ICC clears Peter Siddle of ball tampering charges

By Nadene Smith

HOBART, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 18, 2012: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday cleared Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle of ball tampering charges raised by Sri Lankan cricket team after the home side won the first Test by 137 runs at Bellerive Oval.

Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees issued the following statement after the media reported incidents of ball tampering during the first Test.

"The umpires frequently inspect the ball during play, and did so again after they had reviewed the video footage in question on Sunday. They found no evidence to suggest that the condition of the ball had been changed.

"During the tea interval on that day, I spoke with Australia coach Mickey Arthur and told him that the umpires will continue to inspect the cricket ball regularly, and monitor the actions of all players.

"I subsequently informed the Sri Lanka team management of my discussions with the Australia coach.

"In the opinion of the umpires, there was no evidence to suggest that the condition of the ball was changed, or that the video or photographic evidence would support a charge under the Code of Conduct, so they will not be laying any charges relating to these incidents."

Read More

James Anderson to direct documentary film to support HIV cause

ICC Media Release

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (TheSportsNEXT) December 2, 2012: The Producers of the documentary film "Warriors" are delighted to announce that England cricketer James Anderson has agreed to become involved as our first Executive Producer.

"Warriors" is a unique and fascinating documentary following a group of Maasai who have dropped their spears for cricket bats and formed a cricket team. Shot mainly in Kenya, with unprecedented access to the Maasai community in Il Polei, Laikipia North, it follows the team on their pilgrimage to play in a tournament in England - the home of cricket.

The team is also trying to use this new found unity to combat AIDS, fight for gender equality, and bring an end to traditional practices such as childhood marriage and FGM (female genital mutilation). Sport has given them a status, a way of educating and inspiring young people, and also a way of involving girls and empowering them. But the elders of the community feel it threatens their Maasai heritage.

James Anderson said: "I'm delighted to be involved. It's a new venture for me, but still with a connection to cricket. When I watched some of the footage, and heard more about the story, I was immediately excited to help in any way I could. I'll be using my contacts in the sport, and helping with some of the cricket sequences, and really just doing my best to help the film get made. It shows the global reach of the game of cricket and the positive impact it can still have on young people."

Barney Douglas, Director & Producer of "Warriors", said: “Jimmy and I became good friends after the Ashes Diaries, and he's long been interested in creative projects outside of his cricket career. We are delighted to have a sportsman of his profile, appeal, and contacts to help us complete and promote a successful film. Jimmy is a top man who is at the top of his game - his excitement and desire to be involved is massive for us and hopefully we'll have a film which can first and foremost go back into the education system in Kenya, but also inspire young people around the world to play cricket and use sport positively."

Read More

Emirates Cricket Board to launch new domestic league

ICC Media Release

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (TheSportsNEXT) December 1, 2012: The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is planning to boost the game in the region with the advent of a new domestic league.

With a view to improving the standard of the UAE national side, an ‘Emirates Top Clubs League' is being set up for the best 16 clubs in the Emirates. The ECB's desire is to have a national side populated with a greater proportion of home-grown talent on the back of a more competitive league programme.

UAE played in the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup and are hoping to reach another major tournament in the near future. The Associate nation performed well in the recent ACC Trophy Elite, beating Afghanistan in the semi-final before contesting a memorable tie in the final with Nepal.

UAE businessman Shaji Ul-Mulk, the custodian of the new ECB Domestic Cricket Development Committee (DCDC), told Gulf News: "Our goal is to help the UAE attain ICC International One-Day and Twenty20 status within the next four years and full member status within 10 years. We are also aiming to gather a pool of 200 UAE nationals regularly playing schools cricket and field a minimum of at least five UAE nationals in the national team within 10 years."

Read More

Match-fixing issue was reported to ICC: Ed Hawkins

By Bipin Dani

MUMBAI, India (TheSportsNEXT) November 18, 2012: The Indian cricket board may have rubbished his claims on match-fixing (2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan at Mohali was fixed), however, the UK-based journalist, Ed Hawkins insists he had brought the issue to the notice of the ICC.

Speaking exclusively with TheSportsNEXT.com over his mobile from London on Sunday, Ed Hawkins said, "I gave information to the ACSU (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) in Feb following a second trip to India when I was still investigating. Also, the allegations have been reported from a bookmaker. The book (Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy, which is available from Bloomsbury in India) analyses these claims in great detail and the conclusion is to ask for an investigation".

Ed Hawkins is betting.betfair's chief cricket tipster. He has been a tipster for more than 14 years, the majority at the Racing Post. He has built a reputation as shrewd student of the game thanks to memorable tipping feats like tipping Pakistan for glory at the 2009 World Twenty20, Rajasthan for inaugural IPL glory and a 90 per cent profit on the World Cup in the Caribbean.

