Muralitharan to play for Bengal in 2008-09 Ranji season

Bengal came out with a price catch for it's campaign in the coming Ranji Trophy season by roping in Sri Lankan spin wizard and Test cricket's highest wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan.

The Cricket association of Bengal (CAB) managed to rope in the legendary off-spinner after pondering over scores of names including his compatriot Sanath Jayasuriaya and Australia's Ricky Ponting.

The Sri Lanka Cricket has already given the 36-year-old spinner a no-objection certificate to play for Bengal in the 2008-09 Ranji Trophy season.

"The Lankan board chief, Duleep Mendis, has sent across a fax to us, mentioning that Muralitharan will be available for Bengal in the upcoming first-class engagements," CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya said.

Following the confirmation of the SLC's letter, the CAB also obtained a green signal from the BCCI, added Dalmiya.

The former ICC president however refused to share further details.

"Murali is now available to play for Bengal. With his experience of 756 Tests and 479 ODI wickets, Bengal cricket will benefit heavily. Further details of his availability will come later," Dalmiya added.

The Dalmiya-led CAB has earlier roped in 1983 World Cup hero Mohinder Amaranath as Bengal consultant.

However, it's not yet known if Murali will play in the initial stages of the Ranji Trophy or will join the team only in the knock-out phase.

However, some CAB insiders fear that his Indian Premier League (IPL) side Chennai Super Kings could make a last ditch effort to woo the top off-spinner for one last time before the transfer window closes.

If the Sri Lankan spin wizard eventually shows up, then Bengal will be fielding two high-profile names - Murali and former India captain Sourav Ganguly - in the Ranji Trophy's otherwise low-key Plate League.

The BCCI has fixed October 1 as the deadline for state associations to register foreign cricketers as 'guest players' for the 2008-09 domestic season.

The Sunil Gavaskar-led Technical Committee, had on August 30, decided to allow each association to select a maximum of four outstation players -- one of whom can be a foreigner --in their squads.

Thirty-six-year-old Muralitharan eclipsed the previous record-holder Shane Warne to become Test cricket's highest wicket taker in Test cricket.

He is also the second highest wicket-taker in One-Day Internationals.

Bengal open their Ranji Trophy (Plate League) campaign against Assam in Guwahati on November 3.

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No change in Test venues for Australia series

Saturday's bomb blast has not forced either the Indian cricket board or its Australian counterpart to take a fresh look at the four Test venues and the tour will ago ahead as scheduled.

"The Australians have not raised with the Indian board the issue of security or sought any changes in the tour itinerary," Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) spokesman Rajeev Shukla said.

About the Home ministry's advisory on Sunday to all the states and union territories to tighten security, Shukla said he would be meeting the union Home secretary on Tuesday to discuss the matter and provide board's inputs in making security fool-proof at all the four Test venues, three of which had been targets of terror attacks in recent months.

"To be fair to Cricket Australia or the team management, now in Jaipur, they did not complain or sought any assurance from the board on the security steps in place. Still, the security can be beefed up to their satisfactory level, but no venues will be changed," said Shukla.

Two of the venues, Bangalore and Delhi, have been the targets of bomb blasts.

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Pakistan likely to bring young pacers for India series

The Pakistani cricket team, struggling with a depleted pace attack, can draft at least two young cricketers in their squad for next year's home series against India, an official said.

Pakistan's bowling is looking blunt because of the unavailability of their top three pacers - Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul either because of disciplinary reasons or injury.

Pakistan Academy coach Aaquib Javed said fast bowlers Anwar Ali and Mohammad Talha are ready for Test cricket and if needed, can get a look in for the home series against India starting early January.

India will be playing three Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 game during its tour of Pakistan.

"We have a few exceptional fast bowlers in the Pakistan Academy side and at least one of them - Anwar Ali - is now ready to play Test cricket," said Aaquib, a former Pakistani fast bowler.

The Karachi-based Anwar has been the biggest success story for Pakistan Academy on its ongoing African safari, during which it won all its matches in Zimbabwe and Kenya.

Anwar is capable of swinging the ball, both old and new, at a decent pace. He shot to fame with a destructive display in the 2006 Under-19 World Cup final against India in Colombo, when his 5/35 guided Pakistan to a comfortable victory.

The youngster was selected for the Pakistan team's training camp earlier this year and has since been knocking at the doors of Test cricket.

Aaquib said Pakistan now has the option of selecting youngsters like Anwar, whom he believes has the potential to win big games. "I'm really impressed with Anwar. He is getting faster and can swing the ball both ways effortlessly. He is Test material."

Aaquib was also all praise for tall fast bowler Talha, who also had a successful African tour. "Its after a long time that in Talha, Pakistan has got a fast bowler with a natural yorker. He can beat the best of the batsmen with his yorker. He is also ready for Pakistan duty," said Aaquib.

Pakistan manager Haroon Rasheed, a former Test batsman, believed all-rounder Fawad Alam is also ready for Test duty and can do well against the Indians. "Fawad is exceptionally talented and has matured immensely. He can play Test cricket anytime now," said the manager.

Fawad, 22, has played 10 ODIs for Pakistan. He sparkled during the African safari with some superb knocks that included a triple hundred against Kenya in a four-day game in Mombasa last week.

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