Aravinda de Silva,Sanath Jayasuriya were involved in match fixing :Hashan Tillakaratne

Ex-Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne has reportedly alleged that two former senior Lankan cricketers- Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya- and former Sri Lanka Cricket Board President Thilanga Sumathipala were involved in fixing international matches.


Hashan met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and disclosed to him many details about the cricketing scene in the country that have not yet been revealed, Lanka News Web reports.

Rajapaksa continuously questioned about the fraud and corruption committed by Sumathipala when Hashan gave him details of corruption in cricket.

Hashan explained the role played by De Silva, Jayasuriya and Sumathipala in match fixing, the role played by a Pakistani business in the whole matter and the involvement of many well known international cricketers. 

Hashan explained all these details to Rajapaksa by bringing out personal issues he has had to face as a Sri Lankan cricketer.

The report claimed former parliamentarian Ven Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero, a popular Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, facilitated the meeting between Rajapaksa and Hashan.

The President called the IGP after the revelation and said: "IGP, Hashan malli is with me. Close the file on him."
(ANI)

Big Bash teams have shown their interest in signing Afridi for this year's Twenty20 tournament.

Despite PCB revoking Shahid Afridi's NOC barring him from playing in the foreign leagues, Cricket Australia officials have expressed their desire to rope in the flamboyant all-rounder for this year's Big Bash Twenty20 tournament.

After the former Pakistan captain announced his retirement from international cricket following his stand-off with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, several of the eight teams featuring in the Big Bash have shown their interest in signing Afridi, who had a successful stint in the event two years ago.

A number of other states also indicated their interest in explosive West Indian opener Chris Gayle, whose ongoing tussle with the country's cricket board following a radio interview resulted in his omission from the one-off T20 international and first two ODIs against India starting on Saturday.

Stuart Clark, general manager of the Sydney Sixers, said he would be interested in speaking to these players for his side, which is based at the SCG.

"I hadn't thought about Afridi until I heard on the radio that he had quit," Clark was quoted as saying by The Australian.

"We would be interested depending on what he wants. If he wants to come here, I am willing to talk to him," Clark added.

Afridi suffered a setback on Wednesday when English county Hampshire said it would not be playing the all-rounder in their Twenty20 league after the PCB revoked the requisite NOC.

The NOC's were issued to Afridi to play for Hampshire and in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League next month.

Afridi, one of the most explosive batsmen in the world, played for South Australia in the Big Bash two years ago and impressed all.

"He was excellent and all the reports were that he was brilliant among the team," Clark said.

Afridi's fall-out with the PCB enables him to play in the Sri Lankan, English county and Australian Twenty20 competitions.

The eight sides in this season's Big Bash are likely to be allowed four contracted Australian players and four internationals, but with only two of the latter in the team at any time.

Afridi, Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga are all understood to be on the minds of the eight city-based teams. All have played in the Big Bash before.

Big Bash sides qualify for the lucrative Twenty20 Champions League.

(PTI)

Former captain Ian Botham has launched Cage cricket in England

London : Cage cricket, a new form of cricket aimed at youngsters, has been launched in England by former captain Ian Botham.


Played in a “cage” with coloured zones for scoring and positioning, each game takes 30 overs to complete with just six players.

Cage cricket is the brainchild of former Hampshire cricketer Lawrence Prittipaul, and is the result of four years of trial and development.

“It is a fresh new approach to the game and something that is fun, exciting and competitive,” The Daily Mirror quoted Botham, as saying.

“If a lad can go from beach cricket to playing for the West Indies, then why can’t we have a vehicle that does the same in our urban areas? I think cage cricket is it,” he added. 

According to Cage cricket’s official website, http://www.cagecricket.com, it is a “unique combination of social enterprise and sporting entertainment, designed to create much needed participation opportunities for young people and adults, as well as presenting our national summer sport in a new and exciting format.”
(ANI)

Two hat tricks in the same innings 15 year old Will Holmes said "It was a surprise for everyone"

London : A 15-year-old schoolboy bowler has put cricket lovers in a spin by claiming two hat tricks in the same innings.


Left-arm spinner Will Holmes twice took three wickets in three consecutive balls in an under-18s match, the Daily Express reports.

His feat is so rare that cricket bible Wisden records only three instances since 1864.

Will secured victory for his club Woodford against Greater Manchester rivals Stockport Georgians. 

He said: “I had never got a hat-trick before. It was a surprise for everyone and the whole team was very shocked.

He added: “At the time, it looked like we were going to lose but my first hat-trick gave us a real boost. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would repeat it.”

Will’s match figures of six wickets for just 18 runs tore through his stunned opponents, who were bowled out for 108 – despite at one stage being 80 for no loss. 

His father Chris, 48, said: “I am very proud of him. I have played for 30 years and only got one hat-trick.”

Wisden’s James Coyne said: “It’s always more likely to happen in recreational cricket, than in professional cricket, but it’s a brilliant achievement. To get two separate hat-tricks in an innings is quite something.”
(ANI)

We should not take West Indies Lightly: Harbhajan Singh warned team-mates

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has warned his young team-mates not to take the West Indies lightly in the limited overs series starting tomorrow, saying that the Caribbeans still have some quality players in their ranks.

"We don't want to take them lightly because they have some quality players," said Harbhajan, who is the seniormost player in the touring side.

