In a thrilling contest in opening game of the ICL 50s Chandigarh Lions edged ahead to beat Chennai Superstars by one wicket here at Mayajaal in Chennai.
After being put in to bat by Chandigarh skipper Dinesh Mongia, the Chennai innings never managed to gather momentum as Amit Uniyal (2/25) picked up early wickets. Hemant Kumar (26) threatened but was run out after getting a start. Chennai never managed any substantial partnerships and were kept in check thanks to the fall of wickets at regular intervals.
Off- Spinner Rajesh Sharma (4/45) was the wrecker in chief for the Lions. Bipul Sharma also chipped in with 2 vital wickets including that of Chennai skipper R. Satish and a run out of Hemant Kumar. The only spark for the Superstars was their captains knock who seemed to have carried on his fine form from the ICL Indian 20-20 Championship with a 40-ball knock of 41 runs but failed to capitalise on the start and that summed up Chennai’s Innings.
In reply, the Lions were struggling at 38 for 5 thanks to some accurate bowling by new balls bowlers R. Jesuraj (2/26) and G. Vignesh (3/26). Calm was restored by the Chandigarh pair of Bipul Sharma (35) and Man of the Match Chetan Sharma (69*) who took the Lions score to 117 with vital 79-run partnership for the sixth-wicket.
Chennai Superstars captain R. Satish (3/12) almost stole the game from Chandigarh with 3 quick wickets. And when last man Love Ablish walked in a further 17 runs were required by the Lions. Ablish survived 7 balls without scoring as Chetan Sharma guided his team home in tense circumstances.
This victory will be big boost for the Lions as they were looking to avenge their loss to Superstars in the Finals of the Indian 20-20 Championship at Panchkula.
Source : http://www.indiancricketleague.in/
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Shane Bond's fight over ICL headed for courts
New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond's desire to play the upcoming home and away series against England despite having signed for the breakaway Indian Cricket league (ICL) has brought him in direct confrontation with his country board's and the issue is heading for the courts.
According to the Herald on Sunday newspaper: 'Bond and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) are one step away from heading to court as a mediator has stepped in to help resolve the fast bowler's dispute with the national body.
'Bond desperately wants to play in the England series but is being told he can't unless he reneges on his deal with the 'rebel' ICL,' it said.
Bond, who has captured 79 wickets in 17 Tests and 125 in 67 One-Day Internationals, has signed a three-year, $3.1 million contract with the Subhash Chandra-promoted ICL. He also is on a retainer of more than $120,000 with NZC till June 1.
The International Cricket Council has told its member countries that those who associate themselves with the ICL should not be picked in their national teams.
'NZC is now embroiled in a stand-off with its best player and the dispute over Bond's dual contracts have now been put into the hands of lawyers,' the paper said.
NZC tried to have talks with Bond about a fortnight ago as an 11th-hour effort. But no satisfactory agreement was reached and a mediator has been called in to try to prevent the dispute reaching the Employment Relations Authority.
'Mediation is usually set against a legal backdrop - so if they fail to reach agreement, a claim in the employment court invariably follows. Both sides, however, are desperate to avoid that and have outwardly remained confident of finding compromise,' said the paper.
Source : http://story.malaysiasun.com/
According to the Herald on Sunday newspaper: 'Bond and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) are one step away from heading to court as a mediator has stepped in to help resolve the fast bowler's dispute with the national body.
'Bond desperately wants to play in the England series but is being told he can't unless he reneges on his deal with the 'rebel' ICL,' it said.
Bond, who has captured 79 wickets in 17 Tests and 125 in 67 One-Day Internationals, has signed a three-year, $3.1 million contract with the Subhash Chandra-promoted ICL. He also is on a retainer of more than $120,000 with NZC till June 1.
The International Cricket Council has told its member countries that those who associate themselves with the ICL should not be picked in their national teams.
