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UAE’s captain Khurram Khan juggles his cricket with another high-flying career. He talks about cricket in the UAE and his plans for retirement

Mohammad Isam20-Mar-2014Khurram Khan once met Brian Lara in his workplace, 35,000 ft in the air. The captain of UAE also has a day (and night) job as a flight purser, and is on his feet for long hours, serving people and ensuring their safety on flights.Khurram has led his team through ups and downs, and this year they played in the World T20 (albeit not quite in the main event) for the first time, making a return to a major ICC event after 18 years.When he developed an interest in cricket back in home in Pakistan, little did he know that he would soon be working for one of the top airlines in the world, as well as captaining the national cricket team of a different country.”Like everyone else in Pakistan, I have played cricket in the streets and parks. I played with my cousins and friends with a tennis ball. The first time I played with a cricket ball was just before I had joined university. This was in 1996, when my brother Atiq Khan, who played first-class cricket for Multan, kept telling me to come to the UAE. I finished university, went to the UAE and joined Emirates Airlines in 1999.”In his first game for Emirates, Khurram made a hundred and took two wickets on a cement pitch. That brought him to the UAE team, and he has not looked back.He usually practises three times a week. And when he is away at work, he does not neglect his fitness routine. He sometimes takes elastic fitness bands along on flights, and practises push-ups on board when he can.Khurram is grateful to Emirates for giving him the chance to maintain both careers. “Emirates is a busy airline, as everyone knows. More than anyone else in the company, it was CEO Maurice Flanagan who helped me immensely. He always supported my cricket career, and let me play matches often. Many of the crew members do fitness work and one or two even take part in Iron Man contests. It becomes quite tough for me to manage both, particularly when I have to travel to the US. I come back after these long flights and go straight into training sometimes.”Khurram turns 43 this June, and he has batted well during the World T20, though his team failed to progress from the group stages. But UAE could have an even bigger World Cup coming up next year, in Australia and New Zealand.Khurram has been thinking about retirement, having talked to the UAE selectors about appointing a new captain ahead of the World T20, but they want him to continue. And why wouldn’t they? He was the team’s top scorer in their successful World Cup qualifiers in New Zealand earlier this year.”New Zealand was a great experience, and we have learned a lot about playing in those conditions. We went there early to prepare ourselves and before we left for New Zealand, former Pakistan batsman Ijaz Ahmed helped us out with advice, and obviously we also have Aaqib Javed, who is a superb coach.”Retirement has been on the back of my mind ever since I reached 40. So it has been a very long time that I have thought about it, and just after the World T20 qualifiers I told the chief selector we should have a new captain, but they said I should continue, and here I am.”Khurram believes the day isn’t far when cricket in the UAE becomes completely professional. Many kids are taking up the game, and with central contracts now in place, more youngsters will think about cricket as a career option. Foreign cricketers have also shown interest in the various leagues played in UAE, which bodes well for the game there.”You won’t believe me but we have more than 100 cricket clubs in the UAE, most of whom play competitive T20 cricket. Even Pakistani players are coming in to play these tournaments, which offer good money.”Khurram will be remembered as a pioneer in UAE cricket, irrespective of when he decides to hang up his cricket boots to focus on his other high-flying career. He wants to finish on the biggest stage, the 2015 World Cup.”I don’t know if I will last till 2015, but the World Cup will the icing on the cake of my cricket career.”If he can take them that far, he ought to play it too.

Thousands flocked the streets and the airport to get a glimpse of their heroes in what was probably the grandest public occasion since the end of the war eased bomb-blast fears

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo08-Apr-20142:26

Some fans stopped at nothing to get a look at 15 men, who right now have the nation at their feet

