Legendary Kapil Dev and BCCI have been at loggerheads ever since he Kapil endorsed the rebel cricket league ICL some five years ago. And when after the BCCI justified its decision to not include Kapil Dev among the one-time beneficiaries of IPL profits, the former India skipper was sure to hit back and said the Board should explain what 'amnesty' meant, says a report in Hindustan Times.
“I'm not that intelligent. Rajiv Shukla should explain the meaning of the word,” said Kapil. “I have had no contact with the BCCI in the last four years. I don't even know what they want.”
Kapil was reacting to comments made by Shukla, the Board vice-president and IPL chairman, that the legend was excluded from the list due to “technical” issues and that he had not submitted a request for amnesty for his role in the rebel Indian Cricket League. The BCCI made those who played in the now-defunct ICL apply for amnesty before it lifted their ban from playing official tournaments. While even wicketkeeper and former chief selector, Kiran More, appealed to the BCCI to be given the money due to him, Kapil has been steadfast.
“If they don't want to recognise my game, I would like to say thank you and move on. Yes, I was connected with the ICL, but if someone gives me a job, I would love to do it, especially when it is for the promotion of the game and when I am not an employee of any other institution,” he had said in his column in HT.
Meanwhile a report in DNA states that the Mumbai Indians team has been linked to an unofficial tournament in Trinidad and Tobago. The officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) claim that they have unconfirmed information that the Mumbai side has been approached for a tournament that does not possess the official sanction.
“It is rumoured that Mumbai Indians are one of the three foreign teams approached by a few private promoters to stage a quadrangular tournament here in Trinidad. They have not followed the protocols and the tournament does not have the sanction from the TTCB. It will be an unofficial tournament and the teams and players taking part could face action,” a spokesman for the TTCB told DNA from Port of Spain on Monday.
Meanwhile Unmukt Chand will lead India in Asia Cup U-19 meet. Kerala’s wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Viswanath has been selected in the India U-19 team for the upcoming Asia Cup. Sanju was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL-5, Kerala Cricket Association said. In the meeting held at Bangalore after the preparatory matches, Sanju performed well to be picked. The Asia Cup is scheduled to be held at Kuala Lumpur.
According to newspaper reports, ESPN-STAR renews broadcast deal with ECB. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has signed a new seven-year broadcasting deal with ESPN STAR Sports to keep matches being shown in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The new deal with ESS runs from 2013 and includes more than 300 days of live international cricket, including three home Ashes series against Australia in 2013, 2015 and 2019. As well as broadcasting every England fixture, ESS will also show 60 days of action each season from England’s domestic competitions. ECB chief executive David Collier says “this new agreement demonstrates the enormous appetite for cricket worldwide... TV audiences for cricket are expanding rapidly in Asia and the Middle East.”
