ICC name hosts of mega events to be held from 2016 to 2023

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the names of the hosts for its various mega events to be played between 2016 and 2023.

According to sources, cricket’s Big Three have distributed the hosting of all cricket events among themselves.

The World Twenty20 would be hosted by India in 2016 while Australia would host the Champions Trophy in 2017.

The One-day International World Cup would be played in England in 2019 and the World T20 would be held in Australia in 2020

Later, India will host two mega events – Champions Trophy in 2021 and World Cup in 2023.

Pakistan gets representation on ICC Executive Committee

LAHORE: Pakistan has gotten representation on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Executive Committee.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi was elected to the newly formed ICC Executive Committee (ExCO). According to a PCB press release, ExCo comprises of five members with representation from India, England and Australia besides two others with Pakistan being elected as the fourth and the West Indies as the fifth member of the committee.

The ExCo will have a number of committees reporting to it and will deal with important matters like constitution, anti-corruption, ethics, integrity, development and HR. This will be the core committee of ICC which will meet with as much frequency as required to assist and advise the ICC Board on operational, management and administrative activities of ICC.

Najam Sethi said this was great news for Pakistan. “Our representation on ExCo would ensure the Pakistan remains involved in important decision making concerning the game of cricket. It also reflects that Pakistan now holds an important and undisputed position with the top echelon of cricket.”

ICC Anti-Corruption Code

After a request from Najam Sethi and advice from a Queen’s Counsel in the United Kingdom sought by the PCB on Mohammad Amir’s ban, the ICC has also agreed to form a committee to review its Anti-Corruption Code.

The work on the drafting of the new ICC Anti-Corruption Code has substantially progressed with a draft clause inserted into the Code permitting a banned player to be involved in domestic matches prior to the end of his ban period.

The Anti-Corruption Code will now be placed before the Board for approval soon after which the PCB will be in a position to make an application for Mohammad Amir.

Sethi gets Pakistan Big 4 status in ICC

LAHORE: Pakistan made extraordinarily significant gains at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) annual meeting in Melbourne on Thursday, says a press release.

Of the three major concessions that PCB Chairman Najam Sethi was able to secure was the ICC’s willingness to grant Pakistan the fourth rank (‘Big Four’) after the ‘Big Three’ in terms of the percentage of revenue to be received from the ICC in the next eight years from broadcasting and other rights on ICC fixtures. The concessions include ICC’s confirmation to Pakistan for the award of presidential position with effect from June 2015.

“The PCB had organised itself and planned to get maximum advantage for Pakistan cricket from an extremely precarious position. We have accomplished all our objectives. And I am positive that in the times to come Pakistan Cricket shall greatly benefit from what PCB has been able to obtain for it today,” Sethi said while speaking from Melbourne.

It may be mentioned that Sethi had promised massive achievements for Pakistan after taking over the PCB charge. Talking to the Geo News programme, Aaj Kamraan Khan Key Saath, Sethi promised more good news.

Bangladesh says ICC let fixed matches go ahead

DHAKA: Bangladesh has accused anti-corruption investigators from the International Cricket Council of allowing a match in a scandal-plagued Twenty20 tournament to go ahead even though it knew it was fixed.

A report from a special tribunal set up by the Bangladesh board said the ICC´s Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) was aware beforehand that a match in the Bangladesh Premier League was going to be fixed but decided to keep organisers in the dark rather than alert them. "The evidence is clear that the fixed match between DG (Dhaka Gladiators) and CK (Chittagong Kings) played in Chittagong on the 2 February 2013 was played with the consent of ACSU," the tribunal´s report said. "It is obvious that the focus of ACSU was on gathering evidence and not on prevention of (the) fixed match," the report added.

The report, a copy of which has been obtained by AFP, was handed to the ICC on June 8. The tribunal, headed by a retired judge, was set up by the board last September after the ICC brought charges against nine people over fixing.

Organisers had hired the ICC´s investigators to monitor the BPL after its inaugural edition in 2012 was tainted by similar allegations.

The tribunal has subsequently convicted one of the owners of the Dhaka Gladiators of match-fixing, while three international players pleaded guilty over the 2013 scandal.

