Dhoni showers eulogies on the Raina-Vijay breaking news

Dhoni showers eulogies on the Raina-Vijay duo

Centurion: Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday heaped praise on Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay for setting the platform for the comfortable 97-run victory over Wayamba in Group A match of the Champions League Twenty20.
Raina (87 off 44) and Vijay (68 off 48) shared a 137-run second wicket partnership, that came off just 72 deliveries, to help Chennai post a mammoth 200 for three and set the tone for the convincing win at the SuperSport Park.













"We did not want to bat first because in this ground it is very hard to defend. But once we were sent into bat, we needed some extra runs, something over 180.

"And exactly that's what the batsmen did. They started off cautiously and after that Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay batted brilliantly. They were easily picking up boundaries and in the end 200 is a very good score to defend," Dhoni said after his side had inched a step closer towards semifinals following their second consecutive win in Group A.

"We want to win each and every game that we play. But we always talk about not to think too much about the result, instead prepare well for the game. It is really important to prepare well and execute your plans on the field," he said.

The Chennai skipper also lauded his quick bowlers Doug Bollinger and Albie Morkel for their impressive display upfront.

"It is important to have a quick bowler in the side. Dougie (Bollinger) came in as a replacement for us and all of a sudden the team looked different with his inclusion because pace really matters," Dhoni said.



"Equally important was Albie Morkel's spell because he has got the knack of picking wickets," he added.

His Wayamba counterpart Jehan Mubarak was of the view that his bowlers' awful performance in the middle overs cost his side the match.

He also lauded Chennai for their clinical display.

"They are a very good team and we knew we had to play our best cricket if we desire to beat them. But they brought out their best game today. Suresh (Raina) batted extremely well," Mubarak said.

"We got a good start with (Ajantha) Mendis opening the bowling but there were four big overs in the middle which produced in excess of 20 runs and I think this cost us the game," he insisted.



Mubarak said opting to bat after winning the toss was not a wrong decision but his batters struggled from the onset of their innings.

"In Twenty20 cricket, the wicket and toss don't make a big difference. The wicket was pretty much the same all throughout the game but we struggled with the bat.

"We lost too many wickets early on and when you need to chase 10 an over from the start there is additional pressure on the batsmen," he said.

Man-of-the-match Suresh Raina was also of the view that his second-wicket partnership with Vijay did the trick for his side.

"Vijay batted really well. Me and Vijay got a very good partnership which set the tone but at the end of the day credit goes to the team. We executed our plan really well," he said.

Cricket: Ireland in united front over Zimbabwe trip Cricket news

Cricket: Ireland in united front over Zimbabwe trip

Four of the Ireland squad travelling to Zimbabwe tomorrow for an Intercontinental Cup game and three one-day internationals will be going to the country against the advice of their government.

Captain William Porterfield, Andrew White, Gary Wilson and Paul Stirling are all UK passport holders but because cricket is an all-Ireland sport, with players from two jurisdictions, it is an anomaly over which the quartet have no control, once Cricket Ireland took the decision to go, based on the Irish government’s support of the new Unity government in Zimbabwe.

Porterfield and Wilson are county professionals based in England, Stirling is contracted by Cricket Ireland and White is a Belfast schoolteacher.



“With the World Cup in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka just five months away, no player is really in a position to say ‘no’ and our focus will be fully on beating Zimbabwe in their own backyard.

“It would be a tremendous boost to our confidence ahead of the World Cup and a 3-0 win in the one-day series will put us above Bangladesh in the world rankings, for the first time,” said White.





Last week Scotland pulled out of their Intercontinental match, due to be played in Zimbabwe next month, because the British government said they were still unhappy with the lack of progress of political reform in the African country while the MCC are also refusing to send a team, which was due to double-up as a fact-finding mission because, according to sports minister Hugh Robertson, “the positive signal such a tour would send would not be appropriate”.




Cricket Ireland received the same message from the Foreign Office in London but the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said, unequivocally, “It supports the Unity government in Zimbabwe and has no objection to an Ireland team touring there”.

Following this conflicting information, Cricket Ireland invited David Coltart, the Zimbabwe sports minister who was visiting Scotland to convince them to come to his country, to travel over to Belfast last month to address the Ireland squad.





Coltart, who had survived an assassination attempt seven years ago, compared the situation in Zimbabwe 2010 to South Africa in the early 1990s when sporting teams there were readmitted to international competition while the apartheid regime was still in power.

