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Sohail Tanvir justified the Federal Areas’ stand-in captain Naved Ashraf’s decision to field first by taking five wickets to help bowl out Baluchistan for 253 at the National Stadium in Karachi. But Federal Areas conceded a bit of the advantage when they lost two quick wickets before the close of play to end the first day at 79 for 3.The Baluchistan openers Shoiab Khan and Usman Tariq walked out to bat in the three-hour first session and the duo added 41 runs before Shoiab was trapped by seamer Yasir Arafat for 25. Tanvir then took centre stage in a marathon 15-over opening spell, taking three wickets in succession to send Baluchistan crashing from 78 for 1 to 92 for 4. But Tariq scored a defiant half-century and added 73 runs for the fifth wicket with Nasim Khan (31) to stem the rot. But Baluchistan once again faltered, losing five wickets for the addition of 35 runs, with Tanvir claiming the vital wicket of Tariq for 68. Imranullah Aslam, the No. 10 batsman, then frustrated Federal Areas by striking an unbeaten 46-ball 51 which included nine fours, and adding 53 runs for the last wicket with Azharullah (20). Baluchistan’s innings came to a close when Azharullah was trapped by Saeed Anjwal, the only spinner to find any success on the first day.Federal Areas were in trouble just as they began their response when Kamran Hussain had Afaq Raheem caught behind for 2. Raheel Majeed and Fayaaz Ahmed pushed the score past fifty before Azharullah struck back with a double-strike: Ahmed was caught behind while Bazid Khan fell without scoring. But Majeed, who remained unbeaten on 42, and Usman Saeed, who struck a couple of fours on his way to 13, ensured there was no further damage.
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Punjab’s star-studded batting line-up threatened to launch a run-fest, but none of their batsman, including Salman Butt, who top-scored with 72, were able to capitalise on their starts as they scored 295 for 7 on the first day against NWFP at the Gaddafi Stadium.Earlier NWFP found immediate success after choosing to bowl when Fazl-e-Akbar has Mohammad Hafeez caught behind by Zulfiqur Jan. But Butt turned things around by displaying the same sort of form that saw him make 290 against Federal Areas in the first round of the Pentangular Cup as he reached his half-century in a 60-run second-wicket stand with Nasir Jamshed (16). Akbar returned to remove Jamshed, but that brought Misbah-ul-Haq to the crease. But Misbah and Butt did not spend too much time together when the latter was run-out after a misunderstanding as Punjab stuttered to 112 for 3.Misbah then set about consolidating the innings as he scored 53 runs of 149 balls and adding 76 runs for the fourth wicket with Shoaib Malik (41). But once the duo were dismissed by Samiullah Khan and Shakell-ur-Rehman respectively, Kamran Akmal breezed his way to a 74-ball 40, striking six fours and a six to add some quick runs. Waqas Ahmed (12*) and Junaid Zia (10*) were then involved in an unbroken 25-run stand for the eighth wicket before stumps were drawn.

