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The 2001-02 West Indies tour to Pakistan was shifted to Sharjah and during the second ODI played on 15 February 2002, Shoaib Malik at the age of 20 years and 14 days became the fifth youngest centurian in ODI’s. It was Malik’s first and overall, the 89th ton by any Pakistani player in limited over international cricket.Just for the record, Shahid Afridi, for his fastest 37-ball ton at the age of 16 years and 217 days, still remains the youngest, followed by Imran Nazir and Saleem Elahi. Afridi is also the only player to score two ODI tons before his 19th birthday. India’s Sachin Tendulkar is the only one with four hundreds before his 22nd birthday.All ODI centuries before a player’s 22nd birthday (29)

– All data updated to 28.02.2002

A grant of £150,000 from Sport England has been received, as the club act in response to a number of comments made by visitors to the Rose Bowl last season.One of the main complaints made during the inaugural campaign at the new ground were on safety issues including the dangerous steps leading down to the pitch side and the uneven and unstable state of the stone on the berm.But now, courtesy of the grant, Hampshire Cricket have invested in metallic handrails to aid the negotiating of the steps and the compaction of the stones for the time being ahead of some extensive work, which will commence during next winter.A £1million project to tarmac the car parking areas will start after the coming season, while the commission of lighting will also be included in this plan, which it is envisaged will be completed by the 2003 season.

India ‘A’ bowlers justified their captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar’s decision to bowl first in the second ‘Test’ against Sri Lanka A at the De Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa on Thursday. But, by the end of the second day, the visiting side’s top-order had let the team down somewhat, ending on 55 for four.The first day of the match being washed out, the second day saw Sri Lanka ‘A’, powered by hard-hitting opener Avishka Gunawardene, make a strong start. Quiet easily the dominant partner, Gunawardene ensured that his team put up 53 runs before fellow-opener Geral Daniel (12) became the first wicket to fall on the day.Sri Lanka ‘A’ number three Mohamed Nawaz, who replaced Daniel, continued his good batting form. Fresh from an unbeaten 80-odd in the second innings of the first ‘Test’ between the two sides, Nawaz started to middle the ball with heartening confidence. Even the dismissals of Gunawardene (51 off 69 balls) and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (7, in the space of 17 runs failed to ruffle him.With number five Chamara Silva proving an able ally, Nawaz began to stitch together a partnership that regained the intiative for the home team. The duo put on 121 runs before Nawaz (87) offered a return catch to Rohan Gavaskar. Nawaz’s innings had lasted 148 balls and contained 12 fours and one six.Once he departed, the Sri Lankan innings fell apart. Next man Muthumudalige Pushpakumara was out soon after, for just five. Soon, Silva too followed after a measured 65 off 103 balls.The remainder of the tail proved to be fairly brittle. Only KS Lokuarachchi provided any semblance of a resistance scoring 29 off 45 balls before falling to L Balaji. Balaji ended with four wickets for 47, the most successful of the seven bowlers used.India ‘A’ lost their first wicket, that of the in-form Gautam Gambhir, with just 19 on the board. Dulip Liyanage, who scalped Gambhir, snapped up two more in quick succession, removing Sridharan Sriram and Kanitkar. Pulasthi Gunaratne too got into the act, getting rid of Gavaskar.At the close of play, Akash Chopra at the top of the order was unbeaten on 37 off 62 balls. He was accompanied by Jai P Yadav, who had made six. India ‘A’ were precariously perched at 55 for four, and it will take some good batting from this pair, and the batsmen to follow, to ensure that the visitors do not lose this match.

An unbeaten half-century by Richard Kenway eased BAT Sports to a six-wicket win over Portsmouth and a placein the Southern Electric Contracting Cup semi-finals.Michael Barnes (30) and Dean Oliffe (29 not out) top scored in Portsmouth’s 116-8 before a two-wicket burst by Pete Hayward had BAT wobbling at 54-4. But Kenway (50) and Graham Noble (37) got BAT home off the last ball.Old Tauntonians & Romsey earned a third round visit to South Wilts after beating Calmore Sports by six runs.Max Smith (58) helped OTs reach 155-6 (Allan Hurst 4-28), while Jez Goode’s 56 for Calmore went unrewarded as the host club closed at 149-6.The quarter-final ties – Easton & Martyr Worthy v Bashley (Rydal), Rowledge v Burridge – are being played on Tuesday (6pm), with the South Wilts-Old Tauntonians & Romsey match to be arranged.

Muttiah Muralitharan will face a disciplinary inquiry conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) next week after remarks made in a recent live television chat show.An interim committee member confirmed Friday that Muralitharan will face the inquiry: “We were to have the inquiry this evening (Friday), but had to put it off due to a request from Mr. Muralitharan who said he had a private function to attend.”The inquiry will now take place next week at the cricket board headquarters.Cricket board chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya, chief executive Anura Tennakoon, as well as interim committee members Guy de Alwis, Lawrence Amarasena and Ranil Abeynaike will attend the inquiry.”We brought down a tape from the television station which aired the interview and have previewed his remarks,” said the interim member.Muralitharan spoke about a wide range of issues, criticising the cricket administration, the role of businessmen in Sri Lankan cricket and the domestic cricket scene.The BCCSL had given permission to Muralitharan to appear on the show, which was also attended by former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga, but had expected him to talk only about his recovery from injury and other cricketing matters.If found guilty Muralitharan could either face a suspension or a fine.Following the interview, sports minister Johnston Fernando slapped a media ban on all cricketers and board officials until the 2003 World Cup.

