Indian news round-up

There are times when a door closes for one person and that opens up opportunities for someone else. That was certainly the case with Vasu Devadas. The 14-year-old has been on the verge of making the Indian Under-15 team for a while now. He barely missed out when the Indian team was chosen to take part in the Asian Cricket Council Under-15 Tournament in Malaysia. He was however in the list of probables before the team left for Malaysia. As it happened, the Indian team beat Pakistan in the final and returned triumphant. Not many people imagined that a winning combination would be changed. Then fate showed its hand.

Nikhil Choudhury, who sustained a knee injury while playing in Malaysia was earlier ruled unfit. Professor Ratnakar Shetty, the manager of the Under-15 team that will head to England for the World Cup telephoned the youngster at his Chennai residence and told him to "get ready" as he would be going to England.

Vasu was naturally elated at the prospect of playing for India. Speaking to the press, he said that he looked forward to proving himself in every chance he got. Vasu's selection was prompted by some sterling performances in the domestic Under-14 competition last year. Most notably, the 214 he scored in the final of a tournament. Add to that, a match where he made 93 and took 7/39 including a hat trick and you have an immediate selection. The lad is keen to prove himself. A burning desire, added to the natural talent he possesses will make him a valuable addition to the Indian team.

The West Zone Cricket Committee on Wednesday decided that the final of the Wills Trophy one day tournament is to be held in Baroda on February 14 with Mumbai and Ahmedabad hosting the two semifinals on February 11. The three quarterfinals are slated to be held in Mumbai, Rajkot and Pune. The holders Board President's XI have been given a bye into the quarterfinals.

The committee also decided on the venues for the forthcoming Duleep Trophy West Zone league matches. West Zone and South Zone will meet at Ahmedabad (January 18,19,20,21) and West Zone is to play East Zone at Mumbai (February 1,2,3,4).

The schedule: Wills Trophy quarter-finals: All matches on February 8: Mumbai vs Tamil Nadu (Mumbai), Madhya Pradesh vs Delhi (Rajkot) and Wills XI vs Bengal (Pune). Wills Trophy semi-finals: All matches on February 11: Board President's XI vs winners of Mumbai and Tamil Nadu at Mumbai and winners of Madhya Pradesh vs Delhi and Wills XI vs Bengal at Ahmedabad. Final: February 14, 2001 at Baroda.

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) in an official press release on Tuesday announced the appointment of the former Indian fast bowler Tirumalai Ananthanpillai Shekar as the head of the state selection committee for the 2000-2001 season.

Apart from Shekar, the selection committee also includes the former Tamil Nadu middle order batsman PS Moses, Former Indian Test batsman TE Srinivasan and former State batsman NP Madhvan (Districts). Shekar is at present the South Zone representative on the national selection committee.

Indian middle order batsman Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 12 at close of play as Kent suffered two setbacks early in the first innings against Hampshire in the PPP Healthcare County Championship Division One match at Portsmouth on Wednesday.

Opting to bat, Hampshire piled up 320 thanks to JS Laney (81) and lusty hitting by the lower order batsmen chiefly Shane Warne (69). Then Warne came back strongly to remove both Robert Key and David Masters when they not opened their account when Kent came into bat.

The two other Indians Sourav Ganguly and leg spinner Anil Kumble had a rather sedate outing with Ganguly turning his arm over for just two overs while conceding seven runs as Durham scored 355 for nine at stumps against Lancashire at Old Trafford. Kumble is still to open his account as Leicestershire piled up 313 for nine wickets at stumps against Surrey at Guildford.