World Of Cricket

Mumbai: The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) Governing Council has announced the format of 2011 Champions League T20 which will start in India from September 23, 2011 and will end on October 09, 2011.

The 10-team CLT20 will follow the same format as 2010 and will be held in Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata from 23 September to 9 October. Before the tournament kicks off however, a six-team event will be played in Hyderabad from 19-21 September to decide the final three teams that qualify for the main event.

Once again the governing body of CLT20 made it controversial as there is no Pakistani club. With six sides in the qualifier and another seven already confirmed as participants in the tournament. The two stages are explained below:

Stage 1: Qualifier

Date: September 19, 2011 – September 21, 2011

Venue: Hyderabad

A six-team qualifier will be held in Hyderabad from 19-21 September. Kolkata Knight Riders (fourth, IPL), Trinidad and Tobago (Champion, West Indies) and Auckland Aces (Champion, New Zealand) have already been invited to participate, with the teams from Sri Lanka (one) and England (two) yet to be confirmed. The top three teams at the conclusion of the qualifier will advance to the main tournament. The format for the qualifier will be announced soon.

Stage 2: 2011 Champions League Twenty20

Date: September 23, 2011 – October 09, 2011

Venues: Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata

The top three teams from the qualifier will join three IPL teams, two T20 teams from Australia and two from South Africa in the main event. The 10 teams will be divided into two groups of five, and the top two sides from both groups will play the semi-finals.

Seven teams have already been invited to participate – South Australian Redbacks and NSW Blues from Australia, Warriors and Cape Cobras from South Africa, as well as the top three sides from the 2011 IPL, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.

Bengaluru will host the inaugural game on 23 September and along with Chennai will host a semi-final. The 2011 CLT20 Final will be played in Chennai on 9 October.

Competing Teams

Qualifiers:

Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL),  Trinidad and Tobago (West Indies), Auckland Aces (New Zealand), Sri Lanka (Team tbc), England 1 (Team tbc), England 2 (Team tbc).

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to chose the neutral venues of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to host their “home series” against Sri Lanka later this year after the Lankan cricket authorities submitted their estimated expenses for hosting the full series.

“The bid made by the Sri Lankan board is on the higher side. Normally five-star hotels charge around USD 100 per room for visiting teams but the estimated costs we have received recommended a tariff of USD 175 to 180 per night,” a PCB source informed.

Pakistan has been considering Sri Lanka, the UAE and Zimbabwe as possible options to host the coming series in October-November 2011.

The official said that Zimbabwe Cricket Union had also re-entered the race to host the series after initially being slow to respond.

“Zimbabwe is now under consideration as well and they have sought a week’s time to submit their estimated expenses for hosting the series,” the official added.

He said the organizers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi had already submitted their bids.

“We are used to dealing with the people in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as we’ve hosted series there before so we understand each other well,” he said.

Jamaica: The Board of Directors of West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) made some decisions in the board’s meeting for the development and promotion of cricket in West Indies.

There were many issues discussed in the meeting specially to grow-up the relation between players and board. Strategic plan was also made with a mission to manage, develop and promote cricket to the benefit and enjoyment of the West Indian people.

Following are the decisions taken by the ‘Board of Directors’ in a meeting held on June 17, 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica:

West Indies Players Association

1. The WICB will continue to treat WIPA, the representative body of the players, with the highest degree of respect and as a principal partner in West Indies cricket and will continue to engage WIPA on matters pertaining to West Indian players.
2. However, given Mr. Dinanath Ramnarine’s threatening action towards the WICB Chief Executive Officer and the unprofessional conduct of Mr. Ramnarine during a recent meeting on June 14 2011, the Board will no longer engage with Mr. Ramnarine on any issue unless there is a change in his behaviour and conduct.
3. It is the Board’s stated view that Mr. Ramnarine has not demonstrated any willingness to constructively dialogue with the WICB in the best interest of West Indies cricket.
4. The Board has directed management to communicate with WIPA to this effect.

Chris Gayle

WICB Management reported to the Board that the attempts to discuss and resolve issues with Mr. Chris Gayle (as it pertains to his behaviour over the past months) ended inconclusively. The WICB Management will continue efforts to resolve the issues with Mr. Gayle.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

WICB Management met with Mr. Shivnarine Chanderpaul on Saturday June 18^th in what was a fruitful and productive meeting regarding his future involvement in West Indies cricket.

Sulieman Benn

WICB Management will continue to engage Mr. Sulieman Benn in an attempt to resolve issues relating to his discipline and behaviour.

