All posts by h716a5.icu

Kyle Coetzer, the Durham batsman, has been recalled to Scotland’s squads for the Intercontinental Cup and one-day internationals against Netherlands later this month

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2011Kyle Coetzer, the Durham batsman, has been recalled to Scotland’s squads for the Intercontinental Cup and one-day internationals against Netherlands later this month.Coetzer, with five ODI caps to his name, last played for Scotland in June 2010 and will bring some experience to the middle order. Alasdair Evans, who has played two ODIs, is also back in the squad alongside Calum MacLeod after the pair showed strong form at club and regional level.There will be different wicketkeepers in each format with Simon Smith taking the gloves for the four-day game and Gregor Maiden in the role for the ODIs. The shorter format also includes Josh Davey, the Middlesex batsman, in place of Ryan Flannigan.Meanwhile, Safyaan Sharif, a 20-year-old seamer, will be hoping to make his international debut after being selected for the ODIs.The Intercontinental Cup match begins on June 21 with the two ODIs taking place on June 28 and 29 in Aberdeen.Intercontinental Cup squad: Gordon Drummond (capt), Fraser Watts, Preston Mommsen, Alasdair Evans, Kyle Coetzer, Ryan Flannigan, Neil McCallum, Simon Smith (w/k), Gordon Goudie, Calum MacLeod, Majid Haq, Richie BerringtonODI squad: Gordon Drummond (capt), Fraser Watts, Preston Mommsen, Alasdair Evans, Kyle Coetzer, Josh Davey, Neil McCallum, Gregor Maiden (w/k), Gordon Goudie, Calum MacLeod, Majid Haq, Richie Berrington, Safyaan Sharif

Somerset’s Brian Rose said it was “frustrating” to lose star batsman Nick Compton to England Lions for a key Champions clash

Alex Winter at Taunton07-Aug-2012
ScorecardThe man who wasn’t there: Nick Compton in action for England Lions, rather than Somerset•Getty ImagesThe County Championship has been marginalised by many things this summer, not least the weather, with the “reserve Ashes” between England Lions and Australia A at Old Trafford the latest event to take the limelight away from the competition just as it moves towards the business end.Two of the best sides in England are at Taunton in a crucial match that could have significant impact on the title. But country before club has long been the emphasis in English cricket and clearly the ECB sees more value in the second-best players in the land playing an unofficial Test than helping their counties try to win the Championship.Somerset are most disadvantaged. Nick Compton has made 1,036 Championship runs at 86.33 this season – outperforming by a distance every other player – and helped Somerset maintain their push for a first title. But with such a historic milestone within reach, England have put their needs above Somerset’s.”We’re where we are in the table mainly because Nick Compton has played so well in adverse conditions,” Brian Rose, Somerset’s director of cricket, told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s frustrating to get towards the end of the season and have a clash of fixtures. It’s coming to a crucial time in the Championship, we’re just a win behind the two leaders and if we have a good game here it will set up an exciting time for the club.”But I’m a great supporter of England Lions games because it’s a precursor to Test cricket. Nick deserves to play and all credit to him, he’s played tremendously well. Don’t forget you put so much into development you want players to play for England, that’s part of our job to get players into the England team so there’s no way Somerset or Nottinghamshire are going to be complaining about that.”So perhaps the counties are now more inclined to measure success by their contribution to the England team than to their trophy cabinets? Maybe that can be understood given the level of financial support now offered by the ECB to promote young players in the county game. But an entire west country XI for England could not usurp a first Championship title for Somerset.Victory for them here would see Somerset join Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Sussex on four wins but Rose was philosophical about the impact of losing players to the Lions. “At the end of the day, the sides that are going to win the Championship are going to be good enough to stay at the top,” he said. “The weather has been the biggest factor this year, which has compressed the competition, but I think at the end of the day the best team should still win it.”Weather certainly owned day one. All credit was due to the umpires for refusing to call off play with showers falling in the early afternoon. The weather cleared long enough for Somerset to win the toss and ask Notts to bat at 4.40pm. But eight overs in and the heavens gathered again. One more ball was possible and Peter Trego found the outside edge of Riki Wessels’ bat. It was entirely expected on a very green wicket that offered plenty to Trego and Steve Kirby.So far in this match, it hasn’t particularly mattered who is playing. “Swings and roundabouts” was Rose’s summing up of the situation. Notts are without Samit Patel – 329 runs and 14 wickets in nine matches this season – and would have been without James Taylor too had he not earned a last-minute call-up for the second Test at Headingley. Somerset are also missing wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter. Jos Buttler is behind the stumps in this match.”I’ve mentioned to the ECB that these fixtures don’t clash so players can play at both ends,” Rose said, who was keen on the idea of a window for Lions’ games if space could be found. “The best thing if you’re coming towards the end of the Championship would be to have the fixture list represented in a slightly better fashion. But it all depends on future tours and how the Championship and T20s are composed as well. The authorities are looking at it.”

