Pakistan Get Off To Tentative Start In First Test

Pakistan negotiated a tricky half-hour spell to reach stumps on 27 without loss after a five wicket haul by rookie paceman Junaid Khan restricted Sri Lanka to 197 in the first test of the three test match series.
Khan, buoyed by his maiden haul said that he wanted to fill the void left in Pakistan’s pace attack by the absence of his close friend and one-time bowling partner Mohammad Aamer.
The 21-year-old took a maiden five-wicket haul to help Pakistan dismiss Sri Lanka for a low score of 197 on the opening day of the first Test at Abu Dhabi stadium.
“I will do my best to fill the void and do as well as my team needs,” said Khan, whose 5-38 rocked the formidable Sri Lankan batting. “I am delighted with my effort but all the bowlers did well as no one man can get a team out.”
Khan hails from Abbottabad in North-Western Pakistan, a town where Osama Bin Laden was killed by American Special Forces in May this year, played most of his cricket with Aamer.
The duo, both left-arm pacemen, toured various countries with Pakistan junior teams between 2005 and 2009 before the more talented Aamer was picked for Pakistan’s seniors.
Khan said the pitch at Abu Dhabi stadium was responsive.
“There was a little bit of seam early but otherwise, I used the yorker and mixed the bowling up and it’s pleasing to get them out for a low score,” said Khan, who hoped Pakistan put up 300-350 for a winning lead.
Khan got just one wicket on his debut Test, against Zimbabwe last month.
Khan said legendary Pakistan pacemen Imran Khan and Wasim Akram were his idols but he developed into a good bowler only under Waqar Younis’s coaching.
“I am quite lucky that way. During the World Cup (2011), there was Aaqib Javed and Waqar and alongside them Wasim also gave tips when he came on how to bowl. I started playing cricket only after watching Imran.
“When I went to Lancashire, Wasim used to call me and tell me how to bowl, how to use the conditions,” said Khan. “That stint was very helpful. I learnt there how to seam, how to swing the ball, how to bowl a yorker.”
Earlier Pakistan dismissed Sri Lanka for 197 on the opening day of the first Test at Abu Dhabi stadium here on Tuesday.
Sent into bat, Sri Lanka lost six wickets in the second session before Angelo Mathews chipped in with a fighting 52 not out.
Khan finished with 5-38.
Pakistan surprisingly left out experienced left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz and included rookie Junaid Khan, also a left-armer.
Sri Lanka also kept the same combination, giving 24-year-old paceman Nuwan Pradeep the Test cap, and entering the match with only one specialist spinner in Rangana Herath.
Sri Lankan openers were cautious at the beginning as their first boundary came only in the 14th over when the left-hander Paranavitana drove Hafeez to the cover boundary.
Misbah brought on spinner Hafeez in the eighth over, and he came close to trapping Thirimanne in his first over. But a loud appeal for leg-before was turned down by New Zealand umpire Tony Hill.
Former Sri Lankan captain Sangakkara brought up the fifty with a single, as Pakistan’s pacemen toiled hard under a scorching sun.
The three Test series was shifted to United Arab Emirates after Sri Lanka refused an invitation to tour Pakistan in the wake of terrorists attacks on a military base in Karachi in May this year.
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Junaid Khan.
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews, Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Prasanna Jayawardene, Rangana Herath, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep.

Junaid Khan Puts Pakistan On Top

Left-arm fast-bowler Junaid Khan starred with a maiden five-wicket haul to help Pakistan bundle Sri Lanka out for a mere 197 on the first day of the opening Test.
T
he 21-year-old, playing in only his second Test, took five for 38 and was ably supported by pace partner Umar Gul (two for 37) and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (two for 56) after Pakistan put Sri Lanka into bat on a greenish Abu Dhabi stadium pitch. Pakistan finished the day at 27 for no loss, with Mohammad Hafeez on 17 and Taufiq Umar unbeaten on eight.

Sri Lanka, who were confidently placed at 51 for one at lunch, could never recover from the loss of six wickets for 65 runs between lunch and tea, as Khan produced a burst of three wickets in five deliveries.

