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ESPNcricinfo previews the CLT20 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and South Australia

The Preview by Abhishek Purohit04-Oct-2011

Match facts

Royal Challengers Bangalore v South Australia, October 5, Bangalore
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Will Daniel Vettori be able to hold the Royal Challengers attack together again?•Associated Press

Big Picture

The final Champions League Twenty20 semi-final spot will be decided by the result of the last league game. A win will do for both sides, though Royal Challengers Bangalore would want the victory margin to be big enough to take their net run-rate past the Warriors in case they lose narrowly to Somerset. Both teams will know exactly what to do as they play last but the Royal Challengers will still need their bowlers to defend well, something they have failed to do for two-and-a-half of their three games.While the Royal Challengers’ dependence on Chris Gayle reached unhealthy proportions during the IPL itself, what has hurt them more in this tournament has been the inability of their bowlers to use the weight of runs to exert pressure. They finally managed to get it right against Somerset and managed to hold them off after a nervy first half of the chase.The small boundaries and quick outfield of the Chinnaswamy Stadium do make it a tough ground to defend totals, something Daniel Vettori has acknowledged. But three straight losses at the toss haven’t helped the Royal Challengers and Vettori will be hoping for more luck on that front against South Australia. They will also hope that the weather forecast of clear skies holds good, but having experienced the fickleness of the Bangalore rain on numerous occasions now, they won’t be betting against a washout.South Australia wouldn’t wish for rain either, having already had their game against Somerset in Bangalore abandoned. They have jettisoned their three-spinner combination for these conditions, an approach that gave them their only win against Kolkata Knight Riders. They had spoken of coming back with intensity and bravery after their opening loss to the Warriors. If Gayle clicks again, they’ll need the ability to hang in there as well.

Watch out for …

After two indifferent outings, Dirk Nannes responded strongly in the crucial match against Somerset, troubling them with pace, nip, bounce and his left-arm angle. His working over of Jos Buttler was skillful and relentless. Also helping him was the moisture in the pitch due to the rain earlier. To face his countrymen will be added motivation for him.Callum Ferguson is a batsman who likes to time the ball more than bludgeon it. He showed that he could shift gears effortlessly, though, against the Knight Riders in Hyderabad, moving from 23 off 24 to 70 off 40, clearing the longer boundaries at that ground quite comfortably. The ball has come on better at the Chinnaswamy, something he should enjoy.

Team news

South Australia have settled on a bowling attack of two spinners and two seamers. Shaun Tait hasn’t been part of that combination after a poor first game. Given the size of the boundaries and the speed of the outfield in Bangalore, they would not want to risk playing him and should be fielding an unchanged side.The Royal Challengers brought in Arun Karthik to free Tillakaratne Dilshan of the wicketkeeping responsibilities against Somerset. They also persisted with Raju Bhatkal and Syed Mohammad. The same XI could be playing tomorrow.

Stats and trivia

• Three of the five highest totals in this tournament have been scored in Bangalore
• Daniel Vettori has been the Royal Challengers’ best bowler by some distance, his five wickets coming at 6.50 runs per over

Quotes

“One mistake any team can make is to plan too much just for Gayle. Their top four is good and even in the middle they have some good players. Virat Kohli, Dilshan and [Saurabh] Tiwary are all playing really well.”

Keegan Meth could return to international cricket during Zimbabwe’s Twenty20 series against New Zealand after being named in their squad for the matches on October 15 and October 17

