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.

Essex have Twenty20 vision for Olympic Stadium

A cricketer hits a ball. English county cricket side Essex want to join Premier League football club West Ham in using the Olympic Stadium in London after the 2012 Games.[© AFP/File]

English county cricket side Essex want to join Premier League football club West Ham in using the Olympic Stadium in London after the 2012 Games.

Chelmsford, close to Stratford in east London where the Olympic Stadium is situated, would remain Essex's headquarters ground.

But the county are keen to play Twenty20 matches at the Olympic Stadium at a time when, with the English football season completed, it would not be needed by West Ham.

Essex have been holding talks with both Newham Council and West Ham and the club's chief executive, David East, told Sky Sports on Thursday: "We are very much looking forward to exploring this with Newham and West Ham.

"Our home ground will remain at the Ford County Ground in Chelmsford, but it would be fantastic to be able to play some of our expanded Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Olympic Stadium.

"We have a very active development programme in the east end of London, and this would give us an ideal opportunity to extend our community work even further with a centre of excellence in the borough."

If viable, the bid will be submitted to the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), who will decide upon the stadium's use after the Games.

"It is purely a feasibility study at this stage as far as cricket's concerned," East added. "We're delighted to be working with Newham to see whether cricket actually can take place in there.

"Obviously there are some reasonably substantive issues concerning the pitch, what pitch you would play on, and that's going to be part of the investigation that we work on.

"It's very, very early days. We've got to go through all of those operational, logistical exercises to see whether this is actually a goer.

"We may go through this exercise and work out cricket can't be played in there but we're going to explore it with them and it's a very exciting opportunity if it is feasible."

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady, whose club would like to relocate permanently from their nearby Upton Park ground to the stadium, said: "It's about realising the full potential of the Olympic Park.

"If achievable it is the ideal answer for those who, rightly, demand a sustainable legacy from the 2012 Games and not a white elephant."

Under current plans, the 80,000-seater Olympic Stadium is due to be reduced in size to a 25,000-capacity venue complete with an athletics track.

But with the stadium costing 537 million pounds (809 million dollars), there are concerns as to whether it will remain economically viable as an athletics venue alone.

© AFP

Surrey in shock Lara bid: report

West Indies cricketing great Brian Lara arrives for the World Premiere of the film 'The Heavy' in London's Leicester Square on April 15. English county Surrey are reportedly trying to tempt Lara out of retirement in a bid to have the legendary batsman play Twenty20 cricket for the Oval-based side this season.[© AFP]

English county Surrey are reportedly trying to tempt West Indies great Brian Lara out of retirement in a bid to have the legendary batsman play Twenty20 cricket for the Oval-based side this season.

The former West Indies captain retired from international duty after the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and has not played competitively for two years.

However, the BBC website quoted a Surrey statement as saying: "We have been in discussion with Brian regarding his possible involvement with the club.

"However we have no further comment to make at this stage."

Surrey's headquarters are in London where Lara was seen on Thursday attending a film premiere.

Bringing left-hander Lara, 41 next month, to the Oval would represent a major coup for Surrey, although whether he could be a force in a format that was in its infancy when he retired remains an open question.

What is beyond dispute is Lara's international record.

His tally of 11,953 Test runs, at an average of just under 53 with 34 hundreds, is second only to that of India star Sachin Tendulkar.

But it is Lara who still holds the world record for the highest individual Test score with 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004.

Lara also averaged 40.48 in 299 one-day internationals.

Immediately recognisable at the crease thanks to a distinctively high backlift, few batsmen in history have been blessed with the ability to make huge scores as often as Lara at his best.

In the space of two months in 1994, Lara's 375 and 501 not out (for Warwickshire against Durham in the English County Championship) broke world records for the highest Test and first-class scores respectively.

He also enjoyed a stellar home series against the 1999 Australian tourists, who boasted a formidable bowling unit featuring two greats in Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, with a run of 213, eight, 153 not out and 100.

But it was Lara's misfortune to play the bulk of his international cricket in a generally weak West Indies team and his spells as captain, although marked by occasional triumphs, were largely unsuccessful.

Surrey have already recruited controversial Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds to play Twenty20.

© AFP

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.

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.

