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Mahinda Rajapakse, the Sri Lankan president, has ordered an inquiry into Sanath Jayasuriya’s axing from the Test squad for the ongoing three-match series in India.”There were many requests for an investigation over the selections and I have asked sports minister Jeevan Kumaratunga to look into the matter,” said Rajapakse. Saman Amarasinghe, a former umpire and currently the chairman of the sports council, was assigned to conduct the inquiry.Jayasuriya, 36, a veteran of 100 Tests, was dropped after Sri Lanka suffered a humiliating 6-1 loss in a recent one-day series in India. He had problems with both form and fitness and could manage just 85 runs in six outings. “I have asked to investigate why Jayasuriya was overlooked for the Tests in India,” said Rajapakse. “Why did they select him for the one-day series if he was not fully fit ?”Jayasuriya, who has 6,580 Test runs and 10,207 runs in one-day internationals, aggravated a shoulder injury just before the one-dayers in India. But his omission from the Test squad created a stir in Sri Lanka with former players and enthusiasts arguing that Jayasuriya had recovered sufficiently from the injury and should have been picked for the Tests.The first Test between India and Sri Lanka at Chennai has seen the first two days washed out due to a cyclone sweeping through the region.

Bangladesh 221 for 4 (46.4 overs, Saqibul Hasan 100) beat Sri Lanka 217 (49.4 overs, Mathews 65, Saqibul Hasan 3-39) by six wickets
ScorecardSaqibul Hasan produced an allround performance to grace any stage as Bangladesh surged to a six-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the final of the Under-19 triangular tournament. They have been the form side throughout the competition and the result confirms them as the rising stars at this level.If the 15-year-old continues to perform as he did in this match, with a sparkling 86-ball century and three vital wickets, it will not be long before he is mixing it on the biggest stage. His century was studded with ten crisp boundaries as he dominated the attack after arriving at 51 for 1. He unleashed his trademark pull off the seamers and was not afraid to sweep the spinners.With him providing such a dominate force the other batsmen were able to play second fiddle. Raqibul Hasan and Shamsur Rahman both acted as valuable support, content to work the singles and rotate the strike, in consecutive stands of 74 and 72. Although Saqibul Hasan fell just four runs short of the target he rightly received huge applause from the crowd, and his team-mates, after leaving a lasting memory on the tournament.His wickets ensured Sri Lanka never found the going easy and struggled for momentum throughout their innings. The ball swung in the early stages and both openers were gone by the seventh over. Saqibul Hasan’s first influence on proceedings came when he trapped Hans Fernando lbw. He then halted a threatening knock from Shalika Karunanayake, having him stumped for 37, as Sri Lanka stumbled for 90 for 4. The captain, Angelo Mathews, held the middle order together with a composed 65, including a thumping flat six over extra cover.The Sri Lankans must have felt Saqibul Hasan was everywhere they looked as he added a catch and a run out to his match-winning contribution. His efforts put the seal on a stunning tournament for the allrounder. Never mind the Man-of-the-Match award being a formality, it won’t have taken too long to decide that he also was the player of the tournament – 280 runs in seven matches and 10 wickets makes impressive reading.This tournament has shown Bangladesh are blessed with some terrifically talented young players. Along with Saqibul Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim has confirmed his promise while Suhrawadi Shuvo is developing into a useful spinner. If a handful can transfer these performances on to the full international stage Bangladesh cricket will be the better for it.