Vice-captain Angelo Mathews cracked four boundaries and a six in a fighting unbeaten 52 to avoid total disaster, putting up the innings’ highest partnership of 54 with Suranga Lakmal, after Sri Lanka were tottering at 114 for seven.

Fast-bowler Aizaz Cheema (one for 51) had opened the gates by dismissing former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara (two) in the second over after lunch, forcing an edge off the left-hander which was smartly taken by wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal.

Opener Tharanga Paranavitana then gloved a short-pitched delivery off Gul to Akmal to leave the Islanders struggling at 79 for three. Skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan added 33 with Paranavitana before Sri Lanka lost the way. Dilshan was unlucky to be given out, caught behind off Ajmal, when replays showed he clearly missed the ball.

Khan then ripped through the middle-order, dismissing Mahela Jayawardene (28), Prasanna Jayawardene (nought) and Rangana Herath (nought). He then returned for his third spell to take the last two wickets, getting Chanaka Welegedara (11) and debutant Nuwan Pradeep (one) to wrap up the innings.

Earlier, in the first session, Sri Lanka openers were cautious, as Misbah brought on Hafeez in the eighth over. But it was Ajmal who gave the breakthrough dismissing opener Lahiru Thirimanne for 20 before lunch.

Khan elated
The young fast-bowler was delighted at his performance.
“The ball was seaming and I’m happy that I played my part well, but all bowlers did bowl perfectly as you can’t get the whole team out with one man’s effort,” he said.

Mathews said getting out for a low score was disappointing.
“It was disappointing because the pitch was good for batting,” said Mathews. “Still, four days are left in this match so I’m sure we’ll stage a comeback.”

Boom Boom Afridi Is Now Available For Pakistan Team

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has reversed his decision to retire from international cricket and has made himself available to play in limited-overs matches for the national team.
The all-rounder’s decision follows Ijaz Butt’s exit as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman after he completed his tenure on October 8. Afridi said he was fit and ready to join the team again.
Afridi had announced conditional retirement from international cricket nearly five months back after the tour of West Indies where he developed differences with former coach Waqar Younis on the selection of the playing-eleven during the tour. After speaking of his reservations publicly he was issued a show-cause notice by the PCB and was subsequently removed from captaincy.

In protest, the all-rounder announced that he would not play under a PCB set-up that was led by Butt. The board then revoked all his NOCs to play in foreign leagues, a decision challenged by Afridi in court. The PCB later gave him permission to play after an out-of-court settlement.
Now with Butt’s exit and Younis having resigned as coach, the all-rounder has announced his comeback. “I’m available to play for Pakistan,” Afridi told reporters. “I never retired. I only said I wouldn’t play under the previous PCB management. I wasn’t comfortable with them because they didn’t respect players.
“But as the board now has a new chairman and there’s a different team management, it is time to come back.”

Afridi who has not played international cricket since May said he was fit enough to play for the team.
“I’m fit and can play for Pakistan for a few more years,” he said. “I never ran after the captaincy. I just want to represent my country and can play under anyone.”

Decision hailed
Meanwhile, former cricketers have welcomed Afridi’s decision to withdraw his retirement.
“It’s a pleasant development,” former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir told The Express Tribune. “Afridi is an asset. The board should utilise him and put any previous misunderstandings behind them.”
Former captain Wasim Akram said Afridi must now enjoy the cricket left in him.
“Afridi can play for Pakistan for a few more years,” he said. “He should help youngsters with his experience.”

Another former captain Moin Khan while terming his retirement decision as an ‘emotional’ one, said Afridi is a star cricketer and the team needed him.

‘Selection not guaranteed’
The all-rounder, who has made himself available prior to the ODI series against Sri Lanka, will not be an automatic choice, according to acting chief selector Mohammad Ilyas, with whom he has not enjoyed good relations in the past.
“He’s a very good cricketer,” said Ilyas. “But we’ll need a clean chit from the PCB before considering him. His selection can’t be confirmed right now.”

