Australia’s stand-in captain Shane Watson will be in danger of a suspension during the ODI series in the West Indies after he and his team were fined for a slow over-rate in their triangular series final victory at Adelaide Oval

Daniel Brettig at Adelaide Oval08-Mar-2012Australia’s stand-in captain Shane Watson will be in danger of a suspension during the ODI series in the West Indies after he and his team were fined for a slow over-rate in their triangular series final victory at Adelaide Oval. After a tense match, won by 16 runs, the ICC match-referee Chris Broad calculated that Australia were one over short of the required rate over the course of Sri Lanka’s innings, meaning each member of the team lost 10% of their match-fee while Watson was docked 20%. Under the ICC’s code of conduct, Watson will now effectively be on probation for the next 12 months, with another over-rate transgression while he is captaining in an ODI leading to a one-match suspension – the fate that befell India’s captain MS Dhoni earlier in the triangular series.The transgression was the one pitfall of a night on which Watson led Australia shrewdly in the field, and helped restrict Sri Lanka in their pursuit of a middling target on a slow pitch. After lifting the series trophy he said the team had finally come good in the field, following a patch of poor form.”After getting 231 we knew we were going to have to bowl and field extremely well to defend that and we certainly did that through the whole 48-49 overs,” Watson said. “That’s what we’ve been talking about, to actually put it all together, and we were able to do that and that is very satisfying.”We didn’t always bowl to our plans over the last couple of games; in the first final in Brisbane we let it slip a bit, and nearly lost that game. So we needed an all-round bowling performance. We also needed a good fielding performance to keep the intensity throughout the 50 overs. It is brilliant to see that when the guys really set their minds to it we can do it, and we set a standard tonight.”Australia’s squad departs for the West Indies via Sydney in the early hours of Friday morning, and Watson said the team would celebrate its victory as heartily as possible before the long-haul flight to the Caribbean. The squad has shown considerable signs of fatigue towards the end of a successful, if draining, summer, and now has more cricket ahead rather than rest.”That’s going to be the biggest challenge [to refresh themselves],” Watson said. “You’ve certainly got to enjoy the good times and the good wins. I think we have a 5.15am departure from the hotel, so there could be a few tired blokes after celebrating tonight. So as long as it’s not too crazy and too hectic the guys have a bit of time to freshen up on the flight and make sure that once we get to the West Indies we’re ready to go next Friday.”Watson, standing in for the injured Michael Clarke, has a remarkable thin resumé as a captain but, in the third final, showed an ability to lead by example with the ball, while also moving the field around in a suitably thoughtful manner.”It’s been a very exciting time for me; to be able to see the game from a different perspective has been a lot of fun,” Watson said. “I suppose normally standing out on the fence you’re trying to deflect a bit of banter that’s coming your way, so actually being there around the bowlers all the time, communicating with them is a lot of fun, and it’s nice when everyone sticks their hands up like they did tonight.”Edited by Dustin Silgardo

A round-up of the semi-finals of the Faysal Bank Super Eight T-20 Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2012Shakeel Ansar smashed an unbeaten century as Sialkot Stallions brushed aside Peshawar Panthers by 40 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. It was 33-year old Ansar’s first hundred in any format. Before this game, he had an average of 18.91 and a strike-rate of 107.58 from 25 Twenty20s. Today, Ansar cracked 12 boundaries in his 100 off 67 and added 158 for the second wicket along with Haris Sohail (69 off 45). The stand was the third-highest in T20s in Pakistan and lifted Sialkot to an imposing 197 for 1. The only wicket Sialkot lost was that of Imran Nazir with the score on 39 in the fourth over. Ansar and Haris shut Peshawar out of the game after that.Peshawar never looked like challenging Sialkot after Abdur Rehman jolted them with three strikes in the space of nine deliveries. He trapped Israrullah lbw before bowling Rafatullah Mohmand and Zohaib Khan as Peshawar slipped to 62 for 4. Only Gauhar Ali resisted with a half-century but it wasn’t enough to get Peshawar anywhere close to the target. Peshawar eventually ended on an underwhelming 157 for 8.Shahzaib Hasan’s whirlwind 57 off 28 deliveries set up Karachi Dolphins‘ seven-wicket win over Lahore Lions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Shahzaib gave Karachi the start they needed in their chase of 168 as he put on 78 for the opening wicket with Khalid Latif (45 off 35) in just 6.4 overs. By the time Shahzaib was dismissed after smashing ten boundaries, the asking-rate had fallen to below seven runs an over. The Karachi middle order, led by Sheharyar Ghani and Asad Shafiq, brought up victory with an over to spare.Lahore’s score of 167 for 7 had been built with the help of contributions from Kashif Siddiq (48 off 35) and Nasir Jamshed (36 off 26). But their heavyweight middle order of Kamran and Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq could not capitalise on a strong position of 113 for 2 in the 12th over and Lahore eventually fell short of posting a stiffer target.The final between Sialkot and Karachi will be played tomorrow at 7 pm local time in Rawalpindi.