There was first a false alarm for the tens of thousands who thronged the Galle Face roundabout in Colombo for the second time in three days. Someone let off a vine of firecrackers, sparking an enormous wave of cheers and the flailing of a sea of Sri Lankan flags. Soon, the crowd realised they had awarded their heroes’ welcome to the 430 from Mathugama. As the public bus pushed its way through the crush of bodies, the passengers chuckled. They knew who they had been mistaken for.But soon enough, a glint of trophy gold in the amber streetlights promised the coming of the crowd’s true heroes. Boys had climbed walls, braver men had climbed scaffolding, parents had their children standing atop their shoulders, all to get a look at 15 men, who right now have the nation at their feet. The 200-metre final stretch to the stage built on the southern end of Galle Face green may have been the slowest journey of the team’s life. The crowd had moved in even more tightly around them, hoping to get just a few feet closer to their stars, who were wearing the grins they must have had on for more than four hours.But there’s always that one guy who goes too far. Who wants a little more than everyone else, and to be seen getting it. One man in an orange shirt attempted to climb up the side of the bus, to get within touching distance of the players, but the team were in such good spirits, they indulged even his idiocy. Two cricketers pulled him up into the open-top carriage with them, a few gave him a hand shake, then quickly lowered him back into the expanse of glowing faces.There might have been 50,000 at Galle Face green, maybe more, as Sri Lankans of all ages flocked to enjoy the win, but around 1,500 had traveled all the way to the arrival gate at the airport to have the first possible glimpse. The children seemed to enjoy it the most, proudly holding up their posters, banding together to call out to their favourites in a small, high chorus. They would have had no memories of 1996. For many – even adults – this would have almost certainly been the grandest public occasion since the end of the war eased bomb-blast fears. In those days, a platoon half the size of the crowd itself would stalk the perimeter wielding automatic rifles, but only a smattering of cops were required on Tuesday. They had little to do.When the team had departed, Dinesh Chandimal had been the side’s captain, but it was Lasith Malinga who had led Sri Lanka in their last three games. Chandimal explained the leadership switch soon after the team landed. “I was ruled out of that New Zealand match due to an over-rate violation, but we played extremely well in that game. Thirimanne came in for me in that game, and he played well. Not only that, he had also played really well in the Asia Cup.”So, I thought that winning the tournament and taking the trophy to Sri Lanka was what was most important to me. I haven’t been in good form recently. Along with the team, I decided I wouldn’t play the remaining matches, and that I would give the chance to Thirimanne, because we couldn’t hide a player who was in form. I’m overjoyed that we were able to win, because it had been so difficult to bring a trophy home since 1996.”Barely a patch of pavement was unoccupied by adoring fans in the major towns along the team’s route. Behind them, a rowdy, honking rearguard of bikes, cars, pick-up trucks and tuk-tuks, all bedecked in Sri Lanka flags, stretched for more than 100 metres – a civilian escort that far outstripped anything the military had provided, in the years of taut anxiety.As the team came to their largest gathering of fans, near the sea, a thunderstorm had begun, a way out in the Indian Ocean. Lightning backlit the fireworks display and cracks of thunder embellished the sound of a hundred drums. Through all this the rain never worsened to more than a heavy drizzle, so no one wanted to leave until they had had their fill of the team and their cup. For the second time in a week, the weather had aligned for Sri Lanka.The team took the stage and poured out their thanks on the masses. The Sinhala, Tamil and English pop played late into the evening, the people stayed and danced. It was another Sri Lankan party. The biggest one you’ve ever seen.

Alastair Cook needs an out-of-the-box plan that veers India from the set pieces. One of those plans could be an early Powerplay

Sidharth Monga31-Aug-2014India have won two ODIs impressively and comprehensively – two more than they did on their last two tours outside Asia – but MS Dhoni has pointed out on both occasions that he wants more from his bowlers. There was nothing in the South African and New Zealand pitches for Dhoni’s spinners, which is a stark difference in the series so far, but it hasn’t missed Dhoni’s attention that England have been 53 for 0 after 10 overs and 75 for 0 after 17 in the two ODIs played so far.It shouldn’t miss England’s attention either. They have thrown away two really good starts, kind of starts big hitters such as Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler should thrive on. It would not be unfair to say, though, that they haven’t as much thrown them away as they have been snatched away from them. Both the slides featured a chokehold from the spinners, which resulted in silly shots. Not hitting a boundary between the 18th and the 34th over is damning, but more worrisome is the 40 dot balls between boundaries. It is a skill to work the spinners around into the gaps, but so far apart from Ian Bell no England batsman has suggested he can.It is clear England are struggling against spin, and that can play tricks with your mind even when the ball is not turning. India will keep surrounding their batsmen with spinners: they have two full-time spinners, a pretty handy part-timer and at least one more to roll his arm over. They will keep rushing through their overs, time will keep running out even before England realise, and India will be hard to beat. Dhoni is as good as any with this kind of captaincy.”We didn’t play the spin very well,” Alastair Cook said after Trent Bridge. “Obviously, we didn’t in Cardiff either. But they bowled well, and did turn it. Ashwin and Jadeja are very good at one-day cricket spin bowling. We had a few soft dismissals, and a few good balls as well. Every time you tried to build a partnership, you lost wickets, and that obviously keeps holding you back if you want to play aggressively. I think we [just] need to start playing better. I don’t think it’s so much the strategy of it. There are some good players there, who are not showing it.”England might have good batsmen, but they will struggle against Dhoni and India as long as they don’t find batsmen who can milk the spinners for 80-90 runs for 20 overs without losing more than two wickets. It involves use of the feet and wrists to manoeuvre the ball either side of that short straight midwicket and cover. You can’t develop that skill overnight. England might need a quick fix. Cook might be right that overall strategy is not at fault, but they need an out-of-the-box plan that veers India from these set pieces. One of those plans could be the early Powerplay.

