Monday, March 31, 2008

Gavaskar to decide on future with ICC

The ICC has told Sunil Gavaskar that he would have to quit from the post of the chairman of the cricket committee if he wishes to continue as a media columnist and commentator to avoid a potential conflict of interest between the two roles.

Gavaskar was told "very clearly" by Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, during a meeting between the two in Dubai on Wednesday that the ICC expected a final decision. The ICC's cricket committee will meet on May 5-6 and Gavaskar has been given the same deadline. The ICC board will review the issue at its next meeting, during the ICC Annual Conference week, between June 29 and July 4.

Speed had last week been authorised by the ICC board to ask Gavaskar to choose between the two roles. "That situation still stands, and Gavaskar will have to convey his decision to the ICC after the cricket committee meeting," an ICC source told Cricinfo. "The message was conveyed very clearly to Gavaskar. But the meeting, as such, was held in a cordial atmosphere. Speed and Gavaskar have been working together for so long, that was not a problem."

The issue of a potential conflict of interest came up in the aftermath of the Sydney Test between Australia and India last January, when Gavaskar criticised match referee Mike Procter in his newspaper column for banning Harbhajan Singh for alleged racial abuse.

After the ICC's executive board meeting in Dubai last week, Gavaskar criticised the boards of England and Australia in another syndicated newspaper column. "Gone are the days when two countries, England and Australia, had the veto power in international cricket, even though the dinosaurs may not open their eyes and see the reality," he wrote. "The cricketing world has found that India has no longer a diffident voice but a confident one that knows what is good for its cricket, and will strive to get it."


Source:http://content-www.cricinfo.com

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Thursday, March 20, 2008

Cricket-ICC approves shorter World Cup in 2011

DUBAI, March 18 (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) cleared the way on Tuesday for a shorter 2011 World Cup.

The ICC board decided on a 14-team format, reduced from 16 after the 2007 edition in West Indies was heavily criticised for being too long and unwieldy.The duration of the tournament will also be cut from 47 to 38 days if a recommendation by ICC chief executives is implemented.

"The event will be held over a significantly shorter period than the previous one," said an ICC statement. "The detailed format, venues and schedule will be finalised in due course."The next World Cup will be jointly staged by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The 2007 edition often attracted small attendances particularly for games involving non-test teams.The ICC's 10 full members will automatically qualify for 2011 and will be joined by the four semi-finalists from next year's qualifiers in Dubai.


Source:http://uk.reuters.com

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

More technology for umpiring in England-South Africa series

Dubai, March 18 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to allow increased use of technology for umpiring decisions on a trial basis during South Africa’s tour of England this year. “The ICC executive board has decided to allow the use of more technology in the n-Power Test series in England on a trial basis subject to approval by the England & Wales Cricket Board and the United Cricket Board of South Africa,” ICC president-elect David Morgan said here Tuesday.

South Africa will play three Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 international during its tour of England in July-August.The second Test between India and Australia in Sydney earlier this year was marred by a series of controversial umpiring decisions that went against the visitors.

The ICC had then withdrawn West Indies’ Steve Bucknor from umpiring duty in the series following a strong protest launched by the Indian cricket board.As of now, umpires in official international matches can take the help of technology for decisions involving close run-outs and catches.

Asked what additional technology would be used in the England-South Africa series, Morgan said it would be like those used in county matches in England.“(ICC operations manager) Dave Richardson will work out the details with the ICC cricket committee,” he said after the two-day ICC executive board meeting here.

Source:http://www.thaindian.com
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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Patel to replace Speed as ICC chief executive

DUBAI — South Africa’s Imtiaz Patel will be the next chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), it was announced here yesterday.

Patel will succeed Australia’s Malcolm Speed, who will step down in July after spending seven years in office.Addressing the media at a local hotel, the ICC president-elect David Morgan said, “It was a tough task and our research committee has done a wonderful job to pick a suitable person for this important job.

“Initially, we made a list of 12 men and then we shortlisted it to six persons. There was an absolute consensus on Patel’s choice.”“He was among the six candidates shortlisted for the job by the ICC executive board from a list made by our consultants.

