Cricket Calander 2011-2012

                 Confirmed International Cricket

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January 2011

England in Australia
Tri-Series in Australia (Eng, Aus & SL)
India in South Africa
Pakistan in New Zealand
Zimbabwe in Bangladesh

February 2011

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

March 2011                                                                                                             

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

April 2011

Australia in Bangladesh (3 ODIs)
India in West Indies

May 2011

Sri Lanka in England
India in West Indies
Pakistan in West Indies

June 2011

Sri Lanka in England
Zimbabwe in Australia (2 Tests & 3 ODIs)
Pakistan in West Indies

July 2011

Sri Lanka in England
Zimbabwe in Australia
India in England
Pakistan in West Indies
Bangladesh in Zimbabwe (2 Tests & 5 ODIs)

August 2011

India in England
Australia in Sri Lanka (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)
Bangladesh in Zimbabwe

September 2011

India in England
Australia in Sri Lanka
Australia in South Africa (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)
Pakistan in Zimbabwe (2 Tests & 3 ODIs)

October 2011

England in India (5 ODIs)
Australia in South Africa
Pakistan in Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka in Pakistan (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)
West Indies in Bangladesh (2 Tests & 3 ODIs)

November 2011

Australia in South Africa
New Zealand in Australia (2 Tests)
West Indies in India (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)
Sri Lanka in Pakistan

December 2011

New Zealand in Australia
West Indies in India
India in Australia (4 Tests)
Zimbabwe in New Zealand (2 Tests & 3 ODIs)
Pakistan in Bangladesh (2 Tests & 3 ODIs)
Sri Lanka in South Africa (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)
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January 2012

India in Australia
Tri-Series in Australia (Aus, NZ & Ind)
Zimbabwe in New Zealand
Sri Lanka in South Africa
England in Pakistan (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)

February 2012

England in Zimbabwe - postponed
Tri-Series in Australia
Asia Cup
South Africa in New Zealand (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)

March 2012

Australia in West Indies (4 Tests & 5 ODIs)
Pakistan in India (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)
South Africa in New Zealand
Sri Lanka in Bangladesh (5 ODIs)

April 2012

Australia in West Indies
Pakistan in India
South Africa in New Zealand
Sri Lanka in Bangladesh
New Zealand in West Indies (3 Tests & 5 ODIs)
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International cricket not over, says Afridi

KARACHI: Former Pakistani skipper Shahid Khan Afridi has said that his international cricket is not over, adding that he would play for national team after improvement of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) management.Talking on Tuesday, Afridi said, “Pakistan is my identity and whatever I am today is because of this country.”He said when your surrounding environment was not healthier then you could not enjoy the game you were playing.Afridi said that preparation for World T20 should be started from now. He added that the national team required batsmen, bowlers and a new wicket keeper.

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Collingwood axed from England T20 and ODI squads

SOUTHAMPTON, England: Paul Collingwood was dropped from both the England Twenty20 and one-day squads announced Tuesday for the upcoming fixtures against Sri Lanka.The veteran all-rounder retired from Test duty after England's victorious Ashes campaign in Australia but was included in the World Cup squad.However, upon his return home after England's 10-wicket quarter-final thrashing by Sri Lanka, Collingwood was stripped of the Twenty20 captaincy -- despite leading the side to the World Twenty20 title in the West Indies last year -- and replaced as skipper by leadership novice Stuart Broad.The 35-year-old Collingwood, a former England one-day captain, only recently returned to county action with Durham following a knee injury and England national selector Geoff Miller said: "Paul Collingwood has been an inspirational limited-overs cricketer for England over many years, and we still see a role for him in this capacity based on form and fitness.

Meanwhile wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter and all-rounder Samit Patel won recalls to both squads.

Kiewswetter replaced Matt Prior, England's Test gloveman who played at the World Cup.

Patel’s ability as a second spinner will enable England to field another slow bowler in addition to his county colleague Graeme Swann.

Fast-medium bowler Broad is expected to be fit to lead England for the first time at Bristol on Saturday despite bruising a heel during the drawn third Test against Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl on Monday, a result that gave England the series 1-0.

England Test captain Andrew Strauss has retired from limited overs internationals so the one-day side will be led by Alastair Cook, even though his Test opening partner was not selected in the World Cup squad.

Meanwhile fast bowler Chris Tremlett, England's man of the Sri Lanka Test series, appears to have been rested ahead of the four Tests against India starting next month.

Twenty20 squad
Stuart Broad (captain), Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Chris Woakes, Luke Wright

One-day squad
Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Bell, Bopara, Broad, Dernbach, Finn, Kieswetter, Morgan, Patel, Pietersen, Swann, Jonathan Trott, Woakes

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PCB issues notices to Umer Akmal, Hafeez

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued show-cause notices to Test cricketers Umer Akmal and Muhammad Hafeez for talking to the media, Geo News reported.The cricketers are accused of talking to the media without the consent of the PCB, which is a violation of the board’s code of conduct.Recently, the PCB had also issued notices to former captain Shahid Afridi, chief selector Mohsin Khan, selector Mohammaed Ilyas, KCCI secretary Ijaz Farooqui and captain of the women’s team Sana Mir.

