Cricket

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Power hitting in the opening 15  overs before the pitches start to deteriorate will hold the key  to success in this month’s World Cup, according to former  Australia opener Matthew Hayden.

KARACHI, (Reuters) – All-rounder Shahid Afridi was  confirmed as Pakistan’s World Cup captain yesterday following  his team’s one-day series victory in New Zealand.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – India’s spin bowling all-rounders  will be a big advantage in the Feb.

NAIN, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica will look to being their defence of the WICB Regional first-class championship, with another dominant performance over weakened old rivals Guyana in the opening round, starting today at the Alpart Sports Complex.

LONDON, (Reuters) – British prosecutors will announce  today whether three Pakistan cricketers accused of taking  bribes to fix incidents in an international match in England  last year will be charged with criminal offences.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Their own indisciplined batting and bowling combined with Upul Tharanga’s ninth One-day International hundred condemned West Indies to an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the rain-affected second ODI yesterday.

AUCKLAND, (Reuters) – Pakistan won their first one-day  series since November 2008 when they beat New Zealand by 41 runs  in the fifth game of their six-match series at Seddon Park in  Hamilton yesterday.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – The form and experience of  returning fast bowler Brett Lee can lead Australia to a fourth  successive World Cup title, former captain Steve Waugh told  Reuters yesterday.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Kumar Sangakkara or Mahela  Jayawardene should drop down and bolster a concerning middle  order if Sri Lanka are to be successful at this month’s World  Cup, former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga told Reuters.

The West Indies Cricket Board and Scotiabank recently launched its Kiddy Cricket Programme for primary school age children at the Georgetown Cricket Club.

President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh who has been at the helm of the GCB for 19 years, said yesterday that this was the worse he has seen cricket administration in the country adding that a serious decision will have to be made next

CHENNAI, India, CMC – There was more trouble for the Indian organising committee of the World Cup, when a wall at the Chepauk Stadium collapsed on Tuesday.

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Australia pulled off a spectacular  run-chase to win the sixth one-day international against England  by two wickets yesterday, racking up a record 334 for eight  to take a 5-1 lead in the series.

