All posts by csb10.top

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been detained by authorities in Dubai on suspicion of possessing drugs. The fast bowler, who tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone nearly two years ago, was held back by airport authorities on Sunday. According to a PCB official already in Dubai, no charges have yet been brought against Asif, though he remains in the detention centre at Dubai International Airport.Nadeem Akram, a senior board official who is in Dubai handling the case, said officials had not yet identified what the substance is. “It has been sent to a lab for testing but we do not know yet what it is,” Akram, in Dubai since Sunday, told Cricinfo.Akram also stressed that Asif hadn’t yet been arrested and that he had been detained. “No charges have been brought yet. We have a lawyer here and he is due to meet the public prosecutor at 12.30pm Dubai time. We will know more about the case after their meeting.”Akram has been in constant touch with Asif, who was understandably “shattered” by the events, but maintained that he did not know what the substance was and had been carrying it in his wallet for several months.Earlier, a PCB official told Cricinfo that Asif “has been held since the day before yesterday in Dubai. So far the authorities haven’t told us much but that it is on suspicion of possessing a contraband item.” Dubai’s laws on drug possession and use are among the strictest in the region, though the top hierarchy of the PCB has always enjoyed close ties with leaders in the United Arab Emirates.The Pakistan board was to hold a press conference about the issue in the afternoon but decided to push it back till 4.30pm (PST), presumably to wait and hear developments from the meeting between Asif’s lawyer and the public prosecutor.Asif, along with Shoaib Akhtar, tested positive in an internal dope test conducted by the Pakistan board in October 2006. He was initially banned for one year, though the ban was overturned on appeal a month later. Since then, one of the most promising fast bowlers on the world circuit has been dogged by a long-standing elbow problem. The injury had already taken the sheen away from a prodigious start to his international career and this new development is likely to do so even more.

Police in the riot-torn state of Gujarat are stepping up security for three upcoming one-day internationals between India and West Indies amid fears that Hindu-Muslim hostilities could erupt at the cricket venues.Cricketing authorities said they would also screen unruly fans from entering stadiums in Ahmedabad, Baroda and Rajkot, where the three international matches will be held – beginning Tuesday in Rajkot.”Since the state has witnessed communal riots and a terrorist attack at the Akshardham Temple, we are taking all measures to ensure the safety of spectators,” Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) president Nihar Amin said.”The hotels where the players will stay and the buses in which they will travel will be checked. And before the players come on the ground, it will checked thoroughly by explosives experts,” said GCA executive member Hitesh Patel.”As there is a security threat, spectators will not be allowed to carry food boxes, water bottles, firecrackers, radios, mobile telephones or any object which can be used to cause trouble or a stampede,” he said.At least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the religious bloodbath that erupted in February after a Muslim mob attacked a train carrying Hindu activists and burned to death 58 of them in the Gujarat town of Godhra.Sporadic rioting has continued in Gujarat, where the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP party has been widely blamed for not stemming the riots.In September, communal tensions resurfaced when two Islamic guerrillas attacked Gujarat’s revered temple of Akshardham and killed 28 Hindu devotees before being gunned down by commandos.Officials said extra precautions would be taken in Ahmedabad – the hub of the sectarian violence – where the fourth tie of the seven-match one-day series will be played on Friday.They said some 1,500 armed policemen will be deployed at the city’s 55,000 seat capacity Modera Stadium.

Kapil Dev has once again expressed the view that India can win the World Cup. And emphasizing on the “team work” that the Indians have produced of late, Ravi Shastri is the latest to jump on this upbeat bandwagon. And of course all over the country, and one suspects abroad too, cricket followers are chanting the mantra that India will win the World Cup.

