Cricketing Spot

Test Cricket going to Disappear?

2012-01-01T17:50:00.001+05:00

Former Australian Cricket captain Ricky Ponting made a witty remark. He said "Formerly when we learnt batting we were told that we would have to bat until the bowlers could take the wicket." But the scenario is very different today. The concept that attempts to share with we Ponting is very appropriate in the cricket test. But today we watching and praising the new format of Twenty20 Cricket. If I am correct test cricket nostalgia is now gradually declining. like a real cricket fan, I am very concerned about the future of Test cricket.

Cricket fans who truly understand, cricket, agree with my view that the future of Test cricket is in danger. A real question arises, our mind with this thought will gradually die of test cricket? It can not be denied that the hype recent Twenty20 cricket test cricket has lost its former place. This seems really sad for me as a lover of cricket. Seeing is a new addition always welcome, but that does not mean we should forget our past.

Growing up we saw a lot of great players who have performed well in test cricket. Some of them are still in progress with the new form, but most of them retired. Legendary spinner Warne, Kumble, Murali have already retired. Pace bowler Wasim Akram has Mcgrath Cricket Farewell offer several days earlier. Some of the famous cricketers Sachin as always Kallis continued their efforts as well as other big names like Steve Waugh, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara have retired. Of course, the attraction of test cricket disappeared with them.

If we in our childhood we have been longing for the Ashes series to see India-Pakistan Test series, Sri Lanka and Australia test series etc. But today, even the heavy line are also losing the interest of fans. Many are in my opinion, be a match for today's IPL have more than one call sets agree Ashes test series. It's really heart pain for fans like me.

Modern life has become hectic. People have become faster. A short 20 of the game is perfectly acceptable for them instead of a test match five days long. I speak from my experience that people in droves to watch a game T20 rather than a test match. The media also create an additional hype for the IPL tournament championship and other events.

There are some financial reasons, the Twenty20 matches so popular. Since the T20 games are watched by many people, the organizer has several sponsors. Today, most sponsors prefer, with a limited advertising on cricket matches. Since this game limited to generate more revenue, the board also want this mostly to organize. These forms are limited to the crowds. Therefore, many people flock to him.

Another important point is that it makes it more popular, its entertainment section. The tournament IPL, BCCI is generally translated a great crowd puller. One of the most exciting aspects of this tournament is part of the conversation. Cheerleaders, Bollywood celebrities, programs sponsored parties after the game, so an additional stimulation of the tournament. Twenty20 matches are also a great income opportunity for young players.

But at the same time we must keep in mind that test cricket is an art. The ability of a player really is in this form of cricket evaluated. We must preserve this form. I also liked Twenty20 matches, but honestly, I would never like to see disappear Test cricket. What do you think?

History of Cricket

2011-12-17T00:55:00.004+05:00

The game of cricket is the second most popular game in the world, behind soccer. Cricket seems to have an eventful and colorful, although the exact origins of the game are known. As far back as the 1300s, an indication of the game "Creag" is found. However, it is unclear whether this is the beginnings of today's cricket. The name "cricket" may come from the word "CRIC". CRIC has carried out words for the employees of Shepard's addictive. This may have been the first cricket bat. Cricket in its infancy in England was considered a children's game, not played seriously by adults.

In 1598, there was a written record of a game called "creckett" or "cricket". This is the first mention of the game played today. In 1611, cricket has become a game for adults. As illegal and immoral, two men for the game, instead of going to church were arrested. Further arrests were made that the game gained popularity.

At the end of the English Civil War in 1648, suppressed the new government cricket entertainment that played on Sunday. In these days of cricket was played mainly by the working class and on Sunday was the only way to play. The interest in the sport seemed to diminish. During the year, cricket again popularity as a betting game again. In 1688 the government had gone to the Puritan England and the monarchy was reinstated. Cricket has again funded by the government and some respectability. There were still major problems in the world of cricket though. Sports Betting and rioting marred the game. Around the year 1784, when a London judge Cricket "respectable," although there are still problems with paris.

Finally, in 1788, which were "Laws of Cricket" was born. The laws of the Marylebone Cricket Club were written. Except for minor changes, these laws are still respected in cricket day. One notable change was in 1864 when it was used on the bowling arm the first time legally. Cricket is the only sport today that has laws instead of rules. attract even more seriousness in the late 1700s, cricket was the set of "gentlemen." The Laws of Cricket were used to play in England and the United States. They covered the length of the height, the distance between the fold pitch bowling crease, wicket size and weight ball.

The cricket fields were leveled and maintained in the 1800s. Up to this point, the fields were rough and uneven. South Africa and Australia have started playing cricket seriously during this period. In 1844 the first international cricket match was in the U.S. state of New York, United States played. This game was played between the U.S. and Canada. Later, in 1877, England went to Australia for the first international test match. The game was played in Melbourne, Australia. The Australians won the match goes to 45th

A few years later, in 1882, England beat Australia again. It was a close game with Australia won by 8 runs. This prompted an English writer to publish an obituary for English cricket. The obituary, he declared "dead". He went on to say that the body is cremated and the ashes would be spread across Australia. The next summer England played another series against Australia. This was stated by the press as an attempt English called "recover the ashes." A small trophy was filled with ash and the British captain. To date, all test matches between England and Australia are to be played "for the ashes."

In 1900 cricket was his first appearance, and only at the Olympic Games. The match was between France and Great Britain. Most French players came from the British Embassy in France, so most of the time the British players have played the game. England won the game and the gold medal. Today there is a renewed interest in cricket is a game Olympics.

The ICC was founded in 1909. The Imperial Cricket Conference was formed to govern the laws of cricket. The ICC is now known as International Cricket Conference. The establishment of the ICC were England, South Africa and Australia.

The years 1932 and 1933 saw the laws of cricket to be tightened. The English players threw the ball short and sharp Australian batting in an attempt to intimidate. England won the series, but still bad feelings between Australian and English players, because this series exist.

Play in the 1960s, some English teams began a shortened version of cricket, a game that allows one day end. Until that time, the average cricket match could be up to five days. Some fans and players, this shortened form of cricket is an insult to the game, so it was not widely accepted by the fans of traditional cricket. The first match one-day international was played in Melbourne, Australia in 1971. This game prompted the ICC to "World Cup Cricket" to play every four years to organize. These games are strictly one-day matches.

In 1981 the ICC banned underarm bowling after a match between New Zealand and Australia. Australian captain Greg Chappell ordered his brother Trevor to use the technique of bowling underarm to stop New Zealand to win a game. Greg actions angered prompted many in the cricketing community change.

Today cricket remains beloved sport. Some young men in Australia and England grow up hoping to one day "play in the ashes." It is a sport that is steeped in tradition and its loyal fans. Although the history of cricket has sometimes been rocky, it is a solid sports around for years to come.

Wicket Keeping Tips

2011-11-02T12:29:00.000+05:00

Wicket keeper is one of the essential and difficult part of a cricket. He is responsible for the drummer and stumping catches. This requires attention and athleticism with concentration. Moreover, observe and study the site of master a few simple adjustments can step in your performance.

Position
Best position of Wicket Keeper depend on bowler. When he was a spin bowler or slow bowler is standing behind the stumps - so make sure that no part of the body is in front of the line. Want to medium-fast bowler, you can step back a little. Crouch with left foot lined up with the middle stump and your weight on the balls of your feet. Begin to rise, how do measure the bounce of the ball, but do not move until it has bounced. This can be a high degree of self-control and practice. As soon as the ball bounces, you can align with it.

Catch
Keep your arms down as the ball comes to you so you can avoid falling back to them when they jump. Put your hands under it. If you are taking things at the thoracic level or below, must show the finger down. If it is higher than that, you should check with your hand palm up. Of course, some deliveries are not so simple and require diving catch. cricket secrets suggests that these catches with both hands, then roll or shake it loose to avoid or try to hurt yourself or end up with arms outstretched.

Stump
Hitting the wickets when the batsman left the crease is called Stmping. You probably will not become skills, without much practice. Ask someone to throw the ball to you at the stem, both legs on the side and off-site. Take a little space and takes a back seat a few. You can also someone standing in the batter and the pole have the ball, how to do it so that you catch and respond to the amount used of possible scenarios. Once you hit the ball, move your weight on the stumps and with his hands hard and fast to break the wickets.

Mental Edge
Mental conditioning may be the most difficult part of wicket keeping. take deep breath when the ball deliver, and reduce stress and ready to focus on the next delivery. Watch the ball leave the melon in his hand. If you want to dive, aim your head so you can keep your eyes on the ball. With experience, your brain will start to take over and help you unconsciously directed in the right position to get the catch.

Shoaib Akhtar Book Receives Strong Comments

2011-10-04T01:10:00.001+05:00

Shoaib Akhtar Biography receives feedback Fort Wasim Akram, Shahrukh, PCB, Shoaib Malik, Tauqeer Zia, BCCI and many others. Wasim Akram has described as a movement of cheap publicity by Shoaib Akhtar. He also said that Shoaib had a "problem" when he was an active and remains just that, even in retirement. Wasim Akram dismissed allegations Akhtar to Sachin Tendulkar has been well maintained with the pace in the Faisalabad Test in 2006 than by Akhtar, in his book "controversially Yours'.

"I remember Sachin innings when he was 16 and on tour in Pakistan. Sialkot was the fourth test trial Sachin. He made his debut in this series. There was much grass on the field. Waqar and I drove very fast. Waqar, I think, was 19 and Sachin was 16. Waqar hit him (Sachin) on the helmet just under the chin, and he was injured. But it has a cast, and he returned one 50 guests. When a boy of 16 years had do not worry, I do not think that one of the top drummers in the world afraid of any melons, "said Akram.

"Maybe he could play on the back foot on the delivery block, or perhaps he could only see how he made. But I do not think a player like Sachin fear can before each bowler. It (Shoaib) can do anything, a book on sell, to write, but it does not affect me or Sachin, "he said. Cricketingspot Wasim agrees completely with them. Although we critically analyze the performance of Tendulkar and wrote about his age and not the best finisher in the game, we're on it with Wasim. Tendulkar is a great drummer and drummers of any level by any bowler can be frightening, Ganguly included (pun intended).

Akhtar alleged that Akram was responsible for the destruction of his career, he said no, but Shoaib himself was responsible for destroying his career. "He himself is responsible for the destruction of his career. No one helped him (to destroy his career)." Said the king of swing.

"It is useless to me about his book I have not read his book but his idea is good if the books are then sold him for good luck...," Akram, adding: "They (media) will ensure that His book is a bestseller. "

Shahrukh Khan, Bollywood superstar responded to the allegations made by Akhtar in a similar manner. He said that there is so much truth in the assertion that we Akhtar (Shahrukh and companies) are scammers, because it is this fear Sachin (Akhtar) Bowling.

Rajiv Shukla, a senior BCCI demanded an apology from Shoaib Akhtar to make, such comments against Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Akhtar was noticed that Sachin and Dravid lacked the ability to end the game early in their careers. It seems unnecessary for the BCCI to jump into the swamp to ignore, simply means that Shoaib is just trying to sell his book.

The former chairman of PCB Tauqeer Zia Akhtar also denied claims that Zia had helped Akhtar Wasim Akram tried to destroy his career and threatened to leave if the team had been selected Akhtar. Zia said that nothing like that happened. Shoaib Malik responded to allegations that Akhtar Malik was incompetent captain and said the allegations Akhtar was a joke.

In the meantime there were some protests in India against the Paceman and function of opening the book launch was canceled without notice for any reason. Shoaib has another public appearance on Monday. Let's see how it goes, but one thing is certain, there are many people out there who want to read his book.

Also, my blog has a sharp increase of visitors to this particular story and the search engines are seen flooded with inquiries about his book and who said what in response. He seems to have reached its destination, it can only prove to be a bestseller. The slow pitch usually works in the middle of the bouncer, and New York. Let's see what he does next.

Aleem Dar wins the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year 2011

2011-09-14T23:34:00.004+05:00

Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar won the David Shepherd Trophy for 3rd time after being named ICC Umpire of the Year at the ICC Awards in London. Dar, age 43, was voted to this award by the 10 Full Member captains as well as the eight-man Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, based on his decision statistics and officiating skills over the last 12 months. It is the third year in a row that he has received the ICC award which was renamed last year after the late England umpire David Shepherd.

Aleem Dar is only in last World Cup, which has not been confirmed by a single decision, if the check. Because of its wonderful choices, he also received in relation to the supervision of the World Cup final played between India and Sri Lanka.

Aleem Dar Sarwer profile:

Aleem Sarwar Salaam (born June 6, 1968 in Jhang, Punjab), Pakistan Cricket Domestic demand for Allied Bank, Gujranwala Cricket Association, Lahore, and Railways (Pakistan) played as a right-handed batsmen and legbreak bowler.He Islamia College, Lahore, was brought up.

Aleem Dar is 42 years for the use UDRS in international cricket because with what the arbitrator has eased. A few days ago, during an interview with a Pakistani newspaper, Aleem, said:
"Just a bad decision to change the result, I am in favor of the use of technology UDSR."

He said that once in a seminar, a lecture, I told my flesh, when he thought no UDRS, when doubts about a decision and give the advantage drummer because the melon can take back the wicket but batsman have only one chance. He further stated that all games are in the use of technology to be the same.

Career:

Aleem Dar is best known as an arbitrator in international cricket. He made his international debut in an ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Gujranwala 16th February 2000. In 2002 he became a member of the ICC International Panel of Arbitrators. He impressed the ICC said its decision and was selected to the ICC Cricket World Cup in early 2003, where he was one of the most powerful official referee. The high was again rewarded when he was appointed to take his first test match in October 2003, the game between England and Bangladesh in Dhaka. Over the next six months, he was appointed to take in more Test matches again, and that the neutral arbitrator in ODI matches outside Pakistan

Asif blames PCB about his spot-fixing ban

2011-09-02T21:24:00.002+05:00

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif banned, believes that PCBs are not doing enough to save him and two other suspended players - Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir - sent for punishment to identify the determination by the ICC against Corruption Tribunal.
"I do not blame the PCB for what happened, but they are certainly, and even the government could do more to save us from such a long ban," said Asif on TV.

"If the Council wanted, they could be involved in the scandal broke out setting up and processed things struck again. They should be sent home immediately and then tried to take us to himself rather than the hand of the ICC" said Asif.

He also noted that the Pakistani government to play a proactive dealing with the question.

"I know there are rules and other things that could be used by the government to take us back to Pakistan and then we only have music at home instead of to thank you for the Arbitration CCI left, "he said.
While the show was Asif, 28, found with 106 doors in 23 tests, he suggested should not have been punished.

The three Pakistani players were for a minimum of five years banned by ICC arbitration last February on charges of setting up in the fourth Test against England at Lord's last year.

The ICC suspended the trio a few days after the defunct "World News" tabloid broke the story on the trio who helped with their Pakistani agents Mazhar problem solving in the series Majeed.

Asif admitted he made some mistakes, but felt five years was locked too high a price to pay.

"I can not say more about it because I have appealed against the ban in October and I am satisfied that the complaint be dismissed and that I can play cricket," he said.

Asif and his two other teammates are suddenly appear in a court judge in London on charges of corruption and fraud brought against them by the Crown in the UK as a fall in the region are facing match-fixing scandal.

Asif said he had not expected to play for Pakistan again abandoned.

"I do not know, but things can change very quickly and I think in October it will be important to me. But I am also contributing to the training and practice, because the chance I could return to learn about cricket internationally, "he said.

Sent to various controversies that have followed, including the detention of 19 days in Dubai airport for possession of a controlled substance, said Asif had taken drugs.

"I had a herbal medicine with me, this percentage is included opium and put me in trouble, but now I can go to Dubai because there is no bar for me to travel there," he said.

The lanky pace bowler conceded that not all able to play cricket was a punishment for him.

"Because my goal in life is cricket and not be able to play the game very punishing the act," he said.

England whitewash complete against India

2011-08-23T13:25:00.002+05:00

England sealed a 4-0 defeat in India series with an innings and eight run victory at The Oval yesterday as Sachin Tendulkar fell just before a historic 100th international match hundred.

India need 291 to short the bat houses still frustrated England for a quarter-wicket partnership of 144 between Tendulkar, who made 91, and Amit Mishra.

But when Mishra was out for a test-best 84, it was the beginning of a collapse of the seven gates of 21 tracks on the way to 283 as all the tourists to play a second round defeat right.

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Off-spinner Graeme Swann, with a finite slope, in turn, was presented, most of the damage with six for 106 for the pleasure of the majority of the 23 500 sold-out crowd.

Was the first time, England is a sweeping series of four home games since a 4-0 whitewash of the West Indies in 2004.

''We had to work very hard for her,''said the England captain Andrew Strauss BBC radio test match special.

''If you force the follow-up, you're still requires a lot of bowlers, especially on a door stop plate. You put it on. For India on a bowl of 300 and 283 on the door is quite a feat. "

Swann was among five or more doors in a test rounds for the 11th and the first time since high spirits of his five for 62 against Pakistan last year to the Lord.

''It was so long in coming,''said Swann. "I never thought I could get a new one."

India, despite three hundred Rahul Dravid in the series, written in total rarely compete in four tries and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, said:''The problem was that we did not score more than 300 times in the series.

''We tried our best, but we do not have much time together before the series, because players from the West Indies. "

India again on the fifth and final day at 3-129, still 162 runs shy declared first innings of England 6-591, with man-of-the-match, Ian Bell the best Test-235 Kevin Pietersen and 175th

Tendulkar was 25 not out and Mishra not out of eight.

England replaced India at the top of the table in the ICC Test Championship with an innings and 242 run victory at Edgbaston last time, suffered a wicketless morning.

But Tendulkar, whose previous best score in this series was 56 in the second test at Trent Bridge, should be 70 as Alastair Cook fell short leg to take a bat-pad by Swann.

There was also frustration for England and Swann, when Tendulkar was dropped by wicketkeeper Matt, before the 85th

Swann, a breakthrough in Mishra plays for the twist that never came, was rolled slightly exceeded its previous best-50 test against Bangladesh in Chittagong last year.

It was another good effort with the bat Mishra, the 43 first innings of 300 in India with man-of-the-series of Dravid 146 not out, after taking no doors is a very 170 expensive with his leg-spinners.

Tendulkar seemed ready, completed his ton tonne.

But only nine of 38 years was Tim Bresnan IPN to closing.

Australian referee Rod Tucker took his time before raising his finger, with repetition shows the ball just clipped the top of the stump have leg.

Tendulkar departed to a standing ovation after his best result of the series.

He hit about four hours, 172 balls with 11 fours before.

Wickets then fell LBW to Suresh Raina Swann completed a pair of 42 balls, before Dhoni led loosely Stuart Broad, armed with the new ball and was caught by Swann in the pages of the three.

Man-of-series-Large, England with 25 doors and 182 runs and had RP Singh caught behind a duck.

Gautam Gambhir Swann away, stuck in the throat, then the game ended with bowling last man Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

Test Cricket Championship

2011-08-23T12:57:00.000+05:00

The message India has once again canceled a scheduled tour of Pakistan, has struck another blow against bold ICC Test Championship. After all the political disputes over Zimbabwe and Kenya in the last World Cup, the news events in the world cricket calendar continues to disrupt is not a real surprise.

With Australia and New Zealand with Test canceled visits in the last 18 months, and Pakistan now play home series to Sharjah, rarely, even during apartheid rebels and visits by players boycotted may such an important political event in cricket took a toll on such a short time.

Perhaps the saddest thing about it is required to cricket "s, and the championship are probably not covered by its own merits, is seems, but by external events. And it was the brilliant idea that was supposed to ensure the future of Test Cricket in an arena increasingly dominated by the demand for one-day internationals.

The five-year cycle of all nations play against each other for a true guide, where each team is compared to all others and the firmest evidence yet that are the real masters of supply. Only through this initiative, so goes the theory, could the world community with a passion for more, the purest form of the game and the depressing trend of stages of increasingly empty in South Africa, New New Zealand to be inspired and honest, just about everywhere else bar England and Australia, be reversed. There may be no fault on the subject and no doubt about the need for concern in this regard.

There was another option, of course. A test of the World Cup, the model of the prestigious event, which sparked the revolution of a day in 70 years. But it was commonly believed to be too impractical, too slow. How to deal with in the past, the problem can be drawn? How can we be sure that the best team would be crowned champion? And n 'it just devalue the rest of the cricket test? Well, innovation is not without its own problems, because the league was quick to demonstrate.

In addition to the problems of war and politics, the championship came with some built-in error on his part. Perhaps the main one is its length. Could be a contest on a five-year cycle stretched to reach any level of continuing tensions? It lacks a native resolution, the excitement of a close run-up to the end of the season could never be achieved if the title could be all but sealed with a year are still ongoing. And wait for the next opportunity for a close finish, even half a decade now. The best team would surely win the title, yes, but that in itself is not such thing as a stigma? The balance of power is slow to move in the cricket test. West Indies were at the top of the tree for 15 years, Australia have been for 10. In international competition weaker sides can not go out and buy a winning team, they have to themselves, which takes time to grow.

All this means the beginning of each five-year cycle, the paris are already extinct. We knew from the start would be the first world champion Australia, England demolition sites are among the persecutors, as Bangladesh and Zimbabwe would be rooted on the bottom. All leagues have time predictability, but no, the last five years, no, the fans have to wait ten years said, is perhaps a surprising face appear as a new champion. This seems unlikely to inspire anyone. And it's no surprise the game "s hear criticism, cricket has found a way to take five years to reach the obvious.

