Sharma ready for WT20 challenge

India’s star pace bowler, Ishant Sharma says that being part of the underperforming Kolkata side taught him important lessons which will help him prepare for next month’s ICC World Twenty20 event to be held in England.

Sharing the new ball with left-arm pacer and senior partner Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma has been very instrumental up-front claiming big wickets and playing a crucial role in India’s recent successful run.

He has already featured in a tri-series win in Australia in 2008 and was highly impressive in the Test series troubling the Australian skipper Ricky Ponting time and again. He was also the leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets in the home Test series against Australia and was rightly adjudged Man of the Tournament. He was part of the ODI series win in Sri Lanka and also against England at home.

However, the fast bowler is still to feature in an ICC event and with the ICC World Twenty20 2009 about to commence in less than 15 days, the Delhi lad is looking forward to the big opportunity as India is the defending T20 champions.

“I have never been part of any World Cup, and I am really looking forward to it. Conditions in England will be helpful for bowlers and I want to make it memorable for myself. It’s a huge honour to go in as the defending champions,” Sharma told the Indian Express.

Ishant Sharma represented Kolkata in the IPL but the side performed badly finishing at the bottom of the table. He picked up 11 wickets from as many games at an economy rate of 6.90.

Taking stock of his performance in South Africa, the young pacer feels that he needs to add yorkers and slower balls to his armoury, in order to be more effective in England.

"I really have to take care of my economy rate and then I need to work on variations," said the lanky paceman.

“In T20, you need to have a good yorker and different kinds of slower balls. Also, I am looking to become an impact bowler because nothing else puts the opposing team back like losing early wickets,” he added.

Akhtar ruled out of ICC WT20

Shoaib Akhtar will miss next month's ICC World Twenty20 event due to a genital infection, the Pakistan Cricket Board said Thursday. "The medical board has reported that Shoaib Akhtar was suffering from genital viral warts and the wound needs further care and treatment for another 10 days," the PCB said in a statement. The three-member medical board, comprising surgeon Prof. Javed Raza, dermatologist Dr. Ijaz Hussain and PCB sports physician Dr. Riaz Ahmed, said the injury should be reassessed after 10 days. The PCB did not name a replacement. Thursday's news was another serious blow to 33-year-old Akhtar's career, which had been littered with injuries and controversies. He made a comeback to international cricket after 14 months in January but was sidelined with a knee injury after playing only two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka. He also struggled in the one-day series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month. He could not bowl his full quota of 10 overs in any of the four games he played and got only three wickets.

Bates excited about chance of revenge in WT20

New Zealand star Suzie Bates has revealed her side is excited about the chance of winning the ICC World Twenty20 2009. Bates, part of the side who finished as runners-up at the ICC Women’s World Cup in March, will be a key all-rounder for the White Ferns and will hope to build on her growing reputation as one of the most destructive batters in the women’s game. “We are pretty excited to have the opportunity to play in the event. To be able to have a chance to win another world tournament so soon after the World Cup is great,” said Bates. “We think we have a pretty good team and I think it will be a pretty exciting tournament and hopefully we will be able to get one over England this time and beat Australia again as well.” Bates, who made 168 against Pakistan at the ICC Women’s World Cup, also featured in her country’s basketball side at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, illustrating her all-round sporting talents. New Zealand will warm-up for the series by playing three Twenty20 matches in Brisbane in early June, ahead of the opening matches of the women’s event on 11 June in England and Bates believes this will be a vital part of her side’s preparations. “It is very good that we get the chance to have a warm-up series against Australia. We have had a couple of training camps, but we haven’t had much of a chance to play outdoors. It will be good to play against Australia and focus on Twenty20 cricket. It will be the best preparation we could possibly get,” said Bates. “When we get to England we also have a couple of warm-up matches so we should be ready.”

Pietersen to miss West Indies series ahead of ICC World Twenty20

Kevin Pietersen has been withdrawn from England’s ODI series against the West Indies in order to be fully fit for the ICC World Twenty20 2009. Nick Peirce, ECB chief medical officer, said: "The achilles injury flared up following the 2nd npower Test match in Durham and the best course of treatment is for Kevin to rest throughout the NatWest Series. "The injury would not necessarily prevent him from playing but by giving him a precautionary period of time out to receive some concentrated treatment and rest we are enabling the niggle to settle down in preparation of the ICC World Twenty20 and the Ashes. This is not an injury that would preclude him from participating in either event." Kevin Pietersen said:"The medical advice is to rest the achilles and although I’m frustrated to be leaving a happy and successful dressing room I’m absolutely confident this will help me overcome what has up until now been a minor ongoing injury. "I hate missing out on playing for England but understand that in this instance it’s necessary in order to overcome the injury. Even though I won’t be lining up for England during this series I’ll be watching and supporting the team closely as they set about repeating the recent one-day series win in the Caribbean. "I’m looking forward to being back in the England line up for the World Twenty20 and the rest of an exciting summer of cricket." England plays its opening match against Netherlands on 5 June at Lord’s.