Major League Cricket has thrown down the gauntlet to its detractors and made clear that not only is it not going to disappear, but that it is upping the ante and looking for a bigger role in US cricket.It announced the appointment of eight State Development Officers (listed below) to help promote and develop the game at all levels and to implement the US Cricket Development Programme. The State Development Officers all report to one of the eight Divisional Operations Officers of which MLC will be announcing in 2006. These eight Divisional Operations Officers all report to the National Development Manager who reports directly to Parag Harolikar, MLC’s Vice President of Cricket Operations.”MLC’s U.S. Cricket Development Program is slowly unfolding,” said Harolikar. “This is a defining moment in US cricket and we intend to be solidified and structured in our approached. The appointment of these eight SDOs is a great step in that direction and we will be appointing more SDOs in the coming months. We thank them for their commitment and believe in the MLC business process and look forward to exciting developments in cricket for 2006 as we continue working together.”And despite many obstacles and attempts by some factions within US cricket to deter teams from participating, MLC’s recent National Interstate Cricket Tournament (NICT) in Broward County, Florida was widely reckoned to be a success, and Bernard Cameron, MLC’s CEO, has announced plans for the 2006 tournament.”We intend to make the 2006 NICT better than 2005 by learning and capitalizing on last year,” Cameron explained. “From sponsorship negotiations, hospitality management, itinerary scheduling for both local and international teams along with the use of better publicity and the media, we intend to work closely with our State Development Officers along with our governmental and commercial partners to put in place the necessary business processes that would allow for deeper pockets that would provide the cricketer with a much better managed tournament.”Cameron added that pre-registration for the 2006 NICT could now be completed via MLC’s newly-launched website at www.mlcus.com/.Finally, in a move likely to antagonize supporters of the Gladstone Dainty-led USA Cricket Association, MLC announced a 26-man US national cricket squad based on the best players at its recent NICT.MLC squad Mahesh Nanda, Sanjeev Singh (Pennsylvania); Shane Ford, Mark Izsac (Florida); Srikanth Sundaragopalan, Bardan Chalise, Shehryar Butt, Phani Chitneni, Mehul Dave, Arnab Mitra Washington; Hasan Waqas, Ajay Sharma, Waqas Qader, Ameeq Khan, Vicky Chanaraj, Hashim Khan Virginia; Sushil Nadkarni, Tejas Sanghvi, Usman Shuja, Arjun Rajagopalan, Niraj Shah, Amir Nanjee (Texas); Aqeel Sabri, Kamran Khan, Ani Khandekar, Abhi Patel (North Carolina).SDOs Kuldeep Patel (Texas), Naveed Khan (Tennessee), Shailesh S. Bokil (Pennsylvania), George Gordon (Maryland), Shashi Desai (North Carolina), Raghu Misra (Florida), Phani Chitneni (Washington) and Irfan Hasan (Virginia).

Zimbabwe Under-19 captain Sean Williams is targeting a victory over Group D rivals England as the key to his side’s progress to the Super League at the U-19 World Cup.The group, that also includes Associate sides Ireland and Nepal, appears to be the most wide-open of the four in the tournament that starts in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday. And Williams, who has already played four ODIs at senior level, believes a victory over the group favourites, who they face on 10 February, could go a long way to ensuring the African side reach the knock-out stage.”England are my main target – I really want to beat England,” he said on Monday. “I think if we beat England then we are close to the Super League and I would say if we can beat them then we can beat almost anybody. I know and believe we can beat them.”This tournament comes less than a month after Zimbabwe Cricket withdrew from Test matches for one year following a period of poor results and internal strife that has rocked the game in that country. The situation has prompted speculation about the future of cricket in Zimbabwe and so Williams acknowledged a solid performance from his team was vital to show that future is bright.”The U-19 team we have got has a lot of fight in it and the incentive for us is huge,” he said. “People do not expect a lot from Zimbabwe but at the last U-19 World Cup (in Bangladesh in 2004) we proved a lot and we’ve come to prove a lot again. In an individual way it is important for each and every (Zimbabwe) player that has come across to be seen by the rest of the world,” he added.The importance of the team being in Sri Lanka and also proving the vitality of the game at this development level was echoed by team manager Dilip Chouhan. “We know all eyes are focussed on us in the cricketing fraternity because of what has happened at home,” he said.”As a result we believe we are playing an important role as far as the future of Zimbabwe cricket is concerned.”Coach Walter Chawaguta said he had encouraged his players not to think about the internal problems that have affected cricket in Zimbabwe in the build-up to this tournament. “From day one we’ve said this is U-19 cricket,” he said. “A lot of them are schoolboys so not a lot of them have been affected. They may be worried about their futures but we have made it very clear they should only worry about things that are in their control – that has been our focus. Our future lies in the development of the game and our U-14, U-15 and U-16 sides right up to U-19 level are well developed. If we can be competitive at these levels then it means there is light at the end of the tunnel.”Zimbabwe lost all five of its matches in November’s Afro-Asian U-19 Cup in India but Williams said part of the blame for those losses was down to some players being unavailable because of schooling commitments. He said since that tournament the players had been in a training camp interrupted only by a break for the Christmas holidays in December ahead of the trip to Sri Lanka.Chawaguta added they knew little about their opening Group D opponents Ireland but said that was not a major concern. “Our focus is on making sure we play well on any particular day,” he said. “If we do that then we will put the opposition under pressure.”Zimbabwe face Ireland on Sunday on the opening day of the ICC U-19 CWC before further matches against Nepal (February 7) and England (February 10) complete their group stage.The top two sides from each of the four groups in the tournament will progress to the Super League stage, which consists of knock-out quarter- and semi-finals and a final on 19 February.Zimbabwe squad Sean Williams (capt), Gary Balance, Ronald Benade, Justice Chomunorwa (also known as Cham or Chamu Chibhabha), Graeme Cremer, Ryan Higgins, Friday Kasteni, Tarisai Mahlunge, Prince Masvaure, Keagan Meth, Taurai Muzarabani, Ian Nicolson, Donald (also known as Kuda) Samunderu and Glen Querl.

