Pakistan to raise Australia stand in ICC meet

KARACHI (Reuters) - Pakistan will raise Cricket Australia's policy not to tour the country over security fears but travel to India at the International Cricket Council (ICC) next month, sports minister Najamuddin Khan said. Khan will attend ICC's executive board meeting as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is without a chairman since August and is being monitored by the sports ministry. "Australia can play in India although even there, unfortunately, there have been bomb blasts but they're refusing to tour Pakistan," he told Geo News channel. Australia have refused to tour Pakistan over safety and security concerns for its players following a spate of suicide bombings. They were among the teams who declined to play in this month's Champions Trophy in Pakistan citing security fears, forcing the tournament to be postponed until late next year. However, Australia are in India to play four tests after accepting security assurances from the Indian board despite a series of bomb attacks in New Delhi, including one on Saturday. "I will raise this issue with the ICC and talk to the Australians also," he said. "I think they are opting double standards and following different policies for Pakistan and India which is unfair to our cricket." Khan said he would try to convince the other boards to give fresh dates for the eight-team Champions Trophy. "We'll try our best to keep Champions Trophy in Pakistan because we are assuring foolproof security to all teams and we want our cricket to flourish."

Source: www.cricbuzz.com

Ganguly included for first two tests

The new selection committee, led by Kris Srikkanth has included Sourav Ganguly for the first two tests against Australia.Saurav Ganguly's inclusion has come as a surprise after he was left out of the Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy.It is understood that the selectors want to give the Bengal left-hander an honourable exit from the game and that Ganguly will retire after the Australia series as part of a transition plan.Another surprise inclusion is Delhi's 25 year-old leg spinner Amit Mishra, who pipped favourites Pragyan Ojha and Murali Karthik to take the third spinner's slot.The last batsman's slot was handed to S. Badrinath, who had a remarkable domestic season, ending as the second highest run getter in the Ranji trophy.Munaf Patel and RP Singh are the other two pacemen in the squad but are likely to play if either of Ishant Sharma or Zaheer Khan gets injured.The selectors chose not to name any back-up openers or wicket-keepers.India squad: Anil Kumble (c), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Saurav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, S Badrinath, Amit Mishra, Munaf Patel, RP Singh.

Source: www.cricbuzz.com