Younus Khan retires from T20 after world final win

Pakistan captain Younus Khan announced his retirement from T20 internationals after leading his side to victory in the 2009 Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka at Lord's here on Sunday.
"This is my last Twenty20 game (for Pakistan), so I am retiring from T20 internationals," Younus said after Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets.
"I am now 34, I am old for this kind of cricket. The good thing is we have a couple of good youngsters like Shahzaib (Hasan) and Ahmad Shahzad."
However, gifted batsman Younus - who has appeared in 60 Tests and 186 one-day internationals - is set to continue his international career in the longer formats of the game.

Fired-up Pakistan lift World Twenty20 title

Pakistan won their first major title in 17 years when they stunned Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the World Twenty20 final at a sell-out Lord's here on Sunday.
Seamer Abdul Razzaq claimed three wickets as Pakistan bowled and fielded aggressively to restrict Sri Lanka to 138-6, then coasted home easily with eight deliveries to spare.
Shahid Afridi hit an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls, his second consecutive half-century, and former captain Shoaib Malik made 24 not out during a match-winning partnership of 76 for the undefeated third wicket.
Pakistan, runners-up to India in the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, ended Sri Lanka's unbeaten run in the tournament with style.
Pakistan last won an official multi-nation tournament in 1992 when Imran Khan's team lifted the World Cup by beating England in the final at the Melbourne cricket ground in Australia.
Sunday's win by Younus Khan's team gave Pakistanis back home reason to cheer as the cricket-mad nation has been deprived of international tours due to security concerns in the volatile nation.
The International Cricket Council has already ruled out holding World Cup matches in Pakistan in 2011 following the militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore on March 3.
Pakistani openers Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan ensured there were no early scares as they put on 48 for the first wicket in seven overs.
Sanath Jayasuriya broke through with his first delivery in the next over when he beat Akmal in the air with his left-arm spin and had him stumped for 37 off 28 balls.
Jayasuriya then took a catch to get rid of Shahzaib off Muttiah Muralitharan for 19, but Afridi and Malik took Pakistan home amid loud celebrations from their fans in the stands.
Sri Lanka were dealt quick blows after captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to take first strike on a slow wicket.
The Lankans slumped to 2-2 in the first nine balls and that became 34-4 before Sangakkara himself led the rescue act with a defiant unbeaten 64 from 52 balls.
Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews put on 68 for the unbroken seventh wicket as Sri Lanka plundered 59 runs in the final five overs.
Mathews returned unbeaten on 35 off 24 balls.
Pakistan got off to a sensational start when teenage fast bowler Mohammad Aamir sent back the in-form Tillekaratne Dilshan with the fifth ball of the match.
Dilshan, the tournament's leading scorer with 317 runs, miscued a pull shot off the speedy left-armer and was caught at backward square-leg by Shahzaib Hasan for zero.
Four balls later, Shahzaib grabbed his second catch at mid-off as Jehan Mubarak skied a leading edge off Razzaq, who shared the new ball with Aamir.
Jayasuriya counter-attacked with a six and four in Razzaq's second over, but the bowler hit back two balls later as the left-handed veteran edged a ball on to his stumps after making 17.
Razzaq, who replaced the injured Yasir Arafat after ending his links with the rebel Indian Cricket League, struck again in his third over when Misbah-ul Haq dived to his right at slip to remove Mahela Jayawardene for one.