Salman Butt Accused Of Pressurising Asif To - Run Faster -

The tenth day of the spot-fixing trial saw banned fast-bowler Mohammad Asif’s lawyer accuse the player’s former captain Salman Butt of ‘pressurising him’ to ‘run faster’ before he bowled his allegedly pre-determined no-ball at the Lord’s Test last year.

Butt and Asif are facing charges of conspiracy to cheat, and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, when they allegedly conspired with agent Mazhar Majeed, and fast-bowler Mohammad Amir, to bowl pre-planned no-balls. Butt and Asif deny the charges.

The court was played the over in question bowled by Asif in which he delivered the no-ball, after which Asif’s lawyer Alexander Milne pointedly said to Butt: “You had been talking to Asif through this over and pressurising him.”

The court had previously heard Asif say in a police transcript from an interview a year ago that he is “never pressured by anyone” but on that occasion he was referring to the notion that he was being put under pressure to fix, not to run faster.

However, Butt denied the suggestion.
“I’m not there to pressure him, just to encourage,” replied Butt.
But Milne responded: “Before Asif bowled his no-ball, you said to him, ‘run faster, you are running too slow’.”
Again, Butt denied that such a conversation had taken place.
“If you have played cricket you would know that these things are never said. It’s no term. There’s no suggestion in cricket as ‘run faster’.
He’s not running the 100 metres, he’s bowling. Asif has never been about pace, he is a rhythm bowler.”
‘I misjudged completely’

Earlier, Butt said that he “misjudged” his former agent Mazhar Majeed, and admitted to ‘suspicions’ about Amir and Asif after the no-ball scandal was revealed.
“I didn’t realise what kind of man he was,” Butt told the court. “But now with the things that have come out I think I have misjudged somebody completely. I just took his word and trusted him. I knew him for a long time and never thought there would be another side to him that would be this bad.”

Salman Butt Denies Knowledge Of No-Balls Plan

Banned Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt denied that he knew about the discussion between agent Mazhar Majeed and an undercover News of the World journalist related to pre-determined no-balls at the Lord’s Test last year.

According to a report published on Cricinfo, Butt told this to a jury at the alleged spot-fixing trial on Tuesday.

According to the Cricinfo report, Butt’s lawyer Ali Bajwa QC questioned him about the game and the coincidence of three no-balls being delivered at exactly the time predicted by Majeed to the undercover journalist.

Bajwa asked Butt if he knew about the conversation, to which he replied “Not at all,” Cricinfo report quotes.

According to the report, Bajwa continually asked questions to Butt while the court was again shown video of the no-balls bowled by Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif.
Bajwa asked Butt about why he was fielding at mid-off during the match to which he replied that it is the place where “most captains field.”

Boom Boom Shahid Khan Afridi Gallery

Boom Boom Shahid Afridi

Shahid Khan Afridi

Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi was born on 1st March 1980 to a Pashto family in Khyber Agency in FATA, Pakistan. His father name is Fazal-ur-Rehman while nothing much is known about his mother. He has 4 sisters and 6 brothers as siblings.He is married to Nadia and has 2 daughters Aqsa and Ansha.

Shahid Afridi

Pakistani Captain Shahid Afridi

Afridi Picture

Shahid Afridi is an all-rounder from Pakistan cricket team who bats right handed and bowls right arm leg spin. He is popularly known as Boom Boom Afridi due to his power hitting abilities.

Shahid Khan Afridi

Pakistani Cricket Star Afridi

Cricket Hero Afridi

Shahid Afridi made his international debut at the age of 16 years and 217 days against Kenya on October 2, 1996. He was not successful in that match, but in his next match against a quality side Sri Lanka he made history by scoring the fastest ODI century off just 37 balls which is still a record. He stroked 11 sixes and 6 fours and became the youngest player to score an ODI century.

Boom Boom Shahid Khan Afridi

Shahid Khan Afridi Pakistani Captain

Afridi Former Captain

He made his Test debut against Australia on October 22, 1998 and scored only 10 and 6 in 2 innings but took 5 wickets in the first innings. He made his first Test century (141) playing only his second test against India and took 3 wickets.

