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Sharad Pawar, the Indian board (BCCI) president, insisted that the BCCI is against “money-making” ventures and will only support series that promote Test cricket. Refusing to back down from his stance against the Indian Cricket League (ICL), Pawar again scoffed at the recently floated Twenty20 series proposed for October.”Test cricket is the real thing. It is the top level of the game and brings out the best in the players. We would be only happy if anyone does something for the sake of Test cricket. We will encourage it,” Pawar told PTI. “But Twenty-20 is for glamour. It can only bring in money.”On August 6, Digvijay Singh, general secretary of the Congress, the biggest party in the ruling federal coalition in which Pawar is a cabinet minister, wrote a letter to the latter requesting the BCCI to give up its “confrontationist” attitude against the ICL. “Instead of taking a confrontationist stand, you should act as a facilitator for the ICL to succeed,” Singh wrote. “I am sure the objective of the BCCI is not to make the millions but to popularise the game of cricket. I am sure you will prevail upon the hardliners in the Board and make them understand the sentiments of millions of cricket lovers in India.” Pawar chose not to comment on this.The BCCI secretary, Niranjan Shah, recenty said that players who take part in the ICL will never be eligible to play for India and would also be banned from domestic cricket in the country. Pawar maintained, however, that the BCCI would not interfere if retired players chose to associate themselves with the game: “I had said in Bangalore a few days ago that those who have retired from the cricket and pursue the game in whichever form and we won’t come in the way.”

South Africa Cricket Association (SACA) chief executive Tony Irish said South Africa could lose two of its premier fast bowlers, Charl Langeveldt and Andre Nel, because of political interference in selection.”Charl Langeveldt’s request to be removed from the squad to tour India is the desperate unhappiness of a player who knows that he has been selected for this tour for quota reasons,” he said.Langeveldt, absent from the Test side since early 2006, replaced Nel, who took 13 wickets at 26.23 in the three Tests against West Indies earlier this year, under Cricket South Africa’s transformation policy, which mandates at least six players of colour in a 14-man squad.”As players we all have a good idea of when we are clearly in the running for selection and when we aren’t,” Langeveldt said. “You just have to look at Andre’s Test record compared to mine and the fact that he has been part of all the Test match plans while I haven’t played a Test match for two years.”I have always fought for a place in the team but I don’t want to be put there because of my colour. Up to now I have been very happy in my role in the ODI team and I know my value there. I’m quite upset by this now and I’m going to need a bit of time to consider my future.”Nel also expressed his unhappiness with the situation. “I’m as upset for Langes as I am for myself,” he said. “We are good team-mates and I have a lot of respect for him. We are both passionate about playing for South Africa and neither of us deserves to feel like this. It is hard to just shrug it all off.”Irish reiterated SACA’s stance that there should be no “veto, interference or involvement in the selection of the Proteas by anyone who is not a selector”. “The players believe in the goals of transformation but all of them, black and white, are adamant that this should not be achieved by interfering in the selection of the national team,” he said.No replacement has been named as yet for Langeveldt in the squad, which arrives in India later this week.

The proposal made by the ICC chief executive’s committee to reduce the next World Cup from 16 to 14 teams “isn’t great news for the Associates” according to Warren Deutrom, the chief executive of the Irish Cricket Union.One of the major complaints of the 2007 tournament in West Indies was the number of one-sided matches during the 47-day event. Ireland enjoyed a memorable experience, beating Pakistan and forcing a tie with Zimbabwe to move into the Super Eight stage, where they overcame Bangladesh, but the other Associate countries didn’t come out in a great light.However, Deutrom says people are expecting the next rung of countries to become competitive too soon. “It is a move we both feared and expected and it’s not great news for the Associates,” he told Cricinfo. “Neither is it a great vote of confidence in the ICC’s own High Performance Programme.”The view of the HPP countries was that with another four years of funding – two of which would see heavily increased money coming through from ICC’s deal with ESS [ESPN-Star Sports] – would have seen significant improvements in the Associate countries and all would be better prepared.”He also said that the move to reduce the number of teams goes against the ICC’s stated aim of expanding the game. “The ICC are also quick to say how the World Cup should be a global showcase for the sport but it’s hard to see how that can happen when they cut back on countries.”It seems to also go against the recent increase in HPP countries to 10 and it’s difficult to see how the game will expand.”

