Deccan Chargers survived a late assault from Irfan Pathan

Deccan were cruising at one stage when Punjab had been reduced to 68-6, but Irfan Pathan raised his team's hopes with a stunning onslaught of 60 from 29 balls. The left-hander, however, fell on the first ball of the final over in which the team needed 19 runs.

Pathan cracked five sixes and three fours in his knock but it didn't prove enough as his team slumped to its third straight defeat in the competition.

Chasing 171, Punjab were set back early in their innings when Manvinder Bisla was run out for a duck, before captain Kumar Sangakkara was sent back by fellow Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas for no score.

Opener Ravi Bopara kept Punjab in the hunt but kept losing wickets at the other end, with Yuvraj Singh falling for four before Mahela Jayawardene and Adrian Barath were sent back cheaply as well.

Vaas' opening spell broke the back of the Punjab batting in which he took two wickets while every other Deccan bowler picked up a wicket each. Andrew Symonds starred for the Chargers with both bat and ball. It was also the first instance that Deccan had beaten Punjab in the IPL in five meetings.

Earlier, the Chargers threw away a cracking start to post 170-7 as the IPL staged its first game at at the Barabati stadium.

Andrew Symonds was the top-scorer with 53 but Deccan failed to build on a perfect launch pad set up by captain Adam Gilchrist, who scored 33 from just 12 balls after Punjab captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and decided to bowl.

Gilchrist's wicket was followed by an unfortunate incident for the Chargers, who lost opener VVS Laxman to injury. The batsman got his by a wayward throw while trying to make his ground while taking a run.

Herschelle Gibbs and Symonds, however, kept the Chargers on track for a big total as they cruised to 100-1 at the halfway stage. But Yuvraj Singh's introduction undid their good work as Gibbs fell for 23, before Rohit Sharma was run out in the same over.

Deccan kept losing wickets in the second half as they only managed 70 runs in their next 10 overs.

IPL may get 6 bidders for 2 new teams

The base price of $225 million is still a dampener for prospective bidders who have picked up the tender document for bidding for the franchises of two new teams for the fourth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL)“Not more than six investors are expected to place their bids for the new teams,” a BCCI source told Business Standard.

The minimum bid price ($225 million) is almost double the figure of the most expensive IPL team — the Mumbai Indians — owned by Mukesh Ambani, who had paid $111.9 million in 2008. There were 16 bidders for the 8 franchises in the first season.

According to sources, Videocon, Jaypee Associates, Sahara, Adani Group and a conglomerate in the construction business from Pune will be placing bids. IPL will be accepting the bids for the two new teams on March 21 at 10 am. The bids will be opened and the winner will be declared at 11 am on the same day.

IPL had invited bids for the franchises for two new teams in February and was supposed to declare the winners on March 7, however, it had to modify its tender norms after it suffered a setback receiving only two bids for the two teams on offer. Most of the prospective bidders who had bought the ITT had raised concerns on the stiff financial terms of the earlier tender.

IPL later made three major changes in the new tender: the $100 million (Rs 460 crore) performance guarantee as stipulated in the first ITT was brought down to $10 million (Rs 46 crore). The amount should be submitted 24 hours before the bid. The winning bidder will have to submit a bank guarantee, which will be 10 per cent of the bid amount, within 48 hours of winning a franchise. In the earlier tender it was 100 per cent of the bid amount.

The most important change was the withdrawal of the networth clause. In the earlier tender it was $1 billion (Rs 4,600 crore). “Essentially, we have gone back to 2008 when bidding for the existing franchises was held. But, since the values have gone up, the performance guarantee has also gone up from $5 million to $10 million,” IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had said.

Test status

Sachin Tendulkar breaks ODI world record

Tendulkar passed the mark of 194 not out set by Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry in August last year and 194 by Pakistan's Saeed Anwar in 1997.

The 36-year-old is already the leading run-scorer in Test and ODI cricket.

