Ganguly & Wright Team up for KKR?

In what will be a complete turnaround, former Indian skipper and Kolkata Knight Rider Sourav Ganguly is all set to get back his captaincy after being stripped of it last year. Likely to join him at the helm will be former India coach and Kiwi, John Wright as a replacement of the controversial John Buchanan. According to a report, the discussion between team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan and Sourav Ganguly during their visit to UK to receive doctorate degrees helped them arrive at Wright’s name for the job.

However, there are other names in the list, though John Wright is tipped to be the front runner. The names include National Cricket Academy (NCA) director Dav Whatmore, manager of the World T20 winning Indian team Lalchand Rajput, former India opener WV Raman, former stumper Chandrakant Pandit, former India pacer and Bengal coach Paras Mhambrey and former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus.

“There are other names which figured in their discussions. Now it’s all up to Shah Rukh. He is going to take the final call. It’s likely that preference will be given to coaches who have worked in India before and have good knowledge of Indian player and conditions,” a source reveled. Franchise source also maintained that the matter had been discussed at the highest level and an announcement was expected to be made next month.

Sourav’s appointment is likely to happen as the team is sure to miss the services of Ricky Ponting and Brendon McCullum for the full tournament in 2010 and the management is also aware that the need the experience of Ganguly to play a major role in restoring the fortunes. Many players within the team were rooting for Ganguly to lead the side. Laxmi Ratan Shukla, KKR player said, “Dada is the best man for the job. In the last two seasons, the entire team failed as a unit and you can’t single out individuals. But ability wise, Dada is the best man to lead the team. We still believe Ganguly has enough grit to do well in T20 and no one should doubt his ability. We back him to be our captain next year and we want to do well for the team.”

Commenting on the issue, Ganguly was quoted as saying, “nothing was final.” “I don’t take the decisions alone. There are a number of people involved in the process. But hopefully in due course of time we will get a person who will coach the team. The decision has not yet been made.”

ICC World Twenty20 Preview: Pakistan

PAKISTAN – Group B

Runners-up in the inaugural World T20, Pakistan will be aiming higher this time around. However, to their disadvantage, the squad is deprived of sufficient international cricket as many teams currently oppose touring the nation due to security concerns.

Watch Out For:

Misbah-ul-Haq: He was their finisher last edition and almost pulled off a remarkable victory in the final against India. His ability to analyse the situation and adjust his game accordingly makes him the team’s backbone.

Sohail Tanvir: His peculiar bowling action makes it hard for the batsmen to read his deliveries. He was also the highest wicket taker in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in India last year.

X-factor: Shahid Afridi, the dashing batsman can take on any attack on his day, hitting to all parts of the ground, while his jet like deliveries can bamboozle batsmen. He also was the player of the series in the last World T20 in South Africa.

Dark Horse: Kamran Akmal has been used as a makeshift opener many a times and as a pinch hitter as well. If he is given an opportunity in the top order he can do wonders for Pakistan.

Team:

Captain: Younis Khan

Ahmed Shehzad, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Anjum, Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik,Sohail Tavir, Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat

Coach: Intikhab Alam

ICC World T20 Squads Announced

England

Paul Collingwood regains the captaincy after England’s selectors decided to keep Andrew Strauss out of the Twenty20 side. Graham Napier and Eoin Morgan are new faces in the team, while Robert Key and wicket-keeper batsman James Foster make a comeback.

Squad: Paul Collingwood (Captain), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, James Foster (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Robert Key, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Eoin Morgan, Owais Shah, Graham Napier, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, Luke Wright.

Pakistan

Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammed Aamer and Shahzaib Hasan are the three new faces in the Pakistan line-up. A prominent absentee from last edition is Mohammad Asif, however Shoaib Akhtar is back in business.

Squad: Younis Khan (Captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Fawad Alam, Kamran Akmal (wk), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan selectors have included few surprises in the team announced to compete in the World T20 in England next month. Isuru Udana and Indika de Saram are the new faces in the squad.

Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Indika de Saram, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuria, Mahela Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chamara Silva, Thilan Thushara, Isuru Udana.

ICC World Twenty20 Squads

West Indies Cricket Team

The West Indies selectors have brought back Xavier Marshall and Dave Bernard for their World T20 campaign. Chris Gayle will lead the squad and wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Ramdin will be his deputy. The West Indies were knocked out in the first round of the 2007 event after losing to South Africa and Bangladesh. This time they are pitted against Australia and Sri Lanka in the first phase.

Squad: Chris Gayle (Captain), Denesh Ramdin (wk), Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, David Bernard jnr., Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Xavier Marshall, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor

South Africa Cricket Team     

Veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis makes a return to the T20 team after being omitted from the inaugural World Twenty20 team in 2007. Johan Botha, who was recently reported for suspect bowling action, has also been included and he will play subject to clearance from the ICC.

Squad: Graeme Smith (Captain), Johan Botha, Mark Boucher (wk), AB DeVillers, Jacques Kallis, Jean-Paul Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Albie Morkal, Morne Morkal, Yusuf Abdulla, Justin Ontong, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe