I am going to stand (for re-election as president). You are press, all of you are giving the numbers (in support and against me) — N Srinivasan,  BCCI president

Chandigarh, September 19
N. Srinivasan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president who had “stepped aside” from his position due to the IPL spot-fixing controversy, will contest the BCCI elections in Chennai on September 29.

Srinivasan had “stepped aside” on June 2, saying he would not discharge his duties until the board’s internal probe into the controversy was completed. The probe was completed in late July, and the two-member committee cleared Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals’ co-owner Raj Kundra of any involvement in spot-fixing.

BCCI seeks sponsor at base price of Rs 2 crore per game The BCCI marketing committee has set the base price of buying rights for India’s home fixtures at Rs 2 crore per match (Tests/ODIs/T20Is) for six months. This meeting was necessitated after Airtel refused to continue as sponsors when their contract expired on March 31. President-in-exile N Srinivasan chaired the meeting. “Last time, Airtel won the rights paying Rs 3.33 crore per international match across three formats. This time it will be different. If company A bids Rs 4 crore for a Test and company B bids for 5 crore for a T20, they would be separately given the rights of Tests and T20s respectively,” said a BCCI official.

However, two days later, the Bombay High Court declared that the probe panel was not formed according to the BCCI constitution. “The entire incident needs to be reinvestigated. There was disparity in the evidence collected by the probe panel,” the court noted.

More significantly, the court suggested that Srinivasan had been involved in the formation of the panel. The court had observed: “ On this issue, the most that can be said in favour of the petitioner at this stage … is that it has made out a prima-facie case that respondent No. 2 (Srinivasan) was involved in the formation of the commission.”

The court believed that Srinivasan, despite having “stepped aside”, had influenced the selection of the probe panel that was going to investigate the possible wrongdoing of his son-in-law, among others.

When the BCCI went to the Supreme Court, and insisted that the probe panel was formed legally, the Supreme Court did not give it relief. In fact, the Supreme Court even accepted an appeal by the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), which argued that the BCCI should form a fresh probe committee.

Even as this case hangs fire, the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, headed by Ravi Sawani, finished its probe into the role of the players and four of them were punished on September 14. Srinivasan had chaired the meeting of the disciplinary committee that imposed life bans on S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan.

But who will punish the errant officials?

Srinivasan’s role in the formation of the committee is under a cloud and needs to be investigated, yet he declared on Thursday that he’s going to contest the elections for another term as president. “I am going to stand (for re-election as president). You are press, all of you are giving the numbers (in support and against me),” said Srinivasan after attending BCCI’s marketing committee meeting in Mumbai.

Srinivasan is bidding to get re-elected as the BCCI president for the third year running under the BCCI’s two plus one year tenure rule after having completed two years at the helm.

Srinivasan said the report of south units holding a meeting in Chennai recently was not correct as the media got the venue wrong. Two units of south zone, Goa and Andhra CA, did not attend the meeting, according to the reports.

“First of all the information is wrong. The meeting did not take place (at the venue) where media is saying,” said the BCCI chief. “I don’t know what bearing it has (on the upcoming elections).”

As per BCCI regulations, it’s the turn of south zone to propose and second the name of the president for the third year but the candidate they support can be from outside that zone.

There is speculation that Srinivasan’s predecessor, Shashank Manohar, is interested in staging a comeback. But a senior BCCI functionary rejected the chance of the Nagpur-based Manohar returning to the helm.

“Shashank Manohar has said he’s interested, but he is getting support only from one unit of south. What can he do?” the official asked.

Another key functionary said Srinivasan’s backers are confident that he would get elected for another year as he has got the requisite support.

“The president is going to stand. He has got good numbers. We are confident and not worried,” he said.

