Cricket: Baugh replaces Ramdin for Aussies clash

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Carlton Baugh was called up by the West Indies on Sunday to replace the injured Denesh Ramdin for the first three matches of their one-day series against Australia.

Ramdin suffered a fractured right thumb while batting on Saturday in the second West Indies warm-up match at the 3Ws Oval and will now return to Trinidad to start rehabilitation.

augh made 140 while playing for Jamaica against Trinidad and Tobago in the regional four-day tournament.

The five-match one-day series gets underway in St Vincent on Friday.

West Indies squad:
Darren Sammy (captain), Carlton Baugh, Tino Best, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels

Read More

Afghanistan eye World Twenty20 after Asia Cup snub

DUBAI: Afghanistan are determined to use their resentment over being snubbed for the Asia Cup to fire them to a second appearance at the World Twenty20.

The Afghans are among the favourites to land one of the two places up for grabs at the 2012 finals in Sri Lanka in September and October when the 16-nation qualifying tournament starts on Tuesday.

But such has been the team's remarkable progress in recent years - from a ramshackle unit developing a love of the sport in refugee camps on Pakistan's wild frontier to attaining one-day status - that they believe they deserve more respect.

The team are angry that they were overlooked for the Asia Cup in Dhaka this week, where they could have faced regional powers India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

"We are not featuring in the Asia Cup, that is really disappointing," said hard-hitting batsman and off-spinner Mohammad Nabi, who was the leading wicket-taker when Afghanistan qualified for the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

Read More

Asia Cup: India amass 304-3 after Tendulkar’s cheap dismissal

DHAKA: Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli smashed centuries as India set a huge target of 305 runs for Sri Lanka in the second match of the Asia Cup one-day tournament here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.

After Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and put India into bat in the day-night match, India lost their star batsman Sachin Tendulkar when they were 19 runs.

Tendulkar, chasing an elusive 100th international century, could make only six runs before pushing a Suranga Lakmal full-toss straight to Jayawardene in the covers.

Then Kohli joined Gambhir and both batted steadily to take India to a formidable position as India piled up a huge 304 for three in 50 overs.

Kohli scored a solid 120-ball 108 and left-handed opener Gambhir a 118-ball 100, each hitting seven boundaries.

Interestingly, each of them completed his tenth hundred in one-day international cricket.

It was Kohli's second successive hundred against Sri Lanka, having made an unbeaten 133 at Hobart in a recent triangular one-day series in Australia.

The pair added 205 runs which was a new Asia Cup record for the second wicket partnership. The previous record was 198, set by Virender Sehwag and Suraish Raina, also from India, against Pakistan at Karachi in 2008.

Both reached their centuries in the 42nd over before both falling in the next over off seamer Farveez Maharoof as they bid to step up the run-rate.

Gambhir, dropped on 36 by Dinesh Chandimal at long-on off, made the most of the chance and hit seven fours, while Kohli also struck the same number of boundaries.

Later, captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni and Suraish Raina plundered 78 runs off the last 7.1 overs, with Dhoni smashing a 26-ball 46 not out and Suresh Raina an unbeaten 30 off just 17 balls.

Pacemen Maharoof and Suranga Lakmal were the only wicket-takers for Bangladesh, with two for 57 and one for 67.

Read More

Cricket: Gambhir, Kohli set new Asia Cup record

DHAKA: India batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli set a new partnership record for the second wicket in the Asia Cup while playing against Sri Lanka in the second match of the tournament here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.

Both hit centuries during their 37-over second wicket stand of 205 runs eclipsing the previous record of 198, set by Virender Sehwag and Suraish Raina, also from India, against Pakistan at Karachi in 2008.

Gambhir made 100 from 118 balls while Kohli hit 108 off 120 balls. Both struck seven fours each.

Interestingly, each of them completed his tenth hundred in one-day international cricket.

Read More

Asia Cup: Sri Lanka win toss, put India into bat

DHAKA: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and put India into bat in their first match in the Asia Cup 2012 one-day tournament here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.

India's Sachin Tendulkar needs just one more hundred to complete an unprecedented 100 international centuries.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 21 runs in the opening match of the tournament on Sunday.

