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An ECB working party has examined ways of maintaining well-behaved crowds following a few isolated incidents last season. Gordon Hollins, the head of venues, led the group after the 2007 domestic Twenty20 tournament was marred by unruly behaviour at some games.Last season at Southgate some Middlesex players had their wallets stolen and the Hampshire team bus was pelted by stones. Robert Croft also spoke about the abuse he took while fielding on the boundary at Taunton.Now the ECB are implementing the same crowd standards that apply for international matches, which includes encouraging the grounds to designate one area a family zone and a ban on bringing in alcohol.”ECB want to ensure that the type of behaviour which caused some unfortunate headlines last summer is not allowed to resurface in cricket during the summer of 2008 and spoil the enjoyment of the majority,” said Hollins. “We were adamant that we had to be proactive in this area to nip these issues in the bud.”There will also be a zero-tolerance policy concerning foul language, and anyone using racist language shall be subject to prosecution. We are trying to ensure that all those who do wish to drink at matches also consider the spectators around them.”David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said: “We have a great tradition of sporting crowds at cricket in England and Wales and so were concerned by a limited number of examples last season which if not addressed could lead to a decline in the standards of behaviour we are seeking to preserve at cricket events in this country.”

Players who took part in the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL) will not be allowed to represent Pakistan internationally or play domestically, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced.Though the players – including Taufeeq Umar, Imran Farhat and Shabbir Ahmed – were banned when they signed up with the ICL last year, the board’s governing committee was reconsidering their cases. But it has now reaffirmed its earlier stance, though Nasim Ashraf, PCB chairman, kept the door open for a possible return.”These players will not represent Pakistan internationally or in domestic cricket,” Ashraf said. “We have to protect Pakistan cricket. There are reports that recruiting agents from ICL are looking for more players, possibly a team from Pakistan, and that will harm cricket here.”Ashraf reasoned that opportunities – and financial rewards – were growing for players in Pakistan and so there was little need for anyone to join the ICL. “We have given all players in 13 regional teams a monthly contract, to take away financial worries. We are giving young players retainers, others on the fringes are also making money.”We are doing everything we can to make sure that all players benefit more and more financially within the country. Players can earn good money here so they have to decide: do they want the ICL or Pakistan?”The players had initially filed a petition in the Lahore High Court against the decision to ban them, though the case was swiftly dismissed. There remains a possibility that legal action will be considered once again though Ashraf hinted a way out of the situation.”If the players do not play in the ICL any more and make that clear, then certainly they can appeal against the decision and we will consider it again.”The board, meanwhile, postponed a decision on whether or not players will be allowed to take up contracts in county cricket. Concern had been expressed recently about the effect county cricket was having on several Pakistan bowlers, some of whom picked up injuries during their stint and missed international duty as a result.”We discussed the pros and cons of county cricket,” said Ashraf. “They pick up good experience, but can also burn out, or pick up injuries like Mohammad Asif did. But we will take a final decision after our next meeting in March.”The committee wants to first see a detailed presentation on the effects of the county season on a player, including financial issues such as how much a player loses out on if he doesn’t play and whether there should be compensation.”

