Simmons, Bishoo give Windies victory
It’s just one match, that will fade into obscurity by the end of the next, but West Indies began their latest New Era impressively, beating Pakistan by seven runs in the first ever Twenty20 match between the teams. Lendl Simmons made 65 to help West Indies set something competitive before Devendra Bishoo’s four wickets brought them victory. Such has been Ottis Gibson’s desperation for renewal after a disappointing World Cup campaign that five debutants were fielded. Critics, though, could point to a desire for greater control as much as freshness after a clutch of senior players were jettisoned from the squad. That certainly seemed to be the view held by Chris Gayle, the former captain, who vented his frustration with Gibson and the WICB by joining Royal Challengers Bangalore and issuing a withering assessment of both in a radio interview. The off-field wranglings dominated the build-up to the match and are likely to rumble on for some time to come but West Indies fans could at least enjoy a moment of on-field catharsis. Such drama is familiar to Pakistan but of late they have been alarmingly stable. Their last game was a passionate spectacle against India in the World Cup semi-final against in Mohali, so they could be forgiven for looking a little underwhelmed by St Lucia.
Barely a smattering of spectators showed up but those who did were treated to an entertaining opening from Simmons. Filling the immense hole left by Gayle’s absence he cracked 65 from 44 balls and shared a 99-run stand for the second wicket with a fluent Darren Bravo, who made 42. The pair struck 15 boundaries between them which proved crucial as West Indies collapsed in familiar fashion after they were separated. Luckily for them the bowlers, led by legspinner Bishoo, masked the errors in an energetic display. The six no-balls and pointed to performance lacking polish but the attack used a tiring pitch to good effect. Darren Sammy ensured Pakistan’s chase got off on the wrong foot as he had Mohammad Hafeez caught at fine leg for 3 before Ahmed Shehzad spooned Ravi Rampaul to mid-on for 12. Asad Shafiq threatened a revival with Umar Akmal before Bishoo intervened with two wickets in his first over. Shafiq was brilliantly caught for 25 by Danza Hyatt diving forward from midwicket after looping a leading edge before Misbah-ul-Haq was dismissed for a duck treading on his stumps a ball later. Even modest legspinners have proved potent in 20-over cricket and Bishoo, who impressed on international debut in the World Cup, is better than that. Mixing his pace and flight nicely he got his third wicket when Shahid Afridi scythed a cut to point for 12 to leave Pakistan’s hopes entirely with Umar.
Having reached a run-a-ball 41 Umar fell victim to his own misunderstanding. The previous delivery he had alerted the umpires to a no-ball caused by West Indies not having the required three men in the ring but, thinking the following ball was a free-hit, swung Rampaul to Marlon Samuels on the square-leg rope. Umar lingered but the umpires this time knew better. What should have been a doddle from there became fought with tension as Rampaul’s no-ball-ridden penultimate over cost 15 but Andre Russell held his nerve in the final over to sealed victory. The lacklustre showing from Pakistan’s batsmen was in sharp contrast to Simmons and Bravo. Happy to use their feet, both were proficient against the pace and spin and used the small boundaries to good effect. The 100 was crossed in the 13th over and at that stage West Indies looked set to post something really significant but a trademark collapse punctured the optimism. Bravo holed out long-on off Abdur Rehman before Simmons was run out by Samuels two overs later. Samuels, on his comeback after serving a two-year ban for alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers, endured a torrid return as he laboured to 4 from 11 balls before running past a Saeed Ajmal doosra. Sammy followed quickly for 1 and it needed a last-over boundary to take the total past 150. Pakistan looked to have the edge but Bishoo ensured otherwise.
West Indies vs Pakistan
West Indies Innings
Lendl Simmons run out 65
Andre Fletcher lbw Rehman 1
Darren Bravo c Umar Akmal b Rehman 42
Marlon Samuels st Salman b Ajmal 4
Danza Hyatt c Umar Akmal b Ajmal 14
Darren Sammy c wk Salman b Wahab 1
Chris Barnwell not out 11
Andre Russell c Rehman b Wahab 0
Ashley Nurse not out 6
Extras: (lb1, w4, nb1) 6
TOTAL: (for 7 wickets) 150
Overs: 20.