Mike Procter, the match referee who found Harbhajan Singh guilty of calling Andrew Symonds a “monkey” during the Sydney Test, relied on the evidence of three Australian players in reaching his decision, it has been revealed. Harbhajan was banned for three Tests for that offence but the sentence was suspended following an appeal, by the Indian team, which will be heard next week.In a leaked copy of his report on the hearing, Procter says: “I have heard evidence from Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and Matthew Hayden that he did say these words. Harbhajan Singh denies saying these words. Both umpires did not hear nor did Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar. I am satisfied and sure beyond reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh did say these words.”I am satisfied that the words were said and that the complaint to the umpires, which forms this charge, would not have been put forward falsely, I dismiss any suggestion of motive or malice.”Procter’s decision came late into the night of January 6, after Australia won a Test match that was mired in controversy and ended amid inflamed passions among players and public. The race issue apart, there were several contentious umpiring decisions, largely going against India, and visible tensions between the teams. The verdict itself created almost as much controversy as the incident; it was welcomed and criticised along national lines, the neutrals preferring to wait and see how Procter reached his decision, and these revelations are likely to stir up emotions again..Among those present at the hearing was Sachin Tendulkar, the other Indian batsman at the crease, but Procter indicates he would not have been within earshot of the incident. “It was submitted to me by Chetan Chauhan [the Indian team manager] that there was doubt because the umpires and other players did not hear the words but, in my judgment, they would not have been in a position to hear them,” Procter says. “I note that Sachin Tendulkar only became involved when he realised that something was happening and was gestured over. He tried to calm things down because something had happened that he did not hear.”The second issue he had to consider; Procter said, was whether Harbhajan used the words with the intention of insulting or offending him. “I am sure beyond reasonable doubt that the use of the word “monkey” or “big monkey” was said to insult or offend Andrew Symonds on the basis of his race, colour or ethnic origin.”While asserting that whatever may have been said between them prior to the exchange in question was irrelevant, Procter acknowledges there was a “history” between the two dating back to the one-day international in Mumbai late last year.”It is not relevant to my findings here to decide what happened in Mumbai. Nevertheless there was trouble in Mumbai when members of the crowd were arrested for using the word “monkey” and gesturing towards Andrew Symonds. This caused both Indian and Australian boards to issue a joint-statement. To this extent Mumbai is relevant to this hearing.”The spat between Harbhajan and Symonds took place on the third day of the second Test in Sydney, when India were batting. Symonds later revealed he approached Harbhajan after the Indian offspinner had tapped Brett Lee on the back with his bat.”I was standing nearby and when I saw what happened, I thought, ‘Hold on, that’s not on’,” Symonds told the : “I’m a firm believer in sticking up for your team-mate so I stepped in and had a bit of a crack at Harbhajan, telling him exactly what I thought of his antics. He then had a shot back, which brings us to the situation we’re facing.”Tendulkar and the umpires – Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor – intervened to defuse the situation, Benson covering his mouth while talking to Harbhajan to avoid lip-reading television viewers. The umpires reported Harbhajan to Procter after receiving a complaint from Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting, who was abiding by the ICC directives concerning racism.Following India’s appeal the ICC appointed New Zealand judge John Hansen to chair the hearing, which is slated to be held on January 29 and 30 in Adelaide.

February 22, 1991 – Sanath Jayasuriya makes his Test debut in the second Test against New Zealand at Hamilton. Only required to bat once, he scores 35 at the No. 6 position.August 22, 1991 – In his fifth Test innings, Jayasuriya scores his maiden Test fifty, a 66 off only 70 ballsagainst England at Lord’s, but could not stop Sri Lanka from losing the match by 137 runs.January 25-29, 1996 – Scores his maiden Test century, in his 17th Test, against Australia at Adelaide. His 112 in the second innings followed in a 48 in the first but Australia still went on to win by 148 runs.August 2-6, 1997 – Jayasuriya plunders 340 in the first Test against India in Colombo, the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan. His 576-run second-wicket partnership with Roshan Mahanama was the first 500-plus partnership in Test cricket.August 9-13, 1997 – Jayasuirya follows up the triple-century with a 199 off only 226 balls in the 2nd Test at Colombo as the series is drawn.August 27-31, 1998 – Scores 213 off 278 balls in the first innings against England at Lord’s to set up Sri Lanka’s first Test victory in England.July 1999 – After a poor performance in the 1999 World Cup, Jayasuriya was made captain of the side after the selectors sacked the influential figure of Arjuna RanatungaJuly 21-23, 2002 – Scores his 10th Test century in his 74th Test against Bangladesh at Colombo.March 22, 2003 – Jayasuriya ,resigns as captain after leading Sri Lanka to a record ten consecutive Test victories as well as a series win over India and a clean sweep over West Indies.June 20-24, 2003 – Scores his 5000th Test run in his 79th Test against West Indies at St Lucia.October 20-24, 2004 – Hits 253 in the second innings of the