BATE Borisov midfielder Filipp Rudik expects an otherworldly experience on Wednesday when he plays against Barcelona in the Champions League at a sold-out Dinamo Stadion in Minsk.
The Group H clash is one of eight matches across the continent featuring four other former Champions League winners -- the pick of which features Olympique Marseille at home to Borussia Dortmund in Group F.
Holders Barcelona, having conceded a last-minute equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 draw with AC Milan in their opening group match at the Nou Camp, will be anxious to take all three points against the champions of Belarus.
BATE began their campaign with a low-key draw at Czechs Viktoria Plzen but things are about to get a little more exciting for Rudik and his team mates.
"Because I have never met creatures from outer space before," Plzen said when asked what was so special about the prospect of a close encounter with the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and David Villa.
"I wanted to play against Barcelona and luck was on my side in the draw," the 24-year-old added on UEFA's website (www.uefa.com).
Porto, European champions in 2004 and 1987, travel to Zenit St Petersburg in the early kickoff in Group G while seven-times champions Milan host Plzen in the other Group H game.
Chelsea continue their quest for Champions League glory at Valencia in Group E with new signing Juan Mata facing his former club while fellow Londoners Arsenal host Olympiakos in Group F.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
"Finished" Tevez denies refusing to play
Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez denied on Wednesday he had refused to come on as a substitute in their Champions League match against Bayern Munich and said he is ready to play on for the club.
Manager Roberto Mancini told reporters that the Argentine had ignored his instruction to warm up early in the second half of Tuesday's 2-0 defeat in Germany and that Tevez was "finished" while he was manager.
Tevez, who has found controversy follow him from club to club, sought to placate City fans whom he has already angered over the past year with his open desire to leave the club.
"There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood," he said in a statement, according to local media.
"I would like to apologise to all Manchester City fans, with whom I have always had a strong relationship, for any misunderstanding that occurred in Munich.
"They understand that when I am on the pitch I have always given my best for the club. In Munich on Tuesday, I had warmed up and was ready to play.
"This is not the right time to get into specific details as to why this did not happen. But I wish to state that I never refused to play. Going forward, I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations."
If Mancini sticks to his guns, Tevez's words will fall on deaf ears at a club whose patience he has tested several times.
Last December he put in a transfer request that the club turned down, while he lodged another at the end of the season citing family reasons.
He made scathing comments about Manchester on an Argentine chat show in June, saying the city "has nothing" and is "very expensive" and that he was "never going back to Manchester, not even on holiday".
'DISGRACE TO FOOTBALL'
He nevertheless returned after a planned move to Brazilian club Corinthians fell through but was stripped of the club captaincy and found himself relegated to the bench as compatriot Sergio Aguero was paired with Edin Dzeko up front.
It is a major fall from grace for the player who won City fans hearts with his work rate and goals after a controversial move across the city from Manchester United in 2009.
His arrival in the blue side of the northwest English city created a storm when City posted a giant 'Welcome to Manchester' billboard following his defection.
It was a sign of things to come and also the latest in a chain of headline-grabbing issues that Tevez has been at the centre of during his time in England.
His first English club West Ham United were fined for breaking rules on third-party agreements regarding player transfers when signing him from Corinthians in 2006.
There followed a protracted legal battle with Sheffield United, who sued West Ham for the cost of relegation saying the Londoners should have faced the drop instead because they should have been given a points deduction as well as the fine.
After two years, the clubs settled out of court. In the meantime, Tevez joined Manchester United in another controversial deal involving more player ownership issues.
He then upset United fans by moving down the road to City.
That transfer provided Tevez with a platform he never had at United to be the team's main goalscorer and it looked like the flow of controversy around him might have been stemmed.
He became popular with City fans and even last season finished joint top scorer in the Premier League despite his wish to leave the club.
What happens next remains to be seen as Mancini said he would be talking to the club's owner Sheikh Mansour, who is likely to be unimpressed by the widespread criticism from the footballing world and British media of the player.
"He is a disgrace to football," former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness, now a television pundit, said. "The owners need to get him as far away as possible because that type of behaviour can spread."
Manager Roberto Mancini told reporters that the Argentine had ignored his instruction to warm up early in the second half of Tuesday's 2-0 defeat in Germany and that Tevez was "finished" while he was manager.
Tevez, who has found controversy follow him from club to club, sought to placate City fans whom he has already angered over the past year with his open desire to leave the club.
"There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood," he said in a statement, according to local media.
"I would like to apologise to all Manchester City fans, with whom I have always had a strong relationship, for any misunderstanding that occurred in Munich.
"They understand that when I am on the pitch I have always given my best for the club. In Munich on Tuesday, I had warmed up and was ready to play.
"This is not the right time to get into specific details as to why this did not happen. But I wish to state that I never refused to play. Going forward, I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations."
If Mancini sticks to his guns, Tevez's words will fall on deaf ears at a club whose patience he has tested several times.
Last December he put in a transfer request that the club turned down, while he lodged another at the end of the season citing family reasons.
He made scathing comments about Manchester on an Argentine chat show in June, saying the city "has nothing" and is "very expensive" and that he was "never going back to Manchester, not even on holiday".
'DISGRACE TO FOOTBALL'
He nevertheless returned after a planned move to Brazilian club Corinthians fell through but was stripped of the club captaincy and found himself relegated to the bench as compatriot Sergio Aguero was paired with Edin Dzeko up front.
It is a major fall from grace for the player who won City fans hearts with his work rate and goals after a controversial move across the city from Manchester United in 2009.
His arrival in the blue side of the northwest English city created a storm when City posted a giant 'Welcome to Manchester' billboard following his defection.
It was a sign of things to come and also the latest in a chain of headline-grabbing issues that Tevez has been at the centre of during his time in England.
His first English club West Ham United were fined for breaking rules on third-party agreements regarding player transfers when signing him from Corinthians in 2006.
There followed a protracted legal battle with Sheffield United, who sued West Ham for the cost of relegation saying the Londoners should have faced the drop instead because they should have been given a points deduction as well as the fine.
After two years, the clubs settled out of court. In the meantime, Tevez joined Manchester United in another controversial deal involving more player ownership issues.
He then upset United fans by moving down the road to City.
That transfer provided Tevez with a platform he never had at United to be the team's main goalscorer and it looked like the flow of controversy around him might have been stemmed.
He became popular with City fans and even last season finished joint top scorer in the Premier League despite his wish to leave the club.
What happens next remains to be seen as Mancini said he would be talking to the club's owner Sheikh Mansour, who is likely to be unimpressed by the widespread criticism from the footballing world and British media of the player.
"He is a disgrace to football," former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness, now a television pundit, said. "The owners need to get him as far away as possible because that type of behaviour can spread."
Tevez denies he refused to play in Munich
Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has denied he refused to play in Tuesday's Champions League Group A match against Bayern Munich, media reports said on Wednesday.
"There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood," the 27-year-old Argentine international said in a statement, according to Sky Sports.
Manager Roberto Mancini said the unsettled striker was "finished" as a Manchester City player after refusing to go on as a second-half substitute in the English side's 2-0 defeat.
However, a contrite Tevez insisted he had not defied the manager's orders.
"I would like to apologise to all Manchester City fans, with whom I have always had a strong relationship, for any misunderstanding that occurred in Munich," he continued.
"They understand that when I am on the pitch I have always given my best for the club. In Munich on Tuesday, I had warmed up and was ready to play.
"This is not the right time to get into specific details as to why this did not happen. But I wish to state that I never refused to play.
"Going forward, I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations."
"There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood," the 27-year-old Argentine international said in a statement, according to Sky Sports.
Manager Roberto Mancini said the unsettled striker was "finished" as a Manchester City player after refusing to go on as a second-half substitute in the English side's 2-0 defeat.
However, a contrite Tevez insisted he had not defied the manager's orders.
"I would like to apologise to all Manchester City fans, with whom I have always had a strong relationship, for any misunderstanding that occurred in Munich," he continued.
"They understand that when I am on the pitch I have always given my best for the club. In Munich on Tuesday, I had warmed up and was ready to play.
"This is not the right time to get into specific details as to why this did not happen. But I wish to state that I never refused to play.
"Going forward, I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations."
Kaka resurgence good news for Real and Mourinho
Real Madrid sit comfortably on top of Champions League Group D following Tuesday's 3-0 win at home to Ajax Amsterdam but the resurgence of Kaka is perhaps an even more pleasing development for coach Jose Mourinho.
The 29-year-old Brazil playmaker has mostly been a shadow of the man who won the World Player of the Year award in 2007 since he joined from AC Milan at the end of the 2008-09 season for a fee of almost 70 million euros ($95.4 million).
He has suffered a series of injuries and needed knee surgery after last year's World Cup but his match-winning performance against Ajax, when he scored the second goal and had a hand in the other two, suggested he is getting back to his best.
The boyish grin has returned to his face and he was given a rousing ovation by the Bernabeu faithful when he was substituted with around 15 minutes left as Real made it two wins from two in Europe's elite club competition this season.
"He has had a really bad time," Mourinho's assistant Aitor Karanka, standing in for his suspended boss, told a news conference.
"For those of us who have kept faith in him, seeing the look of happiness he has had on his face for a while now is very satisfying," he added.
"A great player like him, and considering what he has been through, deserves to be happy again."
Before Tuesday, Kaka had shown glimpses of his old self in pre-season games and in the first few rounds of La Liga and he scored the fifth goal in their 6-0 drubbing of Real Zaragoza on the opening weekend of the Spanish domestic season.
Up to now, Mourinho has generally picked Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil ahead of the Brazilian and there were unsourced reports Kaka was set to leave Real in the close season for around half what he cost the Spanish giants.
Real captain Iker Casillas said the team were thrilled that he appeared to have turned a corner.
"We know what a class player and person he is and we have faith in him," the Spain goalkeeper told reporters after the Ajax game.
"He is committed to himself, to his team mates and to the team," he added.
"We want him to be what he was before but we know what the press is like. If he has a less-brilliant match he'll be criticised again."
The 29-year-old Brazil playmaker has mostly been a shadow of the man who won the World Player of the Year award in 2007 since he joined from AC Milan at the end of the 2008-09 season for a fee of almost 70 million euros ($95.4 million).
He has suffered a series of injuries and needed knee surgery after last year's World Cup but his match-winning performance against Ajax, when he scored the second goal and had a hand in the other two, suggested he is getting back to his best.
The boyish grin has returned to his face and he was given a rousing ovation by the Bernabeu faithful when he was substituted with around 15 minutes left as Real made it two wins from two in Europe's elite club competition this season.
"He has had a really bad time," Mourinho's assistant Aitor Karanka, standing in for his suspended boss, told a news conference.
"For those of us who have kept faith in him, seeing the look of happiness he has had on his face for a while now is very satisfying," he added.
"A great player like him, and considering what he has been through, deserves to be happy again."
Before Tuesday, Kaka had shown glimpses of his old self in pre-season games and in the first few rounds of La Liga and he scored the fifth goal in their 6-0 drubbing of Real Zaragoza on the opening weekend of the Spanish domestic season.
Up to now, Mourinho has generally picked Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil ahead of the Brazilian and there were unsourced reports Kaka was set to leave Real in the close season for around half what he cost the Spanish giants.
Real captain Iker Casillas said the team were thrilled that he appeared to have turned a corner.
"We know what a class player and person he is and we have faith in him," the Spain goalkeeper told reporters after the Ajax game.
"He is committed to himself, to his team mates and to the team," he added.
"We want him to be what he was before but we know what the press is like. If he has a less-brilliant match he'll be criticised again."
Rejuvenated Kaka inspires Real victory
A rejuvenated Kaka scored one goal and had a hand in two more as nine-times European Cup winners Real Madrid thumped Ajax Amsterdam 3-0 to seize control of Champions League Group D on Tuesday.
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 25th minute at the Bernabeu, finishing off a sweeping breakaway move. Brazil playmaker Kaka and France striker Karim Benzema then struck either side of halftime.
"It was a good win and puts us in a good position in the group," Kaka told Spanish television.
"We need to continue like this and I think we can seal the group very soon," added the 29-year-old who was given a rousing ovation when he was substituted in the 75th minute.
Kaka joined Real from AC Milan at the end of the 2008-09 season for a fee of almost 70 million euros ($95.4 million) but a series of injuries have prevented him rediscovering the form that won him the World Player of the Year award in 2007.
He looked back to his sparkling best on Tuesday as Real, who were knocked out by bitter rivals and eventual champions Barcelona in last year's semi-finals, strengthened their hold on top spot with six points from two matches.
Olympique Lyon have four points thanks to their 2-0 win at home to Dinamo Zagreb, with Ajax on one point in third and the Croatian team bottom on zero.
RAPID MOVE
Real coach Jose Mourinho, serving the final game of a three-match ban, opted for an attacking formation against the Dutch side with Kaka and Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil operating just behind Ronaldo and Benzema.
However, it was Ajax who started brightest and Iker Casillas had to make a smart save low to his left from Christian Eriksen's snap shot in the first minute.
Casillas was called into action again in the 15th when Kolbeinn Sigthorsson burst through the centre and the Spain keeper blocked the Icelander's shot.
Real's first real chance came two minutes later when Sami Khedira found space on the right and pulled the ball back for Benzema but the Frenchman scuffed his shot wide.
Kenneth Vermeer in Ajax's goal did well to sprint off his line and block a Ronaldo effort in the 22nd but was powerless to prevent the forward giving his side the lead three minutes later.
Ronaldo, another former World Player of the Year and the world's most expensive footballer, smashed the ball into the net after a rapid passing move involving Ozil, Kaka and Benzema.
Kaka was allowed too much space on the edge of the area and fired a powerful left-foot drive into the corner in the 41st minute and any hopes of a second-half Ajax revival were snuffed out in the 49th when Benzema sidefooted home Kaka's pass.
Ajax coach Frank De Boer, who helped the club win the European Cup in 1995 before making more than 150 appearances for Barcelona, said his side needed to be "smarter and better organised" if they were to challenge teams like Real.
"I said in my talk before the game that Real Madrid were very dangerous on the break and they showed that again tonight," the former Dutch international said.
"We started pretty well though and that should give us some confidence for the coming games."
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 25th minute at the Bernabeu, finishing off a sweeping breakaway move. Brazil playmaker Kaka and France striker Karim Benzema then struck either side of halftime.
"It was a good win and puts us in a good position in the group," Kaka told Spanish television.
"We need to continue like this and I think we can seal the group very soon," added the 29-year-old who was given a rousing ovation when he was substituted in the 75th minute.
Kaka joined Real from AC Milan at the end of the 2008-09 season for a fee of almost 70 million euros ($95.4 million) but a series of injuries have prevented him rediscovering the form that won him the World Player of the Year award in 2007.
He looked back to his sparkling best on Tuesday as Real, who were knocked out by bitter rivals and eventual champions Barcelona in last year's semi-finals, strengthened their hold on top spot with six points from two matches.
Olympique Lyon have four points thanks to their 2-0 win at home to Dinamo Zagreb, with Ajax on one point in third and the Croatian team bottom on zero.
RAPID MOVE
Real coach Jose Mourinho, serving the final game of a three-match ban, opted for an attacking formation against the Dutch side with Kaka and Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil operating just behind Ronaldo and Benzema.
However, it was Ajax who started brightest and Iker Casillas had to make a smart save low to his left from Christian Eriksen's snap shot in the first minute.
Casillas was called into action again in the 15th when Kolbeinn Sigthorsson burst through the centre and the Spain keeper blocked the Icelander's shot.
Real's first real chance came two minutes later when Sami Khedira found space on the right and pulled the ball back for Benzema but the Frenchman scuffed his shot wide.
Kenneth Vermeer in Ajax's goal did well to sprint off his line and block a Ronaldo effort in the 22nd but was powerless to prevent the forward giving his side the lead three minutes later.
Ronaldo, another former World Player of the Year and the world's most expensive footballer, smashed the ball into the net after a rapid passing move involving Ozil, Kaka and Benzema.
Kaka was allowed too much space on the edge of the area and fired a powerful left-foot drive into the corner in the 41st minute and any hopes of a second-half Ajax revival were snuffed out in the 49th when Benzema sidefooted home Kaka's pass.
Ajax coach Frank De Boer, who helped the club win the European Cup in 1995 before making more than 150 appearances for Barcelona, said his side needed to be "smarter and better organised" if they were to challenge teams like Real.
"I said in my talk before the game that Real Madrid were very dangerous on the break and they showed that again tonight," the former Dutch international said.
"We started pretty well though and that should give us some confidence for the coming games."
Real Madrid record routine win
Real Madrid recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Ajax at the Bernabeu in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock midway through the first half after a good start from the Dutch champions, before Kaka doubled Madrid's lead in the closing stages of the first 45. Karim Benzema then added a third minutes after the break to put the match to bed, goal.com reports.
Ajax started the game with attacking intentions and came close to opening the scoring within two minutes. Derk Boerrigter tried his luck with a low shot from the edge of the area after a good cross from the right, but Iker Casillas showed his class as he kept the ball out with a fine reflex save.
The Spain international was again called into action shortly after when Siem de Jong popped up in the Madrid area and Casillas again was up to the task.
The hosts then took over the initiative and should have grabbed the lead in the 17th minute. Sami Khedira set up Karim Benzema in front of an empty goal, but the France international miraculously aimed wide from 10 yards out. Cristiano Ronaldo then came close after a good pass from Ricardo Carvalho, but Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer made a superb save.
Nevertheless, the Ajax No. 1 didn't have an answer to Ronaldo's shot midway through the first half as the Portugal international fired home from inside the area after a brilliant attack. Mesut Ozil started the counter inside his own half and set up Ronaldo, who reached Kaka. After a good pass from the Brazilian, again Ozil and finally Benzema, the ball ended up in the feet of Ronaldo once more and he found the net with a low shot.
The opener pretty much ended Ajax's ambitions of getting a good result at the Bernabeu and Kaka doubled the home side's lead shortly before the interval with a shot into the far corner.
