ICC Board Meeting Concludes In Dubai

The ICC Board held its second quarterly meeting of 2015 at the ICC Headquarters in Dubai on 16 April. Among the decisions made and reports received were:

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Hosted by Australia and NZ. Matches at the MCG. Sth Africa batting India fielding, photo credit Rhondda
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rhonddal/16445973990/in/photolist-r4gV6G-rkK5Qy-4U7d3S-9B8T14-9vdHEv-rjwDE3-r34AVy-qnBrQ3-r1g7xM-rjzvve-r34Ch1-qnAQsj-rhhQpo-rjutyV-qnPBt6-r34xHG-rhhTDE-rjtWTg-qnAWDN-r3aN54-r33gzE-r33obW-qnBjg5-rhhKm7-r3aoST-qnAZwm-rjuuNi-rjuqFk-r34DT7-9od6K5-qnB8qh-rju7pR-rjwuGd-9vmHbr-9vmH2Z-9vpHzq-9vpHJ3-9vmGTR-rjAAwV-qnQ8dB-rjuRRk-rjuNPt-rhitNb-9uGCKU-qp2VTH-r2tVND-r4o8KB-r4g5pS-rkGPKr-r4o8BF

Hosts Australia and New Zealand were congratulated on their successful staging of an event described by the ICC Chairman, Mr. Narayanaswami Srinivasan as the ‘most popular in history’.

The ICC CWC 2015 set a new attendance record of 1.1 million spectators with 10 matches attended by crowds in excess of 40,000 and over 94,000 people attending the final.

It was broadcast by 44 licensees in seven languages across 220 territories and covered in the host countries by 1,210 rights holding media and 1385 non-rights holding media.

The event website attracted 36.1 million unique visitors accumulating 304 million page views and the official app attracted 4.51 million downloads, making it the number one ranked sports app in 48 countries.

Mr Srinivasan also thanked the ICC staff, Match Officials, Local Organising Committee and all of the participating teams for their contributions to the event and congratulated Australia on its victory.

A more detailed report on all aspects of the ICC Cricket World Cup will be considered at the next ICC Board meeting in June.

Kumar Sangakkara
photo credit Dhammika Heenpella
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Sri Lanka Cricket

The ICC Board considered the implications of the appointment of an Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by the Government of Sri Lanka and whether this may be a breach of the ICC’s constitution which requires free and fair elections for office-bearers within Member boards.

After considerable discussion, and without making a final decision on the matter, the ICC Board supported a recommendation of the ICC Governance Review Committee that it should write to the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka seeking a full and proper explanation of its intervention that prima facie puts SLC in breach of the ICC’s constitution.

former Mustafa Kamal ICC president

ICC President

The Board accepted the resignation of former President Mr Mustafa Kamal, effective from 2 April and confirmed that no replacement would be appointed for the remaining weeks of Mr Kamal’s term.

The Full Council of the ICC will consider the appointment of Mr Najam Sethi as ICC President when it meets in Barbados at the end of June.

Cricket in the USA

Following a report on recent correspondence and discussions between the ICC and the USA Cricket Association (USACA), the ICC Board decided that it was not satisfied that USACA is compliant with all of its obligations under the ICC membership criteria and constitution.

It was decided that there was a significant amount of further work that needed to be carried out in order to complete a full and proper assessment. In support of this, a Task Force headed by the ICC Chief Executive David Richardson will travel to the USA to meet relevant stakeholders in USA cricket in order to prepare a comprehensive report for further consideration by the ICC Executive Committee and ICC Board at its next meeting.

Illegal bowling actions

Revised procedures for dealing with bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions were approved, including provisions that:

· shorten the turnaround time from a bowler being reported to the test results being announced (35 days reduced to 24 days); and
· enable the ICC to recognise suspensions from domestic competitions, as long as the bowler has been assessed by the Member using the ICC testing protocol at an ICC-accredited testing centre.

The revised procedures will take effect immediately.

Other matters

The Board meeting commenced with Mr Srinivasan noting the immense contribution to the global game of the former Australia captain and iconic commentator Richie Benaud who passed away earlier this month.

A new rankings system has been approved for women’s cricket, incorporating results in all three formats into a single rankings system.

