The Pakistan Academy team kicked off the tri-series in style as they thrashed hosts Bangladesh Academy by seven wickets with almost fifteen overs to spare at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan Ground.Khalid Latif smashed an unbeaten 100 off only 88 deliveries with the help of 10 fours and no less than five hits over the fence. He shared a quick-fire 113-run second wicket partnership with Babar Naeem (69 off 46 deliveries) who had already taken three wickets earlier in the day. The stand came off only 12 overs as Naeem matched Latif’s sixes and added six fours to his name.Some rash strokeplay and running between the wickets saw Pakistan Academy lose four wickets before the 200-mark but Latif and Adnan Raza (24*) ensured the visitors chased down the mediocre target in the 36th over.Earlier, captain Fawad Alam captured three wickets with his left-arm spin as Bangladesh Academy threw away a decent start to be dismissed for 219 in the 48th over. Building on a 62-run opening partnership, eight batsmen managed to go into double figures but only opener Junaid Siddique contributed significantly to the total.Mamudullah and Mosharraf Hossain threatened a late charge but Alam, together with Naeem, brought down any hopes of that with some smart bowling. Fawad finished with three for 33 while Naeem gave away 32 runs for his three wickets as Pakistan Academy took away five points from the match.The third team in the tournament, Sri Lanka Academy, will take on the hosts on April 22. The four-day series between Pakistan and Bangladesh preceding the tri-series ended 1-1.

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As expected, Uganda won the World Cricket League Division Three final, beating Argentina by 91 runs in Darwin. But Argentina, who only qualified for the tournament after USA were expelled last month, came close to pulling off what would have been a remarkable upset.At one stage Uganda, the hot favourites, had slumped to 79 for 7, after being asked to bat, with Argentina captain Esteban MacDermott, who was later adjudged player of the tournament, taking three wickets. However Frank Nsubuga, who made 55 from 38 balls, and Laurence Sematimba added a vital 80 for the eight wicket. Sematimba and Patrick Ochan, 56 from 34 balls, then posted 82 for the ninth wicket as Uganda reached 241 for 8. Nsubuga outstanding all-round day continued, taking 4 for 27 as Argentina were bowled out for 150 in the 47th over.Argentina had made a steady start to its run chase and reached 53 for 1 before losing three wickets for six runs. Donald Forrester (38) and wicketkeeper Alejandro Ferguson (41) then led a fightback by sharing an 81-run stand for the fifth wicket to take the them to 140 for 4. However, with the required run-rate climbing, the batting fell away as man-of-the-match Nsubuga completed his memorable day.Uganda captain Joel Olweny said it has been a great week for his team but he was quick to set the players new targets. “No doubt it has been a dream tournament for us. We came here aiming to qualify for Division Two and are now returning with the title.””But as this tournament finishes, the quest for the next begins and the target now is to finish in the top four in Namibia in November and qualify for World Cup qualifiers [in UAE in 2009].”Olweny had special praise for his two allrounders: “Undoubtedly, Nsubuga and Ochan are our heroes,” he said. “Their contributions were crucial but what was important was the way they batted. Once we had 200 runs on the board, we knew we had the match because we are a better bowling and fielding side.”MacDermott, Argentina’s captain, said he was disappointed but still proud of his team. “I know we could have done better. We had our moments but since we are a new side we couldn’t pounce on the opportunities that were provided to us,” he said. “This match has been a huge learning game for us and will surely help us prepare better next time.”Nevertheless, I am proud of my boys. No one gave us a chance when we arrived here but these boys turned everything around and now people are talking about us. Cricket is developing in Argentina and I am optimistic that, in the near future, there will be some more quality cricketers representing the country.”Other results
3-4th Playoff

Scorecard5-6th Playoff

Scorecard7-8th Playoff

ScorecardThe final positions are;1.Uganda 2.Argentina 3.PNG 4.Cayman Islands 5.Hong Kong 6.Tanzania 7.Italy 8.Fiji