Rana appeals against ban to revive Pakistan career

Pakistan's Rana Naved-ul Hasan, seen here during a Champions Trophy match against India in Centurion, South Africa, in 2009. Hasan appealed Thursday against a one-year ban and heavy fine for indiscipline, saying he wants justice from the cricket authorities.[© AFP/File]

Pakistan all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan appealed Thursday against a one-year ban and heavy fine for indiscipline, saying he wants justice from the cricket authorities.

"It is a matter of reviving my career, so I have filed an appeal against the ban and fine with a hope that I get justice," Naved told reporters. "I want to play for Pakistan again."

Naved, 32, and former captain Shoaib Malik, were banned for one year and fined two million rupees (24,000 dollars) on charges of breach of discipline during the team's December-February tour of Australia.

The penalties were imposed after a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee examined the team's dismal performances and off-field problems in Australia, where Pakistan lost all three Tests, five one-day and a Twenty20 international.

Former captains Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf were banned indefinitely over infighting during the preceding tour of the United Arab Emirates in November.

Brothers Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal, who were fined three million (35,000 dollars) and two million rupees respectively and put on probation for six months, filed appeals on Tuesday.

Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi was fined three million rupees and put on a six-month probation for ball-tampering in a one-day match in Australia which "brought the game and country into disrepute".

Naved said the PCB did not give specific reasons for the punishment.

"The charge sheet that I have received only mentions that I under-performed in the Twenty20 match in Australia. My plea is that no player can ever perform well in all matches. I did my best but we lost," he added.

Naved, who has played nine Tests, 74 one-day and four T20 games for Pakistan, conceded 27 runs in his four overs and scored one in his team's narrow two-run defeat at Melbourne.

He has been signed by Sussex for the opening few weeks of the English county season as cover for countryman Yasir Arafat who will be busy playing in the World Twenty20 Cup for Pakistan until May 16.

Naved, who is only banned from playing internationals, took 139 wickets to help Sussex win the County Championship titles in 2005 and 2006.

PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi confirmed Naved has filed an appeal, adding that Malik has also written to the PCB seeking clarification on his punishment.

Malik is in India where he is due to marry tennis star Sania Mirza next week.

The PCB last month appointed two retired Supreme Court judges -- Muneer Sheikh and Jamshed Ali Shah -- and a former high court judge, Irfan Qadir, to deal with the appeals.

The deadline to appeal is April 16.

© AFP

Jaques seeks Worcestshire boost for Australia recall

Former Australian opener Phil Jaques, seen here in 2008, is targeting an international recall after joining up with Worcestershire for a third spell.[© AFP/File]

Former Australian opener Phil Jaques is targeting an international recall after joining up with Worcestershire for a third spell.

Jaques, who has played 11 Tests and scored a century in his last innings for Australia against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 2008, has been overlooked since then and has also been struck down with back problems.

But the 30-year-old came through the domestic season with New South Wales with no injury setbacks and is hoping a successful spell with Worcestershire will help him earn a recall to the international fold.

Jaques told Press Association Sport: "Last summer back home, I played every game for New South Wales. I was the only one to do that which was a good achievement in itself in a long season.

"It is very exciting to be back fit and hopefully I can really pile on the runs over here this year.

"I wouldn't be playing cricket if I didn't have ambitions and my ambition is to get back to the highest level you can achieve - and that is playing for Australia.

"That is why I am here. That is why I chose here rather than the Indian Premier League.

"I wanted to play county cricket, get some volume of games in and hopefully get back into the Australian side. That is the goal ahead."

Jaques admitted: "It was a bit of a weird feeling to score a 100 in my last Test and then not play again.

"But I know I can play at that level and right now it is about knocking on the door hard enough and getting the runs on the board I need and waiting for an opportunity.

"The guys who have been playing, Simon Katich and Shane Watson, have been outstanding. They have probably been our best two batsmen over the last 12 months along with Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting.

"It is very hard to get back into that team. But I've got to go back to the drawing board, score lots of runs ands wait for an opportunity.

"I will be looking to get back to converting decent scores into hundreds and I hope I can do that at Worcestershire. The body has held up. I have had no injury problems and the back is getting stronger by the day."

