India’s situation could hardly have been more desperate. In the early stages of the 1983 World Cup, at the sleepy English venue of Tunbridge Wells, the lowly bowlers of Zimbabwe had ripped through their exalted opposition.India were 9 for 4 when their captain Kapil Dev came to the crease. That soon became 17 for 5, and elimination from the tournament seemed only a matter of time.Kapil, however, had other ideas. In the next couple of hours, the match was turned on its head, as blow followed furious blow, and Zimbabwe were put emphatically back in their place.Kapil’s unbeaten 175 – out of a total of 266 – secured a comfortable victory, but more importantly, it demonstrated to his team what they could achieve in the face of adversity. A week later, the mighty West Indies were rolled over in the final, and India became the champions of the world.Creativity was at the core of Kapil’s breathtaking abilities with bat and ball, and on occasions such as this, he enabled his team to touch unprecedented heights. He provided leadership that transcended mere tactics – and after carrying India’s fast-bowling hopes throughout his career, in 1991-92 he overtook Richard Hadlee as the world’s leading wicket-taker in Tests.It was a testament to his longevity as well as his undoubted skills, especially as he achieved the bulk of his success on India’s spin-friendly wickets. And all the while, his bombastic batting reminded his team of the powers of positive thinking.Perhaps the most memorable example of this came against England at Lord’s in 1990, when, with only the No. 11 for company, he struck four consecutive sixes to save the follow-on.

The announcement by Ten Sports in India that it would be televising live the forthcoming tri-series between Kenya, India A and Pakistan A surprised many, not least the officials of the Nairobi Gymkhana (NG) where the games are scheduled to be played.The Nairobi Gymkhana ground is the only one of international status in Kenya, and was the venue for the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy. But the acrimonious dispute between various Nairobi-based clubs and the Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) meant that last year the Gymkhana authorities took the decision that it would not allow the stadium to be used for any KCA events.The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Gymkhana ground is also home to the offices of the KCA, and that rent for those offices, as well as outstanding ground-admission fees, have apparently not been paid for at least three years.The deal to televise the tri-series was done through Media Plus, a company controlled by Sharad Ghai, who also happens to be the chairman of the KCA. Media Plus is believed to take a 20% cut for handling such deals. And the KCA, which is broke, desperately needs the funds.It soon became clear that without the agreement of the Gymkhana authorities there would be no television monies. Although Ravindra Patel, the Gymkhana Club’s secretary, specifically forbade his board to deal with the KCA, it seems that while he was in London an agreement was struck between Ghai and Raj Thaker, the Gymkhana chairman.When Patel returned he was livid that Thaker had acted without his – or his board’s – consent, but the deal had been done. The KCA, however, still owed around 2.5 million schillings for back rent, and Thaker insisted that until this was paid, there would be no matches.The word of the KCA that the monies would be paid after the event counted for little, as all previous attempts to get the debt settled had been answered with a wall of silence.Ghai was in a corner as the KCA couldn’t pay. So, in desperation, he gave the board his personal cheque for one million schillings as a part-payment, with the balance, which he disputed, subject to arbitration at a later date. What worried some was that Ghai insisted that the cheque was post-dated until after the tournmament. One Gymkhana official said that suspicions remained that once the tri-series was over that the cheque might be cancelled, but it is extremely unlikely that Ghai would act in that way.And so the tournament will go ahead, and the television rights, which according to sources close to the KCA were sold for US$1.5 million, will give Kenyan cricket a much-needed financial boost – once Media Plus have taken their cut.

After beating India twice in one month, Moin Khan said that he believed Pakistan had the firepower to do it a third time, during the Champions Trophy. Pakistan first romped to an authoritative win over their rivals in the Asia Cup, and then completely outplayed them on an uneven pitch in Amsterdam.The victories were significant, for they showed the improvement the team had made since Bob Woolmer became coach, and that they had put the series defeat against India behind them. Moin spoke about the pressure of facing India in front of a large Pakistani crowd away from home, as well as his own expectations. “In the last two games we dominated them, we beat them and I hope we’re going to perform in the same way,” Moin said to the BBC. “It’s going to be an exciting game because a lot of Pakistani people live here and support us. Definitely there’s going to be lots of pressure on both teams.”The match will be played at Edgbaston on September 19. Both teams have met only once before on an English ground: in the 1999 World Cup, where India beat Pakistan. But since then, Pakistan have beaten India seven times on neutral territory, while India have won three games.

