Pak trio deserved ICC ban, says Steve Waugh

Abu Dhabi, Feb 8(ANI): Former Australian captain Steve Waugh insists that former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir got what they deserved after being banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over spot-fixing charges.

Waugh said that though he has some sympathy for 18-year-old Amir, he was in no doubt about how Butt had disgraced his role as the nation's captain.

"That's a major deterrent. To get five years, for most players, that's your career over. And rightly so for someone like a captain of a team who is responsible for the culture and character of the team and influences younger players," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Waugh, as saying.

"The worst possible sin you can commit as a captain is to do something like that. I feel a little bit, I guess, of compassion for the young guy because he would have seen it happening with the other players."

"Butt, I don't have any sympathy for him and Mohammad Asif has sort of been a serial offender in a lot of areas. At some stage someone's got to take a stand," he added.

Butt was banned for 10 years, with five years suspended, while fast bowlers Asif and Amir were handed bans of seven years with two suspended and five years respectively.

The charges relate to alleged incidents during last year's Lord's Test against England, when Britain's 'News of the World' tabloid claimed the players were willing to deliberately bowl no-balls.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/pak-trio-deserved-icc-ban-says-steve-waugh-20110207-225006-207.html

Fit Sehwag confident of India's chances

Virender Sehwag is not concerned of the injuries and dip in form to some of India's key players ahead of the ICC World Cup 2011 and feels that his side is primed to win the title in front of the home crowd.

Sehwag was ruled out of India's recent one-day series against South Africa due to a shoulder injury, raising doubts over his fitness ahead of the tournament, which starts on February 19.

"I was feeling some pain in my shoulder," Sehwag told news channel CNN-IBN. "So (I thought it was) better to quit the South Africa one-dayers)"

"I didn't want to get injured during the South Africa tour and miss the World Cup. So I came back and went to Germany to see a couple of doctors. I got a couple of injections and now I'm fine."

"I am going to the National Cricket Academy (in Bangalore) and will spend a couple of days there to check everything -- if I can bowl and throw also but if I can't, then I'll let them know. But at the moment I'm fully fit."

While Sehwag is coming out of the shoulder injury, Gautam Gambhir is recuperating from a hand injury while Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina are struggling for form. But the dashing opener contended that every cricketer goes through the rough patch at some point of time.

"I am not worried with all these (injuries and slump in form to some players). Sometimes you perform well and sometimes you don't. I was not performing well in 2006-07 but my time came in 2008, 2009 and 2010. I performed well and scored runs in both One-dayers and Tests. These things happen in every player's career. I am not concerned," he said.

"Time is coming for Indian batsmen to perform in front of the home crowd. I am looking forward to that. Everyone has not been scoring big hundreds of late but now is the time for us with World Cup round the corner. I am confident everybody will score," said Sehwag.

Asked about playing under pressure of huge expectations and a tough World Cup group comprising England, South Africa, West Indies and underdogs Bangladesh, Sehwag said the Indians have done their home work well to give their best shot at glory.

"Bangladeshi people would be expecting their side to beat us again like in 2007 World Cup. But this time we are prepared well and confident of beating them in Bangladesh. It's a revenge game for us. We will not take it lightly."

"We are playing in India and know the conditions better than other teams in our group. We know how wickets will behave. When we played against England last time, we won 5-0. Against South Africa, we have done well against them in their country and in India."

"West Indies, they have got good players in Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle and if they click on, it's difficult for us but India has a very strong side in Sachin, Gambhir, Pathan, Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni and Raina. I am looking forward to see Yusuf Pathan in this World Cup," he said.

Sehwag said it's a special moment for him with World Cup happening in India.

"World Cup is coming to India and it is my third. Every cricketer wants to play the World Cup and I am lucky enough to have played two. I am very lucky that I am playing at home. All the players are very happy that it is happening in India. I hope we will deliver and give our best shot. If the day belongs to us, we can beat any side," said Sehwag.

Shahid Afridi has been named Pakistan captain

All-rounder Shahid Afridi has been named Pakistan captain for the World Cup starting later this month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday.

The Pakistan board mentioned that Afridi, who led Pakistan to their first one-day series win since late 2008 with victory over New Zealand on Thursday, will have test captain Misbah-ul-Haq as his deputy.

"PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) announces Afridi as captain of Pakistan team for the World Cup. Misbah has been announced as vice captain for the event," the board said in a statement.

PCB chief Ijaz Butt, who is with the Pakistan team in the ongoing New Zealand tour, mentioned that the decision to appoint Afridi as captain was taken after a discussion with the team management and players.

"I had detailed discussions with team management and players in New Zealand regarding captain and vice captain," Butt said.

"I am pleased to state that everyone fully endorsed these decisions," he added.

The PCB announced their final 15-member World Cup squad last month but delayed naming the captain leading to speculation their had been a tie between Afridi and Misbah, who led Pakistan to a Test series win in New Zealand.

The board did not give any explanation for the delay in naming the flamboyant all-rounder, who has appeared in 311 one-dayers, as captain.

The PCB's decision to delay naming the captain had been criticised by former players and fans.

