ICL asks Court to stop BCCI from using Indian flag!

On the day Subhash Chandra, the chairman of Essel Group and the man behind the Indian Cricket League (ICL), declared that he has nothing personal against Indian cricket board president Sharad Pawar, a legal battle erupted.The ICL on Friday went to the Delhi High Court, seeking to restrain the BCCI from “intimidating” its players and interfering in its affairs. Questioning the BCCI’s sanctity to run Indian cricket, it urged that the board be restrained from using the Indian flag and the name of the country as it had accepted before the Supreme Court that it is a private, autonomous body. The suit also urged the High Court to direct the BCCI to let the ICL use stadia across the country for its tournaments. The BCCI, on its part, gave a guarded response. Chief Administrator Officer Ratnakar Shetty said, “We will formulate our plan of action once we get the notice.”
Courtesy:HT

Dravid is pleased with young Piyush Chawla's progress

Teenage leg-spinner Piyush Chawla received a glowing endorsement from captain Rahul Dravid after taking three key wickets in India's nine-run win against England in the second one-day international at Bristol
"He's a young kid, he's only 18-years-old. He has a long way to go. But there are great signs.He's played all his (one-day) cricket outside of India in conditions that don't really suit his sort of spin bowling. He's got a great attitude, terrific for an 18-year-old. He always wants to bowl. He's looking to bowl to good batsmen and looking to set aggressive fields.

He's not scared, even if he gets hit. He played a Test match against England in Mohali (in 2006) and if you look at the way he's bowling now and the way he was bowling then, there has been an improvement

Collingwood praises his side's effort

England got 320 of their target of 329 - their highest ever total chasing in a one-day game - but the skipper admitted it was propbabaly a mistake to drop spinner Monty Panear and play Chris Tremlett.

"In hindsight, you look at the balance of the side, the seamers did well for us at the Rose Bowl and we felt we'd go in with the big lads and obviously 329 was a bit too many for us to chase.
"It was a great game of cricket. We fought right to the end and nearly chased down 320-odd and it was a great effort from the boys."

Boucher fined 60% of match fees

PROTEAS wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has been fined 60 percent of his match fees in the Twenty20 World Cup cricket tournament next month, after being found guilty of breaching Cricket South Africa’s player code of conduct.
Charges arose from an article published in Business Day on August 15 where Boucher commented on Jacques Kallis’ non-selection for the Twenty20 event.
In his evidence, Boucher repudiated any link between his comments and the selection issue, and claimed his reference to those who had an “issue with Kallis” or “a chip on their shoulder” or “ulterior motives” had nothing to do with the selectors of the Twenty20 team but was merely a statement, in general, concerning Kallis’ critics, and sections of the Afrikaans press.
The commissioner found that the comments by Boucher served to “rubbish” a possible reason for Kallis’ non-selection and that the comments were prejudicial to the selection of the team and hence to the Twenty20 itself for if South Africa was not fielding its best team that, in turn, was detrimental to the prestige of the World Cup.
On Thursday, the commissioner handed down his sanction, and stated: “In my view the breaches are serious. Senior players have a responsibility to CSA and to cricket in general.
“Their responsibilities are set forth in the code and in their contracts and one is entitled to expect punctilious performance of their obligations.
“In the present case the comments to the media were calculated in their effect to embarrass CSA and to denigrate the Twenty20.”
The commissioner noted that damage has been done to CSA and that Boucher has not retracted, nor apologised for the comments made

China will make Cricket global:Asian Cricket Council

Asia's Cricket Council (ACC) chief is optimistic that increasing investment to develop the sport in China will pay dividends in the near future.
"We have made big investment including money and technical support in developing cricket in China," ACC chief executive Syed Ashraful Huq told China Daily in Beijing during his visit to last week's national men's cricket championship.
"I am confident the investment will get paid."
"It is not a bad investment. It is not like going to the stock exchange and buying shares. It is a safe investment."
The Chinese Cricket Association (CCA), which joined the ACC after the former was established in 2004, has been developing the sport in China in recent years by laying a foundation of professionally trained players, coaches and umpires.
Huq believes China will play a pivotal role in making cricket a truly global sport.
"We have trained hundreds of local coaches here," he said.
"I am hopeful China will play well because if China plays well, then the whole value of the sport will go up over the world."
"Only when major countries like China play the sport, at that time we can say the sport is a truly global sport."
"We have more than 100 countries playing in the world, but China makes the most differences."
As the boss of the sport's governing body in Asia, Huq is especially pleased the sport will debut at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, where he hopes it will give Chinese cricket the spur it needs.
"It will have different impact now," Huq said.
"I came to Beijing two days ago and had meetings with chief of CCA."
"This is the first meeting with chief official in China and I am glad to see they are more interested in advancing the sport than I expected."
CCA chief official Liu Rongyao said the national body was fully committed to development programs.
"It is such a good chance," he said.
"Cricket is more and more popular in China's schools."
"After support from international organizations and our own efforts, we will have more people getting involved and will set up national teams for assembled trainings."
Huq even claimed cricket would be the most popular sport at the Guangzhou Games when teams representing the most populous nations face off.
"Eventually the cricket will become the biggest game in Asian Games - the No 1, because it is seen by the most and it is followed by the most," he said.
"Also China will play the cricket as the host. They will send their men's and women's teams and show people what the sport is."
Huq revealed his long-term aim beyond the Asian Games was to put the sport on the Olympic roster.
"China's standing as the world's leading sporting nation can play a major role in influencing future Olympic rosters."
"China is soon expected to overtake the United States as the top Olympic nation, if not at the 2008 Beijing Olympics then possibly London."
"As such they would have a lot of say in what sports are in the Olympics."
"That's why it is important that cricket is developed in China."
"I don't know if cricket can make it into the London Olympics in 2012, where it could have demonstration status, but maybe the one after that."
Huq, who has visited China twice each year since his first visit in 2002, is impressed by the sport's progress among young people and believes China will jump to a mid-level standard in Asia within two years.
"I saw the same boys playing last year and what they are playing now is very very different."
"In about two years time, they will come up to a level of, say, if not India, Pakistan, maybe other countries like Malaysia and Singapore.
"And by 2010, who knows (what will happen for the China's cricket). In three years, they might do something amazing."

