PCB drops Zimbabwe ''home'' series

The Pakistan cricket Board might split its forthcoming Test and ODI series against Sri Lanka at two neutral venues but has dropped the idea of organising it in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe was under consideration to be a neutral venue for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series later this year but sources in the board said the high costs involved in organising the matches had virtually ruled it out of contention.

"The costs are a big factor in the board deciding on neutral venues for its home series like the one against Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe was a high cost option," an official source said.

Pakistan has been forced to play its home series abroad since 2009 when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

Since then, no team has toured Pakistan for an official series because of security reasons although Afghanistan was in the country last month to play a series against the Pakistan 'A' side.

Sri Lanka have also asked Pakistan to organise the series in October and November either in Sri Lanka or at a neutral venue while turning down an official invitation from the PCB to tour Pakistan for the series.

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Raina: India well poised to win series

India's captain Suresh Raina said on Thursday his side was now well-placed to win their one-day international series against West Indies.

India took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, after half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel followed up Amit Mishra's career-best bowling to lead them to a seven-wicket victory in the rain-affected second ODI on Wednesday.

Chasing a revised target of 183 in 37 overs due to the rain, after West Indies made 240 for nine from their 50 overs, India reached the target with 20 balls remaining, and Raina earned high praise for setting things up.

"We were expecting to chase something around 260 or 270, but I think the credit has to go to Mishra, he bowled really well," he said.

He added: "At the same time, Munaf gave us breakthroughs at crucial times, and Virat and Parthiv batted very well in the chase. I think it is very important for us to keep things very simple, especially for the next three games."

"We know we had to do well, and when you are playing 50 overs-a-side games, you have to know your strengths, and then you can play your natural game, and enjoy yourself," Raina said.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy was pleased with the "positive intent" his batsmen showed against India's spinners.

He admitted however, they still had not gotten things right just yet, and there was still much work to be done.

"We got ourselves in a good position, but we didn't capitalise in the end, and again were about 30 runs short," he said.

Sammy continued: "We lost wickets at crucial times during the game, so we were on the back foot in the latter part of the overs. The intent from the batsmen was good initially."

The third ODI will be played on Saturday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

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BCCI says no UDRS for England series

India's opposition to the Decision Review System continues with the BCCI refusing to allow its usage in next month's four-match Test series against England.

According to 'The Daily Telegraph', "The Board of Cricket for Control in India sent official notification to the England and Wales Cricket Board that it does not want the system to be used in the series in July."

Consent of both the Boards is required for the system to be used in a series.

Top Indian players such as Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni have been vocal critics of the DRS but English players like spin spearhead Graeme Swann have backed the use of technology.

"The reason India do not want it is because it will favour our bowlers," said John Emburey, the former England off-spinner.

"It

Jayasuriya to retire after England series

Sri Lanka all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya has today announced he will retire from international cricket during this month's tour of England.

Hours after being picked for the Twenty20 international against England and five limited-overs matches, the veteran revealed he will play only the Twenty20 and one ODI.

Jayasuriya, who will be 42 at the end of the month, told reporters in Colombo today: "I invited you not to share the happiness of my being selected to play for Sri Lanka again, but to announce my decision to end my international career of more than 20 years.

"I consider it a privilege to have represented Sri Lanka to bring glory to my country and the town of Matara where I come from.

"The selectors picked me for the whole series but it was my personal decision to retire midway."

Jayasuriya, who made his ODI debut in 1989, was originally included in a 16-man squad, despite not playing a limited-overs international for his country since December 2009, while he played his last Twenty20 match a year ago.

He was not included in Sri Lanka's World Cup squad and failed to secure a contract with a franchise in this year's Indian Premier League, leading many to believe he would not play international cricket again.

Jayasuriya's one-day international record is impressive - only Sachin Tendulkar has scored more runs than his 13,428 in ODI action, while he has taken 322 wickets with his left-arm spin.

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Jayasuriya back for England series

Sri Lanka have sprung a surprise by recalling 41-year-old batsman Sanath Jayasuriya for the forthcoming limited-overs series against England.

