The BCCI president, Sharad Pawar, will address the Indian World Cup team here on February 27 before it leaves for the West Indies. The BCCI chief will talk to players after the official media conference at the Board's headquarters in the Wankhede Stadium, Board sources said today. Dep

Ramesh Powar says he did not expect to be picked for World Cup after not getting enough opportunities to prove himself in the lead up matches but rues that he never got a chance to show his all-round ability. Powar, who narrowly missed the flight to the Caribbean for the quadrennial event

Medium pacer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth today said India had peaked at right time, brightening it`s chances to win the prestigious Cricket World Cup beginning in the West Indies from next month. "The team has peaked at the right time and everyone has shown fine touch," said the 2

After a brilliant performance in the India Sri Lanka ODI series, former skipper Sourav Ganguly returned home today to a warm welcome from fans. Ganguly, who arrived from Visakhapatnam by Cormandel Express, was received at the Howrah station by his family and friends even as hundreds o

Ramesh Powar says he did not expect to be picked for World Cup after not getting enough opportunities to prove himself in the lead up matches but rues that he never got a chance to show his all-round ability. Powar, who narrowly missed the flight to the Caribbean for the quadrennial event

After winning his first series award in six years, Sourav Ganguly today said that both his personal form and that of the Indian team were peaking at the right time for the World Cup. "We are going into the World Cup with the right frame of mind. We will get similar wickets in the We

Pakistan dope-tested most of its World Cup cricket squad with the futures of key fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif hanging in the balance. Thirteen of the 15-man squad plus five reserves were tested after flying back from South Africa, officials said on Friday. Akhtar and Asi

Kenyan cricket chiefs have settled a pay row with World Cup-bound players who staged a one-day sit-in earlier this week. Kenya captain Steve Tikolo said on Friday the players held a meeting with Cricket Kenya officials on Thursday where the dispute which threatened World Cup preparati

England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar said the side remains focussed on performing well at next month`s World Cup and will not be distracted by last week`s tri-series finals success over world champions Australia. England recovered from a 5-0 Ashes series drubbing to overcome Aus

Indian captain Rahul Dravid and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahela Jayawardene on Friday agreed that the series decider on Saturday would give the winning side a minor psychological edge ahead of the World Cup. Dravid said that a positive result in the match on Saturday would not m

Australian batsman Michael Clarke has been ordered to return home from his team's short tour of New Zealand because of a hip problem. Clarke, who was originally selected as vice-captain for the three-match tour, missed Friday's series opener in Wellington after feeling pain in his hip the

Australia are in danger of losing their top position to a resurgent South Africa in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One-day International (ODI) Championship table following the Proteas' series win over Pakistan. ICC said Thursday that if Australia (120 points) lose their up

Having shown strength of character in turning things around to win the triangular series Down Under, England can win the World Cup if they sustain their brilliant form, according to English spinner Monty Panesar. "I think there is lot of character shown by the England team especiall

All rounder Azhar Mahmood has been added to Pakistan's reserves for the World Cup starting in West Indies next month after clearance from the ICC. National selector Iqbal Qasim said that Mahmood had been included in place of uncapped spinner Mansoor Amjad as cover for pace bowlers Sho

Ireland today have confirmed their 15-man squad for the World Cup, which starts in the West Indies next month. The 15 who played in the recent world league in Kenya have all been retained. Ireland will be led by Australian-born Trent Johnston and also include Middlesex batsman Eoin M

Canada's cricket World Cup squad includes a forklift driver, accountant, salesman, and teacher. With just two pros among the 15 players named yesterday, Canada will be rank underdogs in its Group C matches against England, New Zealand and Kenya in the Caribbean next month. But coach Andy

After being selected for the World Cup, it is time for out-of-form players like Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan to regain their touch as they go into the must-win third cricket one dayer against Sri Lanka here today. The shocking defeat in the last game at Rajkot must have made the home te

West Indian cricketer Marlon Samuels, involved in conversation with a cricket bookie, is allowed to play in the Cricket World Cup, if selected, as the ICC has not set up a timeframe for probe into the matter. International Cricket Council Media Manager Brian Murgatroyd said the game's gov

Pakistan and India will play a friendly one day cricket match at the Lords on July 12 to raise funds for a charity headed by Prince Charles. "The Lords game is confirmed and it is not only for a good cause but will also provide Pakistani and Indians living in England to watch their

Kenya named the 15-man squad for the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies retaining the same side that won the world cricket division one title they hosted earlier this month. Long-serving skipper Steve Tikolo retains his place with all-rounder Thomas Odoyo as his deputy, but the selectio

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has termed the four-match ODI ban imposed on him by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as `harsh`, saying a two-match ban would have sufficed. ``I think it was harsh decision. It could have been a couple of ODIs ban,`` he was quoted as saying by the

The late arrival of the West Indies cricket team kits to Nagpur for the Jan 21 cricket match with India has come under scanner as an International Cricket Council (ICC) team Monday began probing the suspected betting scandal here. A team of the anti-corruption and security wing of the ICC,

The Board of Control for Cricket in India today announced the 15-member cricket squad for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, west indies with Virender Sehwag finding a place in the team despite his recent not so good performances. The National Selection Committee, along with skipper Rahul Dravid

Skipper Rahul Dravid today virtually gave the thumbs up for the struggling Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan for a berth in India's World Cup squad, saying that past performance will be a factor while choosing the team for the mega event. Dravid said there would not be added pressure on any pla

The issues of telecast rights and contract system for cricketers are likely to feature in the BCCI 's working committee meet today. The meeting assumes importance in the wake of the ordinance which has made it mandatory for television rights owner to share the live feed with public

India's cricket coach Greg Chappell is being provided special security during the Thursday's one-day match against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens. It is known that Chappell was assaulted by an unruly fan during the recent home series against the West Indies. The former Australian captain,

Sri Lanka batsman Sanath Jayasuriya today dismissed suggestions of retirement and said that he was working hard on his fitness and enjoying the game. "I am enjoying the game and working hard on the physical aspect of my game. I am working hard on my fitness. I am planning to play in t

Swashbuckling Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni jumped one place to occupy the third position in the ICC ODI player rankings. Dhoni, who blazed a 20-ball 40 against West Indies in Vadodara, has 762 points and has Mike Hussey (848) and Kevin Pietersen (778) above him in the lates

Under pressure to perform, Virender Sehwag has been advised to be more careful with his shot selection and concentrate on spending more time in the middle to regain his form. Sehwag, who was dropped for the one day series against the West Indies to sort out his batting problems after his

India bowled out the West Indies for 181 to win the fourth and final cricket one-dayer by 160 runs and clinch the series 3-1 here today. The Indians rode on Tendulkar's unbeaten ton to amass an imposing 341 for three and then bundled out the Caribbeans for 181 with more than eight over