Cricket News Update

ICC to interview for next CEO

Nomination Committee of the ICC, headed by its president Sharad Pawar, is interviewed four candidates in Mumbai, 6 May, the successor to the retiring CEO Haroon Lorgat to elect officers.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief David Collier and CEO of the ICC Cricket Dave Richardson picked are among the four candidates nominated by the global executive headhunting firm Egon Zehnder, according to a website. The successful candidate will be held at the Board of Directors of the ICC at the annual conference in late June in Kuala Lumpur before he changed his name to be recommended to the public. Besides Pawar, the ICC Committee is to interview Vice President Alan Isaac, West Indies Cricket Board president Julian Hunte, President of Cricket Scotland, Keith Oliver, president of the BCCI, N Srinivasan and ECB chief Giles Clarke.

Cricketer Asif released from London prison
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif was released Thursday from a British prison after completing half of his one-year sentence for his role in the determination of the scandal. Asif, 29, was out of prison in Canterbury, England, South East, released Thursday morning, he told London-based law firm SJS Solicitors.

Asif was arrested in November after Southwark Crown Court in London found him guilty of conspiracy to defraud and to accept payments through the deliberate falsification of the balls that do not play for the Lord's Test against England in August 2010. The fast bowler is still under suspension of the ICC and it is unclear whether the prohibition of seven years (two years suspended with probation) challenge. His lawyer had said on Wednesday that Asif is trying to clear his name. "I can not wait to meet him and help him in his legal fight for the reputation he once again make" the lawyer said Ravi Sukul Asif. Then test captain Salman Butt and Pakistan's Mohammad Aamir talented young bowler rapid for the same charges were imprisoned. Aamir in February, was released after three months in prison, while Butt is still serving a sentence of 30 months. Mazhar Majeed agent players who were exposed by an undercover operation by the now defunct World News, was also sentenced to 32 months in prison.

Sachin Says: Won't quit cricket for politics
In its first opinion, since he called to the Rajya Sabha, Sachin Tendulkar today said that "the greatest honor," not withstanding, it would not give up cricket to join politics.
In its first opinion, since he called to the Rajya Sabha, Sachin Tendulkar today said that "the greatest honor," not withstanding, it would not give up cricket to join politics.

"I was appointed because I am an athlete and not a politician. I am an athlete and will always remain one. I will not give into the politics, cricket, this is my life. I will continue to play cricket," Tendulkar said at a ceremony of a real estate office organized to congratulate him on the day of Maharashtra.

To a large cheering crowd of mostly students and professionals, Tendulkar said he was "the greatest honor to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha." "The honor came from the President of the country ... The likes of Prithviraj Kapoor and Lata Mangeshkar honored the house. It is an honor ... to follow in their footsteps," he said.

Tendulkar said he had played for over 22 years, and considers the application of the Parliament, the result of what he made was on the floor. "This is the assessment of an athlete, not a politician," he said, adding: ". I will bring my expertise in cricket in the house"

Tendulkar Rajya Sabha nomination had been criticized by the Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, the Congress of the "Dirty Picture". "It is Congress dirty game ... the real picture is that dirty," said Thackeray. In an editorial, Saamna Sena spokesman said: "Sachin had crores of fans like to call to have" Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar. Oh, it would be now, "Sachin Tendulkar, MP '."

Cricket in India

India is a country that is unity in diversity is known. This is an accumulation of various faiths and culture, where people come to different religions and beliefs together in a spirit of unity. Such a binding religion and faith in India is the game of cricket. Indian cricket is far more than gambling, developed gentlemen, to create a place for themselves in the hearts of millions of fans. But in India there is a ball game altogether. The cricketers have the status of idols, which can be rented during the term or even reprimanded reached after a poor performance. A large portion of our waking lives by the schedule of a cricket match is performed. If a match between India and a popular opponent then chances are that the streets are empty and schools and offices will be have a very low presence.

Indian cricket has also established numerous precedents and some of them, you have some schools plan their audits on the basis of the schedule in a game. If a game is played on Indian motifs, then chances are that the stadium will be packed. All fans that the misfortune of being away from their TV sets in a game of Indian cricket, have other ways of observing the process discovered the game. The radio was one of the most popular followed by the comment of a game in progress. The arrival and presence of the almighty Internet has changed the situation. Well, no matter where you are, you can never be too far away from a cricket match.

