Muttiah Muralitharan

FLASHBACK 1991... The big moment - Muttiah Muralitharan of St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota (left) receives the Observer Trophy from Chief Guest Mr. Sirisena Cooray watched by then Observer Editor Mr. H. L. D. Mahindapala.

 Muttiah Muralitharan and his wife Madhimalar

'Murali doesn't deserve the record' - Emerson

Ross Emerson, the Australian umpire who no-balled Muttiah Muralitharan during an ODI against England in Adelaide in 1999, insists the offspinner doesn't deserve his record of most wickets in Tests and the 50-over format.

"I haven't changed my view in 15 years - he doesn't deserve the record," Emerson told Sydney's Daily Telegraph. "You couldn't compare his record to Shane Warne's - no one ever doubted the legality of Warne's action. Murali was a great competitor and a great bowler but a lot of the time he just didn't bowl within the limits of the law."

Murali will retire from Tests following the first Test against India in Galle that starts on July 18. He was first no-balled for "throwing" by Darrell Hair in the MCG Test in 1995 and it was almost ten years later that the ICC amended the rules pertaining to suspect bowling actions, permitting all bowlers to straighten their bowling arms by up to 15 degrees.

Hair, unlike Emerson, had no problems with Murali holding the record, but didn't regret his decision to no-ball him. Instead, he argued, the ICC's decision to change the rules vindicated his actions. "I have no angst over him holding the record but the fact that the rules had to be changed to handle bowlers like that vindicated my actions and the actions of other umpires who called him," Hair said.

"Once they changed the rules and made it legal for bowlers to bend their arm to 15 per cent they gave an advantage to a couple of bowlers who could get something extra from that rule. I would rather see the rule as it was where you couldn't bend your arm at all. That would mean everyone was the same."

Emerson, who later stood down and was not reappointed to the umpires panel, claimed he had been asked to no-ball Murali by an Australian official and was ignored once the incident became a major issue. "I was called to a meeting with him and, knowing that I had called some other players, he told me I had set standards in certain areas which I should uphold in Adelaide," Emerson said. "Yet everything blew up after I called Murali and when I saw him again he wouldn't even look at me.

"Darrell Hair and I were called the controversial ones yet the rule change proved us right. The controversial ones were the umpires who thought he was a chucker yet weren't brave enough to call him. A lot of umpires agreed with what we did but didn't have the courage to call him."

Murali, meanwhile, said he had proved his action was legitimate after being cleared by a series of Tests conducted by the ICC. "I have no regrets at all of being called a controversial bowler," he told reporters in Colombo. "I have proved everything by use of technology. I don't regret anything. My talent is God's gift.

"Nowadays, we use technology for everything. Those who criticise must give bowlers a chance to be tested, not treat them as criminals.

Chanderpaul Trophy dates announced

American College Cricket has announced the dates of the 2011 Spring Break Championships - The Chanderpaul Trophy - which will feature more than 20 colleges from across USA and Canada.

The tournament, which earned its name after West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul donated the trophy in 2009, will start March 15 next year and last five days with a final scheduled for March 20. After the success of last year's event the games will take place again at The Cricket Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

The tournament began in 2009, with five Colleges, and quickly grew to 20 Colleges in 2010, when 47 games were played in five days. The 2010 competition, won by Canada's York University, was the first major live video broadcast of any domestic cricket played in the USA, with games even carried live on the Jumbotrons at the Square One Mall in Toronto, Canada.

American College Cricket vice-president Nino DiLoreto said he expects even better things next year. "The live webcast of the Semis and Finals was carried on our AmericanCollegeCricket.com, as well as by the International Cricket Council (ICC ), USA Cricket, Cricket Canada, and more. It was a huge success and we plan to broadcast more games in 2011."

The most recent event also saw innovations such as time limits that ensured games finished within three hours to make it more media and spectator friendly. American College Cricket president Lloyd Jodah said: "York University are eager to defend the Chanderpaul Trophy, and many new college clubs are joining American College Cricket. We are assisting in the formation of cricket clubs and developing teams at Universities all across the USA and Canada."

'Immediate ties with Pakistan not possible' - Pawar

Sharad Pawar, the ICC president, has ruled out bilateral series between India and Pakistan in the near future, saying the restoration of cricketing ties between the countries was a diplomatic issue that had to be addressed by the two governments.

"Immediate ties between both countries is not possible," Pawar told PTI. "It is not in the hands of the cricket boards. It is a diplomatic issue. This is a decision taken by the Indian government."

Diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan worsened in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008. The BCCI called off a scheduled tour of Pakistan in early 2009, following a directive from the government. The two countries have only played two ODIs since - in the Champions Trophy in 2009 and the Asia Cup this year. The relationship between the two countries' board was also strained when Pakistan was stripped of its rights to host the 2011 World Cup after the Lahore attacks, and the World Cup secretariat was moved to Mumbai.

There has been steady speculation in Pakistan since the ICC meeting in Singapore of a potential Pakistan-India series, on neutral turf sometime next year. The chatter is linked with Pakistan's backing of other Asian and African countries, as well as the West Indies, in the movement to reject John Howard's nomination as ICC vice-president but PCB officials have not commented on the matter.

On Wednesday in Lahore, Ijaz Butt, chairman of the PCB, didn't confirm or deny a query on the possibility of a resumption, arguing that bilateral talks between any boards on future commitments should remain private until further development. Butt has, in the past, been open about wanting to see the rivalry resume sooner rather than later though he has also acknowledged that it is tied in with political realities.

MS Dhoni with his wife Sakshi Rawat in Kolkata

Injured Zaheer out of Sri Lanka tour

Zaheer Khan, India's strike fast bowler, has been ruled out of the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka due to a shoulder injury. The tour includes three Tests, followed by a tri-series in Dambulla, also involving New Zealand. The BCCI, in a statement, has announced that the Karnataka fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun will replace him.

Zaheer was rested for the recent tour of Zimbabwe in order to preserve himself for the busy season ahead. He participated in the Asia Cup in Dambulla and played in all four of India's games. The BCCI did not reveal the cause of the injury or for how long he has been adviced to rest. The indication is that he will miss the Test leg of the tour, at least, as the squad for the ODI tri-series will be announced later.

Zaheer however didn't reveal much in his Twitter feed: "Shoulder is troubling me a little need to sort it out ...hope to be back soon ... Important season ahead ..."

Zaheer's absence will come as a big blow to India, whose fast bowlers haven't been up to the mark of late, due to injuries and loss of form. That leaves a lot of responsibility on the likes of Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth to carry the attack in Sri Lanka.

Mithun has been on the fringes for the last few months after performing impressively for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy, where he was the tournament's highest wicket-taker. He was rewarded with a call-up to the national squad for the Tests against South Africa earlier this year and an international debut in the ODIs that followed. He was withdrawn from the India A squad in England to replace the injured seamer Vinay Kumar in Zimbabwe, but didn't get a game. He rejoined his team-mates in England for the one-dayers and in his most recent outing on Friday, taking 3 for 49 against West Indies A.

The tour begins on July 18 with the first Test in Galle.