Indian news round-up
Tendulkar requested his non inclusion, says Niranjan Shah : The Saurashtra Cricket Association secretary and one of the West Zone selectors, Niranjan Shah said in Mumbai on Saturday that Indian star batsman Sachin Tendulkar had requested the
Natarajan Sriram
24-Dec-2000
Speaking to Press Trust of India (PTI), Niranjan Shah said that the
batting maestro had requested him during the Rajkot one-dayer against
Zimbabwe that he needed some rest before the commencement of the home
series against Australia. Shah added "the other two Indian players
from West Zone, Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan, would play in turns from
the third league match onwards."
PTI in its report also added that the Indian team coach John Wright
too had requested the selectors not to include the main players from
the Indian team in their respective teams since he wanted the players
to be fresh for the forthcoming series against Australia.
Fifteen days time given for tainted cricketers by Govt.
The Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Uma Bharti said in
Chennai on Saturday that the Government has given the tainted
cricketers a time period of 15 days thereby giving them yet another
chance to explain their position before the Government decides on
stripping them off the Arjuna Awards conferred upon the cricketers.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Uma Bharti said that a 15-day
time period has been offered since it was a democratic right of the
tainted players -Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar
- to come forward with their viewpoints. The Union Minister said
"Withdrawing an award is a serious matter. It is also a dishonour.
Therefore, you must give them (the tainted players) time to come out
with their version."
When queried if the Government also proposes to seize the properties
of some of the cricketers following the raids conducted by the Income
Tax Department, Uma Bharti said that the report from the department is
still awaited by the Government.
BCCI requests Government to reconsider decision
The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), AC
Muthiah said in New Delhi on Saturday that he has requested the
Government to reconsider their decision of canceling the Indian tour
to Pakistan this winter.
Quoting the BCCI president, Aaj Tak said "I have sent a letter to the
Sports Ministry asking whether they could once again look at their
decision and reconsider it." The Indian Government on November 15
refused permission to send the Indian team to Pakistan citing the
former's support for cross border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the BCCI refused to brief the media about the outcome of
its `Core Group' meeting held at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in
Mumbai on Saturday. Muthiah said there was nothing to give to the
media. "It is an informal meeting and we have nothing to give to the
press. Even the itinerary for the home series against Australia will
be finalised at the working committee meeting to be held at Delhi on
January 22, 2001," he added.
An unbeaten 128 by former Indian batsman Hanumant Singh steered the
Cricket Club of India President's XI to an easy eight wicket win over
the Parliamentarians XI at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on
Saturday.
The Parliamentarians, batting first were all out for 225 off their
stipulated 30 overs. Former Indian player Kirti Azad top scored with
103 (retired) while former Indian opening batsman scored 38 not out.
Satyajeet Gaikwad with 58 also boosted the the Parliamentarians total.
For the CCI XI, apart from Hanumant Singh, Ghulam Parkar (45) and
Bravish Shetty (36 not out) chipped in with useful contributions.
Scores: Parliamentarian's XI 225 all out (Kirti Azad 103 retired,
Chetan Chauhan 38 not out, Satyajeet Gaikwad 56) lost to CCI
President's XI 227 for two (Hanumant Singh 128 not out, Bravish Shetty
36 not out, Ghulam Parkar 45).