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Mickey Arthur’s comments that senior players may be shunted out of South Africa’s ODI team have not found favour with Ray Jennings, the man Arthur replaced as national team coach in 2005. The problem is not with age, Jennings says, but with performance.Arthur had said South Africa would need to re-think their team composition in the build-up to the 2011 World Cup after losing 4-0 to England in the ODI series, which followed a historic triumph in the Tests.Four of South Africa’s most experienced players, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher, were below-par in the ODIs against England, but Jennings said Arthur would be committing a blunder by dropping senior players. “You can never throw away experience and you rather need to ask why the more experienced players are not performing at the moment,” Jennings told the Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag. “It is not the solution to throw away older players and replace them with young players. Age has nothing to do with the performances and the real question is if you want to play and if you want to perform at this level.”Kallis, South Africa’s most prolific batsman in recent years, had a torrid time with the bat in both the Tests and ODIs, and Jennings said he felt the allrounder was unhappy during the tour. “I believe a happier Kallis is a Kallis who will perform,” he said. “Something was wrong with him on tour, or am I missing the point. If he had a technical problem in his batting, I’d also have loved to have it, because with it he became the best batsman in the world. A happier Kallis would be putting runs on the board and something was definitely wrong with him on this tour.”Arthur, meanwhile, has said he’s committed to South Africa, even as he admitted speaking to a few counties in England. “I would seriously like to work in county cricket, but South Africa have offered me a new contract through to the 2011 World Cup and my current commitment is to them,” he told the . “I haven’t won the World Cup or beaten Australia. They are things I would love to do.”South Africa’s loss in the ODI series to England ended an otherwise memorable season, in which they won away Test series in Pakistan, Bangladesh and England and drew in India.

Deon Kruis, the 34-year-old Yorkshire fast bowler, has given the strongest indication yet that his playing days are coming to an end. Kruis, a South African who plays for the county as a Kolpak, is exploring other avenues beyond the field of play, including media work and coaching.”I don’t want to keep the younger guys out of the team when I feel they’re ready,” he told the . “I don’t feel they’re 100% there yet physically and skill-wise, but, if it’s up to my wife, this will be my last season. It’s hard for her being in South Africa for basically five out of the six months on her own with the little girl.”This could be my last season, but I’m hoping to do maybe one more year next year. I’ve done some media work and it’s been interesting to sit on the other side of the fence. I’ve been in touch with the guys at Sky and I’d like to keep involved in the game in some way. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”Hamstring and calf injuries limited his appearances last year to just six first-class matches, but although his body is beginning to show signs of wear and tear, he was Yorkshire’s leading wicket-taker in the Championship in 2006 with 38 wickets in 13 matches. “Last season, in particular, was very frustrating for me,” he said. “I had injuries and, as you come towards the end of your career, you obviously want to be playing as much as possible. But I’ve worked hard and I feel really good now. I feel as if I’m bowling well and in good rhythm.”I’d like to get 60 County Championship wickets this year. I’ve done it before, but that was in the second division. This would be in the first division and a better achievement.”

