Formar Indian skipper Dravid among 30 probables for Champions Trophy

September 30th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board's senior selection committee has axed controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and middle order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq from a list of 25 probables for the forthcoming series against New Zealand and Australia. Pakistan is to play three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and a three-match Test series in New Zealand.

September 12th, 2009 LAHORE - Flamboyant Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has said he may consider quitting cricket if he does not perform according to his potential in the Champions Trophy beginning September 22 in South Africa. "If I am not that successful in Champions Trophy, then I may consider quitting the game for good," The Daily Times quoted Afridi, as saying.

September 1st, 2009 BANGALORE - Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has said that the upcoming One Day tri-series in Sri Lanka would see a tough competition. The series in Sri Lanka, which also involves New Zealand and India, will be held from September 8-14.

August 21st, 2009 LAHORE - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has cleared a 'tough' fitness test enhancing his chances of securing a place in the ICC Champions Trophy squad. Former wicketkeeper captain Rashid Latif, who is supervising Asif's rehabilitation, confirmed Asif clearing the multi-stage fitness test.

August 19th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif to join a coaching camp for young players to ascertain his fitness level before the ICC Champions Trophy. "Asif is attending the training camp for Under-23 players in Karachi where we have asked camp commandant Rashid Latif to give us a report by Thursday (tomorrow) whether he is match fit for the Champions Trophy," The Daily Times quoted chief selector Iqbal Qasim, as saying.

August 18th, 2009 KARACHI - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who is eyeing a place back in the national squad, has impressed chief selector Iqbal Qasim with his form and fitness in a low-profile match. Qasim along with other member of the selection committee, Saleem Jaffer, watched Asif play during a match between youngsters attending an Under-23 Emerging Players Camp, and looked satisfied with the speedsters performance.

August 17th, 2009 BANGALORE - Former Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid is to make a return to one-day international cricket after a gap of almost two years. After being announced as 'selected' on Sunday, Dravid gave made his first media appearance on Monday after his practice session at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

August 16th, 2009 CHENNAI - Indian cricket selectors have picked a 15-member squad for both the One-day International tri-series in Sri Lanka and the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa, here on Sunday. Rahul Dravid makes a come back to the team in blue after a gap of nearly two years.

August 16th, 2009 CHENNAI - Former India captain Rahul Dravid expectedly made a return to the one-day squad while Virender Sehwag, who is recuperating from a shoulder injury, was not considered in the 15-member squad announced Sunday for next month's tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in South Africa. The national selection committee-headed by chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth met here Sunday in the presence of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and decided to pick one squad for both the tournaments.

August 15th, 2009 KARACHI - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif's aspirations of a come back into the national team have received a jolt, with captain Younis Khan saying that he (Asif) must prove his fitness to secure a place in the team for the Champions Trophy. "Asif has to prove his form and fitness after long lay-off and after one-year ban," Khan said.

August 14th, 2009 KOLKATA - Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said that the swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag, who is recuperating from a shoulder surgery, was shaping well and should be available for next month's Champions Trophy. Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Dhoni said, 'Sehwag is improving everyday.

August 12th, 2009 MUMBAI - India's cricket squad was shaping up well ahead of next month's Champions Trophy. Talking to reporters here on Tuesday coach Gary Kirsten said, "We wanted to do a series of assessments and obviously this was the first one we got a camp at the end of the month, where we are going to do more ...then before we go Sri Lanka, so it's really a beginning process of an era in our game and as we feel we can do some work on it.

August 9th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif will have to prove his physical fitness on Sunday before being considered for the ICC Champions Trophy. The 26-year-old pacer, whose career had plummeted after he failed a dope test during the Indian Premier League's (IPL) inaugural season, is hoping to find a place in Pakistani team after serving a one-year ban imposed by the PCB.

July 18th, 2009 LAHORE - Ever heard of a fitness test for a fast bowler where he passes it without even bowling a single delivery; well this is just what the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has managed to do. Interim chief selector Wasim Bari conducted a fitness test for controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar where he did not bowl even a single delivery.

July 6th, 2009 CHENNAI - The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) senior selection committee today met at the M A Chidambaram Stadium here on Monday and selected the following 30 probables for the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 to be held in South Africa in September this year. 1. M S Dhoni 2.