Each side will play the other once in the round-robin league, with the top two advancing to the final on March 22.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain & wk), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Seekkuge Prasanna.

Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG), TV umpire: Shozab Raza (PAK)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

Read More

Spot-fixing: 'Indian Police had information about bookie'

NEW DELHI: Indian Police said they have had information about bookie Vicky Seth's involvement in match fixing for quite some time now.

According to a report published in India's 'The Times of India' quoting police sources: "Seth is a well-known bookie attached to a very big betting syndicate. He started operating out of Delhi and was on the police's radar for his alleged involvement in match-fixing but he has never been arrested".

"Seth's syndicate is operated very professionally. They are always one step ahead of the administration and they are equipped with latest gadgets and software too," the report added.

"If Seth and his group would have been targeting to fix that particular World Cup match, they would have struck the deal when the Indian team was in South Africa or the Pakistan team was touring New Zealand before the World Cup," the paper said.

"You will be surprised to know that these bookies mainly operate from countries where there is very little cricket or no cricket at all. Seth is known for his luxurious life style."

Britain's Sunday Times had reported that Indian bookmakers fixed the World Cup semifinal between Indian and Pakistan in Mohali on March 30 last year.

Read More

Cricket: Nupur Mehta denies any role in match fixing

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Nupur Mehta on Monday rubbished allegations that she was involved in match-fixing in last year's World Cup Cricket semi-final between India and Pakistan at Mohali and threatened to sue a London daily.

The Sunday Times carried out a sting operation on a Delhi-based bookie who claimed that the 2011 semi-final was rigged. The paper said that a Bollywood starlet was used to lure Pakistani players to under perform, but did not name her.

An image with a blurred face was published in the newspaper with a report claiming that match-fixing is rampant in international cricket and UK's domestic county as well. The image seems to be of Nupur.

Nupur, who has worked in Sunny Deol starrer Jo Bole So Nihal (2005), told PTI, "I have been accused of something that I have not done. All I would say is I am not guilty of any such thing."

"The picture that they have used was taken during my film, 'Jo Bole So Nihal'," she said.

She has threatened to take legal action against the British daily. "I intend to take action against them."

Read More

England's Patel eyes Test spot in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Samit Patel said Monday he was hopeful his all-round talents would help him win a Test cap for England during the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

The 27-year-old Nottinghamshire player will vie with Ravi Bopara for the batting spot left vacant after the exclusion of Eoin Morgan for the two-Test series starting on March 26.

Patel, a left-arm spinner and right-hand batsman who has played 25 one-dayers and eight Twenty20 internationals for England, hoped to prove his Test credentials in the two warm-up matches in Colombo.

"I am looking forward to getting a spot on the Test team," Patel told reporters in Colombo. "Its a massive opportunity and I will push my case in the warm-up games.

"One of my goals is to play Test cricket. I've always wanted to do that. I want to play all formats for England.

"It's easy to get here, the toughest bit is staying in the squad and staying in the team.

"I'm ready to come in and bat where I'm asked to bat, and do the job with the ball. I'm comfortable with the role I've been set."

Patel conceded beating Sri Lanka in their own backyard was a challenge for England, the number one Test side in the world, who were stunned 3-0 by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates recently.

"Beating Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka is a massive challenge," he said. "Having said that, staying on top of the Test ranking and hanging onto it for another year is also challenging."

Patel, who had been dropped earlier from the England one-day squad for being overweight, said he had worked hard on his fitness regime.

"Fitness is a key factor and everyone has to work hard on their fitness -- some more than others," he said. "It's probably an issue that will stay with me, but I'm not frustrated.

"The more work you do, the better you feel. Hopefully I am doing the right things now."

England will take on the President's XI in a three-day match at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo from Thursday.

The tourists will play another three-day fixture at the Sinhalese sports club in Colombo from March 20, before the two back-to-back Tests in Galle and Colombo.

Read More

Asia Cup: Pakistan beat Bangladesh in thrilling opener

DHAKA: Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal bowled Pakistan to an exciting 21-run victory with eleven balls to spare in the sensational opening match of the Asia Cup one-day tournament here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.

