Aus extend lead over india
Dubai: World Cup winner Australia has doubled its lead over second-ranked India on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings from six to 12 points while the West Indies, Bangladesh and Pakistan are now locked in a tight struggle for the remaining two slots in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. The cut-off date is 30 September 2015. In the T20I update, World T20 champion Sri lanka has extended its lead over second-ranked India to 11 points. The annual ODI update has also seen New Zealand and England head in opposite directions. World Cup runner-up New Zealand has made the biggest move, jumping eight points to be third-ranked ahead of South Africa. In contrast, England has had the biggest fall as it has surrendered seven points, dropping to sixth-ranked, 12 points behind fifth-ranked Sri lanka. In the T20 rankings, the top three positions in the updated table are unchanged while the West Indies has gained two places to rise to fourth, pushing Pakistan into fifth spot. South Africa has also slipped two places to seventh, allowing New Zealand to move up one place to sixth.
NCA to tie up with ca, help nepal
New Delhi: National Cricket Academy under chairmanship of M P Pandove on Thursday decided to enter into a strategic tie-up with Cricket Australia along with the setting up of an independent complex to shift the facility from Bangalore. In another significant development, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur’s pushed a proposal to help the cricketers of Nepal, who have been affected by devastating earthquake. “Considering the unfortunate tragedy that has devastated Nepal, the Hony. Secretary, Mr. Anurag Thakur, proposed that the BCCI must extend the facilities available at the NCA to the national cricketers of Nepal, who are deprived of such facilities, which will take time to be restored in their home-country,” a media release issued by BCCI stated. The second aspect was “building an independent NCA complex” as there is a plan to shift it from Chinnaswamy Stadium’s KSCA facility in Bangalore. Pune and Dharamsala are two areas which are in BCCI’s radar for making an independent NCA complex said a source.
Vaas resigns as lanka coach
Colombo: Miffed with Sri lanka Cricket (SlC), Chaminda Vaas on Thursday resigned as the national team’s bowling coach. Vaas tendered his resignation to SlC and said he made the decision after being disappointed with functioning of the governing body. However, SlC CEO Ashley de Silva said Vaas’ contract had ended this month and the board was not contemplating renewing it. Vaas, 41 was appointed Sri lanka’s fast bowling coach in 2013 and was on a two-year contract, SlC said.
Hafeez double ton leads pak on
Khulna (Bangladesh): Mohammad Hafeez hit a career-best 224 as Pakistan took charge of the first Test against Bangladesh with an impressive batting marathon during the third day’s play in Khulna on Thursday. The tourists batted the entire day to move from their overnight score of 227 for one to 537 for five by stumps, a lead of 205 runs over Bangladesh’s first innings total of 332. Hafeez, who started the day on 137, surpassed his previous best of 197, made in Pakistan’s previous Test against New Zealand in Sharjah last November. The dominant batting display, in which Pakistan’s top seven batsmen were all involved in partnerships of above 50, left the tourists two days to force a win and take the lead in the short two-Test series. Bangladesh took the field without captain and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who had injured a finger while attempting to take a catch on the second day. The second and final Test will start at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka on May 6.