Dravid resigns as India captain

Team India cricketer Rahul Dravid has offered to step down as captain of the Indian cricket team.

"I have nothing to say as of now," Dravid told the news channel Times Now .

According to reports, Dravid met BCCI President Sharad Pawar on September13 and expressed his desire to step down as captain. Dravid also said that he needn't be captain for the upcoming Australia series.

BCCI’s Prof. Ratnakar Shetty confirmed Dravid’s offer to resign as skipper of Team India. Shetty told Times Now , “I can say that it did come as a surprise. He will play Australia Test and ODI series”

“It’s for selectors to pick Dravid’s successors,” added Shetty.

Nevertheless, Dravid told BCCI that he will always be available as batsman for Team India.

Dravid’s resignation has come as a surprise to the cricket fraternity. Sourav Ganguly expressed shock on his resignation. Team India manager Chandu Borde also said that there was no prior indication of Dravid’s resignation. Former Indian cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi too expressed shock to Dravid’s resignation.

Bedi said, “I hope this is not a desperate move to get out of responsibility.”

“I hope Dravid has considered the pros and cons before resigning,” he added.

The BCCI will make the big decision to decide on Dravid’s successor on September 18. Rajiv Shukla, BCCI vice-president, said there are quite a few options available. Shukla said the board respects Dravid’s decision.

Although Dravid had offered to step down after the 2007 World Cup, his batting came under scrutiny during the recently concluded England tour.

Zimbabve Stun Aussies

Zimbabwe sent shockwaves through the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa as they recorded a remarkable five-wicket victory over Australia in Cape Town.The Australians, who have not played any competitive cricket since winning the ICC World Cup back in April, looked decidedly ring-rusty and ultimately paid the price against an inspired Zimbabwe outfit.Having won the toss and opted to bat first, Australia lost wickets at regular intervals and rather stumbled to 138-9 off their 20 overs with Brad Hodge top-scoring with 35 not out.Zimbabwe's run-chase was blighted by persistent rain which forced the teams from the field at one point.However, on their return, Zimbabwe were guided home by man-of-the-match Brendan Taylor (60 not out) who showed a cool head to help his side find 12 runs from the final over to clinch a famous victory.

Easy Wins for New Zealand and Pakistan

Four wickets each for Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul helped Pakistan to a comfortable 51-run win over Scotland in their World Twenty20 match in Durban.

The Scots performed well in the field to restrict Pakistan to 171 for nine from their 20 overs at Durban but the target proved beyond them.Opener Fraser Watts hit an excellent 46 but a middle-order collapse, in which Shahid Afridi claimed four quick wickets, undermined their efforts.Afridi finished with four for 19 while paceman Umar Gul took four for 25 including the wickets of Craig Wright and John Blain in successive balls.
Watts gave Scotland hope but he could not establish a significant partnership as the quality of Pakistan's attack shone through.Gul removed captain Ryan Watson and Navdeep Poonia early on and when former England all-rounder Gavin Hamilton swept Aridi into Gul's hands in the deep, the Scots began to fold.They slumped from 53 for three to 79 for seven in the space of four overs before Gul returned late on to bowl Wright and Blain and put Pakistan on the brink.They were eventually finished off for 120 in the final over as Mohammad Asif bowled Majid Haq for 14.

Earlier, Younis Khan top-scored for Pakistan with 41 but the Scots applied pressure and took wickets at regular intervals to keep themselves in the game.Wright shone with three wickets for 29 from his four overs, including that of dangerman Afridi.

New Zealand blew away minnows Kenya for a record low total at Kingsmead to begin their World Twenty20 campaign with a crushing nine-wicket win.

The Kenyans, whose previous apppearance in Durban was for the 2003 World Cup semi-final, never recovered from a whirlwind start and were eventually dismissed for a paltry 73.Any chances of an early tournament shock were dispelled inside the first two overs as Kenya were reduced to one for four.Fast bowlers Shane Bond and Mark Gillespie caused mayhem by moving the ball in the air and off the surface at pace, after New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss.Each of the first four Kenyan batsmen fell for ducks and runs did not overtake wickets until deep into the fourth over.Although Collins Obuya (18) and Thomas Odoyo (18) added some respectability with a stand of 36, the gulf in class saw Kenya shot out inside 17 overs.Gillespie finished returned to clean up the tail and finished with four for seven, the best figures in the short lifespan of international 20-over matches.The Black Caps cantered home inside eight overs with Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum and Peter Fulton all hitting sixes to emphasise the difference in power between the sides.It was a fine start to Vettori's career as full New Zealand captain, having taken over the Test leadership earlier in the day from Stephen Fleming.