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2011Keegan Meth could return to international cricket during Zimbabwe’s Twenty20 series against New Zealand after being named in their squad for the matches on October 15 and October 17. Meth suffered a horrific mouth injury after being struck by the ball during an ODI against Bangladesh in August, but has showed good all-round form since returning to competitive cricket with Matabeleland Tuskers.The names on Zimbabwe’s team list showed continuity in selection after their home series against Bangladesh and Pakistan, but Brian Vitori’s was a notable absence. After an explosive start to his international career against Bangladesh, Vitori found Pakistan more of a challenge and was sidelined by a shin niggle during their visit. He has not played a competitive match since the third ODI against Pakistan, and has not taken part in the opening rounds of matches in Zimbabwe’s domestic season.He is yet to regain full fitness, but is expected to return in time for the one-off Test against New Zealand on November 1. Another injury casualty, batsman Craig Ervine, will play no part in the tour, however, after being ruled out with a shoulder injury.”I’m happy with the balance of the side, but obviously the injuries to Ervine and Vitori mean that we have to make minor changes to our plans,” said coach Alan Butcher. “But I feel we have a strong squad which can compete against New Zealand. New Zealand are bringing a very strong squad, but it’s going to be important for the players to believe that they can compete which hopefully can see us cause some surprises.”Chris Mpofu and Kyle Jarvis will lead the seam attack in Vitori’s absence, with Meth and former captain Elton Chigumbura able to provide medium-paced support. Indeed, depending on what bowling combination is opted for, Chigumbura and Meth could both be competing for one allrounder’s slot in the line-up, particularly as both Ray Price and Prosper Utseya are in the squad and likely to play.There is also a third slow-bowling option in the group in the form of Mountaineers legspinner Natsai Mushangwe. Mushangwe, 20, has risen through the ranks during Graeme Cremer’s injury lay-off, and was part of the Zimbabwe XI team that took on A sides from Australia and South Africa during the winter.With Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda and Tatenda Taibu virtual certainties in the starting XI, there will be some stiff competition for batting places between Charles Coventry, Chamu Chibhabha, Forster Mutizwa and Malcolm Waller.Waller and Mutizwa have both started the domestic season in purring form, Waller having slammed 174 during his 341-run stand with Gary Ballance in the innings victory over Southern Rocks and followed that up with an unbeaten 59-ball 86 in the tied one-day match against the same opposition. Mutizwa has also found the Rocks attack to his liking, his 73 guiding Mashonaland Eagles to a six-wicket win over them at Masvingo Sports Club and his unbeaten 164 securing a hefty fourth-innings run chase in the Logan Cup.Coventry, on the other hand, has not played any domestic cricket since Pakistan’s visit, while Chibhabha has managed a pair of first-class half-centuries in two Rocks defeats. Both men have undeniable potential and international experience, however, which may swing selection in their favour.After the two Twenty20s in Harare, Zimbabwe will play three one-day internationals against New Zealand, the third of that will be played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, which is also the venue for the Test match which begins on November 1.Zimbabwe Twenty20 squad: Brendan Taylor (Captain), Charles Coventry, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Kyle Jarvis, Hamilton Masakadza, Keegan Meth, Natsai M’shangwe, Christopher Mpofu, Forster Mutizwa, Raymond Price, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Prosper Utseya, Malcolm Waller

Charl Willoughby, the left-arm fast bowler, has signed a two-year contract with Essex

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2011Charl Willoughby, the left-arm fast bowler, has signed a two-year contract with Essex. The former South Africa seamer, who has played two Tests and three ODIs for his country, joins the county after a six-year stint with Somerset.Willoughby, 36, played 15 matches in the 2011 season, taking 53 wickets at an average of 32.47. Commenting on his transfer, Willoughby said his aim is to help Essex gain promotion to the first Division in the County Championship.”I obviously have a lot of experience in the game and Paul Grayson ([he Essex head coach] wants a wise old head to help David Masters with the bowling attack,” Willoughby told the county’s official website. “Essex have some promising youngsters coming through the ranks and I can certainly pass on some of my knowledge as a left-armer.”Grayson said Essex were fortunate to get his services considering there were other counties keen on signing him up.”I’m delighted with the signing of Charl,” Grayson said. “He is a very experienced bowler and someone we wanted to add to our ranks alongside David Masters and Graham Napier. He is a quality left-arm bowler and we see him also helping Reece Topley and Tymal Mills in their development with his experience and knowledge of the game”.

