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Hardly a week after the Indian Premier League (IPL) concludes on June 1, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh square off in a short tri-series in Bangladesh beginning June 8. Each team plays the other once, with the final on June 14. All matches will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur. No practice matches have been scheduled for the visiting teams.The tri-series will serve as a warm-up for the Asia Cup in Pakistan which commences on June 24. The series is an add-on to India’s punishing schedule, which includes a three-Test and five ODI tour to Sri Lanka after the Asia Cup concludes on July 6.Bangladesh last hosted a tri-series featuring the same teams in early 1998. India edged out Pakistan in a thriller in the best-of-three finals at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.ScheduleJune 8 – Bangladesh v Pakistan (Mirpur)
June 10 – India v Pakistan (Mirpur)
June 12 – Bangladesh v India (Mirpur)
June 14 – Final (Mirpur)
June 15 – Reserve day

Jamaican police are insisting that Bob Woolmer was murdered amid reports that Pakistani investigators have suggested otherwise due to lack of conclusive evidence. Karl Angell, director of communication for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), said that the investigation was based on credible evidence.”The pathologist did an autopsy. He said to us in a written report that the man died from asphyxiation occasioned by manual strangulation, based on that our investigation proceeded but we have always said that the investigation is an open investigation and all angles are being looked at,” Angell told .Mir Zubair Mahmood, one of the two investigators sent by the Pakistani government to assist with the police probe in Jamaica, told reporters that there is no evidence to suggest that the Pakistan coach was murdered. However, according to Angell, Mahmood denied speaking to any reporters with such claims.”Mahmood has indicated to us that a report was submitted to his boss that he had no discussion with any journalists or with anybody else regarding the report,” confirmed Angell. “In private conversation with the Constabulary Force, Mahmood said that he is pleased with the way the investigation was going and he made no such deductions.”The complete report from the pathology and toxicology results is being analysed with the help of the Scotland Yard and are yet to be released.

Richie Richardson: ‘You’ve got to think about the future. You’ve got to invest in younger players and give them a chance’ © Getty Images

Richie Richardson, the former West Indies captain, says he disagrees with Brian Lara’s appointment to the job for a third time and would prefer to see Ramnaresh Sarwan given the job.Speaking to the , Richardson, who led West Indies between 1992 and 1996 when Lara was at the start of his career, said the current vice-captain would have made a better option. “If you’re investing in the future and you’re thinking beyond World Cup, you would have given it [captaincy] to a younger player,” he said. “I thought that Sarwan would have got it [captaincy]…I don’t see the point of having him as vice-captain if you’re not going to give him the job at some stage. But at the end of the day, whoever is given the job, we’ve got to support the team.”Richardson said that Lara’s appointment was not a solution to West Indies’ problems. “I have no problem with Brian Lara as captain but he’s coming to the end of his career,” he said. “West Indies cricket is at the bottom and looking to come up. You’ve got to think about the future. You’ve got to invest in younger players and give them a chance. We seem to want to get instant results. We’ve got to forget about that. We’ve got to realise that our cricket is in disarray. We need to create a solid foundation and build from that.”Lara, who turns 37 on Tuesday, previously led the side between 1998 and 2000 and again between 2003 and 2005, but enjoyed modest results with ten wins and 23 defeats in 40 Tests.Sarwan, the vice-captain for the better part of the last three years, was believed to be a contender for the captaincy, as was Sylvester Joseph, who successfully led the A team against England recently. “He [Joseph] is highly respected as a captain throughout the region. I would have loved to see Joseph doing it, but he’s not in the team and it’s just hard to bring somebody from outside just as captain,” Richardson said. “It would have been nice if he was scoring a lot more runs and in the team. Naturally he’d be the one.”The West Indies host Zimbabwe for a seven-ODI series starting in Antigua today.

