World-Cup 2011 Best Images

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Hussey not reluctant to Big Bash rule changes

Michael Hussey has given a vigilant thumbs-up to some of the planned new rules for next season's Big Bash League. The eight-team competition might comprise features such as a super-over in which the batting team has its runs double, and the opportunity that spectators could keep balls hit into the crowd.

Cricket Australia asked fans to voice their opinion on the ideas via an online survey last week, seven months before the event is expected to kick off. Hussey has just arrived back in Perth after playing a key role in the IPL final victory for Chennai Super Kings, and he said the concept of the super-over "sounds all right".

"Who calls which over it is? The captain? I'd like it if I was batting, I'd call the super over as soon as I got out there," Hussey said. "I haven't reflection about it too much but the concept sounds all right, particularly if there was a Chris Gayle at the crease. He had a couple of overs in the IPL where he went for 27 and 34 runs off overs. It could approximately be game over if he had one of those overs."

Hussey said the idea of fans being able to keep balls hit into the crowd had some merit. However, he said it was important the batsman was not deprived for having cleared the fence.

"It depends how green the wicket is," he said. "If it gets to the 15th over and the wicket is still green, I don't want a new ball coming out, that's for sure. But I think it's a good idea, a bit like baseball, maybe a souvenir for a kid out there. They are going to need a lot of back-up balls of the same over range. I don't think it's the worst idea."

"It won't be of the same magnitude because of the quantity of money they spend on their tournament compare with what we could use on ours," Hussey said. "But I think in terms of the excellence of cricket we can definitely compete, attract some overseas players.

"I guess we are a little limited in that we can't draw all countries because when they play nationally clashes with our summer. But we can attract some real quality international players and we know that our first class system and our core players are very, very good."

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Pakistan just border past Ireland

Opener Paul Stirling's century was not sufficient as Pakistan did just enough to strike Ireland by five wickets and claim a 2-0 one-day international series win in Belfast.

Stirling hit a striking 109 to lead a vastly-improved Irish batting exhibit after they had been bowled out for just 96 in Saturday's opener. Ireland this time manage 238 for eight, a total that might have been bigger but for some clever bowling from Saeed Ajmal (four for 35) at the finish which prove crucial as Pakistan made heavy work of the chase.

The tourists crawl past 100 in the 30th over but half-centuries from Younus Khan and Umar Akmal, who provide the much-needed late hitting, saw Pakistan across the line with eight balls to spare. Defeat for Ireland destined they failed to claim a timely win over a full-member nation with their, and the connect nations', World Cup hopes still up in the air.

The ICC chief executives' committee is due to meet next month to talk about the opportunity of over-ruling their omission from the 2015 tournament. Today's presentation was, however, more thoughtful of the form that had led to extensive calls for Ireland to be given a route back into the World Cup, while 20-year-old Stirling's impressive century - his first next to a full-member nation - underline the young talent rising from the country.

It looked like his heroics with the bat might be satisfied with victory when Pakistan initially made hurt progress in their chase after Mohammad Hafeez chipped Trent Johnston to mid-on before he had scored.

A prudent 63-run stand between Kumar Taufeeq (31) and debutant Azhar Ali (39) then allowed the necessary rate to climb before they both fell in quick series to put the pressure on the middle order.

Despite that, old hands Younus and Misbah-ul-Haq remained unfazed at the start of their 68-run stand as Pakistan crawled past 100 in the 30th over, before they finally upped the tempo.

Misbah launch Kevin O’Brien backs over his head for six though his dismissal, wedged behind off John Mooney for 32, and kept Ireland alive. At that stage there was abundance of work still to be done, with Pakistan needing 91 from the last 12 overs, but Younus and Akmal combined effectively.

Akmal provide the youthful violence, hitting a victorious 60 off 47 balls, while Younus played the role of calm veteran adding 64 from 74 balls before he was out two runs from victory.

Ireland captain William Porterfield had earlier made the brave choice to bat first on the same Stormont wicket his unaffected team had disappointed so forcefully two days ago.

His decision was soon satisfied as Ireland surpasses their horror opening-game 96 for the loss of only Ed Joyce (17), who edged behind off Ajmal. Stirling was rapidly in his stride swiping both Junaid Khan and Umar Gul over the square boundary, but his innings was not all about aggression.

After his skipper Porterfield (15) was bowled by Hafeez, Stirling sensibly worked the ball approximately the field as he dug in for the big score his side needed. It was grown-up batsmanship from one of Ireland's most talented young players and he was satisfied for it with a century from 94 balls, which integrated seven fours and a six.

He was finally bowled trying to thrash Junaid in the final over of the batting powerplay, before the bright Ajmal frustrated Ireland's late hitting by remove the dangerous O'Brien (10) and Mooney (six).

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Dilshan taken aback by Sri Lanka collapse

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan was at a loss to give details how his side had drooping to beat in the first Test against England at Cardiff.

Sri Lanka was skittle out for just 82 on the final afternoon to misplace by an innings and 14 runs. There had appear to be little prospect of a result at the SWALEC Stadium, particularly when rain washed out the morning session for the fourth time in five days.

When play got under way at 3pm, with almost a day-and-a-half of time lost in total, England batted for just two over’s to permit Ian Bell (103 not out) to complete his 13th Test century before declare on 496 for five, a lead of 96.

That left the tourists needing to bat for 51 overs to secure a draw, but they were not up to the task as Chris Tremlett (four for 40), who was brilliant with the new ball in the absence of the injured James Anderson, and Graeme Swann (four for 16) ripped through the Sri Lankan line-up in an astonishing 24.4 overs in front of a final day crowd of just 922.

And a shell-shocked Dilshan was completely confused by his side's presentation, which included losing eight wickets for 49 runs after tea, mainly in the wake of the reputable 400 they had compiled batting first.

He said: "It's very hard to explain, I can't believe we got out in just 25 overs with such a good batting line-up like we have. We lost the match because we batted really badly today.

"We knew we would be batting for at least 45 or 50 overs. We knew looking forward in the morning that they would announce, everyone knew that after Bell's hundred they would declare, but I cannot give details what happened.

"Our batting line-up has guys like Mahela (Jayawardene), Kumar (Sangakkara), Thilan (Samaraweera) and myself, we are experienced players and we need to regroup as soon as possible and come back for the next Test on Friday."

Their 82 was Sri Lanka's lowest Test score in England, and their joint-fourth lowest of all time, but Dilshan, who was dismiss for 10 after giving a return catch to the towering Tremlett via his glove and thigh pad, said his side could have no complaint about the wicket.

"It was a very good wicket with a little bit of turn and a bit of bounce," he said. "It was a very good way. In the last two days it was good for batting, but we didn't bat well, that was the main issue, but it was really good for Test cricket."

It was a very much unsatisfactory way for Dilshan's first game as captain of his country to end, but he insist he will remain calm with such a short rotate until the second game of the three-match series at Lord's on Friday.

He said: "I am really calm, I can't be angry. We have to reorder and talk about it and try and get the maximum out of the young players and learn from the experience.
"We have another Test match on Friday. We can forget about what has happen in the last five days and look forward to Friday.

"It will be not easy to forget this Test match but we have to stick jointly as a team, do whatever we can exterior of cricket to get jointly and forget about everything."

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Gayle left out of squad to face India

Kieron Pollard is back in the West Indies side for the first two ODIs against India, but Chris Gayle remains out of favour after his controversial radio interview last month. Gayle has not been chosen in either the ODI squad or the 12-man group for Saturday's Twenty20 match against India in Trinidad, while the fast bowler Kemar Roach has been rested for the Trinidad leg of the series due to his heavy workload.