With Agency inputs

COmemback yuvi in good touch Yuvraj Singh last played international cricket for the national team on January 27, when he failed to score in an ODI defeat to England. Yuvraj was dropped after making 125 runs in five innings in that series. He's missed 15 ODIs India have played after that, including the win in the Champions Trophy. All spots in the team seem locked as of now, and though his team lost this series, Yuvraj has made a case for a comeback in the three matches, with scores of 123, 40 and 61 as captain of India A. The 123, which came off only 89 balls, resulted in a big win. India A failed to chase 279 and 312 in the final two games, but Yuvraj has shown that he’s in a good nick.

Bangalore, September 19
India A suffered a rare series defeat as West Indies A rode on Kirk Edwards' run-a-ball century to beat the home team by 45 runs in the third and decisive unofficial ODI at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here today.

The 1-2 series defeat at the hands of West Indies A was a rare failure for India A, who whitewashed New Zealand A 3-0 prior to the just-concluded rubber against the Caribbeans.

The hosts won the opening match of the series against West Indies by 77 runs before the visitors drew parity by winning the second game by 55 runs.

But the Yuvraj Singh-led side were found wanting in the decider as electing to field, the Indian bowlers once again disappointed and allowed West Indies A to pile up a huge 312 for nine in their 50 overs.

Edwards smashed a run-a-ball 104, while Leon Johnson (54 off 42 balls), skipper Kieran Powell (40) and Jonathan Carter (35) also chipped in with useful contributions to take West Indies A to the over 300-run total. Chasing the imposing target, the Indians could only manage 267 runs for the loss of eight wickets.

Young opener Baba Aparajith, who replaced Unmukt Chand, top-scored for India A with a 96-ball 78, while captain Yuvraj made a quick 61 that came off 59 balls. Barring Aparajith and Yuvraj, the Indian batting line-up failed yet again in the crucial match they needed to win to clinch the series.

For West Indies, left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul claimed three wickets for 55 runs, while pacer Miguel Cummins accounted for two Indian batsmen giving away just 46 runs. The chase was a steep one for India A and the need of the hour was a solid platform from the top-order. But opener Robin Uthappa's (27) miserable run in the series continued as he squandered a start and was run out at the team score of 46.

New man in Naman Ojha followed suit and departed for a duck, giving a simple catch to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas off Jonathan Carter.

But Yuvraj and Aparajith promised a revival, putting on 112 runs in 120 balls for the third wicket before both fell in quick succession. While Yuvraj was bowled by Ashley Nurse, Permaul disturbed Aparajith's timbers. After Yuvraj and Aparajith's dismissals, the ever-climbing asking rate took a toll on India's middle-order as the likes of Kedar Jadhav (17) and Yusuf Pathan (18) failed to deliver when it mattered most. — PTI

Brief scores: West Indies A 312 for 9 (Edwards 104, Johnson 54, Unadkat 5-55) India A 267 for 8 (Aparajith 78, Yuvraj 61)

Chandigarh, September 19
If Pakistan cricket is looking for a Hercules in their captain, at the moment, it has to be Misbah-ul-Haq.

Off the field, he is supposed to subdue the rogue elements hovering over the team. On the field, he has to show wisdom and nobility in his actions. At home, if Pakistan cricket symbolizes a troubled world, Misbah is the proverbial Atlas, the one holding it from falling apart. On a foreign tour, he is the mythical Sisyphus who is condemned to repeat forever the same meaningless task of pushing his team up, only to see it roll down again. On the Zimbabwe tour, despite his three half centuries and a double ton, the team lost to the minnows of Test cricket. In the Champions League qualifiers, he scored two half centuries, yet ended up as the losing captain of Faisalabad Wolves.

Whether he tries to be Hercules or Atlas or Sisyphus, the burden is clearly showing on him. “Sometimes, it happens that your team is not responding, unfortunately, like this time batsmen in Pakistan team are struggling. As far as Faisalabad team is concerned, we are an inexperienced side and don't have big names in batting, sometimes it happens,” he said after Wolves bowed out of the championship on Wednesday.

Misbah feels his as well as team’s predicament is due to the lack of international cricket at home. The terrorist attacks and the isolation are much to blame for it.