“This has been a really tough selection process and I am satisfied that we have explored every aspect to find the best person for the job.”“Now we will negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract with Mr Patel. At the moment the contract is signed for a term of three years,” Morgan said.  “I am looking forward to working closely with him during my presidency. These are exciting and busy times for world cricket and I know that Mr Patel will bring with him valuable knowledge which may benefit the game of cricket as a whole.

On IS Bindra’s chances of becoming chief executive, Morgan said: “We discussed the issue at length and found a right person for the right job.“There was no problem of age limit, had we been able to choose Bindra as a chief executive, we would have persuaded UAE to settle down the age issue.”

A former Soweto teacher, Patel worked for the United Cricket Board, predecessor of Cricket South Africa, from 1991 to 1999. He was development director then director of professional cricket before leaving to join broadcaster Supersport.ICC president Ray Mali said, “We are delighted that Patel is the board’s choice as the next chief executive.”

“He has a rich experience in unifying the different sections of society.“South Africa has gone through torrid times in the past when we had four cricket boards operating in the country.“But with the help of people like Imtiaz we have emerged as one of the top teams (currently on India tour) in the world. He has made cricket popular in Soweto.”

He added: “I have no doubts that if he accepts the position he will do a great job for the game.”

Source:http://www.khaleejtimes.com
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Monday, March 17, 2008

ICC Board to appoint new CEO

The appointment of the next ICC chief executive will be among the items up for discussion when the ICC Board meet in Dubai on Monday and Tuesday.

With the current chief executive, Malcolm Speed, set to step down at this year’s annual conference in June/July, the Board will be asked to consider a recommendation from the four-person sub-committee tasked with overseeing the appointment of his successor.The sub-committee consists of Ray Mali, David Morgan, Sharad Pawar and Creagh O’Connor.

The Board will also consider the independent forensic audit of Zimbabwe Cricket carried out by accountancy firm KPMG of South Africa, as well as the format for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 which will take place in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.Also up for discussion will be the India Premier League Twenty20 tournament as well as the India Cricket League and the proposed Champions Twenty20 event.

The Board will also look at technology and asked to approve the trialing of more technology in aiding umpires’ decisions in a Test series later this year.

Source:http://www.thetimes.co.za
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Saturday, March 15, 2008

WICB will fight demotion by ICC

Port-of-Spain: The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will fight any plans to demote its national cricket team to a possible second grouping at the International Cricket Council's (ICC) executive committee meeting to be held in Dubai Sunday.

The WICB's stand came after ICC expressed its intention to limit the first grouping of Test playing nations to the top seven teams, which means the two-time world champions will have only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to play against.

In a release issued on behalf of the WICB, board president Julian Hunte, who left for Dubai Friday to attend the executive committee meeting, said this is an attempt to marginalise the nation's cricket and the WICB will never allow this to happen.

"In most cricket playing countries, West Indies team is liked the most after their national side and we have to use this as motivation to get back to the top of world cricket again," Hunte said.

"Our cricketers must be mindful of this when they go out to play, since, if our position in world cricket does not improve, we might find our options and opportunities severely limited," he noted.

WICB CEO Donald Peters has expressed his reservations over the multi-million dollar Indian Premier League (IPL) which, according to him, is the second biggest threat to West Indies cricket, and the board is determined to raise the issue at the upcoming meeting.

Other issues which the WICB is expected to raise in the meeting includes: the use of technology to review umpiring decisions and the removal of its legendary umpire Steve Bucknor from the third Test between India and Australia at Perth.

The WICB also mentioned in the release that it fully supports the use of any technology in the game that will ensure fairness and improve decision-making.

Source:http://sify.com
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Friday, March 14, 2008

ICC not concerned about Champions Trophy

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has no immediate security concerns over staging the Champions Trophy in Pakistan this September, a spokesman for the governing body says.

On Tuesday, Australia postponed a 30-day tour due to start this month following a recent spate of bombings, including two in Lahore on the day the decision was made.A ICC delegation will visit Pakistan from March 20 to look at security and other arrangements for the eight-team tournament.

