After the pub brawl, cricketers crawl

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, May 26 (IANS) Six Indian cricketers Wednesday apologised to the Indian cricket board for their involvement in a pub brawl in St.Lucia, West Indies, after the team’s exit from the World Twenty20.

Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma e-mailed their apology to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary N.Srinivasan while Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Piyush Chawla met a senior board official and said that in future they would restrain themeselves from involving in any such incident.

In an e-mail to the BCCI secretary, Jadeja wrote: ‘I very much regret that the board has to send me a notice for the incident in the West Indies, and please accept my apology. I beg to inform you that I had gone to the restaurant (pub) for dinner along with other Indian team members. Some other guests which I presume were (of) Indian origin of USA also come to the restaurant and on seeing us they started abusing us, this may be because they were unhappy with our poor performance. We requested them not to abuse us but they did not stop despite of our repeated request. No way I was involved in any ugly brawl and I went to the pub only to have dinner with my teammates.’

Jadeja added: ‘If the board still thinks that I have brought any disrespect to the game of cricket or our board and our country, I once again sincerely tender my unconditional apology and assure you that I will take care that in future no way my name will be involved in any such incident.’

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Gambhir sweats it out

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Amongst a bunch of kits strewn around at the Bharat Nagar Sports Complex, a blue tag with a World T20 logo, mentioning ‘Member Indian team’, was hanging out distinctly from the black kitbag. A closer look showed ‘Gambhir’ engraved on it. Team India, somehow, is still preoccupied with that tournament. A few of the players have just finished scribbling replies to a show cause notice following a pub brawl, while others are recovering from the trauma of a failed campaign.

Gautam Gambhir didn’t unpack his kit bag upon returning home from the West Indies. On Tuesday, he picked up that very bag and headed for a game ? one which will help him prepare for the Asia Cup and the Sri Lanka series. The met man marked his reading as 45.2 degrees for Wednesday, but that didn’t alter the Indian opener’s plan of venturing into the Delhi summer circuit.

“You want to know what am I doing here in this heat? I am here to get some good practice to play 50-over cricket to prepare myself for the Asia Cup,” said Gambhir, who turned up for employers ONGC in a quarter-final game of the Laxman Dass Chabbra cricket tournament against Rohtak Road Gymkhana. “Let the others rest. I am ok. Ten days are enough for me. I want to get a few one-day matches under my belt,” he added.

Gambhir has charted his summer circuit plan well in advance. The left-hander will be in action again in the semi-final of the tournament on Friday, and at the Lala Raghubir tournament on Saturday. Gambhir will spotted more often in the coming two weeks playing the summer circuit in the Capital and will be hitting the nets on non-match days.

Gambhir made 32 in his side’s victory on a wicket that assisted spinners. He began with a square cut off the backfoot, used his footwork admirably to play some delectable over-the-cover-region shots. Gambhir lost his wicket trying to heave leg-spinner Abhishek Sharma over deep mid-wicket but was caught inside the rope.

Earlier, Sharma scored a whirlwind 58 off 32 deliveries to take RR Gymkhana to a competitive total after put into bat on a wicket that was still damp despite an hour’s delay. Opener Gaurav Goel withstood an early probe with the new ball while ONGC skipper Amit Bhandari split open the middle order with a heavy dose of reverse swing that fetched him two wickets. Batting with a runner, Sharma hit clean to make the most of batting powerplay opted for in the last three overs of the 35-over game.

Though Gambhir was the star attraction, it was Radhey Shyam Gupta and Saleem Ansari with half-centuries to their credit, who guided their team home with six wickets to spare. Gupta scored an unbeaten 58 while Ansari was unbeaten on 56 as ONGC chased down 204.

Ansari was handed the man of the match, while Gambhir gifted a brand new bat to the other star of the afternoon.

At the end of it all, the heat did get to Gambhir. But it wasn’t on the field that Gambhir started to fret about the summer sun. Rather, the interiors of his car was so hot that the India opener had to wait a while before driving home.

Brief scores: RR Gymkhana 204 for 7 in 35 overs (Abhishek Sharma not out 58, Gaurav Goel 46, Praveen Gupta 2/24, Amit Bhandari 2/47 ); ONGC 208 for 4 in 32.4 overs (Radhey Shyam Gupta not out 58, Saleem Ansari not out 56, Sandeep Sharma 48, Gautam Gambhir 32, Abhishek Sharma 2/31)

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WADA shot for reluctant India on doping

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The International Cricket Council understands the importance of World Anti-Doping Agency’s “whereabout clause” and it is their duty to address BCCI’s concerns, WADA Director General David Howman said here on Monday.