“Definitely, it has had a huge effect. When there is international cricket in your country, there is a positive impact on your cricketers,” he said. “If there is no international cricket, and you don't get to see players in action, it makes a difference to your own team and to the players playing for the national team.”

Tokyo, September 19
Young Indian shuttlers K. Srikanth and H.S. Prannoy advanced to the quarterfinals of men’s singles competition in the Japan Open with superb wins but it was curtains for teen sensation P.V. Sindhu at the $200,000 Super Series event in Tokyo on Thursday.

World No 56 Prannoy, who has been in rollicking form in the Indian badminton League last month, once again punched above his weight, surpassing Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen, ranked ninth, 21-14 13-21 21-17 in a 53-minute match.

Srikanth, who has also acquired a giant-killing reputation with his recent exploits, continued his carnage, defeating Japan’s Kazuteru Kozai 21-12 21-16 in just over half an hour in another men’s singles match. However, it was end of the road for Sindhu as the eighth-seeded Indian lost 6-21 17-21 to local shuttler Akane Yamaguchi in a 32-minute match. India’s men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy B also could not get across the more experienced combo of fourth seeded Chinese Xiaolong Liu and Zihan Qiu and lost 17-21 16-21 in a 36-minute encounter.

The highlight of the day for India was Prannoy’s gritty performance as he rode on his mighty smashes and energetic display at the nets to tame the 25-year-old Dane, a silver medallist at the 2010 European Badminton Championships.

Down 1-4 early on, Prannoy soon erased the deficit to catch up with Jorgensen and then charted his own way from 9-9 and used his smashes to good use to lead the match 1-0 after the first game.

Not ready to take it lying low, Jorgensen once again opened up a slender 4-2 lead and though the Indian had clawed back, the Dane was successful in breaking the deadlock at 9-9 and then maintaining the distance to comeback into the contest.

In the decider, it was Prannoy’s turn to hold the early lead and despite a gallant effort by Jorgensen to thwart his young rival’s challenge, the Indian was able to keep the match within his grasp. Leading 18-17, Prannoy grabbed the next three points to make his entry into the quarters.

Prannoy, who won the silver in the Boys’ singles event at the 2010 Youth Olympics, has been in good touch ever since making a comeback after being out of action due to an injury. — PTI

Chandigarh, September 19
Rahil Gangjee's vast experience came to the fore as he stormed ahead to lead the PGTI Players Championship with a total of 11-under 205, three strokes clear of his closest rival, overnight leader Akshay Sharma.

Gangjee made the turn in 36. However, he displayed some excellent ball striking as he birdied the 11th and 13th to finish the day with a birdie hat-trick on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes for a five-under 67.

“I hit the ball better today and found more fairways. I also converted more birdie opportunities as I was comfortable on the greens,” said Rahil.

Akshay hung on to sole second place with a level-par 72 today, taking his three day total to 208. He had quite an up and down round as he started the day with a bogey on the first, but immediately picked up a birdie on the par-five second hole. He then dropped strokes on the third and fifth holes but made a birdie on the par-three eighth and was one-over for his round after nine holes. The second half was considerably better as he made one birdie, on the par-three 11th hole and carded eight consistent pars.

“I played steady golf today and achieved my target of playing level-par. I learnt a lot playing alongside experienced professionals such as Rahil and Sujjan," said Akshay.

Md Zamal Hossain Mollah, who also carded 67 today, moved up to sole third with a total of 209. Abhijit Singh Chadha and Chiragh Kumar are tied for fourth at 211.

Jyoti Randhawa shot a 74 and is tied for 15th. He hit his ball out of bounds on the par-four ninth but continued unfazed, picking up an eagle along the way on the 13th.

Patiala, September 19
The Sports Ministry has decided that Renjith Maheshwary would not be given the Arjuna Award for 2013 as according to the rules, “any person who has been found to have used a prohibited or scheduled substance” cannot be given the award.

The Sports Ministry has also pulled up the Athletics Federation of India and asked for an explanation for its failure to provide “full details of the case”.

