Dhoni was given out due to wrong replay, confirms ICC

Dubai: The ICC today confirmed that an error by the host broadcaster during first day's play in the second Test between the West Indies and India in Barbados led to the wrong replay being shown to the third umpire that led to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's dismissal.

During India's innings, India captain Dhoni was out caught at mid-on off the bowling of Fidel Edwards.

On-field umpire Ian Gould suspected that the delivery may have been a no-ball so, as per the correct protocols, he sought confirmation from the third umpire, Gregory Brathwaite.

But the delivery Brathwaite was shown by the host broadcaster was legitimate and hence, Dhoni was given out.

However, it was subsequently established that Brathwaite had been shown the wrong replay and that the delivery that led to Dhoni's dismissal should indeed have been called a no-ball.

"The host broadcaster for this series, IMG Media, acknowledged the mistake and has apologised. Having looked into the situation, I am satisfied it was an unfortunate but honest mistake in what is a tense and live environment," said Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.

"It is worth pointing out that the umpires followed the correct procedures and are without blame in this matter.

"Seeing as the game has continued, clearly there is no opportunity to reverse the decision. We are forced now put it behind us and move on with the remainder of the match," he added. .

Hectic schedule will drain players: Dhoni

Indian skipper MS Dhoni has never been one to mince words and always speaks his mind, and he voiced what many people who had seen the Indian team's schedule has concerns over: the hectic nature of the schedule. Dhoni said that the crammed calendar this year will drain the players both physically and mentally.

"It does affect the performance of players. The physical aspect you can battle but because of the amount of cricket (you play) at times you find yourself mentally and emotionally quite drained," Dhoni told a press conference in Chennai when asked about the crammed schedule ahead this year.

Less than a week after the conclusion of the World Cup that lasted over 40 days, IPL-IV kicks-off on Friday and will last 50 days. Indian players will play series against West Indies, England and Australia later in the year.

"After the IPL, India play the West Indies series, we then go straight to England, we come back, if we qualify (in the IPL) you play in the Champions League. Then there is another couple of tournaments before you move to Australia, so it's quite a hectic schedule ahead of us," Dhoni said.

"Even if the demanding schedule may not affect all the players, it will affect quite a few players who have been part of all the cricket we have played for about the past six months," he added.

Dhoni had spoken against the busy schedule just before the World Cup, saying it made players physically and mentally tired. That led to an angry reaction from the BCCI who said that players are permitted to take rest whenever they feel tired.

The Chennai Super Kings skipper was in the city to kick-start CSK's latest IPL season. CSK won the tournament last year and also the Champions League Twenty20.

© PTI

Dhoni pulls up his bowlers for mediocre show against SA tail

JAIPUR: Clearly not happy with the performance of his bowlers in India's one-run victory over South Africa in the first One-dayer in Jaipur, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday said he had not expected his best bowlers to get the pasting from the visiting tailenders.

"So many runs needed by their (SA) tailenders and you don't expect your best bowlers to concede so many runs (at the death). The bowlers need to do better in remaining matches," Dhoni said after the cliffhanger of a contest.

"In the initial overs (of South African innings) also the bowlers could have done better," he added.

He praised all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for his fine performance with the bat and ball.

"Virender Sehwag could not bowl and we were short of a bowler. But Yusuf Pathan bowled well and Ravindra Jadeja all the difference today. He bowled and batted well," said Dhoni.

He also felt that his batsmen got the starts but failed to convert them into big scores.

"Most of batsmen got the starts but failed to convert them except for Suresh Raina, Sehwag and (Dinesh) Karthik. We thought we would crossed 300 but we could not," he said.

Dhoni said South Africa are capable of bouncing back into the series and his side will have to keep the winning momentum going.

"Both are good sides and they can bounce back. But it will be a very good and tightly contested series," said the home team captain.

Man of the match Ravindra Jadeja said he stuck to the basics while bowling and it paid off.

"I was not thinking of trying anything new. I was just trying to concentrate to stick to the basics and bowl stump to stump and no loose balls," said the youngster who scored a 20-ball 22 and took 2/29 from his 10 overs.

Asked how he focused on his game after he was recently penalised by the Indian Premier League, he said, "I was trying to focus on cricket. I was concentrating to Duleep Trophy and this ODI series."