'NZC is now embroiled in a stand-off with its best player and the dispute over Bond's dual contracts have now been put into the hands of lawyers,' the paper said.
NZC tried to have talks with Bond about a fortnight ago as an 11th-hour effort. But no satisfactory agreement was reached and a mediator has been called in to try to prevent the dispute reaching the Employment Relations Authority.
'Mediation is usually set against a legal backdrop - so if they fail to reach agreement, a claim in the employment court invariably follows. Both sides, however, are desperate to avoid that and have outwardly remained confident of finding compromise,' said the paper.
Source : http://story.malaysiasun.com/
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Cricket: New Indian Twenty20 competitions causing concern
There is growing concern in the cricket community about the influence of the new Indian Twenty20 competitions.
While it is still unknown whether Shane Bond will take the money, New Zealand cricket may have to prepare for the departure of even more top line players.
It was a rare quiet moment for Darryl Tuffey today.
The former Black Cap fast bowler was back home after taking part in the Rebel Indian Twenty20 league.
Joining the unsanctioned tournament meant the 29-year-old had to prematurely end his international career.
With news the tournament is set to expand this year, more of New Zealand’s top cricketers could be about to make the same choice.
”There’s no doubt a number of our players are sitting up and watching the development of these Twenty20 competitions in India,” Heath Mills from the Players Association said. “Some of them are very interested in seeing if there are opportunities for them.”
And it is understandable, with hundreds of thousands of dollars being offered to play the shorter form of the game and for only a few months commitment.
Meanwhile, New Zealand cricket is taking steps to counter it, including an increase in player payments, thanks to a recent $50 million windfall from television rights.
”We will be able to pay our players better and we are hoping that those as well as the attraction of wanting to play international cricket for New Zealand are enough to make sure our best players stay in the country,” the CEO of NZ Cricket, Justin Vaughan said.
While individual countries can only do so much, there are growing calls for the ICC to step in and recognise the tournaments.
”If you embrace them and work with them, you have an ability to preserve international cricket as the pinnacle of the sport,” Heath Mills said. “If you push them away, you can’t control them.”
And while it may be too late to save some of the country’s brightest stars, it is not too late to do something about the future ones.
Source : http://www.tv3.co.nz/
While it is still unknown whether Shane Bond will take the money, New Zealand cricket may have to prepare for the departure of even more top line players.
It was a rare quiet moment for Darryl Tuffey today.
The former Black Cap fast bowler was back home after taking part in the Rebel Indian Twenty20 league.
Joining the unsanctioned tournament meant the 29-year-old had to prematurely end his international career.
With news the tournament is set to expand this year, more of New Zealand’s top cricketers could be about to make the same choice.
”There’s no doubt a number of our players are sitting up and watching the development of these Twenty20 competitions in India,” Heath Mills from the Players Association said. “Some of them are very interested in seeing if there are opportunities for them.”
And it is understandable, with hundreds of thousands of dollars being offered to play the shorter form of the game and for only a few months commitment.
Meanwhile, New Zealand cricket is taking steps to counter it, including an increase in player payments, thanks to a recent $50 million windfall from television rights.
”We will be able to pay our players better and we are hoping that those as well as the attraction of wanting to play international cricket for New Zealand are enough to make sure our best players stay in the country,” the CEO of NZ Cricket, Justin Vaughan said.
While individual countries can only do so much, there are growing calls for the ICC to step in and recognise the tournaments.
”If you embrace them and work with them, you have an ability to preserve international cricket as the pinnacle of the sport,” Heath Mills said. “If you push them away, you can’t control them.”
And while it may be too late to save some of the country’s brightest stars, it is not too late to do something about the future ones.
Source : http://www.tv3.co.nz/
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Bond back on park for club cricket
New Zealand cricket's $3 million-man, Shane Bond, will bowl for free at Christchurch's Elmwood Park today.The Black Caps speedster will take the first steps on another comeback trail re-appearing for Old Boys-Collegians in a premier grade club match against Sydenham.
