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The bilateral series between India and Pakistan, scheduled to take place in December, remains in limbo even after a meeting between senior officials from both governments

Umar Farooq08-Dec-20153:46

The flip-flop saga

The bilateral series between India and Pakistan, scheduled to take place in December, remains in limbo even after a meeting between senior officials of both governments.India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was in Islamabad and held talks with her Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday. But it is understood that cricket was not among the topics discussed.PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, however, had been under the impression that resuming cricketing ties would be on the agenda, and the fact that it wasn’t has put serious doubts in his mind over the series going though.”We are already late, but this is something which is beyond our control,” he said. “I am disappointed that cricket didn’t make into the discussion but we are still unclear about the status of the series. I don’t know what is going to happen but given the delay and silence I understand it’s a no after all from them.”More doubts were cast when BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, who is also an MP with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said cricketing relations cannot resume until there is political stability between the two countries. These, however, were his personal views and he clarified that he would comply with whatever decision the Indian government or the BCCI took.”If there is firing on the border, with your people getting killed, will you play cricket? Of course I’ll say no,” Thakur told . “Any Indian will say no to that. My personal view could be different, but I have to honour what the BCCI members have decided because I’m secretary.”Former secretary of the BCCI signed an agreement with the PCB in April last year, where it is clearly mentioned, if certain resolutions are passed by the ICC, we will play you. We have to honour that now. But I can’t force BJP’s agenda or my individual agenda on the BCCI.”After a deadlock over who would host the series, the BCCI and PCB had petitioned their respective governments to allow the teams to play each other in Sri Lanka. Pakistan had given the nod, the series still awaits the Indian government’s approval.Even if headway is made and the series does go through, the PCB will have to race against time to make logistical arrangements given it is tentatively scheduled to begin on December 15. According to the MoU signed between the BCCI and the PCB, it is Pakistan’s turn to host the series. The prevailing uncertainty leaves the Pakistan board with very little time, especially with the venue being Sri Lanka. The PCB, however, is determined to host the series.

There is growing concern amid the first-class counties at what some of them claim is a “power grab” from the ECB designed eventually to pave the way to a city-based T20 competition

George Dobell05-Jan-2016There is growing concern amid the first-class counties at what some of them claim is a “power grab” from the ECB designed eventually to pave the way to a city-based T20 competition.An ECB spokesman has dismissed the suggestion that a governance review and the ongoing debate over the restructuring of the county game are linked as “a conspiracy theory.”At the heart of the governance review is a proposition that would reduce the number of county representatives on the powerful ECB management board. Instead of four, the ECB have suggested there would be just one representative from the first-class counties, joined by other members deemed “independent.”While the ECB suggest the move is an attempt to diversify the make-up of the board and ensure representatives have a wide range of skills, some county officials are concerned the aim is simply to drive through changes to the domestic game that have, to date, been blocked by the counties.Specifically, the ECB management remain convinced that a city-based T20 competition based on the Big Bash model is an essential component in their bid to make domestic cricket more sustainable and inspire improved participation figures.While any broadcast profits from this competition, probably featuring eight newly-branded sides, would benefit the full 18 counties, some are concerned that the birth of such a tournament would automatically lead to the degrading of other county competitions and, in time, the demise of some clubs.It had initially appeared an uneasy truce had been called. While the ECB management retain their enthusiasm for the city-based competition, it is anticipated that it will shortly be announced that, from 2017 to 2019, the domestic T20 competition will be split into two divisions offering promotion and relegation.Broadcasters will have the licence to focus primarily on the top division rather than attempting to give equal coverage to each team, as is the case now.It is clear, though, that the ECB management regard such a change as a short-term move. Despite recent growth in T20 spectator numbers in England – on the grounds at least – Tom Harrison, the CEO, and Colin Graves, the chairman, are convinced that a Big Bash style competition, played in a July window, is key to a resurgence in the interest and sustainability of the game.It also seems highly likely that, from 2020, Sky TV’s exclusive deal with the ECB to broadcast live cricket will be broken with some games returning to free-to-air platforms.Ultimately, it is hard to see how serious conflict can be avoided. Some county officials are already discussing their options, which include a letter of no confidence in Graves and the possibility of negotiating their own broadcast deals.At present, domestic cricket is ascribed a nil value in the TV broadcast deal so, they maintain, they should be able to keep any profits from deals they arrange.

