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A round-up of the Dhaka Premier Division matches on December 4

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2014Abahani Ltd jumped to second position after beating Victoria Sporting Club by eight wickets. Batting first, Victoria were bowled out for 159 in 48.2 overs.Left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam took 4 for 14 in 6.2 overs while Mustafizur Rahman and Saqlain Sajib took two wickets each. Abahani reached the target in 46.2 overs with half centuries from Abdul Mazid and Litton Das.Avishek Mitra’s maiden List A hundred helped Brothers Union beat Kalabagan Krira Chakra by four wickets.KKC were all out for 192 in 49 overs with Mark Pettini making 54 off 98 balls. In reply, Brothers banked on Mitra’s unbeaten 101 off 137 balls, with eleven fours and a six. Nazimuddin added 50. Brothers reached the target in 46.3 overs.Kalabagan Cricket Academy continued their climb up the points table, crushing Partex Sporting Club by 197 runs.Anamul Haque made 113 off 104 balls with eleven fours and seven sixes, while Mahmudul Hasan and Phil Mustard struck fifties as KCA reached 334 for 5 in 50 overs.Partex were bowled out for 137 in 35.5 overs. Bishawnath Haldar took three wickets for KCA.

Tim May, the outgoing FICA chief, said it was disappointing to not see major improvements in the governance of cricket in the 16 years of his role as a players representative, but he hoped FICA is able to continue to push for change

Brydon Coverdale05-Jun-2013
How much of a factor in your decision to quit was the way you lost your position on the ICC cricket committee?
“It was probably just confirmation of one of the reasons I wanted to leave. To take it back a step, at the 2012 annual meeting of FICA, which was held in September in Colombo, I actually advised the FICA board that I would be resigning some time in 2013. It was going to be more towards the third quarter of 2013 but we had a meeting here in Austin, Texas in late May and I just decided that the time was right. I had lost confidence in the ability of our sport to govern itself.”Will it be an even greater challenge for your successor without that voice?
“It won’t be any tougher, it will be the same old same old. It needs someone who has a full tank of energy and passion to attack these issues, and push for change, especially in the governance structure at the ICC, which has been called upon by the Woolf Report. That was the ICC’s own commissioned report and it rejected it flatly, basically. After you do this for about 16 years you tend to run out of gas. There are significant problems and issues that should be easily resolved in any other walk of life that tend to take a significant amount of time in this game. After a while it just weighs you down.”Do you think the recent issues around allegations of IPL spot-fixing and the upheaval within the BCCI could be the spark cricket needs to instigate change?
“I think it certainly shows that there are people out there who share a belief that the governance in our game – albeit we’re talking just about the BCCI here – is not what it should be. That engenders hope in you that there are people with good principles around who will push for change. Fingers crossed, because they desperately need that on the ICC board. It’s about time they governed according to what’s best for the global game rather than one or two boards.”Is there another worldwide sport that sets the bar in terms of its governance?
“That’s a good question. Sport administration is a progression from sport to business and I don’t think the majority of sports have really found the right balance in the personnel and governance structures. I know it’s Australian and not worldwide, but I do like how the Australian Football League is run. It has a commission, it has independence, it has got a good, strong CEO who I respect very highly. They have their share of problems … but I think that is an exceptionally well-governed sport.”How disappointing is it to have been involved in player associations for 16 years without seeing cricket’s governance improve significantly?
“I don’t know if it’s a disappointment or just sheer frustration. It’s not up to us to execute that change. It’s the ICC itself. We are there as watchdogs, to question, to make them accountable and it’s been frustrating that we haven’t had the success in ensuring that the game is governed correctly. That is frustrating. But there are some strong principled people on the ICC executive board who will perhaps have a look around at the landscape and what has been happening in the last few weeks, to see what dangerous path we may well be going down now, and that it may be time to re-examine that Woolf Report and get in a nice, solid structure of governance. Because you need your governance from the top down. That’s not just for sport, that’s for any business. And you need to police all your principles.”What are you proudest of having achieved in your time with FICA?
“Despite significant opposition from a number of boards, we’ve managed to build the number of player associations from basically one in 1997, to now seven effective player associations in the ten Test-playing nations. Not only assisting to construct those player associations but also maintaining them under significant opposition from member boards who don’t particularly want player associations in their territory, because they don’t seem to want to be accountable.”Where to now for FICA, given that you personally have been such a driving force behind it?
“It’s certainly going to survive without me. I’m merely an employee passing through. The strength of FICA is the player associations that lay under its umbrella. They are strong player associations; they have got good people with good principles. FICA will be around for a long while yet.”And what’s next for you?
“Next for me is a period of rest. I’m free from worrying about if I’m going to get Player A’s money so he can afford his mortgage, or whatever, and just the continuing issues that we face. I can now leave them to someone else and wake up and spend a bit of family time for the next few months.”

