1 11/06 16:00 Johannesburg - JSC South Africa Background Mexico
2 11/06 20:30 Cape Town Uruguay Background France
17 16/06 20:30 Tshwane/Pretoria South Africa Background Uruguay
18 17/06 20:30 Polokwane France Background Mexico
33 22/06 16:00 Rustenburg Mexico Background Uruguay
34 22/06 16:00 Mangaung / Bloemfontein France Background South Africa
Group B
Match Date - Time Venue Results
3 12/06 16:00 Johannesburg - JEP Argentina Background Nigeria
4 12/06 13:30 Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth Korea Republic Background Greece
19 17/06 16:00 Mangaung / Bloemfontein Greece Background Nigeria
20 17/06 13:30 Johannesburg - JSC Argentina Background Korea Republic
35 22/06 20:30 Durban Nigeria Background Korea Republic
36 22/06 20:30 Polokwane Greece Background Argentina
Group C
Match Date - Time Venue Results
5 12/06 20:30 Rustenburg England Background USA
6 13/06 13:30 Polokwane Algeria Background Slovenia
22 18/06 16:00 Johannesburg - JEP Slovenia Background USA
23 18/06 20:30 Cape Town England Background Algeria
37 23/06 16:00 Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth Slovenia Background England
38 23/06 16:00 Tshwane/Pretoria USA Background Algeria
Group D
Match Date - Time Venue Results
7 13/06 20:30 Durban Germany Background Australia
8 13/06 16:00 Tshwane/Pretoria Serbia Background Ghana
21 18/06 13:30 Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth Germany Background Serbia
24 19/06 16:00 Rustenburg Ghana Background Australia
39 23/06 20:30 Johannesburg - JSC Ghana Background Germany
40 23/06 20:30 Nelspruit Australia Background Serbia
Group E
Match Date - Time Venue Results
9 14/06 13:30 Johannesburg - JSC Netherlands Background Denmark
10 14/06 16:00 Mangaung / Bloemfontein Japan Background Cameroon
25 19/06 13:30 Durban Netherlands Background Japan
26 19/06 20:30 Tshwane/Pretoria Cameroon Background Denmark
43 24/06 20:30 Rustenburg Denmark Background Japan
44 24/06 20:30 Cape Town Cameroon Background Netherlands
Group F
Match Date - Time Venue Results
11 14/06 20:30 Cape Town Italy Background Paraguay
12 15/06 13:30 Rustenburg New Zealand Background Slovakia
27 20/06 13:30 Mangaung / Bloemfontein Slovakia Background Paraguay
28 20/06 16:00 Nelspruit Italy Background New Zealand
41 24/06 16:00 Johannesburg - JEP Slovakia Background Italy
42 24/06 16:00 Polokwane Paraguay Background New Zealand
Group G
Match Date - Time Venue Results
13 15/06 16:00 Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth Côte d'Ivoire Background Portugal
14 15/06 20:30 Johannesburg - JEP Brazil Background Korea DPR
29 20/06 20:30 Johannesburg - JSC Brazil Background Côte d'Ivoire
30 21/06 13:30 Cape Town Portugal Background Korea DPR
45 25/06 16:00 Durban Portugal Background Brazil
46 25/06 16:00 Nelspruit Korea DPR Background Côte d'Ivoire
Group H
Match Date - Time Venue Results
15 16/06 13:30 Nelspruit Honduras Background Chile
16 16/06 16:00 Durban Spain Background Switzerland
31 21/06 16:00 Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth Chile Background Switzerland
32 21/06 20:30 Johannesburg - JEP Spain Background Honduras
47 25/06 20:30 Tshwane/Pretoria Chile Background Spain
48 25/06 20:30 Mangaung / Bloemfontein Switzerland Background Honduras
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 09, 2010
New Zealand clinch last-ball thriller
In a tournament of largely one-sided matches, New Zealand pulled off their second nail-biting victory and their first Twenty20 win over defending champions Pakistan, who are now on the brink of elimination. After rescuer-in-chief Daniel Vettori revived his side following the failure of big names, New Zealand survived an Abdul Razzaq onslaught and Salman Butt's level-headed batting to come through by one run and boost their chances of making the semi-finals.
