Stuart Broad, the England fast bowler, has been fined 50% of his match fee for showing dissent towards an umpire’s decision during the second ODI against Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jul-2011Stuart Broad, the England fast bowler, has been fined 50% of his match fee for showing dissent towards an umpire’s decision during the second ODI against Sri Lanka after using “unacceptable and offensive” remarks at Billy Bowden.He was found guilty of a Level 2 breach of Article 2.2.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Broad admitted to the offence after it had been brought to the match referee Alan Hurst’s notice by the on-field umpires, Bowden and Richard Kettleborough. There was no need for a hearing and he was promptly fined.”The charge related to an incident in the final over of the Sri Lanka innings when Broad appealed for an lbw [against Jeevan Mendis], which was turned down. As he left the field he made some unacceptable and offensive remarks to umpire Bowden about that decision,” an ICC statement said.”Accepting an umpire’s decision is an essential feature of cricket and part of the game’s unique spirit,” Hurst said. “Stuart’s behaviour was not acceptable in any form of cricket, and as a well-established member of his country’s national side and current captain of the Twenty20 international team, he must take responsibility for what he says and does.”All Level 2 breaches carry a minimum penalty of a fine equivalent to 50% of a player’s match fee up to a maximum penalty of a suspension for two ODIs or two Twenty20 internationals or one Test.This isn’t the first time Broad has been fined for a disciplinary breach. He had to forego 50% of his match fee after hurling a ball at Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Zulqarnain Haider during the Edgbaston Test last year.It also comes little more than a week after Broad admitted his captaincy of the World Twenty20 team means he’ll have to be on his guard.”I’ll certainly be watching my behaviour, but to be fair I think those occasions have become rarer and rarer in the last year,” he said. “But I’m certainly not going to lose my passion for the game, I think it’s something I thrive on.”You always have to be aware of what you are doing. I think it will be pretty hectic and I’ll have to be thinking about a lot of things. But the key is when I get the ball in my hand I don’t change much, have a presence and deliver my skills.”

Pakistan fast bowlers Mohammad Talha and Sohail Khan have said they have made significant improvements to their game at the ongoing emerging players camp in Lahore

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jul-2011Pakistan fast bowlers Mohammad Talha and Sohail Khan have said they have made significant improvements to their game at the ongoing two-week emerging players camp being held at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.Talha, whose only Test cap for Pakistan came in the game that was unfortunately abandoned due to the attack on the Sri Lanka team bus, said the camp was helping him correct some of his mistakes. “Camps like this should take place more often, to give bowlers a fair opportunity to rectify their mistakes and enhance their ability,” Talha told the . Sarfraz Nawaz, the former Pakistan fast bowler and now mentor at the camp, had said he was impressed with Talha but there were some problems with his follow through. Talha said he had benefited from Sarfraz’s advice.”Sarfaraz Nawaz has given us various tips which will help us improve. I hope to be considered for the national side when I sign off from the camp, as I want an opportunity to prove myself.”Sohail was also optimistic about his chances of getting back into the Pakistan squad. He, like Talha, has played only one Test for Pakistan, in which he failed to pick up a wicket. Sohail put his poor debut down to fitness concerns and said the camp had helped him grow stronger. “Many players have faced similar situations in the past, but the coaches at the camp are helping me get fully fit through various useful methods. I am now 100% fit to play international cricket.”Sohail also said he could benefit from the recent rule-change in ODIs mandating the use of two new balls, one from each end. “I have been bowling a lot faster with a new ball. In fact, I have always preferred to use a new ball, as reverse swing has never been one of my priorities.”Pakistan’s next assignment is a tour to Zimbabwe beginning in August after which they host Sri Lanka in the UAE. Sohail, who was the leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup, and Talha, who had an impressive first-class season, will both be on the selectors’ radar.

A watered-down version of the UDRS will be used in the England-India series with both sides agreeing to not use the system for lbw decisions

