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Fit Dilshan set to return against India

2010-01-09T11:36:00.001+05:30

Mirpur: In-form Sri opener Tillakaratne Dilshan is almost certain to play Sunday's final league match against India, Sri Lankan team manager Brendon Kuruppu said on Friday. Talking to reporters after the Lankans crushed Bangladesh by nine wickets, Kuruppu said Dilshan has almost recovered from his groin injury and is set to play on Sunday. "We could have even considered him playing today (against Bangladesh) but we held him back. He has a very good chance of playing against India," Kuruppu told reporters after Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by nine wickets.

Dilshan, who had a hugely successful 2009 in all formats of the game, suffered a groin strain during his match-winning knock of 104 in the tournament opener against Bangladesh on January 4. Addressing the post-match media conference, senior batsmanMahela Jayawardene, who was drafted into the team as an injury reinforcement, said his side was disappointed to lose the ODI series against India last month and he was looking ahead to Sunday's match. "We were disappointed to lose the ODI series as we played very good cricket there. Both the teams have played a lot recently and probably both know each other inside out. I am looking forward to the match on Sunday," Jayawardene, who hit 108 batting as an opener in absence of Dilshan, said.

Mahela, Tharanga tons take Lanka into final

2010-01-09T11:32:00.001+05:30

Sri Lanka 252 for 1 (Tharanga 114*, Jayawardene 108) beat Bangladesh 249 for 9 (Shakib 47, Raqibul 43, Perera 2-32, Randiv 2-40)

Mahela Jayawardene (108) and Upul Tharanga (118 not out) cracked sparkling centuries as Sri Lanka crushed Bangladesh by nine wickets to storm into the final of the tri-series on Friday.Chasing a modest 250 for a win, Jayawardene and Tharanga tore apart the Bangladesh bowlers to canter to the target with 7.1 overs to spare at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.Earlier, Bangladesh put up a shoddy batting display coming up with a modest score of 249 for nine with captain Shakib Al Hasan top-scoring with 47 after being put into bat in front of 10,000-odd spectators.

Sri Lanka's win not only booked them a berth in the January 13 final but they have also almost shut the final match door on the hosts.If Bangladesh, who have a negative net run rate (-0.626) after losing all three games, are to qualify for the final, they will have to beat India by a huge margin and pray that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men lose heavily against the islanders on Sunday.Jayawardene, who hit his 12th ODI hundred, was dismissed in the 38th over when the match was all over in his side's favour at 215 for one. He smashed 13 fours in his 117-ball innings.Tharanga, who hit his eighth ODI hundred in his 90th match, struck 18 fours in his 126-ball innings.The left-handed batsman reserved special treatment for Syed Raselhitting the pacer for six fours including three from the 23rd over while Jayawardene picked right-arm paceman Rubel Hossain for seven fours.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara remained not out on a 14-ball 17 as Tharanga fittingly hit the winning runs off Tamim Iqbal for Sri Lanka to reach 252 for one in 42.5 overs. Jayawardene and Tharanga were engaged in a sort of competition in outscoring each other and the hapless host bowlers could not do much as Sri Lankan opening duo stitched together 215 runs in 37.4 overs. As many as seven bowlers were pressed against them but none could make an impact on the Sri Lankan openers who drove, cut, pulled and picked the gaps for ones and twos without giving much chance to their opponents on a batting pitch. The Bangladeshi bowlers also erred in line and length against the left-right combination and their woes were compounded by the dew which did not allow the bowlers grip the ball.

Bindra convinced ICC to not ban Kotla

2010-01-09T11:23:00.001+05:30

New Delhi: New Delhi is certain to keep its status as a World Cup host. CNN-IBN has learnt that some hectic back room negotiations with the ICC have worked, and if a ban is imposed at all, it won't be for longer than eight months. The canny old man of Indian cricket seems to have pulled it off again. Entrusted with the responsibility of saving the Kotla from being disgraced, Inderjit Singh Bindra has found a way out. CNN-IBN has learnt that a much softer reprimand in the form of a ban of 6-8 months is likely to be slapped on the Kotla.

And if things go well, there could be no ban at all - just a strongly worded warning - along with the mandatory $15,000 fine, a meagre amount for the BCCI.So how has Bindra pulled this off and kept Delhi on as a host for the World Cup? Bindra argued that since Delhi is the capital of India, a ban on the Kotla will be a huge loss of face for the BCCI and also the country. The ICC countered by saying that rules cannot be different for different countries. But the BCCI had another riposte ready, claiming that while the playing conditions can be termed "improper", they weren't "dangerous" as stated by match referee Alan Hurst in his report.