Draft Strategic Plan

The Board approved the Draft Strategic Plan (DSP) following a presentation by the WICB Management.

Regional Super 50

The Board approved the rebranding of the regional 50 over tournament to the “Regional Super50”. The tournament will be played in Guyana and the schedule will be announced at a later date.

Caribbean Twenty20

The Board approved the Caribbean Twenty20 to be played in Trinidad (part preliminary round) and Barbados (part preliminary round, semi-final and final) from January 9^th to 22^nd

Milton Henry

Mr. Milton Henry, newly elected Vice President of the Jamaica Cricket Association, was appointed director of the WICB.

Beach Cricket

The Board approved the event concept for a new WICB initiative – Beach Cricket. Management will execute more work on this initiative and brief the Board at a subsequent meeting.

Jamaica: West Indies defeated India in the last ODI by 7 wickets. Kohli’s 94 went in vain. Russell played a major role by taking 4 wickets.

Toss: West Indies won the toss and elected to field.

India Innings

Dhawan and Patel failed to provide a good start to India but Kohli and Sharma stuck at the crease for sometime and scored 94 and 57 runs respectively.

Kohli went back to pavilion without scoring hundred after getting run-out whereas Sharma was cleaned up by Martin.

Tiwari and Pathan scored 22 & 30 runs respectively. It was a miserable performance by the openers and lower-order batsmen.

Andre Russell took 4 wickets for 35 runs in 8.3 overs, Roach & Pollard took 2, 2 wickets and Martin took 1 wicket. West Indies bowlers gave 21 extra runs. The complete team of India was back in pavilion after loosing its all 10 wickets at the score of 251 in 47.3 overs.

Virat Kohli scored 94 runs

West Indies Innings

Vinay Kumar who was playing his 3rd ODI took the golden wicket of Simmons in the 5th over. The other opener, Barath was trapped by Mishra in the 16th over.

The score of West Indies was 53/2 in 15.2 overs. Then Ramnaresh Sarwan and Darren Bravo made a partnership of 103 runs. Mr. Sarwan was retired in the 38th over at the score of 75 (FOURS: 5 , SIX: 1) because of pain.

But the journey of cruising continued as Bravo kept punishing Indian bowlers, he scored 86 runs off 99 balls and struck 6 wonderful SIXES and 3 FOURS.

After his departure, 39 runs were required off 29 balls. Samuels and Pollard chased the target successfully by adding 28 & 24 runs respectively.

West Indies scored 255/3 in 48.4 overs. Indian bowling wasn’t up to mark as they gave 19 extra runs (lb 9, w 9, nb 1). Ashwin who was the key for India went for 50 runs in his 10 overs. Mishra took 2 wickets for 46 runs in 10.0 overs and Vinay took 1 wicket for 46 in 9.0 overs.

Darren Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan put on 103 for the third wicket

Result: West Indies won by 7 wickets.

Man Of The Match: Andre Russell (West Indies)

Winner of the Series: India won by 3-2.

Man Of The Series: Rohit Sharma (India)

Andre Russell gets a new BlackBerry from Pearls Rep Sukhdev Singh

Comments from the captains of both teams, from man of the match and from man of the series:

Darren Sammy (Captain of West Indies): ”Credit to all the bowlers who came back very well. looked like we would chase 300 at one stage. We all know what Bravo is capable of doing. It was a decision we had to take, Sarwan was cramping, thought it would be good for the team if a new batter came in. We have to start well in the future. The wicket looks like a good one and will suit us for the Test.”

Suresh Raina (Captain of India): ”Now that we have won the series it is important to enjoy the moment. I would say we were short by 25-30 runs. They bowled well in the end. I was looking good, I need to spend some time in the middle, I just can’t go in and play big shots, will look to have a couple of sessions with the coach.”

Andre Russell (Man Of The Match): ”We have been playing good cricket over the past two games. Being positive, get the ball in the right areas, was a good wicket to bowl on in the morning. One or two of the Indian batsmen are not accustomed to the short ball, so I tried to use it as a surprise weapon, but when I did, I put everything in it.”

Rohit Sharma (Man Of The Series): ”Now that we have won the series it is important to enjoy the moment. I would say we were short by 25-30 runs. They bowled well in the end. I was looking good, I need to spend some time in the middle, I just can’t go in and play big shots, will look to have a couple of sessions with the coach.”

