Hauritz’s Doosra is ready

Hauritz’s Doosra is ready

PERTH, Dec 14: Australian off-spinner Nathan Hauritz says he will use the ‘Doosra’ during the third Test against the West Indies, and is confident about bouncing back in Perth after putting in a lacklustre performance in Adelaide last week.

Hauritz bowled well in the first Test win in Brisbane taking 3-17 and 2-40, but only managed match figures of 2-179 in Adelaide.

India take on Lanka in opener

India take on Lanka in opener

RAJKOT, Dec 14: A suspected hairline fracture to Yuvraj Singh’s finger has left India worried as they go into the opening One Day International against Sri Lanka on Tuesday with a question mark on the availability of the dashing left hander.

It will be a big setback for India if the southpaw, who injured his left little finger while fielding in the last T20I match in Mohali, ends up warming the benches even though team management is keen to play him in the series-opener.

We want to end 2009 on a winning note: Bhajji

CHANDIGARH, Dec 13: After achieving the number one status in Test cricket, Indian cricketers will strive to end the year on a high by winning the five-match One-day series against Sri Lanka, says off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

“We played excellent game this year. We will strive hard to win the ODI series with Sri Lanka and end the year on a winning note,” Harbhajan told reporters here after launching a drug awareness campaign.

“We will not drop our guards and become relaxed and keep trying to win matches in future,” the seasoned tweaker added.

Drawn Tests a worry in India: Ponting

Drawn Tests a worry in India: Ponting

MELBOURNE, Dec 13: Too many Test matches played in the Indian sub-continent do not produce results, which is a worry for the health of cricket’s longer version, according to Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

Asked about his thoughts on the ‘death of Test cricket’, Ponting said, “I can understand where a lot of negative stuff might start because there’ are not a lot of results being achieved on the sub-continent these days.

India beat Bangladesh to enter final

DHAKA, Dec 11: India played their best match of the tournament as they beat Bangladesh by a solitary goal in the semifinal to set up a title clash against holders Maldives in the SAFF Championships on Friday.

Captain Sushil Kumar scored the all-important goal in the 62nd minute with a faint touch off a free kick by Robert Lalthama from just outside the box.

Daunting task for India

MOHALI, Dec 11: Stung by the flop show in the first game, India have plenty of repair work to do as they go into the second Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka on Saturday with the acute drop in fielding and bowling standards being a worrying factor.

The Indians put up a pathetic performance in all departments of the game to lose the first match by 29 runs in Nagpur and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men have a tough task at hand to level the series 1-1.

Nothing went right for the hosts in Nagpur and seldom does a top international cricket team go into a game worrying about so many factors.

If the fielding was poor, the batting and bowling also left much to be desired and the team management may opt for a couple of changes in the playing eleven for tomorrow’s floodlit contest at the PCA stadium.

The Indians may also contemplate leaving out Yousuf Pathan who has not been able to make a significant contribution off late despite his immense talent.

The visitors, on the other hand, will go into the contest in a positive frame of mind after their convincing victory in Nagpur where captain Kumar Sangakkara led from the front with a blistering 37-ball 78.

Indian, Sri Lankan teams arrive for Mohali T-20 tie

STAFF WRITER 18:23 HRS IST

Chandigarh, Dec 10 (PTI) The Indian and Sri Lankan teams arrived here this evening for their second and final Twenty20 International at PCA grounds at Mohali.

The Indian team, led by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, checked in at Hotel Taj here without Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma.

The Delhi trio will join the team tomorrow.

The Sri Lankans, led by captain Kumar Sangakkara, also checked in at the same hotel.

The teams arrived here after playing their first Twenty20 International at Nagpur, which the visitors won by 29 runs.

Immediately after their arrival, Dhoni and his team-mates cut a cake that had been prepared by the Taj staff to celebrate the team becoming the top ranked Test side in the world.

Yuvraj Singh, who hails from the city, will celebrate his 28th birthday on Saturday.

ICC wants to carve out window for IPL: FICA

London, Dec 10: The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) has alleged that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is mulling changing the Future Tours Programme (FTP) to carve out a window for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Champions League and not cutting down on the hectic international schedule.

