All posts by csb10.top

The second Test ended in a tame draw after crackling briefly back into life on the final day when New Zealand were bowled out for 183. Muttiah Muralitharan did most of the damage, with a record 37th five-wicket haul in Tests. Set 191 to win from 38 overs after tea, Sri Lanka disappointingly settled for a draw soon after Sanath Jayasuriya (9) fell early.Sri Lanka’s only chance of winning was for Jayasuriya, their most destructive batsman, to launch an early assault. Jayasuriya tried, smacking two early boundaries, but was then dismissed tamely when he mistimed a drive. Sri Lanka immediately settled for a draw, disappointing a noisy crowd whose expectations had been raised by Sri Lanka’s dramatic fightback with the ball in the first session. The match ended with Sri Lanka at 72 for 1 after 30 overs.New Zealand had started the final day in a dominant position, leading by 99 runs with nine wickets remaining, but Sri Lanka wrested back the initiative with Muralitharan bowling his heart out, taking the crucial early wicket of Mathew Sinclair (55). He then snared Jacob Oram (16) and the injured Daniel Vettori (0) in quick succession before lunch to have New Zealand tottering at 139 for 7.However, Muralitharan, who was searching for the one wicket he needed to complete 450 Test wickets, was unable to prise out Hart or Wiseman. Both put together 40 precious runs and occupied the crease for 28.1 overs to give Sri Lanka less time to chase whatever total that New Zealand eventually set.Chaminda Vaas finally broke through, as Hart feathered a legcutter into Romesh Kaluwitharana’s gloves, but by then Sri Lanka’s window of opportunity had been closed (179 for 8). Muralitharan then claimed his 450th Test wicket, as Daryl Tuffey (1) skyed a sweep to Jayasuriya at deep square leg, before Vaas wrapped up the innings as Wiseman (29) edged to first slip.At the start of play, Stephen Fleming and Mark Richardson tried to be positive but soon faltered. Richardson was the first to depart. He added only four runs to his overnight 51 before edging Prabath Nissanka to Kaluwitharana (109 for 2). Sinclair (0) was next deceived by Muralitharan’s arm ball (110 for 3). It marked the end of a dismal series for Sinclair, who scored only 21 runs in four innings.Suddenly it was game on. Sri Lanka attacked with Muralitharan and bottled up the other end with medium-pace bowling. The batsmen lost their way, scoring only five runs in the 44 minutes after the fall of Sinclair. The pressure increased and Vaas, varying his pace intelligently, deceived Scott Styris (1), who lobbed up a catch to Muralitharan at mid-on (115 for 4). New Zealand had lost three wickets for just six runs.Fleming added 21 with Oram before being scalped by Kumar Dharmasena, the offspinner, as he edged a catch to Kaluwitharana. It was Dharmasena’s first wicket of the match. Fleming had scored 33, with three fours (136 for 5).Muralitharan then swung the match emphatically towards Sri Lanka, trapping Oram lbw with an arm ball, and then bowling the injured Vettori behind his legs shortly before lunch (139 for 7).But Sri Lanka could not mop up the tail quickly enough, and the match meandered to a soporific draw with the series ending in 0-0.