Dhoni nominated in three categories for ICC awards

Mumbai: India's recent superb run in Test and One-day cricket on Wednesday was reflected in the ICC's annual awards nominations as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was listed in three categories for honour.

Dhoni was nominated for ICC Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year awards.

Gautam Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh were the other Indian nominees for the prestigious Cricketer of the Year award.

VVS Laxman joined the trio of Dhoni, Gambhir and Harbhajan to be in the line for the Test Player of the Year award while Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag were also in the fray for the honour of ODI Player of the Year.

Dhoni has already been the ODI Player of the Year in 2008 besides being named in the ODI Team of the Year.

Zaheer Khan was nominated for Twenty20 Performer of the Year award while Amit Mishra will be vying for the honour in the Emerging Player of the year category as Indians led the overall nominations for the award.

Mithali Raj was nominated for the Women's Cricketer of the year award.

The nominations were announced by dashing Indian opener Virender Sehwag and former captain Ravi Shastri in the presence of International Cricket Council Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat while the awards will be presented on October 1 in Johannesburg, South Africa during the Champions Trophy.

PTI

Harbhajan sells rights to licence his name

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Harbhajan sells rights to licence his name

NEW DELHI: Ace cricketer Harbhajan Singh on Wednesday sold licensing rights to his name as a brand to Delhi-based License India for an undisclosed Harbhajan Singh displays various merchandise while launching of brand 'Harbhajan Singh' with License India.

The deal, which has been dubbed as the first in the history of Indian cricket, could see the off-spinner's name being used in various types of merchandise and even in chain of restaurants as 'Bhajji Da Dhaba'.

"Licensing is a $191 billion business worldwide, although it is still nascent in India. Harbhajan is one of the most recognised faces of Indian cricket and we have signed an agreement with him to licence his brand name," License India president Gaurav Marya said.

He said the company would explore avenues to design and develop the brand 'Harbhajan' with established firms in the field of merchandise, manufacturing and retail, besides franchise operators.

"It is very important to have one's own brand and having merchandise and a restaurant chain with my own name bring me closer to my fans," Harbhajan Singh said.

Asked about future plans with his brand, Singh said: "There will be lot of surprises, not just in apparels and accessories but in other segments also."

A brand owner would help during post-retirement years "when established brands do not ask for frequent endorsements," Singh quipped in a lighter vein.

Singh is the first cricketer to have signed a licensing agreement with License India. It had earlier entered into agreements with management guru Shiv Khera and the children's book series Diamond Comics.

"We have started the process to identify prospective partners and franchise operators for brand Harbhajan Singh. We are hopeful that the first products would roll out into the market by end of 2009," License India business head Anupama Bindra said.

She, however, refused to give details regarding the contract signed with the cricketer.

Source: TOI

'BCCI should've a word with Dhoni and Bhajji'

Aggrieved and annoyed former cricketers have criticised Harbhajan Singh and MS Dhoni for missing the Padma awards ceremony. The overwhelming feeling
is that they have let the country down.

Some reactions:

Bishan Singh Bedi, former India captain: It's an unpardonable offence. The general practice is that the home ministry sends out letter asking the recipients if they are willing to accept the award or not and accordingly they are shortlisted.

In this case, I am sure both Dhoni and Harbhajan agreed to accept the award and so their names figured in the list. Later on, they behaved as if nothing happened.

They disgraced one of the highest honours. You can't buy this with money, especially since some Olympic medal winners have been a deprived lot when it comes to such recognitions.

It's really shameful. BCCI should have a word with the cricketers. Surprisingly, there is no word from BCCI either.

Maninder Singh, former Indian spinner: It's indeed very unfortunate and sad that these boys didn't attend the function. Harbhajan treated the whole issue as if it was a big joke by saying that next time he would be available two days in advance.

It's BCCI's responsibilty to educate these players. They should see how someone like Sachin Tendulkar behaves and learn from him. A great cricketer has to lead a life after cricket and money is not everything.

I feel BCCI should be a little more pro-active when it comes to such issues.

Ashok Malhotra, former India batsman: It seems commercial aspect have become more important for these players. You can't be so highhanded. Both Harbhajan and Dhoni have let the cricketing community down.

Arun Lal, former India batsman: I don't know the exact story from the cricketers' side but whatever has happened is not good for the game.

