Cricket Special Report: ICC “Test” World Cup 2011
Friday, August 27, 2010
The International Cricket Board (ICC) is to review the possibilities of a tournament, for world’s best team in Test cricket. ICC will decide on a two-yearly tournament like world Test championship as opposed to current rolling format in chief executives of cricket boards meeting at Cape Town in September 2010.
Test cricket is the highest level of international cricket. Test cricket also known as the longer format of the game, compromises of a 5-day game. A day’s play of a test match is played in the following course:
1. First session: 11 am - 1 pm
2. Second session: 1:40 pm – 3:40 pm
3. Third session: 4 pm – 6 pm
Short breaks are also taken during each session for drinks, normally after an hour of play. Adding a 10 minutes interval taken between changes of innings.
The times of sessions and intervals may be altered in certain circumstances, for example:
-If bad weather or a change of innings occurs close to a scheduled break, the break may be taken immediately.
-If there has been a loss of playing time, for example due to bad weather, the session times may be adjusted to make up for the lost time.
-If the batting side is nine wicket down, the tea break is delayed the earlier of 30 minutes or until the team is all out.
-The final session may be extended by up to 30 minutes if 90 or more overs have not been bowled in that day's play
-The final session may also be extended by 30 minutes if the umpires believe the match can be decided within that time.
Follow-on is also an interesting concept of test cricket, which is that if the team batting second falls short by at least 200 runs, the team which batted first their captain can order a follow-on that is the team batting second will start their second innings right away.
The new ball can only be taken if 80 overs are bowled, captains also delay taking the new ball as older ball swings and spin more, and taking of the new ball is also awaited at times as it brings life to the game. In addition, the captain can ask the steamers’ to operate.
ICC spokesperson Colin Gibson says more details will be revealed after mid-September meeting. The world Test championship is intended to breathe new life into traditional format and maintain it as the ultimate battle of supremacy. Moreover, its marketing and quantum of prize money, which needs to be much higher than in a World Cup or World Twenty20, will be crucial to attract public and players interest. The tour when initially suggested was to be played in England, based on England’s history with cricket itself.
Test status is given to a limited number of members of ICC; test cricketing teams were given the test status in accordance to their performance at the international arena. These test cricket members are as follows:
1. Australia 15th March 1877
2. England 15th March 1877
3. South Africa 12th March 1889
4. West Indies 23rd June 1928
5. New Zealand 10th January 1930
6. India 25th June 1932 before partition of India in 1947
7. Pakistan 16th October 1952
8. Sri Lanka 17th February 1982
9. Zimbabwe 18th October 1992
10. Bangladesh 10th November 2000
The suggestion of a Test World Cup was given by former South African test cricketer Dave Richardson. After his retirement, the legendry South African wicket-keeper stayed in touch with cricket, first as a sports agent and later became part of the ICC fraternity, as he joined them in 2002, as their first General Manager. The former wicket-keeper has taken over 150 dismals in both test and one-day international cricket, also scored his first and only test century against New Zealand in 1994-95.
However, one might feel that it will be impossible to arrange a tournament of all the above mentioned team in the longer version of the game. 5-days per game would get a little difficult to manage. In addition, for such a long tour, the public and players might lose interest. Well, one can only wait and see what the future of cricket’s highest format is, will it lead to a test World Cup or not? bettor.com
posted @ 1:45 PM,
,
India Have Lost WC Home Advantage Due to IPL - SA Coach
Thursday, August 26, 2010
South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl feels India will not have much of a home advantage at next year's World cup as foreign players have adapted themselves to the conditions there, courtesy the Indian Premier League.
van Zyl thinks that the experience the world's top players have gained in terms of getting used to the playing conditions and dealing with the intensity of crowds, means that India's home advantage has been negated.
"India has traditionally been a difficult place to tour but more recently teams have learnt to win in Indian and sub-continent conditions," he said.
"India in particular, where most of our preliminary matches will be played, is a wonderful place to play cricket as the people love the game and the support is phenomenal.
Teams have learnt to embrace the atmosphere rather than be wary of it and we are looking forward to playing in these packed stadiums," he said.
This is also the first major ICC event in the subcontinent since the IPL was launched. Players from around the world have now played a lot of limited overs cricket in India. This may reduce India's home ground advantage. Delhi, for example, is like a second home to AB de Villiers.
South Africa will prepare for the tournament with ODI series against Zimbabwe, Pakistan and India and van Zyl wants his side to carry the winning form from these matches into the event.
"We will prepare and use the upcoming series that we have to play on the ICC calendar as preparation but at the same time not lose the focus on taking each series as a campaign on its own," he said.
South Africa will begin their World Cup campaign against the West Indies and speaking six months ahead of the match on February 24, van Zyl said it was vital that his team get off to a winning start.
"Playing the West Indies in Delhi means that we have to do our home work regarding the ground and its history and how this will affect our play against the West Indies. We obviously need to see how Delhi suits them and how we need to use our strengths to have the advantage in these conditions," he said.
The 50-overs cricket World Cup will be co-hosted by India, Sri lanka and Bangladesh in February-April next year.
Labels: India
posted @ 12:57 PM,
,
Pakistan Cricket Will Tour New Zealand before World Cup 2011
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
After a long time this year just 6 month before Cricket World Cup 2011, Pakistan has playing plenty of cricket now in England and then later against South Africa in Abu Dhabi and now a new schedule announced for Pakistan in month of December and January 2010/2011 in New Zealand against the black cats. The Pakistan cricket tour of New Zealand specially the one day will help Pakistan to prepare them for the World Cup 2011, which will be just after the 14 days of the New Zealand.
Pakistan will play 2 Test matches, 6 One day and three Twenty20 matches against the host country. Earlier there were three Test matches but after mutual benefits both board decided to cut one Test match from the Schedule and increase the number of one Day international, which will also help both teams in coming weeks World Cup 2011 right after the tour.
Pakistan tour of New Zealand will end on 5th February 2011 and the 2011 Cricket World Cup will start from February 19 to April 2nd, which will be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The Tour Will Start with the 3 Twenty20 Matches in last week of December and two Test matches in January and at last the 6 one day matches series. [Via]
Labels: New Zealand, Pakistan
posted @ 2:31 PM,
,
Fear of Terror and the upcoming ICC World Cup
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
In latest cricket news, ICC and the organizing bodies of Indian Sub-Continent are ready to cope with the expected terrorism in the upcoming World Cup 2011 but still the terror threat over looms the most awaited cricket event.
