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    INDIAN cricketer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth has insisted he is innocent of any wrongdoing in the ongoing spot-fixing scandal and is confident of emerging from the “tough period” with his dignity intact.   The 30-year-old bowler was one of three players, along with 11 bookmakers, arrested last week on suspicion of spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition, the allegations also earning him an immediate suspension from the cr]]>
    THREE cricketers were refused bail on Tuesday (May 21) after they appeared in court in New Delhi on spotfixing charges as senior judges rapped the Indian board’s “lackadaisical” approach over the scandal.   And in a sign of the growing fallout from the allegations, police in Mumbai announced the arrest of a Bollywood actor as part of the investigation which has caused outrage among fans in the cricket-mad nation.   A court in N]]>
INDIA’S Test paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and two other bowlers were to appear on Tuesday (May 21) in court over allegations that they accepted tens of thousands of dollars for spot-fixing, police said.   Sreesanth, along with his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, was arrested last week for deliberately bowling badly in specific overs during the ongoing Indian Premier League after striking deals with bookmakers.   “We will se]]>
INDIA is mulling a law to deal with the issue of spot-fixing in sport following last week’s arrest of cricketers and bookmakers, government officials said on Monday (May 20).   Former India Test bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and two other players were arrested along with 11 bookmakers on Thursday (May 16) on suspicion of spot-fixing in the country’s ongoing Twenty20 league.   The cricket board immediately suspended the trio, who have been accused of tak]]>
KINGS XI Punjab eked out a close seven-run win over Delhi Daredevils in Dharamsala on Thursday (May 16), to keep alive their slim chances of qualifying for the play-offs of the ongoing Pepsi Indian Premier League.   Kings XI first rode on David Miller and captain Adam Gilchrist’s whirlwind knocks to post a challenging 171 for four.   Miller scored an unbeaten 44 off just 24 balls towards the end, while Gilchrist made 42 off 26 balls upfront. Shaun Marsh also pl]]>
FORMER Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday (May 16) demanded “strict action” against three cricketers allegedly involved in spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) if they are found guilty, saying such incidents bring “disrepute” to the game.   “Somebody who associates himself with match-fixing, I think strict action should be taken against these set of players. They bring disrepute to the game and t]]>
PUNE Warriors snapped their nine-match losing streak and knocked Kolkata Knight Riders out of the Pepsi Indian Premier League with a thrilling seven-run win, in Pune on Wednesday (May 15).   Manish Pandey (66), skipper Aaron Finch (48) and Yuvraj Singh (30) guided Pune to competitive 170 for four after being asked to bat.   Yusuf Pathan (72) cracked his first IPL half-century in three years and almost steered KKR home with splendid hitting but he got out in a bizarre]]>
HIS team will not get the home advantage in the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoff stage, but Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma is unfazed, insisting that his side is good  enough to be a winner anywhere.   “We will be playing out now. Each and every game from now (is away from home) We just want to play to our strengths and we have the potential to play anywhere and beat anyone. It is not just the home condition,” Sharma said after Mumbai’s 14-run win o]]>
INDIAN cricket authorities suspended on Thursday (May 16) three players, including Test paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, for alleged spot-fixing during the ongoing Indian Premier League tournament.   Bowlers Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were the other two players suspended from the domestic Twenty20 competition.   “The three players stand suspended pending enquiry. All information required to bring the persons involved to book will be collected and strictes]]>
KIERON Pollard’s blistering unbeaten 27-ball 66 on Monday (May 13) all but assured Mumbai Indians of a play-off berth after the hosts defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in their Pepsi Indian Premier League match in Mumbai.   Chasing 179 to win, Pollard snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as the big-hitting West Indian smashed six huge sixes off successive overs bowled by Thisara Perera and Amit Mishra to bring down the equation from 62 required off 24 balls ]]>
