BCCI to develop green stadia under Go Green initiative: Thakur

The BCCI has written to the Union Ministries of Power and Environment to "guide" it in developing green stadia as part of its new 'Go Green' initiative, its new chairman Anurag Thakur said today.

"We have earmarked Rs 100 crore for our 'Go Green' initiative, wherein existing cricket stadia across the country are being converted into green stadia. We have already written to the Central ministers of Power and Environment to guide us in this regard," Thakur said in a brief interaction with the media.

Great honour and privilege to be in IPL final: de Villiers

One of the best batsmen in the world, AB de Villiers has played in very few finals of a tournament and he feels "honoured and privileged" to be featuring in the IPL summit clash after he guided Royal Challengers Bangalore to a four-wicket win over Gujarat Lions here.

De Villiers played a match-winning knock of an unbeaten 79 against the Lions in the semifinals here last night to pilot the RCB into the IPL summit clash on Sunday.

"To be in IPL final means much to me and I have not played in a lot of finals throughout my career. Having played for RCB for six years have not seen playing in finals. It is a great honour and privilege to be in the finals with this great franchise which has looked after me and the team over the years," de Villiers said at the post-match press conference.

Pak players upset about PCB Chairman's education remarks

Senior Pakistani cricketers have taken great umbrage at the remarks made by PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan that the absence of educated players in the national team has led to recent poor performances.

Senior batsman Muhammad Hafeez said cricket itself is a complete education.

"I am proud to be a Test cricketer and for me this is my degree," Hafeez said on the social media a clear reference to Khan's remarks.

Making it obvious hat he did not agree with Khan's views, Hafeez said while education was very important for everyone but earning degrees was not enough in life.

Dhoni to lead 16-member Indian squad for Zimbabwe tour

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead a young 16-man squad announced for next month's limited-overs series against Zimbabwe, which includes three ODIs and as many T20s.

Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who is currently the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Indian Premier League, has earned his maiden national call-up for the series.

Meanwhile, star players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have been rested for the short tour of Zimbabwe, which starts from June 11 at Harare Sports Club.

Gayle launches scathing attack at sexism critics

West Indies swashbuckling batsman Chris Gayle has issued a stinging rebuke against former cricketers, who launched a flurry of criticism against him over his infamous comments to female journalist during last year's Big Bash League (BBL).

Gayle was seen asking the Network Ten journalist Mel McLaughlin out on a date during a broadcast interview before adding the 'Don't blush baby' remark.

The 36-year-old explosive southpaw was fined USD 7,500 and was widely slammed for his inappropriate comments.

The Jamaican, however, had subsequently offered a qualified apology to the reporter but claimed that it was 'a simple joke' that had been blown out of proportion.

Unanimous choice Thakur becomes youngest BCCI President

Anurag Thakur was today unanimously elected as the youngest BCCI President post-Independence, taking up the most high-profile position in Indian cricket administration at a time when the Board is sailing in choppy waters.

The 41-year-old replaced Shashank Manohar who quit the position to take up the ICC chairman's job.

Senior BCCI vice-president C K Khanna chaired the Special General Meeting (SGM) and announced Thakur's name for the top job.

England will host day-night Test: ECB chairman Graves

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves has said that it will host a day-night Test in the coming days.

Australia held the first day-night Test against New Zealand in November in the hope of attracting larger crowds and a peak time television audience.

"You can't turn your back on it, it will happen. We just have to decide when it is going to happen. We're doing a lot of work on it and we'd love to see day-night cricket," Graves was quoted as saying by the BBC on Thursday.

Kohli draws praise after becoming IPL's highest run-getter

Swashbuckling Indian batsman Virat Kohli has received a flurry of praises after he created history by becoming the first batsman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to reach 4000-run milestone.

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, who was nursing a finger injury, became the tournament's highest run scorer after smashing an unprecedented fourth century of the season during his side's 82-run win by Duckworth-Lewis method over Kings XI Punjab at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Describing Kohli as a 'serious' player, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner wrote on Twitter, "Even if they used a marble @imVkohli would still see it as a balloon. #seriousplayer nothing can stop him."