England showed commendable resistance to keep South Africa in check on the opening day of the third Test at The Wanderers

The Report by David Hopps14-Jan-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsEngland showed commendable resistance to keep South Africa in check on the opening day of the third Test at The Wanderers. A day in the field at The Bullring was an onerous demand for a squad stricken by a stomach ailment since the end of the Cape Town Test, but they recovered from an uncomfortable morning to take four wickets in the final session and leave the Test nicely balanced.AB de Villiers was skippering South Africa for the first time and, such is the inspirational nature of his cricket, England would have been wary of the consequences as they defended a 1-0 lead in the series with two to play: another reason for queasy stomachs.”They are climbing out of their death beds to play,” Alastair Cook, England’s captain, had said upon losing the toss, before swiftly backtracking and suggesting that “a few are not quite feeling 100%.” He has never been one for hyperbole.Steven Finn was the sharpest component of England’s attack. A hasty addition to England’s South Africa tour party after shaking off his foot injury on a Lions tour, he spearheaded their challenge in what must have ranked as one of his most impressive days in an England shirt, his efforts supplemented by the tendency of a succession of South Africa batsmen to get out carelessly when well set.Only Hashim Amla escaped such a charge. The ball that Finn unearthed to dismiss him for 40 – leaving him peremptorily from around off stump – was a key wicket, the maker of a double hundred in Cape Town unpicked when he was looking ominous. Even Cook would admit it was hard to exaggerate the value of that.There was less fortune for England’s seasoned new-ball pairing. James Anderson went wicketless, much in keeping with a record at The Wanderers which had brought him only two wickets in two previous Tests and Stuart Broad, one of those most affected by the stomach bug that had ravaged the England camp – media troupe included – did well to sustain as much threat as he did.The decision by de Villiers’ to bat first after winning a tricky toss was vindicated by the batsmen’s composure in that first session. As tosses go, it was one of the more interesting decisions. The pitch was a little greener than normal and the skies were overcast, but as Dean Elgar, in particular, proved a bugbear, England’s attack failed to build prolonged pressure.South Africa will anticipate that the pitch will quicken on the second and third day when the pitch dries out and their quartet of pace bowlers – three drawn from the Highveld Lions who were so impressive on this ground in winning the domestic trophy – take the field with aggressive intent.The manner in which England’s attack became more threatening as the day wore on encouraged that expectation. Every batsman got a start without any of them making a half-century.De Villiers’ first morning as captain was not without disruption. Dane Vilas caught a morning flight to Johannesburg – he arrived midway through the first session – in response to an emergency call-up as wicketkeeper – the result of a knee injury to Quinton de Kock, suffered when he slipped while walking the dogs the previous day. Batting first at least spared de Villiers from having to take the gloves again until his keeper turned up – and so experiencing a fate known to club captains worldwide.With South Africa needing an opener, JP Duminy was dropped – others can consider whether this represented a relaxation of the transformation policy: guidelines that seem to exist or not exist depending on who you speak to and what day of the week it is.That de Villiers’ accession to the captaincy had come at a time when he is openly musing over how best to balance the demands of international cricket and franchise T20 was hardly the most encouraging sign for cricket. For all the predictions that 90,000 spectators were expected over five days, the crowd was thin and it will take big crowds over the weekend to lighten the belief that if the ICC fails to manage the game with enough conviction it will be left to market forces to determine the future.Ben Stokes took England’s only wicket before lunch, Stiaan van Zyl succumbing to a long hop in his first over. Stokes’ first few balls were as grouchy as an old car on a cold winter’s morning – a suitable image for the tourists because back home in England the first cold snap of the winter had arrived – but van Zyl obligingly tried to flick the third of them to the leg side and Jonny Bairstow collected a gentle skier. It was not the shot of a battle-hardened opener. Stokes looked upon his gift wicket with bemusement.The second-wicket pair – Amla smooth and languid; Elgar, a nuggety batsman whose shorts are full of friction – gave South Africa a strong position at 117 for 1, only for Moeen Ali, the only recognised spinner in a Test where pace bowling will dominate, to find enough turn to clip Elgar’s outside edge.Stokes came close to dismissing Amla on 26, signalling so emphatically for a review after bringing the ball back to strike the pads that it brooked no argument. Amla survived on an umpire’s call and, when Amla groped forward to the next ball to inside-edge the next ball to the boundary, Stokes reddened with enough frustration to light up half of Johannesburg.But Finn, outstanding after lunch, removed him as England upped their game, a fast bowler brimful of confidence again, trusting his ability now to take the ball away from the right-hander, and encouraged by the bounce available at The Wanderers, a ground where not only the higher altitude sends fast bowlers heady.De Villiers was in enterprising mood: no chance, one suspects, that this captain will be consumed by negativity because of the cares of captaincy. He rattled up 36 from 40 balls, Moeen planted into the crowd at deep midwicket, but Stokes, fresh from his batting feats in Cape Town, again revealed a Bothamesque ability to take wickets with humdrum balls as de Villiers wafted a catch down the leg side – the fourth catch in a row for Bairstow.Du Plessis had even more cause to berate himself. The delivery from Finn that he clipped off his hip had no devil, but du Plessis clipped it carelessly to deep backward square.Worse followed. Temba Bavuma could be blamed for hesitation, but there was little to commend Vilas’ eagerness for a single to mid-on; Bairstow rushed to the stumps with alacrity to field the bounce from the substitute, Woakes, and complete the run out.When Vilas was bounced out by Broad, England had every chance to polish off South Africa’s innings. But weariness had taken hold and instead Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada regrouped confidently with 32 runs in nine overs against the second new ball. The last ball of the day, from Broad, reared past an outside edge – a reminder for England of the challenge lying ahead.

