NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council has put South Africa on standby as a possible Champions Trophy venue, but insists that Pakistan remains its first choice as hosts, an ICC source told Friday.
The year's biggest One-day tournament featuring the top eight Test nations -- Australia, South Africa, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies -- is due to be held in Pakistan from September 11-28.
But touring Pakistan has been a security concern for several foreign teams, especially Australia which postponed its March-April visit this year after a series of suicide bomb blasts.
With Sri Lanka, the alternate venue, in the midst of heavy fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels, the ICC has included South Africa as possible hosts.
"South Africa could hold the Champions Trophy in case Pakistan or Sri Lanka can't," the ICC source said.
"But it must be stressed that Pakistan remains our first choice and a lot of work has already been done to ensure the tournament is held there."
The northern venues of Johannesburg, Centurion and Potchefstroom will be the venues if the tournament is moved to South Africa, the source added.
A final decision on the host nation will be taken at the ICC's annual meetings which begin in Dubai on Sunday.
The ICC said earlier this month at the launch ceremony of the biennial event in Lahore that Pakistan will host the tournament -- provided there were no safety and security fears.
"At this point in time we are comfortable with the decision that Pakistan has the ability to host the Champions Trophy, but we will continue to monitor security as it is fluid," ICC official Dave Richardson said at the launch.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said he does not yet know if his side will travel to Pakistan and raised the prospect of individual withdrawals even if the title-holders do decide to send a team.
"We don't know if we're going. And if we do go, we don't know if individuals are going to pull out," Ponting was quoted as saying in Australian newspapers.
"It just won't be Australian players. There will be a few other teams who will be thinking long and hard if the tour does go ahead."
Pakistan officials have dismissed security concerns, hoping the ongoing Asia Cup in the country will dispel any doubts of their ability to host the Champions Trophy.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong are taking part in the Asia Cup, the symbol of one-day supremacy in the region.
Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja, now a popular television commentator, hoped countries such as Australia, England and New Zealand will remain positive about touring his country.
"The reservations have come about owing to their perception," Raja was quoted as saying in the Indian media.
"I don't blame them because if you're not in Pakistan and you keep hearing and reading about blasts and chaos, then you could be influenced by all that.
"Pakistan needs everybody's support. A positive attitude from the West, so to say, would be of great help. I believe the existing political system will give Pakistan stability.
"Progressively, we're seeing a calmer Pakistan and things should get better," said Raja.
CricReporter.com
South Africa considered as Champions Trophy venue
Dhoni wary of unpredictable Bangladesh
Wary of an unpredictable Bangladesh team, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his boys will not make the mistake of taking their opponents lightly, as even a hint of complacency could lead to them being upstaged in Saturday's super-four encounter in the Asia Cup, in Karachi.
India are overwhelming favourites in Saturday's clash, but Bangladesh are known to stun fancied teams once in a while, which has prompted Dhoni to remind his players of the perils of taking the opposition lightly.
"Cricket is a cruel game and you can't afford to relax any day. We are here, like the others, to try to win this tournament, as it is a big one from the Asian point of view," Dhoni said.
He said Thursday night's victory over Pakistan, which gave the Indians two carry-forward points, was just the kind of morale booster needed ahead of the super-four stage.
"We are carrying two points forward with us and that is a very big advantage for any side," he added.
India go into the match still unsure about the fitness of Irfan Pathan , who did not play in the last two matches due to a side strain.
Among the other super-four qualifiers, Pakistan is likely to be without top pacer Umar Gul, who bowled just eight deliveries against India before limping of with a rib cage injury.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag , Gautam Gambhir , Yuvraj Singh , Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla , Manpreet Gony, Ishant Sharma, R P Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar.
Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (C), Mashrafe Mortaza , Abdur Razzak, Alok Kapali, Dolar Mahmud, Farhad Reza, Mahmudullah, Mehrab Hossain jnr, Mosharraf Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nazimuddin, Raqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal.
Dhoni wary of unpredictable Bangladesh
Wary of an unpredictable Bangladesh team, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his boys will not make the mistake of taking their opponents lightly, as even a hint of complacency could lead to them being upstaged in Saturday's super-four encounter in the Asia Cup, in Karachi.
India are overwhelming favourites in Saturday's clash, but Bangladesh are known to stun fancied teams once in a while, which has prompted Dhoni to remind his players of the perils of taking the opposition lightly.
"Cricket is a cruel game and you can't afford to relax any day. We are here, like the others, to try to win this tournament, as it is a big one from the Asian point of view," Dhoni said.
He said Thursday night's victory over Pakistan, which gave the Indians two carry-forward points, was just the kind of morale booster needed ahead of the super-four stage.
"We are carrying two points forward with us and that is a very big advantage for any side," he added.
India go into the match still unsure about the fitness of Irfan Pathan , who did not play in the last two matches due to a side strain.