Tendulkar's previous best was 186 not out against New Zealand at Hyderabad in November 1999.

India closed on 401-3, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hammering 68 off just 35 balls as South Africa's bowlers toiled for no reward.

Highest individual scores in one-day international cricket:

1. 200 not out - Sachin Tendulkar, India vs. South Africa, Gwalior, February 2010

2. 194 not out - Charles Coventry, Zimbabwe vs. Bangladesh, Bulawayo, August 2009

3. 194 - Saeed Anwar, Pakistan vs. India, Chennai, May 1997

4. 189 not out - Viv Richards, West Indies vs. England, Manchester, May 1984

5. 189 - Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka vs. India, Sharjah, October 2000

6. 188 not out - Gary Kirsten, South Africa vs. United Arab Emirates, Rawalpindi, February 1996

7. 186 not out - Sachin Tendulkar, India vs. New Zealand, Hyderabad, November 1999

8. 183 not out - Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India vs. Sri Lanka, Jaipur, October 2005

9. 183 - Sourav Ganguly, India vs. Sri Lanka, Taunton, May 1999

10. 181 not out - Matthew Hayden, Australia vs. New Zealand, Hamilton, February 2007

11. 181 - Viv Richards, West Indies vs. Sri Lanka, Karachi, October 1987.

Tendulkar to attend Ashraful's wedding

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar will top the list of invitees when former Bangladeshi skipper Mohammad Ashraful gets married next year, his father has revealed.

“Sachin will be on top of our invitee list when my son decides to marry. Sachin asked my son what should be brought as a family gift but his visit to our home itself will be the biggest gift for us,” The Nation quoted Abdul Matil, as saying.

Although several other players have visited Ashraful’s house, including former Pakistani player Saeed Anwar and Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, but Tendulkar’s visit stands out in Matil’s memory.

Speaking over his mobile from Dhaka on Sunday morning, he said, “Former Pakistani player Saeed Anwar visited our house last year when he came to attend some religious function in Bangladesh.”

“Sachin is my son’s favourite cricketer and since childhood he is his idealhero. We are very happy to receive him. Sachin is a very simple, sober and down to earth person,” Ashraful’s father said.

“Some 1000 people flocked him to see Sachin at my house. The people came to know about Sachin’s visit through media and mouth to mouth publicity,” he added.

Matil recounts how Tendulkar relished on Bangladeshi dishes served to him.

“He liked jumbo prawns and Hilsha fish (Ilish) very much. The sweets and fruits of his choice were also served,” he said.
http://thatscricket.oneindia.in/news/2010/01/25/india-bangladesh-test-sachin-in-ashraful-wedding.html

