Netherlands qualify for World Twenty20 championships

BELFAST (Ireland), Aug 5: The Netherlands joined Ireland as the second cricket team to qualify for next year’s ICC World Twenty20 championships after beating Scotland in the semifinals of the qualifying tournament in Stormont here.

The Netherlands coasted to a comfortable five-wicket success over Scotland with 12 balls remaining yesterday.

Man of the match Ryan Ten Doeschate produced a fine all-round performance to inspire the Netherlands to an easy win.

Ten Doeschate grabbed 3-23 to peg Scotland to 107-8 in 20 overs after Kyle Coetzer (40) and Ryan Watson (22) had provided their team with a 54-run opening start, the highest first wicket partnership of the tournament to that point.

Ten Doeschate, in the target chase, returned unbeaten on 24 from 14 balls with a six and a four as the Netherlands wrapped up with match in 18 overs. Eric Szwarzcyniski (31), Tom De Grooth (24) and Peter Borren (16 not out) also made valuable contributions.

Later, in the third and fourth-place play-off, openers Kyle Coetzer (48) and Ryan Watson (54) put on 102 runs for the first wicket as Scotland thumped the 2003 ODI World Cup semi-finalist Kenya by nine wickets with 11 balls to spare.

It was the joint-fifth best first wicket partnership in the history of Twenty20 internationals after Australia’s Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist scored 102 against Bangladesh at Cape Town during last year’s ICC World Twenty20.

By virtue of securing berths in the final, Ireland and the Netherlands have been guaranteed places in the 12-team ICC World Twenty20 to be staged in England.

The inclusion of Scotland for next year’s event is dependent on Zimbabwe Crickets Board ratifying a decision taken by its officials during ICC annual conference week, to step back from the tournament.

If Zimbabwe confirms it won’t play, the top associate from the Belfast event will take Zimbabwe’s place in group A (with India and Bangladesh ), the losing finalist will ease into group B (with England and Pakistan ) and the third place side takes a position in group D (with South Africa and New Zealand).

However, if Zimbabwe opts not to ratify its earlier decision to step back from the tournament, the top associate will join England and Pakistan in group B and the losing finalists will form group D with South Africa and New Zealand. (PTI)

Pietersen will thrive on captaincy says Flintoff

LONDON, Aug 5: Andrew Flintoff believes the England captaincy will help Kevin Pietersen raise his game to new heights.

Pietersen, who has replaced Michael Vaughan after his resignation on Sunday, averages more than 50 in both the five-day and limited-overs versions of the game.

Several previous England captains, including Vaughan, saw their averages slump as the strain of leading the team took its toll and it has been suggested Pietersen may suffer the same fate if he tries to temper his natural game.

But England all-rounder Flintoff is confident Pietersen will thrive on the responsibility, starting with Thursday’s fourth and final test against South Africa at the Oval.

"The one thing we don’t want is for Kevin to change. He averages 50-plus in test and one-day cricket and he is an unbelievable talent," Flintoff said.

"Everyone will ask ‘will his batting be affected?’ but knowing Kevin, he will probably average 70 as captain.

"You know what he is like. As soon as he is put under the pump, and people start saying things about him, he comes back and gets a big score. I would imagine he will do that this time.

"The first innings against South Africa in the first test at Lord’s earlier this summer was the one for me. A lot was said going into that series and the finger has been pointed at him by a lot of people.

"He is a bit nervous at first but gets his head down and blazes a hundred. That is a measure of the man. When you see things like that, i am sure he will take to captaincy in the same way, he will take it in his stride."

Flintoff, who led England for 11 tests, believes it is important Pietersen finds a way to ensure the job doesn’t affect his family life in the same way it did Vaughan’s.

"It is a tough job. It is not just about being on the field, moving the field about and changing the bowlers around," Flintoff said.

"The thing is trying to leave it on the cricket field. There is a lot off the field as well and I took it home with me from time to time. That is what I found a bit hard about the job.

"Michael said it affected him at home and he took the work home and I did that as well. It is hard not to. It is a hard job - but it can be very rewarding as well if you get the results.

"You also need help from the rest of the side. You also need a few people to lean on. When I was doing the captaincy, I took too much on myself and didn’t have too many sounding boards or people to speak to about the job.