Bangladesh, chasing a target of 263, were well set after Shakib Al Hasan (64) and Nasir Hossain (47) added 89 runs for the sixth wicket before Gul and Ajmal derailed their chase and the hosts lost their last five wickets for 17 runs.

The hosts were 224 for five when Gul bowled Nasir to end the partnership and in the next over Ajmal dismissed tailenders Abdur Razzak and Mashrafe Mortaza.

In Gul's next over, he trapped Shafiul Islam leg before and delivered the final blow when he bowled Shakib to finish with 3-58.

Spinners Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal took two wickets apiece.

Opener Tamim Iqbal laid the foundation for Bangladesh's run chase with 64 off 89 balls before he dragged a low ball off Mohammad Hafeez on to his stumps.

Hafeez earlier made 89 and shared an opening stand of 135 with Nasir Jamshed (54) as Pakistan made 262-8 from their 50 overs after being put into bat by Bangladesh.

Shahadat Hossain triggered a mid-innings collapse by taking three wickets before Gul thumped a career-best unbeaten 39 with some lusty late blows.

He added 53 vital runs for the eighth wicket with Sarfraz Ahmed (19 not out) to help Pakistan cross the 250-mark in the day-night match.

India face Sri Lanka in the next game on Tuesday. The final will be held on March 22.

Read More

Sangakkara, Dilshan and Chandimal aim for further improvements in Asia Cup

Sri Lanka's batting trio Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal will be aiming to carry their recent good form into the Asia Cup starting in Mirpur from Sunday.

If they can do that then it will help them maintain upward movement in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen after the trio stormed up the batting chart at the conclusion of the three-nation series which finished in Adelaide on Thursday.

Sangakkara has jumped five places to fourth position after finishing as the fourth leading run-getter with 420 runs, Dilshan has moved up four places to 10th place after ending as the leading scorer with 513 runs, while Chandimal has broken into the top 20 for the first time and lies in 18th spot after scoring 419 runs, success that saw him rise 18 places.

The latest rankings, which reflect player performances in the three-match ODI series between New Zealand and South Africa which finished on 3 March, were released on Friday.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena is the other Sri Lanka batsman to improve his ranking in the tri-series in Australia, which also featured world champion India. Jayawardena chipped in with 406 runs and has been rewarded with a rise of two places which has put him in 17th position.

Three Australia batsmen have also been rewarded for their consistent performances.

Captain Michael Clarke has moved up two places to eighth spot after scoring 331 runs in six matches, David Warner has been rewarded with a jump of 97 places which puts him in 53rd position after he aggregated 506 runs in the series and David Hussey has gained eight places and is now in 34th position after scoring 439 runs at an average of just under 55.

Other players to improve their rankings include New Zealand's Brendon McCullum 19th (up by eight places) and JP Duminy of South Africa in 22nd (up by two places).

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, South Africa's Lonwabo Tsotsobe has achieved the number-one ranking for the first time in his career.

The South Africa left-arm fast bowler took six wickets in his side's 3-0 win over New Zealand which has been enough to lift him ahead of Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal.

Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn are the other South Africa bowlers on a move in the right direction.

Morkel was the most successful bowler in the series with seven wickets which has helped him leapfrog England's Graeme Swann in third position while Steyn has moved up three places to 13th position.

Australia's trio Shane Watson, Clint McKay and Xavier Doherty have also improved their rankings. Watson has vaulted 15 places to 25th position, McKay has moved up six places to 28th position and Doherty has gained a place and is now in 29th spot.

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders, Watson has dislodged Shakib Al Hasan from the number-one position. The Australia leads the former Bangladesh captain by three ratings points.

With the Asia Cup starting in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Sunday, India's iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar will be eyeing to score his hundredth international century and, in the meantime, also improve his rankings.

Tendulkar has scored 51 Test and 48 ODI centuries in an illustrious 23-year career but the 100th century has been eluding him since last year's ICC Cricket World Cup.

In addition to this, Tendulkar's current ranking of 29th is his lowest since December 1991, when he slipped to 31st position. The 38 year-old's highest career ranking is at the top of the listings, a mark he first achieved in February 1996.