Andre Russell and Shawn Findlay have said that a lack of unity in the Jamaica team cost them the Caribbean T20 final against Trinidad & Tobago

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2012Andre Russell and Shawn Findlay have said that a lack of unity in the Jamaica team cost them the Caribbean T20 final against Trinidad & Tobago. Russell, the West Indies fast-bowling allrounder, said the players did not behave professionally because they were playing as individuals rather than as a team.”As a team it is about sticking together and we are kind of lacking in that department at the moment,” Russell told the . “It’s not professional for players to go on the field and some are doing one thing and some are doing another. We need to work together more as a team and if we can do that then just like how we win the other tournaments we can win the T20 as well.”Jamaica are the current champions in West Indies’ first-class and domestic 50-over competitions, and beat T&T easily in the Regional Super50 tournament final in October 2011; but they were thrashed by the same team in the Caribbean T20 final, which also cost them a place in the lucrative Champions League T20. Findlay, the Jamaica batsman, said the reversal in fortunes was due to division in the team.”The team spirit was not the best,” Findlay said. “Some of the players were not pulling for each other as we wanted it to be. We are not unified as we should be. On match days you tend to have one set of players pulling to one side and the others to a next. You’re never going to win a tournament like that.”When we won the Super50 tournament everybody was gelling together. We know we can win Twenty20 tournaments if we get to gel, as it is the gelling and chemistry that teams like Trinidad have over us.”David Bernard, the Jamaica captain, was less scathing of the team and said what was needed was more practice playing Twenty20 cricket. “A better preparation period, including the playing of more Twenty20 competitions and matches going into the next tournament, will go a long way towards helping us to get better,” Bernard said. “But to do this more resources are needed and one can only hope that the Jamaican Cricket Association can get the support from corporate Jamaica to do this going forward.”

Essex saw their hopes of taking over as Clydesdale Bank 40 Group C leaders disappear with a dismal batting collapse in a four-wicket defeat by Gloucestershire at Cheltenham

