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Rajshahi, who had already secured the National League one-day title, finished their campaign with a 51-run defeat by Dhaka at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. It was a low-key end to their season and followed on from their collapse against the same opponents the previous day which cost them the first-class crown. The win gave Dhaka second place.Dhaka made a wobbly start before Anwar Hossain and Mahmudullah, who both hit fifties, started a recovery which enabled them to post 254 for 8. Hossain, who went on to win the man-of-the-Match award hit 65 off 91 balls. In reply, Rajshahi limped to 203 in 48.5 overs.Khulna finished on level points with Dhaka thanks to their seven-wicket victory against Barisal at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium but were edged into third on net run-rate. Imrul Kayash made 133 off 151 balls to lead Khulna’s reply to Barisal’s 265 for 6, and they eased past the target with 14 balls to spare. Earlier, Raqibul Hasan scored his maiden one-day hundred, hitting 133 off 131 deliveries.Chittagong still finished bottom despite a consolation seven-wicket win over Sylhet at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium. Their victory was based on a 133-run fourth-wicket stand between Faisal Hossain and Dhiman Ghosh as they eased past Sylhet’s 198 with almost 20 overs in hand.

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.”

Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP) has named the Australia-A squad, that will play against the Indians, in a three-day game beginning at Hobart, on December 19.Michael Hussey, a Western Australian batsman, will captain the side, which includes representatives from each state, and three Australia A debutants – Paul Rofe and Shaun Tait, from South Australia, and Cameron White, from Victoria.Trevor Hohns, chairman of the NSP, said the team represented a blend of experience and emerging young talent. “With the Australian side being so successful in recent years, it’s difficult for those players on the cusp of selection to break into the national team. The side represents a good mix of senior experience and young talent, and reflects our approach of developing players capable of performing at the international level.”Hohns also added that the selection of Hussey as captain was testament to his impressive start in domestic competitions. He said, “Michael’s a highly thought-of player who has demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities with Western Australia in recent months. He’s an experienced and talented performer, and is widely respected by his playing peers around the country. He’ll no doubt play a role in helping point some of the younger guys in the right direction.”Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has announced that the NSP has reviewed its selection criteria for Australia A’s limited-overs engagements against India and Zimbabwe in January. The selectors have chosen to adopt a youth policy for the two limited-overs games, with a greater emphasis on developing players for the future.Squad
1 Michael Hussey (capt), 2 Michael Clarke, 3 Chris Rogers, 4 Martin Love, 5 Brad Hodge, 6 Cameron White, 7 Wade Seccombe, 8 Matthew Nicholson, 9 Damien Wright, 10 Paul Rofe, 11 Shaun Tait