The fearless attack on the Sri-Lankan team in 2009 has proven the weak security arrangements by the Pakistani Law enforcement agencies. This unfortunate event shifted the hosting of World Cup to the rest of the three countries as Pakistan had been fallen out of the venue. Players from Sri Lankan team were injured in this unfortunate event.
Moreover, it has been planned out to move the championship to Australia/New Zealand, if in any case some uneven incident of terrorism occurs during this mega event of cricket. The same has been confirmed by the cricket board of the New Zealand (focused in the latest cricket news and all sporting news).
Definitely it would be an unfortunate event for South Asians as this mega event is retuning back here after 15 years. India, Sri-Lanka and
Pakistan had co-hosted the 1996 World Cup. Similarly in the 1996, Australian team refused to visit Sri Lanka due to possible terror threat and insurgency in the country.
The Indian cricket which generates 75% of the international revenue of the cricket, may suffer by terrorism.
Now all sporting news are focused on the security agencies of South Asia, as all three nations are assuring security to all cricket teams are a huge number of fanship around the globe. On the same time the cricket board of the said nations are propagating for the event and assuring the maximum protection of the teams and their followers.
Similarly, in India Pakistani players were not selected in IPL as the owner received a lot of threats from the Indian militant organization and a right wing political party, Shiv Sena. In the same fashion the Aussies were also withdrawn from the IPL due to same reason.
The security risk is increasing day by day as the event is approaching South Asia. Organizers and security agencies are trying to make it smooth but there are certain chances of possible terror attacks on the much awaited Cricket World Cup.
Speculations have been made out that it would be very difficult to control such situation if some awful incident occurs during this World Cup. Transferring the event to any other destination would not white wash the red blots of blood out of this magnificent event.
No doubt Cricket is not the only game on planet which has been victimized by terrorism. In the month of January, a gunman opened fire on the Togo national football squad at the venue of Africa Cup of Nations where three persons were killed and many were injured.
Cricket is the cheapest, most accessible and enjoyable way of entertainment here in South Asia and terrorist organizations always hit such events and venues where a huge number of people can be targeted easily.
This article is regarding latest cricket news.For more information on all sporting news visit blogs.bettor.com [Via]
Labels: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
posted @ 2:01 PM,
,
Cricket World Cup after FIFA
Monday, August 23, 2010
After the last World Cup in West Indies, 13 March 2007 to 28 April 2007, all cricket lovers for the next World Cup, on 19 take place in February, is expected in 2011 to 2 April 2011at the Indian subcontinent. This tenth edition will be hosted by three South Asian countries play Test cricket, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. And Bangladesh is one of the latest country to be hosting World Cup will be the first time in 2011.
Pakistan was also a co-host and authority was declared 14 hits, but was excluded from the agenda because of security concerns. This amateur accept broadcast a portion of the additional countries. The architecture is one day internationals with 14 countries for the inclusion of ICC Trophy 10 countries and 4 accessory affiliate countries. The aggregation is permissible to the condensed U.S. $ 4,000,000. There are a total of 49 matches played during this tenth edition of the World Cup 2011th
The very first game is on 19 be played in February 2011. The first match is being organized jointly by India and Bangladesh on 19 February 2011 and is located at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Mirpur be played. And the second cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe is at 21st February will be played, 2011th The final of the World Cup will be played in an advanced amphitheater to be innate date the banks of the river Yamuna.
The World Cup was also his co-host of Pakistan, but in the Death Watch of the 2009 advance on the Sri Lankan citizen candid aggregation in Lahore, the fundamental of the Pakistani Punjab arena of the International Council Candid were affected, according to Pakistan from his band hosting rights. The address of the acclimatization board were originally established in Lahore, but now accept again addressed to Mumbai. Pakistan authorities declared 14 games, including a semifinal, but now accept these, eight hits and four from Pakistan to India was awarded to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh remaining two up.
posted @ 10:48 AM,
,
ICC announces WC 2011 warm-up schedule
Friday, August 20, 2010
With just six months to go before the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the ICC has announced the schedule of warm-up matches for the flagship event which will be staged in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The warm-up fixtures will be played across the three host countries with Bangalore, Chennai, Chittagong, Colombo, Dhaka, Nagpur and Pallekele as venues.
Each of the 14 competing sides will play two warm-up matches with four-time and reigning world champion Australia taking on India and South Africa on 13 and 15 February in Bengaluru. Sri Lanka, one of the co-hosts, will go head to head with the Netherlands and the West Indies on 12 and 16 February in Pallekele and Colombo respectively. The 1992 world champion Pakistan meets Bangladesh and England in Dhaka on 15 and 18 February.
India's second match, after the one against Australia, will be against New Zealand in Chennai on 16 February.
The ICC president Sharad Pawar was confident that the 2011 edition of the tournament will be more successful than its nine predecessors. "Today means that the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is exactly six months away. Let there be no doubt whatsoever that the ICC, along with the three co-hosts, will ensure that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is the best of all the World Cups staged so far," Pawar said.
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal can't wait for 19 February when his side will take on 1983 world champion India in the tournament opener.
"This will be my second ICC Cricket World Cup but definitely the one I am longing for. In front of our own fans, families and friends we have the opportunity to make the country proud and deep inside every Bangladesh cricketer has a burning desire to excel," said the left-handed batsman.
Sri Lanka's legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is available for the World Cup despite retiring from Tests, rated Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup triumph on par with his 800-wicket feat in Test cricket. "Obviously winning the tournament in the Indian subcontinent in 1996 is something I rate as highly as my 800 Test wickets and reaching the final in the West Indies three years ago was also by no means a small achievement.
"I'm hoping victory in next year's World Cup will not only strengthen our future as a cricketing nation but will also help us produce more world-class cricketers who will go on to entertain the world with their flare, talent, charisma and prowess," Muralitharan said.
