The Asia Cup will be played every alternate year and Pakistan will host the next round in 2008, as has been decided by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in its annual general council meeting in Kuala Lampur. It will be the first time that Pakistan willl host the tournament.Apart from that, as per the rotation policy, the presidency of the ACC will be handed over to Jayantha Dharmadasa, the Sri Lankan board president, Saleem Altaf, the PCB director-operations told . Dharmadasa will take over on July 1.The 2006 Indian edition of the tournament was to be played in February, but was postponed to 2008 after the Indian board complained of an already hectic schedule for the season. Sri Lanka are defending champions of the cup, which they hosted in 2004.
At the end of his second stint with Hampshire, Shane Warne insists that county cricket is in good condition, although he believes that a few changes could improve it even further.”When I look back over another enjoyable season in England, I can see that county cricket is in good shape overall,” said Warne in his article in . “England are starting to play well because it [the County Championship] is competitive and producing some high-quality games, so the best players are learning how to win.”Having said that, I would change a few things here and there, he admitted. “One is the sheer volume of cricket; there is definitely too much at the moment. Players just don’t get the chance to practise or recover. I think the workload is a big reason why out-and-out fast bowlers are not coming through.”Warne, who played a vital role in Hampshire’s promotion to Division One with 51 Championship wickets at an average of just over 24 this season, suggested that the number of matches played be reduced from 16 to 12, with some counties playing each other only once, adding that this “could be organised on a system depending on finishing positions the season before.”Warne recommended that the National League schedule also be reduced to 12 games. “Put together, this would open up 20 days through the season for players to rest or work on their techniques. The Twenty20 Cup can stay as it is.”Warne also advocated the scrapping of bonus points in the County Championship, saying: “I think some teams have been playing for them this season instead of going all out to win. The difference between what you can earn for a win and a draw with full bonus points should be greater.”I accept there must be something for a draw, if only because of the way the weather can influence a game. It should be minimal – two points, say – to make sure that teams playing for big-scoring draws all season do not become champions.” Warwickshire, this season’s county champions, went through the season unbeaten, but only won five matches, and drew 11.Warne added that he believed counties should come to an agreement regarding the issue of overseas players, where every team would have to include eight players who are qualified to play for England, concluding: “The other three can be overseas, EU, or little green men from Mars.”
Mark Waugh’s long and prosperous cricket career ended only 22 days ago. Now his 17-year relationship with Sue Porter is over as well.Waugh, who retired after New South Wales’s season-ending Pura Cup game against Queensland at the SCG on March 7, announced the split today via his manager. Waugh and 51-year-old Porter were together throughout his 128-Test career and the vast majority of his 18 years with NSW.Leo Karis, Waugh’s manager, confirmed the separation. “Mark Waugh and Susan Porter have today mutually and amicably agreed to end their relationship,” he said in a statement. “Mark and Susan request that their privacy be respected at this time. There will not be any further comments made by either party.”Waugh, 38, met Porter when he was a 21-year-old working at a Sydney sports store. She was 34 at the time, and married with three children.”It wasn’t love at first sight,” Waugh wrote in his biography. “Sue was married, and I was just a young fella who was a bit naive when it came to girls.” Waugh’s book said Porter did not share his love of gambling on horses, and insisted on one gambling-free day a week when they were at home together.They had been engaged.
Sri Lanka’s cricketers have rejected a performance-related pay package for the forthcoming World Cup and refused to sign their player contracts.The Sri Lankan cricket board has therefore failed to the meet the January 14 ICC deadline for signing the players’ terms agreement.A statement released by the Sri Lanka Cricketers Association (SLCA) said: "The SLCA confirms that the controversial players’ terms agreement has not been signed by the Sri Lanka players."The SLCA are demanding that the Sri Lankan cricket board pay the players 20% of the monies that they receive from the ICC World Cup. At present they have been offered a 5% revenue share."The players of Australia and New Zealand are being paid 25%," said the SLCA. "The South Africans are almost there with 30% of the total money received from their board. In view of the above, the 20% that the Sri Lankan players are requesting seems reasonable enough.""The players are of the view that their rights have been stolen away by this Player Terms Agreement. The BCCSL, without consulting the players concerned, have signed the agreement until the 2007 World Cup. Therefore, the players have a right to claim these payments."The release, however, hints that the players would stop short of boycotting the tournament: "The players are clearly committed to participate in the World Cup even without such payments."Earlier in the week, the BCCSL offered the players a performance-based payincentives package, including an USD 100,000 bonus for lifting the trophy, as well as doubling their standard match fee of USD 700 per game.