He has been a sports journalist for more than 14 years. Twice he was named the Sports Journalists Association betting Writer of the Year. He has also ghost written the autobiography of Michael Holding, the West Indies legend.

"Spot-fixing is possible", he stays, adding, "Spot fixing is prevalent the world over so long as matches are being televised in India. I think county cricket in the UK is waking up to the need to be seriously vigilant".

"Also spot fixing is such minute details that it is almost impossible to prove or even detect. It may be something as minor as a maiden over in an ODI, which is normal. But here are some points to help...

1 ACSU need help from players. Players need to police the game because they know what is going on in the dressing room

2 ACSU are dilligent and work hard but they need more officers

3 Make match fixing illegal in India", he further added.

During England Test matches he writes a live betting blog, despairing at Alastair Cook's technique and turning to copious amounts of cake to cope with the trauma of it all.

Read More

Hafeez thinks he is bigger captain than Wasim, alleges Razzaq

By Ubaid Awan

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 6, 2012: Pakistan’s veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has opened a Pandora Box of allegations against skipper Mohammad Hafeez.

 

Talking to reporters here after returning home following a defeat to the hands of Sri Lanka in Semi-Final of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 on Thursday, Abdul Razzaq showed his resentment on Mohammad Hafeez’s decision to make him sit out of the all-important match of the tournament.

Abdul Razzaq stated, "It was not the team management's decision to drop me for the semi-final. Many experts, including Wasim Akram and even some of the players were saying that the winning combination should not be changed. The decision was taken only by Mohammad Hafeez."

Abdul Razzaq alleged that Mohammad Hafeez told him lies about reasons behind dropping him.

Razzaq said that he was very disappointed after Hafeez decided to drop him out of the playing eleven against Sri Lanka.

Mohammad Hafeez opted for Sohail Tanvir over Abdul Razzaq on a pitch which had assistance for the spinners rather than the fast bowlers.

“Even Wasim Akram insisted that I should be picked for the match against Sri Lanka, but Hafeez decided against it,” Razzaq said, adding that Mohammad Hafeez thinks of himself as being a better captain than Wasim Akram.

When reporters asked Mohammad Hafeez about reasons for dropping Abdul Razzaq for the all-important match, the skipper said, "It was the team management's decision."

Abdul Razzaq, who had played crucial role in Pakistan’s triumph in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, said, "I am fully fit and I hope Chairman PCB will give me more chances in future. I wasn't even selected for the first four matches of the tournament."

He stated, "I was confident. I wanted to play the semi-final. The Sri Lankans feared that Pakistan will play Shahid Afridi and Razzaq."

Read More

WT20: ICC official admits to poor pitch for Pakistan-Sri Lanka Semi-Final

By Fathima Zanaida

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) October 6, 2012: Amid growing criticism on quality of the pitch used for the all-important Semi-Final match of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, an official of the International Cricket Council has admitted to the poor quality of the pitch.

 

Sri Lanka struggled hard to score 139 runs on a pitch which had uneven bounce, double paced nature, which made shot-making the hardest job in the world. Pakistan were reduced to 123 runs thus falling 16 runs short of the target, thereafter a huge uproar has been started in the Pakistani media questioning the basic purpose of that pitch especially in a Twenty20 match.

The Twenty20 cricket came into being with a purpose to serve the audience with a huge dose of boundaries and sixes and the last night’s match between Australia and West Indies was a prime example of Twenty20 brand that we all are used to.

However, there is something fishy as far as pitch-selection for Pakistan cricket team’s matches in the ICC World Cup matches. Right from the ICC World Cup 2003 played in West Indies, Pakistan were made to play Ireland on a pitch that helped seam-bowlers more than any other pitch in the competition. During the 2007 ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan had to play their matches against South Africa and New Zealand on seamers-friendly tracks. During the ICC World Cup 2011, Pakistan-India match was played on a pitch which lacked quality of an international match. And now the semi-final match had the worst pitch of the tournament to decide one of the top three important matches.

ICC Chief Executive Officer, Dave Richardson, came on the scene on Saturday admitting the pitch used for Pakistan-Sri Lanka semi-final match was below standard and wasn’t “Ideal” for Twenty20 cricket.

Although he mentioned all the pros and cons in preparation of the pitches, but failed to answer why it’s Pakistani matches which find such pitches.

