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.

Zimbabwe has confirmed that they will not be participating in the Second Edition of the T20 World Cup to be held in 2009.

ZC arrived at the decision after recognising that England was unlikely to issue visas for the team for the World Cup Twenty20. Zimbabwe had already cancelled the bilateral series with England slated earlier in the year.

“We are grateful to Zimbabwe Cricket for confirming the decision taken by its officials,” ICC president David Morgan said in a press release Wednesday.

“This allows the ICC the opportunity to plan with certainty the World Twenty20 as well as giving Scotland ... plenty of preparation time ahead of the tournament,” he said.

Bad luck Zimbabwe! It is not good for cricket especially for Zimbabwe Cricket.

Champions Trophy Decision on Sunday!

With unsuccessful attempts in convincing the players of New Zealand, England and Australia, the ICC will be discussing over conference call on Sunday to decide on the fate of Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Ite seems that players association of New Zealand and Australia have advised their players against touring Pakistan.

With major countries pulling out, it will be tough decision for ICC. The decision will be taken on Sunday's meeting.

ICC Tries to Convince Teams!

ICC is trying to convince Australia, England, New Zealand about playing in the champions trophy. These teams were not ready to participate in the Champions Trophy 2008 stating the current situation Pakistan.

They were not convinced about the security of the players and all the players are worried about playing in Pakistan.

South Africa was considered as the second option, but ICC finally decided to stay with Pakistan. After this decision, Australia, England and New Zealand continued to say that they will not be participating and ICC is talking with each team.

Ponting is not sure about his team's participation. New Zealand continues to remain with their decision of not participating and ICC is not able to convince them yet.

Collingwood Resigns!

Collingwood also has put in his papers as England ODI captain. With Vaughan quitting as Test captain, Collingwood stepping down as captain has put England in trouble.

Kevin Pietersen has replaced Collingwood as captain for the ODI and Michael Vaughan for test.

All the players have said that they will give full support to Pieterson, who is looking forward to the ODI series. He said, it is going to be exiciting phase in his career.

Michael Vaughan Quits!

England, the hosts lost the test series against South Africa in the recent tour. With his resgination, his five year term has come to and end. He is the most successful England captain in tests with 26 wins.

Pietersen said: "I am very thrilled and excited to have been given the opportunity to captain England. It's a huge honour for me and a terrific challenge for me at this stage of my international career."

He has captained the England ODI team against New Zealand during Collingwood's ban.

ECB has announced the test and ODI squad

Test squad:

Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen (capt), Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Ambrose (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar.

One-day squad:

Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen (capt), Owais Shah, Ian Bell, Samit Patel, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom, Chris Tremlett, Luke Wright.

Champions League to as Scheduled!

The chairman of the IPL Lalit Modi has not taken the letter from ICC indicating that the schedule of Champions League is against the ICC rules. According to ICC, no international event should be conducted 7 before and after an ICC event.

ICC has scheduled the Champions Trophy between September 11 and 28. The Champions League starts on 29th.

As far as the venue of the event is concerned, Modi said, "we had initially announced that Delhi, Mohali and Jaipur would host the matches of the Champions League. But we have received various offers. We would like it to be in India in the first year and then ideally rotate it among the founder members. We are quite open (on the issue of venues). It can be in one geographical area too depending on the available infrastructure."

This indicates that the venue can be outside India for the inagural event.

The eight teams are: Two from IPL, Two from Australia, Two from South Africa, One each from Pakistan and England.

Champions Trophy Retained in Pakistan!

The ICC committee has decided to continue with Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2008. South Africa was expecting that the venue would be changed to their country but ICC went ahead with their decision. Based on the report submitted on the security situation in Pakistan, ICC has gone ahead and did not change the venue.

Several countries are not happy with this decision and not sure about their participation in this Champions Trophy.

Australia is almost sure that they will not play this season. England has confirmed 90% that they will not participate. They said no players should be forced to play as the security of the players is more important.

New Zealand board is talking with the players to find out their comfort level.

With major teams not participating or at least hesitating to participate, it is better that ICC change thier venue or work out some other solution by which all the countries participating in this tournament are free from fear and play competitive cricket.

Holding Quits ICC over decision on Pakistan England Match!

The former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding has resigned from the ICC cricket committee. The reason stated was, "he is unhappy with the ICC's decision to change the result of the 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan from a forfeited win for England to a draw."

"I have just written my letter of resignation to the ICC cricket committee because I cannot agree with what they've done," Holding said while commentating for Sky Sports during a domestic match in England. "That game should never, ever be a draw. When you take certain actions, you must be quite happy to suffer the consequences.

"A lot of things are happening today that I don't want to be involved with, so I've moved on." He also felt that Pakistan deserve the punishment because they did not come to the field though they were cleared off ball tampering. The refusal to go play should not go unpunished.

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ICC Considering the Result of Forfeited Match between England and Pakistan!

The ICC is considering to change the decision of the match awarded in favor of England during their match against Pakistan. The umpire Darrell Hair punished Pakistan of ball tampering and awarded 5 runs to England. Pakistan team lead by Inzmam-ul-Haq did not accept that and Inzmam did not come to the field after tea on the fourth day.

Pakistan had, at the time, been in a strong position in the match, having secured a first-innings lead of 331 and removed four England batsmen second-time around. There was nothing at stake in the series, with England already leading 2-0 after wins at Headingley and Old Trafford, but the eventual forfeiture was the first in the history of Test cricket.

"England and Pakistan have agreed to declare the Oval Test as a draw to maintain the dignity of Pakistan in world cricket, especially after the ball-tampering charges were dropped," a web site mentioned the source as a person who attended the meeting.

If this happens, it may affect England's the position in the ICC rankings.

Slow Over Rate Gives 4 Match ban to Collingwood!!!

The ICC match referre Javagal Srinath handed over a 4 ODI ban to England captain Paul Collingwood for bowling slow against New Zealand. This was considered a level 3 offense as per ICC regulations and hence he faced either a 4 ODI or a 2 Test Match ban.

His offense was pushed to level 3 from level 2 as he committed the mistake within a year. AS per rules, he cannot repeat the mistake again within the year.

His team bowled more than two overs short in a game against India in August last year.

A short of more than two overs in an ODI brings with it an automatic Level 2 charge against the captain involved, but if that captain has already been charged and found guilty of the same offence within the preceding 12 months then the penalty imposed is elevated to Level 3.

Each player will be fined 5% of the match fee for every over short with the captain fined 10%.

Up t level 4 offense, the player can appeal and if he does it, until the verdict, the punishment will not be in effect.

If the ban stays, he will miss the final ODI against New Zealand, the T20 and the two ODIs against South Africa.

Sunil Gavaskar asked to choose one role!

Gavaskar's dual role as chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee and columnist has created trouble for him from ICC. It is obvious that the ICC did not like his open and honest comments against Australia during the India's Down Under Series.

His position came up for discussion at the ICC Board Meeting in Dubai last week and Malcom Speed, the ICC Chief Executive was authorised to take up the matter with Gavaskar. This will be discussed in detail during this week's meeting in Dubai.

Though no decision is taken in this matter, it is Gavaskar who has to decide between the two. The matter got his attention when he termed Match Referee Mike Proctor as Racist though he denied that.

However, after the ICC's meeting in Dubai last week, Gavaskar slammed England and Australia in another syndicated newspaper column. "Gone are the days when two countries, England and Australia, had the veto power in international cricket, even though the dinosaurs may not open their eyes and see the reality," he wrote. "The cricketing world has found that India has no longer a diffident voice but a confident one that knows what is good for its cricket, and will strive to get it."

What will he do...wait and see!!