Real Madrid continued to press after the break and another superb counter resulted in their third goal in the 49th minute. Xabi Alonso found Alvaro Arbeloa with a brilliant long pass down the left and the full-back squared it to Kaka, who gave Benzema an unmissable chance and the Frenchman tapped home from five yards out.
Ajax didn't give up though and De Jong, Thulani Serero and Christian Eriksen all tried their luck from long range. However, they failed to trouble Casillas and the Amsterdam giants were lucky not to concede a fourth goal when Kaka placed his shot wide after a quick counterattack.
The biggest chance for the Eredivisie titans came Vertonghen's way in the closing stages of the match, but the Denmark international's header from close range was punched away for a corner by the Madrid glovesman.
Madrid have now collected six points from two games and top Group D. They host Olympique Lyonnais on October 18 in their third game of the group stage.
Ajax sit last in the section with only one point from their opening two games. Their next Champions League match is the away clash versus Dinamo Zagreb in three weeks.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock midway through the first half after a good start from the Dutch champions, before Kaka doubled Madrid's lead in the closing stages of the first 45. Karim Benzema then added a third minutes after the break to put the match to bed, goal.com reports.
Ajax started the game with attacking intentions and came close to opening the scoring within two minutes. Derk Boerrigter tried his luck with a low shot from the edge of the area after a good cross from the right, but Iker Casillas showed his class as he kept the ball out with a fine reflex save.
The Spain international was again called into action shortly after when Siem de Jong popped up in the Madrid area and Casillas again was up to the task.
The hosts then took over the initiative and should have grabbed the lead in the 17th minute. Sami Khedira set up Karim Benzema in front of an empty goal, but the France international miraculously aimed wide from 10 yards out. Cristiano Ronaldo then came close after a good pass from Ricardo Carvalho, but Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer made a superb save.
Nevertheless, the Ajax No. 1 didn't have an answer to Ronaldo's shot midway through the first half as the Portugal international fired home from inside the area after a brilliant attack. Mesut Ozil started the counter inside his own half and set up Ronaldo, who reached Kaka. After a good pass from the Brazilian, again Ozil and finally Benzema, the ball ended up in the feet of Ronaldo once more and he found the net with a low shot.
The opener pretty much ended Ajax's ambitions of getting a good result at the Bernabeu and Kaka doubled the home side's lead shortly before the interval with a shot into the far corner.
Real Madrid continued to press after the break and another superb counter resulted in their third goal in the 49th minute. Xabi Alonso found Alvaro Arbeloa with a brilliant long pass down the left and the full-back squared it to Kaka, who gave Benzema an unmissable chance and the Frenchman tapped home from five yards out.
Ajax didn't give up though and De Jong, Thulani Serero and Christian Eriksen all tried their luck from long range. However, they failed to trouble Casillas and the Amsterdam giants were lucky not to concede a fourth goal when Kaka placed his shot wide after a quick counterattack.
The biggest chance for the Eredivisie titans came Vertonghen's way in the closing stages of the match, but the Denmark international's header from close range was punched away for a corner by the Madrid glovesman.
Madrid have now collected six points from two games and top Group D. They host Olympique Lyonnais on October 18 in their third game of the group stage.
Ajax sit last in the section with only one point from their opening two games. Their next Champions League match is the away clash versus Dinamo Zagreb in three weeks.
Careless Man United given lesson by Basel
Manchester United got a Champions League wake-up call when they needed a late Ashley Young goal to salvage a 3-3 draw against FC Basel after lax defending had allowed an unlikely Swiss fightback in Tuesday's Group C match at Old Trafford.
The English champions blew a two-goal lead to trail 3-2 after Basel capitalised on a shaky United defence to stand on the verge of a famous upset and what would have been only a second home defeat in 33 Champions League games for the hosts.
Two Danny Welbeck goals in two minutes had given United a comfortable lead by the 17th minute and they looked to be cruising before Basel hit back with two goals in quick succession from Fabian Frei and Alexander Frei.
The latter then converted a 76th-minute penalty after some woeful United defending to turn the match completely on its head but they were denied outright top spot in the group when Young headed home in the 90th minute.
United boss Alex Ferguson blamed carelessness from the back four, who had been tested throughout the first half but let off the hook by poor Basel finishing and who had been thrown together because of injuries to this season's other regulars.
"In many ways it was a welcome to European football for them, they were very lax for most parts of the game I thought," Ferguson told a news conference.
"The attacking part was very good at times, but there was a carelessness about us, they could really have scored three goals in the first half."
Up front United had no problems, with Ferguson's decision to field Welbeck instead of the experienced Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov looking inspired after the 20-year-old's quick-fire double had put United in command.
Fabio crossed from the right to Ryan Giggs in the middle who teed the ball up for Welbeck to send a scuffed shot in off the near post in the 16th minute.
Fans were still celebrating that goal when Giggs combined again with Welbeck, standing in for the injured Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, to double the score with a first-time finish.
The tables were turned in the second half when Basel's two Freis scored quickly, the first after a rebound and the second with a textbook header, to set up a mouthwatering finale.
The game tipped in Basel's favour when Antonio Valencia's clumsy challenge brought down Marco Streller for a penalty, a decision which Ferguson later branded "poor."
TWO BEERS
Facing his team's own noisy fans, Alexander Frei fired the spot kick confidently into the net to put his side on the verge of a huge upset.
Basel coach Thorsten Fink, an 80th minute Bayern Munich substitute in the 1999 Champions League final when United scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a 2-1 victory, knew all too well about the hosts' never-say-die attitude.
He was robbed of glory again when Young got on the end of an inch-perfect Nani cross from the right to score on his Champions League debut and rescue a draw.
Basel fans partied after the final whistle as if their team had won and Fink said the late United sting was nothing like the one in 1999.
"1999 was negative but this is a positive experience," he told a news conference.
"We were rather nervous in the first half, then in the second half we had the opportunity to show what we can do. I don't imagine many teams go two goals down at Old Trafford and turn the game around."
The glaring weaknesses in United's defence, missing the injured Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans, allowed Basel plenty of first-half chances and although they did not capitalise until the second half they were happy with the draw.
"I do have a glass of beer after the game, perhaps there will be two," said Fink, whose side have four points from two games along with Benfica, while United are surprisingly struggling in third with two.
The English champions blew a two-goal lead to trail 3-2 after Basel capitalised on a shaky United defence to stand on the verge of a famous upset and what would have been only a second home defeat in 33 Champions League games for the hosts.
Two Danny Welbeck goals in two minutes had given United a comfortable lead by the 17th minute and they looked to be cruising before Basel hit back with two goals in quick succession from Fabian Frei and Alexander Frei.
The latter then converted a 76th-minute penalty after some woeful United defending to turn the match completely on its head but they were denied outright top spot in the group when Young headed home in the 90th minute.
United boss Alex Ferguson blamed carelessness from the back four, who had been tested throughout the first half but let off the hook by poor Basel finishing and who had been thrown together because of injuries to this season's other regulars.
"In many ways it was a welcome to European football for them, they were very lax for most parts of the game I thought," Ferguson told a news conference.
"The attacking part was very good at times, but there was a carelessness about us, they could really have scored three goals in the first half."
Up front United had no problems, with Ferguson's decision to field Welbeck instead of the experienced Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov looking inspired after the 20-year-old's quick-fire double had put United in command.
Fabio crossed from the right to Ryan Giggs in the middle who teed the ball up for Welbeck to send a scuffed shot in off the near post in the 16th minute.
Fans were still celebrating that goal when Giggs combined again with Welbeck, standing in for the injured Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, to double the score with a first-time finish.
The tables were turned in the second half when Basel's two Freis scored quickly, the first after a rebound and the second with a textbook header, to set up a mouthwatering finale.
The game tipped in Basel's favour when Antonio Valencia's clumsy challenge brought down Marco Streller for a penalty, a decision which Ferguson later branded "poor."
TWO BEERS
Facing his team's own noisy fans, Alexander Frei fired the spot kick confidently into the net to put his side on the verge of a huge upset.
Basel coach Thorsten Fink, an 80th minute Bayern Munich substitute in the 1999 Champions League final when United scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a 2-1 victory, knew all too well about the hosts' never-say-die attitude.
He was robbed of glory again when Young got on the end of an inch-perfect Nani cross from the right to score on his Champions League debut and rescue a draw.
Basel fans partied after the final whistle as if their team had won and Fink said the late United sting was nothing like the one in 1999.
"1999 was negative but this is a positive experience," he told a news conference.
"We were rather nervous in the first half, then in the second half we had the opportunity to show what we can do. I don't imagine many teams go two goals down at Old Trafford and turn the game around."
The glaring weaknesses in United's defence, missing the injured Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans, allowed Basel plenty of first-half chances and although they did not capitalise until the second half they were happy with the draw.
"I do have a glass of beer after the game, perhaps there will be two," said Fink, whose side have four points from two games along with Benfica, while United are surprisingly struggling in third with two.
Gomez sparkles as Bayern beat Man City
Bayern Munich forward Mario Gomez struck twice in the first half to hand his team a 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday and extend their winning streak to 10 games in all competitions.
To add insult to injury for City manager Roberto Mancini, Argentine striker Carlos Tevez refused to come on as a second-half substitute and looks set to never play for the club again.
Bundesliga top scorer Gomez, who only returned at the weekend from a groin injury, snatched a 38th minute lead when he slid in after City keeper Joe Hart had saved efforts from Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller.
He added another in first-half stoppage time as he again tapped in from close range.
City, in only their second ever game in the competition having drawn 1-1 with Napoli in their opener, failed to leave their mark with another lacklustre performance and have not won any of their last five European away games.
In-form Bayern, eager for a fifth European Cup title with the Champions League final being held in Munich next May, have now won their last 10 games in all competitions without conceding a goal and top Group A with six points from two games.
"In the first 25 minutes we saw that City are a very good team and they are top of the Premier League alongside Manchester United for a reason. We needed our time to get into the game," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes told reporters.
"We gradually improved, used weaknesses in our opponents' game and we showed how homogenous a team we are. To again keep a clean sheet especially in this competition means we are in very good form and my players deserve compliments."
GOOD START
With only one win in 17 appearances by English teams in Munich, the odds were stacked against City but the visitors looked livelier at the start and threatened after only a few minutes when Edin Dzeko's low drive was blocked by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Mancini opted to start with the blossoming attacking partnership of Dzeko and Sergio Aguero, who between them have scored 14 league goals in City's unbeaten start to the Premier League, leaving Tevez on the bench.
With City pressing high, Bayern initially had problems cracking open a disciplined defence, trying their luck with some long-range efforts as Arjen Robben watched on from the bench.
Gradually, however, Ribery carved out space down the left wing and it was the Frenchman who set up the first goal, firing in from outside the box, keeper Joe Hart doing well to save it as well as Thomas Mueller's rebound before the unmarked Gomez slid in for the lead.
The goal was exactly what Bayern needed to take control of the match as City were now boxed in their own half.
On the stroke of halftime Toni Kroos floated in a free kick, Hart again was on hand to save Daniel van Buyten's glancing header but was helpless when Gomez scored from close range, leaving the keeper furious with his defenders.
Germany international Gomez should have had a hat-trick, coming agonisingly close on two occasions in the second half as City were reduced to passive observers.
Mancini was furious with his strikers, taking off Dzeko and saying he was unhappy with the Bosnian's performance.
That was nothing compared to the wrath he bore towards Tevez.
The Italian said the Argentine would not play again for City as long as he was a coach.
"I think we need to improve," Mancini told reporters. "We played well for 25 minutes, 30 minutes but we conceded a stupid goal.
"But if we want to improve as a team Carlos can't play with us. With me, he is finished."
To add insult to injury for City manager Roberto Mancini, Argentine striker Carlos Tevez refused to come on as a second-half substitute and looks set to never play for the club again.
Bundesliga top scorer Gomez, who only returned at the weekend from a groin injury, snatched a 38th minute lead when he slid in after City keeper Joe Hart had saved efforts from Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller.
He added another in first-half stoppage time as he again tapped in from close range.
City, in only their second ever game in the competition having drawn 1-1 with Napoli in their opener, failed to leave their mark with another lacklustre performance and have not won any of their last five European away games.
In-form Bayern, eager for a fifth European Cup title with the Champions League final being held in Munich next May, have now won their last 10 games in all competitions without conceding a goal and top Group A with six points from two games.
"In the first 25 minutes we saw that City are a very good team and they are top of the Premier League alongside Manchester United for a reason. We needed our time to get into the game," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes told reporters.
"We gradually improved, used weaknesses in our opponents' game and we showed how homogenous a team we are. To again keep a clean sheet especially in this competition means we are in very good form and my players deserve compliments."
GOOD START
With only one win in 17 appearances by English teams in Munich, the odds were stacked against City but the visitors looked livelier at the start and threatened after only a few minutes when Edin Dzeko's low drive was blocked by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Mancini opted to start with the blossoming attacking partnership of Dzeko and Sergio Aguero, who between them have scored 14 league goals in City's unbeaten start to the Premier League, leaving Tevez on the bench.
With City pressing high, Bayern initially had problems cracking open a disciplined defence, trying their luck with some long-range efforts as Arjen Robben watched on from the bench.
Gradually, however, Ribery carved out space down the left wing and it was the Frenchman who set up the first goal, firing in from outside the box, keeper Joe Hart doing well to save it as well as Thomas Mueller's rebound before the unmarked Gomez slid in for the lead.
The goal was exactly what Bayern needed to take control of the match as City were now boxed in their own half.
On the stroke of halftime Toni Kroos floated in a free kick, Hart again was on hand to save Daniel van Buyten's glancing header but was helpless when Gomez scored from close range, leaving the keeper furious with his defenders.
Germany international Gomez should have had a hat-trick, coming agonisingly close on two occasions in the second half as City were reduced to passive observers.
Mancini was furious with his strikers, taking off Dzeko and saying he was unhappy with the Bosnian's performance.
That was nothing compared to the wrath he bore towards Tevez.
The Italian said the Argentine would not play again for City as long as he was a coach.
"I think we need to improve," Mancini told reporters. "We played well for 25 minutes, 30 minutes but we conceded a stupid goal.
"But if we want to improve as a team Carlos can't play with us. With me, he is finished."
Darren Clarke trying to stay motivated
Darren Clarke acknowledged he's struggling to stay motivated after achieving his lifetime goal of winning the British Open.
Clarke earned an emotional victory at Royal St. George's in July, winning the major in his 20th attempt.
Since then, the 43-year-old Northern Irishman has missed the cut twice, finished tied for 68th at the Bridgestone Invitational and tied for 35th at the European Masters.
Clarke said Wednesday that being appointed Ryder Cup captain is the biggest challenge left in his career.
First up, however, is the Dunhill Links Championship this week. He'll be playing in a field with U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel with Ryder Cup points on the line.
Clarke said he's been taking motivational advice from those closest to him.
"I've done what I always wanted to do, got to the top of the mountain -- what else can compare to it?" Clarke said. "What else is there to do?"
It's made Clarke appreciate just how hard it is for athletes, particularly those who have achieved success late in their careers, to keep on going.
"I've no idea how Steve Redgrave did it," said Clarke, referring to the British rower who won five Olympic golds -- the last coming in 2000 at 38. "It's not as if I'm 21 or 22. I'm 43. Whether I get another chance to win a major, it may not happen."
After playing five Ryder Cups -- including four victories -- one of the few challenges left for Clarke is to one day captain the European team.
"In terms of my golfing career, I've won World Golf Championships, I've won the Open, I've won tournaments all around the world -- I've had a pretty decent career," he said. "At some stage in the future, I might be asked to be Ryder Cup captain. What more could I do?"
Plenty of Ryder Cup points for next year's match in Medinah, near Chicago, are available from the Dunhill Links Championship. Clarke plans to take seriously, yet enjoy, the pro-am tournament in Scotland.
"It's a huge tournament for us on the European Tour. First prize is a lot of Ryder Cup and world ranking points. We will be laughing and joking and we'll all be trying to play well," said Clarke, who will be partnered around St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns by his manager Chubby Chandler.
Clarke earned an emotional victory at Royal St. George's in July, winning the major in his 20th attempt.
Since then, the 43-year-old Northern Irishman has missed the cut twice, finished tied for 68th at the Bridgestone Invitational and tied for 35th at the European Masters.
Clarke said Wednesday that being appointed Ryder Cup captain is the biggest challenge left in his career.
First up, however, is the Dunhill Links Championship this week. He'll be playing in a field with U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel with Ryder Cup points on the line.
Clarke said he's been taking motivational advice from those closest to him.
"I've done what I always wanted to do, got to the top of the mountain -- what else can compare to it?" Clarke said. "What else is there to do?"
It's made Clarke appreciate just how hard it is for athletes, particularly those who have achieved success late in their careers, to keep on going.
"I've no idea how Steve Redgrave did it," said Clarke, referring to the British rower who won five Olympic golds -- the last coming in 2000 at 38. "It's not as if I'm 21 or 22. I'm 43. Whether I get another chance to win a major, it may not happen."
After playing five Ryder Cups -- including four victories -- one of the few challenges left for Clarke is to one day captain the European team.
"In terms of my golfing career, I've won World Golf Championships, I've won the Open, I've won tournaments all around the world -- I've had a pretty decent career," he said. "At some stage in the future, I might be asked to be Ryder Cup captain. What more could I do?"
Plenty of Ryder Cup points for next year's match in Medinah, near Chicago, are available from the Dunhill Links Championship. Clarke plans to take seriously, yet enjoy, the pro-am tournament in Scotland.
"It's a huge tournament for us on the European Tour. First prize is a lot of Ryder Cup and world ranking points. We will be laughing and joking and we'll all be trying to play well," said Clarke, who will be partnered around St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns by his manager Chubby Chandler.
Injured de Villiers out of CLT20
AB de Villiers has been ruled out of the remainder of the Champions League Twenty20 after fracturing a finger on his left hand during a Royal Challengers Bangalore training session at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The injury could force de Villiers to miss the start of Australia's tour of South Africa, which begins with a Twenty20 international on October 13, ESPNcricinfo reports.
