Biji Kacang

Don't hound me like this: N Srinivasan

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 31 Juli 2013 | 21.24

NEW DELHI: A defiant N Srinivasan on Wednesday refused to comment on whether he has taken over as the BCCI president again, bluntly telling the waiting mediamen to stop "hounding him".

"I can't reply, don't hound me like this," Srinivasan told reporters in Chennai when asked about his reported comeback at the helm of the BCCI.

There was intense media speculation that Srinivasan, who had stepped aside as the BCCI president pending an inquiry into the IPL spot-fixing scandal, had made a comeback to the top post on Tuesday evening though there was no confirmation.

There was no official communication from the BCCI on the issue yet. Some BCCI officials, when contacted, said they were not aware of any such development.

The Tamil Nadu strongman has argued that he can be back at his job now that the two-member internal inquiry commission to probe allegations of IPL spot-fixing and betting had completed its report and found no evidence against Chennai Super Kings and his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan.

The Bombay high court, however, had declared the BCCI's two-member probe as "illegal and unconstitutional".

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Cricket Association of Bihar, a division bench of justices S J Vazifdar and M S Sonak declared the two-member BCCI probe panel "unconstitutional and illegal", a development which has put a spanner on Srinivasan's return to the BCCI top post.

Unfazed by the Court order, Srinivasan had made it clear that he will attend the working committee on August 2 which is expected to draw up the future course of action.

The Bombay high court order has created a lot of confusion within the Board and interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya has no clue yet as to who will chair the working committee meeting on August 2.

"Who will chair August 2 meeting? I myself do not know where is the chair... Let me first understand where do I stand... I do not have any information officially. This however does not mean there is some difference with the BCCI," Dalmiya had said.

There are indications that some BCCI officials are not too happy that Srinivasan has decided to attend the meeting which has again brought the spotlight on the Board.

"In view of the Bombay high court's verdict, it would be better if he (Srinivasan) shelves his plans of returning as BCCI president for the time being. He should wait till the matter is discussed and there is some more clarity," a BCCI official said on conditions of anonimity.

The working committee will take a decision on whether to immediately appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court or wait till the police authorities complete their probe in the matter.

During the day, top BCCI officials had consultations on the implications of the Court order and the possible options that are available to the Board.

The IPL spot-fixing scandal broke out when India pacer S Sreesanth, along with two other Rajasthan Royals players Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan and 11 bookies, was arrested for alleged spot-fixing in the IPL.

The contracts of the tainted players were terminated by their franchise, which also lodged a criminal complaint against them.

It snowballed into a crisis for the BCCI when Board president N Srinivasan's son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings team principal Meiyappan was arrested on charges of betting on May 26.

A internal probe panel, originally comprising former judges Chouta, Balasubramanian and the then BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale, was constituted on May 28 to investigate the allegations against Meiyappan, who maintained his innocence after getting bail.

Srinivasan, who owns the CSK franchise, remained defiant through the turmoil and refused to resign but had to step aside as BCCI president after a stormy emergent Board meeting on June 2 where Dalmiya took charge of an interim arrangement to run the Board's affairs pending the inquiry.

The upheaval led to the resignations of Board secretary Sanjay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke, who asked for Srinivasan's resignation on moral grounds.

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'BCCI panel illegal, against its own rules'

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court, which struck down as "illegal and unconstitutional" the two-member panel that went into spot fixing and betting charges in the IPL, has held that the commission was constituted in violation of the rules framed by the BCCI.

However, it refrained from ordering a new panel of retired judges to go into the charges against India Cements Ltd, owners of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, its former Team Principal Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI's President-in-exile N Srinivasan, and Raj Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals.

It held that forming a new probe commission was the prerogative of the Cricket Board.

"The (probe) Commission was not duly constituted and was contrary to and in violation of the provisions of Rules 2.2 and 3 of Section 6 of the Operational Rules (of BCCI)," said Justices M S Sonak and S F Vajifdar in a 61-page verdict delivered yesterday which may thwart Srinivasan's bid to regain full control of the BCCI.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by the Cricket Association of Bihar and its secretary Aditya Verma challenging the constitution of the two-member commission set up by BCCI and IPL Governing Council after surfacing of the betting and fixing scandal.

The High Court order came just two days after the panel submitted its report on July 28 giving a clean chit to all those against whom the probe was conducted.

Armed with the clean-chit, Srinivasan was expected to reclaim his position in the Cricket Board after stepping aside for the duration of the inquiry.

"In our view the commission has been constituted contrary to the operational rules and it would not entitle the court to constitute a fresh probe commission at least (at) this stage and in this writ petition", the judges observed.

"The constitution of a probe commission under section 6 of the Operational Rules is the prerogative of BCCI. We see no reason to deprive it of the same at this stage and in this petition. BCCI is at liberty to take such steps as it deems in this regard", the Judges said while disposing of the PIL.

The court also rejected Srinivisan's plea for a stay on its order to enable him move a higher court in appeal.

The court said rule 2.2 of the Operational Rules mandated presence of at least one member of the IPL Code of Behaviour Committee on the Commission.

After the then BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale declined to be a part of the panel, Justices T Jayarama Chouta and R Balasubramanian, two former judges of the Madras High Court, were left on the commission.

BCCI had selected five members on the IPL Code of Behavior Committee. BCCI is entitled to nominate additional people to join the commission. It, however, does not entitle BCCI to constitute the commission without any member of the IPL Code of Behavior Committee, noted the Judges.

