Tour match, Worcester (day two of two):
Pakistan 112-2 v Worcestershire - match abandoned as a draw
Match scorecard
 Yousuf was left stranded on 40 not out |
Pakistan's warm-up match against Worcestershire was abandoned as a draw after rain prevented any play on day two at New Road. Only 28.1 overs had been possible on day one on Friday, and the weather did not relent on Saturday. After a pitch inspection at 1100 BST the umpires decided to take an early lunch and a 1310 BST start was planned. But another downpour meant the officials were left with no alternative but to abandon proceedings for the day. On Friday, the tourists - seeking to find some form with the bat after disappointing displays in the two Tests against England - won the toss but saw the start delayed until 1430 BST. Azhar Ali was run out for 19 while Yasir Hameed, who last played a Test in 2007 and is pushing for a recall for next week's third Test, made 27. Umar Amin (21) and veteran Mohammad Yousuf (40) then added an unbroken 63 before rain curtailed play at 112-2. Worcestershire were led by vice-captain Daryl Mitchell after skipper Vikram Solanki announced his resignation on Thursday after a 241-run defeat by Glamorgan. It was also announced during the day that chief executive Mark Newton would stand down on 1 October, to be replaced by his deputy, former Worcestershire all-rounder David Leatherdale. Pakistan were also without their regular skipper as Salman Butt was rested - one of six changes made from the side which lost to England in the second Test at Edgbaston.  | 606: DEBATE |
Also rested were opener Imran Farhat, pacemen Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif and wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider - while injured seamer Umar Gul is set to miss the rest of the Test series with a torn hamstring. It meant Pakistan were led out at Worcester by keeper Kamran Akmal, Butt's vice-captain, who was dropped after a shocking performance with the gloves in the first Test at Trent Bridge. Azhar was dropped by David Wheeldon at gully off left-arm seamer Jack Shantry when he had made only 10, before a mix-up found him at the same end as opening partner Hameed. Hameed, 32, had a point to prove as the tour party's reserve batsman after Pakistan's collapses in both Tests, but he edged Chris Russell's third ball to Solanki at first slip. Former skipper Yousuf, recalled to the squad after quitting international cricket in March, had made only two before another rain interruption, but went on to hit eight fours in his 40 not out from 54 balls before the weather prevented any further play. Uncapped seam bowlers Tanvir Ahmed and Wahab Riaz are battling to replace Gul at The Oval - while left-arm spinner Raza Hasan was also in the line-up for only his third first-class game.
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