Dhoni likes to get rid of a few quick overs from Suresh Raina somewhere between the 15th and 20th over. It is also the time the England batsman are just coming to terms with spin. If they ask for the Powerplay then, England are basically asking Dhoni if he wants to risk continuing with Raina or bring back his quicks.

Ever since it was introduced, the Powerplay has seldom been used before it becomes mandatory. Teams have found out it interferes with the flow of their innings, and they want it to arrive just before they are about to tee off in the last 10 overs. It is also like playing with fire; you can lose wickets while feeling obliged to go for runs in the Powerplay, which can leave you in rebuilding phase once it ends. Whereas if you take it in the 36th over, as is compulsory if not called for earlier, you have only 10 overs to go. You don’t need to rebuild during that phase. This fear of losing wickets has kept teams from maximising the possibilities: around 36th over, you are going to begin hitting out at any rate, why not get yourself five more overs of field restrictions somewhere in the middle?The risk factor, however, often tips the scales in favour of convention. In England’s case here, though, there is a larger tactical use of the Powerplay. Dhoni likes to get rid of a few quick overs from Suresh Raina somewhere between the 15th and 20th over. It is also the time the England batsman are just coming to terms with spin. If they ask for the Powerplay then, England are basically asking Dhoni if he wants to risk continuing with Raina or bring back his quicks. It will not only delay the introduction of spin at both ends, but will also force Dhoni to use his lesser spinners in overs he doesn’t want to. It also means a longer early spell for at least one of India’s quicks, assuming Dhoni trusts R Ashwin to continue bowling into a Powerplay.South Africa did something similar in the 30th over in Johannesburg late last year when they forced Dhoni to split Jadeja and Raina, and had Mohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami coming back earlier than they would have wanted. They eventually got 34 for 2 from the Powerplay, but they had upset India’s plans and had set themselves up for a prolonged slog in the end. South Africa’s call came more from supreme confidence in their own game rather than fear of spin, but even here an early call for the Powerplay will set up a new and interesting set-piece.When asked after Trent Bridge if he had given any thought to calling for an early Powerplay, Cook didn’t say much, except that yes it had been a thought, but India had the fields up anyway. That’s different, though. With that field up, India have the option of sitting back if one boundary is struck. Not in a Powerplay. Cook ended his answer with, “Possibly.” It might well be a possibility, if it happens it should bring a new dimension to the game, but for that possibility to arrive Cook and Alex Hales will have to put together a good opening partnership third time in a row.

They came to worship Kumar Sangakkara in his final ODI in Kandy and he did not let them down, delivering the farewell century of which his fans had barely dared to dream

Alan Gardner in Pallekele13-Dec-2014″Sanga! Sanga! Sanga!”The chanting began as Kumar Sangakkara moved into the 90s. Between the end of the 30th over and the start of the 41st, Sangakkara had faced just 15 deliveries for 15 runs, and the crowd was becoming impatient. But for one chance, spurned by England, Sangakkara had batted imperiously. His subjects had come to see a coronation and Sangakkara was not about to disappoint.”Sanga! Sanga! Sanga!”The noise echoed up into the sky as the sun began to set behind the hills. Sangakkara, the Man of the Match, was talking to the media but the throng remained outside the building, jostling for a glimpse. He came down to greet them, smiling, arms open. Moments later, he was being ushered back inside by lackeys and soldiers, fearful he would be mobbed. Sanga love can be hard to control.They had come in their thousands for Sangakkara, in his final match at Pallekele. The grass banks were packed with people who would call him one of them. The Trinity College schoolboy is now a statesmanlike figure in his country, one of the pre-eminent figures in world cricket and a batsman still capable of glorious deeds. But he will always be a Kandy .If the ancient Kandyan kingdom still existed, Sangakkara would surely sit on the throne. It is conceivable, were it put to a vote, the locals might choose to revert to an absolute monarchy. His regal touch with bat in hand is matched by a compelling charisma as a person, an easy smile and a gracious manner. King Sanga would have been a benevolent ruler.He is, however, set to abdicate as a cricketer. The World Cup will bring a close to his 15-year ODI career and this was necessarily a farewell. His 20th one-day hundred was therefore timed as sweetly as one of those scything front-foot drives through the covers.When he reached it, stroking one more single through the off side, the congregation worshipped. His dismissal a few overs later brought another ovation. The post-match presentations were only about one man. They hymned his name over and over again. “Sanga don’t retire” read a sign held up by one fan. “God of the cricket” said another.

