Sangakkara asks for IPL window in FTP

Deccan Chargers skipper Kumar Sangakkara on Tuesday said country vs club circumstances could be avoid if a window is created for the IPL in the ICC's FTP calender. Sri Lankan players, playing in the IPL, were prepared by their Cricket Board to return to the country to get ready for the England tour.

Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, playing for Mumbai Indians, had announce his Test retirement when the SLC asked him to leave the IPL mid-way and return for a treatment programme. It re-ignited the discuss whether players should give priority to country or prefer playing in the cash-rich leagues like IPL.

Sangakkara said such conflict could be avoided if there is a normal window for the IPL in the FTP calender. "There should be a exact window for the IPL and the BCCI should look to ensure that enough Test cricket is played," Sangakkara told the media here ahead of their match against Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

"We always do our best to honour the national contract. But players should not be asked to choose. The country is forever the first," he added. Although SLC has decided to let their play in the IPL till May 18, Sangakkara said he would leave little early for England tour arrangements and reports also say that Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene are also packing their bags for an early return.

"We have been given time till May 20. We have a match on May 16 and on May 21. I will return near the beginning after the match on May 16," Sangakkara said. Jayawardene, captain of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala, said, "We have to be in England by May 18. Since, there is a match on May 19, I have to see. Right now, I have not determined how to go about it. I have to sort out the dates."

Talking about Wednesday's match, Sangakkara was up-front in admit that they need to pull up their socks. "Every game is important. We have to go out and try not to replicate the mistake that we devoted against Mumbai Indians and get better on whatever we have already skillful.

"The bowlers should look to hit a good length and the batsman has to build partnerships and capitalise on opportunity," he said. Meanwhile, the Kochi Tuskers, who had been on a charge, having register three back-to-back victories, were congested by the Rajasthan Royals in their last game.

Jayawardene said hard-hitting New Zealander Brendon McCullum, who missed out on the match next to Rajasthan due to injury, will be fit for Wednesday's clash. "He is fit and ready to go." Asked if unreliable Indian pacer S Sreesanth would find a place in the playing eleven, he said, "We will see after looking at the wicket. We will pick the best playing eleven."

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ICC desire to India players for WI tour

The ICC said it would be unacceptable if all of India's star cricketers skip the West Indies tour to rest after a confused schedule. Media information has said that players like Sachin Tendulkar, skipper M S Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir may be rested.

Senior players have already written to the BCCI to allow them to skip the West Indies tour, connecting three Tests and five ODIs and a one-off Twenty20 game.

The players have been playing continuously for the last two-and-a-half-months.

There was a gap of just six days between the ICC Cricket World Cup and the IPL and immediately after the end of the Twenty20 league on May 28, the West Indies tour is planned to start on June 4.

Players are keen to take rest but the ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said it would not be good for the West Indies.

"I think it affect the brand of cricket. Everybody wants to see full strength sides. Same applies to the IPL and any of the FTP commitments. Because of the volume of cricket, every entity player has to be managed.

"One or two stars, asking for a rest is okay. If five or six stars do not want to go to West Indies, then I think, it's not appropriate execution of what has been dedicated to the FTP," Lorgat said in a news show.

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Sehwag: Poor bowling allow us down

Delhi skipper Virender Sehwag said the pitch for Tuesday's match next to the Bangalore was not to their liking. Chasing 161 to win, Bangalore romped home with three balls to standby.

"The ball was not coming on to the bat. It's not easy to hit boundaries, awaiting the ball is there to be hit. They cut a lot of grass, which we didn't want, but we have to carry on with whatever wicket we get," Sehwag said after the match.

The Delhi skipper responsible poor attempt by his bowlers for the defeat.

"I think we gave too many border balls in the first six overs. They were not beating boundaries but still they were receiving boundaries because of our bad bowling.

"After they got 65 in first six overs, we came back well. Morne Morkel bowled well, Yogesh Nagar took one wickets for us. At the end also we didn't bowl well," he said.

Sehwag admitted that they will be under tremendous pressure now in the tournament as they cannot pay for to lose from here on. "Pressure on Delhi now so expectantly we will do well in next games. We have to back ourselves and truthful our basics," he said.

Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori said the 82-run stand between Virat Kohli (56) and Chris Gayle (26) was vital to team's win.

“Kohli played an amazing innings. That partnership at the start set it up for us. Delhi fought back hard, lucky Syed Mohamad came out and played with a cool head... he's been a good find for us so far. Today was out best bowling presentation as well," he said.

Man-of-the-match Virat Kohli said, "I've always looked to bat No. 3, I can get myself in and play my shots. I love it. I was really keen we win this match. We lost three in a row and now winning two back to back gives us some impetus."

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Malinga distress at fake injury claims

Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga is dissatisfied by reports suggestive of he faked injury claims in order to keep away from playing for his country.Malinga, whose sling-arm bowling action and upsetting yorkers proved to be a frightening for batsmen the world over, announced his departure from Test cricket because of a "long-standing degenerative" knee injury.

His decision to pull out of the Sri Lanka’s Test tour of England annoyed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials, who found it "awkward" that he was ongoing to play in IPL though he was not fit for national duty.

The 27 year old pacer on Tuesday denied Sri lanka officials ever asked him to go back from the ongoing IPL.

"There were heaps of reports in the media clever that I might be feigning an injury to play in the IPL," Malinga said. "This was very hurtful as I have always been totally dedicated to playing for Sri Lanka."

"I assured them that I remain totally dedicated to playing for Sri Lanka," he added. Ranatunga-led committee to be blamed? Meanwhile, Lasith Malinga responsible the country's cricket management led by the former captain Arjuna Ranatunga for infuriating his knee injury that forced him to retire from Test cricket.

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

He didn't hide his anger at being treated scruffily by the 2008 interim committee. "I was offered a basic agreement when I deserved better." As Ranatunga led the committee, it is well silent that Malinga's grievance is pointed towards whom. "My knees are receiving weaker," Malinga said explanation his decision to quit playing Test cricket.

The slinger is confident that he will be selected for the ODI and T20 series in England and also to play the shorter description of the game when the Australians will tour Sri Lanka in August. As a long-term plan, he intend to play in next year's World T20 championship in Sri Lanka and 2015 World Cup in Australia.

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