ICC mulls World Cup lifeline for minnows

Cricket's governing body began its annual conference on Sunday with all eyes on controversial proposals to scrap its rotating presidency and bar non-Test playing nations from the next World Cup.The International Cricket Council (ICC) kicked off four days of meetings between the chief executives' committee and executive board, followed by a full council meeting on June 30, at a hotel in downtown Hong Kong.The conference will consider moves, reportedly spearheaded by India and England, to scrap the two-year rotational presidency, although details of any new system remain unclear.The proposal is expected to be met with vehement opposition from Pakistan and Bangladesh, who are scheduled to nominate the body's next-but-one leader to take power from 2014.Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt told reporters before leaving for Hong Kong: "It's Pakistan's turn to nominate the president or the vice-president so we will not allow anyone to snatch that right."We have already shown our reservations on both the amendments and since the matter will be discussed at the meeting I am not going to make it more public."The ICC will also review its unpopular decision to limit the 2015 World Cup, in Australia and New Zealand, to the 10 full-member teams -- excluding countries such as Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and Kenya.ICC president Sharad Pawar has asked his board to discuss the matter at the conference, with the governing body looking to avoid a repeat of the seven-week World Cup, deemed by some critics as unnecessarily lengthy.Officials are believed to be in favour of retaining a 10-team limit but may consider a qualifying tournament that would give minor nations a chance of reaching the event.Also on the agenda will be the issue of whether the ICC should adopt the controversial Decision Review System (DRS).The ICC has announced its desire for the DRS, whereby teams will be allowed one incorrect referralper innings to the television umpire, to be used for all Tests, ODIs and International T20s.Decisions would be checked using video, audio, ball-tracking and thermal-imaging technology in an innovation welcomed by most countries.But powerful India, whose huge revenues give it a dominant position in the ICC, has never agreed to its use nor played a Test or one-day series when the DRS has been in operation.The issue will be presented formally to the ICC's chief executives' committee."The suggestions were made following detailed technical analysis and supported by what the committee agreed was a successful application during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011," the ICC said in a statement released ahead of the meeting.The conference kicked off on Sunday with a low-key discussion on the ICC's rankings system, with the headline issues to be dealt with over the coming days.

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    PAKISTAN WON 1992 WORLD CUP

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Upul Tharanga found guilty of breaching ICC Anti-Doping Code

Sri Lanka opening batsman Upul Tharanga has been found guilty of committing an anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code (the "ICC Code") and has been suspended from all cricket and cricket-related activities for a period of three months.

Tharanga, 26, provided a urine sample as part of the ICC's random in-competition testing programme after the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, held in Colombo on 29 March 2011.

His sample was subsequently tested by a World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory and was found to contain metabolites of two glucocorticosteroids - Prednisone and Prednisolone. These are classified as 'Specified Substances' under WADA's Prohibited List and are prohibited in-competition 'when administered by oral, intravenous intramuscular or rectal routes'.

An independent anti-doping tribunal, comprising Mr Tim Kerr, QC, (acting as chairman), Dr Anik Sax and Prof. Peter Sever heard the case via videoconference today and made its determination after considering detailed written and oral legal submissions as well as live witness evidence, including from Tharanga himself.

The tribunal accepted that Tharanga had ingested the 'Specified Substances' when drinking a herbal remedy given to him to ease discomfort caused by a long-standing shoulder injury. It also found that Tharanga had no intention to enhance his sporting performance or to mask the use of another performance enhancing substance, but that he had failed to satisfy the high levels of personal responsibility implicit upon him as an international cricketer subject to anti-doping rules.

Tharanga pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage in the proceedings and, as mandated under the ICC Code, the tribunal disqualified the rankings points he earned from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The tribunal also exercised its discretion under the ICC Code to impose upon him a period of ineligibility of three months, which was back-dated, in accordance with the discretion afforded to the tribunal under the ICC Code, to commence on 9 May 2011 and expiring at midnight on 8 August 2011, therefore leaving him eligible to return to cricket and cricket related activities on 9 August 2011.

