Pakistan marched to an easy seven-wicket win against Bangladesh in the fourth one-day international on Wednesday and stretched their lead to 4-0 in the five-match series. Pakistan's in-form top order batting line-up -- led by left-hander Salman Butt (74) -- scored 212-3 in 44.3 overs.
South Africa spoiled Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar's comeback match on Monday with a stunning 14-run victory in the fifth and final limited-overs game to clinch the series 3-2. Akhtar took 4-43 to restrict South Africa to 233-9 off 50 overs with Jacques Kallis scoring a fighting 86 and Herschelle Gibbs making a fine 54.
South Africa's chances of clinching a one-day and Test series double against Pakistan will be decided when they play a fourth one-day international on Friday. South Africa trail 2-1 in the five-match series, having already won the Test series, and must win on Friday to keep the series alive.
South Africa marched towards setting a stiff target for Pakistan in the second Test on Wednesday. The visitors were 154-2 at stumps on day three -- enjoying an overall lead of 305 runs with captain Graeme Smith batting on 75 and in-form Jacques Kallis not out on 37.
Ashwell Prince and Jacques Kallis hit fighting half centuries for South Africa on Monday against a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack on the first day of the second Test. South Africa prodded to 259-6 with Mark Boucher not out on 9 and Andre Nel yet to score as stumps were drawn for the day seven overs before scheduled close due to bad light.
Pakistan's Test opening batsman Imran Farhat was fined half his match fee on Friday for criticising the chief selector, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. Farhat made a strong-worded phone call to the PCB's chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed after batsman was not picked up for the one-day international series against Sri Lanka.
Captain Ricky Ponting emerged as the star of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) awards ceremony on Friday as Australia dominated by claiming four prizes. Ponting was adjudged the year's best player and the most outstanding Test cricketer of the season.
All-rounder Andrew Symonds led Australia to their first ICC Champions Trophy final on Wednesday with a 34-run victory against a never-say-die New Zealand in the first semifinal. Symonds smashed a run-a-ball 58 in Australia's challenging total of 240-9 off 50 overs and then took the vital wicket of Jacob Oram (43) as the world champions bowled out a fighting New Zealand for 206 in 46 overs.