No mercy for ICL rebels, asserts PCB

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf has ruled out the possibility of giving a general amnesty to players who were banned for participating in the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

“Well it is something that can be discussed by our governing body members and they have the authority to take a decision on this. But I must emphasise that the players knew what they were doing and the consequences of playing in the ICL when they signed their contracts, he said when asked whether the players would be pardoned.

Ashraf said the decision to ban the players was not unilateral and was agreed upon in an ICC meeting.

“I don’t know why this impression is being given that only the PCB has taken this decision. The fact is this was a policy decision discussed by all member boards of the ICC and also agreed upon. So we have done nothing new or unilateral,” he explained.

Pakistani Test discards Imran Farhat, Shabbir Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood and former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq appeared in the ICL in its inaugural edition last month.

And on returning home they were told by their departments that the board has instructed them not to select them as they had appeared in an unauthorised foreign league.

Ashraf said the players were aware of the problems they could face when they signed up to play in a event which is not recognised by the ICC or any of its member boards.

“We have nothing personal against these players. They can go and play in the ICL and earn good money. But when they were available we tried to talk sense into them and they didn’t listen. The PCB as a governing body of the sport in Pakistan has to follow certain regulations,” he said.

India to do their own thing: Shipperd

Victorian cricket coach Greg Shipperd has resisted the temptation to urge India to make a game of their three-day tour match after the corresponding fixture four years ago ended in dispute between the two sides.

Shipperd conceded India were likely to be interested only in gaining three days of practice instead of playing to win at the Junction Oval from Thursday, given it is their only hit-out before the first Test against Australia.

Victoria encouraged India to make a game of their three-day clash during the 2003-04 tour, but the Bushrangers’ then-coach, the late David Hookes, accused then-Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly of reneging on a deal to make an early declaration.

Hookes was annoyed Ganguly did not declare after 70 overs, so in response let Victoria bat well into the third day, which allowed Brad Hodge to post a double century.

Forecast showers could be India’s major headache this match, as their batsmen will want time to acclimatise to local conditions. So Shipperd expected Anil Kumble’s side to want to do its own thing.

“I seem to remember the last time we invited there to be a game played, but the touring team is usually interested in their own preparation,” he said.

“We’ll see how the game unfolds and throw options in if we think it’s appropriate.

“Their business is their business, so we’ll focus on what we can do.

“The way the game pans out may influence them in one way or the other, so we have to wait and see.”

Shipperd expected a well-paced, bouncy wicket at the Junction, which would be more in line with traditional Australian conditions for touring sides.

However India might face a slower pitch at the MCG come Boxing Day, which would be more to their liking. Kumble said Tuesday India were likely to field a strong side on Thursday, however Victoria’s side will be well depleted.

Captain Cameron White and strike bowlers Gerard Denton and Shane Harwood are all sidelined through injury and Hodge is unlikely to be risked after injuring his back in Perth last week. Hodge is in Victoria’s 13-man squad, but Shipperd said he would like his star batsman ready for the domestic Twenty20 campaign in the new year.

“I certainly would like to have him fresh and ready to go for the Twenty20,” he said.

“It’s a competition that allows our state to play at another level, internationally (the new Champions League), if we should get through to the top two and with our best side in we’ve got a very good chance of achieving that.”

Despite the injuries, Shipperd promised the Bushrangers would take the match up to India.

“Look, they might be vulnerable to the Australian cricket team, but I’m not sure they’d be too threatened by Victorians,” he said.

“But we’ll certainly come out and play some good quality cricket, I’m sure, and surprise them.”

Victoria (from): Brad Hodge (capt, fitness permitting), David Hussey, Aiden Blizzard, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Nick Jewell, Michael Klinger, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Robert Quiney, Peter Siddle, Matthew Wade, Allan Wise.

ICL announces eventful season for 2008

Subhash Chandra’s Indian Cricket League (ICL) which kick started its first season in November, will host 5 tournaments in 2008. The announcement was made today by Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra and Kapil Dev, chairman of the executive board, ICL.

The second season of ICL will roll-out in February and will include 50-over matches as well.

