Indian news round-up

Former Indian captain Bishen Singh Bedi on Wednesday praised the National Cricket Academy (NCA) trainees for the rapid progress they have made so far. He complimented the trainees after the conclusion of his week long coaching session.

Speaking to the press in Bangalore, Bedi said ``Their progress has been remarkable. It's just two months since the academy started. I see a lot of good things coming out of this academy. It's the formative phase, let's give three years for the academy to stabilise.'' He added ``I do see promise and I am sure that they can handle more workload since I have always believed in stretching human tenacity.''

Bedi said ``We have got to be patient with the lads. The facilities are excellent. They have got people totally committed to sport running the show and now it's up to the boys, who should realise that they are not here on a holiday. They are here with a definite purpose.''

The president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Patrick Horrousseau and his deputy Clarvis Joseph in an official letter to the former International Cricket Council President Jagmohan Dalmiya have lauded the efforts that he took during his tenure. They said ``His ideas, often revolutionary in a fairly conservative body, have proved to be noteworthy.''

The WICB's officials in their letter also supported Dalmiya against all the allegations made against him. They termed the charges as an ``orchestrated campaign designed to smear and belittle our out-going president, Jagmohan Dalmiya.'' Horrousseau, in his letter added that Dalmiya had ``all the characteristics you expect in a quality leader in the face of this often vulgar and sometimes, obscene campaign.''

Horrousseau said he found the style of spreading rumour and gossip about Mr Dalmiya offensive. Much of this, he added was because of cultural differences and ignorance on the part of the perpetrators.

New Delhi Metropolitan Magistrate Shail Jain on Wednesday granted bail to former Indian opening batsman Chetan Chauhan in the dowry harassment case that came up for hearing. The Magistrate granted bail to Chauhan for a bond worth Rs 50,000 and a surety of the same amount.

The case came up for hearing after the Delhi police had filed a chargesheet against Chauhan in March this year, four years after the registration of the case following a complaint filed by Anita, the cricketer turned MP's wife. The chargesheet has been filed on various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 498-A (harassment for dowry), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Anita, in her complaint had alleged that her husband used to harass her and had also forged her signatures to acquire 200 shares that belonged to her.

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly scored a sedate 21 as Lancashire totaled 239 on the first day of the PPP Healthcare County Championship Division One match against Somerset at Taunton on Wednesday thanks to a century by former England captain Micheal Atherton.

Put into bat, Lancashire made a sedate start with Atherton and John Crawley adding 21 for the first wicket. Lancashire soon lost Fairbrother and Ganguly joined Atherton. Both Ganguly and Atherton looked in good touch and added 38 runs before Ganguly was caught and bowled by Peter Trego.

Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble scored only three runs as Leicestershire were bundled out for 222 in their PPP Healthcare County Championship Division One match against Durham at Leicester on Wednesday. Indian middle order batsman Rahul Dravid, playing for Kent, was unbeaten on nine runs off 38 balls at close of play against Derbyshire at Derby.