Doug Bracewell has been ruled out of the second Test against Australia in Christchurch after picking up a right shoulder injury

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2016Doug Bracewell has been ruled out of the second Test against Australia in Christchurch after picking up a right shoulder injury.New Zealand will not call a replacement into their squad ahead of the Test starting on Saturday with pace duo Matt Henry and Neil Wagner already with the team.Bracewell has been diagnosed with a strained rotator cuff muscle after reporting pain following the first Test in Wellington where he took 2 for 127 off 33 overs. Bracewell was also the bowler to suffer when Richard Illingworth incorrectly called no-ball to deny him the wicket of Adam Voges late on the opening day.”Doug has been a consistent performer for us this summer and put a lot of work into his game, so to miss out on the final Test against Australia is very disappointing for him and us,” Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, said. “He’ll be given time to recover and we’ll work with him to get him back training as quickly as possible.”Bracewell joins a New Zealand injury list which already included Ross Taylor and Mitchell Santner who will both miss the second Test – which will be the last international appearance for Brendon McCullum – after being ruled out of the Wellington encounter.

David Miller struck his first international fifty since February last year and his career-best T20I score to guide South Africa to the highest successful chase at Kingsmead

Firdose Moonda04-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsImran Tahir continued his impressive form with three wickets•Gallo Images