India meet SA to prove ODI superiority

After the Test stalemate, a depleted India and a scarred South Africa will begin their battle of ODI supremacy today when the three-match series gets underway at a fortified Sawai Mansingh Stadium here. The Indian team arrived here yesterday high on morale and low on resource and it would require more than a nip and a tuck to fill the void created by the absence of some of their key players. The hosts’s bowling unit will lack the firepower of Zaheer Khan after the pace spearhead strained a leg muscle during the Kolkata Test against the Proteas. Zaheer’s absence would sorely be felt not just because he leads the attack but also because he has been virtually India’s bowling captain, mentoring fellow pacers with his elder-brotherly concern. The spin department would also not be the same without the feisty Harbhajan Singh, who would miss the first two ODIs to attend his sister’s wedding. The volatile offie, who had just regained his mojo in Kolkata, would have been quite a handful for the South Africans with his bag of tricks and reckless slogging down the order, not to mention of his confrontational approach. India’s batting also loses some of its formidability because of the absence of left-handed duo of Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir, the first is nursing an injury in his left wrist and the second a groin. Like the recent Test series, here also India has more than just a bunch of personal reputations at stake. India need to win the three-match ODI series to remain the number two one day side in the world which would entitle them to USD 75,000 from the ICC. To stave off the South Africans, India would expect the substitute players to come to the party today. S Sreesanth, Zaheer’s replacement, is expected to share the new ball with Ashish Nehra tomorrow and the Kerala speedster would have to ensure that he is upto the mark. Uttar Pradesh teammates Sudeep Tyagi and Praveen Kumar would vie for the third pacer’s slot tomorrow. In the slow bowling department, Amit Mishra is almost certain to play tomorrow and he is expected to share the spin burden with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whose utility in one day cricket has been proven beyond doubt. In the batting line-up, Gambhir and Yuvraj’s absence could be compensated only if the top order fire in unison. Irrespective of whether India set a total or chase one, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar would have to provide the start they are expected of and Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina need to continue the good work. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has fond memories of the venue. In 2005, it was at the same venue that the star stumper-batsman, then with flowing tresses, had hit a devastating unbeaten 245-ball 183 which remains his highest ODI score so far. Since then, the Indian captain has modelled himself more into a finisher but the crowd would assemble here tomorrow to see glimpse of the old Dhoni. A product of the same power-hitting school, Baroda all-rounder Yousuf Pathan is also set to make it to the playing XI tomorrow, hoping to continue his red hot form that has won him a recall to the side. Fortunately for Dhoni, India is not the only team grappling with injuries. South Africa has already lost their charismatic captain Graeme Smith and even though stop-gap leader Jacques Kallis has an enviable record against India, how much inspiration this burly all-rounder manages to provide remains to be seen. Prolific top order batsman Hashim Amla has been asked to stay back and fill Smith’s void. Amla may have been a run-machine in the drawn Test series but one day cricket is a different kettle of fish altogether and the bearded batsman might struggle to adjust to the ODI mode. Their bowling, especially Dale Steyn, looked too hot to handle in the Nagpur Test but was pretty pedestrian in Kolkata. Steyn’s pace, Morne Morkel’s bounce and Wayne Parnell’s angles remain a worry but the Indian line-up is capable enough to blunt them all.

SA to stage Champions League T20

South Africa will host the 2010 Champions League T20 tournament in September, Cricket South Africa announced Friday. Twelve teams from seven countries will play in the event from September 10 to 26. The first edition of the tournament, for the leading Twenty20 teams from the participating countries, was played in India last year with New South Wales beating Trinidad and Tobago in the final. CSA are shareholders, with the Indian and Australian boards, in the Champions League. The tournament will be played at the home venues of the two South African qualifiers and a third ground to be decided by CSA. The participants will be three teams from the Indian Premier League, two each from South Africa, Australia and England, and one each from Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies.

Nafees to lead BCB XI against England

Opening batsman Shahriar Nafees Ahmed will lead the BCB XI in the first of the two practice matches against England at the Fatullah stadium on February 23. ]BCB squad: Shahriar Nafees (captain), Alok Kopali, Imtiaz Hossain, Nasir Uddin Faruque, Shahin Hossain (wicketkeeper), Mahmudul Hasan, Shafaq Al Zabir, Tanvir Haider, Ariful Hoque, Alauddin Babu, Tapash Baishya, Shamsur Rahman, Md Sharifullah. Team Management: Minhajul Abedin (coach), Zafrul Ehsan (assistant coach), Fahim Muntasir (manager), Azmal Ahmed (physio).

England in Bangladesh 2010

Pakistan recall Alam and Rauf from Australia

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recalled players Fawad Alam and Abdul Rauf from Australia to reduce the size of the touring squad, officials said in a statement on Thursday.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim told Reuters that a request by the team management to send senior batsman Younus Khan to Australia before the second Test in Sydney starting on Sunday had been put on hold.
"The team management had asked us to rush Younus to reinforce the team but after discussing the matter with the board chairman we have decided that a final decision would be taken after the second Test," Qasim said.

Pakistan lost the first Test.

India would benefit from having a specialist bowling coach: Dhoni

India would benefit from having a specialist bowling coach, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Friday.

