ICC to keep 14-team Cricket World Cup after U-turn

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has performed a U-turn on controversial plans to reduce the size of the Cricket World Cup after agreeing to allow four non-Test playing nations to participate in the next edition of the competition.

The ICC originally planned to cut the list of participants to 10 “full member” nations, excluding “associates” such as Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and Kenya, which all took part in the 14-team Cricket World Cup earlier this year. The governing body’s initial decision was made after criticism of the length of the 2011 tournament, which ran from February 19 to April 2 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, but the ICC agreed to review its proposal after complaints from the lower-ranked nations.

The ICC, which held its annual conference in Hong Kong, confirmed that four associate members will now take part in the tournament after a qualifying process. “The ICC executive board today reversed its previous decisions and approved a 14-team format for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to be held in Australia and New Zealand and a 12-team format for the ICC World Twenty20 events in 2012 (Sri Lanka) and 2014 (Bangladesh),” read a statement from the ICC. The Twenty20 events were initially slated to include 16 teams, up from 12.

The ICC also announced the 2019 World Cup would be a 10-team event, with the top eight places going to the top-ranked teams and two berths being awarded in a pre-qualifying tournament. Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom told AFP: “I suppose the immediate reaction is one of relief, and that we can all now divert our energies in the significantly more proactive pursuit of trying to qualify.”

The board also approved a recommendation made by its chief executives' committee on Monday to make the controversial Umpire Decision Review System (DRS) mandatory in all Tests and one-day matches. Hot Spot, the “thermal imaging” technology now available and made mandatory in the DRS, will mostly be used for close catches and edges. On Wednesday, the ICC executive board is expected to discuss plans to scrap the ICC's two-year rotational presidency.

If I have black money, make it national property: Ramdev

NEW DELHI: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who fasted earlier this month against mountingcorruption in the country, said here Sunday that if any black money was found with him, it could be declared national property.

"If the government finds any black money with me, they can declare it national property," Ramdevsaid while addressing a press conference in the Capital.

Weeks after he was forced to quit Delhi, Baba Ramdev returned here Sunday to meet Raj Bala, 51, who is at the GB Pant Hospital since suffering spinal injuries in a police crackdown on the yoga guru post midnight June 4.

"Behen Raj Bala is in very critical condition. Only a miracle can save her once the ventilator is removed," he said.

"This government is not only corrupt but also cruel. If I had not asked the people to stay calm, there would have been a pool of dead bodies," he added.

Delhi Police broke up his fast against corruption and black money stashed abroad at the Ramlila ground here, dispersing thousands of men and women using force and tear gas. Many suffered injuries. Raj Bala was one of them.

He was asked to leave Delhi and banned from entering the city for 15 days. Ramdev continued his fast in Haridwar and Dehradun till June 12.

History revisited: India wins ICC World Cup 2011

INDIAN LIONS did it in style and the Lankan tigers had to accept defeat at the hands of none other than the cool Indian captain M S Dhoni, who made sure the team India gets on to lift the World Cup 2011 in Mumbai amidst loud cheers and applause from the strong crowd present in the Wankhede stadium to witness the history being written. No doubt MS Dhoni scripted the history when he hit the winning six in the 49^th over and India became the new World Champion after 28 years.

This also moved India up in the ICC ODI rankings and India captured the number one spot and now, the team India is number one in both the formats of the game i.e. test and one day. The victory was long overdue as we missed it in 2003 when Australia defeated us. But Saturday was our day and we made it. This victory is very special to every Indian because of many reasons. First, we lifted the cup by beating Pakistan. Second, we won our match from team Australia also. This gives immense satisfaction that we are now the real champions.

It was a tough road for MS Dhoni and his men as there was tremendous pressure on them to perform and to excel in front of the home crowd and that too in a tournament which is called the “World Cup,” it was never easy. But it was the patience and quality of tackling pressure now that the youngsters in the team have been able to that’s give the team a smooth sailing even in the rough time.

After losing the toss in the finals, as there was some confusion perhaps due to the noise from the crowd that toss had to be done again and when Lanka won it and decided to bat first, many looked at ease thinking it was better to know the target and then chase it off as per the plan.

As India has a long batting line up and the form in which our players were, people thought anything between 260-280 odd runs would be not bad for the Indian side.

After the brilliant century by Mahela Jayawardhane, it was the turn of Virendra Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. There were lots of hopes from Sachin as it was his home ground but after Viru got out on a duck, there was complete silence in the stadium and all looked shocked as he got out LBW in the very first over of Lasith Malinga on the second ball. Soon, Sachin also fell prey to Malinga when India was 31 and the score on the board displayed India 31/2.

Then it was the crucial partnership of more than 90 runs between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli which stabilized the Indian innings and when Kohli got out, it was captain M S Dhoni who came out to rescue his team and he made sure that he remained there on the crease till Indian side reached the victory line. He batted brilliantly along with Gautam Gambhir and put India in a commanding position. Gambhir missed his century by three runs.

It was Dhoni and Yuvraj who finished the innings for India and a long dream for millions of Indian cricket fans came true Saturday night when these two made sure that no more wicket fell for India and India became the World Champion in a close fighting game.

It was a big-big win for Indian team. Right from the President and Prime Minister of India every body congratulated MSD and his team members for this historic win. BCCI has announced to give one crore each to the players, Rs 50 lakh to supporting staff and Rs 25 lakh to the selectors of the team.

Google bets on India growth, to hire Indians

World's leading search engine Google sees India becoming one of the 10 most "impactful markets" in the next three to five years and is planning to hire locally to drive its brand advertising stream of business.

"Our focus in India is growth. India is going to be one of the 10 most impactful market for Google in three to five years...Minimal impact on India in terms of job cuts announced globally," Google India MD Shailesh Rao saidI.

The US-based company did not reveal its India revenue or headcount. It has two R&D centres here. Outside the US, India has one of the highest headcounts, Rao said.

"At the moment India does not drive global revenue," Rao said.

The search engine, which has a monopoly position in India, is also looking at hiring here to strengthen its brand advertising revenue stream which is a new growthdriver.

"Hiring is to continue in India. We need a team for brand advertising. India is one of the largest employers outside the US and it is a strategic location with good technical skills and manpower and is among the highest growth markets for Google," he said.

He, however, added that in India the company is hiring at a reduced level and is need based.

India pays millions more for Russian warship

India has given an additional $102 million to Russia for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov ahead of fresh negotiations before July end between the two countries on the final purchase price of the warship, a senior official said on Thursday. With the latest installment of payment, India has paid nearly $602 million to Moscow so far for the refurbishment of the Gorshkov, an aircraft carrier which has not been seaworthy after 1988