All posts by h716a5.icu

Kumar Sangakkara has slammed Sri Lanka Cricket for “creating” a narrative that brought his loyalty into question, even as he confirmed he will play for Kandurata Maroons over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Champions League

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Aug-2013Kumar Sangakkara has slammed Sri Lanka Cricket for “creating” a narrative that brought his loyalty into question, even as he confirmed he will play for Kandurata Maroons over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Champions League.He said he is ultimately happy to represent his home province, but was perturbed by the manner in which the board publicly framed his situation, which he does not believe ever entailed a question of country loyalty. Sangakkara will lose $140,000 from his IPL salary as a result of his decision.”I was quite upset that there were statements released by individuals in an official capacity, where my loyalty to the country was brought into question,” Sangakkara told ESPNcricinfo. “The statements were made to put me at a disadvantage and to make me appear in a very bad light. Certain individuals’ efforts to isolate me as a player misled the public and inflamed the issue further.”Well-placed comments have twisted this into a country versus money, which it is definitely not, because this is a franchise-based tournament where franchises play franchises. It was made out to sound like I was choosing money over country.”Sangakkara’s comments were ostensibly aimed at SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga, who had told ESPNcricinfo the board would prefer Kandurata’s IPL players played “for their country” in the Champions League.Sangakkara also took a dim view of the board’s professing it did not mind losing out on the $150,000 sum a foreign franchise must pay if a cricketer plays for the overseas franchise over his local qualifying team, as it did not parallel the loss he would have to incur personally.”There’s been a statement made that SLC was willing to lose $150,000 by getting me to play for Kandurata. I think the true picture is that I incurred a considerable financial loss out of my salary, and the board incurs a financial loss of $150,000 out of approximately $1.5 million that they will earn through the Champions League, via player commissions of 10% on each players’ contract, plus the half a million dollars the Champions League pays for franchise participation. I think there is little or no comparison in the amounts lost. None of the board members or anyone else loses individually, but the player suffers.”The real matter is not the financial penalty, but the issue of principle. This is not a country versus money issue, but it was created to be so, and I as a player was left alone to be caught in the middle of it.”Since I got my first contract in 2003, I haven’t taken any money to play for my club. I haven’t taken any of the prize money from the domestic championships. I haven’t taken any money to play in the provincials or any prize money. I’ve always redistributed that money either to the side, or in the case of my club, to the workers at the club, because I think as a matter of principle; because I hold a national contract, I shouldn’t charge for playing first-class cricket in Sri Lanka. “Ranatunga had first indicated the board would like Kandurata’s IPL players to represent their home province on August 17 – the same day Kandurata qualified for the Champions League – but Sangakkara said the board had not asked him to play for Kandurata until a meeting on Tuesday evening.”The first time I heard directly that they wanted me to play for Kandurata was on Tuesday – the same day I arrived from the West Indies. I was called in for a meeting and met with a few representatives from SLC. I was told that they expected me to play for Kandurata, and I said if that’s the case, and if they are informing me at such a late hour, that I’m happy for them to speak to the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise and also the Champions League, to see if that could be done in a respectful and amicable way, and I would await the outcome.”Being contacted at the last minute, and told that SLC wished me to play for Kandurata, it all seemed a bit surreal to me. At the same time, SLC failed to mediate a workable solution, so I had to make a decision on my own. I decided to stay with Kandurata and absorb the considerable financial loss.”Sangakkara said he had already inquired about a possible release from Sunrisers even before the board approached him formally. “When I qualified with Kandurata on the 17th, I contacted Sunrisers through my representative and asked them if I was not an essential member of the squad and if they were looking to release me to play for Kandurata. Without making any bones about it, they said they can’t release me because I’m going to be an integral part of the squad, even if they can’t guarantee me a spot in the first XI.”Things after that took a very different turn. A very wrong image of the choice that was to be made was presented to the public.”Sangakkara said he had spoken with Sunrisers after having made his decision, and found them to be understanding and supportive of him. “I’m very happy to represent Kandurata. I have no issue with Sunrisers Hyderabad and, at the end of the day, this is my profession – this is how I make a living. I’m pretty happy to have made the decision that I did.”He will now join the Kandurata side as they prepare for the Champions League qualifiers, which begin on September 17.