The Indian cricket board sacked Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh as bowling and fielding coaches in October after the country's early exit from the Twenty20 World Cup in England and the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

India climbed to the top of the test rankings for the first time in December but the team has struggled to establish supremacy in one-day international cricket.

"To some extent it does hurt not having a bowling coach. If you have a specialist coach he is always interacting with the bowlers and trying to get the best out of them," Dhoni told a news conference on the eve of the team's departure to Bangladesh.
"He (coach Gary Kirsten) has to look after everything: he has to sit and talk to the batsmen, bowlers, fielders, build strategies and look after team building."

The Indian board has recruited former Australian fielding coach Mike Young as fielding consultant but has not decided whether to recruit a specialist bowling coach.

India will start the new year with a triangular one-day series involving Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from Jan. 4 followed by two test matches against Bangladesh.

Batsman Sachin Tendulkar has opted out of the tri-series to save himself for the two tests.

BCB has picked former 'rebel-players'

BCB has picked former 'rebel-players' Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali, and Dhiman Ghosh, once banned from national play for joining the lucrative but unauthorised ICL, for an upcoming tri-nation series.

It marks BCB's first selection of the top cricketers since the ban was lifted following their departure from the rebel Indian Cricket League.

They are included in a provisional 26-member squad for the series beginning on January 4 in Dhaka, where Bangladesh will square off against India and Sri Lanka.

Warne, Clarke face off in All Star Twenty20

Australian spin legend Shane Warne and Michael Clarke are all for a Twenty20 showdown when they lead their respective teams in an All-Star match in Brisbane today. Warne will captain the Australian Cricketers’ Association All-Star XI, while Clarke, who has recovered from a nagging back problem, will play his first Twenty20 match since being appointed the national T20 captain by leading a KFC-sponsored Australian squad. ‘For what promises to be a fantastic opening to the Australian international season, the National Selection Panel has picked a very exciting team to take on the Johnnie Walker ACA All Stars in the game on Sunday,’ Cricket Australia NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a statement. ‘In selecting the team we have not considered any of the Test players who have been heavily involved in the recent one-day campaign in India to allow them to prepare for the first Test. ‘The side does however feature Michael Clarke in his first Twenty20 game since being named captain, Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle as these players have not had the same amount of cricket as the other Test players leading into Brisbane,’ he added. Hilditch said the match would also serve as good preparation for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup. ‘While the emphasis will be on entertainment, the NSP sees the game as a great opportunity to continue our preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies next year,’ Hilditch said. The star-studded ACA All Star team has retired legends like Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath. ‘We are honoured that four legends of the game in Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath have made themselves available and have no doubt they will shine for the All Stars,’ ACA President Darren Lehmann said. Teams will be allowed 12 players, however, only 11 will bat and 11 are available to bowl. The KFC sponsored Australian squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Cameron White (vice-captain), George Bailey, Brad Haddin, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, David Warner. The Johnnie Walker ACA All Star Team: Shane Warne (captain), Travis Birt, Lee Carseldine, Adam Gilchrist, Daniel Harris, Matthew Hayden, Jason Krejza, Rhett Lockyear, Graham Manou, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Reardon, Nathan Rimmington.

Dilshan suffers broken nose

Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan has fractured his nose after colliding with one of his team-mates while playing football following the first Test against India in Ahmedabad on Friday. Brendon Kuruppu, Sri Lanka’s team manager, confirmed the news upon arrival in Kanpur, the venue for the second Test starting Tuesday. Dilshan had to be rushed to hospital where an X-ray revealed the damage. However, Dilshan may yet be available for the second Test. ‘The injury was put right by the surgeon before we left for Kanpur and Dilshan is out of danger,’ Kuruppu said. ‘He is not in any kind of great discomfort. He will resume practice with the rest of the team tomorrow (Sunday).’ This is Dilshan’s second injury on this tour. Prior to the first Test, he sprained his ankle during practice, but recovered in time to score a century.

