Dhoni, the phenomenon unravelled in a book

What makes Mahendra Singh Dhoni tick? Is it his incredible batting that sends perfectly pitched yorkers into orbit, or lightning glovework behind the stumps? Does it have anything to do with his numerous brand endorsements that many a Bollywood A-lister would envy? Or is it simply his rise from a modest background to the pantheon of greatness that endears him to a cricket-crazy nation?

Sports journalist C Rajshekhar Rao tries to unravel all this and more in Dhoni, an unauthorised biography by Ocean Paperbacks, by speaking to his coaches from junior days to former cricketers as well as near and dear ones from his hometown of Ranchi.

"I’m not his biggest fan," the author makes it clear at the outset during the launch of his book here. But he is just as intrigued by the flamboyant Indian captain as we are. “Anyone and everyone I meet have been impressed by at least one of his many facets.”

Pakistan Team for New Zealand tour

Pakistan on Thursday recalled regular openers Salman Butt and Imran Farhat in their squads for next month’s limited over series and Tests against New Zealand.

Pakistan will play three one-day internationals (November 3, 6 and 9) in Abu Dhabi and two Twenty20 internationals (November 12 and 13) in Dubai in a series which was relocated to neutral territory due to security fears at home.

Pakistan will later fly to New Zealand to play three Tests, with their home series also relocated over security fears.

‘We have important series against New Zealand and, after thorough work, we have announced three squads for one-dayers, T20s and Tests, in which we have relied on regular openers,’ chief of selectors Iqbal Qasim told reporters.

Younus Khan will lead the squad in one-day matches and Tests after he withdrew his resignation, submitted over match-fixing allegations.

The allegations were levelled over the team’s defeats against Australia and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy earlier this month.

Shahid Afridi will lead the team in the two Twenty20 matches.

Pakistan have failed to find a regular set of openers as no pair has settled at international level. Butt, dropped for the Champions Trophy, was recalled for one-dayers and Tests after scoring a century in a domestic competition.

Farhat, who snapped his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League, this month staged a comeback after two years. The 27-year-old left-hander is in all three squads.

Opener Khalid Latif also stages a comeback for the limited over series, while Imran Nazir found a place in the Twenty20 squad only.

The selectors were forced to leave out Mohammad Asif after Dubai authorities confirmed the controversial paceman cannot travel to the UAE following his deportation on charges of possessing a banned drug last year.

Asif was detained at Dubai airport for 19 days while returning from India after featuring in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008.

The 26-year-old was last month brought back into the squad for the Champions Trophy following the expiry of a one-year ban imposed over a failed dope test in the inaugural season of the IPL last year.

He was however selected for the Tests in New Zealand.

‘We were forced to leave out Asif because of some official problems, but hope that he keeps fitness and performs well in the Tests,’ said Qasim.

Also staging a comeback for the UAE leg is allrounder Abdul Razzaq, after he was left out of the Champions Trophy squad.

Middle-order batsman Misbah-ul Haq, a regular member of the team, failed to find a place in any of the three squads.

One-day Squad: Younus Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Umer Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz

T20 squad: Shahid Afridi (capt), Khalid Latif, Imran Nazir, Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal, Imran Farhat, Fawad Alam, Sohail Tanveer

Test squad: Younus Khan (capt), Khurrum Manzoor, Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir, Abdur Rauf, Umer Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed

India is a tough side to beat in their home

Despite India's latest indifferent performance, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team would be hard to beat at home.

The Australian side arrived on Tuesday for a seven-match One-day series starting Oct 25 in Vadodara.

Australia will be high on self-reliance after thrashing England 6-1 and then winning the Champions Trophy in South Africa. India failed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

Ponting said the younger players in the team will have to play spin better to have an impact on the series.

"India is a very good and strong one-day team and we are not taking too lightly them," Ponting told reporters today in the press meet.

"We are the number one and two teams in the world and it all points to an entertaining and good challenge over the next few weeks," he said.

"We have always enjoyed playing in India and against India. Our challenge over the last few years has been growing and it’s good for the world game."

Ponting said the team will have to give their best right through the series.

"We have played some excellent one-day cricket over the last few months beginning from the England tour and in the Champions Trophy," Ponting said. "We need to keep improving and need to be at our best right through the series."

"We have got a lot of young players who are finding their feet in international cricket. We have played some good one-day cricket over the last few months and they have grown in poise from that. This series offers them different set of challenges."

Ponting said since some of the players are featuring in the ongoing Champions League Twenty20, it will help them to adapt.

"It's good they have got used to the conditions but on the other hand it would have been nice to have them in the group a little bit sooner," he said.

"The challenge will be how our middle order batsmen cope up with playing spin bowling over the next few weeks. Michael Hussey has played a lot of cricket here. Shane Watson and Tim Paine play spin fine."

India works up for series in opposition to Australia

Indian cricket team, which got hammered out in the first stage of the Champions Trophy in South Africa, started its preparations in seriously here today for the forthcoming seven-match ODI series against Australia.

Excluding Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma, the other members of the team had a stint at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex this afternoon.

Managing the preparation was Coach Gary Kirsten, who arrived in Mumbai this afternoon from South Africa. The Australian crew, led by Ricky Ponting, too reached the Indian shores today and is set to have a two-day practice session at the BKC from tomorrow in advance of the first ODI at Vadodara on October 25.

Both the teams are scheduled to leave for Vadodara on October 23. The other ODIs are scheduled at Nagpur (Oct 28), Delhi (Oct 31), Mohali (Nov 2), Hyderabad (Nov 5), Guwahati (Nov 8) and Mumbai (Nov 11).

Australia, who hold the Champions Trophy, had beaten India 4-2 (one match ending in no result) in the last ODI series played between the two sides in India two years ago.

Places up for grabs for Oz ODI tour of India

Australian cricket skipper Ricky Ponting says the national selectors and he will have to take some tough verdict while deciding on the batting line-up for the seven-game one-day international series against India.

"The selectors and myself are going to have a bit of thinking to do over the next few days as to what we do with the batting line-up," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying at Sydney Airport earlier to his departure on Monday evening.

Ponting welcomed the enclosure of opener Shaun Marsh and wicketkeeper Tim Paine in the squad, saying they possessed the required capabilities to deliver in a tough series.

"But whichever mode we go there we know we've got very good depth in our batting with someone like Shaun coming supporting in, so hopefully we get it right on the morning of the first game," he said.

Australia currently leads the ICC one-day rankings by four points from India, who surprisingly failed to advance beyond the group stage at the recent Champions Trophy tournament in South Africa.

Australia won that tournament, but Ponting envisaged the series in India would be a "great test for us".

"They will be particularly hard to beat in India, they always are," said by Ponting.

Ponting said he hadn't seen much of uncapped left arm spinner Jon Holland apart from a spell in the nets before last year's Boxing Day Test, but had heard good reports.

"Everyone believes he has a good future," Ponting said.

The top scorer in the Champions Trophy, 34-year-old Ponting said he hadn't picked up a bat for a week and a half.

"I've played more golf than I have cricket, I went down to Melbourne on the weekend and went to the races and just got some time away," Ponting said.

The team For 7 match ODI Series announced Today

The selectors have pronounced the Indian team for the forthcoming ODI series for the first two ODI matches starting October 25th the much expected ODI series will consist of seven one day international matches and is billed as a fight for the top rank in One-day cricket.

The team announced today has one surprise new face-seam bowler Sudeep Tyagi has been integrated in the 15 member squad which also brings dashing south paw Yuvraj Singh and dangerous Virender Sehwag back in the squad. Yuvraj Singh got injured when he was playing Champions Trophy while Virender Sehwag too had injury problems and was rested for the prestigious Champions Trophy tournament.

Unfortunately former India captain Rahul Dravid was shown the door unceremoniously once again, he made a comeback to Indian squad after two years when he was selected for recently concluded Champions Trophy. The selectors also dropped left arm pacer R.P Singh, wicket keeper Dinesh Karthik and young all rounder Abhishek Nayar.

The team for the first two ODI against Australia is:

Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (Captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Virat Kohli, Amit Mishra, Munaf Patel and Sudeep Tyagi.

According to ODI series clash, the first match will be played on October 25 in Vadodara while second will take place in Nagpur on 28 October.

