Pakistan and South Africa plan series in UAE

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Pakistan and South Africa are considering playing a Test and ODI series in the UAE later this year

Cricinfo staff01-Apr-2010Pakistan and South Africa are planning a Test and ODI series in the UAE later this year, according to media reports. Gerald Majola, the chief executive of Cricket South Africa, has agreed to the PCB’s proposal of playing in the UAE but the schedule and the venues are yet to be finalised.”UAE has always been a viable cricket venue,” Majola told Gulf News. “We have played in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi before and we are looking forward to playing in the new stadium at the Dubai Sports City.”We have not yet finalised the itinerary. We have been exploring options of playing in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah but no decision has been taken.”Pakistan has not hosted an international series since the Lahore attacks in March last year, and was stripped of its rights to host the 2011 World Cup as a result of the volatile security situation in the country. The UAE, with strong links to Pakistan cricket, has emerged as an alternate ‘host’ and Pakistan have played ODI series against Australia and New Zealand in Dubai and Abu Dhabi since last year.The chief of the Emirates Cricket Association, Dilawar Mani, welcomed the news and said the Shiekh Zayed Stadium, a possible Test venue, was ready for the series. The ground hosted the inaugural game of the English domestic season this year, a four-day fixture between the MCC and Durham.”It is very, very encouraging that we will soon be an international Test match venue,” Mani was quoted as saying by . “This wicket looks so flat to me we could probably play a 10-day game on it,” he said. “It is absolutely ready for a Test match. I think our groundsman has done a great job.”Majola added he was keen to send the South Africa A team to the UAE to train in conditions similar to the sub-continent, and said it would also help the national team in its preparation for the 2011 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.”We are hoping to send our A team also to UAE. I am able to see that UAE is currently doing very well and hence will be a strong opposition to our A team. It is also important for us to prepare our players to play in the sub-continent conditions. We will be speaking to UAE whether we can send our A team here,” Majola said. “Our A team is our second best team. We want our A team to play here because if anything happens to our top players the players from our second best team will also know to play under these conditions.”

Jahurul and Ashraful find form for Bangladesh

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

When it comes to their respective heights, about a foot or so separates Bangladeshi batsmen Mohammad Ashraful and Jahurul Islam, yet in terms of Test experience the two stylish right-handers remain poles apart

Mark Pennell10-May-2010Bangladeshis 372 for 6 (Jahurul 159, Ashraful 89) lead Surrey XI 318 for 7 (Spriegel 108*, Meaker 94) by 54 runs

ScorecardWhen it comes to their respective heights, about a foot or so separates Bangladeshi batsmen Mohammad Ashraful and Jahurul Islam, yet in terms of Test experience the two stylish right-handers remain poles apart.The diminutive Ashraful, the Tigers’ Test captain until last year, is his nation’s most capped player with 53 Test appearances to his name, while the taller, willowy Jahurul, only made his Test bow in March, scoring 0 and 43 in the nine-wicket defeat by England at Mirpur.But, when it came to run-scoring during their tour opener against Surrey at a bitterly cold Oval on Monday, it was the 23-year-old Jahurul who shaded the issue with an excellent 159 compared to Ashraful’s more measured 89 during a second-wicket stand worth 194 in 46 overs.In pursuit of Surrey’s first day total of 318 for 7 declared, the little and large partners filled their boots on a placid pitch and against a hugely inexperienced Surrey attack to lead their side to 372 for 6 and an overall lead of 54 going into the final day of this three-day friendly.The duo came together with their side on 49 following the loss of Imrul Kayes (16) in the 14th over of the morning and, after enjoying a slice of early luck, went on to dominate proceedings for the best part of two sessions.
Kayes, shuffling across his stumps in aiming to work a straight one from Laurie Evans through midwicket, was bowled around his legs and shuffled off toward the dressing room with leg stump pegged back having gifted Evans a maiden first-class wicket.Against a rookie Surrey attack and a host team with an average age of only 23, the visitors re-grouped painstakingly through Ashraful and Jahurul, who is only in the side due to the extended absence of Bangladesh’s star batsman, Tamim Iqbal.The 21-year-old Tamim fractured his left wrist during the tail end of 2009 and exacerbated the injury last month, curtailing his World Twenty20 campaign to a single appearance against Pakistan.Bangladesh physiotherapist Michael Henry confirmed Tamim would be seeing a London-based specialist on Wednesday, only then will the tourists know if their crowd-pleasing left-hander will stand a chance of playing in the first Test at Lord’s at the end of the month.If he fails to recover in time, Jahurul made sure he will be seen as ‘next cab on the rank’ with his studious career-best at The Oval. His half-century took nigh on two hours and included nine fours, yet there were no signs of the nervous nineties as he moved into three figures in the space of two deliveries.A sweetly-timed cover drive against spinner Matt Spriegel bashed into the picket fence to take him to 98 then, to the next delivery, he danced down the wicket and deposited a flighted one over long on for the second six of his 158-ball hundred.Ashraful looked destined to join him in three figures until, seven overs before tea, he shouldered arms at a Tom Jewell off-cutter that plucked out off stump and sent him packing for 89.Jahurul surged past his previous career-best of 139 on the way to 158 from 256 balls before his five-hour stay came to a surprise end when he was dismissed by Simon King in only his third first-team appearance for Surrey. Dancing down the pitch trying to deposit one from the offspinner into the OCS Stand, Islam miscued into the hands of Chris Schofield to go with his side only two runs short of first innings parity.Mushfiqur Rahim (52) sliced a drive to cover to be caught overhead, Mahmudullah Riyad (27) pulled loosely to deep midwicket and Naeem Islam (0) chopped the final ball of the day onto his off stump to give seamer Matt Dunn somewhat flattering figures of 3 for 48.

