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'Jesus played cricket as a child'
10 Aug 2008, 0040 hrs IST,ANI
MELBOURNE: It is possible that cricket, a game venerated all over the Commonwealth, is older than currently thought.
In fact, Jesus may have played the game (or a similar bat-and-ball combination) as a child, according to an ancient Armenian manuscript.
Long before the English launched cricket some 300 years ago, similar games were being played as early as the 8th century in the Punjab region, Derek Birley writes in his Social History of English Cricket.
But an Armenian scholar says there is good reason to believe that similar games were played in the Middle East long before that time.
Dr Abraham Terian, recently a visiting professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as Fulbright Distinguished Chair in the Humanities, points to a rare manuscript as his source.
Terian notes that in the Armenian Gospel of the Infancy, translated into Armenian in the 6th century from a much older lost Syriac original, a passage tells of Jesus playing what may well be the precursor of cricket, with a club and ball.
Terian, who discovered the manuscript more than a decade ago at the Saint James Armenian Monastery in the Old City of Jerusalem, says he has now identified the same passage in a couple of other manuscripts of the same gospel of which some 40 copies exist in various archival collections in Europe and the Middle East, including the oldest copy now in Yerevan, the capital of the Armenian Republic.
The latter manuscript is dated 1239, whereas the undated Jerusalem manuscript is considerably later.
Quoting from his Armenian source, Terian says the gospel relates how Jesus, at the age of nine, had been
apprenticed to a master dyer named Israel in Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
"Jesus is instructed to watch Israel's house and not leave the place while the master goes away on a tour to collect clothes to be dyed. But no sooner has Israel left the house, than Jesus runs out with the boys," The Daily Telegraph quoted Terian, as saying.
"The most amazing part of the story of the nine-year-old Jesus playing a form of cricket with the boys at the sea shore, is that he would go on playing the game on water, over the sea waves," he added.
He gives the following translation: "He (Jesus) would take the boys to the seashore and, carrying the playing ball and the club, he would go over the waves of the sea as though he was playing on a frozen surface, hitting the playing ball.
10 Aug 2008, 0040 hrs IST,ANI
MELBOURNE: It is possible that cricket, a game venerated all over the Commonwealth, is older than currently thought.
In fact, Jesus may have played the game (or a similar bat-and-ball combination) as a child, according to an ancient Armenian manuscript.
Long before the English launched cricket some 300 years ago, similar games were being played as early as the 8th century in the Punjab region, Derek Birley writes in his Social History of English Cricket.
But an Armenian scholar says there is good reason to believe that similar games were played in the Middle East long before that time.
Dr Abraham Terian, recently a visiting professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as Fulbright Distinguished Chair in the Humanities, points to a rare manuscript as his source.
Terian notes that in the Armenian Gospel of the Infancy, translated into Armenian in the 6th century from a much older lost Syriac original, a passage tells of Jesus playing what may well be the precursor of cricket, with a club and ball.
Terian, who discovered the manuscript more than a decade ago at the Saint James Armenian Monastery in the Old City of Jerusalem, says he has now identified the same passage in a couple of other manuscripts of the same gospel of which some 40 copies exist in various archival collections in Europe and the Middle East, including the oldest copy now in Yerevan, the capital of the Armenian Republic.
The latter manuscript is dated 1239, whereas the undated Jerusalem manuscript is considerably later.
Quoting from his Armenian source, Terian says the gospel relates how Jesus, at the age of nine, had been
apprenticed to a master dyer named Israel in Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
"Jesus is instructed to watch Israel's house and not leave the place while the master goes away on a tour to collect clothes to be dyed. But no sooner has Israel left the house, than Jesus runs out with the boys," The Daily Telegraph quoted Terian, as saying.
"The most amazing part of the story of the nine-year-old Jesus playing a form of cricket with the boys at the sea shore, is that he would go on playing the game on water, over the sea waves," he added.
He gives the following translation: "He (Jesus) would take the boys to the seashore and, carrying the playing ball and the club, he would go over the waves of the sea as though he was playing on a frozen surface, hitting the playing ball.
Moin91
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‘Decision on tri-series not unilateral’
Monday, September 01, 2008
LAHORE: A top Pakistan Cricket Board official has rubbished reports that he had taken a unilateral decision to fix up a tri-series in South Africa without taking into confidence International Cricket Committee of the Board.
Former cricketers and officials had questioned the authority of PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi to hold negotiations with Cricket South Africa after the resignation of Nasim Ashraf as Board chairman but the PCB COO hit back by terming the accusations as baseless.
“These reports are completely untrue. The whole thing is in the knowledge of Chairman of the International Cricket Committee (of the PCB) Ali Reza,” he claimed. “And before we started negotiations, the former chairman Nasim Ashraf was also in office, he had not relinquished his post at that time. So absolutely no truth in this story.”
Naghmi said the fixtures of the South Africa tri-series should be given final shape in next few days but only after the International Cricket Committee of the Board reviews the tentative dates and programme and approves them.