Jesse Ryder, the New Zealand batsman, is in a critical condition in hospital after being assaulted late on Wednesday evening in Christchurch

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-2013Jesse Ryder, the New Zealand batsman, is in an induced coma in hospital after being assaulted twice late on Wednesday evening in Christchurch. Ryder, 28, is in intensive care after suffering a fractured skull, which Christchurch Police believe happened in the second of the two attacks.The first assault took place at about 12.30am outside the Aikman’s Bar in a Christchurch suburb Merivale, where Ryder had been out with Wellington team-mates and friends following their loss to Canterbury to mark the end of the season. The second attack occurred minutes later at the entrance to the car park of a McDonald’s across the road, where the other Wellington players had gone to order food.”An altercation has taken place on the footpath outside Aikman’s involving Jesse and a group of at least two other males. The altercation was brief,” Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Archer told reporters in Christchurch. “Following that incident, Ryder and two other persons walked across the road towards McDonald’s, where his Wellington team-mates had been purchasing some food. A second altercation has taken place at the entrance to the McDonald’s car park, involving one of the males from the earlier group.”In that incident it appears Jesse has been the victim of a serious assault and has suffered head injuries as a result. Ambulance and police were called about at 12.44am. Jesse was taken to hospital where he remains in intensive care.”The hospital advise that Jesse is in a critical condition, he is in an induced coma as a result of suffering multiple injuries. He is still being assessed for a number of injuries and we are not prepared to discuss that any further.”Archer said that while police had “positive lines of inquiry”, they had not yet identified Ryder’s attackers. CCTV footage from Aikman’s and McDonald’s is being reviewed, he said. “We believe at least 10 or more people have witnessed some of the events, and we’ve been speaking to witnesses throughout the day. There are CCTV cameras in the area and we’re going through the process of downloading and reviewing that footage.”At the moment we have not identified the people involved in the incident, but we do have positive lines of inquiry, and we will be focusing on identifying and finding those people, and speaking to them.”Although the Wellington players had been at a licensed premises during the evening, at this stage there is no evidence that alcohol was a contributing factor to the assault. We are asking any witnesses to contact police and calling for people involved to come forward and speak to us about it.”Merivale McDonalds, where Jesse Ryder was found by police and taken to hospital•Getty ImagesRyder, who played 18 Tests for New Zealand before going into a self-imposed exile from international cricket for the last year, was due to leave for India on Friday to join the Delhi Daredevils ahead of the start of the IPL season on April 3. In January, he ruled out a return for New Zealand, despite his impressive domestic form.Before embarking on his sabbatical from international cricket, Ryder had been dropped from New Zealand’s ODI side after breaking team protocols concerning alcohol. In 2008, again in Christchurch, he injured his hand when putting it through a glass window after a drinking session.Peter Clinton, the Cricket Wellington chief executive, said Ryder was not in breach of his contract by being at the bar, and also that no team rules had been breached over the course of the night.”It was not a violation of his contract, no,” Clinton said. “There are some alcohol protocols around the team, as there are with other sports. My understanding of the events as described by the police was that those protocols were met last evening, so from that point of view we don’t have any direct concerns that Jesse was with his team-mates last night.”Heath Mills, chief executive of the New Zealand Players Association, said numerous cricketers around the country were in shock at the news of the assault, and Ryder’s serious condition.”Obviously the cricket community’s very shocked at what’s happened to Jesse. He’s obviously in a serious condition,” Mills said. “It’s a sad day for us, a number of players around the country are in shock, our focus now is on Jesse and his well-being.”The Daredevils’ team director, TA Sekar, called the incident “very unfortunate”. He had spoken to Ryder two days ago. “He was looking forward to come, and he was supposed to board the flight for Delhi tomorrow,” Sekar said. According to him, the franchise had bid for Ryder because he was a worthy batsman to replace Kevin Pietersen who, before he got injured, was contracted to play 11 matches in the season. Sekar said the franchise would seek a replacement soon.David White, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, expressed his sorrow at events via a statement: “We are all shocked by what has occurred and extremely concerned for Jesse. New Zealand Cricket’s thoughts are with him and his family.”New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor added: “Thinking of you mate [Jesse] Ryder.” Ryder’s manager, Aaron Klee, wrote on his Twitter page: “Thanks for the calls and msgs of support for Jesse. Just heading to [Christchurch] to see him.”

