Emirates sponsor twenty20 world cup

Emirates airline have agreed a deal to become a partner of the ICC World Twenty20 Cup, which begins in South Africa this week.

The first Twenty20 World cup begins on Tuesday September 11, with 12 countries participating across three venues in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Media Relations, Sponsorships and Events said: “Emirates has a great affinity with cricket and we are looking forward to our partnership with the ICC World Twenty20 2007 in South Africa”

Malcolm Speed, ICC Chief Executive said: “Emirates has always been a great supporter of our sport and we look forward to working closely with them throughout this tournament to help our strong sport grow even stronger.’

Australia look the best bet to land the Twenty20 World Cup raffle

It will never take the place of the five-day game but, as a sceptic, the author finally has to admit that he’s beginning to enjoy it. Don’t rule out Sri Lanka, South Africa and the West Indies, by the way.

The precocious toddler that is Twenty20 cricket is about to get its first big party in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup. Although dismissed by cricket traditionalists as a lesser form of the game (some of us are still coming to terms with one-day cricket), this ultra-short, slog-fest is certainly winning the marketing battle and pulling punters through the gate.

Whilst it is easy to dismiss Twenty20 as a short term phenomenon that will burn out just as rapidly as it has come to prominence, it has come along at a very interesting time. In the wake of a disastrous one-day World Cup the ICC, and cricket in general, needs something to paint the game in a positive light.

The last World Cup had the life sucked out of it by a greedy and inept ICC Board. So far this upcoming tournament looks like avoiding all of the big pitfalls. It is a 13-day, rapid-fire event, making it possible to maintain the energy throughout, unlike the previous effort that went on so long that visiting players were offered citizenship.

Another benefit of Twwenty20 is that it is so short that rain interruptions can be avoided and so can embarrassment of officials who don’t know what to do when it rains. If they can also give all of the coaches thorough physicals before the tournament commences, we should also be able to avoid the only other type of headlines to come out of that competition.

Setting aside snobbish prejudices for a while, it is hard not to get sucked in by the light-hearted fun approach of the game. The approachability of the participants, with live action interviews with players and umpires on the ground give an added dimension and level of interest. Provided it is kept as a side show and not made into a mainstream sport it can do little harm.

It’s like adults watching television. In our peer group, all the talk is about serious documentaries and quality drama but, when no one is watching, we all like to have a bit of a giggle at The Simpsons. It’s a guilty little secret and just as long as no one takes it too seriously, it’s actually quite enjoyable.

As for who will win, it’s all a bit of a raffle. One of the major downsides of the game is that there is no recovery time. An innings can’t be rebuilt after a few lost wickets and so even a slightly off day can cost a team the game. Of the major contenders, obviously Australia is in with a chance, as is South Africa, Sri Lanka and possibly the West Indies. The others don’t have the depth of explosive firepower that is needed to win this format, but this whole thing is a big unknown. Expect the unexpected.

With the exception of the bowlers, this whole competition should be about having a laugh. It’s hard to imagine that there are many positives for the bowlers who, as a rule, get shown little or no respect. For the rest of us, it will be fun. It will (hopefully) never replace real cricket, but is there any harm in just being silly for a while?

Success or one-day wonder? How do you rate Twenty20 cricket? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.

Bhajji hoping Twenty-20 World Cup will revive his career

Harbhajan Singh is prepared to trade economy for wickets when he makes his India comeback in the inaugural Twenty-20 World Championships in South Africa next month.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about economy in Twenty20 World Cup, you would go for runs anyway. If I pick up a few wickets along the way, I would be satisfied,” says the Punjab off-spinner, one of the meanest bowlers in world cricket.

Harbhajan is aware that the last thing a bowler could do when playing in the latest form of the game is worry about conceding runs.

“Twenty20 is not for bowlers, especially spinners. Just 20 overs and full 10 wickets at their disposal, teams have a license to go after bowlers,” the 27-year-old told PTI.

