The Khulna Royal Bengals will be the franchise most affected by the development, as they had bought the services of Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal (pictured), Awais Zia, Umar Amin, Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail and Bilawal Bhatti. -File photo

Bangladesh cricket chiefs said on Wednesday that Pakistan had refused to release any of its players for a Twenty20 competition which begins this week after a planned bilateral series had to be scrapped.

Pakistan had been due to host Bangladesh for a Twenty20 game and a 50-over match in Lahore this month in what would have been its first home internationals since a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team bus nearly four years ago.

But the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cancelled the tour, saying Pakistan was not safe for its players.

According to a BCB spokesman, Pakistan has now responded by preventing any of its stars from competing in the Bangladesh Premier League which begins Thursday.

“The chief executive officer of PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) called our CEO today and informed him that they won’t allow Pakistani players to play in the BPL until we send our team to their country,” spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP.

“We’ve now decided to host the event without Pakistani players,” he said, adding the BPL’s seven franchises would now find replacements for the 26 Pakistani players they bought in the auction last month.

The move represents a major blow for the second edition of the BPL since Pakistani cricketers have a big following in Bangladesh.

More than 50 Pakistani players took part in the auction for the second edition of BPL, with opening batsman Imran Nazir fetching $280,000.

Last year more than 20 Pakistani players took part in the inaugural edition, with all-rounder Shahid Afridi sold for the highest fee of $700,000.

No international matches have taken place in Pakistan since the militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus that killed eight people in March 2009.

Spokesman Yunus said Bangladesh has not ruled out touring Pakistan in the coming months but wanted to reassess the security situation before sending a team.

Bangladesh was also due to tour Pakistan last April, but the tour was blocked by the Dhaka High Court on security grounds.

Umar Akmal. — Photo by AFP

LAHORE: Middle-order batsman Umar Akmal is going through counselling sessions from a PCB psychologist in order to improve his mental attitude which has cost him a spot in Test matches.

Three others Pakistani cricketers namely tainted fast bowler Mohammad Aamir, controversial wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider and opener Ahmed Shehzad are also going through similar sessions.

Umar, who was once hailed as the brightest batting talent on the cricketing horizon, has struggled in recent months due to his impetuosity and reckless approach in batting which has cost him his wicket on a number of occasions.

Umar, who cracked his maiden Test century against New Zealand, has failed to reach three figures since and has been axed by the national selectors from Test matches due to his immature approach on the crease.

Sources said that Umar attended five lectures from the psychologist before he went to perform Umra. He may be called for more lectures later on.

Former chief selector and coach Mohsin Khan had sidelined Umar from the Test matches last year, criticising the youngster’s reckless approach towards batting and his habit of throwing away his wicket at a crucial time. Meanwhile, Aamir who is serving a five-year ban imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), is also attending the lectures from the PCB psychologist with the hope of improving his mental approach to the game.

Also, Ahmed Shehzad who has the potential to become a dashing, hard-hitting opener for Pakistan, is also taking the sessions after he was found guilty of misconduct on several occasions in both domestic and international matches.

Moreover, the sources said that Zulqarnain who shocked everyone by leaving the national team abruptly in the UAE for London without informing the team management on the eve of the fourth ODI against the South Africa, has taken a number of counselling sessions and is now showing signs of improvement.

“I know my shots and if I slow down I can cover it at the end.” —Photo by AFP

GROS ISLET: Opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad attracted praise from his captain Shahid Afridi after his match-winning ton against the West Indies on Monday.

Shehzad scored 102 runs in Pakistan’s second win of the series and was named man of the match for his effort.

The young opener received another reward after the match, as Afridi praised Shehzad’s knock.

“He (Shehzad) is a very talented guy,” Afridi told Sky Sports in a post-match interview.

Shehzad was dropped from Pakistan’s playing eleven during the World Cup after failing to score big runs in five matches. But according to Afridi, the team management continued to show faith in him by selecting him for the West Indies tour and the opener repaid them with the century.