The following is the schedule of warm-up matches:
February 12:
West Indies vs Kenya at Colombo
Sri Lanka vs Netherlands at Pallekele
Zimbabwe vs South Africa at Chennai
Bangladesh vs Canada at Chittagong
February 13:
India vs Australia at Bangalore
February 15:
Ireland vs Zimbabwe at Nagpur
Kenya vs Netherlands at Pallekele
Australia vs South Africa at Bangalore
Bangladesh vs Pakistan at Dhaka
February 16:
Sri Lanka vs West Indies at Colombo
England vs Canada at Dhaka
India vs New Zealand at Chennai
February 18:
England vs Pakistan at Dhaka
Labels: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Schedule, Warm-up schedule
posted @ 11:23 AM,
,
Need for reforms in the cricket administration
Thursday, August 19, 2010
By Rizwan Ali
ISLAMABAD — Age, merit and credentials seem to matter little when it comes to determining who will run cricket in Pakistan.
It's the prerogative of the president of Pakistan to appoint anyone he decides is qualified to run the Pakistan Cricket Board. A relationship with the president, then, is a key criteria.
It was no surprise after Asif Ali Zardari took over as president in 2008 that within a month he replaced Nasim Ashraf as head of the PCB with the man of his choice — 70-year-old Ijaz Butt.
Butt, who played eight Tests for Pakistan, also happens to be the brother-in-law of the country's defence minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar from the ruling Pakistan People Party.
That kind of appointment certainly wasn't unprecedented. The three previous heads of the PCB — Ashraf, Sheheryar Khan and Tauqir Zia — were also hand-picked by the then president General Pervez Musharraf.
The previous three chairmen had promised to implement a new constitution and streamline the cricket board's affairs, but all were replaced before it could be achieved.
Butt has been no different. In almost two years since his appointment, the drafting of the constitution has continued, but a completion date remains unclear.
With no clear set of rules at the highest administrative level, it's little wonder that the Pakistan cricket team is inconsistent in international competition. The talent is undoubtedly there.
"On paper, Pakistan still has a team full of talent, yet because it has been handled and managed so badly, it has been completely unsettled," explains Osman Samiuddin, Pakistan editor for the popular global cricket website cricinfo.com.
It was back in the 1960s when the president's direct appointment of the country's cricket board was first introduced.
"Cricket needed money and patronage from the state to run itself," Samiuddin said. "That need is no longer there as the sport makes enough money comfortably to run, yet the system remains in place in Pakistan."
During Butt's tenure, Pakistan has lost 19 limited-overs internationals and won 12. In the test arena, Pakistan briefly celebrated its first test win against Australia in 15 years last month in England — at its home-away-from-home for that series — while it also beat New Zealand in a Test last year.
But during that time, there have been nine Test defeats and four drawn Tests — including a 3-0 series whitewash in Australia that resulted in senior players being banned from the national team.
Parliamentary committees of both lower and upper houses have frequently summoned the top PCB officials for explanations about the inconsistencies and also requested Butt to step down, but it looks as though the PCB head has enough backing from the president — at least for the time being.
Iqbal Mohammad Ali, chairman of the lower house's standing committee on sports, last month wrote a letter to the president condemning several of Butt's decisions. Ali's main suggestion for change was that an age limit of 65 be introduced for the head of any sports federation.
Something needs to be done to restore Pakistan's cricket credibility.
Evidence of the abundant natural talent has come in the shortest form of the game: Pakistan won the World Twenty20 in England last year. But T20, while increasingly popular with the masses and the sponsors, is still yet to take hold among cricket purists.
Under Butt's lead, the Pakistan captaincy has been a problem issue in all three forms of the game.
He has handed the captaincy to Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and now Salman Butt, but the team — it seems — is still looking for the right man to match the hopes of 170 million people of Pakistan.
In patches, Pakistani players are a threat to any international team, but as a team it is far from matching the likes of Australia, India, Sri Lanka or South Africa.
"There is no stability whatsoever," says Samiuddin. "They (PCB) have not supported any captain they have themselves appointed, thus overseeing a remarkable four changes in leadership in just over a year."
Off the field controversies are so badly managed by the PCB that after its own appointed inquiry committee first fined and banned seven cricketers after the winless tour of Australia, an arbitrator slashed the fines and lifted bans.
The ambush on the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus at Lahore, in which six police and a van driver were killed and several Sri Lankan players and officials were injured in March last year, was a major setback for Pakistan.
Pakistan was subsequently stripped of its status as co-host for the 2011 World Cup — which is now being staged in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Foreign teams have made Pakistan a no-go zone, although the ICC is planning on sending an invitational World XI to get tours started again.
Despite all the scrutiny from abroad and the ramifications on Pakistan as a sports host, a review of the attack on Sri Lanka's team bus at Lahore was finally sent to the sport's world governing body this month. That came after several prompts from the ICC.
"In the broader sense, the whole situation of the ongoing militancy in the country is out of PCB's hands," Samiuddin said. "But by not being able to do the basic requisite, such as provide a report into the attack pointing out who went wrong where, they have ensured that no international board has any confidence in their ability to run cricket.
"Consequently, when and if the security situation in Pakistan improves, this board will struggle to convince others to tour simply because it has killed its own credibility."
Vocal former Test cricketers constantly appear on talk shows and criticize Butt whenever the team does badly in international matches, but it seems very few have the answer to this key question: Who is the right man to head the PCB?
Cricket analyst Zakir Hussain Syed thinks the great Imran Khan is the right man, but since Khan is more inclined toward establishing himself in Pakistan's politics, it seems outside of his current interest.
Syed suggests Ehsan Mani or Dr. Zafar Altaf, a former chief selector, as possible candidates.
Mani, a former ICC president, has recently shown interest, but he also wanted to bring in his own administration.
However, Syed says that whoever replaces Butt should be given a fixed timeframe to streamline the PCB affairs, including the constitution and forming a general council in which representatives of cricket associations from all over the country should be allowed to elect the PCB chairman.
Recently, Imran Khan suggested in a television interview that a panel of cricketing experts — in which he was willing to sit — should interview interested candidates for the post of PCB chairman.
"One should know the vision of the candidate beforehand, how would he take forward Pakistan cricket," Khan said.
The former Pakistan captain suggested his cousin, former test captain Majid Khan.
Pakistan trails 2-0 in a four-test series against England, undoubtedly a result of the constant chopping and changing. Every negative result adds pressure on Butt to reform the structure of the PCB.
With another tough, three-Test series against South Africa planned in October in the United Arab Emirates, it is unlikely that the team will be settled under new captain Salman Butt.
Samiuddin has not lost hope, despite the outward appearance that Pakistan seems to be struggling like West Indies and Bangladesh in the five-day format or in turmoil like Zimbabwe.