Urgent circulars were also sent out to all hosting associations over the next 12 months asking them to get the pitches in shape. Bindra also argued that since Delhi is a high-security venue, it would be risky shifting matches to other venues now, considering the security situation in the sub-continent. Also, moving the matches to another venue will mean higher costs. The BCCI, though, will have to be on its guard from now, since the ICC Pitches Committee will be monitoring all strips to be used for the World Cup from now on.

Dasti trying to ruin Pak cricket: PCB chief

2010-01-09T11:21:00.001+05:30

Karachi: The war of words between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the National Assembly's Standing committee on sports has intensified with PCB chief Ejaz Butt saying that committee chairman Jamshed Dasti was trying to destroy cricket in the country. "I would ask the chief patron, President Asif Zardari to take notice of the negative role Jamshed Dasti is playing in trying to damage Pakistan cricket," Butt told 'Express' news channel from Dhaka.

The fresh row between the two has broken out after Dasti used some disparaging language against Butt after a hearing of the committee on Friday in which the PCB chief was not present. Dasti said the committee had recommended to Zardari that Butt be removed immediately. He also described Butt as mentally and physically unfit to head the board. "If I had my way Butt would be in jail," Dasti told the media while describing the PCB as the hub of corruption. Butt retorted by saying that Dasti's comments were unparliamentary. "We are always ready to answer any parliamentary committee but I have to say this is unreasonable for them to expect us to be ready to attend any meeting or hearing at short notice," Butt said.

"He has already forced one of our most valuable players, Younis Khan to stop playing for the national team because of his irresponsible match-fixing allegations made against the team last year after the Champions Trophy," Butt recalled. "Younis and other players suffered a lot of mental anguish because of his remarks. Younis is still not in a proper state of mind to play to his full ability and strength which is most unfortunate and a big loss to Pakistan cricket," he added. Dasti later in another interview reiterated his remarks against Butt and maintained he was not fit to lead the board. "Our sub-committee has given a detailed report about the mismanagement, financial irregularities prevalent in the board and we have sent the report to the President and Prime Minister for further action," Dasti said.

Akram to help Whatmore in shaping up KKR

2010-01-09T11:19:00.001+05:30

Kolkata: Describing Wasim Akram as a legend, Kolkata Knight Riders coach Dav Whatmore said Friday the former Pakistani captain would play the mentor's role in the team's aspiration in theIndian Premier League third edition. Talking to the reporters on the sidelines of their one-week-long camp that began at Calcutta Football and Cricket Ground here, Whatmore said, "Akram is a legend in world cricket. His role in the team will be that of a mentor and his service will be immensely valuable."

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly and Bengal players including captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Manoj Tiwary and Wriddhiman Sahaattended the camp that focussed on few drills and fitness training. "We have organised this camp to get into Twenty20 mode. "Moreover, this will help us assess our level of fitness ahead of the tournament," the 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lanka coach said. Dates of KKR's camp is clashing with the East Zone camp forDuleep Trophy to be held at Jadavpur University ground from January 11, but Whatmore said he would have no problems in releasing the players. The IPL III T20 extravaganza will be held from March 12-April 25. The Shah Rukh Khan-owned side finished at the bottom of IPL table last year while in the inaugural edition the team had finished second last.

Sue us if you want: Modi tells Cairns

2010-01-09T11:17:00.001+05:30

New Delhi: The Indian Premier League Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi has made it clear that IPL would not reconsider its decision to remove New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns from the auction list. The flamboyant Kiwi cricketer has announced that he intends to sue Modi for his comments that Cairns' name was removed from the auction list due to the match-fixing taint. "He (Cairns) is welcome if he wants to sue us. Some people want to sue us all the time. But we know what we are doing and at the end of the day he is not allowed to play, that's it," Modi told Times Now.

Cairns, whose name featured in the original list for the January 19 auction, was removed from the list because of the match-fixing slur against his name during his stint with the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League (ICL). "If they want to sue us now, they can do that. We will produce what we have to produce in the court," Modi said. "But we have not received anything (from the court). Had we received it, we would have responded to it," Modi added. The match-fixing allegation against Cairns surfaced when the Kiwi, along with former India batsman Dinesh Mongia, were suspended by the ICL authorities on "disciplinary grounds" in 2008.

