In a positive development, the International Cricket Council has formed a committee to resolve the impasse following the Indian board's refusal to accept the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) code in its current form.
In a positive development, the International Cricket Council has formed a committee to resolve the impasse following the Indian board's refusal to accept the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) code in its current form.
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The Indian cricketers, who have concerns regarding the controversial 'whereabouts' WADA clause, will welcome the announcement with their former captain Anil Kumble being on the five-member committee. MS Dhoni & Co
will feel assured that Kumble will put their case across appropriately. Kumble's brilliant handling of the situation was lauded by the experts during the racism row involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds in the 2007-08 series.
While Kumble is a very balanced personality known for his thoughtful views on the game, he is not the one to mince words. He had unnerved the Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and his team by declaring after the 2008 Sydney Test, that only 'one team was playing in the spirit of the game'.
In the Symonds-Harbhajan racism row, he lead India's strong stand in support of the off-spinner. Ultimately Kumble's stand was vindicated when the racism charge against Harbhajan was dropped.
Indian team manager on the 2007-08 Australia tour, Chetan Chauhan, who was part of the team management that tackled the racism row, backed Kumble to do a worthy job this time too. "It's a delicate matter and will need to be handled carefully. I'm sure Anil will do a good job and will help in resolving the issue. He's a very balanced, matured and forthright person. He will put across the players concerns thoughtfully and strongly," said Chauhan.
Kumble is also on the WADA Athlete's Committee and while the players can be assured that their case will be put strongly, Kumble is known to speak what he feels is right. The most recent example was Kumble speaking against the starting of the Twenty20 Karnataka Premier League which he said 'would kill young talent'.u00a0
The International Registered Testing Pool working group will be chaired by Tim Kerr, chairman of ICC Anti-Doping panel, and apart from Kumble also includes ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, BCCI secretary N Srinivasan and ICC principal advisor IS Bindra.