PERTH, Jan 5 AAP – Evergreen West Australian seamer Jo Angel’s career-best figures and a Marcus North half century were not enough to stop Queensland snatching control of their Pura Cup cricket match today.WA was 7-170 in its second innings at stumps on day two at the WACA Ground, leading by just 126 runs with Jo Angel (10no) and Beau Casson (2no) at the crease.After resuming at 6-118, the Bulls lost 4-33 thanks to Angel’s 6-35 off 19.1 overs including his 400th domestic first class wicket.But the WA batsmen failed to seize control on another day in which the ball dominated the bat with 11 wickets falling.Underperforming batsman Marcus North (50) posted the first half century of the match to hand the home team some hope but ended his 200-minute knock by dragging a ball onto his stumps two balls later.He went to the crease after lunch with WA at 2-25, still trailing by 19 runs, and with just two runs from his past five Pura Cup digs after playing for Australia A in November in Hobart.North survived a confident caught behind appeal off acting captain Michael Kasprowicz on zero and Bulls wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe had words with him directly after the incident.However, the dogged left-hander managed to dig in and helped drag the match into a third day with both teams fielding below strength units due to national duties.But the Queensland pace attack of bustling Joe Dawes (3-64), recalled swing bowler Adam Dale (2-16 off 18 overs) and Kasprowicz (1-58) had the last laugh as they plotted WA’s demise.Queensland should collect the maximum six points from the outing and leapfrog Victoria into top spot on the Pura Cup table for the first time this summer.The Warriors’ slim chances of making March’s final look virtually impossible if they suffer an outright defeat.Angel earlier ripped through the Queensland lower order to dismiss the visitors for 151, a lead of just 44 runs.He collected his 400th Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup wicket by having Kasprowicz (one) caught by Marcus North in slips.It was an apt reward for Angel, who wasn’t selected in two four-day matches this season.Angel ran through the Queensland tail after ending wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe’s handy innings of 32 to have the visitors at 7-148.He soon had Dale (17) caught behind by stand-in wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi before the young gloveman took a terrific diving catch to remove Dawes (0).The 21-year-old sprinted 20 yards towards square leg to catch a top-edge as the Bulls lost their last four wickets for three runs.

India have won the second and final Test of their two-Test series against Zimbabwe by four wickets. At Feroz Shah Kotla on Monday, it was Harbhajan Singh’s turn to become the unlikely hero with the bat by hitting a boundary over cover and a big six straight down the ground to take India past the modest target. India finished on 126/6 with Harbhajan Singh (14*) and Sanjay Bangar (3*) the two men at the crease at the end.Resuming on 36/3, India got off to a flying start. Sachin Tendulkar picked up 12 runs off the first over of the day bowled by Grant Flower. A glorious cover drive and a powerful square cut thudded into the signboards.In the following over bowled by Flower, the little master struck another four through mid-wicket, forcing Carlisle to make a bowling change. The idea was quite simple, Tendulkar scoring runs at one end while Das would deal with the guiles of Ray Price.Price has bowled exceptionally well on this tour and he was distinctly unlucky as umpire Jayaprakash turned down a couple of shouts of lbw against Shiv Sunder Das.Tendulkar played a delicate leg glance and then a superb flick through mid-wicket off Streak for fours, forcing Carlisle to bring back Grant Flower into the attack. Tendulkar, however, was in a hurry and he was in no mood to allow Flower to settle into a rhythm. A slightly short delivery was pulled high in the air over square leg for a massive six.Finally, Price got an opportunity to have a go at Tendulkar and immediately had his man lbw, trying to sweep. The little master made a valuable contribution of 42 off 52 balls with the help of seven fours and a six.Rahul Dravid came out to bat and found himself in trouble against Price. The scoring suffered substantially as Streak and Price tightened the screws. This had its effect too; Das (31) was given out lbw to Streak, umpire de Silva giving it in the favour of the bowler when the ball appeared to be going down the leg. India were 103/5 at that stage.Rahul Dravid (6) was the next man to be `Price’d out, caught by Andy Flower at gully after pushing forward to the left-arm spinner. India were under tremendous pressure (105/6) at that stage. Umpire Asoka de Silva was not done yet. An appalling decision from him gave four leg byes to India, after Streak had struck Harbhajan Singh plumb in front of the wicket. If that ball was going to hit anything, it was the middle stump.Soon it was the turn of umpire Jayaprakash to negate another very close shout for lbw by Price; Bangar being the lucky batsman. Harbhajan Singh pinched four over-throws to ease the pressure a bit. And, then came Harbhajan Singh’s two big hits off Streak to finish the match. Harbhajan was deservedly named that Man of the Match while Anil Kumble picked up the Man of the Series award.

