Sehwag's breezy ton leads riposte

A stirring century from Virender Sehwag, his second in succession after returning to the side in Australia, was the centerpiece of an emphatic Indian response to South Africa's mammoth total. By lunch on the third day, Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer had added a further 94 to the overnight total of 82, with South Africa's five bowlers toiling away with no reward on an unforgiving pitch.

After having chased the ball around the outfield for more than five sessions, India relished the opportunity to mete out some punishment of their own. And the manner in which Sehwag reached his century said much about the mindset that has made him one of the game's most feared openers.

Having slammed Jacques Kallis over midwicket to get to 99, he then lofted him straight back over his head to get to three figures. It had taken him just 116 balls, and it reduced South Africa to seeking damage control rather than wickets. Sehwag's greatest strength, his ability to put away both the bad and not-so-bad balls, was in ample evidence, with strokes being crunched through the covers and errant deliveries being calmly glanced off his hips.

India started the day as though they meant business, with Wasim Jaffer pulling Makhaya Ntini for four, and Smith was soon forced into an early change as Ntini's three overs went for 22. Dale Steyn bowled at lively pace, but again there was so little assistance from the conditions that he was soon left to make disgruntled and rueful faces.

The pick of the bowlers was perhaps Morne Morkel, who sent a couple of deliveries thudding through at express pace and beat the outside edge more than once. But apart from a Jaffer edge that fell well short of Mark Boucher, there weren't even half-chances to encourage the bowlers. Jaffer eventually got to his 50 from 107 balls, more than content to paddle in Sehwag's wake.

Paul Harris came on after an hour and his tactics against Sehwag were simple - just drop the ball on a length well outside leg stump. Sehwag was content to ignore most of them, though on occasion he did make room to drive powerfully through the leg side. There was also a powerful reverse sweep that sped behind point for four.

A couple of balls did seem to unleash puffs of dust from the pitch, a development that would have been watched with keen interest by Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. That though was in the future, with India still needing to bat through the day and beyond to make the game safe. As long as Sehwag was out there, it didn't appear too tough a proposition.

India's fielders feel the heat

Virender Sehwag admitted India's intensity had dropped during the course of the second day, but attributed it to the hot conditions and flat pitch that the team faced in Chennai.

"I think maybe because of the heat and the flat wicket," Sehwag said after a day when India's fielders veered from shoddy to dismal. "There was nothing for the bowlers, but still they worked hard for the wickets. So it [misfields] happens sometimes but we will work on it in the second innings."

India can never aim to be spectacular in the field - especially with five of their players on the other side of 30 - but the worrying factor was the amateurish efforts from youngsters like RP Singh and Sreesanth. Both let through regulation stops, prompting Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid to let off some steam.

Sreesanth also failed to judge a skier from Dale Steyn late in the innings and received a fiery salvo from Harbhajan Singh, the bowler who also ran towards the ball. Wasim Jaffer wasn't quick to get down to a tough chance at short leg and the rest too had a few sloppy moments on the field.

"Everybody didn't field well," Sehwag said. "It wasn't just them [RP Singh and Sreesanth]. We all want to do well but sometimes the intensity level drops maybe because of the heat."

The heat obviously played a big part but what chance do India's fielders then have in the rest of the series? Ahmedabad and Kanpur are renowned for their oppressive conditions and the situation could only get bleaker as the series goes on. Not only will it affect the runs conceded but also take a toll on the players' fitness.

Sehwag, though, contradicted himself a bit by saying the players were used to these conditions. "All the players are used to playing in India," he said when asked about the weather. "And in India wherever you play after March it is hot. Next we are going to Ahmedabad which is also a hot place and after that Kanpur, where you find dry heat in April. We are pretty used to the heat."

	We will try to bat for around two days and look to put them in on the final dayVirender Sehwag

While he was optimistic about the team handling the weather, he didn't seem too upbeat about the pitch cracking up. "Maybe on the fifth day," he said with a wry smile, suggesting the game was destined towards a draw. However, he did add India's best chance was to bat for another two days before trying to sneak a win from the back door.

"We will try to bat for around two days and look to put them in on the final day," he said. "We will look to get a lead of around 50-100 runs and put pressure on them. If we get close to their first innings total, then it will be difficult for them because batting will not be easy on the fifth day. Everyone knows that the Chennai wicket spins and bounce so it will be difficult to bat against Harbhajan and Kumble."

Despite India being put on the back foot, Sehwag credited the bowlers for sticking to their guns. "I think the bowlers had to work hard to get their wickets because it is not an easy wicket to bowl on," he said. "We planned to be patient because whenever you play in India you always expect to bowl out the opposition as early as possible because Kumble and Harbhajan are bowling. I think Harbhajan and Kumble deserve special praise for their efforts with the ball. We tried to get them out as early as possible but they also batted well."

ICL planning makeover with international matches

A year after its launch, the Indian Cricket League (ICL), is planning a makeover with significant changes to its structure and schedule. The revised blueprint, revealed by its business head, Himanshu Mody, includes matches between international XIs, four-day matches and opening up team ownership to minority stakeholders.

The changes are being announced weeks before the launch of the Indian Premier League, backed by the Indian board and launched as a hostile response to the ICL.