India’s batting, especially the incendiary strokeplay of opener Virender Sehwag, has dominated the minds of South Africa’s management during the past few days.As Sehwag flayed England’s bowlers to all corners on Sunday night, they worried about how to prevent a repeat performance in the first semi-final today.With the pitch expected to be another sub-continental featherbed, the South African bowlers know that victory will most probably depend on how they bowl to India’s star-studded batting line-up. If, like England, they buckle under the pressure of an early onslaught then the match will be quickly lost.South African skipper Shaun Pollock said: “From what I saw he (Sehwag) played superbly and looked at the top of his game.”We are going to have to bowl well against all the Indian batters, they have a great line-up. The key will be getting some early wickets and getting into their batting.”According to Pollock they have done their homework: “We have analysed them and have a game plan that we want to implement. We will have different options for different situations. Up front you have got to believe that you can get them out, but if they get in you have got to bowl differently.”Unfortunately for South Africa, they are struggling with injuries.”There are a few injury concerns which are not ideal but the physio is on top of it. We think that Allan (Donald) and Jonty (Rhodes) will be fine. Nicky (Boje) and Alan Dawson will have fitness tests later today,” Pollock said.Boje is expected to be ruled out later today because of the hairline fracture he sustained in the West Indies game. Dawson only has an outside chance of playing, having not bowled a ball since straining his calf against Kenya.Donald, however, looks set to play despite being troubled by an old ankle injury that has flared up during the tour. The injury has dogged him in recent years, requiring six monthly cortisone injections, but Donald believes that he will be able to bowl if the ankle is heavily strapped.”It goes through phases, sometimes there is pain and sometimes there isn’t,” said Donald “Yesterday I had it strapped up and there was no problem at all.”South Africa have called up two replacements as cover, 37-year-old fast bowler Steve Elworthy and uncapped spinner Robin Peterson. Both arrived on Monday morning and started training immediately. After participating in the recent Australia A series they are match fit and both could play.Elworthy is a safer option with the new ball than Makhaya Ntini and has the advantage of swinging the ball, an important asset here in Sri Lanka, especially under lights during the humid evenings. All-rounder Justin Ontong and Peterson are competing for Boje’s place.Despite the threat of India’s batting and injuries, Pollock remained upbeat about his side’s chances: “India have played well and it should be a great game. This is the business end of the tournament and this is where we have to produce the goods.”I think we have the personnel,” he added. “We are pretty confident. We played nicely against Kenya and had a bit of a squeaker against West Indies, which was nice as it prepared us for a closely-fought game.”South Africa:Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Dale Benkenstein, Justin Ontong, Mark Boucher (wk), Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock (capt), Nicky Boje, Alan Dawson, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini, Steve Elworthy, Robin Peterson.India:Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly (capt), Dinesh Mongia, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Jai Prakash Yadav, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra.

RAWALPINDI, April 23: As overnight rain and cloudy skies Tuesday brought temperatures down, Pakistan’s pace ace Shoaib Akhtar was still sizzling and said he would be going all-out to break the 100-mile barrier in Wednesday’s second day-night One-day International against New Zealand.While making it clear that taking five wickets in each match was more important for him than the speed record, he said he would however give it a shot.”I’ll try to achieve that with the fourth ball of my third over and then again the third delivery of the fourth over,” he said on the eve of the match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.Shoaib, 26 was recorded to have bowled one at a speed of 98.9 miles in the recent Sharjah Cup. But Rawalpindi provides him his best opportunity yet to achieve the feat in front of his hometown fans.”The kind of pitches we have at home suit me but then weather I am able to break the barrier or not, the bottom line is that I am enjoying my cricket.”

Worcestershire County Cricket Club have awarded David Leatherdale a Benefit Year in 2003 following a long and distinguished career with the Club he first played for in 1988.Aged 34, `Lugsy’ was capped in 1994 and has scored over 9,000 first class and over 3,400 one day runs for the County. A genuine allrounder, he has taken over 200 wickets in all forms of cricket including 5-9 against Durham earlier this season in the Norwich Union League.Chief Executive Mark Newton said, "The award of this Benefit Year is a tribute to David’s long and successful career with the County and I feel sure the Worcestershire Cricketing Public will support him well."

Glamorgan have released batsman Alun Evans and all-rounder Keith Newell.Evans made his Glamorgan debut in 1996 after a spell on the M.C.C.groundstaff. In 1998 he made his maiden first-class hundred against CambridgeUniversity and the following year Evans recorded a century in the National League gamewith Derbyshire at Cardiff.Newell joined Glamorgan in 1999 after spendingfour years with Sussex. He subsequently appeared in many of the county`sone-day games, and was their regular opener in 2001 when Glamorgan wonDivision Two of the Norwich Union League.Glamorgan would like to thank both players for their contributions, andwishes them well in the future.

What a great pleasure it was to visit the newly founded Lahore Cricket Academy housed within a beautiful country club, on the eve of the finals of Lahore Veterans Cricket Championship. Apart from the players and officials of Lahore Whites and Lahore Blues the two finalists, about 150 more guests drove all the way from Lahore to attend the gorgeous function.Lahore Veterans-Final:
After an exciting game, Lahore Whites that included at least half a dozen former players of test/national level like Azhar Khan, Ashraf Ali, Saadat Ali, Ali Zia, Ali Ahmed and others, defeated the `Blues’ by 9 runs to clinch the championship. The trophy was awarded by Mr Asadullah Khan Sherazi, GM of the sponsors in Pakistan in his capacity as the Chief Guest.

