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Virat Kohli to lead India for Sri Lanka tour

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The BCCI national selection committee, along with Test captain Virat Kohli, right, and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, second from right, at a meeting in New Delhi on July 23, 2015 to announce the squad for the three-Test tour of Sri Lanka. Photo: Facebook.com/IndianCricketTeam

The BCCI national selection committee, along with Test captain Virat Kohli, right, and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, second from right, at a meeting in New Delhi on July 23, 2015 to announce the squad for the three-Test tour of Sri Lanka. Photo: Facebook.com/IndianCricketTeam

New Delhi: The BCCI’s national selection committee on Thursday made just one change to the Indian Test team for the upcoming three-Test tour of Sri Lanka, giving 32-year-old leg-spinner Amit Mishra a Test cap after four years.

Mishra, whose last of his 13 Test matches was against England at The Oval in 2011, earned a recall to the squad as a replacement for Karn Sharma, who fractured a finger in his left hand before the side’s recently concluded tour of Zimbabwe.

After returning to the Test team after two years in the one-off match against Bangladesh, Harbhajan Singh will continue his comeback in the five-day format in the series beginning on August 12. Singh and Mishra will act as support cast for lead spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Despite new Test skipper Virat Kohli’s backing of pace to get the job done even on sub-continent pitches — three pacers figured in the drawn game in Fatullah — Sri Lanka has always favoured spinners. Pakistan leggie Yasir Shah’s brilliant performance in the series win over the hosts would only have convinced chief selector Sandeep Patil and company.

Patil emphasised that fitness and form rather than age — Mishra is 32 and Harbhajan 35 — would influence the thinking of his panel. “The policy which the selectors have adopted in the last three years is to go by fitness and form…Karn has still not recovered from the injury. It is the same with Mohammed Shami,” Patil told a media conference. Shami has not played since he underwent knee surgery following the World Cup.

“Mishra was always in the scheme of things,” he said. The leg-spinner though has been playing ODIs, playing his last game in October. However, his Test career never took off, and the 43 wickets in 13 games at an average of 43.30 show he has not grabbed the few chances that came his way.

Kohli and Ravi Shastri will continue as captain and team director, respectively. Young Karnataka opener KL Rahul, who missed the Bangladesh Test because of dengue, is back as expected, especially after scoring a fine 96 in the first India A ‘Test’ against Australia A in Chennai on Wednesday.

Patil insisted that the squad — seven batsmen, a lone wicketkeeper, four pacers and three spinners — was chosen keeping the Sri Lanka conditions in mind. “Our job is to give the right combination,” was his comment when asked about Kohli’s focus on pace over spin.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has not been included in the team. On the possible inclusion of former opener Gautam Gambhir, Patil told a news conference, “No, he was not discussed.”

While Kohli has insisted on sheer pace doing the damage, MS Dhoni was unsparing about Umesh Yadav’s poor spell following the last ODI in Bangladesh, where India lost the series 1-2. Dhoni’s insistence on line and length rather than speed and waywardness seem to be sending some message. Patil said the senior leader had every right to air his opinion in public while acknowledging that change of guard will bring a different outlook. “Dhoni is entitled to his views,” Patil said.

The selection committee could not escape questions about the recent verdict of the Justice Lodha committee suspending IPL franchises Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings and the subsequent formation of a BCCI working group to study the ruling.

“Teams are not terminated, just suspended. We have formed a committee to look into it,” said BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur.

India team for Sri Lanka Tests: Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul, Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mishra, Varun Aaron, Harbhajan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav.

(Agencies)

Tamim, Mahmudullah push Bangladesh towards lead

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Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah did not take many risks, preferring to chip away at Bangladesh's deficit © AFP

Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah did not take many risks, preferring to chip away at Bangladesh’s deficit © AFP

Chittagong: Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah scored half-centuries to give their team hope of taking a first-innings lead over South Africa on the second day of their opening test at Chittagong on Wednesday.