Pakistan's army of spinners was outstanding in Barbados to keep New Zealand down to what seemed a below-par total, but once captain Shahid Afridi was dismissed in the 10th over following a middle-order collapse, the score was 58 for 5 and New Zealand looked in charge.
Butt and Razzaq were the last recognised batting pair, and they played calm cricket, picking 19 off four overs, during which New Zealand's advantage increased. Razzaq had patiently made 5 of 16 deliveries when he gave yet another exhibition of his ability to transform Twenty20 matches, blitzing two mammoth sixes and a four off Vettori in four balls. He had trouble against Shane Bond's short and slow deliveries, missing four in a row, before finishing off the over with a humongous hit that just about stayed in the stadium.
With 26 needed off 18, and two dangerous batsmen at the crease, the Pakistan dug-out was a happier place. Time for the match to swing again: Nathan McCullum, who has been New Zealand's best player this tournament, got one to bounce extra and Razzaq's attempt to again clear long-on ended up as a catch to deep midwicket.
Match Meter
Pak
9th over, Taylor flops: After a promising beginning, New Zealand's top-order buckles, culminating in the dismissal of Ross Taylor for 3 to leave the side at 58 for 4
Pak
17th over, Afridi befuddles: Afridi's changes of pace confuse Gareth Hopkins, who falls in an over that yields only two runs. New Zealand are 105 for 6.
Pak NZ
3rd over, Umar goes first ball: New Zealand claw their way back by nipping out Pakistan's top-order cheaply. Umar Akmal edges to the keeper to leave Pakistan at 25 for 3
NZ
10th over, Bye bye Afridi: A stunning catch from Nathan McCullum sends back Afridi for 11 and Pakistan slide to 58 for 5.
Pak
15th over, Boom boom Razzaq: A six, and then a straight hit for four, followed up by a murderous hit for six more from Razzaq makes it 40 needed off the last five
Pak NZ
18th over, The end of Razzaq: Nathan McCullum's superb tournament continues with a tight four-run over in the death that also accounts for Razzaq
NZ
20th over, Butler pulls it off: After being hit for boundaries on two of the first four balls, Butler pings in a yorker that results in a bye, to make it two needed off the final ball. Rehman hits the length ball offered to a gleeful Guptill in the deep
Advantage Honours even
Butt reached his half-century off the next delivery, and caressed the first ball of the penultimate over beyond deep extra cover for six to keep the game on edge. A series of singles rounded off the over, and made it 11 needed off the final six balls.
Ian Butler, preferred over Jacob Oram, stepped up to bowl. The first four deliveries reflected the game's fluctuating pattern: dot, four, dot, four, as Butt swung-and-missed twice and connected twice. To continue the pattern, Butt missed the next delivery, a yorker just beyond leg stump, but the batsmen sneaked a bye, though Gareth Hopkins hit direct at the keeper's end.
Two required off the final ball, with Abdur Rehman on strike. After lengthy discussions about the field, Butler charged in and served up a length ball on the pads - ripe for the hitting, but it was only struck as far as Martin Guptill at deep square leg. That confirmed Pakistan's defeat and ruined Rehman's first international match in nearly three years, one in which he had been terrific with the ball earlier on.
Rehman had put the skids on New Zealand's top-order after Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder provided New Zealand their first substantial start of the tournament. Guptill was one of several batsmen who were unable to come to terms with the spinners, being beaten several times by Rehman before falling to a diving one-handed catch at long-on by Umar Akmal.
The biggest blows for New Zealand came soon after, in the space of seven deliveries. McCullum, quieter after a series of early fours, top-edged a sweep to deep square leg, following which Ross Taylor, still to make an impact in the World Twenty20, nicked Mohammad Sami to the keeper. New Zealand slid to 58 for 4 in the tenth over, bringing in Vettori to do his familiar firefighting.
