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(August, 2002)
Top Indian Players Agree to
Sign Contract: Ravi Shastri (Go
To Top) LONDON: Top Indian cricketers have agreed to sign the controversial ICC contract for next month's Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. The players' spokesman , Ravi Shastri , said on Tuesday the cricketers have taken this decision in the "interest of the game". "The players have decided in the interest of the game to back off for the period of 18 days during the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka next month and will speak to their sponsors on television ads and hence would be available for selection," Shastri said. "For the future though, the players will strongly recommend to the Board to give them a share of their profit which would be distributed among the international and national cricketers playing the game in India," Shastri said. "The players have also strongly recommended floating of a players' representative body for better relationship between the Board and the players," he said. The Indian players, currently in England, had refused to sign the contract which required them to forego their personal endorsements one month before and after the event in favour of the official sponsors in case of a clash of interest. The players' stand forced the Cricket Board to begin the process of sending an alternative team and 25 new probables had already been short-listed for the purpose. Cricketers from Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and England were also reluctant earlier to sign the contract. Kumble Spins Innings Victory
for India (Go
To Top) LONDON: It was leg-spinner Anil Kumble's day but for whose devastating spell (4 for 66) India would not have clinched a series-levelling victory on the final day of the third test against England at Headingley on Monday. Kumble struck with the key wicket of skipper Nasser Hussain for 110 before left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan dismissed Andrew Flintoff for a duck. Kumble also removed Stewart and last man Andrew Caddick to complete the innings and a 46-run triumph. Hussain put on 117 with Stewart in 46 overs for the fifth wicket before England were bowled out for 309. India amassed 628 for eight in their first innings before forcing England to follow on. The four-match series stands at 1-1, with the final Test at the Oval starting on September 5. Sri Lanka to Host Opening Test
Between Pakistan, Australia (Go
To Top) KARACHI: Pakistan cricket officials have announced that the national team will hold the first of its three rescheduled Tests with Australia in Sri Lanka. Pakistan Cricket Board director Chishty Mujahid made the announcement after the International Cricket Council (ICC) waived a rule that would have prevented the game from being held there, reports the Nation quoting a Western news agency. "We are thankful to the ICC for their support as they have waived a stipulation enabling us to stage the first of three Tests in Colombo in October this year. The only thing we need to decide now is the ground in Colombo because there are three grounds in the city, and we will finalise that in a couple of days," he said. Pakistan had suggested playing one Test in Colombo and the other two in Sharjah, but an ICC ruling that no international match can be staged within seven days of an ICC event had put Pakistan's plans in jeopardy. Sri Lanka is hosting the ICC Champions Trophy in September. The first Test will most probably begin on October 4, while the remaining two Tests to be played in Sharjah will begin on October 12 and 19, respectively. Australia had pulled out of the tour of Pakistan citing safety fears after several acts of terrorism in the troubled south Asian country. Australia Cancels Cricket
Tour in Pak, Proposes Neutral Venue (Go
To Top) SYDNEY: Amid security fears, Australian cricket team has cancelled its Test tour of Pakistan in October and proposed that the venue should be shifted to a neutral country. Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive James Sutherland and chairman Bob Merriman made the announcement at a press conference in Melbourne on Friday. "This morning the ACB met and decided that regretfully the Australian team will not tour Pakistan for the Test series in October", Merriman said. "The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently considering its position. Our latest advice is that the environment in Pakistan is unlikely to change in the next few months", he added.
Several senior Australian players, including captain Steve Waugh, have
expressed concern about touring Pakistan. A string of recent cricket
tours in that country have been affected due to security-related fears. |
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