It's our turn now, says Pakistan's Younus

Pakistan captain Younus Khan wants his team to win the World Twenty20 title to bring joy to the millions in his volatile country starved of big-time cricket.
"We are one match away and we will do our best to win," said Younus after his team knocked out favourites South Africa in Thursday's semi-final at Trent Bridge here.
"We want to make people back home happy. Winning the title will mean a lot to them and that will inspire us in the final. One more game and the World Cup will be ours."
Pakistan has become the pariah of world cricket after being shunned by foreign teams due to security concerns which forced the Champions Trophy and World Cup matches to be shifted out of the country.
Pakistan, runners-up to India in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, will play either Sri Lanka or the West Indies in the final at Lord's on Sunday.
Younus said it did not matter who Pakistan play in the final, but admitted he will keenly watch the second semi-final at the Oval on Friday.
"We will keep track of both Sri Lanka and the West Indies. They are tough sides but we are not worried who we play.
"We will just go out and put our best effort, like we did against South Africa."
Pakistan rode on a brilliant all-round performance by Shahid Afridi to pip South Africa by seven runs and end the Proteas' five-match winning streak in the tournament.
Afridi smashed 51 from 34 balls and then grabbed 2-16 with his leg-spin as Pakistan successfully defended 149-4 to restrict the favoured Proteas to 142-5 before a sell-out crowd at Trent Bridge.
"Afridi is the sort of player who wins games on his own," said Younus. "He has done it here and I know he wants to repeat this in the final as well."
Younus said the five-run defeat by India in the 2007 final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg still hurt, and he hoped the team will not make the same mistake again.
"We felt terrible after losing that one. You come so close and then it all goes away. Hopefully, we will do better this time."
Pakistan bounced back twice over the last two weeks to keep their hopes alive.
Younus' men lost their opening preliminary match against England, but then thrashed the Netherlands to advance to the Super Eights.
There was another defeat in the second round against Sri Lanka, but Pakistan came back strongly to defeat New Zealand in a key game before overpowering Ireland to make the semi-finals.
"We are slow starters, but we have shown through this tournament that we can match any other side on our day and will take a lot to beat us," said Younus.
Against South Africa, Afridi plundered eight boundaries, including four in succession off Johan Botha, after Pakistan elected to bat on a wicket that slowed down as the evening progressed.
Veteran Jacques Kallis made a brave attempt to take the South Africans home, striking seven fours and a six in 64 from 54 balls, but the other batsmen faltered against the spot-on attack.
It did not matter at the end that Pakistan, who were 120-3 after 15 overs, failed to build on the early advantage and managed just 29 runs in the final five overs.

Afridi lifts Pakistan into World T20 final

Shahid Afridi shone with bat and ball as Pakistan dumped South Africa by seven runs to storm into the World Twenty20 final here on Thursday.
The maverick batsman smashed 51 from 34 balls and then grabbed 2-16 with his leg-spin as Pakistan successfully defended 149-4 to restrict the favoured Proteas to 142-5 before a sell-out crowd at Trent Bridge.
Pakistan, runners-up to India in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, await the winners of Friday's semi-final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies in Sunday's final at Lord's.
Afridi plundered eight boundaries, including four in succession off Johan Botha, after Pakistan elected to bat on a wicket that slowed down as the evening progressed.
Veteran Jacques Kallis made a brave attempt to take the South Africans home, striking seven fours and a six in 64 from 54 balls, but the other batsmen faltered against the spot-on attack.
South Africa made a steady start in reply as openers Kallis and Graeme Smith reached 40 by the sixth over.
Smith failed to make use of an early chance when he was dropped by Umar Gul as he skied a return catch to Mohammad Aamir after making 10.
Afridi, coming on to bowl in the seventh over, struck twice in four deliveries when he bowled Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers to make South Africa 50-3 in 8.3 overs.
Afridi and fellow-spinner Saeed Ajmal, made runs hard to come by, and when the dangerous Gul came on to bowl in the 14th over, South Africa needed a further 77 from 42 balls.
Kallis and JP Duminy raised South Africa's hopes by adding 61 from 53 balls for the fourth wicket, but Ajmal broke the threatening stand by having Kallis caught in the deep in the 18th over.
Duminy remained unbeaten on 44 from 39 balls but the task of needing 23 runs in the last over bowled by Aamir proved too much for him and Mark Boucher.
It did not matter at the end that Pakistan, who were 120-3 after 15 overs, failed to build on the early advantage and managed just 29 runs in the final five overs.
Pakistan had made a frenetic start, racing to 28 off the first 15 deliveries but at the cost of two wickets.
After Kamran Akmal had taken eight runs in Dale Steyn's first over, Shahzaib Hasan fell in the second over for zero when he miscued a big hit off left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell.
Akmal struck a six in Steyn's second over, but fell off the next delivery as he top-edged a pull to Morkel at mid-on. Akmal made 23 from 12 balls with four boundaries and a six.
Afridi, promoted to number three, swung Kallis for two fours in one over as Pakistan reached 47-2 by the time the field restrictions ended after the sixth.
Afridi brought up his half-century off 33 deliveries after slamming off-spinner Botha for four consecutive boundaries in the 11th over that realised 18 runs.
A desperate Smith turned to slow bowler Duminy in the 13th over and struck gold first ball as Afridi holed out to mid-wicket.

