UK court okays multi-million pound Old Trafford regeneration plan

London, July 5 (ANI): Three Court of Appeal judges have given the go-ahead to a multimillion-pound regeneration plan for Old Trafford, one of England's most famous cricket grounds in Manchester.

The judges rejected a property company's petition that the local authority was wrong to give the Lancashire County Cricket Club permission to redevelop its Old Trafford stadium in Manchester.

Lawyers for Derwent Holdings, which owns a retail park near Old Trafford, told the appeal court in London that Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council acted unfairly when it gave the plan the green light last year.

But judges disagreed and said the redevelopment should go ahead. They said they would give reasons for their decision at a later date.

Lancashire's chief executive, Jim Cumbes - a former Lancashire quick bowler and West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa goalkeeper - said the decision was one of the most significant events in the club's 154-year history.

He said redevelopment was essential if Old Trafford was to continue as an international cricket venue.

"This is one of the biggest days in the club's history. If we don't redevelop then 150-odd years of history would have been in danger of disappearing," The Mirror quoted Cumbes, as saying after the hearing. (ANI)

India, Pakistan yet to decide who'll host 2012 bilateral cricket series

Lahore, July 6 (ANI): It is yet to be decided whether India or Pakistan will host the Indo-Pak cricket series in 2012.

"In fact, we have to play four series against India in the Future Tours Programme (FTP), which spreads from 2012 to 2020, but there is a question mark on the 2012 series as to who will host it," the Dawn quoted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed, as saying.

According to the International Cricket Council's FTP, India would host the 2012 cricket series comprising five one-day internationals (ODIs) and three test matches.

Subhan said PCB officials had "discussed the future of 2012 series with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials during the ICC meetings in Hong Kong last month and they assured us that they would give us a reply after getting clearance from their government".

"As soon as they get clearance we will resume the talk to decide the number of matches and the venues," he added.

But when reminded that during Indo-Pak World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan at Mohali on March 30, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced that the Indian team would tour Pakistan, Subhan said that the BCCI might need a written consent in this regard.

Subhan also said that Pakistan could host for India at any neutral venue if they declined to tour the country due to security concerns.

"We are already playing our home series at neutral venues due to security concerns of other teams. And we feel no problem in hosting India too at any neutral venue," he added. (ANI)

Oz selectors dump White for Sri Lanka ODI series, Marsh recalled

Melbourne, July 6(ANI): Australian all-rounder Cameron White has been dropped from the 14-man squad for next month's ODI series against Sri Lanka.

White, however, retained the captaincy of the Twenty20 side for the two-game series that precedes a five-match ODI and a three-match Test series in Sri Lanka during the seven-week tour.

The 27-year-old had averaged just 17.5 in seven innings in the recent World Cup on the Indian sub-continent.

"Cameron White is unlucky to be omitted from the one-day squad having been a regular and successful member of the squad for the last few series," Adelaide Now quoted chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch, as saying. Cameron lost his position in the side during the recent one-day tour ofBangladesh, but the national selection panel is confident that he will force his way back into the team through weight of runs," he added.

Opening batsman Shaun Marsh will return to the ODI team, while all-rounder David Hussey has been reinstated to both the Twenty20 and ODI squads.

Marsh returns to the ODI arena for the first time since last summer's home series against Englandwhen he re-injured his troublesome hamstring.

"The ODI squad sees the return of Shaun Marsh who was unavailable for the World Cup through injury. Shaun can open the batting, but also provides flexibility throughout the order and gives the squad great balance," Hilditch said.

Victorian fast bowler James Pattinson features in both squads, while Xavier Doherty is the ODI spinner and Stephen O'Keefe is the Twenty20 tweaker.

The Test squad will be announced later this month.

DI squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson and Doug Bollinger.

Twenty20 squad: Cameron White (captain), Shane Watson, David Warner, Brad Haddin, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith, Steve O'Keefe, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee and James Pattinson. (ANI)

ICC, not BCCI, should dictate cricket's path: Michael Holding

London, July 6(ANI): Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding has criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for having too much power in world cricket and dictating to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The BCCI is considered cricket's financial powerhouse on account of cricket's massive following in India. There have also been concerns that the board uses its influence in the sport's corridors of power.

"They (the BCCI) have too much power. I do not believe any country should be able to dictate to the rest of the world," Fox Sports quoted Holding, as saying.

"In the Caribbean we have been fans of Brazilian football for many years. Brazil has dominated many World Cups. They could never go to FIFA and say 'this is what we want'. They could never dictate the path of the sport."

"Only the organization that runs the sport should dictate its path. Individual boards are dictating certain things and that's something I can't agree with," he added.

The BCCI is worth an estimated 1.5 billion pound, making them one of the richest sports organizations in the world. (ANI)

PCB clears Afridi to play in Sri Lankan Premier League

Lahore, July 6 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said it had given clearance to former captain Shahid Afridi for taking part in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League starting later this month.

A senior PCB official confirmed that the board had given permission to the Sri Lankan authorities to sign around 10 Pakistan players including Afridi for the league.

"We gave these permissions and clearance for the players including Afridi sometime back. But now when he individually also applies for a No-Objection Certificate or the Sri Lankan organizers reconfirm his availability, we see no problem in giving him clearance," the Daily Times quoted the official, as saying.

Afridi, who is presently playing for Hampshire in the domestic T20 cricket, was entangled in a feud with the PCB last month after the board revoked his NOC to play for Hampshire.

The board issued a fresh NOC after he appeared before a PCB disciplinary committee and accepted a fine of 4.5 million rupees for breaching the code of conduct and also withdrew a petition he had filed at the Sindh High Court against the board.

Contrary to the popular belief, that more than a dozen Pakistan players would get an opportunity to play in the SLPL following withdrawal of 12 Indian players, the PCB official said he expected only around 12 players from Pakistan to feature in the league.