The Team India Selection To be made tomarrow for & ODI against Australia

After the Champions Trophy devastation, the the BCCI Selection Committee chaired by K Srikkanth and skipper M S Dhoni will meet here again tomorrow to pick the Indian team for the first two matches of the ensuing seven match ODI series against Australia starting October 25 at Vadodara.

According to BCCI sources, the committee, headed by Srikkanth is expected to shepherd in a couple of changes in the wake of some of the players failing to prove their worth.

Yuvraj Singh, subject to proving his fitness and Virender Sehwag who missed the Champions Trophy in South Africa but recovered from injury to play in the Champions League T-20, were expected to return to the team, in place of Yusuf Pathan, who scored just 71 runs in the last ten matches.

Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, who was sent as replacement for Yuvraj for the Champions Trophy, are expected to maintain their places.

Rahul Dravid, who made a come back into the team after a two year break, is expected to be rested for the home series.

Considering the good performances of some players in the recently finished Irani trophy and the Challenger series, some changes are likely in the bowling department, the sources indicated.

Pacer Ishant Sharma, in all probability was likely to be rested and Uttar Pradesh bowler Sudeep Tyagi, who had performed well in Irani Trophy, is expected get the nod.

While Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will retain his place in the team, it would be a toss up between Amit Mishra and left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for the second spinner's slot.

Following his fine show with the bat in the Irani Trophy, Ravindra Jadeja's name is also expected to figure in the discussions along with Mumbai's Abhishek Nayyar if the Selectors decide to have an all-rounder in place of Yusuf Pathan.

With Ishant likely to be rested and his new ball partner Zaheer yet to recover from injury, the selection committee would take into account the current performance of Asish Nehra, R P Singh, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel and Sudeep Tyagi before finalising the list.

Younus khan Offer to Quit due to Match Fixing Row

Younus Khan has tendered his resignation as Pakistan captain in the face of being cleared of match-fixing charges by a parliamentary sports committee.

He submitted his resignation to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) - who is yet to accept it.

The 31-year-old said he was "disgusted by match-fixing allegations made against me and the team."

Younus was presence for a hearing to discuss Pakistan's performance in the recent ICC Champions Trophy.

National Assembly committee chairman Jamshed Dasti had suspected that Pakistan purposely under-performed during the competition - although he later insisted that the board never intended to make match-fixing allegations against the players.

"We are totally satisfied with the explanation of the team management and board," he said. "The committee is satisfied no match-fixing took place."

Younus told the Reuters news agency: "Yes, I have submitted my resignation. I have told the chairman to go through my resignation and read my point of view."

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt added: "It's an emotional decision and I reject it.

"I hope to convince Younus to revoke his decision, but if he sticks to his stand then the matter will be decided by the PCB's governing council next week on 19 October."

Younus has scored 5,260 runs in 63 Tests - at an average over 50 - since making his debut against Sri Lanka in 2000, and succeeded Shoaib Malik as Pakistan captain in January 2009.

He has also appeared in 194 one-day internationals and led Pakistan to victory at the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in England earlier this year - before retiring from Twenty20 internationals.

Jon Holland Rookie Victorian spinner selected in Australia team for ODI tour in India.

Victorian finger spinner Jon Holland has been integrated in the Australian cricket squad to play against India.

The 22-year-old left-armer has been given an opportunity after playing just six first class games for his state.

Back in the 15-man squad is opening batsman Shaun Marsh, who has recovered from a cramp injury for the seven-match one-day series which starts later in this month.

South Australian Callum Ferguson has been left out after injuring his knee in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand.

Ferguson has undergone scans of his knee but the full extent of the damage is still to be determined.

Also out of the one-day squad while they recover from injuries are vice-captain Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken and first choice wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Tim Paine will continue behind the stumps after taking the gloves for the Champions Trophy.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said the panel was keen to have a left-arm finger spinner like Holland in the squad, especially in India.

“He’s the type of bowler we think can do well in Indian conditions,” he said.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Hussey (vc), Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz, Jon Holland, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

Team Announced for Australia Tour in India

Cricket Australia's National Selection Panel (NSP) today announced the Australia squad to play seven one-day internationals on the VB Tour of India In October and November.

The 15 man squad comprises of the following players: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey (vice captain), Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz, Jon Holland, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

Commenting on the squad, NSP Chairman, Andrew Hilditch, said "We're really pleased with the progress the ODI squad has made recently. We do have four players unavailable for this tour due to injury. Michael Clarke is continuing his rehabilitation from back soreness and Mike Hussey will be the vice captain for this tour. Brad Haddin continues his rehabilitation from finger surgery, following the injury he picked up during the Ashes series, and Tim Paine, following a fine ICC Champions Trophy, is selected as wicket keeper. Callum Ferguson continues to consult specialists over the knee injury he picked up during the ICC Champions Trophy final and is not available for this tour. Nathan Bracken is also unavailable due to a knee injury.

"Shaun Marsh returns after recovering from hamstring injury, having been an important and successful member of the one day side before that injury.

"Jon Holland is in the squad as we wanted to take the opportunity to give a young left arm finger spinner exposure both to the Australian team set up and Indian conditions. He has impressed in the recent Australia ‘A' series against Pakistan and in his time at CA's Centre of Excellence. If an opportunity arises on tour we feel he will equip himself very well at international level.

"The NSP is delighted with Australia's recent success at the ICC Champions Trophy, which came off the back of a very solid ODI series performance against England in England. 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. We expect the Indian series to be extremely testing, but the young squad is looking forward to the challenge".

Tour Schedule:

25 October - 1ST ODI AT VADODARA

28 October - 2ND ODI AT NAGPUR

31 October - 3RD ODI AT DELHI

2 November - 4TH ODI AT MOHALI

5 November - 5TH ODI AT HYDERABAD

8 November - 6TH ODI AT GUWAHATI

11 November - 7TH ODI AT MUMBAI

Champions League Started to traet cricket fans

The first Champions League Twenty20 cricket show started with a stunning opening ceremony at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium Bangalore.

For the next 15 days, twelve teams drawn from hosts India, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago will compete in cricket’s first ever international club contest.

Some of game’s big names will turn out in their club jerseys in the whopping $6 million prize money event.

“It is an incredible moment. I hope Champions League helps the game to grow,” champions league commissioner Lalit Modi said to the roar of a near packed stadium.

Captains of the participating teams gave prints of their hands in clay, exchanged flags and took the “MCC-Spirit of Cricket” oath.

A host of international artists then showcased their art followed by a laser show.

Shaolin monks from China performed moves of Tai Chi, Kung Fu and Chi Kung martial arts along with Kalaripayattu artists.

British singer-model Jamelia and Reggae singer Shaggy enchanted the crowd with their performance.

The opening ceremony ended with fireworks display that lit the Bangalore sky.

ICC Announced The World Cup 2011 Group Squad

India have been added with South Africa and England among seven teams in Group B for the 2011 cricket World Cup.

West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands are the other teams in the group, it was pronounced by International Cricket Council (ICC) in Johannesburg Wednesday.

The group A has defending champions Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya.

The groups were confirmed in the ICC Board meeting here.

India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will host the event. Pakistan were stripped of the co-hosting rights because of the security concerns in the country.

India will host 29 matches of the tournament's 49 matches, including a semi-final and the final. Sri Lanka will stage the other semi-final.

The ICC Board also approved the schedule for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, which will take place in New Zealand in January 2010.

Dhoni On Top Still in ICC Ranking

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni continue to be the number one one-day batsman followed by his deputy Yuvraj Singh but seasoned Sachin Tendulkar dropped a place to ninth in the latest ICC rankings issued today.

ICC Test player of the year Gautam Gambhir improved his one-day ranking by one rung and now occupies 16th spot.

In the ODI bowlers' ranking, injured paceman Zaheer Khan broke into the top-20 after gaining three positions from 22nd and spinner Harbhajan Singh also rose by a rung to 18th.

India are second behind Australia in the team rankings.

Australia strengthened its number-one position by defending their Champions Trophy title with an unbeaten run.

The four-time world champion leads second-placed India (124) by four ratings points.

