TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016 SPORTS Pakistan’s Ajmal targets World T20 return

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s discarded off- Before being suspended in September spinner Saaed Ajmal says he is hopeful of 2014 for exceeding the 15-degree elbow proving his form in a forthcoming domes- flex limit set by the International tic league as he targets a return to national Council, Ajmal was ranked the world’s colours in the World this March. number one bowler in ODIs and was The 38-year-old, whose accuracy and almost as impressive in Tests. He famously deceptive doosra helped drive his team to captured 24 in three Tests against victory in the 2009 edition, has struggled England in 2012. “When I made my come- to make an impact since coming back last back against Bangladesh I was lacking February from a five-month ban for chuck- match practice,” he said. “I needed some ing. He took just one in two ODIs time. Now I’ve had some time and I’ve when he last played, against Bangladesh, been able to work on myself. I’ve got my in April, and a paltry 16 wickets at 55 variation back and you will see the results apiece for his English county side in the PSL. “There were several issues. My Worcestershire. arm was falling off too much to the side But speaking on the sidelines of a and I’ve worked on that and straightened launch event for Islamabad United, one of it up. I’ve worked on my main ball and my five teams taking part in the Pakistan doosra as well as my arm ball. Super League (PSL) to be held in the UAE “The variation I got from the revolutions this month, Ajmal said he had worked on I’d put on the ball in the air-I’ve got that technical flaws and rediscovered his old back and you’re going to enjoy watching menace. it.” Despite his optimism, it is unclear how “I’ve gotten a good platform and work- much opportunity Ajmal will get to play as ing on my goals. You are going to see the he competes for a place against teammate Saeed Ajmal of old,” he said. “The World Samuel Badree, the West Indian leg spin- Cup is after this. and I want to perform well ner who is currently the world’s number and make myself available for the team.” one Twenty20 bowler. Ajmal, who was picked as a last minute But with Pakistan’s favoured slow ‘supplementary player’ by the capital’s bowler, leg spinner , currently team, pointed to better showings in suspended for a doping offence, the door Bangladesh’s T20 league last November as could remain ajar for an improbable come- proof the magic had not deserted him. back. —AFP rest in-form Kohli for T20 series v Sri Lanka

NEW : India are resting sustained a thumb injury in Australia and mainstay for the three 20-over missed the Twenty20 series. Left-arm spin- matches against Sri Lanka this month with ner Pawan Negi received his first call-up to an eye on the Twenty20 World Cup on the India squad who play Sri Lanka in the CENTURION: South African bowler Kagiso Rabada (top) celebrates the dismissal England’s batsman Jonny Bairstow (not in picture) during the home soil. first in Pune on Feb. fourth Test match between England and at Supersport stadium. — AFP Kohli, the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 9. Ranchi and Visakhapatnam host the oth- batsman, enjoyed a prolific run of form to er matches. help India complete a 3-0 series whitewash Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (cap- in Australia on Sunday. tain), Rohit Sharma, , With Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men kick- Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Suresh SA seek redemption ing off their bid for a second Twenty20 Raina, , Hardik Pandya, World Cup in six weeks, the team have , Ravichandran Ashwin, decided to rest Kohli who was top-scorer in Jasprit Bumrah, , the series in Australia. India recalled , Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar after the paceman Pawan Negi. —Reuters in one-day series

BLOEMFONTEIN: South Africa will be keen to Jos Buttler, who hit England’s fastest one-day “Marchant gives us more options with our avenge a Test series defeat when they meet century off 46 balls in the series decider against fast bowlers because there is no Steyn, no England in five one-day internationals, starting Pakistan in Dubai. (Vernon) Philander, no ,” said at the Mangaung Oval tomorrow. “There are no Other new faces include Eoin Domingo, who expressed concern about the soft series or less important series, they are all Morgan, opening batsman and workload of Morne Morkel and new star Kagiso important, particularly coming off a Test series bowlers Reece Topley, , David Willey Rabada. “The big concern is the fact that Rabada loss,” said South African coach . and Adil Rashid, who all had some success in and Morkel have played a lot of cricket of late Both teams will be looking to build on recent England’s comfortable win in a warm-up match and have bowled so many overs, we need to good results following disappointing campaigns against South Africa A in Kimberley on Saturday. manage them over the next few days,” said in the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and Domingo. All-rounder was added to New Zealand. South Africa showed patchy form RETURN TO FORM the squad yesterday in the World Cup but reached the semi-finals, South Africa’s one-day specialists include where they were beaten by New Zealand. Since hard-hitting left-handed batsmen David Miller SQUADS: then, they have won a home series against the and , all-rounder Farhaan South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Kyle Black Caps and an away series in India. England Behardien and leg-spinner . Abbott, , , had a poor World Cup, failing to reach the South African captain AB de Villiers, the (wkt), Marchant de Lange, JP knock-out stage after losing all their matches world’s number one-ranked one-day interna- Duminy, , Imran Tahir, David Miller, against other Test nations. But they then beat tional batsman, will hope for a return to form Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee New Zealand 3-2 in a home series, lost by the after making three ducks in his last three Test Rossouw, David Wiese. same margin against Australia and beat Pakistan innings against England. England: (captain), Moeen Ali, 3-1 in the United Arab Emirates. South Africa added fast bowler Marchant de Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wkt), Several of England’s leading one-day players Lange to their squad following the injury-forced , Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, did not appear in the recent Test series against withdrawal of and the unavailability Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Reece South Africa, including wicketkeeper-batsman through injury for the first match of Kyle Abbott. Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes. — AFP N Zealand prime triple-spin threat for World T20