"Kevin will be fine. He is confident, single-minded and will have a definite approach to how he is going to do it. The team have got to perform as well and there is no reason why we can’t all be successful together." (AGENCIES)

Fish advances at Los Sngeles tennis

LOS ANGELES, Aug 5: American Mardy Fish posted his first victory in nearly two months by beating Alejandro Falla 6-2, 6-2 at the Los Angeles Classic.

The sixth seed broke a run of four opening defeats to advance at an event yesterday populated by non-participants in the Beijing Olympics.

Fish last tasted success on June 11, when he beat Australian Chris Guccione at Queen’s Club on grass before losing in the third round to compatriot Andy Roddick.

Since then the American has exited in openers at Wimbledon, Newport and the Summer Masters tournaments at Toronto and Cincinnati.

Fish won the 30-minute first set with two breaks of serve and began the second with more of the same in his first meeting with the Colombian ranked 116 which ended after just over an hour.

Number 40 fish will await an opponent from a Tuesday match between Floridian Vince Spadea and Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.

Two more French players advanced on a sparsely scheduled opening day.

Marc Gicquel stopped Zack Fleishman 6-3, 6-0, and Florent Serra reached the second round over Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-1.

Earlier, OIympic left-over Denis Gremelmayr shoved disappointment aside on Monday to begin his summer hardcourt campaign with a victory after being replaced on Germany’s Beijing squad by Rainer Schuettler.

Gremelmayr, ranked 86th and winner of a set over Roger Federer at Estoril last spring, began his week with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Italian Fabio Fognini. (AGENCIES)

KP can’t remain grounded: Warne

MELBOURNE, Aug 5: Kevin Pietersen’s meteoric rise to England captaincy comes as no surprise to his close friend Shane Warne but the Australian spin legend fears that the quick elevation might make it difficult for the flamboyant batsman to keep his feet grounded.

"My biggest worry (with Pietersen) is that he gets a bit far above himself and doesn’t keep his feet on the ground.

"He’s got to remember who his friends are. If he keeps that in mind, he will be all right. He has as much talent as anyone that has ever played the game," Warne told ‘The Daily Telegraph’.

Pietersen was handed England’s test and one-day captaincy after Michael Vaughan made a tearful exit following the team’s recent debacle against South Africa.

Warne said England would miss Vaughan’s leadership, that won them the 2005 Ashes, when the two teams square up for next year’s Ashes.

"Vaughan is crucial for England to regain the Ashes next year because he is such a good captain," Warne said. (PTI)

KP can’t remain grounded: Warne

MELBOURNE, Aug 5: Kevin Pietersen’s meteoric rise to England captaincy comes as no surprise to his close friend Shane Warne but the Australian spin legend fears that the quick elevation might make it difficult for the flamboyant batsman to keep his feet grounded.

"My biggest worry (with Pietersen) is that he gets a bit far above himself and doesn’t keep his feet on the ground.

"He’s got to remember who his friends are. If he keeps that in mind, he will be all right. He has as much talent as anyone that has ever played the game," Warne told ‘The Daily Telegraph’.

Pietersen was handed England’s test and one-day captaincy after Michael Vaughan made a tearful exit following the team’s recent debacle against South Africa.

Warne said England would miss Vaughan’s leadership, that won them the 2005 Ashes, when the two teams square up for next year’s Ashes.

"Vaughan is crucial for England to regain the Ashes next year because he is such a good captain," Warne said. (PTI)

IOC monitoring Beijing’s air quality round the clock

BEIJING, Aug 5: Amidst concerns over air quality three days ahead of the Olympics, a top official of the games’ governing body today said the air quality of the Chinese capital is being monitored round the clock and the health of athletes and visitors would not be at risk.

The air quality is under intense scrutiny, putting pressure on organizers who have spent billions of dollars in the past few years to improve environment for the games.

"The health of athletes and visitors coming to Beijing will not be at risk despite persistent concerns about city’s air quality," Arne Liunggyist, Chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Medical Commission, told the 102nd IOC session here.

"We used the World Health Organisation standards for the evaluation... Those standards are fairly tough to meet, but in many aspects, the Beijing area does so," Liunggyist said.

