Pakistani cricketers, who have played in the inaugural Indian Cricket League, have spurned the olive branch offered by the PCB to come to its fold by ditching the 'rebel' league.
Test discards Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar and Shabbir Ahmed remained adamant and said they would not break their contracts with ICL despite PCB's assurance to lift the ban from appearing in domestic cricket if they promise not to play anymore in the Essel Group promoted league.
"No I can't do that. It is not the honourable thing to do. I took a decision to sign the contract and I will stand by it. We have legal avenues available to fight the PCB ban," Farhat said.
The former opening batsman denied that a petition filed by him and other players challenging PCB's ban has been dismissed by the court
"There is no way they can stop us from playing domestic cricket. And they have been saying the court dismissed our petition but that is not true we withdrew the petition ourselves hoping the board would at its governing body lift the ban," he said.
Farhat, who had played 27 Tests for Pakistan, also ruled out seeking any help from the International Cricket Council, saying it could do nothing as it was an internal matter of the board.
Taufiq Umar said the players had committed no crime playing in the ICL and would not go back on their contracts.
"They are just being personal with us and nothing else. But we will decide soon what we can do to fight this injustice," he said.
Shabbir Ahmed said the board was trying to come down hard on them as it faced a real threat from the ICL.
"They (PCB) know more and more players will go sooner or later and they are worried that is why they are trying to scare out the others so that they don't go at all," he said.
After a governing body meeting on January 25, PCB had decided to continue the ban on former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Farhat, Abdul Razzaq, Taufiq Umar, Shabbir Ahmed and Azhar Mahmood from playing any domestic cricket after they played in the inaugural ICL tournament last month.
Source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Bond and NZC heading to court
SHANE Bond and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) are reportedly heading for a lengthy litigation process although a mediator has stepped in to help resolve the fast bowler's dispute with the national body.
The Herald on Sunday newspaper today reported the stand-off between Bond and NZC was poised to head to the Employment Court because the pace bowling spearhead wants to play home and away series against England despite signing on with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL) Twenty/20 competition.
By joining the rebel league Bond _ who is contracted to NZC until the end of May _ is now considered ineligible for selection because the International Cricket Council (ICC) have urged member countries not to name players who have aligned themselves with the ICL.
The 32-year-old, who signed a three-year $3.1 million deal with the ICL has been told he cannot play against England unless he reneges on a lucrative contract that sets the injury-plagued former policeman up for life financially.
Both of Bond's contracts are now being examined by lawyers.
Talks with Bond and his representatives began almost a fortnight ago as an 11th-hour effort was made by NZC to extract Bond from his ICL contract.
Discussions foundered and a mediator has been called in to try to prevent the dispute reaching the Employment Relations Authority.
The crux of the matter is whether Bond breached his contract with NZC by signing with the ICL. He is the top-ranked New Zealand cricketer and is on a retainer of more than $120,000 through to June 1.
The dispute is further clouded by the fact NZC cleared him to sign with the ICL almost certainly in written form.
Employment law specialist Hamish Kynaston told the Herald on Sunday, said that document could be construed as legally binding.
Bond and NZC have remained silent on the issue since discussions escalated, though there may be progress this week.
Meanwhile, Bond returned to action for Canterbury in the domestic Twenty/20 competition on Friday having recovered from an abdominal tear sustained during New Zealand's tour of South Africa in November.
Source : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/
The Herald on Sunday newspaper today reported the stand-off between Bond and NZC was poised to head to the Employment Court because the pace bowling spearhead wants to play home and away series against England despite signing on with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL) Twenty/20 competition.
By joining the rebel league Bond _ who is contracted to NZC until the end of May _ is now considered ineligible for selection because the International Cricket Council (ICC) have urged member countries not to name players who have aligned themselves with the ICL.
The 32-year-old, who signed a three-year $3.1 million deal with the ICL has been told he cannot play against England unless he reneges on a lucrative contract that sets the injury-plagued former policeman up for life financially.
Both of Bond's contracts are now being examined by lawyers.
Talks with Bond and his representatives began almost a fortnight ago as an 11th-hour effort was made by NZC to extract Bond from his ICL contract.
Discussions foundered and a mediator has been called in to try to prevent the dispute reaching the Employment Relations Authority.
The crux of the matter is whether Bond breached his contract with NZC by signing with the ICL. He is the top-ranked New Zealand cricketer and is on a retainer of more than $120,000 through to June 1.
The dispute is further clouded by the fact NZC cleared him to sign with the ICL almost certainly in written form.