"Superficially the results may look the same, but the reality is different," he said. "In West Indies, youngsters are moving toward other, more lucrative sports, like basketball, and interest in cricket itself is declining.
"In Zimbabwe, the political compulsions were of a unique nature and that required a different restructuring altogether. In Pakistan, cricket's popularity remains mostly unaffected — it is still the sport most kids want to play."
So Samiuddin remains confident of improvement.
"The team, if selected on merit, can actually be representative of a pretty robust system still capable of producing talent capable of succeeding on the world stage."
posted @ 10:48 AM,
,
Pakistan's cricket isolation
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
LONDON — A World XI cricket tour could help end Pakistan's sporting isolation, the ICC said on Tuesday.
The International Cricket Council hopes to arrange fixtures for the end of 2011, but it was still assessing the security situation following last year's terror attack on the Sri Lanka team, and the availability of players.
"World cricket must go back and play in Pakistan," said Giles Clarke, who heads the task force set up by the ICC in 2009 to help Pakistan fulfil its international cricket commitments.
But Clarke, unveiling the plans in the September issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine, wrote that it was still too early for a national team to return to Pakistan.
"The security challenges are enormous but we cannot allow the terrorists to win," Clarke said. "With determination and courage an ICC World XI in due course will go and play against Pakistan in her great cities and there will be a marvellous atmosphere."
Pakistan captain Salman Butt said home matches against a team of world-class players would be warmly welcomed by his country's cricket fans.
"If all the players can come and do this favour for Pakistan cricket, I think it would be wonderful," Butt said on Tuesday at The Oval while preparing for the third test against England.
"The people of Pakistan are cricket lovers and they have their heroes, not only from Pakistan cricket but from around the world."
An all-star team could be more easily protected because it would undertake fewer matches in fewer venues than a national team.
Cricket tours of Pakistan were abandoned after the Sri Lanka team's convoy was attacked by gunmen en route to a test at Lahore on March 9 last year. Six police officers and a van driver were killed, and Sri Lanka players and officials were injured.
The ICC also removed Pakistan as one of the four planned hosts for the 2011 World Cup, which will be staged in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka starting in February.
Pakistan has staged its scheduled home series at neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates and England in the interim, but Clarke said it was important to take the game back to the Pakistan people.
"Cricket cannot abandon a nation with such a magnificent history in the game, such wonderful players and such enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters," Clarke wrote. "It will be an historic moment when international cricket resumes in Pakistan and the first ICC team walks out."
Clarke said the Pakistan Cricket Board's income had dropped by two-thirds since the attack, describing it as "a brutal impact that few enterprises could survive."
Butt said being unable to host matches has had a serious impact on Pakistan's performances on the pitch, too.
"A higher percentage of players and teams have better records at home. This is one advantage Pakistan does not have any longer and everybody should have this in his mind when they talk about Pakistan not performing," Butt said.
"We are the only team in the world always playing away from home in foreign and difficult conditions, with an inexperienced team."
In a 120-page report sent to the ICC, a high-ranking judge who reviewed the attack for the Pakistan government heavily criticized senior police for being ill-prepared and poorly equipped at the time of the attack.
posted @ 12:01 PM,
,
Invitation World XI to Play in Pakistan
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Wisden Cricketer magazine reports that the International Cricket Council will send an invitational World XI to play in Pakistan to end the country’s sporting isolation following a terror attack on the Sri Lankan team at Lahore last year. The magazine quotes England Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke as saying “world cricket must go back and play in Pakistan.”
Clarke, head of the ICC’s Pakistan Task Team, writes in the September issue that the cricket community “must keep giving Pakistan cricket the chance to fund itself and move forward.” “Cricket cannot abandon a nation with such a magnificent history in the game, such wonderful players and such enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters. It will be an historic moment when international cricket resumes in Pakistan and the first ICC team walks out,” he further said.
Counting the costs of no international cricket in Pakistan, Clarke said the losses came up to £27 million to £10 million, saying it was “a brutal impact that few enterprises could survive.” The ECB chief said his board plans on hosting more international matches and series for Pakistan in the next few years. “The atmosphere, the passionate support and, of course, the tremendous cricket played by the Pakistan team made it a compelling experience. The PCB’s economic needs make it imperative.”
No dates for the tour were revealed in a release issued by the magazine. Pakistan has played recent series at neutral venues.
posted @ 3:25 PM,
,
End of an era?
Monday, August 16, 2010
Test cricket is universally acknowledged as the pinnacle of the game, a real test of a team’s ability; however, Pakistan has been guilty of not according enough respect to Test cricket over the past two decades or so. A look at Pakistan’s performances suggests that the victory graph has slowly but surely come down over the years as Pakistan has lost its last Test series against all major opposition.
Pakistan’s Test cricket over the past quarter of a century can easily be classified into three distinct phases; the first one from late 1985 when Zaheer Abbas was deposed as captain of the team to early 1993 when Javed Miandad suffered the same fate. The second phase from mid 1993 when Wasim Akram took over the reins to the beginning of 2003 culminating in the ouster of Waqar Younis from the hot seat. The third and the last one can be classified from mid 2003 to date.
The ‘golden era’ saw Pakistan winning Test series against almost all the big teams i.e. the West Indies, England, Australia and India and losing only one.
Pakistan’s success remained an impressive 54 per cent during the second phase but that number would have been on the wrong side of 50 had Pakistan not played against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe – teams that had not got Test status during the first phase in question. The team lost a Test series to England at home for the first time in 39 years; it could manage only two victories against Australia as opposed to nine losses in 15 Test matches. Pakistan lost a Test series against Sri Lanka for the first time ever and also became the first team to have lost a Test match and a Test series to Zimbabwe.
The last phase has seen Pakistan’s success slip further down to 46 per cent and that includes three straight wins against Bangladesh. Pakistan has lost more matches than it has won against majority of the big teams like England, India, South Africa and Sri Lanka and has been unable to even draw a Test match against Australia – let alone winning it – till last month’s Headingly Test. The team lost a home series against India for the first time in history and established a new world record of 13 successive losses against a single team i.e. Australia.
Leadership during the first phase was completely dominated by two individuals namely Javed Miandad and Imran Khan with the latter being the regular captain and Miandad taking over whenever required. Imran Khan’s captaincy never came under threat despite him losing a number of important one-day international (ODI) contests such as the World Series Cup in Australia in 1988-89 and 1989-90 plus the 1987 World Cup. Pakistan’s tied Test series against the West Indies in West Indies in 1987-88 was celebrated in the country even though the team was thrashed 5-0 during the ODIs. Similarly, Pakistan’s 1-0 victory during the 1987 English summer was also cherished despite the team coming second best in the ODI series.
