Rameez Raja to head PCB

It may upset the traditionalists, but two leading English cricket administrators are heading to the United States to see what their centuries-old sport can learn from America's game.

"I don't know a great deal about baseball, which is something I am pleased about because it means I go with a fresh sheet of paper," said Alan Fordham, a former batsman who now is operations manager of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Fordham and David Acfield, a former spinbowler who chairs the EBB's cricket committee, will watch the Baltimore Orioles play the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Camden Yards on May 16 and 17.

They will also attend the Triple A minor league game between the Richmond Braves and Buffalo Bisons on May 18.

Pakistan's poor showing in the World Cup claimed another victim. The director of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Chishty Mujahid, was replaced by former captain Rameez Raja.

Raja formally took over on Wednesday from Mujahid, who "resigned" last week.

"At present Rameez had replaced the director (Mujahid) but after more restructuring in the Board, his designation would be that of CEO," a PCB spokeman was quoted as saying by the Daily Times.

The 41-year old Rameez, working as director, academies, played 57 Tests and 195 one-day internationals between 1983-84 and 1997 for Pakistan and is the only survivor from the five-member advisory council formed by chairman Tauqir Zia when the army took control of the PCB in late 1999. He captained the national team in five Test matches against Sri Lanka.

Two members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India selection committee, Kiran More and Pranav Roy will be watching the ongoing five-day Ranji Trophy semi-final between Mumbai and Vadodara.

Paras Mahmbrey, Sairaj Bahutule, Wasim Jaffer and Aavishkar Salvi from Mumbai are eager to regain their places in the national team and will try to impress the duo.

From the Vadodara side, skipper Connor Williams, Rakesh Patel, Irfan Pathan (jr), are trying to break into the national
squad.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has agreed to pay a "retainer fee" to its players from October this year to "ensure that they stay fit and have peace of mind at all times even when they are not playing cricket".

 The decision comes in the wake of protracted negotiations between the WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) for the last many years.

"At this time the WICB is looking at around 20 players for the initial group and is willing to do this at whatever cost because it will certainly assist the competitive life of our best players," a source in the Board said.

The amount of the retainer fee was not immediately known. 

According to the current payment structure for international cricketers in West Indies, players at the lowest rung -- those who have played between 1 to 20 Test matches -- earn about $3,500-$4,000 per Test. The amount ranges to $8,000 per Test for players having experience of more than 80 Tests. The captain gets between $8,000 and $8,500 per Test.

WICB and WIPA will work together to ensure that all parties are agreeable to this idea of retainer fee to the players.