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Ed: Maria Naureen is our correspondent from Karachi, a FM 101 radio talk-show host, cricket radio commentator and sports journalist

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will have to fork out more than $500 000 in refunds if the murky weather that has hovered over Jamaica for the last three days completely ruins the first of this weekend’s back-to-back Cable & Wireless One-Day Internationals between West Indies and India.With no significant rain between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. yesterday, during which there was a big mop-up operation at Sabina Park, there was increasing optimism of getting a match, even if it meant having some alterations.The general consensus, however, is that any overnight or early morning rain will prevent any possibility of play.In the event that less than 10 overs are possible, most of the almost 11 000 fans who have purchased tickets will be refunded, WICB marketing manager for events and promotions, Darren Millien, confirmed.Since 1999 the WICB has taken out refund insurance for instances like this where there is a threat of rain and patrons will be refunded the full value of the ticket that was purchased, Millien said.It translates to a 100 per cent refund in the event of 10 overs or less, 50 per cent in the event of 15 overs or less. As long as there are more than 25 overs, the refund policy wouldn’t kick-in, but anything less than that there is either going to be a partial or total refund of the face value of the ticket.Millien also revealed that a capacity Sabina brings in gate receipts of just under US$300 000, and at least 80 per cent of the ground had been sold out by yesterday afternoon.The popular Mound, which accommodates 1 200 spectators who each pay US$55 entry fee, was completely sold out, while the big George Headley Stand had accounted for all but 200 of its 5 700 seats which are available at US$40 each.Even if the WICB has to refund patrons, it will not lose out completely on revenue because of the refund insurance policy.Insurance never really puts you back to the original position. In other words, you are not 100 per cent indemnified, but we do recover some of the monies that would have been lost by way of gate receipts in the event of rain, Millien added.There were suggestions in some quarters to put back the weekend’s double-header to tomorrow and Monday, but logistical problems, among other things, quickly dismissed the thought.When we did a cost benefit, the costs were adding up to ridiculous amounts. We decided that we were going to have to take our chances with Saturday and Sunday, proceed as planned and hope that the weather co-operates, Millien said.The WICB marketing manager was speaking late yesterday evening before International Cricket Council match referee Mike Proctor, along with umpires David Shepherd, Russel Tiffin, Eddie Nicholls and Billy Doctrove inspected the ground, which had improved significantly over 24 hours.It still remained somewhat wet under footing and the cause was not helped by a lack of sunshine on a highly overcast day that was to be extended for the increased 16-member ground staff, headed by Charlie Joseph.What we intend to do tonight (last night) is work whole night again like what we did last (Thursday) night until tomorrow (this) morning, Joseph said.We are hoping that we still get the breeze. If we get rain, we have some house tents to put on.The torrential rain, caused by a cold front which extends to beyond Cuba in the north, has already prompted officials to use the pitch that was used for the fifth Test which ended on Wednesday.The decision was influenced by the fact that the steady, heavy rain since the Test ended, made it impossible to begin early preparations of the strip that was intended to be used for the limited-overs matches.Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) chief executive officer Brian Breese disclosed that another option being considered is to bring in the boundaries in the area of the practice pitches in the eastern section of the ground. They have been under the covers since Wednesday.We’ve made significant progress on the pitches. They have now decided that they are going to play on the Test pitch. That has been rolled. The outfield has been cut and I think we’re in shape to start a match, maybe not on time, but certainly we should get a match in tomorrow (today), Breese said.The JCA chief executive was also hoping to have the services of a helicopter to assist with the drying process, but that did not materialise by late evening.

Somerset Under 16’s were frustrated by the weather in their 2 day match against Sussex at Horsham.Batting first Somerset had reached 68 for 6 , with Nick King making 23 and Robert Woodman being unbeaten on 23 before the rains came down and prevented any further play.Two days later the Under 16’s beat Wales at Weston super Mare Cricket Club.The visitors won the toss and asked their hosts to bat first. Liam Lewis was in fine form scoring 104, well supported by Ollie Norris who made 32 as Somerset made 188 for 6.In reply Wales were bowled out for 119, Simon Martin taking 3 for 13, Alan Carroll 2 for 15 and Nick King 2 for 26.

