India face uphill task chasing 458 to beat England

LONDON: Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman held firm as India eyed a record-breaking chase in the first Test after Matt Prior's unbeaten century had swung the match back England's way at Lord's on Sunday.

India, at the close of the fourth day, were 80 for one in their second innings. They needed a further 378 runs in a minimum of 98 overs on Monday's final day to reach their victory target of 458 -- a run-rate of 3.85 an over.This is the 2,000th Test of all-time and no side has ever scored more in the fourth innings to win such a match than the West Indies' 418 for seven against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.Dravid, who made an unbeaten century in India's first innings, was 34 not out, having opened in place of Gautam Gambhir who was injured fielding at short leg earlier in the day, and Laxman 32 not out at stumps.The two experienced batsmen's stand was so far worth 61.It didn't look as if India would have to make fourth innings history when Prior came in with England having collapsed to 62 for five.But the wicketkeeper stuck with his natural game and made 103 not out off 120 balls, including a six and five fours.It was Prior's sixth century in 44 Tests and second in as many at Lord's following his 126 against Sri Lanka last month.Stuart Broad, who'd led England's attack with four for 37 in India's first innings, gave Prior excellent support in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 162 at nearly a run-a-ball as India's depleted attack toiled on a sunny day.Broad, who bats left-handed but bowls right, demonstrated his all-round ability with a fluent 74 not out off 90 balls including nine fours.Prior pulled Suresh Raina for six to go into the 90s before a cover-driven four off the part-time spinner took him to his third Test century at Lord's -- he also made 126 not out at the ground on debut against the West Indies in 2007.As soon as Prior got to his century, England captain Andrew Strauss declared on 269 for six and with 30 overs left in the day's play.Broad's joy continued when he struck third ball to bowl Abhinav Mukund for 12, the left-hander playing on to him for the second time in the match.India were again down to just three frontline bowlers as left-arm quick Zaheer Khan remained sidelined with a hamstring strain.Fellow seamer Ishant Sharma still rocked England with three wickets for one run in 16 balls before lunch on his way to four for 59 in 22 overs.Kevin Pietersen had made a superb 202 not out in England's first innings 474 for eight declared.But on Sunday he was out for one when he feathered a steepling Sharma delivery to India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.Five balls later Ian Bell fell in similar fashion for nought

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Sonakshi wishes Tendulkar for England test series

MUMBAI: Indian film star Sonakshi Sinha, while inaugurating a spa in Mumbai on Saturday, extended her best wishes to iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for the ongoing test series against England.
Sachin Tendulkar has always been one of Sinha's favourite cricketers.
Talking about her upcoming film with Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan, the Dabangg beauty said she signed the film because she liked the script and was keen on working with the star.

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Prior rescues England after top-order batsmen fail

LONDON: Matt Prior's unbeaten fifty revived England's second innings after India fast bowler Ishant Sharma's inspired spell had thrown the first Test at Lord's wide open here on Sunday. England were 174 for six at tea on the fourth day, a lead of 362 runs, having collapsed to 62 for five when Prior came to the crease. But Prior was 55 not out at the interval with Stuart Broad, 36 not out, offering good support in a seventh-wicket partnership so far worth 67.India were reduced to just three frontline bowlers once again Sunday as left-arm quick Zaheer Khan remained off the field with the hamstring strain that had sidelined him for most of this match.Sharma, at tea, had taken four wickets for 41 runs in 18 overs -- but only one of those had come after lunch. No team has ever made more in the fourth innings to win a Test at Lord's than the 344 for one posted by the West Indies against England in 1984.England resumed Sunday on five without loss, a lead of 193 runs. But it was not long before the 2,000th Test of all-time was being turned on its head.Opener Alastair Cook took 27 balls for one run before he was caught behind by India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Praveen Kumar, who had taken a Test-best five for 106 in England's first innings.But the real slump started when England captain Andrew Strauss, trying to break the shackles, was lbw for 32 to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh after missing a sweep. His exit left England 54 for two and that soon became 55 for four thanks to Sharma's double-wicket maiden. Kevin Pietersen had made a superb 202 not out in England's first innings 474 for eight declared. But in ideal sunny batting conditions, the advancing Pietersen was undone by a steepling delivery from fast bowler Sharma he could only nick through to Dhoni and, five balls later, Ian Bell went in similar fashion for nought.Sharma then bowling Jonathan Trott for 22 with a good length ball that clipped off stump. Eoin Morgan, five not out at lunch, became Sharma's fourth victim when, on 19, he was late on a pull and Gautam Gambhir, diving forward at mid-wicket, held a low catch.Morgan stood his ground but with replays confirming he was out, it was the end of a stand with Prior worth 45 that had taken England to 107 for six. Prior's well-timed cover-drive for four off Sharma, however, extended England's lead beyond 300 and he went on to complete a 78-ball fifty.India, who spent all of Sunday's first two sessions without star batsman Sachin Tendulkar because of a viral infection, suffered another setback when Prior's pull off Harbhajan struck Gambhir, turning his back at short leg, on the elbow and forced the opening batsman off the field.