© AFP

Kolkata beat Delhi by 14 runs

Kolkata beat Delhi by 14 runs

Kolkata, April 7: A spirited Knight Riders overcame Sehwag’s exploits to beat Daredevils by 14 runs. Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders posted 181/3 against Delhi Daredevils in their Indian Premier League game at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday. Skipper Sourav Ganguly scored a 46-ball 56 (8x4, 1x6) and added 94 for the opening wicket with Chris Gayle, who got 40 off 21 balls (5x4, 2x6). Angelo Mathews 46 not out (28 balls, 3x6) and Manoj Tiwary 26 not out (18 balls, 1x4, 1x6) played some scintillating shots towards the end as they stitched together an unfinished fourth wicket stand of 70 to set the visitors an asking rate of 9.1 runs per over.

Brief Score: Kolkata: 181 for 3 in 20 overs

Delhi: 167 for 8 in 20 overs

(IANS)

Rajasthan Royals win

Rajasthan Royals win

Nagpur, April 5: Shane Warne once again produced a magical display as he picked up four Deccan batsmen to nail a thriller on Monday in Nagpur. Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious by two runs in the IPL match. Rohit Sharma was the highest scorer with 74 but that was overshadowed by the magic of Warne. Warne not only performed brilliantly with the ball but also managed his fielders nicely to succesfully defend the total score of 159.

Earlier, Shane Watson cracked a scintillating 36-ball 58 but Rajasthan Royals suffered a middle-order batting collapse and failed to put up a big score in the board.

Watson blasted three fours and as many sixes to stand amidst the ruins, even as Michael Lumb (15), Naman Ojha (1), Yusuf pathan (5), Abhishek Jhunjhunwala (11) and Abhishek Raut (0) were dismissed cheaply after skipper Shane Warne elected to bat first.

Watson played a dashing knock to anchor the Rajasthan innings but their batting capitulated as they lost first half of their side for 130 in 15.2 overs, before losing the last five wickets for just 29 runs.

Jayawardene ton powers Kings XI to 8-wkt win

Jayawardene ton powers Kings XI to 8-wkt win

Kolkata, April 4: Mahela Jayawardene cracked an unbeaten 59-ball 110 to power Kings XI Punjab to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in a high-scoring Indian Premier League match here tonight.

Chasing a stiff 201 for a win, Kings XI were never under pressure with Jayawardene playing a blistering innings which had 14 boundaries and three sixes in it as the visitors romped home with 10 balls to spare.

Jayawardene’s unbeaten century, the fourth in IPL III, overshadowed a 42-ball 88 from Kolkata Knight Riders’ opener Chris Gayle after the home side opted to bat first at the Eden Gardens.

The Sri Lankan, who was sent out to open with Manvinder Bisla, was though dropped when on 51.

Yuvraj’s Singh’s cameo of 16-ball 36, which was laced with two fours and three sixes, gave the final push in the run chase of Kings XI who notched up 204 for two in 18.2 overs. Captain Kumar Sangakkara chipped in with a 22-ball 38.

My family and I know the truth: Sania Mirza

My family and I know the truth: Sania Mirza

New Delhi, April 3: Her prospective groom is facing allegations of marrying and dumping a woman, but Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza backed Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik on the matter, saying that she and her family have known the truth all along.

Although she did not mention Shoaib directly, Sania’s latest twitter feed clearly supported her husband-to-be, who has been accused of cheating a Hyderabadi girl Ayesha Siddiqui after a telephonic nikah.

“Me and my family know what the truth is, we’ve known it all along and we have confidence in god’s justice,” Sania said.

The 24-year-old has been flayed by the Shiv Sena and some other right wing parties for deciding to marry the Pakistani all-rounder.

Getting ready for the “biggest day” of her life, Sania said she never thought she would have to deal with so many things apart from the regular pre-wedding jitters.

“Too much going on, never in my life thought that I’d had to worry bout anything Of this sort, rather than my mehendi!” she said.

ICC trying for easier Indian visa rules

Hindustantimes, Hindustan Times, 03 April 2010

Colombo, April 2 -- The International Cricket Council is holding talks with the Indian government to ease visa restrictions for spectators entering the country to for the 2011 World Cup.

This was stated by the ICC Central Organising Committee (COC) after it met in Colombo on Friday to review the progress of the new cricket grounds in Sri Lanka and to check whether the security for the matches to be held here was in place.

"The COC discussed the possibility of visa variations for supporters entering India to watch World Cup. At present, only single entry visas are permitted for tourists to India but the COC is working with the Indian government in the hope that multiple entry visas will be made available for all supporters - except those from Pakistan - holding valid match tickets," the ICC committee said.