Latif admits cheating at Multan

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif admitted that he faked the catch of Bangladesh batsman Alok Kapali during the third and final Test at Multan six years ago that the visitors lost by one wicket.

His confessional statement was aired on Desh TV, a local private television channel, on Saturday night where the former Pakistan wicketkeeper also explained what prompted him to resort to an act of cheating.

The 41-year-old Pakistani said that he did it intentionally keeping in mind that a defeat against Bangladesh would not be taken sportingly at home especially after the bitter memories of the 1999 loss in the World Cup.

He said that their one-day international loss against Bangladesh during the 1999 World Cup in England raised questions of match fixing and he feared that the defeat at Multan, which was always on the cards, might fuel that allegation again.

Now in Dhaka to attend the Level III coaches education course conducted by the Asian Cricket Council and Cricket Australia in collaboration with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Latif also recalled the incident, which was widely criticised.

“I dived to my right to take a Kapali nick (off an Yasir Ali delivery). The ball dropped from my gloves as I rolled over but quickly picked it up from the ground before claiming it as a clean catch,” said the stumper.

In that Test, Bangladesh were in a strong position to pull off a historic win. After scoring 281 in the first innings they bowled Pakistan out for 175. In their second knock Bangladesh wobbled after Kapali's dismissal on a difficult track. In their second innings, Pakistan rode on an unbeaten 138 from Inzamamul Haq to save the blushes. It was also alleged that the groundsmen cut the outfield grass the night before the start of the fourth day, a clear violation of the game rules, so that the ball could move faster towards the boundary.

An uneasy Latif however did not say anything about other incidents.

Latif was subsequently suspended for next five matches for bringing the game into disrepute. He also stepped down as captain after that three-Test series.

In that series, Bangladesh also played very well in the second Test at Peshawar. But a second innings debacle saw Bangladesh eventually lose the game by nine wickets.

Latif is currently the wicket keeping coach of the Pakistan youth team.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=113299

Abdur Razzak taking 15 wickets against Zimbabwe

Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe 5th ODI highlight

Hussey named Australia vice captain for India ODI

Australia have named Mike Hussey as deputy to skipper Ricky Ponting in their 15-player squad for a one-day series in India starting on Oct. 25.

Hussey's elevation follows a back injury to fellow batsman Michael Clarke, who was forced to withdraw from their Champions Trophy squad in South Africa.

Australia will also miss first choice wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, undergoing rehabilitation after finger surgery, as well as left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken (knee), Cricket Australia said in a statement.

Attacking left-handed opener Shaun Marsh returns to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.

The World Cup winners enter the seven-match series on a high, having swept to a 6-1 ODI series win against England ahead of the Champions Trophy.

"We're really pleased with the progress the ODI squad has made recently," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.

"To reclaim our number one ICC world ranking was recognition of this squad's recent achievements but we recognise we have to continue to improve and to establish a winning culture within this young group of players on tough tours, like this, to India."

The matches will be played in Baroda (Oct. 25), Nagpur (Oct. 28), New Delhi (Oct. 31), Mohali (Nov. 2), Hyderabad (Nov. 5), Guwahati (Nov. 8) and Mumbai (Nov. 11).

Squad:

Ricky Ponting (captain), Mike Hussey (vice captain), Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper), Adam Voges, Cameron White, James Hopes, Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz, Jon Holland, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle.

Major Decisions at adjourned 10th Meeting of BCB Board of Directors

The BCB Board of Directors convened for their adjourned 10th Meeting today. The following major decisions have been taken at the Meeting:

• Khaled Mahmud has been confirmed as Assistant Coach of the Bangladesh National Team.

• Bangladesh Bowling Coach Champaka Ramanayake’s contract has been extended until 31 March 2010.

• Fielding Coach Mohammad Salah Uddin’s contract will be assessed after Zimbabwe’s Tour of Bangladesh in November 2009.

• National Team’s Computer Analyst Nasir Ahmed’s contract has been extended up to 30 June 2010.