With fellow opener Upul Tharanga unavailable as he prepares to face a disciplinary panel following reports of a failed drugs test during the World Cup, Jayasuriya is back in the international fold for the first time since December 2009.

The left-hander's Sri Lanka career was thought to be over when he failed to win a call-up to the World Cup squad, but he is now in line to feature in a tour which consists of one Twenty20 international and five ODIs.

Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan is a fitness doubt and must sit out the final match of the Test series with a fractured thumb, but he is in the 16-man squad as expected.

While predecessor Kumar Sangakkara will lead the side in the third Test at the Rose Bowl, left-hander Thilina Kandamby has been installed as Dilshan's one-day understudy.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews will travel subject to fitness, while the side will be buoyed by the return of world-class paceman Lasith Malinga, who has retired from Tests.

Test players Thilan Samaraweera, Farveez Maharoof, Chanaka Welagedara and Tharanga Paranavitana have not been asked to stay on for the limited-overs matches.

Sri Lanka one-day squad: T Dilshan, T Kandamby, K Sangakkara, M Jayawardene, D Chandimal, J Mendis, D Karunaratne, T Perera, Malinga, N Kulasekera, S Lakmal, D Fernando, S Randiv, A Mendis, A Mathews, S Jayasuriya.

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Jayasuriya back for England series

Sri Lanka have sprung a surprise by recalling 41-year-old batsman Sanath Jayasuriya for the forthcoming limited-overs series against England.

With fellow opener Upul Tharanga unavailable as he prepares to face a disciplinary panel following reports of a failed drugs test during the World Cup, Jayasuriya is back in the international fold for the first time since December 2009.

The left-hander's Sri Lanka career was thought to be over when he failed to win a call-up to the World Cup squad, but he is now in line to feature in a tour which consists of one Twenty20 international and five ODIs.

Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan is a fitness doubt and must sit out the final match of the Test series with a fractured thumb, but he is in the 16-man squad as expected.

While predecessor Kumar Sangakkara will lead the side in the third Test at the Rose Bowl, left-hander Thilina Kandamby has been installed as Dilshan's one-day understudy.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews will travel subject to fitness, while the side will be buoyed by the return of world-class paceman Lasith Malinga, who has retired from Tests.

Test players Thilan Samaraweera, Farveez Maharoof, Chanaka Welagedara and Tharanga Paranavitana have not been asked to stay on for the limited-overs matches.

Sri Lanka one-day squad: T Dilshan, T Kandamby, K Sangakkara, M Jayawardene, D Chandimal, J Mendis, D Karunaratne, T Perera, Malinga, N Kulasekera, S Lakmal, D Fernando, S Randiv, A Mendis, A Mathews, S Jayasuriya.

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'WI series key to India's future'

Whether India can go on to dominate world cricket consistently would be known by its side's performance against a not-so-strong West Indies, says Sir Vivian Richards.
"You can tell if it is the start of a dynasty when the bench strength is equally strong. India has a very good pool of young cricketers," said Richards.
Even though India's opponents in the present series is a declining West Indian side, Richards felt it would be a pointer of things to come for the near future.
India is presently the number one Test side of the world. They are also the reigning world champions of one-day cricket.
The Indian team presently touring West Indies is without top seniors such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh.
Many see the volume of cricket as well as the IPL as two reasons proving detrimental to the health of the game but Richards had a mixed opinion on the two thorny issues dogging world cricket.
"I love IPL. It has brought excitement to world cricket. People love to put their bum on the seats; they come to enjoy a game of cricket."
"The administrators though need to strike the right kind of balance. They must not kill the goose which lays the golden egg. They must not be caught on the wrong foot. The same is true for the volume of cricket. It could cut short international careers," Richards said.
"It's for the administrators to strike the right balance."
"Look at FIFA. They have club football which rolls out millions and millions dollars for its stars, yet a national team is never debased. When it comes to top events, most national teams are at full strength," he added.
Richards couldn't quite tell if match-fixing had once again begun to eat away at the very core of the game.
"I don't know of any incident. I don't have any proof. So I can't tell if the authorities are doing enough or whether they need to do more.
"All I know is if there is someone who accepts money to make his own team lose against the rival team, his own nation against another nation, it is nothing short of treason. The same punishment should come his way as is reserved for a traitor."