A Cup tournament has its problems, particularly those times. Any type of group draw preliminary step was too long and risk of overdose, the public, and the presentation of huge logistical problems. It remains a KO as the only realistic choice.

The other big problem is the draw. How do you deal with games based in a knockout tournament? This could be quite a problem on the flat land like the sub-continent, but overall it's probably not such a problem because it could well have been. Thus, preference is positive, swashbuckling cricket between the current generation of stars test, which probably extends to its lowest level in 100 years. The ICC has also its availability to the next big catch, the weather, for the time lost to be shown at the beginning or the end of the next day, which worked to the advantage of the UK 's in Sri Lanka Old Trafford has done this year to deal. And if a World Cup race at stake, it would be possible to keep the sixth days lost for making up time or can press a captain of a probable victory.

Of course, there will always be cases where the lack of these steps, but as long as at least some of cricket was played (the first two sets, for example), it would be possible for Test Cricket, which Duckworth Lewis and for this one-day match. It is important to reward positive play cricket, so that even in games, probably a draw, both sides were forced to attack with bat and ball. And here, fresh on the back of my dinner napkin, that's my suggestion for that. A simple equation:

Success rate of bowling (overs per wicket) by the success rate at bat (by more passages) divided. The lowest score wins.

Of course this is just the basic idea, better than my own mind about the ideal formula can be adjusted. But the biggest noise is rewarded with more side batting, scores faster, the side bowling is more gratifying is the door faster. For each side batters he suffered a collapse in mid-sleeves and feels the need to consolidate, it is the compromise for their stick so that slowed the rate of the bowling team the next. In this way, the game balance between defense and attack, will be maintained, but in the end the spoils go to the page that the most positive cricket played. And with statistics changing, viewers would be a quick and easy, the ebb and flow of the game followed (more immediate response to all these messages "So, who the won then?" Questions).

There is never a way absolutely right to an impasse in the knockout competition rules, but this seems as good as cricket is likely to find pages and through the promotion of positive play cricket in the first place, is the number of times he used probably, hopefully be reduced. Anyway, it would certainly not be the most often cited as Duckworth-Lewis comes into play for the one-dayers.

One final point remains. If the dedication of a World Cup test inevitably devalue the rest of the cricket test? Well, who knows. But surely this could only occur if the competition has proved to be an even bigger success than imagined the organizers. If we are "back in this way, you might as well say that England should stop playing in Australia because they devalue all other series are in England. If the test is really a game like risk, it should certainly seek instead to release the poor to avoid the potential stresses.

Why, after all, the situation arose, where Test cricket is in the battle for the public against a version of the game, seen as more glamorous, more excitement? The phenomenon of the day arose almost overnight, from the festival atmosphere of the world championship first. It was a short step to the World Series in the same packer's and today's round carousel dayers in a rule. The love affair with the Indian game of a day began with his surprise victory at the World Championships in 1983. No matter the sport, without a world championship of love. It "s the scarcity value, ambience birthday, the prospect of seeing the world" best place to another s, the degree of uncertainty, as, perhaps, accidents preferred for the oppressed. The best team doesn "t always win, but that makes this even more interesting.

There is nothing wrong with confirming the idea of a pin to score the championship leader in the process of cricket "s playing nations test, but they tell us little that we don 'already know and are therefore unlikely that the imagination of the non-aficionado Funke, tempting him the turnstiles at Port Elizabeth or Mohali. The idea to try the test program looks more and more in a tight schedule for five years in a world squeeze uncertain imperfect. But it remains to be seen if the game "s authorities to recognize this in the near future and an overview of the possibilities of an alternative that could give the world of cricket to test a much-needed shot in the arm.

Cricket Videos - Drop Catches

2011-08-04T01:31:00.001+05:00

Mike Hussey Dropped Catch**FUNNY**

Easiest catch... dropped - 2011 ICC Word Cup

Dropped Catch

Kamran Akmal Drop Catches against Newzeland.

Funniest Cricket Dropped Catch Ever

Two Thousand Test Matches in Cricket History

2011-07-21T12:43:00.001+05:00

A five-day competition where neither side can win often appear Test cricket contact with the rest of the 21st century begins the series of life between England and India today in his second game of the 2000 marks the will of God.

And with a sold-out home "Cricket", which seems very Sachin Tendulkar of India for the first player than a hundred international hundreds, there is life in the old dog yet hope to become Score.

Certainly, no one designing a sports format would come today with something like the cricket test.

But its extent, and the unique ability associated with the change in luck - this month marks the 30th anniversary of the remarkable victory of England, after, against Australia at Headingley - he can say the most memorable moments as a day Twenty20 formats and create.

Beginning with a match between Australia and England at Melbourne in 1877, it took some time to test cricket apart as more important than their own first class corresponds to old rivals South Africa and see, its global appeal in these early years was strictly limited.

There were also tests for a large part of their history, relatively rare events with 803 hits in the first hundred years of play compared to 1197 in 34 years.

He rarely an age since its inception as a cricket test has not been covered many crises threatened his life last year with scandal of place with players from Pakistan in England was the latest example.

Could it be diplomatic and sports, has ramifications, including the Bodyline series of 1929-1930, when England Harold Larwood and Bill Voce Quicks rolled legside a field packed in an offer to the phenomenal performance of the score Australian great Don Bradman stop.

But until then, had the important decision was to broaden the horizon of test cricket, even with two Imperial Cricket Conference in 1926 Lord agreed to exchange visits to England with the West Indies, New Zealand and India, cricket is open to African-Caribbean and Asian influences were.

A series of increasingly sterile Anglo-Australian contest left in the 1950s and 1960s, a lot of fear to a future Testkricket dynamic side of the West Indies during the Tour's "Tied Test" from 1960 to 1961 showed there is another way to play the game.

Even so, one day cricket migrated to the international level, and soon proved a commercial success.

Recently, the introduction of the Twenty20 impertinent, return migration from the county on the world stage, has opened a new public.

And the creation of the League Twenty20 Indian Prime Minister, a vast wealth of new players were available, without having first established their status in the arena test.

But as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said Thursday: "Test cricket is the pinnacle of the form of play

"It is our connection to the origins of the game, it is what defines the size and it is the players as the yardstick by which they want sorted recognized and commemorated.

"History has proven that no other form of gambling to create memorable and meaningful moments that can Test cricket."

This does not mean she does not face major challenges. Crowds outside England and Australia, are often poor and can leave the devices themselves overwhelmed by the sheer frequency of the most fervent fan feeling.

Day / night test, often as a way to regain public announcement to remain on the drawing board and if the championship of the ICC proposed test, but to be a way provided more context for the individual series in the bill that encourages the public's imagination, remains to be seen.

But unless a critical mass within the sport believe Test cricket live up to its reputation as the ultimate challenge - and can convince enough people to cross the border, to provide financial support - is it coming to a time.

History of County Cricket and Name of County Cricket Teams

2011-07-14T20:37:00.001+05:00

County cricket in England are top quality cricket matches that are played among the many counties of England, except for Glamorgan, a Welsh county.

History of County Cricket

County cricket in England is far from the year take place before the 1890s, as the unofficial tournaments. The first meeting was approved as an official language in 1890 and was attended by county, as Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Sussex and Yorkshire. Somerset joined the battle in 1891. Soon the competition was more difficult with the participation of teams like Derbyshire, Essex, Hampshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire.

County teams

Eighteen teams in the County Championship currently participate in the county. The teams are divided into the first division and second division. The last two teams in the premier league are relegated to the second division, while the top two teams from second division to find a passage in the first division teams.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club,

Derbyshire County Cricket Club,

Durham County Cricket Club,

Essex County Cricket Club,

Glamorgan County Cricket Club,

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club,

Hampshire County Cricket Club,

Lancashire County Cricket Club,

Leicestershire County Cricket Club,

Worcestershire County Cricket Club,

Kent County Cricket Club,

Middlesex County Cricket Club,

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club,

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club,

Somerset County Cricket Club,

Surrey County Cricket Club,

Sussex County Cricket Club,

Warwickshire County Cricket Club,

Yorkshire has won the maximum number of County championship since 1890 with 30 wins.

Politics free Cricket

2011-07-02T10:55:00.002+05:00

Cricket's governing body banned cricket countries from appointing politicians to national cricket boards, vowing to free the sport from undue government influence.

The International Cricket Council told a media conference in Hong Kong that it had made the decision to uphold "the important principle of free elections and the independence" of the sport.

"It was agreed that all member boards must implement the provisions before annual conference June 2012 and a further 12 months -- to June 2013 -- would be allowed before any sanctions be considered," the ICC said in a statement issued in Hong Kong.

The reform, which allows the ICC to suspend a member country in the event of government interference in the running of a national cricket board, will be hugely controversial in Pakistan, where the president is the cricket board's patron. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will also be hit by the change.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could not immediately be reached for comment.

Chairman Ijaz Butt has been criticised by former players, politicians and media for being a political appointee of the ruling Pakistan People's Party.

The PCB has already sent a legal notice to the ICC on the amendment and has threatened legal action if the constitution is changed.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the ICC's full council after four days of talks between the chief executives' committee and executive board at glitzy hotels in downtown Hong Kong.

"This is a significant step towards achieving best practice and together with the independent governance review, I am excited by the commitment of the ICC to introduce best possible corporate governance," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.

Source: The News

Cricket Superstitions

2011-06-01T23:49:00.000+05:00

"If a black cat crosses your path, you're out of luck." Who said that, where and when and why, nobody knows. In India, there is also a by-product of the above superstition that you take a few steps back to do if a cat crosses your path. When I was a student, was one of my closest friends in his bicycle when he saw a cat cross his path. It took a few steps backwards when braking suddenly roll and hit the wheel to the rear and a car from behind him. He was hurt.
It was probably an exception. We all follow implicitly or explicitly, some superstitions here and there. We all need what we call the confidence of success in this highly competitive world. To strengthen our confidence, we tend to do different things in our thought process variable. Today the sport as a profession has taken. All sports and was subjected to competition from a very high order. Cricket is no exception.

As an ardent cricket lover, it amuses me to the superstitions of the cricketers. If you're a cricket fan, you will certainly appreciate the superstition about your favorite players. I quote below some superstitions about some of the cricketers, I know:

1) The cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar with his left pad.

2) Krishnamachari Srikkanth will be used to observe the sun, always wear the left block first, and always walk on the right side of her partner while he was at bat.

3) Michael Clarke of Australia to listen to loud music in front of the stick.

4) Sunil Gavaskar always used his stick, before his right foot in position with respect to land.

5 use) Sourav Ganguly to the photo of his guru in his pocket while running an eyelid.

6) Steve Waugh with a red handkerchief in his left pocket, which was given to him by his deceased grandfather.

7) Phil Simmons of the West Indies a cross attached to her sweater.

8) Mahela Jayawardhena kisses his bat during batting.

9) Roshan Mahanama mantra used to collect and the tip of his bat handle kiss before every ball.

10), Jonty Rhodes in South Africa is clean and tidy to keep all padded.

11) Craig Evans to book more use of his left hand before the law.

12) Grant Flower and Mark Dekker going to stick together, usually we used to say to each other "I hope that you will hit on the head," for which the answer was: "you too".

13) During the 10 gates of Anil Kumble couriers in New Delhi against Pakistan taken to give Sachin Tendulkar for Kumble jersey and cap of the referee before it in a bowl and use to take over Kumble counter.

14) Mohammad Azharruddin used to wear a tabe in the neck and circling the head twice before Starik.

15) Mahender Amarnath used a red scarf, who while responding.

16) Sir Geoffrey Boycott used to be alone in his dressing room to give a deep thought to the questions before the floor.

17) Imran Khan was wearing a big T-shirt Tiger in the final of the World Cup in 1992 purely part of a superstition.

18), Sanath Jayasuria research something in his bag, while an eyelid.

19) Rahul Dravid, the wall of Indian cricket is to be very careful while putting his right foot on the ground.

20) Indian Cricket Reetinder Sodhi very explicit and Song "Japji sahibji" before a game.

21) Nikhil Chopra likes the color yellow or black in the costume in which he bats.

22) batting sensation Yuvraj Singh believes that the scarf he wears his luck changed at bat.

23), Neil McKenzie, South Africa saw its changing fortunes by resorting to strange things. He used to the seats of toilets, before announcing the end to the locker room. Not only does he know that it meets the bat on the ceiling and then tape the bat in the dressing room ceiling before each inning.

24) use Hemu Adhikari, the sunset coming in the first bat. Later justified the practice because it helps them to adapt to light over the field.

25) The great England cricketer Sir Leonard Hutton always use to separate a part of the five shillings, making him by a friend of his grandfather with a board, never heard of him.

26) Bill Edrich and Sir Jack Hobbs used to put on the carpet first left.

27) John James Warr of England had different ideas, if necessarily to take a wicket. He used to run the house, then pats her stomach has presented his team with a koala.

28) Huge Tayfield South Africa for use in its embrace of the Springbok cap when he has the chance to get a gate.

29) Denis Compton of England used to wear a four-leaf clover money on him.

30) Sri Lankan pace bowler Chaminda Vass stars walk back to the top dead center before delivery of the first ball, we see a break to cross as a devout Christian.

I feel the player numbered Cricket superstitious enough to believe us with pleasure, how you were raised by something unique with these people is restored. In countries such as India and Pakistan, once the cricket fever obsolete, even paracetamol is ineffective.

We all know that in a sport, the best team wins, who plays better that day. As a cricketer, why hardcore fans of Cricket basic fear of doing something funny to make her passion for a win for their country? You know, not that the great Indian cinema Amitabh Bachchan good start to lose live streaming of cricket matches a logical basis and without his team? Sachin Tendulkar's family had a superstition that whenever they see him play live will always Tendulkar early. People want to special things during a cricket match just a victory for her team. To a few times:

1) at home, temple or mosque please.

2) the wearing of specific colors for good luck.

3) Do not change sitting positions in difficult situations.

4) during the current course of the game.

5) Puja / Prasad God for the victory is promised.

6) The fans would prefer their television on a certain spot under VASTHU Shastra.

7 talk) not work if the drop doors.
But faith and cricket, to add the flavor of the game. The game is enhanced with additions of superstition. Because we all like to have fun out of it. The game is more fun with more and more cricketers superstitious.

Shahdi Afridi Announced Retirement

2011-06-01T22:39:00.000+05:00

Shahid Khan Afridi has announced retirement from international cricket. Afridi told that he could no longer perform for a cricket board that did not respect its senior players.

"I have decided to retire from international cricket because I am not in a mental frame of mind to continue playing under this board," the 31-year-old said.

Afridi, who retired from tests last year but continued to lead the team in limited-over cricket, was removed as one-day skipper earlier this month by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

His replacement, Misbah-ul-Haq, subsequently led the team to a 2-0 series win in Ireland.

After returning from this year's 3-2 one-day series victory in West Indies, Afridi complained of interference in his work.

The hard-hitting batsman and leg-spin bowler told that there were "disgraceful" people in the board who could not tolerate outspoken people like him.

"I can't work with such people. To me self-respect is more important than anything else and this board has no respect for me," Afridi said.

Shahid Afridi added that during his spell as one-day captain he was not consulted over squad selection and did not know until the last minute if he would be retained as skipper.

"There was no respect shown to me although I picked up a ragged and scandal-hit team and built it up into a fighting unit. We reached the 50-over World Cup semi-finals (this year) and the reward they gave me was the sack," Shahid said.

"They sacked me without telling me. No one bothered to even speak to me.

"There is a particular lobby of people ... who don't want me in the team perhaps because I don't fit into their scheme of things. They have poisoned the chairman (Ijaz Butt) against me."

Cricket Glossary

2011-05-02T13:09:00.000+05:00

Bails:

Two-clip or small cylinders at the top of three vertical pegs or stumps cleared the set is called the wicket.

No Ball:
Sounds like a contradiction in terms? The referee signals a ball (pitch) from outside the borders of the correct position Bowling threw (the popping crease). It siganl by his outstretched arm sideways.

Batsman:
The batter is the player swinging the long, flat, laminated bat willow.

Bowler:
The melon is the player rolls the red leather ball on the batsman.

Bowling maiden over:
Cricketers happened all the time, lucky chap. Do not refer to a wonderful effect on mate, but running six bowling balls without conceding a goal.

Box:
A protective batting worn to protect the Ineffable.

Chinaman:
Not really Oriental. This is one leg of a left-hander drilling.

Cow Corner:
This is the term for the cricket fielder in "pull". It is there to catch it. In the early days of cricket has indicated that the fielder never seen (to see what he is walking) as often as he looked up to see the ball in the air.

Fine Leg:
A fine leg, long or short, is a field position.

Full Toss:
Describes a ball not hit the ground, not before it reaches the batsman.

Hat Trick:
Means the bowler with three wickets taken (dismissed three batsmen) with successive balls. Shows rare skills and several years ago in the bowler has delivered an excellent hat.

Howzat, or Hows That?
Not all requests from the melon and / or Fielder on the health of the drummer, but a question of the referee (usually aggressive), whether or not the output mixer is needed.

It went Straight through him:
Not really - the speed and / or the angle of the ball off the pitch makes the ball pass between the bat and ribs drummer.

Knock Up:
but different connotations in cricket it has heating means in a practical (better known as known as networks) before the game.

Leg Break:
Not an injury, but only one ball thrown so that when you press on the ground, moving the leg in the off position of a right-handed drummer from a right-hander.

Leg Slip:
A position of commissioning, it is a slip, but to the left of the wicket.

Long Hop:
No athletics requires, but refers to a pitched ball (ie take it) so short as to evaluate the drummer enough time to where the bullet struck.

Over:
The game is not over. It is the call signal umpire, six bullets were submerged. At the end of the switch ends and bowler bowls the drummer on the other side of the field.

Overnight Batsman:
While cricket matches can be long and the striker is not having to hit until the morning. If there is a wicket late in the day, towards the end of the game, the captain sent a player who is able to prevent the fall of another wicket. Drummers more rested the next day to play.

Pitch:
The playground is a strip of 22 meters on the middle ground on which the dies are mounted on both ends.

Quickie:
describe in any way with the current language, but the name of a fast bowler.

right arm:
Refers to a bowler and right sides of the wicket rather than the usual left side dishes.

Round the Wicket:
"He bowls around the wicket to the right hand" means a player who does not cut on the left side of the door.

Silly, short, long or deep:
"It is silly mid-off." Reflects the proximity to the height of the striker at the end. Of course, if the fielder is too stupid (dangerously close to the drummer) - this is ridiculous. players on the cricket field does not protect their hands with gloves, each batted ball is likely to injuries on the hands or body.

Slip:
"He plays in the slip." Slips are positions in the field can be directly behind the doors next to the stumper be occupied by a maximum of five players.

Spin bowler:
Do not run with the opportunity to mount them in the ground, but gives the ball with your fingers and / or wrist to produce a description of the ball after he hits the field, hopefully before it n 'reaches drummer spin.

Spinner:
He throws a spinner. " Slow pitch thrown by a player.

Square Cut:
Generated when a long hop drummer (or earlier), the position of the point is reached. This is not a cut against the grain.

Sticky Wicket:
conditions on the ground created by the open wet grass has recently appointed a Sticky Wicket. This field adds a mortal spin on the ball rolled.

Tickle:
Not what you think (even if the fielder described as a standing split in the corner, legs, waiting for a tickle "). The field included players with a fine touch of the ball on the bat "tickle" him for a hook. Tickle:
"He tickled the ball was out." When the ball rolled easily tips the bat of the batter is called.

Wicket:
On several meanings:
1. Three strains or vertical poles covered with two hooks at the beginning. The door is protected by the drummer, while the bowler tries to knock the bar. 2. The play area now, including two in one eye wrinkles and the carpet between them.

Wide Ball
If a ball is on the beach drummer range provided in its normal state, the referee called 'broad' round the score batting side, and rolled a ball further.

All rounder:
A player who is good at both batting and bowling.

Around the Wicket:
If a player with the Door on the other side of the body to the shell bowling arm.

Bouncer:
Another name for a fastball to short acute.

Boundary:
Line, fence, rope, or marking a clear distinction of where the land ends. There are no laws governing the size of a cricket are filed - but in terms of competition, are different measures used. See the Law 19th

Carry the Bat:
If one of the listeners remain open, while all doors are made, they say he "led the bat."

Century:
If a batter scores 100 runs in one inning.

Debut:
If you play their first game of cricket, he was designated as his "first".

Declare:
When the captain announces his staff handles closed until all handed batsmen.

Drinks:
A short break for drinks.

Duck:
If a drummer who has no tracks will be rejected.

Duckworth-Lewis:
A complex system to deal with matches interrupted by rain.

Extras:
Byes, farewell leg, no balls and weights.

Floater / Wrong 'Un / Doosra:
A leg spin off spinner with similar actions by the abort (Saqlain specialty). Basically, there is no particular name in terms of cricket for such a ball.

Full Toss:
After being hand delivered by the bowler, the ball hitting drummer without reaching the ground.

Golden Duck:
Out for a duck (see above) on the first ball of the innings.

Guard:
A missing point guard call drummer on the court that a row with different matrices.

Googly:
A spin-off of a leg spinner with similar actions to break the leg.

Hat Trick:
If a player takes three wickets in three successive balls.

Innings:
The period during which a bat next. A game of cricket needs at least the sleeves per team. See Law 12

LB:
common abbreviation for the leg-bye. If the ball hits a series of cricket for the drummer (other than the stick) and it is still always manages to get.

Bye:
If the wicket-keeper fails to gather the ball cleanly and the opposition will run the offense.

LBW:
common abbreviation for leg before wicket - a form of dismissal.

Nelson:
111 tracks

Over Rates:
The rate of reports completed per hour.