He is right about knowing the time to go. Kings choose their own destiny and right now Sri Lankan cricket beats to the sound of a Kandyan drum

In the middle of Kandy stands the Temple of the Tooth. This holy place is home to the Tooth Relic, supposedly one of Buddha’s teeth, which is held in a casket and paraded in a ceremony once a year. Without being remotely sacrilegious, in a more inconsequential building nearby they might want to think about housing Sangakkara’s arm guard, or a wicketkeeping glove, for future generations to witness.Or perhaps the faithful will simply head to Asgiriya, the Trinity school ground where Sangakkara learned his game. They still talk of him fondly there, although that is probably the case in the smallest tea house – even the ones he has never set foot in.”I’ve been in Kandy since I was small,” he said afterwards. “I went to school here, I grew up here. I’m especially thankful to Kandy, my school, my friends, my teachers, and coaches. Today one of the sons of my Year 2 teacher had come to the presentation. I have great memories of growing up here, and it’s those experiences that have helped me to develop to this stage.”Rather than a leader, Sangakkara said he was a servant of the fans who had turned up to cheer him and Sri Lanka to victory. “I’m especially thankful for the love and support they’ve shown me. As cricketers, even if we sign our contracts with Sri Lanka Cricket, our real contract is with the Sri Lankan public. We play for them. I’m grateful that so many people have come here for my last match and supported the team. When your cricket life ends, you have to go. That’s not something any sportsperson can escape. My time is right.”After his 91 in defeat at Pallekele during the week, England knew they were in the hall of the mountain king. Twice in the series so far, he has picked out catchers with a hundred in his sights but the one opportunity he granted on this occasion came on 41, a miscued drive to mid-off that somehow popped out of Alastair Cook’s grasp. The offering was gratefully accepted.He was otherwise as sure-footed as ever, striding out to hit against the spin of Moeen Ali, effortlessly flicking Chris Jordan off his pads. With the gloves, he took four catches, extending his world record for ODI dismissals. He appealed for lbws with the vigour of a man half his 37 years of age. When a Joe Root edge flew between him and Mahela Jayawardene at slip, they dived towards each other like mirror images and shared a grin that said they are almost that close. The light is fading for both.He is right about knowing the time to go. This is the fourth year in a row he has tallied more than 1000 ODI runs. He is currently the leading run-scorer in Tests. He scored an unbeaten half-century to lead his country to the World T20 title in his final match. Kings choose their own destiny and right now Sri Lankan cricket beats to the sound of a Kandyan drum.

What does the court judgment mean for Srinivasan, the franchises, and the BCCI?

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2015What does the judgement mean for N Srinivasan?
 
He effectively has to choose between the BCCI and Chennai Super Kings. The court said he cannot contest in the next round of the board’s elections until he gives up a commercial interest in Chennai Super Kings franchise. The good news for him, though, is that he has been cleared of the allegation that he covered up the investigation of betting charges against his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan.What does it say about conflict of interest?
It has held as illegal the amendment to Rule 6.2.4 permitting Administrators of BCCI to acquire or hold commercial interests in the IPL and Champions League T20. So BCCI officials will no longer be allowed to have a stake in franchises, for example.What does it mean for the BCCI?
The board has to hold elections within six weeks. It will probably have a new president, unless Srinivasan can cut his ties with CSK.What does it mean for the IPL?
They should be able to go ahead with their 2015 season as planned; both CSK and Rajasthan will be part of the tournament. First up, the auction – which has been put on hold pending today’s judgement.What does it mean for Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals?
Their fate will be known at some point in the next six months. The court has set up a three-member committee of retired Supreme Court judges to decide on sanctions against them, as also against Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra.What did the court say today about Meiyappan and Kundra?
It held that they were officials of their two franchises – CSK and RR – and that they were involved in betting.What else will the new committee do?
It will “examine and make suitable recommendations to the BCCI for such reforms in its practices and procedures and such amendments in the Memorandum of Association, Rules and Regulations as may be considered necessary and proper.” Basically, it can rewrite the BCCI’s constitution though it might not go that far.Did the court make any other significant observation?
Yes. In a declaration that could have far-reaching consequences, the court said that while the BCCI was a private body, it performed a public function and was therefore amenable to judicial law and review.

