King
October 10, 2008 04:51 PM
Canada blew a great opportunity to beat a rusty Pakistan squad in their opening game of the T-20 Canada Cup Twenty-20 cricket tournament at King City's Maple Leaf North-West Ground this afternoon.
After bowling the cricket-starved nation for 137 runs, Canada could only muster 102 and fell by 35 runs to last year's Twenty-20 World Cup champions.
Pakistan has not played world cricket since February because of terrorism problems in the Asian nation.
Last month, they were supposed to have hosted the International Cricket Council's ICC Cup, but most of the countries that were to participate withdrew for security purposed.
Two other countries that had regular tours scheduled there also backed out for the same reason.
Pakistan was led by opening batsman Salman Butt's 74 and legendary fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's two wickets while Canada got three-wicket hauls from bowlers Umar Bhatti and Harvir Baidwan.
It was the second game of the opening day of a Twenty-20 cricket tournament featuring national teams from Canada, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka scored a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe.
Coming into this tournament, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are the clear favourites.
The two cricket giants face each other tomorrow afternoon while Canada plays Zimbabwe in the morning game.
Finals and the third-place game are Monday.
All games are in King City.