Bangladesh Cricket: The nitpicking begins

Caught unaware by the mass exodus to ICL, The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) resorts to the time honoured bureaucratic tactics of delaying the inevitable.

According to recent reports, they have rejected the retirement letters of the ICL bound cricketers claiming that the players have not given prior notice.

In the same breath a BCB officials says that the players have used the loop-holes in their contract. The point to note is these contracts were formulated by the previous set of BCB officials.

Thus the present incumbents have blithely transferred the blame and are simultaneously taking recourse to the law.

Technorati Tags: BCB,ICL,Bangladesh cricket

Are the Australians setting us up for a sucker punch?

With just a few days left before the Australian team embarks on its tour to India, the Australian press would have been awash with motivated articles. However, what we see is the unlikely scenario of the Australian press portraying the Indians as the favourites.

Similarly, there is a singular lack of fighting talk from the Australian players. Other than Michael Clark’s reaction to Kirsten’s comment on Andrew Symond, there has been no other belligerent comment. Yes, Pointing did try to sow a seed of dissension among the Indian ranks by saying that dropping Ganguly was inexplicable, but then it was a weak attempt.

Surprisingly, even those who should know better, the punters seem to have accepted the status quo. Lasseters Sports, leading head bookie Gerard Daffy says, ''There are a lot of question marks over several of the Australia team for this series and it appears punters do not want a bar of them''. For the record, Australian bookmakers have plumped for a drawn series.

However, from an Indian point of view, this low-key start is quiet unlike the Australians. The Australian strategy appears to be to lull the Indians into complacency and then deliver the sucker punch. Nonetheless, there is a fear that after their high-octane encounter in Australia, this muted build-up may fail to enthuse Indian spectators. The rush for the tickets will reveal how they see this series.

Adam Gilchrist blames India for 2005 Ashes loss

This is the first time I am hearing it. Gilchrist says that the Indian tour prior to the 2005 Ashes tour was the reason behind Australia losing the Ashes.

"It had become very important to us prior to 2004, and I guess that's why we lost our focus a bit in the 2005 Ashes series. We were unable to realign our focus to the Ashes and were exposed badly."

Has anyone heard this earlier?

A contrite Symonds vows to wear lip-gloss

Andrew Symonds has reiterated his intention to fight his way back into the team and has vowed to become a better person as a bonus.

“I’m going through the process of trying to improve and become not only a better cricketer but a better person.” thecae.com.au quoted Synods as saying.

Opposing teams that were rejoicing his banishment are now ruing the day.

An English bowler under the condition of anonymity said he was having nightmares at the thought of bowling to a lip-gloss wearing Symonds. Another unnamed Indian player said that he was cringing at the very thought of receiving a pat on the butt from him.

However, readers of this blog have uniformly expressed their disappointment at Symonds turning over a new leaf. In fact, they made bold to say that he has turned ‘precious’.

Technorati Tags: Andrew,Symonds

Peter Young replaces Niranjan Shah

I admit that I was all a twitter over the impending retirement of Niranjan Shah. As my regular readers know, he was a dear friend and in his own way made my and in turn your lives palatable.

 

If it was cricket wise a slow day, I had to just turn to him and he unfailingly obliged me with some scintillating quotes. Needless to add the very thought he will very shortly demit office was disheartening.

 

Providentially, with the emergence of the CA spokesperson Peter Young, my despondency was short-lived. He first caught my attention with the 'otherwise persuade' quote. Here, I thought, is a man good enough to be Niranjan Shah's understudy and quietly congratulated myself on my discovery.

 

In fact, I spent the whole of yesterday calling up my friends and telling them about him. We all agreed he had the potential to exceed Niranjan Shah.

 

Needless to add he did not disappoint us. Today he followed up his 'otherwise persuade ' quote with this zinger.

 

"It's very simple. You go to the experts and if they say don't go, you don't go. If they say go, you go."

 

Here is one more:

 

"The advice we have received in recent times for India has been be cautious, which was completely different to Pakistan. That advice was don't go."

 

I tell you; even Niranjan Shah would have struggled to come up with anything similar.

 

Peter Young, you are genius and hence In the Name of Cricket appoints you as its court jester.

 

Previous Post

 

CricketUA

 

CricketUA

Among Indian Cricket Bloggers, Bisht at CricketUA is a class apart.

 

While the rest of us use 300 words on say Ganguly's expulsion, Bisht just draws a venn diagram.

 

One hopes that the mainstream media makes use of his immense talent.

