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The BCCI is planning to reduce match fees for international cricketers once a contract system is introduced. According to The Times of India, Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s joint secretary, has said that the pay cut for both, Tests and one-dayers, would be Rs 65,000.”There is a likelihood that the match fees for Tests and one-day internationals would be cut down by around Rs 65,000,” said Shetty. “But this is not final. The suggestion is that cricketers making the playing 11 would get Rs Two lakh for a Test, compared to Rs 2.68 lakh they are getting now. For one-dayers the amount works out to Rs 1.60 lakh as compared to the Rs 2.35 lakh they are getting now.” He added that the board would most likely implement the team’s suggestion about giving reserve players half of what the playing 11 received.* * *In the same paper, Sourav Ganguly reacted with disbelief when he was told that VVS Laxman, who has averaged 74.75 since January 2003, grumbled about being perpetually on trial. “VVS on trial? You’ve got to be joking,” said Ganguly. “His is one of the first names to be put down on paper by the selectors. I don’t see any question marks against his name.”He touched on the debate about the openers, saying, “Today Yuvraj [Singh] is ready for Tests and I see no reason why he should not get a shot at the top of the order. Just imagine both Viru [Virender Sehwag] and Yuvi firing together! Gee, it gives me goosebumps!”* * *Laxman again, and he talks of the record Test score in The Indian Express. “I’ve my sights on 400,” he says, “but only when the team needs it. It should come when the team requires it the most.” Laxman’s best score in Tests (281) was also India’s highest score for three years, until Sehwag’s 309 earlier this year.He spoke about his evolving game and experiences. “My shot selection has improved,” he said. “It’s not that I am playing lesser shots. Only, they are more risk-free. Also, I am able to judge the wickets better.”* * *Most of the Indian players were unable to follow the football too closely because of the training camp, but they all had their favourites, according to The Indian Express. Zaheer Khan likes Zidane and Henry, and in the event of the French faltering, he’s got van Nistelrooy and David Beckham as well. Laxman doesn’t follow the game much anymore, but France find favour with him too. Rahul Dravid likes Ronaldo, Rohan Gavaskar thinks Italy or the Czech Republic could win, Mohammad Kaif prefers Portugal, and Lakshmipathy Balaji prefers sleep. Yuvraj, though, has a way of watching the games. “Train, sleep, watch matches and again sleep.”But no one bends it like Badani. His favourites are France and he thinks Beckham is overrated by the English press. “I am not an idiot, though,” says Hemang Badani, presumably speaking about his understanding of football.

Duleep Mendis will be the coach for Sri Lanka’s forthcoming tour to the West Indies after the Lankan board (BCCSL) failed to find a suitable long-termreplacement for Dav Whatmore.Mendis, a former Sri Lankan captain, was appointed as an interim coach forthe recent New Zealand Test series and the Bank Alfalah Cup after Whatmorerequested early leave from his contract which expires at the end of May.The board had hoped to find a permanent replacement in time for the WestIndies tour but the leading candidates – Bob Woolmer, John Bracewell, SteveRixon and Graham Ford – all made themselves unavailable.”Duleep (Mendis) will continue for the West Indies tour,” confirmed AnuraTennekoon, the BCCSL chief executive. "When the new cricket board comes inwe will have to decide whether to advertise or to headhunt for a new coach.”Other contenders for the post include Greg Chappell, the former Australian captain and coach of South Australia, who has indicated that he would not beinterested in a full-time job, and John Dyson, the former Australian batsman.

Sussex appeared to have made promotion a formality by batting Warwickshire out of realistic contention on a low-key third day out at Edgbaston.Needing only a draw to confirm First Division status next year, the south coast county established an imposing lead of 397 thanks to centuries by Richard Montgomerie and Chris Adams.They lost only two wickets in six-and-a-half hours while adding 312 and they may yet make the game watertight by building on their total of 324 for 3 on the last morning.Warwickshire had one success in the first hour when nightwatchman James Kirtley was caught at first slip but began to look a dejected side after missing an opportunity to run out Montgomerie when he had made 40.The opener made his native county pay by taking his second hundred of the season off their bowling and when he was out for 121, he had completed eight centuries in his summer of nearly 1,700 first-class runs.He batted for nearly five-and-a-half hours, hitting 15 fours from 258 balls, and after so much care and application, it was a disappointing conclusion when he hoisted a short delivery from Vasbert Drakes to deep square leg.A third-wicket stand with Adams had yielded 199 and his partner was then on 99 after reaching 1,000 runs in a season for the fifth time in his career.The Sussex captain safely chalked up his third century of the year from 196 balls but remained intent on locking up promotion by cautiously advancing to 132 not as his young partner, Tim Ambrose, made an unbeaten 41 out of 78 in the 26 overs.