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jul-2011A watered-down version of the Decision Review System (DRS) will be used in the England-India series with both sides agreeing to not use the system for lbw decisions. A day before the first Test starts at Lord’s, the ICC announced that infra-red technology and stump microphones will be part of the DRS – though not for lbw decisions – but not ball-tracking.This meets the minimum standards for DRS usage stipulated by the ICC at its annual conference last month but the decision to do away with reviews of lbw decisions could lead to anomalies. For example, if a batsman is given out to a bat-pad catch, he can get the verdict reviewed and if it is overturned because there is no bat involved, the fielding side has no recourse to an lbw appeal.The two captains didn’t play up the issue at their pre-match press conferences. Andrew Strauss praised the overall efficacy of the full DRS but said the “half-way house” would have to do. “I don’t think it’s ideal but that’s the situation we are faced with. For us as players to be overly concerned about it would be unhelpful.”His counterpart MS Dhoni has been one of the more vocal critics of ball-tracking technology and appeared more satisfied with the decision. “We’re not really convinced 100 per cent as of now when it comes to the tracking system, especially with the spinners and the kind of bounce the ball generates so until we’re 100 per cent satisfied we won’t go on with it. But of course we are quite happy with Hotspot. I feel that’s a very good technology to be used.”An ICC statement said the ECB wanted to include ball-tracking technology (such as Hawk-Eye or Virtual Eye) but the Indian board didn’t.”While we are disappointed that the full DRS will not be used to support the umpires, we are pleased that the ECB and BCCI have worked hard to ensure the minimum DRS is used in this much anticipated series,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.”It is common knowledge that the ICC and ECB would have liked ball tracking to have been included so that LBW decisions could have also been reviewed, but the last Chief Executives Committee and Board meeting in Hong Kong agreed to independently confirm the accuracy of ball-tracking technology. This will now take place as a matter of urgency.”The Indian board has long been averse to the DRS and had announced last month that it didn’t want the system to be used in the England series. A compromise on the DRS was thrashed out at the ICC’s annual conference later in the month. The series against England will be the first time India will be using the review system in Tests since 2008.

Gautam Gambhir, the India opening batsman, could miss the solitary Twenty20 international against England in Manchester on August 31

Nagraj Gollapudi28-Aug-2011Gautam Gambhir, the India opening batsman, could miss the solitary Twenty20 international against England in Manchester on August 31. Gambhir had a light batting session during India’s optional training at Grace Road, but informed team management that he was not able to clearly sight the ball on a few occasions.”He said that he could not see the ball at times when it came at full speed,” Shivlal Yadav, Indian team manager, told ESPNcricinfo. “He will be taken to an eye specialist in Manchester on Tuesday.” With people making use of the long Bank holiday weekend (Saturday through Monday), Yadav said that private eye specialist who was recommended was on leave and the next available date for an appointment was August 30. “Based on what the specialist says we will have to wait for the next step. As of now it seems difficult,” Yadav said about Gambhir’s participation in the game.Gambhir suffered a concussion on the third day of the final Test at The Oval after falling on his back and hitting his head against the turf while attempting a catch in the outfield. He batted down the order in both innings was hit on the back of his helmet by Stuart Broad in the second innings that set his recovery back.He did not feature in either of India’s two victories in the tour games against Sussex and Kent and will likely miss the final practice match, a Twenty20 against Leicestershire on Monday, as well, although his name was printed on the county’s programme guide.On Sunday, the India squad minus MS Dhoni and Munaf Patel enjoyed a three-hour long training session behind closed doors. Dhoni opted out of the session to watch his favourite football team Manchester United trample Arsenal 8-2 at Old Trafford. Reportedly Suresh Raina and RP Singh, who did take part in the training but left early, joined Dhoni for the English Premiership game.The media were not able to watch the session, however, as they were barred from practice. According to Yadav, the decision was taken at the behest of the local police, who were manning the ground in strong numbers. The team’s security has been strengthened after the twin incidents in Kent -an unclaimed package was found on the railway track near Canterbury West train station and the fire inside a Marks & Spencer store that was very close to the Indian team hotel. “The police felt that the media could not be allowed inside the training,” Yadav said.The local ground security even refused to allow the media to watch the training from the few available viewpoints, such as the bar and cafe on the first floor of the block that houses the county shop. When some journalists tried to stand on the bucket seats meant for spectators, they were immediately asked to step down and warned that they would be asked to leave the ground if they continued to ask questions.

Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20 competition, the Faysal Bank National T20 has been shifted from Lahore to Karachi owing to the continuing outbreak of dengue in the Punjab province

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2011Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20 competition, the Faysal Bank National T20, has been shifted from Lahore to Karachi owing to the continuing outbreak of dengue in the Punjab province. More than 7000 people have been affected since the disease broke out in August.There was growing speculation over the last few weeks that the tournament would be shifted, and after a meeting between the PCB and Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari, the decision was taken to move the tournament following a directive from the president himself on Wednesday.The 14-team tournament is scheduled between September 25 and October 2 at Karachi’s National Stadium. The event had been shifted to Lahore after the original venue, Rawalpindi, was deemed unfit to host the event. Last year’s tournament was held in Lahore and the Lahore Lions were the winners.The Twenty20 tournament will feature 14 sides as opposed to last year’s 13; a team from Afghanistan will take part in the tournament for the first time, which means the teams will fight for the top spot in four groups to qualify for the semi-finals.The other participants are Karachi Dolphins, Karachi Zebras, Lahore Lions, Lahore Eagles, Sialkot Stallions, Islamabad Leopards, Abbotabad Falcons, Rawalpindi Rams, Multan Tigers, Quetta Bears, Faisalabad Wolves, Peshawar, Panthers and Hyderabad Hawks.

