Shivnarine Chanderpaul win top ICC award

Wahabuddin khan
West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been named the International Cricket Council Cricketer of the Year at the annual awards ceremony in Dubai.England women's captain Charlotte Edwards, who presided over 13 victories in an unbeaten home summer, pipped Claire Taylor to the women's award.In the emerging player category, Sri Lankan spin prodigy Ajantha Mendis was chosen ahead of England's Stuart Broad.England's Kevin Pietersen and Ryan Sidebottom made the World Test team.The emerging player had to be under 26 at the start of the period under review, 9 August 2007, and must not have played more than five Tests and/or 10 one-day matches by that time.Mendis has made an explosive start to his international career, taking 26 wickets in his first three Tests at an average of 18 and adding 20 scalps in eight one-day internationals at a cost of just 10.The 23-year-old said: "I am delighted to win the award. It is an honour to play for Sri Lanka and I hope to continue playing for my country for a long time to come."During the voting period, left-hander Chanderpaul played eight Test matches, scoring 819 runs at an average of 91.00, including three centuries and six fifties, all against the top seven teams in the world.

Pakistan invite West indies for Tests

Wahabuddin report
Pakistan's Cricket Board has invited West Indies to play a two-Test series in Pakistan in November.It is another attempt by the board to fill their scheduling gap after the Champions Trophy was postponed.The PCB tried to organise a tour to South Africa, whose board rejected the offer of a one-day series.A planned one-day series against Sri Lanka later this month also looks to have fallen through because of a lack of interest from broadcasters.A PCB spokesman said earlier in the week that the proposed Sri Lanka series, containing five ODIs, was "very unlikely".Cricket South Africa had turned down Pakistan's offer, citing player fatigue following their long tour of England.The eight-team Champions Trophy was scheduled to take place in Pakistan from 12-28 September, but the International Cricket Council postponed the tournament until October 2009 because of security concerns.Pakistan have not played a Test match in 2008, and do not have another scheduled until January 2009, when they are due to host India."It is very difficult in today's hectic schedule to find a window when you postpone a tournament," PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi told the Reuters news agency."But we have invited West Indies to come and play two Tests immediately after the one-day series they play against us in Abu Dhabi in November."The West Indies Cricket Board is yet to comment on the proposed tour.