DUBAI: Two-wheeler manufacturers, Hero Honda are the latest addition to the list of sponsors for the ICC Champions Trophy 2009, scheduled to be held from September 22 to October 5 in South Africa.

“We are delighted that Hero Honda has decided to come on board as a global partner for this prestigious event,” said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat in a release.

“Hero Honda is one of 11 sponsors that we have, indicating how popular 50-over cricket is at international level and also showing how attractive events such as the ICC Champions Trophy are to potential sponsors,” he added.

Pawan Munjal, MD and CEO of Hero Honda Motors Limited said,” We have a cherished history of our association with the ICC. In keeping with that spirit, we are delighted to join hands with the ICC once again as a global partner for the forthcoming eight-nation ICC Champions Trophy. We will continue to invest in sports.”

The elite biennial event will feature the top eight sides in the world.

The tournament will kick off on September 22 with a clash between hosts South Africa and Sri Lanka at Centurion. The final will be played at the same venue on October 5.

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy following a finger operation and will be replaced by Tim Paine.

Haddin, 31, broke his left ring finger on the morning of the third Ashes Test on 30 July and was replaced by South Australian Graham Manou for that match.

He returned to play at Headingley a week later and again at The Oval.

But he then flew home for surgery and was replaced by Paine for the Twenty20 and one-day series in England.

Paine, 24, made his international debut against Scotland on 28 August. He scored an unbeaten 29 and took one catch. In List A one-day cricket, the Tasmanian averages 37.86 from 43 matches at a strike rate of 66.74.

Haddin said: “While it is extremely disappointing to miss the ICC Champions Trophy, the good news is that the surgery was successful and my finger will be 100% when the recovery period is finalised.

“I am aiming to be available for selection for the one-day series in India, however this is a decision that will be made in consultation with the Cricket Australia medical staff when the time arises.

“In the past I have been able to recover from finger injuries and surgery very quickly and I am hopeful this will again be the case.”

CA doctor Trefor James said: “Surgery was a success and there have been no complications.”

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik believes that the first 10-15 overs of an innings would prove decisive for the teams in the Champions Trophy starting in South Africa from September 22.

Malik told newsmen in Lahore, where he is training for the tournament, that in South Africa the nature of the pitches was such that the first 10-15 overs would set the tone for the match.

“The pitches at the Wanderers and Centurion, where the matches are going to be held, usually help the pace bowlers seam the ball around and there is extra bounce also,” Malik explained.

“So basically it boils down to the fact how a team copes with the first 10 to 15 overs. After that it is a process of cementing your position in the match,” he said.

Malik, who was replaced by Younis Khan as the captain of the side, said Pakistan had a very strong and balanced outfit for the tournament.

“We don’t need to worry at all. We have quality players in every department and If we can cope with the first 10 to 15 overs properly, there is no reason we cannot go all the way,” he said.

India will recover quickly from their early exit at the Twenty20 World Cup and are certain to mount a serious challenge at the Champions Trophy in South Africa next month, coach Gary Kirsten said.

India have recalled Rahul Dravid to the one-day team for the first time in almost two years to bolster their batting on pacy South African pitches at the Sept. 22-Oct. 5 Champions Trophy.

A young Indian batting unit struggled against short-pitched bowling in the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

“We have had a good run right from the tour of Australia and there is great team spirit, though the World Twenty20 was a setback,” the former South Africa opener told reporters after the national team’s training camp in Bangalore on Thursday.

“We are very positive and all of us want to move on,” Kirsten said.

India, who will also participate in a tri-series in Sri Lanka that featuring New Zealand from Sept. 8-14, have not lost a one-day series in the past year following a surprise tri-series victory in Australia last February.

“We take pride in our consistency over a long period. It is a quality team and the players are mentally fresh and look good physically too,” Kirsten said.

“It is good to have Rahul Dravid back in the team. He adds massive value to the team,” Kirsten said of the former captain, who is only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to score over 10,000 runs in both test and one-day forms.

Tendulkar has also returned after opting out of the one-day series in the West Indies, which the tourists won 2-1 last month, but explosive opener Virender Sehwag will miss both tournaments after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Ishant Sharma will spearhead the five-man pace attack in the absence of experienced left-armer Zaheer Khan, who has been ruled out of action until the end of the year after undergoing surgery on an injured shoulder.

KARACHI: Pakistan cricket team captain Younis Khan said that Pakistan can qualify for the semi-finals in the Champions Trophy.

In an interview with Faizan Lakhani of Geo News, Younis Khan said that if we play on our basis then we have a very good chance and we can reach the semi-finals.

Replying to a question on bowling, he said that we are taking five pace bowlers. Rana Nave has showed some improvement and Rao Iftikhar also displayed good performance in Sri Lanka but this is not good to expect extra-ordinary performance from Mohammad Asif in this mega event.

Regarding contesting with India, Younis Khan said that the match against India in the Champions Trophy would be the fourth in his captaincy against India and this is his great desire to beat India.