Zimbabwe’s self-imposed suspension from Test cricket will continue for the foreseeable future after the ICC said that Peter Chingoka, the board chairman, had reported that it was not yet ready to return.Although the decision is put forward as being Zimbabwe’s, the leaked comments by Malcolm Speed earlier in the week made it clear that there was no chance of them being allowed back.Officially, the timing of when they come back remains with Zimbabwe Cricket.The serious allegations of financial mismanagement – and again these were detailed in Speed’s report – were all but ignored, with a comment that “it was agreed there would be an independent audit of ZC’s accounts by an internationally recognized firm”.Speed was less subtle in his private report. In that, he said: “It is clear that the accounts of ZC have been deliberately falsified to mask various illegal transactions from the auditors and the government of Zimbabwe. The accounts were incorrect and at no stage did ZC draw the attention of the users of these accounts to the unusual transactions. It may not be possible to rely on the authenticity of its balance sheet.”The results of that audit will be presented to the next meeting of the ICC board in October 2007 in Dubai. The short timeline is slightly surprising given that it took the auditors appointed by Zimbabwe Cricket a year to come up with their findings.

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Neisha Pratt, the Hong Kong captain, almost single-handedly subjected hostsMalaysia to a 114-run trouncing at the Johor Cricket Academy in the opening match of the ACC women’s tournament.Pratt made a thumping, chanceless 71 off 77 deliveries as Hong Kongpiled on 143 runs off their allotted 30 overs. In reply, Malaysia couldonly muster a mere 29, that too off 29.5 overs.The hosts almost seemed to be playing for a draw. Opening batsman Emylia Eliani took36 deliveries for her 5 runs – but that was better than Norlida Hamid, whowas out without scoring after 45 deliveries. The crowd waited patiently while 30deliveries were played back to the bowler, and were put out of theirmisery when Kaori Iida clipped her Hamid’s off-stump.Few runs came off the bat for Malaysia, with 14 of the 29 runs coming in extras. Pratt shone with the ball too, capping the day with ahaul of four wickets.Pratt’s innings of 71 contained three boundaries and a couple of sixes.She played some powerful strokes, hitting on the up and it was only theintroduction of the slower bowlers that curtailed her run-scoring.The margin of victory could have been higher for Hong Kong, who were at86 for 1 at one stage – with Pratt going strong – and looking likely tosail past their pre-match target of 150. However, they managed only 57in the last 15 overs, the batsmen tied down by disciplined bowling.The bowlers though did benefit from umpires being lenient on a number ofdeliveries that went down the leg side.

England’s one-day captain, Paul Collingwood, admitted he was surprised by the size of the fine imposed on his team-mate, James Anderson, following a shoulder-barging incident with Runako Morton during the second one-day international at Edgbaston on Wednesday.In a match that England went on to lose by 61 runs, Anderson was fined 50% of his match fee by the ICC referee, Mike Procter, who said in a statement: “Cricket is, after all, a non-contact sport. When players fail to recognise that fact and engage in needless nudges … then that is where we have to draw the line.”Collingwood, however, was taken aback by the severity of Anderson’s punishment. “I probably didn’t expect him to get fined as much he did. As players, we all know the boundaries we can go up to. Generally, a lot of that stuff happens out in the middle and it is cricket but on this occasion it just went over the mark.”That was one incident,” said Collingwood. “We’ve had great relations with the West Indies during the Test series and so far in the one-day series. But I’m not sure [Jimmy] will be doing it again. Whether that’s because he’ll get fined again or because he’s heard about Morton’s past, I’m not too sure. You’ll have to ask him.”Despite Collingwood’s protestations, West Indies’ coach, David Moore, said physical contact had no place in cricket and nor did the practice of dismissed batsmen being given a send-off by members of the fielding side. “Physical contact is not part of cricket. It’s a big enough field where you can get past each other without thumping into each other.””I like to see a contest,” added Moore. “I don’t condone our players mouthing off when people are leaving the field because the contest is over then.”