The crisis in Zimbabwean cricket took a turn for the worse today when the senior players issued an ultimatum to the board, asking it to meet their demands by Wednesday or face the prospect of mass resignation.According to London’s Guardian newspaper, this happened after a marathon meeting between the players and the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU), in which the ZCU stuck to its stand and refused to reinstate Heath Streak as captain. Streak, Andy Blignaut and Grant Flower represented the players, while Peter Chingoka, the chairman of the ZCU, and Vince Hogg, its chief executive, were present along with three other board members.”We’ve given the delegation a mandate of 4pm on Wednesday, and if they don’t come up with the goods we’re out of here,” the Guardian quoted a senior player as saying. “I don’t think we’re going to get anywhere with them. There is no future for Zimbabwe cricket.”If the senior players carry out their threat, Zimbabwe will be forced to field a virtual second-string side for their series against Sri Lanka, which starts in less than two weeks.According to the report, the players were concerned about the sacking of Streak, and the elevation of Tatenda Taibu as captain. “There are quite a few guys who don’t want to play under Taibu, and it’s not a racial issue,” the unnamed player told the Guardian. “It’s because he is 20 years old and he’s still trying to make it in international cricket.”We’ve asked them to reverse the captaincy situation back to Streak, and they have said they won’t. If that’s the case, there are a few of us who are going to leave purely on that basis.”Meanwhile, AFP reported that Streak was considering legal action against the ZCU. “Legal action remains an option for me and I’m going to carefully consider that,” Streak said. “I shall also be considering their offer for me to continue simply as a player. But if I do so, that will not have a bearing on my claim to continue as captain.”

Scorecard

Wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien’s unbeaten 137, aided by captain Trent Johnston’s 69, furthered Ireland’s advantage on the second day after their bowlers had dismissed United Arab Emirates for 228. Ireland, resuming on 46 for 1, finished on 366 for 7, a lead of 138.William Porterfield and Eoin Morgan made 25 and 47, before a 64-run stand between the O’Brien brothers – Niall and Kevin. Left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza bagged his second wicket for the match by dismissing Kevin for 33, but Niall O’Brien, who had made a nervous start, held fort against the UAE bowlers.The hosts must have a sensed the possibility of a fightback when Andre Botha and Alex Cusack departed in quick succession; Ireland were 203 for 6, still needing 25 to more to match UAE’s first-innings score.However, Johnston joined hands with Niall O’Brien, and the two not only put Ireland in the green, but seized the momentum with a record seventh-wicket stand of 163. Johnston needed only 95 balls for his 69, which included ten boundaries. O’ Brien’s 137 contained 20 fours, and his presence at the crease on the third morning will give Ireland the chance to further their lead before aiming to bowl out UAE for the second time in the match.The umpires signalled the close at the fall of Johnston’s wicket – stumped by Amjad Ali off Saqib Ali. For UAE, Zahid Shah, Saqib and Raza took two wickets apiece; Raza was the best of the lot: his 2 for 47 coming off 24 economical overs.”I’ve been a bit ill over the past day, but I’ve been on tablets and special drinks and I’ve managed to get through it to the end,” a delighted Niall O’Brien admitted. “I missed out on the game here last year when all the records were broken, so it’s great to score a hundred today.”

The wait is over. American ProCricket (APC) officially introduced the first-ever professional league of its kind in the United States, unveiling local teams in eight US cities, with the official 2004 season scheduled to begin on Friday, July 2.ProCricket features a variety of changes to the game which are tailored to the US market. Among the new aspects of the game are three-hour long matches, characterized by “Fast n’ Furious Global Action,” and new ProCricket rules – including time limits and a version of the Designated Hitter Rule – to yield fast-paced, action-packed matches.ProCricket teams are initially being launched in eight cities nationwide, with inaugural 2004 sides of Chicago Tornadoes, Florida Thunder (Miami), Los Angeles Unity, New Jersey Fire (Bridgewater), New York Storm, San Francisco Freedom, Texas Arrowheads (Houston) and Washington DC Forward. Matches will be held at Minor League Baseball, college football and professional football stadiums and ballparks.The organisers claim that as many as 40 professional cricket stars from Australia, England, India, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa and The West Indies have been signed to play, along with around 120 US-based cricketers.They also claim that all matches will be shown on television, although the details are, as yet, not available.”We are excited to bring first class professional cricket to the vast segment of the US sports audience that has been thirsting for the game in this country,” said Kal Patel, APC’s chairman and commissioner. “There are over 30,000 active top club-level players playing cricket in local amateur leagues throughout the country, another 70,000 recreational weekend cricket warriors and over seven million American fans who currently follow both local U.S. and global cricket action.”The season consists of 24 matches, with two championship-round semi-finals (August 27 and 28) and a final on September 4. Tickets for all first-round games have been set at $6.95.