The credit for arranging such a colorful function goes to Ashiq Qureshi, a devout lover of the game and a highly competent cricket organizer who is the heart and soul behind Lahore Veteran’s cricket. A pleasant and popular figure in cricket circles, his PR has no bounds.

Imbued with the fragrance of sincerity and friendship, he invites people with such a combination of humility and courtesy that no one dare decline! The verbal invitations are supplemented by hand-delivery of cards followed by confirming acceptance on the telephone and if that’s not enough, making a polite transport offer to carry the guests to the venue, in case some one is unable to manage on his own. This is perhaps the extreme in hospitality and I am sure, if there were more people like him in the world there would be no conflicts and controversies.

Despite the scorching summer heat the guests kept arriving after regular intervals. The presence of so many people at a holiday resort located in the wilderness near Muridke, about 25 miles north of Lahore was, however, a matter of real joy. The beautiful landscape adorned with modern facilities in such a desolate place almost neutralized the hostility of the unfavorable weather. A delicious Chinese lunch was served while the beverage company’s hospitality continued from beginning to end. Their slogan of `Enjoy’ was capitalized fully by the guests. After the prize distribution the guests were entertained with a sumptuous high tea that marked the end of a delightful function.Before this event the LCC had organized a knockout Tournament sponsored by a Telecom company and 8 local teams participated. The Slazenger team won the trophy by defeating the Global Telecom team by 6 runs. Last winter a `young Asians’ team from Nottingham had visited Pakistan and played cricket matches at the LCC.Lahore Cricket Academy and Country Club:
Notwithstanding the drawback of a turn-around distance of 70 km from Lahore and enormous traffic jams en-route, the emergence of a verdant country club that houses the cricket academy is a refreshing addition to Lahore’s sphere of outdoor entertainment. The brainchild of Mr Shujaat Ali, an ardent cricket lover who runs a tour and travel business in England, the surrounds and facilities can be counted as one of the most modern in Pakistan. His ambitious plans when fully implemented may even raise its status to top of the line.

Feeling that 100 acres of agricultural land near Muridke were lying unused while he was settled in England, he chalked out the plan of creating a sports complex with recreational facilities in a manner that would even attract foreign visitors apart from the elite of Lahore. Well, over 6 years of devotion and a huge investment is ready to bear fruit and bear witness to his dream.Located in green rural surroundings, it’s more like a dream-palace in the wilderness and for its size and the number of facilities; it excels all clubs in the country. Its many acres of landscaped gardens are studded with hundreds of ornamental trees and fruit orchards.Reflecting the modernisms of the new millennium, the club has an office equipped with all that’s needed, telecommunications, computers, email, the internet and even a website of its own. It offers international standard accommodation in the form of independent villas and a 35-bed hotel, for those who want to get away from noisy city life and spend some time amidst a calm, quiet and fascinating rural setting. Restaurants, sauna, swimming pools, walkways, horse-riding and lakes are all there to enjoy.Apart from a unique blend of unrivaled health, fitness, sports, social and cultural facilities the real focus is on the game of cricket. A full size cricket ground with the requisite number of pitches and well-furnished dressing rooms are excellent for holding domestic cricket and other local matches. Soon, with the creation of a pavilion and spectator stands it may turn into a suitable venue for staging international matches.

Intikhab Alam, a former Pakistan Captain and Coach runs the Lahore Cricket Academy. He is responsible for controlling and organizing all types of cricket activity at the academy. It is especially designed for young cricketers eager to learn the game and achieve international fame. The aim is to unearth, develop and hone young talent into winning material. The academy desires to coach promising youngsters in the finest traditions of cricket and the highest spirit of sportsmanship.The academy offers a full range of specialized cricket coaching, through modern coaching clinics using state-of-the-art techniques and is supervised by qualified coaches. It envisages grooming youngsters further by arranging cricket matches against recognized teams. Though the academy basically caters for the age group of 9 – 19 years, there is no bar on those above this age.Apart from 8 nets meant for coaching and practice for the trainees, bowling and fielding machines have been provided to optimize their standards of learning. To cope with different types of playing conditions, a mixture of tracks like a turning wicket, a quick wicket, a flat wicket etc have been prepared. A gymnasium equipped with the latest exercise machines is also available.