In the city to attend the seventh Asia/Oceanic Region Intergovernmental meeting on anti-doping in sports, Howman said he had a discussion with the ICC officials during the recent Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies on the contentious clause and WADA would meet them again to sort out the issue.

“Last weekend during the T20 World Cup, I discussed the issue with ICC officials in Barbados and made them understand the importance of the clause. The discussion was very good and I listened into their concerns,” Howman said.

“ICC has made a good progress on the issue. We have made a good progress on the issue. We know some people are scared (about clause). But one needs to understand that it’s the international federation (ICC) who ultimately has to look into and address the concerns of the national federations (BCCI and others),” he said.

The controversial clause requires the cricketers in the common testing pool to furnish details of their whereabouts three months in advance to the anti-doping authorities.

Indian players had rejected the clause, saying it’s a violation of their fundamental right to privacy and poses a security threat as well and the BCCI had supported their stand.

The ICC had last October decided to “suspend” the clause until the concerns of the Indian players were sorted out.

Howman said ‘whereabout’ is relatively a new term for the cricketing world and WADA, in its given capacity, will try and bring more light on this issue.

“World over international and national federations are in total compliance with whereabout clause. 13,000 athletes are part of this clause. We have time to time reviewed this clause and will continue to do so. There is no need to fear.

“Cricket is new to this term and we will bring more light on this issue,” Howman added.

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Amla, de Villiers hit tons as SA beat Windies

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers scored hundreds as South Africa defeated West Indies by 66 runs in their rain-affected one-day international.

Amla anchored the top half of the South African batting with 102 from 109 balls, and de Villiers kept the momentum going with the same score from 101 balls, as the Proteas, put in to bat, reached 280 for seven from their rain-reduced 48 overs on a slow Vivian Richards Cricket Ground pitch on Saturday.

South Africa then dismissed West Indies, who had been set a Duckworth/Lewis target of 288, for 215 in 44.1 overs to clinch a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, which continues on Monday at this venue.

Morne Morkel was the most successful South African bowler with three wickets for 40 runs from eight overs, while Dale Steyn, Ryan McLaren, and Johan Botha collected two wickets apiece.

“We want to play well, and we want to win this series,” said South Africa captain Graeme Smith.

“We want to have a very successful tour of the Caribbean.

I have said this a number of times. We have a lot of bouncing back to do, following the Twenty20 World Cup, and we want to do it well.”

“This is just the first match, and the matches are very close together, so recovery is going to be important to us being successful.”

West Indies captain Chris Gayle, whose 45 from 39 balls was the home team’s top score, felt let down by the batting again.

“It’s one of those things that we can’t seem to catch a break with our batting, so we will have to go back to the drawing board,” said Gayle.

“We are not going to give-up. We know that we are not playing good cricket now.”

Steyn set West Indies back early, when he had Andre Fletcher caught at slip for four in the third over.

South Africa were put on the defensive, however, when Gayle gave West Indies a typically flourishing start.

Ryan McLaren had Dwayne Bravo caught behind for 15, and Morkel had Gayle caught in the deep to leave West Indies 69 for three in the 13th over.

The South Africans then saw Ramnaresh Sarwan make 38, and left-handed compatriot Narsingh Deonarine get 26 to stage a recovery with a stand of 61 for the fourth wicket.

Botha made the breakthrough in the 27th over, when Deonarine top-edged a sweep, and was caught at backward square leg, and Morkel bowled Sarwan, as West Indies slipped to 140 for five.

Kieron Pollard joined Denesh Ramdin, and they put on 52 for the sixth wicket.

Steyn returned for another spell, and bowled Ramdin for 17, when the batsman chopped on, and West Indies lost their last five wickets for 23 runs from 35 deliveries.

Amla, later named man-of-the-match, reached his second ODI hundred from 106 balls, when he steered a short, rising delivery from Pollard to third man for a single in the 33rd over.

De Villiers later reached his seventh ODI hundred from 99 balls, when he dragged a delivery from Ravi Rampaul through mid-on for a single in the 44th over.