26-Jul-2011
ScorecardEssex saw their hopes of taking over as Clydesdale Bank 40 Group C leaders disappear with a dismal batting collapse in a four-wicket defeat by Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.The visitors plummeted to 52 for 7 on a good batting pitch after winning the toss and it took 34 from Graham Napier and a last wicket stand of 80 between Tim Phillips (58 not out) and Chris Wright (42) to see them to 195 all out. James Fuller returned 4 for 33.That recovery was not enough, though, as the Gladiators put the conditions in perspective by reaching 196 for 6 with five overs to spare, Ian Cockbain (48no) and Kevin O’Brien (41) sharing a stand of 97 for the fifth wicket.It was the Eagles’ first defeat in the competition this season and ensured they stayed below group leaders Somerset, who now have two games in hand. For Gloucestershire it was only their third win and they appear to have no chance of reaching the semi-finals.Four of the Essex wickets fell to players still at school as two 17-year-olds, Matthew Taylor (2 for 46) and Craig Miles (2 for 32) both bowled impressively for a young home pace contingent. Taylor, a left-arm seamer yet to make his first-class debut, disposed of opener Mark Pettini for a duck and Wright, while Miles, a tall right-armer with a high action, sent back Ravi Bopara and Jaik Mickleburgh.Fuller, himself only 21, claimed the key wickets of Owais Shah and Ryan ten Doeschate, as well as those of Tom Westley and opener Adam Wheater, who was injured when colliding with the bowler as he skied a catch to O’Brien.Wheater was due to keep wicket in the absence of Essex skipper James Foster with a twisted ankle, but was still dazed when his side took the field, forcing Pettini to don the gloves. Captain Alex Gidman and Chris Dent gave Gloucestershire a positive start to their reply with a stand of 48 in seven overs before Gidman was caught at point off Wright for 26.Bopara produced a good spell to keep Essex in the game, dismissing Kane Williamson and Chris Taylor , and at 84 for 4 the game was in the balance.But Cockbain and O’Brien looked increasingly confident as they tilted the game back Gloucestershire’s way. And by the time O’Brien, who faced just 48 balls, miscued to mid-on to give Bopara a third wicket, only 15 runs were needed.Cockbain’s 61-ball innings included only four boundaries, but was perfectly paced and crucial to his side. Ed Young finished the game with a six off a free hit after Napier had over-stepped for a no-ball.

A century from Colin Ingram and Craig Thyssen’s unbeaten 40 off 29 balls helped Warriors chase Knights’ total of 280 in Bloemfontein, and go through to the final of the Franchise 1-day Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2011
ScorecardA century from Colin Ingram and Craig Thyssen’s unbeaten 40 off 29 balls helped Warriors chase Knights’ total of 280 in Bloemfontein, and go through to the final of the Franchise 1-day Cup where they will meet Cape Cobras. Ingram’s 112 off 111 balls had ensured the Warriors stayed abreast of the required-rate for the whole of the chase but he fell before finishing the job. Thyssen, though, prevented the Knights from making a comeback and took the Warriors home with an over to spare.Knights took a wicket in the second over of the chase but were then thwarted by a 126-run partnership between Ingram and Arno Jacobs, who scored 54. Ingram carried on after Jacobs was dismissed and it was not until he was bowled by offspinner Werner Coetsee that the Knights had a small chance. Another wicket fell 15 balls after Ingram’s dismissal but Thyseen counterattacked, hitting two sixes and three fours in his brisk innings.Knights had reached a competitive total thanks to Reeza Hendricks’ 70 and Dean Elgar’s 89 not out. It was a solid batting effort, with just five wickets falling, and the run-rate above five for most of the innings. The total of 280 was not enough though.The final will be played on December 9 in Cape Town.

It took less than an hour for Warwickshire to wrap-up victory on the final day of their Championship match against Somerset.

