Zimbabwe Cricket’s interim board, who were appointed for six months last January, have been granted a two-month extension to their tenure.The decision was made by the Sports & Recreation Commission, the government-back body who installed the interim board in the first place, after an application was made to them.”We have decided to extend their tenure realising their concerted effort to bring normalcy to the game,” Joseph Muchechetere, the SRC’s acting chief executive, told the Independent. “We emphasised that whatever measures they are taking, the whole process must be concluded by August 31.”Muchechetere said the SRC had agreed to keep the interim board in office to allow the union time to conclude their constitutional amendment exercise and the restructuring of provincial associations.However, the Independent pointed out that the move was immediately criticised by stakeholders, who said they will not recognise the board once the six-month period ends.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSuperSport Park lived up to its reputation of producing some exciting cricket as the match between the Titans and the Eagles went down to the wire with Ryan Bailey lofting Jacques Rudolph out of the park to secure victory for the Eagles with three balls to spare.A game that was destined to be drawn ended in excitement as Daryll Cullinan made a sporting declaration, setting a target of 248 in 53 overs. The challenge was accepted with Davey Jacobs (11), Gerhardus Liebenberg (31) and Boeta Dippenaar (54) going after the bowling. However, Bailey (75 not out) and Morne van Wyk (74 not out) saw the Eagles home with an undefeated partnership of 131. The only mistake the Titans may have made was the slow run rate in the second innings when they were looking for the declaration. Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAt Kingsmead, in Durban, Shaun Pollock outshone his national team-mates as he secured the Man-of-the-Match award, having taken 7 wickets and scoring 66 runs in the match as the Dolphins beat the more fancied Western Province Boland team by a convincing margin of eight wickets. Ashwell Prince and Paul Adams held the Dolphins up for 33 overs in a 79-run partnership that looked threatening. Once Johann Louw had Prince caught at the wicket for 80, with JP Duminy absent hurt, the innings came to a close at 176 leaving a target of 135 runs. Doug Watson (64 not out) and Imraan Khan (31) gave the Dolphins a 75-run start, allowing Hashim Amla (31 not out), the new captain, to be at the crease when the winning runs were scored. However, there was bad news for both teams, with Mfuneko Ngam picking up a shoulder injury while Duminy broke a finger and Jacques Kallis laboured through a thigh strain. Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsNot even a power failure at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom could stop the Lions from beating the Warriors convincingly by 181 runs. As in the first innings, the Warriors’s batting woes continued with only Arno Jacobs (61 not out) able to come to terms with the balanced Lions attack. David Terbrugge took four second-innings wickets and was ably assisted by Andrew Hall and Charl Langeveldt, who picked up two each.
The left-arm fast bowler, Pedro Collins, has been drafted into West Indies’s squad for the second Test in Trinidad, after his half-brother, Fidel Edwards, was ruled out through injury.Edwards was West Indies’ fastest and most impressive bowler in the first Test, where he took three top-order wickets in England’s first innings. But he limped out of the match on the third morning with a strain to the left side of his lower back. It is a cruel blow to West Indies’ hopes of bouncing back from that crushing ten-wicket defeat at Sabina Park.Collins, 27, has not played for West Indies since the corresponding fixture in Trinidad against Australia last year. But he has taken 55 wickets in his 19 Tests, including a best of 6 for 76 against New Zealand at Bridgetown, and offers West Indies some useful variation.On a more positive note, Dwayne Smith has come back into contention for a place after dislocating a finger in the build-up to the first Test. But Brian Lara remains a concern after suffering a dislocation of his own, sustained while dropping a catch on the second evening of the match. With the Wisden Trophy at stake on his home ground, however, it will take more than a bit of discomfort to keep Lara out of the team.West Indies have much ground to make up in the public-relations sphere as well, after four members of the humiliated team – named and shamed by the Trinidad Express as Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Adam Sanford and Tino Best – were seen partying in the ground’s Mound Stand within hours of the conclusion of the match.”I am disgusted at the thoughtlessness and shamelessness displayed by these players following such a horrific performance,” said Ricky Skerritt, the team manager, as he issued a public apology to the West Indian public. Gus Logie, the coach, added: “We will continue to ask the players for a higher level of discipline and a higher level of commitment to themselves and West Indies cricket.”West Indies squad Brian Lara (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Dwayne Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Ryan Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Corey Collymore, Adam Sanford, Tino Best, Pedro Collins.