 

We at In the Name of Cricket urge our readers (if any :)) to consider CricketUA as a regular destination.

 

He has some new cartoon up his sleeve on Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's.

Bangladesh Cricket Administrators oblivious to what hit them

If like me, you believe that cricket administrators have their finger on the pulse of the game, then the admission by the Chairman of the Cricket Operations Committee, Bangladesh, Gazi Ashraf Hossain will astound you.

 

Referring to the sudden resignation of top Bangladeshi cricketers a perceptibly flabbergasted Hossain says:

 

"We are astonished at the sudden decision of the players. It was totally unexpected. We called them over the phone, sent text messages, but no one responded."

 

It is incredible that a Chairman of the Cricket Operations Committee is ignorant of the ground realities of Bangladesh cricket. Furthermore, if the Chairman was doing his job, his sources or links within the players rank would have given him a hint of this imminent upheaval.

 

In all probability, the Right Honorable Chairman was busy elsewhere.  

Otherwise persuaded?

How do we 'otherwise persuade' someone?

 

"Our position is that the tour is going ahead unless we are otherwise persuaded," Peter Young, Cricket Australia's general manager of public affairs, told Cricinfo. "Our advice is there are some concerns and to exercise caution, but currently they do not compromise the tour. Our plan is to depart on September 21 subject to our advice."

 

In this case, a couple of bombs should do the trick.

 

 

Symonds – which option will he choose?

Warne whilst expressing disappointment over Symonds behavior (he was commenting on Symond’s recent act of indiscipline at Darwin) advised him to choose the hard option of regaining his place in the Australian Team.

Will he heed the words of the veteran and the desire of his numerous fans and work to get back into the national team? There are no ready answers. He trained with Hayden this week and other than that, there has been no firm word either from Symonds or from CA about his intentions.

Observers say the start of the new domestic season next month may reveal where exactly he stands. If he turns up to play for Queensland then all is well, if not, it is IPL then.

Champions Trophy: BCCI should take a commitment before adjusting.

Latest news reports say that the Indian cricket board is willing to adjust its calendar for the sake of the crisis-hit tournament Champions Trophy.

Observers feel there is no point in BCCI adjusting its schedule to fit in the Champions Trophy if there is no guarantee that countries will not cry off playing in Pakistan for one reason or the other.

Before agreeing to adjust its schedule the BCCI and its ally the PCB should take a commitment from ECB, CSA and CA that come what may, they will not back out of playing in Pakistan.

Top Bangladesh Cricketers revolt: To join ICL

In a move that could cripple the already faltering Bangladesh cricket, 14 Bangladesh cricketers are set to join ICL (Indian Cricket League).

According to a Dhaka based newspaper, Habibul Bashar, the former Bangladesh cricket team Captain, along with Mohammad Rafiqu, Alok Kapali, Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Nazim Uddin, Farhad Reza and Dhiman Ghosh are the leading players set to sign up with ICL.

This is unforgivable because the early ICL sign-ups were ignorant of their fate, whereas these players have done it with the knowledge that this will put paid to their hopes for playing for their country again.

A strange reluctance

Of late, a new trend has emerged that of countries refusing to tour despite the lack of security concerns.

Take the proposed tri-series involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa. If initially, the uncertainty was due to Sri Lanka Cricket asking for a huge sum of money, South Africa put the final nail in the coffin by pleading inability to stage it.

The proposed four-nation Twenty20 event in Canada seems to be suffering the same fate. Initially, the very conduct of the tournament was in doubt and now that it appears all is set to hold it from October 10-13, the West Indies have backed out.

This reluctance to play is perplexing because no valid reason or explanation is given.

Wonder, why countries are playing coy.

Have we entered the era of neutral venues?

Last nights bomb blast in Delhi that claimed 20 lives and maimed many others may be the last straw on the camel’s back as far touring the sub-continent is concerned.

It is a well-known fact that barring their neighbors, to other cricketing nations a tour to Pakistan and Sri Lanka is fraught with risks and better avoided.

India, though it too has its share of bomb blasts has until now avoided that stigma. Nonetheless, with just 10 days to go before the arrival of the Australian’s, yesterday’s tragedy may well change all that.

What if there are god forbid, other bomb blasts? Will the Australian players still tour? Both the CA and the BCCI must be spending sleepless nights in search of the answer.

As they are lucrative, an Indian –Australian series may never suffer the ignominy of a Champions Trophy. However, the cricket administrators may decide to stage it at neutral venues such as Dubai or even Canada to eliminate the risk of abandonment in the future. The large Indian expatriate population will definitely fill the ground and the captive TV audiences in India are sure to its financial viability.