Shahid Afridi Man Of The Match

Shahid Afridi Practice

Shahid Afridi Photo

He again struck a quick fire century off just 45 balls against India and equaled the joint record of second fastest ODI century with Brian Lara.

Peoples Champ Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi Practice - Image

Shahid Khan Afridi Wallpaper

Afridi came in to the scene as an aggressive batsman but soon found his rhythm in bowling first as a fast bowler before converting to spin. Seeing his hard hitting abilities and wicket taking capabilities earned him the tag of best all rounder in the world.

Afridi Pakistani Cricket Star

Shahid Afridi Peoples Champ

Shahid Afridi - Photo

Shahid Afridi Sad Picture

He led his side as captain in 34 ODI with 18 wins and 15 losses. He retired from cricket soon after the West Indies tour in 2011 after the World Cup.

Shoaib Akhtar - Controversially Yours

Former Pakistani cricket player Shoaib Akhtar lived up to his notorious title of being “controversy’s favourite child” with the launch of his autobiography in India.In a book titled “Controversially Yours”, Akhtar hits out at prominent names in the world of cricket and Bollywood, and hints at instances where he has indulged in ball tampering, Indian media reported.‘Shahrukh, Modi cheated me, Akram created hurdles’

In his book, Akhtar leveled accusations against Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan and India’s former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.In a report published in IBN LIVE, Akhtar is referred to as the “problem child of Pakistani cricket”. The report adds that in his book, Akhtar blames Modi and Khan from preventing his inclusion in the now defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Amongst these sensational claims, Akhtar claimed that former cricketer Wasim Akram tried to destroy his career by creating hurdles to impede his success.

‘Tendulkar and Dravid are not match winners’
A report in the Hindustan Times stated that in his book, Akhtar boasts that Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar was scared of facing him on the field.“Sachin and Dravid are not match winners to start with,” Akhtar reportedly says in his book.“This is the truth. Why must anyone fear speaking it?” Akhtar told a newspaper ahead of his book’s release, Hindustan Times reported.



The report suggests that Akhtar’s allegations will “sting like Akhtar’s deliveries”, implying that they will not be received well.

Ball tampering
In an exclusive interview with an Indian news channel Times Now, Akhtar confessed to have tampered with the the ball and argued that the practice should be legalised.

In a triangular series in 2003 held in Sri Lanka, Akhtar was caught tampering with the cricket ball, making him the second player in cricket to be banned on ball tampering charges. The same year he was banned for one Test match and two One Day International matches for abusing South African spin bowler Paul Adams, during a match against South Africa.

Reactions
Sports correspondent for Indian news channel Headlines Today said that although Akhtar is respected in India as a cricketer, his allegations will not be taken seriously.
“It’s being looked at as a publicity stunt to sell the book,” said HT correspondent Shamya Das adding that Akhtar is “controversy’s favourite child”.
“Akhtar is respected, but his allegations will be taken with a pinch of salt.” He added that Akhtar’s statements are “bound to ruffle a few feathers”.

Akhtar’s side
In an interview about his book with the Times of India, Akhtar said:
I hope Pakistan cricket will be understood and respected. I hope people will feel the other side of me and understand why I am the way I am.

Shoaib, who made his international debut in 1997, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests. He ended his career three wickets short of 250 in 163 One-Day Internationals and took 19 wickets in 15 Twenty20s.

Pakistan Whitewash Zimbabwe

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 28 runs at the Harare Sports Club in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) to clinch the series 3-0.The tourists, who managed 270 for five, survived a 110-run opening partnership between Vusi Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha to restrict Zimbabwe to 242 for nine. Aizaz Cheema, who has been the find of the series for Pakistan, finished with four for 43 and was named man of the match. Debutant leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed two wickets as Zimbabwe’s innings derailed after the separation of the openers.Sibanda made 59 and Chibhabha hit 62 but Cheema and company ensured the hosts never built the momentum needed to overhaul Pakistan’s competitive total.
Batsmen set up win

However, the win was set up by the batsmen with former captain Younus Khan making 81 off just 90 deliveries, his second half-century of the series. Younus, surprisingly named the man of the series for his 159 runs in two innings, put on 97 for the third wicket with Asad Shafiq – who was playing his first match of the tour – after the openers had given the team a reasonable start.
Shafiq, who replaced Umar Akmal in the playing-eleven, responded with a knock of 51 — his fifth half-century.

