Indian news round-up

Australia's most successful batsman in the just concluded Test series against India Matthew Hayden has been retained for the forthcoming five match One day series slated to begin on March 25 at the Chinaswamy stadium in Bangalore.

Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Wednesday that the media manager of the Australian team Brian Murgatroyd said in Chennai that Hayden had been retained in the side because of his brilliant form and the fact that he has adapted himself to Indian conditions.

Australia had earlier announced a 14-member one-day squad replacing five players, including Hayden, who played in the just three Test series. Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Darren Lehman and Nathan Bracken are to replace Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Colin Miller and Michael Kasprowicz.

The squad: Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Andrew Symonds, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Damienn Martyn, Michael Bevan, Nathan Bracken, Damien Fleming, Ian Harvey, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie.

Former International Cricket Council (ICC) umpire VK Ramaswamy of India on Thursday blamed the media for distorting the image of the sub continent's umpires in the international platform. Ramaswamy, along with K Hariharan, is representing India in the on going ACC Umpires' seminar in Islamabad.

Speaking to local daily `The News', Ramaswamy said "It is wrong to assume that there was something lacking in umpires from the subcontinent. They are among the best in the world." Ramaswamy added that the media are playing spoil sport.

Ramaswamy said that the umpires in the sub-continent supervised matches under the most demanding conditions. They make an all out effort to give their best under these tiring conditions, he said adding that no umpire willingly made a mistake as it affected his future. He also felt that the concept of third umpire has in no way diminished the importance of the umpires on the field.

Assam Chief Minister PK Mahanta on Tuesday laid the foundation for the cricket stadium at Hengrabari, Guwahati. The stadium, to be used only for cricket, will be exclusively under the control of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA). A major project which will cost around Rs 85 crores, it will take around five to six years to complete. The stadium will be of international standard.

Earlier, Mahanta, who is also the president of the ACA felicitated two cricketers of the State Zaved Zaman and Sukhvinder Singh, who represented India A and India B in the Challenger Trophy series last month. Zaman was also in the India A squad that played Australia at Nagpur in the tour opener. They are the first players from Assam to represent India A and B teams. They were felicitated according to Assamese tradition and were also presented a cash award of Rs 10,000 from the ACA.