The Eagles won an exciting match over the Dolphins in their top-of-the-table clash in Durban. The win extended the Eagles’ lead at the top of the table.Having set the Eagles a target of 216 the reliable opening partnership of Morne van Wyk and Jonathan Beukus was broken early by the Dolphins, resulting in frequent wickets and a difficult position of 51 for 4 after 12 overs. Loots Bosman and Johannes van der Wath put on 74 when Bosman was caught behind for 37. The dangerous van der Wath took a liking to the Dolphins bowling and single handily turned the game back in the Eagles’ favour. With a willing partner in Craig Thyssen he two steered the Eagles closer with some power hitting. With four runs needed van der Wath tried to hit Andrew Tweedie over his head only to be well caught and bowled for an excellent run-a-ball 91. Thyssen ended the game with a lofted cover drive to finish on 33.Doug Watson and Imraan Khan once again got the Dolphins off to a good start, putting on 79 in 18 overs when Watson was run out for 29 by Deon Kruis. Khan followed on 112, bowled for 58 by Thandi Tshabalala who also picked up the wicket of Ashraf Mall for 12. Dale Benkenstein(2) for once failed with the bat while Jon Kent contributed 34.Wade Wingfield, who had come in at number three, batted long for 59 while Lance Klusener, once again coming in too late to be effective, only received eight balls for his nine as the Dolphins finished on 215 for 5.The bowling of Justin Kemp proved to be too good for the Warriors as they were bowled out for 167 in 43.1 overs. Kemp, who mixed up his pace well, was introduced in the 25th over with immediate success as he got rid of Mark Boucher with his first ball, bowled. He ended the innings off with the last four wickets for a 5 for 38 return in 8.1 overs.The Titans started well with both Alviro Petersen and AB de Villiers getting into the thirties before both needlessly giving away their wickets away. Gerald Dros and Kemp started slowly but with a bonus point up on offer they accelerated to finish the game in the 36th over to secure the extra point. Dros scored 66 while Kemp reached 35.

Kyle Mills will not travel with his team-mates to Napier and will stay in Auckland to recover from a stiffness in his back. Mills sustained this stiffness in the first game, which New Zealand won comprehensively, and felt a twinge during the third over of his spell.This was not the first time that Mills had this problem and had recovered from similar trouble a couple of times in the past. On those previous ocassions, he had been back to full fitness within a couple of days. John Bracewell, the coach, was optimistic that Mills would be available for the second match on Wednesday. Mills had a good first game in which he conceded only 24 runs in his economical eight-over spell. He also took the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara.Ian Butler, the fast bowler, will also rejoin the squad early on Tuesday morning to be ready for Wednesday’s second ODI. Butler left for Wellington to play in Northern Districts’ State one-day match against Wellington tomorrow so that he could be match-fit for the Napier game.

Keith Mitchell, Grenada’s prime minister, has suggested a “cooling-off period” between West Indies’ players and their cricket board in the ongoing dispute about endorsement contracts.”Some of the problems that are now emerging can be resolved with a cooling-off period during the holidays and during the tour,” he said on BBC World Service on Tuesday. “Then we will engage the private-sector bodies, both Cable & Wireless and Digicel, in the whole question of a final solution to the problems faced by the board and the players.” Mitchell would “offer some constructive solutions” to ensure the West Indies team’s imminent tour of Australia continues “without any disruption whatsoever”.Mitchell, who helped settle the initial stalemate in November, is set to meet officials from both the players’ association and the board today. Judge Adrian Saunders, the mediator in the dispute between the board and several of the players over contracts, will present his report at that meeting.