He told the players that everything was still not perfect, indeed there was much still wrong with the country, but political change was happening and it is positive. He believed that sport can play a constructive and healing role without legitimising what had gone before.




That, along with the blessing of the Irish government was enough to convince Cricket Ireland that they should abide by the International Cricket Council’s request and travel to the country, as the cricketers of India and Sri Lanka have already done this year.

CI chief executive Warren Deutrom explained their decision: “While the political and moral considerations were the priority considerations, as the national governing body for cricket in Ireland, it would be disingenuous to say that there isn’t a strong cricketing reason to travel to Zimbabwe. It gives the squad vital ODI practice before the World Cup (and) would send out a terrific message if we were to prevail against a Test member in a multi-day match.”

For the UK passport holders in the Ireland team, however, as White admits, they are in a difficult position.





“I, personally, have no problem with going to Zimbabwe and although I admit to not knowing too much about the situation there, having listened to Mr Coltart, in an eye-opening and frank discussion, he is in as good a position as anyone to give advice, having survived an assassination attempt and now happy to be part of the new government.

“We are going as a sporting team to play sport and that is all.”






The UK passport holders in the party have been assured that if there is trouble they will have the support of the British embassy in Harare and the Irish consul in Pretoria. But it is certainly in Zimbabwe Cricket’s interest to ensure the two-week tour passes off peacefully, just as the much higher-profile tri-series with India and Sri Lanka did three months ago.

Zimbabwe are currently coached by Alan Butcher, the father of former England batsman Mark, and is one of 10 Englishmen playing or coaching in the country.





The Intercontinental Cup match, against a Zimbabwe XI, which Ireland must win with maximum points to have any chance of reaching the final, starts on Monday with the three ODIs against the full Zimbabwe side on September 26, 28 and 30.

Ijaz Butt to meet Sharad Pawar in Delhi today/ Zakhas News ...

Ijaz Butt to meet Sharad Pawar in Delhi today


Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt is in New Delhi today to meet International Cricket Council (ICC) President Sharad Pawar.



The two are likely to discuss the recent spot-fixing scandal and the revenue sharing for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. (Video Special: Pakistan match-fixing storm)

Pakistan will not be hosting any of the World Cup matches because of the security situation in the country.



Butt will also propose that India and Pakistan kick-off the proposed ICC Test Championship.
In addition, the PCB Chief wants the ICC to suggest a solution about the losses they are incurring due to no international cricket being played in Pakistan.

Cricket action reaches courts/ Court dismisses Lalit Modi's petition | Modi petition Court

Cricket action reaches courts

Wednesday was a day when lawyers were kept busy in three separate cases involving officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The most high-profile of these, the disciplinary committee’s proceedings against suspended IPL chairman Lalit Modi, barely moved forward. Lawyers Vasanth Kotwal and Swadeep Hora were partially into crossexamining Peter Griffiths, of the International Management Group, when the hearing adjourned, and will resume on September 27.

High Court dismisses Modi’s petition

In Mumbai, on Wednesday morning, the Bombay High Court, for the second time, dismissed Modi’s petition challenging the composition of the Disciplinary Committee currently hearing charges against him. A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice D Y Chandrachud also refused to stay Wednesday’s proceedings of the disciplinary committee. Modi had asked that a panel comprising of independent persons – preferably retired judges – hear proceedings against him.

Supreme Court a probing questions

The Supreme Court today put some probing questions to the BCCI on permitting its Secretary N Srinivasan to bid for an IPL franchise, as there appeared to be a "conflict of interest."

A Bench of Justices J M Panchal and Gyan Sudha Mishra, said Srinivasan, being a key member of BCCI, should have ideally suspended his association with the Board before bidding for the franchise, which he had successfully won.

"An amendment has been brought and there seems to be a conflict of interest. Can a person be a judge of his own case? I am hearing the matter relating to the controversy. But can I participate in the bidding of IPL teams tomorrow?" Justice Sudha, speaking for the Bench, asked Attorney General G E Vahanvathi who appeared for the Board.

The court posed the query during the day-long hearing of the petition of former BCCI president A C Muthiah.

HC dismisses Lalit Modi's petition video

ICC CWC Man of the Series - Glenn McGrath - International Cricket news

ICC CWC Man of the Series

Australia have easily surpassed any other team in ICC Cricket World Cup history in terms of records. The Australian team have been on a roll winning the last three editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
In fact, Australia have been in the final of the last four ICC Cricket World Cups, making it an awe-inspiring record for any team to match.
The cornerstone of Australia's title run has been built around the solid foundation provided by their champion new-ball exponent, Glenn McGrath.



