TEAM PAKISTAN

!Write Pakistani Well Wishes! 

***(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 05 IN TEST)***

**(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 06 IN ODI)**

*(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 07 IN T20)*

Physical Address: Gaddafi Stadium, Ferozpur Road, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Postal Address: Same as above
Main switchboard:
+ (92) 42 571 7231 - 234
UAN 111 22 7777
General enquiry email: mail@pcb.com.pk
Website: www.pcb.com.pk

Contreacted Player

T20 | ODI | TEST

ABDUL RAZZAQ	ABDUREHMAN	ADNAN AKMAL
AHMED SHEZAD	AIZAZ CHEEMA	ASAD SHAFIQUE
AZAHER ALI	HAMMAD AZAM	IMRAN FARHAT
JUNAID KHAN	KAMRAN AKMAL	MISBAH-UL-HAQ
M. HAFEEZ	M. SALMAN	RAMEEZ RAJA (J)
SAEED AJMAL	SARFARAZ AHMED	SHAHID AFRIDI
SHOHAIB AKTER	SHOHAIB MALIK	SHOHAIL KHAN
SHOHAIL TANVEER	TANVIR AHMED	TAUFEEQ UMAR
UMAR AKMAL	UMAR GULL	USMAN SALAHUDIN
WAHAB RIAZ	YASIR SHAH	YOUNIS KHAN

 

History

Following the Partition of India in 1947, and the establishment of the separate nation state of Pakistan, it was not long before the latter was accepted into the Test fold at a meeting of the Imperial Cricket Conference in July 1952, after being recommended by India. Pakistan's first Test match took place in Delhi in October 1952 and its first home five-day encounter was held in Dacca (also against India) in January 1955.

International competition 

After three successive appearances in the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup, Pakistan made it one step further in 1992 when Imran Khan led his side to a 22-run win. It reached the final again in 1999 but failed to get out of the group stages in the last two competitions. Pakistan did almost win the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 2007 but it fell agonisingly short in the final against India, although it managed to defeat Sri Lanka to win the 2009 event at Lord?s. Pakistan are a mercurial team in all forms of the game - capable of beating the best yet also slumping to humiliating losses when least expected. Security issues means it is currently unable to play matches in its homeland, meaning England played host to one-day and Test series against Australia and the home nation in 2010.

Domestic competition

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is Pakistan's premier first-class competition and was first contested in 1953. A mixture of 11 regional teams and departments compete in two groups with the winners of each contesting the final. The Pentagular Cup is another first-class competition, this time contested by five teams. The premier one-day tournament is the ABN Amro Cup (played as four 50-over leagues followed by a Super Eight phase leading to semi-finals and a final) as well as a 20-over tournament.

All-time great

Imran Khan would almost certainly have deserved the accolade as Pakistan's greatest ever cricketer even if he had "merely" represented his nation as a rank and file servant. But when you add in the way he coaxed, cajoled and united a collection of potentially volatile individuals into a powerful unit there really is no alternative. Khan's greatest moment was leading his team to ICC Cricket World Cup glory in 1992 but the results his sides had previously achieved in the longer format should also not be underestimated. Not only was he one of the finest bowlers of his age - one of the pioneers of the reverse-swinging yorker - but he would also have merited a spot in the team purely as a batsman. His 362 Test wickets @ 22.81 and 3807 runs @ 37.69 need no further embellishment.

Women's cricket

Having appeared in the Women's World Cup in 1997, it earned a place in the ICC Women's World Cup 2009 after overcoming stiff opposition in the qualifying event - which was shifted from its home country to South Africa following political unrest. Going into the World Cup it was ranked eighth, and emerged as sixth in the world. The Pakistan women's cricket team is certainly heading in the right direction.

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TEAM BANGLADESH

 

!Write BANGLADESHI FAN Well Wishes! 

***(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 09 IN TEST)***

**(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 09 IN ODI)**

*(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 11 IN T20)* 

Physical Address: Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
Postal Address: Same as above
Main switchboard: + (880) 2 803 1001 - 4
Website: www.tigercricket.com

 

History
Although cricket was introduced to Bangladesh under British rule two centuries ago, it was not until independence in 1971 that the game took hold with the masses. It became an Associate Member of the ICC in 1977 and quickly rose to prominence thanks to its results in ACC tournaments. Bangladesh qualified for its first ICC Cricket World Cup (England 1999) on the back of winning the ICC Trophy in Malaysia in 1997. It followed that up soon after by becoming the 10th Test nation in June 2000 (playing its first match five months later).

