Hosts pin hopes on batting stars

Low-key start to high-profile series with well-practiced Pakistan holding a slender advantage

Till recently, Pakistan's full tour of Sri Lanka for a series of two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three Tests existed only in the ICC's Future Tours Programme. The schedule was formally approved by the PCB a month ago and whatever build-up that existed was lost in the frenzy of the IPL. Despite its perfect positioning - the IPL is over, those from the two sides in question are free of other commitments and Sri Lanka is the venue for the World Twenty20 - the pre-series hype that usually accompanies a contest between two high-profile teams as Sri Lanka and Pakistan is missing.

One reason could be the fact that the tour gets underway in far-flung Hambantota, the country's newest cricketing venue; at the cricket board office in Colombo, though, there is little or no activity at the ticket counter.

For Pakistan, international cricket's nomads, it's another series away from home. Deprived of IPL activity, the lead-up to this tour for them consisted of a two-week camp in Lahore under hot conditions sure to test them in Sri Lanka. Fans showed up in thousands to watch a series of practice games between the best limited-overs players in the country. Nothing can substitute international action at home, but this is the best their fans can get.

Only a select number of Sri Lankan players, on the other hand, have had the benefit of rigorous Twenty20 match practice. Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga have been particularly busy in the IPL, while the others have been keeping busy training at home. Dinesh Chandimal, who failed to get a game with Rajasthan Royals, was released midway to join a training camp at home. A few more weeks in the dugout could have been detrimental to the fledgling star's development. Fitness is paramount in June's punishing cricketing conditions and it's an area both teams will have to address.

The series begins with Twenty20s in Hambantota, which from Pakistan's perspective will be more than just a preparation for the World Twenty20. The series marks the start of a fresh experiment with the captaincy, to see if Mohammad Hafeez has it in him to emulate Younis Khan's achievement in the 2009 World Twenty20. The sudden change in leadership may appear surprising but isn't seismic. A phased change of guard was a necessity given that Misbah-ul-Haq is 38. His own dogged batting style and experience created a sense of stability rarely seen in various Pakistan teams over the last 20 years. He may be the antithesis to some of his mercurial predecessors but his popularity has survived the initial doubts - as reinforced by the popular Twitter hashtag 'TeamMisbah.'

When teams are on a high, one issue that is sometimes ignored - with often catastrophic effects - is succession planning. Misbah wisely decided to step down as T20 captain, though he still harbours intentions of playing the format. His dropping altogether from the T20 squad would have stung him and his followers but his successor is cut from roughly the same cloth. The erudite Hafeez, known to his team-mates as Professor, has been Pakistan's most improved cricketer over the last two years. Given the respect he may have earned in that period, captaincy seemed inevitable. Like Misbah, he too has suffered being a discard, only to rediscover his game and skills when given another chance. Pakistan's immediate success in the format, at least, depends on how fast they embrace this change.

Sri Lanka are not making drastic changes yet, sticking to the same group that performed creditably in Australia though they limped out exhausted in the Asia Cup. A potential banana peel for the hosts in preparation for the World Twenty20 is the lack of match practice in this format as a unit. They're playing after a six-month layoff, with only three games planned in the lead-up to September. The planned Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) will serve as a warm-up but Jayawardene is confident the games are sufficient practice.

What Jayawardene could do with is better support. Sangakkara endured a tepid IPL by his standards and Tillakaratne Dilshan wasn't good enough to command a regular spot in the XI (10 games) unlike Jayawardene (16). The trio firing in unison will be key to trumping the best spin attack in the world. England managed to negate the group of Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi with such consummate ease in the one-dayers in UAE that it surprised everyone, including themselves. Sri Lanka may not be as spin-heavy, but the emergence of seam-bowling allrounders in Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews gives Jayawardene more options.

The limited-overs contests aside, what would give Sri Lanka greater satisfaction is success in the Tests. The fallout of Muttiah Muralitharan's retirement remains - they have won just one Test since. Instances of fast bowlers breaking down have increased the burden on their lone quality spinner, Rangana Herath. They now have to rectify those problems against the toughest subcontinent opponents. When Pakistan last visited in 2009, two incredible collapses gave Sri Lanka the series after just two games. The foundations appear less shaky for Pakistan this time, as demonstrated in their 3-0 whitewash of England, achieved through patience at the crease and unrelenting pressure provided by a varied spin attack.

Current form gives Pakistan the edge but Sri Lanka can swing it their way if their batsmen make an early statement

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Ashraful recalled for Zimbabwe T20s

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and opening batsman Junaid Siddique have been recalled for the unofficial Twenty20 tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa next month after reasonable performances in Bangladesh Premier League. They replaced Nazimuddin and Jahurul Islam, both of whom were in the top-order during the Asia Cup in March.

The Akram Khan-led selection panel also left out Shahadat Hossain and Imrul Kayes and included allrounders Farhad Reza and Ziaur Rahman. The selectors have also retained uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Anamul Haque and fast bowler Abul Hasan, who replaced Shafiul Islam midway through the Asia Cup after Shafiul had hurt his shoulder.

