A Chance for South Africa to dethrone Australia at the top of LG ICC ODI Championship Table

South Africa has the opportunity to dethrone Australia and secure the top spot in the LG ICC ODI Championship Table at the 1 April cut-off if it sweeps the three-match series against Bangladesh starting in Chittagong on Sunday. Australia and South Africa are currently both sitting on 127 ratings points but Graeme Smith’s side is behind Ricky Ponting’s side by just 0.529 of a point when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point. If the Proteas wins the series 3-0, they will stay on 127 ratings points but will finish ahead of Australia by 0.191 at the cut-off. This date is significant because the sides that lead the Test and ODI ladders on 1 April, pocket US$175,000 each for its achievements, while the sides that lie second collect US$75,000 each. Last year, South Africa snatched the title just before the 1 April cut-off date, relegating Australia to second, and no doubt Smith and his men will be using the possibility of repeating that feat as a motivational tool for the series. If Bangladesh manages to win just one game, Australia will retain its top position opening up a two-point gap with South Africa dropping to 125 ratings points. In the longer version of the game, Australia is sure of collecting the cheque for US$175,000 and of retaining the mace by finishing on top of the LG ICC Test Championship Table at the cut-off date. Australia leads the field by 30 clear ratings points. As far as the runner-up to Australia is concerned, India is currently placed second and can only slip to third place if England makes a clean sweep of its three-Test series. Although Sri Lanka will have completed its first Test against the West Indies (starting in Guyana from 22 March) and India will have played its first Test against South Africa (starting in Chennai from 26 March) before the cut-off date, the LG ICC Test Championship table is only updated after the conclusion of a series

Bangladesh turn to spin for South Africa in One-dayers

Bangladesh will rely on their young spin attack to topple South Africa in the three-match One-day series starting on Sunday, according to captain Mohammad Ashraful. The hosts have included three spinners in their 14-man squad, expecting a new wicket at the Chittagong Divisional stadium to offer turn to the tweakers. Spin has been the traditional strength of teams in the subcontinent and Bangladesh is no exception. Recently retired left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique finished his career with the most wickets for Bangladesh in Tests and One-day matches. Rafique appears to have passed the baton to 23-year-old spinner Musharraf Hossain, who impressed during the tied warm-up game between a Bangladesh XI and a strong South African side on Friday. He picked up three wickets, including those of top-scorer Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers, while giving away just 19 runs off eight economical overs. Thanks to his performance, Hossain looks set to earn his international cap and bowl alongside Abdur Razzaq and Shakib Al Hasan. Skipper Ashraful said the success of the team in the One-dayers would depend on how his slow bowlers exploit the conditions and restrict the hard-hitting South African batsmen. "Playing three spinners in the One-dayers is certainly an option for us. Our spinners have often troubled batsmen not used to the spinning ball," Ashraful told reporters on Saturday. "We have a very young team since we are looking to build a team for the future, especially with the 2011 World Cup in mind, which will be played on the subcontinent, where spinners will play a key role," he said. South Africa are likely to include left-arm spinners Paul Harris and Johan Botha in their team, with an eye to the upcoming tour of India, where wickets could be slow turners. Harris picked up two wickets in the warm-up game, his first outing on the tour, while Botha took one wicket in his nine overs. The second and third One-dayers are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday in Dhaka. Squads: Bangladesh (from): Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Nazim Uddin, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Mosharraf Hossain Rubel, Syed Rasel, Farhad Reza, Roqibul Hassan.

