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Kevin Pietersen is set to dominate the cricket agenda this week with the release of his much-hyped autobiography

Andrew McGlashan05-Oct-2014Kevin Pietersen is set to dominate the cricket agenda this week, at least in the UK, with the release of his much-hyped autobiography. The book is expected to detail his version of his sacking by England earlier this year along with various other incidents from his life and career which has never failed to provide thrills, intrigue, drama and controversy.Material from the book, which has been ghosted by acclaimed journalist David Walsh, will start to become public on Monday. Pietersen is set to hold a ticket-only event in Manchester on Tuesday along with various media commitments before the book is fully available in the shops on Thursday.Most will first turn to find out Pietersen’s version of what happened as the Ashes tour unravelled last year and into January, leading up to his central contract being cancelled in February. What was said in that meeting organised by the players before the Melbourne Test to speak openly and honestly about what had gone wrong? Was there too much honesty for some players to take? Did it turn into disrespect? Or was this just the final straw in a situation that had become irreparable?Then onto Sydney and the judgement by Paul Downton, the new managing director of England cricket, after a two-and-a-half day Test that he had never seen anyone so “disengaged” from a team. And, of course, was there whistling?Through everything that is read, re-hashed and spoken about in the coming days it is worth remembering the book is just another side to a story that has the increasing feel of never coming to a satisfactory conclusion.The way his England career ended is only one area that Pietersen has the chance to fill in some blanks. Will he finally reveal the exact content of the text messages he sent to some of the South Africans in 2012 about Andrew Strauss and the motivation behind sending them? And what really went on to get him back in the team?Going further back, to 2008 and early 2009, there was his first sacking by England – from the captaincy. What was he trying to achieve in those days? Was it all an effort to get Graham Ford installed as England coach? Pietersen could well have had valid concerns to raise about how the team was developing under Peter Moores, but does he regret how he went about trying to make them? It will be fascinating to see how often regret, or even remorse, from Pietersen’s side emerges.If this is to be the definitive account of Pietersen’s England career it would be nice to think there will be ample words given to the the good times – there were plenty in an era where the team enjoyed considerable success.These tales will clearly not be the ones to grab the headlines this week, but the recollections of The Oval, Adelaide, Barbados, Colombo and Mumbai will be intriguing, and how much Pietersen talks about them in the context of the team as well as his individual brilliance. To play those stunning innings he needed players at the other end, even if just to block.As much as there appears to be a thirst to find out which players take the full force of Pietersen’s anger, it will also be interesting to see which ones emerge on his good side.And will those scorned feel the need to respond, or will they take a deep breath and allow the natural cycle to die down of its own accord? Will the ECB want to counter or bite their lip? There will be further demands that the board make public their full reasons for his sacking. In April, Alastair Cook promised to give his side of the story although it would seem unlikely that he will emerge from his pre-Sri Lanka break to comment any time soon.”There will be a time in the not too distant future,” Cook said, “when I can give you the whole side of my story but I hope you can bear with that a little longer.”Few other sports books in recent times have come with this amount of pre-publication hype. Last year Alex Ferguson’s autobiography, released in a similar way without serialisation to build up the anticipation and ensuing coverage, was met with a somewhat lukewarm response when it did not quite provide what had been expected – or hoped. Over the next few days we will see whether Pietersen has said enough to appease the demand.

The first T20 international between South Africa and Pakistan in Durban was abandoned without a ball being bowled

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2013

Scorecard and updates
The first T20 international between South Africa and Pakistan in Durban was abandoned without a ball being bowled. It had been raining in Durban for more than five hours prior to the start of play, and the chances of a game going ahead were slim with puddles around the outfield and the showers not relenting. Even around half-an-hour after the scheduled time for the toss, the umpires said it would take at least two hours to get the ground in playable condition once the rain stopped. That didn’t happen and the umpires called off the game at 6.30pm, two hours and eight minutes before the cut-off time for a five-over fixture.The second T20 international will take place in Centurion on March 3.

