Indian news round-up

Police said on Friday that there was "sufficient evidence" of involvement of the Former deputy chief minister and president of the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) Dayanand Narvekar, GCA secretary Vinod Phadke and former GCA treasurer Ramnath Shankardas in the sale of fake tickets for the India-Australia one-day international (ODI) on April 6.

Deputy inspector general of police, Karnail Singh told reporters in Panaji after their interrogation that it was established that they had a hand in printing of bogus tickets, thereby cheating cricket enthusiasts. Several thousand ticket holders were denied entry into the stadium on the day of the ODI as it was packed to capacity and they became victims of police lathicharge, he said.

Narvekar was released on conditional bail by the JMFC, Margao on Wednesday, while Phadke, who surrendered before the same court, was granted conditional bail yesterday. Shankardas, who was arrested immediately after the scam was unearthed, is also on bail.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday expressed satisfaction with the itinerary released by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) for India's tour of South Africa from September 28 to November 28, BCCI secretary JY Lele said in Mumbai. Lele, who was in the city to attend the tour programme and fixtures committee meeting, told PTI that "we are more than satisfied with the itinerary, released on Tuesday."

The Indian team will play three Test matches at Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Centurion after a triangular series with Kenya as the third team on their 61-day tour.

Lele said there was no decision taken on the two-tier Ranji Trophy format from this season during the two-hour meeting. "We only slotted the Ranji teams zonal wise and would be sending them to the respective zones for their approval," he added.

Indian Minister for Law and Company Affairs Arun Jaitley, was on Friday unanimously re-elected President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. Jaitley's name was the only one proposed for the top post in the body responsible for developing, promoting and conducting cricket in the Capital.

In the DDCA elections to be held on June 18, the ruling group of CK Khanna, who is the vice-president of both the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the DDCA, is in the fray once again in full force.

All the office-bearers belonging to his group are standing for reelection to the posts they hold. They include Khanna himself and former Test cricketer Chetan Chauhan for the post of vice-president, SP Bansal (general secretary), Sunil Dev (sports secretary) and Rambabu Gupta (treasurer).