Reverse swing is difficult in 20-over game: Zaheer Khan

KOLKATA: Zaheer Khan's aggression was in full show on Thursday. The RCB pace lynchpin didn't actually bowl at the reporters, but was responding to a query at the match-eve press conference.

Asked whether Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL 4 campaign is under threat after three straight defeats, India's No. 1 pace bowler shot back: "A few games have not gone our way. But we are up for it. We love a challenge. And we are looking to gain momentum and capitalize on it."

Both Zaheer and coach Ray Jennings admitted that fielding has been RCB's bane. "We have to drastically improve our fielding," Jennings said, adding: "Our batters and bowlers have done well but their good work is getting undone by some atrocious fielding."

"We have done some extra work in this area which will show shortly," chipped in Zaheer.

Chris Gayle is fit and raring to go but Jennings refused to confirm whether the West Indies opener will take the field on Friday against Kolkata Knight Riders. "I'm not too sure (whether he will play)... We haven't decided on the composition yet. Having said that, Gayle is a quality player and is definitely an option."

He confirmed that Tillakaratne Dilshan, who didn't land with the squad but arrived later from Sri Lanka, will open on Friday. "He hasn't fired yet and is due for runs, but tomorrow could be his day," said Jennings.

On being asked whether the Indian players are struggling to maintain their intensity after the World Cup triumph, Zaheer said: "Not at all. IPL is only 20 overs and it isn't hard to keep up the focus. And if anything, the World Cup win has made us more confident that we can do on the field what we do best."

Zaheer, who used the reverse swing so effectively in the World Cup, admitted that he is finding it difficult to use it in the IPL.

"Reverse swing is difficult in a 20-over game because the ball doesn't get scuffed up enough. It remains relatively new and hard and makes it tough to swing it the other way."

Zaheer said KKR's loss against Kochi Tuskers Kerala indicates that it is an open field this year. "This is a very open tournament. Anybody can beat anybody. KKR's loss has worked in our favour and if we can beat them tomorrow, we will be right back in the tournament."

toi

Sri Lankan board caves in to BCCI pressure

NEW DELHI: Faced with intense pressure from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Sri Lankan cricket board (SLC) allowed its players to play in the Indian Premier League till May 18.

Lankan sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage announced this after meeting key SLC members and the selectors in Colombo on Thursday.

The minister had earlier given Lankan cricketers a May 5 deadline.

"We had a chat with SLC officials and the selection committee and considered the BCCI's request. It was decided to allow the Lankan cricketers to play their IPL matches till May 18. They will have to report to their national team on May 19 in England to play the second practice match," Aluthgamage told TOI.

TOI had reported on Thursday that BCCI was thinking of blocking the IPL fees of the Lankan cricketers and refusing to pay SLC its share of 10% of the players' earnings. Sources said top Lankan cricketers also expressed their wish to stay on and play their IPL matches before joining their national team for the England series.

But the Lankan sports minister dismissed such threats and even claimed that his country didn't bow to Indian pressure. "It wasn't a government issue. Based on the request of the BCCI, we decided to allow our cricketers to fulfill their IPL commitments. Don't forget, we share a good rapport with both BCCI and the Indian government," he said.

Aluthgamage, however, admitted that monetary assistance from the Indian board to its Lankan counterpart was one of the reasons behind avoiding a showdown. "From time to time, the BCCI has been helping SLC with finances and we have high regard for the BCCI," he said.

Earlier during the day, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said: "The Lankan players are here to stay till May 21 as they have promised and the franchises are also under the same impression. But they want to go early and it is not appropriate,"

The Lankan series in England starts on May 14 with a practice match against Middlesex, followed by another warm-up game against England Lions on May 19. "We will manage the first match with some of the newcomers in the Lankan team, but the players will have to be in England on May 19 for the second match," Aluthgamage said.

When asked if the decision to give a May 5 deadline was linked to the shabby treatment reportedly dished out to Lankan ministers during the World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka in Mumbai on April 2, Aluthgamage said: "These are two separate issues. It is true that 10 to 15 ministers who had gone to Mumbai for the World Cup final matches were given a Rs 5,000 ticket and those ministers underwent security checks at every point, which was embarrassing. But that is a protocol issue. This is cricket and don't mix the game with protocol issues."

toi