Gavaskar conferred with C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award

Mumbai: Former India captain and legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar was on Wednesday conferred with BCCI`s prestigious Col C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award while Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli were also awarded for their achievements in international arena during past season.

Tendulkar was feted for his incredible achiement of scoring 100 international hundreds in Tests and ODIs combined.

Kohli won the `Polly Umrigar Award` for the being the best Indian cricketer of the 2011-12 season in international cricket.

With it, Kohli had his name added to other stars who have received this honour previously including Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. He was presented with a glittering trophy and a cheque of Rs 5 lakh.

VVS Laxman, who retired before the start of the home rubber against New Zealand in August was also felicitated for his stupendous achievement in international cricket for past decade and half.

The prolific batsman was also adjudged as ICC`s `ODI Cricketer of the Year` earlier.

"I am happy to receive the award in front of so many cricketers whom I have watched and got inspired by. I hope I can continue in the same way this season," said the Delhi batsman after receiving his award.

Earlier, after receiving his award, Tendulkar thanked Gavaskar and called him his inspiration for taking up the game.

"We grew up watching you. Thanks for inspiring me to play cricket. All I wanted to do was to follow your footsteps," said Tendulkar addressing Gavaskar sitting in front.

"I was 12 or so and was disappointed as I did not get the `Best Junior Cricketer` award. I got a letter from Mr Gavaskar saying if you go through that list there is one person who did not get that award and he (Gavaskar) had not done badly in Tests," said Tendulkar.

He also thanked the BCCI for always standing by him, whether he was performing or not performing or when he was injured.

"BCCI has always stood by me. Whether I did well or not or when I was injured, BCCI has always supported me. I also thank John Wright (former India coach). He told me in 2002-03, when we were flying from Johannesburg to Durban that I should complete 100 international hundreds. I asked him, "What are you drinking? Now I am standing in front of you after scoring century of centuries. Thank you John Wright."

Laxman got a bit emotional and said that it has been three months since he called curtains to his career and it has given him a chance to look back on his 16-year old interntional career.

"As a youngster, I wanted to play for India. I realised my dream. Lots of people supported me in fulfilling it, my uncle, the Hyderabad Cricket Association for supporting me in my formative years, my wife Shailaja and my teammates in the Indian team," said Laxman.

Gavaskar described the award as "the biggest in Indian cricket" and that he was honoured to receive it (from Board President N Srinivasan).

"I dedicate this award to the Indian cricket fans without whose support, encouragement and the occasional criticism which is a wake-up call, this would not have been possible," he said.

"Just to see the list of previous recipients of this award and to be in that list is a great honour. It feels humbling to be in that list," he said.

"I have to thank all my friends who had played tennis ball cricket, club cricket, the umpires, the local associations for helping us play so many tournaments. The BCCI president N Srinivasan and his other colleagues, the media for highlighting my scores and bringing it to the attention of the selectors and the public," said Gavaskar.

Gavaskar also recalled the incident he had mentioned in his uatobiography `Sunny Days` about how he wanted to wear a India pullover that was possessed by his maternal uncle Madhav Mantri and was told that "one needs to earn the right to wear the India pullover."
Seven former and late Test cricketers were honoured posthumously when they were conferred with the C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award worth Rs 15 lakh and a Trophy each.

BCCI president N Srinivasan explained the rationale and said it was felt that these cricketers would have got the award for their on-field achievements had they been alive in due course.

The seven late cricketers were: Vijay Merchant, Vinoo Mankad, Dattu Phadkar, Ghulam Ahmad, Vijay Manjrekar, M L Jaisimha and Dilip Sardesai.

Full list of award winners:
Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime achievement award: Sunil Gavaskar - Rs 25 lakh
100 int`l centuries: Sachin Tendulkar
Polly Umrigar award: Virat Kohli; Rs 5 lakh
Lala Amarnath award (Best all-rounder in the Ranji Trophy): Stuart Binny (KSCA); Rs 2.5 lakh
Best all-rounder Limited overs: Laxmi Ratan Shukla (CAB); Rs 2.5 lakh.
Madhavrao Scindia Trophy (Highest Run getter in ranji Trophy): Robin Bist; Rs. 2.5 lakh
Highest wicket-taker in the Ranji trophy: Ashoke Dinda (CAB); Rs. 2.5 lakh.
M.A. Chidambaram trophy, Best U-16 cricketer of 2011-12: Mohd Saif (UPCA); Rs. 50,000.
M.A. Chidambaram trophy, Best under-19 cricketer: Vijay Zol (Maharashtra CA); Rs. 50,000.
M.A. Chidambaram trophy, Best under-22 cricketer: Satyam Choudhary (MPCA); Rs. 50,000
M.A. Chidambaram trophy, Best woman cricketer (Sr): Anagha Deshpande (Maharashtra CA); Rs. 50,000
Best umpire in domestic cricket: S Ravi; Trophy and cheque for Rs. 50,000.