The spokesman said the possibility of moving the event out of Pakistan was not on the agenda of a two-day board meeting to be held at its Dubai headquarters from Monday."Like any other ICC event, we will have contingency plans," he said by telephone from Dubai. "For example, for last year's World Cup in West Indies, South Africa was the back-up venue.

"The ICC board is the only body that can decide on the shifting of the tournament. That is not being discussed at next week's board meeting."Holders Australia are the top seeds for the biennial event, second in importance only to the World Cup.

Pakistan remain confident the other teams in the tournament can convince Australia to compete."The Champions Trophy is an event that involves eight countries. Australia is one of them," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi told Reuters in Karachi on Thursday.

"We are confident the other seven nations will be able to pressurise Australia to travel."Cricket Australia said it would continue to monitor the security situation in Pakistan."We have maintained conditions are safe for cricket in Pakistan and we hope all the participating nations will have no problems playing in the Champions Trophy," Naghmi said.

Source:http://news.theage.com.au
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Thursday, March 13, 2008

Canadian Cricket's Clarke wins ICC Award

Calvin Clarke, general secretary of the Canadian Cricket Association, has won the ICC Americas Regional Award for lifetime services to cricket.

It was Canada's only success in the 2007 ICC Development Awards.

Canada had three regional winners, two of which went on to become global winners in the 2006 awards.

Clarke hails from Trinidad and Tobago. He moved to Canada in 1967. He is a past president of the Toronto and District Cricket Association (1982-85), past first vice-president of the Ontario Cricket Association, has managed and assisted Canada on international tours, served as a qualified umpire, and played for Civics Sports Club.

Clarke has had two periods as secretary of the CCA, the first from 1976-78, and he resumed the position in 2000 after retiring from work.

The award recognizes many years of devotion to cricket and Clarke sustains the true spirit of the game.


Source:http://www.southasianfocus.ca
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

No official status for India's IPL, ICC says

NEW DELHI (AFP) — Runs and wickets at the Indian Premier League's Twenty20 competition will not gain official recognition, cricket's world governing body said Tuesday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) regards the multi-million-dollar IPL, promoted by the Indian board and featuring top stars from around the world, as a domestic Indian competition, a spokesman said.

"The IPL is not international cricket, it is a domestic tournament," ICC spokesman James Fitzgerald told AFP when asked if players' performances will gain official recognition.

"Therefore, the matches do not have Twenty20 international status."

The IPL is a city-based tournament with eight teams bought by franchises who selected their respective line-ups via auction in Mumbai last month.

The tournament, which runs from April 18 to June 1, will mark the first time international cricketers will put aside their national allegiances to play for privately-owned teams.

Players have received huge pay packets, starting from 100,000 dollars for the first year, to take part in the 44-day, 59-match extravaganza across cricket-mad India.

In a sport where only a few top stars net more than a million dollars a year in fees and endorsements for their respective countries, the IPL has showered unprecedented riches.

The Chennai franchise bought India's limited-overs captain Mahendra Dhoni for 1.5 million dollars, while Hyderabad snagged Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds for 1.35 million dollars.

Source:http://afp.google.com

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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

BCCI surprised over ICC's interference

The Indian Cricket Board on Monday expressed surprise over the ICC's investigation about Harbhajan Singh's reported comments against two Australian players.

BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said it was strange that the ICC was interfering when the matter was between the Indian and Australian boards.

"I'm surprised that with correspondence between two boards, how has the ICC interfered in this? How is the ICC involved without knowing anything? There is nothing to investigate and we maintain that we totally support ICC on zero tolerance of abusive language or any sledging on the ground," Shah was quoted as saying by 'The Australian.'

Shah ruled out any investigation, saying Harbhajan had denied the charges.

"The whole thing has been settled and I don't want to get into it any more. Harbhajan Singh has totally denied what he has said," Shah said.On his return to India, Harbhajan was quoted in the media as terming Hayden "a liar" and wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist "no saint."

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com
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