I need to be focused to my job in NZ: Lakshmipathy Balaji

CHENNAI: Back in the Test squad after a four-year hiatus, comeback man Lakshmipathy Balaji reckons it would be just a matter of finding a rhythm in New Zealand and wickets would automatically follow.

The lanky Tamil Nadu pacer believes he has regained the lost touch and is not perturbed either by the conditions in New Zealand or the varying tracks there.

"I am not unduly worried about the condition of pitches in New Zealand. Of course it is going to be challenging, particularly because of the weather. But as an international cricketer, I am confident of adapting to the conditions.

"So long as I keep my rhythm, other things will fall in place," Balaji said.

Once he is on song, Balaji said neither the nature of the track nor the atmosphere could affect his rhythm.

"The atmosphere around or the conditions of the pitch does not affect me or my rhythm. I just need to be focused to my job, the job of maintaining the line and length and take wickets", he said.

Balaji is particularly happy with the way his body has responded after returning from a stress fracture that threatened his career.

"Since recovering from stress fracture and a back surgery later, I have bowled over 400 overs in domestic cricket. I have got back to my old ways of bowling," Balaji said.

Balaji agreed most of his teammates have no prior experience of playing in New Zealand but felt the seniors would help the youngsters to overcome the problem.

"Like every cricketer, I also know that the weather conditions will be windy and harsh in New Zealand. Many players are making their first tour to New Zealand but seniors in the team who had been to New Zealand number of times -- like Sachin (Tendulkar), (Virender) Sehwag and others -- are there to guide us," he said.

Balaji said he has been bowling well since last year's Indian Premier League and he just wanted to keep doing the good job.

"Now I am hundred per cent fit and bowling well since the IPL tournament last April. I have worked harder than before during the last a year or more and have also increased the workload for optimum levels.

"Now my body has responded well to the calls and feeling pretty good. I believe in myself and I will surely give hundred per cent for good results," he said.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Swann puts West Indies in a spin

ST JOHN'S: Graeme Swann's off-spin proved the undoing of West Indies as England took command of the third Test by bowling out the hosts for 285 on the third day on Tuesday.

England lost captain Andrew Strauss in reaching 31 for one in their second innings at the close, a lead of 312 runs with nine wickets remaining.

Swann became the first England off-spinner in 10 years to take five wickets in a Test innings, completing figures of five for 57 on a ground where slow bowlers usually have little joy with his well-flighted and positive bowling.

Ramnaresh Sarwan's stylish 94 was the only bright spot in a largely poor West Indies batting display but he was one of a number of batsmen who got out to loose strokes.

Chasing England's 566 for nine declared, West Indies could ill-afford any recklessness but although they may have feared England's pace bowlers being able to make the most of the ridge on the wicket it was Swann who proved their downfall.

After West Indies resumed on 55 for one overnight, the spinner made two breakthroughs before lunch.

Opener Devon Smith and night watchman Daren Powell resisted well for over an hour before left-hander Smith was bowled by Swann playing an awful shot across the line.

Powell, normally a tail ender, produced his longest test innings before he edged a well-flighted, turning Swann delivery to Paul Collingwood at slip.

SHARPLY AWAY

Ryan Hinds helped Sarwan add 70 for the fourth wicket until Andrew Flintoff moved a ball sharply away to have the left-hander caught for 27 by a diving Matt Prior behind the stumps.

Then Shivnarine Chanderpaul, so often the anchor of West Indian batting, made just one before he edged an outswinging half-volley from Broad straight to Prior.

Sarwan batted beautifully, timing the ball crisply, but having survived a risky single when Stuart Broad missed the stumps with the batsman stranded, he had another escape when Broad spilled a caught and bowled opportunity.

Just six runs short of his century, Sarwan came down the track in an attempt to drive Swann over the top only to loop the ball to Flintoff at mid-on who snaffled the chance.

With his next ball Swann dismissed Denesh Ramdin, gleefully taking a caught and bowled from a poor full-toss.

Flintoff removed Brendan Nash before Swann picked up his fifth wicket by trapping Sulieman Benn lbw.

With a tired bowling attack, Strauss decided to bat again and force West Indies to try and save the game batting last.

Strauss did not make it through the session, though, edging Fidel Edwards to Devon Smith at second slip.

Night watchman James Anderson entered the record books with his 46th test innings without making a duck but he was lucky to get through to the close as he was dropped by Hinds at third slip off Edwards.

The last off-spinner to take five wickets in a Test innings for England was Peter Such against Australia in Sydney in 1999.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Referral system is beneficial, says Lorgat

MUMBAI: Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar did not find the umpiring referral system fool-proof when he encountered it last year but according to ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, the system has improved and was contributing in making correct decisions.
"The referral system, which Tendulkar experienced first-hand during India's 1-2 Test series defeat to Sri Lanka last year, has improved the rate of giving correct decisions," Lorgat said on Tuesday night.

