IPL extends Pakistan's deadline

The IPL has extended the deadline for Pakistan's players to submit the relevant documents needed to ensure their participation in next season's IPL, even as Pakistan's sports ministry seeks permission for the players to play there next year.

The league's chief executive, Sundar Raman, told Cricinfo that the deadline for the PCB to submit the no-objection certificates (NOCs) and other documents to enable the Pakistan players to take part in the 2010 tournament now stands extended to December 7.

With the Pakistan team currently playing a Test series in New Zealand, it became clear over the last week that the necessary paperwork would take more time. Wasim Bari, the PCB's chief operating officer, had earlier said the NOCs had already been sent by the board in order to initiate the visa process.

A possible hurdle, however, could be created by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports which raised questions over the NOCs. "The NOCs issued to the cricketers for participation in the IPL is without the approval of the federal government hence they are illegal,' said Jamshed Ahmed Dasti, an increasingly vocal legislative voice against the Pakistan board and head of the committee. "Who will be responsible for security of the players, not least the federal government, because it was never consulted for issuance of the NOC."

Pakistan's sports ministry says it has no problems with the players going to India, but insisted that it had to seek permission first from the foreign and interior ministry. NOCs from three players - Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir and Abdul Razzaq - have been sent. "The (sports) ministry has referred the NOC cases of these players to the foreign office and interior ministry for political and security clearance," spokesman Faik Ali told AP.

"We processed the cases of these players on the very same day on urgent basis and we do hope to get the reply from both ministries by next week. The sports ministry has no objection that its players go and compete in IPL, but we have to seek the government's clearance. Our ministry has forwarded the cases to the concerned ministries and now we will wait for their response."

Pakistan's players were absent from the second IPL, held earlier this year in South Africa, after their government did not allow them to travel to India - where the tournament was originally to be held - for security reasons. The decision came in the wake of the Mumbai attacks last year, after which relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated considerably. Eleven players from Pakistan had taken part in the first IPL, though after the Mumbai attacks, only four were retained by their franchises, though their contracts were suspended until further resolution.

The PCB has been keen on getting their players involved once again after Ijaz Butt, the board chairman, raised the matter on a trip to India last month and said after that the relevant government authorities had also cleared Pakistan's players to play.

About T20

The ICC World Twenty20 2010 will be the third time that the event has taken place to date with the first two editions of the tournament taking place in 2007 and 2009.

South Africa hosted the inaugural event, which was won by India in a dramatic final against Pakistan at The Wanderers. The tournament will also remembered for Yuvraj Singh hitting six sixes in one over against England and the first-ever Twenty20 International hundred, which was scored by Chris Gayle.

Pakistan won the second edition of the men's tournament, which took place in England in 2009. It defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the event at Lord's, although Tillakaratne Dilshan won the Player of the Tournament Award. Associate Members enjoyed great success with the Netherlands defeating England and Ireland beating Bangladesh.

In 2009, the first ever women's tournament was also held alongside the men's event, with double headers of matches played at the semi-finals and final stage. England won the tournament after defeating New Zealand in the final after an outstanding display by Katherine Brunt.

The next joint men's and women's tournament begins in the Caribbean in April 2010.

T20 2010 Qualifiers

The ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier will take place in the United Arab Emirates from 9 to 13 February. This eight-team event featuring Associate and Affiliate sides vying for the two places on offer at the ICC World Twenty20 2010 in the West Indies will be played entirely at Dubai Sports City.

It had provisionally been planned for October 2009 but as a result of an availability issue with the venues, the teams unanimously approved February as the best alternative option. The format of the event will feature two groups of four teams, each playing three matches with the top two in each group meeting in a Super Four round, finishing with a final between the top two sides.

The groups were devised by virtue of seedings from the previous ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, which was won jointly by Ireland and the Netherlands and, for the teams not participating in that event (Afghanistan, UAE and USA) on latest one-day rankings. 

As such (with the seedings in brackets), Group A consists of Ireland (one), Scotland (three), Afghanistan (six) and the USA (eight) while Group B includes the Netherlands (two), Kenya (four), Canada (five) and the United Arab Emirates (seven). The exact match schedule will be announced in due course.

The first qualifier will go into Group C of the ICC World Twenty20 2010 along with South Africa and India while the second qualifier will join West Indies and England in Group D for the big event which runs from 30 April to 16 May 2010 in Guyana, St Lucia, St Kitts (women's) and Barbados.