Indian team with the series trophy

Jamaica: The West Indies Cricket Board today announced that Umpire Norman Malcolm has been shifted to the 3^rd umpire role and Joel Wilson will be one of the standing umpires for the 5^th Digicel Pearls One Day International at Sabina Park on Thursday.

Trinidadian umpire, Joel Wilson will stand in his maiden One Day International alongside Ian Gould.

Umpire Malcolm was originally appointed to stand in the match but has a physical injury which does not allow him to perform the on field duties.

He is however fully able to perform the less physically strenuous 3^rdUmpire duties and has been appointed for same.

Barbadian umpire Gregory Brathwaite will perform the 4^thofficial duties.

Match Officials appointments:

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe

Standing Umpires: Ian Gould & Joel Wilson

3^rd Umpire: Norman Malcolm

4^th Umpire: Gregory Brathwaite

Antigua: West Indies defeated India by 103 runs. Simmons and Pollard played exceptional innings but Anthony Martin stole the ‘Man Of The Match’ award with his key performance.

Toss: India won the toss and elected to field.

Keanu Thomas with WI and India Captains Sammy and Raina

West Indies Innings

This time ‘Black Wind’ opened their innings with Simmons and Hyatt but the new pair also failed to provide a good start as Sharma took the wicket of Hyatt in the 2nd over.

The experienced batsman Sarwan came in to make a partnership with Simmons but a couple of overs later, Sarwan became the victim of Parveen Kumar.

In this serious situation, Darren Bravo took the guard and came in to stabilise the innings of Windies. He added 53 runs with Simmons but then got out. Bravo scored only 15 runs. The new batsman Marlon Samuels tried to lift the innings but failed in front of Mishra.

4 wickets at the score of 89 cracked the batting line-up of West Indies. Thanks to Pollard who used his talent and took Windies out of this trouble.

His partnership with Simmons was for a limited time as Simmons got run-out after scoring 67 runs off 78 balls, he hit 3 FOURS & 3 SIXES.

The score of West Indies was 103/5 in 26.4 overs. But then Baugh resisted in front of Indian bowling attack and supported Pollard in playing big innings.

At the score of 199 in 44.2 overs, Pollard got out at the ball of Ashwin. Kieron Pollard scored 70 runs off 72 balls and struck 6 FOURS & 2 SIXES.

Baugh & Russell added 41 runs together off 24 balls. In the last over of Kumar, first Baugh and then Pollard got out. Baugh scored 39 runs off 57 balls (FOURS: 3) and Russell scored 25 runs off 14 balls (FOURS: 3 , SIXES: 1).

Whereas Sammy and Roach remained not-out at the score of 1 & 4 respectively. Parveen Kumar took 3 wickets for 37 runs, Amit Mishra took 2 wickets for 56 runs. Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin took 1, 1 wicket for 60 and 39 runs respectively.

West Indies scored 249 runs in 50 overs and sacrificed their 8 wickets. Indian bowlers gave 18 extra-runs.

Kieron Pollard scored 70 runs off 72 balls

India Innings

With the new opening pair of Patel and Tiwary, India started the run-chase. This experiment proved to be a failure when Tiwary got out in the 6th over at the score of 2.

In the 10th over, Patel who was on 26 also got out. The skipper of the West Indies, Sammy was in the air after taking the wickets of openers.

Kohli and Badrinath tried to handle the situation but both got out one-by-one in a short interval of time. Kohli scored 22 runs and Badrinath scored 12 runs. The score of India was 82/4 in 21.0 overs.

Captain of the ship Suresh Raina also failed to find the right path. Yusuf Pathan who was optimistic with the bat in the tour of South Africa before the World Cup continued his miserable batting.

Rohit Sharma who was awesome in this series became the victim of Martin at the score of 39. This sudden fall changed the scenario of the game, now the score of India was 124/7 in 31.0 overs. The last three wickets fell in no time.

The complete team of India was back in pavilion at the end of 39 overs. They scored only 146 runs. It was a fabulous performance by West Indies after loosing the first 3 ODI’s.

West Indian bowlers gave 8 extra-runs. Martin bowled superbly and took 4 wickets for 36 runs in 10 overs, Russell took 3 wickets for 16 runs in 7 overs,  Sammy took 2 wickets for 43 runs in 9 overs and Simmons took a wicket for 3 runs in 1 over.

Rohit Sharma fell for the first time in the series

Result: West Indies won by 103 runs.

Man Of The Match: Anthony Martin (West Indies)

Highlights: Coming soon.

Martin accepts his Pearls Man of the Match Cheque from Pearls Representatives at the match presentation