Steve Bucknor has travel difficulties

Controversial umpire Steve Bucknor's surprise return to Australia has been cancelled because of what the International Cricket Council (ICC) describes as "travel difficulties".

South Africa's Rudi Koertzen will take Bucknor's place in Thursday's first Test between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane and the second Test in Adelaide.

Jamaica's Bucknor was dropped by the ICC for the third Test between Australia and India in Perth in January this year after his poor performance in the tense second Test in Sydney.

Indian officials were furious after their spin bowler Harbhajan Singh was handed a three-Test ban for racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds. Harbhajan's ban was later changed to a fine for a downgraded charge of using abusive and insulting language.

With Bucknor facing criticism for some poor decisions during the Sydney Test, India started making noises about quitting their Australian tour and going home.

The ICC denied at the time that their decision to remove the out-of-form Bucknor from the Perth Test was due to pressure from Indian officials.

In a surprise move last week, the ICC had announced the 62-year-old Bucknor would partner fellow West Indian Billy Doctrove in Australia's series against the Kiwis.

But the ICC said in a statement on Tuesday: "Due to travel difficulties, Steve Bucknor ... will not be officiating in the two-match series between Australia and New Zealand due to begin on 20 November.

"He will be replaced by Rudi Koertzen ... for both Tests."

Series win against Oz takes India to second spot in Test rankings

India moved up to the second spot in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Test Championship after their emphatic 2-0 win over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Indian won back the trophy after four years, winning the fourth and last Test in Nagpur by 172 runs Monday and gained seven rating points to draw level with South Africa on 116. But South Africa slipped to third position by fraction of a rating point.

Australia still lead the table with 129 points. But this is the first time since a rain-affected tour to Sri Lanka in 1999 that Australia have lost a series without winning a single match and as a result of the 2-0 defeat, Ricky Ponting's men have lost nine ratings points to fall below 130 for the first time since April 2006.

It is also the first time since 2001 that Australia has played an entire series without winning a match.

With India looking forward to two more Tests against England beginning Dec 10, and the six Tests coming up between Australia and South Africa over the coming months, there will be plenty of opportunities for sides to make their moves in the championship table.

The list:

1. Australia 129 rating points

2. India 116

3. South Africa 116

4. Sri Lanka 108

5. England 104

6. Pakistan 100

7. New Zealand 82

8. West Indies 81

9. Bangladesh 1

Gambhir's ban is final: ICC

The International Cricket Council says the Gautam Gambhir elbowing case is closed despite Indian objections after the Test opener's one-match ban was confirmed.

The ICC returned serve on Wednesday after India refused to accept Gambhir losing his appeal against a suspension for elbowing Australia's Shane Watson in the third Test in New Delhi.

Indian governing body, the BCCI sent the ICC a letter explaining why it would not accept the decision.

However, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat indicated they had no option, a clear indication that Gambhir would not be allowed to play in the fourth Test in Nagpur.

"The ICC code of conduct is a robust and independent process designed to achieve a fair and proper outcome," said Lorgat in a statement.

"Although we have received an objection letter from the BCCI, there is nothing more that we can do as the appeal commissioner's decision is a final and binding decision.

"The matter is now closed and the ICC will make no further comment on the case."

Appeal commissioner Albie Sachs on Tuesday

upheld match referee Chris Broad's decision to suspend Gambhir for elbowing Watson on day one of the third Test in New Delhi.

"I am prepared to accept that he (Gambhir) had been the victim of prolonged and persistent verbal abuse by members of the Australian team, culminating in a moment of anger that led to his unfortunate lapse," Sachs said.

"(But) cricket is not a contact sport. Small collisions can lead to big ones ... Deliberate collision can never be condoned, however grave the provocation."

Watson was fined 10 per cent of his match fee on Thursday for verbally engaging with Gambhir.

On receiving notification that Gambhir's one-match ban would stand, ruling him out of the final Test against Australia beginning Thursday in Nagpur, the BCCI released a statement protesting the verdict.

"The said order has been passed without affording the player an opportunity of personal hearing, legal representation and without acceding to his request for certain documents/recordings to be given to him and also denying him an extension of time," BCCI honorary secretary N Srinivasan said in the statement.

"On receipt of the order, the Board has refused to accept the decision ... and has sent its objection to the ICC.

"I submit that the decision/order of the ... appeals commissioner is void ... and also as being in violation of principles of natural justice," Srinivasan wrote.

