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A searingly quick fast bowler; an elegant, free-flowing batsman, and an inspirational leader who emerged from retirement to carry his country to World Cup glory. Few cricketers can have enjoyed such a successful a career as Pakistan’s legendary Imran Khan. And yet, Imran’s greatest victory of all occurred off the pitch, in Lahore, where he established Pakistan’s first and only cancer hospital.In 1984, Imran’s mother, Shaukat Khanum, was claimed by the disease after a painful few months, and at that moment, Imran realised that, for all the trappings of fame and fortune, one’s existence was too precarious to be taken for granted. So he vowed to raise a sum of £5 million, with which to establish a hospital – in his mother’s name – that would treat the poor of Pakistan for free.It was not a project that he took lightly. The government of Pakistan donated 20 acres of land on the outskirts of Lahore, but having laid the foundations it was clear to Imran that his first estimation would cover only the initial phase. To keep up the running costs, he would have to commit himself to the project for the rest of his life.And so, in December 1994, a decade of hard graft, tireless fundraising, and sweat and toil came to fruition, as the hospital was inaugurated and the first patients were admitted. To this day, Imran remains the single biggest contributor to the running costs, as the hospital is maintained entirely through charitable donations and without any assistance or aid from government organisations. Rarely can a son have given such a tribute to his mother.

The Greeks would sympathise. There has been something Athenian about the doubts and delays that have dogged England’s preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy, which gets underway at Edgbaston and The Oval on Friday. While the Zimbabwe crisis was raging, there was a genuine threat that the tournament would be whisked away to India, and as for the venues – neither The Oval, which is midway through its long-overdue facelift, nor the Rose Bowl, with its recently laid pitches, looked as if they could possibly be ready for such a high-profile event.Factor in all those other peripheral matters, such as the wisdom of staging such a jamboree so late in the English season, sluggish ticket sales, and the blink-and-you-miss-it format, which seemed tailormade for another embarrassingly early exit for the hosts, and there were all the makings of cricket’s dampest squib since … well, the opening ceremony of the 1999 World Cup at a rainy Lord’s.But then again, it is not every day that you get all the world’s top players (give or take a Tendulkar or Muralitharan) gathered together in one place, and it is not every day that English cricket finds itself on a roll of quite such staggering proportions. So far, touch wood, even the weather looks as if it might play along. Far from being a tournament too many, the coming fortnight has all the makings of a celebration of cricket – and, assuming they don’t fall at the first hurdle, a celebration of England’s remarkable season as well.That factor could be the clincher. With apologies to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, it is not being unduly one-eyed to suggest that the tournament’s best hope of capturing the public’s imagination is for England to progress beyond the group stage – for the first time in the competition’s history. The whole show will be done and dusted in 15 manic days, which is a far cry from the bloated, seven-week slog everyone endured at the last World Cup. The longer the host nation is involved, the better.Given the disparity between the competing teams, the four groups of three could hardly be better balanced. There is little prospect of an upset from any of the four underdogs (and in the case of USA v Australia, those of a weak constitution ought to look away now). In fact, the only side that might conceivably fancy their chances are Bangladesh, the best of the rest, who have been drawn alongside those two faltering powers, South Africa and West Indies.The tasty ties, however, are Australia v New Zealand in Pool A, and India v Pakistan in Pool C. Quite apart from the local rivalries involved, each throws up the prospect of a clear challenge to the established pecking order. Australia, as they showed against Pakistan at Lord’s on Saturday, retain an uncanny ability to wriggle out of any tight corner, but both they and India have shown signs of vulnerability in their recent performances.As for India, their victory over a Flintoff-free England in the last match of the NatWest Challenge was hailed in some quarters as the turning of a corner. That might be over-egging the game’s significance slightly – the mere fact that England selected Anthony McGrath as Flintoff’s stand-in was ample proof that England have, to borrow Brian Lara’s phrase, no Plan B, not when it comes to their one-day side, anyway. It is time for Duncan Fletcher to cross his fingers and pray that his first XI can come through four more matches unscathed.There is, of course, one potential match-up lurking around the corner that could conceivably shunt even Wayne Rooney and Graeme Souness off the back pages of the British tabloids for a day or two. If England can see off a Murali-less Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl, and Australia send everything pear-shaped for the Kiwis at The Oval, then the big two will square up at Edgbaston on September 21. It will give England a chance to lay the ghost of that two-wicket defeat at last year’s World Cup, not to mention a marker or two for next summer’s Ashes.It’s not all going to be fun and frolics, however. The ICC has seen to that with their absurdly draconian stance on spectators’ picnics (never mind British Rail suffering from the wrong sort of snow; to be apprehended for the wrong sort of cheesy nibbles really takes the, er, biscuit). And all the while, the climate threatens to jeopardise the entertainment. Never mind the threat of rain, the real fear is that too many matches will be decided by the toss of a coin, as fielding sides take the chance to exploit the moist conditions that will prevail early in the morning.But all such doubts remain, at this stage, mere speculation. A global audience of millions will be tuning in over the next fortnight; there is prizemoney of US$1.15million at stake, and new stump-microphone technology has been introduced to aid the umpires in adjudicating on caught-behind decisions. All of this and more goes to show how high-profile this tournament is intended to be. It’s time to put the cynicism to one side, and let the games begin.Andrew Miller is assistant editor of Wisden Cricinfo.