The inquiry committee into the spot-fixing scandal involving three Rajasthan Royals players will press charges pertaining to match-fixing and bringing disrepute to the game under the BCCI’s code of conduct

Nagraj Gollapudi19-May-2013The BCCI inquiry committee appointed on Sunday to probe the alleged spot-fixing scandal involving three Rajasthan Royals players will press charges pertaining to match-fixing and bringing disrepute to the game under the BCCI’s code of conduct.The former head the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), Ravi Sawani, who is chief of the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit, was appointed solely to lead the inquiry panel. Sawani’s investigation will be completely independent of the ongoing probe by the Delhi Police. ESPNcricinfo understands that Sawani cannot investigate the three players – Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ashok Chandila – until they are released from police custody and any further judicial proceedings they might be charged under.Currently the trio, along with a former Rajasthan fast bowler Amit Singh, who was named as an intermediary, and a host of bookies are being held under a five-day police custody in Delhi.It is also understood that Sawani is expected arrive at a decision – especially on the charge of bringing the game into disrepute – much quicker than the investigation being currently carried out by the Delhi police, which is likely to involve a lengthy process before any verdict is reached, though no time frame has been set yet for the commission. “We have our own procedures and the BCCI’s standards of evidence are not as stringent as the courts. We can be much quicker,” a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo.All charges will be investigated under the BCCI and IPL’s code of conduct. However, one big constraint Sawani could face is the evidence required to prove the charge of match-fixing. “The issue would be whether Delhi police will share the information on players they have with us or not. That is absolutely the key to proving specific offences pertaining to spot-fixing and match-fixing,” the official said.As for the charge of bringing the game into disrepute, the code of conduct will be Sawani’s main weapon to prove the offence. The procedure would be the same as Sawani followed during his investigation last year of the five players who were involved in the sting operation, involving one-on-one interviews in person with each player. He also has sole discretionary powers to determine whether the player can be allowed legal counsel or not during his interviews.On conclusion of the inquiry, Sawani will present his findings to the BCCI’s disciplinary committee, which will decide the final action against the players involved.

Dale Steyn, the South Africa fast bowler who tops the world Test rankings, is available to play Twenty20 cricket this summer after the end of the Champions Trophy

George Dobell16-Mar-2013Dale Steyn, the South Africa fast bowler who tops the world Test rankings, is available to play Twenty20 cricket this summer after the end of the Champions Trophy.Warwickshire were offered first refusal for Steyn, who enjoyed a successful stint at Edgbaston in 2007, but they have chosen not to go ahead, leaving the way open for other counties to consider the option.At a time when England’s FLt20 tournament is under pressure to match the appeal of more hyped tournaments elsewhere, and when an ECB committee is considering how a relaunched tournament next season can succeed, the thought of Steyn not being snapped up is hard to imagine.But Steyn’s lofty salary expectations were a factor for Warwickshire and he could be deemed unaffordable by the few other counties who have yet to sign the maximum number of two overseas players for the competition.Finances are tight at Edgbaston. The club recently negotiated a freeze in their repayment plan with the council and saw a naming-rights deal – also with Birmingham City Council – collapse at the last moment.Warwickshire also have a policy of fielding just one overseas player in the T20. The club have already committed themselves to New Zealand’s offspinner Jeetan Patel for the entire season and contended that signing a second overseas player for a short period could disrupt the dressing room and reduce the opportunities for homegrown players.

Australia sealed a tight win over New Zealand on the third day at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-2013
Scorecard
Australia sealed a tight win over New Zealand on the third day at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. New Zealand began the day on 153 for 4, and would have hoped to save the game on what was the final day but were bowled out for 241. They slipped to 175 for 6 and then lost their captain Tim Seifert, who had held the innings together until then, making 97. Having collapsed to 196 for 9, New Zealand were helped by an unbeaten 33 from No.11 Harley Jenkins, who stretched the lead to 206.Australia had limited time to chase down 208 but did so successfully, with three wickets to spare. They were 38 for 3 at one stage but didn’t stray from their objective of winning the game. Opener Jaron Morgan made 72 in 89 balls and was ably supported by the middle and lower orders, with valuable contributions from each batsman. Tom Andrews made 31, Cameron Valente guided the chase after Morgan fell with an unbeaten 36, and there was assistance from Guy Walker, Matthew Short, and Jake Doran, who scored at better than a run a ball. The chase was completed in 44.5 overs.In the first innings, both teams declared after batting for 80 overs. New Zealand made 385 for 9, with the openers Rakitha Weerasundara and Henry Collier being among four batsmen to hit half-centuries. Australia responded strongly, scoring at better than five an over, making 420 for 4, thanks to hundreds from Short and Sean Willis.

