Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar marked his return to international cricket by taking two wickets to help Pakistan to a 35-run win over Canada in the four-nation Twenty 20 tournament here on Friday. Akhtar, who last played for the national team against India last December before a spectacular fallout with the Pakistan Cricket Board, struck in his first over when he removed Abdool Samad and Mohammad Iqbal. The 33-year-old finished with 2-11 although he suffered the indignity of being pulled for six by Rizwan Cheema. Pakistan opener Salman Butt was man of the match for his 74 off 56 balls as the Asian giants made a modest 137-7 before restricting Canada to 102 for 9. Cheema and Manoj David added 52 for the third wicket to give Canada hope but once David was removed by Umar Gul, the home side lost its next six wickets for just 37 runs. Mendis lifts Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's latest spin sensation Ajantha Mendis took three wickets and was named man of the match as his side clinched a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first game of the Canada T20 event Friday. Mendis, recently named the ICC's Emerging Player of the Year, finished with 3-15 from three overs after ripping the heart out of the Zimbabwe middle order including dismissing Prosper Utseya with his ‘carrom ball', which turns away from the right-handers. Tatenda Taibu, the former captain, finished on 45 to push Zimbabwe to 106-8 off 17 overs in match shortened by the damp outfield at the King's City venue. In reply, Sri Lanka openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Udawatte put on 36 in four overs, before Udawatte was caught behind. Left-arm spinner Ray Price bowled an economical spell which yielded two wickets including debutant Jeevantha Kulatunga and Dilshan. Thilina Kandamby and skipper Mahela Jayawardene were both run out as Zimbabwe reduced the Asian side to 77-5 before Chamara Kapugedera and Farveez Maharoof saw their side home. Gayle to lead Superstars West Indies captain Chris Gayle was on Friday named skipper of the Stanford Superstars who will face England in the $20-million Stanford 20/20 on Nov. 1. Squad: Chris Gayle (captain), Sylvester Joseph (vice captain), Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Lennox Cush, Travis Dowlin, Rayad Emrit, Andre Fletcher, Chad Hampson, Lindon James (wicketkeeper), Dave Mohammed, Kieron Pollard, Daren Powell, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor. Afghanistan wins promotion Afghanistan crushed Italy by 93 runs on Friday to secure a fifth win in five matches and secure promotion to the Division Three of the World Cricket League. The victory represented Afghanistan's second successive promotion and its next aim will be to finish in the top two of the six-team Division 3 tournament in Argentina in January, which would mean it joins 10 other sides at the qualifier for the 2011 World Cup in Asia.