David Miller struck his first international fifty since February last year and his career-best T20I score to guide South Africa to the highest successful chase at Kingsmead and a lead in the three-match series against Australia. Miller’s return to form came at an opportune time – South Africa were 95 for 6 in their reply and needed a lower-order surge to ensure their efforts with the ball were not wasted.On a dry, cracked pitch, they pulled Australia back in an innings that was destined for over 200. Imran Tahir led the strangle to pull Australia back from 69 for 1 in the PowerPlay. South Africa took 6 for 45 between the sixth and 16th over and not even Mitchell Marsh’s cameo at the end gave Australia enough to defend.Neither side will be entirely happy with their batting performance but Australia will have cause to question their composition more. For the first time in T20I cricket, they chose to bat David Warner down the order and used Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja upfront and may reconsider that going forward.Finch’s aggression was obvious was from the start. He took on Kagiso Rabada in his opening two overs but South Africa regained some control when Rabada removed Usman Khawaja.Instead of keeping Rabada on, du Plessis gave the ball to JP Duminy and Finch had a field day. He sent the first three balls for six over deep midwicket and the fourth delivery bounced just a few metres short of the deep cover rope. Duminy’s over cost 24 runs and gave the early advantage to Australia.Chris Morris did not fare too much better with an opening over of 15, as he veered between short and full and Warner used placement over power to cash in. David Wiese, who could have bowled with the fielding restrictions in place, was brought on immediately after they were lifted and had success by having Warner caught at backward point to stem the tide. Imran Tahir, who could also have bowled in that period if du Plessis felt he needed spin, came on in the next over and had Finch caught off a full toss to remove the biggest threat.Tahir should have added Glenn Maxwell with the next ball but Quinton de Kock, who had taken over the keeping duties from AB de Villiers, spilled the catch. Maxwell lasted for long enough to see his captain, Steven Smith, scratch around and then edge Wiese to de Kock and then tried to hit Morris over cover but got a leading edge which du Plessis snaffled.South Africa would have felt they were into the lower order with Peter Nevill, the specialist gloveman, at the crease and even more so when Tahir trapped him lbw and bowled John Hastings with a googly in his next over. Australia had tumbled to 114 for 7 and South Africa were in control.Marsh struck the ball cleanly to ensure Morris’ figures did not improve and even got stuck into Kyle Abbott. He finished with 35 off 25 balls when he fell in the final over to give Australia a fighting chance.They were off to the perfect start when Nathan Coulter-Nile had AB de Villiers caught behind off the first ball of South Africa’s reply. With Hashim Amla sitting out, South Africa seemed vulnerable, more so when Quinton de Kock misread the slower ball and offered Coulter-Nile a return catch.Australia copied South Africa’s approach and used their back-up spinner, Maxwell, in the PowerPlay and du Plessis tried to do as Finch did. He took 16 runs off Maxwell’s over but South Africa were set back again when Duminy picked out midwicket. South Africa were 45 for 3 at the end of the PowerPlay.Marsh and Adam Zampa kept South Africa quiet before Marsh removed Rilee Rossouw and next ball du Plessis was run-out, as Nevill completed a sharp piece of work after running round from behind the stumps, to leave South Africa 73 for 5 at the halfway stage with only the lower order to come.Miller was the striker again when Wiese charged down for a single that was never on and it was left to Miller and Morris to win the game.Both regard themselves as finishers. Morris has proved himself in the recent limited-overs matches against England, but it was Miller who took on the task of winning the match this time. He was particularly severe on Andrew Tye. His two sixes in Tye’s third over brought South Africa’s requirement down from 45 off 30 balls to 29 off 24.Morris fell in the next over – Finch taking an excellent running catch – but Miller kept going. He sent Hastings through the covers and over deep square leg to leave just ten to get off the last two overs. Fittingly, Miller and his Dolphins team-mate Abbott were at the crease and after Miller brought up his fifty off 33 balls, Abbott hit the winning runs.

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier League matches played on May 4, 2016

Mohammad Isam04-May-2016Imtiaz Hossain’s second century helped Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club maintain their unbeaten run in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League after cruising past Brothers Union with a seven-wicket victory at the BKSP-3 ground.Imtiaz struck eight fours in his unbeaten 100 off 128 balls, and shared a 101-run fourth-wicket stand with Nasir Hossain (48 off 58 balls). After Rony Talukdar fell in the second over of Prime Doleshwar’s innings, Imtiaz added 47 for the second wicket with Raqibul Hasan and 82 runs with Chamara Silva, who chipped in with 46.After being asked to bat, Brothers Union made 229, with fifties from Imrul Kayes and captain Tushar Imran. Al-Amin Hossain, Nasir and Robiul Islam Robi took two wickets each.Sabbir Rahman’s second List-A century powered Prime Bank Cricket Club to a 113-run win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in Mirpur.Prime Bank, who were inserted to bat, posted 318-9 – the highest team score in this year’s competition. Sabbir struck eight fours and a six before reaching his ton in the 46th over. He shared a 61-run second-wicket stand with Shanaj Ahmed, who contributed with 66 off 77 balls. He then added 133 runs for the third wicket with Nurul Hasan, who smashed seven fours in his 67-ball 63. SJDC captain Mahmudullah took three wickets in four balls in the 50th over to finish with career-best figures of 5 for 66.In the chase, his side had slumped to 24 for four in the ninth over. Mahmudullah consolidated the early losses but was dismissed for 37 in the 24th over. Nazmus Sadat, who top-scored with 76, and Muktar Ali added 57 runs for the eighth wicket.Rubel Hossain was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5-1-9-1. Left-arm spinners Nazmul Islam and Raihan Uddin took three wickets apiece.Chaturanga de Silva’s six-wicket haul went in vain as Victoria Sporting Club lost a thriller to Abahani Limited by nine runs in Fatullah.Abahani were bowled out for 221, with de Silva taking four wickets in his first spell including Tamim Iqbal, who top-scored with 63 off 88 balls. He added two more in the 48th and 50th overs. Medium-pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi returned figures of 3 for 38.Victoria openers Abdul Mazid and Fazle Mahmud were removed within four overs before the in-form Al-Amin resurrected the chase with 56. Suhrawadi Shuvo kept Victoria in the hunt with a 56-ball 45 but he was the ninth man out in the 47th over. Taskin Ahmed claimed the final wicket as Victoria were bowled out for 212.