Plays of the day from the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens

Abhishek Purohit11-Apr-2015Starting stutters
Royal Challengers Bangalore were the eighth and last franchise to begin their 2015 campaign, and for the opening over, their fielding was all over the place. Robin Uthappa began the match with a quiet steer to third man, and no more than a single was on as Abu Nechim bent to make a regulation stop. However, the ball slipped through Nechim’s grasp to gift Uthappa a four. Two balls later, Harshal Patel slid awkwardly to his left at midwicket and failed to prevent a Gautam Gambhir clip from racing for four. Two balls later, Uthappa was gifted an overthrow to add to an easy single to mid-on.Look who dropped it
This one was remarkable not only for what happened but also for the reactions that followed. On 31, Gambhir pulled Nechim flat and straight to deep square leg for the most takrable of catches, even for someone without the reputation of the man stationed in the position: AB de Villiers. But the South African did the unthinkable: he grabbed at the ball a touch too much and it popped out of his grasp. The habitually intense captain Virat Kohli was stunned enough to smile in disbelief. The disbelief was greater in de Villiers’ long, hard stare into blank spaces.You or me?
Bursts of confusion continued to appear in Royal Challengers’ fielding performance. In the 19th over, Andre Russell top-edged a slog off Harshal over cover. Sean Abbott and Varun Aaron ran after it from the inner circle. It stayed up in the air long enough for the men to have ideally decided who was to go for it. Abbott started to pull away as it came down, implying that Aaron was to be the man. Only, Aaron was nowhere near the ball as it plopped into the ground. He was closer to it than Abbott, though, and had to sheepishly pick it up.Mystery strikes back
Knight Riders’ latest mystery spinner, KC Cariappa, had already taken some punishment from Chris Gayle when de Villiers went after him. Cariappa was bowling a bit too full to make the batsman think about which way it was going to turn, and de Villiers hit him for a couple of fours and a six in the space of five deliveries. De Villiers jumped out to the last ball of the over, but this one was much flatter and zipped past the batsman. Uthappa did not deny his fellow Coorgi and pulled off a sharp stumping.

South Africa have special memories of the SCG as cricketers and as characters. They will need a bit of both on Wednesday to overcome Sri Lanka, and a healthy dose of enjoyment as well

Firdose Moonda16-Mar-2015There was a time when South Africa enjoyed the journey of a World Cup, without the anxiety of whether they would reach the destination. But it may be difficult for any of the current crop to remember it.In 1992, when South Africa were returnees to international cricket, most of this squad were at school and some were not even born. Their predecessors were unsure what to expect from a major tournament and equally unsure what they would bring to it. They were the kids in the candy shop of their day but they were not as naive.They beat Australia in the tournament opener to announce themselves as serious contenders and shocked even themselves with their resolve. From that day everything changed.South Africa went from a team which was testing the waters of a major tournament, to a team that had already begun thinking of winning it. It did (or perhaps did not) help that the only reason they lost the semi-final was a because of a calculation. Had the equation been worked out using the same system that is used today, South Africa would have won that match. That only made it worse for them. They were seen as a robbed squad, who would have to spend every tournament after that trying to claim back what they were made to believe was rightfully theirs.Call it confidence, call it competitive streak, call it unfair expectation but that is what South Africa carried in ICC competitions for the last 23 years. Jacques Kallis wrote in his column on cricket.com.au remembering 1996: “We absolutely believed we could win.” They were blown away by Brian Lara, a figure so large that nobody would begrudge his success.In 1999, South Africa were justified favourites, not merely puffed up ones. They won five out of six series in the 12 months leading up to the tournament, were considered the best lead side with the most talented contingent of players who could do everything from bat aggressively – Herschelle Gibbs and Daryll Cullinan – to bowl aggressively – Kallis and Shaun Pollock to field aggressively – Jonty Rhodes. And it ended in a heartbreak which has haunted South Africa ever since.It was only after the 2007 World Cup that South Africa became serious about recognising the extent of their scarring, which had already deepened by two layers. They had the miscalculation of 2003 and the mistake in approach of 2007, when they sought to attack Australia and imploded instead and the bruises were starting to show.Graeme Smith, who was captain in 2007, remembered that period as a time when he thought South African cricket needed to take a step up. He was entering the phase of his captaincy where he was no longer content with middling performance and he had the backing of the administration and its growing professionalism to help change that.South African sport took to modern practice easily, even though it remained rooted in traditional philosophies of hard work and tough training. In 2007, the Springboks used a psychologist during the triumph at the Rugby World Cup. By 2011, South Africa’s cricket side roped Henning Gericke in too.That year, they took planning to a different dimension. In preparation for the conditions, they picked a squad with three specialist spinners, an unprecedented number in a South Africa outfit. In preparation for the pressure, they acquired the services of Gericke. But in all that, they took out the fun and that was evident during the group stage. South Africa were covering old ground and were not happy to be covering it either. When they lost to England on a crumbling pitch in Chennai and angrily brushed off suggestions that it was another choke, and demanded not to be burdened with that tag.