Aussies restrict kiwis for 200 runs

Australia controlled New Zealand for 200 runs in the final match of ICC Champions Trophy 2009 at SuperSport park in Centurion.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting will be happy to restrict New Zealand for 200 runs in the 50 overs after losing the toss.

Australia need 201 runs to retain the Champions Trophy title. For Aussies, the 201 runs target is looking easy one.

Electing to bat first, New Zealand batsmen fail to fuse their innings. Kiwis lost wickets in regular intervals.

Spinner Nathan Hautriz was the most successful bowler for Australia. He took three wickets after sparing 37 runs in 10 overs.

Brett Lee took two wickets while Siddle and Johnson claimed one wicket each.

For New Zealand, Martin Guptil was the top scorer with 40 runs.

Apart from Guptil, Broom and Franklin helped black caps to touch the 200 mark. The duo added 63 runs for six wickets. Broom scored 37 while Franklin made 33 runs.

ICC Awards 2009

Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan has bagged the Twenty20 player of the year award in the ICC awards ceremony in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Australian pacer Peter Siddle has won the emerging player of the year award.

New Zealand team has won the spirit of the cricket year.

The nominations were made by a five-member selection panel headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd. The panel also included former cricketers Anil Kumble of India, Mudassar Nazar of Pakistan, Bob Taylor of England and New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming.

Winner 2009:

* Cricketer of the Year: Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
* Test Player of the Year: Gautam Gambhir (India)
* ODI Player of the Year: MS Dhoni (India)
* Test team captain: MS Dhoni (India)
* ODI team captain: MS Dhoni (India)
* Umpire of the Year: Aleem Dar (Pakistan)
* Emerging Player: Peter Siddle (Australia)
* Twenty20 Int. Performance of the Year: Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lankha)
* Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year: William Porterfield (Ireland)
* Spirit of the Cricket: New Zealand
* Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Claire Taylor (England)

Nathan Hauritz The man made Australia into Semis in ICC Champions Trophy

Defensive champions Australia edged into the last four with an anxious two-wicket win in opposition to Pakistan on Wednesday.

They now face England at Centurion for a place in the final and Hauritz insists Australia will be taking nothing for granted, despite the one-sided nature of recent 50-over meetings between the two sides.

"It doesn't bother me who we play. I think we've been playing some good cricket lately," he said.

"We've played England just recently, so it is good to play them I guess because we know their game and they know ours. It's a new game and a new venue, so it doesn't really matter.

"I don't think it will have anything to do at all. The only thing is that we get a bit of a better estimate of each other.

"We've known everybody's strengths and weaknesses, whereas when we played India, we hadn't played them for 18 months in one-day cricket. So that's all it is."

Australia Knocked India out of Champion Trophy by beating Pakistan in their last League Match

Australia will play against England in a Champions Trophy semi-final after thrashing Pakistan by two wickets on the final ball at Super Sport Park.

What should have been a relaxed passage through the group stage became a major fear, as a late batting fall down nearly cost Australia exceedingly.

Australia were in control at 4-174 look for 206, but lost 4-13 for six overs, which left them in danger of losing the game and allowing India to overtake them on run-rate.

India is currently playing the West Indies at the Wanderers.

But Australian tail Enders Brett Lee (12 not out) and Nathan Hauritz (9 not out) got their side home when they jumbled through for a bye off the final delivery of the match.

The NSW pair came together needing 19 runs from 25 balls, which became more than a run a ball after Naved-ul-Hasan bowled a maiden in the 47th over.

But Lee and Hauritz shaped the target down, and needing four runs from Umar Gul's last over, got the job done - just.

Scores were level on the final delivery and Hauritz swung and missed, but Lee raced through for the winning single as Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal missed with his underarm at the stumps.

The win put Australia top of their group and booked a semi-final against England on Friday, while Pakistan will play New Zealand in the other semi, at the Wanderers on Saturday.
Australia laid the stage for their win by controlling Pakistan to 6-205 on a pitch notable for some variable bounce.

All the Pakistan batsmen got starts, but Watson (2-32), Mitchell Johnson (2-44), Lee (1-30) and Hauritz (0-24) bowled neatly to keep the innings in check after their opponents were 1-58 after 12 overs.

Watson (24) and Paine (29) put Australia on the right track, before Mike Hussey (64) and captain Ricky Ponting (32) had Australia contentedly placed.

But Naved (1-39), Asif Mohammad (2-34) and Saeed Ajmal (2-31) turned the match on its head with a late fight back, until Lee and Hauritz held their nerve.

A win over England will give Australia the chance to become the first side to win back-to-back Champions Trophy tournaments, in Monday's final at Super Sport Park.

Australia will enter Friday's game in a confident frame after beating England 6-1 in the recent one-day series which concluded the Ashes tour.

Pakistan will make changes in tomarrow's game against Australia

Pakistan captain Younus Khan confirmed India's worst fears by admitting that his side would field their reserve players in tomorrow's Champions Trophy game in opposition to Australia at Centurion.

"We will make a few changes, some are obligatory. Imran Nazir has a broken finger. Mohammad Asif deserves a look in, so do Fawad Alam and Iftikhar Rao. They need to be brought in. Some changes would certainly be made," said Younus ahead of tomorrow's game.

Younus himself is battling with a cracked right finger but lamented derisively that nobody in his side wants to give him a rest.

He though pooh-poohed the claim that Pakistan would look to lose against Australia tomorrow and dump India out of the tournament.

"I as a person don't think in that manner. Given a choice, I would love to have an India-Pakistan final. We saw at Centurion the other night when the two sides played. It was the only game in this competition where the stands were jam-packed. Everyone wants to watch an India-Pakistan game.

"It's critical for players too. I made my mark in opposition to India and was quickly accepted. Same happens for India if a young player of theirs makes a mark against us," Younus said.

Younus said no team would want to break the winning momentum in such a big tournament.

"So losing tomorrow's game is not the way to go. We would actually like to do very well against Australia for we might face them in the final. If your form is well and everything is going well, you don't want to break the rhythm and lose," he said.

He said winning or losing is part of the game and both Indian and Pakistani players should be left alone after a clash between the arch-rivals.

"Today everyone is after Dhoni. If I had lost that game at Centurion, everyone would have been after me. That's not fair. Sports should be above all this. If there is an edge in India-Pakistan game, it's good for the game. That's important and not gora aur kala (black or white) and nationalities," Younus said.

Younus Khan to Play his opening match against India in the ICC Champions Trophy

Paksitan captain Younus Khan has fully in a good health from the injury and he will play in the next match of the Pakistan team in opposition to their rivals India. Pakistan will lock horns with India in Centurion on September 26.

Younus had continued a minor hairline fracture in his little finger of right hand during a warm-up match against Warriors in Benoni on September 20 and he was guided to take rest by doctors.

Youins had failed to spot Pakistan’s first match against West Indies in Centurion on Wednesday. Pakistan had won that low scoring match by five wickets.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a release stating that Younus has recovered from the injury and he will be available for the match against India.

Last time Pakistan and India had met each other in Centurion in the 2003 World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar had smashed brilliant half-century and India had won the match by six wickets.

Yuvraj Singh Out of the Battle

Yuvraj Singh, the India star batsman, has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa after anguishing a fractured finger.

Yuvraj, who had been hyped as one of the potential stars of the competition, undergo the injury whilst training today in Johannesburg. Virat Kohli has been called up as an alternate.

“Yuvraj has fractured a finger in his right hand and has been ruled out for six weeks,” a Board of Control for Cricket in India statement, said.

India, who begin their campaign against Pakistan on Saturday, are already without a raft of stars including Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, who have shoulder injuries, while Gautam Gambhir is still recovering from a groin strain.

Pakistan Skipper Younis Khan will miss the opening match

Pakistani skipper Younis Khan has been skipped out of his team's starting match of the ICC Champions Trophy against the West Indies tomorrow with a hairline fracture. All rounder Shahid Afridi will step up and go ahead his country in Khan's nonexistence.

Pakistan took the Cricket world by gale when they won the ICC Champions Trophy in England this summer. Few gave Pakistan a chance of winning the title after an embarrassing defeat to England in their opening match, but little by little they recovered and ended up defeating Sri Lanka in the final at Lord's, much to the happiness of their adoring fans.

