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Rahul Dravid was watchful in compiling his unbeaten 33 from 112 balls © Getty Images

Rahul Dravid has declared himself ready to open in the Boxing Day Test against Australia and he believes India’s promising middle-order prospects can no longer be ignored. While Dravid would not confirm if the plan was set in stone, India gave a strong indication of their strategy by sending him in with Wasim Jaffer to begin their rain-affected tour match against Victoria.Dravid survived the 158 minutes of play that were possible, reaching 33 not out, and a move to the top of the order in the Test might open the door for Yuvraj Singh to retain his place after he made 169 in the final Test against Pakistan earlier this month. Sachin Tendulkar did not play in that match and will need to slot back in, leaving the selectors to ponder the make-up of their batting order.”We’ve had a very strong middle order over these years, a lot of the same people have played in the middle order a lot,” Dravid said. “We’ve got a lot of good young middle-order batsmen coming in who can’t really be ignored.”Three of his top-order colleagues fell around him and the Junction Oval but Dravid was typically careful, happy just to spend some time at the crease after his disappointing Test series against England and Pakistan. In the three Pakistan Tests he felt he didn’t have “the rub of the green”, and scored 38, 34, 50, 8 not out, 19 and 42.”It’s been a strange series in the sense I got a few starts, maybe played a couple of average shots as well,” Dravid said. “I’ve spent a bit of time in the middle so I feel like I’m playing well, I’m moving my feet and batting well.”But he will have to take that confidence into the unfamiliar role of opener in the first Test, and if Melbourne’s thundery weather continues as expected on Friday and Saturday his preparation might be very limited. Dravid has opened 13 times in Tests, averaging 33.54, and he has not filled the role since February 2006.”I’ve batted all my career in different positions,” he said. “Batting at three you probably come in early a few times as well, but it is a little different. It’s a little bit with the mindset, you’re used to batting in a particular position.”Right from the time I was in school I played in the middle order so you get used to something like that. But as a professional cricketer and as a professional sportsman you’re adaptability is important. The critical thing for me is the changeover – you have just ten minutes [between innings].”India’s impressive results last time they toured Australia – the 2003-04 series was drawn 1-1 – came largely through strong batting and Dravid conceded he would be under pressure to maintain that standard if he opens in the Tests. “As we showed last time if we can get through the early part with the new ball without the loss of too many wickets, we’ve got the kind of batting and people who can make it count later on,” he said.The three-day warm-up match in Melbourne was reduced to only the post-lunch session as heavy rain bookended the day’s play. A torrential downpour came right on tea and the Junction Oval was almost completely under water, but within an hour and a half the rain had stopped and the grass was again visible.Dravid said it would be disappointing if India’s only practice match was washed out ahead of the first Test in what he called the most challenging tour of all. Last time they visited Australia India had good weather for their two tour matches before the series began, and Dravid said that preparation was ideal.”We would definitely have liked more than one warm-up game,” he said. “[But] international cricket is cramped nowadays. We’ll just have to do the best with what we’ve got.”

Ricky Ponting’s half-century set up a comfortable win against England on Friday © Getty Images

