NEWS ALERT

NEWS UPDATE : Asian Cricket Third Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI abandoned due to rain COLOMBO: The third One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The umpires made this decision after consulting ... Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke SYDNEY: Australia's limited-overs tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make them the top nation in all three forms of the game, captain Michael Clarke said ... Bopara glad to be back for England SOUTHAMPTON, England: Ravi Bopara is eager to make up for lost times as he tries to revive his ... South Africa name unchanged squad for England series JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the three-Test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on ...


Sunday, June 26, 2011

ICC mulls World Cup lifeline for minnows

5:45 PM  Unknown  

Cricket's governing body began its annual conference on Sunday with all eyes on controversial proposals to scrap its rotating presidency and bar non-Test playing nations from the next World Cup.The International Cricket Council (ICC) kicked off four days of meetings between the chief executives' committee and executive board, followed by a full council meeting on June 30, at a hotel in downtown Hong Kong.The conference will consider moves, reportedly spearheaded by India and England, to scrap the two-year rotational presidency, although details of any new system remain unclear.The proposal is expected to be met with vehement opposition from Pakistan and Bangladesh, who are scheduled to nominate the body's next-but-one leader to take power from 2014.Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt told reporters before leaving for Hong Kong: "It's Pakistan's turn to nominate the president or the vice-president so we will not allow anyone to snatch that right."We have already shown our reservations on both the amendments and since the matter will be discussed at the meeting I am not going to make it more public."The ICC will also review its unpopular decision to limit the 2015 World Cup, in Australia and New Zealand, to the 10 full-member teams -- excluding countries such as Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and Kenya.ICC president Sharad Pawar has asked his board to discuss the matter at the conference, with the governing body looking to avoid a repeat of the seven-week World Cup, deemed by some critics as unnecessarily lengthy.Officials are believed to be in favour of retaining a 10-team limit but may consider a qualifying tournament that would give minor nations a chance of reaching the event.Also on the agenda will be the issue of whether the ICC should adopt the controversial Decision Review System (DRS).The ICC has announced its desire for the DRS, whereby teams will be allowed one incorrect referralper innings to the television umpire, to be used for all Tests, ODIs and International T20s.Decisions would be checked using video, audio, ball-tracking and thermal-imaging technology in an innovation welcomed by most countries.But powerful India, whose huge revenues give it a dominant position in the ICC, has never agreed to its use nor played a Test or one-day series when the DRS has been in operation.The issue will be presented formally to the ICC's chief executives' committee."The suggestions were made following detailed technical analysis and supported by what the committee agreed was a successful application during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011," the ICC said in a statement released ahead of the meeting.The conference kicked off on Sunday with a low-key discussion on the ICC's rankings system, with the headline issues to be dealt with over the coming days.

Read More

icc cricket world cup 1992

8:08 AM  Unknown  

    PAKISTAN WON 1992 WORLD CUP















Read More

Upul Tharanga found guilty of breaching ICC Anti-Doping Code

2:21 AM  Unknown  

Sri Lanka opening batsman Upul Tharanga has been found guilty of committing an anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code (the "ICC Code") and has been suspended from all cricket and cricket-related activities for a period of three months.

Tharanga, 26, provided a urine sample as part of the ICC's random in-competition testing programme after the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, held in Colombo on 29 March 2011.

His sample was subsequently tested by a World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory and was found to contain metabolites of two glucocorticosteroids - Prednisone and Prednisolone. These are classified as 'Specified Substances' under WADA's Prohibited List and are prohibited in-competition 'when administered by oral, intravenous intramuscular or rectal routes'.

An independent anti-doping tribunal, comprising Mr Tim Kerr, QC, (acting as chairman), Dr Anik Sax and Prof. Peter Sever heard the case via videoconference today and made its determination after considering detailed written and oral legal submissions as well as live witness evidence, including from Tharanga himself.

The tribunal accepted that Tharanga had ingested the 'Specified Substances' when drinking a herbal remedy given to him to ease discomfort caused by a long-standing shoulder injury. It also found that Tharanga had no intention to enhance his sporting performance or to mask the use of another performance enhancing substance, but that he had failed to satisfy the high levels of personal responsibility implicit upon him as an international cricketer subject to anti-doping rules.

