South Africa needs to win in Sydney to reclaim number-one spot in Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship

Dubai, 30 December 2008

Australia has held top spot since August 2001 and was second only for eight months out of the last 13 years

Australia last suffered a clean sweep on home turf in 1886-87; five defeats in this calendar year is worst for 23 years

South Africa will reclaim number-one sport in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table from Australia if it wins the third and last Test, starting in Sydney from 3 January.

Australia has held the top spot since August 2001 when the current means of calculating the leading side in Test cricket was introduced and has indeed been number-one for all but eight months out of the last 13 years when South Africa led the championship table for three months in late 1999 and for five months in 2001.

As the ICC Test Championship is only updated at the end of each series, South Africa’s six-wicket win in Perth and nine-wicket victory in Melbourne will not yet be reflected on the table. But if the Proteas win in Sydney, it will put both teams level on 123 ratings points but Graeme’s Smith’s side will be placed higher by a fraction of a point.

In this case, just five ratings points would separate the top three teams in the world with India sitting in third place on 118 ratings points. In the middle, only eight ratings points separate fourth-placed Sri Lanka from sixth-placed England.

However, all the talk of South Africa regaining the number-one spot for the first time in almost seven-and-a-half years will go out of the window if Australia wins or draws the Sydney Test.

If Australia wins, it will retain the number-one spot on 126 points while South Africa will be second on 121 ratings points while a draw will keep Australia ahead of South Africa on 124 ratings points but the difference will be reduced to just two points as compared to the pre-series gap of 13 points.

South Africa’s win in Melbourne has also kept Graeme Smith’s side on course for a clean sweep over Australia, something which the most dominant side in recent years last suffered way back in 1886-87 when Arthur Shrewsbury’s England beat Percy McDonnell’s Australia by 13 runs and 71 runs in the two Tests played in Sydney.

Besides the 1886-87 series, Australia has only lost all the Tests of a series on three occasions with the last being 26 years ago. In that instance Kim Hughes’ side was beaten 3-0 by Imran Khan’s men in Pakistan in 1982-83. The other series in which Australia lost all the Tests was in South Africa in 1969-70 when Ali Bacher inspired his side to a 4-0 win over Bill Lawry’s Australia and in England in 1886 when Allan Steel’s Englishmen beat Henry Scott’s Australia 3-0.

In addition to this, Australia’s Test defeats this calendar year now amount to five, a number not suffered by an Australia side since 1985.

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship (as of 30 December)

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 130
2 India 118
3 South Africa 117
4 Sri Lanka 108
5 England 103
6 Pakistan 100
7 West Indies 81
8 New Zealand 81
9 Bangladesh 0

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

ICC adopts strengthened anti-doping code

Dubai, 29 December 2008

“Big step forward for ensuring fair competition in cricket,” says Haroon Lorgat

A firmer and more practical anti-doping code has been approved for implementation by the ICC as cricket continues the fight to ensure the sport is free of banned substances.

The code, which comes into effect on 1 January 2009, was recently given unanimous approval by all members of the ICC Board, indicating the overwhelming level of support the code has within the ICC membership.

The adoption of this strengthened ICC Anti-Doping Code coincides with the amendment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, making sure that cricket plays its part in the global fight against drugs in sport.

Consistent with the WADA Code, the new ICC Anti-Doping Code gives more flexibility to any hearing panel appointed in terms of the sanctions and penalties that may be imposed against players who test positive for a banned substance.

Critically, it also means that international cricketers must be available for testing at any time, any day of the year, whether it is at ICC events, bilateral series or even out of competition.

“The ICC has a zero-tolerance approach to doping in cricket and this new code serves to reinforce that position,” said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

“This code means it has just become even harder for drug cheats to get away with doping practices and it is part of our continued battle to ensure fair competition for all,” said Mr Lorgat.

“The code is a living document which is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of cricket and modern sport in general. To this end, and in line with best practice, the ICC has conducted a comprehensive consultation process for the practical review and fine-tuning of the code’s provisions.

“We are grateful to our Members and other stakeholders for their input and we are encouraged by the full support the Members have shown in approving its implementation,” said Mr Lorgat.

“We must never become complacent when it comes to protecting our sport against drug cheats. We have recognised the threat and we have done something about it. This is a big step forward for everyone who wants to maintain clean and fair competition in cricket.”

The ICC became a signatory of WADA in July 2006 and has been testing at its events since 2002. In that time, there has not been a positive test at an ICC event.

In line with the provisions of the code, the
ICC will establish a doping hearing panel from which three people will be selected to sit as an anti-doping tribunal from time to time in order to determine whether an anti-doping rule violation has been committed.

The chairperson of the tribunal is required to be legally qualified while the others on the tribunal will have legal, medical or technical expertise with specific experience in anti-doping matters. Each member of the doping hearing panel shall be independent of the ICC.

In a further move aimed at bolstering the anti-doping movement in the sport of cricket, the ICC has also recently circulated a template anti-doping code for all of its Members to adopt in order to help them to govern anti-doping matters at a domestic level in a consistent and WADA Code-compliant manner.

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

Plenty at stake for New Zealand in Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship table

Dubai, 29 December 2008

Black Caps can rise to fourth place but could slip to as low as eighth in series with the West Indies

New Zealand can climb one place to fourth in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship table but could drop to as low as eighth when it goes head to head with the West Indies in the five-match ODI series starting in Queenstown on Wednesday.

Daniel Vettori’s side currently sits in fifth place on 113 ratings points and a 5-0 series win will put it ahead of Pakistan in fourth place on 118 points. A 4-1 series win will also be enough for the Black Caps to improve upon their current standing.

However, if the 5-0 series result goes the other way, New Zealand will concede 11 ratings points and the West Indies will gain 11 points. This will put both the teams level on 102 ratings points but Chris Gayle’s side will be placed higher than the Black Caps in seventh place when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

New Zealand starts the series with a difference of 22 rating points relative to eighth-placed West Indies and this gap means it is expected to win the series convincingly. As such, because the rankings are weighted to reflect this difference, failure to win comfortably will mean the Black Caps will drop points.

These are the potential scenarios:

· If New Zealand wins the series 5-0, it will leapfrog Pakistan into fourth place on 118 points and just one point behind South Africa and India while the West Indies will stay in eighth place but will drop to 86 ratings points

· If New Zealand wins the series 4-1, it will join Pakistan on 114 ratings points but will be ahead of Shoaib Malik’s side by a fraction of a point. The West Indies will drop to 90 ratings points

· If New Zealand wins the series 3-2, will concede two ratings points but will stay ahead of sixth-placed England while the West Indies will rise to 93 ratings points


· If the West Indies wins the series 3-2, New Zealand will drop below England to sixth place by a fraction of a point. In contrast, the West Indies will stay in eighth place but will jump to 96 ratings points

· If the West Indies wins the series 4-1, New Zealand will fall behind Sri Lanka in seventh place on 105 ratings points while the West Indies will rise to 99 ratings points

· A 5-0 series win for the West Indies will mean both the sides will sit on 102 ratings points but New Zealand will be behind the men from the Caribbean by a fraction of a point

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, the West Indies boasts three batsmen – Shivnarine Chanderpaul (fifth), Chris Gayle (sixth) and Ramnaresh Sarwwan (13th) – in the top 20 while the highest-ranked New Zealand batsman is Ross Taylor in 29th position.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is still out in front, followed very closely behind by Michael Hussey of Australia and South Africa’s Graeme Smith.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has top-ranked Nathan Bracken of Australia firmly within his sights. A good series for the left-arm spinner can potentially help him regain the top spot which he last enjoyed in June against England at Lord’s.

Besides Vettori, fast bowler Kyle Mills (fifth) and Jacob Oram (eighth) will also be eyeing an upward movement.

For the West Indies, Fidel Edwards (eighth) and Daren Powell (19th) are in the top 20 and will be hoping to make a charge up the ladder.

Oram leads the field in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders and will be hoping to consolidate his position ahead of England’s Andrew Flintoff. Rival captains Gayle is third while Vettori is 12th.