This season, Ashraful and Junaid have batted like they used to in the early part of their careers in the Twenty20 format. Ashraful has the most runs in T20Is for Bangladesh and was the second highest scorer among country's batsmen in the BPL with 258 runs at a strike-rate of 112.66 including a fifty. Junaid scored 238 runs in the BPL and had been in good form in first-class cricket. He played his last T20I in August 2009 against West Indies.

"Junaid [Siddique] has a very good reputation as a Twenty20 player and most importantly, he played well in BPL and in the later part of the National Cricket League," Akram said.

"Ashraful also looked good in the domestic competition as he always does. It is also true that he cannot fulfill our expectations, but we want to keep faith in him because he is a very good option for Twenty20 cricket," he added.

Ashraful is currently playing for Blackheath Club in the Kent Premier League and will return to the country on June 8.

But many will closely follow how Ziaur steps up to the bigger stage in his first recall since being named in the provisional squad for the inaugural World Twenty20 five years ago. A 25-year-old allrounder, Ziaur's medium-pace bowling has been overshadowed by his big-hitting capabilities.

Ziaur tapered off during the intervening period but has had a much better season for Khulna, his first-class side, before making important top-order contributions for Chittagong Kings in the BPL. In the country's top one-day league, the Dhaka Premier League, Ziaur has been instrumental in Old DOHS Sports Club's stay at the top of the table with some quick runs during the Powerplays.

IN: Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Farhad Reza and Ziaur Rahman OUT: Imrul Kayes, Jahurul Islam, Nazimuddin, Shafiul Islam, Shahadat Hossain

Imrul Kayes could consider himself unlucky as he has had very few chances since being sidelined during the Asia Cup. He had made it into the squad after finding some form in domestic cricket but lost out to Nizamuddin as Tamim Iqbal's opening partner. Now Imrul, Nizamuddin and Jahurul have been cast aside.

"[Jahurul Islam] Omi is unlucky because as a back-up wicketkeeper-batsman [Anamul Haque] Bijoy impressed us the most. Bijoy has been in good touch and performed well in all levels of domestic cricket. He is a good prospect," Akram said. "On the other hand Imrul [Kayes] is a good opening batsman but he is suited for the 50-overs game."

It would be the first opportunity for skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and the team management, led by newly-appointed coach Richard Pybus, to assess resources in the Twenty20 format. Akram too sees this as the first of three opportunities to put together a balanced line-up for the ICC World Twenty20s in September.

"We have good opportunity to find out the right combination for the Twenty20 World Cup. We are scheduled to play in Zimbabwe, Trinidad & Tobago and Ireland and thought we are not in favour of making changes, we always want to recognise performances," Akram said.

Bangladesh arrive in Harare on June 13 and take on Zimbabwe in the first game of the tournament on June 17.

Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahmudullah (vice-capt), Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Anamul Haque, Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Elias Sunny, Mashrafe Mortaza, Farhad Reza, Nazmul Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Abul Hasa

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Narine replaces injured Roach

Kemar Roach has been ruled out of the remainder of West Indies' tour of England with a shin injury and Sunil Narine, the spinner who is uncapped at Test level, has been named as his replacement.

Narine has just finished competing in the IPL* where he enjoyed considerable success for the winners, Kolkata Knight Riders, with 24 wickets at 13.50 and an economy rate of 5.47 from 15 matches. On hearing the news, an elated Narine said that he wants to be mentally and physically prepared for the task.

"When I got the call for the Test series...words can't explain how I felt at that moment. The dream was always to play Test cricket and I'm halfway there," Narine said. "I did well in the West Indies and I did well in India, but the pitches and conditions in England are different, so as a bowler you have to take your time to get ready and prepared."

Narine has played eight ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals, while his first-class cricket he has 34 wickets from six matches at 11.88. Narine has caught the eye with a variety of deliveries to put him in the 'mystery' category of offspinner and was expected to be named in the squad for the one-day series against England.

Roach, who has been West Indies' stand-out pace bowler during the Test series, was diagnosed with the injury following the second Test at Trent Bridge which the visitors lost by nine wickets to give England the series. He has been carrying soreness during most of the tour - and has spent time off the field during both matches - and will now aim to be fit for the visit of New Zealand.

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson admitted Roach was a major loss but said the decision was taken with a long-term view in mind. "We still have an awful lot of cricket to play this year and we did not want to risk losing as valuable a player as Kemar for a long period," he said.

"He has been outstanding with the ball for us so far this year and we are all gutted by his departure. Kemar made a lot of improvements, after enduring a tough time last year, and gave us some world-class performances during the series against Australia and here in England."

C.J. Clark, the West Indies physiotherapist, added: "Kemar has been carrying this soreness for the last two matches and in view of our upcoming schedule, we would like him to have the time to recover and prevent the onset of a more serious injury. It is always important to balance workload with the body's ability to repair, and I think it judicious to protect Kemar at this time."