After a slow start to their campaign, Guernsey have notched up their second win in consecutive days by beating Botswana by 25 runs at The Padang. Having won the toss, Guernsey’s batsmen made it count and posted a competitive total of 241 for 6. Lee Savident gave his team a sound start with a top score of 65 off 102 balls while Jeremy Frith also contributed a half-century. Stuart Le Prevost, the Guernsey captain, scored a quick 36 and the lower order made useful contributions. Botswana were on course during their run-chase, reaching 108 for 1, before they lost direction. Frith caught and bowled Faisal Rana for 57 and dismissed Karan Kapoor to leave Botswana on 112 for 3. Gary Rich took two crucial middle-order wickets before Jamie Nussbaumer dismissed the last four batsmen. He finished with 4 for 42 as Botswana were dismissed for 216 in the final over.Bahrain put in a powerful all-round performance to crush Norway by 232 runs at the Indian Association Ground. Imran Sajjad and Adil Hanif set up Bahrain’s innings with scores of 68 and 65 respectively before Tahir Dar boosted the total to 304 for 7 by blitzing 54 off 24 balls. Bahrain’s new-ball bowlers, Yaser Sadeq and Halal Abbasi, cut through the Norway top-order, reducing them to 35 for 5, a position from which they never recovered. Not content with an aggressive half-century, Dar took 2 for 13 in six overs while Fahad Sadeq claimed 3 for 16. Norway were shot out for 72 as early as the 28th over. The win ensured Bahrain’s berth in World Cricket League Division 5 next year.”Today we just played our natural game against Norway. In Bahrain we play on matting so it’s taken some time to get used to the turf wicket but today things really came together for us and we just went for it,” Dar said. “We really wanted to create a big target for Norway and the only way for us to do that was to hit the 300 mark, which we did and they failed to make it thanks to our strong bowling.”As for tomorrow’s final against Singapore, we know it’s going to be tough, Singapore have not lost a match this tournament but we’re confident and hopefully we can bring our winning way to the finals.”Singapore maintained their 100% win record by beating Malaysia by four wickets to secure their fifth victory in World Cricket League Division Six at the Kallang Ground. The victory also secured their place in World Cricket League Division five next year. Singapore’s bowlers backed up the decision to send Malaysia in by dismissing them for 183 in 50 overs. Muthuraman Sockalingam top scored with 43 while Mulewa Dharmichand was Singapore’s best bowler, taking 3 for 37. The home side’s chase started poorly when Buddika Mendis was lbw for a duck but Narender Reddy steadied the innings with a patient 64 off 134 balls. He was supported by Monish Arora, who scored 37, as Singapore reached the target in the 47th over.

Former India allrounder WV Raman has been named the batting coach of the National Cricket Academy. The NCA governing board has also appointed TA Sekhar and Narendra Hirwani as the fast bowling and spin bowling coaches respectively.NCA chairman Niranjan Shah told ESPNcricinfo their roles were “full time” and all three men would be stationed in Bangalore, where the NCA is currently located.It is also learnt that academies will be established in each of the five zones, and about 30 coaches will be appointed in January to look after under-16 and under-19 cricketers. “They will also work as Talent and Resources Development Wing (TRDW) officers,” Shah said. “Since the selectors can’t see every player, these coaches can identify talented players and report to the selectors.”The TRDW was set up by former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya in 2001 and was headed by Dilip Vengsakarkar, who is the current director of the NCA. Players like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Piyush Chawla and RP Singh had been identified in this way.An NCA official indicated these five academies will be located in Dharamsala, Ranchi, Nagpur, Vadodara and Wayanad, but Shah said the venues haven’t yet been confirmed.Raman, who has been working on commentary assignments for the BCCI, and Sekhar, who is director at Delhi Daredevils may face some issues regarding conflict of interest. Shah said Raman and Sekar couldn’t continue those roles in accordance with the board’s conflict of interest guidelines. Hirwani had already been in the midst of such an issue, and had voluntarily resigned from his post as Madhya Pradesh selector given his son Mihir represented MP.The BCCI have been trying to reinvigorate the National Cricket Academy and though it has been run out of Bangalore so far, BCCI joint secretary and NCA convener Amitabh Chaudhary said they will look into finding a permanent centre in a month’s time.