"We will soon be having matches between international teams like an India XI, a Pakistan XI, an Australia XI and even a World XI," Mody told Cricinfo. "This is a very distinct possibility that will turn into a reality in the very near future, as soon as this year."

Currently, the unauthorised ICL has eight teams representing various Indian cities and Pakistan's Lahore, with a list of 46 international players, including 16 from Pakistan, eight each from Australia and New Zealand, and seven from South Africa. Prominent among the international stars who are currently involved in the second edition of ICL are Inzamam-ul-Haq from Pakistan, Shane Bond from New Zealand, Jason Gillespie and Damien Martyn from Australia, Chris Cairns from New Zealand and Justin Kemp from South Africa.

Mody also said they were looking at four-day leagues, which will probably be aimed at the Indian players in the league, who have been barred from domestic cricket and are known to be missing the longer version of the game.

Significantly, the ICL, owned by the Essel Group, has also opened up team ownership for the first time by getting the Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty on board as co-owner and brand ambassador of Kolkata Tigers. The actor's roots are in Kolkata, and he still has an iconic presence there. The deal, Cricinfo has learnt, is worth around US$ 6-8 million.

"Mithun expressed interest in joining us some time ago," Mody said. "Everything has been tied up, and he is now the first co-owner of an ICL team. He is a celebrity in India and brings along tremendous value in terms of promotion, which is most welcome."

The decision signals the ICL's intent to spread some of the liability and move away from the single-ownership business model. That moves it closer in structure to the IPL, which is based on a franchise model with all eight teams owned by various business interests.

Mody said the ICL is in talks with other celebrities who have expressed interest in co-owning some of the other seven teams, but added that the sale of only minority stake is being considered at the moment. He clarified, though, that actors Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor are no longer in the frame though they had initially shown an interest in this option.

Kirsten's first Test as India coach against his own

R Eswar Chennai, Mar 25 (PTI) Nearly four years after retiring, Gary Kirsten finds himself face to face with the team he was once part of as he gears up for his first major assignment as India's cricket coach in the three-Test series against South Africa starting here tomorrow. The former opener and India's newly appointed mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton were once a part of the South African dressing room and the visiting side has been bombarded with queries on what it thinks of the duo's association with the rival team ever since its arrival in India.
Graeme Smith's men, some of who played with Kirsten, have cleverly ducked the matter by saying that they don't really care what secrets about them may have been passed on to the Indians but clearly having Kirsten and Upton does give a psychological edge to Anil Kumble's men. The hot and humid Chennai weather is another nemesis that the Proteas will have to deal with but they claim that having played in the sub-continent for the past few months has prepared them well for it.
For the Indians, it would be about getting back into the Test mode after the euphoria of the one-day tri-series triumph in Australia, which is yet to die down. The series, being seen as a filler before the much-hyped Indian Premier League (IPL), has not generated the kind of excitement or anticipation that generally goes with cricket in India but promises to be engrossing nonetheless.
And one factor that will make it a keen contest is how the two teams conduct themselves on the field after the ICC issued guidelines urging captains to control sledging. PTI.

Casson mounts case as Test option

Australia have been searching for a new spinner and in the Sydney Morning Herald, Alex Brown suggests Beau Casson, the left-arm wrist-spinner, should be picked for the tour of the West Indies.
Bryce McGain would not seem to fit the job description as set out by Andrew Hilditch's panel. A solid performer for Victoria this summer with 38 first-class wickets, McGain will nonetheless be 36 by the time Australia arrive in the Caribbean. At best, he represents a band-aid solution to Australia's spinning problem.
Casson, on the other hand, has shown rapid improvement this year. After failing to make an impression in his first season-and-a-half with NSW, the 25-year-old was among the Blues' best bowlers in the past two months, claiming 21 wickets at 26.43 in his past four matches.

Gavaskar slams Anglo-Australian 'dinosaurs'

Sunil Gavaskar, who polarised opinion with outspoken comments during the recent Australia-India series, has hit out at England and Australia, describing their approach to the global game as being akin to "dinosaurs".

Gavaskar has a foot in two camps, working as a journalist and also as chairman of the ICC's cricket committee. In his syndicated newspaper column at the weekend, he said that England and Australia needed to come to terms with the new world order.

"Gone are the days when two countries, England and Australia, had the veto power in international cricket, even though the dinosaurs may not open their eyes and see the reality," he wrote. "The cricketing world has found that India has no longer a diffident voice but a confident one that knows what is good for its cricket, and will strive to get it.

"What may have worried these people was the manner in which India defended Harbhajan Singh on the 'racist allegation made against him [in Australia in January]. When all the technology in the world was unable to prove that he had indeed said anything, these guys, especially those in Australia, were unable to stomach it.

"Those worried of the prospect of India's hegemony were conveniently forgetting that only a few years back, there were two Australians at the top of the ICC. It is a misplaced belief that they are the only ones with honesty, integrity and have the welfare of the game at heart, while the 'subcontinentals' do not."

In January, Gavaskar's remarks about Mike Procter, the ICC match referee during the infamous Sydney Test, were commented on by David Morgan, the ICC's president-elect. "Conflicts of interests pervade our sport," Morgan said. "In terms of Gavaskar, within the ICC, there is a concern now that he's chairman of the cricket committee and a journalist who has expressed some fairly outspoken comments."

