All posts by n8rngtd.top

Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, has undergone emergency surgery for an intestinal blockage

Cricinfo staff11-Nov-2009Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, has undergone emergency surgery for an intestinal blockage. He was operated on at Lahore’s Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital (which he built in memory of his mother) on Monday afternoon after complaining of severe abdominal pain.Imran, 56, captained Pakistan to glory in the 1992 World Cup and formed a political party -Tehreek-e-Insaaf – after his retirement. “He suffered cramps in his small intestine while exercising and was taken to hospital for diagnosis where doctors decided on surgery,” a spokesman for his party said. “Imran is out of danger and his condition is stable now.”Imran is in intensive care and has been advised to remain in the hospital for at least three days.

Pakistan’s players have been cleared to participate in the 2010 season of the IPL after receiving clearance from their country’s interior ministry

Cricinfo staff02-Dec-2009Pakistan’s players have been cleared to participate in the 2010 season of the IPL after receiving the final government clearance they needed, from their country’s interior ministry.Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry cleared the players’ involvement in the Indian league and the interior ministry’s clearance means the PCB can now issue the no-objection certificates (NOCS) that would allow them to play in the tournament.”The sports and foreign ministries had already given their clearance … we were awaiting security clearance from the interior ministry, which we have got now,” PCB media manager Nadeem Sarwar told . “We have been told we can issue NOCs to the players now.”The deadline for the submission of the NOCs to the IPL was extended to December 7.Eleven Pakistani players – including Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, the stars of Pakistan’s 2009 World Twenty20 campaign – were recruited by the Kolkata, Rajasthan, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore franchises before the inaugural IPL.However, Pakistan’s players were absent from the second IPL, held earlier this year in South Africa, after their government did not allow them to travel to India – where the tournament was originally to be held – for security reasons. The franchises then opted to retain the contracts of only four of them – Kamran Akmal and Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan), Misbah-ul-Haq (Bangalore) and Gul (Kolkata) .Most franchises will, however, seek their return in the league’s 2010 edition after Pakistan’s success in the ICC World Twenty20 in June.The third season of the IPL will be held in India and it begins on March 12, 2010.

Australia’s cricketers have expressed reservations over the ICC’s recently introduced Umpire Decision Review System

Alex Brown22-Dec-2009Australia’s cricketers have expressed reservations over the ICC’s recently introduced Umpire Decision Review System and proposed day-night Tests. Although 87% of state and international players surveyed by the Australian Cricketers’ Association said they were in favour of the UDRS, 92% said they wanted to see better technology used to assist umpires in the decision making process.The UDRS proved a major talking point throughout the recently completed Frank Worrell Trophy series in Australia – right up until the final dismissal of Kemar Roach in Perth – and it has polarised opinion within the Australian playing ranks. Precisely half of the surveyed Cricket Australia contracted players described the system as either successful or very successful, with 43 % unsure and seven % labelling it unsuccessful.”Players would like to see the technology have the ability to definitively determine whether or not a batsman is out,” Paul Marsh, the ACA chief executive, told Cricinfo. “Whilst players are supportive of the concept of using technology, they are yet to be convinced of the effectiveness of the current technology being used.”It’s human nature to expect technological tools to be foolproof and there’s no doubt the new system is experiencing some teething problems. Now that the game has gone so far down the path of allowing technology to assist in on field decision making, the players would like to see the game invest in the technology being used so it’s as good as it can be.”A week after David Morgan, the ICC chairman, suggested twilight Tests would be staged within the next two years, the ACA survey found 57% of state and international players were opposed to the concept, up substantially from the previous year. Almost 30% of CA contracted players said they would be amenable to day-night Tests if an appropriate ball was developed, with another 21% willing to consent only for matches against minor Test playing nations. But with the majority against the concept, the ICC and CA could be facing a tough sell.”The game does need to find an appropriate balance between the commercial and cricketing considerations,” Marsh said. “Many players don’t want to entertain day-night Test cricket because of the traditions of the game and the fundamental changes required. Others are more open-minded to it, however this is only on the proviso that the game isn’t compromised by doing so.”The most significant issue is whether or not a ball can be developed that can be used at night time. If an appropriate solution can be found I’m confident players and the ACA will be supportive of introducing day-night Test cricket. However, it does concern us that in some quarters there is talk of compromising the quality of the ball in order to introduce day-night Test cricket.”Meanwhile, the majority of surveyed Australian state and international players said they harboured some degree of concern over the World Anti-Doping Agency’s controversial “whereabouts” clause, which was rejected by the Board of Control for Cricket in India earlier this year. Fifty percent of players said they were worried about the divulging of personal information to the drug testers, with another 13% unsure.”Australian players wholeheartedly support the fight against drugs in sport and accept the need for an anti-doping policy,” Marsh said. “The whereabouts requirements under the new WADA code are, however, onerous and have created concerns for players around the world.”Having to advise the drug testing authorities as to your whereabouts for an hour a day, three months in advance isn’t an easy task and we have contended that international cricketers are accessible enough for nearly all of the year given their current playing and training commitments. The ACA and players have, however, taken a pragmatic approach to this issue and will comply with the code in the interests of the overall fight against drugs in sport.”