Can Shane play cricket for Australia, Hampshire, Victoria or St Kilda? No.Can he appeal? Yes. He has made a public statement that he will appeal.What is the appeal process? Notice of his intention to appeal must be given to the ACB within seven days of receiving the decision. The notice must specify the findings of fact or law upon which the appeal is based.The appeals committee will be derived from the National Sports Dispute Centre (NSDC) – a group formed by the Australian and New Zealand Sports Lawyers Association, Sport Industry Australia and the Australian Sports Commission.What happens to his contract? Warne’s contract is suspended for the duration of his suspension.Who were the witnesses? The Committee heard evidence from seven witnesses: Shane Warne, his mother Mrs Brigitte Warne, Dr Peter Harcourt, ACB medical officer Dr Trefor James, Warne’s treating physician, Dr Greg Hoy, the director of the drug testing laboratory, Dr Ray Kazlauskas and Australian Sports Drug Agency education officer Mr Tim Burke.Five of the witnesses were called on behalf of Shane Warne. One was called on behalf of the ACB. Dr Peter Harcourt also gave evidence to the Committee.What did the witnesses say? None of the evidence or testimony from the hearing is public as it is confidential to the hearing.The Committee has provided their oral reasons for the decision which will be provided in due course.Will this be made available publicly? Yes.Why was the hearing closed? The policy provides for hearings to be closed as they are commonly in other sports. This is by general rule and not exception.The testimony by witnesses is confidential to the hearing. However, the Committee will provide in due course a full and detailed account of their reasons for the decisions, and this will be available publicly.Will the ACB call up a replacement player to the World Cup and if so, when? The ACB will make a decision on that matter as soon as possible.Will Shane Warne’s pending appeal affect that decision? Yes. That factor will be taken into account when considering whether to call a replacement player.What does the “exceptional circumstances” clause mean? The ACB included clause 4.5(b) in its policy in 1998, which was subsequently agreed in principle by the ASC.Clause 4.5 (b) states that – “Exceptional circumstances exist if either: (b) the player held an honest and reasonable belief in a state of facts which, if they existed, would mean that the player did not commit a doping offence.”This clause was adopted into the ACB’s policy to reflect a well-recognised legal principle and to provide a clear line of defence for a player/official who has an arguable defence.How often does ASDA take samples from cricket players? All ACB and state contracted players are subject to random checks. 347 tests were conducted between the policy’s inception in 1998-99 and February this year.
* Madhavan’s report awaited, says MuthiahThe Indian cricket administration is awaiting the report of itsVigilance Commissioner, K Madhavan in connection with thecontroversial Ahmedabad Test match in 1999, when India did not enforcethe follow on against New Zealand, despite being in a position to doso.AC Muthiah, President, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)told pressmen in Chennai on Sunday night that Madhavan had completedhis inquiry with batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar in this connection.Muthiah said Tendulkar was the third person to be questioned byMadhavan, who has been asked by the BCCI to probe into thecontroversial Test match. “But the officer has not completed hiqinvestigation yet,” Muthiah said.According to Muthiah, Madhavan is to question two more persons beforesubmitting his report to the Board. He said that Madhavan’s reportwould be placed before the next Working Committee for a decision.* KCA to start new coaching centre in KollamThe Kerala Cricket Association will start a new coaching centre inKollam shortly. The new project was announced by the KCA secretary SHaridas at Thiruvanthapuram on Sunday. The KCA already has two zonalacademies at Tellicherry (Kerala North) and Thiruvananthapuram (KeralaSouth). PB Shaji will be the director of the Kollam centre. In view ofthe heavy schedule of matches, the KCA has appointed separateselection committees for the Under-16 and Under-19 age groups thisseason.The following members were selected for various KCA committees for the2001-02 seasonSelection Committee: Senior, Under 22 & Under 25: T Shivadas(Chairman), M Renjith Thomas, TC Sudheesh and K Jayaram. S Haridas(Convenor)Under-19: A Ajay Varma (Chairman), TP Ajith Kumar, K Santhosh, RameshBabu. S Haridas (Convenor)Under-16: K Surendranath (Chairman), PK Anoop, Sudhir Kumar and CBalachandran. S Haridas (Convenor)Cricket Development Committee: A Salim (Chairman), OT Jayachandran, MPhlip Varghese, JK Mahendra, Mohammed Ibrahim, TK Madhav, T Shivadas,CM Ashok Sekhar, R Krishnan, Paul Paliath and D Chandrasekharan Nair.* BCCI observers to visit Patna tomorrowA three-member BCCI team will arrive in Patna on Wednesday to inspectthe basic facilities available at the Moinul Haque Stadium for holdingtop level matches, a Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) official said onTuesday.BCCI executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar, joint secretary of theMumbai Cricket Association Ratnakar Shetty and former Indian cricketerShivlal Yadav are the members of the team, BCA secretary Ajay NarayanSharma said in a statement. The team would also meet BCA presidentLaloo Prasad Yadav, he added.