Leicestershire’s decision to bowl first backfired as Kent racked up 406 on the first day at Grace Road with half-centuries from Brendan Nash, Geraint Jones and Matt Coles.

17-Apr-2013
ScorecardGeraint Jones top-scored with 67•Getty ImagesLeicestershire’s decision to bowl first backfired as Kent racked up 406 on the first day at Grace Road with half-centuries from Brendan Nash, Geraint Jones and Matt Coles.More than half the Kent total came in boundaries as a young Leicestershire attack struggled to keep control in the windy conditions. Jones and Coles shared a seventh-wicket stand of 104 in 19 overs, with Coles letting loose in a 63-ball stay. In all Kent scored 216 runs in boundaries, hitting 51 fours and two sixes.It was the second successive game in which Leicestershire have conceded more than 400 runs after putting the opposition into bat, having suffered the same fate last week against Hampshire.Leicestershire’s cause was not helped when Matthew Hoggard, their most experienced bowler, trudged off the field after a five-over spell before lunch and did not reappear for the rest of the day.Nathan Buck, Alex Wyatt and Anthony Ireland had already been ruled out because of injury, leaving the home side’s seam attack seriously weakened. Kent cashed in, scoring at well over four runs an over throughout the day as the boundaries flowed following the early run out of Sam Northeast. Rob Key, also fell before lunch for 41, top edging a bouncer from Robbie Williams to Shiv Thakor at fine leg.With Nash, Mike Powell, Darren Stevens and James Tredwell back in the pavilion by mid-afternoon, leaving Kent 207 for 6, Leicestershire looked to have a chance of keeping the total to a respectable level. But the partnership between Jones and Coles put Kent well on top and by tea they had reached a healthy 283 without further loss.Jones reached his 50 off 70 balls with five fours and Coles hit a six and eight fours in a 51-ball half-century. He was stumped attempting one big hit too many off Jigar Naik. Jones was then trapped lbw for 67 by the same bowler but still Leicestershire were unable to bring the innings to a close.Callum Haggett hit 40 and Mark Davies 41 as the last two wickets added 89 runs to give Kent maximum batting points, before Haggett was caught at midwicket off Naik, who finished with 4 for 97 off 21.5 overs.

South Africa Women beat West Indies Women by 80 runs in the first of the five ODIs played in St Kitts

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jan-2013
ScorecardA combined bowling effort from South Africa Women, led by Dane van Niekerk’s five-wicket haul, secured a comfortable 80-run win over West Indies Women in St Kitts, in the first of five ODIs. Niekerk, a 19-year old legspinner, took a hat-trick and achieved her career-best figures to restrict West Indies to 126.Chasing 207, West Indies faltered in the first over when they lost opener Stafanie Taylor for a duck. They were soon 24 for 3 as Marizanne Kapp (2 for 17) got rid of both the openers. Merissa Aguilleira stitched a stable and brisk 65-run partnership with Deandra Dottin (26), but once the captain was dismissed, Dane van Niekerk ran through the lower order as the hosts lost their last six wickets for 34 runs.South Africa had earlier chosen to bat after winning the toss and their openers put up 49 for the first wicket. Trisha Chetty and Mignon du Preez steered them past the 100-run mark but once this partnership was broken, West Indies did not let any batsman settle down and took their next four wickets for 18 runs. Cameos from Yolandi Potgieter and Sunette Loubser took them to 206, which proved to be too much for the hosts.