Over the Wicketl:
If a player with the port on the side of the body of the shell arm bowling.

Pair:
Out for a zero (zero) in both races.

Pitch:
Some people get confused with locations and ATMs. The ground is the area between the bowling creases.

Run Rate:
The average number of points scored on a sequel.

Scorers:
Those who take the guests - outs, runs, overs, balls, etc. Often, scorers are ignored and are not mentioned, but they are just as important as the referee - perhaps even more important.

Swing:
Change the path of the ball in the air. Mainly because of the humidity of the ball or when the ball is old.

Swinging Yorker
The ball the most dangerous ever. The ball changes its way in the air spaces near the foot of the drummer.

York:
The locations ball at the feet of the drummer or between his feet, and the door.

Cricket Stadium on India-Pakistan border?

2011-04-20T22:18:00.000+05:00

Batting legend Zaheer Abbas said that the new stadium should be built on the border between India and Pakistan to encourage as a way to cricket relations between the rivals.

Pakistan played their first game of cricket in India - the World Cup semi-final - since November 2008 bombings in Mumbai that killed 166 and New Delhi made responsible extremists across the border.

The fatal incident brought strained relations between the two countries and also in neutral sports links.

But since the semi-finals, there was speculation that the resumption of cricket and other sports between the two countries could be on the cards.

Zaheer Abbas, former Pakistan captain, is also very popular in India for his batting exploits, entitled "Asian Bradman", a joint stadium could hit a crucial role in improving relations play.

"Building a stadium at the Wagah border so it does not get any problems in India not to go to Pakistan and Pakistan to India, he said.

"Half of the party should have to be in Pakistan, and half in India, so that fans do not need a visa. Pakistani fans support their team, could be emulated in other sports on their side and the Indians on their side, and this example. "

Zaheer, who played 78 Tests and 62 one-day internationals for Pakistan during a glittering career, said sports should not suffer from the often delicate diplomacy.

"Sport of the two countries have suffered because of politics, but want to play see the people on both sides of their team - be it hockey, cricket or any other sport," said Zaher, who acted as an expert in an Indian television station during the World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board officials have said they are in talks with their Indian colleagues for a cricket series later this year, though security fears for travel teams in Pakistan remains a stumbling block.

Pakistan have played games and series in neutral countries, but Abbas said it was harmful.

"If Pakistan and India play at a neutral place, like, people in both countries the chance, the series of Indo-Pak? It should be in India or Pakistan," he said.

Is Worldcup 2011 Trophy Fake?

2011-04-05T11:12:00.000+05:00

ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat tried to put an end to the controversy over the trophy to India after the World Cup, said the winner was awarded the trophy, which was intended to be delivered to them.

Media reports said that the Cup team was given false and that India was the original customs in Mumbai, the non-payment of taxes, but the reports lying Lorgat described as disappointing and said he was not a problem in relation with the trophy.

"It is very disappointing that the media does not represent reality. I talked about match fixing in Ahmedabad and now it is disappointing to know about the trophy. India, the trophy, which was intended, they have to offer "Lorgat told reporters.

"Since we have two 2003 World Cup trophy, a replica is used for advertising purposes and this trophy was going in and out of India over the last six weeks, and he returned to Dubai.

"The original trophy, we had the field on Saturday and is the trophy that counts and that is with the Indian team," he added.

He also confirmed that the next edition of the tournament, his co-organizers of Australia and New Zealand will feature 10 teams, and the format could be like the one that was used in the 1992nd Release

Lorgat also said that the introduction of the controversial decision of Reference System (DRS) in the mega-event produced good results.

"DRS has been successful. It has been improving umpiring standards in excess of five percent. It was not glaring errors or no complaints from the teams decision that could have affected the outcome of the match.

And the spectators in the evaluation stage of the DRS to make it more fun, "he said.

Lorgat also said that no amendment to the controversial rule is 2.5 meters.

The ICC chief also vowed to do everything to keep the sport clean.

"We want to put the game on all levels. It's the only thing we do not want to compromise. We do our best to get rid of cricket match fixing."

India Win World Cup after 28 years

2011-04-03T11:30:00.000+05:00

India has become the Cricket world champion in 28 years, India Beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in a thrilling final of the tenth World Cup.

Chasing an ambitious target of 275 India ended their long-awaited victory with a huge six-save by Mahindra Singh Dhoni to captain with ten bullets in the day and the last night of the mega-event.

It was the first time a host country that has won the World Cup final, and India was also the first Asian country to become world champion twice.

India became the third country to lift the title twice or more behind Australia (four) and the Caribbean (both).

The architects of the historic victory of India were Gautam Gambhir, who made shot 97 of 122 balls with nine boundaries and Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on 91, from 79 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

India Virender Sehwag was the beginning of disastrous second ball for IPN was nothing to Lasith Malinga.

Later, Sachin Tendulkar also departed after a short sleeved, 14-Ball 18 points if he fast bowler Lasith Malinga not under the direction of the off-side position again by Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara will be taken to leave India 31 for two.

Mahela Jayawardene previously reached his 14th one-day international century from 84 balls with 13 fours.

He did not want to stay at 103, made from 88 balls as Sri Lanka finished on 274 for six from their 50 overs after captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and decided to bat first in the final All Asian mega-event.

Jayawardene won the record with the first man score a hundred in a World Cup final are still finished on the losing side.

The five tons in the previous unit - Clive Lloyd (West Indies, 1975), Vivian Richards (West Indies, 1979), Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka 1996), Ricky Ponting (Australia, 2003) and Adam Gilchrist (Australia 2007) was to winning ways made causes.

India dried up left arm Zaheer Khan closing the stream runs with three consecutive shifts of the girl and her two early doors made him the top bowler of the tournament with Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi with 21 wickets each.

2011 ICC Cricket World Cup

2011-03-04T12:05:00.001+05:00

Duration of ICC World cup :
* Cricket World Cup will be played from Feb 19 to April 2.
* Qualifying round matches will be till March 20
* Quarter Final matches will be played between March 23 to March 26
* Semi Final matches on March 29 and March 30
* Cricket World Cup Final will be held April 2

Host Nations :

This world cup will be jointly hosted by 3 countries – India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Participating Teams :

There are total of 14 teams participating in this world up comprising of 2 groups with 7 teams each.

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya

Group B: Bangladesh, England, India, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands
Total of 49 matches will be played (incidentally one of the highest compared to any previous world cup). There will be 42 qualifying matches, 4 Quarter Finals, 2 Semi finals and 1 Final

Out of total 49 matches India will host 29 matches (including a Quarter Final, a Semi Final and the Final). Bangladesh will host 8 matches (including 2 Quarter Finals) and Sri Lanka will hold 12 matches (including a Quarter Final and a Semi Final)

Match Venues :

There will be Total of 13 grounds used for this tournament

India – 8

* Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Capacity – 90,000 (3 matches)

* Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi, Capacity – 48,000 (4 matches)

* Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru, Capacity – 42,000 (5 matches)

* Chidambaram, Chennai, Capacity – 50,000 (4 matches)

* Mohali, Chandigarh, Capacity – 35,000 (3 matches including a Semi Final)

* Motera, Ahmedabad, Capacity – 50,000 (3 mathces including a Quarter Final)

* Jamtha, Nagpur, Capacity – 45,000 (4 matches)

* Wankhede, Mumbai, Capacity – 45,000 (3 matches including the Final)

Bangladesh-2

* Zahur Ahmed Stadium, Chittagong, Capacity – 20,000 (2 matches)

* Shere Bangla Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka Capacity – 25,000 (6 matches including 2 Quarter Finals)

Sri Lanka-3

* Rajapaksha Stadium, Hambantota, Capacity – 35,000 (2 matches)

* Muralidharan Stadium, Kandy, Capacity – 35,000 (3 matches)

* Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Capacity – 35,000 (7 matches including a Quarter Final and a Semi Final)

The Quarter Finals will be held at Mirpur, Dhaka (2 matches), Ahmedabad and Colombo. Semi Finals will be held at Colombo and Chandigarh. The finals will be held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai

How teams proceed progressively to next stage?

Each team plays 1 match with 6 other team in its group. The least scoring 3 teams get eliminated and the top 4 from each group goes to knock out stage.

* Quarter Final No. 1 : No. 1 team of Group A will play against No. 4 team of Group B

* Quarter Final No. 2 : No. 2 team of Group A will play against No. 3 team of Group B

* Quarter Final No. 3 : No. 3 team of Group A will play against No. 2 team of Group B

* Quarter Final No. 4 : No. 4 team of Group A will play against No. 1 team of Group B

* Semi Final No. 1 : Winner of QF No. 1 will play against Winner of QF No. 3

* Semi Final No. 2 : Winner of QF No. 2 will play against Winner of QF No. 4

* Final : Winner of SF No. 1 will play Winner of SF No. 2

ICC World Cup Trophy and Prize Money

There are two original Trophies with ICC. One would be held in its Head Quarters in Dubai and the other is given to the Winning team. Both the trophies are identical, the only difference would be, the Trophy in ICC Head Quarters will have the names of all the previous World Cup winners inscribed on it.

Prize Money :

    * Winner – 3 Million US Dollars,
    * Runner Up – 1.5 Million US Dollars,
    * Total Prize Money – 10 Million US Dollars.

Cricket World Cup Facts and Results

2011-02-15T12:24:00.003+05:00

Cricket World Cup 1975 West Indies won:

Venue : Lords, England

Result : West Indies beat Australia.

West Indies won by 17 runs. Scored 291 runs in 60 overs for 8 wickets.

Australia scored 274 in 58.4 overs all out.

Facts -

# England ( 1975 ) The first ball in the World Cup history was bowled by India's Madan Lal to England's Denis Amiss at Lord's on June 7, 1975.

# India's opener Sunil Gavaskar batted through the full 60 overs in the opening match against England at Lord's to score just 36 runs.

Cricket World Cup 1979 West Indies won:

Venue : Lords, England

Result : West Indies beat England

West Indies won by 92 Runs & scored 286 runs in 60 overs for 9 Wickets

England scored 191 in 50 overs all out.

Facts -

England ( 1979 )

# Viv Richard's 139 not out is the highest score in a World Cup Final

# Sri Lanka became the first nation to boycott a match in the World Cup when they refused to play Israel on political grounds in the mini tournament.

Cricket World Cup 1983 India won:

Venue : Lords, England

Result : India beat West Indies.

India beat West Indies by 43 runs & scored 183 in 54.4 overs all out.

West Indies scored 140 in 52 overs all out.

Facts -

England ( 1983 ) One of the all-time great innings, 175 not out by Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe was lost to posterity. BBC had gone on strike that day with the result that it was never recorded on video.

Cricket World Cup 1987 Australia won:

Venue : Calcutta, India.

Result : Australia beat England.

Australia won by 7 runs & scored 253 in 50 overs for 5 Wickets.

England scored 246 in 50 overs for 8 wickets.

Facts -

# India and Pakistan (1987) For the first time World Cup shifted from England to the Indian sub-continent.

# Graham Gooch of England became the only player to win three consecutive man-of-match awards.

Cricket World Cup 1992 Pakistan won:

Venue : Melbourne, Australia.

Result : Pakistan beat England.

Pakistan won by 22 runs & scored 249 in 50 overs for 6 wickets.

England scored 227 runs for 49.2 overs all out.

Cricket World Cup 1996 Sri Lanka won:

Venue : Lahore Pakistan.

Result : Sri Lanka beat Australia.

Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets & scored 245 in 46.2 overs for 3 wickets.

Australia scored 241 in 50 overs for 7 wickets.

Facts -

# India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka ( 1996 ) Javed Miandad became the first and only player to take part in all six World Cup's.

# Mark Waugh became the only batsman to hit three centuries in one World Cup.

# The semi-final between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens was the first to be awarded to a team by default, the crowd disturbance that forced match referee to award the match to Sri Lanka.

Cricket World Cup 1999 Australia won:

Venue : Lords, England

Result : Australia beat Pakistan.

Australia won 8 wickets & scored 133 in 20.1 for 2 wickets

Pakistan scored 132 in 39 overs all out.

Facts -

# England (1999) Australia crushed Pakistan with ease in 20.1 overs, replying to Pakistan's mere score of 132 (all out in 39 overs).

# The semi-final between South Africa and Australia was one one of the finest one-day matches in history and maybe regarded as the real final.

# Australia lifted the title after a run of seven games without defeat.

Cricket World Cup 2003 Australia won:

Venue : The Wanderers, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Result : Australia emerged as champions, beating India in the final by 125 runs.

Facts

South Africa (2003)

# South Africa got their calculations wrong in the rain and were kicked out of the tournament without qualifying for the second round.

# Australian Shane Warne was banned for substance abuse raising the awareness of the tournament to new levels.

Cricket World Cup 2007 Australia won:

Venue : West Indies

Result : Australia emerged as Champions again with a final score of 281-4 off 38 overs.

Facts -

# Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room the day after Ireland knocked his team out of the world Cup.

# Australia became the first team to win three consecutive world cups.

Cricketers Banned by ICC

2011-02-06T17:29:00.000+05:00

Cricketers, Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif banned for at least 5 years after they were found guilty of corruption by an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal.

Former Captain Salman Butt, who led the Pakistan team in last year’s Test series against England, was banned for 10 years, with five of them suspended, for his part in the spot-fixing scandal.

Muhammad Asif, was ruled out for seven years; two of which are suspended, while 18-year-old fast bowler Muhammad Amir was banned for five.

The Lawyer Michael Beloff, headed the tribunal and said the suspended parts of the sentence were dependent on the players committing no further breach of the code and attending an anti-corruption program run by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

A three-man tribunal considered the case for 6 days last month following allegations in a British newspaper that the trio had arranged for deliberate no-balls to be delivered in the fourth Test at Lord’s last year.

All three cricketers can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for sport after the tribunal.

Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said the trio, along with 35-year-old sports agent Mazhar Majeed from Croydon, England, had been charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and with conspiracy to cheat.

The trio denied spot-fixing, the offence of pre-arranging individual events within a match which may not affect the result.

Chief executive International Cricket Council (ICC) Haroon Lorgat said that it has been proved after the anti-corruption tribunal verdict on spot fixing that there is no room for corruption in cricket. He had already said that corruption would not be tolerated at all in cricket.

He had said that he would be disappointed if the three Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt, Asif and Aamer involved in spot fixing are not punished.

Cricket Worldcup 2011 Wallpapers

2011-02-03T21:12:00.000+05:00

Worldcup Cricket 2011

2011-01-04T13:31:00.000+05:00

ICC cricket WORLD CUP 2011 official THEME/Promo song..

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Matches and Venues

Year 2010 ends with cricket spot fixing

2010-12-28T22:56:00.000+05:00

A brief glance on international cricket in the year of 2010

There were more thrilling sights in world cricket in the year 2010 than Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir bowling and there were few more controversial too.The teenage Pakistan left-arm quick's entrancing spell of swing bowling saw Australia dismissed for just 88 at Headingley in July. But Amir and new partner Mohammad Asif, together with Pakistan captain Salman Butt, soon found themselves facing 'spot-fixing' allegations.

Salman Butt was accused by British tabloid ‘The News of the World’ of orchestrating a betting scam that saw Amir and Asif bowl deliberate no-balls to effect a 'spot-fixing' coup.

The trio's future is set to be decided by an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal hearing in the Qatari capital of Doha in January 2011.

Pakistan had banned three former captains Younus Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik earlier in the year after a wretched tour of Australia where they failed to win a single match and Shahid Afridi was fined for an incredible ball-biting incident in Perth.

And in November wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider fled Dubai, where Pakistan was playing against South Africa, for London saying his life was under threat from 'Match fixers'.

On the field game, England won a first major one-day title by beating Australia in the final of the World Twenty20 tournament in the Caribbean.

Hopes of an Ashes series win in Australia looked realistic after England's innings and 71-run victory in the second Test in Adelaide.

That followed a draw in the series opener in Brisbane marked by a hat-trick by Peter Siddle of Australia.

But Australia leveled with a 267-run win in the 4th Test at Perth.

Nevertheless Australia, so recently the kings of Test cricket, had dropped to fourth in the ICC rankings as 2010 drew to a close.

The year ended with South Africa pressing hard to replace India as the world's leading Test side with an innings and 25 runs victory in the first Test at Centurion stadium.

The Proteas' Dale Steyn looked the one genuine fast bowler in the modern game whose record that would not look out of place alongside those of some all-time great fast bowlers while Jacques Kallis cemented his position as the world's leading all-rounder.

In meanwhile Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, whose unorthodox action remained controversial even when 'cleared' by the ICC, bowed out with a record 800 Test wickets before retiring from the test matches.

New Zealand's 2010 were exemplified by an embarrassing 4-0 one-day series loss to minnows Bangladesh in October.

India's Sachin Tendulkar set yet more batting records by becoming the first man to score 200 in a one-day international and the first to 50 Test centuries.

Chris Gayle of west Indies became only the fourth batsman in history to make two Test scores of over 300 with an innings of 333 against Sri Lanka in Galle last month but this was a rare highlight for the West Indies in another struggling year.

England's Ashes-winning all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond finally gave up their struggles with injury by retiring from all cricket while Australia quick Brett Lee quit Tests.

But the most notable retirement in 2010 was of South Africa's Makhaya Ntini, the first black African to represent his country, whose 13-year international career saw a fast bowler blessed with exceptional stamina more than justify his place on cricket grounds alone.

Split-innings matches were trialed in Australia, the ICC announced plans for a new Test championship and MCC experimented with a pink ball in a bid to probe the viability of day/night Tests.

It's a fair bet the pink ball would not have impressed Sir Alec Bedser, who died aged 91 in April.

Sachin Tendulkar creates history

2010-12-20T10:40:00.000+05:00

Great Indian batsman, star Sachin Tendulkar has became the first player to hit 50 centuries in Test matches when he played a defiant innings on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park.

Tendulkar, 37, reached the landmark 56 minutes after tea when he drove fast bowler Dale Steyn through the covers after batting for 258 minutes and facing 197 balls.

No other batsman has scored more than 39 Test centuries.

It was an almost flawless innings by the Indian batting maestro as he and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni made a valiant effort to save their team from an innings defeat.

When Sachin reached his century he and Dhoni had put on an unbeaten 160 runs for the seventh wicket and were within 47 runs of making South Africa batting again.

Tendulkar, who has been playing international cricket for 21 years, has hit centuries against every other Test nation.

His tally is made up of 11 test hundreds against Australia, 9 against Sri Lanka, 7 against England, 6 against South Africa, 5 against Bangladesh, 4 against New zealand, 3 each against West Indies and Zimbabwe and 2 against Pakistan.

Cricket Match officials announced for ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

2010-12-14T17:00:00.001+05:00

The cricket governing body has announce match officials for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. In addition to elite panel, six emerging umpires named in 18-man team of match officials.

Umpires Richard Kettleborough,Kumar Dharmasena, Bruce Oxenford, Nigel Llong, Amish Saheba and Shahvir Tarapore have been named to stand alongside the members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires during the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, which begins in Dhaka on 19 February.

These 6 have been identified as emerging and talented match officials, who have already officiated at international level with experience of conditions in the Asian sub-continent and are now ready to umpire at cricket's flagship event.

The full list of umpires is: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Billy Doctrove, Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Daryl Harper, Tony Hill, Asad Rauf, Asoka de Silva, Simon Taufel, Rod Tucker (all from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires), Kumar Dharmasena, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Amish Saheba and Shahvir Tarapore (all from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires).

The reserve umpire for the tournament has been named as Enamul Hoque-Moni, also from the international panel. He will officiate during the warm-up phase of the tournament and be available, if required, during the event proper.

The match referees for the event will be: Chris Broad, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Roshan Mahanama and Andy Pycroft (all from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees).

The umpire selection panel consists of David Richardson (ICC General Manager - Cricket), Ranjan Madugalle (ICC Chief Match Referee), David Lloyd (former player, coach, umpire and now television commentator) and Srinivas Venkataraghavan (former elite panel umpire).

First Test match Between India and Sout Africa

2010-12-14T16:51:00.000+05:00

MS Dhoni, India Cricket captain downplayed the role of batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar ahead of a three-Test series against South Africa.

Much of the media hype before the first Test at Centurion Park centres on the showdown between Tendulkar, seeking his 50th Test ton, and South Africa pace ace Dale Steyn.

But Dhoni told a media conference at the match venue that the clashes between the Tests sides ranked first and second in the world with India on top were all about teamwork.

"Cricket is a team sport and not about individuals. We place more importance on the process and how we are preparing for the Tests," the 29-year-old right-hand batsman stressed.

"We know how much talent there is in the Indian Cricket squad. Preparing well and adapting well ... these are the areas we are concentrating on right now," he added.

South Africa Cricket coach Corrie van Zyl backed the Indian skipper: "It is an excellent Indian team and if you are talking about them, you cannot single out individuals."

Dhoni was upbeat about the wickets amid reports South Africa team is preparing pace-and-bounce-friendly ones to aid their seam bowlers at the expense of the Indian spinners.

"Most of our cricketers are used to playing here, whether it is the shorter forms of the game or Test cricket. We will assess the wickets and decide how we need to play."

The skipper said the Indian attack had impressed at home and abroad on wickets that were not always supportive with the bowlers adapting quickly and successfully to trigger victories.

He also dismissed statistics showing India have won only one of nine previous Tests in South Africa, stressing the series was not about history or past achievements.

South Africa received a double boost when captain Graeme Smith and fellow batsman Hashim Amla were cleared to play in the first Test after recovering from injury.

Smith broke the ring finger on his leg hand in a one-day game against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last month and Amla hurt his wrist fielding in a Test against the same country.

