Injured Rohit unlikely to be available before WC warm-ups
Perth: The Indian team management has decided not to risk injured opener Rohit Sharma for India’s do-or-die cricket tri-series game against England on January 30 and also for the finals in case India happen to win their last round robin encounter in the tournament. Rohit suffered from hamstring injury during the opening encounter where he scored a splendid 138 against Australia. “With Shikhar Dhawan completely out of form, they do not want to risk Rohit in this tournament as they have a World Cup to play. The February 8 and 10 warm-up games against Australia and Afghanistan will serve as Rohit’s match-fitness test,” a source close to the team management said on Tuesday.
Pakistan keeps Malik, Ali, Tanvir on standby for World Cup
Karachi: Batsmen Shoaib Malik and Azhar Ali, and pace bowler Sohail Tanvir have been put on standby in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, to be held from February 14 in Australia and New Zealand. A source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that after discussions with the chief selector Moin Khan and team management in New Zealand, three players were told that their services might be required by the team during the World Cup, if need arose. He said either Malik or Azhar would accompany Tanvir if the need arose. There have been apprehensions that the tour selection committee might call up some replacements as question marks hang over the fitness of some players who are picked in the World Cup squad. The source said Sohaib Maqsood, Ehsan Adil and Wahab Riaz were facing some fitness niggles and were being tested in New Zealand before the World Cup.
Watson to raise money for charity during World Cup
Sydney: Apart from winning the World Cup, star Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has added motivation to be fit for the ODI showpiece, where he’ll be raising money for research into motor neuron disease (MND). Watson has pledged to donate $200 for every boundary he hits, $300 for each six and the same amount per a wicket, reports news.com.au. “No extra motivation is needed during a World Cup but this certainly provides it, to know that every time I find the middle of the bat and score runs ... means I continue to raise money for such an important cause,” he said.
England are steadily improving, says assistant coach
Perth: England cricket team’s assistant coach Paul Farbrace Tuesday said the Eoin Morgan-led team is working hard and improving all the time to give themselves the best chance of winning the World Cup which has eluded them from the beginning. The Englishman who was instrumental in Sri lanka’s success last year, when they clinched both the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 titles, said anything was possible if they make it through to the knock-out stages of the quadrennial tournament. “I wouldn’t sit here now and say we’re going to win the World Cup. What I would say is if you get through to the knock-out stages anything is possible,” Farbrace was quoted as saying by bbc.com. “The aim is to get to the quarter-final and once you do then literally anything can happen. We know we’re improving all the time, we know we’re working really hard and we want to give ourselves the best chance we possibly can.”
West Indies spinner Narine withdraws from World Cup
St. John’s (Antigua): Sunil Narine withdrew from the West Indies squad for the Cricket World Cup on Tuesday because he said he was not fully confident in his revised bowling action. The West Indies Cricket Board said a replacement will be named shortly. Narine’s action was reported as suspect in India in September, but he was suspended only from matches in India. He rehabilitated himself, and preliminary tests showed he was bowling legally when he was picked by West Indies this month. “However,” a board statement said, “he requires more time to be able to confidently bowl for a sustained period in international cricket with his new action.”
Pakistan suffer back-to-back losses to start NZ tour
Christchurch: Despite Misbah ul-Haq and Umar Akmal showing some batting form ahead of next month’s Cricket World Cup, Pakistan suffered back-to-back losses to a President’s XI at the start of its New Zealand tour. Misbah scored 107 and Akmal 68 as Pakistan lost Monday’s match by six wickets at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval. Misbah scored 88 not out and Akmal 77 as Pakistan lost Tuesday’s match by one wicket.