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Points TableWarwickshire’s clash against Surrey at Edgbaston petered out into a tame draw on the final day. Mark Ramprakash helped himself to another century but with Warwickshire’s first division status confirmed yesterday they will not have been too bothered by the outcome. The draw leaves Surrey needing a win in their last game of the season, against Middlesex, to avoid relegation.However, Warwickshire will have sensed an outside chance of forcing a win after they snapped up two early wickets. Mark Butcher fell to Alex Loudon – the young offspinner who is interesting the England selectors with his bowling – and Saqlain Mushtaq was caught off Makhaya Ntini, leaving Surrey 70 for 3, still 43 behind.But Rikki Clarke made a forceful 45, adding 93 with Ramprakash, and taking Surrey into the lead. Ramprakash had few problems reaching his century from 174 balls and as the draw became assured he and Jonathan Batty eased their way to a stand of 150.When Ramprakash fell Warwickshire were set an impossible 201 and play was called off after 11 overs, leaving Surrey on the brink of relegation.

Enver Mall has been elected the fourth selector on the national selection panel in South Africa. This decision was taken by Ray Mali, the president of the South African board, at Tuesday’s meeting in Johannesburg. Mall will join Omar Henry, the convener of selectors, Eric Simons, the national team’s coach, and Gary Kirsten – who was recently appointed as the high performance manager – on the panel for a one-year term.Mall, 42, represented Natal and the SACOS XI as an opening batsman between 1980 and 1990. He is currently a selector for the KwaZulu Natal Dolphins, and was chosen ahead of Mustapha Khan and Joubert Strydom.The board was notified that Haroon Lorgat, who was originally nominated, had withdrawn his candidature in order to focus his attention on the upcoming election to the treasurer’s post. The selection panel will meet on Friday to select a squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in July and August.There were other developments too, including the resignation of John Blair, the treasurer of the board. Blair had served on the board for the last 11 years and was elected treasurer in 1999. Blair had also worked in the ICC Audit Committee.Meanwhile, it was also announced that the audit committee of the board was looking into the report on the alleged financial irregularities by Diteko Modise, the the former finance and administration general manager. The committee will make their recommendations to the general council on July 10.

Hampshire 262 for 5 (Kenway 120*, Mascarenhas 50) beat Zimbabwe 246 (Marillier 54, Giddins 4 for 33) by 16 runs Zimbabwe’s preparations for the NatWest Series suffered another setback as they slumped to a 16-run defeat against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl. They were bowled out for 246 with Ed Giddins reviving fond memories of his 5 for 15 against Zimbabwe at Lord’s in 2000.This time Giddins took 4 for 33, and despite 53 from Douglas Marillier and consistent scoring from the middle-order, Zimbabwe couldn’t reach Hampshire’s 262, in which Derek Kenway excelled with 120 not out.The Zimbabweans reshuffled their batting order, with the inexperienced Charles Coventry opening with Marillier and Dion Ebrahim dropping down to No. 3. Coventry made only 2 before miscuing Dimitri Mascarenhas to cover, and Ebrahim only 5 before playing on to Giddins. That made Zimbabwe 19 for 2 in the ninth over, a position which only emphasised their fragile batting.However, their stocks revived through an enterprising partnership between Marillier and Tatenda Taibu, but just as it was looking dangerous Taitu attempted an ill-advised hook against James Hamblin and holed out at long leg for 29 (87 for 3) in the 22nd over. This left much depending on Marillier, who was closing in on his half-century, and the experienced Grant Flower.Marillier was soon bowled by Shaun Udal (111 for 4), but Flower (22) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (38) kept up the momentum before Andy Blignaut launched a rapid 44 from 30 balls to keep Zimbabwe in the hunt. He needed the tail-end to stay with him, but that was asking too much. Gary Brent was bowled for a duck (203 for 8) and Ray Price went for 4 (243 for 9) and that was that.Put in by Taibu, Hampshire made a solid start before Kenway began to play more fluently, batting through the innings for an admirable 120. At 154 for 5 however, Zimbabwe were on course to restrict Hampshire to a low score, but Dimitri Mascarenhas then put pay to that. He chipped in at the end with a rapid half-century and kept the board busy in an imaginative innings, using his feet well, placing the ball cleverly and teasing the fielders with speedy running, as Hampshire clocked up a respectable 262 – a score which was too much for Zimbabwe.And to make things worse for them,, during the match they received the depressing news that their most consistent batsman, Stuart Carlisle, did indeed break his thumb fielding against Somerset. Carlisle hopes he may be fit to play in the last two matches of the triangular tournament, and will stay on with the squad as the selectors have refused to send a replacement.

Former Somerset player Allan Jones was voted Chairman of the First-Class Umpires Association by his fellow umpires at their end of season meeting at Lord’s recently.Fast bowler “Jonah” joined the Cidermen from Sussex and between 1970 and 1975 played for Somerset in 118 first class matches, taking 291 wickets at just over 29 runs each.After leaving Somerset he went onto play for both Glamorgan and Middlesex to become one of the first players in the modern era to represent four counties.Jonah was elected to the First-Class Umpires list in 1985 and since that time has officiated in nearly 250 County Championship matches. He was elected to the Test panel in 1996, and since then has umpired in One Day Internationals and acted as third umpire in a number of Test matches.Earlier today Jonah told me, “I’m looking forward to the challenge of the job, which involves representing the umpires and working closely with the E.C.B.”

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has said that offspinner Sachithra Senanayake’s reduced potency following remedial work on his action was among the reasons he had not been picked so far in the series. Sri Lanka’s bowling has ailed against Pakistan so far, prompting calls for personnel changes, but Mathews felt they were already using their best bowlers.Senanayake was suspended for exceeding the 15-degree flexion limit last year, but has since been cleared to bowl after remodeling his action. In eight matches since returning to ODI cricket, he averages 41.11 with an economy rate of 5.23. He had averaged 34.82 with an economy rate of 4.62 prior to his suspension.”Sachithra has bowled well, but after his remedial work, his effectiveness has slightly decreased,” Mathews said. ” The other thing is, Pakistan have seven right-handers at the top and are also a team that plays spin well. Dilshan is there to provide offspin. There is a chance Sachithra will play, but in all three matches so far, our spinners didn’t get much out of the track. If we look at their spinners, they have bowlers who turn it a lot. Yasir Shah would turn it on any track. Sometimes we have to do the best with what we are good at. We have to figure out how to do well with the bowlers we have.”Lasith Malinga’s apparent decline has also been worrying for Sri Lanka. Malinga had surgery on his ankle last year, and has since suffered a variety of other complaints. He averages 36.93 and has an economy rate of 6.04 in ten matches this year – his worst numbers since 2009. Mathews said Malinga continued to deserve a place in the side despite leaking runs at eight an over on Sunday.”It’s not at all an issue to drop a senior, but we know Lasith’s capabilities. He understands his game. He feels that he hasn’t performed well and that he needs to do a lot better for the team. You need to give guys chances as well. As soon as you have a couple of bad games you can’t throw away these players because they are quality players. They are experienced enough to handle their game. I’m pretty sure he’ll come out firing tomorrow.”We’ve talked about his performance with Lasith. We are confident he’ll play in the way the team needs him to play. The quick bowlers didn’t do well in the three matches – not just Lasith. We didn’t have a bowler who could take wickets. We can’t make major changes.”With the spin stocks appearing bare, there have also been calls to recall Rangana Herath to the side. However, Mathews said Herath’s omission was largely self-imposed.”We talked with the selectors about Rangana Herath. As he wants to play Tests for a while, we got a message that one-dayers are a bit tough on his body, given his injuries. He talked with the selectors and told them his stand. He’s someone who’s very valuable to us in Tests. He can’t be particularly athletic in ODIs with his knees the way they are. He told the selectors and myself that, and so we’ll look at him when the Tests come.”

Comilla Victorians

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The newcomers will be led by Mashrafe Mortaza, who led Dhaka Gladiators to the title in the 2013 season. The set-up is also bolstered by other Bangladesh internationals in Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, and Shuvagata Hom. However, the youngsters – Ariful Haque, Mahmudul Hasan, and Sunzamul Isam – need to step up to lend balance to Victorians.A lot will depend on the foreign contingent with Andre Russell, Shoaib Malik and Ahmed Shehzad arriving later in the tournament. Victorians will pin their hopes on the West Indian pair of Marlon Samuels and Sunil Narine while 39-year-old Darren Stevens from England is expected to double up as a middle-order batsman and change-up seamer.Position in BPL 2
Didn’t participateKey player
Sunil Narine has been given the go-ahead to play in the BPL despite having an ICC test hanging over his head, after being reported for a suspect action during the Sri Lanka tour. Victorians are hoping that the offspinner will be able to play the first few matches and get the action cleared.Below the radar
Ariful Haque used to be a bits-and-pieces allrounder but has now developed into a consistent, full-fledged batsman in domestic cricket. He is a powerful hitter, and will be expected to fill an important role in the middle order.Squad Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Abu Hider, Ahmed Shehzad, Alok Kapali, Ariful Haque, Dhiman Ghosh, Imrul Kayes, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Nuwan Kulasekara, Liton Das, Mahmudul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Sunil Narine, Robiul Islam, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Shoaib Malik, Shuvagata Hom, Darren Stevens, Sunzamul Islam, Lahiru Thirimanne

Rangpur Riders

Misbah-ul-Haq brings with him the experience of 124 T20 matches•BCCI

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Rangpur Riders will target a top-four finish after a disappointing tournament in 2013. They have strong allrounders such as Darren Sammy, Thisara Perera, Lendl Simmons, Kevin O’Brien and Mohammad Nabi besides adding Misbah-ul-Haq, who brings with him the experience of 124 T20 games.More crucial would be Shakib Al Hasan, who was quickly snapped up by Riders when they were lucky to be the first team to call the icon players. Shakib, who missed the second and third ODIs against Zimbabwe on paternity leave, is expected to be available throughout the BPL season. After having Soumya Sarkar as the first pick in the regular draft, Riders took took Arafat Sunny, allrounder Muktar Ali and batsman Mohammad Mithun. Seamer Abu Jayed Chowdhury is another exciting prospect.Position in BPL 2
FifthKey player
Riders’ fortunes will revolve around their icon player Shakib Al Hasan. He will lead the side and shoulder responsibility with the bat and ball. Shakib, world’s premier allrounder according to the ICC T20 rankings, though, has done it all before.Below the radar
A couple of years ago, Muktar Ali was called the future Ryan Harris of Bangladesh cricket by his Rangpur coach Shane Jurgensen. He has improved substantially and was rewarded with a place in the Bangladesh A side.Squad Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Abu Jayed, Arafat Sunny, Juhurul Islam, Jubair Hossain, Marshall Ayub, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Nabi, Muktar Ali, Murad Khan, Kevin O’Brien, Thisara Perera, Raqibul Hasan, Darren Sammy, Saqlain Sajib, Sachithra Senanayake, Lendl Simmons, Soumya Sarkar, Wahab Riaz

Sylhet Superstars

Mushfiqur Rahim is the second-highest run-scorer in the BPL•Associated Press

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Sylhet Superstars have one of the strongest batting line-ups in the tournament, boasting the likes of Ravi Bopara and Brad Hodge, alongside Mushfiqur Rahim, Junaid Siddique and Josh Cobb. The bowling attack also seems to have most bases covered, with Ajantha Mendis, Rubel Hossain and Abdur Razzak at the helm with assistance coming from the Pakistan pair of Sohail Tanvir and Shahid Afridi.Mohammad Shahid, Nurul Hasan and Nazmul Hossain are also good domestic picks while Mominul Haque has been given another opportunity to prove himself as a T20 batsman.Position in last edition
ThirdKey player
Mushfiqur Rahim is second on the list of highest scorers in the BPL, just behind his new team-mate Hodge. Mushfiqur has always been a key figure in the Bangladesh middle order, and his role will be no different for his franchise.Below the radar
Nurul Hasan, 21, is rated highly as a wicketkeeper-batsman, some even calling him the heir to Mushfiqur’s gloves. Nurul is also an innovative batsman and this season’s BPL is another opportunity to build on the gains.Squad Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Abdur Razzak, Abu Sayeem, Ravi Bopara, Josh Cobb, Brad Hodge, Chris Jordan, Junaid Siddique, Ajantha Mendis, Mohammad Shahid, Mominul Haque, Nazmul Hossain, Nazmul Hossain Milon, Nurul Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir

Shoaib Akhtar has blamed Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi for the spat that led to him hitting fast bowler Mohammad Asif with a bat during Pakistan’s build-up to the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa. On his return home today after being thrown out of the squad, Shoaib apologised for his actions and said the matter should have stayed in the dressing room.Shoaib, who has been handed an indefinite ban for the scuffle two days ago, said he didn’t mean to hit Asif, whom he described as a younger brother. “I apologised to Asif and he forgave me but another team-mate, Afridi, took the matter further and it forced the management to send me back,” Shoaib said.”The incident began with a verbal spat between me and Afridi, who used foul language,” Shoaib said, “and Asif intervened and in anger I hit Asif with a bat.””Afridi said things about my family which I could not tolerate. He made comments that cannot be called jokes. I am sorry for what happened and it should not have happened. I request the authorities not to ban me for a lengthy period. I want to play for my country and talk of a life ban or lengthy ban is worrying.”Afridi, however, denied that he had provoked Shoaib and was surprised at the accusations.”I can’t say much because I am bound by the central contract,” Afridi told PTI. “But it is fact that Shoaib has been facing one problem or the other in the last two years and he is frustrated. I have had a good relationship with him so I don’t know why he has targeted me. But he is lying and it would be better if everyone asked Asif what happened. I know Asif could have suffered more injuries if I had not stepped in.”Shoaib also criticised the media for blowing the incident out of proportion and making him a “villain”. “The matter got blown up. The media has contributed to the whole controversy. There is a lobby which has always been trying to malign me by selling negative news about me. I request you all to stop doing that. Stop spreading false propaganda against me, stop selling my name in the name of news.”The main theme, though, was contrition. “If Pakistan lose [in the ICC World Twenty20] because of bowling, I will never be able to forgive myself.” Shoaib also reiterated his commitment for the Pakistan team and said, “I have played with passion for Pakistan. It means something to me. I have turned down a lucrative contract with the ICL [Indian Cricket League].”However, Pakistan board official Shafqat Naghmi said Shoaib would face a disciplinary committee hearing very soon. “Akhtar is suspended indefinitely until a disciplinary committee meeting. He is also issued a notice to explain his comments against a doping tribunal.”Pakistan’s president, General Pervez Musharraf, who is also the PCB’s patron-in-chief, reportedly directed the board to take strict action against Shoaib. “President Musharraf directed PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf to take strict action against Akhtar as the quarrel between him and Asif gave a bad name to Pakistan,” private channel Geo reported.Pakistan have asked the ICC to approve the uncapped allrounder Sohail Tanveer as the replacement for Shoaib. Their first game of the ICC World Twenty20 is against Scotland on Wednesday.

Harbhajan Singh, India’s offspinner, accepts that his role in India’s set-up has changed but still aspires to be the best in the business. Looking at his senior team-mate Anil Kumble for inspriration, Harbhajan has declared that his best is yet to come.In an interview to , Harbhajan revealed that he was a more complete cricketer. “I have become sure of myself. I don’t like sitting out because there is no greater joy than playing,” he said. “I don’t allow pressure to affect me. Whatever opportunities I got, I have given my best. I will be in the team if I am good. Getting picked or getting dropped will happen because of my cricket.”Harbhajan admitted that the series against Australia in 2001 was the turning point, but maintained that his will was stronger that his talent. “My role has changed over the years,” he said. “My responsibilities have increased, expectations from me are high but I am on the right path and it is up to me to carry myself forward. My best is yet to come.”After an indifferent patch last year, Harbhajan has taken 22 wickets at 27.13 from 17 matches in 2006. “I am working hard. I have some tricks,” he said. “I have to get wickets by bowling better and not by just talking. I believe I can do it. It comes from within. I know what is good for me.”An integral part of India’s Champions Trophy campaign at home, Harbhajan admitted his goal was pursuing Kumble’s level of success. “I want to be known as the best. I would like to see myself where Anil is today,” he said. “I would like to win as many matches as he has. If I don’t, then I would be disappointed. Anil is the greatest role model that you can think of, and he has set a benchmark for excellence.”

An initiative to have Barbadian business executive Rawle Brancker replaced as chairman of the Board of Cricket World Cup 2007 has been overwhelmingly rejected by the six territorial bodies represented on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).The original proposal put to representatives of member boards of the WICB, then under the presidency of Teddy Griffith, and Val Banks, who remains vice president, was to have the newly-elected president, Ken Gordon, as both head of the WICB and chairman of the CWC Board. But was reliably informed yesterday from highly credible sources that the plan was rejected as a development that could result in “unnecessary tension and instability” with “negative consequences” for Cricket World Cup 2007.When contacted, Brancker said he was not disposed to commencing on the issue “at this time”. He, however, stressed that he intends to “continue to do my job as chairman of the CWC Board with ultimate and demonstrated integrated and transparency for as long as I am in that position…”Questioned on reported tension in relations between him and Jamaican merchant banker Chris Dhering, the chief executive officer of CWC 2007, Brancker, who has been board chairman from its inception in 2003, said he would “prefer not to comment on that matter either”. Dhering was appointed head of marketing for the WICB under then President Pat Rosseau, the Jamaican entrepreneur, and subsequently seconded to become CEO for CWC 2007.The nature of Dhering’s appointment made him accountable to the executive board of the WICB, while both Rosseau and Barbados’s Teddy Griffith served as President, although Dhering functions under the management of the board of CWC 2007.WICB Board members who feel that Brancker should be allowed to continue as head of the CWC 2007 also confirmed that the immediate earlier president, Griffith, was approved for appointment to the CWC Board as a result of a vacancy that arose. They denied that Griffith was to be a “consultant” to West Indies Cricket Board Inc, the private entity that deals with the business aspect of the WICB, and which had entered into the controversial secretive sponsorship contract with Digicel in 2004.Griffith did not make himself available for re-election as WICB President at the recent annual meeting in St Maarten, and Ken Gordon was elected unopposed as new head of the Board. Banks, the incumbent vice president, defeated a challenge from former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd by two votes that proved decisive – his own and that of the outgoing president Griffith.

Scorecard

A century from Geraint Jones, along with 4 for 50 by Amjad Khan on the third day of the tour match gave Kent a realistic chance of victory against the New Zealanders. After the batsmen added a further 136 to their overnight score, Kent bowled out New Zealand for 211 to leave them needing 165 more runs for victory tomorrow.Jones, resuming on 43, sent out the perfect signal ahead of next week’s Test at Lord’s with an eye-catching century. He hit 101 from 107 balls, including 11 fours and five sixes. He added a handy 58 with Min Patel, who made 44, to keep the New Zealand bowlers toiling away in the Canterbury sun.Jones eventually fell, caught by Shane Bond off Chris Martin, but it was little reward for the bowlers, who all felt the force of the Kent batsmen during the innings, especially Daniel Vettori, the left-arm spinner, who went for 100 from 15 overs. He did take two wickets, though, including that of Patel, as Kent declared on 432 for 9, and with a lead of 23.New Zealand then had Chris Cairns to thank for another meaty innings of 73 after his side had spluttered to 81 for 6. Khan, a right-arm fast bowler from Denmark, dismissed all top four batsmen, including Nathan Astle for a second-ball duck to rock the New Zealanders. However, Cairns and Vettori added a valuable 49 together to make Kent’s task a little harder.David Fulton and Robert Key, Kent’s openers, played out to the close unscathed.