There's been no official announcement yet, but if all the rumours are true then the ICC executive is about to alter the result of the 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan. The BBC, Cricinfo and the Press Trust of India are among sources reporting the Orwellian masterstroke, by which the two year-old result will be amended from an England win to a draw.

A thirty-year phase of cricketing history came to an end at the Gabba tonight. The triangular one-day international series had long past its use-by date, and was finally being put out of its misery. But instead of ending with a whimper, it went out with an unexpected bang. India completed a 2-0 clean-sweep of the best-of-three finals series against Australia to win the 2008 Commonwealth Bank Series.

It was during the one-day tri-series of 1981-82. Australia versus Pakistan, from memory I think it was the Adelaide Oval game. Javed Miandad, a few weeks after his legendary contretemps with Dennis Lillee, was in hot water for apparently being overhead shouting the F-word to Greg Chappell as the Australian captain was leaving the field after being dismissed.

In the days well before codes of conduct and match referees, Javed explained that he was actually greeting the successful wicket-taker, off-spinning all-rounder Ijaz Faqih.

Javed's words to Ijaz in Urdu translate into English as, "Faqih, you got him third ball!"

Rashid Latif, former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper turned serial dial-a-quote, has come up with A Great Idea.

Latif has suggested that selectors should consult with the umpires before choosing their starting eleven.

Umpires, you see, "know a lot about the game and the players and their suggestions could prove very vital for the selectors", according to Riazuddin, a former international umpire who still does occasional third umpire duty. Riazuddin described Latif's suggestion as "visionary and innovative".

Just finished listening to an interesting half-hour interview with Bob Woolmer on the BBC World Service. It's available online until next Saturday (the 27th).

West Indies v Pakistan at Sabina Park, Kingston.

Pakistan earthquake one year on: 1.8 million people still in temporary shelter as snow falls - Date: 04 Oct 2006Source: Oxfam [Reliefweb]

Pakistan has beaten New Zealand by five runs in the first 20-overs-a-side international at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

It happened on November 23, 1984. Bad weather delayed the start of the game, which was set at twenty overs for each team when it finally got under way. Pakistan made 157 for 5, New Zealand were held to 152 for 7.

Despite Mudassar Nazar's four-over haul of 4/27, it was Saleem Malik (41 from 40 balls) who was named Man of the Match. See the scorecard for further details.

There were no silly names like "Twenty20" in those days. Remember this as New Zealand faces Australia for its second 20-overs international in two decades tomorrow at Eden Park.