WELLINGTON: New Zealand will be hoping “On top of our four genuine pace bowlers Squad: (captain), to stifle their opponents by taking pace off and Corey (Anderson) as all-rounder, Colin , , Henry Nicholls, the ball with the inclusion of three frontline (Munro) and Grant (Elliott) are also options , Corey Anderson, , spinners in their 15-man squad for next with the ball for us with their change of , Mitchell Santner, Nathan month’s World Twenty20 in India. pace,” Hesson said. McCullum, , , Off-spinner Nathan McCullum, left-armer New Zealand open their campaign Mitchell McClenaghan, , Mitchell Santner and leggie Ish Sodhi all against the hosts in Nagpur on March 15. IshSodhi. — Reuters found a place in the Kane Williamson-led side for the March 8-April 3 tournament, and the trio can expect to see plenty of action on the host nation’s slow pitches. “With the Indian conditions in mind, the Jasprit Bumrah plan has always been to take three frontline spinners, and all three bring something dif- Unorthodox Bumrah gives Dhoni ferent,” coach said in a New Zealand Cricket statement yesterday. welcome option at the death “It’s great to have Nathan available again and his experience in the foreign conditions NEW DELHI: By capitalising on his Dhoni, particularly impressed by the will be invaluable. chance selection in Australia, India pace- right-arm bowler’s ability to bowl york- “Both he and Mitch Santner have the abil- man Jasprit Bumrah has afforded his cap- ers. ity to bowl in the first six overs, which gives tain Mahendra Singh Dhoni a rare pleas- “I’ve always said that to be successful Kane a number of options to work with.” ant feeling-of having a settled in the shorter format you have to exe- McCullum has not played for New unit at his disposal. India’s bowling frail- cute the yorkers. “Whether you choose Zealand since August but is also handy with ties were laid bare in the one-day series to bowl it or not that’s up to you, but if the bat, as is Santner, who impressed during in Australia where their inability to you don’t have that option, then defi- the recent limited-overs series at home defend scores around 300 in the first nitely at some point of time, you will be against Pakistan. three ODIs cost them the five-match under pressure.” Left-handed batsman Henry Nicholls, yet series. Bumrah credits team to play a T20 for New Zealand, was also A consolation win in the final one- mate and Sri Lankan speedster Lasith rewarded with a spot for his match-winning dayer in Sydney and the 3-0 clean sweep Malinga-also known for an unorthodox 82 against Pakistan in the first ODI. of the subsequent 20-over series have, bowling action-for helping him master “Henry has shown his talent and versatili- however, convinced Dhoni that he now the art and practises yorkers placing a ty with the bat this summer and has also has an attack that can help him land a shoe on the pitch. been used as a wicketkeeper for New second Twenty20 World Cup when the His death bowling in his Sydney ODI Zealand A,” Hesson added. tournament gets underway in India next debut, when he took 2-40 in his 10 overs, Pacemen Tim Southee and Mitchell month. impressed many and barely six weeks McClenaghan, and batsman Ross Taylor And much of his optimism stems from before India begin their Twenty20 World were also included in the squad despite car- the emergence of a 22-year-old Gujarat Cup campaign, Dhoni was satisfied with rying injuries with all three expected to be fast bowler with an awkward action, who the look of his bowling unit. “I don’t have fit for the tournament, NZC added in the would not have made the squad in the to worry about the bowling line-up. statement. first place but for injuries to pacemen There might be one or two changes here New Zealand, who will be aiming to win a Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar or there: we might pick another spinner first limited-overs World Cup, have been Kumar. “The find (of the tour) for me was or maybe get a medium-fast bowler of a drawn with Australia, India, Pakistan and a AUCKLAND: Matin Guptill (L) and Corey Anderson (R) celebrate the wicket of Wahab Riaz of Bumrah. The way he has bowled in the quick, but overall it has been a good set- yet-to-be-confirmed qualifier in Group 2 of Pakistan during the third one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and last three games was really good,” said up.” — Reuters the Super 10 round of the tournament. Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday. — AFP