The next phase saw captaincy change hands among seven players including Wasim Akram, Saleem Malik, Rameez Raja, Rashid Latif, Aamer Sohail, Saeed Anwar and Moin Khan. The captaincy during the last phase has rotated between Rashid Latif, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt.
It is an accepted fact that a captain can only extract the best out of his team by leading from the front. Hence, it is easy to determine one of the main reasons for Pakistan’s wonderful show during the first phase in question. Imran Khan and Javed Miandad were easily the team’s best players and led the bowling and batting departments of the team with distinction.
Interesting statistics that signify the number of new caps awarded to youngsters by the selectors. Only 19 players were able to make their Test debuts during the Imran-Miandad tenure; this number rose to an astonishing 51 during the next phase. For a team to become a fighting unit over a sustained period of time, it is necessary that the players are provided enough chances to play together and develop a certain amount of rapport among themselves. This also helps them in getting tuned to the finer aspects of the game such as running between the wickets as they can only improve their communication by spending time together in the middle. It is quite clear from the above numbers that the team was not allowed to settle down during this middle phase and hence results deteriorated. The trend appears to have continued in the current phase as well as 28 Test caps have so far been distributed among youngsters. Out of these 28 players, as many as 15 have been dumped without being provided the chance to play even five Tests.
Either the players are being picked without having their credentials properly judged or the selectors are impatient with these youngsters. It seems that selectors prefer flamboyance, flair and youth over grit, determination and experience. It is evident that there are serious problems with the team’s existing batting lineup; reasons for which are not difficult to determine. Proven performers at first-class level such as Aamer Sajjad and Asad Shafiq have failed to find spots in the squad; players who have shown that they are prepared to work hard at the Test level despite limitations in technique such as Fawad Alam and Khurram Manzoor have been axed. No serious effort was made to bring back world-class batsman Mohammad Yousuf, till it became clear that the English bowling attack will expose the limitations of the existing lot; but the seasoned Younis Khan continues to be ignored.
Bowling outside the current pace trio of Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul looks thin; still, experienced bowlers with hundreds of wickets at the first-class level such as Abdur Rauf and Yasir Arafat are constantly being overlooked for Test matches; a ‘home’ Test series against South Africa has been scheduled in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while Pakistan’s premier bowler and most potent weapon in Test cricket, Mohammad Asif cannot travel to the desert state. Also, preference of Saeed Ajmal over Abdur Rehman and of Kamran Akmal over the likes of Sarfraz Ahmed and Zulqarnain Haider suggest that heroics in shorter format of the game influence Test team selection.
The team’s downfall in Test cricket has not been complemented by its ODI performances. Even in the T20 format, Pakistan has been extremely impressive having remained the World Champion once and ending up as runner-up on another occasion in addition to getting the better of Australia on multiple occasions indicating the team’s fascination with the shorter format of the game even at the expense of losing out on Test glory. Today, Australia is considered the world’s best team not because it has won three World Cups on the trot but for its continued domination in the longest format of the game. Via
posted @ 9:22 AM,
,
The lighter side
Sunday, August 15, 2010
During the show these influential politicians gave their strong opinions about the plight of sport in Pakistani. Ch. Shujaat on this note expressed, “Promotion of every sport is the need of the hour. People are fed up of reading news about terrorism and crimes while sports provide them with some sort of entertainment. We can not deny the role of sport in the modern age because it produces healthy societies.”
Ch. Shujaat confessed that in the past politically influential people were given important designations such that of cricket, hockey, football, squash, tennis and many others. The same trend is being continued till date. A number of non-professionals who know nothing about sports are running sports federations like Ch. Shujaat is heading the Kabbadi Federation without any prior knowledge or being a player. According to him it is very cheap sport and everybody can play easily and that during kabbadi matches the stadiums are full with crowed and kabbadi lovers. Ch. Shujaat further maintained, “Imran Khan is stepping forward successfully as a politician but it would be better for the future of the Pakistan cricket if Imran gives his precious time to cricket. He urged that sports federations should be run by an honest, capable and competent person rather than politically influential ones.”
He deplorably said that Ijaz Butt is still working as the chairman of PCB despite humiliating defeat of the Pakistani cricket team during their tours of Australia and England. He further said, “He is still the chairman because of his strong political affiliations with the President of Pakistan. This practice should be an end.”
Ch. Shujaat revealed old secrets of General Zia ul Haq’s regime when he appointed General Safdar as the Chairman of WAPDA and later as the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board. But Safdar refused to accept the PCB position stating his lack of experience regarding cricket, but then Zia reminded him that he did not have to know about WAPDA to run it. The same approach of politicising sports has been continuing since decades. This approach should come to an end and the politicians should not run sports federations of the country.
During the show Ch. Shujaat showed his keen interest in the promotion of women tennis. But Senator Dilawer Abbas sadly expressed, “Within the country nobody is ready to sponsor tennis while everybody is ready to sponsor cricket. Cricketers can easily earn millions of dollars annually while tennis players just earn $2500. Government has allocated only few hundred thousands to Pakistan Tennis Federation contrary to its hefty monthly maintenance of the single tennis stadium.”
He said that Prime Minister preferred to allocate Rs.50 millions to the Hockey Federation because of his preference towards President Qasim Zia. He deplorably said that Ijaz Butt is also misusing the powers because of his strong political backing. He further added that one should willingly surrender their powers and separate themselves from the power corridors.
Dilawar further said, “I wish I could construct tennis complexes in the same passion I serve the federation.” He revealed that when he was nominated for the presidential post of the tennis federation, then he asked his contender about tennis. But as his contender did not have enough knowledge, he agreed not to take over the federation.
“The political appointments of ineligible people have destroyed the Pakistani sports. Because of them sports are heading towards a decline.” Senator Dilawer Abbas was of the view. [Also here and here]
Labels: Sports
posted @ 6:07 PM,
,
Selectors focused on World Cup
How seriously do national selectors take the main domestic tournaments and consider the performances in them for national selections?
We all know that the selectors’ job is a thankless one and every decision they take is not going to satisfy everyone, questions are always bound to be asked about why certain players have been overlooked and so forth. But as long as the selectors are fair by their choice of selections and are picking the players with a certain plan in mind, they cannot be faulted for leaving out certain players in the best interest of the national team.
