Asif inches closer towards Champions Trophy berth

IPL, other 20-20 formats pose a grave danger to Test cricket’s future: Hadlee

WELLINGTON - Former New Zealand fast bowler, Sir Richard Hadlee, has warned that Twenty20 cricket events like the BCCI-sponsored Indian Premier League (IPL), pose a very grave danger to the future of Test cricket, and adds that the game’s decision makers are betraying the sport in their quest to maximise profits.

I’ll go to that level where nobody can drop me: Irfan

KOLKATA - Irfan Pathan may be disappointed at being left out of the Indian squad for the Sri Lanka tri-series and the Champions Trophy, but the Baroda pacer has taken up the challenge to lift his performance and force a recall into the national side.

Deccan Chargers, Sussex Sharks in a tight spot over Dwayne Smith

EDGBASTON - Indian Premier League champion Deccan Chargers and England domestic Twenty20 winners Sussex Sharks are in a tight spot as they battle it out for West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Smith, who plays a crucial role in both teams.

Warne reveals six-point plan for maintaining spectatator, player interest in cricket

LONDON - Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne has said that he has a six-point plan to further improve spectator interest in the game of cricket.

Team India for Champions Trophy announced: Dravid, Tendulkar, Raina make a come back

CHENNAI - Indian cricket selectors have picked a 15-member squad for both the One-day International tri-series in Sri Lanka and the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa, here on Sunday.

Dravid back in ODI team for Champions Trophy

CHENNAI - Former India captain Rahul Dravid expectedly made a return to the one-day squad while Virender Sehwag, who is recuperating from a shoulder injury, was not considered in the 15-member squad announced Sunday for next month’s tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

‘Rusty’ Asif must prove fitness to earn place back into national squad: Younis

KARACHI - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif’s aspirations of a come back into the national team have received a jolt, with captain Younis Khan saying that he (Asif) must prove his fitness to secure a place in the team for the Champions Trophy.

BCCI allows former ICL players to play in IPL

MUMBAI - The Indian cricket board said Thursday that former Indian Cricket League (ICL) players, who were granted amnesty, are eligible to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

BCCI likely to allow ex ICL players to take part in IPL

MUMBAI - The Working Committee of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) is expected allow former Indian Cricket League players to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

International games return to Wanderers after IPL dispute

JOHANNESBURG - Relieved South African cricket fans have welcomed the news that international games will return to the premiere Wanderers Stadium here after Cricket South Africa (CSA) earlier banned games there in the wake of a dispute with the provincial Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB), which controls the venue.

Shah Rukh’s decision to sack me shocking: Buchanan

BRISBANE - Former Kolkata Knight Riders’ coach John Buchanan Wednesday said team owner Shah Rukh Khan’s decision to sack him came as a “shock and a disappointment”.

Asif’s crucial fitness test conducted

Asif’s selection for ICC Champions Trophy squad depends on today’s fitness test

LAHORE - Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif will have to prove his physical fitness on Sunday before being considered for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Bindra to go to China to promote cricket

MOHALI - The International Cricket Council’s principal advisor I.S. Bindra will go to China next week to explore the possibilities of cricket there and to promote the sport.

ICC’s WADA anti-doping clause not giving Pak cricketers sleepless nights

KARACHI - Pakistan cricketers are not worried by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) WADA anti-doping clause, according to which players must inform the ICC about their expected whereabouts in advance.

Hameed eager to make IPL appearance

LAHORE - Pakistan top order batsman Yasir Hameed is eagerly waiting to participate in the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) next season.

Hayden defends KP’s decision to play in IPL

LONDON - Former Australian opener Mathew Hayden has defended England batsman Kevin Pietersen for playing in the Indian Premier League during an Ashes year despite his subsequent injury problems.

Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad to host Twenty20 Champions League

NEW DELHI - Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad will host the first Twenty20 Champions League to be played Oct 8-23.

Strauss will use Flintoff judiciously in the Ashes

LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss has said that his match-winning bowler Andrew Flintoff will be used sparingly in the remainder of the Ashes series.

Strauss says will talk tough with KP, ECB on IPL participation

LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss is worried Kevin Pietersen and other star players will suffer injury or burnout, and could undermine their Test careers if they insist on participating in lucrative Twenty20 events.

PCB to seek ICC assurance on govt. permission to play in World Cup

MUMBAI - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt will meet ICC president David Morgan on Tuesday to discuss the possible solutions to a scenario in which the Pakistan cricket team is not allowed to play its 2011 World Cup home matches in India or if the Pakistan Government does not allow its team to play in India.

New Zealand players may chose IPL cash over country: Vettori

WELLINGTON - Captain Daniel Vettori has said that New Zealand cricketers may not choose country over cash in the future if they are forced to chose between national team and the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL).

India must decide its priorities: Coach Gary Kirsten

JOHANNESBURG - There are trends developing in world cricket that are of concern to the future of the game, including in India, Indian coach Gary Kirsten said here, saying Team India has to decide its priorities in terms of test cricket and other forms of the game, like T20.

‘IPL is not responsible for other forms of cricket’

JOHANNESBURG - There is no onus on the Indian Premier League (IPL) to take responsibility for the possible decline in more traditional forms of the game in the wake of the Twenty20 success, according to Sunder Raman, chief executive officer of the IPL.

Wanderers cricket row over IPL takes new turn

JOHANNESBURG - The row between Cricket South Africa (CSA) and its provincial affiliate Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB) over the national body’s contract with the Indian Premier League (IPL) has taken a new turn with local Indian, black and coloured clubs reportedly threatening to form a breakaway body.

Gandhi advises CAB to save power

KOLKATA - West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi Saturday suggested that Eden Gardens floodlights should not be kept switched on during days when there were no matches, leaving Cricket Association of Bengal president Jagmohan Dalmiya and other CAB bigwigs a trifle embarassed.

ECB denies that Pietersen got injured during IPL

LONDON - The England and Wales Cricket Board has denied reports that their star batsman Kevin Pietersen had aggravated his achilles injury while playing for Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League in South Africa earlier this year.

Pietersen did not flout training rules: English board

LONDON - The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has denied that Kevin Pietersen aggravated his achilles injury by flouting the training programme during the Indian Premier League in April.

Wright emerges strong contender to coach Kolkata Knight Riders

KOLKATA - Former India cricket coach John Wright has emerged a strong contender for the coach’s job in the Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the coming season.

S African Sports Minister to mediate Wanderers row

JOHANNESBURG - Amid growing anger among fans, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has asked the Minister of Sport and Recreation to appoint a mediator to resolve its dispute with the provincial Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB) which may see no international games at the Wanderers stadium here.

Pietersen, ECB all set for collision on T20 riches

LONDON - Kevin Pietersen is all set for a rift with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) bosses, who want to restrict his participation in the Twenty20 format.

New Zealand players chose country over IPL

WELLINGTON - New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Friday confirmed that all 20 players, including the six contracted with the Indian Premier League (IPL), have signed its international playing agreements.

Tanvir eyes successful Surrey stint

OMAR KHALID

KARACHI - Pakistan’s discarded all-rounder Sohail Tanvir will take the field for Surrey this season after signing a contract with the leading English county recently.

KP on collision course with ECB over 20-20 commitments

LONDON - England’s best batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has just undergone Achilles heel surgery earlier this week, is reportedly on a collision course with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over his Twenty-Twenty commitments.