Chelsea produced a spirited defensive display to stop Barcelona from scoring in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in the Camp Nou.

The Spanish league leaders enjoyed plenty of possession, but struggled to create many clear-cut chances.
Thierry Henry forced Petr Cech to save and Bojan headed over from two yards, before Cech stopped Alex Hleb's effort.
Chelsea almost nicked a goal as Didier Drogba was foiled by Victor Valdes, while Michael Ballack headed just over.
But Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink will be delighted with his side's defensive fortitude in keeping a clean sheet - a feat not achieved by any visiting side at Barca this season.
It means the Blues will fancy their chances of reaching a second successive Champions League final when they meet in the second leg at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.
For long periods Chelsea had to be content with watching Barca knock the ball around as they gave another masterclass in possession.
Chelsea played right into their hands, with Cech among the main protagonists as his long, aimless kicks only served to gift the ball straight back to the home side.
But for a team that this season has scored four goals in a game six times, five goals five times and six goals four times, the hosts were unable to broker many genuine chances.
For all the twinkle-toed approach play of the industrious Andres Iniesta and Henry down the left, they struggled to get close to the Chelsea goal with the regularity their build-up demanded.
Twice in the opening stages Cech flapped at crosses from the left but the Blues survived and they fashioned a half-chance of their own when Florent Malouda's cross found Frank Lampard and he curled wide from 25 yards.
Barca were seeing far more of the ball, but they grew increasingly frustrated by Chelsea's solid rearguard action and were quickly reduced to shooting from outside the area.
Henry twice chanced his arm, once testing Cech with a low drive and then lashing in a fierce shot from 22 yards that the Czech keeper did well to parry behind.

Barca's Messi (left) takes on Chelsea's Bosingwa at the Camp Nou
It seemed as though Barca were trying to wear Chelsea down, but they were very close to going in at half-time a goal down.
Rafael Marquez's backpass was woefully short and Drogba fastened on to the loose ball only to see his shot well saved by Valdes, the keeper getting up quickly to deny the Ivorian from the rebound.
Chelsea's spirits were lifted by their sudden involvement in the match and right at the start of the second half they nearly took the lead again, Ballack flashing a header wide from Drogba's free-kick.
The Barca fans were growing increasingly restless at their team's lack of openings and a serious-looking injury to Marquez and a booking for his replacement Puyol that rules him out of the second leg did little to pacify them.
But Pep Guardiola's side continued to probe away in their usual manner and half-chances came and went as the off-key Lionel Messi volleyed over before Daniel Alves, in typically fiery mood throughout, stung the palms of Cech from out on the right.
Alves went even closer when his 30-yard free-kick brushed the top of Cech's net before Samuel Eto'o, on the day he was linked with a move to Manchester City, raced through only to shoot at Cech's outstretched left leg.
Barcelona's best chances came deep into injury time as Bojan, on for Henry, remarkably headed an Alves cross over from point-blank range, before fellow substitute Alex Hleb was foiled by a fine Cech save.
Chelsea may not have got the away goal Hiddink craved before the game, but their Dutch manager will surely be delighted by the outcome.

Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Marquez (Puyol 52), Pique, Abidal, Xavi, Toure Yaya, Iniesta, Messi, Eto'o (Bojan 82), Henry (Hleb 87).Subs Not Used: Jorquera, Gudjohnsen, Keita, Sylvinho.
Booked: Toure Yaya, Puyol.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Bosingwa, Mikel, Ballack (Anelka 90), Essien, Lampard (Belletti 71), Malouda, Drogba.Subs Not Used: Hilario, Di Santo, Kalou, Mancienne, Stoch.

Clarke denies Watson complained about Ajmal

Abu Dhabi, April 28: Australian captain Michael Clarke has denied team-mate Shane Watson approached umpires to complain about Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal`s bowling action.

Ajmal, whose action was reported as illegal during the second one-dayer in Dubai on Friday, accused Watson of speaking with the on-field umpires about him.

But Clarke said none of his players made the complaint.

"All we know is that Watson certainly didn`t go to the umpires and say a word, none of our players have approached (the umpires) and spoken about him (Ajmal)," he said.

"The series is being played in a fantastic spirit and we want to continue with that."

Australia lead the five-match series 2-1 after a spirited all-round show by Clarke, who scored 66 in an otherwise unimpressive total of 198-7 in their match on Monday.

The Australian captain then chipped in with 3-15 as Pakistan collapsed from 95/0 to 171 all out.

Pakistan won the first match by four wickets before Australia came back strongly to clinch the second by six wickets.

Clarke, standing in for regular captain Ricky Ponting who is being rested for the series along with Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson, said he was not bothered about Ajmal`s doosra delivery.

"I don`t know (whether he will still bowl that delivery), I am not picking it. Personally I believe that the ball is spinning in all different directions so we must keep focus.”

"Both teams got on really very well," he added.