They added 129 for the third wicket, after play started half-hour later than scheduled, and a near half-hour stoppage for rain further marred the match.

Amla put on 53 for the first wicket with Smith either side of the rain break before the Proteas’ captain edged a flat-footed drive, and was caught behind for 18 in the seventh over off Bravo, who also had Jacques Kallis caught at third man for one to leave South Africa 57 for two.

After de Villiers added 54 for the fourth wicket with left-hander JP Duminy, South Africa lost four wickets for 40 runs from the last 41 deliveries of their innings.

Bravo was the most successful West Indies bowler with three wickets for 40 runs.

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South Africa thrash Windies by 66 runs in ODI

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

South Africa eased to a 66-run victory over West Indies thanks to centuries by Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers and some aggressive bowling in the first one-day international on Saturday.

West Indies’ batsmen wilted to 215 all out from 44.1 overs as they chased the tourists’ total of 280-7 from 48 overs which was powered by Amla and de Villiers who both scored 102.

Amla registered his second career ODI century while de Villiers struck his third ODI ton on the trot as they put on 129 for the third wicket to lay the foundation for a big total.

Amla struck eight fours at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds from 109 deliveries while de Villiers hit five fours and two sixes off 101 balls.

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo bowled with control to finish with figures of three for 40 from 10 overs.

In the run chase Chris Gayle top scored for the hosts with 45 from 39 balls including eight powerful fours while Kieron Pollard blasted 44 from 37 deliveries with five fours and a six.

Their efforts were not nearly adequate enough to threaten South Africa’s total as lanky pacer Morne Morkel captured three for 40 from eight overs. He was supported by Dale Steyn and Ryan McLaren (both two for 37) and Johan Botha (two for 47).

The second game in the five-match series will take place on Monday at the same venue before the teams move to Dominica for a double header and Jamaica for the final game.

(Editing by Ken Ferris and Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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INTERVIEW – Samuels returns from ban and targets recall

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels marked his return from a two-year suspension with a half-century for Jamaica against the United States on Saturday and said he was targeting a return to the international scene.

Samuels, 29, was banned in 2008 for passing on team information to a bookmaker during a one-day series in India in January 2007.

“After 735 days to be back playing the game that I love to get fifty today was wonderful. I have had a wonderful welcome from the Jamaican team and it is so good to be back,” he told Reuters at the Lauderhill cricket ground in Florida.

The Jamaican, who has insisted he did no wrong and said he was made a scapegoat by officials, struck the ball well for 52 off 61 balls in the Twenty20 victory, a day after making 11 in a 50 over match.

Samuels was not allowed to play at any level of cricket and said he was even barred from playing in friendly club matches in Jamaica.

“It was tough but at the end of the day, the Almighty doesn’t give anyone a challenge that they can’t bear. It was most definitely unfair but I have to put that behind me and move forward,” he said.

“My love for the game kept me going, my love for the game is never dying so I just continued to practice and work as hard as possible.

“I knew the ban would come to an end and I would come back and carry on where I left off,” he said, adding that he had continued to work on his skills during his time out of the game.

“I have my own personal bowling machine which I invested in and I also have never had a shortage of people who would come and bowl to me,” he said.

With plenty of West Indies batsmen struggling for form at the moment, Samuels could be in line for a quick return to the Caribbean team, captained by fellow Jamaican Chris Gayle.

“I’m dealing with the future like I dealt with the last two years, just taking it in my stride. I’m in good nick, so I’m just looking to continue scoring runs and hope my runs will put where I deserve to be.

“Encouragement is always there. Chris is my best friend, we keep communicating and talk about cricket continuously. West Indies aren’t doing well at the moment but we can only improve,” he said.

(Editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Pak team management mulling inclusion of fresh faces for Asia Cup

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 20 (ANI): Following T20 skipper Shahid Afridi’s call for injecting young blood in the team, the Pakistan selectors are planning to include at least two to three new faces in the 15-man squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup, to be held in Sri Lanka from June 15-25.

According to sources, the team management and selectors are mulling including some young players in the team and axe some of the non-performing veterans, particularly middle order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, who had a disappointing outing during the recently concluded ICC World T20 Championship.

Chief selector Mohsin Khan is likely to meet Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt on May 25 to discuss the team combination for the four-nation tournament.