Nepal has been approved as host of the ICC U-19 CWC Qualifier 2015, however, this approval is conditional on the ICC being satisfied with the Cricket Association of Nepal’s (CAN) administrative capacity to deliver the event successfully.

The Board ratified the appointment of the former United Nations and International Criminal Court investigator Peter Nicholson as the new independent ICC Ethics Officer.

The Board also received reports on anti-corruption and anti-doping and approved the 2014 accounts.

Throughout the course of the week’s meetings, the various committees considered the post-2015 strategy of the ICC and provided input into a draft that will be further considered in June.

The ICC Board consists of the nominated representatives of each of the 10 Full Members plus three elected Associate Member representatives. The meeting is chaired by Mr Narayanaswami Srinivasan. Also present is the ICC Chief Executive.

Narayanaswami Srinivasan

ICC Chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson

Australia Wally Edwards
Bangladesh Nazmul Hassan
England Giles Clarke
India Narayanaswami Srinivasan
New Zealand Greg Barclay
Pakistan Shaharyar M. Khan
South Africa Chris Nenzani
Sri Lanka No attendee
West Indies Dave Cameron
Zimbabwe Wilson Manase
Associate Member Director (Bermuda) Neil Speight
Associate Member Director (Namibia) Francois Erasmus
Associate Member Director (Singapore) Imran Khawaja

The CEC comprises the Chief Executives of the 10 Full Members as well as three Associate Member representatives. Also present is the ICC Chief Executive who chairs the meeting, and, by invitation, the ICC Chairman, the Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee and the Chair of the ICC Women’s Committee.

ICC Chief Executive (Chairman) David Richardson
ICC Chairman (ex Officio) Narayanaswami Srinivasan
ICC Cricket Committee Chairman (ex Officio) Anil Kumble
ICC Women’s Committee Chair (ex Officio) Clare Connor

Australia James Sutherland
Bangladesh Nizam Uddin Chowdhury
England Tom Harrison
India Anurag Thakur
New Zealand David White
Pakistan Subhan Ahmed
South Africa Haroon Lorgat
Sri Lanka Ashley de Silva
West Indies Michael Muirhead
Zimbabwe Wilfred Mukondiwa
Associate Member Representative John Cribbin
Associate Member Representative Warren Deutrom
Associate Member Representative David East

Martin Crowe To Be Inducted Into The ICC Cricket Hall Of Fame

Ceremony to take place during New Zealand v Australia match in Auckland

New Zealand great Martin Crowe, one of the most stylish and elegant batsmen of his generation, will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 match between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park in Auckland on 28 February, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced today.

When Crowe receives his commemorative cap from ICC Director and Chairman of Cricket Australia, Mr Wally Edwards, during the innings break, he will become the 79th inductee into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and third New Zealand player after Sir Richard Hadlee and Debbie Hockley.

Crowe made his international debut against Australia in Wellington in February 1982 at the age of 19. He retired 13 years later after playing 77 Tests, he had scored 5,444 at an average of 45.36. This included 17 centuries, the most by a New Zealand cricketer, while his 299 against Sri Lanka in Wellington in January 1991 stood as a national record until Brendon McCullum scored 302 against India in Wellington last year in February.

Crowe also played 143 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in which he scored 4,704 runs at an average of 38.55 with four centuries and 34 half-centuries. He played in three ICC Cricket World Cups, and led New Zealand to the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 where his side lost to eventual champion Pakistan in Auckland. However, his innovative captaincy and most runs in the series won him player of the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 award.

Martin Crowe batting
Photo credit Kristina D.C. Hoeppner
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5018/5521622167_cd4c02fdce_z_d.jpg

Crowe captained New Zealand in 16 Tests and 44 ODIs.

Overall, Crowe played 247 first-class matches in a 17-year career in which he scored 19,608 runs with 71 centuries and 80 half-centuries. Apart from representing New Zealand, he also played for Auckland, Central Districts, Somerset and Wellington.

Last week in Melbourne, former India captain Anil Kumble and Australia’s Betty Wilson were inducted in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

The process for the selection of players into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame started last year when the ICC Chairman invited all the living ICC Cricket Hall of Famers to send their nominations. The ICC Nominations Committee reduced the long-list to 10 men’s and three women’s cricketers.