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-101, 3-114, 4-125, 5-126, 6-141, 7-141.
Did not bat: Devendra Bishoo, Ravi Rampaul.
Bowling: Junaid Khan 2-0-15-0, Abdur Rehman 4-0-22-2 (w1), Saeed Ajmal 4-0-35-2, Wahab Riaz 4-1-24-2 (w2, nb1), Shahid Afridi 3-0-20-0, Mohammad Hafeez 3-0-23-0 (w1).
Pakistan Innings
Ahmed Shehzad c Barnwell b Rampaul 12
Mohammad Hafeez c Nurse b Sammy 3
Asad Shafiq c Hyatt b Bishoo 25
Umar Akmal c Samuels b Rampaul 41
Misbah-ul-Haq hit wicket b Bishoo 0
Shahid Afridi c Sammy b Bishoo 12
Mohammad Salman run out (Sammy) 5
Abdur Rehman b Bishoo 7
Wahab Riaz c Sammy b Rampaul 6
Saeed Ajmal not out 21
Junaid Khan not out 3
Extras: (b1, w1, nb6) 8
TOTAL: (for 9 wickets) 143
Overs: 20.
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-20, 3-49, 4-49, 5-78, 6-93, 7-109, 8-110, 9-123.
Bowling: Ravi Rampaul 4-0-31-3 (4nb), Darren Sammy 3-0-26-1, Andre Russell 4-0-28-0 (1nb, 1w), Devendra Bishoo 4-0-17-4 (1nb), Christopher Barnwell 1-0-7-0, Ashley Nurse 4-0-33-0.
Toss: West Indies.
Result: West Indies won by 7 runs.
Gayle claims WICB disinterest forced him to IPL
Batsman Chris Gayle on Wednesday contended he was left with no choice but to ply his trade in the lucrative Indian Premier League after the West Indies Cricket Board displayed an indifferent attitude to his recovery from injury and subsequent selection for the Pakistan series. Speaking in a typically candid interview on the Jamaica radio station KLAS FM, the giant left-hander said he had been forced to pay all of his medical bills for the treatment for his injury while in Britain for two days, and asserted he had not been contacted by the WICB on his fitness status. He said when he returned to Jamaica from Britain, he started a rehabilitative training programme aimed at working himself back into full fitness, and said it was he who contacted West Indies team physio CJ Clark to update him. “I stayed back in England, went to the doctor and sorted out everything. Paid for my own accommodation…paid for my doctor bills, paid my taxi bills to find out exactly what was wrong with me,” an emotional Gayle said in a telephone interview from India.
“I came back to Jamaica and took it on myself again to get treatment. A group of players were selected for a training camp in Barbados, and I never got a call, nobody spoke to me, and I decided to leave it alone.
“The only communication that happened [with the WICB] was with the physio CJ Clark on my BBM (BlackBerry messenger) when I messaged him and gave him an update. “I told him I was feeling good, the progress I was making, I was running, I was in the gym, and working. His only response was that he would send a fitness programme, which I did not receive until the IPL offer had presented itself.” Gayle, who will turn out for Royal Challengers Bangalore for the remainder of the IPL, said at no time was he contacted by the WICB as to his involvement in the Pakistan series.
As a result, when the IPL offer came in, he said he was forced to look after his own interests even though he had been intent on representing West Indies. “I was forced to make this decision based on what was happening around me, based on what has happened to current players who are (Ramnaresh) Sarwan and (Shiv) Chanderpaul, so I was forced to make that decision. “I wanted to play, I wanted to represent West Indies. That was my ultimate goal. But based on what was happening I was forced to make the decision to come to India to participate in the IPL. “An opportunity presented itself, I didn’t know what was going to happen. A T20 squad was named, an ODI squad was named, Chris Gayle wasn’t informed as to what was happening [and] I didn’t know what the future held.”
(CMC)
Gayle sweating on NOC before taking up IPL stint
Talismanic West Indies opener Chris Gayle is awaiting a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the West Indies Cricket Board before he can take up a last-minute offer to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
The giant left-hander has been identified by Royal Challengers Bangalore to replace injured left-arm pacer Dirk Nannes, but under IPL regulations will require an NOC in order to suit up.
