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.