Against Shahid Afridi, who was varying his pace cleverly, and Saeed Ajmal, called on to play the Umar Gul-role of bowling four overs straight towards the end of the innings, Vettori was happy to play a series of sweeps and flat-batted hits down the ground to make more than twice his previous Twenty20 high. Vettori chalked up his first two sixes in international Twenty20, and Nathan McCullum finished off the innings with a swipe over midwicket which proved vital in a match so close that the difference between the two team's scores was never more than three at the end of each of the final five overs.
Still, on a pitch that didn't have much sideways movement, and with plenty of true bounce, 133 should have been easily overhauled. But Pakistan's main batsmen, with the exception of Butt, had a tough time against New Zealand's quick bowlers. Kamran Akmal inside-edged a slower ball from Kyle Mills, Mohammad Hafeez was undone by a kicker from Bond, and a short ball from Mills took out Umar for a golden duck. Misbah-ul-Haq's misery ended when he was lbw on his 13th ball for 3, and Afridi fell to a forward-diving blinder from Nathan McCullum at midwicket . Pakistan's top-order matched the limpness of their New Zealand counterparts and set up a low-scoring thriller for the Barbados crowd which has witnessed four one-side matches in two days.
Pakistan's army of spinners was outstanding in Barbados to keep New Zealand down to what seemed a below-par total, but once captain Shahid Afridi was dismissed in the 10th over following a middle-order collapse, the score was 58 for 5 and New Zealand looked in charge.
Butt and Razzaq were the last recognised batting pair, and they played calm cricket, picking 19 off four overs, during which New Zealand's advantage increased. Razzaq had patiently made 5 of 16 deliveries when he gave yet another exhibition of his ability to transform Twenty20 matches, blitzing two mammoth sixes and a four off Vettori in four balls. He had trouble against Shane Bond's short and slow deliveries, missing four in a row, before finishing off the over with a humongous hit that just about stayed in the stadium.
With 26 needed off 18, and two dangerous batsmen at the crease, the Pakistan dug-out was a happier place. Time for the match to swing again: Nathan McCullum, who has been New Zealand's best player this tournament, got one to bounce extra and Razzaq's attempt to again clear long-on ended up as a catch to deep midwicket.
Match Meter
Pak
9th over, Taylor flops: After a promising beginning, New Zealand's top-order buckles, culminating in the dismissal of Ross Taylor for 3 to leave the side at 58 for 4
Pak
17th over, Afridi befuddles: Afridi's changes of pace confuse Gareth Hopkins, who falls in an over that yields only two runs. New Zealand are 105 for 6.
Pak NZ
3rd over, Umar goes first ball: New Zealand claw their way back by nipping out Pakistan's top-order cheaply. Umar Akmal edges to the keeper to leave Pakistan at 25 for 3
NZ
10th over, Bye bye Afridi: A stunning catch from Nathan McCullum sends back Afridi for 11 and Pakistan slide to 58 for 5.
Pak
15th over, Boom boom Razzaq: A six, and then a straight hit for four, followed up by a murderous hit for six more from Razzaq makes it 40 needed off the last five
Pak NZ
18th over, The end of Razzaq: Nathan McCullum's superb tournament continues with a tight four-run over in the death that also accounts for Razzaq
NZ
20th over, Butler pulls it off: After being hit for boundaries on two of the first four balls, Butler pings in a yorker that results in a bye, to make it two needed off the final ball. Rehman hits the length ball offered to a gleeful Guptill in the deep
Advantage Honours even
Butt reached his half-century off the next delivery, and caressed the first ball of the penultimate over beyond deep extra cover for six to keep the game on edge. A series of singles rounded off the over, and made it 11 needed off the final six balls.
Ian Butler, preferred over Jacob Oram, stepped up to bowl. The first four deliveries reflected the game's fluctuating pattern: dot, four, dot, four, as Butt swung-and-missed twice and connected twice. To continue the pattern, Butt missed the next delivery, a yorker just beyond leg stump, but the batsmen sneaked a bye, though Gareth Hopkins hit direct at the keeper's end.
Two required off the final ball, with Abdur Rehman on strike. After lengthy discussions about the field, Butler charged in and served up a length ball on the pads - ripe for the hitting, but it was only struck as far as Martin Guptill at deep square leg. That confirmed Pakistan's defeat and ruined Rehman's first international match in nearly three years, one in which he had been terrific with the ball earlier on.