New Zealand v West Indies ODI series schedule:

31 Dec – First ODI, Queenstown
3 Jan – Second ODI, Christchurch
7 Jan – Third ODI, Wellington
10 Jan – Fourth ODI, Auckland
13 Jan – Fifth ODI, Napier

Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship (as of 29 December)

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 131
2 South Africa 119
3 India 119
4 Pakistan 114
5 New Zealand 113
6 England 108
7 Sri Lanka 107
8 West Indies 91
9 Bangladesh 47
10 Ireland 19
11 Zimbabwe 13
12 Kenya 11

ICC One-Day Rankings (as of 29 December)

Batsmen

Rank Player Team Points Ave HS Rating

1 MS Dhoni Ind 779 46.84 806 v WI at Kingston 2006
2 Mike Hussey Aus 776 57.13 863 v NZ at Perth 2007
3 Graeme Smith SA 760 40.88 792 v Ban at Dhaka 2008
4 S.Chanderpaul WI 752 40.84 764 v Pak at Abu Dhabi 2008
5 Chris Gayle WI 747 40.06 804 v Aus at Mumbai 2006
6 Yuvraj Singh Ind 744 37.16 754 v Eng at Bangalore 2008
7 Ricky Ponting Aus 740 43.24 832 v NZ at Hobart 2007
8 Kevin Pietersen Eng 730 48.36 834 v Aus at Antigua 2007
9 Mohd Yousuf Pak 727 43.19 777 v SA at Rawalpindi 2003
10 Andrew Symonds Aus 719 40.34 778 v Ind at Nagpur 2007
11 Matthew Hayden Aus 711 43.80 854 v Ind at Centurion 2003
12 Sachin Tendulkar Ind 708 44.26 887 v Zim at Sharjah 1998
13 R Sarwan WI 691 44.17 798 v Ind at St Kitts 2006
14 AB de Villiers SA 689 36.40 733 v Ban at Dhaka 2008
15 K Sangakkara SL 687 36.07 760 v Ind at Rajkot 2007
16 Herschelle Gibbs SA 682 36.18 750 v SL at Durban 2003
17 Jacques Kallis SA 679 45.27 816 v WI at Johannesburg 2004
18 Michael Clarke Aus 677 42.46 756 v SL at Melbourne 2008
19 Shoaib Malik Pak 674 35.61 690 v WI at Abu Dhabi 2008
20 Yunus Khan Pak 673 ! 34.50 673 v WI at Abu Dhabi 2008

Bowlers

Rank Player Team Points Ave Econ HS Rating

1 Nathan Bracken Aus 755 21.87 4.33 806 v SL at St George's 2007
2 Daniel Vettori NZ 733 32.05 4.17 790 v Eng at Christchurch 2008
3 M Muralidaran SL 717 22.69 3.87 913 v NZ at Sharjah 2002
4 M Johnson Aus 707 23.46 4.72 726 v Ban at Darwin 2008
5 Kyle Mills NZ 697 ! 26.00 4.63 697 v Ban at Chittagong 2008
6= Stuart Broad Eng 673 27.58 4.94 701 v SA at Trent Bridge 2008
Sohail Tanvir Pak 673*! 26.00 4.81 673 v WI at Abu Dhabi 2008
8= Jacob Oram NZ 664 30.14 4.39 768 v Aus at The Oval 2004
Jerome Taylor WI 664 26.46 4.68 688 v SA at Cape Town 2008
10 Andrew Flintoff Eng 662 24.69 4.38 755 v Ban at Dhaka 2003
11 Zaheer Khan Ind 660 28.63 4.84 700 v SA at Dhaka 2003
12 Brett Lee Aus 657 22.96 4.71 853 v SA at Melbourne 2006
13 Chaminda Vaas SL 655 27.54 4.18 861 v SA at Colombo (RPS) 2004
14 N Kulasekara SL 652*! 28.64 4.28 652 v Zim at Harare 2008
15 Shahid Afridi Pak 644 35.04 4.63 685 v Ind at Dhaka 2008
16 Andre Nel SA 638 27.68 4.63 685 v Ban at Dhaka 2008
17 Stuart Clark Aus 632*! 27.82 4.90 632 v Ban at Darwin 2008
18 Iftikhar Anjum Pak 626 31.53 4.90 632 v Ban at Karachi 2008
19 Daren Powell WI 621 32.57 4.68 686 v Aus at St George's 2008
20 Harbhajan Singh Ind 617 32.97 4.19 735 v WI at Bridgetown 2002

All-rounders

Rank Player Team Points HS Rating

1 Jacob Oram NZ 383! 383 v Ban at Chittagong 2008
2 Andrew Flintoff Eng 366 544 v SL at The Rose Bowl 2004
3= Chris Gayle WI 342 511 v Zim at Harare 2003
Shoaib Malik Pak 342 402 v WI at Brisbane 2005
5 Jacques Kallis SA 327 505 v WI at Bridgetown 2001

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

Gambhir becomes highest-ranked India batsman

Dubai, 24 December 2008

Gayle, de Villiers and Johnson achieve career-best rankings; Chanderpaul becomes 25th batsman in Test history to reach 900-point mark

India opener Gautam Gambhir has muscled his way into the top 10 of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen for the first time in his career after a stellar performance against England in Mohali.

The 27-year-old from New Delhi made 179 and 97 and has jumped 10 places in the rankings to become the highest-ranked India batsman, in 10th place.

Gambhir was in 37th place in October but had rocketed 27 places after scoring 824 runs in five Tests at an average of 82.4.

While Gambhir has made movement in the right direction, his team-mates Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman have slipped in the latest rankings. Outside the top 20, Rahul Dravid has climbed two places to 28th while Yuvraj Singh has jumped 10 places to 46th.

England captain Kevin Pietersen has returned to the top five for the first time in 14 months and now sits in fifth place after jumping three places due to a magnificent innings of 144.

Meanwhile, Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies has strengthened his hold on the top of the rankings by becoming only the 25th batsman in the history of Test cricket and the sixth West Indian to reach the magic 900-point mark.

The 34-year-old from Guyana, who won the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2008 award at the LG ICC Awards in Dubai, reached the milestone while making 126 not out in the first innings against New Zealand in the Napier Test which ended in a draw on Tuesday.

Chanderpaul has been joined in the top 20 by his captain Chris Gayle who has climbed seven places to 20th after an impressive 197 in the second innings at Napier. It is the best ranking of his career to date.

Another new addition to the top 20 is South Africa’s AB de Villiers whose 63 and 106 not out was the cornerstone of South Africa’s six-wicket victory over Australia in a record final-innings run-chase of 414. This performance has lifted him seven places to 17th in the rankings.

There was no good news for Australia whose captain Australia captain Ricky Ponting has dropped three places to ninth – his lowest ranking since October 2002. Mike Hussey has slipped two places to sixth, Michael Clarke has dropped one place to 12th and Matthew Hayden has slipped three places to 16th.

For New Zealand, Ross Taylor remains the highest ranked batsman in 37th place while Jesse Ryder has made the biggest move by rising 15 places to 55th position after scoring 57 and 59 in the Napier Test.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers, Australia’s Mitchell Johnson has broken into the top five for the first time after his man-of-the-match performance in the Perth Test.

The 27-year-old left-armer had match figures of 11-159 during Australia’s six-wicket defeat to South Africa but team-mate Brett Lee has dropped two places to seventh spot.

South Africa’s Makhaya Ntini recorded figures of 4-72 and 1-76 which have helped him rise to third place and is now just behind team-mate Dale Steyn who had figures of 4-162. The other big mover for South Africa was left-arm spinner Paul Harris who has rocketed 10 places to 27th position after taking 5-155 in the Perth Test.

India’s player of the series against England, Zaheer Khan, has gained two places in the rankings to 12th position while his team-mate Harbhajan Singh has gone up two places to eighth.

England’s Andrew Flintoff has jumped two places to 14th spot while off-spinner Graeme Swann has rocketed 14 places to 60th position but left-arm spinner Monty Panesar and fast bowler James Anderson have slipped two and four places respectively.

The bowlers’ list is still headed by Sri Lanka’s iconic spinner Muttiah Muralidaran.

There is no change in the top five in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders as South Africa’s Jacques Kallis enjoys a commanding lead over New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Rankings (as of 24 December)

Batsmen

Rank (+/-) Player Team Points Ave HS Rating

1 ( - ) S.Chanderpaul WI 900 ! 49.71 900 v NZ at Napier 2008
2 ( - ) KSangakkara SL 886 54.79 938 v Eng at Kandy 2007
3 ( - ) Mohd Yousuf Pak 880 55.49 933 v WI at Karachi 2006
4 (+1) M Jayawardena SL 837 52.41 847 v Ind at Colombo (SSC) 2008
5 (+3) Kevin Pietersen Eng 832 50.48 905 v WI at Headingley 2007
6 (-2) Mike Hussey Aus 803 61.56 921 v WI at Kingston 2008
7 ( - ) Yunus Khan Pak 799 49.14 856 v Eng at Headingley 2006
8 (+1) Graeme Smith SA 797 ! 50.42 797 v Aus at Perth 2008
9 (-3) Ricky Ponting Aus 778 56.74 942 v Eng at Adelaide 2006
10 (+10) Gautam Gambhir Ind 771*! 49.35 771 v Eng at Mohali 2008
11 (+1) Jacques Kallis SA 759 55.11 935 v NZ at Centurion 2007
12 (-1) Michael Clarke Aus 747 46.89 761 v Ind at Melbourne 2007
13 (-3) Virender Sehwag Ind 729 51.06 854 v SA at Kolkata 2004
14 ( - ) Ashwell Prince SA 724 45.68 756 v Pak at Centurion 2007
15 ( - ) Andrew Strauss Eng 705 42.37 769 v SA at Johannesburg 2005
16 (-3) Matthew Hayden Aus 701 51.34 935 v Eng at Brisbane 2002
17 (+7) AB de Villiers SA 692 ! 42.25 692 v Aus at Perth 2008
18= (-2) Sachin Tendulkar Ind 683 54.27 898 v Zim at Nagpur 2002
(-2) VVS Laxman Ind 683 44.45 753 v Aus at Sydney 2004
20 (+7) Chris Gayle WI 670 ! 39.60 670 v NZ at Napier 2008