"He [de Villiers] will probably be coming back to South Africa tonight," South Africa's team manager Mohammad Moosajee told ESPNcricinfo. "He will see our panel of hand specialists after that, and we will decide what the plan of action is.
"I understand from the Bangalore physio that he broke the third finger on his left hand during a fielding drill. It is quite serious, that's why he is coming back."
The home series against Australia will be de Villiers' first after taking over as South Africa's limited-overs captain from Graeme Smith in June. South Africa play the first of two Twenty20s against Australia on October 13, followed by three one-dayers that begin on October 19.
In de Villiers' absence, either Tillakaratne Dilshan or Arun Karthik will keep wicket for the Royal Challengers. "Not having AB is a big loss," Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers batsman, said. "But we have quality players in our squad who can cope with it."
The Royal Challengers play Kolkata Knight Riders in Bangalore on September 29, with games against Somerset and South Australia to come. They lost their first game of the CLT20 and another loss would make a semi-final berth unlikely.
However, three wins would make their qualification almost a certainty - two other sides in Group B would need to be tied on three wins for net run-rate to come into contention.
The injury could force de Villiers to miss the start of Australia's tour of South Africa, which begins with a Twenty20 international on October 13, ESPNcricinfo reports.
"He [de Villiers] will probably be coming back to South Africa tonight," South Africa's team manager Mohammad Moosajee told ESPNcricinfo. "He will see our panel of hand specialists after that, and we will decide what the plan of action is.
"I understand from the Bangalore physio that he broke the third finger on his left hand during a fielding drill. It is quite serious, that's why he is coming back."
The home series against Australia will be de Villiers' first after taking over as South Africa's limited-overs captain from Graeme Smith in June. South Africa play the first of two Twenty20s against Australia on October 13, followed by three one-dayers that begin on October 19.
In de Villiers' absence, either Tillakaratne Dilshan or Arun Karthik will keep wicket for the Royal Challengers. "Not having AB is a big loss," Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers batsman, said. "But we have quality players in our squad who can cope with it."
The Royal Challengers play Kolkata Knight Riders in Bangalore on September 29, with games against Somerset and South Australia to come. They lost their first game of the CLT20 and another loss would make a semi-final berth unlikely.
However, three wins would make their qualification almost a certainty - two other sides in Group B would need to be tied on three wins for net run-rate to come into contention.
Australia to play Ireland in 2012
Ireland and Australia will play in a one-day international next year, Cricket Ireland has said. The two sides will square off at the Civil Service ground at Stormont in Belfast on 23 June, 2012.
"We are delighted to welcome Australia to Belfast in 2012 after their exciting RSA Challenge ODI against Ireland in Dublin 2010," Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland's chief executive said, ESPNcricinfo reports.
"Although opportunities to find space in the Future Tours Programme are rare against the world's leading teams, it is apparent that Cricket Australia is committed to ensuring that the top Associates, like Scotland and Ireland, have a chance to test themselves against the best and help us to improve.
"Off the field, the visit of such teams gives a massive boost to the profile of the sport, delivers a terrific return on investment to our valued partners and a wonderful day out for our fans."
Ireland lost to Australia by 39 runs in Dublin in 2010 and Phil Simmons, the Ireland coach, said the game was a good chance for his players to try and get one back.
"We had a wonderful opportunity to beat them in Dublin last year but let the game slip," Simmons said. "I know just how much that defeat hurt the players, so it's great to get another chance to play them.
As a coach and a player, these are the sort of fixtures that you thrive on, and with the backing of the crowd in Belfast, we've a genuine chance of pulling off another famous win."
A Cricket Australia spokesman also welcomed the chance to play Ireland in Ireland again. "We had a great visit there last year and eventually won a very competitive game. The hospitality we experienced was first class and we look forward to bringing high quality cricket to Northern Ireland next year."
"We are delighted to welcome Australia to Belfast in 2012 after their exciting RSA Challenge ODI against Ireland in Dublin 2010," Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland's chief executive said, ESPNcricinfo reports.
"Although opportunities to find space in the Future Tours Programme are rare against the world's leading teams, it is apparent that Cricket Australia is committed to ensuring that the top Associates, like Scotland and Ireland, have a chance to test themselves against the best and help us to improve.
"Off the field, the visit of such teams gives a massive boost to the profile of the sport, delivers a terrific return on investment to our valued partners and a wonderful day out for our fans."
Ireland lost to Australia by 39 runs in Dublin in 2010 and Phil Simmons, the Ireland coach, said the game was a good chance for his players to try and get one back.
"We had a wonderful opportunity to beat them in Dublin last year but let the game slip," Simmons said. "I know just how much that defeat hurt the players, so it's great to get another chance to play them.
As a coach and a player, these are the sort of fixtures that you thrive on, and with the backing of the crowd in Belfast, we've a genuine chance of pulling off another famous win."
A Cricket Australia spokesman also welcomed the chance to play Ireland in Ireland again. "We had a great visit there last year and eventually won a very competitive game. The hospitality we experienced was first class and we look forward to bringing high quality cricket to Northern Ireland next year."
Kaneria case adjourned till Oct 20
Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria's case against the PCB in the Sindh High Court has been adjourned till October 20.
During the September 27 hearing in the case, Kaneria consented to allow the board to ask the British Crown Prosecution Services for the tapes of an investigation by the Essex police, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Kaneria had been questioned regarding a case involving spot-fixing allegations during a Pro40 match for his county Essex.
Though Kaneria was not charged in the spot-fixing case, in which his Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield faced criminal proceedings, he has not been cleared to play for Pakistan since the incident.
Kaneria had filed a petition against the PCB over his non-clearance on July 2. During a hearing on August 18, he had admitted that tapes of the investigation in Essex existed and it was decided that they would be produced before the court on September 27.
Kaneria's lawyer Mohammad Farogh Naseem had said the tapes were in the UK with Kaneria's British lawyer Steve Haurigan. .
During the September 27 hearing it was decided that the PCB would write to the CPS to ask for the tapes or their transcripts.
The PCB's lawyer Taffazul Rizvi argued that though Kaneria was not charge with spot-fixing, his integrity was under the scanner and therefore his clearance would only be possible after scrutiny the of the tapes.
The PCB's integrity committee had asked Kaneria to produce transcripts of the investigation before the case had been filed began but his lawyers had maintained it was not possible as the transcripts were still part of an ongoing investigation in the UK.
Before seeking legal recourse, Kaneria had appeared several times before the integrity committee to gain clearance and had submitted various financial records and documents, but had not managed to satisfy its members.
He last met the committee on August 15, along with Shoaib Malik, and though Malik got clearance after that meeting and was on Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe, Kaneria's wait continued.
"I am desperate to play and am missing top cricket," Kaneria told ESPNCricinfo after the September 27 hearing. "Of course I feel frustrated but I am optimistic about my career. I chose the legal path for which I feel no regret as I see it as the only way to get myself clear from the stigma."
During the September 27 hearing in the case, Kaneria consented to allow the board to ask the British Crown Prosecution Services for the tapes of an investigation by the Essex police, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Kaneria had been questioned regarding a case involving spot-fixing allegations during a Pro40 match for his county Essex.
Though Kaneria was not charged in the spot-fixing case, in which his Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield faced criminal proceedings, he has not been cleared to play for Pakistan since the incident.
Kaneria had filed a petition against the PCB over his non-clearance on July 2. During a hearing on August 18, he had admitted that tapes of the investigation in Essex existed and it was decided that they would be produced before the court on September 27.
Kaneria's lawyer Mohammad Farogh Naseem had said the tapes were in the UK with Kaneria's British lawyer Steve Haurigan. .
During the September 27 hearing it was decided that the PCB would write to the CPS to ask for the tapes or their transcripts.
The PCB's lawyer Taffazul Rizvi argued that though Kaneria was not charge with spot-fixing, his integrity was under the scanner and therefore his clearance would only be possible after scrutiny the of the tapes.
The PCB's integrity committee had asked Kaneria to produce transcripts of the investigation before the case had been filed began but his lawyers had maintained it was not possible as the transcripts were still part of an ongoing investigation in the UK.
Before seeking legal recourse, Kaneria had appeared several times before the integrity committee to gain clearance and had submitted various financial records and documents, but had not managed to satisfy its members.
He last met the committee on August 15, along with Shoaib Malik, and though Malik got clearance after that meeting and was on Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe, Kaneria's wait continued.
"I am desperate to play and am missing top cricket," Kaneria told ESPNCricinfo after the September 27 hearing. "Of course I feel frustrated but I am optimistic about my career. I chose the legal path for which I feel no regret as I see it as the only way to get myself clear from the stigma."
England host WI, Australia and SA
England will play three-testseries against West Indies and South Africa next year separated by a five-match one-day series against Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Wednesday.
The home side, who replaced India as the world's top-rankedtest nation this year, will play 14 one-day internationals,including a match against Scotland, and four Twenty20 games during a crowded summer.
"With England looking to maintain its position as the numberone side in the ICC's World Test rankings and also preparing todefend the world T20 title in Sri Lanka next autumn, interest innext summer's international programme will be intense," ECBchief executive David Collier said in a statement.
"A record number of people attended this season'sinternational fixtures and with an exciting summer in prospectagain in 2012, we would urge spectators to buy tickets early inorder to avoid disappointment."
Test match schedule:
West Indies
First test, Lord's, May 17-20
Second test, Trent Bridge, May 25-29
Third test, Edgbaston, June 7-11
South Africa
First test, Oval, July 19-23
Second test, Headingley, Aug. 2-6
Third test, Lord's, Aug. 16-20
The home side, who replaced India as the world's top-rankedtest nation this year, will play 14 one-day internationals,including a match against Scotland, and four Twenty20 games during a crowded summer.
"With England looking to maintain its position as the numberone side in the ICC's World Test rankings and also preparing todefend the world T20 title in Sri Lanka next autumn, interest innext summer's international programme will be intense," ECBchief executive David Collier said in a statement.
"A record number of people attended this season'sinternational fixtures and with an exciting summer in prospectagain in 2012, we would urge spectators to buy tickets early inorder to avoid disappointment."
Test match schedule:
West Indies
First test, Lord's, May 17-20
Second test, Trent Bridge, May 25-29
Third test, Edgbaston, June 7-11
South Africa
First test, Oval, July 19-23
Second test, Headingley, Aug. 2-6
Third test, Lord's, Aug. 16-20
Samuels' action cleared by ICC
Marlon Samuels, the West Indies batsman and part-time offspinner, has had his bowling action cleared by the ICC after undergoing significant remedial work.
An independent test found his action to be legal and the player has been cleared to resume bowling in international cricket, reports ESPNcricinfo.
"A comprehensive analysis revealed that his mean elbow extension was now comfortably within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the relevant regulations," the ICC said in a statement.
"During the original test on 11 February 2008, his mean elbow extension had been calculated to be in excess of 15 degrees."
Samuels was reported for a suspect action by the umpires in the third Test between South Africa and West Indies in Durban in January 2008.
On-field umpires Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar and third umpire Brian Jerling reported their doubts over his action, especially with respect to his "fast" deliveries. Roshan Mahanama, the match referee, subsequently informed both the ICC and the West Indies team management of the report, as per the ICC regulations governing the reporting process.
The analysis of Samuels' action was conducted by professor Bruce Elliott, a member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists, and his team at the School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health at the University of Western Australia on September 14
As with all bowlers who are tested, Samuels' action will continue to be scrutinised by match officials to ensure it remains legal. He has taken seven Test wickets at an average of 127 and 57 ODI wickets at 43.24.
An independent test found his action to be legal and the player has been cleared to resume bowling in international cricket, reports ESPNcricinfo.
"A comprehensive analysis revealed that his mean elbow extension was now comfortably within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the relevant regulations," the ICC said in a statement.
"During the original test on 11 February 2008, his mean elbow extension had been calculated to be in excess of 15 degrees."
Samuels was reported for a suspect action by the umpires in the third Test between South Africa and West Indies in Durban in January 2008.
On-field umpires Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar and third umpire Brian Jerling reported their doubts over his action, especially with respect to his "fast" deliveries. Roshan Mahanama, the match referee, subsequently informed both the ICC and the West Indies team management of the report, as per the ICC regulations governing the reporting process.
The analysis of Samuels' action was conducted by professor Bruce Elliott, a member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists, and his team at the School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health at the University of Western Australia on September 14
As with all bowlers who are tested, Samuels' action will continue to be scrutinised by match officials to ensure it remains legal. He has taken seven Test wickets at an average of 127 and 57 ODI wickets at 43.24.
Johnson dropped from T20 in SA tour
Australia have dumped Mitchell Johnson from their Twenty20 side for their upcoming South Africa tour after the paceman endured a poor tour in Sri Lanka.
The 29-year-old Queenslander was expensive in Australia's 2-0 series loss to the Sri Lankans and his struggles continued in the one-day and Test series wins that followed.
"Mitchell has struggled in this format of the game to date," Andrew Hilditch, the outgoing chairman of selectors said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Most Twenty20 internationals have been at the start of tours and Mitchell has not always been at his best in these matches.
"Obviously Mitchell has a great skill set for Twenty20 cricket and we are sure he will put a lot of pressure on us to pick him in the future in the Twenty20 team."
Johnson's omission means a recall for Doug Bollinger, who will join Brett Lee, James Pattinson and teenager Pat Cummins in the 14-man squad's pace quartet for the two T20 matches in South Africa next month.
Cummins, an 18-year-old and the youngest ever Australian player to be handed a central contract, had also forced his way into the one-day side after John Hastings was ruled out by injury.
Brad Haddin's retirement from Twenty20 last week and an injury to stand-in Tim Paine paved the way for a promotion for Victoria state wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade in the Cameron White-captained T20 squad.
Mitchell Marsh, a 19-year-old all-rounder, had also been included after a solid tour for Australia A in Zimbabwe, Hilditch said.
Johnson has retained his place in the Michael Clarke-led one-day squad which will play a three-match series after the T20 matches, meaning he will likely be in the frame for the following two-match Test series despite his form slump.
The swing bowler took 16 wickets at an average of 25 in the Australians' 2-1 victory over hosts South Africa in the 2009 Test series and interim coach Troy Cooley said getting the erratic bowler back into the groove was a top priority.
"I will be picking up quite quickly with (bowling coach) Craig McDermott and (Test captain) Michael Clarke on what transpired over there (in Sri Lanka)... and make sure Mitchell Johnson is up and running," he said on Tuesday.
Twenty20 squad: Cameron White (captain), Shane Watson, Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Stephen O'Keefe, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, David Warner.
One-day squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Steven Smith, David Warner.
The 29-year-old Queenslander was expensive in Australia's 2-0 series loss to the Sri Lankans and his struggles continued in the one-day and Test series wins that followed.
"Mitchell has struggled in this format of the game to date," Andrew Hilditch, the outgoing chairman of selectors said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Most Twenty20 internationals have been at the start of tours and Mitchell has not always been at his best in these matches.
"Obviously Mitchell has a great skill set for Twenty20 cricket and we are sure he will put a lot of pressure on us to pick him in the future in the Twenty20 team."
Johnson's omission means a recall for Doug Bollinger, who will join Brett Lee, James Pattinson and teenager Pat Cummins in the 14-man squad's pace quartet for the two T20 matches in South Africa next month.
Cummins, an 18-year-old and the youngest ever Australian player to be handed a central contract, had also forced his way into the one-day side after John Hastings was ruled out by injury.
Brad Haddin's retirement from Twenty20 last week and an injury to stand-in Tim Paine paved the way for a promotion for Victoria state wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade in the Cameron White-captained T20 squad.
Mitchell Marsh, a 19-year-old all-rounder, had also been included after a solid tour for Australia A in Zimbabwe, Hilditch said.
Johnson has retained his place in the Michael Clarke-led one-day squad which will play a three-match series after the T20 matches, meaning he will likely be in the frame for the following two-match Test series despite his form slump.
The swing bowler took 16 wickets at an average of 25 in the Australians' 2-1 victory over hosts South Africa in the 2009 Test series and interim coach Troy Cooley said getting the erratic bowler back into the groove was a top priority.
"I will be picking up quite quickly with (bowling coach) Craig McDermott and (Test captain) Michael Clarke on what transpired over there (in Sri Lanka)... and make sure Mitchell Johnson is up and running," he said on Tuesday.
Twenty20 squad: Cameron White (captain), Shane Watson, Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Stephen O'Keefe, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, David Warner.
One-day squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, Doug Bollinger, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Steven Smith, David Warner.
Henriques masterminds unlikely NSW win
On a sluggish track built to suck all skill out of cricket, Moises Henriques found plenty of it to help New South Wales first to an improbable tie and then a win through the Super Over.
For the second match in a row, Trinidad & Tobago lost the script after having defended spiritedly for most of the match, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Henriques maneuvered the field - something that was arguably easier than it should have been - in the last over to help NSW get the 16 runs they needed for the tie, and then played around with the same bowler, Ravi Rampaul, some more to score 18 in the Super Over.
Lendl Simmons hit a six and a four in the chase, but with four required off the last ball, drilled Steve O'Keefe straight down long-off's throat.
The tournament is fast resembling different actors acting out the same play with a little improvisation here and there, but to their credit the actors today made it very dramatic.
The story for most of the Hyderabad and Chennai games has been: sizzle at the start, struggle with the slowness and lowness in the middle and scramble in the end.
Both the teams sizzled to begin with (T&T score 40 in first 5.3, NSW 43 in the first six), both struggled once the ball became soft (T&T managed 21 in the next 5.3 overs, going six overs without a boundary; NSW's next six overs brought 30, and they didn't score a boundary for 8.5 overs).
It was the scramble that would decide that match, and T&T's 61 off the last six matched NSW's 50 off their last four to produce the third tie in Champions League history.
Like all sluggish tracks do, this one in Chennai too took a lot skill out of the equation for about 39 overs. The bowlers couldn't bowl wicket-taking deliveries, but they could stifle the batsmen by bowling slow, stump to stump, and short of a length. The batsmen found it incredibly hard to time the ball.
