Cricket Axis

The International Cricket Council's chief executive committee (CEC) has recommended use of two new balls from each end and the abolishing of runners in One-day Internationals (ODIs). It has also recommended restricting the elective powerplays to between the 16th and 40th overs of each innings. "CEC agreed with the ICC cricket committee's recommendations for the further enhancement of international 50-over cricket with the restriction of the elective powerplays to between the 16th and 40th overs of each innings and also to the use of two new balls per innings - one from each end. This will come into effect from 1 October," ICC said in a statement.

With the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup causing a scheduling headache for Australia, they are set to play back-to-back Ashes series against England in 2013. According to a report in 'The Daily Telegraph, "Australia will play 10 back-to-back Ashes Tests in 2013 as a result of hosting the World Cup in 2015 when the return Ashes was meant to be played." The arrangement is being worked out in the new Future Tours Program which is currently being discussed by the ICC's Executive Board in its five-day meeting in Hong Kong which started yesterday.

The fifth edition of the highly popular Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin on April 4 next year and conclude on May 27, the BCCI announced on Monday. The tournament will feature 74 matches, over a period of 54 days. "We are happy to confirm the opening and closing dates of IPL 2012, ten months in advance. The match-schedule will be announced soon. We have no doubt that the fifth season of IPL will be as, if not more, eventful and exciting than the previous ones," IPL Chairman Chirayu Amin said in a statement. Chennai Super Kings had won the fourth edition after beating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final.

Sachin Tendulkar speaks to Roger Federer at Wimbledon

The Indian team will travel to England after the series against the West Indies. The full team members are expected to comeback after they were rested for the West Indies series. Surely, youngsters will also get place in the side if they can show their potential in the West Indies series. England Vs India will start from July 21, the series will feature 4 Test, 1 T2OI and 5 ODIs. The series will end on 16th of September.  Date Match Details Time Venue GMT & IST Jul 21 Thu - Jul 25 Mon England v India, 1st Test 10:00 15:30 Lord's Jul 29 Fri - Aug 02 Tue England v India, 2nd Test 10:00 15:30 Trent Bridge Aug 10 Wed - Aug 14 Sun England v India, 3rd Test 10:00 15:30 Edgbaston Aug 18 Thu - Aug 22 Mon England v India, 4th Test 10:00 15:30 The Brit Oval Aug 31 - Wed England v India, Only T20I 17:00 22:30 Old Trafford Sep 03 - Sat England v India, 1st ODI 09:15 14:45 Riverside Ground Sep 06 - Tue England v India, 2nd ODI 13:00 18:30 The Rose Bowl Sep 09 - Fri England v Ind

PCB CB chairman Ijaz Butt resigned from his post after the World Cup but was told by the Board Patron, President Asif Zardari to carry on until further orders, sources say. The 73-year-old Butt, who had sent in his resignation to Zardari after the World Cup, has asked the President to relieve him of his duties before his three-year tenure ends in October. "Basically, Butt wanted to go on health leave after the West Indies tour but the Shahid Afridi issue has put off that plan," one source said. The source, however, said that President Zardari is yet to make a decision on Butt's resignation. "At the moment Butt wants to step down but the chief patron is still to decide on his successor and they are likely to meet in August to decide the future course of Pakistan cricket," the source said. Another source said Butt's future would now be decided when he returned home in July end after a month's leave. "Butt will go on a leave after attending

Sri Lanka opening batsman Upul Tharanga has been found guilty of committing an anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code (the "ICC Code") and has been suspended from all cricket and cricket-related activities for a period of three months. Tharanga, 26, provided a urine sample as part of the ICC's random in-competition testing programme after the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, held in Colombo on 29 March 2011. His sample was subsequently tested by a World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory and was found to contain metabolites of two glucocorticosteroids - Prednisone and Prednisolone. These are classified as 'Specified Substances' under WADA's Prohibited List and are prohibited in-competition 'when administered by oral, intravenous intramuscular or rectal routes'.