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/ 1 April 2008

Pakistan ban Shoaib Akhtar for five years

Temperamental fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was banned for five years by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday for repeated disciplinary violations. Board chairperson Dr Nasim Ashraf told a news conference the suspension was imposed on the recommendation of the PCB disciplinary committee, and the paceman had the right to lodge an appeal.

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/ 19 March 2008

Inzamam ‘disgusted’ by Hair’s return

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was ”shocked and disgusted” by controversial umpire Darrell Hair’s reinstatement, but Australia welcomed the move on Wednesday. Inzamam clashed with Hair in the forfeited Oval Test between Pakistan and England in August 2006, which led to the Australian umpire’s ban from standing in top-level matches.

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/ 21 January 2008

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in first ODI

Pakistan established a new record in crushing Zimbabwe by 104 runs in the first one-day international (ODI) in Pakistan on Monday. Pakistan piled up a total of 347-5 and then restricted the visitors to 243-7 in 50 overs. It was the first time in 2 662 one-day internationals that five batsmen scored half centuries in an innings.

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/ 6 November 2007

Blacked-out Pakistani TV channels turn to internet

Blocked by the government and facing harsh curbs, Pakistan’s private television channels have turned to the internet to reach viewers starved of news about the state of emergency. Authorities took cable broadcasters off the air on Saturday evening when they first started to report that President Pervez Musharraf was about to impose an emergency.

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/ 18 October 2007

Bhutto ends exile, parades through city

Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto ended eight years of self-exile on Thursday, returning to Karachi where more than 200 000 supporters poured on to the streets to welcome her home. ”I am thankful to God, I am very happy that I’m back in my country and I was dreaming of this day,” said Bhutto.

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/ 18 October 2007

Bhutto arrives back in Pakistan

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto ended eight years of self-exile on Thursday, making a comeback that could eventually lead to power sharing with President Pervez Musharraf. ”I am thankful to God, I am very happy that I’m back in my country and I was dreaming of this day,” said a sobbing Bhutto.

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/ 5 October 2007

SA crush Pakistan in first Test

Fast bowler Dale Steyn took five wickets to lead South Africa to a thumping 160-run win over Pakistan just before tea on the final day of the first Test at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday. Pakistan were bowled out for 263 chasing an improbable victory target of 424 runs, with captain Shoaib Malik the last man out after an obdurate 30 runs from 99 balls.

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/ 4 October 2007

Two-ton Kallis puts SA on top

Pakistan’s Younis Khan and Faisal Iqbal shared a big stand to hold up South Africa’s push for victory in the first Test after Jacques Kallis hit his second century of the match on the fourth day on Thursday. Younis (93 not out) and Faisal (44) put on 114 for the third wicket after Pakistan lost their openers quickly.

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/ 4 October 2007

Kallis holds the fort after Pakistan hit back

Jacques Kallis held the fort for South Africa after Pakistan’s spinners skittled two wickets for one run on the fourth day of the first Test on Thursday. Kallis, who scored a brilliant 155 in South Africa’s first innings total of 450, was unbeaten on 57 as the tourists reached 171-5 at lunch at the National Stadium.

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/ 3 October 2007

Boucher honoured to break Healy’s record

South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher on Wednesday said he was honoured to break Ian Healy’s Test record for dismissals behind the stumps with 396 victims. The 30-year-old stumped Pakistani batsman Umar Gul for 12 on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan at the National Stadium in Karachi to reach the milestone.