Sethi to meet Srini next month
Karachi: The interim chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najam Sethi has said that he will be meeting with his Indian counterpart next month to discuss a host of issues, including the resumption of bilateral cricket ties and Pakistani players participation in IPl. “The Indian Board (BCCI) chief, Srinivisan has agreed in principle to have the meeting and I am hopeful we can move forward in our relations with India. The participation of the Faisalabad Wolves team in the Champions league is a positive move,” Sethi said on Tuesday.
Afridi keen to lead Pak again
Karachi: Senior all-rounder Shahid Afridi has once again expressed his interest in captaining the Pakistan cricket team. Afridi said that after having played 17 years for the country he always considered it as a big honour to captain the national team. “If the Cricket Board (PCB) deems it fit and offers me the captaincy again I will accept it as a challenge,” Afridi said. “I think the position we are facing right now is that all the senior players need to contribute more and play a more decisive role in the South Africa series,” he said.
CSA mum over India’s SA tour
Johannesburg: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has decided not to comment on India’s scheduled tour to South Africa until BCCI’s Annual General Meeting takes place on September 29. The announcement was made after a meeting place between CSA chief executive Haroon lorgat and Indian Cricket Board secretary Sanjay Patel in Dubai last night. “I am happy to say that we had a constructive meeting and I would like to thank Sanjay for his friendliness and support in trying to find a way forward,” lorgat said in a statement on Wednesday. “After listening to Sanjay, it is clear that we will now have to wait for the BCCI’s AGM to be completed before any tour schedule can be confirmed,” he added.
‘had no discussions on SA tour’
New Delhi: The BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel on Wednesday termed his meeting with Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Haroon lorgat as a “cordial one” but at the same time said that there were “no discussions” about India’s tour to South Africa at the end of the year. “I had a very cordial meeting with Mr lorgat (in Dubai). I assured him that BCCI still shares a very good and friendly relationship with Cricket South Africa as it has been the case for the past 22 years. But any discussion on the South Africa series will only happen after BCCI AGM on September 29,” Patel said.
Zaheer honing skills in S Africa
Johannesburg: After working on his fitness in France, Indian pacer Zaheer Khan is now honing his skills with South African provincial team Knights in an attempt to regain his place in the Indian national squad. Khan told the Afrikaans daily Beeld that he had asked the Knights fitness expert Adrian le Roux to help him with his pre-season conditioning during the IPl in May. le Roux assisted the Kolkota Knight Riders, for whom Khan was playing at the time. le Roux has also been part of the fitness team for both the Proteas and the Indian national team and has become a close friend of Khan. Khan has been hard at work in Bloemfontein, the home base of the Knights, for several days now, participating in training sessions ahead of a training camp in Port Elizabeth next week with the Warriors.
BCCI to decide on new sponsor
Mumbai: The BCCI marketing committee headed by Union Minister Farooq Abdullah will meet here on Thursday to decide on the new title sponsors for the international matches in India after telecom major Airtel decided against renewing their contract. The BCCI will be inviting new tender bid documents from corporate houses who are willing to become series sponsor for India’s home fixtures. Airtel had won the rights as series sponsors for all international and domestic matches played in India from September 1, 2010 to March 31, 2013 for a consideration of `3.33 crore per match. As existing sponsors, BCCI gave Airtel three months’ grace period to renew its contract.
Herath awaiting clearance for Cl
Colombo: left-arm spinner Rangana Herath might have been named in the Kandurata Maroons team for the Champions league Twenty20 but he is yet to get clearance to play in the tournament, the Sri lanka Cricket said on Wednesday. Cl technical committee is yet to take a call on Herath’s participation as his entry could be tantamount to flouting of the rules of player participation. Herath was rested by the SlC during the Super 4 domestic T20 competition despite he was billed to play for North Yellows, one of the four teams.
Dhoni is a great leader: Ramdin
Ranchi: Trinidad & Tobago skipper Denesh Ramdin is in awe of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and called the Indian captain a “great leader”. “He is one of the great leaders in terms of captain, batsman and keeper... A very difficult job,” Ramdin, himself a wicketkeeper-captain of his team, said here on Wednesday. “He has won the World Cup, Champions league and IPl. He is a great leader.” PNS/Agencies