“He showed he is capable of performing well. He did take some time (to score the runs) but chasing a total of 220 you can do that and he finished the game.”

Shehzad, who scored his second ODI century, said he was grateful to the captain for sticking with him despite the lack of runs.

“Afridi gives confidence to every player, which I think is amazing,” he said.

While his century won the match for Pakistan, it did take some time coming as the opener scored a low strike-rate.

“We had wickets in hand and it was not a huge total. I know my shots and if I slow down I can cover it at the end.”

Afridi, meanwhile, urged his team to continue with the winning run, after they took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

“The bowlers did a great job and our fielding is improving, which is very important. The batsmen are taking responsibility so we will try and keep that going.”

Ahmed Shehzad plays a shot during the second ODI match in Gros Islet, St Lucia.—AFP

GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Opener Ahmed Shehzad struck his second one-day international hundred to anchor Pakistan to a confident seven-wicket victory over West Indies on Monday.

Shehzad hit seven fours and one six in his 102 from 148 balls as Pakistan successfully chased 221 for victory in the second ODI at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

Umar Akmal carried the visitors over the threshold with 12 balls remaining when he lofted a delivery from Dwayne Bravo to long-off for the final boundary of the match.

The result means that Pakistan take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series after winning the first game by eight wickets on Saturday at the same ground.

Pakistan have now won their last seven ODIs against West Indies, a sequence spread over the last four years.

“We made a plan at our team meeting and our guys stuck to it and that was good,” said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

“Shehzad is a very talented guy and he showed that he is capable of performing. He took his time, but chasing a small total, he could afford to do that and we won the game.

“I think our bowlers are doing a great job, and the fielding has improved because it is a very important area for us. Our batting has shown responsibility and we hope to maintain this discipline right throughout the series.”

The visitors’ spin bowling trio of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Afridi had dominated on another docile pitch.

After Pakistan chose to field, West Indies were dismissed for 220 in their 50 overs – one less than the total they made in the first ODI.

Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi shared six wickets for 102 runs in 30 overs between them, and only West Indies opener Lendl Simmons looked close to getting on top of them, leading the way with 51 from 48 balls, which included four fours and two sixes.

“We didn’t make use of the key moments in the match,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

“We could have tried to squeeze their batsmen more and when we batted we got a good start, but did not capitalise on it.

“The spinners continue to bog us down, and we could have got a lot more on the board. It seems that whatever approach we have taken, we seem only able to get the same kind of total on the board. We have a lot more work to do.”

Shehzad shared three successive half-century partnerships with Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq that put Pakistan firmly on course for their victory.

He glanced a delivery in the 44th over from Dwayne Bravo to deep fine leg for a single to reach his milestone from 143 balls.

“We tried to keep wickets in hand. It was not a huge total so I knew that I had to control my stroke-play and not get carried away,” said Shehzad.

He was fortunate on 30 when he came close to being run out after pulling a delivery from Bravo to mid-wicket and Hafeez turned down the chance of going for a single.

Sammy fired his throw from mid-wicket wide of the stumps and the opener was able to regain his ground.

By the time he became the second wicket for leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo in the 46th over, Pakistan required just 30 from the final 28 deliveries which came with little trouble.

The third and fourth matches of the series will be played on Thursday and Monday at Kensington Oval in Barbados, with the final game coming three days later at the Guyana National Stadium.

Ahmed Shehzad (103) and Misbah-ul-Haq(100) laid the foundation for Pakistan's win. —Photo by AFP

Centuries from opener Ahmed Shehzad and vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq ensured a formidable total for Pakistan, who ended their innings at 286-9. The bowlers, led by all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, then completed the job for the visitors by bowling Bangladesh out for 196 inside 42 overs.

