Sharjah (AFP) : The Guinness Book of Records acknowledged the achievement of Sharjah cricket stadium for hosting the most number of one-day matches during the Pakistan and Sri Lanka encounter here on Sunday.

Sharjah stadium, built in the early 1980s, was the hub of one-day cricket between 1984 to 2003 and had hosted 200 one-day internationals – a world record for a limited over matches venue.

The Pakistan-Sri Lanka match on Sunday is the 201st at the stadium.

Official of the Guinness Records Book Vin Sharma presented a certificate to United Arab Emirates (UAE) minister for higher education and scientific research Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan at the stadium.

Sheikh Nahyan said the achievement made UAE proud.

“This is an achievement for Sharjah stadium to get an entry into the world record book,” said Sheikh Nahyan, also the chairman of Emirates Cricket Board. “This is something which we are proud of.”

Sheikh Nahyan said the Guinness Book entry will encourage UAE to host more and more sport.

“This will encourage us for more support to sports and cricket is gaining momentum and UAE is becoming a base for cricket,” said Sheikh Nahyan.

The Gulf state hold major tennis, golf and Formula One Grand Prix every year besides being a neutral venue for Pakistan who are forced to move their home matches because of security fears since 2008.

Arch rivals Pakistan and India played at Sharjah regularly until New Delhi refused to give permission to their national team to play at the neutral venue in 2000.

Sharjah Cricket Council secretary Mazhar Khan hopes the recognition of the Guinness Book of Records will help Sharjah to stage more cricket.

“It is a great achievement and we promise to provide the venue for more and more international cricket,” said Khan.

Karachi (PTI) : Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja feels the country’s cricketers are trying hard to regain their credibility that has been shaken by the spot-fixing scandal by trying hard to win each and every match they play.

Former coach Waqar Younis and Rameez agreed that Pakistan’s one-day series win over Sri Lanka and its fighting performance on Sunday in the fourth match was important after the damage caused by the spot-fixing scandal.

“I think after the damage done by the spot-fixing issue and the turbulent times and trials that Pakistan cricket has been through the players themselves want to just win every match to regain their credibility as a team and to win back the confidence of their supporters and cricket fans all over the world,” Rameez said.

He said the winning streak is a very positive development for Pakistan cricket which needed to do well to get back on track. Rameez also credited good captaincy from Misbah-ul-Haq for the turnaround in fortunes.

Waqar, who remained Pakistan’s head coach until the Zimbabwe tour in September after which he stepped down on personal and health grounds, agreed with Rameez.

Both the former captains were speaking in a post-match session after Pakistan clinched the fourth one-dayer to take a unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

Waqar, who played an influential role in Pakistan’s rise as a team since last year, said Misbah deserved a lot of credit for the consistent performances of the team.

“He is calm, calculated and disciplined and has led the side well. The players have responded to his style of captaincy in the last six months,” the former fast bowler said.

“It is good they are taking it one match at a time instead of focusing on long term goals. This approach has worked for them and now one can see this team is on a roll with a good bowling attack,” he said.

Kolkata (IANS) : Stylish batsman Yuvraj Singh may not be in the best of form, but Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels he needs backing as it is important to show confidence in him.

Yuvraj has not been among the runs in the ongoing series against the West Indies and his customary weaknesses against the short ball showed as he got hit by a Fidel Edwards delivery in the first innings of the Kolkata Test at the Eden Gardens here.

But for Dhoni, getting hit is part and parcel of the game.

“At the end of the day, it’s about scoring runs. It does not matter where you got hit or where you scored runs. Yes, he is going through a tough phase but it’s important to show confidence in him. We all know he is talented. He has played really well against all the big bowlers especially in the ODI format which means he has talent to do well in Test formats as well,” said Dhoni.

The Indian captain said it becomes very difficult for a player to back himself being in and out of the side.

“It’s very difficult to back yourself. You have that bit of tentativeness. It’s a bit tough on him. But hopefully he will recover and do well for India,” he said.

Dhoni was also very satisfied with his blitzy knock of 144 in the only Indian innings here.

“He (Kemar Roach) was getting me out thrice. It was a good wicket to bat on. From the pavilion end, you had a bit of assistance for the pacers. After a good start, the way Rahul played with Laxman it gave us a position where the lower order comes in and tries to score runs at a brisk pace,” he said after India defeated the West Indies by a thumping innings and 15 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Dhoni said initially he tried to play big shots, but when that did not pay off, he gave himself more time to get set before going for the acceleration.

He said after the disastrous tour of England when India went down 0-4 in Tests and 0-3 in ODIs, “we are glad to be on the winning side”.