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Mathew Sinclair has taken out the inaugural Most Valuable Player award for the 2008-09 New Zealand domestic season. Sinclair finished well clear of the second-placed Graham Napier and Ewen Thompson, who came in third.The leading run scorer in the State Championship and the State Shield this season, Sinclair averaged more than 75 in both competitions. He was also the second top run-getter in the State Twenty20 tournament.Sinclair, the Central Districts captain, said it was a thrill to receive the first such award. “The State MVP is a great initiative, and I am really proud to have won it,” Sinclair said.”The fact that it was developed by players means a lot – there’s been quite a bit of dressing room banter over it this season, and I’m sure that will grow as the competition gets more established. I’ve really enjoyed my batting and being captain this year, and winning the MVP is the icing on the cake for me.”Sinclair also collected the MVP batting award, while the bowling prize went to Otago’s Neil Wagner. The fielding award was won by Canterbury’s Kruger van Wyk and Auckland’s Tarun Nethula picked up the game average award.

India’s home minister P Chidambaram has reiterated that the general elections are “unquestionably” first priority over the IPL, which is scheduled to run in roughly the same period, and said the tournament’s organisers should take a call on whether to cancel this season’s edition.His assertion of a position he has held over the past few weeks underlines the question mark over whether the IPL will be staged. Concerns over security grew following the attack in Lahore; shortly after, Chidambaram first suggested the IPL be postponed.More than two weeks later, it seems his position has not changed. “I can’t exempt any state government from giving to the election commission the forces they have promised,” he told the Indian news channel . “I have also made it clear that I cannot spare any central paramilitary forces.”Asked whether the IPL should be called off if the dates weren’t sorted out, he said the decision lay with the organisers. “I think the organisers are responsible people. I think they are patriotic Indians. I think they will take a call.”The home minister had initially asked for the postponement of the IPL as he did not want to overstretch his security personnel. The IPL’s organisers had revamped the tournament’s itinerary several times in a bid to avoid a clash with election dates – both run through April and May – but an agreement remains elusive after a fortnight of negotiations. The home ministry said it was waiting for reports from state governments before responding to the latest schedule, which was sent in by the IPL on Tuesday.The police chiefs of Himachal Pradesh (where some matches are scheduled to be held in Dharamshala) and Andhra Pradesh (Hyderabad, home of the Deccan Chargers) have said they would be able to guarantee forces for the games according to the revised IPL schedule.Chidambaram, though, said that it wasn’t sufficient for a match to not coincide with polls in the state where it was being held. “… If the election is taking place in a neighbouring state or just across the state border, if we have an IPL match in the state, there could be problems.”

Lord’s could be the first ground to stage a floodlit Test according to a report in the Times at the weekend, with the experiment happening as early as 2010.Last month, the MCC, who own Lord’s, received permission to install permanent floodlights, and given the public support of both the ECB and the ICC, it seems a case of when and not if this happens.The colour of the ball is posing a few problems. Red is obviously not an option under lights, and white is not viable unless white clothing is also ditched. There is also the perennial problem of the balls becoming discoloured. Trials with pink and orange balls are ongoing, and there is talk that yellow will also be investigated. London’s Imperial College are continuing to look into the matter.Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, has made no secret of his enthusiasm for floodlit Tests. “It’s very important for the game to understand what the spectators want to watch, when they want to watch it and how long they want to watch it for, because we should, at all times, be reacting to the changes in society.”Grounds in England are generally filled for Test cricket, but it was not so long ago that there was a concern about falling attendances. People like to watch cricket in the evening, and this has been proven in Twenty20 cricket.”Clarke added the ECB was keen for a Championship match to be played under lights during the 2009 summer as a dummy run.But the MCC is likely to face stiff opposition from the local residents who have opposed a number of moves to take cricket outside the traditional time slots. The initial proposal for floodlights was rejected by Westminster council after substantial levels of opposition, and planning permission for four 48-metre pylons was eventually granted with restrictions on usage.There can only be 12 days of floodlit cricket and four practice matches each year, and Andrew Mainz, a representative of the local residents, said: “We remain concerned that people living close to the ground could suffer from a lot disturbance caused by the lights, the noise and the crowds when floodlit night-time matches are playing. But we also recognise that Lords is trying hard to keep the effect of the floodlights in and above the grounds itself.”We hope the negative impact will be limited but we shall be watching what happens very closely and will work hard to stop any breach of the permission by the MCC.””It’s very early days and floodlit Tests would be subject to an ECB bidding process,” an MCC spokesman told Cricinfo.