Youth Development Officer Pete Sanderson is setting his sights on recruiting new players for the youngest of the Somerset age group teams, the Under Elevens.Over the last few days letters have been sent out to two hundred and twenty youngsters inviting them to go along to one of the six trials that will be held at the Wells Cricket Development Centre on either November 17th or 24th.The Youth Development Officer told me: "From these trials we will identify the youngsters who will be invited to take part in the Corner Cricket matches, and then in February we will be making our selections for the county squad."

Canterbury have made no changes to their side for the latest State Championship match against Northern Districts starting at Rangiora on Thursday.The State Wizards team convincingly disposed of Otago and will be looking to continue their impressive start in this second match before their international players leave the side for the remainder of the summer.After dismissing Otago for 209 in the first innings, Canterbury went on to compile a massive 393 in reply. Otago could only muster 183 in their second innings, resulting in a resounding win to Canterbury by an innings and one run.Wizards coach Michael Sharpe was pleased with the successful start to the season and is confident it will continue into the next match.”The guys were fizzing after the win and are keen to emulate their performance against the Northern Knights.”Due to a nagging side strain, Wade Cornelius was not considered for re-selection. Warren Wisneski was again unavailable due to the delayed arrival of his second child.The State Canterbury Wizards team to play the State Northern Knights from December 5-8 at Dudley Park, Rangiora is: Gary Stead (captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Brendon Donkers, Andrew Ellis, Chris Harris, Gareth Hopkins, Chris Martin, Craig McMillan, Michael Papps, Paul Wiseman.

One of the longest-running soap operas in Indian cricket is over ­ atleast for the time being. That’s precisely what the contract rowbetween the three principal “characters” ­ the International CricketCouncil (ICC), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) andthe players ­ resembled. And like any soap opera, it got tiresome veryfast. Initially the questions were many. Will the players sign? Will asecond-string team be sent? Will Jagmohan Dalmiya come down from hishigh horse? Will the ICC succeed in brokering a peace agreement? Whois right and who is wrong? The debate went on endlessly. Towards theend, however, there was only one question being asked. When will allthis end?

So is it a case of all’s well that ends well? Unfortunately not. Whathas been put together is a hasty ad hoc patch-up for the Colombotournament. Once the competition ends on September 29, it is on thecards that there will be another protracted battle on the issue,possibly affecting the run-up to the World Cup in South Africa earlynext year.With the monetary angle being a ticklish subject ­ especially whenmillions of dollars are at stake ­ there is no guarantee that therewill be a quick and early end to a controversy that threatens tobecome one of the most serious the game has faced. Cricket has hadmore than its share of problems of late, and it has severely damagedthe fabric of the once-noble game. But who cares when personal egosand one-upmanship become the governing factors?Players and administrators are the twin pillars of the game.Spectators may watch the cricketers in action, and the players maybring in the large television audiences. But without administratorsbringing in more bucks through attractive packaging and lucrativecontracts with sponsors, the respective boards – and consequently theplayers – would not enjoy the monetary benefits. The two are interdependant on one other, and it is thus imperative that there betransparency and trust on both sides. The players should not keep adistance from administrators, who for their part should not let thecricketers feel alienated.The lack of trust that the players feel towards officials has almostalways been present, and if anything, the present sorry episode hasproved that this attitude has not been unjustified. The officials havebeen less than transparent in their dealings with the players, and thecontracts row is only the latest in a long line of deals that hashelped sow greater mistrust between players and administrators. Thetwo have to work closely together for the betterment of the game, andthis is perhaps the most important lesson driven home by thecontroversy.The television rights market was a major factor in influencing thefinal deal. If any proof was needed, it was provided when the board ofdirectors of the IDI – the financial arm of the ICC – taking part inthe marathon one-hour-45-minute telephone conference that wasessentially to be between the ICC, the BCCI and the boards of othercountries. With so much money emanating from Indian sponsors, there islittle doubt that fielding anything other than a full-strength Indiansquad would have caused a major problem. Thus it is imperative thatthe BCCI takes the players into confidence, almost as partners, as theofficials are fully aware that the major stars have contracts of theirown.But administrators generally have been living in an ivory tower, faraway from the players and from the reality of any given situation.This in a nutshell is the genesis of the unhappy episode that, with asome give and take on all sides, could have been solved quickly. Itwas a comparatively simple issue that became complex throughmishandling by the main protagonists. It snowballed into a matter ofprestige and with no-one wanting to lose face, it just dragged on andon.For all one knows, it may even drag on once negotiations are resumedafter the end of the Colombo tournament. A permanent solution has tobe found before the conduct of the World Cup in South Africa earlynext year. The second episode of the controversy could last evenlonger unless the central players in the drama are willing to learnfrom the mistakes committed over the last month.It is important that the ICC, the BCCI and the other boards, and theplayers do not think in terms of victory or defeat, of having scored apoint or two. They should realise that the image of the game hassuffered and endeavor their best to plug the holes. To achieve this,an understanding approach from all sides is necessary. A rigid stancewill not help matters.To be sure, all the parties had seemingly valid points of view. Therow centered on a conflict between official tournament sponsors andthe players’ own individual sponsors. The players had to safeguardtheir contracts and not for a minute is anyone suggesting they shouldnot make as much money as they can. The ICC on their part had theprotection of the ambush marketing clause uppermost in their minds.They too had signed contracts running into millions of dollars and sothey could not back down. The BCCI, after asking the ICC to talkdirectly with the players in an effort to find a solution to the vexedproblem, rejected the compromise deal, arguing that it could provokelegal action from sponsors.But there is little doubt that the image of all the three involvedparties took a dent to some degree or other. Ultimately BCCI chiefJagmohan Dalmiya climbed down after member countries of the ICCassured him that the Indian Board would not have to pay any damages,should they be sued by disgruntled tournament sponsors. It finallytook an international tele-conference with just over two days for thestart of the tournament to reach an uneasy truce ­ surely not the bestway to handle a sensitive issue.

