Chandigarh, February 10
So Gurunath Meiyappan wasn’t a mere “cricket enthusiast” after all — something N Srinivasan, his father-in-law and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) owner, desperately wanted everyone to believe when the IPL spot-fixing scandal blew up last year.

Now with the rather laughable and incredible cover blown to smithereens by the Justice Mudgal panel, CSK find itself facing a possible termination from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Here’s is what puts the franchisee and Srinivasan on a sticky wicket – Clause 11.3 clause of the IPL franchisee agreement says that “if any official, team owner or anyone associated with the team tarnishes the image of the league, the franchise can be terminated immediately”.

With the Mudgal panel concluding that Meiyappan was a CSK official and indulged in betting, the clause could be invoked if the BCCI decides to go hard on the erring franchisee.

In the past, the BCCI has been quite prompt in terminating four franchisees for one reason or the other. While Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals managed to get the decision overturned in the court of law, Deccan Chargers and Kochi Tuskers had to go.

So will the BCCI show the same alacrity in the case of the Chennai Super Kings? “The BCCI can’t take any action till the Supreme Court takes cognisance of the report. The panel has submitted the report to the Supreme Court and the board will come into the picture only after the court examines the report, which it will do on March 7,” said a BCCI official.

In a way it’s for the better that the BCCI won’t sit in judgement on the panel’s report, for it could have been N Srinivasan, this time wearing the hat of the BCCI president, taking the call on the future of his own team. As it is, as the CSK owner, he had declared Meiyappan a mere “cricket enthusiast” to keep the franchisee out of harm’s way. Interestingly, according to the report, India and CSK skipper MS Dhoni took the same line as Srinivasan on Meiyappan’s role in the CSK.

Apart from putting the future of CSK in jeopardy, the report has also noted Srinivasan’s conflict of interest in being the BCCI president and the CSK owner, observing: “This conflict of interest may have large-scale ramification on cricket.”

New Delhi, February 10
In a sensational claim, two former presidents of the BCCI told Justice Mudgal panel that matches in the IPL were fixed and the matter required a thorough investigation. “The Committee would like to state there is a general perception amongst many persons who deposed before the panel that matches involving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and other IPL teams were fixed and required through investigation,” the report noted. “The said observations were in fact made by two former BCCI presidents. However, since it is impossible for this committee to make a roving enquiry into all matches, the committee is of the view that the said issue has to be taken up by concerned investigating agencies, if any specific allegation/leads are made available to them," the report noted.

Four ex-chiefs of BCCI —AC Muthiah, IS Bindra, Jagmohan Dalmiya and Shashank Manohar — had deposed before the three-member committee. The report does not identify which two from this quartet made the sensational claim about matches being fixed in the lucrative league. —PTI 

London, February 10
“Self-interest” and “short-term deal making” will prevail over cricket's long-term health following the recent structural reforms in the International Cricket Council (ICC), the global players' association said on Monday.

The ICC board passed key structural and financial reforms in Saturday's meeting in Singapore which, many believe, effectively put India, England and Australia in charge of the game.

The restructuring will see the “Big Three” pocket greater share of the ICC revenue and occupy key posts within the governing body. “This is a very sad day for our game,” Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) executive chairman Paul Marsh said in a statement.

“This should be an indicator to the future for all of us, where self-interest and short-term deal making will override the long-term health of the game and views of its key stakeholders.”FICA had urged other test playing nations to block the proposals but only Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting in Singapore.

“Whilst unfortunately the final outcome had an air of inevitability about it once the process became clear, it again highlights how poorly our game is governed,” Marsh said. “Of extreme concern to all involved in FICA is the fact that so many key stakeholders in the game condemned the proposed changes ... yet the ICC Board still approved these changes,” said Marsh, adding that FICA and its members would continue to oppose the proposed reforms. — Reuters

Chandigarh, February 10
The Hockey India League doesn’t really have any major surprises in-store as the semifinals line-up is all but confirmed.

Barring a miraculous turnaround from the fifth-placed Kalinga Lancers, the top four teams will be feeling pretty comfortable as the league stage reaches the final stretch.

But Punjab Warriors, who boast of the best record this season, have no intentions of easing off as they take on the Lancers at their home ground tomorrow.