"The idea is to give sufficient help (to the umpires) to get the decisions correct. We have seen that the correct decisions' percentage has gone up from 94 to 98 per cent with this system in place," the ICC official said.

"Anyway the ICC's Cricket Committee would decide on the matter in May when it meets and put forward their proposal to the Executive Board in June," Lorgat added.

Tendulkar was not impressed with the system and had openly expressed his feelings.

"When I was there in Sri Lanka last time, I did not like the Umpires Referral system. There is still an element of uncertainty in the system," Tendulkar had said here last week.

"I still prefer the hot-spot system to identify the contact between the ball and bat. The LBW decisions are not convincing enough as the Hawk Eye gives a 22-yard view which the new referral system does not agree with ... As to whether the ball would have hit the stumps or not," Tendulkar said.

His India teammate Harbhajan Singh had sung a different tune on the same day by saying that the system should be extended to the One-dayers as well.

Apart from the referral system, Lorgat said the ICC was worried about match-fixing raising its ugly head once again.

He said they were in talks with the Indian Premier League to send its Anti-Corruption Unit officials to oversee it in April-May.

"We should never be complacent and see a situation that we got into a few years back. We are having discussions with IPL Governing Council with (chairman) Mr (Lalit) Modi and the others and have offered the services of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit," Lorgat said.

In the first season of the IPL the organisers of the League had their own ACU officials to supervise the event.

Lorgat reiterated ICC's commitment to see that cricket is not tainted by the drug menace that has affected some other sports disciplines, notably athletics and weightlifting.

"We have zero tolerance for drugs and have signed an Anti-Doping Code (with World Anti Doping Agency)," he said.

Queried about the request from the Pakistan Cricket Board for pre-dating the start of the one-year ban imposed on drug-tainted pacer Mohammed Asif, already rejected by the IPL, Lorgat replied, "We have not received any application from the PCB."

On the matter of slow over rate that has been the bane of international cricket, Lorgat said that of late it has been brought under control.

"Recently there was only one instance of slow over rate, that too by just one over. We have addressed the issue by taking care of things which lead to the slowing down," the ICC Chief Executive added.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Tough opener for Saina Nehwal

MUMBAI: Saina Nehwal is always game for tough challenges. So what if she has drawn nemesis Pi Hongyan of France, ranked fifth in the world, in the All England opener.

Saina simply says bring it on. "I'm actually happy with the draw and facing Hongyan first up," the 10th-ranked Indian told TOI shortly after the draw was released on Tuesday.

"All England is one tournament I desperately want to win, but if it doesn't happen this year, I'll always have another shot at it next season. In fact, if I get through a tough match to start with, it'll only be a huge confidence booster," said Saina, who chose to skip the on-going National Championship in Indore to give her playing shoulder some rest before the $200,000 Super Series event to be held in Birmingham from March 3-8.

Saina has never been comfortable playing fourth seeded Hongyan, considered one of the fastest movers on court and one with lethal drops.

The junior world champion trails the 30-year-old Frenchwoman 1-4, with the lone win coming at the Super Series Masters Finals in Malaysia last December.

Saina isn't willing to look beyond the first round at Birmingham. "I've played her several times to know how to beat her. But, she's one of the toughest players on tour and it's going to be another long match," said Saina.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Tough_opener_for_Saina_Nehwal/articleshow/4146224.cms

Sania-Santangelo in Dubai Open pre-quarters

DUBAI: Sania Mirza and her Italian partner Mara Santangelo advanced to the doubles pre-quarterfinals of the $2 million Dubai Tennis Championships after getting a walkover from Poland's Urszula Radwanska and Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland in the first round.

An injury to Radwanska forced the Polish-American pair to give away the match to their opponents.

Sania and Sanatangelo now have a tough job at hand as they face top seeded pair of Zimbabwean Cara Black and American Lizel Huber in the second round.

Sania's singles campaign had ended on Tuesday after losing her second round match to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sania-Santangelo_in_Dubai_Open_pre-quarters/articleshow/4147270.cms

Modi threatens to take away IPL matches from Jaipur

Mumbai, Feb 16: Embroiled in a series of legal battles and facing dissent in his home association, IPL Chairman Lalit Modi today threatened to shift the Twenty20 matches out of Jaipur, saying the recent FIRs lodged against him were “politically motivated”.Modi said he has been authorised by the IPL Governing Council to decide on the venue of the IPL matches and shifting them from Jaipur was an option being considered.“It is going to deter the IPL management from staging matches (in Jaipur). The Governing Council has already taken a decision authorising me to decide whether we should be able to hold matches anywhere, whether it’s one place or x, y, z,” Modi told reporters here.“The option to move matches (out of Jaipur) is available to us. We are looking at alternate venues without doubt. If any government anywhere is going to deter the IPL management from staging matches we would take away those matches and hold them elsewhere,” he added.A case of cheating was lodged against Modi at a Jaipur police station yesterday for alleged failure to deposit the entire Rs six crore he publicly promised for the city’s blast victims in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Modi, however, dismissed the accusations as the state government’s ploy to harass him. “The FIR against me specifically in relation to IPL yesterday is ill-conceived and looks to be politically motivated. Nowhere are complaints registered in the morning and turned into FIRs in the afternoon,” Modi said.