Mahila Jayawadina 250+*

Jayawardene double flattens India

Mahela Jayawardene ground the Indian bowlers into the Ahmedabad dust, almost ruling out a defeat for Sri Lanka in the first Test. This was only the second time that Sri Lanka took a first-innings lead in India, and only the first time they crossed 450 in the country. Jayawardene's sixth double-century, and twelfth 150, was one of his easier ones because for more than half his innings India didn't try to take his wicket, and only towards the end was he made to work hard for singles. The bowlers were not helped by the slowness of the pitch and the indiscipline of the spinners, who managed just one wicket in 102 overs, that too a dodgy decision against Angelo Mathews.

Jayawardene was supported by Thilan Samaraweera in the first session, Prasanna Jayawardene in the second and third, and by muddled thinking from India in both. Their fast bowlers couldn't generate any swing, conventional or reverse, but still looked the only ones capable of making things happen. The only blip for Sri Lanka came when Samaraweera was set up by Zaheer Khan and dismissed by Ishant Sharma, but Jayawardene had started assuredly, and never gave India a serious look-in. Despite that Mathews wicket to what turned out to be the last ball before lunch, the Jayawardenes thwarted any hopes of a quick Indian comeback.

Sri Lanka started the day 151 runs behind, knowing they needed a lead of at least 70 runs to compensate for having to bat last on a pitch that was turning. But the problem with that turn was its slowness, and both Jayawardene and Samaraweera negotiated it comfortably in the morning. India were made to bowl spinners for the first 10 overs before the new ball was due. And in a move that spoke a lot about their attitude, they came out in the containment mode, with a deep point for Harbhajan Singh. Not a single shot went there, and the fielder watched late-cuts from Jayawardene go to the third-man boundary.

Smart Stats Mahela Jayawardene reached his sixth score of 200 or above in Tests, joining Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Atapattu and Javed Miandad. Ahead of him on that list are Don Bradman, Brian Lara and Wally Hammond. Jayawardene now has 12 scores of 150 or above; five players have exceeded that mark. Jayawardene's 216-run stand with Prasanna Jayawardene is the highest for the sixth wicket for Sri Lanka. It was Jayawardene's seventh stand of 200 or more in Tests.  By scoring 591, Sri Lanka have equalled their fourth-highest score in away Tests. They are within striking distance of reaching their second-highest - 644. They've gone way past their previous best score in India, though, of 420. India's spinners were taken for 372 runs in this innings; it'sthird in the list of most runs conceded by an Indian spin attack since 2000 at home, and the record is likely to be overtaken tomorrow. Harbhajan Singh conceded 150 runs or more in an innings for the sixth time in Tests, and the second time against Sri Lanka.

The only blotch on Jayawardene's morning came when Amit Mishra drew an edge from him, but the ball died on Rahul Dravid at slip. Twenty-nine runs and two maidens came in those first 10 overs, the last of which had Mishra beating Samaraweera with a googly and missing out on an lbw call. Both batsmen reached fifties during that spell, and brought up their ninth 100-run stand. That last over was about the best Mishra had bowled, but MS Dhoni went for pace from the 81st over.

The sixth over with the new ball, bowled by Zaheer, was the best of the day from India's perspective. He beat Samaraweera with an away-going delivery, got him into an uncertain position with a bouncer, and then hit him in the midriff with another. Ishant continued from there in the next over, beating him with one that held its line. And then came a pull shot Samaraweera would otherwise have kept along the ground, but was hurried into this time.

Jayawardene made sure India wouldn't feel too excited when, two overs later, he drove Zaheer for three boundaries in four balls: through mid-on, wide of midwicket, and through covers. The last one of those shots took Jayawardene to 74, Sri Lanka to within 78 of India's total, and Zaheer out of the attack. The spinners came on soon, and failed to make an impact as Sri Lanka started to steadily push the accelerator.

Prasanna looked to sweep Harbhajan, while runs kept coming effortlessly for Jayawardene. Dhoni spread the field, but Mishra and Harbhajan struggled to keep the same batsman on strike for a considerable period. Despite the defensive mindset, India could manage only four maidens in the first two sessions. India's bowling was most insipid in the second session and the Jayawardenes capitalised fully. Without much fuss, Prasanna reached 42 by tea, and Jayawardene 142, another of his tons that seemed inevitable once he got in. By tea, the two had added 108 off 27.4 overs, 84 of which were run.

Post tea, both sides called ceasefire. Dhoni got spinners to bowl from round the stumps with 6-3 leg-side fields, while the Jayawardenes didn't seem interested in taking too many risks, and were happy scoring in ones and twos and occasional boundaries. In the 144th over of the innings, Sri Lanka ran their 200th single. In the 158th over, Zaheer bowled the 17th no-ball; and India had got only 21 runs from four of their top-six batsmen. While India managed to stem the run-flow in the final session - a total of 108 runs came in 36 overs - it didn't help much because there were still two days left in the match, and Sri Lanka got closer and closer to not having to bat again.