Opening batsman Tamim (57) fell in the second session while Mahmudullah (67) was out just before rain stopped play with Bangladesh on 179 for four, trailing South Africa by 69 runs.

Captain Mushfiqur Rahim (16) and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (one) were unbeaten for Bangladesh, who have lost all of their previous eight meetings against the world number one-ranked test side.

Resuming the second day on 7-0 after bundling South Africa out for 248, Bangladesh lost two wickets in quick succession and were forced to consolidate against a probing attack.

Imrul Kayes (26) and Tamim did well to see off the opening burst from the South African fast bowlers to take their team to 46-0 before an innocuous delivery from part-time medium pacer Stiaan van Zyl brought the first breakthrough.

Kayes lost his balance against a delivery down the leg side and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock completed a smart stumping.

Number three batsman Mominul Haque (six) fell three overs later when he was bowled after missing an arm-ball from off-spinner Simon Harmer to leave the hosts floundering at 55-2.

Tamim and Mahmudullah, however, pegged the tourists back with a watchful third-wicket stand of 89 that ended when the former was bowled out by part-time spinner Dean Elgar.

Bangladesh staved off the pace trio of Dale Steyn Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander for most of the day but it was the latter who dismissed Mahmudullah near the close to somewhat spoil an otherwise satisfying day for the hosts.

Heavy rain forced the players off four balls after Philander struck and, though there was a restart, only one ball was bowled before another downpour washed out 25 overs of the day’s play.

Writing by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Greg Stutchbury and Ken Ferris.

(Reuters)

Zimbabwe down India by 10 runs, level series 1-1

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Zimbabwe

Harare: A gritty Zimbabwe overcame a below-par India by 10 runs to draw their two-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series at the Harare Sports Club here on Sunday.

Opener Chamu Chibhabha’s fighting knock of a 51-ball 67 lifted Zimbabwe to 145/7 in 20 overs. In reply, India managed only 135/9 in the allotted 20 overs to lose their second T20I match.

Robin Uthappa’s breezy knock of a 25-ball 42 gave India immense impetus but the visitors were reduced to 69/5 in nine overs. Stuart Binny (25), debutant Sanju Samson (19) and Axar Patel (13) gave India a lot of hopes but their contributions were not enough.

Zimbabwe came into the match desperate to salvage some pride as they were blanked 0-3 in the One-Day International (ODI) series and also lost the first T20I by 54 runs.

They found their hero in right-hander Chibhabha, who registered his fourth T20I fifty and waged a lone battle as Indian bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to keep the hosts in check. The 28-year-old in-form batsman completed his half-century in 38 deliveries and hit nine fours during his stay.

Chibhabha, who scored two fifties in the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, and Hamilton Masakadza (19) started positively. But India drew the first blood when Masakadza edged a medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma-delivery to wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa off the second ball of the third over.

Later, medium pacer Mohit Sharma reduced Zimbabwe to 2/48 in the sixth over by getting rid of Sikandar Raza (8), who captained the hosts after regular skipper Elton Chigumbura got injured. The right-handed batsman played but not with enough force to beat Samson at deep third man.

Chibhabha found support from Sean Williams (17) and they managed a 37-run third-wicket partnership that ended when the left-hander offered a return catch to young left-arm spinner Axar Patel.

The hosts’ innings struggled even in the death overs with Charles Conventry (4) failing to trouble the Indians as he was ruled leg before wicket (LBW) against all-rounder Binny. Chibhabha also perished, being bowled by medium fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Bhuvneshwar repeated his act when he dismantled the stumps of Craig Ervine (7). Lower-order bat Prosper Utseya (1) was dismissed by Mohit.

For India, Bhuvneshwar and Mohit took two wickets each, while Binny, Sandeep and Axar picked a wicket apiece that helped the visitors restrict Zimbabwe to 145/7.

