Indian news round-up

BCCI comments 'unfortunate', says CBI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday termed the BCCI's comments about its findings against the functioning of the board as "unfortunate." It also said that the "point-by-point rebuttal" to the findings would mislead the people. On the telecast rights, CBI sources told PTI that that "BCCI says that the Board received a total of Rs 10.75 crore during the World Cup in 1999 in England while CBI had only mentioned Rs 1.5 crore. The amount of Rs 1.5 crore mentioned by the agency was only the guarantee money received from the host nation even though the BCCI could have demanded more money as participation of India raises the telecast rights as well as advertisement revenue."

Expressing surprise, the source asked why the BCCI had remained silent on the CBI's findings about "underselling" of other events like ICC Dhaka tournament and Coca Cola Sharjah Cup. Asked about the clandestine video graphing of the entire examination by former allrounder Manoj Prabhakar, the sources said "if he is so clean let him make public the tapes, the CBI will hold its cards close to its chest and display them at the right moment."

While BCCI sources told the news agency that "the board has nothing to hide and it is eagerly awaiting the CBI report. The board is accountable not only to its members, but also to the public."

Sports Minister wants BCCI to expedite action The Union Sports Ministry is putting pressure on the BCCI to expedite action against players who have been named by the CBI in its report. Talking to a TV Channel, Sports Minister Uma Bharti has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to expedite its decision on the punishment to players indicted by CBI in its report on the match-fixing and betting case. "People of the country are anxious to know what action the BCCI takes against the concerned cricketers. So this delay is not desirable," she said.

Bharti said she spoke on this matter to the BCCI president AC Muthiah recently. She also said that she was not in favour of the baord's decision that the concerned players' contribution to the game would be taken into account in deciding the nature of punishment for them. Bharti said "It is such a heinous offence that their contribution pales into insignificance."

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Orissa High Court on Thursday will come up for hearing on Monday. The petitioners Ashok Samal, Kedar Panda and Prafulla Kumar Singh have demanded a CBI inquiry against the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) secretary Ashirhad Behra on bunglings in the issue of ticket sales for the first ODI between India and Zimbabwe played in Cuttack on Saturday. Behera, however, brushed aside the issue as 'baseless'. The furore over the sale of tickets echoed in the state assembly forcing the Orissa Sports Minister RP Swain to issue a statement in the assembly that if needed the state government would order a CBI inquiry.

Behera said "With the sudden increase in interest among the people of Orissa, we can't sell more tickets than the stadium's capacity, which is only 25,000. The Oriental Bank of Commerce, the official selling agents, opened its counters and sold the tickets on behalf of the OCA. The allegation is absurd." He added "We are not responsible for that. It's an over-reaction by frustrated people who could not manage a ticket."

The Cricket Association of Bengal had earlier announced that in the absence of Sourav Ganguly, his close friend Devang Gandhi would lead the Bengal side in the Ranji Trophy. However, now according to the coach of the team, Palash Nundy, Gandhi will lead Bengal even if Ganguly plays. Nundy said on Friday that Ganguly had already informed him of his decision to play under Gandhi. "He told me that if the Pakistan tour does not come off, he will play as a regular member of the team under Gandhi," said Nundy.

Meanwhile, Saba Karim has opted out of the Bengal team for the Wills Trophy. The 33-year-old former Indian wicketkeeper has informed the selectors that he does not want to play one-day games at present. In his place, Deep Dasgupta has been recalled.