MAHENDRA Singh Dhoni led the way with a typically aggressive half-century to power Chennai Super Kings to a 33-run win over Delhi Daredevils in Chennai Tuesday (May 14) and brighten their prospects of securing a top-two finish ahead of the play-offs of the Pepsi Indian Premier League.   Batting first, Chennai rode on Dhoni’s 35-ball unbeaten 58 to post a competitive 168 for four. Albie Morkel (3/32) then spearheaded a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Delhi to 135 for ]]>
SOUTH Africa coach Gary Kirsten will not renew his contract after next month’s Champions Trophy, citing family reasons in a surprise decision announced on Friday (May 10).   Kirsten, the most successful coach in Test and limited overs cricket in recent years, has opted not to extend his two-year contract, which runs out in August.   “Gary has a young family and it is understandable that he wishes to spend more time at home,” said Cricket South Afric]]>
KEVON Cooper scalped three vital wickets before Ajinkya Rahane scored an unbeaten half century to help Rajasthan Royals beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets and inch closer to securing a play-off berth in the ongoing Pepsi Indian Premier League in Mohali on Thursday (May 9).   By virtue of this win, Rajasthan have moved to the second position in the team standings with 18 points from 13 games behind table toppers Chennai Super Kings (20 points).   Opting to field, C]]>
MUMBAI Indians kept their enviable all-win record at home intact as they outclassed Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs in Mumbai on Tuesday (May 7) to virtually eliminate the defending champions’ hopes of making the Indian Premier League play-offs.   Mumbai rode on their best opening stand of the season - 93 runs - provided by Sachin Tendulkar (48) and Dwayne Smith (47) and a quick-fire unbeaten 34 by Dinesh Karthik to rattle up 170 for six at the Wankhede Stadium.  ]]>
WITH an unrelenting Mumbai Cricket Association determined  to keep Wankhede stadium off limits for Shah Rukh Khan, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray and the Congress party on Tuesday batted for lifting the five-year ban on the actor.   While Raj Thackeray termed Mumbai Cricket Association’s action as “childish”, Maharashtra Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant said the ban was “not a democratic punishment”.   “Whatev]]>
KOLKATA Knight Riders’ owner Shah Rukh Khan has admitted that he should not have got into a fight with the Wankhede stadium security guard during last season’s IPL that led to Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) imposing a five-year ban on him.   ‘In retrospect, I should not have behaved like that. On the other hand, it’s not something that I really think about. It’s quite cool,’ said Shah Rukh.   Asked what would he do on May 7 when ]]>
MUMBAI Indians on Sunday (May 5) snapped Chennai Super Kings’ seven-match winning streak with a crushing 60-run victory in a lop-sided Pepsi Indian Premier League match in Mumbai.   Electing to bat, Mumbai scored 139 for five with captain Rohit Sharma top-scoring with a 30-ball 39 not out and then shot out Chennai for just 79 in 15.2 overs at Wankhede Stadium to halt the visiting team’s dream run in the tournament.   Pragyan Ojha (3/11) and Mitchell Johns]]>
AJINKYA Rahane struck a scintillating 67 while Rahul Dravid produced an age-defying innings to maintain Rajasthan Royals’ impeccable ‘home’ record as the hosts defeated Pune Warriors by five wickets in a thrilling Pepsi Indian Premier League match, in Jaipur  on Sunday (May 5).   The win propelled Rajasthan to fourth position in the league table with 14 points from 11 matches while Pune Warriors suffered their seventh successive loss in the tournament with ]]>
EXPERIENCED batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh were left out of India’s 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy, the country’s cricket board said on Saturday (May 4).   Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan, who last played a 50-over match for India in June 2011, got the nod ahead of Gambhir while wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik, who can also open the batting, was recalled after almost three years.   The other opener in the squad, Murali Vijay, was a ]]>
CHENNAI Super Kings on Thursday (May 2) choked a marauding Kings XI Punjab with a brilliant three-wicket burst in the last over by Dwayne Bravo to record their seventh straight victory and to virtually seal their place in the kncok-out phase of the Pepsi Indian Premier League in Chennai.   But the victory would not have been possible without Suresh Raina’s superb ton, built on six sixes and seven fours, as it helped CSK record a 15-run win over Kings XI at the M Chidambaram]]>
