August 19: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the International Management Group (IMG) to revise the terms and conditions of the contract it has signed with PCB for the Sahara Cup series in Toronto.Yawar Saeed, PCB's Director Cricket Operations has said PCB's contract with IMG, whose television wing is TransWorld International (TWI), for the Sahara Cup, expired this year.``The contract was for five series starting from 1996, and from next year a fresh contract has to be materialised.''He said PCB believed the money it was getting from IMG for the Sahara Cup series against India needed to be increased in the new contract.Yawar's argument about the new terms and conditions stems from PCB recently getting an offer from a foreign TV network for $3 million per year for a similar series against India in Toronto or any other off-shore venue. PCB is also looking at other options available to it, according to Board sources.``Now it's upto the IMG to decide what they want. But we want the terms and conditions of the contract revised. If a new arrangement can't be made, we'll not be in a position to play in Toronto from next year,'' Yawar saidPCB stand is clear that its contract with IMG ends in 2000, although the IMG version conveyed to PCB is that it lasted till 2001. But the PCB's viewpoint is that Pakistan were available to contest all five editions since 1996 and if India had refused to play against them in 1999 and this year, it was not PCB's fault.IMG is paying PCB $500,000 per series as per the existing contract, according to Board sources.The Sahara Cup contract reportedly came up for discussionduring a meeting IMG/TWI representatives Andrew Wildblood and Commander (retd) Arshad Gillani had with PCB Chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia in Lahore a few days ago.Though the IMG/TWI representatives expressed theirsatisfaction with the meeting and their contract with PCB for TV rights remains intact, PCB has reportedly shown interest in other offers for the TV rights to international matches played in the country.Tauqir is scheduled to meet Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf later this week to inform him about some lucrative offers made by Indian TV networks for Pakistan cricket rights and seek his advice on the issue.New rule riles WaughMELBOURNE: Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh said on Saturday a new five-run penalty rule scheduled to come into effect on Ocober 1 is ``ridiculous.''The rule, adopted by the International Cricket Council (ICC), gives umpires the power to penalise a player five runs for transgressions such as distracting or unduly sledging opponents.``I think it's ridiculous - I'm with Tim May and ACA, I agree with them totally,'' said Waugh, who said he learned of the new rule last week. ``What if a guy is perceived to be guilty at the time, but later on he's found not guilty and the five runs cost a match? That's where the problem is, how do you judge it internationally?``It just seems they rushed into it without thinking about it too much.''Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) president Tim May, who on Friday made public the body's opposition to the rule, is unsure whether the matter can be further discussed before it comes in to effect.Waugh felt the rule had been created without input from current players.ACA lodged a formal complaint with ICC. The Australian Cricket Board is also against the regulation.Under the rule, a player who is penalised five runs is also charged with misconduct and must report to the match referee. One of the main misgivings about the procedure is if the match referee was to find the player not guilty, there could be grounds for a legal challenge.Akhtar damages kneeLONDON: Pakistan's pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar has damaged a knee and is unlikely to be fit to face England this winter, The Times daily reported on Saturday.Akhtar, who was forced to withdraw from a lucrative contract with Nottinghamshire this season owing to groin injury, has ``broken down'' again with knee problem in an attempted comeback at Trent Bridge, the daily said.Akhtar remanined in Nottingham since his contract was cancelled in early June, doing gym work and receiving injections to try to overcome his rib trouble. ``I asked Shoaib to come and join in a practice match convened because we had a blank day,'' Nottinghamshire manager Clive Rice said.``It was like letting a lion out of his cage. Unfortunately, possibly because he was wearing the wrong boots, he damaged a knee and went off after three overs. My guess is he is likely to be out for two months or so and I am unsure whether he will be fit to face England,'' Rice said.