During the first two Tests Roach bowled 68 overs to take eight wickets at 34.25 although he bowled better than the average suggests. At Trent Bridge he roughed up Jonny Bairstow with a series of rapid bouncers before having him caught at mid-on off a leading edge. However, he also suffered major problems with no-balls and twice had Alastair Cook caught behind off illegal deliveries before recovering his rhythm on the third day.

Roach is the second West Indies pace bowler to leave the tour following Shannon Gabriel's withdrawal after making his debut at Lord's. Gabriel was replaced by Tino Best who arrived shortly before the second Test.

West Indies have a two-day tour match against Leicestershire, starting on Saturday, to prepare for the final Test at Edgbaston and Gibson said Best and Fidel Edwards, who played at Lord's, will have a chance to stake a claim for a recall.

"We believe that a very excited Tino and a fit-again Fidel will be able to provide us with the spark that we will miss from Roach's absence," he said. "We still have an awful lot for which to play in the final Test, and Tino and Fidel can give us the cutting edge to our bowling if they play."

* 06:30 GMT, May 31, 2012 The story has been edited to remove a reference that suggested Narine had opted to play in the IPL over concurrent international series

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Mohammad Amir meets the PCB

The PCB has held talks with banned fast bowlerMohammad Amir, as a prelude to his rehabilitation process following the spot-fixing scandal. Amir, who was released in February after serving half of his six-month custodial sentence in England for spot-fixing during the Lord's Test in 2010, had volunteered to meet the board.

"We have recently had two [meetings] with Amir during which he was debriefed and was asked some questions that we do not want to disclose to the media," the PCB's chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told AFP."The debriefing was not part of the rehab, but we will soon discuss the matter with the ICC and start his rehabilitation."

Soon after his release, Amir had said that he would not request the ICC to reduce his ban, which runs until 2015. The ICC had advised him to undergo a rehabilitation programme and, recently, he appeared in an educational video on behalf of the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).

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Champions League T20 could move to South Africa

The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20), the most lucrative club cricket tournament in the world, could possibly be moved to South Africa. Cricket South Africa acting CEO Jacques Faul told ESPNcricinfo, "It could be a possibility [that SA will host] but we will only know later in June. There are problems with the IPL qualifiers venues for the CLT20 but there has been no final decision yet." Faul has returned from a CLT20 governing council meeting in India which was held in Chennai after the end of the IPL.

Faul is one of the members of the CLT20 governing council, replacing the previous CEO Gerald Majola, who is suspended pending disciplinary action. Following the governing council meeting, there has been no formal announcement of the 2012 CLT20 other than the two on Twitter by Sundar Raman, a member of the CLT20 technical committee. The first Tweet said Sialkot Stallions of Pakistan would be invited to take part in the IPL, the first time a Pakistani team would be competing in the event. The second said the dates for the tournament would only be released by the end of June.

ESPNcricinfo understands that talks of moving the CLT20 to South Africa were driven by several reasons, including the Indian monsoons and a five-day festival in the east of the country. Late last week, Times of Indiahad reported that the tournament would take place in India from October 10-28 over five venues: Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and New Delhi. Kolkata had lost out on hosting matches during the latter half of the tournament as the entire state of West Bengal would shut down for the Durga Puja holiday from October 20 to 25.

In the 2011 CLT20, a six-team qualifier leg was held for the first time with the fourth-place finisher from the IPL, the national T20 champions from New Zealand and West Indies, a team from Sri Lanka and two teams from England competing for three qualifying spots. The total prize money on offer was $6m with the winner earning $2.5m. The event was won by Mumbai Indians

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Pietersen retires from England one-day cricket

Kevin Pietersen has retired from all international limited overs cricket with immediate effect. He will remain available for consideration as a specialist Test match player only. The news comes four months before England defend their World T20 title in Sri Lanka.

"With the intensity of the international schedule and the increasing demands on my body, I think it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players come through to gain experience for the World Cup in 2015," Pietersen said. "I am immensely proud of my achievements in the one-day game but still wish to be considered for selection for England in Test cricket.

He has no plans to retire from the IPL, which will further increase tensions between IPL and international cricket and heighten the debate over whether a window is becoming increasingly necessaryto seek accommodation between the tournament and the international circuit.

Pietersen's decision ends protracted discussions about his England future, which he persistently denied, in which he envisaged a future playing Tests and t20 only.

This was prevented by the terms of ECB central contracts which state that any player who makes themselves unavailable for either format of one-day cricket is automatically ruled out of selection for both ODIs and T20s.

"For the record, were the selection criteria not in place, I would have readily played for England in the upcoming World Twenty20," Pietersen said.

The stipulation is seen as essential in protecting England's extensive Test summer in which 50-over cricket still plays a central part. England have just begun one of their busiest summers on record, a programme involving a summer of six Tests, 14 ODIs and four t20s.

An ECB statement said: "Pietersen, who discussed his position with the ECB during the recent Investec Test at Lord's, accepts that his current contract will continue to run through to September 2012 but that the contract will be downgraded to reflect the fact that he will only be selected for Test cricket for the remainder of his current contract.