Bowlers

Rank (+/-) Player Team Points Ave HS Rating

1 ( - ) M Muralidaran SL 895 21.96 920 v Ban at Kandy 2007
2 ( - ) Dale Steyn SA 807 23.18 897 v Ind at Ahmedabad 2008
3 (+1) Makhaya Ntini SA 805 27.71 863 v Ind at Durban 2006
4 (-1) Stuart Clark Aus 798* 22.96 863 v WI at Bridgetown 2008
5 (+2) Mitchell Johnson Aus 779*! 27.11 779 v SA at Perth 2008
6 ( - ) Ryan Sidebottom Eng 723* 25.68 769 v SA at Lord's 2008
7 (-2) Brett Lee Aus 717 30.44 811 v WI at Antigua 2008
8 (+2) Harbhajan Singh Ind 686 30.88 765 v NZ at Wellington 2002
9= (-2) Chaminda Vaas SL 684 29.31 800 v Ind at Chennai 2005
(-2) Shoaib Akhtar Pak 684 25.69 855 v NZ at Wellington 2003
11 ( - ) Daniel Vettori NZ 653 33.09 681 v Aus at Auckland 2000
12 (+2) Zaheer Khan Ind 630 34.04 689 v Pak at Delhi 2007
13 (-1) Shane Bond NZ 629* 22.39 778 v WI at Auckland 2006
14 (+2) Andrew Flintoff Eng 621 32.12 810 v Pak at Multan 2005
15= (+2) Mohd Asif Pak 619* 23.13 710 v SA at Cape Town 2007
(-2) Monty Panesar Eng 619 32.88 721 v WI at Chester-le-St 2007
17 (+1) Jerome Taylor WI 618* 35.14 628 v Aus at Bridgetown 2008
18 (+1) Danish Kaneria Pak 614 33.90 723 v Eng at Multan 2005
19 (-4) James Anderson Eng 611 35.22 622 v Ind at Chennai 2008
20 ( - ) Jacques Kallis SA 603 30.90 742 v Eng at Headingley 2003

All-rounders

Rank (+/-) Player Team Points HS Rating

1 ( - ) Jacques Kallis SA 458 616 v Pak at Durban 2002
2 ( - ) Daniel Vettori NZ 347 369 v Ban at Dhaka 2008
3 ( - ) Andrew Flintoff Eng 305 501 v Pak at Multan 2005
4 ( - ) Dwayne Bravo WI 283 /* 295 v Aus at Bridgetown 2008
5 ( - ) Chaminda Vaas SL 281 300 v WI at Guyana 2008

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

England fined for slow over-rate in Chennai

Dubai, 24 December 2008

The England team was fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its six-wicket defeat against India in the first Test played in Chennai between 11 and 15 December.

Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Kevin Pietersen’s side was ruled to be one over short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

As such, Pietersen was fined 10 per cent of his match fee while his players received five per cent fines.

The offence is contrary to Section J of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to slow over-rates. For such offences, the decision of the ICC match referee is final and binding.

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

India retakes second place in Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship

Dubai, 23 December 2008

India has reclaimed second position from South Africa in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship following its success over England in the two-Test series.

India won the first Test in Chennai by six wickets and drew the second in Mohali on Tuesday, enough to earn it two ratings points and go ahead of South Africa in second, a position it had briefly enjoyed after its 2-0 home series victory over Australia recently.

However, South Africa can once again regain second position if it wins its current three-match series against Australia by 2-1 or 2-0, or draws it 1-1. Graeme Smith’s side can even leapfrog Ricky Ponting’s side at the top of the ladder by a fraction of a point if it wins the remaining two Tests to sweep the series 3-0.

On the other side of the coin, if Australia wins the last two Tests it will not only widen the gap with South Africa to 15 points but will also dash the Proteas’ hopes of regaining the second position from India.

Meanwhile, there was no change in the West Indies’ and New Zealand’s pre-series points and positions after their two-Test series ended in a 0-0 draw in Napier on Tuesday.

The West Indies’s next Test commitment is in February when it hosts England for a four-Test series while New Zealand plays India in its own backyard in a two-Test series in March.

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship (as of 23 December)

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 130
2 India 118
3 South Africa 117
4 Sri Lanka 108
5 England 103
6 Pakistan 100
7 West Indies 81
8 New Zealand 81
9 Bangladesh 0

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

ICC announces umpire and referee appointments for upcoming Test and ODI series in Bangladesh and Australia

Dubai, 23 December 2008

The ICC today announced details of umpire and match referee appointments for the upcoming Test and ODI series in Bangladesh and Australia.

Having hosted New Zealand in October, Bangladesh will resume its home season with a two-Test series against Sri Lanka which will be followed by a tri-nation ODI series also featuring Zimbabwe. Immediately after the tri-series, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will go head to head in a three-match ODI series.

Jeff Crowe from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees will lead the playing control team for the two-Test series which will be officiated by Steve Bucknor of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Nigel Llong of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires.

Crowe will then hand over the charge to Alan Hurst, also of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, for the ODIs which follow the Test series. Billy Doctrove of the Emirates Elite Panel will stand in the tri-series along with local appointees.

Appointments for Bangladesh – Zimbabwe ODI series will also be announced in due course.

Meanwhile, Australia plays South Africa in a five-match ODI series which starts in Melbourne from 16 January. The series will be refereed by Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates Elite Panel while all the matches will be umpired by Ian Gould of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires along with local appointees.

Appointments for the other upcoming series will be announced in due course.

Bangladesh
Test series match referee – Jeff Crowe
26-31 Dec (29th is a rest day for elections) – Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Test), Dhaka – Steve Bucknor and Nigel Llong
3-7 Jan – Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Test), Chittagong – Steve Bucknor and Nigel Llong

Tri-nation ODI series match referee – Alan Hurst
10 Jan – Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (ODI), Mirpur – Billy Doctrove and local appointment
12 Jan – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe (ODI), Mirpur – Billy Doctrove and local appointment
14 Jan – Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (ODI), Mirpur – Billy Doctrove and local appointment
16 Jan – Final (ODI), Mirpur – Billy Doctrove and local appointment

Australia
ODI series match referee – Ranjan Madugalle

16 Jan – Australia v South Africa (ODI), Melbourne – Ian Gould and local appointment
18 Jan – Australia v South Africa (ODI), Hobart – Ian Gould and local appointment
23 Jan – Australia v South Africa (ODI), Sydney – Ian Gould and local appointment
26 Jan – Australia v South Africa (ODI), Adelaide – Ian Gould and local appointment
30 Jan – Australia v South Africa (ODI), Perth – Ian Gould and local appointment

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

Sharad Pawar pays tribute to ICC President David Morgan OBE

Dubai, 18 December 2008

Vice President: “Recognition you richly deserve for dedicated service to cricket”

Morgan: “It was a great privilege to receive the honour; with three vibrant forms, the game’s never been stronger”

“Action in Chennai and Perth shows Test cricket remains the pinnacle”

ICC Vice President Sharad Pawar paid tribute to David Morgan on Thursday, the day the latter received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to cricket.

In a letter to Mr Morgan, Mr Pawar wrote: “I am delighted to know you are being conferred with an OBE.

“It is a recognition you richly deserve for your dedicated service to the great game of cricket.

“Working with you in the ICC has always given me great pleasure and I am confident this recognition will further inspire you to renew your pledge towards further development of this wonderful sport worldwide,” added Mr Pawar.

Mr Morgan received his award from His Royal Highness Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London and was accompanied by his wife Ann, son Jonathan and daughter-in-law Sian.

Reflecting on the honour, Mr Morgan said: “It was a great privilege to be at Buckingham Palace and to receive the Order of the British Empire.

“During a lengthy period of involvement in the great game of cricket, I’ve been fortunate to have had the support and confidence of cricketers and executives at Glamorgan County Cricket Club and England and that cooperation has continued with the ICC in Dubai.

“The game has probably never been stronger than it is right now with three viable and vibrant forms at international level, including the positive effect of Twenty20, and I am fortunate to be involved in cricket at such an exciting time.

“I’m now looking forward to my first visit to Mohali for the second Test of the India – England series and I really hope the match continues the feel-good factor around the longest form of the game that was generated by the Chennai Test match last week.

“The Perth Test between Australia and South Africa has also produced some great cricket and the last 10 days have been a real reminder that Test cricket is the pinnacle of our sport with its unique ability to produce twists and turns and sustained drama.

“With the action we have seen recently there is every reason to believe that, as we enter the ICC’s Centenary year in 2009, our great sport, played in great spirit, will continue to grow stronger.”