Simmons and Warner didn't face those problems at the top, although Warner did play out a maiden from Samuel Badree. Simmons hit through the line, and Warner punished width as they got their respective sides to good starts.
O'Keefe's non-spinning delivery in the seventh over started the first-innings turnaround, dismissing Adrian Barath. Sunil Narine's flicked legbreak induced the top edge from Shane Watson in the seventh over of the chase.
Mud-wrestling followed in both innings as frustrated batsmen played intemperate shots to lose their wickets. Henriques got Simmons and Darren Bravo, Sherwin Ganga accounted for Warner and Daniel Smith. T&T: 69 for 3 after 11.5, NSW: 72 for 3 after 11.5.
T&T's scramble began in the 15th over when Steven Smith offered them two long hops, which were hit for fours by Denesh Ramdin. In the same over, Billy Bowden, the third umpire, reprieved Darren Ganga, who went onto add a further 11 off 7.
The real game-breaking scramble came through a two-over association between Ravi Rampaul and Kevin Cooper, which brought them 25 runs. It wasn't all skill: two of their boundaries came through pulls through long-on and long-off. Rampaul finished with an unbeaten 15 off 7.
Rampaul wasn't done with the scramble, though. He would bowl two out of NSW's last three overs, with 36 to defend. He began with a no-ball, a call he contested heatedly.
The replays showed his front foot well in, and no replays of the back foot was available. Be that as it may Rampaul came back with a smashing yorker on the free-hit, and followed it up Simon Katich's wicket in the same over.
With 16 to defend, Rampaul began the last over with his trusted practice of going round the stumps and bowling yorkers on off and outside off.
Henriques wreaked havoc with his head by walking across and flicking the first two past the short fine leg. These were tow incredible shots: they were not length balls but near yorkers, and he whipped them late in order to miss the fielder. He could manage a single off the third ball, but trusted Pat Cummins enough to take a couple off the fourth.
Selected earlier today for the Australian national side to tour South Africa, Cummins made room, got a length ball, and somehow squeezed it between mid-on and midwicket for four.
Cruelly it came down to two required off the last ball. Would T&T still offer the tie on the platter? They bowled the last ball with just four fielders inside the circle, but one of them- midwicket - wasn't quite at the edge of the circle. Cummins found that man, and we were going into the Super Over.
NSW sent the form-man, Henriques, to bat ahead of Shane Watson. T&T persisted with Rampaul, who persisted with bowling round the stumps. He began with a dot, but a poor throw from their worst fielder - Bravo - allowed Henriques a second off the second ball.
The way the game panned out, T&T would have taken any other man than Henriques on strike. Henriques hit fours off the next four balls: through such varied areas as midwicket, point, mid-on and fine leg.
More drama followed just before T&T could bat their Super Over. T&T saw the ball being tossed up to O'Keefe, and wanted to promote Bravo, originally slated to bat at 3.
Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, was alert and wouldn't have any of it. With Bravo still kicking the ground, O'Keefe began to bowl left-arm spin to two right-hand batsmen.
With 15 required off last three, Simmons managed to clear a leaping long-on. O'keefe followed it up with a die. Cummins followed it up with a misfiled at square leg to allow a four.
Simmons timed the last ball perfectly, but it was pitched just too close to him to allow the elevation. It was a matter of inches in the end.
For the second match in a row, Trinidad & Tobago lost the script after having defended spiritedly for most of the match, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Henriques maneuvered the field - something that was arguably easier than it should have been - in the last over to help NSW get the 16 runs they needed for the tie, and then played around with the same bowler, Ravi Rampaul, some more to score 18 in the Super Over.
Lendl Simmons hit a six and a four in the chase, but with four required off the last ball, drilled Steve O'Keefe straight down long-off's throat.
The tournament is fast resembling different actors acting out the same play with a little improvisation here and there, but to their credit the actors today made it very dramatic.
The story for most of the Hyderabad and Chennai games has been: sizzle at the start, struggle with the slowness and lowness in the middle and scramble in the end.
Both the teams sizzled to begin with (T&T score 40 in first 5.3, NSW 43 in the first six), both struggled once the ball became soft (T&T managed 21 in the next 5.3 overs, going six overs without a boundary; NSW's next six overs brought 30, and they didn't score a boundary for 8.5 overs).
It was the scramble that would decide that match, and T&T's 61 off the last six matched NSW's 50 off their last four to produce the third tie in Champions League history.
Like all sluggish tracks do, this one in Chennai too took a lot skill out of the equation for about 39 overs. The bowlers couldn't bowl wicket-taking deliveries, but they could stifle the batsmen by bowling slow, stump to stump, and short of a length. The batsmen found it incredibly hard to time the ball.
Simmons and Warner didn't face those problems at the top, although Warner did play out a maiden from Samuel Badree. Simmons hit through the line, and Warner punished width as they got their respective sides to good starts.
O'Keefe's non-spinning delivery in the seventh over started the first-innings turnaround, dismissing Adrian Barath. Sunil Narine's flicked legbreak induced the top edge from Shane Watson in the seventh over of the chase.
Mud-wrestling followed in both innings as frustrated batsmen played intemperate shots to lose their wickets. Henriques got Simmons and Darren Bravo, Sherwin Ganga accounted for Warner and Daniel Smith. T&T: 69 for 3 after 11.5, NSW: 72 for 3 after 11.5.
T&T's scramble began in the 15th over when Steven Smith offered them two long hops, which were hit for fours by Denesh Ramdin. In the same over, Billy Bowden, the third umpire, reprieved Darren Ganga, who went onto add a further 11 off 7.
The real game-breaking scramble came through a two-over association between Ravi Rampaul and Kevin Cooper, which brought them 25 runs. It wasn't all skill: two of their boundaries came through pulls through long-on and long-off. Rampaul finished with an unbeaten 15 off 7.
Rampaul wasn't done with the scramble, though. He would bowl two out of NSW's last three overs, with 36 to defend. He began with a no-ball, a call he contested heatedly.
The replays showed his front foot well in, and no replays of the back foot was available. Be that as it may Rampaul came back with a smashing yorker on the free-hit, and followed it up Simon Katich's wicket in the same over.
With 16 to defend, Rampaul began the last over with his trusted practice of going round the stumps and bowling yorkers on off and outside off.
Henriques wreaked havoc with his head by walking across and flicking the first two past the short fine leg. These were tow incredible shots: they were not length balls but near yorkers, and he whipped them late in order to miss the fielder. He could manage a single off the third ball, but trusted Pat Cummins enough to take a couple off the fourth.
Selected earlier today for the Australian national side to tour South Africa, Cummins made room, got a length ball, and somehow squeezed it between mid-on and midwicket for four.
Cruelly it came down to two required off the last ball. Would T&T still offer the tie on the platter? They bowled the last ball with just four fielders inside the circle, but one of them- midwicket - wasn't quite at the edge of the circle. Cummins found that man, and we were going into the Super Over.
NSW sent the form-man, Henriques, to bat ahead of Shane Watson. T&T persisted with Rampaul, who persisted with bowling round the stumps. He began with a dot, but a poor throw from their worst fielder - Bravo - allowed Henriques a second off the second ball.
The way the game panned out, T&T would have taken any other man than Henriques on strike. Henriques hit fours off the next four balls: through such varied areas as midwicket, point, mid-on and fine leg.
More drama followed just before T&T could bat their Super Over. T&T saw the ball being tossed up to O'Keefe, and wanted to promote Bravo, originally slated to bat at 3.
Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, was alert and wouldn't have any of it. With Bravo still kicking the ground, O'Keefe began to bowl left-arm spin to two right-hand batsmen.
With 15 required off last three, Simmons managed to clear a leaping long-on. O'keefe followed it up with a die. Cummins followed it up with a misfiled at square leg to allow a four.
Simmons timed the last ball perfectly, but it was pitched just too close to him to allow the elevation. It was a matter of inches in the end.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Australia appoint Cooley as interim coach
Australia have appointed bowling mentor Troy Cooley as interim head coach for their upcoming tour of South Africa following Tim Nielsen's resignation last week, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Tuesday.
Cooley, 45, was replaced as bowling coach in May by former test paceman Craig McDermott but has overseen talent development at CA's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Brisbane.
Cooley previously acted as Australia's head coach when he took up the role for the last three one-day matches during Australia's 6-1 away series victory over England in 2009.
He helped coach England's bowlers to victory over Australia in the 2005 Ashes before being lured back home and helped Ricky Ponting's side exact revenge with a 5-0 whitewash in the following 2006-07 series.
"I've got a pretty good, close relationship with all the players and also the coaching staff there," Cooley told reporters on a conference call.
"I'm pretty confident that we can make sure that we can keep progressing along the lines that (captain) Michael (Clarke) wants to keep progressing.
"There's a lot of work still to do but the signs are good and I just hope that I can come in and make sure that we continue to keep going forward."
CA general manager of cricket Michael Brown said in a statement Cooley would not be applying for the job permanently.
Nielsen announced his resignation at the end of Australia's 1-0 test series victory over hosts Sri Lanka, weeks after recommendations from a comprehensive review into Australian cricket were released.
The team performance review, conducted in the wake of Australia's galling 3-1 home defeat to England in the Ashes, recommended the appointment of a head coach with expanded powers as a selector.
Nielsen, who had signed a three-year contract extension months before the Ashes series, declined to re-apply for the head coach position saying the review had made his continued involvement difficult.
SELECTION ADVICE
Australia, ranked fourth in world test rankings, will play two tests in Cape Town and Johannesburg in November against second-ranked South Africa following five limited overs matches.
Cooley said he would be unlikely to embrace his selection powers to the fullest, having been out of the international frame for much of the year.
"I'll be taking a lot of advice of course, obviously not being in that area I'll be leaving that up to the selectors, who have been working in that area for quite some time," he added.
One area of discussion would be the selection of a Twenty20 wicketkeeper. Brad Haddin announced his retirement from the format last week to concentrate on tests and one-day matches, while his stand-in Tim Paine has been ruled out of the South Africa tour with a finger injury.
Cooley suggested 33-year-old Haddin might be persuaded to fill the breach for South Africa.
"That's something we'll probably talk about once selectors get round the table," he said.
Cooley, 45, was replaced as bowling coach in May by former test paceman Craig McDermott but has overseen talent development at CA's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Brisbane.
Cooley previously acted as Australia's head coach when he took up the role for the last three one-day matches during Australia's 6-1 away series victory over England in 2009.
He helped coach England's bowlers to victory over Australia in the 2005 Ashes before being lured back home and helped Ricky Ponting's side exact revenge with a 5-0 whitewash in the following 2006-07 series.
"I've got a pretty good, close relationship with all the players and also the coaching staff there," Cooley told reporters on a conference call.
"I'm pretty confident that we can make sure that we can keep progressing along the lines that (captain) Michael (Clarke) wants to keep progressing.
"There's a lot of work still to do but the signs are good and I just hope that I can come in and make sure that we continue to keep going forward."
CA general manager of cricket Michael Brown said in a statement Cooley would not be applying for the job permanently.
Nielsen announced his resignation at the end of Australia's 1-0 test series victory over hosts Sri Lanka, weeks after recommendations from a comprehensive review into Australian cricket were released.
The team performance review, conducted in the wake of Australia's galling 3-1 home defeat to England in the Ashes, recommended the appointment of a head coach with expanded powers as a selector.
Nielsen, who had signed a three-year contract extension months before the Ashes series, declined to re-apply for the head coach position saying the review had made his continued involvement difficult.
SELECTION ADVICE
Australia, ranked fourth in world test rankings, will play two tests in Cape Town and Johannesburg in November against second-ranked South Africa following five limited overs matches.
Cooley said he would be unlikely to embrace his selection powers to the fullest, having been out of the international frame for much of the year.
"I'll be taking a lot of advice of course, obviously not being in that area I'll be leaving that up to the selectors, who have been working in that area for quite some time," he added.
One area of discussion would be the selection of a Twenty20 wicketkeeper. Brad Haddin announced his retirement from the format last week to concentrate on tests and one-day matches, while his stand-in Tim Paine has been ruled out of the South Africa tour with a finger injury.
Cooley suggested 33-year-old Haddin might be persuaded to fill the breach for South Africa.
"That's something we'll probably talk about once selectors get round the table," he said.
Pak coach candidates not high-profile enough
Pakistan's hunt for a new cricket coach has not attracted many experienced candidates and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might have to directly approach some high-profile names for the job.
A PCB official confirmed to Press Trust of India that after the expiry of the September 26 deadline for interested candidates to apply, the response had been good but the interested candidates didn't include any high profile figures, reports PTI.
"We have received applications from England and Australia and many from within the country but some of the names we were expecting are not there," the official conceded.
The special committee formed by the PCB to shortlist candidates for the position will meet on September 29 in Karachi to prune the list and shortlist the best possible candidates for recommendation to the board.
The PCB is hunting for a new coach after Pakistan's former Test captain Waqar Younis stepped down following the recent tour to Zimbabwe on personal and health grounds.
"The September 29 meeting is important because we will then go through all the candidates who have applied and see who are the best possible options for our requirements," PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said.
He didn't rule out the possibility of the committee directly approaching anyone if it was not satisfied with the list of candidates who had applied for the position.
"That is the prerogative of the committee they can hold talks directly with anyone but right now even the board is unaware of who have applied for the post, all we know is they are local coaches and foreigners as well," he said.
The names of high-profile coaches such as Dav Whatmore, Peter Moores, Tom Moody, Mickey Arthur and Tim Nielsen have been reported as possible candidates for the job but Ahmad said the board had not spoken to anyone and neither had anyone approached directly for the position.
A PCB official confirmed to Press Trust of India that after the expiry of the September 26 deadline for interested candidates to apply, the response had been good but the interested candidates didn't include any high profile figures, reports PTI.
"We have received applications from England and Australia and many from within the country but some of the names we were expecting are not there," the official conceded.
The special committee formed by the PCB to shortlist candidates for the position will meet on September 29 in Karachi to prune the list and shortlist the best possible candidates for recommendation to the board.
The PCB is hunting for a new coach after Pakistan's former Test captain Waqar Younis stepped down following the recent tour to Zimbabwe on personal and health grounds.
"The September 29 meeting is important because we will then go through all the candidates who have applied and see who are the best possible options for our requirements," PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said.
He didn't rule out the possibility of the committee directly approaching anyone if it was not satisfied with the list of candidates who had applied for the position.
"That is the prerogative of the committee they can hold talks directly with anyone but right now even the board is unaware of who have applied for the post, all we know is they are local coaches and foreigners as well," he said.
The names of high-profile coaches such as Dav Whatmore, Peter Moores, Tom Moody, Mickey Arthur and Tim Nielsen have been reported as possible candidates for the job but Ahmad said the board had not spoken to anyone and neither had anyone approached directly for the position.
PCB wants to prove Akhtar's conduct in court
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would try to justify the disciplinary action taken by it against Shoaib Akhtar as it has sought permission from the Lahore high court to present excerpts from his autobiography, which the board feels gives a good account of former paceman's own conduct.
Akhtar, who has now retired from international cricket, had filed a writ petition two years back against the 18-month ban and seven million rupees (around $80,000) fine imposed on him by a PCB arbitration tribunal, reports PTI.
Akhtar was provided temporary relief by the court, which suspended the ban, allowing him to resume his international career, but didn't give a ruling on the fine.
PCB got that fine by deducting money from Akhtar's dues with the board and the fast bowler now wants his money back.
A recent scheduled hearing could not held and PCB legal advisor said they have filed an application with the court that when the hearing is held they want permission to submit excerpts of Akhtar's autobiography to prove his conduct.
"We will submit relevant portions of the biography relating to his conduct to confirm to the court that the action taken against him by the arbitration tribunal was justified. We will with the help of the autobiography convince the court about his past conduct," PCB legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi said.
The biography - 'Controversially Yours' - has caused a storm in India as the book carries some controversial remarks about the Indian players, PCB and his fellow team-mates.
Akhtar's comments about batting icons Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid led to cancellation of book-launch ceremonies in Mumbai and Bangalore.
Akhtar claimed in his book that Tendulkar and Dravid were not match winners in the early days of their respective careers.
Akhtar, who has now retired from international cricket, had filed a writ petition two years back against the 18-month ban and seven million rupees (around $80,000) fine imposed on him by a PCB arbitration tribunal, reports PTI.
Akhtar was provided temporary relief by the court, which suspended the ban, allowing him to resume his international career, but didn't give a ruling on the fine.
PCB got that fine by deducting money from Akhtar's dues with the board and the fast bowler now wants his money back.
A recent scheduled hearing could not held and PCB legal advisor said they have filed an application with the court that when the hearing is held they want permission to submit excerpts of Akhtar's autobiography to prove his conduct.
"We will submit relevant portions of the biography relating to his conduct to confirm to the court that the action taken against him by the arbitration tribunal was justified. We will with the help of the autobiography convince the court about his past conduct," PCB legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi said.
The biography - 'Controversially Yours' - has caused a storm in India as the book carries some controversial remarks about the Indian players, PCB and his fellow team-mates.
Akhtar's comments about batting icons Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid led to cancellation of book-launch ceremonies in Mumbai and Bangalore.
Akhtar claimed in his book that Tendulkar and Dravid were not match winners in the early days of their respective careers.
Knight Riders fall short
South Australia Redbacks earned a comfortable 19-run over Kolkata Knight Riders to keep their hopes alive in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament on Tuesday.
The Redbacks defended their 188-run total despite the Knight Riders' lower-half really putting up a spirited show for a change. They ended on 169-9 after 20 overs.
Manoj Tiwary led the way hitting a 31-ball 40. Ryan ten Doeschate and Rajat Bhatia added 32 and 21 respectively after the top order failed to get going.
Jacques Kallis made only 20 while Shakib Al Hasan managed just 13. Skipper Gautam Gambhir continued his miserable scoring nine.
