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New Zealand seal series with victory in second Sri Lanka Test
New Zealand´s Neil Wagner (Centre L) with team mate BJ Watling (Certer R) celebrate after their series win during day five of the second cricket Test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hagley Park Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand on December 30, 2018. Photo: AFP

WELLINGTON: Trent Boult and Neil Wagner quickly wrapped up Sri Lanka’s second innings on Sunday as New Zealand clinched the series 1-0 with a dominant 423-run victory in the second Test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Boult trapped Dushmantha Chameera in front after only 10 minutes of play on the fifth day, and while the batsman asked for a review third umpire Rod Tucker confirmed the on-field decision two minutes later to bring the match to an end.

With the first match in Wellington ending in a damp draw, Sunday’s victory saw the hosts win a fourth successive Test series for the first time.

“A fantastic achievement,” said New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. “It’s exciting, the four series, even if I wasn’t aware of it.

“But it’s a proud achievement because we are playing in different conditions and having to adjust our games.”
New Zealand´s Trent Boult celebrates taking the wicket to win the test match series against Sri Lanka during day five of the second cricket Test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hagley Park Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand on December 30, 2018. Photo: AFP

The victory was even more impressive given New Zealand had been reduced to 64 for six on the first day, before Tim Southee produced a counter-attacking innings of 68 that pushed their total through to 178.

Southee then blasted the top off Sri Lanka’s reply, reducing them to 21 for three. The performance on the first day earned him man-of-the-match honours.

“It was nice to get some runs,” Southee said. “We needed to post some sort of score and try and hang in there … for as long as we could.

“I guess 170 in the first innings was a good score on that wicket.”

Boult followed up Southee’s cameo with a stunning burst of six wickets in 15 deliveries early on the second day, which swung the game in their favour as they took a 74-run lead.

New Zealand’s batsmen all got starts in their second innings with Tom Latham (176) and Henry Nicholls (162 not out) notching their first centuries on their home ground as Williamson declared at 585 for four.

“A couple of brilliant contributions from those two local boys,” Williamson said of Latham and Nicholls. “We required big runs and …they went and put us in a really strong position.”
New Zealand´s paceman Neil Wagner (C) reacts in pain during day four of the second cricket Test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hagley Park Oval in Christchurch on December 29, 2018. Photo: AFP

Sri Lanka put up a stronger second innings performance as they sought to either grind out an improbable 660 runs for victory, or bat for more than two days to save the game.

Their resistance was broken late on the fourth day.

After they had battled through to 231 for six at stumps the tourists faced the prospect of having their top batsman Angelo Mathews not appearing again after he retired hurt with a hamstring injury.

Boult wasted little time on Sunday in the overcast conditions as he bowled Suranga Lakmal for 18 on the third ball, before Wagner had Dilruwan Perera caught for 22 on the eighth.

Boult then wrapped up the innings at 236 for nine with Mathews unable to bat.

“Disappointed with the way we batted in the first innings but I’m happy with the way we played in the second innings as we fought hard as a team,” said Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal.

“We are a young team, but if we can show the same character as Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews then we should be able to compete.”

India´s captain Virat Kohli (L) shakes hands with Australian captain Tim Paine (R) on the final day of the third Test between Australia and India in Melbourne on December 30, 2018. Photo: AFP

MELBOURNE: Captain Tim Paine admitted Sunday Australia badly needed the banned Steve Smith and David Warner back in the side after more woeful batting in the third Test against India.

Other than tailender Pat Cummins, no Australian passed 50 in the 137-run defeat in Melbourne, exposing their lack of depth, poor discipline and questionable technique.

Paine acknowledged that not having world-class batsmen was hindering their chances of competing with teams like India, ranked number one in the world.

“I think it´s inexperience, it´s pressure, India´s bowling attack is probably as good as most of us have ever played,” he said.

“I think it´s pretty clear that if you take two or three of the best players out of anyone´s line-up around the world, you´re going to struggle a little bit at times and you are going to have inconsistent performances.

“The silver lining is that we do have world-class players that are available soon to come back into this side, and clearly when they do they will make a huge difference.”

Smith and Warner´s year-long suspensions for ball-tampering run out in late March.

