Latest Cricket News and Updates, Live Cricket Score

Its ironic that the BCCI, the richest cricket board in the world, has not hired a fitness trainer for the Indian team for more than a year now, since February 2008. Its only now that, keeping in mind the hectic international schedule ahead, the Indian team management has requested the board for a fitness trainer. A reply, though, is still eagerly awaited, sources told 22yards.
Although the team currently has a physio in Nitin Patel and a mental conditioning coach in Paddy Upton , it needs a fitness trainer to oversee personalised fitness routines for the players, particularly the fast bowlers. The management is keen to see that players stay fit and are adequately trained to enable them to go through the grind of a gruelling season ahead, which starts with the Champions Trophy in September and goes on till the Twenty 20 World Cup in the West Indies.
They have to be fit and fresh for the challenges in the coming season. And in order to ensure that, the team definitely needs a trainer to make things better, a team management source told 22yards on Friday.
The team wants to make sure that key bowlers like Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma are fit and raring to go before crucial tournaments. So, it is important to have the right drills in order to stay fit. Even guys like Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra and RP Singh need to keep their fitness levels high, he said.
In other words, the team needs a trainer-cum-strengthening coach. Even the batsmen need to work around someone who can help them to increase stamina levels, he added.
Though the board is yet to respond to the request, sources suggested a hunt for a new trainer was on. The past two Indian team trainers were both from South Africa and a third could be in the offing, it is learnt. Gregory King was the teams trainer till February 2008 and there has been no replacement ever since he quit on personal grounds. King had replaced countrymate Adrian le Roux. These days, the teams fitness drills are taken care of by Upton.
Apart from Nitin Patel and Upton , the coaching staff comprises coach Gary Kirsten, Venkatesh Prasad (bowling coach) and Robin Singh (fielding coach).

As had been widely expected for some time, Shahid Afridi has been named Pakistan captain for the Twenty20 game against Sri Lanka next month. He takes over from Younis Khan, who retired from the format after leading Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title last month.

Afridi was instrumental in that triumph, turning in Man-of-the-Match performances in both the semi-final and the final. Since Younis’s retirement Afridi has been the leading candidate to take over, even as chairman Ijaz Butt initially said he would try and convince Younis to reconsider. Presently, he has only been appointed for the one game against Sri Lanka, but a more permanent decision is expected sooner rather than later.

It will be the first time Afridi will lead the national team in any format of the game, getting his chance nearly 13 years after making his Pakistan debut. The last five years have been the most productive of Afridi’s career, where despite brief patches of indifference, he has established himself as a fixture in Pakistan’s limited-overs set-up. His form has been particularly good this year, with impressive performances in the ODI series and Twenty20 against Australia in Dubai in May. That culminated with his critical role in leading Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title. Allied to his player-of-the-tournament contributions in the 2007 version, another indicator of his suitability to this format, his ascension became inevitable.

Whenever there has been a captaincy change over the last couple of years, Afridi’s name has figured prominently among the contenders. He has plenty of captaincy experience at the domestic level, having been at the helm of Habib Bank Limited, Sind and Karachi Dolphins over the past few years.

The Tests delivered the promise of riveting cricket, at a time when the game’s traditional format was under threat. Now save your appetite for the one-dayers. The selling point of the series comes from the visitor’s camp. It marks the return of two exciting players from the ICL, who have been in heavy demand from loyal Pakistan followers to give the team a facelift – Imran Nazir and Naved-ul-Hasan. The other player from the ICL, Abdul Razzaq, had already started his rebirth as an international player in the World Twenty20 but was kept out of the Tests and Mohammad Yousuf too made a stirring comeback in the Tests.

Both teams are at a rebuilding stage, with the 2011 World Cup in mind. The Sri Lankan captain, Kumar Sangakkara, highlighted that on the eve of the opening ODI in Dambulla, as it gives a chance for his team to experiment before arriving at the right combination. Instead of trying out new blood, both teams have handed comebacks to old faces, Thilan Samaraweera being a prime example from the home team. Tillakaratne Dilshan’s temporary absence may come as a blessing in disguise for them as it’s an opportunity for another attacking opener to fill the breach. After all, Sri Lanka cannot depend on Sanath Jayasuriya forever.