Since that amazing run in England, Pakistan was beaten in a Test and ODI series in Sri Lanka. It is hard to see Pakistan going all the way and winning the Champions Trophy, but they have the fire-power and flamboyance in their team that always make them dangerous.

If Pakistan can find their best form, then they have a shot at once again upsetting the Betting Odds and winning the title.

The ICC Champions Trophy Schedule

The ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Set to Begin

ICC Champions Trophy started from 22^nd September 2009. The first cricket match is between Sri Lanka and South Africa. Both teams are in great form. The beginning match of the ICC Champions trophy is going to be a great match to watch as the both teams will firth well in the inauguration match. Match will start 12:30pm GMT, 6pm IST and 14:30 local time.

Live action of SA vs SL match will available on on following TV channels:

Sky sports will broadcast ICC Champions trophy in UK,Scotland,Wales and New Zealand. Fox Sports will broadcast ICC Champions trophy live in Australia. Star Cricket will show live feeds of SA vs SL match and all the matches of ICC trophy in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Singapore & Malaysia. DD National will also broadcast Live matches in India. Geo Super and PTV will also broadcast live stream of ICC matches in Pakistan.

Sehwag Plays Like Me Sachin's Talk

Little Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is the arrogance of Indian Cricket. He has got the batting fashion of his own which is evidently unmatched. But the super cricketer thinks otherwise.

Yes, the little master says, there is someone who is as talented as he himself is. In an interview to a TV channel he says, "Virendra Sehwag's batting method matches to that of mine. He is wonderfully talented and has got great performance. His aggressive approach of mind has got it all may that's the reason why the bowlers panic to bowl at him."

That's seems to be quite rightly said by the legendary cricketer as the big bully bowlers around the globe really fear to bowl at him as well as his team mate Viru.

As Sehwag and Gambhir have been declared fit for The Champions trophy, India can now breathe a sigh of relief.

Gambhir Awarded As Castrol Best Cricketer of 2008

India opener Gautam Gambhir on Thursday edged out teammate Virender Sehwag to be named the Castrol Cricketer of the Year 2008 at a dazzling function.

Gambhir, who was confirmed fit on Thursday to travel to South Africa with the Indian team for the ICC Champions Trophy after missing the previously held triangular series in Sri Lanka, received Rs five lakh and a trophy.

The left-hander, who scored over 1000 runs in Tests and ODIs in 2008, also won the best batsman of the year award while feisty off-spinner Harbhajan Singh won the best bowler of the year honors, worth a trophy and Rs two lakh each.

Swaggering batsman Sehwag and India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni were stated the Test and One-Day cricketers of the year 2008.

Out of action since May because of a shoulder injury, Sehwag was personally present to receive the award while Dhoni, having addressed a media conference a couple of hours earlier at the same hotel, did not attend the function.

Both received Rs two lakh and a trophy to go with the award.

Former India middle order mainstay Gundappa Viswanath received the "Lifetime Achievement" award worth Rs five lakh while all rounder Ravindra Jadeja was named the best young cricketer of the year.

Batting genius Sachin Tendulkar and another sturdy Rahul Dravid were given special performance awards for becoming the first batsman to cross 12,000 runs in Tests and becoming the leading catcher in the traditional format of the game respectively.

Sehwag will Come back in this October

India starter Virender Sehwag will take up again playing cricket in a home match in October, after four months because of shoulder surgery.

Sehwag was elected in a Rest of India team on Wednesday that will play Mumbai for the Irani Trophy from Oct. 1-5 in Nagpur.

He has been tangential since injuring his shoulder during the Indian Premier League in May and being ruled out of India's Twenty20 World Cup team.

Sehwag also missed the recent limited-overs series in Sri Lanka and won't play in the upcoming Champions Trophy in South Africa.

India opener Gautam Gambhir was also strained out of the series in Sri Lanka with a groin injury and will be fine for the Champions Trophy.

Dhoni and Gambhir Selected to the Final list of Players for ICC Cricket Awards

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir, England captain Andrew Strauss and Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson have been selected in two types of categories for this year's International Cricket Council awards.

The quartets are all nominees for cricketer of the year while Gambhir, Strauss and Johnson are also in disputation for test cricketer of the year.

Dhoni is on the shortlist for the one-day cricketer of the year award he won last year.

Strauss lead England from the front to a memorable home Ashes series win over Australia while Gambhir and Johnson were plentiful during the year from August last year, the period considered for the prizes, an ICC release said on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka batsman Thilan Samaraweera, who continued his form on return from injury sustained when the team bus was trapped by gunmen in Lahore in March, will also vie for the test player's award.

The one-day player shortlist features Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh and Caribbean batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul top the list for Twenty20 performances after steering the team to the World Cup in England this year.

Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, whose modern shots lit up the tournament, and West Indies captain Chris Gayle have also been selected for their performances in the event.

Awards will also be given for promising player, women's cricketer and umpire of the year in Johannesburg on Oct. 1.

The test and one-day teams of the year will also be selected and an award given to the team who has remains most to the spirit of cricket.

Michael Clarke be worthy of the first crack at captaincy

Cricket Australia is yet to make known who will lead the team following Ponting's verdict to retire from Twenty20 internationals to focus on his Test and one-day career, but Ponting believes the 28-year-old Clarke, who was skipper for Australia's first three one-day internationals against England has earned his stripes.

''Michael has done a tremendous job in my absence, be it in Twenty20 or 50-over cricket. He's continued to grow as a player and a leader," said by Ponting.

''I know Cricket Australia said at my notice they'd wait until later in the year before they name the captain, but Michael's done everything right and deserves the first crack at it,'' Ponting added.

In the meantime, Ponting has made it clear he wants to return to England for the 2013 Ashes.

Ponting said that having made the resolution to retire from Twenty20 cricket internationally, he was hopeful about make longer his Test career and making it to the 2013 Ashes squad.

''It's hopefully going to give me a better opportunity to be able to do that and come back here,''

Ponting, who would be 38 by then, further said: When I made that announcement, it was about me wanting to play at the level I feel I can play at in 50-over cricket and Test cricket.

"With 20-over international cricket there at the moment it was just making it harder to be physically fit and mentally sharp for every game that I was playing. I looked at the tour very closely and over the next 12 months it's an opportunity to have up to another four-week break. That's going to hold me in good stead down the track.''

India Smashed out New Zealand, reach final

India's come back to international cricket showed they were oxidized with the bat but exactly right with the ball. With a superficial win, they knocked New Zealand out of the Compaq Cup, winning by six wickets at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium.

Ashish Nehra and Yuvraj Singh made Kiwis second straight collapse in the Cup. Taking three wickets each, they bowled men in black for 155. The chase seemed easy - but for the small matter of the last 11 games at the venue won by the side batting first.

Sachin Tendulkar's 46 alleviate any nerves there might have been, before MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina come back in the middle order breakdown to take India to a win in the 41st over.

It puts India in Monday's final against Sri Lanka, who by virtue of their win over the Kiwis, had qualified earlier.

Among the talking points is Rahul Dravid's abrasive return in the blue jersey. Coming in at one-down after Dinesh Karthik's fall to Kyle Mills, Dravid was given a sweltering time by Shane Bond.

His 14 runs from 45 were in sharp contrast to Tendulkar, who fire away at a run-a-ball from the other end. They added 60 in 15 overs to effectively seal the game since New Zealand's best chance was in blowing away the Indian top order.

Bond tried his spirit out. He even managed to attract Dravid into a miscue that lobbed over the slip. But it wasn't going to be his day.

Kohli to change injured Gambhir for tri-series

Virat Kohli will substitute injured India starter Gautam Gambhir for the one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka, the Indian cricket board said here on Thursday.

Gambhir anxious his groin muscle and will return home from Colombo to rest for 10 days, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a report.

India is already without Gambhir's hotheaded opening partner Virender Sehwag, who is recovering from a shoulder injury.

Gambhir's injury is likely to throw him into doubt for the Champions Trophy, set to begin in South Africa on September 22.

Kohli, 20, played the last of his five one-day internationals against Sri Lanka in August 2008.

India opens their fight against New Zealand on Friday and play against the hosts the next day. Each side will play two league matches before the top two make it to the final on September 14.

