Duncan Fletcher named India coach

Duncan Fletcher, the former England coach and former Zimbabwe captain, will take over from Gary Kirsten as India's coach. The BCCI announced the decision to give Fletcher a two-year contract after a Working Committee meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday. Eric Simons' tenure as the team's bowling coach was also extended.

Fletcher, though, is unlikely to be part of the team during the tour of the West Indies in June. "The contract with Fletcher is for two years," N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, told reporters after the meeting. "He may not join the team in the West Indies as he has some prior commitments."

Fletcher was in charge of the England team when they beat Australia in 2005 to win the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87, and was credited with turning around England's fortunes in Tests, first with Nasser Hussain and then with Michael Vaughan.

He was England's first foreign coach and took over in 1999 when they were officially ranked as the worst team in the world; soon enough, he oversaw Test series wins in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, though Australia thrashed England 4-1 in the Ashes in 2001. Later, with Vaughan, he helped England win their first Test series in South Africa post apartheid and the pair played a critical role in moulding a team that was to win the Ashes the next year.

One of Fletcher's problems during his England reign was a tetchy relationship with the media, something which Vaughan felt could be a hindrance in his India job as well. "Duncan will work well with all the talent," Vaughan tweeted. "His biggest challenge will come from the media..he has never really understood how it works."

However, Fletcher, who coached England for eight years, was unable to revive their ODI form and his tenure reached its lowest ebb during a 0-5 drubbing in Australia in 2006-07. Following a disappointing 2007 World Cup campaign, Fletcher resigned. He joined South Africa as a consultant in 2008 and was most recently in a similar role with New Zealand on their tour of India last yea

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PCB asks ICC to 'investigate' Sutherland comments

	Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has questioned the implementation of Qayyum recommendations © AFP Enlarge

The PCB has taken umbrage at remarks made by Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland about the Justice Qayyum commission on matchfixing and asked the ICC to "investigate" the comments.

In a recent story on corruption in cricket in the Age, Sutherland said that the spot-fixing scandal of last summer, after which three Pakistani players were banned for five years, might not have happened had the PCB acted properly in the aftermath of the Qayyum commission, whose recommendations were released in 2000.

''Ask yourself whether Pakistan Cricket Board actually went through and implemented those recommendations," Sutherland said. "Well, I can't say for sure but I would have big question marks about whether those things would have happened last year if those recommendations had been fully implemented,'' said Sutherland.

The statement has irked current and former officials in Pakistan alike. "We felt it was totally unnecessary to make the remarks," a senior board official told ESPNcricinfo. "We have sent a letter to the ICC asking them to investigate his statement and come back to us. We have implemented that report in toto and are disappointed that it is being brought up again now when the PCB has done so much to fight corruption and set things right. It was not needed."

Much the same line was taken by Tauqir Zia, the board chairman at the time of the Qayyum commission. "James Sutherland should not give any irresponsible statement in the press as one of the key officials of Cricket Australia," Zia told Dawn. "And as far as the matter is concerned, I believe I took all the measures to ensure 100 per cent implementation of all the recommendations of Justice Qayyum."

Sutherland's comments are not new and as a CA spokesman confirmed, have "been his position in public discussion for a long while." In fact, that position appears to be the same one taken by Qayyum himself. Immediately after the spot-fixing scandal emerged last August, Qayyum said the PCB had not been "strong enough" in implementing some recommendations in his report. Incidentally, in 2006, Qayyum had also admitted to ESPNcricinfo that he had been lenient on some of the players because he had a "soft corner" for them.

In the report, a number of recommendations were made. The main ones involved banning for life players such as Salim Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman, and fining a host of others, including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Saeed Anwar. Some of these players, such as Akram, were prevented from holding any positions of responsibility in or around the team, as was Mushtaq. The legspinner was an assistant coach of the Pakistan side in 2006-07 when Bob Woolmer was coach and Inzamam the captain, against the recommendations of the report. He is now on the coaching staff of the ECB, with the England team.

One of the key recommendations Qayyum complained was not fully implemented was having players declare all their assets publicly at the start of their career and then do so annually thereafter. One board official admitted that this "hadn't been followed up on in the years after the report" but it had been done since and that, in any case, "it is difficult to make a case of corruption purely from assets coming into an account."

In all, nearly 30 recommendations, some specific to the cases then but a number of longer-term ones as well, were made by the commission which is the report itself], including calls for a tighter code of conduct on players and that an independently-headed Review committee be set up to investigate all cases of possible corruption in the future.

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Malinga blames Ranatunga-led board for injury

Colombo: Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga on Tuesday, blamed the country's cricket administration led by the former captain Arjuna Ranatunga for aggravating his knee injury that forced him to retire from Test cricket.



Without naming Ranatunga he said,"The 2008 interim committee did not care for my well being," Malinga said adding that due to his knee injury he could not even climb the stairs of his house.



He didn't hide his displeasure at being treated shabbily by the 2008 interim committee. "I was offered a basic contract when I deserved better."



As Ranatunga led the committee, it is well understood that Malinga's grievance is pointed towards whom.



"My knees are getting weaker," Malinga said explaining his decision to quit playing Test cricket.



He was addressing reporters here having returned from playing in the IPL with the Mumbai Indians. He will rejoin Sachin Tendulkar's team on Thursday.

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Don't want to be talked about as potential India coach

Chennai: He is among the most talked about possible candidates for the Indian cricket coach's job, but New Zealander Stephen Fleming does not even want to discuss the prospect of taking up the post left vacant by Gary Kirsten.



Fleming is currently incharge of IPL team Chennai Super Kings of which Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the captain.



"I enjoy my relationship with all the Indian players and Dhoni is a special player I am involved with. He is a captain with free space. I have been working with Suresh Raina and others as well. Just about time that I do not want to be talked about as a potential Indian coach," Fleming said after CSK's 25-run win over Pune Warriors here last night.



On Dhoni's captaincy and instincts, Fleming said, "he is not too much on planning. His captaincy is based on information on the field like how the pitch plays and the manner in which the opposition is batting. There is a gut feel about his captaincy.



Asked about his relationship with the World Cup winning Indian skipper, Fleming said, "We just have a relationship where we the players are talked about behind the scenes. He is always free on the field and that gives us an edge."

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Sangakkara, Jayawardena also for early IPL exit

Colombo: After reports of Sri Lankan skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan leaving the IPL to join the England-bound national team got rife, it is learnt that former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena are also packing their bags for an early exit.



Sangakara and Jayawardena, who are currently in-charge of the Deccan Chargers and Kochi Tuskers Kerala respectively, will reportedly leave the Indian Premier League (IPL) early to start preparations for the first Test against England on 26th May.



According to 'The Island', both the players are expected be in Colombo by May 16 and will leave the island a day later to join the squad for the second warm-up game scheduled for May 19 against England Lions at Derby.