Portsmouth will be playing in the top flight of the Southern Electric Premier League next season after having their St Helen’s ground on Southsea seafront accepted for Division 1 cricket.This year’s Division 2 champions Portsmouth have announced plans to provide wheel-on covers and practice nets next season.Autumnal works to upgrade the outfield have already been undertaken by the city council.Portsmouth, captained by former Hampshire left-arm spinner Raj Maru, replace relegated Hungerford in the top flight.Winchester KS and Rowledge are promoted into Division 2, with Hambledon relegated alongside Old Basing who, at their own request, have dropped back into the Hampshire League.The demise of the Basingstoke club, having been much weakened by player losses, means an unexpected promotion into SPL3 for Redlynch & Hale, who finished third behind Ventnor and Hartley Wintney in HL County Division 1 this summer.Ventnor, who lost only one match in four seasons of total domination in the County Leagues, will be the first Isle of Wight club ever to play in the SEPL.The Southern Electric Premier League make up for the 2002 season is :ECB Premier Division 1:
Andover, Bashley (Rydal), BAT Sports, Bournemouth, Burridge, Calmore Sports, Havant, Liphook & Ripsley, Portsmouth, South Wilts.Premier Division 2:
Easton & Martyr Worthy, Hampshire Academy, Hungerford, Lymington, Old Tauntonians & Romsey, Rowledge, Sparsholt, Trojans, United Services, Winchester KS.Premier Division 3:
Alton, Bashley (Rydal) II, Flamingo, Gosport Borough, Hambledon, Hartley Wintney, Havant, Hook & Newnham Basics, Hursley Park, Leckford, New Milton, Paultons, Portsmouth II, Purbrook, Redlynch & Hale, St Cross Symondians, Ventnor, Waterlooville.*** All-day `time’ matches in Premier Division 1 next season will start at 11 o’clock, 30 minutes earlier than previously.

When then Tasmanian captain Jamie Cox announced in October that he was stepping aside to allow Ricky Ponting to inherit his job, scarcely anyone could have foreseen that the move would have had such far-reaching implications in such a short space of time.Sure enough, Ponting’s graduation to the position was aimed at enhancing his chances of ultimately becoming thenational skipper.Yet there must have been precious few people either in Australia or beyond its shores who could have imagined that hewould be anointed just six games into his career as his state’s new leader.Not even Cox himself, who admitted to a hint of surprise upon hearing the news along with his Tasmanian teammatesin Melbourne yesterday.”It was a bit of a surprise, I thought,” said Cox of the news that Ponting had won nomination for the top national jobahead of Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne.”But I think he’ll do a fantastic job (nonetheless).A precociously gifted player who rose to prominence after a brilliant underage career, Ponting made his debut for Tasmania at 17. His first appearance for Australia arrived at the age of 20 and he has been a near-permanent fixture in its Test and one-day international teams ever since.His hold on a berth in the top flight loosened briefly following his involvement in two off field incidents – the first at anightclub in Calcutta in 1998 and the other at a bar in Sydney in early 1999. He also endured a period on the sidelinesafter he crashed into a boundary hoarding at the SCG in February 1999, seriously injuring his ankle.But his potential suitability for a role at Australia’s helm has continued to be touted strongly.Aside from being one of the few players in recent years to graduate to the national team at a young age, the27-year-old is widely regarded as possessing one of the better cricket-brains in the current Australian squad. He’s alsoperceived to carry the air of dynamism and flair that often marks the sport’s great captains.Though his captaincy resume contains only a limited number of entries to date, and notwithstanding the fact that hisnew appointment ensures that he will be the first Tasmanian representative to hold the Australian team’s seniorleadership position, confidence in his capacities has duly been quick to emerge.”He’s shown good leadership skills with us in the few games we’ve had under him so far, and I think he’ll do really wellat international level too. Particularly with an even more talented group of individuals playing under him,” said Cox.”It was obviously a major part of our thinking in wanting him to do the (Tasmanian) job.”Basically because we thought that, one day, he’d be able to step in to the national duties and to do them really well.”

