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Manaf Mohamed, who was hired as general manager of the USA Cricket Association in January 2011, has been dismissed by USACA chief executive Darren Beazley

Peter Della Penna28-Jun-2013Manaf Mohamed, who was hired as general manager of the USA Cricket Association in January 2011, has been dismissed by USACA chief executive Darren Beazley. The move came after the USACA decided to terminate the general manager’s position due to its redundant functions.”The termination was due to the elimination of the general manager position,” Mohamed told ESPNcricinfo, when asked about the reason for his removal. “I wasn’t surprised. I was expecting it simply because there was a lot of overflow area between some of the activities that I used to do as the GM and then with the CEO coming in doing a lot of high-level stuff. Knowing something about our funding position, I kind of expected it in the long run. It would all come down to how they manage the budget.”Mohamed, 65, had previously served as USACA’s second vice-president from 2008 until he stepped down from a volunteer position to take on a paid job as general manager in 2011. He was originally hired to fill the administrative void left by the removal of USACA’s first chief executive, Don Lockerbie, who was dismissed in November 2010. The position of a general manager did not exist during Lockerbie’s tenure as CEO, but having a full-time paid administrator is one of the requirements for Associate countries to receive an increased level of ICC funding. With USACA in no rush to hire a new CEO after Lockerbie’s departure, the position of general manager was created, with Mohamed taking on the role.In December 2012, USACA announced that Darren Beazley had been hired to become the next chief executive and he confirmed that the decision was part of a larger re-structuring within USACA.”The role of general manager is no longer necessary with a full-time CEO and the removal of the role is part of a larger re-structure of our HR function that is ongoing,” Beazley said in a written statement. “Manaf has been a diligent servant to the game of cricket here in the US. Whilst we are sorry to see him go in a permanent capacity, I am very pleased that he’ll remain involved in some of the projects that we have coming up. His experience as a previous USACA Board member and paid administrator is very valuable to the future direction of US cricket.”

Wasim Akram has said he will encourage Pakistan’s latest breed of fast bowlers to adopt an aggressive approach in order to be successful

Umar Farooq20-Apr-2013Wasim Akram has said he will encourage Pakistan’s latest breed of fast bowlers to adopt an aggressive approach in order to be successful but he can’t magically bring rewards.Akram, a former captain, has started working with the country’s quicks after coming to a short-term agreement with the PCB. He commenced a 10-day training camp at the National Stadium in Karachi for 18 of Pakistan’s top fast bowlers, including members of the national team and some new, raw talent.The camp was set up ahead of the Champions Trophy in June in England and Akram said that the change to regulations in one-day cricket were tough for bowlers.”You need to be aggressive and learn how to adapt to these rule changes. Pakistani bowlers have a lot of talent but they need to learn and adapt to the demands of international cricket.Pakistan’s pace pack at Karachi camp

Wahab Riaz (L), Zia-ul-Haq (L), Mohamamd Aftab (L), Rahat Ali (L), Mohamamd Irfan (L), Junaid Khan (L), Sadaf Hussain (L), Hammad Azam (R), Ahmad Jamal (R), Asad Ali (R), Ehsan Adil (R), Mohammad Talha (R), Bilawal Bhatti (R), Imran Khan (R), Tabish Khan (R), Anwar Ali (R), Aziz Ullah (RAF), Atta Ullah (R)

“With the change in ODI cricket, that you can’t keep more than four fielders outside the circle in a 50-over match at any time, and the rising popularity of T20 cricket means pace bowlers now need to be more adaptable.”I will advise these bowlers that to be successful in this scenario, aggression is a must with top grade fitness, pace and the ability to have length variation. T20 cricket has changed the mentality of batsmen. The odds are stacked against the bowlers. First I will tell them how to swing the ball, then reverse swing and how to make use of the yorkers.”I am not a magician able to work wonders in ten days but I will try my level best to help them in phases and hope that the same training camp is staged after a break of three to four months,” he added. “I will be there in the camp and then at the Champions Trophy so will do my best to help them to learn and mature.”Prior to the Champions Trophy, Pakistan will tour Scotland and Ireland to play a two-match ODI series each. After the South Africa tour which ended in March there is feeling prevailing around the country that Pakistan’s pace-bowling resources are declining but Akram is not too concerned about the future.””I don’t think it’s a serious concern. The talent is definitely there but these kids need experience and must learn to adapt to the demands of international cricket where they are found wanting,” he said.”It’s not easy to found someone with 145kph pace, you need to do scouting and hunting for fast bowlers and I am sure there will be talent.”The grounds in South Africa were green but you need a certain strategy to bowl, so until and unless they learn it they will not be able to turn their potential into performances.”

