Gloucestershire County Cricket Club backs call to reopen station

The club also hopes to redevelop the Nevil Road ground

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club has backed a transport campaign which aims to reopen a train station close to the cricket ground.

If successful, Ashley Hill will become a new link in a planned metro rail system for Gloucester, which connects to Parkway and Temple Meads in Bristol.

Chief executive Tom Richardson said the club was committed to promoting public transport for match travel.

The campaign is also supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

'Large crowds'

Earlier in the week, representatives of the ECB visited the grounds to look through the club's development plans.

The club is hoping to upgrade the facilities at the Nevil Road grounds so it can host international matches.

A new planning application to upgrade the grounds was submitted to Bristol City Council earlier this month after a previous application was rejected in January.

The Greater Bristol Rail Link  group wants some stations reopened, such as Ashley Hill, and more frequent services in the greater Bristol area.

Gordon Hollins, ECB managing director of events and county business, said: "The ECB is fully supportive of ensuring a variety of public transport options for travelling to and from matches and this is particularly important when large crowds are expected."

Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17563609

Whatmore searches for young blood in Pak cricket

Lahore: Pakistan cricket coach Dav Whatmore is searching for youngsters, who can be potential assets for the international squad in the future.
“It is clear that Whatmore wants to have a close look at the young talent in Pakistan and get a chance to work on them with Fountain,” The Nation quoted an official, as saying.
His statement came after Whatmore along with fielding coach Julian Fountain spent most of his time this week at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium where the National Super Eights T20 championship is underway.
“They come to the stadium before the start of the first match and leave late night all the while watching the players in action and taking down notes,” a board official said.

The official added that Whatmore was expected to have a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf after the tournament over plans to set up a conditioning and training camp for shortlisted players chosen from the National Super Eights event.
A board official also confirmed that they have got encouraging response for the position of bowling coach with the national team, which was advertised with a deadline of March 23.
“Mostly local coaches have applied but there are also some foreigners interested in the job,” he said.

The PCB advertised for a bowling coach after Aaqib Javed’s resignation from the position. The PCB chief has said that he was keen to appoint another professional coach, who can help Pakistan produce best bowlers. .

Source:http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/whatmore-searches-for-young-blood-in-pak-cricket_740211.html

American football sets foot in cricket-crazy India

Representatives and players of Elite Football League India.—AP Photo

NEW DELHI: Bollywood beware. American football is bringing a hint of Hollywood and some star-spangled celebrities and former players to India to battle for a share of attention in this cricket-crazy country of 1.2 billion.

The Elite Football League of India, with supporters including actor Mark Wahlberg and former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner, is planning a launch in November with 12 teams _ and has grander plans for a 52-team league by 2022.

Some of the former NFL coaches who have stakes in the league are former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski, former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin of the Dallas Cowboys and former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brandon Chillar.

Ambitious? Consider this: cricket is THE sport in India, drawing more than a quarter of the country’s total advertising revenue of $2.41 billion last year, when it won the World Cup. National team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni signed a $39.7 million contract with a management company in 2010.

The Indian Premier League has given cricket an even higher profile, with billionaires and Bollywood beauties falling over each other to buy stakes in the teams, which then bid at auction for the hired guns from all over the cricket world for a six-week season.

”There is relatively no competition on air in the sporting landscape of Asian TV,” EFLI founder and chief executive Sunday Zellar told The Associated Press.

”In addition, given the lack of alternatives, we are finding the biggest, strongest and most agile athletes from all over India and Sri Lanka to participate in this new game of chess played by the ultimate gladiator.”

Organizers haven’t finalized a TV deal and negotiations with the kind of wealthy local industrialists who back the IPL are ongoing, but talent scouts have been raiding rugby, wrestling and volleyball to unearth talented prospective players for the EFLI.

”India has a host of very talented athletes and they are honing their skills very quickly and adapting to the game as though they have played for many years,” said Zellar, a brand marketing consultant who is hoping the trial season in Kolkata in May will generate more exposure for the main tournament.

”We hope to introduce the heroes, the players and educate the public on the rules and format of the game. It is our intention that it will spark interest and develop a following that will be sustained through to the opening game in November.”

Unlike the IPL, the American football backers are trying to build a group of stars from scratch.

Among them could be 19-year-old Santu Sardar, a soccer player who had little hope of a regular job or football contract while he languished in the second division of the local Kolkata league. He now has a monthly salary of 15,000 rupees a significant boost for a poor family which had survived until then on roughly the same amount earned by his cab driving father.