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England collapsed to 72-5 after taking 188-run 1st innings lead

LONDON: Ishant Sharma took three wickets, including two in one over, to give India hope of an improbable win against England in the first Test at Lord's here on Sunday.England, at lunch on the fourth day, had collapsed to 72 for five in their second innings 260 runs ahead after Sharma had taken three wickets for one runs in 16 balls on his way to a return of three for 15 in 13 overs.And with the highest fourth innings total to win a Test at Lord's, the 344 for one made by West Indies in 1984, England's lead was far from impregnable.England, five without loss overnight, found runs hard to come by early Sunday even though India were again missing fast bowler Zaheer Khan, off the field with the hamstring injury that had sidelined him for most of this match.Opener Alastair Cook took 27 balls for one run before he was caught behind by India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Praveen Kumar, who had taken a Test-best five for 106 in England's first innings.But the real slump started when England captain Andrew Strauss, trying to break the shackles, was lbw for 32 to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh after missing a sweep.His exit left England 54 for two and that soon became 55 for four thanks to Sharma's double-wicket maiden.Kevin Pietersen had made a superb 202 not out in England's first innings 474 for eight declared.But in ideal sunny batting conditions, the advancing Pietersen was undone by a steepling delivery from fast bowler Sharma he could only nick through to Dhoni and, five balls later, Ian Bell went in similar fashion for nought.Sharma wasn't finished, however, bowling Jonathan Trott for 22 with a good length ball that clipped off stump. Eoin Morgan and Matt Prior were both five not out at lunch as India, who will cede top spot in the ICC's Test Championship rankings to England if they lose this four-match series by two Tests, made clear their determination to stay number one.India suffered a setback before play began when Sachin Tendulkar was prevented from taking the field with a viral infection, a day after his latest bid to score his 100th international hundred ended with him being dismissed for just 34.However, India avoided the follow-on Saturday thanks to Rahul Dravid's unbeaten 103 his first Test hundred at Lord's coming 15 years after he scored 95 at the ground on his Test debut.His innings also took Dravid past Australia's Ricky Ponting and into second place behind Tendulkar in the all-time list of Test run-scorers

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Tendulkar off field with viral infection

LONDON: India great Sachin Tendulkar was off the field at the start of the fourth day's play in the first Test against England at Lord's here on Sunday with a viral infection.An India statement issued Sunday said: "Mr Sachin Tendulkar has a viral infection and is resting under medical advice and would take the field later in the day after further medical assessment."His absence meant India were missing two key players Sunday with strike bowler Zaheer Khan also off the field because of the hamstring strain that had sidelined him for most of England's first innings. Tendulkar, one of cricket's greatest batsmen, was out for 34 on Saturday as his latest bid to score his 100th international hundred ended in disappointment as England maintained their grip on the opening match of a four-Test series.The 38-year-old had played some trademark classic shots before he was caught at second slip by Graeme Swann off Stuart Broad, who led England's attack with four wickets for 37 runs.India were bowled out for 286, featuring Rahul Dravid's unbeaten 103, in reply to England's first innings 474 for eight declared a deficit of 188.England resumed on five without loss in their second innings -- an overall lead of 193 runs.