In light of the circumstances of this case, the ICC re-iterates its zero-tolerance approach to doping and warns all international players that they remain personally responsible for ensuring that anything they eat, drink or put into their bodies (including any medical treatment they receive) does not give rise to an anti-doping rule violation under the Code.

Reacting after the tribunal announced its decision, Tharanga said: "I apologise to the fans and followers of Sri Lanka cricket for inadvertently committing an offence. I hope my fellow sportsmen will learn from my experience and be more vigilant when taking medical treatment, so that their careers do not suffer in the way that mine has."

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, said: "We recognise that Upul has not been found guilty of deliberately cheating, but the ICC maintains its zero-tolerance approach towards doping for the benefit of all its stakeholders. Cases like this serve as a reminder to all players that they must take great care and personal responsibility at all times for the substances that they consume.

"I am satisfied with the tribunal's decision and pleased at the way the ICC has handled this case with both sensitivity and efficiency."

All parties with a right of appeal (including Tharanga and the ICC) will be entitled to appeal the decision within 21 days of their receipt of the written decision.

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ICC meets in Hong Kong for Annual Conference

The ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC, 26 and 27 June), ICC Executive Board (28 and 29 June) and Full Council (30 June) will meet in Hong Kong next week to discuss a number of topics which are important to the future of the game.

These include:

ICC Cricket Committee recommendations

The CEC will consider recommendations from the ICC Cricket Committee which cover a wide range of important cricket topics including day/night Test matches, over-rates, pitches, the Decision Review System (DRS), use of runners as well as plans to enhance One-Day Internationals further.

While acknowledging the broadcast contracts that currently exist, the ICC Cricket Committee was unanimous in its recommendation that DRS should be used in all Test matches and also unanimously recommended that DRS should be used in ODI and T20I series with each side allowed one unsuccessful review per innings. The suggestions were made following detailed technical analysis and supported by what the committee agreed was a successful application during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The ICC Cricket Committee also proposed that the study into day/night Test matches should continue and that current code of conduct regulations be amended to allow for the suspension of a captain after two offences for slow over-rate breaches (previously it was three).

The CEC will also consider the recommendations for 50-over ODI cricket which builds on the extremely successful ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. In order to improve the balance between bat and ball and to give 50-over cricket a distinct identity, the ICC Cricket Committee recommended that two balls should be used in each innings ? one from each end. Currently the ball is replaced after 34 overs. It also recommended that teams should only be allowed to take the batting and bowling powerplays between overs 16 and 40.

The committee also suggested that trials of the following playing conditions be conducted in domestic cricket before being considered for international cricket:

* Removal of the restriction on the maximum number of overs each bowler could deliver
* No compulsory close-catchers
* A maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard fielding circle during non-powerplay overs

The number of bouncers that can be delivered per over to be increased from one to two.

The CEC will consider these topics and, following further deliberations of the CEC working group, will also seek to confirm and recommend the Future Tours Programme to the ICC Executive Board for its consideration.


Format and make-up of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

At its meeting in Mumbai on 4 April 2011, after having previously agreed a 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, the ICC Executive Board agreed that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 would comprise of the 10 ICC Full Members. The Board also confirmed its decision taken in October 2010 that the ICC World Twenty20 should be a 16-team event and that promotion and relegation would be introduced from 2019.

These decisions were part of the package of strategic restructuring of bilateral cricket and ICC events aimed at providing greater context and content for international cricket. As part of this, a Test play-off for the top four teams was also approved to take place in England in 2013.

Following the decisions and responding to representations from various quarters, ICC President Sharad Pawar will ask the ICC Executive Board to revisit its decision to restrict the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to the 10 Full Members.


Constitutional amendments

The Full Council of the ICC will consider a constitutional amendment aimed at ensuring free elections of Member boards and avoiding undue government interference in the administration of cricket, in line with the regulations of other major sporting bodies.

