England's players have presented a strong display of solidarity by agreeing to fly out to Abu Dhabi for a training camp.
Despite reservations from several senior players following the terrorist attacks on Mumbai, every member of the Test squad - with the exception of injured pair Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad - will fly out tomorrow for several days of training.
It is a significant show of support for captain Kevin Pietersen, who has understood the desire to show support for India by continuing the tour while he has also sympathised with those players who had grave reservations about returning.
But the future of the tour is still to be resolved with England expecting further security reports before the players make a final decision about whether to continue their journey to Chennai for the first Test or return home.
Reg Dickason, the team's security consultant, is already out in India checking on the security arrangements in Chennai and Mohali, the venue for the second Test, and is to be joined by Hugh Morris, the managing director of English cricket and Professional Cricketers' Association chief executive Sean Morris.
They will ensure their recommendations are implemented by the Board for Control of Cricket in India before they agree to continue with the tour, but they have both welcomed today's announcement that the players have at least agreed to travel to a halfway house.
"We've spoken over the last 48 hours with every player on at least two and probably three occasions," revealed Hugh Morris. "Today Sean Morris and I spoke to each player together and clearly for those who were out in India, it's been a very traumatic experience.
"We had a lot of discussions today with the players and I'm just delighted to see that everyone will be on the plane bound for Abu Dhabi tomorrow.
"I think it's very important and shows a lot of solidarity that all the players will be going back on the plane. The critical thing is that we've had the initial security reports back in and we will be continuing to monitor them on a daily basis."
The players' reservations about their return are all based on the graphic images of the attacks they witnessed on Indian television before the tour was halted and they returned last Saturday.
They were particularly shaken up by reports the terrorists used the 11th floor of the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers hotel - the same floor they stayed on at the start of the tour - as their base for their attacks on guests.
Further pictures of bodies being removed from the hotel, where they were due to return for the second Test until the BCCI issued a revised itinerary, shook them up all the more so their decision to get back onto the plane can be regarded as a triumph for Pietersen's captaincy.
"Kevin has been incredibly supportive and it's nice to see the players lining up behind Kevin," admitted Hugh Morris. "It's good to see the solidarity within the team and clearly it's important for us to provide all the players with the latest security reports.
"What has been very encouraging is that all the players have opted to get back on that plane together and Sean and I will be monitoring the situation on a daily basis."
They will depart tomorrow without Sidebottom, who has failed to recover from the side strain he sustained during the one-day series and the selectors will consider his replacement during their stay in Abu Dhabi.
Fellow Nottinghamshire seamer Broad will also be absent and will instead stay behind for intensive treatment on a hamstring strain he sustained during the fifth one-day international at Cuttack last Wednesday.
Broad has already been ruled out of the first Test in Chennai on December 11 and the speed of his recovery will depend on whether he flies out to join the squad for the final Test at Mohali on December 19.
Any replacements are likely to come from nine members of the Performance Squad who will also travel to Abu Dhabi, which include Ravi Bopara and Samit Patel from the one-day squad and Sajid Mahmood and Amjad Khan who had been added to that squad to cover for injuries before the terrorist attacks curtailed the tour.
Middlesex's Alan Richardson and Durham's Liam Plunkett may also come into consideration, but if England do continue their journey to Chennai they will do so knowing their preparation for a Test series has been seriously disrupted, particularly against an India side who beat Australia recently.
"It will be incredibly difficult," conceded Hugh Morris. "What we're trying to do as far as possible is to provide the players with some level of preparation ahead of the Test series.
"What we're doing is taking some extra bowlers over there to help the players practice. We have a number of different net facilities and middle practice available to us if we want to use them."
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Strauss feels duty to game
Andrew Strauss has revealed England are prepared to fly back due to a sense of "duty to the game of cricket".
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Wednesday a full squad will fly out to Abu Dhabi with the intention of travelling on to India next week for the first Test in Chennai, which starts a week on Thursday, if they are advised it is safe to do so.
Strauss told BBC Radio Five Live: "We've weighed up the pros and cons of going back on tour and I think we've all come to the conclusion, if the security arrangements are sufficient, we've probably got a duty to the game of cricket to get out there and play these two Test matches if at all possible."
All the players in the squad have now received the reports from the ECB security team and also the recommendations Reg Dickason, the team security adviser, has insisted the Board of Control for Cricket in India put in place.
Strauss insisted England have faith in Dickason, saying: "That's what his job is and it would be wrong for us to second guess his professional opinion.
"We travel round the world all the time, we often go to places that have had problems in the past and we put our faith in the security experts to tell us where is safe to travel and where isn't and I don't see why this should be any different.
"To begin with there was a lot of shock and emotion because a lot of it seemed very close to home. When things like that happen you start thinking about being with your family and cricket probably doesn't feel like such a big priority.
"But having had a few days to let things settle down, you look at things a bit more logically and objectively.
"The indications we've got so far is it is (safe) and once the full checks have been made then we can all make that journey to India on Monday. The players I've spoken to have been very much in the same frame of mind as me."
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Wednesday a full squad will fly out to Abu Dhabi with the intention of travelling on to India next week for the first Test in Chennai, which starts a week on Thursday, if they are advised it is safe to do so.
Strauss told BBC Radio Five Live: "We've weighed up the pros and cons of going back on tour and I think we've all come to the conclusion, if the security arrangements are sufficient, we've probably got a duty to the game of cricket to get out there and play these two Test matches if at all possible."
All the players in the squad have now received the reports from the ECB security team and also the recommendations Reg Dickason, the team security adviser, has insisted the Board of Control for Cricket in India put in place.
Strauss insisted England have faith in Dickason, saying: "That's what his job is and it would be wrong for us to second guess his professional opinion.
"We travel round the world all the time, we often go to places that have had problems in the past and we put our faith in the security experts to tell us where is safe to travel and where isn't and I don't see why this should be any different.
"To begin with there was a lot of shock and emotion because a lot of it seemed very close to home. When things like that happen you start thinking about being with your family and cricket probably doesn't feel like such a big priority.
"But having had a few days to let things settle down, you look at things a bit more logically and objectively.
"The indications we've got so far is it is (safe) and once the full checks have been made then we can all make that journey to India on Monday. The players I've spoken to have been very much in the same frame of mind as me."
Windies set for England tour
The West Indies have confirmed they will tour England at the start of next summer and replace Zimbabwe.
Political objections to Zimbabwe's tour forced their withdrawal earlier this year, prompting the England and Wales Cricket Board to cast around for replacement tourists.
Sri Lanka were approached initially, but the majority of their leading players are signed up on contracts for the Indian Premier League, which clashes with the two-Test series.
But after weeks of negotiations, the West Indies were confirmed as England's opponents at the start of a summer which also includes the Twenty20 World Cup and a home Ashes series.
"The West Indies are always popular visitors and this completes a wonderful summer of cricket," enthused David Collier, the ECB's chief executive.
"The ECB are most grateful for the excellent support and co-operation provided by the West Indies Board, with whom we have developed an excellent and warm relationship."
The West Indies will play two Tests, at Lord's from May 6 to 10 and at Chester-le-Street from May 14 to 18, before competing in a three-match one-day series at Headingley on May 21, in Bristol on May 24 and at Edgbaston on May 26.
Political objections to Zimbabwe's tour forced their withdrawal earlier this year, prompting the England and Wales Cricket Board to cast around for replacement tourists.
Sri Lanka were approached initially, but the majority of their leading players are signed up on contracts for the Indian Premier League, which clashes with the two-Test series.
But after weeks of negotiations, the West Indies were confirmed as England's opponents at the start of a summer which also includes the Twenty20 World Cup and a home Ashes series.
"The West Indies are always popular visitors and this completes a wonderful summer of cricket," enthused David Collier, the ECB's chief executive.
"The ECB are most grateful for the excellent support and co-operation provided by the West Indies Board, with whom we have developed an excellent and warm relationship."
The West Indies will play two Tests, at Lord's from May 6 to 10 and at Chester-le-Street from May 14 to 18, before competing in a three-match one-day series at Headingley on May 21, in Bristol on May 24 and at Edgbaston on May 26.
Oram ready to face West Indies
New Zealand's Jacob Oram has declared himself available for the first Test against the West Indies next week.
Oram was forced home early from the tour of Bangladesh with a back injury and missed the 2-0 series loss to Australia.
Then while on the comeback trail with Central Districts in a four-day State Championship match against Northern Districts last week he suffered a hairline fracture to his left index finger attempting a catch.
It did not, however, prevent him from bowling 36 overs in a game which Central won by eight wickets.
Oram will line-up for the Stags again on Friday in another four-day game against Otago and if he comes through that unscathed will come into the reckoning for next week's opening Test in Dunedin.
"As far as I'm aware the communication with the selectors and the medical staff is that as of now I am fit for selection and available for selection," Oram told Radio Sport.
"I came back from a back injury against Northern Districts and bowled a heap of overs so the back got cleared. I have just got to make sure the finger can hold up now after getting a little break early on in that game."
It will be a huge fillip for new coach Andy Moles should the 30-year-old all-rounder return after the Black Caps batting collapse in Adelaide which saw critics round on outgoing coach John Bracewell.
Oram has, however, leapt to the defence of his former boss, who has come under fire, in particular from former captain Martin Crowe and ex-Black Caps batsman Nathan Astle, for his methods and the use of a consultancy firm Leading Teams during his time in charge.
"If you ask nearly every player who is in the current team and certain players who have recently left the team you will hear the same answer, they have really enjoyed John Bracewell as a coach," Oram said.
"From my point of view he was probably the best coach I have played under. When I say that people raise their eyebrows and say how can that be the case?
"But there are just certain points about him that struck a chord with me and I know it's the same for a lot of other players in the side."
Crowe has been fiercely critical of Leading Teams influence in the Black Caps dressing room, but Oram is an advocate of the peer assessment and review process.
"I'm all for it. I dont know how he (Crowe) knows how it works with our side. He's not been in our environment for years and years, the same thing with Nathan Astle," Oram added.
Crowe said earlier in the week players were spending 30-40 minutes filling in forms and assessing and reviewing each others performances at the end of each day's play but Oram declared that was way off the mark.
"Before they make assumptions and criticisms they should get their facts right because we are not sitting down and filling out forms every day for 30 to 40 minutes criticising and judging. It just doesn't happen," he said.
"It's five to 10 minutes after a day's play once everyone has done media and recovery sessions. You are in and out."
Oram also believes it is time for the players to step up and take charge of their own performances, especially in the Test arena after disappointments against England and below-par performances against Bangladesh and Australia.
"It's just not enough, we are better than that and guys have shown that in fits and starts," he said.
"But it's about time we got more consistent and instead of one guy sticking his hand up there's three or four guys at a time. Something has got to change.
"I dont think it's technical I think its got to be something between the ears, confidence, that sort of stuff and we have got to address it."
The opening Test against the West Indies starts on December 11 and is followed by another Test in Napier plus two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day matches.
Oram was forced home early from the tour of Bangladesh with a back injury and missed the 2-0 series loss to Australia.
Then while on the comeback trail with Central Districts in a four-day State Championship match against Northern Districts last week he suffered a hairline fracture to his left index finger attempting a catch.
It did not, however, prevent him from bowling 36 overs in a game which Central won by eight wickets.
Oram will line-up for the Stags again on Friday in another four-day game against Otago and if he comes through that unscathed will come into the reckoning for next week's opening Test in Dunedin.
"As far as I'm aware the communication with the selectors and the medical staff is that as of now I am fit for selection and available for selection," Oram told Radio Sport.
"I came back from a back injury against Northern Districts and bowled a heap of overs so the back got cleared. I have just got to make sure the finger can hold up now after getting a little break early on in that game."
It will be a huge fillip for new coach Andy Moles should the 30-year-old all-rounder return after the Black Caps batting collapse in Adelaide which saw critics round on outgoing coach John Bracewell.
Oram has, however, leapt to the defence of his former boss, who has come under fire, in particular from former captain Martin Crowe and ex-Black Caps batsman Nathan Astle, for his methods and the use of a consultancy firm Leading Teams during his time in charge.
"If you ask nearly every player who is in the current team and certain players who have recently left the team you will hear the same answer, they have really enjoyed John Bracewell as a coach," Oram said.
"From my point of view he was probably the best coach I have played under. When I say that people raise their eyebrows and say how can that be the case?
"But there are just certain points about him that struck a chord with me and I know it's the same for a lot of other players in the side."
Crowe has been fiercely critical of Leading Teams influence in the Black Caps dressing room, but Oram is an advocate of the peer assessment and review process.
"I'm all for it. I dont know how he (Crowe) knows how it works with our side. He's not been in our environment for years and years, the same thing with Nathan Astle," Oram added.
Crowe said earlier in the week players were spending 30-40 minutes filling in forms and assessing and reviewing each others performances at the end of each day's play but Oram declared that was way off the mark.
"Before they make assumptions and criticisms they should get their facts right because we are not sitting down and filling out forms every day for 30 to 40 minutes criticising and judging. It just doesn't happen," he said.
"It's five to 10 minutes after a day's play once everyone has done media and recovery sessions. You are in and out."
Oram also believes it is time for the players to step up and take charge of their own performances, especially in the Test arena after disappointments against England and below-par performances against Bangladesh and Australia.
"It's just not enough, we are better than that and guys have shown that in fits and starts," he said.
"But it's about time we got more consistent and instead of one guy sticking his hand up there's three or four guys at a time. Something has got to change.
"I dont think it's technical I think its got to be something between the ears, confidence, that sort of stuff and we have got to address it."
The opening Test against the West Indies starts on December 11 and is followed by another Test in Napier plus two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day matches.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
ECB to assess Chennai security Wednesday
ECB's security expert Reg Dickason will make a security assessment of the stadium and hotel in Chennai on Wednesday.
Dickason landed by a Emirate flight at 8:10 am and immediately proceeded to his hotel. Officials of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association received him at the airport.
During the day Dickason will also have detailed discussion with top BCCI officials regarding the security arrangements at the venues for the series.
A lot depends on what the security expert reports. Chennai is generally seen as a safe place in India but got a jolt two days back when Australia pulled out of the inernational doubles squash tournament due to security reasons.
After Chennai, he will then proceed to Mohali, the venue of the second cricket Test, and undertake a similar exercise.
The England team, which was touring in India for a seven match ODI series, was supposed to stay on for a two-Test series.
However, last Wednesday, even as India thrashed Kevin Pietersen's men in Cuttack to go 5-0 up, 10 gun-men struck at the heart of Mumbai and taking two prominent hotels under siege.
The visiting team made known their decision to return home but assured the BCCI to come back for the Tests if security arrangements were satisfactory.
The BCCI subsequently changed the venues, shifting the Tests from Ahmedabad and Mumbai to Chennai and Mohali.
There have been different reactions coming from present and former England players, with some asking the England team to go ahead with the tour and not let terrorists hold sway.
However, England stars Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Graeme Swann have clearly revealed their reluctance to tour India despite change of venues.
Dickason was with the England team which returned home abruptly abandoning the last two ODI matches following the terror attacks in Mumbai. He has been entrusted with the task of submitting a comprehensive report to the ECB, which will then determine the fate of the Test series.
Dickason landed by a Emirate flight at 8:10 am and immediately proceeded to his hotel. Officials of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association received him at the airport.
During the day Dickason will also have detailed discussion with top BCCI officials regarding the security arrangements at the venues for the series.
A lot depends on what the security expert reports. Chennai is generally seen as a safe place in India but got a jolt two days back when Australia pulled out of the inernational doubles squash tournament due to security reasons.
After Chennai, he will then proceed to Mohali, the venue of the second cricket Test, and undertake a similar exercise.
The England team, which was touring in India for a seven match ODI series, was supposed to stay on for a two-Test series.
However, last Wednesday, even as India thrashed Kevin Pietersen's men in Cuttack to go 5-0 up, 10 gun-men struck at the heart of Mumbai and taking two prominent hotels under siege.
The visiting team made known their decision to return home but assured the BCCI to come back for the Tests if security arrangements were satisfactory.
The BCCI subsequently changed the venues, shifting the Tests from Ahmedabad and Mumbai to Chennai and Mohali.
There have been different reactions coming from present and former England players, with some asking the England team to go ahead with the tour and not let terrorists hold sway.
However, England stars Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Graeme Swann have clearly revealed their reluctance to tour India despite change of venues.
Dickason was with the England team which returned home abruptly abandoning the last two ODI matches following the terror attacks in Mumbai. He has been entrusted with the task of submitting a comprehensive report to the ECB, which will then determine the fate of the Test series.
Examination feelers for Dhoni
The St. Xavier's college in Ranchi is ready to make special arrangements to hold examinations if MS Dhoni is up for it.
The Dean of the college has said that it would be up to the India captain to make a request.
"It could be considered if Dhoni requests the authorities for a special arrangement to appear his B Com (Honours) examination," College Dean Jayant Sinha told PTI.
"Considering his celebrity status and "Z" category security, the authorities will consider such a request," Sinha said when asked whether there would be any special arrangement for Dhoni to appear in the exams.
Dhoni, who had enrolled for first year B Com (Honours) course early this year, chose not to appear in the first semester exams which began yesterday.
The Dean of the college has said that it would be up to the India captain to make a request.
"It could be considered if Dhoni requests the authorities for a special arrangement to appear his B Com (Honours) examination," College Dean Jayant Sinha told PTI.