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India slump to 193-5 against England

LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar failed to score his 100th international hundred at Lord's here on Saturday and his exit sparked an India slump as England seized control of the first Test.India, at tea on the third day, were 193 for five in reply to England's first innings 474 for eight declared a deficit of 281 runs and still 82 shy of avoiding the follow-on.Stuart Broad led England's attack with three for 28 in 14 overs, removing Tendulkar for 34 after dismissing India left-handed openers Gautam Gambhir and Abhinav Mukund before lunch.Rahul Dravid was 59 not out at tea, with India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni unbeaten on four.England, who will replace India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table if they win this four-match series by two Tests, struggled as Dravid and Tendulkar, India's two most experienced batsmen, compiled a third-wicket stand of 81.But from 158 for two, India lost three wickets for 25 runs.The 38-year-old Tendulkar was given the unusual honour of a standing ovation by a capacity 28,500 crowd as he walked out to bat in what could be his last Test at Lord's, with India 77 for two.He had been rested from India's recent tour of the West Indies and spent much of the intervening time practising at Lord's, where his top score in seven previous Test innings was a mere 37. Tendulkar's first boundary, a backfoot puched cover-drive off fast bowler Chris Tremlett, was a classic. This was the 2,000th Test and the 100th between England and India and many fans had come hoping to witness a 'fairytale' century from Tendulkar.But it was not to be when a 58-ball innings featuring six fours ended when Tendulkar could only edge a good length ball from Broad low to Graeme Swann at second slip.Broad might have dismissed all the trio of Tendulkar, Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman -- who have 99 Test hundreds between them but for dropped catches.Laxman was on nought when England captain Andrew Strauss put down a sitter at first slip and the same over saw Swann, diving to his right, fail to hold a much more difficult catch with Dravid then on 42. Dravid went on to complete a 98-ball fifty featuring 10 fours.But Laxman, fortunately for England, fell for 10 when he timed a flick off Tremlett so well that the ball flew straight to Jonathan Trott at long leg.And 182 for four became 183 for five when Suresh Raina was lbw for nought to off-spinner Graeme Swann.Indian objections mean there are no reviews of lbw decisions this series but even a replay might not have saved Raina. Kevin Pietersen's superb 202 not out was the cornerstone of England's total after they lost the toss, with India medium-pacer Praveen Kumar taking a Test-best five for 106.

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Tendulkar fails to make ton of tons in 2000th Test

LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar's latest bid to become the first batsman to score 100 international hundreds ended in failure when he was dismissed for 34 in the first Test against England at Lord's here on Saturday.The 38-year-old Tendulkar came into this match having scored 51 Test centuries and 48 in one-day internationals both records. He had looked in good touch while stroking six fours before fast bowler Stuart Broad, who has taken all three India first innings wickets to fall so far, produced a good length delivery that Tendulkar could only edge low to Graeme Swann at second slip.Tendulkar's exit continued his mediocre Test record at Lord's where his highest score in what is eight innings remains 37. His dismissal on Saturday left India 158 for three 316 runs behind England's first innings 474 for eight declared in what was the opening match of a four-Test series.

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India fight back after Broad double

LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar's bid to score his 100th international century here on Saturday remained intact after England seamer Stuart Broad starred on the third day of the first Test at Lord's.India, at lunch, were 102 for two in reply to England's first innings 474 for eight declared, a deficit of 372 and still needing a further 173 runs to avoid the follow-on.Rahul Dravid was 15 not out and Tendulkar, who came to the crease having already scored a record 51 Test centuries and 48 in one-day internationals, unbeaten on 10. Broad, the pick of an otherwise wayward England attack, was rewarded for a full length with the wickets of openers Gautam Gambhir (15) and Abhinav Mukund (49) during a spell of two for 25 in eight overs. Mukund, playing in place of the injured Virender Sehwag, and fellow left-hander Gambhir had survived a tricky half hour late Friday after England captain Andrew Strauss declared.There was a nasty moment early on Saturday for Mukund, in only his fourth Test, when he missed a hook off a Chris Tremlett bouncer and was hit on the side of the helmet.He then nervously edged swing bowler James Anderson through gully.But it was Broad who made the breakthrough when he bowled Gambhir between bat and pad with a full swinging delivery to leave India 63 for one.Mukund though straight-drove Broad to move to within four of a fifty.But one run shy of what would have been his second Test half century, the 21-year-old Mukund played on attempting an extravagant shot to end nearly two hours' of game resistance.Tendulkar, who made his Test debut before Mukund was born, walked out to a standing ovation from a capacity 28,500 crowd.He had been rested from India's recent tour of the West Indies and spent much of the intervening time practising at Lord's, where his Test-best score is a meagre 37.Tendulkar looked in a good touch Saturday with his only boundary so far, a backfoot pushed cover-drive off Tremlett, a classic. Kevin Pietersen's superb 202 not out was the cornerstone of England's total after they lost the toss. India medium-pacer Praveen Kumar took a Test-best haul of five for 106 in the absence of strike bowler Zaheer Khan, off the field for most of the innings with a hamstring strain.

