Umpire Benson retires from the elite panel

ICC umpire Mark Benson has retired from the Elite Panel and has decided to return home to England to take up a contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Benson, who has been on the panel since 2006, has umpired a total of 27 Tests, 72 ODIs and 19 T20Is. In that time he stood in the final of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg and was also shortlisted for Umpire of the Year at the LG ICC Awards in 2007 and 2008.

Although Benson's contract was not due to expire until the end of June 2010, he asked if he could be released from it three months early so he could take up a contract with the ECB and this request was granted.

"I have enjoyed my time on the elite panel immensely," said Benson.

"The opportunity to be part of the global game has given me memories that I will always treasure. But travel and being away from home takes its toll on the family and some warning bells have started to ring regarding my health.

"So, having thought about it carefully, I feel now is the right time for me to step down and move to a more settled and familiar environment in England.

"I'd like to thank the ICC and my umpiring colleagues on the elite panel for their support over the years. Umpiring at the top level has been a very rewarding experience for me and it is not an easy decision to walk away from it but I believe it is the right one as far as my health and family are concerned.

"I also want to thank the ECB for giving me the opportunity to be part of the county circuit again. I'm looking forward to the new season as much as I did when I played, and hope that I can add value with my international experience as an ICC elite umpire."

ICC Umpires' and Referees' Manager Vince van der Bijl said: "Mark's immense love for and enjoyment of cricket shines through his umpiring. His on-field calm demeanour will be missed, as will his friendly and easygoing disposition.

"We fully understand and support his decision, which was brought on by a desire to spend more time in England with his family and some concerns about health issues. He will add richly to the county circuit as he is a talented and hugely experienced umpire and we wish him great success."

© ICC

Afridi gets a 2-match ban for ball tampering

Shahid Afridi has been banned for two Twenty20 internationals after being caught up in a ball-tampering row during his team's defeat in final ODI against Australia.

Afridi quoted in an interview with ABC Radio that he was trying to move somethings on the ball. He said, "I tried to smell it. There were some things on it that I tried to move. I don't know what made me do such a mad thing. It was not right and I apologise for my actions . This was very unfortunate and should not have happened. I have learnt from my mistake and will not repeat it again".

Afridi, who was captaining Pakistan in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf, was caught on TV cameras apparently biting the ball in the match at the WACA in Perth where Australia completed a 5-0 whitewash of the one-day series.

A team source, speaking to Cricinfo, said "Shahid Afridi has been banned for two T20Is after the incident. He pleaded guilty to the charge."

Afridi, who captains the Pakistan side in Twenty20 cricket, will miss the match against Australia on February 5 as well as the first of two matches against England in Dubai on February 19.

The International Cricket Council confirmed that Afridi had received two suspension points after breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the game.

Two suspension points in the code means a ban of a Test, two ODIs or two T20Is.

Shahid was charged with an article 2.2.9 offence of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to "changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket".

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Asoka de Silva and Paul Reiffel, as well as third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth official Mick Martell.

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle handed Afridi the maximum penalty under the provision of the code.

"I imposed the maximum penalty under the code to Shahid and reminded him of his responsibilities as a national captain which is to ensure that the match is played according to the laws of the game and in the spirit in which it is intended to be played," said Madugalle.

"Shahid, when pleading guilty, apologised and regretted his actions," the match referee said.

Afridi, who was ashamed of his actions, apologised for his act and said he would never commit the mistake again.

"I'm ashamed of myself. I shouldn't have done such an act. It happened in the heat of the moment. I apologise for my mistake," Afridi said.

"It was a close match and Pakistan had not won any match. We needed a win and I just wanted to help the fast bowlers. I did it on that spur of moment. I have been banned now and I have learnt my lessons. I will ensure it doesn't happen again," Afridi added.

In 2005, Afridi was banned for twisting his spikes and trying to change condition of pitch during a Test match in Faisalabad against England.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said Afridi's actions were unacceptable. He wondered why he was behaving as if he was "eating an apple" and remarked that he did not know what Afridi wanted to achieve.

"It's unacceptable. It shouldn't have happened but it happened and I feel sorry for him. Being a captain you should be above everything but unfortunately it's happened," Alam said.