India have named opening batsman Murali Vijay as an addition to the squad for the fourth Test, presumably as cover for Gambhir.

However, there is a chance that India's strongly worded rebuke to the ICC will be a forerunner to their selecting the ineligible Gambhir to play in Nagpur.

An identical situation arose in 2001 when the banned Virender Sehwag was chosen to play against South Africa at Centurion Park despite a suspension for over-appealing.

On that occasion match referee Mike Denness, who imposed the ban, was locked out of the ground and the match declared unofficial by the ICC.

MCC blast 2006 ICC ruling

The ICC should not have changed the result of the controversial 2006 Oval test between England and Pakistan to a draw, according to the MCC.

The MCC called for the ICC to reinstate the original result that Pakistan had forfeited the Test and said it had set a dangerous precedent by altering the result.

England were originally declared winners after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq refused to lead his team back on to the field after tea on day four in protest after being docked five runs for alleged ball tampering by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove.

After an investigation into the incident that resulted in the first forfeited result in Tests, the ICC executive board altered the result to a draw in July this year.

"The ICC's decision (altering the win to a draw) is wrong and sets a very dangerous precedent. Cricket is the worse for this decision," MCC world cricket committee chairman Tony Lewis told a news conference after its two-day meeting in New Delhi.

The Lord's-based committee said the ICC's executive board's decision, which overrode the ICC cricket committee's unanimous recommendation that the forfeited result should stand, ran contrary to the laws of cricket.

"The ICC has no power, under the Laws of Cricket, to decide that results should be altered, whether it feels them to be 'inappropriate' or otherwise," the MCC said in a statement.

"The committee urges the ICC to revoke its decisionand to confirm that the original result of the match still stands."

Lee flies flag for Aussies

Australia's domination of Test cricket was not recognised with individual honours at the ICC Awards in Dubai on Wednesday night.

Despite being the No.1 ranked nation in Test cricket, selectors could only find a place for one Australian - Brett Lee - in the XI for the ICC's World Test Team of the Year.

South Africa and Sri Lanka both had three players picked in the Test side named by a five-man selection panel led by West Indies great Clive Lloyd and including former Australian captain Greg Chappell.
Stuart Clark was named 12th man in the side which will be captained by South African Graeme Smith and includes West Indies run machine Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was named the Cricketer of the Year.

Kumar Sangakkara was named the team's gloveman despite only assuming wicket-keeping duties in one Test during the 12-month window.

Australians were also overlooked for the individual awards but had five players - Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken and Mitchell Johnson - named in the World ODI Team of the Year. Ponting will captain the one-day side.

The Test Player of the Year Award went to South African paceman Dale Steyn, who Australian audiences will see close hand this summer, while the one-day gong was awarded to Indian gloveman Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis was named the Emerging Player of the Year after bursting onto the international scene with 26 wickets in his first three Tests.

World Test Team of the Year: Graeme Smith (SA, captain), Virender Sehwag (India), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies), Kevin Pietersen (England), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, wicketkeeper), Brett Lee (Australia), Ryan Sidebottom (England), Dale Steyn (South Africa), Stuart Clark (Australia, 12th man)

World ODI Team of the Year: Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Ricky Ponting (Australia, captain), Yunus Khan (Pakistan), Andrew Symonds (Australia), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India, wicketkeeper), Farveez Maharoof (Sri Lanka), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Brett Lee (Australia), Mitchell Johnson (Australia), Nathan Bracken (Australia), Salman Butt (Pakistan, 12th man)

Test Player of the Year Award: Dale Steyn (South Africa)
Player of the Year: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India)
Women's Cricketer of the Year: Charlotte Edwards (England)
Emerging Player of the Year: Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Associate ODI Player of the Year: Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands)
Twenty20 International Performance of the Year: Yuvraj Singh (India)
Spirit of Cricket Award: Sri Lanka
Umpire of the Year Award: Simon Taufel

Chanderpaul, Jayawardene, Steyn lead awards nominees

West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and South African Dale Steyn are set to dominate the fifth ICC awards night on Wednesday.

The three were nominated for both the cricketer of the year and the Test player of the year awards that will be announced at a gala dinner in Dubai, the headquarters of the International Cricket Council.

South African captain Graeme Smith was the fourth nominee for the cricketer of the year, while team-mate Jacques Kallis completed the list for the Test player of the year.