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Pietersen strikes double hundred in 2000th Test

LONDON: Kevin Pietersen struck the India bowlers to all parts of Lord's on Friday during a majestic unbeaten innings of 202 on a sun-dappled second day of the first Test.Pietersen unfurled a series of glorious drives at the spiritual home of world cricket before an appreciative capacity crowd attending the 2,000th Test match and the 100th between the two countries. He smacked 21 boundaries and a six in more than eight hours at the crease to complete his third test double century and take England to 474 for eight declared. India survived the final half hour to reach 17 for no wicket at the close and set the stage for Saturday's showpiece day and Sachin Tendulkar, who needs one more century to become the first man to complete 100 international hundreds.India, reduced to three specialist bowlers in the absence of Zaheer Khan who was off the field all day due to a hamstring strain, had their own hero in the lion-hearted Praveen Kumar who took five for 106 from 40.3 overs. Moving the ball disconcertingly through the air at times at no more than medium pace with a low-slung action from an economical run-up, Kumar deservedly won a place on the Lord's honours board in only his fourth test.His performance was all the more creditable as conditions were in favour of the batsmen with the sun shining, the pitch full of runs and little in the way of support

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Kenya names squad named for UAE I Cup and One Day Matches

Cricket Kenya has named a 14 man squad to play in the One Day fixtures and ICC Intercontinental Cup match against United Arab Emirates at Nairobi Gymkhana from 25th July. Chairman of Selectors Alpesh Vader said: 'This is a new look squad with some players being offered the opportunity to show what they can do at this level. The fact that some players have rejected new contracts and made themselves unavailable presents others with their chance.'We have a blend of players who have been involved with the squad for some time, players who have shown good form in domestic cricket and deserve a chance at this level and some who were not recently offered contracts and have a point to prove.'All the players selected have the ability to perform at this level and cement their place in the squad.

The squad is as follows:

Collins Obuya (captain)

Rakep Patel

Tanmay Mishra

Runish Gudka

Hiren Varaiya

Lucas Oluoch

Dominic Wesonga

Karen Kaul

Amit Shukla

Rajesh Bhudia

Rajesh Varsani

Ramesh Mepani

Mansukh Jesani (wicket keeper)

Samarth Patel

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Pietersen anchors England against India

LONDON: Kevin Pietersen's unbeaten 71 took England to 217 for three against India at lunch on the second day of the first Test at Lord's here on Friday as the tourists were forced to do without Zaheer Khan.England, who resumed on 127 for two, lost just one wicket in the session when Jonathan Trott was lbw to Praveen Kumar for 70.Ian Bell was 28 not out, having so far put on 57 for the fourth wicket with Pietersen, as England made steady, if unspectacular, progress against a depleted attack.India suffered a major setback when spearhead fast bowler Zaheer remained off the field with a hamstring injury The left-armer had been the pick of India's attack on Thursday, removing openers Alastair Cook and England captain Andrew Strauss, on his way to miserly figures of two for 18 in 13.3 overs before breaking down.To make matters worse for ICC Test Championship leaders India, who had won the toss, not only were they a bowler light in what was only a four-man attack to start with, but conditions for batting had improved markedly from Thursday's overcast skies.With the sun shining, the South Africa-born pair of Trott and Pietersen resumed on 58 not out and 22 not out respectively.They looked untroubled early on Friday, Pietersen on-driving Ishant Sharma for four.But persevering medium-pacer Kumar was rewarded for his accuracy when Trott, aiming across the line, was lbw for 70 to end a stand of 98 that left England 160 for three.Kumar might not be as quick as either Zaheer or Ishant, but a spell of one wicket for seven runs in six overs was proof of his effectiveness.Pietersen, on 49, almost fell into a well set trap when he glanced Kumar towards Rahul Dravid in the rarely used position of leg-slip.Pietersen stood his ground and, with the umpires consulting replays which proved inconclusive, he went on to complete a 134-ball fifty with five fours -- somewhat subdued by his own standards.But his usual aggression was evident when he advanced down the pitch to drive off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for four and stroked Ishant through the covers for another boundary.

