Indian Premier League and Cricket News by IPL Cricket Forum

The newest innovation on trial in international cricket is the “Umpire decision review system”. It would be foolish to make the final call so early but whatever has happened thus far has received big thumbs up from all cricketing corners. Anil Kumble became the first cricketer to officially hold his two hands in a “T” manner to ask for a review. It was on the fourth ball of the forty sixth over of the test match on day two when Malinda Warnapura was struck on the pad of a Harbhajan Singh delivery. The bowler and the fielders appealed but to no avail. Captain Kumble then in consultation with the bowler and wicket keeper Dinesh Karthik decided to ask for a review. The on field umpires after consultation with Rudi Koertzen - the third umpire, ruled it in the favor of the batsman.

After that in a Zaheer Khan over when Dilshan was given out caught behind, he decided to ask for a review and when the replays were found inconclusive, umpire Mark Benson reversed his decision. Anil Kumble exhausted his team’s quota when he made two more unsuccessful appeals, one against Dilshan on a Harbhajan ball and another against Vaas on a Zaheer Khan delivery. Sri Lankan captain too had one of his appeals exhausted soon when he asked for a review against Ganguly of an Ajantha Mendis delivery.

Of whatever we have seen, this seems to be a very practical solution to the obvious bad decisions. There have been matches that have been lost due to a couple of bad decisions and this system could definitely make the crucial difference in such situations. The three unsuccessful reviews limit seems to be a “not too much, not too less”. The limit also keeps a check on the number of times a team goes upstairs and prevents uncalled for time wastage. If the decision is reversed is a team’s favor, the review is not exhausted and the limit of three also gives teams to use the rule with fair liberty.

This system could go far in preventing situations such as one which transpired last winter at Sydney between India and Australia. The bowlers who had earlier felt hard done by the umpires will have the chance to appeal and the frustration levels will come down considerably. There is long time still before we have a final say over it but it seems to be a move along the right direction.

Mohit Goyal © IPL Cricket Forum
http://goyalmohit.blogspot.com

Karachi : Sohaib Akhtar has finally cleared all hurdles and now he can take part in IPL. Earlier the Pak board has enforced a ban of five years on him which prevented him from playing IPL as the rules et in by the IPL governing body states clearly that no player can take part unless he gets a NOC from his home country Cricket Board.

Earlier Shoaib lost his appeal against the ban after which he appealed to the Pak Cricket Board to allow him top play for IPL which was heard yesterday. The Pak board was lenient and has been kind enough to kept his suspension in abeyance for a period of one month - which perfectly allows him to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders the IPL team for which he has signed initially.

The news was cheered by the owner of the Kolkata Team - Shahrukh Khan as also the team mates who are currently in dire need of a miracle to push them up from the very end of the team position table in the tournament. With Ishant Sharma bowling at his peak with Knight Riders , Sohaib’s inclusion definitely adds a fire power to the team but with the top batting order failing on each of the last three instances one has a doubt if Sohaib’s inclusion will really make a major difference to the performance.

© IPL Cricket Forum

Shoaib Akhtar’s international career virtually came to an end with an appellate tribunal on Wednesday upholding the five-year ban imposed on him but allowed him to play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

The appellate tribunal, in its interim ruling, said Akhtar could not play any match in or for Pakistan but gave him the liberty to play anywhere else in the world.

Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh, heading the appellate tribunal, said the ban stayed because Shoaib did not try to reform himself.

“Basically he has not tried to reform himself and has continued to violate discipline. That is the view of the tribunal so the ban stays,” told reporters in Lahore.

“This is also the order of the disciplinary committee of the Board that he can’t play for or anywhere in Pakistan domestically or internationally. But there is no bar on him playing anywhere else in the world,” Farrukh added.

Farrukh said the tribunal had taken this decision in view of the unconditional apology submitted by Shoaib on Monday to the nation, his team and the Board for his actions and deeds.

Farrukh said the tribunal would resume proceedings against the overall ban in June. Akhtar had appealed against the five-year ban imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board for breaching players code of conduct by criticising the Board in media when he was already in the probation period.

The interim order basically appears to be a move to allow Shoaib to play in the Indian Premier League.

But the million dollar question is that whether the IPL will allow Shoaib to play in their League because earlier also their stance was clear that they wouldn’t allow a banned player to play in their league. And the tribunal has not lifted the ban.

Farrukh also criticised Shoaib for the irreparable harm he had done to Pakistan cricket, his teammates and the trust of the nation.

SRK came up woith strong support for Shoiab yesterday saying that the charges against Shoiab is not so serious to disallow him from playing the Indian Premier league.
“I will talk to Lalit Modi to reconsider the decision,” said Shah Rukh, who is owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders team, for which Shoaib has been roped in to play.

He said the charges against the fast bowler are not so serious that his presence could create a negative impression in the minds of young cricketers.

“It is a ban related to his behaviour and I hope things get sorted out in our favour,” Shah Rukh said.

“Shoaib is a great player and I would like to have him back. I don’t know why he cannot play. I want him in the team as he is very important for Kolkata Knight Riders,” Shah Rukh said.

“I know I am allowed to take another player but I want Shoaib back,” the superstar said.

Earlier in the day, Modi, Chairman of IPL’s Governing Council Chairman, told reporters that the speedster cannot take part in the high-profile Twenty20 competition, beginning from April 18, till the PCB lifts the ban on him.

“A big discussion on Akhtar has taken place. The decision of the Governing Council was very simple that Akhtar has been banned for a period of five years, he has appealed and till the time he is cleared, the Governing Council will not be allowing Akhtar from playing in the IPL,” Modi said.

The absence of Shoiab takes out much color from the Kolkata IPL team, Knight Riders and who knows that the low demand of tickets for the seven matches of IPL in Kolkata maybe a reflection of this.