Siriwardene and two others dropped from World Cup squad

Women's World Twenty20 2009

Bulletin by Shwe Wai

	Shashikala Siriwardene is one of the players dropped

Sri Lanka selectors have dropped the country's top three top run-getters in the Women's World Cup in Australia from the 14-member squad for next month's World Twenty20.

The players dropped are team captain Shashikala Siriwardene, opening batsman Dedunu Silva and all-rounder Suwini de Alwis.

Siriwardene topped the run-scoring list with 72 runs (at 18.00), and was followed by Dedunu with 68 runs (at 17.00) and Suwini 65 runs (at 16.25). Sri Lanka failed to win any of their three group matches in the World Cup and did not qualify for the Super Six stage.

In the absence of Siriwardene, who has been captain for the past three years, Chamari Polgampola will take over the leadership for the Women's World Twenty20 with Eshani Kaushalya as her deputy.

Sri Lanka Cricket sources say they were dropped on grounds of indiscipline, though the specific incident(s) involved have not been made known. Dedunu and Suwini, sources said, were dropped on the basis of the team manager's report after the World Cup, following which they were suspended by SLC's interim committee.

SLC sources did not want to disclose the reasons behind Siriwardene's dropping.

Sri Lanka are drawn in Pool B with Pakistan, England and India in the tournament that will run from June 5-21 in the UK.

Sri Lanka Women's ICC World Twenty20 team: Chamari Polgampola (captain), Eshani Kaushalya (vice-captain), Hiruka Fernando, Deepika Rasangika, Rose Fernando, Dilini Manodara, Udeshika Probodani, Sripali Weerakkody, Chamari Atapattu, Sadamali Dolawatha, Chamilka Bandara, Sumudu Fernando, Saduni Abeywickrama, Inoka Galagedara.

Lack of cricket won't harm Pakistan's chances - Afridi

ICC World Twenty20 2009 Bulletin by Shwe Wai

	Shahid Afridi: "Wickets in England might be slower, a little less bounce so I'll make slight adjustments to my bowling."

Shahid Afridi believes Pakistan's recent lack of international cricket will not hamper their chances at the World Twenty20 in England next month. Since January 2007, no team has played as little as Pakistan's ten Tests and 50 ODIs. Even Bangladesh, the weakest Test-playing nation, have played 15 Tests and 55 ODIs and teams such as Australia and India have played nearly three times as much cricket in that time.

The lack of Pakistani participation in the IPL has also not helped, but Afridi, fresh from a successful battle with the Australians, believes Pakistan are strong enough to overcome the dearth. "I don't feel our lack of cricket will make much of a difference because we are still a strong Twenty20 side," Afridi told Cricinfo. "We have a pretty similar team to last time with only a few changes and we have Younis [Khan] as captain now. He has done well and taken the team along with him so far and he will be vital come England."

Afridi himself will be a vital plank in Pakistan's challenge, especially given his fine recent form. He was the leading wicket-taker against Australia, a consistent, nagging threat on slow, low surfaces and pole-axed their batting in Pakistan's crushing Twenty20 win in Dubai. Few will forget either that he was player of the tournament in South Africa two years ago.

England, where he has been effective with the ball in ODIs, offers a different proposition, however. "Wickets in England might be slower, a little less bounce so I'll make slight adjustments to my bowling," he said. "Maybe a bit more flight, but generally, as an ODI leggie, you have to be straight and tight and that works in most conditions."

Until the series against Australia, Afridi's form had been uncertain, especially poor with the bat, over the last year. In 18 matches before the series, his highest score was 28. His bowling, though considerably improved, lacked wicket-taking penetration; in 11 ODIs against established teams last year, he picked up nine wickets.

Pressure was building for his place in the side to be scrutinized. "I don't take or give pressure, no matter what anyone is saying about me. I knew I was backed by the coach, the captain and the team and that is all I needed."

Flintoff expected to miss World Twenty20

ICC World Twenty20 2009

Bulletin by Shwe Wai

	Andrew Flintoff injured his knee at the IPL, and is now a doubt for the ICC World Twenty20

England could be forced to go into next month's ICC World Twenty20 without the services of their premier allrounder, Andrew Flintoff, after he revealed that he has yet to start running after undergoing surgery on a knee injury sustained during his brief stint at the IPL in April.

Flintoff was one of 15 players named in England's squad for the tournament, which starts at Lord's on June 5. But England could have to name a replacement if he cannot prove his fitness in the next three weeks. "I'd love to play in the Twenty20," he told Sky Sports, "but that might be too tight."

With the Ashes fast approaching in July, England desperately need Flintoff, 31, to be fully fit and firing before the arrival of the Australians. But despite his history of injury problems, which include a hip complaint that caused him to fly home midway through the tour of the Caribbean in March, he remains confident about recovering in time.

"I had an operation two weeks ago and I'm already off my crutches," he said. "The Ashes are a long way off - and I'll be fine for them."

England's Twenty20 captain, Paul Collingwood, conceded that the loss of Flintoff for the tournament would be a "huge blow", but felt sure that they would be able to make do without him.

