Indian news round-up

To see Azhar involved is shattering: Border:

Former Australian captain Allan Border, expressing his opinion on the life ban imposed by the BCCI on former Indian captain Mohd. Azharuddin, has said he has got off lightly for his role in matchfixing. Talking to ABC Radio on Thursday in Sydney, Border said though he has nothing personal against the stylish right hander, "the life ban was not a severe punishment because at 38 Azhar is finished anyway." He added "If he is guilty, which it seems as though he is, then he is lucky not to be in jail," quotes AFP.

Border also said "If you did that in the normal walk of life, in a normal business practice, then you would find yourself ten years in the clink." Border said. "I like Mohammad Azharuddin as a fellow and to see him involved is shattering. How they (Azharuddin, Ajay Sharma, Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar, who were also banned) let themselves get involved in this, I just don't know. But just the stigma that will be associated with it is bad enough."

Former Indian physio Ali Irani, who has been banned by the BCCI for his alleged role in the match-fixing scandal, refused to comment while his colleagues and staff at the Nanavati hospital where he works opined "he is a fine doctor and a good human being." When contacted by PTI, his secretary at the hospital said he would not meet any reporters and "we have standing instructions not to let the media in".

Mike Joseph, the MD of the hospital in Mumbai said Irani has worked here for the last 13 years. "He is a fine doctor and a good human being and I think we are lucky to have him with us. The physiotherapy department is one of our best and you can speak to his patients who refuse to believe or leave him." He refused to comment when asked whether any action would be taken on the physio after the ban imposed on him.

Irani's fellow colleague Ashok Hatolkar said "we have full faith in him because he is still as good a doctor today as he was last night. I don't think just one news flash would change anything." He however added "Even assuming the charges are true, it will amount to an economic offence and Irani's competence as a doctor is beyond reproach."

The race for the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president is hotting up with the Union Heavy Industries and former Mumbai Cricket Association president Manohar Joshi throwing his weight behind the former Indian coach Ajit Wadekar. Joshi said that Wadekar, a former Indian skipper, should be elected MCA president unopposed in the forthcoming elections.

Talking at the farewell function for him as president of the MCA, Joshi said "Being a former cricketer and well versed with the functioning of MCA, Wadekar should be elected unopposed." The association elections are scheduled to be held later this month.

The KK Birla Foundation has chosen Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble for their prestigious KK Birla Foundation awards for sports for the year 1999-2000. Kumble was chosen for his overall performance record since his debut against England in 1990.

The award carries a cash prize of one lakh and a citation which says that the selected players have brought laurels to the country. Recipients of the award, instituted in 1991, include former Indian captains Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar.

Bengal's East Zone Ranji Trophy tie against Orissa has been postponed. The match was scheduled to start on December 17. However, as the dates were clashing with the Deodhor Trophy, it has been rescheduled to start on December 28.

Earlier the CAB had said that the top players will not be released for the East Zone side simply because the Bengal-Orissa match would determine the East Zone league winners. A similar point of view had also been expressed by the Orissa Cricket Association. Now, with the match being played on the new dates, Bengal will be able to have the services of Sourav Ganguly. Similarily, Orissa will also Shiv Sundar Das back in the side.