Cricket

[EagleEyes]

So did Harbhajan call Symonds a monkey or not + if he did, is it justified if it were in retaliation for something Symonds said ?

Whats up with the Indians calling Australians monkeys these days?

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Great umpiring!

 

[Sam Dhanraj]

Racism row: BCCI may call off tour​

NDTV Correspondent
Monday, January 07, 2008 9:41 PM (Sydney)


In the face of the ongoing controversy, Team India has cancelled its travel plans to Canberra.

The BCCI has advised the team to stay on in Sydney and not to fly to Canberra for a practice match.

The Board, which held a meeting at the New Delhi residence of President Sharad Pawar, said that the team will stay in Sydney till formalities on Brad Hogg and Bhajji inquiries get over.

The furious, top brass of the BCCI is meeting in Delhi on Tuesday, to discuss how to fight back against the ban on Harbhajan Singh and the bad umpiring in the second India-Australia Test at Sydney.

The cricket board will also officially complain against Australia's Brad Hogg, for insulting Anil Kumble. Bhajji was banned for allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a monkey.

After the meeting, Vice President Rajiv Shukla told reporters the BCCI has officially asked ICC to drop Steve Bucknor as the umpire from the next Test starting from January 16. BCCI's Niranjan Shah spoke to Doug Cowie, Manager of the ICC Umpires Panel in this connection.

Apart from the seriousness of the charge, one of the things the BCCI is very angry about, is that Sachin Tendulkar's word was not accepted by the ICC match referee, while that of three Australian players was, in finding the Indian bowler guilty of the charge.

There are also conflicting reports over whether the two Umpires who stood in the Sydney Test, Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson, will be allowed to officiate in any of the remaining Tests.

The team, meanwhile, will stay on in Sydney on Monday night and will file an appeal against the match referee's decision to ban Harbhajan for three Tests.

The off-spinner will file the appeal as per ICC rules, and the BCCI says it will extend full support to him.

Earlier, Board Vice President said in New Delhi that BCCI will appeal to ICC to withdraw racism charge against Harbhajan. Shukla added that the BCCI considers the ban on Harbhjan Singh as 'unfair' and 'unacceptable'.

Harbhajan has been banned for three Tests for making racial taunts against Andrew Symonds during the second Test between India and Australia.

Match Referee Mike Procter upheld the Australian charge that Harbhajan had racially abused their all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

Procter gave a marathon four-hour hearing to Harbhajan, who denied the charge and was supported by skipper Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, manager Chetan Chauhan and media manager M V Sridhar during the deliberations.

Procter also heard Symonds, who was backed by Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke along with team manager Steve Bernard, who attended the hearing to testify against the Indian spinner.

The offence falls under 3.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct which refers to players or team officials "using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, gender, colour, descent, or national or ethic origin."

The appeal will be made to the Commissioner of Appeals and pending the appeal, the off-spinner can continue to play.

In accordance to the Code of Conduct, the maximum penalty that could have been imposed for this offence was a ban of four Test matches or eight one-day internationals.

BCCI's Chief Administrative Manager Ratnakar Shetty said it was an "unfortunate" development. "There was no evidence against Harbhajan so I don't know how they could arrive at such a conclusion."

When asked what the Aussies brought to the hearing, which resulted in a verdict in their favour, Shetty said "we are not concerned about what the Australians think."

Harbhajan Singh's mother is also upset with latest controversy and has reacted to the ICC's decision.

"It's not fair at all. My son wasn't the only one wrong and that's why it is not fair at all. They have gone to play there, and the other players should be punished as well if they have made a mistake," said Avtar Kaur, Harbhajan Singh's mother.

The off-spinner vehemently denied saying anything racial during the altercation. (With PTI Inputs)

NDTV.com: Racism row: BCCI may call off tour

 

[Introvert]

Pakistan to reconsider if Aussies refuse to Visit : Nasim Ashraf
'Pakistan Times' Sports Desk

LAHORE: The Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, Dr. Nasim Ashraf Saturday said that if Australia refuse to visit Pakistan then Pakistan may also reconsider their future tours of Australia.

There experts on terrorism have advised Cricket Australia not to send their team to Pakistan.

Dr Nasim Ashraf told Geo television that the Cricket Australia during a meeting in Dubai gave two proposals to hold the March-April series in Australia or shift this series to any third country but he rejected both proposals.

He ruled out swap of cricket series with Australia or its shifting to a neutral venue, saying Aussies must visit this country as their security fears were groundless.

Dr. Nasim Ashraf said that he has been informed that experts on terrorism in Australia have told them that Pakistan is unsafe and therefore tour should be cancelled.

He said that if Australia refuses to visit this country then Pakistan would also reconsider their future assignments with Australia.

Pakistan has to visit Australia next year.

Nasim Ashraf said that he wants to give an every possible briefing to Australia regarding security.

