Sri Lanka ready to return to international cricket

Three months after surviving a deadly terror attack in Pakistan, the Sri Lankan team will return to international cricket at the ICC World Twenty20 2009.

Sri Lanka has not played as a team since March 3 - the day gunmen attacked the team convoy en route to a Test in Lahore, killing members of the security detail and injuring players and coaching staff.

"Everyone has recovered after what happened in Lahore," coach Trevor Bayliss said. "We are back to normal. It's good that they've been playing cricket. When we get into the bus, we'll be a bit nervous, I guess."

Sri Lanka will face a difficult task in the tournament, which starts Friday at Lord's, facing Australia and West Indies in the group stage. Only two teams progress to the Super 8 stage.

The top members of the squad did get experience in the Indian Premier League. Captain Kumar Sangakkara and former skipper Mahela Jayawardene (Kings XI Punjab), Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians), Tillekeratne Dilshan (Delhi Daredevils) and Muttiah Muralitharan (Chennai Super Kings) all played the bulk of their team's matches.

"It is the established players who will have to do the bulk of the work," says Sangakkara, who will be leading the national team for the first time since replacing Jayawardene as captain in March.

"We will have to first concentrate very much on the two group games against Australia and the West Indies, and then move forward."

The team boasts many experienced players, complemented with a few young players, such as uncapped all-rounder Isuru Udana, who took 16 wickets in the domestic Twenty20 competition.

"We have some plans and strategies as to how we should go against our opponents," Sangakkara said. "If we play to form, there is no reason why we should not get the better of our opponents."

Last year in Toronto, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in the final of a Twenty20 event, involving also host Canada and Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka has dropped experienced bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando but Lasith Malinga is back in the squad, showing in the IPL that he has fully recovered from a knee injury.

We've match winners in our side: Collingwood

Paul Collingwood feels that although England has not played enough T20 cricket, the hosts have match winners in the squad to help England win the ICC World Twenty20 2009.

England's participation in major sporting tournaments usually follows a predictable pattern of inflated expectation followed by a chastening early exit.

It hasn't been involved at the business end of a World Cup since 1992, when it lost to Pakistan in the 50-over final.

But England's summer has started encouragingly, beating West Indies 2-0 in both a test and one-day series.

"Looking at the squad that we've got, we've certainly got a lot of match-winners in there," captain Paul Collingwood said. "It's hopefully a case of going out there and backing yourself and having that belief and going out there and doing the job."

Coach Andy Flower too, sounded confident and said Collingwood has improved a lot.

"He's a different cricketer to the last time he captained," Flower said. "He's certainly in much better form this time. I don't think a new captain will disturb things, but I also don't think it's ideal either. In an ideal world, you'd have one captain across all formats.

"But I think he is really looking forward to it and looking forward to the challenge."

Collingwood will have to do without one potential match-winner in Andrew Flintoff, who has failed to recover from a knee injury from the Indian Premier League. His replacement, Adil Rashid, has featured only intermittently for county side Yorkshire this season.

When England last hosted a World Cup, the 50-over version in 1999, its preparations were similarly muddled. A 40-man preliminary squad full of one-day specialists was selected, but Nick Knight, then one of the world's best batsmen, was ejected and test players like Angus Fraser and Alan Mullally were recalled.

England was subsequently eliminated in the group stages, though it will be difficult for Collingwood's side to repeat that feat this time around.

England only needs to beat the Netherlands on Friday to reach the Super 8s, and there is evidence that it can make a better challenge than it did in the inaugural tournament in South Africa in 2007, when the only side it could beat was Zimbabwe.

"We haven't played good Twenty20 cricket in the past, but that doesn't mean we can't do well in this competition," Flower said. "We have guys with more Twenty20 experience now and we have the talent and variety of player necessary."

Some of that experience came in the IPL, where Ravi Bopara honed his form before scoring centuries in both tests against West Indies, and where Collingwood says he enjoyed the experience despite not playing a single match.

"It's been excellent to be involved in the IPL," Collingwood said. "I wish a lot of the bowlers had the opportunity to go over there. Although I wasn't playing, I still felt I learnt a hell of a lot going over there.

"I spoke to Ravi on the plane on the way back. It's just a lot of fun playing in that kind of tournament. It's amazing how quick you learn from the strategies, the kind of tactics they use and really the preparation that each individual player uses."

