ICC launches online competition to suggest names for ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 mascot

Published>Tue, Jul 20 10 02:07 PM

Dubai, July 20 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced it is presenting cricket fans with a unique opportunity to play a part in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 by inviting them to propose a name for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 mascot, an elephant.

Cricket fans can make their suggestions between 20 to 27 July, 2010 with the ICC announcing the winning name of the mascot at a launch in Colombo, Sri Lanka to mark '200 days to go' to the first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 which will be played in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 19 February 2011. The ICC Cricket World Cup final will be in Mumbai on 2 April 2011.

The mascot's key characteristics are: Young, enthusiastic and determined; thinks cricket is the most fun game in the world; loves playing street cricket-would play 24/7 if he could; worships his cricket heroes, their technique, skill and character; understands there is a lot to learn, work's hard at it, step by step; learning to master the art of concentration; dreams of playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup...one day and age: 10 (human years)

Suggestions should be sent to mascot@icc-cricket.com. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Sri Lanka 361-6 v India - lunch

Tue, Jul 20 10 01:57 PM

Sri Lanka were 361 for six wickets at lunch on the third day of the first test against India at the Galle Stadium on Tuesday.

Scores: Sri Lanka 361-6 (T. Paranavitana 111, K Sangakkara 103) v India

Source: Published>

Kewell extends Galatasaray stay for one more year

Tue, Jul 20 10 01:37 PM

Australian international Harry Kewell has ended speculation linking him with a move home to the A-League by agreeing a one-year contract extension with Turkish side Galatasaray.

A brief statement on the Galatasaray website (www.galatasaray.org) on Monday said that the 31-year-old would officially sign the deal after a routine medical.

The former Liverpool and Leeds United winger joined the Turkish side in 2008 but suffered a lengthy, injury blighted spell last season.

Australian media had speculated that Kewell, sent off for deliberate handball in his only 24 minutes of action at the World Cup last month, was set to join A-League side Gold Coast United.

Source: Published>

Ishant strikes, Lanka 361 for 6 at lunch

Tue, Jul 20 10 01:27 PM

Galle (Sri Lanka), Jul 20 (PTI) Off-colour pacer Ishant Sharma finally struck form with a three-wicket haul as India came back strongly to leave Sri Lanka 361 for 6 in their first innings at lunch on the third day of the rain-hit first cricket Test here today. After the second day was completely washed out, play resumed today after an hour''s delay with Sri Lanka at 256 for two. Ishant, who has been struggling for quite some time, tasted his first success when he induced a nick from centurion Tharanga Paranavitana which went straight to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Paranavitana (111) poked at the moving delivery off the backfoot and the diving Indian skipper made no mistake. Debutant Abhimanyu Mithun then struck another blow to the Lankan line-up when he had new batsman Thilan Samaraweera (0) trapped leg before. The ball that slanted in late caught Samaraweera unawares and the Hawkeye showed the it may have just kissed the top of the middle stump. Samaraweera had earlier got a reprieve when Rahul Dravid dropped a sitter off the bowling of Mithun at first slip. The outside edge looped up and carried straight into the Dravid''s lap but failed to stick. However, former Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene took a measure of the Indian fast bowlers as he cut a Mithun bouncer over the slip cordon for a boundary. Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews sought to accelerate the score in the rain-marred Test. Jayawardene later got the benefit of the doubt when his attempted sweep popped into Gautam Gambhir''s hand at short leg. The third umpire ruled that the ball had bounced before carrying to Gambhir. Sri Lanka''s 300 runs came in 348 minutes in 81.4 overs. Dhoni decided to bring back the fast bowlers in pursuit of further wickers as both Mathews and Jayawardene showed little difficulty in playing the spinners. Ishant was unlucky not to get early breakthroughs as he troubled the batsmen but finally got Jayawardene who missed an attempted flick and was given LBW out. Jayawardene''s 48-run knock was laced with six hits to the boundary. Ishant then got Mathews as he nipped an away going delivery to be neatly taken by Lakshman at second slip. Prasanna Jayawardene (20) and Rangana Herath (0) were at the crease when the break was taken.

Source: Published>

Sri Lanka make 361/6 against India at lunch

Published>Tue, Jul 20 10 01:07 PM

Galle (Sri Lanka), July 20 (IANS) Sri Lanka made 361 for six in 93 overs in the first innings at lunch on the third day of the first cricket Test against India at the Galle International Stadium here Tuesday.

Prasanna Jayawardene was batting on 20 while Rangana Herath was yet to open his account when the umpires called for lunch.

Source: Web Search

Ijaz hints at Mohammed Yousuf's return to Pak squad

Published>Tue, Jul 20 10 12:57 PM

London, July 20 (ANI): Pakistan assistant coach Ijaz Ahmed has hinted that the team management is seriously considering recalling former captain Mohammed Yousuf for the ongoing England tour.

Following the unexpected Test retirement of skipper Shahid Afridi last week, speculations were rife that the troubled Pakistani team management would recall either of the two former captains-Mohammed Yousuf or Younis Khan, both of whom were banned 'indefinitely' by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the winless Australia tour earlier this year.

Interacting with media persons at Headingly, Ijaz said Yousuf could replace Afridi but the team management is yet to take a final call on the issue.

"Yousuf can replace Afridi but the management haven't decided yet who will come.t could come out in a couple of days," said Ijaz.

"These are the only two players we are talking about, Younis Khan and Yousuf. Let's see, it might be decided about Yousuf. Yousuf might be coming here," he added.

Backing the selectors decision to promote Salman Butt from vice-captain to captain of the squad, Ijaz said that the left-hand opener has matured greatly over a period of time, and expressed hope that he would be able to manage things at the top level.

"He was the vice-captain as well. I hope he can manage this.We have done a lot of talking to him and he has played really well and is shaping up well. I think he is getting mature and now he has got the responsibility as well. I think he will come good for that," The Daily Times quoted Ijaz, as saying. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Axe 50-over cricket to save fast bowlers getting extinct like 'dinosaurs': Imran

Published>Tue, Jul 20 10 12:53 PM

Sydney, Jul 20 (ANI): Pakistani cricket legend Imran Khan has suggested axing 50-over cricket as a way to ease the unprecedented stress on fast bowlers so that they do not become an extinct species like dinosaurs.

The former Pakistan captain, who in 1992 led his country to World Cup glory, made these remarks while giving the annual Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's in London on Monday.

"Maybe we should eliminate 50-over cricket and just have Twenty20 cricket and Test cricket. I don't believe Test cricket is the same standard as before," Imran said.

Imran said the way the international game was structured puts "tremendous pressure" on bowlers.

"The stress on fast bowlers is incredible. But cricket without fast bowling is never going to be the same standard if a batsman doesn't test himself against fast bowling. I saw (Australia's) Shaun Tait bowl in the Twenty20s and I thought an alien had come in - you suddenly saw batsmen hopping about,' he said.

The 57-year-old Imran, who since retiring from cricket has entered politics, was at Lord's last week to see Pakistan lose the first of their two-Test series against Australia by 150 runs, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Commenting on Shahid Afridi's retirement from Tests after just one game back as Pakistan captain, Imran said Afridi was an example of a fine Twenty20 player who lacked the temperament for the five-day format.

"The only test of a cricketer is the Test match because his talent and technique is tested. In Twenty20, if you are very talented you can get away with it, but a good Twenty20 cricketer will not necessarily excel in Test cricket," Imran said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search