BCCI grants five-day deadline extension to Modi

The BCCI has agreed to grant the five-day extension of the deadline requested by Lalit Modi, the suspended IPL chairman, to file his replies to the board's chargesheet. Modi was previously expected to appear at the BCCI headquarters on Monday to respond in person to the charges. The 15-day deadline that was initially agreed upon expires on Tuesday.

Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's chief administrative officer, confirmed Modi's request: "Lalit Modi has requested the board president Shashank Manohar and secretary N Srinivasan to extend time. He was supposed to reply to the show-cause notice today. The board has taken a decision to extend time up to the May 15."

According to Shetty, Modi sought the extension because he wanted some more documents from the board that would help in preparing his defence. Modi was suspended by BCCI on April 26, soon after the conclusion of the IPL, which sent him a show-cause notice asking him to reply to a slew of charges relating to the conduct of the high-profile Twenty20 league. Modi was alleged to have indulged in financial deals without the knowledge of the IPL Governing Council, bid-rigging and of behavioural pattern which was not acceptable.

On Saturday, Mehmood Abdi, one of Modi's lawyers, submitted the first set of the documents to the board. Abdi was back in the board office today with the remaining papers including minutes of IPL Governing Council meetings, bid documents, franchisee agreements and all contracts starting from 2008 onwards. "This is the final phase of handing over of papers to the board from our side. We had earlier submitted a bigger bulk of papers on May 8," Abdi said.

The first set of documents, both original as well as notarised copies, included all franchisee agreements, global media rights agreements, global media rights packages, all bid documents, media rights licensee agreements, eligibility letters of bidders with details and sponsorship agreements entered into by IPL.

Modi has retained a copy of all the documents, which according to Abdi ran into thousand pages. "These have been endorsed by Shetty," Abdi pointed out.

BCCI sources said Modi's reply, once it comes in, will be taken up by the board's three-man disciplinary committee, comprising Manohar and two vice-presidents - Arun Jaitley and Chirayu Amin, who was appointed the interim IPL chairman after Modi's suspension. "The disciplinary committee is likely to meet in mid-June," a BCCI official said.

IPL appoints an advisor from corporate world

The BCCI has appointed Bharat Patel, a senior member of India's corporate world, as advisor to Chirayu Amin, the IPL's interim chairman. Patel is a former chairman of the MNC Procter & Gamble and, according to a BCCI statement, was associated in the setting up of the IPL in 2008 in an advisory capacity to Lalit Modi, the then chairman.

An IPL governing council member indicated that it was Amin who suggested Patel's name. The source also noted that any appointment would need the approval of the governing council. which is scheduled to meet in June.

Patel did not confirm or deny the news when Cricinfo contacted him, saying he would leave it to the BCCI to make any announcement. If Patel's appointment gets confirmed he is likely to take up a more permanent role with the IPL once the current crisis blows over. The current COO is Sundar Raman, who has held the post since the league's inception.

Following Modi's spectacular and swift downfall, culminating in his suspension two weeks ago, the work of the IPL has been divided. While Amin is on the disciplinary committee that is handling the Modi case, the cricket-related work - specifically planning the next season - has been entrusted to the three cricketers on the governing council, Sunil Gavaskar, MAK Pataudi and Ravi Shastri.

Like Amin, Patel - who was P&G chairman till March 2009 - enjoys a certain standing in the Indian corporate world. He is currently is the chairman of the Indian Society of Advertisers and serves on the brand protection committee of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, a top lobby group that Amin headed a few years ago.

'I love Test cricket, but I'm also a realist'

New Zealand have always been a promising side but have failed to be in the top bracket. Why do you think they remain on the fringes?
We have always been a competitive one-day side. In Test cricket we seem to struggle to put big runs on the board consistently for two innings. We have always bowled pretty well but it is the runs factor in the last few years that has us a little bit inconsistent in Test cricket. The other factor is, we have lost players through the years to injuries, and because we don't have the depth, it hits us harder than some other teams.