Do you agree that cricket has entered the era of neutral venues?

Are the cricket administrators shafting us?

It is a well-known fact that the administrators view Twenty20 cricket as a means for enticing a new audience and as a tool to spread the game.

However, by concentrating on Twenty20 and neglecting Test cricket and ODI’s Allan Massie believes “that the administrators in both sports (he is commenting on the changes in cricket and rugby) are quite happy to say "sod the public we have" in the hope of attracting a new one.

Do you agree that the administrators are ignoring the loyal fans by making changes to suit the taste of the new ones?

Virendra Sehwag challenges Beamer Brett Lee

The Australian speedster,Brett Lee has a consistent record of bowling at least one beamer per series. Statistics reveal that it is invariably bowled at the opponents premier batsmen.

Nonetheless the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Cup Test series is set to change all that. An emotionally wrought Brett Lee ( his marriage is going down the drain) may bowl more than one beamer this series. 

Observers fear that in his current emotional state,Brett Lee may misinterpret Virendar Sehwag's statement "We will try to play tough cricket not through words but with the ball" as an invitation to bowl more beamers.

However there is one happy fallout. Going by the happenings in the last series, the Indians are expected to retaliate in kind. Cricket fans are drooling in anticpation at the prospect of watching Indian and Australian cricketers throwing the ball with force at each other.

Previous Post

Champions Twenty20 League: Here is the deal

Technorati Tags     Australia,India,Cricket

Champions Twenty20 League : Here is the deal

The finer details of the $975 million ESPN-STAR and the Champions Twenty20 League deals is as follows:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will get 50 % of the $ 975 million amount and the balance will be shared equally by CA and CSA.
This lop sided arrangement is sure to generate a lot of anti-BCCI rhetoric in the Australian press and the English press will only be happy to follow their lead.

Previous Post

Australian Team Announced

Technorati Tags     Twenty20,Champions,League

Australian team announced

Australia announced its 15 man squad for upcoming four Test Border-Gavaskar Cup series.

 

Expectedly, they have dropped Symonds from the squad. Bollinger,Siddle,Krejza and McGain are the new faces.One of the success stories of IPL, Shane Watson has forced his way into the team and Haddin the wicket keeper makes a comeback from an injury sustained during the West Indies Series.

 

The team:

 

Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Doug Bollinger, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Bryce McGain, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.
 

A case for dropping Dravid

The good folks at rediff.com have used Ace statistician Rajneesh Gupta's expertise to  present a statistical analysis of Dravid's performances in the last few years.

It emerges that ever since Dravid relinquished Test captaincy in 2007, his average has dipped to 34.

	Mts	Inns	NO	Runs	Avg	HS	100s	50s	0s
Before becoming full-time captain	91	153	18	7871	58.30	270	20	38	5
During full-time captaincy stint	20	36	5	1598	51.55	146	4	10	0
Since relinquishing captaincy	13	25	3	754	34.27	111	1	4	0

So how do we account for Dravid's inclusion and Ganguly's exclusion in the Zal Irani Cup?

Previous Post:

Fab Four find no place in the ICC’s World Test Team.

 

Technorati Tags     Dravid

Fab Four find no place in the ICC's World Test Team.

The unimaginable has happened.

 

For the first time none of the fab four have found a place in the ICC's World Test Team. Until now, one or the other has always been Indian cricket's representative in the World Test XI.

 

The exclusion of the fab four by a selection panel comprising of Clive Lloyd (Chairman), Greg Chappell, Shaun Pollock, Sidhath Wettimuny and former Bangladesh batsman Athar Ali Khan and the inclusion of Virendar Sehwag as the lone Indian cricketer indicates that the others in the cricketing world have started looking beyond them.

 

It is also a clear signal to the Indian selectors that it is time Indian cricket looked beyond the fab four.

 

The question is do they have the guts to do it.

 

 

Shaun Tait still talks 'speed'.

It appears that the 'break' has refreshed his body but has done nothing to clear his mind. Shaun Tait believes,

 

I would definitely like to touch the 145 kph barrier. It may not happen straightaway but I'm sure it will. I'm a tearaway who likes to be used in short spells, bowl fast, attack and get wickets.

 

I think he would better serve the Australian cause if he concentrates on bowling a good line and length.

 

 

Previous Posts::

 

 

India-Australia Tour - The Indian's are the favorites

 

 

Why should the BCCI share the IPL pot?