Pakistan Times | Sports: Pakistan to reconsider if Aussies refuse to Visit : Nasim Ashraf

 

[ahussains]

The Toure must be canceled if Australians are not Comming ... no Nutral Venus

 

[su-47]

india beat australi yesterday. i watched the whole match, but it was not very satisfying. even after dismissing them for a paltry 159, we couldnt beat them convincingly. it took us 46 overs and cost 5 wickets. i wish for once we could thrash australia the way they thrashed us in the T20

 

[Introvert]

Pakistan mull ODIs with India if Australia pull out

February 15, 2008

Pakistan are considering inviting India for a quickfire series of ODIs if, as is becoming increasingly likely, Australia pull out of their scheduled tour in March-April.

Doubts about whether Australia will come for their first tour in nearly a decade have increased day-by-day over the last week, the latest coming from Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain.

The Pakistan board has all along insisted its priority is to get Australia to come to visit, but has privately admitted they are working on alternative options, which include inviting another country over.

And a well-placed source revealed to Cricinfo that informal talks had been held with the BCCI about a series of ODIs in Pakistan in case Australia don't come.

"There have been informal discussions with the BCCI but nothing has been firmed up. Things will become clearer in a day or so," the source said. "The first priority is still to get Australia to come over but if they don't come, options have to be and are being examined."

Two PCB officials, including the chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi are currently touring India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for bilateral board talks regarding scheduling ahead of an ICC meeting to devise the Future Tours Programme (FTP) till 2013. The ostensible purpose of the mission is to fill the gaps in Pakistan's schedule in the current FTP.

The current Pakistan administration is said to be unhappy over their predecessor's work on the last FTP, which has left Pakistan with a number of gaps in their cricketing calendar. "Pakistan played half the number of Tests that Australia did according to that FTP and that is something that needs to be rectified," the source said. But as a result of Australia's hesitancy, the trip has become an opportunity for Pakistan to try and arrange an alternative contest with countries who are free in March-April.

Both boards, however, are officially denying the development. India, as ever, is hemmed in by a hectic schedule. Between their return from Australia and the first Test against South Africa, an ODI series, even just across the border, seems unlikely. "It's not possible," a senior BCCI official told Cricinfo. "The Indian team returns from Australia on March 8 and the first Test against South Africa starts in Chennai on March 26. Where is the time?"

Ahsan Malik, the PCB spokesman, explained the board's focus was on getting Australia over. "This is an official trip with regards to the FTP till 2013. They wanted to meet boards and have a pre-scheduling round of meetings with them. Our full concentration is on playing Australia."

Cricinfo - Pakistan mull ODIs with India if Australia pull out

 

[araz]

here he goes again. I think he has realized that he is a force no more and wants to have an upper hand by saying he opted out rather than being not called again. What a waste



Shoaib opts out of Pentangular Cup

By Mohammad Yaqoob

LAHORE, Feb 14: Speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday said he may not play any more matches in the ongoing Pentangular Cup due to personal reasons.

”I am busy in my sister’s wedding, therefore, at the moment I am not available for any more matches and not sure if I will be free for the last match of the Cup also,” said Shoaib who is once again at the loggerheads with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over a number of issues.The Rawalpindi player led the Federal Areas outfit in the opening match of the Pentangular Cup against Punjab which ended in a draw at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

The next round is to start from Feb 22 after the general elections in the country on Feb 18.

PCB had already served a notice on Shoaib, asking him to explain his position for criticising the board in the press last week. Shoaib, however, has declined to give any reply to the notice, saying he is no more a PCB-contracted player and is not bound by the rules of the board.

Shoaib, who sent down 18 overs in the match in short spells, also dubbed the Pentangular Cup as a B-grade tournament, alleging the rejected kookaburra balls were being used and that had caused injuries to two bowlers - Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Khalil – this week.

Shoaib himself remained wicketless on a pitch where nearly 1400 runs were scored in four days and almost all bowlers faced the wrath of the batsmen who plundered four centuries and six half-centuries.

Shoaib had also complained of poor facilities for players in the match.


www.dawn.com

 

[Energon]

I don't think Shoaib really cares at this point. He has a fairly prosperous financial career ahead of him with Indian league cricket. He will most probably bank on that and use this new found liberty to thumb his nose at the PCB every chance he gets.

 

[EagleEyes]

^He loves Pakistan too much. No matter how much PCB irritates him, he will continue to play for Pakistan. However, i do think that he needs to get really fit. Which will of course comes with the communication with PCB, which he obviously lacks.

 

[Energon]

^He loves Pakistan too much. No matter how much PCB irritates him, he will continue to play for Pakistan. However, i do think that he needs to get really fit. Which will of course comes with the communication with PCB, which he obviously lacks.

hmmm... I dunno, he may love Pakistan a lot, but his relationship with the PCB is way beyond mere irritation. The way he talked trash about the current domestic series was just totally out of line. I don't know what the future holds for him, but up until now the PCB didnt' have other fast bowling options and had to keep going back to Shoaib. But if Gul and Asif were ever to remain fit at the same time, it would mean a fare de well for Shoaib.