The uncapped left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie, of Jamaica, has been picked in the Twenty20 squad, which otherwise has no changes from the XI that beat Pakistan in St Lucia in April. Pollard and Dwayne Bravo could not be included in the Twenty20 outfit having not played in the most recent Caribbean Twenty20 tournament, which is part of the WICB selection criteria.

The selectors were also unwilling to choose Gayle, who slammed the West Indies board on radio after he was not picked in the squad to take on Pakistan last month. In a statement naming the squad to face India, the WICB explained the omission of Gayle, who has spent the past six weeks playing in the IPL with Bangalore and over the weekend was named as the Player of the Tournament.

"Chris Gayle will not be considered for selection to the West Indies team before an intended meeting with himself, the selection committee, the WICB management and the West Indies team management," the statement said. "The selection committee views this meeting as necessary as a result of Gayle's comments in a widely publicized radio interview in Jamaica."

There was also no room for Jerome Taylor, who like Gayle claimed the WICB failed to contact him about how he was recovering from an injury until after he had departed for the IPL. The selection committee said in the statement that Taylor must play a full season of regional cricket to prove his fitness for international level.

The opening batsman Adrian Barath has returned to low-intensity cricket in Trinidad but is still undergoing rehabilitation after suffering a serious hamstring injury before the World Cup, and it is expected he will be fit for the Tests against India. Following Saturday's Twenty20 in Trinidad, West Indies and India play two ODIs there, before heading to Antigua to continue the series.

Twenty20 squad: Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher (wk), Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Danza Hyatt, Darren Sammy (capt), Christopher Barnwell, Andre Russell, Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Ravi Rampaul, Krishmar Santokie.

Squad for first two ODIs: Lendl Simmons, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy (capt), Carlton Baugh (wk), Andre Russell, Anthony Martin, Devendra Bishoo, Ravi Rampaul.

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Sri Lanka not exaggerated by Tharanga talk

Sri Lanka seamer Farveez Maharoof says the tourist have not been unfocused by a report that Upul Tharanga failed a drugs test during the ICC World Cup.

A Colombo newspaper made the accusation on Sunday and said that Tharanga, who made an winning century in the severe 10-wicket win over England in the World Cup quarter-finals, had already selected a lawyer to represent him at an International Cricket Council hearing.

But the ICC would not remark when asked about the report and Maharoof, part of the Sri Lanka squad currently playing in the first Test against England in Cardiff, which does not comprise Tharanga, said: "It has not been a interruption at all. We have not spoken about it.

"As a team we are here to do a job and we are here to have a good Test match and to try to do well and not worry about what is going on outside.

"He (Tharanga) is a nice guy, a quiet guy who has come over to the UK a few times and played well and he did well at the last ICC World Cup." "He is an recognized opening batsman in our team and he is a genuine guy."

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Zaheer: Windies tour chances for Youngest people

India pacer Zaheer Khan told the upcoming tour to West Indies would be a good opportunity for the young people to cement their place in the national squad. "It is a very good chance for young players to showcase their ability. It's a big tour and if they perform well, they can cement their place in the team," Zaheer said.

India will play three tests, five ODIs and a lone T20 game during their tour to the Caribbean in June-July.

Senior players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virendra Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh will miss the whole tour, while Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will join the team only for Test series.

On the scheduled time of Suresh Raina as the captain for the ODIs and T20, Zaheer said," I want to wish good luck to him. He is a very good cricketer and is performing well for the past two years. I hope he does well."

The 32-year-old pacer said Dhoni was enjoying a great run as a captain.

"He is having a wonderful run. IPL, Champions League, again IPL and in between, the World Cup as well. He keeps belongings simple. He doesn't make difficult things much and maintains serenity. He is a very good captain. I hope that he is even more successful."

Zaheer, who has taken 271 Test wickets and 273 ODI scalps in 78 and 191 matches correspondingly, said he preferred to rest as he required keeping himself fit for the tough series ahead.

"It's obviously a frantic season ahead. We are playing a lot of crucial tours in the upcoming months. Personally, it's crucial for me to keep myself fit - that is the plan. To keep the niggles out and stay on top of it", he said.

"Cricket is my passion. I enjoy bowling," he added.

On whether there be supposed to be a window for IPL, he said, "We already have a window. It starts in April and goes on roughly till May, so that's the window."

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Waqar Younis promise full-strength Pakistan

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has warn Ireland that his side will be leaving all out to secure a 2-0 sweep of their short ODI series in Belfast on Monday. Pakistan claims a thrashing seven-wicket victory in yesterday's opener at Stormont after bowling Ireland out for just 96.

It was a suddenly wide-margin success in a game that had loomed as a possible banana skin for the tourists. Waqar had admit to being wary of an ever-improving Irish side in their home situation before the game, particularly after Pakistan had only just arrived from their testing tour of the Caribbean on Thursday.

They lay any fears he had to rest; however, as Junaid Khan led the rout with career-best statistics of four for 12 in his sixth ODI. It was an inspiring display from a 21-year-old, who had only taken three one-day wickets before yesterday, and on the back of it Waqar could be exempt for turning to his young players for the final game of a long tour.

Pakistan has live out of hotels for the most part since the World Cup, but Waqar has pledge to select a near straight team as he aims to finish on a high. "We are not leaving to throw all the youngsters in and say, 'because it is Ireland we can take it easy'," he said.

"No, that is not going to happen. "This is international cricket and you do have to give your young people a chance. It doesn't matter if it is England or it is Ireland.

"But you have to bring on your young players when it is necessary. "It's not that you fling them in because you are playing Ireland. "You have to make confident you win and that we are playing good cricket.

"That's accurately what we are going to do." Waqar's warning is not good news for Ireland who lacks any of the insolence that earn them plaudit, and the memorable scalp of England, at this year's World Cup.

They had high hopes of claim an upset in the series to boost their chances of believable the International Cricket Council to reverse a decision to omit the connect countries from the next World Cup in 2015.

The ICC's chief executives' group is due to discuss the option of introducing a requirement system for the World Cup at a meeting next month. Tomorrow's game will therefore be Ireland's last chance to prove their qualifications, which suffered a major blow on Friday.

With that in mind Pakistan captain expects a far tougher test tomorrow, when another rain-shortened match is likely due to predict rain. "Ireland is doing very well particularly during the World Cup. They are a very good side particularly beating England," said Misbah, who turned 37 on Friday.

"We know they are going to give us a rough time. "They are making it hard for other teams and even beating good teams. "So it's a good opposition, it is international-level competition. "You have to play well next to these guys to win."

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IPL: A glorious mix of spice and steel

After recording a drop in percentage of television viewers for the better part of the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League, the TRP rating for impressive finish between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore was more compare to the rating of last year's final.

According to aMap, a TV viewership measurement agency, the IPL--IV final between CSK and RCB scored a rating of 5.8, better than 5.6 which were rating for last year's final. The top clash in Chennai was also the uppermost rated match this season.

"It's a jump of 1.23 percent on the standard ratings of all matches of IPL--IV which is 2.6. With Net Reach of 19.12 percent it is a jump of 36 percent more than the standard Net Reach which is 14 per cent," a let go by aMap said.

"With 55 minutes of time spent per watcher in the finale, it is 40 percent higher than the average time spent of 33 minutes per viewer in IPL--IV. With 30 per cent market share in the ending, it's a jump of 52 per cent over the average market share of 19 per cent," it stated.

In this edition, 10 teams played 74 games over 50 days and CSK retain the title by thrashing Bangalore by 58 runs in the final.

