Freddie’s operation successful

Calcutta: England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has undergone a successful knee operation and expects to be fit for the World Twenty20 in June, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday. Hugh Morris, ECB managing director said on Tuesday: “The surgeon has informed the ECB chief medical officer Nick Peirce that the operation went extremely smoothly.”

Tait hopes

Melbourne: Australia speedster Shaun Tait hopes to turn out for the Rajasthan Royals in the closing stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he began practice this week following three months on the sidelines due to chronic hamstring tendonitis.

Kaneria rues

Karachi: Pakistan’s seasoned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria believes that the IPL could have been the ideal platform to prove his mettle in the shortest format of the game.

T20 Cup squad

Calcutta: Jhulan Goswami was named the captain of the 15-member Indian squad to take part in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Championships to be held in England in June.

THE SQUAD: Jhulan Goswami, Amita Sharma, Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, Rumeli Dhar, Sulakshana Naik, Anagha Deshpande, Priyanka Roy, Reema Malhotra, Gauhar Sultana, Harman Preet Kaur, Poonam Raut, Babita Mandlik, Latika Kumari, Diana David.

ICL initiative

Mumbai: Kapil Dev, chairman of the executive board of the Indian Cricket League (ICL), said on Tuesday that they would be inducting fresh talents in the third season of the rebel tournament, scheduled in October-November 2009. “We have arrived at a consensus to induct fresh talent, especially in the support staff departments,” he said.

Gillespie views

Melbourne: Former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie claimed that the ICC didn’t recognise the ‘rebel’ Indian Cricket League because it didn’t want to rub the BCCI the wrong way. “The ICL were hoping for a resolution but the ICC decided to go the other way. They haven’t given a reason but the BCCI runs the game, it’s that simple,” Gillespie said.

A Staff Reporter & Agencies