Shahzad, Ali stake Test claims as Sri Lanka toil

KARACHI: Openers Ahmed Shahzad and Azhar Ali hit contrasting centuries for Patron's XI in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday to press claims for a Test place.

Shahzad, aged just 17, scored an aggressive 146 while Ali notched a sedate 100 as Sri Lanka's bowlers toiled hard on a placid Defense Stadium pitch, their only warm-up match before the first of two Tests starting on February 21.

The pair helped Patron's XI reach 395/4 at close on the first day after home team captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and decided to bat. At close Asim Kamal and Sarfraz Ahmed were unbeaten on 18 and 13 respectively.

Shahzad, who represented Pakistan in the Junior World Cup last year, hit 22 boundaries and a six during his 174-ball knock and added 204 runs with Ali.

Shahzad had to retire after he was hit in the groin by a delivery from paceman Thilan Thushara.

Ali, who took 54 deliveries to open his account, hit nine boundaries and two sixes during his 208-ball innings, making a strong case for selection for Pakistan in near future.

Afridi, who is pressing for a Test recall, hit eight boundaries and a six during his rapid-fire 29-ball 49.

Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan went wicketless in 11 overs, while Ajantha Mendis took 1-69.

Muralitharan was unlucky not to have dismissed Shahzad when skipper Mahela Jayawardene spilled a catch in the slips. Shahzad was then on 74.

Soruce: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Shahzad-Ali-stake-Test-claims-as-Sri-Lanka-toil/articleshow/4144666.cms

Pakistan clears last six ICL players

KARACHI: A Pakistani court on Tuesday lifted domestic bans on the country's last six active players who joined the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Seventeen ICL rebels are now free to play domestic cricket in Pakistan but remain barred from international matches until they are cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Humayun Farhat, Riaz Afridi, Arshad Khan and Taufiq Umar got their bans suspended by the court and are now free to play in domestic matches," the players' lawyer Zahid Fakhruddin said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) respected the decision and cleared the players for domestic matches. Eleven players were reprieved last week, nine of whom featured in the latest round of Pakistan's premier Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

A total of 19 Pakistani players featured in the ICL, which is bankrolled by India's largest media group, Zee Television, but not recognised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India or the ICC.

Former Pakistan capital Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saqlain Mushtaq are the only players who remain barred from domestic cricket, but both are now retired.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Collingwood puts England in command

ST JOHN'S: A century from Paul Collingwood led England to an imposing 566 for nine declared on the second day of the third Test against West Indies in Antigua, as the tourists made their first test mauling a distant memory.


Just nine days after being bowled out for 51 at Sabina Park and suffering an innings defeat, England amassed over 10 times that total with five batsmen scoring half centuries or more.

Collingwood was the constant presence throughout a sun-blessed day at the Antigua Recreation Ground, as his 113, his eighth Test century, provided a perfect complement to skipper Andrew Strauss's 169 on Sunday.

A great day for England ended with the added bonus of the wicket of West Indies captain and batting threat Chris Gayle, who drove Steve Harmison to James Anderson at mid-off to depart on 30.

West Indies ended the day on 55 for one - trailing by 511 runs.

Arriving at the crease after West Indies removed the nightwatchman James Anderson, Collingwood took the upper hand in a positive partnership with Kevin Pietersen through to lunch.

It is not often that Pietersen is overshadowed by his partner but Collingwood's aggression was impressive, as was the way he was able to adjust his role, first to provide stability and then later to take the main run-making responsibility again.

Fidel Edwards had been threatening with the new ball but West Indies did not look like making any headway until after lunch when Jerome Taylor picked up two quick wickets.

With the first ball of his spell he bowled Pietersen for 51 with a delivery that kept low and then Andrew Flintoff went two balls later, Taylor removing his middle and off stump.

Questions answered

Those breakthroughs gave the hosts heart but any questions over England's character that still remained after the debacle at Sabina Park were answered as Collingwood and Matt Prior put on a nicely paced 62-run partnership.

With England looking to pick up the run-rate, Prior skied a simple catch to Shivnarine Chanderpaul handing West Indies' Australian-born medium-pacer Brendan Nash his first test wicket.

