New Zealand open fight against Sri Lanka in World Twenty20

PROVIDENCE: Brendon McCullum's prowess as a Twenty20 batsman is well known but older brother Nathan could also have an important role to play in the upcoming World Twenty20.

The Black Caps open the competition against Sri Lanka on Friday and, with warm-up matches suggesting pitches will take spin, off-break bowler Nathan is set for some key overs in an attack where New Zealand captain and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has been the mainstay for several years now.

McCullum was given the new ball in New Zealand's 40-run warm-up win over Ireland on Tuesday, reviving memories of Martin Crowe's ploy of using off-spinner Dipak Patel at the start of the innings at the 1992 World Cup - a tactic that helped the Black Caps get to the last four of that event.

Against Ireland, McCullum took three wickets for 25 runs and Vettori, who went wicketless, said: "Nathan McCullum was outstanding with the ball. On a wicket like that you've got to be inch perfect because it's so slow."

The Black Caps' pace attack is led by fast bowler Shane Bond and it won't just be Kiwi fans who will be hoping the former policeman, whose career has been blighted by injuries, can come through this tournament unscathed.

New Zealand headed to the Caribbean with fitness doubts over several senior players but batsman Jesse Ryder suggested he was over the groin strain that forced his withdrawal from the Indian Premier League with a brisk 64 against the Irish.

Together with Brendon McCullum he forms an explosive opening partnership with McCullum posting an unbeaten 116, one short of Chris Gayle's world record, when New Zealand beat Australia in a Twenty20 match in February.

McCullum is one of the most dangerous batsmen around in this format and Vettori was in no doubt of his value to New Zealand.

"McCullum at the top of the order is the real key. If he has a good tournament I think the team will fire."

Sri Lanka, last year's losing finalists, appear to have one of the best balanced squads for this form of cricket with the pace of Lasith Malinga to the spin of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis posing problems for most batsmen.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, player of the tournament in England in 2009 and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya are just two of the island nation's batsmen capable of fast scoring.

The Sri Lankans lost by five wickets to South Africa in a warm-up match on Wednesday but did not have their strongest side out in a clash that, in any event, went to the last over.

Whether the fact that most of the squad have been taking part in the lucrative Indian Premier League will catch up with Sri Lanka, remains to be seen but conditions, at least, should hold no fears for a side who reached the final of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

At it was in Guyana where the unorthodox Malinga made history in 2007, taking four wickets in four balls against South Africa.

But former captain Mahela Jayawardene knows Sri Lanka, now led by the experienced and talented Kumar Sangakkara, could have had an easier opening fixture.

"New Zealand has got a really good all-round team which can be totally devastating," he said.

To back him up, New Zealand beat West Indies by seven runs in their second warm-up on Wednesday.

TOI

‘We cannot take Afghanistan lightly’

‘We cannot take Afghanistan lightly’

ST LUCIA, April 29: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday warned his team-mates against taking unheralded Afghanistan lightly in their Twenty20 World Cup opening match on Saturday, saying any slip-up against them can put his side out of contention for super eights.

“If you ask me, I would not consider our opening match against Afghanistan as a practice game. I don’t take my opponents lightly. At the end of the day you have to win whichever team you play,” said Dhoni, ruling out complacency in the Indian camp.

Modi entitled to a fair trial: I S Bindra

MOHALI, April 29: PCA chief I S Bindra on Thursday threw his weight behind embattled Lalit Modi, saying the suspended IPL Commissioner should be given a fair trial.

Modi is facing corruption charges and was served a show-cause notice by the Indian Cricket Board on April 25, the day season-III of the IPL came to an end.

Bindra, who is also ICC Principal advisor, said IPL owes its success to the marketing skills of Modi.

“It was due to the marketing genius of a maverick - Lalit Modi - that Indian cricket finally emerged as a colossus in the international firmament in terms of reach and financial clout. Indian cricket became the epicenter of world cricket and the envy of the cricketing fraternity during this key phase,” Bindra said in a statement.

Djokovic eases into Rome quarters

Djokovic eases into Rome quarters

ROME, April 29: World number two Novak Djokovic had few problems in disposing of Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Rome Masters 1000 on Thursday.

It was not always plain sailing for Djokovic as he was broken twice during the match but in the end he was never really under pressure as his opponent made twice as many unforced errors as him.

