Maynard looks ahead to ICC Europe Men's Academy in Dubai

Updated at: 1514 PST,  Saturday, February 12, 2011
Former England assistant coach Matthew Maynard this weekend travels to Dubai ahead of the start of ICC Europe Men's Academy.
The ICC Europe Men's Academy is the pinnacle of the Development Programme calendar and is held annually every February. The academy brings together expert coaches across Europe to work with emerging talent across the men's game. It is being held at the ICC Global Cricket Academy (ICC GCA) at Dubai Sports City, Dubai from 13-23 February 2011.This year Maynard has been brought on board to join four coaches ICC Regional Performance Officer Philip Hudson, ECB's Head of Elite Coach Development Gordon Lord, strength and conditioning coach Mark Nash and Dr Joce Brooks, Sports Psychologist. Maynard has previously worked for Glamorgan CCC and as England batting coached from the winter of 2004 until 2007.Maynard is keen to work in other aspects of the game: “This is the first academy I have worked on with ICC Europe, in previous roles I have worked with professional first class players, as well as full member international teams; what excites me regarding this role is to be able to try and help develop players at Associate cricket level and to see how this would differ from previous roles I have worked in, I'm very much looking forward to working with a new breed of player."There are many months of preparation that goes into organising the logistics and the programme for this event, but also from the coaches involved themselves: “After looking through all the players' history, I contacted them to ask which two specific areas they would like to concentrate on, they all responded their specific areas; I now have a basic idea before I have even stepped into the nets what areas the players themselves are looking at. I am hoping that with this preparation I can help them feel more comfortable in these areas and then see the progressive development," said Maynard.The ICC Global Cricket Academy (ICC GCA) is a fantastic location to stage an Academy with its facilities and resources. Opened for four months, Europe region is the first of the five regions to use the facilities and Maynard pinpoints this as a great aspect of the academy.“The different conditions available at the ICC Global Cricket Academy (ICC GCA) are great for the players and for coaches alike, the different pitches ranging from sub-continent to Australia wickets preparing the players for different conditions is a real positive. We will be working on batting and bowling skills for the players, with the One Day International aspect of manipulating different skills for different forms of the game."Joce Brooks who is a member of the coaching team will be very important to prepare and analyse the players mental approach side to the game which in modern international cricket is becoming more and more important,"said Maynard.The academies are very important to assist in the development of cricket within the ICC Pepsi Development Programme and Maynard is thoroughly looking forward to his role: “The academy environment is always very rewarding experience, the players we have are a good range of experienced and youth players and with the training programme in place it should be great for all those involved.“On a personal coaching level I am hoping to build relationships on the trip and see how these develop, helping progress the players and within the coaching environment," concluded Maynard.

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Gambhir takes inspiration from India's ICC CWC 1983 victory

Updated at: 1514 PST,  Saturday, February 12, 2011
On this week's ICC Cricket World Radio Show, India's Gautam Gambhir says he will be looking to India's ICC Cricket World Cup 1983 victory when it comes to inspiration and motivation ahead of this year's ICC Cricket World Cup which begins in just nine days time with the first match between India and Bangladesh in Mirpur.
"I definitely look to the 1983 World Cup win for inspiration as we want to get the World Cup back. We were pretty close to winning in 2003 and hopefully we can turn it around and win this time in India."There's a lot of pressure on us but hopefully if we can continue to perform as we have done over the last year-and-a-half in both Test and 50-over format, we can be in the right frame of mind to win the 50-over World Cup," says Gambhir.Also on this week's show, Ireland's head coach and former West Indies international cricketer, Phil Simmons, who says his side is ready to cause another upset at the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011."You can expect Ireland to play as hard as they have done previously, the side will play as hard as we can in this tournament. We've had the opportunity to play a lot of matches since the last World Cup, against the likes of England and Australia and so we have picked up things and learnt from these things which are extremely positive coming into this World Cup," says Simmons.
Finally, Australia's Cameron White reflects on his ICC Cricket World Cup hero, "My World Cup hero is Shane Warne. In the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final against South Africa, Australia got a reasonable score and South Africa came on to bat and Warne just took them apart. I think it was Herschelle Gibbs that just didn't see the ball turning in and Warne had South Africa four down with not many runs on the board."Apart from these exclusive interviews, the show has the usual round up of cricketing news plus an update of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test and ODI cricket.The 15-minute ICC Cricket World audio show has been put together by the ICC's global broadcast partner, ESPN STAR Sports.

