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Day 3: Wasim captures first Test hat-trick

Wasim Akram yesterday became the first Pakistan bowler to perform a hat-trick in a Test match. The 32-year-old left-arm paceman, playing in his 87th Test, ran through the Sri Lanka tail shortly after lunch on the third day of the Asian Championship Test match here and claimed the last four wickets.

``It's a big honour for me to do it,'' said Wasim. A hat-trick is always a dream of a bowler and I am very pleased that I have done it. I knew I could do it once I got two wickets off successive deliveries. I had the feeling that I could bowl out [Pramodya] Wickremasinghe and when I had his wicket, I was very much delighted.''

Wasim also said it was irrelevant whether one achieved a hat-trick against the batsmen or tail-enders. ``It has no significance. A hat-trick is not something which one often does, so I have no regrets that I have bowled out tail-enders.''

Wasim has 372 wickets in Test cricket. It is the first time that a hat-trick has been recorded against Sri Lanka.

Wasim, in his second over of the day, had century-maker Romesh Kaluwitharana (100) caught by wicketkeeper Moin Khan, then bowled Niroshan Bandarathilake and Wickremasinghe on the next two deliveries. He finished off the islanders' first innings for 328 by claiming the last wicket of Sajeewa de Silva as well.

Pakistan, who hit 398 in their first innings, had stretched their overall lead to 219 runs by the close, progressing to 149 without loss in their second innings when play was halted 18.2 overs early due to fading light.

Michael Kasprowicz snared a hat-trick in Brisbane yesterday as Queensland romped to an innings and 117-run win over Victoria to all but secure a home Sheffield Shield final.

Day 5: Finalists foiled

Nelson Clare in Lahore

The Asian Test Championship match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a draw after bad weather forced an early end to the fifth day's play here yesterday.

Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 385, were 165 for two when rain and bad light brought proceedings to a halt soon after tea.

Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have already qualified for the final of this new series, to be played in Dhaka from March 12-16.

Pakistan captain Wasim Akram achieved a hat-trick in Sri Lanka's first innings, and opener Wajahatullah Wasti hit centuries in each innings.

Aamir Sohail and the Pakistan Cricket Board traded accusations yesterday after the former Test captain was left out of a squad of 19 for the World Cup in May and June.

Sohail and Salim Malik were omitted because of what the Pakistan board described as poor form.

But Sohail, who has accused some team-mates of match-fixing in an ongoing Pakistani judicial inquiry, said he was excluded because of the corruption allegations. ``I am being penalised for my efforts to root out corruption in Pakistan cricket,'' he said.

A board spokesman denied the charge, adding: ``The statement is totally false and an attempt to settle a score with the Pakistan Cricket Board for his omission from the team.''

Sohail was dropped as captain after losses in home series against Australia and Zimbabwe last year.