Pakistan end Ireland's T20 adventure

Pakistan ended Ireland's slim hopes of qualifying for the World Twenty20 semi-finals with a 39-run victory at the Oval here on Monday.
Pakistan made 159 for five and then held Ireland - the only non-Test side to have qualified for the second round Super Eights - to 120 for nine, with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal taking four wickets for 19 runs.
Victory all but assured Pakistan of a place in the last four with Tuesday's match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka set to decide which two teams qualify out of Group F.
Opener Kamran Akmal's 57 was the cornerstone of Pakistan's total in an innings where Ireland off-spinner Kyle McCallan again proved his worth with two wickets for 26 runs.
Meanwhile, pace bowler Boyd Rankin's four overs cost just 11 runs.
Akmal faced 51 balls with a six and five fours.
Ireland lost opener Niall O'Brien early in their chase when the wicket-keeper was caught and bowled off a miscued hook by 17-year-old paceman Mohammad Amir.
Paul Stirling, himself only 18, came in for his first match of the tournament with Ireland 13 for one but got off the mark first ball with a superb cover-driven four off left-armer Aamir.
But the teenager, on 16, became the latest batsman to be bowled playing across the line against leg-spinner Shahid Afridi, who struck with his sixth ball and Ireland were 42 for two off seven overs.
Ireland captain William Porterfield batted steadily for 40 off 36 balls but when he was caught by opposing skipper Younus Khan off the bowling of Ajmal, Ireland were 87 for three in the 14th over.
With six overs left Ireland needed 72 more runs to win.
John Mooney, trying to keep Ireland up with the rate, also fell to Ajmal after he was caught in the deep by Abdul Razzaq.
Then Umar Gul, who took a Twenty20 international record five wickets against New Zealand, got in on the act by bowling Trent Johnston for a duck.
At 99 for five in the 17th over the game was up for Ireland, who later saw four tailend wickets tumble for three runs in six balls.
Both Akmal and fellow opener Shahzaib Hasan struck a six off Johnston, whose four overs went for an expensive 45.
The 19-year-old Shahzaib holed out off seamer Alex Cusack, who took four wickets in Ireland's narrow nine-run loss to Sri Lanka at Lord's on Sunday.
The hard-hitting Afridi showed glimpses of his talent while making 24 before striking McCallan's third ball straight to Mooney at long-on.
And 78 for two became 102 for three in the 13th over when Younus was bowled after an ugly slog sweep against New Zealand born left-arm spinner Regan West.
Akmal, looking to press on, was dismissed by a Johnston yorker as he went down the pitch.

Waqar and Wasim are inspiration, says record-breaking Gul

Record-breaking Pakistan seamer Umar Gul dedicated his five-wicket Twenty20 haul to legendary spearheads Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram on Saturday.
Gul became the first bowler to claim five wickets in a T20 international as Pakistan roared back into contention in the world championships with a six-wicket win over New Zealand.
His figues of 5-6 in three overs helped skittle the Black Caps for a paltry 99 in 18.3 overs at the Oval in a crucial Super Eights match as Pakistan, the runners-up in 2007, stayed on course for the semi-finals.
"I have really developed my yorker by watching videos of Waqar and Wasim. They have really helped me," said Gul.
"In Twenty20, you have to be able to bowl the yorker, bouncer and the slower ball. Now I want to be the highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
"My captain just told me to go and get wickets and that's what I did."
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, playing his first match of the tournament after suffering a shoulder injury, admitted his team had flopped.
"To score 99 wasn't good enough," said Vettori.
"Pakistan got the ball in all the right areas and attacked. We just didn't get any momentum going and that's important for all aspects of the game.
"It's a lottery trying to defend such a total."
Pakistan skipper Younus Khan was full of praise for Gul.
"His bowling was the turning point for us and it was a good toss to lose," said Younus.

