ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook put on an unbeaten century partnership as England shrugged off the early loss of captain Andrew Strauss to reach 132 for one at tea in the second test against Pakistan on Thursday.

Pakistan, who lead 1-0 in the three-test series, were dismissed for 257 in the morning session after adding only one run to their overnight total for the loss of three wickets.

Strauss fell to off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 11, pushing a thick inside edge on to his pad that looped up for Asad Shafiq to take an easy catch at short-leg. Strauss has reached 50 only once in his last 13 inning.

Trott should have departed for 22, but escaped when Pakistan failed to ask for a review that would have confirmed he was lbw. He went on to record his 14th half-century, reaching 57 at tea, while Cook was on 58.

The sparse crowd grew as the day wore on, Pakistan fans in their traditional shalwar kameez white trousers and knee-length shirt lolling on the grass banks that divide Sheikh Zayed’s two stands.

Most were low-paid security guards, labourers or drivers enjoying free entry and a special day off outside their usual 70-hour working week.

But their team gave them little cheer in the afternoon session as Pakistan wasted their two permitted reviews on lbw decisions against Trott that were outside the line.

ABU DHABI, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook put on an unbeaten century partnership as England shrugged off the early loss of captain Andrew Strauss to reach 132 for one at tea in the second test against Pakistan on Thursday.

Pakistan, who lead 1-0 in the three-test series, were dismissed for 257 in the morning session after adding only one run to their overnight total for the loss of three wickets.

Strauss fell to off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 11, pushing a thick inside edge on to his pad that looped up for Asad Shafiq to take an easy catch at short-leg. Strauss has reached 50 only once in his last 13 inning.

Trott should have departed for 22, but escaped when Pakistan failed to ask for a review that would have confirmed he was lbw. He went on to record his 14th half-century, reaching 57 at tea, while Cook was on 58.

The sparse crowd grew as the day wore on, Pakistan fans in their traditional shalwar kameez white trousers and knee-length shirt lolling on the grass banks that divide Sheikh Zayed’s two stands.

Most were low-paid security guards, labourers or drivers enjoying free entry and a special day off outside their usual 70-hour working week.

But their team gave them little cheer in the afternoon session as Pakistan wasted their two permitted reviews on lbw decisions against Trott that were outside the line.

ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Captain Andrew Strauss again failed with the bat as England reached 48 for one at lunch on the second day of the second test against Pakistan on Thursday, having quickly dismissed the hosts for 257.

Strauss, who has scored one 50 in his last 13 innings, fell to off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 11 in Abu Dhabi, the opener getting a thick inside edge onto his pad that looped up for Asad Shafiq to take an easy catch at short-leg.

Alastair Cook, on 27, and Jonathan Trott (5) were at the crease when lunch was called.

Opener Cook had a lucky escape in the final over of the session when Shafiq, again at short-leg, failed to hold a low drive.

The morning session started brightly for England as they looked to avenge their 10-wicket defeat in the series opener, Stuart Broad and James Anderson ripping into the Pakistan tail and claiming the last three wickets in seven balls.

Pakistan resumed on 256 for seven, with Misbah-ul-Haq unbeaten on 83, but the captain added only a single to their overnight score before falling leg before wicket to Broad, the Nottinghamshire all-rounder’s fourth scalp of the innings.

Anderson then dismissed Saeed Ajmal with a full delivery which angled towards middle and leg stump and trapped the batsmen lbw after he played and missed.

ABU DHABI, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Captain Andrew Strauss again failed with the bat as England reached 48 for one at lunch on the second day of the second test against Pakistan on Thursday, having quickly dismissed the hosts for 257.

Strauss, who has scored one 50 in his last 13 innings, fell to off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 11 in Abu Dhabi, the opener getting a thick inside edge onto his pad that looped up for Asad Shafiq to take an easy catch at short-leg.

Alastair Cook, on 27, and Jonathan Trott (5) were at the crease when lunch was called.

Opener Cook had a lucky escape in the final over of the session when Shafiq, again at short-leg, failed to hold a low drive.

The morning session started brightly for England as they looked to avenge their 10-wicket defeat in the series opener, Stuart Broad and James Anderson ripping into the Pakistan tail and claiming the last three wickets in seven balls.

Pakistan resumed on 256 for seven, with Misbah-ul-Haq unbeaten on 83, but the captain added only a single to their overnight score before falling leg before wicket to Broad, the Nottinghamshire all-rounder’s fourth scalp of the innings.

Anderson then dismissed Saeed Ajmal with a full delivery which angled towards middle and leg stump and trapped the batsmen lbw after he played and missed.

ABU DHABI (Reuters) – England’s Monty Panesar played down his rivalry with fellow spinner Graeme Swann after returning to the test arena on Wednesday for the first time since 2009.

Panesar dismissed Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez on the way to figures of one for 91 in the second test, while Swann took three for 52 to confirm his reputation as England’s top spinner.

England were in command after reducing the hosts to 256 for seven, but Pakistan captain Misbah ul-Haq remained unbeaten on 83.

“I have been out of the team for three years, so whatever opportunities I get now I just want to make the most of my opportunity,” Panesar told reporters.

“I’m not really thinking about whether I want to be number one (spin bowler). We both see each other as partners, helping each other.

“I’m enjoying my partnership with Swann, bowling in tandem – ball turning away, ball spinning it actually creates quite a lot of pressure among different batsmen.”

Panesar was recalled in place of injured seamer Chris Tremlett as England played two spinners in a four-man attack for the first time since 2003.

ABU DHABI (Reuters) – England’s Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann were the scourge of Pakistan as they picked up six wickets to reduce the hosts to 256 for seven on the first day of the second test on Wednesday.

