Waiting for dialogue with India: IOC

December 8, 2012

IO

Jaipur, December 8: On Tuesday, the IOC executive board took an extreme step by suspending the Indian Olympic Association. The IOC made it clear that any activities of the IOA will not be recognized by the world body. However, the IOA went ahead with its elections on the next day.

In an exclusive interview with TOI, Pere Miro, director of NOC relations at the IOC, says that the body was forced to take such a decision after repeated warnings to set the house in order fell on deaf ears. Excerpts:

IOA has gone ahead and held elections. Apart from not recognizing the new committee, can the IOC penalize the IOA further?

The IOC does not recognize any such election and that is the end of the matter. As far as the IOC is concerned, Mr VK Malhotra was the functional president when the IOA was suspended and Mr Randhir Singh was the general secretary. We continue to recognize that and any further changes in the IOA don't really affect us.

Now that the IOA has been suspended, what is the stand vis-a-vis India's representative to IOC, Randhir Singh?

I'd like to make it clear that the action is against the IOA and not individuals. Mr Randhir Singh continues to hold his posts in the Olympic Association Of Asia and the IOC.

Has the Indian govt or the IOA approached the IOC after the suspension?

Since the suspension, nobody from India has approached us. We are open to dialogue. If anyone from India does approach us, we are ready to hold talks to sort out the issue. The IOC is keen to ensure that sporting activities happen in India smoothly.

What happens to Indian athletes participating in international events?

India cannot participate in any event held under the IOC jurisdiction as a nation as long as the suspension remains in force. That would include events like the Olympics and the Asian Games. When it comes to athletes, the issue will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. However, in single sport, for example Asian Table Tennis Championship which is conducted by the ITTF, the IOC will respect the decision of the governing body of that sport.

What happens to the Olympic quota places up for grabs in these events?

Quota places for future games are an issue for us. The Olympic Games is still far away and we do hope the issue with the IOA is resolved by then. As of now, if any Indian earns a quota place, the IOC won't really take any decision on that. However, if the issue is not resolved by the time of the Olympics, the IOC would have to take some decision. As of now, the IOC will just wait.

The Indian govt says it only wants to ensure fair elections at IOA in accordance to the Olympic Charter. Your reactions.

If the Indian government says it is not interfering with the IOA election, we would welcome the idea and we would want to understand the details. If they say that they are following the Olympic Charter, they should show it. The Olympic Charter ensures harmony among the IOC, the 204 National Olympic Committees and the laws of all the countries. Normally, we would deal with the IOA only. But then, in this case, we are open to discussions with the Indian government. We are waiting to have dialogue with anyone interested in doing so.

The Indian judiciary wanted IOA elections as per the Sports Code. How could the IOA defy the Court?

We respect the decisions of justice in every nation. But then, the judges will deliver their verdict as per the laws of the nation. The concerned nation should look at the laws regarding sport and ensure that the sports organizations remain autonomous and in harmony with the principles of the Olympic Charter.



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News Network
April 8,2020

London, Apr 8: England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler has raised more than 65,000 pound (USD 80,000) to help fight the coronavirus by auctioning off his World Cup final shirt.

Buttler's shirt, which he wore when completing the last-ball run-out that saw England beat New Zealand at Lord's last year, was sold to raise money for specialist heart and lung centres provided by the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals in London.

Buttler, who earlier in the showpiece match had hit a fifty and batted in the Super Over, put his long-sleeve keeping jersey up for sale on eBay a week ago.

By the time the auction closed on Tuesday, the shirt had attracted 82 bids with the winner paying 65,100 pound.

Buttler, speaking on Monday, said: "It's a very special shirt but I think it takes on extra meaning with it being able to hopefully go to the emergency cause.

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News Network
May 10,2020

New Delhi, May 10: Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has proposed radical changes in the LBW laws, stating that a batsman should be given out leg before as long as the ball is hitting the stumps irrespective of the spot of its landing and impact.

Chappell also said captains should agree on one way of working up the ball which will encourage swing bowling, even as the ICC is considering the use of artificial substances to shine the ball instead of sweat and saliva in post-COVID-19 scenario.

"The new lbw law should simply say: 'Any delivery that strikes the pad without first hitting the bat and, in the umpire's opinion, would go on to hit the stumps is out regardless of whether or not a shot is attempted'," he wrote in a column for ESPNcricinfo.

"Forget where the ball pitches and whether it strikes the pad outside the line or not; if it's going to hit the stumps, it's out."

The 76-year-old said the change in lbw law would attract expected criticism from the batsmen but it would make the game more fair.

"There will be screams of horror - particularly from pampered batsmen - but there are numerous positives this change would bring to the game. Most important is fairness.

"If a bowler is prepared to attack the stumps regularly, the batsman should only be able to protect his wicket with the bat. The pads are there to save the batsman from injury not dismissal.

"It would also force batsmen to seek an attacking method to combat a wristspinner pitching in the rough outside the right-hander's leg stump," said Chappell.

He cited Sachin Tendulkar's example on how he negotiated Shane Warne's round the wicket tactic during the 1997-98 Test series in India.

"Contrast Sachin Tendulkar's aggressive and successful approach to Shane Warne coming round the wicket in Chennai in 1997-98 with a batsman who kicks away deliveries pitching in the rough and turning in toward the stumps. Which would you rather watch?

"The current law encourages "pad play" to balls pitching outside leg while this change would force them to use their bat. The change would reward bowlers who attack the stumps and decrease the need for negative wide deliveries to a packed off-side field," he said.

Chappell said his proposed change to the lbw law would also cut down "frivolous" DRS challenges.

"This change to the lbw law would also simplify umpiring and result in fewer frivolous DRS challenges. Consequently, it would speed up a game that has slowed drastically in recent times.

"It would also make four-day Tests an even more viable proposition as mind-numbing huge first-innings totals would be virtually non-existent."

On the substitute of shining the ball without sweat and saliva, Chappell said international captains should find out a way of working up the ball.

"With ball-tampering always a hot topic, in the past I've suggested that administrators ask international captains to construct a list (i.e. the use of natural substances) detailing the things bowlers feel will help them to swing the ball.

"From this list, the administrators should deem one method to be legal with all others being punishable as illegal," the cricketer-turned-commentator added.

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Agencies
March 14,2020

Sydney, Mar 14: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has been placed under 24-hour isolation amid the fears of coronavirus after he reported a sore throat following the first ODI of the ongoing three-match series against Australia in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which the hosts won by 71 runs.

"In accordance with recommended health protocols, Lockie Ferguson has been placed in isolation at the team hotel for the next 24 hours after reporting a sore throat at the end of the first ODI," said New Zealand Cricket in a statement.

"Once the test results are received and diagnosed, his return to the team can be determined," it added.

The first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series was played in front of empty stands as the spectators were not allowed to be at SCG as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, Australian fast bowler, Kane Richardson was also tested for the coronavirus, after suffering from a sore throat on Thursday. That saw him left out of the squad for Friday's game but the test was negative.

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