Windies pacer Roach fined 50 per cent of match fee for ICC Code of Conduct breach

Published>Thu, Jul 01 10 01:38 PM

Dubai, July 1 (ANI): West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his team's third Test against South Africa.

Roach pleaded guilty to a Level 1 offence and accepted the proposed sanction from Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referee after play concluded in Barbados on Tuesday. He was found to have breached 2.1.8 of the code which relates to conduct of a minor nature that is "contrary to the spirit of the game".

The charge was brought by on-field umpires Steve Davis and Simon Taufel, third umpire Asad Rauf and fourth official Clyde Duncan.

"Kemar was involved in an unpleasant altercation in the final overs of the Test where he had to be pulled away by one of his fellow players," an ICC release quoted Crowe, as saying.

"This was after he received warnings from the umpires and so it could easily have been avoided. It was not acceptable behaviour for a player at this or any level of the game and it's not the first time Kemar has been involved in such behaviour," added Crowe.

Because this was Roach's second breach of this clause of the code within a 12-month period, the range of sanctions applicable was more severe, namely between 50 per cent of his match fee up to a maximum of his full match fee and/or two suspension points, which amounts to one Test match or two ODIs. (ANI)

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Speed says Howard was rejected because he would foil the ICC saboteurs

Published>Thu, Jul 01 10 01:28 PM

Melbourne, July 1 (ANI): Former ICC President Malcolm Speed has said the decision of the ICC governing board to reject the nomination of former prime minister John Howard is a disgrace and an insult to both Australia and New Zealand.

Speed said that Howard was not rejected because of his lack of experience as a cricket administrator, or for his strong opposition to Robert Mugabe's disastrous regime in Zimbabwe, or his outspoken views about Muttiah Muralitharan's controversial bowling action.

"There is more to it than that," he writes in an article for the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Howard did not seek this role. Cricket Australia approached him and asked him to agree to his name being put forward as the joint nominee from Australia and New Zealand under a system that provides for the top position in world cricket to be rotated around the major countries," Speed said.

He said that Howard was genuinely interested in doing this job, as cricket was his passion and he thought he could bring new attributes, wisdom and experience to the position and to the game.

"The rejection is a symptom of the wider malaise that afflicts world cricket and its dysfunctional governing body. The current system of rotating the ICC presidency is the fourth such system to have been introduced and failed since 1995," Speed said.

"Howard has been rejected because his appointment would provide ICC with strong leadership that would thwart the ambitions of several current administrators to downgrade and devalue the role of the ICC," Speed opined.

"Howard would have stood in their path. The role requires strength of character - a leader, diplomat, statesman and politician. The ICC board is as political as any political party. The countries that voted him down want a compliant figurehead who will do their bidding," he added.

Speed also criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not backing Howard's candidature.

He said that incoming ICC president, Sharad Pawar was a good and fair man, "but he knows little about cricket administration."

"I was present at several ICC board meetings he attended. ICC meetings generally last two days. Pawar attended for one hour and was then replaced by one of the Board of Control for Cricket in India apparatchiks. They were concerned that he was too busy and would be too reasonable," Speed added.

Speed said that Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket should refuse to put forward another nominee.

Under the rotation system, it is then the turn of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

He described Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, as a "buffoon" and cricket in Pakistan as "a basket case".

He said that the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board is a nominee of the prime minister, and added that two of the BCB cricket presidents during his time with the ICC, had ended up in jail when there was a change of government.

"The last BCB president I encountered was an army general. He did not know the name of the Bangladesh captain, the team's next opponents and the capacity of the new ground that had just been inaugurated in Dhaka. I was too polite to ask him whether he had ever been to a cricket match," Speed said.

"When these two countries (Pakistan and Bangladesh) come forward with their joint nominee, Australia and New Zealand should politely refrain from voting. (ANI)

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Howard rejected because he was a backbencher and could be provocative: Roebuck

Published>Thu, Jul 01 10 01:22 PM

Sydney, July 1 (ANI): Noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck has said that "no one emerges with the slightest credit from the debacle" involving the ICC board's rejection of John Howard's vice-presidency bid.

