US crisis affects cricket world

New Zealand Cricket Council chose to call off their tour of Pakistan fearing security of players following the terrorist attacks in the United States.
The New Zealand team that was stationed at Singapore since last two days was called back home after the decision was made by the NZCC.
Meanwhile, the Kiwis also decided to call back the New Zealand A side playing in a club cricket tournament in Hyderabad in India with immediate effect considering the tensions in the region.

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The Pakistan cricket establishment expressed deep disappointment over the cancellation of the visit of the New Zealand team.
Pakistan officials were however confident that the NZCC had only indicated a postponement and that there was hope the tour could take place at a later date.

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England have no change in their international schedule this winter or worries about air travel as they will go ahead with their winter tours of Zimbabwe and later India.
The wisdom of England's tour to Zimbabwe was in doubt because of unrest in the country caused by the Zimbabwean government's land reform policy.
But this was cleared last weekend when Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe agreed to Commonwealth-backed proposals and put an end to the crisis.

South Africa in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is looking to make major changes in the side that lost out to South Africa by 9 wickets in the first Test at Harare.
For the second Test at Bulawayo, which begins today the selectors have included veteran batsman Gavin Rennie and wicketkeeper-batsman Tatenda Taibu to the squad.
There is a possibility that in form batsman Andy Flower will play only as a batsmen giving way to young Taibu to keep wickets.
The home side also hinted at bolstering their spin attack considering the Bulawayo pitch traditionally helped the slower bowlers.
Henry Olonga and Paul Strang could also be brought back after the pounding the home side took in the first Test when South Africa posted 600 runs in their first innings.

News from India

Sourav Ganguly is reportedly in search of a lighter bat for the tour of South Africa. Ganguly had flown to Sareen Sports Industries, Meerut that has been supplying bats to many of the top Indian cricketers to select an appropriate bat.
The authorities from Sareen also confirmed that players had placed orders for bats for the tour of South Africa and that they will be ready by next week.
His deputy Rahul Dravid has also made a visit to Meerut for a lighter bat for the South African tour.

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The MA Chidambaram Stadium at Chennai will have a giant television screen ready for the forthcoming one-day match between India and England in January 2002.
The spectators will now be able to catch the action on the giant screen, which costs the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Rs 5.5 crores (US$ 1.17 million).
The second-hand screen measuring 11.2m in length. 6.4m breadth and 2.4m depth was earlier used at the Melbourne Cricket ground for nine years, before it was damaged in a fire.
However it seems the screen has been completely repaired and would be installed a week before the match. It is also understood that a new screen would have cost Rs 15.0 crores (US$ 3.20 million).

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Members of the Baroda Cricket Association have threatened the secretary of the association, JY Lele, who incidentally is also the secretary of the BCCI, to convene an AGM of the association and approve the accounts.
They threatened to demand the resignation of Lele, if he failed to call for the AGM within a month. The income tax department has reportedly sent a notice to the Baroda CA for failing to file its returns.
However, Lele when contacted for a reaction said all IT papers were in order.

Miscellaneous

The coach of the Australian team called a meeting with all the members of his side to warn them and discuss ways to avoid a burn out over the next year.
The players are currently enjoying a well earned rest but have series against the New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Pakistan in the next 18 months leading up to the World Cup in February, 2003.
Buchanan is worried about the physical impact, which may be on the players as well as the emotional impact of being away from home and family for such long periods.

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The Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) has invited the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to Sharjah for the tournament to be hosted there next month involving Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand.
The ACU will advise the CBFS on the security measures to be adopted during the hosting of cricket matches at the desert venue.
The CBFS has already banned players from using their mobile phones a few hours before the commencement of the matches as well as arranged to have tight security in the dressing room areas prohibiting any stranger from speaking to the cricketers.

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