Cameron Gannon, the Queensland seamer, has been barred from bowling in domestic matches after his action was found to be illegal by Cricket Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-2013Cameron Gannon, the Queensland seamer, has been barred from bowling in domestic matches after his action was found to be illegal by Cricket Australia.Biomechanical analysis of Gannon’s action, undertaken after he was reported by the umpires in the Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania in Hobart last month, showed that he bowled with an elbow extension beyond the allowable 15-degree level.”Analysis conducted at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra found that Gannon bowls with an illegal action for all deliveries, with an average elbow extension of 24 degrees,” a CA statement said. “The allowable elbow extension is 15 degrees.”As such, Gannon is now suspended from bowling in interstate cricket until he passes another analysis of his action in accordance with the provisions set out in the Cricket Australia Doubtful Bowling procedures.”This suspension is effective immediately and Gannon is not able to request a fresh analysis of his action until at least 90 days from today’s date.”Gannon was reported four times across the summer, including twice in the final. A minimum of three reports within the same season are required for a bowler to be subjected to testing.

The Sri Lanka captain called it a dream come true after her side qualified to the Super Sixes by defeating India

Abhishek Purohit in Mumbai05-Feb-2013Sri Lanka captain Shashikala Siriwardene and Player of the Match Deepika Rasangika’s press conference was delayed by several minutes. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to call, you wait. The conference began eventually with the President’s call expected any minute, and Siriwardene, a calm character not easily given to hyperbole, calling Sri Lanka’s qualification to the Super Six the biggest achievement of her career.”I can’t believe it actually,” Siriwardene said. “It is a dream come true for us. We finished last in [the] 2009 [World Cup] under my captaincy. So I am really relaxed and relieved. I got a call from my home and they are really excited. This is a special match that they have seen live.”Yes, it is [my biggest achievement]. I am seriously super happy. This could be my last World Cup, and I wanted to do something special for the team.”There were quite a few firsts for Sri Lanka today. Not only was it the first time they have made the Super Six stage at the World Cup, it was also the first time they beat India, four days after defeating England for the first time. It was also their first day-night ODI, according to Siriwardene.Making the occasion memorable was Rasangika, 29, who went into the match with an ODI batting average of 12, and not much to go on apart from a reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s best fielders. She was promoted to No. 3 and ended up swinging her way to a match-winning 84. Siriwardene said the side had discussed the change before the match after crashing to a 209-run defeat to West Indies two days ago.”We did not field well against West Indies,” Siriwardene said. “We wanted to move to players who are good fielders and left-arm spinners. We had to remove No. 3 batter Prasadani [Weerakkody]. The coach and management talked about it and we wanted to promote Rasangika. She had batted really well in the domestic season at No. 3.”Siriwardene hoped there would be more support for Sri Lanka from the sparse crowds that have been attending the matches at Brabourne Stadium, now that hosts India had been knocked out. “We are the only team from Asia to have qualified for the Super Six. So I think more people from India will like us winning [from] now [on].”In the run-up to the tournament, Sri Lanka had generated probably the least excitement among the media and fans. Indeed, in the pre-tournament press conference on January 27, Siriwardene had been asked hardly any question, apart from how she felt to have been born on Valentine’s Day.There was no shortage of questions today, though. Only, the press conference had to be cut short abruptly, as Mr Aroos, the team manager, walked in. “Sorry, but it is the President calling,” Aroos said. You don’t keep Mr President waiting.