Australia were skittled for 151 in their first innings reply to India´s 443 for seven declared. That total was built on the back of Cheteshwar Pujara´s patient 106 and Virat Kohli´s restrained 82.
India´s captain Virat Kohli (L) celebrates the wicket of Australia´s Pat Cummins (R) on the final day of the third Test in Melbourne on December 30, 2018. Photo: AFP

Australian batting coach Graeme Hick said his team needed to look and learn from Pujara and Kohli.

“We spoke about how Kohli went about it (his 82). We knew Pujara, and even Kohli, one of the most explosive batters, got to 20 off 25, 26 balls, then the rest of his innings took whatever it was,” he said.

“For the best player in the world to change his innings and play like that, if you can´t be on the same field as him and watch him and learn from what he is doing, then you are in the wrong space.

“There are certainly things our players can take out of that. It takes a lot of discipline, a lot of patience and, on top of that, you have got to bat with intent.”

Aaron Finch again struggled at the top of the order, with his role as a Test opener under intense scrutiny with growing speculation that he will be axed for the next Test in Sydney this week.

Mitch Marsh also failed again with the bat, and fellow all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne has been added to the squad.

Paine wouldn´t be drawn on what changes might be made.

“I think they´ll be a lot of things on the table in the next day or two and of course I have some thoughts on what I think but I will share them with JL (coach Justin Langer) before I share them here,” he said.

“But I think we have the best group of players available to us at the moment and we´ll pick the best combination of that group that we think will win this last Test.”

CENTURION: South Africa will resume batting at 127-5 on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at SuperSport Park on Thursday.

Pakistan fought back after being bowled out for 181 as bowlers dominated on the opening day of the match.

Duanne Olivier took six for 37 as the hosts subjected Pakistan to an onslaught of aggressive, short-pitched bowling.

But South Africa struggled too in reply, reaching 127-5 at the close, with left-armers Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi both taking two wickets.

Pakistan fight back after Olivier takes six

Teenager Afridi struck with successive deliveries, dismissing Dean Elgar and captain Faf du Plessis as South Africa lost three wickets without scoring a run to sink to 43 for four.

Theunis de Bruyn (29) and Temba Bavuma (38 not out) seemed to be regaining the ascendancy for South Africa as they added 69 for the fifth wicket but De Bruyn was caught behind off Amir late in the day to leave the match evenly poised.

CENTURION: Pakistan face South Africa in the first of the three-match Test series at SuperSport Park in Centurion today.

Pakistan will be looking to bounce back after the setback against New Zealand in the recently concluded Test series in the United Arab Emirates. However, injury troubles plague the men in green with Mohammad Abbas being ruled out of the first Test with a shoulder injury along with spinner Shadab Khan.

In the absence of Abbas and Shadab, the trio of right-arm quick Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and veteran Mohammad Amir will be looking to light up the pitch with their bowling.

For South Africa, Dale Steyn will be at the forefront of the pace battery. Steyn needs just one more wicket to become his country’s leading wicket-taker. He currently shares the record of 421 wickets with former captain Shaun Pollock, who retired in 2008.

Proteas, however, have injury concerns of their own. They will be without Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi, who have been ruled out with injury.
Dale Steyn will be at the forefront of the South African pace battery. Steyn just needs just one more wicket to become his country’s leading wicket-taker. Photo: Cricket South Africa Twitter

The South African pace attack will be headed by Kagiso Rabada alongside Steyn.

The match between South Africa and Pakistan will start at 1pm Pakistan Standard Time.
Squads

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Duanne Olivier, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Dane Paterson

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain, wicketkeeper), Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS), Sundaram Ravi (IND)

TV umpire: Joel Wilson (WIN)

Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

ISLAMABAD:(media92news) An accountability court on Monday sentenced former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to seven years in prison in Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, while acquitting him in the Flagship Investment reference.

Accountability Court II Judge Arshad Malik announced the verdict in the references against the Sharif family, after reserving the decision last week.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had concluded its final arguments in the Flagship reference against Nawaz on Tuesday – the third and last reference against the PML-N leader. The anti-corruption watchdog had wrapped up its arguments in the Al-Azizia reference earlier this month.

On Friday, the court had accepted the request of Nawaz’s counsel to submit additional documents in the Flagship Investment reference and rejected NAB’s reservations.