"Considering his celebrity status and "Z" category security, the authorities will consider such a request," Sinha said when asked whether there would be any special arrangement for Dhoni to appear in the exams.
Dhoni, who had enrolled for first year B Com (Honours) course early this year, chose not to appear in the first semester exams which began yesterday.
Ponting is fine - Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia dismissed speculation that Ricky Ponting's career is under threat due to a chronic wrist injury.
It has been suggested the Australia captain's career could be cut short or that he could have to give up at least one form of the game because of the problem.
"His career is not under any jeopardy in my opinion," said Australian team physio Alex Kountouris amidst speculation that Ponting, who turns 34 this month, will have to consider giving up playing either one-day internationals or Twenty20 matches in order to prolong his Test career.
Kountouris said while Ponting was still battling some pain associated with the wrist surgery he had in July - after being forced home during the one-day series in the West Indies and then missing the limited overs fixtures with Bangladesh in Darwin in August and September - he is able to manage the problem.
Ponting will visit specialist Greg Hoy on Thursday but Kountouris insisted that was only a routine follow-up appointment following his surgery in July.
"It's not as big a deal as everyone is making to be honest," added Kountouris.
"He had an appointment to see the specialist six weeks ago during this break (between Test series) and he just confirmed that appointment.
"He had surgery four months ago and it is fairly routine for Ricky to see the specialist and see how he is progressing and depending on what the surgeon thinks tomorrow we will have some sort of management plan for him."
While Kountouris confirmed Ponting was in some discomfort with the injury - which flares if he has a long stay at the crease - he said his situation was no different to other players who carried minor injuries into matches.
"He is actually functioning okay," he added. "He is fit to play - he has got a little bit of pain in his wrist which is no more what other players have in other parts of their body so he is not really having anything of any significance that he has to miss any game."
It has been suggested the Australia captain's career could be cut short or that he could have to give up at least one form of the game because of the problem.
"His career is not under any jeopardy in my opinion," said Australian team physio Alex Kountouris amidst speculation that Ponting, who turns 34 this month, will have to consider giving up playing either one-day internationals or Twenty20 matches in order to prolong his Test career.
Kountouris said while Ponting was still battling some pain associated with the wrist surgery he had in July - after being forced home during the one-day series in the West Indies and then missing the limited overs fixtures with Bangladesh in Darwin in August and September - he is able to manage the problem.
Ponting will visit specialist Greg Hoy on Thursday but Kountouris insisted that was only a routine follow-up appointment following his surgery in July.
"It's not as big a deal as everyone is making to be honest," added Kountouris.
"He had an appointment to see the specialist six weeks ago during this break (between Test series) and he just confirmed that appointment.
"He had surgery four months ago and it is fairly routine for Ricky to see the specialist and see how he is progressing and depending on what the surgeon thinks tomorrow we will have some sort of management plan for him."
While Kountouris confirmed Ponting was in some discomfort with the injury - which flares if he has a long stay at the crease - he said his situation was no different to other players who carried minor injuries into matches.
"He is actually functioning okay," he added. "He is fit to play - he has got a little bit of pain in his wrist which is no more what other players have in other parts of their body so he is not really having anything of any significance that he has to miss any game."
Razzak vows to return
Abdur Razzak has vowed to make a speedy return to international cricket as soon as he has rectified his suspect bowling action.
The left-arm spinner was suspended by the International Cricket Council after an independent analysis on his bowling action revealed the amount of elbow extension for both his stock delivery and fast ball exceeded the 15 degree level of tolerance.
Razzak was first reported by on-field umpires during the second Test at home against New Zealand in October and the suspension was imposed after an analysis of his action at the Australian Institute of Sport.
"I believe it is possible for me to rectify my action," said Razzak, who has returned to Bangladesh along with the rest of the team following their series in South Africa.
"I am hopeful that even if I miss the Tests against Sri Lanka, I would be able to feature in the one-day series."
Bangladesh will host Sri Lanka for two Tests in a tour starting later this month and will also play a triangular one-day series with Zimbabwe as the third team.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's chief selector Rafiqul Alam said Razzak's suspension was a big blow, particularly after six contracted players and several other fringe players decided to join the unauthorised Indian Cricket League in September.
"Razzak's suspension is a huge blow for us," Alam said. "He is a key player in the side especially in home conditions.
"Hopefully we will find a solution to this vexing problem."
The left-arm spinner was suspended by the International Cricket Council after an independent analysis on his bowling action revealed the amount of elbow extension for both his stock delivery and fast ball exceeded the 15 degree level of tolerance.
Razzak was first reported by on-field umpires during the second Test at home against New Zealand in October and the suspension was imposed after an analysis of his action at the Australian Institute of Sport.
"I believe it is possible for me to rectify my action," said Razzak, who has returned to Bangladesh along with the rest of the team following their series in South Africa.
"I am hopeful that even if I miss the Tests against Sri Lanka, I would be able to feature in the one-day series."
Bangladesh will host Sri Lanka for two Tests in a tour starting later this month and will also play a triangular one-day series with Zimbabwe as the third team.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's chief selector Rafiqul Alam said Razzak's suspension was a big blow, particularly after six contracted players and several other fringe players decided to join the unauthorised Indian Cricket League in September.
"Razzak's suspension is a huge blow for us," Alam said. "He is a key player in the side especially in home conditions.
"Hopefully we will find a solution to this vexing problem."
Players may reject revised tour
The England and Wales Cricket Board are thought to be close to accepting tightened security arrangements.
But for the resumption of the tour to India - former player Dominic Cork claims as many as six of Peter Moores' squad will not return and are "traumatised" by their experience.
The ECB have been locked in talks surrounding the future of the two-Test tour, which was put in doubt by the team's departure on Saturday to reassess the situation following the campaign of terror on Mumbai's leading landmarks, which caused the two remaining one-day internationals to be postponed.
The ECB are thought to be close to agreeing a revised itinerary - including a stop-off and warm-up match in Abu Dhabi - pending Reg Dickason's security assessment.
But Cork insisted a host of unnamed key players are unwilling to travel in the current climate.
"I know of at least five or six players who are going to turn their backs on England," he told Radio Five Live.
"Those I've spoken to are traumatised. What they saw on television was 10 times worse than what was shown here.
"I am not sure about the captain (Kevin Pietersen). I know of certain players who are going to put their families first."
Cork also believes that if any of the playing staff do not want to tour on safety grounds, the team should not go to India at all.
"If one doesn't go, they all shouldn't go. They should make a stand and say 'it's not safe for us to be there'," he added.
"I've spoken to players and they are very upset and feel they wouldn't be able to go out and play cricket in India.
"What is the point of England taking a diluted squad? You're going to India in their backyard. You have a big series against West Indies, and then Australia. It's not very good preparation. The guys will not be focused."
Meanwhile, The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi claims England will train and play a warm-up game at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club, citing sources at the club.
``It is a big honour for Abu Dhabi,'' the source told the newspaper.
``It is an extremely safe environment and we want to make sure that the players feel safe too, but we will be taking nothing for granted and security will be very tight.''
In this plan, England would warm-up in Abu Dhabi, with Dickason visiting Chennai and Mohali, the venues for the two Tests on December 11 and 19, and report back to the ECB on the security arrangements in place.
``A lot of progress has been made and some extremely good and constructive meetings have taken place,'' confirmed ECB chairman Giles Clarke.
``Reg is going to Chennai and we are awaiting his reports.
``The security advice we are receiving has not changed and we are getting a lot of help and co-operation from everyone in India.
``The Board of Control for Cricket in India are doing all it can to facilitate the tour but we must do what we have to do properly and thoroughly. It is what every England player wants and deserves.''
Among the measures England are thought to have demanded from the BCCI has been the introduction of a 20-man commando force at every venue while they also want an evacuation procedure put in place should there be any untoward incidents.
But for all England's concerns, there is a desire to continue with the tour and help India recover from the events of the last week in Mumbai, particularly as Australia continued with the Ashes tour three years ago after the bombings in London.
Clarke stressed: ``Under no circumstances will we allow our cricket to be dictated to by terrorists.
``India is an enormous country and there are large parts of it that have never seen terrorist activity. In 2005 the Aussies were sensible and we are doing the same here.''
England's concerns about their return to India have been mirrored by international player representatives, who are poised to discuss the issue of player safety at their executive meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between December 9 and 12.
The issue is now top of the agenda at the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) meeting with chief executive Tim May admitting:
``We're obviously concerned about the situation.
``On the other hand we are also concerned about the health of the game, both in places like Pakistan and India, and the rest of the world.
``It is a world significantly different now to what it was 15 years ago because of the threat of terrorism. So we need to discuss to what extent we will accept that the level of threat has increased.''
But for the resumption of the tour to India - former player Dominic Cork claims as many as six of Peter Moores' squad will not return and are "traumatised" by their experience.
The ECB have been locked in talks surrounding the future of the two-Test tour, which was put in doubt by the team's departure on Saturday to reassess the situation following the campaign of terror on Mumbai's leading landmarks, which caused the two remaining one-day internationals to be postponed.
The ECB are thought to be close to agreeing a revised itinerary - including a stop-off and warm-up match in Abu Dhabi - pending Reg Dickason's security assessment.
But Cork insisted a host of unnamed key players are unwilling to travel in the current climate.
"I know of at least five or six players who are going to turn their backs on England," he told Radio Five Live.
"Those I've spoken to are traumatised. What they saw on television was 10 times worse than what was shown here.
"I am not sure about the captain (Kevin Pietersen). I know of certain players who are going to put their families first."
Cork also believes that if any of the playing staff do not want to tour on safety grounds, the team should not go to India at all.
"If one doesn't go, they all shouldn't go. They should make a stand and say 'it's not safe for us to be there'," he added.
"I've spoken to players and they are very upset and feel they wouldn't be able to go out and play cricket in India.
"What is the point of England taking a diluted squad? You're going to India in their backyard. You have a big series against West Indies, and then Australia. It's not very good preparation. The guys will not be focused."
Meanwhile, The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi claims England will train and play a warm-up game at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club, citing sources at the club.
``It is a big honour for Abu Dhabi,'' the source told the newspaper.
``It is an extremely safe environment and we want to make sure that the players feel safe too, but we will be taking nothing for granted and security will be very tight.''
In this plan, England would warm-up in Abu Dhabi, with Dickason visiting Chennai and Mohali, the venues for the two Tests on December 11 and 19, and report back to the ECB on the security arrangements in place.
``A lot of progress has been made and some extremely good and constructive meetings have taken place,'' confirmed ECB chairman Giles Clarke.
``Reg is going to Chennai and we are awaiting his reports.
``The security advice we are receiving has not changed and we are getting a lot of help and co-operation from everyone in India.
``The Board of Control for Cricket in India are doing all it can to facilitate the tour but we must do what we have to do properly and thoroughly. It is what every England player wants and deserves.''
Among the measures England are thought to have demanded from the BCCI has been the introduction of a 20-man commando force at every venue while they also want an evacuation procedure put in place should there be any untoward incidents.
But for all England's concerns, there is a desire to continue with the tour and help India recover from the events of the last week in Mumbai, particularly as Australia continued with the Ashes tour three years ago after the bombings in London.
Clarke stressed: ``Under no circumstances will we allow our cricket to be dictated to by terrorists.
``India is an enormous country and there are large parts of it that have never seen terrorist activity. In 2005 the Aussies were sensible and we are doing the same here.''
England's concerns about their return to India have been mirrored by international player representatives, who are poised to discuss the issue of player safety at their executive meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between December 9 and 12.
The issue is now top of the agenda at the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) meeting with chief executive Tim May admitting:
``We're obviously concerned about the situation.
``On the other hand we are also concerned about the health of the game, both in places like Pakistan and India, and the rest of the world.
``It is a world significantly different now to what it was 15 years ago because of the threat of terrorism. So we need to discuss to what extent we will accept that the level of threat has increased.''
Moles to address problems
Incoming New Zealand coach Andy Moles is prepared to shake up the fragile mentalities of the Black Caps.
He says the time is rapidly approaching when the players will no longer be able to use youth and inexperience as reasons for their batting failures, especially in the Test arena.
The Black Caps have dropped to eighth in the Test rankings after being whitewashed 2-0 in Australia. Only Bangladesh, who the New Zealanders almost came unstuck against in their two-Test series in October, sit below them.
New Zealand's batting, especially in the top order, has without doubt been their downfall in recent times as they have struggled to fill the void left by the departures of long-serving players such as Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Mark Richardson and Scott Styris.
While batsmen Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Jamie How and Daniel Flynn undoubted have the talent to succeed, they have only a handful of Test matches under their belts and did not look that confident at the crease against Australia, even on the batting friendly wicket at the Adelaide Oval.
That is an issue Moles, who has taken over from John Bracewell, is hoping can be addressed ahead of his first series in charge - against the West Indies - which starts next week.
He told PA Sport: "We have lost five or six players over the last year to 18 months and the players that come in are looking to fill very big shoes.
"But also, there comes a time where we can't keep saying 'we're young and inexperienced'.
"That may be true but somewhere along the line, and I'm going to try and stress that that line is being drawn in the sand very quickly, the players that are selected - and they are selected because they are the best in the country - must adopt the attitude and the confidence to fill the big shoes that have been vacated."
The former Warwickshire opener, however, is not expecting miracles overnight.
"It's not going to turn around immediately," he added. "Yes, usually when a new coach comes in he can benefit from players (raising their performances) - the honeymoon period.
"But in the long term I need to stress my work ethics and the way we are going to move forward - extra training, intensity of preparation.
"The main thing at first is to gain the players' trust and I only do that by getting close to them and letting them understand how I want to go about my work and what I expect from them."
One expectation is that the batsmen will learn to occupy the crease far longer than they have been doing and cut out the rash shots.
"There are areas in technique that need to improve but I'll be stressing the need to bat for longer periods of time and work on their shot selection and really gain trust in their technique," the Englishman explained.
"If they back their technique, which means they will play for a long time, the runs will come as a consequence of batting for a long period.
"Perhaps at the moment they are looking to play shots to get a score in the book as soon as possible because they perhaps may feel that their technique is such that they will get out.
"I'm going to try and approach it from the other way round, try and get them to work on their technique and then understand, especially for the first three batters, that it's about setting the base for our very dangerous middle and lower order to get a score."
Much has been made of the use of peer assessment within the Black Caps set-up during Bracewell's tenure, with former New Zealand international Martin Crowe highly critical of the former coach's methods and the use of consultancy firm Leading Teams.
But Moles, who used Leading Teams while coach of Northern Districts, refused to be drawn on whether or not it would remain while he was in charge.
"The make-up of the backroom staff is under review at the moment and I'm meeting (skipper) Dan (Vettori) on Wednesday and Thursday so that will all be discussed and we'll finalise that in the next week," added Moles.
"We've used it (Leading Teams at Northern Districts) but I'll talk to Dan and we'll move forward on that."
After meeting with Vettori this week Moles will spend a couple of days watching the West Indies' warm-up match against Auckland before heading to Dunedin to meet the remainder of the New Zealand players on Sunday as preparations begin in earnest for the first Test which starts on December 11.
He says the time is rapidly approaching when the players will no longer be able to use youth and inexperience as reasons for their batting failures, especially in the Test arena.
The Black Caps have dropped to eighth in the Test rankings after being whitewashed 2-0 in Australia. Only Bangladesh, who the New Zealanders almost came unstuck against in their two-Test series in October, sit below them.
New Zealand's batting, especially in the top order, has without doubt been their downfall in recent times as they have struggled to fill the void left by the departures of long-serving players such as Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Mark Richardson and Scott Styris.
While batsmen Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Jamie How and Daniel Flynn undoubted have the talent to succeed, they have only a handful of Test matches under their belts and did not look that confident at the crease against Australia, even on the batting friendly wicket at the Adelaide Oval.
That is an issue Moles, who has taken over from John Bracewell, is hoping can be addressed ahead of his first series in charge - against the West Indies - which starts next week.
He told PA Sport: "We have lost five or six players over the last year to 18 months and the players that come in are looking to fill very big shoes.
"But also, there comes a time where we can't keep saying 'we're young and inexperienced'.
"That may be true but somewhere along the line, and I'm going to try and stress that that line is being drawn in the sand very quickly, the players that are selected - and they are selected because they are the best in the country - must adopt the attitude and the confidence to fill the big shoes that have been vacated."
The former Warwickshire opener, however, is not expecting miracles overnight.
"It's not going to turn around immediately," he added. "Yes, usually when a new coach comes in he can benefit from players (raising their performances) - the honeymoon period.
"But in the long term I need to stress my work ethics and the way we are going to move forward - extra training, intensity of preparation.
"The main thing at first is to gain the players' trust and I only do that by getting close to them and letting them understand how I want to go about my work and what I expect from them."
One expectation is that the batsmen will learn to occupy the crease far longer than they have been doing and cut out the rash shots.
"There are areas in technique that need to improve but I'll be stressing the need to bat for longer periods of time and work on their shot selection and really gain trust in their technique," the Englishman explained.
"If they back their technique, which means they will play for a long time, the runs will come as a consequence of batting for a long period.
"Perhaps at the moment they are looking to play shots to get a score in the book as soon as possible because they perhaps may feel that their technique is such that they will get out.
"I'm going to try and approach it from the other way round, try and get them to work on their technique and then understand, especially for the first three batters, that it's about setting the base for our very dangerous middle and lower order to get a score."
