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“I think it’s a good system. You’ve got to play your best team at all times. I’m in favour of it”

Firdose Moonda18-Jul-2022South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj has come out in support of the ODI Super League, which will be scrapped after the current cycle and will not form a part of the new FTP cycle.Maharaj, who is standing in as South Africa’s captain in the absence of the injured Temba Bavuma in England, argued that the league not only contextualises bilateral ODI cricket, but forces countries to field their best XIs, which they otherwise may not do in a packed schedule.”It’s good to have the Super League. It makes you play your best cricket throughout the year and allows you to come up with various styles of play that you want to implement at the World Cup,” Maharaj said, ahead of South Africa’s ODI series against England. “I think it’s a good system. You’ve got to play your best team at all times. I’m in favour of it.”Ironically, the three-match series does not form part of the Super League (South Africa will host England for World Cup Super League matches in February next year), and South Africa are resting their highest-ranked ODI bowler Kagiso Rabada for the matches. Even more ironically, South Africa have opted out of Super League ODIs against Australia next January because the board wants the best players available for a new franchise T20 competition which it says will secure the game’s financial longevity, and has left South Africa’s chances of qualifying for the 2023 World Cup hanging by a thread.The players are understood to be disappointed but understanding of the decision and would have preferred to play in Australia if only to give themselves more of a chance to ensure they wouldn’t have to play in the qualifiers in Zimbabwe next year.If all that makes you wonder what the point of the upcoming England series is, Maharaj has an answer. “It’s important for us as an ODI unit to keep playing together. The more you play the better you get,” he said. “It’s still an international cricket game, so there’s enough motivation. And it’s build-up for a series that does carry points. I’m so glad we’re playing it leading up to an important summer and year for us. In the next two years there are a lot of ICC events coming up, and it’s a nice way of finding combinations you want to play going forward.”Maharaj’s comments came minutes before England’s Ben Stokes announced his decision to retire from ODI cricket because playing in all three formats is “just unsustainable for me,” and will further add to the debate around the viability of bilateral cricket, especially ODIs.For South Africa, this will come into sharper focus as the World Cup approaches. They sit 11th on the World Cup Super League table and dropped points in Ireland and Sri Lanka while still struggling to find an ideal XI. Maharaj hopes these matches can help them do that. “We could build some confidence in our ODI unit before the World Cup next year,” he said.

PCB has also negotiated tie-ups in North America, the Caribbean, Africa and New Zealand

Umar Farooq22-Jan-2021Despite a shrinking broadcast market, the PCB has managed to secure a three-year deal to televise all home internationals and the Pakistan Super League in the UK with Sky Sports. Having already signed a landmark deal with state broadcaster Pakistan Television (PTV) to take care of the local market, they have also negotiated tie-ups in North America (Willow TV), the Caribbean (Flow Sports), Africa (Supersport) and New Zealand (Sky Sport),The PCB’s focus now shifts to finding a suitable party that will air their matches in the biggest region for cricket viewership – South Asia; mainly India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Discussions with potential broadcasters are already underway in the region – and in Australia and the Middle East as well – but ESPNcricinfo understands that if they fail to secure a deal, they may go with the open streaming services available in the respective countries. Through it all though, the PCB will retain sole control of the entire production and will only provide a feed to the broadcaster.Pakistan’s broadcast deals for the next three years•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“The PCB had worked in close collaboration with its international media rights consultant Colgan Bauer and carried out a stringent analysis of each market,” a press release from the board said. “This included devising rights packaging and processes to enhance competition and quality broadcasters from all markets.”The PTV deal – estimated to yield USD 200 million – and those with other broadcasters around the world ends a period of uncertainty for the board. They had struck their previous two deals with Ten Sports, owned by Sony Pictures Sports Network. But with political ties strained between Pakistan and India, it has been more difficult to negotiate this time, the PCB ultimately missing out on a major broadcaster with wider global reach. So they are looking at other options.

Sony India gets rights to Pakistan cricket

The PCB has also announced that Sony Pictures Network India has won the broadcast rights to Pakistan’s home series for three years. The deal is inclusive of internationals played in the country, and the PSL.
“Through this deal, cricket fans in South Asia will be able to follow and enjoy high-quality cricket action in Pakistan across all formats,” PCB chief executive Wasim Khan said of the deal.

