Cricket News, January 2005
After Tsunami, Pakistan Series hogged the News
The year started on a sad note, with lakhs of people dead and whole villages destroyed in South Asia. Cricket players and authorities came together with the Tsunami Aid matches. Watched by an estimated global television audience of one billion and played in front of over 70,000 spectators at the Melbourne cricket ground, the tsunami charity match featuring most of the worlds top players raised more than millions of dollar for the victims of the tsunami disaster..Sachin's injury was the main sports heading that prominently appeared in the news especially since Pakistan was coming to India for their first tour in six years. The Pakistan team's disastrous Australian tour and Shoaib's conduct on and off the field was also topics of discussion.
Kapil XI beat Aamir XI
January 29, 2005
Virender Sehwag hit a fluent 83 as Kapil Dev XI defeated Aamir Khan XI by two wickets in a charity match played for the victims of the tsunami here Friday night, raising well over Rs.100 million ($2mn).
The match, played for the Airtel Cup and titled The Hope, was played between an array of star cricketers, past and present, and Bollywood stars at the Wankhede Stadium. Each boundary hit during the match was worth Rs.5,000 and each six was worth Rs.10,000. The total amount raised thus was Rs.390,000. Some well-known players like badminton ace P. Gopi Chand, who turned up as a commentator, former India hockey captain Pargat Singh and football skipper P.K. Bannerjee were also present at the day-night encounter. Amongst others, model Sheetal Mallar, former beauty queen Diana Hayden, tennis queen Sania Mirza, shooter Anjali Bhagwat edged the teams on. Former India cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin and his film star wife Sangeeta Bijlani also watched from the ropes.
Kapil XI bolstered by the man of the match Virender Sehwag 's batting and Kapil's end of-innings effort overhauled Aamir XI's 246 to win by two wickets. Retired India pace bowler Javagal Srinath hit the winning run off the penultimate ball. Mohammed Kaif hit 113 for Aamir XI. Airtel Cup, Kapil Dev XI vs. Aamir Khan XI, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, Jan 28 : Brief scores: Aamir Khan XI 246 in 30 overs. Kapil Dev XI 247 in 29.5 overs
Dravid lead ICC player rankings
January 29, 2005
Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid and gangling Australian pace spearhead Glenn McGrath lead the newly-introduced LG ICC Player rankings for tests in batting and bowling with 882 and 866 points respectively. Australia's 2003 World Cup winning captain Ricky Ponting and South Africa's fast medium bowler Shaun Pollock lead the official One-day International ratings for batsmen and bowlers with 768 and 853 points.Top ten rankings: Tests: Batsmen: 1. Rahul Dravid (Ind) 882 pts, 2. Jacques Kallis (SA) 878, Ricky Ponting (Aus) 847, 4. Brian Lara (WI) 845, 5. Damien Martyn (Aus) 830, 6. Virender Sehwag (Ind) 808, 7. Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) 778, 8. Matthew Hayden (Aus) 771 and Herschelle Gibbs (SA) 771, 10. Andrew Strauss (Eng) 769.
Bowlers: 1. Glenn McGrath (Aus) 866, 2. Muthiah Muralitharan (SL) 850, 3. Shaun Pollock (SA) 829, 4. Shoaib Akhtar (Pak) 811, 5. Anil Kumble (Ind) 780, 6. Jason Gillespie (Aus) 774, 7. Makhaya Ntini (SA) 761, 8. Steve Harmison (Eng) 739, 9. Shane Warne (Aus) 732, 10. Matthew Hoggard (Eng) 716.
Allrounders: 1. Kallis (SA), 2. Andrew Flintoff (Eng), 3. Shaun Pollock (SA), 4. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL), 5. Chaminda Vaas (SL).
Ranbir Singh takes over BCCI presidency
January 27, 2005
Ranbir Singh Mahendra finally took over as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday, four months after he won a contentious election to the countrys richest sports body.The 57-year-old lawyer from the nothern state of Haryana had defeated political heavyweight Sharad Pawar 16-15 in the BCCI election on September 29, thanks to outgoing president Jagmohan Dalmiyas casting vote. The election was challenged by Pawars supporters in Indias Supreme Court, which ruled in favour of Mahendra earlier this month and ordered the BCCI to call a general body meeting to ratify his appointment.
Dalmiya, one of Indias best-known sports administrators who once headed the International Cricket Council (ICC), had led the BCCI in the interim till Thursdays meeting.
In Picture: Ranbir Singh Mahendra, President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
Aamir Khan XI vs Kapil Dev XI for Prime Ministers National Relief Fund
January 25, 2005
Bowling genius Kapil Dev and Bollywood bright star Aamir Khan have decided to play a charity match, the proceeds of which will find its way to the Prime Ministers National relief fund.Among the cricketers that have confirmed participation, Kapil says, are Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid , Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra. Sachin has said he will be present, but he may not play because of his injury. We are also hoping for a couple of Sri Lankan cricketers like Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga. Theyve been affected too and can understand the pain, Kapil added. For Bollywood, Sunil Shetty, Farhan Akhtar, Salman Khan, John Abraham are expected to play.
The Wankhede is being readied for the match on 28th of this month.