Mohsin is also likely to meet coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi before announcing the final contingent for the Asia Cup, The News reports.

Following its good show in the World T20 Championship in the West Indies, Pakistan would be eyeing lifting the Asia Cup and take home the 200,000-dollar prize money.

Asia Cup schedule: June 15: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan. 16: India vs Bangladesh. 17: Reserve day. 18: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh. 19: Pakistan vs India. 20: Reserve day. 21: Pakistan vs Bangladesh. 22: India vs Sri Lanka. 23: Reserve day. 24: Final. (ANI)

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McLaren’s career best spell helps South Africa overcome West Indies

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, May 20 (ANI): South African bowler Ryan McLaren, who bowled a career best spell and became the fourth bowler to take five wickets in a T20 match, helped his team register a 13-run victory in the first of the two Twenty20 Internationals against the West Indies.

McLaren took 5-19 from 3.5 overs to get the man-of-the-match award, as West Indies chasing 137 for victory from their 20 overs were dismissed for 123 with one ball to spare.

He finished with the second-best figures in Twenty20 internationals behind Pakistan’s Umar Gul, who took 5-6 from three overs against New Zealand, FOX Sports reports.

“It’s a good way to start off the tour having practised indoors and not outdoors for the last few weeks. But it’s only the first day, and there’s plenty more cricket to come, so hopefully, I can better this performance,” said McLaren.

“We all know the nature of T20 cricket – the bowler is always up against it. You can take five wickets one day, and the next day, take a thumping, but I enjoyed it. It was not an easy day for the batters, and you had to graft pretty hard.

“Playing shots was not easy, and there was a strong wind, so there were a lot of things you had to take into consideration,” the paper quoted him, as saying.

“It was obviously nice to start with a win. This was the most important thing for us. We have worked really hard over the last few days here in Antigua, had a few discussions, the energy has been good around the team, and a lot of new faces have come in,” McLaren added.

Earlier, Jacques Kallis struck one four and three sixes in 53 from 45 balls, as South Africa reached 7-136 from their 20 overs, after deciding to bat on an uneven pitch. (ANI)

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Afridi says aggression, ending ‘mental hang up’ critical for Pak success against Oz

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 20 (ANI): Flamboyant Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi believes that his team suffers from a ‘mental hang up’ when it comes to competing with the World Champions Australia, and he wants to help players break that ‘jinx’ concerning the Kangaroos.

In the recent years, Pakistan have had a nightmarish record against Australia, with the latest being the January-February tour where Pakistan failed to register even a single win against the hosts.

It came close to defeating Australia in the semifinal of the just concluded ICC T20 World Championship in the West Indies, but faltered at the last moment.

Afridi said the loss almost shattered his heart, but he pointed towards the positive aspect of the loss that at least Pakistan played some tough and competitive cricket.

“I would have been left completely shattered but what gave me hope was the fact that we played aggressive cricket and a victory against Australia was within our reach,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

“It would have been great had we go on to win that match but once again the Australians proved that they are still the best in the world,” he added.

The hard hitting all-rounder pointed out that defeating Australia has never been easy, but the teams competing against the world champions would have to match the aggression of the Kangaroos to stand any chance.

“I must make it clear that beating Australia will never be easy. But I’m also confident that we can do it. What we need is to overcome our mental hang up and just play brave cricket. The thing is that the Aussies are mentally very tough and the only way to beat them is by going out there and giving it our best shot. You have to be really aggressive against that team because there is no other way to tackle them,” Afridi said.

Afridi said he is eagerly waiting for the two T20 encounters against Australia during the upcoming series in England, as the best chance of ending the team’s poor run against Australia is to defeat them in the game in which they are considered to be the best.

“It would take a gigantic effort to beat Australia in the Test series but Twenty20 cricket is a different story. We have a very good team for the shortest format and can beat any opposition on our day,” he said. (ANI)

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Afridi says aggression, ending ‘mental hang up’ critical for Pak success against Oz

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 20 (ANI): Flamboyant Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi believes that his team suffers from a ‘mental hang up’ when it comes to competing with the World Champions Australia, and he wants to help players break that ‘jinx’ concerning the Kangaroos.

In the recent years, Pakistan have had a nightmarish record against Australia, with the latest being the January-February tour where Pakistan failed to register even a single win against the hosts.