“Despite the challenging Covid-19 times, these remain incredibly exciting times for Pakistan cricket,” PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said. “The homecoming of all cricket has attracted leading sport broadcast partners to place Pakistan cricket on their networks which, in turn, will provide enhanced access to our fans and supporters across the world to follow and stay connected with us.”This is a huge achievement for the PCB, not only in terms of succeeding in taking cricket to our global fans through these popular networks but to also maximise and exploit our media rights to ensure we continue to invest in our player welfare and development as well as cricketing infrastructure. The interest of these global sport networks also reflects that Pakistan cricket remains an attractive product for the international broadcasters. We now need to make our product bigger and stronger so that we can extend these partnerships and relationship beyond 2023.”Pakistan has a packed home season at home starting with the South Africa Tests from January 26 followed by the sixth edition of PSL with 34 matches. As the year goes on, they are also set to host New Zealand (white-ball), England (men’s and women’s T20Is) and West Indies (white-ball). And in 2022, Australia is due for a full tour with England and New Zealand returning for Test and ODI series. The 2023 calendar is still being chalked out.

Nishant Shekhawat is the fifth man to be arrested as part of an ongoing investigation

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2019Karnataka Police’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested 29-year-old batsman Nishant Shekhawat for his alleged involvement in fixing matches in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL). reported that Shekhawat played an intermediary role between bookie Manoj Kumar alias Monty, and Bengaluru Blasters bowling coach Vinu Prasad, who was arrested alongside Blasters batsman M Viswanathan in late October.Shekhawat allegedly lured Viswanathan into a fix with the help of Prasad during the 2018 season. Shekhawat was a player with the Shivamogga Lions franchise at the time.The report stated that the police discovered Viswanathan was allegedly tasked with scoring fewer than ten runs in 20 balls in a 2018 fixture against Hubli Tigers, a fix in which he allegedly confirmed participation by changing bats and rolling up his sleeves. Viswanathan made 9 off 17 balls in that innings.Shekhawat is the fifth man, and second player, to be arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the league, which began with the arrest of franchise owner Ali Asfak Thara and the suspension of his franchise Belagavi Panthers last month. Drummer Bhavesh Bafna, who was outed by a cricketer he allegedly approached, is the other person who was arrested, and is being monitored by the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit since he also played the drums during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s home games at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Worcestershire captain Moeen Ali heaped praise on his young bowler after a masterful display of skill on Finals Day

David Hopps16-Sep-2018Pat Brown was hailed by Moeen Ali as possessing England quality after completing an outstanding breakthrough season in the Vitality Blast by helping Worcestershire to their first T20 title.Brown was barely known, even in the tight-knit community of county cricket, in April, but he finished the Blast season with 31 wickets, a figure only exceeded by Alfonso Thomas – the Great Alfonso as they dubbed him in Somerset – who took 33 wickets in 2010.Brown had a great start to Finals Day when he took four wickets in a semi-final win against Lancashire. He missed his chance to surpass Thomas’ record, in what would have been two fewer matches, when he went wicketless in the final, but he attracted great recognition nevertheless as he conceded only 15 runs in four overs with Sussex becoming the latest county to be baffled by his variations.

Talking T20 Podcast

Cox pips Sussex as T20 Finals Day turns Pears-shaped: Dan Norcross anchors from Edgbaston where Pat Brown announced himself as a T20 superstar in waiting