• The contracts of Age Group Selectors Ehsanul Haque and Sajjad Ahmed extended till 30 June 2010.

• The contract with National Team Sponsors Grameenphone will expire on 31 October 2009. As the contract is expiring during an ongoing tour (Zimbabwe’s Tour of Bangladesh), therefore based on mutual understanding the Board has agreed to extend it until 15 November 2009.

• The Board approved Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel as the new Hospitality Partners for three from the date of agreement.

• Rescheduling of Bangladesh’s Tour of England was approved. According to the new itinerary Bangladesh will reach England on 06 May 2010 to play two 3-day matches, one 4-day match and two Tests before leaving England on 09 June 2010 to participate in the Asia Cup. The team would again return to England on 30 June 2010 to play two practice one-dayers and three ODIs and will depart on 30 July.

Habibul Bashar in EID Tele-film

Link: http://bangladesherkhela.com/index.p...&editionID=783

England v Ausralia 1st ODI Live Streaming

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Habibul Bashar`s Birthday party

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Habibul Bashar shelled out over 4000 pounds to bring in chefs from the Amish Indian Restaurant in Chobham, Surrey, to cook for his 37th birthday party in Dubai on Sunday.

According to The Sun, Bashar was so fond of their chicken, lamb and vegetable dishes when he was in England for the World Twenty20 Cup this summer, that he placed a bumper birthday order - including flights, which all cost him 4,270 pounds.

Restaurant manager Amin Ali, 37, said: “He took our card and said he’d be in touch. It’s nice he thought that much of our food.” (ANI)

Highlights Bangladesh v Zimbabwe ODI Series

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Ashes win

England's Ashes win is front-page news, August 24, 2009

Shakib stars as Bangladesh defeat Zimbabwe

Shakib Al Hasan slammed 104 to help propel Bangladesh to a 49-run win over Zimbabwe and establish a 2-0 lead in their best of five One Day International series at the Queen's Sports Club on Tuesday.

Al Hasan's efforts helped his country to their highest ODI score of 320-8 in 50 overs with Zimbabwe totalling 271 all out in 46.1 overs.

Tamim Iqbal's beefy 79 likewise underpinned the tourists before he was run out - with Al Hasan himself suffering a similar fate.

That proved too tough a call for Zimbabwe to match, though half-centuries from Charles Coventry and Sean Williams saw them put up a strong fight.

Coventry found offspinner Naeem Islam to his liking as he slammed two big sixes but the pressure of keeping that going proved too much for both him and Williams.

Elton Chigumbura also weighed in with a defiant 31 but could not save a result for the hosts - beaten by eight wickets in the first match on Sunday - as he was run out at the death.

Shakib began slowly but then found increasing momentum and took full advantage of the batting Powerplay with some spectacular hitting - as well as some less than neat fielding, which saw him dropped twice.

Thereafter he raced on gratefully to bring up his hundred in 63 balls off Ed Rainsford before he was run out as he and Mushfiqur Rahim went for an over-ambitious three.

Mohammad Ashraful, whose weekend ton in Bulawayo helped land the opening ODI, this time could only manage 22 before falling LBW to Chamu Chibhabha

Bangladesh 320-8 in 50 overs

Bangladesh scored 320-8 in 50 overs against Zimbabwe in the second match of the GrameenPhone Cup ODI Series against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

The star of the show was skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who hit a whirlwind 104 off just 64 balls being he was run out.

He slammed nine fours and four sixes.

Opener Tamim Iqbal hit his second fifty of the five-match series before also being run out for 79 off 105 balls.

Raqibul Hasan (35). Junaed Siddique (27), Mushfiqur Rahim (23 not out) and Mohammad Ashraful (22) were the other batsmen to reach double digits.

Elton Chigumbura bagged 3-59 and Chamu Chibhabha took 1-51.

Zimbabwe v Bangladesh 2009

Mohammad Ashraful and team-mates are in full voice after their win