SriLanka Premier League 2011

SLPL 2012 Start Date: August 10th 2012 to End Date : August 31st 2012

2012-07-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

Match Play Venue:- R Premadasa International Stadium / Pallekele International Stadium

Sat Aug 11 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 16:00 IST	Basnahira Bears v Kandurata Kites R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sat Aug 11 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Nagenahira Nagas v Ruhuna Rhinos R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sun Aug 12 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 16:00 IST	Uthura Oryxes v Wayamba Wolves R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sun Aug 12 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Uva Unicorns v Basnahira Bears R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Mon Aug 13 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Kandurata Kites v Nagenahira Nagas R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Tue Aug 14 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Ruhuna Rhinos v Uthura Oryxes R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Fri Aug 17 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Wayamba Wolves v Uva Unicorns Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Sat Aug 18 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 16:00 IST	Basnahira Bears v Nagenahira Nagas Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Sat Aug 18 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Kandurata Kites v Ruhuna Rhinos Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Sun Aug 19 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 16:00 IST	Uthura Oryxes v Uva Unicorns Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Sun Aug 19 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Wayamba Wolves v Basnahira Bears Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Mon Aug 20 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 16:00 IST	Kandurata Kites v Uthura Oryxes Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Mon Aug 20 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Nagenahira Nagas v Wayamba Wolves Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Tue Aug 21 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 16:00 IST	Ruhuna Rhinos v Uva Unicorns Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Tue Aug 21 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Uthura Oryxes v Basnahira Bears Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Fri Aug 24 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 16:00 IST	Wayamba Wolves v Kandurata Kites R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Fri Aug 24 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Uva Unicorns v Nagenahira Nagas R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sat Aug 25 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 16:00 IST	Basnahira Bears v Ruhuna Rhinos R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sat Aug 25 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Kandurata Kites v Uva Unicorns R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sun Aug 26 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 16:00 IST	Nagenahira Nagas v Uthura Oryxes R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sun Aug 26 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Ruhuna Rhinos v Wayamba Wolves R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Tue Aug 28 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	1st Semi Final - TBC v TBC R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Wed Aug 29 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	2nd Semi Final - TBC v TBC R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Fri Aug 31 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 20:00 IST	Final - TBC v TBC R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

SLPL 2012 Teams Name:

2012-07-11T14:52:00.004-07:00

Basnahira Bears (1)
Kandurata Kites (1)
Nagenahira Nagas (1)
Ruhuna Rhinos (1)
Uthura Oryxes (1)
Uva Unicorns (1)
Wayaba Wolves (1)

Shahid Afridi SLPL 2012 International Icon Player

2012-07-11T14:51:00.002-07:00

Shahid Afridi SLPL 2012 International Icon Player

The First Edition of Sri Lanka Premier League 2012 will be Played on August 10 to 31. SLPL 2012 Schedule has been announced by the governing bodies of Sri Lanka Premier League. So this is the another exciting T20 Tournament held in Sri Lanka on 1oth August 2012 to 31st August 2012. All the matches of the SLPL 2012 will be played at the Premadasa stadium and Pallekele stadium in the central district of Kandy. Pakistan’s greatest all rounder ever and the World Record Holder Shahid Khan Afridi and West Indies opener Chris Gayle among the biggest entertainers in the Twenty20 format, have been named the two international ICON players in the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League 2012. Seven Teams are Participating in SLPL 2012 and Teams will be allowed a maximum of 18 players, out of which six can be foreign players. Teams will be allowed play a maximum of four foreign players per game. Out of the remaining seven players in the XI, one must be a Sri Lanka Under-21 international.

SLPL 2012 Schedule and Time Table:

2012-07-11T14:50:00.005-07:00

Date and Time	Match	Weather

Sat Aug 11 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 15:30 PKT	Basnahira Bears v Kandurata Kites R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sat Aug 11 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Nagenahira Nagas v Ruhuna Rhinos R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sun Aug 12 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 15:30 PKT	Uthura Oryxes v Wayamba Wolves R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sun Aug 12 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Uva Unicorns v Basnahira Bears R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Mon Aug 13 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Kandurata Kites v Nagenahira Nagas R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Tue Aug 14 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Ruhuna Rhinos v Uthura Oryxes R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Fri Aug 17 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Wayamba Wolves v Uva Unicorns Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Sat Aug 18 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 15:30 PKT	Basnahira Bears v Nagenahira Nagas Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Sat Aug 18 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Kandurata Kites v Ruhuna Rhinos Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Sun Aug 19 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 15:30 PKT	Uthura Oryxes v Uva Unicorns Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Sun Aug 19 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Wayamba Wolves v Basnahira Bears Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Mon Aug 20 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 15:30 PKT	Kandurata Kites v Uthura Oryxes Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Mon Aug 20 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Nagenahira Nagas v Wayamba Wolves Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Tue Aug 21 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 15:30 PKT	Ruhuna Rhinos v Uva Unicorns Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Tue Aug 21 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Uthura Oryxes v Basnahira Bears Pallekele International Cricket Stadium	N/A