On December 7, the Supreme Court had directed the accountability court to conclude the cases by December 24, after previously granting it seven extensions to wrap up the references initiated by NAB.

Security on high alert
Security around the Judicial Complex in Islamabad has been tightened ahead of the verdict.

According to Islamabad administration, a thousand police officials and one hundred Rangers have been deployed around the accountability court. All passageways leading to the accountability court have been sealed.
Section 144 has been imposed to maintain law and order in the federal capital.

Only 15 people will be allowed in the courtroom including PML-N leaders and lawyers. Media personnel have been asked to carry an ID with them. Only five reporters have been allowed inside the courtroom.

The trial
The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017.

On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the accountability court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference. Nawaz, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison.

Nawaz and Maryam were released from jail on September 19 after the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences in the Avenfield case.
Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.

The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.

Flagship Investment Limited
The charge against the family is that Hassan Nawaz Sharif, the former premier’s youngest son, set up an investment firm in 2001, with an office registered in the United Kingdom. At the time he was 25-years-old.

Nawaz has never accepted any connection with his son’s business, although the Bureau alleges that his name was listed as chairman of the board, further adding that Hasan was under the guardianship of his father till 1995.

Earlier this month, during a hearing, the NAB stated that Nawaz Sharif even received an amount of 0.78 million AED from the investment firm that he claims to have no stake in.

The accountability court had to determine how and from where did Hasan get the funds to set up the investment firm.

Al-Azizia Steel Mills
Hussain Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister’s elder son, claims that he received a sum of $5.4 million from his grandfather to establish the steel conglomerate in Saudi Arabia. The payment was made by a Qatari royal on the request of the elder Sharif. Thereafter, scrap machinery was transported from their Ahli Steel Mills in Dubai to Jeddah to establish Al-Azizia in 2001.

The JIT constituted to investigate the graft allegations insisted that the real owner of the mills was Nawaz Sharif, and it was being operated by his son on his behalf. Hussain was 29-years-old at the time. The JIT also held that Nawaz Sharif received 97 per cent profit as ‘gifts’ from Hill Metals Establishment, another company established by Hussain Nawaz Sharif in 2005, in Saudi Arabia.

Of the amount, Nawaz Sharif transferred 77 percent to his daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif. (Maryam is not accused in this reference). Here as well, the NAB claims that since Sharif received a large profit from Hussain’s companies, he is the real owner and not his son. However, during the proceedings the NAB could not substantiate its claim through documentary evidences and instead placed the burden of proof on the accused.

Accountability Court II Judge Arshad Malik had reserved the verdicts in Flagship Investment and Al-Azizia references against the Sharif family on Wednesday.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had concluded its final arguments in the Flagship reference against Nawaz on Tuesday – the third and last reference against the PML-N leader. The anti-corruption watchdog had wrapped up its arguments in the Al-Azizia reference earlier this month.

On Friday, the court had accepted the request of Nawaz’s counsel to submit additional documents in the Flagship Investment reference and rejected NAB’s reservations.

On December 7, the Supreme Court had directed the accountability court to conclude the cases by December 24, after previously granting it seven extensions to wrap up the references initiated by NAB.
Security on high alert

Security around the Judicial Complex in Islamabad has been tightened ahead of the verdict.

According to Islamabad administration, a thousand police officials and one hundred Rangers have been deployed around the accountability court. All passageways leading to the accountability court have been sealed.
A thousand police officials and one hundred Rangers have been deployed in the city

Section 144 has been imposed to maintain law and order in the federal capital.

Only 15 people will be allowed in the courtroom including PML-N leaders and lawyers. Media personnel have been asked to carry an ID with them. Only five reporters have been allowed inside the courtroom.
The trial

The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017.

On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the accountability court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference. Nawaz, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison.

Nawaz and Maryam were released from jail on September 19 after the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences in the Avenfield case.

Explainer: What are the corruption references against Nawaz Sharif?

Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.

The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
Flagship Investment Limited

The charge against the family is that Hassan Nawaz Sharif, the former premier’s youngest son, set up an investment firm in 2001, with an office registered in the United Kingdom. At the time he was 25-years-old.

