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Malaysia, Ireland and Scotland have emerged as surprise contenders to host future Pakistan “home” series. Ijaz Butt, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, confirmed that those nations, along with England and the United Arab Emirates, could become the Pakistan team’s foreign base while the domestic security risk remained high.While stressing his desire for cricket to make a prompt return to Pakistan, Butt said his board would announce in the next month neutral venues for impending international series. Butt has already held discussions with Giles Clarke, chairman of the ECB, regarding the feasibility of England hosting next year’s Test series between Pakistan and Australia, and will soon decide where other matches will be based.”We have a number of alternatives before us, and we are investigating their suitability as host venues,” Butt told Cricinfo. “We have spoken with the ECB, and we will speak again with Giles Clarke when we all get together for the next ICC meeting in Dubai. There are other alternatives too. Kuala Lumpur, Ireland and Glasgow are among those. Nothing has been finalised at this stage but we will hope to make a decision in the next month.”Pakistan will return to competitive cricket this month when they play Australia in a five-match one-day series, followed by a one-off Twenty20 match, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They have not played since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore on March 3, and now face an uncertain future with teams unwilling to tour in the immediate future due to the security risk.England and the UAE have previously been discussed as potential foreign bases for the Pakistan team, but Malaysia, Ireland and Scotland emerged as new contenders. In 2006, Kuala Lumpur’s Kinrara Academy Oval hosted a triangular one-day series featuring India, Australia and West Indies. Ireland and Scotland, meanwhile, host international cricket on a more regular basis, as their respective national teams attempt to ascend from the Associate ranks.”Some have contacted us, and others we have inquired about,” Butt said. “We are investigating all possibilities. We want teams back in Pakistan as soon as possible, but for now it is important that we ensure matches still progress.”Warren Deutrom, the chief executive of Cricket Ireland, confirmed he had held preliminary discussion with the PCB’s chief operations officer, Salim Altaf, and was amenable to the idea of hosting Pakistan matches.”Our aim is to heighten interest in cricket in Ireland,” Deutrom said. “We are trying to build an argument that we are a sufficiently viable cricket nation to make the step up to the elite level. To be able to host Pakistan in limited overs and even Test matches could only help us in attracting more interest in the sport. We would be more than happy for Pakistan to play here.”

Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, has said it will be very difficult, following the Lahore terror strikes, to convince any team to tour Pakistan in the immediate future unless the security situation improves. He said the government, not the PCB, was answerable for the lapses that led to Tuesday’s attack but, as far as he knew, the security provided to Sri Lanka was the same as for all touring teams.”How can we force them to play in Pakistan if the security situation doesn’t improve,” Butt said. “It has earned Pakistan a bad name in the international community. It looks grim for at least six to twelve months. It was the most unfortunate thing that could have happened.”The shootout happened while the players were making their way to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day of the second Test. Five Sri Lankan players and the assistant coach Paul Farbrace were injured when the terrorists targeted the team bus. The series – Pakistan’s first at home in 16 months – was cancelled.Asked if the security cover was sufficient, Butt said the government was answerable and not the PCB. “Nowhere in the world does the cricket board interfere in the security matters – it’s the sole responsibility of the government,” he said. “As far as I know, the security level was the same as it was in the past, when various teams toured Pakistan.”The most immediate fallout of the terror strikes is New Zealand’s decision not to tour the country for a Test series later this year. New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan spoke of playing at a neutral venue and Butt clarified that negotiations were yet to begin.”Let me make it clear that we have not received any information from New Zealand Cricket that the tour is called off,” Butt said. “Of course the security situation (in Pakistan) will be reassessed in due course.”He sought to play down fears Pakistan would not host its matches in the 2011 World Cup, a tournament it is scheduled to share with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “There are still two years left until the World Cup 2011,” he said. “We hope security improves by the time the big event comes nearer.”In the aftermath of the attacks, former captain Ramiz Raja appealed to the cricket world not to turn their backs on Pakistan at this critical moment.”Obviously Tuesday’s tragic events have pushed us back a fair bit,” Raja told . “But the entire world must realise that cricket is a way of life in Pakistan and it must not be taken away. It’s easy to take cricket events out of Pakistan in a kneejerk reaction but Pakistan needs support and with gradual improvement in security teams must play here.”They (Sri Lankans) were gracious enough to tour and during the one-day matches in January and then in the Tests I saw some banners which thanked the Sri Lankan team and it’s tragic that these events happened.