Asif, Butt can return to cricket after Sept 1

Dubai
The ICC today confirmed that Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt will be eligible to return to competitive cricket at both domestic and international level after the sanctions against them expire on September 1. “Further, Mohammad Amir will be eligible to return to cricket at international level at the same time, following permission being granted to him to return to play domestic cricket in Pakistan earlier this year,” an ICC press release said. The ICC also made it clear that the players can return to competitive cricket after fulfilling the specific conditions laid down by the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal. The three players were found guilty of various offences of corrupt behaviour during the Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan in August 2010.

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New Delhi
Raina using Dutch vacation to fine-tune his game

Determined to make a strong start in the next domestic season, India batsman Suresh Raina is presently undergoing a month-long high intensity training at the synthetic pitches Cricket Club (ACC) in Amsterdam. Raina got married to Priyanka in April, and the couple is vacationing in The Netherlands. Raina is training with the Dutch national team, which has recently qualified for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup to be held in India next year. “With the new season around the corner, I am determined, hungry and eager to play the highest form of the game for India,” the 28-year-old left-handed middle-order said.

New Delhi
India’s surrender to Lankan spinners surprises Viv Richards

West Indian batting legend Vivian Richards today expressed surprise over how the Indian batsmen crumbled against the Sri Lankan slow bowlers in the first Test, saying “the best players of spin” were “found wanting” while chasing a small target. “India were to get some 170-odd runs to win and they have some of the best players of spin. But they were found wanting. It was not a big total but it looked hard for them,” said Richards. — Agencies