Could it also be because cricket is not the primary sport in New Zealand, and the long shadow of rugby probably hurts the development of players?
Look, cricket is the No. 2 sport. Previously there were a lot of rugby players who were good cricket players as well, so they had to make a choice. But with the IPL around, there is a real career in cricket, so that may change in the future. It comes in waves. Early in the 2000s we climbed to No. 3 in Test rankings, when we had an experienced team mixed with some good young players. At the moment we are sort of more an inexperienced team. But hopefully in the next five years we can push our way back up.

What about the money? Is it appealing enough for a youngster to think of cricket as a future career?
It is definitely not about the money. It is just pure numbers. Cricket is still a hugely popular game, but we have so few players that we are not going to have a massive amount of outstanding players come through. But we still are a very talented side. We just lack that ability to play at the top level: mainly, in first-class cricket we just don't get to face good fast bowling or we are not exposed to guys like Murali [Mutiah Muralitharan] or Harbhajan [Singh]. So when you make the step up to Test cricket, all of a sudden you are exposed to that sort of bowling and it takes our players a little bit of time to adjust. It will take at least two or three years of playing Tests for them to feel comfortable to face that level of bowling.

Do you think New Zealand cricket is being marginalised by the higher powers?
I don't think so. If we are not playing good Test cricket then people are not going to come to watch us. So it is up to us as a team to perform, and if we beat teams then people will come. It is harder for us because our season is limited by our weather. We spend a lot of time training indoors, and we don't get outdoors till late [in the season], which makes it bloody tough for our players. And our season is limited, where we have about four months to play at home. So I don't think we are being marginalised. It is just a product where people want to see just the best teams play the best teams and we are not one of the best teams in Tests at the moment.

Teams still take us seriously, but I can't say for certain a particular timeframe. We have some definite talent there in [Ross] Taylor, [Martin] Guptill. Obviously [Daniel] Vettori is such a key player and we can't afford to lose him. There is a lot on his shoulders, so it is going to be tough.

Is there too much on his plate? He is the captain, a virtual coach, and the best player in the team.
Mark Greatbatch's inclusion as a coach has relieved him somewhat. But that is what Dan wants to do - to lead from the front and set an example, which is what he does on and off the field. I hope he doesn't put too much on his shoulders, but he seems to be handling it okay at the moment. He is such a good player, but I still worry about him.

You mentioned a couple of young talents already. Who are the other players who are in a position to step up and share the leadership with Vettori?
Those two, and [Brendon] McCullum is obviously a senior player now. Our bowling is little bit thin and [Tim] Southee is our biggest talent. We forget he is only 21 and already has ups and downs, but I definitely like the attitude with which he plays. There is going to be a lot put on his shoulders in the next two years. You still might not see the best of him for another four or five years, but his skills and attitude make him a fine player. Then we have got Kane Williamson, who is a seriously talented batsman. Hopefully these guys will get the opportunities.
Apart from Southee, who do you think is ready to be your successor?
There aren't many quick bowlers coming around. There are a couple of guys in our Under-19 team who are good, but again, I don't think bowlers come into their prime till they are 24-25. We are a little bit thin on fast bowlers and don't have an out-and-out fast bowler in domestic cricket, except Andy McKay.

Do you see yourself moving into a mentor's role to look after the young bowlers?
That is my plan, to move into coaching once I finish playing. I have got to get my Level 3 coaching certificate, and that is where I see myself - assisting the young guys at the domestic level.

How difficult was it to retire from Test cricket?
It was tough. I love Test cricket and always felt I was a Test bowler first and foremost. Test cricket is about getting people out and that's what I do: I got people out. A lot of goals I wanted to achieve were built around Test cricket, but I am also a realist. I realised every time I played four- or five-day cricket, I broke if I played few games on the bounce. It is just the way I played: I find it difficult to hold back. I just go hard. It hurt me. But I wanted to keep playing. I have had enough injuries. I am sick and tired of being in rehab, and if I did that one more time I would've been probably finished. I wanted to finish playing rather than get injured and fall by the side.

Did you ever keep count of the injuries?
No. Because I know how many times I've had to come back and do the hard work to get back on the park. The most frustrating thing was, a lot of times I've thought: "This is it, I am going to go on a real good run here" and I have got back to playing my absolute best cricket and then there has been an injury.