Chairman of cricket selectors Aravinda de Silva said that they took the Premier and Inter-Provincial tournaments quite seriously because it is based on the performances of these matches that they pick squads for the national, ‘A’ team, Development and Academy.
De Silva cautioned that one had to be careful on individual performances at club level where they have to take into account the opposition they play and under what conditions before selecting the player. “Some of the club matches are diluted and we cannot take those performances into consideration,” he said.
De Silva said that there are other instances where a player may be in his mid thirties and performing exceptionally well at both club and provincial levels but the selectors have to consider whether he is going to serve the national team on the long run and also at the same time try not to discourage him from performing in domestic competitions.
“We cannot select each and every player who performs at domestic level into the national side. We have to see whether the performances fall in line with our line of thinking,” De Silva said. “We have a selection process where a potential player can come through the Academy, Development and ‘A’ team to the National team, but there can be exceptions.”
De Silva said the club tournament was important because it is based on the performances that the provincial sides are picked and if a player is good enough to perform consistently at provincial level also he will be earmarked for the ‘A’ team or National team. At least about 80 players are picked to represent the five provinces and according to De Silva ‘if you are not good enough to make it to the final 80 then we know where the player stands’.
Sri Lanka Cricket sometime this year put out a selection policy document where the criteria for the national team as laid down by Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Policy were: “Current form, past performances, balance of the team, conditions likely to be encountered, health/fitness (mental and physical), contribution to team environment, investing in youth development. Selectors will advance the cause of any player whom they believe has the ability to represent Sri Lanka.
“The selectors acknowledge that provincial cricket is not only played to be won but is the final testing ground for international selection and accordingly any individual who the selectors believe may figure in Sri Lanka selection calculations – whether now or in the future – will have their cause promoted.
“The National squad structure is: National – 20 players, ‘A’ team – 15 players, Development – 15 (age 22-26), Academy – 15 (age 19-22), Age group cricket – 25 players in each squad (under 19, 17 and 15). The squads are to be selected on an annual basis and reviewed every 12 months. This will give the players confidence and time to develop into an international player.”
De Silva stated that his committee was fully focused on the 2011 World Cup and they were not going to be in any way moved by what appears in the media. “Certain players are spotlighted in the media through their managers who want them picked for the national team. We don’t go by what appears in the media,” said De Silva.
Sri Lanka is presently in the process of finalising the slots for the World Cup which is only six months away. Some of the slots that need to be filled are in the middle-order batting, fast bowlers, spinners and an all-rounder.
“We have to be fair by everyone and we are giving each and every player we think can make it to the final 15 an opportunity either in the national team or the ‘A’ team,” said De Silva.
Sri Lanka has the on-going tri-series at Dambulla plus the three ODIs in Australia in November and five ODIs against West Indies at home in
December before they name their provincial World Cup squad of 30 in January.
Labels: Selectors
posted @ 11:58 AM,
,
Seniors need rest before World Cup “
It is time the senior players are rested with the 2011 World Cup just around the corner, said former India captain Ajit Wadekar.
Wadekar, who led the team to the semi-finals of the 1996 World Cup, said, “There is still time for the World Cup, but the time to start resting and rotating players is now.”
“It’s time we had a look at the younger players and from what I can see there are some talented players who have emerged from the Twenty20 form of the game,” Wadekar told NDTV in the light of a media report which said that a senior member of the squad in Sri Lanka had requested Indian cricket board secretary N Srinivasan to rest some players keeping the World Cup in mind. Read more
Courtesy:www.espnstar.com
Related posts here
Labels: Players
posted @ 11:57 AM,
,
Cricket and Terrorism
Friday, August 13, 2010
Terrorism of late has become such a menace that it has encroached even into the domain of a gentleman’s game like cricket.
ICC and the bodies of Indian cricket association are afraid that terrorism may upset the upcoming World Cup Cricket to be held in 2011. Terrorists are everyday devising newer methods to create fear.
The shifting of venue from Pakistan is really unfortunate and affects the morale of the teams as well as the participating nations.
We expect sports to spread brotherhood and understanding but now all this has become nothing but wistful thinking.
posted @ 12:18 PM,
,
Is Umar Akmal heading toward decline?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
In the world of cricket Pakistan has produced many great cricketers who developed themselves into legends of class of their own. But with the passage of time they left a void wide open to be filled in by someone of their likes. Over the past couple of years Pakistan introduced several fresh faces but none of them filled in that gap as good as sensational Umar Akmal did.
This diminutive youngster managed to break new grounds not only for him but also in projecting the country’s soft image high. But unfortunately for over the last couple of matches his performance has slid down with the same speed he touched the heights of fame.
Umar is one of the best talents Pakistan has produced in a decade or so and is the one who fits in all the three formats of the game. He came a long way in to fill in the big shoes of former captain Inzamamul Haq and on and off was doing the work of some of the senior batsmen like Muhammad Yousuf and Younus Khan.
Umar made his way into the national team after a successful tour of Australia with the Pakistan A team. Having carried the test average of 45, he matured with his maiden test hundred against New Zealand on debut.
With this debut century he gave a glimpse of hope to a rather bleak future of the Pakistan cricket, which lingers on an improper domestic structure to depend upon. He also played some wonderful ODI innings during the tour of Sri Lanka. At the start of his career, it was being expected that he would set new marks for Pakistan. But unfortunately his form has gradually started fall and the batsman who was being considered a useful commodity in the middle order is becoming a burden on the team. He, however, is one of those renowned players who got to the height of fame too early in their career.
In his aggressively style against almost every team, Umar instead of gaining maturity started to breach the line of discipline. Following his elder brother Kamran Akmal, Umar stood away from the team feigning injury during the tour of Australia. The Pakistan Cricket Board though fined the batsman but later coming under pressure took back its decision but that did not make him realise his mistake.
As of now particularly in the backdrop of the innings he played against Australia, he seems to have been taking his career lightly and is not getting serious to overcome his batting and mantle flaws. Instead of turning himself into a match-winner, he is caving in to the internal team politics. He is continuously showing callous attitude during batting and even his ranking is dwindled. He now stands at just around the test average of 35, a first step towards decline.
