Meeting will pass BCCI’s bid to get more revenue from ICC
New Delhi: The Emergent Working Committee of the BCCI in Chennai on Thursday has been summoned to discuss the Board’s bid to push for lion’s share from ICC’s revenue earnings at the parent body’s executive board meeting in Dubai on January 28-29. Another issue that might come up for discussion is proposing BCCI president N Srinivasan’s name as the first chairman of the International Cricket Council, although his name needs to be passed at a governing body meeting. Srinivasan, during the end of last year, had met Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards to discuss the issue of the revenue sharing model and expressed his intentions about what the BCCI feels on the matter. When Honorary Secretary Sanjay Patel was asked whether India will push for at least 70 percent on a new profit-sharing model, the secretary replied, “That can’t be said at the moment. Obviously that’s one of the revenue models but there are a few alternative profit-sharing models also which we would be looking at. Basically, we will have a discussion on all aspects and look at the best possible solution”. The meeting in Dubai is set to feature a change in the ICC set-up with India, England and Australia gaining more control than the other units in every aspect of parent body’s functioning. (PTI)
Ali helps Pak to series-levelling win
Sharjah: Azhar Ali hit a brilliant hundred as Pakistan pulled off a thrilling win in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Monday, levelling the series 1-1. Set a daunting 302 to win in a possible 59 overs, Pakistan owed their successful chase to Ali’s fifth Test century (103) as he and Misbah-ul-Haq shared a 109-run stand for the fifth wicket. Misbah, who finished with 68 not out, hit the winning single with nine balls to spare in fading light. Ali, ironically dropped for the first two Tests, hit paceman Suranga Lakmal for a boundary, then twice took two to reach his hundred off 133 balls. Sri Lanka had won the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets while the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi. Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 214 in their second innings, with left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman finishing with 4-56 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal taking 3-53, but not before their batsmen had kept Pakistan at bay on the morning of the fifth and final day. (AFP)
Australia bring in new blood for SA tour
Perth: After a stunning Ashes triumph, Australia added specialist batsmen to a 15-man squad unveiled today for the upcoming tour against world number one South Africa. Uncapped Tasmanian Alex Doolan joins Shaun Marsh who returns to the Test scene after almost two years. Losing out is Ashes number six George Bailey whose game is “less suited to their (bowling) attack,” said chairman of selectors John Inverarity. The squad departs January 29, apart from all-rounder James Faulkner who stays back to play in the T20 series against England. He will join the team during the warm-up game in Potchefstroom (February 5-8). Squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice-capt), Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson. (AFP)
Under-fire Cook to reconsider captaincy
Sydney: England captain Alastair Cook has admitted for the first time that he will reconsider his leadership role after eight successive defeats to Australia. The hosts emphatically beat England on Sunday by seven wickets with 10 overs to spare to seal the ODI series 3-0 and leave two dead matches still to play. Coming on top of a 5-0 Ashes whitewash, Cook said he would review his position as skipper once the tour is over. “I think I am going to have to make a decision on that stuff after we take stock after the next two games,” Cook told reporters. “We are going to have to sit down and talk about a lot of things. I think there will be some changes, I think English cricket needs a little bit of a change as well. Obviously in the last few months we haven’t played the cricket we are capable of and we have to look at the reasons why but this is not really the time and place to discuss that.” (Reuters)