BORNILSHOPNO: May 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Sri Lanka in England 2009: Sri Lanka cancel Oxford visit over security fears

Less than three months after their team bus came under terrorist gunfire in Lahore, members of the Sri Lankan cricket team have withdrawn from a scheduled visit to Oxford due to security concerns.

Muttiah Muralidharan, Kumar Sangakkara and team manager Brendon Kuruppu informed the Oxford Union debating society on Friday they feared a backlash after a front-page story in The Times in which it was claimed that 20,000 Tamil civilians had been killed in recent hostilities between government troops and LTTE.

The Sri Lankans arrived in England this week ahead of the World Twenty20; their first international assignment since the attack outside the Gadaffi Stadium, which claimed the lives of eight security and transport personnel and wounded seven players and coaching staff. Muralitharan, who is himself a Tamil, had been due, along with Sangakkara and Kuruppu, to deliver an oration at the Oxford Union - following in the footsteps of US presidents and other heads of state - but the visit was scrapped due to uneasiness over security arrangements.

Bangladesh carries their form against Scotland T20 World Cup warm up as they won by 6 Wkts

Scotland -141/7 Over - 20; Mccaullum 50, Hamilton 44, Rubel 5/16, Masrafe 1 wkt, Riyad 1 wkt;
Bangladesh-142/4 Over - 18.4; Riyad 46*, Roqibul 15*, Shakib 36, Tamim 33;
Bangladesh won by 6 wkts (Warm-up T20 Match, Venue: Wormsley; Toss: Bangladesh; Date: 29 May 2009 )

Bravo leads West Indies to first win in T20 warm up match

West Indies recorded their first victory of a depressing tour as they saw off the challenge of Scotland by 14 runs at Wormsley. Their impetus, once again, was provided by Dwayne Bravo, who continued his fine form from the IPL with an aggressive 51 not out from 30 balls in a total of 143 for 6. He came to the crease at 60 for 2 in the 11th over after the demise of Andre Fletcher, who made 42 from 34 balls, and then it was over to Darren Sammy with the ball, who took 3 for 25 in three overs to derail Scotland's prospects in the run-chase. Two early run-outs had already set them back, and though Colin Smith made a run-a-ball 40, when he and Neil McCallum fell in consecutive deliveries, the latter to yet another run-out, there was no way back, despite two sixes in six balls for Jan Stander.

Bangladesh doing well in their practice matchs for T20 World Cup in English condition

Score of 2nd Warm Up Match Vs Netherlands

Bangladesh - 206/6 Over - 20; Ashraful 69, Mahmud Ullah 54, Roqibul 27, Mushfique 24, Junaed 17, Shakib 4, Tamim 2, Shamsur 0;
Netherlands-142/10 Over - 16.3; Rubel 4 wkts, Shakib & Masrafe 2 wkts each, Razzak 1 wkt;
Bangladesh won by 64 runs( Warm-up T20 Match ;Toss: Netherlands; Venue: Canterbury; Date: 28 May 2009: )

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

T20 World Cup- Warm up Match Score ( BAN Vs NZ )

BAN - 146/6 Over - 20; Zuned 3, Tamim 19, Ashraful 13, Shakib 35, Riyad 43, Mushfiq 1, Mashrafe 15*, Naeem 11*,
NZ- 147/6 Over - 20; Guptil 61, McGlashan 35, McCullam 14*, Ashraful 1 wkt, Riyad 1 wkt;
NZ won by 4 wkts( Warm-up T20 Match; Toss: Bangladesh ; Venue: Wormsley Cricket Ground; Date: 26 May 2009)

Bangladesh lost in a close T20 warm up match

A rally by the bowlers ensured a last ball finish but the Tigers are still smarting from the fact that they let slip an opportunity to beat New Zealand in the first of the additional practice matches at Wormsley Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

“It was a good outing in the park for us against some quality players but I think we let ourselves down in the last five overs when only 33 runs came. We had wickets in hand and still about 15-20 runs short,” said captain Mohammad Ashraful after the four wicket loss.

Bangladesh, opting to bat, were nicely placed at 87 for 3 after 11 overs but then the runs dried out, especially after the departure of Shakib Al Hasan who made 35 off 27 with some spanking pulls and drives. Ashraful (13) himself flicked a six and square cut for a four off the bowling of paceman Ian Butler but was out in the same over when a ball jagged back from outside off to hit his stumps.

“We had a plan going and Tamim started brilliantly. We just couldn’t maintain the momentum after we were 40/1 in 5 overs. It is not easy to defend 146 but the bowlers brought us back into the game. I am happy with the spirit we showed out there and the way we fought till the last ball. We have to improve in all areas and that’s what practice matches are for. From that perspective this was a good start and now we’ll be able to better assess where we are,” added Ashraful.