“The meeting of the International Cricket Committee of the Board will be held either in Islamabad or Karachi.”
Decision on tri-series not unilateral
Monday, September 01, 2008
LAHORE: A top Pakistan Cricket Board official has rubbished reports that he had taken a unilateral decision to fix up a tri-series in South Africa without taking into confidence International Cricket Committee of the Board.
Former cricketers and officials had questioned the authority of PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi to hold negotiations with Cricket South Africa after the resignation of Nasim Ashraf as Board chairman but the PCB COO hit back by terming the accusations as baseless.
“These reports are completely untrue. The whole thing is in the knowledge of Chairman of the International Cricket Committee (of the PCB) Ali Reza,” he claimed. “And before we started negotiations, the former chairman Nasim Ashraf was also in office, he had not relinquished his post at that time. So absolutely no truth in this story.”
Naghmi said the fixtures of the South Africa tri-series should be given final shape in next few days but only after the International Cricket Committee of the Board reviews the tentative dates and programme and approves them.
“The meeting of the International Cricket Committee of the Board will be held either in Islamabad or Karachi.”
Decision on tri-series not unilateral
Moin91
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Schools must tackle delinquent players: PCB
Monday, September 01, 2008
KARACHI: Stung by controversies involving some of its top cricketers, Pakistan has launched an ambitious drive to educate young players and stamp out deviant behaviour. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants to teach its future national team players how to handle fame and fortune and will provide coaching and an education to its best under-12s.
“The idea is to allow talented young cricketers the option of completing their high school education,” Shafqat Naghmi, the CEO of the board, told Reuters.“And (the option of) adopting cricket as a profession or completing full education and becoming useful citizens.”
Pakistani cricket has been rocked by off-the-field scandals and disciplinary problems while on recent foreign tours. Most of the offenders are from humble backgrounds with no access to a proper secondary education.
The most notable is pacer Mohammad Asif, suspended having tested positive for a banned substance — his third positive test since 2006. “They face problems adjusting to the glamour, fame and money that comes automatically for an international cricketer these days,” said Mudassar Nazar, director of Pakistan’s national cricket academy.
“The main problem is that our sportsmen don’t have facilities to carry on formal education and also play their sport at the same time because of financial constraints.” Naghmi said the board had arranged for players to have classes at a top private school with branches all over the country. Around 10 will be picked from each of the 12 regions.
“If we can get only five or six boys good for cricket, we would have done our job,” he added. “We would have boys with ‘O’ levels who can go on to complete their education and become useful citizens.
Schools must tackle delinquent players: PCB
Monday, September 01, 2008
KARACHI: Stung by controversies involving some of its top cricketers, Pakistan has launched an ambitious drive to educate young players and stamp out deviant behaviour. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants to teach its future national team players how to handle fame and fortune and will provide coaching and an education to its best under-12s.
“The idea is to allow talented young cricketers the option of completing their high school education,” Shafqat Naghmi, the CEO of the board, told Reuters.“And (the option of) adopting cricket as a profession or completing full education and becoming useful citizens.”
Pakistani cricket has been rocked by off-the-field scandals and disciplinary problems while on recent foreign tours. Most of the offenders are from humble backgrounds with no access to a proper secondary education.
The most notable is pacer Mohammad Asif, suspended having tested positive for a banned substance — his third positive test since 2006. “They face problems adjusting to the glamour, fame and money that comes automatically for an international cricketer these days,” said Mudassar Nazar, director of Pakistan’s national cricket academy.
“The main problem is that our sportsmen don’t have facilities to carry on formal education and also play their sport at the same time because of financial constraints.” Naghmi said the board had arranged for players to have classes at a top private school with branches all over the country. Around 10 will be picked from each of the 12 regions.
“If we can get only five or six boys good for cricket, we would have done our job,” he added. “We would have boys with ‘O’ levels who can go on to complete their education and become useful citizens.
Schools must tackle delinquent players: PCB
Moin91
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Malik confident of staying as Pakistan captain
2 Sep, 2008 , IANS
KARACHI: With speculations rife that he might be sacked as captain, Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik Tuesday countered the charges of team's poor performance under him.
Malik gave the example of inaugural World Twenty20 championship last year where Pakistan reached the final.
"We did well in that (World Twenty20) tournament and remember Pakistan also won 12 consecutive One-dayers with me as captain earlier this year," Shoaib said Tuesday.
Shoaib's captaincy is under threat following the exit of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf. The vacant post of PCB chief is likely to be filled in a week or so and it is anticipated that sweeping changes would be made in the cricket set-up.
Malik though is confident of staying as Pakistan captain and said that all the speculations about his sacking will slowly die down in the coming days.
"I did not tell anybody to make me captain," Shoaib said.
"I was chosen to lead Pakistan and I have been doing the job in the best possible manner," the all-rounder said.
However, he sounds a bit optimistic in the current scenario.
Malik was preferred over senior players to lead Pakistan after the humiliating first round exit from the 2007 World Cup. Ashraf handed the captaincy reins to Malik from Inzamam-ul-Haq, who resigned after the World Cup debacle in the Caribbean.
