Lawsuits, resignations, sackings and more, in our look back at the third quarter of the year
Judhajit Basu and Kanishkaa Balachandran29-Dec-2008July
Ajantha Mendis picked up 6 for 13 in the final of the Asia Cup, which Sri Lanka won by 100 runs © AFP
1 New Zealand totally outclass a threadbare Ireland by a record ODI margin of 290 runs.3 The ICC changes the result of the controversial Oval Test between England and Pakistan in 2006 from an England win to a draw, following pressure from the PCB. Two days later, Michael Holding resigns from the ICC cricket committee, citing the change of the result as the reason.Clive Lloyd, the former West Indies captain, is appointed the new chairman of the ICC cricket committee, following Sunil Gavaskar’s resignation. Samir Inamdar, the chairman of Cricket Kenya, is elected chairman of the Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC, and Marlon Samuels’ two-year ban is upheld among other decisions.6 Ajantha Mendis bamboozles India to finish with astonishing figures of 6 for 13 and help Sri Lanka win the Asia Cup final in Karachi by 100 runs.Australia complete a 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series against West Indies, winning the fifth ODI in St Kitts by 169 runs.7 Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, is appointed president of the Asian Cricket Council.8 Mahendra Singh Dhoni pulls out of the Test leg of India’s tour of Sri Lanka, citing exhaustion after a non-stop season.The ICC announces an investment of US$300 million over the next seven years for the development of the game outside the 10 Full Member countries.10 Sri Lanka Cricket decides to allow its cricketers to play in the second season of the IPL, though the league clashes with Sri Lanka’s tour of England. The board also agrees to back-date the players’ contract payments from March 1, 2008.The ICC takes the first significant step towards resolving the contentious issue of unauthorised cricket by setting up a high-powered committee.13 A sample taken during random testing at the inaugural IPL tests positive. The player in question later turns out to be Mohammad Asif, whom the PCB subsequently suspends.16 The ECB unveils its plans for an English Premier League starting 2010.Future Test series between South Africa and England are granted “icon” status by Cricket South Africa and the ECB with the support of the ICC.17 The BCCI cranks up the pressure on English counties that have employed players linked with the Indian Cricket League, “advising” its own players to not sign up with such teams. Consequently Piyush Chawla doesn’t sign for Hampshire, or VVS Laxman for Nottinghamshire.23 Joubert Strydom ends his term as the South African chairman of selectors to pursue business interests.26 The New Zealand Emerging Players, aided by Neil Broom’s 62, clinch the Emerging Players Tournament by defeating the Australian Institute of Sports by three wickets at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane.29 Jagmohan Dalmiya is elected president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, a position from which he was unseated in December 2006.The BCCI rejects an offer from the ECB to join England’s version of the Champions League.August
Michael Vaughan struggles to hold his emotions in check after resigning as England captain © Getty Images
1 Ashok Mankad, the former India batsman, passes away in Mumbai.2 Hong Kong beat defending champions UAE by three wickets to win the ACC Elite Trophy in a rain-shortened final in Kuala Lumpur.David “Butch” White, the former England and Hampshire quick bowler, dies aged 73.Diteko Modise, the former financial manager of the South African board, is sentenced to 76 years in jail for fraud.Graeme Smith’s unbeaten 154 guides South Africa to a five-wicket win against England at Edgbaston in the third Test, ensuring a series victory for South Africa, their first in England since 1965.Michael Vaughan resigns as England captain. Paul Collingwood also calls it quits as England’s one-day captain.4 Kevin Pietersen is appointed England’s Test and one-day captain.Ireland and Netherlands share the World Twenty20 Qualifiers trophy after the final of the tournament is washed out in Belfast.5 The chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board, Donald Peters returns to work after being sent on leave in July following a dispute with Julian Hunte, the board president.7 Robin Brown is fired from his position as national coach by Zimbabwe Cricket. Andy Pycroft, the Zimbabwe A team coach, is also shown the door.9 Bob Cunis, the former New Zealand medium-pacer, passes away, aged 67.11 Sri Lanka make their way to a comprehensive 2-1 Test series win, their first over India since 2001, winning the third Test by eight wickets.Chris Gayle withdraws his letter of resignation as West Indies captain, written at the end of July, and says he is set to continue leading the side.16 Walter Chawaguta, the former Zimbabwe Under-19 coach, takes charge of the national team.18 Nasim Ashraf, the chairman of the PCB, resigns from his post on the same day that the patron of the board, Pervez Musharraf, resigns as president of Pakistan.Rain washes out the fifth and final women’s ODI between England and South Africa at Chesterfield, handing the hosts a 4-0 series win.19 Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif’s B sample from the IPL tests positive for nandrolone.20 Zimbabwe confirms they will not take part in the ICC World Twenty20 in England in 2009, following meetings with the ICC in Dubai.Steve Harmison comes out of ODI retirement to strengthen England’s bowling against South Africa in the five-match series.22Darrell Hair, the Australian umpire, tenders his resignation with the ICC in order to take up a coaching role.Xavier Marshall hits the most sixes in a one-day international innings, 12, as he demolishes Canada’s bowlers in a tri-series match in King City.23 The BCCI working committee proposes to pay an annual sum of Rs 25 lakh to each national selector, making the job a fully paid one instead of the existing honorary system.24 The ICC postpones the Champions Trophy, due to begin in Pakistan from September 12. The decision to defer it to October 2009 is taken at a teleconference among board members the next day.25 Marcus Trescothick admits in his autobiography to using mints to help shine the ball during England’s 2-1 Ashes victory in 2005.26 The Stanford 20/20 for 20 match between the Stanford Super Stars and England comes under threat when West Indies team sponsor Digicel brings an injunction against the WICB in the High Court in London.27 India seal their maiden bilateral ODI series triumph in Sri Lanka with a 46-run win in the replayed fourth ODI at the Premadasa Stadium; they take an unbeatable 3-1 lead.Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan legspinner, announces his retirement from county cricket due to persistent knee trouble.29 Samit Patel’s all-round performance at The Oval helps England win the ODI series against South Africa, taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.30 The BCCI technical committee says state associations will now be permitted to include four “guest players” (from areas outside their jurisdiction) in their squads from the 2008-09 season onwards, up from three previously.Andrew Symonds is banished from the Australia squad to take on Bangladesh in the first ODI in Darwin after he goes fishing and misses a team meeting.