Maheshwary, a triple-jumper, had been named for the award this year but before the day of the presentation, it emerged that he had been found guilty of a dope related offence. Following this, the award to Maheshwary was in abeyance, pending an inquiry.

Following the investigation, the ministry determined that Maheshwary was found to have used a “scheduled” substance (ephedrine) during the 46th National Athletic Championships at Kochi in 2008.

“The sample was collected in September 2008 and given to the National Dope Testing Laboratory which analysed the A-sample of Maheshwary and reported levels of ephedrine far above the expected levels, even when ephedrine is consumed for therapeutic purposes,” reads an official ministry communiqué.

Maheshwary was suspended by the AFI pending inquiry and the case was heard by the inquiry committee of the AFI, but Maheshwary did not request for an analysis of his B-sample.

“On January 10, 2009, Maheshwary was awarded a punishment of a ban for three months starting from October 13, 2008 and he was also disqualified from the said championships,” said the ministry officials.

Officials confirmed that though there is some doubt regarding the acceptability of the sample from Maheshwary, “it is possible that the report of the National Dope Testing Laboratory may not be an acceptable ‘Adverse Analytical Finding’ and that the chain of custody of the sample may not have been sufficiently foolproof”.

However Maheshwary has never protested against the findings of the inquiry committee or the punishment. His acceptance of the punishment, despite the flaws in collection and analysis of the sample, has made the punishment final.

The Ministry “also notes that Maheshwary has never been found guilty of using a performance enhancing substance since 2008. This instance is the only instance, to the knowledge of the Ministry, in which Renjith Maheshwary has been involved in a doping related incident”.

The Ministry has also noted the failure of the Athletics Federation of India to provide full details of the case, besides asking how it nominated Maheshwary for the Arjuna Award in the first place.

The Ministry has also decided to create a new set of “Standard Operating Practices” in order that such incidents may not be repeated in future.

New Delhi, September 19
Mohammedan Sporting scored a narrow 2-1 win over ONGC to regain the Durand Cup title after a gap of 73 years at the Ambedkar Stadium tonight.

Mohammedans took a 2-0 lead in the first half, but the going got tough on resumption when the ONGC attack functioned like a well-oiled machine. ONGC chipped in a goal, and then came close to equalizing, but the Kolkatta club held on to their slender lead to lift the cup, in the 126th edition of the Durand Cup final, which Mohammedans were contesting after a gap of 25 years.

Mohammedans took the lead in the 35th minute when a pass from the left was possessed by their Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey, but before he could unleash a shot, a melee followed, and the ball got deflected in, off a defender. A minute before the interval, Tolgay's powerful shot from outside the box brooked no denial.

With a 2-0 lead in pocket, Mohammedans seemed to relax a bit on resumption, which almost proved suicidal as ONGC, marshalled by their lone forward Henry Ezeh, mounted a series of attacks which fetched them a goal in the 55th minute.

New Delhi, September 19
He might not be competing in the ongoing World Championships but London Olympics bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt feels that the recent success of Indian grapplers is a result of a change in their mentality.

Yogeshwar said Indian wrestlers are now hungry for success and are not just contend in participating in big events.

“These young wrestlers have performed brilliantly and credit goes to the significant change in their attitude. Now they want to win medals in Olympics, World Championships while earlier they used to get satisfied with just taking part in major tournaments,” Yogeshwar, who is watching the young Indian freestyle wrestlers from the sidelines at Budapest, Hungary, told PTI.

While Amit Kumar (55kg) and Bajrang (60kg) won silver and bronze medal respectively, another youngster Narsingh Yadav missed out a bronze medal yesterday.

He also said the medals won by him and Sushil Kumar in Olympics have played a major role in this promising change.

“We did not have anybody to look upto while the emerging wrestlers can take inspiration from our medals. They have the confidence to win major tournaments and it was evident in world championship,” said Yogeshwar, who is yet to recover from a knee injury. “I hope that we will win more medals in 2016 and 2020 Olympic games. There is a crop of young, talented wrestlers who will be Olympic medal hopes and will carry forward the legacy after me and Sushil,” the 30-year-old said.