However, the innings met with a disappointing finish with Pakistan failing to launch a final-overs onslaught with captain Misbahul Haq managing 29 off 28 and Adnan Akmal making 24 off 33 deliveries.Misbah ecstaticThe Pakistan skipper was nonetheless pleased with the performance of the team after the tourists also clinched the one-off Test against Zimbabwe.“It was good to see the new boys performing,” said Misbah as he praised the performance of Cheema and Shah. “The main idea was to give chance to the youngsters and win the series.
“We were around 25 to 30 runs short but they bowled well in the last few overs,” added the captain while hinting at a few changes for the upcoming Twenty20s.

Meanwhile, Younus admitted Zimbabwe had been a tough opposition to beat. “We had a tough series and I believe that Zimbabwe will have a good team in the future.“Before the series, the seniors sat together and hoped to deliver and show the way for the youngsters and I’m happy we could do that.”
Cheema, 32, who made his international debut in the one-off Test earlier and has been tipped as a success story already, was happy with his performance which saw him be the leading wicket-taker of the series.
“All the hard work I’ve done in the last 10 years has borne fruit. The coach, captain and team have stood by me and I’m thankful. I just tried to hit the right lengths and it worked.”

Aleem Dar Named Best Umpire For The Third Consecutive Year

Aleem Dar

Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar has won the David Shepherd trophy for the Umpire of the Year for the third consecutive year at the ICC Awards ceremony in London. He beat competition from Steve Davis, Ian Gould and five-time winner Simon Taufel.

Aleem Dar Best Umpire Of The Year

Dar, 43, officiated in five Tests and 13 ODIs during the voting period - August 11, 2010 to August 3, 2011 - including the World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka.

Widely regarded for his umpiring standards, Dar was voted to the award by the 10 Full Member captains as well as the eight-man elite panel of match referees.



"It's a great honour and I'm thankful to everyone at the ICC and also my colleagues on the Elite Panel of ICC umpires along with the Pakistan Cricket Board," Dar said. "I'd like to also thank all my family for all their support since I'm away nearly eight months of the year umpiring."

Pakistan Vs Zimbabwe - An uplifting Victory

PakistanI players hold up the Coca-cola trophy after winning the once off test match on the fifth day of the test match between Zimbabwe and Pakistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on September 5, 2011.

Pakistani senior player Younus Khan (L) is congratulated by Raymond Price of Zimbabwe on winning the test match on the fifth day of the test match between Zimbabwe and Pakistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on September 5, 2011.

PakistanI captain Misbah Ul Haq lifts the Coca-cola trophy after winning the once off test match on the fifth day of the test match between Zimbabwe and Pakistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on September 5, 2011.

PakistanI captain Misbah Ul Haq (L) and senior player Younus Khan lift the Cocal-cola trophy after winning the once off test match on the fifth day of the test match between Zimbabwe and Pakistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on September 5, 2011.

Dedication Swung Things His Way

Aizaz Cheema, Pakistan’s latest Test seamer, took cue from his predecessors, sending in toe-crushing yorkers to dismantle Zimbabwe’s march towards the magic 500-mark.He credited English club cricket for instilling in him the killer instinct needed to play international cricket.

“As an overseas player you are the only professional in an English club side and the pressure is on you alone,” said Cheema following his eight-wicket haul that earned him applause aplenty. “So, I learnt how to have that much-needed match-winning ability and also how to bowl a lot of yorkers, even with the new ball.”
Injury finally paves way His blitz on the second day, taking four wickets in the first-innings, was a determined effort from a man who was desperate to prove himself after numerous disappointments in his career, stemming from his near career-ending foot injury in 2005.

Cheema was named in the squad for the World Cup and the tour of the West Indies that followed. He missed both through injury. But after finally getting a chance to earn the national colours, he wanted to make the most of it and with five wickets left to get against Zimbabwe, he asked captain Misbahul Haq to let him have a bowl.

