Indian news round-up

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has received a nine million dollar deal from Sahara India group to sell the live pictures of the proposed India-Pakistan series during the forthcoming winter which would encompass three Tests and five one-day internationals.

The Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that the PCB is seriously considering the offer made by the Sahara Group The paper also reported that Sahara has set its eyes on a four year deal with PCB for an India-Pakistan series in Kuala Lumpur. It has offered three million dollars per series and a million as guarantee money.

The Dawn also reported the existence of a four year, 24 million dollar contract of PCB with the TWI which is due to expire in 2003. Quoting PCB sources, the Dawn said that though the PCB wanted to continue their relationship with TWI, the contract would be reviewed and if TWI wished not to revise the deal, the PCB had no other option but to terminate the agreement.

A group of Non Resident Indian (NRI) cricket fans have petitioned to the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, SS Dhindsa, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, AC Muthiah and others to put an end to the Toronto series, which is due to be played in September. The NRIs feel that India should not play against Pakistan given the recent massacres in Kashmir where over 90 people lost their lives on a single day.

The petition signed by dozens of cricket fans, made a passionate plea to the Sports Minister to stop not only the Toronto series but also all other India-Pakistan encounters. The petitioners said that they were forced to pursue this course in light of recent events on both the political and cricketing fronts.

Among other things the petition said "we write to you, not only to object to this upcoming tournament, but to also suggest why we feel future sporting encounters of any sort with our neighbours need to be put off indefinitely once and for all."

The Assam Tribune on Thursday reported that the Assam Cricket Club (ACC) has returned to India after a successful England tour, The team managed to win five out of the seven matches that they played.

The newspaper also quoted the team manager, Prasanna Kalita as saying that three players from the touring party, namely Mukut Kalita, Sauvik Das and RB Indrajit have been contacted by English clubs to play for them. Assam CC won their matches against the Box Cricket Club by 84 runs, Warminister CC by 40 runs, President Eleven by 7 wkts, Marlborough CC by 33 runs and Andoven CC by 113 runs. The two matches that they lost were against Devizes CC by 6 wkts and Chippenham CC by 7 wkts.

Indian legspinner Anil Kumble scored a dogged unbeaten 32 to help Leicestershire reach 324/8 on the second day of the PPP Healthcare County Championship Division One match against Kent at Canterbury on Thursday.

Resuming on the second day at 263/6, Leicestershire lost Aftab Habib who failed to add to his overnight score of 78. Then Kumble frustrated Kent along with N Burns in a seventh wicket partnership worth 56 runs.

In the other match of the day, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly had a rather quiet time in the field in Lancashire's match against Surrey at the Kennington Oval in London.