Bangladesh court stops cricket team's tour of Pakistan

DHAKA: The Bangladesh high court on Thursday ordered the national team's upcoming tour of Pakistan to be postponed for at least four weeks due to security fears.

Bangladesh were set to play a 50-over game and a Twenty20 international on April 29 and 30 in Lahore, the first international cricket matches in the troubled country for three years.

But Additional Attorney General M.K. Rahman told AFP that the high court in Dhaka had ordered Bangladesh's cricket authorities to explain why the tour was scheduled to go ahead despite concerns over the team's safety.

"It asked the cricket board to explain in the next four weeks. During the four weeks, the court imposed an injunction on the cricket team's tour to Pakistan," he said.

Bangladesh would be the first team to visit Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test in 2009, when eight people died and seven visiting players and an assistant coach were injured.

The high court gave the order following a petition by a lawyer and a university teacher.

Pakistani political leaders, players and fans had welcomed the planned tour, but in Bangladesh concern over the visit has grown since it was announced on Sunday.

"We told the court that the Pakistan tour would risk the lives of our cricketers," Hassan Azim, lawyer for the two petitioners, told AFP.

"Pakistan is not a safe place for an international sports event. No other international teams are travelling to Pakistan. Why should Bangladesh go? The decision was imposed on the cricketers."

Anti-Pakistan feelings still run strong in Bangladesh, which was part of Pakistan until 1971 when it won independence in a bloody nine-month war in which Dhaka says an estimated three million people lost their lives.

Bangladesh's coach Stuart Law, from Australia, this week expressed fears about the team's schedule.

"It's got to be made sure by the two associating boards that everyone is 100 percent safe to go," he said. "I have spent time with the players and everyone is a bit concerned."

Law declined to confirm if he would go on the tour, while Bangladesh's cricket authorities said they were seeking clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Foreign teams shunned Pakistan after the 2009 attacks, forcing them to play their home series on neutral venues, mostly in the United Arab Emirates.

Read More

Worcestershire stumped over Ajmal return

WORCESTER: Worcestershire's hope of seeing Saeed Ajmal return for a second spell with the English county for their domestic Twenty20 campaign have been dashed by the Pakistan spinner's international commitments.

The Midlands club, whose other overseas player is Australia batsman Phil Hughes, had hoped to have Ajmal, England's tormentor-in-chief during Pakistan's recent 3-0 Test series win in the United Arab Emirates, back at New Road.

However, the confirmation of Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka has left the club looking for another overseas player.

"Following the recent announcement that Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka will proceed, Saeed Ajmal will be unavailable for Worcestershire's T20 campaign," the county said in a statement Thursday.

"Ajmal had signed a contract to appear in Worcestershire CCC's T20 run at a time when the Pakistan tour to Sri Lanka was not agreed in the ICC schedule.

"But it is now understood that it is likely to take place between late May and mid-July 2012, ruling Ajmal out of the county's T20 campaign."

Worcestershire director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, said: "Losing a player of Saeed's quality is a big disappointment.

"However, we are extremely active in finding a replacement for the Twenty20," the former England wicketkeeper added.

Ajmal took 24 wickets during Pakistan's Test rout of England.

Read More

Australia still eyeing victory in rain-hit test

PORT OF SPAIN: Australia were confident they could still win the second test against West Indies despite losing most of the fourth day on Wednesday to rain.

Australia's hopes of pushing for a series-clinching victory were thwarted by a torrential storm at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.

Most of the day was lost, leaving Australia 127 runs ahead with seven second innings wickets in hand.

With more showers forecast for Thursday, a draw was looming as the most likely result, which would be enough for Australia to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy after the tourists won last week's first test in Barbados.

But Australia opening batsman Ed Cowan said his team were not giving up hope of winning and may even be prepared to roll the dice and risk defeat to give themselves a chance of victory.

"I don't think there's any doubt about that," Cowan said.

"We'll open up the game at some point, probably willing to lose it for the chance to win it. It will depend on whether they're willing to risk the game, I guess."

If the weather stays fine, Australia's best chances of forcing a result would be to try and add another 100 runs before lunch then set up an early declaration that West Indies would be tempted to chase.

"I'm not the captain. I haven't spoken to (coach) Mickey (Arthur) or (captain) Michael (Clarke) but on that wicket we've seen scoring rates at a little over two for the game so 230, 240 runs even off 65, 70 overs (would be tough)," Cowan said.

"That's long enough for us to bowl them out if they're willing to have a go. We'll see. I don't quite know how the brains' trust is playing it. That's what I'd be thinking."

DIM PROSPECTS

West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach, who captured all three Australian second innings wickets to take his total to eight for the match, said the home team would also press for a victory but the prospects were dim.

"It's kind of dicey now but we'll see how it goes," he said.

"We'll devise a plan tonight for tomorrow and come out to look to compete as well.

"We look to win every game, that's our mentality. We're going to come out tomorrow and whatever we do, we're going to do it in a positive way."

Roach has been the standout bowler for West Indies and once again provided the breakthroughs when his team needed them.

He dismissed David Warner and Shane Watson in his first over, knocking Watson's off-stump out of the ground.