Bennett King, the West Indies coach, has warned the team against complacency after their much-needed victory in the first Test against Pakistan in Barbados. West Indies’ win by 276 runs was their first Test win since June 2004 against Bangladesh, and also their first victory over a team ranked above them in the ICC rankings since they beat Sri Lanka in 2003 in Jamaica.”I don’t think you can read a lot into one win,” King was quoted as saying by The Trinidad Express, “but certainly it’s something for our boys to gain some confidence and momentum from, and hopefully play a bit better come Jamaica.”King also remarked that the victory was a result of their hard work. “You look back over the South African series … the public may not have felt it, but I felt we’ve been steadily improving. We’ve got a long way to go.”However, King accepted that the win was against a weaker Pakistan side, who were without their captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik and Yousuf Youhana. “I certainly think that the group if they keep improving with their bowling can put Pakistan under pressure. On any given day you’re just not sure what you’re going to get from Pakistan, that’s one of their characteristics as well.”West Indies will be without Fidel Edwards in the second Test in Jamaica, which starts on Friday, June 3. Edwards was the the main wicket-taker in Pakistan’s first innings – he scalped 5 for 38 but bowled only eight balls in the second innings due to a hamstring injury.

Darrell Hair’s reinstatement to Tests and ODIs is being viewed with understandable caution by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the PCB, said Pakistan had made its position on the matter clear at the ICC board meeting; he also indicated that Hair might not stand in Pakistan matches over the next year, until his contract with the ICC ends.”The PCB’s position, views and opinions were clearly reiterated at the meeting with regard to this issue,” Ashraf told Cricinfo.Ashraf’s countrymen were more forcible in their reactions. Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was banned for four matches for refusing to take his side back on to the field during the Oval Test in August 2006 after Hair accused them of ball-tampering, said he was “shocked and disgusted” by the news.”I would blame the Pakistan board for bowing down in Hair’s case and no player will now stand against injustices at the international level,” Inzamam said. “Hair was at fault but he is reinstated like a hero. The PCB needs to learn a lesson from the Indian board. See how they backed their players in Australia recently on contentious issues.”Pakistan did not return to the field after tea on day four at The Oval, in protest against Hair’s decision to dock them five penalty runs for ball-tampering. Hair subsequently declared the match forfeited by Pakistan, handing the win to England. It was the first time a Test had ever been forfeited.Shaharyar Khan, Ashraf’s predecessor and chairman during The Oval Test, shared Inzamam’s sentiments. “He [Hair] should never have been reinstated after committing so many gross irregularities during the [2006] Oval Test,” Shaharyar told Reuters.”The ICC board decided beyond doubt Hair’s conduct was not up to the mark. This man violated his responsibilities as a senior umpire. How the ICC can restore him is hard to comprehend.”Ramiz Raja, former captain and widely-respected commentator, said the decision highlighted Pakistan’s weak hand at international level. “The decision of Hair’s recall shows Pakistan’s lack of presence at international forums. It is surprising that Hair was reinstated without being tried and tested. It shows that the international community is ready to walk over Pakistan whenever they want.”

Trinidad & Tobago 255 and 171 for 3 (Simmons 65, Ganga 54*) lead Windward Islands 131 (Jaggernauth 4-11) by 295 runs
Scorecard