Among the other super-four qualifiers, Pakistan is likely to be without top pacer Umar Gul, who bowled just eight deliveries against India before limping of with a rib cage injury.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag , Gautam Gambhir , Yuvraj Singh , Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla , Manpreet Gony, Ishant Sharma, R P Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar.
Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (C), Mashrafe Mortaza , Abdur Razzak, Alok Kapali, Dolar Mahmud, Farhad Reza, Mahmudullah, Mehrab Hossain jnr, Mosharraf Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nazimuddin, Raqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal.
Dhoni wary of unpredictable Bangladesh
Wary of an unpredictable Bangladesh team, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his boys will not make the mistake of taking their opponents lightly, as even a hint of complacency could lead to them being upstaged in Saturday's super-four encounter in the Asia Cup, in Karachi.
India are overwhelming favourites in Saturday's clash, but Bangladesh are known to stun fancied teams once in a while, which has prompted Dhoni to remind his players of the perils of taking the opposition lightly.
"Cricket is a cruel game and you can't afford to relax any day. We are here, like the others, to try to win this tournament, as it is a big one from the Asian point of view," Dhoni said.
He said Thursday night's victory over Pakistan, which gave the Indians two carry-forward points, was just the kind of morale booster needed ahead of the super-four stage.
"We are carrying two points forward with us and that is a very big advantage for any side," he added.
India go into the match still unsure about the fitness of Irfan Pathan , who did not play in the last two matches due to a side strain.
Among the other super-four qualifiers, Pakistan is likely to be without top pacer Umar Gul, who bowled just eight deliveries against India before limping of with a rib cage injury.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag , Gautam Gambhir , Yuvraj Singh , Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla , Manpreet Gony, Ishant Sharma, R P Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar.
Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (C), Mashrafe Mortaza , Abdur Razzak, Alok Kapali, Dolar Mahmud, Farhad Reza, Mahmudullah, Mehrab Hossain jnr, Mosharraf Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nazimuddin, Raqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal.
Shoaib Malik Century Helps Pakistan But India Fight Back
Malik's 125 underpinned Pakistan's score of 299 for four with Younus Khan also contributing 59. Chasing 300 to win, India lost Gautam Gambhir early to an outstanding catch by Misbah-ul-Haq in the gully. The ball appeared to have passed the fielder but he instinctively put out a hand and the ball stuck. Rao Iftikhar was the bowler, having to come on in place of Umar Gul who left the field injured. With Shoiab Malik also off the field injured, Pakistan's bowling resources will be stretched, placing even more emphasis on their fielders to perform. Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina cashed in on Pakistan's decreased firepower, making good use of the Power Play restrictions with a flurry of boundaries, Sehwag almost hitting a six over cover off of Sohail Tanvir. It didn't take him long to find his range, twice putting Shahid Afridi into the stands while Raina was not to be undone, dancing down the pitch to dish out the same treatment to Iftikhar. He then went on to make his half-century from 40 balls, another man carrying over his form from the IPL into the international arena, following up yesterday's 66-ball century against Hong Kong with another stylish knock. Sehwag reached his half-century in 46 balls, beshadowed by Raina but as dangerous as ever, certainly in the eyes of the Pakistan attack. Sehwag smashed Afridi for another six to which Raina responded by hitting Fawad Alam over long on. Having won the toss and chosen to bat, openers Salman Butt and Malik put on 90 before Butt was brilliantly caught by Suresh Raina at short midwicket off of Piyush Chawla for 35 to put their side in a controlling position which was reinforced by a century partnership between Malik and Younus Khan and some late blows from Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq. At first fast bowlers RP Singh, Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma all kept things tight, with only four boundaries coming, three of them from Butt, who excels against India, in the first 12 overs. However, after a circumspect start, the pair began to expand their game and put pressure back on to India, Malik in particular looking impressive with a crushing back foot drive off of Praveen Kumar and some late deflections to the third man boundary seeing him overtake Butt, who might have been run out early on. The introduction of spinner Piyush Chawla was a signal for Malik to attack, and he hit two fours to reach his half-century and take Pakistan on to 87 without loss after 20 overs before Chawla, once again hit for four by Malik, got his reward with the wicket of Butt. Malik responded by smashing Yusuf Pathan for a six as he and Younus plundered runs at an excellent strike rate and India struggled to contain the pair, with boundaries backed up with good running and a sound understanding between the pair. Malik's century was his sixth in One Day Internationals, his third in the Asia Cup and his third against India. Younus's delightful innings was full of deft sweeps, both conventional and reverse and the stand between the pair set Pakistan up for a late innings charge with plenty of batsmen still to come. Malik was twice dropped off of Yusuf Pathan and looked to take full advantage despite suffering from cramp in the oppressive Karachi heat while Younus another player who saves his best performances for the Indians, reached his half-century soon after. The cramps eventually became too much for Shoiab, and he retired on 125 from 119 balls leaving the middle to a standing ovation from a packed crowd. Younus Khan was soon joining him in the dressing room as India finally held a high catch off of Pathan, Raina the fielder sending Younus on his way for 59. Mohammad Yousuf played some aggressive strokes before being run out by RP Singh for 30 from just 20 deliveries to maintain the home side's momentum late on while Shahid Afridi (nine) once again failed to deliver, but Misbah's unbeaten 31 kept things going. India dropped four catches in all and only RP Singh, who took one for 44 from ten overs, bowled with credit, but on a batsman-friendly pitch, this match is far from over. Both sides have already qualified for the Super Four stage of the competition and will meet again in the second stage of the tournament.
