Send 'Em the Check

It is quite clear now that Cricket Australia, Cricket South Africa, Cricket New Zealand and the ECB had no intention of coming to play the Champion's trophy in Pakistan. The boards had agreed to abide by the ICCs security committee's report. When that report showed that the security measures were more than adequate the boards were bound to come. While the individuals may have the choice to refuse tours by its own standards the member boards of the ICC do not (except when denied by their own governments). They were bound by their own agreements to send teams. Not only did they not send the teams they had no intention to do so. PCB should send them the bill for all the arrangements (security and facilities) and lost revenue and if fines are applicable per ICC rules those should be added. In case of non-payment the matter should be brought to the appropriate courts. ECB asked and got compensation for one missed day's play from PCB for a match that was stopped by an umpire. If other boards cannot hold to their agreements then PCB should find itself released from its contractual obligations as well.

Ball Doping

After it came to light that Trescothick was using sweets to shine the ball ICC and WADA have introduced new legislation to check for ball doping. Saliva of the fielding cricket team and the ball itself will be checked during each break to check for substances like sugar, balm, sunscreen, etc. or the chemicals that go in them. An upper limit of 0.0001 gms/ml has been put as the upper limit for all the junk in the saliva. Umpire Hair in his teaching capacity has already started to look at spit of many players that he claims he can distinguish by texture, taste and feel. He feels by employing these methods he can actually tell who is ball doping better than any test or camera can.