The senior Jayawardene didn't let fatigue get the better of him and reached the double with two overs to go, while Prasanna took the opportunity to move towards what would be a risk-free second century.

Daniel Vettori expected to be fit for Tests

Daniel Vettori, who was ruled out of the first Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Dubai due to a head injury sustained during the ODI series, has undergone a scan which revealed no serious damage. He will be sitting out of the second Twenty20 international on Friday but is expected to be available for the first Test against Pakistan in Dunedin, starting on November 24.

"The scan report is clear, but Vettori had concussion and will be continuously monitored," Dave Currie, the New Zealand team manager, was quoted as saying byAFP. "He will not be available for the second Twenty20 match on Friday. The doctors have advised him a couple of weeks rest."

Vettori was struck hard on the helmet by a bouncer from Mohammad Aamer in the second ODI but played the series decider. His decision to skip Thursday's game was due to a bout of vomitting before the match.

New Zealand had only 11 players to choose from for the Twenty20 internationals, as Kyle Mills is recovering from an injured shoulder, and James Franklin nursing an injured back. Allrounder Jacob Oram, too, is missing, for he had to return to New Zealand for the birth of his first child. During the first Twenty20, Aaron Redmond picked up a groin strain while bowling, forcing New Zealand to use a half-fit Franklin as a substitute.

Pakistan hold nerve to sweep series

Following the one-sided affair on Thursday, there was little to separate the two sides tonight as Pakistan overcame a spirited New Zealand fightback to sweep the Twenty20s 2-0 at the Dubai Sports City. A half-century stand between Scott Styris and Brendon McCullum kept New Zealand in the hunt, but all along, Pakistan held a slight edge. New Zealand focussed on keeping wickets in hand, but unfortunately though, they left a little too much to do in the end as Pakistan sneaked home by seven runs and equalled the world record of seven consecutive Twenty20 wins with South Africa.

The final over had plenty of intrigue and controversy. Needing a difficult 18, a straight-driven six by Styris off Umar Gul brought the smiles back in the New Zealand dressing room. That was followed by a single, which put James Franklin on strike. Franklin went for a huge hit down to long-on where Shoaib Malik ran forward and claimed a low catch. Malik and the rest were absolutely sure about the legality of the catch and Franklin had almost made his way back to the pavilion when he was asked to stop in his tracks. The element of doubt crept in, albeit late, for the two officials who consulted with the third umpire. After a few anxious moments - television replays weren't dead accurate - Franklin was given the benefit of the doubt. That didn't wreck Pakistan's party as they conceded only singles off the next two balls.

Pakistan emerged the deserved winners because they were always one step ahead of the opposition, even when things got tight. For an injury-ravaged New Zealand, it was a good fight. One of the main reasons for New Zealand's feeble showing on Thursday was the failure of their top order to come up with something substantial. One person needed to bat through, if not a majority of the overs and it was McCullum who decided to drop anchor and show some responsibility as captain.

He had to survive a testing opening spell from the two left-armers - Mohammad Aamer and Sohail Tanvir - who kept him and his partners guessing with sharp angles across the right-handers. There was quite a bit of playing and missing early and it was a tough initiation at the top for BJ Watling, who was squared up by Tanvir's angle which took the leading edge, only to be snapped up brilliantly by Kamran Akmal, diving to his right. It was almost identical to the one that got rid of Martin Guptill yesterday.

For the second day in succession, Guptill perished after making a start, when he chopped Gul onto his stumps. The loss of those two early wickets, and soon after that of Ross Taylor, convinced McCullum to shed his aggressive instincts and look to build a partnership, with anyone who was interested in sticking around with him.

He found an able partner in Styris, the seniormost player in the side. It wasn't going to be easy against the spin of Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal, who tested them with their variations. They ran well between the wickets during their 66-run stand. Styris was the more aggressive of the pair, making room to the spinners to clear the infield. However, Pakistan's blow-hot blow-cold effort in the field made things easier for the pair. Imran Nazir had a forgettable day in the outfield, palming off a six over fine leg early in McCullum's innings and later on failing to hang on to an easier chance off Styris, which cost Pakistan a boundary. A couple of fumbles and wild throws was indicative of the pressure on the fielders as the partnership grew.

Styris' clean hitting got a little intimidating for Pakistan and they were a relieved bunch when McCullum departed, mis-hitting Ajmal to long-on in the penultimate over. That over proved to be the turning point in the chase. Aamer had leaked 15 in the 18th over but Ajmal, in contrast, conceded only five. He mixed it up well, firing it on the blockhole and teasing Styris with flight and bounce. That just added to the pressure in the final over. Pakistan had only just made enough to see them through.

