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Sussex County Cricket Club would like to emphasise that they understand the disappointment felt by Inzamam-ul Haq and the Pakistan Cricket management over the injuries to key players such as Shoaib Akhtar and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan but Sussex would like to refute the accusation that they misused Rana during his recent time at Sussex.

Mark Robinson, Cricket Manager, stated, “I’m sure Rana would say how much his game has expanded and improved during his time with us.  In terms of the volume of overs bowled he only averaged 16.5 an innings, which equates to two spells, hardly overuse.  In one-day cricket he averaged just over eight overs a game.

“The Captain and management at Sussex have always been aware of the value of Rana, not only to Sussex but to Pakistan, and we have done all we can to ensure he stayed fit and well during his time with us.

“At the time of his injury we immediately withdrew him from all bowling, the groin was scanned and we gave him the best medical attention possible.  Rana is now back in England and Sussex are currently overseeing all the arrangements regarding his treatment including consultations with top specialists.

“We wish Rana a speedy recovery and will continue to do all we can to aid him in this.”

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Sussex are playing at their delightful outground of Arundel this week. Yorkshire are travelling down as our opponents in the Liverpool Victoria Championship match from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 June.

The Sussex Squad
C D Hopkinson, R R Montgomerie, M H Yardy, M W Goodwin,  C J Adams*, R S C Martin-Jenkins, M J Prior+, L J Wright, Yasir Arafat, Mushtaq Ahmed,  J D Lewry, R J Kirtley.

No injuries to report.

Sussex vs Yorkshire
Since the County Championship officially began in 1890

Overall, Yorkshire leads the series by 68-25, with 67 draws
In matches in Sussex, the visitors are still ahead, by 32-14, with 33 matches drawn.
The teams have met just once previously at Arundel Castle, in 2002, and that match was drawn.
This will be just the fourth meeting between the sides since the two-division split in 2000; Sussex recorded a win and a draw in the two matches in 2002, the season that Yorkshire were relegated to Division 2, and won the first meeting between the sides earlier in the season, at Headingley.

Interesting Facts about this fixture:
Since the County Championship officially began in 1890

Sussex’s best run is the history of this fixture is just three wins, recorded in 1933-4.  Yorkshire’s best run, however, is eight consecutive wins, achieved in 1891-5.

The longest unbeaten streak in this fixture is 17 games by Yorkshire (1921-1929), comprising 12 wins and five draws.  Sussex’s longest unbeaten streak stands at just nine games, recorded between 1898 and 1902.

Sussex last lost to Yorkshire back in 1998, albeit only four games have been played since.  Nonetheless, the last game between the sides at Arundel Castle in 2002, pitted the reigning Champions against a recently-promoted side – and Sussex drew the match with nine second-innings wickets having fallen.  Arguably, it was this result that changed the two teams’ respective seasons – the draw helped guarantee Sussex’s survival in Division 1 at their first attempt, and their failure to win ultimately dropped Yorkshire down to the second Division.

Sussex’s win at Headingley in May was just their fourth victory at Yorkshire’s HQ in 22 visits, and their second win in a row at that ground.

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ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. has announced that the Opening Ceremony for next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup will be a collaborative undertaking among all the Host Venues, spearheaded by Jamaica.

Stating that a decision has been taken “to keep this event in-house”, Managing Director & CEO of ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc., Chris Dehring, disclosed that plans are well underway to ensuring that the “first taste of the Cricket World Cup showcases the Caribbean’s rich heritage – cricket and otherwise – and the talent and creativity of our people”.

“While we obviously cannot divulge details of the Opening Ceremony, it will be a reflection of this region and its amazing cricketing, musical and entertainment culture. The challenge is to fuse all the special elements which make the Caribbean the unique and appealing destination it is,” he said.

The Opening Ceremony, which will herald the start of the six-week tournament across nine Caribbean countries, is slated for Sunday March 11, 2007, at the new Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in Jamaica. The Jamaica Local Organising Committee (LOC) has been given responsibility for overseeing its planning in conjunction with fellow LOCs in the other eight Host Venues.

“We are pleased to have been asked to take the lead in this assignment which we will undertake on behalf of the whole region. This is the one event in the Cricket World Cup that will showcase the entire Caribbean to the world,” noted Jamaica LOC CEO, Robert Bryan.

“Not only will it signal the start of what we anticipate will be seven weeks of absorbing cricket, but it will also be an unparalleled opportunity to prove that we can live up to the excellence and world-class standards befitting such an occasion.”

Adding that it will be the only time at which the full complement of all 16 Participating Nations will be gathered together, Bryan said “we want to ensure it is memorable for all who attend it as well as for the global television audience of 2.2 billion to whom it will be broadcast”.

ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. Chairman Kenneth Gordon stressed that, while intent on staging “an Opening Ceremony of which the Caribbean can be proud”, it would be important to control costs.

“As with all world games, concerns have been expressed about costs. We are well aware of the challenge of exercising financial prudence with every aspect of Cricket World Cup, including the Opening Ceremony, while observing world-class standards” he said, pointing out that Germany had publicly announced the “scaling down” of its Opening Ceremony for the ongoing FIFA World Cup to reduce costs.

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