Sports Section

Champions Trophy: Cullen replaces injured Clark for Oz

SYDNEY: Off-spinner Daniel Cullen has been drafted in to replace the injured Stuart Clark in Australia's Champions Trophy side.

Cullen learnt of his selection during a practice match between South Australia and Tasmania and was over the moon.

"This came out of the blue but naturally I'm really excited about the opportunity," he said.

"It's really disappointing for Stuart to miss out with an injury and I'm sure that everyone wishes him the best for a speedy recovery. However, it's now up to me to take this opportunity and put my best foot forward for the team and I'm really looking forward to going to India."

Seamer Clark was ruled out Wednesday with a thigh injury he suffered last weekend playing club cricket.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said Cullen deserved his chance, and he was happy with Australia's bowling attack heading into a tournament they have never before won.

"Dan bowled really well in Kuala Lumpur from limited opportunities," he said of last month's DLF Cup tri-series in Malaysia.

"We saw this as an ideal opportunity to continue his development at international level while also gaining valuable experience in Indian conditions. We are comfortable with the balance of our bowling attack with four fast bowlers, two spinners and a number of all-rounders who can compliment our front-line attack."
 
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES TO WIN CHAMPIONS TROPHY FOR SOUTH AFRICA ?

MUMBAI: South Africa’s tendency to freeze in big tournaments will be their Achilles heel and skipper Graeme Smith will be well-advised to carry a horse shoe in his coffin to ward away bad luck. A combination of misfortune and inability to win the big matches have seen South African’s trophy cabinet rather empty.

The Duckworth Lewis method is something that gives the South African’s bad memories. In 1992 World Cup semifinals, they were asked to score an impossible 22 runs from one ball against England. In the last edition, skipper Shaun Pollock misjudged the revised target in a must-win group match against Sri Lanka. The D/L method put the scores at par. South Africa were knocked out and Pollock lost his captaincy.

In 1996, a brilliant 111 by West Indian skipper Brian Lara ended the South African campaign. In 1999, another legend Steve Waugh left a lasting physiological blow that remained till Smith’s team beat Australia in the ‘greatest one-dayer’ at the Wanderers earlier this year.

Waugh, who made a ton that helped Australia reach the semifinals, was dropped by Herschelle Gibbs. Waugh turned around and said what is now entrenched in cricket folklore. ‘Thanks mate, you have just dropped the World Cup.’

Gibbs again will be the focus when the South Africans begin their campaign in India. The opener has avoided the trip after his name cropped up during the infamous match-fixing scandal that saw former skipper Hansie Cronje receiving a life ban. This time, he will come with a legal team in tow, have a tête-à-tête with the investigation agency before getting down to playing cricket.

Gibbs and the rest of the squad can certainly draw inspiration from the Wanderers win, a match in which they successfully chased down a record 434 against Australia. Gibbs smashed 175 in just 111 balls, arguably the best one-day innings in a chase. A once in a lifetime stuff.

However, playing to the galleries has not been South Africa’s style. Rather they are an efficient, compact squad of players with understated class and character. A case in point is Jacques Kallis, the only all-rounder to have reached the double of 8,000 runs and 200 wickets in both forms of the game. Skipper Smith packs a punch with the bat and gets the job done, but little of his batting can excite the senses. However, with big-hitter like Justin Kemp, Gibbs, Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel, the South Africans have their share of characters. They have not played against strong opposition since winning the home series against Australia in March, but that will make little difference to the well-oiled professionals. They tied the one-day series 2-2 against a resurgent India last November to give a good account of their one-day prowess. Come October 16; the South Africans will be ready to take on the world.

BATTING -

In Herschelle Gibbs, the South Africans have one of the most dangerous one-day batsmen in the world. When in the mood and on his day, Gibbs can pull off shots that other batsmen can only dream of. Gibbs can innovate or play textbook shots with finesse and power. However, against quality spinners, Gibbs can lose his way and his ability to adjust to the conditions will be crucial. Skipper Graeme Smith can be relentless shot-maker up the order and Jacques Kallis is a difficult customer to remove once he has got his eye in. The hard-hitting Justine Kemp can provide the boost lower down the order. All-rounder Andrew Hall, AB de Villiers and Boeta Dippenaar complete a batting line-up whose strength lies in flexibility.

BOWLING -

Andre Nel is as mean as it gets, Makhaya Ntini is one of the fastest and the No.1 one-day bowler in the world. However, the man who could cause maximum damage with his variety and the experience of over 250 one-dayers will be all-rounder Shaun Pollock. Though he has lost a yard of pace after battling with a back injury, on the batting tracks of India it will be Pollock’s guile that South Africa will count on to stem the run flow in the middle and death overs. Pollock, like Australia’s Glenn McGrath, has the patience and skill to bowl a nagging off-stump line and force the batsman into making a mistake. Without left-arm spinner Nicky Boje, South Africa will look a shallow in the spin department though.


P.S. - 1ST CHAMPIONS TROPHY WAS WON BY SOUTH AFRICA BY BEATING WEST INDIES IN FINAL IN DHAKA IN THE YEAR 1998.
 
Supermen


MUMBAI: It is quite amazing that an Australian batsman has not scored a hundred in the mini-World Cup. Even more bewildering is that the team has never reached the final of the event. For a squad that has a habit of smashing up rivals at will, leaving behind a trail of punctured egos, the Australians must feel they have some unfinished business when they arrive in India this week.

