Asia Cup postponed for the sake of IPL
November 24, 2007 • Indian Premier League
The PCB and BCCI have reached and agreement over the dates of the Asia cup, according to sources. The Indian board wanted the event to be postponed so that it can accommodate the much hyped star studded Twenty20 Cricket league (Indian Premier League - IPL) of it’s which is scheduled to launch in April-May next year.
Sources added that while Pakistan has agreed to postpone the tournament scheduled to be held in Karachi until June, 2008, BCCI have confirmed their participation in the Asia Cup. It is learned that the Indian Board was finding it difficult to find a time slot for the IPL because of its own hectic international commitments and those of other countries.
Former coach Ajith Wadekar, Umpires Evans and Jesty join ICL Former India skipper and coach Ajit Wadekar, English county umpires,Jeff Evans and Trevor Jesty, have signed contracts with the Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Ajith Wadekar would be officiating as match referee for its inaugural season of Twenty20 tournament along side his former Indian team mate and legendary off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna Jeff Evans and Trevory Jesty have been told that their future contracts with the ECB, which run from April to September, won’t be affected although the ECB have said they’d prefer their umpires not to take part because of the lack of anti-corruption safeguards in place.
“I saw this as an opportunity to visit India and to gain experience umpiring in a major competition, I’ve had many sleepless nights about it, but I have consulted my solicitor, the Professional Cricketers’ Association solicitor and sought advice from anyone and everyone in the game.” Evans was quoted in the The Daily Telegraph.
Mean while Ismail Dawood, the former Yorkshire and Glamorgan wicketkeeper, has turned down an offer to stand as umpire in the ICL. He said “I would like to umpire in first-class cricket in England and I didn’t want to jeopardise my prospects,” said Dawood. “It was a tough decision because the ICL contract was extremely lucrative.”