Darren Gough bids farewell in his final first-class game © PA Photos
1 On the 40th anniversary of Garry Sobers hitting six sixes in an over, Floyd Reifer , the former West Indies batsman, emulates the feat in a match in the Barbados Cricket Association’s Twenty20 league.2 Graeme Hick, the former England captain, announces his retirement from first-class cricket at the age of 42.3 England thrash South Africa 4-0 in the one-day series at home. The fifth and final ODI in Cardiff is washed out.4 The ICC announces ODI Player rankings for women, set for an October launch.5 The three founding members of the Champions League announce that the second edition of the tournament will be held between September 25 and October 10, 2009, and will feature 12 teams.Col Egar, the former Test umpire and Australian cricket administrator, dies in Adelaide at the age of 80.6 Australia sweep the one-day series against Bangladesh 3-0 in Darwin. Bangladesh collapsed to 125 all out, chasing 199.7 South Africa reject a proposal to host a tri-series featuring South Africa and Sri Lanka after their leading players say they aren’t interested in playing after a hectic tour of England.9 England Women beat India Women 4-0 in the home one-dayers. The fifth and final ODI in Hove was washed out.10 Shivnarine Chanderpaul is named the 2008 ICC Cricketer of the Year at the annual ICC Awards in Dubai. For the full list of awards click here.11 The 10-year commercial rights to the Champions League are sold to ESPN-Star Sports for US$900 million.13 West Indies pull out of the four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Canada in October after their request to postpone it by two weeks is turned down.14 Murray Goodwin secures the Pro40 title for Sussex by hitting the final ball of a gripping winner-takes-all clash against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge for six.Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, announces he will be standing down at the end of the season following 11 years in charge. The allrounder Michael Yardy takes over in his place.Six Bangladesh players inform the BCB that they intend to retire from international and domestic cricket. There’s speculation all are set to join the ICL, which is confirmed the next day when the ICL unveils the Dhaka Warriors team. Habibul Bashar is named captain.Cricket Australia confirm Australia’s tour of India will go ahead, despite increased fears over security following a series of bomb blasts in New Delhi.17 Norman Arendse quits his post as Cricket South Africa’s president, saying he never enjoyed the full trust and confidence of Gerald Majola, the CEO, and all 11 affiliates.The Bangladesh Cricket Board announces a ten-year ban for all 13 of its players who joined the ICL.18 Xavier Marshall and Tonito Willett, from Leewards Islands, test positive in drug tests conducted during a two-week camp in Antigua in August.SNGPL become the first Pakistan team to win the Mohammad Nissar Trophy after the game against Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla ends in a draw. SNGPL take the title based on their first-innings lead.19 Sri Lanka Cricket lifts the ban on five cricketers and an umpire who in 2007 signed up for the ICL; all are allowed to participate in domestic cricket.20 Stanford organisers reject Digicel’s compromise offer to the WICB regarding branding for the Stanford 20/20 for 20.22 Darren Gough bows out of first-class cricket after being omitted from Yorkshire’s squad for their match against Sussex at Hove. Gough played in 58 Tests and 159 ODIs, taking 229 and 234 wickets respectively.24 Sri Lanka Cricket revises its stance on ICL cricketers playing domestic cricket after a meeting with the sports minister Gamini Lokuge, saying the players were only allowed to play the upcoming Premier League Cricket Tournament 2008.25 The ICC gives the ICL the opportunity to present its case for official sanction, and Subhash Chandra, the owner of the league, agrees to meet ICC president David Morgan in London in the October.Warwickshire secure the Division Two title in the County Championship by claiming bonus points against Glamorgan at Edgbaston .26 Kris Srikkanth heads India’s first-ever paid national selection committee. The committee also comprises Yashpal Sharma (North), Narendra Hirwani (Central), Surendra Bhave (West) and Raja Venkat (East).Moin Khan sues the Pakistan board over its claims that he was involved in recruiting Mohammad Yousuf for the ICL. He demands 100 million Pakistan rupees (approximately US$1.3 million) as compensation for damage to his reputation.27 Durham claim their first-ever County Championship title after beating Kent by an innings and 71 runs at Canterbury.The PCB replies strongly to Moin Khan’s legal notice and asks him to pay Rs 250 million rupees (approx US$3,210,891) in damages.28 Khaled Mashud, the former Bangladesh captain and wicketkeeper, announces his retirement from all forms of international cricket.30 Derek Underwood, the former England spinner, begins his one-year tenure as president of the MCC, taking over from Mike Brearley.Martin van Jaarsveld, the former South Africa batsman, is named the Professional Cricketers’ Association Player of the Year.The ICC amends the Powerplay rule, allowing the batting team to decide when to use the third Powerplay. The rule is to come into effect from October 1.
