Americans plot long road to Cricket World Cup
DUBAI (AFP) - The United States will take their first tentative steps on the long, gruelling road to the 2011 World Cup from Friday in the unlikely company of the likes of Germany, Nepal and Afghanistan.
America are one of 12 teams taking part in the ICC's World League Division Five in Jersey with the top two guaranteed promotion in the first step in the lengthy qualifying process for the World Cup to be staged in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Division Five matches will be played in Jersey from May 23-31 with the USA in Group A alongside Germany, Mozambique, Nepal, Norway and Vanuatu.
Group B is made up of Afghanistan, Bahamas, Botswana, Japan, Jersey and Singapore.
"I believe we have a very good chance of going all the way," said USA skipper Steve Massiah whose team was banned from international cricket in 2005 and 2007 because of internal political wrangling.
"At the time we were excluded from international cricket we were playing with the top Associates and now we are down near the bottom. But as I told the guys, I think it could be a blessing in disguise as it gives us a chance to generate a bit of team spirit."
In April, the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) was re-recognised as an Associate Member of the ICC.
(c) 2008 AFP
Provision of false information on financial assets to Senate body | PCB to face tough time in meeting
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hierarchy will appear before the Senate Standing Committee on Sports in an emergent called meeting tomorrow (Thursday). The members of the committee have taken a serious notice of providing fake figures of the PCB financial assets during the previous meeting of the committee last month where PCB Chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf informed the Senate committee that the PCB financial assets had increased during the previous fiscal year but was later revealed that facts were in contrary to the statement as the PCB had been in loss due to postponement of the home series against Australia while the PCB income was mainly due to the transfer of the PCB share from World Cup 2007 and ICC World Cup Twenty20 tournament.
The members of the Senate committee are of the view that the PCB officials had provided false informations to simply deceive the august committee and to portray their better performance to save their deteriorating performance. It is learnt that the Senate committee will ask the PCB Chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf to provide details of the assets along with break-up of its income during the previous year while they would also be asked to declare the details of the PCB accounts in different banks. The Federal Sports Minister Khawaja Asif has already slammed the PCB officials for providing wrong information to the assembly regarding the salary of the PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi, who was quoted to have been drawing Rs 35,000 per month while has been drawing a package of over 4 lakh monthly. He also hinted that they were scheduled to bring a resolution in the assembly to put the PCB and other sports bodies under the Federal Sports Ministry.
It is worth mentioning that the Senate committee had asked the PCB to provide a break-up of its staff's salary packages but instead of providing detailed informations, the PCB just informed of their basic emoluments. The Senate committee has been demanding details of PCB's salary packages and staff strength since May 2007, after some critics showed concern over too many unnecessary appointments by the PCB chairman. According to reliable sources, various members of the Senate Committee were quite unhappy over the board's delaying tactics. The board is already overstaffed while there are further reports that more appointments are still to be made to provide regional academies with staff.
According to the PCB's last year's salary balance sheet, the COO is drawing a gross salary of Rs 450,000 (basic pay Rs 38,000, senior position allowance: Rs 240,000, disturbance allowance Rs100,000, special additional allowance Rs 72,000, the others are entitled to get 60 per cent of their basic salary as MTS, 30 per cent as house rent and 36.67 per cent as special allowances. The basic salaries of the directors are as follows: Mudassar Nazar (Director National Cricket Academy) Rs 180,000, Zakir Khan (Director Cricket Operations) Rs 180,000, Saleem Altaf (Director Special Projects) Rs 151,000, Ahsan Hameed Malik (Director Media, Marketing) Rs 150,000 and Hassan Ahmed (CFO) Rs 165,000.