"It is hard fought cricket and all that stuff (Ajmal`s action) is for the ICC (International Cricket Council) to make their decision, for us it is about making sure whichever way the ball is spinning we try and hit it."

Pakistan captain Younis Khan denied Ajmal has been stopped from bowling the doosra, the delivery for which his action was questioned.

"If Ajmal is playing he is allowed to bowl doosra or any kind of legal delivery," said Younis.

"We don`t need any controversy."

Younis, meanwhile, said he was disappointed over losing Monday`s match from a strong position.

"We spurned a golden opportunity of beating Australia. We must learn the way Australia fought and did not give up, even after putting a low total on the board."

Goswami to lead Indian women's cricket team in World T20

New Delhi, April 28: Jhulan Goswami was today named captain of the 15-member Indian squad to take part in the ICC Women`s World Twenty20 Championships to be held in England in June.

The All-India Selection Committee (Women`s cricket) which announced the squad made three changes from the squad which played in the one-day international World Cup in Australia last month with Babita Mandlik, Latika Kumari, Diana David replacing Thirush Kamini, Snehal Pradhan and Sravanthi Naidu.

The women`s Twenty20 World Cup will be held simultaneously with the men`s World Twenty20 Championships.

The Indian Squad: Jhulan Goswami (Captain), Amita Sharma (Vice-Captain), Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, Rumeli Dhar, Sulakshana Naik (wicket-keeper), Anagha Deshpande (wicket-keeper), Priyanka Roy, Reema Malhotra, Gauhar Sultana, Harman Preet Kaur, Poonam Raut, Babita Mandlik, Latika Kumari, Diana David.

Tait hopes to play for Rajasthan Royals in closing stages

Melbourne, April 28: Australia speedster Shaun Tait is hoping to turn out for the Rajasthan Royals in the closing stages of the Indian Premier League after joining practice this week following three months on the sidelines due to chronic hamstring tendonitis.

Tait, who was bought by the Royals for USD 375,000, was stopped from playing in IPL by Cricket Australia on medical grounds. But the pacer now feels he has made enough recovery from his injury and hopes to get the clearance from CA.

"If I can get myself fit, and there is a window for the final two or three games, that would be fantastic," Tait said.

"Because of injury, CA weren`t keen to release me to play (in the IPL), which ruled me out of training and playing with Rajasthan. That was pretty frustrating, because it was something I wanted to be a part of. But now that I am back in the nets and feeling good, hopefully there`s a chance there," he was quoted as saying by a leading cricket website.

The 26-year-old Tait felt the IPL would provide him the opportunity to stake claim in Australia`s squad for the World Twenty20 in June.

"I will keep bowling in nets, but it would be good to get a few games under my belt. I`m not sure if I`m in selectors` minds for Twenty20 World Cup, but if so, then a few IPL games mightn`t be a bad thing. Opportunity for a county stint before one-dayers in England would be great too."

Blistering Pathan fashions 'Royal' win for Rajasthan

Pretoria, April 28: Yusuf Pathan played a typical blistering knock of 62 off just 30 balls to help Rajasthan Royals humble Delhi Daredevils by 5 wickets here on Tuesday. Delhi, who were going great guns until this match, batted miserably posting a modarate 143/7 before letting Royals off the hook despite having them on the mat early(64/5 after 10 overs).

Man of the match Pathan took Delhi bowlers to the cleaners, clobbering six sixes and remaining unbeaten in the process. His dominance was so huge that Graeme Smith’s 46-ball 44-run knock went almost unnoticed.

The South African captain held the fort from the one end, waging a lone battle in the begging for Rajasthan Royals who were struggling at 64/5 after 10 overs. But it was Yusuf Pathan-show in Centurion Park once the burly Baroda batsman came to the crease. Pushed to the wall, Pathan launched a counter-attacking effort, a approach which some Pundits suggest is the best way to get out of any kind of trouble.

A batsman with immense strength and tremendous will-power, Pathan never took a single step backward, throwing every caution out of the window and in the process inflicting the first defeat on the formidable Delhi Daredevils in the tournament. It’s for purely his effort that Royals won the match with 9 balls to spare.

Amit Mishra, who came up with another brilliant bowling performance with 3/34, must consider himself unlucky to be on the losing side as his team-mates keep grassing catches and leaking runs in the match.

Smith, who anchored the innings and remained not on 44 with five fours, was dropped on 19.

Chasing a moderate 144, Rajasthan Royals started off poorly as they lost two quick wickets losing Rob Quiney for only 4 and then Swapnil Asnodkar for 11.

Earlier in the match, a prudent half-century by A B de Villiers and his 56-run partnership with Daniel Vettori (29) helped Delhi post a competitive total of 143/7 in allotted 20 overs to pull Delhi out of the woods against Rajasthan Royals here on Tuesday.

A B de Villiers continued his imperious form in IPL as he played a 50-run knock off 40 balls. He, in company of Daniel Vettori, played sensible cricket to help Delhi cross 100 marks in 15th over of the match despite losing 4 top-order batsmen early in the innings.