It was all ample reward for his ambition two years ago when he showed the ambition to travel from Lincolnshire to Wellington School in Somerset to attend a Cricket Strength Pace Factor trial day run by Ross Dewar, Worcestershire’s strength and conditioning coach, and the former county fast bowler and coach, Steffan Jones.Moeen, relishing his role as Worcestershire captain despite a tough England schedule, said of Brown, a slightly-built 20-year-old seamer from Lincolnshire. “From game one this season, I felt he was getting better game by game. The quality he is showing is international standard. I’ve not seen anybody in county cricket get hold of him yet.”It’s not just what he bowls. He has the character and the guts to go a long way. I don’t want to get too carried away but he has a bright future, hopefully for England.”I don’t face him that much. I just get a few underarms from time to time. Even in the nets it is difficult. No-one can pick him at the moment. It’s not just that. He is very smart with the lengths and lines he bowls.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Brown’s stock ball is his knuckle ball, which he utilises about 65% of the time. Added to that is an off-cutter and a quicker ball which now regularly is clocked above 80mph. Add accuracy and changes of length that at his best have felt almost telepathic and he has made quite an impression.Moeen does not feel that talk of England is over the top. “I think after today he is very close,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets something in the winter. I can see him getting a chance in T20 or one-day matches or something.”If we keep winning, and on big stages like this, I’m sure people will raise eyebrows about some of our players. But that’s a long way away. Today is about celebrating Worcestershire’s success.”James Anderson, who was part of the BBC commentary team at Finals Day, also did not stint with his praise. “Pat Brown is possibly the find of the tournament,” he said. “It is a phenomenal effort for a 20-year-old.”He has had a good tournament but to come to Finals Day, when the pressure is on and show such amazing maturity, was superb. He looks as good as anyone I have seen in T20 cricket. He has got all the skills.”Brown went to the Wellington School pace trial primarily to see if he could increase his pace, but his potential was immediately appreciated by several counties. He opted for a cricket scholarship at the University of Worcester, a path favoured in the past by Worcestershire players such as Daryl Mitchell and George Rhodes. His T20 debut came in a handful of matches in 2017 and he also made his Championship bow in the final game of Worcestershire’s promotion season.Kevin Sharp, Worcestershire’s head coach, stressed that Brown’s development had been very much a team effort, not just with Dewar but also the previous coach and bowling coach, Steve Rhodes and Matt Mason, both of whom have now left the county. Most closely of all throughout this summer, Brown has struck up a strong relationship with Alan Richardson, the county’s bowling coach.”I think it is also about having a good support network for a player,” Sharp said. “Pat has a fine bowling coach in Alan Richardson, that’s for sure.”He is a good learner and a good listener and he has a big heart. He really is the sort of lad who is really up for the occasion. He is quite aggressive at times with his bowling but he has developed a fantastic array of deliveries.”So which deliveries were devised by Brown and which by Richardson? “It’s a secret between them two,” Sharp smiled. “I just let them get on with it.”

India’s support staff have been given two-year contracts extending until the end of the 2019 World Cup

Arun Venugopal18-Jul-20172:04

I was clear what my core team would be – Shastri

Following a recommendation from India coach Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun has been named the side’s bowling coach. The appointment came after a meeting between Shastri and a four-member BCCI committee, where it was also decided that Sanjay Bangar will be the team’s assistant coach.The appointments mean Shastri will work with the same set of coaches – including fielding coach R Sridhar – who assisted him in his earlier tenure as team director. India’s support staff have all been given two-year contracts, until the end of the 2019 World Cup. Arun, as a result, will now have to give up his coaching roles in the IPL and the Tamil Nadu Premier League in accordance with the new conflict-of-interest guidelines. Arun, who has been a bowling coach with Royal Challengers Bangalore since 2015, was recently named coach of VB Thiruvallur Veerans in the TNPL.Shastri also confirmed that Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan will be on board as consultants. “I have spoken to both the individuals as good as three or four days ago,” Shastri told reporters after the meeting. “They are fantastic cricketers for India, and their inputs will be invaluable. They will be on board once they have spoken to the authorities concerned, so there are no issues on that.”The committee comprising BCCI CEO Rahul Johri (convener), acting board president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, and Diana Edulji, member of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), was created to resolve the ambiguity over the roles of Dravid and Zaheer. While the BCCI’s press release on July 11 stated that they were “appointed” overseas Test batting consultant and bowling consultant respectively, CoA chairman Vinod Rai said those were only recommendations that needed action from the CoA “in consultation with the head coach”.When asked if the confusion could have been avoided, Shastri said: “I was in England. I was watching tennis. I was very clear in my mind what my core team will be. What you just heard is my core team.” It is understood that Shastri had clearly expressed his preference for Arun, his team-mate from Under-19 and India days, in his meeting with Johri on Monday. Choudhary put up an equally emphatic yet unconvincing defence of how the episode had unfolded.”In the first place, I am absolutely clear in my view that it was not a fiasco,” he said. “As Ravi explained, once he was appointed head coach, he obviously had to think of his responsibilities which come with the appointment. As he has made abundantly clear, he wanted his core team. The other two gentlemen [Dravid and Zaheer] he has spoken to personally, [and] they will be consultants.” When asked why the BCCI announced their appointments when it was still only a recommendation, Choudhary said: “I think what I just said answers the question. Nothing more needs to be said”.Sourav Ganguly, a member of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) that appointed Shastri, Dravid and Zaheer, was recently quoted as saying that Zaheer was contracted for 150 days a year. To a question on whether the CAC had exceeded its brief, both Choudhary and Shastri sprung to the three-member body’s defence. “I don’t think this question is relevant at all,” Choudhary said. “The CAC has done a fantastic job. I have been witness to this for the last one and a half months”.Shastri thanked the committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly and VVS Laxman for reposing faith in him. “I would like to thank the CAC because it is a privilege and an honour to be the head coach of the Indian cricket team and I would like to thank them for thinking I am worthy enough to do the job,” he said on Tuesday.Australia’s Patrick Farhart and Shankar Basu also retained their positions as physio and trainer respectively, for the same two-year period until the conclusion of the 2019 World Cup.With the BCCI having invited applications for a full-time team manager, there was a question on whether an appointment would be made for the Sri Lanka tour. Despite the team set to leave on July 19, Choudhary said there was “every likelihood” that a manager would be named for the tour.