Leeds United have already begun pre-summer talks to sign January target Brenden Aaronson in the next transfer window, according to a fresh transfer claim.
The Lowdown: Aaronson a primary target
No player has been more strongly linked with a move to Elland Road in recent months than Aaronson, having initially emerged as a January target.
While the 21-year-old remained at RB Salzburg during the last window, Leeds’ interest in him hasn’t gone away after two separate bids in the winter window, with constant reports tipping him to join the Jesse Marsch revolution.
Now, a new update suggests Aaronson could indeed join the Whites in the coming months.
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The Latest: Leeds in pole position
According to Football Insider, a recruitment source has informed them of a ‘major update’ – the midfielder is Victor Orta’s ‘number one priority’ this summer and talks are already underway to sign him.
A deal worth between £21million and £25million is mooted, with the player apparently keen to join.
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The Verdict: Tick all the boxes
There is an inevitability about some signings and that seems to be the case with Aaronson, with so much pointing towards him becoming a Leeds player.
Perhaps most significantly, he played under Marsch at Salzburg, meaning the Whites boss knows all about his qualities, in terms of fitting into his system at Elland Road.
Aaronson is also exactly the type of midfielder Leeds crave too, with a lack of guile in a No.10 role this season often leading to a decreased goal threat in attack, especially with Patrick Bamford so often sidelined through injury.
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In February, the USA starlet became the youngster player since Lionel Messi to create five chances in a Champions League knockout game.
He and the Whites feel like a match made in heaven, and if they missed out on signing him now, it would be a big blow to Marsch and his plans, with Premier League survival perhaps paramount in that respect.
In other news, an injury expert has made a key claim over one Leeds player. Read more here.
Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) tied their second game in three but managed to qualify for the semi-finals nonetheless. They scored 272 in the 47 overs possible after bad weather forced the Sheikhupura game to be shortened. Rawalipindi Rams lost nine wickets in reaching par score in the same number of overs.Saeed Anwar jnr, KRL’s opener, top scored with 93 off 104 balls and added 122 runs with Mohammad Wasim for the third wicket. Azhar Ali (47) and Bazid Khan (34*) chipped in at the middle order. Rawalpindi lost their first three wickets with only four runs on the board. Usman Saeed (77) led the recovery, helped by Naved Ashraf (30) and Adnan Mufti (32). But Rawalpindi had lost eight wickets when they needed another 79 to win. Yasir Ali and Mohammad Rameez, Nos. 9 and 10, pushed towards the target in quick time. Yasir hit five fours in his 46-ball 51 and Rameez gave him company with a 30-ball 31. But KRL held their nerves and ran out Yasir off the last ball as the ninth-wicket pair scrambled for a winning single.Despite half-centuries from Tariq Aziz and Bilal Khilji Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) could not avoid a 50-run defeat for at the hands of National Bank of Pakistan in Lahore. National Bank have qualified for the semis as well.With an 85-ball 80, Kamran Akmal managed to push National Bank’s total to 240. But the target proved to be more than enough as the nine other WAPDA batsmen scored 60 runs in all.
Pool B
Habib Bank Limited will be National Bank’s semi-final opponents after they lost only five wickets in chasing Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) 211 and wrapped up the game with over eight overs remaining at the National Stadium in Karachi.Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan captain, top scored for PIA with 63 off 49 balls but received virtually no support from the other batsmen – the next highest score of the innings was Fahad Iqbal’s 29. Abdur Rehman, the Pakistan left-arm spinner, picked up 4 for 51.Habib Bank lost their first two wickets for 12 runs but Rafatullah Mohamand (57) and Aftab Alam (76) directed the chase with a 130-run stand. After the two were dismissed – by Malik – within 15 runs of each other, HBL lost only one more wicket before reaching the target.Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) bowled out Lahore Eagles for 144 and sealed a semi-final spot with a 128-run win in . Umar Akmal (81) and Misbah-ul-Haq (68) propelled SNGPL to 272. Waqas Ahmed took 3 for 43.Lahore were never in the chase, losing four wickets for 37. Their ninth-wicket partnership for 40 was the highest of the innings. Ashraf Ali top scored with 35. SNGP will now play their semi-final match against KRL in Karachi on Monday.