Rehman had put the skids on New Zealand's top-order after Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder provided New Zealand their first substantial start of the tournament. Guptill was one of several batsmen who were unable to come to terms with the spinners, being beaten several times by Rehman before falling to a diving one-handed catch at long-on by Umar Akmal.
The biggest blows for New Zealand came soon after, in the space of seven deliveries. McCullum, quieter after a series of early fours, top-edged a sweep to deep square leg, following which Ross Taylor, still to make an impact in the World Twenty20, nicked Mohammad Sami to the keeper. New Zealand slid to 58 for 4 in the tenth over, bringing in Vettori to do his familiar firefighting.
Against Shahid Afridi, who was varying his pace cleverly, and Saeed Ajmal, called on to play the Umar Gul-role of bowling four overs straight towards the end of the innings, Vettori was happy to play a series of sweeps and flat-batted hits down the ground to make more than twice his previous Twenty20 high. Vettori chalked up his first two sixes in international Twenty20, and Nathan McCullum finished off the innings with a swipe over midwicket which proved vital in a match so close that the difference between the two team's scores was never more than three at the end of each of the final five overs.
Still, on a pitch that didn't have much sideways movement, and with plenty of true bounce, 133 should have been easily overhauled. But Pakistan's main batsmen, with the exception of Butt, had a tough time against New Zealand's quick bowlers. Kamran Akmal inside-edged a slower ball from Kyle Mills, Mohammad Hafeez was undone by a kicker from Bond, and a short ball from Mills took out Umar for a golden duck. Misbah-ul-Haq's misery ended when he was lbw on his 13th ball for 3, and Afridi fell to a forward-diving blinder from Nathan McCullum at midwicket . Pakistan's top-order matched the limpness of their New Zealand counterparts and set up a low-scoring thriller for the Barbados crowd which has witnessed four one-side matches in two days.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
England fall victim to rain rules
West Indies booked their place in the Super Eights with a controversial rain-assisted victory over England at Providence, as Chris Gayle justified his decision to bowl first with a fiery but shortlived 25 from 12 balls - an innings that proved sufficient, under the provisions of Duckworth-Lewis, to carry West Indies to a revised target of 60 in six overs, after England had produced arguably their finest batting display in the format's history to post an imposing 191 for 5.
England's defeat should not prove costly in the long run, so long as they overcome Ireland in their second group match on Tuesday, but it was nevertheless an unfortunate way for a beautifully poised contest to unravel - and for England it was a case of history repeating itself, after West Indies eliminated them from the last World Twenty20 in a similar scenario at The Oval in June.
The result was more or less a foregone conclusion from the moment that the D/L calculators were brought into play. While the method is unrivalled as a means of resolving rain interruptions in 50-over cricket, it is not so well suited to the hustle and bustle of the 20-over format. It just so happened that the match did come down to the wire - Andre Fletcher eventually sealed it with a pulled four through midwicket with one ball to spare - but it had been a nervy denouement. In a full-length contest, West Indies' challenge might well have petered out as soon as Gayle pulled Graeme Swann to short midwicket in the fourth over.
Instead, Gayle's brief intercession proved sufficient to puncture England's spirits after a hugely impressive performance with the bat. Eoin Morgan top-scored with 55 from 35 balls, and was joined in an 95-run stand for the fifth wicket by Luke Wright, who made 45 from 27, to close the innings with the same positive intent shown by their rookie opening pairing of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter, who showcased their boundary-clearing abilities with scores of 28 from 18 balls and 26 from 14 respectively.
Nevertheless, with rain in the air, Gayle knew exactly how to pace his reply, and turned on the afterburner. Ryan Sidebottom was dispatched for 15 in an opening over in which he beat the bat three times and found the edge once, only to ruin his good work with a leg-side wide and two half-volleys that were belted over the covers for four and six. And at the other end, Shivnarine Chanderpaul turned his stance inside-out to sweep Graeme Swann over point for another six, as England conceded 30 runs in 2.2 overs, and with it, the contest.