West Indies have included Guyana batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon and Trinidad and Tobago fast bowler Ravi Rampaul in their 16-man squad for the ODI series in South Africa.Rampaul and Chattergoon will replace fast bowler Pedro Collins and batsman Daren Ganga who were in the Test squad. Chattergoon’s last one-dayer was against India in May 2006 while Rampaul is becoming a regular in the one-day side.There was still no place in the squad for Ramnaresh Sarwan, who returned from an ankle injury to score a century and a half-century against Trinidad and Tobago in the first round of the Carib Beer Cup competition.Rampaul said that the conditions in South Africa would suit his bowling. “The wickets offer a lot more bounce and the atmosphere there allows for generous swing,” he told . “This would really help my bowling and I am looking forward to playing down there.”West Indies and South Africa face off in a five-match ODI series, which starts on January 20 in Centurion.Squad: Chris Gayle (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Runako Morton, Brenton Parchment, Devon Smith, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Patrick Browne, Darren Sammy, Rawl Lewis, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon

Kevin Pietersen has insisted no amount of money will tempt him to join the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite offers coming his way to play in the multi-million dollar tournament, Pietersen says he’s focused on his England career, which is too important to him.No England player was involved in the first IPL auction as the tournament clashes with the start of the county season. However, interest was shown in a few leading stars such as Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff.”I know there is interest and, yes, there have been offers, etc etc, but it’s not something I’m particularly interested in,” Pietersen told . “Money’s not really too important, it’s not as if I need money right now,” he said. “I’m really enjoying doing what I’m doing. I love playing for England, I love playing for the spectators.””England has given me a fantastic opportunity to a fantastic life at the moment. So I’m fully committed 100% to playing for England, to winning games for England, to scoring thousands more runs for England.”Earlier, Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman and commissioner, had indicated that future editions of the tournament might be rescheduled in order to avoid a clash with England’s domestic season.

Glamorgan Cricket will receive £516,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help create the Museum of Welsh Cricket at Sophia Gardens. It will be the first sports-specific museum at a sporting venue in Wales and should open next summer.The museum forms part of a major redevelopment of Glamorgan Cricket’s headquarters in Cardiff. A statement from Glamorgan said “the state-of-the-art visitor attraction will be a high-tech gadget-rich museum, full of digital and electronic resources designed to celebrate the history of cricket throughout Wales and to inspire the next generation of Welsh cricketers.”The award will also support CricEd Cymru, a cricket-based learning programme for both primary and secondary schools, which has already been piloted, and an outreach ‘Beyond Boundaries’ scheme, which aims to maximise community participation through talks, seminars, and a travelling exhibition.R. Paul Russell, the Glamorgan chairman, said: “Glamorgan Cricket is delighted to receive this substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, especially as the creation of the Museum of Welsh Cricket has been one of the key features of the new pavilion complex here at the club’s redeveloped headquarters in Cardiff.”Cricket has played a unique part in the sporting heritage of Wales, and the creation of the Museum will add the range of visitor attractions at the new Test Match stadium which Glamorgan Cricket has developed in the heart of the Welsh capital city. The Museum will provide visitors to the city with an opportunity for the first timeto study the fascinating history of cricket and the part it has played in making Wales one of the world’s great sporting nations.”In Dr. Andrew Hignell, the club is fortunate to have the leading expert on the history of cricket in Wales. Dr. Hignell has been driving force behind both the Museum of Welsh Cricket, and the Glamorgan Cricket Heritage Gallery, and we are building on his vast experience in the world of teaching by combining a wide variety of learning-activities and community projects with the museum.”