That’s all you can ask for a lot of fight, even if it might eventually prove to be all in vain.Many fans wouldn’t have bothered to be up early yesterday just to see the West Indies fold meekly on the way to yet another massive defeat. You can’t blame them. Even some English journalists and broadcasters covering the match had checked out early from their hotels on the fourth morning, fully expecting the tourists to live up to their recent reputation as a side prone to gutless capitulations.Just the thought of these goodly gentlemen, and even the odd lady, hastily re-booking into hotels and cancelling plans for golf or other diversions today is satisfaction in itself. But there was more than enough out in the middle at Old Trafford to again keep that limp flame flickering just a little bit more in the expectation that some of these same players may actually have what it takes to help develop a new culture of discipline, dedication and commitment in West Indies cricket.After playing most of his international career in the considerable shadow of Brian Lara, most of us almost take Shivnarine Chanderpaul for granted. He is always there thereabouts, nothing spectacular, nothing flamboyant (except for the out-of-the blue explosion, like that 69-ball hundred against Australia at Bourda in 2003), grinding out runs almost anonymously while the starboy strokeplayers have everyone gasping at their pyrotechnic displays at the other end.But the incomparable Trinidadian batting maestro is no longer part of the landscape, bringing sharply into focus just how significant the other long-serving left-hander is in the West Indian middle-order. His knock of 74 was the topscore in a commendable overall effort of 437 in the first innings of the drawn first Test at Lord’s. Ruled out of the second Test debacle at Headingley with an inflamed knee, the former captain returned for this encounter and again led the way with an even 50 first up, although he could not halt the distressingly swift decline of the first innings late on the second day.Yesterday, though, he was in his element, soldiering on for four-and-a-half hours while accumulating runs as quietly and efficiently as ever. Ever mindful that, with two days to go, occupation of the crease was more of a priority than racing after an improbable target of 455, Chanderpaul batted as he usually does, as if nothing else matters but the next delivery. He resumes this morning 19 runs short of another Test hundred, but it would be surprising if he is not thinking well beyond that milestone to the 154 runs required to make history, especially if his team-mates can continue to give such impressively solid support.And that is something, probably even more than the trademark Chanderpaul vigil, which defined yesterday’s play in Manchester. In the same way that bowlers need the support of fielders to hold the catches, even the greatest batsman in the world can’t make much of an impact if wickets are tumbling at the other end.Such a clatter would have been expected when Chris Gayle fell early. However since then, every partnership has contributed more than 50 runs with successive pairings urging each other along to maintain the fight against an English side that looked genuinely surprised at having to cope with such prolonged resistance. They have come to expect an attractive cameo here and there from their talented yet indisciplined opponents. But 42 from Devon Smith (adding 53 with Runako Morton)? A battling 54 by Morton (putting on 73 with Chanderpaul)? Dwayne Bravo mixing caution with unbridled aggression in reaching 49 (dominating an 88-run stand with the senior man)? And last, but certainly not least, Denesh Ramdin (26 not out) keeping the fires of resistance burning right to the close in putting on 52 with Chanderpaul?Few could have expected such a consistent effort, and while there is no guarantee that the trend can continue on the final day, those who are yet to come (surely Darren Sammy needs no further motivation after his remarkable bowling success on Saturday) must be inspired to carry the fight if or when their turn at the crease arrives.On a pitch offering considerable assistance for specialist spinner Monty Panesar and still firm enough to keep the seamers interested, the West Indian batting performance yesterday becomes all the more praiseworthy and cannot be idly dismissed as the result of English complacency.In the context of a side set a near-impossible task and battling through an entire day under considerable pressure, this was the best the West Indies have done since the final day of the New Year’s Test in Cape Town in 2004, when a blistering debut hundred by Dwayne Smith pulled the visitors to within 100 runs of a monumental target of 441, before skipper Lara decided that the eighth-wicket pair should shut up shop to ensure a draw instead of risking defeat by continuing the chase.This time however, there will be no stalemate, unless inclement weather intervenes. Maybe all of the optimism will come to nothing in less than an hour this morning. Nevertheless, the fact that the West Indies are still in with a chance at the start of the last day, when most were expecting England to have clinched the series already, again gives us reason to believe that somewhere among this much-maligned group are a few of the building blocks required for the reconstruction of West Indies cricket.