ScorecardSri Lanka enjoyed another comfortable victory, thereby sealing their place in the final of the tri-series. Pakistan’s capitulation to 92 in pursuit of 208 means they need to beat Bangladesh to join Sri Lanka.Pakistan chose to field and reduced Sri Lanka to 15 for 3. Then a 66-run stand was formed between Hiruka Fernando (24) and Shashikala Siriwardene (66). Pakistan hit back with wickets but Sri Lanka’s lower order got the total to 207 for 9.Nain Abibi and Bismah Maharoof put on 35 in 10.3 overs, only for Pakistan to slump to 49 for 4. Fernando took three wickets, after which Suwini de Alwis and the rest of the Sri Lankan attack ran circles around the batting. Pakistan were all out in 33.3 overs.

Defending Pro20 champions, the Titans, were humbled in the opening game of this year’s tournament as they crashed to an 81-run defeat against the Warriors at Port Elizabeth. Davey Jacobs lifted the home side to a useful 169 for 5 with 71 off 46 balls, being especially brutal in the final two overs as he launched five sixes. After an opening stand of 34 the Titans folded as Andrew Birch, a 23-year-old seamer, claimed four wickets, including the key pair of Martin van Jaarsveld and Faf du Plessis in consecutive balls.Two days later, though, the Warriors were on the receiving end of a record-equalling 41-ball century by Henry Davids as the Cape Cobras opened their campaign with a narrow four-run success in a high scoring match at Newlands. Davids’ final score of 112 off 48 balls was the highest in Pro20 and he added 116 in 10 overs with debutant Derek Brand (68). However, the Warriors made an impressive attempt to chase down 208 with Colin Ingram smashing 84 off 52 balls and Robin Petersen hit 52 off 29 deliveries. Ingram and Davey Jacobs added 94 in eight overs and the Warriors needed 16 off eight balls, but both batsmen fell in consecutive balls to Charl Langeveldt and 14 off the last over proved too much.The Dolphins put in an impressive show against the Eagles as they completed a 68-run victory in Bloemfontein. Grant Rowley and HD Ackerman plundered 142 for the first wicket in 17 overs, Rowley 88 off 65 balls and Ackerman an unbeaten 82 off 51. The Eagles were never really in the chase as wickets fell regularly with legspinner Daryn Smit claiming three wickets.The Eagles bounced back against the Lions in Johannesburg with a hard-earned eight-run success. Morne van Wyk was the catalyst behind the victory with a 89 off 64 balls as he batted through the innings. He added 97 with Ryan Bailey, who fell to a brilliant one-handed catch by Robbie Frylinck. The Lions chase started badly as they slipped to 11 for 2 and soon lost Jonathan Vandiar to injury after he slipped trying for a sharp single. Dillon du Preez and Ryan McLaren used all their experience as the Lions couldn’t quite maintain the asking rate and McLaren kept the below the required 12 from the final over.Rain denied the Titans a chance at a favourable run chase at Centurion Park after they had restricted the Dolphins to 121 for 9. Ethy Mbhalati produced the outstanding figures of 2 for 6 from his four overs, while the spinners also proved very effective.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has said his team will not be taking Bangladesh lightly in the upcoming two-Test series, the first of which begins on Friday in Dhaka.”We don’t underestimate the strength of Bangladesh and what they are capable of doing, so we just need to focus on the gameplan that we want to play, and try and execute it,” he said.”We will go out there with an open mind. Bangladesh have some quality players. I know they make mistakes but there are cricketers who have made hundreds and taken five wickets against us so I must say the quality is there. That’s why we have to be focused and have to ensure that we put pressure on them from the very beginning, and don’t give them any advantage.”Jayawardene indicated the team composition for the first match had nearly been decided, but a final call would be taken only after analysing the pitch. “We know about the 90% of our combination but we wanted to wait and see how the wicket is going to come out and then will make a final decision,” he said.”Well, even the Bangladesh players will tell you that it is difficult to predict how the pitch will behave as it has been under cover for so long. It is also new for me because I haven’t played here before so we’ll wait and see how it goes.”Sri Lanka is expected to go in with two specialist spinners – Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath, who picked up 6 for 16 in the warm-up match against the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI.”I think any wicket slows down if you play on it for five days, and you know it will probably take spin and when you have quality spinners you should make use of them. That’s something we’re going to consider,” said Jayawardene.”Obviously, Rangana [Herath] bowled really well in the warm-up game and you have Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan] in your side, so I think we will go for what we think is the best combination for this Test.”Sri Lanka will be looking to maintain their unbeaten Test record against Bangladesh. The two have played 10 matches, the last being the victory in Kandy by an innings and 193 runs in July 2007.The second Test of the series begins on January 3 in Chittagong.