Dave Richardson, while talking to reporters in Colombo on the eve of ICC World Twenty20 final, said, "Ideally, we need to ensure that a pitch doesn't change its condition from one innings to next one. Yes, the pitch used in the first semifinal wasn't an ideal wicket for T20 format, as there was too much assistance to spinners”.

Read More

ICCWT20: Blunders and Controversies hitting Pakistan, Sri Lanka skippers

By Hamad Hussain

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 4, 2012: As former World T20 champions Pakistan and title favorites Sri Lanka will fight for the place in the final of ICC World T20 2012 today, I want to bring my readers’ attention towards the controversies hitting captains of the two teams during their Super Eights matches.

The much-awaited match of the ICC World T20 2012 was played between arch-rivals Pakistan and India on Sunday September 30, 2012. The match which had created the hype and caught attention of billions of people proved nothing more than a drop-scene as India outclassed Pakistan in a one-sided encounter. Every cricket follower is well aware that Indian cricket team always prefers to chase totals as batting is their prime strength. But on that day, when billions of people were watching the two bitter neighbors clash in Sri Lanka, Pakistani skipper Mohammad Hafeez made a blunder of decision when he won the toss and decided to bat first which ultimately laid the foundation of Pakistan defeat.

The strange decision of Pakistani skipper shocked not only millions of Pakistani cricket lovers but also his teammates as well as the team management in Colombo as it was decided in the team meeting that Pakistan will bowl first after winning the toss to reduce Indian chances of victory.

So far, Mohammad Hafeez is yet to justify his decision of batting first against India as cricket lovers are still trying to understand the logic behind Hafeez’s strange decision.

On the other hand, Sri Lankan cricket team were entered in controversy in their last Super Eights match against England when they sent Kumar Sangakkara for the toss despite of the fact that both captain Mahela Jayawardene and vice captain Angelo Mathews were playing in the match but Sri Lankan team management decided to give captaincy to Kumar Sangakkara in the important match.

It raised eyebrows of many cricket followers as this may be sign of some revolt or dispute within the Sri Lankan team as Mahela got back the captaincy this year after he resigned from the post in 2009. Sri Lanka had Kumar Sangakkara as skipper after Mahela but defeat in final of ICC 2011 World Cup against India prompted him to leave the job. Dilshan was named skipper but Sri Lankan cricket team had a horrible time under him, so Mahela was reinstated as skipper of Sri Lanka but latest twist in the captaincy game against England has certainly something fishing.

The Sri Lankan team management has give stupid reason of over-rate penalty to skipper as they feel that if Sri Lankan skipper will be fined for slow over-rate, then Mahela or Mathews may have to be left out from the semi-final as both were penalized for slow over-rate in last one year. As per ICC rules, if skipper is penalized twice in a year for slow over-rate, then he will have to serve one-match suspension from match referee.

The question that arises here is that what Sri Lanka will do if they reach in the final of the tournament and their skipper will get penalized for slow over-rate?

The stupid decision may have something to do with the conflicts in the team which Sri Lankan team management is trying to hide.

Read More

New Zealand, Sri Lanka win matches in ICC Women’s World T20

By Fathima Zanaida

GALLE, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) September 28, 2012: New Zealand and Sri Lankan women cricket teams won their respective matches at the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2012 at Galle International Stadium on Friday.

 

New Zealand women defeated South African women by 22 runs whereas Sri Lanka women got the better of West Indies women by 5 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method in a rain-affected match.

New Zealand scored 151 for 5 and restricted South Africa to 129 for nine while Sri Lanka made 50 for three from 10.3 overs but West Indies could manage 42 for 8 after getting 48 runs target from eight overs due to rain disruption.

Read More

ICC announces Test Team of the Year

By Osama Tariq

DUBAI (TheSportsNext) August 30, 2012: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday announced its Test Team of the Year with Australian skipper Michael Clarke given responsibility of leading the team.

The ICC said in a statement issued here that the 12-man ICC Test Team of the Year was named based on the period between August 4, 2012 and August 6, 2012.

The team has four South African players including Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Vernon Philander, and Dale Steyn as the Proteas dethroned England as the top Test team in the Reliance ICC Rankings for Test teams.

England has the second best representation in the ICC Test Team of the Year with Alastair Cook, Matt Prior, and Stuart Broad getting a place in it.

Other players include Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Clarke, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Saeed Ajmal.

The ICC Test Team of the Year includes Alastair Cook (England), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), skipper Michael Clarke (Australia), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies), Matt Prior (England), Stuart Broad (England), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan), Vernon Philander (South Africa), and Dale Steyn (South Africa).

Interestingly, not even a single player from India has been selected in the ICC Test Team of the Year despite of the fact that Team India remained number one Test time for quite some time before losing it to England.

Read More