"This kind of improvement is not taking place anywhere in Asia. This is because Chinese people are disciplined. When they get their mind on something, they will make it."
Supporting Huq's claims, the national women's cricket team finished a surprising third at last month's Asian Championships, just two years after the women's players picked up a bat and ball.
According to ACC's plan, China's women's team will go to India for training and competition next year.
The men's team, which was selected after the national championships last week, will compete at the U-15 and U-19 Asian Championships later this year.
Next year they will play at senior level.
Former Pakistan international Rashid Khan is currently coaching China's men's and women's cricket teams.
The CCA aims to have 15,000 cricketers by 2009, with a proportional number of umpires and coaches, and 60,000 by 2012.
By 2020, following the establishment of a national league, international club matches and a national school and inter-city competition, the association expects cricket to be played actively by 150,000 people.
courtesy:chinadaily.com

Shoaib Akhtar snubs ICL offer

Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has reportedly refused to join the rebel Indian Cricket League despite being offered a whopping Rs 120-million contract.
Reports said this the most lucrative offer made by ICL to any of the cricketer around the world thus far.
"ICL made the highest offer to the speedster. No other player got even close to him. He was offered Rs 120 million to figure in the league engagements for the next three years," The News quoted a source as saying.
Shoaib`s team mates, including Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Asif, are known to have been offered about half that amount.
"Shoaib was given the highest offer almost at par with some of the leading Indian cricketers. However, he immediately turned down the offer and without giving it a lengthy consideration, he refused to join the league that has got no official backing," another close associate of the Akhtar was quoted as saying by The News.
The quickie is learnt to have said that even if he was offered Rs 1000 million, he would not have deserted his country.
"Shoaib takes pride in representing the country, and even if he had been offered a bigger amount he would not have considered that unless and until the International Cricket Council (ICC) or Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allowed it," reports quoting sources said.

West Bengal govt is ready to give Eden Garden ground to ICL

The Indian Cricket League has been offered support from West Bengal Sports Minister Subhash Chakraborty, who has given permission to utilise the world famous Eden Gardens and other grounds under state government control for their ties.
"Whatever facilities we have, we will make available to the boys who have been punished, particularly by the CAB. I have no objection. All the fields will be available for them as all the fields are available for CAB. The owner of the fields is the state government not any other body," Chakraborty was quoted as saying to zeecric.com.
"The Eden Gardens was looked after by CAB. Now the lease period is over and it is state government’s property. If Kapil and others like to play in Eden Gardens, I would allow it. What is the harm in it?" the sports minister added.
Interestingly,the current CAB President Prasun Mukherjee, who is also the Kolkata Police Commissioner, has the backing of the Sharad Pawar-led BCCI regime.

At this level you don't need professors:Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain, has applauded the man-management skills of the current Indian coaching staff and was pleased that the tour has proceeded without any "hiccups".
Ganguly, who had some major differences with former India coach Greg Chappell, was happy with the current atmosphere in the dressing room, adding that the team did not need a "professor" to coach them at this level.
"The youngsters have enjoyed themselves," Ganguly told Cricinfo when asked about the dynamics in the team. "It's been a lovely dressing room, a free dressing room. No hiccups, not many controversies off the field, not too much rubbish going around, which has been good. It's been fantastic."
Did he think the lack of a head coach had affected the team in any way? "We have coaches - Robin [Singh] and Venky [Prasad] have been superb," he said. "They've been nice, their man-management skills have been worth watching. Chandu Borde has been nice. Lot of people said he's 73 when he got appointed. He may not be the most active because of his age but the batting ideas he gives - stands behind in the nets, watches every ball - that's all you need.
"You don't need a professor at this level. You don't need to treat international players like students. What are you going to teach Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble? What are you going to tell them? [There are] minor things which you notice in the nets you come and tell them, 'This is what I feel, this is how you can do it better'. And Mr Borde does it perfectly."
After India's Test series triumph at The Oval, their captain, Dravid, had also acknowledged the efforts of Prasad, Robin and Borde. However, when asked about the lack of a coach before the first game of the one-day series, he was guarded with his stance. "We've had some good success on this tour, but it will be too simplistic to say it's because we haven't had [a coach]," he said. "There are other factors that have gone into us playing well. You can't just focus on the coach.
"Sometimes you're in the team and looking at it from one perspective. People from outside can look at a team and see the direction it's going in. They must provide some intelligence and input as well."
Courtesy:Cricinfo.com