Somerset’s young guns gave a good account of themselves on the first day of their three day match against West Indies `A’ at Taunton today.At lunchtime it looked as though it might have been a very different story, as the visitors went into the interval on 150 for 1 off 37 overs.During the afternoon session however the Somerset bowlers started to rein the game back in and eventually the West Indies were all out for 370 at 5.25pm.Matt Bulbeck bowled well early on without success, but was rewarded during the afternoon and ended with the impressive figures of 18 overs, 3 maidens 4 for 47, and there were three wickets each for Keith Dutch and Keith Parsons.In reply the Somerset opening partnership of Matthew Wood and Neil Edwards had taken the score onto 60 without loss by the close of play.The tall left handed Edwards who was making his first class debut, looked particularly confident on the front foot as he drove fiercely, bringing up the fifty, and ending unbeaten on 29, with his Devonian partner Wood on 28.At the end of the day acting skipper Keith Parsons told me: “I was very pleased with the way that we played today. The boys did well to bowl them out, and then our openers made a good start for us. The wicket is already taking spin and tomorrow we will be looking to get as many runs as we can.”Chief Executive Peter Anderson said: “This was a good days play for us. Our young batsmen gave a very good account of themselves at the end of the day.”

Worcestershire County Cricket Club have announced plans to re-develop two stands at the Diglis End of the New Road County Ground in Worcester. A planning application has been submitted to the City Council for the £450,000 project and it is hoped the project will be completed in time for the 2003 season.Sport England, under the Safer Sports Ground programme, have confirmed a grant of up to £200,000 towards the project.The re-development will increase seating capacity by over 700 and include a new scoreboard, bar and refreshment facilities, toilets and facilities for the disabled.Chief Executive, Mark Newton, explains "Our facilities for the public are in need of an upgrade and new legislation means we currently fall below the guidelines required for disabled access and viewing. This development will enable us to meet these new standards and provide much improved viewing for the public. This year’s day/night match saw a capacity crowd and we believe the introduction of 20/20 cricket next season will attract big audiences. New Road is without doubt one of the most beautiful grounds in the world and we believe the design of the new stands will ensure the unique charms of the ground are retained."

Virender Sehwag provided spectators with something to smile about at Derby, although there wasn’t much else to watch besides the scintillating right-hander as the Indians’ tour match ended in a predictable draw.Sehwag made 104 off just 97 balls (four sixes, 14 fours) and assured himself of impeccable form ahead of the decisive final Test at The AMP Oval next week. There was also a half century from Shiv Sunder Das as India closed on 182 for three.Earlier Rawait Khan fell nine runs short of a hundred and James Pyemont made 47 as Derbyshire’s under-strength team extended their first innings to 358. Ashish Nehra finished with four wickets and Anil Kumble three.

Somerset County Cricket Club are giving their full support to the charity soccer match and fun day that is taking place at Wordsworth Drive the home of Taunton Town Football Club this Sunday afternoon.The event is being organised by Chris Snook the football secretary of Somerset Fire Brigade to raise funds for the New York Firefighters Charity Fund.Chief Executive Peter Anderson told me: "We are giving this event our full support. England star Andy Caddick, young all rounder Pete Trego and wicket-keeper batsman Rob Turner will all be taking part in the charity soccer match in the afternoon, and afterwards the club have reserved a table, where Richard Johnson, Graham Rose and Kevin Shine will all be in attendance."Commenting on the prospect of playing in the soccer match fast bowler Andy Caddick said: "Please don’t kick me because I’m going out to Australia this winter and I’m likely to get a kicking over there!"Rob Turner said: "I’m a bit lame which may effect my performance on Sunday, although my county colleagues think that I’ve been a bit lame all year!"

Dalby’s Julian Nielsen will captain the Australia Post QueenslandUnder-19 cricket team for the national championships in Canberra fromDecember 11-22.Nielsen, a right-hand opening bat who plays first grade with Wests inthe Brisbane XXXX Grade competition, will continue a proud record inyouth cricket having captained the Australia Post Queensland Under-17team two seasons ago.He leads a team that contains two leg-spinners in Beenleigh/Logan’s LukeDavis and Redlands’ Ryan Le Loux and two players from regional centresin Gladstone right-arm pace bowler Matthew Turich and Toowoombaallrounder Peter Reimers.It will be the third championship in a row in the Under-19 team forDavis, a regular first grade player with Beenleigh for the past twoseasons.Turich, Gold Coast batsman Andrew Hicks, University left-hander NathanReardon and Valley pace bowler David Marriott have all graduated fromlast season’s Queensland Under-17 team.Turich and Hicks were selected in the Australian U-17 team followinglast year’s tournament.He and Reimers are members of the Queensland Academy of Sport Regionalcricket program, which has also provided Norths pace bowler GrantSullivan, a member of the program last year when he lived in Mackay.Reimers is a former Queensland U-17 player who was a member of theQueensland Country team that won last year’s national championships inWarrnambool. He has also represented the QAS in the national institutechallenge in Darwin in August.The Australia Post Queensland Under-19 cricket team for the nationalchampionships in Canberra, Dec 11-22: Julian Nielsen (Wests, c), AndrewHicks (Gold Coast), Steven Ledger (Sunshine Coast), Peter Reimers(Toowoomba), Chris Howe (Sunshine Coast), Nathan Reardon (University ofQueensland), Ryan LeLoux (Redlands), Luke Davis (Beenleigh/Logan),Murray Bragg (Norths), David Marriott (Valley), John Loader(Sandgate-Redcliffe), Grant Sullivan (Norths), Matthew Turich(Gladstone). Coaches: Mark McLatchey, Justin Sternes.