Veteran cricketers Anil Beharry and Hubern Evans on Sunday combined to bowl Young Warriors to the 2010 New Building Society second division limited overs title over Tamran Root Cricket Club of Hampshire.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Following are the umpires’ and matchreferees’ appointments for the 2011 World Cup announced by the International Cricket Council yesterday (Matches to be officiated by Billy Doctrove of West Indies are highlighted in bold text): Saturday 19 Feb – Bangladesh v India (d/n), Dhaka- Steve Davis and Kumar Dharmasena, Billy Doctrove (third), Asad Rauf (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Sunday 20 Feb – New Zealand v Kenya (d), Chennai – Rod Tucker and Marais Erasmus, Aleem Dar (third), Sudhir Asnani (fourth), Roshan Mahanama (referee) Sunday 20 Feb – Sri Lanka v Canada (d/n), Hambantota – Ian Gould and Shahvir Tarapore, Tony Hill (third), Daryl Harper (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Monday 21 Feb – Australia v Zimbabwe (d/n), Ahmedabad – Asoka de Silva and Richard Kettleborough, Amish Saheba (third), Simon Taufel (fourth), Jeff Crowe (referee) Tuesday 22 Feb – England v Netherlands (d/n), Nagpur – Asad Rauf and Bruce Oxenford, Kumar Dharmasena (third), Steve Davis (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Wednesday 23 Feb – Pakistan v Kenya (d/n), Hambantota – Tony Hill and Nigel Llong, Daryl Harper (third), Shahvir Tarapore (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Thursday 24 Feb – South Africa v West Indies (d/n), New Delhi – Simon Taufel and Amish Saheba, Asoka de Silva (third), Richard Kettleborough (fourth), Jeff Crowe (referee) Friday 25 Feb – Australia v New Zealand (d), Nagpur – Billy Doctrove and Kumar Dharmasena, Asad Rauf (third), Bruce Oxenford (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Friday 25 Feb – Bangladesh v Ireland (d/n), Dhaka – Aleem Dar and Rod Tucker, Billy Bowden (third), Marais Erasmus (fourth), Roshan Mahanama (referee) Saturday 26 Feb – Sri Lanka v Pakistan (d/n), Colombo – Daryl Harper and Ian Gould, Nigel Llong (third), Tony Hill (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Sunday 27 Feb – India v England (d/n), Bengaluru – Billy Bowden and Marais Erasmus, Rod Tucker (third), Aleem Dar (fourth), Roshan Mahanama (referee) Monday 28 Feb – West Indies v Netherlands, (d/n) New Delhi – Amish Saheba and Simon Taufel, Richard Kettleborough (third), Asoka de Silva (fourth), Jeff Crowe (referee) Monday 28 Feb – Zimbabwe v Canada (d), Nagpur – Asad Rauf and Bruce Oxenford, Steve Davis (third), Billy Doctrove (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Tuesday 1 Mar – Sri Lanka v Kenya (d), Colombo – Tony Hill and Shahvir Tarapore, Ian Gould (third), Daryl Harper (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Wednesday 2 Mar – England v Ireland (d/n), Bengaluru – Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden, Marais Erasmus (third), Rod Tucker (fourth), Roshan Mahanama (referee ) Thursday 3 Mar – South Africa v Netherlands (d), Mohali – Asoka de Silva and Richard Kettleborough, Simon Taufel (third), Amish Saheba (fourth), Jeff Crowe (referee) Thursday 3 Mar – Pakistan v Canada (d/n), Colombo – Daryl Harper and Nigel Llong, Tony Hill (third), Ian Gould (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Friday 4 Mar – New Zealand v Zimbabwe (d), Ahmedabad – Aleem Dar and Marais Erasmus, Rod Tucker (third), Billy Bowden (fourth), Roshan Mahanama (referee) Friday 4 Mar – Bangladesh v West Indies (d/n), Dhaka – Kumar Dharmasena and Steve Davis, Asad Rauf (third), Bruce Oxenford (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Saturday 5 Mar – Sri Lanka v Australia (d/n), Colombo – Tony Hill and Ian Gould, Shahvir Tarapore (third), Nigel Llong (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Sunday 6 Mar – India v Ireland (d/n), Bengaluru – Billy Bowden and Rod Tucker, Marais Erasmus (third), Aleem Dar (fourth), Roshan Mahanama (referee) Sunday 6 Mar – England v South Africa (d), Chennai – Simon Taufel and Amish Saheba, Asoka de Silva (third), Richard Kettleborough (fourth), Jeff Crowe (referee) Monday 7 Mar – Kenya v Canada (d/n), New Delhi – Asad Rauf and Billy Doctrove, Bruce Oxenford (third), Steve Davis (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Tuesday 8 Mar – Pakistan v New Zealand (d/n), Pallekele – Daryl Harper and Nigel Llong, Ian Gould (third), Shahvir Tarapore (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Wednesday 9 Mar – India v Netherlands (d/n), New Delhi – Bruce Oxenford and Steve Davis, Billy Doctrove (third), Kumar Dharmasena (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Thursday 10 Mar – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe (d/n), Pallekele – Marais Erasmus and Nigel Llong, Tony Hill (third), Ranmore Martinesz (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Friday 11 Mar – West Indies v Ireland (d), Mohali – Asoka de Silva and Shahvir Tarapore, Bruce Oxenford (third), Steve Davis (fourth), Roshan Mahnama (referee) Friday 11 Mar – Bangladesh v England (d/n), Chittagong – Daryl Harper and Rod Tucker, Aleem Dar (third), Enamul Hoque-Moni (fourth), Jeff Crowe (referee) Saturday 12 Mar – India v South Africa (d/n), Nagpur – Ian Gould and Simon Taufel, Billy Doctrove (third), Kumar Dharmasena (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Sunday 13 Mar – New Zealand v Canada (d), Mumbai – Shahvir Tarapore and Bruce Oxenford, Steve Davis (third), Asoka de Silva (fourth), Roshan Mahanama (referee) Sunday 13 Mar – Australia v Kenya (d/n), Bengaluru – Asad Rauf and Richard Kettleborough, Billy Bowden (third), Amish Saheba (fourth), Andy Pycroft (referee) Monday 14 Mar – Pakistan v Zimbabwe (d/n), Pallekele – Nigel Llong and Tony Hill, Marais Erasmus (third), Ranmore Martinesz (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Monday 14 Mar – Bangladesh v Netherlands (d), Chittagong – Aleem Dar and Rod Tucker, Daryl Harper (third), Enamul Hoque-Moni (fourth), Jeff Crowe (referee) Tuesday 15 Mar – South Africa v Ireland (d/n), Kolkata – Kumar Dharmasena and Billy Doctrove, Simon Taufel (third), Ian Gould (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Wednesday 16 Mar – Australia v Canada (d/n), Bengaluru – Amish Saheba and Billy Bowden, Richard Kettleborough (third), Asad Rauf (fourth), Andy Pycroft (referee) Thursday 17 Mar – England v West Indies (d/n), Chennai – Asoka de Silva and Steve Davis, Shahvir Tarapore (third), Brice Oxenford (fourth), Roshan Mahanama (referee) Friday 18 Mar – Sri Lanka v New Zealand (d/n), Mumbai – Richard Kettleborough and Asad Rauf, Amish Saheba (third), Billy Bowden (fourth), Andy Pycroft (referee) Friday 18 Mar – Ireland v Netherlands (d), Kolkata – Simon Tuafel and Ian Gould, Kumar Dharmasena (third), Billy Doctrove (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Saturday 19 Mar – Australia v Pakistan (d/n), Colombo – Tony Hill and Marais Erasmus, Nigel Llong (third), Tyron Wijewardena (fourth), Chris Broad (referee) Saturday 19 Mar – Bangladesh v South Africa (d), Dhaka – Daryl Harper and Aleem Dar, Rod Tucker (third), Enamul Hoque-Moni (fourth), Jeff Crowe (referee) Sunday 20 Mar – Zimbabwe v Kenya (d), Kolkata – Billy Doctrove and Kumar Dharmasena, Ian Gould (third), Simon Taufel (fourth), Ranjan Madugalle (referee) Sunday 20 Mar – India v West Indies (d/n), Chennai – Steve Davis and Bruce Oxenford, Asoka de Silva (third), Shahvir Tarapore (fourth), Roshan Mahanama (referee)

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) showered outgoing President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh with tributes during its Tribute to Heroes Programme last Saturday.

Ramcharran Narine and Linden Mc Coy blasted centuries when the Stag Beer and El Dorado Rum softball cricket competition continued at various venues over the weekend.

Sri Lanka and the West Indies will be hoping for improved weather condition as both teams look to experiment with the World Cup squad for the second one day international at the SSC ground in Maitland Place today.

After perusing the financial documents of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), officials from the Registrar of Friendly Societies (ROFS) will be meeting the board next week to address “concerns”, according to a source.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – A string of Houdini acts has  convinced Harbhajan Singh that the Indian cricket team has  mastered the escape-to-victory art and there is nothing,  including winning the World Cup, they cannot achieve.