Nawaz has never accepted any connection with his son’s business, although the Bureau alleges that his name was listed as chairman of the board, further adding that Hasan was under the guardianship of his father till 1995.

Earlier this month, during a hearing, the NAB stated that Nawaz Sharif even received an amount of 0.78 million AED from the investment firm that he claims to have no stake in.

The accountability court had to determine how and from where did Hasan get the funds to set up the investment firm.
Al-Azizia Steel Mills

Hussain Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister’s elder son, claims that he received a sum of $5.4 million from his grandfather to establish the steel conglomerate in Saudi Arabia. The payment was made by a Qatari royal on the request of the elder Sharif. Thereafter, scrap machinery was transported from their Ahli Steel Mills in Dubai to Jeddah to establish Al-Azizia in 2001.

The JIT constituted to investigate the graft allegations insisted that the real owner of the mills was Nawaz Sharif, and it was being operated by his son on his behalf. Hussain was 29-years-old at the time. The JIT also held that Nawaz Sharif received 97 per cent profit as ‘gifts’ from Hill Metals Establishment, another company established by Hussain Nawaz Sharif in 2005, in Saudi Arabia.

Of the amount, Nawaz Sharif transferred 77 percent to his daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif. (Maryam is not accused in this reference). Here as well, the NAB claims that since Sharif received a large profit from Hussain’s companies, he is the real owner and not his son. However, during the proceedings the NAB could not substantiate its claim through documentary evidences and instead placed the burden of proof on the accused.

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that he has never misused his authority hence has no fear for the accountability court’s verdict scheduled to be announced today.

The court is set to announce its verdicts in the remaining two corruption references, Flagship Investment and Al-Azizia Steel Mills, against Nawaz.

Accountability Court II Judge Arshad Malik had reserved the verdicts in the references against the Sharif family on Wednesday.

“My conscience is clear. I haven’t done anything which can put me to shame,” Nawaz told party leaders before leaving for the court. “I am hopeful I will get justice. I have served the country with utmost honesty.”

Court to announce verdict in corruption references against Nawaz Sharif

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader said that there is nothing in the case against him and lamented that Pakistan has once again been thrown off track from the road to progress.

“The incumbent government has sabotaged the nation’s progress,” he added.

Sources informed Geo News that the party representatives kept asking Nawaz about a strategy for protest in case he is sentenced today. Nawaz left the decision on the party’s senior leadership.
The trial

The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017.

On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the accountability court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference. Nawaz, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison.

Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.

The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
Flagship Investment Limited

The charge against the family is that Hassan Nawaz Sharif, the former premier’s youngest son, set up an investment firm in 2001, with an office registered in the United Kingdom. At the time he was 25-years-old.

Nawaz has never accepted any connection with his son’s business, although the Bureau alleges that his name was listed as chairman of the board, further adding that Hasan was under the guardianship of his father till 1995.

Earlier this month, during a hearing, the NAB stated that Nawaz Sharif even received an amount of 0.78 million AED from the investment firm that he claims to have no stake in.

The accountability court had to determine how and from where did Hasan get the funds to set up the investment firm.
Al-Azizia Steel Mills

Hussain Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister’s elder son, claims that he received a sum of $5.4 million from his grandfather to establish the steel conglomerate in Saudi Arabia. The payment was made by a Qatari royal on the request of the elder Sharif. Thereafter, scrap machinery was transported from their Ahli Steel Mills in Dubai to Jeddah to establish Al-Azizia in 2001.

The JIT constituted to investigate the graft allegations insisted that the real owner of the mills was Nawaz Sharif, and it was being operated by his son on his behalf. Hussain was 29-years-old at the time. The JIT also held that Nawaz Sharif received 97 per cent profit as ‘gifts’ from Hill Metals Establishment, another company established by Hussain Nawaz Sharif in 2005, in Saudi Arabia.

Of the amount, Nawaz Sharif transferred 77 percent to his daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif. (Maryam is not accused in this reference). Here as well, the NAB claims that since Sharif received a large profit from Hussain’s companies, he is the real owner and not his son. However, during the proceedings the NAB could not substantiate its claim through documentary evidences and instead placed the burden of proof on the accused.

SYDNEY: Disgraced Australian player Cameron Bancroft Saturday said he was a vastly different person to the one caught ball-tampering and revealed he considered walking away from cricket to become a yoga teacher.

