European Super League chief Anas Laghrari has claimed that they already have enough club support to start the breakaway tournament.
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Tamil Nadu were a strong force in the domestic scene at the start of the millenium but the core members of that team are missing
Kanishkaa Balachandran in Chennai14-Nov-2007
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The turn of the century coincided with a purple patch for Tamil Nadu
cricket. It was a period when a number of players from the state were
knocking on the doors of the Indian team, most of them trying to break
into the near-impenetrable middle order.The hunt for a quality Test opener seemed to have ended in 1999 when
Sadagoppan Ramesh burst on to the scene. There was Sridharan Sriram,
relentlessly pounding attacks at not only the domestic level but also
against touring international sides. Sridharan Sharath was the
go-to man for every crisis and Hemang Badani – probably the most proficient
stroke-maker of the lot – broke into the Indian ODI squad.Medium-pacer T Kumaran was selected for the tour of Australia in 1999-00
and there was talk of wicketkeeper Reuben Paul joining the one-day squad
as well. A few years later, L Balaji sent stumps flying and warmed hearts
across the border in Pakistan.Though the team wasn’t grabbing trophies, they were always strong
contenders. Reaching the Ranji Trophy finals in consecutive years (2002-03 and
2003-04) took them a few feet from the summit, though they seemed to not
have a way to upstage domestic giants Mumbai. However the glory all seemed
so short-lived and the core of the side doesn’t even exist today.Few players have migrated to other states while others defected to the
recently launched Indian Cricket League (ICL). Things came to such a pass
that Tamil Nadu nearly suffered the ignominy of relegation last season.In the background is WV Raman, one season old as the team’s coach. A
former India batsman, Raman was best known for his languorous drives
through the off side. Overseeing Tamil Nadu’s preparations ahead of an
eagerly-awaited encounter with Mumbai, Raman stretches backwards and looks
out into the tranquil surroundings of the Guru Nanak College
Ground in Chennai.”It’s all a state of mind, taking charge of such a young side,” Raman told
Cricinfo. “It’s only natural to ask yourself, ‘Well what have I got here?’
With a young side, the only way is up. As a coach it gives you immense
satisfaction to know that you have contributed in improving an
individual’s game and the performance of the team in general. Quite a few
positives came out in the last season despite the team’s ranking. The team
is in a transition phase and it takes time to rebound.”The timing of Raman’s appointment could bode well for the team. Survivors
of the exodus, like captain S Badrinath would have sensed a big change in
the dressing-room environment with several fresh faces hopping in. Raman,
though, has mainly overseen a team of youngsters.”Most of them had already left for other states by the time I joined so I
can’t really say if there were any drastic changes in the dressing-room
environment,” Raman says. “A few of them did call me after signing up [for
the ICL], saying that they joined for personal reasons. We have to respect
that as one cannot intrude into one’s personal decision.”The vaccum at the top presents an opportunity for the talent pool to get
some exposure. “We need to harness it at the junior level – especially at
the Under-15 level. They need to be made harder and tougher at that age
and I honestly feel that is lacking
at the moment. There is a bit of a soft upbringing in terms of the
cricket. That has to change for Tamil Nadu to become a force.”
The squad also sees the return of Morne Morkel and Chris Morris, who missed out on the Bangladesh series with a side strain and back issue respectively
Firdose Moonda25-Jan-20182:50
‘Zondo brings maturity and leadership’ – Cullinan
Lungi Ngidi and Khaya Zondo have been named in South Africa’s ODI squad for the first three matches against India starting on February 1. The pair are uncapped in the format, though Zondo was part of the limited-overs squad that traveled to India in late 2015. Ngidi has played three T20s but no ODIs, after a rib injury resulted in him missing out on the ODI series against Sri Lanka last January and he could not be considered for the Champions Trophy squad because of a back problem.The squad also sees the return of Morne Morkel and Chris Morris, who missed out on the Bangladesh series with a side strain and back issue respectively, as well as a return for Tabraiz Shamsi as the second spinner, behind Imran Tahir.The major surprise was the exclusion of Farhaan Behardien, who has been a regular member of the side and currently sits sixth in the one-day cup run charts, where he is averaging over 50, with a strike-rate of over 92. In contrast, Zondo is in 16th place with an average of 43.83 and a strike rate just over 65 but was preferred over Behardien as part of South Africa’s “vision 2019″ – their grand plan to fine-tune their World Cup squad.”It’s important for us to be clear in terms of where we are in our plans. We are starting our vision 2019, which are the players we are looking for,” Linda Zondi, South Africa’s convener of selectors said. “It is important for us to increase the pool and give opportunity so that we know by the time it comes to late this year, we don’t have to be clouded. This is a holistic approach in