The Full Council will also consider a further constitutional change to the process for the nomination and election of the ICC President. Under the new proposal, the Executive Board will decide the process and term of office from time to time, subject to certain qualifying criteria. This would remove the current rotational system of nomination and the fixed term of appointment as set out in the ICC Articles of Association.


ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

The ICC Executive Board and CEC will receive a detailed post-event report on the successful staging of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Although the event was universally regarded as a success and one of the best cricket events in history, the report will highlight shortcomings around ticketing and stadia construction.

The report also acknowledges the high standard of cricket and praises the excellent pitches and outfields. It also notes that the three host countries now have a legacy of excellent cricket facilities following the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.


Other matters

The ICC Executive Board will also consider recommendations from the CEC, the ICC Security Task Force on introducing mandatory safety and security regulations and a final report from the Pakistan Task Team.


Media arrangements

SNTV and Getty Images will distribute vision and images throughout the annual conference week in Hong Kong. There will also be a media opportunity at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong on Thursday 30 June 2011. Further details of the media conference will be released when available.

The ICC Board consists of the chairman or president from each of the 10 Full Members plus three elected Associate Member representatives. Also present at ICC Board meetings is the ICC President, who chairs proceedings, the ICC Chief Executive and the ICC Vice-President, as well as, by invitation of the President, the ICC Principal Advisor.

Sharad Pawar	ICC President
Alan Isaac	ICC Vice-President
Haroon Lorgat	ICC Chief Executive
Ijaz Butt	Pakistan
Peter Chingoka	Zimbabwe
Giles Clarke	England and Wales
Jack Clarke	Australia
Dr Julian Hunte	West Indies
Mustafa Kamal	Bangladesh
Imran Khwaja	Associate Member Representative
Shashank Manohar	India
Chris Moller	New Zealand
Dr M Nyoka	South Africa
Keith Oliver	Associate Member Representative
DS de Silva	Sri Lanka
Neil Speight	Associate Member Representative

The CEC comprises the Chief Executives of the 10 Full Member nations as well as three Associate Member representatives. Also present is the ICC Chief Executive who chairs the meeting and, by invitation, the ICC President and the chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee.

Haroon Lorgat	ICC Chief Executive (Chairman)
Sharad Pawar	ICC President (ex Officio)
Clive Lloyd	ICC Cricket Committee Chairman (ex Officio)
Mansur Ahmed	Bangladesh
Subhan Ahmed	Pakistan
Michael Brown	Australia (alternate for James Sutherland)
David Collier	England and Wales
John Cribbin	Associate Member Representative
Warren Deutrom	Associate Member Representative
Francois Erasmus	Associate Member Representative
Dr Ernest Hilaire	West Indies
Gerald Majola	South Africa
Wilfred Mukondiwa	Zimbabwe (alternate for Ozias Bvute)
Nishantha Ranatunga	Sri Lanka
N Srinivasan	India
Dr Justin Vaughan	New Zealand

Annual ConferenceFull Council comprises 10 Full Members, 35 Associates and five Affiliate representatives. For a special resolution to change the ICC Constitution the requirement is for the support of eight Full Members and 38 out of 50 of the entire Full Council.

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Jayawardene seals Sri Lanka thrashing of England

BRISTOL: Mahela Jayawardene's unbeaten 72 saw Sri Lanka to a crushing nine-wicket victory against England in the lone Twenty20 international here on Saturday.

Jayawardene's innings backed up an impressive bowling display that left the tourists needing just 137 for victory against World Twenty20 champions England.

They reached their target for the loss of only veteran Sanath Jayasuriya with 16 balls to spare.

The result meant Stuart Broad's first match as England's Twenty20 captain ended in a defeat where he was run out for nought and took none for 29, while Sri Lanka skipper Thilina Kandamby won his opening match in charge.

England may have won the recent three-match Test series between the two countries 1-0 but this was a second successive crushing limited overs defeat by Sri Lanka after the 10-wicket World Cup quarter-final loss in Colombo in March.