An epitome of consistency, McGrath's stature grew with the start of Australia's domination at the international level from 1999.

In a side full of world-beaters, McGrath held his own for long and his ICC Cricket World Cup showing just confirmed his stature. He picked up 71 wickets from 39 games in ICC Cricket World Cups from 1996-2007 with a best of 7-15 ending as the most successful bowler in the tournament history.



To top it all his final appearance in an international game was also ironically the time Australia won the ICC Cricket World Cup for the third successive time.

It could not have been a more perfect setting than the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup for McGrath to be nominated the best of the best. He bagged 26 wickets from 11 games at an average of 13.73 with an economy rate of 4.4 to boot.

His best figures were 3-14 against Scotland in the opening game, but that did not mean that McGrath did not tie up the batsmen in knots. Part of a strong bowling line-up, McGrath controlled the middle overs brilliantly. He picked up four more three-wicket hauls in the competition.



Bowling behind the fast and furious Shaun Tait (23 wickets), the accurate Nathan Bracken (16 wickets), McGrath showed his class as he did not let line-ups get away. McGrath teamed up well with left-arm chinaman bowler Brad Hogg (21 wickets).

This was probably the most dominant Australian one-day international side ever. With the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke at their best, there was no way Australia would lag behind in the title race.



In the end, a Gilchrist special landed Australia the ICC Cricket World Cup yet again. McGrath bowed out on a high, thus scripting the best possible finish to any international career.

News for ICC to engage governments in anti-corruption drive

ICC to engage governments in anti-corruption drive


Cape Town: The International Cricket Council will seek to engage governments in its bid to tackle corruption in the sport, according to chief executive Haroon Lorgat.



In a statement issued on Tuesday after a meeting of the ICC Chief Executives' Committee in Cape Town, the ICC said the committee had recommended a wide-ranging and, if necessary, independent review of the current ICC anti-corruption measures.

Lorgat said a review of procedures and protocols was already under way.

"I am especially keen to engage with governments to consider the regulation of betting and also to consider the accreditation of player representatives or agents," he added.

According to the statement, the committee supported what was described as decisive action taken by the ICC after allegations of spot-fixing during a recent Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's.



"The recent allegations have reminded everyone of the need to remain vigilant and to ensure public confidence in our sport," Lorgat said.

But Lorgat criticised what he said was irresponsible reporting and "wild speculation" by certain sections of the media.



"It is important for the media to be responsible when reporting on matters of corruption in our sport. The reputation and safety of a player is also paramount and to suggest anything untoward without any substantiation or firm evidence is irresponsible and most unfair on a player."



ICC to engage governments in anti-corruption drive video

Players, fans loyalty put to test as new clubs join Champions

Players, fans loyalty put to test as new clubs League



London, Sep 14 (ANI): Within a fortnight's time, the Victoria Bushrangers could be facing Anil Kumble-led India's Royal Challengers of Bangalore in a final that will determine the best Twenty 20 team in the world, yet its fiercely proud captain, Cameron White, would be wearing Royal Challengers red instead of the navy blue of his Bushrangers.



The most apparent conclusion is that it is an example of rich Indian teams flexing their financial muscle, as much to hold back the other sides as to enrich their own.

Skip 16 months forward, however, and exactly the same thing is likely to be happening - and in much greater numbers - once two new teams are added to Australia's Big Bash competition in time for the 2011-12 summer, The Age reports.

The Champions League Twenty20 2010, which kicked off on Friday, has for the second consecutive year witnessed the absence of a key player in the Bushrangers squad due to an onerous contract with his Indian Premier League team.



Last year, Dirk Nannes's decision to play for the Delhi Daredevils generated significant disquiet within the team and the public, although Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive Paul Marsh believes there is more understanding of the decision this time around, for White.

'"It's probably a whole different scenario this year because players were conditioned to it and probably expected, whereas last year was the first time and a lot of people didn't understand the lay of the land. Now, players definitely have a better understanding of how it works. They don't necessarily agree with it, mind you, but it's a bit of a reality in cricket,'" the paper quoted Marsh, as saying.



"Players can play in different teams. We see it in soccer and other sports where you have big club competitions, and because the Twenty20 season's so short [in most countries] you have to take your opportunity," he added.





Meanwhile, Victorian coach Greg Shipperd said there was 'no doubt' internal expectations about players' availability for Twenty20 had changed, and that White is not facing any grudges because of it.


Players, fans loyalty put to test as new clubs League video