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

New Zealand and India adopted different approaches to their innings and in the end it was the host’s more measured and sensible method that prevailed over the visitors’ manic thrash. India’s innings fell away after a blazing start – Virender Sehwag hit his first three balls for sixes – and they needed Suresh Raina’s half-century to lift them from 101 for 7. New Zealand, on the other hand, were guided by opener Brendon McCullum, who batted through the innings while his team-mates forced the pace. McCullum took charge during the final overs, reached his half-century and ensured New Zealand won with seven balls to spare.The small size of the AMI Stadium with its tiny square boundaries proved a temptation few batsmen could resist. India bashed 13 sixes in their innings – one short of the record for Twenty20 internatonals – but in the end had to settle for a par score. They were caught in an adrenalin rush but the early slogging came with a heavy price and the responsibility on Raina increased with every wicket.New Zealand gave a much better account of themselves during their chase. Their start was not as frenetic as the Indians’ for the new-ball attack of Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan extracted movement under lights. Zaheer beat the outside edge on several occasions but New Zealand maintained their composure even after losing Jesse Ryder in the second over.New Zealand had a stroke of luck when Martin Guptill padded up to a big inswinger from Ishant and was hit on the pad while moving across his stumps. The disbelief on the faces of the Indians was palpable as the umpire gave him not out. Guptill capitalised on the let-off and unfurled a series of exquisite pulls – his signature shot – off the fast bowlers.His dismissal, trapped in front by Harbhajan Singh in the seventh over, slowed New Zealand down and they managed only 29 off the next five overs. However, they kept their cool and cashed in when another offspinner Yusuf Pathan was brought into the attack. Ross Taylor, a dangerous player on the leg side, got down on his knees and clubbed consecutive sixes off Yusuf before swatting him for four the next ball. That 18-run over brought equation down to 62 off 48 balls and left India desperate for a wicket.Zaheer broke the 50-run stand in his second spell, bowling Taylor with a leg stump yorker. That brought Jacob Oram, returning after a long injury lay-off, and he quickly settled in. McCullum flirted with danger a few times, playing cheeky paddle scoops, not all of which came off. However, he was successful when he played more conventional cricket shots. He used his feet superbly against the spinners and brought up his fifty with a lofted straight six off Yusuf. Oram finished the game soon after, smashing Yusuf to the cover boundary.Unlike New Zealand’s, India’s shot selection was questionable with the top four falling while playing across the line. Gambhir was the first to perish, losing his middle stump to Iain O’Brien who also flattened Sehwag’s leg stump. Rohit Sharma stylishly clipped Ian Butler for a six over square leg but was dismissed trying a similar shot the next ball, getting a thick leading edge to Brendon McCullum. Yuvraj Singh too was trapped lbw to a quicker one from Daniel Vettori while moving across his stumps.There was a second hat-trick of sixes in the Indian innings, this time by Yusuf Pathan. He got down on one knee and slogged Nathan McCullum’s first three deliveries over long-on but was caught while going for the fourth. The ball travelled flatter towards Oram at long-on who took the catch, pedalled backwards, quickly lobbed the ball in the air before going over the rope and caught it once again after coming back into play. It was reminiscent of Adam Voges’ catch at the same position in Sydney recently.Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Irfan Pathan failed to support Raina and their dismissals left India struggling at 101 for 7. Raina was perhaps the only batsman who consistently succeeded in hitting on the leg side. He stayed balanced and clubbed full tosses and length deliveries from the seamers high over deep midwicket. He received late support from Harbhajan Singh, who hit consecutive fours off Southee in the final over. India did well to reach 162 but they needed more on such a small ground.

