BCCI, CA bury the hatchet
New Delhi, March 9
The ‘Dressing-room Review System’ controversy fizzled out late on Thursday night, with senior officials of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and Cricket Australia (CA) meeting to bury the issue.
With this, BCCI also decided to withdraw the complaint it had filed with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Australian captain Steven Smith and batsman Peter Handscomb for their role in the DRS controversy in the second Test in Bengaluru.
According to a joint statement released by BCCI and CA, the CEOs of the two bodies — Rahul Johri and James Sutherland — met at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai today. They discussed the controversy “at length” and agreed about the importance of bringing back the focus to the game.
According to the statement, Virat Kohli and Smith will meet before the third Test in Ranchi, "with the expectation" that they will commit to "lead their teams by example and play the rest of the series in the right spirit".
“India has always cherished a contest with Australia and over the years, the performances of both, the teams and the players, are testimony to the level of competitiveness that exists between these two teams,” Johri said. “While having responded officially to one such incident which happened in the last Test, together, we believe that the focus of the teams and the joy they provide to the fans, should not be diluted and it is imperative to ensure that the rest of the series, which promises a great cricketing contest, not be compromised.”
Sutherland expressed a similar view. “A series between India and Australia is bound to generate considerable excitement for fans in both the countries,” he said. “On the field the two teams are fierce competitors who represent their countries with pride. As we have seen this week in Bangalore, with so much at stake, tensions can bubble over.”
“We are half way through what has already been a riveting series — and there is still much to look forward to,” he added. “In discussing the relevant issues in depth, we have agreed that it is in the best interests of the game to put these differences aside and clear the way for the focus to be on the cricket, and the remaining matches of the series.”
Complaint with ICC
Earlier, it had emerged that BCCI had filed an official complaint with ICC against Smith and Handscomb, alleging a Level 2 offence, for “acting against the spirit of cricket”. BCCI filed the complaint on Thursday afternoon. Under ICC's rules, BCCI had up to 48 hours since the time of the incident, which happened on Tuesday, to file a complaint. — TNS
CoA meets team, Kumble to submit detailed report
New Delhi: The Committee of Administrators (CoA) held a fruitful first meeting with coach Anil Kumble and the rest of the Indian team’s support staff in Bengaluru. The CoA, led by former CAG Vinod Rai, had a discussion with head coach Kumble and assistant coaches R Sridhar and Sanjay Bangar. Kumble has been asked to prepare a report covering the national team, women’s cricket as well as junior cricket. A discussion also took place on the central contracts of the India players and the remuneration to the support staff including Bangar and Sridhar, who are seeking a revision in their salaries. It has been learnt that COA chief Rai had a separate meeting with India captain Virat Kohli and junior selection committee chairman Venkatesh Prasad. The COA will next meet in New Delhi on March 17.