Plays of the day from the first day of the third Test between Australia and Pakistan in Hobart

Cricinfo staff14-Jan-2010The truth, at last
For 10 years Justin Langer has denied he edged Wasim Akram during his
amazing escape with Adam Gilchrist in Hobart in 1999-2000. Needing 369, Australia
were 5 for 126 when the pair came together and orchestrated a stand of
238 that was brave, unbelievable and controversial. Until now Langer has
sworn, even to his father (his Dad, not the Almighty), that his bat handle
broke when he aimed a drive at Akram and survived a caught-behind appeal.
But a decade on he has changed his plea. “I absolutely smashed it,” Langer
told Nine at tea on the first day.That was also the match of the
“can’t bowl, can’t throw” jibe at Scott Muller, which was eventually
claimed by “Joe the Cameraman”. The finger was also pointed at Shane
Warne, but Nine’s Joe didn’t do a Langer, and still maintains it was
him.To pull or not to pull?

The debate over Ricky Ponting’s favourite shot has run through much of the summer. He has
insisted all along he would continue pulling, despite questions over
whether he is as good at it as he once was. After a first-ball dismissal
to the stroke in Sydney, he went for it again here, off his fourth ball, only to
pop it straight up in the air to Mohammad Aamer at deep fine leg. It
looked more difficult to drop than it did to catch it and yet somehow it
was spilled. Ponting went on to his first hundred of the summer and a few less questions about the pull.A genuine headache
Ponting also copped a blow to the helmet when he misjudged a hook and it required some paracetemol to deal with “a pretty bad headache”. There have been few times when Ponting has been hit in the head, and he thinks the last time was in the 2005 Ashes series when Steve Harmison struck him. “I was talking to Mohammad Yousuf out there today just after it happened and he said ‘that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you get hit’,” Ponting said. “Mohammad Sami actually hit me on the cheek in Sharjah without a helmet on years ago, I actually ducked into one without a helmet on. I’ve been hit a few times but luckily no real bad ones.”On the crest of something new
Ponting has scored 39 Test centuries but today he did something new: kissed the crest of his helmet in celebration. “I haven’t done it before,” he said. “It’s the first time today, because it meant a lot to me today, to battle away the way that I did and then get through and make a hundred in front of my home crowd. My parents and my sister and everyone is down here as well, watching the game, so they would’ve had some anxious and nervous moments early on through my innings today.”He’s caught it!

It was only a thin edge from Michael Hussey’s bat and a straightforward
take, but given the events of Sydney, relief would have descended over
all of Pakistan when Sarfraz Ahmed, the man who replaced Kamran Akmal, held on to his
first Test catch behind the stumps.Missing man of the moment