Immediately after television cameras showed Afridi biting into the ball to change its condition, a top official called up team manager Abdul Raquib and instructed him not to send Afridi for the closing ceremony and instead ask regular captain Mohammad Yousuf to do that job, said PCB sources.

"Raquib was also told that Afridi should not be allowed to speak to the media after the match and that he should immediately accept his mistake and apologize to match referee, Ranjan Madugalle," one PCB official said.

He said this was done to avoid more controversy and problems for Afridi.

"The board has now asked the team management to send Afridi back home early as he is no longer required with the team," he added.

Well placed sources, however, said despite the ball tampering incident and the two match ban, the board officials were impressed with the way Afridi wholeheartedly led the side in the absence of Yousuf.

"He is definitely our next one-day internationals captain but since he himself is not very keen on playing Test cricket the board will look at other candidates to lead the side in the longest format," one source said.
© Cricbuzz

Injury rules Siddle out of the summer

Australian pacer Peter Siddle was ruled out of the team's upcoming Test and one-day tour of New Zealand due to a stress fracture in his back.

"Cricket Australia announces that fast bowler Peter Siddle has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of his back and will be unavailable for the rest of the summer," CA announced in a statement.

Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Siddle's injury was revealed in scan conducted after the five-match one-day series against Pakistan last week.

"Peter experienced pain in his back during the recent Pakistan ODI series. The source of the pain was investigated after the fifth ODI and scans revealed that he has a lower back stress fracture," he said.

Siddle has also been forced out of Australia's domestic competition.

"The nature of this injury means that Peter will require a long rehabilitation period and as such he'll be unavailable for the remainder of the domestic summer and the tour of New Zealand," Kountouris said.

Australia's tour of New Zealand starts March 3 with a five-match ODI series to be followed by two Tests.

© PTI

Shaun Tait unleashes 160 kmph thunderbolt

Shaun Tait bowled what was reportedly the quickest delivery on Australian soil in the home side's two-run win over Pakistan, when he unleashed a 160.7 kmph rocket off just the third ball of his opening over.

Tait was the man-of-the-match for figures of 3/13, but talk centred equally on his magnificent bowling as on that particular delivery.

The huge crowd of more than 60,000 at the MCG let out a collective gasp when the scoreboard immediately flashed just how quick it was with Channel Nine later reporting that it was the fastest ball ever delivered by any bowler in Australia.

Tait's thunderbolt was the third-fastest ball ever bowled, behind Brett Lee, whose quickest is 160.9kph, and Pakistan's record holder Shoaib Akhtar, who unleashed a 161.3kph ball during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Tait, whose decision to give up first-class cricket in order to ensure he remains injury-free for the shortened forms of the game is starting to pay off, said fans should not expect him to bowl as quick as he did at the MCG on Friday night on a regular basis.

"I was obviously feeling pretty good today and every now and then there are nights when everything goes well and your timing is right," he said after Friday night's game when quizzed about his record-breaking delivery.

"You can't really explain why some nights it comes out so well and the next night is not so good."

Tait, who has battled countless injuries during his career given the toll his unique slingshot action takes on his body, said he was feeling fresh going into the game because rain in the lead-up to the match had prevented him from bowling in the nets.

"As far as I am concerned that (not bowling in the nets before a game) is good preparation," he joked.

However despite coming so close to bowling the fastest ball in the history of the game, Tait doubts he will break Akhtar's record.

"Shoaib bowled whatever he bowled - I don't know how because I almost killed myself out there tonight," he said.

"It's not something I think about all the time and there are only certain moments when you are bowling in your career when you have got a chance to do it."

"You have probably only got two balls in a game where you can do it and then after that it's hard to get back up to that sort of pace."

"But the decision I have made to only play the short forms of the game was a good one and I have been feeling fresh for a majority of games this season apart from just a couple maybe."

© Cricbuzz

SA get good batting practice

Nagpur, Feb 3 (PTI): South Africa made the most of their drawn practice match against Board President’s XI with their top order looking in good nick even though Piyush Chawla and R Ashwin proved that the Proteas can be vulnerable against quality spin here today.