Ravi Bopara wants to be England's Tendulkar

Ravi Bopara strolls into the Chelmsford pavilion. He is all smiles, with big hands, a stocky build and tracksuit top and bottoms. His presence is room-filling but unforced, putting you straight at ease.
His big smile makes him look younger than his 22 years and immediately approachable. There is nothing clumsy or hurried about his handshake or his small talk.
But then it is only right that he should be relaxed; Essex is his home from home. However, his reputation suggests that, no matter where he finds himself, he will cope.
This reputation was polished on the world stage in April. It was one of the few thrilling matches of the World Cup. England needed 102 in 16 overs to beat Sri Lanka and stay on course for the semi-final. They were six wickets down. At the crease were 36-year-old Paul Nixon, playing his 15th one-day international, and Bopara, with only four ODIs behind him.
But while Nixon fidgeted, Bopara was visibly detached, the calmest man on the field. Watching him ease his way to 52, with pushed ones and twos and creative flicks for four, was a study of a man thinking only about the next scoring option. Everything else - the noise from the stands, the need for a win, playing in the World Cup at 21 - seemed to be blocked out.
Although there was an unhappy ending - Bopara bowled by Dilhara Fernando needing three to win off the last ball - it could be the beginning of a great story.
"I said to myself when I was 17 that I wanted to represent England by the time I'm 21," says Bopara, matter-of-factly. "Although that happened, I never expected to be at the World Cup so early."
That his plans were slightly ahead of schedule clearly did not bother him in the Caribbean. "I had my plan against Sri Lanka and I set myself a clear goal of what I wanted to do. I said to myself, 'I'm going to score my runs here, here and here and not worry about the total or how they're bowling.' Like all of my batting, I was just thinking about where I'm going to score rather than looking at the big picture."
The game sealed Bopara's growing reputation as a wristy, impulsive and intelligent batsman who could build different types of innings - from slow-burners to boundary-filled assaults. And he took his form into the county season. By the beginning of August he was averaging in the high 60s with the bat and had scored his first double-hundred.
His medium-pacers were also proving more and more effective, especially in one-dayers. No wonder he is unfazed.
Bopara believes that a streetwise childhood helped foster his level-headed approach. Born in Forest Gate, East London, to Indian parents, he was touched by the game at an early age while watching his dad play park cricket for Internationals CC. Ravi remembers hating it when he was not taken.
While his dad played, Bopara and his brother would throw a ball around on the side. Most nights from the age of nine were spent playing cricket with his friends from the local area, often in slightly dodgy surroundings.

Read full interview
Courtesy:Cricinfo

Murali is no hurry to break records

Muttiah Muralitharan insists he has no designs on breaking Shane Warne's Test record in his own backyard this summer.
Murali needs nine more wickets to eclipse Warne's tally of 708 and become the leading Test wicket-taker of all-time, and the Sri-Lankan off-spinner could well claim those in Australia during his country's two-Test tour in November.
Given Murali's career has been tarnished by previous visits to Australia, where his action has persistently been questioned, one might think he would relish the opportunity of ousting Australia's greatest-ever bowler on is home turf.
But the 35-year-old knows it is only a matter of time before he surpasses Warne and is in no rush to establish his place in history.
"I'm not really focused about that because we're trying to play well and win matches there," he said.
"The wickets are good, bouncy. They're supposed to favour fast bowlers but I don't know if it'll be too early in November. So maybe, if I'm lucky, it will spin and I can get some wickets.
"If I get the wickets, then fine, otherwise I can do it in another series because I want to play another four years of Test cricket for Sri Lanka so it'll happen at some moment because I'm just nine wickets away."
Murali has painful memories of Australia, not least because he has taken just eight wickets in his three previous Tests here, which include the one-off Super Series Test in 2005.
He was no-balled by Australian umpires Darrell Hair and Ross Emerson during the 1995-96 tour, has frequently been heckled by home fans and even Prime Minister John Howard labelled him "a chucker".
Yet the mild-mannered Sri Lankan wants to put all that behind him and is optimistic of a warm welcome this summer.
"Hopefully I'll get a good reception," he said. "Whatever happened has gone now, it's a new thing, and hopefully they'll react in a positive way.
"I haven't thought about it happening again. I always think positive, rather than thinking negative."
Warne has been both friend and foe to Murali during their battle to be crowned 'king of spin', and they renewed acquaintances at Manchester's Old Trafford ground this week as Lancashire hosted Hampshire.
It is the first time Murali and Warne have faced each other in a County Championship match and the first time in a first-class match since the Third Test in Colombo in March 2004, although they did clash in a one-day game between the counties in 2005.
This is possibly the last time the two greats will face other and the spin rivals provided a poignant moment on day three, exchanging the tricks of their trade as they warmed up for the day's play.
"He was showing me some balls that he bowls," said Murali. "I was just listening and trying to bowl them."
Courtesy:TvNZ
Asked which deliveries they were, he joked: "I can't tell you those secrets."

Michael Vaughan wants to return to One day team

England Test captain Michael Vaughan believes that he could break the shackles on his scoring potential should he be given one more opportunity in the one-day squad, sans captaincy.
Vaughan has been left out of the Engaland ODI squad ever since he quit captaincy after a disappointing World Cup campaign.
"Maybe playing as a non-captain will unleash the shackles, and I will just have a go and become a better player," Vaughan was quoted as saying to the NatWest cricket website, adding that his chances for a recall would come down to his successor, Paul Collingwood.
"Only time will tell - but certainly in a year if I'm fit and firing I'd like another opportunity. But that's down to Colly to select me," the Yorkshire player added.
Vaughan has traditionally struggled to get going in one-day cricket despite a Test average of 43.94, which saw him being crowned Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2003.
Vaughan’s poor World Cup and an ODI average of just 27.15, with no hundreds, make him look pretty ordinary.