first Test against Pakistan at Faisalabad and sets up a 201-run win.September 20, 2005 – Becomes the first Sri Lankan to play 100 Tests when as Sri Lanka took on Bangladesh in Colombo.November 11, 2005 – After a string of poor performances, Jayasuriya is dropped from the Sri Lankan Test squad for the first time since 1995.December 22, 2005 – Barely six weeks later, a series of protests and criticism, including involvement from the Sri Lankan president, sees the return of Jayasuriya to the Test squadApril 4, 2006 – Having announced his retirement from Test cricket, Jayasuriya faces a painful exit as he injures his right hand in his last Test at that timeJune 1, 2006 – Asantha de Mel, the new chairman of selectors, forces Jayasuriya to reconsider his retirement and the batsman returns to the team against England in NottinghamDecember 3, 2007 – At 38, however, Jayasuriya finally quits Test cricket and scores a rapid 78 – including six fours in one over – in his final innings against England at Kandy

The ICC have announced the fixtures for the Women’s World Cup qualifiers that will take place in Stellenbosch, South Africa, from February 18 to 24.The event, which was shifted out of Pakistan due to political unrest, will feature eight teams – Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, Bermuda, Ireland, Pakistan, Scotland, Netherlands, as well as the hosts – who will play for the two remaining spots up for grabs at the 2009 World Cup in Australia.The teams have been divided into two pools; Pool A will consist of South Africa, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and Bermuda, while Pool B will comprise Ireland, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Scotland. The top two teams from each pool will gain entry into the semi-finals, and the two teams that make the final will qualify for the World Cup, regardless of the outcome of the match.Official status will be granted to six of the 20 matches that are scheduled over the seven-day tournament: the third and fourth place play-offs, the semi-finals, the final, as well as the matches between Pakistan and Ireland, and South Africa and Netherlands. This is because only matches involving the top 10 teams in women’s cricket have one-day international status.According to the current rankings South Africa are in the seventh place, followed by Ireland, Netherlands, and Pakistan.Pool A
South Africa
Netherlands
Bermuda
Papua New Guinea
Pool B
Ireland
Pakistan
Zimbabwe
Scotland

DAV Chandigarh and University of Moratuwa will play the first semi-final on Friday, while Great Britain Combined University Team will take on the University of Karachi in other knockout clash, after all four teams secured their progress on day three of Campus Cricket World Final.University of Moratuwa defeated Bangladesh’s University of Liberal Arts by 15 runs to place them three points ahead of Liberal Arts, who would need to win their final match to qualify for the semi-finals. Moratuwa’s win was propelled by sturdy contributions from the middle order, with Randika Perera the most impressive of the three batsmen who breached 30, hitting his 37 not out from 17 balls, to help his side to 146 for 6.Liberal Arts began with a 30-run partnership, but continued to lose wickets too regularly to mount a meaningful challenge to Moratuwa’s total. They were dismissed in the 19th over, for 131, with Vihangun Ariyaratne taking 3 wickets for 23 from his three overs.University of New South Wales had their first win of the tournament – one which almost got them into the semi-finals – when they defeated University of Karachi by five wickets, in a match shortened to 14-overs a side. New South Wales asked the opposition to bat first, and ensured Karachi could not launch a rapid start, through opening bowler Phil Hartig-Franc, who dismissed both openers and only conceded four runs an over. Karachi’s middle order stabilised the innings, before No. 5 Abdul Khan hit 30 from 16, to help propel his side to 123 for 8.New South Wales began more slowly than they might have wished, and at the end of the eighth over, needed 60 runs from six overs. A 34 to James McNeil and 33 from 10 balls to Hugh Campbell helped them achieve their target however, and a better net-run rate than Karachi gave them hope of reaching the semi-finals.Great Britain Combined University Team denied University of Liberal Arts a place in the semi-finals, with a five-wicket, final-over victory in the evening. Liberal arts made 133 for 8 after being put in to bat, with Mahmudur Rahman and Eftekhar Ahmed, the chief contributors to that score. Rahman, who held the innings together with his 41, could not score at a run-a-ball however, as James Saddington, Ben Wylie and Robert Woolley took two wickets apiece.Great Britain Combined began poorly in their chase, stumbling to 47 for 5 by the 11th over, but an unbeaten 87-run partnership between Jay O’ Nien, who made 34 from 25 and wicketkeeper batsman Alex Martin, who made 47 from 29, helped their side home with four balls to spare.DAV Chandigarh lost their first match of the tournament, as University of Karachi forced their way into the semi-finals with a four-wicket victory in a high-scoring encounter. Gurinder Singh motored Chandigarh to the biggest total of the tournament with a 56-ball unbeaten 101, that was also the tournament’s first century. He had support from opening batsman Jaskaran Singh, who contributed 57 from 39, but found little help from the middle order, after their 96-run second-wicket partnership was broken.Karachi began poorly, losing two wickets for 23 in the fourth over, but launched something of a recovery through Abdul Khan and Ramiz Aziz, who put on 60 together, before No.7 Nabeel Khalid played a stunning innings to bring his side back into the tournament from the brink. His unbeaten 51 from 18 balls featured six sixes and two fours, and Khalid’s heroics helped Karachi reel Chandigarh in with five balls to spare.