"So far we have given around 10 clearances and there are some seven pending, but they are issues over paper work and availability and we don't think more than 12 Pakistan players will play in the league," he added.

He also clarified that even if players and their agents independently contacted the SLPL organizers, they would still have to get NOCs from the PCB.

Pakistan players have started using their contacts to secure contracts in the league after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revoked permission given to 12 players to take part in the league. (ANI)

Laxman returns to top 10 in ICC rankings

Bridgetown: Veteran Indian batsman VVS Laxman on Sunday rose seven places to a career-best sixth in the ICC Rankings for Test batsmen after playing two crucial half centuries in the drawn match against the West Indies here.

The 36-year-old from Hyderabad, who hit 85 and 87 in a low-scoring match, has moved above compatriot Virender Sehwag and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who both lose ground in the latest rankings.

The top five remain unchanged with Jacques Kallis of South Africa still leading the way ahead of Sachin Tendulkar in second postion.

Sehwag and Tendulkar, who are not playing in the West Indies, have fallen back because a player loses one per cent of his ratings points for every Test he misses.

The news is also good for 10-wicket hero Ishant Sharma who has broken into the top-10 of the Rankings for Test bowlers following his stellar performance here.

With match figures of 41.2-11-108-10, Ishant gained four places to seventh, overtaking team-mate Harbhajan Singh in the process and making him the second highest-ranked India bowler at the moment.

It was a productive match for West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards as he returned to the top-20 following an eight-wicket haul in the Test, the ICC said in a statement.

South Africa leads the way in the bowling chart, too, with speedster Dale Steyn top of the list, followed by England off-spinner Graeme Swann.

There was no change in the top five of the Rankings for Test all-rounders with Kallis leading the way, followed by New Zealand's Daniel Vettori.

WI hang on to draw 2nd Test against India

Barbados: Bad light had the final say in the second Test between West Indies and India at the Kensington Oval which ended in a draw with India three wickets away from snatching a dramatic victory.

Chasing a 281-run target set by India, when they declared their innings at 270/6, West Indies reached 202-7 when umpires decided to call off the match due to bad light.

Carlton Baugh (46) and Ravi Rampaul (0) remained unbeaten at the end, while Ishant Sharma was pick of the Indian bowlers with the overall figures of 10/108.

India thus lead the three-match series 1-0 owing to their victory in the first Test in Kingston.

Earlier, India started their innings from 229/3 and their quest for a victory met a disastrous start when they lost the wickets of their overnight not out batsmen - VVS Laxman (87) and Virat Kohli (27) - and skipper Dhoni (6) inside the first hour of play.

West Indies' decision to opt for a available new ball paid dividends immediately as Edwards got the ball moving from the second over itself.

The pacer first accounted for Kohli, who looked off colour from ball one and could add just one run to his overnight score of 26 before giving a simple catch to Sammy in the second slip.

Laxman and Kohli shared a 78-run fourth-wicket stand and extended India's lead.

VVS Laxman, too, played a lose stroke when he poked at a swinging delivery outside the off stump and gave Sammy his second catch of the morning.

Edwards completed his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Dhoni who gave a straight forward catch to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at mid-off.

Suresh Raina (12) and Harbhajan Singh (6) were at the crease when the Indian skipper produced a bold declaration.

It left West Indies to chase 281 runs with well over two session left in the day's play.

India got off to the best possible start while defending a 280-run total as the visitors took two early Windies' wickets.

The visitors were provided the first breakthrough by last innings' hero Sharma who got Lendl Simmons caught at first slip to Rahul Dravid.

Ramnaresh Sarwan started his innings with a four off Praveen Kumar but the bowler got his revenge in his next over as the right-handed batsman couldn't control a delivery leaving him and gave a catch to Suresh Raina in the second slip.

West Indies reached 51/2 at lunch, still 230 runs behind, with Adrian Barath (23) and Bravo (5) at the crease.

Ishant raised India's hopes of winning by picking up Barath (27) immediately after lunch.

Barath opened the face of his bat while negotiating Sharma's rising delivery that eventually went into Raina's hands in the second slip. The right-hander struck three fours and a six in his knock.

But the visitors were unable to get any more breakthrough as Bravo and Chanderpaul played with grit to keep India at bay in the afternoon session and take West Indies to 108/3 at tea.

Bravo was the more adventurous of the two left-handers, striking seven fours in an unbeaten 45 off 110 balls, while Chanderpaul was typically obdurate in compiling 12 not out off 83 deliveries without a boundary.

Bravo reached to his fifty in 120 balls and kept the West Indies' hopes alive of at least saving the match.

But an umpiring error cost West Indies the wicket of their key batsman Chanderpaul (12), who was judged leg before the wicket off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh.

The left hander tried to cut a well-pitched Harbhajan's delivery that seemed to be missing the off-stump. But the umpire Ian Gould thought otherwise and raised his finger, thus leaving Windies at 109/4, 172 runs behind India's total.

Ishant then struck again when he trapped Marlon Samuels (9) with his in-swinging delivery.

Incoming batsman Carlton Baugh played his part as he made full use of the missed chance he got when Dhoni dropped his catch off the baowling of Harbhajan.

The wicketkeeper batsman played strokes and gave his side an outside chance to go on for a victory.

But a drizzle halted the play for half an hour and a draw looked imminent at that point of time but play resumed and both teams once again pressed for victory.

Wickets of well-set Bravo and Sammy created flutters in the West Indies' camp as they were still behind by 79 runs at that point of time.

Bravo was dismissed by Abhimanyu Mithun while Ishant completed his 10-wicket haul in the match.

But the fading light ensured West Indies a draw with last match to start from July 6 in Dominica.