Harsha Bhogle finds ICL a positive move for cricket

The ace cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle finds ICL a good move for the better of Cricket. Here's what he thinks about IC-BCCI controversy, appeared in his Indian Express column

The BCCI may be forced to look at the reality of Indian cricket in the eye rather than offer it a bored, distracted glance

The ICL isn’t about cricket, neither is the BCCI. One is, and the other hopes to be, about making profits in a booming market. There isn’t anything wrong with that as long as you state it upfront. And yet, by nature’s wonderful way of sorting things, a confrontation is on the cards and both, at least the BCCI, will be forced to think about Indian cricket, that poor little rich kid that nobody loves.
That is why challenges are good, that is the positive side of free market existence. We are all driven out of comfort zones and forced to confront the truth. Batsmen rediscover the urge to play longer innings when a younger challenger knocks at the door, writers spend an hour more on their columns, airlines drop prices and offer better deals. The BCCI may be forced to look at the reality of Indian cricket in the eye rather than offer it a bored, distracted glance. What fun.
All sport has to be about three things. Revenues and therefore, profits; the players; and the spectators. Normally, in a good competitive environment, the first of those should derive from the second and the third.
If the players are well prepared and play good cricket, the spectators and viewers come in and revenues rise. But in a monopoly, you don’t have to worry too much about players and spectators; just as Indian Airlines didn’t need to worry too much about passengers. But if the ICL does reasonably well, and provides the players and the spectators with an option, the BCCI will be forced to think about them; like Indian Airlines had to with the arrival of private carriers.
And so I think the BCCI will be forced to stop doing stupid things like going to Australia seven or eight days before the first Test with only one three-day game to get used to the conditions. At the moment, I am pretty certain they know it is wrong but I am just as certain they don’t worry too much about it because revenues are independent of players and spectators, products and customers. But if India look unprepared for Australia and do badly, and if viewers have the option of switching, the BCCI might be forced into doing something right. There is always another way of getting there, remember!
At the moment though, the ICL is a concoction of has-beens and never-will-bes. And you have to wonder about some of the former players jumping at the opportunity of filling their pockets. They are a bit like call centre companies—anyone who wants a job is welcome—but I guess they have no choice at the moment for they must start with they have. But it is in their long term intent that I believe their success will eventually lie. Zee have been quick off the blocks with most things they have done in television but it is their vision that will be tested.
They have had chief executives walk in and out every year, ambitious programmes vanish quietly and while they give the impression of being nimble you don’t always know if they are in it for the long haul. If I was a young cricketer today, I would want to be convinced of intent.
There are also three key questions: who, where and when? We have some inkling of the who but have no idea of the when and the where. What are the teams going to be called? Are they looking to establish a culture of city rivalry? If, for example, Mumbai is one of the teams, are there enough players from Mumbai for the Mumbaikar to wear a team shirt with pride? The US leagues can do that and so can the Premiership (how many London players, or for that matter England players, are there at Chelsea and Arsenal?) because they have a long history of local affiliation.
The irony of it all is that Lalit Modi wanted to start a similar league ten years ago and found the door being shut on him by the BCCI. Now Modi is in the BCCI and his organisation is shutting the door on what was really his idea! But there is an opportunity here, maybe two, for the BCCI. If more players leave the Ranji Trophy it can actually become more competitive because Indian cricket needs fewer, not more, players.
And they can start a similar league that could well be more attractive and profitable. But will they? If you are used to having people come to you to buy tickets it is very difficult to go to them to sell tickets!
I hope the ICL has a good debut though it seems that they are more at the start of a steeplechase than in the final straight. It will be good for Indian cricket and, if they want to look at it that way, best for the BCCI!
Courtesy:Indian Express

Justin Langer says sledging is important in cricket

Former Australian Test opener Justin Langer feels that sledging needs to be a part of modern day cricket, without which the game will lose its spice and will also be robbed off its aura of mysticism.
“Let’s make no bones about it: Test cricket can be a fierce affair,” Langer wrote in his column for the BBC.
“Cricket is a non-contact sport so in the heat of the moment words are often exchanged between different players. This is part of the contest.
“The game wouldn’t be the same if everyone was silent on field. I would be concerned if my team, no matter what colour cap we are wearing, were quiet throughout the course of a day’s play.
“I would see this as a sign of disinterest or lack of competitive edge that the best teams tend to display. It would be a sad day when emotion of a contest was taken away from the game,” Langer added.
Langer supported England coach Peter Moore’s views and sentiments on muting the stumps microphone during the course of play.
“I believe Moores was absolutely spot on with his assessment of stump microphones. If there is anything unsavoury happening in middle then I believe that is where it should be left; on the field.”

Sri Lankan cricket board slams Bishan Singh Bedi

Sri Lanka on Thursday denounced former India skipper Bishan Singh Bedi’s “vituperative outburst” against Muttiah Muralidharan as “needless and unfair”.
In reference to Bedi’s comments that Muralidharan was taking advantage of his physical deformity and that the ICC have “created a monster” by allowing him to continue to bowl, the Sri Lankan cricket board said such remarks were intended to “harm the bowler’s reputation and achievements”.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) media manager Samantha Algama said in a statement: “It is irresponsible for a person of Bedi’s stature to make such public comments where he has attacked the personal integrity of Muralidharan and technical competency of the ICC.
Bedi has needlessly, unfairly and deliberately targeted Muralidharan in his vituperative outburst.”
Algama said SLC would back Muralidharan if he intends to take action against Bedi. “We feel that Bedi’s comments are defamatory and intended to cause harm to his reputation and achievements, and also disparage the ICC’s ruling on the matter.”
“SLC sincerely believes that appropriate action should be taken by the authorities to prevent such incidents from recurring and will support any and all efforts by Muralidharan to take corrective action in the matter.”
Bedi, who has been a vocal critic of Muralidharan, said the Sri Lankan was killing the game by setting a wrong precedent for youngsters.