As an 18-year-old in 1982, Arjuna Ranatunga played in Sri Lanka’s very first Test, against England in Colombo. Fourteen years later, in March 1996, he tickled the winning runs to third man, to secure victory over Australia in the World Cup final at Lahore. If he had come a long way as a person, then it was nothing compared to the distance he had travelled with his team.In less than a generation, Sri Lanka had developed from international cricket’s whipping boys into a side capable of ruling the world, and Ranatunga’s influence had been felt every step of the way. Few players have been so obviously in command of a cricket team as Ranatunga, who would marshall his troops like a general on the battlefield. Like the best leaders, he instilled in his charges a victor’s mentality, all the while remaining on hand to leap to the defence of his players if the need ever arose.This outlook was reflected in his batting as well – strutting in at No. 5 or 6, he would delegate responsibility to the junior strokemakers in the top-order, who thrived on his trusting approach, but was always on hand to avert the intermittent crises that are part and parcel of a developing cricket team. Usually he would be successful as well.

The ten-day long dispute between the Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) and 13 striking players appears to be over after the Kenya National Sports Council (KNSC) brokered a truce between the two parties.”The first move is to settle the players’ salary arrears, then other things will follow,” said Joshua Okuthe, the KNSC chairman. “We have asked the players to work out the tabulation of what they are owed and forward it to us. We will then forward the same to KCA.”The intervention by the KNSC came after Ochillo Ayacko, the minister for sport, got involved.One by-product of the negotiations was that a Players’ Welfare Committee was agreed which would formulate future contracts for players and take up all issues relating to player welfare.But it is by no means certain that the players that went on strike will automatically be drafted back into the side. Steve Tikolo, who acted as their unofficial spokesman, was openly critical of Andy Moles, the coach, and Moles and the selectors are believed to be impressed with the performances of the replacements who played against Namibia at the weekend.Tikolo claims the striking players are still owed around US$4,000 (£2,250) from the World Cup last year, where Kenya reached the semi-finals. He is also demanding a one-year extension to their contracts, which expired on September 30.”We want all our outstanding allowances and the salaries from last month to be paid in full before we start everything on a clean sheet,” said Tikolo. “We don’t want the same scenario to repeat itself in the future.”What is certain is that Hitesh Modi will continue as captain. He scored 138 not out in the eight-wicket win over Namibia in the first one-dayer in the three-match series on Tuesday.

Scorecard

Daniel Marsh led a blistering offensive to guide Tasmania within one run of an extraordinary Pura Cup victory over Western Australia at the WACA. Andrew Downton needed two runs off the last ball but managed just a single as Tasmania fell an agonising one run short of their victory target of 387 in 75 overs.Marsh had guided them towards an unlikely win with an unbeaten 111 off 95 balls, but his efforts counted for nothing as WA had already claimed the first-innings points. The match, in which the scores were tied, was declared a draw for the purpose of points.Marsh’s efforts were countered by an extraordinary debut performance from Ben Edmondson, a Queenslander who arrived in Perth only five days ago. He was handed the responsibility of bowling the last over of the day with Tasmania requiring seven runs to win. Edmondson, who finished with 3 for 47, was a shock selection today, brought in to replace Brad Williams who left midway through the afternoon to report for Test duty in Adelaide.Bowling the final over to the red-hot Marsh, Edmondson managed a dot ball, and then a short one which Marsh top-edged into his face. Edmondson kept his cool, and Marsh had another swing and miss before bottom-edging a four past his leg stump off the fourth delivery. Just when things looked bleak for WA Marsh nudged a single to short man to put Downton on strike. Downton moved across his stumps in extravagant fashion but only tickled it to leg, and there was no chance of the winning run.The match had appeared to be drifting towards a draw by tea, with Tasmania 3 for 138, still needing 249 runs from 37 overs. But a fifth-wicket stand of 128 runs off 110 balls between Marsh and Michael Dighton (88) kick-started the innings and set up the gripping finale.Western Australia had batted on for most of the morning, with Williams grabbing the early wickets of Jamie Cox (11) and Scott Mason (13) before hot-footing it for the airport. Some balls kept low and others deviated wildly on a deteriorating wicket, but Williams was unable to add any more wickets before his departure. He was replaced, in accordance with Pura Cup rules, by Edmondson.Murray Goodwin completed his hundred shortly before Western Australia declared, and the epic run-chase started.