Cricket Australia says good bye to Pakistan Tour

Cricket Australia has virtually decided not to tour Pakistan after getting a briefing from their High Commission in Islamabad, but will not announce a decision until next week. Well informed sources said that although the PCB is still making efforts through the government to salvage the tour, the Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan Zorica McCarthy had advised the Aussies against touring the country because of the prevailing security situation. "Cricket Australia and Australian Cricketers Association have virtually decided not to undertake the tour after the briefing they got from the High Commissioner and independent external security advisors. But they will announce this next week," a source said. He said the Australians wanted the Pakistan Cricket Board to consider shifting the series to neutral venues in a bid to avoid a total cancellation. But PCB insisted it will not play at neutral venues which it terms as a dangerous option beneficial neither to both the boards or cricket in general. "The feedback CA and ACA have got is negative about the security situation in Pakistan and the travel advice is 'don't go to Pakistan'. So it would be impossible for them to now play in Pakistan against this sort of advice," the source said. Australia had also cancelled their tour to Pakistan in 2002 and it was later shifted to neutral venues. Sources said CA was keen to ensure Pakistan did not suffer big financial losses because of the series being cancelled and wanted to make amends. "Pakistan stands to lose around eight million dollars if the Australians don't come," one source said. He pointed out that the PCB had been spending a lot of money in recent months on domestic cricket, players and administrative expenses and if Ricky Ponting's team does not come, they will sooner or later face a financial crunch. Sources said the PCB was now trying to salvage the tour through the government and it was in this regard that Chairman Nasim Ashraf met with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad this week.

Harbhajan denies remarks against Aussie players

India's ace spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday denied having called Australian opener Matthew Hayden a 'big liar' and wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist 'no saint'. Harbhajan, who was at the centre of most of the controversies during the acrimonious tour of Australia, was quoted by a daily as saying "Don't talk about Hayden's credibility, he is a big liar". The spinner, however, made it clear that he had not made such comments. "I did not make these comments. A lot has been written in the last few days, but I have not said such things", Harbhajan said. In that interview, Harbhajan was also quoted as saying that "He (Gilchrist) is also not a saint. He, of course, pretends to be a saint -- someone who does not say an offensive word on the field." "But this is completely wrong. There are times when he does not let an opportunity go waste".

Sachin, Ishant, Bhajji could miss First Test Against Proteas

Sachin Tendulkar wowed the country with his super show during the best of three finals in the recent tri-series in Australia. But in doing so, Tendulkar has put himself through a lot of physical pain, putting in doubt his participation in the upcoming Test series against South Africa starting on March 26 in Chennai. Not only Tendulkar, speedster Ishant Sharma (toe & finger), spinner Harbhajan Singh (hamstring) and Yuvraj Singh (knee) are also suffering from injuries which requires them to rest for a minimum of two or three weeks, which puts in doubt their participation in the Test series. Of the four, Yuvraj and Harbhajan could even have to undergo surgeries to correct their condition. All the players have been referred to Melbourne-based surgeon David Young, who has also treated Muttiah Muralitharan. In a season when India has played a total of 22 ODIs, two T20s and seven Tests since September 2007, the growing injury list is a reflection of the workload that the team has endured since the start of the England tour in July 2007. In his last fitness report submitted to the BCCI on Thursday, outgoing Indian team physio John Gloster writes that Tendulkar suffers from tendonitis in the right hip region. According to Gloster's report, a copy of which is available with the TOI , Tendulkar ‘will require a minimum of two weeks rest post tour' from aggravating the condition. "He must not allow this condition to settle into a chronic phase otherwise it may take a further two weeks to control. It is only when the pain settles that he can start deep release massage. Once he is pain free, he can commence basic training but initially only in water," Gloster writes in the post-tour rehab advice to seven players. Adelaide-based Gloster has sent the report to coach Gary Kirsten, board secretary Niranjan Shah, CAO Ratnakar Shetty, chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar, ODI and T20 captain MS Dhoni, fielding coach Robin Singh, bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fitness trainer Greg King. If Tendulkar's condition is a cause for worry, Yuvraj Singh's left knee continues to be under the miscroscope. He is still not in the clear as Gloster advises a strict routine which is needed to strengthen and stabilise his knee. "He must ideally have three weeks break from cricket and excessive activities. He must try to do a lot of swimming, cycling and water running," advises Gloster. But his advice comes with a warning that if the pain persists and there is swelling, it is a dangerous sign. "He must have a straighter approach when attacking the ball. He must take care while turning on the ball or else it could lead to instability which might need surgery." Speed demon Ishant Sharma's left great toe has endured a lot of stress, for which Gloster advises the tall bowler complete rest for three weeks. "No bowling and running post tour. There should be no compromise on this instruction. Allow the pain to subside and full healing to complete. As for his right forefinger, he can continue to use anti-inflammatory techniques." The central character of the tour, Harbhajan, also gets a mention for his strained left hamstring.

