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Stung by reports that the country’s provincial chairmen had met to discuss the possibility of proposing a no-confidence motion against the Zimbabwe Cricket board, Cricinfo has learned that senior board officials have been travelling the country in a bid to quell the rebellion.The chairmen met at the Old Hararians Club on Friday, October 21 and the result was a lengthy letter to the board demanding answers to some serious questions over the way that it has been operating.Zimbabwe Cricket initially denied that there was disharmony, but behind the scenes officials are reported to have started mobilising local activists in a bid to undermine the authority of the chairmen.The main efforts of the pro-board lobby appear to have been aimed towards usurping Max Ebrahim as chairman of Masvingo province. Last week, Ebrahim, who has been increasingly critical of ZC in recent weeks, told sources that Peter Chingoka, the ZC chairman, had visited the province to talk to clubs.In Manicaland, a meeting was interrupted by Supa Mandiwanzira – a former broadcaster with the state-run Zimbabwe Television who now owns his own company called Mighty Movies – who was accompanied by what one eyewitness described as “heavies from Harare”. He told the meeting that he wanted to be part of the province’s board. The gathering descended into chaos, and at one stage Allan Walsh, the Manicaland chairman, was assaulted. The state-controlled Herald newspaper later stated that Walsh had been replaced and a new provincial board had pledged its support to ZC.ZC has also begun the process of creating five new provinces, and so the board now appears to be able to muster enough votes to see off all challengers. But some serious issues have been raised, and with the players also at odds with the board, it is unlikely that the lid can be kept on for that much longer.Any suggestions that the move was designed to help the board retain control were inadvertently scuppered by a comment in the Herald. “Mliswa revealed yesterday that he was now leading the crusade to have other provincial set-ups running by the time the ZC holds its special meeting where they can be duly incorporated.” And where their votes will swing the balance.

Abdul Razzaq, the Pakistan allrounder, was admitted to a private hospital in Melbourne this morning after a bout of vomiting, dizziness and breathing difficulties. His illness has not yet been diagnosed, but it forced him to miss the third day’s play of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Ambulance crews were called to the team hotel this morning after reports that Razzaq had fallen out of bed, suffered some loss of feeling in his legs, and had collapsed.Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, indicated that Razzaq was slightly better after being put under observation. “We haven’t any real diagnosis as to what the problem was,” he told the AAP news agency. “As a cricket coach, I’m not going to venture into the doctor’s field. Whether he will be fit tomorrow is conjecture, I don’t know. He can walk, but very slowly.”When Razzaq was admitted to hospital, Haroon Rashid, the Pakistan manager, told , a Melbourne-based newspaper: “In the morning he complained so we took him to hospital, but otherwise everything [about him] seems fine.”Razzaq has had a listless series so far. He was out to a reckless hoick at Perth, and was then inexplicably strokeless in Pakistan’s first innings at Melbourne, facing 76 deliveries to make an unbeaten 4. Observers suggested that he may have been over-compensating for a rash dismissal in the first Test.