South Africa Tour of India Schedule - 2008

South Africa will travel to India to play a series of 3 Test matches against India. Following is the schedule of South Africa’s tour to India. We will be publishing preview, review and video highlights of the series. Stay tunned here…

South Africa Tour of India 2008

Date	Match	Local	GMT	EST
Wed 26 - Sun 30 - March 2008	1st Test - India v South Africa @ Chennai	10.00	04.30	00.30
Thu 3 - Mon 7 - April 2008	2nd Test - India v South Africa @ Ahmedabad	10.00	04.30	00.30
Fri 11 - Tue 15 - April 2008	3rd Test - India v South Africa @ Kanpur	10.00	04.30	00.30

'It's important to send the message across' - Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni hopes India's "significant" victory in the CB Series will silence those who criticised the youth-oriented squad selection for the tournament. Asserting his role in the selection of the young one-day side - he is India's ODI captain - he said it was "sometimes very important to send the message across".

"I was pretty clear about the players I wanted in the side," Dhoni told Cricinfo in a revealing interview where he spoke about the selection controversy for the first time. "That's what I said to the selectors as well. You can see the kind of team I got."

The team's selection became controversial after Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid were left out. While some criticised the decision to drop the seniors, others questioned the timing of the selection, a day after the historic win in the Perth Test. The selection also created a few ripples in the dressing room, it was learnt then.

Dhoni, though, is clear the time had come for a tough decision to be taken and felt vindicated after the final triumph. "It's very important because the process and the timing were criticised a lot," he said. "But sometimes it is very important to send the message across, because sometimes people neglect the answer."

He said he pointed out to the ODI team the questions that were being raised about the players and told them to perform.

It's evident that the criticism rankles even after winning the tournament. "What now? Why are people not asking the same questions now? Because if the result was not in our favour, what would have happened? Would the people have been really behind this side or behind individuals?"

A majority of the team had not played in Australia earlier and certain sections raised questions about their ability to handle demanding conditions. India's pathetic display in the one-off Twenty20 was seen as a sign of things to come but Dhoni was happy his side had overcome the odds.

"You [the critics] questioned this side but now that it's performed you need to back it," he said of India's first one-day series win in Australia in 23 years. "We all knew, and you all knew, what would have happened if this side didn't do well in Australia. Now that it has done well, why don't you appreciate the performance?

"We had one of the worst flops in Twenty20 and one of the best wins in the ODI series. Beating Australia is tough. That's why they have the best-of-three finals. You can have one good day and beat them but beating them in two consecutive matches is a significant achievement."

Dhoni made it clear that the aggressive tactics against Australia were premeditated, going so far as to ensure that a few individuals made life difficult for the opposition. "In the CB Series you hardly saw any conflict between India and Sri Lanka," he said. "We had set the standards back in India, when we played [the ODI series] against Australia. We knew what we really wanted to do on the field. If we were not up to the mark in Australia, people would have said it was fake aggression, something just for the public when playing at home. We were with the same set of standards even when we played against Australia in Australia. It was not fake aggression, that's how this team can play."

Did he think the best way to beat Australia was by playing their brand of cricket? "If your playing against an aggressive side, you need to play an aggressive game," he said. "Especially against Australia, you can't just look to play and win - it's batting, bowling, fielding, aggression, everything. Fortunately this side has got a few players who can speak and do well at the same time and won't get disturbed by it. And there are others who don't speak that much.

"But you need to identify those who can be pepped up and do well while they're speaking. In a way I'm fortunate to have those players in the side, rather than ask those who are not comfortable doing it. If you have a guy who is able to do it and who should do it, I make it a point that he is doing it. I won't name names but there were individuals who were saying things, within the boundaries."

Despite all the elation over the win, Dhoni said it was important not to get carried away with this victory and urged his players to cultivate the winning habit. "Of course you can't live by it," he said of the recent win. "You need to perform consistently and if you're raising the standard you have to stand by it. You have to keep on doing well."

Asia Cup: India, Pakistan in same group

India has been grouped with hosts Pakistan for the Asia Cup to be held in June and July this year.

The arch rivals have been pooled with minnows Hong Kong in Group B, while defending champions Sri Lanka [Images], Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates form the other pool for the ninth edition of the continental tournament, the Asian Cricket Council announced on Thursday.

Despite Australia postponing its scheduled tour of Pakistan citing security concerns, all teams have confirmed their availability for the Asia Cup, to be held from June 24 to July 6.

"All the participating nations have confirmed their participation and we hope to have a safe and highly competitive Asia Cup in three months' time," ACC chief executive Ashraful Huq told reporters at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore [Images].

Hosts Sri Lanka won the eighth edition in 2004 but the tournament could not be held as per schedule in 2006 due to the hectic international schedule.

Huq denied the tournament was ever in doubt after the Aussies refused to tour.

"Australians are unaware of our culture and they don't have an idea that no sporting activity has ever been hurt in Asia. All the teams are going to take part barring any major disaster," he said.

The three sides in each group play each other once, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the second phase, where they will again play each other once. The top two teams will contest the final.

Karachi will host 10 of the 13 matches, while Lahore will host three and all matches will be day-night affairs, starting late in the afternoon, Huq said.

The first Asia Cup was held in 1984. India have won the event four times, while Sri Lanka have lifted the Cup three times and Pakistan once.

