Hayden and Hussey to put Australia first
Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey have both confirmed that Australia's tour match in India in early October will take precedence over their potential involvement in the Champions League.
Their comments are in contrast to the claim of IS Bindra, a member of the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council, who said the pair would play for their IPL team, Chennai Super Kings, even though the Champions League clashes with Australia's tour of India.
Only one warm-up match is scheduled, to take place from October 2 to 5, before the first Test in Bangalore, which begins on October 9.
Australia will have just been to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, provided they do not pull out, and their players will be desperate for a lengthy hit-out ahead of such a major Test series.
Hayden said his IPL contract left no doubt that Australia's match would be his sole concern.
"The rule is simple on this one," Hayden told the Australian.
"If we are playing for Australia in any form our decision will be to honour that commitment first.
There are no grey areas here." For Hussey, playing for Chennai appears to be his third priority.
He has already confirmed that he would prefer to represent his home state Western Australia, who have qualified for the Champions League as one of the two top Twenty20 teams in Australia's domestic tournament.
Although he would have reluctantly accepted that his contract gave Chennai precedence over Western Australia, the issue will probably be irrelevant in any case.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Hussey told team officials on Sunday that he expected to be playing in the tour match and not in the Champions League.
Injuries worry West Indies
West Indies' buoyant mood after the Twenty20 may be dinted by the absence of some senior players for the opening match of the five-game series against Australia on Tuesday.
Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpual, who missed the success on Friday, are carrying niggling injuries alongside the wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
Gayle, the captain, is concerned with the groin complaint he picked up two months ago, but will ignore the discomfort to lead the team in St Vincent.
"I never got any sort of injury like this before and speaking to people who had groin injuries, they say it does tend to take a lot of time," Gayle said.
"I thought it was going to be two weeks but it is two months now.
I just have to blank it out and try and play with it and see how well I can contribute to the team.
If it's not working out then obviously I'll have to sit out." He said he would have to overcome fears of aggravating the injury when batting.
"I want to go out there and be positive and block out the negatives," he said.
"You don't want to take on too much at this particular time, you go out there a bit worried about the injury so you have to know how to pace yourself." A decision on Sarwan (groin) and Chanderpaul (leg) will be left until the morning of the game.
"We'll see how they feel," Gayle said, "and if they get a chance to play, we have to wait and see." If Ramdin, the wicketkeeper, is not cleared Patrick Brown, the Barbados gloveman, will take over.
"The team is carrying a few niggles so we have to be careful how we use the guys because guys are struggling, but we will try to come with the best combination and see how well we can cope with it against Australia," Gayle said.
"It is an opportunity for the likes of Andre Fletcher and Kieron Pollard, who have been around, to get a chance to play and try and prove themselves."
Pakistan on trial at Asia Cup
Pakistan's ability to host an international tournament without any security problems will be examined when the Asia Cup begins on Tuesday.
India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and associate members Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates contest the event with questions remaining over the International Cricket Council's decision to award September's Champions trophy to Pakistan.
ICC officials said last week that the Asia Cup would be monitored closely ahead of the eight-team tournament after Australia postponed their planned tour of Pakistan in March following a spate of suicide bombings.
"We are well prepared for a tournament of this magnitude," Shafqat Naghmi, a senior Pakistani cricket Board official said.
"The security arrangements in the Asia Cup basically are the same as for the Champions Trophy. We are confident the Asia Cup will go smoothly."
Pakistan last hosted a multi-team tournament in 1997, a four-team event that was part of its independence celebrations.
Since then tours in Pakistan have constantly been affected by teams refusing to tour over security concerns.
As well as Australia's recent postponement, New Zealand returned home from a tour in May 2002 after a bomb blast outside their hotel in Karachi killed 14 people, including nine French naval staff.
Naghmi insisted that conditions in Pakistan were now safe.
"The Asia Cup will prepare us for the Champions trophy as well. It is a good dress rehearsal for us," he added.
Pakistan has scheduled an international seminar and will also host the annual Asian cricket awards during the competition, hoping to highlight to delegates expected from around 22 countries that Pakistan is safe for sporting events.
The Asia Cup, in its ninth edition since launching as a biennial event in 1984, has also been hit by political tensions between Pakistan and India and is being held for the first time since hosts Sri Lanka won the trophy four years ago.
Pakistan, fresh from a tri-series final win over India, face their rivals again as well as Hong Kong in Group B with captain Shoaib Malik confident home advantage will give them an edge.
"Wickets are the same all over the sub continent so that is not an edge for us as hosts but the crowd support we get will definitely boost us and we have a balanced side," Malik said.
Hong Kong skipper, Tabaruk Dar, originally from Pakistan, insisted his side will be competitive.
"We are part-time cricketers but we are not here on holidays and we don't want to end up losing embarrassingly to any of the big teams," Dar said.
Group A contains Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates with the two top teams from each group qualifying for the super four stage in Karachi from June 28. The final will also be contested in Karachi on July 6.
England stars tempted by IPL
Half of England's top players would consider quitting international cricket early to play in the Indian Premier League.
With money now flowing into the sport like never before, a poll by the Professional Cricketers' Association highlighted that 50 per cent of current England internationals would consider premature retirement.
Within the last nine months, two rival cash-rich leagues have been set up in India, Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford has done a deal with the ECB to stage £10 million, winner-takes-all matches each autumn and the rules and regulations for the inaugural Champions League tournament are being drawn up.
"The current imbalance between remuneration for Twenty20 cricket and the longer forms of the game does present a very real threat to the existing fabric of the game," the report states.
"The financial rewards offered by the Indian leagues will entice players to retire early from county and international cricket - and senior players at that. The impact on the strength of our international sides would be huge.
"This would have the potential to significantly devalue our TV rights as well as reducing the attraction of English cricket to the fans."
The findings are a warning to the authorities that top talent will look elsewhere if they are not remunerated commensurately with their international peers.
However, the results of canvassing 334 players on the English domestic scene also showed Test cricket is the most revered form of the game.
A whopping 93 per cent believe it is important Test cricket retains its status on the international scene.
Three-quarters of players would, in fact, like to see a Test championship incorporated into the five-year future tours programme cycle.
With that in mind, and despite recent suggestions of reform, the prevailing mood was to continue to replicate, as closely as possible, the conditions of Test cricket within our own domestic structure. Namely to retain the County Championship in its current form of two divisions and 16 four-day matches a summer.
The one major change recommended by the PCA is to increase the prize money 10-fold to a £1 million pot.
Promotion and relegation undoubtedly increases competitiveness and greater prize funds would intensify the focus at the very top end.
The surveys were first handed out at the start of the season but even after being reissued, in the light of extra Twenty20 cash, 62 per cent insist the Championship is the most important competition.
Other issues players were canvassed on included 12-month central contracts, non-England qualified cricketers and the general growth of Twenty20.
"The PCA has presented its comprehensive views on the changing landscape of our game and is committed to working with the key stakeholders to ensure improvement both on the field and off it commercially," said PCA chairman Dougie Brown.
"This document demonstrates the players' willingness to preserve the rich heritage whilst embracing the new opportunities offered to the game."
In addition to 50 per cent of England players having the potential to have their heads turned by IPL, almost as many (45 per cent) admitted they would consider risking a ban from certain tournaments for the financial reward of the Indian Cricket League.
Yet 50-over cricket remains popular with participants, with 79 per cent of those surveyed pre-Stanford believing one-day internationals should be retained.