None of the four nominees for the cricketer of the year have won the award before, meaning a new name will be inscribed on the prestigious Garfield Sobers Trophy.

Past winners include India's Rahul Dravid (2004), England's Andrew Flintoff and Kallis (joint winners in 2005), and Australia captain Ricky Ponting (2006 and 2007).

The nominees were announced by ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat here on Monday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been nominated for two prizes, the one-day player of the year and the Twenty20 International performance of the year after leading India to victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa.

Indian paceman Ishant Sharma will compete with Sri Lanka's mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, England all-rounder Stuart Broad and South African fast bowler Morne Morkel for the Emerging Player award.

Simon Taufel of Australia could win a fifth successive umpire of the year award after being nominated alongside Mark Benson of England, Aleem Dar of Pakistan, Steve Davis of Australia and South African Rudi Koertzen.

ICC Board agrees to postpone ICC Champions Trophy

The ICC Board agreed unanimously to postpone the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place in Pakistan next month, until October 2009.

The agreement was reached during a telephone hook-up of ICC Directors.

It was further agreed that the Board would meet in September 2008 to discuss the details of the postponement.

Pakistan will retain the right to host the tournament but it was agreed that if other Members continued to express reservations over issues of safety and security then the ICC Board would have the right to decide about the tournament’s location.

ICC President David Morgan said: “There was complete support and sympathy for the Pakistan Cricket Board and the situation it finds itself in, which is not of its making.

“However, there was also a realisation that, under the current circumstances, some of the teams due to compete in the ICC Champions Trophy had reservations about touring there which could not be removed.

“In those circumstances it was considered prudent to postpone the event to October 2009, a time when we all hope conditions may be more acceptable for all the competing teams.

“It was agreed Pakistan would retain the right to host the event next year but that if, at a certain time, any Members still had reservations then the ICC’s Board would have the right to relocate the event.”

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “Every one of our Members wishes to ensure the ICC Champions Trophy is a world-class event and the prospect of relocating it at short notice in order to make sure it was played this year would not allow that criterion to be fulfilled.

“Today’s agreement provides clarity for our Members and in September we will look to put in place a timeframe for arrangements ahead of the event taking place in 2009.”

The ICC Board consists of the Chairman or President from each of the 10 Full Members plus three Associate Member representatives. Also present at ICC Board meetings is the ICC President, who chairs proceedings, the ICC Chief Executive and the ICC Vice President. The ICC’s Principal Advisor, Inderjit Bindra, attends meeting at the request of the President and was present on Sunday’s call.

ICC face tough call on trophy deadlock

A teleconference on Sunday will decide the fate of cricket’s mini-World Cup, the Champions Trophy, due to be staged in Pakistan in mid-September.

It is an appropriate forum for discussing an event about which the 10 full members of the International Cricket Council have never seen eye to eye.

The 50-over Champions Trophy was born of commercial greed. Only the inaugural tournament in 1998 has attracted crowds, and that was because Bangladesh had never seen top-class cricket before (and, so the cynic would add, still hasn’t). It is an event made for television, to raise money: $83 million (£45 million) is the value of next month’s tournament, which is slated to run from Sept 12-28.

But given that the trophy exists, a way to resolve the ICC’s 6-4 deadlock has to be found. The cricketers of Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa are resolutely opposed to touring Pakistan on security grounds; and the respective boards are finally supporting their players, with varying degrees of reluctance.

On the other side of what is a cultural divide are India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and the country which was effectively made a full member to swell India’s vote bank, Zimbabwe. Earlier this summer the Asian countries staged the Asia Cup in Pakistan, and successfully. For them, there were not — and are not — any security issues. But then Asian cricketers would never be a prime target for the Taliban.

Since the Asia Cup, the security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated, even in the last fortnight. President Musharraf has resigned too, and the moment he did so, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Naseem Ashraf, resigned as well: nothing political about cricket in Pakistan, then.

The teleconference will feature the four members of the ICC “task team” appointed to resolve this deadlock: the ICC president David Morgan, the vice-president Sharad Pawar, the chief executive Haroon Lorgat and the principal adviser Inderjit Singh Bindra.

It is certain that alternative venues will be discussed, albeit briefly. Sri Lanka is the second-choice option; England and South Africa have also volunteered their grounds. But, in organisational terms, the 11th hour has already passed; and the several hundred people involved in staging the event cannot be switched to a new country less than three weeks before its start.