Source : Rediff.com

Hayden seeks talks with Harbhajan

Matthew Hayden could meet with Harbhajan Singh, who has became Australia's least-favourite opponent, during the Indian Premier League next month in an effort to sort out their differences. Harbhajan reportedly called Hayden a "liar" when he returned home to India, which followed Hayden referring to Harbhajan as an "obnoxious little weed" in the lead-up to the CB Series finals defeat.

"I want to sit down with him and see if there is any way we can move forward with our relationship because it hasn't been great," Hayden said in the Sunday Mail. "I'd like to see where he's at and see if we can patch up our differences. Frankly, everyone is sick of it."

Hayden said he made an error with his choice of words and maintained he did not want to "disgrace or denigrate Harbhajan". "In the end all I did was put fuel on a fire that already existed," he said. "It wasn't necessary. It was a mistake."

The IPL tournament is a likely time for the two players to meet, but Australia will also tour India for a Test series in October. Hayden is keen to take part in the IPL to fine-tune for the trip to the West Indies starting in May.

"If anything, the IPL will help us," he said. "I've told Chennai I will be playing. I'm committed to going, if Cricket Australia allows me to go.

The tit-for-tat arguments between Australia and India were a feature of a long Test and one-day campaign, but Hayden said the relationship had not reached rock bottom. "There's definite tension, but if I was a spectator, that's what I'd want to see," he said. "If I was a fan and I went to a game that was far from contrived but didn't have a competitive edge, I'd be unimpressed straight away.

"There can be a sense of hypocrisy there. You know, I cross myself when I get 100, then I'm at first slip giving it to the Indians. At what point do you cross the line?"

The confrontations have not diminished Hayden's desire and the 36-year-old is targeting the 2009 Ashes tour. "I don't like speculating too far but if the ingredients are there there's no point stopping," he said. "I'd love to go to England. It's a tour that, yeah, the carrot's dangling.

"I've had great success in county cricket but every time I've gone there [for Australia] I've averaged around the mid-30s without really excelling. And it's a place I know I can excel."

For the full interview go here

Typetank Web Directory

Fitness problems could pave way for changes

A few fitness reports could be the difference between a "largely unchanged side" and a "slightly different one" when the selectors meet in Bangalore on Monday to pick India's squad for the first two Tests against South Africa.

India's heartening performance in the recent Test series in Australia would normally have resulted in a status quo, but the long tour took its toll on several players, some of whom could miss out on the three-Test series against South Africa, starting in Chennai on March 26.

According to a report submitted by outgoing team physio John Gloster at the end of the Australia tour, Sachin Tendulkar needed a minimum of two weeks' rest. However, Tendulkar quashed the notion of missing the series by declaring he was fit. Rahul Dravid has also recovered from the finger injury he sustained in the Adelaide Test while VVS Laxman, who recently suffered a cut in the webbing between his fingers, is also expected to be available for selection.

It means the core of the batting is expected to be the same [Virender Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Sourav Ganguly] but the selectors will still have some key issues to address. The five-member national selection committee, led by Dilip Vengsarkar, will consult Anil Kumble, the Test captain, and Gary Kirsten, the newly appointed coach, during the meeting.

Pace puzzle
Ishant Sharma, who made a fine impression in Australia, is a doubtful starter after being advised complete rest for three weeks by Gloster. He has a problem in the big toe of his landing foot as well as an inflammation in the right forefinger. He was examined indoors during a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy, the results of which will be sent to the board, who in turn will intimate the selectors.

Zaheer Khan has already been ruled out, which means RP Singh - recently back from a hamstring injury - will be expected to lead the attack, with Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan supporting him. Pathan, not a regular in Tests, would be expected to make the cut after his impressive all-round efforts during India's win in Perth. Munaf Patel remains an option in case India are looking for a fourth seamer. However, with the series expected to be played on tracks favouring spin, he's more likely to be a back-up alternative.

Batting back-up
Wasim Jaffer is likely to retain his spot in the squad, despite a poor series in Australia where he was dropped for the final Test, but the selectors will have to take a call on a third opener. There is a view that there is no need for a third opener for a home series - with the selectors in a position to call up reinforcements at any point - but there is a thinking that another opener could also act as a back-up in case of a middle-order requirement.

Dinesh Karthik, till recently a first-choice opener, remains a contender - his wicketkeeping skills bolster his chances - but Gautam Gambhir's recent one-day heroics put him in the fray too. Both can bat in the middle order if needed and it will be interesting to see which of them, if any, make the cut.

The Yuvraj question
The selectors are also expected to dwell on the issue of Yuvraj Singh. The Gloster report advised him an ideal period of three weeks' rest, which may automatically rule him out of the first two Tests. There was a suggestion that he could undergo a fitness test at the NCA on Monday but it's still not certain that he will be there.

There is also a growing concern about Yuvraj's attitude and Vengsarkar recently came down hard on him. "I am disappointed as I always had expectations from him," he told a weekly magazine. "Yuvraj needs to be more consistent. He is a great talent but he has to perform to his potential."

His exclusion - because of either fitness or form - will open up a slot for a middle-order batsman. A third opener, if picked, could double up for this role but there is also a chance of a specialist middle-order batsman being chosen. Rohit Sharma has done his chances no harm with some composed knocks in the recent CB Series and a few other domestic performers could be in the reckoning as well.