A brilliant all-round performance by Shaun Pollock led Warwickshire Bears to a comfortable victory over Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge.Following up his belligerent innings of 70 by removing the cream of the hosts’ batting in an aggressive opening spell, the South African showed his worth in an 85-run victory that saw the Bears remain top of the NUL first division.The Outlaws never looked likely to threaten the visitors’ total after losing their top three within the opening overs. Welton survived a confident lbw appeal second ball, but it did him little good as he was adjudged out next delivery to Pollock. Boje followed a few minutes later; slashing optimistically outside the off stump before Bicknell edged Pollock through to the keeper to leave his side reeling at 13-3.Although Usman Afzaal and Chris Read threatened to turn the game with a brisk partnership of 59, Pollock responded to being recalled into the attack with the wicket of Read. And when Afzaal, who batted well for his 51 (in 82 balls with three boundaries) was bowled charging down the pitch to Neil Smith’s off-spin the writing was on the wall. Shafayat, playing in place of the injured and much-missed Kevin Pietersen, skied a catch off Dougie Brown and Giles mopped up the tail to finish with 3-27.Earlier Pollock’s innings was the corner stone of a challenging Bears score of 236-8 after Notts Outlaws enjoyed the best of the early overs having won the toss and inserted the visitors. Tight bowling by Greg Smith led to Nick Knight, a certainty for England’s one-day squad and in fine form following his unbeaten 255 against Hampshire in the week, driving straight to mid off in impatience. But Pollock, once again batting at number three, struck two enormous sixes in his 76-ball stay and enjoyed excellent support from his captain Mike Powell in a 68-run stand.With Dominic Ostler (40 from 38 balls with two sixes) showing his value as he returned from injury, and Trevor Penney weighing in towards the end (34 not out from 32 balls) the Bears took advantage of some loose bowling in setting their testing target.Nicky Boje kept the Outlaws in the game. His miserly nine-over spell brought the crucial wickets of Pollock and Bell at a cost of just 25 runs, but in the end the absence of Jason Gallian, Paul Franks and Kevin Pietersen proved too much of a burden for the Outlaws.

