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Ehsan Mani launches the ICC Champions Trophy© Getty Images

At a glitzy function to mark the India launch of the ICC Champions Trophy 2004, Ehsan Mani, the president of the ICC, and Malcolm Speed, the chief executive, spelled out the plans they had for the tournament, and what they hoped to achieve.When asked how the ICC planned spent the money generated by the event, Mani said: “All the money coming out of the Champions Trophy goes into development. We have allocated US$13million from each event for development in associate and affiliate member countries. Anything over that goes into development of full member countries. So, every penny of profit or surplus earned from these tournaments goes into development.”On the subject of money, Mani was reminded of the problems the ICC faced with relation to players’ contracts. Mani was emphatic in stating that he expected none of the problems that blighted last year’s World Cup to crop up this time around. “Since then we have been in discussion with all the boards and our commercial partners and there is no disagreement on the way forward, so I don’t expect their to be any dispute at all on this matter.”While Mani dealt with the big picture, Speed got down to the nitty-gritties. As has already been announced, the ICC will be experimenting with the use of technology to aid umpires in the Champions Trophy. The first stem would be “wiring the umpires” to earphones that play the output from the stump microphones. The second step involves giving the third umpire the power to adjudicate on no-balls. This gives the standing umpire an opportunity to focus on decisions at the batsman’s end.”That Champions Trophy is the perfect opportunity to experiment, in that we have the twelve teams together,” said Speed. “It’s a short, sharp tournament played over three grounds, so it’s not difficult to get the cameras in place to do the research. All of the top umpires and referees are there, so we get feedback from them at one time. We can talk to the captains about their response to it.”This experimentation has minimum impact on the cricket that is played. It is not going to affect anything that the players are doing. They will be told that the umpires are wired and that the third umpire would call the no-balls. There might be a slight delay between the third umpire being able to signal to the standing umpire and he then signalling the no-ball. The players want the umpires to focus at the business end and get it right there.”The last edition of the tournament, held in Sri Lanka, was jointly won by India and Sri Lanka, when rain washed the final out at the halfway mark even on the reserve day. That is something that won’t happen this time around. “We play on the first day. If the match is not concluded we continue, not replay, it on the second day,” said Speed. “If we get to the second day and the match is then weather-affected, Duckworth Lewis will apply on the second day only.”The participation of the United States of America, who qualified through an ICC feeder tournament, has been a big step forward in the development of the game in that region. This is something both Mani and Speed looked forward to with excitement. “We have targeted that USA as an important region for development of cricket,” said Mani. “There are huge amounts of people who play the game there. Expatriate West Indian and Asian cricketers make for a very active scene. I believe there are about 10,000 active cricketers in the USA and that’s more than, say Nepal. What we have done is agreed to allocate resources in the United States, we will appoint a chief executive there soon.”However, Speed was quick to clarify that the ICC was not looking to compete with established sports in the USA: “We’re not saying we want cricket to be the next NFL, NBA or MLB. But, there is an opportunity for cricket to come into the USA because of the huge number of expatriates. What we’re seeking to do is start the game using these expatriates, and then take the game forward. We see it ultimately as being an effective niche sport in USA, not something that challenges the big ones.”

When I was in Kenya in 2001, at the then end of a West Indian tour of Zimbabwe, Maurice Odumbe and Steve Tikolo, the former and present captains of Kenya, made it a point to tell me, friend to friend, that, like Muhammad Ali when he beat George Foreman, “We are going to shock the world again.”

