MANCHESTER, England, 18 June 2003 — Pakistan handed a new-look England side a harsh lesson as they restricted the home side to 204 for nine off 50 overs in their first One-Day International yesterday.

The home side made a bright start but leaked wickets regularly, Shoaib Malik taking three for 26 with his off spin and Mohammad Sami hurrying all the batsmen with his searing pace, as they slumped from 106 for three.

Vikram Solanki, back after a three-year international exile, scored an attractive if risky 36 as 50 came off the first eight overs as England opted to bat in the Old Trafford day-nighter.

But the key dismissals were those of the team’s most seasoned batsmen, Marcus Trescothick (18), new skipper Michael Vaughan (27) and Andrew Flintoff (39) all making starts but failing to push on.

England looked well placed before Vaughan, having faced 34 deliveries, looked to run the ball to third man and edged seamer Umar Gul tamely behind.

The innings was then strangled by some fine bowling and by some canny captaincy from Rashid Latif as 26 runs came off 10 overs in mid- innings.

Flintoff, batting at five and dropped twice, threatened with a swept boundary off Malik’s spin before rifling an Abdul Razzaq delivery back past the bowler.

But he then needlessly pulled the same bowler straight to deep square leg.

Four wickets fell for 17 as Pakistan, themselves with a new-looking team but with much more experience in their ranks, took complete control. All-rounder Rikki Clarke was bowled for a second-ball duck on his debut, naively exposing his stumps by sweeping at Malik while wicketkeeper Chris Read holed out with another sweep.

Batsman James Troughton only managed six but Anthony McGrath, the third one-day debutant, played sensibly for a back-to-the-wall 33.

Wasim’s Swan Song Appearance

Against South Africa

In Karachi, Pakistan’s former captain Wasim Akram has agreed to come out of retirement for a final appearance this year in the home series against South Africa.

The 36-year-old, who announced his retirement from international cricket last month, told the Pakistan cricket board (PCB) that he would be happy to make one final appearance for Pakistan later this year.

“We want Wasim to play one match this season so that we can give him a fitting farewell for his outstanding contribution to Pakistan cricket,” a PCB official told Reuters yesterday.

“He has conveyed to us he would be happy to play in one match which is yet to be decided, but would probably be against South Africa,” general manager cricket operations Zakir Khan said.

India and Pakistan to Meet in

Junior One-Day Tournament

Pakistan and India will attempt to break the ice in their cricket relations by playing in an annual triangular one-day tournament at junior level.

The decision to take part in junior tournaments from February 2004 was taken at a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in London.

“These competitions should help India and Pakistan to break the ice and resume cricket against each other on a more regular basis,” Pakistan cricket board (PCB) chairman Tauqir Zia said in a statement issued to Reuters.