Regaining the Ashes is skipper Ricky Ponting’s priority. The zeal with which the team has trained for the season ahead makes them the most prepared unit for the month-long event. Playing after a six-month break, the Australians (after their DLF Cup win) are heading into the Champions Trophy on a high.

Their bowlers have had an ideal warm-up; their batsmen have spent time in the middle and, importantly, the team has always managed to get out of troubles.

They remain the No.1 ranked team in the world.

At first glance, however, they look an ageing side. Nine of their 14 players are over 30 and two, including strike bowler Brett Lee and second act Nathan Bracken, are almost out of their twenties. But for the supreme athletes, age is just a number. Michael Hussey, who is increasingly starting to make bowlers look silly with a ridiculous one-day average (in the 80s), made his debut when he was 29! With the return of Adam Gilchrist, it could turn scary for the opponents. If he fails, there is always Hussey to come in, if Simon Katich is dismissed early then bowlers have to deal with Ponting, if Brett Lee is a tad slow, they can unleash young paceman Mitchell Johnson. Options are aplenty!

Batting -

Michael Hussey has remained not out in 18 of his 34 innings. His strike rate at 99.09 is near identical to the great Don’s Test average. Ricky Ponting is probably the best one-day batsman in the world at the moment and he is due for a big score. Gilchrist, back after a break, is best placed to take full advantage of the field restrictions. Michael Clarke, on a mission to grab an Ashes spot, will be the middle-order engine. Damien Martyn, all finesse and class, can make the best attacks in the world look mediocre. And then there are Shane Watson, Simon Katich and Andrew Symonds to worry about. The best batting line-up in the world? Yes, except for a tendency to get tied-up against quality spinners.

Bowling -

The rankings lie. Brett Lee should be the No.1 bowler in the world. Showmanship backed by an unsettling pace, unnerving accuracy, variety, guile and untiring spirit, Lee will fancy doing taxidermy to some of the best names in the batting business. Glenn McGrath can cut off the oxygen and leave the most prolific of scorers wondering from where to eke out the next run. Mitchell Johnson has played only seven matches but he already has the scalps of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and also Brian Lara to his name. Shane Watson and left-armer Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clarke — form a battery of paceman that is unmatched in world cricket today. Chinaman specialist Brad Hogg completes the line-up. The only problem is who to choose.

Top Dog -

Fact: Ricky Ponting is crucial for Australia, both with the bat and the captain’s band. He has dismissed criticism that he freezes when asked to call the right shots under pressure. His run-ins with officials, the latest being Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf, have put in focus his edginess on the field. Ponting was also at the forefront of an appeal for Tendulkar’s wicket in the recent DLF series, though the ball had clearly come off the batsman’s shoulder. But the Punter’s focus is clear: “Champions Trophy is one that we would love to win. And this time we have the players to win it.”
 
Harbhajan in 'hair' controversy

PTI
Saturday, October 07, 2006 17:48 IST


CHANDIGARH: Star spinner Harbhajan Singh on Saturday found himself embroiled in a controversy after the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the apex religious body of Sikhs, slammed the bowler for leaving his hair uncovered in an advertisement.

Although Harbhajan was quick to apologise for the gaffe, resentment was evident when activists of Youth Akali Dal burnt his effigy in Amritsar after undertaking a protest march.

Harbhajan said he was sorry if he had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs.

"If my action has hurt the Sikh community, then I feel sorry for it. I will take note of it (in future)," he said.

However, Harbhajan said it was not right on SGPC's part to take up the issue in the media.

"It's bad that the SGPC took up the issue in media. If they had any problem, they should have called me like a son and told me. Their action was wrong," he said.

In Amritsar, led by SGPC's district president Gurpartap Singh Tikka, the protesters made their feelings known. SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar, who had sought an apology from Harbhajan on Friday, said the offie should have realised the importance of hair in the Sikh religion.
 
Delhi police grill Gibbs for three hours

Delhi police grill Gibbs for three hours​


The interrogation of South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs by the Delhi police in connection with the April 2000 match-fixing case has ended.

The Delhi police have taken his voice samples for tests in order to compare it with the telephonic conversations that the police claim to have recorded between him and then captain Hansie Cronje while allegedly fixing a match.

Gibbs will join the South African team for its first game of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy on October 16.

He arrived at the Delhi police headquarters at 1100 IST on Thursday and left the premises at around 1400 IST.

The South African opener was accompanied by two lawyers and South African embassy officials in New Delhi.

The Delhi police threw a tight security cordon around the police headquarters; mediapersons were restricted to the ground level.

Gibbs had been evading questioning by the Delhi police since April 7, 2000, when the Delhi police registered a formal case against him in the match-fixing scandal.

He arrived from Mumbai on Thursday morning, drove straight to the police headquarters and headed to the room of Dr K K Paul, the Delhi police commissioner.

Ranjit Narain, joint commissioner of police, Crime Branch, headed the questioning of Gibbs.


Source: Rediff.
 
Shoaib, Asif test positive in drug test

PTI | Monday, October 16, 2006

Karachi/Jaipur: Pakistan pace spearheads Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif will not only miss the ongoing Champions Trophy but also run the risk of being banned for up to two years.

Akhtar and Asif tested positive for anabolic steroid nandrolone in an internal test conducted by Pakistan Cricket Board last month and have been withdrawn from the ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan team manager Talat Ali said.