It came close to defeating Australia in the semifinal of the just concluded ICC T20 World Championship in the West Indies, but faltered at the last moment.

Afridi said the loss almost shattered his heart, but he pointed towards the positive aspect of the loss that at least Pakistan played some tough and competitive cricket.

“I would have been left completely shattered but what gave me hope was the fact that we played aggressive cricket and a victory against Australia was within our reach,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

“It would have been great had we go on to win that match but once again the Australians proved that they are still the best in the world,” he added.

The hard hitting all-rounder pointed out that defeating Australia has never been easy, but the teams competing against the world champions would have to match the aggression of the Kangaroos to stand any chance.

“I must make it clear that beating Australia will never be easy. But I’m also confident that we can do it. What we need is to overcome our mental hang up and just play brave cricket. The thing is that the Aussies are mentally very tough and the only way to beat them is by going out there and giving it our best shot. You have to be really aggressive against that team because there is no other way to tackle them,” Afridi said.

Afridi said he is eagerly waiting for the two T20 encounters against Australia during the upcoming series in England, as the best chance of ending the team’s poor run against Australia is to defeat them in the game in which they are considered to be the best.

“It would take a gigantic effort to beat Australia in the Test series but Twenty20 cricket is a different story. We have a very good team for the shortest format and can beat any opposition on our day,” he said. (ANI)

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Clarke adamant about keeping Oz Twenty20 captaincy

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, May 20 (ANI): Twenty20 skipper Michael Clarke, whose tenure comes in for review over his poor batting in the shortest version of the game, is adamant about retaining the Australian Twenty20 captaincy.

Clarke has already conceded that his position might come under review following Australia’s seven-wicket loss to archrivals England in the final of the World Twenty20 Cup.

He finished with 92 runs in the tournament at 15.33. White on the other hand scored 180 runs at 45, with a strike rate of 146.34 compared with Clarke’s strike rate of 80.7.

“No doubt (I want to continue), I’m disappointed we couldn’t win the World T20, win the final, but I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity,” Clarke said on Wednesday.

“I’ve loved playing with the guys, I’ve had a lot of support from people back at home, the people who came and watched the games in the West Indies, and family and friends, so it’s been great and I’m enjoying it (the captaincy),” he said.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke as saying it might be time he re-acquainted himself with the aggressive and nimble-footed technique he first brought to the Australian team.

“Who knows? Maybe I need a little bit of that back,” said Clarke of his former, youthful approach.

“Everybody has a different role in our team though and that is one thing that players certainly are aware of, and you need to do your role to the best of your ability. For me my role is not the same as Dave Warner or Shane Watson.

“I always want to perform, I always want to score runs, it doesn’t matter what form of the game I’m playing, but like I said in this game, sometimes you can’t always make those runs,” Clarke added. (ANI)

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Salman Butt emerges frontrunner for Pak Test captaincy

May 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 19 (ANI): Left-hand Pakistan opener Salman Butt has emerged as a frontrunner for the captaincy for the upcoming back-to-back Test series against England and Australia.

According to sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the board is contemplating to reward Butt with the Test captaincy for his impressive show in the just concluded ICC World T20 Championship in the West Indies.

T20 skipper Shahid Afridi is likely to lead the team in the upcoming Asia Cup and later in the one-day tournament against England and Australia in England. However, the board would have to appoint a new captain for the Test series as Afridi has decided not to play the five-day game, The Daily Times reports.

Butt had served as vice-captain under Shoaib Malik, but he failed to impress the selectors during his stint as Malik’s deputy following which he was removed. (ANI)

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Reasons why India crashed out from T-20 WC

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It is time for post-mortems and analyses after India lost all three matches in the Super-8 stage of the ICC World T-20 2010, to be sent packing from the prestigious event for the second time in succession.The 2007 champions did not look like, or play like, the world-beaters they can definitely be when they are on song, and lost badly to Australia and the West Indies at Barbados, before losing to the Lankans off the last ball in a do-or-die match at St. Lucia.What then are the reasons for this premature end to their campaign? Here are nine of the most apparent ones.

The IPL effect:M.S. Dhoni had the guts and the plain-speaking-ability to state the facts as they stood at the post match conference after the loss to Sri Lanka. He blamed the IPL, not for the amount of cricket played, but for the post-match parties and the excessive travelling involved in the 45 day extravaganza, that left the players jaded and stale. All other teams played practice matches, while India rushed into their campaign with none.

