Strauss, Cook fight back to lift England

Under-pressure skipper Andrew Strauss and fellow opener Alastair Cook hit gutsy half-centuries as England made a confident reply to Sri Lanka's 275 in the second Test in Colombo on Wednesday.

The left-handers compiled a 122-run partnership as England combated Sri Lanka's pace and spin attack to reach 154-1 by stumps on the second day at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo.

Strauss, under fire for his batting and leadership skills, roared back to form with 61, before he attempted to cut off-spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan and edged a catch to the wicket-keeper in the final session.

It was his best score on England's forgettable Asian sojourn so far this year, in which they were routed 3-0 by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates before losing at Galle in the first Test.

Cook returned unbeaten on 77, but was fortunate to be still there after Lahiru Thirimanne floored a sharp chance at forward short-leg off Rangana Herath when the batsman was on 20.

Jonathan Trott was the other batsman at the crease, on 15, as the tourists trailed by just 121 runs on the first innings with nine wickets in hand.

England's batting finally prospered in a match they must win to level the series and retain their number one ranking. Even a draw will see Strauss' men slip to second spot behind South Africa.

Strauss showed no signs of strain after falling for 26 and 27 in the first Test, which Sri Lanka won by 75 runs to take the lead in the short two-match series.

But the England skipper's dismissal against the run of play left him without a century in 24 innings and just one three-figure knock in his last 49 innings.

Strauss hit four boundaries, his only false shot before his dismissal coming on 23 when he edged Herath, but the ball fell just short of Mahela Jayawardene in the slips.

The openers resisted the temptation to play the dangerous sweep shot till the 39th over, when Strauss swept a wide ball from Suraj Randiv for a single, underlining the captain's growing confidence.

As the batsmen pushed on, Cook was even emboldened to execute a reverse sweep off Herath which raced to the fence to bring up his 14th century partnership with Strauss. Cook has so far hit seven boundaries, while Trott, who scored a century at Galle, looked solid as he played out the day.

Sri Lanka added 37 runs to their overnight score of 238-6 before they were all out 30 minutes before lunch.

Randiv helped his overnight partner Angelo Mathews add 31 for the seventh wicket before he holed out to Kevin Pietersen at long-on attempting a big shot off off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Swann struck again in his next over when he beat Mathews in the air and had him caught at short mid-wicket. Mathews scored 57 in a four-hour vigil at the crease.

Tim Bresnan had Herath edging a catch to wicket-keeper Matt Prior, before Swann terminated the innings by bowling last man Suranga Lakmal.

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Debutant Zazai leads Afghanistan home

Debutant Afsar Zazai produced a masterful knock to earn Afghanistan a hard-fought three wicket win over Netherlands on the third day of the ICC Intercontinental Cup match at Sharjah.

At the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Afghanistan resuming at its overnight score of 111 for 6 was battling against all odds.

Zazai (84 n.o.: 156b, 12x4, 1x6) added 76 runs for the seventh wicket with Mohammad Nabi (25) to revive the chase.

An 18-year-old, Zazai, then added a further 46 runs for the eighth wicket with Samiullah Shenwari as Netherlands struggled to make inroads.

For Netherlands, only Pieter Seelaar (3-60) created any impact with the ball.

Zazai's effort with the bat ensured that Afghanistan walked away with 14 points from the game, whereas Netherlands fetched just six.

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Mumbai’s easy 8-wkt win over Chennai in IPL opener

CHENNAI: Mumbai Indians recoded an easy eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings with 19 balls remaining in the opening Twenty20 match of the 12th Indian Premier League here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk on Wednesday.

Chasing an easy target of 113 runs, Mumbai completed the victory losing only two wickets in 16.5 overs.

Opener Richard Levi hit 50 from 35 balls with three sixes and six fours as his partner star Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar retired hurt after hitting 16 with a six and a four.

However, James Franklin (25) and Ambati Rayudu (18) cruised their team to victory.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians bowled out Chennai Super Kings for 112 in 19.5 overs after captain Harbhajan Singh winning the toss put them into bat.

Suraish Raina top scored with 36 as only three other batsmen could get into double figures.

Geo Super showed the opening match of the tournament live from Chennai.

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Cricket: Aamer appears in anti-corruption video

LONDON: Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Aamer has appeared in an official video from the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the International Cricket Council warning players of the dangers of corruption.