After Tests at Centurion, Kingsmead in Durban and Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa and India play a Twenty20 cricket on January 9 in Durban followed by five ODIs spread around the country.

Ways to “Get Out” In Cricket for a Batsman

2010-12-03T13:14:00.000+05:00

Most common ways to get out as follows:

1. Bowled:-If a bowler manages to get a ball through and knock off the bails (The two wooden bits resting on the top of the Stumps) it is called Bowled.

2. Stumped:- When a batsman comes down the crease to hit the ball, and if he misses the ball there is a chance of getting out by stumping with the ball by the wicket keeper.

3. Leg Before Wicket (LBW):- When a batsman obstructs the ball from hitting the stumps with any part of his body (Usually Pads) other than bat. It is called LBW and the decision is taken by the umpire after the appeal by the bowler.

4. Caught:-Being Caught is most common way of getting out for a batsman. A batsman is out caught when a fielder catches the ball directly off the bat, before it has hit the ground.

5. Run Out:- When a batsman is going for runs between the wickets, but fall short of the batting crease when the stumps are broken by the fielding team.

Uncommon ways of getting out in the game of cricket as follows:

6. Handling The Ball:-When a batsman tries to obstruct the ball with his hand he can be got out. They can only knock the ball from rolling back on to the stumps with pads, feet or bat.

7. Timed Out:-When a batsman got out and if the next batsman fails to reach within 3 minutes, the umpire can give him/her out. This is the rarest form of getting out in type of cricket.

8. Hit The Ball Twice (Double Hit):-When a batsman hit twice a ball while playing a shot. This kind of dismissal is very rare and the batsman can go out only if the second hit is deliberate.

9. Hit Wicket:-This dismissal happens when a batsman himself knocks their stumps over while playing a shot or when leaving a delivery.

10. Obstructing The Field:-The umpire can give a batsman out if he feels the batsman has got in the way of a fielder who is about to take a catch or attempt a run out.

Cricket Grounds-Cricket Pitch

2010-12-03T12:37:00.000+05:00

Cricket grounds are varying in size. Most of the Cricket Grounds on which official matches played measure about 137 meters wide and 150 meters long.
The wickets are 22 yards (20.12 meters) apart in the centre of the field.
They stand opposite and parallel to each other.
Pitch is the area between the wickets.

The bails are 43/8 inches (11.1 centimeters long) and rest in grooves on the tops of the stumps. The bails do not rise more than 1/2 inch (13 millimeters) above the stumps.
Each wicket measures 9 inches (22.9) centimeters wide.
The stumps of each wicket are close enough together so the ball cannot pass between any 2 of them.
The tops of the stumps stand 28 inches (71.1 centimeters) above the ground.

White lines made by chalk or lime mark certain boundaries called creases.
A line called the bowling crease is drawn through the stumps of each wicket. It is 8 feet 8 inches (2.64 meters) long, with the middle stump of the wicket at its centre.
A line called the popping crease is marked 4 feet (1.22) meters in front of the bowling crease. The popping crease extends at least 6 feet (1.83 meters) on either side of the centre of the wicket but is considered to be unlimited in length.
Lines called return creases are marked from each end of the bowling crease. The return creases extend forward to the popping crease and back at least 4 feet (1.22 meters) behind the bowling crease. However, the return creases are considered to be unlimited in length. The bowler must deliver the ball with some part of the front foot behind the popping crease.
The back foot must be between the return creases

Types of Ground Pitches
In general there are six different types of cricket pitches:-

THE FAIR WICKET
Allow both spin and seam bowlers to achieve a degree of movement, but at even pace and height.

THE SPORTING WICKET
Generally results from a period of drought with dry, hard soil under the grass. Fast bowling can be lethal on this wicket.

THE GOOD WICKET
Good for scoring runs as neither the spin nor seam bowlers are able to make the ball bounce unexpectedly.

THE GREEN WICKET
Is generally created by a moist atmosphere, and is usually well-grassed. This wicket allows medium to fast seam bowling, sometimes in contradiction to the swing.

THE ROUGH WICKET
It does not give batsman a fair chance as the ball does not bounce truly.

THE CRUMBLING WICKET
Also results from dry weather and lack of grass to bind it. Spinners and medium-paced cutters do well under such circumstances.

Venues of Ashes series 2010-11

2010-11-23T13:17:00.000+05:00

FIRST TEST — Gabba, Brisbane, November 25-29

Australia is relishing getting its first crack at England in the five-Test Ashes series at Brisbane’s Woolloongabba (Gabba), a ground where the home team has not lost to England in 24 years.

The Gabba has been the nemesis of touring English teams drawing only once in their last five visits down under while the Australians have set up their home Ashes series with some heavy morale-deflating victories in the opening Test.

Often regarded as the premier cricket wicket in the country, the Gabbais a haven for fast bowlers who can move the ball off the pitch in the sultry conditions.

SECOND TEST — Adelaide Oval, December 3-7

If England can come away from Brisbane without losing it may fancy its chances at the picturesque Adelaide Oval, where it has won eight of 29 Ashes Tests (five drawn) with a victory there four tours ago in 1995.

Adelaide, the home ground of the immortal Don Bradman where his influence still looms large, has a reputation as a flat batting wicket and the rock-hard pitch scuffing up the ball can be conducive to reverse swing, which works in the England bowlers’ favour.

The square leg boundaries are the shortest but it is possible to run four. Spinners are more likely to take wickets in Adelaide.

THIRD TEST — WACA Ground, Perth, December 16-20

The series swings to the other side of the vast continent and Perth’s WACA ground for the third match in the series, finishing just days before Christmas.

England has only won once in 11 Tests in Perth when Bob Willis and John Lever bowled Mike Brearley’s tourists to a 166-run victory 32 years ago.

The WACA wicket, once famed as the paciest in Australia, has lost his venom in recent years and India and South Africa have beaten Australia at the WACA in two of the last three years. The famed ‘Fremantle Doctor’ blows in most afternoons making it back-breaking work for medium-pacers.

FOURTH TEST — Melbourne Cricket Ground, December 26-30

The fourth Boxing Day Test at the cavernous Melbourne Cricket Ground will be an unforgettable experience for the England players as they are expected to play before a near capacity 100,000 first-day crowd.

One of the special days on Australia’s annual sporting calendar, the MCG on Boxing Day truly resonates as the home of Australian cricket.

England won a famous victory here in 1998 with Dean Headley taking 6-60 in the second innings as the tourists won by just 12 nail-biting runs. South Africa beat Australia in the 2008 Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

FIFTH TEST — Sydney Cricket Ground, January 3-7

The series winds up at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground where England won the corresponding 2003 Test with Andy Caddick claiming 7-94 after Michael Vaughan had amassed 183 in the second innings.

The SCG has a reputation as spin-friendly opening up the possibilities for Australia’s Nathan Hauritz and England’s Graeme Swann.

If England can get to the final Test still in contention to retain the Ashes it will be encouraged that overall England teams have won 21 times at the SCG in 53 Tests. Ricky Ponting has scored five centuries and six half-centuries in 15 SCG Tests.

Cricket Clips - Best Wickets Dismissales Clips

2010-11-20T10:54:00.000+05:00

Best Bowling-Wicket Dismissals.

Shane Warne's Magic Wickets

Waseem Akram the King of Swing

PR Singh in Action

Shoaib Akhter - The Speedy got outs

Curtly Ambrose - A Bull

Zulqarnain Haider controversy

2010-11-09T18:41:00.000+05:00

Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who reached London yesterday in mysterious way has announced, in a telephonic talk with TV chennel today, his retirement from international cricket.

Zulqarnain Haider quit international cricket on Tuesday saying he feared for his safety after being ordered to cooperate with match-fixers during the recent one-day series with South Africa.

He said that he is writing to the Pakistan Cricket Board in this regard.

He said that he was receiving threats from an unknown person and thus he decided to leave Dubai immediately and went to London where he is seeking an asylum.

Zulqarnain, 24, who said he had fled the team hotel before the start of the fifth one-dayer on Monday in Dubai and reached London hours later, he told that he felt unable to continue in the Pakistan team after being approached by a person who asked him to fix the fourth and fifth one-dayers.

"I have decided it is best for me to retire from international cricket since my family and I are constantly getting threats," he said.

"It is best for me to step down because I can't play in these circumstances. But I would like to continue to play domestic cricket."

Zulqarnain, who scored an unbeaten 19 and hit the winning runs in the fourth one-dayer on Friday, left the team hotel hours before the fifth one-day match eventually won by South Africa who took the series 3-2.

He landed in London hours after leaving Dubai and spent almost four hours locked in discussions with immigration authorities before finally emerging from Heathrow airport.

"I was told to cooperate or I would face lot of problems," Zulqarnain said.

"This person approached me while I had gone out of the hotel for dinner. He told me cooperate with us and you can make a lot of money.

"He said, 'If you don't cooperate you will no longer be part of the team and we can make life very difficult for you'."

Zulqarnain said he had not yet decided whether to seek political asylum in Britain.

"I have not thought about this, I don't even have enough money to hire a lawyer, my only concern now is the security of my family in Lahore," he said.

Zulqarnain, who has played just one test and four ODIs, said he had gone to London because he felt safe there and knew that in Britain the law protected those in the right.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Monday the player had not informed them he was planning to leave the hotel nor had he told them the reason for his sudden decision.

"I was not confident enough to speak to the team management about it because I didn't want to get my other team mates into trouble," Zulqarnain said.

Cricketers Nicknames

2010-11-01T11:41:00.000+05:00

English Cricketer's Nicknames

Marcus Trescothick = Banger (Loves eating sausages apparently)
Andrew Flintoff = Freddie (After Freddie Flintstone the cartoon character)
Derek Randall = Arkle (Reflects his speed when fielding)
Michael Vaughan = Vaughny and Virgil (Thunderbirds)

Robert Russell = Jack (Excellent wicketkeeper/ batsman for Gloucestershire and England. Also an excellent painter)
Ashley Giles = King of Spain (Ashley ordered several coffee mugs to be made to sell to raise money in his testimonial year. Apparently they were to have read ' The King of Spin' . They didn't and the rest is history as they say)
Phil Tufnell = The Cat (Phil liked taking naps)
Graham Dilley was known as Picca
Ian Botham = Beefy
Graham Gooch of course was Zap (Emilio Zapata moustache)
Chris Old was known as Chilli
Paul Collingwood = Nice Ginger
W.G. Grace = the Doctor
Keith Fletcher = The Gnome of Essex
Kevin Pietersen = K.P
Derek Underwood = Deadly

Australian Cricketer's Nicknames:

Mark Waugh was known as Afghanistan since he was often the forgotten Waugh; also he was known as Audi after he got 4 ducks in a row which was recorded in the scorebook as 0000.

Steve Waugh, as Tugga or Drobe.
Don Bradman = The Don
Glen McGrath = pigeon
Ritchie Benaud = Diamonds
Shane Warne = Warney, Hollywood, The Sheikh of Tweak
Ricky Ponting = Punter

The Aussie Twenty20 team took to the field against England in January 2007 with their nicknames on the back of their shirts. Thus we learn:

Michael Clarke = Clarkey. Yet another unimaginative one
Matthew Hayden = Haydos. Not the most imaginative choice
Ricky Ponting = Punter. He likes a bet, especially on the horses and the dogs
Mike Hussey = Huss. His name would be his nickname if his nickname was his name. Get it?
Adam Gilchrist = Church. Because the last syllable of his surname is "Christ"
Andrew Symonds = Roy. His dad's choice, after Roy of the Rovers.
Cameron White = Bear. Apparently because he is believed to resemble the Bundaberg Rum Bear, a polar bear used to advertise an Australian spirit
Nathan Bracken = Andy G. He looks like Andrew Gunsberg, host of reality show Australian Idol
Ben Hilfenhaus = Hilfy. It's easier to say than Hilfenhaus
Brad Hogg = George. Brad is his middle name - George is his first
Shane Harwood = Stickers. Because of his liking for tattoos.

Pakistan Cricketer's Nicknames

Wasim Akram = Prince of Pakistan, Sultan of Swing
Saqlain Mushtaq = Saqi, Professor (wears glasses and outsmarts the batsman)
Shahid Afridi = Boom Boom
Inzamam ul Haq = Aloo (potato)
Shoaib Akhtar = Rawalpindi Express (Fastest bowler in the world born in Rawalpindi)

Indian Cricketer's Nicknames

Sachin Tendulkar = Little Master
Rahul Dravid = The Wall (Difficult to bowl at or get out)
Harbhajan Singh =The Turbanator, Bhajji (by team-mates)
Saurav Ganguly = Maharaj, Prince of Calcutta, Dada, Bengali Tiger
Anil Kumble = Jumbo

West Indian Cricketer's Nicknames

Brian Lara = The Prince
Joel Garner = Big Bird
Clive Lloyd = Super Cat

South African Cricketer's Nicknames

Allan Donald = White Lightning (Extremely fast bowler)
Shaun Pollock = Polly
Graeme Pollock = The Little Dog
Lance Klusener = Zulu
Peter Pollock = The Big Dog

Sri Lankan Cricketer's Nicknames

Muttiah Muralitharan =The Smiling Assassin, Murali

Cricket Umpires' Nicknames

Harold Bird = Dickie Bird
Steve Bucknor = Slow Death
Brent Bowden = Billy

How to Reverse Swing a Cricket Ball

2010-11-01T11:26:00.001+05:00

How to Reverse Swing a Cricket Ball:

In the game of cricket, when ball gets old and worn out, it will get heavier on one side than the other due to wear and tear from hitting. This inequality of weight will cause ball to turn in the opposite direction that it typically would on a swing in the air, throwing off the batsman.

Instructions:

1- Find a cricket ball that has one dull side and one shiny side.

2- Hold the cricket ball with the seam of the ball. Keep the shiny side on the right if you want the ball to move away from a right-handed baseman and the shiny side on the left if you want to move the ball in. Keep the seam as vertical and straight.

3-Bend the wrist while holding the cricket ball downward so that the part of the ball that is closest to your body is positioned facing approximately 30 degrees downward.

4-Keep your head and hand at the shoulder at approximately a 50 to 60 degree angle. Your bowling hand should remain angled as you bowl and keep your hand as far away from your head as you can.

5-Pitch the ball up high and as fast as you can. The ball needs to be thrown at 80 miles an hour or so to make this swing work.

6- Make sure that the ball goes between your body and the stumps (the vertical posts) when you follow through on this swing.

Tips & Warnings

*While playing the game, try to wear your ball on one side more than the other and keep the shiny side as shiny as possible to create a ball that will work with this swing. Shine the ball on your leg on the shiny side of the ball as you play.

*Test the ball to see if you can use it for a reverse swing by throwing it straight. If it swings a bit toward the shiny side of the ball than you can use it for this swing.

*Practice this swing until you can get it right before using it in the game.

*Let the ball wear naturally. Don't tamper with the ball with knives and other things to speed the process. Ball tampering is illegal in the game and could get you banned.

Misbah ul Haq the best cricket brain in Pakistan: Geoff Lawson

2010-10-12T11:24:00.003+05:00

Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson believes Misbah-ul-Haq has the “best cricket brain” in Pakistan and is well-placed to handle the Test captaincy, surprisingly handed to the 36-year-old last week.

Misbah ul Haq was thought to be out of national reckoning when he wasn’t picked for the Asia Cup or the tour to England earlier this year. But a disastrous sequence of captaincy appointments left the board, in their own words, with little choice.

Geoff Lawson is well-placed having been coach during Misbah’s return to international cricket 3 years ago during the 2007 World T20, a tournament which he nearly won for Pakistan.

That sparked the most productive phase of his career and it was in Lawson’s time, between 2007 and 2008, that he established himself in the middle order; in 5 Tests under Lawson, he averaged 78 with two hundreds and a fifty; he averaged 41 in 28 ODIs, and over 67 in the ten Twenty20s Pakistan played with Lawson in charge.

“He definitely has the best cricket brain and intellect in Pakistan cricket,” Lawson said. “He has a statesman-like demeanor which so many Pakistan captains have lacked and he handles adversity analytically not emotionally. He knows how to get the best out of players and he is a winner, note his outstanding domestic record as a leader.

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Muhammad Asif Wedding

2010-10-02T16:01:00.001+05:00

Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif celebrated his wedding to childhood friend Sana Hilal in Lahore on Thursday.

Asif, who is being investigated by British police in a major spot-fixing scandal, officially tied the knot in March but the celebrations were held in the capital of Punjab after Asif’s return from England last month.

The 27-year-old was one of three Pakistani players provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council after a British tabloid claimed no-balls were delivered to order during last month's Lord's Test against England.

The ICC is expected to form a commission to hear the case after Scotland Yard completes an investigation.

“I hope marriage will be the turning point in my career and change my life in a positive way,” Asif was quoted as saying by local television channels.

Several team-mates, including Test cricketers Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq were reportedly present at the wedding festivities.

“Asif is very relaxed and is hopeful that he will be cleared of any spot-fixing charges. He hopes that his wedding will bring luck for him,” said a family friend, who did not want to be named.

Since his debut in 2005, Asif's career has been dogged by controversy.

He twice failed dope tests and twice tested positive for a banned steroid.

In 2006, he was banned for one year – a punishment overturned on appeal.

But when he tested positive again in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008, his appeal against a one-year ban failed.

He was then arrested at Dubai airport for possessing a banned drug while returning from the IPL.

He was detained for 19 days and deported after police found the quantity of the banned drug “insufficient” to pursue a case.

Further scandal came when actress and model Veena Malik claimed he owed her huge amounts of money.

She also alleged that Asif was involved in match-fixing and was said to have handed evidence to the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit earlier this month.

Source: Dawn.com

MCC brings Changes in cricket rules

2010-10-02T15:32:00.001+05:00

The Marylebone Cricket Club has changed a few cricket rules which will take effect from October 1, 2010. Some of these new rules include empowering the umpires with more decision-making capabilities around bad light and the fielders being not allowed to start from beyond the boundary.

So far, in Test match cricket, the umpires would offer the light to the batsmen in case they deemed it unfit for play. Usually, it was done if the bowlers were dangerous to face – that is the pace bowlers. However, the rules have now been tweaked to ensure that the batsmen do not get an unfair advantage by taking the light when they desire and continuing to bat at the same level of light when it is going to be an advantage to them.

The play will now be called off only when the conditions will be deemed a “dangerous or unreasonable” with the players not being allowed to go off the field when the floodlights were being switched on. It usually takes 5-10 minutes for all the lights to start coming on and another 10 for them to take full effect.

The MCC has also said that the fielders will be allowed to catch the ball at the boundary, throw it up in the air, go outside the playing arena, regain their balance and come back inside and catch it. However, the MCC has said that the fielders will not be allowed to start off from outside the playing arena when the bowler has started his run-up.

Amongst some of the other laws introduced, a batsman running on the track will be afforded one warning before his team gets penalised five runs. Earlier, batsmen were given two warnings. The same rule will be applicable for the fielders as well.

There has also been a change to a law that was probably the most interesting one. The MCC has mandated that the bowlers will not be allowed to practice with the ball used in the game by bowling to the fielders. The MCC has said that this constitutes time-wasting apart from damaging the ball.

Author: Daniel Smith

Cricket Corruption and Future of Pakistan Cricket

2010-09-08T18:52:00.001+05:00

Cricket is a beautiful game and very commercialized too, a lot of money involved in it, recent match fixing and spot fixing allegations over some Pakistan cricket team members are very questionable, dangerous and alarming for the future of the cricket, in my opinion PCB is fully responsible for current cricket corruption, officials knows every thing but they was silent and took the matter easy, if they punish cricketer in the past in legal way the situation would not be worst like this.

Current PCB chairman Ejaz Butt is not fit for this position and not knowledgeable about cricket, he is mentally retired and just posses the seat through political appointment by President Zardari.

Selectors taking political and financial pressure to select the cricketers with personal likes and dislikes also.

Potential Cricketers ignored by selectors, no merit criteria for selection, for example Asim Kamal who have excellent records in domestic cricket but he is being ignored, Azeem Ghuman, Abdul Rehman, Imran Nazir, Danish Kaneria, must be inn.

Current Team should be change except Afridi and Saeed Ajmal, Mr Kamran Akmal should leave and Zulqarnain Haider must be inn.

Pakistan cricket is in very vulnerable serious crisis, if PCB and Government not take bold action, ICC could be ban Pakistan Cricket team which would be more shameful for Pakistan nation.

Pakistani Cricketers are involved in spot fixing - Yasir Hameed said

2010-09-05T14:39:00.001+05:00

Pakistani Cricketers are involved in spot fixing each match nowadays - Yasir Hameed comments.This sensation remark made by the Pakistani opener Yasir Hameed who said that his team mates Salman ButtSalman Butt ,Mohammad AsifMohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir is fixing matches almost each matches.Even he was also offered 10k pound to fix the match but he did not take that.

Kavin Pietersen dropped by ECB for T-20 and ODIs against Pakistan

2010-09-01T12:38:00.001+05:00

Kevin Pietersen faced the prospect of disciplinary action after announcing via social networking site Twitter on Tuesday he’d been dropped from England’s squad for the forthcoming Twenty20 and One-day Internationals against Pakistan.

The news was confirmed several hours later when the squads were announced formally by the ECB.

Pietersen could be in trouble for revealing squad details before the official announcement, with an ECB spokesman telling AFP: “We are considering the circumstances surrounding it (Pietersen’s Twitter post).”

The 30-year-old batsman was clearly unhappy at the decision telling followers on his account kevinpp24: “Done for rest of summer!! Man of the World Cup T20 and dropped from the T20 side too. It’s a fxxx up.”