Although Dale Benkenstein and Shane Warne were captains with very different emotions when play was abandoned in the Friends Provident final they agreed that third umpire referrals haven’t worked in this year’s tournament.During Durham’s innings there was an occasion where each side could have used the system with some justification. Phil Mustard, batting well on 49, was trapped lbw by James Bruce. However, replays showed the ball pitched a fraction outside leg stump but by the time Mustard asked for a referral it was based on footage from the dressing room.Then, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul on 17, Chris Tremlett had a good shout for lbw turned down and this time the replays looked in favour of the bowler. But Warne didn’t opt to use the third umpire, and said that he had discussed the issue with Benkenstein before the match.”Both of us spoke at the start and we think if there was something obvious that would be the only way we’d refer it otherwise that’s what the umpires are there to do,” before adding that he didn’t think the technology was up to standard. “When you get the technology 100% that’s when you can use referrals, until it’s three dimensional and you see it from every angle there’s no point using it.”Benkenstein was equally lukewarm in his appraisal of the system, which hasn’t seen a single decision overturned during the televised matches of the tournament. “It just doesn’t work,” he said. “Every time you refer something it doesn’t get overturned. I think they need to use all the technology and if they are going to do it, do it 100%.”And the umpires and players must buy into it. At the moment it’s being done half-heartedly. The third umpires just keeping backing the onfield umpires. The umpires have to agree it’s not a negative thing and don’t see it as guys belittling their decision.”

On the heels of a crushing victory over Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) national senior team cricketers enter the final of the US$28 million Stanford 20/20 Tournament on Sunday confident that they are ready to add the final touches to the “big picture”.Turning their back squarely on overconfidence and focusing single-mindedly on game-plan execution last Friday, T&T upset whatever Cinderella plans the Nevis were harbouring with an emphatic 74-run victory in the last semi-final match of the competition, at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Antigua.And the incentive of a US $ 1 million and US $ 500,000 pay out for the champions and runners-up, respectively, is sure to inspire, like it has done in previous games, a scintillating match that should provide another opportunity for the sold-out crowd to observe what has become the standard fare of this competition – sharp and athletic fielding, inspired and probing bowling, with enterprising and daring batting.Those characteristics have certainly been present in the performances of Daren Ganga’s T&T side, whose manager Omar Khan has said his team is totally zoomed on the “big picture” of winning the tournament. And the T&T squad highlighted those traits during their outstanding triumph on Friday.Man-of-the-match and Play-of-the-match winner Kieron Pollard laid the platform for the win with a 38-ball 83 that propelled the local side to an intimidating 210 for 6 off their 20 overs.According to Khan, Pollard’s positioning at number three was a tactical move that reaped great dividends. He said, “We strategised that if we lost an early wicket, we would need someone to raise the momentum of the run rate and Kieron is a natural player, a gifted player with immense power and timing and he went in there and got the job done.”Pollard’s was the kind of effort that made Ganga’s unbeaten 62 off 39 balls pale in comparison. A solid batting output was compounded by the incisive bowling of Mervyn Dillon (3 for 30), while Samuel Badree and Pollard himself secured figures of 2 for 14 and 2 for 19, respectively.”I have always said and continue to maintain,” Khan reasoned, “that once we apply ourselves and play intelligent cricket, we are gonna come out on top.”Khan said that focus ensured that there was no complacency in their approach to Nevis, saying that his team had guarded against that at all times and adopted the mentality of taking it one game at a time. “There is no underestimation of our opponents because we know anybody can show up and play a good game and spoil your plans.”T&T had one last practice yesterday, ahead of today’s final with Guyana, led by Ramnaresh Sarwan, the West Indies middle-order batsman. “We know of the quality of the Guyana side but we are not overawed by them”, Khan added. “We will just execute our plans and adapt and adjust to suit ’cause we are confident in our ability and preparation and know we can win the game.”

