New Zealand in Pakistan

The Pakistan Cricket Board will stand to lose about Rs 40 million as New Zealand has decided to pull out of its tour citing security reasons.
The loss of revenue from ticket sales, title sponsorships, advertising and television rights could have a telling effect on the PCB finances.
Broadcasters like ESPN-Star, TV-New Zealand have already secured the rights of telecast and if the tour does not take place the PCB may be forced to make alternate tours or host alternate tournaments to make up for the loss it is likely to incur.
Moreover with the cancellation of the Indian tour and the proposed quadrangular tournament the PCB will incur heavy financial losses.

Gearing up for South Africa

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have called for all Indian players named in the South African tour squad to assemble at the Wankhede Stadium, on September 22 to undergo a final fitness test.
The test will be conducted by team physio Andrew Leipus. Also present will be sports medicine expert Dr Anant Joshi and Chandu Borde, chairman of the selection committee. The team leaves for South Africa on September 24.

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The pace bowlers named to tour South Africa have been ordered by team coach John Wright to have a training stint at the MRF Pace Academy, Chennai under Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee.
With the exception of Javagal Srinath, all the others - Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Reetinder Singh Sodhi & Harvinder Singh (stand-bye) will spend time at the Academy with Lillee between September 14-17.

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Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble has warned South Africa to be wary of Indian spin bowling during the upcoming tour. With his return and his bowling in tandem the young off-spinner Harbhajan Singh the pressure will be on South Africa, Kumble said.

Miscellaneous

After Sri Lanka yesterday it is now the turn of Pakistan to accept the invitation to participate in the Hong Kong Super Sixes tournament. Eight countries are slated to participate in the two-day tournament to be played in the second week of November.

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Its probably the end of the road for former England and Lancashire skipper Michael Atherton after he has been ruled out of the rest of the county season with a sore back. Atherton aged 33 has been suffering from this problem for a couple of years now.

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Sri Lanka have named a pool of 20 players to prepare for the Sharjah tournament to be held in Oct/Nov. Sanath Jayasuriya has been retained as skipper.
Pace bowlers Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Zoysa and Suresh Perera who are all doubtful with their fitness and bowling action troubles have also been named in the pool. Perera's case is currently under review with a suspect action.
The 20 players named are:
Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Russel Arnold, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Kumar Dharmasena,, Avishka Gunawardana, Kumar Sangakkara, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Suresh Perera, Dulip Liyanage, Dinusha Fernando, Upul Chandana, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakeratne Dilshan, Akalanka Ganegama, Chamara Silva.

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A Hyderabad court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing to next week on the main petition of former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin, challenging the life ban imposed on him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The next hearing is scheduled for September 20.

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Former Ranji Trophy Champions Mumbai thrashed current champions Baroda by 176 runs in the first match of the triangular tournament that began in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday.
Mumbai's victory was scripted by a classy hundred (117) from opener Wasim Jaffer and an unbeaten 90 from all rounder Ajit Agarkar as they amassed 321-6 in the 50 overs. Baroda in turn was skittled out for 145. Kenya is the third team in the tournament. The next match will be played between Kenya and Baroda.

Obituary

Two promising under-19 cricketers of Orissa died in a road accident near Cuttack on Tuesday night.
The two cricketers, S P Priyadarshan and Srikant Patnaik, who represented the Bhubaneswar 'A' team in the last super league match of the inter-district CK Nayudu tournament at Cuttack on Tuesday, were on their way to the capital city on a motorcycle which had a head-on collision with a truck near Bhanapur, about six km from Cuttack.
Grievously injured, the two boys were rushed to the SCB Medical college hospital at Cuttack, where they were pronounced dead. Priyadarshan, a sound batsman, had already captained the Orissa under-16 side and was a trainee at the Eastern Zone Cricket Academy in Calcutta.

SCORES AT A GLANCE

NAIROBI TRAIANGULAR TOURNAMENT
Mumbai vs Baroda (1st match)
Played at Simba Union Ground, Nairobi on 11-9-01
Mumbai: 321-6 in 50 overs (Wasim Jaffer 117, A Agarkar 90 not out, R Powar 33 not out)
Baroda: 145 in 41.2 overs (CC Williams 26, A Bhoite 25; S Bahutule 3-14)
Result: Mumbai won by 176 runs

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