What I saw last Saturday is something I never want associated with Pakistan cricket, and neither is it something I would want to see in sport in general, or in any contest for that matter. To not even try, however small the chance of victory, defies the purpose of playing any sport.

As the Pakistan batsmen came out to bat needing 170 off 21 overs in the final innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka, their fans around the world sat riveted to their TV screens, anticipating an enthralling run chase. But as ball after ball was blocked, it was obvious that going for the win was not what was discussed amongst the Pakistan team management in the interval.

When asked after the game, interim coach Mohsin Khan’s response was “...we felt we didn't want to make a mess of things...We decided that given the field set, we would opt to bat out time”. Now this is in stark contrast to what the coach was saying just a few days earlier. When speaking of the ‘successful risk’ the Pakistan selectors had taken in picking a young squad for the recent tour of Zimbabwe, Khan said “To achieve a big goal, you have to take risks...As a selector, or now a coach, I won’t be afraid of taking a risk”. Easier said than done, right Mohsin?

MATCH REVIEW : Bangladesh V West Indies 1st Test DRAWN - Courtesy Rain

Bangladesh 350 for 9 and 119 for 3 drew with West Indies 244  and 100 for 2.

The 1^st Test between Bangladesh and West Indies at Chittagong, was lost to rain, thought it was the Bangladesh side whom looked to have enjoyed the game the most, by the way they batted and bowled. The debutant Elias Sunny put on a marvelous show with 7-wickets bagged. Shahriar Nafees also impressed us by some quality batting in the second innings, which raised Bangladesh’s lead to 225. The pair, Tamim and Nafees, did successfully dodge the bowlers, though Tamim fell first, who was caught behind, but Nafees played well and carried out the batting, as he’d done the way before, towards a well-deserved half-century. 

For more details, read along!

They say that the pitch is the heart of a cricket game. If it’s fast and hard, the game’s bound to be full of excitement and fun. But when it’s slow and flat, the game would ultimately be lifeless and dull. Therefore, next time you decide to watch a game of cricket, make sure the pitch is to your liking.

Pitches that are flat and dull are proving to be a nuisance for the game. They tend to be one-sided and boring. You just get to see the batsmen conquering the whole game while the poor bowlers have their heads in their hands and display a feeling of despair and anguish. That’s not helping cricket at all but it’s making it pointless. A bowler runs in filled with an adrenaline rush and bowls his heart out, all but to be whacked around the park. That’s why cricket today is being called as a batsman’s game. Heavier, sturdier, reliable bats and equipment for the batsmen with the UDRS coming to their favour most of the time, but when a bowler for his favour scratches the ball, it’s like his committed a cardinal sin; though that’s a debate for another day.

Six out of ten nations in the world provide tracks that are batting-friendly. While pitches in England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand are what the bowlers look forward to bowling on. It’s not the conditions or nature of the pitch. It’s the mentality of the curators and management what creates the pitch. I know that most of us would point at the conditions and I know how important they are. What I mean is; the approach of the curators in the sub-continent has always been about creating pitches suitable for batting, not bowling. Flat, dead with no grass or moisture in them are the pitches fed to bowlers. Though to give them some credit the heat does bake the pitches, which doesn’t help.

Marks out of 10.

The opening test in Abu Dhabi has concluded with a moral victory for the Sri Lankans who batted with utmost character, spirit and heart to prevent anembarrassing loss after being outplayed on the first 3 days by Misbah-ul-Haq'sPakistan team. The seasoned campaigner Kumar played a blinder at number 3 to notch up his 8th double century in an illustrious career. Since he has given up the gloves, his batting has gone from strength to strength. The 34 year old batted for 153 overs to ensure Pakistan did not have the necessary time they 
required in order to chase down the 4th innings target which was 170 from 21overs in the end. Pakistan decided not go ahead with the chase and ensure safety in order to get the test match done and dusted with a draw and 2 tests to follow in Dubai and Sharjah (first test will be played there in 9 years). Maravan Attapatu, the Sri Lankan batting coach and past great would have been delighted 
with the "application" his batsmen displayed on show...

Read Full Story to find out where KheloPakistan.com ranks Team pakistan's performance in last test:

" This defeat will have an impact" Sir Alex Ferguson. What lies ahead?

 So for some Manchester City fans, they believe they have finally come out of Manchester United’s shadow. All over the press, media, social networking websites there are fans of every possible team slating and passing their own judgments about the loss. It was emphatic; it was clinical finishing at its best. I don’t think any Manchester United fan can say the loss was not deserved. Manchester City passed the ball, defense splitting passes and there was a Spanish beauty jinxing his way past the United defense as if they were not there. David Silva terrorized Manchester United and gave them so many problems. However huge the score line, however humiliating the red half of Manchester felt, the question to be raised is, is there any need for knee jerk reactions?

Read Full Story for a detailed analysis:

Just a few weeks ago Pakistani fast bowler created sensation with his claims that –Sachin was not a match winner and he didn’t know the art of finishing games. Now Former indian coach Greg Chappell has stirred another controversy, in his new book "Fierce Focus" he claims claims batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has occasionally been “mentally fragile”

Read Full Story to Find out what Chappel said about Sachin:

Earlier in the day, ICC announced Twenty20 rankings for the last 2 years. England topped the chart with Sri Lanka being the runners up. Then Feature New Zealand and South Africa.

Due to their poor run under Captain Shahid Afridi, Pakistan is placed at the 7th position according to ICC's new T-20 Rankings.

 In individual records, Eoin Morgan (Batting Department), Mendis (Bowling Department) and Shane Watson (All-Rounder) stood first in their respective nominational categories.

Notable entities from Pakistani Camp are Shahid Afrdi, Muhammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Umar Akmal, with Shahid Afridi being the pick of the lot who is ranked as Second Best Twenty20 all-rounder after Australian Shane Watson. Mohammad Hafeez is placed at Number 4 of that All-Rounders List.

Amongst the bowlers, Saeed Ajmal stood 3rd, Shahid Afridi is placed at 6th and Umar Gul at 21st position.

Umar Akmal is the only Pakistani Batsman in the Top 10, who is positioned at that number 8th position.

Read Full Story for a detailed list of New Rankings, which also includes list of top Batsmen/Bowlers/All-Rounders and All Team Rankings:

Written in August 2011.

A brief analysis of Pakistan's new batting crop, which includes Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal etc.

Read Full story to Find out How Green is Pakistan's Future (Believe me it's Green! VERY GREEN!):