Tamim had helped himself to a 13-ball 19 with a four boundaries which included a drive through covers and a straight one that never left the grass. That showed the intent which Ashraful, Shakib and Mahmud Ullah had continued to display before they got out. Mahmud Ullah (43 off 41; 4x4) came in at five and worked the ball beautifully and hit boundaries when the opportunity came. Just when he started to open up Shakib fell at long on when Nathen McCullum dived forward and took a stunning catch off a flat hit. The same fielder had dropped an easier catch of Shakib off the previous ball.

The conditions, for the first time since they landed here was typically English. It had drizzled the night before and there was quite a strong chilly breeze blowing across the lush valleys of the Wormsley Estate. The sun did come out after the match got underway but the wind remained. Still the Bangladesh players appeared undeterred by the weather.

“We are adjusting well I think. We had two tough lengthy training sessions and the pitch and the conditions are becoming familiar. That’s the whole idea behind arriving early in England. It was disappointing to lose because I thought we had a really good chance but we are more confident after this game,” said Shakib who had struggled with a pelvic injury during the last couple of months.

“I am getting better. I was a bit jittery while facing the first few balls but then it became easier. The bowling also came good after the first over,” said Shakib.

New Zealand had been given a flying start by opener Martin Guptil who made 61 off 41 balls. Guptil preferred the onside and hit three sixes. The Black Caps had raced to 59 without loss before Ashraful gambled by bowling the ninth over and had Neil Broom lbw off his fifth delivery. The spinners then tied the score down. Shakib was outstanding and had figures of 4-0-15-1 after going for 7 in his first over. He also removed Guptil when the right-hander was beaten by the flight and turn having stepped out and was bowled. Two run outs also put pressure on the New Zealanders. Both were outstanding work from Naeem Islam. First was a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from point to send back number three Scott Styris and then a fast return from the deep to the ‘keeper to leave Daniel Vettori short while attempting a two.

Naeem however, was guilty of bowling a wide off his first ball that went for four when he came to bowl in the 17th over. New Zealand got 11 from it.

“That was crucial because they were not finding things easy. Still I believe we could have bowled better. We did not hit the right length often enough and there were some fumbles in the field. We had the game till the final over from (Syed) Rasel and the top-edged six McCullum hit would have been a catch any other day but the wind took it over long off,” said vice captain Mortaza.

New Zealand required 12 from the last six balls and singles came off the first three before McCullum’s sixer off the fourth. Two were needed from the last delivery and McCullum (15 not out) scampered for the runs after playing the ball to the left of Mortaza at long off.

There is practice scheduled for the Tigers at Wormsley from 2pm local time (7pm Bangladesh Standard Time) today but the morning weather doesn’t inspire confidence. It is gloomy with light rain falling. Tomorrow the team travels to Kent for the second warm up against Holland. The match will start at 3pm local time (8pm Bangladesh Standard Time).

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Wasim Akram Says "Pak favorites to win Twenty20 World Cup"

Former captain Wasim Akram has said that Pakistan are favorites to win the next Twenty20 World Cup beginning in England from June 5.

Akram said Pakistan has the best track record in the Twenty20 format of the game as compared to other international teams, which makes it the favourites to win the coveted title.

“Pakistan has the best winning ratio of all the teams in the Twenty20 cricket. If they keep that consistency then they can get the coveted title in England,” The Daily Times quoted Akram, as saying.

Pointing towards the team’s stupendous performance against Australia in the Twenty20 match in Dubai last month, Akram said team Pakistan posses a strong bowling line-up that could create trouble for even the world’s best team.

“I thought Australia would thrash them in the one-off Twenty20 match in Dubai but it was the other way round, with Umar Gul, Shoail Tanvir and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Pakistan have the best bowling attack backed by quality spin of Shahid Afridi,” he said.

Akram added that batting was the worrying factor for the team, as the senior players were struggling with their rhythm.

“Batting can let Pakistan down, as it has always done in the past, so there will be more responsibility on Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi,” he said.

Commenting on the defending champion India’s chances of winning the trophy once again, Akram said Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s dream of winning the championship for the second time could suffer, as the Indian players would be going into the event after a hectic season.

“I think Pakistan has played less cricket and will be fresh, while Indian players could be fatigued after playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL),” Akram added. (ANI)

PCB clueless over being denied place in Champions League T20 competition

PCB is clueless as to why it has been discarded from Twenty20 competition of Champions league to be held in India in October.

When enquired about Pakistan’s failure to get itself inducted in the multi-million-dollar tournament, all senior officials of the PCB kept on passing the responsibility on each other, and expressed their ignorance about the issue.

When quizzed about the whole issue, the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said one should contact senior Board officials in Lahore to get more information.

Earlier, the Champions League chief, Lalit Modi had declared that Pakistan would not be able to take part in the seven-nation cricket extravaganza because Pakistan cricketers are prohibited to travel to India due to government restrictions.

“Unfortunately, the Pakistan government won’t give them (the players) clearance to come to India, and since Saturday was our cut-off date, it’s not possible to have a team from Pakistan this year,” Modi had said. (ANI)