His failure has started to overcome him before he would have tasted the joys of fame. Looking at his batting abilities, he is technically inept against an in-swinging ball, which he counters in a wrong manner. The in-swinging ball he has played in all the innings in England deceived him because he goes for every ball in a hurry without realising that test cricket is a different ball game and requires temperament. He also leaves a wide gap in between the bat and pad that’s why an in-swinger makes him a victim of an LBW.
He does not seem to have any problem in his batting other than these and his careless approach on occasions. Sadly to that he throws his wicket because of these foolishnesses. If he would not be able to control his temperament and behaviour he is prone to lose his place in the team. And to prolong his stint with Pakistan he should avoid indulging into any controversies and instead concentrate on to remove his technical flaws and made the country proud rather than setting zealous examples.
Labels: Players
posted @ 1:51 PM,
,
Would Zulqarnain's Inning Help Pakistan to Win The Match?
Monday, August 9, 2010
Debutant Zulqarnain Haider kept England at bay with a superb 88 as Pakistan at last restored some pride in the second Test at Edgbaston on Sunday. Pakistan at the third day’s close, were 291 for nine, a lead of 112, and with an outside chance of pulling off what would be an astounding victory.
They would have been in an even better position, but England off-spinner Graeme Swann removed Zulqarnain shortly before stumps on his way to a Test-best haul of six wickets for 60 runs in 36 overs -- 20 of them maidens. Pakistan had been dismissed for just 72 -- their lowest total against England - in the first innings, a woeful performance which made Sunday’s fightback even more astonishing.
Zulqarnain and Saeed Ajmal put on 115 for the eighth wicket, with the recalled off-spinner making exactly 50 to give him Test-bests with both bat and ball this match after he took five for 82 in England’s first innings 251. Ajmal fell shortly before the close caught at slip by Paul Collingwood to end a gutsy 79-ball innings featuring seven fours Zulqarnain, who but for the Decision Review System (DRS) would have been out for a king pair, fell when he miscued a drive off Swann to England captain Andrew Strauss at mid-off.
The 24-year-old batted for four-and-a-half hours, facing 200 balls and struck 15 boundaries. At the close, Swann had surpassed his previous best of five for 54 against South Africa at Durban in 2009 and taken five or more wickets eight times in his 22 Tests. Umar Gul, batting with a runner after suffering a hamstring injury on Saturday, was nine not out, having smashed the last ball of the day from paceman Stuart Broad for four,and Mohammad Asif 13 not out.
Zulqarnain, in for the dropped Kamran Akmal, had come in at 82 for five. At that stage, Pakistan needing 97 more runs just to avoid an innings defeat that would have left them 2-0 down in this four-match series after their crushing 354-run reverse in the first Test at Trent Bridge last week.
Zulqarnain received sound support from fast bowler Mohammad Aamer (16), who again demonstrated an excellent defensive technique, in a seventh-wicket stand of 52 spanning more than two hours.
England saw off Aamer in the fourth over with the new ball when Broad had him caught at first slip by Strauss. Zulqarnain went to fifty when he clipped fast bowler Steven Finn through midwicket for a boundary that also meant England would have to bat again as Pakistan finally erased a first innings deficit of 179.
Labels: England Tour, Pakistan, Zulqarnain
posted @ 11:04 AM,
,
Mascot for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
Friday, August 6, 2010
When the ICC revealed the elephant "Stumpy" as the mascot for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the public reacted with what can only be described as "the opposite of unbridled excitement". However, the ICC has been quick to defend its choice, insisting that Stumpy is the ideal mascot for the occasion.
Speaking to the press, CWC director Ratnakar Shetty said, "The elephant has been chosen since it is an iconic animal that truly represents cricket in the subcontinent. It's a lumbering, inflexible and inconveniently powerful beast, just like the BCCI. It doesn't bite and shows absolutely no signs of bouncing, just like the SSC wicket. It does not even remotely resemble the Bengal Tiger, just like the Bangladesh cricket team. It's a perfect symbol for a tournament hosted by these three great cricketing nations."
Shetty also defended the widely panned choice of name. "The name Stumpy was chosen after lengthy deliberations by a panel of creative experts, including professionals from the advertising and marketing fields, and, for some reason, Ravi Shastri, who seems to be on every single panel and committee constituted by the BCCI. We carefully considered and rejected many outstanding alternatives - including "Pitchy" (mildly obscene), "Batty" (insanity connotation), "Bally" (hoo), "Paddy" (too Irish) and "Abdomen Guardy" (rhymes with Michael Yardy)."
"Stumpy is just perfect. Other than the fact that it conjures up some vaguely disturbing imagery of ICC officials without hands or feet, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Besides, with all the other options ruled out, it was the only cheesy, obvious cricket reference left," concluded Shetty.
The appointment of Anil Kumble by the BCCI as an "off-field behaviour" coach for the Indian team has been closely followed by another, even more ridiculous, initiative by the Indian board - they're looking for a coach to train millions of cricket fans around the world in proper in-stadium behaviour. Apparently the BCCI believes that teaching huge numbers of fans not to irk their players is far easier than teaching players like Yuvraj Singh not to act like immature, overgrown schoolboys and take offence at random jibes from the stands.
"It's clear that spectators all over the world are in dire need of instruction on how to behave towards the Indian team. Can't have ill-mannered fans calling our dear players all sorts of nasty things like 'water boy', 'tax collector' and 'history professor'. Further, these louts in the stands keep making rude and boorish comments about our inept fast bowling, pathetic fitness levels and tendency to collapse so that Virender Sehwag's percentage contribution to the team total remains in the high fifties. Not done. They need to be taught a lesson," thundered Ravi Shastri, chairman of the BCCI's newly constituted fan management committee.
Denying that the authorities had overreacted in arresting the fans who called Yuvraj Singh a "water boy", Shastri retorted: "Nobody, with the possible exception of lookalike Michael Bevan, likes being associated with Adam Sandler. How do you think Kumar Sangakkara would react if I suddenly walked up to him and called him 'Happy Gilmore'? In fact, they're lucky that they only called Yuvi a water boy. If they'd called him 'The Last Airbender' or 'Raavan', it would have meant the death penalty."
Commenting on who will perform the role of "in-stadium" behaviour coach, Shastri said, "It's got to be a really nice guy, well respected, and with a lot of time on his hands. Perhaps the prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh?"
RSS FeedAnand Ramachandran is a writer and humourist based in Mumbai. He blogs at bosey.co.in. All the quotes and "facts" in this article are made up (but you knew that already, didn't you?)