Wisden Asia Cricket, Batting for the Empire by Mario Rodrigues systematically demolishes the once-held notion that the celebrated cricketer Ranji was the finest ambassador India ever sent to England. With its striking cover photograph of Ranji at the batting crease, the book is sure to attract even the casual cricket lover, but it is meant really for an altogether more cerebral readership. It is a painstaking attempt to de-mythify Ranji the man, and a near-scholarly work.Hardcore cricket followers and cricketers with an interest in the history of the game, if such a breed still exists, are rarely swayed by the larger-than-life personae the media creates around cricketers. To them the appeal of Ranji would be based on his feats on the field – that he played for England, scored a hundred on Test debut and captured the imagination of critics and fans alike with unequalled artistry at a time when his countrymen were a subject race and treated as such. Their respect for Ranji the player may not need the buttress of admiration for Ranji the prince, but even they will find disillusionment in the image of their hero – as despot, buffoon, schemer, spendthrift, unreliable borrower, and despicable toady of the British empire – that emerges from Rodrigues’s hard-hitting biography.Another category of readers likely to find the book illuminating is followers of recent Indian history, especially scholars with a deep interest in the affairs of the princely states, in particular the politics of the western Indian region of Kathiawar.It is the sophisticated reader of recent vintage, owing much of his appreciation of cricket and cricketers to an increasing body of work by experts in fields other than cricket, who may actually read it from cover to cover, for readable the book surely is. This elite readership, familiar with the writings on Ranji of such reputed authors as Simon Wilde, Mihir Bose, Ashis Nandy and Ramachandra Guha, already knows that the ‘Black Prince’ was one of the greatest players the game has known but not quite the white knight that his hagiographers, English and Indian, make him out to be. Rodrigues’s work offers them a wealth of information that will strengthen such an impression.Rodrigues has succeeded in revealing Ranji in his true colours in his role of Jamsaheb of Nawanagar. It is obvious his research has been extensive, ranging from purely propagandist literature – both for and against – including the vernacular press and official mouthpieces of the state, to the more objective writings of cricket writers and historians. While we can hardly fault the systematic way he has gone about his job, we do get the impression sometimes that he takes a spade to a soufflé, piling on the evidence long after the jury have decided to return a verdict of guilty. And, while his acceptance of adverse criticism of the Jamsaheb by his detractors is generally unquestioning, he displays a constant streak of skepticism towards any praise of him or statements made by Ranji himself that show him in a good light.Ranji’s unswerving loyalty to the Empire, his total faith in hereditary rule and suspicion of democracy, his opposition to the freedom movement led by fellow Kathiawari MK Gandhi, his desperate attempts to perpetuate the Indian princely order, his claim that he and his nephew Duleepsinhji were “English cricketers”, his refusal to play an active role in Indian cricket – all these and worse are pitilessly exposed in the book.The last chapter includes this defence by Mihir Bose: “So if Ranji did not do much for Indian cricket it is because he did not think of India as a cricketing nation. He did not think of India as a cricketing nation because he could not conceive of India as a political nation. India as a political nation was born fourteen years after Ranji died and, had he lived, as his successors’ actions show, he would have undoubtedly opposed it … Had Nawanagar managed to get together a Test team then, I am sure, Ranji would have advised Duleep to play for Nawanagar. For inasmuch as a king is ever a nationalist, Ranji was a Nawanagar nationalist. He was, perhaps, a Rajput nationalist, if that term can have any meaning …”Rodrigues does not endorse this view. He refuses to give Ranji the benefit of doubt. His biography is an indictment that allows for few grey areas or bright spots, while painting a vivid picture of a dark prince.

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New Zealand suffered a blow to its Test preparations today when key spin bowler Daniel Vettori suffered ankle ligament damage in the three-day tour match against the ACT President’s XI at Manuka Oval.The injury offset a successful comeback to the New Zealand side by Chris Cairns who bowled 20 overs.But there was little else to please the Kiwis today. At the close of the first day’s play, the ACT side was 3-280, with Canberra opening batsman Jack Smithtop-scoring with 145 not out.Vettori twisted his right leg in just his second over today.Fielding off his own bowling, Vettori attempted to gather a firmly hit ball by ACT batsman Matthew Phelps but fell awkwardly.The spinner appeared in great pain as he was taken from the ground and while x-rays confirmed there was no bone damage, early reports indicated he had strained ligaments.New Zealand team physiotherapist Dale Shackel said Vettori had the ankle packed in ice after a short stay and x-rays at the hospital.”Sometimes with those ankle sprains they can be very sore for a start and then get better reasonably quickly,” Shackel told reporters.”We’re optimistic he’ll make a quick recovery but it’s too early to say at this stage.”Shackle said Vettori would take no further part in the match but he was optimistic of him being able to play in the Brisbane Test on November 8.In his absence, reserve off-spinner Glen Sulzberger (Sulzberger) took on the lion’s share of the bowling, returning 0-72 from 34 overs.Better news for the Kiwis was that Cairns, who injured his knee in January, bowled well in his first serious hit-out in more than eight months.He bowled within himself and took 1-85.The all-rounder captured the opening wicket of New South Wales conscript Corey Richards in his first over and had the figures of 1-3 off his first five over spell.But the day belonged to the ACT batsmen, with Smith’s ton and two other half-centuries.Smith gave two chances to be caught in the field early but survived to put together a polished innings featuring strong cutting off the back foot.He raced through the 90s and passed 100 with a six and two fours in successive scoring shots.Matthew Phelps, another of the five NSW players in the ACT President’s side, hit 10 boundaries in his 51 runs, sharing a 125-run partnership with David Hazel(56).

