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Ignominy, disgrace for players
Level of ethics different for players, officials
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FIXING MESS
Srini chairs BCCI disciplinary meet
Bhullar closing in to get European Tour card
Mandeep could be rested due to injury
BCCI mulls tri-series involving Pak, Lanka
Sanam, Vijayant reach singles semis
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Ignominy, disgrace for players
Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan have been found guilty of spot-fixing during the IPL by an BCCI's internal probe. The probe also found two other players (Siddharth Trivedi and Harmeet Singh) guilty of not reporting approaches made by bookmakers. “What exactly were you thinking when you decided to indulge in such wrongdoings?" one of the senior committee members apparently asked Chavan. “Did you ever think about the consequences that will be faced by your parents and family?” was another question asked to Chavan. Harmeet, who was let-off with a reprimand, was asked as to how he decided to meet strangers even after attending classes on how to avoid questionable people. Around 10:45 am, a young man wearing a crushed, untucked white shirt and regular denims slowly trudged towards the ITC Maurya door with another middle-aged man. It was Chavan. He had a plastic carry bag in his hand. He did look pale and disturbed. And before the camerapersons of electronic and print media could warm up for that perfect shot, Chavan found himself in the confines of the hotel. Exactly half an hour later, it was S Sreesanth, clad in light blue full sleeve shirt and black jeans. He was tensed but tried to put up a brave face for the occasion. — Agencies The verdict
Chandila verdict on hold
There was no verdict as yet on Ajit Chandila since he is yet to be questioned by Ravi Sawani, who led the BCCI's probe. For most of the time since his arrest on May 16, Chandila has been in police or judicial custody, except the time when he was out on bail due to a death in his family. Thus Sawani did not have any opportunity to speak to him. He was granted bail.
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Level of ethics different for players, officials
Chandigarh, September 13 In contrast, no such notion of sanctity is attached to sports administrators, who increasingly are politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen. What is unacceptable in a sportsperson — being criminally dishonest in doing their job — is not such a big deal in a sports administrator. N Srinivasan chaired the BCCI disciplinary committee meeting that handed punishment to the four tainted cricketers. He's the BCCI president who had been forced to "step aside" due to the spot-fixing controversy because he's in a position of conflict of interest in that case. He is the MD and majority stakeholder of India Cements, which owns the Chennai Superkings team. His son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, was accused of being involved in spot-fixing and had been arrested for several days. There is a case against Srinivasan in the Supreme Court which has dragged on for years. It was filed by former BCCI president AC Muthiah, who says BCCI's laws were changed illegally to benefit Srinivasan retrospectively. In September 2008, the BCCI changed the regulation that said that "any administrator could not have, directly or indirectly, any commercial interest in the matches or events conducted by the board". But CSK had been bought by India Cements (read Srinivasan) early in 2008, when Srinivasan was the BCCI treasurer. This makes the involvement of Srinivasan and India Cements in the IPL untenable. In July, a BCCI probe panel said that it found "no evidence" of wrongdoing against India Cements and Raj Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, in the spot-fixing case. But then, the Mumbai High Court said that the probe commission was formed illegally, and that there was a "prima-facie case that N Srinivasan was involved in the formation of the commission". This is a serious matter that invited a demonstration of honesty by Srinivasan. If Srinivasan had personally stuck to the level of integrity he and his disciplinary panel expects of the tainted cricketers, he would have resigned from the BCCI until the case in the Supreme Court is resolved. But he has demonstrated every sign of desperation in sticking to his position. Do the punished cricketers have a similar recourse to stick to playing the game? And should not the BCCI have waited before handing out the bans to the players? The police believes that it has a strong case against the cricketers. But what if the evidence does not add up in a court of law and all of them or a few of them are acquitted? Surely, the BCCI's investigation and disciplinary process cannot hold precedence over the nation's courts? We have a precedence of this. In 2000, after the CBI report on match-fixing implicated Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, the BCCI banned the former for life and Jadeja for five years. The two challenged their bans in court, which decided in their favour — Azharuddin became an MP and Jadeja is playing first-class cricket.