Employment law specialist Hamish Kynaston told the Herald on Sunday, said that document could be construed as legally binding.
Bond and NZC have remained silent on the issue since discussions escalated, though there may be progress this week.
Meanwhile, Bond returned to action for Canterbury in the domestic Twenty/20 competition on Friday having recovered from an abdominal tear sustained during New Zealand's tour of South Africa in November.
Source : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Martin Fires Warning To Straus
New Zealand bowler Chris Martin has warned Andrew Strauss and his England team-mates to be on their guard in the upcoming series against the Black Caps - even if the hosts are without Shane Bond.
New Northern Knights signing Strauss told reporters on his arrival in the country last week that a home attack lacking Bond, who is discussing his future with New Zealand Cricket after reportedly agreeing to join the rebel Indian Cricket League, "held few surprises".
Martin, however, is determined to see the England batsman eat his words when the
teams meet in five one-day internationals and three Tests starting next month.
"I don't think we've seen the best of us," he said after the Kiwis' innings defeat of Bangladesh in the second Test, a match in which Martin took seven wickets.
"If we can hunt as a pack and hit them hard early, I think we've got the attack to take their wickets.
"He (Strauss) has said a lot of things in the media over the years which can come across as a little bit arrogant and a little bit cocky, so you just take that sort of stuff with a grain of salt."
Source : http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/
New Northern Knights signing Strauss told reporters on his arrival in the country last week that a home attack lacking Bond, who is discussing his future with New Zealand Cricket after reportedly agreeing to join the rebel Indian Cricket League, "held few surprises".
Martin, however, is determined to see the England batsman eat his words when the
teams meet in five one-day internationals and three Tests starting next month.
"I don't think we've seen the best of us," he said after the Kiwis' innings defeat of Bangladesh in the second Test, a match in which Martin took seven wickets.
"If we can hunt as a pack and hit them hard early, I think we've got the attack to take their wickets.
"He (Strauss) has said a lot of things in the media over the years which can come across as a little bit arrogant and a little bit cocky, so you just take that sort of stuff with a grain of salt."
Source : http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/
Saturday, January 12, 2008
South African ICL players call for use of more technology
The South African players who participated in the inaugural tournament of the breakaway Indian Cricket League last year have come out in support of increased use of television umpires.
Commenting on the current situation in Australia about allegations of unfair decisions against India , the players said the use of technology in the ICL series had put umpires to the test with positive results.
Umpires in the ICL games could ask the television umpire to check on borderline cases before making a decision.
Darryl Cullinan, who coached the Kolkata Tigers, told the Afrikaans daily Beeld here that the system had worked surprisingly well: "The umpires were in radio contact with each other and the decisions did not take long to finalise."
"The technology is getting better all the time and if one looks at the technology being used in Australia , it is high time that it is implemented elsewhere too."
Australian television uses infrared technology to determine whether the ball has hit the bat, gloves or pads.
Nicky Boje, who played for Hyderabad Heroes, was also supportive of the process, but called for consistency: "The one problem was that the umpires did not apply it consistently - they would ask for it in one game and then not in the next."
Chandigarh Lions player Andrew Hall said the system helped umpires make the right decisions.
"If one looks at what happened in the test between India and Australia , technology could have helped calm tempers," Hall said.
"I think nine of ten times when there is an altercation on the field; it is because of a poor decision. The fielding team is then angered and takes it out on the batsman. If you get the right decision, you eliminate those emotions."
Source : http://www.kalingatimes.com/
Commenting on the current situation in Australia about allegations of unfair decisions against India , the players said the use of technology in the ICL series had put umpires to the test with positive results.
Umpires in the ICL games could ask the television umpire to check on borderline cases before making a decision.
Darryl Cullinan, who coached the Kolkata Tigers, told the Afrikaans daily Beeld here that the system had worked surprisingly well: "The umpires were in radio contact with each other and the decisions did not take long to finalise."
"The technology is getting better all the time and if one looks at the technology being used in Australia , it is high time that it is implemented elsewhere too."
Australian television uses infrared technology to determine whether the ball has hit the bat, gloves or pads.
Nicky Boje, who played for Hyderabad Heroes, was also supportive of the process, but called for consistency: "The one problem was that the umpires did not apply it consistently - they would ask for it in one game and then not in the next."
Chandigarh Lions player Andrew Hall said the system helped umpires make the right decisions.
"If one looks at what happened in the test between India and Australia , technology could have helped calm tempers," Hall said.