Flower gives Strauss full one-day support

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

England coach Andy Flower has given Andrew Strauss a ringing endorsement over his captaincy of the one-day side

Andrew McGlashan07-Jun-2010England coach Andy Flower has given Andrew Strauss a ringing endorsement over his captaincy of the one-day side ahead of the series against Australia later this month following speculation that the leadership position may be under debate.Comments by Geoff Miller, the national selector, on Sunday didn’t appear to give Strauss unequivocal support when he said: “If we think it is right to go elsewhere we will do that.” Following the victory against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, Strauss was quizzed about his position but insisted he wasn’t aware of Miller’s comments and was preparing to lead the one-day team against Scotland on June 19 followed by five matches against Australia and a series against Bangladesh.Flower was surprised that Strauss had been asked to defend his position and was in no doubt that he would be the captain. “He did not mention any of that to me last night,” Flower said. “Andrew Strauss will be captaining in the one-dayers.”England’s triumphant Twenty20 campaign in the Caribbean has led to calls for the same side to be fielded in the 50-over format, but Flower is comfortable with Strauss’s role in one-day cricket and believes he had an impact on the success in the shortest format.”He is a fine leader and a fine batsman,” he said. “I think in the last 12 months he has done some really good things for us in one-day cricket. He bats aggressively up front. His specialist area is facing the quick bowling.”He has been the architect of the attacking type of cricket England’s one-day side has been playing. In a way, he was the catalyst for the attacking cricket we have been able to play in Twenty20 as well. Over the past 12 months, he has played some very good limited-overs cricket.”England will name their one-day squad on Thursday, but one man who certainly won’t be there is Steven Finn despite his Man-of-the-Series performance against Bangladesh after taking 15 wickets in two matches. The selectors have decided he requires a conditioning programme like that undertaken by Stuart Broad and won’t be considered for any ODI action ahead of the Pakistan Test series at the end of July.Flower was also keen to temper expectations for 21-year-old Finn with comparisons already being made with Glenn McGrath and talk of a vital role he can play in the Ashes series later this year.”I don’t like to make those comparisons,” he said. “Steven Finn is unique in various ways. He is very much his own man. Comparing him to other fast bowlers, to me, is not useful. But he has a lovely action.””He has been very impressive. He’s played four Test matches now, and it’s fair to say he’s learning all the time,” Flower added. “He has very, very good control for a 21-year-old fast bowler. I think that comes from his action, and also a very sound and grounded personality. It is a great start for him, but he also realises that he has great scope for learning and progress.”The position likely to create most debate for the one-dayers is that of wicketkeeper following Craig Kieswetter’s impressive performances in West Indies which followed on from his maiden hundred against Bangladesh in Chittagong. Matt Prior hit 93 at Old Trafford, but his ODI average is a mediocre 25.38 having been shunted around the order during his career and it’s unlikely there will be room for both in the squad.”Michael Slater was an attacking and quick-scoring Test player but never really fitted the bill in limited-overs cricket,” Flower said. “Matt is an attacking, often counter-attacking, batsman in Test cricket. He has had a lot of opportunities up the order in one-day cricket and has not quite grasped them, and has consequently been playing a role in the middle order.”With Prior missing out on a hundred in Manchester it means his last three-figure score for England was in Trinidad last March. Since then he has admitted to putting in a huge amount of work on his keeping, but Flower said it was important he maintained his standards in both roles.”I don’t think it needs to be a balancing act between wicketkeeping focus or batting focus,” he said. “Everybody has the time and energy to do both. There is no scope for saying you are working hard on one and therefore the other suffers, at all.”Matt, in his career with England so far, has done some really good things – with the bat and gloves. There was evidence of that again in this last Test match. He had a really good and important partnership with Ian Bell.”