George Dobell at Edgbaston23-Jun-2011
Scorecard
Boyd Rankin earned praise from both sides after his efforts against Somerset•Getty ImagesIt took less than an hour for Warwickshire to wrap-up victory on the final day of their Championship match against Somerset.When Nick Compton’s obdurate resistance was finally ended – Compton, with only the hapless Charl Willoughby for company, was caught on the long-on boundary just five short of his second Championship century of the season – it left Warwickshire requiring only 23 runs for victory. They raced to the 10-wicket win in just 20 deliveries.In truth, this game was defined on the first afternoon. An unusually hostile spell of fast bowling from Boyd Rankin ensured Somerset were unable to take advantage of winning the toss on a flat pitch. Generating sharp pace and gaining steep bounce from his towering six feet, seven inch frame, Rankin also found enough swing to claim three wickets for four runs at one stage. It was a point not lost on Somerset captain, Marcus Trescothick afterwards.”Rankin just blew us away,” Trescothick admitted. “It was a really good spell of hostile fast bowling – right up there with anything I’ve faced this year – and it was too good for us. He was easily the fastest bowler on either side.”It’s the best I’ve seen him bowl. He’s up there in terms of pace, but it’s his bounce that really causes the problems. And now he’s swinging the ball, too. He hit me four times – that doesn’t happen very often – and I just couldn’t pick him up. There was nothing wrong with the pitch – it was a bit slow, if anything – and the sight screens are fine. He’s just improved massively.”Trescothick is no stranger to fast bowling, of course. So to hear him talk in such terms of the 26-year-old Irishman is noteworthy. England have quite a pack of tall fast bowlers at present, but if Rankin keeps performing like this, he’ll force himself into contention.Trescothick also credited Rikki Clarke as being “a very clever bowler.” That may surprise a few but the four wickets Clarke claimed in Somerset’s second innings take his Championship tally this season to 30 at just 21 apiece. He’s quietly become a bowling all-rounder. And a very good one.It might be stretching a point to suggest that Warwickshire should now be considered genuine title contenders. The way that Durham and Lancashire blew them away undermines that theory. But Warwickshire have now won five games this season – as many as when they won the title in 2004 – and, at full strength, have a battery of seamers to rival any side. The one worry is the slightly disappointing form of Chris Woakes. By the very high standards he has set himself, Woakes has yet to find his best form this season.Ashley Giles, Warwickshire’s director of cricket, rated the performance as his side’s “best of the season” and had particular praise for Ian Westwood, who made the top score in the match in recording his first Championship century since September 2009.”Losing the toss could have ended with us facing a big deficit, but we were hugely disciplined throughout,” Giles said. “Westwood has had a tough time, so I’m overjoyed for him. From the outside, people don’t see the whole package a guy offers a team, but Ian is a pleasure to work with and really deserves his success.”Giles also had praise for Rankin. “He’s a big bastard,” Giles said, both simply and accurately. “And facing him upsets teams. He has a presence about him and you can see them talking, and worrying, about him.”We always knew he had the attributes: the height, the pace and the bounce. But now we’re seeing him become more consistent. That’s largely because he’s fitter now. In the past he was always in and out because of injuries.”Somerset’s season is now at something of a crossroads. Tipped by many as prospective champions at the start of the season, they’ve lost half of their first eight games and, on this form, look a side more likely to finish nearer the bottom than the top of the table. Their mis-firing middle-order, perhaps cosseted by the flat tracks of Taunton, is simply not performing in these post-heavy roller days.”We’re getting off to good starts, but then it’s clear to see where we’re going wrong,” Trescothick said, referring to his side’s middle-order woes. “We’re probably just lacking a bit of experience in the middle-order and losing Zander de Bruyn [to Surrey] is part of that. We can’t afford to keep losing.”Tellingly, Ashley Giles admitted he was “a little surprised” at how intimidated some of Somerset’s batsmen appeared to be by the pace of Rankin and Clarke.Meanwhile, the game marked the end of an era. By the time the next Championship game begins, in the best part of a month, Warwickshire hope to have moved into their new pavilion. The hand-over date – the day the club take possession of the new facility from the builders – is just one week away and there appears to be an enormous amount of work still to be completed. With 380 builders working at the ground today, however, the club are still confident that they are on track.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has said that retirement should not be forced upon the senior players