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Don't take us lightly, warns Afridi

Updated at: 1514 PST,  Saturday, February 12, 2011
DHAKA: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Saturday warned World Cup rivals not to underestimate his team, saying the players had turned a new leaf after the match-fixing scandal.Afridi admitted Pakistan had been blown away by the scandal, which saw former captain Salman Butt and two leading pacemen, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, punished for their alleged involvement.All three were banned for a minimum of five years by the International Cricket Council, which ruled them out of the World Cup, and also face criminal proceedings in England."I think we're really going through a very tough situation," Afridi told reporters in the Bangladeshi capital ahead of the marquee tournament opening on February 19."But I am very happy because we are trying to rebuild the team and keep the morale high. I am confident the team is in very good shape now.Afridi's team will play practice matches against Bangladesh and England in Dhaka over the next few days, before their first Cup match against Kenya in the Sri Lankan town of Hambantota on February 23.The Pakistan captain said his team was "focussed and united" under his leadership."They feel hungry to win a big event and want to play good cricket," he said, adding recent wins in New Zealand had bolstered the team's morale.Afridi said fans would see a vastly improved Pakistan in the World Cup. "Inshallah (God willing), we will achieve our goal," he said.Afridi paid tribute to manager Intikhab Alam and coach Waqar Younis for keeping the team in good spirits amid the controversy.Pakistan was initially due to co-host the tournament with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, but were stripped of hosting rights after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team in March, 2009.Pakistan, World Cup winners in 1992, have been drawn with reigning champions Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Canada in group A of the preliminary league.
Four teams from the group will advance to the quarter-finals.Afridi said he wanted Pakistan to meet India in the April 2 final at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai."That would be the perfect final for the cricket-loving people in both countries," he said.

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Bangladesh whip Canada in World Cup warm-up

Updated at: 1810 PST,  Saturday, February 12, 2011
CHITTAGONG: Skipper Shakib Al Hasan led from the front as World Cup hosts Bangladesh trounced lowly Canada by nine wickets in a one-sided practice match on Saturday.

Shakib grabbed three wickets for five runs with his left-arm spin as Canada were shot out for 112 in 37.3 overs after being sent in to bat at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong.

The left-handed opening pair of Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes then put on 106 by the 17th over to ensure the day-night match finished early.

Tamim smashed seven boundaries and three sixes in his 69 off 50 balls before he was bowled by Rizwan Cheema when just seven runs remained for victory.

Kayes remained unbeaten on 39 and Junaid Siddique was on one when the hosts surpassed the modest target in the 20th over.

Shakib was supported in the field by two wickets apiece from seamers Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain and off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah.

Canada were reduced to 22-2 by the seventh over before skipper Ashish Bagai (30) and Amarbir Hansra (22) added 39 for the fourth wicket.

But the Canadians lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out with 12.3 overs still remaining in their innings.

The warm-up match, which did not have official status, involved all the 15 players from either side, but batting and fielding was restricted to 11.

Bangladesh take on co-hosts India in the World Cup opener in Dhaka on February 19.

Canada's first match is against the third co-host, Sri Lanka, in the island's southern town of Hambantota on February 20.

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Sarwan shines as West Indies beat Kenya

Updated at: 1800 PST,  Saturday, February 12, 2011
COLOMBO: Ramnaresh Sarwan struck a masterful 123 to set up a comfortable 61-run victory for West Indies in a World Cup warm-up match against Kenya on Saturday.

Sarwan, 30, hit 11 fours and five sixes in his 125-ball knock and put on 94 runs with Dwayne Bravo (54) for the fifth wicket to propel his side to 253-8 after they were put in to bat at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Kenya started their chase confidently with Collins Obuya making 68 and opener Seren Waters 43, but they lost quick wickets in the middle overs and were bowled out for 192 off 45.3 overs.

Young West Indies paceman Andre Russell, who is yet to make his one-day debut, impressed the most among the bowlers, picking four wickets for 43 runs off his 10 overs while Kemar Roach took 3-23.

West Indies were in early trouble when veteran Kenyan seamer Thomas Odoyo (3-34) removed openers Devon Smith and Adrian Barath inside the first 10 overs.

Fast bowler Peter Ongondo then had Darren Bravo caught by wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma for 12 and Alex Obanda sent back the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul (seven) to reduce the West Indies to 65-4.

Sarwan, recalled to the World Cup squad after being dropped in May last year, showed his worth once again in sub-continent conditions as he set out to rebuild the innings.

