Indian news round-up

Indian cricket's newest stars VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh said in Chennai on Friday that they were both looking forward eagerly to the one day internationals against Australia.

Having tormented Australia in the Test series, off-spinner Harbhajan is now raring to have a go at them in the one-dayers starting on Sunday. "I am excited," Harbhajan told PTI in Chennai, adding that he was not surprised at being included in the one-day squad. "I think the selectors and the team management thought I will be able to carry on my good work in the coming one-day series against Australia," said Harbhajan. He added he had worked very hard to come back to the Indian side and his aim was to play for the country as long as possible.

Laxman too said he was keen to prove himself in the one-dayers Recalling his great 281 in the Kolkata Test that enabled India to humble Australia in the series, the elegant right hander said "I thought this was the best opportunity and I should fulfil the confidence reposed in me by the captain and selectors. I am happy that I had a role to play for our victory in the series," he added. Laxman, who was promoted to bat at the crucial number three spot in Kolkata to which he did full justice, said the opportunity was 'God's gift' for him. "When I was asked to bat at number three, I was more than happy and the opportunity given to me by captain (Saurav) Ganguly and the selectors was God's gift."

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has admitted that the foreign currency, equivalent of 15,000 US dollars, found in his locker in the Bombay Gymkhana belonged to him. The locker was broken by the authorities of the Bombay Gymkhana on September 25 in which traveller's cheques (TCs), currency notes of various countries and a few personal effects were found, Minister of State for Revenue Gingee N Ramachandran told Vijay Goel in a written answer in Lok Sabha.

During the course of investigations carried out so far by the Enforcement Directorate, Gavaskar admitted that the foreign currency belonged to him. He claimed the TCs of USD 3000 and UK pounds 7500 (equivalent to US dollars 15,000) were received as allowances for personal expenses from M/S Intext Group of Companies and that the foreign currency were kept in the locker due to renovation work being carried out at his residence. The remaining currency found in the locker were claimed to be the unspent amount of foreign exchange availed by him for foreign visits.

Apart from the traveller's cheques equivalent to US dollars 15,000, Gavaskar has also received US dollars 75,000 from M/s Intex Group as consultancy fees in terms of their agreement dated 10.8.1999.

The Government is considering applying the existing laws such as the Gambling Act to match fixing. However, Minister of State for Sports Pon Radhakrishnan told P. Prabhakar Reddy in a written answer in the Rajya Sabha on Friday that there was no proposal to declare match fixing a criminal offence under the ambit of Indian Penal Code.

Replying to another question, Minister of state for Finance Gingee N Ramachandran said during recent searches, certain documents seized indicated financial transactions, either actual or proposed, as also details of investments made by the cricketers. These had been listed out and conveyed to the assessing authorities for making further enquiries.

The assessments had not been completed so far. At this stage, it was not possible to come to any definite conclusion as regards the concealment of income or penalties to be levied on the individual cricketer. Assessments in most of these cases are statutorily to be completed by August, 2002 under the provisions of the Income Tax Act.