Fri Aug 24 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 15:30 PKT	Wayamba Wolves v Kandurata Kites R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Fri Aug 24 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Uva Unicorns v Nagenahira Nagas R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sat Aug 25 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 15:30 PKT	Basnahira Bears v Ruhuna Rhinos R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sat Aug 25 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Kandurata Kites v Uva Unicorns R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sun Aug 26 10:30 GMT \| 16:00 local 15:30 PKT	Nagenahira Nagas v Uthura Oryxes R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Sun Aug 26 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Ruhuna Rhinos v Wayamba Wolves R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Tue Aug 28 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	1st Semi Final – TBC v TBC R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Wed Aug 29 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	2nd Semi Final – TBC v TBC R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

Fri Aug 31 14:30 GMT \| 20:00 local 19:30 PKT	Final – TBC v TBC R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo	N/A

The SLPL 2012 Icon Players and Teams:

2012-07-11T14:50:00.002-07:00

Basnahira – Tillakaratne Dilshan
Kandurata – Kumar Sangakkara
Nagenahira – Shahid Afridi
Ruhuna – Lasith Malinga
Uthura – Muttiah Muralitharan
Uva – Chris Gayle
Wayamba – Mahela Jayawardene

Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) 2012 Schedule, Teams, Players List

2012-07-11T14:48:00.002-07:00

SLPL season 2012 now begun from 10th August 2012. Sri Lanka Premier League making excitement in sri Lanka cricket fans. Here you can find out the auction of SLPL (Sri Lanka Premier League 2012) after some normal discussion you can see below. The most important and interesting thing is that Sri Lanka find the way how to promote their cricket in their Country and they like gave chance to young talent and that was the time when new talent appears in the ground field.
In this League Board for Cricket Control in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) announce the 7(Seven) franchises names (Uthura, Nagenahira, Ruhuna, Wayamba, Kandurata, Basnahira and Uva) who picked International players for SLPL 2012. Total 56 cricket players has been chosen from the franchises in Colombo last few days. The bad news is that no Indian and English Player participating in Sri Lanka Premier League 2012.
This time all the companies make sure it that all the players available in full tournament and Shahid Afridi was an icon for the franchises and this time if his (Boom Boom) team come for the semi final and final match than Shahid Afridi would not be on the ground due the recently announcement of Pakistan vs Australia Series 2012.
Total 26 twenty-20 matches scheduled in SLPL event. The list is dominated by players from Australia (18) and Pakistan (13). Misbah is in the draft of Kandurata and Muhammad Hafeez is not in SLPL Draft.
Here below you can see the Squad of all teams those participating in SLPL season 2012.
Uthura: Shakib Al Hasan, Brendan Taylor, Kevon Cooper, Imran Farhat, Fidel Edwards, David Miller, Dillon du Preez, Samuel Badree
Nagenahira: Mitchell Marsh, Imran Nazir, Travis Birt, Ahmed Shahzad, Ben Laughlin, Elias Sunny, Musfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain
Ruhuna: Shahid Afridi, Daniel Harris, Ryan Harris, Aaron Finch, Jerome Taylor, Nathan McCullum, Ryan McLaren, Richard Levi.
Wayamba: Azhar Mahmood, Umar Akmal, Tamim Iqbal, Colin Ingram, Kemar Roach, James Faulkner, Abdul Razzaq, Brad Hogg
Kandurata: Saeed Ajmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sohail Tanvir, Chris Lynn, Dane Vilas, Albie Morkel, Johan Botha, Adam Voges
Basnahira: Brad Hodge, Marlon Samuels, Daniel Smith, Dirk Nannes, Robin Peterson, Tim Southee, Clint McKay, Cameron Borgas
Uva: Andrew McDonald, Umar Gul, Shoaib Malik, Callum Ferguson, James Franklin, Abdur Rehman, Hammad Azam, Chris Gayle
List of Icon Players for SPL 2012:
Basnahira Bears: Tillakaratne Dilshan
Kandurata Kites: Kumar Sangakkara
Nagenahira Nagas: No icon player
Ruhuna Rhinos: Lasith Malinga
Uthura Oryxes: Muttiah Muralitharan
Uva Unicorns: Chris Gayle
Wayamba Wolves: Mahela Jayawardene
Players With Price will be uploaded here soon…
The SLPL Franchise owners (According to a report in Sri Lankan media)
Wayamba – Wadhawan Holdings Private Limited – $5.02 million
Kandurata – Number One Sports Consulting Private Limited – $4.98 million
Ruhuna – Pearl Overseas Limited – $4.6 million
Uva – Success Sports Private Limited – $4.6 million
Basnahira -Indian Cricket Dundee Limited – $4.33 million
Uthura – Rudra Sports Private Limited – $3.4 million
Nagenahira – Varun Beverages Lanka Private Limited – $3.22 million