Now it's Lalu vs Pawar off the cricket pitch!

The battle of cricketing leagues is heating up by the day and the person who, on Thursday, took on BCCI President Sharad Pawar is none other than his rival and Bihar Cricket Association Cheif - Lalu Prasad Yadav.
He's come out openly against BCCI's plans to impose a ban on players joining the breakaway Indian Cricket League.
Now, there is this cricketing battle with a twist - instead of 22 men taking each other in a stadium, its our own political fraternity out to settle scores with each other.
The latest entrant to the battle field is Lalu Yadav, Railways Minister and the President of the Bihar Cricket Association, who is batting in favour of the breakaway cricket league ICL.
"The players who complain that they are not being selected, if they join the parallel cricket league what's wrong in that. It will help talent come up and India will get good players," said Lalu Yadav.
In the last 48 hours, the BCCI chief Sharad Pawar himself has been forced to eat his words over his support to the ICL.
First, he tried to act cosy with Subhash Chandra's ICL.
"I dont want anyone to be penalised. It will be great if we all can work together," said Sharad Pawar day before the BCCI's working committee meeting in the capital.
But, only to be rebuffed by all his BCCI colleagues.
"If he (a player) choses to associate himself with any other organisation, he shall not be entitled to derive any benefits from the BCCI or be connected with any of its activities," announced Rajiv Shukla after the Working Committee meeting on Wednesday.
The congress general secretary Digvijay Singh too has recently written a letter to the BCCI Cheif making a case for the ICL but why all this controversy about a league which only is eyeing former superstars in order to bolster its own credentials.
In the end, is it simply about money?
Maybe, that is why Lalu Yadav is willing to offer the services of his railways stadiums to the ICL. Why should the BCCI be the only organisation reaping in the moolah from cricket.
And of course, sorting out Sharad Pawar also means one notch higher in the eyes of the ultimate super power - Sonia Gandhi.
Courtesy:IBNlive.com

Lalu Prasad Yadav supports ICL

Even as the Indian board remains inflexible over the Indian Cricket League (ICL) , the federal railway minister and Bihar Cricket Association president Lalu Prasad Yadav today openly backed the ICL, saying the million-dollar tournament could be played in stadiums owned by his ministry.
Railways, the ministry's side in the Ranji Trophy, have won the tournament twice in the past five seasons and own around 50 grounds across the country. That could come in handy for the ICL who face a lack of venues to stage the league. Most cricket grounds are owned by local cricket associations, and the BCCI has discouraged any sort of interaction with the ICL.
Yadav described the ICL as a "good initiative" and said competition was good for the game. "The parallel league is a good thing for those who complain that they were not selected or were ignored. This competition will be good for spotting good players.
"We will definitely allow them to play in our stadiums. We will charge money for it."
The board said yesterday that cricketers associating themselves with other organisations would not be entitled to any benefits from the BCCI or "be connected with any of its activities". Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, had last week threatened to impose life bans on players who joined the unofficial body.

Sarwan was shocked when he was dropped

Ramnaresh Sarwan has called the experience of being dropped from Test squad in Pakistan last November one of the most shocking incidents of his life and hit out against the team management of the day, calling it a political decision.
"I was in the dressing-room on the morning of the Test preparing to go out for batting practice when Brian [Lara] approached me and said I was not playing," Sarwan told the Jamaica Gleaner. "I was very shocked but I said nothing and went out to do some batting drills. I don't think my omission was justified. I was very angry because there was no specific reason given for the decision to drop me.
"It made me understand that sport is also about politics and that people would do what's necessary to accomplish their own goals, whatever that might be. It was a very humiliating experience, but I think it has made me stronger as a person."
Lara had insisted at that time that the move wasn't "designed as a drop," and Sarwan had a key role to play in West Indies cricket. "He will come back from this and come back stronger. It wasn't designed as a drop," Lara said on November 24. "We just wanted to make him aware of the situation and come back stronger. We need him and we need him to take control."
Courtesy:cricinfo.org

Stephen Fleming dropped from Twenty20 team

New Zealand selectors on Thursday said they would not send Test skipper Stephen Fleming to the ICC Twenty20 World Championships in order to blood Daniel Vettori as captain.
Fleming stood down as the Black Caps one-day captain to concentrate on his Test career following New Zealand's World Cup semifinal loss to Sri Lanka earlier this year and selectors are looking to Vettori to fill the void.
New Zealand coach John Bracewell said including Fleming in the squad travelling to South Africa in September could have proved a distraction.
"This is the first opportunity for Daniel to captain the team abroad and we wanted to ensure that Daniel and the team were not looking to him (Fleming) for leadership," Bracewell said.
Vettori has already expressed his interest in captaining the one-day side in the absence of Fleming and his installation as Twenty20 skipper signals a changing of the guard.
While the spinner has acted as stand-in captain in New Zealand when Fleming has been unavailable, the Twenty20 tournament is the first time he has been handed the skipper's armband overseas.
The New Zealand squad included two new caps in all rounders Nathan McCullum and Bradley Scott.
Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins also earned a recall as back-up to Brendon McCullum.

Shah Rukh Khan at the Oval

On the first day of the Oval test, fans were there in full force not just for a look at Sachin Tendulkar but also a glimpse of SRK. King Khan decided to pop into the Oval not to queue up for a Sachin autograph like Daniel Radcliffe but just to watch him bat.The superstar is in London for the premiere of his film Chak De India and that's why he was more familiar with a penalty corner than with a cover drive.SRK was all miked up and ready for a bit of a chin-wag with someone as famous as him at least in India. And as he waited his turn to chat with Sunil Gavaskar, the actor looked like he was contemplating his next role as a sports commentator.SRK may be playing the role of a hockey coach in his new film but it was visible that his true passion lies in cricket, which was confirmed by his brief visit at the oval.

