A lucrative new tournament, the iSixes World Series, was unveiled Thursday featuring teams from all nine Test playing nations, with one million US dollars going to the winner. Singapore will host the first leg of the six-a-side extravaganza in July, with further stops expected in Shanghai, Dubai and one other yet-to-be announced country. Apart from the Test nations – Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies – the host country will field a team, there will be an All Star selection and a wildcard. Among players confirmed for the All Stars are India captain Anil Kumble, former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak, New Zealander Craig McMillan, Australian great Shane Warne and Sri Lanka's Romesh Kaluwitharana. Each of the first three legs will offer $285,000 in prize money with the series concluding at a finale in the first quarter of next year for the top six teams, where the winner takes home one million dollars. “With all the games and some of the big names we will have on the All Star team packed into one weekend, it is an ideal format,” said Warne, who will captain an All Stars. “All the guys are looking forward to visiting some great cities where we can help grow the game as well, so it is a great concept.” Organizers said they were in talks with the International Cricket Council to have the tournament officially sanctioned. Ace spinner Kumble said he expected India to field a strong team. “I have already spoken with some of the boys at home and although I will be on the All Star team, I am sure India will bring a very strong squad,” he said. The sixes is the shortest and most dynamic form of the game, featuring six-player teams rather than the traditional 11, with the premium on fast and furious entertainment and a party atmosphere. Everyone except the wicketkeeper bowls one over each with a match lasting around 45 minutes, allowing 10-12 games to be played in a day. The first leg in Singapore will be held from July 4-6 at the Singapore Cricket Club's Padang ground, which last hosted an international series in 1996 when India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka played a one-day series. Dates for the other legs are yet to be determined. Hi-tech bats outlawed International cricket chiefs have banned hi-tech cricket bats that give an unfair advantage to batsmen, saying the move will help prevent the game becoming too predictable. Rule changes will ensure bat handles are made with cane, wood, twine and rubber, according to a statement from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the guardian of the game's laws, released to media Thursday. The move follows the development of bats that use materials such as graphite and titanium in their lightweight handles, giving extra power to batsmen. MCC head of cricket John Stephenson said the new laws, passed with overwhelming 98.6 percent support, were designed to maintain the balance between bat and ball. Bangladesh's SA tour set Bangladesh has been granted two Tests and three One-Day Internationals on its tour of South Africa in November. It will start with a Pro20 international at the Wanderers in Johannesburg before playing three One-Day Internationals in the secondary venues of Potchefstroom, Benoni and East London, Cricket South Africa announced on Thursday. Bangladesh will also play a three-day match in Kimberley against South Africa A to warm up for the Test series. The first Test will be in Bloemfontein from Nov. 20-24, with the tour ending with the second Test in Centurion (Nov. 28 to Dec. 2). Itinerary - Nov. 5 vs. South Africa, Pro20 (Johannesburg); Nov. 7 vs. South Africa, ODI (Potchefstroom); Nov. 9 vs South Africa, ODI (Benoni); Nov. 12 vs. South Africa, ODI (East London); Nov. 15-17 vs. South Africa A (Kimberley); Nov. 20-24 vs. South Africa, 1st Test (Bloemfontein); Nov. 28-Dec. 2 vs. South Africa, 2nd Test (Centurion).