In a post cut short, seemingly because of Twitter’s 140 character limit, Pietersen added: “Surrey have signed me for l ... (blank).”

But Pietersen’s season was far from “done”.The ECB announced he would spend the rest of the season on-loan at Surrey.

In the ECB squad announcement statement, Pietersen was in far more conciliatory mood than he had been in his Twitter post.

“While I’m naturally disappointed to have been omitted from the England squad I fully understand the reasons why and will be doing everything I can to get back into the England team.

“I have no issue with the selectors omitting me from the limited overs squads and my sole focus now is working on my game ahead of an exciting winter.

“I would also like to add my huge thanks to Surrey for giving me this opportunity and I hope I can repay them with some runs.”

England national selector Geoff Miller said: “Kevin Pietersen has been omitted from both squads as we feel that his game would be best served by getting as much cricket under his belt as possible before a long winter.

Twenty20 squad: Paul Collingwood (capt), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Steven Davies (wkt), Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Ryan Sidebottom Graeme Swann, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy.

One-Day squad: Andrew Strauss (capt), Anderson, Bopara, Bresnan, Broad, Collingwood, Davies (wkt), Morgan, Ajmal Shahzad, Sidebottom, Swann, Trott, Wright, Yardy.

Source:The News

Younis Khan accuses British Newspaper of defamation

2010-09-01T12:27:00.000+05:00

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan served a legal notice on British newspaper The Daily Telegraph for linking him with a spot-fixing scam involving seven national team players.

The Pakistani cricketers are being investigated by British police over a newspaper sting in which a bookmaker was allegedly paid to get the team to bowl no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord’s which Pakistan lost Sunday.

The Telegraph apparently linked Younis, who ended his captaincy last year after a players’ revolt against him, to the bookmaker Mazhar Majeed at the centre of the allegations.

“We have sent a legal notice to the Telegraph for linking Younis with the accused bookmaker Mazhar Majeed as his (Younis’) marketing agent in a recent newspaper article,” Younis’s lawyer Ahmed Qayyum told AFP.

“Younis was never linked or had any contract with Majeed.” He said he had also forced several websites to remove similar allegations.

Qayyum said he had demanded that the Telegraph retract its story and pay compensation of 10,000 pounds (15,400 dollars) to his client, which would go to a charity helping victims of Pakistan’s floods.

Source:The News

Pakistan Match Fixing-Spot Fixing Scandal-Amir to undergo rehabilitation says Atherton.

2010-09-01T12:11:00.001+05:00

Mike Atherton, the former England captain, wants Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir to undergo rehabilitation instead of getting punished if charges of playing a role in a ‘spot-fixing’ scandal are proven against the young fast bowler.

“Admittedly, if these allegations are proven accurate, to reprieve Amir at the expense of anyone else involved would be arbitrary and, in a sense, unfair. It would give succour to those who argue — rightly — that the events of the past few days are a direct consequence of a failure to act on the excesses of the past. Yet that would be to ignore the obvious: that Amir is a potent symbol right now, of what was, what is and what might be,” wrote Atherton in his column in The Times on Tuesday.

“He should not be punished as an example to the rest, as everyone seems to suggest, rather he should be made aware of the issues, educated, rehabilitate and held up as an example of what can be achieved.

“Amir’s rehabilitation should be at the heart of the cleansing of Pakistan cricket. The brilliant young bowler is not the cause of the problem but the most tragic consequence of it,” stressed Atherton, now working as Times’ chief cricket correspondent.

Amir, 18, hogged the limelight during the best part of the four-Test series against England with his deadly swing bowling that he deliver with a big, youthful smile.

But the lanky pacer is now facing the prospects of a life ban after being accused of bowling a deliberate no-ball during the Lord’s Test last week. His new-ball partner Mohammad Asif is also accused of a similar crime while Test captain Salman Butt and his deputy Kamran Akmal are also under investigation for having links with match-fixers.

Most critics believe that if found guilty, all the players, including the young Amir, should be given exemplary punishment. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has also promised prompt and decisive action against anybody found guilty of wrongdoing.

But Atherton argues that Amir might be a victim rather than one of the villains of the story.

“Now think of Salman Butt and the nature of authority in Pakistan itself. When a slip catch disappeared through the cordon at the Brit Insurance Oval, Butt walked towards them and gave them a very public dressing-down. An England captain might have got a flea in his ear had he done the same; in Pakistan you don’t flout authority. Could an 18-year-old resist the wishes of his elders, his superiors,” he questioned.

Source: The News

Cricket Fielding Tips

2010-08-06T00:03:00.001+05:00

When fielding during cricket there are many things to think about and consider depending on where you are fielding. This brief article will look at a few essential cricket fielding tips which you can incorporate into your game to improve your fielding.

Where ever you are fielding you should always be on the balls of your feet so you can react and change direction quickly. If you are caught flat footed you'll be slower off the mark and potentially give away more runs.

Try to anticipate where ball will go; you can do this by carefully watching the batters shape and movements. This may be a little difficult at first but after a bit of practise will become second nature and you'll react much quicker to any shots coming your way and field better as a result.

When you are fielding close to the boundary and have to throw from the deep, try to aim your throw just above the keepers head and the ball should drop nicely in to his gloves, provided you have a relatively strong throwing arm.

When catching close to the wicket, such as in the slips, gulley or short leg, make sure you stance is correct with your feet shoulder width apart or slightly wider. Spread your weight evenly across both feet, resting lightly on the balls of your feet, with your knees flexed. Keep your hands together, close to the ground with your fingers pointing down. Keep your head up with your eyes level and stay alert.

When catching the ball in close, watch the ball all the way into your hands, allowing the ball to come to you; don't try to snatch at it. 'Give' with the ball as you catch, cushioning the impact. When catching in the deep, try and catch the ball at eye level and cushion the ball into your chest.

The ball can come to you at any time so it is really important you stay alert and awake so you can stop that vital run or take a match winning catch.

These are just a few cricket fielding tips that you can incorporate into you game; there are many more cricket fielding tips for specific aspects of fielding. However these are the general cricket fielding tips I've found to be the most useful.

Cricket Batting Tips-Foot Work

2010-08-05T23:47:00.001+05:00

When batting in cricket it is essential to have excellent footwork. As good foot work is the basis for achieving excellence in cricket and is the foundation for good batting technique.

Foot work is absolutely necessary as all successful strokes start with effective batting footwork.

If you watch great cricketers like Brian Lara, Michael Vaughn, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, all of these amazing batsmen have outstanding footwork, often when these types of cricket players don't perform it is simply due to lack of footwork.

Good footwork allows you to time the ball well and place the ball in gaps. It gets you in the optimum position to hit the ball, so you can hit it where you want and with ease.

If you have been struggling to play a particular shot for some reason it could be due to poor footwork causing bad timing and body positioning.

With faster bowlers it is even more essential to have excellent fast and precise footwork, so that you can get into a balanced position, in-line with the ball, so you can play the ball with control.

Getting quickly into position through footwork therefore is very important.

The more you practice your footwork against both fast and slow bowlers the easier you will gradually find it. Many players do what we call trigger movements just before the bowler releases the ball, this helps get the feet moving into position and into line much quicker and easier, especially against faster bowlers.

Next time you watch a game of cricket on TV watch the batsmen's feet really closely as the bowler is about to deliver you'll see these small 'trigger movements'; small foot movements, which help the batsmen get in position and inline early.

As a batsman it is absolutely necessary to develop your foot work and foot movement, as all excellent strokes start with effective and efficient footwork.

Pakistan’s 10 lowest Test Cricket Totals

2010-08-03T00:17:00.000+05:00

Pakistan’s 10 lowest Test Cricket Totals

Total Opposition Year

53 Runs against Australia in 2002

59 Runs against Australia in 2002

62 Runs against Australia in 1981

72 Runs against Australia in 2004

77 Runs against West Indies in 1986

80 Runs against England in 2010

87 Runs against England in 1954

90 Runs against England in 1954

90 Runs against Sri Lanka in 2009

92 Runs against South Africa in 1997

Muttiah Muralitharan 800 Test Wickets

2010-07-25T21:07:00.000+05:00

Muttiah Muralitharan 800 Test Wickets record:
Name of the great player of cricket Muttiah Muralitharan will be remembered in the pages of history due to 800 wickets record next to Indian cricket team.

Indian team leg spinner player Anil Kumble said that “it is masterly achievement in life” on Muttiah Muralitharan 800 wickets cricket record. It was his last match against India. After that, the great players were going to take retirement Test Cricket.

But he will stay alive in One Day International (ODI) cricket matches and continue plays in career. He was born in the centre city of Sri Lanka named city Kandy which is very beautiful and specially designed for truism business.

Everyone will be proud of their success, give him plenty. Congratulations from all of us, we want Muttiah Muralitharan do something different in one-day international cricket.

Cricket Video-Top Ten Weird Dismissals

2010-07-15T11:13:00.001+05:00

Cricket Video-Top Ten Weird Dismissals

Ashes touch in Pak-Australia Cricket series

2010-07-15T11:09:00.000+05:00

For over a quarter of million Australians living in and around London, the ongoing cricket series against Pakistan gives an Ashes touch.

Against early expectations, a good number of crowd has turned up at the Lord’s in two days, raising the hope of a successful series as far as on the ground viewing is concerned.

Around 14,000 fans turned up Tuesday to watch the first Test between Pakistan and Australia. Though there was no dearth of the Asian origin crowd, the Aussie expatriates living here outnumbered all others.

With the famous Ashes series to be played in Australia against England later this winter, the Pak-Aussie series gives a touch of Ashes to many fans.

“I settled here when I was in my early childhood. Since then we have been following Ashes very closely. Whenever Australia come here to play Tests against England, all my family members turn up to see the team in action. We never have at our minds that some day we will see Australia playing country other than England here in Test match,” Paul Smith, a Green Park resident, said.

Smith sees a taste of Ashes in the on-going series. “The first day was really tough for Australia and that is what we usually witness in Ashes.”

Another fan Sarah Owns loves Australian cricketers and whenever they come to England, she follows them for almost entire series. “I work here with a travelling agency and have spent my childhood in Australia where I got my education. I love cricket and am a big fan of Australians. I hardly miss a chance to see them in action whenever they come over to England. I also plan to turn up at Leeds to watch the second Test. I think the Ashes have come home even before it was due in two years time.”

Muttiah Muralitharan will retire from Test cricket

2010-07-07T12:38:00.000+05:00

Sri Lanka’s world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan will retire from Test cricket later this month, but may play one-day matches until the World Cup, officials said on Tuesday.

“Muttiah Muralitharan has decided to retire from Test cricket after the first Test in Galle versus India commencing July 18,” Sri Lanka Cricket said on its website.

The off-spinner, 38, affectionately known as Murali, is the most successful bowler in history with record hauls in both Test (792) and one-day (515) cricket.

Reports said Muralitharan preferred not to wait until the end of the three Test matches against India because he was unsure of being able to manage the workload of an entire series.

Sri Lanka Cricket said Muralitharan had the blessing of President Mahinda Rajapakse to retire early, although the bowler had previously said he wanted to continue until the home series against the West Indies in November.

Muralitharan will, however, continue to make himself available for one-day matches and hopes to play in the 2011 World Cup if needed, his manager Kushil Gunasekara told AFP.

“He will be selective in choosing one-day matches,” Gunasekara said. “His main aim is to give way to young players to come up. But if the selectors want him to play in the World Cup, he will probably be available for that.”

Gunasekara, said the star spinner had decided to take early retirement from Test cricket as he was unable to keep up with the demands of the longer form of the game.

Muralitharan, who made his Test debut against Australia in 1992, was a member of Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning team in 1996.

His 18-year career was marred by controversy due to his bent-arm action — the result of an elbow deformity since birth — which helped him impart considerable turn and bounce even on the most placid wickets.

The prolific Muralitharan claimed five wickets in a Test innings an astonishing 66 times and 10 wickets in a match 22 times.

Source: The News

MS Dhoni got Married with Sakshi Singh Rawat

2010-07-07T12:32:00.000+05:00

An Indian cricketer and the current captain of the Indian team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (MS Dhoni) married Sakshi Rawat at a private ceremony in Dehradun on Sunday, 4th July. M S Dhoni is considered the luckiest and best captain as of now with so many winning matches and series in his list of experience. MS Dhoni is a 28-year-old Current Indian Cricket Team and Sakshi Rawat is a 23-year-old hotel management student.

On 3rd July, Saturday, MS Dhoni got engaged to his 2 year lover Sakshi Singh Rawat and on Sunday they got married at Dehradoon’s Vishranti resort 7PM IST. Vishrant Resort is about 20 km far from Dehradun. At the wedding, Dhoni’s cricketer friends Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, RP Singh, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma were present. This marriage and engagement was kept unfold and was performed in front of tight security and in Privacy.

Currently, the Indian skipper is enjoying a rare break from international cricket. MS Dhoni will be next seen in action through a three-Test series against Sri Lanka which is scheduled to begin from July 18 at Galle.

No ICC Cricket event for Pakistan until 2015

2010-07-03T21:14:00.000+05:00

Pakistan Cricket remains in isolation as an international cricket venue with the ICC deciding not to allot any event to the trouble-torn country until 2015.

The ICC yesterday announced its events and host countries until 2015 and Pakistan does not feature in the list at all although the ICC has awarded the next two World Twenty20 Cups to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2012 and 2014.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said Chairman Ijaz Butt had shown interest that Pakistan should be given at least one ICC event after 2012 but the ICC members didn’t respond positively.

“The 2013 Champions Trophy was on the minds of the PCB but apparently nothing has happened to convince the ICC that international teams can resume touring Pakistan by next year or in 2012,” the source said.

MCC calls for Day-Night Test Matches

2010-07-03T21:07:00.001+05:00

The MCC World Cricket Committee fears for the future of Test cricket unless action is taken quickly to promote the traditional format and has called for the immediate introduction of day/night matches to boost the game in countries where attendances are low.

The committee, which concluded a two-day meeting at Lord’s on Friday and consists of a host of former players, reiterated its call for a Test Championship to bring context to the five-day game, but believes recent testing with pink balls means that floodlit Tests can start as soon as possible.

“We should not delay in presenting day-night Test cricket as an option for those Test-playing countries that are struggling to attract an audience,” John Stephenson, the MCC assistant secretary, said. “We say this form of the game is viable now. We proved it in Abu Dhabi with the four-day game under lights.

Simon Katich wary of Pakistan team under Afridi

2010-07-03T21:01:00.000+05:00

Australia’s opener Simon Katich expects Pakistan’s new captain Shahid Afridi to spark an improvement from his side when the teams meet for two Tests in England this month.

The series comes barely six months after Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia, when they lost 3-0 and the board subsequently dished out harsh penalties to a range of players.

The leader of that ill-fated trip, Mohammad Yousuf, retired from international cricket in the aftermath and although he might return later in the year, it won’t be for this series.

Instead, control of the Test team has been handed to Afridi, who led Pakistan at the end of their 5-0 ODI defeat in January and was banned for two Twenty20s for biting the ball in the final game at the WACA.

Last month Ricky Ponting said he was confident the Australians could “sort out” Afridi, who hasn’t played a Test since 2006.

However, in spite of Afridi’s lack of success at the helm in Australia, Katich believes as captain he has the potential to energise Pakistan, who haven’t beaten Australia in a Test since November 1995.

“When he took over in the one-day series they had a bit more direction on the field, with him in charge,” Katich said.

“They put in some good performances after that, even if they didn’t win the games they were certainly more competitive.

He’ll bring an energy and enthusiasm to the job because that’s the sort of player that he is.

I think they’ve probably chosen wisely there.” The matches at Lord’s and Headingley will be the first neutral Tests played in England since the triangular tournament of 1912 and it is hard to predict which side will appreciate the conditions more.

Katich, who has been adjusting to the English summer during a stint with Lancashire, believes Pakistan’s attack will enjoy the venues more than the harder surfaces in Australia last summer.

“Conditions here will probably suit them better than Australian conditions, given that they’ve got a couple of good spinners in Danish Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal,” Katich said.

“The wickets here generally this time of year, if the weather stays dry, they will spin.

They will prefer the wickets here than in Australia, where the wickets didn’t turn a huge amount.

Some of their fast bowlers will as well, given that there’s probably a bit more swing in England.” Katich, who is Australia’s reigning Test Player of the Year, will link up with the squad ahead of next week’s two-day tour match in Derby, where the group will also be joined by Test specialist Marcus North, the returning fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and the backup batsman Usman Khawaja.

Australia will almost certainly have two debutants at Lord’s, where Tim Paine will keep wicket and Steven Smith is likely to take the No 1 spin role in the absence of the injured Nathan Hauritz.

The series gives the chance for Australia to test their depth ahead of the Ashes later this year, although they can now fine-tune their plans in the recently-announced two-Test tour of India in October.

The trip was originally scheduled to include ODIs only, but Katich is pleased the Test players will have another opportunity to warm up before November’s Ashes opener at the Gabba.

“I think we’ve got a pretty good balance because there are still a couple of Shield games before the Ashes start,” Katich said.

“That will give the guys plenty of time to acclimatise back to Australian conditions and it’s probably good that we’ve got some more Test cricket to make sure we’re in that mode leading in to what’s a very important series.”

Source: The News

Pakistan’s bid to get suitable tracks rejected

2010-07-03T20:55:00.000+05:00

Pakistan have been deprived of any worthwhile ‘home’ advantage ahead of their series against Australia that kicks off with a Twenty20 International in Birmingham.

‘The News’ has learnt that soon after Pakistan arrived in London late last month for a marathon tour of England, their coach Waqar Younis met with curators at Lord’s to discuss the nature of the wicket at the prestigious venue for Pakistan’s opening Test against Australia starting there from July 13.

Waqar, a former Pakistan Test pacer, wanted to discuss the possibility of making a track that could assist spinners and in the meantime tried to make it sure that batting won’t be too difficult in the series-opening Test.

However, Waqar was in for an unpleasant surprise when he was told that nobody can ask the curators to prepare a certain type of track.

“They told Waqar that not even the England captain or the team management can tell the curator what sort of track they want for a particular match,” said a well-placed source.

Sources said that Pakistan believed that since it was their ‘home’ series, they had the right to choose tracks that suited their team.

Pakistan were forced to play their home series against Australia in England after the Aussies refused to visit the terror-hit country due to security concerns.

The pakistanis will begin the series with back-to-back Twenty20 Internationals against the Aussies at Edgbaston on July 5 and 6. The first Test will get underway on July 13 at Lord’s followed by the second and last Test at Headingley (Leeds) from July 21.

Led by Shahid Afridi, Pakistan are hoping to end their losing spree against the Australians in England.

When contacted in Chelmsford (England) where Pakistan were getting ready to play a warm-up game against Essex on Friday evening, Afridi hoped that his team will be allowed to give vital input on the pitches ahead of the series against Australia.

“It’s our home series so naturally we believe that we can get pitches that suit us,” he told ‘The News’. “As the host team, you can exploit home advantage which at times can play a big role in the final outcome of the series,” he added.

Afridi is looking to attack the Aussies with his spinners in England.

Pakistan have three specialist spinners — Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman — in their touring party. However, Abdur Rehman is just a part of Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad. In addition, Pakistan also have two additional spinners in Afridi and former captain Shaoib Malik. Both of them are allrounders with credible bowling records in international cricket.

Source: The News

Cricket Cartoons

2010-07-03T20:49:00.001+05:00

Andrew Strauss targets Australia whitewash

2010-06-29T15:09:00.000+05:00

Andrew Strauss challenged England to whitewash Australia after they won by just one wicket here at Old Trafford to go an unbeatable 3-0 up in their five-match One-day International series.

Victory meant Ashes-holders England, who defeated Australia in last month’s World Twenty20 final in Barbados, had now enjoyed recent success against their arch-rivals in all three forms of international cricket.

England captain, who made his best ODI score against Australia of 87 here on Sunday, believed a clean sweep could have an influence upon next year’s World Cup in Asia, where Ricky Ponting’s men will be looking to win a fourth straight title.

“I don’t think we can read much into the Ashes in such a radically different format of the game,” Strauss told reporters. “But for the World Cup, I think it would instill us with a huge amount of confidence.

“We’re aiming for it (5-0) — we’re in a great position to do that now. We don’t want to take our foot off the gas.”

Strauss paid tribute to man-of-the-match Swann’s latest impressive display for England by saying: “Swanny has been outstanding in all forms of the game for a good period of time. “Australia’s batting unit looks under a bit of pressure. That’s credit to the way we’ve bowled at them.”

Cricket News Update

2010-06-29T15:03:00.001+05:00

Flintoff back training with Lancashire

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff returned to training with Lancashire here on Monday as his long awaited cricket comeback moved a step closer to reality. Flintoff has had two knee operations since helping England to victory in the final Test of last year’s Ashes series win over Australia and has yet to make it back onto the field. Flintoff though plans to return and fight for his England place in the limited-overs formats. “The next few weeks are about getting into some sort of shape to play,” Flintoff said. “I’ve not played for nine or ten months now. I’ve just got to get fit, get back on the field and take it from there.”

CA chases ICC votes for Howard

Cricket Australia (CA) officials are still lobbying to gain enough support to install John Howard as the ICC’s vice-president in Singapore over the next two days. The appointment of Howard is supposed to be a formality but it has become increasingly uncertain following complaints raised by Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Howard’s vice-presidency will be a key issue at the ICC’s executive board meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, which occurs before the elevation of India’s Sharad Pawar to the top job. James Sutherland, CA’s chief executive, and the chairman Jack Clarke are in Singapore for various talks this week and are attempting to secure the seven votes required for Howard to get the deputy’s role.