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Sidhu takes dig at Waugh for criticising Dhoni

New Delhi: Former India cricketer turned commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday came down heavily on ex-Australia skipper Steve Waugh, who criticised India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for demanding tracks that turn from the very first day.

"Ask Steve Waugh whether the Indian team gets a turning track when we visit Perth?," asked Sidhu.

"Does Waugh wants that we gift the Test series to England? The track will be same for both teams," he added.

Sidhu also said that the hosts, in order to win the Test series 4-0, should go for the turning tracks.

"We are not here to give comfort to the English side. We would like to win this series. When we go to England, do they make tracks that offer turn? It is important for India to win this series," Sidhu said.

Dhoni, after winning the first Test against England at Ahmedabad, expressed his displeasure at the Motera wicket and said that "We wanted the curators to prepare the pitches that will turn from day one."

The second Test in Mumbai is scheduled to start from Friday where ball is expected to turn a lot and Sidhu suggested the Indian team go to with an extra spinner in Harbhajan Singh, in addition to Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha.

"I have been saying since Day I that their strength is swing and ours is spin. More the number of spinners, better it is. If we play Harbhajan in Mumbai, then England will feel psychologically bogged down," he concluded.

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Home > Sports > Cricket > Pujara makes crucial No.3 position his with double-ton Pujara makes crucial No.3 position his with double-ton

Ahmedabad : Cheteshwar Pujara Friday ticked another box in the process of filling the key No. 3 position in India’s batting order, vacated by the great Rahul Dravid. Playing in only his sixth Test, Pujara hit his maiden double century (206 not out) against England in the first Test at Ahmedabad.

The 24-year-old has thus cemented his place at the highest level of the game, the big knock coming soon after his first hundred against New Zealand in August.
His next big test will be to perform overseas. He has already played two Tests in South Africa but not with much success, scoring 19, 10 and 2 in three innings.
The Rajkot-born cricketer has only played Test cricket and showed his brilliance in his debut game against Australia in 2010 when he scored 72 in the fourth innings chasing a successful victory target.
The Saurashtra batsman forced the selectors to take note of his heaps of runs on the domestic circuit. He has made 4,954 runs in 68 first-class appearances at 53.84. Pujara has an enviable record in List A with 2,735 runs in 61 games at 56.97.
He was one of the top run-getters for Saurashtra in the 2007-08 Ranji Trophy season, prompting Kolkata Knight Riders to sign him for the inaugural Indian Premier League edition.
The following year he smashed two triple hundreds for Saurashtra in an under-22 tournament and replicated the feat in the Ranji Trophy to make it three in a row in a month.
In his short career, he has already been sidelined by a serious knee injury, but he recovered well to stage an impressive comeback.

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NMC urges ICC to mediate in BCCI row over coverage restrictions

Johannesburg: Media organisations have urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene in a row with the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) over coverage restrictions of the Test series between India and England, saying the dispute was damaging the game.

The News Media Coalition, writing on behalf of a group of news agencies, newspapers and publishers, urged the ICC to use its influence and global standing to convince the BCCI to lift the curbs which have set off a text and photo blackout of the series.

“We recognise that the ICC does not have direct authority of the media policy of individual national cricket bodies but view the ICC as the collective custodians of the good name of the sport, fair play and the promotion of the game,” a website quoted the letter, as saying.

“The BCCI`s policy of locking out an important sector of the news industry risks damaging much that the ICC has sought to achieve,” the letter added.

The ICC has drawn up proposals for Twenty20 cricket to eventually become an Olympic sport.

Kevan Gosper, chairperson of the International Olympic Committee`s press commission, is among those to have criticised the BCCI stance, calling it a direct attack on the freedom of the media.

The accreditation dispute is the latest between the BCCI and media organisations to mar the series.