One more consultant

A head coach, a former head coach, an assistant coach, a bowling coach, a spin-bowling coach, a death-bowling coach, a batting consultant, a fitness coach, a physiotherapist, an analyst and a doctor were all not enough for South Africa – they had to get an explorer too.
Mike Horn, who has worked with the Indian team and South Africa before, met with the squad in Sydney to “put it all into perspective for us,” Russell Domingo explained.
In addition to their regular crew of Russell Domingo, Allan Donald, Adrian Birrel and Claude Henderson, South Africa have also made use of some Gary Kirsten’s 50 days of annual consulting and Mike Hussey’s experience. Their contingent of support staff is the biggest in the tournament and has caused questions over whether Domingo needs support because of a lack of playing experience.
He brushed that off as a non-issue citing counterparts Mike Hesson and Graham Ford’s records as proof. “Whether you’ve played a 100 Tests or whether you’ve played ten Tests; whether you’ve played no first-class cricket or a 100 first-class games, coaching’s not easy,” Domingo said. “It’s a lot about how you are going to manage your players and the selections you make and the strategies you employ.
“Whether I have played a 100 Tests or not, it’s not going to make a massive difference to my coaching when we play the quarter-final. No player is going to batting there and thinking, ‘My coach has played a 100 Tests, I’m going to smoke this out the ground now!’ It doesn’t work like that. It’s all about preparing the players well and making sure they are in the right frame of mind.

It eased when they beat India in the next game and finished as the only side to have bowled out each of the oppositions they faced, but came back with superglue sticking power in the quarter-finals. South Africa’s middle-order meltdown only revealed one thing: so much had changed, everything remained the same.And from that day, what little enjoyment remained in ODI cricket seemed to have been sucked out. They took their joy from the longer format, where in 2012 they became the world’s best. ODI cricket was an afterthought and as the World Cup neared, so did anxiety, which has resulted in the South Africa we see today. Stressed, nervous and at times, desperate.All teams talk the company line at press conferences; South Africa to the point where they confuse themselves as to what that line is. AB de Villiers started off declaring his team the best in the tournament, then said they may not be as good as they think they are and then went back to his original assessment. Along the way they lost their two biggest matches in the group stage, which explains his first change of sentiment and beat up on smaller teams, which does not fully explain his second.Those mixed messages are only the ones going out to the media – so what must be swirling in the dressing room. Some players think South Africa need to prepare more carefully for the venues they will play at – Morne Morkel mentioned using new balls – others want them to do as they have always done with an introspective focus on their own game. And that’s before asking any of the members of supports staff what any of them think.Now there’s one more. Mike Horn has been roped in and be brings a fear factor of his own. “He’s done a lot scarier things in the world than facing Dale Steyn or Morne Morkel,” Russell Domingo said. “He’s done some extreme things…and he will put it all into perspective for us over the next few days – what pressure is like and what fear is like; being out of your comfort zone, because he’s been in that situation lots of times with real life experiences – not just facing a cricket ball.”Is cricket really as serious as all this suggests? Not if you ask some of the members of 1992, who remember the fun between the focus. Luckily for this team, they are returning to a place with a bit of both.South Africa have special memories of the SCG as cricketers – the 1992 World Cup game against Australia, the New Year’s Test the following summer which they won by five runs – and as characters – Smith walked out to bat with a broken hand at this venue. They will need a bit of both on Wednesday to overcome Sri Lanka, and a healthy dose of enjoyment as well.

