Tech Updates

New Delhi: Sports minister Ajay Maken on Sunday praised India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his fine gesture of withdrawing his appeal against England batsman Ian Bell on the third day of the second cricket Test in Nottingham. "Proud of you Dhoni! Spirit of the game is more important than the result. Win the hearts and you will win the game too! India is proud of you!" Maken said. Ajay Maken praised MS Dhoni for his fine gesture of withdrawing his appeal against Ian Bell. The decision against Bell was overturned after Dhoni withdrew his appeal against the batsman who, however, under the rules of the game, was out. The bizarre incident took place when Bell was declared run out off the last ball of the final over before tea, when he casually walked off the crease after completing the third run, probably thinking that the ball had crossed the ropes. But the bails at the wicketkeeper's end came off, thanks to Praveen Kumar's diving effort in the deep, which p...

Karachi, May 31: Flamboyant Pakistan all rounder Shahid Afridi has announced to quit international cricket in protest of his removal from the captaincy of the national one-day team and said he will not consider to return till the present board under the chairmanship of Ijaz Butt is in place. "The people have given me lot of respect and love and I don't want to waste that working with this board who don't know how to respect players," an angry Afridi said. In a scathing attack on the Pakistan cricket Board, Afridi, 31, described the current set of administrators as "disgraceful people". Afridi, who announced to quit international cricket to protest the board's decision of removing him as the captain of the one-day team, told Geo News channel that nothing is greater to him than his self-respect. The experienced all rounder said till the present board under the chairmanship of Butt is in place, he will not play international cricket. "I want to make...

Innocence, like virginity, can be lost only once. Cricket – the players, the administration, the fans, the game itself – lost its innocence on April 7, 2000, when New Delhi police officials accused then South African captain Hansie Cronje of colluding with bookmaker Sanjay Chawla to fix the one day games with India played in March of that year. Any hymenal vestiges were swept aside in the months that followed, thanks to the revelations from a Central Bureau of Investigation probe in India; the report of the Justice Qayyum commission in Pakistan; the serial naming of players from around the world and their almost ritual ‘clearing’ by the respective boards, and finally by the spot-fixing expose of last year that resulted in bans of varying durations imposed on three Pakistani players. All of which is why the latest media story on match-fixing – Dirt in Cricket, a Heena Zuni Pandit-authored cover story for the latest issue of  Sports Illustrated India  – come...

Shane Watson knocked Bangladesh's bowlers senseless with a world record tally of sixes as the Australians galloped to a nine-wicket victory in the second limited overs match in Mirpur to seal the series. The target of 230 had appeared a possible banana skin on a slow pitch offering some turn, but Watson made such light work of it, that his unbeaten185 from 96 balls now stands as the highest ODI score by an Australian, overtaking Matthew Hayden's 181 against New Zealand in 2007. Xavier Marshall's 2008 mark for most sixes fell when Watson swung his 13th over the rope, the second six in as many balls off the bowling of Abdur Razzak. Watson added two more for good measure to also shatter one of ODI cricket's more enduring records, for the highest individual percentage of runs in a completed innings. His 79.74% bested Viv Richards' 69.48% in his momentous 189 not out, out of 272 for 9, against England in 1984. Following Michael Clarke's century in game one, vic...

The World Cup final was Kumar Sangakkara's last game as Sri Lanka's limited-overs' captain  © Getty Images Enlarge Related Links Players/Officials:  Kumar Sangakkara Teams:  Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara  has stepped down as captain of Sri Lanka's ODI and T20 teams but has offered to continue as the Test captain on an interim basis for the forthcoming series against England and Australia "if this is considered helpful for the new captain". He will continue as a player in all formats of the game. His decision, revealed on Tuesday, comes days after he led Sri Lanka to the World Cup final. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews are among those tipped to take charge of the limited-overs' sides, while Thilan Samaraweera is being discussed as an option to lead the Test team. Sangakkara was the  third highest scorer  in the 2011 World Cup and scored 48 in their defeat to India  in the final . "I would like to announce that after careful consideration ...

MS Dhoni played a masterful captain's innings to steer his side to World Cup success  © Associated Press Enlarge Related Links News :  Century no consolation for Jayawardene News :  Dhoni acknowledges role of quartet News :  Malinga says wet ball hampered bowling  Analysis :  Perfect timing by MS Dhoni News :  We felt the pressure - Dhoni  News :  'India planned final for a year' News :  'India were a step ahead of us' - Sangakkara Analysis :  The dive that defined Gambhir Analysis :  The partnerships that won the Cup News :  Toss taken twice after confusion over call Analysis :  Battle of the wicketkeeper captains Analysis :  It's all about remaining in the present - Dhoni Players/Officials:  MS Dhoni  |  Gautam Gambhir  |  Mahela Jayawardene  |  Zaheer Khan  |  Muttiah Muralitharan  |  Sachin Tendulkar Matches:  India v Sri Lanka at Mumbai Serie...