Selection errors:Those who saw Robin Uthappa, Virat Kohli and S. Badrinath bat during the IPL, would wonder why they were not picked for Team India. Uthappa in particular has the ability to take on pacy short pitched bowling and score at a rapid pace while doing so. With Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag not in the team, India needed Uthappa to bat up the order in the West Indies. Pragyan Ojha was the highest wicket taker in the IPL but was not on the flight with Team India either.

Waning form:Unfortunately for the team, two of its main batsmen, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh were woefully out of form. Yuvraj was unlucky to see one or two good hits go straight to the fielders on the boundary, but Gambhir looked totally out-of-sorts. Coupled with the disastrous performances of Murali Vijay and Yusuf Pathan, this meant that India’s batting firepower was greatly diminished.

Strategic issues:By not practising together as a team between matches since ‘the players were tired’ and by not sending an advance party of the coach and players who were free from the last stage of the IPL they had little time to acclimatise.

The J factor:Ravinder Jadeja may be one of the most talented all-rounders in the country but he has been found wanting in the last two World Cups. Sent in at number three at Lords last year, he lost his team precious time by scoring at less than a run a ball. In the Caribbean he was woefully short on confidence and was hit for several sixes. He dropped crucial catches and once again scratched around with the bat.

Zaheer below par:India’s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan bowled well below his penetrative best and cost India extra runs. He went for over 40 runs in most matches. Ashish Nehra was more effective in the death overs but ploughed a lone furrow.

Praveen’s injury:Praveen Kumar bowled impressively in the only two matches that India won. His injury left the team without a genuine swing bowler who could make crucial early breakthroughs.

Pitch related problems:The Indians played a predominantly spin oriented attack even at Barbados whereas the West Indian pitches seem to have regained their pace and bounce. Other teams like Australia and England banked heavily on their pace attacks and succeeded.

Short-pitch ball:The Indian team were unable to handle shot-pitch stuff from the quickies. India capitulated against fast bouncy deliveries and lost key wickets. They did not realise that with only two bouncers per over permitted they should have waited for length balls to hit.

(Vivek Atray is a freelance cricket writer)

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NZ eves set up clash with Oz in T20 WC final

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sara McGlashan starred with a 55-ball 84 as New Zealand beat hosts West Indies by 56 runs to set up a summit clash against traditional rivals Australia in the Women’s World Twenty20 here.

Riding on McGlashan’s blazing knock, New Zealand, who finished runners-up at the last edition of the event, made 180 for five in their 20 overs.

In reply, the hosts could only manage 124 for eight in stipulated 20 overs last night. McGlashan was declared player of the match.

The win sets up New Zealand against Australia in the final scheduled tomorrow in Barbados.

The Kiwi women were off to a rather wobbly start as they lost opener Suzie Bates (7) with just 18 runs on the board.

The other opener, skipper Aimmee Watkins (20) didn’t last long either, leaving New Zealand at a precarious 49 for two in eight overs.

In walked McGlashan and she quickly started rebuilding the innings. Together with Sophie Devine (27), McGlashan put on 93 runs for the third wicket, which pout New Zealand in a strong position.

McGlashan struck six fours and a couple of sixes in her fantastic innings before being run out by Shakera Selman. Devine’s 22-ball knock included a four and a six.

For West Indies, Selman was the most successful bowler picking up two wickets, conceding 27 runs in her four overs.

In reply, opener Stafanie Taylor was the lone West Indian batter to put up some resistance with a 33-ball 40 that included three fours and a couple of sixes.

Watkins was New Zealand’s star with the ball as she grabbed three wickets giving away just 26 runs in her four overs.

After playing a stellar role with the bat, McGlashan made an impression in the field as well when she ran out Taylor.

The West Indies kept losing wickets at regular intervals and never got a partnership going, which was crucial to the chase.

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IPL’s role in T20 to torn tee, the post-party debate has begun

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If somebody is saying behind me that somebody tore my shirt then what can I say? I didn’t even take any shirt to West Indies. I had taken only T-shirts

Ashish Nehra has his defence in place on his alleged involvement in a pub brawl

Nothing like that has happened. It’s all media’s imagination. One channel carries a story and others follow. We were all together near the team hotel’s swimming pool before departing for home

Indian team manager Ranjib Biswal dismisses all talk of brawl as a figment of imagination

Every player involved in it (IPL) has only got good words to say. But I am pleased I had the rest this time. At the time my body needed a bit of a break after a tough winter in South Africa and Bangladesh and I feel fresh. That was much required… (but) it would have been fantastic to learn some more skills in different conditions.