ICC confirms meeting with hosts of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 set for London on 15 June

Re-scheduled from 3 June in Dubai to ensure availability of all those taking part

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed that a meeting to discuss the ongoing issues surrounding the hosting of matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will take place in London on 15 June.

The meeting, between ICC officials and representatives of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the four countries awarded the event, was originally due to take place in Dubai on 3 June but has been re-scheduled to ensure availability of all those taking part.

As well as representatives from the four countries, ICC President David Morgan and Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat will also be in attendance, while ICC Vice-President Sharad Pawar will take part via telephone hook-up.

Mr Morgan said: “I am grateful to everyone for agreeing to come together to work through the ongoing issues surrounding the hosting of matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

“I hope that, through discussion, we will be able to reach a resolution to this matter as soon as possible. It is a matter that is diverting resources and energy that could be spent elsewhere as, with less than two years to go before the event, we need to be conscious that time is passing.

“The sooner we reach that resolution, the sooner everyone can proceed with the business of concentrating our efforts on working towards a successful event in 2011.”

The meeting comes in the wake of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to pursue legal action against the ICC. That followed the ICC Board’s decision that matches originally due to be played in Pakistan during the tournament would be played outside the country because of ongoing security concerns.

LG named as ICC global partner

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “Without the commitment from partners like LG we would not be in a position to help our 104 Members grow the game as they do”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and leading electronics brand LG today announced a six-year partnership through which LG will continue as a global partner with a major presence at all ICC events.

The deal will include the upcoming ICC World Twenty20, which takes place from 5 to 21 June in England, and will run all the way to the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

The announcement was made today in New Delhi and extends an excellent partnership between LG and the ICC that already dates back eight years.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, who attended the launch, said: “LG has been a fantastic supporter of cricket for many years. Since 2001, the company has had a significant presence at all our events and it was the first sponsor of the world’s official team and player rankings.

“The ICC and the global game of cricket has benefited enormously from LG’s commitment to our great sport. Without that support from LG and our other commercial and broadcast partners, we would not be in a position to help our 104 Members grow the game through the significant funding we provide. And we would not be able to stage large-scale events, such as the ICC World Twenty20 that is about to begin in England, which provides such a great showcase for the sport.

“We believe, in turn, that LG has also benefited from our partnership, from being able to associate itself with some of the biggest and best cricket action – multilateral events that feature the top men’s and women’s players, pitting nation against nation on a truly global scale.”

Among the benefits LG receives as a global partner of the ICC is the naming rights for the LG ICC Awards, which is now in its sixth year and, in 2009, will be held in Johannesburg on the eve of the ICC Champions Trophy.

The company will also receive significant pitch-side branding at all major ICC events and also a new initiative known as the LG Lead XI, which will take place for the first time at the ICC World Twenty20 2009.

This initiative will afford an opportunity to children between the ages of eight and 12 from India and the host country, England, to lead out all the teams for the national anthems ahead of each match during the event.

The children from India, who have won the opportunity to be part of the tournament, will get the chance to lead out their national side at every one of India’s matches while locally-based children will do the same for the other teams taking part, and they will remain on the field of play, in front of the players, while the anthems are being played.

“The LG Lead XI is a fantastic initiative and the playing of anthems ahead of every match should ensure a great atmosphere within each venue even before the first ball is bowled,” said Mr Lorgat.

“The thrill these children will experience is something that will live with them throughout their lives and hopefully will keep them involved in the game long after the event has finished,” he added.

Mr MB Shin, Managing Director, LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. said: “LG Electronics is proud to be associated with the ICC and the popularity and global reach the game of cricket upholds.

“Recognising the existing and growing passion for cricket among Indian sub-continent consumers as well as those in key countries where LGE operates, we have decided to renew our partnership with the ICC until 2015.

“Both LG Electronics and the ICC share the values of being at the highest level - for the ICC it is cricket at the top-most level of country versus country, and for LG it is about being at the peak of quality and innovation.

“I am sure this association will see similar success as that of our earlier endeavours and we look forward to a long innings with the ICC and cricket.

“Our first initiative in this renewed partnership is the unique "LG Lead XI" initiative, which further strengthens and enhances our commitment to the global sport so ably promoted and developed by the ICC.”