The newspaper also reported that both players have received the necessary consent of their franchises to make an early exit.



The newly appointed skipper, meanwhile, is expected join the national squad before it takes-off to England on the May 10.



Sri Lanka Cricket last week allowed seven players from the 16-member squad to arrive in England before May 19, the day their second warm-up game, against England Lions, starts. The board had earlier asked the players to return on May 5 in order to prepare for the England tour.

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Nike extends Team India uniform sponsorship with BCCI for 5yrs

New Delhi: American sportswear maker Nike on Tuesday said it has extended its contract with BCCI for another five years to sponsor Indian cricket team's uniform.



"Nike, the official apparel sponsors for the Indian National Cricket Team since December, 2005 has extended its contract for a period of five years with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)," the company said in a statement. Nike will continue to be the official kit supplier to the Indian cricket team, it added.



The company did not comment on financials involved, but the deal size is estimated at about Rs. 270 crore.



Nike's Rs. 200 crore earlier contract with the BCCI for supplying the team uniform for five years expired in December last year, which was extended till March this year in view of the cricket World Cup.



According to industry sources, the BCCI did not opt for a bidding process for the uniform sponsorship and decided to extend the contract with Nike, thus keeping out rivals Reebok and Adidas.



"Nike had the first right of refusal in this case. The BCCI did not go into the market to see if others were interested," said a senior official from a sportswear firm, who did not wish to be identified.



Commenting on the contract extension Nike India Managing Director Tarun Puri said: "The extension of our contract for apparel sponsorship with the BCCI is testimony to Nike's commitment to providing the most innovative products to the Indian national cricket team and to the BCCI".

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I should take the blame for not finishing the game: Yuvraj

Chennai: Pune Warriors India captain Yuvraj Singh admitted that he should take the blame for not being able to finish the game as their team slumped to third defeat after CSK beat them by 25 runs at Chepauk on Monday. Yuvraj played an uncharacteristic knock of 34 off only 43 balls.



"It's difficult to come back once you are four down inside the first six overs. I should also take a lot of blame for not being able to finish the match. This has happened for the third time now that I have started off well but couldn't finish off the match," Yuvraj said at the post-match presentation ceremony.



The Warriors skipper however didn't regret the decision to bowl first. "I have no regrets for opting to field first. Our bowlers Jerome (Taylor), Rahul (Sharma) and Alfonso (Thomas) bowled. I believed that 143 was not that big a score."



Yuvraj's counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni was happy that his team was back to winning ways. "This was very important win for us. We can't afford to lose too many games in a row. Hopefully, we can continue the winning momentum," he said.



Asked whether he is an instinctive captain or does a lot of planning, the Indian captain said that he does not believe in too much of planning. "I don't do too much of planning. I don't attend bowlers' meetings. I believe every wicket is different, every situation is different. I always go without any pre-planned ideas in the mind. It helps me. Our bowlers generally do have a meeting but I don't attend them. As it may just restrict my decisions."



The skipper lauded his fielders who made a modest total look even more difficult. "We didn't have too many runs on the board. The fielders did an exceptional job and the total of 142 now looks like 155 which was difficult total on this track."



Man of the match Michael Hussey's assessment was that the pitch was on the slower side. "It certainly was a lot slower than Bangalore. We had to make adjustments quickly. The fielding was outstanding. We had a just-below-par score. Every time we wanted to kick on, we lost a wicket, but that was the nature of the wicket. We just wanted to try and take it as deep as possible."

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Sachin mania stuns Aussie players

Hyderabad: Andrew Symonds, Davy Jacobs and Darren Lehmann have never witnessed anything like they did here on Sunday. After the game, people from different corners of the ground marched towards the players' enclosure, to try and get a glimpse of birthday boy, Sachin Tendulkar.



Such was the chaos that Tendulkar's family had to stay back in the dressing room just as he was being escorted to the team vehicle. Symonds told MiD DAY: "I have never, ever, seen fans react in this way. I can't believe that a birthday of a cricketer could give so many people joy. It's unbelievable, mate," he said.
Chargers coach Lehmann, who had just finished his post-match media briefing, had to walk past the door of the Mumbai Indians dressing room, en route to the hosts' section. Just then, hundreds of fans were standing outside, trying to get a sight of the little master. Lehmann asked: "Why are all these people standing here?
Don't people have to go home?" "They are here to try and get a glimpse of Tendulkar," he was told. Lehmann replied: "If there was a statue of Tendulkar, there'd be people who could perform their ceremony there."
Jacobs, the young wicketkeeper-batsman wanted to enter the Chargers change room, as he wanted to meet his friends in the opposite camp. Cops who were strictly placed to ensure Tendulkar reaches the team bus without any problems asked Jacobs to wait inside till the little master has left the building.  "It's hard to believe. He's (Tendulkar) definitely not some normal human being. It appears like everyone came to this ground today to watch him, and only him.

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Zulqarnain Haider returns to Pakistan

Five and a half months after fleeing to London from the UAE on the morning of an ODI, Zulqarnain Haider, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper, has returned home, having secured security assurances from the government about his safety and that of his family.

Haider landed at Islamabad airport on Monday morning and was swiftly escorted by security personnel to the office of Rehman Malik, the Interior Minister, who had convinced him to come back from London. Haider, who turned 25 on Saturday, had announced last week that he was prepared to revoke his application for asylum in the UK and return to Pakistan and resume his playing career. However, soon after that, there was confusion; some channels reported that he was reconsidering his decision after receiving threatening phone calls in the aftermath of his decision to return.

But later he clarified to other channels - as well as leaving an update on his Facebook page - confirming that he would be returning as planned. Haider also recorded the threatening calls he had received, parts of which were aired on some Pakistani channels.

"I am happy to return," he said on Monday afternoon, after a meeting with Malik. "I have met Rehman Malik and the sports minister and they have provided me foolproof security," he said.

"When I landed at the airport everything was superb. They have given me superb accommodation and have lived upto their promise. I have just talked to them and briefed them on what happened to me. When I meet Ijaz Butt [PCB chairman] I will share with him too. I think no one will put his future on line and there were some reasons when I left the team and went to Britain."

Haider had gone missing from the Pakistan team's hotel in Dubai on the morning of the fifth and final ODI against South Africa on November 8, saying he had received death threats from unidentified people seeking to draw him into match-fixing. He fled to the UK to seek protection and placed an application for asylum that hinged on the nature of the information he was able to divulge, as the extraordinary nature of his case appeared to fall outside the usual conditions required of a person seeking refugee status.

In the aftermath of his flight, Haider announced his international retirement and his contract with the PCB was suspended. A fact-finding committee subsequently set-up by the PCB to look into the affair failed to find any clear motives behind his actions.