Shoaib Akhtar doubtful for ICC WT20

Coach Intikhab Alam said Wednesday that Shoaib Akhtar's place in Pakistan's World Twenty20 squad would be decided within 24 hours after the injury-prone fast bowler was ruled out of three practice matches. "We will decide whether he will be part of the team or not in the next 24 hours after consulting with the doctors," Alam told The Associated Press as he prepared for the 12-nation tournament being held in England next month. Last week, Akhtar did not attend a training camp of the national team at the hilly resort of Bhurban due to a skin ailment. The Pakistan Cricket Board has planned three Twenty20 games over the next three days in the eastern city of Lahore for the tournament squad - in which Akhtar was named. The squad will leave for England on May 30, where it will play warm-up matches against South Africa and archrival India. Akhtar has been struggling for fitness since he made a comeback to international cricket earlier this year after 14 months. He took just one wicket in the two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka at home before knee injury ruled him out for the test series. He took just three wickets in four ODIs in this month's series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates, where Pakistan lost 3-2. The once fiery fast bowler - known as the 'Rawalpindi Express' - struggled with his form and could not bowl his full quota of 10 overs in any of the games against Australia. In the only Twenty20 game against Australia - which Pakistan won - Akhtar bowled just two overs before he was taken out of the attack.

Marsh determined to repeat World Cup success

England spinner Laura Marsh has admitted she can’t wait to be involved in her side’s attempt to win the ICC World Twenty20.

Marsh, who was the leading wicket-taker at the ICC Women’s World Cup earlier in the year, will be hoping to repeat her excellent spin partnership with Holly Colvin, which was one of the key reasons behind Charlotte Edwards’ side triumph in Australia.

“We are really excited. We don’t often get the chance to play in front of big crowds and the chance of playing at Lord’s in the final, and Trent Bridge or The Oval in the semi-final, is a fantastic prospect and we can’t waited to get started,” said Marsh.

“We looked at this year and said it was a massive year with three major titles for us. To win the World Cup was very special but we only have done one third of the job. We are now concentrating on the World Twenty20 and if we win that it would be fantastic and something I would never forget.”

Marsh, who only turned to spin a year and a half ago after previously being a medium-pace bowler, admits that two months after beating New Zealand in the final, the reality of being a World Cup winner has hit her and she has enjoyed being able to inspire more people to play the game.

“The events have sunk in and we are really proud to have been part of a World Cup winning side. It has been good not to have had too much time to look back at the event and all of our focus is now on the Twenty20,” she said.

“Generally people if you ask them about women’s cricket they will know that we won the World Cup and we have put ourselves on the map a bit more.”

“I have just been to a local club for a primary school presentation and everybody was so excited to see an England player and one of the most special things is passing on your knowledge and inspiring young cricketers.”

Lee credits IPL for form resurgence

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has credited his stint with his Indian Premier League franchise, Kings XI Punjab, for getting back in form. He now has his sights firmly set on the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 2009 and the subsequent Ashes series. Lee - considered one of the fastest bowlers in the world at one point - was recently plagued by injuries to his foot which kept him out of the game since December last year. He made his comeback for his national side in a one-off Twenty20 International against Pakistan at Dubai earlier this month. Although Australia lost that game, Lee bowled impressively conceding 22 runs and picking up one wicket in his four overs. Lee’s next assignment was when he joined his IPL franchise, Kings XI Punjab, mid-way through the Indian domestic tournament which is currently being held in South Africa. Lee was again impressive as he replaced Yusuf Abdullah as one of the four international players permitted in the squad. In a match against tournament leaders – Delhi– Lee’s fast deliveries were crucial in his team securing a much-needed win. Lee gave away just 15 runs as Mohali won by six wickets. Lee was rightly named Man of the Match for his efforts and he credited the IPL for his form resurgence saying, “I am looking forward to the Ashes. And I want to take that brand new ball. But that's a fair way off now. I have got the ICC World Twenty20 to try get into form and the IPL has been a brilliant platform for me to prepare a comeback into international cricket.” The ICC World Twenty20 takes place less than two weeks after the finals of the Indian Premier League and Australia will be counting on Lee to help them win the trophy from defending champions, India. Although he has been plagued by a series of foot problems in the past, Lee says that he is feeling fully fit right now. “When you had five ankle operations then you have got to try and get through it somehow. I am not worried about the ankle now, actually felt 100 percent. I am actually enjoying the challenge,” the pacer was quoted as saying on iplt20.com Australia’s first match of the ICC World Twenty20 will be against West Indies at Kennington Oval on June 6.