2011 Sri Lanka Premier League

2012-06-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

Information About SLPL T20

The 2011 Sri Lankan T20 Premier League (SPLT20) will be the first edition of the new official Twenty20 domestic cricket competition in Sri Lanka. The season will begin on 19 July and end on 4 August.

This tournament will include seven teams in total representing the provinces of Sri Lanka, with two new teams Nagenahira Nagas and Uthura Oryxes. The teams will be captained by six national captains and a former Sri Lanka vice-captain. The tournament will feature over 30 international cricketers and will be the first of its kind in Sri Lanka.

Srilanka Premier League (slpl20twenty) Postponed To 2012 .

2011-07-07T16:57:00.000-07:00

The Sri Lanka Premier League ( slpl20twenty) has been postponed to August 2012 after facing a series of problems, including the unexpected withdrawal of Indian players from the tournament. In its place Sri Lanka Cricket, the league's owners, will conduct the regular inter-provincial 20Twenty tournament featuring five domestic sides without involving players from any other country.

It is very sad moment from the cricket fans of Srilanka Premier League ( slpl20twenty ) , because they want to see International Players in Action in SLPL20Twenty .

An official announcement is awaited, though South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs, one of the overseas players linked with the tournament, told this website that he'd been informed of the one-year deferral.

www.slpl20twenty.blogspot.com understands that the decision to postpone the league - which was scheduled to start on July 19 - was taken on Thursday at a meeting between the SLC's new committee and Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the league's organisers. Given the BCCI's decision not to let Indian players participate and the time crunch, both parties felt it prudent to delay the launch. A four-week window in August 2012 was identified as the best time for the tournament; meanwhile the SLC will continue to lobby the BCCI for Indian participation.

The BCCI had withheld its permission on the grounds that Somerset, which owned the commercial rights, would be handling the contracts for international players and that could lead to complications should disputes arise over payments. In order to assuage the Indian board, SLC was willing to back the Indian players' contracts so that their financial interests were protected, but that was not enough to satisfy the BCCI. There have been suggestions that former IPL chairman Lalit Modi had a hand in the event, but SLC and Somerset have repeatedly denied the allegation, as has Modi.

The BCCI's decision meant the tournament did not have a broadcaster for the lucrative Indian market, a situation that made it much more difficult for the SLPL to find a secure financial footing. Adding to the sense of confusion was last week's dissolution of the SLC committee that had created the tournament, and its replacement by a new panel.

The Indian board's stand - which marked a U-turn of sorts after an initial green signal - was contrary to that of the boards of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan, all of whom extended their support to the tournament. Tim May, the chief executive of Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), had also backed the event.

Srilanka Premier League 2011 Opening Ceremony

2011-07-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Srilanka Premier League starts on the july 19 , 2011 , and before the games starts their is official Opening Ceremony starts to show the world that the begininging of a new premier league starts in Srilanka . Many of the Bollywood Starts also expected to perform in the slpl20twenty league . but not officially announced who will perform in the opening ceremony and also they decide to performs fireworks in the starts of the league .

watch more information on www.slpl20twenty.blogspot.com

England vs Srilanka 2nd ODI at Leads.

2011-07-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

In the 2nd ODI between England and Srilanka . The England won the toss and decide to field first .

In the first innings Srilanka make 309 in their 50 over with the loss of 5 wickets . In the reply the England mange to make only 240 runs in 45.5 overs and they are all out .

Now the 5 match series is tied by 1-1 between England and Srilanka .

The next match is played on July , 03 , 2011 .

Watch more here www.slpl20twenty.blogspot.com

Rawalpindi Rams Wins The Final

2011-07-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

In the Final match of the Faisalbank T20 Tournament , which is played between Rawalpindi Rams and Karachi Dolphins . It is the nail biting match between both teams , it is considered the Best Match of the Tournament .