The short-list was then sent to the Voting Academy, which included representatives of all the 10 Full Members, media representatives from all the 10 Full Members, Associate & Affiliate Member, women’s cricket and FICA representatives as well as living ICC Hall of Famers. The ICC collated the nominations and forwarded the ballot papers to the auditors who provided the final results.

*ICC Cricket Hall of Fame – initial inductees (55)

Sydney Barnes, Bishan Bedi, Alec Bedser, Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Denis Compton, Colin Cowdrey, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Lance Gibbs, Graham Gooch, David Gower, WG Grace, Tom Graveney, Gordon Greenidge, Richard Hadlee, Walter Hammond, Neil Harvey, George Headley, Jack Hobbs, Michael Holding, Leonard Hutton, Rohan Kanhai, Imran Khan, Alan Knott, Jim Laker, Harold Larwood, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Clive Lloyd, Hanif Mohammad, Rodney Marsh, Malcolm Marshall, Peter May, Javed Miandad, Keith Miller, Bill O’Reilly, Graeme Pollock, Wilfred Rhodes, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Garfield Sobers, Brian Statham, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Frank Woolley, Frank Worrell

2009-10 Inductees

Herbert Sutcliffe, Steve Waugh, Wasim Akram, Victor Trumper and Clarrie Grimmett

2010-11 Inductees
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Ken Barrington, Courtney Walsh and Joel Garner

2011-12 Inductees
Belinda Clark, Frederick Spofforth, Curtly Ambrose and Alan Davidson

2012-13 Inductees
Enid Bakewell, Brian Lara, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne

2013-14 Inductees
Adam Gilchrist, Debbie Hockley, Bob Simpson and Waqar Younis

2014-15 Inductees
Anil Kumble, Betty Wilson and Martin Crowe. One more to be announced in due course

Anil Kumble And Betty Wilson To Be iInducted Into The ICC Cricket Hall Of Fame

Ceremony to take place during India v South Africa match in Melbourne; former India captain to attend media conference at the MCG on Saturday at 1100

Two more former legends of the game to be inducted during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Anil Kumble former India captain, photo credit Sunthil Prabu.S
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Anil Kumble, the former India captain and one of the most versatile wrist-spinners to ever play the game, and Betty Wilson, one of the greatest women’s cricketers of all-time, will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 match between India and South Africa at the MCG on 22 February, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced today.

Kumble, with 619 Test wickets, is the third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket after Muttiah Muralidaran (800) and Shane Warne (708), while his 337 wickets in ODIs ranks him in ninth position on the all-time list of most successful bowlers in that format. Kumble captained India in 14 Tests between 2007 and 2008, winning three and losing five.

In the 138-year history of Test cricket during which 2,156 Tests have been played to date, Kumble is one of only two bowlers after England’s Jim Laker to have taken all 10 wickets in an innings. He achieved this feat against traditional rival Pakistan in New Delhi in February 1999.

Kumble made his Test debut in 1990 in Manchester and his final appearance was in New Delhi in October-November 2008. During his career, Kumble played 132 Tests and 271 One-Day Internationals. Apart from his 619 Test and 337 ODI wickets, Kumble also scored 2,506 runs in Tests and 938 runs in ODIs.

Betty Wilson Australian Cricket Legend, photo credit Wikipedia

Betty Wilson, a former Australia batter, played 11 Tests between 1947 and 1958 in which she scored 862 runs at average of 57.4 and took 68 wickets at 11.8 per wicket.

On her debut against New Zealand at the age of 26 in 1948, she scored 90 and took four for 37 and six for 28. In her second Test, she scored 111 against England, becoming the first Australia woman to score a Test century against England, and took nine more wickets. Against England in 1957-58, she became the first cricketer, male or female, to score a century and take 10 wickets in a Test.

Wilson passed away on 22 January 2010, aged 88.

Kumble and Wilson will be formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during the innings break in the India versus South Africa match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday 22 February. ICC Director and Chairman of Cricket Australia, Mr Wally Edwards, will present Kumble with his commemorative cap, while Wilson’s commemorative cap will be received by her nephew, Ken Wilson, from ICC Chief Executive David Richardson.