“With a maximum of four overs to bowl in a match, a bowler ought to have done well if his economy rate is 7-8 runs per over.”

This from a bowler as miserly as one could have ever seen.

Harbhajan’s economy rate of 4.15 per over is better than all but two of the top 10 bowlers in the ICC rankings – Shaun Pollock (3.71) and Muttiah Muralitharan (3.85).

His economy rate of 2.81 in Tests also compares favourably with other three great spinners of our times – Murali (2.40), Shane Warne (2.65) and Anil Kumble (2.66).

But that did not stop India’s fifth highest wicket-taker, with a Test tally of 238 scalps, from being left out of the Test and ODI teams for the tour of UK.

PCB to decide Shoaib’s fate after Twenty20 World Cup

Lahore: The fate of controversial Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will be decided by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) disciplinary committee only after the team returns from South Africa.PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters, ”The disciplinary committee will look into every aspect of the unfortunate incident, but only in the presence of all the concerned cricketers in Pakistan after the completion of the World Cup in South Africa.”

Over-ruling the recommendation by team manager Talat Ali to ban Shoaib for five ODIs, PCB decided to impose a ban for an ‘indefinite period’ on the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ for hitting fellow paceman Mohammad Asif with a bat during a practice session in South Africa.

”The indefinite ban is final and there is no argument. There is no other punishment for Shoaib,” Ashraf stated.

The incident took place during the team’s net session at the Centurion Park where a heated argument between the two pacers ended up Shoaib striking Asif on the thigh with a bat.

Following the incidence, he was recalled by the PCB from South Africa, where Pakistan will be playing the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup from September 11 to 24.

About being asked, why only Shoaib has been singled out from the entire incidence in which Shahid Afridi was also alleged to have played a part, the chairman said that the decision was held after a thorough inquiry by the team manager.

He also revealed that the PCB’s internal disciplinary committee comprises Shafqat Naghmi, Naveed Akram and Zakir Khan, who would hold the inquiry. Shoaib has some differences with Zakir.

The chairman also assured that Shoaib will be given full opportunity to defend himself and the chairman himself would be monitoring the proceedings to ensure that there is no impartiality in the enquiry, as all the members in the committee are the employees of the board.

However, he advised Shoaib not to speak to the media on the issue, adding that he would also be given an opportunity to lodge his appeal before the PCB appellate tribunal against any decision of the disciplinary committee.

Cricket-South Africa beat Australia in Twenty20 warm-ups

CAPE TOWN, Sept 9 (Reuters) – South Africa swept to a rousing eight-wicket win over Australia while Pakistan, West Indies and Kenya also tasted victory in Sunday’s final round of warm-up matches before the Twenty20 World Cup. Captain Graeme Smith led South Africa to their triumph, smashing an unbeaten 89 from 61 deliveries to steer the host nation past Australia’s impressive total of 179-8.

The visitors’ score was built around Andrew Symonds’ innings of 45 from 26 deliveries.AB de Villiers partnered Smith in a second wicket stand of 116 in just 12 overs which effectively ended the game, played in Centurion.

In the morning game played at the same venue, Pakistan soundly beat Sri Lanka by five wickets with seven balls to spare after an opening stand of 94 between Salman Butt (51) and Mohammad Hafeez (45).

Jehan Mubarak (42) top scored for Sri Lanka in a modest total of 162-7 but off-spinner Hafeez claimed figures of 2-18 in four overs to prove the worth of clever slow bowling in the shortest version of the game.

Kenya produced the first raised eyebrows of the warm-up weekend with a convincing six-wicket triumph over Test nation Bangladesh after bowling the senior team out for a miserable 116 with 21 balls left of their 20 overs.

BLUSHES SPARED

Opener Tamim Iqbal spared some of Bangladesh’s blushes with 56 from 41 balls but veteran Steve Tikolo’s carefully paced 36 from 28 deliveries saw the African nation win with a ball to spare.