  

 

What are the Australians doing in India by September 23?

 

India-Australia Tour - The Indian's are the favorites

Irrespective of the fate of the 'fab four', I consider the Indian cricket team to be the favorites.

 

Consider the following facts:

 

Adam Gilchrist has retired.

His own colleagues have certified Andrew Symonds as mentally unfit.

Personal problems beset Brett Lee.

Matthew Hayden and Ponting are recovering from an Achilles tendon injury and a wrist injury respectively.

 

Moreover, in the aftermath of the Sydney Test the Australians have shown a disinclination to engage the Indians in verbal warfare. This is in sharp contrast to the Indian players who view sledging as an important tool to gain ascendancy over their opponents.

 

Whom do you consider as favorites?

 

 

 

Previous Post:

 

Why should the BCCI share the IPL pot? 

 

Mendis has the jitters 

 

Dutch Cricket – In a world of its own 

 

What are the Australians doing in India by September 23?

 

 

Why should the BCCI share the IPL pot?

If it was an unnamed official earlier, now it is the turn of the Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardene to demand a share from IPL.

 

"The BCCI also needs to understand that we can't be playing four Twenty20 tournaments in a year. What happens to other cricket around the world then?" Jayawardene said. "Everyone's being driven by the money but you have to compromise and start sharing the pot."

 

I find his insistence illogical. The IPL is the only domestic Twenty20 tournament that welcomes overseas cricketers with hitherto unimaginable salaries. The other cricketing nations barring England conduct their Twenty20 Championship's without involving overseas players.

 

Letting overseas players reap rich rewards for their sporadic participation in IPL means that IPL is indeed sharing its booty. Why should the BCCI or its creation IPL compensate their boards? If Mahela and his mercenary troops are concerned about the financial health of their cricketing association, let them share a percentage of the colossal sum they make in IPL.

 

Mendis has the jitters

The hype seems to have got to Ajantha Mendis.

Yesterday he was saying that the Indian batsmen have unraveled his secrets.

Today, he is pleading Don't expect too much from me.

It is obvious that Mendis is worried about the backlash if he fails to justify the hype.

Hence, he is trying to tone down expectations.

 

 

 

Previous Post:

 

Dutch Cricket – In a world of its own 

 

What are the Australians doing in India by September 23?

 

Dutch Cricket - In a world of its own

While the established cricketing nations are doing their level best to kill Test cricket, the Dutch Cricket administrators are fighting to implement a two –day component into their domestic game.

 

Their justification for proposing the two-day format:

 

The proponents of bringing a two-day component into the top level of the Dutch domestic game have a lot of work to do to persuade the bulk of the cricketing community not only that the move would enhance the sport, but that it is essential for the long-term health of the shorter forms of the game as well.

In all top cricket countries, the skills which the leading players exhibit in the one-day game, and now in Twenty20, have been developed, honed and refined in two-, three- or four-day cricket, of which the shorter forms are basically a concentration. The Associates face a huge handicap because they are trying to reverse that process.

If the argument for multi-day cricket simply has to be won if Dutch cricket is to progress, it's less obvious how it can most effectively be introduced.

The fundamental choice is between adapting the existing league structure to make room for two-day matches alongside the current 50-over format – the option proposed by Top Cricket Nederland – and creating an entirely new, regional competition between the Hoofdklasse and international cricket.

 

However, it is distressing to see that a two-day tournament have to be justified as a means to develop theTwenty20 skills of the Dutch cricketers.

 

 

 

Previous Post:

 

What are the Australians doing in India by September 23?

 

What are the Australian's doing in India by September 23?

This is outrageous. If one were to believe cricinfo, the Australian cricket team is set to arrive in India by September 23.

I demand to know why they are in India by September 23, when the actual tour starts only on October 9.

I strongly protest their early arrival and request the GOI to permit them into the country only if they agree to supply uranium.

Previous Posts:

Why is the Hoogly quiet?

Why pick a bowler with suspect action?

Ganguly is a certainty for the Oz Series

Why is the Hoogly quiet?

An introspective Saurav Ganguly is the reason why the Hoogly is serene

 

Admitting that the game is up as far as the ODI's are concerned, Ganguly believes he has a couple of more years of cricket left in him. In fact, like a faltering lover he desires to bid adieu to both the Tests and IPL (KKR) at the same time.

 

However, there is one catch; the former Indian Captain is reluctant to leave the game without enhancing his reputation. It means that Ganguly is determined to play in some more Tests.