BCCI is scared of ICL, says Bishan Singh Bedi

Finally the all time big mouth of the Indian cricket is talking about ICL! No, not Navjot Singh Sidhu, but another sardar, Bishan Singh Bedi. He's, as expected, attacking BCCI. Bedi says the BCCI's opposition to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) is grounded in its fear of being exposed as an inefficient organisation."The BCCI cannot ban players for playing in the league. Suppose you are working for a company and join another after some time, your former employers cannot stop you from earning your livelihood. That's illegal. Cricket is not their personal property and they have no right to stop anybody from joining this league. Actually the board is scared that if the ICL turns out to be a well organised event, then their own failures would be exposed," he added.
He didn't even spare ICL's intentions! Bedi felt the ICL organisers are only trying to mint money out of the country's obsession with cricket!
"I don't think it is something on the lines of Kerry Packer series, so there should not be any objection in the first place. I don't know whether this league would be good for the game in the long run but there is no harm in allowing it to take place," he said.
Bedi also came out in support of National Cricket Academy chairman Kapil Dev who has been threatened with a sack for joining the league.
"I don't think it would be appropriate to take away his job on this ground,"
If you're concluding that Bedi is on ICL's radar, forget it. He is in no mood to join ICL "I will not join ICL for the simple reason that I don't think I would be able to fit into this bunch of vultures,"

Now Attapattu in ICL net!

Another International cricketer is in ICL's net, it seems. Sri Lanka's stylish opening batsman Marvan has asked Sri Lanka Cricket to release him from his annual central contract.
"Marvan sent a letter to chief executive Duleep Mendis on Friday requesting release from his central contract," board secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan said. The 36-year-old righthander opted out of the recently completed series against Bangladesh and has been approached to play in the Indian Cricket League (ICL), a rebel Twenty20 competition being set-up by Indian broadcaster Zee TV.
The money bag shown by ICL must have been a too big incentive to ignore for Attapattu, who's almost approaching retirement in International cricket. Atapattu's current contract is worth $100,000 per annum plus match and tour fees. Just imagine, how much ICL would have offered him!

Aaqib Javed sees no future for Shoaib Akhtar

Former Test pacer Aaqib Javed, the chief bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, has warned that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar does not have a very long international career. Describing Shoaib as a very moody player, Aaqib, said he didn't see the fast bowler playing for more than two year's time. "He is basically a very moody player. Only he knows what he wants to do when he gets up the morning although each player is supposed to be ready to train and for every condition," said Aaqib. Aaqib said only Shoaib knew how serious his present injury was. "Only a player knows really about his fitness. So it is hard to say whether this neck strain is serious or not," he added.
"What creates problems for Shoaib is that if he is out of cricket for one or two weeks he does not touch the ball. So he loses the rhythm and focus. If he does not work very hard in his last few years as an international player he will face a lot of difficulties in future"

Lawson says India-Pak series is equal to Ashes!

Pakistan's new coach Geoff Lawson has rated the team's traditional rivalry with cross-border rivals India as the mother of all cricket battles.
The former Australian fast bowler said that to beat India in India is about 10 Ashes series wrapped in one.The biggest series of the decade happens in India. Beating India in India is about 10 Ashes series wrapped in one. It's like another war over there,"
Pakistan is due to tour India in November and December to play three Tests and five ODIs.
Lawson in his column also expressed astonishment over the Australian hockey team's pull out from the Champions Trophy tournament due to be held in Lahore in December.
"Sports people in the subcontinent are deities almost. If you are involved in sport, that's the safest situation to be in.There are less concerns than I have going to London or New York. I was in England in 2005 when all the bombs went off and that was scary"
May be Pakistan needs to hire more foreigners to propagate safety in Pakistan!

Tim Boon wants to coach Indian Cricket team

The latest to join the list of aspirants to be the Indian Cricket coach, is Tim Boon, Leicestershire's senior coach. "I'm in the middle of a contract here in Leicestershire but any county coach will aspire to be an international coach. I look at England, Australia and India as the top three jobs in the world. We all harbour thoughts to lead countries."
Kepler Wessels, Queensland's Terry Oliver, former Sri Lanka coach John Dyson, Dave Nosworthy of South Africa and former India wicketkeeper Chandrakant Pandit are the some of the names doing the rounds for the Indian coaching job.
Being a cricket coach in the Indian sub-continent is a tough job. While the challenge of meeting crores of crazy Indian cricket fans' expectations can shatter anybody, the prospect of earning loads of money in terms of contract and advertisement cannot be ignored.

Atherton wants Sreesanth banned from third test

Former England Captain Mike Atherton is baying for Sreesanth's blood. He wants Sreesanth to be banned for the third test.Atherton wrote in his column that a bowler must always be punished severely for bowling a beamer. "If bowled deliberately there cannot be a more cowardly action on a cricket field; if bowled accidentally it is still potentially lethal. Either way it should incur an immediate one-match ban. The ball wasn't new and the lacquer had worn off, making it less likely to slip out of his hand; it wasn't wet; he had directional problems but hardly of the 'yips' variety.

We do know that, since the ball landed at the wicketkeeper's feet, he missed his length by a good 30 yards, an extraordinary failing for an international bowler. If it did slip, it slipped with remarkable accuracy, honing in on Pietersen's skull. Shortly afterwards he overstepped the front mark by two feet to bowl a rapid bouncer at Collingwood. Sreesanth was hardly in control of his emotions during that particular spell.