India 150 for 6 (Ganguly 45) trail Australia 474 (Clarke 151, Gilchrist 104, Harbhajan 5 for 146) by 324 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A century on debut for Michael Clarke – and many more to come, surely© Getty Images

Two sensational hundreds, two sensational balls, and a thoroughly ruthless and professional performance helped Australia assume control on the second day of the first Test at Bangalore. With their miracle workers gone, India found themselves staring at defeat, 324 runs behind with only four wickets left.It was a perfect day for Australia. Adam Gilchrist andMichael Clarke dominated the first three hours withsparkling footwork and spanking drives, and then theirbowlers coaxed life out of what had seemed afeatherbed pitch till then. Glenn McGrath showed whatAustralia had missed during their home series lastyear by winkling out two wickets in his first twoovers and Michael Kasprowicz, who won Australia aTest at this ground in 1998, showed how to bowl on aslow pitch by striking two vital blows after India hadsteadied themselves through an enterprisingpartnership between Virender Sehwag and SouravGanguly. Shane Warne then capped a great day for Australia by claiming VVS Laxman with a ball he willcherish: it drifted in, pitched on a perfect spot onleg, and beat Laxman’s prodding bat with sharp turn tohit off.The hope for India lay in an early breakthrough – but itdidn’t come until the last ball before lunch. In thosetwo hours, Gilchrist left the Indian spinners cluelessas he struck a fine balance between caution andattack. He scored quickly, but differently to his usual approach, choosingto go down the ground instead of behind square ashas been his custom. He carted bothAnil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh straight for sixes intheir first overs, and then opened up the field and pushedaround for easy runs. All through the morning, theIndians posted two men on the fence for thesweep, but unlike Matthew Hayden yesterday, Gilchrist didn’tfall for the trap.His first sweep didn’t come until he had 87, a controlled four tolong leg, and his century came up a couple of overslater, with two successive cover-driven fours thatbeat long-off. It wasn’t his usual swashbucklingstyle, but the hundred still came off 103 balls and theIndians just didn’t know where to bowl to him. He fellon the stroke of lunch, to a brilliant return catch,as Harbhajan dived full-length to his right to latchon to one that skimmed inches above the ground (423 for 5).

Shane Warne finally nails his nemesis, VVS Laxman, as Australia take charge at Bangalore© Getty Images

Gilchrist also played a crucial part in guiding Clarketo his hundred. With three figures in sight, Clarke wasa bundle of nerves early in the day. His first two fourscame through edges, before he survived a hugeleg-before shout against Kumble. With a seven-twofield against bowling that was directed outside off, Clarke swished and missed, changed his gloves,and made frequent forays to square leg between balls.But as soon as he traded his helmet for a baggy greencap, Clarke got to the landmark with a clipped two tomidwicket, becoming the first Australian since GregBlewett in 1994-95 to score a century on Test debut. Thenext 50 runs were made in unfettered style, and hesprayed the bowling to all parts as India’s slowbowlers, especially Kumble, were found wanting.Just after lunch, Kumble was thumped for two fours anda six over midwicket, as Clarke moved his feet withballet-like precision.He fell immediately after reaching his 150 as anattempted cover-drive off Zaheer Khan took the edge andwent straight through to Parthiv Patel (471 for 8). Harbhajan mopped up the tail in next to notime to finish with an expensive five-for – but by then, India were already requiring a mighty turnaround.McGrath struck with the fourth ball of the Indianinnings as Aakash Chopra shouldered arms to one thatdarted back in. Replays showed that the ball might havegone just over the stumps (0 for 1). But the body blowcame in McGrath’s second over as a peach of delivery,pitched outside off and cutting in, sneaked throughRahul Dravid’s defence to crash into the stumps (4 for 2). McGrath had struck twice in six balls, and Dravidleft to a stunned silence at his home ground.Ganguly scythed through that tension with two gorgeouscover-drives that had everyone gasping. He didn’t hold backwhen the ball was dug in short, and rolled his wristswhile executing the pull. At the other end, Sehwag letrip as the cover fielders chased some lashed drives.After bowling one over before tea, Warne returned in the 20th over of the innings. Sehwag immediately made room for himself and the ball teasedthe fielder at short extra cover before escaping thegrasp of the one at mid-off.But the introduction of Kasprowicz provided Australia with the double break. Gangulywas cut in half in Kasprowicz’s first over, as heintelligently varied the pace of delivery as well asthe extent of seam movement. Sehwag chipped a straightone uppishly to midwicket, where Justin Langer leapt up and latched on (87 for 3). And then Ganguly was done in by abrute of a cutter, and only managed to edge it toGilchrist (98 for 4).Until he received that Warne Special Delivery, Laxman looked inregal touch, with a couple of sublime flicks of McGrath andKasprowicz. It took a ripping, accurate legbreak toget him out and India finished the day seeking amiracle of Kolkata ’01 proportions.