Kumar Sangakkara, like Jayawardene a former Sri Lanka captain, was 43 not out after the experienced pair shared an unbroken second-wicket stand of 97.

Jayawardene and Jayasuriya, in his penultimate match before international retirement, previously put on 40 for the first wicket.

Right-hander Jayawardene, proving again there is a place for classical elegance in cricket's shortest format, completed a 40-ball fifty with a six and four fours.

He was severe on seamer Chris Woakes cutting a full toss for four, next ball driving him over his head for six and, the ball after that, clipping him down to third man for another boundary.

Surrey seamer Jade Dernbach marked his international debut by dismissing Jayasuriya for eight but that was as good as it got in the field for England.

Earlier, Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga took two for 15 and left-arm spinner Jayasuriya two for 18 as England struggled to 136 for nine after Kandamby won the toss in overcast conditions.

Eoin Morgan (47) and Kevin Pietersen (41) put on 83 in 54 balls for the third wicket after England had been faltering at 12 for two.

But they both fell in quick succession to leave England 101 for four in the 13th over and no other batsman scored more than Ravi Bopara's 19.

England were soon two wickets down as recalled World Twenty20-winning openers Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter both fell cheaply.

Left-hander Morgan, dropped on 23, saw his 32-ball innings, featuring three sixes and four fours, end when he pulled Malinga to Jayawardene.

Jayasuriya, playing his first international match for two years after reported political pressure led to his 'farewell' recall, struck with his fifth delivery when Pietersen, backing away to leg, was bowled by a quicker ball.

And the under-rated bowler dismissed Bopara in similar fashion as England, who left out in-form batsman Ian Bell, saw their innings fall away.

England and Sri Lanka meet again in the first of five one-day internationals at The Oval on Tuesday.

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Sri Lanka restrict England to 136-9 in T20

BRISTOL: Sri Lanka held England to 136 for nine in the lone Twenty20 international here on Saturday.

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga took two for 15 and veteran left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya, in his penultimate match before international retirement, two for 18.

Eoin Morgan (47) and Kevin Pietersen (41) put on 83 in 54 balls for the third wicket after World Twenty20 champions England had been faltering at 12 for two.

But they both fell in quick succession to leave England 101 for four in the 13th over.

No other batsman scored more than Ravi Bopara's 19.

England soon found themselves two wickets down inside three overs after losing the toss as the recalled World Twenty20-winning opening pair of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter both fell cheaply.

Left-hander Lumb holed out off Suranga Lakmal before Kieswetter chipped Nuwan Kulasekara straight to Sri Lanka captain Thilina Kandamby at mid-off.

But former Ireland international Morgan got off the mark with a straight driven six off Lakmal before next ball driving him down the ground for four.

Kevin Pietersen followed up with two fours in as many balls in Thisara Perera's first over, an off-drive preceding a flicked pull off his pads.

Left-hander Morgan was given a reprieve on 23, with England 59 for two, when he struck a full-toss off Lakmal straight to long-on only for Angelo Mathews to drop the routine catch.

Morgan cashed in, driving successive Perera deliveries for six before Pietersen cleared the ropes off the last ball off an 11th over that cost 24 runs in all.

But Morgan's 32-ball innings, featuring three sixes and four fours, ended when he pulled Malinga to Mahela Jayawardene.

And 95 for three soon became 102 for five.

Jayasuriya, best known as opening batsman, struck with his fifth delivery when Pietersen, backing away to leg, was bowled by a quicker ball and he dismissed Bopara in similar fashion.

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Sri Lanka win toss, put England into bat

BRISTOL, England: Sri Lanka captain Thilina Kandamby won the toss and elected to field against England in the lone Twenty20 international here on Saturday.

Both sides were being led by first time captains with Stuart Broad replacing the dropped Paul Collingwood as skipper of England's World Twenty20 winning side while Kandamby was leading Sri Lanka in the ongoing absence of Tillakaratne Dilshan with a broken thumb.