Ashraf resigned as PCB chairman last month, just hours after Pervez Musharraf - the Board's chief patron -- stepped down as president.
Reports in recent days have suggested that vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq is expected to take over from Malik though senior players Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi are also in fray for captaincy.
2 Sep, 2008 , IANS
KARACHI: With speculations rife that he might be sacked as captain, Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik Tuesday countered the charges of team's poor performance under him.
Malik gave the example of inaugural World Twenty20 championship last year where Pakistan reached the final.
"We did well in that (World Twenty20) tournament and remember Pakistan also won 12 consecutive One-dayers with me as captain earlier this year," Shoaib said Tuesday.
Shoaib's captaincy is under threat following the exit of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf. The vacant post of PCB chief is likely to be filled in a week or so and it is anticipated that sweeping changes would be made in the cricket set-up.
Malik though is confident of staying as Pakistan captain and said that all the speculations about his sacking will slowly die down in the coming days.
"I did not tell anybody to make me captain," Shoaib said.
"I was chosen to lead Pakistan and I have been doing the job in the best possible manner," the all-rounder said.
However, he sounds a bit optimistic in the current scenario.
Malik was preferred over senior players to lead Pakistan after the humiliating first round exit from the 2007 World Cup. Ashraf handed the captaincy reins to Malik from Inzamam-ul-Haq, who resigned after the World Cup debacle in the Caribbean.
Ashraf resigned as PCB chairman last month, just hours after Pervez Musharraf - the Board's chief patron -- stepped down as president.
Reports in recent days have suggested that vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq is expected to take over from Malik though senior players Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi are also in fray for captaincy.
Moin91
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Pakistan face further cricket woes
IANS
Published: September 01, 2008, 23:54
Karachi: Pakistan's hopes of playing in a proposed tri-series in South Africa later this month are slowly fading after lack of interest in the tournament from sponsors and broadcasters.
It is understood hosts South Africa have so far been unable to secure interest for the triangular series that had been proposed after Pakistan suffered the postponement of the Champions Trophy, called off after five of the eight competing teams voiced security concerns.
The idea of a three or four-nation tournament in to compensate had been proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with Cricket South Africa (CSA) obliging.
Sri Lanka and India were also invited; however, while Sri Lanka accepted the invitation, India declined saying they wanted to stay focused for the all-important home series against Australia.
So far, the only progress made regarding the competition is the confirmation of the three other teams. Even the dates and the venues are yet to be finalised although competing teams had agreed to play on roughly the same dates as those scheduled for the Champions Trophy. The stumbling block has been the fact that Cricket South Africa has faced difficulties interesting sponsors and broadcasters, who have exhausted their sports' budgets during the recent Olympic Games in Beijing.
The rising popularity of Twenty20 has also diminished sponsors' interest in the 50-over format.
Pakistan are desperate for the series with their cricketers starved of first-class action this year.
"We are hoping that the tri-series will be held this month in South Africa," said Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer.
"There are some issues to be resolved but we are confident that everything will fall into place soon," he added.
IANS
Published: September 01, 2008, 23:54
Karachi: Pakistan's hopes of playing in a proposed tri-series in South Africa later this month are slowly fading after lack of interest in the tournament from sponsors and broadcasters.
It is understood hosts South Africa have so far been unable to secure interest for the triangular series that had been proposed after Pakistan suffered the postponement of the Champions Trophy, called off after five of the eight competing teams voiced security concerns.
The idea of a three or four-nation tournament in to compensate had been proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with Cricket South Africa (CSA) obliging.
Sri Lanka and India were also invited; however, while Sri Lanka accepted the invitation, India declined saying they wanted to stay focused for the all-important home series against Australia.
So far, the only progress made regarding the competition is the confirmation of the three other teams. Even the dates and the venues are yet to be finalised although competing teams had agreed to play on roughly the same dates as those scheduled for the Champions Trophy. The stumbling block has been the fact that Cricket South Africa has faced difficulties interesting sponsors and broadcasters, who have exhausted their sports' budgets during the recent Olympic Games in Beijing.
The rising popularity of Twenty20 has also diminished sponsors' interest in the 50-over format.
Pakistan are desperate for the series with their cricketers starved of first-class action this year.
"We are hoping that the tri-series will be held this month in South Africa," said Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer.
"There are some issues to be resolved but we are confident that everything will fall into place soon," he added.
Moin91
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Symonds may never play for Australia again: Sutherland
9 Sep, 2008 , PTI
MELBOURNE: Volatile all-rounder Andrew Symonds may already have played his last match for Australia, the Cricket Board said on Tuesday.
In a clear indication that Cricket Australia is looking at life beyond Symonds, the CA chief executive said Symonds may have well be "lost to the team" but asserted there are plenty of quality players who can fill the void.
"It would be a great loss but, at the same time Australian cricket is lucky to have exciting young talent that is knocking on the door, waiting on the fringes," Sutherland said.