The royal wave was all that was needed for him to be portrayed as an innocent in the matter and to be forgiven.
An apology doesn't necessarily mean it is sincere. With match referees on the prowl, any bowler with an ounce of survival instinct is bound to apologise, deliberately bowled or not. And the batsman/batting side has no option but to accept it, for if it is not accepted then the moral high ground shifts in favour of the bowler, whose integrity is suddenly in question.

By fining Sreesanth 50% of his match fee for a shoulder nudge that could have inflicted no physical damage and ignoring the beamer which could have maimed a less alert batsman, the International Cricket Council once again showed a liking for the irrelevancies over the issues that matter. Since the match referee remained silent on the issue, it is Dravid who should take the appropriate disciplinary action ahead of The Oval Test match. Even if he doesn't want to take disciplinary action, he should ask himself: does he really want a bowler who so obviously cannot control his emotions to play in such a crunch encounter?"

Phew! This man is really angry with Sreesanth!

Mohd Asif says No, Afridi still not decided about ICL

The young players who have been persuaded by ICL are in dilemma. Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif has rejected a Rs 100 million offer from the Indian Cricket League (ICL) even as all-rounder Shahid Afridi remained undecided on joining the rebel series. Asif said ICL organisers had offered him Rs 70 million initially which was eventually increased to Rs 100 million for a three-year contract.
"Whatever I am today it is because of Pakistan and there is nothing greater than playing for your country. I cannot imagine dumping the national team to play in a private league. Right now I am busy preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup and this offer from the Indian league organisers was nothing but a distraction which is over now," he added.
Afridi, however, said he was still considering the Rs 90 million offer made to him by ICL organisers and would take time to decide on the matter.
"It is premature to say whether I will accept the offer or not," the all-rounder said.
Earlier Pakistan board has warned it's current players from joining ICL. The PCB has, however, made the concession for former players provided they are not employed with the board.
Meanwhile, sources said skipper Younis Khan was also approached in England, where he is playing for Yorkshire, but he turned it down.
ICL organisers have already approached former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has retired from one-day internationals but is keen to play in Tests for Pakistan.
Sources said another former captain, Moin Khan, was also in the ICL radar.
Courtesy:HT

Kapil Dev questions Sharad Pawar's commitment to Cricket!

The battle is completely on now!
Swords are out and BCCI and ICL are fighting in the open, atleast verbally!
Former India captain Kapil Dev on Saturday hit back at the BCCI for threatening to impose life ban on players aligning with the rebel Indian Cricket League, saying such a tough stand was 'unfair' and would only 'scare players'.
Kapil, Chairman of the ICL's Executive Board, also took a dig at BCCI President Sharad Pawar by questioning his commitment to cricket.
"I am disappointed. They are trying to scare players when people of the country want to play cricket. It is not fair for the BCCI Secretary (Niranjan Shah) to say like that," he said.
"Maybe, he has his own reasons but that's not the way to react," he told a private TV channel.
Shah had on Friday warned that any player signing up for the breakaway ICL would be banned for life. "Our stand is very clear. Players who take part in the ICL will never be eligible to play for the country again," he had said.
Kapil also gave a tongue-in-cheek reply to Pawar's reported comments that the former Indian captain was "busy with other activities" and had little time for National Cricket Academy of which he is the chairman.
"He is a senior politician and has an important ministry. Does he have time for cricket? I can also say about him what he said about me," Kapil said.
Courtesy:HT

Shoaib Akhtar confirms offer from ICL

With the Twenty20 World Cup just a month away, triggering an important season in which Pakistan face South Africa, India and Australia, the bombshell that current players have been seriously considering offers from the breakaway Indian Cricket League is posing a threat to Pakistan cricket.
The quartet - captain Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq - consulted lawyers to deal with the repercussions of playing in the ICL.
Three other players - Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Danish Kaneria - too delayed signing their contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
A lawyer representing one of the four players, said the PCB had no right to stop the players if they wished to play for the ICL. The legal advice encouraged the players.
Shoaib Akhtar, being the most popular of the four, is said to have got an offer of US one million dollars, with Afridi second with $500,000 and the other two promises of $300,000 each.
Shoaib Akhtar confirms offer:
The speedster confirmed that he had received a "very lucrative offer from the ICL," but preferred not to play in it.
"It was a very tempting offer but I have decided to stay away from it and am going ahead and signing the PCB contract," he said.
The quartet - alongwith Younis and Yousuf, both of whom were also approached by the ICL, are placed in A category of the central contracts.
They get an annual salary of Rs 2,50, 000 and bonuses in case of wins and notable performances.
New Zealand's Stephen Fleming was the first current Test player to be speculatively linked to the competition.
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq, who still harbours hopes of playing in the Tests after retiring from One-Day cricket, is also considering the ICL offer.
The PCB's chief co-operating officer Shafqat Naghmi hoped the matter would be resolved soon.
Courtesy:cricketnext.com

MS Dhoni may captain India at Twenty20 World Cup

With most of the veteran cricketers like Dravid, Sachin and Gangluy off the Twenty20 World Cup, BCCI is left with little choice over the captaincy issue. Of the top three contenders Sehwag, Yuvraj and Dhoni, the first two are in batting lean period. And the natural choice is Dhoni. And his performance in the first two tests against England will surely help him to get that coveted designation. So, now only a formality left to announce MS Dhoni as India's captain at the Twenty20 World Cup.

