Pakistan has no security concern in Sri Lanka

Karachi, May 14: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not review the security arrangements in Sri Lanka ahead of the summer series between the two countries.

The PCB chairman Ijaz Butt Thursday said Pakistan has complete faith in the security arrangements in Sri Lanka for the series in July-August.

Pakistan will play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international on the tour.

This is Pakistan’s first full series in over 20 months and the first between the two countries since the aborted series in Pakistan in March after the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by the terrorists.

When asked whether Pakistani cricketers would be at risk in Sri Lanka especially in the aftermath of the attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, Butt said: “The Sri Lankan cricketers were targeted by terrorists. Our players will go there as ambassadors of peace and I’m sure that the series will take place smoothly.”

Butt said he will be leaving for Sri Lanka on Thursday to meet the top officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). He said the purpose of the visit is to enlist SLC support for Pakistan to regain its status as 2011 World Cup joint hosts.

Pakistan is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka June 27, just after the end of the Twenty 20 World Cup in England.

The first Test against Sri Lanka will be played July 4-8 at Galle, while the second Test is at the Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo July 12. The third Test will begin at the Sinhalese Sports Club, July 20.

The teams will then travel to Dambulla for the first three one-dayers July 30, August 1 and August 3 before returning to Colombo for the last two one-dayers August 7 and 9. The one-off Twenty20 international is scheduled to be played at the Premadasa Stadium August 12. (Agencies)

Sreesanth, an over-rated bowler, says Hayden

Centurion, May 8: The war of words between S Sreesanth and Matthew Hayden does not have an end and this time the Australian has questioned the speedster’s ability, saying that he is an over-rated bowler who surrenders under the pressure situation.

Hayden has been in top form in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and Sreesanth was under the hammer last night, when the former Australian opener struck a magnificent 89 off just 58 balls to guide Chennai Super Kings to a 12-run victory over Kings XI Punjab.

“I think he is a particularly over-rated bowler. And so he was a great target for us to go at,” Hayden said here last night.

While Hayden was severe on almost every bowler that came on to bowl at him, Sreesanth too had to pay the brunt as the burly opener struck him for three sixes in the 17th over of the innings.

Sreesanth, who was playing only his second match of the season, did not like Hayden’s onslaught and showed his displeasure, passing a volley of words at the batsman.

However, Hayden did not seem perturbed with Sreesanth’s reaction and later said, “He (Sreesanth) always loses his cool under pressure and I think tonight was a good example of that,” he added.

Ponting to lead Australia till 2011 World Cup

Australia captain Ricky Ponting will remain at the helm in all three formats of the game till the 2011 World Cup, chief selector Andrew Hilditch said.

Hilditch ruled out having different captains for the Test and limited overs squads and said while Ponting might skip a tourney here and there, he would lead Australia in all major events.

"Leadership issues are things that we always think about but we are really confident that Ricky will be more than capable of getting through to the 2011 World Cup, and I know that is something he would like to do, so I don't see that as being an issue," Hilditch told 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

Ponting skipped the just-concluded ODI series against Pakistan where his deputy Michael Clarke led the side to a 3-2 series win.

Despite Clarke's growing reputation, Hilditch believes there was no need to rush to hand over the limited over captaincy to the youngster.

"We have been very careful with managing his workload in the last three or four years, and he really needed to have a break, which for lots of reasons was not a popular decision, but it was a pretty tough task to then send him to South Africa and then go straight into One-dayers," Hilditch said.

"It was pretty tough on him and he did very very well. For a few weeks, at least, he is getting a break now.

"From time to time we will look at his workload, particularly on overseas tours and try and keep it to a manageable level, but for key events Ricky is always going to be a critical member of the side," the chief selector said.

Incidentally, Clarke himself is also not in a hurry. "Let me make clear, our captain's back home and we can't wait to have him back," Clarke said.

"He's a fantastic leader and I'm stoked that he's happy to give me these chances, give me these opportunities to get involved and learn as much as I can," he added.

© PTI

Strauss wins England player of the year award

England captain Andrew Strauss was named as the team's player of the year for 2008/09 by sponsors Vodafone here on Monday.

The award, given to the opening batsman just two days before he leads England into the first Test against the West Indies at his Lord's home ground, was a reward for some heavy run-scoring by the Middlesex left-hander.

Strauss, whose side face Australia later in the season, said he hoped the award would be a harbinger of Ashes success just as it was when he won it ahead of England's victorious 2005 campaign against their oldest cricket foes.

"This is the second time I have won this award, and I regard it as a great honour to be named Vodafone England Player of the Year," said the 32-year-old Strauss, in fine form during the 'winter' in India and the Caribbean, where he made hundreds in three successive Tests against the West Indies.

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"The last time was in 2004, and I received the award in early 2005. Let's hope that this is an omen for this extremely exciting summer ahead."

Strauss was appointed England captain after Kevin Pietersen lost the post following a row with Peter Moores which cost the then England coach his job.

But by then he'd already been enjoying himself with the bat.

"Last year was memorable for me - starting with a hundred in New Zealand - and I was fortunate enough to end the 12 months with two centuries in the same game in Chennai against India," Strauss, only the 10th England player to make two hundreds in both innings of a Test, said.

Claire Taylor won the corresponding award for the England women's team.

She made 324 runs in England's victorious World Cup campaign in Australia - with a top score of 101 - and had already been named the player of the tournament as well as becoming the first woman to be chosen as one of cricket annual Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year.

The start got us the win: Yuvraj

Port Elizabeth, May 3: Kings XI Punjab skipper Yuvraj Singh reckons getting 50-odd runs in the first six overs while chasing a tricky 154, played a significant role in his side’s victory over Kolkata Knight Riders here today.

Kings XI beat Knight Riders by six wickets to move to the second spot in the points table.

"It was a good toss to lose, it was better batting second. Our fielding was good in first 10 overs, we got McCullum and Gayle and after that Brad Hodge played well."

"We got to have good start and we got 50-60 in the first six over. That was important. Sunny (Sohal) was hitting the ball really well, he did a good job. Then Mahela (Jayawardene) was outstanding and played well with Irfan (Pathan)," Yuvarj said after the match.

Meanwhile, Knight Riders captain Brendon McCullum felt the score was defend-able but said their fielding let dented their chances today. "It was a fine total. We were accurate while bowling and had we fielded well it could have been different. The score was enough and defend-able. Unfortunately we put down some chances," he said. Man-of-the-match Jayawardene, who guided the KingsXI to victory with an unbeaten 52, was relieved to be among runs for the first time in the tournament. "I batted up the order. I wanted to see the pace of the wicket first and then bat through. We kept the run-rate (under control) and there was no need to panic as we had big hitters like Yuvraj. Irfan batted really well. Whenever we needed a boundary he got it," he said. (PTI)