India’s packed schedule, coupled with the BCB’s delay in adhering to the proposals put forth by the Big Three last year meant there was little room in the international calendar to organise a full series

Mohammad Isam in Fatullah12-Jun-20152:39

Why India’s Bangladesh tour was scheduled for June

A Test match in Bangladesh in June, coinciding with the onset of the rainy monsoon season, might seem like hurried and last-minute planning to fit in any kind of cricket. However, it was a series agreed upon last year, and the timing is a consequence of India’s packed schedule and Bangladesh’s place fairly low down in the rankings pecking order.It is common knowledge that cricket in the monsoons will be hostage to the weather – Bangladesh’s cricket season, like India’s, is traditionally from October to May. So tight is India’s schedule, though, that even a change by a couple of weeks was not possible.The upshot is that the current Test – the first Test played in Bangladesh in June – has seen one day washed out completely, with 56 overs possible on the first day and the third day also losing out at the time of writing. There is rain forecast for the rest of the match in Fatullah, and for the three ODIs – though each has a reserve day to accommodate any delay.India’s last tour of Bangladesh – in June 2014 – was also affected by rain. The third ODI was abandoned in the 35th over and the first two were also interrupted due to rain.The rain has refused to relent in Fatullah•AFPBoth tours were part of the original 2011-20 Future Tours Programme, according to which the 2015 tour was to have two Tests and three ODIs. But the FTP’s nature completely changed last year when the Big Three announced their plans to restructure world cricket.Since then, a bilateral tour, to be confirmed, required the two boards to enter a members’ participation agreement (MPA). Bangladesh and India duly signed the MPA last February for four tours, from 2014 to 2020, and the agreement was announced by the BCB president Nazmul Hasan after he returned from an ICC meeting. The tours were ratified in April 2014 on the sidelines of the ICC executive board meeting.The February negotiations were held at a time when the Big Three’s position paper was out in the public domain but not yet formalised – it needed votes from the rest of the full members to have it sanctioned. The BCB was initially silent on the revamp consequences and later said that they would decide on the draft based on the “response of other boards”. The negotiations that ensued in the ICC headquarters, between the Big Three and the other boards, included working out tour details.Many of the boards got their wishes of India tours granted during these parleys but since the BCB was one of the last boards to agree with the Big Three’s proposals, they had very little choice but to stick to the previous FTP’s scheduling that had India touring in June 2014 and 2015. The BCB declined to comment on the matter.

With the possibility of a 3-0 series win against India on the cards, Bangladesh dug into their bowling reserves to ensure their batsmen were well prepared for the challenge

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur23-Jun-2015While the Bangladesh players were doing their usual box-passing drills with a football ahead of their training session on Tuesday, Robiul Islam walked out of the home dressing-room and began stretching. He has been a regular presence in the nets alongside Al-Amin Hossain since the Fatullah Test. He was followed by legspinner Jubair Hossain, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and pace bowler Shafiul Islam, who also limbered up to have a bowl in the nets.The group had been training at the High Performance centre next door at the National Cricket Academy ground and they were called up to provide better practice to the Bangladesh batsmen readying themselves for the third and final ODI against India, with a shot at a 3-0 sweep.Usually at Bangladesh’s training sessions at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, there is a stream of net bowlers, mostly semi-professional youngsters from nearby cricket academies. This time, however, the team management pulled out all stops and called on players who are a part of the larger team pool.Robiul and Shafiul are on the fringes of the side while Jubair and Taijul are regular Test players these days. A couple of hours after the session, Jubair was added to the 14-man ODI squad as a bowling option. Mahmudullah – one of the players behind Bangladesh’s recent surge – was also there and although he was only doing personal fitness drills, it added to the all-round good mood.Ahead of the second ODI, the visiting Indian journalists were curious about a piece of granite slab that was brought out for training. It was present during Bangladesh’s build-up for this year’s World Cup and the Pakistan series as well, to help batsmen adjust to seam movement and skidding deliveries. It was another example of the side’s intent when it came to preparations.The mood around the Bangladesh dressing-room, too, is festive. On Tuesday, there was constant banter as they encouraged each other in box-passing. The chatter went up a notch as soon as the captain Mashrafe Mortaza entered the game. He doesn’t hold back while playing anything, and he jostled those shorter than him and needled a couple of the senior players on the field.Robiul, Shafiul, Taijul bowled to Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim while several offspinners bowled to left-handers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar, who are likely to play a lot of R Ashwin.If the weather improves – there has been heavy rain in the last 24 hours in Mirpur and both sides trained under leaden skies on Tuesday – Bangladesh have a huge opportunity to complete a clean-sweep against India. They have had ten clean-sweeps in bilateral series since August 2006. The most significant have been the 4-0 and 3-0 defeats handed out to New Zealand in 2010 and 2013 respectively and the 3-0 win in April against Pakistan. The others came against a third-string West Indies side in 2009, twice each against Kenya and Zimbabwe and once each against Ireland and Scotland.It was former cricketer-turned-commentator Athar Ali Khan who coined the phrase Banglawash after Bangladesh crushed New Zealand 4-0 in 2010. The success went mostly unnoticed on a larger scale but that was the first indication from Bangladesh that when they are on a roll, especially at home, they can be very competitive.The momentum is with the home side who have prepared to the best of their ability and resources available. Since the 2011 World Cup, the day leading up to a big game in Bangladesh is as exciting as the match itself, and the presence of the some of their frontline bowlers ahead of the third game added to the festivity and anticipation. If the weather holds and if Bangladesh can better the 2-0 scoreline against India, all the preparation will have paid off richly.