In line with the most modern training institutions, the academy also caters for physiotherapy facilities to keep it’s students fit at all times, the services of a nutritionist to chalk out balanced diet programs and a psychologist to help improve performance and productivity under pressure.In addition to celebrity coaching clinics by Pakistani Test stars, social evenings with present and past test players and other cultural programs are organized.Special program: Expatriate children coaching and trials
In a latest move towards promotion of cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board has opened the avenues for Pakistani expatriates to send their children to Pakistan for cricket coaching and training. Recognizing the fact that the Lahore Cricket Academy possesses all the modern facilities to handle the project, the PCB has authorized the Academy to organize the arrival and stay of youngsters coming to Pakistan followed by their coaching. Trials of those who catch the eye will be arranged for local teams and even for the National team. One can think of no better opportunity for Pakistani families living abroad who have young children keen to become the next Wasim Akrams or Saeed Anwars!To add to the overall attraction and have families visit, there are recreation spots like a fishing lake, horse riding, cycling and jogging tracks, swimming pools, tennis courts, picnic spots, children’s playing areas, farm houses, billiard rooms and restaurants. Future plans envisage the installation of floodlights at the cricket ground, the creation of a 9-hole golf course and other sports facilities.As the famous saying goes `Rome was not built in a day’. So is it here, and shall take some more time to develop fully. Already equipped with the most modern facilities in the backdrop of a rural landscape, it’s an excellent place for family visits apart from the cricket. While club membership at a large scale might take some time to grow, the cricket activity will not take long to flourish. Under the able guidance of Intikhab Alam, the academy is likely to remain the busiest institution with the training and coaching courses run one after the other. With the close cooperation of PCB, the cricket ground can also be permanently listed as venue for domestic cricket matches.

Favourites Habib Bank are poised to extend their unbeaten record in the National One-day Cricket Championship when they face WAPDA in the day-night semifinal at National Stadium Tuesday.This match is a repeat of Pool ‘C’ clash in the preliminary round last month with Habib Bank coasting to a comfortable victory.The bankers made it the last four after three straight victories in the Group-I of the final round, including a crushing nine-wicket defeat of PIA at the same venue last Thursday.With the availability of current Pakistan stars Shahid Afridi, the big hitting all-rounder, and Younis Khan, Habib Bank should coast home without much problems.Taufiq Umer, left out of the Sharjah Cup squad, proved the national selectors wrong by scoring unbeaten centuries against Allied Bank and Sui Gas last week.Salim Elahi, another Pakistan reject, played two scintillating knocks before throwing away his wicket recklessly.Skipper Ijaz Ahmed Sr, the former Test stalwart, narrowly missed a century against Sui Gas. In addition, Habib Bank have the likes of Imran Farhat, Hasan Raza, Atiq-uz-Zaman to support the main batting cast.The bankers are equally strong in the bowling area with pace duo of Kabir Khan and Sajid Shah leading the way, followed by Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and the slow left-armer Abdul Rehman.WAPDA made to the semifinals by achieving a better net run-rate than either ADBP and Pakistan Customs. All three teams won one game in Group-II.Adil Nisar, the WAPDA captain, has the daunting task of restricting Habib Bank to a reasonable total on a pitch that is expected to be full of runs.WAPDA do not have any stars in their side but there is no doubt they will fight till the end.Teams (from):Habib Bank: Ijaz Ahmed Sr (captain), Imran Farhat, Shahid Afridi, Taufiq Umer, Salim Elahi, Younis Khan, Hasan Raza, Atiq-uz-Zaman, Sajid Shah, Akram Raza, Kabir Khan, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Rehman, Farhan Adil, Irfan Fazil.WAPDA: Adil Nisar (captain), Kashif Rasheed, Riffatullah, Tariq Aziz, Rizwan Malik, Zahid Umer, Waqas Ahmed, Kashif Raza, Sarfraz Ahmed, Aqeel Ahmed, Rehan Rafiq, Shiraz Butt, Ikramullah, Faisal Irfan, Aslam Qureshi, Raees Amjad.Umpires: Shakeel Khan and Asad Rauf.Match referee: Taslim Arif.