Anticipated expansion of 20-over products has reduced room in the summer scheduling, however, and the ECB is currently quizzing spectators, via a market research strategy, on their favoured tournaments.
Amongst players the view is that the Pro40 competition should be scrapped with a huge 90 per cent believing it is the least important of the domestic competitions.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Shoaib Malik warns team against complacency after wining Bangla tri-series
Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik has warned his team members against being complacent after winning the last tri-series earlier this month in Bangladesh by beating India by 25 runs, and take seriously the upcoming Asia Cup to be played in Pakistan from Tuesday.
Malik said India and Sri Lanka were also serious contenders for the Cup. "Let's not forget that India are a very dangerous team. They've beaten Australia this year and we will have to give our best to beat them. And then we cannot take Sri Lanka lightly," he said.
The Pakistan skipper, however, said that his team's morale was up following its title-winning triumph in a tri-series event.
"There is no doubt that the victory in Bangladesh has boosted our confidence. But the Asia Cup will be a different tournament altogether and we will have to start from scratch," The News quoted the experienced all-rounder telling reporters here.
Pakistan are touted as favourites to win the Asia Cup because of their current record and the home advantage.
The tournament will be played in Karachi and Lahore from June 24 to July 6. Pakistan will launch their title campaign on the opening day of the contest with an easy game against minnows Hong Kong at the National Stadium.
But, Malik warned that there would be no easy games in the tournament. "We will work hard and give our best in each of the (Asia Cup) matches, no matter which side we are playing against in the event," said Malik.
County cricket up for overhaul; to rival IPL
English cricket gearing up for a massive shake-up, according to a report in the reputed British daily.
ECB chairman Giles Clarke is preparing to push for sweeping changes that include the splitting of the County Championship into three divisions. This move is being floated with the main objective to clear room for more Twenty20 cricket. This, despite growing worries from some counties that crowds at matches this season have been down, something many attribute to the increase in the number of games.
Though this move may not be popular with a lot of parties, this will upset many, Giles apparently also wants to end promotion and relegation between divisions, so the three conferences will be randomly drawn at the start of the season. It is, however, still not clear, what will be left to play for.
Clarke is also likely to recommend salary caps, similar to the one in the super successful IPL, to try to bridge the gulf between the counties.
The ultimate aim is to create an English Premier League to rival the IPL, with teams drawn from outside the traditional county structure. Part of the agreement with Allen Stanford might well have included provision for him to field a side in such a competition.
Clarke`s proposal will be further discussed at the next county chief executives` meeting, scheduled for sometime in July.
Three man committee to probe Asif doping controversy
In bid to settle the Mohammad Asif doping controversy once and for all, PCB has constituted a three-man committee to investigate Mohammad Asif`s 19-day detention in the UAE. The pacer was held on allegations of possessing an illegal substance.
Asif returned to Pakistan on Friday after being deported on the grounds of "insignificance."
"They have been asked to acquire all the documents related to the case, establish facts, and after a complete investigation, submit a report to me," Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, said in Lahore. "The same report will be sent to the ICC."
The committee comprises of PCB officials Shaqfat Naghmi, the chief operating officer, Zakir Khan, the director cricket operations, and Nadeem Akram, director, human resources. They will begin their inquiry once they receive official records pertaining to the case from Dubai.
"Based on the judgment`s copy, we will consider whether Asif can be pardoned or not. A crime is a crime and any player who has committed it will be punished," Ashraf said. "It is a relief that he has been released, but it is a fact that this incident caused a lot of embarrassment and gave sleepless nights to the board."
Meanwhile, Ashraf also said the hakeem (physician) who, according to Asif had given him the substance, could be questioned. "I have heard his point of view, and he told me that he was in possession of a pain killer given to him by an expert on natural herbs," he said. "If needed, we will also summon the hakeem to record his statement to know what exactly was in possession with Asif."
Jane McGrath, wife of Glenn McGrath passes away
Wife of former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath, Jane McGrath, passed away after complications resulting from a surgery. McGrath,42, had been battling breast cancer and then a brain tumour.
"It is with deep sadness that the family and friends of Jane McGrath, beloved wife of former Australian cricketer Glenn and loving mother of James and Holly, must announce she passed away at her home this morning," a statement issued by the McGrath Foundation said. "With Glenn and their two children by her side, Jane`s wonderful life ended peacefully after a sudden decline in her health over the past week."
James Sutherland, the CEO of Cricket Australia offered condolences to the bereaved family. "Jane was well-known, loved and admired throughout Australian cricket and was one of the most respected and admired members of the Australian cricket team family group during Glenn McGrath`s playing days."
"All of us who met her were charmed by her dignity and good humour as she tackled her battle with her illness for more than 10 years," he said. "We also greatly respected the work she and Glenn did through their foundation, work which brought and will continue to bring tangible comfort to so many others."
She was an active campaigner for cancer awareness, setting up the McGrath Foundation with her husband.
England may boycott Champions Trophy
Many senior England players, it is believed, are threatening to pull out of the Champions Trophy in September due to grave concerns about security in Pakistan, irrespective of ECB rulings.
Just days after ICC president Ray Mali visited the host cities - Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi - and declared that the one-day tournament will proceed as planned, it is learnt that members of the England squad may join a mass international boycott.
Defending champions Australia too are undecide whether to participate and even if they eventually do, captain Ricky Ponting fears individual players may refuse to travel.
New Zealand, currently on tour to England, are due to hold a team meeting in London next week to discuss the issue. Captain Daniel Vettori was one of the players in Karachi for a Test match six years ago when a suicide bombing outside the team hotel left several people dead and forced the traumatised Kiwis to cancel their tour.
Vettori suggested on Friday that an Australian boycott is likely to set a damaging precedent.
He said: `Their concerns are probably a precursor to a lot of people`s concerns. I toured Pakistan when the bomb went off outside our hotel. I went back about a month later and the security then was immense, almost overwhelming.
`If they could promise that level of security I think it would appease a lot of guys but we`ll just have to wait on security reports.`
Although the ICC have compiled a security report intended to justify their decision to stage the mini- World Cup in such a volatile country, it has not succeeded in putting minds at rest. Far from being reassuring, the report is said to be `full of holes`.
Consequently, the ECB have decided to put together their own report, with a security officer due to travel from London to Pakistan in the coming days. The Federation of International Cricketers` Associations are also compiling a fresh report.
England coach Peter Moores played down the situation yesterday and said it had not yet been a topic of conversation. In reality, it has, but for now the players are content to leave the Professional Cricketers` Association to liaise with the ECB on their behalf.
Sean Morris, the chief executive of the PCA, said last night: `We are working with the ECB on security reports which we will present to the players. Prior to that, there is bound to be a period of uncertainty.
Australia had earlier this year, pulled out of their scheduled Pakistan tour and Ponting believes they could come to a similar decision again.
`We don`t know if we`re going and if we do go, we don`t know if individuals are going to pull out,` he said.
There has been considerable unrest in Pakistan since the assassination of former president Benazir Bhutto last December. In recent months there have been devastating bomb blasts in Rawalpindi (where England are due to play New Zealand and South Africa), Lahore and Islamabad, leaving scores of people dead
Collingwood wants cutting edge
England captain Paul Collingwood urged his side to be more ruthless after slumping to a 22-run defeat against New Zealand.