Much has been made of the use of peer assessment within the Black Caps set-up during Bracewell's tenure, with former New Zealand international Martin Crowe highly critical of the former coach's methods and the use of consultancy firm Leading Teams.
But Moles, who used Leading Teams while coach of Northern Districts, refused to be drawn on whether or not it would remain while he was in charge.
"The make-up of the backroom staff is under review at the moment and I'm meeting (skipper) Dan (Vettori) on Wednesday and Thursday so that will all be discussed and we'll finalise that in the next week," added Moles.
"We've used it (Leading Teams at Northern Districts) but I'll talk to Dan and we'll move forward on that."
After meeting with Vettori this week Moles will spend a couple of days watching the West Indies' warm-up match against Auckland before heading to Dunedin to meet the remainder of the New Zealand players on Sunday as preparations begin in earnest for the first Test which starts on December 11.
England to resume tour in UAE
England players will fly into Abu Dhabi on Thursday to play a warm-up game and prepare for the two-Test series in India.
The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi claims England will train and play a warm-up game at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club, citing sources at the club.
The report claims the team will then fly on to Chennai ahead of the first Test which is due to start on December 11 but had been in doubt after the team returned home following last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
"It is a big honour for Abu Dhabi," the source told the newspaper.
"It is an extremely safe environment and we want to make sure that the players feel safe too, but we will be taking nothing for granted and security will be very tight."
Talks continued today between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and various security agencies.
England's one-day squad returned home on Saturday while security reports were assessed on the threat to the team if they return for the two-Test series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have already changed the itinerary to reassure the tourists, with the first Test moved to Chennai from Ahmedabad while the second Test has been moved from Mumbai to Mohali.
Security consultant Reg Dickason, who has acted as an advisor to the team for several years, has already flown out to Chennai and will assess the city in the next 24 hours before heading on to Mohali.
During his stay he will also relay the ECB's numerous security requests should they return.
Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who was born in Mumbai and has a restaurant very close to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - one of the main targets of the terrorist attacks - has revealed he could not sleep when news first came through of the incidents.
Tendulkar, like the rest of the India and England players, was told the horrific news when they returned to their hotel in Bhubaneswar immediately after the fifth one-day international in Cuttack.
"Right after the match, we got to know of the attack and since then I have been disturbed," Tendulkar told the Times of India newspaper.
"I have been tracking the horrific images of mayhem on television. It saddened me to see my countrymen being targeted.
"I couldn't sleep all this time. I am numb, the images keep playing in my head. This was just not an attack on Mumbai - it is an attack on India."
Meanwhile, international player representatives have lifted security on the subcontinent to the top of their agenda as England continue to assess whether to resume their tour of India.
The Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) will discuss player safety at their executive meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between December 9 and 12.
Although it was a subject previously on the list for discussion, it is now the number one area for debate, following the predicament faced by the England team this week.
FICA intend to formulate a procedure for future similar scenarios to the one England were faced with last week and hope their framework will be acceptable to all the game's major stakeholders.
"We are obviously concerned about the situation," FICA chief executive Tim May told PA Sport.
"On the other hand we are also concerned about the health of the game, both in places like Pakistan and India, and the rest of the world.
"It is a world significantly different now to what it was 15 years ago because of the threat of terrorism.
"So we need to discuss to what extent we will accept that the level of threat has increased.
"There needs to be an acceptance that there will be a risk wherever you play in the cricket world and to protect the players as best you can.
"The difficult part of the issue is 'when is it too risky?' Because that is an unknown and only security experts can tell us."
The International Cricket Council's global events such as the Champions Trophy and World Cup - both scheduled to be held in the subcontinent inside the next two-and-a-half years - generate the revenues distributed to dozens of associate and affiliate countries.
So putting a definitive framework in place agreeable to international players, full member countries, tournaments such as the Indian Premier League and ICC would, FICA believe, serve the good of the sport.
"What we aim to do is decide upon a process that all parties will be involved in, where all parties can get together and work through to a solution - that is the umbrella objective of the discussions," May added.
"There is no doubt what has happened in the last week has given the issue greater prominence.
"This issue was listed in our agenda three weeks ago but has been escalated by the significance of the Mumbai attacks.
"Whereas in Pakistan, westerners might have been the target in the past, that was not the case in India.
"Now things have changed significantly, I suggest, with Americans in particular, and British singled out."
The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi claims England will train and play a warm-up game at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club, citing sources at the club.
The report claims the team will then fly on to Chennai ahead of the first Test which is due to start on December 11 but had been in doubt after the team returned home following last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
"It is a big honour for Abu Dhabi," the source told the newspaper.
"It is an extremely safe environment and we want to make sure that the players feel safe too, but we will be taking nothing for granted and security will be very tight."
Talks continued today between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and various security agencies.
England's one-day squad returned home on Saturday while security reports were assessed on the threat to the team if they return for the two-Test series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have already changed the itinerary to reassure the tourists, with the first Test moved to Chennai from Ahmedabad while the second Test has been moved from Mumbai to Mohali.
Security consultant Reg Dickason, who has acted as an advisor to the team for several years, has already flown out to Chennai and will assess the city in the next 24 hours before heading on to Mohali.
During his stay he will also relay the ECB's numerous security requests should they return.
Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who was born in Mumbai and has a restaurant very close to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - one of the main targets of the terrorist attacks - has revealed he could not sleep when news first came through of the incidents.
Tendulkar, like the rest of the India and England players, was told the horrific news when they returned to their hotel in Bhubaneswar immediately after the fifth one-day international in Cuttack.
"Right after the match, we got to know of the attack and since then I have been disturbed," Tendulkar told the Times of India newspaper.
"I have been tracking the horrific images of mayhem on television. It saddened me to see my countrymen being targeted.
"I couldn't sleep all this time. I am numb, the images keep playing in my head. This was just not an attack on Mumbai - it is an attack on India."
Meanwhile, international player representatives have lifted security on the subcontinent to the top of their agenda as England continue to assess whether to resume their tour of India.
The Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) will discuss player safety at their executive meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between December 9 and 12.
Although it was a subject previously on the list for discussion, it is now the number one area for debate, following the predicament faced by the England team this week.
FICA intend to formulate a procedure for future similar scenarios to the one England were faced with last week and hope their framework will be acceptable to all the game's major stakeholders.
"We are obviously concerned about the situation," FICA chief executive Tim May told PA Sport.
"On the other hand we are also concerned about the health of the game, both in places like Pakistan and India, and the rest of the world.
"It is a world significantly different now to what it was 15 years ago because of the threat of terrorism.
"So we need to discuss to what extent we will accept that the level of threat has increased.
"There needs to be an acceptance that there will be a risk wherever you play in the cricket world and to protect the players as best you can.
"The difficult part of the issue is 'when is it too risky?' Because that is an unknown and only security experts can tell us."
The International Cricket Council's global events such as the Champions Trophy and World Cup - both scheduled to be held in the subcontinent inside the next two-and-a-half years - generate the revenues distributed to dozens of associate and affiliate countries.
So putting a definitive framework in place agreeable to international players, full member countries, tournaments such as the Indian Premier League and ICC would, FICA believe, serve the good of the sport.
"What we aim to do is decide upon a process that all parties will be involved in, where all parties can get together and work through to a solution - that is the umbrella objective of the discussions," May added.
"There is no doubt what has happened in the last week has given the issue greater prominence.
"This issue was listed in our agenda three weeks ago but has been escalated by the significance of the Mumbai attacks.
"Whereas in Pakistan, westerners might have been the target in the past, that was not the case in India.
"Now things have changed significantly, I suggest, with Americans in particular, and British singled out."
PCB may sever India ties
PCB and its players may be insisting they have no qualms playing in India despite the growing tensions.
But pressure is building up on the Board to change its soft stance on cricketing ties with the neighbours.
There has been a huge public response to the suggestion by former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif that Pakistani players must boycott the IPL and ICL events to protest the Indian allegations of use of Pakistan territory in the Mumbai attacks.
PCB sources admitted there was now a feeling that if India refuse to tour Pakistan early next year, the Board should rethink its strategy of allowing players to play in India.
"There is a pressure group building up in the cricket circles with the support of some fundamentalist political parties who believe there is no need for the Pakistan Board to insist on having cricket ties with India after the way the Indian media and authorities have blamed Pakistan for the Mumbai attacks," one well placed source told PTI.
"There is pressure that if the Indian government does not send its national team to Pakistan because of the Mumbai attacks then Pakistan should also not allow the Sialkot stallions or other players to play in the Indian Premier League," the source said.
The source said since the Board does not recognise the unofficial Indian cricket League, it had no say in that matter but the source said unofficially they could pressurise the players not to go to India to participate. "The growing feeling is that Pakistan need to adopt a aggressive posture since Indian media is highlighting the fact that some of the Indian players also do not want to play in Pakistan in the existing scenario," the source said.
He said already the Board officials had been conveyed by some parties that they should stop their players from giving out statements about wanting to play in India and about insisting on India touring Pakistan.
"The basis of this growing pressure is that India is now facing the same security issues that Pakistan has faced for a while now and also that some cricket boards are not happy with the arrogance of some Indian Board officials," he said.The source said Pakistan also needed to make it clear to other countries that if they could still go and play in India then there was no reason for them not to tour Pakistan.
But pressure is building up on the Board to change its soft stance on cricketing ties with the neighbours.
There has been a huge public response to the suggestion by former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif that Pakistani players must boycott the IPL and ICL events to protest the Indian allegations of use of Pakistan territory in the Mumbai attacks.
PCB sources admitted there was now a feeling that if India refuse to tour Pakistan early next year, the Board should rethink its strategy of allowing players to play in India.
"There is a pressure group building up in the cricket circles with the support of some fundamentalist political parties who believe there is no need for the Pakistan Board to insist on having cricket ties with India after the way the Indian media and authorities have blamed Pakistan for the Mumbai attacks," one well placed source told PTI.
"There is pressure that if the Indian government does not send its national team to Pakistan because of the Mumbai attacks then Pakistan should also not allow the Sialkot stallions or other players to play in the Indian Premier League," the source said.
The source said since the Board does not recognise the unofficial Indian cricket League, it had no say in that matter but the source said unofficially they could pressurise the players not to go to India to participate. "The growing feeling is that Pakistan need to adopt a aggressive posture since Indian media is highlighting the fact that some of the Indian players also do not want to play in Pakistan in the existing scenario," the source said.
He said already the Board officials had been conveyed by some parties that they should stop their players from giving out statements about wanting to play in India and about insisting on India touring Pakistan.
"The basis of this growing pressure is that India is now facing the same security issues that Pakistan has faced for a while now and also that some cricket boards are not happy with the arrogance of some Indian Board officials," he said.The source said Pakistan also needed to make it clear to other countries that if they could still go and play in India then there was no reason for them not to tour Pakistan.
Caddick: I would go this time
Former England bowler Andrew Caddick feels he would be willing travel to India after last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
England players and management flew home from India at the weekend after the remaining matches of their one-day series were scrapped in the wake of the tragedy.
They are due back to play two Tests this month, with the venues having been switched to Chennai and Mohali by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in an attempt to allay safety fears.
England security consultant Reg Dickason is among a party currently in India to draw up a safety report, which will play a major part in the squad's final decision on whether to return.
In 2001, Caddick and spinner Robert Croft opted out of an Indian tour following the September 11 attacks in the United States.
However, if the security report if favourable, the Somerset seamer claims he would be happy to go in the current circumstances.
"The big difference between now and then is that the ECB do have a very good security team, they've got a very good leader (Dickason) who looks after the players' security, and they'll be leaning on him a lot and asking his advice as to whether the tour will be safe," Caddick told Sky Sports News.
"But I'm sure it will be compared to 9/11, it will be a lot safer than it was back then.
"In 2001, there were nine players on that tour who didn't want to go, and a few of them were forced to go due to different circumstances, and there were a few management who didn't want to go as well.
"Even I was pressurised into going, but thankfully myself and Mr Croft were advised that it wasn't going to be held against us.
"I'm hoping that with the relationship between the players and the ECB, the ECB won't hold it against the players if they feel that their security and well-being is (more important) than the game of cricket.
"You've got to feel sorry for these guys, but it's a different scenario. In 2001 it ended up with a war in Afghanistan and it's still ongoing now."
Asked whether he would be willing to go on tour to India at present if the safety report raised no severe concerns, Caddick said: "I probably would because it's a totally different instance to 9/11.
"You cannot allow these things to stop games of cricket.
"The circumstances are totally different and I do think the security will be in place for that team to go to India and for everything to be taken care of."
England players and management flew home from India at the weekend after the remaining matches of their one-day series were scrapped in the wake of the tragedy.
They are due back to play two Tests this month, with the venues having been switched to Chennai and Mohali by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in an attempt to allay safety fears.
England security consultant Reg Dickason is among a party currently in India to draw up a safety report, which will play a major part in the squad's final decision on whether to return.
In 2001, Caddick and spinner Robert Croft opted out of an Indian tour following the September 11 attacks in the United States.
However, if the security report if favourable, the Somerset seamer claims he would be happy to go in the current circumstances.
"The big difference between now and then is that the ECB do have a very good security team, they've got a very good leader (Dickason) who looks after the players' security, and they'll be leaning on him a lot and asking his advice as to whether the tour will be safe," Caddick told Sky Sports News.
"But I'm sure it will be compared to 9/11, it will be a lot safer than it was back then.
"In 2001, there were nine players on that tour who didn't want to go, and a few of them were forced to go due to different circumstances, and there were a few management who didn't want to go as well.
"Even I was pressurised into going, but thankfully myself and Mr Croft were advised that it wasn't going to be held against us.
"I'm hoping that with the relationship between the players and the ECB, the ECB won't hold it against the players if they feel that their security and well-being is (more important) than the game of cricket.
"You've got to feel sorry for these guys, but it's a different scenario. In 2001 it ended up with a war in Afghanistan and it's still ongoing now."
Asked whether he would be willing to go on tour to India at present if the safety report raised no severe concerns, Caddick said: "I probably would because it's a totally different instance to 9/11.
"You cannot allow these things to stop games of cricket.
"The circumstances are totally different and I do think the security will be in place for that team to go to India and for everything to be taken care of."
Johnson storms up the rankings
Mitchell Johnson stormed into the top 10 in the bowlers' rankings in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Player Rankings.
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
This is the first time the 27- year-old left-arm seamer broke into the top 10 after another special performance against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in the second Test.
He now sits in eighth place, level with Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan and Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas.
It is a remarkable turn around for the Queenslander considering he was outside the top 30 as recently as last month.
The Adelaide Test was also good for Johnson's team-mate Brett Lee, who took nine wickets and moved back into the top five, from where he had fallen during Australia's recent 2-0 series defeat in India.
With Stuart Clark retaining his third place, Australia now has two fast bowlers in the top five again, and three in the top 10, which bodes well ahead of the first Test against South Africa at Perth, traditionally a productive ground for pacers.
Black Caps' skipper Daniel Vettori slipped two places to 14th in the bowling list despite picking up two wickets. Number-one spot still belongs to Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralidaran followed by South Africa's Dale Steyn in second place.
Here is a look at the top 10 batsmen and bowlers of the year so far:
Batsmen
Rank
Player
1
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI)
2
K. Sangakkara (SL)
3
Mohd. Yusuf (Pak)
4
Mike Hussey (Aus)
5
M. Jayawardena (SL)
6
Kevin Pietersen (Eng)
7
Ricky Ponting (Aus)
8
Yunus Khan (Pak)
9
Graeme Smith (SA)
10
Virender Sehwag (Ind)
Bowlers
Rank
Player
1
M. Muralitharan (SL)
2
Dale Steyn (SA)
3
Stuart Clark (Aus)
4
Makhaya Ntini (SA)
5
Brett Lee (Aus)
6
Ryan Sidebottom (Eng)
7
Harbhajan Singh
8
Chaminda Vaas (SL)
9
Shoiab Akhtar (Pak)
10
Mitchell Johnson (Aus)
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
This is the first time the 27- year-old left-arm seamer broke into the top 10 after another special performance against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in the second Test.
He now sits in eighth place, level with Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan and Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas.
It is a remarkable turn around for the Queenslander considering he was outside the top 30 as recently as last month.
The Adelaide Test was also good for Johnson's team-mate Brett Lee, who took nine wickets and moved back into the top five, from where he had fallen during Australia's recent 2-0 series defeat in India.
With Stuart Clark retaining his third place, Australia now has two fast bowlers in the top five again, and three in the top 10, which bodes well ahead of the first Test against South Africa at Perth, traditionally a productive ground for pacers.
Black Caps' skipper Daniel Vettori slipped two places to 14th in the bowling list despite picking up two wickets. Number-one spot still belongs to Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralidaran followed by South Africa's Dale Steyn in second place.
Here is a look at the top 10 batsmen and bowlers of the year so far:
Batsmen
Rank
Player
1
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI)
2
K. Sangakkara (SL)
3
Mohd. Yusuf (Pak)
4
Mike Hussey (Aus)
5
M. Jayawardena (SL)
6
Kevin Pietersen (Eng)
7
Ricky Ponting (Aus)
8
Yunus Khan (Pak)
9
Graeme Smith (SA)
10
Virender Sehwag (Ind)
Bowlers
Rank
Player
1
M. Muralitharan (SL)
2
Dale Steyn (SA)
3
Stuart Clark (Aus)
4
Makhaya Ntini (SA)
5
Brett Lee (Aus)
6
Ryan Sidebottom (Eng)
7
Harbhajan Singh
8
Chaminda Vaas (SL)
9
Shoiab Akhtar (Pak)
10
Mitchell Johnson (Aus)
No threat to CGames, cricket World Cup, says India
India will host the 2010 Commonwealth Games and cricket's World Cup in 2011 as scheduled despite security concerns after the Mumbai terror attacks, top officials said on Tuesday.
Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh said there was no threat to the Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi from October 3-14, 2010.
"What happened in Mumbai is tragic, but sport must go on and we are determined to host the Games," Singh, a member of the International Olympic Committee, told AFP.
"There will be high security for the Games as is common at most international sporting events. There is no cause to worry.
"The Olympic torch relay in New Delhi earlier this year went off without a problem despite demonstrations because the security was very tight."
The 2010 event is only the second time the four-yearly Games have been awarded to an Asian city, the first being the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
The cricket World Cup in 2011, to be jointly hosted by the four South Asian Test nations, was thrown in doubt after diplomatic tensions escalated between India and Pakistan over the Mumbai attacks which left 188 dead.
But India's Sharad Pawar, a federal minister who takes over as president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2010, dismissed speculation the tournament was under threat.
"There is still some time for that and I am confident our government will take corrective actions," Pawar told the CNN-IBN news channel.
"In the near future, you will see a totally different situation where all precautionary measures are taken and nobody will dare to show this kind of courage here."
Indian cricket authorities are awaiting security clearance from the government for a Test tour of Pakistan in January, but media reports say the series is unlikely to take place.
India and Pakistan jointly hosted the World Cup in 1987 and 1996 with Sri Lanka, who organised three matches in 1996, and Bangladesh added as hosts for the 2011 tournament.
Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh said there was no threat to the Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi from October 3-14, 2010.
"What happened in Mumbai is tragic, but sport must go on and we are determined to host the Games," Singh, a member of the International Olympic Committee, told AFP.
"There will be high security for the Games as is common at most international sporting events. There is no cause to worry.
"The Olympic torch relay in New Delhi earlier this year went off without a problem despite demonstrations because the security was very tight."
The 2010 event is only the second time the four-yearly Games have been awarded to an Asian city, the first being the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
The cricket World Cup in 2011, to be jointly hosted by the four South Asian Test nations, was thrown in doubt after diplomatic tensions escalated between India and Pakistan over the Mumbai attacks which left 188 dead.
But India's Sharad Pawar, a federal minister who takes over as president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2010, dismissed speculation the tournament was under threat.
"There is still some time for that and I am confident our government will take corrective actions," Pawar told the CNN-IBN news channel.
"In the near future, you will see a totally different situation where all precautionary measures are taken and nobody will dare to show this kind of courage here."
Indian cricket authorities are awaiting security clearance from the government for a Test tour of Pakistan in January, but media reports say the series is unlikely to take place.
India and Pakistan jointly hosted the World Cup in 1987 and 1996 with Sri Lanka, who organised three matches in 1996, and Bangladesh added as hosts for the 2011 tournament.
Monday, December 1, 2008
England agree to Test series, says India
England have confirmed they will play a two-Test series in India later this month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Monday.
The schedule for the series has once again been revised with the first Test in the southern city of Chennai from December 11-15 and the second in northern Mohali from Dec 19-23, a BCCI statement said.
The three-day tour match from Dec 5-7 has been cancelled, it added.
A formal announcement from the England and Wales Board (ECB) was expected later on Monday.
"The ECB has informed BCCI that England are agreeable to tour India and play two tests," the statement said.
"The ECB will be sending their security consultant for discussions with the authorities in India before final clearance is given for the tour."
England cancelled the last two one-day internationals last week and flew home following the deadly attacks on Mumbai by armed militants which killed at least 170 people.
The schedule for the series has once again been revised with the first Test in the southern city of Chennai from December 11-15 and the second in northern Mohali from Dec 19-23, a BCCI statement said.
The three-day tour match from Dec 5-7 has been cancelled, it added.
A formal announcement from the England and Wales Board (ECB) was expected later on Monday.
"The ECB has informed BCCI that England are agreeable to tour India and play two tests," the statement said.
"The ECB will be sending their security consultant for discussions with the authorities in India before final clearance is given for the tour."
England cancelled the last two one-day internationals last week and flew home following the deadly attacks on Mumbai by armed militants which killed at least 170 people.
Wasim urges India not to sever cricket ties with Pakistan
KARACHI: Former great Wasim Akram Monday called on India not to break cricketing ties with Pakistan, suggesting both countries should instead play a test match in terrorist-hit Mumbai to show solidarity.
The former Pakistan cricket captain made his remarks amid reports that the Indian government has denied its cricket team permission to tour Pakistan early next year following last week's attacks on Mumbai which left more than 170 dead.
'Cricket is not on anyone's mind at the moment, but after three to four days both the countries must take a positive step. I suggest Pakistan and India play a Test in Mumbai so to give a clear message that we will not give in,' Wasim told AFP.
'India is like a second home for me, so whatever has happened there has hurt everyone in Pakistan including me,' said Wasim, who holds the world record of most one-day wickets with 502.
'But if this hits our relations and cricket, it would mean that we have given in to terrorists.'
He cited his own experiences when captaining Pakistan on a tour of India in 1999 despite threats from Hindu fundamentalists, playing the first cricket series between the two countries after a decade-long deadlock due to political tension.
'Cricket means everything in the sub-continent. It has built bridges and has averted wars on several occasions.
People love and worship cricket, so it would be a great loss if cricket is halted. I hope it isn't,' Wasim said.
India had been scheduled to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match during a five-week tour from January 4 to February 19.
The tour was first put in doubt last month when the Indian government refused its national junior hockey team permission to visit Pakistan due to security concerns.
If India cancels its tour, it would be the latest in a string of recent blows to cricket in Pakistan caused by terrorism fears.
Australia cancelled a Test tour of Pakistan in March and the International Cricket Council postponed the high-profile Champions Trophy there in September due to security concerns caused by militant activity.
Wasim said the Mumbai attacks have derailed the peace process between longtime rivals India and Pakistan.
'A week ago our President (Asif Ali Zardari) was suggesting there should be no visas for travelling between the two countries and suddenly we have this tragic incident and the whole thing is derailed,' Wasim said.
The former Pakistan cricket captain made his remarks amid reports that the Indian government has denied its cricket team permission to tour Pakistan early next year following last week's attacks on Mumbai which left more than 170 dead.
'Cricket is not on anyone's mind at the moment, but after three to four days both the countries must take a positive step. I suggest Pakistan and India play a Test in Mumbai so to give a clear message that we will not give in,' Wasim told AFP.
'India is like a second home for me, so whatever has happened there has hurt everyone in Pakistan including me,' said Wasim, who holds the world record of most one-day wickets with 502.
'But if this hits our relations and cricket, it would mean that we have given in to terrorists.'
He cited his own experiences when captaining Pakistan on a tour of India in 1999 despite threats from Hindu fundamentalists, playing the first cricket series between the two countries after a decade-long deadlock due to political tension.
'Cricket means everything in the sub-continent. It has built bridges and has averted wars on several occasions.
People love and worship cricket, so it would be a great loss if cricket is halted. I hope it isn't,' Wasim said.
India had been scheduled to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match during a five-week tour from January 4 to February 19.
The tour was first put in doubt last month when the Indian government refused its national junior hockey team permission to visit Pakistan due to security concerns.
If India cancels its tour, it would be the latest in a string of recent blows to cricket in Pakistan caused by terrorism fears.
Australia cancelled a Test tour of Pakistan in March and the International Cricket Council postponed the high-profile Champions Trophy there in September due to security concerns caused by militant activity.
Wasim said the Mumbai attacks have derailed the peace process between longtime rivals India and Pakistan.
'A week ago our President (Asif Ali Zardari) was suggesting there should be no visas for travelling between the two countries and suddenly we have this tragic incident and the whole thing is derailed,' Wasim said.
Mumbai incident the worst I’ve seen: Sohail
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s flamboyant left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir dubbed the recent Mumbai terrorist attack as a near miss and his life’s worst ever experience.
Sohail, 23, was trapped in a hotel in Mumbai for two days and travelled back home after getting security clearance from the Indian authorities.
Sohail and fellow player Kamran Akmal was in India to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) champions league and were scheduled to represent Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League.
Talking to Dawn on Saturday after arriving back home, Sohail said: ‘Before the attack I was dining with some of my friends outside the hotel and suddenly we got a call from our team manager Sushil to get back to the hotel as terrorists had struck at a premier hotel in Mumbai.’
We, he said, were really scared and it was a nightmare for him and other fellow players as they were 22 km away from the terrorists’ attack point.
Sohail, who was also named as the best bowler of the inaugural IPL season, pointed out: ‘We were supposed to stay at the Taj Hotel on a later stage as Shane Warne was also scheduled to join us.’
The pacer said that spin magician Shane Warne, captain of Rajasthan Royals, took a flight back to his home country from Singapore after he get the bad news from Mumbai.
‘The loss of life is tragic and I will never forget the horror we faced out there,’ he said. When asked about the upcoming Pakistan-India cricket home series which was in doubts over rising security concerns shown by the Indian Government, he said: ‘I think the Indians should come to Pakistan as both the countries shrug terror away through sports.’
Sohail, 23, was trapped in a hotel in Mumbai for two days and travelled back home after getting security clearance from the Indian authorities.
Sohail and fellow player Kamran Akmal was in India to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) champions league and were scheduled to represent Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League.
Talking to Dawn on Saturday after arriving back home, Sohail said: ‘Before the attack I was dining with some of my friends outside the hotel and suddenly we got a call from our team manager Sushil to get back to the hotel as terrorists had struck at a premier hotel in Mumbai.’
We, he said, were really scared and it was a nightmare for him and other fellow players as they were 22 km away from the terrorists’ attack point.
Sohail, who was also named as the best bowler of the inaugural IPL season, pointed out: ‘We were supposed to stay at the Taj Hotel on a later stage as Shane Warne was also scheduled to join us.’
The pacer said that spin magician Shane Warne, captain of Rajasthan Royals, took a flight back to his home country from Singapore after he get the bad news from Mumbai.
‘The loss of life is tragic and I will never forget the horror we faced out there,’ he said. When asked about the upcoming Pakistan-India cricket home series which was in doubts over rising security concerns shown by the Indian Government, he said: ‘I think the Indians should come to Pakistan as both the countries shrug terror away through sports.’
England reluctant to return for Test series
LONDON: Even as English cricket board assured that side would return for two-Test series in India next month, players are still apprehensive of touring the country in aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks.
Skipper Kevin Pietersen said their return to India would depend on security situation.
‘We need to make sure security's right - but if it's not safe then we won't be coming back.’
‘I'll never force anyone to do anything against their will. On field, I may ask people to do things in certain way but they have their own lives. We'll have to see how security is,’ he added.
The team is backed by Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) who said decision would be based on reports from players' security advisors.
‘They will look at it in cold light of day and ask, is it safe to return or not? They will go with that advice assuming situation in India does not deteriorate further. Players have full faith in Reg Dickason (England team security officer) and will be guided by him,’ Morris was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.
England & Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris assured that Test series is on. ‘It's very, very real and emotions are very high. It's a sensitive time. Home environment is where players should be for a few days. Test matches are in place and, unless we get security advice to the contrary, they will be going ahead,’ Morris said.
Skipper Kevin Pietersen said their return to India would depend on security situation.
‘We need to make sure security's right - but if it's not safe then we won't be coming back.’
‘I'll never force anyone to do anything against their will. On field, I may ask people to do things in certain way but they have their own lives. We'll have to see how security is,’ he added.
The team is backed by Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) who said decision would be based on reports from players' security advisors.
‘They will look at it in cold light of day and ask, is it safe to return or not? They will go with that advice assuming situation in India does not deteriorate further. Players have full faith in Reg Dickason (England team security officer) and will be guided by him,’ Morris was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.
England & Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris assured that Test series is on. ‘It's very, very real and emotions are very high. It's a sensitive time. Home environment is where players should be for a few days. Test matches are in place and, unless we get security advice to the contrary, they will be going ahead,’ Morris said.
Sub-committee formed to review PCB constitution
ISLAMABAD: The government has formed a five-member sub-committee to review and amend the Pakistan Cricket Board’s constitution.
An official of the Federal Law Ministry told Dawn on Monday that Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek would head the committee. The other members of the committee include Federal Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani, Secretary Sports Ahraf Khan, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and a regional cricket association president from Islamabad.
‘The sub-committee will propose its suggestions for the amendments in the board’s constitution and we will complete it as early as possible and send it to the Patron in Chief for approval,’ the official said.
The official, however, refrained from giving any time frame for the amendment in the PCB constitution.
The committee was formed by Farooq H. Naek after some sports circles pointed loopholes in the board’s constitution while the powers of the PCB chairman were also criticised.
An official of the Federal Law Ministry told Dawn on Monday that Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek would head the committee. The other members of the committee include Federal Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani, Secretary Sports Ahraf Khan, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and a regional cricket association president from Islamabad.
‘The sub-committee will propose its suggestions for the amendments in the board’s constitution and we will complete it as early as possible and send it to the Patron in Chief for approval,’ the official said.
The official, however, refrained from giving any time frame for the amendment in the PCB constitution.
The committee was formed by Farooq H. Naek after some sports circles pointed loopholes in the board’s constitution while the powers of the PCB chairman were also criticised.
Bowling ban for Bangladesh’s Razzak
DUBAI: Bangladesh left-arm slow bowler Abdur Razzak has been suspended from bowling in international cricket, the International Cricket Council announced on Monday.
An ICC statement issued from its headquarters in Dubai said that Razzak, who has been touring with his country in South Africa would be unable to play pending a fresh assessment of his bowling action, AFP reported.
This followed an independent analysis which found that his bowling action exceeded the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under regulations.
The independent analysis was performed by Dr. Marc Portus, member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists, at the Australian Institute of Sport, Biomechanics Department, Canberra, Australia on Monday 17 November.
‘The analysis showed that the amount of elbow extension in Razzak’s bowling action for both his stock delivery and fast ball exceeded the 15 degree level of tolerance,’ the ICC statement said.
‘The elbow extension ranged from 22 to 28 degrees and averaged 25 degrees while his quicker ball showed results in the 22 to 28-degree range with an average of 24 degrees.’ Razzak was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action by the on-field umpires, Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva following completion of the second Test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand played in Dhaka from October 25 to 29 October.
The suspension applies with immediate effect.
An ICC statement issued from its headquarters in Dubai said that Razzak, who has been touring with his country in South Africa would be unable to play pending a fresh assessment of his bowling action, AFP reported.
This followed an independent analysis which found that his bowling action exceeded the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under regulations.
The independent analysis was performed by Dr. Marc Portus, member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists, at the Australian Institute of Sport, Biomechanics Department, Canberra, Australia on Monday 17 November.
‘The analysis showed that the amount of elbow extension in Razzak’s bowling action for both his stock delivery and fast ball exceeded the 15 degree level of tolerance,’ the ICC statement said.
‘The elbow extension ranged from 22 to 28 degrees and averaged 25 degrees while his quicker ball showed results in the 22 to 28-degree range with an average of 24 degrees.’ Razzak was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action by the on-field umpires, Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva following completion of the second Test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand played in Dhaka from October 25 to 29 October.
The suspension applies with immediate effect.
ICC urges England to play tests in India
NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) urged England on Sunday to play next month's test series in India if player safety concerns are addressed in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
‘If safety and security allow then I would urge the England test tour of India to go ahead and if it does so then representatives of the ICC will be there to show solidarity with the competing teams,’ chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.
‘And if those tests are played I would also urge supporters of the game to attend them as that will be the best way to send a message to those who seek to disrupt our way of life, that we will not be prevented from doing what we want or what we enjoy,’ added the South African.
England returned home this week after the last two games of their one-day series in India were called off after the attacks in Mumbai which killed almost 200 people.
Both national boards agreed England would return to play the two-test series, starting on Dec. 11, with India also switching the second test from Mumbai to Chennai.
However, some England players are still said to have safety concerns.
Lorgat said he has written to the Indian and England cricket boards pledging ICC support to ensure cricket was not disrupted.
Offering condolences to the Mumbai people, Lorgat said: ‘Sadly, terrorism appears increasingly to be a fact of life that we must endure.
‘What we as a cricket family must do is to try, wherever possible, to rise above it and show that those who wish to perpetrate evil cannot win.’
The ICC chief executive committee will discuss security challenges for the game when it meets in Cape Town next week.
The ruling body already has major security concerns in Pakistan and postponed the September Champions Trophy until late next year after a possible boycott by five of the eight teams.
‘If safety and security allow then I would urge the England test tour of India to go ahead and if it does so then representatives of the ICC will be there to show solidarity with the competing teams,’ chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.
‘And if those tests are played I would also urge supporters of the game to attend them as that will be the best way to send a message to those who seek to disrupt our way of life, that we will not be prevented from doing what we want or what we enjoy,’ added the South African.
England returned home this week after the last two games of their one-day series in India were called off after the attacks in Mumbai which killed almost 200 people.
Both national boards agreed England would return to play the two-test series, starting on Dec. 11, with India also switching the second test from Mumbai to Chennai.
However, some England players are still said to have safety concerns.
Lorgat said he has written to the Indian and England cricket boards pledging ICC support to ensure cricket was not disrupted.