Trinidad and Tobago took control on the second day of the Carib Beer Cup semi-final against Windward Islands at Guaracara Park, building on their 124-run first-innings lead to finish the day at 171 for 3, 295 ahead.On a typically inviting surface for the batsmen, the Windwards players managed to occupy the crease for just under 52 overs. Undone by the early helpful bowling conditions in their first innings, the T&T batsmen made amends in the last two sessions yesterday to shore up the already strong position which their bowlers set up. Lendl Simmons with a promising, pleasant 65 and Daren Ganga, the captain, undefeated on 54, took advantage.Having resumed with the cream of their batting already back in the pavilion, the Windwards needed a revival to match the one effected by the T&T trio of Jason Mohammed, Richard Kelly and Amit Jaggernauth on the opening day. They could find no such players.Resuming on 37 for 4, Windwards lost their fifth and sixth wickets with only 26 runs added. Devon Smith was the first to go, falling to a rash stroke, while Alvin La Feuille joined Dennis George at the crease. His brief, hardly profitable attempt to take the attack to the bowlers ended when he miscued a lofted drive off Mohammed to Jaggernauth at mid-off for 15.Darren Sammy and Liam Sebastien attemped to consolidate for the next hour and a quarter, despite Sebastien’s uncertainty against Dillon and Mohammed, who later switched around to the southern end to replace his pace colleague.The Windwards pair did the job expected of them, until, in the last over before lunch, Sebastian (21) fell to a fine, athletic slip catch by Bravo, going to his left off offspinner Jaggernauth’s bowling.After lunch, they lost their three remaining wickets for only 22 runs. Jaggernauth picked up two of the three, including top-scorer Sammy (27) from whom he accepted a driven return catch. He ended with the healthy figures of 4 for 11 in just 6.5 overs.The ease with which T&T were able to defend 255 may have been pleasing to the largely quiet Guaracara crowd. But the showing was not a great advertisement, in a semi-final, for Caribbean cricket.

ScorecardAdam Voges and Peter Worthington made it a day to forget for New South Wales, adding 136 for the seventh wicket, and enabling Western Australia to extend their score past 600, and their lead past 300. The bowling attack, lacklustre and short of bite, could only take one wicket all morning, that of Voges for 128. Worthington battled on to 73, adding 57 for the eighth wicket with Steve Magoffin, who made 29 not out.Taking a lesson from these lower-order batsmen, Greg Mail and Phil Jacques added 112 for the first wicket, but New South Wales lost four quick wickets after that, three of them to Marcus North. They finished the day on 4 for 184, still 118 behind. Jacques had fallen for 73, but Mail was not out on a stodgy 63.

ScorecardMuttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga took three wickets each as Sri Lanka dismissed Derbyshire for 219 on the first day of the tour match at the Racecourse Ground.Steve Stubbings and Chris Taylor got Derbyshire off to a super start with an unbeaten stand of 85 before lunch, but Muralitharan and Malinga wreaked havoc in the afternoon session. Gaining alarming bounce and bowling with great pace, Malinga took the first three wickets to fall as Derbyshire slipped to 112 for 3.After being treated with great caution, Muralitharan picked up his first wicket when Ant Botha swept him straight to square leg, and thereafter Derbyshire were all at sea. Graeme Welch soon followed, trapped on the crease – and Muralitharan’s third came when Jamie Pipe attempted to cut him and was bowled for 15. In a single session, Sri Lanka had taken 7 for 55 to make up for their wicketless morning’s work.However, their potency disappeared in the final session with the tailenders calmly taking Derbyshire up to and beyond 200. Andy Gray faced 85 balls for his 29 before he became Farveez Maharoof’s first victim.Sri Lanka batted out the final four overs of the day without due alarm.

Now comes the chance of Trinidad, which hosts the appropriately named Brown Package, the group of the subcontinent, and the closest these feeble opening-round pools can come to producing a group of death. It is also the chance for Bermuda, to bask in the first five of their fifteen minutes, and for Sri Lanka, to join West Indies and Australia in their opening statements of intent.About time play began too. When a gas leak at the team hotel was not reducing the world’s finest cricketers to hanging about the parking lot in boxers and slippers, the coaches of Pakistan and South Africa were contemplating calling off a practice match because of a dicey pitch. When there has not been mild heartburn about the government’s disinterest in securing a sexier second-round package of matches, there has been downright indignation about the overt Jamaicanisation on Sunday’s opening ceremony. All that remains is the for the cricket to start, and to watch what it does to the notorious traffic on this oil-rich island.The Queen’s Park Oval looks bright-new lovely. It has not always looked so, despite its delightful location at the feet of the Northern Range. The greyness inside has been dispelled. The steaming concrete cycling track around the field has been replaced by an inviting grass bank. Bucket seats have been installed everywhere in vivid colours. The building hosting the Party Stand, in such a shambolic state a month ago that it earned a stern reprimand from the venue development chief Don Lockerbie, has miraculously been put together.Only the surface may be sluggish, as it has been. Sri Lanka may still put up a big score given their relative strength but it is not, by obscene modern standards, a high-total pitch. The last two one-day internationals here were on India’s tour last year; the highest score in four innings was 255. In the only limited-overs played here this domestic season, Trinidad bowled out Guyana for 183.