The first day of the hearing into allegations of racism by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union at the Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Harare ended early after a ruling that three Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) officials could not be present during certain witnesses’ testimonies.The start of the hearing was delayed by more than two hours as Chris Venturas, speaking on behalf of the rebel players, asked Goolam Vahanvati, India’s solicitor-general, and Steven Majiedt, a South African High Court judge, to remove three men – Ozias Bvute, the board’s acting managing director, the chairman of selectors Max Ebrahim, and Tavengwa Mukuhlani, the Mashonaland Cricket Association chairman – while the players were testifying. Venturas argued that the presence of the trio would be too intimidating.There were angry exchanges when Norman Arendse, the ZCU’s lawyer, made a comment to the first witness while he was giving his testimony. At that time, the three ZCU officials were not present. Reuters reported that during an adjournment, and in full view of journalists, Venturas challenged another member of the ZCU’s legal team about Arendse’s comment.”I’m going to take a walk to cool off,” Venturas told reporters,adding that he could not comment on events. “Sorry, I have been gagged.”The panel decided that while they did not necessarily agree that the players were in danger, there was “no choice but to request the three persons not to be present in the room while the players’ evidence is being recorded”.A statement explained: “We do so making it clear that this request is made only with a view to ensuring that the investigation proceeds further and does not in any way amount to our acceptance of the correctness of the allegations made and of the apprehensions expressed.”A bystander reported that the presence of several “heavies” in the area around the hearing added to the general feeling of unease, while another eyewitness told Wisden Cricinfo that “a clearly angry Bvute and some associates” were seen leaving the hotel shortly after the adjournment.The hearing is due to resume early on Thursday, but there were suggestions that the ZCU was considering not accepting the ruling, which would throw the entire process into doubt.

Imran Khan’s caused a flutter when he omitted Javed Miandad from a list of high-profile guests invited for a lavish party at his residence. Though all the members of the Pakistan and Indian teams were invited for Wednesday’s party, Miandad was conspicuously absent.The News says, “He [Imran] invited the manager Haroon Rasheed, Inzamam and other senior players along with the Indians but blatantly ignored Miandad, making it obvious how much he dislikes seeing him in a position of power.”The newspaper also spoke about Miandad’s reaction to this snub, and said that he had expressed fears of another “revolt” against him.***Yasir Hameed and Mohammad Sami regretted the dropped catches in the series and spoke about how costly those chances had been. The Times of India quoted Hameed as saying, “I haven’t spoken to Inzy bhai even once after I dropped Rahul Dravid on 71. I can’t show him my face. I think it is the pressure of playing against India that forced the mistake.”And there was more. Hameed spoke about how his concentration had wavered while admiring some of India’s batsmen. “There were other dropped catches as well, but I think my mistake cost us the most. I wasn’t expecting a catch at that moment. Sometimes you get so engrossed in watching batsmen like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar that you lose focus on your job.”Sami vividly recalled the moment in Multan when he had dropped Virender Sehwag and went on to describe it as a critical moment in the series. “The moment that stroke was hit towards me in the air, I thought I had covered it. But suddenly it started dropping on me and I lost it at the last moment. I tried hard but didn’t bowl well in this series but I think this was the biggest goof up. I owe an apology to my country.”***According to the Dawn, Hanif Mohammad expressed his disappointment after Pakistan were outplayed in the deciding match at Rawalpindi. Hanif also heaped lavish praise on the Indian bowlers, who had controlled their swing admirably. He said that the Pakistani bowlers laid more emphasis on speed, which eventually proved detrimental to their plans.Intikhab Alam, another former captain, admitted that India outclassed Pakistan in all departments in both the one-day and Test series. While contemplating the reasons for Pakistan’s failure, he said, “Lack of a world-class spinner has been one of the basic reasons. We have destroyed Saqlain Mushtaq while Danish Kaneria will take time to become a class act.”***Sachin Tendulkar took the opportunity after the third Test to clear the air about his statement regarding the declaration at Multan. In a TV show on ESPN Star Sports, he made it very clear that his outburst was an “emotional reaction” and that nothing else should be read into it.”As far as I’m concerned, it’s not at all a controversy. I came to the press conference and the first question asked was, ‘Are you disappointed?’ and I said, ‘Yes, I am disappointed because I was unbeaten on 194’. I think I’m allowed to express my emotions, but that doesn’t mean that the interest of the team is kept aside and individuals come first … It was just an emotional expression and not at all a big issue.”He also clarified that there was absolutely no hassles between Rahul Dravid and himself due to that incident. “Also, there was something mentioned that between me and Dravid and [about] a heated atmosphere. But that wasn’t the case. We just sat together and we sorted out the issue and there was a clear-cut understanding and everything was very transparent.”***Shaharyar Khan, the chairman of the PCB, hinted at some changes in the Pakistan team set-up but insisted that they will not resort to drastic measures. The News quoted him as saying, “Don’t expect any radical changes or steps to be taken because we have lost the series to India. But yes, we have pinpointed some areas of weaknesses where more expertise is required and we will be making some changes.”Shaharyar, while stating that Pakistan had put up a good fight, also cited injuries to key players as being the main reasons for Pakistan’s defeat. “I think they [Pakistan] put up a creditable fight. It was a big effort on their part to win the second Test and level the series because India was a very good side. But we are not going to take any decisions emotionally or in haste. It is true the team has lost both the one-day and the Test series but overall the performance of the boys has not been that bad in the last couple of months. There are also some positive points about this team like the emergence and improvement of some of the younger players.”

