Birmingham: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday refused to break the BCCI gag on him in answering questions on the spot-fixing scandal that has hit Indian Premier League (IPL) except to say that some players are “slightly mentally weak” compared to others.

Addressing a press conference here ahead of the Champions Trophy, he made it clear that he would not answer questions relating to the recent controversies, saying he would definitely speak at the right time.

At the brief press conference, an International Cricket Council (ICC) official reminded the journalists that the interaction should be limited to the Champions Trophy much like the Indian team media manager’s intervention during the pre-departure press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Dhoni had come under severe attack from media and commentators for his silence in refusing to answer questions at the Mumbai interaction.

“If I have not answered Indian journalists, there is no reason why I should answer you...at the right time (I will speak),” he said in reply to a question on Thursday by a reporter who asked him about the spot-fixing scandal.

Asked if the Champion Trophy is an opportunity to “restore the reputation” of Indian cricket, Dhoni said, “It is not that the reputation has gone. If I go ahead to explain that I would rather answer his question also. When the right time comes, I will answer it.”

“As of now, I dont think we have lost the opportunity because whatever the set up is throughout the world or any sport, still you have some people who would be slightly mentally weak as compared to some of the others. I would have loved to elaborate but at the right time I will do it”, he said.

When pressed further on the issue, Dhoni said “Well, you are just forcing me to answer but definitely when the time comes I will answer”.

Q: Imagine if you win the Champions Trophy, the faith of Indian fans will be restored?

A: Well, I know one thing I am a person who lives in the present, I don’t really believe in imagining. I believe in doing the stuff right.

Q: Expand on it, do you look the same cool, relaxed guy as you have been over the years?

A: You are just forcing me to answer a few things but definitely when the time comes I will answer that. Just want to keep our side away from everything as of now.

Asked about the team spirit, he said “it was fantastic.”

At the pre-departure press conference on Tuesday in Mumbai also Dhoni had avoided a series of questions on the spot-fixing, including, as the leader of Indian cricket fraternity, why we have not heard from you so far and can you guarantee Indian cricket fans that during Champions Trophy, there will be no mischief on the field?. — PTI

NEW DELHI: The voices of dissent against embattled BCCI president N Srinivasan are becoming louder by the day with officials from the Goa and Assam cricket associations joining the chorus of demand for his resignation in the aftermath of the IPL spot-fixing scandal.

Srinivasan might have claimed that the board is firmly behind him but the tide seems to be turning against him in the last couple of days.

Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who is team principal of Chennai Super Kings, the IPL franchise owned by the BCCI boss, is currently behind bars for alleged involvement in betting.

"He has to resign, there is no other option. How can you continue when your son-in-law is involved, he is involved with CSK, it is just not possible to have an impartial probe till he resigns," said Goa Cricket Association vice-president Shekhar Salkar.

"For the sake of BCCI's credibility, in my personal opinion, he should resign till the probe is on. If it is declared that he did nothing wrong and he is proved innocent than he can come back as BCCI President. But at least till the probe is complete, he should step down," he added.

His views were seconded by Assam Cricket Association president Gautam Roy.

"In the interest of fairness, he should step aside till the investigation is on. That is my personal opinion," Roy said.

A three-member BCCI commission, comprising two retired judges, is probing the allegations against Meiyappan separately and Srinivasan has stated that he would have no role in its functioning and the report it would come out with.

"Punishment for spot-fixing or corruption should be life ban because a few rotten apples are spoiling everything. Unless BCCI takes stern action it won't be long before everybody does this because the money involved is huge," said Salkar while demanding a thorough probe.

Wednesday night, BCCI treasurer Ajay Shirke had also sought Srinivasan's ouster saying, "If I was in his place, I would step away from the inquiry. I mean step down till the inquiry is done."

"The credibility of the board and the perception in which it is operating is taking a beating and increasingly so. Given the continuous media speculation and the resulting damage to the image of the board, it is important that this is put to rest", he said.

The demand for Srinivasan "staying away" from the probe has also come from BCCI bigwigs such as Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association chief Jyotiraditya Scindia, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla and BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley.

