MUMBAI – India will play a One-day tri-series in Zimbabwe during May-June that will involve Sri Lanka as the third team, it was announced by the Indian cricket board here Friday.

The tri-series will start May 28 with India taking on Zimbabwe in Bulawayo and the final is slated for June 9 in Harare. India will stay back for two Twenty20 matches June 12 and 13 in Harare, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced.

India replaced New Zealand, which pulled out citing security issues. India last toured Zimbabwe for two Tests and a One-day tri-series, involving New Zealand in 2005.

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There was added motivation for the young MI stars, as Captain Sachin Tendulkar, vice-captain Zaheer Khan and Team Owner Mrs. Nita Ambani were overseeing proceedings at the Cricket Club of India grounds. The Mumbai Indians had kicked off their final preparation-cum-conditioning camp ten days earlier, under the guidance of Robin Singh, TA Sekar, Jonty Rhodes and Paras Mhambrey.

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Electing to field first, the R Satish-led Mumbai Indians ‘A’ restricted Mumbai Indians ‘B’ to a modest total of 153-5 in the allotted twenty overs. Explosive wicketkeeper batsman Chandan Madan top-scored with 56 runs off 63 balls, while all-rounders Graham Napier and TP Singh chipped in with 27 and 18, respectively.

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CSK: Squad List

The Company and management are involved in the development of Cricket and have been actively promoting and popularizing the game. Mr.K.S.Viswanathan and Dr.G.Natarajan our employees have been elected as Secretary and Joint Secretary respectively of The Tamilnadu Cricket Association (TNCA). Several senior officers have volunteered themselves to assist TNCA in various capacities like Finance, Legal, Umpires to name a few.

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Pakistan lack skill, passion, fitness: Akram | Pakistan Cricket | Live Cricket Score

“In order to win Test matches against powerful teams one needed special talent, skill, passion and mental fitness. The present Pakistan side lacks these traits. Unlike Twenty20 and one-dayers, Test cricket is like a long race,” Akram said.

Akram suggested that cricket authorities of the country should give chance to new players after consistent failure of the senior players.

“When the seniors are creating problems for the team and getting out after making only few runs, then why not include younger players as they will learn in a year and serve the country for at least two decades. And for this, captain, board and selectors must sit together, communicate and plan,” he told Deutsche Welle Urdu Service.

“But, unfortunately, I can’t see that happening. Yousuf is an inexperienced captain and made few mistakes. But he will learn art of captaincy in the long run,” he said.

The pace legend also added that Pakistan lost the second Test in Sydney because of they were scared of defeat.

Meanwhile, former skipper and senior player Inzamam-ul Haq, defending his old friend and ex-teammate Mohammad Yousuf, has said that he must not be alone blamed for the defeats in New Zealand and Australia.

“Look at the circumstances he accepted the captaincy in. And in Australia specially in Sydney, Pakistan held the advantage on first three days but lost the match on the fourth day due to inapt performances from all sides.

“It is very sad that we lost the match at a time when we were very much close to victory but lost due to players bad show on last day so they are responsible for the team’s defeat,” Inzamam said.

India, already assured of a place in Wednesday’s final against Sri Lanka, raced to 249 for four with seven overs to spare after their bowlers had restricted Bangladesh to 247 for six from their 50 overs.

Kohli century scripts emphatic win

Kohli drove Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan to the mid-wicket boundary to complete the victory as well as his century which followed two fifties in his previous two matches. His unbeaten 102 off 95 balls included 11 fours.

Bangladesh had an outside chance of an upset win when Shakib took their fourth wicket with India still needing 48 runs in 14 overs. But Mohammad Ashraful dropped Kohli on 83 and Suresh Raina on 12 in successive overs and the opportunity vanished.

Earlier, Shakib made a solid 85 off 97 balls, his 13th ODI half-century, after Bangladesh had been reduced to 95 for five.

Put in to bat, Bangladesh had their back to the wall at 95 for five, but Shakib and Mohammad Mahmudullah (64 not out) stitched a 102-run partnership to take Bangladesh to a respectable total.

Bangladesh made a poor start after opener Imrul Kayes (9) and Mohammad Ashraful (4) paid the price for their poor shot selection and departed in successive overs.

India’s new-ball bowlers Sudip Tyagi and Sreesanth troubled the Bangaldeshi batsmen but the edges flew here and there to the boundary regularly.