Mr Morgan’s OBE follows more than 30 years as a cricket administrator, first with Glamorgan then with the Test and County Cricket Board, later renamed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Mr Morgan was ECB deputy chairman for six years from 1997 and took over as chairman in 2003, becoming an ICC Director. He assumed the ICC Presidency in July 2008 and his term runs for two years, until mid-2010, when Mr Pawar will take over.

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

Schedule announced for Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3

Dubai, 17 December 2008

The International Cricket Council today confirmed the match schedule for the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 (WCL Div. 3) event, which will take place in Buenos Aires from 24 to 31 January.

Host team Argentina takes on Hong Kong on day one at Hurlingham while Papua New Guinea gets its campaign underway against the Cayman Islands at Belgrano Athletic Club and Uganda faces Afghanistan at Corimayo.

Afghanistan and Hong Kong, who progressed from WCL Div. 4 in Tanzania in October, go head-to-head on day two in what could be one of the games of the tournament.

In all, there will be 18 matches played over eight days with the final scheduled to take place on Saturday 31 January at the historic Belgrano ground.

The top two sides from this six-team event will win promotion to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, which will be held in South Africa next April. And in turn, the top four from that 12-team event, which incorporates WCL Divisions 1 and 2, will win a coveted place at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the pinnacle of the limited-overs game.

The Pepsi ICC World Cricket League was created to provide a clear pathway for teams outside the top 10 towards improvement and ultimately, the ICC Cricket World Cup. This global event gives ICC Associate and Affiliate Members the opportunity to play similarly ranked sides in meaningful competition regardless of where they are located in the world.

Since its inception in 2007 the WCL and has already become an integral part of the Pepsi ICC Development Programme and in 2009 it will be expanded from five divisions to seven with an eighth division having been approved for 2010.

Teams: Afghanistan, Argentina, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Uganda

Pepsi World Cricket League Division 3 match schedule

24 Jan – PNG v Cayman Islands, Belgrano; Argentina v Hong Kong, Hurlingham; Uganda v Afghanistan, Corimayo

25 Jan – Afghanistan v Hong Kong, Belgrano; Cayman Islands v Uganda, Hurlingham; PNG v Argentina, Corimayo

26 Jan – rest/reserve day

27 Jan – Uganda v PNG, Belgrano; Argentina v Afghanistan, Hurlingham; Hong Kong v Cayman Islands, Corimayo

28 Jan – Cayman Islands v Argentina, Belgrano; Afghanistan v PNG, Hurlingham; Hong Kong v Uganda, Corimayo

29 Jan – rest/reserve day

30 Jan – Argentina v Uganda, Belgrano; PNG v Hong Kong, Hurlingham; Cayman Islands v Afghanistan, Corimayo

31 Jan – Final, Belgrano; third/fourth place play-off, Hurlingham; fifth/sixth place play-off, St George’s College

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat targets slow over-rates and verbal abuse

Dubai, 16 December 2008

Wants to ensure “feel-good factor” from Chennai Test remains

Writes to all Emirates ICC match referees and umpires, urges them to be “assertive and proactive”

“Players must play their parts”

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat today identified slow over-rates and verbal abuse as two key areas that must be kept in check for cricket to maintain its feel-good factor over the coming months.

Mr Lorgat confirmed he had written to all Emirates ICC match referees and umpires asking them to be “assertive and proactive” in dealing with the issues.

And he added that players, and especially captains, also bore a major responsibility to ensure the game was played in the right spirit and at the right pace.

“After the recent Test match in Chennai there is a real feel-good factor about the game, and rightly so,” said Mr Lorgat.

“It’s great that the game is in the news for all the right reasons and I want that to carry on now we’ve moved into what is traditionally the busiest period in the cricketing calendar.

“That is why I have written to all of the Emirates ICC match referees and umpires urging them to be assertive and proactive in dealing with slow over-rates and verbal abuse.

“At the recent ICC Chief Executives’ Committee meeting, representatives of all the ten ICC Full Members agreed these were two significant issues for the game moving forward.

“Verbal abuse and slow over-rates have the potential to impact negatively on the way the game is perceived. We have seen that in the past and we must do all we can to ensure that doesn’t happen in the future.

“Both issues need to be strongly managed and the ICC is now looking at options to encourage better over-rates and strengthened sanctions against offending teams.

“Players, and especially captains, must also play their parts to make sure the game is played in a great spirit and at the right pace and I will look to them to fulfill those obligations over the coming weeks and months.

“Cricket’s profile is high and perhaps it has never been higher. And with 2009, the ICC’s Centenary year, including the ICC World Twenty20 for men and women, the ICC Champions Trophy, the ICC World Cup Qualifier, the ICC Women’s World Cup and a host of outstanding bilateral series, that situation is unlikely to change over the next 12 months.

“With that profile comes a responsibility on the part of everyone to ensure cricket remains the great sport that the players, match officials and spectators made it in Chennai this week.

“If everyone can meet that responsibility and ensure our great sport is played in a great spirit then cricket will continue to grow stronger,” added Mr Lorgat.

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

Less but better quality Test cricket in future, predicts ECB chairman Clarke

The Wisden Cricketer
London, 16 December 2008

ECB chairman Giles Clarke believes there will be changes to the structure of Test match cricket that will preserve its status as the ‘summit of the game’.

Interviewed in the January issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine and asked to predict where cricket will be in five years time, Clarke says: “The game has to decide what the ICC does, what is its role. It has to determine its calendar over a lengthy period. Four years is not practical. At the same time we have to respect quality. Test cricket is the summit of the game and it must be played by the best countries. There is no doubt that when Test cricket is good, it is wonderful.”

Asked if that means less Test cricket but better Test cricket, he says: “Yes. That is the real test of the player in mental and physical strength,” he says, “the tension and excitement we feel as a series develops.”

The ECB has already acted to secure the involvement of the best teams in series against England by recently signing both South Africa and India to five-match ‘icon’ status series, to go alongside the Ashes.

50 over international cricket is also singled out for attention by Clarke, who makes a withering assessment of last year’s World Cup in the Caribbean. “We have to care about the World Cup as a major event. The 2007 World Cup was unsuccessful in virtually every feasible aspect. The 2011 World Cup is a huge thing for the ICC because they have to get it right.”

The January issue of The Wisden Cricketer, the world’s best-selling cricket monthly, is on sale at leading outlets from Friday 19 December and includes a free Heroes of Cricket supplement featuring West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards.

MEDIA RELEASE

Statement from ICC Chief Executive following completion of first Test between India and England in Chennai

Dubai, 16 December 2008

Haroon Lorgat thanks teams for their courage in the face of adversity as they demonstrate the unifying power of sport in a world rocked by conflict and division

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has sent a message of congratulation and gratitude to the India and England teams after a hard-fought and exciting Test match in Chennai, played in trying circumstances.

“I have been in touch with both the BCCI and ECB since the end of the match to thank them for what was a great advertisement for cricket,” said Mr Lorgat.

“There was a lot of debate before this game as to whether it would even go ahead because of the terrible events in Mumbai recently. Last week, I was convinced that the right thing to do was for the match to take place and now I’m glad that we have witnessed a great game of cricket.

“Although India takes the plaudits for winning the match, thanks and congratulations are also due to Kevin Pietersen and his team who played so well while under enormous pressure from forces over which they could exert no control. I was very impressed with their attitude and today I can say I am especially proud to be involved in this great game.

“Sport has the ability to make a difference in our society and over the past few days these two cricket teams have fought back and demonstrated great unity in a world rocked by conflict and division.

“I have no doubt the England players will be very disappointed after this match but they have a huge amount of which to be proud. They clearly have plenty of character and courage so I hope they can pick themselves up and go to Mohali for the second Test with lots to play for.”

Immediately following the attacks in Mumbai, the England squad went home but following intensive security assessments they bravely returned to fulfil the Test fixtures.

“This may be a lesson for the future, too,” said Mr Lorgat. “We must always try to look at the bigger picture when external events intervene as in this case. Provided it is safe to do so, the show must always go on. We must stand together and rise above these forces that threaten our game and our way of life.”

Mr Lorgat had earlier urged both teams to play the series provided it was safe to do so pledging the ongoing support of the ICC. He attended the first two days of the Chennai Test and ICC President David Morgan will travel to Mohali for the second Test as a show of unity with the ICC’s Members.

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

Strauss waltzes back into top 20

Dubai, 16 December 2008

England opener returns to top 20 in Reliance Mobile ICC Test Player Rankings; India’s Zaheer Khan climbs six places; South Africa and Australia players look to improve their rankings as first Test in Perth starts tomorrow

England opening batsman Andrew Strauss has powered his way back into the top 20 of the Reliance Mobile Player Rankings for Test batsmen with two centuries during England’s six-wicket defeat to in Chennai.

The 31-year-old made 123 in his opening innings, following it up with 108 in the second to gain eight places in the rankings and rejoin the top 20.

England batsman Paul Collingwood also moves up the table while captain Kevin Pietersen drops two places. Outside of the top 20, England wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior has risen 12 places to 47
th after scoring 53 in the first innings in Chennai.