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2011Kapil Dev, the former India captain, has said the selectors need to rotate the seniors – Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman – in the Test team so that the younger players can be given opportunities without weakening the side too much.”All three seniors – Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman – should not play together in a single Test,” Kapil told Indian news channel Aaj Tak. “Two of them can play and one can be rested so that a youngster can be tested in his place. In this manner, we can give a chance to a talented youngster without taking too much risk and making too many changes all of a sudden.”Kapil also said the selectors needed to take tough calls and wanted an orderly phasing out of the senior players. “It is the selectors who will have to take a call on their retirement,” he said. “A player never likes to retire. Selectors should see the bigger picture and take a tough decision. But, they [selectors] should do this while giving full respect to these seniors.”Tendulkar and Dravid are both 38, while Laxman is 37. Dravid was Man of the Series during the recent Tests in England, scoring 461 runs at an average of 76.83. Tendulkar and Laxman, though, had poor tours, averaging 34.12 and 22.75.Sourav Ganguly, however, said retirement should not be forced on the senior players because India did not have the talent to replace them at the moment. “Players like Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman should decide on their own when it comes to taking a call on quitting the game,” Ganguly said. “The day their performance drops, they will leave on their own.”Ganguly had retired from international cricket after the Test series against Australia at home in 2008, at a time when there was pressure on the seniors and an influx of youth in the Indian limited-overs sides. No batsman, however, has been able to fill the gap Ganguly left in Test middle-order, with neither Yuvraj Singh nor Suresh Raina cementing their spots.”It is good to see youngsters perform so well in the shorter format but I am more worried about Tests,” Ganguly said. “We haven’t seen anyone who can challenge these seniors. Definitely, the time hasn’t come to phase out seniors in Tests.”Kapil, however, disagreed with Ganguly’s view. “Everyone knows that it is not going to be easy to find replacements for the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman. It is going to be extremely difficult. But youngsters, even though they might have failed in whatever chances they’ve got till now, have to be given another go.”Actually the problem is not with their [youngsters’] talent. It is their poor fitness level that is letting them down,” Kapil said. “Coach and selectors will have to play a big role in coming times. Youngsters should also learn to take pride in their cricket.”Former India allrounder Madan Lal seconded Kapil’s view, saying the youngsters in the team lacked proper work ethic. He also said Suresh Raina, who averaged 13.12 in the four Tests in England, should not be persisted with.”They [the youngsters] have to up their fitness levels. Players like [Virat] Kohli, [Cheteshwar] Pujara and Rohit [Sharma] will have to be given chances. I will not give another chance to Raina, though, as he has already wasted too many. Instead, Yuvraj [Singh], who hasn’t got much opportunity in Tests, should be tested again.”

Australia have retained the Women’s World T20 trophy with a 4-run win over England in Colombo

The Report by George Dobell07-Oct-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentaryJess Cameron’s score of 45 from 34 deliveries was Australia’s highest of the tournament•Associated PressAustralia have retained the Women’s World T20 trophy with a 4-run win over England in Colombo. Australia, who won the 2010 tournament in the Caribbean, impressed with the bat, with the ball and in the field to inflict just England’s second defeat in their previous 25 completed T20 internationals.While England’s record over the last 18 months or so has been excellent, they looked nervous in this game. Australia were on top throughout. Having set a challenging total, they bowled with discipline and just about held their nerve as England, as their run chase became increasingly desperate, fell to a series of catches in the deep.Perhaps England might still have stolen a win in the end. Australia, with their nerves becoming more apparent by the moment, put down four catches of varying difficulty in the final few overs – Blackwell’s dropping of Arran Brindle the most memorable of them – and with Erin Osborne donating a head-high full-toss for a no-ball in the final over – England could have won had Danielle Hazel hit the final ball for six. She could only mis-time it to midwicket, however, allowing Australia’s women to clinch the trophy.In truth, England had done well to go so close. They had been behind the rate throughout their innings and, but for some bucolic hitting from Jenny Gunn in the dying overs, the margin would have been much greater. Gunn, thumping a four and a six off Julie Hunter, had reduced the equation from 35 required from three to 16 from the final over and, despite Osborne’s no-ball and Jess Jonassen dropping a simple catch, England had always left themselves too much to do.England may also reflect that their decision to insert Australia after winning the toss backfired. While England have an excellent record batting second, by giving Australia first use of a fine batting surface, they allowed them to build a commanding total and then succumbed to the pressure of chasing against a disciplined attack and tight fielding unit. Only three times in their 63 match T20 history had they successfully chased more than 142 to win and, on the biggest stage, it proved beyond them. England will surely also rue the eight wides and no-ball they sent down. Bearing in mind the eventual margin of victory, those extra were to prove costly.Smart stats

Australia won their second consecutive Women’s World Twenty20. In the previous final in 2010, Australia defeated New Zealand by three runs.