In a front-page commentary for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck further said: "As far as other ICC nations were concerned, the nomination was provocative. They regard Howard as a backwoodsman; about as progressive as an umbrella."

"The snubbing of the former PM by six of the nine Test-playing nations reveals a deep malaise at the heart of world cricket. Although dressed in the clothes of rectitude, it (ICC) has been about power and patches, control and coins," claims Roebuck.

"Most of all, it is about governance and the lack of it, and the endless soft soaping of the scoundrels running Zimbabwean cricket. Now another antipodean must be found," he adds.

"By promoting and backing Howard, an outsider uninvolved in cricket, Australia insulted New Zealand and Sir John Anderson, its impressive candidate. As far as other ICC nations were concerned, the nomination was provocative," Roebuck says.

"Sensitivity is needed. Indeed it's almost as important as integrity," he adds.

"Howard does bring rigor to the table, and authority. That's why they (African and Asian blocs) blocked him. He might ask awkward questions," claims Roebuck.

He believes that Cricket Australia overplayed its hand.

"The mess is not about politics, or principle, or anything but power. The worst elements at the ICC were scared of Howard and found a reason to stop him before he became strong," he concludes. (ANI)

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Loew spots chinks in Maradona's heavy armour

Published>Thu, Jul 01 10 01:08 PM

Port Elizabeth, July 1 -- Argentina beware. Joachim Loew has found weaknesses in Diego Maradona's team. And his young squad is gung-ho after decimating England. Loew didn't share what those weaknesses were. Not with the media at least, but said it's been discussed with the players. Speaking in Erasmia near Johannesburg, the Germany coach reacted with a mixture of deference and a refusal to be weighed down either by Argentina's all-win record or all-conquering reputation. "They have great qualities. For me, they are one of the favourites for this tournament," he said. "They have a lot of experience and an impressive attack that's not just about Lionel Messi alone. I expect a very tight game." "We have found weaknesses in their side, but I will keep that information for my players. We too have a few forwards who can score goals," said the Germany coach ahead of Saturday's quarterfinal in Cape Town. Germany, Loew said, are leaving for Cape Town one day early, on Thursday, to get used to the conditions better. There was unstinted praise for Maradona too. "He was a phenomenon and an idol. I don't know much about him as a coach but he must be doing something right to get his team to play this well. He is certainly a positive effect on Argentina." But Loew didn't forget to mention that with three wins, including two where they scored four goals, Germany are ready for Argentina, Messi and all. "There is a very positive feeling in the team. We have gained a lot of confidence from the victory against England. A lot of the younger players here are European under-21 champions and this (the win against England) has given them a lot of confidence." The last time the teams met, Germany won 4-2 on penalties and Loew said, "We have already practiced penalties, each player took two, but you can never recreate the pressure or the nervous tension. You don't know who will still be on the pitch after 120 minutes of football, injuries can change everything, so we will only decide that after extra-time has been played." Bastian Schweinsteiger added to the mind games, saying Argentina try and unsettle opponents before kick-off, even influence the referee. "We shouldn't be provoked. That is a lack of respect," the midfielder said.

Battling a muscle strain, Brazil-born striker Cacau is the only Germany player doubtful for the marquee tie scheduled for Saturday.

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Pawar knows little about cricket: Speed

