Indian news round-up

The Minister of State for External Affairs, Ajit Kumar Panja, in a written statement on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that the Indian Government was examining the King Commission's request for the taped conversation of ousted South African captain Hansie Cronje in connection with the on going match fixing case in the country.

The Times of India reported that Panja in a reply to Vilas Muttemwar and Anil Basu said that the concerned authorities in the Government are looking through the request within the existing laws governing the country.

Panja added that the King Commission had made an appeal for the copy of the tapes and also the FIR that was filed by the Delhi Police against Cronje.

The Mumbai Cricket Association's junior selection committee chairman Pradeep Kasliwal has tendered his resignation alleging non cooperation from colleagues and the Association members. United News of India said that Kasliwal would mention the other details regarding this move in detail in his resignation letter.

A former Mumbai Ranji Trophy medium pacer, Kasliwal was appointed as a selector three years back. He also reportedly ran into problems with the other selectors soon after taking over and this intensified last year when he was appointed the chairman. The other members on the committee are Guru Gupte, Sanjay Patil and Shankar More.

The West Indies Under-15 team, who put holders India out of contention in the preliminary stage of the tournament, is to meet Pakistan in the final of the Costcutter World Under-15 Challenge at Lord's on Thursday. West Indies beat South Africa in the semifinal on Wednesday by two wickets.

Electing to bat, South Africa made 225 for the loss of seven wickets on the reserve day after rain halted play on Tuesday. Van dyk top scored with a stroke filled 85 off 111 balls. Van Dyk and van Jaarsveld added 105 runs for the fourth wicket thus laying a good platform for South Africa to post a fighting total.

In reply, West Indies finished off the match in the last over thanks to the 14-year-old Aaron Ragoonath who remained unbeaten on 93 off 130 balls including nine boundaries. The match ended on a sad note for South Africa when their captain Mandilakhe Dipha was taken off the field due to a shoulder injury, sustained off the fifth ball of the last over.

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly scored a paltry 11 off 21 balls as Lancashire were shot out for 68 by Yorkshire medium pacers Mathew Hoggard (3 for 15) and Craig White (4 for 14) in the National League Division One one day match at Headingley on Wednesday.

Electing to bat, Lancashire found themselves in troubled waters losing both the openers John Crawley (3) and Ganguly. Apart from Andrew Flintoff, who top scored with 28, none could hold the fort for Lancashire. In reply Yorkshire hit off the runs for the loss of one wicket in just 13.5 overs. Yorkshire's stand in captain Darren Lehmann led the way with a stroke filled 54 off 43 balls inclusive of eight hits to the fence.

Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid scored only seven before he was leg before to Killen as Kent slumped to 71 for 3 in 32 overs on the first day of their four day match against Durham at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-street.