Spin variables
Harbhajan Singh may miss out because of a hamstring injury, for which he was advised two weeks' rest. Murali Kartik is expected to get a call-up, especially if the selectors decide to trust in spin. The pitches for the series are likely to favour spinners, given South Africa's vulnerability against them. Harbhajan's absence might open up another slot - one that might be filled up by legspinner Piyush Chawla or even Amit Mishra, another loopy legspinner who's second on the domestic wicket charts this season, with 46 wickets in 11 first-class games.

Probable 14-man squad: Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble (capt), Sreesanth, RP Singh, Murali Kartik, Yuvraj Singh/Gautam Gambhir/Dinesh Karthik/Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh/Piyush Chawla/Amit Mishra.

Has Brian Lara quit the ICL?

Indian Cricket League officials privately believe that Brian Lara [Images], the prized signing last year, has chosen not to participate any further in the league.

Lara fractured his left arm in a Carib Beer game when he was struck by a delivery by Lionel Baker. The injury, sustained on January 20, was expected to heal in six weeks, but the Champs' physiotherapist, Danny Redrup, said that progress had been slow.

Internally, three tournament organisers from different departments, at different levels, hinted at there being more to Lara's absence than statements explained. Asked if Lara was not returning, a senior executive said, "No [he isn't]. I hope he goes to the IPL. We don't need him here."

Lara was named captain of the Mumbai Champs for the opening tournament of the league in December, but managed only 31, ending with an average of 6.2. In his absence, Nathan Astle has been named captain of the side.

Rahul Bhatia, a former Cricinfo and Mint correspondent, will file regular reports / features/interviews for Rediff during the ICL tournament. More of him here: http://grch.wordpress.com / http://grch.wordpress.com

Dhoni keen to complete graduation

India's limited overs cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] is keen to acquire a graduation degree despite his demanding career and busy calendar.

Dhoni met the principal of St Xaviers College, Nicholas Tete on Wednesday and expressed his desire to complete B Com from the institution.

"Yes, he is keen to complete his graduation in commerce. Once Dhoni formally submits an application, the college will start the process," Tete told PTI in Ranchi on Thursday.

Dhoni returns home to a rousing welcome

He said the college, being an autonomous body, would have to seek guidance from its chancellor and the University Grants Commission (UDC) on the mode of education to be applied for Dhoni.

"Since he has a busy schedule, there will be a problem for him to attend classes regularly. Maybe, the distant education mode could suit him.

"In this mode he has to submit assignment papers and other related things," Tete said.

Dhoni had completed class XII from a DAV School in Ranchi.

In 2006, the then Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Pradip Kumar had said that Dhoni would lead the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan to help enroll students at the primary level, but Dhoni could not turn up as the official communication never reached him.

However, now Dhoni's academic interest has made the students of the college euphoric.

"We are excited after learning that he will be among us. This will not only help his academic career but also inspire the students not to take education lightly," said Sourav Roy, third-year student of the college's mass communication department.

No one's ready to play in Pakistan - Imran

Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, has blamed the country's president, General Pervez Musharraf, for Australia's decision to postpone their tour to Pakistan. "Musharraf blindly follows the United States in the war against terror and we are paying the price," Imran told AFP. "Because of that we are now at a stage when no one is ready to play cricket here."

Australia, who were scheduled to tour Pakistan this month for Tests and one-dayers, were unlikely to make the trip following former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination and continued violence in the country.

"People feel the Australians are unjustified in pulling out, but Australia's decision is understandable as everything that happens in Pakistan is magnified to larger proportions abroad," Imran said. "Australians don't live here and they don't know that bombings are not aimed at sportsmen but terrorists' targets are specific. No one has ever targeted sportsmen in Pakistan."

Australia haven't visited Pakistan since 1998 and Ricky Ponting is the only member of that touring party who is currently playing. "Had they [Australia] toured it would have created a lot of interest as everyone wants to see them play here. That is gone now for at least until the tour is rescheduled."

Imran said Pakistan had come to a point where they could only host weaker opposition like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. "Pakistan will also lose revenue by not hosting a high-profile series."

Too much money can spoil youngsters

Colombo: Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga fears that the huge amount of money offered to players by ventures like Indian Premier League and Indian Cricket League can adversely affect the youngsters.

"I have no problems with cricketers earning money when they get an opportunity, but it's the young players who can lose focus with money," Ranatunga, currently the Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, told reporters.

"I hope this (losing focus) will not be the case and cricket will not be a business. The problem will start when money ruins the focus of young players," he added.

While the IPL has attracted leading Lankan players like Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttaiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Chamara Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga, the ICL has successfully wooed Marvan Atapattu, Upul Chandana and Russel Arnold.

About Sri Lanka's recent batting failure in the tri-series in Australia, Ranatunga said there was no need to panic.

In Australia Sri Lanka had failed to qualify for the tri-series finals, while they lost a home One-day series against England 3-2.

The Lankan team should now move on and get ready for the next World Cup to be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011, Ranatunga said.

Delhi Giants defeat Mumbai Champs

The second match of the Edelweiss 20s Challenge being played at The Tau Devi Lal stadium, Panchkula on Monday, featured two big teams of the tournament, the Delhi Giants and Mumbai Champs. Delhi Giants won the match by 6 wickets and Abbas Ali was declared Man of the Match.

