IPL second edition schedule released

CAPE TOWN: The opening match and final of the second edition of IPL, shifted overseas to South Africa, are to be held at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town and the Wanderers in Johannesburg respectively on April 18 and May 24.

The semi finals are to be held on May 22 and 23 in Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively, as per the full schedule of the Twenty20 League available.

In a double header on the first day, last year's winners Rajasthan Royals would take on Royal Challengers, Bangalore, while Mumbai Indians would clash with first edition's runners-up Chennai Super Kings at Cape Town.

In all, the 59 matches will be held in eight cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, East London, Kimberly, Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth.

Kingsmead in Durban, which has a large number of South Asians, has been allotted the lion's share of 16 matches while the Centurion Park in Pretoria would host 12 ties.

The Wanderers in Johannesburg and Newlands in Cape Town come next best with eight matches each, with the latter playing host to four of these on the first two days of the cash-rich, high-profile competition.

Seven matches are to be held in St George's Park in Port Elizabeth while Buffalo Park in East London has been allotted four matches.

Two matches each have been handed over to Outsurance Oval in Bloemfontein and De Beers Oval in Kimberley.

There are a total of ten double headers (two matches back to back at the same venue) with Durban hosting half of these.

US shuttle Discovery set to soar to space station

WASHINGTON: The US space shuttle Discovery is on Wednesday to head to the International Space Station to complete an overhaul of the power-generating systems on the orbital outpost.

Weather permitting; Discovery will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida, at about 9:18 pm (0118 GMT Thursday).

Discovery's seven astronauts, including Japan's Koichi Wakata, are to deliver the fourth and last pair of power-generating solar panels to the ISS.

The launch, originally set for February 12, had been delayed four times due to problems with control valves, which channel gaseous hydrogen from the shuttle's three main engines. Three of the valves were replaced with newer ones.

Pakistan secure first victory in Women’s Cricket World Cup

CANBERRA: Pakistan clinched its first victory after defeating Sri Lanka by 57 runs in ICC Women’s Crocket World Cup.

In group B match, Pakistan elected to bat first after wining the toss against Sri Lanka. Pakistan scored 161 after losing 7 wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Pakistani players displayed a much better performance as compared to first match.

Openers Nain Abidi and Bisma Maroof gave 47 runs start. Abidi scored 26 runs. Sajida Shah scored 21; Urooj Mumtaz 20 and Sana Mir scored unbeaten 22 runs. In reply, Sri Lanka managed to score 104 runs.

India beat NZ by 58 runs in third one-day match

CHRISTCHURCH: An unbeaten 163 by Sachin Tendulkar led India to a comprehensive 58-run win over New Zealand in the third one-day international here Sunday and ensured they cannot lose the series.

Tendulkar, utilising his full array of textbook and improvised shots, was the stand-out figure as India scored 392 for four after being sent into bat first. It was the highest international ODI score against New Zealand, but the Black Caps were on target to overhaul it when they reached 166 without loss before the middle order self-destructed and they were all out for 334.

The win, completed in 45.1 overs, gave India an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the series with only two matches remaining.

New Zealand had reason to think luck was on their side when they won the toss and had an early success with the dismissal of Virender Sehwag, India's danger man in their previous matches, for only three. Gautam Gambhir followed for 15 and India were two for 65 in the 13th over when India stepped up to a level New Zealand had no answer for. Yuvraj Singh joined the imperious Tendulkar and they piled on 138 in 16.4 overs for the third wicket. During the batting power play they added 69 runs with overs of 13, 13, 12, 17 and 14, propelling India from 105 after 20 overs to 206 after 30. Yuvraj kept his running to a minimum, with 10 boundaries and six sixes in his 87 which came off only 60 balls. On a ground with short boundaries, the Indian innings produced 18 sixes in all, equalling the world record for an international innings, and New Zealand added 13 to set a record 31 sixes in a match. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept the scorers busy as he cracked 68 from 58 deliveries to continue the destruction of the New Zealand bowlers

The 20-year-old New Zealand quick Tim Southee went for a humbling none for 105 off 10 overs. The most successful of the New Zealand bowlers was Kyle Mills with two for 58, while Jacob Oram took none for 34 off eight.

