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New Zealand meet Sri Lanka in a last desperate attempt to try and make the final of the tournament. A win for New Zealand will put them on par with Sri Lanka as far as points go, however only a large margin of victory can ensure a place in the final on a net-run rate. But on paper it looks to be an easy victory for Sri Lanka today setting up an Pakistan- Sri Lanka final on Friday, 20th April.
Jamaican opener Leon Garrick scored an unbeaten 174 in the drawn two-day tour match against the touring South Africans. South African bowlers struggled to contain the home side as they rattled up 380-6. Garrick faced 279 balls and struck 20 fours in his knock that may enable him to get a look in for the final Test. He was involved in an unbroken seventh wicket stand of 161 with Nehemiah Perry who also remained unbeaten with 66. Scores: South Africa: (71.2 overs) 199-9 decl; Jamaica: (96 overs) 380-6
India's left arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan will play the Ranji Trophy finals for Baroda against Railways beginning at Baroda on Thursday 19 April. With his comeback into the squad after international commitments selectors decided to leave out Shekar Joshi. The final eleven will be decided on the day of the match. The team from: Jacob Martin (captain), Nayan Mongia (wicket keeper), Connor Williams, Tushar Arothe, Satyajit Parab, Himanshu Jadhav, Rakesh Patel, Ajit Bhoite, Valmik Buch, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan (sr), Irfan Pathan (jr), Umang Patel, Rohit Chandorkar and Milap Mewada (wicket keeper).
The English county season began in its own traditional way yesterday. The last season saw three Indians (Sourav Ganguly for Lancashire, Rahul Dravid for Kent and Anil Kumble for Leicestershire) on the county circuit. However this season has no Indians due to the international commitments.
The first hundred of the English cricket season went to Benjamin Hutton of Middlesex, the grandson of the great Sir Len Hutton of England and Yorkshire. 24 year old Ben made 133 against Oxford University. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa he is the eldest son of former England all-rounder Richard Hutton.
A civil court in Hyderabad reserved its order for a few days till April 20 in the case filed by former Indian skipper Mohd Azharuddin challenging the life ban imposed on him by the BCCI as well as challenging the appointment of K Madhavan as the commissioner of the BCCI. Shane Warne's mentor and the man who nurtured his spinning talent as a young cricketer, Terry Jenner came out in support of the leg spinner who had a miserable tour of India. He believed that Steve Waugh's faith in the flashy leg- spinner will definitely reap rewards against the Englishmen during the forthcoming Ashes tour. Former captain and wicket keeper Moin Khan came out in his appreciation of the current skipper Waqar Younis who he felt has been doing a good job with the team at Sharjah. He wished the team and the new skipper luck for the tour of England and hoped that the team would win in England. He also appealed to the selectors to give Waqar an extended run. Moin also admitted that he was disappointed to lose captaincy after a not so impressive performance in New Zealand and stressed that he was never keen on the job that was thrust upon him. Moin Khan, Pakistan's number one keeper, may not find a place in the side to England because he has still not fully recovered from the knee injury, while all-rounder and former captain Wasim Akram will be asked to prove his fitness before being included in the team. The ICC chief investigators Jeff Rees and Bob Smalley began their investigations in Sharjah. A CBFS spokesman however said that they have not approached the CBFS as yet. The investigators are expected to speak the players and managers of the three participating teams - Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. The Pakistan's new Cricket Academy will be opened in Lahore in May. The PCB has appointed former all-rounder Mudassar Nazar as the Academy's chief coach. The PCB is likely to invite Sunl Gavaskar, Ian Chappell, Michael Holding and Imran Khan as special guest for the opening of the academy. The Pakistan Cricket Board has urged the ICC to take harsh steps against member countries defaulting on their playing commitments and make it compulsory for all concerned to abide by its decisions in matters of dispute. The PCB has also requested the ICC to help in sorting out the problems between India and Pakistan at the government level. The Goa State Government has now ordered a commission to probe into the fake-ticket scam during the final one-day match between India and Australia on April 6. The Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who is also the state's home minister said that the final decision will be taken after consulting the law department and the advocate general. Meanwhile, Sharad Diwadkar, the BCCI executive secretary, submitted his report to the Margoa police in connection with the sale of tickets in the Goa one-dayer. Diwadkar, who represented the BCCI secretary JY Lele confirmed that the police questioned him in order to find out 'technicalities' involved in conducting international cricket matches. He also submitted to police, the guidelines set between the BCCI and the staging associations.
Yesterday's News
News Roll archive
Compiled by: Mohandas Menon
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Sri Lankan off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan has signed up for the Lancashire Cricket County this season. However due to Sri Lanka's international fixtures will result in him having to miss about 5 weeks of county cricket.