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IPL Final Preview: Chennai vs Bangalore

Chennai are living up to their team name with an undefeated home run in IPL and it would Bangalore take quite an effort to breach their fortress in the finale today

Teams:

Chennai Super Kings (From): MS Dhoni(w/c), Srikkanth Anirudha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Subramaniam Badrinath, George Bailey, Doug Bollinger, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Shadab Jakati, Joginder Sharma, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh, Albie Morkel, Abhinav Mukund, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Sudeep Tyagi, Ganapathi Vignesh, Murali Vijay, Kuthethurshri Vasudevadas

Royal Challengers Bangalore (From): Daniel Vettori(c), Mayank Agarwal, Sreenath Aravind, Arun Karthik, BN Bharath, Raju Bhatkal, AB de Villiers(w), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Nuwan Pradeep, Muralidharen Gautam, Mohammad Kaif, Abrar Kazi, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Charl Langeveldt, Abhimanyu Mithun, Dirk Nannes, Ryan Ninan, Asad Pathan, Luke Pomersbach, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rilee Rossouw, Saurabh Tiwary, Johan van der Wath, Jonathan Vandiar, Chris Gayle, Syed Mohammad Jamaluddin

Head to Head
Played :	10
Chennai :	5 Won
Bangalore :	5 Won

Best bowling in an innings
Chennai:	4/32	Albie Morkel
Bangalore:	4/40	Vinay Kumar

Highest individual innings
Chennai:	83*	Michael Hussey
Bangalore:	75*	Chris Gayle

Leading wicket-takers
Chennai:	13 in 10 matches	Albie Morkel
Bangalore:	10 in 6 matches	Vinay Kumar

Leading run-getters
Chennai:	266 in 9 matches	Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Bangalore:	289 in 10 matches	Virat Kohli

Highest Partnerships
Chennai:	106 (1st wkt.)	Parthiv Patel & Matthew Hayden	at Port Elizabeth on 20.4.2009
Bangalore:	89 (2nd wkt.)	Wasim Jaffer & Ross Taylor	at Banalore on 28.4.2008

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PCB panic over security to Afghan team

The Pakistan Cricket Board has asked the government to give sufficient security for the visiting Afghanistan side.

After a television channel showed the Afghanistan team travelling in a bus in Rawalpindi with only a police mobile escort it with three officers on board, the PCB has requested that security be enlarged for the visiting team.

In March 2009, militants attack the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore and killed six Pakistani policemen and a van driver besides hurtful five Lankan players. The attack led to Pakistan becoming a remote cricket nation as far as teams coming to play in the country is worried.

The Afghanistan team is the first foreign team to visit Pakistan since the 2009 event which was blamed on insufficient security preparations by the police and administration.

But a board official said it was in constant touch with the law enforcement agencies and government over security being provided to the Afghan players. "We are in stroke with the government over the security arrangements. We are coordinating with them but the liability of providing the security is with the police and other security agencies," he said.

"Because of the existing situation in the country where militants are target security agencies and police as part of their activist activities the law enforcement agencies don't want to be famous in their presence around the Afghanistan team by having uniformed policemen to guard the players," the official claimed.

"But we have been certain there are sufficient plain clothed officers as long as security cover to the Afghan players," he added. Board Chairman Ijaz Butt has used the one-day series between Afghanistan and Pakistan 'A' to make a keen appeal to the cricket world to support Pakistan by sending teams to the country.

Butt has said the board was capable of organising international matches even in the current situation with the help of the government.

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Broad: A hard day for England

England 47 for 1 (Cook 24*, Anderson 1*) follow Sri Lanka 400 (P Jayawardene 112, Paranavitana 66, Samaraweera 58, Anderson 3-62) by 353 runs

Stuart Broad became the second-youngest England bowler to accept up 100 Test match wickets but he insists the team effort is more important.

England will resume on Saturday on 47 for one but they lost skipper Andrew Strauss for 20 in the evening session after Sri Lanka had earlier been bowled out for 400, and Broad praised the regulation of the visiting batsmen.

"It was a tough day, I thought Sri Lanka played very well and showed good discipline, but I thought we wedged at our guns really well to get them out for 400," he told Sky Sports.

"We tested the batsmen at times and that is all we can do. It is now up to us to bat until Sunday night and build a good score."

Broad recognized his achievement but is more listening carefully on produce a positive result in the opening Test. "It is always nice to pick up a couple of personal milestone but it is more significant to bowl a side out," he added.

"The wicket has played fairly slow but we decided to pitch the ball up and hearten the Sri Lanka boys to drive and I consideration they played particularly well. "This Test match is still living and it is up to us to bat past them. We had a few lbw shouts that we thought were mainly close but they didn't go our way, but that happen in cricket and hopefully tomorrow will be a different day for us."

Broad admit James Anderson's form is a "huge concern" for England as they await the results of a scan on the seamer. Anderson was the pick of the England attack on day two of the first power Test against Sri Lanka but left the field twice for treatment having suffered rigidity in the back and side and only bowled one over in the evening session.

He later re-emerged as night watchman as England reached stumps on 47 for one in reply to the tourists' 400 all out, but England remains troubled about his readiness to bowl.

"Obviously it's a huge concern for us," said Broad, who knowledgeable side problems of his own that, contribute to his departure from the World Cup earlier this year. "He felt a bit of tension in the back and side. Clearly I know what side injury are all about after this winter and when you get a little bit of pain it's not great. "We're being careful. He's going to go and get a scan this evening and with any luck that will come back clear and he'll be okay to go because he's a hugely vital bowler for us. Touch wood he'll be okay."

Broad does not believe Anderson's batting duties in the morning will make worse the injury whatever the results of the medical appraisal and expect him to play a frustrating role, as he did when saving the game here against Australia in 2009. "It is one of the trying injuries as a bowler. Hopefully it will just be a little tightness," Broad continued.

"Jimmy is not emotion pain when he's batting and with any luck he'll have one of those trying hours on Saturday when he wears a few but gets it away. "With my side injury I could do attractive much everything but bowl. An extensive pull shot might strain it or something but we don't really see Jimmy playing a huge amount of them, he's more of a clip to fine leg man."

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Bangalore hardback IPL final spot

Royal Challengers Bangalore set up an all southern final against the Chennai Super Kings after a 43-run IPL play-off win over Mumbai Indians.

Chris Gayle was the star yet again, smash 89 off 46 balls in a 113-run opening stand with Mayank Agarwal (41) to lead Bangalore to 185 for four.

In reply, Mumbai unsuccessful to get going in spite of a valiant 40 from skipper Sachin Tendulkar, as his complement Daniel Vettori picked up figures of three for 19.

Sreenath Aravind and Jamaluddin Mohammad chip in with two wickets each as Mumbai ended well short on 142 for eight, sending Bangalore to their second IPL final.

Bangalore was put into bat and it was Gayle's show for most of the first innings, which he started by defeat 20 off the first over before Agarwal joined in.

The West Indian reach 52 in 27 balls, but Agarwal could not make the most of a drop chance, caught by Rohit Sharma off Kieron Pollard.

Gayle carried on in spite of and was only rob of a century by James Franklin's superb running catch as Mumbai fight back with two more wickets to trash hopes of a 200-plus score.

Still, AB de Villiers (21) and Saurabh Tiwary (eight) managed 28 jointly inside the last four overs to make bigger Bangalore's total.

And they put Mumbai under early force in the chase, Aravind dismiss opener Aiden Blizzard (10) and pinch-hitter Harbhajan Singh (13).

Tendulkar had reserved his nerve so far and built 40 off 24 balls but was left stumped off Jamaluddin and Bangalore took additional control as Vettori got his treble in successive overs approximately the halfway mark.

Franklin failed to build on his start and was bowled by Zaheer Khan before Malinga's departure to Jamaluddin, with the 68 necessary off 18 deliveries proving impossible in the end.

