Cricket: Wicketkeeper claims nine lives

THE Pakistani wicketkeeper, Tahir Rasheed, has broken a 33-year-old world record by accounting for nine dismissals in a single innings of a first-class match.

Tahir claimed eight catches and one stumping playing for Habib Bank against Pakistan Automobile Corporation in a Patron's Trophy match on Sunday.

The previous highest number of victims claimed by a wicketkeeper in one innings was by shared by Australia's Wally Grout, Essex's David East and Steve Marsh, of Kent. Grout took eight catches playing for Queensland against Western Australia in the 1959-1960 season. East also took eight catches against Somerset in 1985, while Marsh's eight catches were against Middlesex in 1991.

Eight Pakistani wicketkeepers have claimed seven dismissals, including Wasim Bari, who had two seven-wicket hauls, one in a domestic tournament and the other against New Zealand. The new record-holder is one of the seven brothers of the former Pakistan Test batsman, Haroon Rasheed, six of whom have played first-class cricket.