How Broad coped with six sixes

Colombo: Young England pacer Stuart Broad has come back strongly against Sri Lanka in the one-day series after becoming the fourth bowler in history to be smashed for six sixes in an over. The 21-year-old played a big role in England’s tense two-wicket win over the hosts in Dambulla on Sunday, scoring an unbeaten 20.
“It was obviously not a pleasant experience, but I didn’t lose any sleep over it. It happened. I can’t get away from that, but I think I’ve come back pretty strongly,” Broad said.

Smith, Yousuf, Vettori for IPL

New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL), the BCCI’s ambitious cash-rich venture, Tuesday announced the signing of 11 more international cricketers to play in the inaugural Twenty20 Championship in April next year. The league has signed up the likes of South African captain Graeme Smith and New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori. South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs, Pakistan’s Mohammed Yousuf, West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sri Lankan paceman Chaminda Vaas were among those who joined the high-profile league.

Former Australian opener Justin Langer, AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince and Albie Morkel of South Africa and Scott Styris from New Zealand have also inked the IPL contracts for the inaugural season.

SA players left out

Durban: South African cricketers who have signed up to play in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) have been left out of the country’s domestic competition starting on Thursday. The players include Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Johan van der Wath and Loots Bosman. The CEO of the Kwazulu-Natal Cricket Board, Cassim Docrat said they had no alternative but to follow the dictates of their national body.

New PCB rule

Lahore: The PCB is to allow foreign players into its domestic tournaments from this season in a bid to lift the standard of competition for local players. Shafiq Ahmed, who heads the PCB domestic cricket committee, said the board had introduced a clause for the first time which allows teams to sign foreign players. “We have allowed this for the first time,” Ahmed said.

HCA wish

Chandigarh: After the successfully hosting a one-day International at the Sector 16 Stadium after 14 years, Haryana Cricket Association Tuesday said it now wants to bring a Test match to the venue. “Now, we will put in our efforts to get a Test match here,” HCA president Ranbir Singh Mahendra said.

Mills pulls out

Wellington: Kyle Mills Tuesday withdrew from the New Zealand cricket team to tour South Africa in late October and November because of a calf injury.