Australia < Bangladesh Warmup Match Full Scorecard

	Australia innings (20 overs maximum)		R	B	4s	6s	SR
	SR Watson	c Raqibul Hasan b Mahmudullah	52	23	6	3	226.08
	8.1 that's wide down the leg side, from round the stumps 99/1
	BJ Haddin†	c Tamim Iqbal b Mahmudullah	47	29	4	2	162.06
	8.3 a run-out chance at the non-striker's end, but Haddin makes his ground after dabbing it short fine, and they get an overthrow too 102/2
	RT Ponting*	c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mahmudullah	14	12	1	0	116.66
	12.6 No. 4 for him, another straighter one, well bowled, throws it up outside off, Ponting defends, playing for the spin, this one goes with the angle, and gets a tickle through to Rahim 144/4
	A Symonds	c Junaid Siddique b Mahmudullah	27	14	1	3	192.85
	12.3 and he has got three now, Symonds looks for another six, goes for the big sweep, this is a straighter one from round the stumps, and he splices it to short third man 143/3
	MJ Clarke	c Tamim Iqbal b Mashrafe Mortaza	35	18	4	1	194.44
	18.2 another slower delivery, it works this time, Clarke looks to clear the straight boundary, gets the toe end of the bat, and Tamim at long-on takes a good catch low and forward 204/6
	MEK Hussey	st †Mushfiqur Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan	18	13	1	0	138.46
	17.3 steps out, Shakib bowls it flat, Hussey heaves big, misses by a kilometre, easy stumping for Rahim 196/5
	DJ Hussey	not out	14	9	1	0	155.55
	JR Hopes	not out	4	3	0	0	133.33
	Extras	(lb 1, w 6, nb 1)	8
	Total	(6 wickets; 20 overs)	219	(10.95 runs per over)

Did not bat B Lee, MG Johnson, NW Bracken

Fall of wickets1-100 (Watson, 8.1 ov), 2-102 (Haddin, 8.3 ov), 3-143 (Symonds, 12.3 ov), 4-144 (Ponting, 12.6 ov), 5-196 (MEK Hussey, 17.3 ov), 6-204 (Clarke, 18.2 ov)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	Mashrafe Mortaza	4	0	44	1	11.00	(1w)
	18.2 to Clarke, another slower delivery, it works this time, Clarke looks to clear the straight boundary, gets the toe end of the bat, and Tamim at long-on takes a good catch low and forward 204/6
	Syed Rasel	3	0	36	0	12.00
	Rubel Hossain	3	0	44	0	14.66	(1nb)
	Shakib Al Hasan	4	0	31	1	7.75
	17.3 to MEK Hussey, steps out, Shakib bowls it flat, Hussey heaves big, misses by a kilometre, easy stumping for Rahim 196/5
	Naeem Islam	2	0	26	0	13.00	(1w)
	Mahmudullah	4	0	37	4	9.25

	Bangladesh innings (target: 220 runs from 20 overs)		R	B	4s	6s	SR
	Tamim Iqbal	c Bracken b Lee	21	9	3	1	233.33
	3.2 soft, too many risks taken, and he pays for it, this was over-pitched, gives it his all, hits it hard in the air, straight down mid-off's throat 34/2
	Junaid Siddique	b Johnson	12	8	3	0	150.00
	2.2 full and fast, and Australia's best bowler strikes, 91mph, Junaid plays all around it, straight as the ball was it takes the leg stump 32/1
	Mohammad Ashraful*	b Johnson	26	24	5	0	108.33
	9.1 chopped onto the stumps, short and fast, no room, 90mph, he is clearly late on this attempt to run it down to third man, and gets the bottom edge onto the middle stump. Johnson again strikes in the first over of a new spell 92/3
	Shakib Al Hasan	c Ponting b Bracken	54	29	6	2	186.20
	13.1 and he is finally out! makes room room again, Bracken follows him with a slower offcutter, all he manages is to slice it towards extra cover, where Ponting takes a safe, diving catch 132/4
	Mahmudullah	not out	31	25	3	0	124.00
	Raqibul Hasan	b Lee	8	8	1	0	100.00
	15.2 played on again, Raqibul backs away to try and hit it over cover, Lee bowls a slower bouncer, he bottom-edges onto the middle stump 149/5
	Mushfiqur Rahim†	b Bracken	11	14	0	0	78.57
	18.5 slower ball, cleans him up, goes for the slog sweep, and connects air 177/6
	Mashrafe Mortaza	c Watson b Johnson	1	4	0	0	25.00
	19.3 another one goes, delaying the inevitable, Mortaza goes for the big hoick, gets a thick edge, straight to third man 178/7
	Naeem Islam	not out	0	2	0	0	0.00
	Extras	(lb 5, w 9, nb 3)	17
	Total	(7 wickets; 20 overs)	181	(9.05 runs per over)

