Indian news round-up

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the appointment of former Australian opener Geoff Marsh as illogical and termed it as "spending a packet on a consultant for ideas that are not all that revolutionary."

While expressing his views through a column, Gavaskar said "Marsh was ruled out as coach of the Indian team because of his terms, and now with hardly any change in those terms he is a special consultant earning more than coach John Wright" and he went on to hint that Marsh took up the consultancy merely because of the amount promised by the BCCI.

AFP reported that Gavaskar's remark's even made the BCCI president to backtrack on the issue. Muthiah said "Nothing has been finalised yet with Marsh." He added "we have asked Marsh to prepare a blue-print for improving Indian cricket. He has been told to do this by March. Only then we will take a decision on hiring him."

The International Cricket Council has named the former West Indian Test opening batsman Cammie Smith as the match referee for the forthcoming India-Australia series slated to begin next month. Australia are to play three Tests and five One-day internationals during the 40-day long tour.

Meanwhile the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed BK Sadashiv of Karnataka and SV Ramani of Tamil Nadu as the umpires for the three day tour opener between Australia and India A to be played in Baroda from February 17 to 19.

AM Saheba of Gujarat and MS Mahal of Punjab will officiate in the second three-day match between the Australians and 1999-2000 Ranji champions Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium from February 22 to 24 while Sanjeev Rao of Madhya Pradesh and S Banerjee of Bengal are the two umpires for the third three-day match between Australia and the Board President's XI to be held in Delhi from March 6 to 8.