Well placed at 158 for 2, Northern Districts would have been happy with their progress against Canterbury on a revamped Seddon Park ground in Hamilton. At the end of the day and all out for 269, the smiles would have long faded as Northerns collapsed woefully against Chris Harris’s wobbly deliveries. Opener Nick Horsley (60) and Alun Evans (53) laid the platform, but nobody in Northern’s notoriously fragile batting line-up could capitalise. Harris took 4 for 46 and Brandon Hiini 3 for 46 as Canterbury polished off the tail before stumps.Mathew Sinclair and opener Geoff Barnett put on a record second-wicket partnership for Central Districts against Otago at New Plymouth. However Central will be disappointed with their stumps position of 275 for 6 when you consider Sinclair (121) and Barnett (94) were together for 213 of those runs. The day was truncated by four overs due to showers but Otago had bowled themselves back into the game with two wickets apiece to Warren McSkimming, David Sewell and Bradley Scott.Top met bottom in Wellington and that was obvious as the home team bundled out woeful Auckland for 235 with Tim Lythe (66) the only player to pass 50. James Franklin, the discarded New Zealand swing bowler, took 3 for 46 and national prospect Mark Gillespie continued his impressive wicket-taking form with 3 for 66. In reply Wellington reached 59 for 1 at stumps with Matthew Bell not out on 32 and Michael Parlane on 14.

Bangladesh have confirmed their place in October’s Champions Trophy in India with their 20-run victory over Kenya at Fatullah.Only sides in the top 10 of the ODI championship table on April 1 will take part in the tournament and the win by Habibul Bashar’s side means they cannot be overtaken by the eleventh-placed Kenya ahead of the cut-off date.Bangladesh will now play in the preliminary round alongside Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. The top two sides from that first, round-robin, stage will then go forward to join the top six sides from the ODI table in the second round of the tournament.The only matter that now needs to be decided ahead of the announcement of the draw for the Champions Trophy is the final placings of the teams in the top six spots in the table by the cut-off date as that will affect who they play.India and England are currently fifth and sixth respectively in that table but could swap places if England win both matches between the two sides scheduled to take place before April 1.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThe bowlers dominated day one of the SuperSport Series final at Durban as 16 wickets fell. Ethy Mbhalati took the honours with 5 for 26, helping to dismiss the Dolphins for 176, but the Titans then slipped to 70 for 3 during the final session as Nantie Hayward picked up a brace.The Titans had put the Dolphins into bat and despite removing Imraan Khan in the seventh over there was little sign of the action to come. Doug Watson compiled a solid half-century as they moved passed 100 for the loss of just two wickets. But Mbhalati then struck his first blow, bowling Watson, and the collapse set in.Mbhalati tore through the middle order and within 19 overs of losing their third wicket, the Dolphins were all out. Only Hashim Amla offered any further resistance, striking 58 off 115 balls with eleven boundaries.However, the Titans didn’t have it all their own way in reply as Hayward nipped out both openers in a fiery opening burst. With the international duo of Martin van Jaarsveld and Zander de Bruyn also back in the hutch the Dolphins are well and truly alive in this final.

Zimbabwe 72 for 2 v West Indies 263 for 6 (Morton 109, Sarwan 54, Chanderpaul 51*) – Match abandoned
Scorecard
How they were out