Ricky Ponting will take his annual mid-season holiday and miss Australia’s CB Series match against England in Brisbane on Friday. The resting and rotation policy means Brad Hodge will come into the 14-man squad that will be captained by Adam Gilchrist, who will have Michael Hussey as his deputy.Last year Ponting was heavily criticised because his break took in Australia Day, the national holiday, but this time his leave has been brought forward after his side easily won its first two games of the tournament. Australia beat England by eight wickets on Friday and New Zealand by 105 runs on Sunday, with Ponting scoring 82 not out and 10.”We feel that Ricky needs and deserves a break,” Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. “He has played every match for Australia in all forms of the game since the DLF final in Malaysia in September, and we think this is the right time for him to allow his body to rest ahead of the World Cup. Hodge is a logical replacement.”Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath have benefited from mini-breaks during previous years and players who appear in both Tests and ODIs are the most likely to be given time off ahead of the tour of the Caribbean starting in March. Ben Hilfenhaus, who collected 1 for 26 on debut on Sunday, will act as cover for McGrath and Brett Lee, who has been suffering from a chest infection.McGrath missed the New Zealand match with a minor groin injury and will be reassessed on Wednesday. Alex Kountouris, the Australia physiotherapist, said Lee felt better after a bout of bronchitis and expected to be available on Friday. If Hilfenhaus is not required he will turn out for Tasmania against Queensland in a Pura Cup game starting in Hobart on Friday.Australia squad Adam Gilchrist (capt, wk), Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Brett Lee, Brad Hogg, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn McGrath, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Thanks to Mohammad Asif, the Pakistani fast bowler, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) qualified for the tournament’s Quadrangular Stage round as they beat Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) by 100 runs on the final day of their Patron’s Trophy match at the Arbab Niaz Stadium at Peshawar yesterday. It could be said that the result was contrived as both sides decided to forfeit their first innings and the match was reduced to a single-innings affair. There had been no play at all on the first three days due to heavy recent rains in the city and then because of the unplayable condition of the ground.On the fourth and final day yesterday, Rao Iftikhar , the ZTBL captain, won the toss and put NBP in, who went on a run blitz, hammering 268 for 9 in a mere 40 overs. ZTBL were bowled out for a poor 168 in reply.Budding youngster Shahid Yousuf, formerly on the ZTBL rolls, hit 10 fours and a six as he took a mere 85 balls for his 99 in seven minutes short of two hours. Yousuf, 19, was unlucky to miss out on what would have been only his third century in first-class cricket. With Faisal Athar, who hit 45 off 62 balls with five fours, Shahid’s third-wicket stand was worth 117. The fact that Bilal Asad, the fast bowler, took 5 for 64 in 11 overs became secondary in the face of a run-glut.From there onwards, it was Mohammad Asif’s show. In 11 overs, the young batsman from Sheikhupura captured 5 for 70, with great help from Mohammad Sami (2 for 46) and Mansoor Amjad (2 for 30). The only bright spot in the ZTBL innings was a 61-run seventh-wicket stand between Naved Ashraf, who scored 66 off 54 balls with seven fours and three sixes, and Bilal Asad, who hit 35 runs off 37 deliveries with six fours and a six.The match, originally scheduled to be played at the Lahore City Cricket Asociation Ground, was shifted because of the poor conditions there mainly due to heavy fog and poor visibility. In Peshawar, there was no play possible on the first three days. NBP, five-time winners of the tournament, have now moved to the Quadrangular Stage round. Four-time champions ZTBL were content to finish at fourth place in the five-team Group B table. Service Industries, after having gained no points from their four matches of which they lost three and drew one, had already suffered demotion to the non-first-class Patron’s Trophy Grade-II circuit. Ironically, they had qualified for the ongoing tournament after having won the last season’s Grade-II championship.Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) retained their top position in Group A, as their final-round Patron’s Trophy Cricket Championship match against Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) ended in a draw on the final day at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Sports Complex at Karachi. For this drawn result Faisal Iqbal, PIA’s captain, had to play a determined and grim match-saving knock of 80 not out as his team reached 196 for 7 in their second innings after having had to bat out the entire day yesterday.Earlier on Wednesday, PIA had gained the crucial first-innings lead against SNGPL which was significant, even if it amounted to just 8. They then lost two quick wickets before the close of play on the third day.With Samiullah Niazi, the left-arm fast bowler, bowling at his best PIA were tottering at 54 for 5 early yesterday. Faisal was helped by the in-form Mahmood Hamid, with back-to-back unbeaten centuries in his last two innings, in a sixth-wicket stand of 38. However, PIA’s seventh wicket fell with the score at 130. Faisal and Tahir Khan, who followed up his first-innings 47 with an unbeaten 29, then took their team to the safety of stumps by batting resolutely for just over an hour. Faisal remained unbeaten on 80, made off 202 balls in just short of four hours with eight fours. Samiullah finished with figures of 4 for 59 to add to his first-innings 3 for 75.PIA have now qualified from the five-team Group A for the Patron’s Trophy Quadrangular Stage round that starts from January 15, along with second-placed Habib Bank. SNGPL, with nine points from their three previous matches, also needed to win here to take their tally to 18, something which could even have taken them into the Quadrangular Stage ahead of PIA. They eventually had to settle for fourth place. PIA, who have never won the Patron’s Trophy but shared the title last season with Habib Bank after the final was rained off, ended with a total of 18 points that kept them ahead of the rest.Pakistan Customs batted stubbornly in their follow-on innings to reach 292 for 5 as their final-round Patron’s Trophy match against Habib Bank ended in a draw at the United Bank Limited (UBL) Sports Complex Ground No.1 at Karachi. This splendid display, however, came as no consolation to them in real terms as, having finished at the bottom of the five-team ranking table, they had already suffered relegation to the non-first-class Patron’s Trophy Grade-II circuit of the next season.Habib Bank, record seven-time Patron’s Trophy winners, took three points from the draw to take their total in four matches to 15. They have now qualified for the Quadrangular Stage round that starts from January 15 alongside Group A table-toppers PIA.Customs were forced to follow-on by Habib Bank, after they had fallen 223 runs short of the latter’s big first innings total of 506. Resuming at 49 for 1 in their second innings yesterday, Customs batted throughout the day scoring 292 for 5.The second-wicket stand between Kashif Siddiq (42) and Azhar Shafiq (45), both left-handers, produced 91. Another 109 came for the fourth-wicket partnership that took the score beyond 200.The experienced Afsar Nawaz top-scored with 83 that took him just short of three hours while he faced 123 balls and hit 16 fours and a six. Fawad Alam, the young left-hander, followed his first-innings 94 with an unbeaten 71. Fawad, 20, was part of the Pakistan team at the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in early 2004. He hit seven fours in his knock that came off 165 balls in almost three and a half hours. With Rashid Ali, he added an exact 50 for the unbroken sixth-wicket stand when the match was called off.Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) took the first-innings lead and the three points on offer over Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on the final day of their match at the Sheikhupura Stadium on Thursday, but still failed to move to the next stage. PTCL continued to lead the points table with a tally of 18 but WAPDA, even though they came at par with National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) with 15 points, slumped to third place in the five-team table on the basis of more wins and the net run-rate.NBP won two of their four matches, also beating Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in Peshawar yesterday, after either side had forfeited its first innings. WAPDA won only once while drawing the other three matches. Moreover, NBP finished with a net run-rate of +1.427 while WAPDA’s figure was +0.957. Their efforts here yesterday were thus of no avail. WAPDA were the Patron’s Trophy runners-up in 2003-04 while PTCL have never won a national title. Alongside NBP, the latter have now qualified from Group B for the Quadrangular Stage round.With the first two days of the match washed out because of heavy rains and their aftermath in the city, play started only on the third day on Wednesday. Put in to bat, PTCL were reeling at 108 for 8 in 54.3 overs by the day’s close. Yesterday, PTCL were all out for 134 in 66.2 overs, with Farooq Iqbal, the slow left-armer, finishing with figures of 6 for 46 runs in 23.2 overs.WAPDA then spent the rest of the time compiling a score of 232 for 6 in 73 overs and taking the first-innings lead. Adil Nisar, the captain, top-scored with 87 off 178 balls with nine fours and two sixes. His second-wicket stand with Tariq Aziz (28) produced 83 runs, and another 51 were added for the third wicket with Aamer Sajjad (38). Mohammad Hussain, a former Pakistan left-arm spinner, collected five of the six wickets to fall.