Earlier, a belligerent knock of 70 off 40 balls from one-down Callum Ferguson powered the Redbacks to 188 for five in the must-win Group B game.
Redbacks, who lost their opening fixture on Sunday, left out spearhead Shaun Tait and chose to bat.
They maintained a healthy run-rate throughout their innings thanks to Ferguson's unbeaten half-century that featured five fours and four sixes.
He added 84 runs for the fourth wicket with Daniel Christian (27-ball 42).
The Redbacks defended their 188-run total despite the Knight Riders' lower-half really putting up a spirited show for a change. They ended on 169-9 after 20 overs.
Manoj Tiwary led the way hitting a 31-ball 40. Ryan ten Doeschate and Rajat Bhatia added 32 and 21 respectively after the top order failed to get going.
Jacques Kallis made only 20 while Shakib Al Hasan managed just 13. Skipper Gautam Gambhir continued his miserable scoring nine.
Earlier, a belligerent knock of 70 off 40 balls from one-down Callum Ferguson powered the Redbacks to 188 for five in the must-win Group B game.
Redbacks, who lost their opening fixture on Sunday, left out spearhead Shaun Tait and chose to bat.
They maintained a healthy run-rate throughout their innings thanks to Ferguson's unbeaten half-century that featured five fours and four sixes.
He added 84 runs for the fourth wicket with Daniel Christian (27-ball 42).
Kayes, Shahadat dominate the day
BCB Red opener Imrul Kayes and BCB Green paceman Shahadat Hossain starred for their respective sides on day two of the four-day practice match on Tuesday.
Kayes, who usually plays second-fiddle to Tamim Iqbal for the Tigers, displayed his trademark qualities in making 85 runs in his three-hour stay at the crease at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
The left-hander's 133-ball vigil contained 14 fours and a six to help BCB Red reach 215 for seven in reply to their opponents 281.
Tamim (1) was not the only senior batsman to have a bad day at the office. New Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (20), Mohammad Ashraful (16), Mahmudullah (21) all failed to convert their starts into big runs.
Shahadat was the pick of the BCB Green bowlers as he finished with 3-52 in nine overs.
Resuming on 254-6, BCB Green's last four wickets added 27 runs.
All-rounder Naeem Islam, who put on 126 runs for the sixth-wicket with Mominul Islam (72) on Monday, was snapped up by pacer Shafiul Islam without adding to his overnight score of 95 with the total still on 254 runs.
Then left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who almost had a hat-trick, ended the innings taking the last three wickets.
Shafiul finished with three for 42 while Razzak took 3-10 in only 2.1 overs.
Kayes, who usually plays second-fiddle to Tamim Iqbal for the Tigers, displayed his trademark qualities in making 85 runs in his three-hour stay at the crease at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
The left-hander's 133-ball vigil contained 14 fours and a six to help BCB Red reach 215 for seven in reply to their opponents 281.
Tamim (1) was not the only senior batsman to have a bad day at the office. New Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (20), Mohammad Ashraful (16), Mahmudullah (21) all failed to convert their starts into big runs.
Shahadat was the pick of the BCB Green bowlers as he finished with 3-52 in nine overs.
Resuming on 254-6, BCB Green's last four wickets added 27 runs.
All-rounder Naeem Islam, who put on 126 runs for the sixth-wicket with Mominul Islam (72) on Monday, was snapped up by pacer Shafiul Islam without adding to his overnight score of 95 with the total still on 254 runs.
Then left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who almost had a hat-trick, ended the innings taking the last three wickets.
Shafiul finished with three for 42 while Razzak took 3-10 in only 2.1 overs.
Monday, September 26, 2011
PREVIEW KKR, Redbacks eye first win
Rocked by two consecutive defeats, Kolkata Knight Riders badly need a win as they take on an equally desperate South Australia Redbacks in their next Champions League Twenty20 match on Tuesday.
Twice Kolkata lost to Somerset - in qualifying and on Sunday - and now need to do well in the remaining three Group B stage matches, reports PTI.
The Australian side is also coming into the match after suffering a heavy 50-run defeat against Warriors and Tuesday's contest promises to be a fiercely-fought duel, as neither side would like to face an early exit from the event.
Despite defeat, KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir was able to draw some positives. He hoped that veteran Jacques Kallis and big-hitting Yusuf Pathan would continue to score heavily.
Both the batsmen are in good form and it was on the back of their solid show that Kolkata could set a stiff target of 162 against Somerset.
More than anything, skipper Gambhir himself will be eager to get back into the groove as he is coming into the tournament after suffering a concussion and didn't make a great start by getting out for a duck in first ball he faced.
The England ODI series is looming large and Gambhir would like to test his fitness and set the tempo.
Kolkata also need to search deep into its bowling woes as the frontline bowlers are leaking too many runs. Roelof van der Merwe ripped apart their attack on Sunday and Somerset were scoring at a run-rate of almost 10 till 12 overs.
Although the bowlers made a recovery in the end but the damage done at the start was beyond redemption and they ended up losing the match.
Redbacks too are struggling with both batting and bowling and will have to raise their level as Kolkata are very much capable of coming out of difficult situation.
Redbacks need skipper Michael Klinger, Callum Ferguson and experienced paceman Shaun Tait to fire.
TEAMS:
South Australia Redbacks (from): Michael Klinger (captain), Aaron O'Brien, Adil Rashid, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Borgas, Chadd Sayers, Daniel Christian, Daniel Harris, Gary Putland, James Smith, Kane Richardson, Nathon Lyon, Shaun Tait, Tim Ludeman and Tom Cooper.
Kolkata Knight Riders (from): Gautam Gambhir (captain), Jacques Kallis, L Balaji, Manvinder Bisla, Jaidev Unadkat, Manoj Tiwary, Mohammed Shami Ahmed, Rajat Bhatia, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Shakib Al Hasan, Shreevats Goswami, Yusuf Pathan, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Gautam Gambhir and Iqbal Abdulla.
Twice Kolkata lost to Somerset - in qualifying and on Sunday - and now need to do well in the remaining three Group B stage matches, reports PTI.
The Australian side is also coming into the match after suffering a heavy 50-run defeat against Warriors and Tuesday's contest promises to be a fiercely-fought duel, as neither side would like to face an early exit from the event.
Despite defeat, KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir was able to draw some positives. He hoped that veteran Jacques Kallis and big-hitting Yusuf Pathan would continue to score heavily.
Both the batsmen are in good form and it was on the back of their solid show that Kolkata could set a stiff target of 162 against Somerset.
More than anything, skipper Gambhir himself will be eager to get back into the groove as he is coming into the tournament after suffering a concussion and didn't make a great start by getting out for a duck in first ball he faced.
The England ODI series is looming large and Gambhir would like to test his fitness and set the tempo.
Kolkata also need to search deep into its bowling woes as the frontline bowlers are leaking too many runs. Roelof van der Merwe ripped apart their attack on Sunday and Somerset were scoring at a run-rate of almost 10 till 12 overs.
Although the bowlers made a recovery in the end but the damage done at the start was beyond redemption and they ended up losing the match.
Redbacks too are struggling with both batting and bowling and will have to raise their level as Kolkata are very much capable of coming out of difficult situation.
Redbacks need skipper Michael Klinger, Callum Ferguson and experienced paceman Shaun Tait to fire.
TEAMS:
South Australia Redbacks (from): Michael Klinger (captain), Aaron O'Brien, Adil Rashid, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Borgas, Chadd Sayers, Daniel Christian, Daniel Harris, Gary Putland, James Smith, Kane Richardson, Nathon Lyon, Shaun Tait, Tim Ludeman and Tom Cooper.
Kolkata Knight Riders (from): Gautam Gambhir (captain), Jacques Kallis, L Balaji, Manvinder Bisla, Jaidev Unadkat, Manoj Tiwary, Mohammed Shami Ahmed, Rajat Bhatia, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Shakib Al Hasan, Shreevats Goswami, Yusuf Pathan, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Gautam Gambhir and Iqbal Abdulla.
Tim Paine set for surgery on finger
Tim Paine has been ruled out of Australia's tour of South Africa next month due to a finger injury, which is likely to open the door for Matthew Wade to make his international debut.
Paine will have surgery later this week following a slower than expected recovery after he hurt his right index finger while batting at a Tasmania training session a month ago, reports ESPNcricinfo.
The decision for Paine to have an operation means that Australia will need to find a new wicketkeeper for the two Twenty20s against South Africa on October 13 and 16 in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Brad Haddin last week announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals, which is likely to make Wade the favourite for a national call-up.
Wade, 23, has played for Australia A over the past 18 months and was productive for Victoria last summer, when he finished second behind Brad Hodge on the Ryobi Cup run tally and also score 553 Sheffield Shield runs.
It would be a major surprise if Wade was not chosen, with Chris Hartley having hardly been used in T20 by Queensland over the past two seasons, and Western Australia's Luke Ronchi having slipped down the pecking order.
And while the T20s in South Africa are the immediate opportunity, there could be further chances to provide backup for Haddin in one-day or Test cricket, depending on how long Paine is sidelined.
Australia's physiotherapist, Alex Kountouris, said Paine was still experiencing significant discomfort a month after sustaining the injury.
"Tim Paine injured his right index finger batting at training with his Tasmanian state team four weeks ago," Kountouris said. "He sustained a fracture in a similar part of the same finger late last year and required surgery. Tim has been resting the injury in recent weeks but is still experiencing considerable pain.
"His surgeon has advised that the fracture is healing slower than expected and may not heal without surgical intervention. As such, Tim will be undergoing surgery later this week. He is likely to need an extended recovery period following surgery and will not be available for selection for the T20 and ODI tour of South Africa."
Paine is not the only one of Australia's contracted players set for surgery, with the allrounder John Hastings likely to have an operation on his right shoulder. Hastings suffered the injury while training with Victoria and he too will be out of action for the T20 and one-day series in South Africa.
"John Hastings injured his right shoulder during a training session with Cricket Victoria after returning from Australian duties in Sri Lanka," Kountouris said. "He has had ongoing shoulder pain since this incident and has been unable to return to training. He has consulted a surgeon who has recommended surgery.
"It is possible that he will have surgery sometime in the next week after further assessment from the surgeon. His return to cricket will be dependent on the management approach pursued but he will not be available for selection for the T20 and ODI tour of South Africa."
Paine will have surgery later this week following a slower than expected recovery after he hurt his right index finger while batting at a Tasmania training session a month ago, reports ESPNcricinfo.
The decision for Paine to have an operation means that Australia will need to find a new wicketkeeper for the two Twenty20s against South Africa on October 13 and 16 in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Brad Haddin last week announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals, which is likely to make Wade the favourite for a national call-up.
Wade, 23, has played for Australia A over the past 18 months and was productive for Victoria last summer, when he finished second behind Brad Hodge on the Ryobi Cup run tally and also score 553 Sheffield Shield runs.
It would be a major surprise if Wade was not chosen, with Chris Hartley having hardly been used in T20 by Queensland over the past two seasons, and Western Australia's Luke Ronchi having slipped down the pecking order.
And while the T20s in South Africa are the immediate opportunity, there could be further chances to provide backup for Haddin in one-day or Test cricket, depending on how long Paine is sidelined.
Australia's physiotherapist, Alex Kountouris, said Paine was still experiencing significant discomfort a month after sustaining the injury.
"Tim Paine injured his right index finger batting at training with his Tasmanian state team four weeks ago," Kountouris said. "He sustained a fracture in a similar part of the same finger late last year and required surgery. Tim has been resting the injury in recent weeks but is still experiencing considerable pain.
"His surgeon has advised that the fracture is healing slower than expected and may not heal without surgical intervention. As such, Tim will be undergoing surgery later this week. He is likely to need an extended recovery period following surgery and will not be available for selection for the T20 and ODI tour of South Africa."
Paine is not the only one of Australia's contracted players set for surgery, with the allrounder John Hastings likely to have an operation on his right shoulder. Hastings suffered the injury while training with Victoria and he too will be out of action for the T20 and one-day series in South Africa.
"John Hastings injured his right shoulder during a training session with Cricket Victoria after returning from Australian duties in Sri Lanka," Kountouris said. "He has had ongoing shoulder pain since this incident and has been unable to return to training. He has consulted a surgeon who has recommended surgery.
"It is possible that he will have surgery sometime in the next week after further assessment from the surgeon. His return to cricket will be dependent on the management approach pursued but he will not be available for selection for the T20 and ODI tour of South Africa."
Need to have Indo-Pak matches: Akram
Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram feels that India and Pakistan taking on each other on the sports field would prepare players from both sides to handle pressure.
Akram, who was taking part in a panel discussion along with ex-Indian hockey captain, Dhanraj Pillay, also slammed team-mate and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for his disparaging comments in his autobiography, 'Controversially Yours', against top Indian batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, reports ESPNstar.
Akram, who represented his country in 104 Tests and 356 ODIs between 1985 and 2003, wanted India and Pakistan to engage in sports at all levels.
"We should have regular contests in all sports from the under-16, under-19 levels. India-Pakistan games are pressure games. Once a player knows how to handle the pressure in these matches, he can play against all other teams," said the 45-year-old Akram.
About Akhtar's comment on Tendulkar and Dravid, Akram joked that the former Pakistani pacer was lacking in brains.
"Batsmen of the calibre of Tendulkar and Dravid are not afraid of fast bowlers. At times they may just block a bowler like me to preserve their wickets," he said.
Asked about the most memorable moments in his cricket career, Akram, one of the best-ever left-arm fast bowlers in the history of the game, singled out three instances.
"Our World Cup victory in 1992 (under Imran Khan), and the Test series victory over (hosts) India in 1987 (Pakistan's maiden one) and our wins in India in 1999," he said.
Pakistan defeated India at Chennai before the hosts avenged the defeat in New Delhi in the two-Test rubber. In another Test immediately afterwards in Kolkata, part of the now defunct Asian Test Championship, the visitors vanquished the home team.
Akram singled out the overwhelming loss in the World Cup final of 1999 to Australia, in which he led his country, as his most forgettable moment.
Asked about the top batsmen he had bowled to, the Lahore-born Akram said there were quite a few.
"In the beginning, there was (India's) Sunil Gavaskar.
"Later, there were Allan Border, Mark Taylor, the Waugh brothers (all Australians) and then (West Indian) Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and England's Alec Stewart, who I found difficult to bowl to," he said.
Akram also said that over the last four or five years, the Pakistan cricket team lacked 'a proper role model'.
"They had Shoaib as one," he remarked in a jocular vein.
Akram, a diabetic, said he was at first worried when he was diagnosed with the disease in 1987 but then after a two-month break to take treatment, came back and took over 250 wickets each in both Tests and ODIs.
Akram, who was taking part in a panel discussion along with ex-Indian hockey captain, Dhanraj Pillay, also slammed team-mate and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for his disparaging comments in his autobiography, 'Controversially Yours', against top Indian batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, reports ESPNstar.
Akram, who represented his country in 104 Tests and 356 ODIs between 1985 and 2003, wanted India and Pakistan to engage in sports at all levels.
"We should have regular contests in all sports from the under-16, under-19 levels. India-Pakistan games are pressure games. Once a player knows how to handle the pressure in these matches, he can play against all other teams," said the 45-year-old Akram.
About Akhtar's comment on Tendulkar and Dravid, Akram joked that the former Pakistani pacer was lacking in brains.
"Batsmen of the calibre of Tendulkar and Dravid are not afraid of fast bowlers. At times they may just block a bowler like me to preserve their wickets," he said.
Asked about the most memorable moments in his cricket career, Akram, one of the best-ever left-arm fast bowlers in the history of the game, singled out three instances.
"Our World Cup victory in 1992 (under Imran Khan), and the Test series victory over (hosts) India in 1987 (Pakistan's maiden one) and our wins in India in 1999," he said.
Pakistan defeated India at Chennai before the hosts avenged the defeat in New Delhi in the two-Test rubber. In another Test immediately afterwards in Kolkata, part of the now defunct Asian Test Championship, the visitors vanquished the home team.
Akram singled out the overwhelming loss in the World Cup final of 1999 to Australia, in which he led his country, as his most forgettable moment.
Asked about the top batsmen he had bowled to, the Lahore-born Akram said there were quite a few.
"In the beginning, there was (India's) Sunil Gavaskar.
"Later, there were Allan Border, Mark Taylor, the Waugh brothers (all Australians) and then (West Indian) Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and England's Alec Stewart, who I found difficult to bowl to," he said.
Akram also said that over the last four or five years, the Pakistan cricket team lacked 'a proper role model'.
"They had Shoaib as one," he remarked in a jocular vein.
Akram, a diabetic, said he was at first worried when he was diagnosed with the disease in 1987 but then after a two-month break to take treatment, came back and took over 250 wickets each in both Tests and ODIs.
Kashmir cricket bat faces extinction
Kashmir's fabled cricket bats may soon call it a day as the main raw material - the willow- is fast disappearing due to the long gestation period and low returns for farmers.
The industry, with around 300 small and big manufacturing units, provides direct and indirect employment to nearly 15,000 people in the Valley and is estimated to have an annual turnover of over Rs 10 crore ($2.02 mln).
Dwindling willow plantation amid allegations about the incapacity of the government to introduce an upgraded breed of the willow, which grows faster to the required girth, may lead to the demise of the industry sooner than expected.
Abdul Hameed, who has been manufacturing bats for the last 35 years, at a factory in Hullmulla village, located on the highway in South Kashmir, said the industry may soon shut down.
"This industry is in its last stages and will soon collapse," Hameed said, reports PTI.
He said the biggest handicap of the industry is the willow itself, which takes decades to grow to the size required for making bats.
"There are not many trees left and no one plants them anymore because the government has failed to introduce the English willow here. No one will keep his land in use for a plantation which takes 30 years to grow," he said.
At Gateway Sports Factory, where Hameed works, there are thousands of bat clefts stacked and saw dust covers the ground. The factory manufactures 2,000-4,000 bats annually, depending on the market demand.