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier Division matches played on December 27, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Dec-2014Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club picked up their second win in the Super League phase, beating Prime Bank Cricket Club by seven wickets in Mirpur. The defeat left the top two positions unchanged, with Prime Bank tied on 20 points with Abahani but below the count in head-to-head.A foggy morning reduced the game to 38 overs a side and after being put in to bat, Prime Bank were reduced to 64 for 5 in the 18th over. Taibur Rahman and Shuvagata Hom added 60 runs for the sixth wicket before Delwar Hossain cleaned up the lower order to finish with figures of 5 for 26 in seven overs. Elias Sunny took three wickets while the other two went to Habibur Rahman as Prime Bank were bowled out for 153 in 35.4 overs.Rony Talukdar provided Doleshwar with yet another good start, adding 46 for the first wicket with Mehedi Maruf and 60 for the third wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim. Talukdar made 77 off 60 balls with seven fours and four sixes. Doleshwar won with nearly ten overs to spare.In Fatullah the weather was similar, and allowed only 40 overs a side. Legends of Rupganj didn’t mind the delay as they stopped Abahani’s juggernaut with a 76-run win.Batting first, Rupganj built their 221 in 39.5 overs around Jahurul Islam’s 93. He added 68 for the second wicket with Junaid Siddique, who made 42. Jahurul continued to bat positively, hitting three fours and four sixes in his 108-ball innings, and was sixth out in the 37th over with the score nearing the 200-run mark.Abahani’s Subashis Roy took his second successive four-wicket haul while Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets. Left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam hurt his right hand while fielding off his own bowling and only bowled three overs. The team management revealed the injury would keep Nazmul out of action for two weeks.Rupganj also had to defend the total without Abul Hasan, who was hit on the box by Subashis in the 37th over. He didn’t come out to bowl but Shakib Al Hasan took two wickets with the new ball and set Abahani back in the chase.Raqibul Hasan made 45 while Ziaur Rahman blasted three sixes in his 36-ball 38 but it proved inadequate as Shakib and Rubel Hossain finished with three wickets each and Mosharraf Hossain picked up two. Still, Abahani remained on top of the points table.Courtesy of Nabil Samad’s four-wicket haul, Kalabagan Cricket Academy picked up their first win of the Super League phase, beating Mohammedan Sporting Club by 63 runs.KCA were bowled out for 200 in 43.4 overs with opener Imtiaz Hossain top-scoring with 56. Rahatul Ferdous and Naeem Islam took three wickets each while the Afghanistan legspinner Rahmat Shah picked up two wickets. Mashrafe Mortaza didn’t bowl at all, even though he fielded through the KCA innings and came out to bat at No. 7 during Mohammedan’s chase.Mohammedan made a slow start to their 201-run chase, their openers scoring just 10 runs in 8.5 overs. They were stifled by offspinner Mahmudul Hasan and left-arm spinner Nabil. Mahmudul took three wickets while Nabil picked up four for 10 in nine overs. Naeem made 56 off 80 balls but none of the other batsmen made even 20.

Worcestershire’s lower-order batsmen made the most of a window in the weather late in the third day against relegation rivals Lancashire at New Road.

