Mumbai, February 4
The International Cricket Council has cracked the whip on players indulging knowingly or unknowingly in ambush marketing, by threatening to throw them out of the World Cup starting in Dhaka on February 19.

"Any squad member that knowingly or unknowingly breaches the squad terms may face sanctions ranging from financial penalties through to being excluded from continued participation in the event," ICC's legal head David Becker said in a memo to all international players and cricket boards regarding guidelines for endorsements and commercials around the World Cup.

Interestingly, the memo went out on October 26 last year, but the Indian players seem to have just woken up to this threat, with four of them — including Sachin Tendulkar — having sought a meeting apparently to discuss the matter with BCCI president Shashank Manohar here today. Tendulkar, with teammates Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh in tow, met the BCCI chief ahead of the Indian Premier League's Governing Council meeting, it was learnt.

An IPL franchise source told PTI that the meeting was sought by the players because the restrictions imposed by ICC on brand endorsements would begin seven days prior to the start of the World Cup and end only when a team goes out.

"At all times squad members may not allow their name, likeness or image to be used by any third party in any advertising or endorsement (or for any commercial purpose) in such a way that gives rise to a direct or implied association with the event (the World Cup)," said Becker in his memo.

"During the period of seven days prior to the first match of the event and the departure date of the team, squad members may not allow their name, likeness or image to be used by any third party in any advertising or endorsement (or for any other commercial purpose) wearing team kit, team uniform or practise kit (or any other clothing confusingly similar thereto)," the ICC memo to players said.

"Squad members may not display the branding, marks or insignia of any third party (apart from an approved kit manufacturer, team Sponsor or team logo) while on the field of play," the memo said.

But the ICC has allowed squad members to appear in an advertisement or an endorsement during the mega-event if they wear cricket whites or "any other casual formal or leisure wear", provided they don't appear in the national colours of their team and there is no direct association with the World Cup or usage of logos of the ICC or the tournament.

Becker's memo has also put the onus on ICC's member boards to ensure that the players stick to ambush-marketing related guidelines as spelt in the Members' Participating Agreement. "Finally, participating ICC members are asked to note that under Clause 1.5 and Schedule 4, Paragraph 2 of the Members' Participation Agreement, members are obliged to procure that their squad members comply with the above restrictions." — PTI

London, February 4
The tainted Pakistan trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were today charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and to cheat by the UK prosecution service in the spot-fixing scandal that rocked world cricket last year. The three cricketers, who have been suspended since September last by International Cricket Council, have been issued summons by Britain's Crown Prosecution Service to a first hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 17.

Bookmaker Mazhar Majeed, who made the revelation in a 'News of the World' sting operation that the three players took money to bowl deliberate no-balls during the Lord's Test between Pakistan and England in August last year, was also charged with the same offences. This comes after the three players and Majeed were interrogated by London Metropolitan Police. Majeed was arrested but later released. A third fast bowler, Wahab Riaz, was also interrogated.

"We have decided that Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and their agent, Mazhar Majeed, should be charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and also conspiracy to cheat," Simon Clements, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said.

"These charges relate to allegations that Mr Majeed accepted money from a third party to arrange for the players to bowl 'no balls' on 26 and 27 August 2010, during Pakistan's Fourth Test at Lord's Cricket Ground in London," he said.

"Summonses for the same court date [March 17] have been issued for the three players and they have been asked to return to this country voluntarily, as they agreed to do in September last year. Their extradition will be sought should they fail to return," he added.

The framing of the charges came just a day before an International Cricket Council tribunal announces its conclusions on the case in Doha tomorrow. The tribunal interrogated the players over 45 hours in Doha last month. The players have been suspended from all forms of cricket since September 3 after the British tabloid alleged they bowled no-balls at prearranged times during the fourth Test at Lord's to fix spot-betting markets. — PTI

New Delhi, February 4
Former India coach Greg Chappell has revealed that his insistence on pushing Sachin Tendulkar down the batting order against his wish during the 2007 World Cup led to a "breakdown" of relations with the iconic cricketer. Just before the 2011 World Cup, Chappell, now an Australian selector, has broken his four-year-long silence on the issue which had caused an upheaval in Indian cricket.