The IPL governing council committee has postponed the decision on whether there will be a new franchise auction to replace the terminated Kochi Tuskers Kerala to its next meeting

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2011The IPL governing council committee has postponed the decision on whether there will be a new franchise auction to replace the terminated Kochi Tuskers Kerala to its next meeting. The council also chose not to consider the issue of allowing Pakistan players in the 2012 tournament.The newly-formed committee met for the first time in Hyderabad on the sidelines of the first ODI between England and India and was expected to discuss whether or not to replace the terminated Kochi franchise, the format of the next season, and the participation of Pakistan players. However Rajiv Shukla, the new chairman of the committee, said that no decisions were taken on the subject of Kochi as they were waiting for more details. “We will have another meeting shortly on the subject [of Kochi],” he said. “However, the players’ interests will be protected.”Earlier this month Shukla had said the issue of allowing Pakistan players would be discussed at today’s meeting, but subsequently told the media that “it was not listed in the agenda today and hence there was no question of discussing the issue about Pakistani players’ participation. We will have another meeting soon to discuss this and many other issues also.”A statement issued by the BCCI said that the governing council had asked the IPL management team “to come back with options for the format and structure for the 2012 season of the tournament.” IPL management has been meeting with the remaining nine franchises on an individual basis to solicit their views on the structure of the event and are considering going back to the original home-and-away format for next season.According to the statement, the governing council also approved various operational items for the forthcoming IPL season and that the “player regulation and trading modalities will be discussed at the next meeting of the GC.”What the committee did confirm was that the 2012 IPL will begin in Chennai on April 4, with the final to be held on May 27.

ESPNcricinfo previews the solitary Twenty20 between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Mirpur

The Preview by Nitin Sundar28-Nov-2011

Match facts

Tuesday, November 29
Start time 1700 (1100 GMT)The spotlight will be on Misbah-ul-Haq as Pakistan attempt to overcome their tendency to slip on the odd banana peel•AFP

Big Picture

It is all coming together for Pakistan cricket. Since the sordid English summer of 2010, Misbah-ul-Haq’s side has stayed clear of controversy with a sense of purpose and discipline rarely seen in Pakistan outfits. That discipline has now permeated into their cricket; they have sacrificed some of their inherent flash in favour of winning ugly, and are yet to lose a bilateral series this year. One test remains – have they overcome their tendency to slip on the odd banana peel?Bangladesh are among the more treacherous banana peels going around. Pakistan would know – their defeat in a 1999 World Cup encounter between the sides is still being spoken about. That loss paved the way for Bangladesh attaining Test status, and three years later they nearly toppled Pakistan in the long format, before Inzamam-ul-Haq pipped the thriller by a one-wicket margin. That tour, in 2003, was the last bilateral encounter between these sides. Here’s to a renewal of rivalries.The one-off Twenty20 offers Bangladesh their best chance of an upset. They recently outplayed West Indies in a similar tour-opening Twenty20 game. Pakistan have been on the road for a while now, and are unlikely to be caught unprepared, but Misbah-ul-Haq’s men would be wary, all the same.

Form guide

Pakistan: WWWLW (most recent first)
Bangladesh: WLLLL

Watch out for …

Pakistan fans will have their first sighting of a raft of spinners on this tour, but few will match the allrounder Nasir Hossain for spunk. He gives his offbreaks a rip, fields with rare energy for a Bangladesh player, and celebrates his dismissal with outrageous WWE moves. Additionally, he packs a fair tonk with the bat.The spot-fixing scandal robbed Pakistan of two of the most attractive fast-bowling talents in the game, but, in typically Pakistani fashion, they brushed aside the setback and found worthy replacements. Mohammad Khalil, who returns to the fold after a six-year gap, is the latest in the fast-bowling pipeline. His first stint at the highest level lasted only two Tests and three ODIs, but he will hope his second coming counts for more.

Team news

Pakistan are unlikely to change the combination that beat Sri Lanka on November 25, but will be tempted to give Younis Khan a game before the ODI and Test legs of the tour.Pakistan (possible): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Asad Shafiq / Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Umar Akmal (wk), 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Aizaz Cheema, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Saeed AjmalBangladesh are without Mohammad Ashraful, who played in the West Indies T20. Mahmudullah who missed that game should come in for him.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Alok Kapali, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Naeem Islam, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Shafiul Islam

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan and Bangladesh have played four Twenty20s, with the former winning all four
• Bangladesh have won only four of the 17 Twenty20 games they have played, of which only two were against a top-flight side – West Indies on both occasions

Quotes

“It would be a big folly on our part to think we can walk over Bangladesh. We are playing a full series in Bangladesh after a long time and I have told the players to treat the series as a top ones because there will be lot of pressure on us.”

“West Indies were favourites against us as we don’t usually play Twenty20s. At the end of the day, we bowled well and despite a hiccup in batting we finished as winners.”
Mushfiqur Rahim is bullish about his team’s chances