They will be up against the team which thumped them fairly convincingly the last time they met in the limited-overs format – the ICC World Twenty20. Where will the pendulum swing this time?

Watch out for…

Upul Tharanga: With Dilshan bandaged and ruled out for the first couple of ODIs at least, Tharanga’s spot at the top is more or less guaranteed. Holding his place once Dilshan returns will be his challenge. He last played an ODI during the tour of Bangladesh earlier this year but was overlooked for the series against Pakistan and India. His performance in the warm-up game in Kurunegala on Monday was inauspicious – he was out for a first-ball duck. Tharanga is a tried and tested player who’s had success in the past and if he backs himself, he should manage some substantial scores, focus on building an innings and leave the power hitting to Jayasuriya.

Imran Nazir: He was the people’s favourite not too long ago and still is. Trawl through the comments from readers in Cricinfo’s recent stories and blogs on Pakistan and Nazir features almost everywhere. He was the most-wanted player from the ICL and for a good reason too. He smacked an unbeaten 111 off 44 balls to guide Lahore Badshahs to the ICL title last November and fans realised just how much they missed him. Pakistan can look forward to the exciting opening duo of Nazir and Kamran Akmal.

Sri Lanka’s new one-day kit: Hopefully the dawn of a new era, after three consecutive series defeats at home.

Team news

Dilhara Fernando was added at the last minute as cover for the injury-prone Lasith Malinga. Sangakkara didn’t reveal the exact combination and said that Samaraweera and Thilina Kandamby were in the mix.

Sri Lanka: (likely)  Upul Tharanga,  Sanath Jayasuriya,Kumar Sangakkara (capt and wk), Mahela Jayawardene,  Thilina Kandamdy/Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera,  Thilan Thushara,  Nuwan Kulasekara,  Lasith Malinga/Dilhara Fernando,  Muttiah Muralitharan

Pakistan have an embarrassment of riches and the competition for places has shot up. Will Yousuf walk in, and if he does, at whose expense? There was no word on a possible debut for Umar Akmal, who smashed an unbeaten 103 off 76 balls in Kurunegala.

Pakistan: (likely)  Kamran Akmal (wk) Imran Nazir,  Younis Khan,  Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik,  Misbah-ul-Haq/ Mohammad Yousuf,  Abdul Razzaq,  Umar Gul,  Naved-ul-Hasan,  Saeed Ajmal/ Mohammad Aamer

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan is the only team with a positive win-loss record against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka: in 21 ODIs they have won ten and lost nine. Since 2000, though, they have lost five and won three against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.
• Teams batting first have won only five out of 13 day games in Dambula. The last four day matches here have all been won by the team batting second.
• Sri Lanka’s main batsmen have had a tough time in Dambulla. Sangakkara averages less than 29 in 20 innings, while Jayasuriya has only two 50-plus scores in 18 innings.
• Both Sangakkara and Jayawardene haven’t managed a half-century at home against Pakistan in 15 ODI innings. Sangakkara’s highest in eight innings is an unbeaten 36, while Jayawardene’s best in seven innings is 49.
• Muralitharan has enjoyed the conditions in Dambulla, taking 33 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 15.36 at an economy rate of 3.46 runs per over.

Quotes

“You are never sure as to whether they will be explosive or be destructive. Sometimes they are a hard side to play, all the more so we should be thinking about our game a lot more that we should about theirs.”
Kumar Sangakkara on Pakistan

“We are aware of Sri Lanka’s strength we must stick to our basics every day and in every game. Sri Lanka’s fielding is fantastic and they have the upper hand in fielding. If we field like we did in the Twenty20 we can provide good competition.”

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s international career is virtually over. Akram said the warning bells had been sounded with Shoaib’s omission from Pakistan’s list of probables for the forthcoming Champions Trophy, to be held in South Africa.

“I don’t think he has got a chance, unless and until some miracles happen,” Akram said. “Even though it depends on the captain and selectors, I think Shoaib has fallen out with the selectors and the board itself. The board still supported him and he went to Abu Dhabi and played two of the five games against Australia before getting injured again. We all saw that.”

