‘BCCI didn’t pressurise ICC on ICL’
JOHANNESBURG: Former Cricket South Africa president Norman Arendse has rubbished ex-IPL chairman Lalit Modi’s claims that the ICC was pressurised by the BCCI to ban the ICL. Modi had claimed that the ICC constitution was changed in dealing with the ICL issue but Arendse said clauses were added to its operating manual to clarify what constitutes disapproved cricket. “There were no undue processes, incentives offered or pressure exerted on the ICC to outlaw the ICL,” Arendse, who was a member of the ICC’s executive board at the time when the ICL and IPL were being conceptualised, told a website. Arendse, who served as CSA president in 2007 and 2008, said, “The issue of the IPL was tabled at an executive meeting. (PTI)
SA wicket-keeper Waite dies at 81
Johannesburg: John Waite, one of South Africa’s greatest wicketkeepers, died at the age of 81 here Wednesday. Waite was famous for being the first player to complete 50 Test matches for South Africa, reaching the mark in his last Test, in 1965. He held the record for most dismissals (141) by a South Africa wicketkeeper for several years, till he was overtaken by Dave Richardson and subsequently by Mark Boucher. Waite still holds the joint-record for most dismissals by a South Africa keeper in a Test series – at 26 during the 1961-62 series against New Zealand. Boucher equalled that record in 1998.Waite was picked in ESPNcricinfo’s all-time South Africa XI ahead of Richardson and Boucher. (IANS)
Eng forward Young joins ManUnited
LONDON: Manchester United have signed England forward Ashley Young from Aston Villa on a five-year deal, the Premier League champions said on Thursday. United did not give details of the transfer fee but local media estimated it to be around 15 million pounds ($24 million). It is their second English signing this month, having brought in defender Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers. The 25-year-old Young, who can play as a left winger or second striker, will give manager Alex Ferguson more options in attack as the club seek to build on last season’s record 19th league title and Champions League final appearance. The pacy Young, who joined Villa in early 2007 from Watford, scored seven goals for the Midlands club last season. (Agencies)