“Amit and Bajrang can be medal hopes in 2016 Rio Olympics and Bajrang can play 2020 Olympic also as he is very young now. We have to groom him for that,” he added.

Battling a spate of injuries, Yogeshwar said he is eyeing a return to the mat in November.

“I will begin with a lighter tournament as I don't want to go through a hard test in my comeback. It will affect my knee. I will play a smaller tournament in November. My target is the next Olympics,” said the wrestler, who will start training in Police Academy in Madhuban, Karnal from next week. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Injured Clarke not certain for upcoming India tour
Melbourne: Hoping that he will recover from his back problem in time, Australia today named Michael Clarke as captain for the One-day series against India but made it clear that his selection in the playing XI would be subject to fitness. Australia will play seven one-dayers during the tour, beginning October 10 with a one-off Twenty20 in Rajkot. Clarke, on his part, remained confident of getting fit for the series. “No doubt it's quite stiff and sore. But I'll be guided by the experts on what I need to do now to try and get myself as fit as I can be,” Clarke told reporters in Sydney. Squad: Michael Clarke (Captain), George Bailey (VC), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges and Shane Watson.

Yuki knocks out 7th seed Sugita, moves to quarters
Kaohsiung: Yuki Bhambri avenged his two previous defeats against Yuichi Sugita as the Indian pipped the Japanese in straight sets to move to the singles quarter-finals of the ATP Challenger event, here today. Yuki edged past his seventh seed rival 7-6 (5) 7-5 in the second round of the USD 125,000 hard court event. It was battle of attrition between the players but Yuki overcame an early break in the second set to emerge winner after one hour 57 minutes.

Messi steals Ronaldo's thunder, Chelsea crash
London: Lionel Messi stole Cristiano Ronaldo's thunder again by plundering yet another hat-trick for Barcelona and Basel ruined Jose Mourinho's Champions League return with a shock win at Chelsea on Wednesday. A day after Ronaldo threw down the gauntlet with a hat-trick for Real Madrid in a 6-1 thrashing of Galatasaray, prolific Argentine Messi responded with three goals in Barcelona's 4-0 Group H romp at home to Ajax Amsterdam. Chelsea suffered their first defeat in 30 home group matches in the competition. “Instead of moving a step forward towards qualification we have taken a step back.

Sawarn, Bajrang named in rowing squad
London: Sculler Sawarn Singh Virk will lead a 22-member Indian contingent for the 15th Senior Asian Rowing Championships at Luan, China from September 22 to 29. Bajrang Lal Takhar has also been named in the squad which will depart from Hyderabad on September 21.

We will try to be in best shape for Indian GP: Sutil
New Delhi: It has not been the best of seasons for Force India’s Adrian Sutil, as out of 12 races he has managed to score points in just five, but the German racer says he will try to be in best shape before the Indian Grand Prix as it won’t be on the F1 calender next season. “I want to come to India as successful as possible... it’s a nice place. We will try to be in best shape,” said Sutil. — Agencies

We want to play good cricket for Sachin: Rohit
Jaipur: With Sachin Tendulkar set to appear in his final Champions League T20, Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma on Thursday said the team will look to put its best foot forward in its quest to win the tournament for the veteran`s batsman. “We know perhaps this is Sachin`s last Twenty20 tournament and we want to play good cricket for him,” Rohit said while talking to reporters ahead of Mumbai Indians` campaign opener against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday. Mumbai Indians coach John Wright was also all praise for Tendulkar, saying he had always kept things simple and youngsters must learn from him. “I had seen him first as 16-year-old opponent when India played New Zealand in a Test match and later when I became India`s coach in 2000,” said Wright. “I have seen him closely for years. I feel he has never changed his approach towards the game and this is one of the reasons for his huge success. The youngsters can learn from him. It is good to see that he has the same approach even now.”