The 'bat-hub', comprising seven villages - Charsoo, Hallmulla, Bijbehara, Sangam, Sethar, Pujteng and Mirzapor in the South Kashmir - also faces another problem. The widening of the National Highway will displace 99 factories and the government seems to have no plans for their relocation.
"Some people associated with this industry are facing difficulties because of the road widening, let them come and meet me," state minister of Industries S S Slathia told reporters while inaugurating a common facility centre for cricket bats.
Ironically, a facility with boiler-based wood seasoning chambers - which speeds up the processing of bat clefts - has been constructed alongside the highway without any planning or consultation with the Roads and Buildings department.
Parts of the facility constructed at a cost of Rs 6 crore ($1.2 mln) are also getting bulldozed on account of widening of the National Highway.
"Road widening is about national interest, but we also have to see what steps should be taken to help those who will be displaced by the road widening. I asked the deputy commissioner to provide them proper compensation," Slathia said.
He said they will be settled in a "cluster" at a single place.
The president of the Cricket Bat Manufacturers Association of Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Salroo, seemed more pessimistic about the prospects of the industry.
"Not even ten years. The end of this industry will begin in the next two years."
Salroo blamed the consecutive state government for the decline in industry.
"We had once submitted a proposal for introduction of high breed willow and asked the government to provide us land for plantation, but it was never allotted," he said.
He said the government has also failed to notify the use of willow exclusively for bat manufacturing.
The industry, with around 300 small and big manufacturing units, provides direct and indirect employment to nearly 15,000 people in the Valley and is estimated to have an annual turnover of over Rs 10 crore ($2.02 mln).
Dwindling willow plantation amid allegations about the incapacity of the government to introduce an upgraded breed of the willow, which grows faster to the required girth, may lead to the demise of the industry sooner than expected.
Abdul Hameed, who has been manufacturing bats for the last 35 years, at a factory in Hullmulla village, located on the highway in South Kashmir, said the industry may soon shut down.
"This industry is in its last stages and will soon collapse," Hameed said, reports PTI.
He said the biggest handicap of the industry is the willow itself, which takes decades to grow to the size required for making bats.
"There are not many trees left and no one plants them anymore because the government has failed to introduce the English willow here. No one will keep his land in use for a plantation which takes 30 years to grow," he said.
At Gateway Sports Factory, where Hameed works, there are thousands of bat clefts stacked and saw dust covers the ground. The factory manufactures 2,000-4,000 bats annually, depending on the market demand.
The 'bat-hub', comprising seven villages - Charsoo, Hallmulla, Bijbehara, Sangam, Sethar, Pujteng and Mirzapor in the South Kashmir - also faces another problem. The widening of the National Highway will displace 99 factories and the government seems to have no plans for their relocation.
"Some people associated with this industry are facing difficulties because of the road widening, let them come and meet me," state minister of Industries S S Slathia told reporters while inaugurating a common facility centre for cricket bats.
Ironically, a facility with boiler-based wood seasoning chambers - which speeds up the processing of bat clefts - has been constructed alongside the highway without any planning or consultation with the Roads and Buildings department.
Parts of the facility constructed at a cost of Rs 6 crore ($1.2 mln) are also getting bulldozed on account of widening of the National Highway.
"Road widening is about national interest, but we also have to see what steps should be taken to help those who will be displaced by the road widening. I asked the deputy commissioner to provide them proper compensation," Slathia said.
He said they will be settled in a "cluster" at a single place.
The president of the Cricket Bat Manufacturers Association of Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Salroo, seemed more pessimistic about the prospects of the industry.
"Not even ten years. The end of this industry will begin in the next two years."
Salroo blamed the consecutive state government for the decline in industry.
"We had once submitted a proposal for introduction of high breed willow and asked the government to provide us land for plantation, but it was never allotted," he said.
He said the government has also failed to notify the use of willow exclusively for bat manufacturing.
India ODI squad against Eng on Sept 29
The Indian squad for next month's first two one-dayers against England will be picked in Chennai on Thursday, according to BCCI sources.
"The team for the first two ODIs against England will be selected in Chennai on September 29," BCCI sources said on Monday, reports ESPNstar.
The selectors will also choose the three teams - India Red, Indian Blue and India Green - to take part in the N K P Salve Challenger Series in Nagpur from October 10-13, the sources added.
The first two India-England ODIs are to be held in Hyderabad (October 14) and Delhi (October 17).
The squad for the remaining three ODIs is likely to be picked at the conclusion of the first two matches. The remaining ties are to be held in Mohali (October 20), Mumbai (October 23) and Kolkata (October 25).
England are also scheduled to play a one-off T20 International against India in Kolkata on October 29 before departing home.
"The team for the first two ODIs against England will be selected in Chennai on September 29," BCCI sources said on Monday, reports ESPNstar.
The selectors will also choose the three teams - India Red, Indian Blue and India Green - to take part in the N K P Salve Challenger Series in Nagpur from October 10-13, the sources added.
The first two India-England ODIs are to be held in Hyderabad (October 14) and Delhi (October 17).
The squad for the remaining three ODIs is likely to be picked at the conclusion of the first two matches. The remaining ties are to be held in Mohali (October 20), Mumbai (October 23) and Kolkata (October 25).
England are also scheduled to play a one-off T20 International against India in Kolkata on October 29 before departing home.
Mumbai Indians scramble home
Mumbai Indians won a humdinger of a contest when they scrambled home by one wicket against Trinidad & Tobago in their Champions League Twenty20 match on Monday.
Needing to chase a below-100 target, the fancied Indian side were pushed all the way by their opponents in what proved to be a Group A thriller at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Mumbai looked dead and buried after they had slumped to 77-7 by the 16th over. But Ambati Rayudu used all his experience to virtually carry the side over the finish line before he fell for 36 off 47 balls.
When he was sent back Mumbai needed two runs to win and last man Yuzvendra Chahal did just that.
Earlier, Trinidad & Tobago were bundled out for just 98 in 16.2 overs.
The Caribbean team, who won the toss, were found clueless against the guile of Harbhajan Singh. The acting skipper in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar snared three wickets for 22 runs in his mandatory four-over spell.
Lasith Malinga chipped in with two wickets while Abu Nechim, James Franklin and Kieron Pollard each took a wicket apiece for Mumbai, who stunned defending Chennai Super Kings with a three-wicket win in their opening match.
Apart from Jason Mohammed (23), Lendl Simmons (21) and Darren Bravo (18), Trinidad showed little ambition.
Needing to chase a below-100 target, the fancied Indian side were pushed all the way by their opponents in what proved to be a Group A thriller at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Mumbai looked dead and buried after they had slumped to 77-7 by the 16th over. But Ambati Rayudu used all his experience to virtually carry the side over the finish line before he fell for 36 off 47 balls.
When he was sent back Mumbai needed two runs to win and last man Yuzvendra Chahal did just that.
Earlier, Trinidad & Tobago were bundled out for just 98 in 16.2 overs.
The Caribbean team, who won the toss, were found clueless against the guile of Harbhajan Singh. The acting skipper in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar snared three wickets for 22 runs in his mandatory four-over spell.
Lasith Malinga chipped in with two wickets while Abu Nechim, James Franklin and Kieron Pollard each took a wicket apiece for Mumbai, who stunned defending Chennai Super Kings with a three-wicket win in their opening match.
Apart from Jason Mohammed (23), Lendl Simmons (21) and Darren Bravo (18), Trinidad showed little ambition.
Naeem propels BCB Green on day one
BCB Green team scored 254 for six on the first day of their four-day practice match against BCB Red at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.
BCB Green lost both openers Shahriar Nafees (0) and Junaed Siddique (10), and one-down Sahagir Hossain (12).
But all-rounder Naeem Islam cracked a gritty 95 not out and Mominul Islam scored 72 off 89 balls to stabilise the side.
The pair added 126 runs for the sixth-wicket. Besides, Alok Kapali contributed 29 runs.
Pacers Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain captured two wickets each for BCB Red.
BCB Green lost both openers Shahriar Nafees (0) and Junaed Siddique (10), and one-down Sahagir Hossain (12).
But all-rounder Naeem Islam cracked a gritty 95 not out and Mominul Islam scored 72 off 89 balls to stabilise the side.
The pair added 126 runs for the sixth-wicket. Besides, Alok Kapali contributed 29 runs.
Pacers Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain captured two wickets each for BCB Red.
Real rally behind Mourinho for Ajax visit
Real Madrid's players and backroom staff have rallied behind coach Jose Mourinho by defending the squad's morale and unity following a few below-par performances.
The nine-time European Cup winners return to Champions League action at home to Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday as Group D leaders thanks to an uninspiring 1-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb two weeks ago which was the starting point for their dip in form.
A shock 1-0 defeat at Levante and a 0-0 draw at Racing Santander followed and Saturday´s 6-2 battering of Rayo Vallecano did not stop reporters asking defender Alvaro Arbeloa on Monday about the squad's morale and its relationship with Mourinho.
"We are all totally united and the atmosphere is good even after a week which has been quite difficult," Arbeloa told a news conference.
"Some of us players have come out and denied this talk of supposed divisions or a bad atmosphere and I do so again."
There was a heated debate at Real's general assembly at the weekend with some members accusing the outspoken Mourinho of damaging the club's image with his behaviour.
That prompted a robust defence of the Portuguese coach from club president Florentino Perez.
On Wednesday, Mourinho completes the last game of a three-match ban imposed by Uefa for an outburst after last season's notorious semi-final clash with eventual champions Barcelona.
"Everyone at the club is united, not just from yesterday but they have been for a long time," said assistant coach Aitor Karanka.
"We are all working in the same direction. The coach was the first to dismiss this talk of a crisis."
Turkey midfielder Hamit Altintop has been included in a Real squad for the first time since joining the club in the close season and defender Ricardo Carvalho is also back after recovering from a blow to the head he received last week.
Ajax coach Frank De Boer said he was especially looking forward to the clash given his background as a former Barcelona player.
"Madrid are a great team and to win we will have to do very well," the Dutchman said.
"Mourinho is a great coach (but) he has made mistakes, he knows that."
The nine-time European Cup winners return to Champions League action at home to Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday as Group D leaders thanks to an uninspiring 1-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb two weeks ago which was the starting point for their dip in form.
A shock 1-0 defeat at Levante and a 0-0 draw at Racing Santander followed and Saturday´s 6-2 battering of Rayo Vallecano did not stop reporters asking defender Alvaro Arbeloa on Monday about the squad's morale and its relationship with Mourinho.
"We are all totally united and the atmosphere is good even after a week which has been quite difficult," Arbeloa told a news conference.
"Some of us players have come out and denied this talk of supposed divisions or a bad atmosphere and I do so again."
There was a heated debate at Real's general assembly at the weekend with some members accusing the outspoken Mourinho of damaging the club's image with his behaviour.
That prompted a robust defence of the Portuguese coach from club president Florentino Perez.
On Wednesday, Mourinho completes the last game of a three-match ban imposed by Uefa for an outburst after last season's notorious semi-final clash with eventual champions Barcelona.
"Everyone at the club is united, not just from yesterday but they have been for a long time," said assistant coach Aitor Karanka.
"We are all working in the same direction. The coach was the first to dismiss this talk of a crisis."
Turkey midfielder Hamit Altintop has been included in a Real squad for the first time since joining the club in the close season and defender Ricardo Carvalho is also back after recovering from a blow to the head he received last week.
Ajax coach Frank De Boer said he was especially looking forward to the clash given his background as a former Barcelona player.
"Madrid are a great team and to win we will have to do very well," the Dutchman said.
"Mourinho is a great coach (but) he has made mistakes, he knows that."
Ferguson sees squad rotation as key
Injuries that are keeping Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez out of Tuesday's Champions League match against FC Basel give Manchester United the chance to implement the squad rotation policy that manager Alex Ferguson says is the key to success.
Rooney's hamstring injury and Hernandez's dead leg have ruled the potent striking duo out of the Group C match at Old Trafford, paving the way for the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Danny Welbeck to make their mark.
Even if they had not been injured, Ferguson may well have looked to his back-up players - which include last season's joint top scorer in the league and England's fourth highest international scorer.
"Having a squad gives them a better chance of winning things, so they've accepted (the squad system) a long time ago," Ferguson told a news conference on Monday.
"And they want to do well when they get the opportunity because as a group we all want to do well.
"They all have a part to play in the context of the number of games you have in the Premier League, Champions League, League Cup, FA Cup, it's an exhausting season unless you use your squad."
Berbatov, who scored 20 goals to share last season's Premier League golden boot, found himself edged in the second half of last term as Hernandez's goal-poaching prowess was preferred to the Bulgarian's more languid approach.
Owen showed last week the devastating touch that netted him 40 England goals in 89 internationals was still there with two goals against Leeds United in the League Cup.
Both would be glad to be given a chance to shine at Old Trafford on Tuesday in Europe's elite club competition but face competition from youngster Welbeck, who was given the nod ahead of them when Hernandez was sidelined earlier this season.
ON YOUR TOES
Winger Ashley Young, who missed United's 1-1 draw at Benfica in their opening Group C game earlier this month, is hopeful of making his first Champions League appearance against Basel but is aware there is no guarantee.
"When you come to a club like Manchester United, you are going to be challenged," the 26-year-old, who joined United from Aston Villa in the close season, told the news conference.
"It's always nice to know you've got to be on your toes 24/7 in training every day, you've got to go out there and give 100 percent because you know someone else could take your spot."
The attacking berths are not the only ones up for grabs as injuries to Chris Smalling (groin) and Jonny Evans (ankle) have created vacancies in defence.
Captain Nemanja Vidic remains sidelined with a calf problem and Ferguson hopes the centre back might have recovered from it by the time the two-week international break is over in the middle of next month.
The manager had no idea when Rooney, who has already scored nine league goals this season, would return but said Hernandez should be available for Saturday's league game against Norwich City.
Without Rooney and Hernandez, who missed most of Saturday's league game at Stoke City after being forced off early, United dropped their first points of the season with a 1-1 draw although they still top the Premier League on goal difference.
After appearances in three of the last four finals, including victory in the 2008 edition, United have set their sights high again this time.
"We have been consistent in the Champions League, our form away from home has been outstanding and we hope we can do better this year and win it, that's the aim of this club all the time," Ferguson said.
"The Champions League is the best competition in the world now, better than the World Cup, better than the European Championships, it's a fantastic tournament.
Rooney's hamstring injury and Hernandez's dead leg have ruled the potent striking duo out of the Group C match at Old Trafford, paving the way for the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Danny Welbeck to make their mark.
Even if they had not been injured, Ferguson may well have looked to his back-up players - which include last season's joint top scorer in the league and England's fourth highest international scorer.
"Having a squad gives them a better chance of winning things, so they've accepted (the squad system) a long time ago," Ferguson told a news conference on Monday.
"And they want to do well when they get the opportunity because as a group we all want to do well.
"They all have a part to play in the context of the number of games you have in the Premier League, Champions League, League Cup, FA Cup, it's an exhausting season unless you use your squad."
Berbatov, who scored 20 goals to share last season's Premier League golden boot, found himself edged in the second half of last term as Hernandez's goal-poaching prowess was preferred to the Bulgarian's more languid approach.
Owen showed last week the devastating touch that netted him 40 England goals in 89 internationals was still there with two goals against Leeds United in the League Cup.
Both would be glad to be given a chance to shine at Old Trafford on Tuesday in Europe's elite club competition but face competition from youngster Welbeck, who was given the nod ahead of them when Hernandez was sidelined earlier this season.
ON YOUR TOES
Winger Ashley Young, who missed United's 1-1 draw at Benfica in their opening Group C game earlier this month, is hopeful of making his first Champions League appearance against Basel but is aware there is no guarantee.
"When you come to a club like Manchester United, you are going to be challenged," the 26-year-old, who joined United from Aston Villa in the close season, told the news conference.
"It's always nice to know you've got to be on your toes 24/7 in training every day, you've got to go out there and give 100 percent because you know someone else could take your spot."
The attacking berths are not the only ones up for grabs as injuries to Chris Smalling (groin) and Jonny Evans (ankle) have created vacancies in defence.
Captain Nemanja Vidic remains sidelined with a calf problem and Ferguson hopes the centre back might have recovered from it by the time the two-week international break is over in the middle of next month.
The manager had no idea when Rooney, who has already scored nine league goals this season, would return but said Hernandez should be available for Saturday's league game against Norwich City.
Without Rooney and Hernandez, who missed most of Saturday's league game at Stoke City after being forced off early, United dropped their first points of the season with a 1-1 draw although they still top the Premier League on goal difference.
After appearances in three of the last four finals, including victory in the 2008 edition, United have set their sights high again this time.
"We have been consistent in the Champions League, our form away from home has been outstanding and we hope we can do better this year and win it, that's the aim of this club all the time," Ferguson said.
"The Champions League is the best competition in the world now, better than the World Cup, better than the European Championships, it's a fantastic tournament.
City to mark United's 1958 Munich air crash
Manchester City will put sporting rivalry aside to mark the 1958 Munich air disaster, which killed 23 people including eight Manchester United players, with a wreath-laying ceremony on Tuesday.
The players, officials and journalists, among them former City and England goalkeeper Frank Swift who was travelling with the team as a reporter, died on February 6, 1958, when the plane crashed on a cold and snowy day in Munich.
"It's refreshing, we appreciate that from Manchester City," Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson told a news conference on Monday.
"And of course one of their own players was killed in the crash, their former players anyway."
United were travelling back after a game against Red Star Belgrade in Yugoslavia.
A Manchester City delegation, expected to include lifetime chairman Bernard Halford, will lay a wreath at the memorial on Manchesterplatz ahead of City's Champions League Group A match against Bayern Munich later in the day.
"I think it's a good sign that the game is not as bad as sometimes we think, I think there's an element of supporters' contribution in a different way which is not nice," Ferguson said.
"We appreciate what Manchester City are doing if that's the case, well done."
The players, officials and journalists, among them former City and England goalkeeper Frank Swift who was travelling with the team as a reporter, died on February 6, 1958, when the plane crashed on a cold and snowy day in Munich.