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Sad day for Mumbai cricket, says MCA official
Mumbai, September 13 “It's a sad day for Mumbai cricket. It's a pity that Ankeet Chavan has been found guilty. He was set to be picked for India A team as he’s a wicket taking bowler," said Dalal. The BCCI's Disciplinary Committee, comprising N Srinivasan, Arun Jaitley and Niranjan Shah, enquiring into the allegations of spot-fixing against some Rajasthan Royals, imposed the ban on Chavan after a hearing in New Delhi. Even as he expressed sadness on the life ban imposed on Chavan, Dalal was also relieved a bit that another Mumbai player and left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh was let off for lack of evidence.
"He (Harmeet) is now free to play for Mumbai if selected," said Dalal. Dalal explained that Harmeet has already decided not to play for Vidarbha CA, after having approached them earlier. Harmeet's grandmother Preetam Kaur also expressed her happiness over the clean chit given to the youngster by the BCCI's disciplinary panel when contacted at the player's residence here. Stating that the entire family was in Delhi, she said, "There was a lot of anxiety (over the impending Board decision) all these days. I got a call from Harmeet's mother from Delhi... now we are extremely happy." Speaking through his lawyer Ashok Paranjpe, Harmeet told PTI that his stand has been vindicated. "My stand has been vindicated. I am happy that BCCI listened to what I had to say. I have always maintained that I was innocent (of any wrongdoings). Now I can play, otherwise my career was at stake," said the young left-arm spinner. Paranjpe, who had accompanied the bowler to Delhi after the player requested to BCCI that he be present at the hearing of the disciplinary committee, said the Board gave a clean chit to his client after it found he had neither committed any offence nor breached its Code of Conduct. "BCCI has given him a clean chit and found that he had not committed any offence or breach of its Code of Conduct. The allegation against Harmeet was that he should have informed the wrongdoings of co-players. However, the player had given a statement to the magistrate and also informed about the same to the BCCI's one-man inquiry commissioner ," he said. — PTI There was a lot of anxiety (over the impending Board decision) all these days. I got a call from Harmeet's mother from Delhi... now we are extremely happy.
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Srini chairs BCCI disciplinary meet
New Delhi, September 13 While there were questions raised by Cricket Association of Bihar secretary Aditya Verma, who was present at the five-star hotel where the meeting was held, a senior BCCI official explained as to how no one can raise a question about the Tamil Nadu strongman attending the meeting. “Mr Srinivasan has recused himself from the day-to-day activities of the Board. But a meeting of the disciplinary committee which will announce the verdict of players accused of spot-fixing is not something that happens everyday. So Mr Srinivasan can`t be accused of contempt of court for presiding the meeting," a senior BCCI official told PTI. “Fact is that Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya doesn`t have any authority whatsoever to sign any papers is another reason. A disciplinary committee cannot announce the verdict in president`s absence and Mr Srinivasan`s presence was needed," the official added. CAB secretary Verma realised that his threats had no effect on Srinivasan and he left midway through the meeting. — PTI
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Bhullar closing in to get European Tour card New Delhi, September 13 The European Tour which covers around 45 tournaments with approx 133 million Euros prize money and visits 25 countries is considered the 2nd most lucrative professional tour behind the USPGA Tour. In February this year, Bhullar gave himself a flying start towards the European Tour when he bagged a hefty cheque of 200,000 Euros with his 2nd place finish at the Euro 1.8 million Avantha Masters at Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida. Bhullar's exploits in Europe have placed him at 102nd position in the Tour rankings known as the Race to Dubai. The top 110 players earn their playing rights automatically for the following year. Last season, the 110th player on the European Tour earned 203,365 Euros and the 25-year-old from Kapurthala, who was recently conferred with the Arjuna award, has already passed that figure with a total earning 228,355 Euros till date. With Bhullar all but confirmed for the USD 8.5 million HSBC World Championship in which he will be guaranteed a minimum of USD 25,000, his position on the European Tour for 2014 is close to being secured. Bhullar, if granted a full card, will join Jeev Milkha Singh as only two fully exempt Indian players on the 2014 tour. In the past, besides Jeev, who has been a regular in Europe for the past 15 years, other star Indians Arjun Atwal (a two-time winner on the European Tour, now based in USA), Jyoti Randhawa and SSP Chowrasia of Kolkata with two European Tour victories and Shiv Kapur, have all represented India and shown their mettle on the European continent. A full European Tour card will give Bhullar a chance to play a minimum of 18 starts on the 2014 season. Also, as the European Tour carries higher world ranking points than Asia, a full card will allow him to earn points faster which might get him into the top-50 places in the world. It will also help him to book a berth at the 2016 Olympics as well as all the four Major Championships and lucrative World Golf Championships. Having enjoyed the victories like Venetian Macau Open, Yeangder Tournament Players Championship last year on Asian Tour, Bhullar could have the opportunity to perform on a bigger stage. Jeev, Chowrasia falter in KLM Open
