Pressure mounts on India’s old batsmen after Australia debacle
January 30, 2012 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
NEW DELHI: Pressure is mounting on India’s ageing Test batsmen to make way for fresh talent after the team sunk to the “lowest of lows” in Australia where they suffered a humiliating 4-0 series whitewash.
The eighth consecutive overseas Test defeat on Saturday — following an identical scoreline in England — left a battered India searching for a way to stop the rot.
Fingers were being pointed at underperforming batting stars Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman — all pillars of the Indian lineup for more than a decade.
Tendulkar, the world’s leading Test and one-day batsman who turns 39 in April, was clearly burdened by the pressure of chasing his 100th international century, a feat which continues to elude him.
His highest score in the series was 80 and even though he made 287 runs at an average of 35.87, the milestone — which no other player has achieved — seemed to shackle his usually free-flowing batting style.
Dravid, 39, the second-highest scorer in Test cricket after Tendulkar, managed just 194 runs in eight innings at a poor average of 24.25 with one half-century.
And Laxman, 37, who has thrived against Australia in the past, looked woefully out of touch as he jabbed and plodded to 155 runs at 19.37.
Tendulkar will get another chance to make amends in the upcoming one-day tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka, but Dravid and Laxman are not part of the limited-overs team.
With India not due to play another Test series until September, the senior players have time to ponder their future amid calls for an overhaul of the side.
“Indian cricket has sunk to the lowest of lows,” wrote Cricinfo editor Sambit Bal, who said the revered trio could no longer be banked on to deliver.
“In another time these very men… would have been relied on to forge a revival. But their time has gone now. Indian cricket has no option but to embrace the future, however uncertain it may seem.”
Even International Cricket Council president Sharad Pawar, a former Indian cricket chief, felt younger players needed to be thrown in the ring.
“The time has come for some changes in the Indian team,” Pawar told the CNN-IBN news channel. “One has to take risks and give an opportunity to the younger generation.
“Such a move might change the entire atmosphere in the team.”
But former India captain and spin legend Bishan Bedi called for an immediate end to the witch-hunt against the senior players.
“Please show some respect to the players who have served the country for so long,” Bedi told the Press Trust of India. “They don’t need our suggestions as to when they should retire.
“Someone will eventually take their places. But we will probably never be able to find replacements for these once-in-a-generation players.”
Bedi last week lashed out at what he said was the Indian cricket board’s obsession with the glitzy Indian Premier League (IPL), accusing it of ignoring the longer form of the domestic cricket.
“The board’s priorities are wrong,” Bedi said. “The Ranji Trophy (first-class domestic tournament) should be our most valued tournament, not the IPL.
“Mark my words, this IPL will strike a fatal blow to Indian cricket and that day is not far.”
The annual IPL, which started in 2008, features players from around the world playing Twenty20 cricket for private franchises, with multi-million-dollar fees for the top stars.
Meanwhile, Indian cricket chief Narayanaswamy Srinivasan defended the battered Test team, saying the one-day series could change the tourists’ fortunes.
“There is no need for a knee-jerk reaction,” he said. “We have faith in the team. We should not put pressure on the players. Only months back they won the World Cup.” AGENCIES
ICC bans government meddling
HONG KONG: Cricket’s governing body on Thursday banned 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. AGENCIES
ICC bans govts to appoint board members
Cricket s governing body on Thursday banned governments from appointing members of 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.
Unnamed Pakistani left off list due to spot-fixing scandal
April 9, 2011 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
LONDON: The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack has named only four Cricketers of the Year in its 2011 edition.
The revered publication has ritually recognized the five players who had the greatest impact on the English summer, only breaking with convention to recognize outstanding individuals WG Grace, Plum Warner and Jack Hobbs and during the first and second world wars when competitive cricket was on hiatus.
The traditional five-man list has been named every year since Hobbs’ nomination in 1926 but has been reduced in the 2011 edition after one of the selected players was caught up in last year’s spot-fixing scandal.
Following a News of the World investigation during the England versus Pakistan series, the International Cricket Council charged bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir with bowling deliberate no-balls and Captain Salman Butt with being party to events.
Asif is currently serving a seven-year ban, with two suspended, Amir a straight five years and Butt 10 years, with half suspended after being found guilty by an independent tribunal.
“If (the player in question) were exonerated, then it would be possible to reconsider the position,” said Wisden editor Scyld Berry.
“That’s why I didn’t pick anyone else instead. But as things stand, we don’t feel we can choose him. It’s all very sad.”
The news somewhat overshadows those nominees who will appear in the book, with Tamim Iqbal, Eoin Morgan, Chris Read and Jonathan Trott all receiving the accolade.
Bangladeshi Tamim and Irishman Morgan are the first players from their respective countries to make the Wisden list and Read are recognized for his role in leading Nottinghamshire to the LV County Championship title.
Trott, meanwhile, was an expected pick after a prolific year in Test and one-day cricket for England in his first full year as an international.
Alastair Cook missed out on selection as his Ashes heroics fell outside of Wisden’s parameters, but he has been honored by appearing on the cover of almanack, pictured celebrating his century in the Sydney Test. AGENCIES
Semi-final to be held Thursday if rain continues
MOHALI: International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the second semi-final between India and Pakistan would be held on Thursday if it could not be played on Wednesday due to rain.
Torrential rains and thunderstorm lashed Mohali Tuesday night, a day before the World Cup semi-final showdown between arch rivals India and Pakistan at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium.
The ICC further explained that if rain continues on Thursday then the 50-50 match would be reduced to 20-20 overs and even if this too could not be possible then Pakistan would go into the final on the basis of better position in the group stage.
Pak to play final if semifinal washed out: ICC
DUBAI: International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the Pakistan cricket team will play final of the mega event in Mumbai owing to better potion in the group if the rains wash away much-awaited second semifinal showdown, Geo News reported.