Akram also said the emergence of young fast bowlers like Mohammad Aamer had made Shoaib’s comeback tougher. “I think Pakistan’s bowling unit is doing well and they have to look ahead and think about the future,” he said. “They have to back the youngsters who will do the job for them, even if you look at the 2011 World Cup. Also in this year’s Champions Trophy and the next Twenty20 World Cup, the team would have to rely on the youngsters. I don’t know where you can place Shoaib Akhtar in the current picture of Pakistan cricket.”

Akram predicted a difficult future for Mohammad Asif as well. The 26-year-old fast bowler, however, made the cut for the probables for the Champions Trophy, following a tumultuous two-and-a-half years in which he failed dope tests and was embroiled in a detention case in Dubai.

“My advice to Asif would be – learn from your mistakes. I sincerely hope he learns from the 300 mistakes that he has made in the last two years,” said Akram. “He’s young, talented and one of the best Pakistani bowlers but it will take him some time to return because Aamer is now bowling really well.”

He pointed out that international returns were not easy and cited the cases of Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir. “Even Sohail Tanvir was struggling in Twenty20,” Akram said. “Umar Gul is phenomenal but I don’t think he bowled well enough in the Test matches [in Sri Lanka]. My advice to Gul is: Twenty20 and ODI are fine but if you are to be recognised as a good bowler you have to do well in Test cricket too.”

London, June 22, No Indian player found a place in the World Twenty20 men’s team while Rumeli Dhar was the only one from the country to feature in the women’s team, announced by a select group of experts chosen by International Cricket Council (ICC) Monday.

Defending champions India had a forgettable outing in the World Twenty20, losing all three matches in the Super Eights. Even the in-form Yuvraj Singh failed to make the cut in the 12-member team, showcasing the best Twenty20 players of the world. Pakistan skipper Younis Khan was named the leader of the side.

Indian women’s team fared better than the men’s, reaching the semi-final where they lost to England. All-rounder Dhar was the sole Indian in the team led by Charlotte Edwards of England.

World Twenty20 teams are (in batting order):

Men:
Chris Gayle (West Indies), Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), AB de Villiers (South Africa), Younus Khan (Pakistan, captain), Dwayne Bravo (West Indies),
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Kamran Akmal (Pakistan, wicketkeeper), Wayne Parnell (South Africa), Umar Gul (Pakistan), Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka).
12th man: Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

Women:
Shelley Nitschke (Australia), Charlotte Edwards (England, captain), Claire Taylor (England), Aimee Watkins (New Zealand), Sarah Taylor (England, wicketkeeper), Suzi Bates (New Zealand),
Lucy Doolan (New Zealand), Rumeli Dhar (India), Laura Marsh (England), Holly Colvin (England), and Sian Ruck (New Zealand).
12th player: Eshani Kaushalya (Sri Lanka)

Pakistan Cricket Team

Younus Khan and his men gave their terror-stricken countrymen something to cheer about as they first confined Sri Lanka to 138 for six and then went on to chase down the target in 18.4 overs to put behind the heartbreak of losing the crown to arch-rivals India in the 2007 edition of the tournament.

Chasing 139, Pakistan got off to a flying start with Kamran Akmal (37 off 28 balls) taking the Lankan attack by the scruff of its neck and then Shahid Afridi (54 not out) went ballistic as the side cruised to 139 for two.

This was a memorable win for a nation which has been shunned by the visiting teams because of the volatile security situation there, resulting in their virtual isolation in international cricket.

Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara (64 not out) played a captain’s knock and added 68 invaluable runs with Angelo Mathews (35 not out) to put on board a competitive 138 for six wickets after his decision to bat first on Lord’s lively track had boomeranged.

Sangakkara’s knock came after comeback Pakistani pacer Abdul Razzaq (3/20) had mowed the Lankan top order, leaving them reeling at 26 for four inside four overs and then gasping for breath at 70 for six inside 13 overs.

Solid start

With Akmal on song, Pakistan got just the right start they needed with the opening stand yielding 48 runs in seven overs.