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Ross Taylor appointed New Zealand captain

WELLINGTON: Batsman Ross Taylor was appointed New Zealand cricket captain Tuesday, replacing Daniel Vettori, who stepped down in March after the World Cup.Taylor served as vice-captain under Vettori and his appointment was widely expected, with wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum seen as his main rival for the skipper's position.The 27-year-old said he was humbled by the appointment and believed New Zealand had the talent to be a force in world cricket.

"I've learnt a great deal about leadership having played under Dan Vettori and feel ready to take on what is one of the highest honours in New Zealand sport," he said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge and appreciate the level of responsibility that comes with captaining your country."

Taylor has played 30 Tests, with an average of 41.12, and 107 one-day internationals, averaging 36.8.

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Pakistan to 'host' Lanka, England in UAE

KARACHI: Pakistan will play their next "home" series against Sri Lanka and England in the neutral United Arab Emirates, an official said Tuesday, as security concerns continue to scare off foreign teams.The announcement comes after Sri Lanka turned down an invitation to return to Pakistan, just two years after a deadly militant ambush in Lahore wounded seven of their players and an assistant coach."We have finalised both the series against Sri Lanka and England and both will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director operations Zakir Khan said.

Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in October and November, and England in January and February in the Middle Eastern country, he said.

Pakistan have not hosted a top foreign team since the Lahore attack, which left eight people dead and forced the International Cricket Council to ditch the country as co-hosts of this year's World Cup.

Khan also rejected comments from England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke that Sri Lanka could host Pakistan's Tests against England.

"We did consider a number of options for both the series but it is the right of the home board to decide the venue and finally we have confirmed UAE for all the matches in both the series," said Khan.

Pakistan will play three Tests, five one-day matches and a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka. The England schedule will be "finalised soon" but it will feature three Tests, up to five one-day matches and one or two Twenty20 games.

Pakistan have played the West Indies, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in UAE in the last nine years.

They were also forced to play their home series against New Zealand -- who were caught up in a bomb blast in 2002 -- in New Zealand, and last year "hosted" Australia in England. (AFP)

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Windies dismiss India for 246 on first day of first Test

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh struck flamboyant half-centuries to rescue India from total collapse on opening day in the first Test against West Indies on Monday.
Raina hit the top score of 82, and Harbhajan supported with 70, as the Indians, electing to bat, were dismissed for 246 in their first innings about 45 minutes after tea on an action-packed first day at Sabina Park. Ishant Sharma then set West Indies back with the scalp of Lendl Simmons for three, as the home team reached 34 for one at stumps.Raina and Harbhajan propped up the innings with a seventh wicket stand of 146, after the visitors ran into trouble on 85 for six in the first 15 minutes after lunch.

The world number one team, however, then lost its last four wickets cheaply.

Fidel Edwards, making a return to the international game after a two-year injury layoff, was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, finishing with four for 56 from 16 overs, justifying his selection ahead of Kemar Roach.

Ravi Rampaul ended with three for 59 and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo captured three for 75.

The Indians were rocked early on, when Murali Vijay was caught at backward point for eight slicing a drive off Rampaul, who also bowled debutant left-hander Abhinav Mukund off the inside edge for 11.

V.V.S. Laxman joined Rahul Dravid, and stemmed the fall of wickets for close to an hour, but he was caught at slip for 12 off the first delivery from Bishoo, edging a loose drive, and leaving the visitors on 64 for three.

The rot continued when Virat Kohli, another Test newcomer, was caught behind for four, playing defensively forward to Edwards in the final over before the interval.

After the interval, India suffered two quick setbacks - both to Bishoo - in successive overs, and seemed to put West Indies in charge.

Dravid made 40 before he edged a loose drive to Sammy at slip off the spinner, who also had the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who like Dravid and Laxmmman were rested for the one-day series, caught at second slip for a two-ball duck.

Enter Harbhajan, and he quickly got into his stride, taking apart the West Indies bowling.

He loosened the home team's grip on the match, and seemed to inspire Raina in a bold counter-attack for the visitors.

They took them to 219 for six at tea, after Harbhajan reached his 50 from 45 balls and Raina got to the landmark from 76 deliveries.

After tea, the runs looked set to continue to flow for Harbhajan and Raina, but Edwards gave firm proof that he could still be a force to reckon with, when he blew away India's lower-order.

Harbhajan tried hook at a short, rising delivery from the fast bowler, and Bishoo ran from deep backward square leg to deep mid-wicket to hold a spectacular flying catch.

Praveen Kumar, another Test debutant, was lbw to Edwards for four, playing back and across, and Amit Mishra was caught at slip for six, gloving a snorter.

The innings came to a close, when Raina pulled a short delivery from Rampaul to deep mid-wicket, and Bishoo held another fine catch.