Chris Hartley has some big gloves to fill when he makes his domestic one-day debut for Queensland in the ING Cup final against the Western Warriors at the Gabba on Sunday. Hartley replaced Wade Seccombe, who was included in the Australian Test squad, in the only change to the Queensland team for the ING Cup decider.However in his first class debut earlier this season, Hartley showed that he is not daunted by the big occasions. He became the first Queenslander since Matthew Hayden to score a century on debut when he scored 103 against South Australia. He went on to represent the Prime Minister’s XI against India in January.Seccombe has been a lucky charm for Queensland in the past decade, playing in the 1995-96 and 1997-98 Mercantile Mutual Cup victories. He was also an integral part of Queensland’s 1994-95 and 1996-97 Sheffield Shield wins and the hat-trick of Pura Cup titles between 1999-00 and 2001-02. Queensland have won six of their past seven ING Cup matches this season, including the last five on the trot. Their only loss in that sequence was against Western Australia at Perth.A final decision on whether Jimmy Maher, who suffered a hamstring injury, returns to the team is not expected to be made until Saturday. Maher scored a massive 187 when the Bulls amassed a record 4 for 405 against Western Australia in Brisbane earlier this month.Squad 1 Jimmy Maher (capt), 2 Stuart Law, 3 Martin Love, 4 Clinton Perren, 5 Craig Philipson, 6 James Hopes, 7 Chris Hartley, 8 Andy Bichel,9 Ashley Noffke, 10 Nathan Hauritz, 11 Scott Brant, 12 Chris Simpson

A battling, unbeaten innings of 85 from Craig White could not prevent England from being asked to follow on in the fourth Ashes Test at Melbourne. White’s innings salvaged a measure of pride for England after the tourists had been reduced to 118 for six in reply to Australia’s 551. England were eventually bowled out for 270, and an unbeaten 55 from Michael Vaughan took them to 111 for two in their second innings, still 170 behind.England, 97 for three overnight, were soon in dire straits. Nightwatchman Richard Dawson departed in the fourth over of the day, edging a turning delivery from Stuart MacGill to Martin Love at slip. Robert Key fell six balls later, lbw to an inswinging Brett Lee yorker.Nasser Hussain was MacGill’s second victim, brilliantly caught by a diving Matthew Hayden at short leg. The England captain got an inside edge on to his pad as he tried to sweep, and the ball ballooned up off his forearm.White then joined John Crawley to forge a 54-run partnership that initiated England’s fightback. It ended when Jason Gillespie was brought back, inducing a skyer from Crawley as he tried to pull. Justin Langer ran in from mid-on to take the catch.James Foster joined White, and another 55 runs were added in 23 overs before the next wicket fell. Steve Waugh eventually brought himself on, and ended Foster’s valiant effort by trapping the Essex wicket-keeper lbw for 19. Andrew Caddick and Steve Harmison were both dismissed by Gillespie with the new ball.Gillespie ended with four for 25, and White was left unbeaten after hitting MacGill for three sixes and scoring nine other boundaries in a stay of more than three hours.Sent in again by Waugh, Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick continued to attack before an umpiring howler by Russell Tiffin triggered Trescothick, adjudged lbw to a ball which hit him outside the line. Mark Butcher also fell before the close, playing firm-footed at Gillespie and edging to Love at slip.Vaughan and Hussain saw out the nine overs remaining, as Vaughan took his tally of Test runs scored this year to 1,397, overtaking Dennis Amiss’s England record.