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No central contract for Shoaib Malik

LAHORE: Pakistan`s former captain, Shoaib Malik has been ruled out of contention to get a central contract from the Pakistan Cricket Board as he has still not been able to satisfy the integrity committee about an amount of 90,000 pounds in his account.Sources in the board said that Malik, Danish Kaneria, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar were out of contention for getting a central contract."In Malik`s case he has provided everything that was asked for by the integrity committee of the board except for the questions surrounding the 90,000 pounds," one source told PTI.The source said that the amount was found in one of Malik`s accounts backdated but then went missing in the latest bank statement he submitted to the board."The integrity committee asked him to explain where he had spent the amount but so far he has been unable to give a satisfactory reply to them," the source said."Malik has told the committee that he gave loans to some of his friends but was unable to give details of the persons he had given the amount to, leaving the committee members not satisfied with his response," the source said.Another source aware of the details confirmed that during his appearances before the integrity committee, it was also found that an Indian had worked as Malik`s agent for a while and was investigated."The present situation is that Malik is clear in every regard except for the unanswered questions about how the 90,000 pounds were spent and where," the source said.The Chairman of the Pakistan cricket board in a recent interview had said that once Malik cleared this issue he could walk into the Pakistan team.Ijaz Butt had noted that given his performance at the domestic level and his outstanding record in one-day internationals, the Pakistan team needed an allrounder of Malik’s caliber in the team."I have myself spoken to him and given him brotherly advice that he should just satisfy the integrity committee about this issue and he is clear to play for Pakistan," Butt had said.Malik last played for Pakistan on the England tour last year but since then has been ignored for selection and was also not considered for the World Cup because of his issues with the integrity committee.The PCB is due to announce fresh central contracts by next month for the second half of the year.

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Vettori joins Brisbane Heat for Big Bash

SYDNEY: Former New Zealand Test captain Daniel Vettori on Tuesday became the second international to sign with Brisbane Heat for Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash next summer.The left-arm spinner, who has taken 79 wickets in 70 career T20 games at an average of 20.96, will play alongside compatriot Brendon McCullum in the new-look domestic competition from December 30-February 5.Heat coach Darren Lehmann said it was important to have such an experienced player on the team.“He’s obviously a leader, which is what you want, and to call on that experience and skill will be vital for us,” Lehmann said.The Big Bash League signing window closes on Friday

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Kenya withdraw contracts for five players

NAIROBI: Cricket Kenya on Thursday withdrew its one-year contracts to five first-team players but hoped they would still continue to play for the country.The five, who include opening batsman Alex Obanda and pacemen Nehemiah Odhiambo and Elijah Otieno were in a list of 13 players set to begin new and improved contracts on July 1.But Cricket Kenya chief Tom Sears said only seven players had signed the contracts while the five rejected the offers, claiming the increased amounts were insufficient.“We are very pleased with the group of players who have committed to Cricket Kenya but obviously disappointed that some players chose not to sign their new contracts,” he said.Every player received an offer amounting to a basic increase to their monthly retainer of at least 10 per cent and the opportunity to improve that figure significantly through consistent high performance“They were also guaranteed match fees for domestic cricket for the first time which could significantly increase their earnings,” Sears said.“The fact that they have declined these improved offers calls into question some of the advice they have been receiving, but that is a matter for the players  themselves.While Cricket Kenya believes the five would consider their stand and continue to play for the national side without any contracts, their absence would mean Kenya will be under-strength when they play the United Arab Emirates in the ICC Intercontinental Cup match and one-day series in Nairobi next week.