In reply, India got off to a poor start, losing openers Ajinkya Rahane (4) and Murali Vijay (13) early. While skipper Rahane ran himself out, Tamil Nadu star Vijay was bowled by leg-spinner Graeme Cremer, who also removed Manish Pandey (0).

Karnataka batsman Uthappa found boundaries at will even though others were failing. He hit nine fours before offering a return catch to left-arm spinner Williams. Middle-order batsman Kedar Jadhav (5) found himself short of the crease at the bowler’s end while taking a Binny’s double. Taurai Muzarabani’s direct throw from deep mid-wicket forced India to slump to 69/5 in ninth over.

Thereafter, Binny (24) and young Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Samson (19) forged a 36-run stand for the sixth wicket to revive India’s hopes.

But Cremer struck again, taking his third wicket as Binny offered a catch to Chibhabha. Axar and Samson did their best but it was not enough.

For Zimbabwe, Cremer was the pick of the bowlers as he gave away only 18 runs while taking three wickets in four overs. Christopher Mpofu, Williams and Muzarabani picked up a wicket apiece that forced India to complete the tour with a solitary loss.

(IANS)

Sourav Ganguly in panel to study Lodha Committee ruling

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Sourav Ganguly

Mumbai: The Indian cricket board on Monday named a working group comprising Sourav Ganguly, Rajeev Shukla, Anurag Thakur and Anirudh Chaudhry to study the Lodha Committee verdict and prepare the road map for the future of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur, BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and former India captain Sourav Ganguly will share their recommendations with the IPL Governing Council (GC) within six weeks. All four are members of the IPL GC. “In accordance with the decision of the IPL GC to implement the Lodha Committee report, the four members will constitute the working group which will prepare the road map for the forthcoming edition of the IPL and related matters,” Thakur said in a statement.

“The committee will be assisted by BCCI legal advisor U.N. Banerjee. The committee will share their recommendations with the GC within a time frame of six weeks after consulting all the key stakeholders.” Shukla said the four-member group’s report to the IPL GC will then be forwarded to the BCCI working committee which will take the final decision in the matter. The IPL GC, at an emergency meeting here on Sunday, decided to abide by the Lodha Committee verdict and form a panel to study the ruling suspending two franchises and banning two team officials.

The Lodha Committee, headed by former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha (retired), on July 14 suspended IPL franchises Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two years while banning respective team officials Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra from any cricketing activity for life.

(IANS)

India whitewash Zimbabwe, clinch last ODI by 83 runs

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India whitewash Zimbabwe

Harare: A power-packed performance with the willow was backed up by a dominant show with the white leather as India won the final One-Day International against Zimbabwe by 83 runs to whitewash the hosts 3-0.

In reply to India’s 276/5, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 193 in 42.4 overs.

Chamu Chibhabha top scored for Zimbabwe with 82. Stuart Binny was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors with figures of 3/55. Harbhajan Singh, Mohit Sharma and Axar Patel bagged two scalps each.

(IANS)

Champions League Twenty20 scrapped

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CLT20

New Delhi: The Governing Council of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) on Wednesday confirmed that the competition will be discontinued with immediate effect.

The council, comprising representatives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Cricket Australia (CA) made the decision unanimously. As such, the 2015 edition scheduled for September and October will not go ahead as planned.

The competition was launched in 2009 by the three boards. The council determined that the discontinuation of the league was the most appropriate decision due to the tournament’s limited public following.

“This has been a difficult decision as the CLT20 provided added context to a number of domestic T20 competitions around the world such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) in India, Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia and South Africa’s Ram Slam T20,” BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said.

“It was a fantastic platform for players from around the world to showcase their talent and the participating teams thoroughly enjoyed the experience over the last six seasons. Unfortunately, off the field, CLT20 wasn’t sustaining the interest of the fans as we had hoped. This decision was made, after consultation with all our commercial partners and meeting the contractual obligations of all parties involved.”