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Bangladesh vs West Indies, Day 1: Hasan, Mahmudullah lead hosts to 365/8

BANGLADESH (1st innings) Over: 86 II Score: 365/8 (Abul Hasan 100*, Mahmudullah 72*)

Abul Hasan has become just the fourth ever batsman to score a Test century while batting at number 10. Together with Mahmudullah, the southpaw has led to an amazing turnaround on the opening day of the second Test against West Indies. The pair has added 172 runs for the ninth wicket guiding their team out of troubled waters

BANGLADESH Over: 74 II Score: 303/8

Abul Hasan and Mahmudullah have struck an unbeaten century stand that has helped the home side recover after losing eight wickets at the score of 193. Hasan led the late charge with an aggressive fifty hitting 11 boundaries and two sixes in his score of 74 runs. For West Indies, right-arm pacer Fiedel Edwards has taken five wickets while captain Darren Sammy has two scalps to his name.

BANGLADESH (LUNCH) Over: 26 II Score: 88/3 (Islam 15*, Hasan 8*)

Bangladesh lost the wicket of Nazimuddin early in their innings before Nafees and Iqbal began some repair work. The stand lasted for 59 runs before Darren West Indian skipper Darren Sammy removed Shahriar Nafees and Tamim Iqbal to give his team an upper hand in the opening day of the second Test.

The second Test between Bangladesh and West Indies has begun in Khulna. Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and chose to bat first. The home team would be looking to win the second and final Test to level the two-match series.

Playing XI:

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Nazimuddin, Shahriar Nafees, Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Abul Hasan, Rubel Hossain.

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Kieran Powell, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy (c), Sunil Narine, Fidel Edwards, Veerasammy Permaul, Tino Best.
SCORECARD 

BAN vs WI, 2nd Test, Khulna

BAN 365/8 (86.0 Ovs) Mahmudullah* 72 (89) Abul Hasan 100 (108) WI Fidel Edwards* 16-2-81-5 Sunil Narine 19-0-91-0 CRR 4.24 Partnership 172(180) Last Wkt Sohag Gazi 0(4) Day 1: Stumps

• BAN 1st Inn

Batsmen

BAN : 365/8 ( ovrs 86)

R

B

4s

6s

SR

Tamim Iqbal

b D Sammy

32

70

4

0

45.71

Nazimuddin

c Kieran Powell b F Edwards

4

6

1

0

66.67

Shahriar Nafees

c D Ramdin b D Sammy

26

49

4

0

53.06

Naeem Islam

b F Edwards

16

22

1

0

72.73

Shakib Al Hasan

c D Ramdin b F Edwards

17

20

3

0

85.00

Mushfiqur Rahim (c & wk)

c D Ramdin b F Edwards

38

81

5

0

46.91

Nasir Hossain

c F Edwards b V Permaul

52

68

8

1

76.47

Mahmudullah

batting

72

89

9

0

80.90

Sohag Gazi

lbw b F Edwards

0

4

0

0

0.00

Abul Hasan

batting

100

108

13

3

92.59

Extras:

(b 4, lb 3, w 0, nb 1, p 0)

8

 

 

 

Total:

(8 wkts, 86 ovs)

365

 

RR:

4.24

Yet To bat: : Rubel Hossain

Bowling: WI

O

M

R

W

Nb

Wd

ER

Fidel Edwards

16

2

81

5

1

0

5.10

Tino Best

10

3

31

0

0

0

3.10

Darren Sammy

20

4

61

2

0

0

3.00

Sunil Narine

19

0

91

0

0

0

4.80

Veerasammy Permaul

19

2

79

1

0

0

4.20

Marlon Samuels

2

0

15

0

0

0

7.50

Fall of Wickets

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Srilanka won by10 wickets

SL vs NZ, 1st Test, Galle

SL 247, 93/0 (18.3 Ovs) Dimuth Karunaratne* 60 (60) T Paranavitana 31 (51)	NZ 221, 118 Doug Bracewell* 5.3-0-35-0 Kane Williamson 1-0-6-0
CRR 5.03 Partnership 93(111) Srilanka won by 10 wickets

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live cricket score Ban v/s West indies

BAN vs WI, 2nd Test, Khulna

BAN 93/4 (27.1 Ovs) Shakib Al Hasan 12 (17) WI Fidel Edwards* 5.1-1-22-2 Darren Sammy 9-2-28-2 CRR 3.42 Partnership 16(24) Overs left for the day : 62.5 Last Wkt N Islam 16(22) Day 1: Post Lunch Session