Shoaib Akhtar has been fined US$5000 by the Pakistan board for two breaches of the players’ code of conduct.According to Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB’s chief operating officer, Shoaib left the fitness and training camp in Karachi early and without permission.”Today also he was asked to appear before the disciplinary committee of the board but he didn’t show up,” Nagmi said. “He has also been docked 1.5 points from the total of 20 points available to the players for discipline in their central contracts.”Akhtar, who left the camp complaining of a stiff neck, was named in Pakistan’s 15-man squad yesterday for the Twenty20 World Championship and will make his long-awaited return to international cricket after being sidelined due to a drugs ban and various injuries.

Australia’s usually impeccable preparation ahead of big tournaments has taken a hit after they were troubled by the amount of swing fast bowlers achieved in the warm-up matches for the ICC World Twenty20. However Tim Nielsen, the coach, said Australia’s loss to South Africa and narrow win against New Zealand in the practice games had been valuable learning experiences.”The fact that the ball has swung quite a bit has caught us off guard,” Nielsen said after Sunday’s defeat. “It was good for the batsmen to get out in the middle and there might be some benefits in the fact that the lower order did get a bat because if we need them later in the tournament, they’ve had a bit of a chance to have a hit.”The movement in the air was a positive for Australia in the New Zealand game, when Ben Hilfenhaus’ outswing brought him 3 for 11 from three overs. Against South Africa, however, Australia’s attack failed to have the same impact.AB de Villiers, who blasted 65 from 35 balls in South Africa’s win, said their performance would give them confidence leading into the tournament. “Victory is always important, especially against Australia because they’re a well-drilled side,” de Villiers said. “It wasn’t just a warm-up game. It’s a bit of a psychological advantage to beat the Aussies.”New Zealand’s confidence took a blow after their practice games brought convincing losses to Australia and West Indies. Daniel Vettori, the captain, said it was reasonable to expect his side would take a while to warm up.”We have come out of a winter with two months of not much action and being indoors all the time,” Vettori said. “It’s been good to get some action and whilst we are getting some things right we need to get our game all together to challenge in this tournament.”In New Zealand’s loss to West Indies it was Daren Powell who troubled them the most, finishing with an incredible 3 for 4 from his four overs. Powell said even though Twenty20 was a batsman’s game the early season conditions in South Africa might help the fast bowlers.”Never in your dreams you can think of bowling a dream spell like that,” Powell said. “Basically I went out there to bowl line and length and pick up wickets, the pitch was assisting me with the areas I was bowling but what I also tried to do was vary my length.”

Matthew Hayden has urged Cricket Australia not to adopt a zero-tolerance approach on drugs because he believes the issue needs flexibility. The board is set to announce a new policy and Hayden, who is strongly opposed to drugs in sport, would welcome a “two strikes” rule that would give players one chance at rehabilitation.”I don’t think you can have a zero-tolerance policy on drugs because it’s not as black and white as that,” Hayden told the . “For example, what sort of drugs? Shane Warne was hit with a drugs charge but it was nothing more than a diuretic. Is that the same as Shoaib Akhtar getting caught out with steroids in his system?”There has to be flexibility. When drugs stuff goes public, like Shane went public, he is considered a drug cheat. It is a debate on a human life. I don’t think zero tolerance is the way to go.”The No. 1 aim is to eliminate drugs within any sporting code. As a part of that you have to look at the individual and help them become rehabilitated the most effective and the quickest possible way.”