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Collins Obuya named Kenya captain

NAIROBI: All-rounder Collins Obuya was named as Kenya’s new national cricket captain to replace Jimmy Kamande who was sacked after the disastrous 2011 World Cup campaign, Cricket Kenya said.At 29 Obuya, who has played 92 one-day internationals for Kenya, is the sole senior player left in the team after the national board decided to call time on the careers of most of the older players after the winless tournament in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh earlier this year.His first game as skipper will be against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the ICC International Cup and two limited overs tournament in Nairobi next week under the new coach, Michael Hesson of New Zealand.“I am very proud and honoured to captain my country and will do everything I can to ensure performances and results improve,” said leg-spinner Obuya, who was Kenya’s outstanding performer at the World Cup, including a 98 not out against Australia in Bangalore.“We have some very good players and some very talented ones coming through our system, so it is an exciting time to develop team and work with the new coach Mike Hesson, and the chairman of selectors Alpesh Vadher,” he added.

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Young stars to feature in T20 squad

KARACHI: Pakistan, the former ICC World Twenty20 champions, are working on training their talented youth in hopes of recapturing the title in Sri Lanka next year.Pakistan won the title in England in 2009 which they had previously lost to India in the inaugural edition. However, they failed to defend their title and lost to Australia in the semi-finals of the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.Despite being inferior to the big teams in Test and ODI cricket, Pakistan is quite successful in the shortest format of the game.However, due to the absence of players like Shahid Afridi, Mohamad Aamir, Abdul Razzaq, Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad can be said to be suffering from a lack of depth that it boasted of back in 2009.But cricket officials are still optimistic about the country’s Twenty20 future. Intikhab Alam, the team’s manager, expressed the hope that by training the players they can be confident of a good result in next year’s Twenty20 World Cup.“We are in the process of making our plans for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and are confident of preparing the team well,” Alam said while talking to a local English daily.Pakistan’s recent domestic Twenty20 tournament in Faisalabad highlighted the likes of Ramiz Raja Jr, Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shehzad, Shahzeb Hasan, Sohail Khan and Shoaib Malik who all put up impressive performances which give reason to be hopeful about next year’s World Cup.“Twenty20 is mostly a young man’s game,” Alam said.“You have to have young guys who can hit the ball out of the park. You need guys who can really fight even while defending small totals. You need guys who are exceptionally good fielders. I’m sure that Pakistan currently has plenty of such guys.Alam, who is running the fast-track coaching project at the National Cricket academy in Lahore, said that the first phase revealed some players which can  be included in the national squad.“Several of the youngsters who featured in the first phase look seem to be really good and we can even blood some of them in our national Twenty20 squad,” he added.

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Sri Lanka names squad but not skipper

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Wednesday announced its one-day and T20 squad for Australia’s tour of the island next month, but stopped short of naming a skipper.Tillakaratne Dilshan, who was named captain for the just concluded tour of England, was included in the 20-man squad scheduled to play five ODIs and two Twenty20 games against Australia.They will also play three Tests, but the squad for the longer version of the game was not announced. The only uncapped player in the squad is Sachithra Senanayake.The squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera, Jeevan Mendis, Chamara Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekera, Isuru Udana, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Malinga Bandara and Sachithra Senanayake.

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Ranatunga leads protest against Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga helped launch a protest on Thursday against alleged corruption in the governing body and the politicization of its administration.Ranatunga is now an opposition lawmaker in Sri Lanka and joined several others to launch a petition on Thursday in Colombo, demanding an end to the government appointing interim committees to run Sri Lanka Cricket.Cricket officials were accused of corruption and mismanagement as the governing body accumulated $69 million in debt after co-hosting the World Cup with India and Bangladesh.Sri Lanka’s sports minister fired the previous administration earlier this month and appointed another interim five-man committee.Ranatunga said the government has politicized cricket and other sports by appointing interim committees to run their administration.”Sri Lanka Cricket has become bankrupt and authorities have no interest in rectifying this sad situation,” he said.He called on the public ”to join hands to stop political interference and restore the image of sports.SLC has been run by successive interim committees, picked by politicians, for seven years.The International Cricket Council this month unanimously decided to amend its laws to make free elections mandatory for all national bodies by mid-2012.Sri Lankan authorities have said election for SLC will be held next year.In March, the International Rugby Board suspended the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union from full IRB member status after failing to conduct appropriate board elections, and restored the membership weeks later after elections were held properly.Netball is also run by an interim committee, but the sport’s officials have said elections will be held shortly for the federation.Ranatunga, who played for Sri Lanka from 1982 to 2000, led the national team in 1996 when the team beat Australia in the final to win the World Cup.Cricket is the most popular and wealthiest sport in the country, but infighting among those seeking a spot on the board and political interference has resulted in elections for office holders not being held for seven years.