The driving force behind Pakistan's win was Umar Akmal, who took Pakistan to a score very similar to what they had achieved yesterday. Pakistan's openers got off to a rousing start and after Ian Butler's quick strikes, Umar and Afridi scripted the recovery.

Afridi targeted the on side and he nearly lost his wicket while on 8 when a full-blooded pull bounced off Ross Taylor's palms at short midwicket. But he went on to give Styris the full treatment in the following over, clubbing a full toss for six over the bowler's head. But Afridi's knock was nothing more than a cameo, which ended when he heaved Nathan McCullum down to Shane Bond at deep midwicket.

Two more wickets pulled things back for New Zealand but they had no answer to Umar. He began with a crisply driven four off backward point and preferred initially to play the supporting role to Afridi. He focused on rotating the strike, but after the fall of wickets, opened out. He lofted Styris a few rows back over long-on and almost injured Geoff Allott, the former New Zealand fast bowler, who was present at the venue as New Zealand Cricket official, decked in a suit and tie. He then edged Franklin past the keeper and powered a full toss off Bond down to the backward point boundary to keep the largely partisan crowd - despite being a neutral venue - entertained.

Feeble New Zealand sink to 49-run defeat

A clinical Pakistan maintained their perfect Twenty20 record against an injury-ravaged New Zealand by strolling to a 49-run victory. Imran Nazir smashed his first half-century in limited-overs since returning from the ICL and some swinging from the lower order pushed the target to a tough 162. The spin pair of Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal had confounded New Zealand's batsmen in the one-dayers, but the match was settled even before they came into the attack today.

Against the Twenty20 world champions, New Zealand's chances were slim, given the long list of unfit players. The biggest blow was the loss of captain Daniel Vettori to a head injury picked up during the one-dayers; the list also included James Franklin and fast bowler Kyle Mills. Key allrounder Jacob Oram had also rushed back home, on paternity leave. New Zealand were actually forced to bring on a half-fit Franklin as a substitute when Aaron Redmond (who didn't come out to bat) picked up a groin strain while bowling.

The difference between the two teams was the top-order batting. The worms couldn't have looked more different after two overs: Pakistan were 3 for 0, New Zealand were 29 for 1. After seven, it read: Pakistan 53 for 1, New Zealand 44 for 4. Pakistan kept their wickets intact till the 12th over, which enabled them to overcome a middle-order collapse and keep the runs flowing. New Zealand, on the other hand, lost four quick wickets, leaving the lower order to flail against the spinners.

The early overs of the chase also showcased the outstanding temperament of Mohammad Aamer. He was taken for 17 in the first over - four runs to overthrows, four off an inside edge, four more to a poor piece of fielding from Sohail Tanvir - but came back to take out the dangermen, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor, in his next two overs. After three overs, Aamer's figures were 3-1-21-2. Abdul Razzaq complemented Aamer's work with two wickets of his own, of Scott Styris and Neil Broom to put Pakistan on track for a sixth straight Twenty20 victory.

New Zealand lacked the sort of effort that Nazir turned in earlier in the evening. After Pakistan were sent in by stand-in captain McCullum, Nazir was the engine in the first half of the innings. He didn't blast the boundaries from the get go, having to survive a testing first over from Shane Bond, who was getting the ball to jag in sharply. Nazir was even content to shoulder arms to a couple of deliveries initially, and it was Kamran Akmal who got the innings going with a couple of boundaries off Bond in the third over.

It was only in the fifth over, when the slightly slower Ian Butler was brought on for Bond, that Nazir switched to Mad-Max mode. He welcomed Butler with a couple of flat-batted sixes off his first two deliveries. Kamran fell in the next over but Nazir was undeterred. Butler watched the ball fly over his head off the first ball of the seventh, his mood worsened two deliveries later when a top-edge flashed over the keeper's head for another four. A high full-toss followed, which Nazir promptly cracked beyond the point boundary; the cheergirls there having an anxious moment as the ball homed in on them.

That had the crowds cheering but the biggest roar came a minute after debutant wicketkeeper BJ Watling pulling off a smart catch off a top-edge to send back Umar Akmal in the eighth over. Afridi walked out. He played a couple of streaky shots early on, but gave his fans something to savour, slamming a slower ball from Scott Styris over long-on. A similar stroke from Nazir two deliveries later brought up his half-century, and Pakistan looked set for a massive score.

McCullum turned to his main man, Bond, for help. He delivered by ending the stand, getting Nazir to slice the ball to third man. McCullum then relied on his part-timer Redmond to get through some quiet overs with his flighted legspinners. Redmond exceeded expectations by dismissing the experienced middle-order pair of Afridi and Shoaib Malik.