Although he had struggled on his opening day in Test cricket, on a flat and unresponsive track, Cheema believed he could show improvement with the older ball and displayed the right attitude when using it. He bowled with excellent variation – a selection of good yorkers, a liberal sprinkling of bouncers and extracted some reverse swing. His reward was four wickets.
Respecting the opposition

Cheema, unlike some others, showed a real sense of respect for the opposition and understood the privilege of playing for his country. He didn’t take Zimbabwe for granted and instead used the match to show how much he has developed over the last few years, irrespective of his opposition.

Even in Zimbabwe’s second-innings, with the hosts effectively 15 for eight at one stage, Cheema bowled with passion, embodied in his accuracy and nagging line just outside the off stump and he was rewarded with the last two wickets on the final morning.“Tatenda Taibu, especially, gave me a bit of headache. He was playing well on the off side, taking the ball from middle to off and I had to think carefully how to bowl to him,” he said, going on to give the veteran wicket-keeper high praise by comparing him to a local sensation.
“It was a bit like at home against Umar Akmal. Whenever I bowl to him I find it a bit difficult to stop the runs.”
Waqar’s resignation unfortunate for Cheema It is unfortunate that the tour will be Cheema’s first and last under Waqar Younis’ watch, because he could well blossom under the influence of one of one the game’s great fast-bowlers. Even without his influence, Waqar has tipped Cheema, over the other two quicks who played in the Test, to have a ‘bright future’ in international cricket.With bowlers like Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz eager to return to the playing-eleven, Cheema understands that his spot is far from guaranteed and that he will have to work hard.

Mohammad Amir Warned But Escapes Further Punishment For Flouting Ban

Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Amir has escaped further punishment for flouting his five-year ban by playing for an English amateur side in a league match in June.

Amir has been cautioned by the International Cricket Council and warned over his future conduct.
“Mohammad Amir has been warned and has been provided with further clarification as to the terms of his suspension,” an ICC spokesman said.The 19-year-old played for Surrey Cricket League Division One team Addington, prompting the ICC to launch an inquiry.

Amir was banned for a minimum of five years along with team mates Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt by an ICC tribunal in February for bowling deliberate no balls during a test match in England last year.The case is currently going through the criminal courts.

The Premiere League Returns

Stoke City's Danny Pugh (R) challenges Chelsea's Yossi Benayoun (L) during their English Premier League soccer match at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke, central England August 14, 2011.

Chelsea's Fernando Torres (R) challenges Stoke City's Robert Huth (C), as Jonathan Woodgate (L) watches, during their English Premier League soccer match at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke, central England August 14, 2011.

Liverpool's Stewart Downing (R) challenges Sunderland's Lee Cattermole during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, August 13, 2011.

Sunderland's Sebastian Larsson celebrates after scoring during their English Premier League soccer match against Liverpool at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, August 13, 2011.

Newcastle United's Joey Barton (top) challenges Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs during their English Premier League soccer match in Newcastle, northern England August 13, 2011.

Arsenal's Gervinho (L) scuffles with Newcastle United's Joey Barton resulting in his sending off during their English Premier League soccer match in Newcastle, northern England August 13, 2011.

Arsenal's Ivorian striker Gervinho (2nd L) receives a red card from referee Peter Walton (3rd L) after an altercation with Newcastle United's English midfielder Joey Barton (not pictured) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James' Park in Newcastle, north-east England on August 13, 2011.

Bolton Wanderers' Gary Cahill (C) is mobbed by team mates as he celebrates after scoring against Queens Park Rangers during their English Premier League soccer match at Loftus Road in London August 13, 2011.

Queens Park Rangers' Danny Gabbidon (3rd L) looks up at team mate Clint Hill (L) after scoring an own goal as Bolton Wanderers' Kevin Davies (2nd R) celebrates during their English Premier League soccer match at Loftus Road in London August 13, 2011.

Bolton Wanderers' Ivan Klasnic (R) celebrates with team mates Martin Petrov (C) and Paul Robinson after scoring against Queens Park Rangers during their English Premier League soccer match at Loftus Road in London August 13, 2011.