I wish I could share this optimistic mood when it comes to analyzing India’s chances at the World Cup. But I am afraid I remain pessimistic. With just over two months left for the mega-event to commence there are three very important factors that are governing my rapidly increasing negative mood ­ the past, the present and the future.Let’s quickly examine the past record of India in the World Cup. In 1975 and 1979, India were novices in the field and predictably enough were eliminated at the preliminary stage. If a Test nation suffers its most inglorious moment when it loses to an associate member, then, India suffered that humiliation when they went down to Sri Lanka in 1979.The unexpected triumph in 1983 still constitutes the greatest moment in Indian cricket. Outsiders at 66 to one, Kapil’s Devil’s, as they were imaginatively labeled, surprised the cricketing world. The one cautionary note that triumph served was that from then on great things would be expected every time from an Indian team in the World Cup.What’s that adage again about it being hard to reach the top but it being harder to stay there? Realistically speaking, the Reliance Cup in 1987 represented India’s best chance to win the title again. The team had huge factors in their favour. They were the defending champions, the nucleus of the trophy-winning side was still intact and they were playing at home in familiarenvirons.The build up to the title defence was terrific and the crowd was behind them to a man. A semifinal spot was theirs for the asking for starters, and they did well too in the preliminary stage winning five straight games following a one-run loss to Australia in the tournament opener. And then, as everyone knows, the dream run and the dream itself was shattered by England in the penultimate round.In Australiasia in 1992, India never had a realistic chance, though, few expected them to finish as low as seventh among nine teams in the preliminary stage. However, hopes were renewed four years later when India were co-hosts again.This time too the Indians flattered only to deceive, being outplayed by ultimate champions Sri Lanka in the riot-torn semifinal at Calcutta. And despite all the hype surrounding their campaign for the 1999 tournament in England there was again never any realistic chance of India making much progress. They just about made it to the Super Six stage and that remained the extent of their challenge.So the net result is that in seven competitions, India have finished winners once and semifinalists twice. The past then does not inspire confidence. Much the same sentiments can be expressed when it comes to the present.A lot has been made of the NatWest Trophy triumph in England and the sharing of the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. Notable as these feats are, the fact remains that teams like Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa were not among the contestants in the NatWest Trophy while it must not be forgotten that the Champions Trophy was held in the sub-continent where India have always performed well.The conditions in South Africa are very different and to compound matters, India does not enjoy a very good record in that country. Yes, on present form, the team perhaps deserves a place in the Super Six, something confirmed by the latest team rankings but anything above that will have to be considered a bonus.And now to the future. India are in the much tougher Pool A. The other teams in the group are defending champions Australia, England, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Holland and Namibia.The challenge of Holland and Namibia can be discounted. Associate members at the most have pulled off the upset victory in the World Cup ­ besides Sri Lanka defeating India in 1979, we have had Zimbabwe beating Australia in 1983, Zimbabwe upsetting England in 1992, Kenya shocking the West Indies in 1996 and Bangladesh surprising Pakistan in 1999 ­ but have not progressed beyond the preliminary stage. That still leaves four tough matches against Australia, England, Pakistan and Zimbabwe and India will have to win at least two of these to be in the running for a place in the Super Six.That’s easier said than done. Incidentally, the other group comprises South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Canada and Kenya. So there you have it. On past record, present form and a cursory glance at the future (the draw for the World Cup) it is not going to be an easy passage for India. As I said, anything beyond the Super Six must be considered a bonus. But then in 1983 even qualifying for the semifinal was thought to be out of the question. So, then, what was that adage again about man living on hope?

The England and Yorkshire pace bowler Darren Gough has been advised to resthis injured right knee for a further two weeks after seeing a specialist inSheffield yesterday.The rest period is designed to allow time for the inflammation in Darren’sknee to subside and he will not be available for selection for the 2ndnpower Test at Trent Bridge.Darren underwent a scan yesterday that revealed no further damage to hisknee. He will see the specialist again in a fortnight’s time for a furtherre-assessment of the injury and it is hoped that he will be given theall-clear to resume training thereafter.

Steve Harmison’s spirits have lifted considerably after a vastly improved performance against Western Australia on day one of the Perth warm-up. His tour had got off to a wretched start in the opening game at Lilac Hill last week.”It wasn’t brilliant today, but it was a lot better than at Lilac Hill andthere’s been a little bit of an improvement since then,” he said. “I was possibly trying too hard during that first match, but it was a one-day game andI’ve never really played much one-day cricket.”My confidence was dented a touch and I struggled early on, but I started to get some rhythm today and it felt a lot better. I’m gradually getting my confidence to where I want it to be and I want to get better and better.”Hopefully I can get some more overs under my belt in the next couple of weeks and get my rhythm fully back from that.”