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim is confident that his team can beat South Africa in Mirpur following the hosts’ impressive performance in the Chittagong Test.South Africa have never lost a Test match or series to Bangladesh in the sub-continent since 2006. It is a record that South Africa would not like to taint but Bangladesh have given them food for thought after dominating the visitors for much of the first Test, which had the last two days washed out by rain.Still, the gulf of class between the two sides is immense, and not just in their ICC Test rankings, where they are separated by eight places. Tests between Bangladesh and South Africa have mostly been one-sided, but Mushfiqur believes times have changed, and that Bangladesh have a big opportunity to reverse the tables.”We have to play good cricket over five days,” Mushfiqur said. “We cannot win on the first day. This is a five-day game. This is a big challenge and also an opportunity. We are playing against the No. 1 team in the world so it is an opportunity. It will be a huge deal to beat them.”We played with dominance in each sense of the first Test. So from that sense, the target is to play well. Our bowling unit has the ability to take their 20 wickets and you know what a good result will be – Bangladesh winning by a 1-0 margin.”Mushfiqur said bowling South Africa out for 248 runs was a big boost to their bowlers, and he is hopeful that his team will stick to a performance which is similar to their current form.”It is possible, definitely. But the truth is, we are not very consistent in Tests. But considering current form, Bangladesh are doing quite well in both Tests and ODIs. From this we are getting a lot of confidence. The bowlers now believe that if they are bowling properly, even a team like South Africa can be bowled out for a low total.”Mushfiqur, though, is still wary of South Africa’s threat in their preparation and how they will go about their business on the field. “This confidence runs throughout the Bangladesh team and I hope we see the influence of this confidence in the next match. We have to play our best cricket in Dhaka since this is the last match.”South Africa know how to play in this situation. They are the No. 1 Test team. Their bowling usually goes to plan. If we can apply ourselves well, the result could go our way. Even the series,” he said.Despite Bangladesh’s success over the last two months, Mushfiqur has not had a great time on the field as a batsman. His last Test fifty was back in October, against Zimbabwe in Dhaka, and he has been without a 50-plus score for 10 innings.”Every batsman and bowler has a personal target, which is to have the most contribution for the team. I think the last few Tests have not gone like I had wanted. Definitely it is quite disappointing for me. But my team is doing well so in a way this is relief for me. I hope to give 100% for the team and I want to contribute in a big way.”Mushfiqur also confirmed he will not be keeping wickets for the third match in a row as his ring finger, which he injured in April during the first Test against Pakistan, had not healed fully. He, however, quickly quashed suggestions that he will quit the gloves completely, saying he enjoyed wicketkeeping more than batting.”For the time being, I am not keeping in tomorrow’s match,” Mushfiqur said. “I will try to make a return to keeping. My primary job is to keep wickets but my finger isn’t 100% healed. I hope to recover quickly. I hope to do both my jobs properly.”Can anyone leave everything so easily? There’s no question about it as far as I am concerned. It will be a different issue if it is a matter of team combination. I enjoy keeping more than batting. It is not something I want to leave.”

ScorecardKenya cruised to an eight-wicket win in the opening one-day international against Bermuda in Nairobi. Peter Ongondo led the way with the ball as his three wickets knocked the stuffing out of Bermuda’s weak batting line-up then Alex Obanda, the impressive 19-year-old, made short work of the target.However, anything less than this emphatic result would have been a disappointment for Kenya against a Bermuda side which is struggling to justify its status as a leading Associate. On Tuesday they lost to Uganda by 43 runs and the top-order woes, which had them on 18 for 5, returned again in this match after they’d been put in.Ongondo began the rout with his seventh ball when Steve Outerbridge edged a rising delivery to second slip and thereafter Bermuda were unable to cope. Irvine Romaine chased a wide one and edged to the keeper and when David Hemp drove a half volley into the covers they were 51 for 5 and sinking rapidly.Some respectability was ensured with a sixth-wicket stand of 61 between Lionel Cann and Janeiro Tucker as Cann crunched 52 off 32 balls before missing a drive at Jimmy Kamande. Bermuda’s lower order showed more fight than their earlier colleagues with Rodney Trott (22) and Malachi Jones (21) adding 35 for the ninth wicket as the total edged to 174.Kenya, though, were barely troubled in the run-chase despite David Obuya’s golden duck when he padded up to Kevin Hurdle. Maurice Ouma eased along at a run a ball, adding 105 with Obanda who again showed his range of strokes. Captain Steve Tikolo dominated the unbroken third-wicket stand of 70 as he and Obanda completed a professional display with more than 21 overs to spare.