ICC chairman David Morgan had said that the current home and away rule in FTP could be relaxed to save the players from burnout. Currently teams have to play each other twice over a six-year cycle but that could be reduced to once.

ICC rankings: Ponting out of top ten batsmen for first time since 2002

Sydney, Dec 10(ANI): Australian skipper Ricky Ponting’s sub-par performance in the Adelaide Test against West Indies has seen him slide out of the world’s top ten batsmen for the first time since 2002.

The most recent figures released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) has Ponting sitting at 12th place, a drop of three spots. He is now behind New Zealand’s Ross Taylor (ninth) and Indian batsman Virender Sehwag, who jumped 14 spots into fifth after his recent 293 against Sri Lanka, Fox Sports reported.

Indian opener Gautam Gambhir leads the batting table with Sri Lankan duo of Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara second and third. The only Australian to sit among the top ten is vice-captain Michael Clarke, who improved his position by one spot to fourth.

There is no change in the list for Test all-rounders with South Africa’s Jacques Kallis leading the field by a comfortable margin.

Meanwhile, in the team rankings Australia had started the year in the number one spot, but face the embarrassing prospect of slipping to fourth if they fail to beat West Indies in the third Test at the WACA Ground.

Not even a draw against West Indies will halt the slide with Sri Lanka set to assume third spot on the rankings behind India and South Africa.

Team India is currently at the top of the ICC rankings after defeating Sri Lanka in the three Test match series, while not even a draw against West Indies will halt the slide with Sri Lanka set to assume third spot on the rankings behind South Africa. (ANI)

India thrash China in Champions Challenge hockey

Salta (Argentina), Dec 9: India played an attacking game to outplay China 4-1 in a pool A match of the Champions Challenge hockey tournament underway here.

Prabhjot Singh (7th minute) Rajpal Singh (35), Sarwanjit Singh (56) and Shivendra Singh (70) scored for India. China pulled one back through Yi Song in the 41st minute.

Having drawn their opening match against New Zealand, India showed intent against China right from the start on Tuesday.

India go down to SL in Nagpur T20

Nagpur, Dec 9: A buttered-finger India paid a heavy price for a slopping fielding display to allow Sri Lanka to clinch the first Twenty20 international with a comfortable 29-run run victory and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series here today.

The visitors first rattled up an imposing 215 for five riding on captain Kumar Sangakkara's blistering 37-ball 78 before restricting the hosts to 186 for nine in a high-scoring contest.

The Indians dropped as many as five catches, missed a couple of run out chances and were generally pathetic with the ground fielding to allow the islanders to pile up a huge total on a good batting track at the VCA stadium in Jamtha.

India pay price for poor fielding,lose by 29 runs

STAFF WRITER 20:52 HRS IST

S S Ramaswamy

Nagpur, Dec 9 (PTI) A butter-fingered India paid a heavy price for a slopping fielding display to allow Sri Lanka to clinch the first Twenty20 international with a comfortable 29-run run victory and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series here today.

The visitors first rattled up an imposing 215 for five riding on captain Kumar Sangakkara's blistering 37-ball 78 before restricting the hosts to 186 for nine in a high-scoring contest.

The Indians dropped as many as five catches, missed a couple of run out chances and were generally pathetic with the ground fielding to allow the islanders to pile up a huge total on a good batting track at the VCA stadium in Jamtha.

Apart from Sangakkara's assault, Chamara Kapudegera (47 off 20 balls), Tillakaratne Dilshan (34) and Sanath Jayasuriya (26) were the other notable scorers for the Sri Lankans.

Pakistan name Waqar Younis bowling, fielding coach

KARACHI: Pakistan have appointed former captain and renowned paceman Waqar Younis as a bowling and fielding coach for their tour
of Australia Waqar Younis starting later this month, an official said on Wednesday.

"Waqar has agreed to serve as fielding and bowling coach for the tour of Australia after we requested his services for the job," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said.

Pakistan dropped about half a dozen catches in their first Test defeat against New Zealand at Dunedin last month. They also grassed three crucial catches in their series-levelling win at Wellington
last week.

Pakistan play three Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 international on the tour of Australia, starting December 26 in Melbourne.

Waqar, who has settled in Australia and works as a television commentator, left the bowling coach job in 2007 after a dispute with the former PCB leadership. He also blamed then-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for his ouster.

During an illustrious career, Waqar took 373 wickets in 87 Tests and 416 in 262 One-Day Internationals. He also led Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup before retiring the next year.

TOI

Akthar's contract not to be renewed: PCB

Embattled Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar's career has been dealt another blow with the Cricket Board deciding not to renew his central contract as he is neither playing for the national team nor competing in the domestic circuit.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt said no fresh contract would be issued to the fast bowler, whose career has been marred by injury breakdowns, a dope scandal and disputes with the authorities.

Shoaib's current contract expires at the end of this month.

Butt said only those players are given contracts and monthly salaries who are playing for the country or competing at the domestic level.

"Unfortunately in both cases, Shoaib has not played for a while now so from next month he will not be getting anymore salary from the board," he said.

Shoaib is placed in the category A of the central contracts, which allows him to draw a salary of Rs 250,000 per month from the board.

The troubled bowler has kept a low profile since returning from England after undergoing a knee surgery two months ago.

He also had a liposuction in Islamabad to remove excess fat from his body but has not spoken to the media or played any competitive cricket.

Shoaib has had a troubled time in the past two-three years and has played only a handful of matches for Pakistan.

Butt said the fast bowler was given a central contract last time as he was active and the PCB wanted him to play regularly for the team provided he was fit and in form.

Talking about Younis Khan's non-availability for the Australian tour, Ejaz Butt said he was disappointed with the senior batsman.

The Pakistani selectors yesterday announced the squad for the tour, retaining Muhammad Yousuf as captain for the Test and one-day series in Australia.

Younus, who had pulled out of the ongoing tour of New Zealand due to personal reasons and lack of form, didn't make himself available for the Australian tour.

"I had spoken to Younus in England and had told him to play some domestic cricket and make himself available for the Australian tour," Ejaz Butt said.

"I am disappointed that he didn't listen to my advice because I feel he is our top batsman and should have been going to Australia. But since he didn't make himself available there is nothing the selectors could do," he added.

The PCB Chairman said despite several attempts by the PCB to contact Younus, nothing had come out of it.

"At present we don't even know where Younus is as he has not gotten back to us as yet," he stated.

© PTI

ICC might scrap the home-and-away system

As per the new details of the post-2012 FTP, ICC President David Morgan said that the current home-and-away concept could be scrapped.

The present FTP works on a system of all teams playing each other twice in Test and one-day series over a six-year cycle.

Speaking to Cricinfo, Morgan said that the cycle could be reduced to one series and can be either a home or an away series.

"The process is similar but the results will be different. I can't elaborate, but at the moment it's a requirement that in any six year cycle each full member has to play the other home and away in a minimum of two Tests and three one-day internationals," Morgan said.

"I believe there will be a relaxation of that. Perhaps not in the number of games, but there's the possibility of instead having to play everybody home and away in a fixed cycle, you may either play them away or home."

"The FTP essentially is a basket of bilateral agreements between the ten full members with some consideration given to the more proficient associate countries like Ireland and the Netherlands. That set of bilateral arrangements is continuing."

"I firmly believe that it is very important to consult with the players. Where FICA [Federation of International Cricketers' Associations] is recognised, which is in the majority of countries, we are very happy to liaise and discuss things with Tim May and his team. I find them a responsible body," added the ICC president.

Last month, the FICA had advised the ICC to do away with the FTP system and had asked them to create a new scheduling system.

Cricbuzz

Yousuf retained as captain for Australia series

Pakistan were forced to retain Mohammad Yousuf as captain for their three-Test series in Australia after Younus Khan remained unavailable, selectors announced Tuesday.

Younus, appointed captain until the 2011 World Cup, pulled out of Pakistan's tour to New Zealand over lack of form and has since been unavailable. He did not play in any domestic match, which was a prerequisite for his selection.

