The Cricket Club of India was buzzing with activity following the announcement that a Chennai court had held up the appointment of Ranbir Singh Mahendra and SK Nair, the new president and secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Raj Singh Dungarpur, a former Board president who was actively involved in the recent elections, told Wisden Cricinfo late on Friday evening: “It is a black day for Indian cricket. That it should have come during the platinum-jubilee celebration is tragic beyond description.”Dungarpur has been a vociferous critic of Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI’s former president and new patron-in-chief, and went on: “Dalmiya and his coterie of supporters, who were tantamount to blind supporters, have left the board in a mess.”When asked why, then, Dungarpur had voted in favour of Dalmiya being appointed patron-in-chief, he explained: “I voted for him because I didn’t want to spoil the party. I felt he had worked hard enough to earn the position of patron.”But a patron is one who patronises, not one who organises,” he added. “The Maharaja of Patiala was a genuine patron. He brought Arthur Gilligan’s MCC team to India in 1926. CK Nayudu hit 11 sixes for the Hindus against them and India found a hero. Patiala brought Jack Ryder’s team to India soon after – that was the act of a patron.”The recent Board elections were fought in acrimonious circumstances, and Dungarpur has plenty to say on the subject. “Dalmiya, for the first time ever, realised he was up against it. His kingdom was rocked.” During the elections, representatives from Maharashtra and Rajasthan were barred from voting, following which Mahendra and Sharad Pawar had polled 15 votes each. Dalmiya then cast the deciding vote in Mahendra’s favour. Dungarpur claims: “Asking the representatives of Maharashtra and Rajasthan to leave the meeting was a death knell to the democracy of the board.”The way the television-rights issue was handled came in for particular criticism. “The way Dalmiya handled that was there for all to see. It is not a secret that the marketing committee voted 6-2 in favour of Zee, and that Dalmiya was one of the two who voted against. He has ignored all statutory requirements when it comes to convening meetings and has done things at the shortest notice. The BCCI traditions of 75 years have been thrown to the gates. And when it comes to the main management of cricket, pardon me for saying so, Mr Dalmiya knows very little.”And Dungarpur concluded: “When the great Sir Don Bradman was not indispensable to the Australian cricket team, why should Dalmiya be indispensable to the BCCI?”Inderjit Bindra, another former president known for his anti-Dalmiya stance, also had some strong words. “It’s a dark day, and one where those involved with running cricket in India, including me, should reflect about the manner in which we have been conducting ourselves in the recent past. No-one is bigger than the game itself.”

Jagmohan Dalmiya, the Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation Chairman, has announced that the first of the three-match Afro-Asian Cup between Asia XI and Africa XI will take place at Supersport Park, Centurion, in South Africa, on August 17. The second and third matches are scheduled to be held on August 20 and 21 at Durban.Dalmiya also said, in a report, that the matches, which have been given official status by the ICC, would be played under lights and would begin at midday. The proceeds from the series, which will involve top cricketers of the participating countries, will be used to develop cricket in Asia and Africa at all levels after meeting the tournament expenses.The selection panels for the two teams will comprise a representative from each of the participating nations. The Asia XI selection panel includes Majid Khan (Pakistan), Ravi Shastri (India) and Sidath Wettimuny (Sri Lanka). Bangladesh are yet to name their representative. Mike Proctor (South Africa), Psyche Nkala (Zimbabwe) and Tom Tikolo (Kenya) are the selectors for the African XI.The winners of the series will get US$100,000 in prize money. US$25,000 will go to the winners of each of the individual games, US$5000 for the Man of the Match and US$10,000 for the player of the series. Dalmiya added that talks were on with several media companies for the games to be telecasted live and that discussions with sponsors were yet to reach a final agreement

Australia will play the first international Twenty20 match when they face Pakistan under lights at Adelaide Oval on January 13.Cricket Australia (CA) will use the 20-over-a-side exhibition to provide fans, sponsors and administrators with a closer look at the concept, which has been used successfully in England and South Africa. “Twenty-over cricket has proved to be popular in various domestic markets overseas, and we’re certainly keeping abreast of its progress,” the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.Sutherland said CA had no immediate plans to develop a domestic series because there was no organised international competition. “If this changes and international Twenty20 cricket becomes a reality, we will want to be the number one nation at it,” he said.Australia is also scheduled to play Twenty20 matches against New Zealand in February and England on the Ashes tour next year.