For India, VVS Laxman and Gautam Gambhir drop two places but centurion Sachin Tendulkar rises one spot. Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh climbs eight places to 56th on the rankings table following his important contribution of 85 not out in the second innings.

Despite New Zealand drawing its first Test against West Indies in Dunedin, Black Caps batsmen Daniel Flynn and Jesse Ryder have risen up the rankings. Flynn’s 95 in the first innings sees him jump 16 places to 64th and Ryder climbs 14 to 70th. Following his maiden Test century, West Indies’ Jerome Taylor gains 14 places to 86th place in the rankings.

Australia hosts South Africa in the first Test in Perth on Wednesday and Michael Hussey will be looking to make inroads towards the top two batsmen in the rankings, West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara.

India’s Zaheer Khan has gained six places on the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers. The 30-year-old fast bowler took match figures of 5-81 during India’s victory over England.

Khan’s team-mate Yuvraj Singh has gained 14 places to go to 74th in the table alongside England bowler Graeme Swann who was making his Test debut in Chennai.

Elsewhere in the top 20, England’s Andrew Flintoff gains one position to 16th while India’s Harbhajan Singh drops three places to 10th and New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has risen three places to 11th.

While Taylor’s exceptional batting has helped him gain points in the batting rankings, he has slipped five places to 18th in the bowling list after the first Test against New Zealand.

India’s Ishant Sharma is still pushing his way up towards the top 20 bowlers. The 20-year-old fast bowler is now 24th on the rankings table having gained six places after another solid performance in Chennai.

The table is still headed by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralidaran but South Africa’s Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini will be looking to narrow the gap between themselves and the top bowler during the upcoming series in Australia.

Australia’s Stuart Clark, ranked third in the table, is ruled out of the first Test giving team-mate Brett Lee a chance to improve on his fifth place position and helping Ntini’s chances of advancing further up the table.

West Indies captain and all-rounder Chris Gayle is on the cusp of joining the top five in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders after gaining three places to sixth. The 29-year-old Jamaican took match figures of 3-42 and managed 74 with the bat in the first innings against New Zealand before the game was drawn in Dunedin.

There is no change in the top five all-rounders with South Africa’s Jacques Kallis still heading the table ahead of his side’s first Test against Australia tomorrow.

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Rankings (as of 16 December)

Batsmen

Rank (+/-) Player Team Points Ave HS Rating

1 ( - ) S.Chanderpaul WI 894 ! 49.25 894 v NZ at Dunedin 2008
2 ( - ) K Sangakkara SL 886 54.79 938 v Eng at Kandy 2007
3 ( - ) Mohd Yousuf Pak 880 55.49 933 v WI at Karachi 2006
4 ( - ) Mike Hussey Aus 855 64.18 921 v WI at Kingston 2008
5 ( - ) M Jayawardena SL 837 52.41 847 v Ind at Colombo (SSC) 2008
6 (+1) Ricky Ponting Aus 806 57.18 942 v Eng at Adelaide 2006
7 (+1) Yunus Khan Pak 799 49.14 856 v Eng at Headingley 2006
8 (-2) Kevin Pietersen Eng 784 49.30 905 v WI at Headingley 2007
9 ( - ) Graeme Smith SA 772 49.95 783 v Ban at Bloemfontein 2008
10 ( - ) Virender Sehwag Ind 763 51.85 854 v SA at Kolkata 2004
11 ( - ) Michael Clarke Aus 750 47.01 761 v Ind at Melbourne 2007
12 ( - ) Jacques Kallis SA 748 55.06 935 v NZ at Centurion 2007
13 ( - ) Matthew Hayden Aus 734 51.87 935 v Eng at Brisbane 2002
14 (+1) Ashwell Prince SA 731 45.68 756 v Pak at Centurion 2007
15 (+8) Andrew Strauss Eng 716 42.59 769 v SA at Johannesburg 2005
16= (+1) Sachin Tendulkar Ind 713 54.68 898 v Zim at Nagpur 2002
(-2) VVS Laxman Ind 713 44.97 753 v Aus at Sydney 2004
18 (+2) P Collingwood Eng 677 42.51 730 v Aus at Adelaide 2006
19 (-3) Alastair Cook Eng 675 42.48 707 v SL at Galle 2007
20 (-2) Gautam Gambhir Ind 672*! 44.28 672 v Eng at Chennai 2008

Bowlers

Rank (+/-) Player Team Points Ave HS Rating

1 ( - ) M Muralidaran SL 895 21.96 920 v Ban at Kandy 2007
2 ( - ) Dale Steyn SA 816 22.67 897 v Ind at Ahmedabad 2008
3 ( - ) Stuart Clark Aus 806* 22.96 863 v WI at Bridgetown 2008
4 ( - ) Makhaya Ntini SA 797 27.69 863 v Ind at Durban 2006
5 ( - ) Brett Lee Aus 744 30.11 811 v WI at Antigua 2008
6 ( - ) Ryan Sidebottom Eng
730* 25.68 769 v SA at Lord's 2008
7= (+1) Chaminda Vaas SL 684 29.31 800 v Ind at Chennai 2005
(+1) Shoaib Akhtar Pak 684 25.69 855 v NZ at Wellington 2003
(+1) Mitchell Johnson Aus 684*! 29.39 684 v NZ at Adelaide 2008
10 (-3) Harbhajan Singh Ind 675 30.98 765 v NZ at Wellington 2002
11 (+3) Daniel Vettori NZ 665 32.98 681 v Aus at Auckland 2000
12 ( - ) Shane Bond NZ 635* 22.39 778 v WI at Auckland 2006
13 (-2) Monty Panesar Eng 628 32.58
721 v WI at Chester-le-St 2007
14 (+6) Zaheer Khan Ind 624 34.12 689 v Pak at Delhi 2007
15 ( - ) James Anderson Eng 622 ! 34.61 622 v Ind at Chennai 2008
16 (+1) Andrew Flintoff Eng 620 32.13 810 v Pak at Multan 2005
17 (-1) Mohammad Asif Pak 619* 23.13 710 v SA at Cape Town 2007
18 (-5) Jerome Taylor WI 615* 35.10 628 v Aus at Bridgetown 2008
19 (-1) Danish Kaneria Pak 614 33.90 723 v Eng at Multan 2005
20 (-1) Jacques Kallis SA 600 30.92 742 v Eng at Headingley 2003

All-rounders

Rank (+/-) Player Team Points HS Rating

1 ( - ) Jacques Kallis SA 449 616 v Pak at Durban 2002
2 ( - ) Daniel Vettori NZ 356 369 v Ban at Dhaka 2008
3 ( - ) Andrew Flintoff Eng 292 501 v Pak at Multan 2005
4 ( - ) Dwayne Bravo WI 289 /* 295 v Aus at Bridgetown 2008
5 ( - ) Chaminda Vaas SL 281 300 v WI at Guyana 2008

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

Number-one spot awaits if Proteas can bloom Down Under

Dubai, 15 December 2008

South Africa will overtake Australia at the top if it wins series 3-0; India will retake second place if it beats England in Mohali

South Africa will go top of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table if it beats Australia 3-0 in the three-match series that gets underway in Perth on Wednesday.

Graeme Smith’s team gets its tour underway in earnest with two fast bowlers – Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn – in the top five of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Player Rankings on a WACA surface that traditionally favours the pace men.

Currently, Australia is 13 points clear of the Proteas at the top despite its recent 2-0 series defeat in India, indicating just how dominant it had been for a protracted period of time before then. But now there is a real race on for the top as South Africa and India have Ricky Ponting’s men in their sights.

India completed a remarkable victory over England in Chennai today by scoring 387-4 in the fourth innings, with most of those runs coming on day five of the Test.

The ICC Test Championship is only updated at the end of each series so that victory is not reflected yet but if Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team puts in a similar performance in the second and final Test at Mohali it will gain three points and move into second position, just 11 points behind Australia.

Then it will be all eyes on Australia as the world’s number-one team attempts to stay at the top. A 3-0 defeat will drop it below South Africa by a fraction of a point in which case just four ratings points would separate the top three teams in the world.

A 2-0 win for South Africa would leave it in second place just two points short of Australia while a 1-0 or 2-1 victory would leave the gap at five points and a drawn series would see Australia lose two points and South Africa gain one.

It should not be forgotten that South Africa has never won a Test series in Australia and Ponting’s men will be looking on this as a great opportunity to restore its self-confidence and public faith after that difficult tour of India.

A 3-0 series win for the home side will give it four points and stretch the gap with SA to 21 while Australia can also strengthen its position at the top by winning 2-0, 1-0 or 2-1.

South Africa must be careful it doesn’t end the series behind India. If India wins the second Test against England in Mohali it will go second leaving SA needing a series win of some kind just to stay second in the Test Championship table.

Meanwhile, after a rain-affected draw in Dunedin, it’s still all to play for between New Zealand and the West Indies with the winner of the second and final Test in Napier taking seventh place in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table.