”My life has changed after I signed up for this league as it promises me a better life and financial security,” Sardar told AP in a telephone interview. ”I’ll now give my everything to ensure my team Kolkata does very well in the competition.”

But the question remains: will the best efforts of Sardar and dozens of young men from similar backgrounds be enough to get even a glimmer of attention in a sports landscape so dominated by cricket?

Other sports, including field hockey and soccer which already have a history and profile in India, rely on government handouts to keep afloat.

The EFLI is starting with an initial investment of $5 million, with another $3 million expected to be raised through the first season. Backers like Wahlberg are committing only endorsements and effort toward building the brand.

The Salt Lake Stadium, a massive 120,000-capacity venue in Kolkata, is the hub of activity where coaches from the United States are drilling hand-picked Indian coaches and players.

The Stadium will host the inaugural tournament, with teams from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh lending an international flavour. The nine Indian franchises in the 58-game regular season are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Rajasthan and Punjab.

Each team will have a pool of five coaches and 40 players, excluding support staff. The salaries will be comparable with soccer and field hockey, in which players are generally contracted to teams but paid through government departments or banks they notionally work for.

”The next five years will be revolutionary in the sporting arena for India. As the talent grows and people become familiar with the game, you will see children tossing the football around,” Zellar said.

”Attendance at live games will increase dramatically and the culture of the American football game will have planted itself on the ground and in the hearts of the Indian people.”

Zellar has recruited sports producer Sandy Grossman to help put together a TV coverage that will help sell and spread the league’s appeal.

“It’s very challenging to introduce the game to Indian cameramen and producers,” said eight-time Emmy Award-winning director Grossman. “American football is fast, a contact sport, and involves a lot of strategies.”

Grossman says programming in India will have to be different because the game has to be introduced to viewers.

“They will be like tutorials. An Indian announcer will talk with coaches, explain the game. My job is to guide the producers and cameramen and then leave them to decide how to cover games,” he told AP on telephone.

The US National Football League, which folded its European competition in 2007 after 16 years spent establishing a league on the continent, has no direct stake in the EFLI.

The inaugural Indian season will run in winter, sparing the need to expose heavily padded players to the searing heat on the subcontinent..

Source:http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/31/american-football-sets-foot-in-cricket-crazy-india.html

Pakistan showcase security and passion for cricket

ISLAMABAD: The three schoolboys jumped a barrier and walked nearly a mile to buy tickets to a Twenty20 game at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Truth be told, 14-year-old classmates Azizullah Khan, Zubair Khan and Noman Khalid would have been happy to walk almost any distance to see their heroes up close; Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul taking wickets and Umar Akmal whacking boundaries. The boys had only ever seen them on television for the last three years, ever since foreign teams refused to tour Pakistan after gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team bus on the morning of a 2009 test in Lahore. The ambush killed six police officials and a van driver, wounded and scarred members of the Sri Lanka tour party, and shut the door on Pakistan hosting international cricket.
“I have not seen international matches here,” Azizullah said as he bought three tickets for 300 rupees ($3) from a makeshift ticket booth in a container beside the road. “Everyone here is thinking, when will international cricket return to Pakistan?” Good question. The Pakistan Cricket Board still hopes it will be next month. Bangladesh accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan in April for the first time since 2008 and play three one-day internationals or two ODIs and a Twenty20. A high-powered Bangladesh delegation — led by the country’s cricket board head Mustafa Kamal — was briefed on security by top officials of the Pakistan government. But the PCB is still waiting for a response from Bangladesh. In the meantime, the PCB and government have been working to make cricket a safe haven for their own people.
For the Super Eight Twenty20 tournament in Rawalpindi, which featured most of Pakistan’s international players, all eight teams were given beefed up security. About two dozen armed guards in two vans escorted each team from the hotel to the stadium and back, and 1,400 security personnel were posted in a three-kilometer (two-mile) radius of the stadium. Everything went off without a hitch, except for the fate of the home team, the defending Super Eight champion Rawalpindi Rams, who were knocked out after losing their group matches to the Sialkot Stallions and Lahore Eagles. “(For) the last three years there has been apprehension regarding security measures,” said Malik Matloob, a senior Rawalpindi police official. “Whether it’s a local or international (event), we consider it as an international challenge for us, that’s why we’re arranging (security) like it is an international cricket event.
“Now we are in a position ... we can make any arrangements for national as well as international cricket.” New Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore and fielding coach Julian Fountain regularly watched the sold-out matches from VIP boxes and the PCB felt the tournament served a dual purpose in delivering high-class matches to local fans. “I think it’s very important for our own survival to have these events,” PCB director Zakir Khan said. “It’s for the international community to see that cricket is safe and at the same time we are producing quality cricketers and we are competitive in the world arena. Pakistan test spinner Danish Kaneria, who played for one of the two teams from Karachi, hoped Bangladesh will come to Pakistan and help break the ice.
“Once a smaller team (like Bangladesh) comes to Pakistan then automatically the other teams will get to know what our security is like,” Kaneria said. “The security provided by the PCB and the administration over here is wonderful. They are taking care of us as if we are playing international matches.” PCB hired DGM Securities to liaise with local police. The company has worked with the PCB for 10 years, looking after stadium security for series against New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, India and the 2008 Asia Cup. “After 2001 (and the 9/11 attacks), things changed,” company chief executive Syed Nadeem Mansur said. “We have started to install metal detectors to scan every single visitor at every entrance and then we have started to scan their luggage with X-rays, too.”
Closed circuit cameras are also around the stadium to watch the crowd. “Anybody can come here and see the security measures, and if they find any gap in the security measures we would be surprised,” Mansur said. He added he briefed the Bangladesh delegation and said the visitors were convinced the security was sufficient. “If somehow they don’t come ... I am always interested to know if it is a security matter,” Mansur said. Shariq Ahmed, a fan at the Super Eight wearing the green jersey of Pakistan, believed the tournament’s successful security should send positive signals abroad. “This gives us a chance to show international players that Pakistan is a safe country,” Ahmed said. “There’s a huge response from the crowd with the stadium full in every match, and that’s a good sign for Pakistan cricket.”
Source:http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C03%5C31%5Cstory_31-3-2012_pg2_12