Having bowled out the local side for 318, Graeme Smith and his men did overwhelm the target to reach 354 before folding but leg-spinner Chawla (4/88) and offie Ashwin (3/96) exposed the vulnerability of the Proteas, especially the middle and lower order, against turning balls.

Aussies down Pak to win U-19 cricket WC

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan 30 (IANS): Australia became the first team to win the under-19 cricket World Cup thrice as they defeated Pakistan by 25 runs in the final at Bert Sutcliffe Oval Saturday.

Pakistan, chasing a victory target of 208 runs, were bowled out for 182 in 46.4 overs. Pacer Josh Hazlewood claimed four wickets for 30 runs while spinner Luke Doran took three for 32.

Australia won the title for the third time, having emerged champions at home in 1987-88 and in New Zealand in 2001-02. Pakistan, too, were in contention to win the tournament thrice as they won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2006.

Women hockey players to get Rs 2.2 lakh each

NEW DELHI, Jan 28 (PTI): Cash-strapped women hockey players will receive Rs 2.2 lakh each tomorrow, the Sports Ministry said here today.

A Ministry official told PTI that a Sports Director would reach Bhopal, venue of the national camp, tonight and distribute the money tomorrow.

“The Director has left for Bhopal and tomorrow morning, she will distribute Rs 2.2 lakh each to 41 women players in the camp,” the official said. He said the money came from the Rs 1 crore donation made by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan and the Rs 10 lakh from ASSOCHAM.

The women players have been protesting in Bhopal, wearing black armband to protest against non-payment of their dues.

India gain 1 rating point from Bangla victory

India gain 1 rating point from Bangla victory

DUBAI, Jan 28 (PTI): Thanks to their 2-0 series victory in Bangladesh, world number one India gained one rating point while Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan returned to the top 10 of ICC Test Players rankings, issued today.

Winning both the Test matches in Chittagong and Mirpur put India (125) five rating points ahead of South Africa (120).

Haryana gov gives 1 crore to women hockey team

STAFF WRITER 17:26 HRS IST

Chandigarh, Jan 28 (PTI) Chipping in with financial help for the national women hockey team, the Haryana government has released a cheque of Rs one crore for the players.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said at a press conference that they decided to release the cheque after learning about the plight of the players.

Madhya Pradesh government has already contributed Rs one crore for the players and Corporate body ASSOCHAM had also donated Rs 10 lakh.

The Union Sports Ministry had approached various state governments to help the players, who are protesting against the delay in payment of their dues and incentives apart from demanding treatment at par with their male counterparts.

Hooda also said that they could consider giving a job to skipper Surinder Kaur if the player makes a request.

"In case she desires for a government job, we will take care," he said.

Zaheer rocks as India whitewash Bangladesh

DHAKA, Jan 27 (IANS): Zaheer Khan's seven-wicket burst in the second innings rocked Bangladesh as India won the second cricket Test by 10 wickets, and with it took the series 2-0, on the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla national stadium here Wednesday.

The resolve shown by the Bangladesh batsmen a day before, when opener Tamim Iqbal struck a defiant 155 and Junaid Siddique 55, was not to be seen this day as the hosts crumbled from a comfortable 290 for three to 312 all out minutes after lunch. India needed just two runs in their second innings to win and completed the formalities with two byes.

Zaheer rocks as India whitewash Bangladesh

DHAKA, Jan 27 (IANS): Zaheer Khan's seven-wicket burst in the second innings rocked Bangladesh as India won the second cricket Test by 10 wickets, and with it took the series 2-0, on the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla national stadium here Wednesday.

The resolve shown by the Bangladesh batsmen a day before, when opener Tamim Iqbal struck a defiant 155 and Junaid Siddique 55, was not to be seen this day as the hosts crumbled from a comfortable 290 for three to 312 all out minutes after lunch. India needed just two runs in their second innings to win and completed the formalities with two byes.

Federer, Serena Williams in round four

Baghdatis shoulder collapse gives Hewitt quick victory, faces Federer in next round • Stosur, Azarenka move ahead

MELBOURNE, Jan 23: The self-appointed sports capital of Australia got a feast of tennis on a lazy, sun-drenched Saturday afternoon.