Having restricted the tourists to a modest 182 at Bristol, England were confident of taking a 2-0 lead in the series but slumped to 160 all out with 19-year-old seamer Tim Southee claiming four wickets for 38 runs.
It leaves the series all square as both teams head off to London next week for the remaining two matches, but Collingwood will reflect on an opportunity missed.
"We were very happy restricting them to 182, the wicket was pretty good and it was coming onto the bat - it certainly wasn't a wicket you couldn't bat on," said Collingwood.
"We're very disappointed we didn't take an opportunity here. We had the opportunity to be pretty ruthless and go 2-0 up and we kept losing wickets."
England restricted New Zealand to 49 for five but a determined 56 from all-rounder Grant Elliott and a hard-hitting 47 off 40 balls from man-of-the-match Mills enabled the tourists add 50 in the last five overs.
In reply England slumped to 64 for six but looked on course to snatch victory with Collingwood and Graeme Swann forging a 65-run stand but lost their last three wickets for eight runs in four overs to seal New Zealand's triumph.
Collingwood continued: "We did so well with the ball early on, taking early wickets to put them under pressure and they got away from us a little bit towards the end of their innings.
"Kyle Mills played really well and struck the ball well but you can't get away from the fact we were delighted with them getting 182 on that wicket."
But Collingwood insisted: "It shouldn't be hard to get the momentum back because I think the boys realise today was just a blip.
"We played some great cricket recently in the one-day form of the game and today was disappointing because we could have been really ruthless and nailed it but we didn't take that opportunity and that's something we're going to have to learn as a unit."
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori saluted his side's comeback from 49 for five and then 75 for six to level the series ahead of the final two games at The Oval and Lord's.
He said: "Our performance was one of our better ones. It is the sort of victory you remember, defending 180. It was a really good win.
"It has been a tough tour and this gives us a chance to win the series. If we had lost here and been 2-0 down, it would have been tough to get everyone up for the last two games in London.
"I'm really happy. We stole a victory from 79 for six. To defend a total of 180, is one of those games you really remember. It keeps us in the series.
"It is a really good feeling in the dressing room.
"Having your backs against the wall has been a trait of New Zealand cricket teams for a long, long time. To deliver today, particularly with some young guys doing so well, is amazing.
"Kyle Mills had a great all-round game, Tim Southee's spell was superb and Grant Elliott has just been amazing in his first two games."
England falter against Black Caps
New Zealand battled to victory against England in the third one-day international in Bristol, bowling them out for 160 chasing 183.
New Zealand have now levelled the five-match series at 1-1 with matches at The Oval and Lord's to come on Wednesday and next Saturday respectively.
Paul Collingwood put in a captain's knock in a seventh-wicket partnership of 65 with Graeme Swann as England inched from 64-6 after 19 overs to 129-7 after 36, the skipper picking up 34 runs and off-spinner 29.
That left England needing 54 - but Stuart Broad's 17 was not enough as Tremlett followed him back to the pavilion with less than four overs left, Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori taking the decisive catch off the bowling of Grant Elliott.
All-rounder Elliott fired 56 for the Black Caps and Kyle Mills chipped in with 47 as the New Zealand innings - at one stage in dire straits on 110-7 - reached 182 with a flurry of sixes late on from Mills: five fours and two sixes.
Brendon McCullum threatened a big score after smashing Jimmy Anderson for six to deep midwicket, but was claimed on 17 by a leaping Kevin Pietersen at mid-off, the drive coming out of the meat of the bat but caught brilliantly.
Broad pitched in with another superb one-day showing with the ball, his final figures of 2-14 with four maidens comparing favourably with the expensive Anderson (3-61) - having both bowled their full allocation of 10 overs.
Seamer Anderson, one of the heroes in the victorious Test series, could not capitalise on the bowler-friendly conditions - overcast and windy - after Collingwood opted to field after winning the toss.
Tremlett (1-24) also bowled tight lines while Swann (0-10) did his bit over four overs.
Luke Wright took two wickets but gave away 34 runs in six overs before edging Mills to Scott Styris at second slip on the fourth ball of the England innings.
Ian Bell impressed with some stylish strokeplay to earn 20 runs but left the crease when he cut Elliott to McCullum in the covers, not quite catching the ball with the middle of the bat for once.
That came after Pietersen (4) turned Kyle Mills to Elliott at midwicket, a short contribution from England's key boundary-hitter.
Ravi Bopara ended with 27 when Jamie How executed an impressive diving catch, Tim Southee (2-38) the bowler, and Owais Shah and Tim Ambrose made short appearances - the pair of them leaving with ducks to put England up against it.
Collingwood and Swann seemed to have turned the match back on its head with their partnership, but Broad edged Vettori to Ambrose behind the stumps - although the wicketkeeper juggled the ball before taking the catch - then Tremlett went looking for glory in the darkening sky.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Sidebottom doubtful for England
Engalnd seamer Ryan Sidebottom's stiff back could force him out of the third one-day international with New Zealand.
With England leading the series 1-0, all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas - who replaced Sidebottom at Edgbaston - may continue in the side at Bristol.
Kiwi all-rounder Jacob Oram is still not ready to return, even as a batsman, because of a hamstring problem.
However, the Black Caps have opted to make one change, with Mark Gillespie replacing fellow seamer Michael Mason.
Following the farcical conclusion to Wednesday's match, organisers will be crossing their fingers that the forecast showers are as light and infrequent as possible.
If there are long interludes without play, however, the umpires do now have discretion to cut short the mid-match break.
Such an option was not available at Edgbaston when New Zealand's batsmen were reluctantly dragged from the field one over away from a probable win under Duckworth-Lewis regulations.
England coach Peter Moores admitted to a sense of relief that one-day skipper Paul Collingwood had been able to shrug off a wretched run of form in Test cricket.
Moores said: "The one-dayers came at a really good time.
"He takes on a lot of responsibility in the one-day format with captaincy, batting, bowling and fielding at backward point.
"There's no time for him to do anything else but to just go and play, which is what he's done.
"He's struck the ball beautifully, bowled and fielded well and captained well - it's great to see a cricketer playing with freedom and enjoying his game."
Despite flashes of brilliance, England remain inconsistent in one-day cricket, though Moores added: "We're going all right at the moment.
"The batters are playing well, we're seeing aggressive cricket but solid cricket as well, playing into good areas down the ground, playing strong shots.
"We've seen the bowling unit mature and from a fielding point of view we've worked really hard. We keep moving it forward.
"We've also moved from number eight to number six in the rankings so we're going in the right direction."
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori says his star batsman Brendon McCullum is showing the adaptability necessary to become a world-class player.
Having handed over the gloves to Gareth Hopkins because of an injury niggle, McCullum was guiding New Zealand smartly to their victory target on Wednesday when cruelly denied by the conditions.
Vettori said: "Brendon played a very mature and composed innings.
"He had an understanding of the Duckworth-Lewis system and where we needed to be in every situation and he seemed to tick every box.
"It was fantastic to see a guy like that, who is predominantly an aggressive stroke-maker, just settle back and play perfectly in the conditions.
"What we will do is look on our performance pretty favourably but we've still got to realise we are 1-0 down in the series."
England (possible): Ian Bell, Luke Wright, Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood (capt), Owais Shah, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Tim Ambrose (wk), Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Daniel Flynn, Grant Elliott, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Daniel Vettori (capt), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Mark Gillespie.