West Zone comfortably batted through the final day, stalling SouthZone’s hopes of forcing an outright result in their Duleep Trophyclash at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat on Sunday. NayanMongia, Vinod Kambli and Abhijit Kale all posted half centuries asWest finished their second innings at 330/6. South’s first inningslead of 219 gave them five points, taking their tally to eight fromtwo games, while West moved to nine from three games.West entered the final day at 64/1, needing another 155 to make Southbat again. In the course of an obdurate 60 off 187 balls, skipperMongia, who opened the innings, was involved in four successive fiftypartnerships, three of them on the final day. He added 50 for thesecond wicket with Hrishikesh Kanitkar, 54 for the third with JacobMartin and 53 for the fourth with Kambli. The latter was his usualbludgeoning self in carting 66 (65 balls, 11 fours, 2 sixes).Kale, for his part, made an enterprising 52 off 55 balls, inclusive ofnine boundaries. Wasim Jaffer and Sairaj Bahutule carried Norththrough to stumps. Of the eight South bowlers used, Sunil Joshiproduced the best figures of 3/62. South take on East next fromJanuary 25-28 at Agartala while West also square off against the sameopponents in their next and final encounter, at Rajkot from February1-4.

Martin Snedden was today named as New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive.Snedden, who has been serving on the board of NZC in recent years, replaces Christopher Doig, who resigned in February.NZC chairman Sir John Anderson said when announcing Snedden’s appointment today: “Martin Snedden is an excellent appointment for New Zealand Cricket. He brings sound corporate judgement and commercial acumen from his partnership in a successful law firm, but also has an in-depth knowledge and passion for the game from his participation at the highest level.”The 42-year-old lawyer is a former New Zealand representative and when lining up at international forums with other CEO’s he will have the rare distinction, in that company, of having played the game at its highest levels.That should allow Snedden to maintain New Zealand’s high reputation in international circles after the work done by Doig and Anderson for the International Cricket Council.Snedden, a medium-pace bowler who was part of New Zealand’s most successful era during the 1980s, played 25 Tests and 93 One-Day Internationals.During his career he took 114 ODI wickets and 58 Test wickets.After retiring from all cricket after New Zealand’s tour of England in 1990, Snedden served on the New Zealand Cricket Council but did not seek re-election in 1992. He returned to administration when invited to join the board of the revamped New Zealand Cricket.His career-best Test figures were achieved in New Zealand’s memorable 1986/87 victory over the West Indies at Lancaster Park.Snedden took five for 86 in the West Indies second innings, including the wicket of the side’s batting legend and captain Viv Richards. New Zealand won the Test by five wickets to tie the series and allowing itself to finish the 1980s unbeaten in Test series at home.In his last season of Test cricket, Snedden’s ability to hang around at the batting crease was twice demonstrated.During one of Test cricket’s great innings of defiance, played by Mark Greatbatch against Australia in Perth, Snedden batted for 202 minutes and 142 balls to be unbeaten on 33 at the end, New Zealand having saved the game. Greatbatch was 146 not out.Then in the return Test played at the Basin Reserve, Snedden, who was sent in as nightwatchman by skipper John Wright, went close to breaking the world record for the longest time without scoring in a Test match when he stayed on six for 94 minutes. New Zealand won that Test by nine wickets.He is the grandson of a former New Zealand captain Nessie Snedden and his uncle Colin Snedden also played a Test for New Zealand.Snedden has a law degree from the University of Otago and has devoted his working life to the family firm, first as a solicitor and for the past 11 years as a partner of Snedden & Associates.He has twice been a member of the New Zealand Cricket Board, from 1990-1992 and since 1999. He was co-opted onto the Hood Committee which reviewed the governance and structure of New Zealand Cricket in 1995. He has also been an Auckland Cricket representative on the Eden Park Board of Control 1993-1996.Snedden is married to Anne and has four children, Lucy (13), Stephanie (11), Michael (8), and Ella (6).Snedden will take up the Christchurch-based position on July 30. He will remain a member of the New Zealand Cricket Board until that date. A replacement member of the Board will be elected at the annual general meeting in September.