Thakur added: “The Governing Council would like to thank everyone involved with the CLT20 and all those who participated in the tournament. Further details associated with winding down the league including settling with the three nations that had invested time and effort in the competition, will be completed very soon.”

(Agencies)

Betting scandal: CSK, Rajasthan Royals suspended for two years from IPL

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Meiyappan-Kundra

New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings, the most consistent team in the IPL, and Rajasthan Royals were today suspended from the cash-rich cricket league for two years for betting activities of their key officials Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra during the 2013 season.

The punishment was handed down by a Supreme Court- appointed three-member committee headed by former CJI R M Lodha which held that the betting activities of the two officials, Meiyappan, considered the face of CSK owners, and Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, have brought the game of cricket, BCCI and IPL into disrepute.

The Committee also imposed sanctions including life suspensions for Meiyappan and Kundra from being involved in any cricket matches conducted by BCCI.

The Comnmitte was constituted by the Supreme Court in January this year with oits terms of reference being to announve the quantum of punioshment against Meiyappan, Kundra and the two franchisees — India Cements Ltd, owner of CSK and Jaipur IPL, owner of Rajasthan Royals.

Addressing the media after pronouncing their verdict, the three-member committee was asked whether they have contemplated action IPL COO Sundar Raman, who was also accused of wrongdoing.

suspended 1

Justice Lodha said it will be some time before his fate is decided.

“About Sundar Raman, we examined the material about him and we believe it requires further investigation. Vivek Priyadarshi has been appointed by the Supreme Court to look into it and he is examining the matter, we are awaiting his report. After that we will decide what will be the action,” he said.

The committee said its observations with respect to the much-talked about conflict of interest in the BCCI would be given after completing interactions with various stakeholders of the game.

“Conflict of interest questions have been raised, once we complete the process of interacting with all the stakeholders, we will take a view on that. That exercise is not complete. This order is confined to determining the quantum of punishment to the two individuals and the franchises,” he said.

“We have interacted with 40-45 people, we are yet to meet a few others. Once that is done we will decide what guidelines are to be given.

Our idea is to get inputs from all stakeholders. It is not confined to cricket administrators and politicians,” he added.

He also refused to comment on the criminal cases pending against the suspended officials, saying, “No aspect touching criminal liability has been decided by us.”

suspended 1

On whether the two franchisees would be allowed to participate in case their is a change in ownership, Justice Lodha that aspect is for the BCCI to decide.

“This question was brought to us. But the BCCI has to take a call and whatever the legal course is there, it is available. You must appreciate that we cannot address every aspect of the matter,” he said.

Asked whether the committee took a considered view of the impact this ruling will have on the players attached with the two suspended franchises, Justice Lodha said the game is bigger than the individuals.

“Players will not be attached to a franchisee which has been suspended. We thought that if cricket is bigger than individuals then financial loss to players and franchises is not of significance,” he said.

(Agencies)

BCCI suspends Mumbai cricketer Hiken Shah for corruption

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Hiken Shah

Mumbai: The Board of control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended Mumbai cricketer Hiken Shah with immediate effect on Monday after finding him guilty of breaching its Anti-Corruption Code.

The BCCI said Shah made a “corrupt” approach to one of his colleagues from first-class cricket, who plays in one of the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams.

Shah is a left-hand batsman and leg-break bowler who made his debut for Mumbai in domestic cricket in 2006 but has since struggled to be a regular member of the team. He has played 37 First Class matches, scoring 2160 runs at 42.35 with six centuries.

“His involvement in any form of cricket, affiliated with the BCCI stands suspended till the time the disciplinary committee of the BCCI passes appropriate orders,” the BCCI said in a statement on Monday.

The approached player informed of the approach to his franchise team which reacted by informing the incident to BCCI’s Anti Corruption Unit (ACU). The ACU conducted an immediate enquiry into the matter and found Shah guilty.