Upcoming fixtures:

17-21 Dec – Australia v South Africa (Test), Perth
26-30 Dec – Australia v South Africa (Test), Melbourne
3-7 Jan – Australia v South Africa (Test), Sydney

19-23 Dec – India v England (Test), Mohali
19-23 Dec – New Zealand v West Indies (Test), Napier

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship (as of 15 December)

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 130
2 South Africa 117
3 India 116
4 Sri Lanka 108
5 England 104
6 Pakistan 100
7 West Indies 81
8 New Zealand 81
9 Bangladesh 0

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

ICC announces requests for proposals for management of match footage archives

Dubai, 15 December 2008

ICC announces requests for proposals for management of match footage archives

Seeks tie-up to 2011 for ICC events

The International Cricket Council has announced it is seeking requests for proposals (RFPs) from qualified companies interested in providing specialist audio-visual archive management services.

The successful company will work closely with the ICC to market and manage footage from various cricket events, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC World Twenty20.

ICC will retain the function of licensing match footage from its events. However, the successful applicant will be required to provide expert technical support to the ICC by logging, storing, editing and distributing the ICC match footage to various B2B users
. This appointment will be made for the period up to 31 December 2011 to ensure that both the ICC and its partner have a real incentive to invest in widespread marketing of the archives.

“Footage from past ICC events has lasting importance,” said Campbell Jamieson, ICC General Manager – Commercial.

“This is going to be especially relevant in 2009 which marks the ICC centenary and will be a busy year for us in terms of events. Having an effective archives management system is integral to ensuring ICC match footage can be used quickly and easily by the ICC, its commercial partners and third-party licensees.

“We are seeking a service provider that can deliver competitive rates but also has depth of experience in sport, in particular cricket, so it can anticipate and respond to the needs of the ICC and its customers,” he said.

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

Sports News

December 12, 2008

Football :
Tripura moved in to Final of National School Football tournament for under-19 boys at Port Blear today. In the semi-final, Tripura beat Karnataka by 2-1 goals. Surajit Debbarma and Prabal Debbarma scored for Tripura. Earlier, Tripura routed Kendriya Vidyalaya by 5-1 goals in Qurter-final. In final, Tripura will play against Orissa on tomorrow.

Cricket :
Opener J. Saxena scored a brilliant ton to put Madhya Pradesh in a solid foundation against host Tripura in four-day Ranji Trophy Plate-B cricket match here today. Put in to bat first at the Maharaja Bir Bickram Stadium, visitor Madhya Pradesh lost their two early wickets in 48 Runs. Skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar (06) and opener H. Sagar (3) back to the pavilion. After then, J. Sexsena and his partner Debendra Bundela Added unbeaten 162 runs at third wickets and Madya Pradesh scored 210 for two at stumps on day one. Saxena scored 125 (285 balls, 364 minutes, 4X13) and Debendra Bundela made unbeaten 68 (177 balls, 241 minutes, 4X8, 6X1). Pacer Vinit Jain and spinner Jayanta Debnath took one wicket each for Tripura.

India will retake second place with series win over England

Dubai, 9 December 2008

England can gain one spot to fourth; West Indies and New Zealand fight it out for seventh position; chance for Pietersen to break back into top five batsmen; India’s best batsmen all eyeing places in the top 10

India will go second in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table if it beats England in the upcoming two-Test series that gets underway in Chennai on Thursday.

By winning the series 1-0 or 2-0, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team will overtake South Africa and recapture second, a position it had briefly enjoyed after its 2-0 home series victory over Australia recently.

But just like it was the last time India rose to second in the rankings, South Africa will have an immediate opportunity to take back that place with a three-match series in Australia on the horizon. The first match of that series begins in Perth on 17 December.

England will also be eyeing a good opportunity while in India. A 2-0 series win will see it move up one place to fourth in the standings, ahead of Sri Lanka. That result would also bring it to within three ratings points of India in third position.

A drawn series or a 1-0 win for England would leave the teams in their current positions although in both instances, India would lose ground on South Africa while Kevin Pietersen’s team would close the gap on Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, close rivals the West Indies and New Zealand do battle over the next couple of weeks in a two-Test series in the Land of the Long White Cloud. The first Test takes place in Dunedin beginning on Thursday with the second one scheduled for Napier from 19 December.

At present, New Zealand is placed in eighth position, just a fraction of a ratings point behind the West Indies. A drawn series would leave that state of affairs unchanged but a 1-0 or 2-0 win for the Black Caps would see them leap-frog over Chris Gayle and his men.

Equally, a series win for the West Indies would widen that narrow gap between the sides so there is plenty to play for as the players take the field.

As far as the players are concerned, there will be plenty of opportunities for them to make progress up the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Player Rankings with many of the world’s top performers on show.

Pietersen is the highest-ranked batsman taking part in the India v England series and he can break back into the top five with a good display in these two matches. His team-mates Alistair Cook (in 16th position) and Paul Collingwood (in 20th position) should also get the chance to make further inroads towards the top 10.

India has four batsmen in the top 20 with Virender Sehwag (10th), VVS Laxman (14th), Sachin Tendulkar (17th) and Gautam Ghambhir (18th) all out to impress.

Of course, they are all a long way behind number-one batsman and the ICC Cricketer of the Year for 2008 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who will be a key part of the West Indies’ line-up in New Zealand.

He will be supported by Ramnaresh Sarwan in 19th position and Chris Gayle (30th position). There are currently no New Zealand batsmen in the top 30 but Ross Taylor (in 33rd place), Daniel Vettori (in 36th), Brendon McCullum (in 38th place) and Jacob Oram (in 40th position) will be trying to do something about that.

On the bowling front, the only player in the top-10 who will take part in either of these series is Harbhajan Singh in seventh position. The 28-year-old will be anxious to make further progress up the rankings although he still has a long way to go to catch Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralidaran at the top.

With conditions likely to favour the spinners, England’s Monty Panesar will be keen to exploit that and perhaps break into the top 10 from his current position in 11th. Other players in the top 20 in this series are James Anderson (15th place), Andrew Flintoff (17th) and Zaheer Khan (20th).

While their respective teams are almost tied on the rankings, the same is true for West Indies pace man Jerome Taylor and Kiwi slow left-armer Vettori. Taylor is just ahead of the New Zealand captain in 13th position but another strong home performance from Vettori in 14th place could change all that.


Upcoming matches:

11-15 Dec – India v England (Test), Chennai
19-23 Dec – India v England (Test), Mohali

11-15 Dec – New Zealand v West Indies (Test), Dunedin
19-23 Dec – New Zealand v West Indies (Test), Napier

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship (as of 9 December)

Rank Team Rating

1 Australia 130
2 South Africa 117
3 India 116
4 Sri Lanka 108
5 England 104
6 Pakistan 100
7 West Indies 81
8 New Zealand 81
9 Bangladesh 0

Reliance Mobile ICC Test Rankings (as of 9 December)

Batsmen

Rank Player Team Points Ave HS Rating

1 S.Chanderpaul WI 890 ! 49.08 890 v Aus at Bridgetown 2008
2 K Sangakkara SL 886 54.79 938 v Eng at Kandy 2007
3 Mohd Yousuf Pak 880 55.49 933 v WI at Karachi 2006
4 Mike Hussey Aus 855 64.18 921 v WI at Kingston 2008
5 M Jayawardena SL 837 52.41 847 v Ind at Colombo (SSC) 2008
6 Kevin Pietersen Eng 829 50.51 905 v WI at Headingley 2007
7 Ricky Ponting Aus 806 57.18 942 v Eng at Adelaide 2006
8 Yunus Khan Pak 799 49.14 856 v Eng at Headingley 2006
9 Graeme Smith SA 772 49.95 783 v Ban at Bloemfontein 2008
10 Virender Sehwag Ind 765 51.96 854 v SA at Kolkata 2004
11 Michael Clarke Aus 750 47.01 761 v Ind at Melbourne 2007
12 Jacques Kallis SA 748 55.06 935 v NZ at Centurion 2007
13 Matthew Hayden Aus 734 51.87 935 v Eng at Brisbane 2002
14 VVS Laxman Ind 732 45.25 753 v Aus at Sydney 2004
15 Ashwell Prince SA 731 45.68 756 v Pak at Centurion 2007
16 Alastair Cook Eng 686 42.88 707 v SL at Galle 2007
17 Sachin Tendulkar Ind 683 54.30 898 v Zim at Nagpur 2002
18 Gautam Gambhir Ind 663* 44.39 670 v Aus at Delhi 2008
19 R Sarwan WI 659 40.40 697 v Eng at Old Trafford 2004
20 P Collingwood Eng 657 42.01 730 v Aus at Adelaide 2006