Kent County Cricket Club today announced the coaching structure that willguide the Kent team to the end of the 2001 season. John Inverarity’sshort-term contract as Coaching Adviser is drawing to a close but hisexpertise has produced some excellent performances by the Kent team, layingfirm foundations for the future.John will be handing over the reins of the First XI to Chris Stone whojoined the Club’s coaching staff in March 1999 and in his short time at theClub has demonstrated his commitment to Kent’s young players. Alan Wellswill Captain the Second XI and Daryll Cullinan will assume the role ofDevelopment Coach, encouraging the development of the Kent Young Cricketersquads as well as the County’s young professionals.John Inverarity commented: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the past three months and have been excited by the huge potential within the Kent squad. Chris Stone is anexcellent coach and, under his guidance and Matthew Fleming’s captaincy, Iam sure that the team will soon reap the rewards of their hard work.”The Club will be considering a detailed report prepared by John Inverarityand will announce its coaching structure for the longer term in due course.
According to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, via TUTTOmercatoWEB, Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on a new striker target in Roma star Tammy Abraham.
The Lowdown: Conte eyes striker move…
As reliably reported, Tottenham and manager Antonio Conte see the signing of a back-up to star striker Harry Kane as one of four priorities (Alasdair Gold).
The likes of Andrea Belotti and Alvaro Morata have been linked in recent months with Kane currently unchallenged and unsupported for the attacking role in north London.
It could be imperative for Spurs and Conte to have another option in the event of a serious injury to the England superstar with their eyes now apparently turning to Abraham.
The Latest: Spurs set sights…
As per Il Messaggero (via TMW), it is believed that Tottenham, and by extension transfer chief Fabio Paratici, have ‘already set their sights’ on the former Chelsea star.
Man United and his ex-club also hold a serious interest amid his fine debut campaign in Italy with the latter side possessing a €80 million (£67.6m) buy-back clause.
The Verdict: Big challenge…
It is little wonder Abraham has caught the attention of Spurs as he dazzles in Rome and earns the affection of both Jose Mourinho and supporters alike.
However, if Paratici and co. truly wish to sign the attacker, they will have to pay big.
Reliable journalist Sami Mokbel of The Daily Mail recently revealed that Roma are expected to place a £100 million price tag on Abraham this summer, a valuation which could well dent Spurs’ summer hopes.
If Tottenham did somehow do the very improbable, there is little denying he would upgrade Conte’s options, with pundit Alex McLeish calling him ‘phenomenal’.
He’s lived up to that tag in Italy with 15 goals and three assists in the league alone so far this season, and amid his huge hike in value, Spurs may be regretting not signing him when they had the chance last summer.
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The Telegraph explained that Abraham had been ‘offered’ and ‘made available’ to Spurs in 2021 with the price tag around that time amounting to £40m.
Now, it appears Paratici faces a much bigger challenge to sign him.
In other news: Conte now eyeing £25.2m-rated ‘game-changer’ who Spurs once agreed personal terms for…find out more here.
Ryan Harris, South Australia’s leading Pura Cup wicket-taker in 2007-08, will play for Queensland from next season after signing a three-year deal with the Bulls. Harris’ departure from Adelaide is a blow for the Redbacks as they embark on their own recruiting drive following a disappointing summer.Harris, 28, will be a useful addition at Queensland, who already boast the Cricket Australia-contracted allrounders Ashley Noffke, James Hopes and Shane Watson. He said he was looking forward to a new phase in his career.”It was a good offer and while I’ve enjoyed my time with the Redbacks, I thought the opportunity to bowl at the Gabba over the next few years should see my career develop further,” Harris said. “I thank the SACA [South Australian Cricket Association] for their support over the past few years and wish them all the best but I’m genuinely excited about the prospects ahead with the Bulls.”Harris is currently playing county cricket in Sussex after their interest was stirred by his best Australian domestic season. He collected 37 Pura Cup wickets at 29.86 last summer and made a handy 363 runs at 24.20, and the contributions earned him a place in the Australian Cricketers’ Association Pura Cup Team of the Year.An Academy graduate in 2002, Harris was in the same group as the man who could be Queensland’s next captain, Chris Simpson. In 2006-07 the Bulls were on the wrong end of his talent when Harris struck a six from the last ball of a one-day match when the Redbacks needed five to win.Graham Dixon, the chief executive of Queensland Cricket, said Harris was the only man the Bulls would sign from interstate for 2008-09. “We had a number of good reports from our players about Ryan’s competitiveness on the field,” Dixon said. “He’s the sort of player that has more than one string to his bow and plays all three forms of the game which is important in the current environment.”The Redbacks coach Mark Sorell said the Queensland agreement would be worth more money and security for Harris, who had been on short-term contracts in the past. South Australia had tried to keep him by offering a two-year deal that could be extended to three based on performance in the first year.”I support what’s happened in the past with his performance and injury history,” Sorell said. “He performed well this last season which was outstanding and we were keen to let him know he was a part of our future. His decision was a bit of a shock. Obviously we’re extremely disappointed but we respect that decision.”