BCCI counsel Rafiq Dada argued that the Cricket Board was compelled to constitute the commission without any member of the IPL Code of Behavior Committee as no such member was available. He defended constitution of the panel, which was contrary to Rule 2.2, on the doctrine of necessity.

The necessity, Dada submitted, was due to none of the members of the IPL Code of Behavior Committee being available to join the commission. Sanjay Jagdale, Ajay Shirke and Rajiv Shukla were not available.

However, the Judges noted that two others--Ravi Shastri and Arun Jaitely were also on the committee.

"There is no reason furnished as to why they were not appointed on the commission. There is no explanation why BCCI did not appoint them. The Respondent (Cricket Board) did not even ask them to be on the commission", said the bench.

Dada argued that Shastri travels to various destinations as a commentator and hence he was not considered to be member on the panel. However, the court disagreed with his contention, saying travelling to various destinations as a commentator would not disable him from discharging his functions as a member of the commission.

"After all, as mentioned by the lawyers, the commission sat on only one day and closed the enquiry on the same day. There is nothing to indicate that he could not have spared a single day", the judges noted.

"The most important point is the fact that Ravi Shastri's name appears on the IPL Code of Behaviour Committee and it must be presumed that he would be in a position to discharge his function as a member of the committee.

"It was not suggested that there were any special reasons why the other members of the IPL Code of Behaviour committee were not available on this occasion," the bench said.

Counsel for Srinivasan Iqbal Chagla contended that the petitioner was not entitled to challenge the constitution of the commission as being contrary to Rule 2.2 of the Operational Rules as there was no pleading to this effect in the petition. However, the judges held the submission was not well founded.

"We have already referred to the pleadings. In fact, BCCI did not specifically state in its affidavit in reply that the commission was constituted under Rule 2.2. We are left to infer this from the letter dated May 29, 2013, annexed to the affidavit-in-reply.

"The petitioner has alleged that the constitution of the commission was contrary to the rules and regulations. That is sufficient in the facts of this case to permit the petitioner to raise this contention. No evidence is required as far as the petitioner is concerned in support of this contention", the court said.

The judges further said that the petitioner was entitled to rely on the plain language of Rule 2.2 of the Operational Rules that mandates that at least one member of the IPL Code of Behaviour Committee must be a member of the commission constituted under Rule 2.2.

"Admittedly, the two learned Judges are not members on the IPL Code of Behaviour Committee," they pointed out.

It is the first respondent (BCCI) that seeks to deviate from this rule and take advantage of an exception based on the doctrine of necessity, the judges said.

"It is for the party relying upon an exemption or an exception to aver and prove that the facts justifying or entitling it to do so exist. The burden was therefore on BCCI to aver and prove that no member from the IPL Code of Behaviour Committee was available to be appointed on the said commission, the judges said.

"Respondent No 1 (BCCI) has not even averred anything to this effect. It has not even sought to establish the same except orally across the bar during the hearing," the bench noted.

"It must be held therefore, that the said commission was not duly constituted and was contrary to and in violation of the provisions of Rules 2.2 and 3 of Section 6 of the Operational Rules", the bench ruled.

The Judges further said, "in a matter such as this and in respect of allegations such as these, it would be neither safe nor fair to BCCI and Srinivasan to draw a final conclusion against them on the basis of affidavit evidence. Dada and Chagla's contention that this is a disputed question of fact is well founded. It is only in a trial that the court would be able to come to a final conclusion in this regard".

"These are indeed very serious allegations in a matter which is even more serious. On this issue the most that can be said in favour of the petitioner at this stage and in this proceeding is that it has made out a prima-facie case that Srinivasan was involved in the formation of the commission," the bench said.

The least that must be said in favour of the petitioner is that the respondents have not established that Srinivasan had no role to play in the formation of the commission, the judges said.

They said normally they would have relegated the petitioner to filing a suit or any other proceedings in which it can be ascertained with a greater degree of certainty whether or not Srinivasan played a role in the formation of the commission.

"However, in view of our finding that the constitution of the commission is not in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of BCCI, this may not be necessary", the bench said.

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Arthur settles contract dispute with CA

SYDNEY: Former Australian cricket coach Mickey Arthur said on Wednesday he had reached a settlement with Cricket Australia over his sacking after he "significantly reduced" his claim for damages.

The South African had been suing for his job back or up to Aus$4 million (US$3.7 million), claiming there was a deliberate campaign against him and he had no choice but to take legal action.

After conciliation talks lasting more than 13 hours at the Fair Work Commission in Sydney, the two parties reached a "confidential agreement", the Australian Associated Press reported.

Arthur was ousted two weeks before the start of the Ashes series in England, with two years left on his contract, and was replaced by Darren Lehmann.

"I am very happy with the financial settlement we have reached tonight with Cricket Australia," he said in a statement.

"For me, this was never solely about the money. I just wanted to be treated fairly, and with dignity and respect.

"I have significantly reduced my claim, as it is being settled tonight and not dragging on at significant cost," Arthur said, adding he also wanted to protect Australia's cricket team from any further publicity surrounding the dispute.

Details of Arthur's case which were leaked to the media revealed divisions in the team.

Skipper Michael Clarke allegedly described his then-vice-captain Shane Watson and his faction in the side as "a cancer", and Arthur termed himself the "meat in the sandwich" between the two camps.