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India squads for West Indies Tour

Suresh Raina has been named captain for India’s ODI series next to the West Indies, while Sachin Tendulkar will miss the whole tour.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announce a 16-man squad for the three-Test series which follows a one-off Twenty20 fixture and five one-day internationals - with Sachin Tendulkar opts out to use time with his family before a vital tour of England.

Left-handed opener Gambhir was set to captain the world champions for the limited-overs opposition in the Caribbean but a shoulder injury means Suresh Raina will take over the reins, with Shikhar Dhawan called up as cover.

Gambhir's injury led to a animated club next to country discuss and he was criticized for playing throughout in the IPL with an injury that he initially picked up during the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Shikhar Dhawan and Manoj Tiwary have been named replacement for Gambhir and Yuvraj for the lone Twenty20 and five-match ODI series starting June 4.

"Gautam Gambhir will be engaged for the full tour of the West Indies, on account of his shoulder injury. Yuvraj Singh will also be engaged for the full tour. He is suffering from an upper respiratory disease, with a small patch of pneumonitis in the left lung," the BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

Tamil Nadu opener Mukund was the lone new face in the squad announce after a marathon meeting of the selection board which lasted more than two hours.

Tendulkar, who was not part of the ODI team, request that he be allowable to spend time with his family.

"He will therefore not play the Test series. However, he will be obtainable for the full tour of England, that follows," the BCCI said.

The Test team to be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni has no major surprises as the 21-year-old Mukund was predictable to make the cut in the nonappearance of Gambhir.

Mukund, an violent left-handed opener, was satisfied for his consistent performance in the domestic circuit where he has scored 3446 runs in 40 matches with an victorious 300 being his highest score.

The squad has seven specialist batsmen, four pacemen, three spinners and two wicketkeepers with Parthiv Patel life form the reserve stumper.

But with usual openers Gambhir and Sehwag not in the line-up, the team will lack experience at the top of the order. Murali Vijay and his Tamil Nadu teammate Mukund may be hand the liability of opening the batting.

VVS Laxman, who has been named vice-captain of the Test squad, and Rahul Dravid return to the fold to provide the constancy in the middle-order. In Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina, the Indians have two hopeful batsmen who can take up the load.

Zaheer Khan, who was rested for the ODI series will lead the pace attack in Tests which also has Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth and Munaf Patel in its ranks. Harbhajan Singh will be the senior spinner in the squad with Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha as his backup.

ODI Squad: Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel, Manoj Tiwari, Shikhar Dhawan, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Wridhiman Saha, Amit Mishra, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, R Ashwin, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, S Badrinath

Test Squad: MS Dhoni, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay, S Badrinath, Abhinav Mukund, Harbhajan Singh, Parthiv Patel, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth

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Supreme Court quash land allocation to Saurav Ganguly

In a hold up to former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly, the Supreme Court on Thursday quashes the land portion to him by the West Bengal Government in 2000.

Quashing the share of 63.04 ‘katha’ land in the posh Salt Lake city, a bench headed by Justice A K Ganguly heading for the cricketer to submit the land within two weeks.

The court agreed the order on an appeal filed by a West Bengal-based NGO, Humanity and others, demanding the Calcutta High Court’s order which had uphold the state government’s decision of allot the land to Ganguly.

Allowing the appeal of NGO, the bench quashed the allotment and also directed the government to repayment the money paid by Ganguly for the land.

The NGO had suspected that the land was illegally alloted to Ganguly as it was earmark for a college. The state government had accommodate Ganguly’s request without amend the master plan, the NGO had alleged.

The NGO had submitted that the state government dishonored all norms and events while allot the prime land to the former Indian cricket captain.

The Calcutta High Court had, in April last year, uphold the land allotment observe in its order that there was no chance in the state government’s action of allotting the land to Ganguly.

This order was challenge by the NGO following which the top court had issued notice to the state government on September 16, last year.

The apex court also took an undertaking from the cricketer’s counsel on the same day, that no building activities will be done by him on the doubtful land and status quo would be maintained till further order.

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'Mumbai players have be fully fit'

Mumbai Indians players have not played throughout injury in the IPL, Coach Robin Singh said on Thursday.

"As far as I know, in our team, no one has completed that. I can't actually answer that question," Singh said.

Despite moving injury, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gambhir played the eliminator next to Mumbai Indians on Wednesday and the move has now snowball into a major argument, sparking a discuss on whether players are more keen to play in cash-rich events like IPL rather than the country.

Singh said the result of Friday's must-win second qualifier match against Royal Challengers Bangalore will depend on how his boys execute the plans.

"Obviously, we have consideration about how we want to go about things. We have our own plans ready for what we would like to do. The significant thing is to be able to carry out those plans."

"It's clearly a knockout game. We have done attractive well against RCB. The few outings we have had in the past, we have compressed them. This is a fresh game. We have to start from scratch. We have to change and regroup," Singh told reporters on Thursday.

The former India left-hander is also conscious of the threat Chris Gayle poses. "You can't ignore the fact that Gayle is in terrific form, and likewise with most of our bowlers, we have been bowling very well. You have to back yourself to bowl well against anyone."

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Fleming: complicated to say 'No' to IPL

Chennai coach Stephen Fleming doesn't sense that it is up to the cricket boards to make a decision whether there should be a requirement on the number of matches each player should play.

"It is upto the person boards to decide about bring conditions on the number of matches. I don't think there should be club vs. country here. If the boards are not happy with the quantity of cricket being played they should put circumstances on it," Fleming told journalists when asked about players like Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag infuriating their injuries before an important international series.
The former New Zealand skipper admitted that it is hard for players to say "No" to IPL.

"It is hard for the players to say no. Each game is significant. As a expert cricketer, it is one's responsibility to play. IPL has value for the BCCI as it is not a rivalry that is played in off-shore. It is a real cricket event and it is important to the Indian landscape," he stated.

Fleming praise CSK's top Indian stars like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina who always want to be in the thick of things.

"I see real fervor for the Indian players wanting to play in this event. My skipper (Dhoni) and Raina are good examples of that. They want to keep playing cricket even after the ICC World Cup final. It is very tough to stop players from playing. I do not think that they play for financial rewards. I think it is their desire to competing and keep doing well," he concluded.

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Gambhir will be drop if he is unfit: BCCI

The BCCI is in the procedure of analyzing Gautam Gambhir’s medical reports and will fall the stand-in captain from the tour of the West Indies if he is establish to be unfit.

BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan said the Board had established the reports submit by Kolkata Knight Riders’ physio Andrew Leipus on Gambhir’s shoulder damage and a decision will be taken very quickly.

“We have established the statement from Leipus and we are analyzing it. We will take into account all aspect of the damage”, Srinivasan told PTI.

“We are taking store of the report and we will take a final conclusion once we are throughout with it. If we find that he is not fit, he will not go on the tour. We will then make a choice on a substitute”, he said.

Gambhir, named skipper of the team for next month’s West Indies tour, continued the injury to his right shoulder during the World Cup final next to Sri Lanka last month while taking a catch.

The injury got further motivated when Gambhir made a descending stop during their IPL match next to Mumbai Indians on May 22.

Gambhir is still not sure how bad his shoulder damage is as he is still pending the result of MRI scan, done to calculate the amount of damage. KKR’s physio Leipus, in his report to the BCCI, said Gambhir wants four to six weeks’ relax to get well fully, which means that the Indian opener could even miss the following tour of England.