Offering condolences to the Mumbai people, Lorgat said: ‘Sadly, terrorism appears increasingly to be a fact of life that we must endure.
‘What we as a cricket family must do is to try, wherever possible, to rise above it and show that those who wish to perpetrate evil cannot win.’
The ICC chief executive committee will discuss security challenges for the game when it meets in Cape Town next week.
The ruling body already has major security concerns in Pakistan and postponed the September Champions Trophy until late next year after a possible boycott by five of the eight teams.
India says no decision yet on Pakistan tour
NEW DELHI: The Indian government is yet to decide whether to allow the national cricket team to tour Pakistan, amid serious doubts following the attacks in Mumbai, a government spokesman said on Sunday.
'Since the tour is in January there is still some time, we are discussing the issue,' foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told Reuters.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought permission to tour amid security concerns over playing in Pakistan.
The three-day rampage which killed nearly 200 people in Mumbai have dimmed hopes after the Indian government said it had proof of a Pakistani link, straining political ties between the south Asian neighbours.
Indian media quoted unnamed cricket officials on Sunday as saying the tour appeared doubtful. Indian board secretary N. Srinivasan refused to comment.
There have also been reports that some England players are reluctant to return to India later this week to play a two-test series.
'I would not, if somebody felt strongly, force their arm,' England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris said on Saturday.
England called off the last two games of a one-day series to return home following the attacks, with the two boards agreeing to go ahead with the tests.
The Pakistan tour would depend on a security assessment, Prakash said.
'Before any tour is undertaken an advance team goes and carries out an assessment. The team has not gone. We will wait for the team's visit and its report on return before deciding anything.'
The Indian team did not go on a full tour of Pakistan for nearly 15 years until 2004 due to political tensions.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has already raised concerns the attacks could scupper the series.
India are due to play three tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 international in the Jan. 13 to Feb. 19 tour.
MEDIA REPORTS
The NDTV and CNN-IBN news channels, quoting unnamed government sources, said the matches were cancelled and also unlikely to be played at neutral venues.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declined to comment on the reports, saying its request for a security clearance for the tour was pending with the government.
The tour was first put in doubt earlier this month when the Indian government denied permission to the national junior hockey team to visit Pakistan.
The BCCI is also waiting for England to confirm next week's two-Test tour of India after the last two one-day matches were cancelled and the tourists returned home following the Mumbai attacks.
The BCCI shifted the second Test from Mumbai to Chennai, but retained Vadodara as the venue for a three-day practice match from December 5 and the first Test in Ahmedabad from December 11.
'Since the tour is in January there is still some time, we are discussing the issue,' foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told Reuters.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought permission to tour amid security concerns over playing in Pakistan.
The three-day rampage which killed nearly 200 people in Mumbai have dimmed hopes after the Indian government said it had proof of a Pakistani link, straining political ties between the south Asian neighbours.
Indian media quoted unnamed cricket officials on Sunday as saying the tour appeared doubtful. Indian board secretary N. Srinivasan refused to comment.
There have also been reports that some England players are reluctant to return to India later this week to play a two-test series.
'I would not, if somebody felt strongly, force their arm,' England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris said on Saturday.
England called off the last two games of a one-day series to return home following the attacks, with the two boards agreeing to go ahead with the tests.
The Pakistan tour would depend on a security assessment, Prakash said.
'Before any tour is undertaken an advance team goes and carries out an assessment. The team has not gone. We will wait for the team's visit and its report on return before deciding anything.'
The Indian team did not go on a full tour of Pakistan for nearly 15 years until 2004 due to political tensions.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has already raised concerns the attacks could scupper the series.
India are due to play three tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 international in the Jan. 13 to Feb. 19 tour.
MEDIA REPORTS
The NDTV and CNN-IBN news channels, quoting unnamed government sources, said the matches were cancelled and also unlikely to be played at neutral venues.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declined to comment on the reports, saying its request for a security clearance for the tour was pending with the government.
The tour was first put in doubt earlier this month when the Indian government denied permission to the national junior hockey team to visit Pakistan.
The BCCI is also waiting for England to confirm next week's two-Test tour of India after the last two one-day matches were cancelled and the tourists returned home following the Mumbai attacks.
The BCCI shifted the second Test from Mumbai to Chennai, but retained Vadodara as the venue for a three-day practice match from December 5 and the first Test in Ahmedabad from December 11.
T20's fate to be decided on Dec 8
MELBOURNE: Organisers of postponed Cricket Champions Twenty20 League will meet on December 8 to see if they can reschedule the tournament early next year, according to spokesman of $6 million tournament.
The eight-team tournament was earlier scheduled to be held in India from December 3-10 but had to be postponed after terror struck Mumbai, one of three venues.
The meeting of BCCI, Cricket Australia & Cricket South Africa - three founding boards of Champions League - is likely to take place in India to ‘explore any opportunities’ to hold inaugural tournament in 2008-09 season, League spokesman Philip Pope said.
The biggest problem facing tournament organisers will be finding a gap in busy international schedule in 2008-09 season.
‘This window was created in next week-and-a-half, so in order to establish a new competition elsewhere, (it's) very problematic, with broadcasting, venues, that sort of thing,’ said Tony Dodemaide, chief executive Cricket Victoria, whose team Victoria Bushrangers will take part in tournament.
‘Many of venues are booked up now with current competitions going on around the world, so it's very difficult to do and in that light this was obvious decision,’ he was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press.
Victorian coach Greg Shipperd suggested Australia could host tournament. But, Graeme Wood, WACA chief executive, whose team Western Australia Warriors is taking part in tournament, thinks League will go ahead early next year either in India, Gulf states, England or South Africa.
The eight-team tournament was earlier scheduled to be held in India from December 3-10 but had to be postponed after terror struck Mumbai, one of three venues.
The meeting of BCCI, Cricket Australia & Cricket South Africa - three founding boards of Champions League - is likely to take place in India to ‘explore any opportunities’ to hold inaugural tournament in 2008-09 season, League spokesman Philip Pope said.
The biggest problem facing tournament organisers will be finding a gap in busy international schedule in 2008-09 season.
‘This window was created in next week-and-a-half, so in order to establish a new competition elsewhere, (it's) very problematic, with broadcasting, venues, that sort of thing,’ said Tony Dodemaide, chief executive Cricket Victoria, whose team Victoria Bushrangers will take part in tournament.
‘Many of venues are booked up now with current competitions going on around the world, so it's very difficult to do and in that light this was obvious decision,’ he was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press.
Victorian coach Greg Shipperd suggested Australia could host tournament. But, Graeme Wood, WACA chief executive, whose team Western Australia Warriors is taking part in tournament, thinks League will go ahead early next year either in India, Gulf states, England or South Africa.
England wait on security report
England will await the findings of security expert Reg Dickason before deciding on whether to resume their tour of India.
Australian Dickason will fly to Chennai tomorrow, the proposed relocation for the first Test in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Mumbai last week which prompted a premature end to the one-day series and resulted in the England players flying home.
England were offered a revised schedule by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during a day of prolonged talks.
Top English cricket officials have also been engaged in discussions with various security agencies, both in India and the UK, as well as digesting the advice of their own man Dickason.
The BCCI have now proposed that the first Test, which was scheduled for Ahmedabad between December 11-15, will be moved to Chennai, while Mohali will host the second from December 19-23.
The two-match series was originally beginning in Ahmedabad and concluding in Mumbai.
The second venue was initially changed to Chennai but there has been another shift to ease safety fears.
Ahmedabad was the scene of numerous bomb blasts earlier this year and is relatively close to Mumbai.
Significantly, Australia recently played a Test in Mohali, just outside Chandigarh, this autumn and England's security advisor, Dickason's company, also provides advice for the Aussies, so plans and procedures will be at hand.
England have played matches in Mohali on each of their previous two Test tours, losing both, their only defeats in six outings.
Chennai was due to be hosting Champions League matches this week, so security arrangements were already in place.
Even if the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) agree to resume the trip to the subcontinent it does not necessarily mean the same 15 players will return and national selector Geoff Miller today admitted no-one should agree to resume their tour of India if they "have a sense of fear".
Miller spent the day liaising with officials from the ECB.
England's one-day squad returned on Saturday with the final two one-day internationals being scrapped in response to the attacks on several Mumbai landmarks, including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel where the team had been based at the start of the tour.
Since their return there has been speculation about whether both Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison would return.
Asked if he would go if he was still a player, former Derbyshire off-spinner Miller said: "Yes, I think I would go if I got clearance on security.
"From an England point of view representing your country is very, very big so if you've got a clearance from security of being looked after then yes, I would.
"But the focus is on playing cricket so you've got to make sure you are fully focused on that job and not being sidetracked by other issues, and that's pretty difficult. I fully understand that.
"If there's a sense of fear then you can't be fully focused on the job you are trying to do. These are difficult circumstances, difficult times, and you've got to have a very strong character to be able to do that."
The players have already been briefed by Dickason, before their departure from Bhubaneswar and his observations will now be key to whether they return.
"The players had their meeting in India and discussed things, although there was very little they could discuss while waiting to see what Reg and the security people said," added Miller.
"Now they will make their own personal decisions and once they have all done that we will reassess it, but we have to reassess it quickly because the turnaround is rapid.
"We've got two big Tests to play against one of the best teams in the world. It's not only about playing those games, it's also about the build-up to them - the preparation.
"Obviously we've been knocked back as far as that is concerned, so that's difficult in itself. So yes, the turnaround is as quick as possible because we've got to get some pre-match work done."
The Professional Cricketers' Association were been involved in today's meetings and those in charge of decision-making within English cricket want to be satisfied that any proposed security arrangements are adequate.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office were consulted by the ECB this morning but any decision on whether to travel will be down to the assessment of those at Lord's.
Current FCO website advice to British citizens - as of this afternoon - is to avoid all but essential travel to Mumbai and to 'take care to be extra vigilant in their movements' elsewhere in India.
Australian Dickason will fly to Chennai tomorrow, the proposed relocation for the first Test in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Mumbai last week which prompted a premature end to the one-day series and resulted in the England players flying home.
England were offered a revised schedule by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during a day of prolonged talks.
Top English cricket officials have also been engaged in discussions with various security agencies, both in India and the UK, as well as digesting the advice of their own man Dickason.
The BCCI have now proposed that the first Test, which was scheduled for Ahmedabad between December 11-15, will be moved to Chennai, while Mohali will host the second from December 19-23.
The two-match series was originally beginning in Ahmedabad and concluding in Mumbai.
The second venue was initially changed to Chennai but there has been another shift to ease safety fears.
Ahmedabad was the scene of numerous bomb blasts earlier this year and is relatively close to Mumbai.
Significantly, Australia recently played a Test in Mohali, just outside Chandigarh, this autumn and England's security advisor, Dickason's company, also provides advice for the Aussies, so plans and procedures will be at hand.
England have played matches in Mohali on each of their previous two Test tours, losing both, their only defeats in six outings.
Chennai was due to be hosting Champions League matches this week, so security arrangements were already in place.
Even if the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) agree to resume the trip to the subcontinent it does not necessarily mean the same 15 players will return and national selector Geoff Miller today admitted no-one should agree to resume their tour of India if they "have a sense of fear".
Miller spent the day liaising with officials from the ECB.
England's one-day squad returned on Saturday with the final two one-day internationals being scrapped in response to the attacks on several Mumbai landmarks, including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel where the team had been based at the start of the tour.
Since their return there has been speculation about whether both Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison would return.
Asked if he would go if he was still a player, former Derbyshire off-spinner Miller said: "Yes, I think I would go if I got clearance on security.
"From an England point of view representing your country is very, very big so if you've got a clearance from security of being looked after then yes, I would.
"But the focus is on playing cricket so you've got to make sure you are fully focused on that job and not being sidetracked by other issues, and that's pretty difficult. I fully understand that.
"If there's a sense of fear then you can't be fully focused on the job you are trying to do. These are difficult circumstances, difficult times, and you've got to have a very strong character to be able to do that."
The players have already been briefed by Dickason, before their departure from Bhubaneswar and his observations will now be key to whether they return.
"The players had their meeting in India and discussed things, although there was very little they could discuss while waiting to see what Reg and the security people said," added Miller.
"Now they will make their own personal decisions and once they have all done that we will reassess it, but we have to reassess it quickly because the turnaround is rapid.
"We've got two big Tests to play against one of the best teams in the world. It's not only about playing those games, it's also about the build-up to them - the preparation.
"Obviously we've been knocked back as far as that is concerned, so that's difficult in itself. So yes, the turnaround is as quick as possible because we've got to get some pre-match work done."
The Professional Cricketers' Association were been involved in today's meetings and those in charge of decision-making within English cricket want to be satisfied that any proposed security arrangements are adequate.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office were consulted by the ECB this morning but any decision on whether to travel will be down to the assessment of those at Lord's.
Current FCO website advice to British citizens - as of this afternoon - is to avoid all but essential travel to Mumbai and to 'take care to be extra vigilant in their movements' elsewhere in India.
Miller aware of fear factor
National selector Geoff Miller has admitted England's players with a "sense of fear" should not resume their tour of India.
Miller has spent the day liaising with officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board, who have been in talks with security advisers both at home and in India to determine whether it is safe for the team to return and play the two-Test series.
England's one-day squad returned on Saturday with the final two one-day internationals being postponed indefinitely in response to the attacks on several Mumbai landmarks, including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel where the team had been based at the start of the tour.
Since their return there has been speculation about whether both Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison would return although the Board of Control for Cricket in India are now claiming the venues for both Tests have been relocated from Ahmedabad and Mumbai to Chennai and Mohali.
The ECB are yet to confirm those switches, but Miller has sympathy for any player considering whether to return, particularly any who have not been convinced once the security reports have been delivered.
Asked if he would go if he was still a player, former Derbyshire off-spinner Miller said: "Yes, I think I would go if I got clearance on security. From an England point of view representing your country is very, very big so if you've got a clearance from security of being looked after then yes, I would.
"But the focus is on playing cricket so you've got to make sure you are fully focused on that job and not being sidetracked by other issues, and that's pretty difficult. I fully understand that.
"If there's a sense of fear then you can't be fully focused on the job you are trying to do. These are difficult circumstances, difficult times, and you've got to have a very strong character to be able to do that."
The players have already been briefed by Reg Dickason, the security consultant to the team, before their departure from Bhubaneswar and his report will also hold the key to whether they return.
Suggestions coming out of India are that the first Test of two, which was scheduled for Ahmedabad, will now be moved to Chennai and Mohali will host the second - which had been originally slated for Mumbai - but the ECB have yet to receive anything in writing to confirm that.
"The players had their meeting in India and discussed things, although there was very little they could discuss while waiting to see what Reg and the security people said," explained Miller.
"Now they will make their own personal decisions and once they have all done that we will reassess it, but we have to reassess it quickly because the turnaround is rapid.
"We've got two big Tests to play against one of the best teams in the world. It's not only about playing those games, it's also about the build-up to them - the preparation.
"Obviously we've been knocked back as far as that is concerned, so that's difficult in itself. So yes, the turnaround is as quick as possible because we've got to get some pre-match work done."
The Professional Cricketers' Association have also been involved in today's meetings and those in charge of decision-making within English cricket want to be satisfied that any proposed security arrangements are adequate.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office were consulted by the ECB this morning but any decision on whether to travel will be down to the assessment of those at Lord's, who are expected to make a final announcement on the future of the tour tomorrow.
Current FCO website advice to British citizens - as of this afternoon - is to avoid all but essential travel to Mumbai and to 'take care to be extra vigilant in their movements' elsewhere in India.
Miller has spent the day liaising with officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board, who have been in talks with security advisers both at home and in India to determine whether it is safe for the team to return and play the two-Test series.
England's one-day squad returned on Saturday with the final two one-day internationals being postponed indefinitely in response to the attacks on several Mumbai landmarks, including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel where the team had been based at the start of the tour.
Since their return there has been speculation about whether both Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison would return although the Board of Control for Cricket in India are now claiming the venues for both Tests have been relocated from Ahmedabad and Mumbai to Chennai and Mohali.
The ECB are yet to confirm those switches, but Miller has sympathy for any player considering whether to return, particularly any who have not been convinced once the security reports have been delivered.
Asked if he would go if he was still a player, former Derbyshire off-spinner Miller said: "Yes, I think I would go if I got clearance on security. From an England point of view representing your country is very, very big so if you've got a clearance from security of being looked after then yes, I would.
"But the focus is on playing cricket so you've got to make sure you are fully focused on that job and not being sidetracked by other issues, and that's pretty difficult. I fully understand that.
"If there's a sense of fear then you can't be fully focused on the job you are trying to do. These are difficult circumstances, difficult times, and you've got to have a very strong character to be able to do that."
The players have already been briefed by Reg Dickason, the security consultant to the team, before their departure from Bhubaneswar and his report will also hold the key to whether they return.
Suggestions coming out of India are that the first Test of two, which was scheduled for Ahmedabad, will now be moved to Chennai and Mohali will host the second - which had been originally slated for Mumbai - but the ECB have yet to receive anything in writing to confirm that.
"The players had their meeting in India and discussed things, although there was very little they could discuss while waiting to see what Reg and the security people said," explained Miller.
"Now they will make their own personal decisions and once they have all done that we will reassess it, but we have to reassess it quickly because the turnaround is rapid.