David Dwyer, Pakistan’s new fitness trainer, has said that he expected his team to reach its peak fitness level in time for the tour of India. “The current fitness level is okay and I have been watching enough to know that I can see what their levels probably are, and the target is to reach the top level before the important series against India,” he said.”Basically we work with these guys so that we improve the area that they are weak in, trying to get rid of the limitations that they may have,” Dwyer said, adding that he would adopt a tough rugby-style fitness regimen.”The idea of having a rugby coach is not new in cricket, things are quite the same but they are put in a different way so that these guys get something new which they have not done before.” Dwyer, who has previously assisted Geoff Lawson, Pakistan’s coach, vouched for the regimen’s effectiveness. “I have worked with Lawson at the University of New South Wales cricket club in the year they made the grand final and won the one-day series, so the rugby style training has worked before.”Dwyer is on a two-year contract and has replaced Murray Stevenson, the South African trainer whose contract was not renewed after Pakistan’s first-round exit from the World Cup.

Doug Bollinger has been included in Australia’s Test squad to tour the West Indies as a replacement for Ben Hilfenhaus, who is suffering from a recurrence of a stress fracture in his lower back. Bollinger will make the trip as part of the 15-man squad as long as he can prove he has recovered from a broken foot he sustained in February.The news came while Bollinger was on his honeymoon, and barely a week after he was offered his first Cricket Australia contract. “I’m just wondering if they might bump me up to first class,” Bollinger told AAP before leaving Sydney for Honolulu. “It’s probably been the best week of my life. I’m so happy that it’s happened and I’m just so excited at the moment.”Bollinger, who was married to Tegan Sutherland on Friday, was unlucky not to be chosen in the original group for the Caribbean campaign following a breakthrough Pura Cup season. He topped the wicket tally with 45 at 15.44 despite missing the last three games with the injury.”I’ve had a bit of a bowl,” Bollinger said. “I’ve been running and I’ve been in the gym, so I feel really well at the moment.”Alex Kountouris, the Australia team’s physio, said Bollinger should be fine to make the trip. “Doug has recovered well from his fractured foot,” Kountouris said. “He has been bowling for the last couple of weeks with no complaints and, as long as he completes the final fitness test, we believe he will be fully fit to take part in the Test tour of the West Indies.”Hilfenhaus’ injury means he cannot bowl for several months, which rounds off a disappointing year after he collected 28 Pura Cup wickets at 43.82 and struggled to have the same impact as in his outstanding 2006-07. However, he did retain his Cricket Australia contract and the selectors said he would remain in the frame for future series.”Obviously this is very disappointing for Ben,” Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. “However, given the amount of cricket facing the Australian side in all forms of the game over the next 18 months, a conservative approach to the management of his back injury is best to ensure he makes a full recovery.”Kountouris said the aim was to have Hilfenhaus fit and fresh for the start of 2008-09. “Ben had some lingering back pain towards the end of the Pura Cup season and recent scans have revealed a possible recurrence of an old stress fracture to the vertebrae,” he said.”His recovery will involve not bowling for the next few months but continuing on with a rehabilitation and strength program. We believe this will be his best preparation for the beginning of the 2008-09 season.”The squad gathers in Brisbane for a training camp in early May ahead of the three-Test series against West Indies. Five ODIs and a Twenty20 international follow before the players return to Australia in July.

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Brad Hodge celebrated his 100th one-day game with Victoria with a dominant century that virtually guarantees the Bushrangers a spot in the FR Cup final. In a match reduced by three overs due to rain, Hodge patiently steered the team out of trouble and then accelerated as they reached the required 209 with seven wickets and four overs to spare.The Bulls had started the defence well, dropping Victoria to 3 for 52 in the 15th over, but there was no more joy as Hodge combined with the captain Cameron White in an unbroken stand of 157. White picked up a confidence-boosting 64 while Hodge starred with 119, which included 10 fours and a six.Hodge stayed for 134 balls and while he was around the Bushrangers always remained in control. They have one match remaining to seal their spot in the decider – they are five points ahead of the third-placed South Australia – and could host it if the leaders Tasmania falter.Queensland fought for their 214 in 48.4 overs after Chris Simpson started the target-setting with 42. While none of the top seven failed badly, the batsmen were unable to reach a significant total. The Bulls were in big trouble at 5 for 110 before Craig Philipson (32) and Aaron Nye (39) combined to add some respect.Bryce McGain, the leading wicket-taker for Victoria this summer, picked up two crucial victims, bowling Clinton Perren after taking care of Nathan Reardon. The double-blow continued the good work of Clint McKay and he finished with 3 for 42. McKay captured the captain Jimmy Maher and Ashley Noffke early in the innings before returning for Nye.