Commission 'protected' Majola

Gerald Majola (Gallo)

Pretoria - The internal Khan Commission into the non-disclosure of staff bonuses actually protected Cricket SA (CSA) chief executive Gerald Majola, retired judge Chris Nicholson said on Friday.
“This commission was set up to protect Majola from any inquiry... and to minimise any fallout to him,” Nicholson told reporters in Pretoria.
“The commission exonerated Majola and he was repaid his bonus, with interest."
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula appointed the Nicholson inquiry in November last year to investigate CSA's failure to implement certain recommendations by auditing firm KPMG.
A KPMG report found that bonus payments of R4.5 million to Majola, former CSA chief operating officer Don McIntosh, and other employees, had been kept secret from the federation's remuneration committee.
It also found that Majola had breached the Companies Act at least four times.
The committee received written and oral submissions from current and former CSA staff and the public over three months.
It adjourned at the end of January to compile its report.
Nicholson said Majola’s non-disclosure should be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority.
“Such investigations should also include whether any provisions of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004... have been contravened,” he said.
“Section 10 provides that any person who is a party to an employment relationship and who, directly or indirectly, accepts from any other person any unauthorised gratification… is guilty of the offence of receiving unauthorised gratification.”
This would apply to both Majola and McIntosh.
He said a prima facie case existed against Majola.
“We believe there is a prima facie case of non-disclosure concerning the bonuses and irregularities with regard to travel and other costs,” said Nicholson.
Majola's contract provides for suspension with pay for up to 180 days, pending the conclusion of the inquiry. The committee recommended that the board consider this, said Nicholson.
“It would be in Majola's own interests to give him time to prepare his defence, unfettered by his normal duties."
Nicholson said Majola was the dominant force in the allocation of bonuses and not McIntosh.
The committee was also mandated to investigate the legality of expenses incurred by Majola.
Majola’s employment contract stated that he would be reimbursed for travel expenses paid out of his own pocket, provided they were approved by the board.
The matter related to Majola claiming travel expenses for his children and wife.
He blamed it on a mistake made either by a travel agent or his professional assistant.
He, however, admitted that CSA should not have reimbursed him.
“The committee was sceptical that it was an error of his professional assistant or a travel agent,” said Nicholson.
"They would have been acting on Majola’s instructions and it is improbable that they would charge CSA for his children’s flights without his instructions, either in general or on specific occasions [when] the said flights were undertaken.”
National Treasury accountant general Freeman Nomvalo said if the matter had been dealt with in the correct manner this inquiry would not have been necessary.
"In fact what should have occurred should have been an independent disciplinary inquiry,” he said.
When asked whether Majola should step down, Nomvalo said if those involved were serious about acting in the best interest of the sport, they would do the right thing.
Next week Mbalula will brief the media, the presidency and the state law advisors.
The SA Sports Confederation, Olympic Committee and CSA received the report on Wednesday.