The 22-year-old Serbian has a good record here at the Foro Italico having won the tournament two years ago and reached the final last time out.

He was made to work considerably harder than his first round when he breezed through 6-1, 6-1 against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in less than an hour. Bellucci, also 22, is at a career high 28 in the world and is the highest ranking Brazilian since former French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten was operating on the tour at his peak.

Gul and Arafat out of Pakistan T20 WC squad

STAFF WRITER 17:43 HRS IST

Lahore, Apr 18 (PTI) Defending champions Pakistan today suffered a double blow when pacer Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat were ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies after failing to recover from injuries sustained during the ongoing preparatory camp here.

The selectors have recommended the names of Mohammad Sami and uncapped Mohammad Irfan as their replacements, however, a final decision would be taken by the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt.

Chief selector, Mohsin Khan told reporters here that both Gul and Arafat failed to clear the final fitness test today.

"We have recommended the names of fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Irfan as replacements for the injured players. We have picked Sami from the list of five reserves we had kept for the World Cup," he said.

IPL semifinals moved to Navi Mumbai after blasts

STAFF WRITER 16:27 HRS IST

Mumbai, Apr 18 (PTI) Indian Premier League authorities today shifted both the IPL semifinals to Navi Mumbai following yesterday's twin blasts in Bangalore which was the original venue.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi today said in a statement that even though the IPL security agency found the blasts of low-intensity, the authorities had no other way but to shift the matches to the DY Patil Stadium, which would also host the April 25 final.

"While reluctant to relocate the semifinals at such short notice, yesterday's incidents have made it clear that the current environment in Bangalore prevents us from continuing with our original plans," Modi said.

"The incidents were assessed by local police and the IPL's security agency as being of a minor nature but they have forced our hand.

Caribbean flavour at World T20

Caribbean flavour at World T20

MUMBAI, April 18: Having learned a bitter lesson in the 2007 ODI World Cup when the West Indian fans largely ignored the cricket carnival, the ICC now wants the Caribbean flavour out in full force for the upcoming World Twenty20 Championship.

The magic mantra devised by the world governing council for the game to attract the Calypso-loving cricket fans is to price the tickets at a reasonable level and allow the people to come in and watch the match with their musical instruments and other paraphernalia.

Party stands would offer a traditional area to watch the game, Caribbean style, while fans are also being encouraged to come dressed up carnival-style as part of the “Bring It” campaign.

“We want fans to bring it. Bring their voices, their loudest noisemakers and their most outrageous costumes and face paints to the ground and enjoy the atmosphere of the world-famous party stand,” ICC’s chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.

Nadal wins Monte Carlo Masters

Nadal wins Monte Carlo Masters

MONTE CARLO, April 18: World number three Rafael Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters for a record sixth consecutive time with a 6-0 6-1 drubbing of fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the final on Sunday.

Nadal, who had not claimed an ATP title in the past 11 months, won his 32nd straight match in the glitzy principality with yet another stunning display of claycourt tennis.

Four-times French Open champion Nadal raced through the opening set as Verdasco, playing in his first Masters final, proved unable to live with him. (Agencies)

Gambhir half century powers Delhi to 6-wicket win

TAFF WRITER 23:31 HRS IST

R Eswar

Chennai, Apr 15 (PTI) Gautam Gambhir cracked an unbeaten 57 as Delhi Daredevils spanked Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in a low-scoring IPL match to virtually seal a semifinal berth here tonight.

Captain Gambhir led a remarkable recovery with a resolute batting display with Mithun Manhas (25 not out) after his side made a messy start in the run chase of 113 by losing their top three batsmen for just six runs in the second over.

The duo shared 75 runs from 70 balls for the unfinished fifth wicket as Delhi romped home with eight balls to spare and snap their three-match losing streak at M A Chidambaram Stadium.

I-T officials question Lalit Modi for 8 hrs over IPL deals

STAFF WRITER 5:38 HRS IST

Mumbai, Apr 16 (PTI) Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi was questioned for as long as eight hours over the financial dealings and share holding patterns of the cricketing body as Income Tax officials left his Worli-based office early today.

I-T officials visited IPL Head-Quarters at Wankhede Stadium as also Modi's office at Nirlon House in upmarket Worli, where they quizzed him from 7.15 pm to 3.20 am.

