| CricketZone.Com | IndiaExpress.Com ApunKaChoice.Com |
 |
|
NEWS India-Sri Lanka ODI Series 2006>ICC expresses disappointment at South Africa's pullout 20th Aug 2006 23.02 IST By Agencies The International Cricket Council today expressed disappointment at South Africa 's pullout from the tri-series in Sri Lanka, saying that the reasons offered had nothing to do with cricket. ICC President Percy Sonn, who was also headed the South African cricket board (CSA) until taking over the game's top job barely a month ago, said the game of cricket should have been played at any cost.
Sonn said South Africa's decision to depart hastily "was disappointing, especially when the reasons had nothing to do with cricket." "Always play at the worst circumstances. Never ever let go a chance to play cricket," he said. South Africa called off their tour of Sri Lanka after playing two Tests and without participating in a tri-series that was scheduled from August 14 to 29 after a fatal bomb explosion in the vicinity of the team hotel in Colombo last Monday. Sonn said "it was difficult to say" as to what his advise would have been to the South African team, if he had still been their president but cited two instances from the past to show that sport should go on. "In 1995, we hosted the rugby world cup and it brought us, the whites, the blacks and all, together," he said. "And in the early 70s, the Irish Republican Army made it clear that they would target the sporting teams. Yet, the English rugby team still chose to go and play in Ireland, and they were given an extraordinary welcome by the Irish people. "That is the example to follow," Sonn said. Sonn also mentioned Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan's book on Pakistan's series against India in 2004, their first in Pakistan in 16 years, as another example to show how sport can break various social barriers. Sonn said there were "no concerns" about the ICC Champions Trophy this year being held in India, in the wake of Mumbai serial train blasts. "We have to look more close at the measures put in place but we have no concerns," he said. "Johannesburg is the crime capital of the world," he said to another question. He also clarified that India's participation in the tri-series fell outside the Future Tours Programme and as such their refusal to play the series with Sri Lanka and South Africa would not go to the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee. He justified the need for an independent security team's report on the security situation in this case. "The fact of the matter is that one country seems to be unhappy and they were reasonably justified that they should be given a chance to respond to the earlier report," he said. Also View In-Depth Coverage: India-Sri Lanka ODI Series 2006 Team Page: India Team Page: Sri Lanka | LIVE CRICKET COVERAGE NEWS ~ Gilchrist has no plans to retire after World Cup ~ Ganguly's new batting approach may cost him sixer record ~ India 'squash the Orange' in World Cup warm-up game ~ Symonds gets a new hairdo for World Cup ~ Dhoni readies himself for stand-up act at World Cup (more in NEWS) FACE-TO-FACE ~ 500-mark a possibility in World Cup: Hayden ~ Minnows add charm to World Cup: Dravid (more in FACE-TO-FACE) COLUMNS ~ Will Sri Lanka replicate 1996 World Cup success? (more in COLUMNS) OFF-THE-FIELD ~ Ganguly again the darling of corporate world ~ Ganguly roped in as brand ambassador of Puma (more in OFF-THE-FIELD) PLAYERS Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble (more PLAYERS) TEAMS India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Kenya, Holland | 
|
|
|