” It is indeed heartening to see the response Indian Cricket League (ICL) has been able to generate in India and across the globe. After a successful launch in keeping with the promise made, ICL is proud to announce its cricket calendar for the coming season.” ICL conducted its first 20-20 championship at the Tau Devilal cricket stadium at Panchkula, Chandigarh from November 30 to December 16, Subhash Chandra, chairman, Essel Group said.

ICL’s 2008 event calender will begin in February with a 50-over tournament featuring domestic cricketers, to be followed by a Twenty20 triangular series. In March-April, ICL will organise the ICL Grand Championship in which 8 teams will participate in a Twenty20 tournament. By April- May, the league will open academies across cities. September-October will witness the ICL Invitation Cup (a 20 over a side tournament in which 8 teams will participate). The season will conclude in November-December with the second edition of ICL Twenty20 Indian Championship.

Success of ICL tournament justified participation: Hall

Johannesburg : Despite his side, Chandigarh Lions, losing to the Chennai Superstars in the final of the Indian Cricket League Twenty20 tournament, South African cricketer Andrew Hall has said the success of the inaugural event justified the participation of international players, most of whom have been branded rebels.Writing in his weekly column “Report from a Rebel” in the Afrikaans weekly Rapport here, Hall said the tournament was “a gigantic success” and the players were very happy with the way it had turned out.

“This success has vindicated my decision – and that of all the other South African players – to come and play here (in Chandigarh ). Sometimes one has to take a chance, especially with something which is initially a gamble.”

Hall’s side lost to the Chennai Superstars Sunday in the finals of the inaugural Indian Cricket League (ICL) Twenty20 championship.

Hall and several other South African players have been considered rebels by Cricket South Africa , the national body for the sport here. Some are in litigation with the body after it decided to exclude them from even local squads.

“It’s incredible how the players from the different countries came together to make the ICL such a showpiece. Besides all the excitement on the field, the tournament also gave us as players an outcome – a guaranteed future and (job) security.

“Everyone knew exactly when they would be playing, how you would be used and that you are appreciated as a player, something every (player) wants in his career,” Hall added.

Hall said it did not matter that his side lost the game.

“I had the opportunity to teach a few young Indian players something which hopefully will make a difference in their careers. That is in the long run why every one of the so-called international players was here.”

Chennai Superstars are the champions

Chennai Superstars won the inaugural Indian Cricket League (ICL) 20:20 Indian Championships with a 12-run victory over Chandigarh Lions in the final at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula on Sunday.

Batting first after losing the toss, the Chennai Superstars made 155/8 in their stipulated 20 overs, largely due to useful contributions from their two Aussie imports — opener Ian Harvey making 36 off 31 balls and captain Stuart Law making 34 off 28 balls.

Daryl Tuffey was the most successful bowler for the Chandigarh Lions with figures of 2/32.

In reply, the Chandigarh Lions could muster only 143/8.  Tejinder Pal Singh top scored with 35 off 33 balls while South African all-rounder Andrew Hall was left unbeaten at 30 off 27 balls.

Pakistan seamer Shabbir Ahmed impressed with the ball for the Superstars with figures of 4/23 while Harvey completed an all round effort taking 2/26.

PCB unaware of Yousuf’s petition against ICL

Karachi : The PCB on Wednesday said it was not aware of Mohammad Yousuf taking the India Cricket League to the court but reiterated support to the batsman on the issue.

Some media reports had claimed that Yousuf has filed a suit in a Lahore civil court in which he has asked for a hefty 21.5 crore rupees as compensation for damaging his reputation and causing him mental anguish.

The reports further claimed that he made the former captain Moin Khan, who is working as an agent for the ICL, a party in the case.

“Yes we are 100 percent behind Yousuf in any move by the ICL to drag him to court or claim damages from him for not playing for them. But until now we do not have any knowledge of Yousuf having filed any petition in Lahore,” Shafqat Naghmi, a Board official said.

“I think given the way we have been involved in this ICL issue if Yousuf decided to file any petition he would talk to us about it,” Naghmi said.

Yousuf has claimed, as per reports, that he had returned the first instalment of the contract money and for the cancellation of his ICL contract.

The ICL has summoned Yousuf for an arbitration hearing in India on December 16 as they claim that he violated his contractual obligations by not playing for them and instead signing another contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The PCB has been backing Yousuf in his stand-off with the ICL.