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Gambhir advise 4-6 weeks' relax over shoulder injury

Gautam Gambhir could miss the limited-overs leg of India's tour of the West Indies next month following the stress of a shoulder injury that was continued during the World Cup final. Gambhir, named India's captain for that part of the tour, has been advise four to six weeks' rest by Andrew Leipus, the Kolkata Knight Riders trainer, and could even miss the following tour of England.

If it comes to pass, Gambhir's nonappearance will leave India without their three best expert openers - Virender Sehwag has freshly undergone shoulder surgery and Sachin Tendulkar has been rested for the short-format games. It will also fuel the discuss over the significance given to the IPL vis-a-vis international cricket, and - given that Sehwag also played throughout the IPL with his injury - raise questions over the liability of the BCCI, the IPL franchises and the players.

Gambhir played the IPL Eliminator on Wednesday, the same day Leipus wrote to the BCCI. However, Kolkata's loss to Mumbai Indians has saved Gambhir and the franchise from have to decide on his further contribution in the tournament.

In his letter, address to BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, Leipus - a former India physio - said the player felt sharp pain in his right carry while landing on it in the field at one point during the World Cup final next to Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium on April 2. Subsequent scans have now exposed a serious injury that would require him to avoid throwing or batting for four to six weeks.

"Gautam indoors in Kolkata at the start of the IPL complaining of a 'sore shoulder', the onset of which occur during the World Cup final," Leipus' letter said. "He clearly recollects a fielding incident where he landed on an outspread arm and felt a catch deep in the shoulder. In the elation at the time, his attention was deservedly elsewhere and he didn't bother telling anyone about it."

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Dilshan won't go to Pakistan

Cardiff, (AFP): Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said Wednesday he would not play cricket in Pakistan again after an invite for his side to return to the anxious nation, two years after they were attacked there, was discarded.

Dilshan was on the Sri Lanka team bus shot at by militant in Lahore in March 2009 during an attack which kill eight people and wounded seven membrs of the tour party.

Asked if he would ever go back to Pakistan with Sri Lanka, Dilshan - most important the team in the first Test against England that starts here on Thursday - told reporters: "I don't think so. It was a bad understanding for me as a cricketer in Pakistan.

"As a player, I don't want to go through the same knowledge in the future. My personal view, I don't want to go back to play cricket there."

The Pakistan Cricket Board announced at the weekend they had invited Sri Lanka to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 game in a series proposed for October.

However, the invite was twisted down by Sri Lanka Cricket chairman D.S. de Silva, who said Tuesday: "The situation, with regards to security, doesn’t allow us to play matches there. Even the ICC (International Cricket Council) has not given us security permission."

Since the attack, no major nation has tour Pakistan, forcing the country to play 'home' series in the United Arab Emirates, England and New Zealand. On Monday, Afghanistan becomes the first foreign squad to arrive in Pakistan following the attack on the Sri Lankan players. The Afghans will take on a second-string Pakistani national team in a three-match series.

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Mumbai Indians Won by 4 wickets

Mumbai Indians 148 for 6 (Blizzard 51, Tendulkar 36, Kallis 2-18, Shakib 2-24) strike Kolkata Knight Riders 147 for 7 (ten Doeschate 70*, Munaf 3-27) by four wickets

Harbhajan Singh broken a last-over six as Mumbai Indians post a four-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

Mumbai required seven runs in the final over to attain a 148-run goal, but New Zealander James Franklin take a single of the first ball off Bangladesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan previous to Harbhajan shattered the next for a six.

Franklin made a winning 29 off 25 balls; while Harbhajan contribute a five-ball 11 not out. Mumbai will now conflict with Royal challenger Bangalore on Friday, the winners of their match conference Chennai Super Kings in the final. Kolkata curved out of the Twenty20 event.

Mumbai were strongly placed following an 81-run place for the opening wicket between Australian Aiden Blizzards (51) and captain Sachin Tendulkar (36) before losing their way.

Blizzard, who strike two sixes and seven fours in his 30-ball knock, reach his half-century with a six off Australian pace man Brett Lee previous to being fixed in the deep while attempting another big shot off the next delivery.

Munaf Patel previous played a key role in restrict Kolkata despite an imposing 70 not out by Netherlands' Ryan ten Doeschate as he took two wickets in his opening two overs, including that of South African Jacques Kallis.

Kolkata were stressed at 20-4 in the opening six overs after organism put in to bat before ten Doeschate led the revival with a 60-run stand for the fifth wicket with Yusuf Pathan (26).


Ten Doeschate, who split three sixes and six fours in his 49-ball knock, then added 41 for the sixth wicket with Shakib (26) to help his team post a spirited total.

Paceman Patel strike with his fourth release when he had Kallis (seven) caught by Tendulkar, who took a superb low catch at mid-off. He got another wicket in his next over when he detached Shreevats Goswani.

Harbhajan got a big wicket when he bowled Captain Gautam Gambhir (four) before seamer Dhawal Kulkarni attentive Manoj Tiwary lbw to put Kolkata under pressure.

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Sri Lanka rejected Pakistan tour

Sri Lanka Cricket on Tuesday long-established they had discarded a present to tour Pakistan due to security concerns.

Pakistan has not hosted international cricket inside its own borders since an attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore left seven players and a supporter coach wounded in 2009.

Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed in the attack, which occur when gunmen ambush the bus and opened fire.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had hope to coax Sri Lanka back for a tour in October, propose a series comprise of three Tests, five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match.

However, an attack at a Karachi naval base on Sunday has encouraged the SLC to put the safety of its players first, deciding to knock back the request in spite of the PCB's assurances of safety.

"We have refused to tour Pakistan," an SLC spokesman said. "We are anxious about the security and that's why we said no to them."

Since the 2009 attack, Pakistan have been required to play their home series in neutral territory, counting the United Arab Emirates, England and New Zealand, with no cricketing nation willing to tour the troubled country.

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Pakistan level series with simplistic win

Saeed Ajmal take three final-day wickets as Pakistan wrapped up a 196-run win in the second Test next to the West Indies in St Kitts to sketch the series 1-1.

Ajmal dismiss Brendan Nash, Darren Sammy and Ravi Rampaul as the hosts, who started the day on 130 for five, were dismiss for 230.

Captain Sammy briefly aggravated the tourists with an innings of 41, which incorporated six fours, but he was merely delay the inevitable.

The West Indies resume their second innings 296 runs loose this morning and their hopes of an unlikely revival were deal a blow when Nash went for 30, caught by Taufeeq Umar at first slip, after they had added just five more runs.

Abdur Rehman, who ended with four second-innings wickets, then attentive Carlton Baugh lbw for 18 to reduce the Windies for 171 for seven.

Sammy become Ajmal's second victim, caught at mid-wicket by Misbah-ul-Haq, and Umar Akmal then detained a catch at silly point to obtain rid of Rampaul after he had hit a quickfire 20 with two sixes and two fours.

And Pakistan preserved a comfortable victory when Wahab Riaz superbly ran out a dawdling Kemar Roach for 12.

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Chasing win Chennai Super Kings by 6 wickets

Chennai Super Kings 177 for 4 (Raina 73*) strike Royal Challengers Bangalore 175 (Kohli 70*, Bollinger 1-20) by six wickets

 Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni said he had the certainty that his team might win the IPL play-off match next to Royal Challengers Bangalore.

 "It was a hard target, but we have been in comparable situations, and we have the conviction that we can win these games. We kept believe that we could do it, but you can say I was not 100% certain," Dhoni said after his side's dramatic six-wicket win in the last over.

"We know as a team we have the armaments to chase anything. This was a good situation where the set batsmen kept back on going, and the others chip around him. When you believe in the aptitude that you have, you can more often pass off," he said.

Rival captain Daniel Vettori believed that Suresh Raina's sweltering knock made the difference. "You do get these guys. You say this is a great game of cricket. That innings from Suresh took it away. But we expect to bowl a little bit improved than we did." 

