Cricket crazy Usain Bolt keen to play in Australia's Twenty20 tournament Big Bash League

‘Cricket-mad’ Bolt keen to play in Big Bash League, says a report in The Times Of India. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is very keen to play in Australia's Twenty20 tournament Big Bash League, according to Melbourne Stars president Eddie McGuire, who is close to recruiting Bolt in his team. Bolt was interested in the idea of opening the bowling for the Stars, and also has experience of playing with international cricketers. In a charity match in 2009, the could-havebeen fast bowler Bolt clean-bowled West Indies superstar Chris Gayle. “He's absolutely genuine. Whether or not we could pull it off, time will tell. But he's very, very keen. If at the end of (August) he's got six Olympic gold medals he's probably looking for other things to do,” the Fo x S p o r t squoted McGuire, as saying.

Meanwhile Usain Bolt was made to work for victory in the 100 metres at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Thursday. Compatriot Asafa Powell was quick out of the blocks and had the lead until the final 10 metres when Olympic champion Bolt came through to win in 9.79 seconds, a meet record, says a report in Hindustan Times. Powell's time of 9.85 was his best of the season. Lerone Clarke completed a Jamaican sweep of the top three with a time of 10.10. After crossing the line, Bolt collided with a flower girl on the track, catching her as she stumbled and then hugging her with a big grin on his face.

Meanwhile, according to media reports International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat has criticized former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar for his negative comments against the ICC's decision to retain the Duckworth-Lewis method for settling interrupted matches. Lorgat said: “It is not a healthy situation ... when the former chairman has such a critical view of how it was handled. With respect to Sunil Gavaskar, I was present at the meeting (of the Cricket Committee), the president of the ICC was present and the process was proper, fair and transparent.”

According to newspaper reports Australian cricketers' stand-off with their Board has taken a bitter twist with CA refusing to accept their proposal for a new five-year deal and its chief executive James Sutherland saying that he is “surprised and a little bit disappointed” by the demands. Negotiations between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) over a pay dispute continued with only three weeks until the current agreement expires on June 30.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council on Friday named Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga as the event ambassador for the World Twenty20 to be held in the island nation later this year. The explosive fast bowler with the sling-arm action is expected to play a key role in Sri Lanka's fortunes in the 12-nation event starting on September 18. Malinga will be the “face” of the World Twenty20 advertising campaign.