England v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Headingley, 2nd day

Pakistan defy Headingley history

Aug 5, 2006: Osman Samiuddin watches a Pakistan side defy the history of Headingley

A history of Pakistan's struggles against left-arm spinners

Trouble in the left-arm front

Jul 30, 2006: Pakistan's Old Trafford shellacking was, a Pakistani paper sagely observed, one of their worst ever under Bob Woolmer and Inzamam-ul-Haq

Opening dilemmas Part 2

The opening conundrum

Jul 13, 2006: Osman Samiuddin tracks Pakistan's age-old dilemma - the search for that seasoned, durable, Test opener

These boots were made for filling

Jul 13, 2006: Pakistan's age-old dilemma - the search for that seasoned, durable, Test opener - still remains

Who should be the captain?

Inzamam or Younis?

Apr 1, 2006: Inzamam-ul-Haq or Younis Khan? Osman Samiuddin ponders over the big question

Pakistan v India, 3rd ODI, Lahore

The thin red line

Feb 13, 2006: Nowhere are lines between success and failure thinner than in ODIs

Peshawar dismissal row rumbles on

Inzamam's reaction leaves a bad taste

Feb 10, 2006: Osman Samiuddin on how Inzamam-ul-Haq's post-match reaction to his controversial dismissal at Pashawar was so wide of the mark

India in Pakistan, 2nd Test, Faisalabad 2005-06

Shoulder injury forced Rana out

Jan 21, 2006: Rana Naved-ul-Hasan's surprising omission from the second Test at Faisalabad was the result of a minor shoulder injury

India in Pakistan, 2nd Test, Faisalabad 2005-06

Playing safe could mean sorry

Jan 21, 2006: The omission of Naved-ul-Hasan may backfire

India in Pakistan 2005-06

Sami the enigmatic

Jan 17, 2006: Just what do you do with the boy Mohammad Sami, asks Osman Samiuddin

India in Pakistan, 2005-06

Making a pitch for favourable weather

Jan 15, 2006: Wasim Akram wanted them hard and bouncy. Inzamam-ul-Haq wanted them fast and bouncy. The PCB, according to its official newsletter, also wanted them fast and bouncy.

India in Pakistan 2005-06

Amber signal

Jan 10, 2006: Umar Gul reflects on his last crack at the Indians two years ago

The chucking controversy

Throwing out the stigma

Dec 23, 2005: Osman Samiuddin weighs in on the chucking controversy

The Best of Inzamam

Grace under fire

Nov 28, 2005: Inzamam-ul-Haq's best innings have been compiled when the pressure has been at its greatest, and Inzamam at his most unflappable

Pakistan's thinning spectator numbers

An 8000-strong multitude

Nov 14, 2005: Eight thousand isn't exactly the intimidating throng but those familiar with downwardly spiraling spectator numbers in Pakistan will think it heaven-sent

Hasan Raza survives the sieve of Pakistani selection

Return of the prodigal

Nov 12, 2005: Incredulously, given Pakistan's not unjust reputation for wanton squandering of talent, Hasan Raza is still around

Pakistan v England Timeline

A tumultuous past

Nov 11, 2005: Encounters between Pakistan and England have rarely lacked for drama, controversy and incident. Cricinfo charts a troubled 51-year relationship, leaving out only two series - those in 1971 and 1996 - that went off without any trouble

Danish Kaneria remains a matchwinner for Pakistan

Shock, stock and spin

Nov 3, 2005: From five years ago, England will find a changed Kaneria. He has improved, sharply in the last year, and unsurprisingly, for a successful legspinner, he doesn't lack for confidence. In his breakthrough series last year against Australia - 15 wickets and R

England in Pakistan 2005-06

Spinning hangovers and opening gaps

Oct 29, 2005: Pakistan's choice of picking five spinners, for the series against England, will make the headlines but choosing only one specialist opener leaves one stumped, writes Osman Samuiddin

An oriental art comes full circle

Aug 21, 2005: Reverse swing is playing a huge role in the current Ashes series and experts are analysing every aspect of the art. What's all the fuss about