Did not bat Rubel Hossain, Syed Rasel

Fall of wickets1-32 (Junaid Siddique, 2.2 ov), 2-34 (Tamim Iqbal, 3.2 ov), 3-92 (Mohammad Ashraful, 9.1 ov), 4-132 (Shakib Al Hasan, 13.1 ov), 5-149 (Raqibul Hasan, 15.2 ov), 6-177 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 18.5 ov), 7-178 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 19.3 ov)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	NW Bracken	4	0	32	2	8.00
	13.1 to Shakib Al Hasan, and he is finally out! makes room room again, Bracken follows him with a slower offcutter, all he manages is to slice it towards extra cover, where Ponting takes a safe, diving catch 132/4 18.5 to Mushfiqur Rahim, slower ball, cleans him up, goes for the slog sweep, and connects air 177/6
	B Lee	4	0	32	2	8.00	(3nb, 1w)
	3.2 to Tamim Iqbal, soft, too many risks taken, and he pays for it, this was over-pitched, gives it his all, hits it hard in the air, straight down mid-off's throat 34/2 15.2 to Raqibul Hasan, played on again, Raqibul backs away to try and hit it over cover, Lee bowls a slower bouncer, he bottom-edges onto the middle stump 149/5
	MG Johnson	4	0	21	3	5.25	(1w)
	2.2 to Junaid Siddique, full and fast, and Australia's best bowler strikes, 91mph, Junaid plays all around it, straight as the ball was it takes the leg stump 32/1 9.1 to Mohammad Ashraful, chopped onto the stumps, short and fast, no room, 90mph, he is clearly late on this attempt to run it down to third man, and gets the bottom edge onto the middle stump. Johnson again strikes in the first over of a new spell 92/3 19.3 to Mashrafe Mortaza, another one goes, delaying the inevitable, Mortaza goes for the big hoick, gets a thick edge, straight to third man 178/7
	JR Hopes	2	0	26	0	13.00	(1w)
	DJ Hussey	3	0	32	0	10.66	(2w)
	A Symonds	1	0	17	0	17.00
	MJ Clarke	2	0	16	0	8.00

Match details

Toss Australia, who chose to bat first

Australia 219/6 (20/20 ov)

Bangladesh 181/7 (20.0/20 ov)

Australia won by 38 runs

Strong South Africa opt to bat

Sticking to the same tactic successfully adopted by Ricky Ponting a few hours earlier, Graeme Smith opted to bat in Nottingham. Australia piled up a score in excess of 200 against Bangladesh, but South Africa's batsmen will be up against a far more disciplined and experienced Pakistan attack.

Both sides went in with their likely XIs for when the proper tournament kicks off.

Teams

South Africa: 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Roelof van der Merwe, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Johan Botha, 10 Wayne Parnell, 11 Dale Steyn.

Pakistan: 1 Salman Butt, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Younis Khan (capt), 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Kamran Akmal (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Rao Iftikhar Anjum.

South Africa 104/1 (12.1/20 ov)

Pakistan

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first

• South Africa RR 8.54

Refresh scorecard			Current time: 18:25 local, 17:25 GMT
	Batsmen	Runs	B	4s	6s	SR
	*Herschelle Gibbs (rhb)	14	8	2	0	175.00		striker
	Graeme Smith (lhb)	60	45	9	0	133.33		non-striker
	Bowlers	O	M	R	W	Econ
	*Umar Gul (rfm)	1.1	0	9	0	7.71		(0nb, 0w)
	Shoaib Malik (ob)	1.0	0	12	0	12.00		(0nb, 0w)

Recent overs 4 W . 1 1 1 | 1 4 2 . 1 . | 1 1 1 4 1 4 | 1

Current partnership 24 runs, 2.5 overs, RR: 8.47

Last Bat JH Kallis c Sohail Tanvir b Saeed Ajmal 26 (22b 4x4 0x6) SR: 118.18

Fow: 80/1 (9.2 ov); Partnership: 80 runs, 9.2 overs, RR: 8.57

Hamilton sets sights on Auld Enemy

Gavin Hamilton's England career was a brief and inglorious affair as he bagged a pair on his only Test against South Africa, at Johannesburg, in 1999. However, he has long since put that part of his life behind him is now gearing up for another chance to get one over the Auld Enemy as Scotland prepare for the ICC World Twenty20.

