April 12, 2001
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Last month the BCCI had proposed that five Zonal academies be formed with a view to unearth talent and mould it. Yesterday the first list from the assembly line emerged as the Mumbai Cricket Association announced a list of 20 boys who would be in the first batch of the West Zone Academy that will have its headquarters at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Former Indian Test cricketer Nari Contractor is the head coach. He will be assisted by wicket-keeper Kiran More, Lalchand Rajput and Hemant Kanitkar.  Zimbabwe completed the rout of the babes of cricket, Bangladesh when they posted 308-4 in the final match at Bulawayo. A spirited display by Bangladesh batsmen however found them falling short by just 36 runs. The most entertaining match of the tour so far, once again saw the Flower brothers bloom together after the hosts were at one stage 39-3. It was the partnership of 148 for the fourth wicket that resurrected them. Grant Flower made an unbeaten 142, which equals the highest score by a Zimbabwean batsman in one-day internationals. Former skipper Dave Houghton had also made an identical score against New Zealand at Hyderabad (Ind) on October 10, 1987 in the World Cup. Meanwhile Bangladesh's 272-8 was its highest in ODIs. New Zealand will meet Pakistan in the third match of the ARY Gold Cup in Sharjah today. While Pakistan are looking for a win that will ensure a ticket to the final, New Zealand will be looking for a win to stay alive in the competition.
The BCCI's enquiry commissioner K Madhavan arrived in Goa to look into the matter of the sale of bogus tickets for the fifth and final one-day match that was held in Goa on 6 April. The day saw clashes between the police and angry spectators who were not allowed entry to the stadium despite having valid tickets. Madhavan met ID Shukla, the superintendent of Police of Goa who has been looking after the matter. The chairman of the Pakistan Board Gen Tauqir Zia agreed that the performance of the Pakistan team fluctuated from match to match. He said after disappointing the entire nation on the New Zealand tour, they have come out and done well in Sharjah. He said he hoped Wasim Akram would be fit enough to join the team for the England tour. He also maintained that Waqar Younis would be persisted with as captain even for the all important tour of England. Former Pakistan coach Javed Miandad has been called upon to appear in the Lahore High Court before Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum who had investigated the match fixing allegations last year. The PCB chairman Gen Tauqir Zia has also been summoned. Earlier this week Miandad had accused the Pakistani players of match-fixing during their tour of New Zealand. Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will finally return home from Australia where he has been undergoing remedial measures for his suspected bowling action at Perth. The Pakistan board said it had received the first report on Shoaib's progress, but said it was too early to conclude if he has been given the all clear on his action. The final report is still awaited. Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, one of the 12 players contracted by England this year will have to miss six weeks of cricket to be fit for the first Test against Pakistan beginning on May 17. Giles has an achilles heel problem. Two ICC investigators Jeff Rees and Bob Smalley arrived in Sharjah to look into a number of match fixing allegations in the UAE. The duo is schedule to spend four days at Sharjah. Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh 3rd One day International at Bulawayo Zimbabwe: 308-4 in 50 overs (A Flower 81, G Flower 142 not out, S Carlisle 42 not out) Bangladesh: 272-8 in 50 overs (Javed Omar 69, Habibul Bashar 74; BC Strang 3-56) Result: Zimbabwe won by 36 runs (Zimbabwe won the three match series 3-0) Man of the match: Grant Flower (Zim) Man of the series: Grant Flower (Zim) Yesterday's News News Roll archive 
Compiled by: Mohandas Menon
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