Scorecard

It took only an hour in the second session of play for Rajesh Pawar to trigger East Zone’s collapse and pick up a career-best 6 for 34 on the first day in Mumbai. Though East fought back with the wickets of captain Wasim Jaffer and Ajinkya Rahane, West Zone will be confident of building their advantage given their formidable batting line-up.Pawar’s efforts are more creditable given that the conditions were mostly overcast and the smattering of grass on the pitch made it more conducive for the fast men. He had bowled only two overs of spin before lunch but, an hour into the second session, Jaffer decided to get him back on. It worked wonders.Four wickets fell in twenty balls as Pawar grabbed two wickets each in the first and fourth overs. Saurabh Tiwary was unlucky after his hard flick was intercepted brilliantly by an agile Kedar Jadhav at short leg. Wriddhiman Saha’s prod off the next ball took an edge on its way to Jaffer at first slip. On a hat-trick, Pawar tempted new man Haladhar Das with a flighted delivery and was nearly successful. Das’ back foot was in the air for a moment as he stretched to defend but he got it back just before Parthiv Patel brushed aside the bails.A few overs later Pawar struck Rashmi Ranjan Parida in line as the batsman attempted a sweep against a straight one, and he then wrapped up the tail easily with Anand Katti and Ranadeb Bose failing to read the turn and Ashok Dinda going for the slog.The performance vindicated Jaffer’s decision to field. There was almost instant success when Dhawal Kulkarni, who made a spectacular Ranji Trophy debut two months ago with a nine-wicket haul, caught East captain Shiv Sundar Das plumb in front after he failed to read the half-volley and played across. The other opener, Dibyendu Chakrabarty, failed to take advantage of an early life and offered a thick outside edge to a superb outswinger by Siddarth Trivedi.The responsibility to strengthen the innings fell on Manoj Tiwary but he disappointed. As soon as Abhishek Nayar was introduced, Tiwary charged him unconvincingly, holing out to Trivedi at mid-on. Lunch was still more than half an hour away and East had already lost their mainstays in Das and Tiwary. But plucky resistance from Parida and Saurabh helped East avoid further damage before the break.From then on, barring Parida’s half-century, it was the Pawar show.After East had folded for 171, Bose bowled a menacing spell to attack the off stump consistently and reaped rich dividends by first forcing Jaffer to edge and Rahane to pull at a deliberate short-pitched delivery. But any further hopes of East bouncing back were put paid to by the pair of Bhavish Thaker and Pujara, who played strokefully and helped West regain the momentum.With his efforts today Pawar vindicated the decision of the team management, who left out Ramesh Powar for an extra batsman. Pawar, a gritty left-arm spinner, was included in the Indian Test squad for the Bangladesh tour in 2007 but didn’t played a game.It was on that trip, though, that he picked up a few tips from Anil Kumble and Powar on bowling with the Kookaburra ball, which is being used in the Duleep Trophy. The message from the duo was to flight the ball, which has a less prominent seam than the SG ball.Originally from Mumbai, Pawar moved to Baroda a few years ago after being kept low in the pecking order, behind seniors like Nilesh Kulkarni, Sairaj Bahutule and Powar. Though rusty in his first two years Pawar bounced back and was the second-best left-arm spinner behind Sunil Joshi this Ranji season.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

A pulsating low-scoring game nearly went Bangladesh’s way, but hopes of a tournament triumph were dashed by Muttiah Muralitharan, who was the unlikely saviour with the bat as Sri Lanka recovered from 6 for 5 to edge a two-wicket win in Mirpur. Bangladesh were in control of the game after Shakib Al Hasan’s double-wicket maiden left Sri Lanka needing 39 off 36 balls with two wickets in hand. Murali, though, had other plans, blasting a 16-ball 33, including 32 off two Rubel Hossain overs, to break Bangladeshi hearts. Although the home team lost, the spectators were kept enthralled – a similar tale to that at the MCG today, putting to rest doubts over the viability of the 50-over format in the Twenty20 era.Two days after what Mohammad Ashraful called Bangladesh’s “best victory”, medium-pacer Nazmul Hossain’s opening burst had put the team on course for a bigger win – it would have been their first tri-nation title. He reduced Sri Lanka to 6 for 5, the lowest score for which a side has lost five wickets in a ODI, before Kumar Sangakkara’s battling half-century tilted the game. Shakib’s strikes provided a twist but Murali’s hitting ensured victory.Sri Lanka were looking forward to a