Pakistan have registered an official protest with Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, after two key umpiring decisions went against them on the third day of the first Test at Multan.The Pakistanis were incensed by the dismissal of Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was well set on 77 when Simon Taufel gave him out, caught at forward short leg by Aakash Chopra off the bowling of Anil Kumble. And Taufel again raised the ire of the Pakistan camp when Yousuf Youhana was given out caught behind while attempting to flick a delivery that slid down the leg side.Slow-motion replays suggested that Inzamam had not touched the ball, although in the case of Youhana it was difficult to ascertain whether or not he had got a touch – even after several replays it was not possible to say with any certainty that he had in fact hit the ball. With this being the case the Pakistan team believe that the benefit of doubt should have been given to the batsman.The Pakistanis contend that these two decisions had a significant effect on the course of play. Inzamam and Youhana – captain and vice-captain – are the most prolific batsmen in the team, and both were well set on a flat track when they were given out.Emotions are running high after India’s narrow 3-2 victory in the one-day series, and these two crucial decisions have stoked the fires of discontent within the team and its officials.

Zimbabwe’s rebel cricketers, some of whom are currently playing for the Red Lions in England, have accepted the ICC’s proposal for their dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union to be taken to arbitration. A three-man tribunal will now attempt to resolve the impasse between the two parties that began in April, and ended with nearly all of Zimbabwe’s main players banned from representing the country.The panel will have one representative chosen by the ZCU, another by the rebels, and a third selected by both parties. Clive Field, the manager for the Red Lions, said the players had accepted the plan and hoped that the matter would head in a positive direction. “From the players point of view we want this resolved as quickly as possible,” he said. “We don’t know when the arbitration will start but we hope the composition of the panel and their terms of reference can be decided quickly.”Heath Streak’s criticism of team selection and certain selectors back in April set in motion a chain of events that plunged Zimbabwe cricket into crisis. Streak questioned the credentials of a couple of the selectors and asked for them to be removed from their posts. The board refused, and sacked him, initially claiming that he had resigned. Both parties to the dispute hardened their stance, leading to the eventual sacking of the rebels by the board.After sitting on the sidelines for more than a month, the ICC stepped in. The result was Zimbabwe Tests for the rest of the year were postponed, though the team was permitted to play one-dayers.

Maurice Odumbe’s future as an international cricketer is likely to be decided within a few days, as the judicial hearing into his alleged involvement with match-fixing begins in Nairobi today (July 27).Jon Long, the ICC project officer in charge of corporate affairs, said that Ahmed Ebrahim, the Zimbabwean judge presiding over the hearing, would conduct full-day sessions over the duration of the trial. “The hearing will hopefully last for five days, after which Justice Ebrahim will fly to Zimbabwe to prepare his report, which he will submit to the ICC Code of Conduct Commission,” he told AFP. “The news of a verdict will take days and not weeks.”Once approved by the ICC’s executive board, the report would then be sent to the Kenyan authorities, who would then take appropiate action against Odumbe.Odumbe came under the scanner after allegations of his involvement with a bookmaker in 2002, charges that he has vehemently denied. Odumbe’s defence has been that while he had dealings with an Indian, he was unaware that the person concerned was a bookmaker.Despite the controversy, the Kenyan selectors have gone ahead and named Odumbe in a provisional 30-man squad for the Champions Trophy. If found guilty, the penalty on Odumbe could range from a two-year suspension to a life ban.