Source: TOI

Dhoni wanted Patel as second 'keeper

NEW DELHI: The major bone of contention between skipper MS Dhoni and chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth during Friday's selection committee meeting was over who to pick as second wicket-keeper in the 16-member squad for the New Zealand tour: Dinesh Karthik or Parthiv Patel?

The Gujarat wicketkeeper should consider himself unlucky not to have made the cut for at least one of the three teams picked on Friday despite having the backing of the team and skipper MS Dhoni. Sources in the team management confirmed to TOI, however, that the selectors 'insisted' on picking Tamil Nadu's Karthik instead.

"Parthiv was the team's first choice as the second wicketkeeper and he did reasonably well in the last Test match he played in Sri Lanka. But Karthik made the cut because of the insistence of the selectors. Now, Parthiv will have to wait for a while and may come in the reckoning only after the IPL gets over," a team source told TOI on Saturday.

Apart from that one difference, the other new selections were unanimous choices. The team management expressed confidence in Balaji, Murali Vijay and Dhawal Kulkarni as the back-up players in the team.

"Balaji, in particular, has the right attitude and is willing to put a lot of hard work in the nets. Even though he wasn't impressive in the One-day match that he played against Sri Lanka, he showed hunger to succeed," the source added.

Another player whose comeback prospects were discussed was Sree Santh, but there was general agreement that the Kerala pacer, returning after a long injury layoff, would have to show some form before being drafted back into the national team.

http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4130011.cms

Complacency, not Pakistan, India's main threat in final

R Eswar

Dhaka, Jun 13 (PTI) Rampaging form and beleaguered opponents tilt the scale pretty much in India's favour but complacency, and not Pakistan, pose the most serious threat to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team in the final of the cricket tri-series here tomorrow.With runs flowing from the top order blades and the bowling attack mowing down rival line-ups with regularity, Dhoni hardly had a reason to worry as his team bulldozed Bangladesh and pounded Pakistan with characteristic ruthlessness in two lop-sided league contests to storm into the final.In contrast, a depleted Pakistan reached the summit showdown not before India had inflicted on them their worst defeat against the arch-rivals.The 140-run thumping in fact had a ripple effect with a livid Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Nasim Ashraf shooting off a stinging e-mail to team manager Talat Ali seeking immediate explanation and questioning the team's ability, along with that of coach Geoff Lawson and the captain Shoaib Malik.And with Ashraf set to attend tomorrow's final, Malik and his teammates would surely feel the heat.In contrast, Dhoni's team has hardly put a foot wrong since their arrival here and the India captain said he was expecting the openers and new ball bowlers to give the side a good start tomorrow."I am really happy about the team performance. We have played two matches and in both ties, we had good starts both in batting and bowling. I wish the same kind of performance continues in the final against Pakistan also," Dhoni said. PTI

India, Pakistan set to spice up dull series

Digvijay Singh Deo CNN-IBN

Dhaka: India versus Pakistan: a cricketing rivalry that sets pulses racing anywhere in the world at any time. And in Dhaka on Tuesday the two teams will face off in the shadow of the high of the IPL. But India's coaching staff is hopeful that the IPL hangover is well and truly over.

The mood in the Indian camp is relaxed yet gung-ho about a battle with old rivals Pakistan. The weather gods haven't been kind but the management hasn't allowed it to dampen the spirits.
"There is no issue of motivation about the intensity the guys are going to play with. They know they are representing their country, it's a big game," coach Gary Kirsten says, dispelling murmurs of lack of commitment.

Virender Sehwag missed the practice session due to a light fever but he is expected to be fit and available for selection. The lack of experience isn't worrying the team too much. This is a building block after what the young guns achieved in Australia.

"There are still some senior players who are available to play One-day cricket for India, and certainly they are going to be considered. I think every team in the world needs to go through this transition, repairing," Kirsten adds.

Pakistan didn't break any sweat in thrashing the hosts and opted to have a rest day. They are on a 12-match winning streak and a young team is ready for India.

"We have won 11 (now 12) in a row which is a record for Pakistan, but we would like to take that much further. And hopefully with a win in this tournament it would be the ideal start," says Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson.

The advantage of having a young side is that they are fearless and they don't care too much about the opposition. Pakistan are on a hot streak and come into this match after having registered 12 successive wins on the trot. But India are keyed up and the stage is set for a classic before the final.

Source: http://www.cricketnext.com/news/india-pakistan-set-to-spice-up-dull-series/32067-13.html