Modi, speaking to reporters later, said the I-T officials were visiting several places in the city in a bid to find out details of the bidding process and when he came to know of it, he invited them over to his office.

"They were given documentation details, they verified the documents and went through the entire process of bidding. We fully cooperated with them and provided them with all they required," the IPL Commissioner said.

Chhetri set to make official debut

Chhetri set to make official debut

NEW DELHI, April 13: Sunil Chhetri is all set to become the first Indian to play for a Major League Soccer side when he makes his official debut for Kansas City Wizards in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifier match against Colorado Rapids.

Chhetri is expected to play against the Rapids at the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus early morning on Wednesday (IST) after KC Wizards made official announcement that he has been added to the 24-man roster.

The diminutive Indian did not play in Wizards’ second MLS match against the Rapids on April 10 as he did not have his clearance papers from the United States Soccer Federation and the MLS.

Chhetri was pleased to see his name on the roster and said, “I’m very excited to be able to appear with the team. We have a good squad and I’m going to give my best to help us on the field.” (PTI)

Modi using unethical efforts to thwart Kochi IPL: Tharoor

Modi using unethical efforts to thwart Kochi IPL: Tharoor

New Delhi, April 13: Minister of State for External Affairs Minister Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday denied that he called up Indian Premier League (IPL) chief Lalit Modi requesting him not to reveal the name of the stakeholders of the consortium that won the franchise of the Kochi team.

Tharoor, who played the role of a mentor and helped the consortium bag the deal for Rs 1,530 crore, said in a statement that he had called up Modi to ask why he was further delaying the approval of the franchise when all the legal requirements had been fulfilled.

“Modi had held up approval by the IPL of the franchisee agreement earlier in the day by insisting on the reversal of a change in the document that he himself had earlier suggested. This change was made, the consortium members flew to Bangalore and met with Modi after that night’s IPL game for what they had been told would be a routine exercise.

Chhetri set to make official debut

Chhetri set to make official debut

NEW DELHI, April 13: Sunil Chhetri is all set to become the first Indian to play for a Major League Soccer side when he makes his official debut for Kansas City Wizards in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifier match against Colorado Rapids.

Chhetri is expected to play against the Rapids at the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus early morning on Wednesday (IST) after KC Wizards made official announcement that he has been added to the 24-man roster.

The diminutive Indian did not play in Wizards’ second MLS match against the Rapids on April 10 as he did not have his clearance papers from the United States Soccer Federation and the MLS.

Chhetri was pleased to see his name on the roster and said, “I’m very excited to be able to appear with the team. We have a good squad and I’m going to give my best to help us on the field.” (PTI)

Chennai trounce Kolkata by 9 wickets

Chennai trounce Kolkata by 9 wickets

Chennai, April 13: Half-centuries by Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay and a three-wicket haul by R Ashwin helped Chennai steamroll Kolkata by nine wickets at the Chepauk today. After restricting the Knight Riders for just 139 runs, Chennai batsmen did not lose their momentum and easily reached the target. Mathew Hayden was the lone causuality. He failed to open his account but Raina (78) and Vijay (50) did not let any further damage to occur.

Earlier, spinner R Ashwin wreaked havoc with his sensational three-wicket spell. Ashwin’s devastating spell punctured Kolkata’s hopes of a good start in the make-or-break match after electing to bat at M A Chidambaram stadium here.

Kolkata lost four wickets at a score of 19 inside fifth over with Ashwin (3/16) coming up with a dream spell.

Chennai Super Kings beat KKR by nine wickets

STAFF WRITER 22:42 HRS IST

Chennai, Apr 13 (PTI) Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by nine wickets in their crucial IPL match at M A Chidambaram stadium here today.

Brief Scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders: 139 for 8 in 20 overs. (A Mathews 48, M Tiwary 27; R Ashiwn 3/16, D Bollinger 2/15).

CSK skipper Dhoni lavishes praise on Raina

STAFF WRITER 0:5 HRS IST

Chennai, Apr 13 (PTI) Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is happy to be back in the semifinal race after winning tonight's IPL encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders and paid a rich tribute to Suresh Raina for playing a match-winning explosive knock.