 

While there is nothing wrong in a player of his stature wishing to determine his last hurrah, one wonders whether the selectors will let him do just that.

 

 

Previous Posts:

 

Why pick a bowler with suspect action? 

 

Ganguly is an certainty for the Oz Series

 

 

 

Why pick a bowler with a suspect action?

Makarand Waingankar asks in his column in 'THE HINDU'.

 

It is common knowledge that the Gujarat off-spinner Mohnish Parmar's action is suspect. BCCI's Director of Umpires S.Venkatraghavan and his colleagues have deemed his action is faulty after analyzing his action on video tapes for a mammoth 10 hours.

 

Yet he has represented India on the tour to Israel and played in the team against Australia A at Bangalore.

 

Makarand argues it better for all concerned that the bowler undergoes corrective rehabilitation.

 

I find Makarand's argument valid as it will certainly mar Mohnish Parmar's psyche if he is banned.

 

Do you agree with me?

 

 

 

Ganguly is a certainty for the Oz series

I believe that Ganguly is one of the few certainities for the upcoming Australian series, simply because traditionally the Rest of India team comprises of those who are making a comeback or those whom the press call the hopefuls.

If we were to apply this criteria, then it is clear that it is Tendulkar, Laxman,Dravid, Dhoni and the bowlers who are on watch.

So instead of saying Ganguly buck up, I say buck up to the rest of the gang.

Technorati Tags     of,India,Team,ROI,Rest

A deliberate attempt to scuttle the ICC Champions Trophy

This appears a deliberate attempt by the Twenty20 Champions League organisers to scuttle the ICC Champions Trophy.

"The second edition of the Twenty20 Champions League will be held in September-October 2009, dealing another blow to the crisis-ridden Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

The dates of the multi-million dollar event clash with the International Cricket Council's decision to hold the Champions Trophy one-day tournament in October 2009.

The Champions Trophy, the International Cricket Council's (ICC) second biggest tournament after the World Cup, was due to be held this month but was cancelled due to security concerns in Pakistan".

One wonders whether India,Australia and South Africa are making a calculated move to ensure that Pakistan never stages the ICC Champions Trophy.

Technorati Tags     Champions,League,Twwenty20

It is time everyone grew up

 Symonds indiscipline and its aftermath.

The rabid Australian press have attributed Symonds indiscipline to "monkey gate' and its aftermath. According to them, Symonds believes that by failing to support him to the hilt,the CA betrayed him. This, the Australian press say, made him disenchanted with the authorities.

One does not know where the truth lies. However, it is surprising to see a supposedly tough as nails sporting nation  accept one of their star players is 'precious' and just not there.

While accusations and counter accusations are flying thick and fast, Symonds, the man at the center, has requested for privacy and ducked the issue.It would have been better if he had made a honest statement and put to rest any false conjectures.

Instead it has set of a series of  sensational innuendoes. Both the press and the Australian players have been imputing uncalled for motives. Granted that Symonds indiscipline deserved censure, but its incomprehensible why his team mates and his acting captain had to rush to the press. To a disinterested watcher, it appears that the 'think tank' of the Australian team made a misjudgement and to thwart a backlash have run to the press.The press expectedly sensationalised it by casting doubts on Symonds mental strength.

This is where CA's handling of the whole issue comes in for praise. In response to his reported disenchantment with them, the CA issued a statement asking Symonds to grow up, which is exactly what everyone concerned should do.

The players, media and even to an extent CA should show restraint and not behave as if there ulterior motives behind every action.

Do you agree that everyone is behaving childishly?

BCCI's rotten ways percolate to IPL franchisees

Deccan Chargers to probe Laxman-Afridi spat

The Deccan Chargers are to probe the genesis of the media war between two of their contracted players, Laxman and Afridi.

Actually, it is foolish of the administrators to react to such petty inconsequential issues. The whole world knows that an insecure Afridi has made it a point to shoot off his mouth at every given opportunity. One would go so far as to blame Laxman for reacting and thus giving unwarranted legitimacy to Afridi's statement.

Being a corporate entity the franchisee's should have shown better sense and  restrained themselves from following BCCI's blundering bureaucratic style of management.

Instead of going public about instituting a probe, a better and considered method would have been to call both Afridi and Laxman privately and request them to confine their differences to a team meeeting.

Are we expecting too much from our cricketers?

Vintcent van der Bijl, the newly appointed ICC official in charge of umpires, defends the standard of cricketers' behaviour. He says we are disappointed with their behaviour because we expect too much from them.