In the Reliance ICC ODI Championship table, the main battle appears to be for the number two position as Australia has all-but-sealed top spot for the third successive year and ninth time in 11 years.

The only way Australia can slip behind second-ranked South Africa is in the highly unlikely scenario of it losing all the five ODIs against the West Indies. In other words, Australia just needs to win an ODI of the five-match series to retain the prestigious ODI shield and with it win a cheque of US$175,000.

However, battle for second position remains tight with South Africa leading India by just one ratings point.

Read More

ICC to probe fresh fixing claims: report

LONDON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is investigating claims that Indian bookmakers are fixing the results of England county games and international fixtures, Britain's Sunday Times reported.

The newspaper said it had uncovered evidence that tens of thousands of pounds (dollars) was on offer to players to throw part or all of international matches, including last year's World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan.

It cited one Delhi bookmaker boasting that English county cricket was also a "good new market", as it involved "low-profile matches and nobody monitors them. That's why good money can be made there without any hassle".

The allegations come just weeks after former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield became the first English cricketer to be jailed for corruption after admitting accepting money to fix a match against Durham in September 2009.

An ICC spokesman said it would investigate the new allegations.

"We are grateful for the information you have provided and will launch an inquiry into these serious allegations," he told The Sunday Times.

"Betting on cricket in the legal and illegal markets continues to grow rapidly and, with many, many millions of dollars being bet on every match, the threat of corrupters seeking to influence the game has not gone away."

Read More

Australia experience gives rivals edge in Asia Cup: Misbah

DHAKA: The tough experience that India and Sri Lanka went through in Australia in their recent tour will give them an advantage over their rivals in the Asia Cup,Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said on Saturday.

The biennial four-nation Asia Cup begins in Dhaka on Sunday with Pakistan and Bangladesh vying for the top spot in the continent along with India and Sri Lanka.

India had just a few days break before flying to Dhaka after a tough Australia tour where they lost all four test matches and failed to qualify for the finals of the tri-series one-day
tournament.

Sri Lanka, beaten by Australia in the best of three finals of the tri-series, flew to Dhaka directly from Australia on Saturday.

"I think the way they have played cricket in Australia, it will always be difficult... to play against them as they have played tough cricket over there," Misbah told a news conference in Dhaka about their opponents.

"To compete with them we have to work very hard and have to improve our performance."

Pakistan toured Bangladesh in December and won both Test and one-day series by a clear margin.

They also beat England in a test series 3-0 in the United Arab Emirates before losing the one-day series 4-0 to the same opponents.

"Regardless of the situation that we have played here and have some advantage, but it will hardly matter as they have played some tough cricket. A lot of teams get mentally strong after playing over there (Australia)," he said.

Misbah said they want to forget the poor showing in the one-day series against England and take inspiration from the past good test results.

"Every game and every series is a different ball game. You can't just stick to the series that you have lost," said Misbah.

"If you look at the series before we won six series in a row, I think this is part of the game. What we want to do is just forget the one-day series and just look forward," he said. (Reuters)

Read More

Cricket: South Africa set New Zealand record mark

DUNEDIN: New Zealand need to break their record highest fourth-innings winning total if they are to snatch victory from South Africa in the first Test on Sunday.

South Africa declared their second innings on Saturday at 435-5 giving New Zealand a 401-run target -- a winning fourth-innings total beaten only four times previously in cricket history.

At stumps, with one day remaining, New Zealand were 137-2 -- requiring a further 264 runs -- with Brendon McCullum on 58 and Ross Taylor on 48.

The Black Caps' current record fourth innings winning total is 324-5 against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1994.

The West Indies hold the record for the highest winning run chase when centuries by Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan laid the foundation for their fourth innings 418-7 to beat Australia at St John's in 2003.

South Africa scored 414-4 to beat Australia at Perth in 2008, India scored 406-4 to defeat the West Indies at Port of Spain in 1976, and Australia were the first Test side to surpass 400 in a successful fourth-innings run chase when they made 404-3 against England at Leeds in 1948.

The highest unsuccessful fourth innings total is 654-5 by England when chasing a target of 696 to beat South Africa at Durban in 1939.