Lower Grade scores from last Saturday were:Inter CitySenior 2: Brooklyn 365-7d ( D O’Driscoll 150*, C MacDonald 71, S Dahya 62) met U Valley 27-0; J’ville 162 ( S Worthington 46, R Ellis 4-50, A Wellings 3-22) met Karori 13-1; Taita 238 ( J Peters 131,H Templeton 3-38, A Corliss 3-70) met Well Coll 56-3; Onslow 181 ( Williams 64) met Hutt 73-1Senior 3: E’bourne 200-6 ( C Reed 89, C Stock 38,S Adrian 3-62) met Hutt 65 ( J Mitchell 4-37, D Reed 3-21) & 23-2; Pet/Riv 196 ( S Watkins 73, D Monteith 32,J Bhula 4-17, D Ranchord 3-70) met Indians 83-2 ( A Ranchod 45*)Colls 192 ( N Palmer 30, D Kershaw 32, B Green 5-41) met Univ 50-2Sup 8s Section One: Naenae defaulted to Upper Valley; Pet/Riv 180-3 beat Colls 69-5; Taita 108-4 ( S Moore 50) beat J’ville 103 ( C Howard 40)Hutt Valley2A: N Park 127 ( S Edmonds 60,,S Williams 3-52. C Billmore 3-22) met S Valley 109-6 ( S Williams 34, B Eastham 3-12); Taita Red 196 ( M McGavin 58, A Tait 37*, C Butler 34, McMichael 5-78, Hewson 4-32) met U Hutt 76-6( C Butler 3-22); Taita Black 117 (T Wilson 4-19.M Williams 4-18) met Wainui A 115-4 ( T Wilson 52*, J Gilbert 36); Tokelau 201 ( K Butterfield 3-28, W Myers 3-39( met Wainui B 50-1 ( C Mathews 35)2B: U Hutt 194-8 ( C Gamble 54, B Orriss 47, C Muller 4-65) met E’bourne 31-2; Wainui 68 & 74-4 met S Valley 208-2 ( B Smith 109*, S Wilson 71)4A: S Valley 120-4 ( G Reid 57) beat Pet/Riv 119; Taita 55-1 beat Hutt 52 ( B Roina 5-5); U Hutt 112-5 beat Te Aroha 108 ( M Stratford 28)4B: S Valley 182 ( M Rennie 50*) met Pet/Riv B 135-4( J Nippert 52*)’; E’bourne 104-4( S Patel 54)beat Naenaer Soccer 103 ( C Kelly 3-29); Hutt B 125-9 ( M Wozniak 35,) met Pet/Riv A 124( A Davis 42*, J Bingham 30,C Priest 3-24)4C: Naenae Green 110-8 ( E Chatfield 50) beat Naenae Silver 92 ( V Allan 3-12);Wainui A 193-6 ( A Martin 66) beat Pet/Riv 19 ( B McCoy 7-13Wellington2A: SLS 187-6 Martin 4-57) metUniv 77-3Onslow 143-6 ( G Larsen 52, Riley 3-26) met Tawa 79 ( G Larsen 3-6, C Shanks 3-17); Easts Roosters 179-8 (C Dry 122*, Davies 3-31) met Mana 131-3 (Rajpal 57*, Havill 43*,);2B: Tawa 171( R Cubin 4-43, A Monk 3-13) met Tawa 94-7 ( A Cameron 41); Onslow 321-6 ( S Mataira 111, M Willis 97, A Young 31) met Easts B 84-3( P Bishop 36); Indians 294-7 (W Bicknell 107, M Patel 91) met Easts A 90-32CKarori 184 ( S Kirkland 4-13, R Willis 3-21) met Brooklyn 28-4.2D: Indians 164 ( P Gandhi 61) met SLS 46-33A: Newlands 219-6 ( G Fowler 68*, P Lankershire 40) met Univ B 80-5; Brooklyn 117( A Goldie 39, R Parry 4-24) met Univ 62-6( H Southall 3-22)4A: Mana met Karori; Sikhs 132-4(R Singh 50) beat Onslow B 179-7 (Keelty 50);Univ 186( Manning 57, Cameron 31, Heather 3-29) met Colls 77-1( M Reed 37*); Onslow A 69-2 ( L Bray 40*,) beat Thorndon 68( C Paterson 4-16, M Patterson 3-9)4B: Onslow 169 met J’villa A 144-3; Tawa 178 (Deng 3-43) met Karori A 115-5; Onslow B 147-4 ( E Meachen 79*) beat Easts A 146(A Ness 3-220; Univ B 149 ( A Scott 30, D LeBreton 3-14) met J’ville B 97-9( A Scott 4-13, A Sagato 3-6) ; Univ A 163 ( A Johnson 59*) mer Karori B 134-7).

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.

