Symonds gets the nod for Perth 
JAOHANNESBURG: Nicky Boje, the South African left-arm spinner, has decided to retire from international cricket, two days before the start of the first Test against India, to concentrate on his domestic career.
"I have decided to retire from international cricket immediately" said Boje, "and I am accordingly unavailable to form part of the Proteas squad for this season. I have had eleven years of international cricket and will always cherish wonderful memories of playing for South Africa.
"I now feel that the time has come for me to devote the remainder of my playing years to Eagles cricket. I wish my former team mates in the Proteas side the very best for the future and I`m confident that the team has a very bright cricketing future".
Captaining the Eagles in South African domestic cricket, Boje leads the bowling statistics with 17 wickets from the three matches his side have played this season. He is well-placed in the batting list too with 272 runs at 54.40.
His announcement - through the South African Cricketers` Association - came as a shock to selection convenor Haroon Lorgat and coach Mickey Arthur. Lorgat said it was the first he had heard of the left-arm orthodox spinner`s decision. Arthur also said he had not been contacted by the player.
Though Boje is part of the 15-man squad for the three Tests against India, the selectors also picked Paul Adams and there was speculation that prefering Adams as first-choice spinner had prompted Boje`s decision. But Lorgat clarified that picking Adams was not to create the impression that Boje would play second fiddle to him. "It was to send a signal to all our spin bowlers that we are searching for a quality spinner," Lorgat told AFP. Boje last played against Sri Lanka at Colombo in August this year.
After the match-fixing scandal broke out in 2000 Boje was wanted by the Indian police for questioning and he, along with Herschelle Gibbs, had opted out of tours to India in the past few seasons. This year though the two players agreed to come to India for the Champions Trophy and to submit themselves to questioning by the police. But the South African selectors didn`t pick Boje for the tournament. He last played an ODI in October 2005 against New Zealand.
In 43 Tests for South Africa, Boje took 100 wickets at 42.65 and in 115 ODIs 96 wickets at 35.57.
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Dec 12: Cricket fans travelling to the Caribbean for Cricket World Cup 2007 can rest assured about their security as the host countries for the event have put unprecedented measures in place.
"Cricket World Cup is the world's third largest sporting event and we are expecting thousands of people to Caribbean for it. We will ensure that people feel safe and as a result we will implement several security measures," said Mia Mottley, Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados.
Mottley, who is also the chairperson of the Caribbean Community Sub-Committee for CWC 2007 security, said the region was mindful of the global war on terror for which the security had to be optimal.
"In the Caribbean, it may be considered that we are not at risk for acts of terrorism. However, the reality dictates that we take every step to ensure that we provide a secure environment for the staging of Cricket World Cup," she said.
One of the cornerstones of the security measures is the CARICOM Special Visa which fans from most countries will need for travel to the CWC 2007 venue.
The visa will be required for travel to the countries between the period January 15 and May 15, 2007.
"The Special Visa is a safety net for cricket fans. In implementing this decision for the visa requirement, the host countries have created a Single Domestic Space which will provide for hassle free movement of cricket fans," she added.
Visa issuing sites will be located in the host countries as well as Toronto, New York; Miami in the USA; New Delhi, India; Sydney, Australia and London, England.
1 comment:
I love Nickie, He is a wonderful Left arm spinner, I like him very much
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