Jacques Kallis: fastest-known Test fifty© Getty Images

Records tumbled on arguably the most one-sided first day of a Test in 128 years of international cricket. It was gruesome to watch, but at least the statisticians had something to get excited about.First to go was Zimbabwe’s lowest Test score. Their previous-worst was 63, at Port-of-Spain in March 2000, when they wilted in the face of what seemed to be an easy victory target of just 99 runs. But today was worse: only Stuart Matsikenyeri made double figures, although curiously there was only one duck as Zimbabwe succumbed for 54. Click here for a list of the lowest innings in Tests.As South Africa toyed with the bowling as if it was the Father’s Match at school, another record loomed into view. The biggest lead that a side batting second had established by the end of the first day in any Test was 233, when England ran up 286 for 8 after bowling out Australia for 53 in 75 minutes at Lord’s in 1896. That 109-year-old record was soon in tatters – like Zimbabwe’s spirits – as the runs cascaded after tea, a session in which South Africa scored 249 in 33 overs.Jacques Kallis, soon after smacking three successive sixes off Graeme Cremer, hurtled to his half-century in just 24 balls – the fastest-known in terms of balls faced, relegating Ian Botham’s slaptastic 26-ball fifty at Delhi in 1981-82 down a place.There was also the little matter of Makhaya Ntini’s 200th Test wicket – he’s the third South African (after Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock) to get there, and the 46th from all countries – and Mark Boucher’s 300th Test dismissal behind the stumps (only Ian Healy and Rod Marsh have made more). There was even one bright moment for Zimbabwe: Tatenda Taibu scored his 1000th Test run.Wisden doesn’t do records for hurt pride, or the Zimbabweans might have clocked up a few more. But Cremer’s figures of 9-0-86-3 were a candidate for Most Unusual in Tests (Asanka Gurusinha runs him close, with a spell of 1.5-0-25-2 in 1986-87), while Tatenda Taibu’s persistence with a slip and a gully almost all day would have come in high on the mythical Most Optimistic Field Placings table.

New Zealand’s domestic cricket showpiece, the State Championship, begins on Monday and the incentives to succeed for teams and individuals have been heightened this summer as a result of New Zealand Cricket’s decision to embark on a much more productive A team series.Once the season is completed, a New Zealand A team will meet Sri Lanka A in the first of what is likely to be regular competition, possibly embracing a world A series, to stiffen the ranks of international potential players.There is a much more settled look to sides for this year’s series, an outcome that had been anticipated as a result of the greater encouragement players received from their improved contractural arrangements with their own associations and New Zealand Cricket. This should see the harder core of older players putting their experience to use as tight situations emerge in games.There has also been some movement between associations, although in most cases this has seen a return to home environments such as Kerry Walmsley and Paul Hitchcock have done for Auckland, and Regan West for Central Districts. Another feature of the series will be the opportunity to see how players who made an impact last summer cope with the second-season blues – the struggle to get around the tactics devised to counter them once opposing sides analyse their potential strengths and weaknesses.Some of the players concerned have been at the New Zealand Academy over the summer and it will be interesting to see how they cope with the greater expectations of them. In this category must be, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor (both CD), Neil Broom (Canterbury) and Mark Orchard (ND).Equally, however, all four players are potential top performers and there is every hint, given fine weather, that some quality cricket will be produced in this year’s competition. Good pitches are a must if New Zealand is to derive satisfaction from the Championship and it is to be hoped players have the maximum chance to test their skills.First round games are:Timaru – Canterbury v OtagoWellington – Wellington v Central DistrictsHamilton – Northern Districts v AucklandWisden Cricinfo players to watch in these games are:Canterbury v OtagoCraig McMillan – to continue his outstanding Test form in IndiaMichael Papps – to build on his fine summer last yearPeter Fulton – to get back in the scoring groove quicklyJordan Sheed – to show he has absorbed the tough lessons of last yearJames McMillan – to realise the potential he is known to haveJeff Wilson – because you always have to watch himWellington v Central DistrictsJames Franklin – because he’s due to get it back together againJeetan Patel – to show that spin bowling can still be a forceNeal Parlane – to demonstrate the lessons of a great season in EnglandGlen Sulzberger – because battlers are invaluablePeter Ingram – early season form suggests something big from himRichard Sherlock – a bright young hopeNorthern Districts v AucklandNick Horsley – cashed in last year and will need to do so againJames Marshall – because he’s dueBruce Martin – should have plenty of opportunities this summerRob Nicol – a fine season last year, needs to back it upBrooke Walker – hopefully a busy season of bowling aheadTim McIntosh – the next generation of opening batsmanSquads for the first phase of the championship are:Auckland: Brooke Walker (capt), Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Matt Horne, Tim McIntosh, Rob Nicol, Tama Canning, Llorne Howell, Aaron Barnes, Craig Pryor, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills, Reece Young, Kerry Walmsley, Paul Hitchcock, Michael Bates, Sam Whiteman, Gareth Shaw, Shane Singe, Heath Davis.Canterbury: Craig McMillan (capt), Neil Broom, Steven Cunis, Brendon Donkers, Peter Fulton, Chris Martin, Michael Papps, Aaron Redmond, Gary Stead, Shanan Stewart, Paul Wiseman, Warren Wisneski.Central Districts: Glen Sulzberger (capt), Bevan Griggs, Lance Hamilton, Brent Hefford, Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Jesse Ryder, Richard Sherlock, Craig Spearman, Ross Taylor, Ewen Thompson, Regan West.Northern Districts:Rob Hart (capt), James Marshall (vice-capt), Graeme Aldridge, Ian Butler, Matthew Hart, Nick Horsley, Bruce Martin, Mark Orchard, Grant Robinson, Scott Styris, Gareth West, Joseph Yovich.Otago: Craig Cumming (capt), Robbie Lawson, Mohammad Wasim, Andrew Hore, Chris Gaffaney, Jordan Sheed, Marcel McKenzie, Gareth Hopkins, Warren McSkimming, James McMillan, Jeff Wilson, David Sewell, Nathan Morland, Neil Rushton, Bradley Scott.Wellington: Matthew Bell (capt), Richard Jones, Stephen Fleming, Neal Parlane, Michael Parlane, Luke Woodcock, James Franklin, Chris Nevin, Iain O’Brien, Jeetan Patel, Matthew Walker, Grant Donaldson, Andrew Penn, Mark Gillespie, Stu Mills, Leighton Morgan, James Hill, Simon Allen.