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No UDRS during India-Windies series

The controversial UDRS will not be in place in the series between India and the West Indies after the BCCI convinced the hosts against its use.
The implementation of UDRS in a bilateral series is the prerogative of the home Board but the powerful BCCI, which has opposed the system from the onset, has forced the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to do away with it in the series, which starts with a T20 International on Saturday.

A WICB spokesperson confirmed that UDRS will not be used in the one-off Twenty20 match, five ODIs or for that matter in the three upcoming Test matches.

Incidentally, UDRS was used when Pakistan toured the Caribbean recently.

India has been a staunch critic of UDRS ever since Sachin Tendulkar went public with his disapproval of the system in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago.

Just before the World Cup, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni too gave his thumbs down to the system.

"I don't support the UDRS as you have two gentlemen standing as umpires on the field, who are professionals. They also have the support of the third umpire. Referral system, I personally believe is not a cent per cent thing. I am not going to buy a life jacket that doesn't come with a warranty," he had said.

The last straw for India, perhaps, was the World Cup league match against England in Ahmedabad.

In the 25th over of the England innings, Dhoni sought the help of UDRS when on-field umpire turned down a lbw appeal against Ian Bell off Yuvraj Singh.

The technology clearly showed that Bell was out as the ball was going to hit the middle stump, yet, strangely, the third umpire ruled in favour of the batsman because the distance between the wicket and point of impact was more than 2.5 metres.
India arrive in West Indies
A depleted Indian cricket captain, sans senior players Sachin Tendulkar and regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, arrived in Trinadad for a limited overs series against the West Indies, starting Saturday.

Smartly dressed in a tee and trousers, the Indian players landed on Wednesday at the Piarco International Airport and were received by officials of Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and sponsors Digicel. The Suresh Raina-led Indian side looked tired and exhausted after their long flight from Mumbai via London and Barbados.

Stand-in skipper Raina's eyes were blood-shot for lack of sleep and a few team members looked dishevelled from the exertions of a long, trans-Atlantic flight.

Even though he looked tired and sleepless, Raina exuded confidence that his young team will do whatever it takes to win the lone T20 game and the five-match ODI series against the Caribbeans.

"It's a young side. The players want to do well for the country and themselves. They are extremely motivated," said Raina.

Vice-captain Harbhajan Singh too opined that the starless Indian team would not be short of motivation in the upcoming series, irrespective of their relentless cricket schedule.

"These are young boys who are looking to build a career for itself. I don't think tiredness or fatigue would be a factor," said the off-spinner.

Team manager Amitabh Chowdhary said that irrespective of the long flight, the side would attend its' practice sessions as scheduled.

India will play a Twenty20 match in Trinidad (June 4) and five ODIs on June 6 (Trinidad), June 8 (Trinidad), June 11 (Antigua), June 13 (Antigua) and June 16 (Jamaica).

The one-day series would be followed by a three-match Test-rubber in Jamaica (June 20-June 24), Barbados (June 28-Jul 2) and Dominica (Jul 6-Jul 10).

The tickets for the one-off T20 match between India and West Indies has already been sold out and the ticket sales for the first two ODIs are also going on at a brisk pace.

Interestingly, the hectic response for the matches is a welcome surprise as both the sides are bereft of star value.

The Indian squad for the ODIs and the lone Twenty20 is without nine players who were part of the World Cup winning team under Dhoni.

The players missing out include the rested trio of Dhoni, Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, the injured troika of Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Ashish Nehra and an unwell Yuvraj Singh.

S Sreesanth and Piyush Chawla have been dropped.

Dhoni and Zaheer will, however, join the team for the Test matches along with V V S Laxman, Murali Vijay, Abhinav Mukund, Rahul Dravid, and Sreesanth.

The Caribbeans, meanwhile, are without explosive Chris Gayle and pace duo of Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach.

When India last toured the Caribbean Islands in 2006 under Rahul Dravid, the side scripted history by beating the home team (1-0 in a four match rubber) in a Test series for the first time in 35 years.

However, the team will certainly look to change the 1-4 thrashing it got in the five-match ODI series then.

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