Meanwhile, Chairman PCB Dr. Nasim Ashraf has compromised with fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and has withdrawn 22 crore defamation suit against him. He may claim that it was done with good gesture but was it justified after Shoaib Akhtar had sought unconditional apology from the PCB Chairman, team-mates and the nation. The situation reveals that ban on Shoaib Akhtar was an outcome of some personal reasons with Shoaib Akhtar as Chairman PCB had asked the PCB governing board to ban Shoaib Akhtar on March 22 while the PCB disciplinary committee recorded the statement of the fast bowler on April 1. The Chairman again stated before the Senate committee that he would prefer to quit the PCB Chairman office than the compromise on indiscipline incidents. The new scenario reveals that Chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf has compromised on discipline and forgiven Shoaib Akhtar. Would Nasim Ashraf resign from his post and what would be the fate of the PCB appellate tribunal?
(c) The Post
Indian girls eye fourth straight Asia Cup cricket win
Dubai, April 30 (IANS) Indian women's cricket team will start their Asia Cup campaign as favourites and will be hoping to win the tournament for an unprecedented fourth time when the championship opens in Sri Lanka Friday. Besides the title triumph, Indian skipper Mithali Raj and pacer Jhulan Goswami will be aiming to register some individual milestones in the four-nation event.
The tournament, which will mark the debut of Bangladesh, will be played on a double-league format with the top two teams qualifying for the final.
The event will also serve as a launch pad for India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan's preparations for ICC Women's World Cup to be held in Australia in 10 months' time.
Individually, India skipper Mithali will be hoping to put up some good batting displays which will help her rise in the list of all-time leading ODI run-scorers.
She is currently seventh with 2,776 runs with England's Claire Taylor (2,995) and New Zealand's Emily Drumm (2,844) ahead of her in fifth and sixth places respectively.
Australia's Belinda Clark with 4,844 runs is the all-time leading run-scorer, followed by compatriot Karen Rolton (4,261), Debbie Hockley (4,064) of New Zealand and England's Charlotte Edwards (3,304).
Meanwhile, Mithali's team-mate Jhulan, who won the 2007 ICC Women's Player of the Year Award in South Africa, is also on the verge of a record as she is set to become the second Indian after Neetu David and fourth overall in the history of the game to take 100 ODI wickets. The 24-year-old fast bowler from Bengal has 96 wickets from 79 ODIs.
Mithali said the Asia Cup would be the start of a tough season for her team in the run-up to the World Cup. "It's definitely part of our preparations for the World Cup and is the start of the season for us."
"We have a tour to England and Australia before the World Cup. If we have to work on combinations for our best team, then the Asia Cup is one tournament where we can try this out," she said.
India won the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in April 2004, in Pakistan in 2005-06 and in India in 2006/07. It has shown incredible consistency while winning all its 15 matches whereas Sri Lanka has won four of the 15 matches and Pakistan is without asingle win in eight games.
However, things might be different for India this time as Pakistan is coming into the tournament with its confidence sky-high after finishing second behind South Africa in the ICC Women's World Cup qualifier held in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
In contrast, India's last international assignment was 14 months ago when it hosted a quadrangular tournament that also involved Australia, New Zealand and England.
On India's prospects in Asia Cup, Mithali said: "It's good we have five girls who are making their debuts at this event. It's a good platform for them before they play against top sides like Australia, New Zealand and England."
Teams:
India: Mithali Raj (captain), Jhulan Goswami, Jaya Sharma, Karuna Jain, Amita Sharma, Devika Palshikar, Rumeli Dhar, Thirush Kamini, Neetu David, Seema Pujare, Snehal Pradhan, Gouher Sultana, Anagha Deshpande, Asha Rawat, Priyanka Roy.
Bangladesh: Salma Khatun (captain), Sathira Zakir Jessy, Shukhtara, Ayesha Akhter, Irin Sultana, Chamily Khatun, Rumana Akhter, Panna Ghosh, Shamima Akhter Pinky, Jahanara Alam, Lily Rani, Tithi Rani, Papiya Haque Babu, Mina Khatun
Pakistan: Urooj Mumtaz (captain), Tasqeen Qadeer, Sajjida Shah, Bismah Maroof, Nain Abidi, Sana Javed, Sana Mir, Qanita Jalil, Asmavia Iqbal, Batool Fatima, Sadia Yousuf, Shumaila Mushtaq, Almas Akram, Javeria Khan.
Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka: Shashikala Siriwardene (captain), Chamari Polgampola, Dedunu Silva, Chamika Bandara, Suwini de Alwis, Eshani Lokusooriya, Chamani Seneviratne, Sandamali Dolawatta , Inoka Galagedara, Dilani Manadora, Janakanthimala, Deepika Rasangalie, Sumudu Fernando, Sripali Weerakkodi.
(c)Thaindian News
World Cup returns to England
England can start planning to stage its fifth World Cup in 2019 - 20 years after the last one in this country.
The International Cricket Council confirmed England as the 2019 hosts, in accordance with a provisional agreement reached last month.
The same arrangement also means the second Twenty20 World Championship is set to take place in England in 2009.
An undertaking to opt out of the race to stage the 2015 World Cup left England as sole bidders to host the next one.
A joint bid by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh earned them the 2011 event, with the 2015 tournament going to Australia and New Zealand.
That left England, who staged the first three World Cups from 1975 to 1983 and last hosted the tournament in 1999, unopposed for 2019.
All of the above is to be ratified at the ICC's annual conference in July.
That, however, ought to be a formality, leaving the England and Wales Cricket Board free to begin considerations both for the Twenty20 tournament, which will coincide with the next home Ashes summer, and the World Cup 10 years later.
England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan said: "We entered into this process with the goal of being awarded a Twenty20 event and a World Cup.
"It is great news for cricket in England and Wales that these two major events have been secured and we have a wonderful opportunity to build our international calendar around these showpiece occasions.
"The full support of the ICC Board for the staging of these two important events in England is a clear indication of the prominent role that the ECB continues to hold in international cricket."
ICC president Ehsan Mani said: "The ECB should be very pleased with the outcome of these negotiations.
"They produced an excellent submission to host both the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Twenty20 World Championship and they have earned the right to host both events.
"A lot of credit must go to David Morgan for the astute manner in which he handled some very complex discussions. England will be a fitting venue for the ICC Twenty20 World Championships at the climax of our centenary year in 2009."
England's avowed intent after dismal World Cup showings in 2003 and on home ground four years earlier is to have a team capable of winning this country's first one-day title when the competition is staged in the Caribbean next spring.
They must also hope they have a new generation in place by the time the World Cup returns to this country to make a significantly better challenge than they managed when they were eliminated at the group stage in 1999.
The prospect of a World Cup in England, albeit still in a relatively distant future, is also sure to focus the attention of counties who aspire to holding matches.
Cardiff, a surprise choice to stage an Ashes Test in 2009, will be another venue - away from the more established international grounds - to enter the reckoning to stage World Cup matches.
England staged the first three World Cups from 1975 to 1983, during which time group matches were staged at a wide range of venues - including county out-grounds such as Kent's Tunbridge Wells.
Copyright 2004-2008 ECB
Tendulkar struggling to be fit before IPL start
New Delhi (PTI): Sachin Tendulkar has a race against time to be fit for the start of the high-profile Indian Premier League with the master batsman saying he is yet to fully recover from a groin injury.
With just three days left for the IPL to begin, Tendulkar told a television channel that he was not 100 per cent fit yet and was following a rehabilitation regime.
"I am a little disappointed that I was not able to play in the two important matches against South Africa. I am yet to recover fully from the injury.
"The physiotherapist and the doctor had earlier advised me rest and now they have given me the exercises and I am following their advice," he told 'Aaj Tak'.
There has been a lot of speculation about a 'rift' between senior and junior players in the Indian team, but Tendulkar rubbished such reports.
"All these rumours are baseless. I don't know who spreads these rumours and the real motive behind all this. That there is a rift between seniors and juniors in the team is not true. All of us stay together (while on tours), joke around and enjoy. It is only on the field that we are serious," said Tendulkar, who turns 35 on April 24.
On the prospects of facing long time team-mate Sourav Ganguly in the IPL, Tendulkar said, "I am looking forward to the reception in Kolkata and hope that when we are in Kolkata, Sourav will invite us over dinner and will also speak to (Kolkata Knight Riders owner) Shahrukh (Khan) then."