© Reuters

That first shock referred to, of course, was their win over the West Indies in the 1996 World Cup, and although that line was again remembered when Kenya beat Sri Lanka, I believed more shocks were in store. It seemed, like Odumbe and Tikolo, I was correct, and Zimbabwe and the rest of the cricketing world got another surprise as Kenya qualified for the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup.Friend or not, these Kenyans undoubtedly play cricket as the West Indians did in the 70s and 80s, with tremendous passion, even though they may be more limited in ability. They play to their full potential and enjoy it thoroughly. In most cases, they have nothing to lose, but now, they may have the World Cup to win.Zimbabwe were already shaken up with internal wrangling; a selector quit, their best batsman, Andy Flower, announced retirement, and Henry Olonga was selected only to prove that he was not cast into the cold after his political statement. Zimbabwe, consequently, were as unprepared as could be, and that Flower made 63 out of 133 all out tells a sorry tale. Being the veteran and professional that he is, Andy Flower would have known the importance of the game, both to himself and to his team, and it was not a happy exit from the national side for a man who always gave 200 percent on the field.The find of this World Cup, though, is leg-spinner Collins Otieno Obuya. To date, he has bamboozled two Test-level teams – Sri Lanka and then Zimbabwe – with figures of five for 24 and three for 32. Eight wickets for 56 from 20 overs for a leg-spinner from a non-Test side – amazing! Shane Warne, look out! To be very honest, the world seems to be this chap’s oyster.The Kenyan fielding also reminds me of the Clive Lloyd-led sides of the late 70s and 80s. It is not that they do not have the occasional misfield or dropped catch; every team does. But Kenya does not fear anybody any team. They are as enthusiastic when playing against the big boys of Sri Lanka and South Africa as against Canada and Bangladesh. They play as if every game is their next shot at greatness, and perhaps their last. What a refreshing cricket team!Whatever happens from here, the Kenyans have already almost progressed to cricketing immortality. The games against Australia and then the semi-final against India notwithstanding, Kenya will be world-famous and as well known as Cameroon was in the 1990 soccer World Cup. Cameroon has since been dubbed the “Indomitable Lions,” and the Kenyans play cricket like unconquerable lions!

NOTTINGHAM, England – Australian coach John Buchanan has denied adocument proclaiming “psychological control” over England wasintentionally leaked to the media ahead of the third Ashes Test at TrentBridge.However, Buchanan admitted to caring little that in-house correspondencewas now in the public domain, including most back pages of Englishnewspapers.His memo, which relates theories from fifth-century BC Chinese warriorSun Tzu’s book “The Art of War” to Australia’s Ashes campaign, wasslipped under the door of journalists as well as his players by areceptionist at the team’s Southampton hotel on the weekend.Conspiracy theorists claim Buchanan may have wanted the thoughts of theAustralian camp to become public, but he denied this was the case.”I don’t think I’m a devious sort of person,” Buchanan said.”It’s a fairly common practice, I put material under the door ofplayers.”It seems I’ve put the material under the door of a lot of media at thesame stage.”I don’t see it as a mistake, it’s just unfortunate that somehow itescaped our normal channels.”Buchanan gives his players motivational material as often as once a weekand often delivers it himself but occasionally he asks hotel staff todeliver the papers to the appropriate rooms.The heart of the receptionist responsible for the gaffe in Southamptonmust have missed a beat this morning when the story dominated newspaper,television and radio reports.”It’s always in the back of my mind that it might sneak out, not that Iwant it to happen,” Buchanan added.”There are ways and means of getting around it I suppose but maybe I’mnot worried about that, either.”The beliefs of Tzu were accompanied by hand-written notes from Buchanan.Alongside Tzu’s direction to “forestall an opponent by seizing what heholds dear,” Buchanan scrawled: “Overall, this English team is hangingonto excuses (eg injuries, toss, bad luck, dropped catches, etc). Bygradually taking each of these away, ultimately there is no place tohide.”He stood his ground on that claim.”In the end we’re in a more comfortable position and therefore it isdifficult when you’re not winning games and you are trying to assess whythat’s not the case,” he said.”Ultimately you’ve got to be responsible and accountable for what goeson out on the field.”Buchanan said he would be satisfied if only a handful of his 17-mansquad actually read the memo.”I don’t for one minute think that it’s going to be the bible for 17players, that’s for sure,” he said.”All it’s intended to do is focus our attention not only on this gamebut the rest of the series, and also beyond the series trying to extendpeople a little bit and get them to think a bit differently, look atthings differently.”Australia, expected to announce an unchanged XI from the side that wonat Lord’s by eight wickets, and England trained at Trent Bridge today.

Everton manager Sam Allardyce hinted that he is set to stay next season in his pre-match press conference for the Premier League trip to Huddersfield Town this weekend, and Toffees fans have been quick to have their say on the news.

The 63-year-old was questioned about what was discussed during talks with owner Farhad Moshiri in London on Thursday, and he replied by saying they were “discussing plans for next season” and that he has “some clarity moving forward now”.

The former England boss continues to be hugely unpopular among the Goodison Park faithful, who continue to slate him on Twitter, as they aren’t enjoying their team’s performances despite the fact they currently lie in eighth position in the standings.