Naghmi expressed surprise over the media reports.

“I do not know how it can happen because he has been in India since last month. But yes we will support him if he needs our help,” he said.

However, Naghmi admitted that the Board had sought legal advice in India for Yousuf when the ICL first sent him a legal notice.

Naghmi maintained that PCB’s policy on players, who have opted to play for the ICL remains unchanged.

“The players who have now appeared in ICL will not be considered for national selection until there is a change in policy.”

Pakistan has six players appearing in the ongoing ICL matches including former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Get ready for another ICL

ICL is here to stay. Buoyed by the success of Twenty20 games in Panchkula the Indian Cricket League is planning to host another tournament in March next.An agency conducting survey regarding the viewership of programmes being run on various TV channels found out huge interest generated by the ICL matches among cricket buffs. “While the current Indo-Pak series got 2 rating points, the ICL matches got 1.8 rating points,” Essel Group’s executive vice-president, Ashish Kaul, revealed here.

“The tournament will be held at the same venue (Tau Devi Lal Stadium at Panchkula) in March next and possibly one more in October,” Kaul revealed here.

“The number of teams likely to participate the next time is likely to go up.” Kaul said adding that the focus, at the moment, was on the Tau Devi Lal stadium, where more facilities would be added to make it a better venue.

“The ICL matches will reach there in the households in Europe, the USA, the Caribbean, South Africa, Sri Lanka and other countries,” said Kaul, elaborating about a deal signed for the telecast of the ICL matches. The deal will enable its matches being available on TV sets virtually worldwide.

“Gateway, Astro and Siffy, all well reputed companies, will arrange live telecast of matches. Astro is one of the biggest DTH telecast provider.” The ICL matches are already available on a number of Zee channels across the country.

“Ideally, we would like that all big cities in the country have their own teams like Chandigarh Lions or Mumbai Champs competing among themselves.

“The successful launch of the tournament is like a dream come true. We did not have much time at our disposal to prepare for the 17-day tournament. There was a lot of skepticism about its launch. We have proved a lot of people wrong. Despite huge time restraints, I think we have managed to put up a decent show. The infrastructure has been put in the shortest possible time which in itself is a record of sorts.”

“Now that a beginning has been made, we are aware of the problems and the unexpected glitches which will be taken care of in the next tournament,” he said.

Asked about the offer made to host the matches at Eden Gardens, he replied that certain problems cropped up due to which Kolkata was not thought of as a venue.

He said that the ICL got a boost with former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav rallying for the success of the ICL. Besides Yadav, leaders like Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Amar Singh and Shatrughan Sinha have already visited the venue.

BCCI banning ICL unfortunate, says Lara

Panchkula : Brian Lara on Tuesday said that Indian Cricket League is an excellent platform for upcoming players and BCCI closing the door of national team for ICL players was unfortunate.
“I feel this (restraining players) is unfortunate. Individuals must be given options and doors should not be closed on them. For any cricketer the ultimate dream is to represent ones country,” Lara said.

“Many of those playing in ICL have been on national squads earlier. However, I am optimistic that this is just an aberration and the Boards will allow players the option to play for their country,” he said.

Lara, captain of Mumbai Champs, one of the six teams featuring in ICL’s Twenty20 tournament, said youngsters have learnt a lot in the company of former international players.

“The confidence and motivation of some of the Indian players playing in this tournament is something to watch for. It is great to see these players learn valuable things here and I am sure four or five years from now they will be playing international cricket,” 37-year-old Lara said.

Besides Lara, former international stars like Marvan Atapattu, Chris Cairns,, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Stuart Law and Craig Macmillan are captaining other teams taking part in the 17-day long tournament, finals of which will be played on Sunday.

Lara’s Mumbai Champs were ousted as they lost four consecutive matches and the West Indian himself in poor touch.

“I feel I am still adapting to the Twenty20 cricket. It has been the first tournament and I hope things will not be the same next time,” he said.

Host Panchkula looks to score big with Indian Cricket League

The New Delhi Jets coach watches his captain Marvan Atapattu, once a star for Sri Lanka, at the nets during the Indian Cricket League (ICL) tournament, an event and its players blacklisted by the sport’s governing body.