Postponement of the Champions Trophy, therefore, shapes as the best and most practicable outcome. A slot could be found in September or October 2009, soon after the ICC World Twenty20, to be held in England in June, and the Ashes series.

Whether the postponed trophy takes place in Pakistan remains to be discussed. Because it is the ICC, horse-trading will be involved: India may even nip in and stage its inaugural Champions League for domestic 20-over winners this September, instead of cramming it into early December. But the game’s governing body should at least survive their latest crisis in one piece.

Hair resigns from elite umpires panel

Controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair has resigned from the International Cricket Council (ICC) elite umpires panel, an ICC spokesman said on Friday.

The Australian newspaper reported on its website (www.theaustralian.news.com.au) that Hair had quit to take up a position as executive officer of the New South Wales Umpires and Scorers Association.

Hair, 55, hit the headlines when he was removed from the umpires panel for matches involving full member nations after Pakistan forfeited the fourth test against England at The Oval in 2006 when they were penalised for ball tampering.

He only returned to umpiring at the top level this year for two tests between England and New Zealand.

Hair and his West Indies' colleague Billy Doctrove had enraged the Pakistan team when they penalised them five runs for ball tampering on the fourth day of The Oval test.

Last month the ICC overturned the decision and declared the result a draw.

Hair underwent a six-month rehabilitation programme after dropping a racial discrimination claim against the ICC at a London employment tribunal and was reinstated to the elite panel.

Last month he was appointed to a Cricket Australia (CA) four-man mentoring panel for prospective elite umpires.

Hair is currently umpiring a tournament in Toronto between West Indies, Bermuda and Canada.

ICC likely to decide Champions Trophy fate on Sunday

The International Cricket Council on Wednesday said it is likely to make a final decision on the ill-fated Champions Trophy in Pakistan on Sunday.

The eight-nation biennial event, scheduled for September, has run into serious doubts after players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England raised security concerns.

"It is anticipated the ICC task team hook-up will take place on Friday 22 August and the ICC Board hook-up will be held on Sunday 24 August," said an ICC press release after a meeting at headquarters in Dubai.

The meeting was held a day after Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) urged its players not to tour the country following a wave of suicide bombings and ongoing political instability.

The ICC last month decided to keep the event in Pakistan despite security fears. It also appointed an eight-man task force to oversee security arrangements in the host country in an effort to allay fears about safety.

But Australian newspapers have since reported that the ACA had advised its players not to travel to Pakistan.

"The ACA has discussed the situation with its executive and our position is we can't recommend to our players they should tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy," chief executive Paul Marsh was quoted as saying by The Australian newspaper.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled in Pakistan from September 12-28 with defending champions Australia, England, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa and the West Indies taking part.

Champions Trophy will be played in Pakistan: ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday said it could drop the Rawalpindi as one of the three venues for Champions Trophy.

Eliminating Rawalpindi would leave all the trophy matches to be played in Karachi and Lahore.

"It is a strong possibility that we will reduce the Champions Trophy to two venues but the event will be played in Pakistan," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said during a visit to Rawalpindi Stadium.

Lorgat is leading a high-profile six-man ICC task force which is here to oversee security arrangements for the trophy amid threats of a boycott by some non-Asian teams.

The delegation also includes Tim May, a former Australian off-spinner who is now the chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA).

The ICC last month decided to keep the biennial event in Pakistan despite security concerns raised by players from Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa.

The players associations of these countries and FICA had called for a relocation of the trophy over player safety following a series of suicide bombings in Pakistan.

Local media reports said Rawalpindi stadium, where renovation work is well behind schedule, may be dropped.

Lorgat said security could not be assessed at Rawalpindi as it did not host any matches in the recent Asia Cup.

"During the Asia Cup there were no fixtures at Rawalpindi and that didn't provide us an opportunity to check the security arrangements, so there was no way we can formulate an opinion on Rawalpindi," Lorgat said.

"We are trying to explore whether we might use only Lahore and Karachi and take a decision soon."

The taskforce also met security officials, including senior interior ministry officials.

"It was a very constructive meeting, very informative. The attitude and willingness of the Pakistan government officials to implement security measures was very positive," Lorgat said.

"We all shared the same concerns. We have to ensure the safety of the players, the media, and the concerns were all common."

Twenty20 schedule to be reviewed

Organisers of the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League have agreed to review the scheduling of the controversial tournament within the next seven days.