In Potchefstroom, Scotland once again passed 150 but never looked like defending their score against Zimbabwe.

Skipper Ryan Watson made an impressive 64 from 50 balls to lay the foundations for their 155-6 but Vusi Sibanda (42) and Chamu Chibhabha (43) added 79 for the second wicket to take control of the game which ended with seven balls to go.

New Zealand were soundly thumped by the West Indies at the same venue in the afternoon when they were bowled out for just 115 in reply to a modest 150-6.

Dwayne Smith (47) and Narsingh Deonarine (34) rescued the West Indies from a precarious 56-4 but only two men reached double figures for New Zealand in reply.

Peter Fultom made 51 and captain Daniel Vettori hit 24.

Fast bowler Daren Powell returned an extraordinary analysis of 4-0-4-3 but none of the matches will count towards official records as all teams employed 13, 14 or even 15 men in the warm-ups.

The Twenty20 World Cup begins on Tuesday with South Africa against West Indies in Johannesburg in Group A.

Victorious Federer has Sampras in his sights

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Roger Federer hoisted aloft the U.S. Open trophy for a fourth straight year on Sunday after victory over Novak Djokovic before swiftly turning his gaze to Pete Sampras and the all-time record for grand slam titles.

The victory was worth $2.4 million (1.2 million pounds) to the Swiss world number one, but the only figure Federer really cared about was moving his grand slam titles haul to 12 to tie Roy Emerson for second place on the all-time list, two behind Sampras.”I think about it a lot now, honestly,” Federer, 26, told reporters when asked about his quest to reign as the most successful grand slam winner in tennis.

“In the beginning I felt pushed a little bit in the corner, because you don’t win slams (just) like that. It’s just too tough.”I feel these two and a half weeks, it’s so draining. I’m exhausted in the end.”I know how tough it is. So to come so close already at my age is fantastic, and I really hope to break it.”

Federer, who became the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win four U.S. titles in a row, has also won five Wimbledons in a row — the only man to possess such a streak in the final two grand slams of the year.Despite all his grand slam experience, Federer said he still gets nervous before the big matches.

“You’re like, ‘I hope I didn’t come all this way to lose’. You start asking yourself questions. Of course, the more I win the more I ask myself questions. In the end to win, it’s relief, happiness, just all together. It’s the best feeling.”The Swiss master said his greatest advantage is his mental toughness and how he can raise his game on the big points.

Federer said his game has changed a lot since he was an up-and-coming 20-year-old like Djokovic.”I would chip and charge, serve and volley a little bit, play like my idols basically — Becker, Edberg, Sampras. They all did it, so for me it was like I got to play the same way.

“Then I realised things were slowing down. The new string generation came along where returning and passing shots was made easier. It was harder to attack in some ways.

“But at the same time that helped me now because I do have the game to attack, I do have the solid volleys, I do have the opportunities and the option if I have to. That’s good that I did it when I was young. I took some chances.

“Maybe that cost me a lot of matches, but the reward was fantastic. It’s been a long road. I had to work hard on my game. In the end, I think I’ve really come along in the last few years.”In the last two years, Spain’s Rafael Nadal has been Federer’s chief rival, beating him in the finals of the last two French Opens — the only slam that has so far eluded him. 

Federer said Djokovic, who defeated the Swiss in this year’s Montreal final after beating Andy Roddick and Nadal on the way, might join Nadal as a challenger to his supremacy.”It’s very possible, you know. Honestly I’ve enjoyed the challenge of young guys challenging me. This is probably my biggest motivation out there.

“You know, seeing them challenge me, beating them in the final, it’s really for me the best feeling, to be honest,” Federer said with a smile.”If a rivalry comes along, great.”Federer said he was unsure how close world number three Djokovic was to overtaking Nadal as number two.

“Number two, number three, doesn’t matter much,” said Federer. “It’s number one that matters. That’s how it goes.”