"It's refreshing, we appreciate that from Manchester City," Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson told a news conference on Monday.
"And of course one of their own players was killed in the crash, their former players anyway."
United were travelling back after a game against Red Star Belgrade in Yugoslavia.
A Manchester City delegation, expected to include lifetime chairman Bernard Halford, will lay a wreath at the memorial on Manchesterplatz ahead of City's Champions League Group A match against Bayern Munich later in the day.
"I think it's a good sign that the game is not as bad as sometimes we think, I think there's an element of supporters' contribution in a different way which is not nice," Ferguson said.
"We appreciate what Manchester City are doing if that's the case, well done."
Matthaeus was lost in translation: Bojinov
Lothar Matthaeus was unsuccessful as coach of Bulgaria because of his inability to communicate with players, said striker Valeri Bojinov.
The German, who last September became the first foreigner to coach Bulgaria since 1966, had signed a one-year contract with an option for two more years but led the team to only three wins - two of them in friendlies - in 11 games.
Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav Mihaylov criticised Matthaeus for living outside the country for most of the time, adding that it had influenced results and preparation of the team. The BFU said his contract would not be renewed and under-21 coach Mihail Madanski stepped in on a temporary basis.
Bojinov, who clashed with Matthaeus and was omitted from the national squad several times in the last year, told Meridian Match daily on Monday he was pleased the new coach was Bulgarian and could communicate with players.
"It was a different story with Matthaeus, it was like a broken phone conversation," said the Sporting Lisbon forward, who has 33 caps.
"You're talking to a translator and you know that sometimes such 'tactics' leads to problems. One didn't hear something, others didn't understand something ... much of it was lost in translation."
Matthaeus captained West Germany to their 1990 World Cup win and has a record 150 caps but he has achieved limited success as a coach with Rapid Vienna, Partizan Belgrade, Atletico Paranense, Salzburg, Maccabi Netanya and Hungary.
The German, who last September became the first foreigner to coach Bulgaria since 1966, had signed a one-year contract with an option for two more years but led the team to only three wins - two of them in friendlies - in 11 games.
Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav Mihaylov criticised Matthaeus for living outside the country for most of the time, adding that it had influenced results and preparation of the team. The BFU said his contract would not be renewed and under-21 coach Mihail Madanski stepped in on a temporary basis.
Bojinov, who clashed with Matthaeus and was omitted from the national squad several times in the last year, told Meridian Match daily on Monday he was pleased the new coach was Bulgarian and could communicate with players.
"It was a different story with Matthaeus, it was like a broken phone conversation," said the Sporting Lisbon forward, who has 33 caps.
"You're talking to a translator and you know that sometimes such 'tactics' leads to problems. One didn't hear something, others didn't understand something ... much of it was lost in translation."
Matthaeus captained West Germany to their 1990 World Cup win and has a record 150 caps but he has achieved limited success as a coach with Rapid Vienna, Partizan Belgrade, Atletico Paranense, Salzburg, Maccabi Netanya and Hungary.
Bayern face pumped-up Man City
Bayern Munich take on ambitious Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday, a clash between European aristocrats and a big-spending team desperate to prove they belong among the elite.
The game is one of the most intriguing of Match day Two which also sees holders Barcelona travel to BATE Borisov in Belarus and 2010 champions Inter Milan going to CSKA Moscow as they seek to kick-start their season under new coach Claudio Ranieri.
Like Bayern, Barcelona and Inter, Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam are established members of the European soccer aristocracy and they meet in a fascinating game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, last season's runners-up Manchester United will look for their first win of the embryonic campaign against Basel of Switzerland while AC Milan take on Czech newcomers Viktoria Plzen.
Bayern's clash with Manchester City symbolises what this competition is all about; a clash of current European powerhouses on one level, and a clash of Old Money v New Money on another.
There are strong soccer links between the cities of Munich and Manchester, but they have been built entirely between United and Munich dating back to the 1958 Munich Air Crash when United's plane crashed on takeoff resulting in 23 deaths including those of eight United players.
But while Bayern have strong links with Old Trafford, having played United nine times in all, they have never met City before and their relationship has not started in the most friendly way.
There was some ill-feeling over the summer transfer of Jerome Boateng from City to Bayern, and Bayern's outspoken chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says City were bailed out by their owners having accrued debts of 140.0 million euros.
City manager Roberto Mancini responded by saying: "People are mistaken about Manchester City. They accuse us of spending more money than anyone this year and every time they said that they are mistaken.
"Everyone says we have spent a lot of money but so what? To us it isn't important. We just want to progress, to become a better club, and I think some people respect that.
"If we want to be like the other top teams, we have to be winners. That can take time. This is our first time in the Champions League. But in football you never say never. Anything can happen."
Bayern of course, have been European champions four times while City have only ever played three matches in either the old European Cup or the Champions League combined.
But now, thanks to the hundreds of millions invested in the club by Abu Dhabi owner Sheikh Mansour, they meet as equals. The two teams are also the most likely to advance from Group A.
Three-time European champions Inter Milan, who lost their opening match 1-0 to Trabzonspor of Turkey two weeks ago, will look to bounce back in Moscow on Tuesday
Inter have now employed the experienced Ranieri and will be buoyed by their first win of the season on Saturday, a 3-1 triumph at Bologna. They have also won both their previous Champions League matches against CSKA in Moscow, 2-1 in 2007-08 and 1-0 in the quarter-finals in 2009-10.
That is not the only fascinating match in eastern Europe this week as BATE Borisov welcome European champions Barcelona for their Group H match on Wednesday.
BATE are virtually assured of a sixth successive Belarus title when their spring-autumn season ends in seven matches, but they have hit a dip in form at just the wrong time with Barcelona calling.
While BATE were drawing 1-1 with mid-table Belshina Bobruisk on Friday, Barca gave another display of their imperious brilliance with a 5-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid on Saturday with World Player of the Year Lionel Messi scoring a stunning hat-trick.
Anything other than another win for Pep Guardiola's team, who began the defence of their trophy with a 2-2 draw with AC Milan, will represent the upset of the night, if not the season.
While Messi was scoring his hat-trick, Cristiano Ronaldo was also on fire for Real Madrid scoring a treble of his own against Rayo Vallecano.
Real, who won 1-0 at Dinamo Zagreb in their group opener, will have to negotiate their way past Ajax without coach Jose Mourinho on the bench as his touchline ban continues.
The game is one of the most intriguing of Match day Two which also sees holders Barcelona travel to BATE Borisov in Belarus and 2010 champions Inter Milan going to CSKA Moscow as they seek to kick-start their season under new coach Claudio Ranieri.
Like Bayern, Barcelona and Inter, Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam are established members of the European soccer aristocracy and they meet in a fascinating game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, last season's runners-up Manchester United will look for their first win of the embryonic campaign against Basel of Switzerland while AC Milan take on Czech newcomers Viktoria Plzen.
Bayern's clash with Manchester City symbolises what this competition is all about; a clash of current European powerhouses on one level, and a clash of Old Money v New Money on another.
There are strong soccer links between the cities of Munich and Manchester, but they have been built entirely between United and Munich dating back to the 1958 Munich Air Crash when United's plane crashed on takeoff resulting in 23 deaths including those of eight United players.
But while Bayern have strong links with Old Trafford, having played United nine times in all, they have never met City before and their relationship has not started in the most friendly way.
There was some ill-feeling over the summer transfer of Jerome Boateng from City to Bayern, and Bayern's outspoken chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says City were bailed out by their owners having accrued debts of 140.0 million euros.
City manager Roberto Mancini responded by saying: "People are mistaken about Manchester City. They accuse us of spending more money than anyone this year and every time they said that they are mistaken.
"Everyone says we have spent a lot of money but so what? To us it isn't important. We just want to progress, to become a better club, and I think some people respect that.
"If we want to be like the other top teams, we have to be winners. That can take time. This is our first time in the Champions League. But in football you never say never. Anything can happen."
Bayern of course, have been European champions four times while City have only ever played three matches in either the old European Cup or the Champions League combined.
But now, thanks to the hundreds of millions invested in the club by Abu Dhabi owner Sheikh Mansour, they meet as equals. The two teams are also the most likely to advance from Group A.
Three-time European champions Inter Milan, who lost their opening match 1-0 to Trabzonspor of Turkey two weeks ago, will look to bounce back in Moscow on Tuesday
Inter have now employed the experienced Ranieri and will be buoyed by their first win of the season on Saturday, a 3-1 triumph at Bologna. They have also won both their previous Champions League matches against CSKA in Moscow, 2-1 in 2007-08 and 1-0 in the quarter-finals in 2009-10.
That is not the only fascinating match in eastern Europe this week as BATE Borisov welcome European champions Barcelona for their Group H match on Wednesday.
BATE are virtually assured of a sixth successive Belarus title when their spring-autumn season ends in seven matches, but they have hit a dip in form at just the wrong time with Barcelona calling.
While BATE were drawing 1-1 with mid-table Belshina Bobruisk on Friday, Barca gave another display of their imperious brilliance with a 5-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid on Saturday with World Player of the Year Lionel Messi scoring a stunning hat-trick.
Anything other than another win for Pep Guardiola's team, who began the defence of their trophy with a 2-2 draw with AC Milan, will represent the upset of the night, if not the season.
While Messi was scoring his hat-trick, Cristiano Ronaldo was also on fire for Real Madrid scoring a treble of his own against Rayo Vallecano.
Real, who won 1-0 at Dinamo Zagreb in their group opener, will have to negotiate their way past Ajax without coach Jose Mourinho on the bench as his touchline ban continues.
Roma win at last
AS Roma broke their duck under new coach Luis Enrique on Sunday, beating Parma 1-0 away to give the Spaniard his first win in charge at the sixth attempt.
Striker Pablo Osvaldo's second-half header was enough for ambitious Roma who still had to withstand a late pounding from the hosts.
Juventus, who drew 1-1 at Catania, stayed unbeaten and share the Serie A lead with Udinese, who are also undefeated after a goalless stalemate at Cagliari. The two sides have eight points from four games.
Promoted Atalanta remain the only other unbeaten team after a 2-1 win over Novara with goals from Matias Schelotto and Luca Cigarini.
They have the best playing record with three wins and a draw but have only four points after having six deducted before the start of the season in a Serie B match-fixing scandal.
Genoa's unbeaten record ended when they lost 2-1 at Chievo, who also beat Napoli in midweek.
Striker Rodrigo Palacio, recalled by Argentina last week after a three-year absence, put Genoa ahead just after halftime with his fourth goal in as many games.
Sergio Pellisier levelled for Chievo in the 74th minute and Davide Moscardelli scored a stoppage-time winner.
Siena beat Lecce 3-0 helped by a brace from Emanuele Calaio after Mattia Destro opened the scoring, while Lazio and Palermo played out a goalless draw.
ATTACKING FOOTBALL
Luis Henrique has promised to turn Roma into an exciting, attacking outfit but Europa League elimination at the hands of Slovan Bratislava followed by failure to win their first three Serie A games quickly put him under pressure.
The only excitement in a dismal first half came when Francesco Totti's shot was pushed onto the post by Antonio Mirante.
The second half was a different story as Osvaldo headed in from Aleandro Rosi's cross five minutes after the re-start.
Roma, who have five points, controlled much of the play but lost their grip towards the end.
Parma poured forward but a combination of dreadful finishing and some desperate defending from Nicolas Burdisso and Gabriel Heinze kept Roma's goal intact.
Juventus fell behind after 21 minutes at Catania, Alejandro Gomez supplying a low cross which was turned into the net by his fellow Argentine Gonzalo Bergessio.
Serbian striker Milos Krasic equalised four minutes after the re-start with a right-foot shot which was badly misjudged by goalkeeper Mariano Andujar, another member of the Argentine contingent in the Sicilian side.
Juve had a let-off late in the game when a mistake by Giorgio Chiellini set up a chance for David Suazo but the Honduran was foiled by Gianluigi Buffon
Striker Pablo Osvaldo's second-half header was enough for ambitious Roma who still had to withstand a late pounding from the hosts.
Juventus, who drew 1-1 at Catania, stayed unbeaten and share the Serie A lead with Udinese, who are also undefeated after a goalless stalemate at Cagliari. The two sides have eight points from four games.
Promoted Atalanta remain the only other unbeaten team after a 2-1 win over Novara with goals from Matias Schelotto and Luca Cigarini.
They have the best playing record with three wins and a draw but have only four points after having six deducted before the start of the season in a Serie B match-fixing scandal.
Genoa's unbeaten record ended when they lost 2-1 at Chievo, who also beat Napoli in midweek.
Striker Rodrigo Palacio, recalled by Argentina last week after a three-year absence, put Genoa ahead just after halftime with his fourth goal in as many games.
Sergio Pellisier levelled for Chievo in the 74th minute and Davide Moscardelli scored a stoppage-time winner.
Siena beat Lecce 3-0 helped by a brace from Emanuele Calaio after Mattia Destro opened the scoring, while Lazio and Palermo played out a goalless draw.
ATTACKING FOOTBALL
Luis Henrique has promised to turn Roma into an exciting, attacking outfit but Europa League elimination at the hands of Slovan Bratislava followed by failure to win their first three Serie A games quickly put him under pressure.
The only excitement in a dismal first half came when Francesco Totti's shot was pushed onto the post by Antonio Mirante.
The second half was a different story as Osvaldo headed in from Aleandro Rosi's cross five minutes after the re-start.
Roma, who have five points, controlled much of the play but lost their grip towards the end.
Parma poured forward but a combination of dreadful finishing and some desperate defending from Nicolas Burdisso and Gabriel Heinze kept Roma's goal intact.
Juventus fell behind after 21 minutes at Catania, Alejandro Gomez supplying a low cross which was turned into the net by his fellow Argentine Gonzalo Bergessio.
Serbian striker Milos Krasic equalised four minutes after the re-start with a right-foot shot which was badly misjudged by goalkeeper Mariano Andujar, another member of the Argentine contingent in the Sicilian side.
Juve had a let-off late in the game when a mistake by Giorgio Chiellini set up a chance for David Suazo but the Honduran was foiled by Gianluigi Buffon
Blackburn to tour India early next month
Blackburn Rovers will visit India early next month, having cancelled their July trip at the last minute following blasts in Mumbai, the Indian owners of the English Premier League side said on Monday.
Blackburn, owned by Indian poultry giants Venky's, had postponed their pre-season visit to Pune after three near-simultaneous bomb blasts during the evening rush hour in the country's financial capital killed more than 20 people.
The club would become the first Premier League side to tour the country on October 5-7, during a break in the English fixtures, for a friendly in Pune, about 200km from Mumbai, where the owners are based.
"Security is paramount but so is our commitment to bringing Blackburn Rovers to India," Venky's director Balaji Rao said in a statement on Monday.
"And perhaps the visit now could not have been better timed. The club is riding on a high after its big win over Arsenal, and the players are eager to share the glory with their Indian fans."
Blackburn, who last won the Premier League in 1995, came back from behind to beat Arsenal 4-3 to pick up their first league win after a poor start to the season.
Blackburn, owned by Indian poultry giants Venky's, had postponed their pre-season visit to Pune after three near-simultaneous bomb blasts during the evening rush hour in the country's financial capital killed more than 20 people.
The club would become the first Premier League side to tour the country on October 5-7, during a break in the English fixtures, for a friendly in Pune, about 200km from Mumbai, where the owners are based.
"Security is paramount but so is our commitment to bringing Blackburn Rovers to India," Venky's director Balaji Rao said in a statement on Monday.
"And perhaps the visit now could not have been better timed. The club is riding on a high after its big win over Arsenal, and the players are eager to share the glory with their Indian fans."
Blackburn, who last won the Premier League in 1995, came back from behind to beat Arsenal 4-3 to pick up their first league win after a poor start to the season.
UAE back-heel penalty taker killed in car crash
United Arab Emirates midfielder Theyab Awana, who became a YouTube celebrity after scoring a back-heeled penalty in an international against Lebanon, was killed in a car crash on Sunday, the country's football association said on Monday.
Awana, 21, died following an accident in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
The national team had been preparing for a trip to Asia next month when news of Awana's death broke.
"The whole team went today to the funeral, it was very sad," UAE team administrator Ahmed Saeed told reporters.
"Everybody was shocked. His whole family was so proud of him. We will never forget him."
Awana converted an audacious penalty in a 6-2 friendly win over Lebanon in July and the clip received more than 1.2 million hits on Youtube.
However, his coach Srecko Katanec did not see the funny side, substituting the player immediately after he scored and leaving him out of the line-up for the next match.
Awana played for the UAE in Wednesday's 0-0 draw against Australia in an Olympic qualifier but suffered an injury and was due to have treatment on his injury this week.
"Awana was very honest, keen and committed to his duties. It's a great loss for us, it is very painful news" Khalfan Al Rumaithi, president of the UAE FA, told the association's website.
Zhang Jilong, acting president of the Asian Football Confederation, also paid tribute to the player.
"On behalf of AFC and the Asian football family, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the UAE football community, family and friends of Awana," Jilong told the AFC website.
"His demise at such a young age is a great loss to Asian and UAE football in particular."
The UAE squad's training was cancelled on Monday but they will resume on Tuesday ahead of a friendly against China next week and a World Cup qualifier against South Korea on October 11.
Awana, 21, died following an accident in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
The national team had been preparing for a trip to Asia next month when news of Awana's death broke.
"The whole team went today to the funeral, it was very sad," UAE team administrator Ahmed Saeed told reporters.
"Everybody was shocked. His whole family was so proud of him. We will never forget him."
Awana converted an audacious penalty in a 6-2 friendly win over Lebanon in July and the clip received more than 1.2 million hits on Youtube.
However, his coach Srecko Katanec did not see the funny side, substituting the player immediately after he scored and leaving him out of the line-up for the next match.
Awana played for the UAE in Wednesday's 0-0 draw against Australia in an Olympic qualifier but suffered an injury and was due to have treatment on his injury this week.