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IPL Preview: Bangalore vs. Chennai

Shielding champions Chennai Super Kings get on Royal Challengers Bangalore in what assure to be an absorbing first IPL playoff match in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Chennai vs. Bangalore

IPL Overall

Chennai Super Kings contain won 35 and lost 24 out of 60 played - success % 59.16 (Tied 1).

Bangalore has won 30 and lost 29 out of 59 contests - success % 50.84.

IPL - Chennai vs. Bangalore - Head to Head

Bangalore has won 5 and lost 4 out of nine played next to Chennai - success % 55.55.

IPL 2011

Bangalore, with 19 points (Played: 14, Won: 9 and Lost: 4 Abandoned: 1) are at the top in the Points Table.

Chennai, with eighteen points (Played: 14, Won: 9 and Lost: 5) are placed second in the Points Table.

Approaching milestones

- Abraham de Villiers (933) requires 67 runs to complete his 1,000 runs in the IPL.

- Mahendra Singh Dhoni (1374) needs 26 runs to complete 1400 runs in the IPL.

- Chris Gayle (974) requires 26 runs to complete 1000 runs in the IPL.

- Suresh Raina (1732) requires 68 runs to complete 1800 runs in the IPL.

- Albie Morkel (56) needs four wickets to complete his 60 wickets in the IPL.

- Gayle (38) requires just two sixes to become the first batsman to register 40 sixes in the IPL.

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Afridi probable to Miss Ireland series

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is allowing for skipping the ODI series next to Ireland afterward this month due to his father's illness.

The flamboyant all-rounder wants to use more time with his ill father, who is getting treatment in the United States.

"His brother is in the USA but Afridi needs to spend time with his father and might seek consent from the PCB in next few days," a source said.

Pakistan will be travelling to face Ireland in the two ODIs to be played on May 28 and 30.

Sources also extra that Afridi, who left for the USA on May 17, was already miserable due to his upset removal as the captain of Pakistan's ODI team by the PCB. Afridi was sack by the chairman of the board, Ijaz Butt last week and replace by senior batsman, Misbah-ul-Haq for the Ireland series.

Misbah is currently most important the team in the Test series against West Indies.
"Afridi is miserable with the way he was detached as captain with no being given any reason for the choice. He is all the more amazed since he led the team to the ICC World Cup semi final and also to ODI series win over the West Indies," the source said.

Afridi was sack after he criticized coach Waqar Younis for meddling in team selection during the 3-2 one-day series win against the West Indies.

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PCB mull release Zulqarnain's dues

The Pakistan cricket Board is allowing for releasing the hovering payment of contentious wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider. Well-placed source said that the wicketkeeper had request the inner minister Rehman Malik to help him in his case.

The PCB had detained up all payments of Zulqarnain last year following he fled the Pakistan team hotel in Dubai last November throughout the one-day series next to South Africa.

Haider land up in London seeking asylum after he claim that an unknown person had endangered him with dire penalty for not cooperating in fixing the one-day series next to South Africa.

The keeper return home in late April from London after retreating his asylum request with the British home office and after getting reassurances from Malik that he would be provide full security and safety in Pakistan.

"When Zulqarnain meet with Rehman Malik he requests him to ask the PCB to release his payments from last year's series in England and in the UAE," one source said.

"Malik lately during his meeting with the PCB Chairman, Ijaz Butt told him that the board should think plateful out Zulqarnain as since he was not live any cricket because of his case and was facing a financial crisis," the source said.

The board held up all payments to Zulqarnain after they held an in house query into the entire incident and declared that the keeper had violated the team code of conduct by leave-taking the team hotel without authorization of the team management.

The board has now shaped a corrective group to investigate the case and record the statement of Zulqarnain who lately respond to the become aware of sent to him by the inhouse committee last year.

"The keeper is proverb he is ready to face all consequences but the board should let go him some payments as he is also not receiving any help from his section who sacked him after he reach London," the source said.

The PCB has said that it would only take a choice on whether to allow Zulqarnain back into cricket after the punitive committee completes its proceedings.

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‘Topping IPL table show our quality’

Royal Challengers Bangalore franchisee director Siddharth Mallya on Monday said the information that the team top the points table after creature written off, shows its character.

"After our first win, we unluckily lost our three next games. The comments team wrote us off, the reporters wrote us off, the critic wrote us off. They said we had chosen a incorrect team. Where is (Rahul) Dravid? Where is (Robin) Uthappa? They asked," he told reporters during a promotional event.

"To rebound back from there, it shows the nature of the team. We have twisted a new IPL record of winning seven games in a row and were victorious in eight successive games if we contain the one wash away by rain. We are here on our value. However, we still have a long way to go," he added.

The junior Mallya was also all admire for the orange cap owner Chris Gayle, who has score 511 runs in nine innings to alone direct the Royal Challengers' revival. "For Chris Gayle to have the orange cap is extraordinary. He has scored over 500 runs in nine innings. It is not amazing that we normally hear in our lifetime," he said.

Mallya said IPL without Lalit Modi was like a "sugarfree candyfloss" and his being there was being missed. "Lalit Modi had a vision. He was a prophet. None of this would have been probable with no his vision. IPL 4 without Modi is like a sugarless candyfloss. It looks the same, taste the similar but you know something is missing."

"It is not that much has distorted. But yes we miss him," he said.

Mallya said although the IPL ratings had taken a hit this year, the fans were enjoying it nevertheless.

"After the ICC World Cup, there was a fear that people would be unwell of cricket. I don't see that to be a big subject. Personally, in Bangalore, most of the matches have been sell out. The ICC World Cup win has been a big help."

"The official ratings have been short but we have to take the World Cup into explanation as well," said Mallya.

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Mumbai edging past Kolkata in last-ball end

Mumbai Indians 178 for 5 (Franklin 45*, Tendulkar 38, Bhatia 3-22) hit Kolkata Knight Riders 175 for 7 (Kallis 59, Yusuf 36, Tiwary 35) by five wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders had their Champions League first appearance all but book when they begin the last over with 21 to protect. Three edge boundaries off L Balaji and two miss yorkers later, James Franklin and Ambati Rayudu had see Mumbai Indians to a highly improbable win, breach their three-match losing streak. The win set up a replicate clash between the two teams in the eliminator, an equal of a quarter-final.

In all the disorder of the last over, which astonished the full house at Eden Gardens, Chennai Super Kings emerge the biggest gainers. Had Kolkata won the game, which they should have in spite of all those edges, Chennai would have ended third, and would have had to win two games in order to make the final? Now they need win only one of the two.

Mumbai gained too: they wanted to end the chase off in 5.1 overs to make it to the top two, but by thrashing Kolkata they could have ensure a psychological benefit in their eliminator. For the best part of their 19 overs of batting, Mumbai scarcely look like a team that could do so. Iqbal Abdulla uninvolved T Suman in the second over, the pinch-hitter Harbhajan Singh manage 30 off 29, and Rajat Bhatia's leg-rollers broke the batting order's back with three wickets in three overs.

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Bangalore come to an ending on top of table

Royal Challengers Bangalore 129 for 2 (Gayle 75*) strike Chennai Super Kings 128 for 8 (Dhoni 70*, Vettori 2-15) by eight wickets

Chris Gayle indulges himself after his bowlers controlled Chennai Super Kings to a below-par 128 to ensure Royal Challengers Bangalore will completed top of the points table. The result also protected their berth in this year's Champions League.

Chennai were always opposite inevitable beat once their top order crumbles six over into the game. Tottering at 22 for 4, MS Dhoni consolidate at first before looting quick runs in the end, but 128 wasn't leaving to test Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Particularly with Gayle unleash hell.

