India fixed Pakistan New Zealand Match?

Muhammad Ali Shah, the minister for Sports and a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board governing council, suspected India's role in the sub-standard umpiring, leading to Pakistan's defeat against New Zealand.

"Definitely, it is clear that India were miffed at not qualifying for the semi-finals after Pakistan lost to Australia and they took their revenge in their own way. They influenced the umpires to favour New Zealand," Shah told reporters.

Australian umpire Simon Taufel had wrongly adjudged Umar Akmal leg-before-wicket at a crucial stage of the match and even admitted to the mistake and apologised later.

Shah said he would not refrain from pressing the PCB to see that the International Cricket Council impose at least a one-year ban on Taufel.

India is Safer than Pakistan - Ponting!

The Australian captain Ricky Ponting defended the decision by Cricket Australia to continue their tour to India. He said, the decision was right as the conditions between the two countries are totally different and India is safer than Pakistan.

"As we all know and has been outlined already, these are very different circumstances between India and Pakistan right at the moment and Cricket Australia has made that very clear. As captain of the side and as a player, right at the moment I am very comfortable to go on the advice of Cricket Australia and the players' association," The Australian quoted Ponting as saying.


He said that security team which toured India for ensuring safety measures are taken, found no issues and are happy with the situation.

His comments came out after Pakistan Cricket Board alleged that CA is biased in picking the tours. They withdrew the Champions Trophy tour to Pakistan citing security concerns, but they are going travelling to India despite the recent blast in Delhi, the capital India.

Australia Tour to India in Danger!

With terrorists rocking Delhi with their bombs, killing innocents lives regardless of child, young, middle aged or senior citizens. Not sure what they wanted to achieve? They say "freedom!" How? I think by killing innocent people, they want freedom and rule a place only with terrorists. One of them from their own group will kill others for either power or money and finally all getting killed.

It has not only impacted the regular life of the people, but also the foreign revenue through sports. Yes, the Australian tour to India is in trouble.

The Champions Trophy was postponed to next year because of the bomb blasts in Pakistan. Now, with the recent blast in Delhi, the Cricket Australia has decided to review the security in India.

Hope the series has no problem, though there seems to be a little danger! Let us hope that it does not stop!

BCCI v. PCB!

While PCB is trying to find out all the possible routes to conduct the Champions Trophy, BCCI is becoming a bottleneck in their approach.

After the announcement by ICC to postpone the event to next year, Pakistan was trying to invite various teams to play with them a ODI Series or a triangular tournament. But, nothing went in favor of them.

Extract from Times of India:

As per PCB sources, "India is not interested in having the Champions Trophy at all. It has made clear that they see no necessity for this event on the ICC Calendar."

BCCI is clear that they will not change the Australian itinerary scehduled in October 2008 for a 7-match ODI series.

With Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand annoucing withdrawal from the tournament fearing security and safety reasons, ICC postponed the event to October 2008. They retained the hosting rights with Pakistan.

India basically feels that with world cup scheduled for every four years and T20 World Cup every year, Champions Trophy is not needed. But, ICC feels that this woudl spread cricket and help fuding the associate countries.

Pakistan is hopeful of conduting the Champions Trophy next year.

ICC Succumbs to Pressure! CT Postponed

The ICC has decided to postpone the Champions Trophy to next year. In a tele-meeting held today, considering the threat from Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa, and possible split within ICC if venue is moved out of Pakistan, the ICC decided to postpone the event to next October.

They have asked for a detailed report from the security team about conducting the event in Pakistan.

The issue is that, if venue is changed, then the next world cup to be hosted jointly by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will also be under threat. The top teams may boycot the world cup.