Beforehand on Saturday, 21 February at 1100 at the Yarra Room, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Kumble will attend a media conference and will take questions about his career.

Anil Kumble, India cricket captain , photo credit: Royal Challengers Bangalore
https://www.flickr.com/photos/royalchallengers/4175679831/in/photolist-8DAN4q-8BHYEN-8BBZMH-8DtMfj-7mZs8R-8BBE4F-8QFmNE-arn1jB-5zgVEk-arpDC3-at7v5G-7fiLDp-9ASQJp-9FWfRh-9FTms4-9Bv5Ln-9JfxiB-9CysuQ-8yfWSf-9AVHBA-9xVTgT-9xVTfp-9GcEEg-9ASQgZ-8yfWx7-9ASPYD-9ASPRr-9ASPHv-9FW9ow-9AVGSN-9F3yZJ-9ycYpV-9AUQ91-9ycVjR-oR1gDg-bYRUrS-4fSdgZ-5TjhzQ-64oA6j-9yF53K-64jnoc-787M36-7foaJG-9By1G7-bxQUgs-bYSDkN-8QChBg-8U2Cnz-8U2xgK-8ycUmp

Reacting to the news about his induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, a modest Kumble said: “It’s an honour to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Indeed, it will be a great moment of pride to receive it during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. I deem it as a great privilege to join the list of great cricketing luminaries.”

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson congratulated Kumble on his induction. “Anil was an outstanding international cricketer, a very well-respected opponent, a great statesman for his country and a role model for millions of aspiring cricketers. He played hard but within the spirit of the game. His performance and record speak volumes for his tenacity, commitment, endurance and service to the game.”

Mr Richardson said of Betty Wilson: “History shows that Betty was an inspiring cricketer, one of the pioneers of women’s cricket and immensely respected because she always put cricket first. Had her debut not been delayed by World War II, I am sure she would have scored lot more runs and taken many more wickets.”

Kumble, who is now the Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, is the fourth India cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame after fellow former captains Bishen Bedi, Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar were inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.

Overall, Kumble and Wilson are the 77th and 78th inductees while two more former icons of the game will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, details of which will be announced in due course.

The process for the selection of players into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame started last year when the ICC Chairman invited all the living ICC Cricket Hall of Famers to send their nominations. The ICC Nominations Committee reduced the long-list to 10 men’s and three women’s cricketers. The short-list was then sent to the Voting Academy, which included representatives of all the 10 Full Members, media representatives from all the 10 Full Members, Associate & Affiliate Member, women’s cricket and FICA representatives as well as living ICC Hall of Famers. The ICC collated the nominations and forwarded the ballot papers to the auditors who provided the final results.

*ICC Cricket Hall of Fame – initial inductees (55)

Sydney Barnes, Bishan Bedi, Alec Bedser, Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Denis Compton, Colin Cowdrey, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Lance Gibbs, Graham Gooch, David Gower, WG Grace, Tom Graveney, Gordon Greenidge, Richard Hadlee, Walter Hammond, Neil Harvey, George Headley, Jack Hobbs, Michael Holding, Leonard Hutton, Rohan Kanhai, Imran Khan, Alan Knott, Jim Laker, Harold Larwood, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Clive Lloyd, Hanif Mohammad, Rodney Marsh, Malcolm Marshall, Peter May, Javed Miandad, Keith Miller, Bill O’Reilly, Graeme Pollock, Wilfred Rhodes, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Garfield Sobers, Brian Statham, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Frank Woolley, Frank Worrell

2009-10 Inductees

Herbert Sutcliffe, Steve Waugh, Wasim Akram, Victor Trumper and Clarrie Grimmett

2010-11 Inductees
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Ken Barrington, Courtney Walsh and Joel Garner

2011-12 Inductees
Belinda Clark, Frederick Spofforth, Curtly Ambrose and Alan Davidson

2012-13 Inductees
Enid Bakewell, Brian Lara, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne

2013-14 Inductees
Adam Gilchrist, Debbie Hockley, Bob Simpson and Waqar Younis

2014-15 Inductees
Anil Kumble and Betty Wilson. Two more to be announced in due course