Pakistan had lost some of the impetus, but Razzaq showed some of the big-hitting he was famous for several years ago to muscle Pakistan past 160, which proved more than sufficient.

New Zealand have less than a day to regroup and find XI fit players before the second Twenty20 on Friday.

Younis could still return as captain - Ijaz Butt

The door has not been shut on Younis Khan returning to the Pakistan captaincy after he takes some time out from the game to, in his own words, "get himself together." Younis walked away from the post on Wednesday, wanting to take a rest and skip the New Zealand series after saying he had "lost command" over his team.

Though his future plans are currently unclear, Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman who just weeks ago said Younis will remain captain - provided he is selected and fit - till the 2011 World Cup, insists that he remains an option to lead Pakistan, possibly on the tour to Australia, once he has returned.

"We have put a long-term plan in place," Butt told Cricinfo, "and we will review that once we get together over the next few days to discuss this. Younis wanted a rest and we have given him that. But when he comes back we will most definitely consider him as an option for captaincy."

Cricinfo understands that, as the situation currently stands, Younis is unlikely to come back as captain. Implicit in his comments over the decision was the acknowledgement that he had not been able to overcome differences with a group of senior players in the team unhappy with his leadership. Sources close to Younis say that he does not want to continue leading in the current environment where players are actively trying to undermine him.

Butt, however, played down the matter, denying that Younis had, in effect, stepped down in the face of a players' revolt. "I don't believe in that at all. Every time we lose a match or a series, this kind of speculation comes out and there is nothing like that in it. Younis wanted a rest and we have given that to him."

Pakistan will now travel to New Zealand for a three-Test series with Mohammad Yousuf in charge - their third captain of the year and fourth if you count Shahid Afridi as the Twenty20 captain - and Kamran Akmal as his deputy. Yousuf has captained Pakistan in three Tests previously, though each time was as stand-in for Inzamam-ul-Haq. Yousuf was in the running for the captaincy after Inzamam's retirement in 2007, though he was overlooked as Shoaib Malik took over.

Reportedly unhappy over the move, Yousuf had a public falling out with Malik, joining the ICL in 2008 - after turning his back on them in 2007 - in protest and singling out Malik and the selection committee as the sole reasons for doing so. Incidentally, Malik is widely believed to be one of the main men unhappy with Younis' leadership and the speculation in Pakistan is that he is making a move for the post himself. But there was apparently little disagreement among the Pakistan think-tank over the choice of Yousuf as an alternative to Younis.

"We consulted the options among ourselves and we came to the conclusion that Yousuf is the ideal alternative," Butt said. "There were no disagreements over the choice and we are confident he can do the job."

Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo

 Feeds: Osman Samiuddin

Vettori uncertain for first Test

Daniel Vettori, who was ruled out of the first Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Dubai due to a head injury sustained during the ODI series, has undergone a scan which revealed no serious damage. However, he will be sitting out of the second Twenty20 international on Friday while his availability for the first Test against Pakistan in Dunedin, starting on November 25, is uncertain.

"The scan report is clear, but Vettori had concussion and will be continuously monitored," Dave Currie, the New Zealand team manager, said. "He will not be available for the second Twenty20 match on Friday. The doctors have advised him a couple of weeks rest."

Vettori was struck hard on the helmet by a bouncer from Mohammad Aamer in the second ODI but played the series decider. His decision to skip Thursday's game due to a bout of vomitting before the match.

New Zealand had only 11 players to choose from for the Twenty20 internationals, as Kyle Mills is recovering from an injured shoulder, and James Franklin nursing an injured back. Allrounder Jacob Oram, too, is missing, for he had to return to New Zealand for the birth of his first child. During the first Twenty20, Aaron Redmond picked up a groin strain while bowling, forcing New Zealand to use a half-fit Franklin as a substitute.

YOUNAS KHAN

Mohammad Yousuf captain for New Zealand tour

Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed Pakistan captain for the Test tour of New Zealand later this month with Kamran Akmal as his deputy. The appointment came after Younis Khan sought a break from cricket following the ODI series defeat to New Zealand in Abu Dhabi, Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said.

"I have taken this decision after giving it serious thought," Younis told AFP. "Since I am not in the best of form, I need rest and there is no personal grudge against anyone, that's for sure. I want to tell my fans that I am not finished, I will come back. My country comes first, more than my family and more than myself."

Butt said he had no objection to Younis seeking a break. "We did appoint Younis captain until the 2011 World Cup, subject to his performance and fitness, but we have no objection to him asking for a rest, and I don't think it's a turmoil in Pakistan cricket," he said.

Pakistan's 2-1 loss, after winning the first game, sparked criticism of Younis' captaincy and media reports suggested he had lost the confidence of his players. The teams play two Twenty20 internationals on Thursday and Friday and Pakistan leave for New Zealand on Sunday.