With 23 points from six matches, the Warriors are currently in second place, behind Delhi Waveriders who have 29 points from eight matches. “We are in a good position after a good away run and would like to keep up the intensity at this stage,” said Barry Dancer, head coach of Punjab Warriors. “We want to win against Kalinga and confirm our place in the semifinals.”

Though the Warriors have not lost since their defeat against Delhi Waveriders in the opener, Dancer said that the team was far from perfect. “We have not played consistently for 70 minutes. Also our defence has not been up to the mark.”

Jamie Dwyer, captain of the Warriors, reiterated his coach’s point: “We have not had a clean sheet in any match. And we haven’t been very consistent. We are still improving and hopefully can peak at the right time. I believe that at our best we can beat any team.”

The home team will need that level of confidence against the Lancers, who have been consistently improving. “They have shown a lot of grit even in their losses. They are deadly with the penalty corners so we can’t get complacent.”

The Lancers, who need to win all of their four remaining matches for a shot at the semifinals, will be hoping for a big scalp to get their confidence up. And they will need their drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat (currently second highest scorer with five goals) to fire.

Though the fans will be hoping for the minnows to shake things up, the Lancers know the challenge before them. “This will be a big test for us. We will need to score early,” said Terry Walsh, coach of the Lancers.

TODAY’S MATCH

PUNJAB vs KALINGA (8 PM)

LIVE ON STAR SPORTS

Bangalore, February 10
Allrounder Sturat Binny stamped his class by hitting a sparkling unbeaten century as Karnataka took firm grip of the Irani Trophy match against Rest of India (ROI) with a 189-run first innings lead here today.

Binny stole the show with his 107-ball 115 not out as Karnataka reached a comfortable 390 for five at the close of second day's play. Chidambaram Gautam was giving him company at the other end on six when the stumps were drawn.

Karun Nair (92) and Ganesh Satish (84) were the other notable contributors as they plundered useful runs to enable Karnataka take an upper hand.

With Ganesh losing his wicket soon after tea, Binny along with Nair added 187 runs for the fifth wicket to almost bat the visiting side out of the match on a greenish Chinnaswamy strip.

Looking in great touch, Binny smashed 14 boundaries and three sixes.

Nair played the perfect foil as he scored valuable runs in their match-turning partnership that helped Karnataka get past the RoI first innings total of 201.

Besides technique and temperament, Nair's innings had its fair share of flair. He was flawless and played a calculated innings, while Binny was all aggression as he attacked every RoI bowler including Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra and Ashoke Dinda. Nair, who was castled by Pankaj, missed his hundred by just eight runs, which could have been his fourth successive ton. He blasted 12 fours during his 161-ball knock.

Earlier, starting the day at 35 for one, in-form batsman Ganesh, along with his overnight partner Lokesh Rahul (35) stitched 75 runs for the second wicket, before putting on 61 for the third wicket with Manish Pandey (36). Ganesh, a big match player and having scored 117 in Ranji final against Maharashtra, struck 11 boundaries in his 180-ball knock. — PTI

Brief scores: Rest of India 201 (Karthik 91, Vinay 6-47, Binny 3-35); Karnataka 390 for 5 (Binny* 115, Nair 92, Satish 84; Pankaj 2/78).

Wellington, February 10
Jesse Ryder and Doug Bracewell have been dropped from the New Zealand squad for the second Test against India starting on Friday as punishment for going on a late-night drinking session on the eve of the first Test in Auckland.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson told reporters in Auckland on Monday that team officials had lost confidence in the pair and they would not be considered for the Wellington match, although Bracewell was already ruled out with a broken foot.

"We need to make sure that all our players prepare themselves accordingly for Test cricket, and at the moment we don't have confidence that that's the case," Hesson said of the visit to an Auckland bar until the early hours of Thursday.

"Both Jesse and Doug did not prepare themselves well for the Test match and we're certainly very disappointed about that.”

“We're dealing with grown men. If a player was to have a beer with their meal before a game, we don't have an issue with that at all. But there's a big difference between that and what occurred the night before the Test match."

New Zealand won the first match of the two-Test series by 40 runs late on the fourth day on Sunday and Hesson was annoyed that Ryder and Bracewell's behaviour was still detracting from that performance.

