14 Tuesday 24th January, 2006 Vijaya Malalasekara Selfish India must be clarifies Former chairman of the cricket Interim Committee Vijaya Malalasekara made to toe the line responding to for- in 1983 with an unexpected best do that by playing against course. The ICC’s raison d’etre mer cricket chief by Michael Atherton Thilanga Any doubts as to where real World Cup victory over the Australia, England and is to protect the interests of Sumathipala’s claim power lies in the cricketing mighty West Indies. In Sunil Pakistan on a regular basis, their constituent members that Sri Lanka world were dispelled last week. Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, and, rather than Bangladesh or the and to ensure that order Cricket’s television When India announced that more recently, Sachin West Indies. rather than anarchy reigns. contract with WSG they would no longer partici- Tendulkar, players emerged of To emphasise the point, the The whole point of the Vijaya Malalasekara Nimbus Pvt. Ltd pate in the Champions’ Trophy world-class status. Board of Control for Cricket Champions’ Trophy is to pro- was arbitrarily can- after 2006, that they would play Suddenly, the country’s dor- in India (BCCI) also vide funds for developing celled in 2001 by Malalasekara’s commit- Australia every year between mant cricketing population announced last week that they areas and the FTP is aimed at tee defended their decision and stated that 2007 and 2009, and England awoke to the possibilities that would soon begin to produce giving less well off nations, it was done in consultation with the Sports home and away every four cricket offered. This awakening their own telecasts of interna- such as Bangladesh and the Ministry and on the advice by the Attorney years, barely a whimper was coincided with the explosion of tional and domestic cricket West Indies, a chance to com- General’s Department submitting corre- heard from the other Test play- consumerism in the Nineties. “adding more products to our pete. India, on the other hand, spondence between the Interim ing nations. Success and money combined to product line”, said the BCCI are acting as superpowers Committee and the Ministry of Sports and This despite the fact that make India the powerhouse of vice-president, sounding more tend to act: self-interest first The AG’s Department. such an announcement the game, so they now con- like the vice-president of a and last and bugger the rest. The following is the release by amounts to a virtual unilateral tribute 60 per cent of the game’s When Jagmohan Dalmiya was the marketing conglomerate than Last week, Malcolm Speed, Malalasekara: disbanding of the ICC’s Future global income chief of the Indian cricket he stood up an administrator of a sporting the chief-executive of the ICC, In a recent television debate between Tours Programme (FTP), which It was a sweeping change to to the ICC and the rest of the world body. found himself in a position Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala, former chair- all countries have signed up to, the balance of power but one taking decisions that benefited the The ICC’s response has much occupied by Kofi Annan man of Sri Lanka Cricket and Deputy and which is intended to regu- that took England, who didn’t Indians and made other to fear the ris- been to remind India of their and the United Nations in Minister of tourism Arjuna Ranatunga, late the amount and direction of tour India between 1992 and ing cricket superpower. Now with responsibilities to the game as recent years: being bullied by Sumathipala stated that- international cricket to benefit 2001, a long time to appreciate. Sharad Pawar on top of Indian admin- a whole. India’s response to a superpower for whom the 1. The Interim Committee of which I all members rather than just a India’s announcements last istration he’s instilling fears to go on that was to blow a huge rasp- notions of international law was the chairman from 24th of March chosen few. week as to their future playing his own and that could have serious berry by announcing that they and collective responsibility 2001 to 31st of March 2002 had arbitrarily India are the big beast of arrangements, meekly con- ramifications on world cricket. would no longer tour New have long ceased to have any cancelled the contract entered into with cricket and everyone is fright- firmed by England, has left no Zealand in February 2007, a meaning. He needs to stand WSG Nimbus Pvt. Ltd. ened of both their bark and bite. one in any doubt who is now always, is money. India want tour that was part of the FTP. his ground and we need to sup- 2. When calling for fresh bids and Their rise to dominance began master and who is servant. to maximise their earning The executives of the ICC port him. awarding the contract to Taj Television The nub of the matter, as potential and feel they can and India are on a collision Daily Telegraph Limited we had not followed the proper tender procedure. 