Source:http://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Commission-protected-Majola-20120309

INDIA RELEGATED IN THE NEW ICC RELIANCE RANKINGS– CRICKET

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India relegated in the new ICC Reliance rankings– Cricket News update
After the unsuccessful tour of Australia, the Indian cricket team has been relegated to the 3^rd position from the 2^nd position it held prior to the CB series, in the fresh Reliance ICC ODI rankings. The Indian team displayed a dismal performance during its recent tour where it failed to impress in any department of the game.
The team’s ranking has slipped down as South Africa is one rating point ahead of India now. India had won only 3 of the 8 matches it played during the CB series, while one match against Sri Lanka ended in a tie.
The dismal performance displayed by the team was going to have a toll on its rankings. The fissures within the team and lack of cohesion seem to be having a deteriorating effect on the team’s performance at international level.
Australia continues to top the list by leading the 2^nd placed South Africa by 9 rating points. However, they dropped 3 rating points by losing 5 of the 11 ODI matches during the CB series. The fighting spirit of the Lankans has dented the Aussie rating despite losing the coveted series title.
Australia has a chance to maintain the top place and win the ODI shield for the year unless it loses all the 5 matches against the hosts, West Indies, in their tour to the Caribbean. If successful, it would be the 3^rdsuccessive ODI shield for the Kangaroos.
With an already comprehensive points lead over the Proteas, the Aussie team is all set to make this remarkable mark in cricket once again. Previously, the Kangaroos had retained this title between 2002 and 2007 also. Such praise worthy performance had earned them the reputation of being ‘invincible’.
The lacklustre display of cricket from team India has invited criticism from fans and experts around the world. The Indian team has left for the upcoming Asia Cup, where it would play against its Asian counterparts including the arch rivals Pakistan.
The team’s rankings could slip further if its poor run of form continues. Indians must watch out against the Lankans who are just 3 rating points behind India at 4^th place in the overall ODI rankings.
Source:http://blogs.bettor.com/India-relegated-in-the-new-ICC-Reliance-rankings-Cricket-News-update-a135491

MORNE MORKEL HAS HIS HOPES ATTACHED WITH THE TOP ORDER

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Morne Morkel has his hopes attached with the top order - Cricket News Update
The South African pace bowler, Morne Morkel, is hopeful that the batsmen will give the bowlers a decent total to defend in their second innings.
Speaking to media reporters at the end of the second day of the ongoing Test series opener in Dunedin, the 27-year-old right-arm pacer conceded that the pressure will be on them to bat well on the third day and make a comeback into the match.
"It's really close so the pressure is on us tomorrow to bat well," said Morkel speaking to media reporters on Thursday evening.
"There is talk of the ball keeping low and that it's going to be tough to bat in the second innings. So hopefully the boys can go big in the second innings," he added further.
The Proteas, who have a chance to go top of the ICC Test rankings, were bundled out for a 238 in their first innings. However, the bowlers took the onus of responsibility and restricted the Black Caps to 243 for 9 at stumps on day 2.
The rookie pacer, Vernon Philander played a key role in Proteas fight back, and he returned with impressive figures of 4 for 72. Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn claimed two wickets each, while Imran Tahir and Jacques Kallis shared a wicket apiece, as the hosts were rolled over for 273 in their first innings.
Morkel, the right-arm fast bowler, has his hopes attached with the South African top order and with the likes of Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, who he believes will put the tourists into a winning position. He was hopeful that the experienced trio will enjoy long outings on the crease, when the two outfits resume the game on Friday morning.
"Hopefully they can bat for a day and a half. It would be good to give the bowlers some rest in that time," said the lanky speedster.
"Luckily we've got a top order that's shown in the past that they can bat us out of this situation and I back them all the way to go big in the second innings," he added further.
The Proteas are scheduled to play two more Tests against the Kiwis and a 3-nil whitewash of the Black Caps will steer them to the top of the ICC Test rankings, ahead of England.
Source:http://blogs.bettor.com/Morne-Morkel-has-his-hopes-attached-with-the-top-order-Cricket-News-Update-a135483