Johnson the pick on a day of toil for bowlers

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Mitchell Johnson picked up two wickets and deprived Chris Rogers of a century against his one-time team-mates on a middling day for Australia’s bowlers against Derbyshire

The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale in Derby09-Jul-2010
ScorecardChris Rogers cuts during his 93•Getty Images

Mitchell Johnson picked up two wickets and deprived Chris Rogers of a century against his one-time team-mates on a middling day for Australia’s bowlers against Derbyshire. On their only day of match bowling before the first Test against Pakistan, the Australians took a while to work into their rhythm but gradually chipped away and when play was called off they had Derbyshire at 235 for 5.In his return to the senior Australian side, Ben Hilfenhaus worked hard and was eventually rewarded with the wicket of Dan Redfern, who cut to gully and was caught by a juggling Marcus North. Johnson was comfortably the best of the bowlers and removed both openers during a very good spell of fast and aggressive bowling.Rogers and Wayne Madsen had frustrated the Australians during a 147-run opening stand that finally ended when Madsen flashed hard outside off stump and was gloved by Tim Paine. Rogers was keen to prove that he should remain in the mix for Test cricket, after being overlooked since playing one Test against India in January 2008.Rogers has fallen behind Shane Watson, Simon Katich and Phillip Hughes in the pecking order, but he looked solid in compiling 93, which included a six off Marcus North. Rogers famously made a double-century against the Australians for Leicestershire in a tour match on the 2005 Ashes tour but there was to be no repeat and he was caught behind off Johnson short of his milestone.Rogers had earlier been dropped on 89 when he tickled Johnson down leg side and began walking, only to realise that Paine had grassed the opportunity. Earlier, Steven Smith was convinced he had Rogers caught at bat pad, but the umpire declined the appeal and Smith ended the second session with figures of 0 for 65, having dropped a few deliveries too short.He eventually won a reward of sorts, when Wes Durston was caught at gully, before Simon Katich chipped in with the late wicket of Garry Park. Doug Bollinger and Peter George couldn’t buy a wicket but the bowlers will be better for a day of toiling with the red Duke; whether it’s enough to prepare for a Test match, only time will tell.

Graeme Smith back in the groove

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Graeme Smith re-found his batting confidence with a timely century that set up South Africa in the second Test against West Indies

Cricinfo staff19-Jun-2010Graeme Smith re-found his batting confidence with a timely century that set up South Africa in the second Test against West Indies. Smith suffered a broken finger during the IPL in March and has had to fight to regain faith in his stroke-play, something he achieved with his 21st hundred as his side reached 296 for 3.Smith posted 132, becoming the third South African to pass 7000 Test runs, before being bowled by Kemar Roach and was pleased with the performance. “Confidence is a crucial thing in this game, and I have been working hard through the limited-overs matches, following the lengthy break I had with a broken finger,” Smith said.”It has taken me some time to get the feel back in the game, even though it still hinders me a little bit, but it’s had some ice now. It feels much better now that I have got some big runs on the board.” Smith broke the middle finger of his right hand taking a catch while playing with Rajasthan.Jacques Kallis finished the day unbeaten on 45 after moving into sixth place on the Test run-scoring list, having gone ahead of Steve Waugh’s haul of 10,927. Alviro Petersen (52) and Hashim Amla (44) also made useful contributions to strengthen South Africa’s position.”That was the key for us, to start this Test match well and not to fall into a complacent mindset at the back-end of the tour,” Smith said. “We have done this, and set up a good first day for us, and hopefully [on Saturday] we can build on it.”