Symonds' absence would provide a gilt-edged opportunity to players like Shane Watson, Sutherland said.
"People like Shane Watson may well get the opportunity they've yearned for so long in his absence."
Symonds' career hit the crossroad after he was sent home for preferring a fishing trip to a compulsory team meeting, an incident that gave rise to questions about his commitment to the team.
Symond's act had the Australian leadership group enraged and CA was not amused either.
On Symonds' chances of never playing for Australia again, Sutherland said, "I don't think that's impossible."
"I think the message the Australian players have sent is that we want Andrew Symonds in our team, but we want Andrew Symonds absolutely committed and wanting to be there. They're really asking him that question," Sutherland said.
"If he can't answer that question, it may well be that he's lost to the team," the CA CEO added.
On whether the IPL money was behind Symond's change in attitude, Sutherland said, "It's hard to say. He only played in the IPL for two weeks."
"Really I think there are a whole lot of factors and without Andrew sitting down and talking through some of his issues I don't think anyone really knows the answer to how he's been affected," he added.
Sutherland was also happy with the way the leadership group, particularly stand-in captain Michael Clarke, handled the episode.
"I was really proud of them the way they did it. They could have taken a short-term view of it," Sutherland said.
"There were obviously things going on within the team and they're very conscious of the huge program coming up with a very important series against India, a big summer against South Africa and an Ashes series next year.
9 Sep, 2008 , PTI
MELBOURNE: Volatile all-rounder Andrew Symonds may already have played his last match for Australia, the Cricket Board said on Tuesday.
In a clear indication that Cricket Australia is looking at life beyond Symonds, the CA chief executive said Symonds may have well be "lost to the team" but asserted there are plenty of quality players who can fill the void.
"It would be a great loss but, at the same time Australian cricket is lucky to have exciting young talent that is knocking on the door, waiting on the fringes," Sutherland said.
Symonds' absence would provide a gilt-edged opportunity to players like Shane Watson, Sutherland said.
"People like Shane Watson may well get the opportunity they've yearned for so long in his absence."
Symonds' career hit the crossroad after he was sent home for preferring a fishing trip to a compulsory team meeting, an incident that gave rise to questions about his commitment to the team.
Symond's act had the Australian leadership group enraged and CA was not amused either.
On Symonds' chances of never playing for Australia again, Sutherland said, "I don't think that's impossible."
"I think the message the Australian players have sent is that we want Andrew Symonds in our team, but we want Andrew Symonds absolutely committed and wanting to be there. They're really asking him that question," Sutherland said.
"If he can't answer that question, it may well be that he's lost to the team," the CA CEO added.
On whether the IPL money was behind Symond's change in attitude, Sutherland said, "It's hard to say. He only played in the IPL for two weeks."
"Really I think there are a whole lot of factors and without Andrew sitting down and talking through some of his issues I don't think anyone really knows the answer to how he's been affected," he added.
Sutherland was also happy with the way the leadership group, particularly stand-in captain Michael Clarke, handled the episode.
"I was really proud of them the way they did it. They could have taken a short-term view of it," Sutherland said.
"There were obviously things going on within the team and they're very conscious of the huge program coming up with a very important series against India, a big summer against South Africa and an Ashes series next year.
Moin91
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PCB remains optimistic over Trophy in spite of Champions League threats
ICC will lose out around US$65 million if the event is not held within the next 13 months
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
KARACHI: Pakistan will push for ‘realistic dates’ for the ICC Champions Trophy which they are supposed to host next October at a meeting of the International Cricket Council in Dubai on Wednesday (today), writes Khalid Hussain.
A top Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official sounded confident that the ICC will find an appropriate slot for the tournament in spite of genuine fears that the second edition of the Twenty20 Champions League might make it impossible for the Trophy to take place next fall.
Pakistan were supposed to host the eight-nation tournament from September 12 to 28 but the ICC was forced to postpone the event for 13 months after five of the competing teams raised serious security concerns about visiting the country.
On Monday, the Indian, Australian and South African cricket boards declared that the 2009 Champions League will be played from September 25 to October 10, making it quite impossible to find dates for the Champions Trophy considering that Australia are due to tour India for seven One-day Internationals from mid-October next year.
The inaugural eight-team T20 Champions League, with a six-million-dollar purse, is due to take place from December 3 to 10. The top two teams of the domestic T20 competitions in India, Australia and South Africa and one side each from England and Pakistan will compete.
Because of its lucrative prize purse, the Champions League is set to attract the big stars, which is why leading teams are already eagerly deciding the dates of its next edition.
It’s quite a tricky situation but Shafqat Naghmi, PCB’s chief operating officer, is hopeful that ICC will find a way out.
“ICC is a bigger stakeholder than us when it comes to the Champions Trophy,” he told ‘The News’ from Dubai where the ICC bosses will meet over the next two days to discuss a number of key issues including the fate of the Champions Trophy. “That is why we are confident that it (ICC) will somehow tackle this issue,” he added.
It is estimated that the ICC will stand to lose a staggering US$65 million in case the Champions Trophy is not held within the next 13 months.