The five minute video has been posted on the official ICC website.

Highly-rated 19-year-old left-arm paceman Aamer was released from a UK jail in February after serving half of a six-month sentence for his part in the spot-fixing scandal during the Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan in 2010.

His former teammates Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif are serving sentences of 30 and 12 months respectively, handed down by a British court in November, after the trio were found guilty of corruption and receiving illegal money.

The ICC also banned all three players, with Aamer receiving the minimum five-year punishment after he was found guilty of deliberately bowling no-balls as part of a plan orchestrated by Butt and agent Mazhar Majeed, also now serving a jail sentence.

Last month Aamer gave a broadcast interview in Urdu to ex-England captain Michael Atherton where he said former Pakistan skipper Butt had betrayed their friendship by luring him into the scandal.

However, in the ACSU video Aamer, speaking in clear English, made no specific references to other cricketers but instead issued a general warning.

“Prison is a bad place for everyone,” he said. “Don’t make the mistakes which I did. I was stupid I didn’t tell anybody because I didn’t have coverage…If someone comes to you go straight to team management and ICC team.” Aamer said his “life had been ruined “ in a couple of hours as a result of being put under pressure by senior players to deliberately bowl no-balls at Lord’s although he accepted his mistake.

“I always knew this was cheating at cricket but I was under pressure but I accept my mistake,” he added.

“When I was in ICC hearing, I knew I was totally embarrassed. I wanted to tell the truth but I didn’t have courage…When the police put me in handcuffs I was literally crying.” There is no suggestion Aamer’s participation in the ACSU video will lead to a reduction of his ban, which was imposed by an independent disciplinary tribunal.

But it can be seen as part of the “rehabilitation” that outgoing ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has said the bowler should undertake while banned.

“I would prefer that the starting point should not be about whether we (ICC) could reduce the sentence,” Lorgat said last month.

“If Mohammad Aamer stands up and delivers a message of caution about this murky world, people are going to sit up and listen,” the South African added.

“That is one example of rehabilitation.” (AFP)

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Lahore welcomes first foreign side since attacks

LAHORE: Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium opened its gates to a foreign team on Wednesday for the first time since a terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus forced a halt to international cricket in Pakistan.

It was near the Gaddafi Stadium -- Pakistan's cricket headquarters -- that militants opened fire on the visiting Sri Lankans as they made their way to the ground for the third day of the second Test in March 2009.

Eight people were killed and seven touring players and their assistant coach were wounded. No internationals have been played in Pakistan since.

A British Universities side took on a Pakistan Cricket Board Under-19 XI at the Gaddafi on Wednesday, losing the 50-over match by a huge 302-run margin.

While the contest may have been one-sided, Pakistani officials hope the presence of an overseas side will encourage others to follow -- and ultimately lead to a return of international fixtures to the cricket-mad country.

"It's a great development that some foreign players, no matter University players, have played a cricket match at Gaddafi Stadium and it will give them a positive picture about Pakistan," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director Intikhab Alam told AFP.

The attacks meant Pakistan also lost hosting rights for their World Cup matches last year, and the team have been forced to play their "home" matches at neutral venues, mostly in the United Arab Emirates.

The PCB is trying to convince international teams to return and has invited Bangladesh to play a limited-overs series later this month.

Earlier this month the Bangladesh Cricket Board sent a delegation to assess security for their team and said they were awaiting government clearance on the tour.

Alam said when the University players went back to Britain they would tell people about the situation in Pakistan.

"I am sure that when these boys go back home they will tell some positive things about Pakistan and not what is portrayed in the media," Alam said.

On the field the British Universities went down tamely as the PCB XI piled up a mammoth 388-2 in their 50 overs, with Sami Aslam notching an unbeaten 207

and Umar Waheed making 100 not out.

In reply, the Universities were bowled out for a paltry 86 in 27 overs with Brendon McKerchar top-scoring with 24. Usman Qadir and Mohammad Nawaz took four wickets apiece.

The Universities will play a second and final game of their tour here on Friday.

Despite the heavy defeat, McKerchar said he was happy to be playing in Pakistan.

"I have played cricket in many countries but this is my first time in this part of the world and I am delighted at that," he told Pakistan television.

"It's unfortunate what happened in Lahore three years ago, but Pakistani people love cricket and I am sure they will make sure such an incident doesn't take place again because cricket is very important for them."