“After a detailed inquiry into the reported incident, the inquiry commissioner found Hiken Shah guilty of committing breach of Articles 2.1.1; 2.1.2; and 2.1.4 of the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code for participants and recommended their provisions to the BCCI President,” the statement added.

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said BCCI is committed to uphold its stance of “zero tolerance” for fixing and reacted swiftly by ordering a probe.

“BCCI has zero tolerance for corruption in the game of cricket. We have and we will take swift action against such incidents to set a precedent and control the menace of corruption in the game. While placing the player under suspension, I have referred the matter to the disciplinary committee of the BCCI to take further action against the player involved,” Damiya said in the release.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said the governing body’s education policy was beginning to show results and the incident proves that they are on the right track.

“This particular incident demonstrates that BCCI’s education policy against corruption is showing results, as the player approached was vigilant enough to report the matter to the ACU of the BCCI.

Having said that, the fight against corruption is an ongoing battle and we will not leave any stone unturned. BCCI is committed to keep cricket corruption-free,” he said.

(IANS)

India beat Zimbabwe by 4 runs

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India beat Zimbabwe

Harare: India earned a narrow four-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first of the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series at the Harare Sports Club here on Friday.

Put in to bat, India scored 255/6 in their allotted 50 overs with Ambati Rayudu scoring an unbeaten 124. He was well supported by all-rounder Stuart Binny (77) as the duo put up a 160-run partnership.

Donald Tiripano and Chamu Chibhaba were the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers, both clinching two wickets apiece.

In reply, the hosts batted well but fell short by four runs despite an unbeaten 104 from skipper Elton Chigumbura. Binny and spinner Axar Patel took a brace each for India.

(IANS)

Rayudu, Binny take India to 255/6 against Zimbabwe

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Ambati Rayudu

Harare: Ambati Rayudu registered his second One-Day International (ODI) century and shared a 160-run partnership with Stuart Binny (77) to take India to 255/6 against Zimbabwe in their first of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club here on Friday.

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura won the toss and asked India to bat and his bowlers proved him right as India reeled at 87/5 in the 25th over. This was when Binny, who scored his maiden half-century, joined hands with Rayudu and the duo absorbed the pressure and scored at a very good pace to give India a competitive total.

Rayudu, who made his ODI debut here on July 24, 2013 against the same opposition, played a flawless innings more with the straight bat, while Binny used his long handle to good effect as India recovered well after the early wobble.

India got off to a poor start as opening batsman Murali Vijay offered a catch to Vusi Sibanda off left-arm pacer Brian Vetori bowling in the fourth over. The Test regular scored one run in 14 deliveries as Zimbabwe bowlers Tinashe Panyangara and Vetori operated with tight line and lengths.

After Vijay’s fall, Rayudu joined his captain Ajinkya Rahane in the middle and they forged a 59-run partnership for the second wicket to ease the visitors’ pressure.

Rahane looked solid for a 34 before the Mumbai right-hander offered a catch to Hamilton Masakadza off Donald Tiripano in the 18th over. After the skipper’s wicket, the Indian innings wobbled as Manoj Tiwary (2), Robin Uthappa (0) and Kedar Jadhav (5) fell cheaply.

While right-arm medium pacer Chamu Chibhabha accounted for Tiwary and Jadhav, Karnataka batsman Uthappa ran himself out.

With the tourists struggling at 87/5, all-rounder Binny and Rayudu combined well and shouldered the responsibility of pulling the team out of trouble. While Binny was the aggressor, Rayudu’s was a calculated effort.

Baroda batsman Rayudu took 72 deliveries to get his fifty while his next 50 runs came in 45 balls as India added 90 runs in the final 10 overs.

For Zimbabwe, Chibhabha was the best bowler as he picked up two wickets for 25 runs in 10 overs. Tiripano also bagged two wickets for 48 runs and Vetori got one wicket.

(IANS)

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