SRI Lankaall-rounder Angelo Mathews on Thursday (May 2) decided to step down from Pune Warriors’ captaincy for the rest of the current Indian Premier League season to ensure that there is continuity in the leadership.   Australian batsman Aaron Finch has led the side in a lot of games as Mathews was dropped due to poor form.   “It is in our best interests that the captaincy is not switched frequently as we strive to achieve the best balanced team for each]]>
IN-FORM David Warner played yet another blistering knock of 66 as Delhi Daredevils comfortably defeated defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in a Pepsi Indian Premier League match in Raipur on Wednesday (May 1).   Chasing a modest target of 137, Warner and young Unmukt Chand (37, 4x4) added 95 runs for the third-wicket partnership as the ‘home’ team won the game with 13 balls to spare. This was also a sweet revenge for Daredevils, who had lost in]]>
THE first qualifier and eliminator games of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament was on Saturday (April 27) shifted to Delhi from Chennai, putting an end to the uncertainty over the venue for the crucial matches.   The decision to shift the play-off matches to Feroze Shah Kotla stadium was taken by the IPL authorities after the Tamil Nadu government stuck to its stand on not allowing the Sri Lankan players to play in the wake of the anti-Sinhalese sentiments in the ]]>
SURESH Raina scored a polished 63 and skipper MS Dhoni smashed a brilliant 45 as Chennai Super Kings consolidated their position at the top of the table with a comprehensive 37-run win over Pune Warriors in Pune on Tuesday (April 30).   Chasing 165, Pune never looked the part. Pacer Mohit Sharma rocked the top order by claiming Aaron Finch (15), T Suman (0) and Yuvraj Singh (5). The hosts never quite recovered and managed just 127 for nine in 20 overs. Chennai have 16 points from]]>
SANJU Samson smashed his way to a superb 63 and Brad Hodge conjured up a crucial 32-run cameo as Rajasthan Royals held their nerves to humble formidable Royal Challengers Bangalore by four wickets in a thrilling Pepsi Indian Premier League match in Jaipur on Monday (April 29).   Riding on a number of small contributions, specially R Vinay Kumar’s final-over assault during which he smashed James Faulkner for three sixes, Bangalore posted a challenging 171 for six after asked]]>
CAPTAIN Rohit Sharma’s batting heroics made all the difference in the end as Mumbai Indians beat Kings XI Punjab by a narrow four runs in a nail-biting Pepsi IPL clash in Mumbai on Monday (April 29).         Opting to bat, Sharma led from the front with a  blistering unbeaten 79 off just 39 balls as Mumbai posted a challenging 174 for three before Punjab were bowled out for 170 in the match that went down the wire.   David Mil]]>
RECORD-BREAKING batsman Sachin Tendulkar turns 40 on Wednesday (April 24) with no plans to retire despite media speculation and recent form suggesting that age is finally catching up with the “Little Master”.   Test and one-day cricket’s greatest run-scorer approaches the game with undiminished enthusiasm and insists he has much to offer despite slipping from the dizzying heights he reached earlier in his 24-year career.   “People have been ta]]>
THEY might have ended up on the losing side but Rajasthan Royals captain Rahul Dravid feels his team was “exceptional” against the Chennai Super Kings given that the conditions were not too ideal for the bowlers in their Indian Premier League match in Chennai.   “Throughout the innings, we executed our plans with the ball well. I thought it was a pretty good score to defend...it was not easy in terms of bowling conditions as the ball was getting wet and sweating]]>
THE big smasher Chris Gayle will be the cynosure of all eyes as table-toppers Royal Challengers Bangalore lock horns with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League on Saturday (April 26).   Placed sixth in the points table, it will be imperative for Mumbai to get Gayle early if they are to continue their winning momentum, after the positive result against Kolkata Knight Riders.   For the record, Gayle had smashed his way to the fastest century in the history of T20]]>
HE HOLDS the record for slamming the quickest ton on Test debut, but Shikhar Dhawan has made it clear that his approach to the traditional five-day format is completely different from the way he enters a Twenty20 game.   Dhawan announced his arrival in the Test arena with a swashbuckling 85-ball century against Australia last month, following which he was ruled out of action due to a hand injury.   “I do change my game a lot. Yes, I did score the fastest centur]]>