Rahul Arora’s unbeaten 112 and his fourth wicket partnership of 121runs with opener Varun Gupta (95) went a long way in clinching thevital first innings lead for Punjab against Saurashtra on the secondday of their Vijay Merchant Trophy knock out tournament quarterfinalat Kolkata on Saturday. Replying to Saurashtra’s score of 295, Punjabby brisk scoring, had made 312 for six wickets off 78 overs by stumps.Saurashtra had the comfort of some early wickets and at 69 for three,Punjab were not very comfortably placed. But Varun Gupta and RahulArora turned the innings around with their crucial association. Guptawas out at 190 after facing 135 balls and hitting 16 fours. Arorafound another valuable ally in Gaurav Gupta (28) with whom he added 46runs for the sixth wicket. And finally Arora and Tarun Kansh (44 notout) added 65 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket to steer Punjabahead. By close, Arora had batted four hours, faced 163 balls and hitten fours. Kansh, who dominated the unbroken stand, had faced 84 ballsand hit eight of them to the ropes.Earlier, Saurashtra resuming at Thursday’s score of 269 for eight(there was no play on Friday because of a bandh in the state) were allout after adding 26 runs. Amit Sinha, who came in at No 9 on Thursdayevening and resumed at 57, was last out for the top score of 75. Hefaced 144 balls and hit 12 fours. Vipul Sharma, who took both thewickets to fall on Saturday morning, finished with five for 43.

Aston Villa correspondent Ashley Preece has been reacting to the announcement of a new deal for midfielder Tim Iroegbunam.

The Lowdown: Contract until 2027

Villa, who recently handed professional terms to midfielder Tommi O’Reilly, confirmed on Friday that they have finalised a fresh contact for Iroegbunam.

The 18-year-old only arrived at Bodymoor Heath last summer from West Brom and has clearly impressed Steven Gerrard. He has been a regular in the matchday squad since December and even made his Premier League debut in the 2-0 win over Brighton at the end of February.

Iroegbunam’s new contract runs until 2027, with Villa announcing that he will ‘become a full-time member’ of Gerrard’s first-team squad.

The Latest: Preece reacts

Preece firstly relayed the news regarding Iroegbunam’s maiden England under-19 call up via Twitter on Friday.

He then responded to the new ‘long-term’ deal for the midfielder, labelling it a ‘brilliant day’ for the Villa player.

The Verdict: Good news

Villa and Gerrard clearly rate Iroegbunam, so it’s good news that he has committed his future at the club until 2027.

You’d expect that he could feature from the bench in Villa’s final nine Premier League games of 2021/22, gaining more senior experience in the process, especially with the club comfortably sitting in mid-table.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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As mentioned, he is now a first-team player, so next season could be a breakthrough campaign for the teenager as he looks to follow in Jacob Ramsey’s footsteps.

In other news: ‘Not much more the club can do’ – Worrying claim emerges on coveted Aston Villa ‘star’. 

	“If we can bowl well tomorrow and set about chasing 350 on the final two days, then we have every opportunity” © Getty Images

