Comeback tough, not impossible: Parthiv

Calcutta: India discard Parthiv Patel did not know that India’s ODI squad for the first three matches against Australia would be selected on Tuesday, says A Staff Reporter.
Living with the knowledge that he’s not in contention now, the former India wicketkeeper looked more concerned about the fact that it’s raining in Dharamsala — their venue for the second unofficial Test against the touring South Africa A side.

“Oh is it?” he wondered when his comment on Tuesday’s selection was sought. “I’m with India A now, so I’m more worried about our last match against the South Africans… Comeback is obviously there on my mind — it’s tough but not impossible. Belief is what pushing me through. With competition around, it’s not a bad time at all. In fact, it encourages me so that I push myself harder,” he told The Telegraph from Dharamsala.

Having scored four centuries on the trot — against Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa A — Patel has been going through a fruitful phase of his career. “It matters a lot… This is the best phase of my career so far. Having scored three away centuries, I’m now more confident against any team.”

MacGill fined for abusing

Melbourne: Stuart MacGill has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee for verbally abusing Pakistan A batsman Mansoor Amjad during Australia A’s unofficial Test match in Faisalabad. The Australian was reported for approaching Amjad after he was struck on the foot by one of the spinner’s deliveries towards the closing stages of the match.
A hearing was convened in Lahore on Sunday, during which MacGill was reported under clause 2.6 of the Cricket Australia (CA) Code of Behaviour, which relates to “use (of) language that is obscene, offensive or of a generally insulting nature to another player, official or spectator.”

Commenting on the decision, CA’s general manager Michael Brown, said, “I have no problem with players being combative on the field but there is a line they cannot cross and Stuart crossed that line.”

“It is disappointing that such a senior player would be charged under 2.6 of our Code of Behaviour. We believe, a player with nearly 200 Test wickets should be showing leadership to the emerging group of talented Australian cricketers currently playing in Pakistan,” he said in a statement issued on Monday.