Hamilton will lead Scotland in their warm-up game against England, at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, knowing that a strong performance can help raise the profile of the game. "It is as big as it gets," he said. "Any Scotland-England game, no matter what sport it is, is always a huge event.

"The Scotland boys are all really excited about it and it's a great incentive because we don't get many opportunities so, when it comes along, the performance levels are raised and the work ethic always goes up.

"It is a national thing and Scotland is a very proud country no matter what they're getting involved in. Scotland performing and doing well against England can only be good for the sport."

It has been a difficult time for Scotland recently after they failed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup, finishing outside the top four at the Qualifiers in South Africa, and on the eve of this tournament there is further unrest in the camp after John Blain walked out.

Coupled with those problems is a lack of experience of Twenty20 cricket - they took part in the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup but one game was washed out - and they have had to quickly hone their skills in the days leading up to this event.

"We always lack continuity as a side for obvious reasons, such as people working, which means we have probably learned more over the last two or three days than we have over a couple of years," he said. "For us, it is literally getting some good fixtures against some good players at some good venues and exposing the non full-time players to these kind of games, which is absolutely crucial."

Three Scotland players - Ryan Watson, Dewald Nel, Gordon Goudie - have full-time contracts, but Hamilton works for Caledonian Breweries meaning he has to squeeze his cricket training in during evenings and weekends.

"At the moment, guys are going to work Monday to Friday, playing club cricket against 70-mile-per-hour bowlers on a Saturday, then turning up on a Sunday and playing against the world's best," he said. "It is not ideal preparation and people tend to lose sight of what guys are up against when they're in the Scotland side. The more games we play the better we are going to be."

Australia warm up with easy win

Australia, spurred to a daunting total by a thumping opening partnership, clinched a facile victory over Bangladesh in Nottingham. From the start it was apparent that Australia were going to dominate, what with Bangladesh's medium-pacers leaking runs and Tamim Iqbal reprieving Brad Haddin in the first over. Haddin and Shane Watson - who slammed a 21-ball half-century - made Bangladesh pay and though Mahmuddulah's four wickets ensured Australia didn't post a mammoth total, the favourites clearly had enough runs. Bangladesh's top order chased hard, but following Shakib Al Hasan's dismissal for a sprightly 54 in the 14th over the wheels fell off.

Australia's openers effectively nailed the match in eight overs. When the ball was new, the field in and the wicketkeeper up, both Haddin and Watson boldly chose to go over the top, twice lofting Syed Rasel over the onside for sixes in an over. Then, when the field spread out, the pair chipped and nudged it cleverly into the gaps to keep the board ticking over constantly, but also managed to find the fence whenever the bowlers dropped it short and wide.

The fourth over went for 16, with Haddin and Watson each slamming sixes, and the fifth cost 22. By this time Watson and Haddin both were using their feet and wrists excellently. Watson dumped offspinner Naeem Islam for four and six in consecutive deliveries as Australia reached 86 in seven overs. Watson raised his half-century in just 21 balls with another swipe over midwicket, the most profitable shot on this track.

Mahmudullah struck in a double-wicket over during which both openers picked out fielders in the deep. Enter Andrew Symonds and three sixes over midwicket, but after racing to 27 from 14 balls, he fell to Mahmudullah in the 13th over. Three deliveries later Mahmudullah ended Ricky Ponting's scratchy innings and Australia had a new pair at the crease again. Where his team-mates all suffered, Mahmudullah returned figures of 4 for 37 and his role was instrumental in roping Australia in from what seemed a massive total.

There was the usual flurry of heaves, hoicks and wickets during the final overs as Bangladesh snapped a 52-run stand between Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke and finished with a tidy last three overs.