But the committee was told by some of the national team's support staff that Haider had a complex personality, was a "weak nerve" person and "a person who is easily convinced into believing whatever is said to him." The committee, which spoke to Haider by phone, asked the PCB to write to Haider and ask him what happened in Dubai which forced him to fly to London.

The report tapped into increasing public scepticism over the motives for Haider's flight, not helped by a growing number of statements by the player promising much in the fight against corruption but delivering little. When one channel said last week that he was considering not returning, Haider threatened them with legal action.

What happens now remains unclear. A board official told ESPNcricinfo that there was no "official next step," as far as Haider was concerned. "The fact-finding committee's last communication with him was to seek some more details, but they never heard back from him. The board will do nothing now until he gets in touch with us. After that we can decide on a future course of action, whether disciplinary because he breached the code of conduct, or otherwise."

Haider said he hadn't decided whether or not to take back his retirement, saying he wanted to "spend some time with my family," first.

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BCCI unlikely to take decision on India coach on Apr 27

Mumbai: The BCCI is in no hurry to appoint a new cricket coach for the team and is unlikely to decide on the matter in its Working Committee's meeting on April 27 where the agenda would include various sub-committees' reports.



"We are still in the process of doing so (finding a new coach). There's no hurry as the team is leaving for the West Indies only on June 1," BCCI President Shashank Manohar told PTI from Nagpur on Friday.



A lot of names, including England's director of coaching Andy Flower and another Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher, are doing the rounds as the candidates likely to get the job.



There are talks that an interim coach could be appointed by the BCCI for the Windies tour in case it is unable to find a suitable candidate to replace Gary Kirsten who quit the job after guiding India to the World Cup triumph on April 2.



"The reports of various sub committees would be tabled at the meeting," the BCCI chief said about the agenda for the April 27 meet.



Manohar confirmed that an understanding has been reached by the BCCI with its Sri Lanka counterpart, which allows the players from the island nation to stay on and represent their franchises in the ongoing Indian Premier League till May 18. "They will be here till the 18th and then directly go to England from Mumbai," said Manohar.



The BCCI Chief, however, could not confirm whether the same understanding will apply to speedster Lasith Malinga who has been excluded from Lanka's Test outfit to tour England as he had cited an injury to stay on and play for Mumbai Indians.

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Simmons and Bishoo give West Indies victory

West Indies 150 for 7 (Simmons 65, Bravo 42, Rehman 2-22) beat Pakistan 143 for 9 (Umar 41, Bishoo 4-17) by seven runs

	Lendl Simmons led a positive West Indies innings by rushing to a 31-ball fifty © Getty Images Enlarge

It's just one match, that will fade into obscurity by the end of the next, but West Indies began their latest New Era impressively, beating Pakistan by seven runs in the first ever Twenty20 match between the teams.

Lendl Simmons made 65 to help West Indies set something competitive before Devendra Bishoo's four wickets brought them victory.

Such has been Ottis Gibson's desperation for renewal after a disappointing World Cup campaign that five debutants were fielded. Critics, though, could point to a desire for greater control as much as freshness after a clutch of senior players were jettisoned from the squad.

That certainly seemed to be the view held by Chris Gayle, the former captain, who vented his frustration with Gibson and the WICB by joining Royal Challengers Bangalore and issuing a withering assessment of both in a radio interview. The off-field wranglings dominated the build-up to the match and are likely to rumble on for some time to come but West Indies fans could at least enjoy a moment of on-field catharsis.

Such drama is familiar to Pakistan but of late they have been alarmingly stable. Their last game was a passionate spectacle against India in the World Cup semi-final against in Mohali, so they could be forgiven for looking a little underwhelmed by St Lucia.

Barely a smattering of spectators showed up but those who did were treated to an entertaining opening from Simmons. Filling the immense hole left by Gayle's absence he cracked 65 from 44 balls and shared a 99-run stand for the second wicket with a fluent Darren Bravo, who made 42. The pair struck 15 boundaries between them which proved crucial as West Indies collapsed in familiar fashion after they were separated.

Luckily for them the bowlers, led by legspinner Bishoo, masked the errors in an energetic display. The six no-balls and pointed to performance lacking polish but the attack used a tiring pitch to good effect.

Darren Sammy ensured Pakistan's chase got off on the wrong foot as he had Mohammad Hafeez caught at fine leg for 3 before Ahmed Shehzad spooned Ravi Rampaul to mid-on for 12. Asad Shafiq threatened a revival with Umar Akmal before Bishoo intervened with two wickets in his first over. Shafiq was brilliantly caught for 25 by Danza Hyatt diving forward from midwicket after looping a leading edge before Misbah-ul-Haq was dismissed for a duck treading on his stumps a ball later.

Even modest legspinners have proved potent in 20-over cricket and Bishoo, who impressed on international debut in the World Cup, is better than that. Mixing his pace and flight nicely he got his third wicket when Shahid Afridi scythed a cut to point for 12 to leave Pakistan's hopes entirely with Umar.

Having reached a run-a-ball 41 Umar fell victim to his own misunderstanding. The previous delivery he had alerted the umpires to a no-ball caused by West Indies not having the required three men in the ring but, thinking the following ball was a free-hit, swung Rampaul to Marlon Samuels on the square-leg rope. Umar lingered but the umpires this time knew better.

What should have been a doddle from there became fought with tension as Rampaul's no-ball-ridden penultimate over cost 15 but Andre Russell held his nerve in the final over to sealed victory.

The lacklustre showing from Pakistan's batsmen was in sharp contrast to Simmons and Bravo. Happy to use their feet, both were proficient against the pace and spin and used the small boundaries to good effect. The 100 was crossed in the 13th over and at that stage West Indies looked set to post something really significant but a trademark collapse punctured the optimism.

Bravo holed out long-on off Abdur Rehman before Simmons was run out by Samuels two overs later. Samuels, on his comeback after serving a two-match ban for alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers, endured a torrid return as he laboured to 4 from 11 balls before running past a Saeed Ajmal doosra. Sammy followed quickly for 1 and it needed a last-over boundary to take the total past 150. Pakistan looked to have the edge but Bishoo ensured otherwise.

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Bangladesh cricket board wants Dada as batting coach

Dhaka: While the speculation around Sourav Ganguly's inclusion in the IPL does not seem to find a conclusion, Bangladesh cricket has a different plan in mind. The Bangladesh national side has expressed its desire to appoint Dada as their batting coach following their disastrous series against Australia.



The Bangladesh side had approached the Prince of Kolkata in 2010 but he had declined citing personal reasons. The prospects of him accepting the offer this time are slim as well considering Ganguly's desire to continue as a player in the Indian Premier League.



Sourav Ganguly's inclusion in the IPL however, depends on the departure of the Sri Lankan players. If the May 5 deadline set by the Sri Lankan authorities stays then Kochi might pick up Ganguly despite him going unsold in the player auctions.