Bond, 32, has been the centre of sporting attention in recent weeks not because of his latest injury, an abdominal tear sustained in mid-November during the first test against South Africa, but because of his reported signing for the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Bond's fee for a three-season contract is believed to be $US800,000 a year which is in excess of $NZ3m.
It is the first time Bond has been at the bowling crease since breaking down but he has been doing plenty of fitness work in recent weeks recovering from the muscle tear.
"I've been doing quite a lot of work in the nets and gradually building back up again. It's feeling good and a scan showed that it was healing well," Bond said yesterday.
If Bond comes through successive Saturdays of club cricket unscathed he is keen to rejoin the Canterbury team for its Twenty/20 campaign from January 20. The bowling workload in Twenty/20 is light with a maximum of four overs per bowler.
Whether Bond gets to play for the Wizards may depend on the outcome of his negotiations with New Zealand Cricket which are expected to be known next week. Bond is contracted to NZC but that organisation is toeing the International Cricket Council line about players who have signed for the breakaway ICL and discouraging their selection for national teams.
Thus Bond could be available for the forthcoming home and away series against England but not be selected because of a NZC directive.
That could also apply to the provincial line-ups with the Indian board, which is staging a rival Indian Premier League (IPL) in April, already frowning on former Black Caps with rebel league contracts Chris Harris and Daryl Tuffey appearing domestically for Canterbury and Auckland respectively.
The difference there is that neither Harris nor Tuffey is contracted to their provinces and are playing as free agents for match fees.
Bond said he would not comment on any of the negotiations he was in concerning NZC and the ICL but expected an outcome within days.
Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/
Friday, January 11, 2008
Bond can't have it both ways
Few will begrudge him going to the rebel league in India because the $600,000 offer is a godsend for a cricketer whose body cannot cope with the rigours of international cricket.
But he should not entertain any thoughts of playing for the Black Caps between now and the completion of his New Zealand Cricket contract in May.
It was hoped Bond would yesterday confirm he has signed but he maintained his silence on the advice of his agent, Leanne McGoldrick. NZC is in no doubt he has put pen to paper but believes it is up to Bond to confirm as such.
However, NZC boss Justin Vaughan has shown his hand. He has said NZC would pay any legal bills to extricate Bond from his rebel contract and align him with the sanctioned Indian Premier League.
The IPL is home to Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum and Scott Styris, whereas the rebel league is home to faded heroes Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris, Hamish Marshall and Daryl Tuffey.
Bond's move to the rebels is not a sin but the league runs in direct competition with the International Cricket Council's Twenty20 competition – the IPL.
NZC relies heavily on the ICC for funding and cannot jeopardise that relationship because of one player. By already allowing Harris and Tuffey to play provincial cricket in New Zealand it is testing the ICC's patience.
Bond had an offer of around $450,000 from the sanctioned league (IPL) but he chose the richer deal, according to Vaughan. Fair play to Bond, but he has to accept the consequences.
Vaughan's hope now is that a legal battle does not break out between one of our game's top competitors and the national body.
"He's contracted through to May, for him to play in an unsanctioned tournament he will have to break his contract," Vaughan said.
"You have to look at what you can do. We've got lots of pieces of legal advice about the legal pathways we can take but we would love not to get into open conflict with him."
The ball is in Bond's court.
Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/
But he should not entertain any thoughts of playing for the Black Caps between now and the completion of his New Zealand Cricket contract in May.
It was hoped Bond would yesterday confirm he has signed but he maintained his silence on the advice of his agent, Leanne McGoldrick. NZC is in no doubt he has put pen to paper but believes it is up to Bond to confirm as such.
However, NZC boss Justin Vaughan has shown his hand. He has said NZC would pay any legal bills to extricate Bond from his rebel contract and align him with the sanctioned Indian Premier League.
The IPL is home to Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum and Scott Styris, whereas the rebel league is home to faded heroes Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris, Hamish Marshall and Daryl Tuffey.