Collingwood was understandably frustrated after the match, but England had plenty reason to be proud of their performance. Their total of 11 sixes was a national record for the format, and though neither of the new boys, Kieswetter or Lumb, was able to build on their starts, their alliance was an undoubted success, as demonstrated by England's Powerplay total of 60 for 1, the highest six-over score of the tournament (until West Indies trumped it in their brief reply).
Once they were gone, however, the older guard of Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen struggled to maintain the dominance, as Miller and Darren Sammy found a tidy rhythm to stymie the flow of runs, but when Morgan and Wright came together at 88 for 4 after 10 overs, they did so with the ideal blend of watchfulness and aggression. It wasn't until both men had their eyes in with five overs remaining that they really cut loose.
Kieron Pollard's first over was clobbered for 16 by Wright, including two sixes - one flat over Sulieman Benn's head at long-on, the other high over the midwicket scoreboard. Morgan then drilled Dwayne Bravo for four straight back down the ground, before sweeping him wristily over backward square leg for six, as the fifty partnership was brought up in 6.5 overs.
Ravi Rampaul, who had conceded 25 in his first two overs, was then clobbered for 27 in his third and final over, including three sixes in three legitimate balls - two for Wright and one, from a free hit, for Morgan, who followed up with a cheeky backhanded dink for four that left Collingwood chuckling at his audacity. He brought up his half-century from 32 balls before picking out Pollard in the deep with four balls of the innings remaining. It ought to have been enough for the contest at hand, but instead England will hope it is a marker for the tournament.
England's defeat should not prove costly in the long run, so long as they overcome Ireland in their second group match on Tuesday, but it was nevertheless an unfortunate way for a beautifully poised contest to unravel - and for England it was a case of history repeating itself, after West Indies eliminated them from the last World Twenty20 in a similar scenario at The Oval in June.
The result was more or less a foregone conclusion from the moment that the D/L calculators were brought into play. While the method is unrivalled as a means of resolving rain interruptions in 50-over cricket, it is not so well suited to the hustle and bustle of the 20-over format. It just so happened that the match did come down to the wire - Andre Fletcher eventually sealed it with a pulled four through midwicket with one ball to spare - but it had been a nervy denouement. In a full-length contest, West Indies' challenge might well have petered out as soon as Gayle pulled Graeme Swann to short midwicket in the fourth over.
Instead, Gayle's brief intercession proved sufficient to puncture England's spirits after a hugely impressive performance with the bat. Eoin Morgan top-scored with 55 from 35 balls, and was joined in an 95-run stand for the fifth wicket by Luke Wright, who made 45 from 27, to close the innings with the same positive intent shown by their rookie opening pairing of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter, who showcased their boundary-clearing abilities with scores of 28 from 18 balls and 26 from 14 respectively.
Nevertheless, with rain in the air, Gayle knew exactly how to pace his reply, and turned on the afterburner. Ryan Sidebottom was dispatched for 15 in an opening over in which he beat the bat three times and found the edge once, only to ruin his good work with a leg-side wide and two half-volleys that were belted over the covers for four and six. And at the other end, Shivnarine Chanderpaul turned his stance inside-out to sweep Graeme Swann over point for another six, as England conceded 30 runs in 2.2 overs, and with it, the contest.
Collingwood was understandably frustrated after the match, but England had plenty reason to be proud of their performance. Their total of 11 sixes was a national record for the format, and though neither of the new boys, Kieswetter or Lumb, was able to build on their starts, their alliance was an undoubted success, as demonstrated by England's Powerplay total of 60 for 1, the highest six-over score of the tournament (until West Indies trumped it in their brief reply).
Once they were gone, however, the older guard of Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen struggled to maintain the dominance, as Miller and Darren Sammy found a tidy rhythm to stymie the flow of runs, but when Morgan and Wright came together at 88 for 4 after 10 overs, they did so with the ideal blend of watchfulness and aggression. It wasn't until both men had their eyes in with five overs remaining that they really cut loose.