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TV Channels broadcasting Pakistan vs West Indies 2011 - Live

After the World Cup, Pakistan tours to West Indies for 1 T20, 5 ODIs and 2 Test matches starting from April 21. With IPL n one part of world, international matches like this may be more exciting. As this is going to be held in West Indies, Ten Sports has the broadcastng rights for the whole series.





Australia : The matches are shown live in Fox Sports on Fox Sports 1. It is available in channel number 501 and channel no. 203 (for HD).





Canada : not confirmed





India : Ten Cricket - the sister channel of Ten Sports will broadcast all the matches of the series in India. Ten Cricket is available in major cable and DTH-platforms in India.





Middle East : Ten Sports





Nepal : Ten Cricket





New Zealand : Sky Sport





Pakistan : All the matches of series will be broadcast in Ten Sports in Pakistan.





South Africa and other African countries: Super Sport





UK : Sky Sports will show the matches Live in UK and Ireland. The channels vary for different matches. The first ODI is shown in Sky Sports 4 and Sky Sports 4 HD. Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports 3 will also broadcast some matches.





USA : Ten cricket has been launched in USA on Dish network. It will broadcast the matches of Pakistan vs West Indies 2011 live.

Turbulent West Indies look towards future

Match Facts

April 21, Gros Islet

Start time 2pm (1800 GMT)

	Darren Sammy and Shahid Afridi are used to dealing with controversies surrounding their teams © AFP Enlarge

The Big Picture

A meeting between Pakistan and West Indies should be just the sort of combination of volatile elements that makes for an absorbing contest. One simply can't know what to expect from two teams famous for displays of talent and inconsistency in equal measure. Off-field disturbances can add to the soap opera, but there haven't been many occasions in the recent past when Pakistan have entered a series as the more stable, settled side. The current turbulence in West Indies cricket ahead of the tour opener at Gros Islet means the spotlight has been firmly on the hosts in the build-up.

Just five members of the team that played the World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan last month are in the squad for the opening Twenty20. Though Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard were not eligible for selection because they did not play in the Caribbean T20 earlier this year, there is no place either for Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan or Sulieman Benn, though Darren Sammy retains his place as captain.

The possibility of this sort of purge arose after coach Ottis Gibson's ominous reproach of the "senior players" after the quarter-final exit from the World Cup, but few would have expected the changes to be quite so extensive. Gayle's exit could prove the most troublesome. The only constant at the top of the order in the last decade, he was in the middle of a rehabilitation programme for an injury picked up during the World Cup, but would have been eligible to play in the final three ODIs and the Tests that followed. Instead, he will play for the Royal Challengers in the IPL, and an inexperienced team will have to do without his experience and confident swagger at the crease.

The situation was not quite as bad the last time Pakistan toured the Caribbean, back in 2005, but the warning signs were there. West Indies were in the throes of internal turmoil caused by the long-running contractual wrangles with their sponsors, and though Pakistan were not without their own backroom troubles they breezed to a 3-0 win in the ODIs before drawing the Test series.

They have every chance of pulling off a similar result this time - and could well end their record of never having won a Test series in the West Indies. The news of Zulqarnain Haider's impending return to Pakistan and the potential pot-stirring from the announcement of stringent new guidelines for player agents following Mazhar Majeed's alleged misdeeds in England last summer were absorbed without missing a beat and a convincing win over a West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI in their first practice match will only have bolstered Pakistan's preparations.

With West Indies' big guns gone and Pakistan starting as firm favourites, the Twenty20 match on Thursday could well set the tone for the tour. How long will Pakistan's stability last? Does this latest twist represent a tangible change of direction for West Indies, or will it be yet another phase in the re-building exercise that has been going on for the best part of two decades?

Form guide

(most recent first)

West Indies LLLWL

Pakistan WLLLL

Watch out for...

Marlon Samuels was a bullish, confident presence in West Indies' middle order before his two-year ban for alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers. In a side shorn of its senior players, his comeback is certainly timely. He's played twice as many ODIs as his captain, Sammy, and though he hasn't played for West Indies since 2008 he'll have some idea of the intensity of international competition and will also lend some grit to the middle order. His sparkling performance during the Caribbean T20 in January, in which he was the leading run-getter with 253 runs at 63.25, will only add to his confidence in this format.

Mohammad Hafeez has been around the Pakistan team for almost eight years now, but it's only recently that he's really blossomed in his role as opening batsman and more-than-handy offspinner. He certainly played that part to perfection the last time Pakistan and West Indies met, nipping out two early wickets after being asked to open the bowling and then rocketing along to a run-a-ball 61 to complete a 10-wicket trouncing.

Team news

West Indies' squad has a bowler-heavy look to it, with a string of allrounders filling the lower-middle order. As such, the top order picks itself, and the main questions surround the composition of the bowling attack. Given the number of seamers in the squad, offspinner Ashley Nurse may find himself in line for a West Indies debut to add some variation, especially considering his good performances in the recent Twenty20s against Pakistan A. Likewise, left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie was the leading West Indian wicket-taker in this year's Caribbean T20 and this could be the perfect time for him to step up to the next level.

West Indies (probable) 1 Andre Fletcher (wk), 2 Lendl Simmons, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Danza Hyatt, 5 Christopher Barnwell, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Darren Sammy (capt), 8 Devendra Bishoo, 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Ashley Nurse, 11 Krishmar Santokie

Pakistan's squad has a fairly settled look to it, but there are a number of youngsters waiting in the wings and several of them could be in for some game time. Mohammad Salman is the squad's only specialist keeper, while Hammad Azam could be tested in the allrounder slot vacated by Abdul Razzaq.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Asad Shafiq, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Mohammad Salman (wk), 7 Hammad Azam, 8 Shahid Afridi (capt), 9 Junaid Khan, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Saeed Ajmal

Pitch and conditions

The Beausejour Stadium hosted several matches during last year's World Twenty20 and the pitch generally generated a good contest between bat and ball. Four games saw totals over 170, but Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Amir picked up 17 wickets between themselves at this ground during the course of Pakistan's campaign. The weather could well play a role on Thursday, as it'll be warm but partly cloudy, with a chance of rain.

Stats and trivia

• Surprisingly, this will be the first ever Twenty20 international between these two teams.


• Umar Akmal scored 125 runs at 62.50, including two half-centuries, in the course of four games at this ground during the World Twenty20 last year. The only Pakistan cricketer to have scored more runs here in Twenty20 internationals is his brother, Kamran.


• Saeed Ajmal picked up nine wickets at this ground during that campaign, at an average of 13.77, but won't have particularly fond memories of it as it was here that he received a mauling from Mike Hussey, who blasted 18 from his final over to secure a breathtaking victory.

Quotes

"It's easier for us to do well with our home crowd and their support, and it gives an opportunity to bring ourselves back up the ladder - to dig deep, work hard, prove ourselves, and give back to our fans."