In a move to grow interest in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the BCCI is set to act on a proposal to convert India’s domestic T20 championship to an inter-zonal competition

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2016In a move to grow interest in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the BCCI is set to act on a proposal to convert India’s domestic T20 championship to an inter-zonal competition.The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is currently an inter-state tournament wherein the top two teams from four groups progress to to the second round, where sides are divided into two groups. The winners of their respective groups make the final.The revised structure would have the state teams divided zonally, and the best performers from a zone make up the zonal team to contest against other such sides. In addition to the five main zones – North, South, East, West and Central – a sixth team, comprising the best young players from all zones, will be selected to participate.BCCI president Anurag Thakur confirmed the development. “We discussed the issue at length during our fixtures committee Meeting. The endeavour is to make domestic cricket more engaging and viable,” Thakur told PTI. “With 1882 playing days, the BCCI has shown how serious we are about our domestic structure.”We have decided to have Ranji Trophy at neutral venue, Duleep Trophy with pink ball and now we are trying to make Mushtaq Ali more competitive by bringing in a zonal structure. The aim is to improve the quality of domestic cricket. We are trying to finalise details and senior officials will be putting a process in place.”The BCCI tours and fixtures committee had also previously recommended playing day-night games with the pink ball in the Duleep Trophy, the zonal first-class tournament, and playing at neutral venues in the Ranji Trophy, the country’s premier first-class competition.

Hampshire followed up Fidel Edwards’ ferocious second-evening spell by beating Sussex and telling the West Indian quick they had never seen anything faster

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Hove09-Jun-2015
ScorecardFidel Edwards’ pace blew his Hampshire team-mates away•PA Photos

Hampshire have secured their first Championship win of the season with a six-wicket win at Hove, a ground that has now hosted its third three-day result game in a row. But this was nothing to do with the pitch: the visitors put together their best performance of the season, typified by Fidel Edwards’ first five-wicket haul for the county.Edwards’ 5 for 58 was not only Hampshire’s first five-for of the season, but it was also his first since taking 6 for 90 in a Test against Bangladesh, back in November 2012. That match in Khulna was his last for the West Indies across all formats and, in signing as a Kolpak player, at the age of 32, it seems that his international days are behind him. This will be his last four-day game for Hampshire before he jets off to the Caribbean Premier League on Sunday.His spell yesterday was a reminder of the confrontational attitude he used to save for the world’s best. The “you can’t see me” celebration: the hair is grown out but the swagger remains. His skipper Jimmy Adams said his spell at the end of day two was the fastest he had ever seen in domestic cricket, a point backed up by the rest of the Hampshire team, who told Edwards as much in the dressing room.

