Indian news round-up

The joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal Debdas Banerjee, on Tuesday appealed in a letter to the Union Home Minister, LK Advani, to take appropriate steps in the match fixing issue. ``None has any right to malign the noble image of cricket. If anybody dares desecrate the noble altar of a popular sport, he should definitely be punished."

Banerjee said "According to the IPC and Criminal Procedure Code, the suspected and alleged persons have been taken to police custody. Therefore, one cannot understand why one of the former BCCI presidents, an honorary secretary of a state cricket association and a former Test cricketer have not been taken into custody for further investigation. More so, since they have claimed to possess enough evidence but have yet to disclose the same to the police. In the eyes of the law, is there any difference between a bureaucrat and a common citizen?"

The CAB joint secretary goes on to say that "our association is a cricketing organisation. In fact, the name of the association starts with cricket. So, I feel that every matter related to cricket has something to do with our organisation. That's why I have sent the letter to the honorable minister. Copies of the same have also been faxed to the BCCI secretary, Jagmohan Dalmiya.''

The Yashpal Sharma benefit match played in New Delhi on Wednesday between Kapil's XI and Tendulkar's XI was a welcome change after the recent match fixing scandal as a number of Indian cricket stars, past and present, picked up the willow to do what they do best - play the game.

Put in to bat, Kapil's XI posted 251 for eight in their alloted 40 overs with Saba Karim (88) and the battle scared Kapil Dev (60) being the top scorers. In reply, Tendulkar's XI were 158 for 8. Then Ashish Nehra (19), Murali Karthik (42) and Ajit Agarkar (32) put up a strong rearguard action. But that was not enough as Tendulkar's team were all out for 246 in 39.4 overs.

Scores: Kapil Dev XI 251 for 8 wkts in 40 overs (Syed Saba Karim 88, Kapil Dev 60, Vikram Rathour 32, Venkatesh Prasad 3 for 17). Sachin Tendulkar XI 246 in 39.4 overs (VVS Laxman 48, Murali Karthik 42 not out, Nayan Mongia 40, Ajit Agarkar 32, Rahul Sanghvi 3/37, Debashish Mohanty 2/32, Manoj Prabhakar 2/32).

The Karnataka Under-19 team's first game in Sri Lanka was affected by the heavy rain that has drenched Colombo in the last 48 hours. However the tropical sun ensured that 66 overs were bowled on the first day of the two day match. In that time Karnataka, who had won the toss and elected to bat, were bowled out for 237 by a Sri Lankan Combined Schools Side at the De Zoysa stadium in Moratuwa.

The visitors had a shaky start losing their first four wickets for 64 runs. Then Amith Kumar came to the rescue of his side with a fine 85. Valuable supporting knocks were made by N Darashan (25) and P Hajeri (20). Amith added 64 runs for the fifth wicket with Darashan and then put on a further 61 runs with Hajeri for the seventh wicket.

With the Karnataka side having recovered to 209-6, it was the turn of the home team to fight back. Thanks to a fine spell by Livera who finished with 5-53 from 19 overs, they were able to restrict the visiting team to 237. The total was inflated by as many as 46 extras.