Raina played a 39-ball 78-run knock to help Chennai chase 140-run target with more than six overs to spare.

"Raina soaks up the pressure at number three, he has the responsibility of batting quickly and not getting out, he's been brilliant at finishing games off. It is great for his career. I wish Chennai a very Happy Tamil New Year," Dhoni said after the match.

The captain also praised opener Murali Vijay for his excellent show with the bat. Vijay and Raina raised a stunning 137-run unbeaten partnership for the second wicket.

Mumbai Indians crush Delhi Daredevils by 39 runs

STAFF WRITER 19:21 HRS IST

Mumbai, Apr 13 (PTI) Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Daredevils by 39 runs in their Indian Premier League match here today.

Brief Scores:

Mumbai Indians: 183 for four in 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 45 not out, Saurabh Tiwary 38, Sachin Tendulkar 30; Pradeep Sangwan 2/35).

Delhi Dardedevils: 144 for 7 in 20 overs. (A McDonald 33 not out, D Warner 31; A Murtaza 2/18, D Fernando 2/32).

Afridi files an appeal with PCB

Pakistan Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi filed an appeal with the Pakistan Cricket Board against the three million rupees fine imposed on him last month for his ball tampering antics in Australia earlier this year.

"Yes we have got an appeal from Shahid today and we will be sending all appeals filed by the players to the governing board and then appellate tribunal for further action," PCB's legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi said.

Before Afridi, Rana Naved and the Akmal brothers, Kamran and Umar, had filed appeals against their punishments with the board.

Former captain, Younus Khan was also expected to finally submit an appeal with the board through his lawyer later today against the indefinite ban imposed on him.

The board, acting on the recommendations of its inquiry committee that probed into the team's poor performances during the Australian tour, had banned Younus, Muhammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved besides imposing heavy fines on Afridi and the Akmal brothers for violating the code of conduct on that tour.

"We have a proper process for these appeals to be heard by the appellate board which has already been formed. The appellate board will decide whether to uphold the appeals of the players or reject them or recommend changes to the punishments," Rizvi said.

Afridi was fined and put on six month's probation by the board for his ball tampering action during the fifth and final one-day international against Australia in Perth in February.

The Pakistani allrounder was immediately handed over atwo-match ban by the ICC match referee.

Afridi, in his appeal, has made the point that the board cannot punish him for an offence for which he has already been banned for two matches by the ICC.
© PTI

IPL governing council to meet in 10 days

With the public showdown between Lalit Modi and minister Shashi Tharoor over the Kochi franchise snowballing into a major controversy, the BCCI has decided to convene a meeting of the IPL Governing Council within 10 days to discuss and take a decision on the episode.

A day after Modi disclosed that Sunanda Pushkar, who is reportedly close to Tharoor, had stakes worth close to Rs 70 crores in the Kochi team, the controversy took a more serious turn today with the minister saying that Modi's tweets were "an extraordinary breach of all propriety" and designed to discredit the franchise.

The BCCI has taken a serious view of the public spat between the IPL commissioner and the Minister of State for External Affairs which may now have ramifications beyond the IPL.

"BCCI president has decided to convene an IPL Governing Council meeting within 10 days to discuss all the issues and take a decision," BCCI spokesman Rajiv Shukla told reporters after a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence.

Shukla, who maintained that his meeting with Sonia Gandhi had nothing to do with the Tharoor issue, said, "Whatever allegations have been made from both the sides, all those issues will be deliberated upon at the meeting of the Governing Council.

"I don't want to make a comment or any observation on what one has said against the other. All I am trying to suggest is that all these issues will be discussed in the meeting convened by the BCCI president," he said.

Asked whether he had a discussion with Sonia Gandhi on Tharoor's role in the IPL Kochi team, Shukla said, "I had no discussion with Sonia Gandhi on this issue. It was a regular meeting with the AICC president."

Whether the BCCI took the public spat between Modi and Tharoor seriously, Shukla said, "BCCI president understands the urgency of the issue, that's why he has convened the meeting."

According to a top BCCI source, Lalit Modi's tweets have not gone down well with the top brass of the cricket board as he has often announced important decisions without taking the consent of the governing body.

After receiving a complaint from the Kochi franchise on Modi's indiscretion, BCCI president Shashank Manohar shot off a strongly-worded letter to the IPL commissioner, criticising his decision to make public the ownership details.