The current dates for the tournament, which has not yet been approved by the International Cricket Council, mean it may overlap with the Champions Trophy.

That breaks an agreement that an event cannot take place seven days after an ICC-sanctioned tournament.

The Champions Trophy in Pakistan runs from 11 September-28 September.

The Champions League, will which feature eight teams from India, South Africa, Australia, England and another to be confirmed, is due to take place at an unspecified venue from 29 September to 8 October.

That means it will start on the reserve day for the Champions Trophy final.

The India, Australia and South Africa cricket boards
will now consider changing the dates following objections from the ICC.

ESPN Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the Champions Trophy, have also expressed concerns that staging the Twenty20 event so close to the Trophy will affect potential revenue.

ICC president David Morgan said: "All our directors are committed to the principle of the primacy of ICC events.

"Every one of them wants the ICC Champions Trophy to be a successful, premium quality tournament.

"The directors will consider whether, and if so how, the Champions League will impact on that desired outcome."

ICC accused of downplaying terror risks

The International Cricket Council has come under heavy criticism from Oz media and players association for ‘stage-managing’ its campaign to keep the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, putting life and safety of teams and support staff under serious risks and downplaying the risk of terrorist attacks in the country; Australia’s widely read newspaper Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The ICC board has sent a list of 20 questions and answers to its board members to use during press conferences about the Champions Trophy, according to cricket website.
“ICC`s - fact sheets are irresponsible because they compare Pakistan`s security to India`s and Spain`s," The newspaper quoted Tim May; Chief of Australian Players Association.
"In Jaipur [in India], there was no intelligence of further attacks. In this case there is a well-documented history against Westerners in most cities of Pakistan.”
"Ultimately, the man on the street is smart enough to see through this. We can bicker about this, but there is a difference between reality and perception. But the reference to Jaipur was irresponsible."
"We must remember the players they listed [as missing] were all Test players and who are not in the scheme of things when it comes to Twenty20 cricket," May said. "This attempt to dress up the whole thing is ridiculous."
May will still go to Pakistan as part of ICC`s task force on security in Pakistan.
"We would have made significant progress if the players are comfortable with what we see in Pakistan. All the stakeholders need to be satisfied," he said.

ICC powerless to prevent Pakistan boycott, says Lorgat

International cricket chiefs admitted on Friday that they would be powerless to prevent any mass pullout from September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Responding to suggestions that players and even teams may skip the event because of security fears, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "We cannot force players to attend. All we can do is make them confident about the measures taken in regard to safety and security and on that basis hope they participate."

Holders Australia, who are also world champions, and other key nations could refuse to play in the tournament after the ICC decided Thursday to go ahead with the event in Pakistan.

The Australian and New Zealand players' associations have called on their country's governing bodies not to send teams, while England players will be asked if they want to travel.

The ICC will appoint a commission to look into ensuring security at the September 11-28 showpiece, but it was not enough to ease fears about the threat of militant attacks.

Lorgat said the objective of setting up a task force was to ensure the interests of all the stakeholders involved. "That is the reason we are putting together a task team inviting all the main stakeholders including FICA (Federation of International Cricketers' Associations), so the process is inclusive," said Lorgat.

"We won't speculate on teams not taking part or any action if that did occur. There was no indication that would happen during the telephone hook-up of ICC Directors on Thursday."

ICC to decide on Champions Trophy

The International Cricket Council will decide this week whether September's Champions Trophy can take place in Pakistan.

Representatives of the eight nations due to take part in the tournament, including England, were briefed on the security situation in Dubai today by the ICC's own security consultants and the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The PCB highlighted the successful recent staging of the Asia Cup as a reason for optimism but concerns remain over the ability to guarantee the safety of the teams involved.

The ICC board will consider those fears this week before making a final decision on whether or not the tournament must be moved.

Several Australia and New Zealand cricketers have said previously they would not play in the tournament, although security experts who visited the venues declared them safe.

"We have assured fool-proof security measures for the Champions Trophy," PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said earlier this week.

"There is no reason for us to believe that the tournament will be relocated from Pakistan.

"Everything that needs to be done has been done to ensure that the Champions Trophy is held here smoothly and safely.

"We've informed the ICC, the security experts and the competing nations about it and now hope that all the stakeholders will consider it objectively."