'There is huge pressure on them to be role models. I do believe that the general public want from their sports stars, the perfect human beings. Supporters expect players must have tunnel vision and be driven to absolute perfection in their specific art, yet be balanced and broad in their worldly views."

Put this way, I agree with him. I believe we are harbouring unrealistic expectations.

Is it right to expect them to behave when a majority of us fail to do so?

A passing thought on Trescothick

Actually, this post is about the England’s team management and the sensitive way they handled Trescothick.

In the macho world of sports, a player who exhibits mental fragility more often than not is treated  dismissively and sarcastically.

In Trescothick’s case, the English team management could have taken a similar path, treated his ailment flippantly, simply asked him to stop being a sissy and continue playing.

Instead, they gave him the space to recover by keeping his ailment private. Sadly, he failed to overcome his neurosis.

The sensitivity with which the English team management handled Trescothick’s illness surely deserves an OBE.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Marcus Trescothick pulls out of tour
• Fears for Marcus Trescothick's England career
• Marcus Trescothick retires from England

How do you see cricket evolving in the future?

Image by Márcio Cabral de Moura via Flickr

When I started to play cricket, the only format played internationally was the five-day test format. Then as you all know, the ODI gained popularity and for the next 25 years was the most popular format.

The ODI's popularity and even its relevance is now being questioned by the current favourite, the Twenty20 format. Regardless of the sneering traditionalist's the Twenty20 format appears to have caught the public imagination and is all set to be the format of the future.

The one common thing among these formats was the fact that the contests was always between countries/nations. Therefore, the changes have been slightly easier to digest.

However, Greg Chappel believes that it will change. He believes Twenty20 Club franchisees will gain popularity and Test will take the back seat.

Do you think this is how cricket will/should evolve?

Graham Ford reverts to type

Remember Graham Ford, the guy who supposedly agreed to coach India only to back out on his wife's say so?

True to his nature, he has done the same thing again. After accepting to coach the New Zealand team he " has dismissed suggestions he is about to take on the New Zealand coaching position".

Me thinks he is one hen-pecked guy.

BCCI and CSL on a collision course.

Recently there were speculations that the Indian cricket establishment and the Sri Lankan cricket establishment failed to see eye-to-eye. The speculation in itself was surprising, as just recently BCCI helped CSL avoid a financial crisis.

Nevertheless, there were early indicators that all was not well between the two. For instance, CSL supported ECB’s attempt to expel Zimbabwe from the ICC, Ranatunga followed this up by taking pot shots at the Indian batsmen and a CSL official further queered the pitch claiming they have not received any compensation from IPL for releasing their players.

Naturally, there was an immediate and far more telling response from the BCCI. Their President skipped a scheduled meeting of all the World Cup organizers citing work among other reasons. The blogosphere immediately speculated that Ranatunga has had his comeuppance and will now have to kowtow to the BCCI.

However, The Hindustan Times reports “Sri Lanka's cricket tour of England will go ahead as planned next year despite the dates clashing with a lucrative Indian Twenty20 tournament”, which means that the CSL and Ranatunga in particular have decided to take on  the BCCI.

This is sure to draw an angry response from the BCCI and if Ranatunga persists, it may end in jeopardizing the conduct of the World Cup.

Of course, this may end up as a storm in a teacup for two reasons. One, the ICC is bullish on BCCI and if the push comes to the shove, CSL will lose out. Two, Ranatunga himself is on unsure grounds. Reports suggest that he is in conflict with Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister and may anytime fall from grace.

Niranjan Shah kills captaincy controversy

My friend Niranjan Shah puts an end to the raging Dhoni vs.Kumble captaincy controversy.

The Board of Control for Cricket (read Niranjan Shah) in India on Thursday took strong exception to coach Gary Kirsten's comments that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is ready for Test captaincy and asked the South African to strictly concentrate on his job. BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah has categorically told Kirsten to avoid airing his views in the media and focus on coaching.

When it comes to tact he is God - others mere mortals.

Chappell the turn coat

Aha! The truth is out. It is clear why Chappell took up the job as coach of Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence.

The Australian reports that "GREG Chappell will help plan Australia's defence of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in next month's four-Test tour of India after being appointed coach of Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane yesterday".

So during his stint as India's coach and his subsequent assignments in Jaipur, he was taking notes and smuggling it back to his country. It is sad that such a fine upstanding cricketer has been reduced to selling his soul for mere money. If he had some drinking or gambling debts all he had to do was to tell Lalit Modi - he would have certainly made arrangements. Instead, he has let himself down so badly.