Arthur had also alleged discrimination on grounds of nationality.

He was sacked after Australia lost a Test series in India 4-0 and followed it up with a poor showing at the Champions Trophy in England. The tournament was marred by the off-field misconduct of batsman David Warner.

Under Lehmann Australia lost the first two Ashes Tests, with former skipper Allan Border lamenting the top-order batsmen as "embarrassing".

They must win or draw the third Test starting Thursday to keep the five-game series alive.

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Anderson best bowler of this era: Akram

MANCHESTER: Pakistan great Wasim Akram believes England's James Anderson is the best bowler currently operating in world cricket.

The 31-year-old Anderson has taken 13 wickets in the first two Ashes Tests to help England into a 2-0 lead over Australia ahead of the third Test at the Lancashire paceman's Old Trafford home ground starting Thursday.

Anderson, whose tally of 320 Test wickets places him third on England's all-time list behind Ian Botham and Bob Willis, is currently only equal fifth with Australia's Peter Siddle in the International Cricket Council's Test bowling rankings, which are led by South Africa quick Dale Steyn.

But Akram, arguably cricket's greatest left-arm fast bowler, who took 414 wickets in 104 Tests at a mean average of 23.62, was in no doubt of Anderson's standing amongst his peers.

"Jimmy Anderson is leading from the front. For me he is the best bowler of this era," Akram told BBC Sport on Wednesday. "He does it consistently, with the new ball and the old ball."

Akram and Pakistan teammate Waqar Younis formed a highly effective fast bowling partnership in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their command of reverse swing often proving too much for even the world's best batsmen.

In Anderson, Akram said he recognised an equally skilled exponent.

"Jimmy is up there with me and Waqar because of the control he has," said Akram, who played for Lancashire between 1988 and 1998.

"He was always good with the new ball, but with the old ball he is intelligent," Akram explained.

"He bowls five away-swingers, then one inswinger and takes a wicket."

Although Anderson's career average of 29.66 is more expensive than Steyn's 22.65, Wasim said the Englishman had the edge.

And that was despite Steyn having 33 wickets in five Tests at just 12.56 apiece in 2013 compared to Anderson's haul for the calendar year, which currently stands at 32 in seven at 23.12.

"I have seen Dale Steyn bowling with the old ball and he only bowls one delivery -- the inswinger to the right-hander," added Akram.

"Steyn is one of the best in the world as well, but Jimmy is slightly ahead because he does a lot more with the old ball."

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Hussey feels for stumbling Australians

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 30 Juli 2013 | 21.24

SYDNEY: Former Australian batsman Michael Hussey said on Tuesday he felt for the national team as it enters the third Ashes Test winless, acknowledging two losses would have left a "horrible feeling".

Michael Clarke's men go into the third Test at Old Trafford on Thursday having lost the first two games of the series.

The second loss at Lord's -- by a massive 347 runs -- was Australia's sixth successive Test defeat after a whitewash in a four-Test series in India earlier this year. It is their worst run of results since 1984.

"I feel for the guys," Hussey told reporters in Melbourne.

"I've certainly been in that situation as well where we haven't been playing that well and losing games, and it's a horrible feeling in the dressing room.

"I've been in touch with a few of the guys through text messaging. I know they're very proud to be wearing the baggy green cap and I'm sure we'll see a revival in the last few Test matches."

Hussey, who ended a 79-Test career with his retirement in January, said he was confident new coach Darren Lehmann could turn the team's fortunes around despite the class England have shown on the field.

"They've got seasoned, hardened players who've been there and done it for a long period of time and know what they have to do," Hussey said of the England team.

"And they're prepared to be patient and disciplined for long, long periods of time."

Hussey, who had to wait until he was 30 to make his Test debut, said selectors needed to show faith in the current Australian team which is rebuilding after a string of retirements in recent years, including his own and that of Ricky Ponting.

"It's never easy to get in the Australian team. They're all very fine players," Hussey said.

"We need to show faith in these guys and keep believing in them."

Hussey said Lehmann would take the pressure off the players and allow them to play their own style of game.

"That gives you a chance of playing your best cricket, when you're relaxed and not having all these thoughts and doubts and stresses and pressures on your mind," he said.

Former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist backed the assessment, saying the Australian team didn't lack talent or skill, but needed a confidence boost.

"I think the guys are down and out after the previous Test match," Gilchrist told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "But I do think Darren Lehmann in charge will help bring that group together. I think Darren de-stresses players."

"They've just got to get into this next Test match."

Australia will be unable to regain the Ashes if they fail to win at Old Trafford.

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I don't want to say anything: Srinivasan

MUMBAI: BCCI's president-in-exile N Srinivasan on Tuesday refused to comment on the Bombay high court order declaring the Board's two-member probe panel to look into the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal as "illegal and unconstitutional".

Srinivasan, who was expected to be back at the helm of affairs after stepping aside for the duration of the BCCI inquiry, did not comment on the order which came as a massive jolt to him.

"The only thing I have heard is that the writ has been dismissed and no relief has been granted. I don't want to say anything more," Srinivasan told reporters when his reaction was sought on the Bombay HC order.

The high court order comes just two days after the probe panel submitted its report which cleared Srinivasan, his son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings team principle Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra of charges of betting.