What advice would you give youngsters coming out of injury?
You have to manage yourself well. I still see it now when I play with guys who are injured and they want to be back for a game that is, say, six weeks down the line. You've just got to come back when you are fully fit. Too many people - and I have made the mistake in the past - sometimes rush back to make a tour or a series even when they are not a 100% fit. You are better off taking it step by step; do your rehab properly, get yourself back in the condition you need to be in, build your bowling up, and then get ready at the right time.

Are you saying you made that mistake yourself? Can you give us an example?
I was coming from a back injury - I had fractured it twice - to the England tour in 2004. Even if I had done the rehab, I had played only one game before the tour, bowling just 10 overs. Once in England, I played a couple of first-class games and I broke my back again. I just wasn't ready for it. It is hard to say, "Look, I'm not ready." I wouldn't make that mistake again now.

Eighty-seven Test wickets - so close to the 100 mark. It must have crossed your mind many times before you decided to quit?
I wanted to try and get to 150 Test wickets. That is what I planned when I came back the last time. I wanted to just keep trying. And that was the hardest thing. My motivation to play Test cricket always was to get 50 runs with the bat and take 150 Test wickets. When I came back against Pakistan, I felt I had the opportunity once again to achieve those goals, and then, bang, I got injured. It was demoralising.

What do you think will be the long-term impact of the IPL on New Zealand cricket?
The more players we can get exposed to play the IPL, the better it would be for our cricket. Playing in subcontinental conditions, in front of big crowds, against quality spinners under pressure, and also alongside other international players, will teach them various things. It can only mean good for our players.

You took up the ICL offer because the board felt they wanted to move on. Did you feel let down by New Zealand Cricket?
I was. I had a clearance to go and play. It was sad at the time. But I understood the reasons behind the board's decision. Still, it didn't make it easy. But it doesn't bother me anymore. I am happy to be back.

Are Twenty20 leagues a good retirement option for fast bowlers?
I don't look at it as a retirement option. I couldn't retire from international cricket and just play. My motivation comes from achieving stuff for New Zealand. The money is great but you don't play for the money. You play to win, I suppose.

Would you say you underachieved, given your talent, or overachieved despite the injuries?
Statistically, I have overachieved. I have had a stunted career because of the injuries. It gives me a lot of satisfaction that in my last series I bowled at 150kph in a couple of games, despite all the screws and the shit in my back, which is stiff as a board. I'm nearly 35, and to come out and bowl as quick as that gives me satisfaction. I am not fighting it any more. I am enjoying it. I used to be pretty intense and wound up even if I missed a practice session. I am a more relaxed player after my comeback.

India's island dreams shatter again

"As captain you are always under pressure," he said. "I think it's the responsibility of the captain to explain why the team didn't do well because he's the face of the team. He gets the credit when he goes well and he also gets the criticism. It shouldn't reach into your private life but we are leading a country where cricket is a big sport and each time we go out we are expected to win."

But it was the downbeat nature of his assessment of what the team could have done about the situation which was most clear and surprising. "At the end of the day we are on the losing side, nothing much can be done about it because this is the best 15 [players] you can get in India when it comes to T20. At the end of the day if you are outplayed there is nothing much you can do about it."

In hindsight the signs weren't good to start with. They were the last side to arrive and didn't opt for a practice match before their opening game. Dhoni suggested it was the last thing his team needed after a 90-minute coach ride from the international airport in St Lucia to the north of the island. They have also chosen days off rather than practice during the event but Dhoni said "one more practice session wouldn't have made a difference".

They were lucky with the schedule in the group stage as their opening game was against Afghanistan who, for all the romanticism it possibility entailed, were never seriously going to challenge India. That gave them breathing space and the victory against South Africa, led by Suresh Raina's 101, was a slick display which boded well. In reality they peaked too soon.

They couldn't handle the pace and bounce of the Barbados pitch and Dhoni has admitted some of the batsmen aren't up to the challenge due to the nature of conditions they are brought up on. There aren't many bouncy tracks at the IPL. When they were back in St Lucia they were right at home on the front foot and Raina was back in the runs. Nothing was bouncing above knee height. Dhoni admitted that India's inability to cope with the bouncer was systemic.