"He (Younus) has not been in touch with us at all since returning home and he didn't inform us about his availability for the Australian tour. So we didn't consider him for the series," chief selector Iqbal Qasim said.

Qasim said Younus would have to play some domestic cricket in order to prove his form before being considered for national selection again in the future.

"He had withdrawn from the test tour of New Zealand because of his poor form, so he has to play in some domestic matches to get his touch back," Qasim said.

Last month, PCB had asked Yousuf to lead the side in the ongoing test series against New Zealand after Younus withdrew his name from the tour citing poor form with the bat.

Younus had said that he wants to take a break from the international cricket to recoup his form and passion for the sport.

But since returning from Abu Dhabi where the team lost the ODI series to New Zealand under his captaincy, Younus had maintained distance from the media and was also not in touch with the board or selectors.

"Yousuf has done enough to be made captain for tests and ODIs as the Chairman of the board didn't agree at the thought to have separate captains for tests and ODIs," a board official said.

Yousuf will also lead the team in the five-match one-day series that follows the Tests. Shahid Afridi, not in the Test squad, will lead the team in the one Twenty20 to be played after the one-day matches.

Two players on the current New Zealand Test tour -- Yasir Arafat and Sarfraz Ahmed -- will return home to trim the squad for the Australia tour to 16.

The first Test starts in Melbourne from December 26.

Squad: Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Salman Butt, Khurrum Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir, Abdur Rauf, Umer Akmal.

© AFP

No Pakistan players in IPL-3

Pakistani cricketers will not play in the Indian Premier League III as their board has failed to obtain their visas before the deadline for confirmation of participation, IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said on Monday.

"We have been informed by PCB that they have not been able to obtain the visas as of now. So we are not being able to extend the deadline. Today is the absolute deadline for confirmation of Pakistani players (to take part in IPL). The exchange window is day after tomorrow," Modi said.

"Unfortunately, the Pakistani players are out and they will not be allowed to take part in the next IPL because we are handicapped by the fact that the exchange window is day after tomorrow. We are informing the teams that they now can go for the replacement of the Pakistani players," he told the Times Now channel.

The Indian Premier League III will be played at various venues in the country in March-April.

© PTI

Yuvraj sacked as Kings XI captain

There have been reports doing rounds that the Kings XI skipper Yuvraj Singh has been sacked from the captaincy by the team management.

Reports said that the team coach Tom Moody was unhappy with Yuvraj's attitude which apparently led to his sacking. The report also stated that Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara would take over as the captain of the Punjab team during the 3rd edition of the IPL.

Sangakkara, however, rubbished these reports and said, "I already have my hands full with the Sri Lanka job. I cannot take another one and I feel an Indian should lead an Indian franchise."

Praising Yuvraj Singh, Sangakkara said, "He is a very good captain and I enjoyed playing under his leadership in the IPL. I haven't heard anything of this sort"

Cricbuzz

Messi or Ronaldo?

ZURICH, Dec 8: Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo was given a chance to defend his World Player of the Year title on Monday when he was named on the shortlist for this year’s accolade.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Brazil’s Kaka, the 2007 winner, and Spanish pair Andres Iniesta and Xavi completed the shortlist for the title which will be awarded by soccer’s governing body FIFA on December 21. All five nominees play for Spanish clubs—Ronaldo and Kaka for Real Madrid and Xavi, Messi and Iniesta for Barcelona.

It’s time for the slam bang stuff

NAGPUR, Dec 8: Having crowned themselves the number one team in Test rankings, India would look to assert their supremacy in the shortest format as well when they clash against Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 International on Wednesday.

The 2-0 triumph and the number one Test ranking also gives India a psychological edge over the visitors, who are still licking their wounds after being spanked by an innings by the home team in two consecutive Test matches.

India have made a few changes in their squad, resting pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and calling up youngsters Ashok Dinda and R Ashwin. With Test specialists Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman not considered any more for the limited-over clashes, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan and Rohit Sharma would shore up the middle-order along with Yuvraj Singh and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.