Decision to ban players got clearance from Zardari: sources

The PCB decided to take disciplinary action against the players, including indefinite ban on former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, after confirming reports of internal strife in the team and after getting clearance from the Presidency, sources said.

Well placed sources said that the PCB had kept President Asif Zardari, chief patron of the board, and the sports ministry aware of the recommendations made by the inquiry committee which probed into the poor performance in Australia and into reports of infighting in the team.

"The board moved against the seven players after getting approval from the top," one source said.

One source said during the hearings of the inquiry committee and after speaking to the coach, manager, captain and other players and even the support staff, it became clear that some players had their own law in the team.

"After speaking to the players and officials and looking into the reports of the team management it became clear to the inquiry committee that some players were putting their personal egos and interests above team and national interest," one source said.

The source said that the strict action against Yousuf and Younis was taken because both were found guilty of putting at stake team interests while trying to settle personal scores with other players during the tours to Abu Dhabi, New Zealand and Australia.

"They didn't behave like senior players and captains. They unnecessarily dropped players who they had scores to settle with and it affected team morale and performances," the source said.

Raqibul rcoks Bangladesh with retirement

The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed the 22 year-old Raqibul Hasan, who was only on Tuesday named in the 14-man Test squad, had submitted a letter to the governing body to announce his immediate retirement because of "personal reasons".

The BCB have, however, not accepted the retirement of one of the country's most promising young batsmen. Raqibul was left out for the recent one-day international series against England but earned his place in the Test squad after scoring an unbeaten century against England in the recent tour match in Chittagong.

"The letter has not been accepted yet," BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said. "We are trying to persuade him to withdraw the resignation letter and continue with cricket for the country's sake."

Raqibul has played seven Test matches since making his debut against South Africa in November 2008, while he also has 41 ODI caps.

Sammy bowls Windies to win

Darren Sammy produced a career-best spell of 4-26 as West Indies cruised to a 141-run win over Zimbabwe in the third ODI. Chasing 246 for victory , Zimbabwe were dismissed for 104 in 31.5 overs. West Indies now enjoy a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

"I am really happy with the result, and I am happy we continued from where we left off in Guyana,'' said West Indies captain Chris Gayle. "Hopefully, we can continue in this vein, and finish off the job on Friday, and win the series. This is no time to relax. We still have to play hard cricket because we know that Zimbabwe will be coming back hard at us again.''

Hamilton Masakadza hit the top-score of 35 for Zimbabwe, but no other batsman made more than 20, as the West Indies fast bowlers made light work of their batting line-up.

Kemar Roach took 3-28 from nine overs, and Dwayne Bravo, in his 100th ODI appearance for West Indies, took 2-23 from seven overs.

"We failed to bat properly,'' said Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya. "We felt chasing 240 should have been too much of a challenge, but we just did not bat well.''

Daryl Harper snubbed by T-20 World Cup

Umpire Daryl Harper will take no part in the ICC World Twenty20 after an ICC panel concluded his "general performances" did not merit selection. But the world's governing body have insisted Harper's absence is not a consequence of the Australian's part in the decision review system controversy which beset this year's Johannesburg Test between England and South Africa.

An inquiry remains ongoing following the decision not to give Graeme Smith out caught behind on review in an innings which saw the home captain go on to make a century and lead South Africa to a wide-margin and series-levelling victory.
The ICC's chief executives' committee are also this week receiving a report in Dubai on the "successful implementation of DRS in 13 Test matches in the last four months".

On Harper's failure to make the cut for the showpiece Twenty20 event which starts in the Caribbean next month, the ICC statement explained: "This decision was taken by the selection panel for a number of general performance reasons.
Those who are on the 13-strong list include all 10 of Harper's colleagues on the ICC's elite panel - joined by South Africa's Marais Erasmus, Australian Rod Tucker and India's Shavir Tarapore. England's Ian Gould is also among those who will be umpiring in the West Indies.

The full list is: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Billy Doctrove, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Rudi Koertzen, Asoka de Silva, Simon Taufel, Asad Rauf, Marais Erasmus, Shavir Tarapore and Rod Tucker.

The match referees - chosen like the umpires by a panel including former England batsman turned pundit David Lloyd - will be Ranjan Madugalle, Alan Hurst and Andy Pycroft.

HC judges to visit Wankhede stadium to inspect renovation work

Taking note of the petition claiming that renovation work at the Wankhede stadium has breached several laws, the Bombay High Court judges said they would themselves visit the stadium for inspection.