Emily Drumm has pulled out of the Invitational XI Twenty20s in England with a recurrence of her hamstring injury. Drumm, New Zealand’s prolific batsman, nearly quit the game in 2005 after damaging her leg during the World Cup but fought her way back to recovery.She had been injury-free for two years until two weeks ago when she damaged her leg playing touch rugby. “The game is really good for fitness and I thought I was Jonah Lomu at one stage, flying down the wing!”More seriously, she is fearful that, on past experience, the suggested period of a few weeks’ recovery will in fact take much longer. And now she is toying with the idea of quitting. “Maybe someone’s trying to tell me I should retire,” she said, although she was smiling when she did so.What is for certain is that she will miss the curtain-raisers against the England XI at the end of June, which will be played before two men’s county matches. “I have just withdrawn from these games,” she told Cricinfo, “so it’s very disappointing as they are my favourite form of the game. It’s good for women to try to play a more aggressive game.”And regardless of whether she recovers in time for New Zealand’s tour in August, she will not be playing. The management have stipulated that players must play in New Zealand state cricket to be eligible for the tour, but as Drumm has been over in England for the past years, she is ruled out – despite playing county cricket for Kent.”It’s extremely disappointing,” she says, although that will not stop her from watching the series. “I will help them out when they come over here if I can.”
Kyle Mills has pulled out of New Zealand’s World Cup development tour to Australia so he can have surgery to correct an ankle injury. His place has been taken by Joseph Yovich, the Northern Districts seamer, on the trip for those players on the fringes of selection for the World Cup.Mills was troubled by the ankle problem during the recent tour of South Africa and chose to take this opportunity to ensure he is back to full fitness in time for the next New Zealand season and build-up to the World Cup.Yovich, 29, has been a solid performer at domestic level for a number of the seasons and in the 2005-06 season he took 22 wickets at 36.59 in first-class competition and 12 wickets at 28.58 in the one-day format. A batting average of 28 means he can be classed as an allrounder at state level.There are two teams for the development tour with Peter Fulton and Craig McMillan the captains. Players who have recently been left out of the New Zealand side such as James Marshall, Lou Vincent and Mathew Sinclair have the chance to press their claims.Team One Peter Fulton (capt), James Marshall, Graham Aldridge, Brendan Diamanti, Mark Gillespie, Jamie How, Michael Mason, Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Warren McSkimming, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Lou VincentTeam Two Craig McMillan (capt), Matthew Bell, Hamish Bennett, Gareth Hopkins, Bruce Martin, Chris Martin, Rob Nicol, Mark Orchard, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Mathew Sinclair, Richard Sherlock, Joseph Yovich
The International Cricket Council has said that it would mediate in the ongoing player-contract crisis only if the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) decided that the ICC had a role to play in resolving the conflict. Earlier media reports had said that the WICB had refused the ICC’s offer to help find a solution to the problem. Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, said in a media release: “Contrary to some reports, the WICB has not taken a view on if there is a role for the ICC.”Speed said that he and Roger Brathwaite, the WICB chief executive, had preliminary discussions on the status of the current issue and that he had offered to assist the WICB in whatever way possible. “I spoke with Roger last Saturday and indicated that if the WICB saw any role for the ICC that it would be willing to assist,” Speed said. “Roger indicated that he would advise his board of the ICC’s position and it would consider if the ICC has a role to play. I would stress that the ICC does not and will not become involved in any domestic issue such as this without the consent of the relevant board. It is a judgment that the WICB will make if it believes that the ICC can assist.”Cricinfo had earlier learnt from a source close to the situation that the WICB had turned down an offer to help. The source had said that the West Indies Players’ Association had suggested the possibility of an ICC intervention with Richard Bevan and Tim May of FICA, the international players union. Dinanath Ramnarine, the WIPA president, also confirmed that he had asked for FICA’s assistance in the matter, and reiterated his disappointment at the West Indies board turning down the offer for intervention.