Jacques Kallis starred with bat and ball as South Africa built up animpregnable position against Zimbabwe on the second day of the First Test atHarare Sports Club. He hit an unbeaten 157, his eighth Test century, out ofa massive South African total of 600 for three declared, and then took awicket in his first over as Zimbabwe lost four wickets for 143 by the close.Kallis made most of the early running, hitting anything loose with power andtime to spare, while Gary Kirsten dug a deep foundation as he set his sightson 300 or more. The Zimbabwe bowling was more accurate than on the firstday, but on an easy-paced pitch never looked threatening. At least theywere able to keep the score within reason, though, as South Africa addedonly 40 runs in the first hour and Kallis found runs harder to come by afterhis bright start.There were few signs that South Africa were disturbed by this sudden policyof accuracy until, immediately after the drinks break, Kirsten slashed at aball from Douglas Hondo that was well outside the off stump, and edged acatch to the keeper for 220. South Africa were 455 for two after twopartnerships of 256 and 199.Kallis was prepared to take no risks with his century in view, whileMcKenzie played himself in. Zimbabwe’s fielding was also much keener, andRaymond Price made the ball spin sharply at times, so South Africa wererestricted to 68 runs in the session.In the first over after lunch, McKenzie leapt down the pitch to hit Priceover his head for four, a declaration of South Africa’s intentions. At lastthere was an intriguing battle on the field on even terms as Price troubledhim at times, while the batsmen was determined to attack when theopportunity presented itself.Kallis, grimly watchful through the nineties, finally reached his eighthTest century off 231 balls, and then began to open up. He joined McKenzie,who reached his own fifty, in launching an assault on Price, hitting him forseveral big leg-side sixes. Zimbabwe’s luck remained minimal, with the oddmis-hit evading the fielders and a close lbw appeal against McKenzierejected, but they continued to fight with much greater determination thanthey had shown on the opening day.Finally Fortune decided to smile, and a top-edged pull by McKenzie (52) offTravis Friend was finally held by Douglas Hondo running in from long leg;582 for three, and the third wicket had added 127. Kallis lost a ball fromPrice on to the roof of the new ZCU president’s stand, while Lance Klusenerhad a few fresh-air swings before pulling Friend over the stands at widelong-on. At this point, with the score 600 for three, Shaun Pollock decidedenough was enough and applied the declaration, tea being taken early.Kallis batted 257 minutes and hit 14 fours and five sixes.When Zimbabwe batted, Andre Nel enjoyed the gift of a wicket with his thirdball in Test cricket: Alistair Campbell (0) aimed an appalling hook at abouncer moving well away outside off stump, and only succeeded in edging acatch to the ‘keeper. Dion Ebrahim for his part showed no fear of Pollock,taking nine runs off his first two overs, and Hamilton Masakadza also tookon the pacemen positively, the latter enjoying two escapes off Pollock, atgully and second slip. He was to waste them, however, by chancing a run toMcKenzie, who anticipated well at mid-off to run him out for 13; 43 for two.Kallis came on to bowl and immediately had Craig Wishart (0) caught low atfirst slip. Andy Flower was quickly under way, keeping it simple as alwaysand punishing the loose ball, while Ebrahim brought up a creditable fiftywith a cover-driven four off debutant left-arm spinner Claude Henderson.Flower, so proficient against spin, made it his aim to hit Henderson out ofthe attack on a pitch taking turn, but Ebrahim (71) donated his first wicketin Test cricket by charging down the pitch, head in the air, to be stumped.Flower then played safely until the close, finishing on 54 not out,accompanied by night-watchman Price. Only Wishart of the four men gone wasnot guilty of a soft dismissal. Their last six wickets need to find 258more runs to avoid the follow-on, difficult but by no means impossible.