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Cricket: Strauss, Cook fight back to lift England

COLOMBO: Under-pressure skipper Andrew Strauss and fellow opener Alastair Cook hit gutsy half-centuries as England made a confident reply to Sri Lanka's 275 in the second Test in Colombo on Wednesday.

The left-handers compiled a 122-run partnership as England combated Sri Lanka's pace and spin attack to reach 154-1 by stumps on the second day at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo.

Strauss, under fire for his batting and leadership skills, roared back to form with 61, before he attempted to cut off-spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan and edged a catch to the wicket-keeper in the final session.

It was his best score on England's forgettable Asian sojourn so far this year, in which they were routed 3-0 by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates before losing at Galle in the first Test.

Cook returned unbeaten on 77, but was fortunate to be still there after Lahiru Thirimanne floored a sharp chance at forward short-leg off Rangana Herath when the batsman was on 20.

Jonathan Trott was the other batsman at the crease, on 15, as the tourists trailed by just 121 runs on the first innings with nine wickets in hand.

England's batting finally prospered in a match they must win to level the series and retain their number one ranking. Even a draw will see Strauss' men slip to second spot behind South Africa.

Strauss showed no signs of strain after falling for 26 and 27 in the first Test, which Sri Lanka won by 75 runs to take the lead in the short two-match series.

But the England skipper's dismissal against the run of play left him without a century in 24 innings and just one three-figure knock in his last 49 innings.

Strauss hit four boundaries, his only false shot before his dismissal coming on 23 when he edged Herath, but the ball fell just short of Mahela Jayawardene in the slips.

The openers resisted the temptation to play the dangerous sweep shot till the 39th over, when Strauss swept a wide ball from Suraj Randiv for a single, underlining the captain's growing confidence.

As the batsmen pushed on, Cook was even emboldened to execute a reverse sweep off Herath which raced to the fence to bring up his 14th century partnership with Strauss.

Cook has so far hit seven boundaries, while Trott, who scored a century at Galle, looked solid as he played out the day.

Sri Lanka added 37 runs to their overnight score of 238-6 before they were all out 30 minutes before lunch.

Randiv helped his overnight partner Angelo Mathews add 31 for the seventh wicket before he holed out to Kevin Pietersen at long-on attempting a big shot off off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Swann struck again in his next over when he beat Mathews in the air and had him caught at short mid-wicket. Mathews scored 57 in a four-hour vigil at the crease.

Tim Bresnan had Herath edging a catch to wicket-keeper Matt Prior, before Swann terminated the innings by bowling last man Suranga Lakmal.

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England keep Sri Lanka down to 275

COLOMBO: England began their chase of Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 275 by reaching 11 for no loss at lunch on the second day of the second Test in Colombo on Wednesday.

Andrew Strauss was unbeaten on four and Alastair Cook was on seven, the opening pair having safely negotiated two overs each from the new-ball pair of Suranga Lakmal and Dhammika Prasad.

England, whose 75-run defeat in the first Test in Galle followed a 3-0 rout by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier in the year, need a win to level the series and retain their number one Test ranking.

Strauss' men will slip to second spot behind South Africa otherwise.

Sri Lanka added 37 runs to their overnight score of 238-6 before they were all out 30 minutes before lunch.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann claimed three of the last four wickets to finish with 3-75 from 28.1 overs. Seamer James Anderson ended with the three wickets he took on the opening day.

Suraj Randiv helped his overnight partner Angelo Mathews add 31 for the seventh wicket before he holed out to Kevin Pietersen at long-on attempting a big shot off Swann.

Swann struck again in his next over when he beat Mathews in the air and had him caught at short mid-wicket. Mathews scored 57 in a four-hour vigil at the crease.

Tim Bresnan had Rangana Herath edging a catch to wicket-keeper Matt Prior, before Swann terminated the innings by bowling last man Lakmal.

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PCB's PPL initiative attracts companies

LAHORE: The launching of Pakistan Premier League (PPL) received a boost when four companies expressed interests in the project,

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been working on the proposal to launch an international Twenty20 league in Pakistan since 2007.

Director International PCB, Intikhab Alam told Geo News that 4-5 companies are interested in the PPL and we have invited them for a presentation next week to discuss modalities of the tournament.

'It could be held anytime after the T20 World Cup later this year.'