Richie Richardson, the West Indies manager, hopes the home crowds will spur the team on

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Playing for Sri Lanka bigger than IPL - Dilshan

	The blond streaks and the ear-rings are gone © Manoj Ridimahaliyadda

Sri Lanka's newly appointed captain Tillakaratne Dilshan has said he doesn't mind leaving the IPL early in order to prepare for the upcoming tour of England. Dilshan is among the 11 Sri Lankan players who have been asked by Sri Lanka Cricket to return by May 5, in order to attend a training camp before leaving for England on May 11.

"Personally, I am not unhappy to return early," said Dilshan, who is on a brief visit to Colombo amid his IPL commitments with Royal Challengers Bangalore. "Playing for my country is more important than playing the IPL. I think everybody selected for the England tour will be happy to come early. We have a new interim coach [Stuart Law] and a new batting coach [Marvan Atapattu]. I am also new as captain. We need to prepare together to build up for the big England tour."

Apart from reaffirming his commitment to the national side, Dilshan has also toned down the flashier aspects of his image as he gets ready for captaincy. "Times have changed. I pierced my ear when my daughter cried when her ears were being pierced," he said. "Now I don't see a need to wear the earring. It's the same with my hair. [Streaking it] was fashionable then for me, it is not so now."

Dilshan, however, said he was not planning to tone down his attacking brand of cricket. "I'm a bit aggressive. Perhaps I will sometimes change my style a bit. But I might play with it even as a captain.

"Captaincy is a challenging role for me. It's a dream come true. I never expected it. I want to give it my best shot. I have played for nearly 12 years. It's been a very long journey to the top."

SLC had initially signed a No Objection Certificate (NOC) with its players allowing them to participate in the IPL until May 20. The tournament carries on until May 28, while the England tour kicks off with a warm-up game on May 14. The BCCI has been in talks with SLC, to convince them to allow their players to extend their IPL participation, but Sri Lanka is unlikely to relent.

"The BCCI has asked us to reconsider our decision, but we have not changed our stand," SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said. "We did sign a no-objection agreement with the players to play in the IPL. But there was no date to return. I am sure the BCCI will understand country must come first before IPL."

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Sri Lanka board to ask Malinga to return from IPL

	Lasith Malinga has continued to play in the IPL despite telling Sri Lanka Cricket he is not fit for the Tests in England © AFP

Sri Lanka Cricket will ask fast bowler Lasith Malinga to return from the IPL and undergo a rehabilitation programme after he made himself unavailable for the upcoming Test series in England. Malinga had stated that he is suffering from an injury, but continues to play for Mumbai Indians in the Twenty20 tournament. Malinga did not figure in the Sri Lanka squad of 16 players named for the three-Test series against England starting on May 26 in Cardiff.

"It looks a bit awkward when someone says he is injured and continues to play cricket," Sri Lanka's new chairman of selectors Duleep Mendis said. "That is the reason why we have decided to write to Malinga and ask him to return home and undergo a rehabilitation programme. Malinga has specifically mentioned in a letter that he is not available for Test matches right now because he has a nagging knee problem.

"When the player says that he is injured and he has to undergo a rehab programme what we can do is to tell him to undergo it immediately without continuing to play cricket in the IPL, and then get ready for cricket in Sri Lanka if he is interested in playing for his country."

Mendis said they would have to wait and see what Malinga's response was before deciding on the next course of action.

Nishantha Ranatunga, the SLC secretary, also expressed concerns over Malinga's absence from the Test team. "We are very much concerned about Malinga because he is an important product in the team," Ranatunga said. "He should be up and running to play in all three formats of the game. In that sense getting him fit and ready to play at full strength is very important."

Malinga has shown a reluctance to play Test cricket since he sustained a long-term knee injury more than two years ago. Since December 2007, he has played only two Tests - against India at home last year - and has confined himself to playing in limited overs and Twenty20 cricket, where he has been very successful. He has, however, not officially stated that he is unavailable to play Test cricket for Sri Lanka.

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Windies, Pakistan set to launch T20 series

Gros-Islet: Old foes West Indies and Pakistan face each other in a Twenty20 International for the first time on Thursday.



The Beausejour Cricket Ground in this coastal town on the northern circumference of this volcanic island of St Lucia forms a picturesque backdrop for the occasion.



It is hard to believe that though Twenty20 matches have become popular in the modern game that the two sides have not been fortunate enough to cross each other's paths in this version before now.



Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam said there were great expectations of his side, following a strong, if not successful show in the World Cup.



"We've brought some youngsters with us, and I think it's a golden opportunity for them to make a name for themselves, and to make a career in the sport," said Alam.



"It was a long journey from Pakistan to the Caribbean, but we travelled well, and the boys are all happy and they're well."



"The people in Pakistan are very happy with us (following the World Cup). Now the expectations are even higher for this tour of the West Indies because we have never won a (Test) series out here before."



West Indies manager Richie Richardson said there have been enough good individual performances from his side in the last few months to make him feel confident, but they would have to put it all together to overcome the Pakistanis.



"We're about to head into this series, which is very important - it's a home series," he said.



"As a region, it's always very important, and for our home fans, who look forward to excitement and to us doing well.



"It's easier for us to do well with our home crowd and their support, and it gives an opportunity to bring ourselves back up the ladder - to dig deep, work hard, prove ourselves, and give back to our fans."
He added: "People across the World have been accustomed to the West Indies providing exciting cricket and we must work harder to give that to them."
Both sides have made significant changes in personnel since the World Cup, and have invested heavily in a number of unproven players for the limited-overs portion of the series, which includes this T20I.
Pakistan have dropped wicketkeeper/batsman Kamran Akmal and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, while fast bowler Umar Gul and experienced batsman Younus Khan were dropped from the team.
Wicketkeeper Muhammad Salman has been given a chance, while batsmen Hammad Azam and Usman Salahuddin, as well as left-arm fast-medium bowler Sadaf Hussain have been included in the team for the first time.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, and Sulieman Benn - four high-profile members of the West Indies World Cup squad - have all been sidelined by the selectors for this match, and the first two One-day Internationals that follow.
For this T20I, the home team have brought in the uncapped quartet of batsman Danza Hyatt, all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, off-spinner Ashley Nurse, and left-arm fast bowler Krishmar Santokie.
West Indies have also been fortified with the inclusion of stylish batsman Marlon Samuels, who is once again eligible for selection, after serving a two-year ban for his alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers.
Utility player Lendl Simmons, the nephew of Ireland coach Phil Simmons, the former West Indies all-rounder, is also back in the squad, along with batsman Andre Fletcher, who will handle duties behind the stumps.



West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Danza Hyatt, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons



Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice captain), Abdur Rehman, Ahmed Shahzad, Asad Shafiq, Hammad Azman, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Salman, Sadaf Hussain, Saeed Ajmal, Tanveer Ahmed, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Usman Salahuddin, Wahab Riaz.