"The terms of the central contract state that any player making himself unavailable for either of the one-day formats automatically rules himself out of consideration for both formats of the game as planning for both formats is closely linked.

"This is designed to reflect the importance of one-day international cricket which is a strategic priority as England look for improved performances in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup."

Pietersen, 31, has played 127 ODIs and 36 t20s for England, making his international debut in 2004 against Zimbabwe in Harare. He has scored 4,184 runs at an average of 41.84 in one-day internationals and averages 37.93 in international t20 cricket.

Hugh Morris, the managing director of England Cricket, said: "ECB is disappointed by the timing of Kevin's decision less than four months before we defend our ICC World Twenty20 title.

"Kevin is a world-class player and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his efforts and we look forward to his continued contributions towards the Test match side.

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The start of World Twenty20 preparations

The games against Pakistan, and the one against India, are the chance to zero in on our perfect Twenty20 squad

It's been a long season on the road for myself, having played a full season of the IPL. I knew it was going to be particularly long so in order to stay fit and alert, I have been trying to keep things simple, focus on my game and manage recoveries properly. Touch wood, things have been okay so far. I also make sure I do not push myself too hard. I don't see us getting any breaks real soon, at least till the next IPL.

There is a lot of Twenty20 cricket being played and over the years, I think our players have got a measure of it to a certain extent. But like any other format, it keeps evolving. People are coming up with new tactics so you need to keep ahead of everybody else. You can't make too many mistakes in the shorter versions.

Personally, Twenty20 has taken me back to the way I used to play. In that sense, the freedom with which I play my strokes doesn't really surprise me because as a schoolboy, this was how I batted. I used to play quite aggressively. When I started playing international cricket, I realised I really had to tighten my game and take more responsibility. In Test cricket you don't always have too much freedom. In one-dayers, for a long period of time you have to build your innings, especially at my position at No. 4. Opening the batting has given me the same kind of freedom I enjoyed as a schoolboy.

I have enjoyed a fair amount of success as an opener in Twenty20, but my presence at the top depends on the team combination. Tillakaratne Dilshan and I have built up a decent opening partnership in the last couple of years or so. Even in one-day cricket I regularly open the batting. We're trying to be more flexible as well, because going into the World T20, we need to have a good idea on what kind of squad we need. We're using these two games, plus the one T20 against India, to find the right combination so we will mix and match. This is the start of an important series for us so we need to make a statement.

It's a fact that we've hardly played Twenty20 cricket as a unit over the last six months. However, if you look at the IPL, quite a few of our players were involved in it in one way or the other so, individually, that's a lot of Twenty20 cricket. With the three upcoming games (two against Pakistan and one with India), plus the upcoming Sri Lanka Premier League, that should be enough to prepare us for the World T20.

Those players who have not had the benefit of match practice in the IPL have been training over the last few weeks on their fitness. The period after the England Tests was the best time to do that. They've also spent time working on their skill sets. We had about six-seven guys training specifically for the Test series and some for the ODIs and T20s. Taking Dinesh Chandimal's example, halfway through the IPL his franchise realised he wasn't going to play so he was sent back to train with the national squad. It was nice of Rajasthan Royals to release him. It has all been done in a systematic way so that the preparation hasn't been compromised.

As for our bowling reserves, I feel Nuwan Kulasekara is right up there to give Lasith Malinga the support he needs. We're trying a few young guys so we need to see how they come up. Thisara (Perera) and Angelo (Mathews) have been around for a while so I'm glad I've got a couple of allrounders I can always bank on. I'm also very excited about Sachithra Senanayake, the offspinner, who had a good time in Australia. Ajantha Mendis is coming back from injury, so we're going to gradually build him up, perhaps try him at some point in the Pakistan series or against India. We rested Rangana (Herath) because he had a knee operation but he might play him in the one-dayers. There's good competition as well and it's healthy.

Pakistan will be a challenge because have a nice blend of youth and experience. From the squad of 15, they've got a lot of variety in their bowling armoury. What makes them competitive is the sort of bowling options available, apart from the specialists. All in all, it should be a competitive T20 series.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is the country's leading Test run-scorer

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Decision on Indo-Pak ties likely in June - Ashraf

The ICC's annual conference in Kuala Lumpur in June is where India and Pakistan could take significant steps towards the resumption of cricketing ties, with even the possibility of the announcement of a series, according to PCB chief Zaka Ashraf.

Ashraf is in Delhi for a few days after attending the IPL final (to which he was invited by the BCCI) in Chennai, and he told ESPNcricinfo, "Probably the final decision will be [taken] in Kuala Lumpur, where the ICC board of directors meeting will be held. There MrSrinivasan and I will hold discussions, and maybe we will be able to formulate and announce something about the resumption of ties."