Vettori tries to calm Champions Trophy fears
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori did his best Friday to allay growing security concerns about staging the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy in Pakistan this year.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said he doesn`t yet know if his side will travel to Pakistan for the September 11-28 event and raised the prospect of individual withdrawals even if the title-holders do decide to send a team.
"We don`t know if we`re going. And if we do go, we don`t know if individuals are going to pull out," Ponting was quoted as saying in Australian newspapers.
"It just won`t be Australian players. There will be a few other teams who will be thinking long and hard if the tour does go ahead.
"I`m sure a lot of the New Zealand players who have been confronted with this stuff before, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, will have some pretty serious concerns."
Australia put off a March-April tour of Pakistan after several of their players hesitated after a series of suicide bombings in the run-up to Pakistan`s national elections. Vettori toured Pakistan in 2002 when a bomb exploded opposite New Zealand`s hotel in Karachi.
But the left-arm spinner said that if the security arrangements in place when he returned to Pakistan in 2003 were introduced for the Champions Trophy this would calm a lot of fears.
"I was there when the bomb went off outside our hotel and I went back a year later on tour and the security they put forward that time was immense and overwhelming," Vettori said.
"I did feel safe so if they could promise that level of security it would appease a lot of guys," he added ahead of the third one-day international against England here Saturday.
New Zealand are set to discuss the security situation in Pakistan with their board chief executive, Justin Vaughan, when he arrives in London, where the final two one-dayers of this five-match series take place, next week.
England coach Peter Moores, in contrast to Ponting`s very public concerns, said his team would take their cue from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"At the moment we haven`t discussed it and we`ll wait to see what pans out," Moores said. "We`ve had other things to discuss so it`s not been on the agenda at all at the moment.
"We`ll wait and see what is said and if that`s where we`re going and we`ll take our advice from the ECB."
ICC acting chief executive Dave Richardson said on Wednesday that Pakistan would host the Champions Trophy in September provided there were no safety and security fears.
But the Federation of International Cricketers` Associations chief executive Tim May was reported on Monday as saying "absolutely nothing" had changed in Pakistan since Australia abandoned its tour three months ago.
The Champions Trophy, this year`s leading international 50 overs per side event, is due to start on the seventh anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks on the United
And former Australia off-spinner May said security risks to players and officials had also been "compounded" by the decision to hold the event during the Muslim religious festival of Ramadan "in such a landscape of unrest and volatility and opposition to western countries."
Political turmoil hits Zimbabwe cricket; isolation intensifies
Zimbabwe`s political isolation seems to just growing by the day. The internal turmoil has had a severe impact on cricket and the likelihood of anyone touring the country is fast disappearing as the political situation worsens.
Even Cricket South Africa, which until now, had been supportive of their beleaguered neighbor by maintaining a policy of unwavering backing, isn’t enough anymore. The reason being, that individually the South African cricketers appear far less pliable than their board. The level of abuse as the presidential election run-off nears has persuaded many that enough is enough, and they have taken note of the passionate appeal by Archbishop Desmond Tutu for sportsmen to boycott the country.
Norman Ardense admitted that Zimbabwe was high on the agenda of the board meeting earlier this week, and he told a local paper that after that CSA would "pronounce what our stance on Zimbabwe will be ... but for now I must stress that we take the Archbishop`s views seriously and our policy is to support Zimbabwean cricket." The players might have taken the decision out of the board`s hands. It is believed that many leading cricketers have made clear that they will not support CSA if asked to play against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has no scheduled cricket until the end of the year. Plans for a tour of Kenya have fallen through, although it remains to be seen if the government would have allowed the trip to go ahead anyway. Last weekend almost 40,000 fans chanted "Mugabe must go" when Kenya hosted the Zimbabwe national football side.
Asif Issues Apology
Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif on Friday delivered an apology to the nation for his detention in Dubai, but continued to plead his innocence.
The 25-year-old was detained in the United Arab Emirates on June 1 under suspicion of carrying drugs.
He was finally released on Thursday after local prosecutors opted to deport the bowler rather than charge him, even though they alleged he was guilty of carrying 0.24 grammes of opium.
But Asif, who returned to Pakistan early on Friday, refuted those claims saying the substance found in his possession was given to him by a hakeem, a traditional Islamic healer.
"I am ashamed of what happened in Dubai and I apologise to the nation," said Asif at a news conference.
"I was not carrying drugs.
"I was subjected to two random drug tests in the Indian Premier League. Both tests were negative.
"Even in Dubai, the tests conducted on me returned negative. There was no trace of dope in my body.
"I don't use drugs. I have learnt my lesson."
In November 2006, Asif and fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar were banned after testing positive for the performance-enhancing steroid nandrolone.
But a PCB tribunal later lifted the suspension on Asif after ruling that he had taken the substance unknowingly.
"I am very grateful to the PCB for their support," he said.
"The Pakistan embassy did a lot to help secure my release and I am very grateful to them."
Asif met with PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf just prior to the news conference.
"Asif told me that no drugs were found on him and that he has never taken drugs," Ashraf said.
"It's good that he is back in Pakistan."
He said a three-member committee, led by chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi, would probe the case.
"We want the facts to be revealed in this case," he said.
"The hakeem will also be questioned. We have to find out what really happened.
"If Asif is guilty of any offence he will be punished."
The other members of the committee are director of cricket operations Zakir Khan and human resources director Nadeem Akram.
The PCB expects to receive all documents pertaining to the case from the UAE soon. The committee is expected to start its inquiry on Monday.
The ICC have also asked for a full report on the incident.
ICC spokesman Samiul Hasan Burni said the world body would take action after receiving the report.
Windies win rain-shortened Twenty20
The West Indies shook off their Test blues by beating Australia in an 11-over-a-side Twenty20 clash in Barbados.
A breathtaking display from Xavier Marshall, who hammered 36 from 15 balls, set up a seven-wicket victory for West Indies, who chased down the Aussie's 97-3 with 11 balls to spare.
Australia's openers Luke Ronchi (36) and Shaun Marsh (29) set up what looked like a challenging target of 98, with debutant Kemar Roach impressing with a couple of wickets.
However, Marshall provided the sort of batting heroics West Indies fans have been deprived of in recent years as he got the home side off to a flying start in reply, 25 coming off the second over of the chase, off Mitchell Johnson.
A couple of careless run-outs left West Indies at 64 for 3 and gave Australia a glimmer of hope, although those hopes were dashed when the acting captain Dwayne Bravo's 15-ball 28 got his team home, sealing the win with a six powered over midwicket off Watson.
Strauss called up as cover
Andrew Strauss has been added to England's squad for Saturday's third match in the NatWest Series against New Zealand.
The Middlesex left-hander joins the squad in Bristol as cover for Alastair Cook, who is yet to recover from a shoulder injury.
Cook is yet to feature in any of England's one-day matches this summer after injuring his shoulder during the final Test and had an injection on Thursday in an attempt to speed up his recovery.
It is the third time in as many matches that Strauss has been called into the squad as cover for Cook, who has already been ruled out of Saturday's match.
Cook will be re-assessed by medical staff on Monday with a view to him playing in the fourth match of the series at The Oval on Wednesday.
England are also monitoring the fitness of left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom after he had an injection for a stiff back, which ruled him out of Wednesday's match at Edgbaston.
Twenty20: Flintoff returns, makes duck
Andrew Flintoff made a long-awaited return from a side strain, although Lancashire went down to a narrow defeat to Roses rivals Yorkshire.