MCC criticises England result change

The MCC has heavily criticised the ICC's decision to alter England's win in the forfeited Test against Pakistan at The Oval in 2006 into a draw, and will lobby for another reversal.

The Test had originally been awarded to England after Pakistan did not come out to field after tea on the fourth day, following accusations of ball-tampering.

The MCC is the body responsible for the Laws of Cricket, and secretary Keith Bradshaw felt the ICC's decision contravened the spirit of the game and its laws.

It is also reported that the MCC's cricket committee is opposed to any alteration to Law 21, which states that the result should not be changed.

"Cricket is the worse for this decision and it was opposed unanimously by the ICC's cricket committee, on which I sit," Bradshaw told The Times.

Michael Holding, the former West Indian fast bowler, resigned from the ICC cricket committee following the verdict.

The ICC ruling was termed as "unprecedented and dangerous" by Robert Griffiths, QC, who represented umpire Darrell Hair at his tribunal hearing against the ICC.

"It had no power to do so under the Laws of Cricket and the decision is a nullity," Griffiths, along with fellow barrister Stephen Whale wrote in The Times.

"But it is deeply troubling that the ICC should take this unprecedented and dangerous step.

"It is historical revisionism of the worst kind.

"Law 21 (10) is unequivocal: once the umpires have agreed with the scorers the correctness of the scores, the result cannot be changed.

"The reasoning is vacuous. It was, officially, "based on the view that in light of the unique set of circumstances, the original result was felt to be inappropriate".

"This is even though ICC board member witnesses admitted under oath at Hair's tribunal that the umpires' decisions were in accordance with the Laws."

The initial result had lasting off-field ramifications.

Hair went on to be suspended from the ICC elite panel, and though that decision was overturned last year when he took his employers to the High Court in London, the initial decision formed the basis of Pakistan's appeal for a change to the result.

New ICC chief hints at separate international calendar for IPL

Considering the huge amount of money cricketers earned in the first session of Indian Premier League (IPL) in March-April, against what they get from international cricket, new ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has raised concerns over the future of international cricket, and hinted at the need for a separate window for the IPL in the international calendar.

He reportedly told this to reporters at Lord's last evening.

Lorgat's comments assume significance in the wake of Sri Lanka Cricket allowing its players to participate in the IPL next year though it coincided with a tour of England.

SLC had agreed to the series (against England) earlier this week as a replacement for Zimbabwe, but gave in after their players lobbied hard - involving the country's president - for the right to play in the IPL.

"If we don't manage this situation we could be threatening the lifeblood of all member countries. International cricket generates revenue that is essential to our survival. My folks always told me to be careful because money is the root of all evil. The root of this issue is the sums of money involved - it is far more attractive financially to play in the IPL," cricinfo quoted Lorgat as saying.

He added: "There is no doubt that there are inherent conflicts in the situation. Each country would rather look after its own interests and then you also have to get together to look after the global interests. I would hope that the ICC has people with the integrity to look after the game globally."

ODIs in for shakeup, ICC plans to tinker with 50-over format

Afraid that one-day cricket might have ceded at least part of its charm to the game`s slam-bang Twenty20 avatar, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is all set to tinker with the 50-over format.

ICC general manager of cricket Dave Richardson says he is not sure if the crowd, which lapped up Twenty20, has the same appetite for ODIs and he reckons the 50-over game may have to pave way for 40-over matches or even two innings of 20 overs each.

"The goal is to preserve all three formats. We have to preserve Test cricket as the pinnacle of the game. But are people willing to watch a 50-over game when T20 promises more action in less time? that is the challenge," Richardson said.

"So we are looking at two fresh options. We still feel broadcasters need content for seven hours...We need to get balance right and tinker with the 50-over format," he said.

Richardson said the 50-over game has evolved over the years and there are new proposals on the table to experiment with the format. "The general feeling amongst cricketers is that the 50-over edition is not sacrosanct like Test cricket. It started off with 60 overs and then dropped to 55 and 50. Some countries are experimenting with 40 and 45 overs. The new proposals are firmly on the agenda. We will not promise anything, but it will be looked at quite seriously," he said.

Richardson, the former South African wicketkeeper, was of the belief that there are simply just too many one-day tournaments, which defy logic.

"I suppose you could say there were too many meaningless ODIs. They were generating revenue, but were of no consequence. Apart from World Cup it did not make a difference. The rankings upped a little bit, but not enough. There is a proposal to create some context for those ODI series," he said.