A round-up of the action from the third day of the fourth round of matches from the Ranji Trophy Elite League 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Dec-2011Thrust with the captaincy against Haryana, Sourav Ganguly rose to the occasion with his first first-class century in two years, but a late collapse meant Bengal conceded a 19-run first-innings lead at the Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium. While four of the top six Bengal batsmen had strike-rates in the twenties or lower, Ganguly did not allow himself to be tied down, smashing 20 fours and a solitary six in his 135, with a strike-rate of 75.84. At 317 for 5, Bengal looked set to overhaul Haryana’s total of 358, but Laxmi Ratan Shukla was bowled by Amit Mishra for 28 and his wicket sparked a collapse. The rest of the line-up folded for the addition of just 22 runs, including Ganguly, who was the ninth wicket to fall.Ganguly was reportedly furious and blamed his batsmen for not being able to support him and even singled out Shukla, a former Bengal captain, for throwing his wicket. “He was very upset and didn’t say a word about his innings in the dressing room,” Atanu Ghosh, the Bengal team manager, told . Haryana lost Rahul Dewan early but there were no further casualties as they reached 42 for 1 at the close, with the overall lead of 61.Haryana lost Rahul Dewan early but there were no further casualties as they reached 42 for 1 at the close.Ramesh Power picked up four second-innings wickets as Mumbai closed in on a comfortable innings victory over Orissa at the DRIEMS Ground in Cuttack. Resuming on their overnight score of 57 for 7, Orissa did not manage to get to triple figures, succumbing for 93. India seamer Zaheer Khan, who is returning from injury and trying to get in shape for the tour of Australia, picked up two more wickets to finish with 3 for 31.Zaheer would go on to pick another wicket with one of the best deliveries of the day – a climbing delivery that opened up a surprising Bipal Samantray who could only watch the ball take an edge and land in the hands of Wasim Jaffer at second slip. Zaheer bowled in short spells through the day, clocking 130-135 kph, mostly trying to hit the right lengths, which even impressed the Orissa coach, and former India seamer, Debasish Mohanty. “He was bending his back fully in the final spell. He is ready for Australia,” Mohanty told the Things would not get much better for Orissa during their second go-around. Abhishek Nayar removed both openers early, before Powar spun out the middle order. At 104 for 7 and over 30 overs remaining, it looked like the match would not go into the final day, but Besant Mohanty and Lagnajit Samal resisted for over two hours in the process of adding an unbeaten 59 for the eighth wicket. Samal was intent on survival – his 14 came off 105 deliveries – while Mohanty was more aggressive, reaching 41 from 96 balls, with seven fours and a six.Orissa still trail by 273 runs though, and with only three wickets remaining, Mumbai should wrap up the win with time to spare.Defending Ranji Trophy champions Rajasthan were forced to follow-on in their game against Uttar Pradesh after being hustled out for 274 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The home side looked to be in little trouble at 143 for2 when Rashmi Parida was trapped in front by Indian fast bowler RP Singh, ending a 110-run partnership with Robin Bist. Wickets fell at regular intervals after that as Rajasthan’s batsmen failed to build momentum. Ashok Menaria made a battling 57, studded with 11 fours, but there was little else of note from the lower middle order. Piyush Chawla and Bhuvneshwar Kumar did most of the damage, taking four and three wickets respectively.Rajasthan made a better start in their second innings, the openers adding 91 unbeaten runs together, with Aakash Chopra completing a half-century. During his knock of 57, Chopra went past 10,000 first-class runs. Rajasthan need another 127 runs to make UP bat