He said of the three who standards, the middle one, the interim standard which is used for developing countries, is applied to Beijing.

"The who standards have never intended for guiding people who are temporary visitors," he said. "The standards are, and should be used, intended by the IOC to be guidelines for the authorities to protect health of the residents of that area."

"I am sure and confident that the air quality will not pose major problems to the athletes and to visitors coming to Beijing," he was quoted as telling the ioc by official Xinhua news agency.

Liunggyist said the haze that covered Beijing recently was much due to the hot and humid weather which was "mistaken for pollution."

"The misty air is not a feature of pollution but a feature of evaporation and humidity," he said.

Authorities said two days back that blue skies in Beijing were witnessed due to drastic pollution control measures and ruled out possibilities of rescheduling Olympic endurance events due to air quality concerns.

The average air pollution index rose to 35 from 34 on Saturday last but it was still within the "level I" or classified as "excellent", the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said, easing concerns over the much talked about air quality in the Chinese capital.

As of August 3, Beijing had recorded 152 "blue sky days" or days with fairly good air quality.

Under a drastic plan launched on July 20 for a two-month period, half of city’s 3.3 million vehicles have been taken off the roads and most of the construction projects halted among measures to improve air quality in the usually smog-shrouded beijing.

Government vehicles are required to stay off the road one day a week in the latest initiative for clean air.

Beijing has been battling pollution for the last several years and concerns over air quality had continued as the city was covered by haze since July 25.

Since last year, hundreds of factories around or on the outskirts of Beijing producing heavy emissions have been temporarily or permanently shut down.(PTI)

Ayes for Gilly’s idea of T20 in 2020 Olympics

MELBOURNE, Aug 5: Former Australian star Adam Gilchrist’s idea that "(Twenty20) cricket should bid to become an Olympic sports" has received ayes from the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Steve Waugh and Stephen Fleming who feel it would be a superb vehicle to globalise the game.

Gilchrist feels cricket should be included as an Olympic sport if it had to grow and widen its horizons and it was the right time to begin the process for pushing it in the 2020 edition quadrennial extravaganza.

Ganguly, the former India skipper, said the move would give a chance to cricketers to become a part of the "worldwide movement".

"It will help the players to be part of a worldwide movement. Cricket is an exciting sport and should definitely be part of the Olympics," Ganguly, currently in Sri Lanka for a three-match test series, was quoted as saying in the international media.

Waugh, a former Australian captain and the mentor of his country’s Olympic team in Beijing, said the idea mooted by Gilchrist was "definitely worth pursuing".

"If you want to globalise the game then you have to look at including countries like china and the United States, and getting cricket into the Olympics will fast-track that move," Waugh told the ‘Press Association.’

Waugh led Australia to a silver medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and described the moment as one of the most cherished of his career.

"Winning the silver medal was one of the highlights of my career," Waugh said.

The idea has also found the backing of Fleming and VVS Laxman.

"The Olympics would be the greatest vehicle to spread the game worldwide and it would be a logical fit," Fleming said in ‘the Australian’.

Laxman said it would be an honour to represent the country in Olympics.

"Should cricket make it to the Olympics it would be significant, especially to our country where the game is most loved," he said.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland also hailed the idea as exciting.

"When you think of the Olympics, you also think of the big nations like the US, Russia and now China," Sutherland told ‘The Australian’.

"Those regions are clearly potential growth opportunities for cricket and we see Twenty20 at the Olympics as a superb vehicle," he added.

Cricket received "recognition status" from the International Olympic Committee only last year and would be a part of the 2010 Asian Games in China. (PTI)

Lanka mulling changes after losing second test

COLOMBO, Aug 5: The drubbing in the second test at Galle has forced the Sri Lankan cricket selectors to explore changes in the fast bowling department with old war horses Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekara in the scanner for their average performance in the match.

It remains to be seen whether the selectors drop the opener Michael Vandort in the third test beginning here on Friday after his poor showing in the first two matches.

After seeing India’s Ishant Sharma exploding with three wickets in the second test that added to the Sri Lankan woes as they were capitulating under the spin pressure, the islanders are also looking for a young fast bowling option.