India's squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Rudra Pratap Singh, Amit Mishra, Dinesh Karthik, Abhishek Nayar.

Team India Reached Sri-Lanka For The Tri Series Cricket Battle

The Indian cricket players arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Wednesday afternoon to play in the tri-nation Compaq Cup One-Day International competition.

The 15-member Indian squad arrived on board an Air India flight from Bangalore after their planned Jet Airways flight got cancelled due to the on-going pilots' strike of the private airline.

Air India operated a unique flight from Chennai at 1100hrs reach Bangalore from where it picked up the Men In Blue, including captain Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and R P Singh, who were busy playing for the Air India team in the BCCI corporate trophy.

Sehwag giving up vice-captaincy

Virender Sehwag has called for the Indian selectors to hand his role as vice-captain to a player who wants to become captain at some stage in the future.

Sehwag was appointed as an assistant to Mahendra Singh Dhoni when the wicketkeeper-batsman took charge following Anil Kumble's leaving last year, but says he has no aim of captaining India in the long term. This being the case, he has asked authorities to relieve him of his obligation as vice-captain.

"I don't want to be a skipper, I have already told selectors about it," Sehwag told.
"I have said that a new player should be made vice-captain and be prepared to be a captain. I want that I should continue to gain runs and keep winning matches for the side."

Sehwag is currently getting better from a shoulder injury continued during the Indian Premier League, and hopes to return to action for the Delhi Daredevils in the Twenty20 Champions League next month.

The forceful opening batsman also revealed that Sourav Ganguly is the best Indian captain he has played under.

"Sourav Ganguly has been the best skipper India ever had," Sehwag said. "Sourav took over as captain of the India cricket team when it was going through a very bad scrap.

"The Indian team was struggling to come out of the match-fixing dishonor. He had a responsibility to put together a new team and he did a splendid job."

Compaq Cup Tri Series

The cute and small Island, Sri Lanka will play host to a One Day International Tri Series concerning New Zealand and India. The Compaq cup will see a commentary team from Ten Sports including Tony Grieg, Ian Bishop, Mike Haysman and Arun Lal.

Currently at no. 2 in the team ODI Rankings, India will be the hot talkative team in the competition. But given the erratic nature of the game, the contest between the three teams will be severe. For India, all eyes will be on Rahul Dravid the wall of the Indian cricket team as he makes a return to One Day cricket after about two years.

The Indian side, have had an interval from International cricket and to get the boys back into a match fitness state, a training camp was organized at the national cricket academy in Bangalore. The main focal point of the camp was fitness and dealing with the individuals, on a one to one basis was the newly appointed fitness trainer - Ramji Srinivasan along with the support staff of Coach Gary Kirsten and the mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton.

For the Men in Black, the One Day edition is much more their cup of tea as they have won six and drawn one of their last eight series. Captain Vettori, restated this fact when he confessed that, they were certainly stronger in the limited-overs format because it apted some of the boys better. He felt that with the experience of playing Test cricket in the region, would have strengthened a few of the players for the limited-overs series. He had high hopes particularly for the batsmen in the side. New Zealand has some workforce changes, such as fast bowlers Kyle Mills, Shane Bond and Ian Butler and relative rookies Brendon Diamanti and Neil Broom, but the core group stays the same.

The hosts, Sri Lanka would look to take advantage of the home conditions. In the ICC ODI rankings they do stand a poor 7th, and would look at the tri series to move them to a higher position. With stalwarts such as Sanath Jayasuriya in their ranks, the younger members of the team will only benefit with his presence. At the age of 40 it’s not astonishing that he has played the most number of one day international cricket than anyone else in the world. In his 20 year career he has played in 435 matches amassing 13202 runs with his highest score of 189!.

The action will open out from September the 8th. With the sides gearing up for the Champions Trophy, later in the month, this series will be fought in full seriousness to gain that crucial mental edge. Sri Lanka and New Zealand are part of the same group with India in the other.

All the action of the tri-series can be seen live on Ten Sports.

This series promises to confirm most detractors wrong, that one day cricket is slowly dying. With close encounters that New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India can provide in the 50 over set up just goes to show that all formats of the great game of cricket can exist independent of each other.

Sehwag Keen in a Comeback

Virender Sehwag, who is in the treatment to a shoulder injury, is looking to return to international matches with the Twenty20 Champions League going to be played in the next month.

Sehwag, who has been out of the squad since returning to the home midway through the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June, will be absent for the tri-series in Sri Lanka as well as the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

“I am working hard on my shoulder and on tenterhooks that I will be fit before the Champions League T20,” Sehwag said.

“My treatment is going really well. I am pushing myself hard. After first week of September, I will start batting properly in the nets. Normally I am throwing 20 or 50 balls a day but from second or third week of September I will start throwing more and try to play the local tournament if I get a chance,” Sehwag said.

Sehwag, who kicked up a paddle after highlighting the partiality in selection matters of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting with DCCA president Arun Jaitley.

“We had an optimistic meeting with Arun Jaitley and other members of the DDCA. Even Mr. M.K. Pataudi joined the meeting at my request and I am thankful to him.”
Sehwag said that he was not targeting anyone in DDCA, but was only opposed to the selection system.

“My fight is in opposition to the selection system. You have to change the system and put some good people who can look after cricket.”

India Had A Chance to Head the Point Tabel in ICC ODI Ranking

A clean-hit in the tri-series in opposition to Sri Lanka and New Zealand will sling India to the number one mark in the ICC One-day rankings for the first time.

India to play a tri-series in Sri Lanka shortly this week and if Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men can win all the three matches then India will go on top of the stand for the first time since the rankings were introduced in October 2002.

In the meantime, England, who knocked off Australia from the top in Tests, will have another chance to get their archrivals in the ODI rankings during the seven match ODI series which starts at The Oval this Friday.

Andrew Strauss's men can exceed the Australians if they win 5-2 or better in the series, while for Ricky Ponting's side it will also be a chance to regain the number one position.

Australia at present occupies the third place with 119 ratings points, one place ahead of England, who have eight points.

South Africa heads the table with 127 ratings points followed by India on 126. However, England can move ahead of Australia if they win the series 7-0, 6-1 or 5-2.

If the hosts wins 7-0, they will push Australia to as low as seventh place, depending how the tri-nation series in Sri Lanka to be held from September 8-14 pans out.

A 5-2 series result in England's favor will put it on 118 ratings points and four in front of Australia.

For Australia to regain the number one mark not only they will have to win all the matches in opposition to England but will also need either New Zealand or Sri Lanka to beat India at least once in Colombo.

IPL tries to reconcile dispute with IMG

The president of India's cricket board will endeavor to determine a gash with sports management company IMG over its running of the worthwhile Indian Premier League Twenty20 contest.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India last week ended a 10-year contract with IMG, saying it fleeced the board for managing the IPL over its first two seasons.

A conference of the governing council of the IPL - run under the support of the BCCI - elected Wednesday to try to reconcile the dispute.

"BCCI president Shashank Manohar has been certified to deal with the IMG issue and report to the board at its annual general meeting on Sept. 24," BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla told reporters.

The BCCI working board objected to IMG being paid nearly US$10 million for the opening edition of the IPL in 2008, but still used the company for the second edition of the tournament, which was shifted from India to South Africa to avoid a clash with India's national elections.

The terms of the original contract had IMG getting 10 per cent of IPL revenues.

PIL filed a case to stop India from Tri –Series in Sri Lanka

A PIL has been filed with the Madras High Court looking for to stop the Indian side from visiting Sri Lanka for the tri-series allude to alleged human rights abuse against Tamils by the Sri Lankan government.

The campaigner, Joel Poul Antony, an advocate, said the international community would not respect India if it sent a team to play in Sri Lanka. The Madurai bench of the High Court issued notice to the ministries of Home, External Affairs and Youth and Sports Welfare as well as a private notice to the Indian board.

A 25-year war between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE finally came to an end in May this year after the revolutionary, fighting to create a separate nation for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils, were defeated.

ICC deals with India for Pakistan's Security

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has guaranteed Pakistan that it will directly covenant with Indian authorities to make sure infallible security measures for its cricket team for the 2011 World Cup matches in India.