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Sehwag defends Irfan Pathan

New Delhi: Delhi Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag came in defence of Irfan Pathan, who was bought for a whopping USD 1.9 million, after his team's 16-run defeat to Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday.



Pathan conceded 28 runs for a solitary wicket in his four overs and could score only five runs as the Daredevils crashed to their second defeat at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium, their home ground, and third in the tournament.

The Baroda player's performance in the IPL so far has been anything but impressive.
"He is coming from injury and will take some time. He is coming back after a one-and-a-half-year lay-off year and he picked up an early wicket. He gave just about 30 runs in four overs. He is getting better day by day," Sehwag said of the beleaguered all-rounder.



Sehwag also said that it was difficult to chase a stiff total at the Kotla wicket.
"Wicket has been like that for many years. It is difficult to chase 160-170 on this wicket. You have to apply yourself, have to give a good start to your team, which unfortunately didn't happen," he said.



"We did ask to prepare a couple of wickets but this is what we got," he added.
Asked about Yogesh Nagar who bowled just one over for 13 runs, Sehwag reasoned that the Delhi player is more of a batting all-rounder.
"He played as a batsman who can bowl," he said. But the India opener admitted that his team lacked options in bowling, especially in the spin department.
"We don't have much options, don't have enough experience. Hope, we can find someone who can play for Delhi in coming years," he said.

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Warner's wicket was the turning point: Christian

New Delhi: Deccan Chargers pacer Daniel Christian on Tuesday said opener David Warner's wicket was the one, which turned the match in his team's favour against Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.



"Warner's wicket was a huge one. We took the gamble by giving the ball to Shikhar. We wanted someone to bowl off-spin that would go away. It was a lucky one and it worked," Christian said after his team's 16-run win at the Feroz shah Kotla stadium on Tuesday.
Warner scored 51 and looked on cousre to lead Daredevils to a win till he was at the crease.
Talking about the wicket, Christian said, "That was a really good wicket. We decided to be really patient hoping that (Virender) Sehwag will make a mistake."
Asked about Ishant Sharma's absence, Christian said, "Our plan was to take pace off the ball. When the Delhi guys bowled late it was really difficult to score. Pace off the ball was the plan."
Delving on the positives, Christian said, "We are starting to do a lot of our disciplines lot better. Now we built some really good partnerships with the bat which we have not been able to do. We bowled well, our fielding has been improving with every game."
Asked about the team's none-too-impressive performance at home, where they could register just one victory in the past three years, he said, "I think we have got a brilliant team. We just had one win in Hyderabad -- we have two of the best fast bowlers in Steyn and Sharma and it's the quickest wicket in the country. The more we play the better we will get. Definitely."
Christian was effusive in his praise for Sunny Sohal who struck a stroke-filled half century to guide the team to a competitive score.
"That was a brilliant innings, a fantastic innings. He looked good in the last innings as well. The way he paced his innings, he was hard at the start and his partnership with (Kumar) Sangakkara was what that really set us up for a big total," he said.

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Clarke will make a great captain with time: Haddin

Kolkata: Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin feels Michael Clarke is lucky to have former skipper Ricky Ponting by his side and said he would develop into a great captain with time.



"Since the time he (Clarke) was appointed as Australia captain, he has been doing a very good job," said Haddin, who has been roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders for the Indian Premier League.



"He (Clarke) has been lucky to have the class of Ponting in his apprenticeship. I think he will take somethings from what Ricky did well and move into his captaincy.



"Ricky has been a tremendous leader for a long long time. Mike is going to develop into a very good captain," Haddin said.



Clarke was appointed as Australia captain after Ponting decided to step down following his team's quarterfinal finish in the World Cup.



Yet to play for Knight Riders, Haddin said it's quite exciting to be part of a side that has won three consecutive matches.



"It's been exciting to watch the cricket that we have been playing. It's all been good fun. Obviously there a fixed number (4) of foreign players who can play the game. That's part of tournament rule," he said.



Asked about his contribution to the side, Haddin said, "By just watching, there is not much you have to do. We have a pretty motivated group here. We are going in the same direction.



"We are looking to play exciting brand of cricket. It's been an exciting time for me to be a part of the side since last week.



"To win these tournaments you need big scores. I think that's the luxury we have. We have a healthy squad right through."

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Daredevils, a pale shadow of their past

New Delhi: It is not the kind of start Delhi Daredevils would have liked to their fourth season in the Indian Premier League. Semifinalists in the first two years, the Delhi team is no longer the most balanced side in the competition and appears a bit flaky with the new set of players from a fresh auction struggling to jell as a unit.



The most-feared team in the last three years now has only skipper Virender Sehwag and his fellow-opener Australian David Warner from among the old guard. The batting today depends heavily on the two openers as was evident from the four games they have played, winning only one.
Daredevils, in the first three years, had the likes of AB de Villiers, Gautam Gambhir, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Karthik in their batting and quality bowlers in Daniel Vettori and Dirk Nannes.
The team's think tank this time surprisingly did not go in for big names and instead settled for lesser known Aaron Finch, James Hopes and Colin Ingram, besides discarded India internationals Irfan Pathan and Venugopal Rao.
The inexperienced bowling attack has conceded more runs than they could defend. The lanky South African quickie Morne Morkel has little support from the likes of Ashok Dinda, Pathan, Yogesh Nagar and Hopes.
With ten newcomers in the side, Sehwag was forced to curb his attacking instincts in the opening match against Mumbai Indians and he even played out a maiden over to Lasith Malinga for the first tine in 10 years.
"I think after 10 years I played a maiden today. We have 10 new faces in the in Delhi squad and it will take a little time for us to come together," Sehwag had said.
After two losses, the team opened its account against the Pune Warriors in Navi Mumbai Sunday and Sehwag and Warner successfully led the chase to get 189 runs. The team spoke of carrying on the with the momentum, but on Tuesday, they stumbled again to be beaten by Deccan Chargers by 16 runs.
"We are still getting there. Hopefully we will get better," said an optimistic Sehwag after the match.
Asked about the team's over-dependence on Warner and him, Sehwag said : "The opening partnership is important. If you look at other teams when they get a good start, they usually win the game. Hopefully Warner and I can give a good start as well."

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Kochi Tuskers Kerala shock Mumbai Indians by 8 wickets

Brendon McCullum and Mahela Jayawardene during the IPL Twenty20 match against Mumbai Indians at Wankhade stadium. (TOI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Brendon McCullum (81) and Mahela Jayawardene (56) helped Kochi Tuskers stun Mumbai Indians by 8 wickets to register their maiden IPL victory at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Friday.