Everton supporters were quick to have their say on Allardyce’s latest comments via social media, and while one said “he must go”, another said “we get what we deserve”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo: Jahurul Islam steered Rangpur Riders’ chase of 136•Associated Press

Rangpur Riders inflicted three timely run-outs and then batted well to beat Dhaka Dynamites by six wickets. The win meant that Rangpur, Comilla Victorians and Barisal Bulls now have 10 points each on the table, while Dhaka are in fourth place with six points, and still need to strengthen their lead over Chittagong Vikings and Sylhet Super Stars, who have four points each.The fielding was the main difference between the two sides. Dhaka misfielded several times, especially Sohail Khan at the boundary, while Rangpur made sure that their bowling wasn’t going to be the only thing attacking Dhaka as they limited the side to 135 for 7. Jahurul Islam was in charge of the chase for most of the time, ending with an unbeaten 35 off 26 balls with four boundaries.When Rangpur’s chase began, however, there were plenty of plays and misses from the Rangpur openers – Soumya Sarkar and Lendl Simmons – in the first six overs. Soumya hit just the two fours and a magnificent pull off Sohail Khan in the fifth over but in the following over, Abul Hasan had him caught at mid-off as he attempted to bunt the medium-pacer. Simmons was caught at point off the same bowler, after making only 18. Rangpur’s chase received a further jolt when, in the 12th over, Mustafizur Rahman duped Shakib Al Hasan to give a catch to mid-on to make the score 74 for 3.Sammy had a terrible time at the start of his innings, missing deliveries against Mustafizur and Abul, but just as things were getting tougher for Rangpur, Shykat Ali was given a third over with 54 needed off 42 balls. Sammy struck two fours and Jahurul got one past the wicketkeeper to take 16 runs off the over. In the next over, the pair combined to hit Sohail Khan for three fours in a 15-run over. The target came down to 23 off 30 balls.Mohammad Irfan had Sammy drag one on to the stumps after making a 21-ball 23, with 17 needed off the last 24 balls. Jahurul kept his cool and, with Thisara Perera, made sure the win was achieved with 10 balls to spare.When Dhaka decided to bat, the 45-run, fourth-wicket partnership between Nasir Hossain and Kumar Sangakkara was the best part of their batting. That partnership helped the side overcome a sluggish start after they had slipped to 39 for 3 in the seventh over. Shadman Islam was the first to go, run out by Soumya Sarkar’s direct hit in the fourth over. Shamsur Rahman was struck in front against Shakib, before Shykat, impressive while hitting the two fours and the six, holed out at long-off for 18.Sangakkara and Nasir worked on picking the singles and twos, and occasionally found the boundary; the stand-out shot was Sangakkara’s inside-out six over cover off Mohammad Nabi in the 11th over. The partnership had the potential to push the total past the 150-mark, especially after Arafat Sunny dropped Sangakkara on 29 but, off the very next ball, Shakib’s direct hit from short midwicket found the batsman inches short of the crease.Nasir made a 28-ball 30 and, after Sangakkara’s dismissal, tried to push the run-rate. He even struck a six off Sunny but was gone next ball after the bowler turned it and beat Nasir’s charge. Ryan ten Doeschate swept one straight down deep square-leg’s throat in the 18th over before Mosaddek Hossain was run out trying to run a bye after Thisara Perera bowled a wide at the end of the penultimate over.Apart from Sunny’s two-wicket haul and the three run-outs, Sammy and Shakib had one wicket each.

Scorecard

Parthiv Patel unsuccessfully appeals against Collins Obuya, who top-scored with 51 © AFP