Strauss blasts 'malicious' South Africa

2010-01-09T11:15:00.001+05:30

Cape Town: England captain Andrew Strauss said on Thursday that he believed South Africa's claims about ball tampering during the third Test at Newlands were 'malicious'. The South Africans made it known they had drawn the attention of match referee Roshan Mahanama to an alleged changing of the condition of the ball but did not make an official complaint. The umpires viewed footage which showed fast bowler Stuart Broadstepping on the ball and James Anderson running his fingers down the seam but decided to take no action."We're not particularly happy about it and I strongly refute the allegations," said Strauss.

"I really don't feel there was any concerted effort on behalf of any of our players to alter the state of the ball. I appreciate that some of that footage didn't look amazingly good but I don't think it was malicious. "I think to a certain extent the South Africans announcing it to the media without being totally clear in their minds what they were going to do, whether they were going to put in a formal complaint, was a little bit malicious. "Ball tampering is a very sensitive subject and if you're going to make allegations you have to be very clear or confident about exactly what the other team are doing." England held out to draw the third Test ensuring that they cannot lose the series - the fourth and final test begins next Thursday in Johannesburg.

Parnell back in SA squad, Ntini ignored

2010-01-09T11:14:00.001+05:30

Johannesburg: Left-arm speedster Wayne Parnell was on Friday drafted into the South African squad as cover for Friedel de Wet ahead of the fourth and final Test against England. De Wet injured his back while bowling during the drawn third Test in Cape Town, and his inclusion in the final Test will depend on the outcome of a scan, a Cricket South Africa statement said. Cricket South Africa selectors announced a 15-member squad which included four fresh names - leg-spinner Imran Tahir, Alviro Petersen and Ryan McLaren besides Parnell.

Pacer Makhaya Ntini, who won his 100th Test cap in the opening Test at Centurion, was ignored yet again. He last played in the second Test at Durban. Alviro Petersen has been included to give South Africa an option in the opening department, where Ashwell Prince has failed to impress in this series. South Africa failed to put it across England once again in the third Test as the visitors escaped with a draw with a wicket in hand to keep their 1-0 series lead intact.

South Africa squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Friedel de Wet, JP Duminy, Paul Harris,Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir.

England, Pakistan to face off in two T20s

2010-01-09T11:13:00.001+05:30

London: England will play two Twenty20 matches against Pakistan in Dubai next month ahead of their tour of Bangladesh, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Friday. The matches will take place on February 19 and 20. The senior England squad will leave Dubai on February 21 for Dhaka, where they will play two one-day tour matches before the start of the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh.

England's second-string Lions side will also tour the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month with their programme featuring T20 matches against England, the UAE and Pakistan 'A' followed by a further three 50-over matches against Pakistan 'A.' ECB Managing Director, England Cricket, Hugh Morris said: "We are delighted to have agreed in partnership with Pakistan Cricket Board and Dubai Sports City such a comprehensive programme of cricket in the UAE for both England and England Lions.

"The two T20 Internationals against the current world champions in this format of the game will be an exciting challenge for the England team and provide important additional T20 international experience before the next ICC WT20 tournament in the Caribbean in April. "The combination of three T20 matches and three 50-over matches for the England Lions team to be played at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi will also provide those players with an excellent opportunity to push their case for selection for the England one-day side as we continue to build not only for the World T20 in West Indies later this year but also for the ICC World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh."

Nagpur to host 1st Ind-SA Test from Feb 6

2010-01-09T11:12:00.001+05:30

Mumbai: The first Test between India and South Africa would be played at Nagpur's VCA Stadium in Jamtha from February 6-10 while the second and final match would be held at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata from the 14th to 18th. The Proteas are scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on January 31 and proceed to Nagpur the next day, Cricket Board sources said on Friday. The ODIs have been scheduled at Jaipur, Kanpur and Ahmedabad but because of logistical reasons the venue-wise scheduling is yet to be finalised, the sources said, adding the matches would be held on February rpt February 21, 24 and 27.

The detailed programme is set to be declared next week, they added.

The following is the schedule:

Jan 31: South Africa arrive in Mumbai

Feb 1: Travel to Nagpur

Feb 2 and 3: Two-day practice game at Nagpur

Feb 6-10: 1st Test, Nagpur

Feb 11: Travel to Kolkata

Feb 14-18: 2nd Test in Kolkata

Feb 21, 24 and 27: ODIs (venues Jaipur, Kanpur and Ahmedabad).