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers in Chennai

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran03-May-2012

Match facts

Friday, May 4, Chennai
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Cameron White’s return to form has helped Deccan Chargers to two victories•AFP

Big Picture

Dale Steyn, the world’s best fast bowler, has been Deccan Chargers’ outstanding performer this season, but their only wins in 2012 have come when Steyn’s had no impact, or worse: they left him out in their first success against Pune Warriors, and in the other victory, he had his poorest figures of the year – 4-0-46-0.The other common factor in Chargers’ wins have been the big-hitting of Cameron White, who shrugged off a year-long drought with a couple of powerful half-centuries. Chargers have now lifted themselves to five points, and one more triumph will see them cut the once yawning gap between them and at least two other teams at the bottom to a mere one point.While Chargers have picked up four points from their previous three matches, their opponents on Friday, Chennai Super Kings, have just one point from their previous three. Their last victory came two weeks ago and had given them a share of the top spot, but they have since slid seven points behind the leaders. What has been particularly disappointing for Super Kings fans is that a team filled with match-winning batsmen has only managed to post a score in excess of 170 twice this season. Super Kings, though, have perfected the art of peaking at the right time in the season, winning two titles despite not having been the best team in the league phase. Their fans will hope that repeats this year as well.

Form guide

(most recent first)
Chennai Super Kings: LLNrWW
Deccan Chargers: WLWNrL

Players to watch

Kumar Sangakkara’s decision to drop himself for a match on Sunday prompted plenty of debate. He was back in charge of the side for the game against Warriors, and his spirited fist pump after reaching his half-century shows how much performing in this series matters to him.For a side which has regularly found it difficult to put up big scores this season, Super Kings have utterly under-used Albie Morkel – he has only got 41 deliveries to face though he has played eight matches in 2012. Super Kings need to re-jig the order to give Morkel a little more time in the middle as they try to recapture the form of 2011.

Stats and trivia

• MS Dhoni had a strike-rate of 158.70 in the IPL last season but this year, he’s going at only 116.08. For more stats on Super Kings’ batting, click here.
• Amit Mishra had a solid IPL last year, but is struggling to match those performances this year. In 2011, he finished with 19 wickets at an economy-rate of 6.71; the corresponding figures this year are five at 7.91.

Quotes

“Always said I’d rather go for 40 and win than bowl great and lose!”

“We need to look at the personnel as well as this is the first time we’ve been challenged for form.”

Jerome Taylor, the West Indies fast bowler, has hit out WICB over claims he has not stuck to his rehab programmes