Delhi Daredevils’ strong batting line-up today suffered a serious jolt in the tournament for the first time as they lost four wickets. After losing Sehwag & Gambhir early, the batting hero of the last match, Tilakratne Dilshan (7) and stumper Dinesh Karthik (4) also departed early.

Shane Warne may have quit international cricket to become a poker player, but has not lost his old magic with the ball. The way he has been bowling in the IPL-2 is a testimony to his greatness which does not require routine practice at nets. Coming into bowl his first over of the match, he bamboozled Dinesh Karthik, who played a false shot to give a simple catch to the master bowler. Delhi, at that time, found themselves in precarious situation losing four wickets with the scoreboard had reached only 49.

Electing to bat first on a seemingly batting track, Delhi Daredevils’ slambang opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir again failed to provide a good start to their team as the got out in the 3rd over of the match delivered by Dimitri Mascarenhas. It’s the third straight match in which the famed opening pair failed to come good.

The duo started off beautifully in IPL as they added 58 runs in just 4.5 overs against Kings XI Punjab. But after that this famed pair has put together partnerships of 0 against Chennai Super Kings, 11 against Bangalore Royal Challengers and 20 here.

Gambhir first got out caught brilliantly by Shane Warne at slip off Dimitri Mascarenhas for just 8. But Virender Sehwag remained unfazed by the loss of his opening partner and again went for an expansive shot which went miles in the sky. Young Kamran Khan took a well-judged catch at mid-off to send Sehwag back. Sehwag made 16 off 11 balls with town fours and a huge six.

Daredevils opted for same combination that played the last match against Royal Challengers on last Sunday while Royals included Paul Valthaty in place of Abhishek Raut.

India to host 2011 World Cup final

India will host the final and one semi-final of the 2011 World Cup while Sri Lanka will stage the other semi-final, the tournament's organising committee decided in Mumbai on Tuesday. India will host 29 of the 49 matches across eight venues, Sri Lanka will host 12 in three venues while Bangladesh will stage eight at two grounds as well as the opening ceremony on February 18, 2011.
The 14 matches originally scheduled to take place in Pakistan have been redistributed with eight going to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh. The quarter-finals will be shared among the three neighbours, with Bangladesh hosting two.
The committee also decided to shift the tournament secretariat from Lahore to Mumbai. BCCI's chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty was appointed the event's managing director in place of Pakistani banker Salman Butt. The organising committee, headed by ICC vice-president Sharad Pawar, will include an operations and planning group comprising the Bangladesh Cricket Board senior vice-president Mahbubul Anam, Indian board secretary N Srinivasan, Sri Lanka's Duleep Mendis and Shetty. Haroon Lorgat, the ICC's chief executive, said IS Bindra, the special adviser to the ICC, would be a key person in the management of the World Cup.
He swept aside questions on whether Pakistan would boycott the World Cup in protest at being denied hosting rights, saying "we will cross the bridge when we come to it." The ICC had to decide on the redistribution of Pakistan's 14 matches after it removed the country from the list of hosts because the "uncertain political situation" would have made it difficult to "deliver a safe, secure and successful event" in Pakistan.
Lorgat said the security concerns of the various ICC members and the players would be addressed with the formation of a special committee headed by Shashank Manohar, the BCCI chief, to oversee security details. "The security arrangements are very important and a special committee... would put together security plans for the successful conduct of the World Cup in 2011," he said.
"We are confident of organising a very successful World Cup," Lorgat said.
The subcontinent last hosted a World Cup in 1996, when India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka shared the games. The final was in Lahore, where Sri Lanka beat favourites Australia in a famous win.

Aus create issues while playing sub-continent teams: Younis

Melbourne, April 28: Pakistan captain Younis Khan has blamed the Australians for unnecessarily creating issues while playing against India and Pakistan after teammate Saeed Ajmal was reported for a suspect bowling action during the ongoing one-day series.

Off-spinner Ajmal was reported for his bowling action during the second ODI in Dubai on April 24 which he had suggested resulted from a complaint by Australian all-rounder Shane Watson to the umpires.

Younis said controversies reared up whenever Australia play sub-continental sides and wondered what was wrong in Ajmal bowling a `doosra`, the subject of the reporting.

"This is always happening with India and Pakistan and Australia," Younis said.

"... Why do we create all the time controversies? Why? It`s a fair game, you know," he fumed.

Younis said it was simply a matter of Ajmal bowling a quicker ball, and not cheating.

"You`re talking about the doosra, `Why he bowl doosra?` "Why (shouldn`t) he (Ajmal) bowl doosra? Because this is an art and especially Pakistanis and Indians they have the art, so why (should it) not be allowed?" Younis was quoted as saying.

Ajmal played in the third ODI in Abu Dhabi yesterday, despite the report hanging over him, and continued to bowl his doosra. Younis pointed to a previous report laid over the faster ball of Pakistan leg-spinner Shahid Afridi.

