World Of Cricket

Hambantota: The hosts Sri Lanka will be the one to start the ICC World Twenty20 2012 against Zimbabwe. Huge crowed is expected as the home team will be looking to mark impressive victory.

ICC World Twenty20 2012 – Match 1 : Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

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Sri Lankan team under the command of Mahela Jayawardene are ready to send a strong message to all the participants by winning the starter whereas Zimbabwe under the leadership of Brendan Taylor; the least favourite of winning the tournament is determined to upset the hosts.

The sizzler, the yorker specialist; yes the Malinga will be a treat to watch as his fans all around the world are expecting his toe crushers. From Zimbabwean side, it’ll be their captain Taylor from which not only their fans but also players of opposite teams are expecting a good fight, both as a captain and as a batsman.

Probable XI for Sri Lanka:

Dilshan Munaweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Akila Dananjaya.

Probable XI for Zimbabwe:

Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Elton Chigumbura/ Malcolm Waller, Prosper Utseya Graeme Cremer, Richard Muzhange, Kyle Jarvis, Chris Mpofu.

Weather situation:

Showers are expected in the morning and afternoon but at night when the match will start, it’ll be partly cloudy.

At the time of match: 27°C – 96% humidity – visibility will be good

Pitch Condition:

It may have something for seamers but not much turn for spinners. Matches played here have been low scoring but because of the explosive batsmen in the Sri Lankan line-up we can expect a high scoring game (if SL bats first). Boundaries have been made shorter because of the T20 mode.

What mind of captains speaks?

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said: “Having looked at the wicket I’m pretty confident that it will be much better than what it has been, and there should be plenty of runs.”

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor said: ”We’ve got some good strikers in the top order, some good spinners and young, talented fast bowlers that will bowl well at the death. If we get those things right, it will be tough for Sri Lanka.”

worldocricket.com prediction:

Sri Lanka will beat Zimbabwe easily by huge margin of either runs or wickets.

Birmingham: West Indies’ Denesh Ramdin has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the third Test between England and the West Indies, which ended in a draw on Monday at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Denesh Ramdin has a message to broadcast on getting to his ton, England v West Indies, 3rd Test, Edgbaston, 4th day, June 10, 2012 © Getty Images

Ramdin was charged on Monday morning with a Level 1 offence, contrary to clause 2.1.8 (a), which relates to “conduct contrary to the spirit of the game”.

Ramdin pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction so there was no need for a formal hearing.

The incident took place during the West Indies innings on Sunday when, in the 121st over, while celebrating his second Test century, Ramdin withdrew a note from his pocket in an obviously premeditated fashion to show to the public.

Roshan Mahanama of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, explaining his decision, said: “It is important that we do not allow a precedent to be set with such a premeditated celebration by Mr Ramdin. We all understand the importance of celebrating a milestone, however, one should not use that time as an opportunity to hit out at one’s critic or send messages to the world.

“I hope Mr Ramdin has learnt his lesson from this incident and that we will not see such behaviour by him or any player in the future when celebrating an achievement within a game of international cricket.”

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Tony Hill and Kumar Dharmasena and third umpire Aleem Dar, all from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, as well as fourth official David Millns.

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee.

Lahore: ICC umpire Aleem Dar appreciated former Pakistani captain Imran Khan for giving an idea of bringing neutral umpires.

Aleem Dar - Umpire from ICC Elite Panel

Winner of three consecutive ICC Umpire of the Year awards in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar has rejected the suggestion that with the introduction of Decision Review System (Decision Review System), neutral umpires in cricket matches should be done away with.

In an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, Dar said he doesn’t think the concept of neutral umpires in international cricket should be negated, and also appreciated former Pakistan captain Imran Khan’s idea of bringing neutral umpires to international cricket.

When asked whether he thinks with the introduction of DRS and other technology in international cricket, neutral umpires should be done away with, Dar replied: “No I disagree. I must appreciate Imran Khan’s idea of bringing neutral umpires to international cricket.”

“I’m very grateful that I’ve been the top ranking umpire for the last 3 years but the opportunity to umpire in the Ashes is just something special and I would not have had that opportunity if it had not been for the introduction of neutral umpires,” he added.

Dar also revealed he feels more stress while umpiring in a match involving Pakistan than any others, including the extremely demanding Ashes series.

“Umpiring in the Ashes series is very tough due to the intensity, but I feel more pressure umpiring a match involving Pakistan than I do in any other match,” he said.

Dubai: Guest team will visit at the end of April to play an ODI & a T20I, Bangladeshi officials said ‘yes’ after making a deal with PCB on the seat of vice-president of ICC : Sources. The meeting of ICC Executive Board will start from tomorrow in Dubai. In the light of Woolf report, it’ll be considered to reduce the influence of Test playing nations.

The objection of India raised doubts; is it possible that a single one out of 65 recommendations will be accepted because critics think that India is the most influential nation in the ICC.

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Bangladesh Cricket Team is agreed to tour Pakistan for playing small series of 2 matches. Guest team will visit Pakistan in 3 weeks. The efforts of the chairman Mr. Zaka Ashraf of Pakistan Cricket Board at last bore fruit.

Express paper added that in result of the efforts of PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf and CEO Subhan Ahmed and after meeting with them in Dubai, President of Bangldesh Cricket Board – Mustafa Kamal is ready to send his team on the brief tour of Pakistan.

