Tendulkar Retained Skipper for I-Cup

CALCUTTA: Sachin Tendulkar has been retained as Captain of the national cricket team for the forthcoming four-nation Independence Cup limited overs tournament in India, May 9-28.

The decision to retain Tendulkar was taken after a telephonic conference by the national Selection Committee, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jagmohan Dalmiya, said here, May 3.

Dalmiya said the team for the first one-dayer against New Zealand would be selected, May 6 through a tele-conference with the Indian team management in Bermuda.

The Indian team will proceed to Bermuda to play two one-dayers after completing their engagements in the West Indies.

The BCCI Secretary said the national selectors will assemble in Calcutta, May 6, for the selection of the team.

The team for the next two one-dayers was likely to be selected in Bangalore.

Apart from hosts India, World Cup Champions Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand will feature in the day-night limited overs tournament in various parts of India.

Dalmiya said Justice Ahmed Ibrahim of Zimbabwe has been appointed the ICC match referee for the tournament. Hanumant Singh of India would be the ICC match referee for two matches -- Pakistan vs Sri Lanka at Gwalior, May 12 and Sri Lanka vs New Zealand at Hyderabad, May 20.

Two umpires from India and one each from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand would officiate in the championship organized to commemorate 50 years of India’s independence.

Dave Orchard of South Africa would be the ICC-nominated umpire for the series.

While S Venkataraghavan and SK Bansal would be the two Indian umpires, KT Francis (Sri Lanka), Javed Akhtar (Pakistan) and Steve Dunne (New Zealand) would be the other umpires. (PTI)

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