"The preliminary tests have shown a positive result. We are now waiting for a reconfirmation from the lab. The results are expected soon," Ali said.

The development, which came just a day before Pakistan were to launch their ICC Champions Trophy campaign against Sri Lanka in Jaipur, has put a question mark on the duo's participation in the World Cup in March-April 2007.

The two match-winning pacemen were suspended automatically as per the anti-doping rules and the PCB has sought testing of the 'B' samples from the WADA accreditated laboratory in Malaysia which analysed the samples, Ali said.

If the 'B' samples also test positive, the two bowlers could face a ban for up to two years from the sport.

The tainted fast bowlers would fly back home "on the first available flight", Ali said and added that "discussions are under way with the ICC regarding replacements."

PCB have put forward the names of Mohammad Sami, Yasir Arafat and Shahid Nazir as replacements to the Technical Committee of the ICC Champions Trophy for consideration. The Board is confident of their demand for replacements being met since the players had neither failed the tests conducted by ICC nor during an ICC event.

"We have asked for the replacements under the participating nations agreement and we foresee no problems in that as we have voluntarily called back both players and declared their test results," a PCB official said in Karachi.

This is the second major dope scandal to hit international cricket after Australian spin great Shane Warne tested positive for a diuretic just before the start of the 2003 World Cup.

PCB Director Cricket Operations Saleem Altaf said the entire episode had come as a huge disappointment.

"This latest development comes as a big disappointment for us. But we are strong in our conviction that we want to clean up the system," he said in Karachi.

"Both players will face a proper inquiry and punishment under the prevailing regulations governing anti-doping laws of the ICC," he said.

Altaf said the results of the failed tests were only conveyed to the Board on Sunday by the WADA-accreditated laboratory in Kuala Lumpur.
 

Yasir Arafat and Abdul Rehman confirmed as Pakistan replacement players for ICC Champions Trophy

Mumbai, 16 October 2006

The Technical Committee of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 has approved Yasir Arafat and Abdul Rehman as replacement players in Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy squad following the withdrawal of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif after the Pakistan Cricket Board announced the latter duo had failed a drugs test for a banned substance.

All-rounder Arafat and left-arm spinner Rehman, who are expected to travel to India as soon as possible, are the fifth and sixth players respectively to be approved as replacements during the tournament and take the tally of new players called up for Pakistan to three. They follow Faisal Iqbal into the squad after he stepped in for the suspended Inzamam-ul-Haq.

The other replacements called up so far have been the Zimbabwe duo of Tafadzwa Mufambisi and Gary Brent, who replaced Vusi Sibanda (unable to secure release from a club cricket contract in Australia) and Terry Duffin (illness), while Australia’s Dan Cullen was called up for Stuart Clark (thigh injury).

Pakistan’s first match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 is against Sri Lanka in Jaipur on Tuesday. The match is a day-night clash that is scheduled to get underway at 1430 local time. The two sides are part of Group B which also includes New Zealand and South Africa. Group A is made up of Australia, India, England and the West Indies and only the top two sides from each group are able to reach the semi-finals.

The Technical Committee of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 is made of the following personnel: David Richardson (chairman, ICC representative), Campbell Jamieson (IDI representative), Ian Bishop (independent nomination), Rameez Raja (independent nomination), MP Pandove (BCCI representative), Prof. R Shetty (tournament director).
 

Ponting makes short-list for four categories at ICC Awards 2006

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has been short-listed in no fewer than four categories of the ICC Awards 2006, which were announced today.

The 31-year-old Tasmanian has had an outstanding year with the bat, dominating at both Test and ODI level, and is included in short-lists of four for the awards in both those forms of the game. He is also potentially in line for the Player of the Year and Captain of the Year trophies, making the short-list in those categories as well.

Muttiah Muralidaran from Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s Mohammed Yousuf have also been short-listed for the Test Player of the Year Award while Ponting’s team-mate Mike Hussey is in the running for ODI Player of the Year as well as the top accolade.

In total, there are seven players on the short-lists for the top three individual awards, which will be presented at a gala evening at the Taj Land’s End Hotel in Mumbai on November 3. The best Test player will be one of Ponting, Yousuf, Muralidaran or Shane Warne; the best ODI player will be chosen from Hussey, Ponting, Yuvraj Singh and Mahela Jayawardene.

The short-lists were announced on Sunday after the votes were submitted by members of the voting Academy. The 56 Academy members were asked to vote for players nominated by a Selection Panel chaired by Sunil Gavaskar. The ICC Awards are presented by Hyundai in association with FICA (the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations).

In addition to the three main men’s individual and Captain of the Year awards, for the first time there is an award for the Women’s Player of the Year, as well as Emerging Player of the Year, Umpire of the Year and the Spirit of Cricket Award. The short-list for female players was selected by a panel of leading figures from the women’s game.

The short-lists were announced at the Cricket Club of India, Mumbai, by ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed, who said that he was delighted that the ICC was continuing to honour top players for the entertainment they provide for millions of people who follow the game.

“The past year has been another exciting one for cricket fans around the world and these players have contributed hugely to our enjoyment,” said Mr Speed. “This year’s ceremony will be the third annual ICC Awards night and it promises to be a fantastic evening with the results of some very tough decisions to be announced.

“It is also a pleasure that for the first time we will be presenting the award for the Women’s Player of the Year. Now that the women’s game is under the auspices of ICC it is important that we acknowledge the marvellous contribution that female players are making,” he added.