The next World Cup will be hosted by the sub-continent in 2011, but Tendulkar said he was not thinking that far.
"I don't think about future or past, I only live in the present," said Tendulkar.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Hindu.
Cricket: Parlane's risk pays against Canterbury
There was enough time between wet outfields and poor light for Wellington to snatch control against Canterbury on the first day of the State Championship cricket final yesterday.
Just 3 1/2 hours of play were possible at the Basin Reserve but it was sufficient for the hosts to take six Canterbury wickets for 165 and put themselves ahead in the five-day match. As top qualifiers, Wellington need only draw the match to claim the title.
The biggest smile would have belonged to Wellington captain Michael Parlane, who took a risk in opting to bowl first when conditions were deemed dry enough to start by midday.
Canterbury reached 47 without loss in the hour before lunch, suggesting Parlane's toss decision may backfire, but rot soon set in.
Todd Astle was caught at second slip off the second ball from Ian O'Brien for 25, starting a steady slide. Johann Myburgh fell for two and Peter Fulton for 11 to leave the visitors unsettled at 76 for three.
Opener Michael Papps threatened to provide an anchor but played across the line to spinner Jeetan Patel's first ball and was trapped lbw for 46.
The Cantabrians went to tea at 107 for four and added 39 more for two in a final session cut short by bad light.
Shanan Stewart too was trapped by Patel while O'Brien snared his third wicket when Ian Robertson flayed a wide one straight to Dewayne Bowden.
The Wellington attack was without paceman Charlie Shreck, who has returned to England.
O'Brien, who took three for 52, said the bowlers slowly warmed to their task.
"We started pretty averagely and they batted well in that first hour when we were hoping to take the game away from them," he told Radio Sport.
"We bowled really well after lunch and picked up some early wickets so at the moment we're in a good spot."
The medium-fast bowler, named in the New Zealand test team to tour England next month, has been sidelined for a month with a toe injury. He said a target today would be to dismiss the Cantabs for less than 200.
Copyright (c)2008, APN Holdings NZ Limited
Windies women prep for World Cup
ST JOHN'S, Antigua - The top 22 female cricketers in the West Indies will assemble in Barbados from April 3 to 11 for a high-performance clinic and training camp.
Richard Done, the International Cricket Council's high performance manager, will conduct the clinicto be staged at the Three Ws Oval at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies.
"This is the first camp of this nature and of this level that we will be having for women cricketers in the West Indies. It will give the players a chance to learn more and gather knowledge as they move forward to their international commitments," Tony Howard, chief cricket operations officer of the West Indies Cricket Board said.
He explained that the nine-day event would be used to introduce the squad to cutting-edge preparation techniques, and to the level of physical conditioning required to be competitive internationally.
This will also be the start of preparation of the team for the International Cricket Council Women's World Cup - slated for Australia early next year.
The West Indies placed fifth at the last World Cup in South Africa in 2005. This guaranteed them an automatic place in next year's event.
The high-performance clinic and training camp will also be used as preparation for the women's tour of Ireland and Holland in June and July.
"We will be doing full assessments - which will include profiles, physical fitness levels and training of the players. After that we will have a look at the techniques, skills and planning strategy. All these areas are vitally important to the development of the players," Howard said.
The players selected were based on performances in the West Indies women's tournament.
The squad: Pamela Lavine, Charlene Taitt, Danielle Small, Shakera Selman, Deandra Dottin, Cordell Jack, Julianna Nero, Nicole Samuel, Melissa Bellingy, Nadine George, Philippa Thomas-Eudovic, Royline Cooper, Stefanie Taylor, Chadene Nation, Afy Fletcher, Debbie-Ann Lewis, Merissa Aguilleira, Kirbyina Alexander, Lee-Ann Kirby, Anisa Mohammed, Stacy-Ann King, Gaitri Seetahal.(PR)
(c) 1997-2008. Nation Publishing Company Limited.
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