New Delhi, Apr 12 : Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Sunday said if given a chance, he would prefer to step in as a middle order batsman.

"I was a middle order batsman. I like to bat in middle order. But currently, team demands me to open batting and I am doing so," Sehwag told reporters on the sidelines of a friendly five-over cricket match between his team and co-opener Gautam Gambhir's teams here.

Sehwag also revealed that his request to bat in lower down was turned down by the team management.

Karachi, Apr. 12 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rubbished reports that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar could be made to undergo dope tests ahead of the UAE one-day international series against Australia.

The PCB said that the rules formulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) do not apply on tournaments involving two countries only.

A board official said that dope tests would be carried ahead of the World Twenty20 Championship which is scheduled to be held in England in June.

Lahore, Apr. 12 : Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam is of the view that speedster Shoaib Akhtar should not be pressurized to perform ahead of the forthcoming series against Australia.

"We will be looking closely at Akhtar's fitness and how he comes along in the first match. We don''t want to put extra pressure or burden on him. We will try to nurse him through the series as we have other important competitions coming up as well," The Nation quoted Alam, as saying.

Melbourne, Apr 12 : Adam Gilchrist has backed Indian Premier League teammate Andrew Symonds to continue his rebirth and force his way into Australia''s squad for the Ashes.

Symonds has been picked in Australia''s one-day squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan and the preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in signs the selectors are willing to forgive his tumultuous summer.

Gilchrist believes the troubled match winner''s Test career is not over either. Symonds has not represented his country since the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

Port Elizabeth, Apr 12 : Fast bowler Stuart Clark has been rushed to join Australia's one-day squad in South Africa as a replacement for injured pace bowler Brett Geeves.

Clark, who missed all six Tests against South Africa this season because of an elbow injury, will arrive in Port Elizabeth before the fourth one-day international against the Proteas.

However it's unlikely Clark, 33, will play in that match, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Islamabad, Apr. 11: The sandy cricket grounds in Abu Dhabi and Dubai has made Pakistan pacers fear for injuries during the forthcoming five match one-day international series against Australia.

“We have to maintain our speed and performance even in these difficult conditions and we are afraid that it would only bring injuries and fitness problems to us,” The Daily Times quoted a Pakistan fast bowler, as saying.