Jayantha Dharmadasa is set to become the next Sri Lanka Cricket president, after SLC’s executive committee rejected all three original candidates, and named Dharmadasa the sole nominee for the position on Thursday

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Mar-2013Jayantha Dharmadasa is set to become the next Sri Lanka Cricket president, after SLC’s executive committee rejected all three original candidates, and named Dharmadasa the sole nominee for the position on Thursday. He will run in the April 16 election uncontested, and if elected without incident, will hold the post for two years.He was SLC’s interim president from March 2005 to December 2007, and had expressed interest in contesting this year’s elections in February, but had opted out in the week before applications closed. He then renewed his expressions of interest after the possible complications with the other candidates appeared.MP Thilanga Sumathipala, current president Upali Dharmadasa, and Badureliya Sports Club president Sumith Perera have all had their nominations rejected for various reasons. Sumathipala had had his nomination rejected by the sports ministry earlier in the week due to business interests that were deemed to contravene the sports law.The nominations of Upali Dharmadasa, who is the brother of Jayantha, and Sumith Perera, were found to be in violation of SLC’s constitution, which states a supporting letter from the sports minister must be obtained if candidates for the presidency have not fulfilled specific criteria required of an SLC president. Among these criteria are the requirements that the president must have played first-class cricket, and that he must have sat on the SLC executive committee for at least two years. Upali Dharmadasa had not played first-class cricket, while Sumith Perera had never sat on the executive committee. Neither had obtained the supporting letter from the minister, and thus had their nominations rejected by the executive committee.Jayantha Dharmadasa did not play first-class cricket, nor had he sat on an executive committee, but he had earlier obtained the letter from the sports minister, before deciding not to contest the election, in February.Upali Dharmadasa, who sits on the current executive committee, said his brother was the only viable candidate to have put his name forward. “After my nomination and Mr Sumith Perera’s nomination was rejected, the executive committee decided to nominate Jayantha. He has got the special permission from the sports minister, so he will be appointed the president after the elections.”SLC’s constitution allows the executive committee to make its own nominations if no valid nominations have been received by SLC members.Jayantha Dharmadasa’s sole nomination effectively means uncontested candidates will be elected to the two most powerful positions in SLC for the second consecutive year. Current secretary Nishantha Ranatunga will run uncontested for his position in 2013, as he did in 2012, when Upali Dharmadasa was also elected president uncontested, amid claims of political interference. Last year’s board elections were the first in seven years, during which a series of interim committees administered cricket in the country.

The Pakistan Super League is set to be the latest money-spinning Twenty20 competition but English players have again be warned against participating by the player’s union

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-2013The Pakistan Super League is set to become the latest money-spinning Twenty20 competition but English players have again be warned against participating.The PSL is scheduled to be launched on March 26 and could be worth more than $100 million according to organisers but the Professional Cricketers Association, England’s players’ union, is reported to have “grave concerns” about security in Pakistan. It has contacted each county asking them to refuse to issue No Objection Certificates – which would deny players permission to take part.”Our advice is that players should not take part in the PSL,” PCA chief executive, Angus Porter, told the “I’m certain England will not issue No Objection Certificates to their centrally contracted players.”The PCA also expressed apprehension over the Bangladesh Premier League but several English players have been involved in the first two editions. Worries over payment guarantees haven’t deterred the likes of Joe Denly, the Middlesex batsman, who had his county’s backing to take up an offer to join Barisal Burners earlier in the week. Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah and Phil Mustard are among other English players at the BPL.But counties have been less inclined to allow their players permission to play in the IPL, which clashes with the start of the English season. Alex Hales, Michael Lumb and Samit Patel were all told by Nottinghamshire they could not take part if they were bought by a franchise. Monty Panesar does have permission to enter the player auction from Sussex.

