ICC meets CA, similar meetings with stakeholders in offing

Dubai, Feb 7 (PTI) The International Cricket Council this week met with Cricket Australia (CA) officials as a part of its planned series of meetings with stakeholders to develop a close working relationship with the boards.

After the ICC Board Meeting in Perth last week, ICC President David Morgan and Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat met with Cricket Australia's Board of Directors and senior management staff in Melbourne on Tuesday and presented an overview of its activities in a session spanning 90 minutes.

"We want all our stakeholders to know what we're doing and why we are doing it. Once we understand each other's challenges we can start tackling them together for the good of the global game," Morgan said.

"It's about moving away from a perception of them and us to a culture of we. What Haroon (Lorgat) and I are seeking to do is to establish as close a working relationship with our Members as possible.

"One way of doing that is to meet key stakeholders in their own environments, put names to faces on both sides and open a dialogue," he added.

Morgan also explained that these meetings will enable both the parties to understand each other problems.

"The ICC exists because of its members and we need to know how we can serve them better. PTI

Confident India eye series whitewash against Sri Lanka

Colombo, Feb 7 (PTI) Having achieved their best-ever ODI ranking by displacing world champions Australia as the number two team, a confident India would be eyeing a series whitewash when they take on Sri Lanka in the final cricket one-dayer here tomorrow.

It has already turned out to be a dream series for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made it to the record books by becoming the first Indian captain to win nine ODIs on the trot and the flamboyant wicket-keeper batsman would like to keep the winning momentum going in the last game.

The other thing which will be in Dhoni's mind when he takes the field is that every win from here on will bring his side one step closer to the world number one position, which is being currently occupied by South Africa (125) with a lead of just three points.

And coach Gary Kirstein had no hesitation in admitting that his main aim this year is to take India to the top position.

"Getting to number one is the obvious goal this year, but You just can't think you have won the series 4-0 and be complacent in the next game.

"It doesn't happen with us. When you go onto the field you go to win and not just compete. Great teams are those that carry the momentum forward into every game," Kirsten said.

The Indians have been phenomenal in all departments of the game in the series as compared to the hosts who were rather disappointing.

PTI

Ponting returns for crucial Sydney match

Melbourne, Feb 7 (PTI) Faced with the prospect of back-to-back ODI series defeats, Australia today recalled regular skipper Ricky Ponting for the crucial third one-dayer of the five-match cricket series against New Zealand in Sydney tomorrow.

Trailing 0-2 in the series, a desperate Ponting pleaded to be recalled after being rested for the first two matches as part of a long-term workload planning.

"Ricky has today made a strong appeal to be allowed to play given that this is a "decider" game. Given the circumstance, we have made an on balance decision to support his request and we will continue to monitor his workload closely," National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a statement.

"It should be noted that selectors were pleased with Michael Clarke's leadership and batting form in Melbourne, where he was man-of-the-match, but this decision will bolster our batting. We also understand Ricky's desire to lead from the front.

A defeat tomorrow would see Australia lose six matches in a row only for the second time in their ODI history. Ponting's men have already lost the top spot in ICC ODI rankings to South Africa after losing a five-match series against the Proteas last month and have now slumped to third behind India.

Hilditch also said the squad for the remaining two ODIs will be announced after reviewing tomorrow's performance.

PTI

New York, Feb 7 (PTI) The United Nations agency for human settlements entered into an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), aimed at promoting youth empowerment through sports by targeting disadvantaged and vulnerable communities worldwide.
The landmark pact between the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the IOC brings two organisations together to create initiatives that encourage young people to participate in sporting activities.

Both sides have agreed to promote advocacy work and support field-level activities meant to improve the livelihoods of slum dwellers around the world.

"The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UN-HABITAT and the IOC is an important step forward in meeting the challenges of sustainable urbanisation, especially in the developing world," said Executive Director of UN-HABITAT Anna Tibaijuka.

"We must not forget that over 50 per cent of slum populations are made up of young people and there is no better way to give direction and motivation than by encouraging them to participate in sports," she added.

The MOU was signed by Tibaijuka and IOC President Jacques Rogge during a ceremony held at the world sporting body's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland Thursday. PTI