Gayle left his blot on the chase and it was violent. A six flew over third man; another vanished over cow corner, a third, off Suresh Raina, landed in the upper tier of the long-on stands and a fierce directly drive rammed into Albie Morkel's shin. A limp Morkel constant bowling after getting some action but Gayle punctually dispatched a short delivery over the deep midwicket boundary. But while Gayle delighted the home mass, it was the bowlers who won the game for Bangalore.

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Vettori: Gayle did the circle

The player who twisted belongings approximately for the team is the in-form Chris Gayle, said Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori.

Bangalore thrashes defensive champions Chennai Super Kings to take the top place with 19 points in the Indian Premier League.

Gayle shattered an unbeaten 70 to pave the way for his side's simple win and also claim the Orange Cap with a tally of 511 runs from nine games.

"Gayle has been in charge for the circle. He has been outstanding. Our fielding and bowling has been good as well, particularly Zaheer. With Dilshan leaving we had to try out a few things. The entire department is responsibility well, and even Aravind and Mithun did well," Vettori said.

The West Indies batsman said he is enjoy the boiling form in this season of the IPL. "This has been one of the best runs I have ever had, in terms of constancy. The team has been wonderful, the fans as well. All the hold has been huge. You need to have the courage to go out there to obtain the job done; it is God's gift so I am grateful. Teams are going to come with new strategy at us. We were chase a low total, one of us had to be there till the ending," Gayle said.

Chennai captain MS Dhoni blamed top-order failure for the defeat. "If you are 4-5 down in the start, it is always hard to catch up in this format. We tried to get a honest total on the board in the end," he said.

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Oram: I feel disengaged with IPL

New Zealand player Jacob Oram says he felt detached with the IPL as the "after-match parties, Bollywood stars and manner parades" seem far detached from actuality.

"Being at this point for six weeks, not playing much, preparation firm but not in fact getting on the ground has been kind of strange. In a way I feel like I haven't in fact got concerned in the event," Oram, who play for Rajasthan Royals as an injury replacement for Paul Collingwood, tell the Dominion Post.

"I haven't watched it on TV and I couldn't tell you the standings, partly because I know our sides out of it. I feel a bit detached from the tournament," he added. Speaking about his knowledge in the league, the impressive 32-year-old said it was strange at times.

"After almost every game there's an after-party, there's Bollywood stars there and way parades; the drinks are free and the cheerleaders are around. It's a dissimilar world.

"Sometimes you speculate if you're here for cricket or not. Ultimately you are. It is good fun, but at the same time I don't think its realism," Oram said. Oram also recall his connections with Rajasthan captain Shane Warne's performer girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley.

"She (Hurley) was here for a week, halfway throughout the event. She's a very nice lady and has an organic farm herself, so with my wife's family being organic farmers there was an exchange starter there.

"She brings her kids across and Shane had his three kids there, and nannies and a bit of safety so there was a massive associates for a while," Oram said. One of the pleasant experiences of the IPL, according to Oram, was sharing the bandage room with Warne and veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid.

"He (Warne) is a nice guy, actually simple to talk to. He's about to give up work and that knowledge will last forever. I'm glad I had that opportunity. I played alongside Rahul Dravid; there's some attractive cool things I've knowledgeable," he said.

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Pakistan trio's date through London Court

Three Pakistan cricketers and a sports agent at the centre of spot-fixing allegation are due to become visible in a London Court today.

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, 26, and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif, 28, and Mohammad Amir, 18, are emotional with cheating and plot to obtain and accept corrupt payments.

Agent Mazhar Majeed, 35, of Oaks Road, Croydon, south London, is accused of accepting £150,000 to arrange for the players to bowl "no balls" during three dates in Pakistan's Test series at Lord's Cricket Ground in London last August.

The four will come into view before London's Southwark Crown Court. Earlier this year they were decided bail after appear before City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.

During that trial, District Judge Howard Riddle heard the confirmation came from an examination by the News of the World's in secret reporter Mazher Mahmood. The cricketers were before funded by the Pakistan Cricket Board but their lawyer established exterior court that has ended.

Accepting dishonest payments is an offence under the avoidance of dishonesty Act 1906 and carries a maximum judgment of seven years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Corrupt is an offence under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005. It carry a maximum sentence of two years custody and an limitless fine.

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PCB update Abbottabad competition moved

Pakistan has shifted the venue of the third and final one-day international between their 'A' team and Afghanistan from Abbottabad to Faisalabad.

This was announcing on Thursday evening. The Pakistan Cricket Board announce on May 9, just a week after American armed forces killed Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, the idyllic garrison town would host the May 29 match.

But that conclusion was upturned, with no bureaucrat reason given for the switch.
A PCB representative affirmed at the time that higher elevation conditions were the reason for choose Abbottabad, which had been planned to play host after games in Islamabad (May 25) and Rawalpindi (May 27).

Afghanistan will be the first foreign team to play on Pakistani soil as the March 2009 terror assault on a Sri Lankan team bus.

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Modi says Srinivasan serving Chennai

Sacked Indian Premier League officer Lalit Modi has once yet again accuse the BCCI secretary N Srinivasan of departing out of his way to favor his franchise Chennai.

Modi said the Chennai Super Kings are such a good side that they can succeed the IPL without Srinivasan prop them up.

"It's a disappointment Srinivasan is resorting to all that. Chennai are a powerful team and can win exclusive of any such help," Modi wrote on Twitter.

Modi, who in his respond to the IPL chargesheet last year had accused Srinivasan of picking and choose umpires for Chennai team's matches, said the president-elect of the Board of Control for Cricket in India is brazenly supporting the side.

"Not indirectly, but very directly. Fixing the auction umpires and now pitches. Just give the damn crown to the Super Kings, Modi had tweeted.

Modi also touch upon the IPL's falling TRP ratings, achievement an all-time low in the fourth edition.

"Just learnt that the ratings for IPL have reached an average of 3.84, which is the lowly it has ever achieved. Sorry to hear the same."

Australian fable and Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne, who was fine US$ 50,000 by the IPL, said the Twenty20 league is not the similar without Modi.

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Warne ranks Tendulkar on top of all

Australia spin fable Shane Warne has praise long-time tormentor Sachin Tendulkar, declaring the iconic India batsman as the most cricketer he has ever played next to. Rajasthan Royals skipper Warne, who will play his last Indian Premier League match next to the Mumbai Indians on Friday, said it was only suitable to end his IPL stint as a player alongside Tendulkar.

"Sachin is the most players I have played against. It's suitable that my last game is versus Sachin," Warne said.

"Sachin has been my friend for a long period of time. We have bit of express amusement with each other, crack jokes. I hope Sachin do not shatter me all approximately the park on Friday," he said.

Warne was fine a hefty USD 50,000 next his public fight with Rajasthan Cricket relationship desk Sanjay Dixit and the the 41-year-old Australian said that he unsuccessful to appreciate why not anything happened to the RCA secretary.

"Unfair that I get fine while Sanjay Dixit get away with saying whatever he feel like," Warne told in an interview. "My fight with Dixit was undeveloped on both our parts," he added.

Warne runaway a ban but was fined heavily by the IPL's corrective panel for calling Dixit a "liar and selfish" after an IPL match in Jaipur, forcing RR owner Shilpa Shetty to interfere and apologies for the event.

Dixit, who is also an IAS officer, had irritating Warne and Tendulkar on Twitter and in a mess Warne in a website article. "I had to face the penalty but he gone simply. I don't think it's fair. It is supposed to be amazing same for both of us. But the story is this way and one can't do much.