Jeev Milkha Singh and SSP Chowrasia made modest starts at the KLM Open, turning in identical one-over 71s in the opening round in Amsterdam. Both Jeev and Chowrasia shot one-over 71 each to be just outside the projected cut line. They will need better rounds to ensure action over the weekend. Jeev had three birdies against four bogeys, while Chowrasia had five birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey on par-five 12th. — Agencies |
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Mandeep could be rested due to injury
Chandigarh, September 13 According to a source, Mandeep Singh and Malak Singh were suffering from shin pain, because of which they would be rested for the 3rd Sultan of Johar Cup to be played at Johar Bahru, Malaysia, from 22 September. Baljeet Singh Saini, coach of the junior Indian team, confirmed that Mandeep was suffering from shin pain but denied that any other player had the problem. The team is currently training for the tournament at Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, New Delhi. About whether Mandeep will be rested, he said, “We are observing his condition but we have not decided if he will be rested for the tournament.” Double duty Many of the youngsters, including these three, are doing double duty – playing for both the senior and the junior teams. Former national coach Sukhvir Singh Grewal believes that overload could be the reason for these injuries. “This is a stress related injury. These players have had a hectic year. They have been playing for both the senior and junior teams. They participated in the Hockey India League (HIL). They are still very young and these injuries mean that they are being overworked,” he said. Dr Ravinder Chadha, a former physiotherapist of the Indian cricket team, said that stress was the main cause for shin-splints. “In the cases of youngsters the main reason is that the calf muscles are not strong enough to handle any overload.” Mandeep (18) and Malak (20) attended the preparatory camp for the Asia Cup. After playing in the tournament, which ended on September 1, they joined the ongoing camp on September 7. About the amount of load, Grewal said that there was a need for a proper transition (rest) period, especially for the juniors. “Apart from playing tournaments, they attend the senior and junior camps. These camps have separate training schedules and the juniors don’t get rest between these.” “If you are training for nine months in a year, three months of rest is needed for physical and mental rehabilitation.” “Extra care is needed for the juniors because overwork can lead to a serious injury and harm a player’s growth,” he added. Dr Chadha said that ignoring this injury might result in a more serious condition such as a stress fracture, which could take more than three weeks to heal and months before the affected person could play. With the junior World Cup approaching, India can’t afford to lose any of these talented players to injuries that can easily be prevented.
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BCCI mulls tri-series involving Pak, Lanka
Chennai, September 13 The officials from the three boards will be present at the meeting and there is a strong chance that the BCCI might propose to have a tri-series sometime in Dec in India. PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed, SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and CEO of ACC Syed Ashraful Haq have arrived in the southern capital of Tamil Nadu for the meeting. The ACC meet assumes significance as it has been scheduled just two days before the proposed meeting between Cricket South Africa chief Haroon Lorgat and BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel in Dubai on the sidelines of an ICC board meeting to resolve the impasse over India’s tour of South Africa. The BCCI is presently in disagreement with Cricket South Africa over the number of matches to be played in the series in November-December. If the tri-series takes place in between two tours, then the South African board would be left with no other option but to host India for two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 from December and ending with the New Year’s Test. The tri-series would lead to rescheduling of home series against Sri Lanka in the UAE in December-January. Sri Lanka and Pakistan are set to play two T20 five ODIs and three Tests from December 11 to January 20. The limited-overs series concludes on December 27. — PTI
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Sanam, Vijayant reach singles semis
New Delhi, September 13 Second seed Sanam beat Canadian Braydenx Schnur 7-5 6-1 while fourth seed Vijayant got the better of eighth seed South African Fritz Wolmarans 7-6(3) 6-2. Malik has a tough task at hand as he faces top seed Peter Polansky in his semifinal while Sanam will fight it out with fifth seed American Michael Shabaz. However, the pair was out of the doubles event after conceding their semifinal when they were trailing 0-2 in the opening set. In the Sharm-al-Sheikh event in Egypt, Arjun Kadhe lost 5-7 4-6 to Colombian wild card C Rodrigues in the second round. — PTI
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Chandigarh, September 13
New Delhi, September 13
New Delhi, September 13
