Beyond the Test World
World Twenty20 Qualifier squads finalised
The squads for the World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament in Dubai and Abu Dubai between February 9 and 15 have been announced.
Sahil Dutta
25-Feb-2013
The squads for the World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament in Dubai and Abu Dubai between February 9 and 15 have been announced.
The tournament will see 17 matches take place in the five days, played Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium at Dubai Sports City, where the final will be staged.
At stake are two places in the World Twenty20 which takes places in the West Indies from April 30 to May16. The winner of the UAE event will join South Africa and India in Group C while the losing finalist will join Group D which includes the West Indies and England.
All eyes will be on Afghanistan, who's stellar performances over the last ten months have reverberated around the cricketing world and beyond. While they narrowly missed qualification for the 50-over World Cup 2011 in April, they have been in good form at the Intercontinental Cup. Most recently they displayed flair and resilience to defeat defending champions Ireland, and also recorded a come-from-behind, one-wicket victory over the Netherlands in August 2009.
Full postInsulin, supersonic flight and Twenty20
We have all become used to the hyperbole of most press releases, but Cricket Canada's interim president Ranjit Saini raised the bar to a new level with a message to the media surrounding the streaming of a Twenty20 match between Canada and Sri Lanka
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
We have all become used to the hyperbole of most press releases, but Cricket Canada's interim president Ranjit Saini raised the bar to a new level with a message to the media surrounding the streaming of a Twenty20 match between Canada and Sri Lanka A.
"We at Cricket Canada are now getting ready to move forward and take the leap of faith and welcome the entire cricket world to land and help us grow. We have created a complete world in itself. Canada is a global community and each one of you will feel at home."
And from there Saini really warmed to his task.
"We are a humble and confident society. Innovation and determination are our natural traits. We are a noble nation and a perfect society. We made the first supersonic aircraft of the world, invented insulin and are leaders in robotics. A natural resource rich country that leads peace missions around the globe."
Full postNel and Lockhart seal Scotland win
Scotland raced to their second win of the 2009-10 Intercontinental Cup on the 4th day at Nairobi Gymkhana despite Maurice Ouma's battling century
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
Scotland raced to their second win of the 2009-10 Intercontinental Cup on the 4th day at Nairobi Gymkhana despite Maurice Ouma's battling century. Scotland made light work of their target, with Douglas Lockhart and Ewan Chalmers sealing an eight-wicket win just after lunch after Dewald Nel's maiden first-class five-for wrapped up the Kenyan tail.
Kenya began the morning session in a dire position, with a slim 73-run lead and only three wickets still standing. Ouma, on 106 overnight, continued in a positive vein while Elijah Otieno, who has no pretensions as a batsman, gave him admirable support at the other end. The pair added 31 runs in just over 15 overs before Otieno, who had survived for 71 balls, edged Nel through to wicketkeeper Simon Smith.
His dismissal broke Kenya's resistance, with Ouma falling in Nel's next over for a hard-fought 130 - his best effort in first-class cricket. James Ngoche, in his debut game for the national side, was dismissed soon after as Kenya folded for 323 to set Scotland a paltry 109 for victory.
An early wicket could have put some pressure on the Scottish side, but it was not to be as Lockhart and Kyle Coetzer eased to 70 before Ngoche found Coetzer's edge. Qasim Sheikh, the first innings centurion, was run out without scoring this time round, but with only 31 runs still needed the result was already all but sealed. The experienced Lockhart went to his half century, while Chalmers cracked four boundaries in his short innings to wrap the game up in the 33rd over.
Full postUganda fall agonisingly short
Tony Munro
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Uganda were agonisingly close to scoring their first win of their four-match tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but lost the second Twenty20 match to the home side by two runs in Dubai on Wednesday.
In the team for his slow left-armers, tailender Henry Ssenyondo faced the last ball from Qasim Zubair needing three to win, attempted to pull off good length delivery but missed and was bowled to hand UAE victory.
A win for Uganda had seemed likely when Frank Nsubuga (3 for 9) and Ronald Ssemanda (2 for 18) limited UAE to 112 for nine. Opener Arfan Haider (20) was his team's top scorer, as the hosts never got going.
Full postCricket Canada insists it will be ready to host 2012 Under-19 World Cup
With the Under-19 World Cup reaching its climax, Ranjit Saini, Cricket Canada's interim president, has insisted his country will be ready to host the 2012 edition, despite concerns the country does not have the necessary 12 grounds demanded by the
Sahil Dutta
25-Feb-2013
With the Under-19 World Cup reaching its climax, Ranjit Saini, Cricket Canada's interim president, has insisted his country will be ready to host the 2012 edition, despite concerns the country does not have the necessary 12 grounds demanded by the ICC.
In 2009 Kenya were controversially stripped of hosting rights to the 2010 Under-19 World Cup after the ICC claimed its grounds would not be ready in time. The decision caused anger in Kenya and claims the move owed more to commercial pressures than logistical ones.
At the moment Canada could face similar treatment, but Saini said that redevelopment will take place in time. "We have the necessary 12 grounds, but some need upgrading and we will be approaching the government for a grant. This will deliver the infrastructure upgrade that Canadian cricket needs. The city of Toronto has accepted it so we're confident. I think we have a good chance."
Full postNepal WCL Division Five squad announced
Tony Munro
Nitin Sundar
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Nepal will be without two of its best batsmen, Paresh Lohani and Sharad Vesawkar, when it hosts the World Cricket League Division Five tournament next month.
Lohani, the 29-year-old opener, has made himself unavailable, while Vesawkar, a 21 year-old middle-order batsman, has been omitted due to what sources have described as ‘poor health and form’.
“I cannot attend the closed-camp training due to my personal reasons and I don’t think it’s fair to contend for a position in the national team without training,” Lohani was quoted in the Cricket Nepal website.
Full postUAE cruise to win over Uganda again
Tony Munro
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
It was a new format, but the outcome was the same with United Arab Emirates (UAE) maintaining their superiority over Uganda, winning the first Twenty20 in Dubai on Tuesday by eight wickets.
Uganda rebounded from the early loss of captain Akbar Baig (3) thanks to experienced pair Roger Mukasa and Frank Nsubuga who put on 55 in eight overs before Mukasa (29 from 29 balls) was bowled by Fayyaz Ahmed leaving Uganda at 58 for 2.
Ahmed, the Gujarat-born slow left-armer, took the key top-order wickets of Mukasa, Arthur Kyobe and Frank Nsubuga to return 3 for 18 from his four overs. Veteran allrounder Benjamin Musoke chipped in with a breezy 22 from 16 balls which included two fours but received little support as Uganda finished on 119 for seven.
Full postAhmadzai inspires Afghanistan win
Afghanistan pulled off their second win in the Intercontinental Cup, defeating defending champions Ireland by seven wickets to propel themselves to the top of the table.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Afghanistan pulled off their second win in the Intercontinental Cup, defeating defending champions Ireland by seven wickets to propel themselves to the top of the table.
Full postCanada start with a loss
Canada lost their opening match of their stay in Sri Lanka, going down by six wickets to a Sri Lanka A team who cruised to their target of 180 with almost 18 overs to spare.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Canada lost their opening match of their stay in Sri Lanka, going down by six wickets to a Sri Lanka A team who cruised to their target of 180 with almost 18 overs to spare.
Canada managed 175 for 9 in their 50 overs, and even that represented a recovery from 75 for 5. The Sri Lankans started briskly and never let up, Gihan Rupasinghe leading the way with an unbeaten 74.
Full post