What links cricket and Bollywood

There are two things Indians are crazy about -- cricket and Bollywood.And when the two meet, fireworks are bound to happen. Just look at what followed after Om Shanti Om's Deepika Padukone cheered for the Indian cricket team at the recent Twenty-20 match against Australia held in Mumbai.Speculation was rife that she was there to cheer the captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Though Deepika claims to be just friends with the Indian captain, reports say the actress was invited by Dhoni after she asked him for a special Om Shanti Om preview.Whether there is any truth to that is debatable, but there is always been a strong romantic link between cricket and Bollywood. While some have 'run out' of steam, others are hoping to last at least half a century.

Indian cricket team sweats it out ahead of key series against Pakistan

The Indian cricket team practiced here ahead of the fourth bilateral series against Pakistan that begins on November 5.Net practice was held at Eden Gardens for three hours on Friday."The team had a full practice session. They wanted to have it in indoors but things looking bright, wicket is very good and the outfield is also good. So, they thought they will not do it indoors. They will practice again tomorrow and in the evening session," said D. Kumar, spokesperson of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).The Pakistan team landed in Delhi on Thursday for the series. The visitors have won their only warm-up one-day match against the Delhi Ranji Trophy team by seven wickets on Friday.Pakistan, which last won a Test series in India in 1986, is due to play five one-day internationals and three Tests.The Pakistan team squad for the series include, Shoaib Malik (Captain) Younis Khan (Vice Captain), Abdur Rehman, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Anjum, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal (Wicket Keeper), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Salman Butt Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar Sohail Tanvir , Umar Gul Yasir Hameed.The teams have toured each other's country annually since 2004 when India went on a tour of Pakistan after a 14-years.

Cricket-Australia, Sri Lanka to play for Warne-Murali troph

Australia and Sri Lanka are to play for a new trophy named after the two most successful bowlers in test history, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Saturday.Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne retired this year with a world record 708 test wickets and Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan is just eight behind going into the two-test series between the teams starting in Brisbane on Thursday.The series winners will collect the Warne-Muralitharan trophy for the first time."The two greatest bowlers in world cricket history have lent their names to a perpetual prize that will be played for in test Series between Australia and Sri Lanka," CA said in a statement.The trophy celebrates the 25th anniversary of Australia-Sri Lanka test cricket and features casts of Warne and Muralitharan's right hands."We've had some great battles in the past and helped raise each other's game to the heights that we've reached," Warne said."The rivalry between Australia and Sri Lanka has grown immeasurably over the last decade and I know my former Australian team mates will be super keen to be the first country to win the trophy when they do battle."Warne and off-spinner Muralitharan will unveil the trophy before the second test in Hobart starting on Nov. 16.

Cricket-Australia's Tait ruled out of first test

Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait has been ruled out of the first test against Sri Lanka with an elbow injury, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Saturday.Tait's place in the 13-man squad for the match starting in Brisbane on Thursday will be taken by seamer Ben Hilfenhaus."It's disappointing for Shaun to have suffered a slight aggravation to his elbow in the lead up to the first Test," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said."Ben Hilfenhaus richly deserves his opportunity after a magnificent Pura Cup season last year. He also impressed all with his involvement around the Australian squad in the one-day international series in India last month."Hilfenhaus, left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson and spinners Stuart MacGill and Brad Hogg are competing for two places in the Australian attack alongside Brett Lee and Stuart Clark.

We will play positive cricket on India tour: Younis Khan

Younis Khan has said that his team would concentrate on playing positive cricket in the series against India starting next week here."We will play positive cricket. We have not set any goal, we have no plans to go after Pathan or Sreesanth or something like that," said Khan.The Pakistan team landed in Delhi on November 1 for the series that kicks off on November 5.The visitors have won their only warm-up one-day match against the Delhi Ranji Trophy team by seven wickets on Friday.Pakistan, which last won a Test series in India in 1986, is due to play five one-day internationals and three Tests.The teams have toured each other's country annually since 2004 when India went on a tour of Pakistan after a 14-years. And here is the rest of it.