HE MAY be on the cusp of his 40th  birthday but Sachin Tendulkar is still very much “needed” by Indian cricket, according to Board of Control for Cricket in (BCCI) president N Srinivasan, who firmly believes the senior batsman will time his exit from  Test cricket to perfection.   “He is one who will not hold on to his place if he believes that he doesn’t have much to offer to the country,” Srinivasan said.   “I have abso]]>
BEATEN in their past two away outings, Rajasthan Royals would be looking to get back to winning ways when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their own den in a IPL league match at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium on Saturday (April 27).   The fact that Rajasthan Royals have won all of their three matches in Jaipur will give them the confidence to put behind the defeats in away matches against the strong Chennai Super kings and the Royal Challengers Bangalore.   The hosts]]>
PUSHED to the bottom half of the table after yet another away defeat, Kolkata Knight Riders would look to bounce back in the tournament when they take on a resurgent Chennai Super Kings in a top-draw Pepsi IPL fixture in Kolkata on Sunday (April 21).   Playing their spin card to perfection, Gautam Gambhir’s men might be ruling the roost at the Eden - two wins out of two - but they would be low on confidence after the manner they lost to Kings XI Punjab at Mohali on Tues]]>
THE Indian Premier League governing council is likely to shift the qualifier and  eliminator matches from Chennai in order to allow respective teams with Sri Lankan players, freedom to choose their best playing eleven.   The members of the IPL governing council will be meeting in Chennai on Monday (April 22) to decide the fate of the first qualifier at the Chepauk on May 21 and the eliminator on the following day.   “The final decision will be taken at the]]>
AWESTRUCK by Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s swashbuckling knock against his side, former Australia all-rounder and Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody says India is “very lucky” to have the 31-year-old “special” cricketer as captain.   “Dhoni is special. It is as simple as that. In any form of the game he performs remarkably. He is a very special cricketer and a very special leader. Chennai and India are very lucky to have him,” Moody said. &]]>
A TOUGH challenge awaits Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) when they take on Rajasthan Royals in a battle of table toppers in the Pepsi Indian Premier League in Bangalore on Sunday (April 21).   RCB are undefeated in the four matches they have played at home this season it would be huge game for them against the Royals who are on a roll after four wins in five outings and after a comprehensive victory over Mumbai Indians on Wednesday (April 17).   Except for the loss]]>
AUSTRALIAN pacer Ryan Harris, who was playing for Kings XI Punjab in the ongoing Indian Premier League, has returned home midway through the event after being laid low by a left Achilles tendon injury.   “Cricket Australia today advises that Ryan Harris has an Achilles injury which has meant his return from the Indian Premier League,” CA said in a statement on April 26.   Harris, however, is expected to be fit for the Ashes series against England schedule]]>
KOLKATA Knight Riders failed to cash in on the initial momentum as Mumbai Indians bowlers fought back strongly to restrict the defending champions to 159 for six in a Pepsi IPL game in Kolkata on Wednesday (April 24).   After being hammered for 46 runs in the first three overs, MI bowlers led by Pragyan Ojha (2/22) and Lasith  Malinga (2/25) took full advantage of the slow track giving  away only 113 runs in the next 17 overs.   While Jacques Kallis (37), M]]>
ALBIE Morkel is likely to miss his third straight game in the ongoing Indian Premier League as the recovery process of the injured Chennai Super Kings speedster from South Africa is “pretty slow”, according to fielding coach Steve Rixon.   “He is getting better by the day. The recovery time is pretty slow at the moment. We have a couple of days for the next match. If not the next game, probably the game after,” Rixon said after CSK’s win over Sunrise]]>
CHENNAI Super Kings’ marauding batsmen will be put through a stern test by the intimidating bowling attack of Sunrisers Hyderabad when the two in-form teams clash for the first time in the sixth Pepsi Indian Premier League in Chennai on Thursday (April 25).   Both the teams have five wins each from their respective seven matches so far but while Chennai are second on the  points table, Hyderabad are third due to the difference in  their net run-rate.   ]]>