Yousuf's appointment marks a full comeback for the batsman, who only recently was in exile from the national team for his involvement with the ICL. More importantly, it is the latest development in a period of uncertainty over the Pakistan captaincy that began after their semi-final defeat to New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy..

Younis resigned as captain following that loss and it was believed that suspicions of match-fixing raised in the aftermath of Pakistan's Champions Trophy semi-final exit, and murmurs about factions in the team and management working to undermine Younis, led to the decision.

The PCB, however, rejected his resignation and Butt had a meeting with Younis, where Younis said he would return only if certain conditions were met. Stability of tenure was one, though those close to Younis insist he didn't want an assurance till the 2011 World Cup. A streamlining of the selection process, as well as changes in the team management were thought to be the other conditions. Younis then took back his resignation and said that he was happy to return as captain following the wave of support he received.

Younis quits, says he's lost command

Younis Khan has given up the captaincy of Pakistan once again, and taken a temporary break from the game altogether, after failing to overcome a long-running rift with a group of players. Effectively, after Younis informed the Pakistan board chairman Ijaz Butt of his decision, it signaled a victory for player power over an unpopular captain.

"I met the chairman today and told him I needed to rest," Younis told Cricinfo. "I told him I feel as If I have no command over this team. And if a leadership has no command over its players, what is the point of continuing to lead? I also told him that the last 3-4 months have been very trying times for me, not just with the cricket but all that has happened outside it. I need time to get myself together now."

At least eight or nine players in the current squad have been unhappy with Younis as captain for a while and had made their concerns clear to Butt immediately after the Champions Trophy. The loss to New Zealand in the three-match ODI series, in which Younis failed with the bat, cranked up the pressure, with a number of voices in Pakistan calling for his ouster. Today Younis decided that he had lost "command" over the team and carrying on was not an option.

The PCB immediately named Mohammad Yousuf, senior batsman and one-time stand-in captain, as the man to lead the side in a three-Test series in New Zealand beginning later this month. Kamran Akmal, the wicketkeeper, will be his deputy.

The PCB's no-frills press release stated simply that Younis had asked for a rest and Butt is reported to have said that they did not object to the decision. "We did appoint Younis captain until the 2011 World Cup, subject to his performance and fitness, but we have no objection to him asking for a rest, and I don't think it's turmoil in Pakistan cricket," he said.

Revolt within the ranks Pakistan's history is no stranger to such player revolts. In 1981-82, almost the entire XI decided they were not going to play under Javed Miandad's captaincy. A second XI was picked, Miandad stayed on but soon stepped down of his own accord, paving the way for the start of Imran Khan's captaincy. In 1992-93, Miandad was again sidelined by his own players during the ODI series in Australia, which led to Wasim Akram taking over. And not long after, Akram was pulled down by a group of players led by his own vice-captain and fellow fast bowler Waqar Younis.

Younis' tenure, which began earlier this year, has been crippled by a lack of support from his players. Ostensibly his resignation last month, after the Champions Trophy, was over the match-fixing allegations leveled against his side, but as the affair progressed it became increasingly clear that Younis was trying to outmanoeuvre a group of players who were not with him. It worked briefly, as the board made him captain till the 2011 World Cup, with enhanced powers over selection, but the players' support has clearly not been forthcoming.

Younis refused to go into further detail over which players had revolted but it is believed the group is led by Shoaib Malik and includes other seniors such as Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal. Sources close to Younis say that he was particularly disappointed in the manner in which some players were dismissed in the last ODI against New Zealand.

Though Pakistan ultimately lost by seven runs, their batting had collapsed to 101 for 9 - effectively losing those nine wickets for 54 runs - until a miraculous last-wicket stand took them nearly all the way. But the way established batsmen were dismissed - in a rash of pull shots - on a placid pitch has led Younis to conclude that it was done to undermine him.

"He was really unhappy with the shots some of the batsmen played and he feels as if they did it deliberately to undermine him," one source told Cricinfo. "He just feels as if he is knocking his head against a brick wall, telling batsmen, senior guys, how to play and them just not listening. He is tired of the constant fighting within the team, especially when it is not clear what they are all fighting or upset about. Nobody has gone to him directly to say anything and that has upset him the most. It isn't so much the pressure of his own failures that has brought him down as this."

Younis's immediate future is unclear. It is believed that he wants to continue playing international cricket and will return to Pakistan and play some domestic cricket to set himself up for the Australia tour, beginning at the end of December. A return to captaincy seems highly improbable; neither is the PCB likely to offer it to him, having been burnt so many times, nor is he likely to take it up, given his experience this time round.

