Cricket-England appoint Mushtaq as spin coach

Former Pakistan great Mushtaq Ahmed has been appointed by England as spin-bowling coach, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Thursday.

The 38-year-old, who has enjoyed a long stint in England with Sussex, will work with the test and one-day squads and also assist in the ECB's player development programmes.

One of his main tasks will be to get the most out of Monty Panesar who has taken more than 100 test wickets since he burst on to the scene in 2006 but struggled in the recent series against South Africa.

"It's critical that we nurture and develop the next generation of England spin bowlers using the expertise and knowledge of former players such as Mushtaq," the ECB's managing director Hugh Morris said.

"Spin has been integral to the success of the world's best cricket teams and we are keen to ensure that there is a constant flow of spin-bowling talent into the England set-up."

The ECB said Mushtaq would sever his links with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL) which he had been expected to play in after retiring from first class cricket.

During his career Mushtaq played 52 tests for Pakistan, taking 185 wickets. He also took 161 wickets in his 144 one-day internationals for his country.

In 2003 he took 100 wickets for Sussex to help the county win the championship for the first time, a feat he also achieved in 2006 when Sussex again won the title.

West Indies offer to play Tests with Pakistan

The West Indies have thrown Pakistan a lifeline, offering to play two Tests against the cricket starved team at a neutral venue next month, Pakistan's top cricket official said Thursday.

Pakistan have not played a single Test this year after Australia postponed their full tour in March over security fears in the wake of deadly suicide bombings and other unrest blamed on Islamic militants.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt said the two Tests to be played in Abu Dhabi would be in addition to the three one-day internationals which the two countries have already agreed from November 10-14.

"The West Indies have offered to play two Tests and we hope the proposal materialises and we find some sponsor for the Test matches," Butt, who took over as chairman earlier this month,

"It will give our players an ideal opportunity to play some international cricket after a long layoff," said Butt.

Pakistan's last Test was against India in December last year, and if the West Indies' offer falls through, Pakistan's next Test outing will also be against India in January next year.

Pakistan cricket has been badly hit by security fears, with other foreign teams refusing to tour the troubled country in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on US soil and the subsequent US-led invasion in neighbouring Afghanistan.

An eight-nation Champions Trophy was postponed after South Africa pulled out of the event which had been due to take place in September this year.

The International Cricket Council last week rescheduled the Trophy for September-October next year, but would closely assess security during Pakistan's home series against India early next year.

New Zealand's Oram ruled out for second test v Bangladesh

New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has been ruled out for the second and final test against Bangladesh starting on Saturday in Dhaka.

"He has got a back problem. He has been ruled out for the second test, (and) will fly home on Saturday," team manager Lindsay Crocker told Reuters.

"He will undergo several medical tests at home and only than we will be able the assess the situation."

Crocker said a member of the squad will take Oram's place.

Oram suffered back pain while bowling on Sunday and was rested before Bangladesh were all-out for 242 in the second innings of the first test. New Zealand lead the series 1-0 after their three-wicket win in Chittagong on Tuesday.

Middle order batsman Oram was out for a duck in the first innings and not out for eight in the second. The medium pacer ended 20-14-14-0 in the first innings and 8-2-19-0 in the second. (Reporting by Azad Majumder; Writing by Nizam Ahmed, editing by Alan Baldwin)