Afridi joins Hampshire for T20 competition

2010-01-09T11:10:00.001+05:30

Karachi: Flamboyant Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has signed a contract with Hampshire county team to play in the 2010 English T20 championship. He said that he signed the deal with for one year because of the big Pakistani community in the United Kingdom. "I enjoy playing in England and I always get big crowd support there. Plus the Pakistan team is also due to play in England this year so it would not be difficult for me to adapt to the conditions there whenever my country needs me," he said.

Afridi is presently in Australia, playing the Big Bash tournament for South Australia and will also play for a provincial side in South Africa's T20 domestic competition. Afridi said despite his increasing demand in T20 cricket, he is always available to play in any form of the sport for his country. "I enjoy playing T20 cricket as it is fast paced and exciting and suits my style of play. But that does not mean I don't want to play Test or one-day internationals. "If the Pakistan team requires my services for the third Test in Hobart I am willing to make myself available immediately for the team," he told a TV channel.

Pak coach calls for separate T20 squad

2010-01-09T11:09:00.001+05:30

Karachi: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has joined the chorus with captain Mohammad Yousuf in blaming the Twenty20 format for the Sydney debacle and advocated the need for a separate squad for the shortest version of the game. "I see a bleak future for Test cricket as far as Pakistan is concerned as the rise of Twenty20 cricket is ruining our standards in Pakistan," he said after Pakistan lost the three-match Test series against Australia, who snatched a remarkable 36-run victory over the visitors.

"The way I see it, the best solution is to have a separate T20 squad because when you play too much T20 cricket, it leads to players losing the skills of patience and temperament to play long innings and stay at the crease that is required in Test matches," he said. "T20 cricket is all about hitting the ball out of the park and it affects the temperament of players. It has affected our players as well," he added.

On Thursday, embattled Pakistan skipper Yousuf had blamed the proliferation of Twenty20 format for his team's bizarre defeat in the Sydney Test. "We had a golden chance to finally beat Australia in Australia and we let it go ourselves due to poor batting. I think the target of 176 runs was perfectly gettable on the Sydney pitch on the fourth day of the Test," Yousuf had told a television channel. Pakistan failed to chase a target of 176 runs in Sydney after having bowled out Australia for 127 on the first day.

Dhoni tells bowlers to pull up their socks

2010-01-08T11:21:00.001+05:30

Mirpur: He may been a relieved man after India beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the tri-series on Thursday but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was miffed with the performance of his frontline bowlers. Dhoni expressed his disappointment with the showing of his bowlers as they allowed the home side to pile up 296 for six from their allotted 50 overs. "It was quite disappointing that all the bowlers did not perform well today. Not a single frontline bowler was not upto the mark. OnlyYuvraj Singh (1-33 from 10 overs) bowled well. We cannot takeRavindra Jadeja as a frontline bowler but he bowled well," Dhoni said at the post-match conference.

Zaheer Khan bled 43 from his six overs without any wicket whileAshish Nehra conceded 44 runs from his six overs with just a victim against his name. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh too was off-colour as he finished with figures of one for 56 from his nine overs while Jadeja took one wicket for 45 runs. Dhoni also expressed surprise at Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan's decision to bat first after winning the toss, despite the dew factor coming into play later in the evening. "I was surprised that he opted to bat. In the first two matches whoever had won the toss had opted to bowl first because everybody knows dew will play a major role in the result," he said. The Indian captain said his side was under pressure after Bangladesh reduced them to 51 for three inside nine overs.

"Bangladesh scored nearly 300 and they got early breakthroughs as we were down 51 for three. We were under pressure. Virat and I were a bit nervous. But Virat played a superb innings and Suresh (Raina) supported us," Dhoni said. The tournament organisers, meanwhile, said the skippers of all the three teams have accepted the proposal of advancing the starting time of all the four remaining matches from Friday but Dhoni said an early start of 30 minutes will hardly make any difference. "We had wanted starting the match by 11.30 am (local time) or 12 pm. Advancing by just 30 minutes will not make much difference," said Dhoni. Praising Kohli for his 91-run knock, Dhoni said, "He has grabbed whatever opportunity that has come his way. It is difficult to make way in the Indian middle order be it in Tests or ODIs. He is putting pressure on the established middle order players. That is a good sign for Indian cricket."