Fidel on making big waves

• On helping Hampshire secure their first Championship win at Hove in the last nine attempts “I’ve heard we hadn’t won here for a long time, so that’s good. The pitch was quick but not as quick as thought it would be. It was good though to bowl with the wind behind me. That’s my job – I’m here to get at batsman, bowl fast and get people out!”

• On his Hampshire future beyond 2015: “I signed a Kolpak deal for Hampshire and hopefully I can extend that for the next couple of years. That’s my aim. Hampshire have a lot of West Indian greats playing for them so hopefully I can do my best to join that bunch.”

• On his speed: “When I was younger, I was clocked a couple of times, when I first started, at around 96 or 97mph. Hopefully I can still bend my back like that at this age.

• On his first experience of the English domestic season: “It’s been lovely – just a bit cold and wet! I’m looking to see what the sunshine can do and it was good to see a bit today. Last night, I went for a walk by the sea and it was terrible! The waves were kicking and I was right next to the sea! But it’s a good experience to be here and experience the cold for so long.”

Edwards was so quick last night that, when Wright decided to take him on, Adams moved one of his slips to a back-stop position for the top-edge. “I hadn’t set a field like that before – maybe not since my under-10s,” laughed Adams at the close. He confirmed the decision was Edwards and he was more than happy to oblige him.Edwards’ fifth wicket came this morning when he removed nightwatchman Steve Magoffin with his fourth ball before both he and Jackson Bird were put under pressure by Luke Wright and Ben Brown. Bird in particular, in his first Championship game of a season that has already been hampered with shoulder and neck injuries, struggled throughout the match.Having started the morning session from the Sea End, Bird switched to the Cromwell Road to calamitous effect. His first four overs went for 28, with his first going for 12, as Brown took him for three consecutive boundaries.It seemed that Wright and Brown could milk him easily until the new ball. Earlier, Brown had benefited from a poor drop from Danny Briggs, who shelled a routine catch with the batsman on 13, when he ran around to square leg for a top edge that would have given Edwards his sixth wicket. The joint hundred came off 164 balls as the complexion of the game started to change.And then, with the lead standing at 122, it happened: the first of two brain-fades that led to a lower-order collapse of four for four.The first came from Brown, who decided to take a risky single to the last ball of a Bird over that had already leaked 11 runs. He hit the ball to the left of cover, Will Smith, who ran around the ball to pick-up right-handed and throw down the stumps with Wright short of his ground.Brown’s misery was compounded when he became the recipient of what must have been Bird’s best ball of the match: a good-to-full length ball that jumped up to say hello and take the top of his glove, giving Sean Ervine a simple low catch at first slip. He sunk to his knees as Bird streamed past him, before returning to the pavilion flanked by the rest of those on the pitch as lunch was taken early.Ollie Robinson was the next to go, failing to take note of a deep square leg and finding him perfectly, just nine balls after the restart. With him went any realistically possible of quick runs, leaving Briggs to take his first wicket of the innings – caught bat-pad – to finish Sussex off.With just 125 to defend, it was Magoffin or bust for the home side. Their lead man ran in, unchanged for eight overs, from the Cromwell Road End. Bats were beaten, an edge fell short of Ed Joyce at first slip and a length was pounded, but to no avail.Jimmy Adams hit a quick 30 from 33 balls, seemingly trying to throttle the nerves out of the chase. When he departed with 51 on the board, in the 12th over, the runs came at a slower pace. Sean Terry, in his second game of the season, got some valuable time in the middle on his way to a first Championship half-century of the season and a career best in first-class cricket.Terry can take pride in the fact that he carried his bat through this chase, while more senior heads came and went. He’ll have a bruised thumb as a souvenir, for a week or so at least, after he was clocked by a sharp one from Hobden. But he and Hampshire will take that, as they finally get a win on the board.