Somerset’s newest batting recruit James Bryant has arrived at the County Ground from South Africa to start his new career in English first class cricket, a career that he hopes will eventually lead to him playing international cricket.As he sat looking out across the ground the twenty seven year old who has made his name playing for Eastern Province said: "It’s good to have arrived at last and everybody has made me feel very welcome. The weather is really great and it’s warmer here than I thought that it would be."The South African born player, who is qualified to play county cricket as a non overseas player because of his English parents has been signed by the Cidermen to bolster the top order batting and is expected to bat at number three or four.He told me: "I have come to Somerset to help the club to win promotion, which I think is an achievable goal given the quality of the players that we have. In fact I will need to get some runs early on in the season to be sure of getting my place in the team!"Bryant has an impressive track record in both four day and one-day cricket. He went to university in Port Elizabeth and started playing for the Eastern Province `B’ side before progressing to the first team. As a result of being the leading run scorer for the province in 1999-2000, he was selected to go to the West Indies with the South African A side, an experience that he thoroughly enjoyed.However the tour did not lead to him being called up for the senior side, and despite being the leading run scorer in South African one day cricket the following season he has remained on the side lines, as a result of which he has come to England to try to realise a burning ambition.He told me: "In 2002 -3 I played for Eastern Province as their overseas player and coming over here to play first class cricket is the biggest decision in my cricketing career so far, but if I do well for Somerset then who knows it may lead to me playing for England because my biggest goal is to play international cricket. At present I have a two year contract, but if things go well this might be extended."How would he describe himself as a player I asked. "I’m an attacking batsman and enjoy playing both the four and one day game. I enjoy the quickness and the aggression of the one day game but I also enjoy building an innings in four day cricket. In both forms I play very positive cricket and like to keep the score moving along."In the short time that he had been at Taunton what did he think of what he had seen. "The ground looks lovely and there are lots of short straight boundaries and when the crowds get in there must be a great atmosphere. I knew more or less what to expect because I had a long chat with Jimmy Cook before I left and he gave me the run down. He loved his time over here and told me that it is a good batting strip at Taunton," he told me.Finally I asked if he had a message for the Somerset fans. He told me: "I’ll appreciate any support that the crowds give me and I can promise them that I’m going to go out there and give it my best for the club and hopefully help them to win promotion."