Hundreds from Subramaniam Badrinath and Parthiv Patel carried India A to a 408 for 8 declared and then Piyush Chawla spun out four Kenyan wickets to put the tourists on the verge of a big win on the second day at Mombasa. Collins Obuya’s 51 was the top score for Kenya, who began their second innings 309 runs in arrears, but a lack of support saw them stumble to 191 for 8 by stumps.The morning began with a light drizzle but play started on time, although Kenya were without their captain, Steve Tikolo, who did not take the field until later because of a calf strain. Patel and Badrinath, the overnight batsmen, began the day in the same aggressive vein as the evening before. Patel, who resumed on 100, was aggressive and moved to 124 quickly before slapping Hiren Varaiya’s slow left-arm spin to a diving Jimmy Kamande at mid-on.Badrinath was rock solid. He found an able ally in Irfan Pathan (32 from 50 balls), with whom he added 65 for the sixth wicket. Kenya got rid of Chawla and Yo Mahesh, but No. 10 Pankaj Singh showed an appetite for a scrap, hitting an unbeaten, run-a-ball 40 to help Badrinath past his century and India to over 400.Singh worked the ones and twos confidently, and also hit three sixes as India ground Kenya down. With the declaration close, and his hundred safely behind him, Badrinath picked up quick fours and a six off Rajesh Bhudia.Faced with a mountain to climb, the Kenyan openers, Maurice Ouma and David Obuya started confidently, adding 40 in five overs, but strikes from Pathan, Singh and Pragyan Ojha had the hosts in trouble. Tanmay Mishra, with 32 from 70 balls, and Obuya, with 51 from 72, resurrected the innings somewhat but Chawla’s introduction had India right back on top. He trapped Mishra leg before, and whittled away for 11 overs to finish with 4 for 31, leaving India two wickets away from taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match contest.

Pravin Amre’s first decision as Mumbai coach is to implement the services of a video analyst during the forthcoming Ranji season. Amre, who took over the job two days ago, met with Lalchand Rajput, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) secretary, and Milind Rege, the selection panel chairman, to decide tactics.”I explained them the need for one ,” he told . “In order to make the best use of technology, we must have a full-time video analyst.”Amre’s ideas had the Mumbai management pleased. “It was a positive meeting,” said Rajput. “We heard out Amre’s plans and we are all exicted about the forthcoming season.” Added Rege: “We will go all out to support Amre’s plans.”The trio also discussed Mumbai’s participation in next month’s Moin-ud-Daulah trophy in Hyderabad. The tournament is being looked at with anticipation, given the failure of this summer’s Kanga League and Mumbai’s poor showing in the Buchi Babu fixture in Chennai. According to Rajput, Amre will travel with the team to Hyderabad. Rajput also revealed the unlikeliness of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy probables being announced until several key players return from club stints in England.Ashok Mankad, who lost out to Amre despite being a favourite for the coaching job, offered his congratulations. “They [MCA] deliberated on the matter and I respect the decision,” he said. “Now that he has got the nod, I wish him all the best.”

Andrew Flintoff: Lancashire will miss his heroics with both bat and ball © Getty Images

Lancashire are considering lodging a formal protest against the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after Andrew Flintoff’s withdrawal from Lancashire’s C&G Trophy semi-final versus Warwickshire on August 20.Jack Simmons, the chairman at Lancashire, was angry that all the national players had pulled out of the C&G Trophy matches after playing back-to-back Tests against Australia. The ECB said that Flintoff, who is currently taking a break in France, was carrying an ankle injury sustained against Australia, but Simmons was not convinced with that explaination. “If he has an ankle injury what treatment is he getting over there [in France]? The first I heard about it was at lunchtime when I learned that the ECB had circulated an email pulling all the England players out of the two semis,” said Simmons, in a report in sportinglife.com. “You would have thought England would have had the courtesy to talk to me first about it. This, after all, is a chance to reach our first Lord’s final since 1998, it is a massive game for the club.”The agreement between the counties and the ECB states that the centrally contracted players will be allowed to play in the C&G games unless they had an injury. “We weren’t told that Freddie was unfit until I rang an ECB official who was on holiday,” said Simmons. “Before that all we knew was that he would not be at Edgbaston and to say I was angry is an understatement.”Simmons said that he had no problem if Flintoff had withdrawn to be in better shape for the fourth Test at Trent Bridge but was angry because of the way the issue was handled by the ECB. “I’m now assured that the medical officer Peter Gregory believes he should not play on Saturday, and that by resting instead of being involved in the semi-final, he will be in better condition to take on the Aussies at Trent Bridge and, while that information came to us far too late, I am prepared to accept his word,” said Simmons. “After all there is no-one more passionate about England winning the Ashes than I. If this helps, fine. But the way the ECB have handled this leaves me feeling rather sad.”Robin Smith, the chairman at Yorkshire, shared Simmons’s anger at England’s handling of the situation as Yorkshire will take the field without Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard for their semi-final at the Rose Bowl against a Hampshire line up which will not include Kevin Pietersen. “We weren’t properly informed of England’s action, and we have no specific details of Hoggard’s niggle,” said Smith. “We’ll be contacting the board to complain about the way this had been dealt with.”

Geoff Marsh: a fence-sitter?© Getty Images

Grant Flower has admitted that Zimbabwe’s rebel players feel betrayed by the silence of Geoff Marsh, who has been coaching them for the past couple of years. Zimbabwe have stumbled from one humiliation to another with their predominantly black, second-string side, and Flower said that Marsh’s attitude had surprised and disappointed the “rebel” players.On Sunday, Zimbabwe were skittled out for just 35, the lowest total ever in a one-day international, and that too against a Sri Lankan team that had rested Muttiah Muralitharan. According to a report in the , Flower believes that that debacle could be the first of many, especially with Australia scheduled to tour in May.”To be honest, I thought he would have stood up for us and said a little more,” said Flower. “He has sat on the fence and obviously just wants to see out his contract. He obviously has his own personal reasons.”He told us that he had tried for two years to make changes happen but he couldn’t do anything about it. I don’t want to go too deeply into it. But with everything that’s going on, I don’t think any of us were too upset at the loss to Sri Lanka. We still want to play for Zimbabwe, but it doesn’t look good.”Flower’s pessimistic view was shared by John Dyson, whose Sri Lankan team have steamrollered Tatenda Taibu’s inexperienced side in the four matches so far. “They’ll have huge problems against the Australian attack, I don’t think there’s any surprises there,” said Dyson. “They’ve really struggled against us … we didn’t even use our spinners in the last match. I’ve spoken to Geoff [Marsh] at the matches, and he said to me that he’s basically doing his job until the end of his contract and then leaving.”The latest crisis in Zimbabwe cricket was precipitated after the rebels supported Heath Streak, who was sacked from the captaincy after giving the Zimbabwe Cricket Union a list of demands related to the manner in which the team was being selected.The ZCU made token concessions, but have stubbornly refused to waver on Streak and the captaincy, resulting in a virtual 2nd XI doing duty against Sri Lanka.Malcolm Gray, the former ICC president, told the newspaper that he hoped an amicable solution could be found. “It is usually cricket that loses out with when disputes arise between players and administrators,” he said. “It is hoped a joint solution can be found even if there is a temporary suspension of Zimbabwe’s commitments.”Flower added that several of the players were considering the option of playing abroad. “One or two of the guys have begun looking at playing options outside of here. No-one’s sure whether they’ll be able to play for Zimbabwe again. But everyone believes in what we’re trying to achieve, so the focus is more on this issue.”

Former New Zealand soccer and cricket vice-captain and deputy head of Christchurch’s Middleton Grange School Vic Pollard has a new supporting role.Pollard, 57, is the new Christian Heritage Party deputy leader, replacing Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, who resigned from the party in November.Party leader Graham Capill said the CHP is “privileged” to have Pollard in the position, which is a temporary one and will be reassessed at August’s party convention in Nelson, when a new leader will be selected and a committee will report on the CHP’s future direction.Leadership nominations run from Christmas to May, but Capill said only one man, not Pollard, has applied. Capill expects further applications by May, but did not want to pre-empt the decision on a new leader.Vice-captain to Canterbury’s Graham Dowling in the New Zealand cricket team to England in 1969, Pollard would probably have led his country in the West Indies in 1971/72 when Dowling withdrew with a back injury.However, his Christian beliefs prevented him from playing on Sundays and he did not tour.Pollard also led Central Districts to two Plunket Shields and later led Canterbury for a season.At Middleton Grange since 1980, Pollard said he hopes he may enhance the CHP’s chance of gaining representation in Parliament.The father of five said there was a great need for Christians to take a lead in local and national Government in New Zealand society, “which is rapidly moving away from its Christian heritage.”Pollard said he was 100% behind Capill and the party’s policies of family, justice and choice and would need some persuading to apply to be leader and did not want to speculate on his interest in leading the CHP.”At this stage I don’t want to say if I will or I won’t (apply),” he said.”I’m biding my time. It’s a big job. It’s tough in politics generally and particularly with the last couple of years the party’s had.”Pollard, No 3 on the party list at the last election behind Capill and Raukawa-Tait, said he did not seek leadership, but “if it comes my way in my career or sport or politics probably less so and others see I’ve got giftings … I’m not one personally who strives for that because I come from a Christian position. But if it comes my way I’d make that personal sacrifice.”