Russell Domingo, South Africa’s under-fire coach was in position as the team set off for their first assignment since the World T20, even as a review into his post is ongoing

Firdose Moonda25-May-2016Perhaps the only real news to came out of South Africa’s departure press conference ahead of their ODI triangular series in the Caribbean is that Russell Domingo still has a job. For now.The under-fire coach was in position as the team set off for their first assignment since the World T20, even as a review into his post is ongoing. Domingo’s job is likely to be the most scrutinised aspect of the national team’s underperformance in the 2015-16 summer but, with the panel appointed to investigate the reasons yet to reveal their findings and his contract in place until the end of April 2017, he has the chance to begin the recovery. And there is a lot of that to do.South Africa slipped from No.1 to No.6 on the Test rankings in less than six months and Domingo, with the help of his young son, is starting to see the opportunity that presents. “Chatting to my 11-year-old son, he reckons it’s a good thing we’ve dropped down because it takes a little bit of the pressure away from trying to hold on to that position and doing whatever you can to get into that position,” Domingo said.”It’s nice to be back in the pack and chasing the No.1 side. Things change so quickly. You beat one or two sides ahead of you and before you know it, you could be No.2 or No.1 again. We are playing some sides that are ranked above us in the next few months and that provides an opportunity to get back up there again. For me it’s a very exciting time, it’s an exciting time for the new captain and for one or two players who want to prove a point. Although it’s a disappointment that we’ve dropped down, it’s a blessing in disguise because we have to refocus.”One of those players with a point to prove will be Dale Steyn. South Africa’s pace spearhead sat out six of the last eight Tests injured and has only played five internationals this year. Despite the dearth of game time, the selectors decided to rest him for the upcoming ODIs but Steyn responded by signing a T20 deal with Glamorgan.By the time South Africa play Tests again, against New Zealand in August, both Steyn and Domingo will have had a few games to gauge where they are at, and Domingo expects Steyn will be back in a big way.”Dale is a champion bowler and with great bowlers like that, when people start questioning and writing them off, they produce the goods,” Domingo said. “We’ve got a lot of Test cricket ahead and we’ve got five ODIs in South Africa against Australia which I am confident he will be part of. He has got a lot of cricket to still offer South Africa. Dale is our No.1 go-to guy in Test cricket. He will lead this attack for a while still.”But not in West Indies next month, where it will be up to Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris, Kyle Abbott and freshly recalled Wayne Parnell to carry the quick bowling duties. Domingo is particularly excited about Parnell’s inclusion, which comes after an 11-month absence from the international stage and a solid season of domestic cricket.”I’ve always thought Wayne Parnell is a special cricketer with a lot of ability. I am just so pleased that he has gone into domestic cricket and done exactly what was required,” Domingo said. “We are pleased that he is developing. That was all it was. He needed to get some game time, and play week-in, week-out get some overs under his belt and get his confidence where it needs to be, because touring as a fringe player, you don’t get a lot of game time and it can easily set you back as a player.”This series will show whether Parnell has moved forward. It will also allow South Africa to move on from their summer of discontent, especially because it will be played in the one format that had been kind to them last season. They won ODI series over India and England but those were eclipsed by the slew of Test and T20 disappointments. Now, they have the chance to get back on track. “There’s an opportunity for us to improve on our one-day ranking by playing a side that’s ranked above us (Australia),” Domingo said.As for the other side, West Indies are languishing at No.8 and could be forced out of their own party if Australia and South Africa play to their potential. But Domingo believes there is something South Africa can learn from their hosts, not just because it will be his first time there.”As a youngster we grew up idolising the West Indian side of the 1980s. I played a lot of cricket with Eldine Baptiste and he told us a lot of stories about the West Indian culture and how they used to play their cricket and to experience all of that is very humbling and very exciting for someone like me,” Domingo said.”West Indies have always played the game in a free-spirited way. They’ve got a bit of swagger, a bit of x-factor and maybe we can learn a few lessons from that. Maybe at times we do get too tense and they go about their business in a light-hearted way and perform when it counts.”