With a bowler, you can ask how many wickets, with a batsman, how many runs. With a coach you can ponder the win-loss record. But, how do you judge a physio? Injuries come and go, striking even fittest of cricketers in the freakiest circumstances. It’s never easy to judge how well a physio is doing his job. Yet, if the players he trains, and the coach he works with, have a decent comfort level, that’s always a good sign. With Andrew Leipus, who is leaving the Indian team at the end of the Bangladesh tour after five years on the job, there’s no doubt how the team feels.”Andrew [Leipus] has been outstanding,” says John Wright, fulsome in his praise. “He is a thorough professional but I think the biggest thing about him is his work ethic. He is going to be very hard to replace; you don’t find too many Andrews around. You try and put good people around you and he is definitely one of those people.”Leipus, though pleased to hear Wright’s comments, is modest. “I’m flattered he says that, we have grown to become a bit of a family. Obviously you spend so much time with people that you develop relationships and get good understanding of how each of us operate. We know the little quirks, when to back off and when to approach each other. It will be tough when someone else takes over, but it’s life, no one is irreplaceable, ultimately.”When Leipus first began, in late 1999, he was able to quickly adjust to India and her people because he had already visited the country before, as a backpacker, with his girlfriend. “I think it really helped me to be honest; I knew the culture, I knew the country and I knew what to expect. It wasn’t a huge culture shock; it’s not like I got out of the plane and then have a central shock,” he says. “I had seen India from the trains, buses, tuk-tuks and stayed in guest lodges so I experienced it from the ground level. Obviously at the other end of the spectrum I am standing with heroes and superstars of Indian society so I have seen probably both ends of the spectrum.”But what was harder to get used to was the media attention his job received. Every injury fuelled speculations and rumours. “I never expected that much attention when I first got here,” he reflects. “Nowhere else in the world does the physio get that much attention from the media. You get periods when you get a bit of injury or something happens and you rest a player then the media sort of jumps on the story; it’s a story and I know you are doing your job.”We are trying to keep the injury sort of quiet for whatever reason from the gamesmanship point of view that becomes a bit of problem. I get a bit of annoyed when there is too much going behind the scenes. Those are tough times; obviously when you are under the pump and there are a few injuries and the media is jumping on, asking ‘is Leipus doing his job?’ that’s tough but generally, I have had a decent relationship with the media. I respect you guys for your job; it’s a very tough job to do. You’ve a harder job than me, I think.”But if doing the job as Indian physio was hard, deciding to give it up was harder. “It wasn’t easy, it was probably a tough decision to make; chuck the best job in the world and try and do something different,” he says. “From that point of view, it’s probably been the hardest decision in my life. But it wasn’t an over and out thing, it was growing for a while.”Looking back at his tenure, Leipus could not pin-point one moment as an obvious high. “There are so many of them, really. Every tour you have your highs and disappointments. The World Cup was great, beating Australia (in India in 2001) was great; beating Australia in Adelaide was great.” That was a special match for him, Liepus emphasises, because Adelaide is his hometown.Then he singles out the personal milestones that the players achieved during his tenure, Tendulkar’s 34th Test hundred, Sehwag’s 309 and Laxman’s innings in Kolkata, “They are all personal milestones that you feel proud of. It’s a pity that I won’t be around for Sachin’s 35th hundred. It would have been nice to been a part of that. I am a bit disappointed about it.”But not half as disappointed as the team, who would have lost a good man.

Ireland 172 and 196 (Joyce 61) beat Scotland 234 for 9 dec and 131 (McCoubrey 4-17) by three runs
Scorecard

Scotland’s hopes of successfully defending their Intercontinental Cup title disappeared as they slid to a three-run defeat by Ireland at Aberdeen. The result, which will give Ireland satisfaction after their loss in last month’s ICC Trophy final, means that they are left needing a draw from their match Holland at Stormont later this month to progress to the semi-finals.Scotland’s bowlers had given them a chance of victory by bowling Ireland out for 196, leaving a modest target of 135 in 39 overs. But some poor batting, one or two dubious umpiring decisions, and a devastating four-wicket opening spell from Adrian McCoubrey which reduced Scotland to 34 for 4 proved too much to overcome.The home side were further hampered when Craig Wright was found to have suffered a broken finger, which will rule him out of Thursday’s match against Australia. Coming in at No. 9 with the score on 78 for 7, he hammered a brave 31, including two huge 6s on the trot, to take Scotland to the brink of victory only for Dewald Nel to be run out off the next delivery.Ireland resumed on 46 for 2, but for a second time their batsmen could not master the bowling, with only Dom Joyce (61) and Andre Botha (46) showing any real definace. Gregor Maiden (3 for 24), Ryan Watson (3 for 64) and Johan Nel (3 for 30) shared the spoils.”It was lots of wee things throughout the three days that did for us, not the final chase,” said Andy Moles, Scotland’s coach. “We let Ireland’s lower order get far too many runs on the first day, then we didn’t get enough ourselves in reply. And, crucially, after Craig Wright broke his finger, he didn’t bowl much. I am certain his absence from the attack cost us wickets at important times.”