Brendon McCullum has heaped the ultimate praise on his opposite number Alastair Cook, calling him the best since Bradman

Andrew McGlashan in Wellington13-Mar-2013Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain, has heaped the ultimate praise on his opposite number Alastair Cook saying, on current form, he is as good as anyone who has played after Donald Bradman. Cook, who scored his 24th Test hundred in Dunedin, laughed off the shock comparison.The century at University Oval was Cook’s fourth hundred in five overseas Tests during the 2012-13 season, following a monumental series against India. But while his feats have rightly been acknowledged as putting him on the path to being labelled a great, it is rare to be uttered in the same sentence as Bradman who ended his career with the immortal average of 99.94. The next best on the list is Graeme Pollock (60.97), then George Headley (60.83). The highest average for a current player is Kumar Sangakkara’s at 56.54.McCullum, though, did not hold back his praise after being asked a question about how New Zealand planned to quell Cook’s run-scoring feats. “He’s obviously a genius batsman, his record is testament to that,” McCullum said. “Where he is at in his career at the moment, he’s as good as anyone who has played the game, probably barring Bradman.”Cook’s response, after being taken aback by the comparison, was: “It’s very nice of him to say that. I’m not quite sure where he’s got that from.” There was also plenty of mutual respect as Cook acknowledged McCullum’s recent form. The New Zealand captain has scored five half-centuries in seven innings across all formats against England, including 74 off 59 balls in Dunedin. “You could talk about his genius batting. The way he hits the ball sometimes,” Cook said.Cook’s current Test average of 49.60 places him 40th on the averages list, currently sat between Inzamam-ul-Haq and Denis Compton. Current contemporaries above him include AB de Villiers, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Younis Khan, Michael Clarke, Jacques Kallis and Sachin Tendulkar. Purely as a comparison, if you take the point from after last year’s World Twenty20 when Test cricket resumed, Cook’s average of 76.44 places him third, behind Cheteshwar Pujara and Clarke among batsmen who have played at least five innings.Cook, though, remains modest about his achievements. “You never quite feel on top of the game,” he said. “What was pleasing for me was, after a few starts in the one-dayers here and in India, but [with] no match-winning score, I managed to get that bigger one in the first Test. I seemed to hit the ball okay.” A modest oulook from a man compared to the immortal Bradman.

Ben Hilfenhaus wants Australia to prove why they are the top-ranked ODI side ahead of next year’s return to England for the Ashes