Stuart Broad then played some well-timed shots in a lively 44, a partnership which allowed Collingwood to complete his century and take the applause of an overwhelmingly English crowd.

After Broad went, caught behind off Ryan Hinds, Graeme Swann contributed 20 and when Collingwood finally departed, caught at deep midwicket by Fidel Edwards off Hinds, Strauss declared.

That gave England an hour to bowl at West Indies and they gained the precious wicket of Gayle.

The Jamaican had survived an impressive opening spell from Flintoff and Anderson before crashing Steve Harmison for a six and four in the same over only then to drive the England seamer straight into the arms of Anderson at mid-off.

With such a huge score to chase West Indies needed more than the 30 Gayle provided them and the pressure is now on Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul to produce big and long innings on Tuesday.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4134022.cms

ICC asks 2011 WC organisers to consider alternate venues

NEW DELHI: Aware of the turmoil in Pakistan, the International Cricket Council on Tuesday asked organisers of the 2011 World Cup to consider shifting venues to another city, even to another country, if situation so demands.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting of the 2011 World Cup Central Organising Committee here, ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said the turmoil in Pakistan was a "consideration" for the governing body which asked the organisers to consider alternate venues in case of an emergency.

"It's a consideration that we have to give attention to. This is not something we discussed today, except to ask the organisers to consider alternate host city venues within the country as well as alternate country venues in the event of something is not favourable in one of the particular host countries," Lorgat said.

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will jointly host the event.

Lorgat, however, felt there was still enough time in hand and there was no need to press the panic button.

"I think it's still a long way off to World Cup. It is certainly a consideration to keep note of but it's way too early to be already concerned at this particular stage," he added.

Reminded about visiting teams' reluctance to tour Pakistan and whether he was optimistic about a marked change in the situation in the trouble-torn country, Lorgat said," I'm optimistic by nature. But at the same time, I'm no crystal ball gazer.

"But we are monitoring the situation regularly and we recently got the Board to support that ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) would take on the extra responsibility of monitoring security on an ongoing basis."

Lorgat said of the 15 World Cup venues, eight would be in India, four in Pakistan, two in Sri Lanka and one in Bangladesh.

Lorgat said ICC was in touch with the Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi on deploying ACSU officials during the IPL.

"We are in discussion with Mr Modi. They are keen to have ACSU officials in IPL and we also feel it makes sense," he said.

Representatives from all the members boards, including Pakistan Cricket Board President Ejaj Butt and CEO Saleem Altaf, BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan, Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty, Sri Lankan cricket board CEO Duleep Mendis and Bangladesh Cricket Board officials attended the meeting presided by Organising Committee Chairman Sharad Pawar.

ICC Principal Adviser IS Bindra was also present in the meeting.

The committee appointed Salim Butt of Pakistan as the Managing Director, while setting up a number of working groups to work out the details "so that we can deliver a successful, world class event," Lorgat said.

The ICC official seemed unperturbed by the snapping of cricket ties between India and Pakistan and didn't foresee it affecting organisation of the World Cup.

"This issue must be approached with an optimistic viewpoint, certainly because we still have some time in our hand. I think it's way too early to be presumptuous and assume that things won't work.

"When we come close to the event, obviously we have to pay much more attention to the issues like safety, security and relation between the countries. But I can assure you at this stage we are planning a World Cup in all the four countries," he said.

Lorgat accepted the criticism of the 2007 World Cup for being too long and said ICC this time was looking at an event which would not go beyond six weeks after its scheduled February 19, 2011 start.

"We are planning to reduce the time-span, not to go beyond the six-week period. The last two weeks of February and March. We are looking to shorten the period down to six weeks," he said.

"We want a shorter and sharper tournament not beyond six weeks and if my memory serves me right, not more than 49 games," he said.

Taking stock of the progress made so far, Lorgat said the organisers were still running behind schedule and had some catch-up job ahead of them.

"There is an acknowledgment that we are little late than we would have liked. This is again why Mr Pawar is driving all forces so that planning and operational issues get underway. We have got some work to catch up with," he said.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Look-for-alternate-venues-ICC-to-WC-organisers/articleshow/4143513.cms

No charges will be filed against Michael Phelps

COLUMBIA: No charges will be filed against American swim star Michael Phelps from his being photographed with a pipe typically used to smoke marijuan a, police announced on Monday.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lett said that after a full investigation into the November party at which Phelps was photographed, touching off a controversy that led to a three-month ban, there was not enough evidence to charge anyone.

"Having thoroughly investigated this matter, we do not believe we have enough evidence to prosecute anyone that was present at the November party," Lett said.

Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics six months ago, was shown holding a bong in a photograph published two weeks ago by a British newspaper, humiliating the superstar swimmer.

Phelps was suspended for three months by USA Swimming and lost a sponsorship deal with cerealmaker Kelloggs.