 

[EagleEyes]

What Shoaib said about the current Pentangular Cup is nothing wrong. Pakistani pitches are totally flat, which makes the bowlers almost useless. Its time that PCB makes up new pitches which are good for both bowlers and batsmans. Its time that batsmans should step up to feel the reality of bowler favoring pitches.

 

[Energon]

What Shoaib said about the current Pentangular Cup is nothing wrong. Pakistani pitches are totally flat, which makes the bowlers almost useless. Its time that PCB makes up new pitches which are good for both bowlers and batsmans. Its time that batsmans should step up to feel the reality of bowler favoring pitches.

He can certainly have his opinions. However it's the way he went about doing this that was completely wrong and incorrigible. Pakistan's internal cricket system is extremely short of funds for a variety of reasons which in turn has resulted in less than stellar facilities. But what has Shoaib (a man who has made a lot of money playing for Pakistan under the blessings of the PCB) done to alleviate the situation? He could have lodged a formal complaint along with other players questioning the quality of the pitch or the balls, but no, he just said forget this, I'm going home. Had he taken an active interest and promoted the tournament by playing and attracting more viewers and interest, maybe there would have been more funds available the next time around. Obviously he is not bothered enough to show any gratitude for a system that like it or not has given him the ability to become an international sports star.

 

[araz]

hmmm... I dunno, he may love Pakistan a lot, but his relationship with the PCB is way beyond mere irritation. The way he talked trash about the current domestic series was just totally out of line. I don't know what the future holds for him, but up until now the PCB didnt' have other fast bowling options and had to keep going back to Shoaib. But if Gul and Asif were ever to remain fit at the same time, it would mean a fare de well for Shoaib.

Insha Allah They will both be well soon. They have problems which are manageable. Ithink Shoaib has had his days. Ithink he is slowing down and not looking after himself. This is a problem that he will either resolve or not. If he cant ,then tough luck , there are others to take over the role.
Regards
Araz

 

[mujahideen]

Will India's cricket league work?

By Prachi Pinglay
BBC News, Mumbai

The upcoming Indian Premier League cricket tournament is a heady cocktail of sports and commerce on a level that has never been attempted in the game before.

The multi-million pound, International Cricket Council-sanctioned Twenty20 tournament will feature eight city franchises - Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Jaipur, Chennai, Chandigarh and Hyderabad - playing a total of 59 matches, beginning next month.

It is a gravy train without parallel - cricketers have been bid for and sold at whopping prices, and the Indian cricket board has already earned over £800m selling TV rights and team franchises for the tournament.

India one-day skipper Mahendra Dhoni attracted the highest price at the auction last week, bought for $1.5m (£770,095) by Chennai, while Australia's Andrew Symonds went to Hyderabad for $1.35m (£694,180).

The rich and powerful from Bollywood and some of India's biggest companies have dug deep into their pockets to bid for 78 stars.

But many cricketers, fans and experts of the game are sceptical about the tournament whipping up good fan loyalty.

Fan loyalty

They say the city-based club format of the tournament where one mixed nationality team plays the other and players are "bought and sold" will take time to grow roots.

One of them is cricket historian Boria Majumdar.

"One cardinal point about cricket craze in India is nationalism," he said. "Now you have to create fan loyalties based on cities. Do you identify with players or do you identify with cities when supporting a team?"

But advertising guru Alyque Padamsee says this will not stop the tournament becoming a success - he reminds critics that cricket in India began with a communal tournament called the Pentagular series.

"Public memory is short. In the Pentagular, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians and the rest played league matches. When I was a kid I used to listen to these matches. They were hugely popular," said Padamsee, who was born in Mumbai.

"I want to see Mumbai thrash Delhi in the new league. I would watch it. People will support city teams."

The other big question is will players take the tournament seriously enough?

'Illicit liquor'

Majumdar says the tournament will fail if players treat it merely like a commercial spectacle.

"The entertainment will last a few days. Cricket fans in India are not fools. They will not come unless there is serious cricket."

Veteran cricketer Nari Contractor believes IPL will be good for cricket.

"Youngsters will get a chance to play with international players and learn from them," he said, adding that even being with senior players, sharing the same dressing room, teaches a lot to inexperienced players.

Every time cricket has gone the popular way, there have been objections from purists."

Some feel that the "camaraderie" among players may be affected with all the hype about the kind of money they are being offered to play.

It is another thing that most agree that the 20-over format of the game is not exactly champagne cricket.

Historian Ram Guha wryly likens Twenty20 cricket to "illicit liquor". Contractor says the format is "bad for technique" of batsmen. And Majumdar points out that "all the Twenty20 stars have failed in Test matches".

In the end, everybody agrees that the players - and not necessarily cricket - will benefit most from the tournament.

"IPL is good for players. They can make money. I have nothing against players making money, they have short careers," says former cricketer Mohinder Amarnath.

"It won't boost domestic cricket. It is more like a business and entertainment venture".