Aamer was Pakistan’s stand-out bowler in Melbourne and though he
wasn’t missed so much in Sydney, he was eagerly welcomed back for this
Test. Pakistan were on top in the first session and Aamer had just
started getting his lines right. More pressure was expected to be applied
straight after lunch, but Mohammad Yousuf chose to open with Danish
Kaneria instead. Michael Clarke, a champion against spin, settled in
easily and Aamer, Pakistan’s rising star and their quickest bowler, wasn’t
seen at all between lunch and tea as Australia took the game away.
He wasn’t injured and the Pakistan camp, at one stage, mumbled something
feeble about over-rates. It was most likely just another sign of the lack
of intent that has cost them the series.Ponting knows the score
The Australian players have had such trouble getting from the nineties to
triple-figures this summer that Ponting’s path to a century seemed somehow
appropriate. On 94, he launched Danish Kaneria over long-off and the
umpire Asoka de Silva signalled six. But Ponting, ever astute, wasn’t
convinced and instead of celebrating, stood there waiting for confirmation
from the third umpire. His judgment was correct: the ball bounced inside
the boundary and his 100 became 98. Three balls later, he swept and made
the extra two.

Australian trainer will once again join the team on a temporary basis to help them prepare their defense of the World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean

Cricinfo staff18-Feb-2010David Dwyer, the Australian trainer who recently resigned from his post with the Pakistan side, will once again join the team on a temporary basis to help them prepare their defense of the World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean later this year.Dwyer came in with Geoff Lawson during his coaching stint in 2007 on a two-year contract and stayed on even after Lawson was removed from the post in October 2008. His fitness work with the national team has been widely acknowledged by the board and players themselves and he became an immensely popular figure within the side, in particular with senior hands such as Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik. Younis was one of the voices who urged him to stay on after Lawson’s departure.But personal reasons, in wanting to settle back in Sydney, prompted him to hand in his papers at the end of the recent tour to Australia. The board, however, was keen to keep him on further and it is believed that Dwyer has reached an agreement to be with the side through the World Twenty20, which is scheduled for April-May this year.Dwyer, it is understood, will join the side in Lahore from early April to begin work again. The agreement is only for the duration of the tournament and Dwyer will likely return to Australia at the end of it.

The 313 Brigade, Al-Qaeda’s operational arm in Pakistan, issued a warning to “the international community” to not send its representatives to major sports events being staged in India, including the IPL

Cricinfo staff16-Feb-2010Security fears regarding the IPL have intensified after a string of statements over the past 24 hours. The 313 Brigade, Al-Qaeda’s operational arm in Pakistan, issued a warning to “the international community” not to send its representatives to major sports events being staged in India, including the IPL. Following this, the firm in charge of the league’s security said organisers would have to reconsider hosting the IPL should the threat supercede safety strategies.There was good news for the IPL, though, in a retraction by the Shiv Sena of its stand barring Australian cricketers in Mumbai in response to the attacks on Indians in Australia, yet it appeared scant consolation in the face of the terror threat.In its message, delivered to , the 313 Brigade said: “We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, IPL and Commonwealth Games. If they do, they will be responsible for the consequences.”The Hockey World Cup will be held in New Delhi from February 28 and the Commonwealth games are scheduled in the same city in October. Both are single-city events and will be relatively easier to secure than the multi-city IPL – it currently has 12 venues, with Cuttack being added on Tuesday.The 313 Brigade is believed to have links with other terrorist outfits and its commander is believed to have played a role in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.That statement drew a gloomy response from Bob Nicholls, the head of Nicholls Steyn and Associates, which is running the security operation for the IPL. He told the it may force the organisers into a re-think.”It gets to a point where you cannot go further than that which is being provided,” Nicholls said. ”We only have control over certain aspects of it. If we get to a certain stage beyond which you can’t go … our role and commitment is that we will put in the best measures there can be. What we cannot control is circumstances beyond that. There would need to be serious considerations at that point.”Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association, said security consultant Reg Dickason would factor the warning into his report to the Australian players involved in the IPL.”We were told over the years that cricketers and other sportspeople would not be targeted, that the risk was collateral damage, being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Marsh said. ”That changed with [the ambush of the Sri Lankan team in] Lahore last year, and news of a threat from a very well-known terrorist group is concerning. This is another issue to be concerned about. Not a lot has changed with regard to our process and it’s important to note that the situation is fluid after what happened in Pune (a bomb blast) at the weekend and this development.”Reg will give us a point-in-time report and then he will continue to keep us informed. Everyone is going to have to weigh up their own circumstances, but we have relied on Reg for a long time and the players have a high level of trust in his advice.”