Faced with a mammoth total and an asking rate of 7.86 per over, New Zealand had no choice but to attack from the start and Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder raced to 166 by the 22nd over before the innings fell apart.. Ryder posted his first ODI century before playing a half-hearted shot and was caught by Zaheer Khan off Harbhajan Singh for 105, including 12 boundaries and four sixes. But there was no other New Zealand innings of note until bowlers Mills and Southee came together at 251 for eight and restored a little pride after the pasting they took with the ball. Mills cracked 54 and Southee 32 before they fell in successive balls to end the game.

Daily Cricket News

IPL not moving from India: Modi

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League commissioner Lalith Modi on Friday rubbished reports that the Twenty20 extravaganza will move out of the country and insisted that the IPL matches would be held only in India.

However, he said, the schedule of a few matches would be revised due to elections in India and a fresh schedule would soon be released.

Talking with media in Mumbai, Lalith Modi said that 14 cities of India have been selected as the IPL venues and the final schedule would be released next week after reviewing the security arrangements.

He said that the IPL matches would not be played on dates of ballot-counting in India.

The IPL commissioner will hold a meeting at the BCCI headquarters later in the day, after six of the eight host states voiced concerns that they could not guarantee security during the matches.

The revised schedule carries the same inaugural (April 10) and closing dates (May 24). Dates of five games have, however, been changed, to ensure that host cities are not allotted matches two days before and after polling days.

The home ministry had earlier said it would decide on the fate of the tournament only after the states responded on whether they would be able to conduct the matches without asking for central forces.

The terror attack on the Sri Lankan team on Tuesday in Lahore has also compounded the problems for the IPL organisers, who now expect pullouts by many of the foreign players.

Federation of International Cricketers Association chief executive Tim May has already sought a wider role in assessing the security for players during the IPL.

Pakistan team’s tour of Bangladesh postponed

DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket board has postponed the Pakistan team’s tour.

According to the BCB, Pakistan cricket team’s tour, scheduled to be started from March 7, has been postponed.

This may be recalled that the Pakistan cricket team had to leave for Bangladesh on Saturday for playing a series of five One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches.

The first Twenty20 match was to be played on March 10.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed the postponement of the tour.

6 Sri Lanka cricketers hurt, 7 killed in Lahore shooting

LAHORE: Seven people including five policemen were killed and six Sri Lankan cricketers were wounded in a shooting attack in Lahore on Tuesday.

Sri Lankan tour has been called off after the attack. According to sources, unknown attackers opened fire on Sri Lankan cricket team bus near Gaddafi Stadium.

Intense trade of fire occurred between police and unknown attackers. CCPO Lahore Habibur Rehman said there were 12 attackers carrying rocket launchers; hand grenade, Kalashnikovs and Mousers who reportedly reached the site in rickshaws. Seven people including five cops were killed in the shooting.

Sri Lanka to pull cricket team out of Pakistan

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is to immediately pull its national cricket team out of Pakistan following Tuesday's gun attack that wounded six squad members, Sri Lanka cricket chief Duleep Mendis said. He said he had spoken with Pakistani officials about the matter."The match is off and we are getting the team back today," Mendis said.

Players want to extend league hockey contract term: Samiullah

LAHORE: Olympian Samiullah said senior players including Sohail Abbas seeking extension in league hockey contract term and this is the only reason of joining national team.

In an exclusive chat with Geo News, Samiullah said it was expected that present federation will take some positive steps for the improvement of the game but the federation, which is comprised of former famous hockey players has failed to do so.

He said the era of senior players including Sohail Abbas had been closed in 2006 now they are trying to be a part of national team to get extension in their league hockey contracts.

Test matches should be result-oriented: Younis Khan

LAHORE: The second and the final Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be beginning tomorrow at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistan team captain Younis Khan said that he has focused all his attention towards keeping the team united rather than winning the match.

In a press conference here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, Younis Khan said that this wicket is looking better than the wicket at the National Stadium Karachi.

He said that he feels if the matches would be result-oriented then spectators would come to the stadium.

Younis said that one change is expected in the Pakistan team for the Lahore Test.

The Pakistan team captain said that the cricketers had made a silent protest on their central contract but he is grateful to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for hearing his voice.