Sri Lanka will reappear with those two little giants of theirs, Vaas and Murali. A full strength side, playing to full intensity, the coach Tom Moody made clear. “It is always a good sign if you cannot finalise your eleven on the first day of a tournament.” They have never played Bermuda before, and “there are a couple of bowlers who might surprise you, but nothing I don’t expect our boys not to adjust to.”Bermuda have some happy memories of this patch, playing – and narrowly winning – their debut one-day international against Canada here last year. Naturally expectations are sufficiently grounded now. So the coach, Gus Logie, in charge of West Indies a couple of seasons ago, can talk of his team as having no particular strengths but being a united team, and having no particular gameplan except to keep things simple; and the captain, Irvine Romaine, can cheerfully say that while there would be no work in Bermuda tomorrow once the cricket starts, “we hope we can make it last the entire work day!”It is their amateur charm that makes minnows loved as much as denounced. Referring to the beautifully rotund spinner Dwayne Leverock, Logie said: “We’ve seen already in the two warm-up games that we’ve played one of our players is, you know, larger than life and everybody been talking about him for different reasons. But the fact of the matter is that he’s bowled pretty well; and if he can do that again over the next few days I’m sure the world is going to be talking about him again. If two or three players can come out of this World Cup and shine above the ordinary I think it will be well worth it. We’ve seen it in the past with John Davison of Canada, you know people are still talking about his hundred. So hey, why not Bermuda?”TeamsSri Lanka (likely)1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Marvan Atapattu, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Russel Arnold, 8 Farveez Maharoof, 9 Chaminda Vaas, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Lasith MalingaBermuda (from)Irvine Romaine (capt), Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann, David Hemp, Kevin Hurdle, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Dwayne Leverock, Dean Minors (wk), Saleem Mukuddem, Steven Outerbridge, Oliver Pitcher, Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker, Kwame Tucker (wk)

Bangladesh U-19 210 for 6 (43.5 overs, Saqibul Hasan 82, Mehrab Hossain jnr 62*) beat England U-19 208 (49.4 overs, Ali 70) by four wickets
ScorecardA superb 62-ball 82 from 15-year-old Saqibul Hasan guided Bangladesh to a four-wicket win over England in the opening match of the tri-nation Under-19 tournament at Savar.Hasan came in with Bangladesh struggling on 19 for 2 chasing a target of 209, but the next six overs produced 60 runs as he cut loose. Although Mehdi Hasan was then dismissed for 28, Hasan was joined by Mehrab Hossain jnr , and they added 85 for the fourth wicket at a little over four an over. By the time Hasan, who hit 13 fours and two sixes, fell in the 28th over, Bangladesh were almost home and dry. Although two wickets in successive balls by Moeen Ali caused a few jitters among the home crowd, Bangladesh eased home with more than six overs in hand.England won the toss, but Varun Chopra, the captain, must have questioned the wisdom of his decision when he edged the first ball of the match to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim. The innings never really gathered any momentum against some good bowling, although Ali’s 70 did ensure that they passed 200.It was another setback for the England side who came into this tournament on the back of a whitewash in a five-match series against a BCB High Performance side.The next fixture will be between England and Sri Lanka on Friday. Sri Lanka will be confident as they beat Bangladesh when the sides met in the Afro-Asia U-19 tournament in India earlier this month.

The England chairman of selectors David Graveney has given his backing to Geraint Jones, the England wicketkeeper, ahead of the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s on Thursday.England’s choice of wicketkeeper has again come under scrutiny following a superb hundred from Chris Read, who Jones replaced in 2004, in England A’s warm-up match against the touring Pakistanis. In his last ten Tests, Jones has reached fifty just twice and averages a mere 19 – some distance behind an already meagre career average of 26.67.”We have selected Geraint Jones, because we believe he is the best wicketkeeper,” Graveney told Sky Sports yesterday. “What he brings to the team is what we want at the present time. Geraint Jones is our man, and we will give him our full support.”Read, though, has plundered runs heavily in domestic cricket: since 2003, he has amassed 2357 runs for Nottinghamshire and England A at an average of over 50. Graveney and Geoff Miller, both selectors, were at Canterbury to see Read’s unbeaten 150 but the notable absentee was Duncan Fletcher. It was Fletcher who initially stated his preference for Jones when Read, so faultless with the gloves, struggled with the bat during his 11 Tests and was famously bowled by Chris Cairns’ slower ball.”Chris has done really well,” Graveney added. “It has been said that he does not get enough runs – but since he was left out of the team he averages 50 in the first-class game. He got a fantastic hundred at Canterbury.”