Alastair Cook admitted he wished that England had been confronted with more spin bowling as they completed their warm-up games ahead of the first Test of the series against India

George Dobell in Ahmedabad11-Nov-2012Alastair Cook admitted he wished that England had been confronted with more spin bowling as they completed their warm-up games ahead of the first Test of the series against India. While England’s captain declared himself satisfied with his team’s preparations, he did suggest that “a message” had been conveyed to the opposition to ensure the tourists were denied meaningful exposure to spin bowling ahead of the series.A draw against Haryana meant England had drawn all three of their warm-up matches. But, although every batsman in England’s top-order has enjoyed a lengthy innings at some stage, Cook knows that such success may prove deceptive. Some of the opposition has been surprisingly modest.The absence of spin has been particularly noticeable. Fewer than 11% of the overs bowled against England in the second innings of the three matches has come from spinners and, arguably, none of it has come from what might be described as a quality spinner. It was typical that, in England’s second innings against Haryana Amit Misha, the legspinner who has played 13 Tests for India, did not deliver a single ball. It means that England, with a less than illustrious record against top-quality spin bowling in recent times, will go into a series in which spin is expected to play a major role, having had very little meaningful practise against it.”Clearly we can’t control the standard of the opposition,” Cook said. “We would have liked to have faced more spin in the matches but that hasn’t happened. If anyone has been watching our training sessions while these games have been going on, we’ve had some good spinners bowling to us in the nets. We’d rather them in the middle but they’ve been turning out there and all the lads have been putting in some really good practice.”I don’t know who it has come from but clearly there’s been a message of some sort. Obviously we’ve had Amit Mishra missing here. I don’t know if he was injured or not but he didn’t bowl that many overs, so clearly there’s been a message of some kind.”England could have tried to force the win against Haryana. Not only did they decline to enforce the follow-on, but they agreed to an early finish when they had a minimum of 10 more overs to take only four more wickets. Instead, though, Cook opted to rest his bowlers in case they were required on Thursday.”Clearly we would have liked to have won a game but sometimes common sense has to be used,” he said. “There’s no point busting a gut today on a very flat wicket with a Test match just around the corner and with [the condition of] our fast bowlers at the moment, especially with a few injury concerns as well.”Cook’s caution was understandable. While Steven Finn and Stuart Broad both returned to bowling in practice, there are still question marks over the availability of both of them. Cook is adamant that they will not be selected if there are any doubts over their fitness. Indeed, the fact that there are doubts over both of them renders the decision even more tricky for England.”It’s great to see them back bowling,” Cook said. “The next few days are vital for them and we must go into that game with a fully fit attack. They have to be 100%. You’ve seen how hot it is out here and how flat the wickets are. They won’t be in the ideal state, the preparation period hasn’t quite gone right with those two not playing and getting overs under their belts. We’re going to have to see over the next few days and make a decision on that, but clearly we’ve got to be very careful. In an ideal world, they’d certainly have liked to have more match bowling.”But what we do know is that they’re quality performers. Stuart, especially, has got a lot of experience. He knows what he’s doing and he knows when his body is right. We’re going to have to assess these guys over the next 24 hours and then make a decision. As a captain, you’d want them to have more match practice but they are world-class bowlers. It would be great if they were fully fit and had some overs under their belt but they haven’t.”The performance of Tim Bresnan in Haryana’s second innings may have made England’s decision a little easier. Bresnan bowled with good control, decent pace and, along with Stuart Meaker, gained enough reverse swing to trouble all the batsmen. His 2 for 13 took his tally to nine wickets in two tour matches.”In the last session, with the reversing ball, all three of them – Bresnan, Graham Onions and Meaker – showed good control, which is encouraging,” Cook said. “We’ve got six bowlers out here fully fit and on a tough tour like this I’m sure we’re going to need that. Tim Bresnan has been an integral part of our attack for last couple of years and he’s certainly done himself no harm in this game.”Cook was also encouraged by the news that Graeme Swann returning to India having flown back to the UK due to a family illness. “All the reports have been good and he is coming back on Monday. That’s fantastic for us and it’s fantastic that all’s well at home as well. He’s an experienced campaigner and he knows what’s he doing. I have no doubts or concerns about Swanny.”

Mtutuzeli Nyoka has been removed as president of Crickst South Africa (CSA) for the second time this year at a special board general board meeting held in Johannesburg today

Firdose Moonda15-Oct-2011Mtutuzeli Nyoka has been voted out as president of Cricket South Africa (CSA) for the second time this year at a special board general board meeting in Johannesburg. Nyoka was removed by an “overwhelming majority” after being accused of various misdemeanours, the most serious of which was bringing the organisation into disrepute. Vice-president AK Khan will serve as acting president until August 2012, when the next elections are scheduled.