It’s been a long wait, but at last New Zealand’s summer gets underway today in Brisbane.Circumstances have meant that it is not the start New Zealand expected to be making in Pakistan.But there is no doubt that it is the prospect of the Australian tour that has been whetting the appetites of Kiwis.The return of injured players, Daniel Vettori, Dion Nash and Shayne O’Connor, all of whom are playing in today’s opening game against the Queensland Academy of Sport, has been keenly awaited.Vettori is the key factor. He is clearly the best spinner New Zealand has, by the length of Auckland’s Queen Street.He offers skipper Stephen Fleming so much in terms of attacking options and, while still young by international spinning standards, his cricketing intelligence makes him a prime asset for the side.This four-day game is the first occasion since Zimbabwe last year that he has played anything other than limited overs cricket and it is an important test of the rehabilitation work he has done to get back into Test mode.Nash is a less clear case. His back has been an ongoing concern and while he has done so much impressive work in recovery, it is still to be put to the test, and there is more of a feeling of fragility over his return. New Zealanders are hoping for the very best for Nash because he has so much to his competitive nature, and backs that with performance, that he is an important part of the side.O’Connor too, is a big plus. He was just starting to settle into the role of front-line bowler last summer when he suffered a knee injury. He had increased his pace and was utilising more consistent swing to be a more complete bowler.His recovery has not been so daunting but his progress will also be watched closely as he is shaping as an important factor in New Zealand’s Test attack equation.Chris Cairns’ advance from knee surgery is being measured back at home in a match for the New Zealand Academy against their Australian counterparts, but if weather in Christchurch this morning is anything to go by, it may be another day of reduced opportunities for him.He is to join the New Zealand team in Canberra for its second game.CLEAR Black caps coach Denis Aberhart said: “The benefits of this tour opener not being a first-class match is that we can agree to play 12. This will allow us to give as many players as possible competitive cricket.”We have decided to play an extra seam bowler rather than an extra spin bowler or batsman because we expect hot weather and we can more easily manage the bowlers’ workload in what will be the players’ first outing on grass.”After a couple of days practice the players are really looking forward to getting the tour underway,” Aberhart said.

A few reflections and the encouragement of Sir Viv Richards have banished Carl Hooper’s blues.So disconsolate after the West Indies’ first-round elimination from the World Cup that he said he would "definitely be looking at my future with the team and rethinking my role as captain", he spoke cheerily yesterday of looking forward to next month’s home series against Australia in the Caribbean "with eagerness".While admitting he was "really gutted" by the early exit after losses to New Zealand and Sri Lanka and the critical rained-out match against Bangladesh that cost two points, he now saw it as "just a minor setback"."At no time at all did I consider being knocked out in the preliminary round as I think we’re a much better team than that," he said prior to the last match here today against Kenya, the surprise qualifiers for the next round, the Super Sixes."It’s something we’ve got to overcome," he added. "I’ve had a few days to think about it and I look forward to the Australian tour with eagerness."He confirmed he had discussed the subject with Sir Viv, the chairman of selectors, a former captain and an avowed fan of his."I had a chat with the chairman basically because, at the end of the day, you want to have a clear and concise picture of where we go from here," he explained.It now seems clear and concise that he will be reappointed captain for the four Tests against the Australians, by record and reputation if not by the International Cricket Council’s peculiar ratings, the strongest team in the game.Hooper, 36, and a veteran of 102 Tests and 226 One-day Internationals, has been captain for two years since he came out of sudden retirement prior to the 1999 World Cup and was immediately appointed to succeed Jimmy Adams."It’s good to have the support, not only of the chairman but any sort of support," he said. "It’s very important now to rally around each other."It’s been a very, very big [psychological] blow to the team," he added. "There’s just over a month before the first Test against Australia in Guyana (April 10-14) and we’ve definitely got to try and regroup as a team."Obviously, people will take a little bit of time to look at themselves and to see where they go from here but, as a team, we’ve collectively got to be well prepared for the Australians."His contention was that the team’s progress could not be judged by "an isolated tournament"."We’ve got to look back over the last few years and see where we’ve come from and I think we’ve made steps along the way," he said. "The Australian tour will be a good test again and we’ve got the Sri Lankans immediately after that, so the next couple of months should be exciting."The West Indies have won two and lost five of the seven Test series under Hooper with a match ratio of four victories, 11 defeats and seven draws.He was buoyed by the 4-3 triumph over India in the One-Day series in India last November and victory over South Africa in the World Cup opener. But poor cricket led to narrow defeats by New Zealand, by 20 runs, and Sri Lanka, by six runs, that put the West Indies out.Hooper himself has had a poor World Cup, his first since 1992. He scored 93 runs in four innings at an average of 23.25, and had three wickets at an average of 55.33 and an economy rate of 5.03.He needs to reassert himself again against Australia or his position would be in more jeopardy than it is at present.