An astonishing maiden double-hundred by Jason Gillespie, the first by a nightwatchman, and a strokeful 182 from Michael Hussey preceded a masterly spell from Shane Warne as Australia charged to a dominant position by the end of the fourth day at Chittagong. After declaring their innings 364 runs ahead, the Australians prised out four wickets as Bangladesh finished on 195 for 4, needing a further 189 to avert an innings defeat. In their stint with the bat, Bangladesh were led by their opener, Shahriar Nafees, who made an unbeaten 75, but apart from Habibul Bashar none of the other batsmen supported him as Warne took charge.The star of the day, though, was Gillespie. Resuming on 102, he shrugged off the circumspect approach he had adopted over the last couple of days and celebrated his 31st birthday in style, unfurling some superb shots. Mohammad Rafique was lofted and cut, Mortaza was pulled and Abdur Razzak hit quite audaciously on one knee for a six over the bowler’s head. A small pause of ten balls followed as Gillespie regained his energy, before he heaved Rafique to midwicket, nudged Rajin Saleh for a single to bring up his 150, and celebrated with a lusty hit over wide long-on.Ricky Ponting delayed the declaration to enable Gillespie to reach his double-century, and watched from the pavilion as Hussey and Gillespie destroyed the Bangladesh attack – 194 came in 35 overs in the first session. Bashar threw both spin and seam at the Australian duo but the ball repeatedly found the sweet spot of the bats. While Hussey creamed the seamers, Gillespie raided the spinners.Hussey marched to his fourth Test hundred with a cover-drive off Shahadat Hossain, celebrated the landmark with a cheeky reverse-sweep off Rafique, and then pulled and drove merrily. Mashrafee Mortaza bled three fours in an over as Hussey latched on to the short-pitched stuff. He pulled Hossain imperiously for a six before holing out, in pursuit of quick runs, to deep midwicket off Aftab Ahmed.Bangladesh began their second innings a daunting 384 in arrears, and started brightly before Warne showed why he is the best in the business. Varying the pace, trajectory and the length on a pitch which got increasingly slower, he hustled the batsmen to their demise. A well-set Bashar, who was dropped twice in the slips – by Warne and Hayden – was deceived by a peach of a delivery that drifted in, landed on leg and middle, gripped, turned, and clipped the outer edge on its way to first slip.
Rajin Saleh was the next to succumb to the Warne trap. He sent across a couple of looping legbreaks on either side of the wicket before whipping in a quicker one on the stumps which provoked a hurried forward prod and Ponting, at silly point, swallowed the chance. Warne then preyed on Ashraful’s patience to finally nail him. He floated a succession of legbreaks around the off stump before ripping one on leg and beat the intended paddle shot.One man who carried on unfazed was Nafees, sweeping his way to a plucky 75. Against the spinners, he went down on his knee repeatedly and peppered the arc between square leg and fine leg. Fifty runs, with six fours and 30 singles, came in that region as he repelled Warne and Stuart MacGill with the sweep shot as his chief weapon. When he didn’t sweep, he kept out the spinning deliveries with the forward prod and a dead bat. Warne was forced to switch to round the wicket to staunch the runs. Nafees also prospered against Dan Cullen, the offspinner, cutting him to distraction. His innings kept Australia on the field longer than they would have wanted.
How they were out
AustraliaMichael Hussey c Hossain b Aftab 182 (530 for 4) BangladeshJaved Omar lbw b Brett Lee (25 for 1) Habibul Bashar c Hayden b Warne 49 (127 for 2) Rajin Saleh c Ponting b Warne 5 (137 for 3) Mohammad Ashraful b Warne 29 (187 for 4)
Peter Martin, the opening bowler for Lancashire and, over a handful of matches, for England in the mid-1990s, has announced his retirement because of the knee injury that limited his first-team appearances in 2004 to ten.Martin, 35, explained, “I have battled all last season with the knee and feel now that due to this and following medical opinion, the time is right to bring my career to a close.” He added, “I’m immensely proud of my achievements such as they are, and thank the club for their support in realising my ambitions over the last 18 years.”During his time at Old Trafford, Lancashire won six domestic titles, including two NatWest Trophies. Martin was awarded his cap after a productive season in 1994 when he took 50 Championship wickets for the first time, an achievement he repeated three more times. He finished with over 600 first-class wickets, with a best of 8 for 32 against Middlesex at Uxbridge in 1997, where in helpful bowling conditions he snatched his first five wickets for eight runs in his opening spell.Mike Watkinson, once his captain and Lancashire’s manager, said: “Peter has had a great career and been an important member of the Club’s successes over the years. I also feel he was unlucky to have not played more internationals than he did.”Martin made his England debut against West Indies in 1995, in the 1000th one-day international, and won the Man of the Match award for his 4 for 44, figures he never bettered in a further 19 games. His Test career was subject to the foibles of the selectors and he never managed to cement a place. He took 17 wickets in eight matches. When England dismissed Australia for 104 to win by 19 runs at the Oval in 1997, the match that persuaded Mike Atherton not to resign the England captaincy, Martin took a steepling, swirling catch to dismiss Shane Warne. It was his last act as a Test player.