Dhoni, Kohli seal comfortable win

2010-01-08T11:18:00.001+05:30

India 297 for 4 (Dhoni 101*, Kohli 91) beat Bangladesh 296 for 6 (Kayes 70, Mahmudullah 60*, Tamim 60) by six wickets

Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored an unbeaten century as India overcame a top-order fumble to beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the third ODI of the tri-series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur on Thursday. India, chasing a stiff victory target of 297 runs, lost three wickets for 51 runs before skipper Dhoni (101) and Virat Kohli (91) revived the innings with a 152-run stand. Kohli missed out on his second ODI century as he was caught and bowled by skipper Shakib Al Hasan.

Dhoni then anchored the innings and together with Suresh Raina (51) saw the team home in 47.3 overs. Bangladesh gave a good account of themselves, first by scoring their highest total against any Test playing nation, and then had India on the mat removing Virender Sehwag (13), Gautam Gambhir(18) and Yuvraj Singh (1). But the depth in Indian batting came through. Kohli, who scored his maiden century, a match-winning knock, last month in the Kolkata ODI against Sri Lanka, was full of confidence. He showed maturity and mixed patience with aggression. With Dhoni at the other end, Kohli played his strokes without taking much risk. Kohli struck seven fours in his 102-ball stay while Dhoni's 107-ball knock had nine fours. After the dismissal of Kohli, Raina played freely stroking five fours and one six for his 43-ball 51.

Heartbreak for South Africa as England survive

2010-01-08T11:14:00.001+05:30

England 273 (Prior 76, Morkel 5-75) and 296 for 9 (Bell 78, Collingwood 40) drew with South Africa 291 (Kallis 108, Anderson 5-63) and 447 for 7 declared (Smith 180, Amla 95)

Number 11 batsman Graham Onions batted out the last over for the second time in the series as England escaped with a draw on the fifth day of the third Test against South Africa at Newlands on Thursday. England finished on 296 for nine after four wickets fell in the last hour. They also lost nine wickets in the first Test in Centurion. The result meant England will go into the fourth and final Test in Johannesburg next Thursday with an unbeatable 1-0 lead. A dramatic finish seemed unlikely when Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell batted together for almost four hours in a sixth wicket partnership which seemed to have earned a comfortable draw for their team.

But Collingwood was caught at slip off the part-time off-spinner JP Duminy with 13.3 overs remaining and as happened in the first Test at Centurion. England found themselves in desperate trouble.In Duminy's next over Matt Prior prodded a catch to AB de Villiers at short leg. With up to seven fielders clustered around the bat, Stuart Broadsurvived without scoring a run for 22 balls before a ball from left-arm spinner Paul Harris bounced and popped off his glove for De Villiers to make another catch at short leg. Fast bowler Morne Morkel was brought back into the South African attack and with his first ball had Bell caught at first slip by Graeme Smith after a 286-minute vigil in which he scored 78.

There were 17 balls left but Onions and Graeme Swann survived against Dale Steyn and Morkel, with Onions playing out the last over from Morkel with impressive calm. South African hopes were high when they took the second new ball one over after lunch, needing five wickets to square the series. But Collingwood survived a blistering spell of fast bowling from Dale Steyn, while the rest of the South African bowling attack made minimal impression on a pitch which played easily under a warm sun. Steyn gave South Africa an important breakthrough 36 minutes before lunch when he bowled Jonathan Trott with a superb delivery which swung in late. But Steyn and Morne Morkel could not separate England's last two specialist batsmen when they took the new ball.

Kotla can breathe easy as ICC not in favour of ban

2010-01-08T11:10:00.001+05:30

New Delhi: In what came as lease of life for the disgraced Feroz Shah Kotla, the International Cricket Council on Thursday said the world governing body was not in favour of banning the stadium for a longer period of time for the pitch fiasco during the recent India-Sri Lanka ODI. ICC President David Morgan said the World Cup to be held in sub-continent from February 19 to April 2 next year would become "poor" without matches being hosted at the historic Kotla and a ban would not be appropriate in this case.

"I am not at all sure that such a ban would be appropriate in this case. It's not our desire that a pitch in an important city like New Delhi should be banned for a lengthy period," Morgan told a TV channel. "The World Cup would be poorer without matches being hosted in New Delhi," he said. Morgan, however, assured that an appropriate decision would be taken in this regard by the expert panel of ICC which is looking into the matter.

"You can be sure that an appropriate decision will be made by two expert people on the subject. The ICC has written to the BCCI and it has two weeks from receiving our letter to respond," he said. The capital is in danger of losing its hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup following a scathing report on the Kotla pitch fiasco by ICC match referee Alan Hurst, who had classified the wicket "unfit". The Kotla came in the news for wrong reasons after the fifth and final ODI between India and Sri Lanka here on December 27 last year was called off after 23.3 overs due to a dangerous pitch.