COO PCB Subhan Ahmed noted that the Board is very serious in organizing the league and working hard to attract huge investment.

Pakistan has been unable to host international cricket since March 2009, when Sri Lanka's was attacked while going towards stadium.

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Proteas captain Smith to miss IPL due to ankle surgery

CAPE TOWN: South Africa's Test captain Graeme Smith will miss the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament that gets underway this week after undergoing ankle surgery on Tuesday.


A Cricket South Africa (CSA) statement said the opening batsman had his operation now to ensure he was fully fit for the tour to England in July.


"My ankle has been troubling me for some time," said Smith who is expected to be out of action for up to 10 weeks.


"I'm very disappointed to be missing out on the IPL this year. I was looking forward to my second season with Pune Warriors." (Reuters)

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Jayawardene rescues Sri Lanka again in 2nd Test

COLOMBO: Skipper Mahela Jayawardene cracked his second century in consecutive matches to pull Sri Lanka out of trouble in the second and final Test against England in Colombo on Tuesday.


Jayawardene followed his match-winning 180 in the first Test in Galle with a classy 105 after seamer James Anderson had reduced the hosts to 30 for three within the first hour at P. Sara Oval.


Thilan Samaraweera (54) added 124 for the fourth wicket with his captain as Sri Lanka recovered to post 238 for six by stumps on the opening day in a remarkable re-run of the Galle Test.


Sri Lanka had slumped to 15-3 in the first four overs of the match at Galle, before Jayawardene and Samaraweera rescued the hosts by putting on a half-century partnership.


A sell-out crowd of 5,000, mostly travelling English fans, applauded warmly when Jayawardene reached his 31st Test century with a single off left-arm spinner Samit Patel after tea.


The 34-year-old struck 11 fours and a six in his eighth hundred against England before he was trapped leg-before by off-spinner Graeme Swann with a sharp, turning delivery.


England, whose 75-run defeat at Galle followed a 3-0 rout by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier in the year, need a win to level the series and retain their number one ranking.


Andrew Strauss' men will slip to second spot behind South Africa if they lose or draw the match.


Jayawardene lost Samaraweera just before tea, leg-before to seamer Tim Bresnan, but there was no respite for the England bowlers who toiled gamely under the hot sun.


Angelo Mathews, returning to the side after missing the first Test with a calf injury, was unbeaten on 41 after adding 62 runs for the fifth wicket with his skipper.


Prasanna Jayawardene was caught behind off Steven Finn for seven, but Suraj Randiv saw out the day on five.


Anderson struck in his third over when he forced Tillakaratne Dilshan to edge a catch to wicket-keeper Matt Prior after the previous two balls had been driven for boundaries.


Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed first ball for the second match in a row when he was snapped up by Strauss in the slips, the England captain taking the catch at second attempt.


Jayawardene once again prevented a hat-trick, as he had done in Galle, and went on to master the England attack on a dry wicket that is expected to crumble in the later stages of the match.


Lahiru Thirimanne padded up to a straight ball from Anderson and was given out leg-before by umpire Bruce Oxenford, a decision upheld by the third umpire after the batsman asked for a review.


The tourists went in with a three-man seam attack, bringing in Bresnan and Finn to partner Anderson with the new ball. Spinner Monty Panesar was dropped, while Stuart Broad has flown home with a calf injury.


Sri Lanka made two changes from the side that won in Galle, as a fit-again Mathews and Dhammika Prasad returned in place of Dinesh Chandimal and Chanaka Welegedara.

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IPL opens with colourful ceremony at Chennai

CHENNAI: The fifth edition of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament has started with a colourful opening ceremony here on Tuesday night.

A galaxy of film stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor, got ball rolling for the IPL event with a glittering opening ceremony which enthralled the audience.

The dazzling ceremony was also graced by American pop star Katy Perry and Bollywood star Salman Khan among other showbiz celebrities.

Pakistan's first sports channel Geo Super showed the ceremony live from Chennai and it will also telecast all the matches of the tournament live

The IPL features world stars playing for nine regional teams and the event will continue for 54 days.

The 76-match tournament from April 4 to May 27 has the nine teams playing each other on a home and away basis before a four-game play-off.

Pakistani players, who are usually a major draw in India, have been kept out of the tournament since the second edition, reportedly due to security fears.

