proposed Premier League event, it would not be possible to hold it this year.

The PCB has been working on launching its Premier League and had also recently advertised for the post of League's commissioner.

West Indies and Pakistan big threats for India: Experts

The talented Pakistanis and the volatile West Indians will pose the biggest problem for the Indians in the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in Sri Lanka, according to former cricketers Sourav Ganguly and Sanjay Manjrekar.

India lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup held in South Africa in 2007 but have since struggled to impose themselves on this format bowing out of the super six stages in the 2009 and 2010 tournaments.

India will go into the tournament as one of the favorites but Ganguly has cautioned them against the rampaging West Indies.

"They are a powerhouse," Ganguly, who will be part of the commentary team in Sri Lanka, told reporters on Tuesday.

"Guys like Chris Gayle, (Kieran) Pollard, Dwayne Smith, Andre Russel, and they got (off-spinner) Sunil Narine. He can be a match-winner."

"They also have a good fast bowling attack with Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach - all bowling at 90 miles an hour," Ganguly added as former India player Sanjay Manjrekar, sitting next to him, nodded in approval."

"West Indies is a strong Twenty20 team because they have got the best four Twenty20 players in the world," said Manjrekar, who played 37 tests and 74 one-day internationals from 1987-1996."

Ganguly also talked up Pakistan's chances of adding to their silverware in the 2009 edition. "They have got bundles of talent. If they get going, they can be very dangerous," he said.

Manjrekar reckoned Pakistan, who have not hosted international cricket since 2009 because of the volatile security situation at home, would give a good account of themselves in Sri Lanka.

"The thing with Pakistan is that because there is not enough cricket happening back home, they are not in the spotlight very often. Come an ICC event, that's Pakistan's opportunity to show the world what they are made of.

"They have always been the show-off of world cricket. Pakistanis have that thing about showing off their skills. Shoaib Akhtar, you know, wanted to show off his bowling.

"This is the time for them to get the attention of the cricket-loving public and they would want to seize it."

Both former players, however, still expect India to stave off every challenge and go on to win the title.

"India always have a great chance, especially in limited-overs cricket. They have got the players who can clear the boundary with ease and they will be playing in the sub-continent," Ganguly enthused.

"The Indian team has got plenty of match winners... and if the pitch is conducive to spin, Dhoni is a master of using his slow bowlers," Manjrekar added.