Fixtures and Dates

Match Dates

Mohammad Asif was found with small quantity of opium (banned drug) on Dubai airport last year when he was returning from IPL 2008. After spending 19 days in detention, Asif was released but he hasn't play a game since then. Now, the good news comes for this right handed fast bowler to resume his International career at a fine of 1 million rupees.. Asif will be available for selection from ICC Champions trophy to be played in September 2009.
Note that Mohammad Asif made his debut against Australia back in 2005 and rose to excellence as ICC emerging player of the year in 2006. He took 51 wickets in just 11 tests and 36 wickets from 31 ODIs but drug ban and injuries kept him out of Pakistani side.

Michael Vaughan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket with imidiate effect from 1 July 2009. Michael Vaughan had hopes for a return to England team for Ashes 2009, begining 8th July but he failed himself in county cricket and called it quit. Former England Ashes winning captain played 82 tests, made 5719 runs at a healthy average of 41.44 with highest score of 197 in his 18 test century. Vaughan always pushed but never had as prolific ODI career in which he played 86 games, made only 1982 runs at an average of 27.15. Interestingly, Michael Vaughan never made an one day international century.. his best ODI score remained at 90 not out.
Will Michael Vaughan join in as commentator with some broadcasting company or will be take up coaching job.. it remains to be seen.

Reports of Irfan Pathan having flings with tennis sensation Sania Mirza and others can rest now as Indian cricketer has decided to marry Shivangi Dev, a Canberra Chartered Accontant cum dance teacher. Shivangi and Irfan Pathan met in Irfan's first trip to Australia back in 2003 and Irfan first proposed to his lady back in 2006. Shivangi's father is an Indian diplomat in Australia. Picture: Irfan with Shivangi.
Interestingly, the marriage won't be happening anytime soon. Irfan Pathan is busy with cricket these days and has elder brother - Yusuf Pathan (also an Indian cricketer), who has to marry first, according to father Mehbubkhan Pathan. Both parents were not in agreement with the relationship but now have given their 100% approval.
Where will the marraige ceremony be held? of course in Vadodra, says Irfan Pathan.

John Buchanan won 3 world cups with Australian cricket team as coach. But he has done a little since being releaved from job. He coached Kolkata Knight riders in Indian Premier league, failed miserably and has now taken up a short term consultant job for England team ahead of Ashes 2009.
Buchanan said : "I provided (Andy) Flower" with some of my thoughts. I've been keeping a bit of gaze on the Ashes built up from a far and passed on a few things I've picked up as an observer. So how does Aussies go about their Ashes defence? Buchanan said :- I guess the salient point here is what strategy do the Australians want to take? Do they want to utilise their fast men as the main thrust and use Marcus North and Simon Katich and Michael Clarke for their spin, or do they want to take a less hostile approach and take a spinner that would allow them to adapt to more than one kind of strategy or surface?. I suspect they will be leaning towards the former.

Once they agreed on playing each other every second year but now, relationship between India and Pakistan cricket has spoiled a bit. In new proposed FTP from the 2011-15 season, Indian cricket board has no included any series against arch rivals Pakistan which has made PCB unhappy.
The draft proposed by India does not have any test series against Pakistan, which is astonishing since both boards have an agreement they would play against each other every two years in both countries, a PCB official said.
Note that India canceled their January-February 2009 tour of Pakistan after terrorists attack in Mumbai. Since the, both countries have not play any test or ODI series although they met in a warm-up match in T20 world cup which Indians won confortably.

Under 19 cricket world cup has suddenly become a very important tournament for all countries around the world cause most of modern day cricketers eventually make it to senior team.
Last year, Malaysia hosted the U-19 world cup and this time, in February of 2010, New Zealand will play the hosts.
Meanwhile, no decision was taken to revert back to Pakistan to host matches in Cricket World cup 2011 since it has been removed as host and matches to be shared between India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Also, no decision on Day-night test matches was taken as ICC do not want to temper a lot with traditions of test cricket which has a history of over a century.

West Indies captain and master blaster, Chris Gayle, has been signed up by Western Warriors team for a short stint in domestic T20 tournament in Australia. Chris Gayle will play 5 games for WA team and will pass on his experiences with other first class cricketers. West Indies are due to tour Australia at the same time and hence, Gayle will squeeze out a dozen of days from his national duties to play for the WA warriors team.
Coach Tom Moody was instrumental in brining Chris Gayle on board.
Interestingly, there were rumours of former Australia wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist, who captained Deccan Chargers to IPL win in 2009, will be returning to play for his state side as well. That report, has been ruled out. Adam Gilchrist confirmed that he is very much retired from cricket and only plays IPL.