Karachi, Dec. 20: Chief selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Abdul Qadir, has said that Pakistan will be raising a strong team against Sri Lanka for the upcoming series.

"We are aiming to raise a strong team for the series against Sri Lanka," Qadir said.

He said that his prime motive is to improve Pakistan's test ranking and use the series as a launchpad for the same. "Our aim is to help Pakistan gain a place among the top-two ranked (Test) teams in the world and want to start taking steps towards that direction with this series," the News quoted Qadir, as saying.

Pakistan is currently languishing on the sixth spot in the ICC test rankings.

Sydney, Dec 19 : Legendary South African cricketer Barry Richards believes that Matthew Hayden can revitalise his Test career by using Allan Border as his mature age role model.

Richards believes the mounting scrutiny of Hayden's Test place has prompted him to adopt an aggressive mindset where he is trying to prove people wrong.

He feels Hayden, 37, is at his best when he adopts the more patient style that triggered his return to form with a century against England at the Oval in 2005 after a lengthy form slump, FOX Sports reported.

London, Dec 19 : England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has compared master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's match winning century at Chennai to a scriptwriter's dream.

Tendulkar played one of his finest innings to take his side to a remarkable six-wicket victory, The Independent reported

In an exclusive interview, Flintoff told Angus Fraser: "It is impossible not to admire him (Tendulkar) when you are out in the middle. He is a class player and a great role model for the game."

"His innings was a scriptwriter's dream. The lad from Mumbai, with everything that has happened there, scores a hundred to win and then dedicates it to everyone in the country. Thinking about it, it was probably inevitable it happened," Flintoff said.

Lahore, Dec 19 : Sri Lankan Cricket Board has confirmed today that its team would tour Pakistan in the third week of January.

Director media Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Asif Sohail, said that Sri Lankan Cricket Board chairman Arjuna Ranatunga has confirmed that his team would tour Pakistan in January.

Asif Sohail said Sri Lanka would play three tests, three one-day matches and a 20twenty match during the tour.

The spokesman said that the PCB is finalizing the schedule of Sri Lankan series, which would be announced likely within couple of days.

Karachi, Dec 19 : Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has urged not to get disappointed as India is not only team in the world to play cricket as there are many other teams who are willing to tour Pakistan.

"Pakistan or we could play in their place, so we need not to follow particular team with begging bowl," Afridi said.

He called India decision of not sending their cricket team to Pakistan for the scheduled next year tour, disastrous for cricket.

"India verdict gave a negative impression to the world," Afridi told reporters at National Stadium, Karachi.

Afridi said Pakistan Cricket Board has toiled hard to assure the India series but the only disappointed came in our way.

London, Dec 18 : The character of English cricket will be tested to the full when the selectors pick their side for second Test in Mohali, starting on Thursday.

National selector Geoff Miller reacted strongly to suggestions that he is running a closed shop but if England name the same playing XI that lost in Chennai the accusation will stick, the Daily Express reported.

England played their part in an epic first Test against India but the bottom line was that they lost again because they lacked the ability and ruthlessness when it mattered in the final day and a half - and not for the first time.