Rawalpindi Rams put the Karachi Dolphins to bat first and they set the total of 164 for the Rams . In the reply The Rawalpindi Rams were also manage to make 164 for their 20 overs. and the match is tied . And then the super over roll is applied first time in the tournament . Rawalpindi Bat first in the super over and they manage to make 16 runs in the super over . In the reply the Karachi Dolphins just make 7 runs in the super over . And the Rawalpindi Rams Wins the tournament 1st time .

For More Information Visit www.slpl20twenty.blogspot.com

Rawalpindi And Karachi Surge Into Final

2011-06-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

Rawalpindi Rams brushed aside Lahore lions by 47 runs in the first Semi Final of Faisal Bank 20twenty tornament , which is played in Faisalabad .

Rawalpindi Won the toss and choose to bat first and set the total of 186 for just loosing 4 wickets . And in the reply of the massive bating of the Rawalpindi Rams the Lahore Lions just manage to make 139 runs .

In the Second Semi Final , Karachi Dolphins decide to bat first and they make a massive total of 239 runs . and in the reply the Sailkot Stalions manage to make 196 and loose all their wickets with 7 balls to spare.

SLPL Media Partners.

2011-06-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Srilanka Premier League (SLPL) , has been announced that the first edition of the ( slpl20twenty ) will be starts on 19 July 2011 . And the official media partner of the Srilanka Premier League ( SLPL) is Carlton Sports Network ( CSN ) .
The Television and the Radio Broadcasting of the Srilanka Premier League ( SLPL ) are also sold to the Carlton Sports Network ( CSN ) .
Singapore's Summerset Company handle the tournament and they sell the broadcasting rights to the other countries .
we will show you all the channels as soon as they got the right to show Srilanka Premier League ( SLPL ) in foreign countries .

For Updates About Srilanka Premeir League 2011 Visit here www.slpl20twenty.blogspot.com

Schedule

2011-06-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

Schedule for Sri Lanka Premier League 2011
1st Match
Date: July 19, Tuesday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Basnahira Bears v Kandurata Kites

2nd Match
Date: July 20, Wednesday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Nagenahira Nagas vs Ruhuna Rhinos

3rd Match
Date: July 20, Wednesday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Uthura Oryxes v Wayamba Wolves

4th Match
Date: July 21, Thursday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Uva Unicorns v Basnahira Bears

5th Match
Date: July 21, Thursday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Kandurata Kites v Nagenahira Nagas

6th Match
Date: July 23, Saturday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Ruhuna Rhinos v Uthura Oryxes

7th Match
Date: July 23, Saturday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Wayamba Wolves v Uva Unicorns

8th Match
Date: July 24, Sunday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Basnahira Bears v Nagenahira Nagas

9th Match
Date: July 24, Sunday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Kandurata Kites v Ruhuna Rhinos

10th Match
Date: July 25, Monday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Uthura Oryxes v Uva Unicorns

11th Match
Date: July 25, Monday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Wayamba Wolves v Basnahira Bears

12th Match
Date: July 26, Tuesday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Kandurata Kites v Uthura Oryxes

13th Match
Date: July 26, Tuesday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Nagenahira Nagas v Wayamba Wolves

14th Match
Date: July 28, Thursday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Ruhuna Rhinos v Uva Unicorns

15th Match
Date: July 28, Thursday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Uthura Oryxes v Basnahira Bears

16th Match
Date: July 29, Friday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Wayamba Wolves v Kandurata Kites

17th Match
Date: July 29, Friday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Uva Unicorns v Nagenahira Nagas

18th Match
Date: July 30, Saturday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Basnahira Bears v Ruhuna Rhinos

19th Match
Date: July 30, Saturday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Kandurata Kites v Uva Unicorns

20th Match
Date: July 31, Sunday
Time: 10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
Team: Nagenahira Nagas v Uthura Oryxes

21st Match
Date: July 31, Sunday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: Ruhuna Rhinos v Wayamba Wolves

1st Semi-Final
Date: August 2, Tuesday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: TBC v TBC

2nd Semi-Final
Date: August 3, Wednesday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: TBC v TBC

Final
Date: August 4, Thursday
Time: 14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
Team: TBC v TBC

Sri Lanka's comeback stars prove the difference

2011-06-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

For Sri Lanka the next three weeks is what their tour of England is really all about. They tried their best in the Tests, where the draws at Lord's and the Rose Bowl were commendable results, but were never going to have a serious chance of winning with such a threadbare bowling attack. Limited-overs cricket, of both the 20- and 50-over variety, is a very different story and the performance at Bristol showed what makes them such a dangerous team in coloured clothes.