One of the most significant clauses of the contract signed between the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Dubai last week states that the game's governing body will straightly deal with the security cover for the Pakistan team when it plays in India during the 2011 World Cup.

PCB required complete guarantees from the ICC that the players will get top-class security cover in India during the World Cup before the board agreed to give up its legal measures against the ICC over the hosting rights of the 2011 World Cup, according to sources.

The ICC will be directly dealing with getting Indian visas issued for viewers and media people from Pakistan during the World Cup.

Pakistan was supposed to host 14 matches of the World Cup and was one of the four original co-hosts of the competition along with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

However, in April this year the ICC decided to reposition Pakistan's World Cup games after the Sri Lankan cricketers were attacked by terrorists in Lahore in March.

Kirsten counsels of India risk at Champions Trophy

India will pull through swiftly from their early exit at the Twenty20 World Cup and are sure to grow a sober challenge at the Champions Trophy in South Africa next month, coach Gary Kirsten said.

India have summon up Rahul Dravid to the one-day team for the first time in almost two years to strengthen their batting on pacy South African pitches at the Sept. 22-Oct. 5 Champions Trophy.

A young Indian batting unit struggled against short-pitched bowling in the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

"We have had a good run right from the tour of Australia and there is great team spirit, though the World Twenty20 was a setback," the former South Africa opener told reporters after the national team's training camp in Bangalore on Thursday.

"We are very positive and all of us want to move on," Kirsten said.

India, who will also participate in a tri-series in Sri Lanka that featuring New Zealand from Sept. 8-14, have not lost a one-day series in the past year following a surprise tri-series victory in Australia last February.

"We take pride in our consistency over a long period. It is a quality team and the players are mentally fresh and look good physically too," Kirsten said.

"It is good to have Rahul Dravid back in the team. He adds massive value to the team," Kirsten said of the former captain, who is only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to score over 10,000 runs in both test and one-day forms.

Tendulkar has also returned after opting out of the one-day series in the West Indies, which the tourists won 2-1 last month, but explosive opener Virender Sehwag will miss both tournaments after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Ishant Sharma will spearhead the five-man pace attack in the absence of experienced left-armer Zaheer Khan, who has been ruled out of action until the end of the year after undergoing surgery on an injured shoulder.

The Training Begins For The Men In Blues

The Indian cricket squad got down to business on Thursday after a more or less two-month long break and began the four-day training camp being held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

The taming camp is being held under the observant eyes of Coach Gary Kirsten and trainer Ramji Srinivasan.

Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar were seen at the ground practicing hard in advance of the tri-series which will be played between India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand from Sept 8 to14, 2009.

Daniel Vettori claims 300th Test wicket

Daniel Vettori became the eighth player and first left-arm bowler in account to take 300 wickets and score 3000 test runs as he got two wickets Sri Lanka on the first day of the second test of their enduring series.

With this new record, Vettori has become one of the supreme all rounders of all time, currently standing at the eight place, behind Chaminda Vaas, Imran Khan, Ian Botham, Shaun Pollock, Sir Richard Hadlee, India's Kapil Dev and table topper Shane Warne, who has scored 3154 runs and taken 708 wickets in 145 matches.

While Vettori may not exceed Warne's wickets tally, he will surely go beyond Kapil Dev's tally of 5248 runs in the years to come. Vettori, who was eager to claim his 300th wicket, brought himself on in the 11th over of the innings. He first took out Tharanga Paranavitana who was caught at slip by Ross Taylor. Two balls after that Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara had achieved his half century; Vettori claimed his 300th wicket as the batsman shattered straight to the sweeper.

Vettori made his first appearance against England back in 1997 when he was just 18 years old. Till date he is the youngest New Zealand player to debut in Tests and has metamorphosed on his own to become the main strike bowler for his side. He is now the second most flourishing bowler for New Zealand, second only to the great Sir Richard Hadlee.

Vettori has scored three centuries in tests. Vettori scored his 1,000th run at an average of 17.24 but speed up to 42.52 when he reached the 2,000 run mark as he scored the runs in just 22 matches. As of March 2009, Vettori's average batting at number 8 was 45.91 (for Tests) and is currently the best average of all time for a player batting at number 8.

Ishant Ready for Tri Nation Series

Seamer Ishant Sharma is all set for the new season starts with the tri-nation series in Sri Lanka starting on September 8.He felt that the side will miss senior players Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan in the upcoming ODI series in Colombo — involving India, New Zealand and hosts Sri Lanka and in the great honorable Champions Trophy.

“Sehwag is our important batsman and Zaheer is our main strike bowler. Their presence in the lineup is always cheering. We will definitely miss them,” said Ishant, who was here for a promotional event.

“The stress is always there to perform, and I am sure the team will live up to the anticipation.”

About his personal form, Ishant said: “I am working hard for the last few weeks. We have to regularly improve our performance.”

About the controversy surrounding Delhi cricketers and Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA), He said: “I do not want to remark on this matter. I can only say that I was a part of Delhi team and I have not left them. I will go on playing for Delhi.”

ESPN Star Sports plans to live Two big Cricketing Actions

The two Cricketing actions, The Champions Trophy and Champions T20 League is going to be watched over the next couple of months, ESPN Star Sports (ESS) is all set to roll out its advertising promotion to build publicity among fans.

The overarching theme of the campaign is ‘Diwali Hogi Cup Wali’. It will commence in the first week of next month.

ESS marketing director Nirmal Dayani said that both these properties see India’s pride at venture. “In the Champions Trophy, India plays other countries to emerge victorious. In the Champions League, the three IPL franchises representing India battle the top teams in other leagues. Indians rejoice two things – victory in cricket and Diwali. Our theme radiated from this background.”

Dayani notes that after India’s unsatisfactory show in the Twenty20 World Cup, there is a desire among fans for India to regain the cup. This thirst is what the campaign takes on.

ESS will look at making a point that during the festive season there are reasons for Indians to celebrate besides Diwali. While not relate the budget for the campaign, Dayani notes that there will be a healthy mix of above and below-the-line activities. In terms of below-the-line activation, the broadcaster is looking at film tie-ups.

The sports broadcaster will use film stars of a big Bollywood release as part of its drive.

This would be the first stage of the campaign. The presenter would also be looking at interactivity where winners of consumer promotions will get to fly to South Africa to watch the event. When the Champions Trophy kicks off, the campaign would shift gears. The second leg would commence where it will focus on the Champions T20 League.

ESS is also planning to give live action for these two Cricket events.

ECB tight-lipped over Flintoff

The England & Wales Cricket Board has refused to comment on reports that Andrew Flintoff requires knee reconstruction surgery.Flintoff has already confirmed that he will retire from Test cricket at the end of the current Ashes series due to long-running knee and ankle problems.

The all-rounder has been named in the one-day side for seven games against Australia which follow the Test series and also September's ICC Champions Trophy.

However, a newspaper report on Friday claimed Flintoff was likely to undergo surgery immediately after the fifth Test which would effectively rule him out for up to nine months.

"We are making no further comment on his medical condition," said an ECB spokesman.

"We are leaving him to concentrate on the task at hand, which is on the field.

"As we have said previously an operation remains an option at the end of the series.

"He will be reassessed at the end of this current match."

Delhi Ranji Row

The circumstances at the Delhi District and Cricket union has attained boiling point as more and more earlier cricketers and selectors have joined Sehwag in his remonstration against dishonesty.

Now Bantoo Singh who is a selector with DDCA has also extended his hold for Sehwag, on Thursday he stated that one cannot ignore someone as reputable as Sehwag and that the extensive corruption that is distressing the team selection must be put to a stop at the earliest. A day ago four heavyweights of Indian cricket as Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra and Gautam Gambhir also joined forces with Sehwag.

The DDCA associates are up in opposition to the wall as Gambhir and Ishant today determined to give the Ranji trophy training camp at the Ferozshah Kotla ground a miss. Sehwag too did not attened due to his shoulder injury. “I am totally behind Sehwag. There should be clearness in the selection process and if the circumstance remains same, I wouldn't hesitate switching to a different state," said Gambhir.

A day ago Virender Sehwag threatened to quit the Delhi Ranji Team if the DDCA members don't stop controlling the selection board. The Delhi District and Cricket Association is known for ruthless corruption as worthy players never manage to make it to the Ranji side while those with deep pockets but no talent do.