Five-wicket Gul wrecks Kiwis

Umar Gul became the first bowler to claim five wickets in Twenty20 internationals as Pakistan shot New Zealand out for 99 in a must-win game at the world championships on Saturday.
Seamer Gul finished with amazing figures of five wickets for six runs in three overs to build on Abdur Razzaq's memorable return to official cricket after two years.
Scott Styris' 22 was New Zealand's top score on the easy-paced Oval wicket as eight batsmen failed to reach double figures.
Pakistan, who lost their first Super Eights match to Sri Lanka on Friday, need a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
New Zealand thrashed Ireland by 83 runs at Trent Bridge on Thursday and will virtually book a place in the last four if they beat Pakistan.
Razzaq, who last played for Pakistan in May 2007, grabbed a wicket off his fourth delivery and another one in his third over to reduce New Zealand to 37-3.
The 29-year-old was called up as a replacement for the injured Yasir Arafat after breaking links with the rebel Indian Cricket League.
Asked to open the bowling by captain Younus Khan, Razzaq had the dangerous Brendon McCullum caught at point before trapping Martin Guptill leg-before.
Gul, brought on as the sixth bowler, struck immediately as Shahid Afridi sprinted back from mid-on to catch Scott Styris (22) near the boundary.
The steady seamer claimed four of the last five wickets to leave Pakistan chasing a modest target of 5.5 runs an over.
Pakistan omitted opener Salman Butt to play 19-year-old rookie Shahzaib Hasan and brought in Razzaq in place of Sohail Tanvir.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori made his first appearance in the tournament following a shoulder injury, but batsman Ross Taylor again missed out with a hamstring strain.

Pakistan teenage quick Aamir eyes golden summer

When Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup, Mohammad Aamir was not even born.
But the country's newest pace sensation has a precious memento, a videotape of the glorious moments of Pakistan?s famous triumph in Australia and he knows what it takes to become a champion.
"I was born two weeks after Pakistan won the World Cup but I watched the 1992 World Cup on tape and especially Wasim Akram?s bowling," said Aamir, who modelled his style on the legendary left-arm paceman.
The 17-year-old is the latest addition to Pakistan?s pace armoury and has impressed everyone, including former skipper Wasim, with his pace and swing.
"I have watched him more than once and he's impressive with over 140kmh speed and can swing the ball both ways," Wasim told AFP, predicting the rookie paceman can be a "revelation" in the World Twenty20.
Wasim came across Aamir in a talent-spotting programme, paving his way for selection for the Pakistan Under-19 tour to England in 2007.
Aamir took eight wickets, including a match-winning 4-30 in the third one-day win.
He also anchored Pakistan?s win in the tri-nation Under-19 series in Sri Lanka, taking four wickets each against the hosts and England.
He was tipped to help Pakistan defend their Under-19 World Cup title in 2008 but a dengue virus cut short his tournament, eventually won by India.
Aamir hails from the small town of Gujjar Khan, some 30 kilometres from the capital Islamabad.
He grew up in an academy and could easily have become a soldier, like his father.
"I was never interested in joining the army. I was attracted by cricket and by Wasim Akram," admitted Aamir, who learned the basics of the game at the Bajwa academy.
Spotted and helped by cricket official Shakil Shaikh, Aamir gradually progressed to make an impressive first-class debut last year.
He took 56 wickets in just ten games, which earned him a call for Pakistan?s tour to Bangladesh in March.
"Aamir?s strong point is that he can judge a batsman after a few deliveries and then plan his deliveries. His swing and pace can come in handy," said Shaikh.
However, his international debut was delayed after Bangladesh postponed their planned one-day series because of security concerns.
But his chance could come sooner rather than later after Shoaib Akhtar was withdrawn from the Twenty20 squad due to injury.
Aamir is ready to grab his opportunity.
"My aim is to have success like Wasim's in 1992," said Aamir of Wasim, who finished as player of the 1992 World Cup tournament with 18 wickets.
"I want a fairytale success, and will do my best for it."