"I had 7 days to make a decision on a resist claim but I did not anything. It was a silly occurrence and pity that it got way too much attention," he said. Despite his fight with the RCA desk, Warne remain positive about being linked with the Rajasthan team in the future.

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Win keeps Kolkata in chase for semi final

Kolkata Knight Riders 119 for 3 (Gambhir 54*) strike Pune Warriors 118 for 7 (Yuvraj 24, Balaji 2-7, Shakib 2-16) by seven wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders reserved up their shove for an Indian Premier League top mark with a seven-wicket succeed over Pune Warriors in Mumbai.

Playing their last but one group game, the Knight Riders knock off the necessary total of 119 in 16.4 overs. Captain Gautam Gambhir led them home with 54 off 46 balls, with Manoj Tiwary adding 24 and Yusuf Pathan 29.

Kolkata had previous spun the ball to maximum result to limit Pune to 118 for seven from their 20 overs. Pathan, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Lakshmipathy Balaji take two wickets each.

England batsman Eoin Morgan was on the counter for Kolkata, who won the toss and unspecified control early on as Pathan and Iqbal Abdulla dismiss openers Jesse Ryder (one) and Manish Pandey (16) correspondingly.

Spin sustained to anguish Pune, as Shakib detached Callum Ferguson (16) and Sourav Ganguly (18) approximately the halfway mark.

Pune were reel at 79 for five when Pathan got his second, Robin Uthappa wedged by Brett Lee for 12.

Yuvraj Singh (24) help mount a late recovery - in a 34-run stand with Sachin Rana (18) - before he was trapped following by Shreevats Goswami off Balaji.

The Warriors then attempt a fight back with the ball, Alfonso Thomas dismiss Goswami (six) in the first over, but member opener Gambhir put paid to Pune's hopes.

Tiwary common a 46-run second-wicket stand with Gambhir before unfortunately playing onto his leg base off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but Pathan was on hand to turn Kolkata closer to conquest with his usual slog style.

Gambhir ambled away to a half-century in 43 balls - final with seven boundaries to his name - and oversaw a at ease victory in spite of Pathan's late removal from office to Wayne Parnell.

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Modi blast BCCI over Warne problem

Former IPL official Lalit Modi termed the BCCI "money mind" and said the board's decision to impose a fine of US $50,000 on Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne was uncalled for.

Warne runaway a ban but was fine heavily by the IPL's corrective commission in Mumbai on Wednesday for calling RCA secretary Sanjay Dixit a "liar and selfish" after an IPL match in Jaipur, forcing RR owner Shilpa Shetty to intercede and apologise for the incident.

"BCCI Money minded heads targeting a celebrity like Warne is uncalled for. They are not directly aggressive all your shut friends. Shame on them," Modi tweeted.

"USD 50000 fine for Warne while Dixit is free to punch away on twitter! Unbelievable! Not a word from the BCCI on Dixit mocking Tendulkar.

"Rajasthan CA needs ban; Royals want Shane. They call themselves sports administrator and wanting ban?" he added. Modi felt the admission of guilt was sufficient on Warne's part.

"USD 50k would have buy Kaif for the IPL. The event is a big disgrace and I m sure each cricket lover would be distress right now. "BCCI have to to been generous and left the fable tolerant the apology. A fine should only equal with the damage done," he further tweeted.

The sack commissioners also take a dig at BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, reproachful him of favouring his team Chennai Super Kings. "Not not directly, but very directly. Fixing the auction umpires and now pitches. Just give the damn cup to CSK.

"It's a pity Srinivasan is resorting to all that. CSK is a mighty fine team and can win without any such help," he said. Modi also tweet that the TV ratings of the Twenty20 league have reach an all-time low this season.

"Just learnt that the ratings for IPL have reached an average of 3.84. This is the lowest it has ever achieved. Sorry to hear the same,” Modi tweeted.

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Stuart Clark quits full-time cricket

Aussie pacer Stuart Clark on Wednesday quit full-time cricket to focus on his new role as the general director of the Sydney Sixers Big Bash League franchise. Clark will, however, carry on playing cricket for Sydney University.

"I am going to carry on playing club cricket as I immobile love playing the game, but more highly I consider I can still help expand Australia's future talent," Clark was quoted as saying by 'The Age'.

Insisting that his main concern would be the managerial job, the 35-year-old however clarify that he would make himself accessible for collection for New South Wales' Champions League Twenty20 and domestic campaign next season.

"Playing cricket has given me many opportunities in life and I feel by ongoing to play club cricket I am generous something back to the game.

"The Sydney Sixers is now my expert focus. I will still be obtainable to play in this year's Champions League in India which NSW has fit for, as well as serving out the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues if require be, and given that it does not crash upon my Big Bash League commitments," said Clark.

Clark played 24 Tests, attractive 94 wickets at 23.86. He also took part in 39 one-day internationals, captivating 53 wickets at 27.86.

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Shah Rukh confident about KKR's probability

Bollywood superstar and chief owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Shah Rukh Khan is confident of his team creation it to the play-offs of the ongoing IPL.

"It is a big match on Thursday. We don't play independently, we play as a team. I am not anxious but I am concerned. Earlier at Bangalore, our match was shortened due to rains so I felt bad. If we get a possibility to play a full game then we will optimistically win. I hope we will be in the semifinals," Shah Rukh told journalists in front of KKR's crucial match next to Pune Warriors at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

KKR, which is currently in the top four in the points table, wants at smallest amount a win to make sure their spot in the play-offs, listed for May 24 and 25.

Asked why previous KKR Captain Sourav Ganguly was absent from the guest list at Shah Rukh's party at his house lately, the actor said, "The party was for all the players of Kolkata Knight Riders. It was for the first time that KKR had come to Mumbai so I consideration of having a party at my house. I had not invited any other player and I am sure if I had invited, they would have come."

After going unsold in the players' sale earlier this year, former India captain Ganguly made a theatrical entry into IPL 4 when he was sign up by debutants Pune Warriors India as a substitute for upset pacer Ashish Nehra.

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Chennai Super Kings won by 12 Runs

Chennai Super Kings 152 for 5 (Saha 46, Hussey 32) hit Kochi Tuskers Kerala 141 for 5 (Hodge 51*, McCullum 33) by 12 runs

Chennai Super Kings gunshot back to the top of the Indian Premier League table with an 11-run be successful over Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

Batting first at home, Chennai necessary a middle-order recover act from Michael Hussey (32 off 37 balls) and Wriddhiman Saha (46 off 33 balls) to get to a warfare 152 for five.

The Tuskers also required digging deep, but in spite of Brendon McCullum's 33 off 37 balls and Brad Hodge's forceful 51 from 42, they were limited to 141 for five to undergo their eighth loss of the season.

Having won the toss, Murali Vijay's removal from office for 16 in the third over gave Suresh Raina and Hussey the possibility to build Chennai's platform.

Raina's rush off a luxurious Shantha Sreesanth was finished on 19 by the pace man before Subramaniam Badrinath was wedged off Hodge for 13.

Hussey brave a lethargic run-rate and some taut spin bowling to thread jointly a 37-run stand with Saha.

Ravindra Jadeja then detached him and home captain MS Dhoni (nine) previous to Saha and Albie Morkel (13 not out) helped Chennai pick up 32 valuable runs from the last three overs.

In reply, Kochi lumber their way to 29 in five overs after stand-in captain Parthiv Patel fell economically, and they were two down with Gnaneswara Rao's (19) exit to Dwayne Bravo.

McCullum had stand his ground, and teamed up with Hodge for a 38-run partnership, but was bowled attempt a slog off Shadab Jakati with 70 still necessary off 37 balls.

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