The opener received a nine-month ban from the international and domestic game for his part in the scandal in South Africa that rocked the sport, in which he used sandpaper to try to alter the ball.

Then-captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner were suspended for a year.

A day after Smith re-emerged into public life with a press conference in Sydney, Bancroft has also broken his silence a week ahead of his ban running out.

He did so in the form of a long letter addressed to his former self, published in the West Australian newspaper, describing his emotional journey since.

In it, Bancroft describes the major influence Australian coach Justin Langer has had on him, along with West Australian mentor Adam Voges.

He said a crucial moment was Voges asking him to justify why he should be on a pre-season trip to Brisbane by the Western Warriors Sheffield Shield team.

“On your way to present your case to your coach you realise this is the moment when you begin to become OK with the thought of never having cricket as part of your life again,” he wrote in the self-addressed letter.

“Until you are able to acknowledge that you are Cameron Bancroft, the person who plays cricket as a profession, and not Cameron Bancroft the cricketer, you will not be able to move forward.

“This will become a defining moment for you.”
Bancroft was caught on camera with sandpaper on the field in Cape Town during the third Test of Australia’s tour of South Africa. Photo: Sky Sports

Yoga became an important part of his life in exile while dealing with an absence of cricket, to the extent that he considered quitting the game to become of a teacher of the discipline.

“Maybe cricket isn´t for you, you´ll ask yourself … will you return? Yoga will be such a fulfilling experience,” he wrote.

Bancroft ultimately decided to pursue his cricket career and is due to make his comeback in the Big Bash Twenty20 League for the Perth Scorchers on December 30.

“While you do not look that different, on the inside you are a vastly different man to the bloke who made that mistake in South Africa,” he added in the letter.

“You know you cannot say sorry enough, but actually it is time you allow your cricket to be about what you have learnt and use this opportunity to make a great impact.”

ISLAMABAD:(Net News/Media 92 News) Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif met his brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif at the Parliament House on Thursday.

Nawaz entered the Parliament House through the backdoor and even spoke secretly to Shehbaz in the corridor, according to sources.

“During the one-on-one meeting between the Sharif brothers, the accountability court’s verdicts in the remaining two corruption references against Nawaz and other matters were discussed,” sources added.

“The brothers agreed to start a mass contact movement if the verdict is against Nawaz and to remain silent if the court’s decision is in their favour,” the sources further said.

An accountability court on Wednesday reserved verdicts in the remaining two corruption references against former premier Nawaz Sharif.

The court will announce its verdicts in Flagship Investment and Al-Azizia references against the Sharif family on Monday, December 24.

The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017.

On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the accountability court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference. Nawaz, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison.

Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.

The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.

Pakistan play three Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is against South Africa starting on December 26. Photo: File

JOHANNESBURG: Injury fears hover over the Pakistan cricket team as fast bowler Mohammad Abbas and spinner Shadab Khan continue to be in doubt for the first Test against South Africa.

According to sources, Abbas is nursing a shoulder issue while Shadab has a groin injury which could lead to them sitting out the three-day practice match against Cricket South Africa Invitation Xi starting tomorrow.

Opener Fakhar Zaman is also suffering from a knee problem, but he is expected to play the practice match.

The players are currently in Benoni for the practice match. It is the only game for the tourists before the first of three Tests starts in Centurion on December 26.

Pakistan seek batting form in South Africa tour opener

The Tests will be followed by five one-day internationals in which both teams will be looking to settle on combinations ahead of the Cricket World Cup in England and Wales, starting on May 30.

There will also be three T20 internationals — a format in which Pakistan top the international rankings.
Test squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (captain/wicketkeeper), Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Yasir Shah
Fixtures

December 19-21: SA Invitation XI, Benoni

December 26-30: First Test, Centurion

January 3-7: Second Test, Cape Town

January 11-15: Third Test, Johannesburg

January 19: First ODI, Port Elizabeth

January 22: Second ODI, Durban

January 25: Third ODI, Centurion

January 27: Fourth ODI, Johannesburg

January 30: Fifth ODI, Cape Town

February 1: First T20I, Cape Town

February 3: Second T20I, Johannesburg

February 6: Third T20I, Centurion