Cricket: Bad light forces early end to Test

Pakistan 398 & 314 Sri Lanka 328 & 165-2 Match drawn

THE ASIAN Test Championship match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Lahore ended in a draw after bad weather forced an early end to the fifth day's play. Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 385, were 165 for 2 when rain and poor light forced play to be called off soon after tea.

Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka had already qualified for the final of the inaugural championship, to be played in Dhaka from 12 to 16 March.

The Pakistan captain, Wasim Akram, took a hat-trick in Sri Lanka's first innings while the opener Wajahatullah Wasti hit centuries in each innings. Sri Lanka's Russel Arnold followed his first innings maiden Test century with an unbeaten 56.

The Pakistan Cricket Board and Aamir Sohail traded accusations yesterday after the former Test captain was not named in the squad of 19 for the World Cup in May and June.

Aamir and fellow batsman Salim Malik were not included because of poor form. Aamir, who has accused some team-mates of match-fixing in an ongoing Pakistani judicial inquiry, said he was left out of the squad not because of poor form but 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. "The statement is totally false and an attempt to settle a score with Pakistan Cricket Board for his omission from the team," the board spokesman said.