"The issue, if any, could have been discussed at the governing council meeting and that action on your part of raising it on Twitter is unbecoming of you as a chairman of the a sub-committee of the board. Your action is in serious breach of the confidentiality clause in the agreement," Manohar wrote.

"Till date, you have made public statements about a lot of issues which were not even discussed in the meetings of the governing council when it is the governing council which has the authority to take decisions with regard to each and every issue related to IPL," Manohar said.

Modi on his part responded to Manohar's letter by saying his revelations on Twitter were "in no way a breach of confidentiality". He said the Kochi franchise "had a lot to hide" and as such have lied about who are the actual owners of the shares.

Although the BCCI has not fixed a date for its next governing council meeting, a source said judging by the gravity of the situation, the meeting could be convened as early as possible.

"The BCCI has a Working Committee meeting on April 24 and the Finance Committee meeting is scheduled on April 23. Since most of the officials will be there, the governing council meeting could be slated for 23rd," the source said.

Modi had on Sunday disclosed the names of the free equity holders in the little known Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) which coughed up approximately Rs 1533 crore to bag the Kochi franchise, a move which put Tharoor in a spot of bother as Sunanda figured in the list.

Miffed by the disclosure, RSW threatened to send a legal notice to Modi and accused the IPL Commissioner of breaking the confidentiality terms.

Modi hinted there was pressure on him not to reveal the details of who all owns Rendezvous.

"I was told not to get into who owns Rendezvous, specially Sunanda Pushkar. Why?" said Modi.

Tharoor had all along denied having a stake in the Kochi franchise, saying he played merely a facilitator's role.

In a lengthy rejoinder, Tharoor denied calling Modi and requesting him not to disclose details of the RSW stakeholders.

Cricbuz

Somdev touches career-best ranking

Somdev touches career-best ranking

New Delhi, April 12: India’s Somdev Devvarman continues to prosper on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour and has risen to a career-high ranking of 110 on its charts here on Monday. Somdev, who came close to knocking out former World No.1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the second round of the US men's Clay Court Championship, has improved upon his previous best of 116 last week. Somdev, who shot into prominence at the university of Virginia, winning back-to-back US collegiate singles titles in 2007-8, was largely instrumental in taking India into the Davis Cup World Group this year, though they lost to Russia in the first round. US-based Indian Prakash Amritraj climbed two places to 198. In the men’s doubles ranking, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi remain unchanged at sixth and seventh position. (IANS)

Maoist attack feared in Tripura, security beefed up

AGARTALA, April 12: Security has been beefed up in Tripura following an alert issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in the wake of the Maoist attack at Dantewada in Chhattisgarh last week. Official sources here today said all the security forces in Tripura had been put on high alert while being asked to conduct search and frisking in city areas and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) was instructed to take the lead role in the counter-insurgency campaign. ‘’We have already intensified counter-insurgency operation with the announcement of election to Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to be held on May 3 and MHA directives after the Chhattisgarh incident have asked us to be on alert,’’ police said.

They said Assam Rifles and CRPF personnel posted in Tripura were on an all-out offensive against militant groups which are a threat to the state’s peace and harmony. ‘’Though we do not apprehend much trouble this time during the ADC polls, but reports indicate that some groups are trying to sneak into the state from across the border. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure free and fair elections,’’ said a police official, adding the BSF had already been alerted to step up vigil along the border. (Agencies)

Dhoni, Ganguly in a crucial face-off today

Dhoni, Ganguly in a crucial face-off today

Chennai, April 12: Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will clash in a make-or-break Indian Premier League match here tomorrow, the outcome of which will decide if they can still be in race for a semifinal spot.

Both the teams need to win all the three remaining games if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for the last-four stage and the team that ends on the wrong side of the result would be out of contention.

They are on equal points having won five of their 11 matches but the hosts are at the fifth place in the points table, ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders due to their better net run-rate.

The hosts have a psychological edge as they have beaten Knight Riders in the away encounter but that defeat at home would push Kolkata even more for the win.

Both the teams are coming into the clash after defeats in their last encounters and an exasperated Sourav Ganguly even went to the extent of saying that his side played “rubbish” on Saturday against Royal Challengers Bangalore and did not deserve to be in semifinals.