Tharanga pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage in the proceedings and, as mandated under the ICC Code, the tribunal disqualified the rankings points he earned from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The tribunal also exercised its discretion under the ICC Code to impose upon him a period of ineligibility of three months, which was back-dated, in accordance with the discretion afforded to the tribunal under the ICC Code, to commence on 9 May 2011 and expiring at midnight on 8 August 2011, therefore leaving him eligible to return to cricket and cricket related activities on 9 August 2011.

In light of the circumstances of this case, the ICC re-iterates its zero-tolerance approach to doping and warns all international players that they remain personally responsible for ensuring that anything they eat, drink or put into their bodies (including any medical treatment they receive) does not give rise to an anti-doping rule violation under the Code.

Reacting after the tribunal announced its decision, Tharanga said: "I apologise to the fans and followers of Sri Lanka cricket for inadvertently committing an offence. I hope my fellow sportsmen will learn from my experience and be more vigilant when taking medical treatment, so that their careers do not suffer in the way that mine has."

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, said: "We recognise that Upul has not been found guilty of deliberately cheating, but the ICC maintains its zero-tolerance approach towards doping for the benefit of all its stakeholders. Cases like this serve as a reminder to all players that they must take great care and personal responsibility at all times for the substances that they consume.

"I am satisfied with the tribunal's decision and pleased at the way the ICC has handled this case with both sensitivity and efficiency."

All parties with a right of appeal (including Tharanga and the ICC) will be entitled to appeal the decision within 21 days of their receipt of the written decision.

Read More

ICC meets in Hong Kong for Annual Conference

2:20 AM  Unknown  

The ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC, 26 and 27 June), ICC Executive Board (28 and 29 June) and Full Council (30 June) will meet in Hong Kong next week to discuss a number of topics which are important to the future of the game.

These include:

ICC Cricket Committee recommendations

The CEC will consider recommendations from the ICC Cricket Committee which cover a wide range of important cricket topics including day/night Test matches, over-rates, pitches, the Decision Review System (DRS), use of runners as well as plans to enhance One-Day Internationals further.

While acknowledging the broadcast contracts that currently exist, the ICC Cricket Committee was unanimous in its recommendation that DRS should be used in all Test matches and also unanimously recommended that DRS should be used in ODI and T20I series with each side allowed one unsuccessful review per innings. The suggestions were made following detailed technical analysis and supported by what the committee agreed was a successful application during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The ICC Cricket Committee also proposed that the study into day/night Test matches should continue and that current code of conduct regulations be amended to allow for the suspension of a captain after two offences for slow over-rate breaches (previously it was three).

The CEC will also consider the recommendations for 50-over ODI cricket which builds on the extremely successful ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. In order to improve the balance between bat and ball and to give 50-over cricket a distinct identity, the ICC Cricket Committee recommended that two balls should be used in each innings ? one from each end. Currently the ball is replaced after 34 overs. It also recommended that teams should only be allowed to take the batting and bowling powerplays between overs 16 and 40.

The committee also suggested that trials of the following playing conditions be conducted in domestic cricket before being considered for international cricket:

* Removal of the restriction on the maximum number of overs each bowler could deliver
* No compulsory close-catchers
* A maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard fielding circle during non-powerplay overs

The number of bouncers that can be delivered per over to be increased from one to two.

The CEC will consider these topics and, following further deliberations of the CEC working group, will also seek to confirm and recommend the Future Tours Programme to the ICC Executive Board for its consideration.


Format and make-up of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

At its meeting in Mumbai on 4 April 2011, after having previously agreed a 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, the ICC Executive Board agreed that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 would comprise of the 10 ICC Full Members. The Board also confirmed its decision taken in October 2010 that the ICC World Twenty20 should be a 16-team event and that promotion and relegation would be introduced from 2019.

These decisions were part of the package of strategic restructuring of bilateral cricket and ICC events aimed at providing greater context and content for international cricket. As part of this, a Test play-off for the top four teams was also approved to take place in England in 2013.

Following the decisions and responding to representations from various quarters, ICC President Sharad Pawar will ask the ICC Executive Board to revisit its decision to restrict the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to the 10 Full Members.


Constitutional amendments

The Full Council of the ICC will consider a constitutional amendment aimed at ensuring free elections of Member boards and avoiding undue government interference in the administration of cricket, in line with the regulations of other major sporting bodies.

The Full Council will also consider a further constitutional change to the process for the nomination and election of the ICC President. Under the new proposal, the Executive Board will decide the process and term of office from time to time, subject to certain qualifying criteria. This would remove the current rotational system of nomination and the fixed term of appointment as set out in the ICC Articles of Association.


ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

The ICC Executive Board and CEC will receive a detailed post-event report on the successful staging of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Although the event was universally regarded as a success and one of the best cricket events in history, the report will highlight shortcomings around ticketing and stadia construction.

The report also acknowledges the high standard of cricket and praises the excellent pitches and outfields. It also notes that the three host countries now have a legacy of excellent cricket facilities following the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.


Other matters

The ICC Executive Board will also consider recommendations from the CEC, the ICC Security Task Force on introducing mandatory safety and security regulations and a final report from the Pakistan Task Team.


Media arrangements

SNTV and Getty Images will distribute vision and images throughout the annual conference week in Hong Kong. There will also be a media opportunity at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong on Thursday 30 June 2011. Further details of the media conference will be released when available.

The ICC Board consists of the chairman or president from each of the 10 Full Members plus three elected 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 of the President, the ICC Principal Advisor.


Sharad PawarICC President
Alan IsaacICC Vice-President
Haroon LorgatICC Chief Executive
Ijaz ButtPakistan
Peter ChingokaZimbabwe
Giles ClarkeEngland and Wales
Jack ClarkeAustralia
Dr Julian HunteWest Indies
Mustafa KamalBangladesh
Imran KhwajaAssociate Member Representative
Shashank ManoharIndia
Chris MollerNew Zealand
Dr M NyokaSouth Africa
Keith OliverAssociate Member Representative
DS de SilvaSri Lanka
Neil SpeightAssociate Member Representative


The CEC comprises the Chief Executives of the 10 Full Member nations as well as three Associate Member representatives. Also present is the ICC Chief Executive who chairs the meeting and, by invitation, the ICC President and the chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee.

Haroon LorgatICC Chief Executive (Chairman)
Sharad PawarICC President (ex Officio)
Clive LloydICC Cricket Committee Chairman (ex Officio)
Mansur AhmedBangladesh
Subhan AhmedPakistan
Michael BrownAustralia (alternate for James Sutherland)
David CollierEngland and Wales
John CribbinAssociate Member Representative
Warren DeutromAssociate Member Representative
Francois ErasmusAssociate Member Representative
Dr Ernest HilaireWest Indies
Gerald MajolaSouth Africa
Wilfred MukondiwaZimbabwe (alternate for Ozias Bvute)
Nishantha RanatungaSri Lanka
N SrinivasanIndia
Dr Justin VaughanNew Zealand


Annual ConferenceFull Council comprises 10 Full Members, 35 Associates and five Affiliate representatives. For a special resolution to change the ICC Constitution the requirement is for the support of eight Full Members and 38 out of 50 of the entire Full Council.

Read More

Jayawardene seals Sri Lanka thrashing of England

2:17 AM  Unknown  

BRISTOL: Mahela Jayawardene's unbeaten 72 saw Sri Lanka to a crushing nine-wicket victory against England in the lone Twenty20 international here on Saturday.

Jayawardene's innings backed up an impressive bowling display that left the tourists needing just 137 for victory against World Twenty20 champions England.

They reached their target for the loss of only veteran Sanath Jayasuriya with 16 balls to spare.

The result meant Stuart Broad's first match as England's Twenty20 captain ended in a defeat where he was run out for nought and took none for 29, while Sri Lanka skipper Thilina Kandamby won his opening match in charge.

England may have won the recent three-match Test series between the two countries 1-0 but this was a second successive crushing limited overs defeat by Sri Lanka after the 10-wicket World Cup quarter-final loss in Colombo in March.

Kumar Sangakkara, like Jayawardene a former Sri Lanka captain, was 43 not out after the experienced pair shared an unbroken second-wicket stand of 97.

Jayawardene and Jayasuriya, in his penultimate match before international retirement, previously put on 40 for the first wicket.

Right-hander Jayawardene, proving again there is a place for classical elegance in cricket's shortest format, completed a 40-ball fifty with a six and four fours.

He was severe on seamer Chris Woakes cutting a full toss for four, next ball driving him over his head for six and, the ball after that, clipping him down to third man for another boundary.

Surrey seamer Jade Dernbach marked his international debut by dismissing Jayasuriya for eight but that was as good as it got in the field for England.

