INDIA BLUE BEAT RED IN UNDER19 CHALLENGERS

LUCKNOW: Sparkling batting by skipper Pradosh Ranjan Paul and opener Swastik Samal helped defending champions India Blue launch their campaign in the Under-19 Challenger Trophy in style, notching up a facile 110-run win over India Red here on Saturday. In the other match of the day, India Green defeated India Yellow by 25 runs.

Brief scores: India Blue 280/6 in 50 overs (PR Paul 126*; AM Singh 2/59) bt India Red 170 in 38 overs (NR Chavan 41; H Nag 3/30). India Blue 4 pts; India Red 0.

Pakistan include Shaheen for New Zealand Tests

LAHORE: Pakistan’s selectors Saturday included teenage pace sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi in a 15-man squad for the first two of the three Tests against New Zealand starting in Abu Dhabi next week. The 18-year-old has been in a devastating form in the ongoing ODI series in the UAE, taking 4-46 and 4-38 in two matches so far. Meanwhile, Imam-ul-haq, who was taken to hospital after being hit on the head by a short ball in the ODI on Friday, was cleared after the Pakistan Cricket Board said scans had shown that the player had suffered no damage.