terms of giving opportunity. This is going to happen for the whole year. There will be guys, key guys, that we are going to rest and rotate.”The rotation policy will apply for the six-match India series and South Africa’s July-August tour of Sri Lanka, after which Zondi hopes to be “more or less close” to a World Cup pool.Zondo is a particularly interesting selection because of his backstory. He did not play a game on the India tour in 2015, even when JP Duminy was injured in the series. Instead, Dean Elgar was flown to India and played, prompting a furore from black African players in the country. They penned a letter to CSA, bemoaning the fortunes of black players and asking for fair opportunities. The following year, CSA made public a transformation target that requires the national side to play a minimum average of six players of colour of which at least two must be black African over the course of the season.South Africa have stuck to that target and Zondo is unlikely to go uncapped again. Zondi explained Zondo is being looked at as having a future in the middle order. “We feel he can play a role in terms of rotating the strike and he does have the strength in terms of clearing the boundary. He has shown potential and his skills in South Africa A,” Zondi said.But Behardien was assured his World Cup dreams were not over. He will come into consideration after the first half of the India series, when South Africa will reassess their squad. “He knows, every single player knows that after the third game, we are going to sit and decide. We will definitely be resting, rotating and giving opportunity otherwise we will be sitting with the same names as we prepare for 2019,” Zondi said.BCCI
Other positions that South Africa woud want to look at are of the spinner and the wicketkeeper, with Tahir and Quinton de Kock well established and a lack of serious candidates to challenge either of them. Shamsi has been around the squad but last played an ODI in February last year against New Zealand. He is the leading wicket-taker in the one-day cup, with 26 scalps, nine more than his nearest contender, at an average of 14.84, but faces some competition from Test tweaker Keshav Maharaj.”At the moment, I think Tahir is still our No.1 spinner. Shamsi will come into the picture,” Zondi explained. “There are a couple of spinners we need to look at. Maharaj is part and parcel. He bowls and he bats, he is a good fielder. Let’s see what Shamsi can bring to the table and we also need to see how we can bring Maharaj.”In the keeping department, South Africa have not named a reserve for de Kock but may do later in the series. “What happens if Quinton gets injured? Is AB going to take the gloves? Maybe not, but we have a plan in terms of a keeper,” Zondi said. “With the keeping situation, we’ve got [Heinrich] Klaasen, [Mangaliso] Mosehle and [Rudi] Second.”The only person who may have to wait his turn is Dale Steyn, who is recovering from a heel injury and is only expected to return to the international stage for the Australia Tests. Steyn has not played an ODI since October 2016 and has not played even domestic 50-over cricket since his shoulder injury 13 months ago. Though Steyn, like so many of South Africa’s seniors, has his heart set on the World Cup, it appears as though his place is not guaranteed.”For now, the main focus is to see how Dale Steyn does in the Tests. He needs to go back to the franchise and see where he is with white ball,” Zondi said. “I am quite comfortable with the manner that he performed when he came back. Now he has a different injury but I am very optimistic. He is part of this vision.”ODI squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khaya Zondo
The Committee of Administrators had asked the board to fix a date for the Special General Meeting ahead of the ICC conference on December 8 and 9, but there has been little movement on the matter
Nagraj Gollapudi22-Nov-2017Even as the BCCI office bearers dither over announcing the date for a special general body meeting (SGM) to discuss the new Future Tours Programme, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) has given its nod to the broad plans devised by board chief executive officer Rahul Johri.The ICC has scheduled a workshop on December 7 and 8 in Singapore to discuss the minutiae of the new cricket schedule agreed in-principle by the Full Member nations at an ICC Board meeting in Auckland in October.At the workshop, the countries would chalk out a week-by-week plan for the FTP that will span the period between the 2019 and 2013 World Cups. Apart from the global events, the calendar would comprise the Test and ODI Leagues which start in two years’ time.The CoA, having received a request from the acting board secretary Amitabh Choudhary, had asked the BCCI to call for an emergency meeting to discuss the FTP along with the settlement of a dispute concerning Kochi Tuskers, the former IPL franchise, and revoking the suspension of the Rajasthan Cricket Association.In its e-mail sent to BCCI acting president CK Khanna on November 15, the CoA told him to finalise a date for the SGM and send a notice to all board members (state associations) within two days. However, an alert is yet to go out. Khanna told ESPNcricinfo a final decision would be taken in a meeting between the CoA and office bearers on Tuesday. He also said that he had tried to call an SGM on December 1, but Choudhary was unavailable on that day.On Tuesday, the COA chairman Vinod Rai recommended that