Jason Holder and Angelo Mathews will both be looking to mould their young sides in the upcoming series, but with rain forecast throughout the week in Sri Lanka, the prospect of uninterrupted cricket appears gloom

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Oct-2015In October, the northeast monsoon begins to creep in from the Bay of Bengal and turns Sri Lanka into a vast network of closely-spaced puddles. This is excellent for the nation’s paddy farmers, whose fields are made fit for replanting. It is less good for cricketers, whose fields are made fit for marine exploration. Spectators are advised to take umbrellas to any match in Sri Lanka, but going by the history of series scheduled for this time of year, snorkeling gear might not be unwise either.The teams have come to understand they are in for a wet series. In addition to having much of the two most recent weeks indoors, they have also shared a rich and storied history of being holed up in dressing rooms. West Indies’ first ever Test in Sri Lanka in 1993 was so beset by bad weather it barely entered its third innings. Their most recent Test on the island did not make it past the first.That 2010 tour saw more hours of rain than cricket. The groundstaff were also fitter than the athletes by the end of it. Maybe it’s the knowledge that the coming series will probably go the same way that this West Indies side barely turned up for the three-day warm-up match, in which they were comfortably outperformed.The SLC’s only remaining solution to this recurring issue may be to demand mother nature stop scheduling monsoons in cricket season. Even this seems more likely to evince a positive response than asking the ICC for help with adjusting the cricket schedule. Internationals would ideally be played from January to March in Sri Lanka, but as most teams are engaged in the southern hemisphere at that time of year, this rarely happens.Instead,the SLC finds its international window increasingly hemmed in by T20 tournaments. West Indies could have toured in the drier month of September, for example, but a large chunk of that month had been reserved for the Champions League T20. As it turned out, that tournament did not even happen this year.It will be a pity if the weather dominates as expected, because the teams appear to be evenly matched. Sri Lanka will feel they have edge in home conditions, but with both sides in flux, nothing can be taken for granted. The hosts have relied on spin to defeat West Indies on previous tours, but though they have a proven matchwinner in Rangana Herath, their batsmen had been vulnerable against the turning ball in series against Pakistan and India. In Galle, especially, West Indies’ fortunes may turn on the potency of Devendra Bishoo’s legspin.Inexperience abounds in both top orders. West Indies have the likes of Shai Hope, Rajendra Chandrika and Shane Dowrich on tour, who have six Test appearances between them. Sri Lanka will likely field a top seven containing Kusal Perera, who has played one Test, and Milinda Siriwardene, who is uncapped in the longest format.Both teams are also without a permanent coach. The WICB has suspended Phil Simmons, who awaits HR trial for suggesting team selection had been subject to “interference from outside”. The SLC, meanwhile, has recently conducted their annual coach cull, and are now overseen by their eighth head coach (including interim appointments) in five years. Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers at Hogwarts serve longer terms, on average.

Sri Lanka are now overseen by the eighth coach (including interim appointments) in five years. Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers at Hogwarts serve longer terms, on average

The series may be a chance for young captains to mould the teams they will lead for the foreseeable future.Angelo Mathews is some way down that track already, having been captain for more than two years now. But this is the first series in which the most prominent leadership figures of the past decade – Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara – are absent from the dressing room. Jason Holder, meanwhile, takes on his first assignment as Test captain, and does so with a view to marking out other young talents who may form the core of his side in the future.For the moment, both sides are just hoping the skies clear in time for the cricket. Training on Monday was hampered again by rains in Galle. Sri Lanka’s meteorological department has forecast showers all week, which given its track record, is as hopeful a sign as any.