This because, a clause in the television rights deal between the ICC and ESPN-Star Sports states that if the Champions Trophy is postponed because of any reason then it should be staged within the next 13 months.
After the ICC, the next big loser would be hosts Pakistan as they would be deprived of several million dollars plus the chance of hosting what is the second biggest ODI contest in international cricket.
In addition, all participating teams will also miss out on their share which comes to around US$6million for each participant.
“You see it’s not just us,” said Naghmi. “Most of the cricket world will lose out in case the Champions Trophy is not held next year which is why we believe that a way should be found to ensure that it does take place (in 2009).”
Naghmi will be attending the meeting of the ICC Chief Executives Committee on Wednesday (today) and will push for the Champions Trophy scheduling.
At the CEC moot, several issues ranging from the Champions Trophy to the next Future Tour Programme will come under discussion. Also included on the agenda is the umpires’ referral system.
With the current FTP due to conclude in May 2012, the concept of an alternative structure to bilateral tours, including an enhanced Test championship, was discussed by both the CEC and the ICC Board during meetings in Dubai in June-July. The matter will once again come under review today.
The two-day ICC moot will conclude on Thursday (tomorrow) in which the ICC Executive Board will consider views of the CEC.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has said that it will wait on advice from the ICC on the future of the Champions Trophy.
“It’s the ICC’s trophy,” a Cricket Australian spokesman said on Tuesday. “No doubt in due course the ICC will advise us of their plans for that tournament.”
ThNews
ICC will lose out around US$65 million if the event is not held within the next 13 months
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
KARACHI: Pakistan will push for ‘realistic dates’ for the ICC Champions Trophy which they are supposed to host next October at a meeting of the International Cricket Council in Dubai on Wednesday (today), writes Khalid Hussain.
A top Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official sounded confident that the ICC will find an appropriate slot for the tournament in spite of genuine fears that the second edition of the Twenty20 Champions League might make it impossible for the Trophy to take place next fall.
Pakistan were supposed to host the eight-nation tournament from September 12 to 28 but the ICC was forced to postpone the event for 13 months after five of the competing teams raised serious security concerns about visiting the country.
On Monday, the Indian, Australian and South African cricket boards declared that the 2009 Champions League will be played from September 25 to October 10, making it quite impossible to find dates for the Champions Trophy considering that Australia are due to tour India for seven One-day Internationals from mid-October next year.
The inaugural eight-team T20 Champions League, with a six-million-dollar purse, is due to take place from December 3 to 10. The top two teams of the domestic T20 competitions in India, Australia and South Africa and one side each from England and Pakistan will compete.
Because of its lucrative prize purse, the Champions League is set to attract the big stars, which is why leading teams are already eagerly deciding the dates of its next edition.
It’s quite a tricky situation but Shafqat Naghmi, PCB’s chief operating officer, is hopeful that ICC will find a way out.
“ICC is a bigger stakeholder than us when it comes to the Champions Trophy,” he told ‘The News’ from Dubai where the ICC bosses will meet over the next two days to discuss a number of key issues including the fate of the Champions Trophy. “That is why we are confident that it (ICC) will somehow tackle this issue,” he added.
It is estimated that the ICC will stand to lose a staggering US$65 million in case the Champions Trophy is not held within the next 13 months.
This because, a clause in the television rights deal between the ICC and ESPN-Star Sports states that if the Champions Trophy is postponed because of any reason then it should be staged within the next 13 months.
After the ICC, the next big loser would be hosts Pakistan as they would be deprived of several million dollars plus the chance of hosting what is the second biggest ODI contest in international cricket.
In addition, all participating teams will also miss out on their share which comes to around US$6million for each participant.
“You see it’s not just us,” said Naghmi. “Most of the cricket world will lose out in case the Champions Trophy is not held next year which is why we believe that a way should be found to ensure that it does take place (in 2009).”
Naghmi will be attending the meeting of the ICC Chief Executives Committee on Wednesday (today) and will push for the Champions Trophy scheduling.
At the CEC moot, several issues ranging from the Champions Trophy to the next Future Tour Programme will come under discussion. Also included on the agenda is the umpires’ referral system.
With the current FTP due to conclude in May 2012, the concept of an alternative structure to bilateral tours, including an enhanced Test championship, was discussed by both the CEC and the ICC Board during meetings in Dubai in June-July. The matter will once again come under review today.
The two-day ICC moot will conclude on Thursday (tomorrow) in which the ICC Executive Board will consider views of the CEC.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has said that it will wait on advice from the ICC on the future of the Champions Trophy.
“It’s the ICC’s trophy,” a Cricket Australian spokesman said on Tuesday. “No doubt in due course the ICC will advise us of their plans for that tournament.”
