WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016 SPORTS Trinidad board launches probe after washout

MUMBAI: The Trinidad and Tobago had reached 62 for two and no further “Once this has been done, it will be presented The ground might also face action from the Board has launched an investigation after only play was possible over the next four days despite to the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board).” governing ICC if Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan 22 overs could be played over five days in the periods of sunshine. “As hosts, the Trinidad and The abandonment and lack of modern equip- Madugalle submits an adverse report against fourth and final test between West Indies and Tobago Cricket Board and QPCC (Queen’s Park ment at the ground have been panned by critics the venue. India at the Queen’s Park Oval due to a soggy Cricket Club) regret that limited play was possi- and former cricketers as the test format strug- According to ICC regulations, the governing outfield. ble in the 4th Test Match between WI and India gles to attract spectators in the Caribbean. body will make the match referee’s report public The lack of action meant India won the four- at the Queen’s Park Oval,” TTCB President Azim Former West Indies Viv Richards was if he has rated it ‘poor’. “It is not for the BCCI to test series 2-0 but surrendered top spot in the Bassarath said in a statement after the match. among those critical of the organisers. comment or look into matters of foreign cricket International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings to “We have jointly launched an investigation to “Folks here have some questions to answer,” boards or their facilities,” Indian cricket board Pakistan, less than a week after taking over the determine what occurred with a view to remedy- the batting great said on television commentary. (BCCI) secretary Ajay Shirke told Reuters. “If at number one position from Australia. Rain halted ing the situation so that this does not occur in “Not having a Super Sopper (mechanical mop) is all, it is a matter for ICC to look into if it so play on the first day of the test after West Indies the future. unacceptable.” desires.” —Reuters

Azhar hopes Pakistan transfer Test form into England ODIs

LONDON: Pakistan one-day captain Azhar we will take the opportunity and the way Ali wants to see the team take the form the team is performing, hopefully we can that had made them the world’s number convert it into ODIs as well.” one-ranked Test side into their one-day England’s one-day cricket has been on series against England. Azhar was a mem- an upward curve since their embarrassing ber of the Pakistan team that secured an first-round exit at last year’s World Cup and impressive 2-2 draw in a recent four-Test Azhar is among those who’ve been series against England and is now looking impressed by how Eoin Morgan’s side have for his side to hit similar heights in a five- bounced back in the 50-over format. match one-day international series starting “The way England started playing after in Southampton today. the World Cup, they played a lot of attack- Pakistan, following their results in ing, fearless cricket and they’ve been per- England, and India’s rain-affected fourth forming very well,” he said. “We know that Test draw with the West Indies in Port-of- and we have to be aggressive against Spain, are now number one in the Test them as well. “We are all very confident. rankings for the first time in history. No one rated us very highly-a few people By contrast, they are just ninth in the said we would be competitive but there ODI standings and in danger of missing out were doubts if we could win the Test on automatic qualification for the 2019 matches here. World Cup in England. But Azhar is confi- “But the boys really believed in the Test dent the team’s white-ball fortunes can be matches, so here also we believe we can do turned around following what was, to it.” After the Test series, Pakistan thrashed many observers, their surprise effort in win- Ireland by 255 runs in an ODI at Malahide ning two Tests in English conditions. on Thursday-Saturday’s second fixture in a “Confidence is very high and belief is two-match series was washed out-but they there, obviously coming from the Test are now set to face the fit-again Durham series, we had a very good couple of duo of fast bowler Mark Wood and all- months here,” Azhar told reporters at rounder Ben Stokes, although the latter will Southampton on Tuesday. “We take that be deployed as a batsman only at confidence into the one-day internationals Southampton. as well. “Wood is definitely a very good bowler “Being number one is a massive boost and Stokes a very good all-round player, and a proud moment for Pakistan cricket and a good batsman too,” Azhar said. and the whole nation is very happy about “Every player they have could be a it, and as players the team is really happy match-winner for them, so we have to about it. focus on each and every player. If we do “It’s definitely a good thing for us. Our that and bring our plans in, we can defi- one-day ranking is not great right now but nitely challenge England.” —AFP

WELLINGTON: This file photo taken on March 25, 2012 shows Mark Boucher of South Africa playing a shot on day three of the third and final five-day international cricket Test match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, whose career was cut short by a freak eye injury, was named coach of Pretoria-based franchise on Monday. —AFP S Africa, N Zealand first Test washout