Scotland have named a 15-man squad for their match against Australia at Edinburgh on August 18.The one-day friendly international will be the first Scottish cricket match outside the World Cup to be televised live throughout. It will be shown on BBC 2 Scotland from 11am, with an hour of highlights in the evening, both on BBC 2 and on Sky Sports.The selectors have included all available players from the squad which won the ICC Trophy last month. However, none of the four English County players involved in Ireland is available. The two overseas professionals contracted for 2005 season are also included.”This game is officially classed as a friendly,” said Andy Moles, Scotland’s coach. “But you can be sure the Australians will be playing it seriously – particularly those players who have yet to be selected for their Test side. With the match being televised, it is important that Scotland fields its fittest and strongest available team, and we will be reviewing all options right up to the day of the match itself.”All 4500 tickets for the game were sold more than two months ago.Scotland squad Craig Wright (capt), Yasir Arafat, Jonathan Beukes, Cedric English, Gordon Goudie, Paul Hoffmann, Douglas Lockhart, Gregor Maiden, Dewald Nel, Colin Smith, Ian Stanger, Ryan Watson, Fraser Watts, Sean Weeraratna, Greig Williamson.

At least in the eyes of Kim Hughes, former Australian captain, there is no need for debate: Andrew Flintoff is, belatedly, the new Ian Botham and could go even further. And Hughes should know; he was captain during the 1981 Ashes series that Australia lost 3-1, a series remembered as `Botham’s Ashes’.”I try not to think about ’81 because it gives me nightmares,” Hughes told the Sydney-based Sun-Herald, “but as soon as I saw Flintoff, I thought, that’s Both (Botham). It’s Both all over again. He’s a mirror image, but … he’s a bigger man physically than Ian and looks even more of an athlete.”Flintoff has had an exceptional all-round series this summer, scoring 322 at 40.25 and taking 19 wickets before the final Test at The Oval. Fourteen summers ago, Botham scored 399 runs, took 34 wickets and 12 catches (Flintoff has taken three).But more than just the figures, says Hughes. “Flintoff and Both – they thrive on pressure and a competitive situation. It’s their presence. As an opposition captain, you’re not too sure what is going to happen. You’re thinking, shit, if this bloke bats for an hour, he’s not going to be blocking them back and he’s not going to be 10 not out. He’ll have taken the game away from us.”He dismissed the notion that both players were lucky. “Botham had a tremendous belief in himself and he was jammy, flukey. Flintoff is exactly the same. It happens too often just to be luck. They create luck. When they’re batting, they get an inside edge but it doesn’t hit the stumps. When they’re bowling, someone gets an inside edge and it does hit the stumps. You think, you lucky bastard. But it keeps happening.”And Hughes, who had a wretched series in 1981 averaging only 25, suggested that Flintoff could even surpass the considerable achievements and legend of Botham. His bowling, said Hughes, is quicker than Botham’s and he has now become a genuine strike bowler. Botham, on the other hand, found swing with the new ball but became a stock bowler later in the innings.He added that Flintoff’s batting, while comparable in strength with Botham’s, possessed a sounder technique. But he said Flintoff had to keep performing at his current level for a few more years to confirm his standing as an all-time great.”Flintoff could be a once-in-a-lifetime cricketer. England has had some fine players over the years, but none of them since Both have had the magic that Ian had. Flintoff has got it. We’ve got a great in Warne and now England have a champ of their own. Flintoff could end up being a player we’re still raving about in 50 years. He’s that good.”

Alan Butcher has been announced as Surrey’s new coach, with a two-year contract starting with immediate effect. He replaces Steve Rixon who held the post on a one-year contract.Butcher has spent most of his professional life with the London club, and has been coaching the Surrey Second XI side since 1998, nurturing players such as Scott Newman and Rikki Clarke into the first team. His eldest son, Mark, played Test cricket for England and is Surrey’s current captain, and his younger son, Gary, played for Surrey and Glamorgan.In a statement released on Wednesday, the chairman of Surrey, Micky Stewart, commented: “This has been a difficult season for the club; a strong, knowledgeable man who is dedicated to cricket in Surrey will be in charge during what will inevitably be a period of transition for the club in the immediate future. Alan is a Surrey man and the ideal candidate to take us forward.”