"It was a good sight," Roach said. "I really enjoyed that one obviously."

"Today would have been Malcolm Marshall's 54th birthday so it's a special day, I looked up to him as a bowler," said Roach.

"Hopefully I'll keep blasting through the top order."

Roach removed Cowan for 20 before the rain washed out the rest of the day, just when the Australian was starting to look dangerous.

In four of his last six test innings, Cowan has seen good starts only to be dismissed between 20 and 35.

"It's frustrating to get through what's the hardest time of batting and then to get out when the ball is getting softer," he said.

"To grind out 20 doesn't look but it still feels like you've given some contribution to the team, not just taken the shine off the ball for the other blokes.

"I feel like my game is in good order. There's a big difference between being out of runs and out of form and I feel a little bit out of runs." (Reuters)

Read More

Kolkata Knight Riders thrash Kings XI Punjab by 8 wickets

MOHALI: Gautam Gambhir slammed an unbeaten 66 to power Kolkata Knight Riders to an emphatic 8-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab at the PCA stadium on Wednesday.

Riding on a disciplined bowling and fielding display, KKR first restricted Kings XI to 124 for seven after sent into bowl, and then skipper Gautam Gambhir led from the front with a fine unbeaten half century to overwhelm the target with 21 balls in hand.

Gambhir was ably supported by Jacques Kallis, who scored an unbetaen 30 off 23 balls. The duo stitched unconquered 53 runs for the third-wicket as KKR scored 127 for two in 16.3 overs.

Earlier, Kings XI batsmen lost wickets at regular intervals to be restricted to the modest total after opting to bat at the PCA stadium.

Captain Adam Gilchrist, who retired hurt in the sixth over with a right hamstring problem only to return later to drag his side out of trouble, top-scored with an unbeaten 40, while Shaun Marsh made a 30-ball 33 with the help of four boundaries.

Kings XI batsmen struggled from the onset against a determined KKR bowling line up and it could be gauged from the fact that only three of their batters could manage double figures.

Wily West Indian off-spinner Sunil Narine (2/24) and Brett Lee (2/26) starred with the ball for KKR, sharing four wickets between them. Laxmipathy Balaji (1/20) and Rajat Bhatia (1/23) also picked up a wicket each for the visitors.

KKR's started their run chase on a blistering pace, racing on to their fifty inside the sixth over.

Brendon McCullum (15) was the initial aggressor as he clobbered Praveen Kumar for two boundaries in the first over.

Read More

Bangladesh tour will help revive cricket: PCB chief

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf Wednesday said Bangladesh's short tour will help revive the suspended sport in his country.

Bangladesh on Sunday confirmed it will play a one-day and a Twenty20 match in Lahore this month, matches which will reintroduce international cricket to Pakistan following its suspension in the wake of 2009 attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus.

"I am sure the Bangladesh tour will break the ice, and the breakthrough achieved during President Asif Ali Zardari's tour to India will also help in the revival of Indo-Pak cricket," Ashraf told a press conference.

Last week Zardari reportedly requested Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh to send his national team to Pakistan. Singh promised to talk to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the matter.

Ashraf said he wants to revive cricket ties with India, stalled in the wake of 2008 terrorists attacks on Mumbai.

"I had a good meeting with BCCI president (Narayanan) Srinivasan and this time he was more positive on the revival of the ties," said Ashraf of his talk on the sidelines of International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai.

"I thank the ICC Board for the way they appreciated the revival of cricket and approved of it."

"The situation is not like it was in 2009. Since cricket was suspended in Pakistan our grounds were left deserted but things have improved and I hope more teams will come after the Bangladesh team's tour."

Ashraf said convincing Bangladesh to tour was a victory for fans of the game.

"Cricket is a passion in Pakistan and convincing Bangladesh to tour is a victory for all of us and now even a single policeman will do his best to give the visitors full security," he said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said a comprehensive security plan will be approved by the federal government and will be forwarded to the ICC shortly.

The Bangladesh team is due to arrive on April 27. They play a 50-over game on April 29 and a Twenty20 the following day.

Read More

IPL: Punjab to clash with Kolkata today

MOHALI: Kings Eleven Punjab will be facing Kolkata Night Raiders today in the Indian Premier League (IPL)-2012 here.

The match will start in the night at 7.30 P.M (Pakistan Time).

Rajasthan Royals with 8 points to its credit leading the list.

Geo Super is televising all the matches of the event live.

Read More

Lyon's 5-68 puts Australia in charge

PORT OF SPAIN: A spell of five for sixteen by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon put Australia in charge at Queen's Park Oval at the end of the third day of the second Test in the West Indies on Tuesday.

It was the first time that Lyon had taken five wickets in an innings since his debut Test in Sri Lanka.

"I'm over the moon, even though I didn't run around like I did in Galle," Lyon said. "Still over the moon and really happy with the way things panned out but, saying that, we've still got a lot of work to do to win this Test match."

West Indies finished the day at 252 for nine, still trailing by 59 runs, having, at one point, looked as though they would have a lead after a sterling fifth partnership work from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Narsingh Deonarine roused home hope before tea.

But Lyon gave Australia a good chance of wrapping up the three-match series after they won the first Test in Barbados.