"It doesn't make a difference whether Misbah leads the side or I lead the side because we both are playing for our country, I have never been after captaincy," Afridi had said earlier this week.

Misbah had backed Afridi as captain. "I think Afridi has done a great job as captain and he has kept the team together and every player is contributing and wants to do well. He has led well," Misbah said after his man-of-the-match performance in New Zealand on Tuesday.

Pakistan have been drawn in Group A of the Feb. 19 to April 2 World Cup alongside Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.

Pakistan's former test captain, Rashid Latif backed the retention of Afridi for the World Cup.

"It was the logical thing to do because he has now been leading the one-day side since last year and the players are also comfortable with him and understand his leadership style," Latif told Reuters.

"If anything I don't understand what prompted the board to delay the announcement. It only led to speculation which is not good for Pakistan cricket ahead of such an important event," Latif added.

© Cricbuzz (with inputs from agencies)

Flower worried by Bresnan injury

England coach Andy Flower says Tim Bresnan's tour-ending calf injury is the biggest worry for his team ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

The English play the final one-day international of their marathon Ashes tour at Perth's WACA Ground on Sunday, before heading home for what is only a brief break for most of the players.

The 15-man English squad for the World Cup departs on February 12 and five members of that squad are currently injured, including Bresnan.

Disconcertingly, all five are valuable members of the attack, the others being Paul Collingwood (back), Stuart Broad (stomach), Graeme Swann (back), Ajmal Shahzad (hamstring), while Chris Tremlett would probably be the obvious late inclusion if any of that group failed to prove their fitness, but he too is sidelined by a side strain.

Flower said Bresnan's calf was the biggest concern.

"Probably it's Bresnan, considering the sight of his injury, just above his Achilles tendon in his lower calf," Flower said when asked which player was in most doubt.

"But he's not a man who has suffered injuries, well not many injuries, in the past and hopefully he will recover very quickly and be ready somewhere near the start."

Flower admitted the injuries were far from ideal so close to the tournament, which starts in under three weeks.

"Of course the timing of them getting back to full fitness is important for the start of the World Cup," Flower said.

"We can't be absolutely certain of that at this stage but we are monitoring them on a daily basis."

The Ashes tour has dragged on beyond three months and Collingwood was the fifth player to fly home during the seven-match ODI series, while Broad was sent back to the UK during the Test series.

Flower had no doubt the length of the tour was the reason for the spate of injuries and that England's World Cup preparation had suffered as a result.

He said he would like to be consulted on his team's playing schedule in future, although he admitted this wasn't always feasible.

"Without a doubt the length of the tour is a reason for the injuries," he said.

"We've been here over three months now and with the intensity at which the guys play their cricket, and with the intensity that we demand in training, it is no surprise that people will pick up injuries and break down at the end of a long, hard tour.

"It would be quite sensible to look at how these tours are set up, especially this close to a World Cup, however, these are the schedules that we are given and we will deal with them as well as we can."

© AFP

Australia the team to beat in the WC: Johnson

After embarrassment at the Ashes, Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson says the defending champions are still the side to beat at the upcoming World Cup.

Australia's horrific 3-1 belting in the Ashes series has given way to a dominant performance in the seven-match one-day international series against England, with the home side leading 5-1 against the tiring tourists.

The final match is being played at the WACA Ground in Perth on Sunday, and the hosts have decided to rest captain Michael Clarke, coming off his best batting form in two months, and star all-rounder Shane Watson.

The pair have been replaced by local batsman Adam Voges and forgotten spinner Jason Krejza.

It is Australia's last match before their World Cup defence, in which they will be aiming at a fourth straight title, and their preparation hasn't gone smoothly despite the one-sided ODI series scoreline.

The final make-up of Australia's 15-man World Cup squad remains shrouded in mystery, with squad members Ricky Ponting (finger), Mike Hussey (hamstring) and Nathan Hauritz (shoulder) all battling serious injuries.

Reserves Shaun Marsh (hamstring) and Xavier Doherty (back) are also unfit, but Johnson said confidence in the camp was rising all the time.

"It is a bit of a different side, but there are a lot of guys there who have played one-day cricket for Australia," Johnson said.

"The guys coming in like Voges and Krejza have done well for their states as well.

"I think we've still got a well-balanced one-day side going into this last game, and we are taking a lot of confidence into it and then onto the World Cup.

"We are still the number one one-day side in the world so hopefully we win this series 6-1."

Australia enter the World Cup as the number one ranked side in one-day cricket, but if they need any proof that pre-tournament form doesn't count for much they only need look back to their 2007 campaign.

They lost their last five ODIs before the World Cup in the West Indies, but then went through the tournament unbeaten.

They have won their last 23 World Cup matches, their only blemish in their last 29 games the famous tie with South Africa in the semi-final at Headingley in 1999, which still enabled the Australians to advance to the final.

© AFP

NE Zone outclass West in FCI cricket

Sports reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 2 – Altogether three matches were played on the second day of the 40th All India FCI Inter Zonal Cricket Tournament here today. North East Zone outclassed South Zone by 183 runs at Judges’ Field while at Nehru Stadium Head Quarter posted six-wicket victory against South Zone and North Zone defeated East Zone by five wickets. The highlight of the NE Zone-West Zone match was a 56-ball 110 by Rahul Hazarika. Skipper Rishab Das was the other notable contributor in the match with 80.