A division bench of justices SJ Vazifdar and MS Sonak was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Cricket Association of Bihar and its secretary Aditya Verma challenging the constitution of the two-member commission, set up by the (Board of Control for Cricket in India) BCCI and IPL governing council to probe allegations of betting and spot-fixing.

The bench, while allowing the PIL, said the constitution of the probe panel was "illegal and unconstitutional."

The petition alleged blatant bias by Srinivasan, who is the vice-chairman and managing director of India Cements Ltd, which owns Chennai Super Kings.

The PIL urged the court to direct BCCI to recall its order constituting the probe panel and instead the court shall form a panel of retired judges as it may deem fit to hold inquiry against Meiyappan, India Cements Ltd and Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd with regard to their involvement in spot-fixing and betting.

BCCI and Srinivasan, in their reply affidavits, termed the petition as "motivated and vested with personal interests."

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Dawood Ibrahim named in chargesheet

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police, investigating the IPL spot-fixing scandal, named underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in their chargesheet and blamed IPL for lack of checks and balance.

The 6,000-page chargesheet named a total of 39 persons as accused for offences of cheating and conspiracy under IPC and provisions of MCOCA.

Sources said the three Rajasthan Royals players -- S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan have been named as accused in the chargesheet.

The chargesheet also claimed Dawood through Pakistan bookies controlled Indian bookies and the fixing racket in IPL.

The chargesheet questioned BCCI on the functioning of the IPL and said the atmosphere in the league was conducive for spot-fixing.

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Australia batting issues mental: Gilly

MELBOURNE: Blaming limited overs cricket for the struggles of Australia's Test batsmen is wrongheaded, according to former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who says their problems in the Ashes are mental rather than technical.

Australia's specialist batsmen have been mostly woeful on tour in England, surrendering their wickets cheaply and putting their bowlers under enormous pressure to protect razor-thin targets.

Batting collapses in both innings at Lord's handed England a 2-0 lead in the five-Test series, and Australia head into the third match at Old Trafford on Thursday with forecasts of a humiliating whitewash ringing in their ears.

Many pundits Down Under have attributed their batsmen's travails to the stand-and-deliver approach honed in Twenty20 cricket, leaving them ill-equipped to patiently graft their way through a long Test innings.

Gilchrist, whose aggressive batting terrorised bowlers across the globe in a brilliant career of 96 Tests and 287 one-day internationals, said if that were the case, their opponents would also be struggling at the crease.

"I think our guys are showing a disappointing mental approach to (batting) and I'm sure they're disappointed as much as anyone with their own choices and decisions they're making within their innings," the 41-year-old said in an interview on Tuesday at the Melbourne launch of the 2015 World Cup.

"A lot of people say 'Oh, T20 is ruining the game', but that's being played globally.

"England's top six, they all feature - if not in T20, certainly in the one-day format - they all play for England and they've shown an ability to adapt and mould their game around the scenario that's required.

"It's not a skill or technique, it's a mindset as much as anything ... the challenge is you've got to get through what's required at the time and flourish later on.

"I think a lot of players themselves would agree they've sort of been caught either in first gear or sixth gear and not much in between. I've got no doubt they're aware of that and they'll be trying to fix that up."

CLICK-THE-FINGERS

Commentators alike in Britain and Down Under have written off Australia's hopes of staving off a harrowing series defeat, and Gilchrist said the team should forget about the scoreline.

"History shows it's going to be difficult to win this one," said Gilchrist, one of the game's finest wicketkeeper-batsmen, who averaged over 47 in Tests with an extraordinary strike-rate of 81.95 runs per 100 balls.

"It's about small steps. We've just got to get into this next game, get into day one, tick that off, day two and so on.

"I don't think (coach) Darren (Lehmann) or any of the selectors are looking for a click-the-fingers, make-it-better scenario.

"A bit of stability in the team will be welcomed by the players but at the end of the day it's up to them to make that stability. If you perform you'll stay in the team."

Despite few justifying their places with runs, Gilchrist said selectors should give their top six another go at Old Trafford, and bring captain Michael Clarke back up to fourth in the order to anchor their innings.

He stopped short of endorsing the immediate reinstatement of the exiled David Warner, despite the hot-headed batsman scoring a big century for Australia A against a South Africa A side last week.

The 26-year-old was omitted from the first two Tests and sent to Africa after punching England batsman Joe Root in a boozy incident at a bar during the recent Champions Trophy.

"He's done everything that's been asked of him since his suspension, or being left out," Gilchrist said.

"But it's not just about the individuals, it's about a whole environment of a team, a team culture that you try to create and allow to evolve.

"And part of that is showing faith in the guys that you instil the trust in initially and giving them the reinforcement that you're prepared to give them another go."

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South Africa make 238 against Lanka

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 28 Juli 2013 | 21.24

PALLEKELE: JP Duminy hit 97 and a fit-again Hashim Amla made 77 to lift South Africa to 238 all out in a must-win one-day international against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Sunday.

Scorecard

But the Proteas, needing a win to level the five-match series 2-2, undid a good start by losing eight wickets for 87 runs after cruising at 118-1 in the 22nd over.

Duminy lashed seven boundaries and two sixes before he was last man out in the 49th over, bowled by unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis three runs short of a century.

Mendis finished with four for 51, while sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga claimed three for 52 and Tillakaratne Dilshan took two wickets.

Amla, batting for the first time in the series after being injured while fielding in the only other game he played, anchored the start with a fluent half-century that contained nine boundaries.