again.Puneet Bisht racked up his maiden first-class double-century to give Delhi a crucial 97-run first-innings lead over Baroda at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. At one stage the home side were 74 for 5, but Baroda had no answer for Bisht’s relentless accumulation. The Delhi No.7 smashed 30 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 223, accounting for 53.73% of his side’s total. The next best score was Mithun Manas’s 49. Bisht added 67 with Sunny Sehrawat (27) for the seventh wicket, 56 with India seamer Ashish Nehta (23) for the eighth and 67 with last man Vikas Mishra at the rollicking rate of 5.74 runs an over. Such was Bisht’s dominance by then that Mishra’s contribution to their partnership was a mere 2 from 20 balls.Irfan Pathan picked up two more wickets to finish with 7 for 114, while Bhargav Bhatt took 2 for 63. Baroda got off to a rocky start in their second innings, losing both openers to Parvinder Awana with just 28 on the board. Rajat Bhatia then struck twice towards the end of the day, removing Shatrunjay Gaekwad and Swapnil Singh, to leave Baroda tottering on 81 for 4, still trailing by 16 runs with one day to go.Bharat Chipli, playing his first first-class match after three years, crowned his return to the Karnataka side with his highest first-class score, allowing his side to declare at 503 for 7, before the bowlers removed half the Saurashtra batting line-up to give Karnataka a good chance of claiming the three points on offer for a first-innings lead at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Chipli scored a brisk pace, his 159 coming off 194 balls, and struck 18 fours and three sixes. He was well supported by Stuart Binny, who made 57. Sandip Maniar was the best of the bowlers, taking 4 for 125.Opener Chirag Pathak led Saurashtra’s reply, grinding his way to 95 before he was unfortunately run-out in the last hour of the day. Cheteswhar Pujara, playing his first match of the season after a six-month lay-off due to knee injury, got a life on 9 but failed to make any use, caught at short leg by Chipli off offspinner Sunil Raju. Raju, playing his first match of the season, picked three wickets. The the visitors were 324 runs by the close.Pratharesh Parmar’s half-century allowed Gujarat to set Madhya Pradesh a potentially challenging target of 198 for victory in a low-scoring game at the Emerald High School Ground in Indore. The hosts managed 107 for 4 by the close, and need another 91 to win on the final day. Resuming on 133 for 5, only 58 ahead, Parmar, who made 65, guided Gujarat’s lower order, stitching together partnerships for 61 for the seventh wicket with Salil Yadav (35) and 42 for the eighth with Mehul Patel (25), before he became TP Sudhindra’s fifth victim. Sudhindra would add Faisal Dudhat’s wicket as well, giving him figures of 6 for 60 in the innings and 9 for 93 in the match, as Gujarat ended with 272,the highest score of the match. MP started slowly in the chase, losing Jalaj Saxena without scoring and Mohnish Mishra soon after, before Naman Ohja and Devendra Bundela steadied the innings. Both men fell before the close, however, leaving the match still in the balance.On a pitch that has assisted the seamers throughout, Gujarat captain Niraj Patel did not rule out an exciting finish. “It’s a true wicket for bowlers. Our pacers will have to stick to their spot-on bowling if we have to win the match,” he told .Manpreet Gony and Harmeet Singh combined to take nine wickets and give Punjab a 93-run first-innings lead over Railways at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. Gony took 5 for 91, while Harmeet picked up 4 for 54. It could have been a lot worse for Railways, who had slumped to 98 for 7 but Ashish Yadav and captain Sanjay Bangar added 113 before Yadav added a further 62 with Krishnakant Upadhyay. Yadav topscored with 86, while Bangar made 82. Punjab stuttered in their second-innings, losing quick wickets to end the day on 51 for 4, giving them a lead of 144.