And former cricketers are in favour of Dhoni too.

"Dhoni is a future captain and I think you should give more time to him so that he can understand what actually international cricket is"

says Yashpal Sharma, former national selector.

"Definitely, I think Dhoni has it, Yuvraj has it, Sehwag is not there but he has it, and so does Dinesh Karthik, who's doing so well. So, we have got quite a good pool of guys but then they have to prove themselves. They have to be consistent." says Kirti Azad, another former national selector

Infact, the captaincy can do wonders for this long haired cricketer by bringing in maturity and consistency in his performance

Pakistan will not allow any players to join ICL

Pakistan Cricket Board finally takes a tough stand on Indian Cricket League. The rumours has been making rounds about Pakistan's some key(though veteran) players joining ICL. But now The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says it will not allow current or former players still involved with the Board to play in the unofficial Indian Cricket League."The ICL is not recognised by the International Cricket Council or its member Boards so there is no question of our players going to play there."
Rumour was that Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik had received offers days after former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq confirmed he had been approached by the organisers.
The ICL has signed former West Indies captain Brian Lara for the Twenty20 series to be played over 45 days starting in October.
Ashraf said any player who decided to play in the league would not be selected again for Pakistan.
"We have clauses in our central contracts clearly outlining the board decides where the players can play," he said. "Even where former players are concerned if they are not holding any position with the board we can't stop them. But those who are working for us will not be given permission to play in the Indian league."
Obviously BCCI is trying its best to convince the boards from other nations, to talk tough and take tough stand on joining ICL
Interesting, very interesting!

Venkatesh Prasad asks Sreesanth to play by the rules

Biggest challenge for any bowling coach is to channelise pace bowlers' aggression in a productive manner, stopping it from being wasted.Sreesant is one Indian pacer who has loads of agression, which if diverted in the right direction can do wonders. But lately he's off the focus, being in news for wrong reasons. Sreesanth said he is embarrassed about barging into England Michael Vaughan. “I’m embarrassed by what I did and I think I will have to change. I want to say sorry for that but no one should question my commitment.
Venkatesh Prasad, the Indian bowling coach, knows Sreesant very well as Sreesanth spent most of his cricketing days in Bangalore, Venky's hometown. Venky this time defended Sreesanth. “He has fantastic body language, the aggression is great. But we’ve talked about that, not to cross the line! His bowling has been a bit of a concern, but I won’t go deep into in because he has so much talent.”
Nicely said Venky. Sreesanth is young and energetic who needs proper guidance rather than blunt criticism

Stump microphone may be switched off during the third Test

England coach Peter Moores and skipper Michael Vaughan have spoken to ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle about the prospect of asking Sky Sports to turn down the volume on the stump microphones in the final Test at The Oval Frm August 9.
Madugalle, who plans to speak to both sides about their behaviour before the Oval Test, seems to be intent in instilling some more discipline in the cricket proceedings after England endured considerable embarrassment for their misdeeds at Trent Bridge. Even the Indians were guilty of misbehavivour.
Regular viewers will have heard England's players attempt to unsettle the Indian batsmen with regular chatter and Moores is concerned the players should not have to worry about their comments also being heard by cricket followers.
Both Vaughan and Moores have insisted England's behaviour was no more than gamesmanship and they have not breached the spirit of cricket by which all international teams have to abide.
"It's been under consideration.There have to be some things which are left on the field to be fair to the players so they can actually go and play the game without worrying that everything they do and say is going straight into someone's lounge,” Moores said

I tried to york Pieterson:Sreesant

Sreesant, the colorful character of Indian cricket was in news during the second cricket Test for all the wrong reasons. Here he talks about his famous beamer that scared Kevin Pieterson
"See, I don't stride to the wicket, I sprint. Ask any cricketer and he will tell you that it is impossible to bowl a beamer with a run-up like mine. I had bowled two deliveries on a good length and was trying to bowl a yorker which went horribly wrong. I tried for a yorker and it happened to be a beamer and I did apologise to Kevin Pietersen. It is part of the game and I have done it even in the nets.And it happens when you really try to bowl a yorker at full length. But I would like to say to all the Indians that it was just a mistake and please forgive me for that. I will not repeat it again. But most probably I will get him (Pietersen) out twice in the next Test. "
About his clash with Vaughan
"To be honest, I'm embarrassed by what I did and I think I will have to change.I want to say sorry for that (the Vaughan incident) but no one should question my commitment. I am thankful to Rahul bhai (Dravid) for showing faith in me. He was upset with a few things, but after the game he came and told me when we were celebrating in the dressing room, 'Sree, after all this, after all the explanations I had to give for you, I still love you and want you to do well' "

Zaheer Khan says he was under pressure

Zaheer Khan finally admits that he's been under tremendous pressure during the last few months. Rightly so, most of Indian fast bowlers who went out of the team because of injury problems, never returned.We don't even remember some of those names!

Here's what Zaheer said to news channel, CNNIBN

On the win

"I am really feeling proud. The whole team is very excited and we are very happy that we have achieved the victory in this Test match and are going one-up in the series. But definitely, there is one more Test match to go, so we are all focussed and looking forward to it."

On jelly beans

"Definitely jelly beans fired me up. But it just happened and the match is over now. Looking forward to the next Test and just happy that we are one-up in the series."

On pressure on him

"There was pressure on us as a bowling unit as the English conditions are very conducive for fast bowling. And since I had some edge over the other bowlers so the pressure was there but I was looking forward to that.
We started the series a little slowly. At Lord's, there was little nervousness to start with but after the first day, I was sort of comfortable and was feeling that my rhythm was coming back."