Arvind Saxena, Vice-President of sales and marketing for Hyundai Motor India, said: “Hyundai is proud to be involved in this initiative, which celebrates excellence in international cricket. These players give us so much pleasure for their wonderful performances that it is right that we mark it in some tangible way. Just as Hyundai Motor stands for excellence in design, technology and safety the world over, the awards acknowledge and celebrate the very best in cricket.”


Short-list for the Player of the Year Award -
Michael Hussey (Australia)
Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka)
Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Mohammed Yousuf (Pakistan)

Short-list for the Test Player of the Year Award -
Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka)
Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Shane Warne (Australia)
Mohammed Yousuf (Pakistan)

Short list for the ODI Player of the Year -
Michael Hussey (Australia)
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Yuvraj Singh (India)

Short-list for Women’s Player of the Year -
Karen Rolton (Australia)
Anjum Chopra (India)
Katherine Brunt (England)

Emerging Player of the Year -
Alistair Cook (England)
Mohammed Asif (Pakistan)
Ian Bell (England)
Monty Panesar (England)

Captain of the Year Award -
Rahul Dravid (India)
Michael Vaughan (England)
Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)


Spirit of Cricket Award -
India
England
New Zealand
Sri Lanka

Umpire of the Year Award -
Aleem Dar
Rudi Koertzen
Simon Taufel
 
Sreesanth replaces injured Agarkar


Sreesanth will replace Ajit Agarkar in the Indian squad for the remainder of the Champions Trophy after Agarkar sustained a hairline fracture on his left thumb during the match against West Indies. Sreesanth will arrive in Mohali - the venue for India's last group stage match against Australia - later this afternoon, and will be available for selection for Sunday's match.

Agarkar apparently suffered the injury trying to stop a full-blooded drive from Runako Morton during Thursday's game. With Munaf Patel also doubtful due to a wrist sprain and RP Singh clearly out of his depth, India face a serious predicament ahead of the Australia game.

The approval to replace Agarkar with Sreesanth was given by the ICC's Technical Committee. The ICC rules clearly prohibit replacement in the course of the tournament if the player concerned had a recent history of injuries. But a replacement is allowed if the injury to the player concerned was totally unforeseen. Agarkar's injury obviously falls in this category, hence permission for the replacement was granted.

Sreesanth, who averages 34.38 from the 19 one-day matches he has played for India, was not picked for the Champions Trophy - a surprise exclusion. His performance in the one-day series in West Indies recently was mediocre - in the three games he played Sreesanth gave away 158 runs for two wickets - but his attitude and willingness to learn were appreciated by the team mangement, which made his omission from the tournament surprising.

Speaking to Cricinfo, Sreesanth admitted that he was pleasantly surprised at being called up, focussing on the season ahead. "Honestly, I couldn't believe it when I heard the news," he said. "I've been training hard, trying to make it to the South African tour, also looking ahead to my next Duleep Trophy game. This comes as a great opportunity for me."

Though his initial omission from the Champions Trophy squad was a setback, Sreesanth said that there was no shortage of motivation, from within and from senior players. He impressed in South Zone's comprehensive win over West Zone in Indore, picking up five wickets.

"I have always beleived in myself," he continued. "The presence of so many senior players like [Anil] Kumble, VVS Laxman in the Duleep Trophy match helped and they kept encouraging me."
 
Pakistan´s Akhtar and Asif banned for doping

Pakistan's top bowler Shoaib Akhtar was banned for two years and teammate Mohammad Asif for one year after they tested positive for a banned steroid, an official said.

A three-member doping tribunal appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ruled the pace pair out of all international and domestic cricket, meaning they will now miss next year's World Cup.

Akhtar, 31, and Asif, 23, were sent home in disgrace from the Champions Trophy in India on October 16 after the PCB said the performance-enhancing drug nandrolone had appeared in their samples.

The pair now have the right to appeal, officials said. Both insisted they did not take any banned substances knowingly, but they waived their rights to have their 'B samples' tested.

The scandal is international cricket's first involving performance-enhancing drugs and Akhtar's ban is the sport's heaviest ever for doping.

"We gave a full chance to both the pacemen to fight their cases and after a thorough inquiry we feel they failed to prove their innocence," tribunal chief Shahid Hamid told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore after hours of deliberations.


"The process of doping was investigated carefully. We made sure the tests were conducted properly, samples reached the laboratory in Malaysia safely and there was no error in testing in the laboratory.

"Both the players were satisfied and accepted the tests and gave their point of view but after a thorough inquiry and bound by the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) we reached the decision," said Hamid, a former governor of Punjab province.

"The two players are banned from representing Pakistan in any international match, cannot play in a domestic match under the auspices of the PCB, cannot take any monetary gains and cannot hold any official posts."

The pair can appeal the decision either with the same tribunal within seven days; with a different committee appointed by the PCB within 30 days; or with the sports court of arbitration in Lausanne, Switzerland, officials said.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, physiotherapist Darryn Lifson and trainer Murray Stevenson appeared before the tribunal on Wednesday to give evidence about how the bowlers tested positive.

"Akhtar contested the case saying that he has been on a high-protein diet which contained beef, chicken meat and other dietary supplements and he also said he took some herbal medicines from a Hakim (herbal expert) but he couldn't prove them," Hamid added.

