Verma alleges contempt of court by Srini
New Delhi: Aditya Verma, the petitioner in the IPl spot-fixing scandal, has claimed that BCCI's President-in-exile N Srinivasan committed contempt of court by attending the Asian Cricket Council meeting. Verma, secretary of the unrecognized Cricket Association of Bihar, also alleged that the BCCI's decision to call an emergent working committee meeting on November 18 is illegal. "Despite being clearly told by the honorable Supreme Court that he should not act as the BCCI president till further orders, Srinivasan had gone and attended the meeting of the Asian Cricket Council in Dubai on November 7 as the 'President' of the BCCI," Verma said in a statement. All four will be served notices to explain their point. The next hearing will be on November 24.
Pakistan eye series win against New Zealand
Dubai: Pakistan will continue to attack a hapless New Zealand with spin as they eye a series win in the second Test starting here on Monday. Pakistan inflicted a big 248-run defeat on the Kiwis in the first Test in Abu Dhabi for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar and leggie Yasir Shah posing serious problems. There seems to be no change in fortune for the tourists as the Dubai stadium pitch promises more help for spin and in turn multiplies the problems for the struggling New Zealand batsmen. "We should just take it one by one and it's really important to just focus and do things right and if there are weak areas do that right," said Misbah, who captained his 15th Pakistani win, a national record. Pakistan will be without opener Ahmed Shehzad, ruled out of the remaining two Tests after suffering a fractured skull when he was hit by a Corey Anderson's bouncer in the first Test, during which he made a career-best 176. However, their opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez is struggling with a hamstring injury which may force Pakistan to try out a new left-handed opening pair. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq says "we have lots of concerns about Hafeez's injury." Hafeez pulled his hamstring during an unbeaten 101 in the second innings of the first Test. Match officials reported off-spinner Hafeez's bowling action soon after the first Test, but Misbah said he would’ve liked to include the all-rounder purely on his batting form. Pakistan has backup openers in Shan Masood and Taufiq Umar both left handers.
Australia's youngest Test captain dies at 79
Sydney: Ian Craig, Australia's youngest Test cricket captain, has died aged 79, Cricket Australia said on Sunday. Middle-order batsman Craig was the youngest player to play Test cricket for Australia when he debuted in 1953 at 17 years and 239 days. He then became the youngest Australian Test captain when he took over aged 22 years and 194 days. Craig played 11 Tests between 1953 and 1958, averaging a disappointing 19.88, before retiring when he was 26. "Ian earned a very special place in the proud history of our game as the youngest Australian to make a first-class double century, gain Test selection and captain his country. Craig made his first-class debut for New South Wales in the 1951-52 Australian season, aged only 16. Craig earned comparisons to Don Bradman after becoming the youngest player to score a first-class double century with an unbeaten 213 for NSW against the touring South Africans in January 1953.
Delhi name squad for knock-outs
New Delhi: Delhi's senior selection committee headed by Yashpal Sharma predictably retained Gautam Gambhir as the captain of the Delhi one day side that will take on arch-rivals Mumbai in the pre-quarter finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot on November 19. The team has all the big names including veterans Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra, Rajat Bhatia along with young gun Unmukt Chand. The only notable name to miss out was Mithun Manhas. Squad: Gautam Gambhir (captain), Virender Sehwag, Unmukt Chand, Milind Kumar, Nitish Rana, Rajat Bhatia, Puneet Bisht (wk), Yogesh Nagar, Parvinder Awana, Ashish Nehra, Sumit Narwal, Vikas Tokas, Shivam Sharma, Pawan Negi, Varun Sood.
India consolidates No 1 ranking
Dubai: World champions India have consolidated their top rank on the ICC ODI Team Rankings after sweeping the series against Sri lanka, which concluded in Ranchi on Sunday. India had started the series at the third position on 113 ratings points and has finished on 117 ratings points - two ratings points clear of South Africa, which is involved in a five-ODI series against Australia. In contrast, Sri lanka have retained their fourth position but slipped to 108 ratings after conceding three ratings points. It now hosts England in a seven-ODI series, leading Alastair Cook's side by one ratings point. However, with the Australia-South Africa series locked at one-all, both sides have an opportunity to regain the No 1 ranking. But to make this happen, either side will have to win the remaining three matches. If Australia wins the series 4-1, then it will move ahead of India by a fraction of a point (0.2 ratings points).