The Glamorgan allrounder, Alex Wharf, has been drafted into England’s squad for next week’s NatWest Challenge, as a replacement for Kabir Ali, who has developed a stomach injury. Wharf had been placed on standby after Kabir was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s C&G Trophy final between Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and now has an opportunity to stake his claim for a place in the Champions Trophy."I was ecstatic when David Graveney gave me the news,” said Wharf. “We have a great one-day side at Glamorgan and have become very tough to beat. Glamorgan have given me opportunities and I like to think that has helped bring out the best in me as a cricketer."Last week, Glamorgan claimed their third National League title, with three games to spare, and Wharf’s performances were a key part of their success. He picked up 20 wickets at 22.85, including a hat-trick against Warwickshire, and also clubbed 226 runs at 22.60, with a highest score of 72. He joined Glamorgan four years ago, after previous spells with Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.It was a huge disappointment for Kabir, however. He had been widely tipped for a place in the England Test squad to tour South Africa this winter, but missed out to the Durham allrounder, Paul Collingwood, and has yet to play a role in a one-day international for England. He made his one-day debut against Zimbabwe in 2003, but the match was rained off before he could take the field.David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors, felt it was unlikely that Kabir would be back in time for the Champions Trophy. "The medical advice we have received makes his participation in extremely doubtful,” he admitted. “Alex Wharf has been called up to replace him and we will review the situation after The NatWest Challenge."England, whose one-day form has been woeful this year, will meet up at Trent Bridge on Monday, to prepare for the first of three one-day internationals against India. They then take part in the curtain-raiser of the Champions Trophy, against Zimbabwe on September 10, before taking on Sri Lanka in their second match at the Rose Bowl in Southampton a week later.

Despite opting out of England’s tour to Zimbabwe in November, Steve Harmison looks like being the exception rather than the rule, according to Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association.Harmison cited political reasons as being at the root of his decision, and recalled the anxiety and indecision of the previous winter’s World Cup, when the England team instigated a last-minute boycott of their opening fixture in Harare.Bevan, however, expects a “majority” of England’s players to agree to take the trip, although he added that further talks would take place once the squad is announced after the Champions Trophy.”No other player has come to me and said they have no intention of travelling,” Bevan told BBC Radio Five Live. “When the selectors have met, after the Champions Trophy, we’ll sit down again with the players.”Bevan added that the players were “sympathetic” to the plight of the England & Wales Cricket Board, who were obliged to fulful the tour under the conditions of the ICC’s future tours programme, or else face a stiff fine and possible suspension from international cricket.England have agreed to five one-day internationals in late November and early December.

The Western Australia Cricket Association are lobbying Cricket Australia to establish a more regular date for the Perth Test to assist with marketing strategies after the ground has been plunged into debt through redevelopment.Tony Dodemaide, the WACA’s chief executive and a former Test bowler, told that a regular spot in the schedule would increase marketing opportunites and help increase membership. “It can really affect the way you run your business,” he said. “Some surety in scheduling would be ideal. It’s difficult because of the way the tour program goes internationally, and it does jump around here and there.”Last year, the WACA hosted Zimbabwe in October, although in the past Tests have been played until February. The ground has undergone development costing A$12 million (almost £4.8 million), and the Western Australia government have been approached for financial aid. Other ways of using the ground to generate money are needed after Aussie Rules matches were moved to the Subiaco Oval.The WACA hosted its first match in February 1894 and is famous for its fast bouncy wicket and the Fremantle doctor, a breeze that assists the swing and quick bowlers.

Mohammad Al Sahariar scored a rousing counter-attacking hundred to help the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI secure a draw against the Zimbabweans in the tourists’only warm-up game before the first Test that starts this Thursday.Al Sahariar arrived at the crease with his side 57 for 5, still trailing by 149 with more than two hours’ play left, but he scorched to his first 50 from 28 balls with seven fours and three sixes. Although he slowed down after that, he reached his century off 114 balls which allowed him to forget the indignity of the second-ball duck he recorded in the first innings.Earlier the Zimbabweans, resuming for 384 for 3, continued to pile on the runs, as Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor both made half centuries before Tatenda Taibu declared on 522 for 3 – a lead of 206. Elton Chigumbura then struck immediately, removing both openers to reduce the BCB XI to 11 for 2 in the sixth over before Stuart Matsikenyeri, who scored his maiden hundred on the second day, chipped in with two more to have the BCB XI in trouble – but then the Al Sahariar whirlwind came to knock the Zimbabweans back in place.