Restricting the Mumbai Champs to only 115/5 in 20 overs, led by a superb bowling performance from left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza, the Giants romped home to victory led by some breathtaking batting by Abbas Ali.

Nathan Astle leading the side in the absence of the injured Brian Lara [Images], won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch which looked dry and flat.

• A good start for Ahmedabad Rockets

The Champs opened the innings with the promising Dheeraj Jadhav and new recruit Sri Lankan S Jayantha. The Mumbai Champs openers got off to a cautious start especially facing one of the fastest bowlers in the world and star attraction of the Edelweiss 20s challenge, Shane Bond [Images].

At the end of the first five overs the Champs were 31 for no loss. The giants bowling was disciplined, hardly giving any room to the Mumbai batsmen. Soon the Champs were left at 84/4 by the end of the 15^th over with hardly any significant partnership.

For the Giants Ali Murtaza and Dale Benkestein bowled some tight overs in the middle of the innings, hardly giving the Mumbai batsmen any room to play their strokes.

• Injured Lara to miss ICL meet

The Mumbai Champs innings was finally restricted to 115 for 5 at the end of the 20 overs. The pick of the bowlers for the Giants was again the young left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza picking two important wickets, especially of the in-form Mumbai Champs opener D Jadhav at a crucial stage of the innings.

In reply the Giants lost early wickets with both Monish Sharma and captain Marvan Atapattu back in the dug, out by the 3rd over, reducing the Gaints to 11/2.

This brought the superb Abbas Ali to the wicket, who got into the act right away taking 16 runs of a Tino Best over.

Gunawardane soon got into the act and he along with Abbas Ali were displaying a wide array of strokes. Astle turned to the spin of Avinash Yadhav who responded splendidly with a first-ball wicket, castling the dangerous Avishka Gunwardene for 17.

Kasprowicz soon got into the act getting the wicket of A Bali, reducing the Giants to 55/4. By the 10th over the Giants score read 58/4 leaving the match delicately poised. But Abbas Ali was rock solid and along with Nic Pothas, added a superb partnership of 61 runs to take the Giants home in the 19th over.

Brief scores: Mumbai Champs 115 for 5 (Nathan Astle 32, D Jadhav 27, Ali Murtaza 2/16) lost by six wickets to Delhi Giants (Abbas Ali 64, Nic Pothas 18, Van Der Wath 1/17)

Ishant should concentrate on building muscles: Buchanan

India's fast bowling sensation Ishant Sharma should concentrate on building muscles and need not cut down on his pace, according to former Australian coach John Buchanan.
"At the moment, inspite of injuries, I don't think he should reduce his pace. But he should build more muscles so that his body can sustain the extra pressure," Buchanan told newspersons in Kolkata on Monday.
Ishant on the nine overs that changed his life
The 19-year-old gangling Sharma has been hailed as the find of the Australian tour after he emerged as India's most successful bowler with 14 scalps from nine games in the tri-series to enable his side pull up a stunning upset over the team from Down Under.
SRK buys Ishant for US $950000
Buchanan, however, had a word of caution.
"Ishant is a player who India would like to spearhead their bowling in the coming years. He needs to be handled carefully," he said.

Sponsors giving cold shoulder to Zee's ICL

Mumbai: There are just 10 days left for the Indian Cricket League (ICL) to kick off. But Essel Group's maiden attempt at league cricket is not looking too good right now. The ICL's decision to telecast its matches on Zee Sports, instead of Ten Sports, isn't going down too well with advertisers.
While some advertisers have already dropped out, others are renegotiating. ICL's marketing team is, however, still trying to rope in sponsors for the teams and grounds.
Media buyers say one of the problems is that ICL will air the 15-day Twenty20 Tournament only on Zee Sports. While it’s clear that the idea is to boost Zee Sports, the fact that the channel is dogged by distribution problems makes Ten Sports, its sister channel, a far more attractive deal.
“It will definitely be on Zee Sports because that is the flagship sports channel of Zee Network. We haven't exactly figured out what we will do with Ten Sports, whether it is going to have the matches live or just as highlights. But it will definitely be on Zee Sports," the Vice-President of Marketing for ICL, Gaurav Seth, said.
Advertisers and media planners say that a solo run of the matches on Zee Sports would bring down the on-air prices of the spots by as much as 60 per cent.
Initially, the ICL was selling a Ten Sports and Zee Sports combine at Rs 40,000 for a 10-second spot, but in the current scenario, the rates have plummeted to as low as Rs 10,000 for 20 seconds, industry sources say.
Some advertisers find even this rate too high for a channel that reaches only 10 per cent of C&S homes.
The MD of India - West & South, Starcom Worldwide, Manish Porwal, says most advertisers are weary of how far this tournament will take them and this is adversely impacting Zee's selling bid.
"I am sure they would have reasons for not showing the matches on Ten Sports but at least they would have got back some advertiser confidence which has gone down further," he says.
Industry sources say the ICL may have to leverage Zee's clout and offer advertisers a network deal to save face.
Last-minute negotiations are still on between ICL and media planners for on-air deals. But the real test will be to rope in the team and ground sponsors before November 30.