Gayle has applied to the WICB for the NOC and is awaiting the verdict, which CMC Sports understands will come later this week. An NOC committee deliberates over application for a certificate before approving or denying the request.
The latest move comes on the heels of Gayle being overlooked for the first two one-day internationals of the five-match series against Pakistan, which bowls off on Saturday in St Lucia.
He was one of three senior players - Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul were the others - controversially omitted from the ODI squad as West Indies selectors shifted their focus to younger players.
Reports Tuesday indicated that Gayle had informed the WICB about his unavailability for the Pakistan series, with the IPL finishing May 28.
The Pakistan series, which comprises one Twenty20 International, five ODIs and two Tests, starts tomorrow and winds up May 20.
In the IPL auction earlier this year, Gayle went surprisingly unsold after attracting a base price of US$400,000.
Gayle has played for Kolkata Knight Riders since the IPL's inception three years ago.
CMC
18 'Penns' teams get call from LIME
Sponsorship cheques totalling $1.83 million were handed over to 18 local educational institutions to send teams to the Penn Relays scheduled for April 28 - 30 at the University of Pennsylvania by telecommunications company LIME.
At a function held at the Wyndham Hotel in New Kingston, LIME presented cheques valued at $100,000 to each of the benefiting schools. In addition, all members of the travelling contingents will be able to 'phone home' as LIME gave "Jus Talk" calling cards to each athlete, coach and administrator attending the meet, representing a value of $30,000. The telecom company also contributed to $688,000 to Team Jamaica Bickle, an organisation that will be providing meals and transportation for the Jamaican athletes in Pennsylvania. This brings LIME total contribution to just over $2.5 million.
This year's sponsorship marks the continuation of a time-honoured tradition for the telecom company which has provided sponsorship to send local school teams to the relay carnival for the last 19 years.
Chairman of the LIME Foundation, Errol K. Miller, said: "It is always a pleasure for us at LIME to help our high schools and colleges to send teams to the Penn Relays where our young athletes can get the kind of experience and exposure that will prepare them to compete on the international stage."
"LIME has been providing this sponsorship to educational institutions for the last 19 years and we are proud of the roll that we are playing in shaping the next generation of great Jamaican athletes," he added.
sporting start
The Penn Relays sponsorship follows closely on LIME's $8 million allocation to the Inter-Secondary Schools Association for the staging of the 2011 Boys and Girls' Athletics Champion-ships. Also, today's presentation was made just ahead of the 2011 LIME CARIFTA Games which begins at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James, this weekend. LIME recently signed a $36 million agreement with the North America, Central America & Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) to be the games' title sponsor for the next two years.
In addition, in 2010 LIME signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) under which Jamaica's junior athletic programme will receive $7 million on a yearly basis.
The teams receiving sponsorship from LIME this year are:
Calabar High School, Camperdown High School, Convent of Mercy Academy "Alpha", Edwin Allen High School, GC Foster College, Herbert Morrison Technical High School, Holmwood Technical High School, Jamaica College, Kingston College, Munro College, Old Harbour High School, St George's College, St. Jago High School, The Queen's School, University of Technology (UTech), Vere Technical High School, Wolmer's Boys' School and Wolmer's Girls School.
Vybz Kartel To Retaliate Against 5-O
Estrange Dancehall deejay Vybz Kartel, whose Colouring Book party was abruptly cancelled by Jamaican lawmen last week, has fired back at the authorities by hinting a lawsuit.
According to reports, Vybz Kartel is seeking legal advice from his lawyers over what he describes as “vindictive” police officers.
The Colouring Book party which was slated for last Saturday (April 16th) was abruptly cancelled a day before by law enforcement officials, who cite criminal elements and public safety as the deciding factor. But Urban Islandz sources inside the Gaza seek to dismissed the police claim as “rubbish.”
“From we an a certain promoter have a fallout we start get fight from corrupt police for every show we keep,” the source disclosed. “This talk about criminal elements is pure rubbish, dem just don’t want see the crowd wha di teacha a go pull.”
Vybz Kartel claim may worth a shot according to the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) legal officer, Wendy Duncan, who disclosed that once Vybz Kartel can prove courts that the breach has caused damage and loss; he may be able seek compensation.