ThNews
Moin91
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Pakistan and Sri Lanka series unlikely
Sports Desk
LAHORE: Plans for a proposed one-day series in Sri Lanka involving Pakistan later this month took a hit with broadcasters quoting low figures to secure television rights for the event. With a proposed tri-series involving the two teams and South Africa also shelved, it seems unlikely that Pakistan will be play any international cricket in the fixture gap created by the postponement of the Champions Trophy. "There has been a lack of interest. Some broadcasters, who did come forward, have quoted ridiculously low figures for the series. It would be impossible to hold a series on those terms," Shafqat Naghmi, PCB's chief operating officer, said. According to him, one broadcaster offered around US$250,000-300,000 for the event - not even 10% of the figure which the board would normally expect for a series involving top cricketers from the two nations. Five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals were lined up as part of the proposed series. The PCB were expecting at least US$2.5 million for the television rights of a one-day series which would help break even. But, US$300,000 would barely be enough to pay match fees to the players of the competing teams, said Naghmi. Pakistan will be now be involved in a four-day quadrangular in Toronto next month with Sri Lanka, West Indies and hosts Canada, ahead of the home series against India in January. Naghmi said Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Canada had signed MoUs with the event organisers and he was confident West Indies will also confirm their participation in the quadrangular.
ThePost
Sports Desk
LAHORE: Plans for a proposed one-day series in Sri Lanka involving Pakistan later this month took a hit with broadcasters quoting low figures to secure television rights for the event. With a proposed tri-series involving the two teams and South Africa also shelved, it seems unlikely that Pakistan will be play any international cricket in the fixture gap created by the postponement of the Champions Trophy. "There has been a lack of interest. Some broadcasters, who did come forward, have quoted ridiculously low figures for the series. It would be impossible to hold a series on those terms," Shafqat Naghmi, PCB's chief operating officer, said. According to him, one broadcaster offered around US$250,000-300,000 for the event - not even 10% of the figure which the board would normally expect for a series involving top cricketers from the two nations. Five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals were lined up as part of the proposed series. The PCB were expecting at least US$2.5 million for the television rights of a one-day series which would help break even. But, US$300,000 would barely be enough to pay match fees to the players of the competing teams, said Naghmi. Pakistan will be now be involved in a four-day quadrangular in Toronto next month with Sri Lanka, West Indies and hosts Canada, ahead of the home series against India in January. Naghmi said Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Canada had signed MoUs with the event organisers and he was confident West Indies will also confirm their participation in the quadrangular.
ThePost
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Australian cricketers 'double standards' on security
Updated at: 0125 PST, Tuesday, September 16, 2008
SYDNEY: Australian cricketers double standard regarding security situation became evident after they decided to go ahead with the tour of India despite serial blasts in the capital city on Saturday which killed 22 people and injured about 130.
It was feared that Australian tour to India would also be postponed after the blasts or at least Australian cricketers would express some security concerns. But nothing such happened and Cricket Australia decided to go ahead with the tour setting aside any affect of recent blasts.
Australian Cricketers Association has termed India safe as compared to Paksitan and said tour should not be postponed. "The threat assessment for India has been considerably lower than that of Pakistan," Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association told The Australian.
But Australia know now that they have decided to travel to India, they will face the "heat" from the Asian bloc. After they refused to travel to Pakistan, accusations of "double standards" are likely to be thrown at them.
"There might be some who criticise us for double standards," Marsh told the local media. "But people need to understand our starting point is that we always want to tour. We go to extreme lengths to obtain the best advice on the situation of each country we visit.
In Pakistan's case this year, people we rely on told us not to tour. If they say not to tour again, we'll listen. Bombs going off anywhere are a concern."
Cricket Australia had said that they would review security but will be no changes in the schedule of Australia's tour to India as long as the security of their team is taken care of.
Cricket Australia has confirmed it was satisfied with the reports of the security system in place and will tour India as scheduled.
In the past, Australia cancelled their tour to Pakistan and then refused to travel there for the Champions Trophy. But there are indications that Australia is likely to proceed with the tour of India.
The Australian team is scheduled to leave for India on September 21. Cricket Australia had said that they would review security but will be no changes in the schedule of Australia's tour to India as long as the security of their team is taken care of.
LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja believes Imran Khan is the right man to rescue Pakistan cricket from its current crisis and hopes the cricketer-turned-politician will consider heading the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is yet to appoint its chairman after Nasim Ashraf quit last month. You cannot find a better person to lead the cricket board. He can see us through this crisis. The PCB is facing problems and Imran is the right man to put the game back on track, he told reporters.
Imran, since retiring from international cricket in 1992, has been away from the game. He entered Pakistan politics and formed his own political party, the Tehreek-e-Insaf. In a passionate appeal Ramiz said Imrans presence as head of the board would help Pakistans cause at the international level. Not only was he confident that Imran would play a key role in increasing Pakistans influence in the ICC, he would also be able to convince other boards to get their players to tour Pakistan.
While it is true that at this moment it is difficult to convince teams to tour Pakistan because of the prevailing circumstances, I feel even now the board can, with sensible policy and support of other boards, resume international cricket activities in Pakistan, he said.