Ravi Rampaul, a 19-year-old fast bowler from Trinidad and Tobago, has been named in West Indies’ 16-man squad for the tour to Zimbabwe. Rampaul is the only new face in the squad, as the selectors decided to stick with the players who performed creditably in the home series against Australia and Sri Lanka earlier this year. The bowling line-up includes Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards, both of whom made their debuts in the series against Sri Lanka. Jermaine Lawson, who is undergoing remedial work on his action after being reported by the umpires during the last Test against Australia, has been omitted.West Indies will play two Tests and five one-day internationals in Zimbabwe, with the first Test starting in Harare on November 4.Squad
Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Daren Ganga, Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh Jr (wk), Ridley Jacobs (wk), Omari Banks, Vasbert Drakes, Jerome Taylor, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Mervyn Dillon, Ravi Rampaul.

This one promises to be special. West Indies v India will take a backseat for a while as Trinidad gears up to toast one of its most famous sons. As he walks out to bat at the Queen’s Park Oval, in front of his adoring home crowd, Brian Lara may feel a gush of emotion. It’s probably the last time he will wear his maroon colours there. Don’t miss it for anything.”Sunday will be an emotional experience,” said Lara while looking ahead to the clash. “It will be a momentous occasion. It’s Trinidad & Tobago and the ovation and the love is always there. I know every blade of grass here at the Queen’s Park Oval. I always try my hardest to do something special.”He’s already played a special innings; but the Lara lightning often strikes twice. “Winning the match on Sunday is very important. We may rest a few key players and not have a full-strength side and if we can still win it, it will show we have distanced ourselves from India.” Despite wrapping up the series, Lara hasn’t allowed the party to start yet. “We need to realise the importance of Sunday. And we have a lot of cricket coming up. There’s the ICC Champions Trophy and there’s a long, hard tour of Pakistan.”As Lara and his men relaxed on match eve, India opted for a short practice stint. Yuvraj Singh, who had missed the third game because of a back spasm, and Ajit Agarkar, who was hit on the chin yesterday, didn’t take part and were unlikely to take the field tomorrow. Robin Uthappa, the young opening batsman from Karnataka, would probably get his first game of the series while Venugopal Rao and Rudra Pratap Singh could also be included.Rahul Dravid also hinted that Virender Sehwag could be demoted down the order. India’s progress has often been stalled in the middle-overs, with Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels bowling restrictive lengths, and Sehwag’s ability to hit over the top would come in handy.Sewnarine Chattergoon and Dave Mohammed, the left-arm spinner, were the new faces that West Indies were likely to try out. But they will require to make one heck of a contribution if they harbour hopes of diverting the attention, all of which will be reserved for the genius from Santa Cruz.Teams (probable) India 1 Robin Uthappa, 2 Rahul Dravid (capt), 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Mohammad Kaif, 5 Venugopal Rao, 6 Irfan Pathan, 7 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 8 Ramesh Powar, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Sreesanth, 11 Rudra Pratap SinghWest Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Sewnarine Chattergoon, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Brian Lara (capt), 5 Wavell Hinds, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Dwayne Smith, 8 Denesh Ramdin, 9 Ian Bradshaw, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Dave Mohammed