New Zealand’s selectors have dropped the wicketkeeper Reece Young from the side that defeated Australia in Hobart for the one-off Test to be played against Zimbabwe in Napier

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2012New Zealand’s selectors have dropped the wicketkeeper Reece Young from the side that defeated Australia in Hobart for the one-off Test to be played against Zimbabwe in Napier from January 26.Young was jettisoned after failing to make an impression with the bat in Australia, though his glove work was sound under pressure in the visitors’ narrow win over Australia at Bellerive Oval.In his place are BJ Watling and Kruger van Wyk, both batsmen who can keep wicket, with the coach John Wright still to decide which will don the gloves against Zimbabwe. Jesse Ryder is the only other change from the Hobart XI, as he continues his recovery from a calf tear.”There’s a lot of competition for the wicketkeeping spot in the country at the moment,” Wright said. “It’s tough on Reece, his keeping has been good and he knows that if he goes back to domestic cricket and scores runs he will remain in the frame.”BJ will get a chance to prove himself with the gloves in the three-day game and Kruger will open the batting. A decision on who will take the gloves in the Test will be made closer to the start of the match.”A New Zealand XI was also named to play the Zimbabweans in a three-day warm-up match in Gisborne. Both Watling and Van Wyk have been included, alongside the experience of Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin.”The team for the warm-up match is mix of experienced Test players and bright prospects,” the national selection manager Kim Littlejohn said. “The match will give some of our key players some valuable preparation ahead of the Test match in Napier as well as provide an opportunity for promising players to show what they can do at a different level.”Test squad: Ross Taylor (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, Kruger van Wyk (wk), BJ Watling (wk), Kane Williamson

Australia Women retained the Rose Bowl after racing to a nine-wicket win in a low-scorer at Sydney’s Blacktown Park Olympic Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2012
ScorecardAustralia Women retained the Rose Bowl after racing to a nine-wicket win in a low-scorer at Sydney’s Blacktown Park Olympic Oval. Julie Hunter and Ellyse Perry set up the win by taking three wickets apiece to send New Zealand sinking to 125. Leah Poulton and Alex Blackwell then hit brisk fifties to get the job done in just 16.4 overs.It was a virtual final after the first two matches were abandoned. New Zealand failed to counter the swing of Hunter and Perry, struggling to put together solid partnerships after losing the top order early. The sixth-wicket stand of 31 between Liz Perry and Katie Perkins was the highest. Perkins top-scored with 33 off 71 balls.New Zealand had just one success with the ball when Lea Tahuhu dismissed Rachael Haynes for 8. Poulton then smashed 61 off just 53 balls, with nine fours, while Blackwell managed a 40-ball 50. Their 104-run stand came at more than eight an over.

Australia’s selectors have turned to the former captain Ricky Ponting as the short-term leadership solution to Michael Clarke’s hamstring problem

Daniel Brettig14-Feb-2012Australia’s selectors have turned to the former captain Ricky Ponting as the short-term leadership solution to Michael Clarke’s hamstring problem.Less than a year after he passed the job to Clarke, Ponting will lead his country in Friday’s triangular series ODI against Sri Lanka in Sydney.In naming Ponting as the stand-in captain, the national selector John Inverarity said that David Warner’s leadership potential was being closely monitored, though it was thought best not to thrust him into the captaincy immediately. Warner still has only a modest record in ODI matches, and has made an indifferent start to this series.”After careful consideration the National Selection Panel has asked Ricky Ponting if he would captain the Australian ODI team in Michael Clarke’s absence,” Inverarity said. “David Warner is a young player making his way. He displays considerable leadership potential, but the NSP is of the view that he should not, at this moment, have the added responsibility of captaincy thrust on him.”David has been gaining valuable experience under Michael Clarke’s captaincy and now he will have the opportunity to grow his leadership skills further as vice-captain to Ricky Ponting. In making this decision the NSP reminded itself of the fact that Ricky Ponting led the winning Australian ICC Cricket World Cup teams in 2003 and 2007. The NSP appreciates the fact that Ricky is prepared to accept this responsibility in the wider interests of the team.”