"He's very much two players in one - as I've always said," said Collingwood. "But I think we've got quite a versatile squad with the players we've got in there. It would be a huge blow if he wasn't going to be fit, but we certainly have the players in the squad to overcome that in many ways."

Collingwood even raised the prospect of leaving Flintoff's place in the squad open for a late return, if he was able to recover in time. "Without Fred, it makes it very difficult to get the right balance between batters and bowlers in the final 11," he said Collingwood. "It's something we're going to have to gauge."

Lee's burst lets Kings XI live to fight another day

Bulletin by Shwe Wai

BLOEMFONTEIN: Brett Lee and Ashish Nehra, two of the finest exponents of the art of pace and swing bowling, were on top of their game and sought their best to reduce all else to being mere members of support cast as Kings XI Punjab shocked table toppers Delhi Daredevils by six wickets in the DLF Indian Premier League here on Friday and gave themselves the chance to making the semifinals.

Both men were hostile, bowling with the palpable intent of hassling and hustling the opposition batsmen. On a track that was not exactly conducive to their ilk, Lee and Nehra found the motivation to showcase the best of their skills but though Nehra bowled as many as 18 dot balls in a dream spell, it was Lee who caused more damage.

Lee got the dangerous Virender Sehwag nibbling a catch down the leg side in the third over of the evening. Gautam Gambhir’s run out dismissal in the next over meant that Kings XI Punjab could hold Lee back just in case Delhi Daredevils launched a fightback. In the event, Lee came back to harass Farvez Mahroof into submission in the 17th over and Rajat Bhatia with the first ball of his next over

With AB de Villiers and Tillekeratne Dilshan also falling cheaply – a rare event in IPL 2009 – Delhi Daredevils were unable to make more than 120 for nine in 20 overs. S Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan picked up two wickets each as well with some tight bowling.

Harker hits out at Test bidding system

England v West Indies, 2nd Test, Riverside, 2nd day

Bulletin by Shwe Wai

	There's no legislating for the weather, but May is hardly renowned for sunshine

As the rain fell on a miserable second day at Chester-le-Street it provided an apt backdrop to a game that has reignited the debate about Test cricket's future. Even if the sun had shone, it's unlikely the ground would have been even half full with punters turned away by high ticket prices and unattractive opposition.

Factors such as the weather are out of anyone's control, but cold and damp conditions in May are hardly unexpected. David Harker, Durham's chief executive, has been left counting the cost of an ill-thought-out fixture, and has called for a rethink as to how Test cricket is marketed outside of the major contests.

"There has been a lot of comment about the lack of attendance at this game, but if you don't give them the right sort of product you can't build the audience," Harker told Cricinfo. "It doesn't just happen, you have to work at it.

"There has been talk of a Test championship, and I think that sort of development is necessary to add a context and make the games relevant to people who are going to be asked to part with hard-earned cash to come and watch them. A game that doesn't seem to matter to anyone, not least the players at times, isn't a great advert for a sport."

Durham, who bid £500,000 for the right to host this match, initially wanted an Ashes Test this summer, an understandable aim having held Test status since 2003. But that bid was trumped by Cardiff's massive offer of £3million to host a match backed by the Welsh Assembly. It has left the club trying to market a game that even the die-hards are struggling to get excited about.

Cool Sangakkara takes Punjab to victory

Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab, IPL, Bloemfontein

The Bulletin by Shwe Wai

Kings XI Punjab 123 for 4 (Sangakkara 43*) beat Delhi Daredevils 120 for 9 (Karthik 32, Lee 3-15, Sreesanth 2-20) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-details
How they were out

	Brett Lee was the pick of Punjab's proficient attack, and his success ultimately proved decisive

For the first time in what has been a mediocre campaign, the Kings XI Punjab arrived at the ground with three words carved in their minds: find a way. Yuvraj Singh, with his team in a do-or-die scenario, decided on fielding first on an obscure track and his bowlers vindicated that, limiting Delhi Daredevils to 120. They nearly muffed up a small chase, losing early wickets in a chaotic first six overs and then struggling after the strategic time-out, but yet again Kumar Sangakkara's level-headedness and Irfan Pathan's clutch hitting came up trumps. Delhi failed to hold it together defending a poor total, but can still make the semis even if they don't win any of their remaining games.

The side clinging on for hope before the semi-finals played with grit, while the one on song with near-flawless performances this season turned in a poor display. Brett Lee handed Virender Sehwag another poor score, Sreesanth dismissed Delhi's most consistent pair, and Lee returned with an inestimable wicket-maiden 17th over to help set up an achievable chase.

If any Delhi batsman needed time at the crease ahead of the semi-finals, it was Sehwag, but he again fell cheaply, ticking a short Lee delivery down the leg side. Sehwag has yet to cross 38 in this tournament - and seven innings have added up to only 107 runs. In the next over, Gautam Gambhir steered the ball to deep backward point, stole one, but didn't run the first one hard enough and was done in by a good throw.

With two wickets from four matches at 69.50 at an economy rate of 10.69, coming into this match, you could have said Sreesanth was lucky to get another chance. But he got it together today with four tidy overs of nippy medium pace that accounted for AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Sreesanth got his act together by hitting probing lines and finding just the hint of swing needed to keep the batsmen guessing, and though he didn't have further success, the damage had been done.