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Houseful for India-Pakistan cricket match in Jamsehdpur

     Jamshedpur: Thousands of fans turned up for a much- hyped India-Pakistan cricket match in Jamshedpur on Saturday as Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq won the toss and elected to bat in the third one- day international. The visitors, down 2-0 in the six-match series, made two changes from the previous game. Vice-captain Younis Khan, who missed the first two games due to a fever, replaced all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria came in for off-spinner Arshad Khan. Restless fans meanwhile, kept at bay by the heavy police deployment, cheered and shouted slogans outside the stadium to boost their teams. Pakistan's most vocal supporter Abdul Jalim, popularly known as Cricket Uncle, arrived with his fingers crossed, hoping his team would make a comeback. "This is a do or die match for Pakistan. We have already lost two matches and we are definitely hoping that Pakistan stays in the game today," said Jalim, who accompanies Pakistan worldwide on their tours. India has called up paceman Irfan Pathan for injured counterpart Lakshmipathy Balaji, who is suffering from a side strain. Jamshedpur is eagerly awaiting the local lad Mahendra Dhoni who cracked an explosive 148 to fashion India's win in the second one-dayer. Wicket-keeper batsman Dhoni cracked 16 fours and four towering sixes, helping India to their highest-ever total against Pakistan and a 58-run victory. Dhoni, a soccer goalkeeper in school, started his first-class career as a 19-year-old in 2001 but it was not until last year that he became a contender for the national team after a string of swashbuckling innings. India leads the six-game one-day series 2-0, after the drawn three test series.

Gujarat cricket board insures Pak team (Go To Top)

     Ahmedabad: The Gujarat cricket board has insured the visiting Pakistani cricket team for a whopping 40 million rupees for the fourth one-dayer, to be played here on April 12. The match itself has been insured for 30 million rupees. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had expressed security concerns over playing in Ahmedabad, which was rocked by the country's worst communal riots for a decade in 2002. All the players, coach, physio and other team members have been put under the insurance cover. "The Pakistani players and their cricket board have been fully assured that there is no reason of fear and Ahmedabad has made all the arrangements. The Gujarat Cricket Association has insured all the Pakistani players at 10 lakh each. BCCI has insured the Indian players and our state association has insured the Pakistani players," said Narhari Amin, president of Gujarat Cricket Association. The Board of Control for Cricket in India insures the Indian players.

     Meanwhile, security arrangements have been tightened in and around the stadium. Hundreds of policemen and volunteers are in the stadium to prevent any untoward incident. Ticket counters have been opened to the public who could be seen standing in long queues under the scorching heat. India led the six-game series 2-1, after being beaten by Pakistan by 106 runs in the third one-dayer in Jamshedpur today. The fifth match will be played in Kanpur (April 15) and the final in New Delhi on April 17.

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