Police confiscated the bong, whose owner reportedly tried to sell the now-infamous pipe for $100,000 on eBay, and questioned people regarding the party after learning it was staged near the University of South Carolina.

Lett had been criticized by some for seeking attention in going after Phelps but defended his inquiry as responsible law-enforcement given the situation.

"By ignoring the November incident, I would have been sending a message of tolerance and condoning the use of illegal drugs. I could not do that," Lett said.

"How can we teach our kids... not to do drugs, then look away when it's an important person?

"Michael Phelps and I agree that something positive needs to come from this incident and that is a message of not using drugs. My perspective is that the law pertains to everyone and our drug laws are to be enforced."

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/No_charges_will_be_filed_against_Phelps/articleshow/4139722.cms

Sports Ministry interested in calling Yousuf back

KARACHI: Pakistan's sports ministry is considering summoning Mohammad Yousuf in Islamabad in a bid to help him earn a comeback in the national team.

A couple of days after the premier Pakistani batsman urged President Asif Zardari to help him resurrect his international career, sports minister Aftab Jilani said in an interview on Monday that his ministry is ready to play a role in ending the ban on Yousuf and other Pakistani cricketers associated with the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL).

At a press conference in Karachi on Saturday, Yousuf appealed to Zardari to help him return to the national team.

In response, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ejaz Butt said that the player will be taken into the Pakistan team as soon as he terminates his contract with the ICL.

Jilani welcomed Butt's remarks. "I was pleased to learn that the PCB chief is looking at the issue in a positive manner," said Jilani, a member of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

Jilani said that he will talk to the Board top brass in a bid to convince them that the ICL issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible. The minister said if necessary, he will also take guidelines from President Zardari about the Yousuf case.

Jilani said he will ask Butt to hold talks with the country's ICL cricketers.

Pakistan had banned 20 of its leading cricketers after they signed contracts to play in the rebel ICL.

Earlier this month, the Sindh High Court (SHC) suspended the domestic ban on the ICL players but they still cannot represent Pakistan at the international level because the PCB claims that the International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations bars it from considering ICL players for national duty.

Soruce: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sports_Ministry_interested_in_calling_Yousuf_back/articleshow/4137929.cms

Lalit Modi threatens to take away IPL matches from Jaipur

MUMBAI: Embroiled in a series of legal battles and facing dissent in his home association, IPL Chairman Lalit Modi on Monday threatened to shift the Twenty20 matches out of Jaipur, saying the recent FIRs lodged against him were "politically motivated".

Modi said he has been authorised by the IPL Governing Council to decide on the venue of the IPL matches and shifting them from Jaipur was an option being considered.

"It is going to deter the IPL management from staging matches (in Jaipur). The Governing Council has already taken a decision authorising me to decide whether we should be able to hold matches anywhere, whether it's one place or x, y, z," Modi told reporters.

"The option to move matches (out of Jaipur) is available to us. We are looking at alternate venues without doubt. If any government anywhere is going to deter the IPL management from staging matches we would take away those matches and hold them elsewhere," he added.

A case of cheating was lodged against Modi at a Jaipur police station on Sunday for alleged failure to deposit the entire Rs six crore he publicly promised for the city's blast victims in the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Modi, however, dismissed the accusations as the state government's ploy to harass him.

"The FIR against me specifically in relation to IPL yesterday is ill-conceived and looks to be politically motivated. Nowhere are complaints registered in the morning and turned into FIRs in the afternoon," Modi said.

"Every time they file one it is without substance," he fumed.

He said the IPL was only a facilitator towards donating the Rs 6 crore promised by the League's franchises and other sponsors and it cannot be held responsible for any lapses.

"Already a sum of Rs 5.2 crore has been deposited into the CM's Relief Fund and others who had pledged to do so in the wake of the Jaipur bomb blast, I'm told, are doing so," said Modi, also President of Rajasthan Cricket Association.

"We all felt sorry for what happened and wanted to help. The IPL is only a facilitator."

The FIR was lodged by an NGO Nagrik Morcha. Modi is also facing charges for allegedly acquiring a piece of land in Nagaur district through unfair means. He has been questioned by police in this regard.

He is also embroiled in a power struggle in the RCA against secretary Subhash Joshi and few district associations which have put up a united front against him.

Modi said Rajasthan Royals, by virtue of winning the IPL in the first season, were given the choice of hosting the final at a venue of their choice and they have opted for Mumbai and specifically the Cricket Club of India.

"From this year the IPL would be directly dealing with the final and semifinals and we have a revenue sharing formula with the franchises. Rajasthan Royals have opted for Mumbai to host the final and their first choice is CCI and the second option we have given is D Y Patil Stadium (in Navi Mumbai)," he said

The IPL chairman said in case the CCI, which is to decide on the issue through an EGM on February 27, is ruled out and Royals do not want to host it at D Y Patil then they can conduct the match outside Mumbai.