Asia Cup: India decimate Hong Kong
India launched their Asia Cup campaign in an emphatic manner, routing minnows Hong Kong by 256 runs in their opening Group B match in Karachi on Wednesday.
Electing to bat, India rattled up massive 374 for four, riding on centuries by Suresh Raina (101) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (unbeaten 109), practicing well ahead of clash against arch-rivals and hosts Pakistan on Thursday.
They then bundled out the opponents for a paltry 118 in 36.5 overs to register their second best victory margin, the highest being 257-run win against Bermuda in 2007.
Young leg-spinner Piyush Chawla (4/23) weaved the spin magic, bowling with guile as he forced three stumpings by foxing batsmen with his intriguing line and length apart fro effecting a catch out.
Hong Kong skipper Tabarak Dar (21), James Atkinson (23) and Irfan Ahmed (25) were the main contributors in their side's dismal run-chase.
Left-arm paceman R P Singh drew the first blood in his very first over, trapping Skhawat Ali for a nought, to begin the rot.
Dar and Atkinson then put up a 45-run stand for the second-wicket but once the skipper was dismissed, Hong Kong batsmen lacked confidence in negotiating the Indian attack.
The runs, whatever scored, came at an agonisingly slow pace as the 100 came up only in the 32nd over.
Poor running added to the woes of Hong Kong as lack of understanding resulted in run-outs of Irfan and Roy Lamsam.
Sehwag then closed the Hong Kong innings with two wickets on successive deliveries as he first clean bowled Afzaal Haider and then had Nadeem Ahmed caught behind the wickets, giving Dhoni his fourth victim of the innings.
Earlier, Suresh Raina notched up his maiden one-day century and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni his fourth as India sent minnows Hong Kong on a leather hunt scoring a massive 374 for four.
Raina spearheaded the batting blitz with his scintillating 101-run knock and teamed up with Dhoni (unbeaten 109) to put on 166 from 123 balls, which saw India set the highest total in Asia Cup history.
The 21-year old left hander was in spectacular form, reaching his first fifty from exactly 50 balls and then stepped up the tempo to race to his century from only 16 balls hitting five sixes and three fours in this period.
Raina was extremely harsh on pacer Skhawat Ali who went for three sixes in one over.
Raina fell two balls after smashing pacer Afzaal Haider for a six to reach his hundred and was caught at mid-wicket.
Dhoni touched the three-figure mark after consuming balls and helped himself with with six sixes and five fours to anchor the innings.
India with their strong performance also warmed up in spectacular fashion for their important clash against traditional rivals, Pakistan.
The Hong Kong spinners who had done an admirable job against Pakistan in their first match never recovered from an early blitz from openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir .
The duo put on 127 for the first wicket and plundered runs at will, scoring 95 in first 10 overs.
The two openers brought up the fifty in under six overs and put on a smashing 100 from 65 balls before Sehwag went for a blistering 78 from 44 balls with 13 fours and two big sixes.
He fell to left arm spinner Najeeb Amar, who also dismissed Gambhir after the Delhi player had made a quick 51 from 54 balls.
Rohit Sharma was needlessly run out for 11 runs missing out on a great batting practice opportunity. But Dhoni and the Raina were unstoppable.
Nadeem Ahmed, who took four wickets against Pakistan went wicket less.
Zimbabwe tour of England in 2009 cancelled
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cancelled on Wednesday Zimbabwe's tour of England next year.In a statement the ECB said the government has given it "a clear instruction that Zimbabwe's bilateral tour scheduled under the ICC Future Tours Programme for 2009 should be cancelled".The ECB said it has consequently suspended all bilateral arrangements with Zimbabwe Cricket."The ECB deplores the position in Zimbabwe and, like Cricket South Africa, finds this untenable. Therefore all bilateral arrangements are suspended with Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect," the statement said."The ECB...welcome the Government's decision and share the Government's concerns about the deteriorating situation and lack of human rights in Zimbabwe."Cricket South Africa has already suspended all bilateral programmes with its southern African neighbour and the International Cricket Council will discuss suspending Zimbabwe from international cricket at an executive meeting in Dubai next Wednesday.The Twenty20 World Cup, which at present includes Zimbabwe, will be staged in England next yer.