The PCB chairman Tauqir Zia said that in his opinion most people misunderstood the Pakistani cricketers- "They are basically innocent souls, are very sensitive and need to be handled with care". He further added that he wanted to involve as many former cricketers (like Hanif Mohammad, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, and Javed Miandad) for coaching, while speaking at a function to honour Fakir Syed Aizazuddin who has been appointed manager of the national cricket team. He said that several PCB employees were only interested in fat salaries and perks rather than doing their duties and was hoping to overcome that situation.
South Africa's fast bowler Alan Donald returns to the side for the third Test against Sri Lanka at Centurion beginning today. Donald who has missed the last three Tests played by South Africa, replaces Mlfuneko Ngam who has a stress fracture of the leg. Sri Lanka have little chance of squaring the series but coach Dave Whatmore seemed confident for his side to put on a good show.
Sri Lanka will be without Muthiah Muralitharan for the third Test against South Africa. He was ruled out of the match because of a groin injury. Left arm pace bowler Ruchira Perera who is currently on tour with Sri Lanka A in Kenya is being sent as a replacement.
"The focus of the Australian team is already shifting to next month's tour of India" said vice-captain Ricky Ponting at a training session in Melbourne. "We have been speaking about it and making sure we are prepared" he said.
Shane Warne had to leave a practice session at Melbourne early with a knee complaint, but is expected to play the next match of the Carlton Series against Zimbabwe starting on Sunday. During the practice session, coaching staff video-taped the running styles of the Australian squad with the help to developing their speed and power.
Sourav Ganguly has signed a major deal with soft drink giant "Pepsi" which requires him to go door to door at Kolkata starting next month to promote the soft drink. The campaign is called "Sourav comes to your home". Ganguly said he is delighted to be a part of such a campaign, as it would bring him closer to his fans.
The national selection committee in Pakistan has asked the PCB to see if speedster Shoaib Akhtar could play in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (domestic tournament). The selectors stressed that they would like to see him play in at least one four day game before they decide if he would be fit for the New Zealand tour.
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir said that he doesn't find much fault with Shahid Afridi's action. Afridi was reported to the ICC by match referee Barry Jarman in the recently concluded England-Pakistan series for a suspect action. Qadir added that his leg-break and googly were fine and that only his faster one was suspect. The PCB has invited Afridi to the panel consisting of Qadir, Ijaz Faikh and Mohsin Kamal for discussion. The ICC will once again review Afridi's action. If the bowler is reported within 12 months again for suspect action the ICC's bowling review group will meet the bowler and his country representatives for determining his action. If the majority says the action is illegal the bowler will be banned from bowling in international matches from the date of the hearing.
Former Sri Lankan skipper Bandula Warnapura is the ICC's new match referee. He is also a qualified umpire and will now join Ranjan Madugalle as the second Sri Lankan in the ICC panel of match referees.
Zimbabwe lost to an Australian Country XI by 51 runs in a one-dayer at the Bradman Oval in Bowral, New South Wales. Set 198 to win Zimbabwe were out for a paltry 146.
In the meanwhile, former Zimbabwe Test batsman Murray Goodwin blasted a record 167 for West Australia against New South Wales at the WACA Ground, Perth in the Mercantile Mutual Cup one-day competition. Goodwin and Mike Hussey (94) put on a record partnership of 257 for the third wicket. Goodwin's score was the highest by any batsman in the Australian one-day domestic competitions. The previous highest was the 164 by Rick McCosker for New South Wales against South Australia at Sydney on 3-12-1981.
The NKP Salve Challenger Trophy will now be held from February 12 to 15. The BCCI said the change of dates was due to its clash with the preparatory camp planned ahead of the Australian home series.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is restructuring the organisation to meet the challenges of developing and sustaining a successful future for West Indies Cricket. President of the WICB, Pat Rousseau, announced today that the Board is re-organising itself to be in a position to deliver the various recommendations that emerged from the November 2000 Review and some outstanding actions from the 1996 Cricket Strategic Plan.