Eoin Morgan, who hit a magnificent unbeaten 110 to guide England to victory in the second ODI against Bangladesh, has been awarded an ECB incremental contract

Cricinfo staff03-Mar-2010Eoin Morgan, who hit a magnificent unbeaten 110 to guide England to victory in the second ODI against Bangladesh, has been awarded an ECB incremental contract for 2009-10 having reached the required number of appearances.Non-contracted players can earn incremental deals on a points system based on five points for a Test appearance and two for either ODIs or Twenty20s. Morgan has reached the required 20-point mark having played six ODIs and four Twenty20s during the current contract period.”Eoin has made excellent progress since making his ODI debut against West Indies last summer and is now an established member of our one-day and T20 sides,” Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, said. “He has fully justified the faith the selectors have shown in him and has the potential to develop his game still further.”Morgan’s match-winning century in Dhaka made him the first player to score hundreds for two different countries after he began his career with Ireland as he qualified for England. He has made an instant impact on the team with a series of impressive limited-overs innings including an unbeaten 51-ball 67 in the first Twenty20 against Pakistan in Dubai after previously hitting 85 off 45 deliveries against South Africa at the Wanderers.Morgan also enjoyed a productive Champions Trophy tournament in South Africa where he marshalled the run chase against Sri Lanka with 62 not out then clubbed 67 against South Africa as England reached the semi-finals. Morgan is one of eight English players due to take part in the IPL and will join the tournament following the conclusion of the one-day series in Bangladesh.

Mashonaland Eagles held their nerve on a tense final day to earn a draw against Mid West Rhinos and so win the Logan Cup

Steven Price in Harare04-Apr-2010Mid West Rhinos 364 (Taylor 131) and 335 for 6 (Wessels 108*) drew with Mashonaland Eagles 451 (Lamb 159, Chigumbura 105, Rainsford 6-66) and 67 for 5

ScorecardMashonaland Eagles celebrate their victory•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Mashonaland Eagles held their nerve on a tense final day at the Harare Sports Club , to earn a draw against Mid West Rhinos and so win the Logan Cup by virtue of topping the league table in the round-robin stage.A high-scoring match appeared to be heading towards a soporific conclusion on the fourth afternoon when the Rhinos declared leaving the Eagles a target of 249. In the circumstances, they were never likely to take the bait, and the assumption was they would bat out time with ease.However, Graeme Cremer and Taurai Muzarabani caused panic in reducing the Eagles to 36 for 5, and only 27 overs of dogged resistance from Forster Mutizwa and Mark Mbofana averted a shock defeat.Until then, the match had been going as expected. The Eagles won the toss and drew first blood when Rhinos opener Friday Kasteni was sent back by Elton Chigumbura for one. Brendan Taylor then led a strong batting performance as the rest of the top order chipped in with useful contributions.Malcolm Waller and Cremer went past the fifty-run mark to support Taylor who compiled an aggressive 131 off 155 balls, with 20 fours. Prince Masvaure was the most successful bowler, picking 3 for 49, as the Rhinos finished on 364.Ed Rainsford rocked the Eagles’ reply at both ends of their first innings, but two big partnerships in the middle gave the Eagles a significant lead. Greg Lamb struck 159 off 352 balls, while Chigumbura was equally patient in compiling 105. They added 211 runs before Regis Chakabva struck 74 and added 104 with Lamb. Rainsford finished with figures of 6 for 66 as the Eagles ended 87 runs ahead.Kasteni failed in the second dig as well, but Taylor and Innocent Chikunya had no troubles in taking the Rhinos past Eagle’s lead. A succession of wickets left them in some trouble at 174 for 5, before Riki Wessels and Cremer set the tone for a tricky fourth-innings chase. Cremer was stumped for 56, while Wessels was unbeaten on 108 when the declaration came about. Then came the final twist.