He said the absence of senior players in the touring Indian squad has given the youngsters a chance to "cement their place in the team" and vindicate their selection.

"A lot of these (new) guys have done well before. It's a great opportunity for the young guys to perform well and cement their place in the team," said Harbhajan, who is also the vice captain of the visiting side.

India have come here with a weakened team without the likes of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and fast bowler Zaheer Khan.

Harbhajan, however, was optimistic that the visitors, even without some of their star players, have the wherewithal to win the series.

"We are a good side and if we play to our potential we can come out very strong," he said.

On the personal front, he said he was looking forward to contribute to the team's cause both with the bat and ball.

"My personal goal is to win the series and just do well with the bat and ball," he said.

"It's always nice to be back in the Caribbean. Playing in the Caribbean is always special. I've always enjoyed playing here. The people are always friendly and nice to talk to. The Caribbean is where we used to look at with all the strong cricketers (in the past)," Harbhajan was quoted as saying by 'Trinidad and Tobago Newsday'.

(PTI)

India's Tour To West Indies : Chris Gayle out,Suresh Raina relieved

Indian captain Suresh Raina on Friday expressed relief that Chris Gayle would be missing at least the first three games of the present limited overs series against his team.

"To be honest yes (I'm relieved)," Raina remarked on the eve of the Twenty20 match which opens the six-week tour against the West Indies here on Friday.

Gayle took the recent IPL by storm. The West Indian was the highest scorer (608 runs) with a strike rate in excess of 183 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Raina remarked there is enough for his boys to be motivated to do well in the present series.

"There is no shortage of motivation now that we have a reputation to defend, we are the world champions."

Raina is personally looking to perform consistently which would help to exorcise his demons against the short-pitched delivery and cement his place in the Test team.

"I am hitting the ball well and learning all the time in the company of Stephen Fleming, Gary Kirsten and now Duncan Fletcher."

Incidentally, all the three were left-handers during their careers.

Indian coach Duncan Fletcher is excited by the Indian team's talent, which he had a chance to see first hand as a consultant to New Zealand side last winter.

He also realises the challenge confronting him, not the least because a different approach would be required while dealing with seniors and juniors.

"I was consultant to New Zealand (last winter) and just watching those young Indian players was very exciting.

These young players have the calibre, they have been exposed early to top class cricket. They look very positive," he said.

"Dealing juniors from seniors present different scenarios. Each player needs different handling. Personally for me, its difficult to keep up with the standards they have set. Yet there is scope to get better and improve."

Fletcher seems to not consider the volume of cricket played in the negative light.

"With the volume there is also a bigger pool of cricketers. It is a reality and you need to adjust to the present demands."

West Indian captain Darren Sammy said his side was equally motivated to do well.

"They are the best side in the world and you are motivated to do well against them. I haven't performed as I would have liked to but I want to give my best."

Sammy was not worried about the comments in the Caribbean that he did not quite deserve his place in the squad.

"I can do little about these comments. Fortunately I have a set of people around me who think differently, they support me. I too have belief in my ability."

West Indies presently are having difficulty against spinners and coach Ottis Gibson believed his team has talent to tackle it.

Gibson did not want to get drawn into the controversy of players vs board in the Caribbean presently and said it was not for him to comment on it.

(PTI)

Rashid Latif wants to see Afghanistan cricket team in Pak domestic Twenty20 tournament.

Afghan cricket team coach Rashid Latif has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to include Afghanistan in the forthcoming domestic Twenty20 tournament.


The PCB is set to host the eight-team T20 competition later this month at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

"It will be better that the PCB allows at least one team from Afghanistan's Kabul region in their Twenty20 Championship. It will bring more colour to Pakistan' most popular cricket tournament," the Daily Times quoted Rashid, as telling German radio Deutsche Welle.

He also thanked the PCB for inviting Afghanistan for the recently concluded one-day matches against Pakistan A. 

"It was a good tour for both Pakistan and Afghanistan, as we were the first foreign team touring Pakistan in two years. And at the same time Afghanistan cricketers learnt a lot from this trip because Pakistan A's strength was equal to their national team," he said. 

Rashid, who played 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals for Pakistan, also said that the Afghanistan Cricket Board should arrange matches against associate countries like Ireland, Scotland, Holland and Kenya.

"If we perform well against those nations, then definitely big cricketing nations will be willing to play T20 internationals against us. We should be focusing on this, rather than playing one-day matches against full members of the ICC at the moment," he added.
(ANI)

PCB gives 'NOC' to Wahab Riaz, allows him to play for Kent

The Pakistan Cricket Board has given fast bowler Wahab Riaz the clearance to play for English county club Kent this summer.

At a time when the board first revoked and then refused a No Objection Certificate to former captain Shahid Afridi to play for Hampshire on disciplinary grounds, it has also allowed Riaz to play in the Sri Lankan Twenty20 League in July.

"It is a great opportunity for me to improve my bowling by playing in England for Kent," the left-arm pacer said.

Wahab said he would complete his stint with Kent this month before going to Sri Lanka for the Twenty20 league. He would then return to England to play more matches for Kent.

"Obviously I will be available on priority basis for Pakistan in its next international assignment in August in Zimbabwe," he said.

A number of Pakistani players are appearing in English county matches this summer including former captain Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq.

A board official said that Wahab was given clearance because the board wanted to encourage playing in different conditions.

(PTI)