Younus glad Pakistan back on world stage

Pakistan captain Younus Khan said the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 in England had a special significance for his side after their country had become a virtual 'no-go zone' for international cricket.
A terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in March saw seven of their players and English assistant coach Paul Farbrace injured.
Eight Pakistanis, including six security force personnel, were killed.
With no international side willing to travel to Pakistan, Younus's men recently returned to international action in the United Arab Emirates against Australia, where they lost 3-2 in a one-day series but won the lone Twenty20.
"It is special to be back on the world stage, especially in Twenty20 and in England, the media are here so lots of hopes are here," the talented batsman told reporters at Lord's here on Sunday.
"We are suffering from not playing regularly, and no-one is coming to Pakistan," he added.
Pakistan endured a nailbiting defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India in the 2007 World Twenty20 final in South Africa and Younus would love nothing more than for his team to go one better this time.
"My confidence is that I'll take this trophy to Pakistan," he said. But such has been Pakistan's relative lack of international cricket that he added: "It will be an achievement for us to finish in the top four."
Reflecting on the 2007 final, Younus said: "The finishing touches were not there. We needed only five runs. But it was fantastic to be a part of that team in the final.
"Some guys were crying at the end, but hopefully we'll have the finishing touches," Younus said.
Twenty20 tends to put a premium on big-hitting batsmen at the start of the innings but Younus, whose team face England and the Netherlands in Group B, said it was not necessary to start going for big shots right from the off.
"Twenty20 looks short, but it's not - 120 balls is enough.
"If you bat normally but with energy, especially in the middle order and with good runners between the wickets, 180-90 is very easy.
"In English conditions the new ball does seam, so you need someone like Salman Butt who can play for 20 overs. But in the middle order, we have big hitters like Shahid Afridi and Misbah-Ul-Haq."
English officials have already announced that plans are well advanced for Pakistan to play two Tests against Australia in England next year as well as a series with Andrew Strauss's men.
Large Asian communities in England provide Pakistan with a ready-made fan base and Younus said: "Playing in England is everyone's dream. My first Test at Lord's was fantastic for me.
"England is the home of cricket, it is an achievement for us to play Tests here, and maybe ODIs too. It's good for the youngsters to play in England and the old guys have a lot of friends here.
"We need the passion in Twenty20 and in England, a lot of followers all the time, a lot of cities have Pakistanis and Indians. That's the main reason I'm happy to be in England."
Younus added: "If we play good cricket it will be good for our nation. These days all the nation is depressed.
"Only cricket - if we play well and win something - they will cheer. To finish in the top four, my nation will come again and start cheering."

Younus hopes Pakistan go one better in World T20

Pakistan captain Younus Khan is confident his team can go one better in the World Twenty20 after finishing runners-up last time to bitter rivals India.
Two years ago, Pakistan lost a nailbiting final against India by five runs in Johannesburg, a loss that Younus insists his team is eager to put behind them.
"We want to win the title," said Younus. "We have the talent, but it's a tough competition where other eleven teams will do their best to finish at the top."
Pakistan are in Group B, along with hosts England and the Netherlands, in first round of the competition which runs from June 5-21.
They take on England June 7 before facing the Netherlands two days later.
The second round Super Eight stages should give Pakistan an easy draw with likely rivals being New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
But Younus is not taking any team lightly.
"We need to be at our best even against the Netherlands because no team is small or big," said Younus who was referring to Pakistan's defeat to Ireland at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean which sent them packing from the tournament.
That defeat was the start of a dark chapter in Pakistan's cricket history.
Coach Bob Woolmer died at the tournament while captain Inzamam-ul-Haq retired.
Shoaib Malik, who was handed the captaincy after Younus refused to lead the team, restored some normalcy by taking Pakistan to the runners-up spot at the inaugural World Twenty20.
Malik then lost the captaincy after Pakistan's one-day defeat against Sri Lanka earlier this year. That led to Younus taking over the hot seat.
Under Younus, Pakistan lost 3-2 to Australia in a recent one-day series in the United Arab Emirates, but won the one-off Twenty20 match.
Younus said Pakistan's preparations have been satisfactory.
"We beat Australia in the Twenty20 match which was a good morale booster and then had a good conditioning camp and some practice matches which tuned us well for England," said Younus, whose team has the best win ratio in all Twenty20.
Pakistan have won eight of their 11 internationals with two defeats and one tied match.
Pakistan will heavily rely on paceman Umar Gul who has taken the most wickets (24 in 14 matches) in this newest form of the game and with injury-prone Shoaib Akhtar pulled out of the team, his responsibility has increased.
Rao Iftikhar, who replaced Akhtar in the squad, Sohail Tanvir, Yasir Arafat and rookie paceman Mohammad Aamir complete the fast bowling line-up.
The 17-year-old Aamir is tipped to surprise with his speed and swing in English conditions.
Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik lead the the spin department which has the ability to stop runs and take wickets.
Off-spinner Ajmal received a boost ahead of the event when his action was cleared by the International Cricket Council.
Younus hoped his own batting form improves to help lift an otherwise inconsistent line-up which also has opener Salman Butt, Misbah-ul-Haq, Malik Afridi and in-form Kamran Akmal..