Former New Zealand international Lou Vincent pleaded guilty to breaching the ICC´s code of conduct for failing to tell authorities when a bookmaker approached him about fixing a match.

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and Sri Lanka´s Kaushal Lokuarachchi have also pleaded guilty.

The report said Dhaka Gladiators coach Ian Pont alerted the ACSU that he had been approached by one of the team´s owners about fixing the February 2 match but was instructed to go ahead and play.

ICC spokesman Sami Ul Hasan declined to comment on the report´s allegations. "We are reviewing the written judgement and have no comments to make at this stage," he told AFP in an email.

The tribunal said ICC investigators were obligated to inform the BCB of any wrongdoing. "The chairman of ACSU, Sir Ronald Flanagan, expressed his regret about this failure to inform BCB of this significant matter and made a personal unreserved apology on behalf of ACSU for not involving BCB at that stage." (AFP)

Fresh ODI rankings announced by ICC

DUBAI: International cricket council (ICC) has released fresh ODI rankings according to which Pakistan has maintained its sixth position.

As per the list Australia is number one in ODI rankings where as Sri Lanka has now climbed up to number two and India has gone down to number three.

Virat Kohli remains at the summit of the ODI batsmen’s ranking while S.African AB de Villiers is at number two. Pakistan skipper Misbah ul Haq is at number nine.

Off spinner Saeed Ajmal maintained his number one position amongst the ODI bowlers and speedster Daryl Steyn is at number two.

ICC doing everything to fight corruption: David Richardson

ISLAMABAD: ICC Chief Executive David Richardson on Wednesday said the Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has zero tolerence against corrruption and was doing everything to curb it.

Richardson spoke in response to recent media coverage of investigations being carried out by the ACSU and also provided an insight into the review of the structures for combating corruption at international and domestic level within the sport says a press release issued here.

Richardson said we are taking all steps available to urgently investigate how certain information in the form of statements has come to find its way into the media so that we can provide reassurances to the stakeholders within the sport so that they can continue to place their trust in the hands of the ACSU and the anti corruption units of the respective Member Boards in protecting the integrity of the sport.

Richardson said “ we wish to emphasize that New Zealand player Brendon McCullum is not under investigation in this matter. We have offered our full support to Brendon we do so now publicly not only to confirm that by assisting with the ACSU s enquiries he has acted quite properly in accordance with his responsibilities as a professional cricketer but also correct any misperception that he is somehow under suspicion.

“He is to be commended for his actions and we deeply regret that aspects of his statement are now in the public domain,” he said.

Responding a question on Lou Vincent, who provided evidence to ASCU regarding corruption including of a former Pakistan cricketer, Richardson said Lou Vincent has cooperated fully with the ASCU's investigators so it would not be appropriate for the ICC to comment on his position at this stage.

Nor is the ICC in a position to identify any other individuals that may or may not have been interviewed as part of this or any other investigation, he said.

Richardson said ACSU has also developed strong links to local law enforcement and investigating agencies in the ICC s key territories. ACSU has available all the experience and resources necessary to enable it to properly carry out its functions he said. (APP)

Australia replaced India in second position in ICC Test Team rankings

Australia on 5 March 2014 replaced India at the number two position in the Test team rankings of cricket. This place was achieved by Australia after they defeated South Africa by 245-run in the third and final Test match in Cape Town.

Australia who replaced India at the second position in test rankings entered the three test-matches series with South Africa at third position.
• This second-position has won Australia a cash award of 370000 US dollars
• India will have to settle with 265000 US dollars
• South Africa at the top position will receive 475000 US dollars
• England which is at forth rank will receive 160000 US dollars

Rankings of test playing cricketing nations

Rank	Team	Matches	Points	Rating
1	South Africa	34	4332	127
2	Australia	43	4946	115
3	India	39	4359	112
4	England	44	4713	107
5	Pakistan	29	2890	100
6	Sri Lanka	33	2953	89
7	New Zealand	37	3224	87
8	West Indies	29	2516	87
9	Zimbabwe	11	372	34
10	Bangladesh	19	359	19