Pathan is International Sports Personality of 2004
January 23, 2005
India's left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan was chosen as the International Sports Personality of the year 2004 at a glittering awards ceremony in London. Twenty-year-old Pathan outvoted Sri Lanka's legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and World No. 1 golfer Fiji's Vijay Singh in a keen contest. Pathan was not present at the ceremony held last night at Hilton Hotel. Sometime back, he was voted as rediff.com's Indian Cricketer of the Year. Born on 27 October 1984, Irfan Pathan created a world record against Bangladesh at Lahore in a match of under-19 championship by claiming nine wickets. He became the first bowler in the history of limited over cricket to do so. He made his debut against Australia in the second test in which India registered a historic victory against Australia in Australia after a gap of 22 years.
Former flamboyant batsman and wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer was conferred the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' instituted by Sony Entertainment Television.
Kolkata to host tsunami charity match on Feb 13 
January 20, 2005
Kolkata would host the second tsunami charity match between Rest of World and Asian XI on February 13, Asian Cricket Council President Jagmohan Dalmiya announced on Thursday.
The decision was taken after the Government accorded tax exemption to the fundraiser, a pre-condition for hosting the match..
ICC acquires player rankings
January 19, 2005
The International Cricket Council today announced that it has acquired the rights to an established system of player rankings for Test match and One-Day International cricket. ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said that the ICC had been looking to introduce officially recognised player rankings for some time. Accordingly, the ICC has today taken over ownership of the rankings produced by Ted Dexter Associates and sponsored by PwC.Top international cricketers have backed the decision. Australia captain Ricky Ponting currently leads the LG ICC ODI Batting Rankings and said that he supports this official recognition. South Africa's Jacques Kallis, who is one place behind Ponting in the official ODI rankings and is also second in the LG ICC Test Batsmen Rankings behind India's Rahul Dravid , welcomed the move. India's Sourav Ganguly who topped the LG ICC ODI Batting Rankings in March 2000 was in the top three throughout that calendar year. He joined his international rivals in endorsing the new official rankings.
World XI triumph in Tsunami match
January 10, 2005
The World XI cantered to a 112-run win in Melbourne as the top cricketers on the planet joined forces to raise money for the Tsunami Relief Fund. Scores: ICC World XI 344-8 beat Asian 232 XI by 112 runs Match Details
PCB proposes Tsunami Aid One day involving India Pakistan Srilanka
January 5, 2005
Even as the International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning a World XI-Asia XI encounter to raise funds for tsunami survivors, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suggested a match with India and Sri Lanka. PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said that Pakistan had proposed to the Sri Lankan and Indian boards that a one-day match may be held between an Asian XI and a combined XI, made up of players from Asia. His other proposal is to have a match between Pakistan and India or between Sri Lanka and a combined team of India and Pakistan.
Sachin pulls out of Tsumani relief match
January 4, 2005
Citing doctor's advice, India's master blaster Sachin Tendulkar today ruled himself out of the January 10 Melbourne match, to be staged to raise funds for the tsunami survivors. Sachin, however, said that he would be present at the charity game between an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) XI and a World XI.''I feel I should be there and be a part of it. Even if I can not play the match, it's important to go there and be a part of the occasion. It is important to do as much as we can for the people affected by the tsunami,'' he said. ''The doctors have recommended a month's rest during which they have advised me not to play a single ball and to rest the arm as much as possible,'' Tendulkar explained to reporters at the Guru Nanak Hospital and Research Centre here where he had come to inaugurate a Diabetic Foot Clinic.
Langer and Kumble tops Test cricket's international batting and bowling lists for 2004
January 1, 2005
Australian opener Justin Langer finished as the world's leading run scorer for the year with 1481 runs at an average of 54.85 while Indian spinner Anil Kumble was the top bowler with 74 wickets at 24.84.
The left-handed Justin Langer struck five centuries, including a knock of 215, to equal the third highest run tally in a calendar year. The record of 1710 was set by West Indian Viv Richards in 1976. Langer's Australian team mate Damien Martyn finished second with 1353 runs at 56.38, including six centuries, followed by South African Jacques Kallis, whose 1288 runs came at an astonishing average of 80.50. West Indian captain Brian Lara regained his individual Test world record with an unbeaten 400 not out against England in April while Indian opener Virender Sehwag was the only other player to pass 300 with his 309 against Pakistan in March.
Anil Kumble broke Saqlain Mushtaq's record for the most Test wickets in a calendar year as well as passing Kapil Dev as India's greatest wicket taker. Australia's Shane Warne also broke Saqlain's old mark of 69 with 70 wickets at 24.07 but gained plenty of consolation for finishing second as he became the greatest wicket-taker of all time. Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan had taken the record from Courtney Walsh earlier in the year but injury restricted his appearances during 2004 and he finished equal fifth with 47 wickets. Australia's Glenn McGrath captured the best figures for a single innings in the year when he snared eight for 24 against Pakistan in Perth.
Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist captured the most dismissals in the field, taking 58 catches and making eight stumpings during the year.
ICC comfortable with series postponement
January 1, 2005
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today endorsed the decision of New Zealand Cricket and Sri Lanka Cricket to postpone their current series in New Zealand in light of the tsunami that has devastated Sri Lanka.Sri Lankan spinning great Muttiah Muralitharan declared himself "lucky to be alive" after narrowly missing one of the tsunamis that killed 11,000 people in his home country, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Dec 28th. Muralitharan, who is recovering from shoulder surgery in Sri Lanka while his teammates tour New Zealand, told the newspaper he had spent the weekend in the southern coastal city of Galle handing out cricket bats to underprivileged children with his manager Kushil Gunasekera. Just minutes after Muralitharan drove out of the city, Galle was devastated by tidal waves triggered by a massive undersea earthquake thousands of kilometers away in Indonesia.