CricketBriefly

Hafeez called for chucking again: Report

colombo:  Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez once again faces a harrowing task of getting his action cleared after the off-spinner was called for chucking during the team's 10-wicket win against Sri lanka in the first Test at Galle. This is Hafeez's second offence within a year after the all-rounder's action was reported by the match oficials post his two-wicket haul in the first innings against the hosts, according to an ESPNcricinfo report. According to ICC regulations, a bowler, who is under scanner for a second offence, faces a bowling ban for a period of at least a year, only after which he will be eligible to apply for a reassessment of his action. Hafeez must undergo testing within 21 days of the receipt of the official report and will be allowed to bowl until the results are out, effectively making him available for the remaining two Tests against Sri lanka.The former T20 skipper had been reported for a suspect action after the Abu Dhabi Test against New Zealand in November last year, and in December his action was found to be illegal following tests at an ICC accredited centre in loughborough, England.

BCCI invites tenders for title sponsorships

new delhi: With the Micromax deal due for expiry with end of the current cricket season, the BCCI has invited new tender bids for the title sponsorship of domestic and international tournaments to be hosted in India till 2019. "The Board of Control for Cricket in India ("BCCI") has published an ITT (Invitation to Tender) for the Title Sponsorship relating to the BCCI Home Series / Tournaments — both international and domestic — for the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur was quoted as saying in a press release.

Ganguly flavour: Toronto remembers the ‘swing bowler'

toronto: His silken cover drives were a stuff of legends in cricketing world but the moment one steps into the picturesque Skating and Curling Club ground, Sourav Ganguly is remembered in a different avatar — a nippy seam bowler with most deceptive movement off the pitch. The Sahara Cup tournament faded into oblivion after three editions between 1996-98 but the moment there is a mention of this tournament in the most populous Canadian city, Ganguly and his four back-to-back Man-of-the Match award winning feat instantly comes to mind. People here would sit back in ‘Time Machine' to recollect the good old Ganguly days when the likes of Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmed and Saleem Malik hopped, skipped and jumped in the face of some prodigious swing bowling during that 'Summer of 97'.

Stokes a better player than me, says Flintoff

london: England's former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has said his countrymen Ben Stokes is a more talented player than he was, adding that the later has in him to become an England great. Stokes, 24, evoked memories of Flintoff with a spectacular allround performance against New Zealand in the first Test at lord's in May. But Flintoff believes Stokes is capable of surpassing his own achievements. "I survived a lot on bravado but I think Stokes has a lot more skill. I think he could be one of England's greats," Flintoff was quoted as saying by bbc.com on Monday. "He's an impact player, a personality player. He will have quiet games, but when he does perform he will win matches. I wouldn't judge him on averages or how many runs he goes for with the ball," he said. "look back at the end of the series and see how many games he influences, and I think in the Ashes he could influence two or three games, the 37-year-old said. 

Warne confirms booking 3 US venues for T20 league

sydney: Australian cricket legend Shane Warne on Monday confirmed the booking of three of the United States' most famous baseball venues as part of his and Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar's proposed global cricketing tour. According to Warne, the ambitious concept is close to becoming a reality with interest also being shown by the city of las Vegas about hosting one of the legendary pair's 'All Star' matches. Warne and Tendulkar have targeted the US — which boasts a sizeable sub-continental ex-pat population — as the first in a number of traditionally non-cricket regions they are looking to introduce their roadshow, with Hong Kong and Singapore also on the hit-list. "At this stage we've booked three stadiums, (Chicago's) Wrigley Field, (New York's) Yankee Stadium and (los Angeles') Dodger Stadium," Warne was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "We're going to have Bollywood theme nights and it's all shaping up pretty well. We're looking at ourselves as a Formula One team.  Warne and Tendulkar's enterprise — separate from the Dubai-based T20 Masters tournament that was launched earlier this month which would see the legends of the game compete in three Twenty20 exhibition matches in November. Agencies