Duminy shared a second-wicket stand of 101 with Amla after Quinton de Kock had been bowled by Malinga in the third over.

Dilshan removed Amla leg-before and had skipper AB de Villiers caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara in the space of eight runs to make it 126-3 in the 25th over.

Faf du Plessis helped Duminy add 46 for the fourth wicket but his dismissal for 23, stumped off Rangana Herath, triggered a middle-order collapse.

Mendis bowled David Miller and had Farhaan Behardien caught at short-leg two balls later as South Africa slipped from 172-3 to 173-6.

Malinga returned to dismiss Robin Peterson (13) and Rory Kleinveldt (eight) before Mendis had Morne Morkel leg-before.

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Shilpa thanks well-wishers on Twitter

NEW DELHI: Actress and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty on Sunday took to Twitter to express her happiness after her husband, Raj Kundra, was absolved of fixing charges by the BCCI-appointed two-member probe panel.

Reacting to the news after Kundra was cleared of all charges, Shilpa tweeted, "there is a God:) love u..and TRUTH PREVAILS. Thanku tweetos for all the unconditional support love and prayers."

The social networking site was also swamped with congratulatory messages from the well-wishers to the celebrity couple.

The panel was mandated to enquire into the roles of Gurunath Meiyappan, who was the team prinicipal of Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and its co-owner Kundra.

The panel found no evidence against India Cements, the company that owns the CSK, in effect clearing president-in-exile N Srinivasan's son-in-law Meiyappan.

This could also pave the way for Srinivasan's possible return to the BCCI fold as early as August 2 when the Board's working committee and the IPL governing council meet in New Delhi to take a final call on the issue.

Meanwhile, sacked IPL commissioner Lalit Modi also took to twitter to express his anguish over the BCCI's decision.

Modi wrote, "Seen the Bcci decisions. All I can say is i am glad i am not part of this lame duck absolutely shameless organisation anymore."

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3rd ODI: Brian Vitori dismisses Rayudu

HARARE: A disciplined India notched up a convincing seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the third one-day international to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match In Pics

Amit Mishra scalped four wickets and skipper Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 88-ball 68 to emerge as star performers for India as they guided the visitors to their third straight victory in the series.

Mishra led a disciplined show by the bowlers as they dismissed Zimbabwe for a paltry 183 in just 46 overs after Kohli won the toss and decided to bowl.

The visitors overhauled the target in 35.3 overs, riding on Kohli's fifty and useful contributions from Shikhar Dhawan (35), Ambati Rayudu (33) and Suresh Raina (28 not out).

Kohli, who had scored a match-winning 115 in the first ODI, once again led from the front as he starred in three useful partnerships.

He added 40 with Dhawan for the second wicket, before forging a 64-run stand with Rayudu for the third wicket, while it was the unbeaten 56-run partnership off 32 balls with Raina which finally took India home.

Chasing 184 to win, openers Rohit Sharma (14) and Shikhar Dhawan (35) made a watchful start as pacers Brian Vitori and Michael Chinouya bowled in tandem.

Sharma's poor run with the bat in this series continued as he was the first batsman to be sent back to the pavilion when he fell to debutante Chinouya.

Sharma chased a widish length delivery from the pacer only to edge it wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor. The Mumbaikar had scored two fours in his 21 balls.

Dhawan, however, didn't allow Sharma's wicket to affect the run flow as he blasted Vitori over square leg for a four and then pulled him for another boundary in the same area in the seventh over.

First down batsman Virat Kohli took one over to get a feel of the wicket and then brought up his first boundary in the ninth over when he whipped Tendai Chatara across the deep backward square leg fence.

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India beat Zimbabwe to clinch series

HARARE: A disciplined India notched up a convincing seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the third one-day international to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match In Pics

Mishra led a disciplined show by the bowlers as they dismissed Zimbabwe for a paltry 183 in just 46 overs after Kohli won the toss and decided to bowl.

The visitors overhauled the target in 35.3 overs, riding on Kohli's fifty and useful contributions from Shikhar Dhawan (35), Ambati Rayudu (33) and Suresh Raina (28 not out).

Kohli, who had scored a match-winning 115 in the first ODI, once again led from the front as he starred in three useful partnerships.

Chasing 184 to win, openers Rohit Sharma (14) and Shikhar Dhawan (35) made a watchful start as pacers Brian Vitori and Michael Chinouya bowled in tandem.

Sharma's poor run with the bat in this series continued as he was the first batsman to be sent back to the pavilion when he fell to debutante Chinouya.

Sharma chased a widish length delivery from the pacer only to edge it wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor. The Mumbaikar had scored two fours in his 21 balls.

Dhawan, however, didn't allow Sharma's wicket to affect the run flow as he blasted Vitori over square leg for a four and then pulled him for another boundary in the same area in the seventh over.

Dhawan then cut one across the cover in the same over to pick up easy runs. The left-handed batsman welcomed Prosper Utseya with a four through the leg side in the 12th over.

His stay was cut short by Chatara in the 15th over when trying to hit a length delivery off the front foot, Dhawan ended up hitting it straight to Sibanda at shortish cover.

Runs dried up after that as Kohli and new man Ambati Rayudu (33) tried to steady the ship, picking up ones and twos. In the 22nd over, Rayudu picked up a much-needed boundary when his thick edge off Utseya went flying past slip.

In the next over, Elton Chigumbura was introduced into the attack and Rayudu and Kohli hit him for two fours.

