Bangladesh move closer to Pakistan tour

DUBAI: Bangladesh can tour Pakistan in April next year but they need security clearance from the game's governing body, a top official from Bangladesh Cricket Board told AFP on Wednesday.International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since terrorists' attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009, which left eight people dead and seven visiting players and their assistant coach wounded.Even before the attacks Pakistan had been a "no go" area for international teams who refused to tour the troubled country where the national army had been fighting militancy and a resurgency of Taliban activity.Sri Lanka turned down an invitation to tour Pakistan in May this year following attacks on a military base in Karachi, forcing their hosts to shift the series to a neutral venue in the United Arab Emirates.Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf on Monday said he was doing his level best to bring international cricket back to Pakistan and has invited Bangladesh to tour the country.Mustafa Kamal, president of the BCB, told AFP his country can tour provided the International Cricket Council (ICC) clears security in Pakistan."I met Ashraf who is keen to bring cricket back to Pakistan and for that he has invited us also and we have an obligation to tour them but for that we need the ICC's clearance on security," Kamal said.Under the ICC Future Tours Programme Bangladesh is due to tour Pakistan in April 2012.Kamal said he has also discussed the prospect of the tour with ICC
officials I am also discussing the issue with the ICC officials and since they have to send umpires and other officials for the series they are also reviewing the situation and we will also continue to discuss the matter with Pakistan," said Kamal.ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Monday said Pakistan will be supported in their efforts to bring back international cricket to the country.Kamal said the negotiations will continue with Pakistani officials who are due to tour Bangladesh soon."Since the Pakistan team is also touring us we have invited their officials to come and discuss the matter further," said Kamal of the tour during which Pakistan play a Twenty20, three one-day and two Tests.The tour starts with a Twenty20 on November 29.Kamal said he felt for Pakistani fans who have been deprived of international cricket."I started (career) from Pakistan," said Kamal of the times when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan before gaining independence in 1971. "I know they are cricket loving people and at some point in time, someone has to tour them to give them international cricket.Kamal said Bangladesh was also open to send Under-19 and 'A' teams to
Pakistan.Bangladesh and Pakistan were also due to nominate a joint candidate for the ICC vice presidency and Kamal hoped a final name will come up in the next two weeks

Read More

ICC Nominations committee meets in Dubai

The ICC Nominations Committee, chaired by ICC President Sharad Pawar, has met in Dubai to review the progress of the process for nominating  the next ICC Vice President 2012-2014.In accordance with the ICC Constitution, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) were asked by the ICC Executive Board, at their October Board meeting, to nominate a candidate.Both Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chairman, and BCB chairman Mustafa Kamal attended the meeting and, on behalf of the PCB and BCB, confirmed that they would shortly be nominating a candidate within the timelines specified in the Constitution, namely two years and six months before the ICC Vice President assumes the role of ICC President in 2014.The nomination will be discussed by the ICC Executive Board when they next meet - which is in January 2012.The Nominations Committee consists:

Sharad Pawar	ICC President
Alan Isaac	ICC Vice President
Dr. Julian Hunte	West Indies
Keith Oliver	Associate/Affiliate Member

Read More

Australia sets up anti-corruption unit

SYDNEY : Cricket Australia on Wednesday formed an Anti-Corruption and Security Unit to help maintain the integrity of the country's domestic competitions.The unit will oversee the Sheffield Shield, Ryobi Cup and the newly-formed Big Bash League with the International Cricket Council continuing to monitor international competitions.Members of the unit will have an at-venue presence during domestic matches while handling anti-corruption education programmes for players."Betting-related corruption is a significant issue to sport in general and Cricket Australia is determined to institute measures that safeguard the integrity of our sport," said CA chief executive James Sutherland."There has been no evidence of problems in domestic cricket but we want to move proactively on the basis that vigilance and constant education is critical. "The unit will give our domestic cricket bodies a specialised resource to call on to protect our sport from instances of corruption, and underscores our dedication to stamping out illegal activity."Establishment of the unit comes just weeks after a British judge jailed disgraced former Pakistan cricket captain Salman Butt, two of his bowlers and their agent for their part in a fixing scandal that rocked the game.Sports Minister Mark Arbib said Cricket Australia's initiative complemented the work the government was doing in the fight against match-fixing."We are working to empower Australia's sports to ensure their athletes are protected, and that everyone involved with sport understands the importance of combating match-fixing," he said

Read More

Windies falter after Laxman, Dhoni run riot

KOLKATA : Venkatsai Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni led India's run-spree with superb centuries to put their team in command on the second day of the second Test against a hapless West Indies on Tuesday.Middle-order batsman Laxman hit a stylish 176 not out and skipper Dhoni a robust 144 as India posted a massive 631-7 declared in their first innings at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.The West Indies faltered in reply, reaching 34-2 when play was called off due to bad light. Kirk Edwards was unbeaten on 12 and Darren Bravo on four not out.Indian seamer Umesh Yadav struck in his first over when he had Adrian Barath (one) caught by Virender Sehwag at second slip before off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin removed Kraigg Brathwaite (17), caught by Gautam Gambhir at short-leg.Laxman hit 12 fours in his 17th Test hundred, and the fifth at this venue, while Dhoni smashed five sixes and 10 fours in his fifth Test century as India continued to gather runs comfortably against both pace and spin.The duo exposed the West Indies' bowling limitations on a slow pitch with a 224-run stand for the seventh wicket as the hosts added 285 runs to their overnight total of 346-5.It was India's second-highest total in Tests against the West Indies, their best being 644-7 declared at Kanpur in 1979.It was a demoralising day for the West Indies, who could get just two wickets in more than two sessions as none of their bowlers could trouble Laxman and Dhoni.Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, paceman Kemar Roach, seamer Darren Sammy and part-time off-spinner Marlon Samuels all conceded more than 100 runs in a mediocre West Indies' bowling performance.Dhoni dominated the big stand with Laxman with rich strokeplay. He reached his century his first since February 2010 -- in the afternoon with a single to long-off off part-time spinner Brathwaite.The Indian skipper, caught behind off Roach no-balls when on 13 and 16, punished the spinners as he lofted Bishoo and Samuels over long-on for sixes before hitting Brathwaite for two sixes in an over.Dhoni was caught behind in the last session immediately after hitting Roach for his fifth six.Laxman, 73 overnight, completed his hundred with an attractive shot, flicking Sammy between mid-on and mid-wicket for a four.The West Indies relied on fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Roach in the morning in a bid to put pressure on India, but the duo went wicketless with the second new ball.The tourists' lone success in the morning session came when Sammy trapped Yuvraj Singh leg-before for 25 after the batsman had added 50 for the sixth wicket with Laxman.Yuvraj, trying to cement his place in the Test side, did not look comfortable during his brief stay at the crease, tested by Edwards and Roach with short-pitched deliveries.The left-handed batsman was once struck on the shoulder by an Edwards bouncer before being dismissed by Sammy.India lead 1-0 in the three-Test series following their five-wicket victory in the opening match in New Delhi

Read More

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, Dubai

Read More