Mumbai record sensational one-run win over Pune

PUNE: Mumbai Indians restricted Pune Warriors to 119-6 in 20 overs to record a sensational one-run victory in a low-scoring match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2012) here at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing 121, Pune needed four runs off the final ball of the innings but could manage only two runs.
Mithun Manhas top scored with an unbeaten 42 while no other batsman could make any significant contribution.
For Mumbai, captain Harbhajan Singh and Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga claimed two wickets each for 18 and 25, respectively.
Earlier, Mumbai Indians batted first after winning the toss and could make 120 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar was the highest scorer with 34, followed by 25 by New Zealand’s James Franklin and 18 not out by Dinesh Karthik.
For Pune Warriors, seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ashish Nehra took two wickets each for nine and 19, respectively.
Geo Super, Pakistan’s first sports tv channel, showed this low-scoring thrilling match live from Pune.

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Gayle open to Windies return after snubbing Somerset

LONDON: Flamboyant opener Chris Gayle has scrapped his deal with English county Somerset to make himself available for West Indies after ending his year-long dispute with the cricket board.

Gayle has not been part of the West Indies team since his attack on the board in a radio interview in April last year and was not picked in the Test squad for the three-match series against England starting next month.

The 32-year-old left-hander, currently playing for the Bangalore franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL), is now eyeing a place in the three one-dayers and a Twenty20 international that follow the England Tests.

"I have written to Somerset CC and advised them that I will not be honouring the commitment I made to them when I signed a contract with them for the 2012 Friends Provident Championship," Gayle said in a statement.

"I have now satisfied all of the requests of the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) and their selection panel... and to whom I reiterated previous assurances given to the board regarding my availability.

"So that there is no doubt, I confirmed to the selectors that I was available for West Indies duty in all forms of cricket, immediately following the conclusion of my contractual obligations to my IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore." (Reuters)

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Asif’s father says release ends pain

SHEIKHUPURA: The father of former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif said his son's release from prison Thursday had brought an end to six months of pain for his family and backed the paceman to return to the game.
Asif, 29, was freed from jail in Britain after serving half of a 12-month sentence over a spot-fixing scandal and was taken by his friend Mohammad Haroon to his house in suburban London.
In the Pakistani village of Machikay, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the eastern city of Lahore, Asif's family voiced relief at his release.
"I have spent these six months in pain but I am sure that it's over now," his father Hasan Deen, a farmer, told AFP. "I have not talked to him for seven months but I am happy that his difficult days are over."
Pakistan's captain for the infamous Lord's Test, Salman Butt, is still serving a 30-month term while bowler Mohammad Aamer was released in February this year after completing half of his six months in a youth prison.
"My son is a lion and lived as a lion even in the jail. He has not played for two years but I am sure that if he comes on the field he will shock everyone with his bowling," said Deen, busy supervising the wheat crop on his fields.
Asif's lawyer Ravi Sukul said Asif had begun an appeal against his criminal conviction and will soon proceed with an appeal against his seven-year ICC ban in the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Asif's brother Ashraf said the whole village was eagerly anticipating his return and insisted he was an innocent party in the scandal.
"We strongly believe that Asif didn't do anything wrong, because he was so good at cricket that he was trapped by some people," said Ashraf. "I am sure that he will play again."
Deen said he felt no anger towards his son despite his involvement in one of the most shameful episodes in the history of Pakistani cricket.
"I am not angry with him, why should I be? He will be welcomed back home and if he wants to play cricket I will not stop him," said Deen

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No ticket to Ryder in New Zealand squad for Windies

WELLINGTON: Troubled batsman Jesse Ryder was omitted Thursday from New Zealand's 15-man Test squad to tour the West Indies, with South Africa-born paceman Neil Wagner one of two new faces in the line-up.
Despite some strong performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Ryder remains on the outer with New Zealand selectors after a string of alcohol-fuelled incidents, most recently after a one-dayer in Napier in March.
The 27-year-old, who has also fought a well-publicised battle with his weight, took a break from the game after the Napier indiscretion, then set off
for India to play in the IPL with a clinical psychologist in tow.
The therapy appears to have paid off, with Ryder averaging a respectable 32 for the Pune Warriors to stand 17th on the overall IPL runs tally.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) did not address Ryder's absence in a statement announcing the squad, but chief executive David White spelled out the selectors' position last week, saying a recall was "a fair way" off.
"He needs to do a lot of work on a lot of things like fitness, attitude and be exemplary off the park," White said.
Wagner and leg-spinner Tarun Nethula were the only uncapped players in the squad for two Tests against the West Indies, the first in Antigua starting July 25 and the second in Kingston from August 2.
Wagner was rushed straight into the squad after meeting residential eligibility criteria following his move from South Africa in 2008.
National selection manager Kim Littlejohn said the 26-year-old was an exciting prospect who had performed well in the domestic competition and earned an opportunity at Test level.
Wagner joins another South Africa native, Kruger van Wyk, in the New Zealand Test squad after he made his debut for the Black Caps against the touring Proteas in March.
The West Indies trip will be coach John Wright's last tour in charge after he announced earlier this week he was resigning following tensions with NZC's
director of cricket John Buchanan.
The Test series will follow five one-dayers in the West Indies, plus two Twenty20 internationals, which will be played in the US state of Florida on June 30 and July 1.
New Zealand's 15-man Test squad for the tour of the West Indies starting in July:
Ross Taylor (captain), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Daniel Flynn, Mark Gillespie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tarun Nethula, Kruger van Wyk, Daniel Vettori, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.

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