Scoring a mammoth 227 for one in 20 overs, North East bundled out West for 35. At Nehru Stadium, South Zone managed to score 85 for six and in reply Head Quarter gathered 85 losing four wickets in 15 overs. In the other match, in reply to East Zone’s 147, North hit up 148 for five.

Brief scores: NE 228/1 (Rahul Hazarika 110, Rishab Das 80, Prasanta Sonowal 30). WZ 35 (Ramesh Iyer 12, Bikash Chetry 6/6).

SZ 85/6 (Chandrasekhar 28, Yogesh 14). HQ 86/4 (Rohit Saini 41, Ravikant Sharma 21, Ajay Madan 14, Kavi 3/13).

EZ 147 (Sanjoy Yadav 33, Abhirup Gupta 30, Joydip Mukherjee 27, Devang Gandhi 16, Bharat Awasti 5/28, AW Zaidi 2/21). NZ 148/5 (Saransh Thakur 38, Gurkirate Singh 37, Akash Malhotra 29, Kawaljit Singh 22, Arup B Bhatacharjee 3/20).

Australia win after record ODI run chase

SYDNEY, Feb 2 (AFP): Australia conjured up their biggest ever successful run chase to beat England by two wickets in a thrilling sixth one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

After a Jonathan Trott century helped England post their highest ever ODI score against Australia of 333-6, the home side batted their way into contention, needing six to win off the final over with two wickets in hand.

Tailender John Hastings edged a boundary off the second delivery from youngster Chris Woakes to hand Australia victory with four balls to spare, the home side making 334-8.

It was Australia’s record run chase in an ODI and extended their lead over the tourists in the seven-match series to 5-1 with one game to play.

Captain Michael Clarke’s late season return to form continued as he smashed 82 from 70 balls to lead the unlikely chase, with late support from David Hussey, who made 38.

The match seemed to be England’s to lose with Australia needing 70 off 48 balls, but the pair took 16 off James Anderson’s eighth over — the 44th of the innings.

They followed it up by notching 14 off Anderson’s ninth as the England bowler went on to finish with a disastrous 91 runs from his 10 overs.

Shane Watson, with 51 off 34 balls, got the home side off to a flying start in reply to what had the look of a match-winning total by England, before falling to the spin of Michael Yardy.

Mitchell Johnson was promoted to number four and made 57 before being stumped from the bowling of Kevin Pietersen, while the recalled Callum Ferguson was run out for 46.

An Australian win seemed unlikely after Trott’s second century of the series helped England post what was also their highest ODI score in Australia.

Trott continued his superb series by making 137, taking his haul for the series to 361 runs at 72.20, the English number three the leading scorer for either side despite his team’s indifferent form.

Before falling to the second-last ball of the innings Trott was offered good support by captain Andrew Strauss, who made 63 from just 69 balls, and Ian Bell, with 45 from 32 deliveries.

Trott, was earlier given out lbw on 82 to Shaun Tait but handed a reprieve after a review of the decision, reached triple figures for the fourth time in ODIs from exactly 100 balls, having hit seven boundaries.

In an outstanding game for the England man he took a brilliant catch to remove Brad Haddin (20), and bowled during the Australian innings.

SCOREcard

England: Andrew Strauss c Hussey b Smith 63, Matt Prior b Johnson 18, Jonathan Trott c&b Tait 137, Kevin Pietersen c Smith b Lee 29, Ian Bell c Clarke b Tait 45, Eoin Morgan c Tait b Watson 21, Paul Collingwood not out 7, Chris Woakes not out 0. Extras: (B-1, LB-3, W-6, NB-3) 13. Total: (For six wickets; 50 overs) 333. Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-121, 3-189, 4-293, 5-319, 6-330. Bowling: Brett Lee 9-1-66-1, Shaun Tait 10-0-60-2, Mitchell Johnson 6-0-43-1, John Hastings 7-0-48-0, David Hussey 4-0-25-0, Steve Smith 7-0-40-1, Michael Clarke 1-0-7-0, Shane Watson 6-0-40-1.

Australia: Shane Watson c Strauss b Yardy 51, Brad Haddin c Trott b Anderson 20, Callum Ferguson run out 46, Mitchell Johnson st Prior b Petersen 57, Michael Clarke run out 82, Cameron White c Morgan b Finn 20, David Hussey c Prior b Finn 38, Steve Smith run out 0, John Hastings not out 7, Brett Lee not out 2. Extras: (W-11) 11. TOTAL: (For 8 wkts in 49.2 overs) 334. Fall of wickets: 1-71, 2-87, 3-166, 4-194, 5-224, 6-314, 7-317, 8-327. Bowling: Chris Woakes 9.2-0-72-0, James Anderson 10-0-91-1, Steven Finn 10-0-51-2, Michael Yardy 10-0-47-1, Kevin Pietersen 6-0-43-1, Jonathan Trott 4-0-29-0.