"We`re not cheating actually, sometimes they ask you why should you bowl very fast and then they say why should Afridi bowl a ball suddenly at 140kph?”

"We`re not cheating actually, I think that`s the beauty of cricket," said Younis.

Australia captain Michael Clarke tried to play down the controversy, saying Watson hadn`t made a specific complain to umpires about Ajmal`s action. "Watto certainly didn`t go to the umpires and say a word, none of our players have approached the umpires and spoken about it," Clarke said.

"I think Watto was pretty upset with the shot he played and getting out. He`s been in really good nick the whole tour and I think he`s been a little bit disappointed he hasn`t made as many runs as he would have liked," he said.

Clarke said they would concentrate on the game and leave the legalities to International Cricket Council to sort out.

"For us I think the way this tournament has been played, the spirit of the game has been fantastic. Both teams have got on really well, it`s been such a good tour so far.

"So all that stuff`s up to the ICC to make a decision on what`s going to happen there, but for us as a team it`s about making sure that whichever way the ball`s spinning try and pick it and try and hit it."

Asif denies deportation claim

Karachi, April 28: Banned Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif has denied reports that he can`t enter United Arab Emirates for the next 25 years as a result of his 19-day detention in Dubai last year for possessing 0.24 grams of opium.

Asif`s management company, Portfolio World, issued a statement today denying reports in the media that said Asif was deported from Dubai last year.

"It is a 25-year-ban I had recommended for him for carrying drug," the media reported Shakir Hashim Al Darmakl, the Senior Public Prosecutor (Khalifa) in Dubai as saying.

Khalifa also said Asif`s eyes had been scanned before his deportation procedure was completed.

"If he tries to enter into this country (by any passport) again, he can easily be caught," Khalifa was quoted as saying. But Asif`s management company said there was no truth in these reports and it was an attempt to malign him.

"Asif was not found guilty of any charge last year in Dubai and returned home without facing any criminal charges," the statement said.

Asif, 27, is presently serving a 12-month ban imposed by the Indian Premier League drugs inquiry tribunal for failing a dope test last year while playing for the Delhi Daredevils.

His suspension ends in September after which he would be eligible to represent the country again.

Daredevils is a force to reckon with: Gambhir

With the Indian Premier League’s second season in full swing, ‘Daredevil’ Gautam Gambhir believes that the Delhi team, with its devastating top order and potent bowling attack, is a force to reckon with.

Chatting with Zeecric.com’s Vaibhav Arora and Biswajit Jha before the start of IPL 2, the destructive opener talks about his experience during the New Zealand tour, preparation for the IPL and much more.

Excerpts:

How was the experience of playing in New Zealand?

New Zealand was a good learning curve. Winning there after such a long time has been a fantastic experience and has given a lot of confidence to the entire team.

You played a big role in saving the second Test, which looked well out of India’s reach at the end of day four. Did you have a set gameplan for the final day?

Everybody was really focused and determined to put up a fight before the final day. The game plan was just to bat sensibly and take the day session by session.

How is the experience of batting with Sehwag?

Batting with an explosive batsman like Sehwag at the other end helps a lot. One thing you can be sure of with him at the other end is that the bowlers will not be targeting you and that is what makes your job that much easier.

Which team do you think will pose the biggest challenge in front of the Daredevils in IPL - 2?

We are not treating any team as a threat and will look to beat every team we play against.

Do you think the IPL adds to an already hectic schedule for the Indian team?

The timing of the IPL, just before the T20 World Cup will get the players in shape for the slam bang format. In that sense, the tournament is timed perfectly.

Will the shifting of IPL to South Africa affect the team’s performance or morale in any way?

We will surely miss playing in front of our home crowd but I hope that the crowd in South Africa will be as supportive and as lively as back home.

Are you satisfied with your current form? How do you intend to plan for the future?

It is always good to perform and score some runs for the team but you have to keep trying harder and aim for bigger goals.

Sehwag has compared you with Sunil Gavaskar…

It is always great to receive compliments…especially from a great player and good friend like Virender Sehwag. I hope that I can continue to live up to the expectations and keep on performing consistently.

You are one of the few players who have performed consistently in all three formats of the game. How do you manage to do that?

I just try and play my natural game irrespective of the format. I believe it’s all in the mind…otherwise the basics are the same for all the formats.

You received a lot of praise for handling Ajantha Mendis well. Some even went on to say that Gambhir is the best player against spin bowling. Which form of bowling do you prefer to face?

I treat every ball according to its merit and just believe in playing my natural game. I do not play according to the reputation of the bowler.

It was my day: Yusuf Pathan

Pretoria, April 28: After playing a blistering knock of 62 off just 30 balls that helped Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Daredevils by 5 wickets, hero of the match Yusuf Pathan said that it was his day and he just backed my strengths.

