Pakistan

Score of the day is 99...

Today in 1973 a Test match between England and Pakistan was unusual for the number of nervous 90's that were on show. When Dennis Amiss was run out one short of a century he became the third player to be dismissed on 99 in the match. While also on this day in 1982, Pakistan's Imran Khan demonstrated his undoubted class with the ball in Lahore as he ripped through Sri Lanka's batting order with match figures of 14-116.

Elsewhere today in 1997, 40 members of an American cult killed themselves believing that they were going to link up with a UFO near the comet Hale-Bopp, while 583 people died in the world's worst aviation accident in history today in 1977, when two jumbo jets collided on a runway in the holiday destination of Tenerife. Happier times on this day for Scotland though as in 1871 their Rugby side beat the English in the first ever Rugby Union international.

Finally we say Majid Haq! as they say in Scotland to South African pace bowler Roger Telemachus (35), Cardiff footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink (36), Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas (33), blood-loving mega-nerd Quentin Tarantino (45) and American warbler Mariah Carey (38).  

Whoever said you can't win with kids clearly wasn't talking about cricket...

Today in 1959, this cool cat, Mushtaq Mohammad, made his Test debut for Pakistan against the West Indies. Mohammad would go on to captain his country and play in 57 Tests and 10 ODI's, becoming one of the most successful ever Pakistani all-rounders. But his Test debut 49 years ago today wasn't your usual fare, for Mohammad was just 15 years and 124 days, becoming the youngest ever person to play Test cricket. However it wasn't all sweetness and light as he scored a paltry 18 runs as Pakistan were defeated, before running home to his mother.

It's a great day of firsts today, beginning in 1780, when Britain's first ever Sunday newspaper arrived, when the wonderfully-named British Gazette and Sunday Monitor was published. It just rolls off the tongue. Britain's first cremation took place in Woking in 1886, while BBC Radio began its first weather forecasts in 1923. Popeye became the first cartoon character to be the subject of a statue when one was erected in Texas in 1937, and in 1973, the first woman stockbroker was allowed on the floor of the London Stock Exchange. More recently, the smoking ban first came into effect in Scotland today in 2006, meaning a lot more angry Scotsmen out on the street than normal…

And it's Ryan Sidebottom! as they say in England to South African umpire Rudi Koertzen (59), Everton footballer Mikel Arteta (26), Bolton's talented lump Kevin Davies (31), English pout-on-a-stick Kiera Knightley (23), shiny-headed Tory William Hague (47) and American actor, director and former half-vulcan Leonard Nimoy (77).

More World Cup anguish for England

Today in 1992 England did what they do best as a sporting nation, and lost in a World Cup. This time it was in cricket, and to Imran Khan's Pakistan side, who bowled England out for 227, winning by 22 runs. Wasim Akram was the man who did the damage as he took three wickets, including the prized one of Ian Botham for a duck, and claimed the man of the match award.

A year earlier, Allan Border was showing that he wasn't too bad with the ball as well as bat. He amassed over 11,000 Test runs in a career that ended with him as Australia's most capped player and leading test and one-day run scorer. But it was today in 1991 that he showed just how good he was with the ball too, as he took 5-68 against the West Indies at Bourda. It would be his second career five wicket haul and his slow left arm spin would claim 39 Test and 73 one day wickets.

Elsewhere today in history, juvenile students at Oxford and Cambridge made silly jokes as both boat race crews had female coxes for the first time in 1989. It’s also a big day for new leaders. Today is the National Day of Greece after King George of Greece was deposed in 1925 when new rulers proclaimed the country a Republic, while way back in 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned King of the Scots, and Robertt Runcie was enthroned as the new religious leader of the Church of England, becoming the 102nd Archbishop of Canterbury.

And we say Ramnaresh Ronnie Sarwan! as they say in the West Indies to New Zealand cricketer Brooke Walker (31), former All Saint Melanie Blatt (33), ex-Watford chairman Elton John (61), while Lawrence of Arabia director David Lean would be whopping 100 today had he not died in 1991 of cancer, aged 83.

Australia have postponed their tour of Pakistan later this month due to security fears.

The ongoing violence in the country, highlighted by the recent suicide bombings that led to the death 15 people has understandably given some of the players cold feet.

Cricket Australia officials will meet the Pakistan Cricket Board in Dubai in the hope of rearranging the tour with 2009 being the earliest possible opportunity.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has turned down the chance to take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a three-match one-day series next month.

Player fatigue was the main worry surrounding the declination with the impending visit of South Africa following their return from Australia.

India have committed to making time in their busy schedule to pay a visit to Pakistan sometime before the Champions Trophy in September.