Earlier, Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga took two for 15 and left-arm spinner Jayasuriya two for 18 as England struggled to 136 for nine after Kandamby won the toss in overcast conditions.

Eoin Morgan (47) and Kevin Pietersen (41) put on 83 in 54 balls for the third wicket after England had been faltering at 12 for two.

But they both fell in quick succession to leave England 101 for four in the 13th over and no other batsman scored more than Ravi Bopara's 19.

England were soon two wickets down as recalled World Twenty20-winning openers Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter both fell cheaply.

Left-hander Morgan, dropped on 23, saw his 32-ball innings, featuring three sixes and four fours, end when he pulled Malinga to Jayawardene.

Jayasuriya, playing his first international match for two years after reported political pressure led to his 'farewell' recall, struck with his fifth delivery when Pietersen, backing away to leg, was bowled by a quicker ball.

And the under-rated bowler dismissed Bopara in similar fashion as England, who left out in-form batsman Ian Bell, saw their innings fall away.

England and Sri Lanka meet again in the first of five one-day internationals at The Oval on Tuesday.

Read More

Sri Lanka restrict England to 136-9 in T20

2:16 AM  Unknown  

BRISTOL: Sri Lanka held England to 136 for nine in the lone Twenty20 international here on Saturday.

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga took two for 15 and veteran left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya, in his penultimate match before international retirement, two for 18.

Eoin Morgan (47) and Kevin Pietersen (41) put on 83 in 54 balls for the third wicket after World Twenty20 champions England had been faltering at 12 for two.

But they both fell in quick succession to leave England 101 for four in the 13th over.

No other batsman scored more than Ravi Bopara's 19.

England soon found themselves two wickets down inside three overs after losing the toss as the recalled World Twenty20-winning opening pair of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter both fell cheaply.

Left-hander Lumb holed out off Suranga Lakmal before Kieswetter chipped Nuwan Kulasekara straight to Sri Lanka captain Thilina Kandamby at mid-off.

But former Ireland international Morgan got off the mark with a straight driven six off Lakmal before next ball driving him down the ground for four.

Kevin Pietersen followed up with two fours in as many balls in Thisara Perera's first over, an off-drive preceding a flicked pull off his pads.

Left-hander Morgan was given a reprieve on 23, with England 59 for two, when he struck a full-toss off Lakmal straight to long-on only for Angelo Mathews to drop the routine catch.

Morgan cashed in, driving successive Perera deliveries for six before Pietersen cleared the ropes off the last ball off an 11th over that cost 24 runs in all.

But Morgan's 32-ball innings, featuring three sixes and four fours, ended when he pulled Malinga to Mahela Jayawardene.

And 95 for three soon became 102 for five.

Jayasuriya, best known as opening batsman, struck with his fifth delivery when Pietersen, backing away to leg, was bowled by a quicker ball and he dismissed Bopara in similar fashion.

Read More

Sri Lanka win toss, put England into bat

2:15 AM  Unknown  

BRISTOL, England: Sri Lanka captain Thilina Kandamby won the toss and elected to field against England in the lone Twenty20 international here on Saturday.

Both sides were being led by first time captains with Stuart Broad replacing the dropped Paul Collingwood as skipper of England's World Twenty20 winning side while Kandamby was leading Sri Lanka in the ongoing absence of Tillakaratne Dilshan with a broken thumb.

England gave Twenty20 international debuts to spin bowling all-rounder Samit Patel and seamer Jade Dernbach. Meanwhile they recalled Ravi Bopara in place of in-form batsman Ian Bell.

The match also saw the return of England's World Twenty20-winning opening pair of Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb.

England beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in the preceding three-Test match series following the rain-affected draw at the Rose Bowl this week.

Sri Lanka welcomed back several players who missed the Tests through retirement from the five-day format or injury including fast bowler Lasith Malinga, all-rounder Angelo Mathews and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Veteran batsman Jayasuriya, controversially, is set to play in just this match and the first of five one-day internationals at The Oval on Tuesday, rather than the whole series, before retiring from international cricket.

Jayasuriya, now an MP, has reportedly been given a recall after nearly two years out of international cricket due to political interference.

England: Craig Kieswetter (wk), Michael Lumb, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Luke Wright, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad (captain), Graeme Swann, Jade Dernbach

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Angelo Mathews, Thilina Kandamby (capt), Jeevan Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Suraj Randiv, Suranga Lakmal

Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG), TV umpire: Robert Bailey (ENG)
Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)

Read More

Styris retires from international cricket

2:13 AM  Unknown  

WELLINGTON: New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris announced his retirement from international cricket Friday, saying he wanted to concentrate on the domestic Twenty20 competition and the Indian Premier League.