Daniel Brettig06-Jul-2012Ben Hilfenhaus is a man of few words, so to hear him speak passionately of a desire to avoid a third consecutive Ashes defeat is to gain a rare glimpse of the Tasmanian’s drive. A valiant performer in England in 2009 but a less illustrious one in Australia in 2010-11, Hilfenhaus let his usual public guard down when casting his mind forward to 2013.Having reconstructed his bowling action and added diversity to his approach following a horrid tilt at England last time around, Hilfenhaus is now a valued part of Australia’s Test side. He is a more peripheral character in ODI cricket, as demonstrated by his sitting out the first two matches of this series. Nonetheless, Hilfenhaus has found reconnaissance value in the trip to England, and two defeats have clearly stirred up the pain of previous Ashes encounters.”I definitely think we’ve got unfinished business,” Hilfenhaus said. “I’ve lost two Ashes series now. I definitely don’t want to be a part of a third losing one that’s for sure, and I think there are a lot of blokes who feel exactly the same way. I’m not looking too far ahead at this stage, but it will be a pretty big series for us.”You always love to beat the Poms. We didn’t have the ideal start to the one-day series and I think in the last two games of the series we’re definitely going to show them what we are made of, that we are the No.1 team in the world. It’s nice to be playing in these conditions and get a feel for them again, and just have a little reminder of the things we need to work on.”Accompanying Hilfenhaus and the rest of Australia’s bowlers on the tour is the Tasmania bowling coach Ali de Winter, a contender for the full-time role vacated earlier this year by Craig McDermott. Hilfenhaus and de Winter have developed a rich understanding over the years and, after McDermott identified several problem areas following the last Ashes series, de Winter was the man to put his bowling action back together, with the aid of extensive fitness and strength work following two years of knee niggles.”He noticed my action had changed a little bit and realised what we needed to change to get back to where we wanted it. He definitely played a very big role in that,” Hilfenhaus said. “I had a bit of time off and got the body strong again and slowly worked on it, and still will continue to work on it every day to make sure old habits don’t creep back in.”I find the body is weird. Just about every fast bowler’s got niggles and whatever else, but in my case my action changed a little bit because of that, without me ever knowing. That was a bit of a wake-up call to keep an eye on those things, to make sure in the future it doesn’t happen again.”Waqar Younis is another authority on fast bowling to have raised his hand for the Cricket Australia job, and like McDermott would offer a wealth of knowledge derived from bowling in Test matches. De Winter’s path to the same job is rather different but Hilfenhaus said his mentor was as adept at tactical advice as technical tweaks.”I personally find that he is very good technically to me, he understands the way I bowl pretty well, and he picks up things really easy,” Hilfenhaus said. “Tactically he is very good as well, but for me personally it is more the technical side of things. I am sure he is having a look at everyone else’s actions as well and trying to find ways to help them improve.Ben Hilfenhaus had a tough time during the 2010-11 Ashes•Getty Images”If I am doing things technically correct, that will help my chances at the other end, and some other people might be different. Some people need to be told all these tactics about bowling and these sorts of things, someone like myself I need to be told to keep things technically correct to give myself the best chance to perform my skills.”I rate Ali pretty highly and I’m sure once the other blokes have had a bit more to do with him, they’ll say exactly the same thing.”George Bailey, the Tasmania captain and a fellow England tourist this year, has said that Hilfenhaus has at times needed to be convinced of change being worthwhile in order to carry through with it. In the past 12 months he has done plenty of learning, including a successful stint in the IPL, and so far is reaping rewards from a more open-minded approach.”To be honest I do like staying in my comfort zone a little bit, I like sticking to the things that I know work,” Hilfenhaus said. “I still have a few things to prove in the shorter form of the game, I’ll keep chipping away and hopefully my skills can get to the stage where I’m a permanent member.”A permanent member of the one-day team, and an Ashes winner, perhaps.

In a spell that stretched from the end of day two to the post lunch session on day three in Jamaica, Deonarine put on a show of accurate off spin that claimed four top-order New Zealand batsmen