International competition
Bangladesh's first participation in the World Cup, in 1999, was a great success when it shocked Pakistan in its last group match before making a creditable exit. Although its 2003 campaign went winless it bounced back in 2007 to achieve significant victories over India and South Africa. It also claimed a memorable scalp during the first ICC World Twenty20, when it beat West Indies to reach the Super Eights. Test progress has been slow, with its first win coming four years after its November 2000 bow against India - a victory over Zimbabwe in Chittagong. Its first overseas Test victory was quickly followed by a second as it completed a series triumph in West Indies in 2009. 

Domestic structure
First-class cricket only began in Bangladesh after it was awarded Test status, with the National Cricket League making its debut in 2000-01 (although the competition was actually set up the previous season on a non-first class basis). The National Cricket League features six teams (Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet). A national one-day league also began in 2000-01 - the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea One-Day League - which is played by the same teams on a home and away basis. A Twenty20 competition started up in 2005 and there is a competitive club-based Dhaka Premier League.

All-time great
Bangladesh's international cricket history is still short so there are many more deeds to be done before it establishes itselves at the top level. Nonetheless, Shakib Al Hasan has emerged as its first world-class cricketer since his international debut in 2006. The left-handed batsman and slow left-armer has already filled the number one spot in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship Rankings in both the all-rounder and bowler categories. In terms of Test cricket, Shakib has put in some fine performances against all-comers – recording several five-wicket bowling performances and making his first century against New Zealand in 2010. The all-rounder’s finest moment to date came in 2009 when he stood in as captain for Mashrafe Mortaze and led his side to its first-ever overseas Test victories and series win – against West Indies.

Women's cricketInternational women's cricket in Bangladesh owes its existence to hockey as, in 1982, it was 14 female hockey players who decided to switch to cricket, although at first they only had males as opposition. The following year, the group went to India to represent their country in women's cricket, and eventually they came to play cricket against women back home. Some of those dedicated pioneers now work in women's cricket for the Bangladesh Cricket Board, an organisation which has already provided financial assistance since taking the game on board in 2005. In 2008 and 2009 it has shown its potential, recording wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

 

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TEAM SRILANKA

 

!Write Pakistani Well Wishes! 

***(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 06 IN TEST)***

**(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 04 IN ODI)**

*(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 02 IN T20)* 

Physical Address: 35, Maitland Place, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Postal address: Same as above
Main switchboard:
+ (94) 112 681601
+ (94) 112 681602
+ (94) 112 681603
+ (94) 112 681604
General enquiry email: info@srilankacricket.lk
Website: www.srilankacricket.lk

History
Cricket began to develop in Sri Lanka once the process of British colonisation was completed in the early 1800s. The earliest reference to the game in Sri Lanka was reported in the "Colombo Journal" on 5 September 1832 which was when the formation of a cricket club was recorded. The Colombo cricket club was formed soon after in November 1832 and played its first cricket match against the 97th British Regiment. Although the domestic first-class system was set up in 1937-38 it was not until 1981 that Sri Lanka became the eighth Test playing country (playing its inaugural Test the following year in Colombo against England).

International Competition
After winning just four games out of 26 during the first five ICC Cricket World Cup tournaments, the next edition brought forth the most unlikely winner of a major international cricket tournament thus far. Sri Lanka's victory over Australia in the 1996 Final was the climax to an outstanding competition for Arjuna Ranatunga's men. Sri Lanka has since reached the final once more, when Australia exacted its revenge in West Indies in 2007. It was also joint-winners, with India, of the ICC Champions Trophy on home soil in 2002. Sri Lanka's participation in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 flattered to deceive as they were knocked out in the Super Eights. Meanwhile, the Asian nation continues to be a tough nut to crack on the Test circuit - particularly at home. 

Domestic Competition
A domestic first-class tournament began in 1937-38 as the Daily News Trophy and has since undergone five changes in name to reach its current guise of the Premier Trophy. Ten sides compete in each of two tiers, with Sinhalese SC historically the most successful team. The main one-day competition in Sri Lanka is the Premier Limited-Overs Tournament which began in 1988 and has existed under three different names. Finally, there is an Interprovincial Twenty20 tournament, contested between six teams. 

All-time great
It would be fruitless for any would-be cricketer to aspire to play the game like Muttiah Muralidaran - the Sri Lankan is inimitable. Nominally an off-spinner, the number of variations at his disposal make him difficult to define - which is why batsmen around the world continue to flail against the now veteran. "Murali" played his part in Sri Lanka's biggest team success - the 1996 World Cup - but his individual feats have largely eclipsed anything the side has achieved since. After tussling with Shane Warne for the title of leading Test wicket-taker, the Sri Lankan has now moved way out in front after the leg-spinner's retirement. Muralidaran then became the highest wicket-taker in ODIs as well when he went past Wasim Akram's record of 502 wickets in 2009. If that wasn't enough he has also shown himself to be a worthy hitter down the order. Who knows how much further he can go before flexing those fingers no more.

