|
The Pakistan cricket team left for England on a two-month tour without fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. It has been reported that Shoaib has been suffering from stomach problems and fever and is scheduled to join the team later. The PCB director Munawwar Rana said Shoaib had no fitness problems and that his current ailment was just a minor one. Shoaib may not be in England in time to play Pakistan's first match against the British Universities beginning this Friday
ICC's special investigators questioned former international players Aravinda de Silva and former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga. Desmond Fernando who has been appointed by the Sri Lankan Board to look into the match fixing issue was also present. The Sri Lankan duo, along with many other international cricketers, was named by an Indian bookie in the CBI report that was published last year.
Meanwhile it has been reported that Pakistan cricketers Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi were interrogated last month just after the Sharjah tournament by the three-member committee set up by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). Sir Paul Condon, head of the ICC's anti -corruption unit was also present during the questioning. Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was also questioned. The ECB had instituted this committee after the ICC President Malcolm Gray expressed his concern over the continued allegations of match-fixing in Sharjah.
IS Bindra, the former president of the BCCI who has been asked to report before the Emirates Cricket Board inquiry commission on May 16, may have to postpone his date due to professional commitments. He has requested the commission to give him fresh dates. The inquiry commission to explain his allegations that an India-New Zealand one-day match played at Sharjah in 1998 was fixed has called Bindra. The Commission has also issued summons to former Pakistani cricketers Sarfaraz Nawaz and Asif Iqbal. The latter was the chief coordinator of the CBFS at Sharjah, and had recently resigned for this post.
The International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit has recently submitted a rather gloomy report to the ICC's Code of Conduct committee chief Lord Griffiths, confirming that the evils of match fixing were still very much prevalent in the international cricket scene, as can be seen from allegations made recently by former Pakistani coach Javed Miandad against some of his own players. Miandad reportedly told journalists in Pakistan that the recent one-day series in New Zealand were fixed with many of the senior players being involved. Later, Miandad denied the allegations, although the Pakistan Cricket Board has ordered an inquiry panel headed by a former inspector general of police Dilawar Hussain to look into the matter.
The head of the ICC investigation panel into match fixing Sir Paul Condon said that he and his team intend to go far deeper into the whole match-fixing saga than the CBI did recently in India. He said he intended to cover a range of issues that were not covered at all by the CBI report, which was restricted only to cases involving India and its players. The ICC investigation chief who is now in Sri Lanka said he would not allow any cover up on the issue.
The Union minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Ms Uma Bharati said there would not be any hurdles in the way of India hosting the ICC knockout tournament next year. She confirmed that her ministry alone was not responsible for denying India participation in this year's Sharjah tournament. She denied knowledge of the notice issued to the BCCI recently by the Income Tax department asking the Board to explain its income and expenditure details for a few relevant financial years in the 1990's.
The BCCI's consultant on cricketing matters, former Australian opener Geoff Marsh said that the quality of wickets produced for the recently concluded India-Australia Test series should be extended to all venues, if cricket in India is to improve. He also said that trainees for the zonal academies should undergo a two-month stint on such pitches and be provided with good wickets for training. He was also not in favour of the artificial surfaces of the kind being used in New Zealand. Marsh has been given the responsibility of preparing a report on the general areas on Indian cricket including the domestic cricket, wickets and umpires. Without divulging any details of the observations he has made so far, Marsh said he is due to submit his report to the BCCI president AC Muthiah in June this year.
The Australian state of Victoria may have two captains beginning next season. Victoria's long serving captain 35 year old Paul Reiffel had earlier announced his intention to retire from first class cricket. Having been coaxed not to do so he has decide to participate only in the Pura Cup (four-day fixtures) and not play in the one-day fixtures. With the Victorians needing another skipper for the one-day matches former Australian left-hander Matthew Elliot is being tipped as hot favorite.
Ted Dexter, former England skipper has been appointed the new president of the MCC. Sixty-six-year old, Milan (Italy) born Dexter will succeed Lord Alexander from October 1. Dexter has previously held offices of chairman of selectors of the England Cricket Board and is the current chairman of the MCC's cricket committee. Dexter has played in 62 Test matches from 1958 to 1968, scoring 4502 runs (avg. 47.89) with nine hundreds. He was also a useful right arm medium pace bowler and has captured 66 Test wickets. He led England in 30 Test matches from 1961 to 1964.
Former England fast bowler Frank Tyson, will conduct a 13-day clinic with Mumbai cricketers and coaches from May 4. This clinic is organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). The Association has selected 15 boys from different age groups, who will attend this clinic along with the Mumbai Ranji Trophy cricketers.
Title holders Gloucestershire scored their second win of the B&H One-day Cup thanks to a maiden hundred by Matt Windows. Gloucestershire who made 202-7 beat Northamptonshire by a slender margin of 9 runs.
Former Australian batsman Greg Blewett's 84 enabled Nottinghamshire score a comfortable win over Yorkshire at Leeds. Blewett who blasted 10 fours in his knock was involved in a 150 run partnership with Paul Johnson.
Leicestershire's thirty-eight year old Devon Malcolm bowled with the fire of an 18-year-old to hand Lancashire their second consecutive defeat in the B&H Cup. He took 3 wickets in a 4-over spell to send the favorites to 25-5. Leicestershire won by 27 runs.
Former Australian pace bowler Andy Bichel scored his maiden one-day hundred for Worcestershire against Glamorgan. He also took two wickets to take his team to an easy victory.
West Indies vs South Africa at St John's, Antigua (2nd One day international)
Yesterday's News
News Roll archive
Compiled by: Mohandas Menon
|
South Africa leveled the seven-match one-day series with a convincing win over West Indies at St John's, Antigua in the second one-day international. After a positive start, the West Indies lower-order crumbled and could only post a modest total of 220 that the South Africans overtook easily to win by 8 wickets and with 4.1 overs to spare. Opener Herschelle Gibbs scored 104 with 8 fours and 3 sixes and was the anchor in the South African chase, while Jacques Kallis made an unbeaten 78. Incidentally this was South Africa's first ODI win in the Caribbean. They had lost their previous four matches, including the three during their 1992 tour.