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Jayawardene leads Sri Lanka's fightback

COLOMBO: Skipper Mahela Jayawardene hit an unbeaten 74 as Sri Lanka bounced back after a disastrous start in the second and final Test against England in Colombo on Tuesday.

Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera (54) put on 124 for the fourth wicket after James Anderson had struck early blows to reduce the hosts to 30-3 within the first hour at the P. Sara Oval.

Sri Lanka, electing to bat after winning the toss, recovered to post 155-4 by tea in a remarkable re-run of the start of the first Test in Galle, which the hosts won by 75 runs.

Sri Lanka had slumped to 15-3 in the first four overs of the match at Galle, before Jayawardene and Samaraweera rescued the hosts by putting on a half-century stand.

Jayawardene, who went on to hit a match-winning 180, looked good for another big knock as he went to tea with nine boundaries and a six against his name.

Samaraweera fell just before tea for 54, trapped leg-before by a sharp in-cutter from seamer Tim Bresnan.

Angelo Mathews, who returned to the side after missing the first Test with a calf injury, was unbeaten on one at the break.

England, whose defeat at Galle followed a 3-0 rout by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier in the year, need a win to draw the series and retain their number one ranking.

Andrew Strauss' men will slip to second spot behind South Africa if they lose or draw the match.

Anderson struck in his third over when he forced Tillakaratne Dilshan to edge a catch to wicket-keeper Matt Prior after the previous two balls had been driven for boundaries.

Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed first ball for the second match in a row when he was snapped up by Strauss in the slips, the England captain taking the catch at second attempt.

Lahiru Thirimanne padded up to a straight ball from Anderson and was given out leg-before by umpire Bruce Oxenford, a decision upheld by the third umpire after the batsman asked for a review.

The tourists went in with a three-man seam attack, bringing in Bresnan and Steven Finn to partner Anderson with the new ball. Spinner Monty Panesar was dropped, while Stuart Broad has flown home with a calf injury.

Sri Lanka made two changes from the side that won in Galle, as a fit-again Mathews and Dhammika Prasad returned in place of Dinesh Chandimal and Chanaka Welegedara.

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ICC World Twenty20 tickets go on global sale today

The global sale of tickets for the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Sri Lanka began at 9am GMT this morning with demand expected to be high for the first ICC World Twenty20 to be held in Asia.

A maximum of four tickets can be purchased by each person for the super eights, semi-finals and finals, and a maximum of six tickets per person for the rest of the matches. Online booking of tickets will be available by logging onto www.icc-cricket.com, and buyers must produce a receipt confirming their purchase to redeem their match ticket at the box office. Ticket collection will take place from 1 August 2012.

Tickets represent excellent value with prices starting at as little as US $0.25 for the single group games and the final itself has tickets ranging from only US $2.50 up to just US $45.

Attendance at the ICC Women's World Twenty20 during the group stages in Galle will be free of charge. The women's semi-finals and final will be played on the same day on the same ground as the men's and will be covered by the same ticket.

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Mathews aims for success on home soil

Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews has revealed his desire to help his side win the ICC World Twenty20 2012 later this year.

"This time though the team wants to go all the way and give Sri Lanka fans all around the world something to really cheer. We owe them some silverware for their fantastic support," he said.

A full interview is available below.

How important is it for Sri Lanka cricket to win the ICC World Twenty20 2012?

We've had a good run in recent ICC events and to reach the finals of both the 2007 and 2011 World Cups as well as the 2009 World Twenty20 is a great achievement. This time though the team wants to go all the way and give Sri Lanka fans all around the world something to really cheer. We owe them some silverware for their fantastic support.

How do you rate Sri Lanka's chances of doing well in this tournament?

Well we definitely have lots of work to do over the next few months. However, I think if we can get back playing our best cricket then we can make ourselves difficult to beat, especially given the fact we will have the advantage of home conditions and will be cheered on by local supporters.

What do you see as your role in Sri Lanka's T20 side?

I have several roles but I guess one of the most important is to be a finisher in the middle order down at No 6 and No 7. It's a difficult job with plenty of pressure, but I enjoy the challenge. I also need to chip in with the ball because that helps balance the team. In Sri Lanka conditions that could even mean opening the bowling or bowling at the death.

Who do you think will be the other main contenders to win the event?

