Players are Tired! Tight Schedule! - Dhoni

The Indian Skipper Dhoni has come out open during the post match presentation during the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh. The team dropped few catches and missed fielding few shots.

For a question the fielding lapses, Dhoni said the team is tired of playing back to back matches.

He said, "we were a bit disappointing, but one of the reasons for it is that we have played cricket for 36 of the last 84 hours."

He added, "back-to-back games make it really tough for the players. I am not really happy with the schedule: two teams are playing back-to-back games, and two teams are not. Under these conditions it is really tough, you are playing cricket throughout the year, and then you play back-to-back matches. You could make out from the start the intensity was not there. I was tired on the field," Dhoni said. "Not only me, every individual was tired."

Now it is upto the board to look into the genuine issue brought by Dhoni and address it properly! Will they do it?

Slow Over Rate Gives 4 Match ban to Collingwood!!!

The ICC match referre Javagal Srinath handed over a 4 ODI ban to England captain Paul Collingwood for bowling slow against New Zealand. This was considered a level 3 offense as per ICC regulations and hence he faced either a 4 ODI or a 2 Test Match ban.

His offense was pushed to level 3 from level 2 as he committed the mistake within a year. AS per rules, he cannot repeat the mistake again within the year.

His team bowled more than two overs short in a game against India in August last year.

A short of more than two overs in an ODI brings with it an automatic Level 2 charge against the captain involved, but if that captain has already been charged and found guilty of the same offence within the preceding 12 months then the penalty imposed is elevated to Level 3.

Each player will be fined 5% of the match fee for every over short with the captain fined 10%.

Up t level 4 offense, the player can appeal and if he does it, until the verdict, the punishment will not be in effect.

If the ban stays, he will miss the final ODI against New Zealand, the T20 and the two ODIs against South Africa.

Asif Released!

The Pakistan Cricket Team fast bolwer Mohammad Asif was released of all charges and deported to Pakistan. He was detained on the charges of possessing druges which he claimed as an Ayurvedic Medicine.

The attorney general said that all charges have been dropped because this was considered as a mild case and the government doesn't want to waste time in these small cases. This is not a case that is worth pursuing and hence we drop the charges, is what communicated by the attorney general.

Mohammad Asif is free to go to Pakistan!

Akhtar May Appeal Again!

Shoaib Akhtar has said that he may file for an appeal after going through the judgment given by the Appellate Tribunal.

Earlier, he was banned for life by the PCB and he appealed against it. The panel reduced the ban to 18 months and imposed a fine a Rs.70 million.

He said that his lawyer is going through the judgment and may appeal against the reduced ban.

If this ban stays, he will not be playing the Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy.

Symonds in Trouble Again!

Remember, in the contraversial second test between India and Australia in Sydney? Symonds was given not out by Steve Bucknor when the entire city heard the noise of the thick outside edge and he did not walk! He was on 12 and Australian were already under big trouble at that time! He then went on to score 162.

Once again he did not walk, but this time against the host West Indies. He acknowledge that he was out, but it was umpire's job to give out.

He was on 14 and then went on to make 52 to take Australia past 200.

Umpire Mark Benson refused to raise his finger when he gloved Brovo's delivery.

West Indian skipper Gayle said, ""It's up to the individual what he wants to do at that particular time -- there is nothing we can do. That's cricket. Sometimes it goes your way, there is nothing you can do about it, but carry on with the game."

I believe Australians have lot to learn, especially on the basics of cricket--discipline, being honest, behaving professionally on and off the field, respecting visitors and opponent players. It is not only whether you score a century and beat other team by wickets and huge runs, but it also depends on other factors.

A man can be successful, but his character, attitude, discipline are very important otherwise, all the success has no meaning! Fundamental Guys! Didn't your teachers teach you all this in school?

Symonds Reprimanded!

Symonds was reprimanded for not coming to practice on time! The entire team left on the team bus for the net practice, but Symonds did not join them on time.

He was sleeping and got up late to miss the bus. It was said that he had to get a taxi to reach the ground 10 minutes late.

Though he was not fined or punished for this, he was cautioned that he could end up in trouble.

Australia is leading the series 1-0 against the west Indies.

PCB Unhappy with Pakistan Team!

The letter sent by PCB chairm Ashraf has clearly stated that the PCB is not happy with the performance of the team against India. The letter said that the defeat of 140 runs is a devastating defeat and should have never happened.

It questioned the committement, fire, dedication of the captain, coach and other team players.

They wanted the team to improve the performance in the next match.

Shoaib Banned for 18 Months and Fined Rs.70 M!

The Appellate Tribunal set up by Pakistan Cricket Board to hear the appeal by Pakistan Fast Bowler's agasint the life ban imposed by PCB. The appellate tribunal heard Shoaib Akhtar's version and then reduce the life ban to 18 months ban and also imposed a huge fine of Rs. 70 million.

Read: PCB Softens Stand on Shoaib

Read: Shoaib Akhtar Can Play in IPL!

Read: Akhtar to Appeal against Ban

Asif to be Released on Monday!

The sources say that Asif could be released on Monday after the prosecutor submits his report to Attorney General. Asif is still in Dubai, detained for possessing drugs. He claims that it is an Ayurvedic medicine.

PCB will take its decision after hearing the attorney general's decision. If he is proved guilty, he will have to face jail sentence and ban by the PCB.

Read: Asif Detained in Duba!

Asif still in Dubai!

The PCB representative left Dubai without Asif. The report on the enquiry leading the detention of Mohammad Asif, the fast bowler of Pakistan cricket team is yet to be submitted by the prosecutor to the Attorney General.

As of now, Mohammad Asif is still in Dubai. It looks like PCB will be suspnding Mohammad Asif until he is proven not guilty. The sources suggests that this will be end of his career as Pakistan wanted to take strict actions against wrong-doers.

Asif's Case: Report Submitted!

In the drug case agains the Pakistani cricket player Mohammad Asif, the Dubai Prosecutor completed his enquiry today and submitted the report to AG.

Nadeem Karan, an official from PCB said to PTI, "the chief prosecutor cross-examined the witnesses who were instrumental in finding the banned substance from the bowler. The court case will resume tomorrow." However, he didn't confirm whether charges had been laid against Asif.

Though the urine test has come out negative and in favor of Asif, if he is proved guilty, he will be facing a four year sentence.

Asif Detained in Dubai!

Mohammad Asif of Pakistan is in trouble again. He was detained and arrested for possessing drugs. He was caught in the Dubai airport while going back from India after playing in the IPL (Indian Premier League).

If he is found guilty, he would be banned for life as far as cricket is concerned and go to jail for four years. "The person concerned has been handed over to the drugs unit of the Dubai police," an airport customs official told IANS earlier Tuesday."

As per Geo TV, the Pakistan television channel, Asif, the Pakistan Contracted Player, had confessed to possessing narcotic substances.

The PCB's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi, who confirmed the arrest, told IANS from Lahore: "We are in touch with the authorities in the UAE through our embassy."

There are different versions to the story:

1) Asif slapped an airport official, they searched him and found an ayurvedic medicine, which Asif claims as a energy boosting medicine, which was termed as drug.
2) He was trapped by a sniffer dog in the transit lounge
3) He had confessed that he used drugs

If he is found guilty, he would face a four-year jail term, ban from cricket including IPL.

Asif was banned for a year and his team-mate Shoaib Akhtar for two years after they tested positive for the steroid Nandrolone in October 2006. The ban was removed on appeal two months later