Bangladesh Cricket Team will arrive in Pakistan in 3 weeks to play 2 limited-overs  matches (1 T20I & 1 ODI). With the arrival of the team, the international cricket will also return to Pakistan after 3 years. It must be remembered that the doors of international cricket in Pakistan are closed because of the March 03, 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lanka Cricket Team.

On Sunday – April 15, 2012; Bangladesh Cricket Board formally announced that they’ll tour Pakistan at the end of April to play an ODI & and a T20I. The ODI is scheduled for April 29 and the T20I for April 30. Both matches will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Sources told that PCB officials have once again assured their counterparts of providing president protocol in terms of security to the guest team.

BCB officials have agreed on sending their team in result of a ‘deal’ with PCB on the seat of vice-president of International Cricket Council (ICC). funny or factPCB has fasten its seat belt for supporting Bangladesh for the seat of vice-president of ICC after the fresh assurance made by BCB.

In addition, the 2-day meeting of the ICC Executive Board will start from Sunday in Dubai, in which council will consider the recommendations of Woolf report to make big reforms in their current setup. In result of these reforms, the influence of test playing nations will be reduced, transparency will be created significantly in its matters and the process of accountability will begin. Less important recommendations of the report can be accepted.

In other matters of the meeting, the successor of Alan Isaac – vice-president of ICC may be elected. This candidate for this position is the current president Mr. Mustafa Kamal of Bangladesh Cricket Board.

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Strong test playing nation – India is the biggest hurdle in the approval of the recommendations of Woolf report who already rejected it. BCCI adopted the stance in the meeting held in February that there is no justification to change the current setup. The objection of India raised doubts; is it possible that a single one out of 65 recommendations will be accepted because critics think that India is the most influential nation in the ICC.

“If India objects to the main recommendations of the Woolf review, then there is next to no chance of the recommendations being enacted,” said Lawrence Booth, the editor of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. “You are asking the powerful nations to cede their power. It just doesn’t happen.”

It must be clear that the report which consists of 68 pages emphasized the ICC to do complete overhauling, it says that ICC is now a governing body of cricket not the ‘club’ of test playing nations. In the best interest of the cricket which is an international sport, ICC should be empowered to promote and develop this sport.

The most important recommendation is to reduce the influence of test playing nations, it is suggested in the recommendations to rebuild and empower the executive board of ICC. The voice of the associate and affiliate countries must be made effective. Currently, 10 permanent members are part of board with voting rights but the suggestion is to give membership to 3 more independent countries and the chairman of the board should also be independent.

It is also suggested in the report to simplified the procedure of giving permanent membership to the associate and affiliate nations and the income of cricket should be distributed on the basis of necessity. The extra income of ICC must be divided in all cricket playing nations; currently permanent members get 70% of the income.

Various measures to take rid of corruption in test playing nations are also suggested in the report, it is also mentioned to take review of the ‘conflict of interests’ between the member nations and it must also be solved.

In compared to India, the reaction of the member nations is very low whereas Pakistan Cricket Board agreed to review some of its part. CEO of Cricket Australia James Sutherland said that the board would “be silly” to reject the recommendations of the Woolf report outright.

Transparency International also has weighed in, calling for the board to approve the ethics and anti-corruption measures and including a swift timetable for their implementation.

Dubai: Cricket’s governing body in Asia (ACC) on Monday rejected a complaint from Bangladesh that one of their batsman was obstructed by a Pakistani bowler in their recent Asia Cup final defeat.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had also turned down the complaint © AFP

The complaint was rejected on the grounds that it was not reported by on-field umpires, an official said.

Ashraful Huq, chief executive of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), said Bangladesh officially complained about the last over of the final, which Bangladesh narrowly lost.

“We had received Bangladesh’s complaint but since the incident was not reported by the on-field umpires nothing can be done,” Ashraful told AFP from Kuala Lumpur.

Bangladesh had appealed to the ACC to review the final over, accusing Pakistani paceman Aizaz Cheema of deliberately blocking batsman Mahmudullah Riyad from taking a second run.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by two runs to lift the four-nation Asia Cup after a thrilling final on Thursday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had expressed disappointment over Bangladesh’s complaint, calling it an “after thought” after defeat.

Ashraful, who also hailed from Bangladesh, said the International Cricket Council (ICC) had also turned down the complaint.

“It could have happened then and there, in the final but since umpires and match-referee did not take any action then, so the matter is closed,” said Ashraful.

“I think the Bangladesh team played so well in the whole tournament, beating India and Sri Lanka — World Cup 2011 finalists — was no mean achievement and although they lost the final, the Bangladesh team won millions of hearts.”

Dubai: Following a report in The Sunday Times (UK) newspaper, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has dismissed the claim that it is investigating the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between India and Pakistan.

ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat confirmed that ICC is not investigating 2011 World Cup, Semi-Final © Getty Images

In a statement, the ICC Chief Executive Mr Haroon Lorgat said: “The story carried by the newspaper, in which it has claimed that the ICC is investigating the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between India and Pakistan, is baseless and misleading. The ICC has no reason or evidence to require an investigation into this match.

“It is indeed sad for spurious claims to be made which only serve to cause doubt on the semi-final of one of the most successful ICC Cricket World Cups ever.”

In keeping with its policy, the ICC will make no further comment on matters pertaining to the Anti-Corruption and Safety Unit (ACSU).