Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017 43 Shakib seeks clean Test sweep against Australia

DHAKA: All-rounder said Our expectation: winning both Tests,” Shakib session and a warm-up match cancelled due The hosts are hoping Shakib, off-spinner yesterday he wants no less than a clean told reporters in Dhaka. “We need to do well to flooding. Shakib said Bangladesh would be Mehedi Hasan and left-arm spinner Taijul sweep for Bangladesh when the Test min- in all aspects if we want to win the Tests. hoping to capitalise on Australia’s poor run in Islam can undo Australia’s formidable batting nows face a strong Australian side in their first Whatever the strengths they have, Australia recent South Asia clashes. lineup. “I think our spin attack is better than series in more than a decade. are always tough opposition. They can adapt The world number-two Test side lost 3-0 to them. I won’t say in all conditions, but in our The Test starting Sunday in Dhaka is the to any conditions very quickly. None can do Sri Lanka in a series in 2016, before succumb- condition we are better than them,” said first between Australia and Bangladesh since this better than the Aussies.” ing 2-1 against India earlier this year. Shakib. “Taijul and Miraj (Mehedi) are bowl- ’s side toured the country in The visitors trained in Darwin, a tropical Bangladesh meanwhile have won two of their ing well for a long period. I hope they will do 2006 and claimed the series 2-0. Bangladesh- city in northern Australia, ahead of the last three Tests, one against Sri Lanka and a well in this series as well.” Shakib, Mehedi and which only attained Test status in 2000 — Bangladesh tour to adjust to the hot and historic win over England. Taijul took all 20 when Bangladesh have moved on from that defeat, and hope to humid conditions expected for the two-Test Shakib-the world’s top all-rounder in all recorded their first-ever Test win over build on recent stronger form to impress fans series. But even once touching down there three formats-said Bangladesh’s spin England by 108 runs in October. The second with a series win on home soil against were hiccups, with batsman Glenn Maxwell attack would put pressure on the Steve Test of the series will be held in Chittagong Australia. “I don’t see why it can’t be possible. suffering heatstroke during an early training Smith-led side. from September 4-8. — AFP

CRICKET Faf du Plessis to lead World XI against Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: South Africa test - tain Faf du Plessis will lead a World XI team to play a three-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan in Lahore next month, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Najam Sethi said yes- terday. The series is aimed at reviving inter- national cricket in Pakistan, which has hosted just Zimbabwe and Afghanistan over the last eight years since terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team bus in Lahore in 2009. “This will be an auspicious moment for Pakistan cricket and I am positive that it will serve to open the doors of international cricket in Pakistan,” Sethi LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board said. Hashim Amla, Morne Morkel, chairman Najam Sethi addresses a LEEDS: England’s Alastair Cook attends a nets practice session at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, and David Miller are the news conference in Lahore, Pakistan, northern England yesterday ahead of the second Test match against West Indies. — AFP other South African players named in yesterday. — AP the World XI which also includes three from Australia, George Bailey, Tim Paine and Ben Cutting and two West Indies players, Darren Sammy and . Law tells Windies to Du Plessis said his maiden tour to Lahore will help in bringing back interna- tional cricket to Pakistan and all the players have been given security assurance. “All the members of the squad have complete faith and trust in the assessment ignore ‘pathetic’ talk and judgment of the security experts, who have assured us that there will be no compromise on the safety and security of all those involved in the series,” Du Plessis said in a statement. LEEDS: Stuart Law has urged the West Indies to for the subsequent one-day series in England. “As professionals, we are getting paid to play in the series, but the bottom line ignore their critics and follow diminutive batsman Meanwhile, Law was encouraged by the fighting is that if we didn’t feel safe, no amount of money would get us there. In this back- Jermaine Blackwood’s example as they look to performance of Blackwood, whose 79 in the ground, we will land in Lahore with nothing except cricket in our minds.” bounce back in the second Test against England at first innings at Edgbaston was a rare West Indies Amla, who last visited Pakistan in 2007, hopes to get recover from his shoulder Headingley. highlight of a closing Saturday where they lost 19 injury before the three-match series, named as the “Independence Cup” next Friday’s match comes less than a week since West wickets in total. month. Tamim Iqbal of Bangladesh, New Zealand’s Grant Elliott, Sri Lanka’s Indies coach Law saw his side suffer a crushing “He showed a beautiful solid defence and hit the Thisara Perera and Paul Collingwood of England complete the 14-man squad. innings and 209-run defeat in the series opener at bad ball away, we can’t ask much more,” Law said. The squad will arrive in Lahore on Sept. 11 after a two-day camp in Dubai Edgbaston as the inaugural day/night Test in “He is only 5ft 2in but he walks around like he is 10 under the coaching of Andy Flower. The three matches will be played at the England ended inside three days. foot tall and that is the sort of attitude that really Gaddafi Stadium on Sept. 12, 13 and 15. “All the players are satisfied and comfort- That led West Indies fast- great Curtly warms my heart,” the former Australia batsman able with the security arrangements that will be put in place for the series and Ambrose to label the current side “pathetic”. Law added. “Hopefully it is infectious in the group.” happy to be part of the first step towards the safe return of international cricket was saddened that Ambrose, until recently the West Law indicated he would give the XI that played at to Pakistan,” Flower said in a statement. Indies’ bowling coach, had vented his criticism in a Edgbaston a chance to redeem themselves, even Over the years the PCB has been trying hard to convince foreign teams to tour British newspaper rather than directly to the players. though fast bowler is now fit for Pakistan. It showcased stringent security arrangements when it successfully host- “Curtly not long ago was the coach of this team selection. England, however, have made one change ed the final of its premier domestic T20 tournament - also in Lahore in March in so it is disappointing that criticism comes,” said Law. with confirming Thursday that Chris which former West Indies captain Sammy and also participated. “We have to understand why it is there. We are not Woakes had replaced Toby Roland-Jones. The series against a World XI has been given international Twenty20 status by performing as well as we want. “What can we do? We Middlesex paceman Roland-Jones made his Test the International Cricket Council, which formed a Pakistan Task Team under its have to get our noses down, our backsides up and debut earlier this season against South Africa after director Giles Clarke in 2009. “This (World XI) tour is not only important for cricket play better. I believe in these young men. They have Woakes was ruled out with a side strain suffered dur- in Pakistan but also for international cricket since it opens the possibility of other got high skills. “It is just the experience of learning ing England’s Champions Trophy opener against teams, media and sponsors visiting Pakistan for bilateral series,” Clarke said. how to play in a very tough environment.” Bangladesh at The Oval in June. “The ICC Members releasing their top players and the respective player unions Woakes, who on form is a better batsman than backing this series is testament to the support the world has extended to ‘INFECTIOUS ATTITUDE’ Roland-Jones, is set to act as a ‘support seamer’ Pakistan during these difficult times. The focus of everyone in the international West Indies arrived in England without several behind James Anderson and Stuart Broad. His recall game is the safe return of cricket to Pakistan.” senior players, the consequence of a bitter dispute was the only change to the England team that Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said the tour will send a positive signal to the with their own board and a clash with the lucrative played at Edgbaston where Alastair Cook’s double world that the country is safe for organizing international matches. “I can assure Twenty20 tournament, century and a hundred from England captain Joe all Pakistan cricket fans that we have missed playing in front of them, like they although relations are improving to the extent that Root established a commanding position cemented have missed watching us live in action. But this wait is about to end and I am sure and Marlon Samuels have been selected by Anderson and Broad. — AFP better times lie ahead of all of us,” he said. — AP