Styris said the Black Caps were entering a new era under captain Ross Taylor, who was appointed this week, and the time was right to leave the international arena.

The 35-year-old, who is currently playing T20 for English county side Essex, said he would continue to play domestic cricket for New Zealand's Northern Knights and the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

"I really enjoy the T20 format of the game and see it as a way to stay involved in cricket for another year or two if I can," he said.

"Not being on the international circuit means more time at home and I'm really looking forward to spending more time with my family."

Styris played 29 Tests and 188 one-day internationals, the last of which was New Zealand's World Cup semi-final loss to Sri Lanka in Colombo in March.

He nominated New Zealand's ICC Champions Trophy victory in 2000 and a century against the West Indies on his Test debut in 2002, which helped secure the Black Caps' first series win in the Caribbean, as career highlights.

Read More

India record easy 63-run win over West Indies

2:12 AM  Unknown  

KINGSTON: India underlined their status as the world number one Test side with a comfortable 63-run victory over West Indies in the first Test on Thursday.

The Indians successfully defended a victory target of 326 when they dismissed West Indies for 262 in their second innings on the fourth day at Sabina Park.

Suresh Raina formalised the result when he bowled Devendra Bishoo behind his back for 26 about 35 minutes after lunch.

The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, with the second Test set to start on Tuesday at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

The main architects of the visitors' final push for victory, Praveen Kumar finished with three for 42 from 16 overs, Ishant Sharma ended with three for 81 from 17 overs and Amit Mishra captured two for 62 from 13 overs.

India's bowlers were again virtuous with their line and length, and none of the remaining West Indies batsmen showed the kind of resolve to resist, after the hosts resumed on 131 for three.

Before lunch, six wickets -- two apiece for Kumar and Mishra -- put India on the verge, sinking West Indies to 226 for nine.

Kumar removed the overnight pair of Darren Bravo, bowled behind his back for 41, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, caught at extra cover for 30, inside the first half hour.

Harbhajan Singh then spoiled Carlton Baugh Jr's 29th birthday celebrations, when he had him caught at leg-slip for a duck, leaving West Indies 150 for six.

India's champion off-spinner was, however, quickly removed from the attack, when West Indies captain Darren Sammy launched him for three successive sixes over long-on into the Great Northern Stand.

But Mishra cut short Sammy's fun when he had him caught at extra cover for 25 and inflicted more agony on the hosts when he had Brendan Nash lbw for nine attempting an ugly slog, leaving the hosts reeling on 188 for eight.

India again met some resistance from the West Indies tail, with Ravi Rampaul making a strong case for a promotion in the home team's batting order, stroking 34 before he was caught behind, gloving a snorter from Sharma.

The final Test between the two sides starts on Wednesday, July 6 at Windsor Park in Dominica.

Read More

Friday, June 24, 2011

PAKISTAN CRICKET FINAL 2009

4:08 AM  Unknown  















Read More

National T20 tournament starts Friday

2:58 AM  Unknown  

KARACHI: The National Twenty20 Cup will begin in Faisalabad from Friday. Two matches will be played on the first day which will be broadcast live on Geo Super With no international cricket being played in Pakistan, this tournament is the perfect opportunity for fans to see their favourite stars.Many star cricketers will be featured in the tournament and the event will feature eight teams. Lahore Lions are the reigning champions.The first day matches will feature Faisalabad Wolves vs. Multan Tigers at 5:00 pm and Karachi Dolphins vs. Rawalpindi Rams at 9:00 pm.The good news for sport fans is that Geo Super will show all matches of the tournament live.