Umar Akmal demolishes Kent attack

2010-06-29T14:59:00.001+05:00

Cricketer Umar Akmal continued his golden form when he hit a scintillating century to lift Pakistan on the opening day of their warm-up match against Kent at St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury.

The young master blaster, who opened Pakistan’s marathon tour of England with a match-winning fifty in a Twenty20 match against MCC at Lord’s on Sunday, was in full flow on his way to glorious 153 to take Pakistan to 360 in their first innings. Later, Kent played out a solitary Umar Gul over and were 2-0 at stumps.

On a day when most of his other teammates flopped with the bat, Umar was in his element hitting 17 fours and five sixers in his 188-ball knock that took him 266 minutes.

Pakistan lost their top six batters for just 180 before Umar dominated a 111-run stand for the seventh wicket with tail-ender Abdur Rehman (30). Umar Gul then hit an unbeaten 30 to take Pakistan to a respectable total. Other main run-getters for the tourists were Kamran Akmal (28), Shoaib Malik (27), Salman Butt (26) and Fawad Alam (20). Skipper Shahid Afridi fell for a duck.

Spinner Mark Lawson was the pick of the Kent bowlers, finishing with 4-93.

Cricketer Shahzad gets England call

2010-06-16T11:20:00.000+05:00

Yorkshire pace bowler Ajmal Shahzad was added to England’s squad for their One-day International series against Australia on Tuesday after Ryan Sidebottom suffered a hamstring injury.

World Twenty20 winning left-arm quick Sidebottom, who will remain with the England squad to undergo further assessment and rehabilitation, sustained a grade one strain to his left hamstring during Nottinghamshire’s six-wicket win over Worcestershire on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Shahzad, who took four wickets on his Test debut earlier this month against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, will join the one-day squad later on Tuesday at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough, central England.

“It’s a shame Ryan has picked up this injury as he’s been injury-free for some time now and bowling well,” said England national selector, Geoff Miller.

“Thankfully it’s a relatively minor injury and we look forward to him making a full recovery soon,” the former England off-spinner added.

Shahzad took one wicket for 55 runs on his One-day International debut in Chittagong in March and Miller said: “Ajmal Shahzad is a strong addition to the squad and he’ll no doubt be looking to build on his maiden ODI appearance for England in Bangladesh over the winter.”

Source: The News

Fifa worldcup Stadium for Cricket in 2011

2010-06-16T11:19:00.001+05:00

Fifa worldcup Stadium for Cricket in 2011

Come January 9, 2011 and Indian cricket team will play a Twenty20 International against South Africa at the FIFA World Cup stadium in Durban. The Moses Mabhida Stadium, where Germany pounded Australia 4-0 in a World Cup match on Sunday, will host the only Twenty20 International match of the series, Cricket South Africa announced.

Source: The News

Umar Amin set for ODI debut in Asia Cup opener

2010-06-13T12:49:00.000+05:00

Skipper Afridi hopes that Shoaib Malik will click at No 4 spot in the June 15-24 quadrangular

Young batsman Umar Amin is set to make his international debut on Tuesday when Pakistan will clash with hosts Sri Lanka — the defending champions — in their Asia Cup opener in Dambulla.

Umar, 20, is expected to fill in for former Pakistan captain Younis Khan at the crucial No 3 position as the team management is convinced that he has the guts to shine at the international level.

The left-hander from Rawalpindi was one of the two rookies included in the 15-man Asia Cup squad along with youngster Asad Shafiq.

With full-fledged backing from Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, Umar is in line for his One-day International debut but Asad will have to wait for the honour.

Umar has impressed Afridi with his skills and temperament during a brief Asia Cup preparatory camp and the skipper is of the view that he should be tried at the No 3 spot during the June 15-24 tournament that also involves India and Bangladesh.

“I think Umar Amin is a talented lad and hopefully he would make his debut against Sri Lanka,” Afridi told ‘The News’ just before the Pakistan team flew out of Karachi for Colombo via Dubai. “We have to invest in youngsters for the sake of the team’s future which is why it’s important to give them maximum possible opportunities,” he said.

Umar has scored 1932 runs at an average of 42 from 29 first-class matches. National selectors put their faith in Umar and Asad even though they had the option of picking more experienced players like Faisal Iqbal and Yasir Hameed.

Afridi said that a final decision on the playing line-up for the crucial game against Sri Lanka on June 15 will be taken by the team management after taking a look at the pitch and playing conditions in Dambulla.

“We will meet after taking a look at the venue in Dambulla to decide our line-up for the opening game,” he said. “It’s a crucial match because a good result against Sri Lanka will give us an ideal start.”

However, Afridi has more or less made up his mind about the playing eleven which should have vice-captain Salman Butt and the big-hitting Shahzaib Hasan as openers. Umar Amin is expected to come in next followed by Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal and then Afridi at No 7.

Afridi is hoping that Malik will click at the No 4 spot. “Malik is one of our most experienced batsmen and hopefully he will bat well at No 4.”

Afridi, 30, is hoping to unleash comeback pacer Shoaib Akhtar on the hosts on what he expects will be a good wicket for fast bowlers. “It would be great for us if Shoaib Akhtar bowls well in our opening match,” he stressed.

Afridi said that the team management will decide whether to play all three of Pakistan’s fast bowlers — Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer — against Sri Lanka. “We have three very good fast bowlers but we would take a look at the wicket before deciding to field all three of them. We also have two quality spinners (Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman) which gives us a lot of variety.”

Afridi is hoping that his team, which is looking good on paper, will shine in Sri Lanka. “No matter how good you look on paper but the thing that really matters is your performance on the field. I want all of my boys to give their best.”

Source: The News

World's best ODI opening pair, ever!

2010-06-12T01:41:00.000+05:00

Like dancing, in cricket - it takes two to tango. tangos after tangos, I mean partnerships after partnerships - batsman take their team to victory. without a tango/partner - no batsman can't singly win a cricket match for his team!

If a cricket team's best tango pair is at the top - the opening batsmen, even better.

Following is a story of greatest opening tango pair International cricket has so far witnessed. and I assure you - their record won't in breaking in coming 5 years at least!

Cast Sachin Tendulkar - Right hand mumbai maestro. Sourav Ganguly - Left hand Bangal tiger.

Team : India Innings : 176 (136 times opening) and counting! Total runs : 6609 Average : 49.32/innings when they open together. Century stands : 26 times over 100 and 29 times over 50 runs for the first wicket.

Note : 40 other times when Sachin-Sourav have batted together, but not as opening pair - aggregates 1668 runs. So, total runs made between these openers is 8277 with an average of almost 48!

Man of the match : 56 awards to Sachin Tendulkar (the most) and 31 for Sourav Ganguly (3rd most).

Highest : 258 (vs Kenya), 252 (vs SL), 244 (vs Namibia), 197 (vs Zimbabwe), 193 (vs South Africa), 175 (vs Australia).. thrice these two have won the match without being separated!

The first : time Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly opened for India, was at Bloemfontein - 23rd January 1997.. Sachin was himself the captain, and Ganguly was chosen as his partner because he batted lefthanded! Sachin made 0 that day-night match against South Africa, but Ganguly went on to impress with 40 off 64, and rest is history!

An adjustment : was made between Sachin-Sourav opening partnership cause Sourav Ganguly didn't believed in fast singles. Tendulkar did. Ganguly was guilty of eating up the over while in-form Tendulkar waited at the non-strikers end.. Thankfully, only 9 runouts have occurred between this best opening pair of one day International cricket.

The gift : of both Sachin & sourav was their hunger for centuries. 41 for Tendulkar & 22 for Ganguly proves that an opener must know how to carry his bat through the innings & not throw his wicket for half-centuries!

Rival opening pairs : Marvan Atapattu - Sanath Jayasuriya (5462 runs from 144 inns), Gorden Greenidge & Desmond Haynes (5206 runs from 144 inns), Mathew Hayden - Adam Gilchrist (5182 runs from 108 inns).

Sehwag factor : The right hander from Delhi forced his way into Openers slot for India, specially for his ability to smash boundaries during powerplays. Sometimes Sourav will move down the order, sometimes Sachin batted at number 3. In all, Sehwag opened 78 times with Tendulkar, 65 times with Sourav. Averaged 38 and 42 respectively.

Ganguly comeback : Greg Chappell (Team India coach from 2006 to 2007 world cup) believed that a captain should prove himself as a batsman or bowler. First - he enters the playing eleven, and then he captains the side.. Sourav Ganguly, was captaining Indian side very well, but his own batting form slumped! and that was when Chappell (and chief selector Kiran More) forced the Bengal lefthander out of the team.. 2 centuries in Ranji trophy & few struggling tours - Sourav made one of the most remarkable comebacks in history of International cricket!

Expecting many more : Don't expect them to field, but expect few cheeky wickets when they bowl.. and while batting - Team India oppositions better separate this asap!

Source:. itsonlycricket.com

Sri Lanka drop Jayasuriya, Mendis for Asia Cup

2010-06-12T01:39:00.000+05:00

Sri Lanka’s new cricket selection panel on Thursday left veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya out of the 15-man squad for next week’s Asia Cup.

Selectors also dropped spinner Ajantha Mendis and included fast bowling all-rounder Farveez Maharoof for the four-nation limited-overs tournament.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath returns after playing his last limited-overs game in 2004 to join specialists spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, 38, and newcomer Suraj Randiv.

Muralitharan, the world’s leading Test and One-Day wicket-taker, returns to the squad after recovering from a groin injury picked up during the Caribbean World Cup.

Jayasuriya, at 40 the world’s oldest player in the international arena, continues to show poor form in the national side.

Jayasuriya, who was rested for the just concluded tri-nation Zimbabwe tour, had been left out of the national squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh earlier this year.

The team management dropped him as a specialist opener and moved him down to the middle-order in the limited-overs game last year.

Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wicket keeper), Muttiah Muralitharan (vice-captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara, Lasith Malinga, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Thilina Kandamby.

Source: The News

Ganguly, Lara set for Pakistan face-off

2010-06-12T01:30:00.000+05:00

Sourav Ganguly will captain Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in a side featuring West Indies’ great Brian Lara when they face the touring Pakistanis in a Twenty20 fixture at Lord’s on June 27.

The match will be the first time that MCC, which owns Lord’s, has played a Twenty20 fixture.

It will also be the first time Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi will play at Lord’s since his man-of-the-match winning display in last year’s World Twenty20 final win against Sri Lanka.

Lara, the former West Indies captain and one of cricket’s greatest batsmen, will be playing for MCC for the first time.

Former India captain Ganguly, also a left-handed batsman, is currently skippering the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

Among those also confirmed to play for MCC are Sri Lanka left-arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas and Australian one-day specialist Ian Harvey.

“MCC is delighted to welcome to Lord’s a Pakistani side who have a proven track record in Twenty20 cricket,” said John Stephenson, MCC’s head of cricket and himself a former England batsman, in a statement.

“Shahid Afridi’s men will face an exciting MCC team comprising world class performers and up-and-coming talent.

“Brian Lara is one of the finest batsmen to have ever played the game and Sourav Ganguly is a world-leading Twenty20 cricketer,” added Stephenson, who helped select MCC’s team.

“The match will provide spectators with a fantastic opportunity to see wonderful cricket and great cricketers.”

The Twenty20 match forms part of the sponsorship agreement between MCC and the Pakistan Cricket Board which will see Pakistan play Australia in the MCC Spirit of Cricket Test and Twenty20 Series in England throughout July, with both Twenty20 matches at Birmingham’s Edgbaston ground. The two Tests between Pakistan and Australia, at Lord’s and Headingley will be the first ‘neutral’ Tests to be played in England in nearly a century since the 1912 triangular tournament featuring England, Australia and South Africa.

Source:The News

Asia Cup 2010-Match Schedule

2010-05-30T12:56:00.000+05:00

Asia Cup 2010 Venue : Sri Lanka

Dates : 15th – 24th June 2010
Participating Teams : Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Asia Cup 2010 Schedule:
June 15 Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Dambulla
June 16 Bangladesh v India at Dambulla
June 18 Sri Lanka v Bangladesh at Dambulla
June 19 India v Pakistan at Dambulla
June 21 Bangladesh v Pakistan at Dambulla
June 22 Sri Lanka v India at Dambulla
June 24 FINAL at Dambulla

Saeed Ajmal still ‘heartbroken’

2010-05-19T13:40:00.000+05:00

Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal has said the pain of losing the semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20 to Australia still lingers, having bowled the last over which conceded the game.

Pakistan were firm favourites with Australia needing 18 off the final over, but Michael Hussey bludgeoned Ajmal for three sixes and a four to hand his team a miraculous win, with a ball to spare.

“When Hussey hit the last six I was absolutely heartbroken, I am still heartbroken,” Ajmal told “It was a very emotional and difficult time for me. My teammates all came up to me and consoled me and told me not to worry, but I was very upset. The pain is there, when you lose a game of this magnitude it hurts really badly”.

Ajmal said he received overwhelming support from everyone involved.

“All of the squad, from the players to the coaches to the backroom staff have said to me that I wasn’t to blame for the defeat and they have all said that we played as a unit, we won matches as a unit and we all take responsibility as a unit for the defeat,” Ajmal said. “There is no question of anyone pointing the finger at any individuals”.

That Ajmal bowled the over was part of a plan, having succeeded in shutting South Africa out of the contest in their previous game. He said he wanted to fire in yorkers to keep Hussey in check, but things didn’t go according to script.

“The first delivery was perfect, it was what I had planned, it was a perfect yorker to Mitchell Johnson and it only went for a single,” he said.

“However, then the wind seemed to pick up and I was bowling into the wind which made me lose my line and length. I dragged the next delivery down and instead of bowling yorkers into the blockhole for the remaining deliveries as I tried to fire the ball in at the batsman, the deliveries ended up being quick and became length deliveries, which was what Hussey was hoping for. He was then able to get the elevation on the deliveries, instead of having to dig them out”.

Ajmal said the best way to shrug off the disappointment was to start bowling again. “The best way for me to get over this match is to start playing cricket again, get the ball in my hand and to start bowling again.

“Thankfully the Asia Cup is not far away and I am looking forward to playing in that tournament in Sri Lanka. I have faith in my ability and I am confident that I can bounce back after the match in St Lucia”.

Source: The News

Books on Cricket- Famous cricket books (title show)

2010-05-19T13:39:00.000+05:00

England won T-20 worldcup 2010

2010-05-17T11:55:00.001+05:00

South Africa born batsmen Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen starred as England won their first major one-day title in a seven-wicket victory over Australia in Sunday’s World Twenty20 final.

England, chasing 148 to win, after reducing a previously unbeaten Australian side at this tournament to eight for three, saw Kieswetter (63) and Pietersen (47) put on 101 or the second wicket at the Kensington Oval.

They eventually won with three overs to spare when captain Paul Collingwood struck Shane Watson for a boundary as his side finished on 151 for three. It was the first time England had won a major international one-day event after losing in three World Cup finals (1979, 1987 and 1992) and the 2004 Champions Trophy.

England, who held Australia to 147 for six, had an early setback when Michael Lumb’s exit left them seven for one. But Kieswetter and Pietersen then dominated the Australian bowlers. Pietersen, who faced 31 balls, with a six and four fours, was out when he hoisted leg-spinner Steven Smith to David Warner on the long-off boundary.

And, worryingly for England, 118 for two became 121 for three when Kieswetter was bowled by left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, having faced 49 balls, with two sixes and seven fours. But Collingwood and former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan (both 15 not out) saw England home.

Defeat in what was a first World Twenty20 final for both the Ashes rivals left an Australia side previously unbeaten at the tournament still searching for the one major title that has so far eluded them.

Earlier, David Hussey’s 59 kept Australia in the match during an innings where the next best score was Cameron White’s 30. Kieswetter and Pietersen were in commanding form against Australia’s quicks, with Kieswetter striking two fours in as many balls off left-armer Dirk Nannes and cover-driving express quick Shaun Tait. Pietersen then hammered left-armer Johnson for four and pierced the offside field with a boundary off Smith.

Kieswetter, a former South Africa Under-19 international, then struck medium-pacer Watson for two fours in as many balls. He later launched the all-rounder for a huge six over midwicket. At the 10-over halfway mark, England were 73 for one compared to Australia’s 47 for four.

Australia badly needed a breakthrough but, in Tait’s comeback over, Pietersen drove him over his head for a boundary and then struck an even more impressive six high over long-off to bring up England’s hundred. David Hussey’s 59 kept Australia in the match during an innings where the next best score was Cameron White’s 30.

Danish Kaneria arrested-match fixing issue

2010-05-17T11:44:00.001+05:00

World cricket’s top administrator has insisted officials are “extremely vigilant” when it comes to ‘spot-fixing’ after Pakistan’s Danish Kaneria was arrested in a betting probe.

But International Cricket Council (ICC) president David Morgan, in an interview with AFP here in Barbados on the eve of the World Twenty20 final between Australia and England, insisted: “I can honestly say to you that I have no knowledge of any spot-fixing that I am refusing to tell you about.”

Kaneria and a colleague at English county side Essex, Mervyn Westfield, have been arrested in connection with a police investigation into betting, a club official confirmed on Saturday.

Both Test leg-spinner Kaneria, 29, and 22-year-old pace bowler Westfield were questioned on Friday before being released on bail.

It is understood the match under scrutiny was a 40-over win against Durham last September. The investigation centres on the practice of ‘spot-fixing’ whereby money is placed on individual details in a match.

“I’ve been aware of the potential problem at Essex for a little while,” Morgan told AFP at his Barbados hotel here on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s showpiece match at the Kensington Oval.

“And I was made aware by Mr (Haroon) Lorgat (the ICC chief executive) yesterday (Friday) that those two cricketers had been seen by the Essex police,” Morgan added.

“There is a police inquiry and therefore there is absolutely nothing I could or would wish to say (about Kaneria and Westfield’s arrest),” insisted Morgan, a former chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

In its recent past, cricket has had to deal with several match-fixing scandals, most notoriously including betting scams involving the late former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje.

But in an era of spread betting, the issue of spot-fixing, where events such as the number of wides in an over can be gambled on, is potentially even a bigger problem for cricket as results do not have to be “fixed” for an underhand betting coup to take place.

Turning to the issue of spot-fixing in general, Morgan said: “Cricket is full of discreet events — overs of six balls, powerplays, in first-class cricket the morning, the afternoon and the evening (sessions).

“There are lots of these discreet events that attract people who gamble.”

However, he insisted the ICC’s anti-corruption and security unit, which is about to be headed up by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, formerly the senior police officer in the British province of Northern Ireland, was on the case.

“What is very clear is that we are extremely vigilant. We have the anti-corruption and security unit,” Morgan said.

“They look very carefully at movements in terms of the amounts bet on particular issues and so on.

“I think cricket is very fortunate in that we’ve had 10 years of operation of the anti-corruption and security unit,” he added of an organisation which has effectively been run for that time by Lord Paul Condon, a former head of London’s Metropolitan Police, who steps down in June.

“There is no more I can say about spot-fixing. We are vigilant and will continue to be so,” Morgan said.

“But I can honestly say to you, that I have no knowledge of any spot-fixing that I am refusing to tell you about.”

Both of the bailed Essex players will be free to continue playing until September 15, meaning Kaneria will be available for Pakistan’s Test tour of England, which also includes a ‘neutral’ Test series against Australia.

Kaneria told AFP in April he was “surprised and shocked” to see his name linked with the investigation.

“The story is baseless,” he insisted. “I have played my cricket for Pakistan as well as for Essex, with pride and honesty... For the last two years I have been Essex’s best performer and have never done anything wrong.” Kaneria has taken 254 wickets in 58 Tests since making his debut against England in 2000.

Shane Bond announces retirement

2010-05-14T12:13:00.000+05:00

New Zealand fast bowling star Shane Bond said yesterday he was ending a playing career which combined spectacular success with a frustrating succession of injuries.

The 34-year-old, who announced his retirement from Test cricket in December after yet another injury cut short his series against Pakistan, said he was unwilling to compromise his standards by continuing in international cricket.

"I know the time is right for me to step down," he said in a statement announcing his retirement from all cricket. I dreamed of playing for New Zealand when I was six. The reality of what has unfolded was more than I could ever hope for and I've been proud to represent NZ. I am going to miss a lot of this but I know now is the time to bow out."

When fit, Bond was NZ's best fast bowler since Richard Hadlee. In 82 ODIs, he captured 147 wickets at an average of 20.88.

Source:www.mid-day.com

Pakistani cricketers-'mentally retarded’: Intikhab Alam

2010-05-09T22:12:00.000+05:00

Former Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has launched a scathing attack on the national players, calling them ‘mentally retarted’ during their forgettable tour of Australia earlier this year, where they failed to win a single match.

Intikhab, who was replaced by Waqar Younis after the tour, revealed that apart from their woeful on-field performance, the players failed to conduct themselves in a proper manner off the field as well.

“I felt that they are mentally retarded people,” Intikhab was quoted as saying to the probe committee appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board to investigate the national team’s poor showing in Australia. “There is a mental problem with our players. They don’t know how to wear their clothes and how to talk in a civilized manner.”

The PCB took action against seven players it believed were responsible for Pakistan’s failures. The captain Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan were banned indefinitely, Shoaib Malik and Naved-ul-Hasan were banned for a year while Shahid Afridi and the Akmal brothers were fined and placed on probation for six months.

Yousuf and Younis were accused of infighting and having a negative influence on the team. Yousuf announced his retirement from international cricket after the ban and is the only one among the punished players who didn’t appeal. The six players who appealed will appear before a one-man tribunal headed by Irfan Qadir, a retired high court judge.