If at the start of the season you told the members of the Piton Doverthey would make the Fire Shield cricket final they would have replied:Sure!If you told them their opponents would be MTW, they probably wouldhave replied: MT-Who?Well, that’s the case today at the Police Sports Club, Weymouth, inthe grand final of the Barbados Fire & Commercial Shield Cricket finalthe marquee tournament for lower division sides in the BarbadosCricket Association’s (BCA) competitions.Dover, with their many former Division 1 stalwarts, start asfavourites, but don’t tell MTW that. At stake is a bounty of $5 000,while the losers will pocket $3 500 not bad for a day’s work.The team that plays better on the day will win. We have beenpractising very hard both batting and fielding and we have beengetting some physiological advice to be better prepared for the game,said MTW skipper and leading batsman Geoffrey Padmore.This is MTW’s first Shield final after 11 years in the BCA competitionand allrounder Padmore is the reason why they are there.He blasted an aggressive 73 against Central in the semifinal after histeam was struggling on 70 for six. He promises a well-balanced team inwhat should be a very competitive game.Dover warmed up yesterday in style taking the last four Fustic wicketsin 15 minutes in their Premier League match to record an inningsvictory and the afternoon off.Dover, the 1992 champions, are confident of victory according to theircaptain Vibert Greene, the former Barbados and West Indies Ballrounder.We are confident of victory, he said. We met last year and we wonquite easily, but MTW, with some new faces, will be on a high and itwill not be an easy task. I think we have the best team in the lowerdivision, but cricket is still played on the day.The Dovermen showed their mettle in the semifinal with a four-wicketvictory over the Combermere School team. It was the depth ofexperience which pulled them through.Man for man, Dover have a big advantage.The batting is centred around Peter Clarke, Silverton Weekes, BernardKinch, Wilbur Bruce and Stephen Blackett. Allrounders Greene, JerryKirton and Richard Thornton were all household names of the past.The bowling department is based on mainly fast-medium. The Kirtonbrothers, Jerry and Levere, along with Greene and Thornton, will besupported by Litchfield Kirton, who completes a trio of brothers inthe team.MTW have Padmore and other batsmen include veteran Glendon Johnson,Anthony Burrowes, Testa Baker and Philbert Brathwaite. WicketkeeperPeter Blackman completes a reasonable batting line-up.Fast bowlers Peter Francis and Charles Ramsay will share the new ball,with support coming from Winston Gittens, Mark Bailey and left-armspinner Denis Payne can also do the job.It promises to be a big job, but as we have seen in the past Oh howthe mighty have fallen.

After Sunday afternoon’s marathon meeting at the PCB’s headquarters, there were changes galore in the set-up. Ostensibly, for this is the official line, these changes have been rung to bring the organisation in line with the working of the ICC. In effect it is a tacit admission that all was far from well in the PCB at various administrative levels. And also, that the entire system needed an overhaul as radical as this one was, to kick the indolence and inefficiency out.So the ‘five wise men’ – yes, there were as many till as recently as last April – advising the Chairman, have now been replaced with five committees!One can only hope, that belated as it is, this attempt at some dispassionate soul-searching and stocktaking augurs well for the game in Pakistan.The good thing about the changes is that every committee has a well-defined job assignment, instead of the vagueness that was prevalent in the times of the now-defunct, Advisory Council. So, for instance, now we would know if there is something wrong with the functioning of academies, or there is a marketing problem, and so on, everybody including the media would know who is to blame instantly.This may have some effect on diligence levels, for, to some extent, it introduces real-time, public accountability.So massive is the scale of changes – "a major restructuring of the PCB to streamline the working of the Board", said the official press release – that only two members of the dissolved Advisory Council have been retained, in Rameez Raja and Javed Miandad, the former for practical and the latter, perhaps for sentimental reasons. The selection committee – the replacements yet to be named, perhaps because one of the prime candidates is abroad these days – too has been given the much-deserved sack, and too late in the day.Though this reorganisation was known, one has learnt, to the Chairman’s confidants for some time, the all-powerful Advisory Council had little or no clue. The result was that two of its members, former cricketer Waqar Hasan and Wasim Azhar, have been sent packing while the fifth member in Yawar Saeed had already been