"Asif's case was different.... Pakistan physician Darryn Lifson confirmed he stopped him from taking a banned substance a few months back," said Hamid.

Woolmer told AFP the ban was "not good news for Pakistan."

"I was questioned about Asif and Akhtar for well over 40 minutes on Wednesday... but as far as the doping is concerned I don't have much to say," said Woolmer, who recommended the tests on 19 Pakistan players last month.

The ban may effectively end Akhtar's mercurial career, which has been marked by controversy over his bowling action controversy, indiscipline, injuries and ball tampering.

It is cricket's highest profile doping case since Australia's legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne was banned for a year in 2003 after testing positive for a diuretic.

Akhtar, who has taken 165 wickets in 42 Tests and 133 in 208 one-day internationals, is famously known as the "Rawalpindi Express" for his pace and for his home town.

He launched the fastest electronically measured ball ever bowled -- at a speed of 100.23mph (161.3kmh) -- against England in February 2003 at the World Cup in South Africa.

Asif, whose career took off early this year before being held up by injuries, has 30 wickets in six Tests and 19 in 17 limited overs international.

The bans cap a bitter few months for Pakistan since they forfeited a Test match for the first time in history at the Oval in August in a row over ball-tampering.

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was banned for four one-dayers for bringing the game into disrepute through his actions at the Oval, and there have been musical chairs in both the captaincy and the PCB chairmanship since.
 
Ricky Ponting takes top honours at glittering ICC Awards night
November 3, 2006


Australian captain Ricky Ponting was tonight named Player of the Year at the prestigious ICC Awards, held at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai.

Ponting also scooped the Test Player of the Year and was named in the ICC World Team of the Year, as chosen by a panel of some of the greats of the game.

The 31-year-old Tasmanian has had an outstanding year with the bat, dominating at both Test and ODI level, and has also established himself as one of the most tactically aware and fearless captains in the world.

Ponting was joined on the winners' list by Australian team-mate Michael Hussey, who took the ODI Player of the Year award. England's Ian Bell was named Emerging Player of the Year, following the footsteps of team-mate Kevin Pietersen in 2005 and India's Irfan Pathan the year before.

Since last year's awards women's cricket has come under the auspices of the ICC and tonight Australian Karen Rolton became the first Women's Player of the Year. She beat India's Anjum Chopra and Katherin Brunt of England to that honour.

In total there were seven individual awards handed out, a Spirit of Cricket Award and the two ICC Teams of the Year - for Tests and ODIs - were announced.

Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene was named as Captain of the Year, having demonstrated wonderful leadership over the past year, particularly during his team's tour to England when they drew the Test series 1-1 and won all the ODIs.

England took the Spirit of Cricket Award for the second year running while it was a hat-trick for Simon Taufel who won the Umpire of the Year Award for the third successive year.

In all, there were ten individual and team honours handed out during the ICC Awards, presented by Hyundai in association with FICA (the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations). The event, held at the Taj Lands End Hotel, Mumbai, recognises cricket's star performers over a 12-month period. The event was hosted by TV cricket commentator Mark Nicholas and featured several glittering dance and music acts in this, the home of Bollywood, as well as a look back on another fantastic year for cricket.

Voting for the Test Player of the Year was completed by the 56-member ICC Awards voting Academy who cast a 3-2-1 vote (3 votes being the greater value) from the list of nominees, with the votes tallied to produce a winner.

The voting Academy included the 10 ICC Full Member captains, the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees, the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and several other legends of the game and respected members of the media.


ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said: "The past year has been another exciting one for cricket fans around the world and these players have contributed hugely to our enjoyment," said Mr Speed. "Congratulations to Ricky and all the other award winners."

Arvind Saxena, Vice-President of sales and marketing for Hyundai Motor India, said: "Hyundai is proud to be involved in this initiative, which celebrates excellence in international cricket. These players give us so much pleasure for their wonderful performances that it is right that we mark it in some tangible way. Just as Hyundai Motor stands for excellence in design, technology and safety the world over, the awards acknowledge and celebrate the very best in cricket."

Player of the Year Award
Ricky Ponting (Australia)

Test Player of the Year Award
Ricky Ponting (Australia)

ODI Player of the Year
Michael Hussey (Australia)

Women's Player of the Year
Karen Rolton (Australia)

Emerging Player of the Year
Ian Bell (England)

Captain of the Year Award
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)

Spirit of Cricket Award
England

Umpire of the Year Award
Simon Taufel

The World ODI Team of the Year (in batting order) is:

Adam Gilchrist (Aus, wicketkeeper)
MS Dhoni (Ind)
Ricky Ponting (Aus)
Mahela Jayawardene (SL, captain)
Yuvraj Singh (Ind)
Michael Hussey (Aus)
Andrew Flintoff (Eng)
Irfan Pathan (Ind)
Brett Lee (Aus)
Shane Bond (NZ)
Muttiah Muralidaran (SL)
12th man: Andrew Symonds (Aus)

The World Test Team of the Year (in batting order) is:

Matthew Hayden (Aus)
Michael Hussey (Aus)
Ricky Ponting (Aus)
Rahul Dravid (Ind, captain)
Mohammed Yousuf (Pak)
Kumar Sangakkara (SL, wicketkeeper)
Andrew Flintoff (Eng)
Shane Warne (Aus)
Makhaya Ntini (SA)
Muttiah Muralidaran (SL)
Glenn McGrath (Aus)
12th man: Brett Lee (Aus)

:SugarwareZ-191:
 
Sachin, former cricketers slam Aussies for nudging Sharad Pawar

PTI
Monday, November 06, 2006 21:24 IST


MUMBAI: The nudging of Indian Cricket Board chief Sharad Pawar by the Australians during the Champions Trophy prize distribution ceremony evoked sharp criticism today from Sachin Tendulkar and former cricketers who described the behaviour as "unpleasant". "

Eager to hold the trophy and pose for the cameras with his teammates, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was seen tapping Pawar on the shoulder as a gesture to leave the stage.