The Decision Review System (DRS) caused controversy before a ball had even been bowled.

There were 5.3 overs still to be sent down from the previous day following rain on Monday, with the West Indies due to resume on 49-3.

Michael Beer was set to bowl the first ball when everyone started walking back off the field, as it transpired that there was no power supply for the cameras and hence DRS was not available.

After much discussion, power was restored and play resumed with only 20 minutes lost.

The first major incident on the field happened in Lyon's third over of the morning.

He found the edge of Chanderpaul's bat and the ball hit wicket-keeper Matthew Wade on the left thigh before deflecting straight to Michael Clarke at first slip, but the Australia captain was unable to re-adjust.

After about an hour's play, Clarke turned to his support bowlers, with Mike Hussey coming on at one end and Shane Watson at the other.

The tactic worked. With the fifth ball of his second over, Hussey appeared to have Darren Bravo plumb lbw for 38.

In a desperate decision the batsman decided to use the DRS but to no avail.

The 62-run fourth-wicket partnership had been broken and all four dismissals had been lbw.

Chanderpaul and Deonarine then almost saw their hard work undone in a risky moment off the last ball before lunch.

Chanderpaul pushed wide of mid-on, where Hussey swooped and threw to Wade, who broke the wicket.

Deonarine just made his ground.

After lunch, the West Indies batsmen started to attack and in the 14 overs before rain arrived, the fifth wicket partnership produced another 56 runs.

David Warner was finally given a bowl in the 74th over having taken two wickets in the first Test and his first delivery here struck Deonarine on the pads.

Surprisingly, Clarke decided to review the decision after it had been given not out.

It was ambitious as the batsman was down the wicket and it was no surprise when it was not overturned.

Following a ninety-minute rain delay, the one hundred partnership was brought up when Chanderpaul swung Michael Beer for a six over mid-wicket.

The new ball was only seven overs old when Clarke turned to Nathan Lyon.

"I enjoy bowling with the new ball and would love to bowl with the new ball every chance I get," Lyon said. "I'm loving bowling at the moment and just have to keep working hard."

His first ball had Deonarine coming down the wicket to him but he didn't get to the pitch of the ball.

It spun past his bat and Wade knocked off the bails.

The fifth wicket partnership with Chanderpaul had finally been broken.

They had added 130 runs in 44 overs taking West Indies to 5-230.

Deonarine had played a fine supporting role, one that pleased the West Indies coach Ottis Gibson.

"Batting with Shiv, somebody that he idolised coming through as a batsmen in Guyana, he played very well," Gibson said. "He played a very mature sort of innings. It's a bit disappointing how he got out in the end but the fact that he batted so long and played with so much control was very good to see."

At the end of his next over, Lyon took the wicket that Australia really wanted, trapping Chanderpaul lbw for 94 when he beat the inside edge.

Nathan Lyon knew that it was a big wicket.

"He's one of the best batsman going around in world cricket," Lyon said. "You look at all the other best batters in the world, they're not easy to get out. It's Test match cricket for a reason and full credit to Chanderpaul.

"He's a great player and it's definitely a challenge for all our players and we're looking forward to every challenge when we walk out to the crease. It's difficult to bowl to him but it's a great challenge and we're definitely up for it."

Darren Sammy tried to crash the second ball that he faced over long-on but Hussey took the catch and it left the West Indies captain rueing an irresponsible shot.

Three wickets had gone down for seven runs but worse was to come for the home side.

West Indies had lost five wickets for nineteen runs with Lyon taking them all.

It was the second time that he had taken a five-wicket haul and it put Australia back in charge after the West Indies had been on top for much of the third day.

Read More

Bangalore win as Gayle butchers Pune bowlers

BANGALORE: West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle smashed eight sixes in his marathon innings of 81 to help Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Pune Warriors by six wickets in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a difficult target of 183, Bangalore completed the victory when Saurabh Tiwary hit a towering six off the final ball of the innings bowled by Ashish Nehra.

Tiwary made an unbeaten 36 off 23 balls with two sixes and AB de Villiers remained not out on 33, scored off 14 balls with three sixes.

However, the victory was founded by Gayle who hammered five consecutive sixes in an over from Rahul Sharma as he made 81 from 48 balls.

Earlier, Pune batting first made 182 for six in the allotted 20 overs after Robin Uthappa top scored with 69 from 45 balls. He struck nine fours and two sixes.

Among others, Jesse Ryder of New Zealand and Marlon Samuels of the West Indies made 34 each while Vinay Kumar for Bangalore took two for 34.

This match was shown live by Geo Super, Pakistan’s first sports tv channel.

Read More

Rajasthan win against Deccan in high run-chase

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Royals defeated Deccan Chargers by five wickets after chasing a huge target with two balls to spare in a high-scoring match in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing 197, Rajasthan completed their fourth win of the six matches to go on top of the points table whereas Deccan lost all their three matches in the tournament.

Brad Hodge of Australia smashed an unbeaten 48 from just 21 balls with six fours and two sixes to steer his team to victory in 19.4 overs.

