The Indian team for Asia Cup was announced and it was hardly a surprise that Yuvraj Singh was dropped from the squad. After all, his form, fitness and fielding were the three aspects that seemed to be going nowhere!

Yuvraj Singh seemed to have taken his place for granted alright, but the question that needs to be asked off the selectors is whether this was the right time for such a decision. After the Asia Cup, the Indians will go off to Sri Lanka to play in an ODI series, while, in October, the Indians play Australia in the ODIs.

So, how does Yuvraj get back now? Does he play for his club and get back to the Indian team? What if Rohit Sharma and Saurabh Tiwary, both had a reasonable Asia Cup; will we say goodbye to Yuvraj Singh this year? And then, will we select him directly for the World Cup next year?

That is why I believe that the selectors have made a mistake. They should have done what Kiran More said; get him in the squad, but not give him all the games. Do not select him in two games and then, if required, get him on in the third one, or some such combination. But, keep him around.

India’s intentions to play young, and new talent in place of seniors is a good way of going about the rotation policy. That should help the team build towards the World Cup next year and help in deciding who will make it to that final 15-member squad, and get the best result possible in that tournament.

But what surprises me is that the Board decided to rest all the senior players and have sent a side full of juniors to be a part of this Zimbabwe tournament. My problem is not with the fact that the Indians have lost to Zimbabwe, but with the fact that the same mistakes have been repeated in both the Zimbabwe games and that can be attributed to the fact that there was no senior in the side.

For example, if an Umesh Yadav or an Ashok Dinda wanted to go up to someone to ask for help at the end of the spell, who does he talk to? Same goes with someone like R Ashwin, who cann expect Amit Mishra to help much given that he is out of the side himself on most occasions.

That is why, one thought that the selectors could have probably planned much better if they are serious about building a side for the World Cup next year.

Zimbabwe posted a second consecutive victory over India by seven wickets in their fourth ODI of the tri-series in Harare on Thursday.

When opting to bat, India filed to keep the track on flow as they were losing wicket at regular intervals till the last innings.

However, Zimbabwe set their fielding on the right track and as they manage to flow the game momentum. Though, Zimbabwe chases down the low victory target of 195 in 11.4 overs to spare.

The duo Hamilton Masakadza scored 66 in partnership with Brendon Taylor who procured 74 runs that made a total scores of about 128-run target that help Zimbabwe an excellent beginning that lay the foundation of the game of track.

Whereas Captain Elton Chingumbura made 16 and Tatenda Taibu managed to secure 13 to set their team home.

Indian player Jadeja and Dinda were the only player who batted sensibly well for their India innings as they managed to set a 48-run partnership. The duo’s partnership gave India sensible scores as their mixed one and twos of the occasional boundaries to give the Indian bowlers something to bowl at.

By the time India player released to do something, Zimbabwe crossed at 100, as Taylor stitched his fifty, and India losses to Zimbabwe was all but sealed.

Now, India will be playing against Sri Lanka on Saturday and India have to beat Sri Lanka and then wait for the outcome of the islanders’ match against Zimbabwe on Monday for a place in the final.

The BCCI seems to be playing their cards rather well. Already under pressure from the board to reply to the two notices that were sent to him, the BCCI did not let up the pressure on Lalit Modi by sending him a third notice that has asked him to explain a couple of further things.

The first query that the Board has of Modi in this latest notice is of the broadcasting rights that were sold to the movie halls for a sum of $71.2 million (Rs 330-crore), for a period of ten years. According to the board, this is a very small amount and should have been sold for a much larger amount and have asked Modi for an explanation for the same.

The other issue surrounds the selling of the advertisements in the middle of the overs that had managed to irritate the hell out of the viewers. Modi has been asked why did he sell those ad-spots without the permission of the cricket board.

Apparently, ad-slots worth 2600 seconds/match were already allowed according to the old contract, but Modi sold a further 150 seconds during the overs. Also, the BCCI says that it is yet to receive the money.

The issue, according to me, here is that the BCCI is not showing remorse that the ads irritated the user, but are more worried about not getting the money!

To overcome with an embarrassing loss match against Zimbabwe in the one day opening, Team India has managed to hit Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second One-Day International cricket match played here on Sunday at the Queens Sports Club.

Thanks to Rohit Sharma who became the shinning star for the series by scoring his second consecutive century.

Man of the match: Rohit Sharma

To chase a modest 243 target, India moves on with a slower pace and lost both openers inside ten over. Though, Virat Kohli manage to score 82 runs and Rohit made 101 not out that keep the momentum to flow and scored the total innings with 6 overs to spare and seven wickets in hand.

It was Rohit Sharma’s second century in his 44th ODI, as he put forth an impressive six fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 100-ball inning. On the other hand Virat Kohli also played on a remarkable note and scored an impressive 82 runs in 92 balls including four fours.

However, Kohli did not stay longer as he moved out in the 38th over while trying to finish the game early when he holed out to long-on fielder Dilhara Fernando. Whereas Murali Vijay scores 14 and Dinesh Karthik 18.

With the slower beginning India’s bowling was refreshing enough to attack Sri Lanka and team managed to bowled out Sri Lanka for 243.  From the Sri Lankan side, only two player Angelo Mathews scored 75 runs and Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan made 61 who gave a good scoring but they innings fall flat in this game.

Indian pace bowler Vinay Kumar has been ruled out of the ongoing One-day International (ODI) tri-series here on Sunday as he got a knee injury.

However, Vijay made ODI debut against Zimbabwe which was taken on last Friday.

The BCCI secretary N Srinivasan says that “Vinay Kumar has injured his knee and has been ruled out from the ongoing tri-series in Zimbabwe. The All India Senior Selection Committee of the BCCI has chosen Abhimanyu Mithun as replacement for Vinay Kumar,”

“He (Mithun) will fly out as soon as formalities are completed,” he added.

Vinay Kumar was named in the second-string Indian team for the tri-series in Zimbabwe, also involving Sri Lanka, and the two Twenty20 Internationals against the hosts.

The right-arm pacer Vijay Kumar made his debut against Zimbabwe on Friday, wherein he scored 51 runs within eight over and took out two and was not enough to avert India’s embarrassing six-wicket defeat against Zimbabwe.

Shoaib Malik’s one-year ban from international cricket is over after the Pakistan Cricket Board arbitrator on Saturday quashed his suspension.

PCB advocate Talib Rizvi said the cricket board had recommended to arbitrator Irfan Qadir to rescind the ban, and he also agreed to halve the fine on the former Pakistan captain to one million rupees ($11,750).

“We (PCB) had watched Malik’s attitude and conduct over the last three months and proposed that ban should be lifted,” Rizvi told reporters after the hearing.

The PCB initially imposed the suspension and fine for ill-discipline during Pakistan’s winless tour of Australia earlier this year.

“Both parties had a reasonable stand, but it’s my decision (to lift the ban and reduce the fine),” Qadir said. More »