He denied that the two parties had already discussed or suggested a tentative schedule for a bilateral series during a gap in England's winter tour of India, when the England team will return home for a Christmas break. "The BCCI haven't conveyed that to us. What we see on the calendar is that the English team will continue to play matches. But that is now up to the BCCI, the ball is in their court. They have to think which slab is available, where there is a vacuum during which both of us can play. What we can play, what format … they have to take steps and let us know."

During his stay in Delhi on what was his first visit to India, Ashraf said he had met with the Pakistani high commissioner to India, Salman Bashir, and political leaders of several parties, ruling and opposition, whose names he did not wish to reveal.

India and Pakistan have not played each other in a bilateral series since December 2007. It is India's turn to tour Pakistan, but the country has not hosted an international series between two Full Members at home following the Lahore terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in March 2009. Bilateral ties between India and Pakistan have been frozen since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Pakistan, however, travelled to India to play in the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup.

On the day that an unofficial lunch meeting took place between Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari in April, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla had told Pakistani channel Geo TV that the participation of Pakistan players in the IPL would depend on bilateral ties between the two nations.

Ashraf said his discussions with BCCI president N Srinivasan had not touched upon the participation of Pakistan players in the IPL much. "I didn't discuss the IPL, because it was more of a commercial thing. I was talking to the BCCI more on the revival of cricketing relations - on bilateral ties, because that is more important. If they feel like inviting Pakistani players [to the IPL], it is up to them. If they want to, I think that will be a good move also."

The participation of the Sialkot Stallions in the Champions League T20 was however confirmed by Ashraf. News of the decision to invite the team from Pakistan to the most lucrative club competition in world cricket was released on Twitter by Sundar Raman, a member of the CLT20 technical committee, but it is yet to be formally announced. Similarly Raman announced on Twitter that the dates for the Champions League T20 would only be released by the end of June. Ashraf, who had talked about the resumption of ties with Srinivasan on the side of ICC meetings in Dubai, said he had been asked for his approval for the Sialkot Stallions not once but twice by Srinivasan.

"He called me once from India about 15-20 days ago to discuss the Champions League T20, saying the issue [of Pakistani participation] has come to the board and 'if we decide in favour of Pakistan do you have any objection'. And I said no, of course not, I am always in favour of ties. So after the meeting he called me and said 'I'm going to the press to announce it. Finally I just want to ask, I hope you don't any objections'. I said our board and our people are also for the revival of ties of cricketing relations, Test series, one-day and Twenty20 games." Ashraf said the news of the invitation extended to the Sialkot Stallions had been welcomed "in the press, by the general public and the board. At least the ice is melting. And things are moving in the right direction."

The meeting between the Indian prime minister and the Pakistani president had been important, because it indicated that the Indian government had no objections to the resumption of cricketing between the two countries. "What I understand is that, again, the honourable president of Pakistan requested that the honourable prime minister of India do something, so that India-Pakistan cricket could be revived. He [the Indian prime minister] said, 'Yes, I'm for it, the government has no objection and we are going to convey it to the [Indian] board. The board should decide the other questions … when and where they should play, because those are the nitty-gritty details.' "

Ashraf said that he had kept aside an extra day after the IPL final to have an extended meeting with Srinivasan. However, the extended meetings could not take place because Srinivasan had to be admitted to hospital during the IPL final for observation. "He never used to smile, but he was smiling then [when Ashraf visited him in hospital]," Ashraf joked. "He was very happy that I went. That showed that brotherly relations between the boards are developing."

He came across goodwill in general, he said, on his visit to India. "I found that everybody in India has got good feelings about Pakistan and they all want cricket to resume between these two great cricketing nations. There's great cricket passion in India, like there is in Pakistan. I brought with me, to the people of India and Indian cricket fans, the warmth and feelings of Pakistani cricket fans. This visit is like a friendship message from both the nations to each other.

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Indian engineer challenges D/L method

The ICC will meet to decide whether an engineer from India has simplified the system to determine a winner in rain-affected matches.

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New Dehli – An Indian engineer will learn Thursday whether his challenge to the English system for determining the winner of rain-affected cricket matches – one of the most complicated rules in the sport – has been successful.

The current method, devised by English statisticians Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis and known as the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) rule, was first introduced at the international level in 1996.

It uses mathematical formulas to calculate the winning target for the batting team when rain reduces playing time in limited-overs matches and was first adopted after World Cup rules made a mockery of the 1992 semi-final between England and South Africa in Sydney.

V. Jayadevan, an engineer in southern Kerala state, spent a decade working on his so-called VJD system, which has been used in Indian domestic matches since 2007 following a recommendation from batting legend Sunil Gavaskar.

The International Cricket Council will announce on Thursday if the VJD system will replace the Duckworth-Lewis method after discussions in London by the ICC’s cricket committee, headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd.

Jayadevan, a passionate statistician, calculates his chances of success in percentage terms.

“I think there is 90 percent hope if members read it patiently,” Jayadevan told AFP from his office in Thrissur.

“I will not be at the meeting because I was not invited, so I cannot immediately clear any doubts which a member may have. That is why I have taken away the remaining 10 percent chance,” he said.

Jayadevan insists his system of calculating revised targets is a vast improvement on the D/L method.

“Both are two different ways of approaching a problem, two different mathematical models,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with D/L system, but many times the targets set by it are not reasonable or sensible.

“In my report to the ICC, I have pointed out the mathematical and statistical flaws in the D/L system and how that has been corrected in my method.”

In the World Cup game that prompted the adoption of the D/L method, South Africa needed a gettable 22 runs off 13 balls before rain stopped play, but that became a ludicrous 21 off one ball when the match resumed.

In England, the challenge has been seen by some as another attempt by India, the game’s superpower, to chip away at the influence of England, the former colonial power and inventor of the game.

“There could be no more symbolic example of India’s challenge to surpass England in every aspect of cricket’s world order,” noted the Guardian newspaper. – Sapa-AFP

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Zimbabwe Twenty20 Triangular Series, 2012 / Fixtures

Mon Jun 18 
11:00 GMT | 13:00 local
16:00 PKT 1st Match - Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Harare Sports Club
N/A
Tue Jun 19
11:00 GMT | 13:00 local
16:00 PKT 2nd Match - Bangladesh v South Africa
Harare Sports Club
N/A
Wed Jun 20
11:00 GMT | 13:00 local
16:00 PKT 3rd Match - Zimbabwe v South Africa
Harare Sports Club
N/A
Thu Jun 21
11:00 GMT | 13:00 local
16:00 PKT 4th Match - Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Harare Sports Club
N/A
Fri Jun 22
11:00 GMT | 13:00 local
16:00 PKT 5th Match - Bangladesh v South Africa
Harare Sports Club
N/A
Sat Jun 23
11:00 GMT | 13:00 local
16:00 PKT 6th Match - Zimbabwe v South Africa
Harare Sports Club
N/A
Sun Jun 24
11:00 GMT | 13:00 local
16:00 PKT Final - TBC v TBC
Harare Sports Club

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Du Plessis, Chris Morris get South Africa T20 call-up

Faf du Plessis, the middle order batsman, has been has been named in South Africa's 15-man squad for the unofficial Twenty20 tri-series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, in Zimbabwe in June, while Chris Morris, the Highveld Lions allrounder, has received a maiden call-up.

The squad will be led by Johan Botha. AB de Villiers, allrounder Jacques Kallis and the fast-bowling pair of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have been rested because all four played extensively during the recent IPL and will likely be needed in all three formats for the upcoming series against England.

Du Plessis has played 21 ODIs for South Africa but has never been part of the Twenty20 squad. He staked a claim for a place in the shortest format after a successful stint with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2012. Du Plessis, who opened the batting and scored three half-centuries, held the orange cap for being the leading scorer in the tournament at one stage, although he finished 13th on the batting charts.

In a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo, du Plessis said, "If I could pick where to bat in 20-over cricket, I would say I'd like to open. It suits my style of batting because I am someone who can hit the ball over the top and along the ground, and I've learned when to hold back and when to go for it."

Du Plessis has been tipped to open the batting with world-record holder Richard Levi, although that would probably come at the expense of limited-overs vice-captain Hashim Amla. While du Plessis' inclusion in the national squad was expected, Morris' came as a complete surprise to everyone, including himself.

"One of my former provincial coaches, Lawrence Mahatlane called me up to say congratulations and I wasn't sure what he was talking about," Morris, who has also been picked in the South Africa A side to play Sri Lanka A, told ESPNcricinfo. "I don't know what to do yet. I'm not sure if I should jump and down or what. I was just happy to be playing franchise cricket and I didn't even think about the national side at all. I've come such a long way in such a short time, that definitely wasn't in my thoughts."

Morris has just completed his first full season as a franchise cricketer, having been spotted by former Highveld Lions coach Gordon Parsons in Centurion in 2009.

South Africa's 15-man squad Johan Botha (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Chris Morris, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Dane Vilas (wk)

"Gordon saw me there and asked me if I wanted to go to trials at the Lions and I did," he said. "Before that I was playing club cricket in Pretoria and to be honest, I didn't really set the scene alight. But then I got offered to go to the Lions academy and the rest is history. The Lions have taught me everything I know about my game."

After playing in the amateur competition for a season, Morris was contracted to the Lions for the 2011-12 season. He scored two half-centuries and took 23 wickets at an average of 26.00 in the first-class competition and was the leading bowler overall in the MiWay T20 competition, with 21 wickets. It was his performances in the shortest format that earned him his national call-up.

"He was also very effective as a lower order hitter and played a very significant role in getting the Lions to the final," Cricket South Africa's selection convenor, Andrew Hudson, said.

Morris opened the bowling and stepped up to bowl at the death as well, two roles he has enjoyed. "I wanted that kind of responsibility because when I have that, then I focus more," Morris said.

While Morris has played club cricket in England before, he has never travelled as part of a tour, except at school, and has also never been to Zimbabwe. Most of the national squad are relative strangers to him as he has only met them as opponents occasionally in the past.

"I'm really excited and really looking forward to it," he said. "The more I can talk to people, the more I am going to learn."