It was rain which set up the opportunity for Zimbabwe to snatch an improbable victory in the sixth ODI at Trinidad’s Queen’s Park Oval, but it also ultimately washed out that hope. It also rendered an excellent hundred from Runako Morton earlier in the day redundant.When West Indies set Zimbabwe a target of 264, even with a very scratchy bowling attack, few doubted they would win. But two overs into the Zimbabwe innings the heavens opened, and when play resumed Duckworth/Lewis presented them with a much more appealing ask of 184 off 28 overs with all their wickets intact.Vusi Sibanda started briskly, but it was clear that attacking was alien to Terry Duffin, and after a few swiches – a couple of which were successful – he perished when he deflected a reverse sweep straight into the wicketkeeper’s hands. He was soon followed by Piet Rinke, who must be desperate for this series to end. When you are out of form little goes right, and he was left high and dry by a call from Sibanda and a good one-handed pick-up from Brian Lara.Brendan Taylor signalled his intent by lofting Chris Gayle for a straight six, and with the bowlers gifting wides – 13 in 12 overs – the unthinkable was becoming a possibility. Then, with Zimbabwe requiring 119 from almost 18 overs, the rain returned, only heavier, and that was that. Given their inability to chase anything over 200, this probably represented Zimbabwe’s best chance of a win on this tour.The first innings had been dominated by Morton’s a start-stop hundred and some late hitting from the lower-middle order which enabled West Indies to post a respectable 263 for 6. The final score was good enough, but it was for long periods fairly unimpressive batting.For a time Morton and Ramnaresh Sarwan appeared to be building another daunting total as Zimbabwe’s pop-gun seamers haemorrhaged runs. The only surprise in the first 30 overs was that Gayle, who had been in such deadly form on Wednesday, missed out, playing round a straight ball from Tawanda Mupariwa early on. That aside, it was once again not so much a challenge for the West Indies batsmen as a glorified net.Mupariwa apart, Zimbabwe’s seamers were poor and lacked any threat, and their fielding, so good in the first three games, completely fell apart. Morton batted with authority, clipping the ball confidently off his legs and driving powerfully down the ground. Sarwan, content to play second fiddle, nevertheless found it easy to keep the scoreboard ticking over.But the introduction of spin in the form of the increasingly impressive Prosper Utseya along with Ryan Higgins not only stemmed the flow, but also put the skids under the innings. Higgins removed Sarwan and a subdued Lara in quick succession, and with Morton becalmed as his hundred neared, West Indies almost ground to a halt. Between them, Higgins and Utseya only conceded one boundary in their 20 overs; there were 25 in the other 30.The return of the seamers restored order and brought a enthusiastic crowd to light, but not before another hiccough or two. Morton brought up his hundred with a straight drive and briefly threatened to cut lose before he holed out to long on, and then Marlon Samuels was run out without facing a ball and Dwayne Smith was airily bowled by Mupariwa. At 206 for 6 there were few smiles.But Rinke and Keegan Meth are almost certainly the two least-able death bowlers in the world game – and possibly outside it – and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carlton Baugh showed no mercy, pulling and driving at will. The shots of the innings came when Chanderpaul twice smacked one-handed sixes over midwicket.Even though Mupariwa was brought back to try to restore sanity, the horse had bolted and his otherwise excellent figures were ruined as his final two over went for 24 and Zimbabwe’s last seven for 70.The series finishes tomorrow, assuming that the rains relent. But when you schedule matches at a time when rain is far from abnormal, what can you expect. The Indians, who are here in a fortnight for two more ODIs, better bring wet-weather clothes and some good books.

How they were out

West IndiesChris Gayle b Mupariwa 2 (15 for 1)
Played round straight one attempting drive Ramnaresh Sarwan c Taylor b Higgins 54 (149 for 2)
Thin outside edge to attempted cutBrian Lara c Taylor b Higgins 2 (164 for 3)
Thin outside edge trying to run ball to third man Runako Morton c Mupariwa b Ireland 109 (193 for 4)
Driven to long on, good running catchMarlon Samuels run out (Chigumbura/Taylor) 0 (193 for 5)
Good pick-up, keeper did well to gather throw, well short Dwayne Smith b Mupariwa 3 (206 for 6)
Came down pitch and played all round straight one

ZimbabweTerry Duffin c Baugh b Samuels 14 (33 for 1)
Reverse swept into keeper’s handsPiet Rinke run out (Lara/Baugh) 4 (42 for 2)
Crazy call from Sibanda, a yard short

Afghanistan will tour England, playing Essex, Glamorgan and Leicestershire 2nd XIs during their 18-day trip which kicks-off on June 11.”This year is very important for our cricket,” Taj Malik Alam, their coach, told the BBC. “I think it will be a turning point and if we win all the matches then we can get the attention of the international cricket community. We have a long way to go but we really want to participate in the World Cup and become one of the best teams in the world.””It is a great honour to play in England,” said Dawlat Khan Ahmadzai, one of the squad. “Everyone is waiting for us to go, they want to see what we can do and we want to make the most of this opportunity.”In March, the Afghan side beat an MCC XI, skippered by Mike Gatting, in a game played at Mumbai.Cricket is now Afghanistan’s third most popular sport, behind buzkashi and football.Money raised from the tour will be used to help fund the building of a cricket ground in Kabul.Tour itinerary
June 11 – Hoddesdon
June 14 – Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
June 15 – Glamorgan 2nd XI, Swansea
June 19 – Loughborough UCCE
June 20 – Essex 2nd XI, Billericay
June 21 – Leicestershire 2nd XI, Hinckley Town
June 22 – Ditchling CC, Sussex

More than 50 scalpers have had their Ashes tickets cancelled by Cricket Australia after they were exposed by private investigators. The reported 650 tickets were revoked as the national body planned a heavy-handed approach to opportunistic selling.”They won’t be admitted into the ground,” James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said in the paper. “Anyone who is thinking about buying tickets in that fashion risks losing their money.” The final seats for the MCG Test went on sale yesterday and after two hours only spaces for days three and four were available.Sutherland has also attacked the comments of Tim May, the Federation of International Cricketers’ chief executive, who said the crammed international match schedule could leader to player drug use. “That is disrespectful and nothing more than mindless sledging on Tim’s behalf,” Sutherland said. “I am completely surprised with the comments and disappointed to mention drugs and Australian cricketers in the same breath.”