The victory was based on a fine 62-run start provided by openers Ajinkya Rahane (44 off 31 balls) and captain Rahul Dravid (42 in 24 balls).

For Deccan, leg-break bowler Amit Mishra claimed three wickets for 32 runs.

Earlier, Deccan Chargers won the toss and batted first to plunder a big total of 196 for only two wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Jean-Paul Duminy made an aggressive 58 not out off 26 balls with five sixes and three boundaries while Shikhar Dhawan hit 52 and captain Kumar Sangakkara scored 44.

This high-scoring match was telecast live by Pakistan’s premier sports tv channel Geo Super.

Read More

PCB to launch Pakistan Premier League T20

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has kick started the campaign to launch Pakistan Premier League T20. PPL T20 is not a new concept brought forward by the PCB but it will supersede ABN Amro T20 and Faysal Bank T20 tournaments that have been played in Pakistan since 2004.The chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Mr. Zaka Ashraf along with the whole board team, former and playing cricketers; are taking all possible measures to make this event happen. In the past one week, we have seen more than 3 board meetings with interested sponsors which is a clear indication that PCB, for the first time, is thinking of something big. If this event happens, no doubt, it would be the foundation brick for revival of International Cricket in Pakistan. The Pakistan Premier League (PPL T20) will also include teams from Afghanistan, China and United Arab Emirates. Initially, 16 franchises have been proposed. Now it depends on the sponsors that how much of these teams will be playing PPL T20. Earlier this month, PCB also organized Faysal Cup T20 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium that remained successful to a greater extent. This event also gave energy to the Cricket Board and officials to think about launching PPL. Sialkot Stallions lifted the Faysal Cup T20 title for the 6th time creating a new record. Stallions were led by former Pakistani caption Shoaib Malik. Team Cricic.com wishes the PCB all the best of luck for PPL and prays that International Cricket comes back to Pakistan, to the crazy fans and to all those who love it more than any other sport.

Read More

Hussey, Pattinson keep Australia in control at Trinidad

An 89-run partnership between Mike Hussey and James Pattinson ensured Australia remained in control at the end of the second day of the second Test against the West Indies on Monday.

Hussey (73) and Pattinson (32) helped push the tourists, who are 1-0 up in the three-match series, to 311 all out as the West Indies finished the day on 49 for three, still trailing by 262 runs at Queen's Park Oval.

But Kemar Roach insisted the West Indies were still very much in the match.

"We're big boys. We're big men," said the seamer.

"So we're a bit behind, but so it goes in cricket. We can come back. We will come back tomorrow and play cricket the way we want to play cricket."

Hussey top-scored for Australia before falling to Narsingh Deonarine.

Rain arrived shortly before lunch, just after Hussey had brought up his fifty, and Australia added 59 runs for the loss of one wicket before lunch to take the score to 267 for six.

The showers became heavier and another 100 minutes were lost which will mean early starts for the remainder of the Test.

Hussey admitted the wicket was hard to bat on.

"The odd one is spinning a lot. The odd one is staying low. The odd one is bouncing a bit. So, again, you can't trust the conditions, you can't trust the pitch to go through with your shots," he said.

After the extended break, the West Indian team appeared to be getting more and more frustrated as Hussey and Pattinson were batting with confidence although deliveries were still regularly passing the edge.

"I think the times I got most angry with him was when he started to chase the ball and went for those big wild ones outside off stump," said Hussey of what it was like watching Pattinson battle at the other end.

"But while he was playing nice and straight and not deviating from his line I was more than happy with the way he was playing. I thought he did a fantastic job."

With the score on 297 the breakthrough finally came. It surprised everyone when Hussey didn't move his feet to a Deonarine delivery and simply slapped it to short extra cover where Kraigg Brathwaite held the chance.

Like Deonarine's other victim, Michael Clarke, Hussey couldn't believe the shot he had played. He had batted for over four hours in another fine innings.

His seventh wicket partnership with Pattinson had been worth 89 runs but the fall of the wicket opened up the tail.

As so often seems to happen, when one falls the other batsmen goes too. Just five balls later, without further addition to the score, Pattinson got a top-edge to a ball from Shane Shillingford. Despite confusion between the fielders, Darren Bravo took the skied chance.

Ben Hilfenhaus had survived a DRS lbw decision when Shillingford struck his pads. In the next over he played a lovely cut shot off Roach to the boundary but next ball his stumps were knocked back. The ball rebounded off his legs and Australia had lost their ninth wicket.

Roach hit Michael Beer on the pads and two balls later he was given out by South African umpire Marais Erasmus. The decision stood despite the batsman using the review system.

The West Indies seamer had taken a five-wicket haul for the third time in his career.

Clarke pulled a surprise move at the start of the West Indies innings by opening the bowling with left-arm off-spinner Beer.

Hilfenhaus was operating from the other end. The new ball and humid conditions allowed him to find prodigious swing.

To try and combat the movement Brathwaite was moving across his crease.

In his second over, Hilfenhaus got one to miss the inside edge and strike him on the pad. Umpire Ian Gould raised his finger and, despite Brathwaite's review, replays supported the umpire's decision.

It was consecutive ducks for Brathwaite who had failed to score for the fifth time in his fifteen Test innings.