NAVEED AKRAM CHEEMA CONFIDENT OF A GOOD SHOW AGAINST INDIA

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Naveed Akram Cheema confident of a good show against India 
The manager of the Pakistan cricket team, Naveed Akram Cheema, has vowed that the Green Shirts will perform brilliantly in the Asia Cup fixture against India, and believes that the Pakistani team is more confident at this stage, compared to their Indian counterparts.
Pakistan will take on India in the all-important match of the Asia Cup 2012 on March 18, at Dhaka. Since theMumbai terror attacks in 2008, the two countries have not played a bilateral series and this is the reason why there is a lot of hype over this fixture.
The Green Shirts have played well over the last year and a half, and won Test series against the likes ofEngland, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. However, they did not fare well against the English in their recently concluded One Day International series, losing 4-0.
On the other side of the coin, India has had a torrid time in international cricket over the last eight months, failing time and again to impress outside the sub-continent.
This is why Cheema feels that the Pakistan team has the psychological edge over the Men in Blue. He also added that the Pakistan team recently visited Bangladesh, and is familiar with the conditions.
"We're optimistic that we'll do well. We showed good performances against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh recently and there's no reason why we can't repeat that, Although we lost against India in the World Cup semi-final last year, but they are demoralised with their performance in Australia which has given us the psychological advantage. Our recent Bangladesh tour will also be a positive factor for us," said the Pakistan team's manager.
Cheema is confident that Dav Whatmore is the right person for the head coach position and will help the side improve further.
"Whatmore is an experienced campaigner and a fair gentleman and I hope his expertise will help the team. I have faith that Pakistan can bounce back strongly after losing the limited-overs series against England," shared Cheema.
Source:http://blogs.bettor.com/Naveed-Akram-Cheema-confident-of-a-good-show-against-India-Cricket-News-Update-a135452

Kallis unconvinced by ball-tracking technology

New Zealand's appeal and review against Jacques Rudolph were turned down

A review in the penultimate over of the third day's play sparked another debate about the Decision Review System, with Jacques Kallis saying he "is not convinced by the predictive path" of the delivery shown by the ball-tracking technology. Doug Bracewell said members of the New Zealand squad were also "a bit iffy" about the accuracy of the DRS.

The incident under scrutiny was an lbw appeal off Bracewell against Jacques Rudolph which was upheld by the umpire Aleem Dar. After consultation with Kallis, Rudolph asked for a review and the pitch map showed the ball had landed just outside leg stump, resulting in Dar's decision being overturned and Rudolph surviving.

Bracewell was surprised by the decision as, to the naked eye, the ball appeared to have pitched on leg stump. "I thought it was pretty dead. I was going for the inswinger and trying to hit him on the pads and I think everyone thought it was out," Bracewell said. "I think they made a mistake [with the pitch map]. I don't see how the ball swinging back in can pitch outside leg and hit middle stump."

Kallis said he was prompted to persuade Rudolph to seek a review because he had faced Bracewell for most of the day and noticed that he occasionally delivered the ball from a slightly wider position. "I thought the one thing it might have been was that it could have pitched outside leg, coming from that angle," Kallis said. "Fortunately, I was right."

Kallis agreed that in asking for the review he brought to light two major concerns about the DRS. Is there a strategic way to use the system and is it performing its primary function, which is to minimise blatantly incorrect decisions? The answer to both, according to Kallis, is yes.

Because South Africa were in a dominant position at the time of the appeal, Kallis said they were able to ask for a review of a decision they might otherwise have accepted. "We had two reviews and I thought this [Rudolph] is a big batter so with those 50-50 calls I said to him, it's worth a call," Kallis said.

"That system is there to take out the shocker. Maybe with your first review, it's 50-50. Generally captains will say, 'Let's take a risk,' and then the second one you use a lot better. You probably take a little more of risk on that first one."

Kallis also stressed that the main function of the DRS was to eliminate obvious errors, because he remembered playing "in the old time when you got given a bad decision and it can change careers." He said that he "understands" there was a place for a review system, but remained sceptical on its exactness.

"How accurate it is, I don't know. Have decisions improved? I think they have but we have got to accept that there are probably one or two that, as cricketers, we will think 'I'm not so sure', but maybe that's an improvement on absolute shockers which is what you wanted to take out of the game. We are getting that right to a degree but I am not convinced how accurate it really is."

Like many of his Indian counterparts - who have opposed the DRS in its current form - Kallis said what bothers him and his team-mates is the legitimacy of the predictive path, because of height and line.

	"Sometimes when it hits the batter and you think that's close and it ends up being a long way away or vice versa. I don't think there are any guys that are 100% sure that that thing is as accurate as they want to make it out to be. They keep saying it but I'm not so sure and I think 99% of cricketers will say that."Jacques Kallis

On day two, South Africa reviewed an lbw appeal which had been turned down off Imran Tahir against Daniel Vettori. The ball-tracker showed that the delivery would have missed leg stump comfortably, which seemed unrealistic because of the amount of turn on it. "A lot of us looked at Dan's one yesterday and it was closer than what I thought the DRS had it," Kallis said. "It might not have been hitting or it might have been clipping leg, and the right decision was made in the end but [showing that it was] missing leg by that much surprised all of us."

It is instances like these, where the predicted path differs vastly from what is expected that has caused "plenty" of members of the South African team to be concerned about the system. "Sometimes when it hits the batter and you think that's close and it ends up being a long way away or vice versa," Kallis said. "I don't think there are any guys that are 100% sure that that thing is as accurate as they want to make it out to be. They keep saying it but I'm not so sure and I think 99% of cricketers will say that."

South Africa, including Kallis, accept the system as it stands but Kallis said he believes the players should be allowed to speak their minds about the DRS. "We are still allowed our opinion as cricketers and we are still allowed to say how we feel sometimes decisions go."

Kallis also had a suggestion to improve the system. "Maybe what they can do is have the review system that shows where it pitched and where it hits and let the third umpire make the call from there so you still give benefit of the doubt to the batter," he said, stressing that the need for the on-field umpires is still there despite the technology at the game's disposal.

"You don't want to take the umpires' job away but you do want the right decision. The predicted path, for me, is the worry. The Snickometer and Hot Spot and everything else is pretty decent."

Source:http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-south-africa-2012/content/story/556811.html

Rahul Dravid ends international cricket career

Rahul Dravid had 13,288 runs from 164 matches at an average of 52.31 with 36 centuries

BANGALORE, India — Indian superstar Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday at the age of 39, ending a 16-year career that made him an idol at home and abroad.

"It is time to move on and let a new generation of players make their own history," Dravid told reporters at a crowded news conference in Bangalore alongside Indian cricket board president Narayanaswamy Srinivasan.

The stylish batsman is the second-highest scorer in Test cricket history behind compatriot Sachin Tendulkar, with 13,288 runs from 164 matches at an average of 52.31.

"When I started, I could never imagine that this long journey will take me so far," said Dravid, who scored 36 Test centuries. "In the Indian team I was fortunate to be part of a wonderful era.

"I leave the game with wonderful memories and great friendships," the once-time national skipper added, saying he looked forward to spending more time with his wife and children after years on the road.

The man known as "the Wall" for his immaculate technique, was also one of only 10 batsmen to score more than 10,000 runs in one-day cricket, which he quit last year to prolong his Test career.

His career-high of 270 came in India's third Test against Pakistan in April 2004.

Dravid's one-day tally stood at 10,889 runs from 344 matches at an average of 39.16, including 12 centuries.

Indian cricket boss Srinivasan called Dravid "one of the finest cricketers India has ever produced" and a "great role model".

"I would echo everyone's praise when we say 'Thank you Rahul.' Thank you for what you have given to Indian cricket and we wish you very, very well," he told reporters.

Dravid's retirement puts the focus on India's other ageing stars, Sachin Tendulkar, 39 next month, and Venkatsai Laxman, 37, who are under pressure to consider their future after the team's just-concluded disastrous tour of Australia.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men, who won the limited-overs World Cup in April last year, crashed to a 4-0 Test defeat against Australia after an identical whitewash in England last year where they also failed to win the one-day series.

Dravid was one of the few players to emerge with any credit after the tour of England where he defied the years to crack three centuries in four Tests.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan joined the chorus of tributes worldwide from players past and present who said goodbye to one of the game's leading ambassadors.

"The world's most respected cricketer over the last 20 yrs," Vaughan wrote on Twitter.

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson, who played with Dravid for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), described him as "the nicest guy" in world cricket.

South African great Jacques Kallis said Dravid possessed "one of the best techniques in the game and was always a prize wicket to get."

Dravid's unhappy Australia tour will mark his last appearances in an Indian shirt where he managed just 194 runs in eight innings. He was bowled six times, indicating perhaps that his reflexes were slowing down.

"I had thought about it (retiring) even before the tour of Australia," he said. "I knew in my heart... I knew deep down that the time was right. For the past year, I had assessed my future after every series.

"My approach to cricket has been reasonably simple -- it was about giving everything to the team, it was about playing with dignity and it was about upholding the spirit of the game.

"I hope I have done some of that. I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying. It's why I leave with sadness, but also with pride."

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, a fellow debutant with Dravid in the 1996 Lord's Test, said it will not be easy to replace him.

"He was a perfectionist. His determination, technique and commitment towards the game was something special," said Ganguly. "It's really tough to become another Rahul Dravid. It will not happen overnight."

Dravid will continue playing in the lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 event where he will lead Rajasthan Royals this year after the retirement of Australian spin legend Shane Warne.

Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g9mdBKt6QqUDz2pJ2F0m1SMo4J6A?docId=CNG.f0067d6b6c5fc41cfa26baa08eca6055.951

India, Pakistan and a cricket rivalry of continental proportions

India and Pakistan renew their cricket rivalry after almost a year's break when they take part in the Asia Cup one-day tournament starting in Dhaka on Sunday.

