No change in dates for first Test

Calcutta: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday confirmed that there would be no change in dates for the first Test against England, scheduled from December 11 in Ahmedabad, says A Staff Reporter.

“The dates remain unchanged,” BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan said when contacted by The Telegraph.

According to reports, the BCCI had approached the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to defer the first Test by a day to make way for India captain M.S. Dhoni to play in the T20 Champions League final in case his team Chennai Super Kings make it to the final.

Five Tests?

London: India may play five-Test series in England in 2011 and 2015 — for the first time in more than 50 years — if the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) agree on a deal. ECB chairman Giles Clarke and chief executive David Collier returned from India on Monday and would be having another round of talks next month on the deal, The Guardian reported on Tuesday.

Inzy claim

Karachi: Indian Cricket League champions Lahore Badshahs’ skipper Inzamam-ul Haq has claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is all set to lift the ban on players aligned with the “rebel” league. “I have got positive vibes and response from the PCB about granting recognition to the ICL and I am hopeful the bans on the ICL players would be lifted soon,” Inzamam said.

Vettori livid

Melbourne: In a statement that has the potential to trigger a bitter row, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori has labelled his Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting as the most “overtly aggressive” player in world cricket and who is always “spoiling for a fight”. Vettori has written this in his new book Turning Point.

Lee admission

Melbourne: Brett Lee has finally admitted that the bitter separation from his wife and the ensuing custody battle for his son did take a toll on his on-field performance in the lost Test series against India. “Obviously what I’ve been going through recently, with the marriage break-up and stuff, and with Preston, it’s obviously terrible,” Lee confessed.

A1 GP

Calcutta: A1GP World Cup of Motorsport heads to Malaysia this weekend for round three of the 2008-09 season, says A Staff Reporter. The action packed weekend will see the testing and rookie session on November 21 followed by the qualifying session next day and the finals on 23rd November, according to a media release.

Drogba ban

London: Didier Drogba was banned for three matches on Tuesday for throwing a coin at Burnley fans during Chelsea’s League Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge last week. The 30-year-old Ivory Coast striker starts his suspension immediately.