Vybz Kartel was the headline act for the “Colouring Book” party originally scheduled for Saturday (April 16) at Lime Village in Portmore.
Source: Urban Islandz
“The Harder They Come” Remake Set For 2012 Release
The remake of “The Harder They Come” is schedule to hit the big screen in 2012.
Filming of the classic Jamaican urban drama movie is schedule to begin later this year. Part of the film will be shot on locations in Jamaica and London.
Casting of the film is now being assembled after which production should be wrapped up in time for a summer release in 2012.
The 1972 classic “The Harder They Come” was starred by the legendary reggae singer Jimmy Cliff, who plays Ivanhoe Martin, a character based on Rhyging, a real-life Jamaican criminal who achieved fame in the 1940s.
The film remake should be exciting.
New Owners of Death Row Banned From Selling 'The Chronic' Online
The new owners of Death Row Records lost a round in court yesterday (April 19th), when a judge ruled that the label does not have the rights to sell Dr. Dre's hit album The Chronic digitally.
U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder ruled that Dr. Dre has never received the proper royalties from sales of the hit album The Chronic, which has sold over eight million copies since being released in 1992.
While The Chronic can still be online, Judge Snyder ruled that Dr. Dre should receive 100 percent of all of the proceeds from online sales of the album.
The judge also ruled that the new owners of Death Row Records do not have the rights to sell Dre's music from The Chronic on a compilation or any other albums.
The judge ruled that Death Row could only sell The Chronic in four formats: CD, cassette, vinyl and 8-Track.
Gucci Mane To Plead Not Guilty To Pushing Woman Out Of Car
A lawyer for Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane has denied accusations that he pushed a woman out of his Hummer as it was moving, resulting in a misdemeanor charge.
Yesterday (April 19th), Gucci, born Radric Davis, was formerly charged with battery, reckless conduct and disorderly conduct.
The rapper, who is still incarcerated, plans to plead not guilty, according to his lawyer Ashutosh Joshi.
Prosecutors accused Gucci of showing a "willful disregard for a woman's personal safety" when they formally charged the 31-year-old rapper.
"We obviously believe the charges are false,"Joshi told the Macon Telegraph. "We don't agree with them and we look forward to having the opportunity to fight the charges in court."
Gucci is accused of pushing a 36-year-old woman named Diana Graham out of his Hummer on January 28th, after the woman allegedly refused a proposition from the rapper, to visit a local hotel.
Kanye West's Non-Profit Closes Doors
Kanye West's non-profit foundation has closed for unknown reasons, according to reports.
The rapper's Kanye West Foundation closed its doors after four years in existence, according to a former employee of the non-profit, which was at one time headed by the late rapper's mother, Dr. Donda West.
A former executive director for the company sent out an email to colleagues making the announcement.
The foundation's productivity appeared to flounder after the death of Dr. West, who died in 2007 from complications of plastic surgery.
LIME donates umbrellas to Providenciales Airport Authority
The leading telecommunications company in the Turks & Caicos Islands made a contribution that would potentially touch every visitor to the shores. LIME donated 500 umbrellas for use by the Providenciales Airport Authority during the rainy season and to shelter tourists from the elements when they are at the airport.
Due to the major renovations being undertaken with the expansion of the airport, tourists and returning residents have a longer path to walk to get to and from the planes. These umbrellas will aid in ensuring that they arrive dry from any falling rain and protected from any of the sun’s rays.
Deputy Chairman of the Providenciales Airport Authority, Mr. Gordon Burton said: “We are so grateful to LIME for this kind gesture that will go a long way to assist passengers and residents upon arrival or departure. We would like to thank LIME for assisting us in delivering a great customer experience with the use of these umbrellas.”
General Manager of LIME, Mr. Drexwell Seymour commented, “LIME is indeed pleased to keep everyone covered from the elements with these umbrellas and I would encourage all to keep covered with LIME for your telecommunications needs.” He went on to say, “This is what partnership is all about. This means that passengers would have an enhanced customer service experience and LIME is proud to be a part of that.”
LIME will continue to be there in the community with relevant contributions that seek to make the lives of customers better.
Keeping you covered with umbrellas and with service. LIME. For Living. Everyday.