14 Thursday 22nd December, 2011 tion of his consistently good perform- competitive fixture since early ances and we anticipate that he can pro- November. vide steadiness at the top of the order.” Razzaq says Coach Mickey Arthur and captain Cowan is a frontrunner to replace Michael Clarke are keen on a fifth bowl- Hughes as an opening batsman. David India will beat ing option against India’s powerful bat- Warner should retain his spot on the ting line-up, so all-rounder Christian strength of his century in the previous Australia could have the edge over Marsh. Test against New Zealand, and the MEL- Left-arm paceman Starc and returning Shaun Marsh can also open. BOURNE, Hilfenhaus will fight it out for the final “It’s cliched, but you dream of it as a Australia (AP) bowler’s spot. Starc claimed just four — Pakistan all- kid to play in a Boxing Day Test,” said wickets in the recent drawn two-test rounder Abdul Cowan. “But after that brief moment of Razzaq says series against New Zealand. reflection you want to be contributing to Australia does- Inverarity said both dropped players the team.” n’t have any remain in Australia’s future plans. Inverarity said Ponting and another world-class “We see both Phillip Hughes and threatened veteran included in the team, bowlers and Usman Khawaja as developing players Michael Hussey, retained their places will struggle to with bright futures and remaining as beat India in because they provide valuable experi- players of significance,” he said. “They Abdul Razzaq next week’s first ence to a team which has had seven Test Test at the are determined young men and I know debutants since August. Melbourne Cricket Ground. that they will work hard to produce com- “In recent times Pat Cummins has Razzaq, who is in Australia play- pelling performances and push strongly come into the side, Nathan Lyon has ing for Melbourne Renegades in the for further consideration.” come into the side, David Warner, James Big Bash Twenty20 competition, says The 37-year-old Ponting has not Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and now Ed India deserves to be favoured scored a century in nearly two years, because star bowlers like Shane Cowan,” Inverarity said. “There are a lot has averaged 50 just once in his past Ricky Ponting gained another reprieve to be included in the 13-man squad named Warne and Glenn McGrath have on Wednesday, while Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja were dropped. (AP) of new names there, a lot of refreshment retired and Brett Lee is no longer seven series and has made 323 runs at there. That needs to be blended with playing Test cricket. an average of 24 in seven Tests over the MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chairman’s XI in its draw against India some of the experienced players and I’m He said an attack led by James past 12 months. The 158-Test veteran Ed Cowan, included in Australia’s squad ending Wednesday, had already booked very pleased with the way it’s develop- Pattinson and Peter Siddle would looks set to play in his 15th Boxing Day for the first Test against India, always his flight to Melbourne to attend a ing.” have difficulty against the No. 2- Test. ranked Test country, saying “India planned to be at the Melbourne Cricket friend’s wedding, probably thinking he’d Marsh and paceman Ben Hilfenhaus The Australian squad assembles in are aiming to be the world champi- Ground on Dec. 26. He just didn’t think it be drinking a few beers with him in the were the other players added to the ons, and they will give a tough time Melbourne beginning Thursday. would on the field. stands at the MCG on the first day. squad. Marsh returns after recovering to Australia.” He’ll join former captain Ricky Instead, the 29-year-old Tasmanian from a back injury suffered during the Australia (from): Michael Clarke Ponting, who gained another reprieve to took a call from chief selector John recent tour of South Africa, while fast (captain), Brad Haddin (vice captain), be included in the 13-man squad named Iverarity to learn that he was in line for bowler Hilfenhaus was recalled after Christian is in the squad and could make Dan Christian, Ed Cowan, Ben on Wednesday, while Phil Hughes and a belated Test debut. some strong recent form at the domestic his debut. Christian’s hopes hinge on a Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Nathan Usman Khawaja were dropped. “Ed Cowan has been in excellent first-class level. late assessment of Marsh, who per- Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Cowan, who has smashed four recent