India, Afghanistan to establish cricket ties

India and Afghanistan have mutually agreed to work towards establishing cricket ties, and as a first step a delegation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India will visit the neighbouring country soon.

Though there is no immediate plan to send teams to each other's country, the groundwork is being done to ensure ties are established in near future, BCCI member and Member of Parliament Rajiv Shukla said.

"We have given assurance of our full help and cooperation to Afghanistan as we would like to establish ties with them," Shukla told reporters after a meeting with top Afghanistan cricket officials in New Delhi.

"As a first step we will send a delegation to Afghanistan to assess the existing cricket infrastructure and then we will see how we can help them.

"First and foremost we will help them build cricket stadiums and provide equipment. Right now there is no plan to play as our focus is on development of infrasturcture," he said.

Afghanistan Cricket Federation president Shehzade Mashud said his country is seeking the Indian government's support for developing the game as "India is our friend".

"Cricket is quite popular in our country and with help from India we can go a long way," Mashud said.

Carlisle ton inspires Zimbabwe to narrow victory

Stuart Carlisle's third century of the Zimbabweans' tour inspired them to a thrilling three-run victory over Somerset in Taunton on Tuesday.

He hit 119 off 121 balls in the tourists' total of 285 for nine off their 50 overs, though the English county benefited from more weak bowling to make a real fight of it.

Somerset's veteran batsman Peter Bowler and Keith Dutch both made 93 to keep Somerset in the game.

Carlisle followed up first-class centuries against Worcestershire and Middlesex as the tourists posted a healthy total.

Zimbabwe made a dreadful start to their innings as Simon Francis removed both opens in an excellent new ball spell but Grant Flower (29) helped Carlisle add 50 to steady the innings.

Carlisle's main help though came from Stuart Matsikenyeri, who hit a valiant 66 off 62 balls as they put on 134 for the fifth wicket.

Aside from Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak the rest of the tourists attack looked weak and Somerset went into the final over requiring 11 to win.

However, once Ian Blackwell was run-out for 30, the Zimbabweans could celebrate an all too rare victory on the tour.

Sandeep Patil looking for a 2-year coaching stint

After a successful stint with Kenya as cricket coach, Sandeep Patil has expressed his desire for a long-term, probably a two-year, assignment to coach the Indian 'A' side.

"Hopefully, I will get a longer term. It becomes very easy for a coach to have a programme... I can have a programme if I am given a 12-month or 24-month thing," Patil, who has been appointed coach of India 'A' side's upcoming tour to England, said.

Indicating that his desire is likely to become a reality, he said BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya had told him that he would meet him after the England tour.

"I will be looking forward to working with the BCCI at any level after my return from England," Patil, who guided Kenya to the semi-finals in the recent World Cup in South Africa, said.

"I hope the BCCI must also be thinking on the same lines. So far, everything has gone well. I am keeping my fingers crossed," Patil, a former coach of India's senior cricket team, said.

On India 'A' having different coaches in the past few years, Patil said it is also important from the players' point of view that they follow one coach rather than "four different ideas from four coaches".

"I don't know the reason behind changing earlier coaches. I was one among them when I had the opportunity to work with the Indian Board.

"But I am sure the BCCI must be thinking about it (on not changing coaches often). They must have some plans."

Patil said: "You can also draw a policy. If you know that you are going to be associated with a group for two years, you can show some results."

Patil admitted that he was taken by pleasant surprise when he got a call from the BCCI.

"It was a pleasant surprise. I had no clue about it," he said, but added he is looking forward to be associated with Indian cricket in some way.

"It was not that I was not happy with Kenya. The Kenya thing is past. It's a dream come true for any coach, especially since Kenya was a weak side," he said.

While expressing the view that the current India 'A' team, led by Shiv Sundar Das, is good, he said, "Unfortunately, I was not involved in the selection. Hereafter, I would certainly like to contribute in the selection process."

India 'A' embarks on England tour on Sunday

The 18-day India 'A' training camp for the England tour comes to an end on Wednesday. And coach Sandeep Patil has expressed confidence that the Shiv Sundar Das-led team would put up a good performance.

"It was a fruitful camp," Patil said.

Noting that England tour is nothing new for him as he had managed an India under-19 team and was also coach of the Indian senior team that toured England, he said: "England has always been a tough tour for any side.

"Unfortunately, we are not playing any Test matches. But that's not the issue here. Players will get opportunities and the selectors can look beyond the team that returned from the World Cup in South Africa," Patil, who guided Kenya to the semi-final in the recent World Cup, said.

He said medium pacer Aavishkar Salvi, who was injured, would be fit before the first match, and added, that none of the team members are nursing any serious injury.

The 16-member team will leave from Mumbai on June 22 for the trip, during which they will play 11 matches, mainly against county sides. "They will also play an important match against South Africa," Patil said.

According to Patil, the 18-day camp made "hell of a sense" as he had returned after a long gap and needed time to know the set-up and players, and feedback from selectors.

"We are hopeful of coming back with a good performance."

Responding to a question, Patil said he and John Wright were working on some positions (like opening slot) as per guideliness issued by the selectors and BCCI, but declined to give details.

"It's pointless for me to have my own ideas if selectors have things about some specific positions they are looking at. We are working on those positions," he said, adding, India 'A' has "very, very good talent".

Patil saw challenge and opportunity for him as well. "It's a new challenge for me. I have not taken it lightly. I will take another step forward."

Bangladesh coach not afraid to face Australia

Bangladesh's new cricket coach is not afraid of facing Australia, even if his Test minnows come against the full might of cricket's No. 1 team.

"Scared? No! Why should I be? I am glad to hear that they will field their full team -- the attitude is very good," Dav Whatmore, a Sri Lankan-born Australian, said during a training session with his new charges in the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka.

Whatmore said it would be a good test for the Bangladeshis - who have never won a Test match - to face Australia's best.

Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to the World Cup championship in 1996, took over as Bangladesh coach last month after Bangladesh's dismal World Cup performance in South Africa in March.

"Things are going well. Technique is improving. I am happy with the whole process," Whatmore said.

Bangladesh will play two Tests and three limited-overs internationals during its maiden tour of Australia from July 6  to August 7.

Captained by all-rounder Khaled Mahmud, the Bangladesh team will depart for Australia on June 22 to play some practice matches ahead of the Test series.

The team has not won a Test or limited-overs international since gaining Test status in 2000.

Govt should have final word on playing cricket with Pak: Kapil

Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev put the onus for resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan on the government, saying "sportspersons are always eager to play".

"It is for the government to give clearance (on playing cricket with Pak) . The government is already involved in some talks. I think we should not interfere in that, but if you ask me as a sportsman then I will say sportspersons are always eager to play."

The former captain sought to emphasise that the government should have a final word on resuming cricket ties with Pakistan.

"We did not play South Africa for so many years. We accepted it because it was upto our government to decide. Even now I feel that the government should be allowed to take a final decision keeping in mind the national interest," he told reporters in Chandigarh.

Asked if political considerations are dominating our decision not to play Pakistan, he said that is the way it is. "Politicians are running the country and we have to accept it."

Questioned whether he would promote any other game, Kapil Dev said given a chance he would love to see that other games get due credit like cricket does.

"There is abundance of talent in our country, only thing is you need to nurture it. The youngsters are doing well, training hard and I think the future in sports for our country is bright," he said.