Adrian Barath received ironic cheers from the crowd when he finally got off the mark from the 25th ball that he faced.

He never settled and Clarke's bold move to open with spin paid off in Beer's seventh over. Barath didn't pick the arm ball and was caught in front of the stumps for seven.

West Indies had lost both of their openers with only 26 on the board.

Surprisingly, Pattinson was the fourth bowler to be used by Clarke. He then struck with his very first ball.

He trapped Kieran Powell in front and it was the third lbw dismissal of the innings. He was out for 19 but replays showed that the ball had pitched just outside the line of leg stump.

Bravo (16) and Shivranine Chanderpaul (1) saw out the day.

Read More

Pakistan prepares for cricket revival

LAHORE: Work is being sped up to get Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium ready for the visit of Bangladesh later this month, cricket officials say  Pakistan's first home international in three years.

Foreign teams have shunned Pakistan since the deadly militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus during the third Test in Lahore in March 2009, but on Sunday Bangladesh agreed to a two-match tour.

"The preparation work is fast and we are ready to host Bangladesh," said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Nadeem Sarwar. "We have had a physical inspection of the Stadium today and are gearing up for Bangladesh matches."

Work has begun to clean the stands and replace broken seating, but with the security situation still volatile, measures to ensure player safety have taken precedence.

PCB security manager Waseem Shahid said a complete plan for the arrangements will be submitted to the government for their approval.

"We will send a security plan to the federal government and as per the ICC (International Cricket Council) standards will put in place the best possible arrangements for the Bangladesh team," said Shahid.

When Bangladesh and Pakistan line up for their 50-over match at the Gaddafi Stadium on April 29, it will be the end of a 37-month gap in international cricket in Pakistan.

Groundsman Haji Bashir, who has worked at the stadium since its inception 53 years ago, said he was thrilled at Bangladesh's visit.

"I am delighted at the prospect of preparing pitches for the matches and it's great news for the nation that we will host international games again," the 73-year-old said.

The Gaddafi Stadium, named after the former Libyan leader in 1974 -- has been the focus of the cricketing world on numerous occasions.

It was here that Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga lifted the trophy after their shock World Cup triumph in 1996, sparking wild celebrations on the island.

But 13 years later, the Sri Lankan cricketers had to be airlifted in a helicopter after the horrifying terror attacks.

Last year, the Pakistan government resisted calls from the world community to change the name of the Stadium after the autocratic rule of Libya's leader ended in a bloody revolution.

Read More

Bangladesh coach concerned over Pakistan tour

DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket coach Stuart Law has expressed fears about the team's scheduled tour to troubled Pakistan, where international cricket has been suspended for three years.

Bangladesh are set to be the first team to visit Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test in 2009, when eight people died and seven visiting players and an assistant coach were injured.

"It's got to be made sure by the two associating boards that everyone is 100 percent safe to go," he said in comments reported in Tuesday's Dhaka-based New Age newspaper.

"I cannot speak on behalf of the players. I have spent time with the players and everyone is a bit concerned. Not just Bangladesh, but the other teams as well," he said.

"The first initial response from the players around the world is: 'I don't want to go.'"

Bangladesh will play one 50-over game and a Twenty20 international on April 29 and 30 in Lahore, a move hailed by Pakistani political leaders, players and fans.

But newspapers in Bangladesh criticised Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Mustafa Kamal for agreeing to the tour.

Law, from Australia, declined to confirm if he would go on the tour, while Bangladesh's cricket authorities said they were seeking clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Foreign teams shunned Pakistan after the 2009 attacks, forcing them to play their home series on neutral venues, mostly in the United Arab Emirates. (

Read More

Kamran set for return to Pakistan team

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's troubled wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal could finally make a comeback to the national ODI and Twenty20 team later this month in a home series against Bangladesh. Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were quoted as saying on Monday that Kamran, who has been out of favour since the 2011 World Cup, was only allowed to train with the Pakistan team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore last week after the board gave clearance. “PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf has finally cleared Kamran to be considered for national selection. That is why he is now training with the Pakistani players at the NCA,” a source said. The 30-year-old – who has played 53 Tests, 137 one-day internationals and 38 Twenty20 internationals - has not been cleared by the board to be considered for selection to the national team since after the World Cup.

While he was dropped after the World Cup because of poor form, the PCB also had suspicions about his integrity after the spot-fixing scandal saw three Pakistan players – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir – first banned and then jailed for their role in it. “Kamran has now also been cleared on the integrity form, and given that he has regularly been playing domestic cricket and performing pretty consistently, he is now in line to be considered for the one ODI and one Twenty20 against Bangladesh later this month in Lahore,” the source confirmed. The source said the move to get Kamran cleared and bring him back to the Pakistan team had begun when Pakistan were playing the one-day series against England in the UAE. “Even former coach Mohsin Khan, in a meeting with the PCB chairman and captain Misbahul Haq, had pleaded that the national team could still make a lot of use of the experience and skills of Kamran,” the source said. Kamran recently also played in the Bangladesh Premier League and performed well for the Sylhet team. He also captained the team in the last few matches.

End.