A round-up of the Caribbean T20 matches played at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad on January 8

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jan-2013
ScorecardCarlos Brathwaite and Ryan Hinds took seven wickets between them to help rout Jamaica for 72 at Queen’s Park Oval, and set up Barbados’ second victory of the Caribbean T20.After winning the toss, Jamaica’s openers added 38 in four overs before the collapse began. They then lost ten wickets for 34 runs and were dismissed in 17.3 overs. Only three batsmen made it past single figures, with Nkrumah Bonner’s 21 being the top score. Carlos Brathwaite’s 4 for 23 were his career-best figures.Barbados also had a shaky period in their small chase, when they lost four wickets for ten runs and slipped to 40 for 5. Opening batsman Justin Brathwaite had scored most of the runs, making 23 off 10 balls. Shane Dowrich and Kyle Mayers, however, ensured Barbados got home in 11.2 overs without further damage.
ScorecardIn another low-scoring game in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) earned their first victory of the tournament by beating Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) by seven wickets.T&T’s bowlers were economical and incisive after their captain Denesh Ramdin won the toss. Only four CCC batsmen made it into double figures but Chadwick Walton’s 19 was the top score. The slow bowlers Kevon Cooper and Sunil Narine took 3 for 17 and 2 for 14, while Dwayne Bravo had figures of 1 for 8 in his four-over spell. CCC managed only 94 for 8 in 20 overs.T&T did not hurry to victory, reaching the target in 17.2 overs. Dwayne Bravo was the top scorer, making an unbeaten 36 off 42 balls.

A couple of days after winning India a game with an unbeaten fifty at No. 6, Suresh Raina has said he wants to bat higher up the order in ODIs so that he can score hundreds and make a case for a Test comeback

Abhishek Purohit in Colombo30-Jul-2012A couple of days after winning India a game with an unbeaten fifty at No. 6, Suresh Raina has said he wants to bat higher up the order in ODIs so that he can score hundreds and make a case for a Test comeback. Raina, who has played 15 Tests, was ignored for India’s home series against West Indies and the tour of Australia after averaging 13.12 in four Tests in England in mid-2011.”I would love to [move up the order],” Raina said. “If I get to bat up the order I can play more overs and score more hundreds. I have scored only three [ODI] hundreds in my career. I need to play longer innings and score more runs [so that] I can come back into the Test team. Wherever I get a chance to bat, at No. 4, 5 or 6, I have to bat anywhere.”Raina started with a century on Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2010 but has been criticized for failing to tackle the short ball in the format. He said he had been working on the weakness and pointed out that of his eight Test dismissals in England, four had been to the offspinner Graeme Swann.”I have been discussing my batting with Duncan Fletcher (the coach). In Twenty20 and 50 overs you have to play your shots. I am now looking to duck the [short] ball. At the same time I need to score runs, [so I need to] tap the ball and take singles. It’s all mental. If you are playing Test cricket, you have to duck the ball. In England I did not do well. I got out once to the short ball and four-five times to Swann. Still, I have done well in Test cricket. I need to do well in two more [ODI] games and then I can be available for the No. 6 or No. 7 slot [in Tests].”Raina, who has developed a reputation as a fine finisher in limited-overs cricket, credited his “tough days” at the sports hostel in Lucknow for his calm approach under pressure in big games. “[The hostel] didn’t have good facilities. But we would get good inputs and we would practise from that. And we learnt that whatever chances we got, we would remain tough. If we got to bat in pressure situations, we would make sure that we finished the job. I have learnt a lot about middle-order batting from Yuvraj [Singh] and [MS] Dhoni. Dhoni and I have been successful as a pair while chasing.”

Ravi Bopara’s unbeaten half-century rescued a difficult situation for Essex at Northampton