"I am trying to leave Delhi and play for Hariyana. I spoke to the Delhi District and Cricket Association (DDCA) president, Mr. Arun Jaitley, and he has asked me to discuss the topic with him and then take a verdict. If I am not pleased with the outcome of our gathering, I will surely leave Delhi," Sehwag had said.

"There is too much intrusion and exploitation from the sports committee in selection board. The sports committee has got too much power. There is more interference at the under-16 and under-19 levels than the Ranji Trophy. In a squad of 15, for instance, the sports committee tries to influence the selectors and slip in one or two of 'their own' boys,"

Change in the Schedule of Tri-Series

India will play continuous matches in opposition to New Zealand and Sri Lanka in next month's tri-series here after the organizers rearranged the competition following a request from the BCCI.

According to the new agenda, India's first match in opposition to New Zealand has been pushed back by a day from the earlier scheduled September 10.

"The BCCI requested us to postpone the first match by a day and we did that," a Sri Lanka Cricket official told.

India will play its second match the next day, against the Lankans, on September 12.

The BCCI ask for the change in schedule so that its top players can take part in the September 1-8 Corporate Trophy at home.

The Indian players will arrive at Colombo on September 9, a day after the tri-series opens at the Premadasa stadium here with a match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Sachin's Idea to make kids watching Cricket from his own Experience

Sachin Tendulkar has recommended a exclusive way to maintain fan notice in Test cricket involve school children for free of cost.

Speaking at the instigate of Harsha Bhogle's new book Out of the Box - Watching the Game We Love, Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in Test as well as one-day cricket, mentioned his own example as a cricket fan which facilitate him to realize his dream.

Book launch was followed by a driven panel discussion on the changing face of the game of cricket.

"I had recommended to the BCCI in one of their gatherings that when I was a 10-year-old boy, the first time I entered a stadium was when West Indies were playing India in Mumbai," he said. "That is still fixed in my memories - that first walk inside the stadium.

"The BCCI should try and do that for school kids and college-going boys," he added. "Maybe on Saturdays and Sundays one stand could be kept for school children and other students. It would be free of become sort of an enticement for the toppers.

"They should be cost for the toppers, whether they are toppers in sports or various other subjects. But it could allow seeing the Test cricket, because that first preface to live cricket inside a stadium will always stay with their memories forever. Out of those students, even if 10 per cent get transformed into cricket fans, then that is accomplishment for us."

Tendulkar, who has written the preface to Bhogle's book, was given the first copy at the launch. The book is a collection of Bhogle's weekly columns for The Indian Express. This 275-page book is published by Viking from Penguin Books India.

India On The Right Move

The selectors have done the accurate move by evoking Rahul Dravid for ODIs. The move to drop him was a bad decision in the first place. The selectors felt that Dravid at 34 was too old for ODIs and there were juvenile cricketers all set to take his place. Both the premises have proved to be wrong.

Dravid has since re - invented his game to play the Twenty20 format of game. He was outstanding at the IPL championship in South Africa this year. In disparity, the players who swapped Dravid have botched to establish themselves in the squad. They couldn't play straight seam bowling or the short ball. It is only sensible to wait for that their technical limitations will be exposed on the bouncy tracks in South Africa, the venue for the Champions Trophy. In contrast, Dravid has a extraordinary ODI record on South African pitches. He has scored 850 runs in 27 matches with an average of 44.73. He can acclimatize his batting according to the circumstances and is one of the best finishers in the game.

Team India has to field its best players. The importance must be on performance and not non-cricket categories like youth. The arguable point is whether the batsman is scoring runs and is a sensibly good fielder. If he be eligible on both grounds, he has to play. A good team must have a mix of adolescence and experience. Team India has a youthful feel about it and the only player in the squad who is over 30 is Sachin Tendulkar. Dravid will bring in a count of experience and can guide young players in the team. Few international players have scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs and Tests.

Indian selectors must learn a lesson or two from their Australian complements about team selection. Australians play their best players until they slow down. Young players are made to serve their apprenticeship until there is a vacancy in the side. We emerge to fast-track young players and their inexperience and immaturity show up when they play international cricket. Blood 16-year-olds if they have the aptitude of a Tendulkar, otherwise wait for them to grow and allow their game to established. That way they'll serve the team for long.

The Best Ever Chapions Trophy in 2009

Queries have been raised about Champions Trophy's weight in an already packed international calendar but the ICC has guaranteed that it would be an overall a different experience when the biennial event gets on the go next month in South Africa.

Authoritatively launching from September 22nd to October 5th tournament in South Africa, ICC head executive Haroon Lorgat said the event, offering a enormous USD four million prize money, would conceal all its earlier editions.

"This ICC Champions Trophy is pretty different and more exciting compared to all the ones that went before," said Lorgat.

"Successfully, it is in one location with two world-class venues at The Wanderers and Centurion. It is a short, sharp event with just the top eight-ranked ODI teams battling in this international contest," he said. "The event is all about esteem.

Dhoni Plan for Next Tri-Series in Srilanka

By means of only three days to go for the selection of the Indian cricket team for the Sri Lanka tri-series, improbability still emerge over Delhi dare devil Virender Sehwag. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni botched to authenticate on whether the hurted opener would be available for the tour.

Sehwag is now undergoing treatment after his shoulder surgery in June and skipped the pre-season fitness camp out in Delhi.

“Sehwag is improving every day. He is getting all set for the Champions Trophy. But whether he will be available for the Sri Lanka series, it will be too soon to say right now,” Dhoni said at a press discussion held for the forthcoming Kolkata Fashion Week here.

On the other hand, the Indian skipper said he was looking forward to have Sehwag back in the side as his presence will promote the side.
The BCCI has inquired Sehwag to report back on August 15 for reviewing the level of his recovery.
Dhoni said the squad might have a preliminary camp previous to the tri-series starting in the month of September 8. Apart from India and hosts Sri Lanka, New Zealand is the third side in the series.

“We might have the preparatory camp will help us get into the channel and get ready for the season ahead,” Dhoni said.

IPL Season 3 to Start next year

The Champions of 2009 DLF IPL Deccan Chargers will battle with Kolkata Knight Riders at Hyderabad in the stating match of the 60-match IPL season 3 to be played from March 12, 2010 to April 25, 2010. This was declared by Lalit Modi, Chairman of the IPL Governing Council.

The added match will be a play–off for the third and fourth place between the losing two teams in semifinals.

It was also said that Mumbai Indians will play a few matches at Nagpur, Deccan Chargers will play few matches at Visakhapatnam, Kings XI Punjab at Dharamsala and Rajasthan Royals at Ahmedabad.

Modi also pronounced that in 2011 two more authorized teams would be listed to make for 10 teams and playing 94 matches in 12 centers.

The governing board has also in an opinion decided to give a chance for former ICL players to feature from the 2009 event.

“The BCCI had taken a conclusion that the former insurgent players, who accepted the reprieve offer by May 31, will not be allowed entry into the IPL for 12 months.

“But the Working Committee is probable to allow them and subject to some strategy.

It’s been planned that they should not be paid lower than Rs. 8 lakh and in surfeit of Rs. 20 lakh. It’s up to the BCCI to draft the strategy and identify players in the two categories.

“If a franchise had signed in a player from the earlier ICL group, it will be treated as null and invalid,” said Modi.

Illuminating that the operating cost for season II held in South Africa were much higher, Mr. Modi said the modalities of making up the shortfall of the eight franchises will be addressed at a conference next week with the team owners.

“The prices of tickets were much lower than it was in India in 2008 and the capacity at each ground in South Africa was lower than the grounds in India. Taking all this into consideration we will work out ways to meet the loss of the team owners. The IPL will try to understand all issues and cover the shortfall.”

Important changes for Season Three :

A noteworthy change has also been made to the strategic time out for the season III next year. The fielding skipper will have the choice to take a two and half minute between the 6th and 10th overs and the batsman will have the option to take a two and half minute between the 11th and 16th overs. So totally 5 minutes only in an inning totally 10 minutes for a match, it has been divided into four which saves more time it seems the same time but it is not a irritating one for the players and the viewrs.