Bowlers

Rank Player Team Points Ave Econ HS Rating

1 M Muralidaran SL 895 21.96 920 v Ban at Kandy 2007
2 Dale Steyn SA 816 22.67 897 v Ind at Ahmedabad 2008
3 Stuart Clark Aus 806* 22.96 863 v WI at Bridgetown 2008
4 Makhaya Ntini SA 797 27.69 863 v Ind at Durban 2006
5 Brett Lee Aus 744 30.11 811 v WI at Antigua 2008
6 Ryan Sidebottom Eng 738* 25.68 769 v SA at Lord's 2008
7 Harbhajan Singh Ind 688 30.77 765 v NZ at Wellington 2002
8= Chaminda Vaas SL 684 29.31 800 v Ind at Chennai 2005
Shoaib Akhtar Pak 684 25.69 855 v NZ at Wellington 2003
Mitchell Johnson Aus 684*! 29.39 684 v NZ at Adelaide 2008
11 Monty Panesar Eng 653 31.95 721 v WI at Chester-le-St 2007
12 Shane Bond NZ 641* 22.39 778 v WI at Auckland 2006
13 Jerome Taylor WI 628*! 34.69 628 v Aus at Bridgetown 2008
14 Daniel Vettori NZ 624 33.50 681 v Aus at Auckland 2000
15 James Anderson Eng 620 ! 34.51 620 v SA at The Oval 2008
16 Mohammad Asif Pak 619* 23.13 710 v SA at Cape Town 2007
17 Andrew Flintoff Eng 615 32.21 810 v Pak at Multan 2005
18 Danish Kaneria Pak 614 33.90 723 v Eng at Multan 2005
19 Jacques Kallis SA 600 30.92 742 v Eng at Headingley 2003
20 Zaheer Khan Ind 599 34.59 689 v Pak at Delhi 2007

All-rounders

Rank Player Team Points HS Rating

1 Jacques Kallis SA 449 616 v Pak at Durban 2002
2 Daniel Vettori NZ 338 369 v Ban at Dhaka 2008
3 Andrew Flintoff Eng 302 501 v Pak at Multan 2005
4 Dwayne Bravo WI 295 /*! 295 v Aus at Bridgetown 2008
5 Chaminda Vaas SL 281 300 v WI at Guyana 2008

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

ICC announces umpire and referee appointments for upcoming Test and ODI series in New Zealand

Dubai, 9 December 2008

The International Cricket Council has announced the referees and umpires who will officiate in the upcoming Test and ODI series between New Zealand and the West Indies.

Javagal Srinath from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees will lead the playing control team for the entire series.

The first Test, which takes place in Dunedin from 11 to 15 December will be umpired by Rudi Koertzen from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Amiesh Saheba from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires. The television umpire for that match will be Mark Benson from the Emirates Elite Panel.

The second Test will take place in Napier from 19 to 23 December and will feature on-field umpires Saheba and Benson with Koertzen being the television umpire.

This Test series will form part of ongoing trials of the umpire decision review system, which was first tested during the series between Sri Lanka and India in July/August. Three other upcoming Test series will also feature the system, namely South Africa’s hosting of Australia, England’s tour to the West Indies and Pakistan’s home series against India. Results and feedback from the trials in these Test matches will be brought before the ICC Cricket Committee in May for further review.

After the Test matches the New Zealand and West Indies players will exchange their whites for coloured clothing for a series of ODIs. Benson will umpire all five matches along with a local appointment.

Appointments for the other upcoming series will be announced in due course.

New Zealand
Series match referee – Javagal Srinath
11-15 Dec – New Zealand v West Indies (Test), Dunedin – Rudi Koertzen and Amiesh Saheba (Mark Benson, third umpire)
19-23 Dec – New Zealand v West Indies (Test), Napier – Mark Benson and Amiesh Saheba (Rudi Koertzen, third umpire)

31 Dec – New Zealand v West Indies (ODI), Queenstown – Mark Benson and local appointment
3 Jan – New Zealand v West Indies (ODI), Christchurch – Mark Benson and local appointment
7 Jan – New Zealand v West Indies (ODI), Wellington – Mark Benson and local appointment
10 Jan – New Zealand v West Indies (ODI), Auckland – Mark Benson and local appointment
13 Jan – New Zealand v West Indies (ODI), Napier – Mark Benson and local appointment

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

Sports News

December 10, 2008

Football :
Tripura entered in to Quarter final of National School Football tournament for under-19 boys at Port blear today. In second pool match, Tripura drubbed Chhatishgarh by 5-0 goals. Earlier, in first match Tripura beat Uttar Pradesh by 2-0 goals. Tripura boys now will play against Kendriya Vidyalaya in Quarter final.

Hockey :
First North East Sub-junior Hockey tournament for under-16 will be held at Agartala on December 17-23 next. Five teams – Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and host Tripura will participate in this tournament. The matches of the tournament will be held at Arundhutinagar Police Hockey ground.

Cricket :
Tripura girls defeated Sikkim by nine wickets in the East Zone Senior one-day cricket match on November 24 last. Elected to bat first at Kalyani ground, Sikkim bundled out only 68 runs in 39 over. Kikam Bhulia scored 15. Tagari Debnath bagged three and her partner Annapurna Das took two wickets for Tripura. In Reply to, Tripura touched the winning target by losing one wicket in 18.2 over. Rima Chakraborty scored 23.
Brief Score : Sikkim – 68/10 (39 over), Tripura – 69/1 ( 18.2 over).

Jharkhanda beat Tripura girls by 152 runs in the East Zone Senior one-day cricket match on November 25 last. Elected to bat first at Kalyani ground, Jharkhanda scored 218 for 5 in their stipulated 50 over. Nishaf Fatima scored 42 and her partner Shina Praveen Asraf made 41. Annapurna Das took two wickets for Tripura. In Reply to, Tripura bundled out only 66 runs in 42 over. Rima Chakraborty scored 27. For Jharkhanda, Seema Desal and Kavita Roy took two wickets each.
Brief Score : Jharkhanda – 218/5 (50 over), Tripura – 66/10 ( 42 over).

Tripura girls lost East Zone Senior one-day cricket match against host Bengal on November 26 last. Put in to bat first at Kalyani ground, Tripura bundled out 70 runs in 34.1 over. Indra Rani Jamatia scored 17. Jhulan Goswami took four wickets for Bengal. In Reply to, Bengal touched the winning target with out losing any wickets in 14.4 over. Rituparna Roy scored 25 and her partner Riya Chowdhury made 38 runs.
Brief Score : Tripura – 70/10 (34.1 over), Bengal – 71/0 ( 14.4 over).

Results of ICC Chief Executives’ Committee meeting

Cape Town, 8 December 2008

Further discussions took place relating to the Future Tours Programme post-2012

Agrees that ICC should draw up an anti-racism code separate from the ICC Code of Conduct

SNTV to send out video news release following media conference

The ICC Chief Executives’ Committee met in Cape Town on 7 and 8 December to discuss a range of issues relating to the playing and the business of cricket, some of which will be considered by the ICC Board when it next meets, in Perth at the end of January.

Broadcasters may wish to note that SNTV is going to send out a video news release from the two-day meeting and the subsequent media conference that took place in Cape Town. More details are available from your usual contacts at SNTV.

The results of the meeting are as follows:

Future Tours Programme post-2012

With the current FTP due to conclude in May 2012, the concept of an alternative structure to bilateral tours, including the possibility of an enhanced Test championship, was further discussed at length by the CEC. This is very much a work-in-progress and will continue to be explored at future meetings.

There was also a general discussion on the issue of Test cricket with Members acknowledging the need to find ways in which this format of the game can be protected and promoted.

ICC Code of Conduct issues

The CEC agreed that the ICC should draft a separate anti-racism code to run independent from the ICC Code of Conduct. A draft code will be drawn up after receiving written comments and suggestions from Members.

The CEC was updated on the situation regarding proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct, specifically to do with Levels 3 and 4 charges being referred to an independent legally qualified adjudicator.

Members of the CEC called for stronger action against teams bowling their overs too slowly in Tests and ODIs. As a result, ICC management will review the relevant regulations with a view to encouraging better over-rates and strengthening sanctions against offending teams.

There was also a feeling among CEC members that a stronger stance needed to be taken against players guilty of verbal abuse.

Anti-Corruption and Security Unit

The CEC recommended to the ICC Board that the role of the ACSU be expanded to include liaising and managing safety, security and terrorism intelligence matters with independent security consultants/agencies and advising the ICC Chief Executive and Board on all matters relating to safety and security.

This would be primarily for ICC events but it is envisaged that the ACSU would be prepared to offer this service to Members for bilateral series if asked to do so.

Anti-Doping

All Full Members and the top six Associate Members have agreed to have in place WADA-compliant codes by 1 July 2009. CEC agreed that draft copies of each Member’s anti-doping code must be with the ICC by 1 March 2009 to allow for any necessary amendments to be made by the required deadline.

Commonwealth Games

Due to scheduling issues, the CEC was not in favour of the inclusion of cricket in the programme for the Commonwealth Games 2014 to take place in Glasgow.

International Cricket for Associate Members

While ICC regulations state that “participation in any form of international cricket shall always take priority over participation in any other form of cricket”, CEC recommends that this should not apply to all matches involving Associate Members.