Nagraj Gollapudi27-May-2012Jerome Taylor, the West Indies fast bowler who has been overlooked on fitness grounds for the tour of England, has hit back at allegations by the WICB chief executive Ernest Hiliare that he has failed to commit to rehabilitation programmes put in place in the past two years to quicken his return to the Test side.Hilaire questioned Taylor’s commitment as a professional cricketer during a visit to the first Test at Lord’s, saying he was very “difficult” to deal with during the various rehabilitation progammes in the last two years.But Taylor has told ESPNcricinfo that on his home island of Jamaica nobody had ever seen fit to question his commitment and that he was “disgruntled” at the West Indies board’s policy of making demands on him that applied to no other players and that these demands had stalled his comeback to international cricket.Hilaire was critical of Taylor’s indifference towards the WICB medical programmes on Sky TV. “I know, for example, Jerome was on contract, he was injured, he was put on a programme,” he said. “It was exceedingly difficult to get him to commit to the programme and to apply himself, to even get him to go to Kingston to get his medical check-ups and to do what had to be done.”He was in that programme supervised by Jimmy Adams. And there were a lot of difficulties with Jerome. He came back, got injured again, and he was put on another programme. And he was asked to play an entire series of the first-class season to demonstrate that he was fit.”He took a break, went to Jamaica to a funeral came back and got injured. He was put on a programme. Next thing we heard he was in the IPL. Since then he has not played for Jamaica nor has he played in the IPL this year. There is only so much you can do. You have a player, you are providing for him to be on the medical programme, you are providing for him to be in that rehabilitation programme and he doesn’t commit himself to it as a professional.”Taylor, who has had differences with the board over communication about his injury, dismissed Hiliaire’s remarks. “I have no idea what Mr Hilaire is actually saying,” he said. “Basically I do not know where he is getting his information from. As far as commitment is concerned towards cricket I don’t think my efforts can ever be questioned. If you ask anybody in Jamaica, where I have played my cricket, they will tell you I am somebody who has always shown commitment towards cricket and my development.”He also said he has completely recovered from the back injury, having travelled to the USA where a combination of strength training, acupuncture and deep tissue massage were part of his recovery process.”Everything is feeling all right. I am just going through the paces, taking my time not to rush back to anything but also making sure no stone is left uncovered,” he said. According to Taylor, the WICB has not been in touch for the past 18 months except for speaking recently with the Jamaica Cricket Association president: “Nobody from the WICB has been in contact with me recently. The only person I have been in touch with was the JCA president.”

Letter sent by Jerome Taylor to the WICB on June 30, 2011

Dear Mr. Howard,

I am seeking some clarification as to my eligibility for selection to the West Indies cricket team. Since I have received no official word from the WICB and have only seen what is written in the press, I am writing to you as Director of Cricket to see if you can shed some light on the situation for me.

I refer to the WICB press release dated May 29th 2011 which was made available to the press at the same time that the squads for the Digicel Pearls T20 and the first two ODI’s were announced. The selection notes at the foot of the release, note number five in fact, states that the selectors are of the view that I am required to play a full season of regional cricket in order to prove my fitness to perform adequately at the international level before I can be considered for selection. As it stands it appears that I will not be qualified to play for the West Indies for the rest of 2011 as there is no domestic cricket scheduled before the international commitments for the year are over.

I am a bit confused as to exactly why that is so as I played in the last regional tournament representing Jamaica until missing the last game through injury. There was no domestic cricket being played after my recovery but I have played other cricket and proved my fitness so I am asking for some clarification as to the policy of the West Indies Cricket Board regarding players returning from injury as it doesn’t seem as if the same thing applies to all players in the same situation.

I look forward to your early response.

Yours respectfully,

Jerome Taylor.

Taylor last played for West Indies in the home ODI series against South Africa in mid-2010 but a chronic spine injury resurfaced to sideline him once again. He did go on to play the IPL in 2011 season for Pune Warrirors but back spasms ended his chances of a quick comeback to the international fold.An attacking fast bowler, Taylor’s best spell came ironically against England in the first week of February in 2009 when he cut through the England batting order in the second innings in Jamaica with extreme pace and swing to roll out the visitors for 51, setting up a famous innings victory. West Indies have managed to secure just two Test victories since that success.A year ago, the WICB excluded Taylor from their limited-overs squads against India and announced that the selectors wanted him to prove his fitness during the first-class competition and then fulfill an entire season of four-day cricket to be eligible for a return to Test cricket.”The selection committee is of the view that Jerome Taylor is required to play a full season of regional cricket in order to prove his fitness to compete adequately at the international level before being considered for selection,” the release said.Michael Holding, the former West Indies fast bowler, argues that this stipulation was unfair to a youngster like Taylor. “I don’t care if Jerome Taylor wasn’t committed to the rehab program or if he even had a broken leg and couldn’t play,” he said. “I am dealing with the principle of dealing with a young man in his twenties and putting stipulations in place which will basically rule him out for at least 18 months and possibly more.”Holding also accused Hilaire of feigning ignorance about Taylor playing the IPL as it was mandatory for any player to get an No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the home board. “He had to get that from the WICB. Is there some other phantom WICB that gave him the NOC?” he said.According to Taylor he is “currently” not injured and is working in his native St Elizabeth in Jamaica, training at the St Elizabeth Technical School with the senior coach there. “I am not injured. I am working hard on my fitness along with the coach and we are making sure everything is sorted in due time,” he said.Taylor said making a comeback will not be difficult, but that he failed to understand why only he has been asked to pass stringent, long-term fitness standards before being reconsidered for selection.”I have never seen any other player who has to play a full season, which to me I think is unfair,” he said. “That is the only thing that has me disgruntled somewhat because if you are going to have to some criteria for returning to cricket, then let it be the criteria for all and not only for me. To me it is unclear why I have to play a full season. It makes no sense.”Taylor sent a letter (see sidebar) on June 30 last year to Tony Howard, the WICB cricket manager, “seeking some clarification as to my eligibility for selection to the West Indies cricket team.” Though he got a call from a WICB official, who said the board would like Taylor to meet the national selectors, Taylor’s response was why no on would reply to him in writing.Taylor, 27, has not ruled out taking the new ball for West Indies again. But for that to happen both him and WICB have to sit down and talk. He added he was certain what exactly he needed to do to get back in favour with the WICB.”What is happening now is not in my control,” he said. “Since I have to play a full season for the comeback and if that is the criteria I have no grouse about it and I wouldn’t want to get into a quarrel or argument with anyone. The only thing I can do is to make sure I do what I have to do, make sure that I get myself in a position where I am ready when they are ready to pick me.”At the same time Taylor, whose contract was bought out by Pune Warriors for the fifth IPL season, does not just want to sit idle.”I am not going to sit around and wait, just carry on with life serenely. I want to play some cricket. Cricket is happening around the world.”If West Indies are not interested, perhaps the life of a Twenty20 itinerant awaits.