• BAN 1st Inn

Batsmen

BAN : 93/3 ( ovrs 27)

R

B

4s

6s

SR

Tamim Iqbal

b D Sammy

32

70

4

0

45.71

Nazimuddin

c Kieran Powell b F Edwards

4

6

1

0

66.67

Shahriar Nafees

c D Ramdin b D Sammy

26

49

4

0

53.06

Naeem Islam

batting

16

21

1

0

76.19

Shakib Al Hasan

batting

12

17

2

0

70.59

Extras:

(b 0, lb 2, w 0, nb 1, p 0)

3

Total:

(3 wkts, 27 ovs)

93

RR:

3.44

Yet To bat: : Mushfiqur Rahim (c & wk), Nasir Hossain, Mahmudullah, Sohag Gazi, Abul Hasan, Rubel Hossain

Bowling: WI

O

M

R

W

Nb

Wd

ER

Fidel Edwards

5

1

22

1

1

0

4.40

Tino Best

6

2

18

0

0

0

3.00

Darren Sammy

9

2

28

2

0

0

3.10

Sunil Narine

7

0

23

0

0

0

3.30

Fall of Wickets

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Boycott says KP, Bell lack trust in defensive technique against turning ball

London: Former England opening batsman Geoffrey Boycott has slammed England batsmen, especially Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell, for not having the self-belief, mental application and skill to play the turning ball.

"England lost the Test match because some of their batsmen did not have the self-belief, mental application and skill to play the turning ball. Ian Bell`s stupid attempt in the first innings to hit his first ball over the top was a huge mental error," Boycott wrote in his column for a leading daily.

"To play like that when you have his skill shows he must have been sat waiting to go in with a scrambled brain, worrying to death about how he played the last time he was in India and his poor performances against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in February," he added.

"Then there was Kevin Pietersen`s second innings premeditated sweep to another left-arm spinner who bowled him with a full toss around leg stump," he further wrote.

Boycott added: "In both cases our two most accomplished stroke-players were not convinced they had a good enough defensive technique to fight their way through the first 30 minutes with the ball turning and four men around the bat."

"If England are going to make a fist of the next three Test matches every batsman has to play like Alastair Cook, with the self belief, determination and willpower that they can cope with the turning ball," he wrote.

"Don`t go attacking the bowling before you are in. That was the mistake Bell and KP made. When you get in, don`t give it away. Make big scores because time is not important. It is runs that are crucial for England if we are going to have any chance of winning," he concluded.

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Bangladesh vs West Indies Live Score: 2nd Test, Day 1

The second Test between Bangladesh and West Indies has begun in Khulna. Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and chose to bat first. The home team would be looking to win the second and final Test to level the two-match series.

Playing XI:

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Nazimuddin, Shahriar Nafees, Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Abul Hasan, Rubel Hossain.

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Kieran Powell, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy (c), Sunil Narine, Fidel Edwards, Veerasammy Permaul, Tino Best

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No changes in Australian line-up for second Test

New Delhi: Allrounder Shane Watson has been excluded from an unchanged Australian team for the second Test against South Africa.

Watson is nursing a calf injury that had earlier forced him to sit out of the first Test in Brisbane and his failure to prove his fitness has meant that he will miss out the Adelaide fixture as well.

Australian captain Michael Clarke cited doubts over the right hander’s injury to be the reason for the decision.

“He has improved a lot over the last few days... But is probably a few days short of being 100 percent,” Clarke was quoted as saying by a news agency on Wednesday.

Mitchell Starc, who was in contention for a playing berth, has been included as the twelfth man.

The second Test starts from Thursday.

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Dhoni`s comments negative for the game: Steve Waugh

 

 New Delhi: Former Australian captain Steve Waugh on Tuesday criticised Mahendra Singh Dhoni for asking the curators to "doctor the pitches" and pointed out that if a side wants to be the best it should be able to negotiate all conditions.

"Dhoni`s comments this morning were really negative to the game, when he said Indian curators to doctor the pitches, which I can`t understand," Waugh said during the India- Australia Innovative Forum here.

The Indian skipper, after winning the first Test against England at Ahmedabad yesterday, expressed his displeasure at the Motera wicket and said that "we wanted the curators to prepare the pitches that will turn from day one".