After the end of 29 overs, India took their batting powerplay but Rayudu lost his wicket when he chipped a pitched up delivery from Vitori straight to the bowler. His 54-ball innings had two fours.

In the 32nd over, Kohli sent Chinouya sailing over deep square leg for a boundary, while new man Suresh Raina too cleared the midwicket boundary in the next over.

Kohli brought up his fifty in the 34th over with a brilliant drive off the front foot, which bisected the mid off and extra cover before clearing the fence.

Three balls later, the India skipper danced down the wicket and smashed Chinouya over wide long off for the first six of Indian innings.

In the next over, Kohli and Raina picked up a couple of fours as India inched towards the win. It was Raina, who blasted a four off Chatara to bring up the final runs.

Earlier, Mishra took four for 47 to help India dismiss Zimbabwe for 183. Mohammed Shami (2/25), Jaydev Unadkat (1/24), Ravindra Jadeja (39) and R Vinay Kumar (1/32) were the other successful bowlers for India.

Sean Williams top-scored for Zimbabwe with 45 off 53 balls.

Leading 2-0 in the five-match series, Kohli's decision to bowl was vindicated as his pacers struck twice in the first two overs at the Harare Sports Club.

While R Vinay Kumar accounted for Vusi Sibanda even before the hosts could open their account, Shami sent back the other-wise reliable Sikander Raza when he had the opener caught behind by Dinesh Karthik.

Hamilton Masakadza (38) and skipper Brendan Taylor (23) added 65 runs for the third wicket to stabilise the innings before Jaydev Unadkat struck with the scoreboard reading 67 for three in the 16th over.

The Zimbabwean captain, who stood his ground after Shami leapt to his left from mid-off to pull off a catch, walked back after the third umpire upheld the on-field umpires' decision. Taylor hit three fours during his 44-ball knock.

Taylor's dismissal was the beginning of slide as Zimbabwe lost three more wickets quickly, with leg-spinner Mishra taking two of them off successive balls.

Coming in to bowl his first over of the match, Mishra tasted success immediately as Masakadza, trying to cut a short of length delivery, edged it to the keeper as the hosts lost their top four batsmen within the first 20 overs. The batsman struck five fours off 53 balls.

Malcolm Waller was out next ball as Mishra had the batsman trapped in front for a golden duck with a googly, leaving the Zimbabweans reeling at 80 for five in the 20th over.

Ravindra Jadeja made it 89 for six as the slow left-arm spinner hit Elton Chigumbura on the pads with one that might have missed the leg stump because of the angle.

Williams then added 36 runs for the seventh wicket with Prosper Utseya (10), before the latter was snared by Shami.

Jadeja's flat throw from the square leg did Williams in as the batsman fell short of the crease at the striker's end after battling it out for 79 minutes. Williams hit two fours and a six during his fighting knock.

The Zimbabwe tail wagged before the innings came to an end.

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It's still a long way to go for Karthik

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 27 Juli 2013 | 21.24

CHENNAI: Dinesh Karthik walked into bat at No. 6 on Friday at the Harare Sports Club ground when the chips were down.

Wickets were falling, Shikhar Dhawan wasn't at his best on a pitch where the ball was doing a bit, but the Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman rose to the occasion and played an innings of 69 off 74 balls that took the game away from Zimbabwe.

Dhawan, of course, settled down and blazed away to 118, but it was Karthik's innings that made the difference.

He was recalled to the Indian team ahead of the Champions Trophy and after a couple of impressive performances in the practice games, he went for nine consecutive games without a half-century.

Karthik has gone to Zimbabwe as the No. 1 wicketkeeper-batsman and that's why held on to his place, but had MS Dhoni been around, things could have got a little tight for him.

"Dinesh always had the potential with the bat. But if he has to play only as a batsman in the Indian team, he has to be more consistent," Karthik's Tamil Nadu coach WV Raman told the TOI.

It seems that the Indian team management is looking at him as the floater in the middle-order with the 2015 World Cup in mind. It's still some distance away and there are quite a few contenders, which include Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara as well, but Karthik has shown glimpses that he could be in the race till the end.

"Let's not put Karthik in the same bracket with Yuvraj...Yuvi has won India many matches for India over a long time. But yes, if you are looking at the others, Dinesh might have the edge in ODIs," Raman added.

It's Karthik's ability to play the short ball and rotate the strike in the middle overs that makes him Dhoni's favourite. He is also good in the outfield and enjoys his fielding, adding that extra zing which the skipper likes.

"It wasn't easy for him when Dhoni sealed the spot in all forms of the game. But the good thing about Dinesh is that he is ready to accept challenge," Raman said.

But for a wicketkeeper, isn't it a little difficult to try and fit in only as a batsman? Deep Dasgupta, the India Above-19 coach, who has done the job for a while for his state team Bengal, accepts.

"Initially it is...But these days, the wicketkeeper is seen as a specialist batsman...He has to have the mindset of a batsman and there's no way that his keeping abilities will be enough to keep him in the team. The runs have to come regularly, otherwise you are out," Dasgupta said.

To Karthik's advantage, he has also played Test cricket for India only as a batsman. He did well at the top in England in 2007 as India went on to win the series. Even for Tamil Nadu, he bats at No. 4 and Raman feels these experiences are going to help Karthik on his way to becoming a specialist batsman.