Scott Styris has labelled as “massive” the absence of Kevin Pietersen for New Zealand’s must-win game against England on Monday

Cricinfo staff09-May-2010Scott Styris has labelled as “massive” the absence of Kevin Pietersen for New Zealand’s must-win game against England on Monday. Pietersen has flown home for the birth of his first child and although he is planning to return for the semi-finals, his temporary unavailability could hurt England’s hopes in this match.England are all but assured of a spot in the final four, while New Zealand have to win to progress. Pietersen is the third-leading run scorer in the tournament so far and his 53 was crucial in winning their game against South Africa on Saturday.”It’s going to be massive,” Styris said. “He’s probably been, along with Jayawardene, one of the two best batsmen in the competition. He was outstanding yesterday against South Africa and he can win a game single-handedly. He’s world-class and without him, we know that it makes our job easier, although we still have to put the ball in the right areas.”England are going to be very difficult. They’ve been the form team in the competition, or one of the form teams. They’re playing good cricket, they’re confident, and confident teams in Twenty20 cricket are hard to beat. I like to think we’ve got some momentum – we’ve won all bar one of our games. England are playing well as well so it’ll be a good contest.”New Zealand are coming off a morale-boosting last-ball win over Pakistan, but Styris said the result could not mask the fact that improvement was needed in their batting. The New Zealanders struggled to 133 for 7 from their full 20 overs and Styris said to go on and have greater success in the tournament, the batsmen had to be prepared to take more risks.”We seemed to play with a little bit of fear yesterday,” Styris said. “By that, I mean guys were a little scared of taking risks and playing the big shots. In this version of the game, especially in big games, you’ve got to be prepared to get out. I felt that as a group we didn’t do that. I think we have to go in to the next game [without] fear of getting out and failing, and try and take the game by the scruff of the neck.”

Lancashire did not make any attempt to chase down 336 from 85 overs on the
final day of their County Championship Division One match against Essex,
instead settling for a draw at Old Trafford

27-May-2010

ScorecardLancashire did not make any attempt to chase down 336 from 85 overs on the
final day of their County Championship Division One match against Essex,
instead settling for a draw at Old Trafford.The home side had been offered the target by Mark Pettini when he declared
Essex’s second innings on 212 for 5 after Ryan ten Doeschate and Matthew
Walker both completed half-centuries during the morning session.It was soon obvious from the way opening batsman Luke Sutton set about his
innings that the Red Rose were happy with six points. Sutton finished with a painstaking 26 off 155 balls, his innings spanning just over three hours.Despite opening bowlers David Masters and Maurice Chambers bowling tight
spells, Essex struggled to take wickets as they searched for victory on a dead
track. Chris Wright had both Paul Horton and Steven Croft caught behind by James
Foster within three balls in the 66th over but it was too little, too late.Horton top scored for Lancashire with 64 off 179 balls and his side had reached
177 for 5 from 83.4 overs when the players shook hands on the draw. Essex, who travel to face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Saturday, took eight points from the fixture.Masters had given the visitors an early glimmer when he had Stephen Moore
caught behind by Foster for five in the ninth over of Lancashire’s chase. Sutton and Horton then shared a second-wicket partnership of 93 in 40 overs which effectively killed the contest.Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was expected to be a major threat with the
ball but he only took one wicket for 49 runs from 33 overs. Ten Doeschate claimed Essex’s second wicket in the latter stages of the afternoon when Sutton edged behind to Foster.Lancashire’s reluctance to even attempt to chase down the runs was somewhat
surprising, given their coach Peter Moores had said after day three: “The way
the points are structured this year encourages sides to be aggressive with 16
for a win.”Ashwell Prince hit three fours and a six in a brisk 29 before he was caught at
short leg by Billy Godleman off Kaneria and Wright’s double strike meant Essex
had taken three wickets in 10 balls.But Mark Chilton and Glen Chapple batted through to close for Lancashire, who
face Yorkshire at Headingley on Saturday. Simon Kerrigan had earlier claimed the only wicket to fall in Essex’s second innings when Ten Doeschate holed out to Croft at long off for 56 off 57 balls – his second half-century of the match. Essex added 57 runs from 9.4 overs with Walker finishing unbeaten on 53 off 108 balls.