Yorkshire's four-run victory at Old Trafford means Lancashire have now lost three Twenty20 matches in succession, seriously hitting their chances of making the knockout stages.
Flintoff did not bowl on his surprise return - coming just one day after making a half-century in a second-team match - as the visitors were restricted to 135-8 off their 20 overs, Grant Brophy making 44 from 36 balls.
Lancashire lost captain Stuart Law early, with Flintoff following for a first-ball duck moments later as they stuttered in reply, with Tykes veteran Darren Gough taking two wickets late as the Lancashire tail failed to make the 12 runs required off the final over.
Also in the north division, England bowler Steve Harmison took two wickets as second-placed Durham eased to an eight-wicket victory over Leicestershire.
Gareth Breese took 3-17 and Harmison 2-12 - both off four overs - with Paul Nixon offering the greatest resistance with his 35 as the Foxes reached 119 for eight.
Will Smith and Dale Benkenstein guided the hosts across the line as they finished on 123 for two with 39 balls remaining.
The match between Somerset and Gloucestershire at Taunton was abandoned without a ball bowled.
Meanwhile, Worcestershire fell to a 38-run defeat to local rivals Wawrickshire, veteran leg-spinner Ian Salisbury taking 3-18 as the visitors were dismissed for just 113 chasing the home side's 151-5.
Nottinghamshire stayed at the top of the north division after beating Derbyshire by eight wickets at Derby.
Darren Pattinson took three for 18 from four overs as Notts reduced the hosts to 114 for eight, only James Pipe offered any meaningful resistance with 45.
Adam Voges and Will Jefferson then steered Notts to victory with 45 and 43 respectively with more than three overs remaining.
In the south division, Middlesex lost their 100% record as they went down to a 25-run defeat by Kent at Beckenham.
Kent made 86 for seven in their weather-affected eight overs, Justin Kemp top-scoring with 28.
However, leaders Middlesex could not match this as James Tredwell took three wickets for nine runs from two overs and they could only reach 61 for seven.
Essex then took advantage to close the gap at the top of the table to two points after they beat Surrey by 70 runs as Ryan ten Doeschate starred with both bat and ball.
James Foster and Ten Doeschate scored 41 and 35 as the hosts reached 164 for nine with Saqlain Mushtaq claiming three for 40 at Chelmsford.
Sussex claimed their first points after crushing Hampshire by nine wickets at the Rose Bowl.
The hosts batted first but could only make 85 all out with Chris Liddle taking four for 15.
In response, the bottom side cruised to 87 for one with Murray Goodwin making 46 off 26 deliveries as the visitors won with 63 balls remaining.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Dhoni confident of winning Champions Trophy
India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is confident that his team will carry on the good form to win the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September.
'The Indian team did very well in limited-overs cricket in 2007-08. Winning the one-day series in Australia was a monumental achievement. Not only did we beat the World Cup winners, but also Sri Lanka, which was runner-up in the Caribbean.'We would like to continue in the same vein and take the Champions Trophy home with us to India,' Dhoni said in a statementPakistan captain Shoaib Malik also said that his team, after lifting the Kitply Cup tri-series, is ready to give its best to win the tournament on home turf. Incidentally Pakistan defeated India to win the tri-series in Bangladesh.'It is my dream to captain my country to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy on home soil and my team will be doing everything we can to convert this dream into reality,' he said.'I am sure that there will be a fantastic atmosphere for all the games and that the people of Pakistan will make it a happy and memorable event,' he added.Malik also said that defeating India last week showed that they are in a good form.'I think this could be one of the most closely contested tournaments for a long time,' he said.
Wright follows McCullum model
Luke Wright will closely study the manner in which Brendon McCullum approaches the remainder of the one-day NatWest Series in an attempt to emulate his achievements on the international stage.
The Sussex all-rounder has played just seven one-day internationals and eight Twenty20 internationals and concedes he is still at the learning stage of his development.
Contrast that to New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman McCullum, who has played 130 one-day internationals and is widely regarded as the most destructive one-day opening batsman in the world - as was underlined by his brilliant 158 off only 73 balls during the opening match of the Indian Premier League.
It is that explosive strokeplay which Wright is attempting to match, although he has already given a good passing imitation by hitting 52 off only 38 balls in washed-out secon match of the NatWest Series at Edgbaston.
“Batting at the top of the order enables me to play my natural game, to play my shots and try and play in a similar fashion to the way McCullum goes about it for New Zealand,” explained 23-year-old Wright.
“He’s obviously very good at it and someone to look at and study the way he goes about it.
I’ve always watched people like (Marcus) Trescothick opening the batting, watching and learning how those sort of guys go about it. At the moment we’re playing against McCullum and he’s done really well against us so I’m watching how he goes about it.
“He hits it in slightly different areas to me but it’s still interesting in the way he tries to manoeuvre it and uses his best options. The best thing about playing international cricket is that you’re playing both with and against great players and it’s great to learn from as many people as you can.
“I’m just trying to learn quickly at the moment and hopefully score runs consistently, get confidence from that and push on from there.”
Wednesday’s innings followed several days of intense practice with former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower, who is now England’s batting coach, following his display in Sunday’s opener to the five-match series at Chester-le-Street.
“I’d done a fair amount of work on my batting with Andy (Flower) leading up to the game so it was nice to get some runs after putting the work in,” admitted Wright.
“It was all about getting down to my way of playing. I didn’t get a great start in the previous game, only getting 11, but I was happy with the way I was setting up and I did hit the fielders a few times.
“We were working on using the way I bat and trying to use my best options like I would do if I was opening for Sussex. It was all about backing myself for this last game and luckily it came off.”
Wright has also become a key member of England’s bowling attack ever since he was surprisingly given the final over by captain Paul Collingwood in the fourth one-day international against New Zealand at Napier earlier this year.
Needing just seven runs to claim a famous victory, Wright restricted them to only six runs to earn a tie and has been given extra responsibility with the ball ever since.
“The way that over came out in Napier probably gave Colly confidence to be able to use me a bit more,” said Wright.
“I’ve been bowling a lot more for Sussex this year and I came into this series with a bit of confidence about my bowling. I’ve really enjoyed getting a bowl and it’s been good to bowl at really good times rather than just bowling as a last-ditch attempt.
“Batsmen are getting really skilful now and there are a lot more improvised shots going on - you always have to be on your toes when you’re bowling.
“I really enjoy the challenge of bowling, though, especially at some of these guys we come up against. Bowling at (Ross) Taylor and McCullum when they’re trying to plant me out of the park is great.”
Flintoff Poised For Roses Role
Andrew Flintoff could be poised for a dramatic return to the Lancashire side after just one second-team outing.
The England all-rounder's fitness will be assessed in the hours leading up to the Twenty20 Cup match against Yorkshire tonight.
Flintoff gave the county a welcome boost by scoring 56 on his comeback for the second XI against Durham at Alderley Edge. He then went for a work-out after coming through his first match since May 9 following a side strain.
Second XI coach Gary Yates said: "The first team will know in the morning how he has held up and whether he joins them (against Yorkshire).
"Andrew is looking fit, not overweight, and quite strong. He is getting there.
"He is not feeling anything from his side and that is pleasing. But he will be need to be assessed again."
Flintoff quickly got into his stride in front of a bigger-than-average crowd at the picturesque Cheshire ground.
He gave them a glimpse of his batting prowess, hitting an unbeaten 32 in 40 minutes before lunch.