Tendulkar, who said he had only heard about the incident from others, termed it an unpleasant incident and an "uncalled for" behaviour by the world champions.

"I wasn't watching the proceedings because I was travelling, but from what I heard, it was an unpleasant incident and was uncalled for," the ace batsman said.

"Firstly, it should not have happened. It's important to show respect to elders and the person who is so dear to the cricketers and is involved with cricket. So it's good that we avoid such incidents," he said in response to a specific query.

Kiran More, former India wicketkeeper and selector, said the Aussies owed an apology to the BCCI and Pawar.

"I think for what has happened, they should apologise for it... I think it is very important how you treat the dignitaries. Pawar is the BCCI President and also a cabinet minister," More, who recently stepped down as chairman of selectors, said.
 
Indian Cricket Board will not lodge complaint over Pawar incident

PTI
Tuesday, November 07, 2006



NEW DELHI: The Indian Cricket Board will not lodge an official protest with Cricket Australia against the conduct of some of their players who nudged BCCI President Sharad Pawar during the prize distribution ceremony of the Champions Trophy.

The Board said Pawar did not want to make an issue out of the incident and hence it would not take up the matter with its Australian counterparts.

"It is purely a matter of etiquette and manners. In my view the Australian Board should tell the players how to behave," BCCI's Media and Co-ordination Committee Convenor Rajiv Shukla said.

"It is the magnanimity of Pawar that he does not want to give any importance to this incident. It is now upto Cricket Australia to look into the matter and take appropriate action against the players. They have to ensure that such incidents are not repeated on the field," he said.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting pointed his finger at Pawar and then the rest of his mates literally nudged the BCCI President down the dais as they celebrated their maiden Champions Trophy triumph in Mumbai on Sunday.
 
Agarkar declared fit to tour South Africa


Ajit Agarkar has passed a fitness test on his left thumb and been cleared for India's forthcoming tour of South Africa, starting in a week's time.

Agarkar, who injured himself while fielding during India's Champions Trophy game against West Indies at Ahmedabad, was tested in Mumbai under the supervision of Dr Anant Joshi, the Indian board's doctor, and John Gloster, the Indian team physio.

"Agarkar has been declared fit. He has been practising with the Mumbai team for the last two days," Ratnakar Shetty, the board's Chief Administrative Officer, told Hindustan Times, after Gloster submitted the fitness report.

Agarkar's injury forced him out of India's virtual quarter-final against Australia at Mohali. The selectors had named VRV Singh, the Punjab fast bowler, as a standby in case Agarkar was unfit to travel.

Agarkar said that he felt "perfectly alright" and that the pain had reduced considerably. "It was a bit painful in the first week and then it subsided," he said. "I was doing some fitness work and bowling was not a problem. Fortunately it [the injury] was not in my bowling arm. It did not stop me from bowling but it was painful to grip the bat or even take catches."

Agarkar has been one of India's most consistent bowlers in one-dayers in the last year, leading the inexperienced pace attack. In 28 matches since November 2005, he has taken 40 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.67, an improvement from his career rate of 5.03. Following an impressive showing in the five one-dayers in the West Indies earlier this year, his omission from the Test squad was questioned, especially with Irfan Pathan struggling for form, and the likes of Sreesanth, Singh and Munaf Patel with barely any experience at Test level.
 
BCCI TO SEND VENGASARKAR TO SOUTH AFRICA

New Delhi: The debate over performance linked payments to cricketers has gathered momentum.


Nearly 48 hours after India tamely surrendered to South Africa in Durban, CNN-IBN has confirmed that the proposal will now be discussed when Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) members meet cricketers in January to discuss the players new contracts.


But BCCI officials have also made it clear that there was no question of cutting the salaries of the players at this stage while they were touring South Africa.


BCCI President Sharad Pawar said on Friday that the chairman of the selection committee, Dilip Vengsarkar, would be sent to South Africa to convey the players the feelings of the MPs about the team’s performance.


Pawar spoke to Vengsarkar on Friday morning and asked him to fly to South Africa.


"I had a detailed discussion with the Chairman of Selection Committee. I requested him to go to South Africa immediately or as early as possible. He will discuss with the coach, captain and players and communicate the feelings of the countrymen," Pawar told a news channel.


But is was not clear as to when exactly would Vengsarkar be in South Africa as the selection of the Test team is slated to be held in Mumbai on November 30.


Pawar added that coach Greg Chappell’s contract as coach will continue.


Dismissing reports that the massive protests in India would demoralize the team, Pawar said: “Reactions after the defeat should not demoralise cricket team. The team did not get much practice before the One-Dayers in South Africa.”


Meanwhile BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said in Mumbai that Vengsarkar might wait till the selection committee meeting.


Shetty also said that there was always a proposal to send a selector on this tour but now it had been finalised that Vengsarkar himself would join the team management there.
 
