*Home of Pak cricket

Home of Pak cricket 
completes 50 years:

Lahore: Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday celebrated 50 years as the home of Pakistan cricket despite questions remaining over its viability to host international action stalled over security fears.

Fifty years ago on Saturday the ground hosted its first Test between Pakistan and Australia and it has since been the headquarters of Pakistan cricket, housing the offices of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

But on March 3 this year the stadium -- named after Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi in 1974 -- became focus of the world when the Sri Lankan team were attacked by militants on their way for third day's play in the second Test.

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The ambush, which left seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured besides killing eight people, put on hold any international cricket in Pakistan.

For Gaddafi Stadium groundsman Haji Bashir the half-century is significant despite the fact that the stadium is deprived of international cricket.

"Celebrating 50 years of the Gaddafi Stadium is special for Pakistan cricket and for me," said Bahsir, who came here as assistant groundsman for the first Test in 1959, when it was known as Lahore Stadium.

During his 50 years Bashir's highlights include numerous Tests, one-day matches and Twenty20 internationals -- but he also remembers the dark moments.

"The attacks were horrifying and deprived us of cricket but I am sure this historic ground and our beloved country will host international matches very soon," said the 68-year-old.

The first Test at the Stadium wasn't particularly auspicious for the home team. It saw Australian legend Richie Benuad leading his team to a seven-wicket victory and a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series.

But Bashir feels the stadium has been afforded its fair share of moments to treasure.

"The most memorable match here was the Indo-Pak match in 1978 when our team beat India in a sensational finish," said Bashir of Pakistan's first-ever win over their arch rivals at home after the ties were revived following a 17-year break.

Pakistan's most prolific batsman Javed Miandad made his debut here in 1976. Another great batsman, Inzamam-ul-Haq, scored a triple hundred against New Zealand in 2002 and paceman Wasim Akram achieved country's first-ever Test hat-trick here in 1999.

The stadium also hosted the World Cup final between Sri Lanka and Australia in 1996.

"Gaddafi Stadium is truly the home of Pakistan cricket," said PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari. "It is one of the most beautiful grounds in Asia and we are trying our level best to bring international cricket back to our stadiums."

Prasad out, Mendis in reckoning for second Test: Sangakkara

Kanpur: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara on Monday ruled pacer Dammika Prasad out of the second Test against India and said spinner Ajantha Mendis is very much in his scheme of things for the match. Prasad had strained his hamstring there and Sangakkara said the team was not considering the 26-year-old right-arm pacer even though there was no such apprehension about in-form batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan who broke his nose while playing football. "Dilshan broke his nose but is perfectly fine now. Dammika strained his hamstring and is recovering well. But we are not considering him at this moment," Sangakkara said. Karthik came, saw and left in a hurry Muttiah Muralitharan shared the spin responsibility with Rangana Herath in Ahmedabad with little success and Sangakkara said chances are that Mendis would break into the playing XI. "Ajantha is always in the reckoning. With the confidence and balance our team has, we can play three spinners if we want to. Or we can also replace Dammika Prasad with another fast bowler. Or we can also change a spinner. We have quite a few combinations on mind and it would take a concrete shape by the evening," he said. Sangakkara conceded Muralitharan's below-par show in Ahmedabad was "unusual" but dismissed suggestions that Sri Lanka paid the price for their over-dependence on the wily off-spinner. "When you have world's leading wicket-taker in your side, you got to depend on him. There cannot be any second question about that. Murali has done it for us for years, like Sanath (Jayasuriya) and (Chaminda) Vaas. But the great thing about our team is that we have great supporting players as well. Murali had Vaas, Herath and Mendis to do that. "And I don't think Murali struggled in Ahmedabad. He has been a match-winner all the time," Sangakkara asserted. "Cricket is a team game. If one player fails to deliver, others have to chip in. We believe in all our players and think they are good enough. We often look forward to the part-timers like Dilshan chipping in with wickets. At the end of the day, it has to be a team effort," he added. Dhoni says Sehwag is licensed to thrill The Motera track in Ahmedabad drew flak for being so placid that nearly 1600 runs were scored, including seven centuries, while just 21 wickets fell over five days. A miffed Harbhajan Singh called it a bad advertisement for Test cricket but Sangakkara refused to make a fuss over it. "Well, the track was quite placid but we have to back ourselves to do well on all kind of surfaces. You have to keep trying. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But if you keep trying, chances of happenings are high," he said. In comparison, the track here at the Green Park looked livelier but Sangakkara still reserved his verdict. "Maybe it has more grass on it but it's quite dry underneath. Unless you play, you don't know," he said.