Intikhab, however, identified Malik as someone with a “negative attitude” who was “active in intrigues in the team”. Quoting an example of the factions that had developed within the team, Intikhab confessed to hearing that a group of “six to seven” players had gone to the former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq’s house before the UAE tour prior to the Australia series, where they “took oath on the Quran that they will remain united against (the then captain) Younis Khan”.

But Malik, a former captain, denied that allegation and said that the players had vowed to remain united in case a team member was dropped “unjustifiably”. He added that the oath was taken in Yousuf’s hotel room and not at Inzamam’s house.

Australia, Windies in Women’s World T20 semis

2010-05-09T22:09:00.000+05:00

Australia and West Indies advanced to the semifinals but defending champions England were knocked out of the Women’s World Twenty20 Cup.

The semifinals of the event will stage in St Lucia alongside the men’s tournament on May 13 and 14.

Australia secured its place in the last four after a 24-run victory over South Africa in the first game of the day on Friday at Warner Park with all-rounder Shelley Nitschke leading from the front.

The West Indies sealed its place in the semifinals after defeating reigning champion England by just two runs. Charlotte Edwards’ side, chasing 123 runs for victory, lost its last nine wickets for 55 runs in 65 balls to finish at 120 for nine.

The wickets were shared between Shermaine Campbelle (2-15), Deandra Dottin (2-31) and Anisa Mohammed (2-9), the latter being named Player of the Match.

In the first match of the day, Australia made a fantastic start to its innings after being put into bat by South Africa captain Cri-Zelda Brits.

Alongside Nitschke, Leah Poulton made a quick-fire 39 off 25 balls and Jess Cameron struck 27 runs off 18 balls.

South Africa’s Sunette Loubser (3-22) and Shabnim Ismael (3-30) were the pick of the bowlers while Brits, Angelique Taai and Loubser showed quick reactions with each running out an Australia player during the innings.

South Africa’s batting line-up flopped despite a valiant effort by number-three batter Mignon du Preez who finished on an unbeaten 53 that included four fours and two sixes.

Australia proved to be superior in the field, limiting South Africa to 131 in 20 overs and thus securing itself a spot in the semifinals of the tournament and knocking South Africa out.

Duckworth Lewis defends rain rules

2010-05-06T01:09:00.001+05:00

Frank Duckworth, the co-creator of the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method for settling rain-affected matches, has leapt to its defence after it came under fire from England captain Paul Collingwood.

But he said the International Cricket Council (ICC) needs to look at the minimum length of an innings required to constitute a Twenty20 match.

Collingwood was left fuming after England suffered an eight-wicket loss to the West Indies in the visitors’ tournament opener, despite scoring 191 — a challenging Twenty20 total.

Rain, though, left the West Indies with a target of 60 from six overs.

At present, five overs of the second innings of a Twenty20 International must be played in order for a winner to be declared and Duckworth told The Wisden Cricketer: “The ICC ought to look into whether five overs for a valid match is appropriate because you can get this apparent distortion.”

Collingwood was damning in his assessment of D/L as it applied to Twenty20, having seen his side bow out of last year’s World Twenty20 to the West Indies in similar circumstances at the Oval.

But Duckworth, who devised the system with fellow statistician Tony Lewis, countered by saying: “While Paul Collingwood may have been angry at Messrs Duckworth and Lewis, he might have been angry at (England bowlers) Messrs (Tim) Bresnan, (Graeme) Swann and co who added to the four wides that they bowled before the rain by adding four more wides.

“So, the West Indies target wasn’t just 60, it was effectively 52. Since Twenty20 came into the world in 2002, there have been about 70 cases of T20 with a D/L revised target or result.

“And there’s only been two moments of dissent, both by Paul Collingwood or ECB people, both following England not doing very well against the West Indies. It’s the high-profile matches that attract attention.

“The other 68 matches — like the one that occurred earlier (between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe), nobody queried that and in fact the result went the other way. The side batting first (Sri Lanka) won.”

Duckworth and Lewis updated their system in October last year after examining data that Duckworth insisted proved the method did not require wholesale revision for Twenty20 matches.

T20 cricket plays havoc with DL system

2010-05-06T01:00:00.001+05:00

Angry Collingwood calls for change in rain rules

The Duckworth-Lewis method used for rain interruptions in limited-overs cricket has been made to look foolish by the cramped equations of Twenty20.

On a shower-interrupted day that saw Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe in a shortened fixture at the ICC World T20, the West Indies chase of England’s formidable 5-191 was somehow shrunk to a requirement of 30 runs from 22 balls with 10 wickets in hand.

The hosts reeled it in with a delivery to spare at the Guyana National Stadium, leaving England captain Paul Collingwood and his West Indian counterpart Chris Gayle agreeing that England got the raw end of the deal and that the Duckworth-Lewis — used since 1997 — was not standing up to the demands of T20.

Collingwood’s frustrations were clear.

“There’s a major problem with this Duckworth-Lewis in this form of the game,” he said.

“I’ve got no problems with it in the 50-over form. But I know it’s made us very frustrated tonight.

“It certainly has to be revised for this form of the game.”

England’s total was built on a brutal stand of 95 in 56 balls between Eoin Morgan (55) and Luke Wright (45no) after they had earlier subsided to 4-88.

Morgan and Wright belted seven sixes between them, but the rain rules left Collingwood with the exasperated air of a captain who’d been cheated.

“I’m trying to take the emotion out of that defeat,” he said.

“But I think 95 per cent of the time when you get 191 for five on the board you are going to win the game.

“Unfortunately, Duckworth-Lewis seems to have other ideas — bringing the equation completely the other way.

“It’s the second time it’s happened to us now against West Indies, so it is very frustrating — because tonight we’ve played a near perfect game but we’ve lost.”

Gayle tempered understandable West Indian joy at reaching the next phase of their home tournament by empathising with England.

“It’s something they’re going to have to look into,” he said.

“I’d support what Collingwood just said. I could have been in the same position as well.

“It’s something that can be addressed, so it can be ‘even Stevens’ for both teams in the future.”

Devised by the English statisticians Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis, the Duckworth-Lewis method was introduced after less complicated rain calculations had shown too many flaws.

At the 1992 World Cup, South Africa went from needing 22 runs from 13 balls in their semi-final against England, to an impossible 21 runs from one ball.

While Duckworth-Lewis has eradicated such glaring errors, it was devised before the introduction of T20 cricket and so does not account for the steep run-rates that can be achieved in the format.

Muralitharan is out of T20 worldcup

2010-05-05T00:23:00.000+05:00

Sri Lanka’s main spinner and world class bowler Muttiah Muralitharan is injured and his injury ends world cup for him. According to information he was injured in the first match against New Zealand. He is suffering from Groin Injury. Officials of Sri Lanka’s team declared his injury and he was announced to be out of world cup. This will prove to be severe blow for Sri Lanka. He is main bowler in the bowling line. He was very effective for Sri Lank’s in last 10 over. Pitches of Sri Lanka are suitable for spinners and it was expected that Muralitharan will perform well in the world cup.

He will return to home and he will be replaced by new player. 38 year old suffered injury on Friday in Guyana against New Zealand. He was also voice captain of the team. Sri Lanka lost that match against New Zealand when Mcculum hit Malinga for a six on second last ball of last over. It was reported by team’s physiotherapist Tommy Simsek in a statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket in Colombo that he is having a grade one strain of his right adductor muscle. Spokesman on Sri Lankan board said that he is advised to take rest for two to three weeks and replacement of Muralitharan will be called soon.

West Indies opening match in T20 worlcup2010

2010-05-03T11:51:00.000+05:00

West Indies will have to sort out their batting woes of the opening match against Ireland when they take on England in their second Group D match of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup.

All-rounder Darren Sammy did the rescue act for West Indies in their opening match against Ireland with a 17-ball 30 but the rest of the batsmen came a cropper and that would be a major worry for the hosts.

Sans big-hitting skipper Chris Gayle, the West Indies managed to pull off a 70-run win against Ireland but even the comprehensive margin of victory could not hide their batting frailties against the minnows.

George Dockrell, a 17-year-old spinner, managed to rattle a line-up that boasts of Twenty20 big-hitters like Dwayne Bravo and West Indies cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes against England.

The hosts showed more purpose while defending the total against Ireland, but Sammy, Ravi Rampaul, Bravo and Kemar Roach will face a tougher test against Paul Collingwood and his men who open their Group D campaign.

Kevin Pietersen’s return to form in the recent Indian Premier League would be reassuring for his team, which will also expect the talented Eoin Morgan to play to their potential.

Chasing or setting a target, a lot will also depend on what kind of start they get from Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb.

In the bowling department, off-spinner Graeme Swann will play a key role with his natural guile and characteristic spunk that make him such a valued member of the side.

The sluggishness of the Providence Stadium means England will be tempted to field Miachel Yardy as well, especially after the 29-year-old player impressed with his slow left-arm spinners.

Both Swann and Yardy have done well in the warm-up match, prompting Pietersen to say that the spin duo can take the team a “long way”.

England, in spite of pioneering Twenty20 as a professional sport, have struggled to make much of an impact upon the World Twenty20.

And when they hosted last year’s edition they went out in the Super Eight phase after losing to the West Indies in a rain-affected match at The Oval.

Often seen as a batsman’s game, Pietersen — out for a first ball nought as England completed an unbeaten warm-up campaign against his native South Africa on Thursday — said shotmakers would have to play themselves in on the generallly slow Caribbean pitches before going for big hits.

“I reckon batters are definitely going to have to be a lot more patient,” he said. “They’re certainly not wickets for strokemakers.”

Spin could play an important role and England, in Graeme Swann, have one of the leading off-break bowlers currently in world cricket.

Much will also depend on their opening partnership, with England set to field their 16th first wicket pair at this level in Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb who, like Pietersen, were both born in South Africa.

England will find themselves up against a West Indies side who thrashed Ireland by 70 runs in their tournament opener.

And that was without injured captain and star batsman Chris Gayle, who could return.

“The home advantage will play an important part and once our fans get behind us it really gets us going,” said West Indies stand-in skipper Dwayne Bravo.

“I know the next game against England there will be a bigger crowd still and it’s always important. We can use to our advantage,” Bravo added.

England, who have former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan in their side, will be expected to beat the associate nation.

But having lost spectacularly to minnows the Netherlands in last year’s World Twenty20 at Lord’s, England will be keen to avoid a winner-takes-all clash with Ireland.

Raina leads India to victory against SA

2010-05-03T11:41:00.000+05:00

Suresh Raina became only the third man to make a Twenty20 International century as India beat South Africa by 14 runs at the Beausejour Stadium here on Sunday.

Victory, which saw India into the second round Super Eights after their seven-wicket win over Afghanistan on Saturday, was built on Raina’s 101 (off 60-balls) out of a total of 186 for five.

Only West Indies’ Chris Gayle and New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum had previously made centuries at this level.

Raina had an escape on five when he was caught off a Morne Morkel no-ball. Together with Yuvraj Singh (37) he shared a stand of 88 in 10 overs after the pair came together with India 32 for two in the sixth over after they’d lost the toss.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith had promised his side would be flexible when it came to their openers but few foresaw the skipper dropping himself down to No 3.

Jacques Kallis, after the early loss of Loots Bosman, went on to complete a 45-ball fifty with three fours.

The second wicket stand of 97 in 11 overs was ended when Smith was run out by Praveen Kumar’s throw to wicketkeeper and India captain MS Dhoni.

Then 118 for two became 128 for three when Kallis fell on 73.

South Africa though kept swinging and got the target down to 24 off the last over, bowled by Ashish Nehra and the left-arm quick conceded just nine.

India accelerated in the ninth over when Yuvraj swept spinner Roelof van der Merwe for the first six of the match and, two balls later, Raina lofted all-rounder Kallis high over wide long-on.

Both batsmen were severe on fast bowler Rory Kleinveldt, whose four overs cost 48 runs.

India took 25 runs off Kleinveldt’s last over, the 18th, with Yusuf Pathan hitting the first ball for six and then taking a single.

Raina then struck three fours in a row, over long-on, through extra-cover and straight down the ground, before the batsman completed the over with a majestic six, struck off one knee and high over long-off.

Come the last over, Raina was on 95 and Dhoni was facing. But when he got on strike, for the third ball, Raina wasted little time in completing his hundred with a six over midwicket off Albie Morkel before getting out next ball.

Dhoni ended the innings with a six as India scored a mammoth 75 runs off the last five overs.

Brett Lee ruled out to World T20

2010-04-29T13:27:00.001+05:00

Veteran Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has been ruled out of the World Twenty20 competition in the West Indies after straining an arm muscle during a warm-up match.

Lee, 33, will be sent home after suffering the strain in Australia’s shock defeat to Zimbabwe, adding to a long line of injury woes. Team officials have asked for permission to call up a replacement.

“It’s a muscle strain on the inner side of the elbow of the right arm,” a Cricket Australia spokesman told AFP, adding that it was separate to the elbow problem which recently required surgery.

“It was scanned but it will need to be looked at tomorrow,” he said.

Lee, who has also battled foot, ankle and rib problems, retired from Test cricket in February to prolong his career in the shorter forms of the game.

Reports said Doug Bollinger or Ryan Harris were likely to be called up if the International Cricket Council (ICC) gives Australia permission to replace Lee.

Australia suffered a shock, one-run loss to minnows Zimbabwe in the warm-up game in St Lucia, ahead of the 12-team World Twenty20 which starts on 30th April

Zimbabwe shock Aussies in warm-up match

2010-04-29T13:25:00.000+05:00

Australia suffered a stunning one-run loss to outsiders Zimbabwe in their opening World Twenty20 warm-up match in St Lucia on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe made 173 for seven, featuring a dashing 76 from Elton Chigumbura, in their 20 overs before holding Australia to 172 for seven.

Opener David Warner top-scored for Australia with 72 and Twenty20 captain Michael Clarke made 49 but, even though left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson had earlier taken four wickets for 23 runs, Zimbabwe denied Australia victory.

Australia needed 13 off the final over but Clarke was dimissed off the penultimate delivery before Johnson, one of several Aussies to be run out, was exited off a wide.

Brett Lee’s leg-bye off the last ball was not enough for Australia.

Earlier, Chigumbura’s runs came from just 35 balls with six sixes and five fours in an innings where Australia all-rounder Shane Watson’s two overs went for an expensive 34 runs.

“Obviously we would have liked to have won,” Johnson said.

“It’s disappointing to lose in a practice match but we’ve just got to keep going forward, keep working hard in our training sessions and make sure we’re ready for the World Cup.”

Clarke’s side were without the rested duo of fast bowler Shaun Tait and vice-captain Cameron White.

But the duo are set to return for Thursday’s second and final warm-up game against the Windward Islands.

Australia’s opening match of the tournament proper is against defending champions Pakistan in St Lucia on Sunday.

In other warm-up matches, New Zealand proved too strong for minnows Ireland in a 40-run victory in Guyana.

Kiwi opener Jesse Ryder made 64 and Martin Guptill 50 as New Zealand compiled a total of 187 for five in their 20 overs.

Ireland, in reply, struggled with captain William Porterfield’s 34, the top score in a total of 147 for nine. Nathan McCullum led New Zealand’s attack with three for 25.

The Black Caps are in action against Sri Lanka, last year’s losing finalists, and Ireland face hosts the West Indies in a ‘double-bill’ that will open the tournament in Guyana on Friday.

Pakistan overwhelmed the Windward Islands by 68 runs in a warm-up match in St Lucia while, in Bridgetown, Bangladesh beat Barbados by 36 runs.

Summarised scores

Pakistan 160-7, 20 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 57) v Windward Islands 92-4, 20 overs.

Zimbabwe 173-7, 20 overs (E Chigumbura 76; M Johnson 4-23) v Australia 172-7, 20 overs (D Warner 72).

Bangladesh 166-5, 20 overs (Imrul Kayes 57; M Nurse 3-21) v Barbados 130-3, 20 overs (R Hinds 50 no).

New Zealand 187-5, 20 overs (J Ryder 64, M Guptill 50; G Dockrell 3-24) v Ireland 147-9, 20 overs (N McCullum 3-25).

Viv Richards Stadium as host

2010-04-29T13:23:00.000+05:00

Viv Richards Stadium as host

International cricket is set to return to the Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua after the announcement of general elections in Trinidad and Tobago forced a change in the schedule of the West Indies series against South Africa starting next month. The two Twenty20s and the first two One-day Internationals of the series were to be held at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, but have now been switched to the Viv Richards Stadium.The Antigua ground had been suspended from hosting international cricket by the ICC because of its unfit outfield which led to the cancellation of a Test between West Indies and England last year after just 10 deliveries. South Africa take on West Indies in two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three Tests in a series which lasts from May 19 to June 30.

BCCI vs IPL

2010-04-29T13:20:00.000+05:00

The head of India’s $4 billion cricket league was suspended from his post on Monday following graft allegations in a growing scandal that has ensnared politicians and strained the ruling coalition.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed an interim chief and has said it will cooperate with tax authorities probing the three-year-old Indian Premier League (IPL).

Here are some questions and answers about the future of Modi and the league, the game’s most lucrative tournament.

What steps has the BCCI taken?

The BCCI suspended Modi minutes after the final of the third edition of the tournament on Sunday, pending inquiry.

Modi has 15 days to respond to the board’s questions on various activities of the IPL, BCCI president Shashank Manohar told reporters.

The board will drop its probe if Modi convinced them of his innocence, Manohar said.

BCCI has appointed board member Chirayu Amin as interim president of the IPL and asked the board’s secretary Ratnakar Shetty to look into all the records of the IPL, many of which are missing from the office, Manohar said. The BCCI was “fully cooperating” with the government, Amin told NDTV news channel on Tuesday.

What are the charges?

“The BCCI is looking into allegations related to initial bids for two of the franchises, charges of rigging of bids this year for two new IPL franchises, broadcast deals, and the ‘behavioural pattern of Lalit Modi’,” Manohar said.

“IPL has a telecast deal with Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd (MSM) backed by Sony Entertainment Television, and a broadcast deal with Google’s You Tube,” Shetty said.

Hashim Amla anchors Nottinghamshire victory

2010-04-26T13:23:00.000+05:00

South Africa batsman Hashim Amla’s unbeaten 64 saw Nottinghamshire to a tense two-wicket win over Somerset with more than a day to spare in the First Division of the County Championship on Friday.
Nottinghamshire were well on the way to a victory target of 250 at their Trent Bridge home grounds as they reached 127 for one.

But with Amla’s compatriot, Charl Willoughy, taking three wickets the visitors fought back before Amla, who also made a first innings 58, struck a boundary to crown his 73-ball knock.
Lancashire also made it two wins from two Championship matches as they thrashed Essex with an even 50 from England opener Alastair Cook unable to spare the home side an eight wicket defeat at Chelmsford. In the Second Division, West Indies paceman Corey Collymore took three wickets as Sussex, looking to bounce straight back to the top flight after last season’s relegation, made it three wins out of three with a 207-run victory away to Gloucestershire in Bristol.
And South African all-rounder Greg Smith enjoyed himself as Derbyshire closed in on a win over Glamorgan.
Smith made a career-best 165 and then took four wickets as Glamorgan were bowled out for 211 in their second innings.
That left Derbyshire with a target of 121 and at stumps at Derby the hosts were well-placed for a last day victory at 26 for one.

Source (The Nation)

Malik and Sania wished to Afridi

2010-04-26T13:16:00.000+05:00

Newly married star sports couple Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik met Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi at the National Cricket Academy and wished him luck for the upcoming ICC World T20 Championship which would be played in the West Indies from April 30 to May 16.

According to a news channel, Afridi said the couple wished him success and expressed the hope that Pakistan would retain the T20 title.

“I congratulated Shoaib-Sania on getting married and wished them a happy life in future,” Afridi said.

Afridi said that during the brief meeting Shoaib told him that he was eagerly waiting for a comeback in the national squad.

Afridi said he had a brief meeting with Shoaib and Sania and will present kurta to Shoaib and scarf to Sania on the wish of Shoaib.

Afridi said Pakistan team will put their best efforts for the success. On the other hand, Pakistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis said we will not take any match easy and put best efforts to achieve the target.

Source(The Nation)

Cricket News in brief

2010-04-23T01:48:00.001+05:00

ICC scraps new travel plans for WT20

The ICC has scrapped plans to fly up to seven teams from Dubai to the World Twenty20 in West Indies, after restrictions on flights were eased across Europe after a volcanic ash cloud decreased considerably. The International Cricket Council had made contingency plans for Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, South Africa and Bangladesh to transit through Dubai on Sunday or Monday before being flown to West Indies on a charter flight. The seven teams along with England will now fly directly to the West Indies as originally scheduled.

England to fly direct to West Indies

English cricket chiefs breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday after it was confirmed that their World Twenty20 squad will be able to fly directly to the West Indies this weekend. The end of a shutdown of much of Europe?s airspace because of volcanic ash emanating from Iceland means the England squad will not now have to undergo a lengthy detour via Dubai in order to get to the tournament. Instead, they will fly out of London on Sunday on a scheduled flight which will leave them with a few days to acclimatise before their first warm-up match, against Bangladesh in Barbados on April 28.

IPL should be banned, says Bal Thackeray

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has said the Indian Premier League (IPL) should be banned to save the game of cricket. It is now necessary to save the ?gentleman?s game. The Government should immediately ban the cash-rich tournament,? he said in a statement on Tuesday. ?The ongoing controversy involving IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi and former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has damaged the image of the game,? he said.