Akmal threw his bat at everything hurled at him and twice his slog-sweeps landed in the stands before Sanath Jayasuriya removed him with his first delivery.

Other opener Shazaib Hasan (19) too joined him in the hut shortly but Afridi and Shoaib Malik (24 not out) kept up the good work to complete the formalities.

Afridi’s 40-ball blitzkrieg was studded with two sixes and as many fours.

Earlier, Sangakkara waged a grim battle to help Sri Lanka survive a spectacular top order collapse and post a modest 138 for six.

Sangakkara felt the team would be better off defending a total but was left to rue the decision as Razzaq, plying his trade in the ‘rebel’ Indian Cricket League (ICL) till the other day, scythed through the top order to leave the Lankans gasping for breath at 32 for four inside six overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, the leading scorer of the tournament, played an awkward scoop off Mohammad Aamer in the first over to return with a duck against his name and was soon joined by scoreless teammate Jehan Mubarak, who miscued Abdul Razzaq to give Shazaib Hasan his second catch of the match.

Jayasuriya fails

A lot was expected of Sanath Jayasuriya (17) but all the Lankan old war horse managed was a six and four off Razzaq’s successive deliveries before bottom-edging the fifth ball onto his stumps, leaving his team reeling at 26 for three inside four overs.

That their nightmare was not over yet was evident when Mahela Jayawardene (1) actually guided a Razzaq delivery to Misbah-ul Haq in the lone slip to leave the Lankans in dire strait.

Sangakkara hit Aamer for back-to-back fours and then meted out the same treatment to Shahid Afridi to prove there was no demon in the pitch but another setback was just round the corner.

Chamara Silva (14) had added 35 runs with his skipper before a fluffed pull off Umar Gul brought his peril, leaving the Lankas sans their top half with the score reading a mere 67.

Down the order, Sangakkara found an able ally in Mathews and they forged a resuscitating stand to push the score near the 140-mark.

Abdul Razzaq to the Pakistan side after a two-year exile caused by his decision to opt for the Indian Cricket League. Razzaq was fast-tracked into the national Twenty20 squad in England shortly after quitting the ICL, but his participation in the opening Super Eights match against Sri Lanka at Lord’s today is highly unlikely as he arrives just hours before the game.

Abdul Razzaq

Younis Khan,the Pakistan captain, has welcomed the return of allrounder

 ”This game is not possible but I think he will manage the last two games,” Younis said on the eve of the game. “He is a good name in world cricket and in Twenty20 he is a fantastic allrounder.

 ”He is a senior guy and his return will be good for Pakistan cricket. He would be in any team in the world.”

 Razzaq was one of several former ICL players granted amnesty by the Pakistan Cricket Board a few weeks ago shortly after the Indian board took the initiative to allow players to return from the unofficial league. Razzaq was named in the original list of 30 probables the PCB had sent to the ICC in early April – before the BCCI announced the amnesty – but the board made a U-turn and scratched his name off because the ICC objected to his ICL status. However, when Razzaq confirmed that he had snapped ties with the ICL, the PCB named him as an emergency replacement for the injured seamer Yasir Arafat.

 Razzaq is likely to play the next Super Eights match against New Zealand at The Oval on Saturday.

 Younis also took the opportunity to clarify some unusual comments he had earlier made on Twenty20 cricket, comparing it to “WWF” and saying that it was better to take it easy and have fun in this format. He defended his comments and urged everyone not to take them too seriously.

 ”I am a simple guy. Sometimes people think I am wrong because when we lose I am still laughing,” Younis said. “You must look forward, if you lose or win. This is life. Sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days.”

Tillakaratane Dilshan

The West Indies top three batsmen were back to pavillion in the first over. There was no threat seen from the West Indian batting despite Chris Gayle was in the crease through out the innings. There was none of West Indian batsman who assist Gayle to go for the target. All the team was out for 101 runs. Gayle carried the bat and none of the West Indies batsman touch the double figure except gayle. The second individual score was extras.

Dilshan was the man of the match and now Srilanka will face Pakistan in the final on Sunday.