Summer Spice Series

It was yet another stumble in yet another final for India as they crashed to a 7 wicket loss to the hosts in Durban Yesterday. Put into bat on a slow pitch by Pollock India were in trouble straight away losing the openers within the 12th over with not much on the scoreboard. Apart from a solid 77 from Rahul Dravid and a smart 34 in 58 balls by Shewag none of the Indian batsmen showed even an inclination to try and stay at the wickets and make a few runs.

The Indian innings folded up with10 balls to spare with the tail once again contributing next to nothing. South Africa notched up the runs with the minimum of fuss with Gary Kirsten top scoring with 87 and was declared the man of the series

Cricket in Sharjah

Sri Lanka scored an easy 63 run win as Zimbabwe crashed to their 13th consecutive defeat in one day internationals. Batting first the islanders scored 256-6 with Atapattu top scoring with 92. Led by 24-year old Brian Murphy Zimbabwe could only muster 193. The top score of the innings (47) came from medium-pacer Ervine

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The absence of India in the Sharjah tournaments is being highly felt. The highlight of the Sharjah tournaments was the Indo-Pak clashes. This aspect was not missed by Pakistan's new coach Mudassar Nazar who said the highpoint of playing in Sharjah were the matches against India. Mudassar said he was enjoying his new role as coach, which he described as a very demanding job. He said the challenge lay in trying to mould the team into a winning combination.

The England tour

England batsman Mark Butcher said that although he had confirmed to the English Cricket Board that he would be touring India, he was still adopting a wait and watch attitude. His team-mates Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Caddick and Robert Croft have asked for more time to consult their families. Meanwhile Craig White and spinner Ashley Giles will have fitness tests on November 7 before they make their final decision on the tour.

Five England cricketers have asked for more time to decide on the tour of India while eleven of them have agreed to make the trip provided their foreign office is satisfied that things are safe. A team of English Cricket Board officials will be traveling to India next week to make sure of security arrangements before the team arrives on 13 November.
The following have agreed in principle to make the tour:
Usman Afzaal, Mark Butcher, Richard Dawson, James Foster, Warren Hegg, Matthew Hoggard, James Ormond, Mark Ramprakash, Graham Thorpe, Michael Vaughan.
The following have asked for more time to make to their minds:
Andrew Caddick, Robert Croft, Ashley Giles, Marcus Trescothick, Craig White

Miscellaneous

The Australian Cricket Board have dismissed as untrue rumours circulating in the media that they have declined to tour India again unless there is a major overhaul of the Indian security system. An Australian newspaper had carried a report that players had been extremely concerned about security and had filed complaints. An ACB official said they undertake trips to every concerned country ahead of every tour and discuss all aspects on concern. He stressed it was incorrect to say that Australia was not contemplating to tour India.

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Banned Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Akram has issued a public apology to the Pakistan Cricket Board. Akram was banned from international cricket for a year after he went on a leave of absence without informing the PCB. Akram explained that an unspecified emergency came up resulting in him having to leave for UK without time for explanation. Akram has appealed to the President of the PCB to lift the ban. He said he had called up the concerned officials from UK and explained his situation and expressed his desire to be considered for future selection.

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The WGS Nimbus group continue to maintain that they are still in agreement with the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) and that the BCCSL's sudden termination of the contract was unlawful and of no effect. Nimbus has reportedly sent a demand for arbitration of the dispute to the Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC), that is an exclusive forum for resolution of disputes under agreements.

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Former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga held his first press conference after he announced his decision to stand as candidate in the forthcoming General Election in Sri Lanka. Ranatunga, will be representing the People's Alliance led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and, is expected to contest Kaduwela or Kotte seat in Colombo. Ranatunga revealed he had not planned to join politics but felt the need to do something for the country and hence the decision to join politics.

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The International Cricket Council said that Pakistan was not considered a possible venue for the next ICC Knock out only because of the Pakistan had declined to be nominated as a stand-bye at the recent meeting in Kuala Lumpur mainly on the grounds that the current situation did not allow Pakistan to prepare for or host such a major event.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has accepted, in principle, the proposal of Pakistan for holding the future home or away series at a neutral venue. ICC has also agreed to the point that Pakistan can visit any country, which it was to scheduled to visit, if the concerned Board accepts the proposal and the visiting country also feels that weather and other conditions are suitable for cricket. Pakistan was also looking to split the home series against New Zealand and to stage it in two phases, with the one-day series next April and Test series in winters, he maintained.

Scores at a glance

Standard Bank Triangular Series
South Africa vs India (Final)
Played at Durban
Toss: South Africa
India: 183 in 48.2 overs (V Sehwag 34, R Dravid 77, ; J Kemp 3-20, S Pollock 2-19)
South Africa: 187-4 in 42.1 overs (G Kirsten 87, J Kallis 39; S Tendulkar 2-27)
Result: South Africa won by 6 wickets
Man of the match: S Pollock (SA)
Man of the series: G Kirsten (SA)

Khaleej Times Trophy
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (1st match)
Played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Toss: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: 256-6 in 50 overs (M Atapattu 92, M Jayawardene 33, R Arnold 76; S Ervine 2-45)
Zimbabwe: 193 in 50 overs (G Flower 43, S Ervine 47; T Fernando 5-67)
Result: Sri Lanka won by 63 runs.
Man of the match: T Fernando (SL)

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