India to host inaugural blind cricket T20 World Cup

After successfully co-hosting the World Cup cricket tournament earlier this year, India will now play host to the inaugural T20 World Cup for the blind

David Townley, president of the World Blind Cricket Council, says the group voted during a two-day meeting in the United Arab Emirates that ended Sunday to hold the tournament in Bangalore starting on Dec. 3. Its schedule has yet to be finalized but the tournament will last a maximum of 14 days.

Sammy seals victory with five wickets

West Indies skipper Darren Sammy inspired his side to an excellent 40-run win over Pakistan in the first Test after taking five wickets.

Resuming overnight on 80-3, Asad Shafiq fell for 42 to Ravi Rampaul with only three more runs added to the overnight score.

A 52-run stand for the fifth wicket gave Pakistan hope but Misbah-ul-Haq (52) came one of three victims for Sammy, with Mohammad Salman falling two balls later.

Pakistan?s fate was virtually sealed when it lost three wickets in the space of four overs for just six runs before Darren Sammy sealed victory by bowling Wahab Riaz.

Inexperienced stars delighted by first win

Sunday's win in the First Digicel Test was special for the members of the West Indies team, but especially "sweet" for some of the younger players who were tasting victory in a Test the first time.

It was the first Test match for leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and he celebrated the 40-run win over Pakistan with his mother, who was on hand to see the fourth day's play at the Guyana National Stadium.

"This is a feeling I can't explain. I can't find the words to describe how I feel right now. Before today, the West Indies had not won a Test match for over two years, and to come in my first match, in front my home crowd, with mum in the stands watching, is truly special," the 25-year-old said.

Bishoo played well in the match and was a candidate for the Man-of-the-Match award. He took four wickets in the first innings and also batted resolutely on a difficult pitch. The award eventually went to skipper Darren Sammy, who took seven wickets for 45 runs from 29 overs in the match.

Hafeez repaying Afridi's confidence in him

Mohammad Hafeez said he has drawn on the confidence placed in him by Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, particularly when he been given a chance to bowl in recent matches.

Hafeez was speaking after he earned the Man-of-the-Match award in the first One-day International against West Indies, which Pakistan won by eight wickets on Saturday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

He took one for 36 from his allotted 10 overs, and played his part, along with Afridi and Saeed Ajmal, in strangling the scoring of the West Indies batsmen, as the home team struggled to 220 for six from their 50 overs, after choosing to bat.

Afridi happy with all-round performance

Pakistan's limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi has said that it was "good cricket all around" for his team, which registered a comfortable eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the first one-day international (ODI) of the five-match series on Saturday.

"I was very happy when West Indies won the toss and chose to bat because I thought the pitch would help our spinners," the Dawn quoted Afridi, as saying.

"I think our spinners have been doing a great job for us in the last few months, and they again set things up for us," he added.

Sammy surprised by St Lucia pitch

West Indies captain Darren Sammy was surprised by the nature of the pitch at St Lucia's Beausejour Cricket Ground.

The pitch slowed down and West Indies had just one specialist spinner in Devendra Bishoo who picked up two of the Pakistan wickets to fall on Saturday.

"I was surprised to see the pitch offer so much turn and bounce," admitted Sammy as Pakistan were able to take full advantage of the surface.

"I was very happy when West Indies won the toss and chose to bat because I thought the pitch would help our spinners. I think our spinners have been doing a great job for us in the last few months, and they again set things up for us,"said skipper Shahid Afridi.

Sangakkara backs Malinga's decison to quit Tests

Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara on Saturday rubbished talks that mercurial speedster Lasith Malinga chose IPL over national duties while announcing his retirement from Test cricket and said critics should not question his professional commitment.

"It gets confusing when people try and take sides. It can happen when some people criticise Malinga for picking IPL over country. That is of all nonsense to me. There is never a stage where Lasith can ever pick IPL over country. Malinga is a dedicated no-nonsense cricketer. He is the toughest no-nonense cricketer I have ever met," Sangakkara told a news channel.

We are ready, says Sammy

The West Indies team will be looking to make a winning start as they introduce several new faces to the international stage when they face Pakistan in the T20 International on Thursday night at the picturesque Beausejour Cricket Grounds.

Speaking at the official series launch at the ground, skipper Darren Sammy outlined that the Windies, like Pakistan, were in a building phase and all the players in the squad were eagerly looking forward to the first match of the West Indies' international season of cricket.

Dilshan back to black for Sri Lanka captaincy

Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan said on Wednesday he had ditched his blond streaks as well as his earring to present a more sober image in his new role as national captain.

The 34-year-old has dyed his blond highlights back to black and removed his earring after selectors gave him the captaincy following the resignation of Kumar Sangakkara after the team's runners-up spot at the World Cup.

"Times have changed. I pierced my ear when my daughter cried when her ears were being pierced," he said during a brief two-day visit to Colombo from Indian Premier League duties.

Would love to have Kirsten as SA coach, says Morne Morkel

South Africa speedster Morne Morkel feels that his country's cricket would benefit highly if Gary Kirsten decides to coach the national team.

"I would love to see Gary (Kirsten) coach South African team. He has a proven track record. Personally, I have always shared a great rapport with Gary. He is loved and respected in the South African dressing room. His success with India has been phenomenal and he now knows a thing or two about how it feels to win the World Cup," Morkel said during an interaction on Wednesday.

Interestingly, Cricket South Africa are keen on roping in Kirsten as Corrie van Zyl's tenure as the chief coach ended after the World Cup.