"Most of us have the problem of playing short-pitched balls. So it is not just the youngsters who had problems. We can't neglect it any more. But we don't have bowlers who consistently at 145-50 kph and most of wickets in India don't have that kind of bounce," he said.

"But we should also remember we are good players of spin. So we shouldn't be ashamed that we can't play short-pitched bowling. We have to play even against short balls but we can't be ducking and leaving all the time in Twenty20," Dhoni said.

Win or lose, the role of the IPL was bound to be at the forefront of India's performance. Dhoni has said it's unfair to compare the two, but if anything this World Twenty20 has just gone to reinforce that the quality is actually spread pretty thinly in that tournament. It's a domestic event, albeit a big and brash one. Dhoni also made a subtle suggestion that players needed to take responsibility for themselves.

"I've had no setbacks because of the IPL but at the same time players need to be smart because IPL is not only about cricket," he said. "You have to respect your body and if you don't do that then IPL is draining. If you play late games and go to the parties and travel the next day it takes a toll. But if you take care of yourself 45 days of cricket shouldn't affect you because we play 200 or more in a year."

It's a question of priorities for this India team and maybe international Twenty20 is now down the list. Now that they are top of the tree in Test cricket the BCCI is trying to arrange Test series left, right and centre so they can retain the mantle. South Africa's tour earlier this year was adjusted to include two Tests and Australia are now being asked for the same when they visit in October. If the BCCI really do want to help the future of Test cricket then it's a great move, but it is clearly more than coincidence.

India next's assignment is a triangular series in Zimbabwe alongside the hosts and Sri Lanka with what, in effect, is a shadow side. Senior players, including Dhoni, are being rested, which suggests he is more tired than he has admitted.

To the fearless the spoils

The incessant tide of world cricket throws more cricket our way. For once it is welcome, for we in India have seen too many rumours, leaks and the like passing off as news. The allegations from the IPL are serious but sensationalism is not going to help get to the bottom of things. It is now in the hands of auditors, lawyers and tax sleuths; cricket analysts, commentators and reporters, who have had to pose as experts in recent times, can take a break. The IPL needs some peace to sort itself out, create a strong system of self-regulation, perhaps do away with a governing council, and take the right steps towards strengthening brand IPL and, indeed, brand India. So let's go back to watching cricket with old loyalties again; Indians supporting India, Australians supporting Australia, in what is probably the most open world event ever.

It will be interesting to see how much Twenty20 cricket has evolved in 10 months. If there is one thing the IPL has reinforced, it is that teams who play fearless cricket win. Teams who have tried to be defensive, safe, ended up looking anxious and lost. We saw that with Kolkata Knight Riders and we saw that but once from the Mumbai Indians. In England last year we saw South Africa play that way against Pakistan while chasing 150. I am not saying that teams must go hell for leather, self-destruct dramatically, but even closing down the game for two or three overs can be decisive.

Typically, then, teams must seek to play nine batsmen (okay, seven batsmen and two others who can get runs in the last three overs) and six bowlers. It means you must play three allrounders, your wicketkeeper must bat in the top six, and one of those batsmen must be good enough to bowl three or four overs. The conditions in the West Indies will determine whether teams with seam-bowling allrounders have a better chance or others, notably from the subcontinent, who have a greater preponderance of slow bowlers.

For various reasons, two teams catch the eye. Pakistan cricket may be in turmoil but that has rarely been an indicator of how they will play. And Twenty20 is just down their alley. It rewards instinct, freedom and fearlessness, and that has been the hallmark of Pakistan cricket. I suspect that the strength of the Pakistan team diminishes as the duration of the game rises, but in Twenty20 they will always look balanced. They have a spin-bowling allrounder in Shahid Afridi, a seam-bowling allrounder in Abdul Razzaq (both of whom can be match-winners with the bat) and a wicketkeeper who opens the batting. Perfect for balance. I believe the key for them is the quality of the top five batsmen, and Pakistan's fortunes may well be determined by how well those five play.