straightforward victory after Nuwan Kulasekara and the spinners had shot Bangladesh out for 152. The first inkling that things may not go to plan was when the big-hitting Sanath Jayasuriya was run out off the very first ball. Nazmul, recalled in place of Mahbubul Alam, then struck twice in three balls. Mashrafe Mortaza removed Chamara Kapugedera five deliveries later and the crowd went berserk when Thilan Thushara chopped a Nazmul delivery. Sri Lanka had six runs on board and their last specialist batting pair was at the crease. Nazmul’s figures read 4-3-1-3.Sangakkara and Jehan Mubarak started a slow recovery. Mubarak hit Nazmul for a couple of fierce boundaries and Sangakkara had a brace of well-timed fours off Rubel, but otherwise they found runs extremely hard to come by. They had stitched together 42 at about three an over when Mubarak was run out attempting a suicidal single.Sangakkara, though, showed exemplary patience, going on to make his slowest half-century and did not panic despite the huge task ahead of him. He found an able ally in the recalled Farveez Maharoof, who played a knock which was a curious mixture of caution and aggression – when he was on 17 off 34 balls, he had two sixes and 27 dot-balls. They had taken the score to 114 for 6, and it appeared that Sangakkara would steer them home when Shakib struck. The crowd found its voice again.They were soon silenced when Sri Lanka’s gamble of delaying the batting Powerplay for the last five overs then paid off spectacularly. Murali, with a batting average of 6.01 coming into this game, picked the perfect time to make his highest ODI score, and took apart Rubel, who was playing only his second ODI. Three fours and a six in the 46th over gave Sri Lanka the edge, and Ashraful’s decision to persist with Rubel backfired as Murali clouted another four and a six to level the scores with two overs to spare.An exciting end it was, but it seemed highly unlikely when Bangladesh’s batsmen stonewalled their way to a paltry total. Fog had curtailed the final league game of the series to a 31-over-a-game affair, and has blighted much of Sri Lanka’s tour, but it mercifully allowed an on-time start today.An all-too-familiar top-order collapse was induced on a pitch with a tinge of green by medium-pacer Kulasekara, who got the ball to move in both directions. The conditions were helpful initially but Sri Lanka’s task was made easier by Bangladesh’s batsmen. Tamim Iqbal ill-advised across-the-line swipe resulted in an edge to the keeper, and Shakib’s loose waft gave Sangakkara his fourth catch of the innings.Bangladesh were 54 for 5 in the 19th over, with their key batsmen all dismissed, and in danger of being bowled out well within their quota of overs. Raqibul and Mahmudullah, however, engineered a revival with a measured partnership. Both were keen to get on the front foot and smother the spin but there was little inclination to step on the accelerator. Their partnership raised 44 in nearly 14 overs and after Mahmudullah was bowled by Murali, Raqibul and Naeem Islam continued in the same vein.At 149 for 6 and with three overs to go, Bangladesh were at least primed for a final onslaught with two set batsmen. However, Ajantha Mendis, who had been wicketless till then, scalped three as the last four went down for one run, giving Bangladesh 152 to defend.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

A sixth-wicket partnership of 74 between a restrained Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan ensured Bangladesh won the final session and took an improbable chase of 521 into the fifth day in Mirpur. Sri Lanka are still favourites to win the Test, though – Bangladesh need another 267 with only five wickets in hand.The biggest gain for Bangladesh was the composed half-century by captain Ashraful, who shed his usual reckless style for a more sedate approach after the rash dismissals of Tamim Iqbal and Mehrab Hossain jnr.There was a distinct change in Ashraful’s body language at the crease. He was far more relaxed in his movements, studied the field thoroughly before facing up to the spinners, cut out the lofted strokes and played each ball on merit. His driving through the off side was impeccable – especially against Muttiah Muralitharan, who persisted by bowling full outside the off stump.Sri Lanka were clearly trying to lure Ashraful into playing an uppish drive through cover, which led to his dismissal in the first innings. Perhaps conscious of that, Ashraful drove firmly along the turf and peppered the cover and extra-cover region with nine boundaries off the spinners, mostly Muralitharan. One such shot, through extra cover, brought up his half-century – his first in 19 innings – and his muted celebrations indicated he knew his job was far from over. His only false shot