Ray Mali, the newly elected president of United Cricket Board, has promisedSouth Africans improved administration of their game, a determined effort to breathe life into club cricket, and a more sophisticated approach to racialtransformation.Mali, 66, was elected unopposed at the UCB annual meeting in Pretoria onSaturday. He succeeded Percy Sonn, who had been president since 2000.Sonn did not stand for re-election and will attempt to further his career incricket administration at international level.Rob Kurz was re-elected unopposed as vice-president and John Blair foughtoff a challenge from Haroon Lorgat to be re-elected as treasurer.”I am very conscious of the fact that I come from a cricket culture that stretches back more than 100 years, but that was marginalised by apartheidfor nearly five decades,” Mali said. “You will excuse me if my cricketing ancestors share this moment with us all, because I would not be here had they not given me a heritage as rich in cricket as you will find anywhere in the world.”Mali committed the UCB to “giving equal opportunities to everyone who wants to play cricket,” and to the development of South Africa’s ailing clubcricket structures. “The key to equal opportunity lies in capacity building, which is the cornerstone of our transformation policy,” Mali said. “We do not believe any more in throwing people into the deep end in order tomake transformation statistics look impressive.”Club cricket is a microcosm of the UCB, and yet over the past few years wehave tended to neglect its development in favour of schools and first-classcricket. We have seen a widening gap between the two, which club cricket can fill. There is also a dearth of good administrators coming out of club cricket, particularly in the townships and we are going to address this.”Reflecting on his time at the helm, Sonn said “the Hansie Cronje saga …questioned the values of the game that we love so much”. Cronje, who died in a plane crash on June 1 2002, was banned for life by the UCB after his involvement in match-fixing was exposed.”I believe that it was the transparent and swift reaction of the UCB thatset an example to world cricket on how to deal with this crisis, and how toprevent it happening again,” said Sonn.Sonn added that South Africa’s successful hosting of the 2003 World Cup was a highlight of his career. “The International Cricket Council described this as the biggest and best World Cup ever held,” said Sonn, "and this is due to the enormous amount of work that was put in by all the UCB structures."

Three countries have applied for ICC Affiliate membership and two more to be upgraded from Affiliate to Associate membership.Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey’s applications for Affiliate membership will be considered by the ICC and its annual conference in Dubai at the end of June.Guernsey and Vanuatu have applied for an upgrade to Associate membership which, if successful, will mean a substantial increase in the funding available to their national associations.Consideration of Vanuatu’s application is subject to it meeting the playing standard criterion in its matches against existing Associates in the World Cricket League Division 5. An ICC team is inspecting the facilities in Guernsey this week.

