ICC Cricket

Dubai (PTI): The ICC Medical Committee, in its inaugural meeting here, has recommended revision of anti-doping regulations in the light of new WADA Code which comes into effect from the beginning of next year.

The committee noted ICC Full Members' commitment to have in place WADA-compliant Codes by the middle of 2009 and recommended that further consideration should be given to cricket's current testing strategies outside of major ICC events.

It also reviewed the ICC Standard Analysis Protocols that support the ICC's process for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal actions and set a timetable for the review of these protocols.

The committee had an extensive discussion on the impact of climatic conditions, including extreme heat. The members agreed that there should should be a better understanding of the impact of extreme-heat conditions on players but would make a recommendation later this year.

The members also expressed strong reservations about the use of medical science in the determination of a player's age at junior ICC events, an ICC statement said today.

The meeting, which will be held annually, was chaired by renowned sports medicine expert Dr Peter Harcourt and also included Dr Nick Peirce, Dr Akshai Mansingh, Craig Ranson physiotherapist) and Dr Anant Joshi as members.

The Committee, whose terms of reference were approved by the ICC Board last year in October, is empowered to make recommendations which then go forward to the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) and, if required, to the ICC Board.

Cricket, lovely cricket, that is what is on the mind of many fans of the sport at this time. In Jamaica, a big part of celebrating and watching cricket is the Red Stripe mound. As a part of the match between the West Indies and Australia beginning Thursday May 22 at Sabina Park, the Red Stripe mound will return with a bang.

The last time cricket fans were treated to the mound experience was during the ICC Cricket World Cup but due to ICC regulations, it had to be relocated outside of the park.

The Red Stripe Mound, with all the usual fanfare, excitement and entertainment, will return to Sabina Park, Kingston, and come to a close on Monday May 26th. The great Jamaican beer will recreate the same atmosphere and vibe of the Red Stripe mound that mound-lovers have come to know and appreciate over the years.

Kim Lee, Brand PR Manager for Red Stripe, said the company will ensure that the same great cricket and party experience fans have come to know and love at the Red Stripe mound, is what cricket fans can expect come Thursday.

"The Red Stripe mound has become a staple on the cricket and sport calendar of Jamaica. People come from all across the island and all over the world to be a part of the experience which is unlike any other. Red Stripe is committed to keep the vibe alive throughout the match days not only with activities on the mound but with our products," Lee said.

She also said that each day's happenings would be hosted by Paula Ann Porter Jones and music from Delano of Renaissance.

The event listing is as follows: Thursday May 22, Games & Trivia; Friday May 23, Mound Dance class; Saturday May 24, Red Stripe T-Shirt match and mingle, and Sunday May 25, Mound Posse Day - Test your cricket skills.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com

An International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation has completed a security assessment of the volatile Pakistani city of Karachi for this year's Champions Trophy, an official said Monday.

The four-member ICC team, which includes two security experts, arrived on Sunday and inspected the National Stadium and two other practice grounds for the biennial Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan from September 11-28.

"We are here today to review security as per the normal protocol. Such tours are completely normal visits for all ICC events," the ICC's Campbell Jamieson told reporters after completing the visit.The other members of the delegation are ICC member Bruce Ewan and two members of the ICC security consultant company from England -- James Withington and Kean Steele.

The delegation had to cancel an earlier assessment mid-way through when a state of emergency was declared in Pakistan in November last year.Early this year Australia also put off their March-April tour of Pakistan over security fears.But since general elections in February and the formation of a new government security has improved in Pakistan, allowing Australia to reschedule their tour in 2009 and 2010.

The ICC delegation will also tour Lahore and Rawalpindi before submitting its report to the game's governing body. Karachi will host five matches including one semi-final.The Pakistan Cricket Board has promised high-profile security for the eight teams participating in the Champions Trophy.Pakistan is also hosting the six-nation Asia Cup in June-July this year.

Foreign teams have raised safety concerns over touring the country amid political unrest and a surge in terrorism since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.South Africa, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have played in Pakistan in the past eight months.

South Africa played a three-day match and a five-day Test in Karachi on their tour, which started in September last year.But their last one-day match in the port city was shifted to Lahore after a blast targeting former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming parade.Bhutto survived that blast but was later killed in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi on December 27.

DUBAI (AFP) — The United States will take their first tentative steps on the long, gruelling road to the 2011 World Cup from Friday in the unlikely company of the likes of Germany, Nepal and Afghanistan.

America are one of 12 teams taking part in the ICC's World League Division Five in Jersey with the top two guaranteed promotion in the first step in the lengthy qualifying process for the World Cup to be staged in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Division Five matches will be played in Jersey from May 23-31 with the USA in Group A alongside Germany, Mozambique, Nepal, Norway and Vanuatu.Group B is made up of Afghanistan, Bahamas, Botswana, Japan, Jersey and Singapore.

"I believe we have a very good chance of going all the way," said USA skipper Steve Massiah whose team was banned from international cricket in 2005 and 2007 because of internal political wrangling.

"At the time we were excluded from international cricket we were playing with the top Associates and now we are down near the bottom. But as I told the guys, I think it could be a blessing in disguise as it gives us a chance to generate a bit of team spirit."

In April, the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) was re-recognised as an Associate Member of the ICC.

Source: http://afp.google.com

The Australian Cricketers' Association is encouraging Australia to develop a Twenty20 competition that is similar to the Indian Premier League and could run in conjunction with the main tournament. Paul Marsh, the ACA's chief executive, has been in India to monitor the opening week of the IPL and said the expansion of the concept could follow soccer's model.

"The Indian league will be the Premier League, and then you have the Australian league as the second league, or even the English league," Marsh said in the Daily Telegraph. "Over time players could go and play in one of these leagues and then you'll have a situation where the ICC could license each league, get a return and distribute it to each of these boards."

The initial success of the IPL has other countries trying to think of ways to benefit financially from the concept. Support is also growing for the ICC to implement a set time each year for Twenty20 so it doesn't overlap with Test and one-day internationals.

"We need to find this window and then find how to get a return from it for each of the boards," Marsh said. "We might find a window and it opens a door for a whole lot of these leagues."

Marsh is also interested in the idea of an IPL team based in Australia. Michael Brown, Cricket Australia's general manager of cricket operations, has said the franchise idea would be considered.

Brown told AAP on Tuesday the start of the IPL had been "outstanding". "It's fantastic for cricket - we're here in Melbourne in an incredible AFL environment, yet people are talking up cricket," he said. "That's a real positive for the game and the little bits I've caught from our players, it's been very successful."

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