Sreesanth doubtful for Bangladesh trip

June 6, 2008, A left side strain leaves Sreesanth, the Indian fast bowler, in doubt for the Kitply Cup in Bangladesh, which starts on June 8. Sreesanth was expected to join the team on Saturday, ahead of their departure for Bangladesh on Sunday, but has instead been told to report to the medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.

MRI scans confirmed the strain and revealed he was suffering from some effusion in the region. Sreesanth's participation in the series will be decided after he is assessed at the NCA.

Sreesanth had suffered the strain during Kings XI Punjab's final league match

in the Indian Premier League, against Rajasthan Royals in Mohali on May 28. His gave away 44 runs from his three overs in that game, which Punjab won, but bowled only one in the subsequent semi final as Chennai Super Kings chased down an easy target.
Sreesanth featured in all 15 of Punjab's matches in the IPL, and finished with 19 wickets in the tournament, making him joint-second on the leading wicket-takers' chart with Shane Warne, and three behind Sohail Tanvir's 22.
Sreesanth had been at the centre of a controversy during the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 league, having been slapped by his India team-mate Harbhajan Singh after the match between Punjab and the Mumbai Indians in Mohali. Harbhajan was barred from taking further part in the tournament, and the BCCI banned him for five ODIs, while Sreesanth was asked to improve his on-field behaviour.
India play their first match of the tournament, a preparatory event ahead of the Asia Cup later this month, against Pakistan on June 10. No standby had been named in the squad for the tri-series, also involving hosts Bangladesh, and the Asia Cup, but with four other fast bowlers in RP Singh, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan, a replacement might not be necessary.

Source: http://www.circinfo.com/

ICC considers repackaging Tests

June 6, 2008, IS Bindra: "The ICC was looking at ways to increase scoring-rates [in Tests

Plans are afoot to make Test matches more attractive and ensure the Twenty20 format does not destroy the traditional five-day game, according to IS Bindra, who takes charge as the ICC's principal advisor next month.

Bindra said the sport's governing body was concerned at dwindling Test attendance. "We need to learn from our experiences and move forward," Bindra told the Week, an Indian magazine. "We in the ICC have had very serious discussions for the last six to eight months on how to repackage Test cricket, make it more exciting and introduce an element of competition.
"It does not mean tinkering with the form but we are looking to bringing in more audience in Test matches." Bindra, a former president of the BCCI, declined to reveal the measures being considered but said the "the ICC was looking at ways to increase scoring-rates [and] have a world championship of Test cricket."

These plans will be unveiled as early as next month when the ICC holds their annual meeting at its headquarters in Dubai. Bindra sidestepped suggestions that Twenty20 will spell more trouble for the 50-over format than Test cricket. "The future of 50-overs cricket is something that one has to look at in the long term."

"For now, the ICC has laid a stipulation that all Test nations must play a minimum of 30 one-day internationals and 12 Tests each year as part of the existing Future Tours Programme (FTP) that runs till 2012."

Source © Cricinfo

Asif hearing deferred to Sunday

June 5, 2008, No charges have yet been laid against Mohammad Asif.

Mohammad Asif's ordeal in Dubai will continue for at least a few more days, after his hearing today was deferred to Sunday.

Asif has been in detention at Dubai International Airport since Sunday after authorities allegedly found a banned substance in his wallet. He made a statement today in front of the chief prosecutor though still no charges have been laid against him.

"The hearing has been deferred till Sunday," Shafqat Naghmi, PCB's chief operating officer, told Cricinfo. "Friday and Saturday are weekends there, but Asif recorded his statement today. No charges have yet been laid against him."

Sources close to the case confirmed to Cricinfo that the substance found in his wallet was a banned, recreational drug, though the urine tests conducted on Asif have come back negative.

The PCB, it is learnt, is still working through diplomatic channels to have the case resolved as soon as possible, though no Pakistani government official has yet become involved in the matter.

Source: © Cricinfo