SC refuses to entertain plea seeking stay on BCCI elections

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea seeking stay on the BCCI elections scheduled to take place on May 22.

The petitioner, Cricket Association of Bihar, had asked the apex court to stay the elections or restrain the candidates having chargesheet against them as suggested by the R.S. Lodha Committee.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur is among the candidates against whom chargesheet has been filed.

Records tumble as De Villiers-Kohli hurricane blow Gujarat Lions away

AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli continued their sublime form as the scintillating duo of the Royal Challengers Bangalore smacked blistering tons before their bowlers rattled the Gujarat Lions line-up to secure a whopping 144-run win for the home side in the Indian Premier League clash in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Put in to bat first, Royal Challengers once again lost hard-hitting southpaw Chris Gayle (6) for a paltry score before de Villiers and Kohli crafted a 229-run stand for the second wicket, the highest partnership in the history of T20 cricket.

The Indo-South African duo also bettered their previous record of 215 not out against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede last year.

BCCI welcomes appointment of Kumble and Dravid in ICC

The BCCI today welcomed the extension of Anil Kumble's term as ICC Cricket Committee Chairman for another three years and Rahul Dravid's appointment to the top panel.

Former India captain Kumble was today reappointed as Committee chairman for a second term of three years while his one-time team-mate and batting great Dravid was named as its member.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said: "It is indeed a matter of great pride that the two stalwarts of Indian Cricket Mr.

India to play its first D/N Test

New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) In order to raise the ever dwindling number of spectators in the stadium, the BCCI is all set to host its first-ever Day/Night cricket Test with pink ball when New Zealand tour India later this year.

"We have decided that we will play one Day/Night Test match with pink ball against New Zealand later this year.

Before that Duleep Trophy will act as a dress rehearsal for the Day/Night Test match," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur told a select gathering of mediapersons at the BCCI's headquarters in the capital today.

Thakur said that the main objective of the Duleep Trophy will be to check how the pink kookaburra behaves under the light in sub-continental conditions.

"While we have not zeroed in on the venue, there are lots of factors that need to be taken into account. Things like dew factor, how the spinners bowl with the pink kookaburra on Indian pitches. These things we will get an idea during the Duleep Trophy," said Thakur.

It is expected that all leading Indian players will play in that Duleep game in order to get an idea and also give a feedback to the board before they go ahead with the Test match.

While Test matches in India are played with 'SG Test' balls, Thakur said that in this upcoming match it will be 'Pink kookaburra' that will be used.

"We may ask SG to manufacture pink balls later but that has to be of the quality of pink balls that kookaburra produces," said Thakur.
-Source PTI

Steyn keen to play day-night Test

Melbourne, Apr.20 (ANI): South Africa pace spearhead Dale Steyn has expressed that he is keen to play a pink-ball Test under lights, but insisted that his side would at least need a first-class game to adjust before playing the proposed twilight match in Adelaide in November.

Australia will host South Africa in a three-match Test series, with the final match in Adelaide intended to be a day-night Test.

"I don't want to go through my whole career without playing a day-night game," Steyn was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"I thought it looked awesome when New Zealand and Australia played one. It looked entertaining, there was a big crowd. The ball is pink - it's something different. You want to test your skills with that whole thing and it's very exciting," he said.

Earlier, the South African Players' Association showed reluctance over the disadvantage their players might face on account of having not played a day-night Test at any level.

However, the 32-year-old fast bowler believes that those concerns would rise only if the series comes to a deadlock. He suggested that his team mates would be 'extremely into it' if they get a couple of first-class games before the twilight Test.

"I think maybe even one game so the boys can get accustomed to it," said Steyn.