What ever be his reasons Indians take heart, it just goes to show that the Aussies are frightened of the Indian team and will use low-down tricks such as double-agents to overcome us.

Greg Chappell likes them young

If I am not mistaken he is currently the Director of a Jaipur based cricket academy and now a news report says that he "has been appointed as the new head coach of Australian cricket's Centre of Excellence."

In addition we know that Greg's youngsters fixation completely ruined our World Cup campaign and as a result he had to make a hurried departure as the coach of the Indian team.

Makes one wonder whether Greg likes them young.

Sri Lanka is greedy

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has demanded US $1 mln from Pak to send its team for an unscheduled ODI series in South Africa.

Now where will (PCB) Pakistan get that kind of money?

What ails Shahid Afridi?

Should the PCB blame the local hakkem or IPL’s cheerleaders?

Recently Shahid Afridi has been affected by the dreaded ‘garrulous’ disease, a disease that has made him unnecessarily forthcoming on IPL and Pakistani cricket.

Normally, this disease affects cricketers who are out of form and no-one is placing a bet on them making a comeback

The disease manifests as follows:

1. The cricketer starts taking pot shots at his cricketing administration.
2. Some resort to calling the selectors Muppets and others have even sunk to level of calling the selectors buffoons.
3. He has visions of lucrative offers from IPL. He threatens to retire and take up the imaginary IPL offer.
4. The cricketer starts dispensing uncalled for advice to other players and other teams.
5. He bolsters his family man image by talking about his wife’s sacrifice.

In short, the out of form cricketer makes a nuisance of himself by rushing to the press with a load of inanities.

Thankfully, it is apparent that in Afridi’s case a less virulent version has affected him. To state the obvious, Afridi is already a contracted player of IPL and a regular member of the Pakistani national cricket team. So it is not the need to get back into the team that is making him “garrulous’.

According to the doctor’s , Afridi’s inability to play well in the IPL is the root cause. They say Afridi was a confident man when he strode to the crease, but the very sight of those beautiful cheerleaders, sashaying their ass before him turned him to soft putty. He could no longer biff a ball like the one he used to do before.

So badly was he affected that vision of those glorious ass haunted him in his sleep. Naturally, this meant he was unable to sleep. In these circumstances, a quickie would have been the solution. Unfortunately, Afridi’s wife was not with him, so he contacted a hakeem in Hyderabad. The hakeem, a reputed ass chaser himself, prescribed a pinch of opium.

As we all know opium is addictive, accentuates ones self-worth, and fuels brotherly love and doctor’s say that this brotherly love is driving Afridi to make these statements.

The PCB has stepped in and has referred Afridi to a reputed head shrinker for treatment.

However, can you help the PCB fix whether the culprit it is the hakeem or the cheerleaders?

(Image by diceliving.)

Technorati Tags Shahid,Afridi

Clouds over conduct of Stanford Super Series

The one-off $ 20 million winner takes all prize money Twenty20 fixture between a select England team and the Stanford Super Series has run into bad weather.

Michael Holding who initially termed the Stanford series as amazing and comprehensive, is now calling it a farce. Holding says that Stanford has lost interest in developing cricket in the West Indies and is more interested in promoting his business.

Regardless of Holding's 'bulti' or its aftermath, there is one more reason for the organisers to be jittery. Digicel , who have the exclusive sponsorship rights with the West Indies Cricket Board, has brought an injunction in the High Court of London claiming that the deal between the WICB and Stanford encroaches their exclusive rights. This injunction is to be heard on September 18.

As legal circles believe that Digicel is on strong grounds the case has all the elements to torpedo the Stanford Super Series.

Right from the beginning skeptics have openly wondered at Stanford's motive. The man has compounded the skepticism by making an off the cuff remark that he finds Test cricket boring. This comment has served to raise quiet a few hackles.

Now, it remains to be seen how serious Stanford is about developing WI cricket or whether he will end up being considered the villain of the piece.

Sadly, the ECB is also entwined in this murky business. Lets us hope the Stanford Super Series goes through as both the ECB and the WICB need it to develop their cricket.







Technorati Tags     Super,Stanford,Twenty20,Series

Mr. Symonds, what really happened ?

"I have been asked to think about what is important to me and I will take this time to do that"- Andrew Symonds.