Mark Boucher has said he will consider delaying his retirement if the South Africa coach Gary Kirsten wanted him to be available for the tour to Australia in November

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jun-2012Mark Boucher, the South Africa wicketkeeper, has said he will consider delaying his retirement from international cricket in August if the coach Gary Kirsten wanted him to be available for the tour to Australia in November. In March, Boucher had said that 15 years of international cricket had taken a “toll on his body” and that South Africa’s upcoming tour of England would be his last.”I’ve spoken to a couple of people and they’ve said it’s my last tour, but if people who count ask me to finish off against the Australians, then I’d have to think about it,” Boucher told SAPA. “I do understand that playing against Australia is a massive competition and if I get asked by my coach, Gary Kirsten, to stay on and play, then I might seriously consider it.”My mind is set on finishing after England, hopefully playing all three Test matches, and finishing my career on 150 Tests for my country. If that happens, I would walk away very happily. There is just one little ‘if’ – if my coach asked me – but I’m not putting any pressure on him.”Boucher, who started his international career in 1997 and holds the record for most dismissals in Tests, was given a long-service award by Cricket South Africa on Wednesday.”They didn’t have to do it. It’s not something I really wanted or asked for, but it’s just nice to know that people do appreciate the things you do and have done for your country,” Boucher said. “I’ve really enjoyed every single moment of my career. A lot of people ask me about the highlights of my career but there have been so many.”Just spending time with the team on tour, where they become your family, is special. I’ve experienced so many different cultures and toured different places around the world and it’s only when you get towards the end of your career that you realise that those are the important things.”Edited by Carlyle Laurie

After 28 consecutive wins in home ODIs when they’ve scored at least 250 batting first, Sri Lanka’s amazing run was ended in a nailbiter at the Premadasa

The Report by S Rajesh28-Jul-2012
ScorecardSuresh Raina marshalled the chase, along with Irfan Pathan, with an unbeaten half-century•AFP