As per their contractual obligations with sponsors, a major chunk of the CCI pavilion seats would have to be reserved for the IPL which is against the existing CCI constitution, according to Modi.

"That's why they are having the EGM. We have told them we would give their members 5000 seats in the West Stand but we need a major chunk of seats in the pavilion for ourselves to fulfill out contractual obligations with franchises and sponsors," he said.

Modi said as far as league ties were concerned, the respective franchises will take away the entire gate collections and they were fully authorised to deal with the match staging authorities like the CCI.

"For hosting their seven home matches the Mumbai Indians have the option of playing them at the CCI or D Y Patil as per their discretion. Their requirement is very different to ours (IPL's). All the revenues (of league ties) would go to team owners," he said.

Modi said currently IPL was looking at 11 venues, two in Mumbai and one each in other seven home cities of the franchisees, apart from Cuttack and Ahmedabad.

"Currently there are 11 venues. There are two in Mumbai and one each in other seven cities (Jaipur, Chennai, Mohali, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad). One franchise is looking out for another venue within India or overseas," he said.

The IPL chief said the venues for hosting the second IPL season in April-May would be decided soon. "In the next few days they would be decided," he said.

He also said that Chennai Super Kings, by virtue of having finished runners-up, have the option of staging the two semifinals in the second season and they have decided to stage both in their home city.

Modi said that the IPL would resolve the dispute between Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group-controlled BIG TV, which has withdrawn from its partnership with the IPL as its ground sponsors, and the League's broadcast rights holders Sony Entertainment Television by Tuesday.

"I don't know the details, but we hope we can settle it by tomorrow. We cannot allow our ground sponsors getting an unfair deal on air. We will go to the bottom of this. Sony has to comply with our contractual obligations," he said.

BIG TV has complained to the IPL that SET has decided to offer the contract to its competitor Bharti Airtel despite the latter having quoted a lower price for on-air agreement.

Source: http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/News/News/Lalit-Modi-threatens-to-take-away-IPL-matches-from-Jaipur/articleshow/msid-4137385,curpg-2.cms

Australia pip New Zealand by a run in T20 thriller

SYDNEY: Brendon McCullum's sizzling 61 off 47 balls went in vain as Australia bowled exceptionally well at the death to eke out a thrilling one run victory in the see-saw one-off Twenty20 International cricket match on Sunday.

Chasing 151, New Zealand came close to overwhelming the target before losing McCullum at a crucial juncture and eventually finishing at 149 for five wickets.

Needing 14 runs off the last over of the bowling of Nathan Bracken, Nathan McCullum (10 not out) - Brendon's elder brother - hit a four and a six off the last two balls but that was still not enough in the end.

Earlier, a Brad Haddin-led Australia got off to a brisk start before losing momentum and it took useful contributions from David Hussey (41), Adam Voges (26) and David Warner (23) to reach a modest total of 150 for seven.

Chasing 151, New Zealand got off to a wobbly start after Peter Siddle removed in-form Martin Guptill (0) and Peter Fulton (1) off successive overs to reduce the visitors to 12 for two.

However, Brendon McCullum and Neil Broom (36) steadied the rocking Kiwi boat with a 61-run stand in eight-odd overs which put the visitors back on the track.

James Hopes removed Broom in the 11th over and Australia would have seen McCullum's back as well but Hussey squandered a catch off his own bowling.

McCullum responded by hitting Hopes for a six followed by back-to-back fours to reach his fifty in that productive 17th over that yielded 20 runs.

Adam Voges then took a sensational catch off Ben Hilfenhaus to remove McCullum and that proved decisive in the end. ( Watch )

Voges caught the ball in the deep, threw it in the air to prevent carrying it across the boundary and returned in time only to trip before he finally dived to complete an astounding catch.

Earlier, Haddin, making his captaincy debut, won the toss and decided to bat first but Australia posted a score that was far from intimidating.

Haddin (15) and Warner (23) began on a brisk note, adding 34 runs before Tim Southee caught the stand-in Aussie skipper off his bowling in the fourth over to draw the first blood.

Four runs later, Warner, who was going great guns, joined Haddin at the pavilion, caught by Daniel Vettori off Iain O'Brien.

Australia subsequently found boundaries were not easy to come by. Next man in Callum Ferguson (8) could not set alight the Sydney Cricket Ground either and fell to fellow debutant Ian Butler.

At 52 for three after seven overs, things were hardly rosy for the hosts but Hussey (41) and Voges (26) then decided to do the bailout act, stitching together a 52-run stand in 7.5 overs, and managed to keep the scoreboard ticking as Vettori and Butler came up with stifling spells.