ICL announces $37 million prize money

Panchkula, Haryana: The Indian Cricket League (ICL) announced prize money totalling $37 million (Rs 150 million) for its inaugural Twenty20 championship, starting here Friday.
The winner of the six-team event will pocket a handsome $1 million (Rs 39 million), Zee Sports chief executive officer Himanshu Modi announced here Thursday.
The runners-up will get prize money of $470,000 (Rs 19 million), Modi said.
Modi said the Essel group - promoters of the ICL - would spend up to $25 million on the inaugural event.
Much of the money is being spent on sprucing up the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex cricket stadium here up to the international standards and paying the players signed up by the ICL.
All six participating teams - Mumbai Champs, Kolkata Tigers, Hyderabad Heroes, Chandigarh Lions, Delhi Jets and Chennai Superstars - will get a part of the total prize money.
The teams coming third and fourth in the championship will get $370,000 (Rs 15 million) and $310,000 (Rs 12.5 million) respectively, while teams on the fifth and sixth slot will get $250,000 (Rs 10 million) and $210,000 (Rs 8.5 million).
Modi said that each team winning a match would get $45,000 (Rs 1.87 million), while every Man of the Match award will fetch $9,400 (Rs 375,000).
"The most valuable player of the tournament will not get any cash reward but something in kind. We are yet to decide on that," Modi said.
"It is mere speculation that sponsors are not coming for the event or have withdrawn. We have Provogue, Thomas Cook and others who are sponsoring the event. Once the championship creates a market for itself, more will follow," Modi said.
Essel group executive vice-president Ashish Kaul said that the Twenty20 championship was being held despite the odds.
"We faced numerous hurdles on the way. We were faced with comments that who will ever play for the ICL. We have proved them wrong. 250 players have enrolled with us, including top international stars," Kaul said without naming anyone as the spoiler of the ICL party.
The last few days saw speculation on one of the best batsman in the world, Brian Lara, being coerced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), for its new Indian Premier League (IPL).
Lara's late arrival for the ICL event only added to the drama. Lara, who holds the world record for the highest first-class score of 500 and the highest individual Test score of 400 not out, has been practicing here with the Mumbai Champs team for the last three days.
Modi said over 85 percent of the weekend tickets for matches have been sold and ICL was expecting a full house in the 6,000-capacity stadium.
Zee Sports will telecast all matches live while 25 channels of the Zee network will show all matches live for 30 minutes on match days.

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Moores hints at team change

Peter Moores, the England coach, has said a change in the team is likely for the second Test in Wellington starting Thursday. England lost the first Test in Hamilton by 189 runs after they were bowled out for 110 chasing 300 on the fifth day.
"Not everyone has had the game they wanted to, and we have to look at putting out the best XI to win the game and level the series," Moores said. "You would be stupid not to go away and evaluate it."
Steve Harmison has been targeted by critics for his poor performance - he took one wicket in the entire Test. In the second innings he bowled only four overs and went for 24 runs. Moores said he would discuss his performance with Harmison, who has taken 25 wickets at 39.08 from eight Tests since the beginning of 2007. "Steve has had a tough 12 months and has not performed to the level he would like to. A lot of things with elite sport is about confidence.
"If you feel someone is not working hard enough and trying hard enough you are going to speak to them. If someone is putting themselves under too much pressure you try to take the pressure off them. We do it individually with different players. Everyone has to work hard to help each other under pressure situations."
Moores added the team was bitterly disappointed at not salvaging a draw in Hamilton. "But I feel very strongly that we can win the second Test. We have to start playing the cricket we know we can. We have to get ourselves sorted."
Stuart Broad is the favourite to replace Harmison if the change is made and he would also add some depth to the lower order, a crucial difference between the two teams in Hamilton. Daniel Vettori produced vital runs in both innings while England's tail offered little to the cause.
James Anderson, England's other option, got through 38 overs for Auckland in his State Championship appearance and picked up two wickets. However, he is another swing bowler in the mould of Matthew Hoggard and Ryan Sidebottom so Broad's extra height would provide different challenge.
James Whitaker, one of England's two part-time selectors, has been asked to stay on the tour for a few extra days as the possible changes are discussed. He was due to fly home on Monday but has now travelled with the squad to Wellington.
"I think it just makes sense for James to stay out here," Moores said. "He's got no pressing commitments when he gets back - so for him to change his flight and come to Wellington for a couple of days until the start of the Test match made sense.
"When the dust settles over the next couple of days we'll be having conversations, and it makes sense for the selector to be around and be involved in those conversations until we finalise that team for the next Test."