Published Thu, Jul 01 10 12:52 PM

Melbourne, Jul 1 (PTI) If John Howard was rejected for inexperience then even Sharad Pawar does not qualify to be ICC President as he knows "little about cricket administration", said former ICC CEO Malcolm Speed describing the snub to the ex-Australian Prime Minister a "disgrace". "Rest assured, he (Howard) was not rejected because of his lack of experience as a cricket administrator, his strong opposition to Robert Mugabe''s disastrous regime in Zimbabwe or his outspoken views about Muttiah Muralitharan''s controversial bowling action. There is more to it than that," Speed wrote in a column for the ''Sydney Morning Herald''. Speed said Pawar, who will head the ICC until 2012 starting today, would not even be available full-time as he is a serving Union Minister in the Indian government. "The man who is to be the next ICC president, Sharad Pawar, is the Minister for Agriculture in the Indian government - a serious full-time job, feeding 1.2 billion people. He is a good and fair man but he will be working part-time as ICC president and, take it from me, he knows little about cricket administration," Speed said. The Australian claimed that Pawar spent little time in the ICC meetings he attended in the past. "I was present at several ICC board meetings he attended. ICC meetings generally last two days. Pawar attended for one hour and was then replaced by one of the Board of Control for Cricket in India apparatchiks. They were concerned that he was too busy and would be too reasonable," he recalled. Speed''s tenure in the ICC ended rather acrimoniously in 2008 after a fall-out with the then President Ray Mali over the governing body''s refusal to take action against financial bunglings in Zimbabwe Cricket. Speed said Australia and New Zealand, who jointly nominated Howard, should now refuse to put up an alternate candidate as has been asked by the ICC. "The decision of the ICC members to reject the nomination of John Howard by the cricket boards of Australia and New Zealand is a disgrace and an insult to both countries." "So where to now? Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket should refuse to put forward another nominee. Under the rotation system, it is then the turn of Pakistan and Bangladesh," Speed said. More PTI PM MRM

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Patel's lawyers plead for mercy ahead of sentencing

Published>Thu, Jul 01 10 12:46 PM

Brisbane, July 1 (ANI): Lawyers representing 'Dr. Death' Jayant Patel, the Indian-origin surgeon accused of manslaughter, have appealed to the Supreme Court of Brisbane to show mercy to their client during sentencing later today.

The Brisbane Times quoted defence lawyers as asking Judge Byrne to allow Patel his freedom by wholly suspending his jail term, citing his "virtual home detention" while on bail awaiting trial in Queensland.

At the killer doctor's sentencing hearing this morning, Patel's lawyers said the convicted surgeon had been a prisoner at home while on bail in Brisbane because if he ventured out, he was at risk of being abused by angry members of the public.

Due to publicity surrounding his lethal stint at Bundaberg Base Hospital, barrister Michael Byrne QC said Patel had "been the subject of personal abuse by people in the streets of Brisbane".

Doctor Jayant Patel has been found guilty of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm. As a result he had remained in the safety of his own home during the two years he had been on bail awaiting trial," he said.

"That's akin to home detention," Byrne added.

"He had no friends, no family ... in a foreign country isolated from friends and family, going on to the streets alone was a cause of concern for him," he said. (ANI)

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Howard vows to fight on for ICC vice-presidency

Published>Thu, Jul 01 10 12:38 PM

Sydney, July 1 (ANI): Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has vowed to fight on to become world cricket vice-president despite his embarrassing rejection by Africa and Asia.

Ex-ICC chief Malcolm Speed has described the rejection as a "disgrace and insult" to Australian and New Zealand cricket.

Howard was due to fly home from Singapore after African and Asian Test nations broke with protocol by refusing to approve his candidacy at a board meeting.

"I won't be withdrawing. Even in private discussions they are very reluctant to give a particular reason. It's a very unusual situation," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Howard as telling Sky Sports.

Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Jack Clarke said: "(I'm) gutted and incredibly disappointed that a man of John Howard's stature has been knocked off for this job."

"If you keep having processes that don't work, or are not allowed to work, I am not too sure where they go from there," he added.

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket had already expressed their deep disappointment and said they would resubmit a candidate by August 31.

"The rejection is a symptom of the wider malaise that afflicts world cricket and its dysfunctional governing body," Speed wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The countries that voted him down want a compliant figure who will do their bidding," he added.

The Herald's Peter Roebuck said "no one emerges with the slightest credit from the debacle", in a front-page commentary.

"As far as other ICC nations were concerned, the nomination was provocative. They regard Howard as a backwoodsman; about as progressive as an umbrella," he wrote.

The Australian's Malcolm Conn said the bid "failed purely on racial lines, much to the embarrassment of a sport which continues to shred its scant credibility on a regular basis".

New Zealand Herald chief sports writer David Leggat blamed Cricket Australia for spearheading Howard's push.

"If CA and NZC (New Zealand Cricket) didn't see this embarrassment coming, they were seriously caught with their pants down," he wrote. (ANI)

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