Subash Jayaraman in Jamaica05-Aug-2012All the pre-series talk was about the off spinner from Trinidad who was going to run circles around the New Zealand batsmen; no one could have predicted that it would be Narsingh Deonarine who would be dealing the decisive blows. In a spell that stretched from the end of day two to the post lunch session on day three in Jamaica, Deonarine put on a show of accurate off spin, controlling the loop, keeping the New Zealand batsmen pinned to the crease and, importantly, claiming four top-order batsmen with it.It was not really a surprise that Darren Sammy leaned on Deonarine to bowl unchanged in a 17-over spell. After all, he was the third-highest wicket-taker for West Indies in the home series against Australia earlier this year. For someone considered a part-time spinner, generally brought on to give to the frontline bowlers a break, that isn’t too shabby.When Sammy threw the ball to Deonarine, towards the close of play on day two, with only three overs to go, no one could have expected the kind of indelible mark he would leave on the match. Guptill and BJ Watling had seen through the tough early period and had pushed New Zealand’s lead to 106. Seven deliveries later, with no runs conceded and both openers gone lbw, West Indies were back on top.The batsmen could be faulted for playing on the back foot, and deep within the crease, but credit must be given to Deonarine for pushing them back and beating the attempted onside strokes with the turn he generated on a second day Sabina Park pitch. “Looking at the New Zealand batsmen, variation was the key. I think we have outfoxed them with flight, slower [through] the air and the quicker ball as well,” Deonarine said. “They keep hanging out on the back foot. We just worked them out, and the slower we bowl, harder it is for them to play.”Looking at the numbers from this Test, it is safe to say Deonarine has out-bowled his fellow Trinidad spinner, Sunil Narine. With fast bowlers expected to do most of the damage on this pitch, it was a pleasant surprise for West Indies that Deonarine took six of 20 wickets. He technically may not be the “lead spinner” in the side, but he thinks like one: “Whenever the skipper gives me the ball, I want to do my best. [I look to] just take wickets, whenever I get my chance.”Deonarine was called upon by his captain even in the first innings, just as a threatening stand between Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill was taking shape. Then, he enticed a false stroke from Williamson just before tea on day one, but could not hold on to the hard return chance offered. He made amends when he lured Williamson into swishing at a wide delivery that was pouched by Sammy at first slip. He topped off the effort with the wicket of Kruger van Wyk, pushing him into indecision with his delicate control of flight and length. In the second innings, again, he had Williamson wafting outside off, and Brendon McCullum, off a simple bat-pad catch, to round off his match-haul of six.Many may have thought he was just filling the role of a backup spinner but he pointed out that he is “accustomed to bowling 30 or 40 overs [for Guyana in first-class cricket]”, and it’s nothing new to him, bowling long spells like he did on Saturday.Now, he is quite confident about the West Indies knocking off the remaining 71 runs to win the Test series 2-0. The bedrock of West Indies batting, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, was out in the middle at stumps, but if required (and weather permitting), Deonarine would be ready to do the job too. Would he have had a nervous night then? The expectedly confident reply: “No, not at all.”

A round-up of Friday’s matches in the MiWAY T20 Challenge

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Mar-2012Some manic, late hitting from Chris Morris almost gave Lions a remarkable comeback win, but Cape Cobras hung on to win by just one run at Newlands. The contest seemed over when Lions were left needing 44 runs off three overs, with four wickets in hand, to overhaul Cobras’ 180. Morris hit two fours, and Thami Tsolekile one, to take 17 runs off Justin Kemp in the 18th over, but only seven came off the next, bowled by Brad Hogg, leaving Lions 20 to win off the last. Morris hit Charl Langeveldt’s second ball over backward point, his fourth through midwicket and fifth over extra cover, all for fours, and Lions needed four off the last ball. Morris could only manage to drive the ball to long-on and Lions fell one run short.It should never have got that close for Cobras, who put up an impressive total and then took quick wickets to peg Lions back after Jonathan Vandiar’s 59 off 38 balls had got the chase off to a brisk start.Cobras reached 180 thanks to Owais Shah’s 79 not out off 44 balls. Shah came in after Cobras had lost their openers early and was watchful initially, before breaking free with two leg-side boundaries in the eighth over. He worked the ones and twos in the middle overs, and then exploded in the end. He smashed Dirk Nannes for three consecutive fours in the 16th over, hit two fours and a six in the next one, bowled by Morris, and collected two more boundaries off Sohail Tanvir in the 20th. Shah was assisted by Dane Vilas, who scored 49 not out off 31 balls, including three big sixes.