There are lots of contenders right now. India and Pakistan will obviously be dangerous in Asian conditions while the likes of Australia, England and South Africa will all come to Sri Lanka with the belief that they can win.

How will the atmosphere for the ICC WT20 differ to that for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011?

The World Cup is generally considered the premier tournament by most Sri Lankans, but we love tournaments and I know people are really excited about hosting the ICC WT20. The passion and energy of our fans will ensure an amazing atmosphere in and outside our stadiums. We love our cricket.

Why did you decide to start supporting the ICC's charitable partner Room to Read?

I was impressed by the great work they are doing and I really believe that improving education and increasing literacy is a critical challenge for us back home in Sri Lanka. After three decades of war we have a wonderful chance to build a peaceful and prosperous future and to achieve this we need to help all children the chance to shine.

Room to Read is receiving US$10 for every person that buys an official travel package to the ICC WT20. What do you think are the main attractions for fans coming to Sri Lanka for the ICC World Twenty20 2012?

Watching cricket in Sri Lanka is great fun. There is a huge passion for the game here and there is plenty of singing and in the stands from start to finish. It’s a unique atmosphere and visitors will love it. Away from the cricket we have some of the most beautiful beaches in Asia as well as fantastic wildlife parks and some amazing heritage sites. Supporters who visit Hambantota might go for a leopard safari in Yala national park while those who visit Kandy will really enjoy the lovely hill-country climate. Victoria golf course near Palakelle Stadium is also spectacular.

What is your favourite place to relax in Sri Lanka?

When there is rare break in our schedule I actually love putting up my feet at home with my family. I love the beaches too and we have great beaches in the east, west, north and south.

And if you had to take any book to relax on holiday with you, what book would you take?

Right now, I read quite a lot of self-help or personal development literature. I find it really useful for my career. I would take a classic called Creative Visualisation by Shakti Gawain, which was first published in 1997 and has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

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Watson, Gambhir and Ingram on the rise in T20I rankings

Australia's Shane Watson and Gautam Gambhir of India have made upward movements in the Reliance ICC T20I Player Rankings which were released on Saturday.

Watson scored 69 and 0 in the two T20Is against the West Indies and has been rewarded with a jump of three places which puts him inside the top 10 in ninth position for the first time in his career.

Gambhir, who was in sparkling form against South Africa before rain ended the match with India being 71-0 in 7.5 overs while chasing 220, has also moved up three places to 14th spot.

While Watson is his country's highest-ranked batsman, one ahead of David Warner, Suresh Raina is India's highest-ranked batsman in seventh position – seven places ahead of Gambhir.

South Africa's Jacques Kallis, who scored 61 against India, has returned in 12th position while his team-mate Colin Ingram has risen 13 places to 36th position after scoring a 59-ball 78.

The batting table is headed by England's Kevin Pietersen who was ICC World Twenty20 2010 Player of the Tournament. Martin Guptill of New Zealand and England's Eoin Morgan are second and third, respectively.

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for T20I bowlers, Watson has gained 11 places and is now in 13th spot after picking up one for 16 and two for 26 against the West Indies in St Lucia and Barbados, respectively.

However, West Indies captain Darren Sammy has slipped three places to 10th position after remaining wicketless in the two T20Is.

Five spinners sit at top of the bowling chart with England's Graeme Swann in number-one position, followed by Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka, Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan, Johan Botha of South Africa and Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.

In the Reliance ICC T20I Player Rankings for all-rounders, Watson has extended his advantage over number-two ranked Shahid Afridi of Pakistan to 92 ratings points.

In the Reliance ICC T20I Championship table, defending ICC World Twenty20 champion England has been holding the number-one position since the rankings system was introduced last year in October.

England leads second-ranked South Africa by seven ratings points while Sri Lanka, the host of ICC World Twenty20 2012, is in third spot. Former ICC World Twenty20 champions India and Pakistan are ranked seventh and fifth, respectively.

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Sri Lanka bat against England in final Test

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat in the second and final Test against England at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Tuesday:

England, trailing 1-0 in the series, need a win to retain their number one position in the Test rankings. A draw or a loss will see them slip to second spot behind South Africa.

The tourists went in with a three-man seam attack, bringing in Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn to partner James Anderson with the new ball. Spinner Monty Panesar was dropped, while Stuart Broad has flown home with a calf injury.