The match is the first in a three-Test series, with the second match, starting on June 28 at Kensington Oval in Barbados, and the final match, beginning on July 6 at Windsor Park in Dominica.

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England set for extra Windies and Pakistan matches

SOUTHAMPTON: England are in line to tag on two additional Twenty20 matches against the West Indies to the end of an already packed home season.They are also set to play additional one-day matches away to Pakistan, either in the United Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka, where they face the islanders in two Tests from March until early April next year.The extra West Indies games, which are set to follow home series against both Sri Lanka and India, come in a bid to fulfil broadcast obligations.The ECB face a problem honouring a deal with satellite station Sky, signed in 2008, that is worth some #260 million ($421 million).

That was intended to include a Stanford Super Series every November.

However, American businessman Allen Stanford was arrested and accused of being behind a $7 billion (#4.3 billion) fraud in 2009. He is now in jail and due to stand trial in New York on September 12.

Clarke also said the matches could help the financially ailing West Indies Cricket Board.
England Test captain Andrew Strauss, who has retired from limited overs internationals, said his team-mates would cope with the additional workload.

Meanwhile England also released a preliminary schedule for their off-season tour programme featuring three Tests against Pakistan and an unspecified number of one-day internationals, possibly as many as five, in January and February.

England are also due to travel to India in October to play the world champions in five one-day internationals and a Twenty20.

That would give England a combined nothern hemisphere winter schedule of five Tests, 10 one-dayers and a Twenty20.

Pakistan have not played a major international side at home since an armed attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore in March 2009 turned the country into a 'no-go' area for the world's top teams.

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Afridi to leave for London Wednesday

KARACHI: Former captain Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi will leave for London Wednesday to represent Hampshire in the English Twenty20 event, Geo News reported.He was earlier planned to leave on Tuesday but due to his father’s arrival from the US after treatment, his departure has been delayed. He will leave for London after meeting his father.Afridi will be representing Hampshire in Thursday match against Essex.

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Sangakkara ton helps Sri Lanka save final Test

SOUTHAMPTON: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara's maiden Test hundred in England helped the tourists save the series finale at the Rose Bowl here on Monday.But a draw in the third and final Test gave England a 1-0 win in this three-match series after an innings and 14-run win in the first Test in Cardiff was followed by stalemate at Lord's.Rain, which robbed the first Test ever staged at the Rose Bowl of 155 overs on the first three days, had the final say when a downpour during the tea interval on the fifth day brought this match to a premature close.

Sri Lanka were 334 for five in their second innings in reply to England's first innings 377 for eight declared, a lead of 141, having lost just two wickets on the last day.

One of those was Sangakkara, out shortly before tea for 119 when the left-hander's square cut off James Anderson was caught by substitute Adam Rouse at backward point.

His exit ended a fifth-wicket stand of 141 with Thilan Samaraweera, who was left stranded on 87 not out.

Sangakkara had managed just 65 runs in five previous innings this series but, leading Sri Lanka in the absence of the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan, he showed his class with a 25th Test century.

Sri Lanka resumed on Monday on 112 for three, 81 runs behind, with Sangakkara 44 not out and nightwatchman Rangana Herath unbeaten on two, in overcast, seam bowler-friendly conditions.

But Sangakkara, who averages over 56 in Tests, cover-drove fast bowler Chris Tremlett for four in the first over of the day.

Anderson nearly had Herath out for five but first slip Andrew Strauss was distracted by Graeme Swann, moving across from second slip, and the England captain dropped the fast-travelling chance.

When first-change Stuart Broad came on, Herath, primarily a left-arm spinner, pulled him for a well-struck boundary. Broad later twice left the field with a bruised left heel.

Herath was eventually lbw on the backfoot to off-spinner Swann after missing a sweep for a gutsy 36.

Sri Lanka reached lunch on 226 for four, with Sangakkara 89 not out and Samaraweera 26 not out.

By that stage the 33-year-old Sangakkara, who resigned as Sri Lanka captain after their World Cup final defeat by India in Mumbai in April, had surpassed his previous Test-best in England of 66 at Trent Bridge five years ago.

England, though, were only one more over away from the new ball, which they took as soon as they could.

Sangakkara went into the 90s with a lucky four over the slips off Anderson before a comfortable single off Broad saw him to a hundred featuring 13 fours and spanning nearly five and a half hours after he came in at 25 for one.

England had built a strong position by bowling Sri Lanka out for just 184 in the tourists' first innings, with Tremlett, on the ground where he played for Hampshire before moving to Surrey last season, taking a Test-best six for 48.

Ian Bell's 119 not out -- his second century of the series following his unbeaten 103 in Cardiff -- helped give England a first innings lead of 193 and allowed Strauss to make an enterprising declaration.

England remained third in the ICC Test rankings -- they would have gone joint second if they'd won -- behind leaders India, their next Test opponents, and South Africa.

England and Sri Lanka now face each other in a Twenty20 match and five one-day internationals, starting with the Twenty20 contest in Bristol on Saturday, June 25.

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