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Pakistan survived an early scare to stroll to a 155-run win in their Asia Cup clash with Hong Kong in Karachi on Tuesday.

Nadeem Ahmed tore through the hosts’ upper order, reducing them from from 121 for two to 150 for six, as the minnows threatened an upset in the Group B one-dayer.

But 67 from Younis Khan and a fine eighth-wicket stand of 100 between Fawad Alam and Sohail Tanvir saw Pakistan recover to 288 for nine.

Tanvir, Iftikhar Anjum and Shahid Afridi then claimed two wickets apiece to dismiss Hong Kong to 133 inside 38 overs.

Wasim Akram has dismissed suggestions he is set to join the Pakistan coaching team.

The former Pakistan captain was linked with the role of bowling coach under head coach Geoff Lawson but insists he has not been approached.

“Contrary to reports, I haven’t been approached to become the bowling coach,” he told The Telegraph. “In any case, I don’t have the time.”

Source: Cricket365

Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has been ruled out for the remainder of the Asia Cup because of a rib cartilage injury. He has been advised two weeks rest.

“Gul has been advised complete rest for at least two weeks and this is a big setback for us as he is one of our main bowler’s,” Salahuddin Ahmed, a Pakistan selector, told PTI.

Gul sustained the injury during Pakistan’s group match against India on Thursday. He pulled up in his first over and, despite receiving some treatment, had to leave the field after bowling only 1.2 overs. His departure left Pakistan’s bowling attack severely depleted and India chased down their target of 300 with 47 balls to spare.

Shoaib Malik re-ignited a simmering selectorial tussle when he appeared to blame the selection committee in the aftermath of Pakistan’s emphatic six-wicket loss to India in the Asia Cup. Though he subsequently tried to play down his own comments, little doubt was left that the relationship between Pakistan’s captain and selectors is far from a healthy one.

During an often tense press conference in Karachi, Malik, responding to a journalist’s question on the composition of the team, snapped back, “When captains are given the 11 players, then you ask this question of the selectors.” Reporters immediately latched on to the implication, repeatedly probing Malik about whether there was friction within the management.

India 301 for 4 (Sehwag 119, Raina 84) beat Pakistan 299 for 4 (Malik 125, Younis 59) by six wickets

A mighty performance from India’s batsmen, led by Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina, made easy work of a competitive target of 300 and gave the team two points to take into the next round. The pair tore into Pakistan’s depleted and wayward bowling attack – scoring at more than eight an over during their second-wicket partnership of 198 – as India reached the target with six wickets and 47 balls to spare, their quickest chase while facing a target of 300 or more.