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, has apologised to the nation for his repeated misdemeanours. Asif, who was in tears during an interview to a TV channel, vowed to come back a reformed man.”I have committed mistake after mistake and for that I apologise to the nation,” Asif said on the Geo Super channel. “I have disregarded the green Pakistan blazer but I promise that if I get the next chance I will be a totally changed player.”Asif has been at the centre of controversies during the past 15 months. Before the World Twenty20 in South Africa in September last year, fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar struck him with a bat. Asif did not face any caution but Akhtar was sent back home. In June this year, soon after the IPL, Asif was detained at Dubai airport for allegedly possessing opium. He was released after 19 days. In July the IPL announced that Asif’s urine sample had tested positive for nandrolone, which was confirmed by the B sample as well.Asif, though, appealed against the results of his test, on the basis that the level of the drug varied in both samples. “They announced the report of the test after two and a half months and are now not conducting any hearing,” Asif said. “It’s piling frustration on me and I anxiously wait to get cleared so that I can resume my cricket.”Asif has been suspended by the PCB from all forms of the game pending the result of the IPL inquiry. The board had ordered an investigation into his Dubai detention, but it is unlikely they will take any action on that front soon.He had previously tested positive for nandrolone just before the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. Though he was banned for one year by a PCB tribunal, the punishment was overturned a month later on appeal.

Zimbabwe may not be the kind of opposition Sri Lanka would like to have to improve their rankings, but the tour, which comprises five ODIs in addition to two practice matches, gives them the opportunity to give some of their younger players a taste of international cricket.Zimbabwe are ranked No. 11 in the ICC ODI rankings, below Associates Ireland, but Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, who left with the team for Zimbabwe on Saturday, is not taking them lightly. “They may have their internal problems where they lost a good majority of top-class cricketers, but they have got some raw talent who have shown they are good enough to compete in one-day and Twenty20 cricket,” he said. “Our focus will be to play the cricket we want to play and make use of the tour to give the younger guys the necessary exposure at international level.”We don’t have much international cricket in the next six months or so and we need to take whatever opportunities that come our way.” After the Zimbabwe tour, Sri Lanka’s next assignment is in Bangladesh, which starts in December. They will play two Tests and three ODIs, after which they have no confirmed engagements till the World Twenty20 in England next June.”Unlike some countries we don’t have a particular season for international cricket. These countries secure the summer period to play their sports and travel abroad during the winter,” Jayawardene said. “This is where we need to be a bit smarter and try and reciprocate with other boards to ensure we have a regular flow of international cricket at home and abroad. Unfortunately it is not the case.”Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are facing each other in a bilateral contest after four years. The last time they met was in Zimbabwe in 2004, when Sri Lanka whitewashed the hosts 2-0 in Tests and 5-0 in ODIs. Zimbabwe haven’t improved much since then and Sri Lanka will be disappointed if they don’t repeat that scoreline.By resting the pair of experienced Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas, players like Upul Tharanga, Thilina Kandamby, Mahela Udawatte and Angelo Matthews have a chance to establish themselves. The focus will be on Tharanga, whose poor form resulted in him being dropped from the team. “Upul has shown a lot of character to fight his way back with performances with the A team and in domestic cricket. It’s good that he has been thrown into reality at a relatively younger age. He has responded very well. He should mature into a good cricketer.”Allrounder Mathews is the new kid on the block. “He’s got something special. It would help him immensely to be part of the squad and travel with it so that the transition to the senior team would be smooth.”Jayawardene welcomed the competition for places in the team and said it kept the players on their toes. Tillakaratne Dilshan, who was deputy to Jayawardene in last month’s T20 Canada, finds himself as a standby for Zimbabwe after a poor run. He managed only one half-century in his last nine ODI innings.