Gerald Majola v Mtutuzeli Nyoka

July 2010 – President Mtutuzeli Nyoka wants an external investigation into the payment of R4.7 million (US$671,428) in bonuses to 40 CSA staff, including chief executive Gerald Majola, after the hosting of the IPL and Champions Trophy in 2009, as they were not passed through the board’s remunerations committee.
August 2010 – CSA sets up an independent review committee to investigate the bonus payments despite Nyoka’s calls for an external inquiry.
November 2010 – The independent committee clears Majola of any wrongdoing but finds that CSA’s corporate governance procedures were to blame and in need of a revamp.
Jan 2011 – Nyoka is asked to resign by CSA for continuing to push for an external investigation and South Africa’s sports minister steps in to try and resolve the conflict.
Feb 2011 – Nyoka is voted out of office for continuing to argue for the possibility of wrongdoing within the organisation.
April 2011 – Nyoka is reinstated as president after the court finds his removal was improper. The court also criticises the reasons for Nyoka’s removal and grants him the right to subject CSA to full financial scrutiny.
May 2011 – Accounting and consultancy firm KPMG is appointed to conduct an external audit in the bonus payments.
July 2011 – The audit report, which has not been released to the public, finds that Majola may have breached the Companies’ Act on four occasions and advises CSA to seek legal advice on how to proceed.
August 2011 – CSA appoint advocate Azhar Bham to provide opinion, which is delivered to the board orally at their AGM and results in a severe reprimand for Majola. CSA also resolves to improve its corporate governance.
September 2011 – Nyoka and his lawyer are informed of the proposal to remove him on September 8, when CSA’s board met at the conclusion of their annual conference.
October 2011 – CSA votes to remove Nyoka again.

Nyoka was not present at the meeting on the grounds of poor health but sent a deposition to be read out in his absence. The CSA board decided that he “was not in a position to offer leadership,” and ousted him with immediate effect. Although they did not disclose the actual count, six of the eleven provinces had, in the past two weeks, made public their decision to support the motion. Gauteng, Free State, Easterns, Eastern Province, Boland and Western Province all issued press releases stating that would vote in favour of the motion. ESPNcricinfo learned that at least one other union would do the same. Only Northerns Cricket Union stated their objection to the motion and indicated that they would vote against it.The decision brings to an end a 16-month saga which has essentially revolved around a battle between CSA chief executive Gerald Majola, and Nyoka. Majola and 39 other staff members received a collective R4.7 million (US$ 671.428) in bonuses after the hosting of the 2009 IPL and Champions Trophy but those payments were not authorised through CSA’s remunerations committee (REMCO) and were picked up as irregularities. Nyoka had repeatedly pushed for an external audit and had already lost one vote of no-confidence and had to win a court battle to be reinstated.KPMG were eventually tasked with looking into CSA’s financial affairs and found that Majola may have breached the Companies’ Act on four counts. They recommended legal advice which resulted in a severe reprimand for Majola. However, the spat between Majola and Nyoka had not cooled, as Nyoka struggled to gain access to various documents.At the conclusion of their annual conference in September, CSA tabled a second motion of no-confidence in Nyoka. They claimed he had breached media protocol, and the Companies’ Act by taking his honorarium in advance, and that they were unhappy with the way he handled press releases. National team manager Mohammad Moosajee also penned a letter saying Nyoka’s conduct would make it difficult for Moosajee to maintain discipline in the team.Nyoka’s tenure has ended 10 months prematurely, and this time there is indication that he will not fight further. Although his lawyer, Bernard Matheson, believes his client will have reason to take CSA back to the courts if he is removed because Matheson has said the grounds are improper, Nyoka appears to have accepted his fate. CSA also do not anticipate another court battle, although Khan said the possibility of it recurring can only be confirmed by Nyoka himself.”You should direct that to Dr Nyoka,” he said at the conclusion of the special general meeting. “All I can say is that I am deeply saddened by all of this. I have never seen anyone take an organisation that they serve voluntarily to court.”CSA have also had to deal with the departure of the REMCO chief, Thandeka Mgodosu, who tended her letter of resignation on Friday. She said she could no longer work with the current board because she believes there is a lack of transparency. Khan said most of the board came to know of her resignation on Saturday morning but are confident they can move on without her.”We have very highly qualified people in positions on REMCO and nothing prevents us from acquiring expertise from outside,” Khan said. With corporate governance and the paying of external and internal bonuses through REMCO a central issue of the ongoing saga, CSA are in the process of appointing a Legal and Compliance Manager and said they are close to announcing who will occupy that post.Also imminent is the announcement of sponsors, who have been reluctant to deal with CSA until the board’s issues have been resolved. Majola confirmed that two deals have been done and will be made public this week. The ongoing T20 series against Australia was forced to be played without a sponsor and CSA gave the naming rights to a charity at no cost. It was seen as a major failing but Khan said the organisation weathered the storm well. “CSA was in a superb financial position to deal with these difficult issues. We also signed a R1.5 billion deal with broadcasters.” Khan said that CSA are willing to “go to every business partner and answer any questions they have in mind.”Transparency is the new buzz-word around CSA, but it will take some time before the public will be convinced that the organisation, and Majola, are free from blame. They hinted at releasing the finalised KPMG report after consulting as a board and obtaining permission from KMPG. Should that happen, it will go some way towards easing concerns. For now, the board has simply acknowledged that they have erred. “We have made mistakes but we love the game and we want to serve the game,” Khan said.