Hatton National Bank and John Keels have qualified for the final of theMercantile Cricket Association Division A, which is to be played nextweekend at NCC Grounds in Colombo.HNB, the tournament favourites, were forced to fight hard for their finalplace after a fine batting performance from Sampath Bank that saw them post290 for nine in their 50 overs.Opener Shantha Kalavitigoda led the way with 68, with captain ChandikaHathurusingha (67) and BMAJ Mendis (65) also scoring half centuries. KumarDharmasena took three for 51 with his off breaks.HNB were unfazed by the size of the target. Avishka Gunawardene celebratedhis selection for the Natwest triangular series with a blistering 66 off 33balls.Tillakaratne Dilshan, a surprise omission from the Natwest squad, thenscored 85 with Dharmasena guiding HNB home with an unbeaten 43.John Keels only qualified for the semi-finals after the elimination of EastWest for breaking player registration rules, but they defeated Janashakthiconvincingly by 35 runs.Michael Vandort scored 101 from 115 balls as John Keels posted 227 forseven. Janashkthi were bowled out for 192 as Jehan Mubarak grabbed fourwickets.

All I know about the sending back of Yousuf Youhana from Nairobi on disciplinary grounds is what I have read in the newspapers. If there is more to it than meets the eye, I am not privy to it. I don’t know Youhana all that well, indeed all I may have done was to shake hands with him a couple of times.But of all the players in this present Pakistan squad, he seemed to be the one without an attitude, someone least likely to flaunt authority or throw a tantrum. He most fitted Milton’s “they also serve who only stand and wait”. Did something in him suddenly snap that turned Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde? I don’t know.But one must assume some horrendous behaviour that left the team management with no choice but to send him packing and to deprive the team of its best batsman, after Inzamam-ul-Haq. I emphasise that I know nothing beyond what has appeared in the newspaper and on the evidence of that, the team management acted harshly. The PCB chairman, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia has got it exactly right that the whole matter was overblown and should have been settled at a local level.Every touring team has problems and there are varying degrees of indiscipline and varying degree of punishment available to a team management to impose on alleged offender, fines for example. Sending a player home should be the last option after other options have been exhausted and warnings ignored.In other words, a player should be a habitual troublemaker. Youhana doesn’t fit the bill. Nor do I feel that Yawar Saeed is someone who will act on the spur of the moment. He has age and experience on his side. I must confess that I am mystified by it all. No one should challenge the authority of the captain, all the more reason why a captain should not find himself in a situation where his authority can be challenged.Youhana wanted to skip nets because he had a shoulder injury. There is a doctor and a trainer attached to the team. Surely, these were the best people to decide on the extent of the injury.Coming at a time when the team has a tough schedule ahead of it, it seems to be the wrong time to disturb the harmony in the team. Both the team management and the players have never had it so good. This is a player-friendly PCB and a compassionate one. The goals that the team should be scoring should be against its opponents, not against itself.I don’t know how much this has affected the team’s performance in the triangular series but so far the performance has been far from satisfactory and against Australia, it was unbelievably bad. The team just fell apart. It was a game that was lost in the dressing-room as it was lost on the field.Australia was sent in to bat in conditions that should have suited our pace attack. Yet Australia made 332 and bit for Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, spinners, would have made more. Wides and no-balls were given away as if they were free samples and Wasim Akram was the main culprit. Inzamam had played the first match against Kenya and was hobbling about and went off and rightly was denied a runner when he came to bat. If he was unfit, he has a sore knee, he should not have been played.With the weight of 332 runs on its back, Pakistan fiddled with the batting order and Abdul Razzaq was sent in to open the batting, not Saeed Anwar or Shahid Afridi. Someone, it seemed had pressed the panic-button.The key to chasing a huge total is to see the new ball off and have wickets in hand. In a twinkling of an eye, the top order was gone. Imran Nazir could have stretched a back-muscle trying to reach what was a wide ball. Instead, he got an inside edge. Afridi was unlucky as the ball went of his pad to dislodge a bail and Saeed padded up to a straight ball. There being no Inzamam and indeed no Youhana, it was something of an achievement that Pakistan got past the 100 mark. It was a match that Pakistan would do well to forget.Cricket may be a game of glorious uncertainties but not absurdities and it was a foregone conclusion, as the tournament started that the final would be between Pakistan and Australia. But before the final, Pakistan has to play against Australia. A strong showing in that match could do much to bolster Pakistan’s confidence.At last, Shoaib Akhtar was at his awesome-best even though it was against the wrong opponent. But he has into his strides and he bowled really fast and was unsmiling, as fast bowlers should be. The decision to give him the new ball was a good one. In a way, it was a vote of confidence in him and he responded.I think Wasim Akram should have been rested in the second match against Kenya and Mohammad Sami played in his place. Wasim should have spent the day in the nets and made to work on the wides and no-balls he had been bowling. Wasim has looked out of sorts and, perhaps, a little too intense and over focused.But Pakistan’s main worry remains at the top order of its batting. Saeed Anwar seems to be lacking in confidence and Imran Nazir should be made to bat bare-footed so that he becomes aware that he has feet and they are supposed to be used to get at the pitch of the ball. Inzamam has a dodgy knee and there is, of course, no Youhana.As I write this, the contract row is no nearer a solution. The ICC apparently objected even to India’s main sponsor Sahara which is a conglomerate which includes an airline. One of ICC’s sponsors is South African airlines and as far as I know Sahara is a domestic carrier and in way could it be considered as being in competition with SAA. The whole issue is becoming a farce. What happened to common sense?