With the postponement of the Champions Trophy and the shortage of international matches at home, former Pakistan players are understandably concerned about the state of affairs. Earlier, Javed Miandad had urged the new Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to keep a close watch on the working of the PCB and eliminate the unnecessary positions created by the previous regime.
Moin91
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Ehsan Mani in fray for PCB chairman
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Punjab: Salman Taseer, the former treasurer of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and now Governor of the Punjab province, has recommended Ehsan Mani, the former ICC president for the post of PCB chairman.
The PCB has been without a chairman for a month now, after Dr. Nasim Ashraf resigned soon after General Pervez Musharraf stood down as president of Pakistan. It is the president of Pakistan, in his capacity of Patron of the PCB, who will appoint a chairman, and Taseer says he will recommend Mani's name to the President.
Taseer’s name too was doing the rounds as one of the possible candidates who could be named chairman of the PCB, but he himself refused that he was in the running. Taseer was reported by ESPNStar as saying, “If I am asked about this [to take over as chairman of the PCB], I will decline the offer. But I will most certainly recommend the name of Ehsan Mani, who I think is best suited and experienced cricket administrator to head the board.”
The Pakistan-born Mani has now settled down in the United Kingdom, and had recently said he is willing to help the PCB, if his help is sought.
© Cricket Nirvana
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Punjab: Salman Taseer, the former treasurer of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and now Governor of the Punjab province, has recommended Ehsan Mani, the former ICC president for the post of PCB chairman.
The PCB has been without a chairman for a month now, after Dr. Nasim Ashraf resigned soon after General Pervez Musharraf stood down as president of Pakistan. It is the president of Pakistan, in his capacity of Patron of the PCB, who will appoint a chairman, and Taseer says he will recommend Mani's name to the President.
Taseer’s name too was doing the rounds as one of the possible candidates who could be named chairman of the PCB, but he himself refused that he was in the running. Taseer was reported by ESPNStar as saying, “If I am asked about this [to take over as chairman of the PCB], I will decline the offer. But I will most certainly recommend the name of Ehsan Mani, who I think is best suited and experienced cricket administrator to head the board.”
The Pakistan-born Mani has now settled down in the United Kingdom, and had recently said he is willing to help the PCB, if his help is sought.
© Cricket Nirvana
Goodperson
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Pakistan switches ODIs to Dubai
The Pakistan Cricket Board has signed a three-year agreement to play its home one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches at the new Dubai Sports City.
The move comes with teams remaining reluctant to tour Pakistan because of concerns over terrorist attacks.
Pakistan, who have not played any Tests or ODIs against major teams this year have also invited West Indies to play two Test matches in Abu Dhabi.
The Emirate will also host three ODIs against the Windies in November.
Only minnows Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have played in Pakistan in 2008, while their last home Test series was against South Africa in October 2007.
The PCB has lost millions of dollars in revenue from the cancellation of matches and believe it is vital for cricket's financial well-being to make use of the facilities in the Emirates.
Shafqat Naghmi, chief operating officer of the PCB, said the new £4.8m deal with Dubai Sports City "gives us the option of playing international cricket and also improves our financial health."
The new 25,000 stadium in Dubai will initially host a series involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh next April and a series of Twenty20 matches against various teams.
The deal comes after failed attempts by Pakistan to convince teams to tour the country after a spate of bombings in recent months.
Pakistan had sought new opponents after the postponement of a Test tour by Australia and the ICC Champions Trophy, both because of security concerns, but had no takers.
Reuters news agency quoted "informed sources" who suggested the PCB will be paid £800,000 for each event in Dubai, as well as a £53,000 appearance fee to each player for every tournament played.
BBC SPORT | Cricket | International Teams | Pakistan | Pakistan switches ODIs to Dubai
The Pakistan Cricket Board has signed a three-year agreement to play its home one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches at the new Dubai Sports City.
The move comes with teams remaining reluctant to tour Pakistan because of concerns over terrorist attacks.
Pakistan, who have not played any Tests or ODIs against major teams this year have also invited West Indies to play two Test matches in Abu Dhabi.
The Emirate will also host three ODIs against the Windies in November.
Only minnows Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have played in Pakistan in 2008, while their last home Test series was against South Africa in October 2007.
The PCB has lost millions of dollars in revenue from the cancellation of matches and believe it is vital for cricket's financial well-being to make use of the facilities in the Emirates.
Shafqat Naghmi, chief operating officer of the PCB, said the new £4.8m deal with Dubai Sports City "gives us the option of playing international cricket and also improves our financial health."
The new 25,000 stadium in Dubai will initially host a series involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh next April and a series of Twenty20 matches against various teams.
The deal comes after failed attempts by Pakistan to convince teams to tour the country after a spate of bombings in recent months.
Pakistan had sought new opponents after the postponement of a Test tour by Australia and the ICC Champions Trophy, both because of security concerns, but had no takers.
Reuters news agency quoted "informed sources" who suggested the PCB will be paid £800,000 for each event in Dubai, as well as a £53,000 appearance fee to each player for every tournament played.