Former board presidents have also had their say with Sharad Pawar and Shashank Manohar also calling for his resignation.

A defiant Srinivasan has, however, held fort and insisted that he has done no wrong. — PTI

Delhi Police seizes cash paid to Sreesanth

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Thursday claimed to have recovered Rs. 5.5 lakh, which was part of the Rs 10 lakh allegedly paid to cricketer Sreesanth for spot-fixing in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match, from Mumbai.

The recovery was made in Mumbai at the instance of Abhishek Shukla, who was arrested for allegedly hiding the money and articles of Sreesanth, soon after the cricketer’s arrest on May 16.

Police sources said this recovery completes the money trail of Sreesanth.

Of the Rs 10 lakh, Mumbai Police had recovered Rs 75,000 while Delhi Police claims it has evidence of Sreesanth spending around Rs 3.75 lakh for purchases and parties.

Police had taken Shukla, an event manager, to Mumbai on Wednesday for recovery.

Shukla has been charged under section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and taken to Mumbai for recovery of articles and money owned by Sreesanth which he had hidden, sources said.

“We have accounted for Rs 5 lakh out of the Rs 10 lakh Sreesanth got for alleged spot-fixing. Shukla has allegedly hidden the remaining amount belonging to Sreesanth as well as Jiju Janardhan, the cricketer’s friend.

“Soon after Sreesanth’s arrest, Jiju made a call to Shukla asking to clean up Sreesanth’s room,” the official said. — PTI

Renowned filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh dies at 49

KOLKATA: Noted filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at his south Kolkata residence.

He was 49.

Winner of 12 national and some international awards, Ghosh was suffering from pancreatitis and died of heart attack at 7.30 am, his family said.

Ghosh shot to fame with a children’s film directed by him ‘Hirer Angti’ in 1994. His film ‘Unishe April’ won the national award in 1995.

His other widely acclaimed films include ‘Dahan’, ’Asukh’, ‘Chokher Bali’, ‘Raincoat’, ‘Bariwali’, ‘Antarmahal’ and ‘Noukadubi’.

Thespian Soumitra Chatterjee deeply mourned Ghosh’s death, saying, “I cannot believe that Rituparna is no more. It is very difficult to accept this news. We lost a very promising film director at a very early age.”

Many film actors and actresses thronged his residence to pay their last respects.

State Commerce and Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee visited his home this morning. — PTI

It is a sad day for Bengal: Mamata

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today condoled the death of renowned film-maker Rituparno Ghosh, saying it was a very sad day for Bengal.

"We are stunned. In his sudden demise, Bengal has lost an eminent filmmaker. It is a very sad day for us," Banerjee, who visited Ghosh's residence this morning, said.

To enable people to pay their last respect to the director, his body would be kept at Nandan film complex from 3.30 PM to 6 PM, she said.

Thereafter, the body would be taken to the Tollygunj Technician studio before cremation, the chief minister said.

Education minister and theatre personality Bratya Basu said he was rendered "speechless" by the news and the loss was a personal one.

He recalled that the director had expressed his desire to see his latest play.

Basu said he was a pioneer not only as a director and actor, but also in his contribution to society, noting that with his films like 'Heerer Angti' and 'Unishe April' he had created a new genre of films in Bengal.

As an actor, his path-breaking role of a transgender in 'Chitrangada' portrayed the plight of a section of people which had remained neglected by society.

Same sex relations, a taboo in Bengali society although accepted in the West, was for the first time revealed through his life and work and invested with a rare dignity for the first time in Bengali society, the minister said. — PTI

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education on Thursday declared the Class X results which recorded a pass percentage of 98.76, a marginal increase over last year.

Girls once again outshone boys in the results. The pass percentage of girls stood at 98.94 per cent as compared to 98.64 per cent of boys.

According to a CBSE statement, the pass percentage in Chennai region at 99.80 was the highest in the country.

The results in that region were declared on May 26.

In total, 1,25,7893 candidates were registered for Class X examination this year, an increase of about 6.67 per cent over last year.

CBSE Class X results are reflected in grades. — PTI