Sri Lanka made two changes from the side that won in Galle, as a fit-again Angelo Mathews and Dhammika Prasad returned in place of Dinesh Chandimal and Chanaka Welegedara.

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Steven Finn, Graeme Swann.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Suranga Lakmal, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad.

Umpires: Asad Rauf (PAK) and Bruce Oxenford (AUS)

TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)

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Tendulkar quits as IPL Mumbai captain

NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday stepped down as Mumbai Indians skipper on the eve of the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying he needed a "break from the responsibility of captaincy".

The batting superstar, who led Mumbai in all of the previous four editions of the IPL, will be replaced by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh as captain in the Twenty20 tournament that starts on Wednesday.

"The Mumbai Indians is more than a team. It is like a family to me. At this point of time, I feel I need a break from the responsibility of captaincy," Tendulkar, who turns 39 this month, said in a statement.

Tendulkar, who smashed an unprecedented 100th international century during the Asia Cup in Dhaka last month, said the new captain would have his "wholehearted support".

"After due consideration, I discussed my intention to hand over the captaincy of the team to Harbhajan Singh," he said.

Tendulkar, who has brushed aside any speculation about his retirement, holds four batting world records -- most runs and centuries in Tests and one-day internationals.

Mumbai, who lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the play-off last year, will clash with defending champions Chennai Super Kings in their opening match in Chennai on Wednesday.

Harbhajan said he was looking forward to leading the team.

"Mumbai Indians is a great team with explosive talent and promising youngsters," said Harbhajan.

"I am committed to do the very best and look forward to leading the team to play to its full potential during the season."

Harbhajan is not new to captaincy, having already led the Mumbai Indians to the Twenty20 Champions League triumph last year.

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British Universities side begins Pakistan tour

LAHORE: A British Universities cricket team arrived in Pakistan on Monday for two one-day games, with their captain stressing the troubled country badly needs international matches to return.

The cricket-mad nation has not hosted an international match since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test in March 2009, killing eight people and injuring seven.

The Universities team will play two 50-over games against a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Under-19 XI in Lahore on Wednesday and Friday, and the tourists' captain Kamal Alam said he hoped the trip would encourage other sides to visit.

"One of the main things of the tour is not just cricket, but more to show that Pakistan really needs cricket because cricket is the most important thing in the country and it keeps everyone going," he said at a press conference.

"It's almost like taking the oxygen out of the country when you don't have international cricket."

Alam said it was hard to judge the situation in Pakistan from media reports.

"There's a lot of high propaganda either way, this is the second tour that we have brought here in the last seven years from the British Universities and we are here as a charity team, and it's also a goodwill gesture between Britain and Pakistan," he said.

PCB director of international cricket Intikhab Alam said he hoped the British team's visit would help improve Pakistan's image.

"We are trying our level best to try to convince people and the national teams that this place is safe, and I'm sure when this Universities team play here and meet people and go back they will have some idea that things are not that bad," said Intikhab Alam, a former Pakistan captain.

The PCB have also invited Bangladesh to play a limited-overs series later this month, though clearance from Dhaka is still pending.

Since the security situation stopped foreign teams touring, Pakistan have played most of their "home" series in the United Arab Emirates, most recently against England in February.

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Star-studded IPL opening ceremony today

NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League faces a test of its popularity as the fifth edition of the money-spinning Twenty20 event gets underway today amid concern about cricket fatigue among viewers.

A galaxy of stars, including Amitabh Bachchan and American pop star Katy Perry, will set the ball rolling for the fifth edition of IPL with a glittering opening ceremony which promises to enthrall the audience this evening.

The dazzling ceremony will also be graced by Bollywood stars Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor and Salman Khan among other celebrities.

Pakistan's first sports channel Geo Super will telecast the ceremony and all the matches live.

The IPL, which began in 2008 as a high-octane mix of glamour, entertainment, rich purses for players and the excitement of slam-bang cricket, has had a difficult ride over the past four years.

It has been hit by infighting, problems with teams, criminal investigations and corruption allegations.

Fresh doubts have been raised after a fall in viewership figures last year and a reported decline in sponsor interest, with the tournament coming soon after the Asia Cup in Bangladesh and India's tour of Australia.

"By the time this one ends, all doubts will be put to rest," IPL chief Rajiv Shukla told AFP. "The excitement is building up nicely. We in the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) are not worried at all."

