BCCI to expand NCA activities

In a major boost to the supply line of Indian cricket, the BCCI has decided to expand the activities of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore by setting up a new facility and introducing measures for all-round development of budding talent.

"After the satisfactory work of the NCA, which was set up in 2000, we are going to expand its activities... we feel we need a bigger academy. So a new academy is to be constructed in Bangalore," Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya said on Thursday.

Emerging from a meeting of the NCA committee, the BCCI president said the new academy would be set up on a 12-acre land, given by Karnataka Cricket Association.

"As per request of the Board, the KCA has given 12 acres out of a 30-acre land to the Board for the new academy. The land has been acquired and construction will start soon," Dalmiya said.

The budget for the expansion plan, he said, is being worked out, but "some ad hoc sanction has already been made".

Besides the new academy, the NCA committee, chaired by Sunil Gavaskar, finalised lists of coaches for NCA camps, zonal coaches as also overall consultants, like Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Gundappa Viswanath, to harness the talent in various departments of the game, Dalmiya informed.

In a novel attempt to bolster the mental toughness of the youngsters, the NCA is also considering soliciting the services of South African psychologist Sandy Gordon and some Indians working in the field.

The inquiry committee set up to probe Pakistan's World Cup debacle has blamed skipper Waqar Younis as well as the other senior players in the team for the country's first round exit from the mega event.

A report released by the Board also came down heavily on the star treatment meted out to speedster Shoaib Akhtar and the "commitment" of the "ageing" players in the side.

The committee, headed by retired army colonel and former cricketer Naushad Ali, said, "Some of our players could not keep up with the pressure of the World Cup even though they were old and experienced enough."

Waqar, who was replaced by Rashid Latif soon after Pakistan's World Cup campaign came to an end, got "sympathetic" treatment from the committee but came in for a lot of flak for his inability to communicate with the other players in the side.

"Waqar is a seasoned campaigner who is straightforward but at times stubborn and struggled to communicate with some of the players resulting in frustration for himself and others," said the report, whose release coincided with the new-look Pakistani team's final match against Zimbabwe at Sharjah.

After two defeats, South Africa 'A' beat Australia 'A' by eight wickets in the 34th over at Bellerive Oval.

Sent in to bat after South Africa won the toss, Australia reached 168-9, setting a modest target for the visitors, who achieved it easily after 33.3 overs.

Australia were 61 for 5, but Mike Hussey (29) and Chris Rogers(30) pulled them back from trouble with a partnership of 55 runs. The top scorer for Australia was Nathan Hauritz, who was unbeaten on 33.

Right-arm paceman Andre Nel claimed three wickets for 18 runs and Charl Langeveldt took three for 26.

In reply, the South Africans rattled up 51 runs before losing their first wicket, when opener Ahmed Amla was caught behind for 14. Morne van Wyk scored 50 with six fours off 47 balls in 57 minutes.

The teams next meet on Sunday for the start of a three-day match at Adelaide Oval.

Sri Lanka's sports authorities appointed former Test off-spinner Lalith Kaluperuma to head a four-member national cricket selection panel, an official said.

Cricket board chief executive Anura Tennakoon said Sports Minister Johnston Fernando had approved the appointment of Kaluperuma, who was named to the selection panel last month.

Earlier this month, former chief selector Guy de Alwis resigned from his post after charging that Fernando was interfering in the selection process.

The dispute arose after Fernando refused to approve the squad selected by a panel headed by de Alwis for the Sharjah tournament currently underway in the United Arab Emirates.

Kaluperuma, 53, has appeared in two Tests for Sri Lanka, including the country's inaugural Test match against England in 1982.

Other members of the selection panel are veteran batsman Aravinda de Silva and former Test players Roger Wijesuriya and Ashley de Silva.

The Australian Cricket Board said they will decide over the weekend what disgraced leg-spinner Shane Warne can do during his one-year doping ban.

The ACB board meets in Bowral, in the New South Wales southern highlands, from Friday with Warne's immediate future on the agenda.

Warne has been ousted from cricket until February 10 next year after testing positive to a banned diuretic in January.

Lashings Cricket Club in England has offered him a place in their line-up, while he has also been informally linked with the St Kilda AFL club.

Warne also has a contract with Channel Nine and when he was out of action with a dislocated shoulder was employed to commentate. But he hasn't done any commentary since his drugs ban.

Australia will field a full-strength team irrespective of Bangladesh's modest performances when they play their inaugural Test series here in July-August, according to leading cricket officials.

Australia will play two Tests and three one-dayers against Bangladesh in the northern cities of Darwin and Cairns.     Bangladesh, the tenth team to gain Test playing status, lost 11 of its 17 Tests by more than an innings as well as recorded losses by nine wickets, eight wickets (twice), seven wickets and 288 runs.

It has one drawn result when more than two days were lost to rain against Zimbabwe.

With Australia's cricketers in the midst of a heavy playing schedule there was some speculation that it would be an ideal opportunity to rest key players against the Bangladeshis. 

Phil Tufnell, the England spinner famed for his laid-back style and inept fielding, called an end to his colourful 18-year cricket career on Thursday.

The 36-year-old Middlesex left-arm spin bowler, who took more than 1,000 first-class wickets, including 121 in Tests, made the decision after continuing uncertainty about his contract at Lord's.

The announcement came in a statement from his company, Paragon Sports Management.

"Phil Tufnell has decided that, due to the lack of guaranteed certainty regarding his contract with Middlesex being extended beyond the 2003 season, it is time to announce his retirement from the first-class game," the statement read.

"After 18 years service with Middlesex and 42 caps for England, stretching over 10 years, Phil has decided, before the start of the 2003 season, that it is time to move on from playing first-class cricket."

A talented spinner with little ability with the bat, Tufnell was a confessed rebel during his career, often critical of the sport's officials.

The front cover of his autobiography 'Phil Tufnell: What Now?' has the cricketer smoking a cigarette with a smoke-ring halo above his head.

"In my time I've been arrested, spent a night in the cells on three separate occasions I can remember, and been hit over the head with a half brick by a man I sincerely believe wanted to kill me for the treatment of his daughter," Tufnell wrote.