After 28 consecutive wins in home ODIs when they’ve scored at least 250 batting first, Sri Lanka’s amazing run was ended in a nailbiter at the Premadasa. Riding on a superbly paced hundred by Gautam Gambhir, India overcame mid-innings wobbles, including losing two wickets off successive balls, as Suresh Raina – helped along by Irfan Pathan – did the finishing job to perfection. India now lead the five-match series 2-1.In conditions that offered an even contest between bat and ball, and there were several memorable performances, with fortunes swaying either way several times, till the Raina-Irfan partnership decisively swung it India’s way. India held the early ascendancy in the match with three quick wickets, but a top-notch 121-run stand for the fourth wicket between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene edged it in Sri Lanka’s favour. Angelo Mathews and Jeevan Mendis further hammered home the advantage with a104-run partnership, including 97 off the last ten, as India’s bowling frailties at the death were exposed again. Then, when India’s chase appeared on course, Lasith Malinga, who historically hasn’t had such a happy time against them, struck twice with the first two balls of the batting Powerplay, at a time when India were fairly comfortably placed, needing 107 off 90 with eight wickets in hand, with MS Dhoni and Gambhir well set. And when Gambhir was found short by a direct hit from Isuru Udana – his one redeeming act on another disappointing bowling day – India seemed to have well and truly lost their way.The final twist in the tale, though, was still to come. When Pathan joined Raina, the task was steep – 91 runs in 12 overs, with not much batting to come. At that stage, though, Malinga, who had three overs to spare, was pulled out of the attack with three of his overs still in hand; in retrospect, another over at that stage, with both batsmenrelatively new to the crease, might have been worth the risk.With Malinga not in the attack, both batsmen eked out the runs through intended and unintended methods – flicks, edges, outside edges, inside edges all followed, but crucially for India, they all added to the total and brought down the target. Raina then launched into his trademark meaty hoicks to leg, bringing up his half-century with one such stunning six over long-on off Malinga in the 46th. With both batsmen getting a couple of fours through third man in Malinga’s previous over, the asking rate had suddenly come down to seven. India were back in control, and this time they didn’t let go.

Smart stats

• The target of 287 is the highest successfully chased by a team against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. The top four run chases have been achieved by India.

• Since the start of 2011, teams have won eight and lost three matches while chasing at the Premadasa stadium. However, between 2000 and 2010, the record of chasing teams was 16 wins and 40 losses.

• Gautam Gambhir’s century is his 11th in ODIs and sixth against Sri Lanka. His top two scores have come against Sri Lanka.

• Gambhir, with six centuries against Sri Lanka, is joint-third on the list of batsmen with the most ODI centuries against Sri Lanka. Only Sachin Tendulkar (8) and Saeed Anwar (7) are above Gambhir.

• The match aggregate of 574 runs is the sixth-highest in an ODI at the Premadasa stadium. The top seven aggregates at the venue have all come in India-Sri Lanka ODIs.

• The 121-run stand between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene is the highest fourth-wicket stand for Sri Lanka against India. It is the fourth-highest fourth-wicket partnership in ODIs at the Premadasa stadium.

• Angelo Mathews’ strike rate of 124.56 during his 71 is his highest for a fifty-plus score in ODIs. It is his second half-century against India and the 11th overall.

• Suresh Raina’s half-century is his 23rd in ODIs and seventh against Sri Lanka. His strike rate of 144.44 is his highest for a fifty-plus score against Sri Lanka.

• The 92-run stand between Raina and Irfan Pathan is the highest sixth-wicket stand against Sri Lanka in an ODI in Sri Lanka.

Till the 36th over of the chase, it seemed India’s win might be achieved with far lesser drama, with Gambhir and Virat Kohli – their trusted pair in a run-chase, putting together 105 in quick time after the early loss of Virender Sehwag. Gambhir’s was a masterclass, as he took charge of the chase from the start, upper-cutting Malinga in the first over, and then regularly finding the boundaries with square-drives and cuts. Against the spinners, he was always in his comfort zone, chipping into the outfield for twos to stay within touching distance of the asking rate.Sri Lanka’s innings was a story of two high-quality partnerships. Jayawardene’s decision to bat first at a venue where recent results have favoured the team chasing seemed to have backfired when ZaheerKhan and Irfan reduced them to 20 for 3. Both bowlers made excellent use of the bounce and seam movement on offer, regularly beating the bat. The wickets followed soon, as Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal all succumbed early.That’s when the class of Sangakkara and Jayawardene shone through. In testing conditions, where strokeplay wasn’t easy against the new ball, both batsmen settled in quickly, though Jayawardene was more circumspect early. Sangakkara unfurled a couple of classy drives – straight and square – and also defended expertly, playing with soft hands, into the gaps, for ones and twos. His one testing moment came in the 15th over, when a short one from Ashok Dinda struck him on his right glove; Sangakkara continued batting, but the injury was later diagnosed as a fracture. Jayawardene, meanwhile, settled in and showed his range and silken touch, playing lofted drives on the off side and deft late-cuts off Rahul Sharma, whose extra pace suited him perfectly.The century partnership duly came up – it was their fifth India, and only one pair has more. They both looked good to post individual hundreds too, but neither did.When Sangakkara fell in the batting Powerplay, it seemed India had wrested the initiative again, but their slog-over bowling weakness, and some clever, enterprising batting from Mathews and Jeevan Mendis, meant Sri Lanka were the happier team at the break. Mathews had some luck when he was caught-behind off an Irfan no-ball when on 33, but there was also plenty of smart cricket from both. Mendis, brought into the team to replace Lahiru Thirimanne, justified that selection with an enterprising knock, reverse-sweeping Ashwin and then smashing Dinda’s friendly short ball over midwicket for the only six of the innings. Mathews was equally enterprising, moving to leg and making room to spank the medium-pacers through the offside.It seemed their heroics towards the end would be enough, but India’s three left-hand batsmen then came to the party.