The IPL, which features world stars playing for rich franchise owners, is being investigated by government agencies for alleged fraud and foreign exchange violations.

Its founder Lalit Modi, who was suspended from the league in 2010, is holed up in London as he faces Indian government and BCCI charges of misappropriation of funds.

Among the 10 IPL teams, Kochi have been thrown out for non-payment of fees, while the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab face arbitration in cases filed by the BCCI.

The owners too are feeling the pinch. Pune, owned by the Sahara group, want their franchise fees of a whopping $370 million reduced. The Rajasthan Royals are in talks to sell a majority stake.

As viewership declined last year, when the event started just after India won the World Cup at home, some sponsors chose to turn their back on what was once considered a safe bet for advertisers.

The Champions League Twenty20, an offshoot of the IPL that involves leading domestic teams from around the world, lost its title sponsors, AirTel, after just one year due to lack of interest among fans.

Former first-class cricketer Shishir Hattangadi, who once worked on the team management of Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians, said the IPL was suffering from a poor long-term development plan.

"It was inevitable," he said. "Team compositions change every year which has confused the loyal fan. There is also the fatigue factor of watching too much cricket."

The 76-match tournament from April 4 to May 27 has the nine teams playing each other on a home and away basis before a four-game play-off.

The International Cricket Council has refused to carve out a window for the IPL in its calendar, so bilateral tours will restrict the top world stars from playing in the entire tournament.

Pakistani players, who are usually a major draw in India, have been kept out of the tournament since the second edition, reportedly due to security fears.

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Fifth IPL looks to put troubles behind it

NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League faces a test of its popularity as the fifth edition of the money-spinning Twenty20 event gets under way this week amid concern about cricket fatigue among viewers.

The IPL, which began in 2008 as a high-octane mix of glamour, entertainment, rich purses for players and the excitement of slam-bang cricket, has had a difficult ride over the past four years.

It has been hit by infighting, problems with teams, criminal investigations and corruption allegations.

Fresh doubts have been raised after a fall in viewership figures last year and a reported decline in sponsor interest, with the tournament coming soon after the Asia Cup in Bangladesh and India's tour of Australia.

"By the time this one ends, all doubts will be put to rest," IPL chief Rajiv Shukla told AFP. "The excitement is building up nicely. We in the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) are not worried at all."

The IPL, which features world stars playing for rich franchise owners, is being investigated by government agencies for alleged fraud and foreign exchange violations.

Its founder Lalit Modi, who was suspended from the league in 2010, is holed up in London as he faces Indian government and BCCI charges of misappropriation of funds.

Among the 10 IPL teams, Kochi have been thrown out for non-payment of fees, while the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab face arbitration in cases filed by the BCCI.

The owners too are feeling the pinch. Pune, owned by the Sahara group, want their franchise fees of a whopping $370 million reduced. The Rajasthan Royals are in talks to sell a majority stake.

As viewership declined last year, when the event started just after India won the World Cup at home, some sponsors chose to turn their back on what was once considered a safe bet for advertisers.

Business newspapers have reported that at least three regular advertisers -- Parle, LG Electronics and Godrej -- have backed out from the IPL this year.

"Advertisers are starting to look at other options," said Alok Bharadwaj of Japanese electronics group Canon, which has decided to cut down its advertising spend in the tournament by 80 percent.

"Each year the rates have gone up by 15-20 percent and the returns are not directly proportionate," Bharadwaj told the Times of India.

The Champions League Twenty20, an offshoot of the IPL that involves leading domestic teams from around the world, lost its title sponsors, AirTel, after just one year due to lack of interest among fans.

Former first-class cricketer Shishir Hattangadi, who once worked on the team management of Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians, said the IPL was suffering from a poor long-term development plan.

"It was inevitable," he said. "Team compositions change every year which has confused the loyal fan. There is also the fatigue factor of watching too much cricket."

The 76-match tournament from April 4 to May 27 has the nine teams playing each other on a home and away basis before a four-game play-off.

The International Cricket Council has refused to carve out a window for the IPL in its calendar, so bilateral tours will restrict the top world stars from playing in the entire tournament.

England's Kevin Pietersen will not be available for more than a month, and leading Australians will be available only after their tour of the West Indies ends on April 27.

Pakistani players, who are usually a major draw in India, have been kept out of the tournament since the second edition, reportedly due to security fears.

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