Read More

Hussey, Pattinson keep Aussies in control

PORT-OF-SPAIN: An 89 run partnership between Mike Hussey and James Pattinson ensured Australia remained in control at the end of the second day of the second Test against the West Indies at Queen's Park Oval on Monday.

Hussey (73) and Pattinson (32) helped push the tourists, who are 1-0 up in the three-match series, to 311 all out as the West Indies finished the day on 49 for three still trailing by 262 runs.

Hussey top-scored for Australia before falling to Narsingh Deonarine.

Rain arrived shortly before lunch, just after Hussey had brought up his fifty, and Australia added 59 runs for the loss of one wicket before lunch to take the score to 267 for six.

Unfortunately, the showers became heavier and another 100 minutes were lost which will mean early starts for the remainder of the Test.

After the extended break, the West Indian team appeared to be getting more and more frustrated. Hussey and Pattinson were batting with as much confidence as had been seen but still deliveries were regularly passing the edge.

With the score on 297 the breakthrough finally came. It surprised everyone when Hussey didn't move his feet to a Deonarine delivery and simply slapped it to short extra cover where Kraigg Brathwaite held the chance.

Like Deonarine's other victim, Michael Clarke, Hussey couldn't believe the shot he had played. He had batted for over four hours in another fine innings.

His seventh wicket partnership with Pattinson had been worth 89 runs but the fall of the wicket opened up the tail.

As so often seems to happen, when one falls the other batsmen goes too. Just five balls later, without further addition to the score, Pattinson got a top-edge to a ball from Shane Shillingford. Despite confusion between the fielders, Darren Bravo took the skied chance.

Ben Hilfenhaus had survived a DRS lbw decision when Shillingford struck his pads. In the next over he played a lovely cut shot off Roach to the boundary but next ball his stumps were knocked back. The ball rebounded off his legs and Australia had lost their ninth wicket.

When West Indies seamer Kemar Roach hit Michael Beer on the pads two balls later he was given out by South African umpire Marais Erasmus. The decision stood despite the batsman using the review system.

Clarke pulled a surprise move at the start of the West Indies innings by opening the bowling with left-arm off-spinner Beer.

Hilfenhaus was operating from the other end. The new ball and humid conditions allowed him to find prodigious swing.

To try and combat the movement, Brathwaite was moving across his crease.

In his second over, Hilfenhaus got one to miss the inside edge and strike him on the pad. Umpire Ian Gould raised his finger and, despite Brathwaite's review, replays supported the umpire's decision.

It was consecutive ducks for Brathwaite who had failed to score for the fifth time in his fifteen Test innings.

Adrian Barath received ironic cheers from the crowd when he finally got off the mark from the 25th ball that he faced.

He never settled and Clarke's bold move to open with spin paid off in Beer's seventh over. Barath didn't pick the arm ball and was caught in front of the stumps for 7.

West Indies had lost both of their openers with only 26 on the board.

Surprisingly, Pattinson was the fourth bowler to be used by Clarke. He then struck with his very first ball.

He trapped Kieran Powell in front and it was the third lbw dismissal of the innings. He was out for 19 but replays showed that the ball had pitched just outside the line of leg stump.

Bravo (16) and Shivranine Chanderpaul (1) saw out the day but the seventh wicket parntership between Hussey and Pattinson had given Australia the base for the bowlers to then put them in control.

Read More

Delhi win after bowling out Mumbai for 92

MUMBAI: Delhi Daredevils registered an easy seven-wicket win against Mumbai Indians with 31 balls remaining in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

After Delhi captain Virender Sehwag won the toss and put Mumbai into bat, his bowlers destroyed the rivals’ batting line up as only two batsmen could get into double figures.

They were captain Harbhajan Singh (33) and Rohit Sharma (29 as Mumbai Indians were bowled out for 92, the lowest total scored so far by any team in the tournament.

For Delhi, fast-medium bowler Umesh Yadav, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, Sout African fast bowler Morne Morkel and India’s fast-medium bowler Ajit Agarkar claimed two wickets each.

Later, Delhi achieved the easy target of 93 in just 14.5 overs.

Sehwag top scored with 32 while Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and new Zealand’s Ross Taylor remained not out on 17 and 10, respectively.

For Mumbai, RP Singh took two for 24.

Geo Super, Pakistan’s premier sports tv channel, televised the match live from Mumbai.

Read More

2012 Bangladesh Premier League

 

                         The Bangladesh Premier League 2012 

(BPL) season will be the first season of the Bangladesh Premier League. The season will commence on the 9th of February with the final to be played on the 29th of February

The competition will start with a double round robin group stage, in which each of the 6 teams will play against every other team twice. These matches will followed by two semi-finals and a final

The highest wicket taker will win the purple cap for being the top wicket-taking bowler while the highest run scorer will win the orange cap for leading run-scorer in the tournament. Best young player will be awarded the best under-19 player award and the special award for Fair Play will be won by the team who will play most fairly throughout the tournament.

Matches will be held in Dhaka and Chittagong with a total of six franchises taking part. The franchises will represent Dhaka, Barisal, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna divisions. The franchise auction was held on January 10 and the player auction will take place on 18 and 19 January Each franchise will have to spend between US$2 million and US$5 million at the player auction.