Scorecard
Michael Di Venuto has steered Tasmania to a comfortable victory over South Australia after the Redbacks posted a tame 8 for 185 from their 50 overs. The Tigers were in control all day and reached the target with only two wickets down in the 40th over thanks largely to Di Venuto’s 97.He hit 12 fours and one six in his 103-ball innings but fell to the part-time medium pace of Cameron Borgas with 13 runs still required. Dane Anderson helped get the Tigers across the line with 40 not out after Tim Paine made 36 in a 107-run opening stand with Di Venuto.South Australia were unable to build any partnerships of substance as the Tasmania bowlers made scoring very difficult. Luke Butterworth set the tone for the Tigers and claimed three of the most important wickets. Butterworth had Matthew Elliott caught and bowled for 32, Graham Manou caught for 15 and Darren Lehmann caught behind for 27, to finish with his best one-day figures of 3 for 32.Borgas and Dan Cullen each made an unbeaten 27 as they put together South Australia’s most productive partnership of 42 but the Tigers had already done enough to put themselves on top. The win gave Tasmania a vital bonus point as they earned their third win from six one-day matches this season. South Australia remain on the bottom of the table with only one win from their first three games.

With the Indian board still dilly-dallying over telecast rights for cricket played in India over the next four years, Nimbus Communications Ltd, a noted production house, has come forward with an interim solution and offered to produce and market the forthcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka and South Africa.The marketing committee of the board, which met in Mumbai on October 16, couldn’t come to a final decision regarding awarding of rights as a few “legal issues” were still pending. Harish Thawani, the chief executive producer of Nimbus, confirmed this while speaking to : “Our board of directors met recently to discuss the issue and we all felt the matter should not be allowed to drag unnecessarily.” Nimbus, who have earlier been part of big events like the 1999 and 2003 World Cups, recently produced the Challenger Series, India’s premier domestic one-day competition, which was televised by Zee Sports.It is reliably learnt that Nimbus have offered an amount “much higher” than the other channels and that Rs 25million (US$558,000) was a fair estimate. The marketing committee of the board, according to sources, discussed the issue at their meeting yesterday.Thawani added that if the board allows them to produce the series – an unlikely prospect since Nimbus haven’t bid for the television rights – they would look for TV channels to come forward and support them. “We don’t want any legal hassles,” he said, “If at all we are permitted by the BCCI to produce the series, we want the television channels to [bidders] to come forward to support the cause.”

Craig McMillan has been named in the New Zealand team to play the first Test against Australia at Brisbane on Thursday. Hamish Marshall, who scored a half-century against Bangladesh recently, missed out. Also out of the XI was James Franklin, who was laid low by a groin strain.”There were a couple of tough ones, mostly based around balance, the sort of strategy we want to take into the game, and experience,” said John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach. “Craig McMillan’s selection gives us greater experience and someone who is battle hardened for a Test match of such magnitude. Hamish had just one Test innings in Bangladesh and, while he scored 50, was a bit out of touch in the one-day series. But what it really came down to was the small mental things – the fact that Craig has been there and done that. And the added bonus of a few overs may help.”Bracewell also expressed disappointment at losing Franklin, and explained that the need for swing influenced selection. “We want to have at least one swing bowler in the match as Brisbane is one of the few places in Australia where you get the opportunity to swing the ball. It will be about taking the small windows the new ball gives us – the opportunity to pick up a couple of wickets with a swinging ball against a team that goes hard at the bowling.”Bracewell expected conditions to suit the quicker bowlers. “We are expecting the ball to swing and after our initial look at the wicket it looks dry and is already showing cracks along the length of the pitch which indicates that it might take turn towards the end of the match. The ground staff have rolled a lot of grass clippings into the wicket trying to keep the moisture levels up.”New Zealand 1 Stephen Fleming (capt), 2 Mark Richardson, 3 Mathew Sinclair, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Nathan Astle, 6 Craig McMillan, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Brendon McCullum (wk), 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Chris Martin

The England & Wales Cricket Board is trying to persuade Australia to play three ODIs in England next summer as it attempts to recoup the financial losses stemming from the decision to boycott Zimbabwe during the World Cup.The ECB is facing a shortfall of around £2.5million as a result of the stay-away, and three matches against the Aussies could generate up to £1million. The aim would be to play them ahead of the ICC Champions’ Trophy, which is being held in England in September 2004, and the hope is that Australia will see them as a good way of warming up for that tournament, which will involve all the Test-playing nations.While the accountants will be delighted with the plan, England’s cricketers might be less enthusiastic. They are already due to play seven Tests and a ten-match triangular series against New Zealand and West Indies, as well as the ICC Champions’ Trophy. Another three games crammed in to the schedule will place further strain on them at a time when the burdens of nonstop cricket are a major concern among players.The other question is whether the public will continue to flock to matches, or whether the sheer quantity of games will lead to a decline in interest. The appetite for cricket isn’t infinite, and the ECB has a delicate balancing act to perform.