Parthiv Patel to lead India in Emerging Players Tournament

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Parthiv Patel, the Gujarat captain, will lead India’s team in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia in August

Cricinfo staff13-Jul-2010Parthiv Patel, the Gujarat captain, will lead India’s team in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia in August. Cheteshwar Pujara, who finished as the highest run-getter in the recent A-team tri-series in England, has been appointed Parthiv’s deputy. The four teams – South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and India – play two competitions – Twenty20 and 50-overs – during a two-week period.Each of the 15 players selected in the squad participated in the IPL, and a significant number has played for India. Parthiv and legspinner Piyush Chawla have played Test cricket, while medium-pacer Vinay Kumar, offspinner R Ashwin, seamer Umesh Yadav and wicketkeeper Naman Ojha have had exposure in the ODI format. Among the players missing from the India A squad that toured England are batsmen Manoj Tiwary and Manish Pandey. Tiwary averaged only 19 in five limited-overs games, while Pandey 11 in as many.The Emerging Players tour is an important opportunity for Saurabh Tiwary, the left-hand batsman who impressed in the IPL and had a successful Ranji Trophy, scoring thee centuries in the Plate League last season. He was picked in India’s ODI squad for the Asia Cup while on tour to England with the A team, but didn’t get a game.Squad: Parthiv Patel (capt & wk), Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Saurabh Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav, Naman Ojha, Abhinav Mukund, Umesh Yadav, Jaidev Unadkat, Vinay Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaskaran Singh, Piyush Chawla, R Ashwin.

Sussex coast to comfortable win

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

A round-up of action from the Clydesdale Bank 40

08-Aug-2010Sussex’s bid for a third successive 40-over league title gained momentum as they eased to a six-wicket win over Surrey at Guildford. An unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 113 in 14.5 overs between skipper Mike Yardy and Andrew Hodd saw Sussex home with 10 balls to spare and took them a point above their rivals and into second place in Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A, although Surrey do have a game in hand.Michael Comber and Adam Wheater, both aged 20, were the Essex heroes as the home side beat Northamptonshire by five wickets in their clash at Southend. They came together with Essex struggling on 100 for 5 in the 22nd over in reply to a total of 215 for 6. But both displayed a cool head on young shoulders to see their side home with nine balls to spare.Jon Lewis smashed 20 off the last over of the game from Tim Murtagh to seal a remarkable three-wicket victory for Gloucestershire over Middlesex . Owais Shah (111) and John Simpson (82) led Middlesex to an imposing 299 for 8 but Gloucestershire were kept in the hunt by Steve Snell (95) and Chris Taylor (85), who plundered 158 in 18 overs for the fifth wicket.Kent recorded their third win of the Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign in emphatic style with an eight-wicket drubbing of Leicestershire with more than 13 overs in hand. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Leicestershire made a stunning start to reach 41 without loss after four overs, only to be dismissed for 148 in 30.1 overs.Tom Smith produced a sparkling all-round performance and Steven Croft weighed in with a career-best 93 not out to help Lancashire seal an eight-wicket victory over Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay. Smith followed up figures of three for 49 with a fine half-century as Lancashire registered their fourth win in the tournament by chasing down 212 to win. Croft’s effort from 90 balls hastened Lancashire’s victory charge as they won with 16 balls to spare.Opening batsmen Michael Lumb and Jimmy Adams led Hampshire to a resounding six-wicket win over Durham at the Rose Bowl with 31 balls to spare. Lumb signalled his return to form after a poor first half to the season by making 75, while Adams top-scored with 86. Chasing Durham’s 205 for 8 from their 40 overs, a total which never looked like being enough, Hampshire got home in the 35th over.A century from Jacques Rudolph set Yorkshire on their way to an eight-run victory over Derbyshire at Chesterfield to keep them top of Group B in the Clydesdale Bank 40. The South African scored 105, sharing a second-wicket stand of 144 in 22 overs with Adam Lyth, who made 91, as Yorkshire made 276 for 6 from their 40 overs. Chesney Hughes hit 54 and Wayne Madsen 65 from 57 balls but, despite a late charge from Graham Wagg (27) in his first game since late April, the Falcons came up short on 268 for 8.Powerful half-centuries from David Hussey and Chris Read set Nottinghamshire on their way to a comfortable 75-run victory over Scotland . After coming together in the 24th over with the score at 116 for 4, the pair put on 89 for the fifth wicket with Hussey smashing 80 from 67 balls, including two sixes and six fours, before being caught on the midwicket boundary. Read also hit two maximums and six boundaries in his 69 not out from 50 balls as the hosts finished on 260 for 5, having added 115 in the last 10 overs.Somerset limped to their seventh Clydesdale Bank 40 win in seven games by beating the Unicorns by three wickets at Exmouth. Marcus Trescothick’s side shook off the loss of their skipper to a second ball duck to chase down their target of 167 with two overs to spare. A second-wicket stand of 67 in 14 overs between Nick Compton (64) and Craig Kieswetter (30) broke the back of the semi-professional team’s resistance. The result was rarely in doubt after the Unicorns made just 166 for 9.