CREDITING his bowlers for the five-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League, Kings XI Punjab skipper Adam Gilchrist said his team has put itself in the right direction starting the four-match away journey with a victory.   “Now, we have got now three of the most fancied team in the competition in KKR, Mumbai and Chennai in a row. It’s a nice way to start this trip. We have made a step in the right direction,” Gilchrist said at the post-match]]>
CHRIS Gayle hit the most breathtaking knock in the history of Twenty20 cricket blasting  an incredible 175 off 66 balls as Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a record 263 for five in the Pepsi Indian Premier League match against Pune Warriors in  Bangalore on Tuesday (April 23).   Gayle hit the fastest century, off just 30 balls, and the highest-ever individual score in a T20 game surpassing Kolkata Knight Riders’ Brendon McCullum who hit 158 off 73 balls against ]]>
GAUTAM Gambhir stupendous batting and Sunil Narine’s splendid hat-trick went in-vain as Kings XI Punjab made a miraculous comeback to stun defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by four runs in a thrilling Pepsi Indian Premier League encounter in Mohali on Tuesday (April 16).   Chasing a decent target of 158, KKR managed 153 for nine in the end despite a 105-run second wicket partnership between Gambhir (60, 39 balls, 8x4) and Eoin Morgan (47, 38 balls, 6x4).   ]]>
LEG-SPINNER Amit Mishra produced a  stunning performance taking four wickets in five deliveries,  including a hat-trick, as Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off an incredible 11-run victory over Pune Warriors in the Pepsi Indian Premier League in Pune on  Wednesday (April 17).   Mishra (4/19) took the wickets with his second, fourth, fifth and sixth deliveries off his final over as Warriors were bowled out for 108 in 19 overs while chasing a mediocre target of 120 runs. ]]>
REWARDED for their team effort and consistency so far in the tournament, it will be a test of character for Rajasthan Royals as they gear up to take on heavyweights Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Jaipur on Wednesday (April 17).   Skipper Rahul Dravid and his men will be playing in their own den and the conditions too would suit them, but relying on external factors would certainly not be enough to see them through against the formidable Mumbai outfit]]>
INDIAN Premier League team Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid is extremely pleased with the team effort in their six-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab in Jaipur on Sunday (April 14).   Chasing a modest 125 on a difficult wicket, Rajasthan won by six wickets.   “It was Sreesanth who got us early wickets and Chandila too did a fairly good job opening the attack. Our rest of the bowling and the fielding was also good and we could restrict them to 124,” Drav]]>
DEFENDING champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got back to winning ways as they outclassed Sunrisers Hyderabad by 48 runs to notch up their second win in the Pepsi  Indian Premier League, in Kolkata on Sunday (April 14).   A power-packed batting performance with significant contributions from skipper Gautam Gambhir (53), Eoin Morgan (47) and Jacques Kallis (41) enabled KKR to reach a commanding 180 for four on a slow track.   Sunrisers didn’t have the fir]]>
    SKIPPER Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers struck fine half centuries and shared 82-run stand between them to help Royal Challengers Bangalore post 165 for six against Chennai Super Kings in their Pepsi Indian Premier League match, in Bangalore on Saturday (April 13). De Villiers blazed his way to a 32-ball 64, laced with eight fours and one six, while Kohli cashed on a dropped chance and caught-behind appeal to score 47-ball 58 as the visitors put up a sizeable total af]]>
  PAKISTAN cricket authorities on Saturday (April 13) banned two umpires, including one international, after finding them guilty of being willing to spot-fix in return for money. Nadeem Ghauri, who stood in five Tests, 43 one-day and four Twenty20 internationals was suspended for four years while domestic first-class umpire Anis Siddiqui received a three year penalty. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the measures after the private India TV channel aired footage in O]]>
BACK home after two successive away defeats, Kolkata Knight Riders will be hoping to revive their  fortunes when they take on a consistent yet sloppy Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Pepsi IPL 6 match in Kolkata on Sunday (April 14).   The defending champions began their campaign on a winning note against Delhi Daredevils but failed to sustain the momentum against Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.   In their last match against the Bangalore outfit, the]]>