Efforts on to oust DDCA sports commit

2010-01-08T11:09:00.001+05:30

New Delhi: The Delhi and District Cricket Association may be planning a coup within its ranks. CNN-IBN has learnt that the all-powerful sports committee may be on its way out, and cricketers may now be put in charge of running the game. The bosses of Delhi cricket continue to be in damage control mode after the fiasco of the abandoned one-dayer against Sri Lanka on December 27.

A meeting was held at the residence of DDCA President Arun Jaitley earlier on Thursday, where consultations continued on the road ahead for Delhi cricket. A formal letter has already been sent to the ICC with the DDCA's explanation of the sequence of events that led to the cancellation of the game. The DDCA claims that the BCCI is satisfied with the reasons put forward for the fiasco at Feroz Shah Kotla. CNN-IBN has learnt that behind the scenes a strategy is being put in place to clip the wings of the powerful sports committee, which has been a major demand of both current and former players.

There is a strong view emerging that although quite a few Delhi players are on the national map, it is despite the system not because of it. A new cricket committee is likely to be formed which will include former cricketers such as the Nawab of Pataudi, Bishan Singh Bedi,Kirti Azad and others. This committee could then be handed the powers to decide on all policy matters, selection issues and even infrastructure, which will considerably reduce the influence of the sports committee. It was only recently that Bishan Bedi had called for a greater role for former cricketers in running the game in Delhi.

NSW yet to receive CLT20 prize money

2010-01-08T11:07:00.001+05:30

Melbourne: They won the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 more than two months ago, but New South Wales Blues are yet to get the $2.7 million prize money from the organisers of the Twenty20 event. Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert has confirmed they are still to receive the cash and has recently been asked by the organisers to submit an invoice to clear the way for the payment to the players, a development which did not go well with Australian domestic side.

"I can't remember having the invoice for the prize money. We were advised during the tournament payment to the winner would be 20 business days at the conclusion of the competition, which indicated it would be late November," Gilbert was quoted as saying in theDaily Telegraph. "But now we're in January and we haven't seen anything. It's certainly not panic stations, but we'd like to see the money soon," he said. The introduction of the Champions League has undoubtedly increased spectators interest in KFC Big Bash, Australia's domestic Twenty20 tournament, the winners and runners-up of which will qualify for this year's CLT20. Gilbert said Cricket Australia was aware of the payment drama and that the players have been understanding and confident.

Dew factor: Tri-series games to start early

2010-01-08T11:06:00.001+05:30

Mirpur: In a bid to minimise the dew factor as suggested by Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara, the Bangladesh Cricket Board on Thursday said the remaining four matches of the ongoing tri-series will start half an hour earlier at 1330 hrs IST. BCB media committee chairman Younus Jalal said NEO channel,Bangladesh TV and Super Sport have agreed to advance the start time to tackle the heavy dew at night. Dhoni and Sangakkara had stated that toss had become the deciding factor with dew at night making it difficult for bowlers, especially the spinners, to grip the ball.

"In view of the dew at night we have reached an understanding with the broadcasters to start the match half an hour early from tomorrow onwards. We had wanted one hour early start but it is OK the teams have accepted the half an hour early start," Jalal told reporters. "We had not anticipated that so much dew will be there at this time of the year," he added.Jalal did not see any problem for NEO Cricket's telecast of the matches in Europe, saying, "The matches start in the morning in Europe and advancing half and hour won't be a problem," he said.The tournament opener between Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh saw heavy dew at night but conditions had improved since then.

'Genius' Ponting basks in Sydney glory

2010-01-08T11:04:00.001+05:30

Sydney: Australian captain Ricky Ponting said the criticism thrown at the team inspired his boys to a sensational 36-run win against Pakistan on Wednesday.Set a modest 176 to win, Pakistan was bowled out for 139. It was just the third time Australia has trailed by more than 200 on the first innings and won. "What we have read over the last couple of days and what we have seen on the news has probably just steeled us all a little bit, just made us want to fight the game out as much as we can and prove that we are never out of the contest," Ponting was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

"If I had bowled first and they'd made 300, it would have looked like a shocking decision as well," he said. "It comes down to results and we've got a great result here, so I look like a genius where I didn't a couple of days ago." "It's been a pretty tough few days for not only me, (but) the team," he said. "As a captain and a top-order batter, the last thing I want to do is to bat on a wicket I don't think we can make any runs on. "So I backed us at the start of the game to make more runs in the first innings of the game than what I thought Pakistan could make in the last innings of the game. "If we could eke out 200, 250 on that wicket on the first day I thought that would be a really good total because I didn't think they would be able to get that many batting last.

