"T20 WC win can redeem Pak cricket"

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam feels Pakistan can restore its lost pride by winning major titles, like the ICC World T20.

Alam said the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore on March 3 has dealt a severe blow to Pakistan's pride in world cricket and now only victories against top sides like Australia and in important tournaments ca only restore their status.

"It is up to the national team to give the people something to be proud off and normalise our cricket culture. he said.

"I am confident we can do this (win) because we have some quality players. There is balance in our batting and bowling but only thing we are lacking is good hard consistent international competition for a while now," he told PTI in an interview.

"Pak cricket facing rough weather"

Pakistan cricket has been going through a traumatic time since last year after international teams have refused to tour the country because of security fears and later the International Cricket Council also relocated the Champions Trophy to South Africa for the same reason.

However, the worst blow came in the form of the terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers, which raised serious questions over the country's status as an international sporting venue. "Our cricket is going through a rough phase and the players need to lift their game and do something about it," the former captain said.

"We definitely are capable of winning the T20 World Cup and if that is possible it would be a big boost to restoring Pakistan cricket's pride and giving some joy to the people," he said.

Bangla cancellation adds to Pak woes

He said the postponement of Bangladesh tour has further compounded their problems.

"It just means that we are again short of international exposure and our players are getting less opportunities to perform on the world stage," Alam said.

In the last edition of the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa two years arch-rivals India defeated Pakistan in the close-fought summit-clash, but this time around, the coach feels his side can turn their fortunes.

"We can turn the table this time in T20 WC"

"This time we can turn the tide as we have a reliable batting line-up and some exciting young players while our bowlers are also very good for the shorter version of the game." Alam said although Twenty20 cricket was more unpredictable then 50 overs format, but teams like India and Pakistan were well-equipped to showcase their true potential in the upcoming World Cup in June.

Intikhab also hoped that Bangladesh tour could be rescheduled this year as he felt the tour postponement would hurt Bangladesh cricket more than Pakistan.

"The tour would have helped Bangladesh get ready for the T20 World Cup while we could have prepared well for the Australia series. But there is nothing anyone can do when security is an issue," he said.

Pietersen overlooked for captaincy

Dashing batsman Kevin Pietersen has been denied an opportunity to return to the role as England captain after being removed.

Hampshire batsman Pietersen was dramatically removed as captain in January after reporting a breakdown in communications with coach Peter Moores during the tour to India before Christmas, but always insisted he would love the another chance to lead the side.

He seemed the obvious choice as stand-in if Strauss, who has been suffering with a right hamstring problem, is unable to captain England at the start of the series at the Providence Stadium, but Paul Collingwood will step in if the Middlesex batsman is ruled out.

"Paul Collingwood is not the official vice-captain but he would do the job for us until the end of the tour and then we would review the situation," confirmed national selector Geoff Miller.

"We're quite hopeful that Andrew will be okay, but we just feel that Colly is the right man to finish it off for us if the situation occurs.

"We have never had an official vice-captain but we have enough seniority there to cover any eventuality and the decision was made that Colly would take over the reins if he is needed."

Collingwood is a former captain himself having led the one-day side for a year before resigning last year to concentrate on his form, which he believed had suffered with the responsibility.

He led England to victory 10 times in 24 one-day internationals and to five triumphs in 10 Twenty20 internationals before resigning on the same day Michael Vaughan also decided to stand down as Test captain.

That gave Pietersen the opportunity to captain in all formats of the game, which came to abrupt halt just after England's return from India when both he and Moores lost their jobs after failing to find a method of working together.

Strauss has since been appointed for the remainder of this tour, but England are yet to name a captain for next summer - and particularly who should lead them into the Twenty20 World Cup starting in June.

Kiwis put up brave show in Hamilton

Bad light forced the teams out of the park with India just one run shy of New Zealand's first innings total at Hamilton.

India were aided by half centuries by Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulka.

Tendulkar was unbeaten on 70 with Yuvraj Singh eight not out when bad light stopped play as India took command of the Test in response to the hosts' 279 yesterday.

The Black Caps did enjoy some early success when a superb direct hit by James Franklin resulted in the run out of Virender Sehwag in the third over of the day after India resumed on 29 without loss having survived seven overs last night.

Sehwag had faced just three deliveries when he was called for a risky second run after partner Gambhir had pushed a Kyle Mills delivery wide of gully, but he was well short of his ground and departed after adding just two to his overnight 22.

Top Performer: Gautam Gambhir

It could have been so much better had Mills not bowled a no ball with his first delivery of the day when he had Gambhir plumb leg before wicket when on six.

But even after removing Sehwag, the hosts were unable to make any further inroads into the India batting line-up in the first session as Gambhir brought up his 10th half century in 97 balls and he and Dravid helped the tourists to 108 for one at lunch.

India continued to accumulate runs after the interval but their 105-run second wicket partnership came to an end when Gambhir (72) edged Chris Martin to Brendon McCullum to leave India 142 for two.

Dravid then reached his 54th Test fifty with his 10th four and he added 16 more before being bowled by Iain O'Brien, who squeezed a delivery between bat and pad to uproot the off stump and leave India 177 for three.

Images from day two

Tendulkar and VVS Laxman made it through to tea with the visitors at 197 for three but Tendulkar had a lucky escape on 13 shortly before the break when Daniel Flynn was unable to take a catch chasing back from midwicket after a mis-timed shot from the right-hander.

Laxman also had a let off after tea while on 15 when O'Brien failed to hold on to a difficult chance on the boundary.

But in the first over with the second new ball, the 34-year-old right-hander edged a Martin delivery to Ross Taylor in the slips to depart for 30 having taken India to 238.

It was the final wicket to fall in the day as Tendulkar went on to claim his 52nd Test half-century with a nice cover drive off Martin.

The Hamilton numbers 

It was tough day for New Zealand's bowlers and in particular Mills, who finished with figures of none for 70 off 15 overs.

Martin enjoyed the most success, bowling seven maidens and taking two wickets for 53 from 20 overs, while O'Brien chipped in with one for 56.

Jesse Ryder, who hit a maiden Test century yesterday, bowled some tight spells with five maidens in his seven overs which cost just 10 runs.