06-Jun-2012
ScorecardRavi Bopara battled Essex out of a difficult position•Getty ImagesRavi Bopara’s unbeaten half-century allowed Essex to recover from a shaky start on a rain-affected first day of their County Championship Division Two clash at Northamptonshire.Essex were reduced to 57 for 4 just before lunch but England international Bopara’s 65 not out off 129 balls, including 12 fours, helped the visitors to move on to 138 for 4 before rain brought about an early close at Wantage Road.Northants paceman David Willey took 2 for 23 as the hosts’ attack dominated early on with former Sri Lanka seamer Chaminda Vaas also claiming a wicket.Essex won the toss and chose to bat but they lost Tom Westley for 12 in the fourth over when he edged Vaas to James Middlebrook, who took a simple catch at second slip. Former England batsman Owais Shah then faced just one ball before he was run out by a direct hit at the stumps by Ben Howgego from point after he tried to run a quick single off Vaas.The visitors’ morning then took another turn for the worse when Mark Pettini was judged to have edged Willey to Northants wicketkeeper David Murphy after making 32. Willey struck again in the penultimate over of the morning when his delivery crashed into Ben Foakes’ off stump to dismiss the youngster for a seven-ball duck.Essex struggled to 62 for 4 at lunch, during which the heavens opened meaning the start of the afternoon session was delayed by an hour and a half and 16 overs were lost.In the second over after play restarted, Essex captain James Foster was given a scare before he opened his account when he edged Jack Brooks but Kyle Coetzer put down a difficult chance at third slipBopara, who had originally taken 67 balls just to reach double figures, went on to complete a half-century off 112 deliveries with a straight four off Lee Daggett. But he was also given a second chance after being dropped on 60 by Murphy off the same bowler before rain forced the players off again.Umpires Trevor Jesty and Tim Robinson came onto the field half an hour later for an inspection but the skies began to darken again and a heavy downpour meant play was officially called off at 5.20pm.Bopara will be looking to complete his second century of the week when play resumes tomorrow, with Foster striving to add to his unbeaten 25 off 71 deliveries.

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings in Chennai

The Preview by Kanishkaa Balachandran09-May-2012Match factsThursday, May 10, 2012, Jaipur
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Super Kings are not finishing well, says their bowling coach Andy Bichel•AFPBig PictureNeither team is certain yet of a place in the playoffs, but the team under greater pressure is Chennai Super Kings. The two-time champions have 11 points, with six defeats and five wins. They could so easily have had 13 points, had it not been for the freakish last over against Mumbai Indians when Dwayne Smith hammered 14 from the last three balls. Perhaps most daunting for Super Kings is that their four remaining games include two against the current table leaders Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils. A defeat against the Royals could jeopardise their chances of qualifying.Their batting looked over-dependent on Faf du Plessis but against Mumbai there were encouraging signs as the others chipped in. Du Plessis, though, has been down with a virus and remains doubtful for this game. But Super Kings have shown in previous editions that they are most dangerous when the pressure piles up. In 2010, their bowling was in shambles until Doug Bollinger arrived jet-lagged and transformed their fortunes, coincidentally, against Royals. Bollinger, who missed the last game, is reportedly fit and available for selection. However, du Plessis isn’t so sure of being. He tweeted about being down with a virus, which he hopes will disappear soon.Royals have also played 12 games and are just a point ahead of Super Kings. However, two of their remaining games are against the bottom-placed Deccan Chargers and Pune Warriors, and three of them are at home in Jaipur, where they have a sound record. On paper, Royals have a better chance of qualifying. They are also bolstered by the arrival of Shane Watson, who plundered the Warriors with an unbeaten 90.Form guide (most recent first, completed games)
Rajasthan Royals: WWLLL
Chennai Super Kings: LWLLWPlayers to watchM Vijay had been in woeful form, scoring only 45 runs in 59 balls until the game against Mumbai Indians, when he smashed 41 off 29 balls. That innings included three sixes and showed signs of his form from the previous season. He has struggled this time and that has contributed to Super Kings’ wobble this year. Vijay doesn’t have too much time to turn things around but at least he’s made a start.As significant as Watson’s 90 was the three-wicket haul by Shaun Tait against Warriors. The unpredictable Australian fast bowler silenced Sourav Ganguly and Michael Clarke with accuracy, pace and swing. The pitch was slow but Tait extracted life out of it.Stats and trivia Royals are clearly ahead on the batting front with nine fifty-plus scores to just four for Super Kings. Super Kings have a 6-4 win-loss record against Royals. Super Kings dropped just five games in total in 2011. This season, they have already lost six.Quotes”If you look at a team like the Delhi Daredevils, you will find guys like Virender Sehwag and Kevin Pietersen finishing off matches for them. We need someone to finish the games off.”
“With a couple of teams in contention it looks like 18 points will be needed (to make the playoffs) but we must not worry about what is needed but just play good cricket.”
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Jamaica and Barbados will contest the final of the Regional Four-Day Competition after winning their semi-finals by large margins