A round-up of matches from the Caribbean T20 on Tuesday, January 15, 2012

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2013
Scorecard
Trinidad and Tobago have now won four out of their five games in the Caribbean T20 and are at the top of the table. Their latest win came against Windward Islands in St Lucia, and a comprehensive one at that. Windwards batted first and were restricted to 125 for 6, thanks to economical spells from most of T&T’s bowlers. Keddy Lesporis top-scored with 31, but it came off 33 balls, and even Darren Sammy scored at less than a run a ball, making an unbeaten 25 off 27. Legspinner Samuel Badree was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 for 15 in four overs.T&T lost openers Lendl Simmons and William Perkins inside the first five overs but Dwayne Bravo and Darren Bravo ensured there were no further hiccups. Both struck half-centuries, Darren striking four fours and three sixes, and Dwayne finishing with 62, with five fours and four sixes. Their unbeaten stand of 112 in just 68 balls sealed victory with 22 balls to spare.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Jamaica picked up their third win in the Caribbean T20, beating Guyana by five wickets in St Lucia. Jamaica chose to field and they had Guyana in trouble very early in the innings, the fast-bowling combination of Sheldon Cotterrell and Andre Russell rattling the Guyana top order. The pair shared six wickets between them, Russell taking four of them, and reduced Guyana to 41 for 6. Christopher Barnwell and Royston Crandon added 33 for the seventh wicket, Nikita Miller picked up two wickets and the innings folded for just 93.Jamaica’s chase suffered an early setback with the loss of two wickets inside the first three overs but Danza Hyatt, Krishmar Santokie followed by Russell chipped in with valuable 20s to see their team home with 11 balls to spare.

With less than a month to go for the board elections, N Srinivasan, the BCCI’s sidelined president, is working to strengthen his support base in the east zone, a region that could be important in the forthcoming election

Amol Karhadkar27-Oct-2014With less than a month to go for the board elections, N Srinivasan, the BCCI’s sidelined president, is working to strengthen his support base in the east zone, a region that could be important in the forthcoming election. During a personal visit to Guwahati and Kolkata on October 26, Srinivasan met with top officials from the Assam Cricket Association [ACA] and Cricket Association of Bengal [CAB].India’s Supreme Court had asked Srinivasan to step aside as BCCI president until the Justice Mukul Mudgal panel’s investigation into allegations of corruption in the IPL 2013 were complete. Despite the court-imposed rider that he could not announce his candidacy until the end of the investigation, Srinivasan first visited the new Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati and promised to work towards allotting Test status to the ground. Before attending a charity event in Kolkata, Srinivasan also had a long meeting with CAB chief Jagmohan Dalmiya.The developments are significant given that the east zone’s role may be decisive in the BCCI presidential election. According to the BCCI rules, each of the five zones nominate a president by rotation and this year, it is the east zone’s turn to nominate a candidate for three years starting with next month’s AGM. Following an amendment of BCCI rules in 2012, an individual who is not from a specified zone can contest for the president’s post with official support from two member organisations of that zone.Srinivasan has thus been trying hard to ensure that all six members from the east zone are on his side to seal an unopposed election, despite their presence in a show of strength last month. While the Jharkhand State Cricket Association and Orissa Cricket Association are Srinivasan’s trusted allies, Tripura Cricket Association has also assured its support.This leaves Assam and the two votes of CAB and the National Cricket Club, which are both headed by Dalmiya. It is believed that Dalmiya, who has had a topsy-turvy relationship with Srinivasan, may have asked for a plum position for himself in order to support Srinivasan’s candidacy.Following the corruption scandal in the IPL last year, Dalmiya had stepped in to run the daily affairs of the board in place of Srinivasan for a short period. In the build-up to last year’s AGM, he was also in the running for the post of IPL chairman, a position that was eventually allotted to Ranjib Biswal of Orissa, who does not share a rapport with Dalmiya. The position of the chief of new area development committee was seen as a consolation for Dalmiya.Interestingly, while Dalmiya isn’t fond of Srinivasan, the rest of CAB is backing the ICC chairman. This was evident when nearly every club affiliated with CAB felicitated Srinivasan during a charity event held for an NGO run by association treasurer Biswarup Dey.A CAB insider confided that Dalmiya’s role in the coming years may have been discussed during Sunday’s meeting. Biswal and Amitabh Chaudhary, the Jharkhand association chief who heads the board’s marketing sub-committee, have emerged as contenders for the secretary’s post, and one of their vacated positions may be offered to CAB. The equations depend entirely on the Supreme Court allowing Srinivasan to contest the election.Earlier on Sunday, Srinivasan praised the stadium in Guwahati and, in his capacity as the ICC chairman, assured ACA officials that he would do his best to help the ground get Test status. According to ACA secretary Bikash Baruah, Srinivasan also assured that he would impress upon the BCCI to allot a few IPL games to Guwahati.”The ICC chairman is very impressed by the quality of the stadium we are building and described it as one of the best in the world. He inspected almost every nook and corner of the infrastructure, including the dressing rooms, water-treatment plant, back-up generator, galleries, pitch and practice ground,” Baruah said. “Srinivasan also appreciated the location of the stadium and other requirements for a Test venue as well as IPL matches.”The last international game in Guwahati was held in November 2010 at the Nehru Stadium, when India took on New Zealand in an ODI.