was a wild slash off a wide Chaminda Vaas delivery – he showed his dismay at the lapse in concentration, walking away from the middle and shaking his head – and his application was reminiscent of his unbeaten 129 against the same opposition at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium last year.His partner, Shakib, one of Bangladesh’s more reliable players down the order, also cut down on the risky shots, save for a scoop off Rangana Herath that just cleared mid-off. He tried to get on top of the bowlers in the first innings but this time focused on playing for the team – and more so for his captain, who delighted the fans with his sparkling front-foot drives.As Bangladesh steadily progressed from 200 to 250 off 95 balls, Mahela Jayawardene brought on his quicker bowlers, Vaas and Dammika Prasad, but they weren’t effective enough with the old ball.Ashraful and Shakib gave the home fans the fightback they’d been craving after Bangladesh tamely conceded the first two sessions. Sri Lanka’s declaration in the morning session was on the cards after Jayawardene worked his way to his ninth 150-plus score in Tests. Tillakaratne Dilshan helped himself to 47, dominating the spinners, before Jayawardene declared.Bangladesh’s target was formidable – 521 runs and, more importantly, the better part of two days to bat out – and the top order made starts but failed to build on them as the Sri Lankans kept nibbling away. Imrul Kayes got the chase off the blocks with some scorching drives straight down the ground and the off side before falling victim to a direct hit by Dilshan at the stroke of lunch.Dammika Prasad ran in hard and peppered the left-handers, Junaid Siddique and Tamim Iqbal, with short balls that kept them from playing too aggressively. Tamim played one of the best shots of the day, whipping a half-volley on the pads off Prasad and placed it precisely in the gap between two fielders on the on side. However, a lapse in concentration saw him gloving a Prasad bouncer down the leg side while trying to hook. Another promising innings came to an end, and Tamim trudged back on 47 with a look of dejection.Raqibul Hasan showed the patience to defend and hold one end up. He eased into his rhythm with a front-foot punch past Prasad and picked Herath for boundaries, again off the front foot, through midwicket. He had made a sound start before being squared up by a Muralitharan doosra that clipped the off stump. Mehrab supported his captain for a while before succumbing to a rush of blood, scooping a catch to mid-off against Muralitharan.That was to be Sri Lanka’s last success for the day as Shakib and Ashraful held firm. Theirs may not be a match-winning stand but it did restore some respectability and gave the team a shot at going past Bangladesh’s highest fourth-innings total, 285 for 5 against Zimbabwe in 2005.

With the England team in Chennai for the first Test, ECB officials – including Reg Dickason, the security advisor – have carried out preliminary meetings in Mohali over the viability of staging the second Test there from December 19-23.A decision on the Test is not expected before Wednesday, when the officials will be joined by Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, and England players’ union chief Sean Morris, but officials of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) are confident the clearance remains a formality.Dickason arrived in Mohali around mid-day and held separate talks with PCB officials and senior police officers. “It was a preliminary meeting to review the security arrangements,” Dickason said. “A detailed meeting will be held tomorrow.”IS Bindra, the PCA president, said a final decision would be taken on Wednesday once Dickason inspects the ground and holds further meetings with the ground and security personnel, among others. “Once they give the final nod we will start selling tickets,” Bindra said. The PCA, he said, was confident of fulfilling Dickason’s security requirements and would provide “foolproof security for the match.”Bindra rubbished reports that England were unhappy with Mohali, especially its proximity to Pakistan and lack of an international airport. “It was the ECB who were keen to play at Mohali,” he said. “The PCA was a bit hesitant initially since the season was over and laying a new wicket was also not easy. Despite the short notice we have done the needful so that the match can be conducted smoothly.”The BCCI has ruled out, at least for the moment, the possibility of shifting the Test from Mohali. Mohali was picked as the venue for the Test instead of Mumbai, the original venue. “Mohali was always officially the venue for the second Test as far as the BCCI was concerned and that stands,” Ratnakar Shetty, BCCI chief administrative officer, told Cricinfo.

Scorecard