The margin of victory (4 runs) is the second-lowest for Australia (in terms of runs) in the Women’s World Twenty20. It is also their narrowest margin of victory against England in Women’s Twenty20 internationals.

Australia’s total of 142 is their third-highest against England in the Women’s World Twenty20. In their group game earlier in the tournament, Australia had scored 144 and lost by seven wickets.

Jess Cameron’s strike rate of 132.35 during her 45 is the highest strike rate for Australia in a Women’s World Twenty20 game against England and the fifth-highest for Australia in the competition (40-plus scores).

The 51-run stand between Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy is the third-highest opening partnership for Australia in the Women’s World Twenty20 and their second-best in this year’s tournament.

Anya Shrubsole’s economy rate of 10.33 is the highest for an England bowler in a Women’s World Twenty20 game (min 3 overs bowled).

Australia’s opening batsmen set the tone with a partnership of 51 in 41 deliveries. Meg Lanning, taking advantage of some uncharacteristic loose bowling from Katherine Brunt, took 16 from the third over of the innings. Twice she drove Brunt – who also donated a front foot no-ball during the over – through the cover for boundaries, while Alyssa Healy pulled another boundary though square leg. With England’s spinners unable to stem the flow of runs, Australia reached 47 for 0 after their six Powerplay overs.The introduction of Holly Colvin’s left-arm spin brought the breakthrough. Lanning, attempting to hit over the top, could only clip a return catch to the bowler while Laura Marsh, the fourth spinner introduced into the attack by the eighth over of the innings, might have had Healey caught at deep-square leg but the pull dropped just short of Shurbsole. At the halfway stage of their innings, Australia were 68 for 1.Jess Cameron was soon into her stride. Having swept Marsh to the boundary, she then skipped down the pitch to drive her for another. While Healey was bowled after missing an attempted pull, Cameron, whose innings of 45 from 34 deliveries was Australia’s highest of the tournament, brought up the 100 with a very well executed reverse sweep for four off Marsh, before slog-sweeping Shurbsole for six, then ramping and pulling her for fours in an over that cost 17.While Colvin, the pick of the bowlers, had Cameron taken at long-on, Alex Blackwell swept another four off Wyatt and, in partnership with Lisa Sthalekar, picked up the ones and twos as Australia set a challenging total of 142.England were always behind the rate in their chase. While they picked up a boundary in each of the first four overs, they were unable to accumulate any singles and Marsh, frustrated by the escalating required run rate, perished when she mis-timed a drive and gave a return catch to the bowler.Charlotte Edwards looked in fine form, though. Having hit the first ball of the innings for four, she clipped another over midwicket when Perry drifted on to her legs and greeted the introduction of the offspin of Osborne by taking two steps down the pitch and lofting the bowler over long-on for six. Two balls later, she lofted four more over the head of the same bowler and, after their six Powerplay overs, England were 34 for 1.The end of the Powerplay resulted in the field spreading, however, and Edwards’ attempt to hit Sthalekar’s teasing off-breaks over the top resulted in a catch to long-on. Ellyse Perry produced an outswinger to account for the dangerous Sarah Taylor, edging an attempted drive, and with Lydia Greenway also falling to a catch in the deep and Danny Wyatt brilliantly caught at cover by a diving Blackwell, England were always behind the game.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano laid down a major West Ham update this weekend that will surely have supporters of the Premier League side disappointed.