Australia, on the other hand, slot in among the third tier of teams, placed below Bangladesh at No. 9. It is ironic that theirs are the players most valued in the IPL and in England, but collectively they have been shocking so far. Still, they have far too much going their way this year and should be a very decent bet to go all the way. A top six of David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Cameron White and Brad Haddin means there is a spinner, a seamer and a wicketkeeper already taken care of. Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait (surely Doug Bollinger must be in there) means four bowlers, two of whom can bat decently. Critically, there is some pace there, which, as the IPL has shown, is back in fashion. It means No. 7 can be a floater and anyone can play there.

India will await the return to form of Yuvraj Singh. If he is in form, India have a serious chance. There is a lot of batting, but without Yuvraj in form it looks a touch incomplete. And while India have a keeper in the top six, all their batsmen bowl slow, which suggests they are a team better suited for slightly sluggish pitches. The big weakness is the absence of a seam-bowling allrounder who could bowl the middle overs and bat at, say, No. 7. And so India must decide whether to play three seamers or get by with two and play both Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja, or indeed Piyush Chawla.

But seriously, any of those three or even Sri Lanka, South Africa, England or the West Indies could go all the way. And don't be surprised if Bangladesh create a little upset somewhere. That group - Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia - is the one to watch in the first week.

In India, though, the tournament faces another threat. By May 10, Lalit Modi will have emerged with his defence and we will know then if people want to watch the news or the cricket. Or maybe, the news till 7pm and cricket thereafter!

IPL absentees look for early momentum

Rust could conceivably be a part of it when Bangladesh and Pakistan open proceedings in a tight Group A. The defending champions have played six Twenty20 internationals since last year's final and Bangladesh only two. Neither set of players had any involvement in the IPL, though there was some competitive domestic T20s.

But the format bestows natural flavours to both sides; Pakistan's players are long used to it and of Bangladesh it is said that the shorter the format the greater their opportunity. Bald statistics, in win-loss numbers, don't bear this out but the threat remains greatest surely in this format, given the fine margins on which it is built.

In any case, Bangladesh are much improved recently, as performances against India and England indicate. In Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mashrafe Mortaza they have the makings of a solid spine. Sprinkled around them, Pakistan will do well to understand, is credible danger in men such as Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Mahmudullah and Abdur Razzak.

But even without Umar Gul, Pakistan will take some bringing down. Is there any side in the tournament as flexible? There are five allrounders (not including Kamran Akmal) in the squad and conceivably four of them will make any starting XI. If the batting is thinned, and will miss Shoaib Malik and even Younis Khan from last year, the bowling attack and its variety will be the envy of all.

Both sides are blessed with spin and it may well be a decisive factor.

Form guide (most recent first)

Pakistan WLLWW
Bangladesh LLLLL

Watch out for

Pakistan's middle order is bare, so much will depend on Umar Akmal, their batting discovery of the last year. He hasn't quite exploded in the format just yet, but his skills are far too well-rounded for that to remain the case. He has the shots and the head and a couple of handy innings in the Champions Trophy last year hinted at a temperament for the big stage.

Shakib Al Hasan is Bangladesh's Atlas, a man eminently capable not only of propping up his side when needed, but dragging them along in his brilliance. In particular, given Pakistan's frailties against left-arm spin, his four overs will have to be carefully monitored. He hasn't struck gold with the bat yet in T20 internationals, but it is only a matter of time.

Team news

Pakistan's ideal line-up should be fairly straightforward, especially the batting, in which there are fairly limited options. The bowling will depend on the surface; if there is spin, they can play two seamers (with Abdul Razzaq the third seamer) and have up to five spinning options. Otherwise they can play three fast bowlers (with Razzaq again) and still have four spinning options.

Pakistan (possible) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Kamran Akmal (wk), 3 Shahid Afridi (capt), 4 Umar Akmal, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Fawad Alam, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Mohammad Sami, 9 Mohammad Aamer, 10 Mohammad Asif, 11 Saeed Ajmal

Bangladesh (possible) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Aftab Ahmed, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Naeem Islam, 7 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 8 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 9 Mashrafe Mortaza, 10 Abdur Razzak, 11 Syed Rasel

Stats and trivia

Bangladesh have lost ten Twenty20 internationals in a row, their last win coming back in September 2007 at the inaugural World T20.

