Tait to retire from ODIs

Updated at: 1209 PST,  Monday, March 28, 2011

SYDNEY: Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait on Monday announced his retirement from one-day cricket to concentrate on the Twenty20 form of the game.Tait, 28, who has just returned from the World Cup on the subcontinent, said he will step down from the national and South Australia one-day teams in an attempt to prolong his career.I have decided to retire from one-day cricket for both Australia and the South Australian Redbacks," Tait said in a statement released through Cricket Australia.This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but I believe it is one that will help me to prolong my cricketing career through the many Twenty20 avenues available.In reality, playing all year round for Australia and South Australia is not allowing my body to stand up as I would like and I do not want to be forced into retirement through career-ending injuries.Tait said his goal was to help Australia retain the ICC Cricket World Cup, currently underway in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.However, with our involvement now finished I feel it is the perfect time to move on in a new direction," said Tait, who was a member of Australia's 2007 World Cup-winning side.Cricket Australia's General Manager Michael Brown said Tait had been an important contributor to Australia's shorter version of cricket over the last few years.Bowling at the speeds he generates places an unusual strain on his body and Cricket Australia respects the decision he makes today," Brown said.Tait only played three Tests but in 35 ODI appearance he captured 62 wickets at 23.56.

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Thrills and spills in Pakistan-India Cup matches

Updated at: 1213 PST,  Monday, March 28, 2011

NEW DELHI: Excitement and pressure will go hand in hand when Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Indians clash with Shahid Afridi's Pakistanis in Wednesday's high-voltage World Cup semi-final in Mohali.There has never been a dull moment ever since the two countries played their first World Cup match in 1992 at Sydney.Pakistan, playing impressive cricket in the ongoing tournament, will also be determined to overcome a jinx after having lost all of their four World Cup matches against their arch-rivals.All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, man of the match in Pakistan's quarter-final win over the West Indies in Dhaka on Wednesday, has said he is keenly looking forward to playing in Mohali.It will be really exciting to play India. The atmosphere will be really electrifying. Playing in front of an Indian crowd will be interesting," Hafeez recently told an Indian newspaper.I hope India and Pakistan play more matches in future.It will be the third one-dayer between India and Pakistan in nearly three years as the cricketing ties between the two snapped following the 2008 attacks on India's financial hub Mumbai.The World Cup matches between India and Pakistan have provided plenty of thrills.Top Pakistani batsman Javed Miandad was a photographers' delight in 1992 when he jumped up and down, apparently in imitation of Indian wicket-keeper Kiran More who had been repeatedly appealing.The 43-run defeat at Sydney did not affect Pakistan's chances as they rallied from the brink to win the World Cup under Imran Khan's inspirational leadership.But the next defeat in the 1996 World Cup did.Pakistan's 39-run defeat came in the quarter-final at Bangalore where many believed they had lost half the battle before the first ball had been bowled.Their captain and quality paceman, Wasim Akram, withdrew from the game due to an injury -- a decision the fans found hard to swallow. He was later widely criticised for pulling out of a big match.Pakistan lost the remaining half of the battle when well-set opener Aamer Sohail lost his cool and wicket after being involved in a verbal duel with Indian seamer Venkatesh Prasad.Chasing a 288-run target, Pakistan were 113-1 before Sohail was bowled for 55 to become one of Prasad's three victims. It was all over when veteran Miandad was run out for 38 in what turned to be his last World Cup appearance.The third World Cup clash came at Old Trafford in England in 1999. It was again Prasad who troubled Pakistan, claiming five wickets to help India win by 47 runs in a Super Sixes fixture.The 2003 World Cup match at Centurion in South Africa was dubbed as a duel between superstars Sachin Tendulkar of India and Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar.Tendulkar won the fascinating battle, smashing a robust 98 before becoming the paceman's lone victim of the innings. Akhtar conceded 72 in 10 overs in his team's six-wicket defeat.Tendulkar is now just one ton short of completing 100 international centuries while Akhtar is retiring after the World Cup.