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2012Jamaica entered the finals of the Regional Four-Day Competition by beating Guyana by 133 runs in three days at Sabina Park. They took control of the game after the first day, on which they were dismissed for 196 after choosing to bat. Donovan Pagon and Tamar Lambert scored half-centuries but Jamaica collapsed from 131 for 3, losing seven wickets for 65 runs. Three Guyana spinners – Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo and Narsingh Deonarine – took three wickets each.Guyana, however, were shot out for 126 in their first innings, conceding a lead of 70. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, unbeaten on 47, was the only batsman to pass 20. Nikita Miller claimed 3 for 16 for Jamaica, while David Bernard took 3 for 35. Jamaica could not improve on their first-innings performance in their second, though, getting dismissed for 189. Bishoo took 5 for 62, and Permaul added three more to his match haul. Xavier Marshall top scored for Jamaica this time with 59. Their lead, however, ensured Guyana would have to make the highest total of the match to reach the finals.Chasing 260, Guyana were dismissed for 126 once again. Miller took 4 for 28, and Odean Brown had figures of 3 for 42 for Jamaica, ensuring the match did not enter the fourth day.Sulieman Benn took 9 for 63 in the match to help bowl Barbados into the final with a 227-run victory against Trinidad & Tobago at Queen’s Park Oval. Having chosen to bat, Barbados made only 223 in the first innings. Most of the top-order batsmen got starts but nobody carried on, and Jonathan Carter’s 47 was the top score. Ravi Rampaul and Kavesh Kantasingh took four wickets each for T&T.The Barbados bowlers, however, gave their side a huge lead by dismissing T&T for 84. Benn bowled with the new ball and took 5 for 28, while Carlos Brathwaite had figures of 4 for 12. T&T were 63 for 3 at one stage and then lost seven wickets for 21 runs.Barbados made 216 in their second innings, setting a target of 356. Carter once again top scored with 52, and Brathwaite followed his success with the ball by making an unbeaten 45. Shannon Gabriel was T&T’s best bowler, taking 5 for 78.The target was always likely to be out of T&T’s reach and they fell massively short. They collapsed once again, from 79 for 2, and were dismissed for 128. Benn took 4 for 35 in this innings; Javon Scantlebury-Searles contributed 3 for 22.

Lance Klusener, the former South Africa allrounder, has been appointed interim coach of the Dolphins, the Durban-based franchise, until the end of the 2011-12 season

Firdose Moonda25-Jan-2012Lance Klusener, the former South Africa allrounder, has been appointed interim coach of the Dolphins, the Durban-based franchise, until the end of the 2011-12 season. Klusener replaces Graham Ford, who resigned with immediate effect last week and has been confirmed as Sri Lanka’s new coach.Klusener, best remembered for his Man-of-the-Series performance in the 1999 World Cup, retired from international cricket in 2004 and has since had a range of cricket-related work. He has a Level 3 coaching qualification and has been involved with age-group sides at the Dolphins for the last three years. He has also worked with the South African High Performance Program and assisted the South Africa A side.”Being a former Dolphin, I am very proud of my team and want to be part of the process of rebuilding the team to its rightful place as South Africa’s No. 1 franchise,” Klusener said.The Dolphins have not won a trophy since they shared the SuperSport Series in the 2004-05 season, and are targetting the upcoming domestic Twenty20 competition as an opportunity for silverware. They have contracted Chris Gayle for the series and had also lined up Australia quick Shaun Tait, but he pulled out with an elbow injury.”We are still focused on the T20 competition,” Faeez Jaffer, the Dolphins president, said. “With Lance’s vast experience at our disposal, we believe that our players will be challenged and want to perform. Lance also has first-hand knowledge of the dynamics and makeup of our team.”Jesse Chellan, the Dolphins chief-executive, told ESPNcricinfo that the franchise is still looking for another big-name player.The mid-season change of coach has not affected the Dolphins team, Chellan said. The senior players filled the gap and have been organising and running team practices. “Team leadership stepped in and everything has been running well,” Chellan said.The Dolphins will soon undertake a formal process to recruit a new head coach for the start of next season.