“Today was my day. I was hitting them quite well. I didn`t target any bowler. I just backed my strengths and that is exactly what Smith told me all the time.”

“Targeting the shorter boundaries was a conscious tactic. I appreciate Warne for planning things so well. A lot of credit goes to him and Smith,” said the Baroda batsman.

Captain of Rajasthan Royals Shane Warne said, “We thought that Yusuf down the order would be of great help. We wanted someone at the top to stay till the end and Smith used all his experience and that helped us a lot.”

“Yusuf struck the ball well and he is in good touch too, I always felt that he could do it for us. The ploy worked,” a visibly happy Warne said.

Daredevils captain Sehwag said: “I can`t complain about that knock from Yusuf. We dropped a vital catch and when you drop catches, it hurts you a lot."

Lee in line for selection against Pakistan

Melbourne, April 27: Fast bowler Brett Lee could be in line for selection in the remaining two one-dayers and one-off Twenty20 match against Pakistan in their ongoing series, Cricket Australia.

Lee, who has been recovering from an ankle injury in South Africa with his Indian Premier League side Kings XI Punjab, will join the Australian squad in Abu Dhabi tomorrow and he will be re-assessed by the team doctor there.

"Brett Lee has progressed well in his recovery from ankle surgery while in South Africa over the past fortnight. He will join the Australian squad in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, where he will continue to train and be further assessed," Australian team doctor Trefor James said in a CA release.

"Should his progress be far enough advanced, he may be considered for selection in the remaining matches of the one-day series and the Twenty20 match in Dubai," James added.

Australia and Pakistan play their fourth and fifth ODIs in Abu Dhabi on May 1 and 3 while the one-off Twenty20 match will be held in Dubai on May 7.

Statistical Highlights: Mumbai Indians v KKR

Port Elizabeth, April 28: Following are the statistical highlights of the Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders match of the Indian Premier League.

Mumbai Indians (187/6) registered their highest ever total against Kolkata Knight Riders, bettering the 138 for three at Kolkata last year.

Mumbai Indians, with a 92-run victory (their biggest in terms of runs in the IPL) have now won all their three IPL encounters against Kolkata Knight Riders.

With a comprehensive win over Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians have posted their second win in four matches in the 2009 edition of the IPL.

Overall, Mumbai Indians have won 9 and lost eight out of 17 IPL games.

Kolkata Knight Riders have lost 9 and won 7 out of 17 games played till date (1 NR). They could win only a single game out of five IPL games in the 2009 edition.

Kolkata`s 95 is their second lowest total in the IPL. In the first ever edition of the IPL, they had made 67 against Mumbai at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya, with their 127-run partnership for the first wicket, posted Mumbai Indians` first century stand for this wicket-position in the IPL.

Sachin`s 68 off 45 balls is his highest score in the IPL, bettering the 65 off 46 balls against Kings XI at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai last year.

Sachin has made 351 (ave.43.87), including three fifties in 10 IPL matches.

Sachin has been adjudged MOM for the second time in the IPL.

Lasith Malinga and Abhishek Nayar have recorded their his best bowling figures in the IPL.

Jayasuriya (52 off 32 balls) has posted his first fifty in the second edition of the IPL, which is his third overall besides a hundred in the first edition.

Mumbai Indians posted their biggest victory by runs margin in the IPL while Kolkata Knight Riders recorded their biggest defeat in terms of runs in the IPL.

Accusing Watson spells more trouble for Ajmal

Abu Dhabi, April 28: Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has been reported for a suspect bowling action, may find himself in more trouble after accusing Australian all-rounder Shane Watson of complaining to the umpires about his action.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said Ajmal had violated the team`s code of conduct by speaking to the media without seeking permission from the management.

"He spoke on a sensitive issue without seeking permission from the team management and that is a serious violation of the players code of conduct. We are looking into the case and he may face disciplinary action," Yawar said.

Interestingly, Ajmal gave a statement soon after the International Cricket Council announced that the match officials had reported his action after the second one-day international against Australia in Dubai.

The Pakistan tour selection committee played Ajmal in the third one-dayer in Abu Dhabi yesterday but Yawar said the case of his violating the code of conduct was being handled separately.

Pakistan`s coach Intikhab Alam could also face some action from the ICC as sources said the ICC officials were not happy with Alam going public with his views on Ajmal`s report and questioning the bowling action review process.

Alam also criticised the umpires for reporting Ajmal, pointing out that the youngster had been playing international cricket for a while now without any objection being raised over his "doosra" delivery.

The sources said the ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat had the authority to take cognizance of Alam`s statement even if the match officials didn`t report the Pakistan team official.

"It has happened before that the match officials have not reported a player or official but the ICC chief executive has used his authority to initiate an inquiry for possible action against the person who has broken the spirit of the game," one source said.

Former Test players Geoffery Boycott an Rameez Raja have also advised the ICC to legalise the "doosra" delivery to put an end to off-spinners being reported for bowling this delivery.

