Dhoni appointed brand ambassador of cricket in Nepal- Cricket

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Cricket Associationhas appointed Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as their brand ambassador. 

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal, Posta Bahadur Bogati, made the announcement about Dhoni's association with Nepal Cricket, adding that this would help promote tourism in the country. 

Talking to media persons at a conference inKathmandu, Dhoni said that he was happy to see the excitement and vigour of the youth  towards the game. 

"I am happy to see the youth playing cricket or take up the sport. This is my first trip and I do not know much about the venues over here and it was good to see that although it was quite hot still the youngster they were playing cricket," said Dhoni. 

Dhoni said that he would be happy to promote cricket and contribute to the development of cricket in Nepal. 

He also urged Nepal's cricket officials to get permission from International Cricket Council to construct a stadium, which would further promote cricket in the country. 

"I have seen stadiums being made and the minimum it takes is one and a half to two years. So, why not you guys make a stadium. We will have to wait and watch since Nepal does play under age cricket and even the T-20 format they are playing so they can proceed and ask ICC if there is a possibility or not," said Dhoni. 

Dhoni is scheduled to pay a visit to the famous Pashupatinath Temple on Sunday. 

Dhoni was accompanied by his wife Sakshi during the two-day visit.

Resource:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/off-the-field/Dhoni-appointed-brand-ambassador-of-cricket-in-Nepal/articleshow/14206471.cms

Ganguly back in IPL, signs up with Pune Warriors

New Delhi: After going unsold in the players' auction, former India captain Sourav Ganguly today made a dramatic return to the Indian Premier League by signing up for struggling franchise Pune Warriors as replacement for injured pacer Ashish Nehra.



"We were waiting for Ashish Nehra's fitness report and ultimately the report came yesterday. I was already in talks with Ganguly and we decided that the amount of experience that Sourav has in cricket will no doubt help the team. So we finalised Ganguly last night," Pune Warriors Team Director Abhijit Sarkar said referring to the finger injury that Nehra has been nursing.


Ganguly, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders for three IPL seasons captaining them in two editions, went unsold in the January players' auction despite a rather modest base price of USD 400,000.


The 38-year-old refused a mentor's role with KKR after that and there had been speculation of a possible comeback through another franchise.


The left-handed batman was first sought by Kochi Tuskers Kerala but their application was rejected by the IPL's Governing Council.


However, he signed on the dotted line for Pune on Monday, giving a major fillip to the side which has lost six matches on the trot after starting promisingly with a couple of back-to-back wins.


Resource: http://cricket.expressindia.com/news/ganguly-back-in-ipl-signs-up-with-pune-warriors/785062/

All you wanted to know about Duncan Fletcher

Mumbai: - Duncan Fletcher was born on September 27, 1948 in Rhodesia and raised in a family that comprised six children. All his four brothers played sport. Elder brother Colin excelled in cricket, hockey, rugby and squash.

- He captained Zimbabwe to an upset win over Kim Hughes' Australia in a 1983 World Cup game at Trent Bridge. Fletcher scored an unbeaten 69 before claiming 4 for 42 to send Australia crashing.

- In 1993, he became South Africa's domestic team Western Province's coach and met with immediate success, helping the team win the first-class and limited-overs competitions.

- Four years later, he was appointed coach of English county side Glamorgan. In his first year with them (1997), the county won the county championship - their first since 1969.

- After England's disastrous 1999 World Cup, Fletcher replaced David Lloyd as coach.

- His first series win as England coach came against Zimbabwe in 2000 on English soil.

- Later that year, he guided England to a series win over the West Indies for the first time in 31 years.

- Though England won in Pakistan (2000) and Sri Lanka (2001) during his tenure, Fletcher did not win a Test series in India.

However, he witnessed a drawn one-day series in the 2001-02 season when India lost the final game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

- Fletcher reacted sharply to Sunil Gavaskar's criticism of his England team in 2002. The Indian batting legend opined that the English approach was a boring one for spectators. "Thank God it was a three-Test series and a five-Test one, for Indian cricket would have lost a great number of spectators seeing the fare dished out," Gavaskar wrote.

- In March 2004, England beat the West Indies 3-0 in the West Indies - the first time since 1967-68. Fletcher had the pleasure of seeing his pace attack of Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones do well.

- Fletcher may have had some memorable Test wins including the 2005 Ashes triumph, but he didn't help England become a major force in one-day cricket, their triumph in the 2006-07 CB Series Down Under notwithstanding.

- After the 2005 Ashes triumph, Fletcher failed in Australia 2006-07 when England lost 5-0. England lost the series in the third Test at Perth.

- Former England fast bowler turned journalist Angus Fraser called for Fletcher's head in the Schofield Report. Fraser was part of the review committee.

Fletcher wrote: "I am not sure media people should be on the committee at all, but Fraser justified it by saying that he wanted to help English cricket.

"That is all well and good, but is it really helping English cricket by calling for the head of the England coach three days before an important World Cup against South Africa (2007)? No, it is not."

- In his autobiography, Behind the Shades, Fletcher revealed that Andrew Flintoff turned up for a practice session in Sydney in 2006-07 Ashes tour under the influence of alcohol.  "I've supported a lot of players and I supported Andrew but then he drank again at the World Cup after what had happened in Australia," Fletcher wrote.

- Fletcher's stint as coach of England ended with the 2007 World Cup. Since then, he has worked with South Africa and New Zealand.

Resource: http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/features/specials/item/172677-all-the-you-wanted-to-know-about-fletcher

Honour for Sachin: Maharashtra Govt to build sports museum

Mumbai: Maharashtra Government has decided to build a grand sports museum to honour inconic Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said.

"Sachin has made the state proud by his achievements in cricket. His contribution in the recent World Cup was immense," Chavan said, at a function on Monday evening to present the state government's Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Awards.

The state government has decided to build a grand sports museum in Tendulkar's name and befitting his stature, the Chief Minister said.

The government plans a new youth and sports policy and there is a proposal to set up 54 sports complex at tehsil level, he said.

Chavan felicitated 44 sportspersons with the Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Awards.

Earlier this month, Chavan had informed the State Assembly that Maharashtra Government is going to recommend to the Centre that Tendulkar, who turned 38 on Sunday, should be given the 'Bharat Ratna' in view of his outstanding contribution to the game of cricket.

Resource: http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/172578-honour-for-sachin-maharashtra-govt-to-build-sports-museum