As a result, Yousuf's elevation marks a remarkable comeback for the batsman, who only recently was in exile from the national team for his involvement with the ICL. He has led Pakistan in the past, twice in Tests in Australia - both lost - and once at home against South Africa in 2003-04, which Pakistan won. Incidentally, he was also a replacement captain for Younis once before, for all of a day, when Younis walked away from the post ahead of the 2006 Champions Trophy, only to be convinced to come back.

The buzz in Pakistan suggests that former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has also played a hand; in recent days, Inzamam has been publicly vocal about the need to dispose of Younis, openly pushing the candidacy of Shahid Afridi as ODI captain. According to some reports, Yousuf contacted Inzamam - the pair are very close - before accepting the job. Some are even touting Inzamam as the next coach for Pakistan.

New Zealand win despite Aamer heroics

The Jekyll and Hyde that is Pakistan cricket displayed both its faces in the series decider against New Zealand. Pakistan needed only 212 to clinch a 2-1 series victory on a placid pitch but their batting combusted in typically dramatic fashion. When all hope was lost, though, there was more drama asMohammad Aamer scripted a phenomenal comeback with Saeed Ajmal. It was New Zealand, however, who held their nerve to win the decider in the desert.

When Aamer came to bat at No. 10, Pakistan needed 126 runs from 26.5 overs with only two wickets in hand, and people were emptying the Sheikh Zayed stadium thinking the game was over. But what is Pakistan cricket without its twists and turns? And what is New Zealand cricket without a struggle to finish games? Aamer and Ajmal threw their bats around, played conventional and unorthodox shots, and added 103, the second highest last-wicket stand in ODIs. It went to the last over, bowled by Jacob Oram, with Pakistan needing eight runs to win, but Ajmal top-edged the first ball and was caught by Kyle Mills at short fine leg.

Aamer initially appeared as though he was having a lark - a tailender indulging himself in a lost cause. Even when he hit Daniel Vettori for three slog-swept sixes in an over, it seemed a matter of time before the last wicket fell. However, Aamer persevered, cutting and driving Mills in particular, and the game hurtled towards a thrilling finale. The pressure, however, kicked in only when they got close to the target and Ajmal succumbed with Aamer stranded on 73, the highest score by a No. 10 batsman in ODIs.

What Aamer's effort also did, though, was highlight the failure of his more capable team-mates. Pakistan crashed and burned from 47 for 0 to 101 for 9 with batsmen playing rash shots that betrayed a nervous and muddled mindset. No one took ownership of the chase and New Zealand kept gaining ground with disciplined bowling.

Pakistan's openers were cruising when Vettori introduced himself in the eighth over. He trapped Khalid Latif lbw with an arm-ball to create a small window of opportunity, which was soon flung open. Younis Khan, Pakistan's captain who is waging an increasingly difficult battle to hold his place in the ODI team, struggled for fluency and the mounting pressure led to him running out a settled Salman Butt. It was the beginning of the end.

Younis perished next ball, stabbing a bouncing delivery from Shane Bond to first slip and exposed an edgy middle order, which lacked the cool head of Mohammad Yousuf, who had been dropped for Umar Akmal. The line-up was full of attacking batsmen but, as they showed in the last game, they were likely to collapse under pressure. Only Shoaib Malik had the temperament to fight but he was guilty of playing the worst shot of all. Pakistan were wobbling at 74 for 3 when Kyle Mills bowled a few short balls at Malik, who ducked out of the way. Suddenly, in a moment of madness, he fetched a short delivery from well outside off and hit it straight to deep midwicket. Pakistan had started its freefall.

Umar Akmal edged an intended cut and Shahid Afridi ran Malik close with a poor shot of his own but it's not much of a surprise when Afridi implodes. He tried to break free by heaving Jacob Oram down the ground but only succeeded in nicking to Brendon McCullum. Pakistan's last hope was Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq but both failed. Kamran was guilty of playing an overambitious shot as he tried to pull a delivery from Tim Southee which wasn't short and top-edged to mid-on. Razzaq made a mad dash for a non-existent single: Umar Gul had pushed to the left of Vettori at mid-off and took one step out, but Razzaq charged too far down the track and couldn't get back in time. Pakistan's misery was almost complete but Aamer's heroic half-century gave fans something to take from the game.

New Zealand also had their share of batting wobbles. They were in a great position at 138 for 2 in 27th over, after choosing to bat, but they collapsed to be bowled out for 211. McCullum, who hit a superbly-paced 76, fell to a tame dismissal, caught and bowled by Shoaib Malik. Younis then proceeded to suffocate them with his spinners.