Australia ODI squad

Michael Clarke (capt), Ricky Ponting (capt for Friday’s ODI vs Sri Lanka), David Warner, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk)

Clarke is expected to be fit in time to return to the team for Sunday’s match against India in Brisbane, the second of the two fixtures for which the 14-man squad was named. Another notable change was the resting of the fast bowler Ryan Harris, after he put in an uncharacteristically loose display with the ball and in the field against India in Adelaide.Inverarity said that Harris was carrying a few “minor niggles” while also appearing to show signs of fatigue after playing in the third and fourth Tests against India then the first three ODIs of the triangular series. In his place are Brett Lee, who has made a swift recovery from a broken bone in his foot, and Ben Hilfenhaus.”Some players are showing signs of fatigue after a demanding summer in which the Australian team has played with great intensity and purpose and performed with distinction,” Inverarity said. ” The NSP has omitted Ryan Harris for this reason and for the fact that he is carrying some minor niggles. The NSP has refreshed the squad with the inclusion of Brett Lee and Ben Hilfenhaus. Brett is making a good recovery from his toe injury and will be given rigorous fitness tests before Friday’s ODI fixture. As expected Michael Hussey returns to the squad.”Shane Watson, meanwhile, has been deemed ready to return to first-class cricket after a grade appearance in Sydney over the weekend. He will turn out alongside the Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for New South Wales against Western Australia in Perth, in a Sheffield Shield match starting on Friday.”Shane played a Grade cricket game in Sydney on Saturday,” the team physio Alex Kountouris said. “He batted and bowled in that game without any issue and will be available for consideration for selection for a Bupa Shield game in Perth later this week as he continues his return from injury.”

Stuart Broad did not bowl during England’s first training session in Galle to protect an ankle injury he picked up earlier in the tour

Andrew McGlashan in Galle24-Mar-2012Stuart Broad did not bowl during England’s first training session in Galle to protect an ankle injury he picked up earlier in the tour but is still expected to be available for the first Test against Sri Lanka which starts on Monday.Broad tripped on a boundary rope shortly before the first warm-up match against a President’s XI in Colombo and was pulled out of the game. However, he was part of the team for the second practice game where he sent down 23 overs against the Sri Lanka Development XI for four wickets and was the most impressive of England’s bowlers.”He just wanted an extra day off from bowling after the game he played,” James Anderson, his new-ball partner, said. “He bowled quite a few overs in the last game and he’s just giving his ankle a little bit of extra time to recover.”However, if England maintain the balance of playing two quicks and two spinners with which they completed the series against Pakistan in the UAE, they cannot afford any doubts over one of the pacemen. England are not short of fast-bowling reserves — Steven Finn has played both warm-up matches and Tim Bresnan is also in the squad — but Broad has become an integral part of the team after recapturing his form against India last year. Since the first Test of that series, at Lord’s, he has taken 38 wickets at 16.10 in seven matches.The make-up of England team is one of the major talking points heading into the series, particularly following a side strain to Ravi Bopara which could likely prevent him from bowling in either of the two Tests. He is still expected to return to the side at No. 6 to replace the dropped Eoin Morgan, but in energy-sapping conditions the thought of having a better-than-part-time fifth-bowling option will be one that Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower will continue to ponder.”It is going be a difficult decision with Ravi not being able to bowl,” Anderson admitted. “It’s always difficult going in with just two seamers and two spinners and not having a fifth bowling option. Trotty and KP can bowl a few overs but the decision the selectors have to make is whether they want the fifth bowler to be someone who is more capable with the ball.”England do have a couple of ways to balance the side if they so wish; a Test debut for Samit Patel at No. 6 or a recall for Bresnan with Matt Prior moving up the order one place. The latter would be a positive statement to make at the start of the short series but remains a long shot with Strauss and Flower reluctant to play five frontline bowlers. Patel, meanwhile, showed form with the bat in the last warm-up game with 72 off 78 balls but in 18 overs during the first innings conceded four-and-a-half an over and in the second innings seven.The least likely route England seem like taking is dropping a spinner to accommodate a third seamer after the success of Monty Panesar in the UAE. “We started going with two seamers and two spinners in the UAE and it worked well for us. Hopefully we can continue with that form,” Anderson said. “It makes things slightly different for the quicks because in this heat the spells will be shorter than we’re used to. It puts more focus on us to be right on the money every ball.”