Unlikely as it might have seemed a month ago, the player who may be under most threat of missing out on the New Zealand team for the World Cup is Chris Harris.The most experienced player in New Zealand’s One-Day International history, Harris has played most matches 216, and scored 3955 runs with a strike rate of 67 while he has also taken 192 wickets with an economy rate of 4.31.An outstanding servant of the game, Harris has fashioned a superb record and has become known as a reliable performer under duress with many outstanding innings in the latter stages of New Zealand batting efforts.As legendary figures go in New Zealand ODI cricket, Harris is near the top of the pole.No-one has played more matches, taken more wickets or taken more catches than the 87 he has held. And probably no-one has made more run outs or saved more runs.But the quandary the New Zealand selectors face is the advance of several other all-rounders, with whom he is in competition for a place. Scott Styris and Kyle Mills are the obvious contenders because Jacob Oram has leap-frogged them both to claim his place in emphatic fashion over the last week. The call-up of Michael Mason as a replacement for Shane Bond is another indication of a possible line the selectors are taking.At best, Harris may be in the side but more of a bit player, dependent on conditions, for his opportunity than has been the case in the past.And if the selectors have been watching Harris closely in State Shield, they will have noted he was out for a duck and had 34 runs hit from his six overs in the first match and did better with 45 off 75 balls and two for 29 off 10 in the second game.Mills had a second chance for New Zealand in their second ODI at Napier. Styris was also out for a duck in Northern Districts’ match against Auckland while bowling he conceded only seven runs from his first seven overs. Then in ND’s game against Canterbury he scored the match-winning 91 off 105 balls to secure his place.Pressure has clearly been on Craig McMillan to do better than in the last few months, but he scored a century in Pakistan and had two scores of 83 and 69 in the West Indies so as an incumbent he has experience and performance on his side.For the rest however, the side picks itself.It seems Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle will open the innings. Mathew Sinclair has taken his chances at No 3. McMillan will be at No 4 with Lou Vincent at No 5 and Chris Cairns at No 6 should he prove to be fit. Oram shapes at No 7 and Brendon McCullum at No 8. That leaves room for Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey and Bond in the 11 of preference. Missing are Andre Adams and Styris who are likely to be in the touring party. Either one of them could replace Sinclair or Vincent depending on the preferences for matches. So that leaves two more spots to be filled. Fighting for them are Harris, Paul Hitchcock, Mills and now, it seems, Mason.Whether the selectors see the necessity for both Harris and Hitchcock will determine Mills’ fate, with Mason the genuine outsider.That is how close the call is going to be for the selectors.It is difficult to see anyone coming from outside this group of players but there has rarely been a World Cup selection without one surprise in it.This could be the World Cup side: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Craig McMillan, Lou Vincent, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Andre Adams, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Shane Bond, Chris Harris, Paul Hitchcock.