17-Aug-2012
ScorecardWorcestershire’s lower-order batsmen made the most of a window in the weather late in the third day against relegation rivals Lancashire at New Road. The match was at standstill for more than five hours before Gareth Andrew and Ben Scott came out to add 27 runs and lever their side up to 251 for 7.Scott (14 not out) twice drove Kyle Hogg for four and when Andrew (12 not out) clipped the same bowler backward of square to register a second bonus point, Daryl Mitchell called his side in. With 27 balls still available before the 110-over cut-off, his declaration denied Lancashire an opportunity to try for the two wickets they needed for a third bowling point but Paul Horton and his new opening partner, Luke Procter, negotiated seven overs to the close.Allrounder Procter, promoted to the top of the order after Stephen Moore was left out, nudged the only boundary off Chris Russell as they made 10 without loss. Where the game goes from here depends on whether the captains are prepared to strike a deal. Otherwise the last day is set to be a battle for bonus points.Only eight overs were squeezed in before lunch but that was enough to dash Worcestershire batsman Neil Pinner’s hopes of making a maiden century some 15 months after being dismissed for a duck in his only previous Championship innings.Resuming on 79, the 21-year-old, who has been playing for Kidderminster Victoria in the Birmingham League, confidently clipped Glen Chapple’s third ball for two but this was the only action before a shower stopped play after two overs. After a 35-minute delay, Pinner added a single in the first over but 21 dot balls were logged before Worcestershire added another run.For Pinner, that proved to be the end of the road after batting for nearly four hours. As on Saturday, when he was out for 98 in Kidderminster’s game at Himley, a three-figure score eluded him. Having played so well, hitting 11 boundaries from 190 balls, he was leg-before for 82 when moving across his stumps as he shaped to turn a delivery from Chapple off his pads.It was a well-deserved success for Chapple, Lancashire’s 38-year-old captain, who eventually got through 31 overs with a return 4 for 60. Like his new-ball partner, Hogg (2 for 63), he beat the bat often enough to merit even better figures.

Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan legspinner, has filed an appeal against the lifetime ban handed down to him by the ECB for his involvement in spot-fixing

Umar Farooq11-Jul-2012Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan legspinner, has filed an appeal against the lifetime ban handed down to him by the ECB for his involvement in spot-fixing.His lawyers also confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Kaneria has also appealed against an order to pay £100,000 in costs for the hearings, a charge that was not publically outlined in the ECB judgment.Kaneria, Pakistan’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in Tests, was handed the life ban by an ECB disciplinary panel for his part in the spot-fixing case involving former Essex fast bowler Mervyn Westfield. He had been found guilty of inducing Westfield to under-perform and of bringing the game into disrepute.Last month Kaneria’s legal team said they wanted an opening hearing for the appeal after describing the outcome of the tribunal as “pre-determined”. Westfield provided testimony against his former Essex team-mate but Kaneria’s lawyers contend that the legspinner was not given a fair hearing. They also indicated that a further legal appeal – potentially to the Court of Arbitration for Sport – could be pursued in order to clear Kaneria’s name.”We’ve got nothing to hide about this. It’s not sour grapes that we lost a fair hearing,” Steven Hourigan, who represented Kaneira, said. “We lost a hearing where it was pre-determined what the result was going to be. We’re going to have an appeal. What we want is an independent observer to sit in and listen to the evidence. What we want is a fair hearing in front of an independent panel. We would want the press to sit in on the appeal and hear every word.”The PCB have said they will uphold the ECB’s ban – as was agreed between all ICC member nations – and earlier this week the PCB’s integrity committee barred Kaneria from playing any official cricket in Pakistan pending the outcome of his appealWestfield, Kaneria’s team mate, pleaded guilty to bringing the game into disrepute and was given a five-year ban, although he will be allowed to play club cricket after three years.Kaneria’s Pakistan-based lawyer Farogh Naseem, told ESPNcricinfo. “The appeal cover not only covers the life ban but also against the £100,000 cost that was imposed as a part of theexpenditure of all he hearings.”There was no understanding before or during the hearing that we will pay the expenditure of all the hearings that took place. The cost along with the ban is unfair. They don’t have any evidence against Kaneria and still the ECB passed an order against him.”Gerard Elias QC, chairman of the ECB disciplinary panel that found Kaneria guilty, called him “a grave danger to the game of cricket.” Kaneria has continued to plead his innocence.

There was rain and Alex Hales in Hobart but no result was achieved as inclement weather allowed just 36 deliveries to be bowled

Alex Malcolm22-Dec-2013
Match abandoned
ScorecardThere was rain and Alex Hales in Hobart but no result was achieved as inclement weather allowed just 36 deliveries to be bowled. It was enough time, however, for the Englishman and his opening partner, Michael Klinger, to provide some spectacular highlights in the gloomy conditions.After a 96-minute delay, the game was reduced to eight overs-a-side. There were two tosses that ended in one win apiece, as Strikers captain Johan Botha kindly offered to redo the first after the coin slipped out of the young mascot’s hand.Alex Hales hit nine fours and a six in his 19-ball 49•Getty ImagesBotha was regretting that when George Bailey won the toss the second time and inserted Adelaide in to bat, but Klinger pulled the first ball of the innings powerfully for four to appease any frustration.The Strikers took 15 from Joe Mennie’s first over before finding the pace and angle of Doug Bollinger harder to get at. The greasy ball was a nightmare for spinner Xavier Doherty to grip in the third over and Klinger cashed in, lofting the bowler inside-out over wide long-off for six and thrashing a knee-high full toss through point.Then Hales swung violently at Bollinger in the fourth over and top-edged three times over the wicketkeeper’s head for two frustrating fours and a two.There were no edges thereafter, as Hales took down Evan Gulbis, striking four boundaries and a six in an over, hitting all corners of the Bellerive Oval with crisp blows on both sides of the pitch. Gulbis got his revenge with a missile throw from the fence to run Hales out for 49. Klinger faced just one more delivery before rain had the final say and the points were shared.