Naved meets Ijaz Butt, appeal adjourned again

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has finally managed to meet PCB chairman Ijaz Butt after several unsuccessful attempts earlier, regarding his appeal against the one-year ban imposed on him by the board

Cricinfo staff24-Sep-2010After several unsuccessful attempts, Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has finally met PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to plead his case against the one-year ban imposed on him by the board.”Friday’s meeting was good and I hope to get good news soon,” Naved told .However, Naved’s appeal, which was supposed to be heard on September 25 by the tribunal headed by retired Justice Irfan Qadir, has been adjourned again. “We will announce a new date on Saturday,” PCB lawyer Talib Rizvi said.Naved was one of seven players punished by the PCB after Pakistan’s winless tour of Australia earlier this year. He was fined Rs 2 million in addition to his one-year ban. The other six players have already had their bans revoked and fines lifted or reduced. Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf, both of whom were banned, have since been recalled to the Pakistan side as well.Naved has played nine Tests, 74 ODIs and four Twenty20s for Pakistan. He said his county experience could have been useful on the recent England tour. “I have lot of cricket left in me and I am desperate to play for Pakistan. It was disappointing to see Pakistan lose on the England tour where I could have been successful because of my experience in county cricket.”

Brett Lee targets return against Sri Lanka

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Brett Lee hopes to be in contention for Australia’s limited-overs series against Sri Lanka later this month, despite his decision to sit out of New South Wales’ opening Ryobi Cup game this weekend