In a match studded with players returning to the international scene, it was Sri Lanka's comeback stars who had, by far, the biggest influence on proceedings. Lasith Malinga, no longer a Test cricketer due to his dodgy knees, led the way with a frugal four overs that cost 15 with few of England's players able to lay a bat on him. Even those who could, such as the in-form Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan, only managed to take him for one boundary.

Malinga has lost the highlights from his hair since last appearing for Sri Lanka at the World Cup, but none of the sparkle from his bowling. It's a huge shame his body can't withstand the longer format - especially having seen some of those who are trying to replace him in the Test team - but, in a factor often overlooked by those who curse the Test verses Twenty20 debate, the short game ensures he can still dazzle on the world stage.

"With Lasith in your side it's very easy because he is a world-class bowler," Thilina Kandamby, the Sri Lanka captain, said. "I knew whenever he had a chance he would pick up wickets. He's the best in the world in that role."

It wasn't far off a perfect Twenty20 bowling display. Malinga's first over, the last of the six-over Powerplay, cost just three runs to ensure England collected a disappointing 33 for 2 from the fielding restrictions. The last ball of that over was clocked at 90mph and with the 'sling' imparted by his action was comfortably the fastest England have faced this season.

Stuart Broad knew Malinga's four overs had played a major role in changing the game. "They have some very good death bowlers," he said. "You only have to look at Malinga who is one of the best in the world and we didn't find the boundaries we needed."

Malinga isn't just about toe-crushing yorkers. He provided the key breakthrough by removing a rampant Morgan with a bouncer that was pulled to deep square-leg. Off his next 15 balls, a mixture of slower deliveries and others up at 90mph, just eight runs came from the bat and only one of those in the last over when Chris Woakes and Broad connected with nothing but fresh air. Nobody in the England side comes close to bowling yorkers so consistently.

However, it wasn't just Malinga who was important with the ball. Nuwan Kulasekara, not long ago the No. 1 bowler in one-day cricket, kept up early pressure and the subsequent stand of 83 in nine overs between Pietersen and Morgan was the only time Sri Lanka lost control. The man who helped restore their grip was their most controversial inclusion. Sanath Jayasuriya's left-arm darts have not lost any effectiveness in his two years away from the international scene and as a farewell to Twenty20 internationals his 2 for 18 was a handy return.

His skiddy angle defeated Pietersen's cut and also bowled Ravi Bopara the ball after he'd hit the only boundary in the final eight overs. His effectiveness makes it even odder that he wasn't willing to extend his international farewell for the duration of the one-day matches. As it is, the last England will see of Jayasuriya will be at The Oval on Tuesday. Malinga, though, will be around for longer and that is likely to give the home side more problems.

Vincent Barnes refuses Bangladesh coaching job

2011-06-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

Vincent Barnes has turned down an offer to coach Bangladesh but has been asked to reconsider his decision by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Barnes' contract as South Africa's assistant coach will be terminated at the end of June and he is not part of the revamped national set-up under newly-appointed coach Gary Kirsten.

"I did turn it [Bangladesh job] down, but I have been asked to reconsider," Barnes told ESPNcricinfo.

At a press conference in Johannesburg, Cricket South Africa named Russell Domingo, who coached the Warriors, as assistant to Kirsten, and Allan Donald as the bowling coach. Barnes was offered a role at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria. Gerald Majola, the CSA chief executive, said they were waiting for a response from Barnes.

If Barnes does not reverse his Bangladesh decision, it will be a setback for the BCB, who had said they were close to signing him to fill the vacancy created by Jamie Siddons' departure after a disappointing World Cup campaign. Stuart Law, the interim coach of Sri Lanka, was also in the running but there were reports of his chances failing due to a disagreement over conditions with the BCB

AB de Villiers named ODI and T20 captain

2011-06-06T13:15:00.001-07:00

AB de Villiers has been named South Africa's one-day and Twenty20 international captain, succeeding Graeme Smith, who had stood down following the 2011 World Cup but will remain the Test captain. Hashim Amla has been named vice-captain in both limited-over formats, while de Villiers is also Smith's deputy in the Test team.

