women's World Cup qualifiers in Pakistan postpones-ICC

KARACHI (AFP) — The women's cricket World Cup qualifying event -- due to be held in Pakistan later this month -- has been postponed due to security concerns, the game's governing body said Tuesday.The tournament was scheduled for November 19-25 in Lahore but has been shelved in the wake of the declaration by President Pervez Musharraf of a state of emergency Saturday."The decision was arrived at following independent security reports and extensive discussions by ICC (International Cricket Council) management and the ICC women's committee," a statement from the ICC said.A decision on where and when the tournament will be played will be taken in due course, the statement added.Eight teams -- Bermuda, Ireland, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, South Africa, and Zimbabwe were due to compete.The top two sides would qualify for the ICC Women's World Cup in Australia in 2009.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf said he was disappointed at the decision to postpone the event."We have advised the ICC we feel the event could have been staged as scheduled in two weeks' time in a safe and secure environment," said Ashraf."We remain more than capable of and committed to hosting international cricket and we look forward to welcoming teams to Pakistan in the future."


ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed also regretted the postponement of the event.
"We remain committed to international cricket being played in Pakistan but, sadly, events beyond the control of the ICC and the PCB have conspired against us on this occasion," Speed said."As recently as October 25, the ICC women's committee reaffirmed its commitment to staging the event, as scheduled, in Lahore."However, the heightened state of tension within the country over the past few days represents a change in circumstances that we have a duty to consider."Safety and security of all participants is a priority and on the basis of the independent advice we have received as well as the material concerns expressed by many of the participating countries we concluded it is not appropriate to stage the tournament at this time," said Speed.

Chappell says Dhoni not ready for test captaincy

Former India coach Greg Chappell believes Mahendra Singh Dhoni should gain another year's experience as captain in one-day and Twenty20 cricket before taking on the role at test level.Dhoni, 26, and Sachin Tendulkar are in the running to become the captain of India's test side when selectors meet later this week to name Rahul Dravid's successor.Dravid relinquished the post in September saying the captaincy brought him too much stress and that he wanted to focus on his batting."He (Dhoni) is doing his apprenticeship in the limited-over forms of the game. It won't be long before I think he is ready for (the captaincy of) all three," Chappell told Times Now news channel on Tuesday."Probably another 12 months or more I think before he is perhaps ready for all three of them."Dhoni, who led a young team to success in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, was appointed captain of the one-day team for 12 matches concluding with the ongoing five-match series against Pakistan.India play three tests against Pakistan at home starting later this month before touring Australia for a much-anticipated four-test series."A tour of Australia behind him will just finish him off nicely as a cricketer and as a potential leader," said Chappell, who quit as India coach after their first-round exit in the one-day World Cup in the Caribbean in March.Dhoni's leadership ability was lauded during the recent home series against Australia which the visitors won 4-2The wicketkeeper-batsman guided the side to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first one-day international on Monday.However, Tendulkar is seen as a strong contender for a third term as test captain, which would mean an unprecedented two-captain policy in Indian cricket --- one for tests and the other for the shorter formats.Tendukar led India twice earlier without much success, winning just four of 25 tests before stepping down to concentrate on his batting.

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India beats Pakistan by five wickets

GAUHATI, India: Skipper Mahendra Dhoni's sparkling 63 spurred India to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first limited-overs international Monday.Chasing Pakistan's 50-over total of 239 for seven, India reached 242 for five with 18 balls to spare after Dhoni put on a brisk 105-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Yuvraj Singh (58).Dhoni struck eight boundaries off 77 deliveries, while Yuvraj Singh's 74-ball knock contained six boundaries and one six.Indian opener Sachin Tendulkar equaled Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya's world record of playing in 403 one-day internationals, but was dismissed on four by pace ace Shoaib Akhtar.Akhtar also dismissed Dhoni to return figures for two for 50.
Opener Sourav Ganguly (39) and Gautam Gambhir (44) built the Indian innings through their 82-run stand for the second wicket. They departed in quick succession with Ganguly being run out and Gambhir's stump shattered by leg-spinner Shahid Afridi.Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh then smothered the Pakistan attack and put India on the victory course.

Earlier, Mohammad Yousuf's unbeaten 83 bolstered Pakistan after the home team's spinners kept the batsmen in check.Yousuf struck seven boundaries off 88 deliveries to boost Pakistan, which also saw opener Salman Butt return to form with a sparkling half-century.Butt dominated the Indian pace attack to post a 57-ball 50, which contained eight hits to the fence before be got run out during a mix up with Younis Khan.Trying to regain his crease after taking off for a sharp single, Butt was beaten by Yuvraj Singh's accurate thrown from short mid-off to wicketkeeper Dhoni.Electing to bat first after skipper Shoaib Malik won the toss, Pakistan lost opener Kamran Akmal (12) cheaply as he was trapped lbw by Irfan Pathan, but Butt's assertive knock boosted Pakistan's run-rate.Spinners Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik slowed down the scoring to bowl India back into the contest after Butt's departure.Trying to break the shackles imposed by the spinners, Younis (29) miscued a shot against Harbhajan Singh and holed out to Pathan on the long-on fence.Part-time spinner Tendulkar then dismissed Shahid Afridi (31) and Shoaib Malik (2), emerging as the most successful bowler for India.Yousuf's revival act saw him share a 68-run partnership for the sixth wicket from Misbah-ul-Haq, who contributed 27.

Cricket-ICC delegation to leave Pakistan after emergency

An International Cricket Council delegation, in Pakistan to look at the organisation of next year's Champions Trophy, has cut short its tour because of the imposition of a state of emergency.Delegation member Samiul Hasan told Reuters on Sunday the tour was being curtailed because of the political situation in Pakistan."We will return and complete the assessment tour later on," Hasan said.The delegation visited Lahore and Sheikhupura and was due to go to Rawalpindi and Karachi, all venues which will host the Champions Trophy practice and main matches.President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in the country on Saturday suspending the constitution and restricting media activity.In recent years Pakistan has faced objections from visiting teams to playing at some venues because of security concerns. South Africa refused to play a one-day international in Karachi after a suicide bomber's explosion ripped through a rally of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, killing some 139 people on Oct 18.

Pakistan cricket team focussed on match

The Pakistan cricket team is unfazed by the sudden imposition of emergency rule back home saying that the team is all set for the first of the five one-day internationals (ODI) with India at the Nehru Stadium here Monday."We are here to play to cricket and are fully focused on the series. Cricket will go on as usual," team's media manager Ehsan Malik told reporters Sunday.The Pakistan team is upbeat with the 'Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib Akhtar back in the side."This is a good sign for Pakistan cricket with Shoaib back in the squad and we have a very balanced team," Pakistan team captain Shoaib Malik told a pre-match press conference here.The team had a long net practice session with players like Shahid Afridi, Mohammed Yusuf and Kamran Akmal having a long session with the bat."We are professionals and are used to playing in different conditions. It would be difficult for the bowlers taking the field first," said the captain on asked about the early start of the match Sunday.The match starts 8.30 am with a fair amount of due expected on the pitch and the outfield."We have a good bowling and batting attack and we shall decide on the best 11 players for the match after a team meeting later tonight," Malik said.

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.