Inzamamul Haq has been at odds with a national selector about the timing of the announcement of the Pakistan squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup. The reported Ehteshamuddin, a national selector, as saying that the Pakistan squad would be announced on July 7, but Inzamam hoped that it would happen earlier.Ehteshamuddin, the former Pakistan medium-pacer, said that the selection committee wanted to give Bob Woolmer, the new coach, enough time to assess all the 26 probables at the ongoing training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.However, Inzamam felt that the squad should be named as soon as possible so that Woolmer could train the chosen candidates suitably. “We have 14 batsmen in the camp,” he said, “and it’s difficult to give each of them adequate time. It would make sense to select the final team and concentrate on it.”Woolmer, who was appointed as a replacement for Javed Miandad earlier this month, is expected to arrive on Friday.

If the teams fail to comply with the prescribed over-rates in the ICC Super Series, the match referee is likely to take a closer look at the umpires than the bowling captain. The matches between Australia and the World XI will serve as trial ground for on-field umpires to refer all decisions, barring catches close to the ground, to the television umpire thus leading to frequent stoppages.Not only can Aleem Dar and Simon Taufel, who will umpire the first one-day-international at the Telstra Dome at Melbourne on Wednesday, seek the opinion of Rudy Koertzen, the television umpire, in decisions involving nicks and the line and the height of the ball in case of lbws, they can also, if in doubt, ask the third umpire to adjudicate no-balls.In principle, this could mean every dismissal, including bowled and clear catches, can be referred to the third umpire. “In case of the no-balls,” said a ICC spokesperson, “field umpires will go to the television umpire only if a no-ball is in the realm of possibility. In most cases, umpires are quite clear about the no-ball.” However, going by the evidence of how reluctant most umpires are to rule on the clearest of run-outs and stumpings, it is not unlikely that umpires will choose to play safe and leave the decision to the television camera.In case of lbws, umpires can not only seek a ruling on where the ball pitched, but also obtain valuable feedback in determining the height of the ball and if there was a nick. However, the third umpire will have to make up his mind by watching only the television replay and not by using Hawkeye, the ball-tracking technology that is widely used by television channels.However, even though the third umpire will acquire a critical role in the Super Series, he will still not have the powers to reverse a wrong decision or give unsolicited advice. “The umpires in the middle will continue to be supreme,” the ICC spokesperson said. “The new regulations will only empower them to make more accurate decisions.”The matter was discussed at length at a meeting between the match officials and the two captains on Tuesday. “There were quite a few issues to discuss,” said Shaun Pollock, the captain of the World XI. “We had to make sure we understood where the players stood. We need to be able to tell our players what they can expect when they take the field tomorrow.”Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain was concerned that the frequent referrals could slow down the game considerably. He said, “Potentially every decision can be referred. We will have to see how it works out. The match referee will have to take these delays into account while ruling the over-rates.”All the three one-day matches will be played under a roof which, though retractable, will stay in place for the entire duration of the match. And this raises the possibility of a new regulation in the unlikely event of the ball hitting the metal roof. In which case, it will be a dead ball.

Whereas TV deals are the lifeblood of most countries’ boards, it has emerged that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has not got one in place, even though it only has a little more than two months until it hosts a one-day series in November.The previous five-year deal with ESPN-STARSport expired last April, and a committee was appointed by the BCB to conclude what were expected to be little more than the formalities of a new contract.But a report in the Dhaka-based Daily Star claims that the committee has done little and the BCB has been forced to form a new body to get things moving.”There was a long discussion about the TV deal,” explained Mahbubul Anam, the BCB’s general secretary, at a media conference. “The previous committee actually was not formalised that’s why we formed a new one and we are hopeful that it will work hard to settle the issue as soon as possible, as we have only two months time.””We can assure everybody that the new deal will be a transparent one because we will award the right in open tender. The committee will first appoint a law consultancy firm to negotiate the deal and it will also be appointed in open tender. We don’t want to disclose anything about the deal at the moment.”The man taking the blame for the failure of the old committee to make progress is Reazuddin Al Mamun, the board’s media chief. His name was a notable absentee from the new committee, but Mahbubul was unable to answer questions put to him about the reason for that.”Now everybody is looking forward to see whether the present board under the leadership of Asghar will be able to sign a transparent deal or make a shabby one like the previous one,” concluded the report in the Daily Star.