"The fact that we've won a Test match yesterday and the fact the first few questions are based around off-field incidents is clearly an extreme disappointment for the team," Hesson said.

"It takes away from a superb effort over the last four days."

Batsman Ryder and bowling all-rounder Bracewell had not been in the starting team for the clash at Eden Park but had been expected to be ready to play last Thursday.

Bracewell was on standby in case one of the bowlers got injured in the final warm-ups while Ryder had to be ready to come into the team for Ross Taylor, whose wife is expected to give birth to their second child this week. — Reuters

Rosa Khutor, February 10
Maria Hoefl-Riesch underlined that she is still the world's best all-round woman skier when she retained her Olympic super combined title on Monday with a thrilling slalom surge.

Trailing in fifth following the downhill section, the German powerhouse put the hammer down through the 59 tricky gates on the Rosa Khutor course to snatch her third Olympic gold with a combined time of 2:34.62.

The tall 29-year-old customs officer from Garmisch only needs one more victory at this Games to equal Croatian Janica Kostelic's all-time record and she will start as favorite to win Wednesday's downhill.

Madrid, February 10
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said Lionel Messi had answered his critics in the best way possible as the Argentine scored his first two goals from open play in 10 league games as Barca won 4-1 at Sevilla.

Sevilla had gone ahead early on under the torrential rain at the Sanchez Pizjuan, but Messi led his side's revival as he firstly crossed for Alexis Sanchez to bundle home the equaliser before finishing off a fine counter-attack with a stunning half-volley just before half-time.

The four-time World Player of the Year doubled his tally for the evening with another sweet finish from Andres Iniesta's pass 11 minutes after the break and Cesc Fabregas rounded off the scoring three minutes from time.

Messi had been questioned for his poor goalscoring form since returning from a hamstring injury at the start of the year, but Martino insisted it was only a matter of time before he returned to form in front of goal.

“I always say the same with respect to Leo. I never run the risk of going over the top with him.

“Those that do say something negative about him sometimes don't realise what they are doing is affecting his pride and, when you do that to the best player in the world, this is what happens."

Victory moved Barca back to the top of La Liga on goal difference over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid with all three sides tied on 57 points.

The Catalans had started the weekend off top spot for the first time in 59 league matches following a shock 3-2 defeat at home to Valencia last weekend.

And Martino is determined not to hand the advantage to their title rivals again in the 15 league games that remain.

“To have the opportunity to recover and regain the lead just a week after losing it is reassuring.

“We start again now and we will see which of the three teams make a mistake first. We hope it won't be us again.” The game was also notable for Iniesta's return to form.

The Spanish international hadn't played 90 minutes since the 4-0 win over Elche on January 5, but was undoubtedly his side's best performer in midfield. — Agencies

Grenoble, February 10
The French hospital where Formula One legend Michael Schumacher is receiving treatment for his grievous head injury following a ski accident has reportedly denied rumours that the German has died.

Schumacher, who has been in a coma since the end of December last year after the accident in the French Alps, was rumoured to have died in the Grenoble hospital where doctors have been trying to bring him out of the coma.

According to the Daily Star, a spokesperson for the hospital has stated that the Schumacher is still alive and doctors are trying to bring him out of the induced coma.

However, experts said that any attempt to wake the seven-times world champion could end up in him being in a permanent vegetative state, adding that the sleeping drugs in his body alone may take weeks to exit his system. After his December 29 fall at Meribel ski resort in the French Alps, Schumacher was sedated and his body temperature cooled to around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) to ease the risk of further damage to the brain.

Surgeons at Grenoble University Hospital say they decided on the coma after operating on bleeding and bruising in his brain. They carried out a post-operative scan that revealed "widespread lesions" on both sides of the brain. A second operation, to treat bleeding, took place on December 30. — Agencies

Bangalore, February 10
Suresh Raina's prolonged bad patch will be one of topics of discussion along with Cheteshwar Pujara's comeback in the 50-over format as the selection committee meets here tomorrow to select the squads for the Asia Cup and World T20 in Bangladesh.

Raina's form has gone downhill for quite some time. He has scored only one half-century (against Zimbabwe) in the last 24 ODIs and was dropped from the playing XI in the last two matches during the five-match ODI series in New Zealand. — PTI