DURBAN: South African captain “It’s disappointing that a Test series becomes a each which they had bowled. and New Zealand coach Mike Hesson both one-off,” said Du Plessis. “The guys were relentless. They hit excellent expressed disappointment after the first Test “ is about longer, stronger, who areas and didn’t give the New Zealand batsmen between South Africa and New Zealand was can do it for the longest time.” But he said there any free runs.” abandoned as a draw due to poor ground condi- were several positives for South Africa going into Following Monday’s washout, Cricket South tions yesterday. No play was possible on days Centurion for the decider. Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat blamed three, four and five because of a wet, soft out- “Winning the toss on a greenish , our unseasonal rain and a re-laid outfield for the loss field which the umpires decided would be dan- opening pair had a real solid partnership against of play at the Kingsmead ground. gerous for players. No play took place after rain a quality seam attack. Looking back we had a He said the outfield had been relaid in June fell during the lunch break on the second day on good score in the conditions although it was dis- following complaints by players about condi- Saturday, when New Zealand were on 15 for two appointing that we didn’t score 300 or 350,” he tions during a Twenty20 international and a one- in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 263. said “We got ourselves into positions where we day international there in August 2015, also Rain continued throughout the rest of Saturday just needed one guy to bat a bit longer.” involving New Zealand. and into early Sunday morning. Du Plessis said opening bowlers Dale Steyn “However, the unseasonal rain at this time of The weather cleared and there was no further and Vernon Philander, both returning after year impacted our preparations of the newly laid rain but the outfield conditions did not improve injuries, had been outstanding in the six overs outfield,” he added. —AFP sufficiently for play to resume. “We were dying to get out there,” said Du Plessis. “New Zealand were in a spot of bother on a wicket which was SCOREBOARD giving a lot of assistance.” Despite that Du Plessis said that he respected the decision of the DURBAN, South Africa: Final scores in the drawn first Test between South Africa and New Zealand yes- umpires. “There were areas that were muddy terday after rain prevented play: and loose underfoot. The message was clear South Africa first innings, 263 (H Amla 53; N Extras 0 from the umpires that the players’ safety was Wagner 3-47, T Boult 3-52) Total(2 wkts, 12 overs) 15 their main concern,” he said. New Zealand first innings (overnight: 15-2) Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Latham), 2-12 (Guptill) “Both teams were very keen to play,” said M. Guptill lbw b Steyn 7 Bowling: Steyn 6-4-3-2, Philander 6-1-12-0 COLOMBO: Australia’s Travis Head bats during a training session at The R. Hesson. “But we respect the decision of the T. Latham c Amla b Steyn 4 Did not bat: H. Nicholls, B. Watling, M. Santner, Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo yesterday, ahead of umpires.” K. Williamson 2 D. Bracewell, T. Southee, N. Wagner, T. Boult the second cricket match against Sri Lanka. —AFP The series will now be decided in the second R. Taylor not out 2 Result: Match drawn. and final Test starting at Centurion on Saturday. Floodlight failure mars India’s pink ball debut

NEW DELHI: India’s experiment with the pink ball in rebranded India Red and India Green, were excited at novel idea. Local people are eager to watch the pink the Duleep Trophy domestic championship met with the prospect of the longest format of the game also ball game under lights. We are just hoping that all major embarrassment after floodlight failure inter- being played after dark in India. “I think it is pretty goes well,” Rajeev Tyagi, one of the ground’s adminis- rupted play for over an hour in the day-night match exciting and something to look forward to,” said veter- trators, told AFP before the floodlight failure. India yesterday. The Duleep Trophy, a four-day triangular an all-rounder , who has enjoyed great had been expected to stage their first day-night Test competition which traditionally heralds the start of success for the national team under lights in ODI and during a tour by New Zealand starting next month. the Indian cricket season, is seen as a possible precur- T20 cricket. “The New Zealand-Australia Test match But the plans were shelved to give more time for trials sor to day-night Tests in cricket’s biggest market. But (first day-night Test played in Adelaide last year) I saw of the pink Kookaburra ball. the first match on the outskirts of the capital New was pretty exciting. The ball was swinging a bit much. Designers say the pink ball is far more visible Delhi witnessed three of the six light towers go out It will be challenging if it swings a lot, playing under under lights than the red ball that has traditionally twice in the post dinner session, forcing the players to lights,” added Singh, who is captaining India Red. been used in Tests. The white ball used in limited- leave the field. The first interruption happened just Suresh Raina, the captain of India Green who is overs cricket is not viable for Tests as it clashes with after the dinner interval when play was delayed by 17 trying to force his way back into the Indian team, was the players’ white clothing and sight screens as well as minutes due to insufficient light while the second similarly enthusiastic. “The Duleep Trophy has not being less durable. The Australia-New Zealand match break stretched to about 50 minutes. been played with the pink ball before and it’s a good is the only Test so far to have been played under The organisers refused to answer any queries after challenge. All the boys are keen (to perform) and this lights. But Pakistan are also set to stage day/night GREATER NOIDA: ‘India Green’ cricketers appeal for a leg before wicket the fiasco as play carried on well past 9pm, the origi- is a good platform ahead of the season,” said Raina. contests against Australia and the West Indies in the (LBW) decision against ‘India Red’ batsman Abhinav Mukund during a nal time for end of play. “There was some problem in Gulf later this year. India, who have just been toppled Duleep Trophy cricket match between ‘India Green’ and ‘India Red’ in the main electrical circuit of the floodlights, which EAGER FANS by Pakistan at the top of the rankings, are about to Greater Noida yesterday. India’s Duleep Trophy domestic championship was tripping,” a ground official told AFP on condition Singh’s team won the toss and chose to bat first in embark on an extensive round of Test match cricket began staging its first match under floodlights, experimenting with a pink of anonymity. Earlier the players taking part in the afternoon in front of a cheering crowd who had by hosting series against New Zealand, England, ball in a likely precursor to the advent of day-night Tests in cricket’s biggest Tuesday’s match, between teams that have been filed in to watch a piece of cricketing history. “It’s a Bangladesh and Australia. —AFP market. —AFP