The council said the semifinal clash, scheduled to be held on Wednesday at Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Indian city Mohali between archrivals Pakistan and India, would be held on Thursday in case the incessant rains continue.
In another move to make the cricket match possible, ICC has decided to reduce 50-50 overs show to 20-20 overs for each side even if the match could not be held on Thursday due to rains.
However, Pakistan will qualify for final in the event when every effort goes in vain, ICC said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the second semifinal of cricket world cup 2011 is all set to be played between India and Pakistan today (Wednesday) in Indian city Mohali.
The other team, Sri Lanka, have already qualified for the final having comprehensively beaten New Zealand by five wickets on Tuesday.
Adil Rashid replaced Yardy
The technical committee of International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved Adil Rashid as a replacement player for all-rounder Michael Yardy in England’s squad in the ongoing World Cup. Yardy on Thursday, turned back to home after admitting to his management that due to depression he can’t play more in tournament. English team will take on Sri Lanka on Saturday, in the big match of quarterfinal. Rashid, who is currently in the West Indies England’s second string team, is due to arrive in Colombo on the same day.
Yardy is the fourth player to be replaced in English squad after all-rounder Kevin Peterson, Fast bowler Staurt Broad, and pacer Ajmal Shahzad.
Any injury-based replacement in the Mega Event is subject to the final approval of the technical committee and once replaced, a player cannot return to the squad save as an approved subsequent replacement for another injured player.
23-year-old Adil Rashid, from Bradford, is a leg-break spinner with Yorkshire, has represented England in five one-day internationals claiming three wickets while he has also represented English team in five Twenty20 Internationals. He made his ODI debut on 27 August 2009, against Ireland. Rashid has played 73 first-class matches so far, and his first-class wickets are 241.
ICC blasts West Indies bus attack, Dhaka stays as host
International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat Saturday condemned the attack on the West Indies team bus by Bangladesh fans but said there were no immediate plans to move games.
Home supporters reacted angrily after seeing their side bowled out for just 58 by the West Indies in Dhaka on Friday in a World Cup match the visitors won by nine wickets.
The bus came under attack as it was heading back to the West Indies’ team hotel after the match, in what police said was a case of mistaken identity, with fans thinking it was the home team’s vehicle.
Lorgat said the ICC had no immediate plans to move matches from Bangladesh, with England and South Africa still to play group fixtures in the country against the Tigers.
Two quarter-finals are also scheduled for Dhaka.
“The reaction is one of disappointment, because that’s exactly what we’d not like to see but I think we must have perspective,” Lorgat said. “It was a minor incident.
“It was some disappointed fans, as a result of the home team being defeated so convincingly by the visitors. My understanding is that a few individuals threw pebbles at the bus.
“With that particular incident we will re-assess but I’ve said before I am very, very pleased with the maturity of the security measures we’ve got, the expertise, the experience we’ve got on board.”
Asked if games could be moved from Bangladesh, should teams object on security grounds, Lorgat replied: “We would not move the games lightly but it is not something which we would discount completely.
“I don’t believe that particular incident justifies any game being moved just yet. I am extremely confident we will see the tournament through as scheduled.”
In a separate incident, the home of Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was also stoned on Friday, breaking a window, police said.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose own home was attacked after a first round exit in 2007, told fans to control themselves.
“It is unfortunate, but that is how the fans react. You should remember that players are not living at home, but their families are and families don’t have anything to do with cricket,” said Dhoni.
“You have to control your emotions. When we win a game I don’t go around beating my fans, saying that you bashed my house in 2007.”
Bangladesh has stepped up security after Friday’s incidents.
“We have enhanced security arrangements for the World Cup,” said Mesbah Uddin Serniabat, who is the security director for the tournament’s local organising committee.
“We will keep the pedestrians a little away from the team buses and motorcade and police teams will be patrolling the streets more intensively.”
Police and the elite Rapid Action Battalion arrested 38 suspects after the bus stoning.
England and South Africa face each other in Chennai on Sunday before they both play group matches in Bangladesh.
Andrew Strauss, the England captain, whose side play in Chittagong on March 11, said: “It’s hard for me to comment. I wasn’t there and don’t know what the situation was.
“Clearly security is very important and, as far as we’re concerned, we’ve had no issues.”
South Africa captain Graeme Smith added: “We were a bit shocked as to what happened. Obviously we need to try to let our security and management take care of that like we’ve always done.
“Hopefully, it won’t happen again and lessons will be learned.”
Tickets of WC semis, final on sale from Monday
February 19, 2011 by Trend PK
Filed under Breaking News
MUMBAI: Cricket fans can finally get their chance to buy World Cup semi-finals and final tickets from Monday when they go on sale for the first time, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.
“A certain amount of tickets will go on sale online with our official ticket agents Kyazoonga,” the ICC spokesman said.
Although the knockout stages do not begin until March 23, there is likely to be a scramble for the semi-final (March 29 and 30) and the final (April 2) tickets after favourites India began their 2011 campaign with a resounding 87-run win over co-hosts Bangladesh. AGENCIES
ICC corruption hearing overshadows NZ v Pakistan test series
HAMILTON: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq says his team are focused on the upcoming test series against New Zealand and will not be distracted by an anti-corruption hearing that could mete out life bans to three suspended players.
The International Cricket Council will open a hearing in Doha against former test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir later on Thursday, less than 24 hours before the first of a two-test series at Seddon Park.
“We are just focused on cricket. We have nothing to do with what’s happening (in Doha),” he told reporters on Thursday. “Everyone who is here is focused on what’s happening here and to do well here.”
In addition to the spot-fixing claims levelled against three players during their series in England last year, Pakistan have been dogged by other controversies over the
