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[dextrous]

This is plain silly of these two teams. With this kind of self-centered attitude there won't be any teams left to play in a few years. If cricket needs to grow or even maintain status quo in places like England and New Zealand, than some of these new things need to be incorporated.

Pakistan, India reject Twenty 20 champs 
 
Posted on 19 February 2006 - 16:34

Pakistan and India have rejected the idea of a World Twenty20 Championship as they think it would not gel with the hectic international schedule, officials said here Sunday. 

"The idea dilutes the importance of international cricket and after a meeting with Indian officials we mutually decided to oppose the Twenty20 World Cup," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan told a press conference.

Khan met the Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sharad Pawar here on Sunday in a meeting during which international and bilateral matters were discussed.

The Twenty20 World Cup, over a period of nine days, was endorsed at a meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executives Committee (CEC) in Dubai last week.

The rapid brand of cricket in which matches are spread over 20 overs-a-side is becoming popular worldwide.

The officials of Pakistan and India also decided Asia's joint bid for the 2011 World Cup would be finalised on February 24 in Mumbai.

Asia will make a joint bid for the World Cup with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh agreeing to host the event.

The ICC had set February 28 as the deadline for submission of final bids which would be up against a joint bid by Australia and New Zealand.

India and Pakistan also finalised two charity one-day internationals to be played in Abu Dhabi in April this year.

"The two matches will be played on April 18 and 19 with the 75 percent of earnings from the first match going to the relief funds of the earthquake in Pakistan and India," said Pawar.

The October 8 quake, which measured at 7.8 on the Richter Scale, killed around 80,000 people in Pakistan and some 1,000 in India.

The two countries also decided to have an annual match between the winners of their premier first class tournaments.

"The winner of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in Pakistan and the winners of the Ranji Trophy in India will meet in Dharamshala in India from May 4-8 this year," said Pawar.

An Indian Under-19 team will also tour Pakistan in September this year.

The arch-rivals resumed cricket ties in 2004 after a four-year break due to political tensions.

India made their first tour across the border for 14 years in March 2004 after which Pakistan paid a return trip the following year.

India's current tour, their second in two years, ended here with the fifth and final one-day match on Sunday.

http://www.supercricket.co.za/default.asp?id=170944&des=article&scat=supercricket/international

[bouncer]

really sad, any format that can package the game in a 3-hr time would be welcome change for a lot of us.  The miniature version of the game now takes 8 hrs.- what a joke!!!!

[mezmerized]

well, i support indo-pak decision.

[gouravk]

Im agnostic about it. DOnt care.

[Sahir]

One thing I think we need to consider is that eventually, this format of the game will catch on internationally, with or without us.  There is enough support to have this game work in Eng, Aus, NZ, RSA, etc.  There would be a tremendous amount of revenue generated as well, I'm sure.  Eventually, are we going to join?  And if we are, won't we be missing out on valuable playing experience now, and be behind the rest when we start?  Just something to ponder...

[bouncer]

One thing I think we need to consider is that eventually, this format of the game will catch on internationally, with or without us.  There is enough support to have this game work in Eng, Aus, NZ, RSA, etc.  There would be a tremendous amount of revenue generated as well, I'm sure.  Eventually, are we going to join?  And if we are, won't we be missing out on valuable playing experience now, and be behind the rest when we start?  Just something to ponder...

I will watch it with or without India playing. I think that form of the game is a lot of fun.

[gouravk]

Yeah its fun but not to be taken seriously. It shud remain fun.

[dextrous]

The thing is, it is an additional revenue source for a lot of other boards that do not have as much cash as the Indian board.

[bouncer]

Yeah its fun but not to be taken seriously. It shud remain fun.

Sports in general is not to be taken seriously. It is entertainment. pure and simple!

[gouravk]

Well test match cricket is more than a sport then, isn't it ?

[Blwe_torch]

Short-sighted decision by both India and Pak...IMO.