BBC SPORT | Cricket | International Teams | Pakistan | Pakistan switches ODIs to Dubai
Moin91
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Sports Ministry seeks former captains' advice on cricket
Source: OUR STAFF REPORTER submitted 5 hours 49 minutes ago
LAHORE - The Sports Ministry has asked the former greats to help revamp the game in the country with their contribution.
It has invited players of the stature of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Ramiz Raja to discuss the existing cricket structure in the country and get recommendations for improving the working of the board and the national team.
The meeting slated for Saturday, would also be attended by the sports secretary, board officials and other stake holders.
"The purpose of the meeting is to reach a conclusion why Pakistan team performs inconsistently, to find ways to make the board more effective and productive and to discuss the refusal of teams to tour Pakistan," Najamuddin Khan, the sports minister, said.
"Cricket is our biggest sport and passion in the country and the ministry is only interested in seeing we can do better in this sport," he added.
The sports ministry earlier this week took over monitoring of operational affairs of the Board through an amendment in the Board's constitution but have made it clear they have no intention to take complete control of cricket affairs. The ministry has said the arrangement is temporary until a new chairman is appointed to head cricket affairs. The PCB has been functioning without a Chairman since the former President Pervez Musharraf resigned and this also saw his hand picked cricket chief Nasim Ashraf also stepping down.
TheNation
Source: OUR STAFF REPORTER submitted 5 hours 49 minutes ago
LAHORE - The Sports Ministry has asked the former greats to help revamp the game in the country with their contribution.
It has invited players of the stature of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Ramiz Raja to discuss the existing cricket structure in the country and get recommendations for improving the working of the board and the national team.
The meeting slated for Saturday, would also be attended by the sports secretary, board officials and other stake holders.
"The purpose of the meeting is to reach a conclusion why Pakistan team performs inconsistently, to find ways to make the board more effective and productive and to discuss the refusal of teams to tour Pakistan," Najamuddin Khan, the sports minister, said.
"Cricket is our biggest sport and passion in the country and the ministry is only interested in seeing we can do better in this sport," he added.
The sports ministry earlier this week took over monitoring of operational affairs of the Board through an amendment in the Board's constitution but have made it clear they have no intention to take complete control of cricket affairs. The ministry has said the arrangement is temporary until a new chairman is appointed to head cricket affairs. The PCB has been functioning without a Chairman since the former President Pervez Musharraf resigned and this also saw his hand picked cricket chief Nasim Ashraf also stepping down.
TheNation
Moin91
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Indian board’s income crosses Rs 1000 crore
Staff Report
LAHORE: Believe it or not, the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) went past Rs 1000 crore in the year 2007-08 for the first time in its 79-year history. To be precise, the board took in Rs 1000.41 crore, a whopping 46 percent increase from 2006-07 when their earnings were 651.81 crore. According to report on a cricket website, the figures will definitely increase the BCCI’s status as the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) richest and most powerful board member. Cricket players in India who are already some of the highest-paid sportsmen in the world will get handsome pay rise next year.
While the bulk of this increase has come in the form of media rights — 559.31 crore, there have been significant increases from other sources as well. Take for example the investments the BCCI made and the interest income generated from the same. The BCCI now has Rs 1195 crore in fixed deposits, and earned Rs 76.15 crore in interest in 2007-08, an increase of more than 50 percent from Rs 50.31 crore in the previous year. The surplus generated from tours is up to 226.73 crore from an earlier 214.66 crore.
The BCCI spends 26 percent of its top line on the payment of player wages, both domestic and international. Of this, 13 percent goes to the payment of wages of international cricketers. A total of Rs 66 crore will be paid out to those who play for the senior national team, up from Rs 43 crore. The BCCI’s financial health will improve even further next year as it recently sold the television rights for the newly launched Champions League for a massive $1 billion.
DailyTimes
Staff Report
LAHORE: Believe it or not, the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) went past Rs 1000 crore in the year 2007-08 for the first time in its 79-year history. To be precise, the board took in Rs 1000.41 crore, a whopping 46 percent increase from 2006-07 when their earnings were 651.81 crore. According to report on a cricket website, the figures will definitely increase the BCCI’s status as the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) richest and most powerful board member. Cricket players in India who are already some of the highest-paid sportsmen in the world will get handsome pay rise next year.
While the bulk of this increase has come in the form of media rights — 559.31 crore, there have been significant increases from other sources as well. Take for example the investments the BCCI made and the interest income generated from the same. The BCCI now has Rs 1195 crore in fixed deposits, and earned Rs 76.15 crore in interest in 2007-08, an increase of more than 50 percent from Rs 50.31 crore in the previous year. The surplus generated from tours is up to 226.73 crore from an earlier 214.66 crore.
The BCCI spends 26 percent of its top line on the payment of player wages, both domestic and international. Of this, 13 percent goes to the payment of wages of international cricketers. A total of Rs 66 crore will be paid out to those who play for the senior national team, up from Rs 43 crore. The BCCI’s financial health will improve even further next year as it recently sold the television rights for the newly launched Champions League for a massive $1 billion.
DailyTimes
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