Chappell now says that faced with a similar scenario he would have handled Tendulkar differently and left it to the batsman to pick his own place in the order. In a book on Tendulkar titled 'SACH', written by noted sports scribe Gautam Bhattacharya, Chappell has recalled the entire spat but insisted that he and Tendulkar buried the hatchet within a few days of the controversy.

“At the outset let me clarify I never ever doubted Sachin Tendulkar's commitment to the side. The only time I talked about him was in relation to the team's World Cup venture. If you talk about a breakdown in relations, that possibly happened only around this time. Basically we differed on his batting order in the West Indies,” Chappell said in an interview published in the book which is due to hit the stands this week.

Chappell said the conditions in the West Indies demanded a power-hitter in the middle order and the choice was between Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar. Since Sehwag refused the offer to come down the order, Tendulkar was approached who agreed reluctantly.

“It wasn't just me alone. Rahul Dravid was also involved in the thinking which felt the matches were going to get decided in those middle overs and you needed the brilliance of either a Sachin or Sehwag to play in that position,” Chappell revealed. "Sehwag didn't seem very keen. So we sat down with Sachin who in any case was the first priority. We put it down to him and he seemed reluctant. He thought top-of-the-order was the best place for him as it has always been. But we were still in the discussion as Rahul and myself were convinced no other batsman in the team would be able to do it. Sachin finally agreed. Next day he got back to Rahul. Though he made it known that he was not happy doing it. He felt that his reputation demanded two places higher in the order," he recalled in the interview.

In hindsight, Chappell said he would have given the same suggestions but would have allowed Tendulkar to decide. “...that experience has taught me a lesson. Today confronted with a similar situation I would still put the idea across to him and explain. But if he shows any kind of discomfort I won't push. I would let him decide,” Chappell said.

Soon after the debacle, Tendulkar gave an emotional interview to a daily in which he said his commitment to the team was questioned by Chappell but the Aussie said the two had a chat and parted ways amicably. “With Sachin, I later on had a face-to-face chat. There was an issue about a write-up which had come out in the Times of India. We spoke the next day and I would like to believe parted on good terms. As I said earlier the only disagreement we had was over his place in the batting order which now is a thing of the past,” Chappell said.

"During my years as the Indian Coach how people vied for a minute's attention from him irrespective of wherever he went! Emotionally and physically it must be very draining to cope up with that sort of attention day in and day out. But he has handled it remarkably well," he said. — PTI

Chandigarh, February 4
Punjab Government, in its bid to support and encourage medal winners from the state, announced enhanced monetary rewards for sportspersons who won laurels at the recent Commonwealth and Asian Games.

In this regard, the State Department of Sports, today organized an awards function at Shivalik Public School, — Sector 66, Mohali, to present cash incentives to these winners.

Fifty-one sportspersons were invited from the state, who were presented a quantum of cash prizes. Most of these players had won Gold, Silver or Bronze medals at these international events.

The players were understandably delighted to receive these huge cash prizes from the Punjab Government, as these have been increased substantially from previous years.

Asian Gold medallists have been promised a sum of Rs 26 lakh, while silver and bronze medalists will get Rs 16 lakh and 11 lakh respectively.

For the Commonwealth champions, the gold medal winners will get Rs 16 lakh, the Silver and Bronze medallists will be given Rs 11 and 6 lakh respectively.

The awardees include hurdler Manjit Kaur from Jalandhar, who was glad to receive this prize. “It is the first time that the Punjab Government is giving such a huge amount to the players”, said Manjit.

Ace shooter Manavjeet from Ferozpur and Rajpal Singh alongwith the hockey team was also present at the event.

Athlete Simranjeet Singh from Amritsar said, “It is the first time that I am receiving such a huge award from the Government of Punjab. I am really happy that the Government is taking care of sportspersons.”

By announcing such cash incentives for sportspersons, the Punjab government for its part wants to encourage youngsters to take up sporting activities and stay way from nefarious activities like drug abuse, violence etc.

The event began with a performance by Punjabi singer Guriqbal Singh while Chief Minister, Prakash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal gave away the prizes.