Sitting here in India, with no access to facts it appears as if the Australian cricketing community is over reacting to a minor infraction by Symonds.
What one gathers from news reports is that Symonds failed to attend an hurriedly convened team meeting as he was out fishing.
Our immediate reaction that it is illogical to blame him for lacking foreknowledge is tempered by the fact that the Australian's as a nation are known for their 'fair go' policy. For those new to the Australian way, it means that they are scrupulously fair in the way they treat their team members and their opponents.
Adding to our confusion is the fact that almost everyone connected with Australian cricket are either questioning Symonds commitment or his 'mental state'.
For example, Steve Waugh has gone so far as to lamblast Andrew Symonds for putting fishing ahead of a team meeting and questioned the all-rounder's commitment to the baggy green cap. Acting national captain Michael Clarke follows suit and says Symonds would only be recalled when teammates again trusted him. 
These reactions appear excessive to the supposed crime and leads us to conclude that there is more to this 'fishy' incident than meets the eye.
Furthermore, a PTI report that Symonds is contemplating retirement confirms our suspicion.
So what led to Symonds banishment?

(Image by Abdullah AL Naser)

Technorati Tags     Australia,cricket,Andrew,Symonds

Does China need ICC help to develop cricket?

It appears that ICC is presumptuous enough to conclude that China needs their help. In fact, it has charged IS Bindra, its principal advisor,to focus on"developing the game in China".

Going by China's track record they are immensely capable of developing the game by themselves and if and when cricket is included in the Olympics they will emerge as the team to beat.

IS Bindra will surely be limited to the role of an awed bystander.

Why is Laxman happy to let things drift?

On VVS Laxman's reluctance

I am in complete agreement with Shahid Afridi when he says Adam Gilchrist would make a better skipper for the Deccan Chargers team in the next IPL season.
Because like his batting in Sri Lanka, VVS Laxman’s captaincy during the IPL left us wondering why he fails to impose himself on the game.

Do you have any idea on why he refuses to take charge?

What did Dhoni mean?

On missing Sachin

Dhoni is quoted as saying that he missed the presence of Sachin,Sehwag and Ishant.

While one can readily grasp his reference to Sehwag and Ishant, one fails to understand his reference to Sachin.

Was he saying that he missed having Sachin in the dressing room or did he miss his batting?

Overseas players in Ranji Trophy

The Gavaskar led BCCI Technical Committee okays state associations to add an overseas player in their squads.

From Indian cricket point of view, this will give state-level players the necessary exposure to professional cricketers and hopefully they will imbibe the tricks of the trade from them.

However, the influx of foreign players may dishearten the fringe players and the already insipid Ranji Trophy may turn out to be just another avenue for the 'professional' cricketers to make money.

Do you think this is a welcome decision?

On the contenders

On the replacements for Sachin, Saurav, Rahul and Laxman

This blogger is as guilty as others are in calling for a change without suggesting alternatives.
Though names like Gambhir, Raina, Rohit, Badri and Yuvraj rolls off everyone’s tongue, it is debatable whether they have shown anything beyond talent and promise.
Also compounding the problem is the fact that none of them bar Yuvraj and Gambhir has ever played a Test. This proves an obstacle when it comes to judging and suggesting alternatives.
However, their one-day performances give a fair indication of their temperament and undoubted talent.
Yet, it is dicey to go by their one-day records (Yuvraj is a good example of why it is foolhardy to do so.) and replace the seniors in one fell swoop.
So how do we learn whether they (the contenders) can bridge the fjord between Tests and ODI’s?
This is where the seniors can do their bit for Indian cricket. They by mutual consent should agree to sit out one Test series. A series of Test matches be it a two or a three Test series, will provide sufficient evidence of say, whether a Rohit is the right replacement for Rahul.
Unfortunately, their reluctance to do so is the cause for so much heart- burn among Indian cricket fans and forcing them to quote the Australian brutal method of showing no mercy.

Symonds disciplined

Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds is an accident waiting to happen

Australian team's leadership group has recommended that Symonds be sent home and acting on their recommendations the CA has recalled him home.

This means Symonds misses out on playing the ODI series against Bangladesh.

This drastic action was taken reportedly due to indiscipline. As this is the second time, this is a cause for concern for both CA and Symonds.

One oldie gets the message

On Saurav Ganguly's one-day career

In a recent interview Saurav Ganguly provides a pragmatic answer to the frequently asked question:

Small Talk:Would you like to get back in the India one-day team and play for a few more years?
Saurav Ganguly: I don't think that's likely because they're looking at younger players.

Lets hope Ganguly takes another pragmatic decision.

Technorati Tags     retirement,Saurav,Ganguly