The rest of the squad includes players who have been given opportunity in the past. Both Farhaan Behardien and Dane Vilas featured in South Africa's XI for a one-off Twenty20 against India in March. Behardien has been a consistent performer for the Titans in the last few seasons and will bat in the middle-order, while Dane Vilas will don the wicketkeeping gloves.

Botha continues as captain, after he also led the team in the match against India, an indication that he remains part of South Africa's World Twenty20 plans. He will be released from his national contract after the ICC event in September to captain South Australia and will not participate in the South African domestic season.

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No central contract for Ryder

Jesse Ryder and NZC have agreed to avoid a national contract this year, but Ryder's manager and friend, Aaron Klee, squashed any fears Ryder might be looking at becoming a free agent in the various Twenty20 leagues across the world. The decision was made at Ryder's routine yearly review, a process every contracted New Zealand player goes through.

Ryder, Klee, New Zealand Cricket Players' Association chief Heath Mills, NZC's director of cricket John Buchanan and manager Mike Sandle were present at the review. Outgoing coach John Wright was not. Ryder tweeted the review went on for three hours. He also tweeted, "Looking forward to playing for NZ again when The time is rite."

NZC CEO David White is in England for an ICC meeting, but he said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting. "All of the evidence shows that Jesse is on the right track, both on and off the field, but we're aware that there are still steps to be made. While cricket remains an important part of his life, it is his health and well-being that need to be the primary focus.

"Jesse wants to concentrate on his personal goals without the media pressures, commercial pressures and other demands associated with being a contracted player. This decision is fully endorsed by the NZCPA and NZC."

The outcome of the meeting was hardly unexpected, but there has been speculation around that the various Twenty20 leagues around the world could tempt Ryder into following several West Indies cricketers down the freelance route. Ryder's manager, though, reassured he still wanted to get back to playing for New Zealand.

"He is not playing any cricket at the moment," Klee said. "He is at home. If there are cricket opportunities - it's his job, it's his living - he could look at them. Short, sharp opportunities, but certainly not looking at this as freelance. The IPL was great, it provided him an opportunity to get the wheels back on the track, but Jesse still wants to play for New Zealand. There are certain things he needs to do in the meantime, and if it takes a certain period of time now, it is important to take that opportunity to do that now."

Klee said Ryder didn't yet feel ready to commit to a full-time contract. "If he had accepted a contract you are basically obliged to play," Klee said. "You are basically in a breach of contract if you say, 'No I can't play a certain tour'. Eleven months of the year touring, spent playing, all that time playing cricket, we could end up being where we were a few months ago. We don't want to do that."

Klee said Ryder had made good progress since his one-match suspension for breaking team protocol, and didn't want to undo the good work by hurrying back. Ryder then took a break from all cricket, but has since made a comeback in the IPL. He has also taken professional help, travelling to India with his clinical psychiatrist Karen Nimmo.

"We are on a good track," Klee said. "We need to carry on this track. It was Jesse's idea [to not seek a new contract]. He wants to continue what he is doing, and he has been doing very well. To be able to continue to do that, it's too much of a commitment under the contract."

There is no time frame for Ryder's comeback to national plans. Nor is he asked to come back with certain improvements before he is considered by New Zealand again. "There is nothing like that discussed today," Klee said. "It's very much in Jesse's court. When he feels ready we will communicate that to NZC. The great thing is, they have given Jesse some space to do what he needs to do."

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Pybus appointed Bangladesh coach

Richard Pybus, the former Pakistan coach, has been named Bangladesh coach, taking over from Stuart Law who resigned in April. Pybus, 47, has signed a two-year deal with the BCB and is expected to join the Bangladesh side before their tour of Zimbabwe next month.

"I am delighted at the opportunity of coaching Bangladesh," Pybus said. "I am looking forward to getting busy with the boys.

"We have an active schedule ahead of us and for me the next few months will be about building relationships with the players and the coaching staff and ensuring that the progress made up to the Asia Cup continues."

Pybus hasn't been in charge of an international side since 2003 but had flown to Bangladesh earlier this month to interview for the national coach's role. He will be Bangladesh's third coach in a year as Law had been in the post for only nine months after succeeding another Australian Jamie Siddons last July.

Pybus was appointed Pakistan coach for their 1999 World Cup campaign, while he was with Border, before returning to the South African provincial side. He coached Pakistan again until the 2003 World Cup and had stints with Titans and Cape Cobras (South Africa), and Middlesex. He was with Cobras until March 2012 and was also linked to the South Africa job last year

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The Battle of the Rain Gods

The intricacies of the system used to recalculate run targets in rain-affected one-day matches are unfathomable to most people, but the ICC's cricket committee must grapple with the subject at Lord's over the next two days when it is presented with an alternative to the dreaded D/L method which has been adopted in international cricket in the past 15 years.

The Battle of the Rain Gods might not quite rival the best of Greek mythology - Hollywood is not yet thought to be interested - but it does not lack importance. A World Cup could one day depend on the outcome.