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New Zealand PM to miss World Cup semi-final

Updated at: 1211 PST,  Monday, March 28, 2011

COLOMBO: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key was "delighted" with an invitation to witness his country play Sri Lanka in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final, but logistics will keep him away.Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse, who invited Key on Sunday, said the New Zealand premier was keen to visit, but he had just returned to the capital and there was no possibility that he could make Sri Lanka by Tuesday.He has said that he was delighted with the invitation, but he is unable to make it in time due to logistical problems," the president told foreign correspondents at his residence Monday.The 1996 champions will tackle New Zealand on Tuesday for a place in the final. The Black Caps had knocked South Africa out of the World Cup by defeating them by 49 runs on Friday.Sri Lanka will meet New Zealand for a second time in the current World Cup after their 112 run victory over the Black Caps in their Group A match in Mumbai on March 18.The winner of Tuesday's semi-final will meet the winners of Wednesday's clash between India and Pakistan.

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Australia sets Ponting captaincy deadline

Updated at: 1209 PST,  Monday, March 28, 2011

SYDNEY: Under-fire Australia captain Ricky Ponting was given just three days to decide his future Monday as selectors said the next one-day squad would be announced on Wednesday.Ponting, who let slip Australia's 12-year grasp on the World Cup last week -- just three months after their heavy Ashes defeat -- has already hinted that he may step down.Cricket Australia said a squad for next month's three-match one-day tour of Bangladesh was expected to be announced on Wednesday, effectively setting a deadline for the veteran skipper.Ponting, 36, returned home on Sunday following Australia's quarter-final exit from the World Cup at the hands of India, saying he was considering his position this week.I'll have the opportunity over the next couple of days to reflect on where things are headed for me and certainly what direction I feel things are heading for the betterment of Australian cricket," the Test and one-day captain told reporters.I have to really decide what I think is right for me and the team going forward.Australia play three one-day matches against Bangladesh on April 9, 11 and 13, with Ponting previously stating that he wanted to lead the team on the tour.But Ponting has since suggested he could quit as captain, saying he was prepared to play on under the likely leadership of his deputy Michael Clarke and bat anywhere in the order.I see myself as a leader around the group, simple as that, whether I'm captain or not I still think I've got a lot to offer as far as leadership qualities go," he said.Though heartened by support of team-mates and senior officials, Ponting said he was "absolutely" prepared to drop down the order and step down as captain "if that's what they (CA) and I believe is the best way forward"Ponting, who has been under attack since the 3-1 Ashes series defeat to England, scored a fighting 104 but it was not enough to prevent India from knocking the champions out in last Thursday's quarter-final in Ahmedabad.He has now presided over the end of Australia's 12-year run as World Cup champions after his third Ashes series defeat as captain to England.Ponting, who has been captain for nine years, had a difficult World Cup, taking a reprimand from the International Cricket Council after smashing a dressing-room TV in a fit of fury after being run out against Zimbabwe.He was also criticised for angrily throwing the ball to the ground after colliding with team-mate Steven Smith during their victory against Canada, and for failing to walk in the group match defeat by Pakistan.

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Updated at: 0227 PST, Monday, March 28, 2011

Updated at: 0227 PST,  Monday, March 28, 2011

MOHALI: The India-Pakistan match to be held in Mohali in Punjab is keeping even the Delhi Police on its toes. According to recent intelligence reports, terrorists have formed several groups to launch an attack on the match. About 30 small groups have been formed by terror organisations like the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Indian Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami.Sources said that several meetings to arrive at the final terror module have taken place in both sides of Kashmir.The Delhi Police on its part has intensified checking at all the borders, railway stations and inter-state bus terminals."This is one of the safety precautions we are taking. More people have been deployed at the city borders and we have also sought cooperation from the Uttar Pradesh police," said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak to the media.The police are conducting searches in the guesthouses of areas like Paharganj and Karol Bagh. After the attack on Jama Masjid right before the Commonwealth Games last year, the police are not leaving anything to chance.The Taj Hotel in Chandigarh's Sector 17 has already been converted into a fortress with more than 1,000 security personnel manning the whole compound.The Indian National Security Guard too has sent its personnel to look into the security arrangements and to provide cover to the whole match. (Online)

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Pak-India match tickets being blacked

Updated at: 1546 PST,  Sunday, March 27, 2011

NEW DELHI: Cricket fans at Mohali are complaining about the unavailability of tickets at the counters on Sunday.The fans are angry and allege that the tickets are now being sold at a high price in the black market.However, there have been numerous reports of a thriving black market in tickets with prices rocketing so that a 5,000-rupee ticket was being sold for a price as high as 100,000 rupees."For a match as big as this one, we cannot do anything about black market tickets," said PCA joint secretary GS Walia.As far as we are concerned, we only gave the tickets to those who stood in the queues and bought them. We cannot keep track if they sell these in (the) black (market)."

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