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Senior, junior players to get chance in upcoming tours: Younis

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis said that senior and junior players will be combined in the upcoming tours, Younis returned home from Australia after a private trip and was talking to the media at the Lahore airport. While praising the cricket camp in Lahore, he said that it is a positive step to highlight the young talent who can benefit from such training camps. He also said that he will be concentrating on cricket now after coming back from his personal trip.The coach said that he will request the senior players like Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram to give tips to fresh players. Younis was hopeful that the team will deliver good performance in the coming season.He refused to comment when asked about the case hearing of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif.

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Alarming downfall of Pakistan cricket

It is a matter of shame that Pakistan cricket administration degenerated to such an extent that the International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body of world cricket, had to intervene. After closely watching our players performance, conduct and discipline going deep down the drain, the game’s management falling below international standards and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) acting like a silent spectator, the ICC was compelled to jump into the fray. They appointed a committee called the Pakistan Task Team (PTT) to probe into the affairs and suggest reforms. Should we call it the irony of fate or the outcome of incompetence, inefficiency and corruption on the part of those handling the affairs of our cricket In my opinion, which is based on vast experience of handling cricket affairs from a club to international levels, the disgraceful situation that our cricket is facing is the result of our own making. The deterioration has not occurred overnight. Though the present set up of the PCB has broken all records of inefficiency and corruption, the things have taken a decade or so in coming to the lowest ebb. The major factor responsible for making a laughing stock of our cricket in the world has been the appointment of incompetent heads of the cricket board by the President of Pakistan in his capacity as patron-in-chief of the PCB. Good or bad, the President of Pakistan has been the patron of the cricket board since its very inception. The system worked pretty well for almost half a century because while the patrons themselves remained the nominal heads only, they did not allow other government officials or political figures to interfere in the functioning of the board. Those appointed as presidents of the board were competent as well as honest with no lust for power. While the secretary (now CEO) being head of the secretariat was the kingpin of the board dealing with bulk of the cricket matters, the president (now chairman) acted only as a controller cum advisor.While the various committees formed by the board handled their respective subjects, the board’s council, that was an efficient blend of administrators and former cricketers, played an active role in the formation of policies and their implementation. It also closely supervised the functions of the board and pointing out irregularities if any. All this will indicate that it was not a one-man rule. All matters were mutually discussed and decided by the officials concerned. No chairman of the board was as power hungry as those politically appointed after the year 2000. Acting like Hitler, Mr Ijaz Butt, the present PCB chairman, has broken all previous records as far as the ‘one man show of power is concerned’.The downfall of our cricket started a decade back when these political appointees took the throne of the PCB which is no less than a kingdom when compared with other sports bodies. Although they were men of high stature they found the PCB much more powerful in authority and jurisdiction and more lucrative in perks and privileges than any other sphere of life. As I have said on some previous occasions, ‘cricket administration is a science in itself and can only be run by the people who have passed through it.Since these political appointees had no knowledge and experience of the game the downfall of cricket was natural. The biggest damage they inflicted on the cricket board was that after putting its constitution in the dustbin every chairman assumed total power to run the PCB as the king of a state. They employed their dear ones in the board so liberally that within a decade the strength of the PCB’s employees rose from around 80 to 600. What such a huge number of people do is beyond one’s comprehension. They believed in enjoying life to the hilt with promotion of cricket being a secondary affair.Considering the fact that Ijaz was a former cricketer as well as an administrator his appointment was hailed by the cricket fraternity but he disappointed all and sundry more than his non-cricketing predecessors. His three years period on the PCB throne has, however, been absolutely disgusting in all respects especially the grooming and character building of young players which brought shame and embarrassment to the whole nation. In an effort to become a dictator with overwhelming powers, he destroyed all the unity, strength, discipline and harmony both among the players as well as the officials. His relationship with the ICC also remained sore most of the time. To raise the Pakistan cricket to its rightful place the ICC appointed the PTT which suggested 63 points for improvement. Ijaz has rejected the report in toto. The confrontation with the ICC, being the controlling body of the game, will ruin Pakistan cricket further. We must analyse the PTT report wisely and find methods to improve the PCB’s administration, raising standards of the game and eliminating irregularities, faults and follies.

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