Symonds begins practice

Melbourne, September 13, 2008: Smarting after his board's disciplinary action which saw him being dropped from India tour, volatile all-rounder Andrew Symonds is back at the nets in Queensland.

Symonds, who has been undergoing rehabilitation under CA-appointed Sports Psychologist Phil Jauncey following his 'gone fishing' episode, had a few hit-outs at a net session along with Queensland teammate and Australia opener Matthew Hayden.

Ever since his send back home from Darwin for missing a team meeting, Symonds has been having telephone discussions with Jauncey and will consult him in person next week.

Chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch said Symonds will be monitored for a while before considering his inclusion in national squad.

"We have to see whether the all-rounder is fully committed to all of the things needed for a cricketer to be a member of the world's number one team," Hilditch was quoted as saying by 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

Lalit Modi appointed chairman of Champions League T20 board

Dubai, Sept 12 : Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi has been appointed chairman of the board of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament scheduled in December.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the three founding member boards - the Board of Control for Cricket in India, (BCCI) Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) here.

The inaugural Champions League Twenty20 will be held Dec 3-10 in India. Eight teams, consisting of the reigning winners and runners-up from the domestic Twenty20 competitions in India, Australia and South Africa, plus the winners of Twenty20 championships from Pakistan, and the reigning Twenty20 Cup champion from England, Middlesex, will compete in the event.

The prize money of USD 6 million will be shared between the teams and their players. The tournament will be contested by 12 teams from next year.