the BCCI office bearers comprising Khanna, Choudhary and Anirudh Chaudhry (BCCI treasurer) fix the SGM before the ICC workshop. “I told them there is the ICC meeting in Singapore to finalise the FTP, so please convene your SGM before that. Till today they have not sent the notice.”It is understood that the three office bearers sat with Johri and set December 9 as the date for the SGM – the day after the ICC workshop – but the state associations have received no notice.This current episode of infighting is part of the prevailing power struggle between the COA and the office bearers, the latter a group that is deeply divided.After the COA asked Khanna to call the SGM last week, reported a strongly-worded e-mail sent by Chaudhry to Khanna and Choudhary in which he wondered how the state associations could be expected to take a call when proceedings were being “hustled through”.”It is absolutely shocking that a decision of this magnitude may be hustled through when all the members ought to have been given proper notice and time along with all relevant documents to study and deliberate on the item,” Chaudhry was quoted as saying in the letter.On Tuesday, though, Rai pointed out to the office bearers that Khanna was supposed to call the SGM on November 15, three weeks before the ICC workshop. Under the BCCI rules only the president can call an SGM with 10 days’ notice, and at the SGM, Johri was meant to talk about the FTP and explain to members the BCCI’s plans.A BCCI member claimed the infighting between the office bearers has been creating unnecessary hurdles. “Where is the question of hassling,” they said. “If BCCI cannot hold the SGM, you can’t hold the world to ransom.”
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Aaron Finch, who until January this year, was Australia’s T20I captain, has said that he isn’t sure of his place in the side when Australia take on New Zealand in their opening match of the World T20 on Friday
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-20160:43
‘I’m just getting prepared to play as everyone is’ – Finch
Aaron Finch, who had been Australia’s T20 captain until January, has said that he isn’t sure of making the XI when Australia take on New Zealand in their opening match of the World T20 in Dharamsala on Friday.”I’ve got no idea, to be honest,” Finch said. “I’m just getting prepared to play as everyone is. I’m sure the selectors will make a call once they see the wicket.”Finch is vying for the second opener’s slot in the team, considering Shane Watson’s good form and all-round skills makes him a certainty as first opener. Watson struck a blistering century in the third T20I against India earlier this year and also enjoyed a decent run in the Pakistan Super League. More recently, he scored 60 in a World T20 warm-up tie against West Indies.Finch, who is the No. 1-ranked T20I batsman, faces stiff competition from Khawaja, who was the second-highest run-scorer in the 2015-16 Big Bash League. Khawaja has also done well in Indian conditions – he scored 267 runs at 66.75 in four List A matches for Australia A last year in a triangular series, also involving South Africa A.Finch, while not as consistent, has notched up a few good scores of his own, including an 18-ball 40 against South Africa in Durban. “I feel really good with my game at the moment,” he said. “I feel as though I’m hitting the ball really well, so if I get the first crack at it, I’m ready to go.”We get up there (Dharamshala) on Tuesday, train on Wednesday and Thursday, so we’ll probably have a really good chance to have a look at the wicket then and the guys (selectors) can make a decision then.”If the selectors do opt for Khawaja, it would give Australia a left-right opening combination. “It’s probably less important in the first six overs, the left hand-right hand combination,” Finch said. “From my point of view, it’s about trying to get us off to a quick start. I’m sure Shane (Watson) is thinking the same and Uzzie (Khawaja) is probably in the same boat.”If Khawaja gets his opportunity, it’s about getting us off to a flyer while the ball is new and hard and then you can afford to probably have a bit more of a look through that middle period when spin comes on and they take the pace right off the ball.”Josh Hazlewood felt similar pressure over his place in the XI despite a hat-trick against West Indies.Australia have four specialist seamers in their squad – Hazlewood, John Hastings, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Andrew Tye – and seam-bowling allrounders in James Faulkner, Mitchell Marsh and Watson. With an eye on the conditions, Hazlewood suggested that the think-tank may be happy with just one frontline fast bowler.”It could be as simple as that. Depending on the wicket, it could really be one quick and a bunch of allrounders who do play this format a lot of the time,” Hazlewood said. Australia may also want to accommodate Ashton Agar or Adam Zampa to take advantage of slow, spin-friendly pitches.A player forcing his way into the XI after missing out initially is an unlikely scenario according to Hazlewood, given the shorter duration of the World T20.”The one-day World Cup, it went a little bit longer – six weeks,” he said. “If you get that first opportunity and take it in this one, we’ve got four games in pretty quick time. So I don’t think there will be as much chopping and changing, but in saying that it depends on the conditions at each ground.”
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