ESPNcricinfo staff17-May-2012The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has lodged a formal police complaint against Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders and Bollywood superstar, over an alleged skirmish with security guards following Knight Riders’ victory over the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. The MCA will meet to discuss what action is to be taken against Shah Rukh, who has denied being drunk and disorderly.Late last night, MCA officials went to the Marine Drive Police Station to lodge a police complaint against him. Shah Rukh is being accused of trying to walk on to the field of play after the game. MCA treasurer Ravi Savant told PTI that Shah Rukh had “misbehaved and abused security personnel as well as MCA officials, including our president Vilasrao Deshmukh, after the IPL match. We have decided to ban him for life from entering the stadium in future.”Savant’s statements about a life ban for Shah Rukh could not be corroborated with the IPL governing council chairman Rajeev Shukla telling reporters, “I will take the version of the MCA, Shah Rukh Khan and the police before talking about the issue. The decision on the ban is taken by the Working Committee so I will speak to MCA president Vilasrao Deshmukh on this. I have to take the version of all the parties involved and then speak.”Shah Rukh, who spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon, denied he had misbehaved or was drunk but said he was reacting to the “obnoxious” and “unpardonable” behaviour of officials at the stadium. He said he had not been present at the match but had gone there after it was over to pick up a large group of his children and their friends.He said he saw security guards manhandling the children and when he objected a group of officials came over and the altercation started. “I said a few things in anger. I was one and they were 20-25 officials and they were extremely rude. When I tried to answer them, they hid behind others,” the actor said. “There was nothing illegal, I was not on the pitch. I know the rules.”Asked about the possibility of a ban by the MCA, Shah Rukh said, “If this is the kind of behaviour meted out to people then I would not go there. There were people rushing at me aggressively. I think it’s unpardonable that you manhandle kids in the name of security.”Savant told the news channel that Shah Rukh had tried to enter the stadium “after everything was over” and when asked to leave by the security guard Shah Rukh had “manhandled” him. It was alleged that Shah Rukh was “continuously using foul, filthy language towards officials who tried to pacify him and make him understand.” An MCA member who also happened to be an assistant commissioner of police, was also seen trying to silence Shah Rukh.Savant said all that was left at the moment was to put the proposed ban on paper and get its formalities completed, with a majority support with the MCA. He said that Shah Rukh had come to the ground well after the presentation ceremony and without any accreditation. “He had flouted all the rules”, Savant said.”Some unprovoked incident that took place, and foul language was used,” Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s chief administrative officer, said. “MCA officials are angry. We will try to find out what has happened. Definitely, the BCCI will look at what the MCA has to say.”

Mike Hesson has stepped down as Kenya’s national coach, citing security issues that have affected his family

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2012Mike Hesson has stepped down as Kenya’s national coach, citing security issues that have affected his family. Hesson, the former Otago Volts and New Zealand A coach, took over as Kenya coach in July 2011 for a two-year term but has resigned before his tenure expired.”It is a very difficult decision we as a family have had to make but sadly we have been directly and indirectly affected by a number of security related incidents in recent weeks and my family has to come first,” he said in a release issued by Cricket Kenya.”I want to stress that this has absolutely nothing to do with any issues relating to my role as National coach and is not cricket related in any way. This is purely a decision about the safety of my family and quality of life. Whilst arrangements are being made for my wife and children to return to New Zealand as soon as possible, I will remain behind to complete any imminent national team engagements.”Hesson walked into the Kenyan set-up amid a pay dispute between the players and the board and had to act as mediator between the two sides. During his stint, Kenya played four ODIs, losing three and winning one, and lost two of their three Intercontinental Cup matches.Cricket Kenya chief executive Tom Sears said: “This is obviously an extremely sad situation but Cricket Kenya understand the reasoning behind Mike’s decision and respect his wishes. I know he has enjoyed his role with the National squad and was keen to continue and turn around results.”He has built an excellent relationship with the squad and I know they will be very sorry to see him leave.”Sears, himself, will step down as CEO, effective end-June.