Hyderabad win in T20 tourney

Hyderabad Forte (PAK)qualified for the semifinals when they crushed Tando Allah Yar by 148 runs in their match of the All Sindh Inter-District Twenty20 Cricket Championship held at Hyderabad. Batting first, Hyderabad Forte scored 245 in the allotted 20 overs. Faisal Athar top-scored with 137 off 59 balls. In reply, Tando Allahyar were dismissed for only 97 with Shaukat Ali scoring 37. Naeem-ur-Rehman grabbed three while Rizwan Ahmed picked up two wickets.

Shoaib Akhter in Pentangular cup

2010-04-23T01:31:00.000+05:00

Controversial Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar took six wickets in a Pentangular Cup match here at the National Stadium Karachi and then declared that he would continue pushing for a recall in the national team.

Shoaib, who hasn’t played an international cricket for quite a while, said that he has regained full fitness and is looking to prove his mettle by continuing doing well on the domestic circuit.

“I’m hoping to make a comeback during the tour of England,” Shoaib, 34, told reporters here at the National Stadium while featuring to Federal Areas Leopards in their Pentangular Cup match. “There is plenty of domestic cricket left before our teams goes to England which is why I’m confident of proving my form and fitness,” he stressed.

Shoaib said that playing in the 1999 World Cup final in England remains the most cherished moment of his international career, adding that he wants to help Pakistan win the World Cup next year.

“I want to play in next year’s World Cup and hope that Pakistan will win it,” he said.

Shoaib was rejected as spent force by national selectors after failing to impress much on his last international comeback almost a year ago in a one-dayer against Australia in Abu Dhabi.

Since the, the pacer has shed a lot of weight and has looked pretty sharp in the two Pentangular matches he has played so far. “I just want to play for Pakistan and am working hard for it,” he said.

No Cricket in Pakistan

2010-04-23T01:15:00.000+05:00

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has ruled out the return of international cricket in Pakistan in the near future, saying it would have to continue playing its ‘home’ series at neutral venues for the time being.

The ICC taskforce, which was formed to look into the possibility of holding international matches in Pakistan, has submitted its report in this regard.

The report, which was tabled during the recent ICC executive board meeting in Dubai, stated that Pakistan would have to continue playing its matches at neutral venues, as the situation in the country is not conducive to host international tournaments.

The ICC board also noted the importance of a resumption of bilateral fixtures between Indian and Pakistan as soon as possible as scheduled in the Future Tours Programme.

Umer Gul will not participate in T20 Worldcup

2010-04-20T22:26:00.001+05:00

Pakistan pacer Umar Gul voluntarily opted out of the World Cup bound team, saying it is the team and national interest that is more important to him and that he might not have been able to regain fitness in time.

He told that in spite of getting selected on the team and the apparent willingness of all the concerned to carry him along, he voluntarily decided not to accompany the team to West Indies. “I am seventy to eighty percent fit at the moment but I do not think that is enough to play in an international event which demands hundred percent fitness. Every one including the coaching staff was keen to have me on the team considering the fact that my bowling was of some help during previous two editions of the Twenty20 Cup. Majority of the stakeholders believed that I can regain fitness in ten to fifteen days but that is something that is entirely based on hope,” Gul said.

The bowler is the highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game having taken 43 wickets however requested the selectors and the management not to consider him as he it would be unjust on his part to take any undue risks. “I knew very well that it was a big opportunity for me to bag some more wickets and fortunes in the third edition of the game. But it was a risk that I think the country and the team was not in a position to afford. I think you can only stake a claim when you feel you are in a position to deliver.

“I may be able to regain fitness or could never have been in a position to bowl a single delivery in West Indies. That would have been a blow to team chances.”

He said he would be happy to see a youngster taking his place in the team.

“A hundred-percent fit youngster would be of a big help to the team’s chances. We are world champions and capable of delivering another impressive show in the Caribbean Islands. I am hopeful and confident that the team would go on to defend its tile.”

Gul who is nursing his bowling arm shoulder injury was prescribed three weeks rest before springing back into action. “I even have bowled four overs on Sunday but it is the comfort level that is more important. I do not think I was feeling all that relaxed and tension free while delivering the ball. If that is the case, it means you need rest and some weeks off from training.”

The lanky bowler hoped to be in a position to recover fully within a months time. “I think I would be ready to offer my services for the England tour. The specialists are taking care of my injuries and hopefully I would be back in action in less than a month.”

Shoaib Malik night life;party life with indian girl

2010-04-16T00:28:00.001+05:00

At last, Shoaib Malik get married with Sania Mirza.. he had a scandal with Ayesha Siddiqui but that matter was resolved after big drama....
but who is this girl.. and what Shoiab Malik is doing? is there another back story? CRICKETINGSPOT has exclusively showing his night & party time photos with an Indian party girl..

Michael Clarke wins Wisden award

2010-04-16T00:26:00.000+05:00

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke has been named as one of the Wisden Almanack’s Five Cricketers of the Year in the 2010 edition of cricket’s ‘bible’.

The stylish batsman, 29, was Australia’s leading run scorer in last year’s Ashes with 448 runs at 64 but suffered the disappointment of finishing on the losing side as hosts England triumphed 2-1 in an intriguing series.

Clarke is joined in winning the accolade this year, an award a player can only receive once in his career and which is in the sole gift of the Wisden editor, by England Ashes heroes Stuart Broad, Graham Onions, Matt Prior and Graeme Swann.

Meanwhile India batsman Virender Sehwag becomes the first player to retain Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World award since it was inaugurated six years ago.

“In 2009, Sehwag broke Test cricket’s sound barrier by scoring at more than a run a ball,” explained Wisden editor Scyld Berry.

Sehwag also opens in Wisden’s 2009 Test XI, led by his India captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a side also containing five players who featured in the 2009 Ashes. But Australia captain Ricky Ponting, England batsman Kevin Pietersen and South Africa skipper Graeme Smith were among those ‘dropped’ from the Wisden XI.

This year marks the 147th edition of Wisden which has been published continuously since 1864.

Muhammad Asif and Veena Malik scandal

2010-04-16T00:17:00.001+05:00

Fast bowler Mohammad Asif might have landed himself in serious trouble after allegedly sending threatening emails and text messages to his ex-girlfriend Veena Malik.

Sources told that Veena has been receiving threatening messages from Asif, which the actress is planning to use as evidence in her ugly spat with the cricketer.

According to sources, Veena may even ask the country’s cricket authorities to make Asif go through another dope test as she believes that the player is still using banned substances.

“Veena has told people close to her that Asif still spends a lot of his earnings on drugs and that he would fail a dope test again,” said a source.

Asif, regarded among the best fast bowlers on the international circuit, was suspended for a year after testing positive for banned steroid nandrolone while featuring in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008. He was also arrested at the Dubai airport and later detained in the desert Emirate after being caught in possession of a small quantity of opium. He was later released following efforts by the then Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf but has been barred from entering UAE in the future.

Asif is counted among their key players by Pakistan, who are hoping to defend the ICC World twenty20 title in the Caribbean next month.

Meanwhile, Asif is also facing a major problem because of a bounced cheque affair with Veena.

A local court in Lahore has now asked the authorities to register a case against the player at the behest of Veena, who had said in court that Asif had given her a fake check and wanted to get her money back from him.

Veena has claimed that she gave Asif more than Rs10 million when he was in trouble with the authorities, and now, she had received only fake checks in return for the same.

Veena had also said that she had supported the cricketer financially and emotionally during his bad times. Asif had, in return, said that they he had already returned back whatever money he had taken from Veena.

Danish Kaneria investigate by Police-betting Scandal

2010-04-12T01:05:00.002+05:00

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria woke up to the news that he will be investigated by British police for a betting scandal involving his county team — Essex.

Kaneria, 29, was identified by a section of the British press as one of the two Essex players involved in ‘spot fixing’ which is different from match-fixing and just fixes the outcome of a minor aspect of a game.

The Karachi-based player, who has been one of biggest stars for Essex in recent times, has vehemently denied any kind of wrongdoing, saying he has an ‘unstained career’. He also said that he would consider taking legal action against people trying to tarnish his image.

“I’ve always been an honest cricketer and my entire career is in front of you to judge,” he told ‘The News’ on Saturday. “It was actually a huge shock for me when I woke up today and learnt about this news. To accuse me of match-fixing is simply unbelievable. I don’t know where it came from. I mean I’ve been in touch with Essex officials in the recent past and am looking forward to play for them later this season.”

Kaneria, who is Pakistan’s most successful spinner with 254 wickets from 58 Tests, said that he was deeply hurt by the allegations. “I’ve learnt that it’s a British tabloid that has written about my involvement in match-fixing. Everybody knows how credible that tabloid is itself but even then I’m really very hurt by the allegation. I’ve played for Pakistan and for Essex for a long time and has a completely clean slate,” he stressed.

It was the Sun newspaper that has alleged that Kaneria is the key suspect in the Essex betting scandal and the leggie says that he would seek legal advice over whether to sue the paper for defaming him.

“I’ll discuss the matter with my lawyer,” he said.

According to a report, the investigations are thought to centre upon a televised one-day forty-over match at the end of last season.

While other papers have refrained from naming the players involved, Sun alleged that Kaneria and another Essex player are to be probed adding that the Pakistani star’s future at Essex is now in doubt.

The paper has also questioned Kaneria’s absence from the county season that got underway this month though the player announced last week that he would join Essex later in the season as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked him to feature in the Pentangular Cup one-day tournament to be played in Lahore from April 17-27.

“I was scheduled to join Essex on April 7 but had to change my plans after being asked by the PCB to stay on in Pakistan and play in the Pentangular Cup,” said Kaneria.

According to the Sun, televised matches in the Twenty20 Cup and the 40-over competition attract millions of pounds worth of gambling money because they are normally shown in India — regarded as the hub of betting in the cricket world.

Meanwhile, according to reports, Essex have known about the allegations for a month but were shocked when they became public.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that two Essex county cricketers are at the centre of a police investigation, following allegations of “match irregularities”. With the investigation still underway, the ECB added that they would be making no comment on the matter, but quoted a statement they had received from Essex Police: “Following allegations received about two Essex County Cricket players involved in match irregularities we have initiated an investigation,” read the statement, “and are working closely with Essex County Cricket Club and the English Cricket Board.”

The Essex team was called into the dressing-room at the close of play on the opening day of their County Championship fixture against Hampshire at Chelmsford, where they were given a briefing from the county chief executive, David East. It is understood that the allegations first came to light a month ago, but Paul Grayson, the head coach, told reporters: “I am not allowed to comment on the matter.”

Lancashire may replace Younis Khan

2010-04-12T00:54:00.001+05:00

Banned former Pakistan captain Younis Khan may replace Sri Lankan skipper Kumara Sangakkara as Lancashire’s overseas player during the next county season. With Sri Lanka having a packed schedule in the coming months, Sangakkara is unlikely to arrive at Old Trafford until August, which has prompted the Lancashire team management to look for other options. “We may have to reassess if Sangakkara is still the right person for us,” The BBC quoted Lancashire coach Peter Moores, as saying. “In an ideal world I would have one overseas player to a certain point and then another player from that point. We would only like to have one change but we might not be able to avoid having two,” he added. Lancashire have already had to draft in South Africa’s Ashwell Prince as an early-season cover because of Sangakkara’s extended international commitments.

Shoaib Malik-Sania Mirza-Ayesha Siddiqui triangle

2010-04-06T11:46:00.001+05:00

Indian police have seized the passport of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, who is to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza later this month.

They questioned Malik over allegations that he is already married. Police say they are conducting a preliminary investigation after the family of another Indian woman said he married her in 2002.

Malik says he was deceived and that the marriage certificate presented by the family was a fake. The latest developments have cast a shadow over an usual cross-border romance that has captivated the people of India and Pakistan.

Malik is in Mirza’s home city of Hyderabad in southern India ahead of the wedding planned for April 15. Police questioned him in the tennis star’s house for almost two hours over charges filed against him by another woman from Hyderabad, Ayesha Siddiqui, who says she is already married to him.

A police spokesman said that the cricketer had been asked to remain in India while the investigation is carried out. Malik and Mirza later held an open-air news conference at which he said he was ready to co-operate with the Indian authorities.

“I am here to clear my name, and for that I am not leaving the country,” he told reporters. Mirza gave her support and backed the police investigation. “I know, we know what the truth is and it will come out and we believe in justice,” she said.

In newspaper interviews over the weekend, Malik admitted that he had developed a friendship over the internet with an Indian woman eight years ago and then married her over the telephone after they exchanged photographs.

But he says he eventually discovered that the photographs sent to him were of someone else. “I was made to believe the girl in the photograph was the one I was speaking to,” he said in a statement. “The truth is, I haven’t, to this day, met the girl in the photographs Ayesha sent me.”

It is still not clear if his marriage is legally valid even under Islamic law. Mirza, 23, and Malik, 28, announced their wedding last week. While celebrations will be held in both countries, the couple plan to live in Dubai and will continue to represent their respective countries in international sporting ties.

Nasir Jamshed caught cheating while examination

2010-04-06T11:40:00.000+05:00

In another rather embarrassing episode for Pakistan cricket, national team’s opening batsman Nasir Jamshed has landed up in police custody after being caught cheating in his secondary school examinations on Monday.

Officials said that Nasir was caught red handed while cheating in the English paper of the class nine examinations with the help of three of his friends, Habibullah, Ghulam Mustafa and Zia-ul-Haq.

“The invigilator at the examination centre on Lawrence road immediately informed the police who have registered a case against Nasir for cheating under sections 3 and 420,” a police official said. Nasir, 20, has played 12 ODIs for Pakistan and has been dropped from the team due to fitness and form issues.

“He was cheating and I caught him and this is something we discourage strongly no matter who the person is,” examiner Tahir Mehmood said. He said Nasir had been taken by the police to the Civil Lines police station for interrogation and was detained there.

But Nasir denied having cheated in the exams. “In the first place I was not appearing in the English paper my friends were appearing in it and I was there helping them which is my mistake. I immediately apologised to the examiner but he didn’t listen to me and called the police,” Nasir said. Nasir said he was terribly embarrassed by the whole affair and, “I should have avoided the whole episode.”

Pakistan favourite for T20 Worldcup, says Gilchrist

2010-04-02T13:27:00.001+05:00

Former Australia cricket star Adam Gilchrist says that Pakistan are one of the major contenders to win the ICC World Twenty20 championship.

“Pakistan, definitely is a big threat. Yes, I am aware of the turmoil going on in Pakistan cricket, but the defending champions are a good outfit in this format of cricket. They are one of the contenders,” said the former wicketkeeper-batsman.

The former captain of Australia, however, was surprised at the exclusion of Ryan Harris from the Australian T20 world cup touring party.

“I feel, he had played really well in all the three formats of the game for Australia. It is tough to comment on any particular individualís selection since I am so far away from the team now. But it felt a bit surprising for me.”

But he was hopeful of Australia’s chances of winning the T20 world cup for the first time. “They are good, they can win. They have the potential to do so.”

“Obviously they are contenders, too. A big contender, I must say. Their batting is deep down, bowlers are experienced. It’s a well-balanced side under MS Dhoni. Moreover, they were the champions in the inaugural edition, too. Definitely they have a good chance in the Caribbeans.

“Actually, the format is such that you cannot pinpoint any winners in a T20 tournament. One performance is enough here to turn the match. It’s totally unpredictable.”

West Indies boosted by Taylor, Sarwan return

2010-04-02T13:24:00.000+05:00

West Indies’ hopes of lifting the World Twenty20 title on home soil were boosted on Thursday when pace bowler Jerome Taylor and batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan were both named in the 15-man squad.

Taylor and Sarwan missed the recent ODI series win over Zimbabwe through injuries picked up on the tour of Australia.

The team, which is captained by Chris Gayle, are in Group D in the first stage of the April 30-May 16 tournament, along with England and Ireland.

“We are confident our players will deliver on the home stage. If we play as a unit we have a very good chance of winning the tournament,” said chairman of selectors Clyde Butts.

“We have Gayle at the top of the order and he can be a match-winner. It is also good to have our experienced players in the middle-order — Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan — and this gives us strength in the batting. Wavell Hinds has been recalled and he brings a wealth of experience. He is a knowledgeable cricketer and we believe can make a good contribution in the middle-order as well.”

Squad: Chris Gayle (captain), Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Wavell Hinds, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor.

Sania Mirza will be Shoaib's 2nd wife?

2010-04-02T13:23:00.001+05:00

The matrimonial alliance of Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza and banned Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik seems to be heading for legal trouble.

Just when the families of the two sports personalities are getting down to making arrangements for the April 15 marriage, the family of Ayesha Siddiqui, allegedly Shoiab's first wife, in Hyderabad, has threatened to legal action.

Ayesha's father Ahmad, a Saudi Arabia-based businessman told the media in Hyderabad that he is unable to understand how Sania's family agreed to the proposal when Shoaib had cheated another girl from Hyderabad.

"Does he deserve a girl like Sania?" he asked, adding that even if the marriage takes place, Sania will be Shoaib's second wife, as he had already married his daughter Ayesha.

Siddique said Sania is like his daughter.

"Sania's parents are our good friends, but I have not talked to them about this issue. They are well-educated people and they should think about it. Whey should I give them advise?" he said, in reply to a question.

He said he and his family had gone through hell ever since Shoaib allegedly cheated his daughter.

"How can anybody tolerate this? Can you tolerate?" he asked.

He said he wants nothing from Shoaib but divorce papers. "Because without Shoaib divorcing her, my daughter cannot marry again under Islamic law."

Siddiqui said if Shoaib does not meet his demand, he will file a suit against him.

"I am consulting the top-most lawyers to take legal action."

On Shoaib's denial that he did not marry Ayesha, Siddiqui said he has a recording of the India-Pakistan match in Hyderabad, in 2005, during which Shoaib declared on television that Hyderabad is the hometown of his wife Ayesha Siddiqui, adding, "when the commentator, Arun Lal, congratulated him, Shoaib acknowledged that Ayesha was his wife".

It may be recalled that when Shoiab came to Hyderabad along with the Pakistan team, he and some team members visited the Siddiqui family in Banjara Hills and attended a reception.

The Siddiquis say that after meeting Ayesha in Dubai, he married her over telephone from Pakistan.

Asked about the controversy, Sania declared that both she and Shoaib believe in living in the present.

Ayesha's father threatens to sue Shoaib Malik

2010-04-02T13:17:00.001+05:00

Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be Shoaib Malik's first wife has finally hit out at the cricketer.

The Siddiqui family is said to be in a state of shock over the reports of Shoaib-Sania impending marriage in April.

Ayesha’s father, Mohammed Ahmed Siddiqui has threatened to sue Shoaib if he does not divorce his daughter. "I want divorce for my daughter. According to Islamic law, my daughter cannot remarry if she doesn't have the divorce paper," he said in an interview to a news channel. He also said that Sania Mirza will be Shoaib's second wife.

Flashback:

Mohammed Ahmed Siddiqui claimed in February 2008 that Shoaib had married his daughter in June 2002 through a telephonic nikah after having an online affair.

However, Shoaib claims that he was only engaged to her and the marriage was called off because of problems between the families.

If sources are to be believed, Ayesha met Shoaib in a Dubai restaurant in 2001 along with her friend, Maha. While Ayesha is a little plump, Maha was pretty and Shoaib fell for her. On returning to Hyderabad, Ayesha, posing as Maha, started chatting with Shoaib.

Ayesha apparently fell in love with the cricketer and convinced her parents to contact his parents and arrange for a telephonic nikah.

In 2005, when the Pakistan cricket team was in Hyderabad, the Siddiquis hosted a reception for the cricket team. A website quotes a source as saying, "Shoaib became suspicious when he expressed his desire to meet Ayesha and her parents said she was out of town."

Ayesha was reportedly working as a school teacher in Dubai and apparently sent her actual photograph to Shoaib. This made the player snap all ties with her. He said the Siddiquis he had been duped.

source:
www.hindustantimes.com

Shoaib Malik & Sania Mirza going to marry

2010-03-29T22:16:00.001+05:00

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza are going to tie the knot in April 2010.

As per reports, the two sports stars have been in an affair for the last six months which had led to Sania’s earlier engagement to break.

Sources said that the mother of Shoaib Malik went to Indian city of Hyderabad Deccan where she met with the family of Sania Mirza and finalized Shoaib and Sania’s marriage.

This may be recalled that earlier engagements of both Malik and Mirza had come to an end.

Malik was engaged with Ayesha Siddiqui also from Hyderabad Deccan on June 3, 2002 while Sania on the other side was engaged with Sohrab Khan which she ended recently.

The wedding ceremony of Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza will take place in April while the valima reception will be hosted by Malik on April 16 or 17 in Lahore.

Muhammad Yousuf announced retirement

2010-03-29T22:12:00.000+05:00

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has announced his retirement from international cricket in protest at a ban imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The 35-year-old was banned following an inquiry into the tour of Australia earlier this year when the team lost all nine matches under his leadership.

"I always played for my country and if my playing is harmful for the team then I don't want to play," said Yousuf.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ordered the inquiry after the team lost all three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match in Australia.

“I am still baffled by the decision of the PCB and I have nothing more to say in my defence for what it is a seemingly illogical decision by the board.” said Yousuf.

“I always played for my country and if my playing is harmful for the team then I don't want to play,” he added.

He also won International Cricket Council (ICC) Test player of the year in 2007.

“If I get time, I would love to play first class cricket and private leagues,” he later added.

Pakistan Cricket Team coach Waqar Younis said Muhammed Yousuf could play cricket for about two years more. The retirement of Muhammed Yousuf is quite deplorable, said Pak team coach.