Former India opening batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu has been appointed the chairman of Punjab cricket association’s technical and coaching committee

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Aug-2012Former India opening batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu has been appointed the chairman of Punjab cricket association’s technical and coaching committee. Sidhu’s role will incorporate advising the association on technical issues connected to effective management of cricket in the state. Two former Punjab captains – Chaman Lal Malhotra and Vinod Sharma – have also been included in the committee.Sidhu represented Punjab in first-class cricket in a career spanning 19 years. He scored 9571 first-class runs from 157 matches, including 3202 from 51 Tests for India. He also played 136 ODIs, starting with four consecutive half-centuries during the 1987 World Cup.

ESPNcricinfo previews the Group D match between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Pallekele

The Preview by Mohammad Isam24-Sep-2012

Match facts

September 25, 2012
Start time 1930 local (1400 GMT/1500 BST)Mushfiqur Rahim’s side has a shot at qualification, but it’s a difficult one•ICC

Big Picture

Pakistan began their World Twenty20 campaign with success, after being made to wait for five days, beating New Zealand by 13 runs. But they looked a better side than the margin suggested; it was narrowed thanks to a late, and failed, onslaught by Ross Taylor.Their opponents, Bangladesh, who were beaten convincingly by New Zealand in their first game, can only hope to qualify for the Super Eights if they beat Pakistan by a sizeable margin. Bangladesh need to win by more than 36 runs to finish with a higher net run-rate than Pakistan. In the event that they win by exactly 36 runs, thus finishing with the same net run-rate as Pakistan’s, they will still go through by the virtue of having won the head-to-head contest. Should Bangladesh be chasing, their net run-rate requirement will depend on the target set. For instance, if they’re chasing 150, they’ll have to score those runs in 15.4 overs or quicker. On current form, it seems like a struggle for Bangladesh.Pakistan have the best bowling line-up and their fielding is in good shape with Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal patrolling the hitting zones. Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez are a threat to Bangladesh’s left-handers at the top of the order. Both Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan are good players and will be expected to bounce back strongly. The middle order is a capable one, comprising Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Nasir Hossain.Bangladesh’s bowling remains a worry, with Shakib and Tamim having said after the game against New Zealand that spinners would require some help from the conditions. Mushfiqur’s captaincy will also be tested in a game in which his team is the underdog, but is expected to produce a much-improved performance.

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)Bangladesh LLWLW
Pakistan WLWWW

Watch out for

Nasir Jamshed has already made a mark, but he also knows the Bangladesh team well, having played in the Dhaka Premier League for three seasons, including the most recent one. He played in the Bangladesh Premier League for Chittagong Kings, and his performance for them contributed to his selection in the Pakistan side. The shot that stood out during his half-century against New Zealand was the lofted drive over extra cover. He did it twice against Nathan McCullum, and it’s something Bangladesh’s spinners will watch out for.Shakib Al Hasan will be one of them. His four overs will again be crucial for Bangladesh, as will his role with the bat at No 3. New Zealand was a bad outing for Shakib, who has the ability to fight back in the only way he knows: runs and wickets.

