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Pakistan’s magical off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has claimed the second position in ICC Test ranking of bowlers. Australia skipper Michael Clarke has taken over Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara as No.1 Test batsman.

South Africa pacer Vernon Philander’s ordinary performance in the ongoing Test series in Australia became the reason of the elevation of Saeed Ajmal, who is the currently the top-ranked ODI and T20 bowler.

Philander arrived in Australia as No.2 Test bowler but failed to claim a single wicket in the drawn first Test in Brisbane. He missed the second Test in Adelaide due to back strain.

Though both Saeed Ajmal and Philander have equal 132 rating points but the former was ahead with a few frictional points. No other Pakistani bowler has been included in top-ten. South Africa’s Dale Styen is still present at the summit with 858 rating points.

Clarke retrieved his No.1 Test ranking after his record breaking 230 in the second Test against South Africa in Adelaide. It was Clarke’s fourth double hundred of the year, a feat which has been recorded for the first time.

Clarke, who had started the year in 20th position, moved past Sangakkara and South African duo Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis to claim the top-spot with 890 points.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who slammed a double century and unbeaten 150 in the recently-concluded Test series in Bangladesh, has moved up to third place after rising two places.

England’s Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen have clinched the 6^th and 7^th positions respectively after slamming centuries in England’s series-leveling 10-wicket victory over India in second Test in Mumbai.

NEW DEHLI: Cricketing ties between Pakistan and India have resumed as Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has announced that Pakistan team will tour India in December this year to play three one-day internationals (ODIs), Geo News reported.

According to Indian media, the BCCI has agreed in principle to invite the Pakistan cricket team. The bilateral series will be the first after five years severed after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

The report about the series comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) put forward three proposals to their Indian counterparts in a bid to resume bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan.

The PCB proposed that either India could tour Pakistan or play them in a neutral venue. The third proposal was PCB hosting their home series in India.

The process received the boost this month when the foreign secretaries of the two countries decided to promote the sporting contacts. The joint statement issued after the two-day talks stated: "The Foreign Secretaries also emphasized the need to promote media and sports contacts".

Also, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf had several meetings with BCCI President N Srinivasan.

The BCCI has also invited Pakistan's national T20 champion Sialkot Stallions to participate in the Qualifying Tournament of Champions League Twenty20 to be held in South Africa later this year.

While commenting on the development Zaka Ashraf said that the two boards and governments were working hard to normalise the situation and now the ties between the two countries are much better than before.

RAWALPINDI: Sialkot Stallions crushed Peshawar Panthers by 40 runs to reach the final of the Faysal Bank Super Eight Twenty20 Cup here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

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