Offended MPs threaten action against Chappell

Offended MPs threaten action against Chappell

NEW DELHI: Parliamentarians have not taken kindly to coach Greg Chappell’s “unsavoury” comments, coming as they did after another defeat in South Africa.

Chappell was quoted as saying on Sunday that he was not surprised by the criticism from MPs: “I can’t stop them from making statements. They are paid to do so.”

Infuriated, some MPs threatened the Australian with a privilege motion.

The Leftists were the most vociferous. While the CPI’s Gurudas Dasgupta said Chappell “had no business” making such comments, CPI(M) member Mohammed Salim tried to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha.

Outside, Salim said, “It is the coach’s duty to inspire the team. Now he is passing the buck. BCCI appointed him to improve performance on the eve of the World Cup. Parliament has every right to take up the issue.”

He later told DNA, “The BCCI must take appropriate action. If that is not done, scores of questions will be asked on transparency and accountability.”

Salim’s colleague Basudev Acharya said Chappell owes the country an explanation for his remark and for “messing up the team”.

BCCI president Sharad Pawar defended Chappell, saying he had not denigrated Parliament. But Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party leader Mohan Singh wanted Parliament to take cognisance of Chappell’s statement, claiming that it amounts to a breach of privilege.

“If members are willing, a privilege motion can be moved against Chappell,” Renuka Chowdhury of the Congress said.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee joined the issue, saying “let nobody lecture us” on what an MP’s job is. He summed up the mood of members when he said, “The purpose of bringing him in as coach has not been served.”

VK Malhotra of the BJP called Chappell’s remark “unwarranted” but added a cautionary note: “It should be left to the BCCI to decide. It is a matter concerning a professional sports body.”

“Khamosh Chappell!” said BJP member Shatrughan Sinha, in his trademark filmi style, though he added that the nature of the game is a professional subject and should be left to experts. “But the matter was raised here because the players were not making enough runs,” he said.

Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ramvilas Paswan said it was wrong to be too harsh on Chappell as the players were equally responsible.

Rajiv Shukla, BCCI media committee chairman and Rajya Sabha member, criticised his fellow politicians for making “vituperative comments against the cricketers and coach”. He said Chappell meant no disrespect to MPs. At the same time, he suggested that MPs show some restraint when commenting on sportspersons.
 
Dravid out of ODI series following injury

An avulsion fracture on the middle finger of his right hand has ruled Rahul Dravid out of the rest of the one-day series. He will also miss the Twenty20 game on Friday, and the warm-up game for the Test series at Potchefstroom (December 7-10).

He will stay on in South Africa for treatment, and experts expect him to be available for the Test series that starts in Johannesburg on December 15. In his absence, Virender Sehwag will lead the side.

Meanwhile, VVS Laxman has been asked to join the squad in South Africa as replacement for Dravid. "He might or might not play the next ODI but will be available for the Centurion match, which will be preparation for the Tests as well," Venkatapathy Raju, the national selector, told Cricinfo. In South Africa Laxman has played just two matches in October 2001, scoring 15 and 5.

Laxman's experience will complement the resources already available in the form of three specialist batsmen - Wasim Jaffer, Suresh Raina and Dinesh Mongia - who sat out the defeat at Newlands in Cape Town. However, the gap Dravid leaves will be hard to fill given the current travails of the Indian top order and his own consistent perfomance - he has scored two half-centuries and a 49 in India's last five matches.

Dravid sustained the injury while trying to catch Shaun Pollock off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh at first slip. The ball flew off the edge and appeared to snap the finger back. "He does not require surgery, and the injury will be treated conservatively," said Rajan Nair, the Indian team media manager, who also added that John Gloster, the team physio, would be monitoring the situation in consultation with a local expert.

Dravid batted through the pain for 179 minutes on Sunday, scoring 63 from 103 balls as India went down by 106 runs in Cape Town. He was treated on the field during the 38th over, but was taken for an X-ray on Monday morning after he complained of severe pain during the night. India are already 2-0 down in the ODI series, with games remaining at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday and Centurion on Sunday.

Sehwag has captained India before but, significantly, is struggling with his own form; he was out without scoring at Cape Town on Sunday.

Dravid's is the latest injury problem for India on this tour after Sehwag missed the second one-dayer at Durban. Fast bowler Munaf Patel sat out of the third match on Sunday owing to a sore left ankle. Yuvraj Singh, who hurt his knee during the Champions Trophy in late October, was earlier ruled out of the entire ODI series.
 
Ganguly joins team in South Africa

December 5, 2006


At 10 past eleven on a hot and dry day at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom, a Mercedes minivan pulls up a few feet away from the outdoor nets. As soon as its doors open, the TV crews make a beeline there from their vantage points. Sourav Ganguly gets out quietly, picks up his kitbag from the boot, and wheels in into the practice area.

Initially no one sees him, all of them occupied midway through a session. Then, as he sets his kitbag down and set about opening it, Munaf Patel turns around. He stares wide-eyed for a minute and then extends his hand. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had been chatting to Munaf just moments earlier, follows suit. 'You drove straight from the airport?" asks Dhoni. Ganguly just nods, and half smiles.

Ian Frazer, who had just been lobbing balls to Rahul Dravid in a net kept apart from the others, is next to see him. He too goes up and shakes his hand, sharing a few words. Greg Chappell is having a quiet word in Gautam Gambhir's ear when he spots Ganguly. Ganguly crosses the few metres that separate them and they shake hands. "Welcome back, mate," says Chappell. "Glad you made it."