Flintoff carried on after the break where he left off and reached his 50 by smashing a towering six out of the ground.
He then almost broke a window in the pavilion with another fierce boundary before his innings came to a halt.
Yates added: "Andrew had a decent touch for someone who has not batted for so long.
"The only mistake he has made he has paid for it. But he has got 50 under his belt and his time at the crease will be important for him.
"I was hoping he would bat a bit longer but it was a patient innings by Andrew."
Asif to be freed after drugs find
Pakistan speedster Mohammed Asif landed in Lahore after a long hiatus in Dubai after he was held at the Dubai airport 20 days ago on charges of a drug possession. Asif was kept in Dubai since June 1 for alleged possession of contraband drug ‘hashish’.
ICC changes interval rule after rain row
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given umpires power to reduce the length of intervals between innings following the no-result between England and New Zealand on Wednesday.
Ponting says Australians still nervous about Pakistan
Australia`s cricketers were still apprehensive about competing in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in September, captain Ricky Pointing said.Australia postponed their tour of Pakistan earlier this year after a spate of suicide bombings following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in December.
Ponting added the team would be guided by advice from Cricket Australia`s own security staff, the Australian Cricketers` Association and the Australian government."We understand there has been a bit of trouble over there in the last few weeks, but we`re always guided by the experts," Ponting said."To Cricket Australia and the players` association`s credit, I think they`ve handled the last couple of tours there very well. Obviously, the government`s involvement last time probably helped us all out."He also said his team were not alone in expressing apprehension in touring Pakistan, with other teams also concerned about safety during the 18-day tournament, which is being staged in just three cities - Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi."Let`s not forget that we probably won`t be the only ones in that situation," he added."I`m sure some of the England players will have some concerns, I`m sure a lot of the New Zealand players who have been confronted with this stuff before, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, will have some pretty serous concerns.”"It just won`t be Australian players. There will be a few other teams who will be thinking long and hard if the tour does go ahead there."
Pakistan drops Akmal from Asia Cup squad
Pakistan`s long serving wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal`s luck finally ran out on Thursday when the national selection committee axed him from the Asia Cup squad and brought in young Sarfraz Ahmed.With Sarfraz the only keeper named in a short list of 20 probables for a two-day conditioning camp here, it was obvious that Kamran had lost the confidence of the selectors.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Srinath Clears England Of Time-Wasting
ICC match referee Javagal Srinath has cleared England of time wasting as their NatWest Series clash with New Zealand at Edgbaston ended in a controversial wash-out.
England bowled only 19 overs in 83 minutes before umpires Steve Davis and Ian Gould decided to take the players off with rain falling - one over short of the minimum number needed to obtain a result.
New Zealand were at that stage on 127 for two and would have secured victory to level the series had they reached 134 by the end of the 20th over without losing any more wickets.
Kiwis skipper Daniel Vettori believes Davis and Gould should have done more to hurry the game along.
But the spinner conceded he would have adopted the same "gamesmanship" shown by England if he had been in the same situation.
Former Indian pace bowler Srinath insisted England had not been in breach of the required over rate once stoppages and injury breaks had been taken in consideration.
Srinath said: "England were not in breach of any over rate. They had enough allowances. There were a few referrals to the third umpires, like checking on whether a four had been struck, and injuries so England were not in breach of anything.
"There will be no action taken against England. They were well within the frame of the time that they were supposed to finish the overs taking into account the allowances."
Srinath also defended the actions of Davis and Gould after they had come under attack from Vettori for not speeding the game up.
He said: "That is an opinion from a player and I understand that coming from Vettori. The umpires did a commendable job in handling the situation today.
"It was a brave decision by the umpires. It wasn't easy in the centre to come off. But as soon as they were walking back to the pavilion, it rained heavily."
Vettori and England captain Paul Collingwood questioned whether the 30-minute break in between innings could have been reduced.
But Srinath insisted: "That is very much in the regulations so you can't do anything about it.
"You can use common-sense only in those area where the rules and regulations don't sit well or if there is any ambiguity. Then you can use your common-sense.
"The rules say the half-hour break is mandatory. It can become 20 minutes only if the side bowling first have taken extra time to bowl their overs. Then you can bring the interval down.
"Things have got to be consistent. That is more important. You cannot just rush things through because you want to get a result.
"The teams wanted the 30 minutes to recoup and come back on the field. When conditions are hot, then I think it would be a different story altogether."
Vettori said: "I feel hard done-by. It is a game we would have won if we had been allowed to play the allotted overs or even played the 20th over. There is a sense of disappointment in the dressing room.
"I think more could have been done to get the game finished. I think England's over rate was particularly slow but, if we were in the same situation, we would probably do the same thing.
"You just need the umpires to take control of the game and dictate the play. There were a lot of stoppages, a lot of little things out there and, if you tidy that up, we wouldn't have been in the situation we were in."
Vettori added: "As for the 30-minutes break, it is one of those common-sense situations that should happen. We bowled one allotment of 13 overs and another of 11 so it wasn't as if we were tired.
"We could have reduced it to 10-15 minutes and gone straight back out with the knowledge of the weather that was coming. If you can take a common-sense approach to most things, they normally get sorted out."
Collingwood defended England's over-rate after they required more than an hour to bowl the first 14 overs.
He said: "It wasn't a tactical thing or anything like that. We were chasing the ball a little bit as well and sometimes you don't get through your overs that quickly.
"I think it's always disappointing when it goes down to the wire like that before the Duckworth Lewis kicks in but it was getting far too heavy out there.
"The biggest disappointment of the day is that when you've got a shortened game like that, to have a 30-minute break between innings surprised us.
"We were ready to go out in 10 or 15 minutes and it seemed to be a shame to have 30 minutes. It's in the regulations and obviously you can't change it so that needs to be looked at.
"We'd all had lunch before the actual game started and there was nothing really to do between the innings."
Dale Steyn Claims Cricketer Of The Year Award
Dale Steyn walked away with four awards - including the prestigious Cricketer-of-the-Year award - at the South African Cricket Awards at the Sandton Convention Centre on Tuesday night.
Steyn, who is currently the number two ranked Test bowler in the world, won all four awards for which he was nominated adding the Test Cricketer of the Year, South Africa Players' Player-of the Year and the Supersport Fans' Cricketer of the Year to his overall prize.
Captain Graeme Smith was named the one-day international cricketer of the year, while Albie Morkel was named the International Pro20 Cricketer of the year.
Steyn took 78 wickets in the 12 Tests the Proteas played and was at one stage the number one ranked bowler in the world.
Smith finished the year as the International Cricket Council's top-ranked batsman in one-day cricket, while Morkel was the second most successful all-rounder at the recently-completed Indian Premier League.
Steyn follows an impressive list of previous winners in Jacques Kallis (2004), Makhaya Ntini (2005 and 2006) and Shaun Pollock (2007).
Gough's The Roses Hero
Lancashire further saw their grip on the Twenty20 North Group loosened as Darren Gough inspired Yorkshire to a thrilling Roses win at Headingley.
Yorkshire had seemed beaten needing 30 off the final three overs in murky light, with Sajid Mahmood having just taken two wickets to reduce them to 121 for eight.
But Gough (20 not out) took three successive boundaries off Dominic Cork and then hit the winning runs after four leg byes in the final over had reduced the target further.
Lancashire had scored 150 for six in the rain-delayed match, Mal Loye (43) and Gareth Cross (42no) top-scoring. Anthony McGrath added 46 in Yorkshire's successful chase.