The IPL’s drugs tribunal has set November 29 as the date for hearing Mohammad Asif’s appeal in Mumbai. The tribunal, comprising former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, the former vice-chancellor of India’s Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Dr Ravi Bapat, and lawyer Shirish Gupte, had adjourned the hearing after Asif had appeared before them on October 11.The announcement comes two days after Asif had written to the PCB asking it to help him resume his career. He last played for Pakistan in April, before taking part in the IPL.The IPL had announced in July that Asif had tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone during its first season, held from April 18 to June 1. His B sample also showed traces of the drug but the levels varied between both samples. Shahid Karim, Asif’s lawyer, said that the discrepancy could work to Asif’s advantage.”It’s a matter of Asif’s international career and we hope something positive will come out after the hearing,” he said. “Evidence will be recorded during the hearing and we will present witnesses. It is our chance to fight the case and we will do it with full force.”We have worked on legal and medical aspects of the case and hope that after the November 29 hearing the drug tribunal will reach some conclusion,” he said.Asif was suspended by the PCB from all forms of the game pending the result of the IPL inquiry. He previously tested positive for nandrolone just before the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. Though he was banned for one year by a PCB tribunal, the punishment was overturned a month later on appeal.

Almost every player to have performed well for India this series has come out and taunted Australia’s defensive approach. VVS Laxman, after having scored a quick double-century to set the game nicely for India, followed the trend. But Laxman’s words like his batting, were subtle yet more hard-hitting. “The total approach has been defensive right from the start of the series,” Laxman said. “You see the captain, saying that they are the underdogs for the series, that puts them in a defensive mode.”Whereas our captain Anil [Kumble], despite the criticism he’s been facing, he’s very, very positive in the way he’s talking about his team. And Ricky [Ponting] is talking about the Indian team rather than his own team. They’re very defensive in the way they’re approaching their cricket.”He went ahead, and said it’s not the lack of resources with this current Australian team that has made them defensive. “They’ve got the resources,” Laxman said. “Except for Adam Gilchrist, the team doesn’t look different from what we played in Australia when they beat us 2-1. I think it’s just that mental approach. I’m not sure why they’ve been defensive in the way they’ve approached the series.”Coming from a man who respects and gives credit to Australia’s aggressive attitude for his superlative record against them, this sledge would mean a lot. And it didn’t come in a taunting tone, like Zaheer Khan’s. did, or in a slightly arrogant one, like Gautam Gambhir’s.While he was at it, he dealt his detractors the same treatment too. “Firstly, I think the doubting Thomases have either been in the media, or people outside the team, unfortunately,” Laxman said when asked whether he felt he is the person always picked for harsh scrutiny and criticism. “There’s no talk like that in the team and the management. The selectors always gave me, and each and every player in the team, the confidence.”However, Laxman said such stories in the media only worked to the team’s advantage. “Unfortunately, all the stories that built up before the Test series were very negative and we took it in a positive way. I think the team got together, we had a very intense camp in Bangalore. I think because of all the negativity in the media, the team got together and that’s showing in our performance.”The seniors have never faced undue pressure to retire, Laxman said. “The players don’t really think [about all that] because all the players who play for the country are responsible, they know the value of their responsibility to the country and they know that when they stop contributing to the team, they will take decisions. Everyone is responsible and mature enough to take these decisions.”People were deciding on behalf of the cricketers about when they should retire. Every player knows their responsibility. So yes, it definitely hurts. We’re not asking anyone to over-respect us, but we don’t want people to degrade our contribution to Indian cricket.”