England gave Twenty20 international debuts to spin bowling all-rounder Samit Patel and seamer Jade Dernbach. Meanwhile they recalled Ravi Bopara in place of in-form batsman Ian Bell.

The match also saw the return of England's World Twenty20-winning opening pair of Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb.

England beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in the preceding three-Test match series following the rain-affected draw at the Rose Bowl this week.

Sri Lanka welcomed back several players who missed the Tests through retirement from the five-day format or injury including fast bowler Lasith Malinga, all-rounder Angelo Mathews and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Veteran batsman Jayasuriya, controversially, is set to play in just this match and the first of five one-day internationals at The Oval on Tuesday, rather than the whole series, before retiring from international cricket.

Jayasuriya, now an MP, has reportedly been given a recall after nearly two years out of international cricket due to political interference.

England: Craig Kieswetter (wk), Michael Lumb, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Luke Wright, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad (captain), Graeme Swann, Jade Dernbach

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Angelo Mathews, Thilina Kandamby (capt), Jeevan Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Suraj Randiv, Suranga Lakmal

Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG), TV umpire: Robert Bailey (ENG)
Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)

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Styris retires from international cricket

WELLINGTON: New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris announced his retirement from international cricket Friday, saying he wanted to concentrate on the domestic Twenty20 competition and the Indian Premier League.

Styris said the Black Caps were entering a new era under captain Ross Taylor, who was appointed this week, and the time was right to leave the international arena.

The 35-year-old, who is currently playing T20 for English county side Essex, said he would continue to play domestic cricket for New Zealand's Northern Knights and the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

"I really enjoy the T20 format of the game and see it as a way to stay involved in cricket for another year or two if I can," he said.

"Not being on the international circuit means more time at home and I'm really looking forward to spending more time with my family."

Styris played 29 Tests and 188 one-day internationals, the last of which was New Zealand's World Cup semi-final loss to Sri Lanka in Colombo in March.

He nominated New Zealand's ICC Champions Trophy victory in 2000 and a century against the West Indies on his Test debut in 2002, which helped secure the Black Caps' first series win in the Caribbean, as career highlights.

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India record easy 63-run win over West Indies

KINGSTON: India underlined their status as the world number one Test side with a comfortable 63-run victory over West Indies in the first Test on Thursday.

The Indians successfully defended a victory target of 326 when they dismissed West Indies for 262 in their second innings on the fourth day at Sabina Park.

Suresh Raina formalised the result when he bowled Devendra Bishoo behind his back for 26 about 35 minutes after lunch.

The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, with the second Test set to start on Tuesday at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

The main architects of the visitors' final push for victory, Praveen Kumar finished with three for 42 from 16 overs, Ishant Sharma ended with three for 81 from 17 overs and Amit Mishra captured two for 62 from 13 overs.

India's bowlers were again virtuous with their line and length, and none of the remaining West Indies batsmen showed the kind of resolve to resist, after the hosts resumed on 131 for three.

Before lunch, six wickets -- two apiece for Kumar and Mishra -- put India on the verge, sinking West Indies to 226 for nine.

Kumar removed the overnight pair of Darren Bravo, bowled behind his back for 41, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, caught at extra cover for 30, inside the first half hour.

Harbhajan Singh then spoiled Carlton Baugh Jr's 29th birthday celebrations, when he had him caught at leg-slip for a duck, leaving West Indies 150 for six.

India's champion off-spinner was, however, quickly removed from the attack, when West Indies captain Darren Sammy launched him for three successive sixes over long-on into the Great Northern Stand.

But Mishra cut short Sammy's fun when he had him caught at extra cover for 25 and inflicted more agony on the hosts when he had Brendan Nash lbw for nine attempting an ugly slog, leaving the hosts reeling on 188 for eight.

India again met some resistance from the West Indies tail, with Ravi Rampaul making a strong case for a promotion in the home team's batting order, stroking 34 before he was caught behind, gloving a snorter from Sharma.

The final Test between the two sides starts on Wednesday, July 6 at Windsor Park in Dominica.

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