Cricket Briefs Maharoof pledges 200 per cent

KINGSTON – Sri Lanka seamer Farveez Maharoof pledged to give 200 per cent if that’s what it takes to defeat New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals today.

Maharoof made a compelling case for a starting place in the team with a man-of-the-match performance against Ireland last week where he took four wickets, including three in an over, as well as pulling off a stunning run-out. “I will give 200 per cent in the match and I would back myself to perform,” said the 22-year-old from Colombo.Pakistan probe finds no match-fixing link KARACHI – The chairman of the Pakistan probe looking into the national cricket team’s dismal World Cup said he found no evidence of match fixing or of any player being linked to the death of coach Bob Woolmer.Former test player Ejaz Butt said his committee had questioned players and officials extensively on both issues.Pakistan were knocked out of the World Cup after losing to hosts West Indies and a shocking defeat to minnows Ireland.Woolmer died on March 18 in Kingston, less than 24 hours after the Ireland loss, and Jamaican police are investigating his death as murder.Sri Lanka keep faith in Tharanga COLOMBO – Sri Lanka will persist with out-of-form opener Upul Tharanga for the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, the country’s chief selector said yesterday.The left-hander’s poor form – he has scored just 17 runs in his past three innings – raised speculation that former skipper Marvan Atapattu could replace him at Jamaica’s Sabina Park on Tuesday.But Asantha de Mel, the chairman of Sri Lankan selectors, said Tharanga’s good deeds far outweighed his recent failures and he deserved to stay in the team.”We must not forget that Tharanga scored two centuries against England last year and also scored two centuries in the Champions Trophy,” de Mel said just before leaving for the Carribean yesterday.Kallis and Hayden begin mind games GROS ISLET – Heavyweight hitters Jacques Kallis and Matthew Hayden kicked off the mind games ahead of Australia and South Africa’s potentially explosive World Cup semi-final tomorrow.Kallis is one of four survivors from the dramatic tied semi-final against Australia at the 1999 World Cup in Birmingham, together with former captain Shaun Pollock, wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and batsman Herschelle Gibbs.All four insist that the experience of playing in what at the time was rated the greatest one-day game of all time will have positive benefits in Wednesday’s clash at Beausejour.But Hayden, the 2007 tournament’s most prolific run maker with 580 to his name at an average of 82.85 as well as three centuries, is not convinced and believes that Graeme Smith’s Proteas are frightened by the defending champions.Lara’s fears for Test future BRIDGETOWN – Brian Lara spent his first day in international retirement on Sunday fretting over the future of Test match and first class cricket.The 37-year-old West Indies batting great made a tearful exit from the game on Saturday as his side lost an epic World Cup by just one wicket to England.But Lara’s concern now is lobbying for the preservation of Test cricket in the face of an increasingly packed one-day calendar as well as the advent of the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in South Africa in September.Nampa-Reuters and AFP”I will give 200 per cent in the match and I would back myself to perform,” said the 22-year-old from Colombo.Pakistan probe finds no match-fixing link KARACHI – The chairman of the Pakistan probe looking into the national cricket team’s dismal World Cup said he found no evidence of match fixing or of any player being linked to the death of coach Bob Woolmer.Former test player Ejaz Butt said his committee had questioned players and officials extensively on both issues.Pakistan were knocked out of the World Cup after losing to hosts West Indies and a shocking defeat to minnows Ireland.Woolmer died on March 18 in Kingston, less than 24 hours after the Ireland loss, and Jamaican police are investigating his death as murder.Sri Lanka keep faith in Tharanga COLOMBO – Sri Lanka will persist with out-of-form opener Upul Tharanga for the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, the country’s chief selector said yesterday.The left-hander’s poor form – he has scored just 17 runs in his past three innings – raised speculation that former skipper Marvan Atapattu could replace him at Jamaica’s Sabina Park on Tuesday.But Asantha de Mel, the chairman of Sri Lankan selectors, said Tharanga’s good deeds far outweighed his recent failures and he deserved to stay in the team.”We must not forget that Tharanga scored two centuries against England last year and also scored two centuries in the Champions Trophy,” de Mel said just before leaving for the Carribean yesterday.Kallis and Hayden begin mind games GROS ISLET – Heavyweight hitters Jacques Kallis and Matthew Hayden kicked off the mind games ahead of Australia and South Africa’s potentially explosive World Cup semi-final tomorrow.Kallis is one of four survivors from the dramatic tied semi-final against Australia at the 1999 World Cup in Birmingham, together with former captain Shaun Pollock, wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and batsman Herschelle Gibbs.All four insist that the experience of playing in what at the time was rated the greatest one-day game of all time will have positive benefits in Wednesday’s clash at Beausejour.But Hayden, the 2007 tournament’s most prolific run maker with 580 to his name at an average of 82.85 as well as three centuries, is not convinced and believes that Graeme Smith’s Proteas are frightened by the defending champions. Lara’s fears for Test future BRIDGETOWN – Brian Lara spent his first day in international retirement on Sunday fretting over the future of Test match and first class cricket.The 37-year-old West Indies batting great made a tearful exit from the game on Saturday as his side lost an epic World Cup by just one wicket to England.But Lara’s concern now is lobbying for the preservation of Test cricket in the face of an increasingly packed one-day calendar as well as the advent of the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in South Africa in September.Nampa-Reuters and AFP