Pakistan captain Misbah ul-Haq remained unbeaten on 83 at the close but England, the world’s top-ranked team, made a good start to the match following their 10-wicket drubbing in the first test.

The touring side looked like they might rue a hat-trick of missed catches as ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq put on a fifth-wicket stand of 100 to reach 203 for four but Swann and Broad struck in the final session to tip the balance in England’s favour.

Pakistan, who play home matches in the Gulf region due to security problems in their country, won the toss and opted to bat.

Openers Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar added 50 as Broad and James Anderson struggled to make an impression with the new ball.

Captain Andrew Strauss then turned to spin duo Swann and Monty Panesar, with England fielding a four-man attack with two slow bowlers for the first time since 2003, and the decision was soon vindicated.

In the 19th over, Swann bowled Taufeeq Umar for 16 with a straight delivery the batsmen foolishly left to clip his off stump, reducing Pakistan to 51 for one.

ABU DHABI (Reuters) – England’s Stuart Broad was the scourge of Pakistan as the Nottingham all-rounder picked up two quick wickets in the second test in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday before the hosts hit back to reach 177-4 at tea on the opening day.

Broad dismissed Younus Khan and Azhar Ali in quick succession after lunch, sending their off-stumps flying with searing deliveries as Pakistan toiled to 103-4.

However, captain Misbah ul-Huq and Asad Shafiq fought back for the hosts with a stand of 74 in front of a small crowd in the Sheikh Zayed stadium, an oasis of green in the dusty outskirts of the UAE capital.

England, the number one test side in the world, started the afternoon session aggressively with Monty Panesar, recalled in place of injured seamer Chris Tremlett for his first test appearance since 2009, bowling a tight line from the grandstand end while Broad attacked from the other.

In the sixth over after lunch Broad bowled Khan for 24 with an angled delivery that clipped the batsman’s pads before smashing out the off-stump.

Broad repeated the feat four overs later for his fifth wicket of the series when he knocking out Azhar Ali’s off-stump, also for 24.

In between, ul-Haq survived a fierce lbw appeal while yet to score, umpire Bruce Oxenford deciding the captain’s bat hit the ball before it struck his pads.

ABU DHABI, Jan 25 (Reuters) – England’s Stuart Broad was the scourge of Pakistan as the Nottingham all-rounder picked up two quick wickets in the second test in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday before the hosts hit back to reach 177-4 at tea on the opening day.

Broad dismissed Younus Khan and Azhar Ali in quick succession after lunch, sending their off-stumps flying with searing deliveries as Pakistan toiled to 103-4.

However, captain Misbah ul-Huq and Asad Shafiq fought back for the hosts with a stand of 74 in front of a small crowd in the Sheikh Zayed stadium, an oasis of green in the dusty outskirts of the UAE capital.

England, the number one test side in the world, started the afternoon session aggressively with Monty Panesar, recalled in place of injured seamer Chris Tremlett for his first test appearance since 2009, bowling a tight line from the grandstand end while Broad attacked from the other.

In the sixth over after lunch Broad bowled Khan for 24 with an angled delivery that clipped the batsman’s pads before smashing out the off-stump.

Broad repeated the feat four overs later for his fifth wicket of the series when he knocking out Azhar Ali’s off-stump, also for 24.

In between, ul-Haq survived a fierce lbw appeal while yet to score, umpire Bruce Oxenford deciding the captain’s bat hit the ball before it struck his pads.

DUBAI, Jan 24 (Reuters) – UAE telecoms operator Etisalat has appointed a top executive as its new chief regional officer for Asia, in the latest reshuffle at the former monopoly.

“That’s correct,” Jamal al Jarwan said on Tuesday, when asked if he had become Etisalat’s head of Asia operations, a newly created role. “I have already started.”

Jarwan was formerly chief international investments officer at the Gulf’s No. 1 telecom operator by market value.

Etisalat is active in 18 countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East and analysts now expect it will create similar roles as Jarwan’s for the other two.

Etisalat’s African operations include licences in Egypt, Nigeria and Tanzania, while Asia includes India, Pakistan and Indonesia.

The firm’s footprint may be broad but it remains heavily dependent on its home market, with the United Arab Emirates providing three-quarters of revenue in the third quarter.

Other Gulf former monopolies have more diversified income – rival Qatar Telecommunications co derives just a fifth of revenue from its domestic market while Saudi Telecom’s home tally is about two-thirds — and Jarwan’s new role suggests Etisalat wants more from its foreign assets.

DUBAI, Jan 24 (Reuters) – UAE telecoms operator Etisalat has appointed a top executive as its new chief regional officer for Asia, in the latest reshuffle at the former monopoly.

“That’s correct,” Jamal al Jarwan said on Tuesday, when asked if he had become Etisalat’s head of Asia operations, a newly created role. “I have already started.”

Jarwan was formerly chief international investments officer at the Gulf’s No. 1 telecom operator by market value.

Etisalat is active in 18 countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East and analysts now expect it will create similar roles as Jarwan’s for the other two.

Etisalat’s African operations include licences in Egypt, Nigeria and Tanzania, while Asia includes India, Pakistan and Indonesia.

The firm’s footprint may be broad but it remains heavily dependent on its home market, with the United Arab Emirates providing three-quarters of revenue in the third quarter.

Other Gulf former monopolies have more diversified income – rival Qatar Telecommunications co derives just a fifth of revenue from its domestic market while Saudi Telecom’s home tally is about two-thirds — and Jarwan’s new role suggests Etisalat wants more from its foreign assets.