A decision on the structure for county cricket in 2011 has been delayed after the ECB agreed to set up a working party to examine all the options

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Sep-2010A decision on the structure for county cricket in 2011 has been delayed after the ECB agreed to set up a working party to examine all the options.The ECB management board met on Wednesday to discuss the outcome of a meeting of 56 representatives from the first-class game in England at Lord’s last week, but no format was agreed for the domestic game. There appears to be a split forming between the large counties with international grounds who want a reduction in Twenty20 cricket and the small clubs who still managed healthy crowds despite an increase to 16 group matches in 2010.The Friends Provident T20 included 151 matches in the 2010 season which put enormous strain on the schedule despite a reduction from four to three tournaments across the summer. Overall, crowds for the tournament were down but some counties still pulled in good numbers because they had fewer seats to fill and are urging the ECB not to reduce the fixture list because it will hit their major income stream when counties are trying to become more self-sufficent.During the season five new structures for the County Championship were leaked – including conferences or a return to one league – but all the proposals were rejected and it appears the 16-match, two-division set-up will remain in place. The Clydesdale Bank 40 competition completes the structure and there has been no suggestion that the length will be altered despite the England set-up admitting, in an ideal world, they would like a 50-over event that would match the international version.The working party will be chaired by David Collier, the ECB chief executive, and will include representatives from the PCA and across the county game. It will report back at the next management board meeting on November 17 when the ECB hopes a decision will be made on which structure to adopt.

Kenya, playing without Steve Tikolo, proved too strong for UAE in the fourth and final one-dayer in Mombasa, beating them by 24 runs to sweep the series 4-0

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2010
Scorecard
Tanmay Mishra hit one of three half-centuries for Kenya as they beat UAE by 24 runs to sweep the series 4-0•AFP

Kenya, playing without Steve Tikolo, proved too strong for UAE in the fourth and final one-dayer in Mombasa, beating them by 24 runs to sweep the series 4-0. Half-centuries from Tanmay Mishra, Alex Obanda and captain Jimmy Kamande ensured Kenya had enough runs. This, despite a late collapse in which five wickets fell for 18 runs, all of them to medium-pacer Amjad Javed, who took a career-best 6 for 50.UAE began promisingly, but sedately, and later slumped to 134 for 6, before the other Amjad, Ali, led a fightback with an aggressive fifty. But Kenya kept up the pressure, and UAE folded up for 214.The game had begun well for UAE when fast bowler Shoaib Sarwar had struck twice to leave Kenya in trouble at 25 for 2. But Mishra and Obanda steadied the innings with an 84-run partnership before Obanda was bowled by offspinner Mohammad Tauqir for 64 off 70 deliveries. Mishra then found an able ally in Kamande and the duo took the score past 150 until Mishra was stumped for 68 off 71. At 220 for 5, Kenya were eyeing a substantial score but Javed struck repeatedly as the lower order collapsed. Kamande made 56 off 62 but also fell to Javed as Kenya were dismissed for 238 with 14 balls left.UAE began solidly until Arfan Haider fell to Nelson Odhiambo for 20 off 43. Kenya were miserly and as the asking rate mounted, the pressure told on the UAE batsmen. Wicketkeeper Swapnil Patil was run out for 20 off 48 and offspinner James Ngoche trapped opener Arshad Ali leg before for 40. Amjad Ali resisted with a quick half-century but when he fell to Aga, it was all but over for UAE. Elijah Otieno snuffed out the last two wickets as UAE were bowled out with two overs to spare.

England held Sri Lanka to 187 for 9 to secure a tight, five-run win in the first one-day international of their limited-overs series at the Nondescripts Ground in Colombo

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2010
Scorecard
England held Sri Lanka to 187 for 9 to secure a tight, five-run win in the first one-day international of their limited-overs series at the Nondescripts Ground in Colombo. Claire Taylor’s half-century, her 22nd in ODIs, held England’s middle order together amid a four-wicket haul for seamer Deepika Rasangika as the visitors were bowled out for 192 after being put in to bat. A middle-order collapse hampered Sri Lanka’s chase, and a tight final over from seamer Jenny Gunn sealed the result for England.England made a stuttering start to their Sri Lankan tour, losing opener Heather Knight – bowled by left-arm seamer Rukshala Dharmasiri – without a run on the board. With captain Charlotte Edwards and left-hander Lydia Greenway also falling for single figures, it was left to Taylor and Gunn to repair England’s innings with an 86-run partnership for the 4th wicket.Rasangika then struck back for the hosts, picking up three wickets in two overs – including that of debutant Fran Wilson first ball – as England slipped to 143 for 6. Wickets fell regularly thereafter, with Laura Marsh and Anya Shrubsole providing the only resistance before the visitors were bowled out in the final over.Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a positive start, Chamari Polgampola and Chamari Atapattu putting together a 64-run opening stand. After they were parted, however, England’s spinners ran through the middle order. Edwards, Laura Marsh and Danielle Hazell combined to reduce Sri Lanka to 86 for 5 before Eshani Kaushalya and wicketkeeper Dilani Manodara’s 52-run partnership brought Sri Lanka back into the game.Sri Lanka needed just 55 in slightly over eight overs when Isa Guha returned to the attack and bowled Manodara for a watchful 26. The lower order managed to keep up the scoring rate, Sripali Weerakkody slamming a 16-ball 19 that included a four and a six, but at a cost of wickets. With six runs needed from the final two deliveries, Gunn had Rasangika caught by Shrubsole and then sealed a slim victory with a dot ball to close the innings.The teams meet for the second ODI at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on Wednesday before a series of three Twenty20 matches, starting on November 19 at the Nondescripts Ground.

If Australia needed any convincing about England’s resilience they were given a day-long example as Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook hit magnificent centuries

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan28-Nov-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAndrew Strauss roars after reaching his century as England put Australia to the sword•Getty Images

If Australia needed any convincing about England’s resilience they were given a day-long example as Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook hit magnificent centuries to give the visitors a golden chance to save the opening Test in Brisbane. The openers added 188 and when Strauss departed for 110, the challenge was taken up by Jonathan Trott, who helped Cook put on a further 121 for the second wicket. Cook ended unbeaten on 132 and England held a lead of 88 when bad light closed in.While few expected England to fold in a heap – they rarely do these days – even fewer would have expected a stumps score of 1 for 309. However, inspired by their captain the tourists set about showing they’d learnt the lessons from their poor first innings and gave Australia a day of toil in the field to match what England had suffered on Saturday. There is still time for the home side to force something on the final day, but nothing in their bowling in this innings has suggested they have the firepower to succeed.Strauss’s 19th Test hundred, and fourth against Australia, arrived from 184 balls when he late cut Xavier Doherty and his aggression against spin was a key part of the innings. He knew England couldn’t block their way to safety, and often used his feet to advance and loft down the ground. Strauss’s century celebration was unusually emotional; it hadn’t been the easiest start to the series after his first-morning failure and this was another example of England’s spirit. The stage was set for him to make it a massive hundred, following Hussey’s lead, but he was beaten in flight by Marcus North and couldn’t regain his ground, stumped by Brad Haddin.Cook reached his landmark with a rasping cut shortly after tea and this match has been an emphatic response from somebody who still had his fair share of doubters coming in to the tour. Shortly afterwards he gave a tough chance to Peter Siddle at fine leg off a top-edged pull, but Siddle couldn’t quite hold on as he dived forward. Trott was also given a reprieve, on 34, when Michael Clarke’s valiant attempt at point failed as the ball slipped out of his finger tips and this time Siddle was the bowler to suffer.England’s opening pair ticked off a few records along their way, including the visitors’ highest stand at the Gabba and the best opening effort by any touring team in Brisbane. They also became England’s most prolific first-wicket duo in Test cricket, although the record was diluted somewhat as they have played more than twice as many innings as the Jack Hobbs-Herbert Sutcliffe pairing they overtook. But that was a minor point in the bigger picture of England trying to claw their way back into the match, which they did with an impressively aggressive approach. The time-runs equation could be vital in the end.

Smart Stats

• The 188-run stand between Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook is the seventh-highest partnership by an England opening pair in Australia. It is also the second-highest after the 203-run stand between Michael Atherton and Graham Gooch at Adelaide in 1991.

• Cook and Strauss became the most prolific opening pair for England in Tests, surpassing the aggregate of Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe.

• Strauss’s century was his first in Australia. He made 247 runs in 10 innings on the previous tour.

• Cook’s century was his second against Australia and 14th overall. His previous century came at Perth in 2006.

• Mitchell Johnson has picked up just 24 wickets in eight Tests since January 14, 2010 at an average of more than 41. At home, he has just one wicket in two Tests.

• The century stand between Cook and Jonathan Trott was the tenth for the second wicket for visiting teams in Australia since 2000. It was also the third century stand for the second wicket for England, the highest being 170 between Ian Bell and Cook at Perth in 2006.

Having survived a first-ball review yesterday evening, Strauss gave a commanding display, punctuated with his favourite cuts and drives. However, he was given a significant let-off on 69 when Mitchell Johnson, in the midst of a torrid match, spilled a relatively simple chance at mid-off when Strauss tried to loft Doherty down the ground. There was another moment of alarm when he misjudged a pull on 88 which looped over point then an edge flew between the slips to take him to 96, but Strauss will feel England were owed a little luck.The clearest sign that Strauss’s game was in top order came from his shots through cover, which were a hallmark of his dashing start to Test cricket back in 2004. He latched on to Ben Hilfenhaus and Shane Watson when they over-pitched, while waiting on the back foot for anything short. Though the ball was only 15 overs old when play resumed there was very little assistance for the quick bowlers and Johnson, who was the fourth option used by Ricky Ponting, resorted to trying a bouncer-attack at Strauss, but a slow pitch nullified the threat.Cook showed the same application as he had in the first innings after an early alarm when he sliced a cut between third slip and gully. Most of his other 10 boundaries came out of the middle and he even showed the cover drive, which is rarely seen from him these days. Initially, Cook outscored his captain but normal service was resumed as he dug in but he never became flustered and ticked the scoreboard over. He hacked Doherty through midwicket then cut him for three to move to 97 but had to spend the tea interval sat two short of his hundred, although didn’t have to wait long. It was the first time since 1938 that both England openers had hit Ashes hundreds in the same innings.After Strauss’s aggression towards spin brought his demise, Trott began in positive fashion, which meant the scoring didn’t seize up. He carried England into the lead with an elegant cover-drive off the struggling Johnson and he ensured two set batsmen were ready to face the second new ball when it came at the beginning of the final session.Once again a crucial period loomed but Cook and Trott were equal to the challenge. Hilfenhaus found some swing and there were the two tough chances, yet it wasn’t quite the threat everyone expected. In a sign of desperation Ponting used up his last review when Trott padded up to Hilfenhaus, but the ball was easily missing off stump and Trott’s fifty soon followed as he tucked into Johnson’s wayward offerings. This Test has had too many twists to think the final day will be plain sailing, but if England can hold their nerve it will be another in their recent history of incredible rearguards.

A round-up of the latest action from the Logan Cup, Zimbabwe’s domestic first-class competition

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jan-2011Former South Africa allrounder Andrew Hall sizzled with both bat and ball to lead a recovery for Mashonaland Eagles who ended with first-innings points against Mid West Rhinos in Harare. The Eagles’ top order collapsed in both innings, more dramatically in the second, but each time Hall was around to guide them to safety. He also led the bowling in the crucial first innings, picking up three wickets as Eagles took a narrow 33-run lead.The Eagles were rattled on the opening morning by Ian Nicolson, who removed the openers in his third and fourth overs. The wobble continued for Eagles, and they were struggling at 106 for 5 soon. Hall (70) started the rescue effort in the company of Ryan Butterworth (61), and then consolidated along with Mark Mbofana (68). The tail hung around long enough to see Eagles through to 319.Rhinos began promisingly despite the early loss of Brendan Taylor, and young Gary Ballance – nephew of former Zimbabwe captain Dave Houghton – anchored the innings with his third century in his ninth first-class game. At 261 for 5, they were on their way to taking the lead, but Hall brought Eagles back in the game, trapping Ballance leg-before for 125. Rhinos caved in after that to be dismissed for 286.They came back strongly at Eagles though, and the new-ball pair of Nicolson and Ed Rainsford scythed through the top order to leave Eagles tottering at 38 for 5, a lead of only 71. Hall rose to the occasion with an unbeaten hundred, carrying his side to safety along with Regis Chakabva (60) and Chad Keegan (45). Hall’s busy innings allowed Eagle to declare on 274 for 9, setting Rhinos a target of 308. Taylor made 67 as Rhinos replied with 137 for 3 before the match was called off.There were runs aplenty for both Matabeleland Tuskers and Southern Rocks, who played out a high-scoring draw at the Masvingo Sports Club. Neither side was bowled out in the match, with the Tuskers picking up the solitary point for gaining the first-innings lead, although that came courtesy of a declaration from bottom-of-the-table Rocks.Matabeleland piled up 583 for 7 declared in their first innings on the back of a mammoth 342-run partnershp between Paul Horton and Gavin Ewing for the second wicket. The pair came together after legspinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi had removed Terry Duffin for 27, and proceeded to bat out the remainder of the day. Horton eventually fell to the hard-working Kamungozi, but not before the Tuskers had gone past 400, and he had racked up his highest first-class score of 209. Kamungozi, who bowled 41 overs in the inning, then had Ewing caught nine short of his own double-century. Charles Covernty then chipped in with an entertaining 72 that included seven fours and six.Rocks began shakily, losing two wickets for 42 but Chamu Chibhabha and Craig Ervine steadied the ship with a century-partnership, before Chibhabha was bowled by Keegan Meth for 74. Ervine continued on untroubled, and finding a willing partner in Richmond Mutumbhani, took Rocks past the 300-mark.With the game already heading for draw, the Rocks declardedon 342 for 5, with Irvine on 167 and Mutumbhani on 54. The Tuskers then threw their bats around, racing to 76 for 2 from 13.3 overs before declaring, giving the Rocks 10 overs to bat, in which they made 36 for no loss.

Big Bash defending champions Victoria have begun their 2011 campaign in perfect style with a clinical display to account for Queensland in game two at the MCG

The Bulletin by Alex Malcolm02-Jan-2011Victoria 4 for 188 (Finch 58, Hussey 42*) beat Queensland 9 for 155 (Hopes 36, McKay 3-26) by 33 runs

Scorecard
Aaron Finch clubbed 58 off 38 deliveries•Getty Images

Big Bash defending champions Victoria have begun their 2011 campaign in perfect style with a clinical display to account for Queensland in game two at the MCG.The home side rewarded the 29,429 locals who turned out with a dominant display on a sluggish drop-in wicket.The Victorian openers set the tone, Aaron Finch and Brad Hodge clubbing 98 from the first 64 balls of the innings after Cameron White won the toss. Anything back of a length or shorter Hodge cut or pulled with typical ease. Anything fuller and straighter Finch clubbed to the sightscreen or into the long-on bleachers, which he did on three separate occasions.Finch’s brutal 58 from 38 balls earned him Man-of-the-Match honours. His dismissal and some tight bowling from Bulls’ captain James Hopes slowed the Bushrangers momentarily, but the classy veteran David Hussey (42 not out) sussed the conditions quickly to produce a gem of an innings to take the total to 4 for 188.It was always going to be a tough ask against a barrage of Victorian quicks. New-ball pairing James Pattinson and Dirk Nannes removed the Queensland openers in consecutive overs to put the Bulls well behind in the game. Hopes, on return from a broken thumb, clubbed five boundaries in 36 but his demise to a slower ball from Clint McKay signalled the beginning of the end as Queensland battled to 9 for 155.McKay claimed three wickets with off-speed bowling, Nannes three with blistering pace. The Victorians are going to be hard to beat again with the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Cameron White and Matthew Wade playing just minor roles in tonight’s first-up win.

South Africa Under-19 completed a 5-0 spanking of Zimbabwe Under-19 with a 71-run win in the fifth match at Newlands

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-2011
Scorecard
South Africa Under-19 completed a 5-0 spanking of Zimbabwe Under-19 with a 71-run win in the fifth match at Newlands. Home captain Keaton Jennings opted to bat first after winning the toss, and half-centuries from Quinton de Kock and Malcolm Nofal boosted South Africa to 276 for 6. The Zimbabweans were never really in the running, but some gritty batting from Brian Chari and Ryan Burl did at least give them the satisfaction of passing 200 against opponents who have proved stronger in every discipline in the course of the series.Jennings, who was named Man of the Series for his 208 runs and three wickets, had a torrid time negotiating Vuyisile Mapala’s outswing early on but settled in and contributed 26 to a 64-run opening stand. His dismissal barely slowed de Kock down as he soon raced to fifty, and after he ran past one of Liberty Nherera’s offspinners to be bowled for 69 Nofal took up the attack.He had made 78 before he was caught at long-on in the final over, and with support from Shaylin Pillay (40) and a brutal 12-ball 31 from Johan du Preez – who hit the last three balls of the innings for a six and two fours – South Africa reached a total that appeared well out of reach of Zimbabwe.Chari and Matthew Bentley put together a bright 44-run partnership for the second wicket to help their team weather the early loss of Kevin Kasuza, but after Bentley got an edge to an attempted dab down to third man South Africa chipped steadily away at the Zimbabwean line-up. Nofal, who was named Man of the Match, did most of the damage with three quick wickets that ripped the heart out of the middle order.Chari’s defensive knock reached fifty in the 34th over, by which time the asking rate had edged close to nine-an-over. But for a couple of lusty hits from Chari and Burl thereafter, Zimbabwe might not have reached 200 at all and once they were dismissed the innings quickly capitulated.The teams now face up in two Twenty20s, with the first being played at Paarl on Saturday.

“We still have five matches left, and everyone is looking ahead,” – Tamim Iqbal

Sidharth Monga in Dhaka21-Feb-2011Tamim Iqbal says that Bangladesh have put behind them the defeat against India in the World Cup opener, and are feeling good about their chances of making it to the quarter-finals. After a week of frenzied anticipation, Bangladesh went down to India in a disappointing manner, especially with the ball letting India to score 370 runs.However, Tamim said, “We are not thinking about the India match at all. We still have five matches left, and we are looking ahead. Today’s practice I feel was the best session we had in the last one-and-a-half months. Everybody was enjoying, and we were all very relaxed. We are now totally focused on the Ireland match. As a player I am very satisfied about how it went today.”As a player in the first game, though, Tamim struggled, and was the face of Bangladeshi surrender after the first two wickets fell. It was as if Bangladesh had decided early on in their innings that 370 was too much, and they would not even go for it. Before that happened, though, Imrul Kayes, usually the anchor to Tamims pyrotechnics, started aggressively, scoring 34 off 29. Tamim spoke about both the innings.”The way Imrul struck the ball against India has been a huge benefit for the team,” Tamim said. “I think if Imrul can play like that he can take his game to the next level. As for my innings I was not timing the ball well. Somehow the ball was not coming on to the bat that well. So I thought not to throw the wicket and hang in there. One thing I believe is that even if I play 20-30 balls more, I am capable of recovering my strike-rate later.”Three-hundred-and-seventy-one was a huge target to chase. I thought if we got them somewhere around the 300 to 310 mark, we could have made a match out of it, considering their bowling attack and our bowling strength.”In one way perhaps, Bangladesh take confidence from having reached close to 300, for not every team will set them 371 to chase, and their bowlers are also expected to improve and be more effective against non-subcontinent sides. One of those teams will be Ireland, who have beaten them in the World Cups of both limited-overs formats.”Against Ireland we have plans for each and every player in their side,” Tamim said. “We have played quite a few matches against them, and its the same set of players they have got. We know their strengths and weaknesses. If we can execute our plans we will definitely win.” Three of those quite a few matches against Ireland have come at home for Bangladesh, and they have won all three, which will give them heart.Tamim, though, said there was no room for complacency. “In the World Cup there are no easy matches,” he said. “You cannot relax. The moment you take something lightly you stand a chance of losing. We will approach all the matches the same way, similar to the way we approached the India match.”Bangladesh know that progress to the next round will only be possible if they beat both Ireland and Netherlands, apart from beating one of Test-playing teams in their group. A loss against Ireland can knock Bangladesh out. “If you take pressure, there are a lot of pressures,” Tamim said, “[But] the boys are mentally very tough, and they are ready. We know we have to play our best if we want to beat any team we play against, whether it’s South Africa or whether it’s Ireland.”

Aravinda de Silva, the outgoing chairman of selectors, has said that Sri Lanka’s failure win the World Cup final is something he could not bear

Sa'adi Thawfeeq07-Apr-2011Aravinda de Silva, the outgoing chairman of selectors for Sri Lanka, has said that Sri Lanka’s failure to win the World Cup final is something he could not bear. “When we took over I remember telling Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara) that I don’t want it to be mentioned that the 1996 team was the only one who won a World Cup,” de Silva, a member of the 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lanka side said. “It’s time we changed that.”This was the best opportunity we had to go out there and give 200% and try and change it. To have not succeeded is definitely a very big disappointment for me. But at the same time the players gave 200% and they were committed. “Sri Lanka were beaten by India in the World Cup final in Mumbai on April 2. Lasith Malinga reduced India to 31 for 2 in their chase of 275 before the Indian middle order blunted the Sri Lankan attack to take the title by a comfortable six-wicket margin. Even Muttiah Muralitharan, in his final international game, went wicketless in his eight overs that cost 39 runs. There were questions raised about whether Muralitharan, who had been battling various niggles, should have been risked for the final, but de Silva said he is willing to take responsibility for that decision.”Murali some would say was not 100% fit but we are prepared to take the blame because I was one guy who told Murali that even on one leg he should play because he would still be a better bowler. That responsibility we were ready to take. That’s the sort of commitment a senior player like Murali has given to the cause.”de Silva said a new set of selectors was needed to take Sri Lankan cricket forward and focus on the 2015 World Cup. “A lot of changes need to be made; the correct decisions need to be taken both long-term and short-term. We have only two more weeks before our term expires so us making such decisions is not going to be of any consequence. We took an overall decision thinking of the future.The emphasis going forward should be on fast bowlers, de Silva said, as the next World Cup was in Australia and New Zealand where the pitches are more favourable for seamers. “[Also] the opening batsmen should not be too flashy but ones who can consolidate, being technically more solid because on those wickets the new ball assists the fast bowlers.”It’s not the current openers, but we must look for more solid openers for Australia and New Zealand. Changes have to be made and tough decisions taken, therefore the next chairman of selectors must be strong to implement them.”de Silva said that he would have to think hard about continuing as a national selector if he is asked again. “When I took over this job I said I would take it only on one ground that I won’t be able to travel with the team when they are on tour but spend time as much as possible at home and be with them. Over the last eight months, except for the final against India, I didn’t go on any of the tours mainly because for that reason.”Spending two hours with my family makes me happier than sitting through and arguing about teams for seven hours. But that commitment was an obligation on my part for Sri Lanka cricket for all that it has given me in the past. At the same time the other three selectors have done the same and I appreciate very much the amount of work they have put in. We were able to do a clean job and be very transparent with whatever we did for that reason I am very happy. There were no interferences and we were able to do a job with a clear conscience.”The other members of the selection committee were Ranjith Fernando, Amal Silva and Shabbir Asgerally. Fernando said that the committee had endeavoured to be transparent and approachable by the players. “Our belief is that every young boy in this country wants to play for Sri Lanka and if we don’t open the doors for them no one else will,” Fernando said. “So we at all times told them what they had to do and where they have failed.”That sort of transparency needs a lot of time. I don’t think we can afford that time in that fashion so easily. Those are the things that we have to consider if the job has to be done long term.”Fernando said that de Silva probably had the best cricketing brain in the country. “I have been his mentor when he was a young kid and I am proud to serve under him. Sri Lanka cricket needs to utilise his talents in some form in the future even if it is not of a selector.”His knowledge of every young cricketer at Under-19 level is virtually at the back of his brain at any given moment. That is the type of cricketing guy we need to take cricket forward. There are others as well but I am just talking about one.”

Sri Lanka Cricket is ready to take on any charges levelled against them with regards to corruption and misappropriation of funds, secretary Nishantha Ranatunga has said

Sa'adi Thawfeeq10-May-2011Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga has said the board is ready to take on any charges levelled against them with regards to corruption and misappropriation of funds. He was reacting to a report in the Sri Lankan newspaper on Monday that the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), a government body to oversee financial discipline in public corporations, was prepared to summon the board on those grounds.”So far we have not heard from them [COPE] officially. I have also read the news report, and we are quite prepared to answer any questions, with regard to whatever charges they want to bring against us,” Ranatunga said. “We have been transparent in all that we have done and are quite prepared to co-operate with whoever is levelling charges against us.”Ranatunga also said that the media report that the Sri Lankan Supreme Court had ordered the board to hold elections within two months was incorrect. “What the Supreme Court has suggested is that both parties come to a settlement on the issue and report back to them within two months, possibly with a view to holding elections.”United Southern Cricket Club president Asoka Mendis had filed a fundamental rights petition against Sri Lanka Cricket last year, on the grounds that an interim committee – first instituted in 2005 – had been appointed by the Sports Minister without the prior approval of the member clubs, bypassing the democratic process of elections. The club wanted the Supreme Court to prevent the interim committee members from holding office and functioning until the hearing is over.