We will surprise India: Afghan coach

St Lucia: Afghanistan coach Kabir Khan has warned the Indians, saying his side were unperturbed by their reputation and will look to exploit the surprise element to dazzle M S DHONI's men in their ICC World Twenty20 opener Saturday.

"On the technical side it is good that they don't know us because when they know about you they will plan.

The coaches will watch the videos and work on our weakness. Luckily, we know everything about them.

We have seen all their IPL games. We will give them a surprise which will make them remember us after the game," Kabir said.

Another important component of their team, all-rounder Karim Sadiq feels the fact that they don't depend on any individual gives them an edge over the mighty Indians.

"They have all performed. We haven't got a certain guy we bank on. We have got a batting line-up which runs down to number eight. And we have got seven bowlers to choose from.

"If one batsman fails, the other one will win us the match. If one bowler doesn't perform, another guy will bowl well. It has been a story of total team performance. I think we have good side which is capable of pulling off an upset," Karim explained.

Captain Nawroz Mangal also exuded confidence and said his side would give their everything and grab the opportunity of playing at such a high level.

"We are very happy that we are here. We worked really hard for it for the last two years and that has put us in the top 12 teams in the competition.

"We know there is a lot of pressure back home. But we have already fought in pressure cooker conditions and we are used to it.

We will give our 100 per cent in this pressure game," said Nawroz. More than their epoch-making performances, Nawroz was glad that cricket had unified the people of Afghanistan.

"It is a great achievement. If we have qualified, it is because of the whole nation's prayers. If the whole nation is praying for you, it means that it is bringing the whole nation together. Cricket is already playing a role in Afghanistan and it can play a major role in the peace process in the region," emphasised the 28-year-old.

"We have been playing together for the last seven-eight years. The players are united and they love their country. They are hungry for cricket and want to prove that they are the next coming cricket team nation in the world.

Afghanistan debut in morning show

Afghanistan make their big-screen debut on Saturday's morning show, a sleeper that suddenly became a smash hit by defying every script written for them. A team from a war-torn, dysfunctional country, with half their players born in refugee camps, they narrowly missed qualifying for the 2007 World Cup but are making up for it with this tournament. They have surprised many an Associate team during their stunning rise from Division Five to a world event. Yet they will know that what they are going to face - the pace of Zaheer Khan, the spin of Harbhajan Singh, the might of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh - is nothing like anything they have faced so far.

India will know Afghanistan are not quite Bangladesh, but it was a first-match loss to perceived minnows three years ago that knocked them out of the 50-over World Cup. They have not played a warm-up match this time, know little about their opponents and will want to be as alert as against their other group-mates, South Africa. On the other hand, they would like this slow transition from the IPL to top-level international cricket. A win against Afghanistan, no matter what the margin, will more or less assure them a place in the next round. How the tournament would love an upset, though.

The only dampener is the timing of the match. Almost all India games in this tournament have 9.30am starts - 7pm in India - as opposed to the usual evening timings for matches played in the West Indies. Clearly the TV audience gets a preference to the islands hosting the event, only three years after a disastrously organised World Cup. Who will 'Bring It On' at 9.30am?

Form guide (most recent first)

Afghanistan WLWWW
India WLLLL

Watch out for...

Suresh Raina is coming off a successful IPL, where he was Man of the Final, and gave Sachin Tendulkar a fight for the Man-of-the-Tournament award. Will he be able to carry that promise into a big tournament, after having flattered to deceive often?

Mohammad Nabi, an offspinning allrounder, was the leading wicket-taker at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, with 13 wickets at 10.53 to ease Afghanistan's way. He scored 58 on his ODI debut and 102 in his first first-class game, and although he doesn't have a body of work behind him in Twenty20s, he has a strike-rate of 134.24 for his 98 runs.

Team news

Twenty20 is not where you experiment, not even against Afghanistan. They might not have had a warm-up match, but don't expect Indian to experiment too much, for this is an important game.