Boland 106 (Philander 4-15) and 316 (Davids 99, Clark58, de Stadler 5-61) beat Western Province 101 (Albertyn 3-24, Fourie3-16) and 263 (Albertyn 4-29) by 58 runsIt was a game of contrasts at Newlands in Cape Town as 20 wickets fell on the first day, 11 on day two and nine on day three as Western Province and Boland exchanged blows, with Boland emerging eventual victors by 58 runs.Both teams were bowled out on the first day – Boland for 106 and Province for 101. Vernon Philander took 4 for 15 and William Hantam claimed 3 for 16 for Province while Wallace Albertyn took 3 for 24 and Henri Fourie 3 for 16 for Boland.On the second day there was a dramatic change in the trend as Boland batted for most of the day, scoring 316 with Henry Davids stroking 99 and Jonathan Clark a career-best 58. Mark de Stadler took 5 for 61 and wrapped up the tail in an impressive final five-over spell.Province had to chase 322 to deny Boland only their second win ever in the local derby, but too many starts with no finishes cost Province dearly as five batsmen batted themselves into the 30s and then lost their wickets. Albertyn led from the front with 4 for 29 and Hillroy Paulse backed him up, taking 3 for 44, as Province were bowled out for 263.Eastern Province 185 (Potgieter 73, Holtzhauzen 4-60) and 140 (Potgieter 50*) drew with North West 131 (Carolus 5-61) and 177 for 9 (le Roux 103, Carolus 4-56)A rain-interrupted match ended in a tense traw after North West recovered from a diasterous position and nearly pulled off a victory.The first day at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom produced 15 wickets, of which only five batsmen managed double figures. Eastern Province were bowled out for 185 with Ettienne Potgieter scoring a career-best 73 while the North West attack of Frikkie Holtzhauzen, Eugene Moleon and Friedel de Wet made full use of the conditions.After rain wiped out the next day, North West were bowled out for 131 in 50 overs on the third day. Deon Carolus was the destroyer-in-chief, taking 5 for 61 and helping Eastern Province to a lead of 54 runs.Eastern Province faired no better in their second innings with Potgieter again top-scoring with 50 not out in a total of 140, the lead now 194.North West started their second innings with a crippling collapse. Six wickets fell with 19 on the board and 36 overs had yet to be bowled. But a maiden hundred by Juan le Roux and 40 from Holtzhauzen turned the game around. Thando Bula played a giant’s innings as he and le Roux steered North West closer to victory, putting on 59 for the eighth wicket. But after le Roux’s fell for 103 his team closed shop to earn North West a commendable draw.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has exonerated Bob Woolmer for criticising the umpiring in Australia during Pakistan’s recent tour. Woolmer, who had said that “umpiring decisions went 29-5 against us”, was spared a potential ban or fine after the ICC handed over the matter to the PCB.”Woolmer was asked to give his comments and he told the PCB he was quoted out of context,” said Abbas Zaidi, the PCB spokesman, quoted by AFP. “So the matter looks to be over.”Woolmer was reported by the ICC earlier this month for violating the code of conduct. He was charged under Level 2.4 of the ICC Code, which deals with “public criticism of, or inappropriate comment on a match-related incident or match officials”.Pakistan lost both the VB Series finals to Australia, and Woolmer had also said that Australian players intimidated the umpires, thereby influencing their decisions. “I have great respect for the umpires,” Woolmer told AFP. “It’s a difficult job they do and at no stage have I criticised the umpires.”Woolmer, who played 19 Tests for England and also coached South Africa, took over as Pakistan coach in June last year.

The Dalai Lama will no longer inaugurate the the opening game of the series between India and Pakistan at Dharamsala due to Pakistan’s apprehensions that the encounter could turn political.A spokesperson for the Dalai Lama said in a statement that, “The general thinking of Dalai Lama is not to cause inconvenience to any party," and explained that since there were reservations over his inauguration of the game, the Dalai Lama would withdraw.The reported that Abbas Zaidi, the Pakistan team’s manager, was quoted in a Pakistan newspaper as having said the team would “not take part in any social activity, even those involving the Lama”. The PCB had expressed their fears to the BCCI, who responded that the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association had invited the Dalai Lama, not them.With the Dalai Lama’s withdrawal, the state board invited the rather less-controversial state governor, VS Kokje.

Andy Moles has included four county players in Scotland’s 24-man squad for this summer’s ICC Trophy and National League tournaments. Dougie Brown from Warwickshire, John Blain of Yorkshire and Gavin Hamilton and Kyle Coetzer from Durham add valuable experience to the squad but will have to juggle their county and Scottish commitments.Moles has also got one eye on the future by including Richard Berrington, a 17-year-old allrounder from Greenock, and Gordon Goudie from Stoneywood, who is on the MCC Young Cricketers scheme at Lord’s.”While we have a pretty established and settled first-choice team, it is important fringe players get suitable encouragement,” explained Moles. “We may need them to step into the team at any time and at short notice.”Scotland’s main aim for the 2005 season is to qualify for the next World Cup in the West Indies by finishing in the top five of the ICC Trophy in Ireland. It is also the last of the three-year trail period for the Scottish Saltires in the National League, from 2006 they will play in a revamped C&G Trophy at the start of the English summer.The final 14-man squad for the ICC Trophy has to be confirmed by the end of May.Scotland squad Asim Butt (Heriots), Richard Berrington (Greenock), John Blain (Yorkshire), Dougie Brown (Warwickshire), James Brinkley (Worcester Town CC), Kyle Coetzer (Durham), Shaun Coetzer (Stoneywood-Dyce), Cedric English (Carlton), Gordon Goudie (Stoneywood-Dyce), Gavin Hamilton (Durham), Majid Haq (Ferguslie), Paul Hoffman (Uddingston), Steven Knox (Grange), Dougie Lockhart (West of Scotland), Gregor Maiden (Grange), Dewald Nel (Heriots), Colin Smith (Aberdeenshire), Simon Smith (Grange), Ian Stanger (Greenock), Ryan Watson (Forfarshire), Fraser Watts (Carlton), Greig Williamson (Clydesdale), Craig Wright (Greenock), Yasir Arafat (Clydesdale).