Labels: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Mascot
posted @ 11:30 AM,
,
ICC Unveils Inaugural Women's Cricket Challenge
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that South Africa will host the first ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge from 6 to 16 October in Potchefstroom.
The tournament which is being run in association with Cricket South Africa, will see women’s teams ranked between fifth and 10th in the world compete against each other in a series of ODI and Twenty20 fixtures.
Women’s sides from South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Ireland will compete in the event which will see a shake-up to the second half of the Women’s ODI Team rankings after the conclusion of the ODI section of the tournament.
ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy looking ahead to the tournament said: “This tournament is an ideal way for the women’s teams ranked outside of the top four to gain more match experience in both ODI and Twenty20 formats.
“The tournament will also provide a good challenge to all the six competing teams as none of them have yet qualified for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be staged in India in 2013.”
The European regional qualifiers for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier get underway next week while Africa will host the final regional qualifier in December.
The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier will be staged in Bangladesh in November 2011 and will be participated by 10 sides, including the West Indies and Pakistan (based on their fifth and sixth-placed finishing in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2008 in Sydney), plus two regional qualifiers each from Africa, Asia and Europe and one each from Americas and East-Asia Pacific.
The only teams who have qualified for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup are the top four ranked women’s ODI teams, England, New Zealand, India and Australia. The teams participating in Potchefstroom will fill the rest of the ODI team rankings table based on their standings at the conclusion of the ODI part of the tournament.
The grounds being used in Potchefstroom are North Western University 1 (NWU 1), North Western University 2 (NWU 2), Witrand CC and Senwes Park.
The squads will be announced in due course.
The full schedule for the ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge, South Africa 2010 is as follows:
Fixtures
ODIs
6 Oct – Pakistan v Ireland (NWU 1); West Indies v Netherlands (Witrand); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Senwes)
7 Oct – Netherlands v Sri Lanka (NWU 1); Ireland v West Indies (NWU 2); Pakistan v South Africa (Witrand)
8 Oct – Rest/Reserve Day
9 Oct – West Indies v Sri Lanka (NWU 1); Netherlands v Pakistan (NWU 2); Ireland v South Africa (Witrand)
10 Oct – South Africa v West Indies (NWU 1); Sri Lanka v Pakistan (NWU 2); Ireland v Netherlands (Senwes)
11 Oct – Rest/Reserve Day
12 Oct – South Africa v Netherlands (NWU 2); Sri Lanka v Ireland (Witrand); West Indies v Pakistan (Senwes)
T20Is
T20 Group A: West Indies (fifth), South Africa (seventh), Netherlands 10th
T20 Group B: Pakistan (sixth), Sri Lanka (eighth), Ireland (ninth)
14 Oct – West Indies v South Africa (NWU 1); Pakistan v Sri Lanka (NWU 2)
14 Oct – South Africa v Netherlands (NWU 1); Sri Lanka v Ireland (NWU 2)
15 Oct – Rest/Reserve Day
16 Oct – Netherlands v West Indies (NWU 1); Ireland v Pakistan (NWU 2)
16 Oct – A1 v B1 (NWU 1); A2 v B2 (NWU 2); A3 v B3 (Witrand)
Labels: ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge
posted @ 11:29 AM,
,
Hot Spot short for all World Cup matches
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Hot Spot cameras are unlikely to assist umpires in all of the matches of next year’s cricket World Cup in the subcontinent due to a shortage of equipment.
A Melbourne-based firm that supplies the technology told cricinfo.com on Wednesday that it has only four Hot Spot cameras which would limit it to providing Hot Spot for only quarterfinals onwards.
Under the Umpire Decision Review System, off-field umpires assist their onfield colleagues — through Hot Spot — whether the batsman had edged the ball or not.
Owner of BBG Sports Warren Brennan told the website he had already informed the International Cricket Council about the shortage of Hot Spot cameras.
An ICC spokesperson said it was aware of the shortage, and was in discussions with BBG as recently as two weeks ago about the matter.
Brennan said an additional eight to 10 Hot Spot cameras were needed to cover all of the 50 World Cup matches and it takes lot of time to manufacture them. Only four or five companies in the world have the know-how to make the Hot Spot cameras.
Brennan said the Hot Spot cameras required security clearances from various governments, which can take up to three months to complete since they are classified as military equipment.
The cost of Hot Spot infrared imaging technology is also on the high side, costing $6,000 per day for a two-camera setup and $10,000 per day for a four-camera setup.
The World Cup is being jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February and March.
The ICC spokesperson said Hot Spot cameras were “desirable” but not a requirement at this point.
The ICC’s minimum requirements for the referral system includes ball-tracking technology (Hawk-Eye), super slow-motion cameras and a clean audio feed from the stump microphone. -AP
Labels: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
posted @ 10:16 AM,
,
2011 World Cup venues on track
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Ratnakar Shetty, tournament director of the 2011 World Cup, has said that the development of the stadiums was on schedule and that the governments of the host countries--India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh--were working together to ensure an "incident-free" competition.
Several venues in India, Bangaldesh and Sri Lanka are being redeveloped or constructed from scratch and Shetty was confident they would be ready before the December 31 deadline.
"We are monitoring the development of all the World Cup venues, particularly the re-development of stadiums. The events are properly chartered and time is of the essence for us," Shetty said. "The World Cup has been previously held in the sub-continent in 1987 and 1996, and our aim is to deliver a World Cup remembered as a memorable event for spectators to enjoy and the teams that are participating to be at full strength."
In February, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had written to the Indian Board (BCCI) expressing concerns over facilities at Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium. Andy Atkinson, the ICC pitch consultant, reportedly suggested several changes that need to be undertaken ahead of the tournament.
In June, the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo was deemed to be behind schedule by an ICC delegation in terms of readiness of the pitch, but progress at the two new venues in Pallekele and Hambantota was assessed to be on track.
Shetty also said the hosts were working towards improving the security for the event.
"Each of the countries now has full-time security advisors and they are preparing the national security plans as well as the tournament security plans. The three governments are working out to ensure that this will be an incident-free 2011 World Cup."
Shetty was in Colombo for the naming of the 2011 World Cup's mascot--a baby elephant called 'Stumpy'. The ICC had conducted an online competition inviting the public to suggest a name for the mascot.
–Cricinfo
posted @ 12:13 PM,
,