Rameez Raja blames IPL for clouds over Aussies tour of Pak

Former Pakistan captain and ex-Cricket Board Chief Executive Rameez Raja blamed the Indian Premier League for Australian cricket team's reluctance to tour the country. Rameez said this was the first real example of how much damage the IPL could do to Test and international cricket in the long run. "I think there is also reluctance on part of some Australian players to avoid touring Pakistan because of the Indian Premier League. It is a situation to which the administrators have to wake up to," Rameez said in an interview. Australia have been apprehensive of touring Pakistan due to political turmoil and series of bomb blasts in the country since the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. "I know there is a negative perception about Pakistan internationally but it is not all true and cricket matches have never been targeted ever before in the country. Other teams have come and played here and gone home on a high note. The Australians must take that into consideration," he added. The Indian Cricket Board-backed IPL and starts from April 18 with several Australian and Pakistani players signed up to play in it. Rameez, who was chief executive of the Board between 2002 and 2004 and is now a well known television commentator and an expert, felt Pakistan needed to launch a big PR exercise to ensure they did not face a similar situation from other teams in future. "I think the Pakistan Board needs to drum up support within the International Cricket Council and the Asian Cricket Council. It needs to build up a support lobby of the Asian bloc. Because if they don't make a hue and cry about it now they will face more such problems in the future and cricket could be at a big risk in the country," Rameez said. He also warned that Australians pulling out of their scheduled tour this month would have serious consequences. "I hope the Australians come because no sportsperson or cricket match has ever been hit by militants or violence in Pakistan ever. That is a strong point in favour of having the series in Pakistan," he said. The former batsman said if Australia did not come it'd have devastating effect on Pakistan cricket in many ways. "For me a cancellation could have a ripple effect. For one it is a big blow to our efforts to portray a soft image of Pakistan. It is going to scare away other teams and sponsors", he said. "It will also discourage youngsters from taking to the sport like they do today and most importantly it will greatly reduce Pakistan's value when the television cricket rights go up for sale in April. The long-term effects will be huge", he added.

Gilchrist worried over Indian monopoly

ADAM GILCHRIST has warned against allowing the Indian cricket authorities to become too powerful in the world game.
The wicket-keeper ended his international career in disappointing fashion as Australia were beaten 2-0 in the Commonwealth Bank Series finals by India.
That brought to an end a stormy summer of cricket between the two countries, which has been dogged by controversy – most notably the race row between India’s Harbhajan Singh and Australia’s Andrew Symonds.
Spinner Harbhajan was originally found guilty of racially abusing Symonds, but was ultimately acquitted on appeal and given a fine for a lesser offence.
Many in Australia were unhappy with the way the process was handled and specifically the role of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who threatened to withdraw from the tour if the appeal did not go their way.
Gilchrist believes there is a possibility the Indian authorities could become too powerful.
He said, “We know the power they are and the way they’re happy to flex their muscles and we must pay attention to that.
“Hopefully that’s controlled and we can make sure the game’s healthy throughout the world.”
He added, “I think both teams were very, very relieved that the series finished.
“It was tough work. It wasn’t the most enjoyable summer we’ve been involved with – all the issues on and off the field.
“There’s all this talk about India becoming the power of the world and dominating world cricket.
“I have faith in that group that, yes, they have rushed at great speed over the last 10, 15, 20 years to the top of the tree in the administrative and financial stakes.
“There’ll be a lag time to catch up and lets hope that everyone can combine together to realise that, for the good of the game, it can’t be a monopoly.
“We’ve got to administrate well and I believe that will happen and I think the BCCI will acknowledge that and tie that with the Twenty20 and where world game of cricket is.”
Twenty20 will feature prominently for Gilchrist as he prepares to take part in the inaugural Indian Premier League.