Cricket's alternative commentary on the World Cup "has been silenced," according to David Leggat of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. The Alternative Commentary Collective, whose "distinctive work" from a caravan parked near the boundary at New Zealand's games this summer has become a feature of the int'l program, had its "accreditations pulled" by the Int'l Cricket Council. It "is in response to an on-field stunt during the game between Afghanistan and New Zealand" at McLean Park in Napier on Sunday. At a drinks break during the Afghanistan innings, comedian Leigh Hart, a member of the ACC, "accompanied the drinks trolley onto the park." That "broke a rule about who is permitted onto the playing arena on a game day." The ACC is "understood to be perplexed by the controversy," saying that it was invited into the drinks trolley by tournament sponsor Gatorade, part of the Pepsi Cola group. A statement on the ACC Facebook page said, "For the record -- there was no breach of protocol here. Leigh did exactly what was asked of him by operations officials -- it was so innocuous it's boring." However the ICC has taken a "dim view of the stunt" (NZ HERALD, 3/9).
