Badshahs scamper home by 7 runs

Lance Klusener declared man of the match

Mumbai, April 03, 2008: The 2nd semi-final of the Edelweiss 20s Challenge featured the world no-3 side Lahore Badshahs (as per the Barter Card Power Rankings) take on the spirited Kolkata Tigers, at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector-3, Panchkula. The big question for everybody was - If the Tigers had it in them to derail the Badshahs juggernaut? However, in the end it turned out to be a classic encounter where the Badshahs won by a narrow margin of 7 runs. Lance Klusener declared man of the match.

Inzamam won the toss and elected to bat on a track that looked flat and full of runs. Nerves were playing a part in the big match & got the better of the inform Imran Farhat, who was sent back to the Badshahs dugout without troubling the scorers. At the end of the 5th over it was the other Imran. Nazir who got into the repair act for the Badshahs, taking the score to 35/1. Humayun & Nazir soon got into the groove playing some wonderful strokes, brining the 50 of the innings in the 6th over.

The partnership was growing in strength and by the 8th over, Badshahs were placed handsomely 70/1. Just when the partnership was taking dangerous proportions Zulu got into the act sending back Humayun in the10th over for a well made 39. At the half way mark of their innings the Badshahs were placed at 86/2. Shiv Sagar got the big break in form of Hasan Raza's wicket brining the Tigers right backing the match in the 11th over. Sagar got into the act again getting Nazir in the 13th over leaving the Badshahs in a bit of a bother at 94/4.

By the end of the 15th over, the match was turning out to be a fascinating contest with the Badshahs placed at 112/4. However, the cool composure of Inzi was what the Badshahs needed and in the company of Latif, he was working up a good partnership of over 50 runs setting the Badshahs for a big onslaught in the final overs. Azhar Mahmood came in with 2overs to spare and a lovely cameo of 24 off only 8 balls helped Badshahs set a formidable target of 183.

In reply, the Tigers came out with positive intent getting 21 for no loss at the end of the first three overs. The openers were gaining in confidence especially Dasgupta, who was taking on the formidable opening bowling attack. At the end of the 4th over, the Tigers were set on the target at 39 for no loss.

The Tigers got their 50 in style at the end of the 5th over scoring at over 10 runs per over. The wonderful opening partnership of 62 was brought to an end by Nazir who castled Dasgupta for a well made 22 in the 7th over. At the half way mark it was turning out to be a fascinating match with the Tigers needing 102 off 60 balls at 10 runs per over with 9 wickets in hand. Shahid Nazir was bowling some tight overs in the middle with the wily Mushtaq building the pressure on the Tigers. Two big hits from the bat of Zulu kept the hopes alive for the Tigers in the 14th over.

With 5 overs to go the match was fascinatingly poised with the Tigers needing 63 off 30balls at 12.6 runs per over with Zulu looking in ominous touch. Klusener was making a match out of it & in company of Gavaskar was taking the daunting target chase right down to the wire. In the last over , the Tigers were posed with the daunting task off scoring 18 runs. In the end Zulu's valiant was not enough and the Badshahs prevailed by 7 runs.

Brief Scores: Lahore Badshahs 182/7in20 overs (Nazir 42, Humayun 39, Sagar 2/19) win by 7 runs Kolkata Tigers 175/4 (Klusener 93, Gavaskar 23, Nazir2/12)

resource:www.indiancricketleague.in

Lahore Badshahs score second consecutive victory!

Azhar Mahmood & Imran Nazir jointly declared Man of the Match

The fifth match of the Edelweiss 20s Challenge featured the dominant Lahore Badshahs taking on the Hyderabad Heroes at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector-3, Panchkula. In a one sided affair the Badshahs overwhelmed the Hyderabad Heroes, defeating them by 9 wickets. Azhar Mahmood & Imran Nazir were declared as joint winners for Man of the Match.

The grounds men had worked hard on the pitch & a light shower just before the start of the match had freshened up the pitch. It was expected to produce true bounce conducive to stroke play from the rich batting line up of both the sides. Heroes captain Chris Harris, won the toss and elected to bat. The Heroes opened the batting with international Jimmy Maher & promising domestic player Anirudh Singh. Azhar Mahmood got the Badshahs their first breakthrough castling Jimmy Maher for 5 in the first over.

A horrible mix up between the promising Anirudh & Rayudu resulted in the formers run out leaving the Heroes innings reeling at 13/2 in the second over. Badshahs inform bowler Rana Naved, got into the act getting Rayudu nick one to the slip cordon into the safe hands of Inzamam. By the fifth over the Badshahs bowling was showing its might leaving the Heroes innings struggle at 21/4.

Justin Kemp & Heroes captain Harris did not trouble the scorers much & were packed back by the magnificent Badshahs bowling , leaving the Heroes innings in absolute tatters at 31/6 in the in the 7th over. The halfway mark of the Heroes innings read a dismal 44/6 with Boje & Razzaq battling it out in the middle. The end of the 15th over had the heroes at 67/6 with Boje trying hard to resurrect the innings. Razzaq unsuccessfully tried to increase the scoring rate, bowled by the quick MD Sami for only 10.

The bowling was right from the top drawer. Boundaries were far & between in the Heroes innings. Tight overs from international stalwarts like Saqlain, Sami ably supported by medium pacer Shahid Nazir kept a tight leash on the scoring rate. Azhar Mahmood was too good for the tail-enders bundling the Heroes innings for only 86.

In reply the Badshahs opened the innings with the two attacking openers Farhat & Nazir. Abdul Razzaq who opened the bowling for the Heroes got an early breakthrough sending back the dangerous Farhat for 4 in the very first over. Lady luck too was not smiling upon the Heroes with an eventful 4th over from Reddy seeing a catch of a no ball followed with a boundary and a dropped chance in the slips. The boundaries started coming fast & thick from the Badshahs bat with Nazir severe on the young Reddy taking him for 21 runs in the 6thover.