There should be 98 overs available on Sunday for New Zealand to score the runs or South Africa to take the last eight wickets, although morning rain is forecast in Dunedin.

Read More

Cricket: McCullum, Taylor lead New Zealand run chase

DUNEDIN: New Zealand battled to 137 for two at the close of play on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa on Saturday after being set an imposing 401-run target to win.

The home side lost both openers cheaply before Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor came together and reduced the required total to 264 with eight wickets in hand by stumps.

When bad light stopped play four overs early, McCullum was not out 58 with Taylor unbeaten on 48.

If New Zealand do pull off an unlikely victory they will have to post their highest successful fourth-innings run chase, or alternatively they could salvage a draw with the arrival of forecast rain.

The Black Caps' current record fourth innings winning total is 324-5 against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1994.

South Africa declared their second innings at 435-5 midway through the fourth day with Jacques Rudolph unbeaten on 105 -- the third centurion of the innings after Graeme Smith (115) and Jacques Kallis (113).

They then dismissed the New Zealand openers on either side of the tea break with Martin Guptill the first to fall for six, edging Vernon Philander to AB de Villiers in the slips. Rob Nicol was dismissed for 19.

Nicol had been at the crease for 90 minutes and weathered a torrid spell of pace bowling from Philander and Morne Morkel before losing his wicket to a full toss from leg spinner Imran Tahir which he lofted to Smith at mid-on.

At 55-2, Taylor joined McCullum in the middle and the pair set about rebuilding the innings, putting on an unbeaten stand of 82.

Until New Zealand's most experienced Test batsmen came together the day had belonged to South Africa, who resumed their second innings at 268-3 and added a further 167 for the loss of two more wickets before Smith declared.

New Zealand's hopes were boosted early with Kallis adding only six runs to his overnight 107 before he played an uncharacteristic lofted shot off left-armer Trent Boult and was caught by Nicol at midwicket for 113.

But de Villiers joined Rudolph at the crease and they built on South Africa's lead, adding 70 runs for the fifth wicket.

The partnership was broken when New Zealand turned to part-time spinner Kane Williamson, who had de Villiers caught at deep midwicket by McCullum for 29, leaving Mark Boucher (34 not out) to partner Rudolph until the declaration.

South Africa declared after Rudolph brought up his century, the sixth of his career, with a four off Daniel Vettori.

Doug Bracewell was the most successful of the New Zealand bowlers with three for 70 while Williamson finished with 1-16 and Boult 1-93.

Read More

Rahul Dravid announces retirement

BANGALORE: Veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday, ending a distinguished 16-year career.

"It is time to move on and let a new generation of players make their own history," Dravid, 39, told reporters at a crowded news conference in Bangalore.

The stylish batsman was the number two run-getter in Test cricket behind compatriot Sachin Tendulkar with 13,288 runs from 164 matches at an average of 52.31 with 36 centuries.

Read More

Tendulkar hails Dravid as retirement nears

NEW DELHI: India's batting great Sachin Tendulkar added to growing speculation that Rahul Dravid will announce his retirement on Friday by paying rich tributes to his team-mate.

"There was and is only one Rahul Dravid. There can be no other," Tendulkar told the NDTV news channel. "I will miss Rahul in the dressing room and out in the middle."

Dravid is scheduled to address a joint news conference with Indian cricket chief Narayanaswamy Srinivasan in Bangalore at 12:30 pm (0700 GMT), amid speculation the player is set to end his 16-year career.

Dravid, 39, is the number two run-getter in Test cricket behind Tendulkar with 13,288 runs from 164 matches at an average of 52.31 with 36 centuries and 63 fifties.

He is also one of only 10 batsmen to score more than 10,000 runs in one-day cricket. His tally stands at 10,889 runs from 344 matches at 39.16 with 12 centuries.

Dravid, popularly known as "The Wall" for his immaculate technique, had already quit limited-overs international cricket last year to concentrate on prolonging his Test career.

Tendulkar, who made his debut seven years before Dravid, said he shared some of the "best moments" with him both on and off the field.

"Our many century partnerships are testimony to the hours we spent together in the middle," said Tendulkar. "For someone with a record like that, no tribute can be enough."

