The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has included the name of controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, in a list of 15- member team for the National Twenty20 Championship starting from October 4. 

However, the dispute over the payment of Rs 7 million fine imposed on the fast bowler has still not being cleared by the board.

In order to give his elbow some more rest, Sachin Tendulkar has decided to opt out of the Irani Trophy match to be played in Baroda from September 24. The master blaster batsman had earlier declared himself fit for the match. 

While speaking on this on Saturday, BCCI CAO, Ratnakar Shetty said, “Tendulkar is not playing the Irani Trophy because he has been advised a week of rehabilitation.”

Tendulkar injured his elbow in the third test match at Colombo against Lankans, due to which he was not able to play the ODI series in Sri Lanka.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson said that only one warm-up game in India would not sufficient for the team before October test mach. He said that the team needs more practice for outstanding performance. He demanded to increase the number of matches.

But BCCI is not interested to increase the number of matches as it can hamper India’s domestic game schedule. However, Australia has not formally requested for additional match.

Johnson said that the team will do its best to win the matches scheduled in next 3-4 months. All the players are well fit and ready take any challenge.

On Thursday Pakistani leg spinner Danish Kaneria seemed a bit frustrated for not playing Test cricket for more than eight months, since he had a tour in India in last December and thus he requested his board to increase the Test schedule.

He queried, "Just imagine my last Test appearance was in India in December. Sometimes it is frustrating. How can a country go without a Test match for eight months?

Kaneria however, was amicable to the condition of PCB, after due to security reasons, Australia postponed their three-Tests and five ODI tour to Pakistan scheduled for April-May. The player, who recently injured his finger and had to go under small surgery, requested the Board to increase the Test schedule than thinking of more limited overs games.

Indian cricket team won the fourth one-day international at the Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka. Speedster Munaf Patel and spinners Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh performed very well in the match and helped India to clinch the 46-run victory over the host Sri Lanka. It is a third successive victory of India over Sri Lanka. India has secured 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

India scored 258 in 49.4 over. Mahinder sing Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat first.

Ajantha Mendis seems to have built a really good impression on the Australian former coach John Buchanan, who feels that the player should be judged on long term basis.

On Tuesday, Buchanan reported in Mumbai, “Mendis reminds me a bit of Johnny Gleeson, though he releases the ball much quicker, is taller and stronger. He also has good change of pace.”

Buchanan is the chief coach of Kolkata Riders, an IPL franchise, and the Australian is in the country to carry out a two-day selection trial at Goregaon Sports Club for the same.