Indian news round-up

Former Indian cricketer and Lok Sabha member Kirti Azad on Friday urged the Indian Government to call off the forthcoming Sahara Cup due to the recent events in the Kashmir valley.

Speaking to Press Trust of India in New Delhi, Azad inquired as to how India could keep playing against a country which was sponsoring militant activities against India. Azad went on to say that if they continue to support such activities, the Indian Government should call off all sporting activities with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, SS Dhindsa while speaking to United News of India said that the decision over India's participation in the Sahara Cup is yet to be taken and added that the Government was aware of the sentiments of people in this country over the recent killings in Kashmir. Dhindsa reiterated that he would keep in mind the recent developments while taking a decision on India's trip to Toronto.

Indian middle order batsman Rahul Dravid, along with Pakistan captain Moin Khan and Shahid Afridi took time off to spend time coaching as part of the "Learn from Rahul, Moin and Afridi contests" conducted by an India based web site.

While Dravid coached the winners at the Indian Gymkhana Club in Hounslow, the two Pakistanis gave useful tips to the youngsters at Illford County Club. An official of the website said that 70 winners of a simple online contest would be selected to dine with Dravid while one winner from India would be flown to London to meet him.

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly failed to get off the mark as Lancashire were bundled out for 120 in their first innings against Surrey in the PPP Healthcare County Championship Division One match at the Kennington Oval in London on Friday.

Surrey after having scored 310 in the first innings, bowled out Lancashire cheaply thanks to England paceman Alex Tudor (7 for 48). Only Andy Flintoff (36) defied the attack for some length of time. Surrey captain Adam Hollioake decided to bat again and piled up 225 in the second innings, thereby setting Lancashire a mammoth victory target of 418.

Meanwhile at Canterbury, Anil Kumble with figures of 3 for 54 helped Leicestershire restrict Kent to 184 for 8 in their first innings on Friday. Having helped Leicestershire to a first innings total of 375 with a patient 56 off 124 balls, inclusive of three hits to the fence, Kumble came back to peg Kent on the backfoot. He dismissed both the openers David Fulton and Robert Key cheaply. Then James Ormond joined in the act to leave Kent tottering at close of play. Indian middle order batsman Rahul Dravid managed to score a patient 32 runs off 89 balls.