"He has batted in every position for India from No 1 to 7...He has a flexible game and he can always be a second wicketkeeper to Dhoni, which should give him a headstart to find a place in the squad of 15. But there's no substitute for consistency," Raman words indicated Karthik's road-map for the next year and a half.

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Run scoring is difficult now: Dhawan

HARARE: He might be relishing the role of an opener but Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan says scoring runs has not been easy in one-dayers ever since the introduction of new rules.

Dhawan has been in terrific form for India after being drafted into the side following Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir's prolonged lean patch.

Dhawan on Friday scored a career-best 116 to guide India to their second consecutive win against Zimbabwe.

"It's more difficult nowadays because you've got new balls from both ends. When the ball is swinging you really need to play close to your body.

"You'll see that in the first 10 overs, openers are not scoring that many nowadays because the ball is new and it swings a lot and you have to be more careful," Dhawan said.

The Delhi left-hander said one has to be smart with shots at the start of the innings.

"Shot selection is very important, because you don't want to lose wickets at the start and put pressure on the rest of the side," he said.

Dhawan said there is a united dressing room and that has helped on-field success as well. India won the Champions Trophy in England and then a tri-series in the West Indies.

"Our team is gelling really nicely. All the young boys are very fit and really good in the field. Fielding-wise, we have really improved a lot. I feel like everything is working our way," he said.

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SA itinerary to be discussed at BCCI meet

KOLKATA: The itinerary for the upcoming tour of South Africa and a disciplinary panel report on sacked IPL chief Lalit Modi are among the issues that would dominate discussions when the BCCI's working committee meets on Sunday.

The BCCI is keen on playing two Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals during the series beginning November, while Cricket South Africa had announced the schedule with three Tests, seven ODIs and two T20Is.

"We have not taken any final call on the tour as yet, hopefully we will send an alternative itinerary over to CSA after tomorrow's meeting," BCCI's acting president Jagmohan Dalmiya said.

There is also a section in the BCCI which wants to curtail the series to protest the appointment of former ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat as the CSA's CEO.

The working committee is also likely to discuss the findings of a disciplinary committee comprising Jyotiraditya Scindia and Arun Jaitley, who were appointed to investigate charges of financial bunglings against Modi.

An exhaustive report of about 500 pages had been earlier submitted but it is unlikely that interim president Dalmiya would take a decision on Modi in Sunday's meeting.

There is also speculation that the two-member internal probe panel, comprising former judges T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian, has also submitted its report on the IPL spot-fixing scandal.

The committee, according to some media reports, has cleared sidelined BCCI chief N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan of betting charges but no BCCI official was willing to speak on the issue.

But both Dalmiya and BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel have denied receiving the report.

"We have not received any report... I've absolutely no idea about it," Dalmiya said.

But insiders claim that the report was submitted on Thursday and the verdict would be read out absolving Meiyappan of the charges of betting in the last edition of the Indian Premier League.

A verdict in favour of Meiyappan would pave the way for Srinivasan into the BCCI as he had stepped aside from his post of president after Mumbai Police had levelled charges against his son-in-law in the spot-fixing and betting scandal.

Srinivasan's return would also mean that he will be technically eligible to contest in the Board's elections in September.

Srinivasan, however, would not attend the meeting on Sunday and Kasi Viswanathan would represent the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.

Among other things, there's likely to be a debate over the board's move to cap the age limit for domestic-level match referees at 60 as that would mean that BCCI would lose out on some prominent names like Kalyan Sunderam, B Raghunath, Raju Mukherjee and Balbir Singh, who have all crossed the age limit.

Former India captain and leg spinner Anil Kumble, now the president of the Karnataka Cricket Association, may raise the issue in the working committee as no such cap had been placed by even the ICC.

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India can field two national teams: Borde

NOIDA: Former India captain Chandu Borde said India has such an abundance of cricket talent today that it can easily field two national squads of equal strength.

"We have so much talent in our country today that we can easily field two teams," Borde said while inaugurating a cricket academy named after him at a school here.

"Indian cricket has a very bright future," he added.

The Chandu Borde Global Cricket Academy at the Global Indian International School (GIIS) campus in Noida is the third such in the GIIS network in India, the other two being in the GIIS campuses in Indore and Surat.

According to Borde, fielding is one area where Indian players have improved vastly.

"In our days we did not have anybody training us specifically in fielding," the veteran of 55 Test matches, who was known for his fielding skills during his playing days, said.

"Nowadays with support staff training players specifically in fielding, our players are living up to their standards," he said.

Former Indian Test opening batsman Chetan Chauhan, who was the guest of honour at the inauguration, said the Indian Premier League (IPL) too had helped improve the fielding of the Indian players.

"Nobody today hesitates to dive, take a tumble, attack the ball while fielding," he said.

Asked whether selecting an India team is easier today given the talent, Borde, who has served as the chairman of the national selection committee twice, said that the job of the selectors during his time and now remained the same.

"However, players nowadays get more opportunities to showcase their talent because of the league system in the Ranji Trophy. In our days, it was knockout format, not many players could get more than one opportunity prove themselves," he said.

According to him, the academies like the one he inaugurated Saturday are also helping in grooming young talent in the country.

"During our days, we used to play on the school grounds. But nowadays, because of the accent on construction of buildings, very few schools have big sports grounds," Borde said.

"That is where the academies come in to help in spotting and grooming young talent. It is good that many former cricketers, including Ranji (Trophy) players, are associated with schools and colleges in one way or the other to develop the game," he remarked.