It was Lancashire's second successive defeat and allowed Durham to take top spot in the group courtesy of the point gained from their washed out fixture with Nottinghamshire at the Riverside.
A solid all-round batting performance from Hampshire rendered the efforts of Surrey's Mark Ramprakash and Abdul Razzaq useless at The Oval.
Ramprakash hit three sixes in his 60 while Razzaq cleared the rope five times in his 65 as the Brown Caps posted 175 for six.
Saqlain Mushtaq took three for 24 in the Hawks' reply but Michael Lumb, Michael Carberry (both 45) and Sean Ervine (46) saw the visitors to their third South Group win, by four wickets.
In the other South Division match, Essex held on for a one-run victory over Kent at Chelmsford.
Jason Gallian hit 44 and James Foster an unbeaten 41 in the Eagles' 147 for five but Danish Kaneria proved to be the difference between the two sides on the night.
Kent had looked in control at 57 for one but the introduction of the Pakistan leg-spinner proved inspired as he
bowled Martin van Jaarsveld for 32 with his first delivery and conceded a mere five runs in his opening spell of two overs.
That opened the door for left-arm spinner Grant Flower to dismantle the middle order as he picked up three for 21, including the wicket of Azhar Mahmood who struck 20 from only 12 balls before he was caught at wide mid-on.
Kent required 14 off the final over bowled by Kaneria but the spinner kept his nerve to help his side claim a win which leaves them level on points with Kent and second-placed Hampshire in the South Division table.
Elsewhere, there was no result in Glamorgan's encounter with Gloucestershire in the Midlands/West/Wales Division due to the weather.
Flintoff Looks To Relieve The Frustration
Andrew Flintoff will be hoping for better luck today as his hopes of a batting comeback were delayed by the weather.
The second day of Lancashire second XI's match against Durham at Alderley Edge was dogged by persistent rain.
Only eight minutes play and two overs were possible yesterday before proceedings were called to a premature halt after another heavy downpour in mid-afternoon.
England and Lancashire all-rounder Flintoff is hoping to get in some much-needed practice, weather permitting, when the match resumes this morning.
He made use of his spare time, however, by going through a series of exercises on tennis courts adjacent to the outfield.
Flintoff returned to action on Tuesday after being out since the beginning of May with a side strain and is looking to make his first runs since May 2.
He is determined to make his mark against Durham and ensure his fitness for another second-team game at Liverpool.
That will be followed by a first XI fixture with Sussex at Hove, and then, possibly, a return to the international stage.
`ICC will not recognise ICL until BCCI approves it`
The International Cricket Council today made it clear that it would not recognise the Indian Cricket League until the Twenty20 series gets an approval from the BCCI.
Asked whether the ICC was considering ICL`s request for recognition, the governing body`s acting chief executive Dave Richardson said since the league was a domestic event it had to be first cleared by the Indian board.
"We have got a request from the ICL but we can`t move ahead as first the Indian board has to approve the ICL which remains a domestic event," he said at a news conference in Lahore.
"As far as domestic events are concerned we leave it up to the home boards to make policy decisions," he added.
Richardson said the ICC had left it to the respective boards to outline a policy on the ICL and players who have signed up for it.
The Pakistan Cricket Board, which has banned 16 of its players for appearing in the ICL, has insisted that it would not review the ban unless the ICC changes its stance on the league.
Sreesanth in fresh trouble as BCCI sends notice
Indian speedster S Sreesanth has landed in fresh trouble with the Board of Control for Cricket in India asking the bowler for an explanation over the altercation he had with the staff at a Bangalore hotel a few days ago. The BCCI has also reportedly asked the hotel staff for comprehensive details on the incident.
The quick-tempered bowler allegedly had an altercation with the staff of Hotel Grand Ashoka over a noisy air-conditioner in his room.
Sreesanth apparently told the hotel staff to repair the noisy AC immediately or shift him to another room.
However, as there was no room vacant, Sreesanth was requested to wait for some time on which the bowler threatened to shift to another hotel.
Sreesanth was earlier ruled out of the Asia Cup as the result of a side strain, which he sustained while playing in the last league game of the Indian Premier League.
ICC to monitor security
The International Cricket Council will closely monitor security conditions in Pakistan ahead of September's Champions Trophy.
Australia postponed their planned tour of Pakistan in March because of fears over the safety of their players after a spate of suicide bombings but the ICC's acting chief executive Dave Richardson confirmed it will host the eight-team tournament.
"So far it has been decided to go ahead with the event in Pakistan," Richardson sais in Lahore, insisting that safety concerns expressed by the Federation of International Cricketers' Association were premature.
"We might expect some concerns from the players and we understand that security of players, media and all stake holders is the responsibility of the ICC. We're monitoring the situation on regular basis."
Richardson added that if the majority of the executive board members wanted the Champions Trophy to go ahead in Pakistan then any country backing out for any reason would have to face the consequences and penalties.
Ray Mali, the ICC president, led a delegation of the council to Pakistan for the launch of the Champions Trophy logo and to oversee facilities at tournament venues in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Delegates also met with interior ministry officials in the capital Islamabad to discuss security plans for the event.
"Pakistan has vast experience of hosting big events and I have felt safe wherever I have gone," Mali told reporters after a visit to the Pindi cricket stadium.
"The Asia Cup which they host this month will be their preparation ground for the Champions Trophy."
An ICC team of security experts also visited Pakistan last month and Sri Lanka has been kept as a standby venue for the event.
Edgbaston match abandoned
The second match of the NatWest Series between England and New Zealand at Edgbaston ended in a farcical abandonment after rain prevented a finish.
New Zealand were set 160 from 23 overs according to the Duckworth-Lewis calculation used in weather-shortened games, altered from 165 from 24 because of continued rain after England were 162 all out in their 24-over allotment.
New Zealand had reached 127 for two after 19 overs when the umpires -- England's Ian Gould and Australian Steve Davis -- took the players off the field due to steady rain.
There has to be 20 overs bowled to decide the match with New Zealand required to reach 134 for two after 20 overs. England captain Paul Collingwood, unbeaten New Zealand batsmen Brendon McCullum (on 60 off 51 balls) and Scott Styris (19) appeared frustrated when they were told to leave the field.
McCullum's innings was his 13th one-day international fifty while England took more than an hour to bowl their first 14 overs.
Earlier, debutant Grant Elliott claimed three wickets to restrict England. The medium-pacer took three for 23 from his five overs after being called up from English club cricket this week following a hamstring injury to Jacob Oram.
Opener Luke Wright top scored for England with 53 from 38 balls after New Zealand won the toss in murky and damp conditions and elected to bowl.
The Kiwis trail 1-0 in the five-match series after England took the lead with a comfortable 114-run win at Durham on Sunday.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Chanderpaul up to second in Test rankings
West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul moved up to second place in the International Cricket Council`s Test rankings for batsmen following his remarkable run in the home series against Australia.
Left-handed Chanderpaul scored 442 runs from six innings, including two centuries and three fifties, to be named player of the series despite his team losing 2-0.
Chanderpaul gained three more places after the final Test which ended in Barbados on Monday to move ahead of the Australian pair of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey, who lost the top spot to Sri Lanka`s Kumar Sangakkara.
ICC Champions Trophy 2008 launch today
The official launch of the ICC Champions Trophy 2008 will take place in the Crystal Ballroom of the Pearl Continental in Lahore, Pakistan today.