Collingwood wants Twenty20 captaincy despite IPL woes

LONDON: Paul Collingwood wants to captain England at this year's Twenty20 World Cup even though he is not considered good enough for a
starting place in his Indian Premier League (IPL) team.

Collingwood is favourite to lead hosts England after Test and One-day skipper Andrew Strauss was left out of the squad for the June 5-21 tournament.

"Yes, I am interested. It would be an exciting challenge to lead England in a tournament on home soil," he wrote in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

"But I am still waiting to hear, just like the other players. The squad is due to be announced on Friday, so I am sure everything will be tied up by then."

The second edition of the lucrative IPL was switched to South Africa due to security concerns and logistical issues surrounding the ongoing Indian general elections and Collingwood has mixed emotions over his team's performance so far.

"I have enough to think about out here in South Africa. The good news is that my fellow Delhi Daredevils have given us a 100 percent record in the Indian Premier League after three games. " The bad news is that I've not been in the starting XI yet, and only an injury to one of the four first-choice overseas players is likely to change that.

"AB de Villiers and Tillakeratne Dilshan are both among the leading run-scorers, while the bowlers, Daniel Vettori and Dirk Nannes, have been on the money too."

England have struggled in the One day game for many years and despite inventing the Twenty20 format, have quickly fallen behind in that area too.

Having Collingwood and England team-mates such as former captain Kevin Pietersen playing in the IPL should, in theory, improve their understanding of the game ahead of the World Cup.

"Twenty20 may seem like a frantic game but I have yet to see anyone in the Daredevils lose their composure, even when a couple of early wickets have gone down," Collingwood said.

"It's so important not to panic. The same point was proven by Ravi Bopara when he scored a match-winning 84 for Punjab Kings XI on Friday.

"I think he is only just beginning to discover what he is capable of as a batsman.

"He stayed calm and timed his surge very well. That sort of experience is invaluable because it teaches you what sort of target you are capable of chasing, and often it is higher than you realised."

Danish Kaneria regrets missing IPL

KARACHI: The ongoing second Indian Premier League would have been the ideal platform to prove his mettle in the shortest format of the game,

believes Pakistan's seasoned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

"It would have been the ideal platform to dismiss this impression that I cannot play Twenty20 cricket," Kaneria said before leaving for England last night for another season with Essex.

"I have been doing well for Essex in this format for the last two years and this year also I will try to impress in the few Twenty20 games due in May," he said.

Kaneria was among the five Pakistani players for this year's IPL auction but was advised by the government not to travel to India following the strained relationship between both the countries.

Only the second Hindu to play Test cricket for Pakistan, Kaneria saw a big role for leg-spinners in Twenty20 cricket and pointed out the stellar shows of both Anil Kumble and Shane Warne to buttress his point.

Named in Pakistan's list of 30 players for the Twenty20 World Cup, Kaneria exuded confidence of making it to the playing XI when the tournament gets underway in England in June, saying his Essex experience would stand him in good stead.

"I think if I do well for Essex in Twenty20 and One-day cricket then this experience of mine should be a big plus point when the selectors sit down to finalise the Twenty20 squad," he said.

Kaneria said Pakistan captain Younis Khan had advised him to keep working hard on his bowling and fielding for Twenty20 and ODIs and not to give up hope of playing in these forms of the sport for Pakistan.

"Younis had a long chat with me and it has raised my morale and I am going to prove the selectors wrong that I cannot be useful for the country in the Twenty20 World Cup in England," he added.

Butt returns home after meeting ICC officials

Karachi, April 28: After holding talks with the ICC officials in Dubai, the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt has returned home amid criticism by former players who believe the PCB could have done more to prevent the 2011 World Cup ties from being moved out of the cricket-starved nation.

However, Butt was reluctant to reveal any detail of the meeting to the media in Lahore yesterday evening and declined to give any official statement as well.

The former Test cricketer is facing growing criticism of his handling of major cricket issues while the Senate Standing Committee on Sports has also said it would ask PCB to explain the lavish spending on sending officials and members to Dubai and Abu Dhabi to watch ongoing ODI series against Australia.

Sources close to the Senate Standing Committee said that members were preparing a brief after media reports pointed out that the PCB had spent nearly Rs 15 million paying the daily allowances besides the hotel and travelling expanses of its officials and members.

Two senior officials, Zakir Khan and Mohammad Naeem (who is related to Butt) are said to have pocketed approximately USD 14,000 and USD 13,500 respectively as daily allowances at a time when the board is talking about cost cutting measures to avert a financial crunch situation.

To complicat

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e matters, a consultant and adviser to the PCB women`s wing has made some serious allegations against the Chairperson, Shireen Javed and the Pakistan women`s team manager, Ayesha Ashar pertaining to their personal conduct and interaction with the members of the Pakistan team.