At the end of the 6th over the Badshahs were handsomely placed at 55 for the loss of only one wicket. Nazir was dealing in boundaries and his partnership with Farhat was worth 70 runs in only 46 balls taking the total to 74/1 in the 8th over. Two big sixes of spinner IS Reddy by the mercurial Imran Nazir took the Badshahs home to a comprehensive victory!

Brief Scores: (Hyderabad heroes 86 /10, N. Boje 39, A Mahmood 5/13 Rana Naved 2/19) lost by 9 wickets (Lahore Badshahs 87/1 Imran Nazir 62, H Farhat 18 , Abdul Razzaq 1/15)

resource: www.indiancricketleague.in

ICL signs up Damien Martyn

According to Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper (09/02/07). Damien Martyn, has signed up with Indian Cricket League.

Rumors had linked Damien Martyn, with the ICL for last two weeks but his manager initially gave the statement that the league is not for him. An agreement was finalized between the ICL bosses and Martyn on Friday. According to the newspaper, he is excited about playing with former and current cricket stars such as Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar respectively.

He told the Dialy Telegraph; "Imagine walking out to bat alongside either of those guys, it's a chance just too good to miss. It's a chance also to play in a team captained by Warnie.''

Martyn had shocked Australia last December when he retired from all forms of cricket midway through the Ashes series. He finally revealed his reason for retirement in the beginning of this year, after almost four weeks of silence. He said, “He had never been comfortable with the whole celebrity stuff that comes with the game. I found [it] hard to deal with," while adding that he can "now go and live life and enjoy it".

He insisted that the ICL would have minimal impact on his personal life. "It's only six weeks each summer," he said, "which wouldn't have the same burdens of playing for long periods of time away from home."

Rumor mill has it that ICL in the near future will have two more shinning stars - Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath; even though both have yet to sign on dotted line with the league. Shane and Glenn, like Martyn, have retired from international cricket.

Resource: /www.indiancricketleague.com

ICL announces eventful season for 2008

Subhash Chandra’s Indian Cricket League (ICL) which kick started its first season in November, will host 5 tournaments in 2008. The announcement was made today by Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra and Kapil Dev, chairman of the executive board, ICL.

The second season of ICL will roll-out in February and will include 50-over matches as well.

” It is indeed heartening to see the response Indian Cricket League (ICL) has been able to generate in India and across the globe. After a successful launch in keeping with the promise made, ICL is proud to announce its cricket calendar for the coming season.” ICL conducted its first 20-20 championship at the Tau Devilal cricket stadium at Panchkula, Chandigarh from November 30 to December 16, Subhash Chandra, chairman, Essel Group said.

ICL’s 2008 event calender will begin in February with a 50-over tournament featuring domestic cricketers, to be followed by a Twenty20 triangular series. In March-April, ICL will organise the ICL Grand Championship in which 8 teams will participate in a Twenty20 tournament. By April- May, the league will open academies across cities. September-October will witness the ICL Invitation Cup (a 20 over a side tournament in which 8 teams will participate). The season will conclude in November-December with the second edition of ICL Twenty20 Indian Championship.

Resource: www.aboutindiancricketleague.com

Bond poised to sign one-year deal

REPORTS in New Zealand suggest that former Black Caps' spearhead Shane Bond is on the brink of signing a one-year contract as Worcestershire's 2008 overseas player.

The 32-year-old injury-plagued fast bowler has an outstanding record in international cricket - 79 Test wickets at 22.39 and 125 one-day international wickets at 19.32 - but chronic stress fractures of the back and feet have curtailed his New Zealand career.

However, Bond's international career was brought to a premature close last month after he signed a three-year contract to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) which is not recognised by the game's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC).

This leaves him free to play for Worcestershire without the added pressures of Test cricket on his body.

Bond, who missed out on a spell with Warwickshire through injury in 2003, stopped short of confirming his move to New Road over the weekend but an announcement is expected early next week. "I haven't decided yet," said Bond.

Bond's impending capture would make him the latest in a line of former New Zealand players who have graced New Road.

Former Kiwi captain Glenn Turner remains Worcestershire's greatest Black Caps signing, but Bond is also hoping to make his mark in what would be a maiden season of county cricket this summer.

Pakistan legend and former Lancashire all-rounder Wasim Akram paid tribute to Bond's wicket-taking ability but recommended he is bowled in short spells at Worcestershire to safeguard his body from further injury problems.

"Bond was New Zealand's best bowler in the last few years because he swings the ball and he's got the ability to bowl very fast but injuries have stalled his career," said Akram.

"If he can stay fit he could take a lot of wickets."

Source : http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/

Shoaib might dump IPL to join ICL: Sources

Pakistan's controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar could dump the BCCI-backed Indian Premier League to sign up for the rebel Indian Cricket League as his relations with the national board continue to deteriorate by the day.

Sources close to Akhtar say that the speedster has only signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the IPL which is backed by the Pakistan board as well.

Source : http://sify.com/

'Ridiculous, short-sighted' to ban those joining ICL: Warne

Indian Premier League's star attraction Shane Warne has voiced his support for the rival Indian Cricket League, saying it was "ridiculous" and "short-sighted" to ban players like Shane Bond for associating with the Essel Group-backed venture.

"I think of the IPL and ICL together in promoting and expanding the game. With that in mind, it is ridiculous that Shane Bond should be banned for taking part in the ICL," Warne said.

"It just strikes me as short-sighted that one of the most exciting bowlers in the world is no longer allowed to play for New Zealand. He is one of their best players," he wrote in his column for 'The Times'.

Source : http://www.hindu.com/