Release of players to represent an Associate Member should only be made mandatory and therefore require a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the relevant Associate Member for the following matches: ICC Cricket World Cup matches, ICC Champions Trophy matches, ICC World Twenty20 matches, ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup matches, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier matches, ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier matches, ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier matches, all ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals against Full Members.

CEC noted that it followed from this that the relevant Associate Member would exercise its discretion in granting or withholding an NOC for those matches outside of the above list.

ICC Development Committee

CEC agreed with a recommendation from the ICC Development Committee to appoint one of the CEC members to sit on that committee. The Governance Review Committee will now consider this proposal and make a recommendation to the ICC Board for final approval.

CEC recommended that a team of the tournament be selected from the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 to be held in Australia in March. It also recommended that, at the annual ICC Awards, the Women’s Cricketer of the Year be selected using the same voting process as for the men’s awards.

Strategy workshop

On day two of the meeting there was a workshop led by a strategic facilitator from Ernst & Young South Africa. This interactive forum has successfully started a process to establish a number of key aims, objectives and challenges that will then feed into other decision-making forums including the ICC Board. This process is designed to help all the Members, as well as the ICC itself, to shape their long-term thinking and plans for international cricket in a cohesive and mutually beneficial way.

The session included discussions on the various formats of international cricket, the opportunities and challenges of the changing landscape, competitive balance and promotion.

“I was very encouraged by this workshop,” said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

“As a sport, cricket faces challenges and tensions at international level. But it also enjoys wonderful strengths. For this group it is vital that we work together for the good of the game around the world.

“This workshop highlighted people’s concerns and hopes for the game and will hopefully in time help us develop a long-term response that will make our strong sport even stronger.”

The CEC comprises the chief executives of the 10 Test-playing Members and three representatives from ICC Associate Members. It is chaired by the ICC Chief Executive. The ICC President and the Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee will also be in attendance.

David Morgan- ICC President
Haroon Lorgat- ICC Chief Executive
Clive Lloyd- ICC Cricket Committee Chairman

James Sutherland- Australia
Nizam Uddin Chowdhury - Bangladesh
David Collier - England
N Srinivasan - India
Dr Justin Vaughan - New Zealand
Salim Altaf - Pakistan
Gerald Majola - South Africa
Duleep Mendis - Sri Lanka
Dr Donald Peters - West Indies
Ozias Bvute - Zimbabwe

Associate Member representatives

Dr John Cribbin - Hong Kong
Warren Deutrom - Ireland
Laurie Pieters - Namibia

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

ICC announces a change to umpire appointments for upcoming Test series in India

Dubai, 7 December 2008

The ICC has made a change to the previously announced umpire appointments for the upcoming Test series in India.

Pakistani nationals require city-specific visas when travelling to India. This week Asad Rauf, the Emirates Elite Panel umpire who was to officiate in both Tests, received his passport back with a visa appropriate for the original venues. With the change in venues he required a new visa but due to the weekend, followed by the Eid al-Adha holidays, there was insufficient time for one to be issued, so he has had to step down from the first Test.

He will be replaced by Billy Bowden, also of the Emirates Elite Panel, who will officiate in the first Test in Chennai, beginning on 11 December.

It is anticipated Asad will be able to stand in the second match of the series in Mohali, starting on 18 December.

The other ICC appointments for the series – on-field umpire Daryl Harper of the Emirates Elite Panel and match referee Jeff Crowe, from the Emirates Elite Panel of match referees – remain unchanged.

India v England
Series match referee – Jeff Crowe
11 – 15 Dec – India v England (Test), Chennai – Daryl Harper and Billy Bowden
28 Nov-2 Dec – India v England (Test), Mohali – Daryl Harper and Asad Rauf

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

ICC President David Morgan urges Indian public to join him in supporting India – England Test series

Dubai, 6 December 2008

“Good attendances will demonstrate we won’t be dictated to by terrorists”

“ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and I will be present to show support”

ICC President David Morgan has urged the Indian public to support the upcoming two-Test series between the hosts and England.

Mr Morgan said good attendances at the matches in Chennai and Mohali would be a demonstration that people would not be dictated to by terrorists.

And he confirmed he and ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat would be present during the series to show solidarity and support for the people of India and the two teams.

“Safety and security of the players, officials and spectators must be the key consideration at all times,” said Mr Morgan.

“But if security assessments indicate that the measures put in place are appropriate then we – players, officials and all stakeholders – have a duty to ensure cricket takes place.

“I have been in regular contact with both the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Shashank Manohar and Giles Clarke, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) Chairman, and it is clear they both want to play the matches if at all possible.

“The players have also demonstrated an acceptance of their role in trying to put a smile back on the face of a country that has undergone a horrendous experience.

“ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat will be in Chennai for the first Test and I will be in Mohali to show the ICC’s support for India and the two teams.

“I would urge as many supporters as possible to join us during the series, not only because they will see two excellent sides playing Test cricket, the pinnacle of our sport, but also because by doing so we will demonstrate that we will not be dictated to by terrorists.

“I believe the Test series will be a clear demonstration of the resilience of the Indian people and the game of cricket and an illustration that the game has the ability to bring people together.

“As Haroon said earlier this week, cricket is a common thread that binds all ICC Members and we must seek to ensure those ties endure. By doing so we will ensure our strong sport will grow even stronger,” added Mr Morgan.

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

ICC Chief Executives’ Committee meets in Cape Town next week

Dubai, 5 December 2008

Among the matters up for discussion are the FTP post-2012, Code of Conduct and the role of the ACSU

Media conference to be held after conclusion of meeting; details to be announced

The ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) will convene in Cape Town on Sunday for one of its four meetings per year.

The two-day gathering, held at the Westin Grand Hotel on 7 and 8 December, will make decisions on a range of matters relating to the playing of cricket as well as recommendations on the business of cricket for consideration by the ICC Board’s January meeting.

A media conference will be held at the conclusion of business on 8 September, also at the Westin Grand Hotel, and details of the timing and exact location of that conference will be announced in due course.

Among the items for discussion on the CEC agenda are the following:

Future Tours Programme post-2012

With the current FTP due to conclude in May 2012, the concept of an alternative structure to bilateral tours, including an enhanced Test championship, was discussed by both the CEC and the ICC Board during meetings in Dubai in June/July and again in September.

Further to those discussions and subsequent feedback provided by ICC Members to the ICC’s management, this work-in-progress will continue to receive attention during the course of this CEC meeting.

There will also be a general discussion on the promotion and protection of Test cricket.

ICC Code of Conduct

CEC will be updated on the situation regarding proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct, specifically to do with Levels 3 and 4 charges being referred to an independent legally qualified adjudicator.

Anti-Corruption and Security Unit

There will be a discussion relating to expanding the role of the ACSU in liaising and managing safety, security and terrorism intelligence matters with independent security consultants/agencies and to advise the ICC Chief Executive and Board on all matters relating to safety and security at ICC events and possibly bilateral commitments.

Strategy workshop

On day two of the meeting there will be a lengthy strategy workshop aimed at starting a process to establish a number of key aims, objectives and challenges that will then feed into other decision-making forums including the ICC Board. The idea is to help all the Members, as well as the ICC itself, to shape their long-term thinking and plans in a cohesive and mutually beneficial way.

The issues that will be discussed during this workshop will include the long-term landscape of cricket, business models for growing the game and learning lessons from the past.

The CEC comprises the chief executives of the 10 Test-playing Members and three representatives from ICC Associate Members. It is chaired by the ICC Chief Executive. The ICC President and the Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee will also be in attendance.

David Morgan - ICC President
Haroon Lorgat - ICC Chief Executive
Clive Lloyd - ICC Cricket Committee Chairman

James Sutherland - Australia
Nizam Uddin Chowdhury - Bangladesh
David Collier - England
N Srinivasan - India
Dr Justin Vaughan - New Zealand
Salim Altaf - Pakistan
Gerald Majola - South Africa
Duleep Mendis - Sri Lanka
Dr Donald Peters - West Indies
Ozias Bvute - Zimbabwe

Associate Member representatives

John Cribbin - Hong Kong
Warren Deutrom - Ireland
Laurie Pieters - Namibia

ICC MEDIA RELEASE

ICC confirms process for selection of venues for ICC World Twenty20 2010

Dubai, 4 December 2008

The ICC today confirmed details of the process for the selection of venues for the ICC World Twenty20 2010 in the West Indies.


As per the host agreement, the West Indies Cricket Board has undertaken to recommend its preferred venues to the ICC. The ICC Board will consider the recommendation at its quarterly meeting that will take place in Perth, Australia on 31 January and 1 February.



The ICC Board will then make its decision based on those recommendations.


“The ICC World Twenty20 2010 in the West Indies promises to be another memorable event and we are looking forward to receiving the WICB’s recommendations,” said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.


“A legacy of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 is the fantastic cricket venues across the Caribbean. On top of that, twenty20 cricket has proved to be a big hit in that part of the world so I’m sure the West Indies will host a spectacular tournament,” said Mr Lorgat.


ICC MEDIA RELEASE