Colombo, July 22: Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has been reprimanded for abusing Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews during the ongoing third and final Test, the International Cricket Council said on Wednesday.

Kaneria verbally abused Mathews after having him caught in the slips on Tuesday, the first of the bowler’s five victims that helped Pakistan dismiss Sri Lanka for 233 at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Match referee Alan Hurst of Australia reprimanded Kaneria and warned him about his future conduct following a hearing which was also attended by Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed, captain Younis Khan and the umpires. Kaneria pleaded guilty to breaching clause 1.4 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct which relates to "using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting".

"Swearing is expressly forbidden by the ICC code and in this case it was picked up by the people present at the ground so the potential for negatively influencing spectators is clear," Hurst said in an ICC statement. — AFP

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Recalls for Naved, Nazir

Karachi, July 22: Pakistan on Wednesday recalled dashing opener Imran Nazir and all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan for the 16-man squad that will face Sri Lanka in the the five-match one-day series starting next week.

The duo had been banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board after joining the unrecognised Indian Cricket League and were overlooked for the national team during the period. Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar was left out of the 30-man preliminary squad for this year’s Champions Trophy after the pacer failed to prove his fitness. But Mohammad Asif, was included as his ban expires on September 22, the start of the tournament in South Africa. — Agencies

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Freddie determined to play through pain

London, July 22: Andrew Flintoff insists only a "very, very serious" injury would stop him firing England’s bid to regain the Ashes from Australia.

Flintoff said: "The good thing was I bowled a lot of overs and kept my pace up. "I’d be lying if I said I’m not a little bit sore but I was confident when making the announcement that I was retiring from Test cricket that I had four to go, and now it’s three. "It’d have to be something very, very serious not to play in the next three Test matches." — AFP