form in recent weeks,” Inverarity said in All-rounder Shane Watson remains formed strongly at a batting “boot Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell centuries, including one for the a statement. “His inclusion is in recogni- sidelined through injury while Dan camp” in Melbourne but hasn’t played a Starc and David Warner. Beckham deal Pakistan completes series sweep against Bangladesh with PSG Scoreboard Bangladesh 1st Innings 338 not yet done Pakistan 1st Innings 470 Bangladesh 2nd Innings LONDON (AP) — David Beckham is not yet a Paris Saint- (Overnight 114-5) Germain player, with French reports that a deal has been com- Tamim Iqbal c Misbah b Gul 21 pleted being described as “premature” by his management com- Mohammed Nazimuddin b Rehman 12 Shahriar Nafees lbw b Gul 0 pany. Mahmudullah c Rehman b Cheema 32 The 36-year-old former England captain has been in talks with Nasir Hossain b Rehman 79 the French capital club, but could still accept an offer to stay at Shakib Al Hasan c Ali b Cheema 6 the Los Angeles Galaxy where his five-year deal ended after win- Mushfiqur Rahim c Ajmal b Rehman 53 Elias Sunny b Ajmal 4 ning his first MLS Cup last month Shahadat Hossain c Khan b Rehman 1 “No agreement has been reached with any club yet — talks of Nazmul Hossain not out 8 a deal are premature,” Beckham’s management company, XIX Rabiul Islam st. Adnan Akmal b Ajmal 0 Entertainment, said in a statement to The Associated Press. Extras: (7lb, 10b, 1w) 18 TOTAL: (all out) 234 “David has yet to make a final decision on his future.” Overs: 82.1. The French media, though, seemed confident that Beckham Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-24, 3-54, 4-76, 5-95, 6-212, will join big-spending PSG, with dailies L’Equipe and Le Parisien 7-221, 8-226, 9-228, 10-234. reporting in their Wednesday editions that Beckham has agreed Bowling: Umar Gul 13-4-34-2 (1w), Aizaz Cheema 15-2-61-2, Abdur Rehman 27-12-51-4, a deal to join the club next month. Saeed Ajmal 23.1-6-55-2, Mohmmad Hafeez 3-0- Le Parisien claimed that Beckham would earn 800,000 euros 8-0, Azhar Ali 1-0-8-0. ($1.05 million) per month at PSG, whose wealthy Qatari owners have spent more than 85 million euros ($111 million) on players Pakistan 2nd Innings Pakistan’s Abdur Rehman, fourth left, celebrates with teammates the dismissal of Bangladesh’s Mohammad Hafeez c Shahdat b Shakib 47 Mushfiqur Rahim, unseen, during the fifth day of the second cricket Test match at Mirpur in since buying the club in May. Taufeeq Umar c Nazimuddin b Nazmul 3 Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011. (AP) While Beckham’s England career is effectively over, he is Azhar Ali b Sunny 34 DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Pakistan just 143 balls that included seven boundaries. eager to remain playing for a top side so he is considered for a Younis Khan not out 16 beat the fading light to win the second test But some adept spin bowling by Pakistan led spot in Britain’s squad for the 2012 London Olympics. Misbah-ul-Haq not out 6 Extras: (1nb) 1 against Bangladesh by seven wickets on to a familiar batting collapse by the hosts and set TOTAL: (for three wickets) 107 Wednesday and complete a 2-0 series sweep. up the win for Misbah’s team. Overs: 20.5. Bangladesh lost its last five wickets for 22 Abdur Rehman led the bowling attack by tak- Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-70, 3-101. runs in the afternoon session as it collapsed to ing 4-51 while Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema and Still to bat: Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, 234 all out in its second innings, giving Pakistan Saeed Ajmal took two wickets each for Pakistan. Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz a target of 103 runs to win with just over a ses- The floodlights were already on by the time Cheema. sion to play. Pakistan began its run chase. Taufeeq Umar was Bowling: Nazmul Hossain 5-1-19-1, Shakib Al Mohammad Hafeez top-scored for the tourists dismissed for 3 early on when he was caught by Hasan 10-1-47-1, Shahadat Hossain 4-0-26-0 with 47 while Azhar Ali made 34 to lead the Nazimuddin off the bowling of Nazmul Hossain. (1nb), Rabiul Islam 1-0-8-0, Elias Sunny 0.5-0-7- Pakistan charge. Both fell late on, leaving cap- Hafeez and Azhar put Pakistan back on the 1. tain Misbah-ul-Haq to hit the winning runs with winning trail with a second-wicket partnership Result: Pakistan won by seven wickets. a six over long-off to take the tourists to 107-3. of 63. Misbah (16 not out) and man-of-the-series Toss: Pakistan.