"We've got two big Tests to play against one of the best teams in the world. It's not only about playing those games, it's also about the build-up to them - the preparation.
"Obviously we've been knocked back as far as that is concerned, so that's difficult in itself. So yes, the turnaround is as quick as possible because we've got to get some pre-match work done."
The Professional Cricketers' Association have also been involved in today's meetings and those in charge of decision-making within English cricket want to be satisfied that any proposed security arrangements are adequate.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office were consulted by the ECB this morning but any decision on whether to travel will be down to the assessment of those at Lord's, who are expected to make a final announcement on the future of the tour tomorrow.
Current FCO website advice to British citizens - as of this afternoon - is to avoid all but essential travel to Mumbai and to 'take care to be extra vigilant in their movements' elsewhere in India.
Jayawardene denies complacency
Mahela Jayawardene has admitted he had a nightmare time with the bat during the 5-0 ODI series whitewash of Zimbabwe.
But the Sri Lanka captain denied it was due to over-confidence against lesser opponents.
Although his team kept winning, Jayawardene contributed only 19 runs in four innings and was dismissed for ducks in the final two games.
"As a top-order batsman there is always pressure and expectation on me to perform but like any cricketer, one goes through a lean spell, when you don't find your rhythm and as a result can't spend time in the middle," he said.
"But the most important thing is you realise where you went wrong and try to rectify that as quickly as possible. I have played enough cricket to realise that. I will be working very hard on my game so that I contribute to the team when the next season starts.
"I have never had over-confidence in my life. In 11 years of international cricket I've never walked into a game with over-confidence, I've known that I have to work very hard for my runs and that is what has worked for me.
"For five games (in Zimbabwe) the highest total was 170, the conditions here were very tough and we knew one had to work very hard to get runs. So it wasn't over-confidence, just that maybe the options that I took, preparation and shot selection, were the wrong ones and I will need to work on that."
While the whitewash result gave the series a lop-sided appearance, the games themselves were much closer and many were surprised that Sri Lanka did not crush their opponents.
"When we came here we set ourselves a goal, we said we wanted to win the one-day series 5-0 and it was done," Jayawardene said.
"We achieved it but it was not the most convincing way of doing but you need to consider the conditions we played in and also that Zimbabwe rose to the occasion, especially in the last two, three games.
"They (Zimbabwe) performed really well, especially with the ball. At the end of the day we were put under pressure yes but winning 5-0 is always good and winning is a very good habit.
"We know the areas we didn't do well in during the series and we will work very hard on that. We need to be more consistent in our all-round game and make sure that we are heading in the right direction."
Jayawardene added that Zimbabwe deserve to be given more respect.
"What you have to realise is that is Zimbabwe is a good team, they've got talent but it's just that they haven't been consistent," he said.
"We knew that as well and so we were prepared when we came here so we did not have to take anything lightly. We never said it would be a walk in the park.
"The important thing is that when we were put under pressure we came back strongly. We expected a tough challenge and it was a very good experience for us, especially a young team with only three senior players with over 100 caps. So it was a good experience that we will take to the next World Cup.
"Zimbabwe has four or five very good individuals, Prosper (Utseya) is one of them, he's got a lot of confidence. Hamilton (Masakadza) and Elton (Chigumbura) - he's got a lot of talent but is not consistent and there are a few other good individuals.
"But the most important thing is that you can have good individual players but if you don't play as a team it is very difficult to win matches. Individuals can only take you a certain distance but you need to play as a unit to win matches."
But the Sri Lanka captain denied it was due to over-confidence against lesser opponents.
Although his team kept winning, Jayawardene contributed only 19 runs in four innings and was dismissed for ducks in the final two games.
"As a top-order batsman there is always pressure and expectation on me to perform but like any cricketer, one goes through a lean spell, when you don't find your rhythm and as a result can't spend time in the middle," he said.
"But the most important thing is you realise where you went wrong and try to rectify that as quickly as possible. I have played enough cricket to realise that. I will be working very hard on my game so that I contribute to the team when the next season starts.
"I have never had over-confidence in my life. In 11 years of international cricket I've never walked into a game with over-confidence, I've known that I have to work very hard for my runs and that is what has worked for me.
"For five games (in Zimbabwe) the highest total was 170, the conditions here were very tough and we knew one had to work very hard to get runs. So it wasn't over-confidence, just that maybe the options that I took, preparation and shot selection, were the wrong ones and I will need to work on that."
While the whitewash result gave the series a lop-sided appearance, the games themselves were much closer and many were surprised that Sri Lanka did not crush their opponents.
"When we came here we set ourselves a goal, we said we wanted to win the one-day series 5-0 and it was done," Jayawardene said.
"We achieved it but it was not the most convincing way of doing but you need to consider the conditions we played in and also that Zimbabwe rose to the occasion, especially in the last two, three games.
"They (Zimbabwe) performed really well, especially with the ball. At the end of the day we were put under pressure yes but winning 5-0 is always good and winning is a very good habit.
"We know the areas we didn't do well in during the series and we will work very hard on that. We need to be more consistent in our all-round game and make sure that we are heading in the right direction."
Jayawardene added that Zimbabwe deserve to be given more respect.
"What you have to realise is that is Zimbabwe is a good team, they've got talent but it's just that they haven't been consistent," he said.
"We knew that as well and so we were prepared when we came here so we did not have to take anything lightly. We never said it would be a walk in the park.
"The important thing is that when we were put under pressure we came back strongly. We expected a tough challenge and it was a very good experience for us, especially a young team with only three senior players with over 100 caps. So it was a good experience that we will take to the next World Cup.
"Zimbabwe has four or five very good individuals, Prosper (Utseya) is one of them, he's got a lot of confidence. Hamilton (Masakadza) and Elton (Chigumbura) - he's got a lot of talent but is not consistent and there are a few other good individuals.
"But the most important thing is that you can have good individual players but if you don't play as a team it is very difficult to win matches. Individuals can only take you a certain distance but you need to play as a unit to win matches."
" We are not looking at compensation"
Lalit Modi has assured that the board would not seek compensation from the ECB in case England do not tour India.
Recalling how the 2005 Ashes series began despite bombings in London, Modi said, "We can't allow events around the world to deter us, to go out and be afraid to play. I really do believe it (the tour) will happen. It's just we need to take it to another city, which we have agreed to do so. I'm sure it'll be all right.
"It's not the BCCI against the ECB and the players, that doesn't achieve anything. In 2005, the bomb blasts in the UK, two weeks later the Ashes series began," Modi was quoted as saying by 'The Times'.
Insisting money was not the issue for BCCI, Modi said, "Everybody needs to be pragmatic. If the security is possible and it is there then we should continue.
"It's not about compensation. I've heard numbers, but it's got nothing to do with monetary issues. We would never pressurise anybody and that's not the way we operate," he said.
"Compensation is the last thing we are looking at," Modi added.
Recalling how the 2005 Ashes series began despite bombings in London, Modi said, "We can't allow events around the world to deter us, to go out and be afraid to play. I really do believe it (the tour) will happen. It's just we need to take it to another city, which we have agreed to do so. I'm sure it'll be all right.
"It's not the BCCI against the ECB and the players, that doesn't achieve anything. In 2005, the bomb blasts in the UK, two weeks later the Ashes series began," Modi was quoted as saying by 'The Times'.
Insisting money was not the issue for BCCI, Modi said, "Everybody needs to be pragmatic. If the security is possible and it is there then we should continue.
"It's not about compensation. I've heard numbers, but it's got nothing to do with monetary issues. We would never pressurise anybody and that's not the way we operate," he said.
"Compensation is the last thing we are looking at," Modi added.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
NWFP clinch first Pentangular Cup
The North West Frontier Province (NWFP) annexed their first national cricket title when they defeated Balochistan by 28 runs in the final of the RBS Pentangular Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Friday.
The NWFP, who won all of their four games in the league stage, needed only 25 deliveries on the fifth and final morning to dislodge the last Balochistan batsman.
Appropriately, skipper Umar Gul had the honour claiming the wicket of Azharullah after Balochistan, chasing 272, had resumed at 234 for nine.
Azharullah failed to add to his overnight score of five. Last man Zulfiqar Babar remained unbeaten with a 46-ball 21.
Yasir Shah, the leg-spinner who turned the match in NWFP’s favour on the decisive fourth day was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for taking six for 87.
Yasir received cash prize of Rs50,000. The NWFP, besides winning the coveted trophy were awarded with the winners’ purse of Rs1 million while Balochistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq collected of Rs500,000 on behalf of his team.
Among individual awards, worth Rs50,000 each, Saeed bin Nasir claimed two prizes since he was adjudged the tournament’s best batsman (419 runs) as well as its best fielder (11 catches).
Paceman Shakeel-ur-Rehman, who played a key in the NWFP success, bagged the best bowler prize for picking 29 wickets while his team-mate Zulfiqar Jan was declared the best wicket-keeper for making 25 dismissals (all caught).
The NWFP, who won all of their four games in the league stage, needed only 25 deliveries on the fifth and final morning to dislodge the last Balochistan batsman.
Appropriately, skipper Umar Gul had the honour claiming the wicket of Azharullah after Balochistan, chasing 272, had resumed at 234 for nine.
Azharullah failed to add to his overnight score of five. Last man Zulfiqar Babar remained unbeaten with a 46-ball 21.
Yasir Shah, the leg-spinner who turned the match in NWFP’s favour on the decisive fourth day was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for taking six for 87.
Yasir received cash prize of Rs50,000. The NWFP, besides winning the coveted trophy were awarded with the winners’ purse of Rs1 million while Balochistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq collected of Rs500,000 on behalf of his team.
Among individual awards, worth Rs50,000 each, Saeed bin Nasir claimed two prizes since he was adjudged the tournament’s best batsman (419 runs) as well as its best fielder (11 catches).
Paceman Shakeel-ur-Rehman, who played a key in the NWFP success, bagged the best bowler prize for picking 29 wickets while his team-mate Zulfiqar Jan was declared the best wicket-keeper for making 25 dismissals (all caught).
Mumbai attacks could halt India’s tour: Butt
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz But has admitted the terror attacks in Mumbai have badly hit the chances of India undertaking a test tour of Pakistan in January.
Butt said on Friday he was uncertain over the Indian team’s visit after the militant attacks.
‘Before this tragic incident took place we were pretty confident the Indians would tour,’ Butt told a news conference.
‘But now the scenario has definitely changed and now it is entirely up to the governments what they decide.’
India is due to play three tests, five one-day internationals and a twenty20 game on a tour lasting nearly 46 days.
The Indian board is awaiting clearance from its government for the tour, which would be Pakistan’s first test series since December 2007.
‘The scenario has now changed completely and we have to wait to see what happens,’ added Butt, pointing to England’s decision to return from their current tour of India.
‘England have gone home, the Champions League is postponed so it is not an ideal situation for anyone. But if India does come for the tour it will send a clear-cut message to these terrorists they cannot deter the people of both countries from leading normal lives.’
Butt insisted Pakistan would press for the series to be played on schedule.
‘We are trying 200 per cent to have the Indians play in Pakistan,’ he told reporters. ‘If they don’t come then we have the option of playing at neutral venues.’
Butt said on Friday he was uncertain over the Indian team’s visit after the militant attacks.
‘Before this tragic incident took place we were pretty confident the Indians would tour,’ Butt told a news conference.
‘But now the scenario has definitely changed and now it is entirely up to the governments what they decide.’
India is due to play three tests, five one-day internationals and a twenty20 game on a tour lasting nearly 46 days.
The Indian board is awaiting clearance from its government for the tour, which would be Pakistan’s first test series since December 2007.
‘The scenario has now changed completely and we have to wait to see what happens,’ added Butt, pointing to England’s decision to return from their current tour of India.
‘England have gone home, the Champions League is postponed so it is not an ideal situation for anyone. But if India does come for the tour it will send a clear-cut message to these terrorists they cannot deter the people of both countries from leading normal lives.’
Butt insisted Pakistan would press for the series to be played on schedule.
‘We are trying 200 per cent to have the Indians play in Pakistan,’ he told reporters. ‘If they don’t come then we have the option of playing at neutral venues.’
Terrorism jeopardises cricket
The bombing and machine gun attacks in Mumbai demonstrate how terrorism has affected Asian nations hosting sporting tours and places the global future of cricket in jeopardy.
Pakistan, hit by a spate of bombings, will finish 2008 without playing a single cricket test. Sri Lanka’s civil war involving the Tamil Tigers has been going for more than 25 years and shows no sign of abating.
Now, more than 119 people in Mumbai are dead in India’s worst terror attack, causing the England cricket team’s tour to be suspended and threatening a sport in a region containing four of the nine test-playing nations.
‘If the message (of terrorists) is accepted then the pressure will build up,’ said Zakir Hussain Syed, a cricket columnist said of the latest attacks.
‘For the masses, cricket is recreational oxygen in the subcontinent. Not only is the sport keenly followed on television, people go in large numbers to see their stars in action live on the grounds.’
The other five countries with the International Cricket Council’s elite test status – Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies – have recently demonstrated their reluctance to visit the subcontinent, and the future of the sport could be bleak if that continues.
Hundreds of people have died in Pakistan this year due to suicide bombings, forcing the ICC to postpone the biennial Champions Trophy.
‘You want cricket to be played in all parts of the world and that has been the problem with Pakistan, you haven’t been able to tour there because of the volatile country,’ New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said.
Vettori fears that test cricket could be restricted to being played in only a few countries if the security situation doesn’t improve.
‘If other countries start going down that road then there will only be three or four countries you can play,’ he said. ‘You never really want to go down that road, so you leave it to the people who make those decisions. We’ve trusted them in the past and we’ll trust them in the future.’
The concerns have even forced the Pakistan Cricket Board to consider staging a series against India at a neutral venue in January.
Syed feels sub-continental nations should focus on ensuring they play each other at home, and forget about convincing non-Asian countries that the region is safe.
‘The only way I see the game progressing in subcontinent is that at least the bilateral series between the subcontinent teams be played in the respective countries,’ said Syed.
‘India could send positive vibes by touring Pakistan in January.’
The terrorist attack has also caused the postponement in India of the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League tournament that involves the top five provincial teams in the world.
Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden, who plays for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League and was due to compete in the Champions League, said if the tournament was cancelled that it would be a ‘huge loss’ for international cricket.
‘But the impact is minor compared with the social and economic impacts that it will have on India,’ Hayden said.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting backed the event to be held elsewhere after Cricket Australia’s decision to stop all travel to India.
‘It’s a horrible thing to have happened,’ Ponting said. ‘Everyone who’s playing in the event or wants to see the event do well would like to see it go ahead, so if that means moving it to a different country then I guess I’d support that.’
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland expected Mumbai’s terrorism attack to cause a similar tightening in security to that which followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
‘Cricket will go on. It doesn’t mean that we will cut any corners in making decisions,’ Sutherland said Friday. ‘Everything is going to be more rigorous. That’s what we saw in the world following 9-11 and that’s what is going to come as a consequence of this.
‘Even putting aside cricket issues, security issues in India and for the Indian government and the Indian armed forces, the police, (are) going to take on a completely different sphere.’
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam wants the cricket boards to get together to restore confidence, but acknowledges there is little it can do in the short term.
‘It’s a matter beyond the control of respective cricket boards after what happened in Mumbai,’ he said.
Former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne has a similarly forlorn outlook on the sport’s future.
‘Pakistan is already struggling without tours and India has had to cancel two tournaments,’ Tillakaratne said. ‘With these bombings, cricket may come to a standstill.’
Pakistan, hit by a spate of bombings, will finish 2008 without playing a single cricket test. Sri Lanka’s civil war involving the Tamil Tigers has been going for more than 25 years and shows no sign of abating.
Now, more than 119 people in Mumbai are dead in India’s worst terror attack, causing the England cricket team’s tour to be suspended and threatening a sport in a region containing four of the nine test-playing nations.
‘If the message (of terrorists) is accepted then the pressure will build up,’ said Zakir Hussain Syed, a cricket columnist said of the latest attacks.
‘For the masses, cricket is recreational oxygen in the subcontinent. Not only is the sport keenly followed on television, people go in large numbers to see their stars in action live on the grounds.’
The other five countries with the International Cricket Council’s elite test status – Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies – have recently demonstrated their reluctance to visit the subcontinent, and the future of the sport could be bleak if that continues.
Hundreds of people have died in Pakistan this year due to suicide bombings, forcing the ICC to postpone the biennial Champions Trophy.
‘You want cricket to be played in all parts of the world and that has been the problem with Pakistan, you haven’t been able to tour there because of the volatile country,’ New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said.
Vettori fears that test cricket could be restricted to being played in only a few countries if the security situation doesn’t improve.
‘If other countries start going down that road then there will only be three or four countries you can play,’ he said. ‘You never really want to go down that road, so you leave it to the people who make those decisions. We’ve trusted them in the past and we’ll trust them in the future.’
The concerns have even forced the Pakistan Cricket Board to consider staging a series against India at a neutral venue in January.
Syed feels sub-continental nations should focus on ensuring they play each other at home, and forget about convincing non-Asian countries that the region is safe.
‘The only way I see the game progressing in subcontinent is that at least the bilateral series between the subcontinent teams be played in the respective countries,’ said Syed.
‘India could send positive vibes by touring Pakistan in January.’
The terrorist attack has also caused the postponement in India of the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League tournament that involves the top five provincial teams in the world.
Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden, who plays for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League and was due to compete in the Champions League, said if the tournament was cancelled that it would be a ‘huge loss’ for international cricket.
‘But the impact is minor compared with the social and economic impacts that it will have on India,’ Hayden said.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting backed the event to be held elsewhere after Cricket Australia’s decision to stop all travel to India.
‘It’s a horrible thing to have happened,’ Ponting said. ‘Everyone who’s playing in the event or wants to see the event do well would like to see it go ahead, so if that means moving it to a different country then I guess I’d support that.’
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland expected Mumbai’s terrorism attack to cause a similar tightening in security to that which followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
‘Cricket will go on. It doesn’t mean that we will cut any corners in making decisions,’ Sutherland said Friday. ‘Everything is going to be more rigorous. That’s what we saw in the world following 9-11 and that’s what is going to come as a consequence of this.
‘Even putting aside cricket issues, security issues in India and for the Indian government and the Indian armed forces, the police, (are) going to take on a completely different sphere.’
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam wants the cricket boards to get together to restore confidence, but acknowledges there is little it can do in the short term.
‘It’s a matter beyond the control of respective cricket boards after what happened in Mumbai,’ he said.
Former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne has a similarly forlorn outlook on the sport’s future.
‘Pakistan is already struggling without tours and India has had to cancel two tournaments,’ Tillakaratne said. ‘With these bombings, cricket may come to a standstill.’
Malik lacks Dhoni-style leadership qualities: Yousuf
AHMEDABAD: Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s out-of-the-box thinking has earned him another admirer in banned batsman Mohammad Yousuf who feels Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik lacks the leadership qualities of the Indian skipper.
Disappointed with the shabby treatment meted to him by Pakistan Cricket Board and especially by skipper Malik, Yousuf, one of the finest middle-order batsmen, rejoined the ICL earlier this month.
Although he still nurtures the desire of donning the national colours, Yousuf said he was left with no option but to join the ICL by the PCB and Malik.
‘There is no point in playing for a team when your captain is not supportive and doesn’t want you. A captain has to lead by example with his performance like Dhoni.’
‘He should have man-management skills while dealing with seniors, but Malik lacks those qualities,’ Yousuf said.
The 2007 Wisden Cricketer of the Year also held former Chairman Nasim Ashraf-led PCB regime responsible for the slump of the game in Pakistan. ‘The earlier PCB regime did little for the development of the game in the country, but the new set up is desperate to bring about a change.’
Yousuf, who has made 6,770 Test and 9,242 ODI runs till date, also lambasted the previous selection committee and cried foul over all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and his exclusion from the national side.
‘There are a few players in the ICL Pakistan team like Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Abdul Razzaq and myself who can represent the national side at any time. I was shocked by Razzaq’s exclusion from the Twenty20 side.’
‘He has great potential. To add to that, even after a series of good performance, the selectors dropped me from the team and that was not acceptable to me,’ he said.
He also lauded the new PCB regime under Ijaz Butt for appointing former Test captain Javed Miandad as director general of the board.
‘Javed bhai was a great batsman and he is the perfect person for the job. Only he can bring Pakistan team back on track.’
The prolific run-machine was in full praise for his present employer, ICL.
‘It is not fair to ban ICL players from playing for their national team. The league is only helping youngsters hone their skills and prepare themselves for the bigger platform,’ Yousuf said.
Disappointed with the shabby treatment meted to him by Pakistan Cricket Board and especially by skipper Malik, Yousuf, one of the finest middle-order batsmen, rejoined the ICL earlier this month.
Although he still nurtures the desire of donning the national colours, Yousuf said he was left with no option but to join the ICL by the PCB and Malik.
‘There is no point in playing for a team when your captain is not supportive and doesn’t want you. A captain has to lead by example with his performance like Dhoni.’
‘He should have man-management skills while dealing with seniors, but Malik lacks those qualities,’ Yousuf said.
The 2007 Wisden Cricketer of the Year also held former Chairman Nasim Ashraf-led PCB regime responsible for the slump of the game in Pakistan. ‘The earlier PCB regime did little for the development of the game in the country, but the new set up is desperate to bring about a change.’
Yousuf, who has made 6,770 Test and 9,242 ODI runs till date, also lambasted the previous selection committee and cried foul over all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and his exclusion from the national side.
‘There are a few players in the ICL Pakistan team like Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Abdul Razzaq and myself who can represent the national side at any time. I was shocked by Razzaq’s exclusion from the Twenty20 side.’
‘He has great potential. To add to that, even after a series of good performance, the selectors dropped me from the team and that was not acceptable to me,’ he said.
He also lauded the new PCB regime under Ijaz Butt for appointing former Test captain Javed Miandad as director general of the board.
‘Javed bhai was a great batsman and he is the perfect person for the job. Only he can bring Pakistan team back on track.’
The prolific run-machine was in full praise for his present employer, ICL.
‘It is not fair to ban ICL players from playing for their national team. The league is only helping youngsters hone their skills and prepare themselves for the bigger platform,’ Yousuf said.
Smith looks to Australia after crushing Bangladesh
South African captain Graeme Smith looked ahead to a world Test championship showdown with Australia after his side crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 48 runs on the third day of the second and final Test at Centurion Park Friday.
South Africa, who regained second position on the world championship table with their 2-0 series win - their eighth win in nine series, with one drawn - depart for Australia on December 6 for a three-Test series against the world champions.
"It's a tour that comes with a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure, with an emphasis on winning," said Smith.
"But we're going there to play the cricket we've played the whole year, to be as prepared as we can be."
Smith said he would embark on his second tour of Australia as captain feeling more settled than when South Africa were beaten 2-0 in 2005/06, backed by a team of experienced, accomplished players.
"There are going to be challenges I face as a leader and that's something I'm looking forward to. I've done some thinking about it in terms of scenarios and things that I'm going to face."
Smith said that although Bangladesh had been beaten with plenty to spare, South Africa had used the two matches to "work on a few things, talk about a few things and implement a few things. Our intensity this afternoon showed we were able to step it up a level when we wanted to."
Bangladesh were blown away for 131 in their second innings with their batsmen unable to deal with the pace and bounce of South Africa's fast bowlers. Bangladesh contributed to their own downfall with three run-outs, two from direct hits from the deep as the batsmen attempted second runs.
It was a disappointing ending for Bangladesh, who briefly held the upper hand on the second day when they reduced South Africa to 134 for five after making 250 in their first innings.
Captain Mohammad Ashraful said it had been one of the toughest series he had been involved in but he felt there had been some encouragement for Bangladesh in each of the matches they had played.
Coach Jamie Siddons said the three run-outs were "unacceptable", but added he was pleased with several aspects of the team's play.
"I was over the moon with our batting performance in the first innings, batting first and taking the challenge which I have been pushing Ash (Ashraful) to have the courage to back his batsmen to do."
He also felt Bangladesh bowled exceptionally well apart from an hour on the second afternoon when Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher turned the match decisively in the home side's favour during a record sixth wicket partnership of 271.
"The game could have been a whole lot different if a couple of things had gone our way at certain points of the game," said Siddons.
Prince made a career-best 162 not out while Boucher scored 117.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan took three wickets in four balls Friday morning to spark a collapse in which South Africa lost their last five wickets for 24 runs.
Shakib finished with six for 99, his second haul of five wickets or more in two innings during the series.
South Africa, who regained second position on the world championship table with their 2-0 series win - their eighth win in nine series, with one drawn - depart for Australia on December 6 for a three-Test series against the world champions.
"It's a tour that comes with a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure, with an emphasis on winning," said Smith.
"But we're going there to play the cricket we've played the whole year, to be as prepared as we can be."
Smith said he would embark on his second tour of Australia as captain feeling more settled than when South Africa were beaten 2-0 in 2005/06, backed by a team of experienced, accomplished players.
"There are going to be challenges I face as a leader and that's something I'm looking forward to. I've done some thinking about it in terms of scenarios and things that I'm going to face."
Smith said that although Bangladesh had been beaten with plenty to spare, South Africa had used the two matches to "work on a few things, talk about a few things and implement a few things. Our intensity this afternoon showed we were able to step it up a level when we wanted to."
Bangladesh were blown away for 131 in their second innings with their batsmen unable to deal with the pace and bounce of South Africa's fast bowlers. Bangladesh contributed to their own downfall with three run-outs, two from direct hits from the deep as the batsmen attempted second runs.
It was a disappointing ending for Bangladesh, who briefly held the upper hand on the second day when they reduced South Africa to 134 for five after making 250 in their first innings.
Captain Mohammad Ashraful said it had been one of the toughest series he had been involved in but he felt there had been some encouragement for Bangladesh in each of the matches they had played.
Coach Jamie Siddons said the three run-outs were "unacceptable", but added he was pleased with several aspects of the team's play.
"I was over the moon with our batting performance in the first innings, batting first and taking the challenge which I have been pushing Ash (Ashraful) to have the courage to back his batsmen to do."
He also felt Bangladesh bowled exceptionally well apart from an hour on the second afternoon when Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher turned the match decisively in the home side's favour during a record sixth wicket partnership of 271.
"The game could have been a whole lot different if a couple of things had gone our way at certain points of the game," said Siddons.
Prince made a career-best 162 not out while Boucher scored 117.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan took three wickets in four balls Friday morning to spark a collapse in which South Africa lost their last five wickets for 24 runs.
Shakib finished with six for 99, his second haul of five wickets or more in two innings during the series.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Folkes joins West Indies as new Strength and Conditioning Coach
CHRISTCHURCH -- The West Indies Cricket Team has a new Strength and Conditioning Coach. He is Steve Folkes, the legendary Australian Rugby League player and coach, who has joined the Windies as they get ready for the upcoming series in New Zealand.
Folkes has made the switch from coach of the Bulldogs Team in Australia. Since linking up with the West Indies here in Christchurch he has had a hands-on approach, working closely with all the players.
The West Indies had fitness and net sessions on Friday at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval and will have similar sessions on Saturday as part of the build-up for the upcoming series of two Tests, two T20 Internationals and five One-Day Internationals.
“I can remember going to the cricket ground in Australia and watching Sir Garry Sobers, Wes Hall, Rohan Kanhai, Roy Fredericks and other great West Indies players. Naturally I got autographs from them all, so I understand that West Indies have a very proud and successful heritage. I will do my part to have a positive environment, good team atmosphere and good team culture,” Folkes said.
“My football career showed that I’m a winner and I know that the Wes Indies are eighth in the world rankings right now, so I will do all I can to help to push that up and bring a winning attitude and positive drive.”
Folkes said he felt comfortable from the get-go and has already made the adjustment.
“It has been going really well. The sport is different from what I’m used to but the guys have been welcoming and we managed to do some decent sessions over the last few days. It’s pretty good,” he said.
“The switch from rugby league cricket is a bit different. My background is in strength and conditioning and then I went to coaching. The sports are different and the needs are different so I just need to adjust. I will learn by watching and I have spoken to [Head Coach] John Dyson and sought his advice.”
Fixtures
Friday, Dec 5 to Sunday, Dec 7: vs Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval
Thursday, Dec 11 to Monday, Dec 15: 1st Test at University Oval, Dunedin
Friday Dec 19 to Tuesday, Dec 23: 2nd Test at McLean Park, Napier
Friday, Dec 26: 1st T20 International at Eden Park, Auckland
Sunday, Dec 28: 2nd T20 International at Seddon Park, Hamilton
Wednesday, Dec 31: 1st ODI at Queenstown Event Centre, Queenstown
Saturday, Jan 3: 2nd ODI at AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Wednesday, Jan 7: 3rd ODI at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Saturday Jan 10: 4th ODI at Eden Park, Auckland
Tuesday, Jan 13: 5th ODI at McLean Park, Napier
SQUAD: Chris Gayle (Captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (Vice Captain), Lionel Baker, Carlton Baugh Jnr, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Fidel Edwards, Leon Johnson, Xavier Marshall, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor.
STAFF: Omar Khan (Team Manager), John Dyson (Head Coach), David Williams (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist), Steve Folkes (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Richard Berridge (Analyst), Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist), Philip Spooner (Media Officer)
Folkes has made the switch from coach of the Bulldogs Team in Australia. Since linking up with the West Indies here in Christchurch he has had a hands-on approach, working closely with all the players.
The West Indies had fitness and net sessions on Friday at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval and will have similar sessions on Saturday as part of the build-up for the upcoming series of two Tests, two T20 Internationals and five One-Day Internationals.
“I can remember going to the cricket ground in Australia and watching Sir Garry Sobers, Wes Hall, Rohan Kanhai, Roy Fredericks and other great West Indies players. Naturally I got autographs from them all, so I understand that West Indies have a very proud and successful heritage. I will do my part to have a positive environment, good team atmosphere and good team culture,” Folkes said.
“My football career showed that I’m a winner and I know that the Wes Indies are eighth in the world rankings right now, so I will do all I can to help to push that up and bring a winning attitude and positive drive.”
Folkes said he felt comfortable from the get-go and has already made the adjustment.
“It has been going really well. The sport is different from what I’m used to but the guys have been welcoming and we managed to do some decent sessions over the last few days. It’s pretty good,” he said.
“The switch from rugby league cricket is a bit different. My background is in strength and conditioning and then I went to coaching. The sports are different and the needs are different so I just need to adjust. I will learn by watching and I have spoken to [Head Coach] John Dyson and sought his advice.”
Fixtures
Friday, Dec 5 to Sunday, Dec 7: vs Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval
Thursday, Dec 11 to Monday, Dec 15: 1st Test at University Oval, Dunedin
Friday Dec 19 to Tuesday, Dec 23: 2nd Test at McLean Park, Napier
Friday, Dec 26: 1st T20 International at Eden Park, Auckland
Sunday, Dec 28: 2nd T20 International at Seddon Park, Hamilton
Wednesday, Dec 31: 1st ODI at Queenstown Event Centre, Queenstown
Saturday, Jan 3: 2nd ODI at AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Wednesday, Jan 7: 3rd ODI at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Saturday Jan 10: 4th ODI at Eden Park, Auckland
Tuesday, Jan 13: 5th ODI at McLean Park, Napier
SQUAD: Chris Gayle (Captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (Vice Captain), Lionel Baker, Carlton Baugh Jnr, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Fidel Edwards, Leon Johnson, Xavier Marshall, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor.
STAFF: Omar Khan (Team Manager), John Dyson (Head Coach), David Williams (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist), Steve Folkes (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Richard Berridge (Analyst), Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist), Philip Spooner (Media Officer)
Brooks appointed Sussex CEO
David Brooks has been appointed as the new chief executive of Sussex.
Brooks, 41, a former chief executive of the Finsbury Food Group, will take up the position from January 1, 2009.
A qualified accountant and keen club cricketer, Brooks replaces Gus Mackay, who departed Hove for Surrey in September.
Brooks said: “I am delighted to be joining Sussex at this time of great change and massive opportunity.
“My key role is to provide a strong financial footing for the county club, which will enable Mark Robinson and Mike Yardy to build on the recent successes, whilst forging closer links with the community and the recreational game.
“Cricket has always been my one passion and I cannot wait to get started.”
Brooks was part of a team which purchased Memory Lane Cakes in 1997 and turned it from a loss-making business to a successful venture.
He led Finsbury Food for six years, playing the leading role in building it up to a business with a £200m turnover.
One of Brooks’ main priorities in his new position is the development of Sussex’s county ground at Hove.
“I have wanted to use my business knowledge in this field,” he added.
“Both cricket and bakery are about consumers. We have to give people services they enjoy.
“We have to improve our revenue streams, which is about doing a thousand little things better.
“We’ve appointed consultants to advise us on our options about Hove and we need to create a sustainable business model.”
Sussex chairman Jim May said: “We were looking for a leader who can build our commercial business and oversee the ground redevelopment in order to finance the strong cricket culture in Sussex.
“Dave impressed us with his personal qualities and his track record. I am extremely pleased that we have managed to recruit someone of Dave’s calibre.
“The county club faces the many uncertainties in the world of cricket and a challenging economic climate.
“It does so in good heart, having built a strong management team to complement a very well-regarded professional setup.”
Kabir escapes Mumbai hotel attack
Former England player Kabir Ali was hours away from being caught up in the terror attacks in Mumbai.
The 28-year-old Worcestershire fast bowler, who has been on holiday in India since the end of the 2008 season, had breakfast at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, one of the landmarks targeted in the atrocities on Wednesday.
He had been due to return for dinner that evening before a late change of plan.
“Something in my heart told me to go to the cinema instead,” Kabir said.
“I just couldn’t believe it when I heard what had happened.
“When we left the cinema there was a lot of panic - I can’t believe that we had originally planned to go back to the Taj Palace for dinner.
“We were a little shaken but we’re OK - we only left the hotel a few hours before it happened.”
Kabir has played one Test and 14 one-day internationals for England.
The 28-year-old Worcestershire fast bowler, who has been on holiday in India since the end of the 2008 season, had breakfast at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, one of the landmarks targeted in the atrocities on Wednesday.
He had been due to return for dinner that evening before a late change of plan.
“Something in my heart told me to go to the cinema instead,” Kabir said.
“I just couldn’t believe it when I heard what had happened.
“When we left the cinema there was a lot of panic - I can’t believe that we had originally planned to go back to the Taj Palace for dinner.
“We were a little shaken but we’re OK - we only left the hotel a few hours before it happened.”
Kabir has played one Test and 14 one-day internationals for England.