Ajmal eyes Pakistan victory in World Twenty20

Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal said Monday his focus would be his team's bid for victory in next month's World Twenty20 after he was cleared of a suspect bowling action.
The International Cricket Council's Australian biomechanic expert on Sunday cleared a contentious delivery by the 31-year-old during a one-day international against Australia in Dubai last month.
The wily bowler had been named in Pakistan's 15-man squad for the World Twenty20, taking place in England next month.
Ajmal, who made his debut last year, has already taken 10 wickets in eight one-day internationals, while he managed one wicket in the only Twenty20 he played against Australia in Dubai earlier this month.
Ajmal's action while delivering a "doosra" -- a delivery equivalent of leg-spinner's googly -- was questioned by umpires in the second one-day match with Australia.
Ajmal said that the ICC decision removed a huge burden.
"I was carrying a 50-kilo bag on my head and Sunday's decision has allowed me to throw that bag off my head," Ajmal told AFP. "I now feel that my punishment is over and I am relieved and pleased."
The ICC, however, warned "whenever Ajmal bowls in a match in the future, his action will be under the scrutiny of the match officials".
"Now I am relieved and more focused and will do my best to take more and more wickets for my country," Ajmal said. "To help Pakistan clinch the World Twenty20 title is the first aim and the next is to get more and more wickets."
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said he was always confident about Ajmal.
"I am pleased for Ajmal," said Alam, who was a leg-spinner in his playing days. "From the word go I was confident that his action will get all clear and now I hope that he performs to the best of his abilities."
Pakistan fly out to England on May 30. They are placed in Group B of the 12-team competition along with hosts England and the Netherlands.

ICC hits back over Pakistan World Cup claims

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday hit back at Pakistan over a legal challenge launched by the Asian giants after they were stripped of matches in the 2011 World Cup.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Saturday it would challenge the ICC decision to move matches out of the country over security fears. The PCB branded the decision legally flawed.
But the ICC Board said on Thursday that they had not decided to remove the PCB as a joint host of the event, but only that the matches assigned to the PCB should be played outside Pakistan.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "We are naturally disappointed that the PCB has chosen to pursue its grievance with the ICC through legal channels but, having received correspondence from its lawyers, we have now responded.
"We used our response to clarify inaccuracies and misunderstandings in the PCB's claim, including confirmation of the fact that the agenda and the Board papers for the recent ICC Board meetings did very specifically raise the question of whether the World Cup 2011 matches assigned to the PCB as joint hosts should be relocated outside of Pakistan.
"We also pointed out that the ICC Board agreed only that the matches should be moved away from Pakistan, not that the PCB should be removed from its position as a joint host of the event itself.
"The suggestion the ICC Board was not empowered to decide that matches should be moved away from Pakistan and that such a decision was 'legally flawed' is also incorrect and without foundation."
The ICC insisted that concerns over security were paramount.
"We need to deliver a tournament that is safe, secure and, above all, successful and it was on that basis that the decision was taken that matches could not be played in Pakistan," added Lorgat.
"We hope the PCB realises that by attempting to pursue the matter through legal channels, it will result in the diversion of funds and resources better served to ensure a safe, secure and successful tournament in 2011, something that will benefit all our members, including Pakistan."

Shoaib Akhtar to miss Pakistan's T20 camp

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said Wednesday he would skip the Twenty20 team's conditioning camp at a luxury holiday resort due to a skin problem.
"I have skin problems in the groin... a doctor advised me a week's rest, so I will miss the conditioning camp starting from Thursday," Akhtar told AFP.
The 33-year-old Akhtar was selected for Pakistan's 15-man squad despite question marks over his fitness. He played only four Twenty20 games last year owing to fitness and discipline problems.
When Akhtar returned in February this year, he was dropped from the team after getting just one wicket in the two one-day matches against Sri Lanka. He was later ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka because of knee problems. The series was abandoned after a deadly attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore.
Akhtar played four one-day matches in Pakistan's latest one-day series against Australia in United Arab Emirates, taking three wickets without completing 10 overs in any of the matches.
Pakistan's World Twenty20 squad will undergo fitness drills at the Pakistani hill resort of Bhurban before playing three practice matches ahead of the second World Twenty20 tournament starting in England from June 1.
Akhtar hoped he would be fit in time for the practice matches.
"I will be fit when the practice matches start and will play these matches. Playing Twenty20 is a great challenge and hopefully I will be up to it," said Akhtar.
The mercurial paceman was also included in the inaugural World Twenty20 squad held in South Africa in 2007 but was expelled two days before the event on disciplinary action for assaulting team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat.