ICC scrutinies Australia-New Zealand WC match

Karachi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has carried out a scrutiny of the Australia and New Zealand World Cup match played in Ahmedabad after Australian

openers, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin batted slowly in the first 10 overs.

The two openers scored just 28 in 11 overs and 53 in 15 overs in a match that Australia eventually won comfortably but the slow rate of scoring in the first two overs was scrutinized by the ICC anti-corruption and security unit.

Sources aware of developments said the ICC ACSU had carried out a quiet review of the match after questions were raised over the slow start taken by Watson and Haddin.

With the spectre of spot-fixing now looming over international cricket following the bans on three Pakistani players for spot-fixing last year on the England tour, sources said the ICC ASCU was keeping a vigilant eye on all matches in the World Cup and the slow start by the Australian openers caught their attention.

"They are taking no chances at all and all matches are under the scanner for possible indications that any spot-fixing has taken place," one source said.

Australian team coach Tim Nielsen has defended his openers saying they played slowly according to the situation.

"I thought they played well in game one. Everyone had this perception that they went slowly. But if Zimbabwe were going to be competitive against us, they needed to take early wickets with their spinners. We`re playing the way we think is the right way to play," said Nielsen after the match.

Pakistan former test captain, Rashid Latif has already expressed fears that the format of the World Cup has opened a window for bookmakers to try to corrupt players in the tournament since most of the top teams are certain to make the all-important quarter finals from the group matches stage.

In spot-fixing bookmakers take bets on particular moments and stages of a match for example how many runs would be scored by a team in five overs or after ten overs and so on or in a certain over how many runs will be scored or if it will be a maiden.

Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were hauled up after being found guilty of deliberately bowling no-balls during the fourth test against England at Lords last year.

Plenty of fuss was also raised over the India and England match after former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne correctly tweeted seven hours before the start of the match that it would be a tie.

England skipper Andrew Strauss claimed that Warne had shown he was a cricket genius with his correct prediction but others also observed that it was strange how one could predict a tie so early before a match.

Pakistan`s former captain, Moin Khan said the Warne tweet could have been just a hunch but felt it had raised questions by many people.

Pakistan`s test pacer, Sohail Tanvir said that the ICC needed to keep a close eye on all matches of the World Cup as it was a mega event and a big attraction for bookmakers in the subcontinent.

Pakistan`s former captain, Aamir Sohail ruled that if any Pakistani or Indian player had made the same tweet about having a tied match lot of hue and cry would have been raised in the western media by now.

"But since this prediction comes from a Australian player it is declared a stroke of genius," he added.

Source:-http://www.zeenews.com/

Preview: Sri Lanka vs Kenya, Match 14

Before the start of the World Cup, 2 teams from the subcontinent were termed hot favourites to lift the trophy - one was India, and the other Sri Lanka. Their opening games against Bangladesh and Canada respectively showed why. But a week later, rude wake up calls from England and Pakistan exposed weaknesses in their sides and proved that this is the most open World Cup played so far, with many teams having a chance to grab the coveted title. Both teams have a chance to get back on track as they take on relatively easier opponents in their next games. While India takes on Ireland later in the week, Sri Lanka plays Kenya in Colombo on March 1st. 

Team news 

Sri Lanka: The Lankans started their World Cup campaign in style by crushing Canada by a mammoth 210 runs in their opening game. The batting and bowling came together as they walloped the hapless minnows with an all round display. But their performance against an unpredictable Pakistani side would have brought them back to the ground. The bowling line up, without Lasith Malinga looked harmless on a flat batting pitch. The pacers lacked penetration and though the spinners - Muralitharan and Herath were economical - they were unable to pick up wickets in the middle overs. The Sri Lankan top order looks extremely strong, with Dilshan, Jayawardene and Sangakkara among the runs in the 2 games. But their long middle order will be a cause of concern. There was ample proof for this in the Pakistan game as the batsmen struggled to score runs once Jayawardene and Sangakkara departed. Arjuna Ranatunga wanted Sangakkara or Jayawardene to bat lower in the line up to strengthen their middle order. It would be interesting to see if the team management considers it. 

Kenya: It is a time when the minnows are doing their best to impress the ICC in the World Cups. Netherlands gave England a scare, and Ireland almost upset Bangladesh at home. But Kenya on the other hand are doing everything they can to justify the ICC's decision to restrict the number of teams in future World Cups. Nothing is going right for the African team. They started their campaign by getting whacked by the Kiwis in Chennai, losing the game in around 3 hours. They soon followed it up by another shoddy performance against Pakistan, and ended up losing the game by 205 runs. Their bowlers conceded 37 wides against Pakistan, while the batsmen have struggled to measure up to both pace and spin. To make things worse, there are off field controversies with differences between the coach and senior players. Kenya would be desperately hoping for a miracle to put up a decent performance against Sri Lanka at home. 

Head to Head: 

Not many in the Sri Lankan team would forget what happened in the 2003 World Cup game in Nairobi. Put in to bat, the Kenyans made a decent 210 and returned with the ball to dismiss Sri Lanka for 157, thus shocking the Lankans by 53 runs. Collins Obuya was the star for Kenya that day, picking up 5 wickets for just 24 runs in his 10 overs. Obuya is still there 8 years later, but a repeat of the 2003 game seems far from possible. Apart from this encounter, the 2 teams have met 4 other times, with the Lankans winning all of them. 

Quotes: 

"I don't mind losing to teams like New Zealand and Pakistan because they are obviously better than us but we should be competitive. We need to be seen to be fighting and scoring runs" - Cricket Kenya chief Samir Inamdar. 

"We know all about the embarrassment of losing to Kenya after that debacle in Nairobi back in 2003 and they have some useful players in their ranks" Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardena.

Source:-http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37337/preview:-sri-lanka-vs-kenya-match-14/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+CricbuzzFeed+(Cricbuzz:+Cricket+Scores+and+News)

Pranab offers little on inflation & corruption in Budget

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee seemed determined to please all constituencies with his Budget speech on Monday, but if first impressions are anything to go by he was at best only partially successful. Significantly, on the two issues agitating most people today – inflation and corruption – he had little concrete to offer. ( Read: Pranab puts his money where his heart is ) ( Read: Bond is back, and the name's infrastructure ) 

India's middle class has over the last few years got used to the idea that finance ministers must hand out tax sops on Budget day and they weren't entirely disappointed, with hikes in exemption limits that could save individual taxpayers anywhere between Rs 1,030 and Rs 26,780. Senior citizens were the biggest gainers with those over 80 getting the largest tax savings. ( Read: Returns - File I-T? Forget it ) ( Read: Times guide to corporate tax ) ( Read: Times guide to indirect tax ) ( Read: Men get a small raise ) ( Read: Times guide to personal tax ) 

Business got an unexpected gift with the rollback of the stimulus package introduced during the global financial crisis being put on hold and the surcharge on domestic firms being pared. 

Foreign investors have been given greater access to India's capital markets. Reformers were given enough reason to believe that the process initiated 20 years ago has not been abandoned and would be carried forward, even if there were more promises of action in the future than actual changes introduced. ( Read: FIIs in no hurry to gatecrash D-Street ) 

There were promises too for the aam admi – who was referred to only once in the speech – but a closer look at outlays on social sector programmes suggests that the rhetoric hasn't really been followed up with the moolah needed to make it come true. ( Read: Tax trimmer ) ( Read: Seniors ki jawani ) 

The mood of the markets reflected the uncertain nature of the response to the Budget. Up almost 600 points at one stage, the sensex, probably on closer scrutiny of the fine print, ended the day barely 122 points up over the weekend close. ( Read: Main course for mkts: Stake sale ) ( Read: Raging bulls couldn't keep it up ) 

The speech had a whole section dedicated to black money. While there were few details in the speech, a reading of the Finance Bill suggests that some steps are being taken, particularly to check the flow of funds from countries with opaque disclosure norms. ( Read: The war's just begun, time for a blackout ) 

The middle class has reason to have mixed feelings about this Budget. While the tax sops will clearly be welcomed, their impact could be more than wiped out by the extension of service tax to cover healthcare and diagnostic facilities not covered so far and to a host of other services. ( Read: Rising healthcare costs enough to make you sick ) (Read: Check in, cheque out for hotel stay, happy hour ) ( Read: Pain in the neck for fliers as airlines hit fare pocket ) ( Read: Easy to cook, but hard to digest ) 

Similarly, at first glance, the fact that a one percentage point subsidy on home loan interest rates will now be available on loans up to Rs 15 lakh for houses costing up to Rs 25 lakh rather than on loans up to Rs 10 lakh for houses costing up to Rs 20 lakh may seem like very good news. But how many people who can put down Rs 10 lakh from their pocket would buy a house worth Rs 25 lakh or less? ( Read: Aam admi gets to hit home run ) 

Some sections of industry too might wonder whether extending the coverage of the minimum alternate tax (MAT) to units in special economic zones and a marginal hike in the MAT rate does not offset the gains from a lower surcharge. ( Read: Pranab SEZ special status won't MATter anymore ) ( Read: Holiday over as IT gets unwelcome MAT) 

Perhaps the only category to have unambiguously gained is the foreign investor. FIIs have been allowed to invest up to $40 billion in corporate bonds against the $20 billion available to them earlier. That's because they can now put in up to $25 billion cumulatively in long-term bonds of infrastructure companies against the $5 billion they were earlier permitted. ( Read: Rupee warms up to foreign hug ) 

Further, individual foreign investors can now invest directly in Indian mutual funds rather than having to route their money through FIIs. ( Read: Debt funds hit by DDT spray ) 

Reformers might be unsure whether they should celebrate or moan at the fact that parts of the Budget speech read more like the annual Economic Survey the ministry brings out. ( Read: No 'wow' factor here, but reform rollout is key ) 

On the plus side for them, it's after many years that the Budget speech has given assurances of bold reform – the subsidy regime, at least in kerosene, fertilizers and cooking gas, will be replaced by a mechanism of direct cash transfers to the intended beneficiaries, the FM promised. 