Late charge by Ravindra Jadeja (25 not out) and Brad Hodge (11 not out) powered Kochi Tuskers to victory with an over to spare.
Jadeja smacked two sixes and two fours in his 11-ball cameo.
Chasing 183-run target, skipper Jayawardene added 128 runs for the opening wicket with McCullum to lead the Kochi run-chase.
Skipper Jayawardene slammed nine boundaries in his 36-ball quick-fire innings whereas McCullum paced his innings perfectly as he hit two sixes and ten boundaries in his 60-ball innings.
Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar (100 not out) smashed maiden IPL ton to help Mumbai Indians set 183-run target for Kochi Tuskers.
Tendulkar and Rayudu toyed with Kochi bowlers as they scored boundaries at will and added 116 runs for the second wicket.
Tendulkar was on dangerous mood from start as he hit three sixes and a dozen boundaries in his unbeaten 66-ball blitzkrieg. He took just 23 balls to race from fifty to hundred.
Ambati Rayudu (53) continued his destructive form from last match as he hit four sixes and three fours and raced to fifty in just 29 balls whereas Tendulkar took 43 balls to reach the landmark.
Mumbai lost opener Davy Jacobs (12) after a good start against Kochi Tuskers.
Jacobs played second fiddle to his senior partner Sachin Tendulkar as they added 61 runs for the opening stand before Raiphi Gomez clean bowled the wicket-keeper batsman in the ninth over.
Earlier, Kochi Tuskers skipper Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and decided to field against Mumbai Indians on Friday.
Mumbai Indians have rested James Franklin and got in Andrew Symonds for the match whereas Kochi Tuskers made three changes.
Kochi have to unfortunately replaced injured VVS Laxman at the last minute. They have also left out Muralitharan and Sreesanth, and brought in Thisara Perera and Ramesh Powar. Kedar Jadhav is in for VVS Laxman.
Teams:



Kochi Tuskers Kerala: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Brendon McCullum, Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Brad Hodge, Thisara Perera, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ramesh Powar, R Vinay Kumar, Kedar Jadav, Raiphi Gomez.



Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar (capt.), Harbhajan Singh, Rohit Sharma, Munaf Patel, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Andrew Symonds, Davy Jacobs (wk), Ali Murtuza, Ambati Rayudu, R Satish .

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John Buchanan takes key role with New Zealand

	John Buchanan oversaw a golden era of Australian cricket, and now he is joining New Zealand © Getty Images Enlarge

John Buchanan, the former coach of Australia, has been confirmed as New Zealand's director of cricket. Buchanan will take on the role with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) in May, and will be in charge of the high-performance programme, while also overseeing the selection panel and implementing a talent identification system.

The wide-ranging brief is Buchanan's first major job in international cricket since he resigned as Australia's coach following the 2007 World Cup triumph. Since then, he has consulted with the ECB and had an ill-fated stint as the coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, a role from which he was sacked in 2009.

However, it is for his eight years as Australia's mentor that Buchanan earned his reputation. He was in charge during the golden era that brought Australia three World Cup titles and a record 16 consecutive Test victories, and before he took control of the national side he had coached Queensland to their long-awaited first Sheffield Shield title.

"John's appointment is an exciting one for New Zealand Cricket," NZC's chief executive Justin Vaughan said. "He has a great cricketing pedigree and will provide outstanding leadership as NZC look to move forward."

Buchanan is the first person to take on the director of cricket role with NZC after the position was created with the aim of introducing consistent coaching strategies and overseeing the entire high-performance programme. He said he was looking forward to the challenge.

"It's an honour to be appointed to this challenging role. It is a wonderful opportunity to build on the work that has been done," Buchanan said. "New Zealand Cricket has a proud history and is a true honour to be given the responsibility. I want to be part of the next successful era and am committed to building sustainable high performance for New Zealand Cricket."

Buchanan's first tasks are likely to include providing input in the choice of New Zealand's new captain and the composition of the selection panel. The existing selectors, Mark Greatbatch, Lance Cairns and Glenn Turner, come out of contract at the end of April.

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Australia can't waste talent like India: Greg Chappell

Greg Chappell, Cricket Australia's national talent manager, has said, on returning from a "reconnaissance exercise" to the US, that Australia do not have as large a talent pool for cricket as some other countries, and hence have to be careful not to waste any of the talent they have. He said the key for Australian cricket was giving young players enough opportunities so they develop mental strength early. Chappell and four other Cricket Australia officials had visited the US to study the functioning of two American teams - the Boston Red Sox and the University of Texas football team - and explore, among other things, the way they identified and nurtured talented players. "We're not like India, we can't waste talent," Chappell told the Sydney Morning Herald. "They can have a few fall over and there will be someone there backing them up, but we don't have the talent pool they have, so we have to be a lot more efficient. "You might have ten players at the end of the under-19 programme, but we need to get the majority of those guys through to the next level. How does a player develop mental toughness? You develop mental toughness in the heat of the battle; nobody has come up with any other way. "That means we have to work with the states to make sure that if we have identified these players, they get opportunities in all formats over the next few years, which can sometimes counter what the state thinks is important for them." The Test team, he said, could use the services of the three senior statesmen, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Simon Katich, but only so long as their selection remains "viable", with them scoring runs and guiding the transitional team. "They are mature cricketers, they know what the landscape is and that they can't play forever. As long as they can bring something to the table, not only the runs or wickets, but the input they can have with the group, they are viable. "We've got a new captain (Michael Clarke). Change isn't just about personnel, it's about attitude and intent and about tactics, and I'm sure Michael will bring different thought processes to the captaincy. That is a positive thing. I don't think we need to make wholesale changes to see regeneration within the team." Shane Watson, Australia's new vice-captain, should remain in the opener's slot, Chappell said. "We need players who are going to help us win games, and Shane Watson opening the batting can help us win games. His bowling also gives the flexibility to play an extra spinner in Sri Lanka or an extra pace bowler in South Africa." Chappell, who took over Australia's captaincy from elder brother Ian in the '70s and then had his sibling play under him, said Clarke and Ponting should be able work around the rather awkward scenario of a team containing its former leader. "The one that is stepping down has to be conscious of the fact he is no longer in charge. I was fortunate [with Ian], I leaned on his experience and I am sure there were times when he had to bite his tongue and wait for me to either ask questions or wake up. I am sure there will be such times for Michael and Ricky as well, but they will work it out."