The 25-year-old uncapped pace bowler Dammika Prasad who troubled the Indian batsmen in the practice game against Lanka Board XI could be one of the options, according to sources.

The axe may fall on Kulasekara, who failed to extract pace in the first two tests though did manage to force Indian openers to be watchful against him in the initial overs of the previous matches.

Kulasekara was averaging between 114 and 125 kms in the matches against India.

Prasad, capped thrice in one-day internationals in 2006, has since suffered a number of injuries before touring England and Zimbabwe with Sri Lanka ‘A’ last year.

"The selectors are discussing changes in the pace department and whether to continue with Michael Vandort," a source said.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawadene did feel the absence of an effective pacer in his side during the second test after seeing Sharma extract pace of around 135-140 kms.

"That’s something for us to discuss. We felt that in these kind of conditions, usually the medium-pacers are effective as well. Ishant is an exceptional bowler with his height and everything. He creates a bit of bounce on this kind of wicket. We just need to make a smart choice," the Sri Lankan captain had said after the Galle loss.

"We will have a chat with the selectors, we have a few options in our squad. We will see what we can come up with," the dejected Jayawardene had said after squandering the advantage of winning the first test by an innings and 239 runs at Colombo.

In the event of Dilhara Fernando getting fit before the third test he will be in the reckoning for a call up.

The selectors are in a quandary on whether to drop the most successful pace bowler Chaminda Vaas, seeing the 34-year-old slow down considerably in the Galle test though he got some wickets.

As far as Vandort is concerned, though strong off the front foot through the off-side and leg-side, he was found vulnerable to edging after being unsure on driving head on at the bowlers.

Even as Jayawardene feels the tall 28-year-old left-handed opener has played consistently in the last six months and getting runs, the selectors are not sure of retaining him for the third test as well.

The Lankan captain is of the view that there could be a problem in the long run if one keeps "chopping and changing" in the opening batting department.

The 27-year-old Thilan Thushara is also a new fast bowling prospect for the third test having shown steady improvement.

He made his test debut against West Indies in 2003, but failed to make the test or ODI squad for the England tour later in the year.

Thushara is also a hard striker of the ball and can fill in the problem of a highly vulnerable Sri Lankan tail. (PTI)

Federer plans to turn season around in Beijing

BEIJING, Aug 5: Roger Federer said today he is anticipating a "dream Olympics" that will help turn around his disappointing season by winning one of the few titles to elude him.

"For me it is really important over the next couple of weeks, starting here at the Olympics, going on to the US Open," he told in an interview.

"I still have plenty of tournaments to do well in, and I hope I can start here at the Olympics and fulfill my dream to win gold."

After failing to overcome arch-rival Rafael Nadal at the French Open, he then fell to the Spaniard in an epic five-set Wimbledon final before going out in the early rounds in Toronto and Cincinnati.

But he is feeling lucky in China, where he will carry the flag for Switzerland at the Olympics opening ceremony.

"I’ve had a lot of luck in China," said the Swiss ace, whose 27th birthday coincides with Friday’s opening ceremony on August 8.

"I know eight is the lucky number here, maybe because my birthday and everything that has also brought me luck here in China, who knows."

Eight is considered lucky because the Chinese character ‘ba’ sounds similar to the word for luck, or ‘fa’.

Because of this the games opening ceremony has been slated to start at 8pm on the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 2008.

Federer gets to keep the world No 1 status he has owned for a record 235 weeks for the early part of the games courtesy of Nadal’s loss to Novak Djokovic in the semis of the Cincinnati Open.

Despite the fact that he will have to surrender it to Nadal on August 18, Federer said he does not feel any extra pressure here.

"Everyone has a chance. We’ll see down the stretch who is going to have the best day, and I hope it’s going to be me."

Federer was constantly pestered by fans and athletes in Athens and he got another taste of that yesterday night when he was mobbed by airport officials, and again today when volunteers hounded him for autographs.

"The volunteers struggled to hold themselves back, but it’s part of the spirit so it’s no problem," said Federer. (AGENCIES)

CT broadcasters might take action legal
action against ICC

KARACHI, Aug 5: The broadcasters of Champions Trophy in Pakistan, ESPN Star Sports, are contemplating legal action against the ICC to prevent it from ratifying the BCCI-backed Twenty20 Champions League schedule, starting just a day after the eight-nation event concludes on September 28.