England seek confidence boost in Wellington

HAMILTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - England head into the second test against New Zealand in Wellington on Thursday facing more than just a 1-0 series deficit.
Michael Vaughan's team have not won in seven test matches and the captain admitted they may be suffering in confidence.
"There is a little bit of a lack of confidence in that dressing room, and the performance shows (that)," Vaughan told reporters after the 189-run loss on Sunday. "A lot of talking had been done and some talking will be done between now and Thursday.
"But it's all down to the inner strength of the individual to come out and perform on Thursday."
Apart from rebuilding his side's confidence, another concern for Vaughan will be the form of strike bowler Steve Harmison, who was ineffective, admittedly on a flat pitch, at Hamilton.
Harmison has been struggling to recover the form he produced in the West Indies in 2004, and bowled 27 overs in both innings at Seddon Park, taking just one wicket and conceded 121 runs.
He bowled just four overs in the second innings and was given the ball by Vaughan after all-rounder Paul Collingwood.
"It is a worry because I want to see Steve back to what we all know...getting the ball going away from the right hander, and getting the ball in decent areas," said Vaughan.
"He'll be the first to admit he hasn't done that in this game (and) the sooner we can get Steve to do that, the better."
His speed, normally pushing 145kph, dropped to around 130kph at Seddon Park, which was noticed by the New Zealanders.
"He has been operating down on the pace he has bowled at, but he'd be a hell of a bowler to face if he's bowling 145-150 kph," said New Zealand's Ross Taylor, who scored his maiden test century in the first innings.
New Zealand, whose pace attack was underrated prior to the test due to Shane Bond's signing with the rebel Indian Cricket League, can take heart from their pace bowlers' performance.
Of considerable interest would be the bowling in England's second innings when Kyle Mills and Chris Martin reaped the rewards for creating pressure on a pitch that was expected to favour the spin of Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel.
Mills ripped the heart out of England's potential run chase by taking four for nine off seven overs to reduce the visitors to 36 for four at lunch on Sunday chasing 300 to win the match.
Martin then took two wickets in one over after lunch to end any hopes England had of batting out a draw, and finished with three for 33.
"We bowled pretty well to them," Mills told reporters.
"They respected our good balls and didn't make a play at them. They have got world class players, fantastic batsmen and that's testament to how well we bowled at them."

BCCI gags Bhajji after CA cries foul

Mumbai/Sydney, March 9: The cricket board has told off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to stop talking to the media on the just-concluded tour of Australia where he was involved in the racism controversy.
"Yes, we received a mail from Cricket Australia about Harbhajan Singh. He has been told not to talk to the media on the Australian tour. He has to accept our directive," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said on Sunday.
Harbhajan was found guilty of using abusive remarks against Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds and was fined by the International Cricket Council-appointed judge John Hansen.
Harbhajan was called "an obnoxious little weed" by Mathew Hayden during the later part of the one-day tri-series for which the Aussie opener was reprimanded by Cricket Australia. On his return to India, Harbhajan was quoted in the Mail Today as terming Hayden "a liar" and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist "no saint", which he later denied.
Earlier, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland had reportedly wrote to the BCCI on Saturday to express his exasperation at Harbhajan’s comments reported in a Delhi-based newspaper. "Enough is enough," Sutherland wrote in his letter to BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah.
"Despite assurances that you have instructed him not to fuel this issue any more, Harbhajan continues to say whatever he wants. When will it ever end? Could you please deal with your player in regard to these comments," Sutherland was quoted by Sydney’s Sun Herald newspaper as saying.
The Sun Herald said CA officials spoke privately with the Indian board during the volatile series, and received assurances that the spinner would be counselled about the difference between what they perceived as provocative remarks and personal abuse.
"We believe it is possible to make intelligent, thoughtful and even provocative public comment without descending to personal abuse," a CA spokesman said.
With the tour over, the spinner made his controversial comments after India’s triumphant homecoming last week. "Don’t talk about Hayden’s credibility, he is a big liar," Harbhajan was quoted as saying.

Australia lodge complaint over Harbhajan

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Cricket Australia (CA) have lodged a formal complaint with the Indian cricket board over comments made by Harbhajan Singh about Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.
CA chief executive James Sutherland asked the Indian board to take action against Harbhajan after he called Hayden "a big liar" and said Gilchrist was "no saint".
"Enough is enough," Sutherland wrote in a letter to the board, published in Sydney's Sun Herald newspaper.
"Despite assurances that you have instructed him not to fuel this issue any more, Harbhajan continues to say whatever he wants.
"When will it ever end? Could you please deal with your player in regard to these comments."
The Indian board said it had instructed Harbhajan not to comment on the controversies which marred the tour Down Under.
"We have told Harbhajan that there should be no more such comments," board secretary Niranjan Shah told Reuters on Sunday. "We both (boards) feel players should not get into these things again."
Harbhajan was involved in several disputes with the Australian players during their recent tour.
Relations between the teams deteriorated to such a point that the Indians briefly suspended the tour and the International Cricket Council appointed a mediator to broker a peace deal.
Harbhajan was originally banned for three matches after the Australians complained that he made racist comments about Andrew Symonds during the second test but the suspension was overturned on appeal when the charge was downgraded to a lesser offence.
'OBNOXIOUS WEED'
Both teams were warned about their behaviour but the tension remained. CA reprimanded Hayden after he called Harbhajan an "obnoxious weed" during the one-day series.
India complained to CA about Hayden's comments and instructed their own players not to retaliate to ensure the row did not escalate.
But after returning to India, Harbhajan could not be silenced.
"Don't talk about Hayden's credibility, he is a big liar," the spinner was quoted as saying in the Delhi-based tabloid Mail Today.
"He (Gilchrist) is also not a saint. He pretends to be a saint -- someone who doesn't say an offensive word on the field. But this is completely wrong."
CA wants India to discipline Harbhajan.
"We've tried over the summer to get the balance right in the way controversial comment has been managed," a CA spokesman told the newspaper.
"And we certainly, through our actions with Matthew Hayden, have been firm with our own players in terms of where the tipping point is.
"We believe it is possible to make intelligent, thoughtful and even provocative public comment without descending to personal abuse."