ICC Chairman’s (N Srinivasan) media conference in Melbourne

N Srinivasan is the new chairman of the International Cricket Council. Srinivasan has been nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the top position and will assume charge following the conclusion of the ICC Annual Conference week.

Srinivasan said it was an honour to become ICC Chairman and promised that the ICC will continue to play a leading role in the promotion and development of the global game.

“It is an honour to be confirmed as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council,” said Mr Srinivasan, adding: “I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field. I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth.

“I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries. Naturally, there will be more support to those who first show they can help themselves.

“The ICC is a Members’ organisation and the pathway is now there for any Member to play Test cricket or in the major ICC events if it performs well enough over a sustained period of time.”

Mr Srinivasan congratulated outgoing ICC President Alan Isaac for his contribution.

“Mr Isaac has been an inspirational President of the ICC. He provided guidance to everyone during his two-year term and all three international formats remain incredibly popular. The game is unquestionably stronger than it was at the start of his term,” said Mr Srinivasan.

 
Courtesy: ICC

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Dhoni defends Cook after series lost against SL

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has begun his team’s tour of England on an unlikely footing, rallying to the defence of his rival skipper Alastair Cook.

In his first media conference ahead of the tourists’ opening hit-out against Leicestershire, Dhoni urged Cook’s growing band of critics to remember what they were saying and writing about the opener when the two teams met previously in the Test arena.

It was important to support rather than criticise a player with such obvious ability when they were enduring a form slump, he said.

“The media is the same, it doesn’t matter if it’s here or back home in India,” Dhoni told reporters at Leicestershire’s county ground, Grace Road.

“It’s very important to back players.

“It doesn’t matter if he’s the captain of the side or a batsman or a bowler.

“What’s important is for the media to realise that the last time we were in India we were speaking about him and how well he’d performed.

“A bad phase is something that everybody goes through.

“You just need to back players at the right point.

“When you’re getting those big hundreds and double hundreds everybody will be on your side.

“The real test of character is when you’re not doing well.

“The toughest period in cricket is when the team is not doing well and people start questioning their own ability.”

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SL win their first test series in Eng

A spirited Sri Lanka beat England in second test match to clinch the two test match series by 1-0. With this win, Sri Lanka registered their first test series win in England. 

After Fourth day it was quiet clear that Sri Lanka’s victory was inevitable but England fought back and loses the game only one ball before the final delivery. Mooen Ali came to the rescue of England Team but he alone couldn’t save them from the humiliating defeat.

James Anderson played his part brilliantly but fell on penultimate ball of the game which ensured Sri Lanka’s historic victory on English turf. We have to give credit to England for showing the courage after losing five early wickets and don’t give away the match easily to Lankan’s. What seemed like a match of one or at most two session, they drag that to the penultimate ball.

In the First test match too, both team fought till the last to get some result but in that game it was Lankan’s who struggled to save the match which at the end they did and keep their hope of winning the series alive.

Skipper Angelo Mathews (Sri Lankan Man of the Match) had leaded their team to the historic victory by not only scoring century but also taking some critical decisions at right time. In Third innings he played the innings of his life which taken the match away from England.

England had the haunted task to chase the target of 350 runs in fourth innings which if they could achieve would be the highest chase on headingly.

Dhamika Prasad ensures that England couldn’t even think about going for the counter by picking four early wickets in the last session of the fourth day. He finished his spell with five wicket haul.

Rangana Hearth was played the vital part from both bat and ball to help Lankan’s to achieve this victory.

At the end, it was Sri Lanka who won the series but in broader prospect it was test cricket which won the heart of all cricket spectators. 




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Sachin Tendulkar honoured with exclusive gold coin

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar is honoured by Britain’s premium luxury goods brand East India Company. Company has issued an exclusive legal tender gold coin worth 12,000 pound sterling in honour of Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin Tendulkar

This rare coin is to honour his cricketing career and his contribution to the game of cricket in which he spent 24 long years. In that long span he was never involved in any controversy and played the  like a gentleman.

“Only 210 gold coins, each weighing precisely 200g, are being issued to pay tribute to Tendulkar at a global level. Only very few will ever see this coin in the flesh, making them exceptionally rare and precious amongst thousands of fans who yearn to own a piece of the superstar’s legacy,” the London-based firm said in a statement.

“Every single 200g coin issued is a masterpiece in its own right. Exclusively presented in a custom made presentation box the coin is accompanied by an individually numbered and personally signed certificate of authenticity along with an autographed cricket bat by Sachin Tendulkar,” it added.

Tendulkar said he was honoured by the recognition.

“All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India. I am very fortunate to have lived this dream for the last 24 years. I am honoured to be recognised with the issue of these special coins, which have been impressively designed with a lot of thought,” Tendulkar said.

The design of the coin has been handcrafted in great detail by one of the world's most renowned coin designers Joaquin Jimenez, currently the Chief Engraver at Monnaie de Paris.

The canvas of the coin shows the latitude lines of the globe modelled in cricket stitching to represent the international stage of cricket.

The Gateway of India features to denote Tendulkar's home city of Mumbai, where he started and completed his illustrious career.

The East India Company's exclusive legal tender gold coin issued in honour of Tendulkar. (Source: The East India Company)

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Arrest warrant against MS Dhoni

A court in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.

© PTI

The Court of District Principal Sessions Judge of Anantapur issued the directive based on a complaint filed by Gopal Rao and Shyam, who are said to belong to a Hindu right-wing organisation.

In the complaint filed last year, the duo had submitted before court that Dhoni had been depicted as a Hindu deity on the cover of a business magazine with the picture showing him bearing, among other things, shoes in one of his hands. That had "hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus", the complainants have alleged.

The court had subsequently issued summons against the representatives of the business magazine, Dhoni and others.

The representatives of the magazine today appeared before court although neither Dhoni nor any lawyer on his behalf was present in court.

"The court issued the warrant of appearance as neither Dhoni nor anyone representing him appeared before it in connection with the complaint. It is not an arrest warrant...It is a warrant of appearance and is bailable," said a senior police officer.

Picture of that controversial ad:

 classvsCricket (CvC) © 2014

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