England seamer Stuart Broad is one of the few lucky ones to come into the World T20 fresh

I think it is a very poor excuse to say IPL parties were the reason for the team not performing here. If that was the case then Sri Lanka would not have been in the semis, nor England and Australia. I don’t think that is an issue at all

Sunil Gavaskar is clear that the IPL had nothing to do with India’s dismal show in World T20

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Team India manager admits verbal pub spat, Nehra denies

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) The Indian cricket team’s tour manager Ranjib Biswal and speedster Ashish Nehra Saturday presented contradictory versions of reports that the players were involved in a pub brawl in St Lucia after the team’s disappointing exit from the World Twenty20.

Biswal said the players had a minor ‘argument’ after being harassed by some fans in the pub.

‘It was nothing big. It was just a verbal talk. The boys had gone there for dinner and were harassed by Indian fans and there was some argument over that,’ said Biswal.

Nehra, on the other hand, denied any such incident.

‘I came to know about it only while reading the newspapers in London. I was surprised to see where this news came from. It is baseless.’

‘We went to have dinner there and were watching the West Indies and Australia match. About the rest, I have no knowledge,’ he said.

‘No one said anything to us. There were many fans from all over the world.’

On team’s performance, Nehra said: ‘We are all disappointed. We had a good team and we could have done better. But it’s a part of the game. The same team won World Cup two years ago.’

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Pak’s good show in T20 WC ‘perfect launch pad’ for tough assignments ahead: Bari

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 16 (ANI): Though defending champions Pakistan have crashed out of the ICC World T20 Championship, Wasim Bari, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) believes that the team’s performance in the Caribbean has given itself a perfect ‘launch pad’ ahead of a busy calendar this year.

Bari said he was ‘impressed’ by Pakistan’s performance in West Indies, adding that it would help them prepare better for some tough encounters ahead which includes the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the Test Series against England and Australia.

“We may have lost in the semifinal, but I believe that the way we’ve played in the event has provided us with a great launch pad and will help us do well during the rest of the year,” The News quoted Bari, as saying.

“We have a very tough season coming up and the team will benefit from the confidence it will derive from its performance in the West Indies,” he added.

Pakistan looked all set for a third consecutive appearance in the World T20 final after posting a challenging total of 191 runs against Australia in the semi-final, but Michael Hussey’s breathtaking knock of 60 off 24 balls denied Afridi’s men a chance of a clash with England in the final of the coveted tournament.

Bari, however, denied commenting on whether the PCB would retain Afridi as captain for the upcoming Asia Cup, as the flamboyant all-rounder has been criticised for some of his decisions during the T20 World Championship.

“The thing is that the team is still in the West Indies and we will only sit down and talk about such issues once its back home,” he said.

He also refrained from commenting about reports regarding leg-spinner Danish Kaneria being arrested in London over match-fixing charges, saying the PCB is yet to receive any official report regarding the case from English authorities.

“We’ve heard about it from media reports today but haven’t received anything in writing from the authorities in England. The Board is monitoring the case but will only decide its course of action after getting something in black and white from the concerned people,” Bari said. (ANI)

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`Unbelievable’ Hussey’s performance to put Australia in T20 final ` freakish’: Clarke

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia (West Indies), May 15 (ANI): Australian skipper Michael Clarke on Friday described `Mr. Cricket’ Michael Hussey’s match-winning 24-ball 60 runs to put his side into the finals of the World Twenty20 championship as “unbelievable and freakish”.

Speaking to reporters after Australia miraculously trounced Pakistan by three wickets in a humdinger of semi-final here, chasing down 191, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted a delighted Clarke, as saying: “Today is a freakish performance from an unbelievable cricketer in any form of the game. His (Huss) attitude, he just never gave up.”

“Losing three wickets in the first (7.2) overs, it was always going to be a tough chase for us,” Clarke said at St Lucia”s Beausejour Stadium.

“But with the batting we have in the team, how far down in the order we go, you just can”t write us off. We”ll take a lot of confidence going into Barbados. The conditions will suit us more than St Lucia has, with a bit more pace and bounce for both our batters and our bowlers,” he added.