Read More

Dravid's class and pacemen hand India initiative

2:56 AM  Unknown  

KINGSTON: A typically resolute century by Rahul Dravid and the new-ball pair of Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar put India in a strong position for victory in the first Test against West Indies on Wednesday.Dravid made 112 - his 32nd test century - before he was the last man dismissed, as the Indians were bowled out for 252 in their second innings on the third day at Sabina Park, setting the hosts 326 for victory. Sharma and Kumar then put the brakes on a promising West Indies start, removing the home team's top order, as they reached 131 for three in their second innings at stumps.Kumar made the breakthrough, when he had Adrian Barath caught at a deliberately-placed third slip for a quick-fire 38, leaving West Indies 62 for one.Next over, Sharma condemned Ramnaresh Sarwan to another failure, when the stylish right-hander edged a loose, flat-footed drive, and was caught at gully for a second-ball duck.Sharma continued to plug away, gaining appreciable bounce and movement from the hard, true pitch, and was rewarded when he bowled Lendl Simmons for 27. The Indian bowlers continued to probe away for the remainder of the day, but Darren Bravo, not out on 30, and fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul, not out on 24, resisted firmly, putting on 51 - unbroken - for the fourth wicket.Earlier, Dravid was a pillar of defiance, batting in typically dogged fashion for close to seven hours, striking 10 fours and one six from 274 balls, and holding the innings together in the face of purposeful bowling from West Indies. He reached his hundred from 252 balls, dabbing a delivery from Fidel Edwards into point for a single.Dravid shared in an important ninth-wicket stand of 56 with Amit Mishra, after West Indies captain Darren Sammy removed Harbhajan Singh and Kumar in the space of three balls, as India slipped to 183 for eight in the first 35 minutes after lunch.Mishra batted confidently, showing great courage against a barrage of short-pitched bowling, particularly from Edwards, armed with the second new ball.He spent just over 1< hours at the crease making 28 before he was caught at third man off Sammy, trying an upper cut.Dravid soon followed, caught at long-on, going for the second time in the match to leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.The Indians had seemed destined for a much earlier close to their innings, when Sammy had Harbhajan dubiously lbw for five. Television replays suggested the ball would have bounced over the top of the stumps. Two deliveries later, Kumar was bowled for a duck, playing across a well-pitched yorker from Sammy, but Mishra arrived to play the part of spoiler.Sammy finished with four for 52 from 27 overs, and Bishoo captured four for 65 from 24.5 overs.Before lunch, India had lost two wickets - both to Bishoo - in the last half-hour before the interval, sliding to 166 for six.Left-hander Suresh Raina was caught at leg-slip for 27, gloving a sweep at a delivery from Bishoo into the legs of wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr before the ball lobbed to Sammy.In typical fashion, Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a few rousing strokes, including a straight six off Bishoo, before he cut the final delivery before lunch from the same bowler straight to the cover fielder, much to his chagrin.India had been setback early, after they continued from their overnight total of 91 for three, when Edwards had Virat Kohli caught behind down the leg-side for 15, leaving the Indians 100 for four.

Read More

PCB to overhaul club structure

2:52 AM  Unknown  

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday revealed plans of overhauling the country’s club cricket structure following a meeting of its Governing Board in Lahore.Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said that the Board will make all out investment in lifting club cricket all over the country.The Board has decided to appoint former Pakistan Test spinner Abdul Qadir as the project’s coordinator. Qadir, who resigned as Pakistan’s chief selector after falling out with Butt in 2009, is expected to get the support of several other former Test cricketers including Sarfraz Nawaz, a former Pakisan fast bowler. Sarfraz has been an ardent critic of PCB but softened his stance against the Board during its bitter dispute with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.According to the PCB, Sarfraz has been offered to join the project but the Board is still awaiting his response. Ijaz Ahmed, a former Pakistan Test batsman, is also expected to be hired for the project.The Board has also decided to award contacts to 20 players from each of its 11 regions.Speaking to reporters, Butt said that the PCB will make best possible efforts to revive the Pakistan-India series.He also rejected the impression that the PCB has been suffering from major losses by hosting its ‘home’ matches on neutral venues. According to him, some of the series played abroad are profitable while others end in financial losses for the Board.Security problems in Pakistan have forced the PCB o host its ‘home’ matches on offshore venues in UAE and England.The PCB’s governing board approved the budget but did not disclose its total amount. “A deficit budget has been approved,” said Butt.He claimed that the board had various plans to overcome the deficit. “We have plans to lift club cricket so that our domestic cricket improves and for that we have planned around 5,000 matches at club level in the country in the next season.”He added that PCB was also making efforts to host its own Twenty20 league, modelled on the lucrative Indian Premier League.“We want to stage our own Twenty20 league although we do not have the expertise but we are still trying,” he added. A panel of 12 lawyers has also been appointed to help the PCB on the legal front.