Dravid has just finished a small session with Frazer and Greg King throwing them down when he wanders across to meet the man he replaced as India's captain. They chat for a couple of minutes, both men gazing in the direction of the batsmen and bowlers engaged in the nets.

Soon after, Ganguly breaks away to see to his equipment. The SG thigh pad comes out, and he puts his bat, gloves, pads and helmet on the grass in readiness for what will be his first experience of South African pitches in nearly four years. As he pads up, Irfan Pathan spots him and waves. Ganguly waves back. After nearly a year away from the limelight, he's back. Only time will tell if he still belongs.
 
Ganguly joins team in South Africa

December 5, 2006


At 10 past eleven on a hot and dry day at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom, a Mercedes minivan pulls up a few feet away from the outdoor nets. As soon as its doors open, the TV crews make a beeline there from their vantage points. Sourav Ganguly gets out quietly, picks up his kitbag from the boot, and wheels in into the practice area.

Initially no one sees him, all of them occupied midway through a session. Then, as he sets his kitbag down and set about opening it, Munaf Patel turns around. He stares wide-eyed for a minute and then extends his hand. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had been chatting to Munaf just moments earlier, follows suit. 'You drove straight from the airport?" asks Dhoni. Ganguly just nods, and half smiles.

Ian Frazer, who had just been lobbing balls to Rahul Dravid in a net kept apart from the others, is next to see him. He too goes up and shakes his hand, sharing a few words. Greg Chappell is having a quiet word in Gautam Gambhir's ear when he spots Ganguly. Ganguly crosses the few metres that separate them and they shake hands. "Welcome back, mate," says Chappell. "Glad you made it."

Dravid has just finished a small session with Frazer and Greg King throwing them down when he wanders across to meet the man he replaced as India's captain. They chat for a couple of minutes, both men gazing in the direction of the batsmen and bowlers engaged in the nets.

Soon after, Ganguly breaks away to see to his equipment. The SG thigh pad comes out, and he puts his bat, gloves, pads and helmet on the grass in readiness for what will be his first experience of South African pitches in nearly four years. As he pads up, Irfan Pathan spots him and waves. Ganguly waves back. After nearly a year away from the limelight, he's back. Only time will tell if he still belongs.
 
Martyn announces retirement

December 8, 2006


Damien Martyn, who was often unpredictable with the bat, has made a surprising call by announcing his retirement from both international and domestic cricket. Martyn's place was under heavy scrutiny after the second Test in Adelaide, but he took control of his future by informing Cricket Australia of his decision today with immediate effect.

Martyn, 35, said the current Ashes campaign, which Australia lead 2-0, needed people who were "more than 100% committed". "I said to myself when I made this decision in the last 48 hours that I may lose friends in doing what I'm doing," he said in a statement. "But I also said to myself that if I stayed doing what I was doing I may equally lose respect for myself and the friendship of those around me."

After a disappointing start to the series with scores of 29, 11 and 5, Martyn was expected to earn a reprieve for a home-ground appearance in Perth when Shane Watson failed to recover from a hamstring injury. However, Australia's desire to add to the bowling attack appears to have signalled the end for Martyn and Andrew Symonds was selected in the 13-man squad along with Adam Voges.

Ricky Ponting said Martyn thought "long and hard" about the decision and the team would miss him. "Damien is one of the world's most unsung players in both forms of the game and I don't think it is really understood how good he actually is," Ponting said. "In recent times he won the Test in Johannesburg off his own bat and played a huge role in Australia claiming the Champions Trophy for the first time.

"He is one of those players who, as the conditions and situations got harder and more difficult, the better he became. Some of his innings in Sri Lanka and India on turning pitches proved his class and I know I will miss his influence on the Australian team."

During the Adelaide Test Ponting spoke about how important Martyn was to the side and felt criticism of the batsman was unwarranted. Martyn was demoted to No. 5 for the successful second-innings chase in Adelaide and was out when he stepped away and glided to gully in a bid to maintain a high run-rate.

Martyn played 67 Tests in a 14-year career, scoring 4406 runs at 46.37, and he was also involved in 208 one-day internationals. He made his debut as a gifted 21-year-old against West Indies in 1992-93 and played in three series before being blamed for Australia's tight loss to South Africa at the SCG the next season. Six years later he was recalled for a tour of New Zealand and developed into one of Australia's most attractive and dependable batsmen.

His greatest year came in 2004 when he grabbed six centuries and was the standout player during important series victories in Sri Lanka and India, where Australia won for the first time in 35 years. Dropped after the 2005 Ashes, when he suffered a couple of poor umpiring decisions, he came back for the tour of South Africa and picked up a match-winning hundred in the final Test, but he was unable to re-find his form during the current campaign.

Martyn, who was married in the off-season, has usually tried to avoid the spotlight and is travelling today. "I'm aware of the tremendous challenges facing Australian cricket, including this current Ashes series," he said. "Such challenges require people who are more than 100% committed, dedicated, disciplined and passionate about the game, what it seeks to achieve and how those involved in the game can best serve cricket.

"I feel, therefore, it's time for me to move aside. I have enjoyed everything the game has given me. I have gained from it more than I could have ever imagined."

:SugarwareZ-064:
 
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