Nuwan Zoysa is the only new face in Sri Lanka’s 15-man one-day squad to tour India later this month after the selectors kept faith with the side that recently routed Bangladesh 3-0.Chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma said that left-arm fast-medium bowler Zoysa got his call after impressing for Sri Lanka A in the recently-concluded one-day triangular series against New Zealand A and South Africa A. Although he finished with figures of 1 for 60 in the three matches he was the most economical of the Sri Lankan bowlers, conceding just 3.78 runs per over.The team is due to leave on the one-day leg of their tour on October 20, playing seven ODIs between October 25 and November 12 before returning home. The second leg, which starts on November 25 will comprise a series of three Tests and a three-day practice match.Sri Lanka squad Marvan Atapattu (capt), Mahela Jayawardene (vice-capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Farveez Maharoof, Russel Arnold, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Nuwan Zoysa.

Speculation is rife that Aziz Al Kaiser Titoo, the vice-president of Bangladesh Cricket Board, has resigned as the row over a secret deal regarding television rights grows. The rumours come in the wake of the resignation of Reazuddin Al Mamun , the board joint-secretary and media committee chairman, in protest at the deal.Speaking to the Dhaka-based daily, , Titoo denied submitting any resignation letter, but did not rule out its possibility in the near future. “Honestly speaking, I am looking forward to the next board meeting to clarify my position. I will definitely raise some burning issues like the TV and sponsorship deal and the resignation of our joint-secretary in the meeting and if there is no satisfactory outcome then I will definitely think about my resignation.”Titoo also expressed his dissatisfaction at the way Ali Asghar, the board’s president, has handled the TV deal. “There is an elected committee in the board and I think nothing should be passed or accepted bypassing the executive committee. I don’t know whether president has accepted one of our top members’ resignation or not, but I think it should be discussed in the board meeting before taking a final decision.”He also expressed his ignorance about the alleged secret deal that Asghar struck with Aston Moore Sports and Entertainment in July, and demanded an inquiry into the affair.. “I’m not aware of such deal. If such deal was struck then it is certainly a big issue. I know Aston Moore but to be honest the company is not experienced enough to handle such a big matter. We should form an inquiry committee to bring out the truth.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Sri Lanka began their last innings of this tour 508 runs behind, on apitch whose bounce and spin suited the Indian spinners, a templatethat beckoned a fourth-day finish. And yet they fought hard, despitebeing outplayed, and ended the day on 235 for 6, still 273 behind. Thedestination was probably beyond them, but they made a fist of it onthe journey, never giving up, always scrapping hard, but simply beingoutplayed by a superior team.The highlight of Sri Lanka’s innings was a fifth-wicket partnership of105 between Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekeratne Dilshan. They cametogether with the score on 96 for 4, and batted sensibly, mixingcaution with opportunism and frustrating the Indian spinners.Jayawardene was compact, eschewing the flamboyant strokes he sometimesindulges in, a gatherer instead of a hunter. Dilshan, who had handledthe spinners superbly in the first innings, played with an ease thatbelied the trouble some of the others had got themselves in.It took a fast bowler to break the partnership, Ajit Agarkar pitchinga yorker-length delivery to Jayawardene which was hit straight back tohim. Jayawardene thought it was a bump-ball, but replays showedconclusively that his bat had hit the ground and the ball had gonestraight off the bat (201 for 5).Dilshan went shortly after, lured into a drive by a ball from Irfan Pathanthat moved away just enough to get an edge through to the wicketkeeper(229 for 6). He walked back to the pavilion with an anguished slownessthat reflected the intensity with which Sri Lanka had approached thisgame. Jehan Mubarak and Farveez Maharoof saw Sri Lanka safely throughto the close of play, but three long sessions still loomed ahead.India began the day on 287 for 9, extending their overnight leadby 29 runs before declaring. Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh had added a total of69 runs for the last wicket, demonstrating in the process that thepitch wasn’t quite such a nightmare to bat on. Strokeplay was possible- Harbhajan made 40 off 51 – and so was stodge – Kumble made 29 off68. It was a lesson Sri Lanka would surely have noted.But mere application simply wasn’t enough. Harbhajan opened thebowling with Pathan, and revelled in the conditions: he hadenjoyed the bounce of the pitch in the first innings, and generatedmore of it here, and some turn, too, with the new ball.Upul Tharanga batted with composure and assured footwork, and seemedup to the task of batting out sessions. Marvan Atapattu started uncertainly,and was lucky to be dropped at gully after an uppish cut off Pathanwas put down by Kumble. He was eventually out stepping forward toHarbhajan and edging to the on side, where a diving Mohammad Kaif,from forward short leg, took an excellent catch (39 for 1).Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga then added 45, and the manner ofSangakkara’s dismissal, for 17, showed the cunning and experience ofKumble. Bowling round the wicket, he went very wide of the crease andbowled a superb ball to Sangakkara that, turning sharply into him,squared him up. He was plumb in front (84 for 2).Tharanga was next, surprised by one that spun viciously into him,managing to just tamely glance it to leg slip, where Gautam Gambhirtook a good catch (89 for 3). Thilan Samareewera didn’t last long,edging a ball through to Kaif at forward short leg (96 for 4).Then Jayawardene and Dilshan came together, and contrived to make surethe match would go into a fifth day. Sri Lanka might lose, but theywould not capitulate.How they were outSri LankaMarvan Atapattu c Kaif b Harbhajan 16 (39 for 1)
Kumar Sangakkara lbw Kumble 17 (84 for 2)
Upul Tharanga c Gambhir b Kumble 47 (89 for 3)
Thilan Samaraweera c Kaif b Kumble 5 (96 for 4)
Mahela Jayawardene c and b Agarkar 57 (201 for 5))
Tillekeratne Dilshan c Dhoni b Pathan 65 (229 for 6)

Jimmy Adams has not been directly involved with West Indies cricket since he played the last of his 54 Test matches back in 2001. But the former West Indies captain is certain of one thing: “If the flour is poor quality and the salt is poor quality, the bread will taste bad.”The Adams comment came yesterday when asked about whether the standard of the senior team had improved any since the left-handed middle-order batsman ended his international career following the 5-0 whitewash the West Indies suffered under his captaincy on their 2000/01 tour of Australia.Elaborating further, Adams, currently in Trinidad in his capacity as manager of the West Indies Under-19 team currently preparing for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka, said: “The sort of (desired) improvement won’t start at the senior team, it’s going to start at the levels below.”But he was sceptical about whether such development was now taking place. “Speaking for Jamaica, standards can be higher,” he said. “The sort of lasting success that people want, more consistent (development) has to be made at the lower levels. I’m not sure culturally as an organisation we are inclined that way at the minute. Do we believe in it enough that all the resources will be put into it? Does everybody know what is expected at every level?”Stressing on the standards of cricket in the West Indies, Adams said the initiative must begin at the basic level. “If you want to raise the standard of a national team, you have to raise the standards at the level below. That’s a non-negotiable fact. If the standards below keep falling and they are falling,” he stressed. “What do you expect to see when players get to international level?”While the former WI skipper had his doubts about the present level of senior regional cricket, he was more positive about the little he has seen so far of the under-19s. The inclement weather which forced the postponement of the start of the Carib Sunday League competition this weekend, has also hampered the young Windies squad now encamped at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Development Centre in Balmain, Couva.Adams said the rain had kept the squad of 14 led by Leon Johnson of Guyana indoors. However, while there was not much cricket to see, the general approach was encouraging. “I’ve been very pleased with the attitude that I’ve seen. I feel that if that attitude remains, what talent they have, we should see some good cricket coming out of it.”Adams, who was hastily called on to replace Roger Harper who quit as manager to take up a coaching job with Kenya, stressed further: “I’m from the school of thought that the attitude is more important (than talent). It doesn’t matter how much talent you have, if the attitude is not right, it’s not going to happen. If we can help them to foster the right attitude, you have no doubt that with the general levels of talent that we have, we will see some good cricket resulting.”At the last Under-19 World Cup, West Indies, captained by Denesh Ramdin reached the final where they were beaten by Pakistan.West Indies Under-19 squad: Leon Johnson (capt, Guyana), Jason Mohammed (vice-capt, T&T), Richard Ramdeen (Guyana), Gajanand Singh (Guyana), Andre Fletcher (Grenada), Nelson Pascal (Grenada), Kemar Roach (Barbados), Javon Searles (Barbados), Shamarh Brooks (Barbados), Andre McCarthy (Jamaica), William Perkins (T&T), Sunil Narine (T&T), Kieron Pollard (T&T), Rishi Bachan (T&T).