"I am glad to announce that Punjab Government will shortly open three sports colleges in the state along with a number of sports speciality centers to facilitate the aspiring players,” said Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Mumbai, February 4
Cracking the whip, the Indian Premier League today slapped a four-match ban on young Karnataka batsman Manish Pandey, who has been signed up by Sahara Pune Warriors for the fourth season of the T20 league, for breaching its guidelines.

IPL's Governing Council also stalled what could have been a back-door entry for former India captain Sourav Ganguly after he was left unsold at the January 8-9 Players' Auction in Bangalore at a base price of $400,000.

Speaking to reporters after a marathon meeting of the T20 League's Governing Council, chairman Chirayu Amin said that Pandey, through his agent, had haggled with several franchises. "Pandey's agent was negotiating with a number of franchises," was how Amin put it.

He also said that Ganguly would not be part of IPL-4 following the objection raised by a few franchises to a request from one franchise which was interested in buying the Bengal stalwart outside the auction.

IPL rules state that no capped player can be bought outside the players' auction after he has been part of the process. — PTI

BRIEFLY

‘Ganguly, Bhajji chickened out’
New Delhi: Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has re-opened a seven-year-old controversy by claiming that ex-India captain Sourav Ganguly and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh chickened out of the series-deciding 2004 Nagpur Test due to a fear of the green-top pitch there. In his autobiography 'Standing My Ground', Hayden writes that the Australians felt at that time that the nature of the pitch had led to the sudden withdrawal of Ganguly and Harbhajan from the Test, which the visitors eventually won to clinch a historic series win. — PTI

Jeev shoots 71, lies 20th
Doha: Jeev Milkha Singh had a roller-coaster second round today with five birdies, a double bogey and two bogeys on way to carding a one-under 71 in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Jeev was sharing the 20th spot but Shiv Kapur, who played 76 and 72 in his first two rounds, was standing on the edge waiting to see if he was making the cut for the weekend. The cut could come at three or four-over. Retief Goosen, celebrated his 42nd birthday on Thursday with a three-under 69 on a wind-swept day. He was among the late starters in the second round. Scotland's Paul Lawrie went to seven-under with a six-under 66 in second round. He had a 74 in first round. World Number two Martin Kaymer needed a big improvement on his first day 77 to survive to the weekend and a 70 for three-over was probably going to be just enough. — PTI

South Zone in control
Visakhapatnam: Skipper Subramanium Badrinath notched up a crucial 136 as South Zone took control of the Duleep Trophy final against North Zone, posting 477 in their first innings here today. Brief Score: North Zone: 337 & 50/1 in 23 overs (N Saini 21; P Ojha 1/21). South Zone 1st innings: 477 all out in 132.2 overs (S Badrinath 136 B Sumanth 48; Joginder Sharma 3/66, S Narwal 3/89). — PTI

Sachin lifts team's morale: Dhoni
Ranchi: Sachin Tendulkar's mere presence in the dressing room is enough to lift the morale of the players, feels India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Dhoni also urged the other players in the team to perform and take the pressure off the champion batsman. "When Sachin is with the team, the morale of the players is very high. But it is not right to put pressure on him. All the players should perform and take the pressure off him," said Dhoni. — PTI

North-East sports to get boost
New Delhi: Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (independent charge) Ajay Maken said here today that his ministry would give priority for evolving sports as a "source of employment and prestige" among the youth of the North-Eastern States. Addressing a workshop on ‘Youth and sports development in the North-Eastern Region", here, Maken said the ministry's vision and objective with respect to the North-Eastern States, among other things, would be skill development among the youth aimed at facilitating employment and preservation and propagation of the rich cultural heritage of the region. — TNS

Kerala girls stay ahead
PATIALA: Kerala’s Kezia Verghese bagged gold in the 3 km Scratch Race (U-19) on the fourth day of the 63rd Senior and Junior and 26th Sub-junior men’s and women’s National Track Cycling Championship in progress at Punjabi University Velodrome. She was followed by her team-mate, Parvati N.G. The two cyclists dominated the proceedings from the first lap and did not let their rivals get ahead at any time. In the boys’ (u-19) 6km Scratch Race, Haryana lad Pankaj stood first while local cyclist Narinder Kumar was second. In the women’s category Scratch Race (4 km), Kerala cyclist Rejari V. was first followed A. Neeta from Andaman & Nicobar. — TNS