While top-seeded and three-time champion Roger Federer played Albert Montanes in a Rod Laver Arena crammed with 15,000 fans, top-ranked and Australian Open defending champion Serena Williams took on Carla Suarez Navarro at the neighboring show arena with a retractable roof that seats 10,000.

One hour and 48 minutes and 1:21 later, respectively, Federer and Williams walked off their courts after booking fourth-round matches on Monday. Federer beat Montanes 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and Williams defeated Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-3.

Indians are welcome in Australia: Lee

MELBOURNE, Jan 23: The spate of attacks on Indians living in Melbourne has saddened Australian pacer Brett Lee, who says people from India would always be welcome Down Under despite the recent happenings.

“I just want to make it very clear to the Indian public that we as Australians love India the country but also love the Indian students and Indian people in general coming out to Australia and to let them know that they are so welcome,” Lee said.

“I’m very saddened by what happened. (But) We welcome Indians from any age group whether it is connected to studying or as a tourist. We accept them with open arms,” he said.

The fast bowler, who is immensely popular in India and has even acted in a Bollywood movie besides singing a duet with legendary singer Asha Bhonsle, is currently nursing an elbow injury, sustained last year.

Lee said he was using the time away from cricket to enjoy life with his young son Preston Charles. He also met Britain's Prince William at the Australian Open earlier this week.

“The opportunity to mix with royalty was an amazing experience. He is a wonderful guy,” Lee said. (PTI)

Serena into Australian Open fourth round

MELBOURNE: Defending champion Serena Williams blitzed into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro on Saturday.

The top seed will next play Australian 13th seed Samantha Stosur, who earlier beat Italian Alberta Brianti 6-4, 6-1.

It was far from plain sailing for Williams despite the scoreline, with the plucky Spaniard recovering from a disastrous start to push the top seed for much of the second set.

Williams came out with all guns blazing and raced to a 5-0 lead in only 15 minutes, Suarez Navarro winning just five points in the first five games.

She only seemed to wake up in the sixth game, which went for an amazing 23 minutes with 13 deuces, Williams clinching the first set on her eighth opportunity.

Suarez Navarro put Williams' sister Venus out in the second round last year and she took the same game plan in against Serena, blunting the American's power with precise placement and acute angles.

Williams was made to run all over the court, but she showed her superb athleticism as she chased down many of the Spaniard's best shots and returned them with interest.

Williams broke Suarez Navarro in the third game of the second set and was never in any trouble on her own serve, holding comfortably to 5-3, when she seized on a loose game by the Spaniard to break again and take the match.

Her match with Stosur should create plenty of interest, with the Australian number one beating Williams the last time they met.

Williams then added fuel to the fire by accusing Stosur of being a good "framer", implying many of her winning shots of being miss hits.

"I guess she thought I hit too many frames or shanks during that match," Stosur said.

"Maybe I hit a couple, but I hit with a bit of spin. Maybe she wasn't expecting so many balls to drop in because of the spin."

TOI

Federer eases into fourth round of Australian Open

MELBOURNE: World number one Roger Federer declared himself physically fine and mentally fresh after strolling into the fourth round of the Australian Open at the expense of Albert Montanes Saturday.

The 15-time Grand Slam champion brushed aside the 31st-seeded Spaniard, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and had few concerns in the one hour 48 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Such was Federer's domination that Montanes did not get one break point on the Swiss star's service.

Federer is expected to face a tougher test in the round of 16 on Monday against either Australian two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt or former finalist and unseeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who play later Saturday.

"I've come through a difficult draw, I feel physically fine and mentally fresh, but the opponents will get tougher from here," Federer said.

The top seed was never threatened by baseliner Montanes and broke the Spaniard's service three times.

He broke Montanes in the fourth game of the opening set, in the ninth game of the second set and in the opening game of the final set.

Montanes only won 11 points in the first seven games as Federer rolled through the gears in his most consummate performance of the tournament after dropping a set against Russian Igor Andreev in his opening match.