What’s the word?

Romano took to Twitter to confirm that Declan Rice had indeed turned down a new deal proposal from West Ham as David Moyes looks to keep one of his stars at the club beyond the summer.

However, it was reported by Adam Newsom and relayed by Romano before the match between West Ham and Chelsea that Thomas Tuchel rates Rice “very highly”, but hasn’t given him much more thought due to the ban on Chelsea signing or selling players until their takeover is complete.

Tuchel isn’t the only admirer of the England international, with Manchester United reporting interest in the player too.

Moyes will want to keep Rice

Rice has emerged to be one of the Hammers’ key players as they have had a fantastic season in the top flight.

They are pushing to consolidate a top-six spot in the league and reaching the Europa League semi-finals has potentially justified Rice’s £67.5m market value, with some of the fees teams have been quoted with to sign him having pushed beyond the £100m mark.

With a SofaScore rating of 7.17, the highest of any other West Ham player, it is a case of when and not if before he eventually leaves the side.

With his contract not expiring until 2024 then Moyes is in a prime position to haggle for the best fee possible. His stock has never been higher and a £100m plus transfer fee could give the manager some major funds to continue the wonderful job he has done so far.

It’s fair to say the supporters will be gutted if Rice does go, but the reality is, once the big boys come calling, not a lot of people turn them down. That said, if it’s their London rivals Chelsea, it will aggravate fans even more.

AND in other news, Sources: West Ham eye swoop for “brilliant” 21 y/o, he’s “similar to Eden Hazard”

The BCCI has invited bids for the IPL broadcast rights for certain markets, as well as the global radio, internet and mobile rights, for 2011-2014. However, the decision has been criticised by WSG, which bought the global broadcast rights prior to the fir

Tariq Engineer08-Mar-2011The Indian board has invited bids for the IPL broadcast rights for certain markets, as well as the global internet and mobile rights, for 2011-2014. However, the decision has been criticised by World Sport Group (WSG), which bought the global broadcast rights prior to the first IPL and is locked in a legal battle with the board over its decision to cancel their contract last year over allegations of fraud.The tender, published in the Indian media on Tuesday, is for the rights to distribute live feed of IPL matches on television to several territories excluding, among other, India, South Africa and Australia; and worldwide radio, internet and mobile rights.WSG’s objection is that the tender violates the undertakings the board has given to the Bombay High Court and the Indian Supreme Court that it would not sell the rights to a third party until their dispute is resolved.The case has already passed through the Bombay High Court, with a division bench of the court ruling, on February 23, that the BCCI had failed to prima facie establish that fraud had been committed and directed the two parties to appoint an arbitrator to hear the case. “Till the Arbitrator is appointed, the respondent [the BCCI] is restrained from giving the contract in question to anyone,” the order said. “During the pendency of this appeal, a statement was made by the respondent that they will not create any third party interest.”The board subsequently appealed against the decision to the Supreme Court, while providing an assurance that it would not enter into an agreement with anyone else until the dispute was resolved. Tuesday’s tender notice says the tenders are available till March 15 and are to be submitted by March 20.In a statement, WSG said the tender was an “unfair, unwarranted and unnecessary attempt by the BCCI to create facts on the ground in the context of the Supreme Court’s forthcoming consideration of the admissibility of an appeal itself”. It noted that the “unusually worded” public tender notice made no mention of the current proceedings before the Supreme Court.The BCCI had, in June 2010, terminated all its IPL media license agreements with World Sports Group (Mauritius) over the payment of the Rs 425 crore-facilitation fee (about US$90m) by the parent company of the tournament’s Indian broadcast partner to WSG. The board claimed it was rightfully owed the money as the rights to the tournament were with the BCCI.WSG said the board’s decision to sell the rights “illustrates its continuing unwillingness to follow due legal process” and that the agency “will take the necessary action to protect its commercial rights and those of its licensees around the world.”