Jandre Coetzee’s remarkable bowling performance helped Knights win a low-scoring match against Warriors, in Port Elizabeth, by 13 runs, and move to second in the table. Coetzee, the left-arm medium-pacer, took three wickets and conceded just seven runs in his four overs, which included a maiden, as Knights defended 127. Coetzee struck with the first ball of the second innings, getting rid of the dangerous JJ Smuts. He was taken out of the attack after just one over, and Warriors got their chase on track through Colin Ingram’s boundary-filled 53. Two wickets fell in the tenth over, bowled by offspinner Werner Coetsee – Ingram was run out and Johan Botha out caught – but Warriors were still favourites at 84 for 4 in 12 oversCoetzee then came back and took two wickets in three balls to derail the chase. He was held back again, and when he came on to bowl the 17th over, delivered a maiden, which causes the required-rate to rise from 7.00 to 9.33. His next over, the 19th, went for just four runs, and sealed the win.Knights had started off briskly in their innings but the boundaries become harder to find in the middle overs and then completely disappeared in the last five. Obus Pienaar’s 39 off 34 balls had given Knights a solid base, but their middle and lower order could not build on it, and only 26 runs came off the last five overs to keep the total to 127. They needed a good bowling performance to win, and they got one.

Titans and Dolphins shared the points after their match at SuperSport Park was abandoned after 10.3 overs. The match was delayed after 2.2 overs due to lightning. The players came back out but could only play a few more overs before the rain came and washed the game out.

Ijaz Butt will continue in his role as the PCB’s chairman until Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari decides on whether to extend his tenure

Umar Farooq08-Oct-2011Ijaz Butt will continue in his role as the PCB’s chairman until Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the Patron of the board, decides on whether to extend his tenure. The matter is under consideration at the moment, and till a decision is arrived at, the incumbent will continue in office.Butt, whose constitutional three-year tenure ended today, left for Dubai to attend the ICC’s executive board meeting, putting to an end speculation of an immediate removal. “The matter of the extension of his tenure is under consideration,” the president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar told ESPNcricinfo. “As per the normal practice in our governmental system, anyone whose tenure ends can carry on with [the president’s] consent.”So, while the case of his extension is being considered, he can work.”Butt took over from Nasim Ashraf on October 8, 2008 and, unlike several of his predecessors, completed his tenure – in the previous decade and a half Tauqir Zia, Shahryar Khan and Ashraf all had to step down before their tenure ran out.His tenure, though, has been plagued with controversies, including the armed attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore that resulted in Pakistan being denied the chance to co-host the 2011 World Cup, the spot-fixing scandal (and the problems with the ECB in its aftermath when Butt made controversial accusations against the England team), Zulqarnain Haider’s fleeing to the UK mid-way through a tour after receiving threats from bookies and, most recently, a much-publicised clash with Shahid Afridi.Pakistan’s on-field results in the same period though were commendable, the highlights being the team’s triumph in the World Twenty20 in England in 2009, the semi-final finish in the 2011 World Cup and a successful tour of New Zealand.

Hobart Hurricanes won their fourth game in a row, thanks to a collective effort from their bowlers and an unbeaten 45 from Owais Shah in the chase against Sydney Thunder

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jan-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Owais Shah steered Hobart Hurricanes home in the chase•Getty ImagesHobart Hurricanes won their fourth game in a row, thanks to a collective effort from their bowlers and an unbeaten 45 from Owais Shah in the chase against Sydney Thunder.The Hurricanes bowlers, after Thunder chose to bat, bowled economical spells, three of them going for under six an over. An explosive start from Chris Gayle, who made 53 in 32 balls, smashing five sixes, and his 53-run stand with Sean Abbott threatened to take the game away from the Hurricanes. Xavier Doherty, the left-arm spinner, came in for stick, conceding 45 in his four overs. But from 114 for 2, Thunder slipped to 138 for 8. Naved-ul-Hasan picked up three wickets and was ably supported by Matt Johnston and Ben Laughlin.The Hurricanes, in their chase, lost Phil Jacques in the first over but Jonathan Wells and Travis Birt put together a half-century stand for the second wicket. Wells was the third wicket to fall after a patient 29, but Shah and Tom Triffitt added 38 for the fourth wicket. Despite the loss of a couple of quick wickets, Shah kept the charge on from one end, making an unbeaten 41 in 32 balls and steering Hurricanes to victory by five wickets.