From the 18th over to the 45th, New Zealand faced only two overs of seam bowling, gradually succumbing to the slow men. Ajmal confused them with his doosras, Afridi taunted with his sliders and googlies, and Malik tested with his offbreaks. Most batsmen pushed and prodded with nervous uncertainty, unsure about the destination of the spinning deliveries and one felt that a wicket was always around the corner. New Zealand, however, scraped to 211 before they were dismissed in the 47th over. It proved to be just enough.

Brendon McCullum helps New Zealand level series

Brendon McCullum, it is fair to say, hasn't had the best year, or in fact the best time of it since he launched the IPL into orbit two years ago. Expectation has generally overtaken him, he has been dropped as vice-captain and questions about his suitability to opening have been asked. But an immaculately constructed 131, McCullum's second century in 162 ODIs, led New Zealand to 303 for 8 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, and paved the way for them to level the three-match series at 1-1.

There were periods of acceleration, uncertainty and consolidation in New Zealand's innings and McCullum stood firm through it all, falling only in the 47th over, the last of the batting Powerplay. Pakistan's chase needed a similar effort but none was forthcoming. They seemed to have a plan: the top order batted cautiously, preserved wickets and steadily built a platform for the middle and lower order to fire from. The launchpad was there - they reached 124 for 1 - but the asking-rate had risen to over seven an over, heaping pressure on the likes of Shahid Afridi. And when the time came for Pakistan's thrust, Scott Styris nipped out three crucial wickets in two overs. The plan had failed and the exodus of fans from the venue began as early as the 28th over.

The match, though, was McCullum's. His innings was everything his many, unfulfilled contributions haven't been. The early harassing - the shimmies down the tracks, the moving around - was there but it wasn't until Martin Guptill arrived, that McCullum really settled in.

Guptill implemented the truism that the easiest singles in cricket are found in Pakistan's 30-yard circle. It was selfless stuff, for the real beneficiary was McCullum. Umar Gul was driven and cut, though mostly the violence was reserved for Abdul Razzaq, who, had he been actually handing out chocolates, could not have been friendlier: a short ball was pulled over square leg, before he was cut just as hard. McCullum, soon, was celebrating a fifty. Spin threatened circumspection but not for long as Guptill danced down to loft Saeed Ajmal for six in the 20th over. McCullum deposited Afridi for six over midwicket and within a trice, the century stand was up.

McCullum's real work began after a needless slog from Guptill began a mini-collapse, at the end of which three wickets had gone for not much. As in the first game, New Zealand's huff was running out at the halfway mark and McCullum now needed to shepherd. His captain helped, for so obdurately does Daniel Vettori stick around that he could be the crease's chalk: he gave McCullum support in a fifty-run partnership which stealthily stole momentum back.

McCullum reined himself in. The singles he kept picking but neither did he forget his basic intent. A brace of drives, off pace and spin alike, were sudden, sharp reminders to Pakistan of his strength. As further wickets fell, the significance of the Powerplay grew, and when it came, so too arrived the McCullum of that IPL knock.

The century had come a couple of overs earlier and now the gloves were off. The McPaddle had a second coming as both Gul and Aamer suffered. He later flicked a six off his hips so pure, it made you wonder why he would try such contrived shots. Jacob Oram stole handy runs at the end and New Zealand now had their best chance to win their first ODI against Pakistan in the UAE.

Pakistan's selectors had done away with the fiery Champions Trophy opening combination of Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal, preferring stability instead. Salman Butt and Imran Nazir took few risks, despite an asking-rate of more than six from the start of the reply. Butt began by punching Kyle Mills through point for four and thereafter Pakistan hit a four in every over between the fourth and the tenth.

Despite the frequency with which they found the boundary, though, Butt and Latif were unable to score rapidly, because New Zealand's excellent in-fielding prevented the singles that were so easily available when Pakistan were bowling. Latif's innings was ended by Vettori, who came on in the 17th over and struck immediately, trapping the opener lbw with an arm ball.

Vettori and Mills bowled tidily, and with Younis Khan and Butt shunning shots, the asking-rate climbed: it was seven an over in the 20th and 7.5 by the 25th. Younis had plodded to 19 when he chipped his 37th ball - in Styris' first over - towards midwicket. Ross Taylor leapt to his right and took the catch with one hand. The captain departed with Pakistan needing 180 off 136 balls and Afridi entered to his customary, rousing welcome from a hopeful crowd. A ball later, he was striding back, having chipped to Taylor at midwicket again for a duck. Pakistan promoted Kamran Akmal ahead of Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik, who perished while driving Styris to short cover. Pakistan had gone from 124 for 1 to 133 for 4.

If the contest wasn't over then, it certainly was when Butt and Yousuf had a moment's misunderstanding, one which led to Butt being run out for 59 and Pakistan needing 170 off 120 balls. The platform had been shattered and the game was lost.