India A will tour New Zealand in September, as part of the BCCI’s initiative to send the team on two international tours every year before the start of the domestic season

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jun-2012India A will tour New Zealand in September, as part of the BCCI’s initiative to send the team on two international tours every year before the start of the domestic season.A report quoted a BCCI official as saying that the specifics of the tour are yet to be finalised upon. “We are in the process of deciding the number of matches and working on whether the team will play four-day games or three-day ones. The itinerary will be ready in a week or so,” the official said. “We will try to make two tours for sure every season. After all, the A team is the feeder line for the senior team.”India A are currently touring the Caribbean, and won their first unofficial Test in Bridgetown on Tuesday by two wickets. The team will play two more four-day games against West Indies A, followed by two Twenty20s and three one-dayers.

Surendranath, the former India fast bowler, has died aged 75 following prolonged illness

ESPNcricinfo staff06-May-2012Surendranath, the former India fast bowler, has died aged 75 following prolonged illness. He played 11 Tests for India between 1959 and 1961, and also had a 15-year first-class career with Services that ended in 1969.The highlight of Surendranath’s career was the tour of England in 1959, during which he took 16 wickets at 26.62 though India were blanked in the five-match Test series. He was renowned for his ability to bowl long spells, as shown by his back-to-back five-wicket hauls in the England series during which he bowled 47 overs in an innings at Old Trafford and 51 at The Oval. He was the second highest wicket-taker in the first-class matches on that tour, with 79 scalps, only behind legspinner Subhash Gupte.”On that tour of England, he troubled the best of players – Peter May*, Colin Cowdrey, everyone,” Chandu Borde, the former India batsman who was his team-mate during the series, said. “He was mostly an inswing bowler, who got the odd one to move away. He bowled excellent medium-pace, and being a soldier he was also a fighter on the field. Along with Ramakant Desai, he formed a very good opening attack for India.”Surendranath was also a part of home series against West Indies, Australia and Pakistan. He had success in his first Test against Pakistan, in Kolkata in 1960-61, but his international career ended a fortnight later as he couldn’t make much of an impact in the next Test in Chennai.His first-class career extended for eight more years, and he ended with 278 wickets at 25.37. * May 07 2012, 04.20. The name of the player has been corrected

Sohag Gazi has highlighted Bangladesh’s self-belief after they defended 247 in Mirpur