South Africa's newly-appointed coach, Gary Kirsten, said the additional responsibility given to de Villiers, who will now have to be senior batsman, wicketkeeper and captain in the limited-over formats, had not yet been considered. "We have had one conversation about it and we will talk about it further," Kirsten said.

de Villiers didn't appear to be burdened by the additional tasks either. "There is a lot of responsibility on my shoulders and I am really looking forward to it," he said at a press conference in Johannesburg. "I am obviously very excited and ready to learn. I am really looking forward to this whole challenge. I will work closely with Hashim and the coach. I have been through some ups and downs in my career and I am ready to take on anything."

de Villiers' dual appointment is in keeping with convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson's vision that there would be continuity in captaincy. Hudson had said in April that the next one-day captain would be likely to become the next Test captain as well.

Kirsten said there was a "general feeling" that de Villiers was the right man for the job because of his certainty in the starting XI. "I think it's important that you are looking at an individual whose name is the first or second on the team sheet, that does play a role," he said.

Johan Botha, who was appointed Smith's successor in the Twenty20 format in August 2010 has effectively been stripped of the captaincy. CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said that Botha had been informed of the news by telephone. "Everyone understands that we are selecting new captains and coaches and we just had to get hold of Johan and tell him he wasn't selected." Botha could well lose his place in the side because of the rise of Pakistan-born legspinner Imran Tahir and the return to form of Robin Peterson.

There was some speculation that Amla had been approached to take over the captaincy but had turned it down. He denied any such reports. Amla said he was happy with his vice-captain appointment because he considered himself an "under-the-radar character."

"I did take a long time to think about it, I feel it is a huge responsibility. AB as captain for me is an excellent move, I have always respected him as a person," Amla said. "I don't think I am a big enough person to handle the captaincy. I turned down the Dolphins captaincy and I decided afterward that I would stick to my batting, and when this came up I took it. It is a perfect fit for me."

Amla captained the Dolphins for one season in 2004-05 and he stepped down to concentrate on his batting, despite scoring 249 in the SuperSport Series final. He has only played three T20s and may be regarded as a surprise choice for the vice-captaincy in that format. "My career has gone in stages," he said. "The next one for me will be to establish myself as a world class T20 player."

Smith, who was also present at the press conference, said he had no regrets about stepping down as one-day captain and at no stage did he reconsider his decision. After eight years of captaining the ODI team, Smith said he was ready to relinquish the leadership and contribute as a senior player, while allowing de Villiers to grow into his new role.

"I am looking forward to having more freedom in the shorter formats of the game and to enjoying my cricket again," he said. "I said to AB it is very important that he establishes himself in the job and finds his way. I will always be supportive if he needs me. He will need senior players to support him and I feel I will be a good shoulder for him to lean on."

Afridi wants contract, NOC reinstated

2011-06-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Two days before he is due to appear before a PCB disciplinary committee, Shahid Afridi and his lawyers asked the board again for justice, which in this case centred around an appeal to reinstate his central contract and NOC before the June 8 hearing. Flanked by Syed Ali Zafar and Mahmood Mandviwalla of the legal firm Mandviwalla & Zafar, the trio refused, however, to rule in or out Afridi's appearance at the hearing.

Much of an energetic press conference at the Karachi Press Club - Afridi's first public appearance since his return on Sunday night from the UK - reiterated the demands of the four-page letter the legal firm sent to the PCB over the weekend, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. Both lawyers stressed repeatedly that they were asking only for a due process to be followed and that the act of suspension of the central contract and NOC withdrawal were punishments before the player had been heard.

"Due process means if there is an accusation against someone, he should be allowed to defend that," Zafar said. "He should have a legal representative there, his point of view should be allowed and a fair and just inquiry should happen and then a decision. What has happened is that a showcause notice has been sent, he has been accused of things and a punishment given. We say you can give punishment, but hear out our player first. It is a principle of natural justice."

Soon after he was sent a showcause notice, Afridi responded to the board and accepted that he had violated the code. But Zafar insisted that guilt or innocence was not yet the matter. "There is no admission of guilt or innocence," Zafar said. "We have only said, carry out the proceedings but that the NOC and the suspension of contract, take that back and listen to us first. After that, make a decision. They have acted without hearing us out. This is our position and this is the right legal position. We are hopeful that they will make the right decision. It is just the way they have adopted currently shows that they have judged beforehand."

In a press release issued a few hours before the press conference, the board said it would allow Afridi a legal representative at the hearing, one of the demands of Afridi's lawyers. But both Zafar and Mandviwalla said they had received no such communication yet and refused to say definitively whether that meant Afridi would appear at the hearing or not. However, the PCB's legal advisor Taffazul Rizvi told ESPNcricinfo that after the press conference, Afridi's lawyers had been told they will be allowed in, though they had yet to respond to it.