Manicaland fell 13 runs short of their rearranged target last Sunday against Old Georgians to lose the league cup final. It was a disappointing end to the league season and a toss captain Neil Ferreira probably regrets winning.In overcast conditions at Harare Sports Club, where bowlers traditionally expect help in the first hour, he had no hesitation in asking OGs to bat. It proved to be the best half of the day for batting with the ball flying unhindered to the boundary. After the rain, when Manicaland were chasing, the ball was heavy, slippery and difficult to propel in any direction.In reaching 248 from their 50 overs, Manicaland’s chief tormenters from the Logan Cup defeat a fortnight ago came back to rub salt in the wound. Craig Evans hit 53 and Angus Mackay 87, with only Richie Sims (10-0-32-3) and Jon Brent (10-0-42-2) making meaningful inroads.Requiring five an over, Manicaland were on track at 99 for one after 21.2 overs (Ferreira 31, Andre Soma 25) when rain and Duckworth-Lewis dictated a revised target of 115 in 15 overs. This they almost achieved with Richie Sims (84) and Jon Brent (17) going well with 33 to get off the last three overs. Their consecutive dismissals signalled the end of a game played in good spirits and watched by a festive crowd of OG supporters. Evans rounded off his match-winning day by cleaning up Guy Whittall and the rest of the middle order with 8-0-43-4. To boost the crowd OGs’ cricket section had laid on free lunch and invited all club members.The team now heads off to Harare and Kwekwe to play four-day Logan Cup matches against Mashonaland A and Midlands before returning to Mutare for the final game of the season against Matabeleland, starting on Thursday 5 April.The ZCU has announced that all league and school cricket will be returning to `straight’ declaration cricket next season. Since the early eighties when Zimbabwe’s future was thought only to be limited-overs cricket, all domestic cricket has been geared towards producing successful ODI sides. The national team’s dismal run at Test level has brought about a change in thinking.School cricket will be played over 110 overs with the team batting first required to declare after 60 overs. National league will be played over 120 overs with 65 being the first innings cut-off. Fielding and bowling restrictions will no longer apply and no game will finish before 1630 hours. It’s evident – particularly at school level – that one-day shots are favoured and coached to the detriment of innings-building efforts. Logan Cup first-class cricket will revert from fourto three-day games – played over two rounds when national team members are not away touring. Games will start on Thursdays with 50-over ODI-type games on the Sunday.In a fortnight’s time during the upcoming school holidays, Hillcrest College will host the first Zimbabwe Under-14 inter-provincial tournament. Set to run from 2 to 4 April, it is part of a new countrywide selection initiative that sees the Under-16s playing in Bulawayo, the Under-19s in Harare and the Under-13s in Hippo Valley/Triangle. Four teams will compete, two from Harare, one from Matabeleland and one from `Zimbabwe Districts’. Manicaland players will have to force their way into this Districts team drawn from Peterhouse, Watershed, Lomagundi, Highveld and all the Midlands schools.