He also talked of new banking licences being issued to the private sector and discussion being underway to "further liberalize the FDI (foreign direct investment) policy". On the flip side, none of this is to happen immediately. ( Read: New bank swipes only for a few ) 

Disinvestment of public sector shares, Mukherjee said, would remain on course, but was quick to add that the government would retain both a majority stake and management control. 

Similarly, tackling inflation is clearly something the FM views as a long-term programme to be dealt with by developing warehousing facilities, cold chains and the like. From a purely budgeting point of view, the FM can claim that he has done a remarkable job by reining in the fiscal deficit to a projected 4.6% of GDP for the 

next year, but the numbers show that the achievement banks on unrealistic expenditure projections.( Read: Can farm growth take wind out of inflation? )

Read more: Pranab offers little on inflation & corruption in Budget - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/union-budget-2011/Pranab-offers-little-on-inflation-corruption-in-Budget/articleshow/7598001.cms#ixzz1FJrTFImc

WI vs Ned: West Indies crush Netherlands by 215 runs

West Indies beat the Netherlands by a massive 215 runs in their World Cup Group B match at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi on Monday. 

Chasing 331, the Dutch were bundled out for 115 in the 32nd over with Tom Cooper's unbeaten 55 being the only bright spot in their innings.

Earlier, the West Indies piled up 330/8 in their stipulated 50 overs thanks to impressive batting performance by Chirs Gayle (80) and Kieron Pollard's 27-ball 60. 

The Netherlands began to show signs of pressure early with their first wicket falling in the first over. Kemar Roach scalped Wesley Barresi on the fourth ball of the first over with Chris Gayle performing the final honours. He could not even open his account.

But that was just the beginning of the carnage that the West Indians had in mind for the Dutch players. 

Even their most experienced player Ryan ten Doeschate could not save his teammates from the destruction as wickets after wickets fell and sounds of West Indies players making merry filled the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium. Ryan fell to Sulieman Benn on 7 with an LBW written against his initials in the scoreboard.

The Netherlands' scoreboard looked like a phone number with most of their batsmen getting out on single digit scores. By the end of the 11th over The Netherlands were down to 36/5 with left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn claiming three wickets while paceman Kemar Roach two.

Soon paceman Darren Sammy too joined the party claiming the opposition captain Peter Borren in the 19th over. He fell for 10 and the Dutch team slumped to 56/6. 

In his second spells Roach proved to be even more devastating claiming fours wickets to finish with impressive figures of 8.3-0-27-6. The Dutch could only 115 on board.    

West Indies innings

West Indies opener Chirs Gayle scored 80 and Kieron Pollard hammered a 27-ball 60 as West Indies scored 330/8.  

The West Indies openers Devon Smith and Chris Gayle batted on to put 100 runs on board. But, no sooner had they reached the mark that Smith fell with Bernard Loots claiming him in the 17th over. Smith tried to cut away but the ball stayed low and a thin edge got carried to the keeper Wesley Barresi. He scored 53 off 51 balls.

Post Smith's dismissal, Gayle and Darren Bravo got on with a partnership that contribute 68 runs to the West Indies total. The two could have carried on but for an impressive bit of bowling by Pieter Seelaar. 

Seelaar pitched the ball outside off tempting Bravo, who tried to play it and eventually ended up giving a catch to Alexei Kerveeze at long on. He scored 30. West Indies were 168/2 at the stage.

But big-match player Gayle was still at the crease and he continued to score briskly, until Ryan ten Doeschate struck. In the 37th over on the very second ball of the batting Powerplay ten Doeschate got rid of Gayle on 80. A good length ball was hammered towards long off, but Kerveeze cut it short with a fine catch and West Indies lost their opener on 196/3.

Then it the turn of Kieron Pollard to go all guns blazing. His half-century came in just 23 balls clearly suggest the rampage he was. And while he was at it, the Dutch managed to remove Sarwan and then added Shivnarine Chanderpaul's name to their list of victims. Finally, the lady luck smiled on them and Pollard too fell after scoring a blazing 60 of 27 balls that included five fours and four over the fence shots.

A Mudassar Bukhari ball in the 48th over was pumped high into the air and ten Doeschate came under it to cleanly collect it at long on. But by then the damage was done as the Windies were sitting pretty on 312/7. In the end, final West Indies total turned out to be an impressive 330/8 in 50 overs.

Source:-http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/131127/sports/wi-vs-ned-match-report.html