Many cricket portals on the Internet is a database of information about Indian cricket and the game as a whole. Live updates on the progress of each game are made on these pages are available and a user can be set for regular updates on their mobile phones in the unfortunate event, they must move away from their computers and televisions at any given time. So now you can be in contact with the game, even if you work at your desk and it is a very popular method of tracking game among cricket fans around the world.

Indian cricket has also become an important marketing tool for many companies and to fully exploit the popularity of Indian cricket fans from her in order to promote their products and services. The fans also like to follow the performance of their favorite players over the years, always playing cricket portals a crucial role. So if you are the newest statistics on the appropriate icon to download for cricket wallpapers of your favorite star cricket, you're surfing the Internet and find a cricket related site that has all your fulfilled regularly on the Indian cricket world. Active participation in discussion forums on these sites also show the deep involvement of the cricket fans and provide the best platform to get your perspective on the world.

Politics free Cricket

Cricket's governing body banned cricket countries from appointing politicians to national cricket boards, vowing to free the sport from undue government influence.

The International Cricket Council told a media conference in Hong Kong that it had made the decision to uphold "the important principle of free elections and the independence" of the sport.

"It was agreed that all member boards must implement the provisions before annual conference June 2012 and a further 12 months -- to June 2013 -- would be allowed before any sanctions be considered," the ICC said in a statement issued in Hong Kong.

The reform, which allows the ICC to suspend a member country in the event of government interference in the running of a national cricket board, will be hugely controversial in Pakistan, where the president is the cricket board's patron. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will also be hit by the change.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could not immediately be reached for comment.

Chairman Ijaz Butt has been criticised by former players, politicians and media for being a political appointee of the ruling Pakistan People's Party.

The PCB has already sent a legal notice to the ICC on the amendment and has threatened legal action if the constitution is changed.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the ICC's full council after four days of talks between the chief executives' committee and executive board at glitzy hotels in downtown Hong Kong.

"This is a significant step towards achieving best practice and together with the independent governance review, I am excited by the commitment of the ICC to introduce best possible corporate governance," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.

Source: The News

Year 2010 ends with cricket spot fixing

A brief glance on international cricket in the year of 2010

There were more thrilling sights in world cricket in the year 2010 than Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir bowling and there were few more controversial too.The teenage Pakistan left-arm quick's entrancing spell of swing bowling saw Australia dismissed for just 88 at Headingley in July. But Amir and new partner Mohammad Asif, together with Pakistan captain Salman Butt, soon found themselves facing 'spot-fixing' allegations.

Salman Butt was accused by British tabloid ‘The News of the World’ of orchestrating a betting scam that saw Amir and Asif bowl deliberate no-balls to effect a 'spot-fixing' coup.

The trio's future is set to be decided by an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal hearing in the Qatari capital of Doha in January 2011.

Pakistan had banned three former captains Younus Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik earlier in the year after a wretched tour of Australia where they failed to win a single match and Shahid Afridi was fined for an incredible ball-biting incident in Perth.

And in November wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider fled Dubai, where Pakistan was playing against South Africa, for London saying his life was under threat from 'Match fixers'.

On the field game, England won a first major one-day title by beating Australia in the final of the World Twenty20 tournament in the Caribbean.

Hopes of an Ashes series win in Australia looked realistic after England's innings and 71-run victory in the second Test in Adelaide.

That followed a draw in the series opener in Brisbane marked by a hat-trick by Peter Siddle of Australia.

But Australia leveled with a 267-run win in the 4th Test at Perth.

Nevertheless Australia, so recently the kings of Test cricket, had dropped to fourth in the ICC rankings as 2010 drew to a close.

The year ended with South Africa pressing hard to replace India as the world's leading Test side with an innings and 25 runs victory in the first Test at Centurion stadium.

The Proteas' Dale Steyn looked the one genuine fast bowler in the modern game whose record that would not look out of place alongside those of some all-time great fast bowlers while Jacques Kallis cemented his position as the world's leading all-rounder.