B.A.T.Sports Cricket Club have installed a new club secretary since the beginning of the season.South coast newcomer Stephen Jones, who advertised his services as scorer and statistician on the Southern Premier League web-site during the winter after moving from Norwich, has taken over from Stephen Buss with immediate effect.He can be contacted at:
Stephen G. Jones,
18 Collett Close,
Hedge End,
Southampton,
Hampshire, SO30 2RR.Contacts: 01489 789581 (home),
07815 458949 (mobile),
e-mail: [email protected]

I had the privilege to see much of Ben Hollioake’s cricket over recent summers at the Oval and other grounds. It was a frequently frustrating experience, for him probably more than others, as he struggled to nail down the form that saw him explode onto the cricket world with his mesmerising strokeplay in the 1997 Benson & Hedges Cup final, and again with his 63 against the Australians that summer.It was as though he had too much talent, and for the next three summers he battled to hone both his own ability and the final finishing skills of the game he loved to play. There were superb spells of bowling and dazzling cameos with the bat, and there was always his electric fielding, but never the coming together of brilliance and focus to fulfil the potential that those around him knew he possessed. At times, even his big-hearted character couldn’t hide how much the disappointments hurt.In the 2001 season, though, it seemed that his work was beginning to pay the dividends that it deserved. He seemed far more able to concentrate in the nets, and at the crease – in a season when Surrey barely turned up for the National League – his fluid strokeplay and increasingly effective one-day bowling came close to keeping the county in the first division almost unaided. As in 1997, he set the Benson & Hedges Cup alight. His wickets against Hampshire, 50 against Kent in the group stage, and a scintillating 39 not out as Surrey built their total of 361 against Notts in the semi-final were just the appetisers.That victory set up another date at Lord’s, where his brother Adam had taken a gamble on the strength of the side’s batting and opted to bat on a dark, grey morning, Ben came to the crease with the score on 118 for five after a flurry of wickets had fallen. Before the big crowd he did that of which he was capable.Responding to the still-swinging ball with equanimity, and answering the sledging with a smile and a dreamily struck boundary, he took the game away from Gloucestershire and deservedly earned the Man-of-the-Match award for the second time in his two final appearances.His one-day heroics saw him return to the England fold, for which his ability undoubtedly qualified him. In a difficult competition for England against the two strongest sides in the world, he produced some exceptional individual performances. But probably the most significant moment came against Yorkshire in the penultimate game of the season when, in company with Mark Ramprakash, he scored his maiden first-class century. His timing and forcefulness were such that everyone in the ground felt certain that the long-awaited achievement would be the first of many.When rumours that Ben might be leaving Surrey for another county circulated, there was one central feature to conversations among the county’s fans. The Oval would not be the same without him; his ready smile and the sparklehe brought to the game would be much missed. Although he did not live to fulfil his potential, he had rare and special qualities in a sportsman. He was liquid in his skill, unfailingly charming and utterly full of life. He played the gamein a way that sent children scurrying to find a bat and ball.

India A were battling to save their second four-dayer against South Africa A at the end of the third day’s play at Bloemfontein. They will begin the final day 91 runs in the arrears with seven second innings wickets in hand.South Africa A, who began the day on 313 for four, were well-served by overnight not out batsmen Hashim Amla and Robin Peterson. The duo added a further 80 runs before Amla fell to left-arm spinner Murali Kartik. The 19-year-old KwaZulu-Natal batsman, who has had an impressive season, made a sedate 82 off 191 balls with seven fours.Peterson, however, ploughed on to raise his maiden first-class hundred. The southpaw, who hit as many as 16 boundaries in a 251-minute stay, made 108 before becoming Kartik’s second victim of the day.The Indian left-arm spinner, who had earlier top-scored in the Indian first-innings, bowled a teasing line and length to snare two more wickets before the end of the hosts’ innings. Medium-pacer Debasis Mohanty was the other successful bowler on the day for India, claiming the last two South Africa A wickets.The hosts, then, made 469 in their first innings, gaining a healthy lead of 178. For India, Kartik claimed six wickets for 101 runs while Mohanty, for his part, claimed three wickets.India A, who were batting to save the match, saw their second innings get off to a terrible start. Gautam Gambhir, the India A opener, who had scored a double-hundred in Zimbabwe’s tour-opener in India, was trapped lbw by Andre Nel for 9 with the score on 18 in the ninth over.Fortunately, the other opener Amit Pagnis, made a handy 27, putting on 47 runs for the second wicket with his vice-captain Mohammad Kaif to save the tourists from falling into dire straits.However, the almost immediate loss of India A captain Jacob Martin, who has been having a dreadful run with the bat, meant that Kaif, batting on 39, and Yuvraj Singh, batting on seven, were saddled with the onerous responsibility of bailing the Indians out when play resumes on Monday.The two men, who have both turned out for India, will know that they have to bat out at least two sessions on the final day to save the match and would be hoping to put their best foot forward as early blows could devastate their team’s chances of saving the match.