A Sri Lanka side without any big names overcame the Shane Warne-led All Stars to win the 2007 edition of the Hong Kong Sixes.Sri Lanka, captained by Indika de Saram, triumphed for the first time in the tournament – held since 1992. They remained unbeaten through the two days, and were the only team that managed to upset the All Stars in the six-a-side event.Batting first, Sri Lanka rattled up an imposing 127 for 3 in the final, the tournament’s highest, off five eight-ball overs (instead of the usual six-ball overs for the other matches). de Saram starred with an unbeaten 40, the best individual score of the tournament and was well-supported by Kaushalya Weeraratne, who retired after going past 30, in keeping with the tournament rules.Warne, who conceded only seven runs in the fifth over of the semi-final against Pakistan, came in for heavy punishment in the final, giving away 30 runs, including a few wides (costing two runs apiece) after Ranga Dias blasted the first three deliveries in the over for 6, 4 and 6.The All Stars were up against the tide from the first ball of their chase, with Craig McMillan – who was named Player of the Tournament – out for a golden duck. It was the first time that McMillan had been dismissed, but he earned a consolation in winning the Ben Hollioake Trophy for his 148 runs.Brian Lara’s spirited effort of 34 was cut short due to the retirement rule, but Geraint Jones came in and blasted three successive sixes. Jones, the England wicketkeeper during the 2005 Ashes, did exceptionally well with bat, ball and in the field in place of Glenn McGrath, who missed the final two matches due to a dislocated finger.Jones finished the tournament with a six, but his 36 was not enough to deny Sri Lanka the trophy.”The Hong Kong Sixes is a great tournament and I think the fans at home will take this as a very good thing,” Jeewantha Kulatunga, who scored 28 in the final, said. “This week was so special to play against players like Warne, Lara and McGrath, so I think it was a great honour to play against them and the fans will feel great.”Cricket is a funny old game. We did not have that much pressure on us, so we did our best and went for the win and that was what we did,” he said. “Because it was an eight-ball game, even if you miss one or two, you do not need to panic. You have to keep clam and do your best.”

Warne felt his bowlers erred in the final. “The eight-ball overs made a lot of difference in the final,” he said. “The part-time bowlers having to bowl a couple of extra deliveries made a difference, but all credit to Sri Lanka. They played extremely well and deserved to win.”Losing Craig McMillan cost us a fair bit. He had not being out for the whole tournament and then gets out first ball of the final.”The All Stars also pledged their runners-up cheque for US$45,000 for the development of junior cricket in Hong Kong.Earlier in the day, the All Stars posted easy victories over the two four-time winners – England and Pakistan – in the quarter and semi-finals while Sri Lanka got the better of New Zealand and defending champions South Africa in the knockout games.New Zealand and Pakistan shared third place, while positions five to eight were taken by South Africa, England, Bangladesh and Australia, on the basis of net run-rate. India and Hong Kong finished a lowly ninth.However, it was the All Stars that caught the eye of the sold-out stands at the Kowloon Cricket Club. “It is the first time that I have played over here in the Sixes and I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” Warne said. “Everyone has been very hospitable and has made us feel very welcome. It has been a really good fun weekend. We did not disgrace ourselves us old , so it was great.”

Bermuda coach Gus Logie believes the island can still qualify for the next World Cup – despite a run of results that has seen his side plummet down the world rankings.In an extensive post tour Q&A with the Bermuda Sun, Logie vented about lack of training facilities, lack of home fixtures, the inability of players to attend training and the regression of players at club level.But he remains optimistic that when Bermuda return to Dubai in 2009 for the ICC Trophy they will have improved sufficiently to reach the top six and qualify for World Cup 2011.”We have been able to achieve a hell of a lot but it’s been in spite of [the obstacles]. We still expect a lot from our players but you have a situation where there is no national team in training. You can’t have a national set up when you have four guys here and five guys there.”He added that part of the solution lay with the clubs and encouraged them to get their houses in order.”We need people on the ground to do their part. They can’t just point fingers at the national team. The national team comes from where? There has to be a bigger effort from the clubs – that’s the academy. The clubs and the community are the ones that are producing the players. We can’t have people doing the wrong things in the community and at the clubs and expect them to be eradicated at the national level.”He added that it was tough for national coaches to have an impact when they were required to work with skeleton squads in school hall gymnasiums while their opponents trained 24/7 on proper cricket fields.Despite his misgivings about the state of Bermuda’s infrastructure Logie insisted qualification for the World Cup in 2011 was still on the cards.After defeats against unfancied Associate sides like Uganda and Denmark, Bermuda are now ranked 14th among the non-Test-playing nations in CricketEurope’s unofficial standings – behind the likes of Jersey and the Cayman Islands. But anything is possible, says the coach.”It’s not going to be easy, but at the end of the day if you want something bad enough you can overcome the obstacles and achieve it. I’m quite optimistic about this group of guys and the young players we have at present.”This article first appeared in the Bermuda Sun