Bond's move to the rebels is not a sin but the league runs in direct competition with the International Cricket Council's Twenty20 competition – the IPL.
NZC relies heavily on the ICC for funding and cannot jeopardise that relationship because of one player. By already allowing Harris and Tuffey to play provincial cricket in New Zealand it is testing the ICC's patience.
Bond had an offer of around $450,000 from the sanctioned league (IPL) but he chose the richer deal, according to Vaughan. Fair play to Bond, but he has to accept the consequences.
Vaughan's hope now is that a legal battle does not break out between one of our game's top competitors and the national body.
"He's contracted through to May, for him to play in an unsanctioned tournament he will have to break his contract," Vaughan said.
"You have to look at what you can do. We've got lots of pieces of legal advice about the legal pathways we can take but we would love not to get into open conflict with him."
The ball is in Bond's court.
Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Shane Bond signs 600,000 dollar deal with rebel ICL
Shane Bond has signed with the rebel league in India and, barring a late U-turn, has played his last game for New Zealand.In a bombshell for the sport, the champion fast bowler has accepted what is understood to be a $600,000 deal from the Indian Cricket League to play in its Twenty20 competition.
His move effectively sees him banned from the Black Caps, though New Zealand Cricket prefers to use the term “overlooked for selection”.
Bond declined to comment last night but NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan conceded he was all but lost to the game in this country because he was linking with a league that runs in direct competition with the International Cricket Council’s Twenty20 tournament.
Vaughan described the prospect of losing Bond as “terribly disappointing”.
“I know we haven’t seen very much of him lately, but you always hope your last injury is your last one,” Vaughan said.
“We’d love to see him playing for New Zealand and that is why we have turned over so many stones, but at the moment we are on the back foot.”
Vaughan refused to be critical of Bond last night.
“I don’t think it is a question of loyalty here. He is a champion and we’d be very sorry to lose him.”
Vaughan said he had met Bond countless times to try to persuade him to join the sanctioned Indian Premier League but had not managed to change his mind.
However, he offered an olive branch, saying NZC would pay any legal bill to extricate Bond from his rebel contract.
“I can’t say for certain he has signed but I understand that is what his agent [Leanne McGoldrick] is saying,” Vaughan said.
“Even if he has signed with the ICL, we’d love to see if there was a way to get him out of that contract and we’ll fund all the support to get him out of it, similar to what Pakistan has done with Mohammad Yousuf.”
Vaughan said Bond’s preference for the rebel league over the IPL had to be the size of the offer.
“I know there have been attractive IPL offers and we’ve all seen what the likes of Stephen Fleming and co [$450,000] are getting, so one assumes the offer from the ICL is quite superior.”
McGoldrick would not comment last night, other than to say that her star pupil intended to honour his NZC contract through to its termination in May.
But NZC will not entertain selecting Bond through to May, according to Vaughan, because it would jeopardise its relationship with the ICC, on which it relies heavily for funding.
Bond is sidelined by an abdominal tear but is making good progress and would have been available for the series against England, starting next month.
“Our preference is for the selectors not to chose those [rebel] players,” Vaughan said. “It is not a ban, but it would be fair to say if he has signed we would prefer he didn’t play in the England series.”
Bond, regarded as New Zealand’s finest fast bowler since Richard Hadlee, is the second biggest name for the rebel league behind Brian Lara.
His $600,000 contract is close to three times what he earns with NZC and is security for a 32-year- old who has a young family and a injury-prone body.
He has taken 79 wickets in 17 tests at an average of 22.39 and 125 one-day wickets at 19.32.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Bond's choice of Indian league opens a legal can of worms
England may face a New Zealand side shorn of its most potent fast bowler, Shane Bond, next month because of his decision to join India's rebel Twenty20 league.
