The African Safari begins

Sourav Ganguly, the Indian skipper feels that the practice sessions his team will have for nearly a week leading up to the triangular series will be of vital importance for the overall performance of the team.
He expressed disappointment at the unavailability of VVS Laxman, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra and but felt that it would do them good in the long-term. The trio should join the team for the Tests, he said.
The triangular series begins on October 5, which also features Kenya. The skipper also expressed his confidence that the team would put up a better performance than that of their last trip to the country in 1996-97.

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Meanwhile, the departure of Mumbai all rounder Ajit Agarkar was delayed further by a day following a delay in processing of his visa papers. He leaves on the morning of September 26.

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The South Africa A side to play India in a warm up one-day encounter at Benoni on October 3 has been announced.
The full team is as follows:
HD Ackerman (Capt), Boeta Dippenaar, Gerald Dros, Justin Kemp, Jon Kent, Charl Langeveldt, Mfuneko Ngam, Justin Ontong, Jacques Rudolph, Roger Telemachus, Thami Tsolikile, Martin van Jaarsveld.
Meanwhile the South African selectors will meet on October 1 to choose the South African 'A' team to play a four-day match game against the Indians from November 10-13 at East London. They will also choose the squad for the forthcoming triangular series.

South Africa in Zimbabwe

Veteran South Africa fast bowler Alan Donald has been ruled out of the remaining two one-day internationals against Zimbabwe to be played on September 29 and 30 following a bout of flu.
Donald who missed the Test series against Zimbabwe as well, has been dogged by injuries all of last season and doubts are being raised about his ability to pull on till the 2003 World Cup that will be hosted by his country.

The BCCI AGM

The scene at the crucial BCCI AGM that is to be held in Chennai on 29 September is hotting up. The rival groups headed by AC Muthiah and Jagmohan Dalmiya have drawn the battle lines and are all set to face each other.
The two-day meeting, will also feature elections to the posts of Secretary, Treasurer, Joint Secretary, and five Vice-Presidents, as well as five national selectors, one from each zone.
Meanwhile Bihar chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, who has been elected as the Bihar Cricket Association's president, has informed the Board that he would attend the meeting.
The current Board secretary Jaywant Lele, a Dalmiya supporter, has been confronted by revolt in his home association Baroda. His right to vote has been withdrawn and the Baroda CA president Chirayu Amin is likely to attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, former BCCI president PM Rungta and his son Kishore, treasurer of the BCCI, have got a stay on against their attending the meeting and will represent their unit, Rajasthan Cricket Association, at the AGM.

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The issue of income tax exemption for the Board is likely to figure prominently at the meeting. The Board's appeal for exemption for a further three-year period is still pending with authorities.
The exemption hitherto enjoyed by the Board expired on March 31, 1998 and BCCI has received a demand from the authorities to pay Rs 10.17 crore in taxes.
The BCCI president AC Muthiah had said BCCI could find itself in serious financial trouble if the Government did not provide tax exemption.

Cronje coming back?

Banned South African skipper Hansie Cronje would be attempting to challenge his ban claiming that cricket officials have interfered with his personal life and right to earn a living.
The ban was announced by the King Commission after Cronje himself said he was severing all links to the game he played. He now however has a desire to return to cricket in a coaching or commentating role.

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Former South African coach Bob Woolmer said he believes Cronje deserves a second chance.
Woolmer and Cronje led South Africa through some wonderful years of cricket when they raised their team's performance to the highest levels.
Woolmer believes like any other person who has done wrong Cronje should be given a chance at rehabilitation as well.

Miscellaneous

West Indian Sherwin Campbell who last lost out on nearly six months of cricket following injury of upper arm and shoulder is now fit and attempting to make a come back. Campbell has been named skipper of his home side Barbados in the one-day domestic competition that begins next week.

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The famous cricket ground at Edgbaston, Birmingham in the Warwickshire county England is likely to be given a £2 million facelift.
The Stadium that hosted its first match in the year 1902 will see 1,300 more seats added and a roof built in time for the Test match against Sri Lanka in May next year.
The increase in seats was prompted by the fact that for the recent Ashes Test match against Australia, the demand for tickets far exceeded the available number of seats available. The capacity of the ground after the facelift will be 21,000.

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The New Zealand Cricket Board has requested the Pakistan Cricket Board to reschedule its tour to Pakistan between March and May next year.
In view of this, the PCB will coordinate with the CBFS in Sharjah about the readjustment of the dates of the Sharjah tournament, in which Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are to take part in April next year.
The rescheduling would mean that the Test matches will be held in March next year, while the One-day International series in May.

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The PCB who had to suffer a huge loss of about Rs 800 million because of the postponement of New Zealand tour and India's refusal to participate in the Asian Test Championship, will host a double-wicket tournament to cover the loss.

Obituary

Former Maharashtra Ranji Trophy player Subash Atmaram Patki passed away on Monday September 24, 2001, after a massive cardiac arrest. He was 65 and is survived by his wife and two sons. The former president of the famed Poona Club, Dr Patki was a stylish opening batsman and had played for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy in two matches in 1958-59 as a batsman. His cricketing career, however, was limited due to his busy medical profession.

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