Lara slams Caribbean cricket infrastructure

Port of Spain: West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has described the Caribbean cricket infrastructure as "terrible" and says it will take much more than just talent for the regional side to emerge from the prevailing slump.

Lara was speaking at the World Travel Market in London earlier this week, following the West Indies' five-wicket defeat to India in the opening Test in New Delhi.

Let us serve our sentence in Pakistan: Butt, Asif

Uncomfortable with the attention they are receiving from fellow inmates, Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif want to be transferred to a jail in their own country to serve their sentences for being involved in the spot-fixing scam. 

According to a report in 'The Independent', the cricketers, who were convicted of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments, "have asked to be returned to their home country, to serve the remainder of their sentence." 

India will clinch the series at Eden: Ganguly

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is confident that India will wrap up the series against the West Indies in the second Test match at the Eden Gardens. 

On the sidelines of Bengal's Ranji Trophy preparation, the left-hander who is playing for his home state said, "I've not seen the Test wicket but hope that it will be a favourable result for India and they will win the series 3-0."

With all eyes on Sachin Tendulkar for his much-anticipated 100th century in international cricket, Ganguly said it's just a matter of time before he gets to the milestone. 

Opportunity for Pakistan to gain two places in ODI championship table

Pakistan has a chance to improve its ranking in the Reliance ICC ODI Championship when it goes head-to-head with World Cup finalist Sri Lanka in a five-match ODI series which starts at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Friday.

Second-ranked Sri Lanka is presently sitting on 119 ratings points, just one ahead of world champion India, while sixth-ranked Pakistan trails fifth-ranked England by five ratings points.

Salman Butt appeals against spot-fixing sentence

Salman Butt the former Pakistan captain, has filed an appeal against his 30-month prison sentence for spot-fixing. Butt's sentence was handed down in Southwark Crown Court in London by Justice Cooke on November 3. A day earlier, a 12-person jury had found him guilty of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat with regard to the Lord's Test against England in August 2010.

Butt's lawyer, Yasin Patel, confirmed to the Associated Press that an appeal had been filed. The appeal is understood to be against the sentence and not the conviction.

We are ready for Malinga - Misbah

Misbah Ul Haq the Pakistan captain, has admitted that Lasith Malinga's arrival will add incisiveness to Sri Lanka's attack, but believes his side is ready for the challenge. Speaking ahead of the limited-overs leg of the UAE series, Misbah stressed on Pakistan's strong track record against Sri Lanka's unconventional yorker specialist.

"It creates a difference when Lasith Malinga's there because everybody knows he's a very good bowler, but we're ready for that," Misbah said. "We've played a lot of games against him and I think our guys have played him very well.

Court dismisses Kaneria's petition

Danish Kaneria the Pakistan legspinner, has lost his four-month legal tussle with the Pakistan Cricket Board in the Sindh High Court. A two-member bench dismissed his petition to be cleared to play for Pakistan, leaving his international career in limbo. The ruling came after an objection was raised by PCB lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi questioning the court's jurisdiction to hear the case.

Fallout with Tendulkar my biggest regret: Chappell

Greg Chappell claims that the biggest regret of his tumultuous three-year stint as the Indian cricket coach was the fallout with senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar with whom he simply failed to "communicate" properly.

Chappell, who served as India coach from 2005 to 2007, admitted in his new autobiography 'Fierce Focus' that he tried to push hurried improvements in the team which led to his downfall, especially after his relations with senior players such as Tendulkar soured. 

Asnodkar could be in deeper trouble

Swapnil Asnodkar may find himself in deeper trouble following a deposition by a fellow player who claimed that Asnodkar had hinted at calling off the Ranji Plate match against Maharashtra in the fourth over itself. 

GCA president Dayanand Narvekar said Abhishek Raut, who was batting with Asnodkar, had given in writing that "Asnodkar had asked him not to lose his wicket," although the coaches had asked the players to go for the chase. 

MAS Active cruise through to fourth successive win

MAS Active cruised through to their fourth successive win of the 19th Singer Mercantile League cricket tournament when they recorded a thrilling two wicket win over HNB in the match played at De Zoysa Stadium in Moratuwa on Wednesday. MAS Active, chasing a formidable target of 271 set by HNB, came back from disastrous 133 for 7 in the 25th over to come out victorious with 14 balls to spare. It was Sameera Soysa and Tharanga Lakshitha who guided the MAS Active to their thrilling victory with a 129 runs stand for the eighth wicket. Sameera made a quickfire 78 which included six boundaries and a six while Tharanga remained unbeaten on 47.

 

HNB won the toss and batted first to make a challenging score of 270 which was boosted with a 115 by Hashan Goonetileke.

 

Marsh, Mohsin comfortable with ODI rule changes

Rival coaches Geoff Marsh and Mohsin Khan said they were comfortable with the change in rules as Pakistan and Sri Lanka play under them for the first time in the opening day-night match here on Friday. 

Teams will have to start the batting and bowling Powerplays at the beginning of any over between the 16th and the 36th over for a full game while two new balls - one from either end - will be used during an innings.

Marsh said his players have talked about these changes which came into effect from October 1. 

Australia not charred by the Ashes

Things don't seem as dismal as they did in January. And that's because some tough and necessary decisions have been taken

Australia start a pathetically short Test series in South Africa with more hope than foreboding. A year ago the Poms arrived in Perth and were astonished to be informed by locals that they were likely to retain the Ashes. A generation had not thought such sentiments could ever emerge from an Australian mouth. Bemused Englishmen assumed the plane had landed at the wrong airport, a response confirming that misunderstandings can easily arise between a nation reliant on understatement and another prone to plain talking. In fact the assessment was as accurate as were previous warnings of whitewashes.

Hassled but happy: A day at the Kotla

It was a tough call this morning - to go to bed (at 6 AM) after a late shift at work (flexible timings take a whole new meaning when you work in sports), or to go to the Kotla for the final day of the Test, with an unprecedented 100th Sachin Tendulkar century and an India victory imminent? Sleep or cricket?
Actually, it wasn't a tough call at all. Sachin and India won hands down.