March:
Cambridgeshire 269 and 225-5 (RJ Rollins 110no).
Hertfordshire 222 (TS Smith 4-62).
Bovey Tracey:
Wiltshire 141 and 129 (RJ Rowe 73; PM Roebuck 4-29, J Rhodes 4-32).
Devon 326 (NA Folland 76, AJ Procter 76, DF Lye 63; CR Gibbens 6-80, DP Moore 4-57).Devon bt Wiltshire by an innings and 56 runs.Devon 24pts. Wiltshire 4.Thame:
Shropshire 277-6 and 105-6. Oxfordshire 156 (AN Johnson 5-21)Dean Park, Bournemouth:
Dorset 272 & 97-7.
Herefordshire 349 (NW Round 130, AN Edwards 82no; VJ Pike 5-104)Grantham:
Lincolnshire 296-6 & 197-3 (JC Harrison 78no).
Bedfordshire 172 (DJ Pipes 4-31) & 7-1.

Aston Villa are now in talks with Barcelona over a permanent deal for Philippe Coutinho, according to 90Min’s Graeme Bailey. 

The lowdown

In January, Coutinho moved from Catalonia to the Midlands on a short-term loan. Under the agreement, Villa reportedly have the option to buy the Brazilian for £33million at the end of the season.

Coutinho has scored four goals and provided three assists in his first ten appearances in claret and blue.

Only two players – Danny Ings (ten) and Ollie Watkins (eight) – have recorded more goal involvements over the entire season for Villa.

The latest

Bailey wrote on Twitter that ‘Aston Villa [are] in talks’ with Barcelona as they bid to sign Coutinho long-term.

In his attached story, he writes that the player’s form has caught the eye of ‘rival Premier League clubs’ but Villa are ‘optimistic’ that they can overcome any hurdles and win the race.

Those hurdles include Coutinho’s near £500,000-per-week salary (including bonuses) – the 29-year-old apparently knows he’ll have to take a pay cut if he’s to secure a move to Villa Park.

Villa are looking to wrap up a deal in advance of the summer so they can move on to other priorities.

The verdict

Gerrard called Coutinho ‘magical’ during their time together at Liverpool, which lasted two and a half years.

His 54 goals for the Reds included one against Villa in the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley, though Tim Sherwood’s side did go on to win the game 2-1.

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To this day, Gerrard continues to fawn over the attacking midfielder, recently describing him as both a ‘quality footballer’ and ‘a great human being’, so you’d imagine that he’s pushing the club very hard to clinch the deal and see off any competitors.

The 41-year-old will also be well aware that Villa will be an even more attractive proposition for future targets if they have the former Ballon D’Or nominee on their books – players may relish the chance to link up with him.

In other news, Villa have been linked with this audacious free agent swoop.