Shehzad and Misbah began Pakistan’s recovery in the 15th over, after the Bangladesh bowlers reduced the visitors to 58-3. Abdur Razzak and Shakib Al Hasan were the main tormentors as the spinners removed Kamran Akmal(1) and Younis Khan (5) cheaply.

Despite building their innings at a slow pace initially, Shehzad and Misbah later took the attack to the Bangladesh bowlers. The teenage opener hit nine fours and a six in his 103-run innings, while Misbah hit eight fours and four sixes – two of which took him to his century.

Umar Akmal (19) and Shahid Afridi (14) also tried to propel the total towards the 300-run mark towards the end but Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Bangladesh used nine bowlers with skipper and slow left-armer Shakib Al Hasan taking 3-49 off his 10 overs.

Seamer Rubel Hossain also claimed three wickets, but his 10 overs cost 73 runs.

Bangladesh were put on the back foot from the start as they lost opener Tamim Iqbal when Abdul Razzaq knocked over his bails with the very first delivery.

While Imrul Kayes and Junaid Siddique resurrected the Bangladeshi innings to some extent, with their departure diminished any hopes of a fight-back from the Tigers.

Pakistan played their first warm-up match, while their second is scheduled against England on Friday. The 1992 champions open their campaign against Kenya in Sri Lanka on February 23.

The game is co-hosts Bangladesh’s final practice before their World Cup opener on February 19 in Dhaka against hot favourites India.

Each team named 15 players, but with only 11 entitled to bat or field, enabling them to maximize practice opportunities.

Bangladesh’s batting line-up was unchanged from the XI that trounced Canada last week.

Pakistan: (from) Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi (captain), Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Muhammad Junaid Khan, Asad Shafiq.

Bangladesh: (from) Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hassan (captain), Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Roqibul Hassan, Shahriar Nafees, Md Sohrawardi

Umpires: Steve Davis, Australia, and Billy Doctrove, West Indies.

Third Umpire: Bruce Oxenford, Australia.

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.

Misbah hit eight fours and four sixes – two of which took him to his century. —AFP Photo

Opener Shehzad and vice-captain Misbah began Pakistan’s recovery in the 15th over, after the Bangladesh bowlers reduced the visitors to 58-3. Abdur Razzak and Shakib Al Hasan were the main tormentors as the spinners removed Kamran Akmal(1) and Younis Khan (5) cheaply.

Despite building their innings at a slow pace initially, Shehzad and Misbah later took the attack to the Bangladesh bowlers. The teenage opener hit nine fours and a six in his 103-run innings, while Misbah hit eight fours and four sixes – two of which took him to his century.

Umar Akmal (19) and Shahid Afridi (14) also tried to propel the total towards the 300-run mark towards the end but Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Bangladesh used nine bowlers with skipper and slow left-armer Shakib Al Hasan taking 3-49 off his 10 overs.

Seamer Rubel Hossain also claimed three wickets, but his 10 overs cost 73 runs.

Pakistan are playing their first warm-up match, while their second is scheduled against England on Friday. The 1992 champions open their campaign against Kenya in Sri Lanka on February 23.

The game is co-hosts Bangladesh’s final practice before their World Cup opener on February 19 in Dhaka against hot favourites India.

Each team named 15 players, but with only 11 entitled to bat or field, enabling them to maximize practice opportunities.

Bangladesh’s batting line-up was unchanged from the XI that trounced Canada last week.

Line-ups

Pakistan: (from) Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi (captain), Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Muhammad Junaid Khan, Asad Shafiq.

Bangladesh: (from) Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hassan (captain), Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Roqibul Hassan, Shahriar Nafees, Md Sohrawardi

Umpires: Steve Davis, Australia, and Billy Doctrove, West Indies.

Third Umpire: Bruce Oxenford, Australia.

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.

With only pride at stake after Pakistan had already wrapped up the series, New Zealand posted 311-7 and then rolled the tourists over for 254 in the 45th over. – Photos by AFP