Australia and New Zealand played the inaugural day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval last year, which pulled in records crowds and huge television viewership.
-Source ANI

Security fears force Windies to cancel Pakistan T20 tour

Johannesburg, Apr 18 (ANI): Pakistan's hopes of reviving international cricket at home suffered a major blow after recently-crowned World Twenty20 champions West Indies refused to play two T20 internationals in the troubled country.
Pakistan were hoping that the T20 leg of the West Indies' tour could be played in Lahore, while the five-match ODI series and two Tests to be played in the neutral grounds of the United Arab Emirates in September and October this year.

However, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan confirmed that the full series will now be played in the UAE as the West Indies Cricket Board has refused to play in Pakistan citing security reasons, Sport24 reported.

The PCB has been forced to host all their home series in the UAE following a terrorist attack on a Sri Lanka team bus in March 2009 that left six police officers and a driver dead, and several players and officials injured.

Last year, Pakistan had hosted Zimbabwe in its first home international series in six years.

The West Indies' refusal to play in Pakistan came in the wake of the appalling suicide bombing of a public park in Lahore, which claimed the lives of 73 people last month.
-Source ANI

Kanpur likely to host only one IPL match instead of two

Kanpur, Apr 18 (PTI) Kanpur's Green Park Stadium is likely to host just one match in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League instead of two due to pressing logistical issues

Kanpur has showed a lot of eagerness to host at least two IPL games this season but it now has to be satisfied with only one.

First and foremost reason being there is just one five-star hotel in the city and secondly, the nearest airport to Kanpur is situated in Lucknow, which is about 71 kms from the city.

According to an Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) official, the city, in all likelihood, would host the May 19th match between Gujarat Lions and Kolkata Knight Riders.

There was a proposal to hold the May 21 game between Gujarat Lions and Munbai Indians here as well but limited number of rooms available in just one five-star hotel in the city to accommodate three teams at the same time has diminished the chances.

The official said that IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, whose hometown is Kanpur, is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that the people of Kanpur can witness a day-night game at the Green Park stadium here.

However, there are some issues with the brightness of the floodlights also and the authorities have asked for another week's time to fix up the problem.

But the venue getting the green light to host an IPL match would depend on the report of the BCCI's technical team, which will land here to inspect the ground.

The date of inspection is yet to be decided.
-Source PTI

ICC president Zaheer Abbas offers himself up for PCB head

Karachi, Apr.18 (ANI): International Cricket Council (ICC) president Zaheer Abbas has expressed his desire to head the Pakistan Cricket Board after the talks of removing the board's top officials came following the team's World T20's debacle.

The 68-year-old, whose term as ICC president ends this year, said no one had approached him till now, but added if he would be given an opportunity he would not back down, the Express Tribune reported.

The former Pakistan skipper insisted that although he would have an ICC post even after his term ends; it was possible for him to hold two positions.

Abbas also backed former player Inzamamul Haq as national chief selector, saying he would do a good job, but added that the team's success also require the right people in other positions as well.

Earlier, Haroon Rasheed was sacked from the post of chief selector after the special committee asked the PCB to bring change in the selection committee.
-Source ANI

Australia to tour Lanka for three-match Test series

Johannesburg, Apr.6 (ANI): Cricket Australia (CA) has announced that they will tour Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series for the first time in last five years in July.

Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle and opener Usman Khawaja are the only players among Australia's current Test squad to have played the longest format of the game in Sri Lanka in 2011 under former skipper Michael Clarke,Sport24 reported.

Steve Smith's side will play the Test series from July 26 at Kandy before heading into a five-match ODI series (from August 21) and two T20s (from September 6) against Sri Lanka.
-Source ANI

Buoyant Windies stand in Australia's way for fourth Women's World T20 title

Kolkata, April 2 (ANI): Buoyant and formidable West Indies stands in the way as Australia bids to win a fourth successive World Women's Twenty20 title when the final is played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.

The Southern Stars won all three finals it has featured in during the 2010, 2012 and 2014 editions, while the West Indies has made it to its first-ever title round after being knocked out in the semi-finals on the last three occasions.