Sachin Tendulkar: eyeing an IPL franchise? © Getty Images

Sachin Tendulkar could have a stake in the ownership of the Mumbai team that will be part of the Indian Premier League (IPL), according to reports in the media.The Kishore Biyani-owned Future Group, which has expressed an interest in becoming a franchisee of the IPL, is in talks with Tendulkar to jointly bid for the Mumbai side, a report in the said.The Future Group and the Manipal Group, the report said, have already entered into a joint venture with Tendulkar for their new sports initiative; the launch of a variety of products in the health supplement, sports goods, fitness equipment and lifestyle accessories categories.The products are set to be marketed under names S Drive and Sach, which would be retailed across the multiple Future Group formats like Big Bazaar, Central, Planet Sports and Manipal Cure & Care.A stake in the Mumbai team would ensure Tendulkar a fixed fee on an annual basis and a variable component depending on the team’s profits. It would also mean that the team could use Tendulkar’s presence to attract other cricketers.However, Future Group and Tendulkar’s management team have both brushed aside these suggestions.Rajiv Shukla, BCCI vice-president and a member of the IPL’s governing council, also ruled out the possibility of Tendulkar owning a team. “He [Tendulkar] is playing, so where does the question of buying a team comes from? When someone is playing, how can he buy a team?” Shukla told Times Now, a news channel. MP Pandove, the BCCI’s joint secretary, expressed similar views: “Any player contracted with the board can’t have stakes in participating teams.”The IPL is scheduled to be held next April and the sale of its television rights in the near future is expected to see stiff competition. The IPL governing council has invited three broadcasters – ESPN-Star, Nimbus Sports and Sony Entertainment Television – for a presentation concerning the rights on November 17.

Are you planning to travel to the Caribbean? Tell us what you think about this issueLast week we ran two articles highlighting that under new rules, visitors to the Caribbean from a number of countries participating in the World Cup – in particular India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand – will need to obtain a new US$100 visa. The authorities maintain this will allow for easier travel between islands and also help to increase security, although critics are unimpressed with a scheme they regard as expensive and unlikely to be implemented in time.On Sunday, Mike Agostini, who had been Trinidad and Tobago’s honorary consul in Australia since 1981 until his resignation earlier this month, spoke of the farce regarding the issue of the visas in Australia, highlighting that the assurances of speedy and efficient processing are just not real and that those hoping to watch games in the Caribbean face some major difficulties. Here is a selection of your feedback. If you want to add to the debate, click here

Antigua’s second favourite son, Gravy, and two of the Digicel girls … but how many hurdles need to be jumped before visitors get to see them? © Cricinfo

This visa scheme is a racket invented by conniving politicians to earn fuss-free money. As a Trinidadian and a member of the Caribbean community, I am often ashamed at the shenanigans of the authorities. This one is among the lowest scams and if I were a foreigner visiting to see the World Cup, I would combine with other countries to remove the visa requirement. NickMates and I plan to follow the Australian team through the entire tournament, and have managed to secure tickets and transport without any hassle at all, but this visa, which has been implemented seemingly at the last minute, is proving a nightmare. As an Australian based in the UK I can’t even get an answer whether I can apply here or have to send my passport to the non-existent Sydney office. Shambolic. I just hope it’s not a sign of things to come during the tournament. It certainly isn’t boding well. Dave MiddletonThe CARICOM visa thing is an absolute shambles and a farce. I travel internationally for work and I cannot hand my passport over for three weeks to another authority to get it stamped, which means I am completely at the mercy of the Sydney office being set up and operational. And even then, I cannot confirm on the CARICOM website whether or not they will need to hold my passport for processing or whether they only need to see it once before stamping it after processing. To make matters worse for me, my partner and I are getting married afterwards in the Caribbean so any failings here will not only stuff up our Cricket World Cup plans, but possibly some very expensive wedding and honeymoon plans. Chris RiedigerThe new visa system is so confusing. I really do not know whether we can even make it – especially for us who are in US but hold Indian passports. Looks like we can not visit the usual spots in Caribbean. It is so frustrating we – a group of four – plan to cancel the whole trip and watch it on TV. VenkyI plan on attending two games in Trinidad during the World Cup. The visitor visa charge to visit Trinidad is $8 and why should I play $100 when I do not intend to visit other islands? RamaThis Visa issue in the Caribbean is an absolute joke. Whilst I can understand the need for security, I think it is just a huge revenue raising ploy. Ewan J DixonI do not understand the visa requirement. Generally Caribbean is very lenient on visa requirements due to their tourism industry and now all of a sudden they are charging $100 for a visa. I believe the process of getting the visa is worse. I made hotel arrangements and tickets for two super eight games, I have not applied for visa, specially after hearing of all the problems. Simple solution is pay $50-100 fee and get the visa at the airport. I hope they sort it out soon. Ahmed

Information on the issuing sites, visa application form and the Instruction Sheet are available on IMPACS website at: www.caricomimpacs.org.