IPL will use the services of ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit; Transfer window from December 15 to January 5, 2010; All capped international players will have to go through a public sale that will be decided in discussion with the franchises; IPL to maintain $ 7 million cap at the sale; Players to obtain NOC from member countries of ICC every year.

This is to sustain the supreme nature of the ICC’s Future Tour Programme (FTP); Icon player status to be eradicated.

Injury Keep Backs the Pietersen

English All-Rounder Kevin Pietersen's recuperation from an Achilles operation has suffered a hold up after he was enforced to go again to hospital with contaminated scar tissue.

Pietersen went under the operation last month after stressed to play a full part in the first two Ashes Tests in opposition to Australia.

He had previously been ruled out of the rest of the series after annoying the long-running problem throughout the second Test victory at Lord's.

Now the England and Wales Cricket Board has established that the 29-year-old batsman has returned to hospital for additional treatment.

Pietersen had been inundated by the trouble since England's tour to the West Indies in March.

He accounted further discomfort following his spell in the Indian Premier League in April and was then enforced to miss the one-day series against the West Indies when they toured England in May.

Pietersen has been listed in England's initial 30-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins in South Africa on September 21.

England Players Sent to County matches to get Back their Form

Ravi Bopara and Ian Bell, who are the England's out-of-form middle-order batsmen, are along with five players who have been released by the ECB to play county cricket in an effort to recover form before of the final Ashes Test starting on August 20 at The Oval. Alastair Cook, Graeme Swann and Graham Onions are the others who have been made offered to their counties for the next round of Championship matches.

Bopara and Cook will play for Essex in opposition to Middlesex, who will not have Andrew Strauss' services, at Lord's from Tuesday while Bell and Swann will face each other when Warwickshire meet Nottinghamshire.

"Following discussions with the England squad management, it has been determined to make a number of players offered to their counties for four-day cricket this week," ECB administration director Hugh Morris said. "We are conscious that we underperformed with bat and ball at Headingley and this decision is designed to give players and prospect to spend time in the middle and get overs under their belt ahead of the vital fifth npower Test at The Brit Oval next week."

England's middle-order, consist of Bopara, Bell and Paul Collingwood, who is not available to Durham, added a worthless 16 runs between them in two innings at Headingley. Bopara has been in poor form right during the series, scoring 105 runs at an standard of 15, while Bell has made only 64 runs in three innings since he swapped the injured Kevin Pietersen at No. 4. Cook's performances have also dipped - he now averages 29 after four Tests - while Collingwood has scored only 151 in five innings since his match-saving 74 in Cardiff.

Kumble Making out the WADA Issue

Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has united to the International Cricket Council board to arrange out the WADA issue with the BCCI.

The associates of the board, former Indian Test captain Anil Kumble, BCCI secretary N Srinivasan and ICC chief Advisor IS Bindra will try and make amends with the BCCI over WADA's controversial 'whereabouts' clause. The group would report back to the ICC Board at the earliest probable opportunity.

According to the new indenture by the World Anti-Doping Agency, each player of each team must report his whereabouts every single day for every three whole months. All the other international cricket teams have contracted to the clause and have sealed the deal. However, superior players and the BCCI oppose with this rule and rebuff to submit.

The new system by BCCI will feature techniques to test the players without having to bring up every single detail of their whereabouts. Goes without saying, the BCCI has faced a lot of criticism from the ICC and the other teams. Indian sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill has insist to the BCCI to happily agree to the WADA rules. However the cricket board decline to accept due to the privacy security issues, particularly during off seasons.

In the meantime the International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP) will be headed by Tim Kerr and also includes ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat. "I am pleased we have represented this group as I believe it will help to determine the practical concerns of Indian players," Lorgat said.

BCCI has come up with its own plan. "This year, the BCCI will first tutor every association about dope testing," chief executive officer Ratnakar Shetty told.

"We can't just issue patterns of WADA and anticipate them to read it. The language used by WADA is complicate to understand, so we'll be engaging specialists to give instructions on this," he said.

Vettori Looks for a Win in Next Test Battle with Sri Lanka

New Zealand cricket skipper Daniel Vettori is certain his side has the ability to compete with Sri Lanka and India in its forthcoming test and limited overs series, saying the only thing his team be short of experience.

"We have not played a lot of test cricket so our shows haven’t been as excellent as they should be," Vettori told to reporters. "This side has the capacity to succeed. We have to just get some performances under our restraint."

The Kiwis arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday to play two test matches and a tri-nation limited-overs series in opposition to the hosts and India.

The 30-year-old Vettori is the most skilled player in the side with 92 test matches while 11 players in his 15-member test squad have only played 95 test matches between them.

Previously in this year, New Zealand played in India in a three-match home test series which they lost to the result of 1-0.

In the meantime, Sri Lanka is being carried high after thrashing Pakistan 2-0 in last month's test series and has taken an incontrovertible 3-0 lead in their five-match limited-overs series with two matches still to be played.

"Our buoyancy grows with every win, we must take this into the next series," Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara said.

The first test match among Sri Lanka and New Zealand will be played in Galle from August. 18 2009.

Yuvaraj Speaks About Dope Tests

Yuvraj Singh has made a talk at the disparagement over the Indian cricketers' verdict to eliminate the World Anti Doping Agency's set of laws regarding drug testing, asking for cricketers to be treated differently from other sportsmen. "Their sports and our sport are different, we play more and we get very little time with our family and I feel we are traveling more. We are playing a lot of time in a year and we should be given more freedom, with due esteem to other sports."

Indian cricketers have raised concerns that the code's situation phrase will need them to give away information that could breach the solitude and intimidate their security. However, several top Indian athletes previously tested by WADA have said the code does not violate on privacy. The Indian sports minister MS Gill authorized the view, saying all national sports bodies and players should support the WADA and hold to its set of laws. The BCCI plans to ask the ICC to walk out of the WADA umbrella and develop a cricket-specific anti-doping code, but cricket's main body is improbable to support such a proposal.

The wide-ranging of traveling, Yuvraj said, gave India's cricketers too few days to spend at home each year. "After nine months of playing, we come home for just ten days," he said. "We don't want somebody to interfere upon our privacy for dope tests during that few days. We have put out our position in front of the BCCI and they will speak to the ICC."

England Making Strong Bowling

England strengthens their bowling options by adding the names of Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Harmison in a 14-man team for the fourth Ashes Test in opposition to Australia at Headingley starting this week.

England, who lead the series 1-0 with two matches left, also added uncapped batsman Jonathan Trott in the squad for the match starting on Friday.

Graeme Swann will present captain Andrew Strauss with the spinning option on what is normally a seamer-friendly pitch.

Harmison could swap Andrew Flintoff the all rounder's knee grievance rule him out, while left-arm seamer Sidebottom comes into the squad just as in Stuart Broad's place has come under risk after a poor series with the ball.

"We will need to watchfully review the pitch and the overhead circumstances at Headingley before finalizing our 11 for this Test and the enclosure of Stephen Harmison and Ryan Sidebottom will give us different types of pace bowling alternatives," said by the ECB's national selector Geoff Miller.

"Both players have been in good form for their counties in recent weeks and as selectors we are charmed that contest for places in the side are so well-built."

Miller said they would not scuttle a conclusion on the 31-year-old Flintoff who finished up wicket-less at Edgbaston but hit form with the bat, with a confident 74.

"We will carry on to strongly monitoring Andrew Flintoff's fitness in the build-up to Headingley," said by Miller.

"His right knee will be reassessed by our medical team for the next 48 hours and no concluding pronouncement on his availability will be taken until closer to the start of the Test match."

England's team executive Andy Flower said the inclusion of South Africa born Trott did not mean Ravi Bopara's place at number three was under menace.

Flower said "We might want the additional batsman,” "Ravi will bat at number three absolutely at Headingley but Trott will be there if we want to pick a sixth batsman if Flintoff is wounded."

"We have planned for the possibility if Flintoff does pull out but he is pretty positive he will be okay," added Flower on Flintoff's likelihood of getting better from the physical exertions of Edgbaston. "He is a burly bloke, he has a strong body and a strong mind and a strong will and he definitely wants to play these last two Test matches."

Team for the 4th Test:

Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Graham Onions, Matt Prior, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.