Johannesburg (S.Africa), Jan.27 (ANI): Just days before South Africa undertakes a tour of India, the South African cricket board has sacked the national selection panel.

Chairman of selectors Mike Proctor confirmed the development to a local radio station in Johannesburg.

Procter told Talk Radio 702 that Cricket South Africa had fired the entire selection panel, which included Craig Matthews, Winky Ximiya and Mustapha Khan.

He said that an interim selection committee would be appointed to serve until February 19.

“It came as a huge shock to us all. I had a phone call early yesterday evening, Gerald Majola informing me that this selection panel would not be required in future,” Procter told eNews, a South African news channel.

“Everyone was told that this was going to be a talk after the series. We were just going to make some presentations. They weren’t going to come after anyone. It wasn’t going to be a witch hunt,” he added.

“I think we had too short a time in the business, as selectors we always gave our own thoughts, we never ended up voting on issues, we talked around issues, we enjoyed each other’s company and I think we were doing pretty well. The time we had was too short but we did introduce some new players,” Proctor said.

Matthews, a member of the selection panel, said he understood that Majola would head the interim panel until a new one was put in place.

“The way I understand it, there will be an interim selection panel and Gerald will be the convenor of selectors until a new panel has been picked,” he told Cricinfo.

“We weren’t given any reason for the decision [sacking]. All that was said was that the board felt the selection process was flawed and that they want to restructure it,” he added.

“It might be a transformation issue, but they didn’t give us any reasons, all they said was that the process needs to be reworked. I have been part of South African cricket for many years, nothing really surprises me anymore,” he said.

The sacked panel took over as selectors in December 2008, just before the historic series victory in Australia which put South Africa on top of both the Test and the ODI rankings.

Results went downhill after that, losing the return Test series against Australia and only managing to draw the home series against England which ended earlier this month. (ANI)

Mirpur (Bangladesh), Jan 27 (ANI): Some splendid batting and bowling performances fetched Team India a 10 wicket victory in the Mirpur Test that was played against Bangladesh. Team India won the series 2-0.

After winning the series, skipper Dhoni said, “It was a difficult task to get 10 wickets in the second innings as there was nothing in the pitch to help either the fast bowlers or the spinners. That’s one of the reasons we were keen to bowl first. Zaheer’s spell was remarkable as I feel it was a fantastic wicket to bat on.”

“We were looking for the new ball, but with the ball keeping low we wanted to see what the fast bowlers could do with the ball reversing, credit goes to Ojha as well as he got the wicket of Ashraful after which we decided to not go for the new ball,” added Dhoni.

Zaheer Khan, who was adjudged the Man of the Match for his ten-wicket haul said, “Particularly this match it was tough for the bowlers as the pitch kept getting slow and low, but once it started to reverse there was something in it for the bowlers.”

“Still long way to go, still working on my fitness, this particular spell is a confidence-booster for me,” he added.

Zaheer claimed seven wickets in the second innings and gave away just eighty-seven runs. Bangladesh were bowled out for 312, thus leaving India just two runs to get for a series victory.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib said, “We didn’t bat two hours well, that’s why we lost – first hour in the first innings, and an hour before lunch today. Every time someone is getting runs, but we need two or three guys to score in each innings, that’s something that we have to improve.”

Replying to India’s total of 544 for eight declared; Bangladesh could manage 233/10 in the first innings and 312/10 in the second innings.

Tendulkar was also given a memento for becoming the first batsman to score 13,000 Test runs. (ANI)

Karachi, Jan.27 (ANI): After captain Mohammed Yousuf, swashbuckling Pakistan all rounder Shahid Afridi too has highlighted the lack of unity and team spirit in the national squad.

Speaking during a television programme, Afridi said players are trying hard to come out good against Australia in the ongoing series, but they are not playing as a unit.

“Players are only concerned about their own performance. Muhammad Yousuf has failed to gel the team together because players’ preference is to play for themselves, not for the team,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

He said following the team’s deplorable performance Down Under, senior ‘non-performing’ players should make way for younger players.

“Whoever not performs, be it Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan or Umar Gul, should make way for new talent,” Afridi said. (ANI)

Sydney, Jan.27 (ANI): The Australian cricketers decision to give a miss to the third edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is both wise and promising, feels noted columnist Peter Roebuck.

In an article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck opines that the Australians are fully aware of the workload that is before them, especially in the context of an Ashes series later in the year, and therefore, have shown wisdom in not putting in their hat for the IPL-3 auction held earlier this month.

“Clarke (Australian vice-captain) is on top of his game, his decision not to offer his services to IPL is sound and selfless. In any case he is not as well suited to the 20-over game because he depends more on alacrity than power. Brutal boundaries are not his go,” says Roebuck.

“Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson and Michael Hussey have also held back. Doubtless they have noted the toll. Doubtless they have the Ashes in mind. It is a promising sign,” he adds.

“Moreover, no heed will be taken of players complaining about workloads who play cricket overseas in their spare time,” Roebuck says.

He believes the Australians have shown commendable professionalism against opposing teams like the West Indies and Pakistan this summer.

“Ricky Ponting’s team is fuelled not so much by anger or passion as by the simple desire to win, an approach less likely to run dry. Accordingly they have held their form in this (one-day) version of the game through several continents and all sorts of conditions. Nor have they ever regarded 50-over cricket as a sideshow. Trophies have been won, strong opponents subdued and their position at the top of the rankings reinforced,” says Roebuck.

“In every respect, Australia’s consistency has been impressive. No point pushing the envelope, though. Now might be a fine chance to give older hands like Shane Watson and Michael Clarke a smoko. Plenty of hard days lie ahead,” he said.

Pakistan has faced a long and unrewarding tour and seems to be running out of steam. Australia have some leeway and might as well use it, he concludes. (ANI)

Islamabad, Jan.27 (ANI): Pakistan Sports Minister Ijaz Jakhrani has urged the Indian government to initiate an inquiry into the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction fiasco.

Jakhrani said while it was quite clear that the ‘snub’ was deliberate and influenced by certain quarters, New Delhi must come out with the actual details regarding the issue.

“We want the government of India to intervene in this issue and let us know who were responsible in keeping Pakistan cricketers away from the IPLFrom day one our stance is that the IPL decision was an influenced one,” The Daily Times quoted Jakhrani, as saying.

Referring to Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s statement that the decision to ignore Pakistani players was a ‘disservice’ to the game of cricket, Jakhrani said his (Chidambaram’s) remarks was a positive sign and it vindicates Islamabad’s stance.

“The statement makes it crystal clear that there was involvement of a third player in influencing the IPL auction,’ he added.

The IPL has already denied any government interference and stated that the T20 league officials had never said that the Indian government did not grant permission to the Pakistani players.

Eleven Pakistani players, including the cream of the Shahid Afridi-led reigning Twenty20 World Cup squad, were in the IPL auction 3 fray, but none of the eight IPL franchisees took interest in them, fearing the chill in Indo-Pak relation might worsen, resulting in non-participation of these players. (ANI)