Guernsey and Malaysia both claimed victories on the second day of the World Cricket League Division Six tournament in Kuala Lumpur

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2011Guernsey and Malaysia both claimed victories on the second day of the World Cricket League Division Six tournament in Kuala Lumpur. Heavy downpours at the Selangor Turf Club meant Jersey’s match against Kuwait was abandoned in the 18th over, however, just as Kuwait had the islanders on the back foot at 55 for 4.Guernsey appeared well set to continue their winning ways after opener Lee Savident raced to a 57-ball half-century against Fiji at Bayeumas Oval.After losing GH Smit, trapped in front of his stumps by Waisake Tukana, Savident continued his good work in the company of Jeremy Frith. On a blustery, windswept day the pair added a further 45 for the second wicket before Savident was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Jikoi Kida for 82.After the cloud cover thickened there was a brief stop for rain but that didn’t stop the sides completing the first innings. Frith had another good turn with the bat, reaching 82 with nine fours and a six before having his stumps rearranged by Kitiano Tavo, after which captain Stuart Le Provost’s rapid fifty helped boost Guernsey’s total to 279 for 6.Fji’s reply didn’t start smoothly, and two top-order batsmen had been lost inside the first 10 overs. The innings never recovered, with Frith and Gary Rich picking up two wickets apiece while wicketkeeper Tom Kimber had a good day with the gloves, catching Iniasi Cakacaka, Josefa Dabea Balecicia and Colin Rika and rounding off his day with the stumping of Maciu Gauna. Frith earned his second Man of the Match award of the tournament for his efforts with bat and ball.”Fiji did challenge us early on, their new ball bowlers were fairly tight but when we got past 200 their heads began to drop,” said a delighted Le Provost after the match. “I don’t think we take any opposition lightly and they certainly challenged us. There were great runs from Jeremy Frith again and it was also good to see Lee Savident adding to the total and obviously it’s nice to be able to contribute myself.”Guernsey’s next match is against Kuwait on Tuesday, an opposition the team has not faced before. “We’ve seen Kuwait’s scores, but not seen much of them at all as a side, so we will go look at them tomorrow when Jersey play them in their re-match at Kinrara to get a feel for the side,” said Le Prevost.At Kinrara, hosts Malaysia took on Nigeria, with Nigerian new-ball bowlers Saheed Akolade and Oluseye Olympio keeping the batsmen quiet at the start. Nevertheless, the Malaysian openers put on 73 before Shafiq Sharif departed for 43, trapped lbw by Oluwaseun Odeku’s medium pace.Not long afterwards, a heavy downpour stopped play for close to four hours but the good drainage at Kinrara Oval allowed the teams back on to play a game reduced to 29 overs. Nigeria were set Duckworth/Lewis-adjusted target of 181, but their batting faltered from the start and eventual man of the match Eszrafiq Aziz helped himself to figures of 4 for 27.”I was really pleased with how we bowled this morning,” said Nigerian captain Endurance Ofem. “We kept things tight and things looked to be going really well until the rain set in. Obviously that’s disappointing and we didn’t do well at chasing down the target set with the reduced overs but we have to take the positives and move on for Tuesday’s game.””I think credit has to go Nigeria’s bowling in the first innings, the first 10 overs of the game they had us on the back-foot with some good tight bowling and they were superb in the field too,” said Malaysian coach Thushara Kodikara. “It’s disappointing that we didn’t get a full 50-over game but I was pleased with how my young side performed to restrict Nigeria in the 29 overs. Eszrafiq did particularly well bowling in all the right places to take four wickets and deservedly the Man of the Match award.”At Selangor Turf Club, heavy overnight rainfall resulted in a late start before Jersey lost quick wickets against a rejuvenated Kuwait. The match lasted only 18 overs, by which time Jersey had lost four wickets, before the rain returned. With reserve days in place, the game will be replayed on Monday at Kinrara Oval.