The Indian board has said it would hold the Champions League featuring the champion Twenty20 teams from South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, England and the finalists of the Indian Premier League from September 29.

The ICC is due to hold a meeting in the next few days to ratify the dates for the Champions League.

But sources told that ESPN/Star, who hold global rights to all ICC events, are pre-empting that the ICC meeting will see majority of boards confirming the Champions League dates.

"They are worried because they are already issues with having the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and they fear that if the ICC members ratify the Champions League dates it would be a disaster for them in terms of generating enough revenues from the ICC event," one source said.

"ESPN/Star are contemplating basing their case around the question is the Champions League a domestic event or an international one and where does the ICC get involved in its dates," the source said.

The source said some of the ICC members themselves had advised the broadcasters to take the matter to court to get a clear ruling on the dates.

"Having the CL one day after the CT would spell disaster for the broadcasters and they would not be able to recoup their losses," he said.

The Indian board announced the Champions League from September 29 after talks with the England Cricket Board to have the Champions League.

"The broadcasters also want a clear ruling on the status of the T20 events being planned by other cricket boards because of the conflict or interest or dates that might occur with the ICC program," the source added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board today said it had no problems with the Champions League.

"We believe that if the Champions League is held around four to five days after the Champions Trophy then there would be no fears of one of the event cancelling out the other," one official said.

The official hoped that an amicable solution would be found at the ICC meeting. (PTI)

Kirsten to skip third Test

NEW DELHI, Aug 5: Indian cricket team will be without coach Gary Kirsten in the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo as the South African will go home to attend to his critically ill mother.

"Kirsten will not be available for the third Test match as he will be leaving from Colombo for South Africa tonight. There will not be any replacement in his absence," the BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement today.

"Kirsten, Coach, Indian Team, has been granted leave to go to South Africa to be with his mother as she is critically ill," Shah added.

The third match of the series starts August 8 and the series is tied 1-1 after India won the Galle Test.

Meanwhile, BCCI sources in Colombo told PTI that Kirsten rushed back home as his mother had been diagnosed with cancer but he might join the team for one-dayers.

"Efforts would be made to get him back in time for the one-dayers (that start August 24)," the source added. (PTI)

Shoaib’s wait prolongs as rain disrupts
first practice game

KARACHI, Aug 5: Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will have to wait anxiously to prove his fitness before the national selectors after heavy rains today disrupted the first of three practice matches, which would form the basis for selecting the Pakistan squad for next month’s Champions Trophy.

Torrential rains today washed out the first of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) schedule of three games, while the inclement weather has also cast a shadow on the chances of second match on Thursday.

"We are going to talk to the groundstaff at the Gaddafi Stadium and see what can be done," one national selector said.

The matches have been given special importance by the selectors and the PCB as Pakistan has to submit its final squad for the Champions Trophy latest by August 12.

"These matches offer us the only opportunity to assess the fitness and form of Shoaib, pacer Umar Gul and few other players," the selector said.

The focus, particularly, has been on Shoaib who was included in the 30-member preliminary squad for the biennial event by the PCB after much controversy over whether he should first pay the fine of USD seven million imposed on him by the appellate tribunal that reduced his five years ban to 18-months.

Shoaib last played for Pakistan in India and his only cricket after December has been a couple of Twenty20 games where he struggled with his fitness after the opening match for Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural Indian Premier League.

The selectors are keen to see how the comes through in the trial matches and the same applies for Gul who has carried a rib cartilage injury since being forced out of the Asia Cup last month.

"We have to see how these two pacers fare as there are our main bowlers. The weather has disrupted our plans."

Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi is also recovering from a wrist injury while opener Salman Butt has had an appendicitis operation.

Sources said the selectors might be inclined to include these players with fitness issues even if weather did not permit the trial matches because of the limited time left for the submission of the Champions Trophy squad.

To make matters worse, the Board is also struggling to arrange international exposure for the team as the scheduled three match ODI series at home against New Zealand in late August also appears to be doubtful after Kiwi cricketers expressed apprehensions over traveling to the strife-torn nation citing security issues. (PTI)