The famous, but ageing batting stars Dravid, Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Venkatsai Laxman are all under pressure after India endured a Test crisis following the victory in the limited-overs World Cup last year.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men crashed to identical 4-0 Test defeats in England and Australia, and failed to win the one-day series.

Dravid was one of few players to emerge with any credit after the disastrous tour of England where he defied the years to crack three centuries in four Tests.

But he managed just 194 runs in eight innings in Australia, where he was bowled six times, indicating perhaps that his reflexes were slowing down.

Dravid is expected to continue playing in the lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 event where he will lead Rajasthan Royals this year after the retirement of Australian spin legend Shane Warne.

Read More

Cheema ready for honour of leading Canada

Canada's new captain Rizwan Cheema is confident of starting off his tenure by helping his side become one of the two sides to qualify from the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 scheduled to be held in UAE from 13-24 March.

The tournament will see 16 teams from across ICC's five regions competing for the remaining two places at the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 which will be staged from 18 September to 7 October in Colombo, Hambantota and Pallekele.

All-rounder Cheema, who averages 30 with the bat, took over the mantle from Khurram Chohan who was injured during the team's recent training camp in Sri Lanka ahead of the tournament in Dubai but the big-hitting Cheema is confident that he can lead his side to one of its stated goals for 2012.

"We've had good preparation as a side having been away at the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament where we played a number of matches against good quality sides.

"We've also learnt a lot on our recent training camp in Sri Lanka while I've also been a part of the Bangladesh Premier League which has provided me with a good preparation. I feel things are very much coming together for the side.

"We have a strong bowling attack with both pace and spin which are important for games in the UAE, plus we've got good batsmen to put the runs on the board. Having watched plenty of the Pakistan v England series in the UAE, I've been looking at how the pitches behave and I think we've the full pack of what's needed on these surfaces," said Cheema.

Canada will take the field in the tournament without its former captain and one of its most experienced campaigners, Ashish Bagai. Cheema believes his side can make up for Bagai's absence.

"Ashish Bagai led our team to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, he is not only an amazing player but a good person and there is no doubt that he is a very important player. But I have total confidence in Rustam Bhatti who will be keeping wicket this tournament," opined Cheema.

It will be a fresh start for Canada in many ways as the side also has a new coach in Michael Deighton who took over the job recently. Cheema believes his bowling attack is key for this event, with two of his most senior bowlers coming in the form of Henry Osinde and Harvir Baidwan, the latter claiming 13 wickets for the side in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

"Harvir and Henry are definitely two of our key bowlers, they are strong in the attack and I will be looking to both of them to lead from the front as they are now also both senior players in the side. That said, we have the likes of the talented and exciting Nitesh Kumar who experienced the ICC CWC 2011 last year and has also performed well in Twenty20s who is always keen to go that extra mile for the side," commented Cheema.

Canada is placed in Group A of the 16-team event alongside Afghanistan, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Denmark and Nepal, it automatically qualified for this event since it is one of the top six Associate and Affiliate teams in the world. Cheema is confident that his side will measure up to the challenge.

"This side is a bit different to the side that featured at the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011, but sides need to differ. Different players play different formats of the game better and I think the players at this tournament are going to do well and I have faith in their abilities.

"We've obviously played Afghanistan and Netherlands before, while Bermuda is a side we have faced in the ICC Americas region, however the other teams we've not played before in our group so we have been sure to research the opposition we will be facing. You can't take anyone lightly in this format of the game, we will play with our strengths, it's a fast format so we need to be on our toes."

Read More

Bangladesh recall Tamim after fitness row

DHAKA: Fit-again opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, at the centre of a selection row earlier this week, was recalled to the Bangladesh squad on Thursday for the four-nation Asia Cup that starts at the weekend.
"Tamim has been included after passing a fitness test," said selector Minhajul Abedin.
The batsman, who has had a groin injury, was picked in the original squad earlier this week but Bangladesh Cricket Board president AHM Mustafa Kamal then elected to drop him.
Tamim's uncle, chief selector Akram Khan, resigned in protest at Kamal's decision.
Hosts Bangladesh play Pakistan in the first match of the biennial tournament on Sunday. India and Sri Lanka are the other competing teams. AGENCIES

Read More

Smith, Kallis lead South Africa fightback

DUNEDIN: Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis steered South Africa out of trouble after early setbacks against New Zealand on the third day of the first Test at University Oval on Friday.