3. As a result of the cancellation of the contract with WSG Nimbus, the Board of Control for Cricket was directed to pay a Kenya gets new cricket set-up compensation of USD 7 Million to WSG NAIROBI, Jan 22 (AFP) - A new ter. Nimbus. cricket body was formed in Kenya on Meanwhile Kenya’s new coach Background Sunday following the decision to dissolve Roger Harper arrived in Nairobi late The BCCSL headed by Mr. the old Kenya Cricket Association (KCA), Saturday to take immediate charge and Sumathipala signed the Agreement with which had been hit by financial scandals prepare the team for an upcoming tour WSG Nimbus Pvt. Ltd. dated 3rd and mismanagement, officials said. of Bangladesh. December 2000. Following the breach of the Agreement, “The former KCA council has The former West Indies tactican the Committee headed by Mr. Sumathipala approved, Cricket Kenya, as the sole was appointed to the job two weeks ago filed action in the District Court of body to manage, run and administer the on a contract that ends in June 2007. Colombo HC (Civil) 20/2001 (1) and a set- game of cricket in Kenya,” said its chair- The 42-year-old Harper met with tlement was reached on 5th February man Samir Inamdar after the meeting the offials of the newly-formed Cricket 2001. Despite this settlement WSG held in Mombasa. Kenya (CK) on Sunday but is scheduled Nimbus continued to commit breaches of “It was a unanimous decision taken for another meeting on Monday to lay the Agreement. In view of these continuing by all the four provinces.” out his plans for the national team breaches, the Interim Committee headed The decision comes three days which has gone without any meaningful by me at that time decided to cancel the before former KCA chairman Sharad international exposure since reaching contract, having received written advice Ghai goes on trial on charges of stealing the semi-finals of the World Cup in from the Attorney General that we were 240 million shillings (3.3 million dollars) 2003. entitled to do so. from the KCA. The case will start on Cricket Kenya officials said This advice is evidenced in the Wednesday. Harper’s first major assignment is to Annexure marked A 1 and A 2. Inamdar, who succeeded Ghai in lead Kenya on a proposed tour of Given below is our position in relation May 2005, said his new administration Bangladesh in March. to the matters 1-3 raised therein. had inherited huge debts and had found The tour, which may also involve 1. The Contract with WSG Nimbus was cancelled after having sought the Attorney it difficult to get new sponsors to the Zimbabwe has been arranged through General’s advice as evidenced in the game. the initiative of the International Cricket Annexure marked ‘A 1’ and ‘A 2’ He said the government had given Council (ICC). 2. I have annexed a copy of letter writ- its approval for the formation Cricket Kenya will play three one-day ten by me to the then Hon. Minister of Kenya and had consulted with the matches with the Bangladeshis Sports Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, what International Cricket Cricket on the mat- between March 10-21. procedure was followed prior to awarding the Contracts to Taj Television. This annexure is marked ‘B 1’, ‘B 2’, ‘B 3’ ‘B 4’ and ‘B 5’. Pakistan sweat over captain’s fitness 3. A reference was made by Mr. Sumathipala that the Board of Control for FAISALABAD, Jan 23, 2006 (AFP) Woolmer said it was early to judge Cricket was directed to pay compensation - Pakistan are unsure if skipper Inzamam’s chances of playing in the of US 7,000000 to WSG Nimbus as a Inzamam-ul Haq will play in next third and final Test starting in the south- result of the breach. I wish to state that the week’s third cricket Test against India ern port city of Karachi on Sunday. statement very clearly glosses over the after a recurring back problem flared, “There is still some time left for mishandling of the proceedings by the coach Bob Woolmer said on Monday. that match and we will see how he Board headed by Mr. Sumathipala. Inzamam, 35, has been ruled out responds to treatment before deciding 4. To set the record straight the for the rest of the ongoing second Test whether he can play,” the coach said. Arbitration Proceedings held in Singapore here after an MRI (magnetic resonance Inzamam missed two Tests on last were carried out in three stages.