Hussey ran hard between the wickets and occasionally unleashed himself, like hitting a Grant Elliot low full toss for a flat six.

Elliot, however, made amends in the same over when, two balls later, he trapped Voges plumb in front. Next man in Cameron White (16) hit a massive six off Butler before falling to O'Brien.

In between, Hussey too perished when Vettori had him caught by Neil Broom after a 39-ball 41.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Australia_pip_New_Zealand_by_a_run_in_T20_thriller/articleshow/4132381.cms

Andrew Strauss puts England in charge

ST JOHN'S: Skipper Andrew Strauss's 15th Test hundred helped England bury the double misery of their Jamaica humiliation and the abandoned second Test on the opening day of the third Test on Sunday.

Strauss hit 169, and there were half-centuries for Owais Shah and Alastair Cook, as England, sent in to bat by the West Indies, reached 301 for three in their first innings when stumps were drawn at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Strauss turned his over-pitched 169th delivery from Daren Powell through backward square leg for two to reach the milestone to help make his team's 51 all out in the first Test, and Friday's aborted Test, a distant memory.

He put on 123 for the first wicket with Cook before Shah, who was replacing Ian Bell, joined him to add 153 for the second wicket before they both departed in the final period of the day.

But Strauss was fortunate. On 47, West Indies captain Chris Gayle dropped him at slip off Sulieman Benn before he steered Jerome Taylor to third man for two to bring up his 50.

Then on 71, he edged Ryan Hinds between wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and slip fielder Gayle for the 10th of his 24 fours before he reached triple figures.

Strauss and Cook had provided England with a firm foundation. They carried England to 58 without loss at lunch before Cook was caught at slip off Gayle for 52 after the interval.

Shah entered and immediately announced himself with a cracking back-foot drive off his first ball from Gayle.

They took England to 206 for one at tea before Shah was run out for 57, when he failed to beat a direct hit from Taylor on his follow-through going for a suicidal run.

Strauss continued to stroke the ball crisply, but Gayle claimed the second new ball with England on 291 for two after 87 overs and was rewarded with the prized scalp of the left-handed opener.

Trying to pull a short, rising ball from Fidel Edwards, Strauss only succeeded in giving the bowler a simple return catch.

He batted for five minutes short of six hours, faced 277 balls, and also struck a six, a lovely straight hit out of the ground off Benn.

The start had been delayed by 45 minutes, following overnight and early morning rain which affected parts of the parched outfield with an area straight behind the wicket at the northern end being the most troublesome.

West Indies made no changes to their 11 that took the field for the second Test, but England brought Steve Harmison and Graeme Swann in to replace Ryan Sidebottom and Monty Panesar.

The ARG was cleared to stage the match late on Saturday, following an inspection from ICC Match Referee Allan Hurst.

"I'm very happy with the ground," he told reporters. "I think in the 24 hours they've had to prepare the ground they've done a fantastic job.

"There are a few problems with the (outfield) and it is not perfect, but they've done as good a job as they could have and the pitch looks great."

The ARG is hosting a Test for the first time in three years, after the second Test at the nearby Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground was abandoned on Friday because of an unsuitable outfield after just 10 balls.

West Indies lead the series which now comprises five Tests 1-0, following an innings and 23-run victory in the opening match at Kingston inside four days.

The other two Tests in the series take place at Kensington Oval in Barbados from February 26 to March 2, and Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad from March 2 to 6.

Soruce: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Andrew_Strauss_puts_England_in_charge/articleshow/4134008.cms

RBS signs Sachin, others for Rs 1600 crore during recession

LONDON: The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has spent Rs 1600 crore on sponsorship deals with top sportsperson including batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar just days before being bailed out by the government, a media report said on Sunday.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, to please its clients, former RBS chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin signed five-year contracts with Tendulkar and other sporting personalities last October, just weeks before his ouster from the company.

"Royal Bank of Scotland, bailed out with billions of pounds of taxpayers money, hired top sports stars on reckless contracts to entertain clients as part of a 200 million pound sponsorship binge," the newspaper reported.

"Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian cricket hero, signed a five-year deal just weeks before Goodwin was ousted," it added.

However, RBS, which announced a loss of 28 billion pound last month, the biggest in British commercial history, said it was obliged to honour the deals.

Reacting to this, a member of the Treasury Select Committee, John Mann said, "They (RBS) have been reckless yet again. This doesn't seem to be a bank that could do anything in moderation. It now needs to realise the golden days are over."

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/RBS_signs_Sachin_others_for_Rs_1600_crore/articleshow/4133166.cms

Jaipur FIR against me is flimsy and vindictive: Lalit Modi

NEW DELHI/JAIPUR: Lalit Modi, the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), on Sunday refuted the allegation of misappropriation of funds made by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), calling it "meaningless" and "flimsy".