Kieron Pollard's first over was clobbered for 16 by Wright, including two sixes - one flat over Sulieman Benn's head at long-on, the other high over the midwicket scoreboard. Morgan then drilled Dwayne Bravo for four straight back down the ground, before sweeping him wristily over backward square leg for six, as the fifty partnership was brought up in 6.5 overs.
Ravi Rampaul, who had conceded 25 in his first two overs, was then clobbered for 27 in his third and final over, including three sixes in three legitimate balls - two for Wright and one, from a free hit, for Morgan, who followed up with a cheeky backhanded dink for four that left Collingwood chuckling at his audacity. He brought up his half-century from 32 balls before picking out Pollard in the deep with four balls of the innings remaining. It ought to have been enough for the contest at hand, but instead England will hope it is a marker for the tournament.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
ICC alert to match-fixing threat
The spectre of match-fixing is once again hanging uneasily over cricket and the ICC will be alert to anything untoward during the World Twenty20 in the West Indies, but remain confident they have robust processes in place to keep the game clean.
Rumours abound in India in the wake of the controversial finish to the IPL - all, currently, unproven - while English domestic cricket was recently rocked when it was revealed that two Essex players were under investigation for spot fixing during a Pro40 match last year. Such allegations have raised concerns that the integrity of the game is at stake in the most serious way since the Hanise Cronje scandal in 2000.
With the eyes of the cricket world now trained on the Caribbean it is imperative that the tournament is free from controversy and the game's global governing body continues to put full faith in its Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) which was set-up in the wake of events 10 years ago and which the IPL has refused to use.
"The risk posed by corruption in cricket remains real and even though the ACSU has been hugely successful in combating those who want to harm our great sport, it doesn't mean we can be complacent," an ICC spokesman told Cricinfo. "Everyone involved in cricket must be vigilant and ensure that potential corruptors continue to be marginalized and pushed away from the game.
"The unit continues to be at the forefront of fighting corruption in cricket and also educating the players on the risks and responsibilities. As other sports bodies realise the importance of anti-corruption, the ICC's ACSU is often where they look for advice in how to do that."
Since the ACSU's inception in 2000 it has been led by Paul Condon, the former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. But the ICC is now on the hunt of a new leading man with Condon set to retire in June after a decade of service. However, the ICC has said suggestions that Ravi Sawani, the chief investigator of the ACSU, has also handed in his resignation are wide of the mark.
"I am glad to say there is no truth in the rumour that Ravi Sawani is leaving," the spokesman said. "He is committed to remaining in the job until after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at least and that is good news for the game.
"Ravi is a vastly experienced investigator and has been an excellent addition to the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit since he took over two years ago."
Evidence that no one can be complacent about the international game now being clear of potential match-fixing came at the previous World Twenty20 in England last June when two Australian players were approached at the team hotel in London. The management immediately reported the incident to the ICC, but bookmakers are becoming ever more clever about how they aim to tap the market while the ease of access to matches, through satellite TV and the internet, makes it a vulnerable time.
Rumours abound in India in the wake of the controversial finish to the IPL - all, currently, unproven - while English domestic cricket was recently rocked when it was revealed that two Essex players were under investigation for spot fixing during a Pro40 match last year. Such allegations have raised concerns that the integrity of the game is at stake in the most serious way since the Hanise Cronje scandal in 2000.
With the eyes of the cricket world now trained on the Caribbean it is imperative that the tournament is free from controversy and the game's global governing body continues to put full faith in its Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) which was set-up in the wake of events 10 years ago and which the IPL has refused to use.
"The risk posed by corruption in cricket remains real and even though the ACSU has been hugely successful in combating those who want to harm our great sport, it doesn't mean we can be complacent," an ICC spokesman told Cricinfo. "Everyone involved in cricket must be vigilant and ensure that potential corruptors continue to be marginalized and pushed away from the game.
"The unit continues to be at the forefront of fighting corruption in cricket and also educating the players on the risks and responsibilities. As other sports bodies realise the importance of anti-corruption, the ICC's ACSU is often where they look for advice in how to do that."
Since the ACSU's inception in 2000 it has been led by Paul Condon, the former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. But the ICC is now on the hunt of a new leading man with Condon set to retire in June after a decade of service. However, the ICC has said suggestions that Ravi Sawani, the chief investigator of the ACSU, has also handed in his resignation are wide of the mark.