Ponting and Hussey lead charge
Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey's ton stand put Australia in charge at tea on day two of second Test against New Zealand.
Australia added 98 runs without loss in the second session to reach 155 for two in reply to the Black Caps 270 all out after Ponting lifted the tempo immediately after lunch and moved onto 79 with Hussey unbeaten on 28 as the duo compiled 106 for the third wicket.
Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori removed Simon Katich in the first session and then bowled 12 tidy overs after lunch to compile figures of one for 28.
After cleaning up the Kiwi tail in just over eight over of the second day, Australia lost Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich before lunch after making a steady start at Adelaide Oval.
Hayden started his first knock in his 100th Test in style by hitting Chris Martin for a leg side boundary off the opening ball of the innings.
And when he and Katich effortlessly moved the total along to 38 after 10 overs his confidence grew.
But disaster struck when a combination of bad calling and ball watching saw him run out for 24.
The big Queenslander took off for a single but was stranded as Katich stayed anchored at the bowler's end.
Katich tried to make amends for the mix up but was out four overs later as he was caught at back pad off Vettori for 23.
Earlier, Brett Lee ripped through New Zealand's lower order to dismiss the BlackCaps for a below-par first innings total on a friendly batting pitch after they resumed on their overnight 262 for six.
Lee took three for six in a 27-ball spell to finish with first innings figures of four for 66 as he claimed 50 Test wickets in a calendar year for the first time.
Mitchell Johnson claimed the other day two wicket and finished with innings figures of two for 56.
A change of pace saw Lee dismiss the dangerous Brendon McCullum (30) as the Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsmen chased an out-swinger and was caught by Brad Haddin behind the stumps.
Johnson then forced Tim Southee to fend off a short delivery and was he caught by Katich after adding just two before Lee wrapped up the tail.
The New South Wales seamer had Iain O'Brien caught behind for nought before knocking Martin's middle stump out of the ground to deliver the number 11 another duck.
Kiwi captain Vettori, the overnight batsmen, was left stranded on 18 not out as New Zealand posted a disappointing first innings total.
Australia added 98 runs without loss in the second session to reach 155 for two in reply to the Black Caps 270 all out after Ponting lifted the tempo immediately after lunch and moved onto 79 with Hussey unbeaten on 28 as the duo compiled 106 for the third wicket.
Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori removed Simon Katich in the first session and then bowled 12 tidy overs after lunch to compile figures of one for 28.
After cleaning up the Kiwi tail in just over eight over of the second day, Australia lost Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich before lunch after making a steady start at Adelaide Oval.
Hayden started his first knock in his 100th Test in style by hitting Chris Martin for a leg side boundary off the opening ball of the innings.
And when he and Katich effortlessly moved the total along to 38 after 10 overs his confidence grew.
But disaster struck when a combination of bad calling and ball watching saw him run out for 24.
The big Queenslander took off for a single but was stranded as Katich stayed anchored at the bowler's end.
Katich tried to make amends for the mix up but was out four overs later as he was caught at back pad off Vettori for 23.
Earlier, Brett Lee ripped through New Zealand's lower order to dismiss the BlackCaps for a below-par first innings total on a friendly batting pitch after they resumed on their overnight 262 for six.
Lee took three for six in a 27-ball spell to finish with first innings figures of four for 66 as he claimed 50 Test wickets in a calendar year for the first time.
Mitchell Johnson claimed the other day two wicket and finished with innings figures of two for 56.
A change of pace saw Lee dismiss the dangerous Brendon McCullum (30) as the Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsmen chased an out-swinger and was caught by Brad Haddin behind the stumps.
Johnson then forced Tim Southee to fend off a short delivery and was he caught by Katich after adding just two before Lee wrapped up the tail.
The New South Wales seamer had Iain O'Brien caught behind for nought before knocking Martin's middle stump out of the ground to deliver the number 11 another duck.
Kiwi captain Vettori, the overnight batsmen, was left stranded on 18 not out as New Zealand posted a disappointing first innings total.
Lee puts Aussies on top
Brett Lee ripped through New Zealand to dismiss the BlackCaps for 270 on the second morning of the second Test.
After reaching 262 for six at stumps on day one, the Blackcaps survived just over eight overs as Lee took three for six in a 27-ball spell to finish with first innings figures of four for 66 as he claimed 50 Test wickets in a calendar year for the first time.
Mitchell Johnson claimed the other day two wicket and finished with figures of two for 56.
Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori, the overnight batsmen, was left stranded on 18 not out as New Zealand posted a below-par first innings total on a friendly batting pitch.
A change of pace saw Lee dismiss the dangerous Brendon McCullum (30) as the Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsmen chased an out-swinger and was caught by Brad Haddin behind the stumps.
Johnson then forced Tim Southee to fend off a short delivery and was he caught by Simon Katich after adding just two before Lee wrapped up the tail.
The New South Wales seamer had Iain O'Brien caught behind for nought before knocking Chris Martin's middle stump out of the ground to deliver the number 11 another duck.
After reaching 262 for six at stumps on day one, the Blackcaps survived just over eight overs as Lee took three for six in a 27-ball spell to finish with first innings figures of four for 66 as he claimed 50 Test wickets in a calendar year for the first time.
Mitchell Johnson claimed the other day two wicket and finished with figures of two for 56.
Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori, the overnight batsmen, was left stranded on 18 not out as New Zealand posted a below-par first innings total on a friendly batting pitch.
A change of pace saw Lee dismiss the dangerous Brendon McCullum (30) as the Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsmen chased an out-swinger and was caught by Brad Haddin behind the stumps.
Johnson then forced Tim Southee to fend off a short delivery and was he caught by Simon Katich after adding just two before Lee wrapped up the tail.
The New South Wales seamer had Iain O'Brien caught behind for nought before knocking Chris Martin's middle stump out of the ground to deliver the number 11 another duck.
Pietersen admits Test doubts
England began their trip home with Kevin Pietersen admitting he does not know if they will return for the Test series.
The tourists announced yesterday they would be flying back to London because of security concerns regarding the terrorist attacks on Mumbai, which have resulted in over 100 deaths and more than 250 injuries after assaults on several leading city landmarks.
That included the famous Taj Mahal Palace hotel, where England were based only three weeks ago and were supposed to return to on December 16 prior to the final Test in Mumbai.
After a day of meetings and talks between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, it was decided the final two one-day internationals would be cancelled and the team would return home with a view to returning for the Test series, which is due to start in Ahmedabad on December 11.
But Pietersen, talking before he left England's base in Bhubaneswar for Bangalore, from where they will fly to London tomorrow, has admitted the future of the tour has still to be resolved.
"I haven't a clue (whether we'll come back) and we'll have to get all the logistic stuff sorted first but the decision to go back to London will buy us some time and if we need to fly back to India on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday next week then so be it," said Pietersen.
"Right now, all we want to do is go home because of what we've seen and the fact we've woken up this morning and the saga is still continuing in Mumbai.
"The guys were happy as anything in Mumbai in the two weeks we were there. The way of life in Mumbai is fantastic and that way of life, which is the best way of life in India, has now gone.
"I bet all the guys lost a whole battery on their mobiles yesterday with calls from friends and relatives and kids wanting to know where daddy is. It's a real situation and we're being taken out of the situation and we'll make a decision on it over the next 48 to 72 hours."
Before that decision is made, assurances over the team's security will have to be given and England have instructed security advisor Reg Dickason to report on the situation in India before any possible return.
But with lucrative television contracts tied into the Test series, Pietersen expects pressure to be applied by the BCCI for England to return - even though it has been confirmed the venue for the second Test has been moved down south to Chennai.
"It will be a security decision and then we'll be guided by the ECB," confirmed Pietersen. "Reg is going to come back here and he'll ring me and tell me what's going on.
"I do think the BCCI will make every single effort to get us back here playing Test match cricket in India. There are TV rights and financial considerations and they run world cricket don't they?
"But we will not come back to this country if it's not safe. My life means more to me than anything else and I won't come back if it's not safe."
Pietersen has confirmed no player will be asked to return to India if they do not feel comfortable with the decision, stressing: "I'm not going to force any adult who has got a wife and kids and things like that to do anything - I would never force anyone to do anything they don't want to do.
"Before (the) Stanford (Super Series) I was asked if I was going to make anyone give the money to charity but these are grown men who are older than me and I would never tell anyone what to do."
The players' desire to return may have also been clouded by coverage of the terrorist attacks on Indian television, which have left many of them stunned after witnessing pictures of troops storming the same hotel foyer they had mingled in just two weeks earlier.
The England captain revealed: "The television coverage here has been pretty graphic. I've heard back home it's not been like that but out here you see pools of blood, you see everything that has been going on.
"We've woken up this morning and seen more pictures of people jumping out of helicopters where we were two weeks ago. It's really made the guys aware and shocked them.
"We were there two weeks ago in that vicinity - I walked down those steps and met some mates on a boat, right in that bay, just two weeks ago."
Should England, against expectations, decide India is safe enough to return, they are likely to be thrown straight into the first Test with very little practice, with their only warm-up game due to start in Baroda a week today, although they are considering training in Abu Dhabi or Dubai instead en route to India.
The tourists announced yesterday they would be flying back to London because of security concerns regarding the terrorist attacks on Mumbai, which have resulted in over 100 deaths and more than 250 injuries after assaults on several leading city landmarks.
That included the famous Taj Mahal Palace hotel, where England were based only three weeks ago and were supposed to return to on December 16 prior to the final Test in Mumbai.
After a day of meetings and talks between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, it was decided the final two one-day internationals would be cancelled and the team would return home with a view to returning for the Test series, which is due to start in Ahmedabad on December 11.
But Pietersen, talking before he left England's base in Bhubaneswar for Bangalore, from where they will fly to London tomorrow, has admitted the future of the tour has still to be resolved.
"I haven't a clue (whether we'll come back) and we'll have to get all the logistic stuff sorted first but the decision to go back to London will buy us some time and if we need to fly back to India on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday next week then so be it," said Pietersen.
"Right now, all we want to do is go home because of what we've seen and the fact we've woken up this morning and the saga is still continuing in Mumbai.
"The guys were happy as anything in Mumbai in the two weeks we were there. The way of life in Mumbai is fantastic and that way of life, which is the best way of life in India, has now gone.
"I bet all the guys lost a whole battery on their mobiles yesterday with calls from friends and relatives and kids wanting to know where daddy is. It's a real situation and we're being taken out of the situation and we'll make a decision on it over the next 48 to 72 hours."
Before that decision is made, assurances over the team's security will have to be given and England have instructed security advisor Reg Dickason to report on the situation in India before any possible return.
But with lucrative television contracts tied into the Test series, Pietersen expects pressure to be applied by the BCCI for England to return - even though it has been confirmed the venue for the second Test has been moved down south to Chennai.
"It will be a security decision and then we'll be guided by the ECB," confirmed Pietersen. "Reg is going to come back here and he'll ring me and tell me what's going on.
"I do think the BCCI will make every single effort to get us back here playing Test match cricket in India. There are TV rights and financial considerations and they run world cricket don't they?
"But we will not come back to this country if it's not safe. My life means more to me than anything else and I won't come back if it's not safe."
Pietersen has confirmed no player will be asked to return to India if they do not feel comfortable with the decision, stressing: "I'm not going to force any adult who has got a wife and kids and things like that to do anything - I would never force anyone to do anything they don't want to do.
"Before (the) Stanford (Super Series) I was asked if I was going to make anyone give the money to charity but these are grown men who are older than me and I would never tell anyone what to do."
The players' desire to return may have also been clouded by coverage of the terrorist attacks on Indian television, which have left many of them stunned after witnessing pictures of troops storming the same hotel foyer they had mingled in just two weeks earlier.
The England captain revealed: "The television coverage here has been pretty graphic. I've heard back home it's not been like that but out here you see pools of blood, you see everything that has been going on.
"We've woken up this morning and seen more pictures of people jumping out of helicopters where we were two weeks ago. It's really made the guys aware and shocked them.
"We were there two weeks ago in that vicinity - I walked down those steps and met some mates on a boat, right in that bay, just two weeks ago."
Should England, against expectations, decide India is safe enough to return, they are likely to be thrown straight into the first Test with very little practice, with their only warm-up game due to start in Baroda a week today, although they are considering training in Abu Dhabi or Dubai instead en route to India.
Logistics behind postponement
The decision to postpone the CL T20 was made for logistical reasons rather than any concerns about security in India.
Organisers are planning to reschedule the eight-team event for early 2009 after terrorist attacks rocked Mumbai on Wednesday, but Modi insisted the tournament would have gone ahead if an alternative venue could have been secured at short notice.
"All eight teams tried to implore us to continue with the Champions League and just change Mumbai," said Modi. "We, on our part, logistically could not replace a venue in 48 hours. We proposed the postponement."
When asked if there was any possibility of moving the event outside the country, Modi insisted that had never been an option.
He added: "We are going to reschedule it in India."
Organisers are planning to reschedule the eight-team event for early 2009 after terrorist attacks rocked Mumbai on Wednesday, but Modi insisted the tournament would have gone ahead if an alternative venue could have been secured at short notice.
"All eight teams tried to implore us to continue with the Champions League and just change Mumbai," said Modi. "We, on our part, logistically could not replace a venue in 48 hours. We proposed the postponement."
When asked if there was any possibility of moving the event outside the country, Modi insisted that had never been an option.
He added: "We are going to reschedule it in India."
Bangladesh tumble to innings defeat
Fiery fast bowling and lively fielding sent Bangladesh tumbling to their second successive innings defeat on the third day of the second and final Test against South Africa at Centurion Park.
South Africa won by an innings and 48 runs to clinch the series 2-0 after bowling out Bangladesh for 131 in their second innings. They won the first Test in Bloemfontein by an innings and 129 runs.
South Africa's pace attack put the tourists under pressure from the start of their second innings and Bangladesh contributed to their own downfall with three run-outs, two from direct hits from the deep as the batsmen attempted second runs.
It was a disappointing ending for Bangladesh who briefly held the upper hand on the second day when they reduced South Africa to 134 for five after making 250 in their first innings.
Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher turned the match decisively in the home side's favour with a South African record sixth wicket partnership of 271.
Prince made a career-best 162 not out while Boucher scored 117.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan took three wickets in four balls Friday morning to spark a collapse in which South Africa lost their last five wickets for 24 runs.
Shakib finished with six for 99, his second haul of five wickets or more in two innings during the series.
Bangladesh started their second innings with only four overs remaining before lunch but it was enough for Makhaya Ntini to claim the wicket of Imrul Kayes, caught at first slip.
First innings top scorer Junaid Siddique was subjected to a barrage of short-pitched bowling before he gloved a lifting delivery from Jacques Kallis to gully.
Tamim Iqbal twice needed treatment after being hit on the fingers before he slashed at a lifting ball from Morne Morkel and was spectacularly caught by a diving Neil McKenzie at gully.
Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful was then involved in two run-outs. Mehrab Hossain was the victim when Ashraful called for a second run and Hashim Amla hit the stumps at the bowler's end from backward square leg. Two overs later Ashraful himself was run out after he turned Morkel to the legside and failed to complete a second run before Dale Steyn's throw from deep fine leg hit the stumps.
Shakib Al Hasan cut Morkel to deep backward point as Bangladesh slumped to 95 for six at tea, When Mushfiqur Rahim padded up to Ntini's first ball after the break Bangladesh were doomed, although Mashrafe Mortaza frustrated the bowlers with some adventurous hitting to make 23 not out off 21 balls.
South Africa won by an innings and 48 runs to clinch the series 2-0 after bowling out Bangladesh for 131 in their second innings. They won the first Test in Bloemfontein by an innings and 129 runs.
South Africa's pace attack put the tourists under pressure from the start of their second innings and Bangladesh contributed to their own downfall with three run-outs, two from direct hits from the deep as the batsmen attempted second runs.
It was a disappointing ending for Bangladesh who briefly held the upper hand on the second day when they reduced South Africa to 134 for five after making 250 in their first innings.
Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher turned the match decisively in the home side's favour with a South African record sixth wicket partnership of 271.
Prince made a career-best 162 not out while Boucher scored 117.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan took three wickets in four balls Friday morning to spark a collapse in which South Africa lost their last five wickets for 24 runs.
Shakib finished with six for 99, his second haul of five wickets or more in two innings during the series.
Bangladesh started their second innings with only four overs remaining before lunch but it was enough for Makhaya Ntini to claim the wicket of Imrul Kayes, caught at first slip.
First innings top scorer Junaid Siddique was subjected to a barrage of short-pitched bowling before he gloved a lifting delivery from Jacques Kallis to gully.
Tamim Iqbal twice needed treatment after being hit on the fingers before he slashed at a lifting ball from Morne Morkel and was spectacularly caught by a diving Neil McKenzie at gully.
Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful was then involved in two run-outs. Mehrab Hossain was the victim when Ashraful called for a second run and Hashim Amla hit the stumps at the bowler's end from backward square leg. Two overs later Ashraful himself was run out after he turned Morkel to the legside and failed to complete a second run before Dale Steyn's throw from deep fine leg hit the stumps.
Shakib Al Hasan cut Morkel to deep backward point as Bangladesh slumped to 95 for six at tea, When Mushfiqur Rahim padded up to Ntini's first ball after the break Bangladesh were doomed, although Mashrafe Mortaza frustrated the bowlers with some adventurous hitting to make 23 not out off 21 balls.
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