Women's cricketAlthough Sri Lanka women only played its first recognized international match just over a decade ago, in 1997, it has already run up a fair tally of one-day internationals, appeared in several ICC Cricket World Cups, and even played in a Test, a form of women's cricket which is increasingly less common. They owe much to Gwen Herath - the former president of the WCA of Sri Lanka - for her administration in the days before the men's board took over in 2005. In 2007, the ICC's High Performance Manager, Richard Done, created a further improvement strategy for Sri Lankan women's cricket, including introducing a schools-based competition. The aim was to increase their performances at such tournaments as the Asia Cup - where they have regularly made the final - and the 2009 World Cup, although they failed to win a match.

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TEAM INDIA

 

!Write INDIAN FANS Well Wishes! 

***(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 03 IN TEST)***

**(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 02 IN ODI)**

*(THE GLOBAL CRICKET RATING 06 IN T20)* 

Physical Address: Cricket Centre, 2nd Floor, Wankhede Stadium, 'D' Road, Churchgate, Mumbai 400 020, India
Postal Address: Same as above
Main switchboard:
+ (91) 22 2289 8800
General enquiry email: bcci@vsnl.com, cricketboard@gmail.com
Website: www.bcci.tv

History
Cricket's arrival in India came courtesy of English colonialists in the late 1700s. Calcutta Cricket Club was the first club, formed in 1792 for Europeans only. Indians soon began to play, however, with the game taking prominent hold in Bombay. The Parsees beat the Europeans in 1877 and subsequently toured England, though won only one game. By the late 1920s, India was keen to play Test cricket but had to persuade the ICC it was ready - and it needed a national organizing body, so the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) was formed in 1928. India finally made its Test debut in 1932, after which a national competition followed in 1934, named the Ranji Trophy after KS Ranjitsinhji.

International CompetitonIndia's triumph in the 1983 ICC Cricket World Cup is still talked about today. Its next success in a global tournament came in 2002 in the ICC Champions Trophy, when it was joint winners with Sri Lanka. Heavy rain forced the two finalists to abandon the game - the first such instance of a world cricket trophy being shared. India's cricketers were also heavily feted in 2007 when they won the first ICC World Twenty20 in their own right. They faced close rivals Pakistan in the final in a game watched by a global audience of 400 million people. Under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India repeated the feat achieved in 1983, by winning the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at home in Mumbai beating co-hosts Sri Lanka in the final, leading to wide celebrations across the country.

Domestic Competition
The premier domestic competition in India is the Ranji Trophy, founded in 1934, which has consisted of two leagues since 2002-03. It is the main first-class tournament, with teams largely from various states contesting the prize. The Duleep Trophy is also first-class, originally conceived to combat the predictability of the Ranji, while the Irani Trophy is held once a year, featuring a match between the Ranji champions and Rest of India. The Vijay Hazare and Deodhar Trophies are both one-day tournaments, while the Challenger Series comprises the top 36 players in India. The Indian Premier League (IPL) quickly established itself as the domestic tournament to play in for all of the world's leading cricketers, and aspiring young Indians. Rajasthan Royals were inaugural winners in 2008.

All-time great
Sachin Tendulkar is undoubtedly India's great. Tendulkar, aka The Little Master (he stands at 5' 5"), is feted the world over for his exceptional batting, not least in his home country of India where he graces billboards and TV advertisements, as well as owning a restaurant in his own name in his home city of Mumbai. Known as a complete batsman, his highest score in Tests is 248 not out and he has amassed more than 12,000 runs.

Women's cricket
India has always been Asia's strongest team - indeed, it is the only side from the continent to have reached the World Cup final, in South Africa in 2005 - and it has never lost an Asia Cup. India had the world's first professional female players, in a sense, for its premier players competed for such clubs as Railways, for whom they were also employees. Today, the game is run by the world's richest board - the BCCI - which offers both financial assistance and a high profile to its players.