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India Vs West Indies 2011 - Fixtures and Schedule

After the IPL 2011, the World Cup Champions India will travel all across to West Indies for International cricket series. The team will play 1 T20, 5 ODIs then followed by 3 tests in West Indies. By the time, West Indies would have just finished another home series against Pakistan.
This will be the first series after the World Cup 2011 for India. It starts from June 4 when the two teams meet up for the only T20i of the tour. All the venues have been declared and you can get the complete fixtures of India's Tour of West Indies 2011 :

Date	Match		Venue
Jun 04 - Sat	West Indies v India, Only T20I		Queen's Park Oval	Port of Spain, Trinidad
Jun 06 - Mon	West Indies v India, 1st ODI		Queen's Park Oval	Port of Spain, Trinidad
Jun 08 - Wed	West Indies v India, 2nd ODI		Queen's Park Oval	Port of Spain, Trinidad
Jun 11 - Sat	West Indies v India, 3rd ODI		Sir Vivian Richards Stadium	North Sound, Antigua
Jun 13 - Mon	West Indies v India, 4th ODI		Sir Vivian Richards Stadium	North Sound, Antigua
Jun 16 - Thu	West Indies v India, 5th ODI		Sabina Park	Kingston, Jamaica
Jun 20 Mon - Jun 24 Fri	West Indies v India, 1st Test		Sabina Park	Kingston, Jamaica
Jun 28 Tue - Jul 02 Sat	West Indies v India, 2nd Test		Kensington Oval	Bridgetown, Barbados
Jul 06 Wed - Jul 10 Sun	West Indies v India, 3rd Test		Windsor Park	Roseau, Dominica

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No India-Pakistan series till March 2012, says BCCI

New Delhi/Islamabad: The cricket fans will have to wait till next year for an India-Pakistan bilateral series since the cricket calendar is completely full till March 2012.
Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, said: "There are no free slots available on the cricket tour calendar to accommodate an India-Pakistan series until the end of March 2012."
Shukla's statement negates the reports of India-Pakistan playing a three-match ODI series this year.
However, as a follow-up to the talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, India has decided in-principle to resume bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan.
Prime Minister Gilani, who visited Mohali last month to watch the India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal, had said that boards of the two countries were holding negotiations for renewing cricket ties.
Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmad, had also told 'The News' daily that efforts were on to arrange a three-match ODI series despite the hectic schedule of the two countries this year.
Government sources had also said the time of the visit, the venues of the matches and other logistical issues would be decided by the cricket boards of the two countries. Sources had said if everything went according to the plans, Indian cricket team would visit Pakistan first and the cricket team of that country would pay a return visit.
However, now with BCCI striking down any such chance of a series, the fans will have to wait for another year for what is called 'the mother of all battles'.
Before the World Cup semi-final match at Mohali on March 30, India last played against Pakistan at an Asia Cup match in June 2010 at Dambula in Sri Lanka.
The last bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan was held in 2007-2008 when the Pakistani team had visited India. No international cricket team has visited Pakistan to play any match after the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team on March 3, 2009, when six members of the visiting team were injured. Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were also killed in the incident.
The security situation in Pakistan continues to be a source of serious concern for international cricketers. Plans to launch a premier league and invite Sri Lanka to play in a series later this year have been put on hold.
Officials in the PCB have confirmed that other boards had in recent meetings in Sri Lanka made it clear that their players were reluctant to travel to the crisis-torn country for the Pakistan Premier League (PPL) Twenty20 competition because of security fears.
Sources said New Delhi has not lost its sight of key issues like existence of terror infrastructure in Pakistan and infiltration from across the border and would continue to vigorously pursue with Islamabad to take action on that front.
"India wants to engage Pakistan and improve relations. Cricket is one of the issues which have immense popularity in both the countries. But if there is a terror strike in India emanating from Pakistan, we would be forced to suspend all our initiatives," sources said.
Sources said the fresh impetus to improve bilateral relations has been given after the two Prime Ministers met in Mohali on the sidelines of the India-Pakistan cricket match and the Home Secretary level talks last month.
Pakistan has already moved the Lahore High Court challenging a lower court decision rejecting pleas to hand over to India the voice samples of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
The neighbouring country has also released Indian prisoner Gopal Das last week and decided to release nearly 100 fishermen in next two days.
India is also releasing around 40 Pakistani prisoners and fishermen by Friday. The second batch of prisoners and fishermen is likely to be released by both the countries by April 21.
"We have not forgotten Mumbai attack and it is still our priority to bring into justice the perpetrators of the crime. We need at least six months time to see Pakistan's sincerity to act in that front to improve bilateral relations," sources said.
After his talks with Gilani at Mohali, Singh had said "the beautiful game of cricket" has been a "uniting factor" in bringing together the two Prime Ministers.
Singh had said "whatever be the differences between our two countries, we have to find ways to resolve them". (With PTI Inputs)

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Sri Lanka recalls players from IPL

Colombo: Sri Lankan sports ministry's decision to call back its cricketers from the ongoing IPL could lead to "a potentially explosive situation" as far as the board's ties with the BCCI - world cricket's financial powerhouse - is concerned, a leading newspaper here said. The ministry had on Tuesday asked the Sri Lankan cricketers participating in the hugely popular Twenty20 league to return home early to prepare for the national team's tour of England that gets underway on May 14. "The latest development is almost certain to create a tense situation in Sri Lanka's ties with the world cricket's financial power house, the BCCI which more or less dictates terms to the ICC and world cricket as a whole," the Daily Mirror opined on Wednesday. The newspaper further said that the decision was taken after sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage's criticism of India's alleged shabby treatment of Sri Lankan politicians at the World Cup final in Mumbai. In line with Aluthgamage's policy of 'country before IPL', the ministry said a circular would soon be released by the minister that will make national duty mandatory for all Sri Lankan sportsmen above any other commitments. Ten Sri Lankan cricketers are contracted to various franchises, of which two of them are being led by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, the islanders' two senior most players. Besides Deccan Chargers skipper Sangakkara and Kochi Tuskers Kerala captain Jayawardene, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Tilakaratne Dilshan and Nuwan Pradeep are some of the Sri Lankan players involved in the fourth season of the IPL. "On a recommendation made by the national selection committee I have instructed the secretary of the board to inform the players to return by at least the 5th of May to prepare for the tour," Aluthgamage had said. "When contracted players of Sri Lanka Cricket represent other tournaments, they should make sure that their priority lies with the national team and this will be strictly adhered to in the future," Aluthgamage had added. Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Malinga, Dilshan and Kulasekera look certain to be picked for the tour of England. The Sri Lankans are scheduled to leave for the tour on May 10. The move by the Sri Lankan government is in complete contrast to the one that was taken three years ago when it cancelled a tour of England in 2009 to allow the players participate in the T20 league.



Who's with whom

Player
IPL Team
Cost US$

Mahela Jayawardene
Kochi Tuskers (C)
1.5 million

Angelo Mathews
Pune Warriors
950,000

Kumar Sangakkara
Deccan Chargers (C)
700,000

Tillakaratne Dilshan
Royal Challengers
650,000

Lasith Malinga
Mumbai Indians
500,000

Nuwan Kulasekara
Chennai Super Kings
100,000

Suraj Randiv
Chennai Super Kings
80,000

Thisara Perera
Kochi Tuskers
80,000

Nuwan Pradeep
Royal Challengers
20,000

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