New Zealand 249 for 6 (McMillan 82, Styris 68) beat India 246 for 9 (Kaif 64; Tuffey 3-31) by 4 wickets with 15 balls to spare
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A pugnacious 82 not out by Craig McMillan, and his 127-run partnership with Scott Styris, took New Zealand to an unlikely victory against India at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Zaheer Khan, with a burst of runs at the end of the Indian innings and a burst of wickets at the start of New Zealand’s chase, had put on India well on top when McMillan and Styris began their fightback. On a slow-paced wicket, India did not appear likely to cross 225 when, with a 13-ball innings of 33, Zaheer propelled them to 246. He then picked up two wickets in an incisive first spell as New Zealand staggered, first to 44 for 3, and then 68 for 4.But just as Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum had revived New Zealand’s innings at Pune, McMillan and Styris kept the flame burning. They began tentatively, taking their time in getting used to the pace of the pitch, which made strokeplay fraught with danger. India’s battery of spinners were a problem – India played three specialist spinners, as Murali Kartik and Sairaj Bahutule joined Harbhajan Singh in the India XI. (Kartik, Bahutule and Hemnag Badani took the places of a bereaved Anil Kumble, an indisposed Virender Sehwag and Parthiv Patel, as Rahul Dravid opted to keep wicket.)McMillan and Styris did nothing rash, and from a phase of consolidation moved into a phase of accumulation, as the spinners found it difficult to bowl with a ball wet with dew. The batsmen ran quick runs, kept the scoreboard ticking, and punished the bad balls that came their way. And when one of them took a fancy to a particular spinner, there were fireworks.McMillan hit Bahutule out of the attack with a series of powerful slog sweeps, and Styris took to Kartik, smashing him for a couple of boundaries in the 38th over as New Zealand galloped towards their target. But he was trapped leg before in Kartik’s next over for 68 (195 for 4). Shortly after that Mohammad Kaif ran out Jacob Oram (6) with a brilliant pick-up and throw (214 for 6). But Dravid kept his part-time spinners, Yuvraj Singh and Badani, on, and McMillan and McCullum finished things off with a flurry of boundaries.New Zealand had begun their chase well, going at seven an over in the first five, before Stephen Fleming (24 off 14) was out lbw to Ajit Agarkar (39 for 1). Zaheer then struck twice, trapping both Chris Harris (0) and Lou Vincent (1) lbw, though controversially – Harris certainly got an inside edge onto his pad, and Vincent appeared to have done so as well.Chris Nevin, who had never looked comfortable during his innings of 29, slog-swept Harbhajan to midwicket in the 15th over, where Yuvraj took a well-controlled catch (68 for 4). Writing on the wall? No. Graffitti resistant paint.

India’s innings was a stop-start affair, with a number of promising partnerships ending just as the innings was gathering momentum. Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman added 27 at a run-a-ball pace before Tendulkar, on 14, played across the line to Kyle Mills, missed, and was adjudged lbw.Laxman and Kaif, promoted to No. 3, then added 50 in 77, but both batsmen weren’t entirely at ease. Many firmly hit strokes were going straight to fielders, and neither man was looking out for quick singles in the manner that, say, Australia do. Laxman was eventually out to Styris, driving a slower ball straight back to the bowler (77 for 2). His 31 had come off 46 balls.Dravid injected some urgency into the innings, placing the ball beautifully with soft hands and running hard. He improvised well, and one paddle sweep in particular, off Daniel Vettori, showed an elan that few would have suspected him capable off in the last millenium.Having set a platform, Dravid crashed trying to take off. He stepped out to Vettori and drove uppishly to Styris at midwicket, who held on easily (136 for 3). Dravid had made 31.Yuvraj threw his wicket away off just the third ball he faced, stepping out to Vettori and lofting him down the throat of Mills at wide long-on (136 for 4). With 103 balls still left in the game, it was a remarkably stupid shot to play.Badani then came in and, improvising furiously, lifted the tempo. He tonked Vettori for ten in his last over, eight of those coming in the first two balls: the first was slog-swept from outside off to the midwicket boundary; the next was reverse-swept to third-man for four.Kaif, having added 33 with Badani, was out in the next over – the 39th – to Styris, chopping an incoming ball onto his stumps while trying to glide it to third man (169 for 5). Kaif made 64 off 108.It was all down to Badani now, with the lower order to play around him. Bahutule made a spirited 11 off 13 balls, and Ajit Agarkar was giving good support to Badani as they settled in for one final charge. But a dubious decision brought an end to Badani’s innings. He slashed at a widish ball from Daryl Tuffey, missed, and McCullum appealed successfully (205 for 7). Replays cast doubts both on whether Badani had nicked it and on whether McCullum had taken it cleanly.India seemed likely to end at around 230, until Zaheer (33 off 13) lashed 20 runs off the last over of the innings, bowled by Oram. The last three balls read: 6, 4, 6. Could this be the difference between the two sides? No.Amit Varma is managing editor of Wisden Cricinfo in India.