In meanwhile Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, whose unorthodox action remained controversial even when 'cleared' by the ICC, bowed out with a record 800 Test wickets before retiring from the test matches.

New Zealand's 2010 were exemplified by an embarrassing 4-0 one-day series loss to minnows Bangladesh in October.

India's Sachin Tendulkar set yet more batting records by becoming the first man to score 200 in a one-day international and the first to 50 Test centuries.

Chris Gayle of west Indies became only the fourth batsman in history to make two Test scores of over 300 with an innings of 333 against Sri Lanka in Galle last month but this was a rare highlight for the West Indies in another struggling year.

England's Ashes-winning all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond finally gave up their struggles with injury by retiring from all cricket while Australia quick Brett Lee quit Tests.

But the most notable retirement in 2010 was of South Africa's Makhaya Ntini, the first black African to represent his country, whose 13-year international career saw a fast bowler blessed with exceptional stamina more than justify his place on cricket grounds alone.

Split-innings matches were trialed in Australia, the ICC announced plans for a new Test championship and MCC experimented with a pink ball in a bid to probe the viability of day/night Tests.

It's a fair bet the pink ball would not have impressed Sir Alec Bedser, who died aged 91 in April.

Cricket News Update

 Flintoff back training with Lancashire

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff returned to training with Lancashire here on Monday as his long awaited cricket comeback moved a step closer to reality. Flintoff has had two knee operations since helping England to victory in the final Test of last year’s Ashes series win over Australia and has yet to make it back onto the field. Flintoff though plans to return and fight for his England place in the limited-overs formats. “The next few weeks are about getting into some sort of shape to play,” Flintoff said. “I’ve not played for nine or ten months now. I’ve just got to get fit, get back on the field and take it from there.”

CA chases ICC votes for Howard

Cricket Australia (CA) officials are still lobbying to gain enough support to install John Howard as the ICC’s vice-president in Singapore over the next two days. The appointment of Howard is supposed to be a formality but it has become increasingly uncertain following complaints raised by Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Howard’s vice-presidency will be a key issue at the ICC’s executive board meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, which occurs before the elevation of India’s Sharad Pawar to the top job. James Sutherland, CA’s chief executive, and the chairman Jack Clarke are in Singapore for various talks this week and are attempting to secure the seven votes required for Howard to get the deputy’s role.

Cricket News in brief

ICC scraps new travel plans for WT20

The ICC has scrapped plans to fly up to seven teams from Dubai to the World Twenty20 in West Indies, after restrictions on flights were eased across Europe after a volcanic ash cloud decreased considerably. The International Cricket Council had made contingency plans for Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, South Africa and Bangladesh to transit through Dubai on Sunday or Monday before being flown to West Indies on a charter flight. The seven teams along with England will now fly directly to the West Indies as originally scheduled.

England to fly direct to West Indies

English cricket chiefs breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday after it was confirmed that their World Twenty20 squad will be able to fly directly to the West Indies this weekend. The end of a shutdown of much of Europe?s airspace because of volcanic ash emanating from Iceland means the England squad will not now have to undergo a lengthy detour via Dubai in order to get to the tournament. Instead, they will fly out of London on Sunday on a scheduled flight which will leave them with a few days to acclimatise before their first warm-up match, against Bangladesh in Barbados on April 28.

 IPL should be banned, says Bal Thackeray

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has said the Indian Premier League (IPL) should be banned to save the game of cricket. It is now necessary to save the ?gentleman?s game. The Government should immediately ban the cash-rich tournament,? he said in a statement on Tuesday. ?The ongoing controversy involving IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi and former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has damaged the image of the game,? he said.

Hyderabad win in T20 tourney


Hyderabad Forte (PAK)qualified for the semifinals when they crushed Tando Allah Yar by 148 runs in their match of the All Sindh Inter-District Twenty20 Cricket Championship held at Hyderabad. Batting first, Hyderabad Forte scored 245 in the allotted 20 overs. Faisal Athar top-scored with 137 off 59 balls. In reply, Tando Allahyar were dismissed for only 97 with Shaukat Ali scoring 37. Naeem-ur-Rehman grabbed three while Rizwan Ahmed picked up two wickets.