New Zealand may have produced a flawless performance in the first Test at Hamilton, but on the second day at Wellington the cracks in their confidence began to show. With James Anderson leading the way with 5 for 73, they were dismissed for 198 and conceded a hefty first-innings lead of 144. But their wicketkeeper, Brendon McCullum, remains confident that – with three days of the match remaining – there is still plenty time for a turnaround.”It wasn’t how we had that part of the day planned out,” said McCullum. “But in saying that we have the opportunity to come back tomorrow and resurrect the mistakes we made today. To win this Test match we knew we’d have to bat well once and, whether it’s the first or second turn, it doesn’t matter. If we can bowl well tomorrow and set about chasing 350 on the final two days, then we have every opportunity.”To achieve that aim, however, New Zealand will need to better the efforts that England’s bowlers put in, and McCullum conceded that it would be a tough act to follow. “Our batting wasn’t as good as it should have been, but in saying that I thought they bowled very well,” he said. “I think the previous day we went past the bat a lot, but we were never in play. We probably bowled a touch short and they bowled that little bit fuller which brought the nicks into play.”The pick of the bowlers was Anderson, who endured some rough treatment in the recent one-day series, but found his form during a state game for Auckland last week. “I think Jimmy is a fine bowler,” said McCullum. “The game for Auckland helped, but he is a quality bowler and we knew the one-day series is different.”In one-dayers you try and be aggressive and try and dominate his style of bowling, but in the Test version, where he has a wicket that is conducive to where he likes to land a ball, he was always going to be tough to play. I thought he was brilliant. We didn’t play as we could, but in saying that I’ll take nothing away from the way he bowled.”He did, however, admit he was slightly surprised to be facing him at all, after Matthew Hoggard was dropped on the eve of the match following his one-wicket display at Hamilton. “I was surprised Hoggard didn’t play,” said McCullum. “He has been a fantastic bowler for England for a long, long time and he’s had probably just one below-par performance in a while. It was pleasing not to see him in the opposition, but when you can call Stuart Broad and Anderson then you’re not too bad.”Anderson’s only moment of discomfort came when McCullum and Daniel Vettori climbed into a counterattack midway through New Zealand’s innings. He was taken for 15 in one over that was reminiscent of the one-dayers, but McCullum paid England an extra complement when asked about his tactics during that period, and admitted he was trying to play in the manner of his opposite number, Tim Ambrose.

	I was surprised Hoggard didn’t play. He has been a fantastic bowler for England for a long, long time and he’s had probably just one below-par performance in a while.

“You have to be aggressive when you’re in a situation like that,” he said. “Playing on a wicket like that, when the bowler can land the ball in the right place for long enough, he’ll eventually have your number. I thought that if I could come out and be aggressive and hopefully knock them off their length a little bit, then the good balls would be a lot fewer and further between. Obviously it was short and sweet.” He made 25 from 21 balls before edging Broad to first slip.At the halfway mark of the match, the single biggest difference between the sides is the 164-run partnership between Ambrose and Paul Collingwood. Though Ambrose added only five runs to his overnight 97, he did enough to bring up his maiden Test century, and McCullum said it was richly deserved.We were pretty happy at 136 for 5, so to have that counterattack and the way they did it was outstanding,” he said. “It really changed the momentum of the game. When we kept beating the bat a lot I thought there was an opportunity to deny him, but he deserved to score a hundred for the way he played. The intent he came out with, and the courage to play that way when things aren’t that rosy on the scoreboard is a fantastic effort. I’m sure he’ll cherish it for a long time.”All in all, New Zealand are up against it in this Test, but McCullum said it was not for want of effort on their part. “We’re playing a very good Test team,” he said. “The opposition are allowed to play well. It would have been crazy to turn up here and expect to turn out a below-par effort, and still carry out a victory. There is certainly no complacency in our camp.”We talked long and hard about the need to dominate form the word go and, to England’s credit, they have done that to us. But the game has still got a long distance to travel and it’s about us maintaining the belief that we can get a result out of the game. If we didn’t genuinely believe we were capable of winning this game, we may as well not turn up tomorrow.”