Bangladesh began their chase frenetically, taking 31 from the first two overs. In the first over Tamim larruped Nathan Bracken for 18, using his feet to launch a beautiful straight six. In the second over Junaid Siddique took Brett Lee for three boundaries, the most audacious being a swat over extra cover with Siddique a third down the track.

Mitchell Johnson sent Siddique's leg stump cartwheeling with a quick and straight delivery and Lee had his man when Tamim drove straight to mid-off in the fourth over. Then came an engrossing period where both sides battled for leverage. Mohammad Ashraful broke the shackles of a nervous start with three successive fours off Johnson, using his crease excellently to clear the infield on both sides. Bracken swung it back with three singles in the sixth over, but Shakib and Ashraful took boundaries off David Hussey; Tamim's sweep was forceful while Ashraful's reverse-paddle was gentle.

In the next over Tamim paddled and drove James Hopes for boundaries and Ashraful sliced to third man. Following Ashraful's dismissal for 26 to the first ball of Johnson's next spell, Shakib clubbed Symonds' first two deliveries for six, survived a stumping, and promptly creamed four through extra cover. His half-century needed just 25 deliveries.

Shakib was the fourth to go and at the time Bangladesh were still in the hunt, but his dismissal was a hammer blow and the innings never recovered as Lee and Bracken strangled the life out of the lower order.

'Players may opt for Twenty20 leagues' - May

The rapid rise of Twenty20 leagues will soon force international players to choose between their countries and private franchise-based Twenty20 events, the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), has warned. Tim May, FICA's chief executive, said "more and more players" have stated in surveys conducted by the association that they have "less of an attachment" to international cricket with the arrival of tournaments like the IPL.

In an interview to Cricinfo, May said the ICC and its members should rework their Future Tours Programme (FTP) - the current version lapses in 2012 - to reduce international fixtures and create windows for domestic events such as IPL, which involves international players.

"Simply, something must give or players will be faced to make a decision between representing their country and playing in franchise-type Twenty20 events," May said. "A healthy balance of optimising commercial revenues and player workload needs to be set by the ICC and its members in order for international cricket to retain its attractiveness to players. The more Twenty20 events that are programmed in any calendar year, the easier it will be for players to turn their back on international cricket.

"The trend that we observe, through our surveys of players, is that more and more players state that they have less an attachment to international cricket with the emergence of competitions such as IPL. More and more cricketers are frustrated with the clustered international calendar and the time that is being spent away from wives, families and friends."

The international cricket calendar will soon be dominated by at least five Twenty20 leagues involving international players - IPL, P20 in England, Southern Premier League (SPL) involving South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Champions League, a possible IPL Season 2 and ICC events - and they will have to be accommodated along with Tests and ODIs.

May also said the FICA was concerned about the new ICC Anti Doping Code that has been modelled on norms specified by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA). He said that the new ICC code, which came into force from January 1, has a "high, inherent risk" of catching players who aren't "administratively inclined".

Haroon Lorgat chats with Tim May at the ICC Committee meeting, Lord's, May 11, 2009
Tim May: "FICA have been staunch critics of the governance structure of the ICC for © Getty Images

"The ICC Anti Doping Policy now includes, as per a mandatory instruction from WADA, a requirement for players named in an 'International Registered Testing Pool' to provide whereabouts information," May said. "This requirement requires players to inform ICC 90 days in advance (each quarter) a location and time that they will be available each day in that quarter for testing. If the player is not in the location at the time specified -- the player will have a strike recorded against his name. Three strikes and the player will have breached the code and can face a two-year suspension from the game."

Such a system has also raised concerns of privacy among players, May said. "Obviously, there are concerns on a privacy level and also concerns on a practical level - the administration responsibility is extreme and the whole system, whilst designed to catch the drug cheat, has a high inherent risk of catching athletes that just aren't administratively inclined."

Then again, at a time when cricket's headed for "an exciting future", May said, the ICC should also give FICA a more important role in the game's governance, possibly in its all-powerful executive board. He said the ICC board, which comprises senior ICC officials, and representatives of its 10 Full Members and three associates, is "full of conflicts of interests".

"FICA have been staunch critics of the governance structure of the ICC for a long time," May said. "It's full of conflict of interests and doesn't contain a healthy balance of skills to address the key areas of both sport and commercial issues. Rarely are decisions made in the interests of the game as a whole - they are typically made on "party lines" and what is best for that particular directors' constituency."