At tea South Africa were 175 for two in their second innings, leading New Zealand by 140 runs with Smith unbeaten on 80 and Kallis not out 66.

The New Zealand first innings was wrapped up early in the morning session for 273 after some powerful hitting by tailender Trent Boult, giving the home side a 35-run lead.

Shortly after the visitors knocked off the deficit, Doug Bracewell removed Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla in the same over, bringing Smith and Kallis together with the score at 47-2.

But the South African captain and the veteran all-rounder were seldom troubled by the New Zealand attack as they methodically added 87 runs in the middle session.

Bracewell has been the only successful New Zealand bowler.

Petersen was a soft dismissal, with the opener lofting the ball straight to Tim Southee at mid-off when on 25.

Amla, who starred with the bat in the recent one-day series and made 62 in the first innings, was quickly gone for two, brilliantly caught by a diving Martin Guptill at second slip.

New Zealand resumed on the third day with a five-run lead. Lusty hitting from Boult saw 34 runs put on for the last wicket with Chris Martin, who was the final wicket to fall, caught by Amla off Dale Steyn for five.

Boult finished unbeaten on 33 with 22 of the runs coming off one over by Vernon Philander, who was the pick of the South African bowlers with four for 72.

Read More

Cricket: McKay helps Aussies snatch tri-series win

ADELAIDE: Paceman Clint McKay bowled Australia to a 16-run victory over Sri Lanka to capture the one-day international tri-series in the third final at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

Man of the match McKay claimed five wickets for 28 off 9.5 overs to go with his 28 off 32 balls in Australia's innings as he proved the winning difference over the World Cup finalists.

Australia looked as though their total would not be enough when they were dismissed for 231 with three balls left of their 50 overs.

But inspired bowling by McKay, backed up by veteran paceman Brett Lee's three wickets, squeezed the home side across the line.

The Australians head to the West Indies on Friday buoyed by their victory, which came on top of a 4-0 thumping of India in the Test series to complete an arduous international season at home.

McKay helped rescue Australia following a middle-batting collapse that ruined hopes of a big total after Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene had won the toss and sent the home side into bat.

The Victorian paceman, mixing it up with deceptive slower deliveries out of the back of his hand, snared his best one-day figures in a match-winning performance.

McKay bowled Jayawardene for 15 and trapped the dangerous Dinesh Chandimal leg before wicket for five, before claiming the wickets of Chamara Kapugedera, Rangana Herath and last man Lasith Malinga.

A fired-up Lee snared the initial two victims -- man-of-the-series Tillakaratne Dilshan (eight) and the experienced Kumar Sangakkara (19 off nine balls) before later taking the key wicket of big-hitting Nuwan Kulasekara for 15.

Upul Tharanga, batting at number six, hit a resilient 71 off 122 balls before he was caught behind off stand-in captain Watson in the 46th over.

Watson took over the captaincy after Michael Clarke was ruled out with an injured left hamstring, which will also see him miss Australia's ODI series against the West Indies next week.

Earlier, opening batsman Matthew Wade top scored for Australia with 49 off 74 deliveries and batting partner David Warner hit 48 off 45.

The home side got away to a breezy start with Wade and Warner scoring 75 off the opening 14 overs, but their progress stalled as Sri Lanka's bowlers and fielders, coupled with Jayawardene's imaginative captaincy, reeled in the Australians' run-rate.

They were 115 for one in the 21st over but fell away losing five wickets in the next 12 overs.

Farveez Maharoof claimed three for 40 off 10 overs, while left-arm spinner Herath picked up three for 36 from his 10 overs as well as taking a brilliant tumbling catch to dismiss Watson for 19.

Australia won the opening final in Brisbane by 15 runs with Sri Lanka taking the series into a decider after an eight-wicket win in Adelaide on Tuesday.

Read More