On Twenty20, Richardson said greed should not be allowed to kill the golden goose.

"The ICC believes that T20 is the saviour of domestic games and will leave it at the domestic level. The policy is that t20 should bloom in the domestic league and be played at a limited scale internationally. We do not want to kill the golden goose," he said.

Richardson revealed ICC, in its recent executive board meeting, discussed future landscape of cricket where the rising popularity of Twenty20 and private ownership of teams were debated.

"Domestic leagues playing Twenty20 cricket for the first time have become revenue generators and have invited worldwide interest. I mean IPL in particular. For the first time ever we have people wanting to watch, sponsor, broadcast and advertise a domestic league! that changed the current cricket landscape," he said.

Asked if franchisee-owned model posed any threat to the cricket boards, Richardson said, "no. The boards are still in control...To preserve international cricket there is no need to ban domestic leagues. We just want to ensure that the ICC`s international events and bilateral tours are well promoted and worth watching.

ICC to invest $300 million to make cricket a global sport

In an attempt to make cricket a global sport, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Tuesday decided to pump in $300 million.

'We can confirm that we are making the biggest-ever investment in the game from top to bottom over the next seven years. From 2009, the ICC will pump almost $300 million into our 94 Associate and Affiliate Members that make up the developing cricket world,' said ICC's new chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

'That's at least $40 million per annum, compared to $18 million in 2008, a 120 per cent increase. We believe this is the biggest investment in global development by any sport outside football,' he added.

Lorgat also said that the 10 Full Members will also benefit from substantial increases in funding from the ICC over the coming years.

Lorgat, who took over as ICC CEO Friday succeeding Malcolm Speed, said the investment was important as cricket is getting popular world over.

'This fresh cash injection highlights we are a not-for-profit organisation. All the revenue we generate from our events, broadcast and commercial agreements is ploughed back into the game. It is also an indication of how strong this great game is at present. Participation is at an all-time high in all our members at all levels,' he said.

The ICC now has 104 Members, including 34 Associates and 60 Affiliates as well as the 10 Full Members. Turkey, Estonia and Bulgaria are the latest to join the ICC family having been granted Affiliate Member status at ICC Annual Conference in Dubai last week.

Champions Trophy in real trouble as blasts rattle ICC

Prospects of Pakistan holding the Champions Trophy are bleak after the blasts in Islamabad sparked fresh security fears among Australian cricketers and the International Cricket Council (ICC) making it clear that it would not compromise with the security of the players.

'The ICC will not compromise the safety and security of any individual at one of its tournaments and if it is not appropriate to play in any country then we will not do so,' ICC chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

Lorgat said that a security process had been agreed for the Champions Trophy.

'The process involved an exchange of information between the competing teams, the ICC and the security consultants.'

Security consultants are preparing a report for the ICC and they are expected to announce by the middle of July whether Pakistan is safe to host the eight-team tournament. The ICC has previously stated Sri Lanka would be the back-up venue for the trophy.

India, however, suggested the postponement of the Champions Trophy, instead of shifting it from Pakistan.

'Our security consultants have been working with the Pakistan authorities during the Asia Cup, assessing security, and will report back as soon as possible with their views,' he added.

Australia, England and New Zealand players have already expressed their apprehension about touring Pakistan on grounds of security. The blast have only strengthened their case.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, senior Australian cricketers have informed their team mates that they are not going to take part in the Champions Trophy even if Cricket Australia (CA) gives a green signal. The report said that the bomb blast near the Red Mosque in the Pakistani capital will prove a major deterrent to already nervous Australian players.

Islamabad is not scheduled to host any matches of the tournament, but the bomb blast yet again proved that the nation remains in a volatile state.

The daily said that CA's security adviser, Reg Dickason, returned from Pakistan last week after an inspection. The contents of Dickason's report have not been revealed, but it is understood security personnel are concerned that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) cannot guarantee cleared roads between team hotels and stadia throughout the tournament.

The Champions Trophy is due to start September 11 with matches to be held in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. Eight teams -- Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and the West Indies -- will participate in the tournament.

Tim May, chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) feels situation in Pakistan is still very much in turmoil since they abandoned their Pakistan tour in March.

'FICA is very concerned about the inherent risks of holding such an event in Pakistan in such a landscape of unrest and volatility and opposition to western countries,' May said.

Champions Trophy will be the first major competition in Pakistan since co-hosting the World Cup in 1996.