On one side are two reserved statisticians from Lytham St Annes, a peaceful seaside resort on the Lancashire coast, Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis, whose system has benefited from an ever-increasing amount of data and has gradually won acceptance in cricket circles as making the best of a bad job.

On the other side is a persistent engineer from the southern Indian state of Kerala, V Jayadevan, who has had the audacity to challenge the established order by claiming that the D/L method "comprises several silly mistakes."

In its place, he proposes the alternative that he has worked on tirelessly for the past 15 years - the VJD method. VJD, to British minds at least, sounds disturbingly like the return of Mad Cow Disease, but Jayadevan insists that cricketing sanity is one of the advantages of his system, which has already been trialled in Indian domestic cricket and was also adopted in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League.

The D/L system was eventually introduced in response to a farcical finish to England's World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1992 when South Africa resumed after rain to find their target had been reduced to 21 runs from one ball.

There is a sense that Jayadevan's rival system is too much for the ICC to cope with. It took cricket officials years to respond to his letters. One set of rain rules was quite enough. But gradually Jayadevan, a deputy director in the Keralan Engineering Research Institute, won support, notably from the former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

And so, the ICC annual meeting in Hong Kong last June received his proposals and, doubtless with a grimace, passed them down to the cricket committee at Lord's for their consideration. Dave Richardson, the ICC's chief-executive-in-waiting, has indicated that they will be taken seriously. Clive Lloyd, the former West Indies captain, chairs the committee and played in an era when the response to rain was to turn to the newspaper crossword and put your feet up.

"I wish they get time to go through my views that bring out the anomalies in the D/L method," Jayadevan has told India's Mail Today. "If the members read it, half the job is done.

"The inherent fear of people for mathematics seems to have helped D/L method being questioned beyond a limit. The D/L system comprises several silly mistakes. But somehow it has managed to create an impression in the entire cricket community that it's highly scientific."

The challenge for the ICC, and indeed the cricket public, is to go beyond nationalistic rivalries, judge the stringency of two complex systems and calculate the benefits they can bring to the game. There are differences and a few can be outlined in laymen's terms.

The battle between Duckworth and Lewis on one hand and Jayadevan on the other has been characterised as a battle between mathematics and engineering. The mathematician pins faith in the purity of the mathematical algorithm; the engineer is prepared to more emphasis on the evidence of what works. In other words, Jayadevan will adopt what one specialist called "intelligent use of trial and error" if it produces a better outcome.

To add to the debate that is raging in statistical circles, the view is growing that Twenty20 behaves very differently from ODIs and requires its own separate tables.

"Like in cricket, the ultimate result of a stroke is more important than how it is played," Jayadevan said. "The most important point regarding the acceptability of a method is its reasonability to adjust targets in a truncated match, and here my system is far ahead. A majority of cricketers and officials are looking for a change and hence it makes sense to give an opportunity to VJD system at least for the next two years."

Both systems recalculate a rain-reduced target based on the number of overs faced and the number of wickets remaining - described as the "resources" still available. There are, however, key differences.

Firstly, the D/L method relies upon a pure mathematical curve that assumes a team's scoring rate accelerates throughout a team's innings. Jayadevan argues that this is no longer the case because of fielding restrictions in the early overs which cause a rush of early scoring before mid-innings consolidation. His tables are adjusted empirically to take this into account. He even claims to take Powerplays into account.

Secondly, and this is where it gets difficult, the D/L method relies upon a single curve which is used to make adjustments to the target. Jayadevan uses two curves: a normal curve to adjust runs already scored, and a target curve to adjust runs still to be scored. The normal curve takes note of both runs scored and wickets lost, but the target curve takes note of only runs remaining.

The greater complexity of Jayadevan's system is less of a problem than it once was. Both methods are computer-based. Calculations are no longer made on the back of an envelope. In theory at least, you can just key in the match details and await the printout

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Kolkata celebrates KKR's victory

Tens of thousands of people turned out on the streets of Kolkata on Tuesday to receive the Kolkata Knight Riders team, returning home as IPL winners. The political leadership, top actors and musicians, and the local cricket establishment - including former ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya - joined the team in the celebrations.

The team began with a five-kilometre open-top parade from the Hazra area of south Kolkata to Writers' Buildings, the seat of government; the crowds - estimated at more than 50,000 - were packed ten and sometimes 20 people deep, with many more on rooftops and balconies. After a short function there, the team headed for Eden Gardens, which had been thrown open to the public for free entry.

At Eden Gardens, almost every seat was occupied - a larger crowd than at most cricket matches. The ceremony there included the traditional presentation of scarves to the squad by the state's chief minister and the cutting of a cake. However, the event was marred by chaotic scenes at the end, with crowds being beaten back by baton-wielding policemen resulting in some injuries.

While most of the Knight Riders' overseas players left the squad at Chennai, Shakib Al Hasan remained behind, as did most of the coaching staff including head coach Trevor Bayliss and mental skills coach Rudi Webster.

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