IPL spot-fixing probe: BCCI panel to study inquiry report

Preview By Anoop Dubey

June 09,2012

New Delhi:

Ravi Sawani, who heads the Board of Control for Cricket in India's newly-formed anti-corruption wing, submitted a report to N Srinivasan after he completed his inquiry into corruption allegations levelled against five uncapped Indian players during the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League.

Shalabh Srivastava, Mohnish Mishra, TP Sudhindra, Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bali featured in a sting operation by a television channel during IPL 5. Sudhindra was caught on camera allegedly negotiating a deal worth Rs 40,000 to bowl a no-ball in a Madhya Pradesh Premier League T20 match, while Mishra was caught discussing an out-of-turn IPL contract worth more than his fixed slab.

N Srinivasan, the BCCI president, and Arun Jaitley and Niranjan Shah, both senior functionaries of the BCCI, are expected to study the report, which was prepared after Sawani held hearings with all the five players in question.

The sting operation also exposed the possibility of spot-fixing in domestic cricket, where women were allegedly used to entice cricketers.

In the wake of the incident, several former cricketers and sports ministry officials have called for strong action to help curb corruption and other such practices in the IPL. 

Selectors to decide captaincy: Gautam Gambhir

Posted By Anoop Dubey

June 08,2012

After having thrown his hat in the ring, opening batsman Gautam Gambhir on Friday refused to be drawn into the debate over India's Test captaincy saying that the decision remained solely with the selectors.

Under Gambhir's captaincy Kolkata Knight Riders won their first Indian Premier League (IPL) title defeating twice champions Chennai Super Kings in the finals.

"That's for the selectors to decide," Gambhir said when asked about Test captaincy after his office team ONGC beat Rajnigandha Club at the Modern School grounds (Barakhamba Road) in the Lala Raghubir Singh Hot Weather cricket tournament..

The BCCI's decision to remove Gambhir from his post of vice-captaincy and appoint young Virat Kohli in the Asia Cup ODIs came as a surprise to many.

Talking about revival of cricketing ties between Pakistan and India, the elegant left-hander said that too much should not be made of the situation and felt that playing against the arch-rivals was the same as playing against any other country.

"For me, Pakistan is no different from Bangladesh, Australia or New Zealand. The main thing is that you are playing for your country and that in itself is a big motivation," said Gambhir.

Gambhir said retirement of senior cricketers like Rahul Dravid would not dent India's performance in the Tests and felt that everyone in the team were equal.

"There are no seniors or juniors in the Indian team. Everyone is equal in a team. If you are playing for India, you have to take the responsibility. Obviously, when you have experience, you are a bit more matured."

On the national team's debacle in the Test arena in England and Australia, the southpaw said the minor break the team has away from the game would augur well in their pursuit of winning back the No.1 ranking.

India have a busy schedule ahead of them and will play New Zealand, England and Australia in Tests at home.

"This break from cricket will act as a positive for us. We will be able to come back fresh with better fitness. We have the talent and we have to get back to No.1 ranking in Tests," the senior opener said.

Chris Gayle returns to West Indies team for ODI series

Posted By Anoop Dubey

June 05,2012

Chris Gayle returns to international cricket for the first time in 14 months after being recalled by West Indies for the one-day series against England......

          The 32-year-old former captain has been out of the team after a dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board.

Dwayne Bravo returns as vice-captain, while all-rounder Kieron Pollard and spinner Sunil Narine are also included.
The three-match one-day international series begins at Hampshire on 16 June.
Gayle, the fourth highest-scoring West Indian batsman in ODI cricket with 8,087 runs from 228 matches, has not played for them since their World Cup quarter-final defeat by Pakistan in March 2011.

The cavalier left-hander, who was involved in contract disputes with the WICB in 2009, when much of the team decided to take strike action, was left out of the team for a series with Pakistan soon after that 2011 World Cup defeat and was highly critical of the WICB and coach Ottis Gibson in a radio interview.
As his absence from the West Indies side continued he played in Twenty20 tournaments across the world, and was the leading scorer in this year's Indian Premier League with 733 runs, including a 128 from 62 balls.