Email
Glamorgan have submitted a joint-bid with the Welsh government and Cardiff Council to host the headquarters of the International Cricket Council from 2015.
As the Guardian reported on Monday, the ICC was considering the Welsh county, along with Colombo and Singapore, to replace Dubai as the site of the world governing body's administrative base. The proposal was made in a leaked working paper of the ICC's financial and commercial affairs committee.
A Glamorgan statement read: "Discussions are at a very early stage and ongoing, with Cardiff being only one of a number of possibilities being considered." A Welsh government spokesperson added: "We have engaged in discussions on the matter but at this stage any details would remain commercial in confidence."
Cardiff was one of three host cities for the 2013 Champions Trophy, as well as hosting one fixture in the 1999 World Cup. The Swalec Stadium also staged the first Test of the 2009 Ashes series.
The leaked working paper also contained plans by England, Australia and India to seize greater control of the game. Members of the Pakistan Cricket Board have told its chairman, Zaka Ashraf, to "oppose the proposals strongly" when they are discussed at an ICC board meeting later this month.
"The governing board was firm that this was a very sensitive issue for Pakistan and the PCB should go to the ICC meeting well prepared to give strong arguments against the proposed changes," one member of the PCB has been quoted as saying. "The governing board made it clear that the draft proposal basically would divide the world cricket order and Pakistan should not accept any position in the lower tier.
"The PCB chief has been advised to form a unified stance on the matter with South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies before the ICC meeting."
Meanwhile Misbah-ul-Haq led Pakistan to a Test victory over Sri Lanka in Sharjah that was unlikely even by their infamously inconsistent standards. Pakistan had appeared doomed to a series defeat at the start of the last day of the third and final Test in the United Arab Emirates when Sri Lanka, who were 1-0 up, resumed their second innings on 133 for five, with a lead of 220.
Even after Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehmann, the spinners who confounded England in the UAE two years ago, had shared the last four Sri Lanka wickets for 11, Pakistan were long shots for the win they needed to square the series, given a victory target of 302 and with time in the match running out.
Their prospects grew slimmer still as the openers fell cheaply, followed by Younis Khan to leave them 97 for three. But the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed pepped up the chase with 48 from 46 balls in a fourth-wicket stand of 89 in 15 overs with Azhar Ali, who then shared a partnership of 109 with Misbah, his captain.
Richard Kettleborough, who recently became the first Englishman to be ranked the best umpire in the world, dismissed Sri Lankan complaints about the fading light – in scenes reminiscent of England's famous win against Pakistan in Karachi a decade ago – and despite the loss of Azhar for 103 from 137 balls, Misbah sealed a five-wicket win under the Sharjah floodlights with nine balls to spare.
He dedicated the victory to the departing Dav Whatmore, who had come under growing criticism during his two years as the coach. "We really wanted to win it for Pakistan, and especially for Dav because it was his last Test with us," said Misbah. "I would like to say that I have really enjoyed my time working with you ... we really love you and we had a good time with you.
"We were one down in the series, that's why we thought we would have a go at it. It's surely a great moment – this gives us a lot of confidence as a team."
It also maintains Pakistan's position in fifth in the ICC's World Test Rankings, 10 points above Sri Lanka and seven behind England, although the importance of earning a place in the top four will recede considerably if and when the proposed World Test Championship is scrapped. Meanwhile Pakistan have recalled the experienced and occasionally accident-prone wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal to a 30-man long list from which their squad for the World Twenty20 in March and April will be selected.
Sri Lanka have given Bangladesh a boost as they battle to persuade the cricketing world that the country remains a safe venue for the World T20 by confirming that they will go ahead with a four-week tour, starting next week, and stay on for the Asia Cup.
Sanath Jayasuriya, the former opener who is now the chief selector, has also flexed his muscles by summoning Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis home early from their commitments in Australia's Big Bash T20 competition.
"You have to admit that Malinga has a serious fitness issue," Jayasuriya said. "But if he shows serious intentions and is willing work hard and improve himself and if he is ready to show commitment towards national duty, then we feel it is unfair to leave him out. He is obviously a world-class bowler. So, we want him to prove himself by coming back from the Big Bash and working with our coaches and trainers and get back to his full fitness in the next few days."
;