A former chief minister once again heads the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). Former India captain Ajit Wadekar lost out to former Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar in the 67th election to the MCA by a margin of 60 votes.
President: Sharad Pawar
Vice-president: Pravin Barve & Ravi Sawant
Joint Secretaries: Prof RS Shetty & Mayank Khandwala
Treasurer: Ramesh Kosambia
Swami Parthasarathy the founder of the Vedanta Academy in Karla near Lonavala (a resort near Mumbai) plays cricket by day and gives Gita discourses by night. The Swami had played for Madras state nearly 55 years ago. While at University he was adjudged best batsman of a team that boasted of the likes of Balu Alaganan and Kannaiyaram. The 74-year old Swami will be playing for his Academy at the Bombay Gymkhana over the weekend and giving discourses at the Bhratiya Vidya Bhavan during the evenings. On Sachin Tendulkar's recent policy "stay at the wicket and the runs will come" the Swamiji commented, "The unconscious practice of vedantic principles is the secret of success. He is concentrating on his batting without worrying about the runs, when the action is perfect the result is automatic" he said. "Life is after all a big sport", he said "sometimes the world beats you other times you beat the world, but then be a sportsman", the Swami concluded.
"The Nest" - a cricket academy was opened in Pudupakkam, a village 40 km away from Chennai. The academy is the brainchild of the dashing former India and Tamil Nadu opening batsman VB Chandrashekar. It offers magnificent coaching facilities for the first time in Chennai, including a modern hostel for children between the ages 6-16. There are nine turfs laid out with different soil compositions (with Australian grass) and a team of qualified coaches who have played cricket at the highest level. Over 25 children can be accommodated in the dormitory. The academy provides transportation facilities for trainees between the Nest and Chennai.
The Sri Lanka A side was held out to a draw by hosts Kenya at Mombassa.
Scores at a glance
North Zone's Ashish Nehra produced the spell of his life to bundle out East Zone for 81 as North Zone head for an emphatic victory at Guwahati on the second day of the Duleep Trophy tie. East Zone now requires 383 to win.
North Zone: 206 & 268 (Yuvraj Singh 77, Vijay Dahiya 70, Sukhvinder Singh 42; D Mohanty 4-82, Sukhvinder Singh 3-56, Sanjay Raul 3-28)
East Zone: 81 (RR Parida 28; A Nehra 7-14 in 14 overs)
At Surat, South Zone batted explosively on the second day of the Duleep Trophy tie against West Zone. VVS Laxman on an unbeaten 80 is heading towards yet another hundred. Test opener S Ramesh hammered a quick 99 of 99 deliveries.
West Zone: 376 (Wasim Jaffer 40, HH Kanitkar 95, JJ Martin 89, V Kambli 54; D Ganesh 4-81, Sunil Joshi 3-65).
South Zone: 296-2 (S Sriram 38, S Ramesh 99, VVS Laxman 80 not out, Rahul David 60 not out)
Ranji Trophy (Central Zone League):
At Nagpur (2nd day):
Rajasthan 380 (V Saxena 117, R Jhalani 63; PV Gandhe 4-58)
Vidarbha 189-2 (A Deshpande 114 not out)
At
Kanpur (2nd day):
Uttar Pradesh 143 (DS Bundela 6-37, Jai Prakash Yadav 4-41) & 12-0
Madhya Pradesh 283 (AR Khurasiya 65, HS Sodhi 57; AW Zaidi 4-89)
Question for the day…..
What was odd about the scheduling of the one-day international played between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Harare on November 8 1992?
The match was uniquely sandwiched between the first and second day of the second Test match between the two countries. New Zealand captain Martin Crowe who scored 140 on the first day of the Test match recorded a 94 in 87 balls the next day in the one-dayer.
Yesterday's News
Compiled by: Mohandas Menon