He said that the PCB suffered most by the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Younis said that he understands that there should be a players’ association.

Meanwhile, captain of the Sri Lankan team Mahela Jayawardene said that though he is not a wicket expert but he feels that the wicket at the Gaddafi Stadium would be helpful to fast bowlers.

Jayawardene said that the second Test would be of much importance for his team.

England pile up 600 runs in Barbados Test

BARBADOS: Ravi Bopara struck his maiden century and Paul Collingwood hit 96 as England piled up 600-6 declared against West Indies on day two of the fourth cricket test at Kensington Oval.

West Indies lost captain Chris Gayle early but responded strongly to post 85-1 at the close.

The 23-year-old Bopara, a late replacement in the squad, helped press home England's advantage with 104 after the tourists resumed on 301-3.

The Essex batsman, in only his fourth test, took advantage of an early life to blast nine fours and a six off 143 balls.

Collingwood just missed out on a ton after a fluent innings that spanned 159 deliveries and was decorated with 12 boundaries.

Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose hit a boisterous, unbeaten 76 as he grabbed the chance presented to him by the paternity leave absence of Matt Prior.

Fidel Edwards was the pick of the West Indian bowlers although his figures of 3-151 did not do him justice.

When West Indies replied, England struck quickly as James Anderson (1-29) claimed Gayle leg before wicket after benefiting from a TV referral.

But the in-form Ramnaresh Sarwan (40 not out) and Devon Smith (37not out) shared an unbroken stand of 72 to dull England's edge.

One change likely in team for 2nd Test: Intikhab

LAHORE: National cricket team coach Intikhab Alam said that one change is expected in the team for the second Test starting from Sunday here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Former captain Intikhab Alam said that positive results have come from the change of captain.

The Pakistan team went through net practice this morning at the Gaddafi Stadium while fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also took part in the practice session.

While talking with media on the occasion, the Pakistan coach said that the Gaddafi Stadium wicket is looking better than the National Stadium wicket and grass is also there.

He expressed desire to prepare a sporting wicket for the match.

Intikhab Alam said that Pakistan team is determined for winning the second Test.

Central contract not signed by 9 senior cricketers

LAHORE: Nine senior cricketers have not signed the central contract despite heavy offers made to them. Captain Younis Khan and vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq are also among them.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offered the central contract to 27 cricketers. Those who have not so far signed the new central contract are Shahid Afridi, Danish Kaneria, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanveer and Rao Iftikhar Anjum besides Younis and Misbah.

According to media reports, the players expressed their reservations because of conditioning their TV contracts with the Board permission and depriving them of their salaries while playing county cricket.

Cricket: England 301 for 3 against West Indies in fourth test

BRIDGETOWN: An opening stand of 229 featuring a century from captain Andrew Strauss lifted England to a commanding 301 for three on the first day of the fourth test against West Indies in Barbados on Thursday.

Strauss made an excellent 142 after winning the toss and was well assisted by Alastair Cook, who struck 94, in a record English first-wicket partnership against West Indies.

The hosts will have gained some encouragement, however, from their performance in the final session when they removed both openers and Owais Shah (7) to peg back England's run rate.

But Chris Gayle's side will be rueing Jerome Taylor's drop of Kevin Pietersen off Fidel Edwards just before stumps, one of three spilled catches during the day.

Pietersen was unbeaten on 32 at the close with Paul Collingwood on 11.

West Indies lead the five-match series 1-0.

Younis proved himself best captain: Bayliss

KARACHI: Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss said that Younis Khan has proved himself a brave captain and the best leader by by scoring a triple century in the first Test. Talking with Geo News, the Sri Lankan coach said that Younis Khan instead sending a night watchman in the Karachi Test came himself at the crease and proved that he was a responsible captain

1st Test ends in draw after SL lose 5 wkts

KARACHI: Sri Lanka lost half of their side in their second innings before the first Test ended in a draw here on Wednesday. When Sri Lanka reached 144-5, both captains decided to end the game realising no result possible in the remaining 12 overs. However, Pakistan has emerged with the upper hand in this drawn game which has seen plenty of runs made, a handful of landmarks reached and a number of records broken