Mumbai were held to a draw by Gujarat in the West Zone Under-14 match atthe Elf Vengsarkar ground in Mumbai on Wednesday. The hosts bagged fivepoints for the first innings lead while the visitors went home with threepoints in the kitty.On Monday, Gujarat skipper Rajdeep Darbar won the toss and decided toparade his side’s batting skills. They did well to score 308 all out in102.4 overs. Healthy contributions from the lower order helped Gujaratreach the 300 run mark. Wicketkeeper Kuldeep Gadhavi topscored with 61 off82 balls with 12 hits to the fence. Vinay Panchal returned unbeaten on 53off 90 balls with seven hits to the fence. The skipper chipped in with 49off 77 balls with 11 hits to the fence. Skipper Shoeb Shaikh bagged fivefor 63 with his medium pacers.In reply, the hosts rattled up 430 in 106 overs before being dismissed.Prashant Naik made a fluent century as the innings revolved around him. He was dismissed for 103 off 204 balls with 13 hits to the fence. Shoeb Shaikh chipped in with a breezy 78 off 81 balls with seven hits to the fence. The highlight of the innings was a 139-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 34 overs between Naik and Shaikh. The Mumbai innings had as many as four run outs.The visitors batted to their hearts content in their second essay. OpenerSunny Patel scored 109 off 124 balls with 17 boundaries. Mrunal Patel remained unbeaten on 71 off 156 balls with 12 hits to the fence. Gujarat ended the day on 225 for three off 67 overs, thus earning a honourable draw.

It’s one of the more amazing feats in New Zealand’s cricket history, and by the beauty of modern technology it has been enshrined for all time.The feat is the scoring of triple centuries for New Zealand.It has been done only five times, and all five players were from Dunedin, four of them members of the Albion Cricket Club in Dunedin. The fifth was from the neighbouring Carisbrook Cricket Club.In honour of the fact Dunedin computer expert Richard Dingwall produced a computer generated photograph of all five participants.The odd man out, if he could be called that, was Carisbrook player Roger Blunt, the first of the triple century club.He scored his 338 not out for Otago against Canterbury at Lancaster Park on December 26-27 in 1931.Next was the recently deceased champion left-hander Bert Sutcliffe, who scored two triples centuries. The first of 355 was against Auckland at Carisbrook on December 31, 1949 and January 2, 1950. The second, the world record for a left-hander was 385 for Otago against Canterbury at Lancaster Park on December 26 and 27, 1952.Glenn Turner, New Zealand’s leading run scorer achieved his triple, as his 100th century for Worcestershire against Warwickshire at New Road, Worcester on May 29 1982. He finished on 311 not out.Ken Rutherford was playing for New Zealand against D B Close’s XI at Scarborough on the 1986 tour of England when he scored his 317 on September 1.And last year on September 9 and 10, Mark Richardson completed the quintet when scoring 306 for New Zealand against Zimbabwe A at Kwekwe.The five are pictured in front of the Albion Pavilion at Culling Park on April 28, 2001.They are: back, from left, Ken Rutherford and Roger Blunt; front, Mark Richardson, Bert Sutcliffe and Glenn Turner.