“Our mindset through this whole tournament has been exactly what Huss showed today. We”re never beaten,” he said.

Hussey compared the win to Australia”s victory in the Adelaide Test against England in 2006-07.

“When we won the Ashes Test in Adelaide and I hit the winning runs, I thought that was the best feeling,” he said.

“This one”s definitely up there, maybe even … if not better. It”s the best feeling you can ever have, to hit the winning runs for your country, particularly in such a big game as a semi-final,” he said.

Needing 18 to win from the final over bowled by spinner Saeed Ajmal, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson took a signal of the first ball, and then Hussey fired 6-6-4-6 to post a career-best 60 not out from 24 balls and put his side into the final.

In all, he hit three fours and six sixes and was mobbed by team-mates as Australia finished on 7-197 after Pakistan had appeared set for an upset win, scoring 6-191 against Australia”s highly rated pace attack.

After the win, Clarke said Kevin Pietersen would be the key wicket to nab when Australia take on England in the final.

“He”ll be a big part of the final. If we can get him out early it will hold us in good stead,” Clarke said.

“We”ve just come off one of the best wins of my career so we”re pretty confident. I love playing against England. It”s a great build-up to what”s going to be an amazing summer in Australia. Any opportunity you get to beat England, you look forward to,” he said.

Pakistan coach Waqar said: “When you have such momentum with you, it”s always handy. They (Australia) played like champions,” he said. (ANI)

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England should thank imports for reaching T20 World Cup finals

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, May 15 (ANI): England must thank South Africa born Kevin Pietersen and Irish Eoin Morgan for giving the team their best chance of winning their first World Cup.

England has never won an ICC event, but has reached the finals of the World Twenty20 in Barbados with the help of these two players.

England has qualified for the first time since 2004 for a final. Six years ago they were defeated by the West Indies in the Champions Trophy final on home soil, and they have repeatedly failed in World Cups, World Twenty20s and Champions Trophy tournaments since 1975.

Pietersen has been phenomenal so far, striking 201 runs at 67.00, the best average of any of the 19 batsmen to have scored more than 100 runs in the tournament, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Before the second semi-final between Australia and Pakistan, Pietersen was third and Morgan sixth in the tournament’s leading run-scorers list, while another South African-turned-English player, Craig Kieswetter, was seventh.

Morgan’s 168 runs at 33.60 has proved vital for England. He was the rock of their innings in the first match against the West Indies (55), then saved them from disaster with 45 against Ireland, and his team-high 40 was enough to eliminate New Zealand from the Super Eight stage.

He is the only player to have scored ODI centuries for two countries (Ireland and England). (ANI)

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New Zealand crush West Indies by 56 runs to enter ICC Women’s T20 WC final

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Gros Islet, May 15 (ANI): Riding on Sara McGlashan’s superb 55 ball 84 run innings, New Zealand crushed West Indies by 56 runs to enter the final of the ICC Women’s World T20 Championship here.

The White Ferns’ would now clash with archrivals Australia, the side they”ve beaten six times in a row, in the final on Sunday (May 16) at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Batting first, New Zealand scored 180 for the loss of five wickets. The mainstay of the New Zealand innings was McGlashan’s exciting knock, which included six boundaries and two mammoth sixes.

McGlashan had two good partnerships with skipper Aimee Watkins (20) and Sophie Devine (27), which helped her steady the ship after a wobbly start.

New Zealand were 49 for two but a stand of 93 at nearly 11 an over between McGlashan and Devine took the game away from the home side.

In reply, West Indies never looked like they would overcome the highest total of the tournament and could only manage 124 runs.

Barring opener S.Taylor (40) none of the batswomen were able to stay on the wicket and followed each other to the pavilion at regular intervals.

Watkins also shone with the ball taking three wickets for 26 in her quota of four overs.

Speaking during the post match ceremony, an elated Watkins said she was delighted to have another chance at World Twenty20 glory so soon after last year”s disappointment.

“We”ve got to take each game as it comes. What we”ve done in the past doesn”t matter too much but we will take a lot of confidence into the game. We are lucky we”ve got two bites of the cherry, to have another crack at the Twenty20 World Cup. It”s not often you”ll have another one within 12 months of the last one,” Watkins said. (ANI)

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