India: (possible) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 M Vijay, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Rohit Sharma, 7 Ravindra Jadeja/Yusuf Pathan, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Praveen Kumar/R Vinay Kumar, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Ashish Nehra.

Afghanistan: (possible) 1 Karim Sadiq, 2 Noor Ali, 3 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 4 Nowroz Mangal (capt), 5 Hamid Hassan, 6 Mirwais Ashraf, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Samiullah Shenwari, 9 Asghar Stanikzai, 10 Shapoor Zadran, 11 Raees Ahmadzai.

Pitch and conditions

Going by warm-ups, this seems to be a high-scoring venue, and one for giant-killing: inside three days, Zimbabwe have successfully defended 173 and 143 against Australia and Pakistan respectively. Zimbawe's spinners, and Shahid Afridi seem to have enjoyed themselves. What will interest India a bit more is the forecast for scattered showers. A washed-out match against a minnow team can seriously jeopardise progress in such an event.

Stats and trivia

• This will be the first Twenty20 international for Gros Islet.

• Afghanistan's 66.67% is a better success-rate than India's 55% in Twenty20 internationals, but Afghanistan have played only six matches, and that too against Associate teams.

Hero Honda named as ICC global partner

Secures leading motorcycle manufacturer's involvement in cricket until 2012 at least

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat: "Without the commitment from our partners we would not be in a position to help our 104 Members grow the game as they do"

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Hero Honda Motors Ltd, the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world, today announced a three-year partnership through which Hero Honda will become a global partner with a major presence at all ICC events.

The deal will include the upcoming ICC World Twenty20, which takes place from 30 April to 16 May in the West Indies, and will run all the way to the end of 2012. This formal commitment follows Hero Honda's successful involvement in the last three high-profile events staged by ICC in England (ICC World Twenty20 2009), South Africa (ICC Champions Trophy 2009) and New Zealand (ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2010).

This deal will position Hero Honda alongside existing global partners Reliance Mobile, LG Electronics and Pepsi and will include such world-class ICC events as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the ICC World Twenty20 2010 and 2012, the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012 and the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 2010 among others.

This agreement will entitle Hero Honda to exercise certain promotional, advertising, marketing and other commercial rights on a world-wide basis in connection with the events.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Hero Honda has already been a great supporter of cricket for many years and this deal is a great one for the game.

"The ICC and the global game of cricket has benefited enormously from its commitment to our great sport. Without that support from Hero Honda and our other commercial and broadcast partners, we would not be in a position to help our 104 Members grow the game through the significant funding we provide. And we would not be able to stage large-scale events, such as the ICC World Twenty20 that will take place in the West Indies, which provides such a great showcase for the sport.

"We believe, in turn, that Hero Honda will also benefit from this partnership, from being able to associate itself with some of the biggest and best cricket action - multilateral events that feature the top men's and women's players, pitting nation against nation on a truly global scale."

Pawan Munjal, Managing Director and CEO, Hero Honda Motors Ltd, said: "Hero Honda is all set to further strengthen its close to two decades-long association with cricket. It is a matter of great privilege and delight to once again be partnering the ICC as one of its global partners for all its international cricketing events.

"This is in keeping with our long-term commitment to promote cricket in every sphere. Our unwavering support to the game is also reflective of the great passion for the game across India and, indeed, all over the world. Cricket fever never dies in our country, and in keeping with that spirit, Hero Honda - one of the most loved youth brands in India - is delighted to play a role in bringing top-class cricket and cricketing icons closer to their fans."

cricket's flagship event

With less than 300 days to go for the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, fans around the world are gearing up for the start of international cricket's showcase event.

The tournament will take place at 13 venues in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka and will open in Dhaka on 19 February 2011 with the final in Mumbai on 2 April.

It will be contested by twelve teams placed in two groups - Group A (Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya) and Group B (India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands).

The prize money for the prestigious event was set by the ICC Board last week at a record US$10m in order to reflect the importance of the competition.

Cricket lovers around the world are set to play a significant role in the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - the Cup that Counts. Followers of the game based in the host nations will be able to participate in a unique contest to name the official tournament mascot.