Buoyant Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh, the other two teams in the fray to determine one-day supremacy on the continent, play the opening match at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka.

But the focus is already on the March 18 tie, the first between the arch-rivals since the high-profile World Cup semi-final at Mohali last March, which India won on their way to clinching the showpiece title.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, whose team were blanked 4-0 by England recently, said the match against India would be a highlight.

"Against India it is something special because of the supporters of Pakistan and India," he said.

"Everyone wants to enjoy India-Pakistan rivalry and that adds to the pressure. But we want to play good cricket and improve our own performance. It's going to be a tough tournament."

India severed cricket links with its neighbour after the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks, which New Delhi blamed on militants based across the border in Pakistan.

The Asia Cup will be the first assignment for new Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore, the former Australian international who guided Sri Lanka to World Cup glory in 1996.

The tournament provides Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar with yet another opportunity to record an unprecedented 100th international century.

The world record-holder has gone a year without a three-figure knock since scoring his 99th ton in a World Cup match against South Africa in Nagpur last March.

India hope to make amends after their disastrous tours of England and Australia, where they lost both the Test and one-day series.

India, who won the last Asia Cup title in Sri Lanka in 2010, have rested hard-hitting opener Virender Sehwag and key paceman Zaheer Khan, but will feel at home on the low, slow pitches in Dhaka.

Sri Lanka, who finished runners-up to India in the World Cup, have produced encouraging results after reappointing Mahela Jayawardene as captain and South African Graham Ford as coach.

They not only knocked India out of the recent tri-series in Australia, but also gave the hosts a close run before losing the best-of-three final 2-1.

Bangladesh are boosted by the return of opener Tamim Iqbal, who was initially dropped by the country's cricket chief before being added as a 15th member of the squad on Thursday.

Each side will play the other once in the round-robin league, with the top two advancing to the final on March 22.

Source:http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/features/item/186637-india-pakistan-and-a-cricket-rivalry-of-continental-proportions

Isa Guha retires from international cricket

Isa Guha has been part of England's successful World Cup and World T20 teams

Isa Guha, the England seamer, has announced her retirement from international cricket. Guha, 26, played eight Tests, 83 ODIs and 22 Twenty20 internationals in a career spanning close to 11 years.

During her international career, she took 101 ODI and 29 Test wickets and was part of a successful side which won the Women's World Cup and World Twenty20 tournaments in 2009, and the Ashes in 2005.

However, she will continue playing county cricket. "Playing for England has meant everything to me but it feels like the right time for me to step away from the international stage," Guha said.

"The levels of commitment have become even greater which is testament to how the women's game has developed and after ten years of prioritising cricket it's now time to think about my future outside of the game.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time playing for England and will take many memories with me such as winning the Ashes in 2005, the World Cups in 2009 and our most recent whitewash of our tour in New Zealand. It has been a pleasure to play alongside some truly special cricketers and to see them grow as players. The current squad is the strongest I have ever been involved in and I hope they continue to lead the way in world cricket."

Guha's retirement comes on the same day Rahul Dravid, the Indian batsman, announced he was quitting international cricket.

Source:http://www.espncricinfo.com/women/content/story/556814.html

Dravid rests his bat, quits international cricket

Rahul Dravid, one of the best batsmen of his era, called time on his distinguished 16-year career at a press meet in Bangalore on Friday.

Batting great Rahul Dravid, the second most prolific batsman in the game’s history and India’s middle order bulwark for years, on Friday bid adieu to Test cricket, bringing down the curtain on a glorious 16-year career.

The 39-year-old Dravid, a former India captain, became the first of the three ageing greats of Indian cricket, besides Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, to retire in the aftermath of India’s disastrous Test tour of Australia.

“I would like to announce my retirement from international and domestic first-class cricket. It is 16 years since I played my first Test match for India and today I feel it is time to move on. Once I was like every other boy in India, with a dream of playing for my country. Yet I could never have imagined a journey so long and so fulfilling,” Dravid said at a press conference here.

“No dream is ever chased alone. As I look back, I have many people to thank for teaching me and believing in me. My junior coaches in Bangalore and at various junior national camps inculcated in me a powerful love of the game which has always stayed with me,” said Dravid who was flanked BCCI President N Srinivasan and former captain Anil Kumble.

“My coaches at the international level have added to my craft and helped shape my personality. The physios and trainers worked hard to keep me fit - not an easy job - and allowed me to play late into my 30s.