Shireen Javed promptly sent back Azra Parveen to the Punjab Sports Board as the latter was working in the PCB on deputation but cricket circles want the PCB to hold a proper inquiry into the allegations made by the women`s wing adviser.

I knew if we bowled and fielded well, we'd win: Clarke

Abu Dhabi, April 28: Australia acting-captain Michael Clarke has said that he always knew that if his team bowled and fielded well, “we would get enough opportunities."

Speaking after his team’s come from behind victory in the third one-day international against Pakistan, Clarke told reporters: "Even though they were 0-95 at one stage, I was still confident that on that wicket once the ball got a little bit older we could win the game."

"We definitely have a lot to work on but I can guarantee we won`t be thinking about it tonight," Clarke said after the match.

"We have a few days off or a few days with no cricket, which will be nice. The boys should be very happy; very proud, it was a wonderful performance. I thought our bowlers, the way we fielded, was fantastic, they showed plenty of courage and I`m very happy with how we performed," Clarke was quoted as saying.

Clarke starred with both bat and ball as Australia pulled off a 27-run victory against Pakistan in the Abu Dhabi match.

Pakistan looked to be cruising towards a comfortable victory at 0-95 after 22 overs, but then lost ten wickets for 77 runs. Australia had earlier scored a disappointing 7-198.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz and then left-arm finger-spinner Clarke each took two wickets in two balls in the space of three overs to spark a Pakistan collapse. Clarke had earlier top-scored with 66 and followed that with figures of 3-15 on the spin-friendly pitch.

The win gave Australia a 2-1 lead in the five-game series, with the remaining two matches to be played Friday and Sunday.

WC 2011: India gets 29 matches, including Final

Mumbai, April 28: Soon after stripping Pakistan of the hosting rights of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday finalised venues and dates for the mega event of the gentleman’s game.

The 10th edition of the World Cup was initially to be co-hosted by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. However, recent bomb blasts and terror attacks in Pakistan raised security concerns in the cricketing fraternity and the ICC had taken a decision to shift matches from there.

ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat specified that the decision was taken in the wake of the March 2009 terror attack on Sri Lankan cricket players in Lahore. They finally decided that India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be the co-hosts of the jumbo championship. The ICC also decided today to shift the secretariat from Lahore in Pakistan to Mumbai (India).

Addressing a press conference here, Lorgat said that India will host 29 matches in eight venues, Sri Lanka would host 12 matches in three venues and Bangladesh would host eight matches in two venues, including the opener on February 19, 2011. He added that in all, 49 matches would be played at 13 venues in three countries.

The inaugural ceremony too is scheduled to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 18.

India and Sri Lanka have been chosen to host a semi-final each, with India getting the ultimate honour to host the grand finale.

Flintoff's injury could have happened anywhere: Collingwood

London, April 28: Playing in the Indian Premier League should not be blamed for Andrew Flintoff`s injury breakdown as he could have picked up the knee problem anywhere, feels the all-rounder’s England teammate Paul Collingwood.

Flintoff, who was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for a whopping USD 1.55 million, returned home Friday from South Africa for surgery on a tear on his right knee and is unlikely to come back for the T20 event.

“The critics have been saying he should never have come to the IPL in the first place, but that is just playing devil`s advocate. The fact is that the injury could have happened at any time, and this has been a valuable learning experience for all the England players,” Collingwood wrote in his column in a British newspaper.

However, Collingwood, the front-runner to lead England in the Twenty20 cricket World Cup in June, admitted that Flintoff`s injury is a big blow to the side.

“Friday brought less happy news about Andrew Flintoff. His injury is a devastating blow, both for himself and for the England team, as we`ll have to do without him in the Tests against the West Indies,” he wrote.

Kings XI Punjab meet Mumbai Indians in potential humdinger

Durban, April 28: Two buoyant sides, boasting some of the best strokeplayers in contemporary cricket, will collide head on when Kings XI Punjab take on Mumbai Indians in a potential humdinger in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

After the rain god stopped stalking them, Kings XI under Yuvraj Singh have managed to put their campaign back on track with back-to-back victories over Bangalore Royal Challengers and defending champions Rajasthan Royals.

The wins lifted the pall of gloom that had descended on the Kings XI camp following their defeats against Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders in two rain-marred ties.

In contrast, the Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians got off to a perfect start with a victory over last year`s finalist Chennai Super Kings before sharing points with Rajasthan Royals from their washed out outing.

Tendulkar and his men tasted their first defeat against the all-conquering Deccan Chargers in their third tie but shrugged off the setback with a thumping 92-run win against the Knight Riders last night.

Tendulkar himself has led from the front with his consistent display at the top, in company of the ageless Sanath Jayasuriya.

The senior batsmen have forged a lethal pair at the top and while the Knight Riders were at the receiving end of their onslaught on Monday, it could be any other side tomorrow.

JP Duminy didn`t convert the start yesterday but the exciting Protea youngster is unlikely to squander another chance to impress the home crowd.

