Indian news round-up

AC Muthiah, the BCCI president has clearly elucidated his views with regard to the contract system for Indian players. Muthiah welcomed the recommendations made by Sir Paul Condon in his report on match fixing. According to Sir Condon, an improvement in the pay packets of cricketers and a contract system for players would help in instilling financial security that the players need badly.

Muthiah said, "I personally feel it's (increasing pay packets for cricketers) a good suggestion... and contract system is a better answer to regularise the income of the players," talking to PTI on the phone from Lahore where he is attending a two-day meeting of the Asian Cricket Council.

Sir Condon was critical in his report partially blaming the current system wherein cricketers were paid less compared to some of the other sportsmen which has been cited as one of the reasons for their being lured into corrupt practices. Muthiah was of the opinion that the contract system when put into practice would ensure a regular income to the players even while they are injured. "We will work out a consensus (in BCCI) and try to introduce such a system for Indian players," he said.

Muthiah also supported Condon's idea that there should be an increased level of involving players and their representative bodies in the administration and overall management of the game. Muthiah said that though the report failed to mention any names, the recommendations contained therein, would go a long way in reducing the corruption in the game. He was quick to add, "We will try and implement some of the recommendations."

The Asian Cricket Council meeting, which started in Lahore on Thursday, had generated considerable interest with speculations that BCCI president A C Muthiah and PCB chief Lt Gen Tauqir Zia may meet to discuss the Indian government's refusal to allow its cricket team to play a bilateral series with Pakistan. However, talking to the PTI on phone, Board secretary Jaywant Lele said that the ACC meeting was an 'informal get-together' of the heads of the Cricket Boards of the countries in the region and on the opening day it discussed matters of mutual interest. "There is no meeting between Muthiah and Zia on the cards," Lele said.

The two-day Asian Cricket Council meeting in Lahore would only discuss matters relating to the development of cricket in the region, according to Lele. The meeting will decide on the proper utilisation of the $6.5 million provided by the International Cricket Council for the development of the game in the region and finalise the schedules for the Asia Cup, to be played in Pakistan next year, and the Asian Test Championship.

Fortified by the confidence gained from a spirited series win against Australia, a determined Indian team embarked on a 46-day tour of Zimbabwe early on Friday, raring to break a 15-year jinx of not winning a Test series outside the subcontinent.

The Indian team management spoke in detail about the importance of the Test series against Zimbabwe. Sourav Ganguly could not join the manager Chetan Chauhan, coach John Wright and vice-captain Rahul Dravid in briefing the media. Ganguly was held up in Kolkata owing to personal reasons and joined the touring party later in the night to fly out to Zimbabwe.

According to PTI, Chauhan told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday, "The boys are aware that India has not won a series abroad in the past 15 years and they are brimming with confidence to break the jinx". He said the performance in the recent home series against Australia had given them "a much needed boost".

Coach John Wright echoed his views, saying that he does not have a 'magic formula' for the Indian cricket team to win a series abroad and believes the players have to work on their basics to get a positive result. "There is no magic formula in cricket. You have to do what is required at a particular time and play to potential", said Wright. "Execution of genuine play, bowling a good line and length and just doing the basic things right is all that is needed to win a match or a series", Wright added.

Vice-captain Rahul Dravid said the important thing was for the team to put together a good performance and the rest would take care of itself. Dravid said, "It is important to concentrate on the basic processes without getting unduly excited over the result. Our job is to play good cricket with a positive frame of mind and not to get preoccupied with results. "Zimbabwe will pose an exciting challenge. They are a good side and played a good series in India last year. They are a good unit together".

On India's failure to win a series on foreign soil for the last 15 years, he said, "certainly the boys are aware of it but they don't think about it. This time we would like to win the series and turn a new page." About the conditioning camp held in Bangalore, Dravid said it was of good quality and added, "the guys put in a lot of hard work and surely there is an increase in their fitness level."

Asked which Zimbabwe players he considered a 'threat' to the Indian team, Wright said "Andy Flower and Heath Streak might pose some threat as both are world class players. However, there is no question of fearing anybody." Commenting on the World Test Championships, both Dravid and Wright said it was a 'good concept' and gave a chance for every team to play each other.