That was the first time Federer had lost a set in a first round Grand Slam match since the 2003 US Open.

Federer hit a total of 36 winners in the three sets, but he made a total of 43 unforced errors as he attempted to take the game to the Spaniard.

The victory improved Federer's Australian Open record to 50-7, which makes him only second to Swede Stefan Edberg's 56-10 for most match wins at the Australian Open in the Open Era.

Federer leads Hewitt 16-7 and has won their last 14 encounters, while he leads 2006 finalist Baghdatis 6-0.

TOI

Pak end India's title defence at Under-19 World Cup

STAFF WRITER 12:12 HRS IST

Lincoln (New Zealand), Jan 23 (PTI) Defending champions India crumbled under pressure in the battle of sub-continental rivals as Pakistan sent them packing with a two-wicket triumph in a thrilling rain-hit Super League quarterfinal of the ICC Under-19 cricket World Cup here today.

Pakistan opted to bowl first in the match, which became a 23-overs-a-side affair due to overnight rain, and skittled out India for a paltry 114 for nine.

In reply, Pakistan huffed and puffed their way to the target in 22.3 overs thanks to some valuable late order contributions to keep their unbeaten run at the event intact.

The Pakistani top order collapsed and the team score read 16 for three in just under seven overs.

However, Ahsan Ali brought them back into the match with a 45-ball 30 before being run out by Jaydev Unadkat.

Wickets tumbled at regular intervals but Pakistan kept themselves in the hunt with some brisk scoring.

Paes-Dlouhy in pre-quarters of Australian Open

STAFF WRITER 12:54 HRS IST

Melbourne, Jan 23 (PTI) Leander Paes remained on course for his second successive Grand Slam title after reaching the men's doubles pre-quarterfinals of the Australian Open with partner Lukas Dlouhy here today.

The third seeded Indo-Czech pair quelled the challenge of Lucas Arnold of Argentina and Romanian Horia Tecau 7-5 6-3 in the second round at Melbourne Park.

They will now fight it out with Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey, who got the better of French Julien Benneteau and Steve Darcis of Belgium 6-4 6-0 in their second round.

Paes had won the US Open in October last year along with Dlouhy after defeating compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles.

Paes is the lone Indian survivor in the men's doubles as the pairs of Somdev Devvarman-Prakash Amritraj, Bhupathi-Max Mairnyi and Rohan Bopanna-Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi have already lost in the early stages.

‘Indians harshly taunted me’

‘Indians harshly taunted me’

Chittagong, Jan 21: Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim today alleged that Indian bowlers sledged him by calling him a “school boy” during his century knock on the fifth day of the first cricket Test here. “The Indian bowlers picked me for sledging when I was batting well. They called me school boy. But I was enjoying it and I had answered it with my bat,” Mushfiqur, who scored a 114-ball 101, said at the post-match press conference after his side lost to India by 113 runs to go down 0-1 in the two-Test series. Sehwag, however, refused to comment when asked about Mushfiqur’s charge.(PTI)

Aus Open: Bhupathi-Sania pull out of mixed doubles

TAFF WRITER 8:52 HRS IST

Melbourne, Jan 22 (PTI) Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza will not defend their mixed doubles title at the Australian Open due to a calf injury to the former.

Bhupathi suffered the injury on Monday while practicing and aggravated it during yesterday's men's doubles first round match which he lost along with his Belarusian partner Max Mirnyi.

According to Bhupathi, the doctor has advised him at least 10-day rest resulting in them pulling out of the first Grand Slam of the season.

With this pull out, Bhupathi's campaign is over at the Australian Open.

Sania Mirza is already out of singles but her challenge is still alive in the women's doubles event.

IPL ties up with Google for ‘live’ streaming of 2010 season

MUMBAI, Jan 20 (PTI): The cash-awash Indian Premier League today announced a two-year tie-up with Google by which all the 60 matches in the third season starting from March 12 can be watched on the internet giant’s YouTube platform.

Under the terms of the agreement Google will have the exclusive online rights for IPL contents and the two bodies would share revenues from sponsorships and advertising on www.Youtube.Com/ipl, IPL chief Lalit Modi announced at a press conference here.