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guyanatimesGY.com
tuesday, FEBRUARY 4, 2014
PCB oppose ‘Big Number of sports could be cut T Three’ proposals Commonwealth Games….
After a meeting of its board of governors, the PCB said: “The model proposed by BCCI, ECB and CA was neither in line with the principle of equity nor in the interest of game of cricket”
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he PCB has strongly opposed the move to revamp the global game and called it “neither in line with principle of equity nor in the interest of game of cricket”. The announcement came after a meeting of its governing board, presided by PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, who had been present at the ICC meeting in Dubai last week to discuss the radical proposals which will give the Big Three countries a larger portion of ICC revenues and more of a say in the game’s administration. “The Board Members deliberated and expressed serious concerns on the model proposed by BCCI, ECB and CA which was neither in
line with principle of equity nor in the interest of game of cricket,” a PCB press release said. “The Board has reiterated the position that Chairman PCB request audience with the Patron of PCB, H.E the Prime Minister to apprise him on this matter of immense significance and of national interest which will have wide reaching impact on future of cricket in Pakistan.” Ashraf said last week that he wanted all decisions to be taken through consensus, and didn’t want the proposals to be approved hastily. “The Board appreciated and supported the stance taken by Chairman PCB at the last ICC Board meeting at Dubai. The Board
authorised Chairman PCB Mr. Zaka Ashraf and COO Mr. Subhan Ahmad to engage with other Board members to align the common position and take other requisite remedial measures in the interest of cricket in Pakistan.” After the Dubai meeting, the ICC had said its Executive Board “unanimously supported” a set of the principles which were more or less along the lines of the original proposal, though there were some concessions granted to the members outside the Big Three. The proposals had not been voted on in that meeting, but could be at the next ICC meeting in Singapore on February 8. (Cricinfo)
Kirsten “not considering” England role
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ary Kirsten, the former South Africa coach, has distanced himself from becoming the next England team director. Kirsten, 46, is considered the outstanding candidate to replace Andy Flower and is third favourite in the betting. But he told ESPNcricinfo that although he is yet to be approached about the role, he would not consider the position at this stage. “I’ve not been approached about the England job,” he said. “And I’m not considering it at this stage.” Kirsten also told reporters in India that his circumstances have not changed since stepping down as coach of South Africa last July. Despite leading South Africa to No. 1 in the world Test rankings, Kirsten cited the amount of time spent away from home as the reason for quitting and said the same explanation prevents an interest in returning to international cricket. “I suppose it is flattering that people are thinking about me,” Kirsten said.
Gary Kirsten
“As far as I am concerned, my sentiments have not changed.” Kirsten was speaking ahead of the IPL auction as he prepares to assemble a team for the Delhi Daredevils where he was appointed head coach in September. The job involves no more than ten weeks away from his home in Cape Town and his three young children, a far cry from the months spent abroad in international cricket. His new role is thought to be worth more than
US$500,000 (£306,000) for a little more than two months work. It has been reported that the ECB would need to double that figure to land Kirsten, who is also contracted for 50 days a year as batting consultant for South Africa. Kirsten was India coach from 2008-2011 but was able to enjoy very little time at home and did not consider moving his family to India. England could be a more attractive location to relocate to and if his family were to base themselves in the UK, the job of England team director could yet be of interest to Kirsten. The caveat “at this stage” may yet turn out to be significant and, with England’s next Test series not starting until June, there is no great urgency to come to a decision. Ashley Giles, the England one-day coach, is the odds-on favourite for the job. Other candidates include Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire coach, and former Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody, who expressed an interest in the position. (Cricinfo)
he Commonwealth Games could be cut from 17 to 10 sports to keep the event alive beyond 2018, a leading Games official has told the BBC. Glasgow will stage the 2014 event and the Gold Coast in 2018, but no bidders have yet come forward as 2022 hosts. Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, says reducing the number of sports could encourage interest. “We recognise the tough economic times but we have flexibility,” he said. “If someone wanted to predicate a bid on a theme of ‘bring it back to basics’, then they could do so. “Clearly the cost structures associated with putting on a 10 sports Games versus a 17 sports Games is vastly different and that has
Mike Hooper
always been the case.” Ten sports is the minimum allowed by the Commonwealth Games Federation, with 17 the maximum. Bids to host the 2022 showpiece must be received by March 2015 but official
notes of interest must be in by the end of March this year. So far, no notes of interest have been received and that has led to several Nations and territories expressing concern about the future of the event. Hooper, who will stand down from his position after the Games in Glasgow this year, said: “If you are asking me can I guarantee multiple bids for 2022, right now I can’t give you that guarantee. “Obviously if there are no bids, the games will finish in 2018 but I don’t believe that will be the case. Asked to clarify the current level of interest, he added: “There’s talk of Singapore, South Africa and the UK but we will wait and see.” (BBC Sport)
Olympic swimming legend in rehab after police called
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ive-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe is being treated for depression after being found by Australian police behaving oddly near a car in Sydney. “The owner of the car basically called the police and the police came,” said the swimmer’s manager, James Erskine. “They realised it was Ian Thorpe. They realised he was disoriented.” Erskine said the 31-yearold swimming legend was taking anti-depressants and medication for a shoulder injury but was not under the influence of alcohol. “He is in rehab for depression,” Erskine added in an interview with the Australian Associated Press. “He hadn’t had a drink. He had zero alcohol in him.” Police said no official complaint has been made and no further police action is anticipated. Erskine’s admission that Thorpe is in rehab comes only days after the
Ian Thorpe
Australian’s management company denied reports he checked into a rehab facility while battling depression and alcohol abuse. In his autobiography, published last year, Thorpe revealed he had been battling “crippling depression”. In an interview with the BBC’s HARDtalk programme, he talked about having suicidal thoughts, drinking too much and hiding his despair from those closest to him. Known to fans as
“Thorpedo”, he was a freestyle specialist and one of the greatest swimmers of his generation. He won three gold and two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, followed by two more golds at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He also won 11 World Championships gold medals, including six in 2001. After retiring in 2006, he attempted a comeback early in 2011 but failed to make the Australian team for the 2012 Olympics in London.
(BBC Sport)
Eranga and Herath ruled out with injury
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ri Lanka bowlers Rangana Herath and Shaminda Eranga will miss the second Test against Bangladesh with injuries, team management has confirmed. Herath has suffered a recurrence of a knee injury, while Eranga has strained a quad muscle in the approach to the match. Both will return to Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Their places in the XI is most likely to be taken up by spinner Ajantha Mendis, who has played on one Test since June 2011, and fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep,
Rangana Herath
who impressed during his comeback Test last month. Batsman Kusal Perera and allrounder Thisara Perera will replace the pair in the Test squad, but with the match starting before they arrive, neither will be available for selection. Kusal and Thisara are in the Twenty20 and ODI squads for the limited-overs leg of the tour. Herath had also been named in the Twenty20 squad, but his availability is now in doubt. The team has not yet revealed the severity of the injuries. (Cricinfo)