Chanderpaul signs up to Hong Kong Sixes

Hong Kong Sixes 2008

Cricinfo staff

July 17, 2008

	Shivnarine Chanderpaul adds experience to the All Stars © Getty Images

Shivnarine Chanderpaul is to appear for the All Stars at this year's Hong Kong Sixes on November 8.

"I'm delighted to be taking part in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes and I'm looking forward to what promises to be another fantastic weekend," said Chanderpaul. "The event has built up a deserved reputation as the best sixes tournament in the world, one that is great fun for spectators and players alike, so it will be a pleasure to be involved.

"The competition promises to be tough, but the All-Stars will be doing their very best to put on a great show and, hopefully, carry off the trophy."

The Hong Kong Sixes has been an annual fixture since 1992, attracting a wide number of the world's best. Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist and Wasim Akram have all taken part, with the proceeds of the tournament going directly into funding development of cricket in Hong Kong.

"It's great news for the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes that a player of Shivnarine Chanderpaul's stature is taking part," Mark Burns, the tournament director, said. "He's a world class cricketer at the very top of his game and I'm sure Hong Kong fans are going to enjoy seeing him in action.

The organisers have opted against including Damien Martyn and Inzamam-ul-Haq for this year's team, however, due to their involvement in the unofficial Indian Cricket League. The ICL, unlike the Indian Premier League and indeed the Hong Kong Sixes, is not officially recognised by the ICC.

"Both players are contracted to the unofficial Indian Cricket League." Burns said, "and we have decided out of respect for the Indian authorities not to involve them in the Sixes."

The All Stars, who were led by Shane Warne last year, were beaten by Sri Lanka in last year's final.

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Use Twenty20s for Test cricket's survival - Ranatunga

Twenty20 cricket

Cricinfo staff

July 18, 2008

Arjuna Ranatunga, the former Sri Lankan captain and interim chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, has said that money brought in by Twenty20s should be used for the benefit of Test cricket, while criticising players for complaining about heavy schedules only when it had nothing to do with the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Twenty20 brings in money and is business. That money should be used for Test cricket's survival," Ranatunga told the Hindu, before switching to the issue of player fatigue. "Players speak about the heavy schedule. But the moment they talk about the IPL all their fatigue disappears."

But he was concerned over a reduced career span for international cricketers. "It is hard to see a cricketer who begins his international career now playing for more than ten years," he said. "We need to strike a proper balance between Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 cricket. Cutting down on the ODIs alone is not the answer."

Ranatunga, who played 93 Tests and 269 ODIs during his 18-year career, felt that playing for the country should be given precedence. "I cherished playing for the country. It was the greatest honour for me," he said. "I am happy I retired during the period I did. I agree that the cricketers need the money, but country should always come first."

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan board is in discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to reschedule a tour next after its players who had signed with the IPL expressed reservations about making the trip since it clashed with the event.

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Asif wants B sample test postponed

Dope scandal

Cricinfo staff

July 19, 2008

	Mohammad Asif has asked for more time to prepare his case © Getty Images

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has asked for his B sample test, which had been scheduled for July 28, to be postponed. His lawyer, Shahid Karim, wants more time to prepare for the case and make travel arrangements.

Karim said Asif has yet to receive the required documents from the Indian Premier League authorities relating to the A sample test, without which he could not prepare for the case.

"From the IPL we certainly want the documents that relate to the procedures they adopted for the 'A' sample test and we are entitled to have them," Karim told PTI. "We also want certain documents from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that might be relevant to the case."

ICC anti-doping regulations provide players and/or their representative the right to be present when the B sample is opened and analysed. That means Asif and his lawyer will have to travel to Switzerland, where the testing will be done in a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory. "We will not be able to make all the travel arrangements to Switzerland by July 28," Karim told Cricinfo. "The visas have to be processed and documents have to be obtained."

The IPL announced on Monday that Asif had tested positive for a banned substance, following which the Pakistan Cricket Board suspended him.

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New Zealand to tour Bangladesh in October

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008-09

Cricinfo staff

July 20, 2008

New Zealand will tour Bangladesh in October for two Tests and three ODIs, according to the itinerary released for the fourth bilateral contest between the two countries.

New Zealand will arrive in Bangladesh on October 4, and play a one-day warm-up match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on October 7 to prepare for the series. They will stay on in Mirpur for the first two ODIs on October 9 and 11, before travelling to Chittagong for the final ODI on October 14.

The visitors will have a two-day break before the first Test in Chittagong, which begins on October 17. Mirpur will host the second Test between October 25-29.

Bangladesh are expected to have a tough task on their hands considering that they are yet to defeat New Zealand in Tests or ODIs. New Zealand have maintained a six-match winning streak since the first Test between the two sides in 2001, and have a 11-0 advantage in ODIs.

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Hoggard fears for England career

Matthew Hoggard fears his Test career could be over after he was left out of England's squad for the second Test against South Africa at Headingley.

The Yorkshire paceman was overlooked by the selectors, who opted to bring in uncapped Nottinghamshire seamer Darren Pattinson for Ryan Sidebottom.

"I'm not holding my breath," Hoggard, 31, told BBC Test Match Special.

"At the moment I'm thinking it's over and looking to see what I'm going to do in the future."

Hoggard, who has taken 248 Test wickets in 67 matches, was dropped after the first Test in New Zealand last winter and has failed to force his way back into the side.

BY-BBC NEWS

Cricket star gets female guard

By Salman Ravi
BBC News, Ranchi

For these police women, guarding Dhoni is an unusual assignment (Photos: Mahadeo Sen)

Indian cricketing hero Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been provided an all-female police force to protect him from his female fans, police say.

Dhoni recently opted out of playing a series in Sri Lanka because of fatigue.

But ever since he landed in his home town of Ranchi, in the eastern Jharkhand state, to get some rest, his fans have refused to leave him alone.

Dhoni is the captain of India's one-day cricket team and has cult following in a nation crazy about the sport.

His good looks and powerful performance on the field have earned him many fans, including a lot of young women who regularly mob him for autographs.

Last year, at Calcutta's Eden Gardens, an 18-year-old girl broke through the security cordon, ran out into the field and hugged him.

The cricketer's close friends say Dhoni is yet to get over the embarrassment.

BY-BBC NEWS

England v South Africa 2nd Test

SECOND TEST, Headingley (day two, close):
England 203 v South Africa 322-4

By David Ornstein

Prince dominated the England attack all day to post his ninth Test century

Ashwell Prince put South Africa in firm control of England with a fine century, his second of the series, on day two of the second Test at Headingley.

Prince, who resumed the tourists' first innings with Hashim Amla on 101-3, batted impeccably from start to finish.

Darren Pattinson trapped Amla lbw for his first Test wicket but Prince and AB de Villiers then dominated England.

Prince (134no) and de Villiers (70no) led their side past England's 203 and to 322-4 at the close, a lead of 119.

The pair were seldom troubled by an England pace attack that failed to generate movement through the air or off the seam and, in Monty Panesar, a spinner who toiled on a pitch offering little to no turn.

With three days still to play, South Africa will be eyeing a comprehensive victory and, after the drawn opening Test at Lord's, a 1-0 lead in the series.

Graeme Smith will be in no rush to declare and might well ask his side to bat through day three, build a huge lead and then use the final two days to bowl England out.

With overnight and morning rain ensuring the pitch was covered until the delayed 1115 BST start, the England quicks knew an extra yard of pace should have been available.

BY-BBC NEWS