Stafanie Taylor's Caribbean stars have already assured themselves a place in history as the first team other than Australia, England and New Zealand to qualify for a women's World T20 final.

If records alone mattered, Australia would be the overwhelming favourite to win on Sunday, having beaten the West Indies in all their eight previous T20 Internationals.

During a warm-up match in Chennai last month - the most recent meeting between the two -Australia cruised to a 43-run win by scoring 139 for three and then bowling the West Indies out for 96.

But Taylor's side has shown enough resilience during the tournament to suggest it will not be a cakewalk for the world champion Southern Stars, who are led by the world's leading batter Meg Lanning.

The fifth-ranked West Indies squeezed past Pakistan by four runs in its opening match before comfortably beating Bangladesh by 49 runs. It endured a heart-breaking last-ball, one-wicket loss to England before bouncing back to beat India by three runs to seal a place in the semi-finals.

It was in the semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai on Thursday that the West Indies played its best cricket to secure a six-run win over a side that had emerged unscathed in the league.

The tall Britney Cooper, who was brought in for the semi-final, justified her selection with a 48-ball 61 that set up the West Indies win.

Skipper Taylor has proved an inspiration with both bat and ball, her 187 runs in the tournament - second only behind England captain Charlotte Edwards - coming on top of her eight wickets.

In Deandra Dottin, the West Indies has one of the most power-packed all-rounders in the women's game who has scored 111 runs and claimed seven wickets.

Australia, meanwhile, has peaked at the right time after losing to New Zealand in the league and displayed its prowess with a five-run win over old foe England in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Lanning's 55 off 50 balls against England showed the Australian captain had recovered from a stomach bug and will be expected to once again lead from the front at the Eden Gardens.

The West Indies will also be wary of medium-pacer Megan Schutt, who claimed two for 15 against England and is her side's leading bowler with seven wickets.
-Source ANI

Windies ready for final step towards World T20 glory: Sammy

Kolkata, Apr 02 (ANI): West Indies skipper Darren Sammy has declared that his buoyant side are ready to take on England in their 'last step' towards World Twenty20 title at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.

"For us, it is one last step in the tournament. We are focused on England but we are more focused on ourselves. We will always be destructive in this format," Sammy told reporters on the eve of the summit clash here.

West Indies, who had previously won the World T20 title in 2012, relied on power-hitting batting from Lendl Simmons, Jonathan Charles and Andre Russell to overcome hosts and favourites India in the second semifinal by seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

"We know the power that we have in the dressing room and it was excellent to watch Simmons, Russell and Charles display that type of batting, boundary hitting against India," added the all-rounder.

Despite beating Eoin Morgan's side in the group stage encounter, Sammy cautioned his side not to take the 2010 champions England lightly.

"England are a very good side. They have played really good cricket since we have beaten them. That is why they are in the finals," said Sammy.

The sixth edition of the T20 format's pinnacle event will see both England and West Indies bidding to become the first sides to win the tournament twice.
-Source ANI

India geared up for World T20 semifinal showdown against Windies

Mumbai, Mar.31 (ANI): The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side will aim for the World T20 final-berth when they take on West Indies in the second semi-final clash here on Thursday.

The Wankhede Stadium will be screening an ensemble-driven action, with Indian star Virat Kohli aiming to continue his batting masterclass against Darren Sammy's side.

Kohli smashed an unbeaten 82 off only 51 balls as India defeated Australia by six wickets to reach the semifinals.

Meanwhile, West Indies' swashbuckling batsman Chris Gayle is just two sixes short of being the first player ever to hit 100 sixes in T20I cricket. He will try to achieve the milestone in his side's winning cause, ESPNcricinfo reported.

Earlier, England romped into the finals of the T20 format's pinnacle event after claiming a comfortable seven-wicket victory over New Zealand here at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Wednesday.

In the Women's World T20, the second semifinal will be played between West Indies and New Zealand.
-Source ANI