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2010Brett Lee hopes to be in contention for Australia’s limited-overs series against Sri Lanka later this month, despite his decision to sit out of New South Wales’ opening Ryobi Cup game this weekend. Lee has been troubled by injuries all year but is aiming to be part of Australia’s World Cup defence in February.The Blues begin their season with a one-day game against South Australia in Adelaide on Saturday, and the match will mark the return of Brad Haddin to state cricket after a long lay-off due to an elbow injury. But Lee has chosen instead to make a more low-key start to his summer by playing in Sydney’s grade cricket.”Obviously I didn’t want to go straight back in for the Blues this weekend, I thought it would be nice to ease into a grade game, and I mean that with all due respect,” Lee told the ABC. “But I’ll be trying to play a couple of one-dayers for the Blues over the next couple of weeks, with the look to try and play against Sri Lanka coming towards the end of this month.”Haddin will take the gloves for both the Ryobi Cup game and the Sheffield Shield match that follows two days later, with his sights set firmly on returning to the baggy green for the Ashes opener at the Gabba in late November. Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper has been out of action since May, but he made a positive comeback for the New South Wales Second XI this week.He will be joined in the New South Wales side by the uncapped opener Nic Maddinson, who has been named in both squads. Maddinson, 18, was part of Australia’s winning Under-19 World Cup side earlier this year and earned a Blues rookie contract during the off-season, and could win a Sheffield Shield debut with David Warner unavailable due to his ODI call-up for the series in India.Another potential debutant is the allrounder Sean Abbott, also 18, who scored a century for the New South Wales Futures League side last week. The Blues will also welcome back the fast bowler Mark Cameron, who missed all of last season with a back injury and has not played for his state since February 2009.There could also be a return for another fast man, Scott Coyte, who last played for the Blues in a Twenty20 game in January 2008. South Australia’s one-day squad includes their off-season acquisitions Aiden Blizzard, the former Victoria batsman, and the fast bowler Ben Edmondson, who has moved from Western Australia.NSW Ryobi Cup squad Phil Jaques, David Warner, Nic Maddinson, Usman Khawaja, Ben Rohrer, Brad Haddin (wk), Moises Henriques, Steve O’Keefe, Sean Abbott, Stuart Clark (capt), Mark Cameron, Trent Copeland, Scott Coyte.NSW Sheffield Shield squad Phil Jaques, Nic Maddinson, Usman Khawaja, Peter Forrest, Ben Rohrer, Brad Haddin (wk), Moises Henriques, Steve O’Keefe, Sean Abbott, Stuart Clark (capt), Trent Copeland, Scott Coyte.South Australia Ryobi Cup squad Michael Klinger (capt), Daniel Harris, Tom Cooper, Aiden Blizzard, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Borgas, Graham Manou (wk), Daniel Christian, Aaron O’Brien, Kane Richardson, Chris Duval, Ben Edmondson, Gary Putland.

Lawyers question franchises' expulsion

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Lawyers say the two franchises can take the board to court over its unilateral action and have their cases referred to arbitration

Tariq Engineer11-Oct-2010The BCCI may have decided to expel the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab out of the IPL, but lawyers familiar with the legal processes in Indian cricket say the two franchises can take the board to court over its unilateral action and have their cases referred to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.The IPL franchise agreement specifically provides for arbitration in the case of a dispute that cannot be settled amicably. Clause 21.1 of the agreement, states that “such dispute shall be submitted to arbitration and conclusively resolved by a single arbitrator appointed by mutual consent.”Delhi-based lawyer Rahul Mehra, who famously filed a public interest litigation against the BCCI in 2000 in an attempt to extract more accountability from the board, told ESPNcricinfo that if the agreement allows for arbitration, then “there should be arbitration.”Usha Nath Bannerjee, who has represented former board president Jagmohan Dalmiya when he was taken to court by the BCCI over alleged corruption, seconded Mehra’s opinion. Banerjee, who was also the lawyer for India footballer Bhaichung Bhutia during a Kolkata club dispute, said the matter has to be referred to a high court, “in the absence of an agreed arbitrator.”If the situation cannot be settled through negotiations, Mehra believes the franchises will ultimately go to court as there are issues of defamation in play as well. “There has been damage to their reputations,” he said. “Their brand was created over three years and has now been completely tarnished.”The IPL franchise agreement also states that only the BCCI-IPL, and not the franchisee, has the right to file a case in the Mumbai court (clause 21.6), but Mehra says this violates the principles of natural justice. “You can’t take a decision of this magnitude by saying we will do it, and we won’t give you a chance to be heard. You have got to give them the right to be heard.”Bannerjee said that the clause in the franchise agreement that forbid a franchise from going to court was “immaterial”. He said that the principles of natural justice have to be read as incorporated in any agreement. Banerjee said, “If I have a statutory or legal right under the law, it cannot be taken away.” According to the ‘principles of natural justice’, universally regarded as fundamental to a fair legal system, no one can be a judge in his own case and every side should be given the opportunity to present their case.Both lawyers agreed the franchisees’ case is likely to be heard by the courts. Should the court decide to take on the case, any decisions to do with IPL 2011 will probably be stayed until the matter is decided. Depending on how long the case takes, this could result in the postponement of the player auction currently scheduled for mid-to-late November.