"You want to be aggressive and be the best in the world, you got to take all the conditions and not always ask for the conditions that suits your style of play. I was a bit surprised with that. I think if you are looking to be the best in the world you got to learn to play in all conditions."

The former great said that during his tenure as the head of the Australian team he was never bothered about what sort of wicket they were playing on.

"I captained the side for 57 games and never once had a word with the curator about what sort of pitch we are going to play," Waugh said.

However, the veteran of 168 Tests said that India were the favourites to win the four-match rubber against England.

"India are a strong side, always hard to beat in India and some of the young players are coming through, which is great sign for Indian cricket. (Cheteshwar) Pujara getting a double century, Virat Kohli, (Pragyan) Ojha taking wickets, it is great for Indian cricket.

"You got to have to turn out of this, no players are bigger than the game, someone will always step up. Sometimes you get too carried away that experienced players are irreplaceable but the natural thing will happen, someone will step up to play and take that role. India will will win this series, I think they will win it 3-0 because the pitches will suit their team," the 47-year-old said.

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Pujara, Ojha achieve career-best ICC rankings

Dubai: India’s batting sensation Cheteshwar Pujara and Test spinner Pragyan Ojha played pivotal roles in India’s nine-wicket win over England in Ahmedabad, and have now moved to career-best rankings in the ICC’s latest update for Test players.

Pujara, 24, scored unbeaten innings of 206 and 41 to claim the Man-of-the-Match award after the completion of the first Test on Monday and has jumped 35 places to No. 24 on the ICC’s rankings for Test batsmen. Left-arm spinner Ojha, 26, had a match haul of 0 for 165 and broke into the top five of the ICC’s bowler rankings for the first time in his Test career after moving up nine place.

Also making significant moves up the ladder was West Indies opener Kieran Powell, whose twin centuries in Mirpur helped his team beat Bangladesh by 77 runs in the first Test. Powell, who was Man of the Match in the series opener, jumped 19 places to occupy 51st spot. Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Rangana Herath achieved a career-best rating of 828 points in the bowler rankings to secure fourth spot. The 34-year old took 11 for 108 as Sri Lanka crushed New Zealand by ten wickets in Galle on Monday. Bangladesh’s debutant offspinner Sohag Gazi has entered the rankings at No. 51st after taking 9 for 219 against West Indies.

England captain Alastair Cook returned to the top ten batsmen list after scoring an excellent 176 in his side’s second innings in Ahmedabad, while his team-mate Matt Prior became the fifth England player in the top 20 after achieving a career-best ranking of 18. An unbeaten 203 against Bangladesh in Mirpur allowed Shivnarine Chanderpaul gain 27 ratings points to put him one point behind Australian captain Michael Clarke at No .4, who scored an unbeaten 257 against South Africa in Brisbane last week. Virender Sehwag moved to 22nd position after gaining one place following his 23rd Test century – his first in two years.

In the Test allrounder list, Jacques Kallis regained the top spot after Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan conceded 21 ratings points and slipped to second place. Kallis’ South African team-mates Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander will have the opportunity to top the batting and bowling tables, respectively. Amla trails Kumar Sangakkara by just four points while Philander is 19 behind team-mate Dale Steyn, who has been at No. 1 since July 2009.

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Rameez Raja says India can 'brownwash' England

New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja feels India can go on to "brownwash" England in the ongoing Test series if they win the second match of the series starting November 23 in Mumbai. India have taken a 1-0 lead in the series after winning the opening Test in Ahmedabad by nine wickets on Monday.

Rameez felt the wicket will turn even more in Mumbai and this would work to the home team's advantage. "If England lose in Mumbai, then India will have the clear edge. India will then have the excellent opportunity to go for a 4-0 result, which can be called a 'brownwash'," Rameez told PTI-Bhasha. 

"India can win all the four matches and I feel the wicket will turn more in Mumbai. India definitely have the upper hand but England have shown the stomach for fight and the series would be an interesting one," he said.

India were humiliated 0-4 by England in an away series last year and winning at home would be sweet revenge for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men.

"England's bowling seems weak given the pitches here. Indians, on the other hand, are masters of spin," Rameez explained. Rameez praised young Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 206* and 41* in the Ahmedabad Test to win the Man-of-the-Match award.