Read More

Thursday, June 23, 2011

PCB committee to review Ilyas suspension case

1:44 AM  Unknown  

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a two-member committee to review the suspension case of Mohammad Ilyas, member of national selection committee, Geo News reported.The two-member disciplinary committee includes PCB Director Domestic, Sultan Rana and General Manager Domestic, Shafiq Pasha. The committee meeting is expected to be held in two days Mohammad Ilyas was issued show cause notice on appearing before media and in a television program. The board suspended Ilyas on not providing a satisfactory reply.

Read More

Sri Lanka replace injured Fernando with Prasad

1:43 AM  Unknown  

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket on Wednesday called up bowler Dhammika Prasad to replace the injured Dilhara Fernando for the upcoming limited-overs series with England.Prasad, 28, last played a one-day match for Sri Lanka in 2009 when Pakistan toured Colombo. Since making his ODI debut in 2006, he has taken five wickets in five outings giving away 217 runs."Dilhara Fernando will be returning to Sri Lanka after an injury suffered during the third Test match at Rose Bowl," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.England drew the third Test with Sri Lanka to win the series 1-0.Both sides play a one-off Twenty20 game in Bristol on June 25, ahead of the five one-day games that begin at the Oval on June 28. (AFP)

Read More

‘Relieved’ Afridi hopes to dazzle for Hampshire

1:42 AM  Unknown  

KARACHI: Shahid Afridi is looking forward to his first outing as a ‘retired’ player on Thursday (tomorrow) when he will make his debut for Hampshire in their Friends Pro-t20 clash against Essex Eagles in Chelmsford (England).The star allrounder, who announced his retirement from international cricket during a bitter dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is happy that he will be back on the cricket field soon.“I’m really looking forward to be back in action,” Afridi told ‘The News’ in an interview on Tuesday. “The last few weeks were pretty frustrating but thank God it’s over now. I’m feeling relieved,” added the player who will leave here for London on Wednesday (today).Till a few days back it seemed that Afridi won’t be able to fulfill his lucrative assignment with Hampshire as he was busy battling in court against the PCB.It all began when Afridi was relieved of Pakistan’s one-day captaincy last month by the PCB after he hinted at disharmony in the national team management following his team’s 3-2 win in the limited-overs series against West Indies.Reacting to the snub, Afridi retired from international cricket and lashed out at the PCB for its “ill-treatment” towards him. The PCB decided to hit back by suspending his central contract and revoking all No Objection Certificates thus blocking the player’s participation in the Friends Pro-t20 event in England.Afridi returned home and filed a petition in the Sindh High Court. A few days later, he withdrew the petition following a meeting with PCB chief Ijaz Butt. The Board slapped him with a hefty fine of Rs4.5 million but agreed to revoke his NOC to play for Hampshire.The entire episode was a stunning turnaround for the 31-year-old who was hailed as a hero last March when he guided an otherwise underachieving Pakistan team to the World Cup semifinals.However, Afridi made it clear that he won’t delve in the past.“All I’m thinking about is how to regain my form, both as a bowler and as a batsman,” said Afridi, who is one of the world’s most successful allrounders in the shorter formats of the game.“I’m looking forward to do well as an allrounder for Hampshire,” added the player who has scored 6695 runs and bagged 315 wickets in One-day Internationals. He is also one of the most prolific players in Twenty20 Internationals with 683 runs and 53 wickets from 43 matches.Afridi peaked as a legspinner during the 2011 World Cup in sub-continent when he emerged as one of the most successful bowlers in the 16-nation spectacle. But his performance graph dipped in the Caribbean where he flopped both with the bat and ball.However, an unplanned yet well-deserved sabbatical from cricket has left Afridi in a buoyant mood.“I was feeling a bit drained after the World Cup which is probably the reason why my performance wasn’t up to the mark against the West Indies,” he said.“But I’m feeling much better now and am itching to play cricket which is a great sign.”Soon after concluding his Hampshire stint, Afridi is hoping to feature as one of the star attractions at the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League (SLPL) Twenty20 tournament. The event will be played over 18 days from July 19 and will feature teams from the island’s seven provinces.Afridi will lead one of the competing teams and is already looking forward to the challenge. “It (SLPL) promises to be a challenging tournament and I’m hoping to give my best in it,” he said.

Read More

EA Cricket 2009

1:32 AM  Unknown  

Read More

Cricket Revolution (2009)

1:30 AM  Unknown  

Read More