"It just goes to show how hard chasing runs in Test cricket is." Ponting said that he was still struggling with an arm injury which almost forced him out of the Boxing Day Test. "I've been a bit restricted in the last couple of games," he said. "But I'm not going to use that as an excuse for why I haven't scored as many runs as I would have liked. I was probably in the most pain in the first innings of the Melbourne game but that was the highest score I've made in the four innings (since the injury). "As far as the batting side of things goes in this game, I've had a poor game and I've had a poor six or eight games. So I've got to go to Hobart and I've got to prepare well and I've got to start making some runs."

Akmal dropped after shocking performance

2010-01-08T11:03:00.001+05:30

Melbourne: Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has been dropped from the Pakistan team for the third Test against Australia at Bellerive Oval next Wednesday. He will be replaced by young Sarfraz Ahmed. Akmal had a terrible game behind the stumps in Pakistan's shock 36-run loss to Australia in Sydney where he dropped four catches. He grassed Michael Hussey three times off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria on the third day, allowing the left-hander to form the backbone of Australia's second innings with an unbeaten 134 on day four.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on its website that "urgent action" was required, and will send Sarfraz to take Akmal's place at Bellerive Oval. "Pakistan Cricket Board shows it utmost concern over the poor performance of the team in the second Test match played in Sydney," it said. "Chairman Selection Committee was invited today for a meeting with chairman of PCB to evaluate the situation. "As an urgent action, it was agreed to send wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to Australia before the third Test to reinforce the wicketkeeping department. "The tour selection committee has been informed accordingly." The PCB says a performance review will be carried out at the end of the team's tour to Australia.

Knives out after Pak's Sydney debacle

2010-01-08T11:01:00.001+05:30

Karachi: Knives were out on Thursday for Pakistan captainMohammad Yousuf, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and the team management after the country's humiliating defeat in the Sydney Test against Australia. The aftermath of the 36-run defeat evoked angry reactions from former cricketers and administrators, who were scathing in their attack on the team for its shocking collapse after dominating the Test for the first three days. The Sydney debacle prompted a statement from the Presidential spokesman who appealed for calm and patience from everyone. "Charitable Pakistan Hand Australia Sydney Win", "Clumsy, Irresponsible Players Throw Away Match" were some of the headlines in the newspapers, reflecting the angry mood of the country.

Former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz lashed out at Yousuf's captaincy and demanded axing of the entire team management. "I think the selectors now need to give more opportunities to younger players so that we can move ahead. This management needs to be sacked as they are unable to provide proper support to the players," he said. Even former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, a close Yousuf friend who allegedly orchestrated behind-the-scenes movements to oustYounis Khan and elevate Yousuf, criticised the team. "I think this Pakistan team lacks confidence. We dominated the match for three days and then let it go all in one day which is unacceptable," Inzamam said. "In the series they were always in a hurry to play their shots which does not work all the time in Test matches," he added. He also felt that seniority should no more be a criterion for selection.

"I believe that deserving players should be given the chance and the management and players must all stand up and play their roles in the team," said the former skipper. In view of Kamran Akmal's poor form, Pakistan are rushing in young stumper Sarfaraz Ahmed for the third Test starting on January 14 in Hobart. Former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, who headed the selection committee until last year, said PCB chairman Ejaz Butt and the selectors should quit owning up the moral responsibility for the embarrassing defeat. "Had I been the board's chairman or chief selector, I would have resigned from my post after such a pathetic performance by the national team," Qadir said. Ex-captain Moin Khan felt both Yousuf and coach Intikhab Alamwere to be blamed for the debacle. "I don't know what happened but I think even if Yousuf was not thinking right and his strategy was wrong after the first half an hour, the support staff including coach Intikhab Alam should have sent out a message to him to change his strategy," Moin said.