On 21 December, the event Management Company bought the tournament title for six years for 44.33 million dollars, or at 354 crore taka.

Logo Launching Ceremony

The official Logo Launching Ceremony of the Bangladesh Premier League T20 was held on December 29 in the Radisson Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka. The Ceremony started at 6 p.m BST (Local Time), which consisted of the organizers, the members of BCB, Special guests, Few Cricketers, etc. The Ceremony was followed by songs from Artists like Habib Wahid and Others, and dinner. The whole ceremony was broadcasted by Channel 9 of Bangladesh.how to start (BPL)

Opening Ceremony

The President of Bangladesh Zillur Rahman announced the launch of the first edition of the Bangladesh Premier League during the opening ceremony at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium on 9 February 2012.
Bangladesh Premier League opening ceremony was arranged in world class standard. It was started at 4:00 PM BST.The opening ceremony was for about 3 hours. The culture and history of freedom fighting of Bangladesh was displayed in this show. For BPL opening ceremony, popular bollywood stars Bipasha Basu and Malaika Arora Khan performed. The popular singers Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal and Bappi Lahiri also arrived Dhaka in that time for BPL. Excitement regarding Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)start to spread in Bangladesh. India's most eye-catching singer Shreya Ghoshal performed in the tournament kick off show. There was a kick off program for BPL just before the player auction.

Venues

A total of 33 matches will be held including the final in this tournament. 25 matches will be played in Dhaka and the remaining 8 matches will be held in Chittagong.

Dhaka	Chittagong

Read More

ICC President Sharad Pawar condoles NKP Salve's death

On behalf of the ICC, I extend my condolences to the family of Mr NKP Salve.

Mr.Salve was one of the best cricket administrators the game has ever seen. As president of the BCCI, he played a pivotal role in ensuring that the World Cup became a truly 'international' event, staged all over the world. He was heading the BCCI when India won the World Cup in 1983. The triumph emboldened him to join forces with Air Marshall Noor Khan, the then President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan, to stake a joint bid to host the 1987 World Cup. The tournament was officially awarded to India and Pakistan in July 1984.

Mr. NKP Salve as a Cricket Administrator earned the respect of his colleagues in BCCI, ACC and ICC as a warm and affectionate person. It was his persuasive skills that convinced the ICC members to agree to take the World Cup outside England and make it a global event that it is today.

Salve was Chairman of the 1987 World Cup Organising Committee. He and his committee members were thus responsible for an outstanding tournament, with 27 matches being played at 21 venues in India and Pakistan. Among the pioneering decisions taken by the Committee were those have a panel of neutral umpires for the tournament-the first time this was done in World Cup history ? and to have fifty-overs-a-side matches.

Considering that World Cup matches have been played thereafter in Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, the West Indies and Bangladesh, Salve can be truly called a Visionary. Salve represented the BCCI at the ICC, and played a decisive role in instituting the Asian Cricket Council. Mr NKP Salve will always be remembered fondly by us as a very helpful, generous and kind person, who followed and supported the game of cricket till his last days.

Read More

Results of the ICC Executive Board meeting in Dubai

The ICC Executive Board held the second of its scheduled 2012 meetings in Dubai this weekend. The major items considered and/or decisions taken were as follows.

ICC President, Chairman and Chief Executive

Following a Board resolution agreed at the last meeting, the directors confirmed the necessary amendments to the constitution to split the role of the ICC President and Chairman of the Board. The amended Articles will now be placed before the ICC Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur at the end of June for consideration and approval. In summary the key changes would give effect to the following:

- The role of the ICC President will be reformed after the Annual Conference in 2014 to separate the Chairman of the Board position from that of the ICC President. Until then, the current roles for the ICC President and Vice president will remain, after which the Vice-Presidency will cease to exist and a new Chairman of the Board post created;

- The term of office for the new ceremonial role for the President will be one year and will rotate, as it currently does, amongst the Members. The President will not be a voting member of the Board;

- The Chairman, who will be appointed by the Board for a maximum of six years (3 x two year terms) will also be non-voting;

Until the President's role has been confirmed, the joint nomination of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board for the role of vice president 2012-14 was deferred until the amended Articles have been considered by ICC Annual Conference.

The Nominations Committee reported that they have arrived at a shortlist of four candidates who will be interviewed in due course to replace Mr Haroon Lorgat, the current ICC Chief Executive, who vacates his position at the end of the Annual Conference in June 2012.

ICC Cricket Committee 2012-14 appointments

In relation to the post of Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, the ICC Board decided to review the current terms of appointment. This review will cover potential remuneration and also the current restraints on the chairman in relation to media roles.

In the meantime Mr Clive Lloyd, whose term as chairman had recently expired, will be requested to continue until the ICC Annual Conference in June.

The Board also ratified the following appointments from the Chief Executives' Committee ("CEC"):

- re-appoint Ms Clare Connor, the current chairperson of the ICC Women's Committee, for a second three-year term;

- re-appoint Ravi Shastri for a second three-year term representing the media;

- appoint David White, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, as the CEC representative; and

- appoint John Stephenson as MCC's representative.