"I am glad to say there is no truth in the rumour that Ravi Sawani is leaving," the spokesman said. "He is committed to remaining in the job until after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at least and that is good news for the game.
"Ravi is a vastly experienced investigator and has been an excellent addition to the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit since he took over two years ago."
Evidence that no one can be complacent about the international game now being clear of potential match-fixing came at the previous World Twenty20 in England last June when two Australian players were approached at the team hotel in London. The management immediately reported the incident to the ICC, but bookmakers are becoming ever more clever about how they aim to tap the market while the ease of access to matches, through satellite TV and the internet, makes it a vulnerable time.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Brett Lee out of World Twenty20 with arm injury
Brett Lee's hopes of making an international comeback have been dashed by a muscle strain in his right forearm that will force him out of the ICC World Twenty20. Lee suffered the problem during Australia's one-run warm-up loss to Zimbabwe and the team has requested a replacement player, likely to be either Doug Bollinger or Ryan Harris.
The injury is a major blow for Lee, who has not played for his country since October and was making his return from elbow surgery. Lee felt pain after taking 1 for 13 in four overs and later had MRI scans, and a team spokesman said the strain was unrelated to his elbow trouble.
"It's a muscle strain," the team spokesman told AAP. "We have gone to the ICC Technical Committee to ask for a replacement player."
The latest problem will raise further questions over the future of Lee, 33, who retired from Tests in February but wanted to remain a key Twenty20 and one-day player. A broken thumb curtailed his IPL season and although he retained his Cricket Australia contract, his ongoing injury worries must be a concern for the team management.
Australia play their second warm-up game against the Windward Islands on Thursday before their opening match of the tournament proper against Pakistan on Sunday. Bollinger and Harris are the front-runners to replace Lee, having both had strong summers in the shorter formats.
The injury is a major blow for Lee, who has not played for his country since October and was making his return from elbow surgery. Lee felt pain after taking 1 for 13 in four overs and later had MRI scans, and a team spokesman said the strain was unrelated to his elbow trouble.
"It's a muscle strain," the team spokesman told AAP. "We have gone to the ICC Technical Committee to ask for a replacement player."
The latest problem will raise further questions over the future of Lee, 33, who retired from Tests in February but wanted to remain a key Twenty20 and one-day player. A broken thumb curtailed his IPL season and although he retained his Cricket Australia contract, his ongoing injury worries must be a concern for the team management.
Australia play their second warm-up game against the Windward Islands on Thursday before their opening match of the tournament proper against Pakistan on Sunday. Bollinger and Harris are the front-runners to replace Lee, having both had strong summers in the shorter formats.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Afghanistan confident of creating an upset
Afghanistan may have a tough time in the World Twenty20, being slotted in the same group as former champions India, and South Africa, but their coach Kabir Khan, a former Pakistan international, is confident of upsetting the formbook.
"We are excited about facing India. We have been working hard and we want to give them a big fight. We will make it hard for them and hope to make an upset. We are not just going there just to participate," Kabir told AFP.
This will be Afghanistan's first experience of the big stage, and Kabir is preparing them for the challenges, both on and off the field. "Our team is mentally very strong. We have lectures on how to keep calm in front of the cameras and playing in front of big crowds. Wherever we go, we play in front of crowds who support us. But at the big tournaments, they have to get used to fans cheering against them as well," Kabir said.
Allrounder Asghar Stanikzai believes that the pressure is on the other teams since Afghanistan have nothing to lose. "We're kind of the underdog for our group and the pressure is actually really on South Africa and India as to them we're the unknown quantity to take on in this tournament," he said. "We just want to go out there and enjoy each game we play. We're quite excited, we've been waiting for a while to be able to prove ourselves in a big tournament and we've worked really hard to get there and we're really looking forward to the experience."
Batsman Raees Ahmadzai had echoed Kabir and Stanikzai in his predictions for the tournament. "We won't be going out there just for fun," he said. "In Twenty20 cricket anything can happen. It is a form of cricket that we know very well and we will not be easy to beat."