The ceremony will start at 1900 but, prior to the launch, at 1700 ICC acting Chief Executive Officer David Richardson, PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi and Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik will hold a media conference in the Emerald B Room.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2008 will be staged in September and will be spread over three cities – Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.
This year’s tournament will feature the top eight sides from the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship table as of 11 March 2008. They are: Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and the West Indies
The teams have been divided into two groups according to their seeding. Group A will include Australia, India, Pakistan and the West Indies while South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England are in Group B.
Each side plays all other sides in its group with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals with the top side from Group A playing the second-placed side from Group B and the second-placed side from Group A playing the top side from Group B.
That final will be staged at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, which also hosted the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1996.
The other venues, Karachi and Rawalpindi, will host the two semi-finals.
Injury rules Sreesanth out of Asia Cup
Pace bowler S Sreesanth was on Tuesday ruled out of the forthcoming Asia Cup as a result of a side strain sustained by the bowler during the Indian Premier League, where he turned out to be one of the leading wicket takers, capturing 19 scalps. The Asia Cup is scheduled in Pakistan from June 24.
Sources told Zeecric that Sreesanth has been advised a two weeks rest by physio Paul Close at the National Cricket Academy. It was also said by the BCCI that the bowler would begin a rehabilitation programme from June 23.
The bowler had earlier been declared unfit for the Bangladesh tri-series and was in doubt for the Asia Cup. India play their first game of the Asia Cup on June 25 against Hong Kong. Sreesanth’s place is likely to be taken by Manpreet Gony.
Sreesanth, playing for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL had strained his left side in the last league game against the Rajasthan Royals at Mohali on May 28. He played in the semi-final against Chennai Super Kings but could bowl only one over.
MCC approve Kevin Pietersen switch-hit
The MCC have approved the switch-hitting technique used by England batsman Kevin Pietersen to hit two sixes in a one-day international win against New Zealand.
Pietersen changed his stance and grip twice from right-hander to left-hander to hit two balls off Scott Styris over the boundary.
"MCC believes that the 'switch-hit' stroke is exciting for the game of cricket," a statement said.
"Indeed, the stroke conforms to the laws of cricket and will not be legislated against."
The MCC, which acts as the custodian of cricket's laws, was asked by the ICC to discuss Pietersen's revolutionary tactics at a meeting.
Pietersen welcomed the decision, saying: "I am glad that MCC have recognised that cricket is always evolving and that this particular shot brings something special to the game
"I have spent many hours in the nets working on it and I am pleased that all the hard work is not going to waste."
Styris, meanwhile, endorsed the revolutionary shot.
"There's nothing wrong with what he's doing," Styris said.
"As a bowler you have to think on your feet but it's nothing different to a guy coming down the wicket at you.
"Sometimes you just have to take your hat off and say 'well played'. We all admire good cricket and I think that is what it was."
Styris said New Zealand all-rounder Jacbo Oram, who bats left-handed, had experimented with a changed stance.
"I know he has hit balls out of the [Melbourne Cricket Ground] batting right-handed," he said.
"It crossed my mind briefly when I was out there to play it but if I would have got out it would have been a double blow."
Off-spinner Graeme Swann, who impressed for England in convincing wins over the Kiwis in Friday's Twenty20 International and Sunday's first of five one-day matches, also backed Pietersen.
"It's brilliant, I can't understand the furore it has caused," Swann said. "It got 16,000 people leaving the ground talking about it. It's a freak of nature how he can do it. Those hits didn't just dribble over the line, they cleared it by a distance.
"Had he been caught people would have said 'what an idiot', like when [Mike] Gatting reverse swept and lost the World Cup in '87. For Kev to pull it off and to hit it as far as he did was laughable, it was pure KP. He does try it in the nets and he is almost impossible to bowl to when he decides to try things.
"I'm sure there will be other people trying it but I'm willing to bet there won't be another person in the world who could play that shot like Kev. We were gob-smacked in the dressing room."
Spurious Stats: Umpiring record
Experienced umpires and largest first-innings leads. It's all in this week's stats story. Whilst watching the Trent Bridge Test, I noticed that the umpires had stood in 200 previous Tests between them - is this a record?
That's a good spot, because as it turns out it is indeed a record. Before England's Trent Bridge Test against New Zealand Steve Bucknor had umpired in 123 Tests and Darrell Hair in 77, and their combined total of 200 is a new record. The previous highest was 191, by Bucknor (114) and Rudi Koertzen (77) before they stood together in the second Test of the 2006-07 Ashes series at the Adelaide Oval.
In the Trent Bridge Test Stuart Broad batted with Ryan Sidebottom for a while - when was the last time two sons of Test cricketers batted together for England?
Well, Broad and Sidebottom had batted together before, during the winter series in New Zealand at McLean Park. But the previous pair of Test cricketers' sons who batted together for England was Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart - on several occasions, most recently during the fourth Test against South Africa at Headingley in 2003.
What is the most consecutive dot-balls bowled by anyone in a Test?
The record for Test (and first-class) cricket is 137 balls without conceding a run, by Hugh Tayfield, the South African offspinner, against England at Kingsmead in 1956-57. This included a run of 16 consecutive maiden (eight-ball) overs. The dot-ball sequence was split over the two England innings, 119 in the first and his first 18 balls in the second. Tayfield finished with figures of 24-17-21-1 and 37.7-14-69-8 in a match that ended up as a draw.
What is the highest first-innings lead ever achieved in a first-class match?
The biggest first-innings lead in first-class history was the little matter of 886, at the MCG in 1926-27, when Victoria answered New South Wales' 221 with 1107, the highest total in first-class cricket. The top four made centuries, with Bill Ponsford extending his to 352 and Jack Ryder making 295. Victoria then bowled NSW out for 230, to win by an innings and 656 runs. The record almost went in 1964-65, when in Lahore Dera Ismail Khan were bowled out for 32 by Pakistan Railways, who had just scored 910 for 6. Their lead of 878 proved just enough when DIK succumbed for 27 second time around.
Which cricketer was known as "Musso"?
This was the 1930s Australian batsman Jack Badcock, who apparently reminded some people facially of the Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini. Badcock, who made 325 for South Australia against Victoria in Adelaide in 1935-36, had a curious Test career: his 12 innings included one century - 118 against England in Melbourne in 1936-37 - but he never otherwise reached double figures.
Who has taken the most Test wickets without ever managing a five-for?
Top of the list is Mike Hendrick, the England fast-medium bowler of the 1970s, who took 87 wickets in 30 Tests without ever managing five in an innings. He took four on five occasions, including his best return of 4 for 28 against India at Edgbaston in 1974. Next come the South African Brian McMillan (75 Test wickets), Dayle Hadlee of New Zealand (71), and the 1960s England pair of Barry Knight (70) and Ted Dexter (66). Mashrafe Mortaza of Bangladesh has also taken 66 wickets so far with a best performance of 4 for 60.
Cook ruled out
Alastair Cook has been ruled out of England's second match in the NatWest Series against New Zealand at Edgbaston with injury.
The Essex left-hander has been struggling with a right shoulder injury since England's victory in the final Test at Trent Bridge over a week ago.
He was ruled out of the Twenty20 international at Old Trafford and Sunday's resounding victory in the opening match of the series at Chester-le-Street.
Following further tests, Cook is still not fit and England have added Middlesex left-hander Andrew Strauss to the squad for the Edgbaston game as cover.