Twenty20 strategy

The ICC Board received a report of the strategic discussions held at the Chief Executive's Committee (CEC) in March 2012 and confirmed the following recommendations

- to increase, from 2014 onwards, the number of teams participating in the ICC World T20 from 12 to 16 men's teams;

- the event should remain a joint men's and women's event;

- three additional Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) may be played in the year in which the ICC World Twenty20 is being staged provided there is a corresponding reduction in the maximum number of permitted ODIs (as per ICC Scheduling guidelines-the current regulations permit a maximum of 12 T20Is for each Full Member in any one year).

Mr Lorgat said: "The need to manage volume of cricket was considered when agreeing to allow the additional T20Is to be played in a year."

Independent Governance Review - Woolf Report

Having considered several options to deal constructively with the Woolf Report, the ICC Board agreed that, in the first instance, there was a real need for further discussion among the Directors and Members in an effort to build consensus. In addition to already agreeing the split to the President/Chairman's role and creating targeted funding for Members in line with the Woolf recommendations, the Directors were keen to begin discussion among themselves to develop a clearer understanding of the role of the ICC.

The Directors committed to hold more informal discussions amongst themselves and their Member Boards in preparation for further discussions at the next Board meeting in June.

Mr Lorgat said: "Change in any form is challenging and it would be unrealistic to expect immediate decisions. This was the Board's first opportunity to discuss the report and it is encouraging that there is a willingness to engage in difficult and significant governance matters."

Update on ICC events - pre and post 2015

The Board confirmed the hosting for the ICC World Twenty20 2014 qualifying tournament in the United Arab Emirates in October 2013 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 qualifying event in New Zealand in 2014.

The ICC has already commenced with planning for its new rights cycle post 2015 and a key prerequisite of this is to determine the ICC events that will be staged. The Board has agreed the following events schedule:

Year    Event    Format
2016    ICC World Twenty20    Men 16 teams, 39 games
Women's 8 teams, 15 games
2017    ICC World Test Championship    4 teams, 3 games
2018    ICC World Twenty20 (tbc)    Men 16 teams, 39 games
Women's 8 teams, 15 games
2019    ICC Cricket World Cup    10 teams, 48 games
2020    ICC World Twenty20    Men 16 teams, 39 games
Women's 8 teams, 15 games
2021    ICC World Test Championship    4 teams, 3 games
2022    ICC World Twenty20 (tbc)    Men 16 teams, 39 games
Women's 8 teams, 15 games
2023    ICC Cricket World Cup    10 teams, 48 games

Other Events:
Year    Events    Format
2015    ICC World T20 Qualifier    16 teams, 72 games
2016    ICC U19 Cricket World Cup    16 teams, 48 games
2017    ICC Women's World Cup    8 teams, 25 games
    ICC World T20 Qualifier (tbc)    16 teams, 72 games
2018    ICC U19 Cricket World Cup    16 teams, 48 games
    ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier    10 teams, 48 games
2019    ICC World T20 Qualifier    16 teams, 72 games
2020    ICC U19 Cricket World Cup    16 teams, 48 games
2021    ICC Women's World Cup    8 teams, 25 games
    ICC World T20 Qualifier (tbc)    16 teams, 72 games
2022    ICC U19 Cricket World Cup    16 teams, 48 games
    ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier    10 teams, 48 games
2023    ICC World T20 Qualifier    16 teams, 72 games

Other decisions

Other decisions included confirmation to proceed with a high-level evaluation of cricket's participation in multi-sport games; the necessity for women's cricket to play at least 3 ODIs or 3 T20s in a calendar year (excluding ICC funded events) in order to retain their ODI and T20 status; and, following an independent study, that the current Reliance ICC Rankings are fit for the purposes of determining qualification to ICC events and for promotion/relegation purposes. The Board also adopted the de Speville report on the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit and the recommendations will now be implemented.

The ICC Board consists of the president or chairman from each of the 10 Full Members plus three Associate Member representatives. Also present at ICC Board meetings is the ICC President, who chairs proceedings, the ICC Chief Executive and the ICC Vice-President, as well as by invitation, the ICC Principal Advisor.

Sharad Pawar    ICC President
Alan Isaac    ICC Vice-President
Haroon Lorgat    ICC Chief Executive
Zaka Ashraf    Pakistan
Dr Willie Basson    South Africa
Peter Chingoka    Zimbabwe
Giles Clarke    England and Wales
Wally Edwards    Australia
Dr Julian Hunte    West Indies
Mustafa Kamal    Bangladesh
Imran Khwaja    Associate Member Representative
Nuski Mohamed    Sri Lanka (alternate for Upali Dharmadasa)
Chris Moller    New Zealand
Keith Oliver    Associate Member Representative
Neil Speight    Associate Member Representative
Narayanaswami Srinivasan    India

Read More

IPL: Mumbai Indians to clash with Delhi Daredevils today

MUMBAI: Mumbai Indians will be facing Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL) today. The match will start in the night at 7.30 (Pakistan Time).

Mumbai Indians playing four matches have six points to its credit, while Delhi Daredevils have earned four points playing three matches.

Geo Super is telecasting all the matches of this event live.

Read More