Briefly Cricket

Gavaskar backs Dhoni,Bhajji

Mumbai: Sunil Gavaskar has said India skipper MS Dhoni should bat up the order,saying the best batsmen in the team should always bat up in ODIs. 8220;It is always better for a team to have their best batsmen facing a majority of the 50 overs,8221; Gavaskar said. He also added that off-spinner Harbhajan Singh,who is in the middle of a rough patch,would definitely bounce back soon. 8220;Harbhajan is class act and I am sure he will be back to his best soon,8221; he said.

Irfan named captain

Vadodara: Irfan Pathan has been named captain of the Vadodara team for the Ranji Trophy this season. Vadodara play their first two matches against Delhi from November 3-6 and Bengal from November 10-13. Meanwhile,the Cricket Association of Bengal has named Laxmi Ratan Shukla as captain ahead of the selection meeting on Wednesday that will be attended by coach Roger Binny and CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya. 8220;We have just picked the captain so that he can attend the meeting tomorrow,when the picture will be clearer,8221; CAB joint-secretary Biswarup Dey said.

Younis hints T20 comeback

Islamabad: Pakistan captain Younis Khan has said he will consider playing international Twenty20 again. 8220;If my fellow players accept me,I will come back,8221; he said. Younis retired from the shortest form of cricket after Pakistan8217;s T20 World Cup victory in June. The 31-year-old Younis has played 22 Twenty20 internationals,scoring 432 runs at an average of 25.41 with a strike rate of 124.85.

Ejaz Butt to visit India

Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt will visit India on Wednesday but refused to divulge the details of his tour,only confirming that he would be meeting BCCI officials. Sources said he is mainly trying to convince the BCCI for a short one-day and T20 series with Pakistan in England some time next year.

Afridi to play for Redbacks

Melbourne: South Australia have signed up Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi for the domestic Twenty20 tournament,starting in December. Afridi replaces Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis. 8220;We narrowly missed out on finals last season and these signings are definitely a boost to our quest to qualify for the Champions League this year,8221; SACA high performance manger Jamie Cox said.

Rana named U-19 manager

Karachi: The PCB has appointed Shafqat Rana as manager of the national junior team until next year8217;s Youth World Cup in New Zealand. Rana was named manager just few days after he was sacked as assistant manager of the senior team,apparently on the insistence of captain Younis Khan. Agencies