eased out, to do duty as the national team’s manager about three months ago.The question is whether this is a harbinger of more changes? As a logical corollary they should be forthcoming too, and soon. For howsoever good the newly-formed committees might be, if the administrative support staff – which the Chairman says were not put in by him but by his predecessors, the inference being that he is either unable or unwilling to defend their performance any longer – are not overhauled as well.Now a look at the Committees, in terms of responsibilities and scope, as head of Development Committee, Raja still ends up with the largest share of the pie. His domain remains extensive, covering infrastructure development, academies, nurseries, coaching centres, grassroots cricket and also the National Coaching Council. Considering that most of these programmes are in their embryonic stage and even a bit of cavalier handling could do serious damage to the very concepts, whether he can find time to deal effectively with all this while committing himself extensively with his commentary assignments and his job in a bank, is a point of conjecture.In this context, he would have to delegate, and heavily so and who would be assisting him where, would assume greater importance. The committee has yet to be named, which means Raja is still looking for right options. Though one of his former mentors, none other than the redoubtable Majid Khan, is anything but satisfied with his work so far, but one would like to hold judgement on this for the moment.Miandad is the chairman, with Iqbal Qasim to serve as his deputy, in the management committee. This committee would deal with domestic cricket, national umpiring council, rules and discipline. Well, one has been a great admirer of Miandad, and it is a great travesty that for various reasons in his last six years, between 1990 and 1996, he could only take part in 22 Tests.That said his very name does not really go down well with the concept of management. So, apparently, the PCB Chairman didn’t have the heart to tell him to pack off. Or maybe, it is deemed, as one member of the now dissolved Advisory Council had confided in this writer not long ago, it is more prudent to have Miandad on board than put up with the vitriol he is capable of sending the PCB’s way from time to time.Appointment of a treasurer is a mundane affair and Finance and Marketing Committee too doesn’t have any new faces. But the Review Committee is important in the context that PCB still faces quite a bit of pressure from the ICC on the match-fixing issue. Also the likelihood of some of the players continuing to be involved, as has been alleged off and on in recent times, is something that needs constant probe and vigilance. The retired High Court judge to head the committee has still to be appointed. It would be in the fitness of things, if Justice Qayyum, whose landmark judgement on match-fixing had won universal acclaim, and who would be available after his resignation is accepted, is offered the job. At least for the short term, for he is familiar with the lay of the land like no one else.The last paragraph of the press release was most significant in its import, for it promises the appointment of a legal advisor to review the PCB’s constitution, followed by elections of the associations "to keep them in line with the new national administrative structure".This is a great development indeed, provided it comes through, for it pledges return to democratic order – in as far as it could be in an organisation where the government of the day can appoint the top man. And also from the point of view, that the actions of Chairman and the five committees, would be accountable to the Council. That too, if hoping that the previous constitution does not see a change in this regard.But one problem here is that there aren’t many credible elected or electable faces around. They weren’t there even when the so-called PCB Council was ruling the roost, taking turns on foreign trips and bleeding whatever little resources were generated in those pre-satellite television times, when the revenues were precious little to go by. Since then, that is from the early to mid ’90s onwards, they have been mostly irrelevant, dependent on the crumbs that were thrown their way.So the problem is not merely the absence of democratic order. To quote Majid Khan on the issue again, "the country’s educated elite have washed their hands off Pakistan’s sports". Cricket is no exception to this rather sweeping statement, which unfortunately is true. That is one reason why quality leadership – such as like Jagmohan Dalmiya, Madhavrao Scindia, Raj Singh Dungarpur, and I.S. Bindra across the border – is not being thrown up to manage the affairs of the game in this country. And till such time, it doesn’t happen; we would remain dependent on the good or bad decisions of a very limited coterie.Sad as it may sound, but a fact.