“The selectors, who rarely receive any credit in India, occasionally had more confidence in me than I had in myself and I am grateful for that. The various captains I played under offered me guidance and inspired me. Most of all I have to thank the teams I played with.”

Dravid said he would leave the stage with wonderful memories he shared with his team-mates who are legends of the game.

“I was lucky in my early years to play for Karnataka team which was trying to forge itself into a strong side and they were years of fun and learning,” he said. “In the Indian team, I was fortunate to be part of a wonderful era when India played some of its finest cricket at home and abroad. Many of my team-mates have become legends, not just in India but in the wider cricketing world. I admired them, learnt from them and I leave the game with wonderful memories and strong friendships. It is a great gift to have.”

Characteristic of his simple but dignified approach to his cricket, Dravid said he had tried to uphold the spirit of the game. "My approach to cricket has been reasonably simple: it was about giving everything to the team, it was about playing with dignity and it was about upholding the spirit of the game. I hope I have done some of that. I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying. It is why I leave with sadness but also with pride.”

He also thanked the cricket fans for their support during his long career. “Finally I would like to thank the Indian cricket fan, both here and across the world. The game is lucky to have you and I have been lucky to play before you. To represent India, and thus to represent you, has been a privilege and one which I have always taken seriously,” he said.

Dravid had a disastrous tour of Australia where he scored only 194 runs in eight innings at an average of 24.25. Even more disappointing was that Dravid, known for his solid technique, was bowled in six out of the eight innings.

There was intense speculation about Dravid’s future following the Australian tour and his decision to hang his boots will now turn focus on another batting great VVS Laxman who too had a disappointing tour.

Dravid had already announced his retirement from ODI cricket in England last year after been surprisingly recalled in the ODI team due to his stupendous performance during the Test series against England in which he scored three centuries.

Nicknamed ‘The Wall’ for his dour defence, the always thoughtful-looking Dravid walked into international cricket sunset after making his debut in June 1996 though he will lead the Jaipur-based Rajasthan Royals side in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League.

Dravid ended his Test career with 13,288 runs - behind only Tendulkar (15,470 in 188 Tests) - in 164 matches, with 36 hundreds and 63 half centuries at an average of 52.31, the 270 against Pakistan being his highest score.

Initially considered a liability in the one-day arena, he re-invented his game over the years to meet the demands of the shorter format which he played from April 1996 to September 2011. He scored 10,889 runs from 344 ODIs with 12 centuries and 83 half centuries at an average of 39.16.

Under his captaincy between October 2005 and September 2007, India won Test series in the West Indies as well as England but had a disastrous World Cup in 2007 when they were knocked out in the first round of the tournament. He captained India in 25 Tests and 79 ODIs.

Dravid’s captaincy coincided with Greg Chappell’s controversial tenure as India coach, but that did not affect his performance with the bat, as he garnered 1,736 runs at 44.51.

Never a natural athlete, Dravid’s immense levels of concentration also came in handy as he also holds the world record of highest Test catches - 210 - mostly at the slip cordon. He overtook Mark Waugh to become the most successful slip catcher in history. In addition to this, he has 196 catches in ODIs.

Asked how long he took to reach his decision to retire, Dravid said, “For a year now after each and every series I have assessed ... when I came back from Australia I wanted to take the emotion out of it and look at it dispassionately ... I have spoken to Sachin and to my team-mates and all of them were supportive.

Dravid denied that his poor form in Australia had been factor in his retirement decision.

“I would like to believe irrespective of how the Australian series had gone, I would have assessed a lot of things and come to the same conclusion.

“I dont think I based this decision on series, it’s a culmination of a lot of things. These decisions are based on a lot of things.”

“It was an honour and a privilege to play with the galaxy of cricketers I played with ... fortunate to play in an era which was pretty successful in Indian cricket, for me to be sharing a dressing room with them was an honour.”

On the high and lows in his long career, David said, “When you play for 16 years, you will face highs and lows. There have been many disappointments and great highs. There is a huge sense of satisfaction that I have always given it my best shot. I have left no stone unturned in trying to become the best cricketer I can become. Absolutely no regrets.”

Dravid said he thought it was right time for him to call it quits so that younger players take Indian cricket forward.

“I felt it was the right time for me to move on, for a next generation of cricketers to play and take the team forward ...a lot of these decisions just come to you in different ways ...I just felt the time was right. I needed to move on.”

He said he has no regrets though it was a difficult decision to call it quits.

“Yes and no. It’s all I’ve known, from that point of view it was a difficult decision. But I knew deep down, the time was right. I was very happy and comfortable in what I had achieved and what I had done,” he said.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/sport/article2977394.ece