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was lbw to Shaun Tait, but there were only a small number of people at the ground to see it © AFP

Brian Lara has vented his frustration at the lack of support WestIndies have received over the past two days of their contest againstAustralia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. In a match that ought to have been the plum draw of the Super Eights- an inaugural fixture at a brand-new venue against the reigningworld champions – a pitiful crowd was in attendance.Despite localsuggestions the match had been a sell-out, the 20,000-capacityground was barely half-full for the first rain-affected day, withperhaps half that many when the sun came out for West Indies’run-chase. “It’s very disappointing,” Lara said. “You’d back yourself to thinkthat at least every single game that West Indies plays is going to bea full house. We were received very well in Jamaica, where we got agood crowd against Pakistan and Ireland, but I thought I would be ableto close my eyes here, and for the rest of the tournament, and justsee our people come out and support the World Cup and support WestIndies.”The attendance figures don’t square with local anticipation of the match. One disgruntled fan suggested that the fault lay with the local organising committee, whose marketing of the game had fallen way short of what was required for such a big occasion. “There’s noculture of buying [tickets] online in the Caribbean,” he told. “Instead there were queues around the block for the fewkiosks at the ground, and everyone assumed the seats would have gone.”Stephen Price, the tournament’s commercial director, told 11,100 tickets had been bought in advance for this game, and a further 700 on the morning of the match. He denied that the pricing or the marketing strategy had been at fault for the poor attendance, but added that plans were in place to distribute the spare tickets to local schools and tournament sponsors. They were unlikely, however, to be implemented in time for Thursday’s match against New Zealand.”Centres in each of the territories put tickets on sale at the same time as they went online,” Price said. “We also utilised a global network of 50-plus agents. Tickets were easily accessible, and with a significant amount of entry-level prices, starting at US$25, which is the equivalent to a category two ticket in a regular bilateral series. But in some cases, the fans have not attended.”Price said there had been an attempt to change the Caribbean culture into one that buys early instead of leaving everything to the last minute. “Tickets went on sale ten months ago,” he said. “For a normal bilateral series, they would go on sale two weeks in advance. But there have been the same number of kiosks as ever. The queues may have been long in the late evening, but in the early morning they were empty. People could have come out at lunchtime, or in their own time. To claim otherwise is just an excuse.”

The infrastructure is good, so now it’stime for the manpower

The commentator Mark Nicholas was disappointed the match was not a sell-out and said the locals were frustrated by the long queues. “A lot of them gave up and said ‘no, I’m not prepared to wait two hours’,” he said. “It’s been one of the problems confronting spectators. The huge amount of security, that’s one thing, the other is the long lines for tickets and long lines for food.”Nicholas said the remoteness of the site – “you can only park a mile away despite huge areas all around” – was a problem when comparing it to the previous venue. “The old ground was in the middle of St John’s and it was very popular,” he said. “There was a great party feel to the place, but it’s going to be very difficult to rekindle that here.”The controversy dampened an occasion that oughtto have been a proud moment for West Indies and for Antigua. “It’s avery good stadium, it’s beautiful and it’s a tribute to the man, SirVivian Richards,” Lara said. “It’s been an awesome effort by theAntiguan people getting this ready, and it’s going to be wonderful forWest Indian cricket moving on. The infrastructure is good, so now it’stime for the manpower.”Not everyone was impressed with the positioning of the new ground. Built on a greenfields site 20 minutes outside of St John’s,many fans had to walk for several kilometres to reach the entrance, or pay for a shuttle service. An impassioned West Indian supportertold a local TV station that it was the spectator’s right to expect tobe able to park outside a new and purpose-built ground, while otherscomplained that the spontaneity that had existed at the old AntiguaRecreation Ground was missing from the new venue.But Lara said there would have to be a change of attitudes allaround as West Indian cricket gets used to its new era. “When you’retalking about the improvement of facilities the spectators also haveto adapt,” he said. “It’s not enough to be able to stay in the sameareas or stadiums just because the atmosphere was great. We’ve hadsome wonderful times at the ARG, but now we move on to the Sir Vivstadium and it is something to be proud of over the years.”Some of these stadiums were dilapidated. Georgetown andother grounds have been around for donkey’s years. I’m sure peoplewill adjust. I may have been disappointed with the crowd today but Ithought the party stand wasn’t bad here or in Jamaica. People aregoing to enjoy it, and I think the cricketers are very happy that wehave facilities that are second-to-none. If you go to the MCG orLord’s the facilities are great. It’s nice to know we are gettingthere.”