Modi, who is also the president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), said that the Rajasthan police have gone out of their way to entertain the complaint and then file the FIR, "knowing fully well that the charge was meaningless."

"It is nothing but vindictiveness on the part of the police," he added.

"Basically, it was the goodwill and kind gesture of the IPL teams, franchisees and sponsors that they had pledged Rs.60 million (Rs.6 crore) and a dummy cheque was presented on the night of the game to the chief minister. Out of which, cheques to the tune of Rs.5.2 crore (Rs.52 million) have been sent directly to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund and only two sponsors have not been able to send the pledged amount," said Modi.

Modi said the dummy cheque had the logos of the franchisees and sponsors and their signatures on it.

"A pity, instead of appreciating the gesture, the government is hounding the RCA officials, me in particular. Strictly speaking, I don't come into the picture. It is a matter between the people who have pledged the amount and the state government which received the amount directly."

Moreover, Modi said, if someone pledged something and did not fulfill, it did not become a liability or misappropriation of funds.

"In any case, more than 90 percent of the pledged sum has been realised, and if even after that cases are being filed, it means it is nothing but vindictiveness on the part of the police," he added.

"It is a flimsy complaint and the police has taken cognisance of it."

The FIR against Modi has been filed under Sections 420 (cheating) and 467 (forgery of valuable security) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Jyoti Nagar police station in Jaipur.

"Nagrik Morcha has filed an FIR under section 420 and section 467 of the IPC against Modi with us today (Sunday)," sub-inspector Netram Sharma of Jyoti Nagar police station said.

Morcha convener Suresh Mishra, in his complaint, stated that soon after the serial bomb blasts rocked Jaipur May 13, 2008, Modi announced that the IPL would deposit Rs.60 million in the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for victims of the bomb blasts.

"After an IPL match was held here May 17, 2008, Modi presented a cheque for Rs.60 million to then chief minister Vasundhara Raje. According to our information, this amount never reached the victims. We want to know where this money has gone. We want this to be probed," Mishra said.

Source: http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/FIR_against_me_is_flimsy_and_vindictive_Modi/articleshow/4133022.cms

Decider washed away; Australia retain Chappell Hadlee Trophy

Brisbane, Feb 13: Australia today retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after the crucial fifth and final ODI was called off due to heavy rain during New Zealand’s gutsy chase, leaving the series tied at 2-2.

The series-deciding match, which started five hours late from the scheduled start due to rains, was first reduced to a 22-over affair and, put into bat, Australia made 168 for four thanks mainly to unbeaten half centuries from wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (88) and Callum Ferguson (55).
New Zealand’s run chase was further delayed by rain and their target was revised to 156 from 20 overs but the match was eventually called off after the 14th over when the visitors were 123 for six, needing 33 off six overs with four wickets in hand.

Opener Martin Guptill was batting on 64 in company of debutant Brendon Diamanti who was on 26.

New Zealand had won the first two matches in Perth and Melbourne. Australia, who retained the trophy by virtue of winning the last series between the two countries, made a come back by winning in Sydney and Adelaide. New Zealand’s run chase mainly revolved around a blistering 34-ball 64 not out by opener Guptill while his team-mates fell around him. Australia achieved immediate success with Ben Hilfenhaus castling Brendon McCullum (2) with the second ball of the day.

Ponting wants more say in selection matters

Melbourne: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said he wanted more say in the selection of the team, specially in important decisions like players’ rotation. “I think it’s important that we have got guys fresh mentally and physically for when we really need them,” Ponting said. “I have some say, like I do in some selections. We all have a little bit of a say but, at the end of the day, a lot of those bigger decisions are made without me so that’s just the way it is at the moment,” Ponting was quoted as saying in the Australian media pn Friday. Ponting would like more say in the resting and rotational policy of the team as the side prepares for what he said would be the busiest period of his career. Several Australian players are battling injuries and vice-captain Michael Clarke became the latest to be ruled out of Friday’s Chappell-Hadlee Trophy decider in Brisbane due to a back problem. (IANS)

Rookie Kulkarni gets call; Balaji, Kaarthick return

Chennai, Feb 13: Rookie Mumbai pacer Dhawal Kulkarni today earned a surprise call up to India’s Test squad while fit-again speedster Lakshmipathy Balaji and his Tamil Nadu teammate Dinesh Kaarthick staged a comeback for the gruelling tour of New Zealand starting next week.
The 20-year-old Kulkarni, who first came into the limelight in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League, has been rewarded for his consistent show in the domestic circuit.
Apart from Kulkarni’s inclusion, there were no major surprises in the teams -- Test, ODI and Twenty20 -- that were picked here after a meeting of the National selection Panel headed by former India captain Krish Srikkanth.