"I think nine of ten times when there is an altercation on the field; it is because of a poor decision. The fielding team is then angered and takes it out on the batsman. If you get the right decision, you eliminate those emotions."
Source : http://www.kalingatimes.com/
Friday, January 11, 2008
Richardson on Delhi Police radar
Having questioned South African cricketers Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje in connection with the 2000 match-fixing scandal, Delhi Police now wants to "talk" to their team-mate Dave Richardson to help in the investigations.
The version of Richardson, who is believed to have opposed match-fixing by some of his team-mates, is required so that more light could be thrown on the most infamous scandal to rock the cricket history, police said.
"We have sent a Letter Rogatory to South African government requesting it to allow us to question a number of players including Richardson," Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Satyendra Garg told PTI when asked about Delhi Police's moves to seek the version of the former wicketkeeper.
Richardson is currently serving as General Manager (Operation) in the International Cricket Council.
He had testified before the King's Commission set up by the South African government to look into the match-fixing scandal, with roots going back to 1996.
He had reportedly told the Commission that an international player had made an offer to his team-mate Pat Symcox during their tour to India in 1996 and that he had expressed opposition to it.
In this connection, a senior Delhi Police official said, investigators want to "talk" to Richardson in a bid to "dig deep" into the matter.
The Crime Branch had busted the scandal by intercepting purported telephone calls between then South African captain Hansie Cronje and bookies including Sanjeev Chawla during an India-South African series here in 2000.
Source : http://www.ndtv.com/
The version of Richardson, who is believed to have opposed match-fixing by some of his team-mates, is required so that more light could be thrown on the most infamous scandal to rock the cricket history, police said.
"We have sent a Letter Rogatory to South African government requesting it to allow us to question a number of players including Richardson," Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Satyendra Garg told PTI when asked about Delhi Police's moves to seek the version of the former wicketkeeper.
Richardson is currently serving as General Manager (Operation) in the International Cricket Council.
He had testified before the King's Commission set up by the South African government to look into the match-fixing scandal, with roots going back to 1996.
He had reportedly told the Commission that an international player had made an offer to his team-mate Pat Symcox during their tour to India in 1996 and that he had expressed opposition to it.
In this connection, a senior Delhi Police official said, investigators want to "talk" to Richardson in a bid to "dig deep" into the matter.
The Crime Branch had busted the scandal by intercepting purported telephone calls between then South African captain Hansie Cronje and bookies including Sanjeev Chawla during an India-South African series here in 2000.
Source : http://www.ndtv.com/
Monday, January 7, 2008
Bond in talks regarding future
New Zealand Cricket has confirmed they are in talks with Shane Bond to discuss his playing future.Bonds future with the Black Caps is in doubt after he reportedly signed a three-year deal with the rebel Indian Cricket League.
New Zealand cricket nor Bond will be making any public comment until the process has been completed.
Meanwhile, international cricket must remain the number one priority for New Zealand cricket according to Players Association head Heath Mills.
New Zealand Cricket is coming under pressure from the powerful Board of Cricket Control in India to stop its players from taking part in the ICL.
However Mills says it's important that private investors are encouraged to be involved in the game.
He says they must find a way to embrace these parties and get them involved in the sport, but still preserve the international cricket as the pinnacle of the sport.
Mills says they will work with New Zealand Cricket to ensure that happens in this country.
Source : http://tvnz.co.nz/
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Zealand`s ICL players not wanted for national team
Six former New Zealand internationals who played in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) this month have effectively been banned from playing for the national team again.All-rounders Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris and Craig McMillan, batsman Hamish Marshall and bowler Daryl Tuffey all played in the breakaway Twenty20 league, which is not sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.
"We have a preference that our selectors take into consideration the fact that that these guys have been playing in an unsanctioned competition, an event that isn`t in the best interests of New Zealand or world cricket, and that we`d rather that they didn`t play," New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Justin Vaughan told a newspaper.
"I don`t think we can say that they`re ineligible for selection. We`d prefer to say that the selectors will be encouraged to consider other players.
"There`s an understanding that we don`t support the ICL and that we don`t want to give them unnecessary traction."
The stance, however, is largely symbolic.
Harris (38), Cairns (37), Astle (36) and McMillan (31) have all retired from international cricket while Marshall and Tuffey had recently been consistently overlooked by selectors.
Marshall subsequently turned down a central contract with NZC to play in England while Tuffey was not offered a contract.
Vaughan had said earlier that non-contracted players who appeared in the ICL could still play domestic cricket.
Source : http://cricket.zeenews.com/
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