Chris Gayle has been axed as the West Indies captain and replaced by the allrounder Darren Sammy in a shake-up that has also resulted in Brendan Nash being handed the vice-captaincy

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2010Chris Gayle has been axed as the West Indies captain and replaced by the allrounder Darren Sammy in a shake-up that has also resulted in Brendan Nash being handed the vice-captaincy. However, Gayle has kept his spot in the squad for the three-Test tour of Sri Lanka in November, despite turning down a central contract with the WICB last month.The board has also demoted Dwayne Bravo, who was the vice-captain under Gayle but like his captain did not agree to a new WICB deal. The pair, along with Kieron Pollard, have forged lucrative Twenty20 careers in domestic tournaments including the IPL and refused central contracts which stipulated that they must make themselves available for the West Indies team at all times.That has paved the way for the Windward Islands captain, Sammy, to take over the leadership, despite not being a regular member of the Test side. He and the Australian-born Nash will be in charge of the Test squad until the end of the 2011 home series, ending Gayle’s three-year period at the helm of the team.Gayle led West Indies to three wins in 20 Tests as captain, and they sit seventh on the ICC Test rankings list and eighth in the ODI rankings. Sammy said he was looking forward to the challenge of leading the side, even though in Sri Lanka the squad will be missing several experienced men, including the now uncontracted Denesh Ramdin, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Jerome Taylor.”Being appointed West Indies captain is an honour and distinction which I will treat with the highest regard and dignity,” Sammy said. “I believe my captaincy of the Windward Islands, a young team which I have been moulding into playing consistently competitive cricket, will stand me in good stead as West Indies captain as we work on building a team for the future.”I have always given my all when I prepare and play for the West Indies and nothing will change now. I know this will be a difficult challenge and I will take the torch from Chris and hold it high as we forge ahead. I have been playing for the West Indies since 2004 and over those six years I have built strong relationships with many players and I expect to have the full support of the squad.”The decision to appoint Sammy and Nash into positions of responsibility is indicative of the WICB’s desire to achieve stability in leadership from players whose availability isn’t in question. Ernest Hilaire, the board’s CEO, said: “Chris Gayle, the former captain, led the West Indies during a challenging period and the board thanks him for stepping up then but it is now time to past the mantle on as the West Indies rebuilds.”The squad picked for the Sri Lanka series features several players who didn’t play against South Africa at home earlier in the year, West Indies’ most recent Test assignment. Adrian Barath, the opener who burst onto the international scene with a century on debut against Australia in Brisbane last year, returns after hurting his knee in April.Carlton Baugh, who has not played a Test since 2004, will vie with Devon Thomas for the role behind the stumps, while there was also a maiden call-up for the Jamaica allrounder Andre Russell. The opener Devon Smith, who played his most recent Test in May 2009, is also back after averaging 61.50 while leading West Indies A in the first-class fixtures in England this year.West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Brendan Nash (vice-captain), Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh (wk), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas (wk).