Mohammad Isam01-Nov-2013Sohag Gazi, the Man of the Match in Bangladesh’s 40-run win over New Zealand on Thursday, has highlighted the team’s self-belief after they defended 247 in Mirpur.After New Zealand had slipped to 45 for 3 in their chase, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson added 61 before the latter guided the ball towards slip, only to see wicketkeepr Mushfiqur Rahim dive across to his left and grab the half-chance. Gazi attributed his wicket to the patience that Bangladesh had developed as a result of their new-found confidence.”The turning point was when we broke that partnership,” Gazi said. “We didn’t give up, thinking that a stand like that is inevitable. We tried to build on dot balls, and made them commit a mistake.”We could win today because we believed that it was possible to defend 247. The coach [Shane Jurgensen] and captain [Mushfiqur] told us before we went out on to the field that everything is possible today. We had to give 100% to make it possible.”Before the 61-run stand, Bangladesh had grabbed the initiative early on in the New Zealand innings. Mashrafe Mortaza quickly removed Hamish Rutherford, before Gazi made way for Rubel Hossain after bowling one over. Gazi came back in the ninth over, and shortly afterwards, caught Anton Devcich’s simple offering off his own bowling. Abdur Razzak worked on that opening by dismissing Grant Elliott.”I am accustomed to bowl with the new ball,” Gazi said. “That is how I started my career and I remember Saqlain [Mushtaq] telling me at the time that all spinners are hammered but I should bowl to my strength. I do the same with the new ball, and I hardly have any trouble.”The Bangladesh spinners got less turn than is expected from typical sub-continental tracks, as the pitches on this tour have been generally slow, and offer low bounce. New Zealand have often said that it was a challenge to bat on these surfaces, but Gazi believes that the Bangladesh spinners did well despite the conditions, rather than because of it.”If we took home advantage, the ball would have turned miles. We could have taken it in the Test series, but as you have seen, it didn’t help us.”We have to play on any wicket we are asked to do so, whether it is a turning wicket or a flat one. The toss is a matter of luck, because we have to be prepared for any kind of situation.”Gazi was adjudged Man of the Match for picking up three scalps, as well as scoring a vital 26 when Bangladesh had lost quick wickets and slipped to 173 for 6.”The team needed me to score today, and because I could do something substantial, I was chosen the best in the match,” he said. “I think this team has players who will do their respective jobs very well. Rubel did well in the last game. Nobody relies on one person. We have to go ahead like this, so that someone or the other stands up when needed.”

Simon Katich and Ramnaresh Sarwan are among a group of cricketers still owed contract payments from the BCCI for the 2010 Twenty20 Indian Premier League

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2011Simon Katich and Ramnaresh Sarwan are among a group of cricketers still owed contract payments from the BCCI for the 2010 Indian Premier League.FICA, the international cricketers’ representative body, has revealed that the money has remained unpaid for more than 18 months despite numerous entreaties by the players and their management. Tim May, the FICA, chief executive, said no response had been forthcoming.”A number of players whose contracts were ‘subsidised’ by the BCCI, have recently contacted FICA to assist in recovering the amounts owed by the BCCI,” he said. “These amounts relate to IPL 3, which was held in March-April in 2010. Affected players include Simon Katich and Ramnaresh Sarwan.”Despite numerous attempts by the players to recover these amounts, not only do the amounts still remain unpaid, but the IPL and the BCCI have recently failed to respond to communications made by the players and their representatives.”FICA last month wrote to the IPL Chairman Mr Chirayu Amin on behalf of the players to draw his attention to the matter, but to date, neither we nor the players have received a response to this matter.”We trust with the recent appointment of Mr N. Srinivasan as President of the BCCI, and the appointment of Mr Rajiv Shukla as Chairman of IPL, that these two gentlemen will ensure that BCCI will address these payments as a matter of urgency.”Neither Katich nor Sarwan took part in the 2010 IPL, but were still under contract to King’s XI Punjab, having been signed for three years after the initial player auction in 2008.The episode follows the saga of T20 Champions League prize money being delayed by months after the 2010 tournament, with the boards of some countries including Australia and South Africa choosing to pay the money themselves rather than wait for it to arrive from the subcontinent.