Abhishek Nayar and even Harbhajan Singh have the ability to land a few lusty blows, which means Tendulkar is not short on gunpowder.

Their bowling looks equally formidable with Lasith Malinga and Zaheer Khan forging a fearsome pair.

Dwayne Bravo has also chipped in while Abhishek Nayar, Jayasuriya and Tendulkar himself can prove quite a handful with their part-time bowling.

In contrast, Kings XI batting line-up has been inconsistent with Yuvraj`s own reputation as one of the deadliest batsmen in this format in tatters.

Rather, Kumar Sangakkara`s has been a reassuring presence in the middle and it was the Lankan`s unbeaten half-century that paved way to the side`s victory against Rajasthan Royals.

Irfan Pathan has also done justice to his all-rounder’s reputation, shining both with the bat and ball.

Even though the absence of Brett Lee and S Sreesanth depleted the Mohali-based outfit`s bowling resources, their late recruit Yousuf Abdulla has been among the wickets while Pathan’s impressive form also helped their cause.

Indian Premier League (IPL)

When we first saw it, we knew it was a revolution. Today, it has become a habit.

The Indian Premier League has been the biggest upheaval the game of cricket has ever seen. With time, the formats reduced from the Test matches to One-Dayers and then, the latest, 20 over games, the shortest format of the game till date, which is packed with full throttle entertainment, excitement and energy.

Taking a cue from ICL, BCCI successfully capitalised on the idea of city based rivalry and brought to the fore the rivalry that was only spoken of but never witnessed. The IPL 2008 entered the history books of the game and Indian Premier League 2009 is expected to repeat the success.

No sooner had the inaugural season ended, talks had already begun as to when the IPL 2009 will begin, which players will be traded, who will replace MS Dhoni as the most expensive player and so on and so forth. The craze for the profligate tournament can be weighed by the ripple effect of the rumours of it being cancelled had. IPL was everywhere, the news channels carried it as ‘Breaking News’, the newspapers as their ‘Headlines’ and magazines as their ‘Cover Story’. Eyes on television and adrenalin pumped in anticipation of the tournament’s fate. The shortest format of the game started to be known as IPL Cricket rather than T20 cricket.

The first edition of the lucrative and extravagant tournament saw what the gentleman’s game had never seen, or let us say, took notice of. The IPL news was everywhere. The ‘Big Daddys’ of the international arena came together to play for the same team and a Delhi resident supporting the home team, Delhi Daredevils, cheered and celebrated when Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed. Such has been the impact of IPL on international cricket that an Indian prays for Andrew Symonds’ century and a third umpire decision in favour of Shoaib Akhtar. What more can be said!

No matter what players have to say regarding their ‘priority’ to put their country before IPL, money is undoubtedly a criteria for everyone and the T20 League by the BCCI provides plenty of that. It is only in this country that cricket is a religion, its citizens the worshippers and players their demi-gods. India is the hub of cricket and its land, the route to monetary benefits from the game, the airlines the carrier of players to bring in here.

Who would not look forward to a match where Sanath Jayasuriya would open the batting with Sachin Tendulkar versus a team comprising of Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Shahid Afridi and Andrew Symonds?

If, on one hand, IPL forced Indian supporters to cheer for the Symonds and Watsons, it weaved the cricket playing nations closer too, and it undoubtedly did. After the Sydney fiasco, who would have thought Indians would be cheering for Ricky Ponting’s success?

Would Swapnil Asnodkar have, in his wildest dreams, thought of sharing the dressing room with the King of spin, Shane Warne? The answer to this question is either a ‘No’ or a ‘No’. IPL indeed puts the stars of the future under the right guidance of the legends of the game so that they are shaped to perfection to carry the load of their respective nations besides supporting them financially and rewarding them for their non-stop struggle in domestic circuit.

The Indian Premier League can well be related to the English Premier League football where the concept is the same. Players from every country are traded for huge sums to play for various clubs and thus every club comprises of the giants of the game from different countries and states. This has provided the perfect platform to players on the domestic circuit to showcase their talent and prove a point to the selectors of the national team which, otherwise, remains in the backdrop. Not everyone follows the domestic level of the game and thus limelight evades them which is not the case with IPL.

The ICC has always strived to put cricket on a global stage. They gave Bangladesh a Test status, included 16 teams in a World Cup edition, but all of its initiatives to put the game on a global platform failed, and failed miserably. The IPL in South Africa might just be a start to ICC’s goal achievement programme.

An example could probably help the ICC. Suppose Bhaichung Bhutia gets a contract with Manchester United. People in India will then gain further interest in football and start rooting for Manchester United. Similarly, if the IPL authorities or the franchisee spot a cricketer from Holland, or a country where cricket is not as famous, and give him an IPL contract, people in that particular country will start viewing the game, thus popularising it.

In this fashion, who knows, maybe someday, ICC’s so-far failed objective of globalising cricket might just come true and we get to see the gentleman’s game in the Olympics too!