Chauhan, who is also vice-president of the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA), said the infusion of big money in cricket today helped spread the game to far-flung areas of the country.

"Previously, international cricket meant players mainly from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Madras (now Chennai) and Kolkata. Nowadays, the Indian team has players from many small cities," he said.

To a specific query on the ongoing debate about the BCCI being brought under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Chauhan said all sports bodies in the country should be brought under the RTI.

"Why just BCCI, all sports bodies in the country should be brought under the RTI. After all, these bodies are run with public funds. But then, that is my personal view and not that of the DDCA," he said.

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Unadkat strikes to scalp Sikandar Raza

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 26 Juli 2013 | 21.24

NEW DELHI: Jaydev Unadkat struck to give India a first breakthrough as he removed Sikandar Raza in the second ODI of the five-match series against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Zimbabwe got off to a steady start in their pursuit of 295 as Raza and Vusi Sibanda added 45 runs for the first wicket.

Earlier, opener Shikhar Dhawan capitalised on sloppy bowling and fielding by the Zimbabweans to hit his third ODI century as India recovered from early jolts to post a daunting 294 for eight.

Dhawan, who got at least three lives, struck 116 from 127 balls and shared 167 runs with Dinesh Karthik (69) for the fifth wicket to take India to a big total after they were reduced to 65 for four in the 17th over at the Harare Sports Club.

The Zimbabweans, who put the visitors in, spilled regulation catches and their wayward bowlers conceded 28 extras. Dhawan was dropped twice when on 14 and 70 and the Indian also benefited from a no-ball by Kyle Jarvis in the fifth over when he had added just three runs to his name.

The 27-year-old Indian, however, hung on and hit his third ODI ton in his 17th match to save the Indians the blushes. He hit 11 fours and two sixes.

Karthik played his part with a composed 74-ball innings which was studded with six fours as the duo denied the Zimbabweans any success for 25.4 overs.

India ended their innings in style with tail-enders Vinay Kumar (27 not out) and Mohammed Shami (6 not out) scoring 23 from the last over with the help of three sixes and a four.

Captain Virat Kohli, who hit a match-winning hundred in the first match two days ago, could only score 14 runs while the other opener Rohit Sharma (1), Ambati Rayudu (5), Suresh Raina (4) and Ravindra Jadeja (15) were also out cheaply.

The Indian innings was marred by Kohli's face-off with on-field umpires after he was given out to a controversial catch in the seventh over. He stood his ground even as Zimbabwe sought a review as the fielder -- Malcolm Waller -- was not sure whether he had caught the ball cleanly or not.

Kohli refused to leave even after the third umpire adjudged him out. He argued his case once again with the umpires who confirmed the decision. Eventually, a visibly upset Kohli reluctantly walked back to the pavilion.

All Zimbabwean bowlers were expensive except for Brian Vitori who had figures of 2/27 from eight overs.

India suffered an early jolt with opener Rohit being dismissed in the second over as pacer Brian Vitori got his scalp in his first ball. Rohit went for a drive to a delivery just outside the off-stump only to find an edge for Vusi Sibanda to take the catch.

Dhawan was out when on three in the fifth over but survived as it turned out that Jarvis had bowled a no-ball. Then he was dropped on 14 in the ninth over with captain Brendan Taylor spilling a regulation catch, the unfortunate bowler being Jarvis. India were 38 for two then.

Rayudu, who came in at the fall of Kohli, was also dropped in the 10th over when the batsman was on three as Vitori spilled a caught and bowled chance.

India lost two quick wickets as Rayudu and Suresh Raina were out in the 14th and 17th overs respectively. Rayudu ended his struggle as he went for a drive without moving his feet while Raina also continued with his poor run in form as he was caught behind by Taylor. Rayudu consumed 25 balls for his five runs while Raina made just four from 11 balls.

Dhawan and Karthik then played the rescue act with a solid stand. They kept the scoreboard ticking by taking singles and rotating strike in the middle overs.

India took the batting powerplay in the 33rd over and scored 85 runs from the 10 overs to go past 200 in the 40th over.

Karthik and Dhawan were in full flow at that stage though the former survived a dropped catch. The duo took 13 runs each from the 40th and 42nd overs bowled by Prosper Utseya and Vitori respectively.

After Karthik and Dhawan were out in quick succession in the 43rd and 44th overs respectively, the lower order ensured that India go near the 300-run mark.

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Unadkat gives India big breakthrough

NEW DELHI: Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra ended Hamilton Masakadza's fight in the 29th over, giving fifth blow to Zimbabwe at the score of 130 in the second ODI at Harare on Friday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Masakadza scored 34 before getting caught by Mohammad Sami at short fine leg.

Chasing a massive 295, Zimbabwe got off to a steady start before Jaydev Unadkat struck in the 11th over to inflict first jolt to them at the score of 45 by removing Sikandar Raza.

Indian bowlers then toiled hard against Sibanda, who notched up 57-ball fifty to lead Zimbabwe chase. He smashed seven fours and two sixes in his 19th ODI fifty.

However, in the 21st over, Unadkat struck again to end Sibanda's (55) challenge. Zimbabwe suffered another jolt in the same over when Brendan Taylor got run-out for nought.

Ravindra Jadeja then struck on the first delivery of the 27th over to trap Sean Williams (5) leg before, giving Zimbabwe fourth blow at the score of 127.