Afghanistan made the cut for the tournament by winning the qualifying tournament in the United Arab Emirates. They begin their campaign against India in St. Lucia on May 1 and then meet South Africa in Barbados on May 5.
"We are excited about facing India. We have been working hard and we want to give them a big fight. We will make it hard for them and hope to make an upset. We are not just going there just to participate," Kabir told AFP.
This will be Afghanistan's first experience of the big stage, and Kabir is preparing them for the challenges, both on and off the field. "Our team is mentally very strong. We have lectures on how to keep calm in front of the cameras and playing in front of big crowds. Wherever we go, we play in front of crowds who support us. But at the big tournaments, they have to get used to fans cheering against them as well," Kabir said.
Allrounder Asghar Stanikzai believes that the pressure is on the other teams since Afghanistan have nothing to lose. "We're kind of the underdog for our group and the pressure is actually really on South Africa and India as to them we're the unknown quantity to take on in this tournament," he said. "We just want to go out there and enjoy each game we play. We're quite excited, we've been waiting for a while to be able to prove ourselves in a big tournament and we've worked really hard to get there and we're really looking forward to the experience."
Batsman Raees Ahmadzai had echoed Kabir and Stanikzai in his predictions for the tournament. "We won't be going out there just for fun," he said. "In Twenty20 cricket anything can happen. It is a form of cricket that we know very well and we will not be easy to beat."
Afghanistan made the cut for the tournament by winning the qualifying tournament in the United Arab Emirates. They begin their campaign against India in St. Lucia on May 1 and then meet South Africa in Barbados on May 5.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Bangladesh target Pakistan upset
Bangladesh's captain and coach, Shakib Al Hasan and Jamie Siddons, are targeting a victory against Pakistan in their opening game of the ICC World Twenty20 on May 1.
"I think there is a possibility for us to beat Pakistan because, at the moment, Pakistan cricket is unsettled with different kinds of crisis and injury problems," Shakib said in Mirpur, prior to the team's departure. "So we have to do something in the first match if we want to play the second round, but that doesn't mean we play bad cricket against other group opponents Australia."
Siddons also felt Pakistan was Bangladesh's best chance but said they would have to play sharp cricket nonetheless. "Both Pakistan and Australia are tough opponents but realistically we have a chance against Pakistan but in that case we need to play well," he said. "The preparation is good and I must say it was much better than the last occasion. The players got the opportunity to play two tournaments - PCL and NCL - recently, which is really good. Some players missed out on runs but I think the wicket was low and slow. But definitely the boys will get consistent pace while playing in Barbados."
Bangladesh had a poor World Twenty20 in England in 2009, getting eliminated in the first round after losing group matches to India and Ireland. Shakib, however, was also pleased with his team's preparation this time. "Nothing could have been better than playing matches before any tournament. I think our preparation is good this time and most importantly we have been playing good cricket for last few months and hope it will continue in West Indies and as well as in the England tour."
"I think there is a possibility for us to beat Pakistan because, at the moment, Pakistan cricket is unsettled with different kinds of crisis and injury problems," Shakib said in Mirpur, prior to the team's departure. "So we have to do something in the first match if we want to play the second round, but that doesn't mean we play bad cricket against other group opponents Australia."
Siddons also felt Pakistan was Bangladesh's best chance but said they would have to play sharp cricket nonetheless. "Both Pakistan and Australia are tough opponents but realistically we have a chance against Pakistan but in that case we need to play well," he said. "The preparation is good and I must say it was much better than the last occasion. The players got the opportunity to play two tournaments - PCL and NCL - recently, which is really good. Some players missed out on runs but I think the wicket was low and slow. But definitely the boys will get consistent pace while playing in Barbados."
Bangladesh had a poor World Twenty20 in England in 2009, getting eliminated in the first round after losing group matches to India and Ireland. Shakib, however, was also pleased with his team's preparation this time. "Nothing could have been better than playing matches before any tournament. I think our preparation is good this time and most importantly we have been playing good cricket for last few months and hope it will continue in West Indies and as well as in the England tour."
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