Team news

Pakistan left out Mohammad Sami and Abdul Razzaq for the opening game. It’ll be interesting to see if one of them gets a go, with qualification not yet secured.Pakistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Imran Nazir, 3 Nasir Jamshed, 4 Kamran Akmal (wk), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Yasir Arafat, 9 Sohail Tanvir, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Saeed Ajmal.Mashrafe Mortaza injured his shin during practice, but is confident of recovering for the game. Having been clobbered for 117 runs in 12 overs, the Bangladesh spinners would, presumably, not be very high on confidence. Mushfiqur and coach Richard Pybus have a decision to make about who, if at all, to leave out. Mushfiqur said at the pre-match conference that Bangladesh could consider going in with an extra seamer.There is a possibility that Abul Hasan could replace left-arm spinner Elias Sunny or fellow seamer Shafiul Islam, depending on what the team management believes is the right bowling combination. However, any tweaks in the batting line-up are unlikely.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Mohammad Ashraful, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Nasir Hossain, 7 Ziaur Rahman, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Elias Sunny/Abul Hasan, 11 Shafiul Islam.

Pitch and conditions

The pitch is again likely to favour batting but the seamers can expect some movement after sunset. Group D has been unaffected by rain so far. On Tuesday, the forecast is for clear skies.

Stats and trivia

• Sohail Tanvir still hasn’t been dismissed for a duck in his T20 international career, having played 10 innings in 24 games so far.
• Nasir Hossain, Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful are the only batsmen in the Bangladesh team to have scored two half-centuries in T20 internationals.

Quotes

“Pakistan are world class in all sectors and they have a Twenty20 pedigree in abundance. However, no team is unbeatable in this format. We have to be at our best and hope that best is good enough on the day.”
“We are not thinking as if we have already qualified [for the Super Eights]. We have to play well against Bangladesh. On certain days in T20, anybody can win. We are not going to take any one easy.”

Sri Lanka are still unsure whether their key spinner Ajantha Mendis will be fit to play their first Super Eights match on Sept 27

Sa'adi Thawfeeq26-Sep-2012Sri Lanka are still unsure whether their key spinner Ajantha Mendis will be fit to play their first Super Eights match against New Zealand on September 27. Mendis, who is suffering from a side strain, is scheduled to practice with the team today, and a call on his participation will be taken before the game.Mendis picked up the injury in Sri Lanka’s opening game against Zimbabwe on September 18, but completed his overs after being treated on the field. He has since then been under treatment and was left out of Sri Lanka’s final group match against South Africa on September 22; Sri Lanka lost that rain-curtailed game by 32 runs. Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, had said Mendis’ omission from the South Africa match on Saturday had simply been precautionary but, despite having eight days to recover, Mendis is yet to regain full fitness.”We are monitoring his progress carefully. We took an MRI scan on his left side and it showed a slight tear,” Charith Senanayake, the Sri Lanka manager, said on Tuesday. “These injuries are quite common with fast bowlers, but because Mendis bowls at a fast pace may have strained himself,” he said. “Mendis bowled a few overs at the nets today, but we will monitor him carefully and take a call whether he is fit enough to play against New Zealand.”Mendis marked his return to international cricket after a back injury had kept him out for eight months in Zimbabwe game with the best bowling figures by a bowler in T20 cricket with six wickets for eight runs.

Justin Langer, Australia’s assistant coach, has emerged as a leading candidate for the position of director of cricket at Somerset.

George Dobell18-Oct-2012Justin Langer, Australia’s assistant coach, has emerged as a leading candidate for the position of director of cricket at Somerset.Brian Rose, who formerly held the role, stepped down in September and ESPNcricinfo understands that Langer and Somerset are in detailed talks with an appointment anticipated in November. Somerset, while declining to confirm that they are in talks with Langer, confirmed that several candidates they are considering have have requested anonymity.Langer, 41, a former Australia opening batsman, enjoyed a successful period at the club between 2006 and 2009, captaining the team to the final of the domestic T20 and into the Champions Trophy. He is also credited for instilling new standards of professionalism into a club that was, in the past, known more for its charm than its achievement.The appointment of such a high-profile figure would represent a coup for Somerset, who are anxious to lose their reputation of being perennial runners-up.it would also allow Langer to settle with his family in one spot and avoid the touring that comes with life as an international coach. Somerset, well run and financially successful off the pitch, are able to compete with the salary offers of the majority of first-class counties and have a well-justified reputation as a friendly club.Somerset have an excellent record in recent seasons, but have narrowly missed out on winning a trophy. Between 2009 and 2011 they were beaten in three successive T20 finals and, in 2010, lost in the CB40 final and were deprived of a first County Champions title only through having won one fewer game than Nottinghamshire.They remain one of the few sides – Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire are the others – never to have won the County Championship.