India’s tour schedule for SA tour
Mumbai: India’s tour of South Africa later this year will commence with the visitors playing T20 and 50-over internationals against the hosts before taking them on in a three-Test series, according to the schedule of the matches released by Cricket South Africa on Monday.
‘I expect to be match-fit soon’
New Delhi: Injured seamer Irfan Pathan, who was left out of the Indian squad for the tour of West Indies due to hamstring injury, is expecting to get match-fit in another week’s time. “My injury wasn’t a major one. I have already started running and will start bowling at the nets in another couple of days time. I should be fit within another week’s time,” Irfan said on Monday. The 28-year-old Pathan was a part of India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign but he was not in the playing XI in the five matches in UK. Pathan only played in the warm-up game against Sri lanka in Birmingham bowling five wicketless overs for 45 runs. For the Baroda all-rounder, the priority is to undergo a structured rehabilitation programme at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore in order to avoid injuries. “I have a training programme chalked out and I will be strictly adhering to that. We have a long season ahead. And I want to be fully fit by the time the season starts,” Irfan, who has played 29 Tests and 120 ODIs for India, said.
India U-19 sails into final
Darwin: India sailed into the final of the Under-19 Tri-nation Series after a clinical all-round display saw them post a comfortable seven-wicket win over their counterparts from Australia here on Monday. Opting to bowl, India restricted Australia to 191 for six in the allotted 50 overs, before chasing down the target in 45.4 overs. Aamir Gani (3/25) was the most impressive bowler from the Indian side while skipper Vijay Zol (64) and Akhil Herwadkar (60) were the main contributors with the bat at the Marrara Oval. The loss dealt a blow to hosts Australia’s hopes of entering the finals.
domestic season from sep 26
Mumbai: The three-team N K P Salve Challenger Trophy 50-over tournament will kick off the upcoming domestic season on September 26 with domestic one-day champions Delhi taking on India A. The final of the tournament, in which India B is the third competing team, is scheduled for September 29 at a venue which is yet to be decided by the Cricket Board, as per the truncated schedule it has uploaded on Monday on its website. The season’s Duleep Trophy is to be held in South Zone centres from October 3-21. The schedule — NKP Salve Challenger series (Venue to be announced): Sep 26: Delhi v India A (D/N); Sep 27: India A v India B (D/N); Sep 28: Delhi v India B (D/N); Sep 29: Final (D/N). Duleep Trophy (South Zone): Oct 3-6: South Zone v West Zone; Oct 10-13: East Zone v North Zone; Oct 10-13: Central Zone v winners of South v West; Oct 17-21: Final.
NZC names 20 contracted players
Wellington: New Zealand Cricket has named six newcomers on its annual list of 20 contracted players as national coach Mike Hesson attempts to refresh a team plagued by under-performance. Promising all-rounder Corey Anderson, Test opener Hamish Rutherford, fast bowler Mitchell Mclenaghan, the versatile Tom latham and Colin Munro and veteran left-arm spinner Bruce Martin have all been included for the first time on the list. Players on last year’s list who have been dropped include former captain Daniel Vettori, who declined a contract because of injury, and fast bowler Chris Martin, who has retired. Test batsman Daniel Flynn, wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk and one-day specialists James Franklin and Rob Nicol have also missed out. Contracts are awarded to players who score most highly on a weighting scale which measures performances in tests, one-dayers and Twenty20 matches, placing most emphasis on Tests. list: Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Grant Elliott, Peter Fulton, Martin Guptill, Tom latham, Bruce Martin, Mitchell McClenaghan, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson. PNS/Agencies