It was meant to be the saviour of cricket -- a quick-fire format spiced with cheerleaders and film-star glamour that would reverse a decline in attendance and draw in a new wave of middle-class fans. But a decade on from the first ever round of Twenty20 matches, there are fears that a string of corruption scandals may have done lasting damage to the game's reputation and concern the format, which places a premium on power-hitting, is ruining techniques. "T20 is all about big money and how to earn it quickly," the former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga told AFP.

The West Indies scored 233-9 after being sent in to bat by India in a Champions Trophy group B at the Oval on Tuesday. Opener Johnson Charles top-scored with 60 of 55 balls and former captain Darren Sammy hammered an unbeaten 56 off 35 balls to boost the total. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed a career-best five for 36. With both teams having won their opening matches, the winner will step closer to booking one of the two semi-final spots from group B. afp

Cricket officials on Monday suspended the co-owner of an Indian Premier League (IPL) team and announced plans for a major clean-up of the sport after an illegal betting and spot-fixing scandal. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held an emergency meeting in New Delhi into the Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise and its co-owner Raj Kundra amid the ongoing scandal. "Mr Raj Kundra has been suspended, pending an inquiry, from all cricketing activities," BCCI interim head Jagmohan Dalmiya told reporters after the meeting.

The co-owner of Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals which is at the heart of a betting and spot-fixing scandal has been suspended from the game pending an inquiry, a top Indian official said Monday. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) called an emergency meeting at a luxury hotel in New Delhi on Monday to discuss the Rajasthan Royals and their co-owner Raj Kundra. Kundra, the businessman husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, has admitted to illegal betting on his team, according to police investigating a deepening scandal that has rocked the game.