Brian Lara and Inzamam-ul-Haq headlined the list of players as the Indian Cricket League (ICL) announced its teams for the inaugural tournament. Lara has been named in the Mumbai Champs side while Inzamam will play for Hyderabad Heroes.Inzamam and Lara, along with Stuart Law, Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan are likely to lead the teams.The other international players include Abdul Razzaq, Taufeeq Umar and Shabbir Ahmed of Pakistan, Australia’s Ian Harvey, South Africa’s Johan Van der Wath, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje and Andrew Hall, New Zealand’s Nathan Astle, Chris Harris and Daryl Tuffey and England’s Vikram Solanki. The ICL is in talks with Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu, while Russel Arnold and Upul Chandana have already signed.The overseas players have been spread among the six teams – Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh Lions, Chennai Superstars, Delhi Jets and Kolkata Tigers. The coaches for these teams are Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal, Balwinder Sandhu, Moin Khan, Daryll Cullinan and Michael Bevan.”We have ensured the teams are balanced in every way and receive the best facilities in terms of coaching, showcasing their talent and exposure to international cricket,” Kapil Dev, the chairman of the ICL’s executive board, said. “I wish all the players best of luck for the tournament.”The teams will be taking part in a practice camp in their respective cities.The tournament begins on November 30 in Panchkula, a town near Chandigarh.Teams:Chennai Superstars: Stuart Law, Ian Harvey, Hemang Badani, Chris Read (wk), Russell Arnold, Sridharan Sriram, Shabbir Ahmed, V Devendran, R Sathish, Dakshinamoorthy Kumaran, Hemanth Kumar, Jamaluddin Syed Mohammed, Thiru Kumaran, J Hareish, V Sarvanan, R Jesuraj, Sanjeev Martin, G Vignesh, P Vivek.
Coach: Michael BevanHyderabad Heroes: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Chris Harris, Nicky Boje, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Anirudh Singh, Ambati Rayudu, S Shahubuddin, Stuart Binny, IS Reddy, Vinay Kumar, Ibrahim Khaleel, Kaushik Reddy, Bheema Rao, Alfred Absolem, Shashank Nag, PS Niranjan, Baburao Yadav, Zakaria Zuffri.
Coach: Moin KhanKolkata Tigers: Craig McMillan, Lance Klusener, Darren Maddy, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Rohan Gavaskar, Upul Chandana, Deep Dasgupta, Abu Nechim, Parviz Aziz, Shiv Sagar Singh, Boyd Rankin, Mihir Diwakar, Rajiv Kumar, Sayed Akhlakh, Subhomoy Das, Sujay Tarafdar, Pritam Das, Anshu Jain, Ali H Zaidi.
Coach: Daryll CullinanDelhi Jets: Taufeeq Umar, Niall O’Brien, Paul Nixon, Dale Benkenstein, JP Yadav, Mohnish Mishra, Abbas Ali, Ali Murtaza, T Sudhindra, Abid Nabi, Sachin Dholpure, Abhishek Tamrakar, Dishant Yagnik, Dhruv Mahajan, Abhinav Bali, Raghav Sachdev.
Coach: Madan LalMumbai Champs: Brian Lara, Vikram Solanki, Robin Morris, Nathan Astle, Kiran Powar, Shreyas Khanolkar, Johan Van der Wath, Rakesh Patel, Avinash Yadav, Nantie Hayward, Subhojit Paul, Dheeraj Jadhav, A Sanklecha, Ranjeet Kirid, Pushkaraj Joshi, Suyash Burkul, Raviraj Patil, Nikhil Mandale, Sridher Iyer.
Coach: Sandeep PatilChandigarh Lions: Chris Cairns, Imran Farhat, Dinesh Mongia, Hamish Marshall, Andrew Hall, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Rajesh Sharma, TP Singh, Sarabjeet Singh, Ishan Malhotra, Daryl Tuffey, Sumit Kalia, Chetan Sharma, Manish Sharma, Luv Ablish, Bipul Sharma, Karanveer Singh, Amit Uniyal, Gaurav Gupta, Harpreet Singh.
Coach: Balwinder Sandhu