Scorecard

Karen Rolton was Australia’s star for the second match in a row as they beat the Indian women by three wickets in Mysore to go 2-0 up in the seven-match series. Rolton bowled nine economical overs, conceding only 26 runs as India made 171 for 7 from 50 overs. Then, coming in to bat at the fall of the first wicket, she anchored the run-chase with an unbeaten 62 from 93 balls, as Australia won with four balls to spare.As in the first game, the most productive partnership for Australia came when Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar got together. They added 61 for the third wicket before Sthalekar (30) was run out – one of four Australians to be dismissed in that fashion. Three more wickets went down in quick succession as they slumped to 147 for 6, but Rolton guided the team through.Earlier, Anju Jain and Anjum Chopra were the main contributors for India. Jaya Sharma was dismissed for a fifth-ball duck, but Jain (51) and Chopra (43) then added 101 for the second wicket. The platform had been built, but the Indians failed to accelerate, adding only 33 runs in the last 11 overs to end with a below-par total. The Australians had a few hiccups, but held their nerve to seal the win.The third match will be held in Mumbai on December 16.

Sachin Tendulkar is a self-confessed doubt for India’s forthcoming Test series against Pakistan because of the same elbow injury which caused him to sit out most of last year’s home series against Australia.Tendulkar was sidelined for almost three months last year with tennis elbow, and on Monday he told reporters in Mumbai that he was again struggling. ” I played my last match on December 27 and have not touched the bat or ball since then. As of now I’ve been advised (to take) five to six weeks’ rest by the doctors,” Tendulkar said. “We’ll have to wait and see. After the rest period is over, I’ll meet the doctors again and we’ll take a decision.”I am not going to hurry my return,” he continued. “I am eager to play against Pakistan but I would do so only if I am fully fit and able to play. I will strictly go by what the doctors say. “Tendulkar’s injury dominated the headlines last year and, although he returned at the end of the Australia series, he struggled. In six innings against Australia and South Africa he managed 93 runs, but he did make a big double-hundred against Bangladesh.There were those who blamed a heavy bat for his problems, but Tendulkar again dismissed those suggestions. “I have been reading articles wrongly attributing my injury to my usage of heavy bats,” he explained. “A lot of people have been saying that but they don’t know much about the game. I have used heavy bats for 15 years without any trouble.”The dates for the Pakistan series have not been confirmed but the first Test is expected to start on March 4.

The run fest continued on what has turned out to be a dress rehearsal for next week’s final in Dambulla. North Central Province, missing six rested players included their captain Mahela Jayawardene, responded strongly to Central Province’s 545 and secured an easy draw. Play was called off seven overs before the scheduled close of play.Tillakaratne Dilshan, the acting captain, was the star of the show with an unbeaten 200. The innings spanned just 233 balls and included 22 fours and one six. But while Dilshan will have enjoyed the chance to find his best form, the runs were scored against a diet of gentle spin as Central Province naturally protected their pace bowlers who now have just 48 hours rest before the final.Dilshan came to the crease after the fall of Avishka Gunwardene in the morning, just one of two wickets to fall in the day. Gunwardene was bowled by Thilan Samaraweera for 120. Lanka de Silva, meanwhile, extended his overnight 51 to 175 before being snared by Sajith Fernando’s off breaks.Southern Province had started the day with an outside chance of qualifying for the finals. But while Marvan Atapattu eased his way to 106 from 205 balls, wickets tumbled in the morning session. Slipping 98 for 1 to 122 for 5, their chances soon evaporated despite a 104-run stand between Atapattu and Prasanna Jayawardene. Chaminda Vaas, who had an outstanding match with bat and ball, was the chief destroyer taking 7 for 54 to finish with 11 for 93 in the game.