The right-hander has an excellent one-day record in India, where West Indies play five of their six World Cup group games. He has played 15 matches there with an average of 57.30 and five half-centuries.

Dwayne Bravo provided solid support to Sarwan before Steve Tikolo brought an end to his 56-ball innings that included six fours and a six.

Kenya have played every World Cup since 1996 and pulled off a couple of surprises. They beat West Indies in 1996 and even qualified for the semi-final in 2003.

Kenya and the West Indies are in different groups in this edition of the World Cup starting on February 19 in Dhaka.

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Sri Lanka smash Netherlands in warm-up match

Updated at: 1759 PST,  Saturday, February 12, 2011
COLOMBO: Hosts Sri Lanka proved far too strong for minnows Netherlands, posting a crushing 156-run victory in a morale-boosting World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, runners-up at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, scored 351-5 off their allotted 50 overs even without prolific run-getters Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who did not bat.

The Netherlands, who have not beaten an ICC full member country in their previous three World Cup appearances, were bowled out for 195 in the 48th over at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo.

The highlight of their innings was a fighting 76 by Tom de Grooth, who cracked one six and 10 fours in his 96-ball knock. He added 80 for the fifth wicket with Bas Zuiderent (38) and 62 for the seventh with Atse Buurman (25).

Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando finished with 4-43 for Sri Lanka, while seamer Thisara Perera and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath bagged two wickets apiece.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (78), Thilan Samaraweera (60), Chamara Silva (54) and Chamara Kapugedera (50 not out) earlier made the most of a mediocre Dutch attack, each scoring a half-century after the hosts elected to bat.

Openers Dilshan and Upul Tharanga (47) put Sri Lanka on course for a big total with a 117-run stand before Silva and Kapugedera added 94 for the fifth wicket to help their team set a stiff target.

Paceman Mudassar Bukhari was the most successful Dutch bowler with 2-52 off 10 overs, while seamer Bernard Loots conceded 83 runs off nine overs and fast bowler Ryan ten Doeschate gave away 75 off nine overs.

The Netherlands also conceded 21 runs in wides.

Sri Lanka are in Group A with defending champions Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya, while Group B comprises India, South Africa, England, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

The World Cup opens in Dhaka on February 19 with a match between India and Bangladesh.

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Murali hopes to end on World Cup high

Updated at: 1424 PST,  Saturday, February 12, 2011
COLOMBO: Record-breaking Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Muralitharan goes into his fourth and final World Cup praying that he ends his glorious international career on a high.

"My role for this World Cup is to take as many wickets as possible," says the 38-year-old off-spinner. "I just want to focus on my performance and not think about anything else.

"My aim is to put up my best for Sri Lanka."

The world's leading wicket-taker in both Tests (800) and one-dayers (517), Muralitharan bowed out of Test matches in July last year after the opening game against India in Galle.

He recently announced that he would quit one-day internationals as well after the World Cup, which starts on February 19 in Dhaka.

Sri Lanka, co-hosting the showpiece event with Bangladesh and India, last lifted the World Cup in Lahore in 1996 and were the losing finalists of the 2007 edition.

Muralitharan admitted there had been growing pressure from home fans to repeat the 1996 feat.

"A win would be a memorable one for me and for Sri Lankan fans," he said. "A winning team is made up of players who have that mindset. It ultimately rests in the players' hands, how well we play and how well opposing teams play."

He declined to compare the present team with the one that won in 1996, saying playing technique and conditions had changed over time. Looking backwards, he says, won't help.

"1996 was one of the greatest moments for us. It put Sri Lanka on the world map. The cricket world started to take us seriously. The team has now got more professional and expectations are much higher," he said.

"This time, from the first step onwards, things have to work for us, whether it's our performances, confidence levels or even peaking at the right time. I also believe we need blessings of the gods and a little bit of luck too."

Sri Lanka have been placed into Pool A with defending champions Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Canada.

The island will host 12 World Cup matches, including three at a new 22,000-seater stadium in Murali's home district of Kandy.

The other nine matches will be played at the renovated Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and a new cricket facility in Hambantota in the island's south.

Muralitharan said Sri Lanka had the advantage of playing at home and players were accustomed to the wickets and weather conditions.

"The disadvantages are minimal, unless we go out and play badly."

He declined to pick favourties for the tournament, saying all the 14 teams in fray had enough experience of playing in the sub-continent.

"In the end, it boils down to the team that takes it one match at a time."

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