The game isn’t the cause of amusement. Of all things, Malhotra’s thinking of real estate.

“I’ve been told land prices around here have shot up 25%,” he says. “People thought ICL would be a flop. It’s a stupendous success.”

A top Panchkula government official can’t confirm the statistic, but proudly offers anecdotal evidence: The government rate for a 500 sq. yard plot is Rs35 lakh, while the market rate has soared to Rs1 crore.

District commissioner Rajender Kataria says that “one month ago, no one had heard of Panchkula”, whose population of 319,398 is merely three times a capacity crowd at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens stadium. “Now, we are on the international map.”

This young town, barely 18 years old and dwarfed by nearby Chandigarh, has pinned much of its future on the Zee TV-organized ICL. While many development projects were already planned—a seven-star hotel and an information technology park, for example—they have been given new life and possibility with the guarantee of steady traffic due to matches.

The current tournament ends on 16 December, but another is slated for March; ICL’s Twenty20 format features six teams playing against each other for a total prize money of Rs15 crore.

Globally, the introduction of a team, stadium or big event is a tried and tested way to spur local development. Consider Beijing’s efforts to spruce up for the 2008 Olympics, for example. And, of course, New Delhi has seen itself made over twice now owing to the 1982 Asian Games and the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games.

But those are already places on the map. For Panchkula—which relies on a combination of government jobs, agriculture and remittances from non-resident Indians to sustain itself—the league’s entrance is viewed as a way to reinvent itself as more than an extension of Chandigarh, independent India’s first planned city.

The Panchkula administration also hopes ICL can help erase some of its relegated status as a stopover between the hills of Shimla and the plains.

After the league was announced, Panchkula stepped forward as host, despite warnings from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that those supporting the competition would be banned from its play.

For example, coach Malhotra and Atapattu, along with more than 50 players, can no longer be associated with BCCI-sponsored cricket; BCCI plans its own Twenty20 league, the Indian Premier League.

Host Panchkula looks to score big with Indian Cricket League

The New Delhi Jets coach watches his captain Marvan Atapattu, once a star for Sri Lanka, at the nets during the Indian Cricket League (ICL) tournament, an event and its players blacklisted by the sport’s governing body.

The game isn’t the cause of amusement. Of all things, Malhotra’s thinking of real estate.

“I’ve been told land prices around here have shot up 25%,” he says. “People thought ICL would be a flop. It’s a stupendous success.”

A top Panchkula government official can’t confirm the statistic, but proudly offers anecdotal evidence: The government rate for a 500 sq. yard plot is Rs35 lakh, while the market rate has soared to Rs1 crore.

District commissioner Rajender Kataria says that “one month ago, no one had heard of Panchkula”, whose population of 319,398 is merely three times a capacity crowd at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens stadium. “Now, we are on the international map.”

This young town, barely 18 years old and dwarfed by nearby Chandigarh, has pinned much of its future on the Zee TV-organized ICL. While many development projects were already planned—a seven-star hotel and an information technology park, for example—they have been given new life and possibility with the guarantee of steady traffic due to matches.

The current tournament ends on 16 December, but another is slated for March; ICL’s Twenty20 format features six teams playing against each other for a total prize money of Rs15 crore.

Globally, the introduction of a team, stadium or big event is a tried and tested way to spur local development. Consider Beijing’s efforts to spruce up for the 2008 Olympics, for example. And, of course, New Delhi has seen itself made over twice now owing to the 1982 Asian Games and the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games.

But those are already places on the map. For Panchkula—which relies on a combination of government jobs, agriculture and remittances from non-resident Indians to sustain itself—the league’s entrance is viewed as a way to reinvent itself as more than an extension of Chandigarh, independent India’s first planned city.

The Panchkula administration also hopes ICL can help erase some of its relegated status as a stopover between the hills of Shimla and the plains.

After the league was announced, Panchkula stepped forward as host, despite warnings from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that those supporting the competition would be banned from its play.

For example, coach Malhotra and Atapattu, along with more than 50 players, can no longer be associated with BCCI-sponsored cricket; BCCI plans its own Twenty20 league, the Indian Premier League.