A PIL filed by Amit Maru, a city resident, has taken objection to the renovation work at the famous stadium being carried out by the Mumbai Cricket Association. Division bench of Justices F I Rebello and J H Bhatia said they would visit the stadium at around 9.45 am on Thursday.

The petition claimed that renovation work breaches several laws, including Coastal Zone Regulation. The Ministry of Environment and Forests issued Environment Impact Assessment report without following proper procedure, it said. No objection certificate was also not obtained from the Railways despite the site of renovation work being within 30 metres of a railway track, it contends.

Qadir hails PCB decision to ban Yousuf, Younis

Former leg spinner and chief selector of PCB, Abdul Qadir has hailed the board’s decision to ban captain Mohammed Yousuf and middle order batsman Younis Khan for life term besides imposing hefty fines on other cricketers. Describing the PCB’s decision as ‘brave’, Qadir said the board should stick to its decision, as the decisions taken by it in the past were never put into action.

It may be noted that acting on the inquiry committee’s report, which was set-up to look into the team’s terrible tour of Australia, the PCB imposed a life term ban on Yousuf and Younis and slapped hefty fines on various players, holding them responsible for the team’s pathetic show.

The PCB has also banned all-rounder Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan for one-year besides slapping a fine of two million rupees on each of them.

The board has also issued last warning to star all-rounder Shahid Afridi and wicket keeper Kamran Akmal and his batsman brother Umar Akmal for violating the player’s code of conduct during the winless tour of Australia.

While Afridi and Kamran have been fined three million rupees for their misconduct, the board has slapped a fine of two million dollars on Umar. All these three players have also been placed on a six-month probation period.

Tendulkar autographed IPL ticket fetches Rs 11 lakh

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkars's autographed ticket to watch IPL action on the big screens of theatres across the country was auctioned and fetched Rs 11 lakh. The proceeds of the auction, which began at a base price of Rs 5 lakh, would go to Tendulkar-supported charitable organization 'Apnalaya', it was announced.

Unveiling the first ticket for matches to be seen in theatres, the champion batsman talked about his support for 'Apnalaya'. "I have been supporting this charity for a long time now. I am trying to help the charity by raising money and creating a platform for the underprivileged kids to express their talent," Tendulkar said.

He also announced he would be donating his bat, which he used for international matches during this season in which he created history by becoming the first batsman to score a double century in ODIs, for charity.

The bat would be taken around and displayed in all the cinema theatres screening IPL matches before it will go under the hammer and the proceeds would again go to Apnalaya, it was announced.

Tendulkar presented with 200 bats by fans

Sachin Tendulkar was presented with 200 bats in Vadodara by the fans for becoming the first batsman to crack a ODI double century. Tendulkar appreciated the initiative by his fans, put autographs on some of the bats and then advised them to distribute the bats among the budding players of the city, to whom these would certainly be an inspirational gift.

Harshit Talati, a municipal cooperator and Harish Malani, president of the Sandhi Education Society, accompanied by Atul Bedade, chairman of the selection committee of Baroda Cricket Association, had been here to present 200 bats to Tendulkar.

Sachin was is Surat to play an exhibition twenty20 match. "These 200 bats were collected by the fans of Tendulkar when he created ODI history by making 200 runs against South Africa. The fans collected these bats as mark of respect towards Tendulkar," Talati said.

Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Steve Smith, Phillip Hughes, Ryan Harris in Australia's New Zealand Test squad

Australia have included troubled vice-captain Michael Clarke and out-of-form batsman Marcus North in a 14-man squad for the coming two-Test tour of New Zealand. Clarke retained his place despite qutting the ODI series for personal reasons related to a nude-photo scandal involving fiancee Lara Bingle.

Australia's chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, also named young New South Wales all-rounder Steve Smith, Blues opener Phillip Hughes and uncapped Queensland quick Ryan Harris.

The two-Test series starts on March 19 in Wellington.

Malik, Rana banned for 1-year; Yousuf, Younis out for life from team

PCB has banned some players and fined some heavily in the wake of recommendations of an inquiry committee to look into Pakistan team’s disastrous tour of Australia.

While Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan are banned for one year, senior most batsmen Md Yousuf and Younis Khan are effectively banned for life.

They are excluded from the national team on a permanent basis but are eligible to play national and county cricket.

The news is shocking but it remains to be seen if the bans will actually be implemented or will be rescinded when the players and the public start reacting.