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Matthews, Dilshan fit to lead Sri Lanka: Sangakkara

Outgoing Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara has reaffirmed that his successor should be given enough time to adjust to the role and picked Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Matthews as suitable for the job.
Sangakkara resigned from captaincy in the One-day Internationals and Twenty20 last week following Sri Lanka's defeat by India in the World Cup final in Mumbai. He is currently in India captaining the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League.Sangakkara asserted that the Sri Lanka Cricket must look at the long-term benefit of the team while choosing the next captain."You have to look long term. Not just what is good for now. If you want to go for Dilshan, give him the confidence for a long term," Sangakkara was quoted as saying by Inside Cricket.
"Don't give the captaincy to Dilshan and say, 'You are just going to be captain for a year and half'. It's not going to be good for him, for he is going to think, 'My days are numbered anyway'. And so it won't be good for the team.""Both Dilshan and Angelo are suitable. If they think Angelo is too young, then Dilshan will do a good job because he has these little touches for success. Anything he does on the field, he has this little knack. I don't know whether he will be the long-term candidate with his age, but if he keeps himself fit he can easily play the next World Cup."The left-hand batsman pointed out that the selectors will have a tough time in deciding between the two players."They (selectors) can also take the plunge with Angelo. That is where the selectors have to really make a call. Pressure will have to be shared, if they make a call and if things don't go well in the first or second year, they will have to be strong that they made a good decision."They will have to put everything in possible to make the captain has everything to do a good job. If it doesn't go well even after that, maybe you can re-evaluate. But if the team itself doesn't expect miracles, but expect steady intelligent guy who does things in his own way and good for the team, then this could work. To expect too much right away will be a real danger.Sangakkara said his decision to quit from the post was partly selfish but said it was the right time to make way for a young leader.No matter how much I try to deny it, there is a lot of 'me' in that decision. I have also done what is best for me. But having said that, there is also a large part of the decision of what I think is the way forward for the team. The way forward is not as difficult as people make it out to be. Players come players go and so do captains. Yet team progresses. That is the natural progression," he said.

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Sri Lanka recalls players from IPL

Updated at: 1820 PST,  Tuesday, April 12, 2011

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's sports authorities on Tuesday ordered its cricketers playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League to return home for training ahead of next month's tour of England. Sports Minister Mahinadananda Althugamage said he wanted team members to prioritise the national side over the IPL, which is financially lucrative for players. "In future, national cricket players can participate in foreign tournaments only in a manner that will not affect practices of the Sri Lankan national team," the ministry said in a statement. It said those who are selected for the three-Test series in England will have to return home for practices despite their commitments in the ongoing IPL T20 Tournament.Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara and his deputy Mahela Jayawardene are among 11 Sri Lankan national players in the IPL and at least five of them are tipped to be included in the squad for England. The statement did not say how the players will be penalised if they did not attend practices as required under a new sports ministry decree, but official sources said they were likely to be dropped if they did not comply. Sri Lanka cricket has seen a spate of resignations following the side's defeat in the World Cup final against India earlier this month.

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Sending 5 coaches with team ‘futile’: Miandad

Updated at: 2147 PST,  Tuesday, April 12, 2011

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director General Javaid Miandad Tuesday assured that it is no use sending five coaches at a time with team. Whoever holds this opportunity; he should be a ‘full-time’ coach, Geo News reported.Talking to media here at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Miandad said that everybody’s job is no body’s job.He said he always demanded his proximity to cricket in order to benefit Pakistan team with over 40 years of experience.Team’s selection should be performance-based and its structure should be strong, he urged.

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IPL: Rajasthan thrash Delhi by 6 wkts

Updated at: 1951 PST,  Tuesday, April 12, 2011

JAIPUR: Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals thrashed Delhi Daredevils by six wickets to pocket their second successive victory in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday.Chasing a stiff 152, Rajasthan rode on fine knocks by Rahul Dravid and Johan Botha to overhaul the target with nine balls to spare at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.The usually sedate Dravid struck a quickfire 38 off 31 balls and South African Botha continued his fine form with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 39 with four fours.Ross Taylor (18 not out) capped off a fine victory for Rajasthan with a four and a six in the penultimate over to delight a sizeable home crowd.Delhi slumped to their second defeat in as many matches after having lost to Mumbai Indians in their opening match.Delhi were in early trouble after skipper Virender Sehwag won the toss and elected to bat but opener David Warner and Venugopal Rao posted responsible half-centuries to pull their side from the pits.Sehwag was dismissed off the third ball of the first over when he edged Aussie quick Shaun Tait to Dravid in the slips.Tait returned to send back Aaron Finch (11) in his second spell before Warne dismissed Unmukt Chand and Naman Ojha in the same over to reduce Delhi to a shaky 36-4.Warner fought back with a 44-ball 54 and Rao top-scored with a superb 60 off 40 balls, containing four fours and four sixes to take Delhi to a competitive total.Australian spin legend Warne impressed the most among the bowlers, finishing with 2-17 but Tait proved expensive with his two wickets coming at the cost of 40 runs off four overs. Brief Scores:Delhi Daredevils 151-6 in 20 overs (V. Rao 60, D. Warner 54; S. Warne 2-17, S. Tait 2-40) lost to Rajasthan Royals 152-4 in 18.3 overs (J. Botha 39 not out, R. Dravid 38) by six wickets.

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