"Awana was very honest, keen and committed to his duties. It's a great loss for us, it is very painful news" Khalfan Al Rumaithi, president of the UAE FA, told the association's website.
Zhang Jilong, acting president of the Asian Football Confederation, also paid tribute to the player.
"On behalf of AFC and the Asian football family, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the UAE football community, family and friends of Awana," Jilong told the AFC website.
"His demise at such a young age is a great loss to Asian and UAE football in particular."
The UAE squad's training was cancelled on Monday but they will resume on Tuesday ahead of a friendly against China next week and a World Cup qualifier against South Korea on October 11.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Late own-goal gives QPR draw against Villa
Queens Park Rangers salvaged a 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday with their first home goal of the season coming from Villa defender Richard Dunne who put through his own net in stoppage time.
Villa, who remain unbeaten after five draws and one win from their opening six matches, looked set for fifth place in the table as they led through a controversial second-half penalty from Scotland midfielder Barry Bannan.
Referee Michael Oliver ruled Armand Traore, who joined QPR from Arsenal last month, pulled Gabriel Agbonlahor's shirt in the 58th minute, though TV replays appeared to show the defender made minimal contact if any and no Villa player appealed for an infringement.
Traore's misery was completed after 90 minutes when he was sent off for a second bookable offence for a late lunge on Villa's Marc Albrighton.
That seemed to set the seal for Villa's victory but a minute later a QPR break ended with Villa defender Stephen Warnock deflecting Heidar Helguson's cross on to Dunne's knees and he could not stop the ball crossing his own line for his ninth Premier League own goal.
The result left Villa in eighth place and QPR ninth. The weekend programme will be completed on Monday when Norwich City host Sunderland.
Manchester United top the table on goal difference from Manchester City.
Villa, who remain unbeaten after five draws and one win from their opening six matches, looked set for fifth place in the table as they led through a controversial second-half penalty from Scotland midfielder Barry Bannan.
Referee Michael Oliver ruled Armand Traore, who joined QPR from Arsenal last month, pulled Gabriel Agbonlahor's shirt in the 58th minute, though TV replays appeared to show the defender made minimal contact if any and no Villa player appealed for an infringement.
Traore's misery was completed after 90 minutes when he was sent off for a second bookable offence for a late lunge on Villa's Marc Albrighton.
That seemed to set the seal for Villa's victory but a minute later a QPR break ended with Villa defender Stephen Warnock deflecting Heidar Helguson's cross on to Dunne's knees and he could not stop the ball crossing his own line for his ninth Premier League own goal.
The result left Villa in eighth place and QPR ninth. The weekend programme will be completed on Monday when Norwich City host Sunderland.
Manchester United top the table on goal difference from Manchester City.
Vettel storms to Singapore win
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel held off a charging Jenson Button to win the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday and stand one point away from becoming Formula One's youngest double world champion.
The 24-year-old German led from pole to flag and despite a spirited challenge over the final five laps from Button in his McLaren, held on to move 124 points clear of the Briton with just 125 available from the five races remaining.
"You are one point away from achieving the title, brilliant drive," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Vettel over the radio after the reigning champion took the chequered flag under the floodlights.
"Yes, yes, Singapore. We did it," an emotional Vettel replied, whooping in delight.
The title is now set to be decided in Japan on October 9, unless Vettel fails to score and Button wins that race at Suzuka.
Vettel, who had opened a 22.7-second advantage before a safety car period halfway through the 61 lap race, crossed the line 1.7 seconds ahead of Button with Red Bull team mate Mark Webber a further 27.5 seconds back in third.
"The car was fantastic and we were in a comfortable position for most of the race, which is pretty handy around here because it's quite a big challenge to put the sectors together in qualifying and in the race," Vettel told reporters.
"I'm very pleased and it looks like we have another chance to seal the championship at the next race."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finished a distant fourth.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton collided with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and collected a drive-through penalty before fighting back to fifth place ahead of Force India's British rookie Paul Di Resta in a career best sixth.
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
Vettel's victory was his ninth of the season, 19th of his career, and he only looked threatened when Team Lotus released Heikki Kovalainen into his path as they left the pits from their final stop.
Button closed late on as the leader eased up slightly but once the Briton ran into traffic on the final two laps, Vettel's victory was never in doubt.
The 2009 world champion is now the only man who can prevent Vettel from becoming the ninth driver to win back-to-back titles.
"I can understand that it's difficult to move over here. Most people were fighting but they have to respect other cars and understand they are being lapped for a reason, the other cars are quicker and fighting for a higher position," a frustrated Button said.
"Forgetting that, it was the best we could have done today and we got the best out of the car. A good finish all the same and hopefully something we can build on for the next race."
Vettel has 309 points to Button's 185, with Alonso out of contention on 184 and Webber on 182.
Button would need to win all the remaining races and the German, who has not finished lower than fourth all season, would have to fail to score in any of them.
The race got off to a clean start with Vettel pulling away from the field as Button passed Webber into the first turn for second place.
With a clean track ahead of him, Vettel surged clear of the chasing pack.
Hamilton, back in eighth, passed the Mercedes duo of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg on consecutive laps before the clash with Massa on lap 12.
Both men had to pit after it, Massa with a puncture and Hamilton with a damaged front wing. The 2008 champion was then handed a drive-through penalty for causing the collision and resumed in 19th place.
The safety car was deployed midway through the race after seven-times world champion Schumacher's car clipped the Sauber of Sergio Perez and rose into the air before crashing into the wall at turn eight.
The 42-year-old German walked away unhurt.
Fortunately for Vettel, some lapped cars were lodged between him and Button at the restart and the German was able to pull away from the pack again without being challenged.
"I was a bit lucky that there were some back markers between me and Jenson, I was able to get back into the rhythm straight away and pull out a huge gap," Vettel added.
The 24-year-old German led from pole to flag and despite a spirited challenge over the final five laps from Button in his McLaren, held on to move 124 points clear of the Briton with just 125 available from the five races remaining.
"You are one point away from achieving the title, brilliant drive," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Vettel over the radio after the reigning champion took the chequered flag under the floodlights.
"Yes, yes, Singapore. We did it," an emotional Vettel replied, whooping in delight.
The title is now set to be decided in Japan on October 9, unless Vettel fails to score and Button wins that race at Suzuka.
Vettel, who had opened a 22.7-second advantage before a safety car period halfway through the 61 lap race, crossed the line 1.7 seconds ahead of Button with Red Bull team mate Mark Webber a further 27.5 seconds back in third.
"The car was fantastic and we were in a comfortable position for most of the race, which is pretty handy around here because it's quite a big challenge to put the sectors together in qualifying and in the race," Vettel told reporters.
"I'm very pleased and it looks like we have another chance to seal the championship at the next race."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finished a distant fourth.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton collided with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and collected a drive-through penalty before fighting back to fifth place ahead of Force India's British rookie Paul Di Resta in a career best sixth.
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
Vettel's victory was his ninth of the season, 19th of his career, and he only looked threatened when Team Lotus released Heikki Kovalainen into his path as they left the pits from their final stop.
Button closed late on as the leader eased up slightly but once the Briton ran into traffic on the final two laps, Vettel's victory was never in doubt.
The 2009 world champion is now the only man who can prevent Vettel from becoming the ninth driver to win back-to-back titles.
"I can understand that it's difficult to move over here. Most people were fighting but they have to respect other cars and understand they are being lapped for a reason, the other cars are quicker and fighting for a higher position," a frustrated Button said.
"Forgetting that, it was the best we could have done today and we got the best out of the car. A good finish all the same and hopefully something we can build on for the next race."
Vettel has 309 points to Button's 185, with Alonso out of contention on 184 and Webber on 182.
Button would need to win all the remaining races and the German, who has not finished lower than fourth all season, would have to fail to score in any of them.
The race got off to a clean start with Vettel pulling away from the field as Button passed Webber into the first turn for second place.
With a clean track ahead of him, Vettel surged clear of the chasing pack.
Hamilton, back in eighth, passed the Mercedes duo of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg on consecutive laps before the clash with Massa on lap 12.
Both men had to pit after it, Massa with a puncture and Hamilton with a damaged front wing. The 2008 champion was then handed a drive-through penalty for causing the collision and resumed in 19th place.
The safety car was deployed midway through the race after seven-times world champion Schumacher's car clipped the Sauber of Sergio Perez and rose into the air before crashing into the wall at turn eight.
The 42-year-old German walked away unhurt.
Fortunately for Vettel, some lapped cars were lodged between him and Button at the restart and the German was able to pull away from the pack again without being challenged.
"I was a bit lucky that there were some back markers between me and Jenson, I was able to get back into the rhythm straight away and pull out a huge gap," Vettel added.
Smuts powers Warriors to 171
South African side Warriors made a competitive 171-5 in 20 overs against South Australia Redbacks in their Champions League Twenty20 Group B match on Sunday.
Opener JT Smuts hit a whirlwind 65-ball 88 that featured 10 fours and two sixes. Mark Boucher and Colin Ingram added 34 and 30 respectively.
Warriors opened their campaign with last-ball win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday.
Opener JT Smuts hit a whirlwind 65-ball 88 that featured 10 fours and two sixes. Mark Boucher and Colin Ingram added 34 and 30 respectively.
Warriors opened their campaign with last-ball win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday.
England opt to bowl
Graeme Swann won the toss and chose to bowl for the second match running, as England looked to replicate the methods by which they rampaged to a ten-wicket victory in the first of their double-header Twenty20s against West Indies on Friday.
With clear skies overhead, and on the same track that assisted England's slower bowlers two days ago, England chose to bring in an extra spinner, Scott Borthwick, for the seamer Steven Finn. The pace attack will be carried by Tim Bresnan, with Jade Dernbach's bag of tricks likely to share the new-ball duties, reports ESPNcricinfo.
West Indies have shuffled their pack after a thumping defeat in the first match, with three changes to the line-up including their senior paceman Fidel Edwards, who has been replaced by the left-arm medium-pacer Krishmar Santokie.
Danza Hyatt, who was one of only three batsmen to reach double figures on Friday, has also been omitted in favour of Miles Bascombe, while Nkruma Bonner has made way for an extra slow left-armer, Garey Mathurin.
TEAMS:
England: Craig Kieswetter (wk), Alex Hales, Ravi Bopara, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann (capt), Scott Borthwick, Jade Dernbach
West Indies: Johnson Charles, Dwayne Smith, Miles Bascombe, Marlon Samuels, Christopher Barnwell, Darren Sammy (capt), Derwin Christian (wk), Andre Russell, 9 Garey Mathurin, Devendra Bishoo, Krishmar Santokie
With clear skies overhead, and on the same track that assisted England's slower bowlers two days ago, England chose to bring in an extra spinner, Scott Borthwick, for the seamer Steven Finn. The pace attack will be carried by Tim Bresnan, with Jade Dernbach's bag of tricks likely to share the new-ball duties, reports ESPNcricinfo.
West Indies have shuffled their pack after a thumping defeat in the first match, with three changes to the line-up including their senior paceman Fidel Edwards, who has been replaced by the left-arm medium-pacer Krishmar Santokie.
Danza Hyatt, who was one of only three batsmen to reach double figures on Friday, has also been omitted in favour of Miles Bascombe, while Nkruma Bonner has made way for an extra slow left-armer, Garey Mathurin.
TEAMS:
England: Craig Kieswetter (wk), Alex Hales, Ravi Bopara, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann (capt), Scott Borthwick, Jade Dernbach
West Indies: Johnson Charles, Dwayne Smith, Miles Bascombe, Marlon Samuels, Christopher Barnwell, Darren Sammy (capt), Derwin Christian (wk), Andre Russell, 9 Garey Mathurin, Devendra Bishoo, Krishmar Santokie
Report IPL injuries to BCCI: IPL chief
Indian Premier League authorities have instructed the franchises to report any injury problem in their sides immediately to the BCCI.
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla said he would try to create better coordination between the BCCI and the cash-rich league's franchises to ensure that players are well taken care of and are not found wanting in fitness on international assignments.
Shukla said the franchises would be told to report players' injuries at the earliest to avoid any hassles later.
"During our meeting with franchises, we will emphasise that they pay most attention to these problems and give instruction to the team physios on injury management to avoid injuries," Shukla said in an interview, reports ESPNstar.
"We will be paying full attention to these problems, we will keep in touch with physios, and various franchises so that any injury should be immediately addressed," he said.
IPL has often been blamed for causing player fatigue and injuries, but Shukla said such allegations are unfair.
"In my view, for injuries I don't think only IPL should be blamed as every team is facing such problems and lot many players got injured during the England series also, so I don't think IPL should be solely blamed for it," he said.
"But at the same time, the management of injury problems is also on our minds and some concrete steps will be taken to minimise injury problems. There will be perfect coordination between BCCI and various franchises," he added.
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla said he would try to create better coordination between the BCCI and the cash-rich league's franchises to ensure that players are well taken care of and are not found wanting in fitness on international assignments.
Shukla said the franchises would be told to report players' injuries at the earliest to avoid any hassles later.
"During our meeting with franchises, we will emphasise that they pay most attention to these problems and give instruction to the team physios on injury management to avoid injuries," Shukla said in an interview, reports ESPNstar.
"We will be paying full attention to these problems, we will keep in touch with physios, and various franchises so that any injury should be immediately addressed," he said.
IPL has often been blamed for causing player fatigue and injuries, but Shukla said such allegations are unfair.
"In my view, for injuries I don't think only IPL should be blamed as every team is facing such problems and lot many players got injured during the England series also, so I don't think IPL should be solely blamed for it," he said.
"But at the same time, the management of injury problems is also on our minds and some concrete steps will be taken to minimise injury problems. There will be perfect coordination between BCCI and various franchises," he added.
Boucher desperate for one-day comeback
Mark Boucher is a man dead set on making a return to South Africa's one-day side.
Earlier this week, towards the end of a media interaction during which he calmly dealt with questions on topics ranging from the migration of South African cricketing talent to his decision to move to the Cape Cobras next season, he was asked who he thought could continue the tradition of high-quality wicketkeeping in South Africa, reports ESPNcricinfo.
He took a couple of seconds to frame his answer, and it wasn't till he had made it absolutely clear that he considered himself the man who should don the gloves for South Africa that he mentioned some other contenders.
"Quite a few names have been thrown around," he said. "But you know, it's actually up to the guys to put their hands up and say, 'Okay, fine, that is my position'.
It's quite difficult for me to answer that question because I still feel I'm good enough to be there, and I still want to be there, I'm passionate enough to want to play for my country.
So I don't want to look too far behind me, I'd rather look in front. Yeah, there have been a couple of names mentioned - Daryn Smit, Heino Kuhn, Thami Tsolekile - but ultimately if you want to play for your country, you got to be a lot better than the rest."
Boucher, 34, hasn't been part of South Africa's limited-overs squads since the tour of West Indies in May last year. He hadn't made a half-century since October 2008, and a mere 60 runs in his final five innings led to his axing.
His batting worth was mainly perceived to be as a scrapping finisher in the lower middle order, a slot which provides few chances for a struggling batsman to regain his form.
In 2010, South Africa's then coach Corrie van Zyl had said Boucher needed to improve his game to make a limited-overs comeback, improvement which Boucher feels he has made.
"I have been working really hard on game and my fitness levels this last off season," Boucher said. "My back started to play up towards the end of last season and needed a bit of work, and I have done that. There's a big season coming up for South Africa, hopefully I can be a part of that, and be successful in getting a couple of victories for South Africa."
South Africa have experimented with Kuhn in Twenty20s and turned AB de Villiers into a wicketkeeper-batsman for the one-dayers.
Over the past six months, the chances of a Boucher return have become brighter - de Villiers now bears the additional responsibility of one-day captain, a new coaching regime is in place, and South Africa have endured another World Cup failure that was perceived to be due to a weak lower-middle order.
A strong showing with Warriors in the Champions League could turn out to be the final step in achieving his burning ambition of a national one-day comeback.
Earlier this week, towards the end of a media interaction during which he calmly dealt with questions on topics ranging from the migration of South African cricketing talent to his decision to move to the Cape Cobras next season, he was asked who he thought could continue the tradition of high-quality wicketkeeping in South Africa, reports ESPNcricinfo.
He took a couple of seconds to frame his answer, and it wasn't till he had made it absolutely clear that he considered himself the man who should don the gloves for South Africa that he mentioned some other contenders.
"Quite a few names have been thrown around," he said. "But you know, it's actually up to the guys to put their hands up and say, 'Okay, fine, that is my position'.
It's quite difficult for me to answer that question because I still feel I'm good enough to be there, and I still want to be there, I'm passionate enough to want to play for my country.
So I don't want to look too far behind me, I'd rather look in front. Yeah, there have been a couple of names mentioned - Daryn Smit, Heino Kuhn, Thami Tsolekile - but ultimately if you want to play for your country, you got to be a lot better than the rest."
Boucher, 34, hasn't been part of South Africa's limited-overs squads since the tour of West Indies in May last year. He hadn't made a half-century since October 2008, and a mere 60 runs in his final five innings led to his axing.
His batting worth was mainly perceived to be as a scrapping finisher in the lower middle order, a slot which provides few chances for a struggling batsman to regain his form.
In 2010, South Africa's then coach Corrie van Zyl had said Boucher needed to improve his game to make a limited-overs comeback, improvement which Boucher feels he has made.
"I have been working really hard on game and my fitness levels this last off season," Boucher said. "My back started to play up towards the end of last season and needed a bit of work, and I have done that. There's a big season coming up for South Africa, hopefully I can be a part of that, and be successful in getting a couple of victories for South Africa."
South Africa have experimented with Kuhn in Twenty20s and turned AB de Villiers into a wicketkeeper-batsman for the one-dayers.
Over the past six months, the chances of a Boucher return have become brighter - de Villiers now bears the additional responsibility of one-day captain, a new coaching regime is in place, and South Africa have endured another World Cup failure that was perceived to be due to a weak lower-middle order.
A strong showing with Warriors in the Champions League could turn out to be the final step in achieving his burning ambition of a national one-day comeback.
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