England unhappy with India venues,again

Like the last time England visited India, ECB are unhappy at the grounds chosen to host matches on the tour of India later in the year.

Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Mohali have all been excluded from the winter schedule that includes two Tests and seven one-day internationals.
A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said: "Fans will not experience the great grounds of India."

BCCI does not much care about English visitors as  Cricket is a religion in India and so filling up the stadium is not a big issue and it does not much cares about economy which will receive a boost if the English come in large numbers.

BCCI might be saving the big venues for the glamorous teams like Australia and Pakistan.

Tour dates:
Nov 6: England arrive in Mumbai
Nov 9: One-day warm-up match in Mumbai
Nov 11: One-day warm-up match in Mumbai
Nov 14: 1st One-day international, Rajkot
Nov 17: 2nd One-day international, Indore
Nov 20: 3rd One-day international, Kanpur
Nov 23: 4th One-day international, Jamshedpur
Nov 26: 5th One-day international, Cuttack
Nov 29: 6th One-day international, Guwahati
Dec 2: 7th One-day international, Delhi
Dec 5: Three-day warm-up match, Baroda
Dec 11: First Test, Ahmedabad
Dec 19: Second Test, Mumbai

BCCI gags cricket coach Gary Kirsten

India's cricket board has told coach Gary Kirsten not to comment on the team on his personal Web site.

Kirsten cannot write post-match comments or columns as per BCCI's policy. Only the team captains are allowed to write newspaper or Web site columns.

On the site (www.garykirsten.com), the South African, who took over in March, said there was a need to introduce a rotation policy, adding that one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was in need of rest.

ICC- In(dia)ternational Cricket club

It used to be called the Imperial Cricket Conference, it's now called the International Cricket Council but soon people will be referring to it as the Indian Cricket Club. This is not because Imtiaz Patel, a South African of Indian origin has been appointed the Chief Administrative Officer, but because Inderjit Singh Bindra has been made principal advisor to the ICC, an all-powerful post that gives him the widest range of powers of anyone in the ICC barring the president, a post that Sharad Pawar will next fill.

Pawar will succeed David Morgan in June 2010. Bindra, who is 66, was thought to be too old and experienced for the CEO's job, but this a position that is even better than the CEO's as it puts Bindra in a position where he reports directly to the president.

It gives Bindra, who will sign a formal contract for three years in the days to come, will have the right to attend any ICC meeting anywhere in the world. Bindra, who has been president of the BCCI, will be charged with advising the executive board of the ICC and the executive council in all matters relating to promoting the game.

This means that, for example, if the Indian Cricket League went to the ICC for redressal of its problems, the ICC board will refer it to Bindra. But Bindra's job will not be limited to firefighting, although that is one area in which is he a consummate master.

Falling directly in his ambit will be the implementation of the ICC's vision, spreading the game around the world - something Bindra's staunch enemy Jagmohan Dalmiya started - specifically in crucial areas like China and North America. Bindra will also be in charge of overseeing the relationship between various members of the ICC.

After all, the ICC itself is merely a collection of different national boards. If any contentious issues arise - and there is no shortage of those, for example the Pakistan Cricket Board's disappointment at Australia's refusal to tour - it will be upto Bindra to smooth over the ripples.

Crucially, Bindra will also be principally in charge of handling the various major properties of the ICC, overseeing the smooth conduct of major events like World Cups, the Champions Trophy and the Twenty20 World Cup. Bindra will have offices both in New Delhi and Dubai, and will continue to be president of the Punjab Cricket Association, which will enable him to attend important BCCI meetings as and when required, but he will not be able to hold any office within the BCCI.

This ICC appointment also means that Bindra will have to resign from the governing council of the Indian Premier League. It is understood that Patel was appointed CEO after close to 72 hours of "negotiations" between the BCCI and other members of the ICC.

Initially the BCCI had pushed hard for Bindra to be made president, and he was one of the long-list of 50 candidates that was later whittled down to 15, and finally six. "There was an absolute consensus on his choice," said Morgan, the ICC president elect.

"He was among six candidates shortlisted for the job by the executive board from a list of 15 chosen by our consultants." Patel was seen to be the ideal compromise candidate, with Bindra being made principal advisor.

BCCI threaten Aussie players of backlash in IPL

After the Sydney test fracas where the Australian players behaved very badly with the Indians, BCCI has warned that that Aussies players will be in trouble. It is sad that the BCCI had to make such a statement after the next two match was played in good spirit.

IPL teams in public issue

There are rumours that instead of inviting bids BCCI is going to issue a IPO in the BSE. So , all those who want the stars of cricketing world playing for them can bid for this IPO.
I just hope that they don't keep childish names to the teams like ICL did!!!

IPL or ICL whatever!!! will fail

The media is abuzz with reports that ownership of teams of BCCI backed Indian Premiere league is being sought after several industrialist and teams of English Premiership league and National Basketball Association. But I feel that the league will fail as in case of other sports club matches are played more than than international matches . Whereas in cricket more interntional matches are played . In soccer hardly four international matches are played in a month and most of matches are qualifiers.So there is craze for club matches. In cricket, there are three format. So International matches plus club matches together will in end kill the passion for the game.
For IPL to survive it will have to eat into the market of international cricket especially of test matches .

BCCI scared of Aussies?

I don't understand the logic behind scheduling matches in places during its rainy season. I think, as it was decided before we won the twenty20 championship, the BCCI might have thought that the Australians will whitewash this series . So to prevent that the kept matches in these places.

Performance based payment to cricketers

BCCI decision to pay players on basis of performance will harm Indian cricket on the long run because players will become selfish . They might start plying for themselves . This system is good in case of club matches but not in international matches where patriotism is important .