"If this process remains, then that [not appearing] is an option," Zafar said. "But if they really write a letter to us saying that a lawyer is allowed then we can think about it. We have no issue appearing but if this process remains, we cannot go."

Afridi's arrival at Karachi airport on Sunday night drew thousands of supporters. Indicative of his popularity and background as a Pathan resident in Karachi, the occasion even saw a rare unity among the city's strongest and constantly bickering political parties, the MQM and ANP. "I wanted to thank the public and the support I was given last night. People are saying that this is a political issue but when I got out of the airport, I saw flags of MQM, ANP, PPP (the ruling party), and especially the Pakistan flags. This is not a political thing. Many feel what I have done is right and that what has happened with me is wrong."

Afridi has been in touch with political figures through the mess, though he would only say that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari - whom he bumped into at a dinner in London, he said - were keeping abreast of matters. "They know who is right and wrong, this is about power and who has that we all know," he said.

Otherwise he reiterated much of what he has been saying over the past week. He was upset that he had heard of his removal through the media, he wanted his NOC back, he was not seeking a fight, merely justice. "I am not here to fight, I am a cricketer, I want to play cricket. I want what is my right," he said. "If they don't want me to play for Pakistan, but at least let me play domestic cricket or county cricket. I want my right, my NOC."

He did warn, however, of the implications such a dispute between player and board can have on both current and future players. "An example should be set for cricketers of the future. Many things were a problem under my captaincy, whether that is management or anything else, there were problems. Until those things are solved….if I come back and those problems are still there, they will only increase over time. Those things need to be cleared so future cricketers don't suffer and focus purely on cricket.

"There are other senior players who are having problems, but because of central contracts they don't say anything. They worry about their careers. It is not just me who has the problem. If I get out of the way today, one of them will come up. We want to finish these issues and focus on cricket. The way the board is treating all players is wrong. This is not how you finish player power, by humiliating them. I have played 13-14 years and I don't want to finish like this, I want to leave with respect."

2011-06-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

Gary Kirsten named South Africa coach

Gary Kirsten has been appointed coach of the South Africa team for a term of two years. He will be joined by Allan Donald as bowling coach, and Russell Domingo, who coached the Warriors, as an assistant.

"I'm delighted by the appointment and consider it a major honour," Kirsten said at a press conference in Johannesburg. "It's nice to be back … it's nice to be among my people and to be working within that space."

Kirsten will begin his term as coach on August 1 and his first assignment will be a home series against Australia. He took over from Corrie van Zyl, who was an interim coach for 14 months after Mickey Arthur resigned following the home series against England in 2009-10.

This is Kirsten's second stint as coach of an international team. He finished a two-year term with India in April, after helping them win the 2011 World Cup and become the No. 1 Test team. At the end of his tenure, Kirsten indicated he would take time off to be with his young family.
"There was a lot to consider from my side, from a personal perspective and from my time with Indian cricket," he said. "A cooling off period was necessary." Kirsten will have four months off from the end of his time with India to his starting date with South Africa.

Kirsten described his new role as that of "team director/head coach" who would be at the helm of the "coaching team" which may also employ the services of a fielding coach on a contractual basis. CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said that after the board decided to appoint Kirsten, he was allowed to compile his own team of coaches, which included Donald and Domingo.

Donald, who recently lost the Australia bowling job to Craig McDermott, turned down an offer from New Zealand Cricket in order to take up the role with South Africa. He was approached on Friday, when "some of my bags were packed" for New Zealand but did an about turn immediately "When I got the call from Gary it took me all but half a second to say yes," Donald said. "It was almost like the very first call from Doctor Bacher in 1991, saying you are going to India and representing your country." Donald will travel with the South Africa A team to Zimbabwe at the end of June for a tri-series which also involves Australia A.

Donald's appointment means Vincent Barnes' contract will be terminated at the end of June. Barnes has been involved as South Africa's bowling and assistant coach since 2003 and was hopeful of continuing his involvement. "He was offered the job of coaching Bangladesh and has turned it down," Majola said. "We have offered him a role at the High Perfomance Centre and are waiting for him to respond."

The assistant role will be filled by Domingo, who was coach of the A side when they played Bangladesh A in April this year. He has been coach of the Warriors franchise for the last four seasons and won both the MTN40 and Standard Bank Pro20 titles in the 2009-10 season. "It is a positive for me having worked with a lot of players at South Africa A level," Doningo said. "I suppose I can give Allan and Gary a little bit of insight into the players."

Kirsten did not discuss whether he would travel extensively, as it was initially thought he would not accompany the team on lesser tours. He indicated, however, that Domingo was being groomed for bigger things when he said, "There might well come a time when I feel that we can be quite flexible within our coaching staff."