New Zealand Cricket has threatened to exclude players who join the breakaway Indian Cricket League but, if Bond's move sparks a mass rebellion, it could leave the policy in tatters. The fear is that Bond, one of the most high-profile players to join the ICL, could become the test case in an expensive legal battle that will leave all Test nations nervously awaiting the outcome.
Tim May, chief executive of Fica, the international players' association, stepped into the crisis yesterday. "We will protect players' rights," he said. "You may well see more ICL-contracted players signed up. So what are we going to do, have a New Zealand second XI out there? Is it in New Zealand's national interest to put out a half-baked team? Is it in world cricket's interest? We want to encourage people to play cricket professionally, don't we? It's not necessarily a bad thing, this ICL."
If New Zealand ban Bond - or even if they just choose to overlook him - legal action for restraint of trade seems inevitable. But, if they allow him to join the ICL, they will antagonise the all-powerful Indian cricket board, which is desperate to stifle the rebel league and which has bought up a host of international stars for its own Twenty20 league starting in April.
New Zealand are much more vulnerable than England as their players are relatively poorly rewarded. Regular England internationals can earn around £400,000 a year but a New Zealand player might earn 10% of that and can reap as much in one month in the Indian Cricket League.
The ECB line is identical to that of New Zealand with talk not of an outright ban but of unwritten disfavour. The ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, has stated: "Selectors will be instructed to take into consideration the fact that these players have played in an unauthorised competition." This echoes the stance of New Zealand Cricket's chief executive, Justin Vaughan, who had said: "I don't think we can say that they're ineligible for selection. We'd prefer to say that the selectors will be encouraged to consider other players."
This policy, which amounts to unofficial prejudice, might prove legally untenable. Greg Campbell, a partner for the London lawyer Mischon de Reya, contends: "The same issues of restraint of trade will arise if the practical effect of players joining the rebel Indian league is that they do not play for [their country]. Merely doing it informally, rather than by way of an outright ban, doesn't avoid the issue."
Source : http://sport.guardian.co.uk/
New Zealand Cricket has threatened to exclude players who join the breakaway Indian Cricket League but, if Bond's move sparks a mass rebellion, it could leave the policy in tatters. The fear is that Bond, one of the most high-profile players to join the ICL, could become the test case in an expensive legal battle that will leave all Test nations nervously awaiting the outcome.
Tim May, chief executive of Fica, the international players' association, stepped into the crisis yesterday. "We will protect players' rights," he said. "You may well see more ICL-contracted players signed up. So what are we going to do, have a New Zealand second XI out there? Is it in New Zealand's national interest to put out a half-baked team? Is it in world cricket's interest? We want to encourage people to play cricket professionally, don't we? It's not necessarily a bad thing, this ICL."
If New Zealand ban Bond - or even if they just choose to overlook him - legal action for restraint of trade seems inevitable. But, if they allow him to join the ICL, they will antagonise the all-powerful Indian cricket board, which is desperate to stifle the rebel league and which has bought up a host of international stars for its own Twenty20 league starting in April.
New Zealand are much more vulnerable than England as their players are relatively poorly rewarded. Regular England internationals can earn around £400,000 a year but a New Zealand player might earn 10% of that and can reap as much in one month in the Indian Cricket League.
The ECB line is identical to that of New Zealand with talk not of an outright ban but of unwritten disfavour. The ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, has stated: "Selectors will be instructed to take into consideration the fact that these players have played in an unauthorised competition." This echoes the stance of New Zealand Cricket's chief executive, Justin Vaughan, who had said: "I don't think we can say that they're ineligible for selection. We'd prefer to say that the selectors will be encouraged to consider other players."
This policy, which amounts to unofficial prejudice, might prove legally untenable. Greg Campbell, a partner for the London lawyer Mischon de Reya, contends: "The same issues of restraint of trade will arise if the practical effect of players joining the rebel Indian league is that they do not play for [their country]. Merely doing it informally, rather than by way of an outright ban, doesn't avoid the issue."
Source : http://sport.guardian.co.uk/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)