Former PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf felt it was embarrassing to lose a match after dominating the first three days and said Yousuf should be stripped of captaincy. "What happened in the Test was so embarrassing. It made a complete mockery of Pakistan cricket and the entire team management. The captain should be fired for it," Ashraf demanded. Also training guns on the coach, Ashraf said, "If Yousuf was not right in his cricketing decisions there was also the team management led by coach, Intikhab Alam which could have guided him into changing his strategy." Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, meanwhile, told the media in Islamabad that losing was part of the game and people should maintain their calm. "Winning and losing are parts of the game. The loss, no doubt, was disheartening and calls for greater effort on the players part in the future to win crucial fixtures," Babar said. It was a strange performance by the Pakistani team which bowled out Australia for just 127 runs and took a 206-run first innings lead. Thanks to Yousuf's defensive tactics, Australia managed 381 in their second essay and chasing 176 for a victory, Pakistan imploded for 139 to slump to a morale-shattering defeat.

Injury rules Razzaq out of Australia ODIs

2010-01-08T10:58:00.001+05:30

Karachi: Pakistan's most experienced all-rounder and ODI specialist Abdul Razzaq was on Thursday ruled out of the forthcoming five-match one-day series against Australia due to a finger injury. Razzaq confirmed that he would not be available for the ODI series after fracturing his finger during a club match in Lahore. "It is most unfortunate what happened but it was a freak incident. I was batting and injured my finger while trying to negotiate a full toss from the bowler," Razzaq told PTI.

The all-rounder said doctors have ruled him out of the cricketing action for a month, which means he would not be available for the series in Australia. "I am very disappointed because I was eagerly awaiting the one-day series in Australia after being dropped for the Test matches," he said. Razzaq, who has played 237 one-dayers for Pakistan, has been a regular member of the ODI and T20 teams since he made a comeback to the national team last year in June in the T20 World Cup after leaving the unofficial Indian Cricket League for whom he played since 2007.

Razzaq said he was also disappointed by the team's defeat in the second Test in Sydney and the players had batted poorly. Razzaq backed the decision of the national selectors to rush wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to Australia to play in place of Kamran Akmal in the next week's third Test in Hobart. "I support this decision because Kamran badly needs to be given a rest from international cricket. I would have infact rested him last year because it is clear he needs to recoup himself as he is playing too much cricket," Razzaq said. He pointed out that Pakistan had a better chance of beating Australia in the one-day series as they had a more balanced one-day outfit compared to their playing Test eleven. The national selectors are due to announce the one-day squad next week.

51 players to be auctioned for IPL III

2010-01-08T10:57:00.001+05:30

New Delhi: Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, Kiwi pacemanShane Bond and Caribbean batting sensation Keiron Pollard are among 51 cricketers, who have been shortlisted by the Indian Premier League for its January 19 player auction. Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies), Nathan McCullum (New Zealand), Clint McKay and Doug Bollinger (Australia), Chanaka Welegedaraand Nuwan Zoysa (Sri Lanka), rising Pakistani star Umar Akmal andYusuf Abdulla and Rory Kleinveldt (South Africa) have also made the cut.

The list includes 11 Australians, nine South Africans, eight Sri Lankans, eight West Indians, seven Pakistanis and an assortment of players from across the Bangladesh, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. However, the final list didn't feature a single Englishman following a stand-off by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The auction, to be held in Mumbai, will also feature for the first time players from Holland and Canada.

As per the guidelines set by the IPL Governing Council, each Franchisee will have a fresh purse of USD 750,000 to buy players. "The IPL had received nearly 100 entries from international players, of which the eight franchisees had short listed 60 players for the auction on January 19th and out of which only 51 have been cleared for the auction. The remaining will be featured pending NOCs from the home boards," a release from the organisers said. The third edition of the highly popular Twenty20 event will begin on March 12.

Players (from):

Australia: Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Ashley Noffke, Jason Krejza, Ben Laughlin, Graham Manou, Damien Martyn, Clint McKay,Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Phillip Hughes

South Africa: Yusuf Abdulla, Zander de Bruyn, Justin Kemp, Rory Kleinveldt, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Johan van der Wath, Vaughn van Jaarsveld

Sri Lanka: Thilina Kandamby, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thisara Perera,Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Chanaka Welegedara, Nuwan Zoysa

West Indies: Sulieman Benn, Daren Ganga, Darren Bravo, Wavell Hinds, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Kemar Roach, Ramnaresh Sarwan

Pakistan: Mohammad Aamer, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Akmal, Rana Naved Ul Hasan, Imran Nazir, Abdul Razzaq

New Zealand: Shane Bond, Grant Elliot, Nathan McCullum, Lou Vincent

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan

Canada: Rizwan Cheema

Zimbabwe: Murray Goodwin

Holland: Ryan ten Doeschate.