"Pujara played a fine innings. England may be technically weaker but are a mentally strong unit. I feel to score over 200 against a team like that is the hallmark of a confident batsman," he said. But Rameez felt Pujara should not be compared to Rahul Dravid just yet.

"To compare him to Dravid is going a bit too far. Dravid has himself told me that he was not as confident when he was Pujara's age," he said.

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MS Dhoni's approach negative for cricket: Steve Waugh

New Delhi: Former Australian captain Steve Waugh on Tuesday criticised Mahendra Singh Dhoni for asking the curators to "doctor the pitches" and pointed out that if a side wants to be the best it should be able to negotiate all conditions. "Dhoni's comments this morning were really negative to the game, when he said Indian curators to doctor the pitches, which I can't understand," Waugh said during the India- Australia Innovative Forum here.

The Indian skipper, after winning the first Test against England at Ahmedabad on Monday, expressed his displeasure at the Motera wicket and said that "we wanted the curators to prepare the pitches that will turn from day one"

"You want to be aggressive and be the best in the world, you got to take all the conditions and not always ask for the conditions that suits your style of play. I was a bit surprised with that. I think if you are looking to be the best in the world you got to learn to play in all conditions."

The former great said that during his tenure as the head of the Australian team he was never bothered about what sort of wicket they were playing on. "I captained the side for 57 games and never once had a word with the curator about what sort of pitch we are going to play," Waugh said.

However, the veteran of 168 Tests said that India were the favourites to win the four-match rubber against England. "India are a strong side, always hard to beat in India and some of the young players are coming through, which is great sign for Indian cricket. (Cheteshwar) Pujara getting a double century, Virat Kohli, (Pragyan) Ojha taking wickets, it is great for Indian cricket.

"You got to have to turn out of this, no players are bigger than the game, someone will always step up. Sometimes you get too carried away that experienced players are irreplaceable but the natural thing will happen, someone will step up to play and take that role. India will will win this series, I think they will win it 3-0 because the pitches will suit their team," the 47-year-old said.

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Broad slams Botham for criticising players following Ahmedabad Test rout

London: England fast bowler Stuart Broad took to Twitter to aplogise to fans for their nine-wickets thrashing at the hands of India in the Ahmedabad Test, but the vice-captain also slammed former player Sir Ian Botham for his negative analysis of the players during the match.

Broad told his fans to ignore the comments from former players who are now working in the media.

“India outplayed us. A few positives but on the whole poor so sorry for that. Onwards and upwards,” the Telegraph quoted Broad’s tweet, as saying.

“And before u listen to too many ex playing ‘experts’ being negative, ask them if they ever won a Test series in India...#28years” he further tweeted.

Botham was one to question the selection of the team, suggesting the dressing room had become ‘too matey, matey’ before saying Broad should be left out as one of four changes to the side for the second Test.

Botham responded to Broad’s comments by sending him a message on Twitter stating “Didn’t average 40+ with the ball overseas...! Not sure what I scored against India with the bat..?”

It was not difficult to work out the point Botham was making, as he scored two centuries and averaged 61 in India.

Earlier this year Kevin Pietersen was fined by England for criticising Nick Knight, a Sky commentator, on Twitter but Broad is unlikely to face disciplinary action.

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BBL side Sydney Sixers terminates Akmal’s contract

Sydney: Australian Big Bash League (BBL) team Sydney Sixers has terminated Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal’s contract after it was revealed he would only be allowed to play in the team`s opening match.

A day after fellow Pakistan star Shahid Afridi pulled out of his deal with cross-town rivals Sydney Thunder, Akmal`s BBL hopes were dashed by the Sixers.

After initially ruling Akmal, Afridi and Adelaide Strikers signing Saeed Ajmal ineligible to play in Australia`s Twenty20 tournament due to domestic playing obligations back home, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) softened its stance to allow the trio to play the early stages of the competition.

However, due to scheduling Akmal would have been available for just one game for the Sixers and that wasn`t enough for Sixers general manager Stuart Clark.

“While it would have been great to have Umar here for the start of the BBL season, the short time frame offered is not in the club`s best interest and we have decided to see if a suitable replacement is available rather than continue down this path,” a leading Australian daily quoted Clark, as saying.

The Sixers have been linked with England batsman Kevin Pietersen and Clark said he would not sign an import just for the sake of having one.

“We are confident our strong roster will be able to cover the loss of Umar should we not find a suitable replacement,” Clark said.

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