Shahid Afridi quits international cricket

2011-06-05T18:46:00.000-07:00

After weeks of growing tension and speculation Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s recently axed one-day captain, has announced his retirement from the international game.

It is, however, a “conditional” retirement in protest against the way he has been “humiliated” by the PCB, a temporary self-imposed exile more than a permanent retirement. Afridi said he was ready to reverse his decision if and when a new board came into power.

“There is nothing bigger than a man’s respect, and the way the board has treated me, there is a limit to everything,” an emotional, angry Afridi told Geo TV from London, where he is currently preparing for a Twenty20 stint with Hampshire. “I will not play under this board. If a different board comes in, I will definitely return but I cannot play under this board. When you have been humiliated like this, by dishonourable people, what is the point in playing on?
“The way I’ve been treated… the future doesn’t look too good. I can’t play under a board that doesn’t respect its players. Because of this, under protest, this is a conditional retirement.”

Afridi, a Pathan who has lived in Karachi all his life, also hit out at “a Lahore lobby that has been filling the chairman’s ears against me,” reviving an issue of regionalism that has been festering for some time now, and shows few signs of stopping; in recent weeks, Karachi officials have protested loudly against the PCB for not selecting players from the city.
The decision caps – for now – a saga that began last December effectively, when the board first began to hesitate in appointing Afridi captain. He was made leader for the New Zealand ODI series and then, only two weeks before the tournament began was he made captain for the World Cup. The impermanent nature of his appointments was one of the reasons for Afridi’s unhappiness.
“I wasn’t told anything when I was made captain, I wasn’t given a tenure, I wasn’t told what my squad would be, nothing,” Afridi said. “I took a broken team along with me. When I took over the Pakistan team was in the middle of the spot-fixing crisis. Then the Zulqarnain Haider case happened but my side fought both against England and South Africa in the ODI series. Then we beat New Zealand, we got to the semis of the World Cup and beat West Indies there as well. Maybe I have become a thorn in their throats. It’s better that I step aside for now as I have respect for myself.”

But the tipping point came upon Afridi’s arrival back from the Caribbean, growing differences between him and coach Waqar Younis over matters of selection being another concern. Then, he told reporters, “Although the differences in team management are not such which could not be solved, I feel everyone should do his job and need not interfere in other’s work”.
That led to the board issuing him a show-cause notice to explain his remarks, unhappy with his penchant for public straight-talking and his cosy relationship with the media; indeed it is understood a major concern of the board was their belief that Afridi was leaking news to the media. Incidentally, Afridi didn’t touch on the selection issue at all when announcing his decision, though he did say that as captain, if he “didn’t speak to the media, who else in the team would?”
Soon after his return, the board removed him from the ODI captaincy he picked up in June 2010, not giving any official reason for the removal. “We had very solid reasons to remove Afridi and I will reveal them when the time is right,” PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said recently. “We haven’t taken this action without any reasons.”
That prompted Afridi to pull out of the two ODIs against Ireland; speculation was that he was unhappy over his ouster, though he said he had decided to miss the series due to his father’s ill-health. It was around this time that stories began to appear that he may retire soon.
Afridi is not new to retirement. He first announced a temporary sabbatical from Test cricket in April 2006, in a bid to concentrate only on ODIs in the lead-up to the 2007 World Cup. He later returned to the side, and even led Pakistan’s Test side at the start of their tumultuous tour of England last summer. He, however, once again retired from the longest format, as soon as Pakistan lost the first Test against Australia at Lord’s.
How long the current impasse lasts is difficult to ascertain. Afridi, until the World Cup, was Pakistan’s most effective and successful limited-overs bowler of the last three years. And his public popularity – he remains the most sought-after autograph in Pakistan as well as the only current player brands will invest in – ensures that the pressure on the PCB, and in particular the chairman, will be immense.
In any case, Butt’s tenure has been pockmarked by constant instability – nine captaincy changes in Tests and ODIs, five different selection heads and three coaches – and regular spats with senior players: Mohammad Yousuf announced a brief retirement last year and Younis Khan wasn’t chosen for almost a year after the pair were handed open-ended bans last year. Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan have also faced one-year bans (eventually overturned), while after the World Cup, Butt had a dig at Abdul Razzaq as well, saying that he should retire now.
Afridi will play in the Friends Provident t20 for Hampshire, and he will also be available for the inaugural edition of the Sri Lankan Premier League, while continuing to participate in domestic cricket in Pakistan as well.