James Kirtley bowled himself into contention for a place in next week’s first Test at Galle, and Ashley Giles showed a welcome and timely return to form, as England took control on the shortened first day of their warm-up match against a Board President’s XI in Colombo. Play was called off at tea after the now-habitual bank of clouds rolled towards the ground and poured down. But by then, the Board XI had slumped to 142 for 8 after winning the toss.England began the day like a team desperate to put a dreadful week behind them. Kirtley had been due to fly home with the one-day specialists on Monday, but stayed with the party as cover for James Anderson, whom he had helped to twist his ankle during an energetic squash match on Thursday evening. He bustled in from his long run, and required just four legitimate deliveries to claim his first wicket – Michael Vandort lbw for 1 (3 for 1). He might in fact have struck even earlier, but umpire Dissanayake turned down a stone-dead appeal second-ball, when Vandort offered no stroke to a ball that arced into his pads.Kirtley was lively and accurate throughout, and his skiddy pace and eager approach provided a passable resemblance to Darren Gough. Chamara Silva edged to Geraint Jones for a 13-ball duck (6 for 2), and Jones added a second catch to his collection when Dhammika Sudarshana drove at a half-volley outside off stump (19 for 3). The Sri Lankans went to lunch on 69 for 3, but Kirtley required just three balls of the second session to take his fourth wicket, as Gareth Batty clung onto a sharp chance in the gully off Russel Arnold.(69 for 4).

Robert Croft, back in contention after a two-year absence, did not make the best of returns when he reprieved Thilan Samaraweera at third slip. It was a regulation edge off Andrew Flintoff, who is captaining England for the first time in a first-class match, and whether by accident or design, Croft was not called upon to bowl in the first session. Instead Gareth Batty and Giles were given the chance to renew the spin partnership that failed to take off in Bangladesh.Giles has spent the winter working on a new approach to the wicket, and at last he is showing signs that he has rediscovered his rhythm and balance. He grabbed two wickets in four balls, including a smart stumping by Jones, before dismissing Dilhara Fernando lbw on the stroke of tea. Batty did not go unrewarded either, when Nasser Hussain held onto a regulation bat-pad chance, to end Samaraweera’s innings of 32 – the highest score of a piecemeal batting performance.England 1 Mark Butcher, 2 Nasser Hussain, 3 Graham Thorpe, 4 Chris Read, 5 Andrew Flintoff (capt), 6 Gareth Batty, 7 Ashley Giles, 8 Robert Croft, 9 Geraint Jones (wk), 10 Matthew Hoggard, 11 James Kirtley.Sri Lanka Board XI 1 Michael Vandort, 2 Dhammika Sudarshana, 3 Chamara Silva, 4 Russel Arnold (capt), 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Rashan Peiris (wk), 7 Bathiya Perera, 8 Ranil Dhammika, 9 Nandika Ranjith, 10 Chamila Gamage, 11 Dilhara Fernando.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman’s XI 398 for 2 (Ashar Zaidi 202*, Faisal Iqbal 86*, Asif Zakir 61) drew with Zimbabweans 215
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Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan started with a draw, but aside from Elton Chigumbura’s innings yesterday, there was precious little for them to celebrate. On the second day of their match against a Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman’s XI at Sheikupura their bowlers were ripped apart as the home side closed on 398 for 2.The man of the day was Ashar Zaidi, who completed his unbeaten double hundred shortly before the umpires called time. He put on 158 for the first wicket with Asif Zakir (61) and 174 for the third with Faisal Iqbal (86).Graeme Cramer, an 18-year-old legspinner, took both wickets to fall, finishing with 2 for 69 on an otherwise grim day for the bowlers.