Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Yuvraj Singh out of Champions Trophy

OHANNESBURG: Injury-hit India's Champions Trophy campaign was on Wednesday dealt a massive blowas middle-order mainstay Yuvraj Singh was ruled
Yuvraj Singh
out of
the eight-nation event due to a fractured right-hand finger.

he stylish left-hander, who picked up the injury during a training session, has been advised rest for six weeks and will return home.

Delhi middle order batsman Virat Kohli has been named as Yuvraj's replacement.

"Yuvraj Singh has fractured a finger in his right hand and has been ruled out for six weeks. The selectors have chosen Virat Kohli as replacement for Yuvraj Singh," BCCI said in a statement.

"He will fly out as soon as formalities are completed," it added.

India will open their campaign against arch rivals Pakistan on September 26.

Yuvraj was enthusiastically taking part in the fielding session at the University Ground here. But in the process, he ended up hurting his right finger so badly that he couldn't participate in the batting and bowling sessions which were conducted later in the day.

The left-hander was attended to by physio Nitin Patel before he proceeded for a medical examination which revealed that he had fractured his finger.

India are already an injury-hit side going into the tournament, missing the services of star opener Virender Sehwag, who is nursing a shoulder problem.

Sehwag's fellow opener Gautam Gambhir was also nursing a groin strain ahead of the tournament. Gambhir did not play in the team's only practice match against New Zealand.

Pacer Zaheer Khan is also missing from action due to an injury.

TOI

Pakistan beat West Indies by five wickets


Johannesburg,
Johannesburg, Sep 24 (PTI) Pakistan defeated West Indies by five wickets in the opening Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy here today.

Chasing a paltry 134 for victory, Pakistan romped home in 30.3 overs with five wickets in hand.

Brief Scores: West Indies 133 all out in 34.3 overs (Ni Miller 51, D Sammy 25; Aamer 3/24, Gul 3/28).

Pakistan 134 for five wickets in 30.3 overs (U Akmal 41, S Malik 23, M Yousuf 23; G Tonge 4/25).

Bangladesh appoint new cricket chief

DHAKA (Reuters)
DHAKA (Reuters) - A.H.M. Mostafa Kamal has been appointed president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), replacing Sina Ibn Jamali, a board statement said on Wednesday.

Kamal is a member of parliament and a senior figure in the ruling Awami League of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who won election in December 2008.

Jamali was appointed by an army-backed interim government in August 2007.

Bangladesh's government is largely mandated to appoint the BCB president though the other 24 directors are elected by board members.


© Reuters

West Indies elect to bat against Pakistan

West Indies
West Indies captain Floyd Reifer elected to bat after winning the toss against Pakistan in a Champions Trophy match here on Wednesday.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi led Pakistan in the absence of Younus Khan, who was ruled out of the match due to a finger injury.

West Indies: Floyd Reifer (capt), Darren Sammy, David Bernard, Tino Best, Travis Dowlin, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Dale Richards, Devon Smith, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton.

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (capt), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Saeed Ajmal.

Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Daryl Harper (AUS)

TV umpire: Simon Taufel (AUS)

Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)

© AFPWire

India back at Number 1

rankings for One Day International
The keen tussle at the top of the rankings for One Day International continued with India regaining the No.1 spot after South Africa were beaten by Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy opener on Tuesday.

After the loss in Centurion, South Africa slumped to third position with 123 points while Australia moved up one place to second spot with 125 points. India have 126 points.

India earlier this month had reached the top spot but for barely 24 hours.

With just few points separating the top three teams, more changes are expected as the Champions Trophy progresses.


© Cricbuzz